Monday, February 09, 2009, Episode #5497

Stephanie gives Ridge some advice.

Stephanie enters Ridge's office and finds him gazing at a photo of Phoebe and Steffy. She asks about new collection. Ridge sighs that it's coming along slowly. Stephanie tells him that Eric used to spend time with the kids at home at times like this. Ridge says that he used to do the same thing, and now he'd give anything to spend have just one hour with his two girls. He wonders if it will ever get better. In time, Stephanie advises, the loss will be a bit less painful, like a soft glow in his heart. Ridge hopes he'll get to that point someday. "Do you think I could have done more to protect her?" he asks. Stephanie assures him that he couldn't. Ridge promises not to let anything bad happen to Steffy, even if it means going a bit overboard to protect her. Stephanie warns that Steffy is working through some issues right now. Ridge wonders why Steffy hasn't said anything to him. Stephanie tells him not to worry, since Taylor has already enlisted James to help Steffy cope with her issues. Ridge hopes he's not making things worse by laying his problems on Steffy. Stephanie assures him that his talk with Steffy the other day helped his daughter see things more clearly. Ridge praises Brooke for inviting Steffy over to see him the other day, since that helped. While she hates to admit it, Stephanie agrees that Brooke has a calming effect on him and suggests that he go home to his wife. Ridge is surprised to hear that, although he agrees about Brooke's ability to calm him. "Then go home," Stephanie instructs. Ridge offers to give Brooke a hug from her. "Let's not get carried away," Stephanie quips.

Taylor talks to Steffy about Rick.

Steffy thanks Taylor for asking James to talk to her, since he said some things she needed to hear. Taylor knows it was hard to listen to what James had to say, but they needed her to see that a relationship with Rick is impossible. Steffy reluctantly agrees, although it's still hard for her to accept. Taylor assures her that things will get better in time. She knows that Steffy thinks she fell in love, and that's a powerful feeling that can cloud your judgement and make you rationalize doing things you normally wouldn't do. "Your father needs you," Taylor asserts, begging Steffy not to make Ridge feel like he's lost both his daughters. Steffy agrees with her mom's concern and assures that she'd never hurt her dad. She just wishes she could ease his suffering and thinks Ridge might get over his loss if he'd just stop obsessing about what a bad guy Rick is. Taylor thinks that could happen eventually, but Steffy has her doubts. Steffy explains that she knows Phoebe doesn't blame Rick for her death and probably blames herself. But out of that tragedy came something beautiful, and she thinks Phoebe is happy about that. Taylor worries about that statement, since it sounds like Steffy thinks she and Rick might resume their relationship some day. Steffy just doesn't see how her relationship with Rick impacts her dad's ability to heal. Taylor points out that Rick caused Phoebe's death, but Steffy counters that Rick didn't kill Phoebe. She thinks the only way her father can move on is if he forgives Rick, but Taylor asks how Ridge can do that if his daughter is involved with Rick.

Stephanie arrives and asks what's going on. Taylor informs her that Steffy is having second thoughts. Steffy declares that she's going to show her father that he's wrong to blame Rick for everything, but Taylor doubts that's possible. Stephanie empathizes with Steffy's being stuck in the middle and being forced to choose. Steffy asks why she has to reject the man she loves because her dad can't deal with it and proclaims that she's not going to give Rick up. Taylor asks Steffy if she paid attention to anything James said, but Steffy argues that Dr. Warwick doesn't know anything about her life. Stephanie tells Steffy that as an adult, she has to live her life responsibly, and that means seeing her feelings for Rick for what they really are. She knows Steffy thinks it's some passionate romance, but she thinks it's more a case of Steffy and Rick being drawn together over a terrible loss. Stephanie advises that people cling to passion when they've suffered a tragedy, and she thinks that's what both Steffy and Ridge have been doing. "Your father is hanging on by a thread, and you're the thread," Stephanie warns, urging Steffy to act like an adult and give Ridge the absolute, unconditional love he needs from her by choosing him over Rick. "Fine, I'll break it off!" Steffy shouts, turning toward the door. Taylor tries to calm her daughter down, but Steffy exclaims, "You got what you want. Rick and I are over!" and storms out. Taylor sighs about the way Steffy stormed off. "She knows what she has to do," Stephanie grimly states.

Brooke forbids Rick from seeing Steffy.

Rick refuses to listen when Brooke forbids him from seeing Steffy; he asks why he shouldn't be allowed to follow his heart the way she's always followed hers and accuses her of putting Ridge's needs before his. Brooke agrees that she's concerned about Ridge's reaction, since she thinks they both know what Ridge would do if he found out about Rick's involvement with Steffy. Rick thinks Brooke is upset because she fears Ridge will leave her over this, but Brooke says it's not that simple. Rick doesn't see what's so complicated about his realizing his dream of falling in love with a girl who he wants to spend his life with. He tells his mom that she has to choose between supporting that dream or supporting Ridge's obsessive hatred of him. Brooke retorts that Ridge doesn't hate him and asks why he's being so insensitive by adding to Ridge's burden. Rick argues that he's burdened, too, since he's also grieving over the loss of Phoebe, and he doesn't understand why everyone can't see that. Brooke questions his motives, because she doesn't think he can grieve for Phoebe by falling for her twin sister. After all the things Rick did to break her and Ridge up and all the lies he told to the family, she thinks she'd be naive not to question his feelings and motives. Rick agrees that she's right to question him, but he wants her to consider that he's standing here telling her that he's in love with Steffy. He asks if she thinks he's lying to her.

Rick stands up to his mother.

Brooke thinks he's either in love with Steffy or he's convinced himself that he's in love with her, but either way, it just won't work. Rick accuses her of saying that because his being with Steffy will complicate Brooke's marriage to Ridge. "Of course it will!" Brooke proclaims, pointing out that she and Ridge have risen above all the manipulations from Stephanie and Taylor and even Rick, her own son, and they finally came out on top. She just won't turn her back on her husband because her son fell in love with her step-daughter in a matter of weeks, and she thinks it's cruel for Rick to even expect her to do that. Rick tells her to join the club if she wants to hate him. "You're going to stop seeing Steffy Forrester, do you hear me?!" Brooke orders. She asks Rick if this is his way of testing her, but he assures her that this isn't a test. He's just trying to live his life, but she's making it hard for him to do that by not accepting his feelings. Brooke asks what she's supposed to accept when he's done nothing but lie to her and manipulate her, starting with his fall from the roof all the way to his sabotaging the family business. She takes Rick in her arms and asks, "Where's this all going? What's going to become of you?" Rick doesn't know, but he does know that he and Steffy will be together, because he refuses to let Ridge dictate his life any longer.