Tuesday, April 22, 2008, Episode #5295

Nick observes that Taylor is ready to care for their son.

Everyone waits in the courtroom for the judge to return with his ruling. While talking with Katie, Brooke predicts that the judge will never grant Taylor custody if he considers Taylor's relationship with Rick. Across the room, Rick assures a nervous Taylor that he only spoke up about their relationship to prove that it's not just a fling. Judge Friedman returns to the courtroom. Taylor frets that it didn't take long for the judge to deliberate, but Rick thinks that may be a good thing. The judge states that he's considered all the testimony, including Brooke's, and is ready to rule. He tells Brooke that she overstated her position by calling herself Jack's biological mother, but he still considered her opinion as the mother of the young man that Taylor Marone is engaged to. However, he feels that Taylor and Rick's relationship has no legal bearing on this case, and he even thinks that having a man like Rick in Taylor's life can be a stabilizing influence. And since the court appointed psychologist agrees that Taylor is stable, the judge rules to restore Taylor's custodial rights and awards joint custody of Jack to Nick and Taylor. The judge then asks Nick to return Jack to Taylor today. An elated Taylor thanks the judge as he ends the hearing. Taylor tells Rick that she couldn't have done this without him; Rick responds by kissing her while Brooke looks on. Taylor then thanks Nick for what he told the judge. Nick observes that she seems ready to care for their son. Taylor assures him that she is and agrees that they're doing what's best for Jack by giving him both his parents.

Ashley is taken aback by Storm's gift.

A lab coat clad Storm waits for Ashley in her lab and imagines how she'll react when he gives her a pair of pearl earrings. In his fantasy, she's grateful for the lovely gift and kisses him. But when the real Ashley arrives and sees Storm sitting there, she asks what he's doing. Storm tells her that he needs her help with a little chemistry experiment and hands her a lab beaker with the pearl earrings inside. Ashley tells him that she can't accept these, but Storm insists, since this is his way of apologizing for doing something wrong. Ashley asks why he thinks he did something wrong. Storm surmises that he must have done something, since she hasn't returned his calls lately. The gift is his way of making up for whatever he did. Ashley says that it's not necessary, but Storm thinks it is. He sees some potential between them, but he fears that Ridge said something to her that night in Cafe Russe to ruin it. Storm asks Ashley if she'd lie to him, but before she can answer, he gets a call on his cell phone from Katie. Katie tells him that the hearing's over, although it didn't end the way Brooke wanted. Storm asks if there's anything he can do to help. Katie says there is something he can do for Nick and asks him to come over to the Marone mansion to draw up some papers. Storm reluctantly agrees and ends the call. He then tells Ashley that he has to go and gives her a kiss on the cheek before leaving. Alone in the lab, Ashley looks at earrings and seems a bit freaked out.

Katie tells Storm what happened at the hearing.

Nick and Katie return to the Marone mansion to get Jack ready. Katie suggests that Nick spend some time with Jack before Taylor comes to get him, but Nick states that Jack gets cranky if he doesn't wake up on his own. He just wants to get the custody papers drawn up as the judge asked. Katie tells him that Storm is on the way. Nick sighs at the thought of joint custody. Katie points out that he wanted that, but Nick laments that what he really wanted was for his son to be raised by both his parents under one roof, like a real family. Katie tells him that they are a real family, even if they don't live together. Nick states that he just wanted Jack's life to be perfect. Katie gives him a comforting embrace. Soon after, Storm arrives. Katie tells him about the judge's ruling and the request for Nick and Taylor to draw up visitation papers as soon as possible. Storm thinks that should be simple enough if no one contests it. Katie points out that Brooke would like to contest it, but the judge made it clear that she has no right to do so. Unfortunately, Brooke didn't take that well and said a lot of hurtful things to Taylor and Rick. Storm asks why Rick was there. Katie tells him that Taylor and Rick are engaged, much to Brooke's chagrin.

Storm tells Katie that he won't put up with Ridge's interference.

Katie thinks they've talked enough about Taylor and Jack and asks her brother how he's doing. Storm tells her that everything would be great if it wasn't for Ridge. Katie asks what Ridge did, so Storm tells her how Ridge is trying to ruin things between him and Ashley Abbott. Katie is glad to hear that Storm is seeing Ashley. Storm explains that he and Ashley connected after just a few dates, but that obviously didn't sit well with Ridge, who turned around and fired him! Katie is stunned and asks if Brooke knows about this. Storm answers that Brooke does know, adding that Ridge even got Brooke involved and convinced her to tell him [Storm] to stop seeing Ashley. Storm tells her that Ashley may be the one for him, and he really likes her. Katie's glad that Storm is happy, although she'd be happier if Ridge wasn't lurking around. Storm agrees that Ridge, like all the Forresters, is ready to take anything good that happens to the Logans and turn it into something ugly. It really bothers him that Ridge is trying to turn Ashley against him. Katie asks what Ridge did to convince Ashley, so Storm tells her that he thinks Ridge told Ashley that he [Storm] was the one who shot Stephanie! Storm then hears a floorboard squeak; Katie tells him that's just Nick, who is upstairs with Jack. Realizing that they're not alone, Storm clams up about his crime and tells Katie that he suspects Ridge told Ashley, since Ashley is pulling away. "I won't let Ridge ruin this for me," Storm declares. And at the top of the stairs, Nick is listening to everything Storm is telling Katie.

Brooke asks Taylor to give Rick up.

Back at the courthouse, Brooke asks Taylor if they can talk. Taylor wants to leave to get her child, but Brooke asks if they can talk first about Rick. "You got custody of Jack and won, so now you can let Rick go," Brooke points out. Taylor is shocked that Brooke thinks this is just some kind of revenge game for her and insists that she isn't using Rick, because she really cares about him. But she supposes that she shouldn't be surprised, since that's just the way Brooke thinks, and she bets that Brooke must be going crazy staying awake at night wondering if she and Rick are making love. Brooke asks Taylor if she's sleeping with Rick. Taylor says that it's not really any of Brooke's business, but she admits that she and Rick have not yet been intimate. Brooke guesses Taylor's conscience won't let her cross that line and argues that Taylor's relationship with Rick is wrong. Taylor doesn't want to stand here and listen to any more of this, since she has to go pick up her son.