E.J. returned to the DiMera mansion and found an impatient Stefan waiting for him. E.J. told Stefan that Gabi would not be going home that day. Stefan was furious. He accused E.J. of having reneged on their deal: Stefan's silence about Jude's true paternity in exchange for Gabi's freedom.

E.J. explained that the judge had been receptive to E.J.'s argument that Clyde's little black book, with its bloody fingerprints, would suggest that Gil Carter, not Gabi, had killed Li Shin. The hitch had been that the judge wanted more than just photos of the book. Until the actual book was turned over, Gabi's conviction would not be vacated.

E.J. reminded Stefan that Melinda was illegally holding on to the book. E.J. told Stefan that Melinda was not at home, nor had she returned any of E.J.'s attempts to reach her. E.J. presumed it was because he had just stolen Melinda's job as D.A. -- at Stefan's behest. E.J. blamed Stefan for creating the whole mess. Stefan believed he had a way to get Melinda to cooperate.

Stefan told E.J. that Melinda was trying to use the book to get immunity, something Rafe couldn't give -- but E.J. could "So, give the woman what she wants!" Stefan demanded. E.J. had no idea how to fly the idea past Nicole. Stefan didn't care. He shouted at E.J. to "get Melinda, get the evidence, and get Gabi out of prison!" Stefan lowered his voice and said, "And then, we all live happily ever after, right? Today, E.J. Or I tell Nicole the truth."

At the Spectator office, Nicole was talking to Jude when she received a phone call from Eric, who was sitting at the bar in the Brady Pub. Eric was just checking up on Nicole. Nicole told Eric that she was more angry with Theresa's remarks about Holly than she was at Holly for sneaking away from the prom. Nicole told Eric that Holly had been grounded again. Nicole was upset with Holly for lying to her again. Eric assured Nicole that he would be there for Nicole, and he ended the call.

Xander walked in with Victoria. He congratulated Nicole for getting her son back. Nicole felt sorry for Eric, who, for a second time, had been forced to give up a child whom he loved. Nicole and Xander both commiserated about their own baby-switching pasts. Xander wondered why Nicole even wanted to work for him. Xander suggested that Nicole should quit, "or better yet, I could fire you." Nicole dared Xander to run that idea past Chad. Xander let it go after accepting the apology Nicole had not offered.

Xander went on about how he and Nicole had both come out ahead: Nicole was happily married and had her son back, while Xander and Sarah were about to be married with their daughter in attendance. Nicole was surprised that Sarah had agreed to marry Xander. Xander explained that Sarah was going all out to make the wedding special, and that included inviting Xander's mother.

Nicole recalled that Xander did not get along with his mother. Xander clarified that his problems with his mother had begun when Xander had started getting into trouble while he had been a teenager. Xander felt his mother had "flat-out given up" on Xander. Nicole believed it had to have been more complicated than that.

Xander told Nicole that his mother had not even shown up when Xander had been convicted of manslaughter. "Isn't that when Victor stepped in?" Nicole asked. Xander confirmed that Victor had gotten years shaved off Xander's sentence and had paid for Xander's education. Xander recalled that Fiona had not liked that one bit

Xander told Nicole that his mother had fallen apart following his dad's death. That was when Fiona had started drinking. Xander explained that he had tried to be there for his mother, but she had shut him out. Xander expressed gratitude to Victor for having stepped up to help Xander. Nicole was glad Xander had decided to share all that with her. Nicole shrugged and said with a smile, "It turns out, you're kinda human." Xander put his finger to his lips, as a "don't tell anyone" gesture.

Nicole confessed that she could relate to Xander's problems with his mother. Xander asked if Nicole had ever worked things out with her mother. Nicole told Xander that she and her mother had been on good terms when her mother had died. Nicole thought it was a good idea that Sarah had invited Fiona to the wedding, because "something good might happen."

Roman greeted Eric from behind the bar at the Brady Pub. He told Eric that Kate was upset because Lucas' first decision as a free man had been to go for an extended visit to see Allie and Will in Arizona. Roman griped about having had to say too many goodbyes lately. Eric told Roman that he might have to say another goodbye soon. "Who else is leaving town?" Roman asked. Eric replied, "Me."

Eric explained that he had been considering job opportunities in other cities. Roman suspected being so close to the child Eric had just lost was part of this decision. Eric admitted that Jude was part of it -- but so was Nicole. Roman asked if Eric still had feelings for Nicole. Eric reminded his father that Eric was still a married man, and that romance was not even on his radar. Eric told Roman that Nicole had brought Jude to the Spectator office. Eric admitted that being in the same town as Jude but not being able to be Jude's father could "be more than I could bear."

Eric told his father that he needed to put some distance between Eric and Jude. Roman admitted to having left Salem for Washington, DC, after he'd learned that Belle was not his daughter. Eric asked if moving away had helped. Roman reluctantly admitted that time away had helped him, so Roman would respect Eric's decision in the matter.

Alex told Brady that Theresa had accepted Alex's proposal. Alex could tell Brady was not feeling very congratulatory. Brady reminded Alex that the engagement would affect Tate. Brady felt that Alex and Theresa were moving too quickly. Alex explained that he had been holding on to the ring for a while and had planned to propose for Valentine's Day, but Alex's trust issues had caused him to wait.

Alex told Brady that he trusted Theresa completely. Brady replied, "Well, Alex, maybe you shouldn't." Brady asked if it had bothered Alex when he had found Brady and Theresa in bed together. Alex admitted that it had, but he couldn't hold it against Theresa, since he had been sleeping with Kristen at the time. Alex told Brady that those things were over, and Alex maintained that he and Theresa wanted to be with each other. Brady was skeptical. "Are you sure she wants you? Or your money?" Brady asked.

Alex felt insulted. Brady said that it wasn't about Alex, but Theresa. Brady told Alex that Theresa had a history of pursuing rich men, including Brady himself. Alex assured Brady that he had heard all about Theresa's past. Alex felt confident because Theresa had fallen for him before she'd had any idea that Alex would be inheriting half of Victor's fortune. Brady raised a finger and suggested, "What if she did have an idea?"

Brady reminded Alex of the trip to Greece the three of them had taken. Brady recalled that he and Alex had gone after Konstantin, but Theresa had stayed behind at the hotel. "While we were out, her father delivered Granddad's briefcase, which happened to be the only thing that contained evidence that you were Victor's son," Brady said.

Brady informed Alex that Theresa liked to snoop. Brady knew that Theresa had been curious about the events leading up to Victor's death. Brady said he could envision Theresa opening the briefcase. Alex considered it for a moment, then said, "No. I mean, if that were true, then she would have known the truth about the fortune before she and I even slept together." "Exactly," Brady remarked.

Brady laid out the scenario that Theresa had opened the briefcase and discovered its contents. He suggested that was the reason Theresa had gone so quickly "from casual flirtation all the way to wanting to seal the deal. The timing is too good!"

Alex reminded Brady that Theresa had tried to "seal the deal" with Brady first, but Brady had rejected her. Brady suggested that Theresa's devastation had been part of her plan. Alex couldn't believe that Theresa had been playing him all along. "Couldn't or wouldn't?" asked Brady. Alex replied, "Both. You're wrong, Brady. You're wrong."

At the Kiriakis mansion, Theresa asked how Sarah had been able to track down an address for Xander's mother, Fiona. Sarah explained to Theresa and Bonnie that Xander had eventually realized that his mother's sister, Aunt Maisie, might have known his mother's whereabouts. It turned out that Fiona had recently reached out to her sister, so Sarah and Xander could send a wedding invitation to Fiona. "You can't do that!" Theresa protested.

Theresa offered several reasons why Fiona should not be invited, positing that Fiona was a raging alcoholic and might be a loose cannon -- or the next Konstantin. Theresa suggested that Fiona might "get bombed and ruin the wedding." Bonnie and Sarah wondered why Theresa cared so much. Theresa told them that if Fiona came to Salem, she might stir up trouble for everyone.

Sarah couldn't understand where Theresa's intense concern was coming from. Theresa apologized for overreacting "a bit" but then pointed out that when an alcoholic drank, they tended to say mean and destructive things. Sarah assured Theresa that Sarah and Xander had thought things through. When Sarah realized that they were in a bit of a time crunch to get the invitation envelopes stuffed and posted, Theresa put on a big smile and said, "Hey, I can help you with those."

Bonnie was surprised that Theresa had offered to help with the invitations. Theresa claimed that she wanted to help so that Sarah would return the favor for Theresa's wedding. Theresa showed Bonnie and Sarah the engagement ring. Sarah congratulated Theresa. Bonnie asked if Theresa and Alex had chosen a date. "Not yet, but the sooner the better," Theresa said. Bonnie suggested a double wedding. Both Sarah and Theresa were taken aback, their eyes wide.

Bonnie told Sarah and Theresa that a double wedding made a lot of sense because, as family, there would be a lot overlap in their guest lists. Theresa pointed out that she and Xander didn't like each other. Sarah countered that Xander wasn't Alex's biggest fan, either.

Bonnie wouldn't let the idea go. She even suggested that the Kiriakis men could reunite if Xander and Alex made a family vow to each other during the wedding. Neither bride-to-be was convinced it was a good idea at all. Bonnie insisted that, after all the recent tragedies, "a supersized wedding is just what the Kiriakis family needs!" Sarah and Theresa stared at each other in silence.

Bonnie offered to add Alex and Theresa's names to the invitations. Sarah quickly grabbed Bonnie's arm and said, "Bonnie. For the last time: Theresa and I will talk about this on our own time." Bonnie dropped the subject.

Bonnie asked Theresa about the prom. Theresa expressed ill will toward Holly. Sarah, Holly's aunt, spoke up. Sarah reminded Theresa that Holly was a kid and that Theresa had probably made big mistakes as a kid herself. Theresa defended herself by explaining that Holly and Tate had been seeing each other even after having been forbidden.

Theresa explained that as a teenager, she, too, had fallen into drugs and a bad crowd. Theresa told Bonnie and Sarah that Theresa didn't want Tate dating someone like herself. Sarah informed Theresa that, according to Maggie, Holly had been working hard to turn her life around and that Holly deserved a second chance. "Great. Just not with my son," Theresa said.

Bonnie chimed in. She informed Theresa that Bonnie, too, had been a "wild child." Bonnie reminded Theresa that they had all grown up. "You're not the lying, scheming, gold-digger woman you used to be, right?" Bonnie said. Theresa was silent.

As Bonnie related a story from her own teenage escapades, Theresa spotted Fiona's invitation on the table. Thinking quickly, Theresa distracted Bonnie and Sarah by asking about the stamps for the invitations. The second Bonnie and Sarah turned away, Theresa grabbed Fiona's invitation and hid it behind her back. Theresa then announced that she had found the stamps. With a smile of relief on her face, Theresa asked Bonnie to continue her story.

Later, Theresa arrived at Basic Black, just after Alex had warned Brady not to bring up his theory again, especially in front of Theresa. Theresa invited Alex to lunch. As Alex and Theresa moved to leave, Brady stopped them. Brady offered Theresa congratulations on her engagement to Alex. Alex and Theresa left. Brady looked concerned.

Sarah ran into Xander and Victoria in the Horton Town Square. Sarah informed Xander that she had just put the invitations in the post. Xander was surprised to learn that Theresa had helped. Sarah explained that Theresa had probably been laying the groundwork for a yet-to-be-asked favor.

Bonnie was cleaning up after the invitation session when she tripped over a wastebasket near the chair in which Theresa had been sitting. Bonnie picked up the spilled contents of the wastebasket and discovered that Fiona's invitation had been discarded. Bonnie assumed that Theresa had gotten into Sarah's head and that Sarah had thrown the invitation away.

Bonnie found a stamp in the desk drawer and decided to mail the invitation herself.

Eric went to the Spectator office and told Nicole, "There's something I need to tell you."

E.J. called Rafe. E.J. said that if Rafe wanted Gabi released, Rafe would have to find Melinda Trask immediately.

Stefan went to Statesville -- where he turned around and stood face to face with Gabi.

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