Friday, December 26, 2008, Episode #5468

Eric talks with Brooke about Rick.

Brooke asks Eric over to her house to talk about Rick. Eric tells her not to worry about their son being prosecuted, since that probably won't happen. Thanks to Ridge, Brooke qualifies. They agree that Ridge did a wonderful job holding back his feelings to let Rick be with the family for Christmas, even if it was hard. Eric thinks it was an important first step, but Brooke fears that Ridge still wants Rick gone. Eric understands that and thinks they need to be sensitive to Ridge's feelings. Brooke agrees, but she fears that Ridge wants to send Rick back to Paris. Eric doesn't think that's a good idea, since Rick needs to be with them during this emotional time. Brooke concurs and is glad Eric feels that way, since it was very painful when she tried to talk to Ridge about it. She sees that Ridge knows that Rick is depressed, but she also feels like Ridge is very fragile right now, especially with Stephanie putting pressure on him to go after Rick. Eric acknowledges that Rick wasn't responsible for the accident, but he can't ignore all the bad things Rick did. He thinks Rick has deep seeded problems that have festered for years, which is all the more reason why Rick should stay in L.A. Brooke wishes Ridge would see that. She knows Ridge has been patient because he loves her, but their relationship is strained because of Rick. She loves Ridge and wants to be his wife, but she can't turn her back on her son. Eric advises her to tell Ridge how she feels. "You two can get past this," he assures as he gives Brooke a gentle kiss on the cheek. Brooke smiles and thanks him.

Donna prepares to welcome her Honey Bear home.

At her love nest, Donna prepares to welcome her Honey Bear home; she can't believe that Eric is finally hers again. After putting on her make-up, she looks skyward and says "thank you." As she sits down on the bed, she gets a call from Eric, who tells her that he missed her on Christmas. Donna asks how the family gathering went. Eric says that it was more wonderful than he imagined, but the holiday is over and it's time for him to talk Stephanie. He assures Donna that they have a wonderful future ahead of them and tells her that her Honey Bear loves her. Donna tells him that she loves him, too, and says she'll be waiting for him.

Stephanie gets some news.

After hanging up the phone, Eric comes in from the terrace. Stephanie comes into the living room and asks Eric if he saw Ridge, who just left. Eric asks how Ridge is holding up. Stephanie thinks it's hard losing a child, especially at this time of the year; she feels that Ridge really needs Rick to go to Paris. Eric tells her that he spoke to Brooke about that, and he's not sending Rick to Paris. He refuses to exile Rick from his family when he needs them so desperately. Stephanie asks how Ridge is supposed to heal if Rick is always in his face. Eric thinks Ridge is stronger than they think and will have a lot of support from the family, and he wants Rick to have that same kind of support. He thinks there's plenty of support to go 'round the family, as Stephanie well knows. Stephanie thinks it's best for Rick and Brooke if Rick goes, but Eric says that Brooke wants to be there for her son. Stephanie takes that to mean that Brooke is giving up on marrying Ridge, who won't want to marry the mother of the man responsible for Phoebe's death. Eric thinks Ridge and Brooke will settle this in time. He then tells Stephanie that he needs to talk to her about something Thorne did. Stephanie asks what happened, so Eric explains how Thorne hired a pair of models to impersonate Donna and Owen on camera. Stephanie asks what this means. Eric says that all his assumptions about Donna were wrong. Stephanie asks if that means he's giving up on them. Eric tells her he loves her, but Stephanie says that doesn't answer her question and asks if this means he's leaving her to go back to Donna.

Pam shows up on Donna's doorstep.

Meanwhile, Donna waits anxiously at her place for her Honey Bear, since she intends to give him the night of his life tonight. The waiting and tears are over and Eric will be hers for the rest of their lives. There's a knock at the door. Thinking it's Eric, Donna seductively opens the door, but she screams in horror when she sees Pam standing there with something sharp in her hand!

Brooke talks to Ridge about Rick.

Brooke is at home looking at the invitation to her and Ridge's recently postponed wedding when Ridge arrives and tells her that he laid the groundwork for Rick to go back to Paris. He knows this isn't what she wants to hear, but it's what he needs to move on. He doesn't think he can do that with Rick in L.A. Brooke doesn't think Rick will survive Paris, but Ridge thinks he will, just like he did when he was at International before. But everything has changed, Brooke argues, since Phoebe died and part of Rick died with her. She thinks this is the worst possible time to send Rick away. Ridge says that he loses it every time he sees Rick, and he doesn't want his kids seeing that - but he fears his kids will see it if Rick stays. He thinks Rick wants to destroy him just like he destroyed Phoebe, and he hates Rick for that.

Ridge tells Brooke that he doesn't want to lose her.

Brooke asks Ridge how he can say he hates her son, since she thought he was working through that. Ridge says he's just trying to be honest with her. He needs Rick to leave town. Brooke insists that Rick can't be apart from his family and urges Ridge to be stronger. Ridge says he needs her to be the same way, but Brooke can't do that when it comes to her son. Ridge can't stop thinking about what Rick did to his little girl. Brooke understands and tells him to lean on her, like he always has. Ridge doesn't think he can do that. "You can. If you care about me, you will," Brooke states. Ridge wants to be with her, but he has a gaping hole in his heart that won't go away. Brooke tells him to fill that hole with memories of Phoebe, but Ridge just wants to touch his daughter and hold her again. Brooke says Phoebe is with him always, but his heart is filled with so much hatred that they'll lose each other if he doesn't stop. Pacing around the room, Ridge tells Brooke that he doesn't want to lose her, because he believes in her; in fact, right now, it's the only thing he believes in. Brooke tells him that he believes in Phoebe too, since that love didn't die. "That will never die," she says as she puts her arms around Ridge and kisses him.

Rick gets a visitor.

Steffy comes by the beach house to see Rick (who is apparently living there now). Rick invites her in and tells her to give him what's coming to him, since he's heard it all by now and even agrees with some of it. Steffy explains that she spoke to Bridget about his claim that Phoebe attacked him. Rick frets that no one believes him, but Steffy says that she does after Bridget told her what the lab tests showed. Rick still regrets that his actions drove Phoebe to come at him so vehemently. He's glad Steffy believes him, but he feels like he doesn't belong here anymore because he's just a painful reminder to everyone of what happened. That's why he's decided to move to Paris, and he promises not to bother Steffy ever again. Steffy asks if he's serious. Rick thinks it's best for everyone, but Steffy doesn't think it's best for him. Rick doesn't think that matters after his mistakes took someone's life. He thinks the only thing he can do is move on with his life so everyone else can move on with theirs, but Steffy doesn't want him to go! Rick asks Steffy why she doesn't want him to leave. She points out that he's a mess, and she can't imagine him alone in Paris. She wishes she had never told Phoebe about him kissing her.