Outside the Bistro, Kristen made cracks about Stefan dragging her to his "low-class little eatery." He reasoned that they couldn't talk at the mansion with E.J. "doting" over his new baby. Stefan brought Kristen up to date on his meeting with Melinda. Kristen was incredulous that Melinda had rebuked the "smoking gun" evidence and wondered aloud why the D.A. was refusing to reopen the case, especially given Melinda's prior relationship with the murder victim.
Stefan pressed Kristen on finding another way to exonerate Gabi if Kristen wanted the CEO position at DiMera. Kristen thought it over briefly and, with a grin, announced to a skeptical Stefan that she had a plan. When Kristen mentioned Melinda's prior "crush" on Stefan, he realized Kristen's plan: "you want me to seduce Melinda Trask." Kristen snapped her fingers and beamed. "By George, I think he's got it," she happily clarified.
Stefan balked at the notion that Melinda would suddenly reopen the case if he slept with her. Kristen reasoned that Stefan would be "highly motivated" to make Melinda happy. Stefan did not want to betray Gabi. Kristen shot back that all of Stefan's "passion and love" for Gabi hadn't stopped him from sleeping with Ava. Stefan tried to deny it, but Kristen assured him that she understood because Stefan was "human."
Stefan angrily banged the table and demanded to know how Kristen had found out. Kristen revealed that Ava had "spilled" about her and Stefan "doing the dirty." Stefan warned Kristen not to tell anyone. Kristen retorted that Stefan should be more worried about Ava's loose lips because, if Gabi found out, "there would be hell to pay."
Stefan again urged Kristen to stay quiet about his tryst with Ava. He let his sister know in no uncertain terms that he would not betray Gabi again with anyone. Kristen guessed he was turning down her suggestion to seduce Melinda. Stefan insisted there had to be another way.
In the D.A.'s office, Melinda scoffed as Rafe pronounced that she was under arrest. Rafe informed an uneasy Melinda that he had spoken with Eric, who had confirmed Rafe's belief that she had been involved in the baby switch "up to your neck." He told Melinda about Eric's assertion that Melinda had personally handed Jude off to Sloan and Eric. Melinda tried to invoke attorney-client privilege. Rafe was unfazed and suggested Melinda could answer his questions downtown, where she would be booked for kidnapping.
Melinda warned Rafe to stop as he began to read her Miranda Rights. Rafe told Melinda that she would be punished for being complicit in the baby switch and for causing pain to so many people. Melinda asked Rafe if he would proceed at his sister's expense. Rafe snapped that Sloan's crimes had nothing to do with his sister, but Melinda reminded him that Stefan had brought Melinda new evidence.
Rafe said he had hoped the "compelling" evidence would clear Gabi. Melinda mused that Rafe's hope would only be realized if he could evaluate the evidence, which was in Melinda's possession. Rafe realized what Melinda was implying and called her out for attempting blackmail and concealment of evidence. She assured him that she had the evidence for "safekeeping" in a hidden location. Melinda then issued a veiled threat that the evidence might be destroyed if Rafe pursued charges against her.
Melinda argued that if she had been hypothetically involved with Sloan's crime, then Melinda would merely be charged as an accessory. Since the lie had been rectified and Nicole had been reunited with her son, it was in everyone's best interests -- including Gabi's -- for Rafe to ensure that Melinda stayed free and clear of any charges.
Rafe again threatened to arrest Melinda. She extended her arms and invited him to go ahead. Before he took that step, she suggested that Rafe should think about how he would tell his sister that in his efforts to get justice against Melinda, he had forsaken justice for Gabi. Melinda proposed immunity for herself in exchange for the evidence. Rafe reluctantly took the deal. Before he left, he warned Melinda that if she failed to follow through, he would make it his mission to "lock you up and throw away the key." Melinda's bravado crumbled when Rafe departed, and she looked visibly shaken.
Outside the Brady Pub, Leo prodded E.J. about why E.J. had paid him off to keep quiet. E.J. tried to protest that Leo had been too drunk to understand his reasons. Leo was undeterred and asked why E.J. had made him "rich...or comfortably getting by...to keep you away from your own son." E.J. deflected by asking Leo why he cared when he had gotten paid handsomely. Leo attributed his curiosity to his "Lady Whistleblower" instincts and to E.J.'s renowned penchant for having "mysterious suitcases full of money."
E.J. relented and made up a story about wanting to spare Nicole the pain of losing her child again if Sloan's claims had proven false. Leo still had doubts and wondered why E.J. had not just asked him to keep quiet. E.J. patted Leo's cheek and reminded him of Leo's tendency to "blurt" out information. He claimed he had wanted to give Leo a "financial incentive" to stay silent. E.J. reassured Leo that he would not want the money he had given Leo returned, and E.J. called the payoff "a token of goodwill." Leo sarcastically compared E.J. to a "Salvation Army bell-ringer." With an easy smile, E.J. told Leo that he needed to get back to Nicole, and he left.
Inside the pub, Roman reminisced about holding Jude for the first time. Kate brought him out of the reverie and claimed she had been calling his name. Roman admitted that he was distracted because E.J. had just left with the baby who "used to be my grandson."
At a table, Roman lamented about the pain Eric was experiencing. He believed Eric was channeling his grief into searching for Sloan. Roman blasted Sloan as "bad news," and he told Kate he'd had reservations about Sloan ever since Sloan had rejected the family chowder. Kate joked that Roman's chowder was the "Brady litmus test," and she took Roman's hand for comfort. Just as Leo entered the pub, Roman vehemently stated that he wanted to see "everyone" involved in the deception "get what's coming to them."
An unaware Leo strolled up to Roman and asked what was on the menu. "A knuckle sandwich," Roman deadpanned. Leo continued to ramble about his options before Roman stopped him and declared that he was refusing Leo service. Leo wondered if his "loud" pants were the problem, but Roman clarified that Eric had revealed everything about Leo's role in the baby switch. He called Leo "pathetic" for profiting off "the misery of others."
Leo sputtered that he was a strong opponent of blackmail, as he had joined marches and worn T-shirts against the practice. Roman insisted he knew the truth and that Sloan had confirmed it to Eric. Leo defended that he had not been involved with the switch or the return of the baby. He decried Sloan as a "lying liar of a baby thief" and negatively compared Sloan to his own mother. Leo dismissed the accusations against him as rumors. Kate cautioned that Leo should be praying that Sloan was not found because Sloan would not hesitate to drag Leo down with her. Leo quoted Confucius and then made up his own quote about "having a heart as big as all outdoors." He walked off and left a confused Roman and Kate behind.
At the DiMera mansion, Nicole called Sloan out on her attempts to apologize and justify her actions. Nicole knew that Sloan didn't want to live life on the run, so she had come to Nicole, expecting a free pass. "Luckily, Statesville is ready to welcome you for an extended stay," Nicole offered. Sloan spat that Nicole was a "hypocrite" and rushed to leave when she saw Nicole reaching for the phone. Sloan ran directly into Eric, who demanded to know what she was doing there.
Nicole interjected that Sloan had tried to "make a truce, but I told her to go to hell." Nicole started dialing the police again. Sloan attempted to leave, but Eric stopped her. Nicole reached Rafe's voicemail and told him about Sloan's presence. She wanted him to arrest Sloan.
Eric commanded Sloan to stay and angrily declared that she would pay for what she had done. Sloan believed that she had already been punished by losing the two people who meant the most to her: Eric and Jude. She invoked Eric's faith and his belief in forgiveness. Sloan further reiterated her point with a Bible verse Eric had once quoted to her: "if they repent, forgive them." Nicole rolled her eyes as Eric listened to Sloan's plea.
Sloan stressed that she did not expect Eric or Nicole's forgiveness, but she comforted herself with the certainty that she had done it for love. Eric lashed out that Sloan's actions had been "selfish, cruel, and deluded" and that they had nothing to do with love. Sloan had let him fall in love with a child that was not his own. Sloan insisted that Eric hadn't known the whole story.
When Eric angrily asked for clarification, Sloan began that "there's more to it than you know." She was interrupted by E.J, who arrived with Jude. E.J. sharply cut off Sloan and asked what had happened as he noticed Nicole's bruised hand. Nicole explained that Sloan had tried to defend her actions and that Nicole had punched Sloan in response. After Nicole mentioned Sloan claiming that there was "more to the story," an irate E.J. grabbed Sloan and said he was personally taking her to the police station.
E.J. rebuffed Eric's attempts to go with him and asked Eric to stay with Nicole. As he led Sloan out, she again said she was sorry and exclaimed that she loved Eric. "Goodbye, Sloan," Eric sadly said. When they were alone, Eric apologized to Nicole for the "intense" encounter with Sloan. Nicole believed the confrontation had been just as difficult for Eric. He stated that Sloan would be punished, along with her friend Melinda. Nicole expressed shock as Eric revealed Melinda's possible involvement in perpetuating the lie.
Nicole settled Jude down for a nap. Eric told her about Jude's nap times and his bedtime. He got misty-eyed as he reminisced about rocking Jude to sleep. Nicole realized that being around Jude had to be difficult for Eric. He admitted that it was and told Nicole he was going to catch up with E.J. and help him with Sloan. Eric wished her well in bonding with her son and then left. Nicole sighed and grew tearful as she watched him go.
With happier tears, Nicole sat beside Jude's crib and opened up about how she had "ached" for him and dreamed about him every day. She flashed back to E.J. finding her after she had taken Jude. Nicole pledged to her son, "You were always alive in my heart and in my soul." She smiled broadly while she stroked Jude, but her expression darkened as she looked to the door. "Mommy is going to do everything in her power to make Sloan pay for taking you away from me," she vowed.
Outside the mansion, E.J. raged at Sloan for almost revealing the secret about Jude's paternity. He promised to make her life "a living hell" if she reneged on their deal. Sloan defended that she had wanted "insurance," so she had appealed to Nicole. E.J. mockingly asked how that had worked out for her. She admitted it hadn't gone well, but she didn't know if she could handle a life on the run and constantly looking over her shoulder for the police.
E.J. spat that Sloan would follow through with their original agreement and "disappear forever."
Later, Eric discovered E.J. seemingly knocked out and rushed to his aid. E.J. roused, rubbed his head, and claimed that Sloan had hit him and fled. Eric took off in the direction E.J. said she had gone. When Eric was out of sight, Sloan approached and tried to thank E.J. E.J. refused Sloan's thanks and ordered, "Get the hell out of here and never darken my doorstep again." Sloan flinched, then obliged.
