Eric and Stephanie were sitting in Thorne’s hospital room. He was still sedated after the operation in his skull. The doctors had informed them that they wanted to keep Thorne sedated over Christmas, so the swelling in his brain would go down faster. Stephanie looked down at the wrapped Christmas present she was holding in her hands.
”I wish you could open this present now, honey. But I guess it will have to wait” she said and placed the gift on his bedside.
”Why?” Eric asked. “It’s Christmas. You can’t open a present after Christmas is over. We can help him open it”.
”That’s a good idea”.
Eric grabbed the gift and held it up for Stephanie to open. She un-knotted the ribbon and tore the paper. Soon thereafter, she picked up a beautiful decorated frame, with a picture of Thorne and Darla´s newborn son who remained nameless. Darla had wanted to wait for Thorne to wake up so they could decide on a name together. If Thorne ever got well enough to correspond to her in some way again.
“It’s beautiful” Eric commented as he looked at the framed picture.
”You’ve got a precious little baby boy, Thorne. He’s absolutely perfect” Stephanie told her comatose son.
”How could he not be, he´s got my genes” Eric said proudly with a smile.
”I´ll just leave it right here where you can see him the first thing you see when you open your eyes” Stephanie said and placed the picture on a table. “Merry Christmas honey. Now you need your rest so you can get better” she said and kissed his forehead. Eric placed his hand on Thorne´s head gently. “Listen to your mother. We´ll be here when you wake up, with your son”.
Eric and Stephanie looked back at Thorne once more before they left the hospital.

”Edmund is innocent” Brooke repeated to herself. “He wasn’t the one who tried to kill me”. Brooke paced around the room some more and stopped. “He must really resent me now. He tried to rape me before. There’s no telling what he might do to me now… He might actually try to kill me…” Brooke speculated. “Or maybe not… Maybe he knows he would be the first suspect if anything happened to me after his release…?”
There was a knock at the door and Brooke rushed to the door. “Who is it?” she asked out loud.
”It´s Nick”. Brooke quickly opened the door as she recognized his voice and let him inside.
”Are you okay?” Nick asked. “You look a bit shaken up”.
”Edmund didn´t try to kill me. He was innocent”.
”They´ve released him from custody?”
”Yes”.
”Listen, don´t worry about him. Don´t even think about that guy. He´d be a very stupid man if he came looking for you.”
”I was just telling myself the same thing”.
”Really?”
”Yes, but I am not sure my nerves listened to it” Brooke sighed. “What brought you by?”
”I just wanted to give a little Christmas gift to Hope” Nick said and handed Brooke a wrapped gift.
”That is sweet of you. You will have won her over for sure”.
”Yeah I know” Nick laughed. “Did Christina come by?”
”Yes she did. Don´t worry. I know you didn’t send her over. We had a good talk.”
”You got along with each other?”
”Don’t act so surprised.” Brooke smiled.
”So you’re okay with it?”
”Why wouldn’t I be?”
”It’s just that you looked so horrified when you heard she was my wife and you ran out, screaming at me not to have let you fall in love with me”.
”I wasn’t horrified”.
”Heartbroken, horrified. Whatever”.
Brooke laughed.
”Some confidence you’ve got, Captain”
”Sure, but my confidence plays no part in what happened on the boat” he said with a charming smile.
”Well think whatever it is that you want to think to boost your confidence.”
”So this has absolutely no effect on you?” Nick said and grabbed her for a passionate kiss. Brooke quickly forgot why she was playing difficult. Nick ended the kiss as quickly as he had begun it.
”I’ll leave you to ponder on that one. Wish Hope a merry Christmas for her favorite uncle Nick” he said before he left Brooke standing stunned watching him walk out.

Eric returned to the office and found Lucinda in his chair.
”How did it go?” he asked.
”Great, thank you”.
”Let me see” he said as he picked up one of the designs. “I love the changes you’ve made”.
”I wasn’t sure you’d appreciate it”.
”As long as I like the changes, I am fine with it” Eric smiled as Stephanie opened the door without being seen.
”I just wanted to make sure you know that I think you are the most brilliant man, designer that I have ever worked with. It’s an honor working side by side with you.”
”Thank you!” Eric smiled.
”I mean it. Thank you so much for this opportunity” she said as she hugged him quickly. “Merry Christmas” she said and left the office, as she was passing Stephanie, she looked down on the floor. Stephanie didn’t look amused. She walked inside and closed the door.
”What was that all about?” she asked.
”What?”
”You and Lucinda”.
”That was a woman who expressed her joy of working at this company”.
”It was more than that, Eric. She obviously wants you”.
”Obviously? It wasn’t obvious to me”.
”Oh please!”
”I don´t think we should be having this discussion. I´m going down to the cutting room” Eric said, trying to avoid a loud discussion he didn´t feel like having. Stephanie remained in his office frustrated that he has just left her there.

Shannon was sitting with a box of papers in her lap, going through a letter, when Rick walked inside.
”What’s that?” he asked.
”I’m just going through some of my mothers old papers and letters. See if there is anything I should be keeping. I haven’t touched her things in the storage garage until now.”
”Now?” Rick asked as he sat down next to her.
”This is my first Christmas without my family. You know, mom, dad, my sister. I just felt that I would be closer to them if I surrounded myself with their belongings.”
”You must feel pretty lonely without them”.
”Yeah. But you know? They’re probably sitting up in heaven right now looking down on me, commenting and judging like always. It’s just that now, I can’t hear them. It’s like pressing the mute button.”
”That’s one way of looking at it”…
”What’s this?” Shannon said wondering as she picked up a letter that was hid in another letter.
”Looks personal. Might be a love letter from your father…” Rick suggested.
”I don’t think so”.
”There’s only one way to find out” Rick said as Shannon opened the letter and read it to herself. She looked confused as she read further.
”What is it?”
”This doesn’t make any sense. Whose it from?” Shannon wondered and looked for a name or return address, but nothing. It wasn’t signed.
”What does it say?” Rick wondered and Shannon started reading;
”I know we said we wouldn’t talk about this, but I felt like I had to. He wouldn’t understand but I know we did the right thing for him. I can see it in his eyes. I am leaving town for a while but don’t worry. I will not change my mind. I am almost grateful that I could help you. No one will ever find out the truth. They’re yours, now and forever.”
”What?” Rick asked confused.
”That’s it. What could that mean? They’re yours, now and forever. What is hers?”
”And your father never knew?”
”I know this handwriting… I’ve seen it before”.
”It’s addressed to your mother”.
”But who sent it? I swear I’ve seen this handwriting before”.
”Have any idea who it could be from?”
”No. But I intend to find out.”

”I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…” Ridge sang as he entered Brooke´s house. “Logan, could you help me here?” he asked as he struggled not to drop the gifts on the floor. Brooke hurried over and grabbed one before it could fall down.
”What’s this?” she asked.
”I went shopping for the kids.”
”I can see that!” she laughed.
”I’ll bring them over to the house later, but I need your help first”.
”With what?”
”Putting them in this” Ridge said as he held up a red Santa bag.
”You’ve thought of everything”.
”I have. Then I want you to pack yourself and Hope and come along”.
”To Eric and Stephanie? Ridge, I don’t know…”
”You’re coming and that is final. It’s Christmas once a year. Mother can keep the peace for Christmas. Besides, the kids are going to be there too. She won’t have time to bicker with you.”
”I hope you’re right”.
”Aren’t I always?”
”Oh yes, God almighty Ridge.” Brooke laughed.

Deacon entered Dina’s hospital room with a plate filled with delicious food. “Hey there sis” he told her. She was barely awake. Her eyes opened as she felt the presence of another person in the room.
”Deacon” she whispered.
”Don’t talk” he told her.
”It hurts” she said anyway.
”I know, I know” Deacon said as he looked at the bandage around her neck from where she had been cut with the knife. Just looking at it made Deacon furious with CJ for allowing it to happen.
”I brought you some food. I know you can’t chew anything right now, so I brought you the liquid deluxe form” he said holding up a straw and a glass of something red. “Here, taste” he held up the straw for her to drink. She took a sip and carefully swallowed.
”It’s good” she said.
”I know this isn’t how you planned to spend Christmas, but we’ll just have to make the best of the situation. I am right here with you”.
”Thank you”.
”No need for that. Where else would I be, huh?”
”Hot date” Dina whispered which made Deacon laugh out loud.

Stephanie was still in Eric’s office when Lucinda returned to get her purse which she had forgotten in there.
”Stephanie… Where’s Eric?” she asked.
”He left”.
”Oh... I just came to get my purse” Lucinda said and headed for it.
”Just like that?” Stephanie asked.
”Just like that?”
”I walk in on you putting the moves on my husband and you pretend like it never happened”.
”I wasn’t putting the moves on him. What did he say to you?”
”He didn’t say anything – he didn’t have to. It was quite obvious”.
”You’re wrong. I am not after Eric”.
”You’re not interested in him at all?” Stephanie asked, not believing it for a second.
”No, I’m not” Lucinda said as she walked over to Stephanie.
”I’ve seen you look at him. HOW you look at him. And how you look at me. It is so obvious.”
“I am not in love with your husband, please believe me, I’m not”.
”Believe in you? I hardly know you. No, I do know you. I know your kind, I’ve dealt with your kind before. So let me save you time and tell you that you won’t get him.”
”And you listen to me, and listen carefully: I do not want to steal your husband away from you. I am not in love with him.”
Stephanie shook her head in disbelief.
”Fine, you want proof? Here’s your proof!” Lucinda said and put her hands around Stephanie’s head and pulled her in for a kiss.
Stephanie was shocked and Lucinda backed off. She noticed a dumbfounded Eric standing in the doorway looking at them and Lucinda took off. Stephanie was still standing still in her place. Eric walked inside the room as Stephanie turned around. Eric started smiling, and could hardly keep from bursting out in a laugh.
”I guess you were wrong, huh?” he asked. “Does this mean I have to be jealous of Lucinda now?” he teased.
”Not another word” Stephanie said as she walked out, still shocked. Eric laughed amused.

”Merry Christmas” Ridge, Brooke and the kids called out as they entered the Forrester mansion the next day.
”Merry Christmas” was called out from the living room and they went over there. Felicia, Kristen and Pam were busy putting presents underneath the beautifully decorated tree.
”What are you doing?” Phoebe asked.
”Santa came early and dropped off all these presents for us. We’re just packing them under the tree for him.”
”Cool, can I help?” Thomas asked.
”No, you may not. I know what you’re up to, young man” Pam told him. “And it’s not gonna work”.
”It was worth a shot” Thomas said with a childlike prank-look.
”All those are for me? You shouldn’t have…” Ridge teased.
”We didn’t. You haven’t been that nice this year” Kristen told him.
”Oh yes I have. You don’t know how many times I have resisted doing this” he said and threw his arm around his little sister and quickly rubbed his closed fist on her head.
”Stop!!!” Kristen pleaded out in laughter.
”Let go of your sister” Eric told Ridge as he walked into the living room. “Or I´ll ground you”.
”Yeah, do that grandpa!” Thomas pleaded out in glee.
”Hey, whose side are you on??” Ridge asked betrayed.
”Sorry… Go grandpa!!!” Thomas laughed.
”What did you say? Huh? I’ll get you for that one!” Ridge said as he started chasing Thomas around the couch. He got to him and picked him up and tickled him till Thomas screamed out.
”What’s going on here?” Stephanie asked as she came walking down the stairs.
”Grandpa was just grounding dad”
”It was about time” Stephanie agreed.
”Are you guys involving yourself in an “everybody against Ridge” game that I don’t know of?” Ridge asked with a pouting lip.
”Aaaawwww… Poor baby…” Brooke said and walked up to him.
”I know I could count on you” he said as he wrapped an arm around her.
”I’ve got him!” Brooke announced as the kids came running over and started attacking Ridge playfully. They wrestled him down to the floor. Ridge looked up at Brooke “Et tu, Brute?” as they others just laughed. The kids were loving it and giggled loudly. Stephanie picked up Hope and gave her a quickie kiss on her forehead. “They´re crazy, aren´t they?” she asked. Hope giggled too.

Nick returned home to the Shady Marlin and found Christina there with a bottle of wine and tiny boxes of Chinese food.
”Merry Christmas!” she told him. “Care to join me?”
”Oh, sure!” Nick said as he smelled the ooze.
”You know I am not the best cook out there, so I hope you´re fine with Chinese”.
”What more could I ask for? Merry Christmas!”

Bridget was laying in her bed above the Insomnia wondering where CJ took off to. She was getting more and more curious and suddenly the door opened and a Santa hat appeared. “We didn’t have so much Christmas food. Hope you’re in the mood for some coffeecakes and this delicious sandwich.”
”You stole it from the kitchen?” Bridget asked stunned.
”Yeah, but don’t tell the boss. He can get so cranky when you steal…”
”Oh, I promise I won’t. Come back to bed now” she told him and pushed him down and they started kissing.

Stephanie found Pam by the tree later that evening. “Hi” she said to make her presence known.
”Hi” Pam answered. Stephanie sat down next to her sister and they both looked into the tree.
”Thinking what I am thinking?” Pam wondered.
”About how you and I used to decorate the tree when we were kids?”
”Yeah. Dad was away in business, and mother were upstairs with a headache in bed, too tired to celebrate Christmas with us” Pam reminisced.
”But we did decorate the best damned trees in the whole Chicago, didn’t we?”
”We did, and we still do!” Pam laughed.
”Why are you looking so down tonight?”
”You amaze me, Stephanie Douglas. That you can even ask such a question… Here you are in one of the darkest moments of your life, your son almost died, you and Eric are at odds, and you’re accused of murder with a trial coming up. We haven’t seen each other in such a long time and now I may end up losing you again. And still you have to ask…”
”Hey, you’ll never get rid of me. Don’t you know that by now?”
”I guess I should. You’re like one of those viruses you can’t quite shake off”.
”Mmm-hmm.”
”I love you”.
”I love you too”.
”I have to go to the bathroom” Pam smiled and left Stephanie by the open fireplace. Stephanie watched her sister leave and had a concerned look in her eyes.

Darla and her newborn son walked inside.
”Darla! I didn’t know if you were coming or not” Stephanie said as she got up to greet her new grandson.
”I decided it would be better to come over here instead of sitting at home alone waiting for a call from the hospital”.
”You were right. Hello, you sweetheart” Stephanie said to the boy who was barely awake.
”He just woke up in the car”.
”Hey Darla, merry Christmas!” Brooke said as she walked out to the hallway.
”Merry Christmas”.
”Want an egg-nod?”
”Why not?” Darla smiled and followed Brooke to the bar table.
”Have you been by to see Thorne?”
”Yes, we just came from there”.
”How is he?”
”There’s no change. The doctors are keeping him in a coma over the holidays. But I am hopeful he’ll be recovering”.
”We all are”.
”Thank you”.

”I think it’s time for some music about now” Eric said as he went over to the piano.
”I want to sing Silent night!” Steffy said. “Me too” Phoebe agreed.
”Silent night it is” Eric said and started playing. Soon they were all singing along. Ridge and Brooke were sitting with Hope in the couch. Hope’s eyes were beaming, which made Brooke smile, and gave her daughter a hug. Ridge leaned over and kissed Brooke’s forehead. Phoebe and Steffy were standing by the piano. Darla were rocking her son back to sleep. Stephanie walked over to Kristen and Felicia and wrapped her arms around them. The three of them shared a little Christmas group-hug. The song ended and Ridge decided to take over. He grabbed his guitar and started playing a song.
”What’s this song called? Phoebster?”
”Jingle bells!”
”Correct my sweet girl. Now sing along everybody!” Ridge said as he continued playing. Eric walked over to Kristen, Felicia and Stephanie and stood behind them. He quickly kissed Kristen’s head and then Felicia’s. And to Stephanie’s surprise, he gave her a quick kiss too. She turned her head around and back and smiled. As Ridge started playing his guitar faster, the kids started singing as fast as they possibly could. Hope beamed even bigger and started clapping her hands in glee. Brooke hugged her young daughter from behind and the others giggled. Hope was ecstatic.