Friday, January 27, 2006
Today was all about the Forrester nuclear family: Stephanie, Eric, Felicia, Kristen, Ridge, Thorne and Darla. Sad, weighty music played as Thorne led Felicia to her mother's side. Felicia pointed out to her mom how handsome Eric looked and continued to insist Stephanie was still in love with him. He then joined them and Felicia was happy, not only to see them together but to see her whole family together. She suggested they kick back and share stories about the bride and groom and their family, even though they were dressed "stiff."

That of course meant a big love fest. Darla talked about how supportive the Forrester family was of each other, through thick and thin, "which is a true testament to" Eric and Stephanie. Then Thorne professed his love to his parents, but revealed that their fighting made him feel "like a kid who's trapped in the middle, and I hate it." He said it felt good to see them getting along, however long it lasted. Next up was Kristen, who wished she was "still a little girl, living in this house, because this is the one place I have always felt so safe and protected." When Stephanie said they'd always be there for her, Ridge quipped, "Even when you don't want it." He then acknowledged all the turmoil the family had faced and went on to say that he'd finally realized all his mother's manipulations came from love. He added that while he'd "felt ripped off" when he learned Eric wasn't his biological father, he knew now that what he had in Eric was a real dad. "If the two of you can't make a go of it, what hope is there for the rest of us?" he concluded. Eric was touched by how much this marriage and this family meant to his kids. He apologetically admitted he hadn't spent enough time at home. The kids understood that "he had an empire to create and nurture," as Thorne said, but Eric said it was Stephanie who made "this house into a home," and created the fond memories the kids were referencing. Stephanie was touched. He took her hand, which was on Felicia's leg between them, and apologized for not acknowledging her before. "Well, we both have regrets," Stephanie admitted, maintaining that it was Eric who provided the warmth that made all those memories so special. After Ridge joked that the evening felt like "more like a therapy session than a wedding," Thorne asked about the judge and getting the wedding started. The wind chimes tinkled ominously and Felicia was moved by it — as if perhaps it was a sign from above. She revealed that this evening was just what she'd wanted and let her parents off the hook. "Don't go through with the vows unless it's what you truly want." Eric asked Stephanie what she wanted and the matriarch said they'd given Felicia their word. They would keep it, she concluded, "But heaven help us, Felicia." As the couple again held hands over their dying daughter, she looked at peace.

While the Forrester family night was going on, Nick arrived at his mom's place. She was fretting over whether he'd spilled the news of her engagement to Eric to Felicia. He told her that he'd planned on it, but after seeing Felicia he understood that the Eric/Stephanie marriage was the right thing. He just didn't like the idea of his mother and Eric's "deception." Then he warned his mom that Felicia believed the marriage would stick, as if a higher power were involved. Jackie claimed she was aware of the connection the exes shared, but nonetheless had faith in Eric. Nick was worried Felicia's will or the man upstairs would prevail, especially after seeing the family together.

Thursday, January 26, 2006
While Eric, Ridge and Thorne welcomed Kristen home for the wedding, Felicia and Stephanie were with the doctor. Felicia told him no more pain pills, because she wanted to be "with it" for the big event. He congratulated Stephanie on her upcoming marriage and she caught herself before explaining it was just a ruse. When he noted the hospice nurse had stopped by, Felicia quipped, "Dying should really attract some better designers. This stuff's so ugly." The doc checked on whether she had enough morphine and then Felicia told him that while her body was failing, something inside her was healing. After the doctor left, Stephanie called her on not being honest about being in pain and said the wedding could be postponed. Felicia countered that the wedding wasn't for her, even if her parents thought so. Felicia couldn't believe that her father would go back to Jackie once he and Stephanie were married. Then she talked about finding religion after falling ill and said that after of all her bad-girl ways, "I can't figure out for the life of me why He's always around." Stephanie admitted she'd been bargaining with God, promising money, prayers and that she'd be good if only he'd stay away from her daughter. Felicia revealed that she was having panic attacks at night, but that they would suddenly stop on their own. "It's like somebody is breathing for me and I know it's going to be okay," she said and then told Stephanie to go ahead and yell at Him, "but don't ask Him to leave me."

That's when her brothers and sister arrived. Ridge and Thorne were there to offer Kirsten support, as she was worried she'd break down in front of Felicia. Of course, she still broke down and Felicia understood. She promised Kristen that Tony's HIV would not lead him to an end like hers. Kristen agreed she'd been thinking of that, but added that she was also just sad to be losing her sister. Felicia wished they were closer and asked why she had to be in Miami, but then stopped "nagging" and instead asked for her help… doing her hair for the wedding. (That Felicia!)

Nick did not like hearing about his mother's bizarre engagement to Eric and told him so. When Eric said he didn't want to say no to his daughter, Nick swore he wouldn't let his mother "marry a man whose commitments are made out of cardboard." Eric very respectfully told him to butt out and suggested he might understand once his own daughter was born. Nick left to visit Felicia and found her lying on the floor by the bed. He helped her up, sat with her and admitted her hair was "a little cockeyed." Then Felicia broke down in his arms, saying she wanted everything to be perfect for the big wedding. She knew everyone thought the wedding was a joke, even Nick, and was crushed that she'd "stumble in like a lush who's uninvited." Nick offered to help her in any way he could, so she asked for helping dressing. "Hell Nick, you've seen the goods before," she joked when he shied away from the idea and then she begged him to keep her breakdown between them. It was clear Nick had come to discuss the wedding, but had decided against it. Instead, he brought out a walker, which Felicia refused to use.

At the main house, the judge arrived and the family gathered for the ceremony. Felicia was the last to arrive, escorted by Nick. "Look at us, all here together, looking so beautiful and unscathed," she said. "Like nothing ever hurt us or ever will. I believed that's the way we were meant to be, and here we all are." Nick left her with a kiss, passing her off to Thorne. Yes, she looked gorgeous, but she was clearly ailing. After Eric quietly thanked Nick, his daughter shot him an understanding smile.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Nick and Ridge continued to argue about who was worse for Brooke. She stood beside Nick as he insisted she'd never go back to her ex, but Ridge believed Brooke was only putting him through hoops — which he deserved — and that once she was over that, she would come back to him. Then he told Nick that he was just another one of the guys who tried to fill his shoes when Brooke needed someone and couldn't. He added that while Nick didn't deserve Bridget, he made her happy and threatened that if he stopped making her happy, "You'll be out in the dingy in the ocean with no paddles." That's when Brooke stepped in to say Ridge was wrong about her feelings for Nick, but right that she and Nick needed to break their connection. She sent Nick home to face Ridge alone. Noting the look in her eye, Ridge finally realized he may have lost her to Nick and begged her for a shred of hope. She was not receptive, insisting she wasn't his "Logan" anymore. She said since he'd left her, she'd learned what it was like to be a man's number one, which she never was with Ridge. "I would rather have nothing than what I had with you," she concluded, and Ridge agreed he'd been selfish. He said he'd felt dead and empty since he'd left her, but that he understood it must have been worse for her. "I destroyed our lives. I have no right to ask you to give me another chance, but I'm praying to God you will." Brooke was teary as he finished his plea for forgiveness, but only turned and ran upstairs when he finished.

Stephanie tried to explain her upcoming nuptials to Massimo, who was horrified and sure Eric would use this as a chance to worm his way back to her. She swore she was over him, but Massimo warned that she was too vulnerable to Eric. He said he wouldn't let her go through with it and then admitted that he was still stuck on her. He'd gotten his hopes up because, for the first time, they were both available. Stephanie couldn't return the sentiment, saying she'd never thought past their friendship, but reassured him that this marriage was not for love and would only last as long as Felicia's life.

Eric and Jackie (their exes!) were in post-coital and post-engagement bliss, even though Jackie felt the situation was a bit strange. Eric promised the prenup would be iron clad so that his marriage to Stephanie only lasted as long as it should. She asked him to promise to be honest to Stephanie and her. Then, she comforted him about Felicia and supported his decision to do what his daughter wanted and needed. "I will be here, anytime, day or night," she promised.

When Eric returned to the manse, Stephanie said a minister wasn't the way to go, since it wasn't a real wedding. Instead, they would make it a legal affair. Then, she showed Eric the invitation prepared by Felicia, which read, "By royal decree, you are herby commanded to attend the ultimate Forrester family reunion: A ceremony reuniting Grumpy Groom Eric Forrester and his Reluctant Bride, Stephanie Douglas Forrester. Anyone not attending will be talked about after the ceremony." (Very cute!) Stephanie broke down about losing Felicia, which led Eric to question whether the wedding was the right call, considering Felicia's unrealistic expectations. Before he could back out, however, his wise daughter showed up and made it clear her expectations were right on spot. She knew they planned to divorce, but hoped they'd ultimately see past their stubbornness and reconnect. The three held each other in a group hug.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Eric and Stephanie grumbled over the idea of remarrying for the sake of Felicia. Eric wanted to call it off, but Stephanie reminded him that it was for their daughter. They started planning the affair, with the caveat that they would end the marriage after Felicia passed away. Then Jackie called Eric because he was late for lunch. Eric said he'd be right over and hung up, leading Stephanie to quip, "Here we are, just engaged and you're having lunch with another woman. Some things never change." When Eric showed up at Jackie's, he immediately laid a kiss on her. He was apologetic about the time he'd spent away since the biz problems and Felicia's return, but she understood. When he told her he had to do something before they could be together, she half-joked, "The last time that you said that to me, you went off and married Brooke. You're not going to do that again, are you?" Worse — Stephanie! Eric explained Felicia's motives and said he'd only agreed because Stephanie claimed her battle with Brooke was over. A crushed Jackie worried that there was something between Eric and Stephanie and that they would see it. Eric quieted her by offering her an engagement ring, professing his love, promising they would be together and proposing. Jackie happily accepted.

Ridge caught up with Felicia at the guesthouse. He was shocked to learn Nick was her baby's daddy and then crushed to hear she was dying. He started grasping at medical straws, but Felicia said she had to face reality and asked him to be strong for her. She joked about the "magic powers" dying has given her, adding that they were so strong she was able to get their parents back together. "Its quite a hand and I am playing it," she quipped. Then she begged him to never let his feelings for Nick stop him from being in her son's life. Ridge of course agreed.

Brooke came downstairs to find a concerned Nick. She told him about Ridge's marriage proposal and apology. Nick went on an anti-Ridge tirade and then asked what her answer was. He was glad to hear she'd told Ridge she couldn't be with him, but asked if she was tempted. She insinuated she was still too stuck on present company, but also partially vulnerable to Ridge. Nick went off on Ridge some more and told her she needed a man — just not Ridge. She told him to go pay attention to his wife, but he insisted they'd always be in each other's lives. Ridge walked in just as Nick was saying, "Forrester is not the answer." The two started sparring, with each verbally bashing the other, as usual. Ridge said he wouldn't care if something happened between Nick and Brooke while he was with Taylor, but if Nick "had any decency at all" he would stay away from Brooke for Bridget's sake. Nick countered that, unlike Ridge, he wasn't disloyal to his family and knew how to make a commitment. He insisted he was a friend giving Brooke advice. Then he told Ridge to go and pushed him toward the door. Ridge wasn't pleased that Brooke was siding with Nick. "Something else [is] going on here and it stinks to bloody hell," Ridge shot at Nick. "I've got two sisters depending on you to be a father to their child and you're here messing around with Brooke. It's got to stop." Then Ridge got in "little brother's" face and told him he'd stop it himself if he had to.

Monday, January 23, 2006
Brooke stayed strong with Ridge, telling him it would take more than a kiss, some sweet talk and an apology to put his ring back on her finger. She insisted that having abandoned her, he had no right to come back and propose. Ridge remained confident that he still had a place in her heart and said that Nick's real concern was that their chemistry would reignite. When he said they always find their way back to each other, Brooke corrected, "You find your way back when it suits you and I let you in." This time she wouldn’t. Ridge thought she needed proof, but she responded that she just needed him to leave. He asked for a fresh start and swore he'd win her back, no matter what it took, protect her and make her his number one priority. She didn't want to be his rebound, but he insisted he'd been loving her for a while. He claimed he'd returned to town to make one final effort to save his marriage to Taylor, but instead, Taylor's indiscretions proved him right. "My heart was with you," he said and kissed her. And she kissed him back!

At Jackie M, Jackie worked on Nick, trying to keep him from getting caught up in Brooke now that Ridge was available. Nick of course remained anti-Ridge. The conversation turned to Jackie's romance with Eric. Nick was concerned about his mother's man working with his ex, Stephanie. Jackie confessed that she loved Eric and said she understood that he had to spend time with Felicia, but insisted she wasn't going to get her hopes up. She was, however, confident nothing could bring Stephanie and Eric together again.

Too bad she was wrong! At the manse, Stephanie was catching Eric up on the state of affairs, concluding that she was sad that Taylor wouldn't fight for Ridge. When she said Taylor was a stronger woman than she, Eric was quick to disagree. Then she announced that her "war" against Brooke was "finished." Her opinions hadn't changed, but she swore she wouldn't interfere. As Felicia listened at the door, Stephanie explained that she was through "banging her head against the wall." Felicia was all smiles when Eric responded, "Better late than never," and went in for a hug. That was Felicia's cue to enter. Stephanie remained very apologetic about her anti-Brooke campaign. "When we were first married, we were partners, but somewhere along the way, I stopped being your wife and became a drill sergeant," she admitted, but Eric insisted he shared the fault with her. They agreed that if they could go back, there were things they'd both do differently. Felicia jumped in and said that it wasn't too late. Then she asked them to get married, to make the family "whole and happy." She felt that her death would bring them together anyway, so why not get together now and let her dance at their wedding. Eric said she'd overstepped her rights, but after seeing that Stephanie was speechless, he acquiesced.

2005 recaps