These somewhat unlikely scenes have found their way into the S&K pantheon of classics:

(The background: Victor has been dropping hints left and right about doing something to Kayla if Steve doesn’t find the key for him. Kayla refuses to leave town and lay low—she doesn’t want her Christmas ruined—so Steve takes matters into his own hands and kidnaps her himself.)

I think what makes this so much fun is partly the context: it’s the first gleam of lightheartedness that Steve and Kayla have had for months upon months. Also, Stephen and Mary Beth don’t really get this type of scene to play very often (the only others I can think of are the ones when they’re handcuffed together in the honeymoon suite after Britta’s murder). They really make the most of it, striking just the right note. Kayla could have seen this as a major betrayal and this could have been a major step back, but instead it’s like Carole Lombard and John Barrymore squaring off in Twentieth Century. Kayla is angry at Steve, but she isn’t hurt, she isn’t devastated. She’s just pissed off. And Steve is so impish and adorable, obviously really pleased with himself that he pulled this off

They get some good lines: I love when Steve says that he brought all the books she keeps telling people she’s going to read, and now she’ll get her chance. And of course, her favorite jammies: the ones with the feet. And Mary Beth’s comic timing is perfect when she snaps back that she hates those jammies.

There’s a glimmer of seriousness, too, when Kayla says that she doesn’t like it when other people make decisions for her. This calls to mind all the times Steve has done exactly that: keeping the truth from her about Marina, or breaking up with her for Jack. But Steve gets his own good points in, when Kayla says that only she knows what’s best for her, and he says that keeping her and the baby safe is best for her. She forced him to take drastic measures by refusing to take any steps to protect herself from Victor. When Kayla turns away but doesn’t say anything, I think she knows Steve has a point.

We even get a historical reference, when Steve leans in and blows on her hair before he leaves, just like he did when he used to bug her at the Emergency Center. Steve says, “Just like the old days,” and Kayla might be remembering too. Then, even as angry as she is, Kayla can’t help but call after him when he leaves, telling him to be careful. It’s a wonderful note to end this on, and what makes this feel like step forward in spite of everything.