Episode Theme song: "Jingle Bells" Michael Buble

Previously on One Day at a Time
- Shelley Hamilton found a runaway Dawn and offered her a place to live. Dawn accepted and the two got to know each other. Shelley revealed to Dawn that she is gay
- Adam tried to make inroads to get to know Max
- Robin and Cory agreed to a divorce
- Robbie, Leah and Paige agreed to have family time together in hopes of jarring Leah's memory. Leah suggested they get new family photos

Scene One - - The Tower's; Floor Three; Shelley's Condo

"Merry Christmas Dawn," Shelley tells the young woman as she comes into the living room. Dawn sees Shelley sitting by a small Christmas tree as a Bing Crosby record spins on the record player. " I know this tree isn't anything special, but they had an extra one at Barcode and I brought it home. Since I'm alone, I usually don't bother with a tree but I thought you may like it."

"Merry Christmas to you too, Shelley," Dawn replies to her with a grin on her face. "I think this tree is perfect. Who needs a big tree, anyways? Are you going to be seeing your family today?"

Shelley shakes her head as she stands up and moves over to pour Dawn a cup of eggnog. "Nope, they are in Indiana and I'm here," she smiles as she passes her the cup. "But that means we can spend the day together, if that's cool with you?"

"Yea, of course," Dawn says back to her. "Whoa, this is strong!" she laughs after she takes a sip of her eggnog.

"Too much?" Shelley shrugs her shoulders. "Ya know, kiddo? I'm a bartender, I tend to have a heavy hand outside of work, when I don't have to measure everything."

"It'll be a sipping drink for me," Dawn winks back to her, knowing that she doesn't drink that often.

"What about you? Are you going to talk to your family today?"

Dawn turns around and closes her eyes for a moment, as she thinks about Adam, Helen and Barbara today. She wonders what they are doing today and if they are thinking about her. Her mind, however, quickly flashes back to Helen going up the stairs of the house with Chris, moving him towards the bedroom and then realizes that she can't go back to that house today.

"No," she finally replies to Shelley. "I don't want to speak to them. I'm…I'm not ready."

"That's fine," Shelley tells her as she comes up behind her. "Only you will know when you're ready. I'm not here to pressure you."

Dawn turns around and smiles at her new friend. "Thank you," Dawn says back to her as she hugs Shelley. "For everything, Shelley. I really mean that. You've been such a good friend, I don't know how I will ever repay you."

"There's no need to repay me," Shelley tells her. "I just want you to come into your own and be happy with who you are. If I am helping you get to that point in any way, then I'm the lucky one."

They exit their embrace as Dawn hears the record stop. "I'll flip the record if you open a box of chocolates," Dawn winks back to her. "I love eating sweets on Christmas."

"Ha!" Shelley lets out a cackle. "You are and I are cut from the same cloth," she grins. "And, it just happens that I have chocolate covered cherries."

"Oooh, those are my favorite!" Dawn laughs back to her as she flips the record over.

Scene Two - The Black House; Helen & Barbara's Home

"It seems so quiet in the house without Dawn here," Barbara tells Helen as she comes into the living room holding a cup of tea, before she looks at the large Christmas Tree with many presents underneath it. She realizes, however, that Dawn would have to be home to open the presents that are for her; the fact that her Granddaughter is missing makes her heart break because families should be together at Christmas time.

"It is," Helen agrees with her as she walks up to her Mom and pulls her into a hug. "Merry Christmas, Mom."

"Merry Christmas baby," Barbara replies to her. "Do you have any plans for the day?"

Helen shakes her head realizing that this is the first year that her family isn't together at Christmas. She's so use to having Adam and Dawn at home with her; the house feels so different this year. Nothing in her life is the same as it was last Christmas, Helen realizes.

"No," she admits to her Barbara. "With Adam and Dawn not here, I guess it's just the two of us."

"And, there hasn't been any word about Dawn?"

"Nothing," Helen says as she puts her head down. "I thought I'd hear from her today because of the holiday, but I haven't. I just hope she's okay."

"I do believe we would have heard if she wasn't okay," Barbara tells her. "I'm choosing to have faith in Dawn and God. I know that she's okay. I know she is. God wouldn't hurt that child of yours."

Helen bites her lip. "I have to learn how to have faith like you," Helen admits to her.

"Why don't we do something to get into the Christmas spirit?" Barbara asks her. "Let's go to St. Joseph's and sing some carols? It beats sitting around here waiting for something to happen that may not happen."

Helen smiles back to her Mom, appreciating her gesture. "I'd love that Mom, let's go."

Scene Three - Cassie & Max's Apartment

"Merry Christmas Mom," Max tells Cassie as he passes her a present from under the tree. He hopes that Cassie likes the present that he got her; he just started his job so he doesn't have a ton of money to spend on his Mom, but he knew that he had to get her something special, since she does so much for him on a regular basis.

"Oh," Cassie replies in surprise as she accepts the present. "You know you didn't have to get me anything, Max."

"I know," he nods to her. "But you do so much for me all year around, I wanted to get you something to show you how much I love you and appreciate you."

Cassie gets tears in her eyes as she starts to open the present. "You're just the sweetest son I could have asked for," she says as she finishes opening the present. She opens the box and gasps at the necklace with a heart shaped locket on the end of it. She opens the locket and sees a picture of her and Max inside. "Oh Max, it's beautiful. Thank you, so much, I love it, I absolutely love it."

She stands up and hugs her son. "I love you Mom, Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Max."

Before he can say anything else, there is a knock on the front door of the apartment. "Who could that be?" he asks her as she puts the necklace on.

"I'm not sure," she admits to him as he walks over to the door and she looks at the locket around her neck. "I am not expecting anyone."

Max opens the door and is surprised to see Adam standing on the other side of the door. "Max, Merry Christmas," he tells his son, hoping that he's not intruding.

"Merry Christmas Adam," Cassie replies for Max as she comes up to the door and stands behind Max. "Do you want to come in?"

"Thank you," Adam says coming inside the apartment. "I won't stay long, but with Dawn missing, I guess I just wanted to see some family today since it is a holiday."

Max rolls his eyes a little, knowing that he still isn't sure that he considers Adam family yet. In his mind, he doesn't understand why Adam didn't try to reach him while he was growing up with Cassie. Max doesn't like the fact that Adam just wants to pretend that they are a happy family now that they have found each other again. He does wonder, though, if he should mention that he saw Dawn on the streets recently.

"We have no plans, you're welcome to stay for dinner," Cassie tells Adam, which surprises Max. "It will be nice to have someone else here, hey Max?"

"Uh, yea, of course," Max replies to them. "No one should be alone for the holiday."

"I appreciate that, thank you," Adam says back to them. "It's weird going through a divorce and realizing that your family isn't the same when a holiday comes around, you know? But, I guess the positive is that I'll get to spend my first Christmas with my son, and I'm really happy about that."

"Yea, do you want an eggnog or something?" Max asks his father.

"Sure, but how about a Christmas hug first?"

Cassie smiles as she watches Max and Adam embrace. "Merry Christmas, guys," she says, thrilled that Max and Adam are seemingly growing closer because she has always wanted Max to have a relationship with his father.

Scene Four - Dominick's Townhouse

"What a wonderful Christmas this is," Felicia announces to Dominick, Eva, Tyler, Robin, Leah and Paige as they as they sit around the Christmas tree opening presents together as a family. "We have our beautiful Leah back, and that is why this is such a wonderful day."

"Oh Mom," Leah smiles back to her as she grabs her hand. "For me, this is my first Christmas having you back too, so you're right, this is a special day indeed. And Tyler, you're home. It really feels like this family is complete again."

"That's why this family is so special," Dominick tells everyone. "Because, no one or nothing will ever knock us down. We are Robertson's, and that means we are the strongest family alive. We will always come out as the survivors. Merry Christmas everyone!"

The crowd replies in unison with a "Merry Christmas" back to Dominick before they leave the tree and start to get some eggnog. Leah walks over to her telephone and looks at the screen. She sees a text message from Jeff that reads, "Merry Christmas".

Paige comes up behind her Mom, sensing her nervousness. "Mom? Are you okay?" she asks her, seeing that she's looking at her phone with intent.

"I am fine," Leah replies to her. "I was just hoping that I'd hear from Robbie today. I know he's with his family, but I was thinking he'd reach out today. Jeff sent me a message, though."

"Dad will," Paige tells her, knowing that she has to call Robbie "Dad". "Once he is done opening presents with Aunt Natasha and Grandpa Bob, I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up here."

"I'd love that!" Leah smiles back to her as they pull each other into a hug. "Merry Christmas, Paige."

"Merry Christmas, Mom."

Across the room, Robin looks at her phone and sees a message from Cory on her screen wishing her a Merry Christmas. She shuts her phone off as Tyler comes up to her, knowing that she can't give Cory a reply because they have to move forward. "Everything okay?"

"It's fine," she forces a smile on her face. "Going through a divorce during the holidays is never fun," she winks back to him. "What about you? Are you going to see Blake today?"

"Yea, in a little while, I'll head to the Calimo's to see my son."

"That's nice," Robin tells him. "I'm really proud of the way you and Kim come together for your son's sake."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he replies to her. "Regardless of what is happening with us adults, we have to put the kids first."

Robin smiles back to him. "That's why you're such a good father," she tells him.

Over on the sofa, Felicia sits looking at the picture of Leah, Paige and Robbie that she got as a present from Leah. She can't deny that the family photo looks beautiful, but she can't help but wonder how Jeff would feel if he saw the new photos that were taken the other day.

"What are you thinking?" Dominick asks her as he sits next to her with a cup of eggnog in his hand. "Or do I even have to ask?"

Felicia looks up at him and then over a Leah for a moment. "I'm just wondering how many people will get hurt until Leah gets her memory back," she whispers to Dominick. "Look at this picture, if Jeff saw this, he would be devastated."

"Then maybe he shouldn't see the picture," Dominick tells her. "I agree with the doctors in that we can't tell Leah the truth until she's ready. It's sort of like you when you couldn't remember the details about Lake Tahoe."

Felicia nods back to him agreement. "I just don't want any more pain," she tells him. "This family has been through enough."

"That's not in our control, but you know what is?" he asks with a grin on his face. "Having a Merry Christmas! Come on, let's not worry about that now, let's enjoy the with our beautiful family."

Felicia smiles back to him. "You're right," she nods to him. "We do have a beautiful family, Dominick. You and I, we did this together. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," he replies to her, unaware Eva is watching their every move and feeling uneasy about how close Dominick is to his ex-wife. Eva can't stake the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach watching the two of them together.

Scene Five - The Calimo Mansion

Natasha stands next to Kim as they watch Blake and Jacob play together with some of their new toys that the children got from Santa Claus as presents earlier in the morning.

"They look so happy," Natasha tells her best friend and step Mom. "I wish they could stay this way forever."

Kim nods back to her. "I know. Blake is growing up so fast, I don't know where the time has gone."

"Before you know it, he's going to be coming home with a girlfriend," Natasha laughs back to her.

"Hey, Jacob is practically the same age, so they'll be doing that together."

Natasha pulls Kim into a hug. "I'm so glad our children are growing up together," Natasha tells her. "It's like we always dreamt it would happen."

"Merry Christmas, Natasha," Kim tells her as they exit their embrace.

"Merry Christmas Kim."

"What are you ladies talking about?" Robbie asks as he and Bob come up to them, each holding a cup of eggnog.

"Just the kids," Natasha tells her brother. "Are you going to see Leah and Paige today?"

"Yea," Robbie replies quickly. "I was thinking of heading over to Dominick's later."

"Good luck with that," Bob quips to him.

"Dad, it's Christmas, let's not have any jabs, okay? Like it or not, our families do have ties," Robbie tells him, knowing that Bob hates Dominick but despite that, they are bonded together.

"I know, I know," Bob waves his hand. "I'm just glad I'm here with my wife. I love you, Kimberly."

"I love you too, Bob," Kim smiles back to him. "How about a toast to this family?"

"To the Calimo's, Merry Christmas and I know that the best is still to come for this family, 2018 will be our best and strongest year yet!" Bob says as everyone raises their glasses together.

"Merry Christmas," they all say together before taking a sip of the respective drinks.

Scene Six - The Graveyard

A light snow fall sprinkles down from the sky as Andrew slowly walks through the graveyard, getting closer to Savannah's tombstone. As he walks, he can't help but wish that his mother was still with him; he misses her the most on holidays like this. He was so young when she passed away but that doesn't mean that he doesn't think of her often.

He sees the large tree that Savannah's grave is near and then freezes in his tracks when he sees two people standing at her grave already. He can't believe it when he realizes that it's Trenyce and Andy.

"What are they doing here?" he whispers to himself as he moves up to the gravesite.

"Andrew," Andy says out loud as Trenyce turns around and sees the young man approaching them. "Merry Christmas."

"What are you two doing here?" Andrew asks them, confused by their presence.

Trenyce looks at him and feels her heartbreak because he is still so cold to her. "Despite what you think," she begins to tell him. "I cared for your Mom very much. I just thought I'd pay my respects to her and wish her a Merry Christmas."

Andrew doesn't know what to say back to her because Trenyce's reply caught him off guard. "And, I was the last person to see your Mom alive," Andy informs him. "So, I thought it would be nice to come here today with Trenyce."

Andrew nods back to them. "Well, that was nice of you," he manages to say. "If you don't mind, though, I'd like to be alone with my Mom for awhile."

"Of course not," Trenyce tells him. "But Andrew," she says as he looks at her. "I hope you have Merry Christmas. And, don't stay out here too long, it's cold."

"Thanks," Andrew replies to them as Trenyce and Andy start to walk away. Andrew looks down at Savannah's tombstone before he looks back at Trenyce and Andy. "Hey, Trenyce?" he calls to her causing her to stop walking and look back at Andrew. "Merry Christmas."

Next on One Day at a Time
- Jeff fumes when he sees Leah's new family picture
- Word spreads that Frederick is awake and asking for the police
- Lukas has a confession for Donovan