Friday, December 22 2006, Episode 4962

Ann meets her great grandchildren for the first time.

Stephanie fumes to see her mother on her doorstep, interrupting her family's Christmas. Hope, R.J. and Ally run to the door to see who's there. Thomas follows them and asks his grandma if she's OK. Pam introduces herself to her grandnephew. As Phoebe comes over, Ann recognizes her as one of Ridge's twins from the photos in Pam's cards and asks which twin she is. Phoebe identifies herself. Ann recognizes Alexandria and asks her to come over, but Ridge shouts out to leave Ally there. Ann calls out to Ridge and Thorne, who are both stunned to see their grandmother. Thomas and Phoebe can't believe it, since they were told their great grandmother was dead. Eric tells them that this is indeed their great grandmother, Ann Douglas. Thomas and Phoebe are stunned that Ann is alive. Before Ann can explain where she's been, Ridge tells Thomas and Phoebe to take the younger kids to the kitchen. Ann asks them to wait, but Ridge tells her to let them go.

Eric tells Ridge and Thorne that he invited their grandmother.

Eric reminds Ridge that Ann has never met her great grandchildren. Ridge argues that she doesn't deserve to meet them. Eric points out how far Ann and Pam came to be with them. Thorne chimes in that his mother doesn't want them there, and Ridge says he doesn't, either. Pam says that they didn't come to ruin the family's Christmas. Then why did they come? Ridge asks, shocked that his grandmother would come here uninvited after what she did. Eric explains that he invited them. The family is shocked that Eric would do that. He explains that this is his surprise gift to Stephanie, since he thought Christmas is a time to open their hearts. Felicia thinks that was a nice sentiment, but it was bad judgement; she offers to drive her aunt and grandmother to the airport, but Ann first wants to talk to her daughter. She wants to tell Stephanie again that she's sorry for failing as a mother. She was afraid to come when Eric called to invite her, because she knew Stephanie might reject her, but she's wondered for 30 years what it would be like to spend Christmas with her daughter's family. Ridge tells Ann that she lost her place in that family long ago. Stephanie asks her mother to please go.

Taylor and Bridget watch as Ann wrestles with memories of the past.

Eric reminds his wife that it's Christmas and asks her to reconsider, but Ridge doesn't see why his mother should after the way his grandmother denied what happened all those years. Ann admits that Ridge is right; she did deny it, and all she can say is that she's sorry. She tells Stephanie that it tore her up hearing her husband hit their child, but she was frozen. She just couldn't bring herself to question her husband, even though she knows she should have. And she knows she doesn't deserve Stephanie's forgiveness, but after years of denial, she finally sees the ugliness of her past, because Stephanie opened her eyes to it. In her mind, she flashes back to one of the times she overheard her husband beating Stephanie for being careless, and she did nothing. The memory unnerves Ann so much that she feels weak; Eric and Pam help her sit down as Bridget comes over to help. Taylor tells Stephanie that it took a lot of courage and humility for her mother to come here. Eric reminds his wife how everyone in this room has had conflicts with someone else, especially the two of them. But they always forgave each other, because they're family. Ridge doesn't think his mother has to forgive anything, wondering how Ann ignored her daughter's cries of pain. Ann agrees and tells Pam that they should go. Taylor steps in and tells them to wait; she asks Stephanie to join her in the den so they can talk alone. Stephanie reluctantly agrees to go with her.

Pam tells her sister's family that her mother is hurting, too.

While Taylor and Stephanie are in the den, Eric tells the others that Stephanie has to put this behind her if she's to deal with her past. Felicia doesn't think they can force her mother to do that, but Bridget thinks Taylor might get through to Stephanie. Thorne fears it might be too much for his mother to deal with. Pam points out how hard it was for her mother, being separated from her own daughter for 30 years. She admits that her mother should have protected Stephanie, but she thinks Ann has served her sentence, since she's served it with her. She tells them that her father was the monster, not her mother, and she spent years watching her father break her mother's heart. Ann tells Pam that she doesn't blame everyone for being angry with her, because she was so weak. If only she could have led her family as Stephanie does hers, and if only she could have been more like Stephanie. She loves Stephanie as much as everyone here, but she just couldn't... She stops and says again that she's sorry. Pam tells the Forresters that her mother can never forgive herself until Stephanie forgives her first.

Stephanie can't forgive her mother.

In the den, Taylor urges a resistant Stephanie to forgive her mother so they can all move on. "If you let your mother and your sister walk out that door, then Christmas is over," Taylor observes. She reminds Stephanie that Christmas is a magical time of love that comes once a year, and she doesn't want to see Stephanie cheat herself and her children of an incredible opportunity. She knows everyone in the family looks up to Stephanie, which is why she's urging Stephanie to forgive her mother. Stephanie says she can't absolve her mother of all responsibility, but Taylor says that no one expects that. "Show your grandchildren how to forgive," Taylor pleads. Stephanie says she can't and asks why Taylor can't understand that. Taylor says that she understands, but she also sees that Ann is hurting, too. She asks Stephanie to imagine what it's like for Ann to see her grandchildren for the first time in 30 years, only to learn that they hate her. But most all, she wants Stephanie to recognize the power she holds right now. She knows Stephanie has always needed to be in control, but she hopes Stephanie can let go of her anger and forgive. She can teach so much to her children just by reaching out. Stephanie reflects on how she waited 30 years for her mother to apologize. Now she has, but it's just too late. She just can't find it in her heart to forgive her mother. "If you love me, please go out there and ask her to leave," Stephanie pleads.

Eric starts singing and playing the piano.

In the living room, Bridget asks Brooke what they can do. At least Taylor and Stephanie are still talking, Brooke remarks. Taylor comes out and tells Ann and Pam that she's sorry, but Stephanie still wants them to leave. Pam apologizes to the family for ruining their Christmas. Ann tells them how much it meant to see them all and bids them all, "Merry Christmas." Eric goes to the piano and starts singing "What Child is This?" The rest of the family joins in, one at a time, joining Eric around the piano. Standing by the door, Ann and Pam hear the joyous singing and turn to look. Inside the den, Stephanie hears the music and comes out. As she stands in the doorway, she watches her family gathered around. She then sees Alexandria break away from the rest and run to Ann and Pam.

Ally reaches out to her great grandmother. click here to see the family's reactions.

Ally reaches out for Ann's hand. Ann is hesitant, but she lets Ally take her hand. Stephanie watches as Ally tugs gently on Ann's hand; she shakes her head and starts walking toward her mother. By the piano, Felicia sees her mother walking and stops singing; the others also notice and the singing stops. There's silence as Stephanie walks over and caresses Ally's hair. Looking at Ann, she softly says, "All right, Mother. I forgive you." All eyes are on Stephanie and Ann as Ann turns to her daughter, exclaims "Oh, my darling girl," and embraces her. Pam has tears in her eyes as she watches and smiles. Eric, still at the piano, sings, "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Stephanie then, with a small smile on her face, turns to Ann and gives her a kiss on the forehead.