Tuesday, December 02, 2008, Episode #5451

Taylor makes a promise to Phoebe.
Taylor is thrilled to welcome Phoebe home from her musical tour with Constantine. She asks Phoebe if she's moving back home for good. "We'll see," Phoebe replies, noting that Constantine wants to take a break. Taylor asks her daughter if Constantine wants her back with him after his break. Phoebe isn't sure, since she spent a lot of time during the tour promoting the "Phoebe" fragrance and thinks Constantine might want someone who's completely devoted to the show. Taylor hopes Constantine will ask Phoebe back, but she admits that it will be good to have Phoebe home again. Phoebe snipes that it might be easier to stay there now that Rick isn't sharing her mom's bed. When Taylor is taken aback by that comment, Phoebe is shocked that her mother didn't realize why she stayed away from home so long. "It hurt too much to be with you," Phoebe declares. Taylor explains that she wanted Phoebe to come home when Thomas and Steffy helped her try to convince Ridge to come back home. Phoebe says that she couldn't handle that. She had finally convinced herself to accept her mother with Rick, so she was hurt when she found out that Taylor had dumped Rick after a few months to go chase after Ridge again. Taylor says she's sorry. Phoebe just wishes things could go back to the way they used to be. "Is that possible?" Taylor asks. Phoebe hopes so, since Rick was her first love. Moved by her daughter's pain, Taylor laments, "I didn't realize how I was hurting you" and promises to find a way to make it up to Phoebe. Mother and daughter share a tearful hug.

Brooke tells Ridge that she wants Rick at their wedding.
In their bedroom, Brooke tells Ridge that she wants to invite Rick to their wedding and rehearsal dinner, but Ridge says that Rick is not welcome as long as he refuses to support their relationship. Brooke refuses to bar her son from her wedding. Ridge asks what she'll do if Rick causes a scene. Brooke thinks she can talk to Rick to keep that from happening, but Ridge predicts that Rick will just use that as a chance to rag on him some more and asks Brooke why she'd want to put up with that. Before Brooke can answer, Ridge gets a call from Phoebe, who tells him that she's back home. Ridge is delighted that she's back in time for the wedding and says that he'll be right over to visit her. As he hangs up the phone, Ridge tells Brooke that Phoebe is back for the wedding. Brooke notes that he'll have all his children at the wedding, but Ridge counters that his kids aren't trying to break them up. Still, Brooke wants her son there on the greatest day of her life. Ridge reluctantly gives in and tells her to go work her magic with Rick. Brooke promises that he won't regret his decision and thanks him with a warm embrace.

Phoebe tells Ridge that she missed him.
Ridge shows up at Taylor's and gives Phoebe a big hug to welcome her home. He jokingly forbids her from going away for so long ever again and tells her how pleased he is to see her. Ridge sees the barrette in Phoebe's hair and recalls that he gave her that in Sydney. Phoebe informs him that she wears it all the time. She concedes that she didn't appreciate how protective he was of her when he first gave her the barrette, but she appreciates it now, and she's just sorry it took her so long to understand that. Ridge is just glad that she finally understands. Phoebe tells him that she even wrote a song for him. Ridge wants to hear it, but Phoebe thinks it would be better for her to sing it for him at the rehearsal dinner tonight. Ridge tells her that he can't wait. Sitting down with her on the sofa, he tells her how pleased he is to have her home, since he missed her. Phoebe says she missed him, too.

Ridge tells Taylor about his wedding plans.
Taylor walks in with some tea as Ridge tells Phoebe that he wants to sit down with her after the wedding so she can tell him about the amazing places she visited while on tour. Ridge then sees Taylor and asks how it feels to have their little girl back home where she belongs. "It's about time," Taylor responds. Phoebe excuses herself to go unpack so her parents can have some time alone to chat. Sitting down on the sofa next to Ridge, Taylor asks if he stopped by to discuss something, noting that she heard the words "wedding" and "honeymoon." Ridge tells her that he and Brooke are getting married tomorrow. Taylor congratulates him. Knowing that she was hoping to reconcile with him, Ridge asks Taylor if she can let that go and move on. She thinks she can if he promises to bring some stability to their family by coming by now and then to hang out with the kids. "Done," Ridge proclaims. Taylor asks if Brooke will have any issues with that, but Ridge thinks Brooke will be OK. Taylor promises to move on and gives him a hug. Pulling away from the embrace, Ridge asks Taylor to come to the wedding, but Taylor doesn't think that would be a good idea. "I'll always love you, Doc," Ridge professes, running his fingers through her hair. Taylor hugs him again, and Ridge returns the tender embrace.

Rick tells his mom that he won't support her being with Ridge.
Rick sits in his office, doodling on a pad as he flashes back to Ridge and Brooke's first wedding at the beach. He seethes to himself that he knows Ridge won't make his mother happy. Slamming down his pen in anger, he fumes that he won't let this happen and vows to stop the wedding! Soon after, Brooke arrives. Rick asks if she's ready for her big day. "That's why I'm here," Brooke answers. Rick hopes she's not there to ask him to do something silly like read a poem or stand up for Ridge. Brooke tells him that she wants him to stand up for her. She asks him to put aside his anger and accept that she and Ridge will spend the rest of their lives together. When Rick doesn't answer, Brooke tells him that Ridge has allowed him to attend their rehearsal dinner. "Has he?" Rick snarks, quipping that it was kind of "his royal highness" Ridge to allow him entry. Brooke says that she wants him there, but Rick retorts that there is no way in hell that he'll be there! He sarcastically tells her to call him when everything falls apart, since that's when he'll support her. Fed up with Rick's attitude, Brooke asks what he wants from her. Rick says that he just wants her to be happy, but Brooke insists that she *IS* happy with Ridge. Rick begs her to wake up and see that her happiness with Ridge won't last.

Brooke tries to get through to Rick.
Brooke tells Rick that she's been more than patient with him, even taking the time to listen to his theories about why Ridge can never make her happy. She respects his insight given that he grew up watching Ridge and her break up and get back together again, but at the same time, she expects him to accept that she and Ridge are not the same people they were then. She loves Rick and is proud of everything he's accomplished, but she thinks he should be enjoying the good things in his life rather than worrying about her and Ridge. "Don't wish the worst on me," she begs, pleading with Rick to believe that everything is going to work out for her this time. Rick says that he can't just close his eyes and let her walk into another disastrous relationship with Ridge. "I will never support your relationship with Ridge," he vows. Brooke tells Rick that she and Ridge are committed to raising a family together this time, and they both know what it will take to succeed. She wanted Rick to be part of that, but she sees that it's not going to happen. When Rick refuses to budge, Brooke tells him that this is his problem, not hers. She's gone through this too many times with Stephanie and won't do the same thing with him or anyone else. As she turns to leave, she says that she'll miss him at the wedding and apologizes for not being a better mother to him when he was growing up. Rick stops her and tells her that she was a great mother. He worshipped her, and he supposes that she was so special that he didn't want to share her with anyone. Brooke hugs him and thanks him for saying that. Moved by his words, she asks him again to be part of her wedding. "I need you to be there," she pleads. Unable to say no after a pitch like that, Rick gives in and says he'll be there. A grateful Brooke thanks him with a hug.