Thursday, February 22, 2007, Episode #5004

Nick and Taylor put their pasts behind them to move on.

At the Marone mansion, Taylor ponders Nick's taking off his St. Christopher medal; she thinks it's one thing for him to take off a medal Brooke gave him, but it's another to start a life without Brooke. Nick counters that he could say the same thing about her and Ridge. Taylor admits that she'll always be connected to Ridge by their children, so Nick asks if that connection will stop her from moving on with someone else. Taylor doesn't see that happening. Then they're both ready for something new and exciting, Nick states, despite their past relationships. Smiling, Taylor says that she's more than ready. Nick is glad to see her smile; she tells him that she finally has something to smile about, since her life is finally almost perfect. Almost? Nick asks. Taylor explains that she sometimes wonders if she can compete with what he had with Brooke, Bridget and Felicia. Nick doesn't see what she means. Taylor explains that she's talking about children, since he has lost so much in that regard. He lost Nicole tragically. He found out that Dino wasn't his. And most of all, he lost the chance to be a father to Hope, who he loved like she was his own. From all those experiences, she sees how important it is to him to father a child and leave a piece of him behind after he dies.

Nick says that he came close, but he guesses that being a dad isn't in the cards for him. Taylor doesn't believe that; he may have lived an amazing life, but she still thinks he wants a child of his own to feel complete, since she felt the same way before she finally had children. Now that she has kids of her own, they mean everything to her. Nick tells her that she's a good mother, and he'd like to think that he, too, would do anything for his child if he ever had one. When he sees other people with their children, he envies those parents having the chance to guide their kids to become the people they're meant to be. He still might have the chance to do that, Taylor suggests. Nick reminds her that it takes two people to have a child; Taylor agrees, but she's sure that the right woman for him is out there somewhere. He just has to find her, and she thinks he's a good enough catch to do that. Nick laughs that he's not so sure and tells her to ask Brooke about all his bad habits. Taylor disagrees; she thinks that if she was in Brooke's shoes, she'd... She'd do what? Nick asks. Taylor responds by kissing him.

Phoebe tells her dad that her feelings for Rick are real.

At Brooke's house, Ridge tells Phoebe that she can't be in love with Rick after just one kiss, especially since Rick dragged her off to some deserted spot to make out. Phoebe tells him again that she and Rick got stuck when his truck broke down, and Rick didn't even want to take her because Ridge warned him to stay away from her. Ridge states that he warned Rick because he knew something like this would happen. Phoebe asks why it's wrong for her to be with Rick, since they're not blood-related. Ridge reminds her that they're both Forresters, but Phoebe argues that she's a Marone and has every right to fall in love with Rick. Ridge tells her to stop saying that; he understands her attraction to an older, successful guy like Rick since he was like Rick once, which is why he knows that this is just a game to Rick. Phoebe insists it's not a game. Ridge tells her that she's still young, so she has plenty of time to meet lots of great guys. Phoebe asks why he doesn't believe her when she says this is real. Ridge explains that he only wants the best for her, but Phoebe points out that she's not a child anymore. She tells her dad that she can still see Rick, even if he kicks Rick out of the house, since they work together. Ridge says that he can fix that. Phoebe can't believe that he would fire her to protect her and tells him that if he does, she and Rick will just find another way to see each other.

Ridge asks Brooke to talk to Rick.

As Brooke comes back in, Ridge asks Phoebe if she's really willing to give up everything for a loser like Rick who'd take advantage of a young, innocent girl. Phoebe asks Brooke if Rick is still outside. When Brooke says that he left, a hurt Phoebe storms upstairs. Brooke takes offense to Ridge calling her son a loser, but he says that he just called it like he saw it. He was already fed up with Rick's attitude, and now he just found out that Rick and Phoebe kissed tonight! His daughter even told him that she's in love with Rick, so he doesn't want to hear any more of Brooke's claims that this is just a harmless crush. Brooke asks why he's laying all the blame on Rick when Phoebe obviously has feelings for Rick. Ridge argues that Rick led Phoebe on, and now things have gone too far. It has to stop! Brooke asks what else he can do, since he already threw Rick out. Ridge claims that he didn't have a choice; after what Phoebe went through with Shane, Ridge doesn't want her involved with another older guy, especially not one who's divorced and is nearly her brother. Brooke reminds him that Rick and Phoebe are not blood-related, but he doesn't care. He won't let his daughter get involved with someone as cocky as Rick. Brooke tells him that the kids will do whatever they want, and she also thinks this will be over once Rick goes back to Europe. Unless Phoebe goes with him, Ridge suggests. He fears this relationship will destroy the family, so he's urging Brooke to ask Rick to back off. Sensing her fiance's concern, Brooke agrees to talk to Rick.

Bridget gets a surprise visit from her big brother.

Rick shows up at Bridget's beach house as she's preparing to leave for the hospital. He apologizes for coming by so late, but Ridge kicked him out, so he was wondering if he could crash here tonight. Bridget asks Rick why Ridge threw him out of their mom's house and wonders if he had an argument with Ridge. Rick doesn't want to talk about it and asks again if he can crash here. Bridget tells him that he can stay as long as he wants, but she still would like to know what happened with Ridge. She hopes he's not still blaming Ridge for their losing Forrester Creations and urges him to let go if he is, for their mother's sake. Rick tells his sister that he's so frustrated by this whole situation. He can't understand why Brooke is acting like Ridge is the center of her universe again after seeing how happy she was with Nick. Bridget gives him a look; Rick apologizes for forgetting that Nick is a sensitive subject for her. Bridget tells him that it's OK, because she's over Nick, but she's not sure that their mom is. In any case, she thinks they just have to accept that their mom is committed to Ridge, at least for now. And then what? Rick asks. If he can't accept it, Bridget advises, he should at least keep his feelings to himself.

Rick tells Brooke about his relationship with Phoebe.

Just then, Brooke arrives looking for Rick. Bridget invites her mom in out of the rain and tells her that Rick is here. She tells Brooke and Rick that she has to leave for the hospital, but they should feel free to get comfortable. Once Bridget leaves, Rick asks his mom if she's here to talk about her fiance, because he doesn't want to hear it. Brooke says she's sorry, but Rick thinks Ridge is the one who should be apologizing for throwing him out of his own mother's house. Brooke tells him that Ridge is just concerned about his daughter, and she can understand why after hearing that her son kissed Ridge's daughter. Rick tells her that he and Phoebe didn't plan that; it just happened. Brooke asks if he has feelings for Phoebe. He says that he thinks Phoebe is cool and enjoys hanging out with her, and he doesn't see anything wrong with that. Brooke says that she told that to Ridge, but it didn't calm him down, and she can actually see why it didn't. She tells Rick that whatever is going on between him and Phoebe has to end right now!