Thursday, December 20, 2007, Episode #5212

Stephanie has no interest in hearing Donna out.

Stephanie shows up at Eric's hotel room to talk about their last encounter, but he's not there and she finds Donna instead. Stephanie turns to leave and asks Donna to have Eric call her, but Donna asks her to stay; she thinks this is the perfect chance to make things more tolerable between them for the sake of Eric and his family, especially with Christmas just days away. Stephanie, however, has no interest in anything Donna has to say. She sees the small table-top Christmas tree Donna bought and asks if that's to mollify Eric's need for Christmas with his family. Donna fires back that Stephanie's the one who canceled Christmas for the family. Stephanie argues that there's just no point in trying to plan the big, traditional family Christmas. Donna scolds Stephanie for selfishly shelving the family Christmas just because things aren't going her way, just to make Eric feel guilty or worse.

Donna gives Stephanie a warning.

Stephanie says she's just not in the mood to celebrate after having her husband walk out and getting shot by Donna's father. Donna points out that Stephanie still has a loving family and asks La Forrester if it's fair to shut them out because she's miserable that Eric won't be there. While Donna fires off her question, Stephanie ruminates in her head about how Christmas always magically brought their family together, no matter what problems they had. "Why can't you see that, Eric?" she thinks to herself. Donna sees the thoughtful look on Stephanie's face and asks if something she said got through. She knows Stephanie would love to rip her face off right know, but she warns that she'll only take so much abuse, and that things will get ugly if Stephanie keeps trying to get Eric back. "We're in love," Donna states. "Have you been drinking?" Stephanie asks. Donna thinks Stephanie is the delusional one if she thinks Eric's coming back to her. "Just accept the fact that your marriage is over, and move on," Donna advises, "because there is nothing that you can do about it, Missy." Stephanie simply gives Donna a smug look and leaves.

Eric tells Donna not to let Stephanie get to her.

When Eric returns to the hotel, Donna tells him about her confrontation with Stephanie. "She wants you, Eric," Donna sighs, telling her lover that lines were drawn between her and Stephanie. Eric tells Donna not to let Stephanie get to her, but Donna says that it's hard. She knows he loves her, but she sometimes feels like she can't compete with his history with Stephanie, especially because he does care for Stephanie on some levels. The worst part is that she knows that she's committed to Eric and wants to have a wonderful life with him, but she needs to know how he feels in his heart and soul. "Are you truly committed to me, Eric?" Donna sobs.

Brooke and Katie are stunned by Storm's confession.

At Brooke's house, Storm asks Brooke and Katie if he deserves to go to jail for shooting a woman like Stephanie who's done so much to torment their family. Brooke argues that their father doesn't deserve to go to jail, either, but Storm counters that their father needs to be punished for abandoning their family and never looking back. Brooke insists that sending Stephen to jail won't make up for what they lost while growing up, but Storm can't get past how their dad just waltzed back into town and accused him of being inadequate in protecting his sisters. He fumes that Stephen was so arrogant as to try to push him out of his siblings' lives. Katie tells him that they will always love him for the way he protected them over the years, while Brooke tells him that he has to tell the truth. Storm seethes that his sisters want him to go to jail instead of their dad, but Katie reminds him, "Stormy, he didn't do it." Storm reminds them that he's a good lawyer, so he could get their dad off, or at worst cut a deal where Stephen a deal where he'll only serve a couple of years in jail. Brooke reminds Storm how he said earlier that the police have an open-and-shut case, because this is "the perfect crime." But it won't be perfect if they turn him in, Storm argues, pleading for his sisters to be stand by him like he was always there for them over the years.

Storm begs his sisters not to send him to jail.

Brooke and Katie tell Storm that they'll always be there for him, but he's putting them in an impossible situation. Storm begs them not to turn their backs on him now. Katie suggests they wait to see if Storm can get their dad off during the trial, but Brooke fears that he might not be able to, which will mean Stephen spends the rest of his life in jail. Brooke turns to Storm and tells him that he may have convinced himself that setting their father up is some kind of poetic justice, but that's just not him. "Trust me to let me help you," Brooke asks. "Trust us." Storm sobs that he never meant to let his sister down. Brooke and Katie tell him that they know that, but Brooke also points out that he has to do the right thing. "You have to go to Dad and tell him the truth," she asserts. Katie adds that they'll be there for him all the way, just like he was there for them. The siblings embrace.

Brooke, Storm and Katie go to the jailhouse to see their father. Stephen is so glad to see all of them, especially Katie. Katie breaks down in tears and apologizes for not believing her father, who says none of them have anything to apologize after how he abandoned them. He's just glad they're here to support him. Katie tells him that they all know now that he's innocent. And Storm is determined to prove that, Stephen assures, confident that his son's skill as an attorney will get him his freedom back. He tells them about Stephanie's earlier visit where she taunted that it would take a miracle to get him out, but he thinks the way they've come together shows that miracles can happen. He's especially grateful to Storm and praises, "You're the man I should have been, Storm." As Stephen goes on about how proud he is of Storm, Storm says silent. Stephen then wishes Storm a belated happy birthday; he feels like a heel for forgetting, but he promises to throw Storm the biggest belated birthday party ever once Storm gets him off. Caught up in guilt, Storm sobs, "You don't understand." Stephen admits that he doesn't understand how Storm can work so tirelessly for a father who abandoned him. Speaking of the case, Brooke tells their dad that there's a new development, and they know who set him up. Thrilled, Stephen asks them who it is, but his elation turns to confusion when none of his kids answer. He asks what's going on, since it should be good news that they know who framed him.