Ep. #5091

Stephanie tries to convince Ashley that she should attempt a relationship with Ridge. Ashley tells her that Ridge’s situation with Brooke seems too complicated for her to get involved in. Ashley mentions to Stephanie that she is thinking of returning to Genoa City. Felicia pushes Ridge to try another date with Ashley and leave Brooke behind. Ridge calls Ashley and asks her to have dinner with him. Brooke tells Bridget that Ridge is coming by to take RJ for the weekend. Bridget questions Brooke on what she is hoping to achieve. Brooke tells Bridget how she has the opportunity to allow RJ to grow up with both his parents, something she can never give back to her, Rick or Hope. Brooke is stunned when Stephanie shows up to take RJ. Brooke refuses to hand him over. Stephanie gloats that Ridge is on a date with Ashley. Ridge shares dinner with Ashley and when she tells him that she is planning on leaving Los Angeles, he attempts to change her mind with a kiss.

Ep. #5092

Rick tells Bridget how he is concerned about the time Constantine spends with Phoebe, he thinks of a way to lure her away from him. Ridge asks Ashley to stay in town. She contemplates the idea, but admits that she is worried about the hold Brooke has over him. Stephanie is stunned that Brooke is using RJ to lure Ridge back to her. Stephanie orders Brooke to back off. Stephanie returns home and tells Eric that Brooke should not be allowed to raise RJ and Hope. Ridge heads to pick up RJ when he learns that Brooke wouldn’t allow Stephanie to take him. Stephanie warns Ashley that Brooke is after Ridge. Ashley says that if Ridge sleeps with Brooke again, she is no longer interested. Brooke tells Ridge of how they can reunite their family and attempts to seduce him into bed.

Ep. #5095

Rick tells Ashley that there is simply no sense in revealing their fling. Rick is sure that it’ll devastate Phoebe. Ashley feels the situation is becoming too awkward to keep a secret. Felicia also agrees that the situation should be kept in the vault. Rick and Phoebe spend some time together at the beach house working on their duet, while Constantine works at his studio alone. Rick learns that it was Constantine that told Phoebe he was seeing another woman. Eric and Stephanie prepare the barbecue for Independence Day celebrations. Ashley shows up with Abby. Stephanie is thrilled that Ridge invited them. Abby hangs out with RJ and Ally. Brooke turns up expecting to get in on the party, but Ridge tells her that he has invited Ashley as his date. Brooke is devastated as she watches the family as an outsider from the balcony.

Ep. #5096

Ridge asks Constantine to try and find out who Rick’s lover was. Rick confronts Constantine about the voice recording of his other woman. Phoebe orders them to stop fighting with one another. Rick and Phoebe record their duet at the studio with a few snide remarks from Constantine. Phoebe tells Constantine that she is sure they will win the competition and promises then that Rick will leave her alone to pursue her music career. Ashley calls Rick over and tells him that she is going to tell Ridge about them. Rick pleads with her, but she insists it’s something she needs to do. Stephanie sees Ridge and Ashley sharing a kiss. Stephanie rubs it in Brooke’s face at the office. Ashley tells Stephanie that she doesn’t want Brooke as an enemy. Ridge tells Brooke of his wishes to be with Ashley. Brooke hopes for a life with Ridge, but he feels that’s only because Nick is unavailable. Ridge tells Brooke that they will never be happy together.

Ep. #5099

Ridge and Eric listen to Stephanie’s story of how Brooke neglected the children. Stephanie stops Ridge from rushing to support Brooke and insists that he no longer give Brooke mixed signals. Stephanie decides to visit Brooke herself, but Eric thinks she should take her own advice and keep well away. Abby gives Ridge a gift to say thank you for having her over on Independence Day. Ashley supports Ridge as he worries about RJ having been left alone all night. Ridge and Ashley later spend some time getting hot and heavy in the company steam room. Brooke asks Nick to look after Hope and RJ while she seeks some professional help from Taylor. Due to their past history, Taylor refuses to take Brooke on as a patient. Brooke suggests that the kids would be better off without her. Stephanie shows up and sees Nick taking care of the kids. Stephanie feels she should take over, but Nick insists that he isn’t going anywhere.

Ep. #5100

Ridge and Ashley get very heavy in the steam room. Ashley asks him to step back for a moment saying that she would like to wait a little longer so that the first time they make love it is perfect. Stephanie tells Nick that she is concerned for the children. Nick thinks that Stephanie is just trying to cause trouble and suggests she leave. Stephanie insists that she will see to it that the children are not in danger. Stephanie tells Dorothy that Brooke left the children with Nick. She adds that Nick is incompetent of taking care of children, informing her of the time Hope nearly drowned in the hot tub. Taylor makes Brooke see that she is addicted to having a man in her life due to being abandoned by her father as a child. Brooke realizes that she must put her children first now. Nick later discovers that he has lost his lighter. Hope and RJ find it whilst Brooke is in the kitchen. Hope lights a candle, which ends up setting the house on fire. Brooke is terrified as Hope and RJ are trapped by the flames.

Ep. #5103

Stephanie doesn’t hide the fact that she hates Brooke in front of Dorothy. Nick tries to make Dorothy see that Stephanie is manipulating the situation but fails. Brooke orders Ridge to allow her to take the kids home but he refuses. Brooke accuses Ridge of being Stephanie’s puppet. Ridge tells Ashley that he only wants what is best for the kids. Ashley offers her full support. Brooke sobs in Nick’s arms. Nick promises Brooke that the court won’t allow Hope and RJ to be taken away. Stephanie asks Taylor to stand up in court as a professional and inform them that Brooke has emotional issues. Nick later asks Taylor to help him get Brooke’s kids back. Ridge stresses to Stephanie that he doesn’t want full custody. Stephanie tells Ridge that the court will decide the kids’ fate.

Ep. #5106

CJ thinks Rick’s duet was better, but Felicia votes for Constantine. Unable to define a true winner the contest is ruled as a tie. Constantine is determined that Phoebe will follow her music career. Felicia advises Constantine to forget about Phoebe. Felicia kisses Constantine. Rick takes Phoebe back to beach house and she makes it clear that she is ready to take their relationship to the next step. Taylor continues to testify on the stand, and recounts how Brooke came to her fearing that she was a bad mother. Judge Friedman determines that custody of RJ be given temporarily to Ridge until Brooke is able to work through her emotional issues. He is at a loss at what to do with Hope until Ridge offers to take her as well to keep the two of them together. Brooke is distraught and blames Taylor for her having lost the children.

Ep. #5107

Phoebe gets cold feet and changes her mind about making love with Rick. Phoebe apologises and states that she still isn’t ready. Rick finds it hard to understand and wonders if Phoebe will ever be ready. Phoebe hopes that Rick won’t give up on them. Ridge allows Brooke to put Hope and RJ to bed. Stephanie decides to hang around until Brooke is gone. Brooke lays into Ridge for supporting Stephanie in her plan to take the kids away from her. Stephanie sticks her poison tongue into Brooke with a few snide remarks about her life. Stephanie smirks that she will be raising the kids now. Nick is furious with Taylor for the things she said in court. He walks out on her to prevent an argument from erupting. Brooke seeks comfort from Nick. He quickly leaves when they come close to kissing.

Ep. #5110

Thorne downs champagne and continues to take pills at the fashion preview. Thorne thinks he sees Darla, but it turns out to be just a model. Taylor and Nick are also at the showing. Taylor questions Nick on why he hired Brooke. Nick insists it was a sound business decision. Thorne sees Taylor and confronts her. In a drunken state he expresses his anger toward Taylor for Darla's death. Rick is concerned that Brooke is working with Nick and wonders if she can keep her emotions under control. Brooke confesses that she and Nick almost kissed. Ashley is relieved when the jewellery box only contains earrings; not wanting to rush the romance with Ridge. They head to the bedroom and make love. Stephanie is happy to have a home filled with kids again. Brooke shows up to see Hope and RJ, but Stephanie has her thrown off the property.

Ep. #5111

Stephanie finds Thorne drinking over lunch. She is concerned when she sees how much he is still cut up over Darla. Thorne continues to take pills. Donna is stunned when Brooke tells her that Stephanie won’t allow her to see her kids. Donna confronts Stephanie and warns her to back off. Stephanie scoffs that the Logan’s are out of her life. Donna later runs into Thorne. In his drunken state he mistakes her for Darla. Phoebe is thrilled when Ridge tells her how well things are going with Ashley. Rick finds out that Ashley slept with Ridge and warns her off of him. Ashley tells Rick that she must come clean with Ridge over their fling. Phoebe sees Rick and Ashley in a close embrace. Ashley goes to Ridge to confess all but gets caught up in a kiss. Phoebe guesses that Ashley is the woman whom Rick slept with and he admits the truth.

Ep. #5114

Ashley tells Stephanie that she and Ridge have broken up. Stephanie is disappointed but tells Ashley not to give up. Stephanie offers her support and promises Ashley that she will have Ridge again. Rick tells Bridget that Phoebe knows that he slept with Ashley. Bridget advises him to allow her to cool off, but Rick feels he can’t wait. Taylor and Brooke are stunned when Ridge tells them about Rick and Ashley. Rick arrives and Taylor confronts him about hurting Phoebe. Ridge orders Rick to keep away from his daughter. Brooke is saddened as she supported the relationship. Phoebe hears the commotion and decides that she must speak with Rick. Phoebe tells Rick that she doesn’t regret what they shared. Rick insists they can still have a future, but she tells him that their relationship is over.

Ep. #5115

Donna and Jackie have lunch and they are concerned that Brooke isn’t taking proper care of herself since losing the kids. Stephanie walks in with Hope and RJ and Donna confronts her. Donna knows that Stephanie’s plan is to win full custody of the kids. Stephanie scoffs that there isn’t anything Donna can do to hurt her. Jackie is suspicious of Donna when she sees her rush off to speak with Thorne. He asks Donna to dinner as a way to apologise for forgetting their evening together. Brooke thinks that Rick should move on from Phoebe when Rick says that he is determined to win her back. Constantine learns that Phoebe and Rick have split up. Phoebe is unsure about participating in a music concert Constantine has arranged, but agrees to do so when he thinks it could kick start her career. Rick tells Phoebe that he will prove his love for her.

Ep. #5118

Stephanie and Phoebe appear on The Rich Ginger Show to promote the new fragrance. Stephanie soon turns the mood sour when she begins bashing Brooke and Donna. Eric, Ridge, Felicia and Ashley watch the show from the office and they are stunned by the comments Stephanie makes. Brooke watches the show with Jackie and Clarke at Forrester Creations and Brooke is unable to control herself when Stephanie rejoices in the fact that Brooke is out of her family. Thorne spends some time with Donna and is furious when he witnesses Stephanie insulting Donna. Later, the family comes down on Stephanie but she refuses to believe she has done anything wrong. Thorne unleashes his fury on Stephanie. Donna promises Brooke that they will get their revenge. Donna begins looking into Las Vegas wedding chapels when Thorne suggests they take a trip away together.

Ep. #5119

Stephanie tries to rectify things with Thorne following their argument but he tells her that he is going out of town. Jackie is stunned when she learns that Donna plans on having Thorne marry her in Las Vegas. Jackie thinks that Donna’s revenge is a dangerous game. Nick tells Brooke that her strength will have her kids back in no time. Nick notices that Taylor’s pregnancy is starting to show. Taylor still struggles with her guilt for the role she played in having Brooke’s children taken away. Stephanie visits Ridge and warns him about feeling any kind of sympathy for Brooke. Stephanie hopes he will concentrate on Ashley. Stephanie runs into Andy Johnson at the Café Russe and realizes he is the man that tried hitting on Brooke the night she left the kids alone. Brooke begs Ridge to keep Stephanie out of her life.

Ep. #5121

Brooke thinks the birdcage is from Nick, but is surprised when he tells her that it isn’t. Brooke shows that she still cares for him deeply. Brooke calls Stephanie to speak to the kids but Stephanie refuses and threatens to have her thrown in jail if she comes by the house. Eric tells Stephanie his concerns of having Brooke as a business competitor. Stephanie feels they have very little to worry about. Stephanie is uneasy when Andy shows up at her door. He questions her on her interest in having him pursue Brooke. Stephanie pretends to act as matchmaker. Donna acts stunned by Thorne’s proposal. He tells her how he is unable to handle the loss of another woman after Darla and Taylor. Thorne buys Donna a diamond engagement ring and proposes again. Donna accepts as her plan comes together.

Ep. #5122

Rick tells Bridget how he plans on winning Phoebe back. Phoebe thinks she was a little too hasty in not giving Rick another chance. Ridge is furious and tells Phoebe not to change her mind. Phoebe says she can no longer confide in Ridge when he refuses to even listen to her feelings. Ashley tells Rick that she and Ridge are back together. Rick tells Ashley that he will win Phoebe back, but she is unsure on whether it is a wise move. Stephanie and Eric decide to head over to Thorne’s house with Ally to have a surprise barbecue for Thorne upon his return from Las Vegas. Donna and Thorne arrive back and Donna suggests that once they inform Ally of their engagement that they return to Las Vegas and marry right away. Stephanie shows up and catches Donna half naked. Stephanie flips and tries to throw Donna out. Thorne yells at Stephanie to take her hands off of his fiancée.