Emily & Zander #1  September 1, 2000 - January 4, 2001 - 8 hr original edit

The "new" Zander (Played by Chad in his first appearence) sees Emily outside of Kelly's and recalls the night at the rave and the events that happened. Sorrel and Zander meet on the docks & Zander wants out but Sorel won't let him go.

Zander confronts Gia on the docks and wants to know who all she has told about the motel. Gia makes up a story about her and Nikolas being "secret" lovers and because of all of his money his family doesn't want them together so they have to sneak around. Gia told Zander that she was only there waiting for Nik that night and that he never showed up so she went home. Just then Nikolas walks up to them and immediately follows Gia's lead. So, Gia and Zander make a pact to not tell anyone that either of them were in the parking lot of the motel that night! Emily asks if she can go to a party Friday night. Edward wants details. Emily lies about it being a back to school party. Gia shows up and wants to be introduced. Emily puts a distress call in to Nicholas and tries to get Gia out of the room. However, Edward and Alan start asking her questions and she starts spewing lies about being of high society. It is fairly amusing. Nikolas finally shows up and Edward and Alan leave. Emily and Nikolas discuss how out of control Gia is and he tells Emily that she is definitely not going to the Rave on Friday. Juan, Gia and Nikolas head to the site of the rave to try a dry run before the party. Emily arrives and insists on being allowed to help frame Zander, while Elizabeth again entreats her friends to give up on their risky plan. The night of the rave, Emily visited Liz at the studio. As Emily was leaving, she claimed that some big dinner was taking place at home. Later, Monica called Liz to see if Emily was there. Liz figured out that Emily had lied to her and had actually gone to the rave.

Over at the rave, Gia successfully distracted Zander long enough so that Juan could actually take the keys out of Zander's back pocket and put them back after Lucky and Nikolas had moved Ted's body into the trunk of Zander's car. In order to make Zander believe she wanted to be with him, Gia had to pretend she wanted drugs. After Juan had returned the keys, Gia told Zander she was ready for a high. Bad timing: Zander arrived at his car just in time to see a "disguised" Emily (hat and sunglasses, which she removed) peering into the windows of his car. He "flashed back" to the sight of her in the hotel bed, holding a syringe, lying next to Ted. Emily nervously pretends not to remember Zander. As the police surround the parking lot, Lucky and Nikolas and their friends watch with bated breath while Marcus discovers the corpse of his missing undercover cop in the trunk of Zander's car. Grabbing a gun from an officer's holster, Zander takes Emily hostage and threatens to kill her unless the police back off. As Nikolas and Lucky hold back an anguished Juan, Taggert attempts to persuade Zander to release Emily unharmed but the gunman forces his prisoner into a car and makes a getaway. Jason arrives at the rave just after Zander drives off in Nikolas' Jag with Emily at gunpoint and in the driver seat. She warns him she doesn't know how to drive the jag and later runs into a tree forcing them to ditch the jag and steal another car. Zander takes Emily to a cabin. Emily acusses Zander of drugging her and putting her in bed with dead Ted. Zander tells Em that Sorrel's men killed Ted not him. Zander's story is while selling drugs at the raves he met Ted. He said that Ted didn't seem right to him so he went to tell Sorrel. Sorrel wanted Zander to follow Ted. When Ted left with Emily he followed them to the motel and called Sorrel to let him know where they were. Sorrell's men also wanted to O.D. Emily but Zander talked them out of it. Now Zander wants to know where Ted has been all this time. Ted thinks Sorrel put Ted's body in his trunk to frame him. Emily comes clean with all that happened and tries to convince Zander to turn himself in and testify against Sorrel. Zander is rather upset and ties Emily up because he needs a hostage to escape because not only are the cops after him but Sorrel will be after him to keep him away from the police.

Zander was relieved not to find any headlines about Emily in the papers, but told Emily it didn't matter because he needed her and he wasn't letting her go. Zander promised Emily that he would let her go once they were safely to the Canadian border where he had friends who would help him. Zander ties her up in the cabin while he goes to get them something to eat. Emily tried to escape from the cabin by breaking a window and cutting the ropes on her hands but slashed her wrist on the broken window pain. Zander returned from getting food to find her passed out on the floor from loss of blood. Zander panicked when Emily was too weak to walk and determined that the best thing to do was to leave her behind, he leaves the cabin assuring her he will call from up the road and get her help. She begs him not to leave her. Zander went back for Emily and told her he would drop her off at a clinic.

Zander took Emily to the clinic and she told the doctor her name was Paige Bowen so she wouldn't give Zander away. Zander apologizes for the whole mess. The doctor stitches Emily up and tells her that she will be fine. Zander informs Emily that she is his hostage again until he gets over the border. They hear a cop show up in the other room and look panicked. Zander is sure the cop is there to arrest him, and draws his gun. But Emily convinces him to remain calm. The police officer at the clinic was just there to pick up his medicine, but he questioned Emily and Zander. Emily made up a story that the police officer believed and she and Zander were relieved when he left.

Zander and Emily escaped out of the clinic's window when the sheriff came back. Emily tried to convince Zander to let her get in touch with her family, but he refused. They came to an understanding of each other.

Zander apologetically ties Emily up and leaves her near a stable while he goes searching for fresh supplies. Zander returns to the stable with pixie sticks and a journal for her to write in and is surprised to discover that Emily had a chance to escape but elected not to take it. Emily and Zander shared stories of their respective families, and Emily said how surprised she was over how much she misses hers despite their craziness. Zander told her it wouldn't be too long now before she's reunited with the Qs. He just needs to get across the Canadian border and then she can go. Emily began a letter to Alan and Monica in the notebook Zander bought her. Then they both fell asleep. Zander woke up when he heard Sorel's men outside the barn. He quickly woke Emily, and the pair ran to a back corner of the barn, hiding behind haystacks. Zander pulled out his gun and told Emily that when he started shooting, she was to run into the woods. Right when one of the guys was about to walk down the path leading to Zander and Em's hiding spot, a burst of flames lit the night sky. Both thugs ran out of the barn to see that their car was a ball of fire. That gave Emily and Zander the chance to sneak out of the barn, but not with any of their possessions. Jason entered the barn, evidently after Sorel's men were gone, and found Emily's letter. He looked relieved that she was alive and apparently OK. The car breaks down. They need a radiator hose so Zander walks back to the nearest gas station to get one, leaving Emily all by herself with car. A cop stops to help them but Emily covers. Zander is grateful to her for covering for him. Its becoming more and more obvious that she is no longer a hostage but staying with him of her own free will, even covering for him.

Zander and Em are driving and are getting closer. Zander leaves Emily alone to go get something to eat. He tells Em that he trusts her not to leave. She drives off. When he gets back she is not there and he starts to get angry thinking she did leave him. When she returns he yells at her but she explained that just sitting in a parked car is what got the cops to stop last time and she was just driving around until he got back with the burgers. They talk and Emily tries to talk him into going to the police because he is just a good person who made a few bad choices. He asks Emily if they had met without the raves and kidnapping did she think they might have had a chance......Heart and Soul starts to play on the radio. Emily gets all excited and says that her and her boyfriend wrote that song. Zander looks crestfallen. Emily opens up to Zander about her troubled relationship with Juan. Something Juan did in attempt to reassure his kidnapped girlfriend. Zander confessed to Emily that he only sold drugs to have more money and Emily told him that she didn't hate him for kidnapping her.

The clunker of a car breaks down again, but this time it's dead for real. Zander says they'll have to walk to the border and claims it should take about a day and a half. Emily slightly loses it and says she just can't do this anymore; she needs to go home. Zander says he could probably make it to the border without her. She suddenly starts to worry about him and says she can hang in there for another couple of days. Zander promises her he'll get her back home as soon as he's safe.

Need 10/6
10/9 They make it to the bridge to over the Canadian border but are stopped by Jason, and Liz and Lucky. Zander and Jason both draw there guns. Zander and Jason stare each other down and Emily breaks free and throws herself in front of Xander, terrified that one of them will get shot. She convinces Xander that Jason won't hurt him and he should head for the border. He does and just misses the arriving police. She collapsed in Jason's arms when Zander left. Emily assured Jason that she was fine and told them all that Zander hadn't hurt her. When the cops showed up, she covered for Zander and the others followed along. Emily manages to convince everyone to go along with her to the police that she just happened to find the Canadian border and her friends at the same time. Before Emily and Jason leave Lucky and Liz. Lucky asks for a few minutes with Emily and he apologizes for not calling the police or letting her tell Jason what was going on sooner. He shoulders all the blames for the entire kidnapping.

Emily is returned to the Quartermaines (Alan, Monica, Ned, Edward and Lila) as they stand vigil outside AJ's room (he has alcohol poisioning). Emily and Jason show up and everyone is ecstatic. Alan and Monica fill Emily in on AJ's condition, but assure her that all he needs is to know that she's safe. Emily asks Jason to come with her into the room and AJ's thrilled. Emily takes both their hands and proclaims, "I have the best brothers in the world"

Ned found Emily downstairs at the Quartermaine's alone. He asked her where the family was and she told him that they were trying to get AJ to go to rehab. He was shocked that she was left all alone, but Emily reassured him that she was fine and AJ really needed the family's attention more than she did at this moment. Ned revealed to Emily that he was going to pop the question to Alexis. He had big plans to whisk Alexis away and proposed on his knees. She congratulated him. As Ned was about to leave, Mac and Taggert arrived and asked to talk to Emily. Ned stayed while they questioned her. Emily still continued to cover for Zander. Ned commented that Emily must have liked Zander. She was taken aback by his comments and covered quickly by saying that Zander treated her well only. But Emily pondered for a while about Zander. Shortly thereafter, Alan, Edward, and Monica returned home without AJ. They informed Emily that AJ was released, but in his own custody. Monica went on to change the subject back to Emily and advised that she would be on restriction until Christmas and she had to be in every evening by dinnertime. Emily agreed to accept whatever disciplinary actions. Edward, on the other hand, was not pleased and felt this was a sentence too lenient.

Juan went to see Emily and Lila intervened with Edward to let him stay. He told Emily that he really loved her, but she couldn't return the sentiment. Edward allowed Emily to see Juan at Kelly's and Juan declared how happy he was that they were back together. Alone in her room, Emily confided in her journal that she was too distracted by thoughts of Zander to give Juan her full attention. She was surprised when Juan climbed the tree to see her. He poured out his heart to her and she made him hide in the closet when she heard a noise. The noise turned out to be Zander. While Juan was hiding in the closet, she let Zander come in through the window. Not realizing Juan was there, Zander spoke openly of his strong feelings for Emily and claimed he was there to take her back with him. Emily managed to get him to hide in the bathroom while she got rid of Juan, who professed his deep love for her before exiting via the window. Just moments after Juan departed and Emily got Zander out of the bathroom, Edward knocked on the door. So Zander was shoved under the bed. Emily got rid of Edward by pretendingshe was doing sex ed homework (and was stuck on the letter). She and Zander had a talk about his constant thoughts of her and his belief that since she never escaped from him when she had the chance, that she must have feelings for him too. She mentioned the Stockholm Syndrome, where captives develop feelings for their captors. He wanted her to assure him that wasn't the case. Then they were interrupted by Monica, so Zander was once again shoved under Em's bed. Monica acted pretty cool, commenting before leaving that if Emily didn't get Juan out from his hiding place under the bed and out the window immediately, then she would allow Edward to cut down the tree outside Emily's window. Zander came out of hiding after Monica left and asked how many people live in "this mansion." Zander explains to Emily that he risked returning from Canada because he couldn't bear to say farewell forever. Confessing how much he miss es her, Zander asks an astonished Emily to run away with him. He said he understood why Emily couldn't go back on the run with him but insisted on knowing if she had feelings for him. She told him she wanted to help him, and they made arrangements for him to hide in the area overnight so that she has the time to get money for him to make his trip back to Canada easier.

Emily asks Alan and Monica for money. They assume she needs a outfit for some big date with Juan. So when Juan shows up they make a big deal out of it. Later Juan tells him Emily she doesn't have to go to all that trouble for him. He offers to go to the mall with her, but she brushes him off. She then heads to the boxcar to give Zander the money. Emily meets Zander at the box car and gives him the money she collected, but it isn't enough. He asks her again to go with him but she declines. She asks him to hang around until Friday when she gets her allowance. He agrees to do so.

Zander and Emily meet again in the park. Though she urges him to flee, Zander tells Emily he's finding it difficult to leave her. Emily gave the last of her money to Zander and begged him to leave once and for all. As they said their goodbyes, Nikolas and Lucky ran out and jumped Zander. Emily tried to protect him, but Nikolas and Lucky believed that Zander was trying to use and hurt her. The situation worsened when Taggert showed up ready to arrest him. Emily protests as Taggert places Zander under arrest for the murder of a police officer. Desperate to protect him, Emily claims he was on his way down to the police station to turn himself in, then blurts out that Sorel's men were the ones who really killed Ted. With her anxious parents looking on, Emily gives Mac an official statement aimed at clearing Zander's name.

Emily appeals to her grandmother for help getting Zander out of a jam but Lila gently turns down her request for financial aid. Emily explains to her parents why she's determined to help Zander acquire legal representation.

Emily went to visit Zander. She was surprised by his negative response to her visit. Zander told her that the only way she could help him was to leave him alone and go live her own life, forget about him. Zander further explained to Emily that he had made too many mistakes in his life, and had gotten in too deep with the wrong people. Prison or death was his fate and one he had to accept. Emily tried to convince him otherwise, but he was uninterested. Emily asked Alexis to represent Zander. Alexis refused point blank. Even though Emily explained that Zander was not guilty of any of the charges against him. Alexis asked Emily to talk to her parents and give up this idea about helping her kidnapper. Emily refused because she could not let an innocent man go to prison.

Emily explains to an exasperated Elizabeth why she will not give up on Zander. Meanwhile, Alexis (who decides to talk to Zander since Emily believes in him so strongly) finds the going rough when she tries to get him to cooperate with her. Zander asks Alexis to convince Emily to steer clear of him for her own good. Lucky and Elizabeth give an incredulous Juan the heads-up about his girlfriend's dogged campaign to free Zander. Emily arrives at Nik's and finds Gia and her luggage in the living room. Emily wheedles Nikolas to lend her enough money to secure legal representation for Zander. Emily is relieved when Alexis agrees to defend Zander, Juan appeals to his girlfriend to open her eyes and see her kidnapper as hereally is. Zander explains to Alexis why it's so dangerous to allow Emily anywhere near him. Juan confronts Zander.

Alexis tells Zander that she may be able to get the DA to agree to a lesser charge if he agrees to testify against Sorel. He says no way. Zander tells Alexis that he won't testify against Sorel because he'd go after Emily. He won't put her in danger again no matter what happens.

Monica visits Zander. She goes over the list of bad things he's done to Emily. He tells her he never wanted Emily to come here in the first place. She tells Zander that whatever game he's playing, it's OVER. He tells her she doesn't have a clue about what he's feeling, or what Emily's feeling about anything.Monica tells Zander she's not sure if he killed that undercover cop or not, but even if he's not convicted of murder, he's still going to prison for a very long time on other charges. She tells him she doesn't care what happens to him, she's only there because she wants to protect her daughter. He tells Monica she doesn't understand Emily, and that he does. He tells her that he and Emily understand each other. She tells him that prison is his future; don't make it Emily's as well.

Emily returns to the jail and is irked to learn that both her mother and Juan have already paid separate visits on Zander. Meanwhile, Alexis appeals to Roy for help convincing her young client to turn states' evidence against Sorel.

Emily angrily confronts her parents after learning that Edward has enrolled her in a boarding school 3000 miles from home. Later, Emily snipes at Juan for interfering with her efforts to help a friend. Roy visits Zander in jail and gives him the benefit of his own painful experience from being on the wrong side of the law. Afterwards, Zander tells Alexis he's decided to agree to the plea bargain. Alexis asked Emily to come see her after school. Emily thought it was about Zander, but to her surprise Alexis asked her to be a brides woman. Emily happily agreed. As the two sit and wait for the wedding planner, Eldon, Carly arrives at the door. Emily leaves, but does congratulate Carly on her marriage to Sonny.

Liz and Emily meet Alexis at the bridal shop and a hilarious scene of trying on dresses resumed in a music montage. Alexis finallyhad a dress on that they all agreed was the one. Unfortunately, the media broke in then and proceeded to take pictures. Alexis sent the girls home.

Gia lets it "slip" to Emily that her and Nik are living together. Emily asks Nik if he has totally lost his mind. He explains that they are only roommates. Nik gets a call from Ned asking him to bring Emily to L&B asap. When they arrive, Ned tells them that he and Alexis are going to switch identities with them so they can escape the paparazzi. Juan visited Zander and got up in his face about Emily. Juan stated in no uncertain terms that Zander must stay away from his girlfriend. Zander replied and said that he does not control Emily and she is doing what she wants. Sorel paid the guard and was able to interrupt Juan and Zander. Sorel politely reminded Juan of his past incident, which was enough to send Juan out the door. Then Sorel proceeded to remind Zander about any unwise decisions and untrueful allegations. Sorel left but told Zander that he regretted the unpleasant outcome of their relationship. In the hallway Sorel ran into Emily and asked her about her health. He also told her he was glad that she returned unharmed and hoped she could stay that way. Emily goes in to see Zander and informed him about crossing paths with Sorel. Zander, being the protector, tells Emily that he cannot testify against Sorel. It would be too dangerous for her. He said he had already lost his life and was not going to lose hers too. Emily rebutted and told Zander testifying is what you have to do. You have to put guys like Sorel away for a long time otherwise they will continue to harm others.

Alexis visits Zander and tells him that Dara told her that Zander won't testify against Sorrel. Alexis tells him that if he keeps playing games like this that the deal will be pulled from the table and there will be no plea bargaining then if he is convicted he will get the death penalty. Zander tells Alexis he will be dead either way but he will not get Emily killed in the process. Alexis tells him Sorel is bluffing that he would never hurt Jason Morgan's sister. Zander remains unconvinced so Alexis tells him to get another attorney. He thanks her for all she has done. She turns around and says, "see you called my bluff..why can't you do that with Sorel? Give me something I can work with!" Zander replies by wishing Alexis well with her wedding. Emily & Liz briefly show up at Alexis's shower, they have both bought her a toaster. Carly needles them and they are grateful when Alexis excuses them early.

Sonny arrives to visit Zander. Sonny is upset that he has dragged him into this mess. Zanders only concern is whether Sonny can keep Emily alive. He asks "Are you absolutely positively sure that Sorel will not be able to get to her?" Sonny tells Zander that Emily is completely safe under his protection and that Zander is giving Sorel way to much credit. Sonny explains that Sorel is an idiot and not very bright for killing a cop and leaving Zander alive as a witness. Sonny advises him, "If your convicted of kiling a copy, the state of New York will take you out! No questions asked, so why go down easy? Why not fight Sorel and the system?....are you going to roll over or make yourself hard to kill?" Zander asks Sonny if he would testify if he was in his place, Sonny responds yes. Later, Em arrives to see Zander. He tells her he will testify against Sorel. She is thrilled and impulsively leans in and kisses him. She apologizes but Zander is happy and tells her that the kiss was between them for a long while and she is the reason that he came back from Canada. Emily insists they are only friends but Zander insists that there is more to their relationship than friendship that is why she keeps coming back and getting help for him everytime he needs it and lying to the police for him. She says he is a drug dealer and kidnapper and she is a high school kid and that it will not work and she walks out.

Sonny arrived at Kelly's to see Roy and asked him about his opinion of Zander. Sonny has to make a decision about whether to back Zander and start a war with Sorel or just let Zander go. Roy told Sonny that Zander seemed okay and that he felt he was worth saving. Sorel tells Roy to warn Sonny to leave Zander Smith to him to deal with or there would be war.

On thanksgiving, Emily stopped by the prison to see Zander and lightened his mood by telling him stories about her family and all their past failed turkey days. She went back home and celebrated with the Q's. Edward was determined that this would be the first real Thanksgiving the Quartermaines had had in years. He gave cook the day off and hired the chef from the PC Grill. Monica and Alan were prepared for disaster since cook never let anyone in her kitchen. Their fears were realized when cook came home early, kicked the chef out and refused to cook. Everyone was relieved when A.J. came over with several pizzas and they sang their traditional holiday song.

Liz asks Emily to accompany her to the Doctor for a prescription for birth control pills. She also told Emily about buying condoms. Liz wants to make sure they are ready when the time does actually happen. At the hospital waiting for the Doctor Liz talks about the clinical way of going about getting protection but it all being worth it because when the first time happens all her and Lucky should be thinking about is making love not all of the other stuff that goes with it. When the doctor comes for Liz, Emily asks for an appointment too so that she can go on the pill. Liz wants to know what's up with Emily, is she thinking about Juan or Zander? Emily tells Liz about kissing Zander but insists nothing is going on between them, she gets Zander. Emily says that her and Juan wer close to making love before and she justs wants to be ready whenever the time is right. Alan goes to see Zander in jail. He berates Zander but Zander says he was desperate and he isn't sorry. Zander tells Alan the only reason he came to the jail to see him wasn't because of his love for Emily but because Emily had the bad manners to get kidnapped and then care for the guy who did it. Alan says Zander has no remorse, ander corrects him saying that he regrets alot of the things he has done this past year but Emily is not one of them. Zander tells Alan that Emily cares for him and there is nothing he can do about it.

Edward enters the room as Emily is kissing Lila good-bye. Edward asks Emily where she is going and Emily tells him that she is going to the mall to do some shopping. Edward is relentless, asking Emily "what" mall and in particular "what" stores she will be at. He then outright accuses Emilyof actually intending to go to the PCPD to see Zander. Emily admits that she IS going to see Zander on her way home from shopping and Edward starts to go ballistic! Lila tells Edward to back off. Mac interrogates Zander about who he is really working for, Sonny or Sorel. Zander reiterates to Mac that he never met Sonny prior to his visitthe other day and that he was merely a local drug dealer for Sorel. Zander also tells Mac that he had no idea that Sorel was crazy enough to actually kill an undercover cop. Mac still doesn't believe Zander is telling the truth. Emily does go to visit Zander after Mac's interrogation. Although Zander is glad to see her, he doesn't share her optimistic outlook regarding his case. He tells Emily that even though Alexis is the best and even with Emily's testimony, he is still going to do time. Emily disagrees and tries to convince Zander that everything will all work out for him. Emily found Zander in a jubilant mood after Alexis told him she might be able to get him out on bail by Christmas. Zander and Emily made plans for how they would spend the holidays, Juan barged in. Juan refused to leave until Emily made a choice between him and Zander. Emily didn't want to be forced to choose between them, but she wouldn't leave with Juan, she stayed with Zander.

Dara was reading out loud the article in the paper about the police department and Mac in particular. They questioned his effectiveness on doing his job and his going after Luke for Stefan's "murder". They wondered if he did it because of Luke's involvement with Mac's wife. They also questioned about the Ted Wilson case. Dara was mad on Mac's behalf and asked if he wanted to hold a press conference. Mac said he didn't have time. They talked about Zander and Dara asked if he believed Zander's story about Sorel. None of them believed it and the deal they had put on the table was removed. They told Alexis this when she came by to see Zander. She, in turn, told Zander and Emily. Zander told Emily Sorel could get to him anytime. He got a message handed to him later from Officer Conrad, who was being paid by Sorel to keep him abreast of the happenings involving Zander. They met on the docks and Sorel paid him off.

Sonny gave Zander advice : "think and watch - cops are not your friends" and reassured Zander that his people (presumably on the inside) will take care of him. Sonny gave Zander his word that he would do everything in his power to keep him alive. Lucky paid Zander a visit. He told Zander in no uncertain terms that he was there strictly for Emily. Lucky wanted to know why Emily felt the was she does about Zander and what she sees is worth saving. Zander was offended by Lucky's comments and told him that he was not going to tell Emily to go away and if he really loved Emily then they should stop giving Emily so much grief. Her friends need to be supported, listen to her, and take is easy on her. Zander called the guard so that he could return to his cell, but prior to that Lucky told him that he was Emily's oldest friend and he was going to be their for her no matter what. Later on, Emily came to visit Zander. She had died her hair a darker color. Zander noticed right off and said he loved her hair and it was beautiful. Zander asked Emily not to forget to spend time with her family during this holiday season. She said that she would, but for him to remember that no one was going to convince her to stop coming.

Edward, Emily and Reginald went searching for a Christmas tree. Lila had given Edward a list of what kind of tree but he said he wanted a Canadian Pine. Reginald was telling the clerk that they would take the one he was pointing to and Edward said theywould not. Reginald said it was a Lila tree. Edward asked if the tree told him that and Reginald said, "well, yeah" like Edward was stupid to ask. They agreed that if Lila liked the tree they would keep it and she did. Emily was busy decorating the tree when she heard a knock on the patio door. It was Lucky and he asked if had heard her talking to the tree. She said he had and he asked if it talked back. She said it only talks to Reginald. He quipped that he had forgotten how crazy it was at the Quartermaines. He told her he had gone to see Zander and she told him Zander had told her. He said that he understands now how much Emily means to Zander and vice versa. He was on her side. She was happy.

As Elizabeth looks forward to a wonderful Christmas with Lucky, Emily hopes that Zander will be sprung from jail in time for the holiday. Sorel's inside man at the precinct house spies on Roy's meeting with Zander. Emily and Zander celebrate when Alexis brings word to her client that the murder charge has been dropped in exchange for his testimony against Sorel.

Christmas show- Zander is dismayed to learn that his bail has been set for two million dollars in cash, Alexis remains confident that she can still get her client out of jail in time for the holiday. Alexis visits Sonny who has just arrived back in town. Sonny readily agrees to bail Zander out and tells Alexis he'll put the boy up in a safe house until he's ready to testify. She can't believe that he actually has 2 million in cash lying around the penthouse, he assures her that he does and it isn't a problem. Zander embraces a tearful Emily as he's finally released from custody. As his handcuffs are removed, he tenderly reaches up and strokes her face as Sonny & Alexis look on (both realizing how much these two care for each other).

The foursome Zander, Emily, Alexis and Sonny walk out of the police station and enjoy a moment of happiness and freedom. Emily & Zander throw snow at each other. Two cops come around the corner and start shooting. Zander throws Emily to the ground and drops on top of her. Sonny throws Alexis to the ground and is seemingly riddled with bullets (this whole sequence occurs to the annual Christmas montage transposed with the happy celebration scenes at the GH party). Garcia came out of the station and called for an ambulance. Emily and Alexis, were spared and Sonny and Zander were hit. Zander shielded Emily and was hit in the shoulder. He should be fine. Emily stayed with Zander into the ambulance then refused to leave the hospital with Monica and Alan when they came to fetch her. Zander talks her into going home rather than having a showdown with her parents. Emily describes for Taggert how Zander saved her life by shielding her from the bullets with his own body. Juan challenges Zander once again to stay away from Emily in order to keep her safe.

An exasperated Monica gets nowhere ordering her daughter to keep her distance from Zander. Alan makes a menacing visit to Zander and tells him that he wants him to stay away from Emily or else! Emily walks into Zander's hospitsl room at the end of the conversation and Alan tells her that he was only taking her advice and trying to get to know Zander. (what a liar!) When Alan leaves, Zander tries to talk Emily into going to the movies or ice skating or anything else besides hanging around him. Emily then tells Zander that she knows her dad told him to stay away from him but that Emily is her own person and for Zander to quit trying to get rid of her because she is there because that is where she wants to be. Taggert shows up and tells Zander that since he is being released that he should go back into police custody so that he will be "safe"! Zander reminds him of the dead rat on his lunch tray and the death threatening notes he received while in custody and says that the PCPD is not a place that he will feel "safe"! Emily frantically calls Alexis and tells her the situation. Alexis tells Emily to tell Zander not to go anywhere and that she is on her way to the hospital. Alexis rushes right over and tells Taggert she will take responsibility for Zander's safety. She takes them back to her place much to Ned's dismay.

Alexis took him out into the hall and tried to explain to him why Zander should stay there. Emily and Zander unashamedly listened at the door. Alexis told Ned that if Zander stayed there and Emily visited him they would know she was safe; but if Zander was at a motel and Emily visited him, they wouldn't know for sure. Ned finally agreed. Emily left to go meet her parents and Zander went upstairs to take a nap. Later, Ned and Alexis were settling in for a romantic evening, popcorn in hand, when Zander came down after smelling popcorn. Emily went to see Alan and Monica and they asked what happened to her other friends, like Lucky and Elizabeth. She said she was supposed to meet them at Kelly's for dinner but it was past her curfew. They told her she could go but not to stay too late.

Ned was laying into Zander about his reckless life and his present course. Ned compared Zander to Sonny, but to Ned's dismay Zander took this as a compliment. Zander told Ned to stop trying to guilt him into leaving Emily and Alexis' condo because he was not going to leave. Alexis came out of the kitchen apologizing for not having any food, but insisted that they order out. Zander declined and said he wanted to take a walk. At first Alexis gave much resistance, but soon relinquished and let Zander out with a 2-hour curfew. Zander agreed and left, most obviously to look for Emily.

Emily arrived late at Kelly's and had missed dinner, however the gang was happy to have her company for dessert. They told Emily that it was her turn to toast first. She agreed to do the toast, but then Gia spotted someone at the door. It was Zander.

Emily got up and went over to the door. She invited Zander in but he refused. Then, Elizabeth went out on a limb and invited him to join them for dessert; Zander finally accepted. Emily then proceeded to teach Zander the special toast hat her real mom had taught her. The toast, she explained, was when you offered a piece of your dessert to someone else and then state a positive wish (a toast) aloud. Emily took a piece of Elizabeth's brownies and offered it to Zander with a wish for freedom. Next Zander took a piece of brownie and offered it to Emily with the wish for Pixy Sticks. She told him that that was not a valid toast. He tried a few more funny things before getting to be thankful for being alive. Emily accepted that toast; however, it angered Nikolas who began to harass Zander. Zander then became offensive and accused the gang of riding Emily about him. Emily jumped to Zander's defense decided that they should leave. Nikolas, wanting to save face, got up and apologized to Zander who did not accept the apology. Then Nikolas offered them a ride home. Zander told Emily that it was her call; she accepted for them both. Gia then got up and told Nikolas not to give them a ride because he was putting himself in danger. Nikolas reassured Gia that he would return soon and give her a ride home. Gia became angry and asked when someone in the group was going to talk to the brat Emily. Elizabeth rose to the occasion and put Gia in her place. She told Gia that she needed to be nicer as they were all trying to be to her.

Alexis and Ned were just about to toast with champagne when Zander returned. Hewas not alone either Emily was accompanying him. Emily convinced Ned to let her stay at Alexis' place. Ned said yes so long as Emily was upstairs and Zander on the couch. They agreed. Later that night, Emily went downstairs to talk to Zander. They discussed their past and shared their feelings about one another. Zander told Emily he knew she was special to him the moment he laid eyes on her. She was lying there like an angel. If Emily had died, then he would have as well. Zander thanked Emily for changing his life and making it worth while. Emily also revealed that her life has been so much better knowing Zander.

**The End**