Wednesday, December 31, 2008, Episode #5471

Brooke gives Ridge a reminder about their upcoming wedding.

At Forrester, Brooke checks in with Ridge, who says that they're all set for tomorrow's fashion show. With that settled, he's ready to ring in the new year with his beautiful bride. Brooke points out that they're not married yet, but Ridge reminds her that they will be after the show. Brooke notes that there are some people they need to tell about the wedding, so Ridge offers to break the news to Taylor and explain why he's going ahead with wedding plans while they're still grieving over the loss of Phoebe.

Taylor is surprised by Ridge's news.

Taylor sits in her bedroom, staring at a photo of Phoebe. Steffy comes in to check on her mom. Taylor worries about how Steffy is coping with the loss of her sister. After flashing back to her kissing Rick, Steffy assures her mom that she's fine and says that Taylor has nothing to worry about. Satisfied, Taylor rests her head on Steffy's shoulder. Soon after, Ridge comes by and finds Taylor and Steffy together on the bed. He hopes he's not interrupting, but he has some news for them. Taylor asks what's going on. Ridge explains that they're all trying to heal and move on after losing Phoebe in their own way, so while he will be with the family for the fashion show debuting the new surf line, he'll be marrying Brooke right after. Taylor understands that he and Brooke want to get married, but she's not sure it's a good idea to do it now while he and Rick still have issues. Ridge says that he's doing all he can to forgive Rick. "Because he's Brooke's on," Taylor presumes. Ridge knows it will take time, but he thinks he can forgive Rick eventually since Rick has promised to stay away from the family, especially from Steffy.

Ridge promises to be there for Taylor.

Steffy leaves to go back to Forrester. Taylor watches as Steffy drives away and prays that her daughter will drive safely. Ridge admits that he worries about Steffy whenever she gets behind the wheel now. Taylor doesn't think they will ever stop worrying. Ridge tells Taylor that he's there for her. Taylor sobs that she knows he is, but she has to be honest with him; "I wish you were marrying me," she confesses. As Taylor tries to hold back her tears, Ridge puts his arms around her to comfort her.

Rick gives his mother his blessing.

Meanwhile, back at Forrester, Brooke informs Rick of her wedding plans. Rick thinks it's kind of sudden, but Brooke says that it's what she and Ridge want, and she would have thought that Rick would be happy for her. Rick pauses, flashing back to his kissing Steffy. When Rick doesn't say anything, Brooke asks if he's still having reservations about Ridge, especially after everything Ridge has done for him. Rick says it's not that. In fact, he knows Ridge is really trying, and he's grateful for that. He even admits to his mom that he truly thinks that Ridge is worthy of her. Brooke is thrilled to hear that, but she still senses something weighing on Rick and asks him to tell her what it is. Rick pauses again and recalls the times he made out with Steffy. Confused by her son's silence, Brooke asks Rick if she did something. Rick assures her that she didn't, and he thanks her for being so supportive. He just loves her so much and doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize her happiness. Brooke doesn't think he will, since she knows he wants the family to heal as much as she does. She states that they'll all be fine as long as he stays away from Taylor and Steffy and Ridge. "Yeah," a guilty Rick sighs as his mom gives him an assuring hug.

Brooke is still in Eric's office when Ridge returns from Taylor's. She asks how it went, hoping that Taylor wasn't holding out hope of getting back with him. Ridge tells Brooke that she's the love of his life, even though he'll always be connected to Taylor. He knows his family was challenged this past year, which is why he can't wait for tomorrow to bring a brand new year and a fresh start. "The best is yet to come," he promises as he kisses Brooke.

Steffy talks with Rick about the new year.

Steffy brings the press kits for tomorrow's fashion show to Rick's office. She knows he wanted these yesterday, but she had to send them back to the printer to add the inserts about their participation in v8's "Feeding America" program that's sending fruits and vegetables to millions of hungry families across the country. Rick smiles as he observes how charged up she is. Steffy says that she doesn't want to screw up her first fashion show, but Rick assures her that he would never let that happen to her for selfish reasons. Steffy tries to warn him not to go there. Rick concedes that he's supposed to be strictly professional with her, but he can't do that when she looks so good. Reminding her that today is New Year's Eve, he guesses that she wants this year to end as much as he does and asks if she made any new year's resolutions. She says that she has one, and they both know what it is. Rick says that that they don't have to start until after midnight. Steffy isn't sure they should wait, but Rick wants to kiss her one last time before the clock strikes midnight. "One last time," Steffy echoes, letting him lean in to kiss her.

Stephanie gets caught up with Pam.

Pam drops by the Forrester guest house to see Stephanie, who's thrilled to see her sister "sprung from the funny farm." Pam admits that she started to remember some of the terrible things she did in the hospital, but she was so scared that she pretended that she didn't know what she did. But now that she's faced what she did, she came back to L.A. to clean things up with Stephanie and with Donna. Stephanie asks Pam if she's going to see Donna. Pam says that she already did and tells Stephanie about the gift she made for Donna using her new "self therapy" of crocheting. She promises her sister that she's whole again, just as Stephanie's marriage to Eric is. Based on that comment, Stephanie realizes that Donna didn't say anything about reconciling with Eric.

Pam fumes that her sister has lost her husband again.

Pam fumes that the "superficial, self-centered twit" has won again by stealing Stephanie's husband. Stephanie assures Pam that she's fine. Pam asks Stephanie why she's here in the guest house and asks if Eric banished her here. Stephanie says that she's just staying here temporarily until she finds a place of her own. Pam worries about Stephanie being here all alone, but Stephanie thinks she won't have to be alone if Pam moves in with her. Since their mother is in an assisted-living facility, she thinks she and Pam can have a lot of fun spending time together, and she can look after Pam. Pam is impressed by her sister's offer; she thinks that shows that Stephanie is a millions times the woman that Donna can ever hope to be, and she just hopes Eric stops being led around by his "swizzle stick" long enough to realize that. Speaking of Eric, Stephanie realizes that it's New Year's Eve, when she and Eric always share a special, old-fashioned Gaelic toast to the new year. She thinks Eric would appreciate keeping that tradition going and decides to go find Eric and ring the new year in with him.

Marcus does a run through for Eric.

In the Forrester showroom, Eric wants to be ready for tomorrow's showing, so Marcus takes the models through one last walk through. Donna smiles, pleased to see her husband in his element getting the troops into shape. Eric admits that he feels invigorated, since this is the first showing since he was sick. He thinks Donna will see just how invigorated he feels when they ring in the new year tonight.

Eric promises to protect Donna from Pam.

Leaving the model's in Marcus's hands, Eric asks Donna if she sees any problems they need to fix tomorrow. Donna admits that she's a bit worried about modeling his choice for the showstopper, but Eric assures her that everything will be perfect. Wondering what has her so worked up about this, Eric asks Donna what's wrong. Donna tells him that Pam is back in town and tells him about Pam's visit earlier, leaving out the fact that Pam made the crocheted bikini. Eric asks how Pam seemed. Donna thinks Pam seemed sincere, but she fooled them before, and she worries that Pam could come after her again. Eric promises that he won't let that happen, since he's there to protect her this time. He tells her to go backstage and find the special New Year's dress he picked out for her, since they have some celebrating to do.