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(EXT: Santa Barbara Police Department)

---Carla and Marta anxiously wait for Angel to be released. They run into Cruz and Marta lays into him once again for taking her father away for Christmas. Cruz apologizes to them both and tries to make them understand the situation that he and the SBPD were put in. Vic comes upstairs with Angel and releases him to his wife and daughter. They greet him with hugs, as they are thrilled to have him back. He instructs them to wait in the car for him, as he has to talk to Cruz alone. Marta protests, but Carla forces her daughter to do as she's told. Alone, Cruz apologizes to Angel for him having to spend Christmas in jail.

"I'm used to it by now Castillo. It's more important that my family be kept safe."

"I can understand that. You think they bought it?"

"Can't tell. I hope so, but I'm not taking any chances. I want to get a gun."

Cruz tells him that under California State Law, he is ineligible to purchase a gun legally. Angel asks him if there's anything he & Julia can do with the courts to help his case, but Cruz tells him that it's impossible. Angel vows to take matters into his own hands. Cruz tells him he can't tell him to do anything illegal, but Angel remarks that he knows what he has to do.

(EXT: The Capwell Hotel)

---Mason wakes up on the couch of the suite he rented for Mary and himself. He peeks into the bedroom and sees that Mary is still asleep. He takes the liberty of ordering breakfast for the two of them. He smiles as he flashes back to the night before- first his reuniting with Mary, and then her insistence that they cannot make love, despite his objections. Mason is snapped out of it when he hears Mary waking up in her bedroom. She comes out and wishes him a good morning. He responds and leans in to kiss her, but she pulls away.

"We can't do this, Mason. This isn't how I wanted things...."

"I love you Mary. That's all that matters."

"What about Julia? And your daughter? Are you even thinking of them? You should have spent Christmas with them, instead of catching up with me."

Mason realizes that he hasn't even called his family for the holiday. Mason tells her that Christmas is just another day. Mary sees what a cop-out that is and calls him on it. Mason says that he's going to explain everything to Julia and Samantha today. However, he's already ordered them breakfast and says there's a few things he wants to know about, especially about Mark and the baby. Mary tells him that when she woke up, her doctor and Mark explained that when she was brought in, her condition was critical and if the baby wasn't delivered, she would have died. Though he knew it was too soon, Mark agreed to the C-section and their daughter was born, dying shortly after. Mason asks about the records and Mary tells him that the clinic should still have them. Mason asks if she has access to the records room, which she says she does. Mary agrees to copy them for him.

(EXT: Mason & Julia's House)

---Samantha is dumbfounded that after being released from jail, Mason didn't bother to spend the holidays with she & Julia. Samantha asks her mother just what is going on. Julia comes clean with Samantha, explaining that the doctor who saved her life was Mary Duvall, Mason's first love. Samantha exclaims that she thought Mary was dead, and Julia explains Mary's story. Samantha doesn't understand why Mason would be upset over this, but Julia tells her that she kept quiet about Mary's being alive for some time.

"That explains the drinking binge and the arrest." Samantha realizes

"Yes and I just hope he's not been out doing the same thing, God knows where."

Samantha wonders if perhaps he found Mary, but Julia shoots that down, saying Mary has left town and vowed never to see Mason again. She tells Samantha of the kind of person that Mary was- strong, moral, kind. She tells her daughter that Mary didn't want to break up their family, which is why she never went back to Mason after all these years.

"How ironic that that's exactly what she might have done." Samantha muses

Julia assures her that she & Mason will work through their problems, they always do. Samantha isn't so sure, telling Julia that Mason doesn't take kindly to betrayal, a trait she shares with him. Samantha says that she wouldn't be surprised if Mason moved Heaven and Earth to find Mary, if only to spite Julia. Rafe arrives, interrupting their conversation.

"Ready for some physical therapy today Samantha?"

Samantha tells him that she was actually in the middle of something with her mother but Julia insists she do her physical therapy, saying she needs to get back to the office anyway.

(EXT: The Capwell Mansion)

---Kelly is disappointed when Sophia tells her she has an appointment that day, since she was hoping they could spend the day shopping together. Sophia asks Kelly how long she is planning on staying in town and is pleasantly surprised that Kelly has decided to move back. Sophia is thrilled and laments that it will be wonderful having Kelly back in the house. Kelly corrects her, telling her she plans on getting a place of her own. Sophia is thrilled nonetheless. Kelly asks her about the appointment she's going to, but Sophia keeps mum, vaguely telling her daughter that she's meeting an old friend. Kelly says she's anxious to get back to work. Sophia asks what her plans are for the day and she says she's meeting Eden for breakfast at the Capwell Hotel. The girls were hoping that their mother could join them, and Sophia apologizes for not being able to attend. They say her good-byes and Kelly leaves. Sophia prepares to leave as Rosa emerges.

"Your children should know about your condition Sophia, especially of this treatment you're seeking. You're meeting with Dr. Lavery again, aren't you?"

"I am Rosa. And you know how I feel about my children and CC finding out about this. You didn't confide in Santana, did you?"

"No Sophia, I wouldn't betray your confidence. But I can tell you that if I were sick, my son and daughter would both know about it...I just pray you know what you're doing."

Sophia insists she does and thanks Rosa for her concern. Sophia exits.

(EXT: Mason & Julia's House)

Rafe works with Samantha on her exercises. She asks him if he did anything special for the holiday and he tells her of the gift he gave to Lily. Samantha acts confused, saying she thought he didn't want to jump back into anything with her. He tells her that he doesn't, but admits he still has feelings for her and he thinks she still does for him. Samantha isn't so sure, saying last she heard, she was still bent out of shape about Ted's marriage to Angela. Rafe thinks otherwise, but Samantha insists, telling Rafe that she went so far as to investigate the article in the New Mexican paper. Rafe asks how she knows this and Samantha tells him that Lily made a huge scene about it at Capwell Enterprises. She says that she found out that Angela was the one behind the set-up, causing a rift between Ted & Angela. Why, Samantha asks, if Lily was still hung up on Rafe would she try to break up Ted's marriage?

"You don't like her very much, do you?" Rafe asks.

"Honestly? No, I don't. She conned my father years ago, before I was born, when he was very vulnerable. Though she claims she's changed, I see her for the manipulative, hypocritical liar that she is. "

Rafe smiles and notices her doing the exercise more vigorously.

"Easy, Samantha," he laughs "Easy."

She shoots him a look.

(EXT: The Capwell Hotel)

---Julia arrives at the Capwell Hotel for breakfast and asks the maitre'd if Kelly or Eden have gotten there yet. He tells her no and offers to seat her. She sees Pamela out of the corner of her eye, motioning for Julia to join her. Julia tells the maitre'd to prepare their table while she visits with Pamela. Julia sits down at the table and Pamela immediately asks if she heard from Mason on Christmas. Julia replies that she hadn't, saying she was going to ask Pamela the very same thing. Pamela expresses her concern for Mason, especially with all the lashing out he's been doing. Julia agrees that she's worried as well, though she's certain that he'll turn up. Julia begins to wonder if Mason didn't go to Colorado to try and find Mary.

Kelly arrives for breakfast and asks if Eden has shown up yet. The maitre'd tells her she hasn't, though Julia has and their table is being prepared. Kelly remarks that she didn't realize that Julia would be joining them, then spots her talking with Pamela at a table. Kelly swiftly approaches them.

"Pamela, what in the hell are you doing here?"

"Merry Christmas to you too Kelly. Nice to see you as well." Pamela scoffs

Kelly asks how she got out of the institution she was in and Pamela tells her she was let out years ago. Kelly asks where she's been & Pamela tells her she's been living in London. Kelly is stunned to realize that she had been living in the very same city as the woman who poisoned her, only to return to Santa Barbara and find her there. Kelly point blank asks Pamela what she's up to and Pamela insists that she's only living her life and it's merely a coincidence. Kelly warns Pamela to stay away from her and her family and Pamela tells her that she has nothing to worry about. Kelly remarks that her very presence in town is reason enough to worry, since she's poison to everything she touches. Pamela replies that Kelly should concern herself with her own mother and her problems rather than Pamela's. Kelly asks what exactly that means, but is interrupted when Pamela sees Mason from across the room.

"Who's that woman he's with?" she asks

"My God." Julia says. "It's Mary."

Mason stops walking and locks eyes with Julia. Mary asks him what he's doing and looks and sees Julia, Pamela, and Kelly staring back at them.

(EXT: Santa Barbara Medical Center)

---Edmund is informed that Sophia is there to see him. He greets her warmly and invites her to sit down.

"I take it this means you've made a decision about the treatment..." he says

"I have."

"Well.....what is it that you've decided?"

"I'd like to do it Edmund. I've read all of the paperwork and I'm willing to take the chance. I trust you."

"Excellent. Sophia, I'm going to do everything I can to save you, but make no mistake, it's not going to happen overnight....you'll be away from your family for quite some time...."

"I realize that but if I do it, I can be with them a whole lot longer. I'm going through with it. My mind is made up."

Edmund tells her that he'll need to give her boosters immediately, as there isn't much time before the trip. He tells her he'll extend his stay until after New Year's, so that the shots will have time to take their effect on her. Sophia agrees, but insists her family know nothing about it. Edmund is uneasy, but tells her that he has to respect her confidence, no matter what. He turns around and pulls out a small bottle and syringe. A sinister look comes over his face as he fills the syringe from the bottle.......

THE END...........for today