Wednesday, January 09, 2008, Episode #5223

Brooke warns Donna not to tell Storm about their deal with Stephanie.
Donna arrives at Brooke's house. Brooke anxiously asks Donna if she agreed to Stephanie's terms. When Donna gripes about Stephanie blackmailing her into giving up Eric to keep Storm out of jail, Brooke worries that her sister said no. Sobbing, Donna tells her that she wanted to stand up to Stephanie, but she couldn't. She had no other choice. Brooke assures her sister that she did the right thing, since this will give their family a chance to heal. Donna urges Brooke not to let Storm find out, since she's sure he'd rather confess than let her call things off with Eric. Brooke agrees that Storm can't find out. Donna asks about Eric, but Brooke states that Eric can't find out, either. Donna is torn that she can't tell Storm or Eric because Stephanie has taken control of their lives; she fears it's only a matter of time before Stephanie uses the children to reel Eric back in. Brooke suggests that things might be different this time, since Eric feels that being with Donna has changed him, but Donna frets that things are never different where Stephanie is concerned. As Donna weeps about missing out on her chance at happiness, Brooke assures her that there will be another man some day. "Not like Eric," Donna sobs as Brooke tries to comfort her.

Storm tells Brooke that he intends to get help.
After Donna leaves, Storm comes in and asks Brooke if there's been any word on their dad's release. Not yet, Brooke replies, but she's sure something will happen soon. Storm is still wary about Stephanie's willingness to help them and suggests that he talk to herself, but Brooke tells him that won't be necessary, because everything's under control. She doesn't think Storm should antagonize Stephanie by going over to the mansion. Storm asks if that's a sign that Stephanie is waffling, but Brooke assures him that Stephanie will keep her word to go to the police and free their father. Storm senses something off with his sister's demeanor and asks Brooke what's going on. Brooke tells him that she's worried about Donna, who has hit a rough patch with Eric since their father's arrest. Storm is sorry to hear that, since he knows that Donna really loves Eric. He feels that this whole issue is his fault, so he should fix it. Brooke warns him not to blame himself and assures him that she'll take care of him and keep him out of jail. The one thing she wants him to understand is that he has to get therapy to deal with his anger issues that led him to shoot Stephanie and frame their dad for it. Storm promises to get help and thanks Brooke as they hug.

Katie drops by to see Stephanie.
Katie drops by the Forrester mansion to see Stephanie. Stephanie guesses that Katie, as a Logan, is there to berate her or ask her for something, but Katie says she's actually here to thank Stephanie for the deal she offered Katie's family. Katie wonders if Donna will really be able to walk away from her night in shining armor to save her brother, especially since none of them heard from Donna since last night. Stephanie quips that Donna chose the wrong knight by picking a married man, but Katie counters that maybe Donna should have just waited until he wasn't married. But Donna's getting involved with a married man aside, Katie still finds Stephanie's blackmailing her family to be the typically reprehensible type of behavior that they've come to expect from La Forrester. Stephanie disagrees, saying that she has changed; she just wants the man she loves back so they can grow old together. Katie points out that it's still blackmail.

Stephanie is sure that Eric will come back to her.
Stephanie points out that Brooke came to her and asked for her to help the Logan family, but Katie points out that Stephanie is getting something in return for giving that help. Tiring of having to listen to listen to these accusations in her own home, Stephanie reminds Katie that she wasn't the one who came up with the solution to the mess Katie's family is in. She points out that she was the one who was shot, and getting shot makes someone reevaluate their priorities. Katie says she's sorry for what Storm did and promises to make sure he gets help. Stephanie claims that Storm has her to thank for the chance to get help, but Katie thinks the one he should really thank is Donna. Stephanie points out that she's the one offering the Logans a fresh start and only asks in return that they leave her family alone. Katie finds it odd that they haven't heard from either Eric or Donna yet and asks Stephanie if she's really OK taking back a man who loves another woman. Stephanie is sure that Eric will come back to her, just as he has many times before. Katie proposes that this time might be different if Donna tells Eric about Stephanie's blackmail; she hints that Stephanie could lose Eric forever if that happens, but Stephanie is confident that Donna will live up to her end of the bargain to save her brother.

Eric has a bunch of surprise gifts for Donna.
At the cabin, Eric works with some waiters to get everything ready for a romantic night with Donna that she'll never forget. Hearing Donna's car door slam outside, Eric shoos the waiters out the back and greets Donna with a mug of mulled wine as she comes in. Donna is impressed, especially when Eric tells her that he ordered her favorite meal from Cafe Russe, but Eric says that's just the start of his plans and gives her a present. Donna tells Eric that he didn't have to do all this and asks if they can talk first, but Eric wants her to open her present first. Donna opens the box and finds a white parka inside; Eric tells her that the rest of her winter wardrobe is hanging in the closet. Eric then directs her to the pocket of her parka, where she finds lift tickets and snowboarding lessons for two. Eric tells her that being with her challenges him to do things he's never tried, like snowboarding. Touched, Donna gives him a hug, so Eric doesn't see the tears in her eyes. She hesitantly starts to tell Eric that she appreciates him and that she loves him, but then she hears her car start outside. Thinking that someone is stealing her car, Donna starts to rush outside, but Eric tells her that they're just moving her car into the garage next to the brand-new tricked out hybrid SUV he bought for her.

Donna pulls away from Eric.
Handing Donna the keys, Eric goes on about the adventures they can have in her new SUV, but Donna doesn't know how he'll find time for this with his family and his work. Eric tells her that is work is fulfilling, but he doesn't need to work to escape from his life anymore, since he has her. He then tells Donna that he changed his mind about their wedding: he knows he proposed a small, private wedding for two, but he's decided that he wants their wedding to be the biggest celebration anyone has ever seen. He then gets on bended knee and proposes to Donna again, this time giving her a huge engagement ring! Donna gasps as Eric starts to put the ring on her finger, but she then pauses and tells him to stop. Wondering what's wrong, Eric guesses that she's worried about what other people, and especially Stephanie, will think, but he doesn't care about what those people thin. He knows the ring is expensive, but he thinks Donna deserves it, because what she's given to him is as priceless as that ring. He loves her and wants the whole world to know it. As Eric puts the ring on and tells her that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her, Donna recalls Stephanie telling her to "end it" with Eric. With Stephanie's words echoing in her head, Donna pulls away. Eric immediately senses something wrong and wants to know what it is. Donna says she's fine, but Eric doesn't believe it. "I want to know what it is right now," he insists.