Jackie visited Stephanie and dropped the bombshell on her that Brooke is the biological mother of Taylor's baby. Stephanie didn't believe Jackie. But when Bridget arrived she confirmed Jackie's allegations to a flabbergasted Stephanie. When Bridget left, Jackie suggested that the two join forces "for the greater good," especially because Taylor is falling apart and baby Jack is suffering. "Nick and Brooke belong together," Jackie declared, reminding Stephanie that she wants the same things. "It's a tragedy but it's also an opportunity." Jackie warned Stephanie that Taylor is drinking again. "That poor woman is on a downward spiral. We have to get involved....Do it for Taylor," Jackie urged. "This is a win-win situation for the both of us, but we have to act NOW...."

Taylor persisted in wanting Brooke and Ridge to marry. Taylor accused Brooke of having unresolved feelings for Nick and/or baby Jack. When Brooke asked to speak with Nick alone, Taylor became upset, but ultimately Taylor relented. Alone, Nick tried to defend Taylor's actions as well-meaning, but Brooke demanded that Nick tell Taylor to back off. "This stunt that she's pulled screams of her insecurities and self doubts," Brooke yelled. Meanwhile, Taylor received some guarded sympathy and understanding from Ridge, who praised her for her good intentions. Taylor cried to Ridge that "everything is falling apart." Nick and Brooke rejoined Ridge and Taylor, who became enraged when Brooke didn't budge on her position. Taylor unraveled in front of the three of them. Taylor grabbed a wine glass and offered a mocking toast to Brooke: "You win!" Taylor said. As she prepared to take a drink, Nick urged her not to. Taylor froze, then smashed the glass against the wall as the other three looked on in bewilderment. "Party's over!" Taylor declared. After Ridge and Brooke left Nick bandaged Taylor's hand and offered her some TLC and reassurance. "Nothing is ruined," Nick promised Taylor. Nick asked if Taylor could at least try to see where Brooke is coming from. Taylor got upset at the prospect, but Nick pledged that he totally supports her. "I just want a life without Brooke in it. I love you so much," Taylor sobbed in Nick's arms.

At home, Ridge lamented Taylor's troubles. Brooke was annoyed that Taylor put her on the spot. Ridge asked Brooke why getting married was such a big deal considering everything. "I'm not going to get married in Taylor's living room just to ease her ridiculous fears," Brooke insisted. Ridge went to the bathroom and Nick called Brooke to check in on her. Nick thanked Brooke for handling herself and the situation so well. Brooke thanked Nick for his understanding and support. "You'll always have it," Nick promised. The two wished each other good night, then proceeded to look out on the night sky and the full moon.

With Taylor upstairs sleeping, Nick thanked James for coming and hoped he could help "save this marriage." As Taylor listened from the stairs, Nick professed his love and his guilt over the fact that Taylor only had this child for him. "It's like she's losing herself and anything I do...doesn't seem to work," he feared. She came down and admitted she too was concerned about herself. Then she and Nick caught James up on Brooke's scrambled eggs and Taylor's inability to believe Nick didn't see their baby as Brooke's. She'd explained she'd been excited about their new "carefree," Brooke-free life, "but then, I find out Brooke's woven right in the center of it!" She admitted she hadn't handled it well and even that she'd had a drink. "It's the only thing that's given me any kind of relief," she sighed. She apologized to Nick, but he turned the blame on himself. She told him not to feel guilty. Then she broke down and asked James for help. He got her to recognize that "real inner peace doesn't come from the outside." Then she asked for a moment alone with her old friend. She talked of her blessed love for Nick, as well as her anger and resentment. She feared losing her family and wished she could get back to being the woman Nick loved. She cried and begged for her friend's help. After Nick put her to bed, he was thrilled at the ground James had already helped her make. James was glad she wanted help, but was worried. With much set up, he asked Nick if he was still in love with Brooke.

Eric and Donna cooed at each other in their love nest. He promised he was staying in a guest room, not in Stephanie's bed, and apologized for their having to hide away. They agreed that it was actually romantic, even if the place was a bit rundown. He begrudgingly pulled himself out of bed to get ready for work, just before Brooke knocked at the door. Brooke had barely gotten into empathizing with Donna's difficult breakup when Eric returned in his robe. Brooke's jaw dropped when her sister revealed she'd told Eric about Stephanie's blackmail. She worried about Storm and while Eric didn't empathize, he was confident Stephanie wouldn't find out. "Nobody knows better than I do how Stephanie can dig out a secret and exact her own brand of justice," Brooke warned. When the couple snuggled back into bed, Donna worried they'd be found by "the wicked witch of The Westside," but Eric promised Stephanie wouldn't take away what they had.

When Brooke went to meet Ridge, Stephanie answered the door wanting to talk about "your baby son, Jack." She asked why Brooke didn't marry Ridge at Taylor's dinner and insisted the baby "changes everything." After calmly explaining things had become too complicated, Stephanie officially rescinded her red carpet apology and acceptance of Brooke. "If you pursue a marriage with [Ridge], you'll have to contend with me for the rest of your life." Brooke reminded her she'd already promised to spend that life making up for the rape, but Stephanie again referenced the egg scramble complication. Then she asked point blank if Brooke wasn't still in love with Nick.

Felicia kept Hope and RJ busy so Stephanie could ask Brooke a question — if she's still in love with Nick. Brooke said Stephanie had no right to involve herself in Brooke's relationships any more. She refused to allow Stephanie to treat her this way. The pair argued over whether Brooke is still in love with Nick, and what repercussions that could have for RJ.

James asked Nick to search deeply into his heart and soul before answering his question: Is he still in love with Brooke? Nick asked what relevance this had to Taylor's issues. James explained why it goes to the heart of all of their issues. "I'll ask you one more time: are you or are you not in love with Brooke?" James pressed. Nick said he's not comfortable with this, but James insisted he's not passing judgment. He suggested that Nick go sit with the question at a place where he likes to go and think. Nick retreated to the Marlin, where James' question echoed in his mind. Meanwhile, Taylor became upset when James told her about his conversation with Nick and the question he posed. James insisted that Taylor's problems have more to do with Nick than they do with Brooke. Taylor fantasized about Brooke taking over her life. "Nick is mine, and there's nothing you can do to stop me now!" taunted Brooke in Taylor's nightmare, as Taylor unraveled.

On the Marlin, Nick strummed his guitar and flashed back to happy times with Brooke. As he finished playing and singing, Brooke appeared, saying she needed a place to think and clear her head so she came to the marina and wound up at the boat. She admitted she was reminiscing about their happy times together. Nick said he was thinking the same thing. He told Brooke about James' help for him and Taylor, and how James asked Nick to consider what his feelings are for Brooke. He explained that James asked him if he's still in love with Brooke. Nick confessed that when he searches his heart, the only woman he sees is Brooke.

On the Marlin, Nick told Brooke he's still in love with her. "You can't be in love with me. It can't happen this way," Brooke exclaimed. Nick explained that James led him to this discovery in his efforts to help Taylor. Nick said he can't keep any secrets from Taylor so he has to tell her about his true feelings. Brooke flipped out and insisted that Nick can't tell Taylor the truth. Undeterred, he reaffirmed his feelings for Brooke. Brooke admitted she feels the same way about him. "I always have." She warned that people are going to get hurt — Ridge and Taylor — and suggested that their feelings for each other need to be kept between them. "Nobody else can know," she insisted. She reminded Nick that she promised Taylor that she's no threat to her marriage or family, but Nick insisted that Taylor has the right to know. Nick said he needs to get home. He asked Brooke if he thought their baby might be "a sign," and kissed Brooke before leaving.

Bridget visited Rick. The two discussed the situation with their mother, Nick and Taylor. Rick expressed his concerns for Taylor. Bridget expressed her regrets on the comedy of errors that led to the mix-up at the lab. Rick said that poor Taylor can never seem to catch a break. Bridget echoed Rick's fond memories of Taylor growing up, and said Taylor was a role model for her. Bridget assured she's just as worried about Taylor as Rick is, and predicted that history will repeat itself and Taylor "is not only going to lose her son, but going to lose Nick, as well."

Taylor continued freaking out with her visions of Brooke taking over and controlling her life. "Brooke" kept taunting Taylor as Taylor became unraveled. James responded when he heard Taylor screaming and helped talk her back into reality. She thanked James, admitting she doesn't do well alone. Taylor said she's afraid of what Nick is going to say when he returns. James told his friend to brace herself and be prepared to be proactive and make the hard choices if Nick puts that ball into her court. Taylor asked if her only option is to walk away from her marriage. James said under "normal circumstances" no, but in this case, yes. Taylor still wondered whether her predicament is still just a horrible "accident" or whether it was something done by Brooke and Bridget on purpose. James suggested that conspiracy theories aren't helpful. He said Taylor's decision should be guided by whatever conclusion Nick reaches about his feelings for Brooke. Nick arrived. Taylor asked James if she could speak with Nick alone. James agreed and excused himself. Taylor asked Nick about his answers to the questions James posed to him: "I want to know what you feel in your heart," Taylor asked. Nick responded that his heart feels a lot of things. Taylor asked Nick to be honest with her: "Are you still in love with Brooke?!"

Nick finally admitted to Taylor that he is still in love with Brooke, but insisted that he's still committed to Taylor and their marriage. Nick said he could get past his feelings, but Taylor said that's a recipe for disaster. She warned if she doesn't accept that as a reality then she'll have a nervous breakdown. "I'm never going to get control of my life, so long as Brooke retains control of your heart," Taylor declared. She noted that history is repeating itself (from when she was with Ridge). Nick insisted it's two different situations, but Taylor suggested that they part company and go their separate ways. She said she loves baby Jack but she can't get better until she gets out of their situation. Nick begged Taylor to reconsider but Taylor said she can't live in Brooke's shadow, took off her ring and put it in Nick's hand. "I need to do this for me," Taylor told Nick before walking out.

Rick insisted to Brooke that she and Nick are meant for each other. Brooke admitted that she does still love Nick and that Nick just told her he loves her, too. Rick asked Brooke what she's waiting for if Nick just professed his love. Brooke said she wasn't sure if it is right. Nick called Brooke to tell her that Taylor left him. When Rick overheard the news he bolted. Brooke told Nick she'd be over ASAP. When Brooke arrived she helped Nick to settle baby Jack and put him to bed for the night, while Nick explained what went down, and how Taylor felt she needed to leave. Brooke asked who is going to be a mother to baby Jack. Nick looked back at Brooke and answered her with his silence. "No, I can't be," insisted Brooke, reminding Nick of her plans to marry Ridge and be a family with him. Nick asked her why she came over to see him. When she didn't answer Nick answered for her: she came there to be with him and with baby Jack. Brooke whispered "yes." Nick said he loved her since day one and that his feelings for her have only gotten deeper with time, and challenged her to admit the same thing. "Can you tell me the same thing?!" "Yes, yes..." Brooke whispered, before the two embraced and kissed passionately.

Rick caught up with Taylor at her old house. She told him she was feeling so alone. Rick said she's definitely not alone. "I'm here," he offered, as he seated himself beside her on the sofa. Taylor explained what had happened. Rick offered his sympathies and told her how unfair it all is, while repeating that she's not alone. Taylor laughed and said that's good because she doesn't do very well alone. She lamented how she has found herself competing against Brooke for everything and loses to her each time. "I feel like such a damn loser," Taylor sobbed. Rick reassured Taylor that she's not a loser. "I care about you," assured Rick, before he moved in and kissed Taylor.