October 2006

At Forrester, Jackie drops in to see Brooke and tells her she can't believe that she and Nick renewed their wedding vows so soon. Brooke explains that they had faced some challenges with Ridge and wanted to make a fresh start. Jackie is happy for Brooke and tells her she's looking forward to being a grandmother. Brooke tells her that she and Nick agreed not to have children. Jackie thinks Brooke should reconsider since having a child has always been Nick's dream. Unconvinced, Brooke tells Jackie raising Hope will help fulfill that need for Nick. Nick overhears Brooke telling Jackie that the last thing she needs in her life right now is another child. He then walks in an interrupts their conversation. He tells his mother that he needs to speak to Brooke alone. After she leaves he prepares to break the news to Brooke. Nick begins by telling her that sometimes bad news could be considered good news if you look at in the right way. As he continues to pretty things up, Brooke grows suspicious and demands to know what he is trying to tell her.

At Forrester Creations, Nick attempted to tell Brooke about Bridget's pregnancy. Instead, Donna abruptly interrupted when she walked in and insisted she needed Brooke's opinion on something. Nick asked Brooke to meet him at the Shady Marlin to finish their discussion. After Nick left, Donna proceeded to ask Brooke which sexy nightgown and outfit she thought that Ridge would like the best. Donna disclosed that she and Ridge hadn't slept together yet, but were becoming close and a relationship was developing.

At the Shady Marlin, Nick asked Harry to leave so he could have privacy with Brooke. Nick took Brooke for a ride on the Shady Marlin in order to inform her that he is the father of the child that Bridget is carrying.

At the Shady Marlin, Nick blabbers on about how he never meant to fail Brooke and hopes she can find some way to understand what he is going to say, no matter how painful it may be for her to hear. Brooke is confused and wants him to just spit it out. Nick begins by reminding her that he forgave her for sleeping with Ridge the night of the supposed "rape." He also says he forgave her for kissing Ridge on the runway and appearing naked in an ad on their wedding day. Brooke doesn't understand why he is bringing all this up again and he explains that he wants to show her how much stronger they are now and how many obstacle they have been able to overcome. Growing more suspicious, Brooke asks him if he has done something to threaten their marriage. Not answering the question, Nick talks about how he has always felt like he had to share her with Ridge. Nick admits that the night after he found them kissing again, he lost it and had a serious lapse in judgment. He asks Brooke to forgive him and she tells him she hopes all he did was get drunk and go to a strip club. When Nick doesn't respond she begs him to tell her that he didn't have a cheap one-night stand. He admits that he did something far worse. Brooke is shocked and can't believe, that Nick with all of his morals and high standards would let her down in this way. Nick agrees that he screwed up in the worst possible way. Brooke says she knows it was because of Ridge and thinks it's a lame excuse. Drawing it out further, Nick tells her that he slept with a woman and just found out she is pregnant. Brooke is horrified, and says she thought all the scandals were behind her after she married him. She thinks nothing she ever did justified what he has done to her. Adding insult to injury, Nick finally admits that he wasn't with a stranger, but with someone he had previously been involved with. When Brooke realizes that he is talking about Bridget she completely breaks down.

Aboard the Shady Marlin, after listening to Nick spew a lot of the past up to Brooke, she fell apart at the fact that he had betrayed her in a way that she never thought he would. She slapped him hard across the face and would not listen to Nick when he said that he would find a way to make this all better. He tried to tell her that it was wrong and a moment of weakness and that he thought that she had gone back to Ridge. Brooke told him that she felt safe with him, that he would not do to her the same thing that Ridge did. She told him that this was something that she didn't think she could get through or beyond or past because his child was being carried in the "belly" of her daughter. After going up on deck, to get some fresh air, Nick appeared and Brooke was so filled with rage that she tossed him overboard. After calling to her, she tossed him a life preserver and then called the harbor patrol. She said that there was a man in the middle of the bay, overboard, and she wasn't going back. She then hung up and took the boat and returned to the dock, leaving Nick in the water to flounder.

Ridge arrives back to his house after his flight to find that Donna has set up a nice dinner for him. Donna tells Ridge that she loves him, but Ridge is hesitant. Brooke leaves Ridge a message telling him that he was right about Nick; he let her down. Donna deletes the message. But Brooke arrives at Ridge's anyway and to the disappointment of Donna, runs into his arms. Ridge tells Brooke it's never too late for them.

At the Guest House, Ridge and Donna can't get Brooke to open up about why she is so mad at Nick. When Nick calls Donna answers the phone and tries to persuade Brooke to talk to him, but she refuses. Ridge grabs the phone from Donna and blames Nick for making Brooke such a wreck. He tells Nick to stay the hell away from her and hangs up. Ridge then goes back to comforting Brooke, while Donna watches on tearfully. Donna is mad at Brooke for coming and crying on Ridge's shoulder and she begs Ridge not to allow Brooke to get away with it. She tells Brooke that she is being spoiled and selfish. Ridge asks Donna to give him a moment alone with Brooke and she reluctantly leaves. Once they are alone Ridge begins to probe Brooke about what happened. Still not ready to tell Ridge, Brooke talks about her feelings for Ridge instead. She admits that she was afraid she would have loved him too much and she could not deal with losing him again. Ridge tells her there is a price for security. Brooke agrees and says Nick has proven to her that security is an illusion and all that matters to her now is passion. Brooke tells Ridge the only reason she didn't come back to him was because she was living that illusion with Nick. She adds that Nick doesn't exist in her life anymore. Just then Nick barges in bursting to tell her the news. Ridge is shocked and disgusted when Brooke blurts out that Nick slept with Bridget. He starts to throw Nick out but before he can, Nick tells Brooke that he isn't the father of Bridget's baby. Ridge tries to push Nick out, but Nick holds tight, blaming Ridge for everything, saying none of this would have happened if Ridge could have left Brooke alone. Brooke tells Nick there is no excuse for what he did to her. Nick begs her to forgive him so they can have a future together. Ridge says he never let her down like Nick did and tells Brooke to end her marriage with Nick and take the life she always wanted with him.

At the Forrester guest house, Nick admitted his mistake with Bridget and asked for Brooke's forgiveness. Ridge snarled at Nick that his marriage to Brooke was only a distraction for Brooke from him. Bridget arrived and faced Brooke. Brooke asked Nick and Ridge to leave so she and Bridget could talk alone.

While alone, Bridget begged for Brooke's forgiveness. Brooke reprimanded Bridge for sleeping with Nick. At first, Brooke would not listen to any explanation that Bridget had for sleeping with Nick. Bridget explained that Nick does love Brooke and he is the man that she thinks he is, dependable; safe; and secure for Brooke. Bridget begged Brooke not to leave Nick and to be angry at her, not Nick. Brooke gave in and forgave Bridget. Brooke did not however promise to remain married to Nick.

Nick and Ridge argued over Brooke. Ridge insisted that Nick is Brooke's past now.

Later, Ridge strongly advised Brooke to leave Nick and return to him to the life together that they had always dreamed of with their children RJ and Hope. Ridge kissed Brooke and she didn't protest his passionate kiss this time.

At Brooke's, Ridge enjoys spending time with RJ and Brooke and wishes he could be there all of the time. Ridge says "Popeye" screwed up with Brooke and admits he did the same thing when he walked out on her. Ridge is excited because now he thinks he has a chance to get that life back with Brooke. Brooke asks him to be patient, explaining that she has to decide what's best for her and the children. Ridge understands, but believes in the end Brooke will choose him. Before Ridge leaves with RJ, he tells her he loves he and kisses her goodbye.

At Forrester, Stephanie has divorce papers drawn up for Nick and Brooke. She tells the lawyer she wants Ridge and Brooke to reconcile because that will make Ridge happy and also allow her to regain control of Forrester. After the lawyer leaves, Eric tells her that he thinks she is going overboard. As usual Stephanie ignores him. Ridge walks in with RJ and Stephanie asks him if Nick was at Brooke's. Ridge gleefully reports that Nick spent the night elsewhere. Stephanie tells Ridge she hopes he and Brooke get back together. Ridge urges his mother not to pressure Brooke. Stephanie acts like she won't, but then rushes out to a hair appointment, leaving Ridge very suspicious that she is up to something. Eric defends Stephanie saying her heart is in the right place. Ridge knows Stephanie's just trying to help, but says Nick's heart was not in the right place.

Back at Brooke's, she gazes at one of her and Nick's wedding photos, then her eyes fall on a picture of her and Bridget. Outside, Nick arrives and is warmly greeted by Hope, who is delighted to see him. When he gets inside, Brooke is not so happy to see him. Nick tells Brooke they have to get things figured out so they can save their family. Brooke thinks he should have thought about that before sleeping with her daughter. Nick knows there is no excuse for what he did, but adds that he had to forgive Brooke plenty of times. Nick thinks forgiveness is a part of love. He explains that Bridget gave him the one thing that Brooke never could, she made him the only man in her world. Nick refuses to share her with Ridge anymore. Brooke realizes that she has forced Nick to deal with a lot. Nick begs her to let him make up for the damage he did and regain her trust. He promises to never let her down again. Just when he's starting to sway her, Stephanie barges in with the divorce papers. Brooke wants Stephanie to butt out saying it's between her and Nick. Stephanie retorts that there is no Nick and her after what he did. Stephanie reasons that with one quick sign the whole ugly mess will be over forever. Nick thinks Stephanie has lots of nerve and Stephanie thinks he is one to talk. They keep bantering back and forth trying to persuade Brooke to do their bidding. Exasperated, Brooke orders both of them to leave so she can make this decision on her own. Nick whispers to Stephanie not to forget that she will need his signature too. Before he leaves Nick tells Brooke that he will always love her. Stephanie sneaks back and urges Brooke to follow her heart, reclaim her family and come back to the man who loves her.

Nick told Jackie that he was not just going to sit back and watch Stephanie and Ridge manipulate Brooke into divorcing him and returning to Ridge. Nick said that he knew that she would forgive him and he was not going to give up on her. Stephanie was still at Brooke's house after Brooke's repeated attempts to get her to leave. Stephanie tried to convince Brooke of the impact of what Nick had done by sleeping with Bridget, and that she should return to Ridge for RJ's sake. Nick visited Ridge at his Forrester office to tell him to allow Brooke the space she needed to make her decision. Brooke grew more and more frustrated with Stephanie because she wanted some time alone to think and to make the decision herself. Jackie walked in the front door clapping at the convincing speech that Stephanie delivered to Brooke. Jackie made a case for Nick when she stated how much he loved her and how sorry he was for violating their marriage, but that he was totally committed to Brooke and their family. Brooke told both Stephanie and Jackie that she was not going to be the battleground for their fight, and excused herself upstairs and told Stephanie and Jackie to see themselves out when they were finished arguing.

At Taylor's, Ridge stops by with gifts for Phoebe from his trip. Sensing that she is upset, he thinks she is angry with him, but she assures him that she is not upset about the divorce. Since she isn't mad at him, Ridge doesn't understand why she never responded to any of his emails or calls while he was away. Phoebe explains that she was lying to so many people and she didn't want to add him to the list. Concerned, he asks her if she is in some kind of trouble. She confesses that Taylor is the one who hit Darla. Ridge can't believe it and demands to know why she didn't tell him sooner. Phoebe tells Ridge that he was the reason Taylor was drinking that night, but no one blames him. She goes on to tell him that it was an accident and drinking wouldn't have made a difference because anyone could have hit Darla that foggy night. Ridge admits that he knew Taylor was in trouble and feels bad that he never tried to help her. He now understands how guilty Taylor must have felt and why she took Hector in and was so kind to Thorne. Phoebe agrees that guilt was the reason why Taylor reached out to Thorne in the beginning, but says now Taylor has truly fallen in love with him. Ridge is surprised to learn that Stephanie knows the truth and doesn't understand why she pressured Taylor to keep lying. Phoebe explains that no one wanted Taylor to tell the truth, but now she has confessed everything to the police. Phoebe blames herself for Taylor's trouble, saying she never should have come back from England. Ridge comforts her, telling her it's not her fault. He hates that she has had to carry this secret for so long.

Ridge criticized Stephanie for convincing Taylor to lie and for involving Phoebe in the lies. Stephanie explained that she did not know that Taylor killed Darla until the night of the fire at Hector's home. Ridge told Stephanie that he had hired Storm Logan to represent Taylor legally. Ridge didn't have high expectations that Storm could keep Taylor from prison since she had chosen to make a confession without an attorney present. Ridge hoped that Thorne could forgive Taylor and that he could be helpful in preventing Taylor from going to prison.

Ridge arrived at the police station and interrupted Lt. Baker's grilling of Taylor about obstruction of justice charges for others who knew she killed Darla.

At Thorne's, Ridge walks in to find Thorne staring at a picture of Darla. They hug and Ridge tells him how sorry he is. Thorne is upset that he was the last to know and he can't believe that he and Alexandria fell in love with the same woman that killed Darla. Ridge knows it's hard for Thorne to accept, but he tries to get him to see that it was just an accident and that despite everything Taylor did tell him the truth, and she does still love him. Ridge doesn't think Thorne really wants Taylor to go to jail for ten years and tells Thorne he is the only person that can keep Taylor from pleading guilty. He begs him to go to the courthouse and stop Taylor from throwing her life away.

At Forrester, Brooke and Ridge discussed the details of Taylor's confession and how it impacted the family, especially Thorne. Ridge expressed guilt over what happened to Taylor after he walked out on her and their family. He said he was unaware that she turned to alcohol to drown the pain because he was so interested in trying to regain Brooke's love. Brooke comforted Ridge, told him she was very sorry, and they shared a passionate kiss and hug.

Ridge and Brooke comforted Thomas as he found out about his mother's deception and confession while Phoebe explained that Taylor lied and covered up what happened to protect her. While Taylor waited for sentencing, Storm visited Brooke and told her that there was really nothing he could do since this was Taylor's wish. Ridge brought Thomas and Phoebe to visit Taylor in her jail cell before sentencing.

Jackie is surprised to learn that Ridge is moving back to Taylor's house. Stephanie interrupts their conversation to berate Jackie. After Ridge leaves, Stephanie and Jackie continue to argue, forcing Stephanie to slap Jackie. Nick meets Brooke for dinner at Café Russe. Brooke tells Nick what needs to change in their relationship for it to work. When Brooke goes to leave, Nick stops her and tells her how much he wants to be together again.

Nick asks Brooke to forgive him and to let him come home, but Brooke feels it is too soon. Brooke then arrives home to find Ridge at her house. Ridge tries to convince Brooke that they belong together. Brooke asks him to stop by the next day at six o'clock.

Brooke prepared for the big announcement of whether she wanted to spend her life and raise her kids with Ridge or Nick. Donna brought Hope and R.J. home from the beach, and Brooke asked to speak with them about the past and the future with Ridge and Nick. Brooke was called by Stephanie and Jackie to discuss why she should pick her son, respectively.

At Stephanie's request, Donna took Hope and R.J to Stephanie's house for a visit. Ridge and Brooke shared a moment as Brooke came down the stairs. Ridge told Brooke how much he had looked forward to her decision to come back to him. Just then, Nick walked in and Ridge asked what he was doing there. Brooke demanded that Ridge and Nick learn to find common ground and get along for Hope and R.J.'s sake. She told both of them what they meant to her, and how difficult the decision was for her to make.

Stephanie asked Hope and R.J. to make a birthday card for their sister Phoebe's upcoming 18th birthday. While at Stephanie's, Donna asked questions about whether she knew anything about Brooke's choice. Stephanie said it was obvious who Brooke was going to choose, and the Donna had no chance to be with Ridge.

At Brooke's, she continued to explain why she made her choice. Nick sharply said, "Don't humiliate me like this." Ridge asked Brooke which one of them was going to get to spend the rest of our lives with her. As Brooke was about to reveal her decision, Stephanie called Ridge to tell Nick to go to University Hospital because his mother was admitted there. Brooke followed Nick to the hospital and told him that she would be there for him.

Brooke told Nick again that she would be there for him, and anything he needed to just ask. Ridge cornered Brooke in a room at the hospital and asked her if she was ready to make the commitment to him and reunite their families. Ridge kissed her passionately and Brooke kissed him back, but did not give him an answer yet.

At the hospital in a supplies closet, Ridge kisses Brooke and pressures her to come back to him, before he can get an answer, a nurse burst in and shoos them out. When Brooke walks out she finds Stephanie and ask her about Jackie's condition. Stephanie says she thinks Jackie will be OK and Brooke should just concentrate on getting her life back with Ridge. When Ridge walks up, Jackie's doctor comes to get Brooke so he can go over Jackie's latest test results with her and Nick. After Brooke leaves, Stephanie tells Ridge not to worry that Brooke is just standing by Nick because of Jackie's accident. When Eric arrives he questions Stephanie about Jackie's fall and seems a little suspicious of his wife's part in it. Ridge assures him it was an accident.

In Jackie's hospital room, her doctor informs Nick and Brooke that he is unsure of the extent of damage to Jackie's brain, but that surgery will be necessary to drain the blood. After he leaves, Brooke attempts to comfort Nick by telling him what a strong woman Jackie is and how much she has to live for. She encourages him to be strong for his mother and to not give up hope. Nick tells Brooke how much he appreciates her being there for him now. After they both leave, Eric comes in to see Jackie. He tells her he will be there for her and will keep praying for her to get better. Before he leaves his kisses her hand and begs her to come back to them. Stephanie comes in, after Eric leaves. She tells Jackie how sorry she is about what happened, adding that she has to pull through this because Nick is going to need her more than ever now. Right after Stephanie says this, Jackie starts having a seizure and the doctors rush in along with Nick and Brooke. The doctors start working on Jackie and make everyone leave the room. Nick blames Stephanie for causing Jackie's seizure and tells her that if anything happens to his mother he will hold her accountable. Later Brooke tries to comfort Stephanie, saying Nick is just upset and she thinks it would be better for Stephanie to go home. Ridge comes over to see what they are talking about and Brooke explains that Jackie had a seizure when Stephanie was in the room with her. After Stephanie leaves, Ridge tells Brooke that he understands Nick is in pain and it's a hard time for her to leave him, however he needs to know if they have a future together. Before she can answer, Jackie is wheeled out for her surgery and Brooke rushes to Nick's side. Ridge tells Stephanie that he's not going to let Nick use Jackie's accident to lure Brooke back. He and Brooke then gaze longingly at one another, while she's embracing Nick.

Outside Jackie's room, Donna eyes Stephanie suspiciously, remembering how Stephanie pushed Jackie and caused her fall. When Brooke walks up to her, Donna tells her that Stephanie deliberately shoved Jackie and caused her fall over the banister. Brooke can't believe it, but Donna is adamant that Jackie's fall was no accident. Sensing that Stephanie is upset, Eric walks up to her and asks her how she's doing, before she can really answer, Lt. Baker comes over and asks about the accident. Stephanie starts telling her side of the story, when Nick walks up and angrily asks who is going to tell Jackie's version of what happened. Brooke keeps Donna from running over and incriminating Stephanie. Later, when they're alone, Nick tells Brooke that he knows Stephanie is responsible. Brooke tries to protect Stephanie and looks worried when Nick wishes someone else had seen what happened. Donna approaches Stephanie, tells her she a bully and warns her that one day she may be the one to make Stephanie get what's coming to her. Stephanie is confused and later tells Brooke that she had better get Donna to leave town because she's nothing but trouble.

Back in Jackie's hospital room, Eric stops by and remembers all the romantic times they shared together, He's happy to see that Jackie is somewhat awake and tells her how horrible Stephanie feels about everything, stressing that Stephanie would never do anything to harm her. After he leaves Donna drops in and promises to make Stephanie pay for what she did to Jackie, When Nick walks in she is tempted to tell him, but resists. After she leaves the room Brooke pressures her to keep quiet about Stephanie, but the more Brooke protects Stephanie, the more Donna is determined to expose her. Donna is sick of how Stephanie always gets way with everything and tells Brooke that Stephanie has to be stopped and put behind bars where she belongs.

At Brooke's, Donna discussed why she needed to tell Nick what really happened during the accident between Stephanie and Jackie. Brooke asked Donna if she could really be sure of what she saw and begged her not to make the situation between Nick and The Forrester's more volatile. Donna wondered why Brooke was suddenly so tolerant of Stephanie after all she had put the Logan's through. Then Donna asked Brooke to tell her whether she had chosen Nick or Ridge because it affected her life too. Donna left as Nick walked in wanting answers from Brooke.

At Forrester, Ridge told Stephanie that Brooke told him that she was going to follow her heart, and that meant that she was going to leave Nick and return to Ridge. He said that the accident with Jackie was just a minor bump in the road. Stephanie was telling Ridge that Brooke needed to send Donna away and that she would buy her a first class ticket to anywhere she wanted to go. As she was naming destinations, Donna walked in the office. Stephanie excused herself and Donna and Ridge discussed what could have been between the two of them in another lifetime.

Brooke spoke to Nick about her decision saying that she wanted Ridge there too. Nick said that their marriage should be discussed between just the two of them. Brooke said that she could not be married to anyone at that time. She said that she needed to spend time with her kids and search her soul without the attachment of marriage. Nick told Brooke that he knew that they were meant to be together and said that deep in her heart, Brooke knew it too. As Nick packed some clothes, both Nick and Brooke viewed flashbacks in their mind of their relationship.

Brooke was crying and thinking about how she hurt Nick. Ridge walked in and told Brooke that it must have been hard telling Nick. Brooke reinforced that she did not want to be married to anyone right now. Ridge told Brooke he would give her all the time she needed to make her decision. He said that he could see that Brooke was back and he passionately kissed Brooke.

Donna called Brooke to tell her that Stephanie had fired her and kicked her out of Forrester. Brooke said she could not do that. Donna said that Stephanie was going to pay for her actions. Brooke begged Donna to reconsider, but she said no, called Nick and left a message on his voice mail saying that the accident between Jackie and Stephanie was no accident.

At the hospital, the doctor told Nick that his mother was doing very well under the circumstances, but to expect the possibility that she would have some form of impairment either in her speech, or other motor function. Brooke asked Donna if she told Nick about Stephanie and Jackie's fight yet. Donna said she left him a message, but wanted to tell him in person. Brooke pleaded with Donna to make sure that she was absolutely certain she knew what she saw. Brooke also told Donna about her decision to end her marriage. Donna walked into Jackie's room and told Nick that she was so sorry about what happened, but that the accident was not really an accident at all.

At the Forrester's house, Stephanie and Ridge discussed Brooke's decision to leave Nick and take some time for herself and her children. Ridge and Stephanie agreed that it would be good for Forrester Creations to have Brooke back working and helping Ridge with his designs. Ridge told Stephanie that he was willing to be patient and wait on Brooke. He said he knew that they would end up together. Eric questioned Stephanie about the fight with Jackie. He asked why Jackie was able to fall when the railing was waist high. Stephanie said that they were fighting, but that Jackie's fall was an accident. Eric left to visit Jackie in the hospital.

Nick stormed out of the hospital after Donna's news. He drove towards Stephanie's house. Brooke called him to talk to him about what had happened, but Nick did not answer. Once Brooke told Eric that Donna had told Nick it was not an accident, Eric called Stephanie and told her to lock all the doors or to just get in her car and leave. She said that if she could handle Eric's accusations, she could handle Nick's.