Friday, July 27, 2007
Smarting from her run-in with Stephanie, Donna stopped off for lunch at the same restaurant where Thorne was drinking at the bar. "Is there any place in town where I can't run into one of you Forresters?" Donna asked. Thorne engaged Donna in conversation and he ordered more drinks. The bartender asked if he should have any more, but Thorne became annoyed and insisted on getting served again. Donna explained to Thorne the mean things his mother said about her. As Thorne became more and more intoxicated by the mix of booze and drugs swirling around in his system he hallucinated and saw Donna as Darla. When Thorne began to leave the restaurant he stumbled and nearly knocked Donna down. She and the bartender helped Thorne up. The bartender asked if he should call a cab but Donna said she would take care of him. She carted a nearly-passed out Thorne back to his place and laid him out on his bed. When she eyed a framed photo of Stephanie on his nightstand she prepared to smash it in anger, but before she could she spotted a second framed photo of Thorne and Darla. A light bulb went off in Donna's head. She put the photos back, disrobed, crawled into bed beside Thorne and unbuttoned his shirt and pants. Thorne believed she was Darla and began to kiss and make love to her, who was pleased as punch with herself for finding a way to hurt Stephanie.

Meanwhile, Taylor and Stephanie traded notes on Thorne. Taylor suggested to a concerned Stephanie that she get him some help, and offered her own assistance.

Phoebe was devastated to learn that her suspicion of Ashley as "the other woman" was correct. Rick delicately explained his backstory with Ashley, going back to how they met in Paris. Rick insisted that he only turned to Ashley when he thought he and Phoebe were through and declared that anything and everything between he and Ashley are over. Rick then said in the interest of full disclosure and "no more secrets between them," that Phoebe should know that he and Ashley never made their planned business trip because he had the pilot divert their plane and fly them to an impromptu romantic interlude in Mexico. An overwrought Phoebe cried and declared "TMI" and told Rick to stop with any more details. Phoebe questioned how Rick could ever have truly loved her has he claimed he did if he could so quickly run back to Ashley and sleep with her. Rick tried to explain but Phoebe stormed out in tears. As Rick sat to collect himself, Ashley entered and learned in horror that Rick told Phoebe already. Ashley blew up and asked Rick where Phoebe went, and explained that Phoebe could very well be telling Ridge before she has the chance to tell him herself. As expected Phoebe made a beeline to Ridge, and cried in his arms. She blurted out the identity of Rick's "other woman" to Ridge, who was stunned to hear it was Ashley. After consoling his daughter, Ridge went to his office to be alone to think. A frantic Ashley burst in, hoping that she got to him before Phoebe did. "Ridge?!" she cried out, as Ridge turned to face her with a disheartened look in his eyes.

Thursday, July 26, 2007
Ridge hung up with Constantine after insisting he wanted to figure out who Rick's French-speaking lady was. Then he not-so-ironically told Phoebe that Ashley was his new woman. Meanwhile, downstairs, Rick checked on why Ashley missed her meeting and then asked if she slept with Ridge. She asked why she was getting the third degree and teased him because he wasn't getting any sex. "Don't say that I did not warn you," he said and she agreed, but warned she was going to tell Ridge about their past. This time, he didn't argue, but asked for one day to soften the blow for Phoebe. Then they hugged it out. Unfortunately, Phoebe caught them and after Ashley covered up seamlessly, she excused herself in French. Phoebe put it all together. She didn't say anything because they had to talk about their aborted sex. He apologized for pushing her after she said no and wrote it off as confusion on both their parts. She wasn't sure he could really be okay with a sexless relationship. He revealed he'd thought it out and realized he was asking himself the wrong questions. What was important was that he was happy and in love with her. She was touched, but brought up his other woman. She admitted her insecurity, so he insisted she was the one who was right for him. She said he proved he accepted her and that she loves him the same. Then she asked, "It's Ashley, isn’t it?" He didn't deny it.

Ashley and Ridge basked in their new relationship glow — not to mention the diamond earring bling. When he made a reference to knowing all her secrets, she started to unload the big one, but the amorous one wasn't in the mood to listen.

Donna tried to explain her fault to Child Protective Services, but didn't get anywhere. Brooke told her to stop apologizing and then vented about her aborted visit to Stephanie's the night before. Donna was furious and sure Stephanie was trying to break her final bond with Ridge by taking RJ. She warned that Ridge has never stopped Stephanie from getting what she wanted. "You can't count on him, but you can count on me," she said and went straight to Stephanie's. She and La Forrester had it out. "Two generations of my family have been scared by you, and I'm here to tell you there will not be a third!" she threatened. Stephanie wasn't cowed and called her a slut like her sister. She insisted there was nothing either of them could do to hurt her.

Stephanie found Thorne having lunch at the bar. He admitted his blind date had been a bust because he can't get over Darla. "I really should be over this and I'm not. Working, traveling and crying on other people's shoulders doesn't cut it, so I'm trying something different." She asked if he meant drinking his lunch, but he begged her to leave him alone. She agreed and as soon as she left, he popped a pill and then cried over a picture of Darla. Enter Donna, fresh from dueling Stephanie. When Thorne got up, she had to catch him. As she worried about his drinking, he saw Darla talking to him.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007
After Grandpa Eric chased the kids upstairs for bath time, Stephanie said she loved hearing the "chaos of children" and suggested she have Ridge, Hope and RJ move in. When Eric asked if that meant she wanted Thorne and Alexandra too, Stephanie noted their other son had been acting strangely. Eric figured he was just having a good time, finally. After Stephanie checked on the kids, they talked about "bossy" Abby. Eric thought she was like Stephanie, but Steph compared her to fantastic Ashley.

Thorne was out socializing and drinking while Nick and Taylor sat nearby, talking about Nick's hiring of Brooke. Nick insisted he wasn't hiring her for personal reasons and only had eyes for Taylor. That certainly wasn't Thorne's problem. He enjoyed the show as women modeled clothing for him, but then one turned around and turned into Darla. Shaken, he popped a pill. Then he spotted Taylor and Nick and stopped by their table to "congratulate" them. Taylor noted that he looked happy with his new girl, but he scoffed, "Maybe it looks that way. Or maybe it makes you feel better to believe that. No one can make me as happy as Darla, and she's gone." Taylor tried to calm him, but he made a scene slinging insults and guilt at her. When Nick stood up and suggested they get him home, Thorne lost his balance and a friend dragged him away. Taylor was very worried.

Brooke got settled into her office, while Rick worried about her spending so much time with Nick. She asked him to come work with her and he was tempted, but said not now. Then she gave him advice on dealing with Ridge, so he brought the topic back to her and Nick. She admitted they'd had a "moment" after the hearing, but insisted they'd never let it happen again. He feared she was in denial, but she insisted her priorities were the kids, then her career, "and then we can worry about my love life."

Ashley was thrilled the jewelry box from Ridge held diamond earrings. He teased her about having panicked, thinking it was a ring and she admitted she was relieved it wasn't. She said she wanted to "savor" the fun they were having together and he agreed. Then they went upstairs to make love. It was going well, but then he answered the phone and told Brooke the kids were spending the night with their cousins — and Stephanie. Brooke went straight to see them, while Ridge warned his mother. He quickly figured out that "made everything worse," so Ashley suggested he go handle his business. "This is our night," he said. "I promise: No more distractions."

When Brooke got to the Forrester manse, Stephanie refused to let her in, since she hadn't made an appointment. Brooke demanded respect and refused to leave. That's when security grabbed her and escorted her off the property.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007
At Forrester Creations, Nick was going over the sales figures with Brooke and directed her to makeover the entire company. Nick suggested they needed a whole new designer. Brooke brainstormed for ideas and suggested herself. Nick gave it some thought, and agreed to roll the dice and make her head designer. He left to go tell Taylor in person, but not before Brooke instructed Nick to not tell her about their almost kiss aboard the Marlin. "Nothing like that will ever happen again," promised Brooke. A few minutes later Taylor entered, just missing Nick. "What are you doing here?" asked Taylor. Brooke dropped the bomb that Nick hired her back. Taylor expressed concern that Brooke won't be able to control herself working with Nick, especially since she admitted to Brooke that she's still in love with him. Brooke reassured Taylor that she needs the job and said that her working there will free up Nick to spend more time with Taylor. Taylor reluctantly came around, and gave her blessing. Brooke insisted she wouldn't do anything stupid to jeopardize getting her children back.

At Forrester Originals, Felicia tried to reassure Eric that Nick might not hire Brooke, and refereed between Eric and Stephanie. Eric announced they will have to pinch pennies. Stephanie remarked that Thorne was supposed to drop off a report. Everyone commented that they hadn't seen him in a while, and assumed that his personal life was picking up. Thorne arrived and seemed rather perky. He asked Felicia if she could watch Alexandra again, but Stephanie offered to watch her instead. Thorne's date arrived, and he happily ran out with her. Her son's upbeat behavior seemed to pique Stephanie's interest. Out at a club with his date, Thorne suggested they hit the dance floor, but she had to powder her nose first. While waiting for her, Thorne grabbed another drink. When he went to pay for it he saw a photo of Darla in his wallet, and that prompted him to pop some more pills.

Ridge and Ashley enjoyed some quality time together. Ridge thanked Ashley for being so kind to Hope and R.J. When the kids left the room, the two flirted and began to kiss. Ashley mused how she got the fresh start in L.A. she had been looking for. She declared that L.A. is starting to feel like home, and the Forresters are beginning to feel like a second family. Stephanie surprised Ashley by offering to babysit Abby for the night, as well, to give her and Ridge a night alone. After Stephanie and Abby left, Ridge and Ashley resumed their smooching, during which Ridge pulled out a jewelry box and placed it on Ashley's knee. "What's that?" a shocked Ashley asked. "Why don't you just open it and find out?" Ridge teased.

Monday, July 23, 2007
At Forrester Originals, Eric was complaining over the expenses that were piling up, including having to buy out Brooke's contract. He warned Stephanie that Brooke will land on her feet professionally and they will suffer as a result. Rick rebuffed Stephanie's sniping at Brooke, while Eric expressed his concerns for her. Rick told Eric, Stephanie and Felicia that she was going to approach Nick about working for him. All of them debated whether Nick would give her another job. Eric criticized Stephanie for creating the situation by pushing the issue with Child Protective Services and for not supporting Brooke the way that family should support each other. Stephanie countered that Eric never said one word in defense of Brooke in the courtroom, and she admonished Eric for never taking a moral stand. Eric warned Stephanie's "moral stands" would drive him into bankruptcy court.

Bridget and Rick waited for Brooke to come downstairs. She finally entered and surprised them by her upbeat attitude. Both of her adult kids were there to offer their condolences over the "raw deal" she got in court. Brooke said she had trusted the wrong people over the years. Bridget then went to work, where she met with Taylor for a checkup. Taylor was having flashbacks to the courtroom and her subsequent disagreement with Nick. She called Nick on her cell to make sure things were okay between them. "We're OK," Nick reassured, after which he flashed back to his and Brooke's almost-kiss. During her exam, Taylor expressed her regrets to Bridget over what happened in the courtroom. Taylor noted Bridget's anger about what happened to Brooke, but Taylor defended her actions and how she was compelled to testify in front of the judge.

At Forrester Creations, Brooke entered Nick's office as he continued to think about their almost kiss. Nick warned Brooke that "what was there is still there between us." Brooke concurred, but said that didn't mean either of them had to act on it. Brooke said she needed a job from him. Nick said no, because he had offered her a position before and she declined. Additionally, he told her their personal feelings complicate matters. Brooke said she has no time to enter into personal entanglements with Nick, because she is completely focused on her work and her need to get her kids back. Brooke assured Nick that nothing personal would ever happen between them again. Nick reluctantly relented. Brooke was excited at their newfound professional prospects. "This isn't the life that I had imagined with you, but one thing hasn't changed. You make me feel like I can do anything," Brooke cooed.

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