Steve arrives in Albuquerque, New Mexico and tracks down his grandfather, Al Brown, a diner owner. Al explains that his daughter gave up Steve because she was very young and wanted him to have a good home. He sadly reveals that Karen Brown died in a car accident many years ago. Steve leaves flowers at her grave, and convinces an eccentric Santa-like charter pilot to fly him home for Christmas. Back in California, Cindy is depressed about her first Christmas in Beverly Hills. She invites the kids' friends and their families for Christmas Eve dinner, but everyone has other plans. Brandon visits Emily in a psychiatric hospital, where she is doing very well. Meanwhile, Brenda begins work at an upscale clothing store. A mysterious old man steals a Santa Claus suit from Nat at the Peach Pit, and later shows up at the boutique store where Brenda works. She feels bad when her brass boss throws out the cheerful old man. After work, Brenda stops the police from harassing the old derelict wearing the Santa suite and invites him over for dinner, much to the wariness of Jim and Cindy. Also, Dylan goes to see his father in prison, and talks with the same Santa. Elsewhere, Kelly's mother, Jackie, is furious when David's father, Mel, backs out of Christmas Eve plans because his estranged wife asked him to come over with David. Samantha, Kelly, Jackie, Andrea, David, Mel, Donna, Dylan, and Steve all show up at the Walsh house for dinner and caroling. The old man in the Santa suite gives everyone presents and describes his lonely life: his children are grown and his wife died a year earlier. He thanks Brenda for her kindness and generosity, then mysteriously disappears as footsteps are heard on the roof.

After Kelly kills her rapist, she is arrested by the police who, though they believe her self-defense story, they still want to prosecute her for possessing a stolen gun. Kelly refuses to reveal that Dylan gave her the gun. Meanwhile, David kicks Dylan out of his house after finding Gina and Dylan in bed. Donna throws Gina out of the beach house after hearing Gina bad-mouth Kelly to TV reporters. Gina moves into Dylan's hotel suite at the same hotel where he lived as a teenager. Noah refuses to associate with Donna or anyone near her, while Donna thinks that her involvement with Wayne was a mistake when all he wants to do is have fun as Kelly is going through hell. Steve is perplexed with Janet's behavior after she tells him she loves him and then later says she's not sure the relationship is working.

Steve and Janet finally break the news of her pregnancy, which garners hostility from her conservative mother and father, and mixed reactions from his unorthodox father, Rush. Meanwhile, David tries to curb his radio persona in an attempt to make up with Robyn, but is sidetracked by fans wanting more of his love life. Both Matt and Noah offer to move out of the house to make room for Steve and Janet's nursery. Also, Dylan tries to help out a hotel maid who has to bring her two wild sons to work with her. Gina proposes a plan to Noah, to turn the After Dark into a gentlemen's club to make some quick cash.