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Noah Newman
It was 1996. Nick Newman had been released from prison and proposed to a shallow girl named Sharon Collins. A big party celebrating Nick's freedom was thrown at the Newman ranch. A grand time was had by all except Nikki Newman who knew Collins was a gold digger from the wrong side of the tracks.

Working for his daddy, Nick also took time out to obtain an accelerated four year degree at Genoa City University. He and Sharon spent time together at the ranch inside the foreman's lodge which would become their home after the wedding.

Nikki wanted Sharon out of the picture so bad she offered the airhead a pile of money but Sharon refused. The wedding took place despite Nikki's threat of making a scene. Feeling insecure, Sharon felt a baby would make things better. Her mother, BoreUs Collins, told her a baby wasn't the way to keep a man. When Sharon's best pal, Grace Turner, blew in from Madison, Sharon was happy to have somebody on her own level. Grace's eyes grew wide when she learned Sharon had snagged a man loaded with money and ever got Nick to give her a job at Jabot.

Sharon became pregnant but didn't tell Nick because he was whining about being to young to be a father. Sharon started thinking about abortion. Before going out of town on business, Nick left a note for Sharon telling her how he felt about having a baby. Grace got her hands on it.

With Nick away, Sharon began preparing a nursery but freaked out again when Nick's trip got extended. Distraught, Sharon went to a family planning clinic and was told there was a 48-hour waiting period. She couldn't just walk in and get rid of her baby.

Nick returned and waited endlessly for his darling wife to return. When she didn't show, Nick noticed the phone book had been left open to the section on family planning.

Nick easily found the correct clinic, barged inside and made an ass of himself. Sharon told him what was going on which only agitated Nick all the more. Nick promised he would be the best father ever. Just don't have an abortion.

In early 1997, a very pregnant Sharon wandered outside the Newman ranch in a blizzard to visit Nikki up at the main house. On her way, Sharon tripped and fell. She lay in the freezing snow for hours until Nick found her. For days, Sharon's condition and that of her unborn child, was sketchy. Fortunately, she was in the hands of Dr. Josh Landers. Just when it looked like Sharon's condition was getting better, she began having pain. Rushed to the emergency room, Sharon gave birth to a premature baby. The first thing Sharon wanted was for the baby to be baptized so a preacher was brought in to perform the ceremony. The baby was named Noah.

Unsolved Mystery
October - Out of the blue, Ryan McNeil, Nina Webster, Victoria Newman and Cole Howard each received a mysterious telephone call from an unknown woman instructing them to show up at the Colonnade Room for an evening "which will change your life."

Prior to the phone call, the foursome had been fussing and feuding about who should be sleeping with who. As a result their lives were in total chaos.

At the Colonnade Room, the strange woman waited until all the guests were present before calling again. This time the voice asked to be put on the speaker phone. Before the caller could explain who she was and why she was calling Newman and Webster became abusive. The caller hang-up saying only the night would be one which would change their lives.

The foursome stood around with their mouths open wondering if they would ever hear from the caller again. After all, who knew about their marriage woes and cared enough to arrange a a fancy dinner at the ritzy Colonnade Room?

The suspense was short lived. The foursome took advantage of the situation by engaging in a group therapy session. Newman threatened to walk out but McNeil, sporting an original farmer-in-the-dell haircut, warned that doing so would mean she had something to hide.

The foursome began rehashing endlessly how they were attracted to the others mate. Howard claimed it had nothing to do with sexual attraction. His hanging out with Webster was simply to help break a case of writers block.

As for Newman, she claimed to be curious about what having sex with McNeil might be like. During her marriage to him she was frigid and unable to have an orgasm even after shelling out big bucks for sex therapy.

Webster claimed her attraction to Howard was the excitement of being a college graduate working at her first meaningful job.

McNeil didn't seem to know where he fit in. He wasn't interested in his ex-wife but did admit Newman was his one weakness.

After all was said and done, the foursome agreed they had marital problems which could lead to divorce.

As usual, everyone involved didn't learn a thing. Newman continued seducing McNeil and Howard continued seducing Webster even after the Bug had stepped in to warn Webster not to do anything dumb. The Bug had hoped to launch a save the lovers crusade but Webster told the critter to stay out of it.

Howard and Webster were eventually caught swapping spit by McNeil and Newman. McNeil challenged Howard to a duel, socked him in the nose and moved out of Webster's apartment.

The question of who the mysterious phone caller was never came up again.

Adam Hunter appeared out of nowhere to become Ashley Abbott's Jabot lab assistant. Ashley spotted Hunter one day as she was pacing the hall outside her Jabot lab. Hunter asked for and received, directions to the executive suites where he impressed Jack Abbott so much, Jack gave him a job interview on the spot.

Hunter said he was tired of working in the auto industry and while he had no experience in cosmetics, had hoped he could get a job at Jabot. Jack hired Hunter to work in the Jabot lab as Ashley's assistant after running his application past Ashley.

Hunter instantly became attracted to Ashley but she repeatedly brushed off his advances. Jack Abbott was certain Hunter would become a vital part of the Abbott family and at first, it appeared Hunter and Ashley would become an item.

However, when viewers looked behind Hunter's mustache, they clearly saw that in fact, Hunter was Shawn Garrett - an obsessed fan who stalked and later kidnapped Lauren Fenmore years earlier. Buried alive, Fenmore was rescued by Paul Williams just as the oxygen in Lauren's grave ran out. Pregnant at the time, Fenmore miscarried.

Knowing Hunter was a reincarnated Garrett, viewers expressed their dissatisfaction and soon, Hunter simply disappeared.

By the start of 1996, Amy Wilson had recovered from her mental trauma. She testified on Nick's behalf that she was responsible for shooting Matt after he had raped her. When Matt learned that the police were about to arrest him for perjury, among other criminal charges, he skipped town. The Newman's were relieved when Nick was released from jail and cleared of shooting Matt. Soon after, he and Sharon married in a formal ceremony and began living together in a reconverted barn on the Newman estate. Nick also took a position at Newman Enterprises, with his step-dad Jack Abbott showing him the ropes.

Nikki worried that Sharon was anxious to get pregnant so that Nick would be further tied to her. By summer, Sharon's old friend, Grace Turner, from Madison, had moved to Genoa City, anxious to start a new life. With Nick's help, Grace landed a job at Newman Enterprises. Nick wasn't pleased when Sharon announced that she was pregnant. He urged Sharon to consider an abortion because he wasn't ready for fatherhood. Worried about her marriage, Sharon eventually made plans for an abortion. Nick, however, had a change of heart and stopped Sharon at the last minute, saying that he was prepared to become a father. Sharon confided to Nikki that she had skipped taking her birth control pills deliberately. When Doris heard about Sharon's confession to Nikki, she worried that Nikki would use this against Sharon. Grace began having fantasies about being involved with Nick and tried to undermine Nick and Sharon's marriage. When Tony, Grace's old boyfriend, showed up and said he wanted to resume their relationship, Grace resisted his advances.

Jack Abbott was devastated when Luan died from her terminal illness. When Keemo learned that Jack had know that Luan was seriously ill, he accused his father of stealing precious time that he and his sister Mai could have spent with their mother. Eventually, Keemo forgave his father. To Jack's disappointment, Keemo announced that he was returning to Viet Nam. After grieving over Luan's death for several months, Jack resumed his relationship with Mari Jo Mason. By summer, Jack and Mari Jo were engaged to marry.

Nikki grew tired of waiting for Victor to express an interest in resuming their romance and she accepted Brad Carlton's marriage proposal. Victor was shocked when he learned that Brad was the mystery man in Nikki's life. To retaliate, he bypassed Brad for a promotion at Newman Enterprises and awarded the new position to Neil Winters. Concerned for his friend John Abbott's health, Victor warned Jill to stop threatening to take Billy away from him. When Victor received a FAX meant for Jack from Keemo, urging Jack to be leery of Mari Jo, Victor confronted Mari Jo about her manipulative ways. Unknown to Mari Jo, Victor gave the FAX to Chris for safekeeping. On Brad and Nikki's wedding day, Victor was having a late meeting with Chris when he was shot. When Nikki learned of the shooting, she fled the church to be by Victor's side at the hospital.

As Victor recovered from his gunshot wound, the police zeroed in on several suspects, including Brad and Jill. Brad urged Nikki to marry him and immediately leave for their honeymoon, but Nikki wanted to keep herself available for Victor. Upset, Brad broke off his relationship with Nikki and left town. When the police discovered that the gun used to shoot Victor belonged to Jill, they arrested her. Further investigation, however, cleared Jill and she was released. Victor's near-death experience prompted him to reevaluate his life. He left Genoa City for several weeks and visited Hope on her farm in Kansas, where she was now married to Cliff. Victor enjoyed spending time with his son Victor Jr., but Cliff made it clear that the boy considered him his father.

Victor returned to Genoa City and began spending time with Nikki, who assumed that they were finally about to reconcile. When Victor received word that Cliff had been struck by a drunk driver, he quickly returned to Kansas to lend Hope support. Hope was grief-stricken when Cliff died. Nikki misunderstood Victor's reasons for leaving her, and she resolved to break off with him. She became involved with her doctor, Josh Landers, who said that he was a widower. When Josh proposed marriage, Nikki impulsively accepted and they eloped in Vegas. Victor tried to stop the marriage, but he arrived too late, and so he decided not to tell Nikki that he was still in love with her. Eventually, Victor persuaded Hope to relocate to Genoa City with their son.

When Mari Jo realized that Chris had a link to the FAX that could potentially destroy her relationship with Jack, she kidnapped Chris and held her prisoner in a isolated area of Newman Enterprises. While Chris was trying to escape from the gun-wielding Mari Jo, Victor and Paul came to Chris' rescue. Mari Jo was arrested and committed to a mental institution. Jack visited Mari Jo and made it clear that their engagement was off.

Jack was surprised when Diane Jenkins, a former girlfriend, suddenly showed up in Genoa City. Jack was anxious to romance Diane, but she resisted, fearing that Jack hadn't reformed his former playboy ways. Meanwhile, Ashley was livid that Jack and Diane were seeing each other again. She tried to pressure Diane into staying away from Jack, but Diane found it difficult to resist Jack's charms.

Jill was shocked when John's first wife, Dina, reappeared in Genoa City. John resumed his romance with Dina and proposed remarriage. Although Jack was elated that his parents were involved again, Ashley, who had also returned to Genoa City, and Traci, who was visiting from New York, both opposed the reconciliation. The stress that John suffered while dealing with Jill caused him to have another heart attack. However, he quickly recovered. Jill and John finally agreed to divorce and Jill made plans to live in a new home with her son, Billy. Dina surprised her family by suddenly leaving town again.

Ashley resumed her job at Jabot and enjoyed a brief flirtation with her new work associate, Adam. When Ashley was attacked, and nearly killed by two thugs, while walking through the woods, she was rescued by Kurt Costner, a mysterious stranger, who had been doing odd-jobs at the Chancellor estate in exchange for room and board. The thugs shot Kurt and fled. Ashley and Kurt were rushed to the hospital, where a grateful Ashley arranged to cover Kurt's medical expenses. Ashley became intrigued with Kurt and tried to find out more about him, and she turned to Victor for help in trying to put Kurt's life back on track. While Victor was out of town on a business trip, he asked Kurt to watch out for Hope and his son.

Phyllis was heartbroken when Danny announced that he was still interested in divorcing her. Phyllis reluctantly agreed to Danny's request, but at the divorce hearing, she testified that she believed that their marriage still had a chance. The judge postponed making a decision until after Phyllis and Danny had marriage counseling. Sensing that her counselor, Dr. Tim Reid, was attracted to her, Phyllis slept with him. On the day that Tim was scheduled to testify that he felt Danny and Phyllis should divorce, Phyllis blackmailed him with a videotape of their lovemaking. Tim testified on Phyllis' behalf that her marriage to Danny had a chance, but he later recanted his testimony. Phyllis finally accepted the inevitable, and her divorce from Danny was finalized.

To make Danny jealous, Phyllis became involved with Tim, but she didn't reveal her lover's identity to Danny. When Tim proposed marriage, Phyllis accepted. Her son, Daniel, became seriously ill and was hospitalized for several weeks. Phyllis and Danny held a vigil by his bedside and, in the process, became closer. They were relieved when Daniel's health recovered. Touched by Phyllis' love for their son, Danny began dating his ex-wife. Soon after, Phyllis ended her engagement to Tim. But Phyllis and Danny are a bit nervous about their new growing closeness.

Paul and Chris made plans to marry. On the day before the ceremony, Chris made love to Danny. Paul discovered them in bed together and canceled their wedding. Chris made it clear to Danny that their lovemaking was a mistake and that she was no longer in love with him. Eventually, Chris and Paul patched up their differences and married. Their Caribbean honeymoon, however, was nearly destroyed by Phyllis, who was also visiting the island with Tim. Back in Genoa City, Phyllis apologized for her behavior and pleaded with Chris not to tell Danny. Chris reluctantly agreed.

Dr. Olivia Hastings began treating Keesha, who had contracted the AIDS virus from a former boyfriend. When Olivia inadvertently discovered that her husband, Nathan, had been having an affair--and that Keesha was the other woman--she blasted both Nathan and Keesha for their illicit behavior. Olivia, who had been trying to get pregnant again, worried that Nathan might have exposed her and their son to HIV. Meanwhile, Malcolm, after learning of Nathan and Keesha's affair, ended his romance with Keesha.

Keesha soon developed full-blown AIDS. Seeing Keesha's physical deterioration, Malcolm's attitude toward her softened. Realizing that Keesha was near death, Malcolm made her dying wish, to be married, come true. Soon after the ceremony, Keesha died. Olivia and Dru were initially angry at Malcolm for showing sympathy toward Keesha, but eventually the two sisters forgave him. A bitter Olivia, however, made it difficult for Nathan to see their son. Frustrated, Nathan kidnapped the boy and disappeared. After several weeks on the run, Nathan decided to return Little Nate to Olivia. When the boy wandered away from his father on a crowded street, Nathan rushed to find him and was fatally struck by a car. At the hospital, Nathan struggled to apologize to Olivia for hurting her and then he died.

Dru was offered a lucrative modeling contract, but her husband, Neil, insisted that she turn it down so she could focus on being a full-time mother and wife. Behind Neil's back, Dru signed the contract and began secretly accepting out-of-town modeling assignments. Malcolm, who was hired to be the photographer for Dru's shoots, reluctantly agreed to keep the secret. But Neil suspects that perhaps Dru signed with the agents.

Victoria's marriage to Cole was headed for trouble when she began enjoying secret kisses with Ryan at work. Ironically, Cole was also falling for Ryan's wife, Nina, who was working as his assistant. When Nina learned that Ryan was still attracted to Victoria, she ordered him out of their home. Meanwhile, following Victor's orders, Cole asked Victoria to give their marriage another chance and she agreed. Even though Cole made it clear to Nina that he wanted to remain married to Victoria, Nina struggled to fight her attraction for him.

SEPTEMBER 1996 CHRISTINE 'BUG' BLAIR

With creepy Christine 'Bug' Blair's May 2004 proclamation for at least the 2nd time since Daniel Romalotti arrived in Genoa City from Switzerland that he's like the son she never had, the GCN thought it would be appropriate to note that the Bug seems to have this need to bond with people who aren't remotely related to her.

In September 1996 the Bug shocked everyone when she peeped, "Victor [Newman] is the closest thing I have to a father."

The Bug said this to the man she was about to marry, private investigator, Paul 'Clueless' Williams, prior to taking their wedding vows at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. Furthermore, the Bug asked Clueless for his permission to have Newman give her away.

Being the moron Clueless is, and having just forgiven the Bug for having sex with Danny Romalotti (an act he walked in on), he agreed Newman would be the perfect person to give the slimy Bug away. Clueless also invited his mother, Mary 'Migraine' Williams, to the wedding but not a word was spoken of his father, Carl Williams, who at the time was believed to be held hostage in the basement of Mary's home because he hadn't been seen for so long.

Locals were baffled since it wasn't so long ago the Bug's father was in Genoa City at about the times the Bug's mother died from AIDS.

That the Bug didn't wear white at her wedding didn't make the event any less a joke. Held on a Wednesday, less than twelve persons attended including Malfunction Winters who it was thought had been hired to take photographs. Unless he used a hidden camera not a single photo was taken by anyone.

The traditional Here Comes the Bride was not played nor did the preacher routinely ask the bride and groom to repeat after him. Instead, Clueless and the Bug exchanged personal pledges. "I pledge to you my love and together we will make this world a better place," they actually said.

As they were pronounced man and bug the song You Are So Beautiful was piped in over the public address system.

An aside: prior to the wedding the Bug received an urgent call from a colleague at Newman Enterprises where she worked part-time. The Bug was told that a major business deal would fall apart without legal advice from a Legal Aid lawyer with no experience in corporate law. The Bug, appearing very insulted that anyone would dare interrupt the most important day of her life, refused to help.

As the reception was about to begin Clueless too received an urgent call. Dr. Olivia Winters' had just heard from her estranged husband and needed a shoulder to cry on. After a brief meeting with the Bug it was agreed that because their services were in such demand the reception would proceed without them and the honeymoon postponed.

By the time Clueless had finished consoling Winters the Bug was in Colorado wrapping up another crusade for Newman Enterprises. They agreed to meet in the West Indies for their honeymoon. When the Bug arrived in all her glory she was told Clueless was arriving by banana boat. Slipping on a pair of God-awful sunglasses the Bug slithered down to the harbor and into Clueless' arms.

Within minutes the two were crawling all over each other in a motel room as they consummated the marriage. What they didn't know was that down the hall Phyllis Summers and Dr. Strange Love (Tim Reid) were unpacking.

When Phyllis found out the Bug was on the same island at the same time she was outraged. How dare the Bug ruin her holiday? After paying a beach boy for a dead octopus Phyllis slipped into a disguise, convinced a maid she was the Bug, got the maid to let her into the Bug's room and placed the octopus between the bed sheets.

Returning from some sand and sun the Bug showered, got into bed and nearly had a conniption fit when she felt the slimy tentacles. Clueless called the hotel manager who while profusely apologizing told the Bug to pick out a dress of her choice on the house from the gift shop.

Seeing her tactic hadn't run the Bug off the island Phyllis waited until the Bug and Clueless were laying in the sun. When Clueless began sneezing their personal guide was summoned and sent into town for some cold pills which only made Clueless' problem worse. That he was dumb enough to drink champagne on top of the pills didn't help.

Back in their room the Bug told Clueless to get in bed then went off to take another shower completely unaware Phyllis was hiding in the closet. In a stupor Clueless thought the warm body sliding into the bed with him was the Bug. Moaning and groaning in the dark, Clueless was holding the body close when the Bug got into bed without noticing anything unusual something touched her albino skin.

What the hell? The Bug freaked. She turned on the lights and turned down the sheets. There was Phyllis. Totally naked!

"Fancy meeting you here!" Phyllis quipped.

Hotel management was called again. On her way out the door Phyllis gave Clueless one more chance.

"C'mon, big boy. Show me what you got," she teased, as an embarrassed Clueless realized his nakedness.

In an unprecedented move the hotel informed Phyllis that not only wasn't she wanted at the hotel, she wasn't wanted on the island, and was subsequently escorted off said island.

NATHAN HASTINGS DEAD

It was so funny watching private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams trying to find a clue which might end the kidnapping of baby Nate Hastings case. Having interrupted his wedding to be at Dr. Olivia Winters' side Clueless was hit with a barrage if whining, bawling and insults. While he wanted to help Winters had the audacity to scream at him.

Things got incredibly crazy when Nathan Hastings called to say he wanted a face-to-face with Olivia at a greasy spoon. Nathan said he still loved her and wanted to move back onto the oil rig they shared with their son. Olivia screamed again and made such a scene Nathan split. He returned to the BelAir Motel where Nate whined so much about missing his mother Nathan decided to take him back home. Since the oil rig was just up the street Nathan took Nate's hand and away they went.

Along the way Nate wanted to buy flowers from a street vendor. Shelling out the remaining $2 in his pocket Nathan purchased a small pick me up bouquet. The rig within his view, Nate became giddy and took off without Nathan noticing. When it did dawn on him that Nate was gone Nathan dashed out into the street. He was immediately struck by a slow moving car.

Meantime, Clueless was scratching his head. Where had Olivia gone? One minute she'd summoned him and the next she was gone. He couldn't imagine she'd be meeting with Nathan. When she returned he convinced her to go back to work at the God Have Mercy Medical Center.

The hospital staff was elated. They jumped when Olivia asked, "What patients should I see today?" as just then an ambulance rolled in. Anxious to resume the practice of medicine Olivia was shocked to see who her first patient was. She began screaming and hollering at the unconscious Nathan. "What have you done with our son?"

Getting no reply she limped into the hallway where Clueless and sister Dru were waiting to take her home since their suggested of Olivia going back to work obviously wasn't working.

Back at the rig Olivia was approaching her door when she saw something curled up in front of it. The closer she got the happier she became. Her bundle of joy, Baby Nate was home!

Olivia's glad tidings were nipped in the bud when a call came in from GHM. Nathan had taken a turn for the worse. Back to the hospital Olivia went. She did nothing when Nathan went flat line but return to the hallway where Clueless was still waiting. After declaring Nathan dead Olivia gave Clueless permission to go on his honeymoon. She later told Nate that his father had kicked the bucket and was surprised when - of all people - Jack Abbott showed up looking for emotional support. It was never clear why Jack turned to Olivia as at the time he hardly knew her.