DVD #10B Lulu insisted that Aiden had seemed fine when she had left the house, so she didn't understand why Lucky would think that Aiden had been sick. Luke admitted that he didn't have an answer to that, but he assured Lulu that Lucky was on his way home. Lulu thought that the story was very "convenient" for Luke. Tracy was shocked by Lulu's remark. Luke couldn't believe that Lulu had suggested that he had made the whole thing up, and used an innocent child, just to play a hero. Lulu was unapologetic, so Luke advised Lulu to talk to Lucky when Lucky arrived. Steve updated Luke, Tracy, and Lulu about Aiden's situation. Steve revealed that Aiden's bruises were out of the ordinary, so a specialist had been asked to examine Aiden. Lulu decided that Elizabeth needed to know about Aiden, so she excused herself to go to Elizabeth's hospital room. Robin returned to the waiting area. Robin revealed that Aiden had been presenting with more bruising, and that they were running tests on the child. Robin revealed that Luke might have saved Aiden's life by rushing the little boy to the hospital. In Elizabeth's hospital room, Lulu gently broke the news to Elizabeth that Aiden had been admitted to the hospital. Elizabeth initially thought that Lucky had been feeling guilty about not being with the boys, so he had raised a false alarm about Aiden. Lulu assured Elizabeth that something was wrong with Aiden, so Elizabeth decided to check on her son for herself. Elizabeth started to get out of bed, but Lulu tried to stop her. Monica heard the commotion from the hallway, so she entered the hospital room to find out what was going on. Elizabeth explained the situation, and then pleaded with Monica, as a mother, to understand that Elizabeth needed to be with Aiden. Monica coldly informed Elizabeth not to play the mother card with her. Elizabeth was stunned, and then realized that Monica still harbored anger over Jake's death. Monica didn't deny it, and then insisted that she would not allow Elizabeth to use the grief over losing Jake to "latch onto a married man." "How dare you!" Elizabeth replied. Elizabeth assured Monica that Elizabeth would grieve the loss of Jake every day of her life, something that Elizabeth thought that Monica would understand. Monica was unmoved as she suggested that it hadn't been the first time that Elizabeth had been a victim for Jason. Elizabeth reminded Monica that it had been the fever talking, but Monica argued that Jason was married to Sam. "Don't get in the way," Monica warned Elizabeth. Later, Elizabeth slowly made her way to the examination bay, where Aiden rested in a crib. Lulu helped Elizabeth, who was still hooked up to an I.V. In the examination bay, Elizabeth stroked her son's back as she tearfully promised Aiden that his father was on his way home. Elizabeth promised Aiden that everything would be okay, because she would make sure of it. Lulu left the cubicle, and then saw Monica standing near the nurses' station. Monica realized that she owed Elizabeth an apology. Lulu reminded Monica that Monica had also lost Jake. "There's a couple that I lost," Monica conceded. Monica sadly confided that during Jason's recent brain surgery, she had been hoping that Jason would return to her, as he had been prior to the accident with AJ. 11/18 Michael asked why Carly had invited Shawn to Thanksgiving dinner. Michael expressed his disapproval. She replied that her relationship with Shawn was none of Michael's business. Carly let him know that Franco had been taunting the family again. Michael said that he was ashamed of Carly. She told Michael he should be grateful to Shawn, as Shawn had covered for Michael. Dante overheard Carly's statement as he walked into the warehouse and asked her to explain. Carly asked Dante to lay off the investigation. Later, Luke began to gasp for air. Lulu walked in as Steve tended to her father. Tracy announced that Luke's episode was bogus and that he'd done it to create a diversion. Lulu yelled at Luke for his thoughtlessness. Maggie returned and announced that she'd done the lab work herself. Aiden had a blood condition that meant he could bleed to death and would need a transfusion. Luke and Lulu both offered, but Lulu made it clear that Luke shouldn't. Luke perceived that his daughter was insinuating that his blood alcohol lever might be high. Patrick burst in and threatened Anthony and demanded to know why Anthony had manipulated Lisa into giving Anthony power of attorney. Anthony suggested that Patrick might have been feeling guilt for his own part in Lisa's meltdown. Anthony taunted Patrick, who physically assaulted him. Johnny rushed in and broke them apart, stating that if it would be anyone, Johnny would be the one to strangle his father. Dante walked in, and Patrick demanded that Anthony be arrested for having unleashed Lisa on the city. Dante replied that he had no grounds to make an arrest, so Patrick stormed out. Anthony exited, which left Dante to question Johnny about the girls at Vaughn's who'd been roughed up. Johnny said he'd hired extra security and suggested that Dante should keep an eye on Olivia. Dante pointed out that Johnny was at the top of the suspect list in the shooting. Dante got a call that let him know the murder weapon had been found. Lisa had been killed with a wrench. 11/22 At Crimson, Dante stopped by to talk to Kate. Kate greeted Dante, and then admitted that it had been nice to see him at Kristina's party. They exchanged chitchat for a few minutes, and then Dante explained that he had some questions about the warehouse shooting. Kate insisted that she had given her statement to the police, so she had nothing to add. Dante demanded to know what had prompted the photo shoot at Sonny's warehouse, shortly after Ronnie had found traces of drugs nearby. Kate insisted that the photo shoot had been planned, which made Dante curious about her renewed loyalty to Sonny. Kate turned the question around by wondering why Dante appeared to have a sudden drive to take Sonny down. Dante explained that he needed to know if he had walked in on something that he shouldn't have, and if one of Sonny's men had shot him, or if it had been something else altogether. Kate suspected that Lulu was the driving force behind Dante's quest to figure out what had happened at the warehouse. Kate pointed out that blaming Sonny for the shooting might result in the wedding not happening. Dante immediately became defensive, as he demanded to know what she was talking about. Kate insisted that she had just stated the obvious. Kate assured Dante that Sonny would never intentionally harm one of his children, but Dante didn't waver in his determination to get answers. "What the hell are you doing here?" Sonny asked from the doorway as he looked at his son. Kate explained that Dante had been questioning her about the warehouse shooting, so Sonny immediately informed Dante that Kate had had nothing to do with it. Sonny insisted that he was just as eager to find the person responsible for shooting Dante as Dante was. Dante was certain that Kate's photo shoot was a cover-up, so he intended to prove it. Moments later, Dante received a text message. Dante warned Kate not to be stupid, and then left. At the apartment, Olivia thanked Lulu for dropping by on short notice. Olivia explained that she didn't want to be the meddling mother-in-law type, but she had noticed that Lulu and Dante had hit a rough patch. Olivia invited Lulu and Dante to join her for Thanksgiving dinner, and then tried to tempt Lulu's palate by listing the pies that Olivia had intended to bake. Lulu smiled, and then explained that a pie couldn't fix what was wrong with Lulu and Dante's relationship. Olivia fetched two glasses of wine, and then handed one to Lulu. Lulu confided that Dante had been granted approval to investigate Lisa Niles's murder. Olivia blamed herself for Dante's involvement, because Dante wanted to protect his mother. Lulu argued that it wouldn't have mattered; Dante would have taken any case. Lulu then revealed that Dante continued to investigate the shooting at Sonny's warehouse. Olivia reminded Lulu that Dante was who he was, and that Lulu had known that. Lulu explained that she didn't want to be like one of the widows from Brooklyn, whom Olivia had talked about. Olivia assured Lulu that none of those women would have traded a single moment with their husbands. Lulu confessed that she didn't know if she were the type of woman who could live each day with the threat of loss. Olivia explained that loss was a fact of life, and that anyone could die without warning. Olivia wondered if Lulu were prepared to live her life without taking a chance at happiness, to never join her life with someone, or perhaps meet up in some future time. Lulu chuckled, and then asked if Olivia believed that love continued after death. Olivia admitted that she would hold on with both hands if she had the kind of love that Lulu and Dante had. Lulu explained that she hadn't had the chance to talk to Dante, because Lulu had been busy at the hospital with Aiden. Olivia was stunned when Lulu revealed the details about Aiden's life-threatening illness. Olivia realized that Steve had to have been frantic with worry. Lulu assured Olivia that everything was fine, because Dr. Wurth, the new doctor on staff, had quickly diagnosed Aiden. Olivia confided that Maggie was someone from Steve's past. Moments later, Officer Padilla arrived to question Olivia about the night of Lisa Niles's murder. Lulu seized the opportunity to thank Officer Padilla for driving Lulu to the hospital after Dante had been shot. Officer Padilla smiled politely, and then explained that she needed to speak privately with Olivia. Lulu returned the smile, but refused to be dismissed. Olivia wondered how she could help the young police officer, so Officer Padilla explained that she needed to collect the clothes that Olivia had worn on the night of the ill-fated chartered boat ride. Olivia revealed that her dress was at the cleaners, prompting Officer Padilla to question if Olivia had hoped to get rid of damaging evidence. Olivia and Lulu were offended by Officer Padilla's implications that Olivia had something to hide. Olivia insisted that she had simply wanted to get the dress cleaned, because she had been in the engine room, working on the boat's motor. Lulu suggested that Olivia consider consulting an attorney before answering the young officer's questions. Olivia maintained that she didn't have anything to hide. Officer Padilla was curious what kind of tool Olivia had used to work on the boat's engine. Olivia wondered where Officer Padilla was headed with the question, but Dante appeared before Officer Padilla could reply. Dante demanded to know why the officer was questioning his mother, so Officer Padilla explained that she was following up on a new lead. Dante resented that no one had kept him apprised of the new developments in the case, and then informed Officer Padilla that Olivia wouldn't say another word without an attorney present. Dante dismissed Officer Padilla, so Olivia decided to check on the pies in the kitchen to give Lulu and Dante some time to talk. Dante acknowledged that he had received Lulu's text message, so Lulu admitted that Olivia had seemed in need of help. Dante realized that he and Lulu had left things in a bad place, so he suggested that they talk. Dante appreciated that Lulu was afraid for his safety, because of his job, but he revealed that he was just as terrified of losing Lulu. Dante promised that he would do whatever it took to make their relationship work, but Lulu argued that he wouldn't give up his job. Lulu quickly assured Dante that she would never ask him to do that, but it was the fear of Dante being hurt in the line of duty that she was struggling with. She had no idea how to adjust to a future of living in fear. Dante conceded that his job wasn't risk-free. Lulu agreed, and then confessed that she was afraid that she was starting to lose sight of the "good little things" about Dante that made her love him, such as the way he looked in the mornings, and how adorable he was when the Yankees played the Red Sox. According to Lulu, those were the things that made her love him. Dante was relieved, because he had been afraid that Lulu had been on the verge of ending things with him. Lulu smiled, and then assured Dante that she couldn't imagine her life without him. Olivia returned to the living room as Lulu and Dante kissed. Olivia admitted that she had overheard their "beautiful" words, so she reminded them that it was time for them to make an announcement. Dante confessed that he wanted to keep his engagement to Lulu quiet a little while longer. Olivia was disappointed, but she agreed to respect their wishes. 11/23 At the loft, Dante arrived home to see Lulu baking in the kitchen. Lulu admitted that she hadn't been expecting Dante until after the game. Dante insisted that he had wanted to spend some time with his fiancée, so he had decided to arrive home early. In the kitchen, Dante noticed the Lulu had taken off her engagement ring. Lulu explained that she had wanted to keep it safe while she had been baking. Dante suggested that they throw a party to officially announce their engagement. Lulu offered to let Dante chose the date, so Dante assured her that he would not let his job affect their relationship. Dante then tried to talk about Luke, but Lulu insisted that she wanted to focus on good things like Aiden's recovery and Lucky's return home. Lulu became uncomfortable when she noticed the red tablecloth on the table. Dante realized that it reminded her of the night that he had been shot. Lulu confessed that she felt silly. Dante started to go to her, but his cell phone went off. Dante glanced at the screen, and then revealed that it was work. Lulu smiled joyfully when Dante decided to ignore it. Moments later, the smoke alarm sounded. Lulu was disappointed when she realized that she had burned her pie. Dante offered to pick up another one at his mother's place, so Lulu promised to have the finest Thanksgiving dinner waiting for him when he returned. Later, Lulu stared at the cold turkey. Fed up, she grabbed her coat, and then left. Dante gave chase when he spotted a suspect fleeing from a warehouse, after an alarm went off. Shortly afterwards, Dante slowly made his way out of an alley, and then collapsed. 11/28 Lulu helped Dante into their apartment, and she scolded him for overexerting himself to the point that he'd passed out in an alley. He countered that she shouldn't have been looking for him. She pointed out that the last time she'd sat there waiting for him, he'd almost died. Lulu started to call a doctor, and Dante jokingly threatened to stop her. He reminded her that the doctors had released him, and he didn't want to sit around doing nothing. Lulu begged him to go to the hospital, but she realized that Dante was afraid that Mac would take him off the case. Dante argued that the department needed help, and Lulu started to ask what was most important to him. He proclaimed that being a cop was his life, and she remarked that she was afraid of his devotion to his job. Lulu professed that she loved Dante and that she wanted him to be around a long time, and she begged him to take it easy. He revealed that he'd chased a possible burglar, but the suspect had gotten away. He complained that he was out of shape and that bed rest didn't make him stronger, but she disagreed. She worried that he wouldn't be able to cheat death the next time around. Lulu served Dante dinner, and he admitted that he shouldn't have taken off after the thief, but he had felt empathy for the store owner. Lulu implored Dante to think of himself, but he said that was why he had her. She suggested that he take disability leave, but he refused. She asked him to meet her halfway by at least leaving back alley chases to other cops. Dante complained that he had no appetite, and Lulu blamed it on passing out in the alley. He understood that she had been scared when he'd been shot, and she wished he'd scared himself enough to take it easy. He compromised by agreeing to go on desk duty for a while, and she sighed in relief and covered him in kisses. He winced when she hugged him, and she apologized. She ordered him to bed, and he suggested that she join him. She pointed out that she couldn't even hug him, but he declared that the pain was worth it. She offered to play nurse in the bathtub instead. During a montage, Lulu and Dante snuggled in bed. She kissed his cheek and eyed a glass of wine across the room. She got up, picked up Dante's badge from the table, and sipped the wine. 11/29 At the loft, Lulu woke up on the sofa, and then slowly wandered over to check on Dante, who was asleep in bed. Lulu became concerned when she heard Dante's raspy breathing, so she fetched her coat and car keys. Lulu stared at the keys for several heartbeats, and then left the loft. Lulu rushed up to the nurses' station, and then begged Steve to help Dante. Lulu revealed that Dante's breathing had been labored. Olivia barged into the loft, and then raced to Dante's bedside. Olivia shook Dante awake, while Steve and Lulu trailed behind Olivia. Dante sat up, and then groggily wondered what everyone was doing there. Olivia explained that Lulu had been concerned about Dante's breathing, so Lulu had gone to the hospital to ask Steve to take a look at Dante. Dante assured everyone that he was fine, and then reminded Lulu that he hadn't wanted anyone to know that he had collapsed, because Dante feared that it might get him pulled off of the job. Steve wanted to know about the incident, so Dante reluctantly explained that the fainting episode had occurred after Dante had overexerted himself by running. Olivia couldn't believe that Dante would risk his life, and the life that he was trying to build with Lulu, by taking risks with his health. Steve examined Dante, and then determined that Dante's chest was slightly congested. Steve decided to give Dante a prescription of antibiotics, but warned Dante to take it easy, and to rest. Steve explained that Dante might be susceptible to infection for up to a month, because of the recent surgery. Dante pointed out that he had been resting when they had arrived. Lulu insisted that she had been worried about Dante, because his breathing has sounded bad. Dante relaxed as Steve dragged Olivia out of the apartment. Lulu apologized for overreacting, and then hugged Dante. Dante suggested that Lulu wake him up the next time that she was worried about his breathing, instead of rushing to the hospital. Dante then questioned why Lulu had opted to take a cab to the hospital, rather than drive her car. Lulu explained that she had been too upset to drive. Dante accepted the excuse, and then went back to bed. After Dante fell asleep, Lulu picked up the bottle of wine that she had left on the counter earlier that evening, and then emptied the contents down the drain. 12/1 On the chartered boat, Mac and Ronnie reviewed the evidence that they had collected, while Dante eavesdropped from the hallway. Ronnie admitted that each of the passengers was a suspect. Dante quickly entered the salon to announce that he had new evidence. Dante handed Mac a file, which contained a statement from a witness who had placed Johnny in the harbor around the time of Lisa's murder. Ronnie didn't think that it was a big deal, but Dante argued that it meant that there was another suspect to consider, besides the passengers on the boat. Ronnie suggested that Dante wanted to use Johnny as a scapegoat, so that it would take the heat off of Olivia. Dante appealed to Mac to allow Dante to investigate the murder, because Delores was inexperienced. Initially Mac refused to consider it, but Dante pushed until Mac relented. Mac agreed to allow Dante to investigate Lisa's murder, under the condition that Dante work with a partner. Dante assured Mac that it wasn't necessary, but Mac disagreed, because of Dante's recent shooting. After Mac left, Ronnie accused Dante of wanting to be a part of the investigation, so that no one would look too closely at Olivia. Dante resented Ronnie's implication that Olivia could have killed Lisa, because Ronnie had been friends with the Falconeris for years. Ronnie was unapologetic as he suggested that Dante's father, Sonny, was more than capable of covering up a murder for Olivia. Dante insisted that his mother was not responsible for Lisa's death, but Ronnie warned Dante that everyone would watch Dante closely. According to Ronnie, many of their fellow officers suspected Dante of covering up Sonny's crimes, so Dante's integrity was in question. Moments later, Delores entered the salon. She was not pleased when Ronnie introduced her to her new partner, Dante. 12/5 Lulu caught up to Dante on the boat where Lisa had been murdered. They argued about his job. Lulu's fears for Dante's safety fell on deaf ears. Dante insisted that he loved his job and could not sit behind a desk just to keep Lulu from worrying about his safety. Dante told Lulu that she needed to find something that she loved to do. He told her to find something that she had a passion for that was not him or her family. Dante said that Lulu was focusing on the wrong things. Lulu said that she was not her mother and that Dante did not have to coddle her. Dante said that he did not go out looking to get shot and that he was not going to live his life worrying about all the bad things that might happen to him. Lulu said that she did not want to worry that any time Dante left her, he might not make it back. She said that she could not live like that. Dante said that he was not going to change or give up his job, no matter how much he loved and wanted to be with Lulu, because it would change the person he was. He told Lulu that she would have to make the decision about their future. With tears in her eyes, Lulu took off the engagement ring. Dante said he guessed that meant there was no more need for ultimatums and then left Lulu alone on the boat. Lulu threw the ring across the cabin, poured herself a large glass of whiskey, and downed it in one gulp. Back at the loft, Dante called Mac and left a message thanking him for assigning Dante to the Lisa Niles case. He unlocked the box holding his gun, snapped in a clip, and holstered the weapon. 12/7 Lulu walked into Crimson and revealed that she needed Maxie's help, but Maxie insisted that she didn't have the time. Lulu refused to be brushed off, because she was desperate for Maxie's objectivity and honesty. Maxie relented, and then asked what was going on. Lulu confessed that she had been a mess since Dante's shooting; she couldn't stop thinking about how close Dante had been to dying. Lulu explained that Dante had broken his promise to work desk duty, which had led to a heated argument, during which Dante had given Lulu an ultimatum to accept his decision, or end things. Lulu admitted that she had broken things off with Dante. "Again?" Maxie asked. Lulu was taken aback by Maxie's blasé attitude, so she insisted that she had been attempting to save Dante's life. Lulu was startled when Maxie suggested that ending things with Dante had been the right decision. "Why?" Lulu wondered. Maxie was curious what Lulu wanted her to say, because it wouldn't matter, since Lulu would likely do whatever Lulu wanted to do anyway. Lulu was curious if Maxie were trying reverse psychology on her, so Maxie clarified that she had just been telling Lulu what Maxie thought that Lulu wanted to hear. Moments later, the phone rang. Maxie was annoyed when the person began to complain about a photo shoot for the magazine. After Maxie ended the phone call, Lulu suggested that Maxie had been rude. Maxie began to rant about how Lulu had abandoned Maxie to work alone, so Maxie had a lot on her plate. Maxie made it clear that she wasn't in the mood to indulge Lulu; however, they were friends, so Maxie decided to give it one more shot. Maxie suggested that only Lulu could decide if it were worth staying with Dante. Lulu appreciated the advice, and then left. Afterwards, Maxie called Matt. At the police station, Dante wondered if he could help Delores find what she was looking for in his desk. Delores claimed that she had been searching for the notes on the boat search, but Dante wasn't satisfied. He warned Delores that his desk was off limits. Delores realized that Dante didn't like her, so Dante admitted that she rubbed him the wrong way. Delores suspected that it was because she was ambitious, while he preferred his women to be "house-trained." Dante glared at Delores, who immediately apologized for the inappropriate comment. Delores explained that she was eager, not uptight, because she wanted to make a difference. Dante admitted that he respected that, so he advised Delores to change out of her uniform. Delores seemed surprised by the remark, so Dante clarified that the uniform tended to make witnesses clam up. Delores relaxed as she conceded that Dante had a point. She suggested that they meet for drinks sometime, to get to know each other better, since they were going to be partners. Dante agreed, but he was curious how Delores' husband would feel about his wife meeting Dante for drinks. Delores assured Dante that her husband would be fine with it, if he weren't out of town on business. After Delores left to change clothes, Mac informed Dante that the forensics report on the murder weapon, which had been used to kill Lisa Niles, was back. Dante thanked Mac for the update, so Mac shifted gears to find out how things were working out between Dante and Delores. Dante assured Mac that everything was fine, and then thanked Mac for putting him on the murder case. Dante explained that he had needed the work, especially since things weren't going well with Lulu. Mac seemed concerned, so he advised Dante to take the rest of the evening off. After Mac left, Dante called the loft. Lulu didn't pick up, so Dante left a message for her. He admitted that he hated how things had ended between them, so he wanted to talk to Lulu, because he was confident that they could fix things. "I'm here," Lulu said as Dante ended the call. Dante turned to see Lulu standing in the squad room. Dante's smile quickly faded when she held out the engagement ring, and then explained that she had stopped by to give it to him. "So that's it?" Dante wondered. Lulu confessed that she didn't see the point of dragging things out, because Dante had clearly made his choice. Lulu revealed that she intended to go to the loft to pack her things, and then left. Outside, Lulu stopped to cry. At the loft, Lulu packed her things. She stopped to listen to Dante's message, but then resumed filling a box with her belongings, including a bottle of wine. Afterwards, she left. At Jake's, Johnny suggested that Delores leave with him "Not going to happen," Dante warned Johnny as Dante suddenly appeared at Delores' side. Johnny was disappointed when Dante led Delores away. Dante thought that Delores had seemed quite cozy with Johnny, for a married woman. Delores pointed out that Dante had a fiancée, but Dante quickly clarified that the engagement had been called off. Moments later, Pres walked up to Dante, and then demanded that Dante take action against Jason, who had assaulted him. Pres insisted on pressing charges, so Dante went to the alley to place Jason under arrest. Jason explained that Franco was back, so it was up to Jason to stop Franco. Dante was unmoved. Jason's anger mounted, so Dante drew his gun, and then ordered Jason to turn around, so that Dante could handcuff Jason. Jason hesitated, but then complied. Sam and Michael were stunned as Dante led Jason away. 12/8 At the police station, Pres Floyd demanded that the charges against Jason be filed immediately. Pres warned Dante that he was familiar with the favorable treatment that Sonny and Jason received from certain police officers. Dante wondered what Pres thought about people like Franco, who murdered for art and sport. Pres insisted that the people of Port Charles had a right to know that Franco had returned, so Pres intended to run the story in his newspaper. According to Pres, Jason had viciously attacked him to keep Pres from alerting the public that the serial killer was back. Dante argued that Jason had wanted to stop Pres from creating panic. Delores stood nearby, quietly watching the exchange between Dante and the ex-mayor. She pointed out to Pres that they didn't have any proof that Franco had actually returned. Pres snidely advised Dante to check with Sonny, and then warned Dante to keep Jason behind bars, or Pres would have Dante's badge. After Pres stormed out, Delores and Dante went to their desks. Dante grumbled about Pres, so Delores changed the subject by telling Dante that she was sorry that things hadn't worked out with Lulu. Dante didn't want to talk about it, so he advised Delores to go home. Delores admitted that she'd rather stick around and learn. Dante couldn't believe that she was serious, but Delores reminded him that she had been assigned to work with him for that very reason. Dante clarified that they had been put together because Ronnie thought that Dante needed a babysitter. Dante doubted that Delores would learn anything from him that she didn't already know. Frustrated, Delores suggested that they divide up the cases, so that they could make good use of their time and resources. She started to reach for his key to the evidence room, but Dante quickly grabbed it, and then slid it into his desk. "That's not going to happen," Dante told Delores. She was outraged that he had such a low opinion of Latino women. Dante was startled by her unexpected accusation, but Delores continued her rant about sexism in the police department. She suggested that was the reason that no one had investigated the attacks on the dancers from Vaughn's. Dante informed her that he had been looking into it, but he conceded that he had a full caseload. Delores quickly offered to take the case off of his hands, so Dante agreed, but he was surprised that she hadn't requested the Lisa Niles murder case. Delores doubted that Dante would part with the case, since his mother was involved. Dante claimed that he just wanted to make certain that the wrong person wasn't charged with the crime. He then returned to the topic of the attacks on the dancers from Vaughn's. Delores revealed that she had reason to believe that the person who had attacked the dancers had struck before. Delores explained that she had discovered that five topless dancers had been attacked over a three-month period in 2009. According to Delores, the modus operandi had been the same as the recent attacks. Delores then told Dante that another series of attacks, fitting the same pattern, had occurred at another bar the previous year. Dante agreed that it sounded like their guy, but he suggested that she clear it with her husband, before taking the case. Delores assured Dante that her husband respected that she had to do what she had to. Dante was impressed; he was curious how she had managed that. Delores confided that Dante's fiancée had asked her the same thing. "Ex-fiancée," Dante clarified. Dante decided to go to lockup to get a statement from Jason. At Kelly's, Lulu stared at her bare ring finger as Spinelli entered. Lulu greeted Spinelli, but he quickly sensed that she was troubled. Spinelli offered to help, but Lulu admitted that she doubted that he could; however, she invited him to join her. Spinelli sat down, so Lulu told him about her broken engagement. Spinelli was surprised to hear that Lulu and Dante had been engaged, so Lulu explained that they had kept it quiet. She conceded that perhaps it had been a sign that she wasn't ready to get married. Spinelli knew from experience that the prospect of marriage could be overwhelming, even for two people who were in love. Lulu revealed that Dante had refused to compromise about his job, and that she had been unable to handle the daily danger that Dante faced as a police officer. Spinelli was surprised, because he recalled when Lulu had a penchant for danger. Spinelli and Lulu reminisced about their first adventure together, when they had been held captive in Alcazar's warehouse, and Lulu had bashed Jason over the head with a bottle of tequila. Spinelli confided that it was one of his most cherished memories. Lulu smiled, as she wondered what had happened to her. "When did I start playing it safe?" Lulu wondered. Lulu confessed that for a long time, she had wanted to be a true Spencer, until she had realized that it meant being completely irresponsible, taking off on a whim, and trampling over everyone's feelings. Spinelli detected a hint of disillusionment in Lulu's tone, so Lulu admitted that she had been left one too many times by her father. Spinelli suggested that perhaps Lulu had projected her fear of abandonment onto Dante, because of Luke. Lulu insisted that Luke and Dante were nothing alike, but Spinelli clarified that Lulu might fear that Dante would leave her by dying. Lulu realized that Spinelli was right; she didn't want to get married, only to have the rug pulled out from under her if Dante were killed. Spinelli advised Lulu to consider what she was giving up, and why she had fallen in love with Dante, before making a decision about her future. Spinelli wondered what had first attracted Lulu to Dante. Lulu admitted Dante had a wonderful sense of humor, and that he had always made her smile. Spinelli suggested that trust should be important too. Lulu's smile faded as she acknowledged that it was a problem for them, but Dante had always been willing to work on it. Lulu explained that even though she loved Dante, she thought that it was best to let him go, before she was hurt. Spinelli admitted that Lulu had changed, because the old Lulu would have followed her heart. 12/9 Olivia arrived at the police station to see Dante. She grilled him about his "date" with Delores, but Dante explained that Delores was his partner. Besides, he had more important things to discuss. Olivia chided her son about his actions with Lulu, but Dante asked her to go somewhere with him. Everyone who had been on the boat (or nearby) when Lisa was murdered to gather on the boat where Lisa had been murdered. Mac reintroduced everyone to First Officer Briggs. Dante pointed out that everyone who'd been on the boat that night was there, with the exception of Elizabeth, who'd been thrown overboard before Lisa's death, and the deceased Captain McCloud. Johnny, Anthony, and Spinelli, however, were there because they'd been nearby that night. Mac presented the murder weapon, the wrench the police had found. Dante showed them Robin's watch, which had stopped at 9:49, during the final struggle between Robin and Lisa. Mac noted that Lisa had given Anthony power of attorney, so perhaps Anthony had worked out an arrangement with Lisa, but it had gone wrong. Dante speculated that Johnny might have tried to stop Lisa after getting wind of Lisa's deadly plans. Ronnie pointed out that Steve had had a romantic relationship with Lisa, so Delores seized the opportunity to question Steve about the scratch he'd had on his face the night that Lisa had been murdered. Ronnie hinted that Olivia's motive to kill Lisa had been jealousy, but Olivia assured Ronnie that Steve's past didn't concern her. Dante quickly moved on to Matt by reminding everyone that Matt had been drinking. Matt freely admitted that he had been "drunk as a skunk," while Spinelli sat nearby, envisioning each scenario of Lisa's murder that the police had presented. Spinelli immediately sprang to Maxie's defense when the focus fell on her. Mac warned Spinelli that Spinelli was just as much of a suspect as everyone else in the room, because Spinelli had been near the boat too. Maxie started to defend Spinelli, but Matt cut to the chase by conceding that everyone in the room had had motive to kill Lisa. However, Patrick added, the police did not have any evidence. Mac assured them that they did, and then reviewed the physical evidence with the suspects. Everyone was able to provide an innocent explanation for the fingerprints, hair, and fibers, so Matt argued that Mac didn't have enough to charge anyone. Mac was forced to agree, and then let everyone leave. After the suspects had left, Mac, Dante, Ronnie, and Delores went over what they'd just witnessed. They had hoped to rattle the suspects' cages, so that someone would have confessed to the murder. Delores reminded them of the new evidence, the textile fiber, , which could pay off by leading them to the killer. Briggs walked nervously down an alley on the waterfront. She froze when she heard a noise. Dante threw on the lights, as someone crept through the chartered boat's salon. "It's you," Dante said when he saw Olivia standing by the bar with an expression of guilt. 12/12 Dante jumped to the immediate conclusion that Olivia had killed Lisa because Olivia had returned to the boat to look for a religious medal that police had found at the crime scene, and Dante had recognized as Olivia's. Olivia said it had belonged to her aunt; she explained she treasured the medal, and that was why she had returned. Olivia said that she had been all over the boat, but that she had gone up on deck when she got woozy from the fumes in the engine room and had probably lost the medal then. Olivia said that she'd had absolutely no motive to kill Lisa. Detective Delores entered the cabin and said that Olivia's motive was that Lisa was sleeping with Olivia's boyfriend. Olivia said that had all been in the past. When Delores implied that Steve had killed Lisa and had planted the medal to implicate Olivia, Olivia defended Steve. She said that Steve was not that kind of man. Olivia continued that Steve was too honorable to let Olivia take the blame for something he had done. Olivia told Delores that Olivia knew what Delores was up to. Olivia warned Delores to stay away from Dante because Dante was taken. Olivia stormed off the boat to the consternation of both Dante and Delores. At the police station, Dante apologized for his mother's comments and explained that it was because Olivia was Italian. Delores said that she had not taken Olivia's comments personally, but wondered if Dante had. Dante told Delores that the only reason that they were partners was because Ronnie wanted to punish him. Delores said that she did not want to partner with Dante either. Dante started looking in and on his desk for the evidence room locker key, which he was sure was there somewhere. Delores, who was holding a cup of coffee in one hand, slipped the key out of a back pocket with the other. Delores apologized for the confrontation with Dante's mother and said that she had overreacted because Olivia had made her feel fourteen again. Dante laughed too. When he looked in a drawer, Delores let the key card drop to the floor then pretended to find it with the explanation that it must have slipped off the desk. 12/13 At the police station, Dante eavesdropped on Delores' phone call. "So how long is this job going to take?" Delores asked the caller. She couldn't hide her disappointment when the person answered. She then switched to Spanish for a few minutes, before admitting in English that they needed the money. Delores wondered if the caller would be home in time for Christmas. "Do what you can," she urged after the person replied. After the call, Delores explained that she had been talking to her husband, who worked construction. According to Delores, her husband had to work out of town, because there wasn't a lot of work available in Port Charles. Dante assured her that she didn't owe him any explanations, but Delores thought that she and Dante should get to know each other, since they were partners. Delores also wanted Dante to set Olivia straight that Delores wasn't interested in Dante, because Delores had a husband whom Delores loved. Dante defended his mother's less-than-flattering remarks about Delores by pointing out that Delores had accused Olivia of being a killer. Delores argued that she had just been doing her job. Dante suggested that they stick to the facts, and then revealed that there had been a hit on the trace of blood that they had found on the boat's deck, the night of Lisa's murder. Delores eagerly wondered if it had matched anyone on their suspect list. Anthony strolled into the squad room, and then greeted Dante. "Detective Corinthos," Anthony taunted with chuckle. "Sorry, it's Falconeri isn't it? You asked to see me?" Anthony added. Dante invited Anthony to take a seat, and then revealed that traces of his blood had been found on the boat following Lisa's murder. Anthony explained that he had donated blood at the hospital, and then suggested that perhaps Lisa had taken it. Delores and Dante laughed at the absurd excuse. Anthony insisted that they couldn't charge him with anything, and then lawyered up. Moments later, Dante received a text message from someone who wanted to confess to Lisa's murder. Anthony smiled with satisfaction. Later, Dante and Delores entered the salon on the chartered boat, with their guns drawn. Dante called out to the person who had texted him, but no one responded. Moments later, Dante spotted a body on the floor. 12/15 At Crimson, Lulu offered to lend Maxie a hand with a project. Maxie questioned Lulu's sincerity, since Lulu constantly reminded everyone that she no longer worked for Kate. Lulu apologized, and then sat down to watch Maxie work. Maxie suspected that Lulu wanted to talk about Dante, so she invited Lulu to help her sort shoes. Lulu seemed slightly insulted by Maxie's assumption, but Maxie claimed that she was simply being honest with Lulu. Lulu conceded that she had been thinking about Dante, because she lived in constant fear that he might not return home alive. Maxie warned Lulu that time was running out to salvage her relationship with Dante. Lulu explained that she was hesitant to make promises that she couldn't keep, so Maxie reminded Lulu that Dante had supported Lulu when Lulu had put herself in dangerous situations, such as the time that Lulu had gone to a brothel looking for Luke. Lulu argued that those incidents had only lasted a short time, whereas Dante's job was permanent. Maxie argued that even good guys had their pride, and limits. Lulu feared that she might have pushed Dante too far away, because he thought that they were over. Frustrated, Maxie wondered if she had to spell things out for Lulu. Maxie ordered Lulu to work things out with Dante, and get the engagement ring back. Lulu feared that she might not be able to live with Dante being a cop, but Maxie insisted that Lulu had more difficulty living without Dante. Maxie asked Lulu to hold down the fort, and then dashed off before Lulu could object. Lulu picked up a file, and then carried it to Kate's office. As she turned to leave, Lulu spotted the sidebar. She poured herself a drink, looked at it, and then put it down without taking a sip. At the police station, Mac looked over the file on Lisa's murder, including Officer Briggs' confession, prior to her suicide. Mac thought that it was sad that, even in death, Lisa had managed to get one more victim. Delores wondered if there had been anything else to connect Officer Briggs to the murder, besides a napkin with traces of the grease from the murder weapon, which they had found in the first mate's apartment. Mac explained that Officer Briggs had an affair with the captain, and that he had told his lover that he intended to leave his wife. Mac suggested that Officer Briggs had retaliated for her lover's murder by taking Lisa's life. Delores had reservations about Officer Briggs' confession, because it had been sent in a text, not a handwritten note. Mac made it clear that he considered the case closed, and then walked away. Dante agreed with Mac's decision, but Delores thought that Mac had been a bit too eager. Delores explained that something hadn't felt right about the confession, and that Dante and Mac had good reason to close the case, since they each had family members who were on the suspect list. "That is one hell of an accusation to make," Dante groused. Delores argued that he would be amazed at what people would do for love. Dante assured Delores that he respected her professionalism, so he expected her to extend him the same courtesy. Delores was curious if Dante would be so quick to believe the first mate's confession if his mother weren't a suspect. Dante was offended, but instead of answering her, he asked what Delores would do if someone she loved were in trouble. Delores didn't immediately reply, prompting Dante to remark, "That's what I thought." Dante turned away from his partner just as Lulu entered the squad room. Dante and Lulu greeted each other, and then Lulu wondered if he still had the engagement ring. 12/16 Lulu told Dante that she was wrong for allowing her fear to keep her from committing to the man she loved. "I would rather worry about losing you if it means having you in my life," she said before asking him to marry her. Dante replied that he couldn't. He said he couldn't handle the on-and-off nature of their engagement anymore. Lulu promised it was on from that point forward, and Dante agreed to marry her. He made an announcement to his colleagues, who applauded. 12/21 In New York City, Lulu and Dante lounged in bed after making love. Lulu was curious what to call their trip. "A slice of heaven," Dante suggested. Lulu chuckled, and then wondered if it were a post-engagement or pre-wedding getaway. Dante assured her that it could be whatever she wanted it to be. Lulu confessed that he was what she wanted, every day, for the rest of their lives. Later, Lulu was curious what Dante had planned for the day. Dante wanted to stay in their hotel room, but Lulu wanted to see the city. Dante decided to show her something special, so he grabbed her hand, and then led her out of the room. Sometime later, Lulu and Dante returned to their hotel room. Lulu was curious if Dante had ever been to the World Trade Center before September 11th. Dante revealed that Olivia had taken him to Windows on the World when he was a child. He recalled that he had been in school when he had learned that the twin towers had been hit, and that he couldn't fathom the buildings collapsing, but they had. Lulu confessed that she had been deeply moved when she had seen the names of the victims carved in stone at Ground Zero. Dante admitted that some of the people who had perished on that fateful day had been from his neighborhood; they had been firefighters, and police officers, not bankers. Lulu and Dante talked about how selfless the first responders had been. Dante confessed that he wouldn't have hesitated to enter the towers if he had been on duty the day that the planes had hit the buildings. Lulu was curious if he had taken her to Ground Zero as a test, because she realized that a lot of spouses had been left behind after the national tragedy. Dante denied that it had been a test, but he had hoped to show her that the heroes who had perished that day had died giving the best of themselves. Dante thought that it was something to emulate. Lulu wondered if it helped the families of those who had died, knowing that their loved ones had been heroes. Dante suggested that the family members might have taken comfort from knowing that their loved ones had died doing something that had mattered. Dante assured Lulu that he loved her, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, but not at the cost of Lulu's happiness. Lulu was curious if Dante feared that she might change her mind about marrying him. "Will you?" Dante asked. Lulu admitted that it had been a bit overwhelming to see the memorial to the victims of 9/11. She wondered if there would ever be a time when they would be able to visit the site without feeling a deep sense of loss. "I hope not," Dante replied. Lulu imagined that the morning of September 11, 2001, had been like any other normal morning for the people who had perished on that day. However, she wondered if all those who had lost their lives on 9/11 would have done anything different if they had known what fate had in store. Dante suggested that they had to make the best of the moments that they had. Lulu smiled, and then kissed Dante. Afterwards, Lulu admitted that she was determined not to let fear get in the way of her happiness. She thought that the risk that he took was a reminder to her to treasure every moment, because life was random, and nothing was guaranteed. Dante was curious if she truly meant that. "Absolutely," Lulu assured him. "Then why wait? Let's get married now," Dante suggested. 12/22 In New York City, Lulu realized that Dante was serious about getting married right away. Dante insisted that the timing was perfect, because Christmas in the city was romantic. Dante begged Lulu to agree, but Lulu had reservations. She reminded him that it had been a very emotional day for them, so he might have regrets in the morning. Dante assured Lulu that he didn't have any doubts about getting married; however, he was concerned that she might. Lulu promised Dante that she wasn't trying to back out of marrying him, but she thought that they should consider their families, especially Olivia, who would be hurt to be excluded from the wedding. Dante agreed that his mother would probably never speak to him again if they didn't invite her to the wedding, so he decided to call Olivia to let her know about their plans to get married on Christmas Day. Lulu worried that they wouldn't be able to pull the wedding together at the last minute, but Dante was confident that everything would work out fine. Later, Dante and Lulu returned to their hotel room. Lulu was discouraged, because they hadn't been able to secure a church for their wedding. Dante suggested that they resort to Plan B, which was to call Maxie, but Lulu quashed the idea, because she didn't want to bother her friend on Christmas Eve. Lulu thought perhaps Olivia might be able to help, since Olivia went to church regularly, and had connections. Dante suddenly recalled that his cousin, Tommy, had entered the priesthood, so he decided to reach out to him. "All set," Dante proudly informed Lulu after he spoke to Tommy on the phone. Dante revealed that Tommy had agreed to perform the ceremony later that evening. Lulu conceded that perhaps miracles did happen. Dante sensed that Lulu wasn't enthusiastic about their wedding plans, so Lulu admitted that it wasn't what she had imagined. Dante realized that Lulu might want her own family present at the wedding, but she reminded him that everyone in her family had their own issues to deal with, so they might not want to attend. Lulu insisted that Dante and Olivia were her family, prompting Dante to assure Lulu that all of the Falconeris would welcome Lulu into their family with open arms. Dante kissed Lulu, but she pulled away when she suddenly realized that she didn't have anything to wear to her own wedding. Dante promised that they would take care of that later, and then kissed her again. Dante and Lulu began to tear off each other's clothes, and then made love. 12/23 Dante introduced Lulu to his cousin Tommy, the priest. Lulu was amused by his nickname for Dante, "Stud." She thought the church to be a little too formal for the wedding, and Dante gave her another chance to back out, but Lulu told him there wasn't a chance she would. An excited Olivia ran in and announced that the rest of the family would soon arrive, which prompted Lulu to go get dressed. Dante asked his mom to call everyone and ask them not to go. Olivia begrudgingly complied. After disinviting everyone, Olivia returned, just as Lulu, in a beautiful dress, walked into the sanctuary. To cover the something old, borrowed, and blue requirements, Olivia gave Lulu a family heirloom tied with a blue ribbon. She included a bouquet of new flowers, to complete the tradition. Cousin Tommy performed the ceremony. As he was about to pronounce the couple "man and wife," Dante and Lulu realized they didn't have rings with them. Olivia, not to leave things to chance, had visited Dante's uncle and gotten two rings. Extemporaneously, Lulu and Dante each made vows before Tommy joined them in holy matrimony. Olivia ran out to the foyer and invited the family in; they'd been outside waiting the whole time. 12/27 At the loft, Dante scooped up his new bride, and then carried her over the threshold, despite Lulu's protests. Lulu insisted that she was too heavy, but Dante ignored her. "Welcome home, Mrs. Falconeri," Dante told Lulu as he gently set her down. Lulu smiled, and then kissed her husband. Afterwards, Lulu spotted a gift basket that Olivia had left behind. Dante grumbled that he would have to discuss boundaries with his mother, but Lulu assured him that it wasn't a problem unless Olivia made a habit of letting herself into their home. Dante wondered if Lulu had any regrets about marrying him. "No," Lulu promised. Moments later, Dante spotted an envelope. Dante was shocked when he discovered that it contained a cashier's check for one hundred thousand dollars from Sonny. Lulu wondered if it were legitimate coffee business money, or mob money. Dante was curious if she thought that they should keep it, so Lulu questioned if Dante wanted a relationship with his father. Later, Olivia let herself into Dante and Lulu's loft. "Oh shoot, you're here," Olivia said when she saw Lulu standing in the living room. Olivia quickly explained that she had hoped to drop off some essentials before Dante and Lulu had arrived home. Lulu appreciated Olivia's thoughtfulness, so Olivia apologized for all of the Falconeris crashing Lulu's wedding. Lulu assured Olivia that it was fine, prompting Olivia to warn Lulu which family members to avoid in the future. The conversation then drifted to Sonny's extravagant wedding gift. Olivia explained that she had been hesitant to return the envelope to Sonny, because she had felt guilty that he hadn't been invited to the wedding. Olivia explained that Sonny desperately wanted a place in Dante's life, but it wasn't easy, because Lulu hated Sonny. Lulu assured Olivia that she didn't want to prevent Dante from having a relationship with Sonny, even though Lulu would never forgive Sonny for shooting Dante. Olivia smiled, because Lulu's willingness to accept Sonny's role in Dante's life boded well for the newlyweds. Lulu confessed that she had never seen a successful marriage, so she didn't have anything to go by. Olivia revealed that Dante's grandparents, and Olivia's four brothers had healthy marriages, so Olivia knew that respect and honesty were essential to a happy marriage. Olivia then joked that it also helped if one of the spouses knew their way around the kitchen. Lulu reminded Olivia that Lulu was a disaster in the kitchen, but Olivia was confident that Lulu would eventually learn to cook. A short time later, Lulu offered Olivia a taste of the pasta sauce that Lulu had prepared. Olivia was reluctant to tell Lulu that it was awful, so Lulu tested it. Lulu realized that it was foul tasting, so she asked Olivia what to do. Olivia suggested that Lulu order some pizza, but Lulu was determined to salvage the meal. Olivia handed Lulu a bottle of wine with the suggestion that everything tasted better with wine. Lulu's expression turned somber as she set the bottle on the table. Dante caught Delores in the evidence room at the police station. He demanded to know what she was doing there, so Delores made a scathing remark. Dante didn't appreciate the attitude, so he reminded Delores that she wasn't authorized to be in the evidence room. Delores claimed that the door had been open, but Dante suspected that she had swiped his keycard again. Delores turned defensive as she explained that she had just been going the extra mile to work some unsolved cases. Delores began to rant about her male co-workers' sexist views, so Dante accused Delores of having a chip on her shoulder. Delores insisted that she had been trying to find clues to track the man who had been stalking and attacking strippers. Dante confessed that her previous superiors had commended Delores for being a fine investigator, so Dante was confident that the case was in good hands. However, Dante was curious why Delores had asked for a transfer, instead of moving up the ladder at her previous precinct. He suspected that it had something to do with "Rosa." Delores was furious that Dante had been checking into her background, but Dante refused to apologize for finding out about Delores' sister's unsolved murder. Delores refused to discuss it, so Dante suggested that they talk to Mac about it, and then threatened to reveal that Delores had been snooping around the evidence room without authorization. Delores insisted that her sister hadn't been murdered; she had been left to die, like garbage, in an alley to send a message. Dante assured her that he knew about revenge, but Delores screamed that he didn't know anything. Dante was concerned about Delores' short fuse, prompting Delores to jump to the conclusion that Dante wanted sexual favors from her in exchange for his silence. Dante was stunned when Delores began to unbutton her shirt, and then reached for his belt buckle. Dante quickly pushed her away, and then clarified that he didn't want to have sex. Moments later, Sonny appeared in the doorway. "Um, am I interrupting something?" Sonny asked. Sonny explained that he was there to congratulate his son on getting married to Lulu. Delores was shocked to learn about the nuptials. Sonny asked for a private word with Dante, so Delores quickly left. Dante didn't think that it was a good idea to have a close bonding moment with his father at the police station, because it might raise eyebrows, so Sonny invited Dante to stop by Pozzulo's to talk. Dante was curious why Sonny was there, so Sonny explained that he needed Dante's help. Dante was taken aback when Sonny revealed that Abby had been killed. Dante realized that Michael was devastated, so Sonny revealed that Michael blamed himself for what had happened to Abby. Dante promised to pay his brother a visit, but Sonny wanted Dante to find the man responsible for attacking Abby's friends, before someone else was hurt. Later, Delores was sifting through boxes in the evidence room when Dante questioned her about what she knew regarding the man who had been attacking strippers. Delores was curious why Dante was suddenly interested in the case, so Dante reminded Delores that they were partners. He promised to cover for her if anyone asked why she was in the evidence room, provided that she included him on her findings. After Dante left, Delores pulled out a picture from one of the boxes, and then stared at it. 12/28 At the loft, Lulu was disappointed that she hadn't been able to cook a decent Italian meal for Dante. Olivia reminded Lulu that it would take time to develop cooking skills. Lulu realized that she would have to spend a fortune on delivery, prompting Olivia to wonder if it would be so terrible for Lulu and Dante to accept Sonny's generous wedding gift. Lulu admitted that the money would be handy, but there were other family members that they could turn to if they were in a financial bind. Olivia thought that Lulu and Dante should give Sonny fair consideration, without jumping to the worst conclusion, but Lulu argued that Sonny was trying to buy a relationship with Dante. Olivia doubted that it was as sinister as that. Olivia suggested that perhaps Sonny feared rejection if he reached out to Lulu and Dante empty-handed. Lulu was curious if Olivia wanted Dante and Sonny to have a relationship, so Olivia admitted that she did. Lulu doubted that it would ever happen, but she realized that it wasn't up to her. Olivia advised Lulu to discuss it with Dante. Dante arrived home. Olivia was happy to see her son, but she quickly excused herself, promised Dante that she would never be like "Mrs. DiVincenzi," and then left. Lulu wondered who Mrs. DiVincenzi was, but Dante explained that he had to get back to work, so he wanted to enjoy dinner with his wife. Lulu warned Dante that he might not like what she had cooked, but Dante sat down anyway. Later, Lulu offered Dante seconds on the salad, but Dante declined. Lulu reminded him that most of the dinner hadn't been edible, but Dante assured her that the pasta had been cooked to perfection. Lulu revealed that the pasta had been the only part of the meal that Olivia had coached her on. Lulu then pushed Dante to tell her about Mrs. DiVincenzi, so Dante revealed that Mrs. DiVincenzi had been the mother-in-law "from hell" who had constantly found fault with her daughter-in-law until one night the daughter-in-law had walked out on her husband. Dante explained that his friend had chased after his wife down the street, worked things out with her, and then had tossed Mrs. DiVincenzi out of his home until she could show his wife proper respect. Lulu wondered what the moral of the story was, so Dante revealed that it meant that marriage was the start of a new family, and that the spouse would always be first. Dante couldn't imagine throwing his mother out of his home, but Lulu reminded him that Olivia wasn't the problem. Dante sobered as he revealed that he had seen Sonny earlier that evening. Lulu was stunned to learn that Abby had died. Dante was surprised when Lulu suggested that perhaps it was a good sign that Sonny had asked for Dante's help to find the man who had attacked the dancers from Vaughn's, rather than delegating the job to his henchmen. Dante admitted that Sonny had also asked Dante visit him. He was impressed when Lulu didn't make a harsh remark about Sonny, so Lulu explained that she intended to support her husband if Dante wanted a relationship with Sonny. Later, Dante went to see Sonny at Pozzulo's. Dante warned Sonny that it wasn't a good idea to drop by the station for visits, so Sonny promised to call the next time. Dante then revealed that they didn't have much to go on in regards to the man who had been attacking the dancers from Vaughn's, so Dante planned to re-interview the victims. Sonny was startled when Dante pulled out the cashier's check that Sonny had given Dante and Lulu as a wedding gift. Dante explained that he couldn't accept it. Sonny assured Dante that it was legitimate money, but Dante insisted that it wasn't about that. Sonny realized that Dante didn't want the money, because it was from Sonny. 12/29 Tracy stopped by the loft to reveal that she had received a message from Luke, in the form of a diamond. Tracy wanted Lulu to tell Luke that it wouldn't work, but Lulu pointed out that she didn't talk to Luke. Tracy held up the diamond for Lulu to see, but Lulu accidentally dropped it into the sauce that she had been preparing. Lulu quickly scooped the diamond out of the sauce, and then handed it back to Tracy. "Just what I wanted. A garlic encrusted diamond," Tracy remarked as she cleaned the diamond off, and then tucked it away. Lulu was surprised that Luke had sent Tracy the expensive bauble, so Tracy admitted that she only suspected that Luke had sent it. Tracy explained that it had arrived on her doorstep with a message written on the back of an invitation to Metro Court's New Year's Eve bash. Tracy added that the note had read, "You've got the rock, I've got the setting." Tracy revealed that she intended to go to the party, so that she could tell Luke that she was tired of waiting for him. Tracy poured herself a glass of wine, so Lulu invited Tracy to help with the cooking. Tracy scoffed at the idea, but she was curious why Lulu was in the kitchen. Lulu explained that she wanted to prepare a home-cooked meal for her husband. "Did you say husband?" Tracy asked. Lulu admitted that she and Dante had gotten married on Christmas Eve in a private ceremony. Tracy thought it had been wise of Lulu and Dante to keep things simple, and then decided to test Lulu's marinara sauce. Tracy grimaced as soon as it hit her tongue, and then demanded to know why Lulu was going through so much trouble. Lulu insisted that she was trying to heed Tracy's advice by following her own bliss instead of rescuing everyone around her. Tracy warned Lulu that if Dante needed Lulu to be the kind of wife who cooked, then Lulu was in trouble. Lulu promised that she wasn't changing herself to accommodate Dante, and then shifted the focus of the conversation back to Tracy's relationship with Luke. Lulu doubted that things were really over between Tracy and Luke, but Tracy made it clear that she intended to make Luke understand that they were over. "Whatever you say," Lulu replied with a smile. At Pozzulo's, Dante explained that he couldn't accept Sonny's generous wedding gift, because Dante felt like he would owe his father. Sonny assured Dante that there weren't any strings attached to the money, but Dante stood firm, because he suspected that Sonny was trying to buy his way into Dante's life. "Would that be so bad?" Sonny wondered. Sonny complained that every time they took a step forward, they ended up taking two steps back. Dante assured his father that he wasn't returning the money out of spite, but Sonny suspected that Dante blamed him for the shooting at the warehouse. Sonny vowed to find the person responsible, to make them pay for nearly killing Dante. Dante was frustrated, because someone always had to pay with Sonny. The argument escalated when Jax's name cropped up. Sonny denied that he'd had anything to do with what had happened to Jax, but Dante didn't believe Sonny, because Dante recalled what Sonny had been like on the night of Jax's plane crash. Sonny became concerned when Dante's breathing became labored as he clutched his side in obvious pain. Sonny quickly guided Dante to a chair, and then poured his son a glass of water, as he asked Dante what was wrong. Dante explained that he'd had similar attacks following the removal of part of his lung after the warehouse shooting. Dante insisted that he was fine, but Sonny remained worried. Dante accused Sonny of sounding like a concerned father, so Sonny admitted that he was, even though Sonny hadn't been invited to the wedding. Dante clarified that no one had been invited. Sonny assured Dante that he was happy for his son. Sonny wanted Dante to accept the money, so that Dante had time to properly recuperate from the shooting. Dante refused to take the money, so Sonny reminded Dante that they were family. "I've got enough family," Dante grumbled. Sonny warned Dante that eventually the real world would intrude on Dante and Lulu's bubble of newlywed bliss. Dante confessed that he struggled everyday with the idea of Sonny as his father. Sonny explained that he just wanted to be a part of Dante's life, not his enemy. Dante assured his father that he didn't think of Sonny as the enemy, but he couldn't forget that Sonny had shot an unarmed man when he had taken aim at Dante. Sonny explained that his entire life had been about survival, but the argument didn't hold water with Dante, because Sonny had enough money to retire comfortably. Sonny argued that he would have to leave the country and his kids behind, which didn't appeal to him. Sonny asked Dante to meet him in the middle, so Dante agreed. However, Dante didn't see backyard barbeques in their future. Sonny was curious if Dante were interested in meeting him for New Year's Eve. Sonny explained that Carly was hosting a gala at Metro Court, so Sonny thought that Michael might appreciate being surrounded by family. Dante promised to be there if Sonny stopped writing checks. Sonny compromised by agreeing to do something worthwhile with the money, that Dante would approve of. "Can you trust me on that?" Sonny wondered. "Yes," Dante replied. 12/30 Dante gave his condolences to a distraught Michael, who sat at a table in Kelly's. Dante urged his brother not to seek revenge. Michael noticed Dante's wedding band, which prompted Dante to apologize for not having invited Michael to the wedding. 1/3 At the Metro Court Restaurant, Michae gives a toast to his mother. He starts talking about Jax and how sad it was that Jax wasn’t there to celebrate with them that day. He accuses his mother of knowing that Jax didn’t really die, no body was found, and that Carly had known all along that Jax is still alive. Alexis demands to know if Jax is alive? Sonny steps in and also demands that she tell the truth and not lie to her son! Carly says she doesn’t know for sure, she hasn’t seen him. She continues that two weeks afterwards, that their yacht went missing and she didn’t report it to the police. Also some money has been moved in Jax’s foreign bank accounts. Sonny says she led everyone to believe Jax was dead to blame Sonny. Lulu asked Diane to intercede, but Pres Floyd warned Diane to stay out of it, so that the drama could play out. "This is good stuff," Pres added. Alexis accused Carly of being a "raging bitch," who had been dumped by Sonny, and then had chased Jax to the other side of the world, just so that he could get away from her. Carly insisted that Jax had gone into hiding, because of Sonny, so she was curious what Alexis would do if Sonny were to try to kill Jax. Diane finally managed to pull Alexis away from Carly. Carly and Kate continued to fling insults at each other, until Lulu ordered them to stop. Everyone was stunned when Lulu revealed that there had been an accident. Jason and Michael lay unconscious on the roadside, following a motorcycle accident. Jason awoke first, so he quickly rushed to Michael's side to check on his nephew, who remained unconscious. Moments later, Dante arrived on the scene to assure Jason that an ambulance had been called. Michael's eyes snapped open. "You knew, didn't you?" Michael angrily demanded as he glared at Jason. Michael was furious that Jason had kept the truth about Jax a secret, thereby depriving Josslyn of her father, and adding to Morgan's pain. "You didn't even think about it, did you? How much it hurt to lose somebody that you love," Michael accused Jason. Disgusted, Michael got up, and then walked away. Jason started to follow Michael, but Dante volunteered to look after Michael. Carly was relieved when Michael walked into the hospital. She was desperate to know if Michael had been hurt, but Michael was in a surly mood, and refused to talk to her. Dante promised to make certain that Michael was checked out, and then followed his brother. Dante returned to the Metro Court Restaurant to join his wife. He assured her that Michael and Jason had escaped the accident without injury. Lulu was concerned about Michael, because Michael was a volatile person who continually felt the need to prove himself. She realized that Abby had balanced Michael out. Dante couldn't imagine how he would feel if he were to lose Lulu, so Lulu reminded Dante that they had agreed not to take on the pain of others. She thought that they should focus on what they had, and count their blessings. Dante was impressed, so Lulu conceded that she had always been a "glass half-empty" girl until she had met Dante. Lulu credited Dante for teaching her to believe in happy endings. Later, Dante and Lulu sipped champagne as they confided their New Year's resolutions. Lulu wanted to find her own bliss, and to become a better cook. Dante smiled, and then insisted that she was too hard on herself. Their conversation then drifted to Sonny's wedding gift. Dante reminded her that they could do a lot with the money, but Lulu felt that keeping the money would complicate things with Sonny. She didn't think that it was worth it, and then tactfully changed the subject to find out what Dante's New Year's resolution was. Dante promised to love her, to be grateful for the little and big things, and to make each year better for her than the last. Lulu decided that she had one more resolution; she wanted to dance with her husband, while everyone around them rang in the New Year. 1/5 In Maxie and Lulu's apartment, Lulu and Dante packed Lulu's things. Dante was surprised by everything that Lulu had collected over the years, but Lulu merely chuckled. Moments later, Maxie entered the apartment. Maxie was furious that she hadn't been invited to Lulu and Dante's wedding, and that she had learned of their nuptials from Kate, who had heard the news from Olivia. Lulu and Dante explained that it had been a private ceremony, but Maxie reminded them that "fifty Falconeris" had been in attendance. Maxie was also upset, because Lulu had decided to move out. Lulu and Dante reminded Maxie that they were like any other normal couple, but Maxie disagreed, because they had broken off their engagement several times before eloping. Maxie couldn't understand why everyone around her had decided to start ditching traditional weddings. Lulu reminded Maxie that it wasn't all about Maxie, but Maxie insisted that she had been the one to persuade Lulu to marry Dante. Lulu was shocked that Maxie would take credit, since Maxie had given both bad and good advice. Maxie decided to toss Lulu out, and then broke down in tears, because she felt as if she were losing her best friend. Dante pointed out that Lulu was just moving across town, so Maxie could call Lulu any time. Maxie began to calm down, but she was concerned about the rent. Lulu promised to continue to pay her share of the rent until Maxie found a roommate. Dante decided to take some of the boxes to the car, to give Lulu and Maxie some time alone. Maxie assured Lulu that Lulu was welcome to return if Lulu and Dante got into a fight. Lulu appreciated the offer. The girls hugged each other, and then said goodbye. 1/10 At the police station, Ronnie decided to throw Dante a bachelor party. Delores tried to explain that it was too late, but Ronnie revealed that he'd already heard about Dante and Lulu's wedding from friends and family in Bensonhurst. However, Ronnie was determined to have the bachelor party anyway. Michael overheard the conversation when he entered the squad room, so he sarcastically suggested that Ronnie could host the party in the hospital's ICU, because that's where all the dancers were. Michael angrily accused the police of failing to "protect and serve," because they were busy planning parties. Dante, Delores, and Ronnie decided to show Michael the case file on the attacks. Ronnie was confident that the person responsible for assaulting the dancers would soon slip up, but Michael wasn't satisfied. Michael accused the police of not investigating the case properly, because they didn't care about the victims. Delores assured Michael that no one wanted to find the assailant more than she did, but Michael had his doubts. According to Michael, their parties were more important. Ronnie told Michael that he was being unfair, but Michael argued that it had been unfair to scatter Abby's ashes in New Zealand. Dante reminded Michael that Abby's death had been an accident, but Michael insisted that Abby wouldn't have been in Chicago if the police had been doing their job. Ronnie suggested that Michael could help by getting Sonny to suspend business for a while. Michael vowed that Abby's death would not be in vain, and that Abby, and her friends, deserved justice. Michael insisted that if the cops wouldn't do their job, then there were other ways to handle things. Michael's cell phone rang, but Michael sent the call to voicemail when he saw that it was his father. Afterwards, Michael stormed out of the police station, before Dante could reason with his brother. Meanwhile, at the police station, Delores and Dante discussed the attacks on the dancers. Ronnie entered the squad room to announce that they had found the guy responsible for assaulting the strippers, and then handed Dante a piece of paper. "Chuck Donofrio?" Dante asked. Ronnie explained that Chuck fit the profile of their perpetrator, and that Chuck had attacked someone in broad daylight. According to Ronnie, there had been an eyewitness, so Ronnie was on his way to talk to the witness. Maxie was nervous as she approached her apartment door. She looked over her shoulder, and then jumped when Lulu suddenly walked up. Lulu wondered why Maxie was so skittish, so Maxie explained that she was trying to be cautious, because a man had been targeting strippers. Lulu opened the apartment door, and then led Maxie inside as she pointed out that Maxie wasn't a stripper. Maxie argued that she was fit and toned, so she could be a dancer, which made her a potential target. Lulu was startled when she noticed a Taser in Maxie's hand. "Better safe than sorry," Maxie explained. Lulu warned Maxie to be careful not to use the weapon on the wrong person. Maxie ignored the warning as she accused Lulu of deserting her. Lulu pointed out that it was normal for a wife to want to live with her husband. Later, Maxie and Lulu watched a yoga video as they tried to follow along on their mats. As the women stretched, they talked about Lulu's failed attempts to cook, and Maxie's search for a roommate. Maxie mentioned that Spinelli had wanted to move in, but she had asked Matt instead. Lulu was curious what Matt's answer had been, but Maxie's phone rang before Maxie could reply. Maxie became flustered when she heard Anthony's voice. Anthony wanted to check on the progress of the wedding preparations, and to see if she had received his message. Maxie carefully answered Anthony's questions, without giving away his identity. Anthony realized that Maxie wasn't alone, so he warned her that he expected her to make certain that the wedding was perfect. Maxie promised to do her best, so Anthony reminded her that he had gone to great lengths to keep Matt from being accused of Lisa's murder. Anthony cautioned Maxie not to disappoint him, and then ended the call. Lulu had overheard enough to know that Maxie was planning a wedding, so Lulu was curious who the happy couple was. Maxie would only reveal that it was a high-profile client. Lulu suddenly cried out in pain when a particular yoga position wrenched Lulu's back. 1/11 At the police station, Delores and Dante discussed the arrest of the man who was suspected of attacking the strippers. Delores thought that the man had seemed like he had wanted to get caught, which had raised some questions with her. She asked to sit in on the interrogation, but before Dante could reply, Olivia strolled in with a bag of food from the Metro Court Restaurant. Olivia made a point of suggesting that Dante could have lunch with his "beautiful wife," but Dante explained that it wasn't an option, because he had to work. Olivia reminded him that there was always dinner, and then began to talk about how much Dante and Lulu loved each other. Delores got the hint, so she quietly excused herself. Dante scolded Olivia, and then reminded her that he and Delores were merely partners. Olivia argued that all men said that, until "you come around the corner, and she's hanging all over him." Dante realized that Olivia was no longer talking about him. Olivia admitted that Steve's ex-girlfriend was working at the hospital. Dante wondered if his mother had discussed her concerns about Maggie with Steve. Olivia clarified that she trusted Steve, but she was certain that Maggie was in town for more than a job. Olivia explained that she and Steve had a simple no-strings relationship, but Dante pointed out that it was clear that Olivia had strong feelings for Steve. Delores returned to let Dante know that she had some new information on the case that they were working on, but Dante was determined to help his mother, so he ushered Olivia to a private corner to continue their conversation. He advised Olivia to talk to Steve, but Olivia was afraid that Steve wasn't ready for a commitment, so she didn't want to make a fool of herself. Dante insisted that Steve would be the fool if Steve didn't see what a great person Olivia was. After Olivia left, Delores revealed that she had gone over the witness statement, and that it had made her question whether or not Chuck Donofrio was their guy. According to Delores, the witness testimony was shaky at best, and all of the victims had been professionally trained dancers, who had been taught at the same studio. Delores feared that they might put the wrong guy away for the crimes, which would allow the real perpetrator to remain on the streets. Dante received a call notifying him that their suspect's attorney had arrived, so Dante invited Delores to sit in on the interrogation. At ELQ, Lulu wanted assurance that Tracy was not going to marry Anthony. Tracy insisted that Anthony had planted the story in the newspaper. Lulu wanted Tracy's promise that Tracy didn't intend to marry Anthony. Tracy admitted that Anthony had proposed, prompting Lulu to worry that Tracy was on the rebound. Tracy insisted that she knew what she was doing, and had everything handled. Tracy then changed the subject by asking if Lulu had found her bliss. Lulu confessed that she was having difficulty with that, so Tracy suggested that Lulu accept a job at ELQ. Lulu thought that it would be a disaster, so she declined. Lulu explained that she wanted to wait for the right thing. "Good, the right thing is worth waiting for," Tracy replied. "Just like the right man," Lulu responded. Tracy insisted that she didn't want to go there, but Lulu was certain that Tracy was still in love with Luke. Lulu recalled the expression on Tracy's face when Tracy had thought that Luke had sent the diamond. Tracy argued that that ship had sailed. "And Anthony Zacchara is pulling up to your dock," Lulu warned Tracy. Tracy assured Lulu that she knew what she was doing, but Lulu suspected that Tracy was giving up on Luke. Tracy argued that Luke was gone, and no one knew where he was. 1/12 At the police station, Dante confessed that he regretted that he had let Delores persuade him to release their only suspect in the attacks on the dancers from Vaughn's. Delores reminded Dante that she had been working the case before anyone else, and that there were more victims beyond the women who had worked at Vaughn's. Ronnie marched into the squad room in a fit of rage after learning that Dante had let the suspect walk free. Dante explained that they hadn't had enough evidence to hold the man, but Ronnie wasn't satisfied. The tension quickly mounted when Michael arrived after hearing that the police had a suspect in custody. Delores and Dante admitted to Michael that the suspect had been let go. Michael's temper immediately flared, as he demanded to know why. Delores assured Michael that they all wanted to see justice done, but Ronnie fueled Michael's anger by suggesting that Delores and Dante had been wrong to release the suspect. Michael was livid that nothing was being done to catch the man responsible for the attacks on the dancers, but Delores insisted that the suspect hadn't been their guy. Ronnie disagreed, but Delores explained that Chuck Donofrio had an alibi for two of the attacks, because he had been on the phone with his Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor. Michael and Ronnie argued that there were ways around that, so it hadn't proven anything. Dante urged Michael to calm down, but Michael ignored his brother. Delores assured Michael that she wanted to get the right guy, probably more than Michael did. Ronnie argued that there had been a domestic abuse call on Donofrio, which Ronnie believed pointed to Donofrio's guilt. Michael demanded that Dante do something to right the wrong, but Dante insisted that they had to respect the due process of the law. Michael accused the police of not caring about the victims, and then stormed out. Ronnie warned Delores that she had made things a lot worse. Later, Delores wondered if Dante had had any luck getting through to Michael, but Dante revealed that his brother wasn't interested in talking to him. Delores revealed that she had been reviewing the map of the sites of the recent attacks, and then comparing them to the previous attacks. Dante cut her off to ask her what she was talking about. Delores bristled at his dismissive tone, so she asked him if he expected her to wait until another dancer was attacked before reviewing all angles of the evidence that they had collected. She warned Dante that they would lose the perpetrator if they allowed him the opportunity to go into hiding. Dante thought that Delores was a little too interested in the investigation, so he suggested that they talk about her sister. Delores immediately shut down, claiming that there was nothing to discuss, because Rosa was gone. Dante had read Delores' file, so he disagreed. He insisted that what she did affected him, so Delores reminded Dante that it was a two-way street. She wondered how many cases he had ignored, because they had involved his mobster father. Dante insisted that he had never done that, but Delores pointed out that they weren't any closer to finding the person who had shot Dante in Sonny's warehouse. Delores suggested that perhaps Michael was correct in suggesting nothing changed, "Unless you changed it yourself." 1/16 Ethan was on the Haunted Star, daydreaming about making love to Cassandra, when Lulu interrupted. She tried to find out what had put the smile on his face, but Ethan remained mum. They discussed Lulu's recent wedding and Luke's return to Port Charles. Lulu was bitter because Luke had not chosen to see her. Lulu told Ethan that she was thinking of turning the Haunted Star into an art gallery. Lulu wanted to call it the "Star" gallery, but Ethan said she should call it the "Haunted" gallery and specialize in spooky art. Both laughed. Ethan told Lulu about his new job as caretaker for Wyndemere. He said he needed a change of direction and scenery. Lulu told him to be careful. He said that she sounded like Luke. Ethan said that he felt like Magellan, exploring distant shores and wondering what would happen next.