Brittany told Bobby not to leave right away. She wanted to talk to him. She let him know that if he didn't really think they should be together, he shouldn't stay with her because of the baby and their marriage. Bobby told Brittany she had it all wrong. He knew she was the right woman for him. She asked him if he could promise to never cheat on her again.
At Michael's apartment, Ashley told Gloria that she knew Gloria was there for a friendly little visit with her two sons. At first, Gloria tried to say it was not true, but Michael told Gloria to knock it off. Ashley said that she thought Gloria, Michael, and Kevin were in a conspiracy against her father. Michael admitted that he'd kept the truth about his identity a secret against his best wishes because he knew his mother was in love with John. Ashley asked to be alone with Gloria.
Ashley told Gloria that she had to tell John the truth about Michael and Kevin, or Ashley would tell John in the morning.
Kevin didn't think it would be so bad that Ashley knew they were Gloria's sons. Michael disagreed; he thought John would throw Gloria out in the cold. As they realized that Ashley might have hired an investigator to check Gloria out, Michael saw J.T. He went to him and threatened him about who paid J.T.'s paycheck.
Kevin went to talk to Mac but warned her that she might see something in the paper that might not be true. When Kevin didn't want to tell her what it was, Mac left angrily.
Sharon asked Nikki if things were lonely for her since she had no houseguests. Nikki wished Sharon would leave her alone. She warned Sharon about being a "too curious cat." Sharon annoyed Nikki even more as she began babbling about Nikki and Victor's real reason for visiting Victoria. Nikki said that their sole purpose had been to see their daughter, whom they hadn't seen in months. Nikki changed the subject when she found some double black mascara on the ground. Nikki said it had to be Cassie's. Sharon denied that Cassie was having any problems.
Sharon returned home just in time to hear a car speed away. Cassie arrived home, and Sharon wondered why Cassie hadn't taken the bus home from school. Cassie admitted that a boy had taken her home. When Sharon found out she didn't know who the boy was, she warned Cassie that she would call his parents. Cassie ran off downstairs to do her homework. Sharon realized that Cassie had forgotten her purse. When flowers arrived at the door for Nikki, Sharon didn't have cash on her. She opened Cassie's purse and found a condom.
Phyllis went to see Jack and was furious with him. She was upset that he'd lied to her about his real intent to see Victoria. Jack still tried to lie, but his lies didn't add up. She knew that Jack's whole reason to see Victoria had been to ask her to be his CEO. He had had an agenda and had used Phyllis to pull it off. Later, Phyllis went into Victor's office and wrote an email to Victoria from Nick, telling her he was glad she was happy and that he had everything taken care of at Jabot.
Michael arrived at home and found Gloria drowning her troubles in his liquor. She told him of her harrowing experience with Ashley. Gloria fully expected to hear "I told you so" from her son, but Michael said he would rather work on a plan for damage control, recognizing he'd also become deeply involved in the situation. Michael encouraged Gloria to tell John herself about her deception rather than letting Ashley do it. He explained that it might be the one way she could save herself, by explaining it to John her way and not allowing Ashley to put her own spin on it. He encouraged Gloria to explain to John about the abuse she'd suffered at the hands of her first two husbands, thinking John might feel bad for her. Gloria didn't feel that could happen and feared her marriage was over.
Gloria told her son that her love for John was genuine, and he was not just her meal ticket. She knew John cared for her, felt she was important, and didn't want to hurt her; she finally had some self-esteem. Michael embraced his mother as she began sobbing. After composing herself, Gloria left to confess her deception to John. Michael assured her she could stay at his apartment that night if she needed a place. He reminded her that she was a survivor who had been through a lot worse. Gloria left with a heavy heart; Michael seemed to finally feel empathy for his mother.
Ashley was in Paul's office, telling him about all that had taken place with Gloria and that she felt responsible for the pain her father would endure over learning the truth about Gloria, since Ashley had instigated the digging into Gloria's past. She did, however, admit she'd felt Gloria's emotions were genuine when talking about the abuse of Kevin by his father.
Sharon was pacing the floor at the main house. Cassie entered, and Sharon confronted her about the condom she'd found in Cassie's purse. Cassie looked on as Sharon pulled it out of the purse and demanded that Cassie explain to her why it was there. Cassie wanted to know why her mother had gone through her purse. Sharon said she'd only looked in there to find some change for the deliveryman.
In an effort to appear casual about the situation, Cassie told her mother that they had been handed out at school and that all of her friends had taken one because they'd thought it would be funny. She assured her mother that she was not having sex. Sharon was also worried because Max, a senior, had driven Cassie home from school; Cassie said they were just friends. Sharon said she was not sure if she believed Cassie. Sharon said that Cassie had way too much freedom, and that would change.
Kevin and Mac were together at the coffee shop. Mac still thought Kevin was hiding something. Kevin admitted there was something. After more coaxing from Mac, Kevin agreed to tell her. Daniel joined them as Kevin shared with Mac that he'd won one million dollars in the Powerball Lottery.
Mac was thrilled for Kevin and congratulated him. Kevin confessed that the ticket was really Michael's, that he had bought it for him, and that he had given it back to Michael. Mac was curious if Kevin would have given back the ticket if Michael hadn't found out. At that moment, Jack walked up to the group and invited Daniel to sit down at a table with him for a chat. After Daniel left, Kevin assured Mac that he would have returned the lottery ticket to Michael even if he hadn't gotten caught.
Sharon was in Nick's office, obviously very upset. Dru stopped by and asked if everything was okay. Their usual tension was present, but they were able to begin discussing PR campaigns. Nick was surprised to find them using his office for their meeting. Dru left, and Sharon related to Nick the issues involving Cassie. She reminded him that she hadn't been that much older than Cassie when she'd become pregnant with Cassie. Nick assured Sharon that he would talk to Cassie.
Phyllis walked into Damon's office. He knew right away that something was bothering her. She related how Jack had lied to her and used her. She asked Damon's advice on what she should do. Damon said he had no doubt that Phyllis would think of a payback.
Jack joined John downstairs at the Abbott home. Jack told his father how he'd messed up with Phyllis. To Jack's surprise, John asked why he didn't just ask her to marry him and encouraged Jack to propose. John said he couldn't picture Jack with anyone except Phyllis. After hearing John say how very happy Gloria had made him, Jack promised to make an effort to look for the good in his father's new wife.
Jack left, and John found a card; it was an anniversary card from Gloria for their six-month anniversary. John was obviously touched by the note Gloria had written inside the card, expressing her love for him. John smiled as he continued to read. Gloria walked in the front door and looked lovingly at her husband sitting there.
At Crimson Lights, Jack told Daniel he wanted to spend time with Phyllis. Daniel said he would be in favor of that. Jack then said he wanted to do something special for Phyllis and might need Daniel's help.
In Florence, Italy, Victoria was relaxing with the newspaper when she noticed she had received an email from Nick informing her that all was well at Newman Enterprises.
Nick was leaving his office when his phone rang; it was Victoria telling him she had received his email. Nick said he hadn't sent it. Victoria said it was from his computer. He checked and was very surprised to see that it had indeed been sent from his computer. Victoria coldly told her brother not to be worried about her going back home and said that she knew where his head was.
Michael walked into Paul's office, found him with Ashley, and stated icily that he wanted to talk to Paul. Ashley left. Michael angrily told Paul that he had just three words for Paul: "You are fired!"
On her way out, Sharon stopped by Nick's office to remind him to talk to Cassie. Nick agreed then asked her why she'd sent the email in his name to Victoria. He wasn't mad; he knew she was only trying to cover for him. Mystified, Sharon denied sending the email. When she found out what it said, she suggested that maybe Drucilla had sent it to head off a possible return by Victoria. Dru entered, and Sharon left.
Nick reaffirmed his faith in Dru to do the job he'd hired her for. He wondered if she was going overboard, trying to feel safe. Dru was startled to hear about the email and denied sending it. She wanted Nick to trust her. Nick finally seemed convinced that Dru was telling the truth. After she left, it occurred to him that maybe the person who had sent the email hadn't been trying to keep Victoria away but instead to goad her into returning home. He rolled his eyes and muttered Phyllis' name.
Brad caught Phyllis before she could leave the Jabot building after she saw Damon. He dragged her into his office to question whether she had any inside information on Jack's plan for the CEO position. Phyllis evaded his questions, but she did finally tell Brad that he should know that if Jack really wanted him to be CEO, he'd already be in the position. After Phyllis left, Brad muttered that he knew that.
At Crimson Lights, Adrienne remembered Damon telling her that just being friends wasn't enough for him. After all they'd shared, he couldn't settle for that. Adrienne wondered aloud why Damon had given her the silent treatment for so many weeks if that was how he felt. Damon walked up and warned her that talking to herself wasn't a good sign.
Lily, Sierra, and Daniel were also hanging out at Crimson Lights. When Cassie walked up to them, Daniel took note of her suggestive outfit. After she went to get something to drink, he asked the other girls if Cassie seemed to be trying too hard. When Cassie returned, Daniel again looked at Cassie's short skirt and asked if she was going out or something. However, he had to leave the girls' table when his mother walked in and gave him a warning look.
On the patio with Phyllis, Daniel was annoyed when his mother started in on Lily. He told her that Lily was just his friend. He couldn't stop hanging out with all his friends just because Lily was part of their group. As they were talking, Nick walked in. He told Phyllis he'd like to see her in his office in one hour, upping Phyllis' stress level another couple of notches. Daniel suggested that after her meeting with Nick, she should go work out at the club. He'd go home and do his homework, and the two of them could watch a movie together later. Phyllis agreed that was a good idea, not realizing that Daniel was helping Jack set up a special evening for her.
Cassie mentioned a party taking place that weekend and that Max Powers had given her a ride home from school. Sierra noted that Max was a senior, and both girls were alarmed to hear that Cassie had a condom in her purse. Lily warned her not to get in over her head with an older guy because she could get hurt. Their conversation ended when Nick arrived.
After Nick took Cassie away, Sierra asked if Lily had been thinking about Kevin. Lily said yes. She didn't want anything like that to happen to Cassie. Sierra said that Daniel seemed to care about Lily. Lily said the problem was that Phyllis and her mother didn't get along, so Phyllis didn't want Daniel hanging out with her.
Nick had a heart-to-heart talk with Cassie in the office of the coffeehouse. Cassie understood why her mother was freaking out; Sharon had gotten pregnant as a teenager. Cassie thought her parents should be relieved that she had a condom. She said that even if she was having sex, which she wasn't, at least she knew about protection.
Nick said there were other ways Cassie could be hurt by not waiting until she was older to have sex. It was his and Sharon's job to protect her. He said that when Cassie took that step, it would change everything for her. He seemed to be getting through to Cassie, who hugged him and asked him to talk to Sharon so she wouldn't keep getting hysterical about the situation. Cassie said that her father seemed to understand her better, and it was easier to talk to him.
Jack found Ashley in the lab and told her that he'd done something stupid that had hurt Phyllis' feelings. He was surprised when Ashley was supportive of him. Ashley said that no matter what personal feelings she had about Phyllis, Jack had been happy when he'd been with her. If they could find their way back to each other, Ashley was all for it. Jack hugged her and asked what was going on with her and Paul. Ashley smiled and said it was mostly business. In fact, she had something to tell her brother. Jack begged her to postpone it until the next day. He wanted to stay focused on making up with Phyllis. Ashley agreed to wait.
Michael was furious at Paul for his part in helping Ashley expose the truth about Gloria's past. Paul pointed out that he hadn't known that he was going to uncover that Michael and Kevin were Gloria's sons. Yes, he'd been curious about what was going on between Michael and Gloria, but he'd only been doing the job Ashley had hired him to do. Michael said that as his business partner, Paul could have given him a heads-up before telling Ashley everything. It wasn't the first time Paul had withheld information from him. He'd helped Christine conceal information in Damon and Phyllis' legal case. Michael could no longer trust Paul and wanted him out of their offices by the next morning.
At the Abbott house, John thanked Gloria for their six-month anniversary card and suggested they go somewhere special for dinner to celebrate. Gloria declined, saying she just wanted to stay at home because she had something to tell him. She'd been keeping a secret from him for a long time. John was baffled when Gloria began talking about her past, because they'd had discussions about the way the men in her life before John had treated her. Gloria said it was about her sons. John said that he knew they were estranged and that Gloria had been hurt by their distance. When he mentioned having met them, Gloria finally said that the men he'd met weren't really her sons.
At Michael's home, Michael forced Kevin to hang up the phone. Kevin insisted on finding out how Gloria was doing after Ashley had chewed her out. Michael revealed that Ashley had also given Gloria an ultimatum to tell John the truth about them being her sons, or Ashley would do it in the morning. Kevin thought it would be better if Gloria had the chance to explain herself. Michael pointed out that Gloria had been lying to John since before they'd gotten married, and he doubted that there was any way John would forgive her.
Kevin was sure that John and Gloria would work things out, and he suggested that he and Michael stop by to offer their moral support. Michael grumbled that it would make things worse, and he was already under enough stress. Kevin thought that John should get to know them to find out that they weren't bad guys. Michael cited what Kevin had done to Colleen, and he imagined that John was finding out that the two worst demons on earth were his stepsons.
Kevin bet Michael a lottery ticket that John and Gloria would kiss and make up. Michael muttered that Kevin was living in a dream world. Kevin thought that John seemed like a fair guy, and he remembered seeing John at the Abbott house once. Michael recalled that John had thrown Kevin out, and he was certain that John would never accept them. Michael cautioned Kevin not to go over there, but Kevin headed to the door.
At the Abbott mansion, Gloria confessed to John that the young men who they'd had dinner with hadn't been her sons. She continued that she'd hired and paid the men to pretend to be her children because she hadn't wanted John to meet her real sons. She conceded that it had been wrong, but she hadn't known what else to do when John had insisted that they get together. John explained that he'd wanted Gloria to sit down and talk with her children because she'd been upset that they were estranged.
Gloria countered that John had kept pushing and that she wouldn't have done what she had if he'd backed off. She whimpered that she'd been afraid the truth might change the way he felt about her. John reasoned that parents were only responsible for how their kids turned out to a certain degree, but she questioned whether a good mother would have stayed with an abusive husband or stood by while her children had been put in harm's way. Gloria wished she'd been stronger, but she'd been a different person back then.
John figured that everyone had been different 20 years earlier, but they couldn't spend the rest of their lives regretting what they had or hadn't done. Gloria cried that she'd made many mistakes, but he pointed out that she'd learned from them. Gloria threw herself into John's arms and asked if he was angry at her. He admitted that he was hurt and disappointed, but he was glad she'd told him the truth because he didn't like them keeping secrets from one another. He pressed her to tell him the real story about her sons.
Gloria struggled with where to begin, and John realized that she was uncomfortable talking about her kids. He asked if they lived in Genoa City, and she confirmed that they did but that their names weren't Ben and Steven. John asked for their real names, but she clammed up. John guessed that she was ashamed of them, but Gloria insisted that she loved both of her children with all her heart, even though they'd "been through hell" because of her. She divulged that John already knew them.
Gloria informed John that he'd known her sons before she'd even arrived in Genoa City. John was confused about why she wouldn't tell him their names. The doorbell rang, and John found Kevin on the doorstep. John testily asked what Kevin was doing there, and Kevin apologized for just showing up. John spat that Kevin had a lot of gall, and Kevin requested to speak to Gloria. John ordered Kevin off the property and threatened to call the police. Gloria intervened and begged John to stop it, but he told her to stay out of it. "I can't do that. That's my son you're talking to," Gloria replied.
In the Jabot lab, Ashley worried about her father. Paul entered, having suspected that he might find her there. She explained that she'd hoped work would distract her from what going on at the house, and he referred to Gloria walking the plank with John. Ashley wondered if she should go home in case John needed her after finding out that his wife wasn't who she'd said she was. Ashley bitterly questioned what that said about their marriage.
Paul hesitantly inquired about how Jack felt, and Ashley confided that her brother didn't know because he'd been wrapped up in planning a special evening for Phyllis. Paul expected Jack to go ballistic, and Ashley wailed that it was unfair that a good, trusting person like her father had to deal with a situation like that when he should be able to slow down and enjoy life. Paul assured her that she had nothing to feel guilty about, since she hadn't been able to help seeing Gloria for who she was. Ashley admitted that she'd never liked Gloria, but John loved his wife and would be lost without her.
Ashley asked Paul what had happened after she'd left Michael's office. Paul revealed that Michael had fired him, and a stunned Ashley felt that it was her fault. Paul figured that he didn't have to put up with the jerk any longer, so Ashley had done him a favor. Ashley lamented that she was complicating people's lives left and right, and Paul offered to do anything he could for her. She promised that he'd be the first person she called. He wished her luck and headed out.
Jack entered Brad's office, where Brad was staring blankly at a computer screen. Jack jokingly assumed that Brad was checking out executive dating services, but Brad coolly replied that he was scoping out executive positions at companies where talent was appreciated. Jack warned Brad against jumping the gun, but Brad considered it wise to have a backup plan. Jack surmised that Brad was "lusting after" the CEO job. Brad asserted that he was the most qualified person for it, and he wondered why Jack refused to act on it.
Jack advised Brad not to appear too anxious in the middle of a negotiation. Brad complained that he was tired of waiting for Jack to make a decision, and the negotiations had yet to even materialize. Brad demanded to know if Jack was going to appoint him CEO or not. Jack replied that it would be decided in good time, since he had a million situations to deal with, and finding someone to run a subsidiary was just another one of them. Brad scoffed at the idea of Jabot being just another subsidiary.
Brad mentioned that he'd talked with Phyllis that day, and he'd concluded that Jack had no intention of appointing him CEO. Jack maintained that he was still debating the decision, but Brad considered it obvious that Jack didn't want him in the position, and he was sick of waiting around. Jack insisted that he needed Brad on board, but Brad warned that Jack had the wrong captain steering the ship, and it was going down. Jack thought that sounded like a threat. Brad sternly told Jack to name him as CEO by the end of the next day, or he was going to walk.
Over the phone, Nick told Sharon that he'd talked to Cassie, but he'd needed to go back to the office to take care of something important. He added that Cassie was at the coffeehouse and that Sierra's mom would drop her off at home. Nikki appeared in the cottage doorway as Sharon lamented that she was worried about Cassie. After Sharon hung up, she was startled to find Nikki there. Nikki returned a book that Cassie had left at the ranch, and she guessed Cassie wasn't there.
Nikki clucked that it was late for Cassie to be out, and she questioned where Noah was. Nikki disapprovingly stated that she'd been afraid of what would happen when Sharon started working. Sharon retorted that she hadn't lost the kids, and she reported that Noah was having dinner with some friends on his baseball team after practice and that Nick had just spoken with Cassie at the coffeehouse. Nikki pushed to know what he'd talked to Cassie about.
Sharon figured that all teenage girls were always going through something, but Nikki worried that Cassie seemed to be in a rebellious frame of mind. Nikki surmised that Nick had gone to talk to Cassie because Sharon and Cassie were at odds. Nikki wanted to do whatever she could to help, but Sharon was confident that Nick had gotten through to the girl. Nikki contended that she didn't want anything tragic to happen. Sharon prompted Nikki to just say it -- "like mother, like daughter." Nikki huffed that she hadn't said that -- but Sharon just had.
Nikki pushed Sharon to call Nick, and she fretted that Nick worked too hard and needed help. Sharon recognized that Victoria had turned Victor and Nikki down, and she wondered why they'd want Victoria to go back into a situation that had caused her pain. Nikki considered it moot because Victoria wasn't returning home, and she hoped Sharon never had to feel the hurt of having distance between herself and her child. Nikki stormed out. Sharon picked up Cassie's family drawing and gazed at it thoughtfully.
Phyllis burst into Nick's office and testily asked why Nick wanted to see her. He thought she had an idea, and she told him to cut to the chase because she'd had a bad day. She questioned whether it was about to get worse. Nick shared that someone had sent an email to his sister in Europe from his account, but it hadn't been from him. He read the message aloud, and he asked if it sounded familiar to Phyllis. Phyllis questioned why it would, and Nick asserted that she'd written it.
Phyllis chuckled and asked if Nick was kidding. Nick imagined that Phyllis had known Victoria would be upset by the implication that he didn't need his sister there, but Phyllis defended that he was giving her too much credit for understanding the Newman psyche. He told her to cut the act, since she was one of the few people who had the nerve to pull something like that. Nick suspected that Phyllis felt she had something to gain. He added that he didn't want to fire her, but the stunt might have serious negative repercussions. Nick asserted that Phyllis was either with him or not, and he hoped for her sake that she was on board.
Phyllis groused that Nick was asking for her undying loyalty, even though he'd made her life unpleasant by giving an inept Dru a promotion. Phyllis wondered what was in it for her, and Nick responded that her job was. He explained that he hadn't let her go because she was very good at what she did, but her attitude was killing her. He expected the cosmetics line to expand dramatically over the next few months, and he needed someone he could trust to spearhead it. He pleaded with her not to shoot herself in the foot. "Yes, sir. I got it," she replied, and she sauntered out.
Later, Victor entered the office as Nick prepared to head home. Victor stopped him from leaving, citing something disturbing in legal -- Nick had put Dru under an executive contract despite the company's policy of waiting for a six-month probationary period. Nick considered it no big deal, since Neil was watching her closely. Victor sternly stated that he'd had qualms about Nick's past decisions, but that one had topped everything. Nick warned his father not to threaten him.
Victor barked that Nick's decision about Dru had been irresponsible, but Nick argued that she gave the company tremendous value with her flair and marketing experience. Victor disagreed, and Nick shot back that they wouldn't agree on everything. Victor considered it suspicious that Nick had ignored company policy, and Nick referred to the mess Jabot had gotten into when they hadn't signed Sharon to a contract. Nick voiced concern that another company might have stolen Dru away, so he'd been protecting Newman. Victor didn't believe Nick's explanation.
Victor noted that Nick had decided to sign Dru to an executive contract the moment he'd found out that Victor and Nikki had gone to Italy to visit Victoria. Nick denied that the trip had had anything to do with it, and he claimed that he'd needed to fill the position because Victoria had told them she wasn't returning home. Nick added that he was just building his team the way Victor would, but Victor growled that Nick was building it with second-string players. Nick figured that a CEO sometimes had to make unexpected or unpopular decisions, but he'd done what was best for the company. Victor warned that Nick was making a mistake, and he stalked out.
On the Crimson Lights patio, Damon remarked that it was lovely to run into Adrienne. She contemplated how long it had been since they'd seen one another, and she coldly ordered him not to tell her that he'd been busy. He swore that he had been, and she noticed that he'd gotten his coffee to go. She dared him just to say that he didn't want to spend time with her, since it had been weeks without even a phone call after things had been hot and heavy between them.
Adrienne lectured that her mother had told her that it wasn't what a man said but what he did, and she reflected back on Damon's pretty words about how much she meant to him and how he wanted to reconcile. She huffed that they'd only been words, and he countered that the telephone was a two-way communication device. She snapped not to put it on her to chase him when he'd been the one pushing for them to rediscover one another. He seemed genuinely surprised by how angry she was at him.
Adrienne bemoaned that she didn't know what to think, and she considered leaving Genoa City to go back to Africa. Damon contended that his plants were dying and that his mail was stacked a foot high because he'd been at the lab night and day to get Jabot back on its feet. Adrienne understood that his work was important, but she'd thought she was important to him, too. Damon imagined that anything he said right then would fall on deaf ears, and he couldn't blame her. He asked what she was doing for dinner.
Adrienne quipped that she was having drinks with Will Smith and then going dancing with Jamie Foxx that night. Damon noted that she was still free for dinner, and Adrienne shared that she'd planned to have a workout to make her tired enough to sleep, so she could avoid having to make a decision about whether to leave town. Damon grabbed her hand and placed it over his heart, and she was baffled that he could gaze into her eyes like that and then walk out the door, leaving her not knowing when she'd hear from him again.
Damon promised that it would be sooner than Adrienne thought, but she doubted he was in a position to be making promises when he was wrapped up in chemicals and test tubes. He silenced her with a passionate kiss. He mused that he didn't make promises that he didn't intend to keep, and he grabbed his coffee and walked out.
At Phyllis' home, Daniel let in Jack, who was carrying an armful of groceries. Jack anxiously asked how much time they had, and Daniel reported that his mom had gone back to the office and was going to the gym afterward. Jack pondered how to cook the rack of lamb he'd purchased, and he searched for a roasting pan. Daniel seemed hesitant, and Jack asked if everything was all right. Daniel stammered that he didn't know if it was a good idea.
Daniel assumed that Jack and Phyllis were having problems, and he didn't want to be put in the middle. Jack revealed that Phyllis was mad at him because of something business-related, but it was complicated. Jack swore that he would never do anything to get between Daniel and his mother, and he suggested that they start over. Jack shared that Phyllis was upset with him because he'd done something he never should have done. He wanted to help make things right by preparing a meal for her, but he could use some assistance. Daniel pointed him to the roasting pan, and they began to make the food together.
Jack and Daniel made a mess in the kitchen as they slaved over trying to make sense of the recipe instructions. Phyllis arrived home and demanded to know what was going on. "Surprise," Jack weakly declared.
Lauren was hoping for a romantic evening with Michael, but he warned her that Kevin was in the other room. He told her that Gloria was even then telling John the truth about her sons. John could come storming through the door with a shotgun at any minute. Lauren defended Gloria's decision about keeping the truth from John, who probably wouldn't have married her if he'd known who her sons were. She questioned if Michael would rather see his mother happy with a man like John instead of back in Detroit with more losers like her former husbands.
Michael received a call from a client in Oakdale. He was going to have to leave town at once for a case. Lauren promised to keep an eye on Kevin while Michael was out of town. They figured out that Kevin wasn't in the apartment, which meant he was probably at the Abbott house.
John couldn't believe his ears when Gloria told him that Kevin was her son. He began to wonder if everyone else had been right, and Gloria had been using him all along. Kevin defended his mother, insisting that Gloria really loved John. She hadn't married him for money; Michael and Kevin could take care of her, after all. In fact, she hadn't really even lied to him so much as kept something from him. John lashed out at Kevin, saying that he wasn't surprised by Kevin's ability to make the truth be whatever he wanted it to be. It was exactly what he'd expect from someone like Kevin the arsonist.
As Gloria tried to convince John that what they shared was real, Ashley brooded in the lab about what her father was going through. She called home to check on him, but as soon as John realized that Ashley knew the truth, he said he couldn't talk and hung up the phone.
Phyllis eyed Daniel and Jack apprehensively when she found them in her kitchen. Jack finally talked her into going upstairs for a massage he'd arranged, while he and Daniel finished cooking dinner. Afterwards, while they ate, Phyllis was charmed at the way Jack and her son had worked together on their surprise for her. When Daniel left to spend the night with a friend, Jack and Phyllis cuddled on the couch. He told her that he'd never gotten over her or found anyone who could measure up to her. Jack wanted them to find their way back to each other. Phyllis told him they'd have to wait and see how things went. Their evening was cut short by a call from Ashley, who demanded that Jack meet her at the Abbott house.
When Ashley arrived home, she wanted to know what Kevin was doing there. Kevin again defended his mother and said she wasn't to blame for the things he'd done. He was beginning to think that all the Abbotts were stuck up. As Ashley hotly defended herself to Kevin, Jack stormed in and demanded to know what was going on and who Kevin was. When he learned Kevin's name and asked what that creep was doing there, John told him "that creep" was his stepbrother.
Sharon was stressing out to Nick about Cassie, but he told her not to worry. He felt like Cassie was okay after the talk they'd had, and Sharon would only make things worse if she kept the conflict going between them. When Cassie returned home, she brushed off her mother's attempt to talk to her and went upstairs with plans to turn in early. Sharon told Nick she felt like sometimes she didn't know her little girl anymore.
Nick and Sharon talked about Victor's disapproval of Nick's decision to give Drucilla an executive contract. Nick insisted that his decision hadn't been based on fear that his sister would return. He did regret that he and Victoria weren't as close as they'd once been, but he felt like she'd never forgive him for turning their father in to the Feds. Sharon urged Nick to make overtures toward his sister and find some common ground. She reminded him that Victoria would eventually return home. She asked if he would he prefer to greet her with a hug and kindness.
Victor had a talk with Dru about her plans for the cosmetics division. Put on the spot, Dru wasn't able to answer all his questions with quick answers. Victor wondered if she was really up to the job that Nick had hired her for, and Dru insisted that she was.
Later, Victor was getting rid of his frustration by working out when Nikki joined him. Sensing his pent-up anger, she reminded him that he'd promised not to interfere with Nick's decisions at Newman Enterprises. She also said he should not turn his disappointment over Victoria's refusal to return home into a reason to doubt Nick. They had to let their children live their own lives and hope for the best. Victor told Nikki how grateful he was to have her in his life.
Meanwhile, Victoria arrived at her parents' house and was disappointed to find no one there. She mused aloud that she wasn't sure if she was really happy to be home.
