John Abbott, Brad, and Ashley were at Gina's party with Abby, Kyle, Colleen, and J.T. Sierra joined them, but she wouldn't admit to Colleen that she was the one who got J.T.'s guitar out of hock. John mentioned that Phyllis and Jack were still in Japan at Dru's wedding. While Ashley listened, Brad said Jack was probably having his best Christmas ever now that Victor Newman was getting what he deserved. Later, Danny and then Christine arrived at the party. Christine accidentally divulged the information that Victor had been arrested and was in jail. Brad and John explained to Ashley that they hadn't told her because they didn't want to upset her. Christine apologized for putting her foot in it, but Ashley thanked her, saying she didn't like to be kept in the dark. Later, Christine and Danny remarked on Ashley's reaction to hearing the news about Victor and talked about forgiveness. Danny commented that forgiveness was a tough one, and Christine said that it wasn't always and smiled at him.

At the jail, Michael explained to Victor that after talking to several judges, he finally found one who listened to him. Victor should reconsider spending the night in jail now that he could post bail. He should be home with his family. Victor said he had no reason to go home to a son who hated him, a wife who felt betrayed by him, and a daughter whose heart he'd broken. Michael finally wished him a merry Christmas and left Victor alone to think.

Ashley told Brad that she needed to go home and get her medication. Would he look after Abby while she was gone? After Brad agreed, Ashley left Gina's, her pill bottle sticking out of her purse. Instead of going home, she went to the jail to see Victor. He was surprised to see her and told her she should be with her family. She countered that he needed to be with his family, too, especially his grandchildren. Victor said that Sharon was the only member of his family who'd given him any support; he was sure Ashley couldn't understand why he chose to stay in jail. Ashley talked about what it felt like to lose the most important thing in the world, realize that you had no one to blame but yourself, and know you could never turn back time and make things right. Did he still think she didn't understand? Victor realized she was talking about Robert. Ashley said that even though she wished Victor hadn't done what he did to hurt Jabot, now was the time for him to be with his family. Victor promised that he'd been listening, and Ashley grasped his hand, then left to return to Gina's party.

Jill went to Katherine's hotel room to see her and give her a gift, but Katherine had gone to the Chancellor house to give Jill her Christmas present. When Jill didn't answer the door, Katherine worried that she might have gotten drunk and passed out. But rather than go inside, she reminded herself that she needed to trust Jill. She then went to the health club, because she'd been invited to the Abbott party by Gina. Mamie had also joined the guests. When Katherine went downstairs, she found Jill sitting at the bar, drinking a martini. Katherine gave her the present---a book of poems and sayings about mothers and daughters---and Jill gave Katherine a present, opera tickets. When Katherine asked Jill if she wanted to join her, Jill said she didn't like opera. Katherine said she hadn't meant the opera, but the Abbott party upstairs. Although Jill looked hurt that the Abbotts were having a party without her, she went upstairs with Katherine and joined the rest of the group around the piano, holding the book of poems close while Gina and Danny did a Christmas duet.

Sharon asked Nick to please not respond if his father said anything to provoke him during their Christmas Eve at the main house. Admitting that he'd never intended for things to move so fast and ruin their Christmas, Nick promised he would not cause trouble with Victor, then they took Cassie and Noah to Nikki's. Nikki had to tell them that Victor wouldn't be joining them; he was refusing bail and intended to spend the night in jail. Nick was shocked. Sharon tried to be as supportive as she could to an emotional Nikki, especially after Nikki reminded them that Victor had always believed Christmas was for children. After all, he'd spent so many Christmases alone as a boy, and now he was alone again. She gave Cassie a journal and a beautiful pen, then encouraged Cassie to open her present from Victor. Cassie exclaimed over the earrings, and when she wondered if she should have waited until Victor was there to open them, Victor suddenly spoke from behind them, wishing them a merry Christmas. Everyone put their differences aside and sat around the tree to open presents. They didn't realize that Michael was watching them through the window. As lonely as he appeared, he smiled at the sight of Victor surrounded by family and turned his face up to the sky as it began to snow.

Due to the Christmas holiday, today's episode was preempted for special programming. There will be no lost episodes as a result of this schedule change; Friday's show will pick up where Wednesday's show concluded.

On behalf of everyone at Soap Opera Central, have a safe and Merry Christmas.

In a meeting at the athletic club, Cameron told Nick that he was thinking of throwing a New Year's Eve party with some of Genoa City's movers and shakers. Since he'd heard that Sharon had done such a fantastic job with the gala, perhaps she'd be willing to help him put his soiree together? Nick agreed that Sharon was a masterful planner and promised to loan his wife to Cameron to help throw his party.

When Michael came by the Newman ranch to check on Victor, he found Sharon there alone. She told him about taking Noah and Cassie with her and Nick to their dinner with Cameron and supposed he would think she was a terrible mother for doing that. Michael told her it was a stroke of genius. But Sharon said that afterward, she'd confronted Cameron again, and he'd said vile things to her. Michael regretfully told her that sociopaths didn't usually change their behavior. He was afraid that Cameron might not either. But if Cameron and Nick concluded their business, he might be done with Sharon, too. However, these things usually came out, and he advised Sharon to tell Nick the truth. Cameron could even be charged with assault. Sharon frantically turned down that idea. Telling Nick the truth would mean the end of her marriage. After Michael left, Sharon gathered up the kids' presents and opened the door to go home, only to drop all the boxes when she saw Cameron standing there.

Jack tried to get the orchid out of Dru's bouquet while Phyllis was in the shower, but she came out too soon. She snatched the flowers back, even after Jack said he was only going to put them in water. She angrily accused Jack of caring more about a bunch of flowers than he did her. She'd hoped he would come into her bedroom to be with her. She wanted to put all their troubles behind them. Jack said he wasn't ready for that and left for a jog.

Damon and Vanessa ended up returning to the forest to look again for the orchid, although Damon accidentally left the picture of it in their room. Vanessa spotted one, and she dug it up and gave it to Damon to show him that she trusted him. Then the two of them made love in the forest, and Damon admitted that he'd never gotten over Vanessa, even though he'd pretended to.

After waking up together the day after their wedding, Neil told Dru that if she still had Jabot business to take care of before they left Japan, he wouldn't mind. In fact, he called Damon's room so she could talk to him. Damon told her that the orchid they were looking for was in her bouquet and in Phyllis's possession. Dru dressed and sneaked into Phyllis's room, picking up the bouquet. Meanwhile, Phyllis had gone into Damon's room and found the photo of the orchid, putting it in her purse. When she got back to her room, she caught Dru with the bouquet. She refused to return it, and after kicking Dru out, she compared the flower to the photo. She then went to Neil and told him about her find. She did a little Internet research that told her there was no connection between orchids and cosmetics, so she and Neil decided they'd put Newman Enterprises' scientists on the case and try to figure out what the Jabot folks were up to. Neil suggested that they could be nice and give the orchid to Jack, but Phyllis said no.

Jack and Dru went to see Damon and Phyllis, and Jack took possession of the orchid with the intention of keeping it under lock and key. He reminded the others that secrecy was of the utmost importance until they could isolate the orchid's hair-straightening qualities and patent them.

Colleen and J.T. were enjoying their date at Crimson Lights until Kevin walked in. J.T. wanted to confront him, but Colleen talked him out of it, until Kevin walked up to wish them a merry Christmas. J.T. suggested that Colleen call the police and tell them that Kevin was violating his restraining order. Kevin repeatedly mocked J.T. for being a dumb college boy, saying that the restraining order was defunct. If they didn't believe him, they could call Detective Weber themselves. Colleen was shocked, but said it didn't matter. As soon as the results from Kevin's blood test came back, he'd be in jail for what he'd done to Lily. Kevin said that his results had come back negative. He was off the hook because there was no proof that he'd done anything wrong.