Monday, May 12, 2008, Episode #5309

Brooke is put off that Ridge insulted her sister.

As Brooke and Ridge arrive home, they chat about Eric and Donna's wedding, but Ridge elects to talk about their wedding instead. Brooke is surprised, since he had so many reservations. Ridge says that it's time ow that she's stopped obsessing over another man's child. Brooke reminds him that she's been occupied lately, but Ridge contends that he felt like she was backing away even before the crisis with Katie and Storm, so he's ready to do whatever he must to prove to her how serious he is. Delighted to finally hear those words, Brooke says she wants that, too, and kisses him. She suggests that they start making plans tonight. Ridge is OK with that as long as those plans don't include a wedding at the Forrester mansion, since he'd feel funny getting married there now that Donna's there. Brooke of course is put off that Ridge just insulted her sister! Ridge quickly backpedals and apologizes for the remark, claiming that he's just worried about how worried he is about his mother, who he hasn't been able to reach. He fears Stephanie is in a lot of pain, and he doesn't know how to help her. Brooke offers to let him go look for his other, but Ridge thinks Stephanie just needs time alone and decides to get back to making wedding plans.

Ridge apologizes to Brooke.

Brooke tells Ridge that there's one thing she needs to do before they get to their plans; she needs to come up with ideas for a memorial for Storm, since she and Donna still haven't had a chance to say their final good-byes. Ridge scoffs at the idea, asking which of Storm's misdeeds over the last few months warrants a tribute. Brooke angrily glares at Ridge, reminding Ridge that she's still grieving over the loss of her brother! Ridge apologizes and tells her to have the service, but Brooke is still upset that he's so insensitive to object. Storm was a good person, she states, and she loved him. Ridge apologizes for saying all these things that upset her when he should be comforting her and asks if she'll forgive him. Brooke says she wants to. Ridge takes Brooke in his arms and asks if they're OK now. Brooke opines that they can't just solve their problems by heading for the bedroom like they used to, and Ridge assures her that they've come too far to turn back now. "We're gonna get through this," he promises.

Donna tells Eric how happy she is.

In their bedroom at the Forrester mansion, Eric and Donna sip champagne and playfully toast their new marriage. Donna still can't believe how perfect their wedding was and admits that she was on red alert the whole day, expecting Pam, Thorne, Felicia or Stephanie to pull something. Eric admits that he was impressed with how gracefully Stephanie handled herself at the wedding.

Eric offers some advice.

Eric goes to put down his champagne glass and eyes a photo of Stephanie, Ridge and Thorne on the nightstand. Putting down the glass, he asks Donna why she's so quiet. She explains that she just realized that the first event she'll host as his wife will be Storm's funeral. Eric asks if she'll wait until Katie gets released to hold the service. Donna isn't sure if she should given Katie's attitude, but Eric tells her that she to wait, reminding her about the huge emotional and physical toll the whole ordeal has taken on Katie. He advises his new bride to give Katie the time she needs to come around. Donna reminds Eric that this is their wedding night and suggests they get back to enjoying that as soon as she makes one phone call. Eric agrees and tells her that he'll be waiting for her in the shower. As he gets up, Eric again eyes the photo of his ex-wife and their sons on the nightstand.

Stephanie pays Katie a visit.

Stephanie drops by the hospital to see Katie, bearing flowers from the wedding. A bitter Katie presumes that Stephanie is there to say "I told you so" about not sending Storm to prison, but Stephanie insists that there's no point in saying that now. Katie asks why she's here then, so Stephanie explains that she wasn't in the mood to talk to her family after the wedding and found herself thinking about Katie. "So you're here to call an impromptu meeting of the 'Shot by Storm' club?" Katie asks. Stephanie concedes they have that in common, but they also both have broken events over recent events in their lives. She points out that she feels alone since the wedding and thinks that Katie feels alone, too. Katie snips that flowers and small talk aren't going to cheer her up. Stephanie asks Katie why she's not happy that she survived. Katie says that everyone tells her that, but instead, she's lying here like a bitter, awful person who just can't accept her brother as some kind of hero. When she listens to Storm's beating inside her, she starts to wonder how she could be so stupid and not see what a time bomb her brother was. Stephanie thinks it was natural for Katie to protect her brother out of love after everything Storm did for her growing up, by Katie blames herself for causing Storm's death by rushing into a situation without thinking. Stephanie tells Katie to stop blaming herself for her brother's actions, but Katie thinks Storm's "final sacrifice" was sick because killing yourself for any reason is wrong. She doesn't even feel like her life is her own now that she has Storm's heart in her, and she doesn't know if she can ever forgive him or herself for that.