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At Maxie’s, James explains how to play a game to Mac and Felicia and to watch out as Georgie cheats. Spinelli appears with cookies, and Maxie tells James not to throw shade at Georgie, who is

not there as she’s at her friend’s house. James asks when Sasha and Cody will arrive. Maxie explains Cody isn’t coming, and they talked about this. James is unhappy, as he finally has an uncle, and

he’s not coming for Christmas.

At Rice Plaza, Laura talks with an assistant about the tree lighting schedule. Trina appears and thinks this must be a happy Christmas for Laura and her family. Laura says it is, as Lulu and Lucy haven’t been home for years, and Ace is getting so big. Trina knows Spencer would have loved it. Laura says she is grateful Spencer found a great love with her, and she also wants Trina to know it’s possible to find more than one great love in one’s life.

Laura has to get back to her schedule, and Kai arrives and wishes Trina happy holidays. She asks why he didn’t go home for the holidays, and he explains he has to practice for the big game. He also says the professor accepted their extension, so he’ll catch her in the New Year.

Brennan runs into Anna, who is wearing a Santa hat. She calls him the Grinch and asks if he’s here to steal the kids’ gifts. He says he’s soaking up his first American Christmas. She points out he was here last Christmas, though there isn’t much cheer in Pentonville. He brings up her having Carly plant a bug in his office. Anna plays innocent. Brennan says it’s water under the bridge and offers to buy her a drink, and they can commiserate on being alone. Anna says she’s spending the holidays with loved ones, wishes him a Merry Christmas, and walks off.

Anna runs into Laura, and Laura asks if Anna’s staying for the lighting. Anna wonders if Lulu is attending. Laura says she’ll be here soon. Anna asks if she knows about the shooting. Laura says she doesn’t and wants to get Charlotte home and safe first before dumping that on Lulu. Anna will never forgive herself for it. Laura says she has, Charlotte has, and Lulu will too. It was a terrible accident.

Alexis catches Kristina lurking around the front door of her house and asks why she didn’t let herself in. Kristina didn’t want to risk running into Molly. It’s why she’s decided to spend Christmas at Dad’s. She wanted to stop by and give her mom her gift. Alexis has something for her, only she didn’t have time to wrap it. Kristina doesn’t need anything, noting her mother got her through this year. Alexis says she’d walk through fire for her girls. They talk about losing Sam and Adela. Kristina says she’s trying to accept the loss but is not there yet. Alexis tells her she’ll never stop hoping that she and Molly will make up one day.

Later, Diane stops by, hoping Alexis has changed her mind and decided to come with her to Saint Bart’s. Alexis says she has to be here for Molly, and Kristina, and make things as normal as she can. She just misses Sam so much, and they embrace.

Diane tells Alexis it’s not her responsibility to make things easier for Molly and Kristina. She’s grieving Sam and needs to focus on herself. She also suggests there is someone who loves Molly just as much as she does and likely has no plans. Alexis yells no! She reminds Diane that she has a flight to catch and pushes her out the door.

In the Quartermaine kitchen, Michael finds Sasha and assumes she has the night off. She does and is about to head to the Scorpios. She gets him some coffee to give to Monica and gets a little nauseous from the smell. However, she passes it off as nerves over her first big Christmas with a family. She asks about his plans and whether Willow will let him see the kids. Michael says he and Willow are having breakfast with the kids in the morning. Sasha says he doesn’t deserve this, and she’s sorry. He says he won’t be along tonight as he’s going to his mom’s. He then takes the drink up to Monica.

Sasha gets a call from Felicia, who says Mac and James are really sad about Cody. She wants to call him and ask him to come but hopes that won’t make her uncomfortable. Sasha tells Felicia that Cody should be there and that she’ll handle this.

Sasha calls Cody up to the house, claiming there was a leak. She admits she lied and that he deserves to go to the family Christmas. He doubts he’ll be missed. She says she doesn’t know who will be more disappointed that he’s not coming, Mac or James. She wants him there too, and he deserves a family, so let them in.

At Nina’s, Drew tells her that Willow took Scout and the kids for a walk and thanks her for inviting him. She says she didn’t, he knows that, and can’t believe he showed up. He thought she was okay with this, but Nina assumed he would have the decency not to come. He reminds her that he’s responsible for her and Willow’s reconciliation and that he has strong feelings for Willow. She brings up his strong feelings and their many romps around the office. Willow returns and asks if everything is okay.

Nina says everything is fine. Willow explains that the kids are playing in the other room. Willow leads Drew off to get a drink, and Nina calls someone and says she needs them right now.

Ava and Ric arrive, and Ric notes they gave up a reservation at Café Cherrie for this. Ric leaves Nina and Ava to talk, and Nina complains this day sucks! She says it was supposed to be a happy Christmas with her daughter and grandchildren, and she needs a drink. Ava tells her, “No, you don’t! Keep it together, woman, or you will lose your daughter!”

Willow and Drew appear, and Willow didn’t know others were coming. Ava explains that Nina took pity on her and her friend as they had nowhere to go. Ric brings up the significant changes at Aurora, and he hears Drew is out and Michael is in. Everyone is stunned.

Drew explains what Michael and Curtis did, and Nina can barely contain her joy that Curtis is now CEO. Ava tells Nina they should go warm up the food, and Ric can help. She drags them off.

Alone, Willow can’t believe what Michael’s done to the both of them, and it’s like she never knew him at all. Meanwhile, Ric and Ava talk about how enamored Willow is with Drew. They almost come close to kissing, under some imaginary mistletoe, when Alexis calls and interrupts. Ric asks if Molly is okay. She says that’s up to him and asks him to come over. Ric departs.

Later, Ava sees how Nina is staring at Drew and notes, “You can’t set him on fire by glaring at him.” Nina says she can dream about it! Willow gathers everyone for a toast and thanks Nina for all her support, despite the many times she shoved her away. She calls her mom, and they embrace.

At the Ashfords’ home, Marshall surprises Stella, Curtis and Portia by visiting for Christmas. They sit down, and Portia says Trina will be here soon, but TJ is working tonight. Marshall asks about Aurora. Curtis says he has news but wants to wait for Trina.

Trina arrives, so Stella wants to hear the big news. Curtis announces he is the permanent CEO of Aurora. Stella thought that was the plan all along. Curtis explains Drew tried to double-cross him, and he and Michael dealt with him. He fills them in, and they are surprised but proud. Trina, Stella and Marshall leave to check on the food. Portia asks Curtis if he’s okay.

Curtis knows he deserves to be CEO, but he hates he lost a friend and had to become as ruthless as Drew. He can’t believe it, but he won’t be sorry when Drew leaves for DC.

The family sits down for dinner, and Stella knows they’ve been through a lot this year, but they are also blessed. Curtis makes a speech and tells each of them how proud he is of them and their accomplishments this year.

More: What’s next for Joss?

At Carly’s, Sonny arrives with lasagna for Christmas. Carly says Lucas will be sad to miss this as he has to work tonight. Donna hugs her dad, and Sonny asks about Joss. Carly says she’s upstairs. He asks about Michael, Willow and the kids. Carly realizes he doesn’t know. She says Willow and Michael are separated as Willow slept with Drew. She explains what happened, and he can go ahead and say he told her so about Drew. Sonny tells her not to worry, and that Drew will pay for this.

Joss comes down, and Carly has to rush off as the donations to the shelter weren’t picked up from Bobbie’s. Sonny lets Joss know how sorry he is about Dex, and he has a lot of regrets about what happened between them. Joss admits she was hard on Dex for working for him, and she was hard on Sonny, too. She says Dex helped her see the world isn’t so black and white, and for the sake of their family, she wants peace. Sonny agrees, and they hug.

Brennan heads to Bobbie’s, but it’s closed. Carly walks out with the box of donations, and he jokes, “It’s a Christmas miracle. Santa got my letter!” She says he’s spent his life on the naughty list, and he knows it. He says the same can be said about her. They bicker about the bug, and Brennan suggests a truce for Christmas. She can’t make him anything and is on her way to deliver sandwiches to the shelter. Brennan says he’ll be OK with room service and wishes her a Merry Christmas. She tells him to stop.

Back at Carly’s, Michael and Kristina arrive. Joss and Kristina go to get beverages, and Sonny tells Michael he found out about Drew and Willow. Sonny asks what he can do. Michael wishes he could turn back time. Sonny knows he let Willow have the kids for Christmas, which is more than what he did, using him and Morgan against his mother.

Sonny and Michael go to get a drink, and Joss and Kristina return. Kristina is sorry to hear about Dex, and Joss knows Kristina’s had a rough year as well. Donna comes down and notices they look sad. She knows how to cheer them up and takes them upstairs.

Meanwhile, Sonny tells Michael that he regrets using his kids against Carly, which was wrong. Michael doesn’t want to put his kids through any pain, and Sonny says that’s because he’s a good man. Michael isn’t so sure and tells him about stealing Aurora from Drew. Sonny says, “That’s my boy!” and they toast.

Joss and Kristina return, having had Donna put stickers all over them. Carly walks in and announces she’s brought a guest. She introduces Jack Brennan. Brennan tells Sonny it’s nice to finally meet him and extends his hand. Sonny looks him up and down…

Anna arrives at Maxie’s, and Maxie asks what this big surprise of hers is. Anna says they’ll have to wait a little longer as it’s not here yet. Sasha follows Anna in, but Cody didn’t come with her. Sasha lets James know that Cody isn’t going to make it. He’s bummed. Mac welcomes his niece, and they hug.

Mac talks with James and admits he’s bummed about Cody too, but some people don’t like parties. He suggests they visit him after Christmas and go riding together. Meanwhile, Maxie gets Sasha some ginger ale for her morning sickness.

The doorbell rings, and James answers, thinking it’s Anna’s surprise. However, it’s Cody who tells everyone, “Merry Christmas.”

Ric arrives at Alexis’ and she asks what he’s doing here?

Next week on General Hospital, Dante gets the kind of news that can only be called “alarming.”