Stephanie was worried for Ridge, who was struggling with mourning Phoebe. "Do you think I could've done more to protect her?" he agonized. His mom assured he couldn't. Stephanie warned that Steffy is "going through" something that she shouldn't but Taylor had gotten James to help. "She's lonely and confused," Stephanie pointed out, then advised her son to go spend time with Brooke. Ridge agreed that Brooke provided a "calming effect" and left the office without Stephanie saying anything about Rick and Steffy.

Steffy admitted to Taylor that James told her things "I need to hear." Taylor pointed out that a relationship with Rick is "impossible." Steffy agreed with her mom's concern that Ridge would go over the edge if he learned his daughter is in love with Rick. Just when it looked like Steffy was going to give up Rick, she started professing her love for him again. Stephanie arrived and Steffy declared that she wouldn't give Rick up. Grandma urged Steffy to live her life "responsibly" and that she needs to break up with Rick for Ridge's sake. "Fine!" Steffy screamed and after agreeing to end her relationship, stormed out.

Brooke questioned her son's motives involving Steffy and angrily insisted that she wouldn't turn her back on Ridge. "You're going to stop seeing Steffy Forrester, do you hear me?!" Brooke ordered. Rick got mad at his mom for siding with Ridge once again, but she reminded him of his lies and deceit in the last few months. A worried Brooke took Rick into her arms and asked, "What is going to become of you?" She didn't feel any better when Rick insisted that he and Steffy would be together. Ridge was outside the door and overheard Rick. Ridge barged in and raged, "You already took Phoebe away from me, now you want to take Steffy? That's not going to happen!"