Liam keeps trying to convince Hope to listen to him about Thomas being dangerous. She tells him that he doesn't need to protect her because she can take care of herself. He reminds her of how Thomas kept the knowledge of Beth being alive from them. She maintains that Thomas has been trying to be a better person and father. Liam doesn't think that's true and points out that he's still using Douglas. He wants her to realize that Thomas has not changed one bit and is still after her. Hope lets him know that it was his own indecision that killed their relationship, not Thomas. That argue again about Thomas and hit their usual impasse. Meanwhile, Zoe kisses Thomas at Forrester to thank him for the surprise birthday party. Douglas knocks on the door, wondering why it's locked. Thomas lets him in. Douglas wants to know why Zoe is there. Thomas explains that she was just thanking him for the party. Zoe does her best to sweet-talk Douglas, but he's not having it. She leaves, and Thomas gets Douglas some paper to draw on. Douglas demands to know why his dad is spending so much time with Zoe instead of his mommy. Thomas tells him that Zoe is fun. Douglas agrees that's true but suggests that Thomas buy Hope flowers and candy, and tell her that he loves her. Thomas seems surprised and says that's a good idea. He thinks Douglas should tell her that he loves her, so Douglas agrees and leaves to go do just that. Vinnie arrives just as Douglas is running out. Vinnie knows that Douglas was upset about seeing Zoe and him kissing. He tries to let Thomas know that what he's doing (using Zoe and Douglas to get Hope) is wrong, but Thomas just ignores him. Vinnie keeps asking him about what he's doing. Thomas tells him that he was responsible for the kiss between Liam and Steffy. He calls Liam "that pansy." Vinnie is disgusted. Thomas admits he's obsessed, but he thinks it's a good thing. He tells Vinnie all about his plans to get Hope. Meanwhile, Douglas walks in while Hope and Liam are arguing. Hope asks Liam to let her speak with Douglas alone, so he leaves. Liam wanders over to where Zoe is and asks about the party. She tells him how great it was, and how Thomas gave her some nice earrings. Liam is skeptical about Thomas. Liam reminds her that he's forgiven her for keeping her dad's secret (about Beth). She knows that he still feels like Thomas is just using her. He says hesitantly that this is true. Meanwhile, Douglas tells Hope that he's worried about his dad spending so much time with Zoe. He's worried about losing Hope as his mommy. He tells her that Thomas loves her. She hugs him tightly and assures him that she'll always be there for him, no matter what. Thomas creeps up and spies on them.
Liam: Tell me I'm wrong. At least do that. Tell me you still know that thomas is dangerous, that he can't be trusted. Hope: You sound exactly like my mother. Liam: In the sense that I love you and I'm scared for you, yeah, okay, guilty. Hope: I don't need you to be scared for me, liam. I don't need you to protect me. I...I can take care of myself. Liam: Of course you can take care of yourself. That's under normal circumstances. These are not normal circumstances. Thomas is--is-- Hope: Okay, liam, stop, please. I already know you despise thomas. Liam: Like it's just me? I despi-- I despise him for good reason. The same reasons that you had when he kept our daughter from us for months. He knew that steffy was raising our child, and he kept it from us. And then months, months of suffering later, when we finally found out, despite him... okay. The fact that you think somebody can commit all that twisted garbage and just become a saint suddenly-- Hope: It's not suddenly, liam. I mean, he has been trying to be a better person, to be a better father. Liam: He's not--he's not trying to be a better father-- a better father. He's just using his son to manipulate you again. Except now he's-- now he's using zoe, too. He wants you to think that he's moved on. He wants you to think that he's taking his life in a whole different direction, but he's actually doubling back in your direction. He's no different from who he was months ago. He is that same guy, and if you-- if you can't see that... just tell me you see that. Zoe: How's that for a proper "thank you"? Thomas: "Thank you" for what? Zoe: Um, for yesterday-- my birthday. Thomas: I didn't do that much. Zoe: What? Uh, yeah, you did, okay? You threw me an amazing party and gave me those gorgeous earrings. Thomas: Hmm. Zoe: It made me feel like the center of your world. Thomas: Oh! Zoe: You know, my life is... amazing right now. You're amazing. [ Knock at door ] Thomas: I'm busy. Douglas: Why is the door locked? Thomas: Oh. [ Clears throat ] Just a sec. Hey, slugger. Zoe: Hi, douglas. Douglas: Why are you in here with my daddy? Hope: I know you think you're right about this, but... Liam: You see that, right? I... I wi--I wish I were wrong. Yeah, I...I wish that thomas was exactly the person that he has convinced everybody to think he is. There's just too much evidence going the other way. Ask yourself this question. Is it possible-- is it possible that your love for douglas has given you permission to lie to yourself about thomas? Hope: Maybe we shouldn't talk about this. Maybe we shouldn't talk about thomas at all if that means... [ Sighs ] I do miss you. I miss our family. And, yeah, you--you do spend a lot of time with beth, and it's great, but you're right. It's not the same. It's not. Our precious family... was shattered. But it was shattered by your indecision. Thomas had nothing to do with it, liam. It was that kiss, that kiss that I walked in on. How many times for how many years? That is what tore us apart. Our little family. Liam: I'm sorry about the kiss. Hope: [ Sighs ] Oh, gosh. Liam: I'm sorry that I hurt you. But one thing is still true. Thomas is still trying to drive a wedge between us. And he's using his son. He's manipulating his own son to do it, and I'm not okay with that. I'm not okay with him exploiting your feelings for douglas, your love for him and his love for you for his own selfish purposes. So this isn't going away. I'm not giving this up. I am going to expose thomas one way or another. One way or another. Douglas: Why are you in here with zoe? Thomas: Because she was-- she was thanking me for throwing her a birthday party. Say happy birthday to her. Douglas: I did. Yesterday. Zoe: And it meant a lot to me, especially coming from such a special little boy. Douglas: I'm not that little. Zoe: That--that is true. Thomas: Hmm. Zoe: You are very mature for your age. Okay. Um, I should probably get going. I have a lot of work to do, so bye, douglas. I hope to see you again soon. Thomas: See you later. Oh, here, let me get you a fresh sheet to draw on. There you go. Douglas: You're always with zoe and not mommy. I thought you loved her. Well, I--I do. Douglas: Then why are you spending so much time with zoe? Thomas: Because I like her and because it's going to help bring hope back to me. They cared about explaining every aspect of my treatment Thomas: I thought you were with pam. What happened? Douglas: I was. We had fun. Thomas: Oh. As much fun as you had at zoe's birthday party? Douglas: Zoe is nice, but... Thomas: But what? Douglas: I want you and mommy together. Thomas: Look, I get that. But... it's about what mommy wants, see? And she doesn't want me, at least not right now. Douglas: You could buy her chocolates or flowers or both. Thomas: Ah. That's-- that's not a bad idea. Any other ideas? [ Chuckles ] Douglas: You need to tell her you love her. Thomas: Okay. The best way to do that would be for you to tell her. Douglas: Okay, I will. Right now. [ Knock at door ] Vinny: Hey, buddy. Doesn't vinster get a hello? Douglas: Hello. Vinny: I don't think your kid likes me too much, man. Thomas: No, don't sweat it. He's got to handle something right now. Vinny: Where's zoe? Thomas: She just left. Vinny: Hmm. Let me guess. 'Cause douglas gets upset to see you guys together. That stunt you pulled at the party-- we both saw the way your boy reacted. He doesn't like you and your new girlfriend. Thomas: No, he doesn't, but that's exactly the reaction I wanted. Vinny: Yeah. Look, I know you, bro, and I know you don't leave anything up to chance, not with hope. So what else have you done? Thomas: Well, there was that kiss between steffy and liam that hope just happened to see. She would still be with that little pansy right now if she hadn't seen that. Liam--he belongs over there with steffy and their little girl, and hope belongs with douglas and me. And, yeah, I can't stand mr. Perfect. That guy... but my sister loves him, okay? And she wants to continue on with their little family, so... Vinny: So you're gonna do whatever it takes to make sure that happens. Especially if you get to end up with hope. Thomas: I will end up with hope. And my adorable little son, he's the one who's gonna make it happen. Liam: I've--I've apologized for the kiss. I'm not trying to excuse it, and I'm definitely not trying to explain it. I just... wish we could move on from it. Hope: Move on? Move on, how? To what? Liam: To what? I proposed to you. I still want that. I wanna come home to you and beth, just not thomas. Hope: Which means no douglas, and I told you, liam, I can't do that. I can't abandon that little boy. Liam: I'm not asking you to abandon him. That's not... I'M...I'm asking you to acknowledge that douglas has the entire forrester family as a support system to love and protect him. Hope, this is--this is so totally doable. We have our family. Douglas has his. They keep his dad in check. They make sure that douglas has the father he deserves. It's that easy. Douglas: Mommy! Hope: Hi. Sweetie, what's wrong? Douglas: Daddy and zoe. Hope: [ Sighs ] Liam, can I... talk to douglas alone? Liam: Of course. Liam: Hey. How was the, uh-- how was the party? Zoe: Oh. Liam, hey. I was, uh, just dropping off some proofs for ridge. Liam: Yeah, no, that's cool. That's--um, I understand it was thomas's idea. Zoe: For the party. Yeah. Yeah, it was really sweet. Totally unexpected, too. Liam: Yeah, I bet. Zoe: He also got me some really nice earrings. Liam: Oh, that's--that's-- yeah, that's--he...sure knows how to cover his bases. Zoe: Now exactly sure what you mean by that. But, um... are you looking for ridge or... steffy? Liam: Hey, zoe, um, you--you know that I believe you're sincerely remorseful about the whole beth saga. Right? Zoe: Yeah. I mean, I am. I swear. Okay. Where is this coming from, liam? Okay, you know what? Never mind. I think I understand. You still feel like thomas has some ulterior motives where I'm concerned, that his feelings for me aren't real? That he's using me. I mean, that's pretty much it. Right? Thomas: [ Sighs ] Vinny: So give me more details. Thomas: About? Vinny: About zoe's birthday bash. What else? Thomas: You were there. You saw what happened. Vinny: I saw the kiss you planted on zoe for the benefit of hope and douglas. Thomas: And that worked like a charm. It rocked my son and his mother. Not in a good way. Vinny: I still can't believe the way you're working your kid to get hope back. I mean--come on. Thomas: Hey. I'm doing it for him, too. Look, you know how much I love hope, right? How much I'll always love her. Vinny: Listen, bro. We both know this is more than love. You're obsessed. Thomas: Yeah. Like I haven't heard that before. Obsessed. You know what? I am obsessed, but it's a healthy obsession. Anyway, douglas is the key. Okay? And I am going to wind him up tighter than a top. I'll push every button I have to to get hope. Hope: It's okay, sweetie. Everything's gonna be okay. Now, can you tell me what's wrong? You mentioned your dad and zoe. Douglas: Yeah. I want you and daddy together. Humira patients... Vinny: Look, I get that you're never giving up on hope, but the way you're going about it-- using your kid and zoe. I mean, zoe really thinks you're into her. Thomas: I am into her. Come on, I like her. Vinny: We know that's not the real reason why you're spending so much time with her and why you're doing this to your kid. Thomas: Okay, look, life isn't always easy, vinny. So my son learns that at an early age. It--that's a valuable lesson. Vinny: Yeah. Like not to trust his own dad. Thomas: He trusts me, okay? He's just a little confused. Vinny: Confused as to why his dad is kissing some other-- Thomas: Douglas isn't going to lose out, vinny. If this works-- when this plan works, hope will come back to us, and we'll have the family that douglas has always wanted. Vinny: Yeah, and you'll have hope all for your own. Thomas: Yes. But some things have to happened first. Douglas has to believe that I'm moving on with zoe, that she could take hope's place as his mother. Okay? And he's gonna be heartbroken. Hopefully, he's telling hope that right now. Vinny: Look, is there absolutely no other way you can go about this without messing with your son? Thomas: Douglas is my trump card. He's gonna come through for his father. Hope's gonna see how heartbroken he is, and she's gonna realize her place is here with douglas and me-- our little family. Liam: Listen. I-- I don't wanna be saying this. Zoe: Hmm. Liam: But, yeah, thomas is using you. Zoe: Okay, I could be offended by that, but the way thomas was with me at the party, being so loving and attentive and not to mention the obvious chemistry between us. Okay, I really don't think that hope is on his radar anymore. Douglas: I want you and daddy together. I want us to be a family. Daddy just keeps spending more and more time with zoe. I saw them kissing. It scared me. Hope: Oh, sweetie, come here. Come here. I don't want you to be scared. Hey, no matter-- no matter who your daddy is spending time with, I will always be here for you. Okay? You know that, right? Douglas: Daddy loves you. He told me. I know he'd rather be with you than zoe. Hope: Meanwhile, does zoe treat you nicely? Douglas: I like her, but I love you, mommy. Daddy loves you, too. If he keeps seeing zoe, I'll lose you. Please don't let that happen. Hope: [ Sighs ] Douglas. Douglas, sweetie. I need you to listen to me very carefully, okay? I will never, ever turn my back on you. I will never walk away from you. You can always come to me like you are right now with any fears or concerns or heartaches. I will always be a safe place for you. Okay? Look, I know this is a confusing time right now, and I'm--I'm really confused, too. But... I am your mommy now. Okay? And nothing is going to change that. I will do anything for you. All right, sweetie? Anything. You, you're my sweet little boy. All right? Come here. Douglas: I love you, mommy.