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In her room at Memorial, Claire dreams that Jordan is there telling her she’ll never escape her. “I’m burned in your soul, forever.” Claire awakens with a start to find Victoria there. She tells her daughter, “It’s OK, you’re not alone.” Victoria knows it couldn’t have been easy seeing her aunt and confronting her. She knows she wanted some sort of resolution, “Am I wrong in thinking that you achieved your goal?” Claire isn’t so sure. She knows the worst of it’s behind her, but there’s still so much more to do that it scares her. “It’s like a cancer we have to treat.” The healing process won’t happen overnight.

Victoria tells Claire she’s rebuilding her life and creating a new “you”. She’s doing well and has made great progress already. She now knows she can survive without Jordan, which is a big step in her recovery. Claire worries that even if they let her out of there, “What happens to me then?” Victoria says that when she gets out of there, they’ll take it slowly, get to know each other, and Claire can decide if she wants to be a part of their family. Claire already knows about the Newmans. They hold a lot of grudges against each other. Victoria thinks she’ll have to see for herself how loyal, loving, and kind they can be. Claire laughs, “Are you saying I’d be part of the Newman family?” That would be Victoria’s hope. Claire asks, “What about my dad? Would he be part of my new life too?”

Cole arrives at the ranch after a summons from Victor, who tells him now that his daughter with Victoria is alive it changes everything. “So, I think steps ought to be taken.” Cole argues it’s too soon, but Victor disagrees. “It’s never too soon to prepare. I need you to tell me what I need to know. What are your intentions in regard to Claire.” Cole looks amused. He tells Victor he’s just doing everything he can to provide the care she needs. Victor asks about him putting his career and life on hold. Cole was on a sabbatical to write a book, so there’s no urgency for him to return to Oxford. Claire needs him here. Whatever happens, he plans on being a part of his daughter’s life. Victor surmises that he’s moving back to Genoa City. Cole replies, “For the time being,” and asks Victor what he plans to do.

Victor points out that Cole hasn’t raised a child. Is he ready for this responsibility? Cole has no choice but to do whatever he can to help heal Claire’s pain. Victor empathizes, but he wants to make one thing clear, “As much as you’re concerned about your daughter, I’m concerned about mine. And nothing and no one will take precedence over her well-being.”

Lauren joins Nikki in her office and guesses she’s spoken to Jack by now. They just want her healthy and sober. Lauren imagines Nikki feels betrayed, but she stands by her decision to tell Jack and would do it again. Nikki tells Lauren she’s not angry with her; she’s angry with herself. Lauren urges her to focus on her recovery. Nikki has to do it on her own without dragging other people into it. Lauren wouldn’t want her to face this alone. Nikki insists she’s managing well and hasn’t drank again since she came to her rescue. Lauren warns the war isn’t over. Nikki is aware; she just has to keep fighting.

Lauren urges her to rely on Jack since Seth relapsed. Nikki would be dragging a dear friend into her chaos. Lauren says a dear friend cannot be dragged, but stands by your side and fights along with you. “This was forced on you.” Lauren reminds Nikki that Jack received help when he needed it and wants to pay that forward. Nikki worries turning to Jack might compound her issues and lead to another… with Victor. She doubts that Victor would be pleased by her leaning on Jack. He’d want it to be him. Lauren argues that Victor can’t fill that spot. She needs a sponsor who understands what she’s going through. “You need a knowledgeable, experienced AA member who is currently sober.” Nikki questions how she lets Jack in instead of her husband. She thinks she would be better off to turn to Jack privately. Lauren gawps. She doesn’t think that’s a good idea at all. Just then, Victor appears.

At the Abbott house, Ashley tells Jack that Tucker is still trying to convince her that he wasn’t violent in Paris. Jack curses him out and tells Ashley the way to shut him down is to stay away from him. Ashley feels she can’t avoid him unless she leaves town. Why is he being so cruel to her. Jack reminds her the annulment is finalized and she’s free. Ashley complains he’s trying to make her doubt her sanity. Jack lectures that it’s time to purge him from her life. Ashley screams, “It’s not that easy!” She decides she needs to settle this once and for all and slams out the door.

At the Club, Billy asks Devon if he looked over the revised budget. Devon will take a peek when he gets back to the office. Tucker appears and muses, “Look at this… the new Chancellor-Winters power couple. I guess I was such a threat you thought you had to circle the wagons and join forces, huh? I’m flattered.” McCall says it’s a misguided concern — he’s putting his energy into Glissade. Billy can’t believe the board didn’t make the company go away when his scandal went public. Tucker reveals he replaced the entire board. Billy snarks, “You probably think that’s a successful launch, don’t you.” Tucker again claims that Glissade will be his one and only focus. Devon smirks.

Tucker has no intention of going after Chancellor-Winters. Devon is his son and the company is Dominic’s legacy. Billy suggests if Tucker wants to turn Glissade into a powerhouse, that he do it from overseas. Tucker says, “Good to see you, son,” and heads to the staircase. Just then, Ashley walks in and asks if they can talk. Tucker can’t imagine what they have to say to each other, but offers for them to go to his room. Ashley wants to talk there and asks him to follow her.

At Memorial, Victoria tells Claire that Cole’s a really good man. He would have been a great father. They were heartbroken when they thought they lost her. Victoria hopes they can be parents to her now. Claire questions if she even knows how to be someone’s daughter. Victoria says she can start thinking about when, not if, she’ll recover. “I hope that you’ll let us help you get there.” She pleads with her to let her family help her find her place in this world. Claire tears up. She’s afraid. Victoria is there for her, “You can lean on me.” Claire throws herself in Victoria’s arms.

Claire steps back and Victoria tells her this is what family is about — being there for the good and the bad. Claire has to get ready for her next session, but agrees to let Victoria and Cole continue to visit her. “Call me if you need anything at all,” Victoria says as she leaves.

At Newman Media, Nikki asks Victor what brings him by. He wants to take her to lunch and invites Lauren to join them. Lauren declines due to work. Victor thanks her for being a good friend to his wife.

At the Club, Devon tells Billy they need to stay on guard when it comes to Tucker and their company. He’s probably just waiting for them to lose focus. Billy grumbles about Ashley’s involvement with Tucker. He hopes she’s telling him to go to hell right now… for good.

In the jazz lounge, Ashley tells Tucker to stop playing games. This is not a joke to her. He needs to admit what happened in Paris. Tucker questions, “Who’s really playing games here, Ashley? This fantasy you’ve created… in order to justify breaking away from me.” He know he’s not perfect, but why the need for this fiction that makes him out to be some kind of monster. “You have a problem with commitment.” Ashley gasps. Tucker believed her when she said she fell back in love with him, but for some reason, it scared the hell out of her. When things get a little too real, she figures a way out. “And what we had was real.”

Tucker knows Ashley truly loves him, but he thinks it’s too much for her. She chose the comfort of the Abbotts. She had to save face and cover up her inability to commit by convincing herself it was all his fault. “You had to make me the bad guy.” He shrugs that he was a fool to think he could compete with the Abbotts anyway. “This is why you’ve never been able to maintain a relationship. When things get too real, you run away to the comfort of your family.” Ashley grimaces, “You think you know me, but you don’t.” Tucker tells her she could have an incredible life, but it will always be out of reach for her because she’ll never let herself have it.

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Lauren shows up at the Abbott house and tells Jack she just came from seeing Nikki. She isn’t angry with either of them and is coming around to seeing the benefit of leaning on him. Jack says trust is the key to the whole thing. “She trusts me and knows I have the utmost faith in her.” Lauren can’t think of anyone better to fill the role.

At Society, Nikki hopes Victor wasn’t worried about her. Victor is mostly concerned about Victoria at the moment. She’s gone through a lot. He spoke to Cole. Nikki hopes he didn’t pressure him in any way. Victor just wanted to know his plans and he said he wanted to get to know his daughter. Nikki thinks that’s a good thing. Victor muses, “Well…” He remarks on Eve Howard’s son moving back to Genoa City and complains he gave a vague answer. He doesn’t want Victoria to go through more emotional turmoil.

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Nikki tells Victor he’s getting ahead of himself. She doesn’t think Victoria and Cole will rekindle their romance. She reminds him that Victoria and Cole broke up even before they found out they were having a baby together. Victor argues that they might decide they want to provide a family life for Claire. Nikki still thinks he’s getting ahead of himself. Victor worries that his daughter has been involved in too many doomed relationships. “What if this is for another one?”

At Crimson Lights, Victoria tells Cole she saw hope in Claire’s eyes for the first time. He thinks that’s wonderful. She can do this, and if she lets them help her it might happen sooner. Victoria said the same thing, “And she hugged me. Can you believe it?!” Cole is encouraged by this given how distant she’s been up to now. Victoria says she’s so fragile and desperately wants her parents support and love. For the first time, she truly feels like they’re going to get their daughter back.

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Cole marvels at Claire letting Victoria in and admits he’s a little jealous. It’s incredible progress. “I just wish everyone was so positive and hopeful.” Victoria asks what happened. Cole says her father invited him to the ranch for a meeting. Victoria should have seen that coming. She loves him but he can be maddening, “What did he want?” Cole says he had questions about his future plans with Claire. It could have gone worse. He seems to be more open to Claire, which is a big deal — he’s taking steps to include Claire in the family. Victoria’s pleased. Cole has something in common with Victor — they both feel the need to protect their daughters. Victoria vows they’ll do everything they can to protect theirs.