Stefano gazes out the window and reminisces over winter trips he took EJ as a little boy. “Merry Christmas Elvis,” he says before embracing him. EJ wishes him the same before leaving. Rolf then emerges. Stefano asks if the patient is prepared, which Rolf confirms. “I would like to put the finishing touches on myself,” requests Stefano.
In the lab, Rolf holds a syringe and announces that everything’s ready. Stefano instructs him to proceed. Rolf hands him the syringe. “A new life, a new year,” Stefano previews before he injects the syringe into the patient. Stefano is astonished by the monitor displaying signs of life. We see the covered-up patient open his blue eye. “Welcome home,” announces Stefano.
At Lucas’s apartment, he examines a bottle of Vodka which prompts Kate to ask him what he’s doing. He soon pours it down the drain, takes Allie from Kate and states that he’s got a lot to stay sober for. He speaks to his daughter and reveals that he’ll have to go away for a while, but she’ll be in good hands with people who love her, such as Sami, Billie, and Kate. Billie and Philip then arrive. “Something is wrong, and one of you better start talking,” she warns as she notices the luggage. Lucas claims the luggage belongs to Sami, who is moving out of EJ’s apartment. Billie isn’t buying it. Lucas then receives a phone call, but blows it off, which arouses suspicion in Billie. “Allie’s godmother has a job to do, remember?” Lucas implies. Billie takes the hint and proceeds to get going to Alice’s and take Allie with her. Lucas gives brief safety instructions. Kate assures Billie that she’ll keep an eye on Lucas. Lucas professes to love Allie before they leave.
Max later begins to read the traditional Christmas story to the children in his Santa voice and has his elf Nick by his side. During the story, we see the ornaments on Alice’s tree. Sami hangs Lucas’s and appears worried by his absence. Meanwhile, Lucas packs away as Kate looks on. Shawn, Belle, and Claire admire the tree at Alice’s together. Chelsea arrives at the hospital and smiles upon seeing Nick as an elf. One of the children then requests a Hanukkah story, then one asks for a Kwanza story. Nick gives a touching speech that no matter what the kids celebrate, the story is about hope and people coming together. Stephanie arrives during this time and spots Max, who agrees that today is about hope, peace, and most of all, love as he gazes at Steph.
As the kids later open presents at the hospital, Nick approaches Chelsea and wonders who died. She apologizes and claims it hasn’t been her best Christmas. He proposes a little elf loving to cheer her up. Max approaches Steph, who wishes him a Merry Christmas and mentions how nice it is for him to dress up like Santa for the kids. She takes full responsibility for the recent tension between them. He admits he cares for her and would do anything for her. She pulls away when he attempts to stroke her face. Steph claims it’s not him and asks him not to make it harder than it has to be. He refuses to allow her to leave until she hears how he feels, but she apologizes and rushes off.
Nick presents Chelsea with an online photo album of the two of them. Chelsea is delighted by Nick’s gift and professes to love him, pointy ears and all. As she hugs him, she sees a vision of Ford. “Gee Chelsea, I wonder who your next victim will be,” he daunts.
Back at Alice’s Maggie realizes that Jeremy’s ornament is broken. Alice tells her not to worry and assures her that they’ll get another one. Billie soon arrives with Allie. Sami asks Billie about Lucas’s whereabouts. Billie reveals the previous conversation she had with Lucas about wanting to make sure Allie was taken care of and informs her that Lucas had a suitcase packed. An upset Sami rushes out.
Lucas later holds an envelope with Sami’s name on it and says all he has to do is get out of there before she comes back. Before he leaves, he tells Kate to make sure Sami gets his letter. Outside in the hall, Philip approaches Lucas and berates him for walking away from his family, rehashing how walking out on Belle was the biggest mistake of his life. Lucas wishes his brother a Merry Christmas. Philip embraces him before Lucas departs.
Sami arrives home frantically calling for Lucas, but encounters Kate and Philip instead. Kate hands her the letter without saying a word, then she and Philip leave. Sami sits down and reads his letter, which indicates that sometimes people are forced to do things which they don’t want to do. Sami cries as he professes to love his family and will do anything to protect them, even if it means saying good-bye.
Doug later sings “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” as friends and family are present. Nick and Chelsea arrive back and are warmly greeted by Bo and Hope. During this beautiful song, Marlena and Steve stand outside the dry cleaners and admire the wintery night. Sami peers outside her door and sobs over Lucas’s disappearance. Back at the suite, Kayla soothes an emotional Stephanie. A smiling Abe holds his son Theo as they hang an ornament on the tree together at the hospital. A dejected Max stands alongside in his Santa suit. Back at Alice’s, the gang is gathered around the piano, then we see the star at the top of the tree. “Merry Christmas Tom,” says Alice as she holds his picture close. Everyone cheers Merry Christmas in response.
