Tom visits The Outback, again, looking for Felicia, who seems happy to see him. She wonders how she could help him. He says her smile is enough. She asks about his day; he tells her he spent it not thinking of Simone. Later,Tom is sitting at the bar, nursing a drink, Felicia walks up and tells him he is looking happier now than earlier. With a smug grin, "I am! I have been devising ways to blow Justus Ward right out of the water." Felicia does not look happy.

Another day, Tom is in his office at the hospital, hanging an African mask, Simone enters. She asks if he is busy; he tells her it is always a good time for her. She notices the mask, tells her that it is from the the Ivory Coast, "symbolizing the female spirit, and represents love and progress," obviously he is referring to their relationship. She tells him it is a coincidence, that is why she came by, "love and progress! Tell me more!" She corrects him, she was speaking about herself, she and Justus are engaged, they want to get married between Christmas and New Years'. Tom's smug, assured look dissolves. She would like him to be happy. "Are you nuts?!", he cannot believe she is serious. She tells him, why would she be joking. Taking her left hand, he sees Justus' engagement ring, "That certainly speaks for itself. I say, several karats serious." In a cold, angry voice he tells her she will get old before he wishes her well. He cannot believe she is already engaged, they have not had the divorce hearing. She knows what she wants. Sounding desperate, he tells her that she might want to think about it, "it sounds like major rebound to me!" She accuses Tom of thinking the world revolves around him, so she is not surprised by his reaction. She loves Justus, and Tommy cares about him. adding that he is a great role model; she insists Tom will always be his father, no one is taking his place. Almost shouting, "Role model for what! For going through life being as pompous and insufferable as possible!?" She advises him to watch the accusations. Angry, Tom tells her Tommy needs no other role mode. It is a mistake which she will regret. She reminds him it is her life and not to threaten her, she is not easily intimidated. "Not a threat; merely a prediction." Sighing, she begs him not to fight it, she does not want Tommy in the middle of a war. Up until now, he had been graceful. He agrees,  look at what it got him; "maybe that was my mistake. Maybe it is time for a change of tactics!" She tells him she came out of courtesy, it is up to him how he handles things, but if he wants to yell, yell at someone else. She walks out.

Later, Tom removes the mask from the wall as his father walks in. Steve wonders if it is from Africa. Sarcastically Tom tells him, "If I'd known what a bad omen it would be I would have left it in Africa!" Steve asks him and Tommy for dinner. He does not know about Tommy, but he is not up for it. Steve wonders what is going on. "I've just had early tidings of Christmas cheer," he tells Steve about the wedding. Steve is sorry, but he cannot see how it is surprising. Scoffing, he sarcastically he thanks his father for his "unconditional support, whenever I need it." Steve blames Tom for the situation, and refuses to "hold his hand." He blames Tom for neglecting his family; he is in no place to complain about Justus for stepping in. Shouting, "WHAT THE HELL HAVE I DONE THAT ALL OF YOU FIND SO UNFORGIVABLE!" Tom cannot believe that Simone thinks he is a "control freak. At least I come by that honestly!" Steve wonders what Tom is talking about. Tom tells him that he gets attitude from him for leaving for Africa, for it did not fit in with his wishes to be like him, "Dr. Head Honcho, having to be in control of everything! Tom yells, if he disapproves he should" JUST STAY AWAY!" Hurt, Steve leaves. Feeling bad, Tom stops his father, apologizing, saying he is frustrated with both Simone and himself. His voice breaking, he tells his father that he realizes he is where he is due to his choices. Tom asks for forgiveness. Steve accepts it, telling him he understands the pain he is suffering, but warns him to curb his anger before it is too late.

Simone and Justus are having a romantic dinner at Luke's Place. As he talks about their wedding, Tom shows up and makes snide remarks. One of the Charles Street projects was a whore house. Tom taunts Justus about this, making comments about a "whore house" being a charity project;that is what happens when one gets "into bed with the Quartermaines." Justus asks him to go bother someone else, to which Tom says everyone else is a party. He finds the whole thing is funny; however, for Justus' political aspirations it could be disastrous. At least there the wedding to "my wife" to make it up. Justus loses it, just as Tom had planned. Mike Corbin breaks them up. Tom spends the rest of the night glaring at Justus.

Tom visits Felicia. She asks how life is. "Life is just one nasty surprise after another!" He proceeds to tell her about Simone and Justus' wedding, "So sweet it makes my teeth hurt." She thinks he is not very gracious about Simone's happiness. He states, "I'm being rather wicked," but it was a shock. She knows it is difficult for him. He tells her it is more so for "my dear old Dad!" He tells her about how he treated his father. She wonders how surprising was, Simone has been clear about what she wanted. He tells Felicia he hoped Simone would realize she was wrong about Justus. He does not know who is more naive. Felicia advises him to stand up and start over. Tom says, he has been "sounding like a Third World propaganda minister. Proclaiming endless strings of victory; while my enemy marches steadfastly towards my capital." He realizes that he has to be better prepared for the battle, to win the war. [ video 30 (2 min; 3.4 Meg)] Later, a waiter asks for an Aussie Sunrise. Felicia is frustrated because she does not think the bar has the "secret ingredient," some Russian drink she cannot pronounce. Tom cannot believe that a "secret ingredient" for an Aussie Sunrise is a Russian liquor. She gets on a chair to reach the top shelve, worrying Tom. She tells him she does it "all the time," and is independent. As she reaches for the bottle she loses her balances and falls; Tom catches her. She giggles, embarrassedly. "I caught you." They seem to enjoy the situation. He places her on the bar, and offers to make it for her. He gets a glass; she tells him he needs a Margarita glass. Is he is up to it? He tells her, "You don't begin to realize the scope of my abilities!" She tells him they use the cocktail shaker; three fingers of the Russian stuff (which she still cannot pronounce). But first, she adds ice. She tells him to add equal parts of gin and vodka. They pour some in together and she stops him, "Too much!" She warns him to be careful! "I am always careful!"  Next, "orange juice; which he adds. "Shaken! Not Stirred!" Tom shakes it, singing in rhythm, "It's an Aussie Sunrise with a Russian liquor." Felicia laughs. She takes a sip and is impressed, "It's Peerrrfect! She clicks her glass against his cocktail shaker.

At the hospital, Steve and Audrey are talking about Simone, he says it is Tom's loss; Audrey thinks Simone lost too. Tom arrives, saying he is on his way to court, he "does not need a cheering section, it's not exactly a Little League game." Steve is not amused, they knew what his reaction would be. Audrey says they are on his side. Steve says it is not about sides. She tells him that he could count on them. "I've already been blamed for one divorce, I rather not live through another"; to keep our blood-pressure down, I am leaving. No mourning, "I am not walking the gang-plank," he says kissing his mother. Audrey invites him to dinner, "Life goes on, and more often than not it goes in a full circle" he tells them he has other plans. He adds that it is not the end for him and Simon, "Things go full-circle." Steve is disgusted, Tom is "out of touch with reality."

Tom, Simone and Justus arrive simultaneously for the hearing, "Right on time for the demolition derby; my aren't we civilized." Tom wonders if she told Tommy about today. She says since things were not changing for him she decided not to upset him. He throws in a dig, "Sounds like your lawyer has not been sleeping over for some time." The trial begins, the judge asks Simone if she feels this is the only way; Simone says her marriage has been over for a long time. The judge asks if she was forced to sign; looking towards Justus, she says, "No." The judge asks Tom if he was forced to sign; fiddling with his wedding ring, he looks over towards them, worrying Simone, but he finally says, "I knew what I was doing," that he did it for their son. The judge grants the divorce. Tom asks Simone, "Are congratulations in order?" His uncle Lee offers him a drink; Tom turns him down, noting his uncle's concern, assures him he is not suicidal, "I have a very interesting evening planned."

Tom arrives at The Outback, knowing they would be there. Justus knows Tom planned it. Tom goes over to Felicia, "Something intrinsically wrong when a long term relationship could be resolved in ten minutes flat." Mac walks over to keep an eye on Tom. He asks Mac his opinion on divorce. Mac says he does "make a point of discussing religion, politics or love with the customers." Tom says what does the state know, it is just a piece of paper. Emotions, history are not changed, nor the "child we made." Mac says it was good for Tommy, no battles. Tom angrily comments he thought Mac did not state opinions; a doctor knows some wounds are not visible. Felicia brings Tom a drink to calm things; looking at Simone, Tom makes a toast, "To the future." Felicia nudges Mac, who asks "Got any ideas on that?" He likes to plan a head, he sees the next five years as the past five were. Justus is ready to react, but Simone tells him it is what Tom wants, just ignore him. Mac whispers to Felicia to get Tom out of the bar. Tom still is staring at them when Felicia walks over, saying she had a day she never wants to do over; "What if I take you to dinner?" "Yes!" He looks over at Simone who looks away. "We get ourselves into truly dazedly duds and we hit the town big time." He asks for a definition. "Hamburger and a movie." They walk off arm-in-arm; he takes a quick look and then walks off; Simone, watches them leave -- is she a little jealous.

Later that night, Tom and Felicia are having Irish coffees on The Outback patio. Tom whines about the coldness and wants to go inside. Felicia, fearing that Justus and Simone might still be inside, makes excuses to stay outside; through it also appears that she enjoys being alone with him and that she is developing feelings for him. She tells Tom she likes it "brisk." Tom replies it being "brisk, brisker, briske.... or should I say more brisk!" He continues to whine, wondering why Mac has not spent money on heat lamps. The weather, Tom tells her, is for "the fool-hardy!" She makes a joke "Tom Hardy.... foolhardy!" Tom admits that she is looking very nice outside by pumpkin light. There are several pumpkins on the tables, and Tom mentions that they look like people they know. He picks up one and says it looks benevolent; she replies that it is his father Steve; still annoyed by his father's opinions he corrects her, no Allen Quartermaine. The next one looks feminine and sultry. She thinks he means Bobbie Jones; he corrects her again, no Brenda Barrett [Sonny's current girlfriend, and Lois Ashton's (Ned's wife) partner in a recording company]. The next one he says looks rather surly, much like himself. Another he comments has a supercilious air and is always sanctimonious. Right away she knows who he means. She thinks the last pumpkin looks fierce. That is because he is her guardian pumpkin. He tells her the origin of the jack-o-lantern. A Celtic knight used them to scare off the evil spirits to protect his fellow Celts. She tells him that she has to go. "I have bored her to destruction," he tells the pumpkin. She reassures him that she has to be home to relieve Betty the Babysitter, it is not because of him. He offers her his arm, while holding the Guardian Pumpkin in the other, "May we escort you?"

At the Brownstone, Tom places her pumpkin on the porch, asking her to sit with him. She replies that she left her door open. He tells her "Not to worry! Your Guardian Pumpkin and I are standing.... er.... sitting watch." "What are you watching for?" "Bands of marauding tigers. Stampeding elephants." "You must be doing an excellent job because I haven't seen a one." "Exactly! Neither have you seen hurricanes, tornados or erupting volcanoes." "Or earthquakes," she adds. He tells her, "one can't be too vigilent.You never know what could happen; trouble could be just down the block!" As if on cue, Simone and Justus can be heard laughing. "See what I mean," Tom says sarcastically. Tom greets his ex-wife, but ignores Justus; then he sarcastically apologizes for not seeing him at first. Tom asks if they were out saving the world. Justus retorts that he thought that was Tom's role. He and Simone are just trying to save their neighborhood. Tom makes a crack about it being good for Justus' political career, helps to buy him votes. Continuing with his snarky remarks, Tom asks about Tommy. Simone tells him that he is with Audrey and Steve. He complains about not being told. To try to quell the situation, Felicia replies that it is good that Tommy has grandparents nearby, family is important for children. Tom continues his snarky retorts by saying that Tommy's family soon will be so large it really will be great for him, he will have to have his family get-together's in a convention center. Felicia views everyone in the Brownstone as part of her extended family. Simone, taking a pot shot at Tom, replies that was why she stayed there, everyone was supportive "while we were on our own!" Tom replies, "Well, it is swell for everyone all this familial feeling!" Tom asks Justus if he should say good-night then or do so in the morning. Having had enough, Simone leaves. Felicia, annoyed by Tom's behavior, asks him to rethink how he is dealing with the divorce. Tom admits he he was a little hard on them. "That or you're just naturally a social disaster!," she tells him. Tom, maybe he is "a little bit of both." He puts his jacket over her. She "knows he is capable of sympathy and tact." What that was not it, he jokes. He did not mean to say what he said. She asks, a slip of his subconscious. He might be a shrink, he answers, but he does not always have control of his actions. He tells her "Justus Ward, in that proprietary posture" with his wife, ex-wife, just makes him react; he hates Justus winning. She can relate, it is difficult to change one's life after a divorce. She assures him a person accepts and moves on. He replies, having a friend with experience helps. She adds, it is more difficult if deep down a person does want to accept and move on. She does not want a friend to keep holding onto something which "will never happen." Apparently there is some twinge of jealousy and frustration with Tom pinning over Simone, while out with her; a little annoyed she leaves.

Sitting alone, Tom fantasizes about him and Simone in bed together. She is caressing his hair, telling him that she wants the moment to be frozen in time so it would never end, forever together in bed. Simone tells him that as a child she was always a romantic, but never did she think "it was possible to love anyone the way I love you!" They both want it to last for eternity, Tom does not want it just forever, but for "time and beyond!" He tells her that even if she did not hold on to the pledge to love him forever he would hold on to their love and "never let her go!.... for "time and beyond"! They begin to make love. Tom snaps out of his fantasy, back to reality, he is alone on the stoop while Simone upstairs in bed with Justus.