Pam cries upon seeing Eric and he offers his shoulder. He can't believe either that his wonderful Stephanie is dying. Stephanie calls Brooke by her house and hands her the invitation. Brooke reads that it is a party. She was hoping Stephanie had news on Ridge. When she hears it is a special party to celebrate Stephanie's life, she knows what that must mean. Stephanie explains that her cancer has come back and this time more aggressive and now only a miracle would save her. It's her time and she has accepted it. Brooke says no, she will not accept this. She will always be there for Stephanie and do anything she wants her to do, but she will not accept this. Stephanie says she needs strength in her life and she is counting on Brooke to be strong. And she will always be there for Brooke, nagging at her in the back of her mind. Brooke cries on her shoulder. Later they share memories of when they first met  the caterer's daughter and the glamorous Mrs. Forrester. Pam and Eric reminisce how it was Brooke, of all people, who stood behind Stephanie and came to her rescue when she first became ill. It wasn't always that way. Brooke laments to Stephanie that of course Stephanie doesn't regret anything. That is because she always came out on top. They laugh about those many times. Stephanie realizes this is a very bad time with Ridge gone, Katie and her condition and now this. They remember Skid Row, Dayzee, and the homeless shelter. And Stephanie makes the decision that Brooke wanted, she will see the doctor about her illness. She loses her mother's scarf but it's okay. She says somebody else needs it more. Brooke quietly cries that Stephanie is the best part of Brooke .the one that makes her want to give and give and never stop .."Lean On Me". Now Stephanie is telling her that Brooke will lose her, but she won't. She knows Stephanie will be right there with her always. They hug and both ladies say they love each other.
(Knock on door) Eric: Come in. Pam: Uh, Thomas just... wanted you to sign these. Eric: All right, good. Thank you, Pam. Pam: (Crying) Eric... Eric: Oh, Honey. Pam: Eric... Eric: All right, all right. Shh. Pam: I-I just-- I can't believe it. I can't believe that she's really... Eric: I can't either, but its happening. It's really happening. Pam: (Sobbing) Eric: My wonderful Stephanie is dying. [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: So... (Sighs) Have you heard from Ridge? Stephanie: No. Oh, that's why you thought I called. Brooke: Oh yeah. I just thought maybe... Stephanie: (Scoffs) Oh, Honey, he'll be back when he's ready. Brooke: Yeah. (Sighs) Of course, he will. I just need to keep reminding myself of that. Thank you. Stephanie: Mm-hmm. You need to stay strong... for yourself and your family and --and now or me. I have something for you. Brooke: What is it? (Sighs) "Dear Brooke, I'm having a party to celebrate my life. I want you to be a part of it." What is this? Stephanie: It's an invitation to a very special party. Brooke: To celebrate your life. Why? Oh, Stephanie. [SCENE_BREAK] Donna: Thanks for calling Forrester. Thomas: (Clears throat) Donna: Oh. Bye-bye. Thomas: Any calls? Donna: Oh, um, nope. Um, not from Caroline. Thomas: Okay. Donna: Well, uh, you--you-- you can't go in there. Thomas: Why not? Donna: Uh... Eric's in there with Pam, and, um, I think they're talking about something serious. Thomas: Office supplies, Pam's recipe for lemon bars? What? Donna: Don't interrupt, Thomas. Please? Thomas: (Sighs) [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: The cancer has come back, and this time, it's very aggressive. Brooke: No, there have to be other options. Stephanie: No, no, no, not now. It'd take a miracle. I mean, if a miracle happened, I'd be very happy. Believe me, I'd go along with it, but no... (Sighs) It's my time, and I know it. And I just don't want to spend the rest of my days... being in denial. Come here. We'll get through this, all right? Maybe even with a little joy. Brooke: I don't want to lose you. Stephanie: Oh, believe me, you're not gonna lose me. I'm gonna be hidden right back here in the back of your mind, peck, peck, peck, pecking away, saying things to you. Come on, Honey, that's supposed to make you laugh. Brooke: You really have no idea what you've meant to me. Stephanie: Sure, I do. You mean just as much to me. Brooke: I'm not really good at letting go. Stephanie: (Chuckles) That's fairly obvious. Brooke: I mean, why can't things just stay the way they were? You know, with you and-- and Ridge and Eric and-- why does everything have to change? Stephanie: I'm sorry, Honey. I know everything is changing all around you. Brooke: Yeah, but some things shouldn't. Don't you agree? Stephanie: Like you and Ridge? You and me? The ones you love the most are the ones that change the most. Look at your children. They're changing constantly all the time, every year. (Sighs) Change is the only constant in the world, Sweetheart. Brooke: I-- I'm not gonna accept this. I know you want me to... (Sighs) But I can't. I'm not going to. (Sighs) I-I will do anything you need, Stephanie. I'll be there for you. But I'm not gonna act like this is a good thing or--or make something positive out of it. I don't know, maybe it-- maybe too much has been going on in the last few weeks. Stephanie: You have to be strong, Brooke. In order to survive, you have to be strong. Brooke: (Sighs) Stephanie: And I need you to be strong. I'm counting on that. I need strength right now in my life, and you have to be my strength. Brooke: You're not gonna let me be weak, are you? Stephanie: No. And you'll thank me for it later. Brooke: But what if I can't? What if I can't come through? Stephanie: You're a strong woman. You'll come through for me. You will. Brooke :(Crying) [SCENE_BREAK] Donna: This, uh, thing with Caroline really has you upset. Thomas: I don't think things are over with Caroline and me. Donna: Really? Thomas: I've talked to her. She knows that I have a lot planned for this company and for her. She'll come back to me. Donna: Well, you've got self-confidence. I'll give you that. Thomas: Well, why shouldn't I? My father trusted me to be CEO. There's no way I'm gonna let him down now. [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: So... you want to have the party here? Stephanie: Where else? Brooke: That's right. This is where it all started. Stephanie: Well, it seems appropriate, particularly for you and me. Oh, yeah. (Sighs) The caterer's beautiful daughter. Brooke: The very glamorous Stephanie Forrester. Stephanie: (Chuckles) Brooke: And of course, this is where I met Ridge. It was love at first sight. Stephanie: I don't think you could say the same thing about you and me. [Brooke remembering] Beth: Uh, Mrs. Forrester, this is my daughter Brooke. Brooke: Hello, Mrs. Forrester. Stephanie: Hello, Brooke. Brooke: You have a very beautiful home. Stephanie: Thank you. Brooke: You and me. Stephanie: (Sighs, chuckles) Brooke: (Chuckles) Stephanie: It is my pleasure to present the most original and the most elegant design of this or any show. Stephanie: Something I should have said, and I never have... I love you, Sweetheart. [Back to the present] Brooke: (Sniffles) I don't want to lose you, Stephanie. [SCENE_BREAK] Pam: Brooke and Stephanie. (Chuckles) That's quite a history. Eric: I wonder if either one of them knows how much they mean to each other? Pam: (Scoffs) That's what-- what really worries me, Eric. Eric: What? Pam: (Sighs) Steph is really vulnerable right now. I know that she-- that she doesn't show it, but I can tell, and I just feel like we need to protect her somehow. Eric: We will, Pam. And there's nobody who would be more protective of Stephanie than Brooke. Pam: (Scoffs) Well, it certainly wasn't always that way. Eric: No. No, it wasn't. But it all changed when she first got sick. Pam: (Scoffs) It--it's so ironic, isn't it? I mean, that Brooke Logan, of all people, should come to her rescue? Eric: Yeah. But that's exactly what happened. Pam: (Scoffs) I just wish that Brooke could save her now. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: (Coughing) Brooke: Here you go. Stephanie: Thanks. We're a couple of doozies, you and I. Brooke: Oh, yeah. Stephanie: (Sighs) But I think we bring out the best and the worst in each other. (Sighs) Brooke: Well, sometimes the worst teaches you something, right? Stephanie: Oh, yeah, I suppose. Something you need to learn, otherwise you wouldn't have a big battle about it. Brooke: Oh, my gosh. We've had plenty of those. Stephanie: Well, we've had a few laughs along the way. [Stephanie remembering] Brooke: I thought it was going to be more difficult, but I thank you for your understanding. And Ridge is gonna be so excited. I can't wait to tell him. To new beginnings. Aah! Oh. Ohh! Ohh! What the hell are you doing?! Stephanie: Every breath that you take is a waste of precious oxygen. Brooke: I'm warning you. Stephanie: I don't want to live anymore and be in the same world with you. You shoot me. Go ahead. Damn it, pull that trigger. Brooke: (Breathing heavily) (Gunshot) Brooke: Oh, my God. I'm just as crazy as you are. Stephanie: You can't even shoot straight. [Back to present] Stephanie: I don't regret one thing. Brooke: That's because you always came out on top. (Laughs) Stephanie: Exactly. (Laughs) Thank you for that. (Coughing) I'm okay. I'm okay. (Coughs) I'm okay. [SCENE_BREAK] Pam: There's nothing we can do, is there, Eric? Eric: There's a lot we can do, Pammy. Pam: You still have hope? Eric: Look, I-- I can't live her life. I can't. But I can make the rest of her life... Pam: (Sighs) Eric: Happy and joyous for her. We can show her how much she means to us. That's why I want to give this party, all right? I'm not gonna give in to what's happening. We're not gonna run from what's happening. We're gonna use it. We're gonna use it to make rest of her life a wonderful, wonderful place. Pam: I don't know if I'm that strong, Eric. Eric: Stephanie needs you to be. We have to do this for her. Pam: Okay. Okay. (Sighs) Do you think Brooke can do it? Eric: Maybe. Maybe better than any of us. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: I'm sorry. I--the timing couldn't be worse for you. Brooke: (Sighs) There's never really a right time for something like this. Stephanie: Yeah, but with everything that's happening in your life right now-- Ridge, Hope, your sister--and here I am... (Chuckles) Leaning on you, too. Brooke: And I will be there for you, Stephanie. But I do feel like I'm losing my best friend. Because that's what you are, you know? Does that surprise you? Stephanie: No. After everything you've done for me? My gosh. You fought to keep me alive. Only a best friend does that. You bought me time. I'll always love you for that. I've never done anything but fight with you from the day I first saw you. The day I die should be the happiest day in your life. And instead, you're standing around here saying, "Hold on." What's the matter with you? Brooke: I don't want you to die. [Stephanie remembering] Stephanie: This is my town. I live 20 minutes away, yet it seems a thousand miles away. I promised I'd make a difference. Instead, when I see them, I turn away. (Woman singing) Lean on me when you're not strong and I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on Stephanie: What have I done with my life? What is my burden compared to theirs? (Woman singing) Somebody to lean on Brooke: Stephanie... (Gasps) Stephanie: Oh, Honey. (Woman humming "Lean on Me") Stephanie: Everything's all right now. It's all right, honestly. Brooke: I'm gonna get you home, okay? Stephanie: No. Brooke: Come on. Stephanie: No, no. You're right. I'll go to the doctor. She knows what I need. Okay? (Woman singing) Lean on me when you're not strong and I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on Stephanie: Brooke, this is my friend Dayzee. And this is my friend Brooke. Okay? Brooke: (Crying) Yeah. Stephanie: I love you. Brooke: I love you. Let's go. (Sniffles) (Woman singing) Lean on me when you're not strong and I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on Brooke: Oh, Stephanie, your scarf. Stephanie: That's all right. Somebody else needs it. (Woman singing) ...Need somebody to lean on (Humming) For it won't be long we all need somebody to lean on [Back to the Present] Brooke: You are a part of me. You're the best part, the part that makes me want to give and give and never stop. And now you tell me I'm losing you. But I won't. You will be right there with me, no matter what. I will always love you. Stephanie: I'll love you, Baby Girl. I love you.