Tuesday, January 08, 2008, Episode #5222

Nick continues to reassure Taylor.

Taylor tells Nick that she's sick of Brooke getting what she wants. Nick sees no problem with Brooke getting what she wants, since what she wants is Ridge, but Taylor insists that Brooke hasn't let go of Nick and manipulated the situation with the donor eggs to have his child. "Jack is our son," Nick assures her, but Taylor tells him that this is driving her crazy. All she wanted was a life with her husband, and their child was supposed to be part of that. But now, every time she hears the baby cry, she feels like she hears Brooke's voice in her head, trying to steal everything away from her. "I can't lose to her anymore. I just can't!" she screams. Taylor starts to calm down and asks Nick if he thinks she's being irrational. Nick says she's just overwhelmed, but she thinks that she, as a psychiatrist, should have a better handle on her emotions in circumstances like these. Nick tells her it's OK to be scared and insists that he's there for her, but Taylor feels like there's a dark cloud hanging over her and she's losing control.

Taylor feels emotionally spent.

Nick asks what she'd tell a patient who came to her with this kind of problem. Taylor explains that she'd tell her patients to cry out in order to identify their emotions and deal with them. Nick suggests she do just that, so Taylor starts screaming for Brooke to leave her and her family alone! After trying for a few minutes, a disappointed Taylor tells Nick that it's not working, since yelling about her pain isn't making her feel any safer. She feels like she's emotionally spent, so she doesn't have anything left for the baby. Nick reminds her that they're a team. When baby Jack starts crying, Nick suggests that they go tend to their son, but Taylor tells him to tend to the baby himself. Guessing that Jack just needs his diaper changed, Nick goes to check. While Nick is gone, Taylor gazes longingly at Nick's wine glass on the table. When Nick returns, Taylor tells him that she's feeling better now. She declares that she keeps forgetting that their son is a sacred gift that God allowed her to bring into the world, and she thinks that should mean something. "It means everything," Nick responds as he embraces his wife.

Stephanie reminds Donna what's at stake.

At the Forrester mansion, Donna refuses to let Eric get sucked back into a life of despair with Stephanie, since she loves him too much to let that happen. "More than you love your brother?" Stephanie asks, warning that Storm will go to jail if Donna doesn't leave Eric. Donna reiterates that she refuses to let Stephanie insult or manipulate her, even when Stephanie assures her that this isn't a bluff. Donna retorts that Storm would rather turn himself in than let Stephanie dominate his sisters. Stephanie asks Donna to imagine how Storm will feel being locked up while his sister is living the high life with Eric. Donna insists that this has nothing to do with money. Seeing that Donna still refuses to budge, Stephanie mocks Donna's feelings for Eric as she reaches for the phone to call Lt. Baker. Before Stephanie can finish dialing, Donna tells her to hang up! Stephanie bets that the police and the press will have a field day with the arrest of a successful attorney like Storm. Donna wishes that Storm had managed to kill Stephanie when he had the chance. Stephanie states that she just wants her husband back, but Donna remarks that Stephanie lost her husband on her own. Stephanie looks down at Donna's hand; Donna tries to hide it, but Stephanie sees that there's no engagement ring on Donna's finger. The two women argue about what it means to love Eric. Stephanie proclaims that she wants the man she devoted her life to back, but Donna argues that Stephanie should just leave Eric alone if she really loves him.

Brooke hesitates to answer Eric's questions.

Eric stops by Brooke's house to ask about Stephen's case, since Donna mentioned some kind of new development. Brooke hesitantly replies that it's a complicated situation, so she can't talk about it. Eric is surprised at Brooke's ducking his question and asks if she's been doing that with Ridge. Brooke answers that she and Ridge don't let the situation with her dad affect their relationship. Eric is glad to hear that, since he and Donna came to a similar agreement. He asks Brooke if Donna told her about his marriage proposal. Brooke says that Donna told her, but Eric senses some concern in her voice and asks if she has any reservations about his relationship with her sister. Brooke assures him that she has no concerns about his feelings for Donna, so Eric guesses that she's worried about Donna battling Stephanie over him and assures her that he plans to make Donna happy. "You already have," Brooke insists. Eric wants to make Donna as happy as she has made him and predicts that he and Donna will have plenty of time to work on that after the wedding. He tells Brooke about his plans to elope with Donna on a remote private island, but a guilty-feeling Brooke suggests that he and Donna take things slow. Eric thinks she may be right and suggests that he's spent so much time thinking about the future that he hasn't shown Donna what their lives will be like now. He promises to show that to Donna tonight.

Eric asks Donna to meet him at Big Bear tomorrow.

Back at the mansion. Donna and Stephanie continue to argue about who is better for Eric. Stephanie insists that Donna knows nothing about commitment; Donna counters that Stephanie is being stubborn and delusional if she thinks she can win Eric back and points out how Stephanie's marriage fell apart once the children and the company could no longer hold it together. Stephanie argues that Eric's fantasy with his new sex toy will end, which is why she's fighting to save her family, and she asks if Donna is willing to do the same for her own family. Just then, Donna's cell phone rings; Stephanie bets it's Brooke checking on Donna and tells Donna to answer, but Donna picks up and finds it's Eric. Eric tells Donna that he's driving up to Big Bear tonight and asks her to join him tomorrow for a special romantic weekend. Donna intentionally repeats enough of Eric's words for Stephanie to know what's going on and accepts the offer. But once Donna hangs up, Stephanie scoffs at Eric's actions and tells Donna that Eric will be surprised when Donna tells him it's over.