Friday, December 8, 2006
On the limo ride home, Stephanie was anxious about facing her children but Eric assured her that they would be loving and supportive. Mr. and Mrs. Forrester walked into the mansion to find Ridge, Thorne and Felicia waiting for them. Stephanie apologized to her children for keeping such a secret from them. As Stephanie explained details of her painful history, everyone was disgusted that Ann turned her back on her own child. Eric lauded his wife for her strength. "It's not to say that your mother won't be driving us crazy before dinner," Eric joked to the kids. Stephanie announced that she wanted to move on and urged her kids to go home and hug their own children.

Brooke waited out the Forrester family powwow at Taylor's house. Brooke shared that she knew what it was like to be disappointed by a father. Taylor praised Stephanie for being able to break the cycle of violence that she grew up in. "There's no excuse for abuse," Taylor pointed out. The women went over to the Forrester house and Brooke gave Stephanie a reassuring hug. Taylor wanted to talk to Steph in private, so they adjourned to the den. There, Stephanie told Taylor how wonderful Eric's support has been. Citing her meeting with her mom as "cathartic," Stephanie wished she had the opportunity to confront her father. "You still can," Taylor declared then urged Stephanie to talk to her father as if he was standing in the room that very moment. "Dad, you said you loved me but you hit me," Stephanie charged. "I think you were a coward. What you did was wrong." A look of relief washed over her face. "See," Taylor smiled. "You can protect yourself."

Thursday, December 7, 2006
Thorne told Taylor that he noticed a boy at Alexandria's school who seemed to sport a lot of bruises and wondered if he could be a victim of abuse. Taylor suggested that Thorne bring this to the teacher's attention.

Ridge and Brooke tried to make sense of Stephanie's problematic past and how her own mother didn't protect her. Brooke wondered if Ann was scared of her husband. Hope waltzed in and wanted help with her dance steps for an upcoming Christmas pageant and Ridge happily obliged. He then left a loving voice mail for his mom.

"Tell me why, when I needed you the most, you didn't defend me?" Stephanie demanded to know from her mother. Ann blamed all of her daughter's childhood bruises on being a reckless child and scolded Stephanie for trying to hold her father responsible. "Shame on you!" Ann berated and Stephanie shrank away in defeat. "No Ann," Eric seethed. "Shame on you! How do you live with yourself?" He reamed his mother-in-law for her passive behavior but Ann insisted that Stephanie's allegations never happened. Eric angrily said he had always been thankful for Ann raising such a strong, loving daughter but now he knows that Stephanie became all of that on her own — despite her dysfunctional upbringing. Stephanie was moved by her husband's defense. As they left, a guilt-ridden Pamela hugged her sister. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I wish it had been me." But Stephanie expressed her love for her sib. Later, as they waited for the jet to take off, Stephanie asked if Eric could ever forgive her. "How many times have I married you?" he posed. "My forgiveness is on auto pilot." Stephanie then commented, "I don't even want to see her again — ever." Meanwhile, Ann told Pamela that she would never forgive Stephanie. After Pam turned in, Ann clutched a photo of her husband, but tears began to stream down her face and she dropped the picture on the floor.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006
In Chicago, Eric refused to let Ann take a nap. He insisted that Stephanie speak her mind. "Why is everything so dramatic with you?" Ann queried, but Steph refused to leave. Pamela entered as Steph and Ann started to argue about their history of silence and abuse. "Why didn't you stand up for me when I couldn't stand up for myself?" Stephanie asked. Ann replied that "if" her father ever struck her, she probably deserved it. Pamela admitted that she knew of the abuse going on but she was too timid and scared to do anything about it. Steph hugged her sister, saying it wasn't her fault that the abuse continued — it was their mother's. "Did anyone give you a handbook on how to handle Ridge?" Ann barked. She accused Steph of trying to destroy the memories of the only man she ever loved. "I've had to answer to my children about my failings," Steph shot back. "Why shouldn't you have to answer to me?" Steph asked why Ann was lying. "I need to know," gasped Steph on the verge of tears.

Back in Los Angeles, Taylor broke the news to Thorne, Ridge and Felicia that their grandmother wasn't dead and that Stephanie has been abused in her childhood by her father. Taylor explained how Steph kept the secret for all those years out of shame and fear. Ridge realized that was why Steph spoiled her children. Felicia regretted all the combativeness she showed her mother in the past. The kids now realized that Steph's past was the reason for her over-protectiveness through the years.

After the episode, Susan Flannery (Stephanie) and Betty White (Ann) did a public service announcement. If you need more information on preventing child abuse, call The National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

Tuesday, December 5, 2006
On the plane, Stephanie flashbacked to happier memories with her mom and sister. Eric tried to book a hotel room for the night but Steph insisted she wanted to fly right back home after meeting with Ann. "I want to get it over with and hightail it out of town," Stephanie groaned.

After smooching with Thorne, Taylor revealed that his parents were on their way to Chicago. He assumed it was to visit his Aunt Pam but before Taylor could explain, Hector walked in and announced he was moving back to the fire station. Taylor was worried about the living arrangement so Thorne had a better idea. "Do you have a problem with living in Malibu for free?" he asked and then offered his beach house to Hector, who happily accepted. After Hector left, Thorne and Taylor went back to making out on the couch. He wanted to take it upstairs but she said Ridge and Felicia were on their way over. Taylor explained that their grandmother was still alive.

Ann was perplexed over Stephanie's impending visit. "Perhaps your sister realizes you only have one family in this life," Ann surmised to Pamela, who worried that the visit could get unpleasant. Stephanie and Eric arrived and she was a little annoyed that Ann acted like there was nothing wrong between them. Ann rhapsodized about the past, then declared she would like to hear from her grandchildren. "I told them you were dead, Mother," Stephanie blurted. Ann was hurt and then tried to leave the room but Eric stopped her. "You're going to listen to what Stephanie has to say, whether you want to or not," he said firmly.

Monday, December 4, 2006
Stephanie called her sister, Pam, to say she was coming to visit her and their mother. Taylor encouraged Steph to confront her mother about not being there when she needed her. The doc then advised her friend to tell Eric that her mother is alive. Eric interrupted and asked what they were talking about. Stephanie explained that she's going to see her mother, who is alive! Eric was furious that he had been betrayed again by his wife. Taylor played mediator and asked Eric to let Stephanie explain. The doc told Eric that Steph was abused as a child by her father. Stephanie tried to defend her father, while Taylor pointed out what effect his abuse had on Steph. Eric told his wife that the scars last a lifetime. Taylor continued by telling him that Stephanie's mother didn't do anything when she confronted her about the abuse. Eric understood why she was going to see the mother who's been "dead to her" for 30 years and insisted on going with his wife. "I'm not going to let you go out that door and face this thing alone," he said. Stephanie asked Taylor to tell Ridge and the kids that Ann is alive. Eric and Steph headed out. On the plane, Stephanie filled Eric in on the time she told her mother about what dad was doing to her. She said when she tried a second time, her mom turned her back on her. Stephanie realized she couldn't erase what happened and it effected her whole life. "I'm so tired of being this person who is filled with anger and rage," she said. Eric guaranteed Ann will listen to her this time.

Pam informed Ann that Stephanie was coming to see them. The two went through old pictures of the family. Ann believed that Pam and Stephanie's childhood was a happy one.

2005 recaps