Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga Vow to Repair Their Fractured 'RHONJ' Relationship

After years of fighting, it looks like Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga have finally found a way to move forward

Photo: Paul Zimmerman/WireImage

They’ve been feuding ever since The Real Housewives of New Jersey‘s third season. But on Sunday’s episode, Teresa Giudice and sister-in-law Melissa Gorga seemed to have finally buried the hatchet.

The two addressed their tense past and agreed to move forward on positive terms at Gorga’s Christmas Eve celebration, vowing to have each other’s back from there on out.

“Someone’s bashing me – you stick up for me,” Giudice said. “And I promise you, I will too. Promise.”

“Ditto,” Gorga responded. “From here on out, that’s the way we roll.”

For Giudice, the change of heart comes after serving 11 months in prison after being convicted on charges of fraud. Her emotional reunion with husband Joe and her family was captured on the season premiere of RHONJ.

“Melissa and I are both smart women,” she told to viewers on the season’s second episode. “We know if we want things to be good, we just got to move forward. I’m willing to forgive. I’m definitely a changed person – a better person – and I’m just going to enjoy every moment that I have with my family. There’s going to be no fighting coming from this end. I so don’t have the head for that. And I’ll just walk away.”

The conversation began on polite terms, with Giudice helping Gorga with the after-dinner dishes. “I want us to get back to how we were when you first met Joey and when you guys first got married,” Giudice told Gorga. “I know how my brother is – he’d love for us to get close. I know that would make him happy.”

“Honestly, I feel the same way,” Gorga told her sister-in-law. “But I don’t want you to do this for your brother. I want to make a real relationship between you and I.”

“You know me – it’s gonna be real,” Giudice said, getting defensive. “And I love that you’re with my parents and that shows me you’re stepping up to the plate. I want you to be like my sister. Didn’t I say that to you?”

“I felt that, but then sometimes I feel like you put this wall up with me,” Gorga responded, frankly. “You don’t let me in and I want to be your family – I want to help you.”

Gorga told Giudice that she’s struggled to connect with her throughout the years. “Sometimes I feel like it’s surface like we can’t really get there all the way,” she said. I feel like I’ve tried to pull you next to me and you weren’t reciprocating.””

“I didn’t feel like it was genuine,” Giudice admitted of the effort. “Believe me, if you are genuine, I can feel it.”

“I love you like a true sister,” Gorga said.

“Well then show it to me!” Giudice shot back.

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It seemed clear that before the two could move forward, they had to take a few steps back. That meant rehashing a few past fights they had over the years on the show – including the infamous christening fight from season 3, when Gorga first joined the show.

“Let’s be real. Let’s be real now,” Giudice said. “It all started at the christening. I don’t want to rehash, but from there it snowballed.”

Attempting to not dig up emotional graves, Gorga tried to quickly move forward, telling Giudice “Not every event is on me.”

They then brought up past alliances and arguments involving Jacqueline Laurita, Caroline Manzo, Kathy Wakile and Posche boutique owner Kim D.

“This is how it felt: You should have stuck with me no matter what,” Giudice said. “If they ever talked about me, you should have shut it down right away.”

“But why didn’t you stick with me?” Gorga responded. “Have you shut down everybody who’s ever talked about me?”

After both initially denying their involvement in previous drama, each finally came around. ”

“I was involved with people that didn’t like you,” Giudice admitted. “At the time, I was hurt. So now this is my point – if other women are trying to start trouble between us, you let me know, I let you know. That’s what sisters, best friends, and sister-in-laws do.”

Gorga accepted the deal, embracing her sister-in-law. The two appear to be on good terms these days. But it wouldn’t be a season of RHONJ without a few bumps along the way.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Sundays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo.