>> Liam: Hey, did you get any sleep last night?
>> Hope: Today's the day we're losing Douglas.
>> Liam: We're not losing him. He's just staying at Steffy's
for a little while. >> Hope: He belongs here
with us, Liam. You, Beth and I,
we're his family. And the fact that he chose
to go live with Steffy... it hurts.
>> Liam: Yeah, I know. >> Hope: But I won't let him
see it because I don't want to burden him with my pain.
So... >> Liam: That's why you're
a great mom. And it is that love
by the way, that's gonna bring him home.
>> Steffy: I spoke to Hope
earlier, I guess Douglas is eager to move in.
She and Liam want to drop him off today.
[ Finn exhaling ] Look, I know it's sooner
than expected and I said that I needed to talk
to you first. >> Finn: Is this really
what you want? >> Steffy: What I want is
for Douglas to be a carefree little boy.
I want him to feel safe and happy.
He doesn't feel that way with Thomas and for whatever
reason, he doesn't feel that way with Hope either.
Maybe he just needs a little break.
>> Finn: Well, could you blame him with everything
that that kid has been through?
Starting with having Thomas as a father.
>> Thomas: Hey, Granddad. >> Eric: Thomas.
All right, you're here. What would you like
to talk about? >> Thomas: Well, first I'd
like to thank you for seeing me. I'm painfully aware that
I am persona non grata here. But I'd like an opportunity
to make things right with the family.
♪♪
>> Eric: You want another opportunity?
Another chance? >> Thomas: I know
I let you down. >> Eric: Yeah, you did.
But my life wasn't so affected by that.
Ridge, Brooke's, Taylor's, Steffy's, Douglas's.
Those are the lives that were turned upside down
by what you did. You want another chance,
you should be asking them. >> Thomas: Look, I want
to repair every single relationship that I've hurt,
but none more than with my son.
Douglas is the most important thing in the world to me.
>> Steffy: You are absolutely
right, Thomas has disappointed us so many times.
No wonder Douglas doesn't want to live with him.
>> Finn: Yeah, and I get that. Why not choose to stay
where he is? In his own house with
his own family. Why does Douglas want
to stay here? [ phone ringing ]
>> Steffy: Hold on.
Hope, hey, hey, what's-- what's going on?
>> Hope: Douglas is just packing up a few more things
and then we will head over to your place shortly
if that's okay? >> Steffy: Yeah, yeah, Finn
and I will be waiting. Are you all right?
>> Hope: Not really. >> Steffy: I know this must
be hard for you. Forget the legalities of it
for now, okay, just keep telling yourself
this is temporary. When the novelty wears off,
Douglas is gonna want to go back to you, Liam and Beth.
>> Hope: Yeah, that's what I'm praying for.
Um, yeah, well, we'll see you soon.
>> Liam: Hey, heard some of that.
Think of it this way, Douglas needs space, Steffy's
his aunt, she's gonna take great care of him.
He's gonna have a good time with her and Finn.
♪♪
>> Eric: So Douglas has chosen to live with
Steffy and Finn? I did not see that coming.
>> Thomas: Yeah, none of us saw that coming,
including Steffy and Finn. I can't say that I'm not hurt.
>> Eric: No, I'm sure, I'm sure. It can't be easy
for Hope either. >> Thomas: No, she's, uh...
she's devastated. >> Eric: Did Douglas say why
he chose to live with Steffy and Finn?
>> Thomas: He has fun over at their house?
You know what? As-- as mature as that kid is, and he's wise
beyond his years, he's still a kid, you know,
that's still what he is and so he wants to have fun.
Can't blame that, especially after all of the adult drama
he was drug into, courtesy of yours truly.
>> Eric: So you're saying that you're okay with this
new living arrangement? >> Thomas: I wouldn't say
I'm okay with it. But you know the more
I think about it... I am-- I am starting to see
that it could be a benefit? I mean, Steffy's my sister
and that means that I'll have full access to my son.
[ Steffy sighing ] >> Steffy: Okay, Douglas's
room is ready. >> Finn: I'm sure he's gonna
love the view. >> Steffy: I just feel awful
for Hope. >> Finn: Look, if it's what
you've been saying, Douglas is gonna stay here awhile,
we'll make sure that it's a good bridge for him and
eventually he'll go back home. >> Steffy: Yeah.
>> Hope: Oh, Douglas's book. He's been loving this.
He's not gonna want to forget it.
I can't believe this is actually happening.
He's leaving the home that we built together as a family
and going to Steffy's. It just doesn't make sense.
>> Liam: I know. >> Hope: Are we doing
the right thing? You know, letting him go?
I mean should we have fought the judge harder on this?
Because I-- I really thought he was going to pick us.
>> Liam: Yeah, I mean he-- he told us he would.
>> Hope: Gosh, he's gonna be out any minute and I don't
want him to see me like this. Okay.
>> Liam: Okay. >> Hope: Douglas has made his
choice and we just-- We have to live with it.
>> Liam: Yeah. Douglas is a human being.
He needs-- he needs a change of scenery.
This too shall pass, I promise.
>> Hope: Hey, sweetie. >> Liam: Hey, you with
the suitcase. You uh, you packed already?
>> Douglas: Yep. >> Liam: Nice.
>> Hope: Except for this. >> Douglas: Thanks, Mom.
Right in the middle. >> Hope: I know.
Um, so, you ready to go? >> Douglas: No.
I have something I want to say to both of you.
♪♪
>> Eric: So Douglas is staying at Steffy's?
>> Thomas: Yeah. And I-- I would've preferred
Douglas living with me. Obviously, I still have
to win back Douglas's trust and that's a lot easier
if I can actually spend time with him.
Have alone time with my son. >> Eric: Well, Hope has never
kept you from seeing your son, has she?
>> Thomas: Not so far. >> Eric: Well, she never would.
>> Thomas: I don't-- I don't know about that.
I mean look, Hope doesn't exactly trust me.
And she also has Liam in her ear every second
disparaging me. I'm sure every
single moment, so. >> Eric: No one to blame
for that but yourself. >> Thomas: I'm just saying
that the chances of me winning back my son's trust
are greatly improved with him over at Steffy's
>> Steffy: What's going on?
>> Finn: Oh, nothing. >> Steffy: Talk to me.
>> Finn: Okay, I-- I admit I was a little thrown when
you told me that Douglas was gonna be living with us
and I get it and I know that it's a temporary thing
and he's a great kid. I certainly have no issues
with him being here. I'm just wondering how
Douglas living here might affect Kelly and Hayes.
>> Steffy: Our kids love Douglas.
>> Finn: Yeah, but him living here is gonna affect
the dynamic of our family, right?
>> Steffy: Yeah. I mean, we need to be
aware of what Kelly and Hayes are feeling.
We need to make sure that they feel secure,
that they feel confident. They don't need to be put out
in any way. >> Steffy: That's exactly
what makes you such an incredible father.
The way you prioritize your children, their needs,
the way you protect them. We are so lucky to have you.
And now Douglas will be too. >> Finn: Look, I care
about the kid. >> Steffy: I know you do.
And you know how much I appreciate you.
You're such a great man and I am so proud to be
your wife.
♪♪ >> Douglas: I don't want
you guys to be sad. >> Liam: No sadness.
None, we promise. Although, we are gonna
miss you a ton. >> Douglas: I'll miss you too.
But this isn't goodbye. I just need a change.
It's gonna be so fun living on the beach, spending more
time with Kelly and Hayes. Maybe Finn will even teach me
how to surf. >> Liam: Yeah.
>> Hope: I'm sure he would love that.
>> Douglas: Thanks for understanding.
>> Liam: Hey, um, you know that none of this works
if you're not happy, right? If you wanted to be somewhere
else. It's not like you're going out of town,
you're just going to your aunt's house.
And she loves you and she's gonna take awesome care
of you and you're gonna have a blast.
>> Douglas: [ whispering ] Don't let Mommy be sad.
>> Liam: [ whispering ] I won't, I got this.
>> Hope: Douglas, you know this will always be your home
so you can come and visit whenever you want and
we'll be here with open arms. >> Liam: She's right.
We love you so much. >> Douglas: I love you too.
Especially you, Mommy.
>> Hope: Oh.
Hi.
You know I will always love you, okay?
♪♪
>> Eric: You know, Douglas is Steffy's nephew.
She loves him. She's gonna be acting in
his best interests, not yours. >> Thomas: I'm counting on it.
And Douglas's best interest is to have his father
in his life. I know that you believe that.
That father-son bond, it's-- it's sacred.
It's it needs to be nourished and maintained.
>> Eric: I do believe that. Love him, protect him,
but don't manipulate him. >> Thomas: I won't.
Look I-- I see what happened in those judge's chambers
as maybe a blessing in disguise.
He-- he didn't choose to live with me, but he didn't choose
to live with Hope and Liam either.
Douglas chose to live over at Steffy's, in a place
where I can come and go as I please and you can trust
me, I will be there a lot. ♪♪
>> Steffy: Your bedroom is ready, Douglas.
>> Douglas: Awesome. Thanks, Aunt Steffy.
>> Steffy: Of course. >> Finn: Yeah, well,
I can get these for you. >> Steffy: Uh, Hayes and
Kelly, they're out with Amelia but they'll be--
they'll be back soon. >> Finn: And they are gonna
be really excited to see you. >> Douglas: We're gonna have
so much fun. Thanks for letting me stay.
>> Steffy: You're always welcome here, but just know your home
and life in the cabin, it's always there for you too
if you need it. >> Douglas: I know.
>> Steffy: Okay. >> Finn: Well, should we go
check out your room? Make sure it will work out
for you? >> Liam: Oh, cool.
I want to see it. Can I come? >> Finn: Yeah, come on,
let's all go.
>> Douglas: I love you, Mommy. >> Hope: You know
I love you too. Now, remember what we talked
about, okay? You be on your best behavior
and you listen to what Aunt Steffy and Finn
have to say, right? Will you do that?
>> Douglas: I will. >> Hope: I know you will
because you're the best. Now, go check out your room.
Bye, sweetie. >> Liam: Let's do this.
>> Steffy: I know this must be hard for you.
>> Hope: Yeah, my baby just... >> Steffy: Douglas needs
a break. The novelty will wear off
and he's gonna want to go back to you, Liam and Beth.
>> Hope: Yeah. Um, well until then he'll be
here, so, um... I actually-- I made a list
of all Douglas's favorite foods and things he dislikes
and his favorite things to do, so...
>> Steffy: Okay, thanks. >> Hope: And I know it goes
without saying but um, just make sure he's careful
around that cliff. Like I get it, you're in baby
mode and he's-- he's older, he's more adventurous.
>> Steffy: I-- I know we're gonna take care of him,
don't worry, okay? >> Hope: And just um...
watch out for Thomas. I get that he's your brother,
but he's already put Douglas through a lot and I just
want him to be-- >> Steffy: Okay, Douglas is
under my care. I will protect him,
like he's my own, okay? It's gonna be fine, I promise.
>> Hope: Okay. Sorry, I've just been trying to keep
a straight face in front of him this whole time.
Um. It's just hard not to
feel rejected because he chose me to be his
adoptive mom and we worked so hard to just fill his life
with-- with love and to make him feel secure and safe.
Especially after everything he had been through, all that
loss and all of that turmoil. For him to choose not to want
to live with us, the family that we have built together.
It just... it stinks, that's all.
Uh, like you said, this is just temporary
and I have to respect his choice.
Yeah, just um, please, please Steffy,
take care of my son. Please.
>> Steffy: I will. >> Hope: Okay, okay.
♪♪