Monday, February 25, 2008, Episode #5256

Nick questions Taylor's wanting to take their son with her.

At the Marone mansion, Taylor asks Nick why he would question her taking the baby. She thought he understood why she had to leave, but in her mind, there was never any question that she'd come back for Jack once she was doing better. It's just that she was never really prepared for the idea that their child came from Brooke's egg. But the reality is that Brooke is the boy's biological mother, Nick argues. Taylor reminds him that she's the baby's real mother, having carried him for months until the baby was born, while Brooke surrendered any legal claim she had to Jack. Nick states that the baby needs two parents that love him unconditionally. Taylor agrees, and she asserts that she would have been able to offer their child that unconditional love sooner had Brooke just stepped back, rather than using Jack as a reason to stay close to Nick. Nick says Brooke wasn't doing that, but Taylor is tired of hearing him defend Brooke.

Taylor agrees to come back for Jack.

Nick is a bit shocked that she would walk in here and take his child. Taylor says she'd never do that and suggests joint custody, but Nick thinks they should take some time with this to come up with an arrangement best for Jack. He points out that Jack is sleeping and suggests that Taylor let the boy sleep and return in the morning for their son. Taylor agrees. She says that this whole ordeal was killing her, but Jack is her son and she wants him with her. She then leaves. Later, Nick calls Brooke and leaves a message filling her in about Taylor's visit.

Rick is amazed at Taylor's efforts to pull herself together.

Taylor returns to her Bel Air home and is playing with one of Jack's toys when Rick drops by to check on her. Seeing the toys, Rick asks if Jack is here. Taylor explained that she wanted to bring Jack home, but he was sleeping, so she's going to wait and bring Jack home tomorrow. Rick is glad to hear that, since that leaves tonight for the two of them to have some unencumbered adult fun. Taylor responds by giving him a hug. Taylor then tells Rick how surprised she was to learn that Nick actually thought she would abandon their son. Rick concedes that it would have been hard for her given the history she has with his mother. Taylor says that she wasn't going to let Brooke steal her child, but she then realizes Rick might not want to listen to her talk about his mother in such harsh terms. Rick admits that finding out that Jack is his half brother complicates things, but he's good with complications. Taylor sees a look on Rick's face when he makes that last comment and asks what it's about. Rick states that he's just mesmerized at how quickly Taylor pulled herself together. Taylor guesses that he was on a rescue mission, but then he saw there was no one to rescue. She admits that she's making progress to becoming her old self again. Rick agrees and then decides to plant a passionate kiss on her! As Rick pulls away from the kiss, Taylor tells him he should go. Rick agrees and leaves.

Stephanie shocks everyone with what she says.

At the Forrester mansion, all eyes are on Stephanie as Lt. Baker asks her to tell him what she knows about her shooting. Stephanie pauses for a moment and then says that the person responsible for what happened to her is in this room. Eric and Ridge ask if she's OK; Stephanie goes on and tells the Baker boys that she's the one who was responsible for what happened. Lt. Baker and Charlie ask if she's saying that she arranged her own shooting. Not quite, Stephanie clarifies, but she's come to realize that she hurt so many people that she brought this on herself. She tells Lt. Baker that she'd like to close the investigation now. Baker says it's not that simple, but Stephanie assures the detective that she has nothing else to say. The Bakers have no choice but to accept Stephanie's choice and leave.

Storm and Brooke thank Stephanie.

Brooke asks Stephanie what she just did. Stephanie says that she closed the case and looks to Storm, explaining that Storm is now a free man. She tells Storm that she forgives him after listening to his sister Katie's passionate plea to her tonight. Thanks to Katie, she sees how hard it was for Storm to be the man of the family after his dad left, and that made her think Storm was worth saving. Ridge chimes in that Storm's tough childhood doesn't excuse what he did. Stephanie agrees, but she makes it clear that she doesn't want to talk about this again. Katie thanks Stephanie for hearing her out and actually listening. Brooke steps forward and adds her thanks; she admits she never really believed that Stephanie was capable of changing to make up for her part in the rape, but she thinks Stephanie proved tonight that she's a woman of her word. Donna adds her thanks for not sending Storm to prison. That leads Stephanie to look to Eric, who watches the whole scene with an approving look on his face.

Katie and Donna discuss Stephanie's motives.

The Logan siblings go back to Brooke's house, where they speculate about why Stephanie set Storm free. Storm admits that he's just grateful to be free, while Donna and Brooke both question if Stephanie only showed compassion for her own purposes. Katie agrees that Stephanie probably had a personal reason for doing what she did, suggesting that La Forrester wanted to prove to everyone, especially Eric, that she can change and that she has a heart. Brooke asks if Stephanie can really change, pointing out that Stephanie's grand gesture wasn't totally selfless. Donna is just glad Storm is free, and she's equally pleased that Eric will now remain free of Stephanie's abuse. "He's committed to me," Donna states. Brooke says that what happened tonight was wonderful for their family, but based on her years of experience with Stephanie, she can't help but warn her siblings not to count Stephanie out just yet.

Donna assures Katie that Eric will come back to her.

Storm decides to spend the night there at Brooke's and goes upstairs to rest. Donna then tells Brooke that she's been thinking about what Brooke said, and she doesn't think she has to worry about Stephanie trying to win Eric back. She will keep her eyes open, but she doesn't think she and Eric will have to worry now that they can be open about their feelings. Katie suggests that Donna give Eric some space for now; she points out that Stephanie did a huge thing for their family tonight, so it might not be a good idea to rub Stephanie's nose in the fact that she's lost her husband. She doesn't want to say that there's no future for Eric and Donna, but she thinks it might be better for Donna to let Eric come to her rather than her pursuing Eric, who has a real choice after seeing Stephanie's gesture tonight. Donna insists that Eric is committed to her, so she's sure he'll come back to her soon enough.