Bo and Hope’s House
Abe, Lexie, and Theo are celebrating Christmas with Bo, Hope, and Ciara. Lexie is grateful to Bo for Theo being safe and sound. Bo holds Ciara on his lap as Lexie thanks Bo and Hope for inviting them over. Ciara brings a present to Theo. Lexie helps him open it to a toy truck, but he could care less. Abe later hands Theo a present to give to Lexie and she opens it to find a small picture of him which he made for her. Theo points to it and says his name, then hugs Lexie.
University Hospital
Maggie is preparing goodies for Christmas when Julie approaches her. Maggie mentions how quickly this year flew by. Doug emerges and asks if she knows why it flew by so fast. “Because we’re getting old and life is passing us by!” exclaims Julie as she hugs him. Doug claims it’s because they have so much darn fun. Julie then brings up Nick and hard this year it’s been for Maggie. “Well, here comes the shame of Western civilization,” remarks Julie as Stefano walks by. Stefano approaches her and wonders if Julie has a problem. Julie tells “Senor DiMera” thanks on behalf of the hospital board, but his charity isn’t welcome there. Stefano says he feels very much at home at the hospital, especially considering the fact that he owns an awful lot of stock there. He wishes her a warm and yuletide greeting, then says “arrivederci.” Doug tells Stefano to leave, pointing out that nobody wants him there.
Doug and Julie later emerge dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus. Steve, Kayla, and Joe soon arrive, where Steve asks Stefano what he’s doing there. Stefano claims he’s spreading good will. Steve tells him to get out and warns him that there will be a scene, threatening to throw him out. Abe, Lexie, and Theo arrive as Stefano affirms that he doesn’t take orders from Steve, and he’s there to give a substantial donation to the hospital, specifically the pediatric ward. Lexie asks Steve to let her handle things. Stefano greets Abe and Lexie, then tells Theo Merry Christmas. Lexie asks her father to please leave for her sake and for Theo’s. Stefano agrees to her wishes and hopes that Theo got the gift he sent.
Steve, Kayla, Abe, Lexie, Theo, Bo, Hope, Ciara, Maggie, Caroline, Julie, and the children are gathered around Doug as he reads the traditional Christmas story to the children.
Chelsea and Stephanie later arrive. Philip hands Kayla a check to donate to the hospital. She thanks him. Philip hands a beaming Stephanie a rose and kisses her on the cheek.
DiMera Mansion
Nicole sleeps in her bed while E.J. presents her with a holly and wishes her a Merry Christmas. She suddenly wakes up and demands for him to get away from her. E.J. asks what’s the matter with her. Nicole jokes how the holly has sharp edges. E.J. smiles how he was trying to tickle her nose. Nicole laughs and apologizes, glad that he woke her up since she doesn’t want to miss Christmas. E.J. shares how they have the whole house to themselves and he intends to go downstairs so Johnny can open his presents. Nicole says she’ll be downstairs in a minute. E.J. teases her and says if she wants a kiss, she’ll have to come downstairs.
After he leaves the room, she finds her fake pregnancy belly and remarks how she and E.J. will have a beautiful baby very soon. She vows to find a way to make it happen.
Nicole comes downstairs and apologizes for freaking out earlier, but assumes that E.J. is probably getting used to it by now. She wants to talk about the money issue, but he implores her to forget about it on Christmas. She shares her Christmas wish, that next year at this time they will be there with Johnny and the baby. After she promises not to push him away again, he smiles and kisses her.
Lucas later arrives at the DiMera mansion with Allie and wishes E.J. a Merry Christmas. Roman also arrives and announces that they have a little Christmas surprise.
Back upstairs, Nicole phones Dr. Baker and leaves him a message, warning him that the vase will be the last bit of profit he receives from her. She threatens to kill him if he doesn’t keep his mouth shut about her nonexistent pregnancy.
Safe House
Rafe sings “Deck the Halls” as a groggy Sami lies in bed. Sami is amused to see Rafe in a Santa hat and shaving cream on his face as a beard. She notes how his beard is dripping on his shirt. Rafe encourages her to get into the Christmas spirit. Sami expresses how she misses her kids. She apologizes for being a “Debbie Downer” while he’s decked out in the Christmas spirit. He wipes his shaving cream off and announces that he has a taste of a Mexican Christmas in an effort to cheer her up. She is surprised to hear that he’s going to make tamales from scratch. He previews that she’ll light up like the Christmas tree on Rockefeller Plaza once she sees her Christmas present from him.
Sami later eats Rafe’s tamales and marvels how amazing they taste. Rafe recalls how his mother used to say that “the belly is the giver of genius.” Sami looks at him quizzically and wonders why he’s been hiding his culinary genius all this time. Rafe suggests that maybe it’s because tamales are the only things that his mother taught him to cook. Sami encourages him to tell her about his mother, asking if she lives nearby and what kind of childhood he had. Rafe doesn’t want to talk about himself and says it’s a time for counting their blessings and opening gifts. He opens his gift from Santa and unveils a special coin that Grandpa Shawn gave Sami when she was little, which she’s carried her whole life. Rafe is touched that she gave it to him. He sits at the computer ready to give Sami her present.
Sami is overwhelmed with emotion to see Allie, Johnny, and Roman on the webcam. Roman wishes her a Merry Christmas. Sami professes to love them all and asks if the twins got her presents. E.J. confirms that they are playing with the laughing penguins as they speak. Sami cries how she misses them and how her heart is with them. Lucas is nearby and Nicole walks into the DiMera living room as E.J. takes his place at the computer. E.J. wishes Sami a Merry Christmas and expresses how they all miss her. Nicole is obviously jealous.
