Tuesday, September 04, 2007, Episode #5138

Ridge suggests a trip to Big Bear.

Brooke sits on her sofa, reading a story to Hope and R.J. Ridge comes in after doing the dishes and guesses that the kids had fun today, something they haven't done in a while. R.J. blurts out, "Big Bear!" and Hope agrees that they should go to the family cabin. Brooke thinks it's a bit late for that, but Ridge thinks they can go tomorrow and spend a few days there, like they used to. Brooke thinks that's a good idea, so Ridge tells the kids to get upstairs, into their jammies and into bed so they can get an early start. The kids race upstairs and Brooke follows to tuck them in. When she comes back down, Brooke looks at the spot at where Andy raped her and starts to remember that painful night. Ridge comes up behind her and tells her that a few days away will will do her good. He's just sorry he misinterpreted her actions and misjudged her when she really needed his support, and he can only say he's sorry for that. Brooke thinks everything will be fine now that she has the kids back and tells Ridge not to worry, since he was only acting out of concern for the kids. As for his mother... Ridge blames himself for letting his mother go as far as she did by pressing him to seek full custody. He's glad that's over. Now he just wants to go to Big Bear and move on. Brooke asks if he can get away, but he assures her that his dad and Rick can handle things at the office. Brooke asks about Ashley, so Ridge says he'll explain it to her. "About the rape?" Brooke asks. No, Ridge assures her; he just wants to let Ashley know what an idiot he's been. He promises Brooke that he'll never doubt her as a mother ever again.

Jackie frets about Donna's impending marriage.

Jackie watches while Donna tries on wedding dresses. When Donna suggests some outlandish wedding outfits that would certainly drive Stephanie wild, Jackie asks if it's really wise to antagonize Stephanie now that Brooke has her kids back. Donna points out that it was Ridge, not Stephanie, who dropped the custody suit, so she still thinks La Forrester has this coming, and she revels in the thought of sitting at Thorne's side, right across from Stephanie, during family gatherings. Jackie thinks Brooke can handle Stephanie herself, but Donna wants to be there to help her sister. Jackie thinks there has to some other way, but Donna sees no reason to pass up a successful, sweet and handsome guy like Thorne and his angelic daughter. "You don't love him," Jackie retorts. Donna can't believe Jackie is worrying about that again, but Jackie points out that this marriage could last for the rest of Donna's life. Donna thinks she could learn to love Thorne, especially when she thinks about the way she's always went for bad boys instead of good guys.

Thorne has bad news for Donna.

Thorne comes in to tell Donna that they have a problem. Donna agrees that they do, since he's not supposed to see his bride in her gown before the wedding. Jackie leaves as Donna tells Thorne to turn around. With his back to Donna, Thorne tells her that Aly came down with some kind of bug last night, so he thinks they should postpone the wedding for a few days so Aly can be there. With his back to her, Thorne can't see the disappointed look on Donna's face as she tells him to have the wedding whenever he wants. She tells him to turn around; Thorne seems worried about bad luck, but Donna reminds him that it's only bad luck if she's wearing the dress and reveals that she's stripped down to her underwear. They start to kiss. Donna tells Thorne that she's sorry about Aly, although she's seen Brooke's kids bounce back from bugs like this in no time. She'll delay the wedding if he wants, but that'll also mean delaying the honeymoon. Thorne says he doesn't want that, so Donna asks him to let her get her dress alterations done so they can move forward with their plans.

Rick is surprised by Ashley's news.

At Forrester Originals, Rick stops by the lab and asks Ashley if she's seen Ridge. When she says he's not there, Rick bets Ridge is with Stephanie, planning another attack on Rick's mom, but Ashley surprises Rick by telling him that Ridge has agreed to give custody of the kids back to Brooke. Rick wonders what changed Ridge's mind, but Ashley doesn't have the details, having heard from Stephanie about this. She admits that she didn't see this coming. Rick isn't surprised, since this is what his mother and Ridge do all the time, wanting to do one thing and then turning it around in another. He doesn't want to minimize what Ashley feels for Ridge, since he know it's real, but he wants Ashley to keep in mind that Ridge is capable of loving two women at the same time.

Ashley opens up to Ridge.

Ridge comes in and asks if he can talk to Ashley alone, so Rick excuses himself. Ashley then asks Ridge if this is about his dropping the custody suit and giving the kids back to Brooke. Ridge admits that it is. Ashley tells him about how upset his mother was when she got the news about Brooke and just wishes she heard it direct from him, and not second hand from Stephanie. Ridge tells her that he didn't want to sign that petition at first, since he knew Brooke was a good mother, even if Brooke hasn't been herself lately. But at the same time, he wants Ashley to know that his feelings for her aren't affected by his sharing custody with Brooke. He tells Ashley about his plans to take Brooke and the kids to Big Bear tomorrow, after everything Brooke and those kids have been through, and he asks Ashley how she feels about that. Ashley says that she understands why he feels like he has to do this, but she also knows about the history he and Brooke share. Given how her own relationship with Ridge is brand new, she'd like to know if he feels like reuniting with Brooke. Ridge responds by passionately kissing Ashley, telling her that he needs this time with his family, but he also wants to be sure that he spends time with Ashley when he gets back - and not in the lab.

Katie gets good news from Brooke.

Katie drops by Brooke's house with chocolate chip cookies made from their mom's secret recipe. Brooke tells her youngest sibling that she feels great now that Ridge brought the kids back, which is the best medicine she can get. Katie can't wait to see them tomorrow, but Brooke tells her about the plans Ridge made to go, as a family, up to Big Bear. Katie points out that Donna's wedding is tomorrow, but Brooke says she spoke to Donna, who understands why Brooke needs this time off to reconnect with Ridge and have some fun with him and the kids like she used to. Katie senses from Brooke's words that Brooke still loves Ridge.