Wednesday, February 27, 2008, Episode #5258

Jack Abbott visits Forrester and his sister Ashley on Y&R.

Today, on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Ashley's brother Jack arrives in Los Angeles to meet with Eric Forrester. Ashley takes a moment to catch up with her big brother in Eric's office before heading for the lab, leaving the two men free to talk business. Jack makes a pitch for the new online/print magazine he's starting, RESTLESS STYLE, suggesting that Forrester Creations could benefit from being a major advertiser in the first issue. Eric points out that similar ventures in the past have failed, but Jack points out that those didn't have the money and talent of people like him and his partner, Nick Newman. Hearing that Nick Newman is involved, Eric points out that he's old friends with Nick's dad Victor, who just happens to be Jack's arch-enemy. Jack assures Eric that Victor has nothing to do with this venture. Eric likes what he sees enough to run this by his ad department, leaving Jack a happy camper. But after Jack leaves, Eric calls Victor to inquire about the magazine. Victor - who unknown to Eric is soured on the venture because of a rift with his son and because of Nick's decision to partner up with Jack - advises Eric that Jack and Nick are in over their heads with a magazine that's doomed to fail. And now, on to today's B&B.

Stephanie asks Ashley to be there for Ridge.

Stephanie drops by the lab at Forrester to invite Ashley to her anniversary party. Ashley thinks it might be awkward, but when Stephanie insists that she still thinks of her as family, even after the break-up with Ridge, Ashley agrees to come. When Stephanie sees the new aphrodisiac fragrance that Ashley is working on (the one she showed Rick earlier), she suggest that Ashley use Ridge as her guinea pig to test, but Ashley states that she has a different inspiration in mind these days: Rick. Stunned, Stephanie tells Ashley that relationships like that don't usually work out, and she doesn't think the fling Ashley and Rick had in Paris will make a difference in this case. Ashley thinks one could say the same thing about her relationship with Ridge, but Stephanie suggests that Ashley gave up on Ridge too soon. When Stephanie hints that Brooke and Ridge are going through problems now, Ashley states that she knows about the egg mix-up. Stephanie suggests that it's just a matter of time before Ridge and Brooke's relationship self-destructs over baby Jack, and she thinks that could open a door for Ashley. Even if Stephanie is right about the relationship, Ashley contends, the wounds of her break-up with Ridge have healed and she has no desire to open those wounds up again.

Ashley advises Stephanie to stay out of her love life.

Stephanie asks Ashley to be there for Ridge as a friend when Brooke walks away from him. Ashley says she could do that, but that's as far as it goes, especially since she wants to focus on Rick. Stephanie points out that Rick is rather young and puts forth that Rick isn't man enough for Ashley, but Ashley has no desire to debate her personal life with Stephanie. "If I want to have a walk on the wild side with Rick or anybody else," Ashley declares, "then I'm gonna damn well enjoy every second of it." Stephanie thinks Ashley sounds like one of her daughters talking to her that way, but Ashley states she means it. Whether she chooses to date Ridge, Rick or even Gene in accounting is no one's business but her own, she proclaims. Stephanie asks what Gene has to do with this, so Ashley explains that the accountant asked her out last week. She uses that to emphasize her point that there are many doors open to her that she's free to choose from, so she refuses to sit around hoping that Brooke will dump Ridge again. Considering Ashley's earlier point about Gene, Stephanie quips, "I guess I'll have to do the hoping for both of us."

At Taylor's Bel Air home, Rick asks Taylor if she's sure she wants to bring baby Jack to live here. Taylor states that it's been hard being away from Jack and insists that she's got her head together, so she has no doubts about her desire to bring Jack home and get on with her life. Rick offers to come with her for moral support, so they head for the Marone mansion together.

Brooke tells Nick that she loves him, but they can't be together.

And at the Marone mansion, Nick asks Brooke if she loves him. "God, yes," Brooke breathlessly responds, pointing out that she can't help herself and will always love him. At the same time, she doesn't think it's possible for them to be together. Nick thinks anything is possible if they want it badly enough, but Brooke thinks Taylor may have something to say about that, especially since Taylor is going to come over any minute to take Jack away. She asks Nick if there's anything they can do to stop Taylor, who has been so unstable lately, but Nick asserts that Taylor has a right to see her son. Still, it doesn't feel right to him to let Taylor take the baby from this house. Just then, Taylor and Rick arrive. Taylor is miffed to find Brooke here, while Brooke is equally surprised to see Rick with Taylor. Rick states that he's here to support Taylor, who launches a tirade about how Brooke once again is insinuating herself into Nick's life. Brooke tells Taylor that she's wrong to take Jack away from his father, but Taylor fumes that Brooke has no say in the matter and orders Brooke to accept that. She angrily suggests that Brooke, after failing to convince Nick to let her bear his child, conspired with Bridget to have Brooke's egg implanted during the IVF procedure. Brooke denies the charge. Rick and Nick both try to calm the ladies down. Taylor states that she doesn't care what Brooke does as long as Ms. Logan stays out of her life. When Rick tells his mom that her presence is exciting Taylor, Brooke suggests that they give Nick and Taylor some time alone.

Nick asks Taylor not to take their son.

Once Brooke and Rick are gone, Nick begs Taylor not to take their son from his home. He tells her that she can see her son any time she wants, but he thinks the child needs a stable routine that he could best get here. Taylor states that she doesn't want to keep Nick from his son, either, but she insists that Jack needs to be with his mother. "He's everything to me, now more than ever," she declares. Nick reminds Taylor how inconsistent her behavior has been lately, but Taylor argues that Jack is all she has left now. She assures him that they can find a way to share their son and make this work.

Rick defends Taylor to his mother.

In the other room, Brooke tells Rick that Taylor needs psychological help because of her alcoholism and delusions, but Rick states that he cares about Taylor and asks his mom to see it from Taylor's perspective. Brooke thinks it's natural for Rick to care given how Taylor has been intertwined in their lives for years, but she intimates that he'd be better off staying away from Taylor, who she calls a "walking disaster." Rick tells her that they don't have to complicate things and explains that he came there today to make sure Nick didn't give Taylor any trouble. He still can't understand why Nick would think Taylor would abandon Jack. "Because she did," Brooke replies, but Rick counters that Taylor just needed time to get her head together before bringing the baby home where he belongs, with his mommy. Brooke suggests that Taylor needs more time to get over her paranoid conspiracy theories before she's ready to be around the baby, but Rick insists that Taylor needs her son. Before Brooke can answer, they hear Jack crying on the baby monitor and take the back stairs upstairs to check on him.