12/16 Brenda questions Lois about her over-scheduling of Ned. Lois thinks Ned needs to be taught who is boss. Brenda asks Sonny about Luke, but he knows nothing. Conversation changes gears to Ned. Sonny says Lois has got to get even with Ned to be able to get over his lies before it messes up her mind and L&B. As everyone leaves, Lila asks Mary Mae if she, Keisha, and Justus will join them back at the Q mansion.

12/19 Mary Mae, and Justus are visiting at the Q’s in the aftermath of the revelation that Edward is Bradley’s father (Justus’s father) which makes Edward his grandfather. Ned announces to the Wards that the incinerator site will be relocated across the river.

12/20 Sonny has Lois and Brenda over for a dinner and business meeting. Sonny wants Lois to take over for Brenda for Ned’s Rochester concert. Lois and Ned have to work together for the benefit of L&B. Lois agrees on one condition. Lily and Miguel announce their engagement to the L&B crew.

12/21 Lois and Brenda plan the Rochester show for the Idle Rich. Lucky sees Luke is alive and well. Lucky wants to get a tree for Christmas. Lois tells Ned that she is covering this leg of the tour for the Idle Rich. The bus leaves at 5pm sharp he better be on it. The jury returns a not guilty verdict against Edward. The Qs pop the champagne and celebrate Edward’s not guilty verdict.

12/22 The Qs celebrate with Lila sincerely hoping the family is through with murder in all its forms. Lois is nervous about the Rochester concert. Ned then calls and tells her he is running late due to an ELQ emergency and won’t make their 5:00 pm departure. He assures her that he will meet her there as he has access to the ELQ helicopter. Lois rants to Brenda about Ned putting ELQ first once again. She wants to at least regain their friendship but how can she do that if she can’t trust him. Brenda points out she is being hypocritical as he is fulfilling his responsibilities to his family and ELQ.

Sonny shows up with a gift of a new van for ELQ! Lois, Brenda, Sonny, Miguel & Lily all head out and begin singing Christmas songs. There is a snow storm which is slowing flight time. The pilot tells Ned how dangerous the conditions are. Ned says that if he doesn’t make the show that he is dead anyway but the pilot has no choice but to ground the chopper. Ned calls Lois with the news that he will not be making the concert due to the weather.

12/23 Brenda tells Lois about the annual GH Christmas party and tries to convince Lois to attend. Ned arrives to apologize again for missing the concert. Lois tears into him and splits with Brenda for GH. Lois argues with Sonny and Brenda about their acceptance of Lila's offer to go to the Q's as she knows she will have to see Ned. Justus discusses the incinerator with Ned and Edward until Lila intervenes.

Soon Lois, Brenda, and Sonny arrive at GH. Ned tries to talk to Lois, but Sonny blocks him. Ned corners Lois and tries to apologize and give her a gift. She tells him that she doesn't want his gift and tears into him about his screwups. He counters that he loves her, and that's all that matters. When she returns to the gatehouse, she opens the gift, a beautiful jewel pendant which Ned had said matches her eyes.

12/26 Ned and Edward buy a new site for the incinerator. Ned tells Edward he's taking a three-month leave from ELQ to save his marriage. Edward gives him six weeks. Edward tells AJ that he wants him to be his right-hand man while Ned's away. Ned proposes the fulltime commitment to Lois. He pleads with her to give him that time to fix their marriage. Lois arrives at Sonny’s with the good news that Ned is taking six weeks off from ELQ. They agree it's a good decision for L&B. Later, Lois tells Ned they have a deal.

12/28 Lois tells Miguel about Ned's 6-week commitment to L&B. Miguel asks Lois for permission to perform a benefit concert. Lois and Miguel tell Justus about the benefit concert. Justus and Lois joke around with each other, while she helps out at his campaign headquarters. They talk about how to handle the Qs.

12/30 Lois arrives at the mansion to give Ned his concert and promotion schedule. Ned tells Lois he'll show her what he can do over the next six weeks. He asks her to call him something besides “Ashton”. She says that calling him “Eddie” is just too painful and she doesn’t even know “Ned”. He assures her that she is going to be finding out everything she needs to know about Ned Ashton. Ned thanks Lois for giving him another chance and wishes her a Happy New Year. She responds and they kiss softly.

1/4 Monica is getting ready to leave for treatment in AZ for her breast cancer. She confides in Ned that she is scared to death. Once she has arrived she calls him and confides that she is worried that she may have made a mistake going to AZ for treatment. Ned tells her to stick it out.

1/5 Ned does a ton of promotion for his show in NJ. During his first interview, the woman kisses him and raves to the audience that he is a great kisser! Lois steams as she watches. The continues to charm during his next interview, while Lois is the one who seems distracted and off her game. He is positive, outgoing and after the third interview raves that he was always good at the PR game. He rushes out and is now urging Lois to keep up with him.

Next he is signing autographs and charming and flirting with his fans. When one fan starts slipping her blouse off her shoulder so he can sign her, Lois steps in and asks them to keep it clean and points out he can sign her CD. Lois gets a little jealous with all the female attention he receives. Lois is looking for signs of him cracking as she asks if he is ready for this? He flashes his dimples and promises that he has never been more ready for anything, except for that one time (referring to marrying her). Ned and the Idle Rich perform several songs in concert, “All the Man You Ever Need” is one. By the end of a full day, it Lois that is exhausted, not Ned as he sweetly tucks her into bed.

1/9 Ned’s concert tour continues as they wind up another concert. Ned is leaning into the crowd from the stage greeting his fans. He is pulled into the crowd as Lois screams for security. Lois is jealous when he is mobbed after the show by groupies seeking autographs. He can’t even get through the crowd of fans as Lois is yelling for him and yelling at the fans to let him go. He yells back that he thinks they liked the concert! He continues to greet fans and Lois over hears him talking about almost missing out on something really important by paying more attention to something else.

As they are packing up, Lois is exhausted and says they have to revamp their approach as it was a disaster (they ran out of t-shirts, not enough security). Ned promises that they will get her help. He is bubbling and smiling, happy to be doing what he loves with the woman he loves. She wants to know if isn’t he at least tired? He says no and heads off to help pack up the equipment. Lois is obviously exhausted.

1/10 Brenda and Sonny are at the gatehouse and Brenda yells for Lois to wake up and come downstairs. They find an exhausted Lois at the gatehouse. She says she has never been so tired, while Ned just ate everything up and his energy is endless. She tells him the women ate up the Idle Rich and Ned would have come home naked if it was up to the ladies. She tells them they completely sold out of all merchandise. Brenda claps with glee at this news of success. Lois wants help for Buffalo. Brenda is amused to see Lois begging for mercy. Lois threatens that she will send Brenda to Buffalo, and Brenda is good with that. Sonny suggests Stone help out at L&B, and Brenda offers to train him. Brenda thinks that Ned got to Lois on the road. She admits that all of the old feelings are getting stirred up again. Brenda congratulates Ned on his progress. Ned tells Lois that he wants to finance a video for Miguel starring Brenda.

1/12 Lois tells Sonny about Ned’s offer to fund Miguel’s video. He tells her that it is her call. Lois accepts Ned’s offer. Jason and Ned have some questions about the Charles Street Development Foundation. Ned thinks the weak link is AJ. Lois tells Miguel and Brenda about the video. Lois has a concept idea for the video; she wants Lily in the video too. Brenda thinks it is unfair, as Lily has no experience.

1/16 Brenda and Stone help out Lois at the merchandise table at Ned’s insane concert in Buffalo. Ned is hunted down by crazy “groupies”. Lois gets Ned back to the hotel amid of flurry of crazed women. Ned reminisces about the night he met Lois.

1/17 Ned and Lois return to PC. Ned is still on a tremendous high. Brenda tells Lois and Ned about the explosion. Ned tells Brenda to not bury her head in the sand. Ned goes to Mac to get the goods on Sonny. Ned suggests Mac talk with Lois’s parents discreetly.

1/18 Sonny has some explaining to do where Lois is concerned. Sonny explains Cusack to Lois, Ned, and Brenda. He insists he is small potatoes and it will all blow over. The L&B gang sees that Sonny is traveling with bodyguards now.

1/20 Mac has some questions for Lois and Brenda about Sonny. Sonny’s bodyguard finds Ned lurking in the bushes outside the gatehouse. Sonny and Ned almost come to blows. Sonny tells Mac and Ned that his bodyguards are only temporary.

**The end of #11**