"Children weren't the only ones out frolicking in the snow. Newlyweds Marian and Stuart opted to skip their European honeymoon and stay in Pine Valley. Adam tracked them down to the boathouse and asked them why the weren't strolling the streets of Paris. The couple looked deeply into each other's eyes and remarked that they didn't need to travel to be happy. The shared a kiss, but quickly pulled away when they realized that their affection might make Adam uncomfortable. Surprisingly, Adam smiled and encouraged Stuart to give Marian a kiss for him! The big turn around was part of Adam's continued jubilance over Liza's acceptance of his marriage proposal. Adam broke the news that he and Liza were getting married in early April. Marian and Stuart were both thrilled, but they weren't quite sure why Adam was in such a hurry. Adam snapped that the early April timeframe was "not negotiable." He pulled himself together and explained that he wanted Baby Colby to be born with both he and Liza's name on her birth certificate. Marian gave Adam a hug and told him that she could see that he really cared about Liza's child in spite of the fact that Colby was not his biological daughter. Stuart smiled as well, but he seemed uneasy. Adam asked Marian and Stuart to help him plan his wedding. Marian smiled devilishly and commented that the wedding was sure to be a smash since, presumably, money was no object. Adam hurried off to work on wedding preparations. Marian told Stuart that she was glad to see Adam get his way this time because it meant that everyone was getting what the wanted---Adam a family, Liza a husband, and Colby a mother and a father.
Mrs. McDougal was unable to find anything on Ryan. The confidential file folder she'd found contained nothing---literally. Dixie was amazed that there was no paperwork of any kind. How, she wondered, did Braden get paid? Dixie hung up the phone and listened as Tad mumbled that he found it curious that Braden wanted to keep all aspects of his life a secret. The pair continued to rummage through Palmer's desk, but they froze when a voice bellowed from the foyer. Palmer strutted into the room and told his niece that she should be ashamed of herself for poking through his personal files. Dixie turned angrily towards her uncle and asked him if he had any idea what type of man he'd inserted into their lives. Palmer, of course, had no idea what Dixie was talking about. Tad took it upon himself to dig for answers. He asked Palmer to tell him more about Braden, but Palmer refused. The mogul didn't bat an eye over the couple's concern about Braden. Palmer actually chuckled as he informed them that an iron-clad hiring agreement prevented him for dismissing Braden for any reason. Well, any reason other than a violation of a "morals code." Palmer then strolled over to his desk, lifted out a false bottom in one of the drawers, and snapped up a bunch of papers. Dixie and Tad were both awed by Palmer's craftiness. Opal entered the room as Palmer was on his way out and offered a possible solution to the Braden problem. Some time later, the solution arrived. Opal asked Adrian, her idea of a solution, and Tad to put aside their differences and work together to learn more about Braden. The two brothers exchanged potshots about each other's detective skills. Dixie blasted the two men for their squabbling. She said that she hadn't had the luxury of having a big family and that she planned to treat Adrian as family. Opal excused herself to answer the phone. She suddenly screamed out in horror, "Oh dear Lord, No!" Tad escorted her to the sofa and helped calm her down. Opal was moved to tears as she informed everyone that Erica had been involved in an accident. Saying that in the blink of an eye Erica had been "disfigured," Opal expressed the need for her two sons to live for the moment. The two men exchanged glances and agreed that they would cooperate with each other.
Hayley arrived at the courtroom and found Gillian sitting in solitude. Hayley wondered if she'd arrived too early---or whether she'd missed the hearing entirely. Gillian sadly told Hayley that the judge had ruled against them. Hayley was devastated, but remained vigilant that Ryan would be cleared once the case went to trial. Gillian put her head in her hands and sighed. She told Hayley that "this whole thing" was her fault. Had he not caught her in bed with David, Ryan would never have ended up at The Pit. Hayley begged Gillian not to be so hard on herself, but it did little good. Hayley knew that things were going to get worse for Ryan and Gillian before they got better. Hayley warned her new friend that she risked pushing Ryan away for good if she continued to pressure him into forgiveness. On a more positive note, however, Hayley reckoned that she and Mateo were a lot like Ryan and Gillian. Hayley said that she had snubbed Mateo for months. This was s glimmer of hope for Gillian, but Hayley warned Gillian not to go overboard. Hayley wrapped her arm around the princess and told her that she'd take he back to Myrtle's. Once there, Hayley said that she'd make Gillian an omelet. Her lips wrinkled into a smile and chuckled that it would probably fall apart and look more like "scrambled eggs and cheese."
A pot of tea heated on the stove as Liza let Jake into her condo. The mother-to-be looked at her friend and sensed that he was feeling down. Jake confirmed her suspicions, saying that his day was ruined when he learned that she and Adam were planning on getting re-married. Liza rolled her eyes and commented that she expects everyone she knows to weigh with their opinions on her engagement. Jake claimed that he had Liza's best interests in mind---and the baby's. Liza assured Jake that Adam was a sort of changed man and that she would not allow him to manipulate her daughter. "I've seen him at his worst," said Jake, referencing Adam and Dixie's battle for Junior. "Do you expect me to watch while he runs rampant over my child?" Liza froze. "Your child?" she asked. Silence fell over the condo. Liza reminded Jake that he had agreed to have no say in her child's life---that was one of the conditions of Jake's becoming a donor. Jake nodded his head, but said that the agreement had hinged upon Liza's decision to raise the child on her own. Again, Liza promised that no one would "mess with Baby Colby." Jake's brow wrinkle as he asked Liza of her baby was going to be named Colby Colby. Again Liza was silent. She took a breath and informed Jake that her child's full name would be Colby Marian Chandler. Jake was stunned. "Adam Chandler will be my child's legal father?" he gasped.
In the cellblock, Braden and Ryan discussed old times. As youths, Ryan had apparently been the upbeat jokester and Braden was more gloom and doom. Now, it was Braden's turn to cheer up Ryan. Braden told Ryan that the DNA hearing was "just one battle." Ryan was surprisingly optimistic. He confidently proclaimed that Ryan would not go to jail for "raping that woman." Braden told Ryan that he'd tracked Kit down at Wildwind and talked to her. From there, the conversation quickly skipped to Braden's work. He mentioned that he was "biding [his] time" as Palmer's crony. He never said exactly what he was waiting to do, but the implication appeared to be that he planned on taking over Cortlandt Electronics. Braden said that he finally had almost everything he'd ever wanted, but followed it by a cryptic remark about not wanting some "little mistake" to ruin it for him. Ryan replied that Braden never makes mistakes. Not so, according to Braden. Everyone, the man said, makes mistakes and he's no different. Ryan smiled and thanked Braden for his help. Apparently, Braden had helped Ryan in the past. "I wouldn't be standing here right now if it weren't for you," said Ryan. The two shared memories of tough times. They began chanting, "Whatever they dish out, we can take." It was not yet apparent who "they" were, but the two men said that "they" had tried to make them into bitter enemies. They both agreed that jail was far better than "home." Ryan nodded and agreed with Ryan's remark. "[Our] mom and dad were worse than this," Ryan concurred."
- Soap Central