Credit: Howard Wise/JPI
At Daniel’s, Danny kisses Christine and tells her how happy he is that they will be ringing the New Year in together. She tells him she is in a really good place and that’s because of him. Her marriage ending had her down but their reconnecting has given her a sense of peace and hope she didn’t think she’d have again. Things just feel right again. He says the beautiful girl he fell in love with long ago is still in front of him. He can’t wait to see what their future holds. As they make out, Daniel walks in and exclaims, “Wow!” He guesses that he’s interrupting and suggests they put a necktie on the doorknob next time. They ask him to join them for dinner. He was just going to have a video-call with Lily and then watch romcoms and eat junk food. Danny says that’s like a Romalotti tradition
Lucy and Heather arrive with romcoms and junk food. They settle in on the couch and the ladies tease him for always falling asleep during the movies. Stuffing his face with popcorn, he declares that he will stay up until midnight for the holidays and insists they watch Die Hard, his favorite Christmas movie. Heather protests but Lucy sides with her father. As they watch, Lucy brings up Lily and her dad talks about all that Mattie has lost and how her mother will be sticking by her side until she’s back on track. Heather guesses she’ll be out of town for a while. Daniel explains he will be moving some things around in his schedule to spend some time out there. Heather stares off. As the movie ends, she notices that both Daniel and Lucy are asleep. She rests her head on her ex-husband’s chest. After she drifts off, Lucy wakes up and sees them together. She smiles and puts a blanket on them before taking a photo and going to her room. Daniel wakes and tries to get up. That wakes Heather. She claims she didn’t realize she fell asleep and kisses him. They keep kissing.
Ashley walks into the jazz club as Tucker is telling Phyllis that staying in Genoa City no longer seems like an option. She reminds him that Dominic loves him. He says that he’s a party of one. The Abbott asks Phyllis to step aside so she can talk to McCall. Once she’s gone, Ashley asks if he’s really leaving town. “Would you care if I did?” he asks, pointing out she blew up any chance he had for a relationship with his family by destroying his reputation. She talks a big game about his relationship with his son, but everything she has done has ruined his ability to trust her. He makes it clear that nothing he does has anything to do with her. She tells him he can’t just run away from his son and has to fight for the people he loves. Tucker says she took a match to everything that he cared about after she broke his heart. Ashley says she promised herself she would never be frightened of him again like she was when he smashed a wine glass and threw a chair. “What are you talking about?” he asks. He made a scene but wasn’t violent. Maybe he knocked over a glass and tipped over a chair on the way out. She thinks he’s not acknowledging anything that happened. He already apologized for what actually happened and that didn’t seem to impress her. She needs him to admit to the truth but he accuses her of playing a game and trying to act like he’s violent. Finishing his drink, he declares they are done and tells her to run off to the family she cares so much about. She can’t believe he’s denying he was violent and treating her like she’s delusional.
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Michael and Lauren have dinner at the GCAC and he tells her that there’s no more perfect way for them to spend New Year’s than getting married once again. They toast to how she dazzles him more every year. They spot Phyllis and recall that Daniel asked them to talk to her. They call her over to join them and she calls for a dirty martini before declaring she’s not doing the New Year this year. Michael points out it happens regardless. He knows that last year was disastrous but she can raise a glass to the next one. She doesn’t see the point. Lauren thought she was being changing-things-for-the-better Phyllis now. The redhead claims she’s been trying but the universe is kicking her in the teeth. Lauren guesses she’s talking about Danny. They admit her son said something about it and is concerned. As she thirstily sips her cocktail, Phyllis says that the worries are misplaced and then complains about Danny not being able to see how pathetic puppy-dog-eyed Christine is. Lauren assumes she wants him for herself but Phyllis dismisses this. They suggest she’s falling back into being competitive with her old enemy and she rants about Danny falling for “scrawny” Christine and relapsing to an old ex. It’s all just familiar but it’s nothing romantic, nothing like what he could have. Lauren asks why she’s pursuing this. Phyllis claims that she will be doing nothing but pursuing a healthy relationship with the father of her child in the new year.
They spot Danny and Christine at the bar. Once they exchange glances with Phyllis, Danny suggests they go somewhere else. “Not a chance,” says Christine, marching them over. They make nice and Lauren and Michael announce that they are renewing their vows tonight. Phyllis is startled. They asked her over to invite her. Phyllis claims she has a date. “With who?” Christine asks. Phyllis turns and spots Tucker, declaring it’s him. Calling over to him, she asks if they are still on for later. “Nothing’s changed on my end,” he says. He tells her he’s looking forward to it and kisses her before walking off. Everyone stares in shock. Phyllis sits and holds her lip. Danny and Christine take off. Michael and Lauren ask if she’s really going to spend the night with that lowlife instead of coming to their ceremony. Was that all just a stunt for Danny? She claims it’s real and they need to discuss a business proposal. Michael hopes there’s no chance she will work with him and tells her not to disappoint them by backing out of their party.
Phyllis sits at the bar and finishes a cocktail. She sends Tucker a text, thanking him for playing along.
Ashley returns to the Abbott house. She calls out but no one is there. As she pours herself a drink, Jack sends a text to say they are at the jazz lounge and asks her to join them. She flashes back to Tucker smashing the glass and telling her to go to hell.
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Tucker returns to his suite at the GCAC and pours himself a drink, flashing back to telling Ashley to go to hell when they were in Paris. In his memory, he didn’t smash a glass at all. He gets the text from Phyllis and tells her they can still have a drink if she wants. Her jaw drops.
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At Society, Kevin and Chloe debate what music to put on. Gloria thinks they should be asking her because her party planning is perfect. She starts criticizing the flower decorations and telling them about becoming a content creator. Her followers can’t get enough of her. “Some of us have had more than enough,” her son jokes. They talk about how romantic it is for Michael and Lauren to be renewing their vows. She wonders when her son did something romantic for Chloe last. She jokes that he did the dishes with his shirt off last night.
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Michael and Lauren arrive. Gloria jokes that she never thought they would last this long and tells Lauren how ravishing she looks. Scott can’t come and the other absent guests have sent their love. As they ready the champagne, Lauren admits to her husband that she’s nervous. He thinks she’s radiant and they hold each other.
Once the music starts, everyone gathers around them. The couple tells each other how beautiful they look. The clergyman kicks off the ceremony. Lauren recalls that all they knew was that they had each other. Back then, he was something of a bad boy but she knew there was a magnificent heart beneath the edge. She’s seen him put everything on the line and his faith in them has gotten them through the impossible. There were days when she didn’t think they would have their happily ever after but he never gave up and didn’t let her give up either. She’s so glad for that. Lauren recalls all they have been through and the extraordinary sons they’ve raised. He was so worried that he wouldn’t be a good father but he’s been the best. He’s the love of her life and happily ever after starts every day she wakes up with him. Choking up, Michael says that’s a hard act to follow. But he would follow her anywhere. He once told her that he didn’t have the faith in goodness that she does. However, he has never doubted their love for each other. They’ve tested it but it made them stronger and made him love her more. He’s in awe of her courage and faith in them. It’s because of her that they are standing there. She took a chance on a man who is too much at war with the world and showed him the love he never thought he’d have or deserve. Their joy lights up every day of his life. Kevin hands them their rings. Smiling, they slip them on and kiss. Phyllis arrives for the end of the ceremony as they count down to the new year and throw confetti.
