Episode Theme song: "Everything Fades Away" Mariah Carey

Previously on One Day at a Time
- Reese told Andy he had accepted a scholarship and was going to be attending ULA
- Bob and Sofia announced to their children that they were separating. Secretly, however, the couple were faking it until they got the upper hand on Dominick.
- Helen moved out of her house with Adam and back into their condo at the Tower’s

Scene One -- The Wilkins Estate; Preston, Olivia & Reese’s Home

The Christmas tree is lit with white lights, the ordainments are silver and blue, and the Christmas carols are playing in the background. Olivia smiles to Preston as she hands him a large present, wrapped in beautiful red and silver wrapping paper. “That one is for Reese,” she tells him as Preston accepts the present.

“It’s so big!” Reese says as his eyes widen. He receives the present from Preston and sets it next to him. He takes a drink of his eggnog and looks at his family. For the first time in a long time, the entire Wilkins family is together and seemingly happy. Preston and Madeline are getting along for the first time since Madeline came back home and the family has no drama, Reese thinks. He does know that he will be revealing that he’s moving to LA today at Christmas. It’s the one thing that he fears about for the days events.

“Open it” Olivia chuckles over to Reese. “It’s from your Father and I.”

“Okay,” Reese replies setting his eggnog back down. He slowly removes the large bow from the box and then opens it. Inside there is an IPAD and a card from Preston and Olivia. “An IPAD?” he asks as he beams with excitement.

“We thought it would be a neat way to break you off your laptop,” Preston tells his son.

“This is awesome, thank you guys so much,” Reese says as he gets up and hugs Preston and Olivia.

“You’re so welcome,” Olivia replies to him. “Okay, Madeline, it’s your turn!”

Madeline sits up in her chair. “I hope it’s as good as Reese’s present!” she laughs as Preston passes her a large box. She opens her box and her mouth opens in shock and awe. “I can’t believe you guys did this!”

“What is it?” Reese asks looking over trying to see what the present is.

“They got me business cards, stationary and a name plaque for MW Investigations. Look, they are so professional looking!” Madeline replies with pride as she passes the box over to Reese.

“There’s more, sweetie,” Preston tells his daughter. “We have ordered you 3 years supplies, already paid for. You just have to call when you run out.”

“This is more than I could have asked for,” Madeline says trying not to cry. “Thank you guys so much.”

“It’s our pleasure,” Olivia tells her. “We really wanted to bring this family together today. We’ve had a rough year, it’s time to come together again.” Just as she finishes, she hears her blackberry start to ring in the other room. “I wonder who that could be,” she asks as she gets up and exit’s the living room. She walks over to her blackberry and sees Will’s name on the caller ID. She looks over her shoulder and hears Preston start to laugh at one of Reese’s jokes. She quickly picks up the phone, “Hello?”

“Merry Christmas,” Will tells her into the telephone. “I know you’re busy, but I just wanted you to know that I’m thinking of you today and I can’t wait to give you your present.”

Olivia feels her face turn red. Part of her wants to tell him she can’t wait to see him again, but another part of her wants to tell him they can’t be together anymore. She just finished telling her family that they need to come together again. If anyone learned that she had been sleeping with Will, Madeline’s ex-boyfriend, her family would be chaos again.

“You’re right Will, I am busy. We’ll be in touch, okay? Merry Christmas,” she says as she hangs up the phone. She couldn’t break it off with him over the phone, on Christmas no less. She knows though, that she’ll have to end things with Will. And soon; her tryst with Will has gone on far too long. She has to end it before someone gets hurt.

She returns to the living room area and her children’s eyes return to her. “Does anyone need anything?” she asks as she sits down.

“No, but I’d like to say something if that’s okay,” Reese replies as he takes a deep breath and tries to calm the butterflies in his stomach.

“By all means,” Preston nods to his son.

“You guys know I love you, right?” he starts as everyone looks on in concern.

“Is something wrong?” Madeline asks, thinking that something must be up for Reese to start a conversation that way.

“I’m fine. Everything is really great, actually,” Reese continues to tell his family. “I’ve made a decision. I’m going to university!”

Olivia gasps, “I’m so proud of you! I know you wanted to take some time off after high school, but a year and a half is a long time. When do you start at Twin Peaks University?”

Reese looks at his mother in eyes and immediately she can tell that there’s more to the story. “That’s just it,” Reese explains. “I’ve been offered a scholarship at UCLA. I’m moving to Los Angeles.”

Olivia feels her eyes swell with water. Her baby boy is moving away. While she knows it’s for the good, she’ll miss him terribly. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes Mom. After the year that I’ve had, I think getting away from Twin Peaks is exactly what I need right now.”

“Congrats brother,” Madeline says coming up and hugging him. “I’ll miss you, but at least I’ll have someone to visit when I need a beach holiday.”

“Anytime you want!” Reese smiles as he hugs his twin.

“When are you leaving?” Preston asks his son.

“In a couple of days. The first day is on January third, so I’ll be there for New Years,” Reese explains to his Dad. “I want to get settled and everything before classes start.”

“You know you’ll call us if you need anything, right?” Preston informs him as they hug.

“Of course Dad.”

“I’ll miss you!” Olivia chimes in as she hugs him next, upset that her baby is leaving her. “You better call me every week!”

Scene Two -- The Calimo Mansion; Bob & Sofia’s Home

Chatter fills the large living room in the Calimo mansion. Rosario, the trusty housekeeper, is walking around collecting all of the gift wrap that covers the bottom base of the tree as the gift opening has occurred already. Natasha sits on the sofa and hasn’t moved too much. She is still nursing a sore and sensitive back from her car accident. She looks over and sees Sofia, Robbie and Leah admiring Leah’s new diamond necklace that he bought her. Natasha can’t help but wonder what is going through Sofia’s mind at the moment. Does she even want to be with the family right now? Natasha was glad that her mother was with her after the car accident, but she can’t help but still feel that, possibly, her mother is having an affair with Dominick and that is the real reason that her parents are separating. Something, that still haunts Natasha to her core.

Bob notes that his daughter is drifting away in thought and sits next to her. “You look a million miles away,” he says as he sits across from her. “How is your back feeling?”

Natasha smiles to her Dad, the one man that has never let her down. “It’s a little sore. I think I’ll take another pain killer,” she responds as she grabs her purse and finds the pill bottle. Bob passes her a glass of water and she quickly takes the pill. “Thanks. It should numb in a few minutes.”

“Are you sure you want to stay in the Guest house? Why don’t you come back here? You know there’s plenty of room. I’d love to have the company since your mother …” he starts, but he knows that it’s a sensitive subject for Natasha.

“Since the separation? Doesn’t this day want you guys to stay together? It’s been so nice having everyone together,” she says trying not to get tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe you guys have even separated.”

“I know my dear. Right now, it is for the best,” he reassures her. Bob knows that the separation is hurting Natasha and Robbie, but it is the only way that he and Sofia can gain the upper hand on Dominick. Bob still firmly believes that with Melissa coming back into town, it will only be a matter of time before Dominick starts to want Melissa back, and he will not be a thorn in his side anymore. Before Bob can say anything further, the doorbell rings again. He arches his eyebrow wondering who else is coming to the mansion for Christmas. “Rosario, could you get the door?”

Natasha smiles as Rosario walks by her. “I think I know who it is,” she says looking down.

“Who?” Bob asks her.

Sofia, Robbie and Leah walk over to the sofa as Eva enters the living room. Sofia’s mouth drops open, stunned that the woman would interrupt her families Christmas.

“Merry Christmas everyone!” she smiles as she passes her coat to Rosario.

“This is my friend Eva,” Natasha announces, still sitting on the sofa. “Eva, this is my mother Sofia. You guys met at Capers. This is my brother Robbie, his wife Leah and my father Bob. Everyone, this is Eva.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Robbie tells the new house guest, unaware of her identity.

“I hope you guys don’t mind,” Natasha says looking at her parents. “Eva is new to town and doesn’t have any family here. I didn’t think she should be alone on Christmas.”

“It’s fine,” Sofia smiles looking over at Eva with intent in her eye. “You’re absolutely right. No one should be alone on Christmas.”

Eva smiles and sits next to Natasha on the sofa. “So how are you feeling?”

“Pretty good. Do you want some eggnog? Mother, could you get Eva a glass of eggnog?”

Sofia rolls her eyes as she turns around. She can sense that Natasha is still upset with her for “leaving” Bob and being seen with Dominick. Little does Natasha know that the reason she is doing this is to protect her from the woman that Natasha has invited to Christmas: Eva McCloud. There is no way that Sofia will allow Eva to come back into Natasha’s life now. She refuses.

“Here you go Eva,” Sofia perfectly tells Eva as she hands her the glass of eggnog. “Would you like any good as well? I can get Rosario to warm you a plate.”

Bob looks up at Sofia is amazed by how cordial she is being with Eva, despite knowing the threat that Eva poses to their family.

“No, it’s okay,” Eva replies not wanting to intrude, but secretly thrilled that she is getting to spend Christmas with her daughter for the first time. “I’ll just enjoy the company of Natasha and the rest of your family.”

“Excuse me for a second,” Leah says aloud as she grabs her blackberry and walks out of the room. She looks down at the vibrating phone and sees Jeff’s name on the caller ID. “Hello?”

“Hi, Merry Christmas,” Jeff says into the phone to Leah.

“Merry Christmas Jeff. Are you alone today?”

“No, I was just at Noah’s grave. I wanted to let you know that I was thinking of you today. I know what you said the night of the storm, but…”

“It’s okay. I was thinking of you as well,” Leah admits to him. “I should go though. Happy New Year if I do not see you.”

“You too Leah.”

Leah hangs up her phone and feels Robbie come up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

“Is everything okay?” he asks his wife, sensing something was up.

Leah turns around and smiles at him. “Everything is wonderful.”

Scene Three -- The Glubbs House; Shane, Cassie & Dawn’s Home

“Shane, grab the camera quick!” Cassie laughs as Dawn is sitting in her chair playing with the wrapping paper and large bow rather than the new toys she has gotten. “This is priceless.”

Shane smiles as he snaps some photos of Dawn playing with the wrapping paper. “You’re right, that is adorable,” he says as he places the camera down on the coffee table. “But don’t you think it’s time for Mommy to get her present Dawn?” he says as his eyes meet Cassie’s.

“Did you get me a gift?” she asks in surprise. She did get Shane a present, but with how shaky things have been with them lately she wasn’t sure if he was going to get her a present. He did, however, give her a kiss recently that has made things a little better for the two of them or at least she thinks.

“Of course I did,” he winks over at her. “You’re my wife, it’s a requirement to being married!” he laughs as he hands her a box with a bow on top. “Merry Christmas Cassie.”

“Thank you,” she says as she accepts the box. She looks over to Dawn. “What has Daddy bought me? Let’s find out!” She rips off the bow and tears into the wrapping paper until she sees a box inside. She looks over a Shane before she opens the small box. She gasps when she opens it the box and sees a gold locket. “Oh Shane, it’s beautiful,” she tells him.

“Open the locket. On one side it’s Dawn, and on the other side it’s you. I thought this way the two of you could always be together,” he tells her as he comes up beside her.

Cassie looks up at Shane, water in her eyes. She has tried all day to forget about the night that she miscarried her baby, but the memory haunts her. She looks over at Dawn and knows that she is blessed to have the baby, still she can’t help but wonder how Helen and Adam are coping. This should be their first Christmas with Dawn. She shakes her head and wipes her tears.

“Are you okay?”

“This is just a really sweet gift, thank you so much. I love it. I love you,” she says looking at him in the eye. “And I love our baby.”

“Do you want me to put the necklace on you?” he asks her as he takes the box from her, noting that he’s not ready to say those three words back to Cassie, yet.

“Yes, please.”

He puts the gold chain around her neck and locks it in the back. “There. You look even more beautiful now.”

He can see that she is still nearing tears. “Hey, it’s okay to have happy tears. We are together, as a family for the first time. It’s not going to change, only get better.”

“Promise?” she asks with a faint smile.

“Promise,” he says as he leans in and kisses her on the lips. He pauses when Dawn squawks. “See, even our daughter agrees!”

Scene Four -- The Graveyard

Helen looks up into the sky as she walks slowly over to the plaque where she and Adam have a spot for their daughter. They never got an actual tombstone because she had the baby cremated, something she doesn’t remember doing. Snow has started to fall lightly, so she looks back forward as she walks slowly. It’s Christmas, and she’s alone. Her heart aches more today than it has since she and Adam agreed to live apart. Today, more than any other day, they should be together. It would, after all, have been her first Christmas as a mother. Adam’s first as a father. Their daughter’s first Christmas. While the baby would have been too little to truly understand what was happening, she would have had so much fun playing with the wrapping paper and bows. Helen wipes a tear as she approaches the plaque. She’s startled to see someone else at the wall of plaques.

Adam turns around when he hears footsteps behind him and sees Helen. He gives her half of a smile and then turns back around to the plaque. He puts his hand on the plaque one final time as Helen reaches his side.

“I guess we both had the same idea,” she says as she touches the plaque briefly.

“Looks that way,” he quietly says back to her. “Merry Christmas Helen.”

Helen looks at Adam and their eyes lock. For a second there is an awkward silence between the two of them. “Merry Christmas Adam.”

Adam turns to walk away but he looks back at her. “What are you doing for the rest of the day?”

Helen looks back at him, “I was just going to go back to the condo. I didn’t have any plans.”

“Ah,” Adam states knowing that he wants to ask Helen to come over for a bit. “I have something small for you at the house. Would you like to come by and stay for awhile?”

Helen smiles, “I’d love that Adam. Thank you.”

Adam puts his hand forward for her to lead the way. “After you.”

Scene Five -- The Park

Reese walks into the park with a large latte in his hand. He recalls getting the text message from Andy asking him to meet him in the park. Reese knows that since he is leaving for LA soon, he thought he would go and see Andy one last time before he moves. Despite everything that has happened, Reese does still love Andy, he just needs time away from all the drama that has happened. He needs to learn how to trust people again, and he needs to experience something other than the relationship with Andy.

He quickly spots Andy sitting on a bench and walks over to him. “Merry Christmas,” Reese says as he sits next to Andy on the bench.

“Merry Christmas Reese,” Andy says looking at him in the eyes. “Thanks for agreeing to see me today.”

“It was nothing. My mother was about to start singing, it was my cue to leave,” Reese laughs at him. “How was your day with Kim?”

“It was pretty good,” Andy explains to him. “She got me this awesome new jacket.”

“The one your wearing?” Reese asks as Andy nods. “It is pretty sweet.”

Andy smiles back and silence falls between the two of them. Suddenly all the drama from the past year comes flooding back to both of them.

“I was going…” they both say in unison. They both get grins on their face. “Go ahead,” Andy tells Reese.

“I was just going to tell you that I’m leaving Twin Peaks,” Reese says as he looks out at the river and then takes a slow drink of his latte.

Andy takes a deep breath and feels his heart break. He knows that he is largely responsible for Reese’s decision to leave town. “When are you going?”

“The day after tomorrow. I won’t be here for New Year’s. This is likely the last time I’ll see you, until I come back to visit in the summer.”

Andy turns to face Reese. “Look at me,” Andy tells him. Reese slowly turns and faces Andy. Andy puts his hand on Reese’s face and pulls him in for a long, passionate kiss. They part and Andy looks at him with tears in his eyes. “Please don’t leave. Please don’t leave me or us. I know that I fucked up, but I promise you that there’s no more secrets. No more lies. I love you Reese. I always have.”

Reese tries to keep his composure and gulps. “I know Andy. Love, it isn’t always enough, you know? You know that I love you too, but…”

“But what? If we love each other, we can make this work. I promise. Please tell me you’ll try,” Andy pleads with a hint of desperation in his voice. He doesn’t want to loose Reese, the one true love he has had.

“I can’t tell you that. This year has been such a rollercoaster Andy. Not just for you and Trenyce, but everyone that your lies have effected. Look at poor Chris, he didn’t know he was a father until his son was on his deathbed!”

“That was …”

“No, no more excuses Andy. I have to go to LA. I want to see what else this world has to offer. I want to learn to trust people again. I want to learn to trust men again. I love you, you have been my first love. I’ll never forget you, but I have to do this for me. So much of this year has been about you. I need time for me. I hope you understand,” Reese says as he wipes a tear out of his eye. “I should go. Take care of yourself though, okay?”

Reese stands up and starts walking away. Andy stands up and looks over to Reese. “Reese!” he calls as he rushes over to him. He kisses Reese, again, softly on the lips. “You take care of yourself too.”

“I will, thanks Andy,” Reese says before he turns and continues to walk off.

Next on One Day at a Time
- The New Years Eve Party at the Victors Estate has explosive results!