Episode 2.06:

Merry Christmas. Oh, and Happy New Year, too.

Summary by Scott

As we open, Val is edgy about her pregnancy. Noah picks her up. He senses that something is wrong but can't put his finger on exactly what.

The gang slowly arrives at a Beverly Hills resturant where the whole gang is having a Christmas party. And we mean the whole gang. Former Beverly Hills resident Andrea Zuckerman-Vasquez has come back for the party, complete with husband Jesse and daughter Hannah. Andrea and Jesse seem to have worked through the problems their marriage was having. When Andrea and company arrive, Andrea is thrilled to see everybody again. The kids eagerly start opening presents.

Carly, still feeling a little weird about being back in Beverly Hills, is comforted by Janet who assures her "We're all a family here, you'll fit right in."

Lexi, remarkably, is actually being good. However, she soon gets bored with it and decides to spy on Kelly and Val. They're talking about Val's pregnancy but, luckily, Lexi doesn't have a chance to find that out before Val spots her and storms out.

Brenda is feeling the Christmas blahs. She picks up Brandon's ringing cell phone. It's Dylan. He doesn't tell her anything about what's going on with him but does ask if she still has the necklace he gave her one Christmas. She's wearing it like she does every Christmas but tells him it's in her jewelery box. We find out that, although Brenda doesn't know it, Dylan still carries the second half of that necklace charm. He considers it his good-luck charm. Dylan then reflects on just how important his friendship with Brenda is to him.

David hasn't forgotten that Christmas is Donna's birthday. He surprises her with a big cake and diamond cross. The party breaks up.

Andrea, Jesse and Hannah head back to Casa Walsh where they're staying with Steve and Janet.

The next morning, while Zack is opening his presents, Carly opens a gift. It's a gold picture frame with a picture of Maddy in it sent by Steve and Janet. Carly is touched by the gift.

Kelly comes by to give Brandon her gift to him. She's going to make him a Christmas breakfast. Like sister,like brother. David makes Donna a Christmas breakfast, as well. In addition, David shows Donna two plane tickets for New York. He feels that the two of them really need to get away together and since Steve is sending him to New York for a story anyway... Donna, to put it mildly, is reluctant. Not only is she still wracked with guilt about her fling with Joe but she's worried about what Gina, who knows about the fling, might do. After all, Gina's not exactly the most stable person in the world. However, she can't let David know any of this.

New Year's Eve comes. The gang prepares to sleep in the After Dark after it closes for the night.

Janet talks with Andrea and Jesse and we learn that she's taken them to midnight mass. Not only that,but Janet has also thoughtfully installed a menorah in the house for them. Carly comes by and Janet and Carly clear the air about Carly's having dated Steve. They work it out and the two women bond.

Everybody shows up at the After Dark where Creed is performing. Brenda goes back to her current project of Noah chasing. Dylan shows up. He invites Brandon, Steve, David and Noah into his office to share a toast. Then,for once in his life, he actually opens up and tells how important his friends are to him.

While everybody celebrates New Year's in the club, Dylan studies two postcards. One is from his father, Jack. The other is from Gina.

Brenda reflects on how ironic it is that once again she's attracted to someone else's man. She's attracted to Noah but Noah is Val's man. Steve makes a little speech to Janet about how important their relationship is to him.

Steve makes a little speech to Janet about how important their relationship is to him. We close with everybody reflecting about the bonds that exist between the members of this disparate group of people and just how strong they are.