Wednesday, May 07, 2008, Episode #5306

Donna and Stephen get their picture taken.

It's Donna and Eric's wedding day. Donna, Brooke and Stephen arrive at the Forrester mansion and marvel at how wonderful everything looks. As Donna thanks one of the decorators, Stephen reminds her that this will all be hers soon. Donna wishes her mom was well enough to attend the wedding, but Stephen suspects Beth had issues with her former prince charming marrying another of her daughters. Brooke assures Donna that she'll learn how to be the lady of the house in no time. Stephen asks for a picture, since "this is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, unless, of course, you're a Logan." Donna scolds her dad for his comment, but Stephen says he was only kidding. They all laugh as Brooke snaps a photo of Donna with their dad.

Stephen has a heart-to-heart with Eric.

While Donna goes to get ready, Stephen pops into the den to get out of the way and finds Eric getting dressed. Eric admits that he came in here after getting kicked out the kitchen and invites Stephen to join him. Eric offers his condolences about Storm and guesses that Storm's death has weighed heavily on the Logans. Stephen confirms that it has, which is why he hopes today's wedding will be good for their families. He's just sorry Stephanie will be there. Eric informs him that Stephanie chose to attend the wedding, and he respects that. Stephen then notes that Donna will most likely outlive Eric and hopes that Eric will at least make her happy, since Eric's money and bratty children certainly won't. Eric tells Stephen not to insult his family, since they'll be there today. Stephen lets it go, commenting that he and Eric are nothing alike, since women old enough to be his daughters were still in grammar school in his day.

Pam questions her sister Stephanie about the wedding.

Ridge goes to the guest house and reports to his mother, who is waiting there before the wedding starts. He tells her it feels like doomsday at the main house. Stephanie explains that she couldn't have movers all over the house today, especially since she truly doubts that Eric will go through with the wedding after their talk last night. She doesn't think Eric seemed like a man who was excited about getting married when they talked. After Ridge heads back to the main house, Pam complains to Stephanie that she has nothing appropriate to wear to this event. She scoffs that she doesn't even want to be around tomorrow if Donna marries Eric today, so she suggests that Stephanie come back to Chicago with her. Stephanie quips that spending time with their mother won't be a picnic, either, so she turns down the offer. As Pam gets dressed, she asks Stephanie if she thinks this wedding will happen. Pam says that she'd love to go up to the main house and hold Donna's empty little head underwater. Stephanie says that she'd love to do that, too, but she won't. She asks Pam not to pull any dirty tricks today, as stunts like that only make Eric think he's better off without her. She just hopes Eric won't go through with the wedding.

Ridge hints that his dad might be having second thoughts.

Brooke is leaving a message for best man Rick when Ridge comes in to check on her. When Ridge jokes about the groom not showing up, Brooke thinks that's wishful thinking on Stephanie's part, but Ridge assures her that Eric was having second thoughts when they talked last. When Brooke blames Stephanie for that, Ridge asks what it would take to have her ease up on his mother, but Brooke refuses to let another disaster to befall her family today.

Thorne and Felicia see no reason to celebrate.

Pam arrives at the mansion, clad in a flashy silver dress. Ridge tells his aunt that this is a first, since she didn't bake for the occasion. Pam retorts that Stephanie wouldn't approve of exploding hors d'oeuvres and wonders why her sister is even letting this wedding take place. Ridge suggests that his mother might know something Pam doesn't, especially since the fat lady hasn't sung yet. Fat ladies aren't allowed in Beverly Hills, Pam scoffs. Soon after, Thorne and Felicia arrive and chat with Ridge and Pam. Felicia feels like she's at a funeral, trying to think of something to say that won't make anyone cry. Thorne laments that he couldn't let Alexandria come and had to tell her that she was too young. Felicia thinks he did the right thing, since he's supposed to protect his child from pornography - and that's what she thinks this wedding is!

Donna thanks her dad for his support.

Stephen comes up to check on Donna as she gets ready. Donna admits that she's nervous, since she feels like nobody wants this wedding, including her. Stephen tells her that she doesn't have to marry Eric if she doesn't want to. Donna states that she wants to, but she feels like half the guests downstairs hate her and the other half are shocked that she's doing this. Stephen offers to handle the crew downstairs, because he doesn't want to see her upset on her wedding day. Donna thanks him, laughing that she'll have her back to the guests, anyway. She admits that she'd rather have a rotten wedding day and a fairy-tale marriage than the other way around, and that's what she's going to have. She's just sorry Storm isn't here to give her away. Stephen says that he understands why she originally wanted Storm to give her away instead of him, but he assures her that things are fine between him and Eric. Donna predicts that her day will still be perfect, even if half the guests want her dead. Stephen agrees that she's going to be the perfect bride and assures her that everyone will see that when she comes downstairs.

Brooke makes some observations.

Brooke finds Eric deep in thought on the terrace and asks if she can talk to him. She tells him that this marriage won't be like theirs, where they were just trying to escape reality, since Donna loves him. Eric wishes he could have a life, or even just one day that's doubt-free, but a little voice in his head is telling him that he's making a fatal mistake. Brooke tells him that it's normal to be afraid of change, and she thinks it takes guts to do what he's doing. Eric wonders if it would take even more guts to stay with Stephanie, but Brooke advises him to look after his own happiness, reminding him of how much better he feels with Donna in his life. Eric agrees, but he thinks marriage doesn't fit all kinds of love, as their marriage proved. You don't just choose a person in marriage, he remarks, but you choose a life. Brooke asks if a life of lies and humiliation with Stephanie is what he wants. Eric tells her that Stephanie is part of his family, just like Storm was part of hers, and with that comes the ability to love.

Brooke agrees that he loves his family, but she points out that people change. For instance, his kids are grown up now. She thinks it's OK for him to care about Stephanie, but that doesn't mean he has to forget all the sins Stephanie committed. At that very moment, Stephanie approaches the terrace and overhears, so she stops by the terrace door and listens as Brooke reminds Eric that Stephanie lied to him about Ridge's paternity, faked a heart attack to keep her and Ridge apart and accidentally sent a rapist after her to keep her from her kids. Eric says he remembers all those things. Brooke reminds him he now has a woman who adores him and only wants to be close to him. Eric gives her a kiss on the forehead and goes inside. Once Eric is gone, Stephanie comes out of hiding and approaches Brooke. "Some relationships change," Stephanie states, "but not ours. You're still the same little home wrecker you were the first day you walked into this house."

Eric drops in to see Donna.

Eric goes up to see Donna. When Donna sees him, she asks if he wants to call the wedding off, since everything is just awful. Not everything, Eric assures, telling her that he doesn't want to change a thing. He did, however, cancel their reservations. Donna thanks him and promises to make it up to him once Katie is better, but he tells her that he can think of lots of scenic things the two of them can do in this very room. Donna suggests that they do some redecorating to make the house more "theirs" instead of his and Stephanie's. Eric asks if it was a mistake to expect her to feel at home in this house. Donna says she can if he can, but she thinks they should table this discussion, since it's bad luck to talk about real estate before the wedding. Donna tells him to go, since she needs to change. Eric gives her a goodbye kiss, leading Donna to point out that the next time they kiss, they'll be husband and wife. Eric leaves, and Donna closes the door to finish changing.