Days Recap: Days of our Lives Recap, December 22, 2025: The DiMeras realize there’s a kidnapper among them

On Days of our Lives today, Monday, December 22, 2025, Marlena and Brady make amends, Tate and Holly make merry, and Paulina and Belle make a plan.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

Tate (Leo Howard) delivered disappointing news to Holly (Ashley Puzemis) on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

In Horton Town Square, Tate reluctantly told Holly that he wouldn’t be going to Paris with her. He explained the obligation he felt to make Christmas as normal as possible for Rachel and for his dad, and he asked Holly to forgive him. Holly understood Tate’s decision. She suggested he come to Paris after Christmas so they could spend at least part of the holiday break together. Tate then confessed that he had another reason for needing to stay in Salem: he was on academic probation because he’d missed so many assignments.

Holly was sympathetic but didn’t understand why Tate hadn’t said something sooner so she could have helped him. Tate admitted to feeling embarrassed about revealing his struggles with school to his “brainiac girlfriend.” He had decided to take a couple of online classes over the break to get himself in better standing. Holly declared they should make the best of the time they had together before she left. After ruling out their respective living accommodations, she announced she had an idea for some private time, took Tate’s hand, and whisked him away.

Later, Tate and Holly snuck into the Salem Inn. After light-hearted banter, they got to “unwrapping” their presents...each other. During the afterglow, the couple cuddled and spoke French. With a loving kiss, Tate told Holly the most important French phrase he’d learned: “Je t’aime.” Holly returned the sentiment.

At the Kiriakis mansion, Brady opened up to Belle about how difficult his last visit with Rachel had been. He couldn’t even bring his girl home for one day on Christmas. When Belle advised Brady to talk with Marlena about his feelings, he harshly rejected the idea. Marlena had always been the person he could trust, and she had broken that trust. Belle guilted Brady by bringing up John and how he would have felt about Brady’s treatment of Marlena.

Belle reminded Brady that although they put Marlena on a pedestal, Marlena was human and made mistakes. And as far as the situation with Rachel went, Marlena had only been honoring Kristen’s request to keep quiet. Brady was shocked but not entirely surprised that Kristen had pressured Marlena into staying silent. Belle said Marlena hadn’t wanted to reveal Kristen’s request, but Belle felt Brady had the right to know. Brady thanked his sister for telling him the truth and took her up on her suggestion to talk with Marlena – the woman who had been a mother to Brady for most of his life.

At Marlena’s place, Paulina paid Marlena a visit. Paulina confided her fears about Theo, and Marlena provided a listening ear. The talk turned to Marlena’s recent troubles, particularly the revelations about Rachel. Paulina felt for her friend. She didn’t believe a child like Rachel should be harshly punished, but she also did not want to be seen as giving the girl preferential treatment in her duties as mayor.

After Paulina departed, Marlena – to her surprise – received another visitor in Brady. She invited him inside, and he told his stepmother that he knew about Kristen’s request. Marlena again apologized, but Brady stated that while it had taken him time, he understood why she had taken the actions she had. He expressed his gratitude for the way Marlena had always been a loving source of support for him, for Tate, and for Rachel. Marlena invited Brady to come back home, but Brady affirmed that it was past time for him to find his own place.

During their discussion about Rachel, Marlena hinted to Brady that mental illness might run in Rachel’s family because of Kristen and Kristen’s mother. She still believed that with a strong network of loved ones around her, Rachel could get past her struggles. Brady told Marlena that Rachel would love to see her grandma. He only wished he could bring his daughter home for Christmas. Marlena vowed the family would bring Christmas to Rachel.

In Paulina’s office, Belle stopped by to extend a holiday greeting to her boss and to convey her sympathies about Theo. When Paulina challenged Belle on whether she hoped “all” the DiMeras were found, Belle replied that although she had issues with EJ, she didn’t wish him any harm. Paulina begrudgingly agreed…she just wanted the man to go far, far away upon his return. Belle admitted she’d threatened EJ about his role in Marlena’s sickness prior to his disappearance.

Paulina railed against EJ’s phony attempts to clean up his image via the clinic and the hospital. She had an epiphany about a way to hold him accountable for what he had indirectly done to Marlena. The psychiatrist should file a lawsuit against him. Belle wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea.

In the DiMera crypt, Tony and Theo rejoined the other DiMeras. They all became concerned when Kristen's fever intensified and she seemingly fainted. EJ suggested a cold compress, but Peter raged at him to stay away. EJ had done enough to the family. Peter continued that not only had EJ traumatized his mother, Rachel, but he had also been the one DiMera to most unapologetically carry on Stefano’s legacy. Peter accused EJ of orchestrating all their kidnappings.

EJ scoffed at the accusation until Peter reminded the group of all the ways EJ had hurt them personally – starting with EJ’s affair with Abigail. EJ deemed the affair long in the past, but Chad admitted he had never truly gotten over it. Peter then told Theo that EJ wanted him ousted from DiMera and Johnny put in his place. The kidnappings would be an ideal opportunity to make that wish a reality. Tony tried to play peacemaker, to no avail.

Kristen roused from her stupor and sniped about the group's loud arguing. When Peter declared that everyone hated EJ, the rest of the family defended him. Theo said EJ wouldn’t be the only DiMera to gain from their incapacitation. When Peter sarcastically asked who else would profit, Kristen glared at him and responded, “You.” With the tables turned on him, Peter was put on the defensive.

Kristen relayed a story from her and Peter’s childhoods in which they’d played a game of chess. Peter had lost and had become enraged. Then he had destroyed the game table and blamed Kristen for it. Throughout Peter’s life, it had been a pattern for him to blame others for his wrongdoing. Theo concurred with Kristen’s assessment, since Peter had spent almost his entire time with them airing “ancient grievances.”

The other DiMeras demanded Peter empty his pockets to prove he didn’t have a weapon on him. When Peter refused, Theo rushed him, but Peter forcefully pushed the younger man away. Theo landed hard on the ground and hit his head.

As Chad tended to an unconscious Theo, Peter pulled a vial from his pocket and warned them to back off. He revealed himself as the kidnapper and stated their accusations had forced him into early action. Peter disclosed the vial contained sarin gas. If anyone took another step, he added, “you will all be dead before you can say ‘Merry Christmas’!”

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