General Hospital - DAILY UPDATES

Liz and Audrey are both working the phones at the Nurse's desk trying to find the year's must-have toy for Cameron, a train called "Chuggin' Charlie." It appears that Liz has waited too long and now it's not available. Liz tells her grandmother that she's a horrible mother. Liz asks Epiphany if she knows how to find the toy. She suggests looking at stores in the little towns nearby. Jason is at the hospital; he overhears this and leaves. Just then Lucky comes in and asks if he can escort Liz and Cameron to the hospital party. She tells him not to get Cam's hopes up over the holidays. Lucky promises that he will find the person who shook her faith in him by planting the pills in his desk.

At home, Carly is helping Michael with his pageant costume. She decides this is the perfect time to explain that Jax will only be with them in spirit this Christmas, and the wedding won't be on Christmas Eve after all. Carly explains that Jax is off helping his brother. She tells Michael that they are going to elope – all together – after Jax rescues Jerry. Michael is bummed that neither Sonny nor Jax will be at the pageant.

Ned is standing on the waterfront and Alexis runs into him. He's home (from NYC) for the holidays. They sit and talk for a few minutes. He asks how she is feeling and she tells him that she really appreciated the CD that he sent her a while back. He tells her that he knows she can fight her lung cancer and win. They reminisce about some of their good times together. She tells him that she wishes she would have appreciated him more when they were together. They choke back some tears, embrace warmly and share a little kiss that felt like it should've been longer. Then, they bid each other a Merry Christmas and go in different directions.

Sam has taken pity on a little Christmas tree and brought it to Jason's to decorate. They talk about the pageant and the hospital holiday party that they are about to go to. Jason has sent Spinelli to Tennessee for the holidays and they are looking forward to time alone together after both events. Sam says that everything will be perfect if only they could get a white Christmas.

At the pageant scene, Nicolas tells Emily that he has finally wrapped his head around the idea of letting his infant son be part of the show. "Baby Jesus" is ready and everyone is bustling around. Helena is there, although no one has seen her yet. Colleen (in her new disguise) rushes in and bumps into the priest. He tells her not to worry about it, and has he starts to light candles he turns around so that we can see his face. It's Manny! (Or at least someone who look just like him.)

Alexis and the girls come to the hospital for the party. Ric is there, looking on. He tells Alexis "ho ho ho". She playfully asks if he has come to steal Christmas. He tells her that he wants a glimpse of the girls during the holidays. Alexis is somewhat cheerful and he wonders why. Maxi has decided to play an elf for the annual Christmas "story" and Mac asks her why she isn't at home resting after her miscarriage. Lucky joins them and asks the same thing. She says she'd rather be helping cheer kids up than be at home mourning her loss.

Georgie, dressed as Mrs. Claus, sees elf Lulu helping Dillon with his Santa suit. Lulu and Dillon are talking about who else might have a motive to kill Rick Webber, and Monica is eavesdropping. Across the hall Alan, Tracy and Edward warmly greet Ned who has come for the hospital party. They ask how NY is and he says it's lovely -- it's far from the family! Santa (Dillon) comes in gets a warm welcome from all the kids. Just before the story starts, Alexis invites Ric over to sit with Molly. Alan begins reading the Baby Jesus story. During the part about "carrying the special child" Maxi runs off and Lucky goes after her. Liz sees this and snuggles up closer to Cameron. Lucky finds Maxi and tries to comfort her. She's upset that their baby will never have a Christmas. He hugs her and tells her that in time her pain will pass. Liz sees all of this.

After the story ends, Tracy goes up to "Mrs. Claus" (Georgie) and asks why on earth she is Mrs. Claus. She and Dillon already failed at marriage; Georgie should stop beating a dead horse, spits Tracy. Nearby, Skye is holding Lila Rae and Edward is gushing over both of them. He wants them to join the Q's for Christmas, and Skye asks if Lorenzo is invited. On the sofa, Sam hands Kristina a gift and tells her to give it to Alexis and wish her a "merry Christmas". She walks over to her mom and speaks for the first time since the shooting! Alexis smiles over at Sam.

By the tree, Bobby and Lulu talk about Laura and how Christmas was her favorite time of the year. Lulu says she is starting to figure out why her dad always bails during the holidays. For him, Christmas is synonymous with Laura. She is truly an angel to him. Bobby tells Lulu that even though Luke says Christmas is cheesy, when they were little kids he always had a gift for her. Bobby goes on to say that Luke left a gift for Lulu with her. She pulls a box out of her pocket and gives it to her. It is Laura's engagement ring. Lulu cries and says it's a symbol of their love – why should she have it? Bobby tells Lulu that she is a symbol of their love too.

Over at the Christmas pageant, the show is getting ready to start. Mike brings his video camera so he can tape all three of his grandsons in the same play. Nikolas whisks Mike up to the manger so that he can set up his shot. Emily is talking to Spencer about how brilliant he will be. We can see Helena, as well as the priest who looks like Manny all in various parts of the background. The show's director sees that she has a new choir singer (Colleen) and introduces herself. Carly arrives with Michael and Morgan and Mike stops them for a picture. Then, he learns that Jax has gone off and before he can say anything, Carly tells him that Sonny will NOT be able to do anything to sabotage their relationship – the wedding is merely on hold. Jason makes it just in time to be seated in the front row with Carly, Emily and Nikolas when the pageant begins. As Michael says his lines perfectly, Carly starts to cry and fumbles around in her purse for a tissue. Someone gives her one and says, "Looks like I got here just in time." It's Sonny! It's Morgan's time to do his part as the Little Drummer Boy. He drops his drumstick and is thrilled when Sonny reaches over and puts it back in his hand. He says, "Dad?" and everyone laughs. As soon as the show ends, Jason excuses himself so that he can go meet Sam. Michael rushes over to Sonny and hugs him. Sonny explains that he spoke to Carly on the phone and she sounded emotional so he thought he'd better come home. They agree to have a full Corrinthos Christmas. Emily goes to warm up the car while Nikolas retrieves Spencer from the manger.

Liz is walking along the waterfront and frantically calling toy stores on her cell phone. She looks over on a bench and sees a red bow on a toy… it's a Chugging Charlie! It has a note on it that says, "To Cameron from Santa". Jason comes out of the darkness and tells her to have a merry Christmas.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYS UNDERNEATH THE FOLLOWING SCENES:

At GH, Robin and Patrick are kissing under the mistletoe, Epiphany sees them and smiles. Skye walks away from Edward toward Lorenzo. She tells him something and he smiles over to the Quartermaine family. Alexis is holding Molly as Ric hugs her goodbye. Lulu is admiring her mother's ring and looking at the angle on the Christmas tree. Out on the waterfront, Jason and Elizabeth hug as they carry the toy.

Sonny, Michael and Carly are happily walking towards the limo as snow is starting to fall. Sonny looks around and says, "Where's Morgan?" At the same time, Nikolas keeps getting stopped by people on his way to the manger. First the pastor thanks him and then Mike nabs him and shows him a little video clip. Finally, Nikolas is free to pick up his son, blanket in hand. But when he gets to the manger, it's empty.

NEXT on GH:

Instead of previews, credits roll to the tune of "Angels we have heard on high."