Days of our Lives Recap, December 5, 2025: The custody hearing begins without Chad

Here is what happened on Days of our Lives on Friday, December 5, 2025, as the custody hearing began, Gabi warned Theo, Chad woke up in the crypts, and Cat set a plan in motion.

What happened on Days of our Lives

At the Horton house, Jack and Jennifer prepared for the custody hearing. Thomas interrupted to ask for help with his tie. With a chuckle, Jack noted that Thomas had outgrown his suit. Jennifer left to pick up a bigger suit for Thomas from the department store.

“Any questions about what’s gonna happen today?” Jack asked. Thomas said no, but he admitted he was a little nervous. Jack advised Thomas to answer any questions honestly. “If you want to be with me and your grandmother, it’s not enough for them to hear from us. Judge has to hear from you,” Jack said. Thomas asked why his dad would not let him leave with Jack and Jennifer.

“Because [Chad] doesn’t want you to move away from him,” Jack said. “It sounds like you’re on his side,” Thomas said. Jack stressed that he was on Thomas’s side, but he understood Chad’s point of view. “Our parents might not always be able to give us what we need, when we need it. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t love us. My gosh, your dad loves you more than anything,” Jack said. Thomas asked why Chad had lied to him if he loved him. Jack said he could not answer that question. “Nothing hurts more than when the people we love most let us down,” Jack said.

In the DiMera mansion, Cat made dinner plans with EJ so that they could talk about their time in Italy. “Maybe the risotto will jog our memories,” Cat said. EJ argued that Clyde had arranged for them to cross paths. EJ suggested that they discuss it over dinner since he needed to leave for the custody hearing. Cat asked EJ to give Chad her best.

Cat walked over to the square, and she called Rafe. Cat told Rafe that EJ was headed over to the hearing to meet with Chad. “So EJ’s at least pretending that his brother is going to show up,” Cat said. Cat vowed to get the truth out EJ. As Cat ended her call, she turned and saw Jennifer staring at her. Cat called out to her.

“What do you want?” Jennifer asked. “Chad is a good man and a good father. And his involvement with me was completely over well before Thomas saw him consoling me before the accident,” Cat said. Cat stressed that she would never be a part of Chad’s life again. “You do not need to take his children away from him,” Cat pleaded. “How dare you presume to know what I need and don’t need,” Jennifer growled. Cat said she just wanted to assure Jennifer that she was no longer a part of Chad’s life.

“I don’t trust Chad, so I trust you even less. So I am forced to do what I need to do to keep my grandchildren safe. And you need to stay out of it,” Jennifer said. Jennifer told Cat that Chad’s feelings for her were misplaced feelings for Abigail. “You are not a victim. You are a vile predator, which is why I will do everything I can to make sure you never hurt my family again,” Jennifer said.

In the pub, Gabi signed paperwork with Theo. “Gabi Chic is now fully divested from DiMera,” Theo announced. Gabi thanked Theo. “I think my Uncle Tony made a big mistake allowing you to walk away with your company. But I have to honor the deal you two made,” Theo said. Gabi told Theo that she was impressed with him.

“Enough that you’d consider coming back?” Theo asked. Gabi declined. “But I’m not ruling out the possibility of us working together again,” Gabi added. Theo told Gabi he would be interested in a collaboration. EJ walked in, and Theo thanked him again for his help with the licensing agreement. EJ explained that he was there to pick up a milkshake for Thomas. Gabi scoffed, and she suggested that EJ was bribing Thomas. Theo wished EJ luck with the case. EJ grabbed the milkshake and left.

“What’s the deal with you and my uncle?” Theo asked. “At one point EJ and I were friends. Then we were family, then enemies, and then we were more than friends,” Gabi said. Gabi noted that she thought EJ was pathetic. Gabi added that regardless of her history with both EJ and Chad, she hoped things went well for EJ in the hearing.

When Gabi suggested they switch to celebratory drinks, Theo admitted that he was meeting Jada for a second date. “I love Jada. She and Rafe were a great couple. Until your uncle, the one we were just talking about, he ruined everything,” Gabi said. Gabi told Theo the whole story about how EJ had replaced Rafe with a doppelganger and attempted to sabotage Jada’s career.

“How is EJ not in jail?” Theo asked. Gabi explained that EJ had covered his tracks and Rafe had no memory of anything. “That’s so horrible,” Theo whispered. Gabi warned Theo to watch his back. “And remember, EJ never does anything out of the goodness of his heart,” Gabi said.

Curious, Gabi asked Theo if he believed EJ had pushed Tony out of the way to cozy up to him. Theo reiterated he would be careful. Theo asked Gabi if she and Philip wanted to join him and Jada for trivia. When Theo asked if Philip was still ignorant of Gabi’s betrayal, Gabi said yes. Theo promised to keep quiet.

In the DiMera crypt, Chad stirred awake. “What’s going on?” Chad said groggily. Tony and Kristen updated Chad on their situation. “Somebody is clearly targeting Dimera siblings,” Tony said. After a moment, Chad told Kristen and Tony about his custody case.

“Since my son hates my guts right now, it was suggested that giving them some space might help defuse the situation,” Chad said. Chad explained he had checked into the Salem Inn, and then he had been drugged and abducted in the park. When Kristen noted that it was the day after Thanksgiving, Chad gasped. “My court hearing is today!” Chad yelled. Panicked, Chad wondered aloud what would happen if he did not show up for the hearing.

“The judge will postpone it,” Kristen said. Chad disagreed. “Jennifer is going to push ahead because she is determined to prove that I am an unfit father. And then the judge is going to see my son begging to go live with his grandparents because he feels neglected and betrayed. And then I don’t even bother to show up to fight for him?” Chad yelled. After a moment, Kristen noted that if Chad did not appear in court, it might spur people to look for all three of them.

Tony asked about Anna, and Chad confirmed that Anna was worried but safe. “How’s Rachel?” Kristen asked. Chad averted his eyes. Kristen asked what was wrong. Chad told Kristen about how Rachel and Thomas had intentionally tossed a pumpkin at Cat. Kristen argued that Rachel had had a stressful year. “My daughter needs me more than ever. And I am going to figure out a way to get back to her,” Kristen said.

At the courthouse, EJ was disturbed to see that Chad was not in the hearing room. Justin walked in. “No matter how the judge rules, I’m worried about how this will affect the whole family,” Justin said. EJ agreed. Justin asked EJ if Chad was open to mediation instead. “I’ll run it by Chad when he arrives,” EJ said. Jack and Jennifer arrived with Thomas. EJ explained to Thomas that he would be making a case for why Thomas and Charlotte should stay with Chad.

“But if the judge decides that that’s not what’s best for you right now, I will totally accept that. Because my goal, and everyone’s goal, is for you to be happy,” EJ said. As Thomas and Jack took a seat, Jennifer asked about Chad. EJ said he did not know. Across the room, Justin and Jack talked privately. “I have to wonder what Adrienne would think about all this. All she ever wanted was to bring this family together,” Justin said.

When Judge Dabney started the hearing, she asked why Chad was not there. “Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to reach him,” EJ said. EJ admitted he was concerned. “Chad knows how important this hearing is and would never miss it unless something was seriously wrong,” EJ argued. Judge Dabney asked Jack and Jennifer when they had last heard from Chad.

“We invited him to Thanksgiving, but he didn’t come,” Thomas said. Jack explained that they had received a text from Chad that said he had not seen the invitation in time to attend. “And he didn’t say anything about not being here today either?” Judge Dabney asked. “He did not,” Jack said. EJ requested a continuance. Jennifer agreed. Worried, Thomas asked Jennifer if something had happened to his dad. Jack assured Thomas that Chad was fine.

EJ went home, and Cat met up with him for dinner. “Chad never showed,” EJ said. EJ explained that he had not heard from Chad, but that he had secured a continuance. “Nothing short of the world ending would stop Chad from getting to that hearing,” Cat argued. EJ agreed. “I have notified the police,” EJ said. EJ admitted he had been unable to track Chad’s phone. While EJ fixed another drink for Cat, she dosed his drink. After a few sips, EJ passed out.

While Thomas went upstairs in the Horton house, Jack argued to Jennifer that something was wrong. “Tony is missing. Chad is gone. Being a DiMera, being around a DiMera, is dangerous,” Jennifer argued. Jennifer argued they should remove the children as soon as possible to protect them.

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