Thursday, October 09, 2008, Episode #5415

Steffy asks her mom if she's sure about marrying Rick.

Steffy returns to Taylor's after visiting Marcus in the hospital to bring him some soup and tuck him in. Steffy thanks her mom for including both her and Marcus in the upcoming wedding to Rick. Taylor says it was her pleasure, laughing that having two young kids standing up for them will make her and Rick feel younger. Steffy gets serious and asks Taylor if she's sure she wants to marry Rick. Taylor assures her that she and Rick have already discussed their wedding at length, but Steffy reminds her mom how her marriage to Ridge fell apart, despite how strong it was. She then tells her mom to forget it, but Taylor urges her daughter to please open up if she has any concerns. "I just never stopped hoping you and dad would get back together," Steffy confides. Taylor points out that it's natural for children to want their parents together, pointing to Eric and Stephanie as an example, but Steffy asks her mom if she ever thinks about being with Ridge again. Taylor admits that she's thought about it, having shared three kids and many memories with Ridge. "When dad walked out on you, you were crushed," Steffy recalls, identifying that as the point when things went wrong for Taylor. Taylor agrees, but she points out that things got better for her eventually, especially once Rick started supporting her. "Rick's been there for me in ways that no one else ever has," Taylor tells her daughter, praising Rick for making her feel good by always making her a priority. She gives Steffy a hug and assures her that everything's going to be OK.

Brooke voices her concerns to Rick.

At Forrester, Rick finds Brooke in Eric's office on the phone with Beth. Brooke ends the call and tells Rick that his grandma is OK. They're both glad Beth was lucky to have avoided being hit head-on by the speeding car. Brooke points out that Marcus was also fortunate to have survived his mishap with the snake, segueing from there to Rick's asking Marcus to be his best man. Rick explains that he made his choice because Marcus doesn't judge his relationship with Taylor, wishing Brooke could do the same. He asks his mom why she can't put her history with Taylor behind her, especially after Taylor put all that aside by giving Jack to Brooke. Brooke tells Rick that she's trying to accept his relationship with Taylor, but she has concerns. Most importantly, she wishes Taylor would give Rick the life he deserves, just as she did for Jack. Rick insists that Taylor is the life he wants. Brooke points out that they'll face many challenges, like his frequent travel as head of Forrester International and his desire to have children. She asks if he can handle being apart so often from a wife who probably won't want to go through childbirth again.

Rick tells his mom not to come to the wedding.

Rick concedes that there will be hurdles, but he thinks overcoming those challenges is part of what makes a good marriage work. "Taylor is the woman for me. I'm sure of that," he declares. Brooke asks Rick what he wants from her. He asks her to go to Taylor's and tell her that she accepts their relationship - and if she can't do that, then he doesn't want her at the wedding. Brooke argues that Rick's relationship with Taylor is based on his being her hero, wondering what happens when there are no more hurdles for him to help Taylor overcome. Rick is tired of his mother's resistance. Brooke tries to tell him that she just wants him to be happy, but Rick has had enough. He wants to be surrounded by people who love and support him and Taylor at their wedding, and since his mom can't do that, he doesn't want her there. Having bluntly made his point, Rick leaves.

Taylor is stunned by Brooke's gall.

Brooke makes a beeline for Taylor's to talk to her about the wedding. Taylor asks Brooke if she's changed her mind about the wedding. Brooke tells Taylor that this isn't about their history and instead is about Rick. Taylor suggests that Brooke talk to Rick in that case, but Brooke says she already did. She thinks Taylor as a mother should understand what it's like to look out for her children's best interests, even when doing so seems like meddling. "Sometimes it IS meddling," Taylor qualifies, but Brooke thinks they both know what it's like to make a sacrifice for their kids that causes a little short term pain to avoid more heartache in the long run. Taylor insists that she loves Rick and would never hurt him. "You loved Jack, too," Brooke counters, pointing out how Taylor gave Jack up because it was right and asking her to do the same for Rick. Taylor is appalled at Brooke's audacity to ask that, but Brooke insists that she would do anything to save Rick from this marriage as Taylor shakes her head in disbelief.

Pam watches Donna with Eric.

At Brooke's house, Pam continues to watch from behind the curtain as Eric begs Donna to talk to him. He's confused, since she's been begging him for a second chance for weeks. He admits that he couldn't give her that chance at first, since he was heartbroken seeing her in bed with Owen. But he's had time to think, and now he sees just how much he misses her. He kisses her and tells her he's sorry. But as Eric holds her in his arms, Donna looks over his shoulder at Pam in her hiding place and starts to cry. Eric sees Donna sobbing and asks what's wrong. He pulls her close, confident that they can have their second chance - that is, unless there's something else going on? Shaking with fear, Donna tells Eric that there is something else happening. Seeing her trembling, Eric urges her to tell him what's going on. He explains that when he came out of his coma, it was like no time had passed for him, but it took time for him to see that time passed for her, and she moved on with her life like he always told her to do. But he was so blown away when he saw her with Owen that he said some things he shouldn't have, and that's why he wants to get everything on the table right now.

Donna tells Eric that she has to end things between them.

Still sobbing, Donna suggests that they talk about this tomorrow at the house or the office, but Eric wants to settle this here and now, especially since he thought this second chance was what she wanted. "It's too late. I'm sorry. Everything's changed," Donna weeps. Eric asks what she means. Donna explains that things sometimes happen that turn people's lives upside down, and that's happened to them now. Eric asks if she's saying her feelings for him have changed. "I didn't say that," Donna responds, leaving Eric confused as to just what she is saying. He hopes she's still not upset about how he reacted to seeing her with Owen, since he already explained why he needed time first to understand his feelings. But now he's ready to talk and wants to let the healing of their relationship begin. Donna says she's not ready. Eric reminds her that they both made mistakes. Donna agrees, and that's why she doesn't want to make yet another mistake. She tells Eric that she's seen the future and sees nothing but tragedy if they stay together, which is why she has to end this right here, right now.