document: Hope: Hi.
  Marlena: Oh, hi.
  Hope: Is it a bad time?
  Marlena: No, no, no, no, not at all. I'm on a break. Oh, uh, we got your rsvp to the wedding. I'm so glad you're coming.
  Hope: Yeah, of course. I'm sure it'll be a beautiful day.
  [Soft dramatic music]
  Marlena: I know things have been strained between us ever since benes--
  Hope: And I'm sorry to say that unfortunately they will continue to be strained unless you retract your assessment that ben's mentally fit.
  Marlena: Hope, you have--
  Hope: Marlena, I know what you're thinking. If there were enough evidence to lock ben up for trying to kill my daughter, he'd already be behind bars.
  Marlena: I know you're worried.
  Hope: Then help me! Please, help me. Call shady hills. Send that bastard, that psychopath back to where he belongs. Marlena, please. One call... before something truly terrible happens. Please.
  Tripp: You're ben weston.
  Ben: I am. You must be tripp.
  Tripp: Uh-huh.
  Ben: Ciara, I just wanted--
  Ciara: Ben, what the hell? Why are you here again?
  [Tense music]
  Chad: I did talk to kate, you know, but obviously she has her, uh, kind of, you know-- you know how she feels about abigail, so it's-- really doesn't work out. So it's nice to be able to talk to you, 'cause at least with you, I know how you feel about it.
  Gabi: Yeah. I mean, I'm--I'm friends with both of you, so... you don't have to worry. I just want you to know that if you ever need me, you know, I'm--I'm here for you.
  Chad: I appreciate that.
  Gabi: Hey.
  Chad: I mean--
  Gabi: Just, you know, we go way back, right?
  Chad: Yeah, we do, yeah. And that's why it means a lot to me.
  Stefan: Abigail, what--
  Abigail: I don't want to talk to you.
  Stefan: We have to talk about the baby.
  Male announcer: Like sands through the hourglass, so are the "days of our lives."
  [Soft orchestration]
  [Soft music]
  [Tv clicks on]
  [Knock at door]
  [Tv clicks off]
  Eli: [Sighs] Hey. Lani, are you okay?
  Lani: I got something in the mail today... from the state. A few copies, actually. And I-I wasn't sure if you would want one. I'm sorry. This is...really hard.
  Eli: What is it?
  Chad: We've been through a lot over the years.
  Gabi: Yeah, it's all in the past. Nothing to worry about.
  Chad: That's what I mean. You know, after everything we've--we've been through, you know, we're able to-- to let it go--you're able to let it all go, and that just speaks to what an amazing person you are, so...
  Gabi: I'm always here for you. You know that.
  Chad: I know.
  Jj: What the hell is this?
  Abigail: There's nothing to talk about. You got your wish. I'm having the baby.
  Stefan: I got my wish? Meaning what? You regret the decision, that you only made it to appease me?
  Abigail: I don't do anything to appease you. I'm gonna have this baby because it's a life and it deserves to be loved. And quite frankly, I'm ashamed that I ever even considered ending the pregnancy.
  Stefan: I'm glad I was there. But okay, so now that you've made that decision, what's next?
  Abigail: Well, I'm gonna have the baby, and chad and i are gonna raise it together.
  Stefan: So he's, uh-- he's adjusting to all this, then?
  Abigail: He's having a difficult time, as anyone would. But I mean, we love each other, and we love thomas, and he's adjusting, so... [Sighs] And I'm--I'm sure that once the baby's born, he's going to be a very nurturing, loving father.
  Stefan: Father, huh?
  Abigail: Mm-hmm.
  Stefan: Well, now that, uh, you and chad have all this worked out and it seems he's taking the high road, I would think you'd have some peace of mind right now.
  Abigail: Yeah, I do.
  Stefan: Then why were you so upset when I came in just now?
  Abigail: Not your concern.
  Stefan: But you're okay? The baby's okay?
  Abigail: Yup, we're fine. Everything's normal.
  Stefan: So in a few weeks, uh, you'll be having an ultrasound. I was hoping to be there.
  Abigail: Absolutely not.
  Marlena: Has something else happened with ben?
  Hope: I warned him to stay away from ciara. Yesterday he showed up at her loft.
  Marlena: To check on her?
  Hope: He's playing her. Marlena, he is totally manipulating her. There's no doubt in my mind that he set that fire that almost killed her!
  Marlena: And there's no doubt in my mind. Ben did not set that fire.
  Tripp: You need to leave.
  Ben: I just want to talk to ciara.
  Tripp: No, she doesn't--
  Ben: Ciara, listen to me.
  Tripp: No, look, you need to go.
  Ben: It's important.
  Tripp: How the hell could anything you say be important, hmm? You're a low- life murderer. And but for the grace of god, you would have added ciara to your list of victims, you son of a bitch.
  Ben: Ciara... I get why you didn't believe me. I wasn't completely sure myself either because I was off my meds. I didn't remember everything that happened. But now I am 100% sure that I do, and I know that I didn't set that fire.
  Tripp: Damn it, just go away!
  Ciara: Wait! Let him finish.
  Ben: Thank you.
  Lani: I didn't know if you would want a copy. I thought about just filing it away.
  Eli: No. I want it. Thanks.
  Lani: I thought I would get a birth certificate too. But since david didn't take a breath... it's like he was never born, like I never went through labor, like I never held him in my arms.
  Eli: Lani...
  Lani: No. I'm okay. I'm okay. I've been doing pretty good, actually. But then something comes up. My calendar app reminds me that today's the day I'm supposed to take my maternity leave, or I get an email from the hospital inviting me to come see the hospital nursery. I hate this. And I hate feeling sorry for myself. And I don't even feel sorry for myself. I feel sorry for david. I feel sorry that our son didn't get a chance to live his life. He didn't get a chance to leave a mark on the world.
  Eli: Lani, that's not true. Look at me. David did leave a mark-- on us. We'll never forget him.
  Jj: What the hell, man?
  Gabi: It's not what it looks like, jj.
  Jj: No?
  Chad: We were just talking.
  Gabi: Yeah, uh, chad's had a rough time lately, so I was just being a friend.
  Chad: [Stammering] You know that nothing's gonna happen. You know how I feel about your sister, all right? I just needed somebody to talk to besides her because with everything going on with stefan, I haven't been handling it well, honestly.
  Jj: I'm sorry. Look, I, uh-- I know what you're going through, and I, of all people, should understand, so, uh, I'm sorry.
  Chad: No, it's fine. I-I-I totally get it. I do.
  Jj: Yeah, you know, and I'm really worried about her. After everything that she's been through, the last thing she needs is stefan trying to get back into her life.
  Stefan: So hearing the baby's heartbeat and seeing the sonogram, you'd rather go through that alone?
  Abigail: I won't be alone.
  Stefan: Chad. So he's--he's gonna go to all your doctor's appointments?
  Abigail: It's not really your business, but if you want to make things easier for me, you will just stay away.
  Stefan: You can't cut me out of my child's life, abigail.
  Abigail: No, but I can cut you out of mine. And I will.
  [Soft music]
  Lani: I'm sorry for being all emotional. I guess my hormones are all over the place still.
  Eli: Don't apologize. Lani, I get emotional about it too. You know... I didn't realize how much it meant to me, knowing that you and I had made a baby together, a new life. I mean...it changed me-- for the better, I think. I hope. I don't know. I'm just thinking of myself as a new dad, and... when it was suddenly over, I realized that it wasn't just about that, about being a dad. It was also about... having a baby with you. Come here.
  [Smooches]
  [Cell phone beeps]
  Chad: Um... I have an appointment I have to get to. Gabi, thank you.
  Gabi: Of course.
  Chad: Jj.
  Jj: Take care.
  Gabi: What?
  Jj: I know how much you used to care about chad. And, uh, the guy's obviously a mess right now.
  Gabi: And, what, you think I'm trying to take advantage of that, the fact that your sister's having a baby with stefan, to, what, get together with chad?
  Jj: No. No, no, of course not. I just-- I don't want to see you get hurt again. I know that you and chad were building a life when abigail came back, and you did an amazing, generous thing. You stepped aside so they could be together.
  Gabi: That's me, miss noble.
  Jj: You can joke if--if you want, but I know how hard that was for you. And it didn't stop there. You and eli broke up, and then you went to jail for a crime you didn't even commit.
  Gabi: The hits just kept on coming.
  Jj: I'm just trying to say that... I-I know how much you've been suffering, and I just-- I hope things get easier for you.
  Gabi: Thank you, jj. Thank you.
  Jj: Hey, but no matter what, you still got that beautiful little girl of yours. Are things getting any better with that?
  Gabi: No, unfortunately they're not. And before you ask if I've already gotten a second opinion on my condition, I haven'T. I don't know if I'll be able to have any more kids. I mean, I don't even know why I'm thinking about a silly little thing like this. I don't even have a boyfriend, or I'm not looking for love or anything like that.
  Jj: You know, gabi, um, there are a few things that, uh--that this past year has taught me, and you've been a big part of that, by the way. One thing is, um... being cynical-- like everything's a lost cause anyway, so why even try-- well, um, that just makes everything so much worse. And also, that if you're determined to be grateful for what you have and you appreciate the people in your life who love you and you show them love too, if you believe in yourself... look, I, uh--I know I'm either oversimplifying this or being downright corny, but I-I really believe that if-- if you work on yourself in that way, the way I did--with help and support from friends-- things will get better, gabi.
  Gabi: You're right. Yeah, you're right. I know they will. They have to.
  Tripp: Why would you want to hear him out? He's just gonna tell you all the same lies.
  Ciara: If I don't, he'll just come back again, okay? I might as well get it out of the way. So...why are you so sure you didn't set that fire?
  Ben: Because... dr. Evans, she hypnotized me.
  Tripp: [Scoffs]
  Ben: Something funny? I remember every moment of that night, and I know for sure now that I did not set that fire. I didn't do it.
  Tripp: Okay, so if you didn't, who did?
  Ben: I don't know, tripp. I wasn't there. For all I know, it could have been an accident. But I also know that it wasn't my fault. That's why I'm here. You believe me, don't you?
  Marlena: Hope, I should tell you that... I've had ben in therapy. He was under hypnosis. And he's given me permission to talk about it. So when he was under, he remembered what happened that night in clear details. He had hiked to the pharmacy. When he came back, the cabin was in flames.
  Hope: And, um... when you woke him up and brought him out of it, did he remember what he'd said?
  Marlena: Look, I-I know that you don't have a lot of hope here. But I do. And it's my belief that with medication and with psychotherapy, ben can lead a very productive life. That's my professional opinion. It's not going to change. I'm sorry.
  Hope: I am too.
  [Dramatic music]
  Marlena: Oh! Hi, chad.
  Chad: Hey, how are you? Uh, sorry. The door was open.
  Marlena: No, uh, please, come in. I, uh--I saw that you were on my calendar, but I-I didn't expect you and abigail until next week.
  Chad: Yeah, we aren'T. I, um--I was hoping to, uh-- to talk to you first.
  Marlena: Sure. About what?
  Chad: Well, it's just that, uh... yeah, I promised her that i would, um--I would do my best to be accepting of her having the child, and, um... I don't-- I don't--I don't-- I don't think I can.
  Stefan: So for the next nine months, you plan to shut me out entirely?
  Abigail: Oh, it's more like six, but yeah.
  Stefan: [Scoffs] So do I not even get to know the--the sex of the baby or--or any say in picking out the name, anything like that?
  Abigail: Until this baby is actually born, you're not gonna be coming to doctor's appointments with me. You're not gonna see sonograms. You're not gonna hear heartbeats. You're not gonna be touching my belly. You're not gonna know the sex. You're not gonna be picking out-- what are you smiling about?
  Stefan: You sound like gabby.
  [Grunts]
  Ben: You can ask dr. Evans. She'll tell you what I said.
  Tripp: No, no, no, no, she doesn't have to ask anyone anything, okay? Ciara doesn't have to believe a single word you say. So stop pressuring her. Stop coming here. And if I ever see your face around here again, I'm calling the police.
  Ben: Ah. Did I interrupt something?
  Tripp: Yeah. As a matter of fact, you did.
  Ben: Ciara, are you sure you want to do this? You remember what this jerk did, how bad he hurt you when he hopped in the sack with your buddy claire.
  Tripp: You told him about that?
  Hope: Marlena wouldn't even consider calling shady hills. [Sighs] We're just gonna have to rely on our own methods to convict ben. Right?
  Rafe: We've been working double shifts. We've been doing everything that we possibly can to try and link weston to the fire.
  Hope: And?
  Rafe: And I've run down every lead. I've-- I looked at every damn piece of evidence 100 times, hope. I hit a dead end.
  Hope: No. No, you don't mean that.
  Rafe: Well, I-- those are just the facts, okay? As much as I hate to say it, it might be time to just close up the investigation.
  Abigail: When are you gonna get it through your head, hmm? Gabby's gone. She's not coming back.
  Stefan: She lives on in this baby.
  Abigail: Oh, the hell she does.
  Stefan: And it's obvious she lives on in you.
  Abigail: I-- do you not understand that I've been cured, that I've been integrated and all of that?
  Stefan: Yes, I know. Which means gabby and the rest of your alters are part of you now. Isn't that what your doctors said? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.
  Abigail: I would really appreciate if you didn't make this more difficult for me than it already is.
  Stefan: I know you think I took advantage of you--
  Abigail: You did.
  Stefan: So... I will respect your boundaries and take a step back. And if chad, for whatever reason, can't be there for you the way you need him to be... I will be, always.
  Chad: So my--my question is, am I being selfish because of the way I feel? I mean, am I--am I--am I-- am I making this all about-- about me, you know? I mean, she's the one that has to-- she's the one that has to have the baby. She's the one that's pregnant. She's been to hell and back with her illness. And--and here I am, feeling sorry for--for myself. I don't want to feel that way. But I don't know--I don't know how to get past it either.
  Marlena: The way you get past it is to talk about how you feel about it. That's what you're doing now. I mean, there--there are-- there are other things you could try, coming at it from a different point of view, perhaps. I could help you with that if you like. Okay, well... you seem reluctant to do that.
  Chad: There's something I need to know. Abby was gonna-- abby was gonna get an abortion. She went to the clinic, uh, but she couldn't go through with it. Because this baby is a part of gabby. And now that she's integrated, gabby's a part of her, and she has to accept that. And because she has to accept that, she has to accept gabby's choices.
  Marlena: And one of those choices was to... go to bed with stefan.
  Chad: Gabby loved stefan. So if... if they're--they're one and gabby loved stefan, then does that mean that-- does that mean my wife loves stefan?
  Marlena: Hmm. Ooh, heaven is a place on earth
  Hope: I know it hasn't been easy to find evidence against ben. But... I'm sorry. This-- it just isn't like you to give up.
  Rafe: Give up?
  Hope: Yeah, give up.
  Rafe: I'm not-- I'm not giving up. What I'm saying is, we haven't found anything. The department is expending a lot of manpower to keep this case open, which really-- I mean, ultimately it just resulted in property damage, hope.
  Hope: You didn't just say that. Only property damage? My daughter could have died. Have you forgotten that?
  Rafe: No, of course I haven't forgotten that. I know, and I'm sorry, and I wish that we had different results, but... okay, you know what? You're the commish. You want to keep the case open, that's what we do. Okay?
  Hope: I'm-- I-I need time to think about it.
  Rafe: All right. Well, there is a silver lining.
  Hope: Yeah? Glass half full? Really? What's that?
  Rafe: Well, if we close the case, ben doesn't have to stay in town. In fact, we can encourage him to leave. I can help him.
  Hope: Oh, my god. Seriously?
  Rafe: Yeah.
  Hope: What? You know damn well that he is not going anywhere, not as long as ciara's here in salem. Rafe, he's obsessed with her, just like he was with abigail.
  Rafe: I'm sorry, all right? I'm sorry. You want to take a walk, get some fresh air, hmm?
  Hope: Um, I can'T. I-I'm busy. I have so much work.
  Rafe: Okay. Maybe dinner tonight?
  Hope: Thai? Dessert first?
  Rafe: I love the way you think.
  [Soft music]
  Ciara: When I called you guys on the burner phone, ben overheard me.
  Ben: You know, thanks to you and your little buddy claire, ciara didn't even want to go home.
  Tripp: [Sighs] I can't believe he knows about this.
  Ben: Can't believe it? Why not? Of course I know about this. We spent day and night together. Couldn't help overhearing how sad she was because of you.
  Tripp: [Laughs] Oh, man, now, this is for the books, I swear. You giving me crap about hurting ciara's feelings whenever you've actually murdered people? I mean, am I seriously getting the overprotective dad lecture from a serial killer?
  [Cell phone beeps]
  [Dramatic music]
  Ben: I got to go. Ciara, listen to me. I'm on your side, okay? Don't do anything you're gonna regret.
  Ciara: You're angry. I'm--I'm really sorry.
  Tripp: I'll get over it. You were upset, and you needed to vent or whatever, and he was--and he was there. Just--just do me a favor, okay, and just tell me you don't believe that lying bastard.
  Lani: What are you doing?
  Eli: Trying to make you feel better.
  Lani: What, like you did on christmas eve?
  Eli: Lani, you showed up at my doorstep that--that night.
  Lani: So I'm to blame for what happened?
  Eli: No, I didn't say you were to blame. But I mean, if you wouldn't have assumed that jj and gabi were sleeping together...
  Lani: Then what? What? That you and gabi would still be together? Is that what you were gonna say?
  Eli: What--
  Lani: Let me give you a pro tip. Don't go around trying to make other women feel better, especially ones you work with.
  Eli: What the hell is that supposed to mean?
  Lani: It means that if you're not careful, you might just get brought up on harassment charges.
  Eli: Seriously?
  Lani: Do I look like I'm kidding?
  Eli: Yeah, well, it may be tricky trying to accuse me of harassment when we've already had sex.
  Lani: And that was the worst mistake of my life.
  Chad: Every time I see her, I-I... I just think about that-- that night that I walked in on them together. [Clears throat] And I--and I wish I... hmm.
  Marlena: What do you wish?
  Chad: I wish that I could stop thinking that those feelings were real.
  Marlena: Oh. Have you considered the possibility that even if this were your child, I mean, you walking in on the two of them still would have happened?
  Chad: Yeah, but if it was my child, he wouldn't be in our lives.
  Marlena: This is your brother. He's the--he's the ceo of a rival company. This baby isn't just stefan'S. It's abigail's as well. And she didn't betray you. She didn't fall out of love with you. She had an illness that made her do something that she deeply regrets. And now she's trying to open her heart to this baby. Could you think about trying that? Would you think about trying to open your heart to the baby, as abigail's done?
  Abigail: It's quite an act, pretending to take the high road.
  Stefan: It's not an act.
  Abigail: Please. You can tell me that you're backing off all you want, but I know that you just want chad and I to be miserable. That's why you came after me in the first place, huh? You just wanted to ruin chad's life? What are you looking at?
  Stefan: You're showing.
  Abigail: Oh, god.
  Stefan: What--what is it? What's wrong? What's wrong?
  [Tense music] The day after chemo shouldn't mean going back to
  Lani: Oh, my god. Eli, I am so sorry. I didn't mean that. Us sleeping together may have been a mistake, but... our son wasn'T.
  [Somber music]
  Eli: I'm sorry I kissed you. It was a mistake. I was just trying to comfort you--and myself. It's--it's not an excuse, just a reason.
  Lani: It's been a long day. Maybe we both should just get some rest.
  Eli: Yeah. Take care.
  Gabi: How are things going with you?
  Jj: Oh, I can't complain. I'm happy to be back on the job.
  Gabi: [Chuckles] I bet. You are at your best when you're helping other people.
  Jj: Yeah. I don't know about that.
  Gabi: I do. You're a great person, jj. You know, I don't even know what you're doing being friends with me.
  Jj: What? What are you talking about? You're crazy. Why--why--why do you keep saying stuff like that?
  Gabi: No, I mean, I am such a screwup. You know I am. Just, I've made so many mistakes in my life.
  Jj: Well, guess what. Everybody does. Doesn't mean you're not a good person. And if you're--if you're ever needing somebody to remind you of that, give me a call.
  Gabi: Mm.
  Marlena: Chad... you're a very loving man. You're a great dad to your son. And I think when you bring this baby home from the hospital... it won't feel like somebody else's child. I think your paternal instincts will kick in. It doesn't mean it won't be without its problems. And it might not even be easy for a while. But I think you've got this. I think you're gonna be a wonderful father to him.
  [Dramatic music]
  Abigail: No, I'm fine. I'm fine.
  Stefan: Are you sure? It looked like you were in pain.
  Abigail: Yeah, no, I'm not. The baby just--it kicked. Oh, ow! It kicked again.
  Stefan: Can I--
  Abigail: No, no, no. Please don'T. Any object. Any surface.
  Tripp: Look, you were right. I shouldn't have answered the door.
  Ciara: There was no way you could have known it was ben.
  Tripp: Still kind of a buzzkill, though.
  Ciara: Yeah.
  Tripp: Look... I-I totally understand if you don't want to or anything like that. You know, any chance that we could maybe pick up where we left off?
  [Knocking]
  Ben: You summoned me?
  Hope: I did.
  Ben: Here I am. What can I do for you now?
  Hope: Follow me.
  [Dramatic music]
  [Crowd cheering on tv]
  [Tv clicks off]
  Jj: Lani. Are you o-okay?
  Lani: [Crying] No.
  Jj: Come here. Come here.
  Lani: [Crying]
  Gabi: Dear god, jj thinks that I'm a good person, but... I mean, we both know that he's wrong. I just--I thought that revenge was gonna make me feel better, but it's made me feel worse. I mean, maybe I should just tell the truth, right?
  Rafe: Tell the truth about what?
  Stefan: I'm sorry. I'm not--I'm not trying to upset you. I told you I would back off. But... can I please, abigail? Please?
summary: Gabi was comforting Chad when JJ saw them together. He wanted to know what they were doing. Stefan went to see Abby. They talked about the baby. He wanted to be there for the baby. She didn't want him in her life. Hope talked to Marlena about Ben. Marlena assured her that Ben didn't start the fire. Ben went to see Ciara. Tripp wanted him to leave, but he told Ciara he didn't start the fire. Tripp wanted him to leave, but Ciara wanted to hear what he had to say. Eli and Lani had the death certificate for David. They were upset about it. They ended up kissing. Chad had to leave so JJ and Gabi talked about her situation. JJ assured Gabi that things would get better for her. Ben told Ciara that Marlena hypnotized him so that's how he knew he didn't set the fire. Marlena told Hope that with therapy Ben could lead a normal life. She wasn't going to change her mind. Hope left her office. Chad went to see Marlena. He told her that he didn't think he could accept Abby's baby. Abby wanted Stefan to stay away from her until the baby is born. He thought she sounded like Gabby and she slapped him.