Tuesday, September 30, 2008, Episode #5408

Stephanie wants answers from Owen.

Stephanie asks Owen to meet her at Il Giardino (the outdoor cafe that's actually the Forrester rooftop Sky Lounge set redressed to look like a restaurant). She wants to ask him why Donna keeps denying that she had an affair with him. Owen informs her that Donna isn't lying, insisting that he and Donna never had sex. Stephanie tells him that she caught him in bed with Donna and Eric later saw him and Donna in bed together. Owen insists that they saw two people who care for each other deeply. If he kissed Donna, that was all on him, because Donna never crossed the line out of loyalty to Eric. Stephanie asks if he's trying to insult her intelligence, since she can't believe that Donna stayed loyal to an older man when she had a handsome, virile young fellow available. Owen tells her that it's true. Stephanie asks him if he fell in love with Donna from afar. Owen admits that he did, professing his love for Donna. Stephanie thinks that's great, since it means that Donna has someone to care for her now that Eric wants nothing to do with her. "When I tell you that her marriage to Eric is over, it's over," she asserts. Meanwhile, Donna comes into the cafe and sees Stephanie and Owen chatting.

Donna asks Owen what he told Stephanie.

Once Stephanie leaves, Donna storms over to Owen's table and demands to know what he told Stephanie. Owen tells her not to treat him like the enemy. Donna reminds him that she's in love with Eric and wants him to recover. Owen says that he knows how she feels, but it's hard for him to feel like she thinks he betrayed her. "Did you?" Donna asks. Owen answers that he didn't and informs her that he told Stephanie that they never slept together, no matter how much he wanted to. Donna thanks him, but Owen then adds that he told Stephanie that he is madly in love with Donna. "As much as I would like to, that is something that I can't lie to anyone about," he states, begging Donna to give their relationship another chance.

Owen reminds Donna how he feels.

Donna insists that she's not giving up on her marriage. Owen asks her to consider that Eric and Stephanie are meant to be together, but Donna refuses to believe that. Owen begs Donna to think about the wonderful life they can have together. Donna tells him she's sorry. She wants nothing but the best for Owen, but she wants her husband back and vows to make sure that she gets him back.

Ridge has a suggestion for Katie.

In the living room at the Marone mansion, Ridge recalls the final moments when Nick agreed to share custody of Jack with Brooke. As he recalls Brooke's vow to Nick to build a life full of love for "our son," Ridge starts to wonder if he made a huge mistake. Katie arrives with her suitcases and is surprised to see Ridge there. She asks where Nick is. He informs her that Nick is upstairs with Brooke. Noting the suitcases, Ridge asks Katie if she's moving in. When she says she is, Ridge laments her decision, since he hoped she'd have the good sense not to get involved with Nick. Katie informs him that she and Nick love each other and reminds him that she and Nick have a baby on the way. Ridge informs her that her new little family is already expanding, since he and Brooke will be part of it now that Brooke is officially Jack's mother. Katie is surprised. While she knew Taylor wanted Brooke to be Jack's mother, she didn't think there was anything official. Ridge explains that he was the one who insisted on Nick giving Brooke equal custody of Jack in writing. Once they brought that to the table, Nick agreed, although Ridge admits he was surprised that Nick accepted the terms so easily given Nick's inflated ego. Katie reminds him that he's talking about the father of her child. She tells Ridge that every child needs a mom, and if Taylor can't be Jack's, why shouldn't Jack's biological mother, Brooke? Ridge tells Katie he has a weird vibe about this. He wants Brooke to be happy, but he knows that sharing a child is an intimate thing.

Katie tells Ridge not to worry.

Katie tells Ridge to put those thoughts out of his mind, since she thinks Nick loves her and knows that Brooke loves Ridge and wants to marry him. Ridge reminds her that Nick claimed to love Bridget, too, but that didn't matter in the end. He also thinks Katie will understand better once her baby is born how sharing a child binds the parents together, so he thinks he and Katie should both keep an eye on Brooke and Nick. Katie insists that Brooke and Nick are ancient history, but Ridge asks her to consider the possibility that Nick agreed to share custody of Jack with Brooke to keep Brooke in his life. He's not saying there's definitely a problem, but he thinks he and Katie both need to be mindful. Katie doesn't want to spend her live playing watchdog to see if Nick and Brooke cheat, but Ridge reminds her that Bridget never expected Nick to have sex with Katie, either. He asks Katie why she's so sure Nick will stay faithful. Katie tells him that Nick asked her to move in and she feels good about their future together, but she suggests that Ridge do some soul-searching if he doesn't trust Brooke. "I trust Brooke. I just don't trust Nick," he says, hoping Katie's right about the father of her baby. Still, he thinks it can't hurt for them to keep a watchful eye. Katie agrees, but she reminds Ridge that he's her sister's destiny. She advises "Destiny Man" Ridge to believe that not even Brooke and Nick sharing a child can interfere with that.

Brooke bonds with baby Jack.

Upstairs, Nick and Brooke sit in the bedroom. As Brooke cuddles with baby Jack, Nick tells her that he spoke to both Taylor and his attorney about drawing up the paperwork, so it's only a matter of time before he and Brooke share legal custody. Brooke thanks him. Looking at Jack, she tells Nick that the baby has the best of both of them, but Nick thinks Jack has some of his flaws and kids that he caught Jack with a beer and a cigar the other day. Brooke chuckles at the thought. "Our son has a great mom," states Nick. Brooke repeats the phrase "our son," getting used to the way the words sound. She tells Nick that it doesn't sound strange, although it does make her think back to the time when they thought R.J. was his son. Nick tells her that things work out the way they're supposed to. Brooke agrees, citing what's happened with Jack as an example. "We are parents, and that will never change," she tells Nick, who adds that now they get to make that bond legal.