Episode #: 10460
Tape Date: 11/6/06
Air Date: 12/11/06
Director: Roy Steinberg

Summary: John and Marlena’s suspicions are confirmed at the graveyard…Willow makes an ass of herself, which in turn drives Shawn to Belle…Steve and Kayla have a reunion of spirit and body…Bo and Hope decide to make things work for them (as she promises to stay away from Patrick, well, sort of)…and Billie seems to pick up on Nick’s feelings for Chelsa. (Big thumbs up performances for Mary Beth Evans and Steven Nichols).

In Italy…John and Marlena (both dressed appropriately in black) break into the DiMera family tomb, or crypt, or whatever you call it. Once inside, John makes haste prying the lid off of Stefano’s crypt, saying let’s hope the old man is there. They hear a noise and hide behind it as someone is shining a light inside. It’s only a guard who reports that it is quiet as a tomb there and leaves. They go back to work as John gets the lid off. He looks inside and says it’s empty and Marlena says he is NOT dead…and he has EJ reporting to him. John says the Phoenix has risen from the ashes yet again. Marlena wants to put the lid back on, but John says no, he is going to leave it just as it is so Stefano will know that he has been there. She asks what is he doing as he takes it one step further and goes over and writes “JOHN BLACK WAS HERE” on the wall. Marlena gasps, saying he may as well put a target on his back and John says that once and for all, there is going to be a showdown. Marlena asks if that is really what he wants and he says that is the direction they have been heading ever since they got here. They leave and as they sneak out, we see Rico hiding in the bushes. He makes a call to EJ and tells him that things didn’t go as planned…what now? He laughs an evil laugh and says that it looks like Mr. & Mrs. Black won’t have that dream honeymoon after all. Later, they are back in their room as John cracks open the champagne and toasts his beautiful wife, who he says “looks sexy as hell in black”. He takes her in his arms as they kiss and fall to the bed. Later, when it comes back to them, they are in bed kissing and making love as we see Rico in the hallway, listening at the door.

At Shawn’s Apartment…Willow informs Belle that she lives there now (as she really rubs it in). She claims she is just helping Shawn be honest with Belle, saying that she and Shawn share everything…including the bed. Belle is speechless as she grabs her things and rushes out the door. Shawn is furious with Willow and rants at her. Willow says Belle had to know the truth, she thought that’s what Shawn wanted. Then she says she knows the truth…Shawn wants Belle back and HER out. His silence speaks volumes as she cries how she has never had a relationship before, until him…and how can she now walk away…from her angel? She apologizes for her earlier behavior, saying she thought she was losing him to Belle and she panicked. She asks can they just start this day all over but Shawn tells her no and he goes to leave…he needs to be alone and think. A teary-eyed Willow tells him she will be waiting for him when he gets back.

At Chez Rouge…Abby and Nick are enjoying dinner (I think they said it was payment from Maggie for decorating), when Chelsea shows up, telling Nick that she needs him more than ever. This excites Nick, but she pulls out the picture of his boss, telling she needs him to help her find this guy. He almost chokes when she does this, saying he can’t help her. Billie walks up telling Chelsea to give up on this. Billie joins them as Chelsea talks about her new guy. Nick slips and calls him Lonely Splicer but the covers, saying that Stephanie told him his name. Billie tells them not to encourage her but Chelsea says that Billie is jealous. Chelsea asks Nick to take the photo and examine it for clues to help her find her “Dr. McDreamy”. Abby says no…they have to leave. Nick asks for the photo and in the process, Abby grabs his fork and he gets his desert all over him and Chelsea. As he and Abby leave, she asks what is he going to do and he says he will figure out what to do...he didn't finish Magna Cum Laude for nothing. After they are gone, Billie tells Chelsea she is just wasting her time…for Billie thinks she has already found the perfect guy for her…he is sweet, adorable and considerate. Chelsea asks WHO?...as Billie smiles. Then she laughs when she realizes that Billie is talking about Nick. She says her and the lab rat?...that will never happen…but Billie says she thinks maybe this time she got it right...as she smiles.

At the Brady House…Hope is playing with Claire as Bo comes downstairs with his duffel bag. He tells her he is moving out…he can’t live with someone who doesn’t trust him. She begs him not to go, telling him that he was right. She jumped to conclusions, but she knows he is innocent. She says she thought about it like she was a cop, put the evidence aside and went with her gut and she knows he could never beat someone like that, no matter how angry he was. He tells her she had every right to doubt him and as he looks at Zack’s picture, says it was all his fault and he should have never given Chelsea his keys that night. He asks what do we do now and she tells him to take his things back upstairs and please stay. Later, she gets off the phone and tells him that Roman called and hasn’t found any more about Nancy Everett. He goes on to explain that she is the one who took Claire and how he found her with a wad of money. He is sure that someone paid her off and thinks it was EJ. Hope warns him to just leave it alone, she suspects that EJ had something to do with Patrick’s beating and she doesn’t want to see Bo end up the same way. Belle returns crying as Hope hugs her asking what’s wrong and they sit. She wants Claire, but Hope tells her that Bo has her upstairs and they talk. She tells Hope that there is now way that she is going to allow Claire to spend time with Shawn and his live-in hooker. Hope asks her to reconsider – Claire needs her father, but yet, she does understand how Belle feels. Well, the doorbell rings and you guessed it…it’s Shawn. Hope leaves them alone to talk and goes upstairs. Shawn asks Belle to listen to what he has to say, but she says Willow already said it all. Shawn tells her he wasn’t trying to be a hero or anything, but he thinks that Willow sees him that way. Belle (sarcastically) says that is so noble of him. He says that Willow has seen both the good and the bad in him and there hasn’t been anyone that he has trusted…(as Belle finishes) since me? Upstairs, Bo is trying to get Claire to take a nap and sings to her as Hope walks up and watches and smiles. Shawn says that was not the way he wanted the truth to come out…and goes on to talk about how much he and Belle have shared over the years and all the great memories they have. She admits to him that she cried over him and Mimi and that she was too ashamed to let him know how she felt. She says that maybe she and Willow aren’t that different and maybe she shouldn’t have judged her. Then she asks the question of the day…does he love her? Hope joins Bo as he puts Claire down and they talk about how Zack loved that song as well. They hope they can work things out between them. Hope has a baby pain and Bo promises to love her baby and will protect HER…as well as her mommy. He warns Hope that Lockhart is dangerous and wants her to stay away from him. She asks how can she do that and keep him from getting angry and Bo tells her to just let him worry about that. Shawn tells Belle that yes, he does care about Willow, but NO, he isn’t in love with her…he KNOWS how love feels and this isn’t it. He says he can prove it to Belle…he is going to tell Willow that it is over and for her to move out. Belle tells him no, all that has nothing to do with the kind of father he can be…none of that will get in the way of her letting him spend time with Claire…she can work it out. But he says he still needs to end it with Willow because…he is in love with Belle. Hope promises Bo that she will do whatever is best for her family. She asks Bo if they have a chance and he tells her to just believe in him and the rest will take care of itself…all they need is faith in each other.

Steve and Kayla…are still sitting on the bathroom floor as he mumbles about his life…the past…and we see more flashes of them as he laughs, saying he remembers, sweetness…being with her…loving her. She asks if he is okay and he says yes, for the first time in a LONG time. They go to the bedroom as he is so excited, saying his head is full of people, places and memories. He talks about Stockholm, dressing up at Christmas and calling himself “Patchy Claus”, the New Year’s hayride (he even remembers the lavender soap scent she had). He is excited, telling her to ask him anything…he remembers it all. She cries saying that is all she wanted for him to remember, but now she doesn’t know if she can believe him…she didn’t think it possible. He swears he isn’t lying, but she says he did before. But, he says, that was to save her…this time it is for real. She says she can’t go there again and get her hopes up, only to be crushed again. He swears it’s real, but she refuses to believe him. He tries to convince her saying she never gave up on him…don’t do it now. She runs out of the room, crying. Later, she comes back in, with him following. She tells him to stop following her and he tells her to stop running from him. She gets weak and almost collapses and he catches her and holds her in his arms, telling her everything is going to be okay. She shivers as he gets a blanket for her and asks her if she wants him to call Lexie. He tells her he is so happy but she says she is scared…he can she be sure…she trusted him before and he was lying. He tells her, “look in to my eye…it’s ME…I am real, Sweetness!’ But she still isn’t sure. She says she isn’t strong enough but he says she is the strongest person he knows, look at all she has done with her life. She is scared but he tells her to look at him, as he signs “courage” to her and says come on, baby. Both are crying as he says it’s me baby and they kiss. He takes her in his arms as they sink to the bed and begin to undress each other as they kiss. They are lying on the bed, kissing as it fades to black and the previews show…

(Steve): I am going to always worry about losing you again…(Kayla): You are NEVER going to lose me…

Shawn: I am going to get my life together and make you proud of me…(Belle): The way you just handled Victor…I already am…

Mimi (to Max): You stood beside me even when it cost you Shawn’s friendship…you are definitely a keeper…

John: I know where Stefano is…(Marlena): Where do we find him?...(John): No…WE don’t do anything…you are out of this…

And the credits roll…
Laney