Friday, July 1, 2005
Stephanie was flailing without the oxygen, but she didn't actually flatline. Brooke taunted her, sure it was an act...until an alarm went off. Dr. Mark and his team rushed in and a "code blue" was called, but Stephanie was still breathing. Brooke swore the circuit hose came out by accident, but Stephanie came to and pointed the finger at her. Per Dr. Mark's orders, Brooke was physically removed from the room and taken to security. Luckily, Nick intercepted them, IDed himself as a detective and took her into custody.

Tragic music played as Brooke and Nick entered her dark, closed-up old home, where sheets covered the furniture. She admitted what she'd done under the false belief that the heart attack was "all an act" and explained that she was returning to her old home because Ridge and Taylor were reunited. "I lost my husband, the man that I love, the father to my child. I've lost everything," she whispered. The tears fell and Nick tried to comfort her. They commiserated over Ridge's decision, but Nick wouldn't hear about Stephanie, insisting that Ridge is an adult who should know better than to fall for his mom's tricks. "You have to do some soul searching and figure out where you go from here," he instructed, but in the end, a heartbroken Brooke remained defeated.

Bridget arrived at the hospital room to find Stephanie resting. Stephanie filled her in on the ceremony at the hospital. Bridget was saddened by the Ridge's decision, but that turned to concern when she thought of her mom. "You two had it out, didn't you?" she asked, and that's when Stephanie told her about Brooke's antics with the ventilator. "Your mother's gone a little crazy," Stephanie calmly reported.

Taylor and Ridge continued their make out session, but Ridge's head was elsewhere. Taylor let him "go tell Brooke," which left her conveniently alone when Dante showed up at the door again. Dante invited himself in, but Taylor clearly wasn't happy to see him. He understood that she was the last person he'd want to talk to on her wedding night and was happy for her. He asked her to "drop him a line sometime," and promised to never forget her. Enter Ridge, growling, "And who the hell are you?" Dante introduced himself to yet another distrustful Marone. He explained that he was just stopping by to congratulate them on their good fortune and attempted to say his goodbyes, but Ridge wasn't done with him. Certain Dante had come to see his wife only, he asked for an explanation. Taylor finally explained that Omar hired Dante to sculpt her and paint her portrait. Dante recalled, "I believe Omar's exact words where, 'I want you to capture Leila's exquisite beauty on canvas and in clay for eternity." Taylor recounted the confusion of waking from her coma and told Ridge that Dante was the one who'd figured out she wasn't Leila. They owed Dante everything, because he'd orchestrated her escape! Ridge remained suspicious, sure there was more to this story since she hadn't bothered to tell it yet. "What the hell's going on here, Taylor?" he demanded. "I want some answers!"

Thursday, June 30, 2005
In the darkened hospital room, Brooke demanded an answer as to where Ridge was. Stephanie just mumbled about the flowers, sighing, "They're so pure and so life-affirming. I don't think that I've ever been more peaceful in my life." She "nodded off" before continuing, this time babbling in general but obvious terms about "little boys" like Ridge (and his kids, presumably) needing their mother. "It's all over Brooke," she concluded and Brooke finally got it. Then Steph dropped the bombshell that they'd recommitted right there in her room, saying, "You are the loser." Brooke's alligator tears quickly turned to fury and she swore this wasn't over, promising to uncover Stephanie's manipulation. She forbid Stephanie from ever seeing RJ again. Then Stephanie proved what we've always suspected, grinning, "He loves me more than he loves you," and Brooke went in for the kill. She accused Stephanie of being obsessed with Ridge, crying, "That's why you didn't like him with me. Because he was able to be himself, free from you...Taylor's not a threat because she's just an extension of you!" Seeing Stephanie searching for the nurse's buzzer, Brooke grabbed it, threw it away and continued her diatribe. She called the heart attack the performance of a lifetime, doing a marionette-like parody of the ceremony. She ordered Stephanie to get out of the bed and started yanking her. Then, she pulled the oxygen plug. "Just in case you do die, know this. I'm going to come there by your graveside every day and put flowers there. For God's sake Stephanie, die! Prove me wrong and die!"

Nick dropped in on his pops and was surprised to find his mom visiting. Massimo explained Jackie had joined him because "a handsome young man is paying us visit and we know how your mother revels in that sort of thing." Nick stumbled on Dante's sketch of Taylor, which prompted Massimo to finally give some history on the guy. He explained that Dante is the youngest son of a "lovely" Italian family and a painter/sculptor with a growing following. Nick was skeptical at the explanation that Dante just happened to the sketch Taylor's face because it had been in the news. When he arrived, Jackie asked him to do her portrait, but he said he didn't have time. Nick introduced himself by producing the sketch of Taylor and saying he must work fast and that it looked like a work of love. Massimo then provided some more history, letting Nick now that Dante and Bridget were connected in Copenhagen. Nick's behavior remained openly hostile and distrustful. Dante ignored it and excused himself, explaining he had a plane to catch.

Ridge and Taylor returned home as once-again official hubby and wife, but Ridge's thoughts were on breaking the news to Brooke. Taylor was empathetic yet firm about focusing on their future. Thomas walked in on them kissing and was thrilled to hear they were back together, saying, "We're a family again. Thank you dad. You so did the right thing." Ridge didn't look so sure. When sent to bed, Thomas son quipped, "I get it. It's time for some action," which is just what they did.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Brooke remained suspicious and concerned by the convenient timing of Stephanie's heart attack, but Bridget was confident Taylor wouldn't let Stephanie manipulate the situation. Brooke responded, "Taylor is a woman first. She wants Ridge, even if it is Stephanie who's going to make it happen." She was only slightly relieved to think of Eric there, but feared his level head wouldn't be enough to counteract Stephanie's machinations.

In the hospital room, Taylor was tearfully overjoyed over Ridge's proposal to renew their vows. Stephanie finally directed some attention to Thorne, but only to ask him to be Ridge's best man. Eric suggested this might be too much for Stephanie, but his wife continued to ignore him, taking Ridge's hand and whispering, "Love you." Outside of the room, Eric warned Ridge him not to make the wrong decision in order to save his mother, who was clearly manipulating him. Taylor spied the tension between father and son when she joined them, but Ridge pooh-poohed it and asked about his mother. That forced Taylor to remind him that this decision "is about the rest of our lives, not your mother."

A disapproving Eric returned to Stephanie's side just in time to answer Brooke's phone call. He caught her up on Stephanie's condition, but hung up the phone, as Stephanie ordered, before answering her concerns about Stephanie's manipulations. When his wife asked him to get the "wedding" underway, he left the room and immediately called Brooke back, insisting she get to the hospital ASAP. She ran out of the house without hesitation and as she feverishly drove through a storm, an unsure Ridge sent out an apology to her. They both recalled their good times together in a montage of kisses, weddings and baby births.

Back with Stephanie, Eric, Thorne and Darla, Taylor and Ridge clasped hands and exchanged vows. Taylor promised, "Nothing can ever come between the love we share. Not even death." (But could Brooke, who was getting closer with every minute?) Ridge faltered before starting his vows, but finally began by saying, "No man could be as blessed as I am." The priest announced them "man and wife — again!" and Ridge kissed his bride.

Brooke rushed through the hospital only to find Stephanie resting alone in darkness. "Visiting hours are over," Stephanie said coldly and instead of answering Brooke's panicked questions, she returned to rest with a devilishly slight smile.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Massimo spotted the dashing Dante sitting at a bar, sketching a picture of Taylor. Dante said he came to L.A. on business, and Massimo encouraged him to stay in town and meet his two sons. He mentioned the miracle of Taylor's return, and then asked why Dante was sketching Taylor. Dante covered by saying he was struck by seeing her on the news, although earlier he had claimed he didn't have time to watch the news. Massimo dropped it, but invited Dante over later. He asked if he could have the sketch for Ridge.

Over at La Casa de Ridge's Wives, Brooke and Taylor waited to hear from their hubby. When he finally called, he told them about Stephanie's heart attack, but asked that only Taylor come (much to Brooke's dismay) since it was an argument over Brooke that led to Steph's collapse. Later, Barbie told Skipper — er, we mean Brooke told Bridget — about Stephanie's heart attack. Then she informed her daughter that Ridge wouldn't let her come to the hospital. Brooke insinuated that Stephanie was faking her heart troubles. Bridget tried to convince her mom that that was impossible, but Brooke didn't buy that. She honestly believed Stephanie masterminded the attack.

Stephanie woke up in the ER and told Ridge she didn't think she could hold on. Eric, Thorne, Darla, Ridge and Taylor gathered around her bedside, encouraging her to fight. Stephanie told them she loved them all so much, that she was at peace with her life, and apologized for interfering so much in her sons' lives. (Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. Bravo, Steph!) The hospital chaplain came in to say a prayer with the family. Ridge was determined not the let his mother give up, and so asked the chaplain to help him out. He told Stephanie that he and Taylor would be together forever, and then asked a stunned Taylor to marry him again. Stephanie looked pleased, and maybe a little self-satisfied.

Monday, June 27, 2005
Ridge held his mother, who was fighting to find her breath. As he fed her aspirin, she muttered, "I always said Brooke would be the death of me." Ridge got her into the car and called Eric to let him know she might be having a heart attack.

Gaby was hardly the blushing bride when she and Thomas returned to the manse a married couple. She felt guilty that she let Thomas talk her into tying the knot, but Thomas continued to insist it was the right thing for both of them. Thomas had to tell her that Nick saw them at the chapel, but then actually used the line, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." When he then suggested they do something special to celebrate, his eyes went straight to the bed behind them, which made him so nervous that he tried to excuse himself. "The bed is interfering with our honeymoon. It's making you think I mean things that I don't," he explained. The survived their "first awkward moment" and ended up cuddling on the couch and considering the positives of the vows they took. Thomas then kissed his wife good night to rush home and make curfew.

At the house, Dante and Taylor continued their reunion. Taylor was on edge, to say the least, as he handed her an envelope, which we had to assume contained the sketch he'd done of her, and walked in uninvited. He explained he wanted to see her before leaving and even mentioned meeting Ridge. He was horrified to hear that while Ridge wasn't around, Brooke was still in the house. He couldn't understand why Ridge hand't welcomed her back with open arms — especially a woman like her (wink wink). She was thankful that he helped save her, but admitted that his presence complicated things. They said their goodbye with much of the story still untold.

Meanwhile, Hector called from the firehouse to check on Brooke, because he'd seen the press conference on TV. He told her not to mind reporters, aka "the insects," to which Brooke responded, "I can't worry about those insects when I have a t-rex baring down on me." She then walked into the living room just in time to catch Taylor looking pensive. Brooke assumed the doorbell had been a messenger from the office and grabbed the envelope. Lucky for Taylor Brooke was half right — the envelope work docs, not that sketch. Taylor tried to make peace with Brooke, who pointed out that the tension between them could hurt the kids. She noted that it was easy for Taylor to be poised because she has "a 800-pound gorilla fighting" her battles for her. She again called Taylor a saint without secrets, which is starting to look less accurate with every Dante encounter. Neither wife was ready to go to bed, for fear the other would get a leg up in the competition. Brooke ultimately slammed Taylor for not making Stephanie butt out and said everything would be better if "Stephanie would just disappear!"

At the hospital, it was clear how poorly timed that statement was. Dr. Mark, Eric, Thorne and Darla met Ridge and Stephanie there and Ridge filled them in on her condition. After reacting to a sharp pain in her chest, Stephanie took Ridge's hand and told him and Eric not to worry about her. Once settled in a bed, she told Ridge and Eric to go home and told Ridge not to call Brooke. Ridge said her he loved her, even if she sometimes makes him "absolutely nuts." She got increasingly worked up about Brooke, making the machine start beeping like crazy. As her strength waned, Stephanie cried, "If you stay with Brooke, I don't want to be here. I don't want to see it. I don't. I'm telling you, it would break my heart."