Thursday, March 08, 2007, Episode #5014

Jackie tells Nick that he can have more than just memories of Brooke.

Nick comes downstairs at the Marone mansion and spots the DVD of Hope's school play that Brooke brought him. He pops the DVD into his computer and watches it, and he smiles as he sees Hope singing and dancing as she plays the Queen of the Forest Fairies. Jackie comes in and sees the big smile om Nick's face as he watches; she remarks that he obviously misses Hope, and it's a shame that he couldn't be there to see that play live because of Ridge. She laments that Brooke could choose to marry Ridge over her son. "Rumor has it the wedding may not take place," Nick states. Jackie is thrilled that Brooke might have seen the light, but Nick tells her that it's Stephanie who is predicting doom for Ridge and Brooke over what's going on between Rick and Phoebe. Jackie is still delighted, because there could be a chance for Nick and Brooke to reunite if Stephanie is right. Nick reminds his mother that they've been through this before; he tells her again that what he and Brooke shared is over, even if he wanted it back - which he doesn't. Jackie suggests that the way he's closed his feelings for Brooke off proves how strong his feelings for her are. As Nick tells Jackie that he loves her, but he has nothing but memories of Brooke, Taylor comes to the stairs and listens. She gets to the bottom of the stairs just as Jackie tells Nick that he can have more than just memories of Brooke.

With Nick by her side, Taylor tries to understand Jackie's feelings.

Jackie apologizes to Taylor, as she didn't know... Now she knows, Nick states as Taylor stands next to him, so he suggests they drop this. Realizing she forgot that Nick said Taylor was recuperating here, Jackie backpedals and asks Taylor who she feels. Much better, Taylor responds, thanks to Nick. Jackie says that she should be going, but Taylor stops her and admits that she knows Jackie has a special fondness for Brooke. Jackie tells Taylor that she's fond of her, too, but Taylor asserts that she knows Jackie believes Nick is better off with Brooke. Stating that she's tired, Jackie says she'll be going. Once she's gone, Nick reminds Taylor that Jackie is his mother. Taylor says it's OK; she's a big girl and knows that she will never be as important to him as Brooke is in Jackie's eyes. Nick promises that his mom wasn't trying to stir up trouble. Taylor says she knows. She then turns to go upstairs to change so she can go home. Nick tells her not to let his mother scare her off, but Taylor says she isn't. It's just that she senses Phoebe might need her, so she wants to be there for her daughter. Nick says he understands and gives her a hug; as they embrace, Taylor looks over Nick's shoulder at the frozen image of Hope in her play on Nick's computer.

Ridge worries about leaving Rick and Phoebe behind at the cabin.

Ridge and Brooke arrive home and enter their bedroom. Ridge still feels funny about leaving Phoebe and Rick up at Big Bear. Brooke tells him to trust that their kids just need time to talk; Ridge thinks it would be easier to do that had Brooke not hid the fact that Rick and Phoebe were still seeing each other from him. Now they have all this tension between them, but things will be even worse if Rick doesn't break things off with Phoebe tonight.Brooke reminds him that she would have told him had Jarrett and Stephanie not interrupted them that day. She understands that Ridge is just being a concerned father, but she thinks he has to trust that Phoebe is old and smart enough to make the right choices. Ridge reminds her of what he walked in on at the cabin, but Brooke is sure Rick would never take advantage of someone as young as Phoebe. And that's exactly the problem, Ridge states; Rick IS more experienced than Phoebe, having been married and divorced and living on his own. Brooke asks Ridge not to make her son sound like some irresponsible playboy. The point, Ridge says, is that Phoebe finds Rick exciting, and maybe even forbidden because they're related. Not by blood, Brooke states. But they are family, Ridge states, which is why he has to draw the line. Brooke understands that he's worried about his daughter, but she points out that even if Rick breaks things off with Phoebe, Phoebe might still meet some other guy who breaks her heart. It's a crazy world, Ridge states, and that's why he'll do everything in his power to prevent his daughter from making a mistake.

Rick tells Phoebe that they have to do the right thing.

Up at the cabin, Rick pulls away from his kiss with Phoebe. Phoebe asks him not to stop, because her father is wrong about it being wrong for them to be together. She tries to pull him back into an embrace, but he says that this has to stop. They can't just pretend that her father didn't catch them here. Phoebe protests. Rick tells her that he loves her, but they have to put on the brakes, even though he doesn't really want to. Then don't, Phoebe states. Rick tells her that she deserves better; it would be so easy for him to treat her like the other girls in his life, but she's special to him, so he wants her first perfect moment to be as special as she is. They hug. Rick tells Phoebe they should go,m but she wants to stay. Rick says that he doesn't want to go, either, but he sees now that they're in an impossible situation, as their family doesn't want them to be together. Phoebe points out that Brooke was OK with them, but Rick reminds her that his mom is also afraid. It may not be fair, but he thinks they have to cool things down for their family's sakes. He realizes now that it was wrong to sneak around behind her dad's back, since it sent Ridge the wrong message. They need to prove to their parents that they can be responsible adults, even if it means... Phoebe worries what might happen if they leave now; she fears her dad might never come around, or that Rick might find someone else. Rick promises that he'll never let go. He then suggests they get to their cars and get going, but Phoebe says she wants to stick around for a few minutes. She assures Rick that she'll be fine.

Brooke tells Ridge that Rick and Phoebe broke things off.

Brooke says she understands, having gone through years of teenage angst with Rick and Bridget. But at the same time, she expects Ridge to understand that loving her means accepting Rick, since she won't let her family become dysfunctional like Stephanie did. She asks Ridge if he can do that. Ridge chalks their disagreement up to different parenting styles and thinks he can do that for the sake of their relationship. Brooke just wishes she didn't have to go yo Australia to open their new store there, as she thinks Rick and Phoebe will need them. Just then, the phone rings; it's Rick, who tells his mom that he broke things off with Phoebe and is about to leave Big Bear. Brooke tells her son that she's sorry it turned out this way, but it was for the best. Rick says that he knows and bids his mom goodbye. As Brooke hangs up the phone, Ridge asks if it's over. Brooke says that it is, but she still thinks it will be hard for both Rick and Phoebe. Ridge tells her that he's grateful that she convinced Rick to back off and thanks her.