Rick told Brooke he didn't think leaving town would help, but admitted he couldn't blame anyone for wanting him gone. When he reluctantly agreed to go pack, Brooke said she couldn't do it — she couldn't send him away. She would talk to Eric and Ridge and they would work something out.

Donna and Eric basked in the afterglow of making love. She decided to role play as a flight attendant. Things got serious when he mentioned his concern for how his family would take the news of their reconciliation Donna told him she understood, and he should be there for his family for Christmas. She said they had the rest of their lives to spend Christmas together.

Ridge and Stephanie discussed celebrating the holidays. He told her that he and Brooke had decided Rick would go back to work for International in Paris. Thorne came by and was plagued by thoughts of Eric telling him not to let Stephanie know about Donna. She could tell something was bothering him, but he simply said he didn't want her getting her hopes up. She assured him the holiday would be wonderful.

Ridge arrived at Brooke's. He asked if she talked to Rick, and she said she did, that Rick had agreed to leave. She didn't want Rick to go, Brooke added, and tried to convince Ridge that sending Rick away was wrong. Finally, she declared she just couldn't do it. She didn't think Rick should be alone, and couldn't ignore his pain. She promised Ridge she wouldn't have to see Rick, but insisted they couldn't send him away. She begged him to see that their love could prevail through this, and he took her in his arms.