Shirley is heading out, and Heather is chasing after talking about how wonderful this time of year is. Heather even wants to go to Midnight mass. Shirley says “church or pub… Pub!” Shirley then yells at the band!

Ian places flowers on Arthur’s bench for Pauline. Dot walks up and tells him she can’t believe it’s been nearly a year. They discuss how much they miss her. Dot looks up and sees the star at the top of the tree. She quotes The Star of Bethlehem shining so out. “And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in the manger.” Reminds you don’t it what it is really all about.

Lauren looks out the window as she sees Max and Stacey outside laughing together. Abi is singing Santa Claus is coming to town. Lauren runs off to her room. Max gives Stacey tickets for Bradley. Lauren pulls out the envelope from a drawer.

Denise, Pat, and Steven see a large box outside the house. It says you do not open until Christmas. Steven sees Ian and calls out to him. He yells across to Ian and walks over to talk to him. Ian is nervous. Steven wonders if he’s done something wrong. Ian tells him that he hasn’t had a chance to tell Jane yet that he is still here. He promises him that he will tell him.

Lauren comes into the kitchen where Tanya is decorating a cake. She tells Tanya that she’s just seen Max outside with Stacey. Tanya says he better get inside as she has more to do. Tanya looks up at Lauren and wonders what the envelope is. Lauren tells her that it is for her. Abi comes running in and tells them that she has four more presents than Lauren. Max comes in, and Tanya asks how Stacey is. Max tells her he doesn’t care how Stacey is as he just cares how his beautiful wife is. Tanya tells Lauren just to put her name on the envelope and put it under the tree. Abi teases that she has more presents than Lauren. Max teases back that it is because Abi has been good and Lauren has been naughty. Lauren runs off. Max calls out that he was only joking.

Heather is soliciting Peggy’s help for the carol singing in the square. Peggy and Shirley get a giggle when Heather can’t get the doors open to leave. Jack comes in looking for Ronnie. He speaks with Phil. Phil tells Jack that he doesn’t believe he actually knows where Louise is. He spots Ronnie. Roxy and Ronnie are reviewing Christmas Eve’s past. Phil tells Jack not to mention his kids again. Jack says, “Mark Fowler.” Phil turns around, and Jack details what he knows about Louise. Aunt Sal comes in.

Ian walks over to Jane and kisses her. He says it was a spontaneous display of his affection. Jane wonders why Ian looks like something is wrong. He tells her it’s fine. Jane leaves and asks if Stacey and Bradley are ready for tomorrow. She sees Pat and Steven walking towards their house.

Bradley and Stacey discuss what fun their first Christmas will be. Sean walks up and asks Stacey what is going on with their mum. His phone rings again. Stacey tells him that she is just excited he’ll be there. Stacey yells after him to be nice. Lauren has the envelope in her hand when she drops in Dot’s postbox. She turns around to meet Sean. He asks if she is coming in. She tells him no thanks.

Jane is helping Bobby decorate. Ian comes in and has a sack. Jane wonders what he has. She opens the bag to see a card and a gift for Steven. He tells her he can explain.

Tanya, Max and Jack discuss the seating arrangements for dinner the next day. Abi has a gift for Penny, Jack’s daughter. Max wonders if Jack is getting a visit. Jack tells them he’s going round there later, that is if Selena will open the door for him. Abi wonders why Jack doesn’t live with Penny. Max tries to stop her. Jack explains that it’s because he and her Aunt Selena don’t get along very well. Lauren looks on at them. Abi says that she wouldn’t like not having her Dad around. Abi hugs her Dad and Lauren looks on.

Jane is upset that Ian did not tell her. She tells Ian he wanted her to see him so he wouldn’t have to tell her. Ian tells her that Steven feels terrible about what he has done. She tells Ian he should feel upset about it. Ian tells her that she is his wife, but Steven is his son.

Heather is testing the microphone. Auntie Sal wonders where Billy’s lovely wife is. He tells her that she is up with the kids. Sal tells him its a shame she’s up there working her fingers to the bone taking care of those two little ones. Billy snaps that she isn’t alone, she has him. He goes to pick up his beer, and Sal grabs her bag. She tells him that you can’t be too careful these days. Peggy brings champagne around to toast to when Sal yells out “to family.” Peggy wonders how she knew she was going to say that. Sal tells her every year Peg, every year. Roxy makes her way over to Sean and tells him to kill her now. He says, “what not having fun?” Roxy tells him last year she was in Ibiza drunk off her face. She tempts him with a trip. Stacey comes in the pub and Sean dashes out. Roxy hands her a note from Sean.

Stacey rushes out of the Vic after Sean. She tells him he couldn’t just give her one day. He tells her that it isn’t her, it’s their mum. But Stacey doesn’t care and walks off. She tells him she is past caring. He tells her that if she’s this bad today, then what will she be like tomorrow? Stacey asks him if he was just going to leave her to take care of it like always.

Max comes in to the kitchen where Lauren has torn up the cake topping. She rushes out as Max looks at the cake.

Heather is telling Yolande and Patrick about the Carol Sing-along. Yolande asks her if what she is really asking is for her to do a solo? Heather tells her that she likes the audience to be involved more. Patrick says like an old fashioned sing-along. Yolande convinces Heather to let her sing one song. Denise tells Patrick and Yolande that this time next year they will all be together under one roof.

Lauren is in the square. Her phone rings, and it’s her Dad. Sean walks over and talks to her. She asks him why he doesn’t like Christmas anymore? Is it because his Dad died? She wishes her Dad would be dead. Sean tells her that she doesn’t really. He tells her that no one is perfect, including Max. She asks him if he’s coming to dinner tomorrow. He tells her he will be there.

Jane is tidying up. She grabs wrapping paper and starts to wrap Steven’s gift.

Lauren rings the bell at the Slater’s and Jean greets her. She comes rushing in and sees Bradley about to insert a DVD into the player. She rushes over to stop him and sees that it is a film. She rifles through the presents, and Bradley asks if she’s lost something. She doesn’t speak and leaves the room. Bradley turns to Stacey and says, “see my lot is just as crazy as yours.” Lauren goes into the kitchen and is searching. Jean hands her the card, and Lauren leaves.

Denise greets Kevin at the door with wine and the wreath for their new door. She tells him that Ian has agreed to rent them the house until the sale goes through. Carly tries to warn off Denise. She explains that Deano isn’t getting out and must serve his full sentence due to the fight he had inside. Kevin is devastated and just wants his son home.

Shirley texts Vinnie about lunch tomorrow. Peggy points out that Heather doesn’t have much luck. Shirley looks over at her and heads off. Peggy wonders where she is going. Shirley says, “to see a man about a dog.”

Lauren comes home, and her Dad is in the kitchen. She hands Max the snowmen when she sees he’s cleaned up the cake. He tells Lauren she can always talk to him. He knows it’s been tricky with the new baby and all. Lauren sits in her Dad’s lap and smiles. He tells her, “look it looks like nothing ever happened.” Tanya wonders what. Max says nothing at all.

Jane and the kids are playing Pictionary. Ian walks in and guesses straight away what Peter is drawing. Peter tells Ian it’s his turn. Jane tells Peter that his Dad has to go do an errand. She hands him the card and gift for Steven.

Lauren goes up to her room and puts the card in the bin. She smiles and sighs a big sigh of relief.

Ian goes to see Steven and they talk about what Christmas was like at Auntie Pauline’s. Pat comes in and offers Ian a drink. Ian invites Steven over for lunch. Steven wonders if Jane will be ok with it. Steven is elated.

Heather is depressed over the lack of participation for the carol sing-along. Shirley comes in, and then the band outside starts to play. Heather rushes out and starts singing. Everyone is gathering around. Jack pulls up, but he’s angry as he didn’t get to see his daughter. The square fills up with everyone and Stacey walks up to see Sean there. Stacey is happy.

Mo calls out to Max to find out what time he’s expecting them tomorrow. He yells back at 2 pm. Mo laughs when she says she may get arrested sitting next to that copper. Lauren sees Sean, and he gives her a wink. Roxy comes past in a coat, and Ronnie asks her where she’s going. Roxy turns around and says she is going to drop in on Jase. She flashes them a peek at her sexy Santa suit. Auntie Sal calls out that she hopes she has her warm drawers on to which Roxy turns and gives them a flash of her backside. Peggy tells her she’s going to catch her death. Ian walks up to Jane and kisses her. Jane, in turns, gives him a kiss back. He wonders what that was for. She says it was a spontaneous demonstration of her affection. Ian smiles and sees Steven. They smile at one another. Denise kisses Kevin. Everyone is in a festive and happy mood. Phil walks up to Jack and tells him he’ll take his help finding his daughter.

heather thanks everyone for coming out and thanks to everyone for their help, including Peggy, the Salvation Army, and her best friend, Shirl! She invites Yolande up to sing. As Yolande sings, they show Pat enjoying a hobby horse and matching card, Dot lighting a candle, and Tanya tidying up and finding the card for Bradley in the bin. Tanya takes it out. Max asks Lauren if she is feeling better. Tanya sees them and smiles. She places the card under the tree.