Friday, March 30, 2007, Episode #5028

Rick reminds Brooke how happy she was with Nick.

Brooke and Rick fly home on the Forrester Originals jet. Brooke asks Rick how his eye is. Rick says he's fine and asks how she is. "Numb," Brooke replies, fretting about what will happen to Forrester Originals now. She frets that she sacrificed everything for the company, but she can't marry a man who would strike her son. She laments that she loved Ridge most of her life, even when they were apart. But all that love drained when she saw him lose control and resort to violence. She admits she's seen that kind of aggression many times with Stephanie, but she never thought she'd see it from Ridge, and she refuses to have that kind of anger around her children. That's why she has to get out. Rick reminds her that she was "out" when she was with Nick, but then she chose to go back to Ridge. Brooke recalls that it felt right to go back to Ridge at the time, but Rick urges her to see that it was the wrong choice. He recalls how happy she was with Nick and thinks she can be happy with him again. But Nick is engaged to Taylor, Brooke points out. Rick suggests that Nick would leave Taylor if he thought he could have a future with Brooke, so it might not be too late. He tells his mom to go see Nick as soon as they land and be honest with him about Ridge, about Stephanie, about everything. "Just talk to him," Rick urges, as he's sure this is the news that Nick's been waiting for.

Phoebe sees that Ridge has Brooke's engagement ring.

Meanwhile, Ridge and Phoebe fly home on a commercial jet. Phoebe won't even talk to her dad; when Ridge asks why, Phoebe points out that he not only punched Rick in the face, but has no shame about it. Ridge is ashamed that she let Rick get her alone in the honeymoon suite, but she insists that she and Rick agreed not to make love until they are engaged. "That's sure as hell not gonna happen," Ridge retorts. "Because you won't allow it?" Phoebe asks. Because this notion of her being with Rick is just a fantasy, Ridge responds, suggesting that the fantasy won't last. He refuses to see her get hurt by chasing a dream. Phoebe says that Rick is already hurt, and she thinks Ridge is bound to get hurt given how angry Brooke is. Ridge says that he did what he has to, and he'd do it again if he had to. Later, Phoebe sees Ridge looking at Brooke's engagement ring and is stunned that Brooke gave it back. Ridge is sure Brooke just needs time to clear her head, and he hopes that might have happened on the long flight home. Phoebe reminds him that Brooke gave back his ring, but he's not worried about the ring. Phoebe laments that he really lost Brooke. "That's not going to happen," Ridge retorts. "It's not how our story ends."

Jackie tells Donna that she's having second thoughts.

Jackie drops by Brooke's house to ask Donna if she heard anything about Ridge and Brooke. Donna says she hasn't, but she hopes Rick caught Rick and Phoebe together, and she bets Jackie hopes so, too. When Jackie is silent, Donna asks if she's had a sudden change of heart. Jackie admits that everything changed when she found out that her Nicky was trying to make a baby with Taylor. She knows this seems like a sudden about-face, since she really believed that Brooke was and might even still be Nick's true love. But she sees now that Nick got tired of waiting for Brooke and moved on with Taylor. Donna asks what will happen if Brooke finally frees herself of Ridge and his family. Then Brooke will finally see that Ridge is a bully like his mother, Jackie replies.

After Jackie leaves, Ridge stops by looking for Brooke or Rick. Donna acts surprised that he didn't come home with Rick and Brooke. Ridge explains that Rick and Brooke took the jet, and he already confirmed that the jet landed, so Brooke should be here. Donna asks if something went wrong in Sydney. Damn right it did, Ridge replies, but he doesn't have time to talk about it, since he has to find Brooke. He rushes out to look for her.

Meanwhile, Brooke is riding from the airport in a limo. She calls Marone to speak to Nick, but his assistant Meriah tells her that Nick is working on a project at home. So Brooke tells her driver to take her to 68210 Rose Briar Place in Bel Air, as fast as he can. As the driver gets close to the Marone mansion, Brooke wonders if this latest turn of events will make a difference to Nick. Whether it does or not, she thinks to herself, Nick has to know that her future is not with Ridge.

Taylor is pleased by Jackie's show of support.

In Nick's bedroom, he and Taylor wake up after their night of trying to make a baby. Nick wonders if there's a baby growing inside Taylor. Taylor isn't sure, but she points out that they just started trying. Nick quips, "If at first you don't succeed..." and moves to Taylor, who asks if he has to get to work. He tells her that he cleared his schedule to work on this special project, so he's all hers. Taylor is impressed at how much having a baby means to him. "Having a baby with you means everything," Nick responds, kissing Taylor, but they are interrupted when Taylor gets a page from a patient. Nick suggests that she throw the pager away for the day, but Taylor says that she has to be available in case her patients need her. She turns to the door; Nick tells her to use her cell phone and call from the bed, but she points out that these calls can get lengthy. She tells Nick to stay here and charge his batteries while she goes downstairs to call. She runs into Jackie there, and Jackie is glad to see her. Taylor says she understands that Jackie is fond of Brooke, but Jackie answers that she sees how happy Nick is about marrying Taylor and starting a family with her. She knows how much Nick wants a family and supports the woman who can give that to him, so she suggests that they have coffee in the kitchen and chat.

Nick is surprised to see Brooke in his bedroom.

Right after Jackie and Taylor head for the kitchen, Brooke comes in. Not seeing anyone, Brooke makes her way up to the bedroom. where Nick announces that he's all recharged. When he sees that it's Brooke and not Taylor, he grabs his robe and puts it on. Brooke explains that his assistant told her that he was here working on a project. Nick asks why she is here, since she is supposed to be in Australia. Brooke answers that she had to come back early, since something terrible happened in Sydney. Nick asks if everything is OK; Brooke explains how Ridge assaulted Rick after catching Rick with Phoebe in the honeymoon suite. She knows the kids weren't doing anything, but Ridge didn't and went ballistic anyway, despite her warning not to ever lay a hand on her son. But Ridge struck Rick anyway and caused Rick to bleed, and she fears that she can never look at Ridge the same way again after seeing that. She announces, It's over. There is not going to be a wedding." Nick says he's sorry, but he doesn't know why she is here telling him this.