It's Christmas day in Salem. Sami and family pray for the safe return of Sydney. Rafe gets a promising tip prompted by the Christmas Eve vigil. Meanwhile, EJ informs Stefano that Johnny will be staying with his mother as long as Stefano lives at the DiMera mansion. EJ then arrives at Sami's townhouse to spend Christmas morning with Johnny. There is tension between Rafe and EJ, but Sami and EJ share a close moment. Later, Sami is devastated to learn the lead ended up being a dead end. When EJ returns home, he receives a note from the kidnapper reading: I have your daughter. Meanwhile, the mystery woman and Sydney celebrate Christmas together. The Kiriakis Christmas celebration is sheer dysfunction. Daniel and Chloe show up, and Vivian slyly snipes at Chloe which makes Victor happy. Later, Victor blurts to Daniel that Brady's dating a drug dealer. As the festivities continue, Philip shows up, having invited Kate and Stefano, and drops the bombshell that he and Melanie are engaged. Vivian congratulates him, and Kate and Victor are reluctantly forced to rise to the occasion and join in the toast. Philip and Melanie's blissful Christmas morning is interrupted when she is called in to work. Meanwhile, Stephanie and Nathan have worked together to arrange the hospital Christmas party for the sick kids. His gift to her is a New Year's Eve date. Theo, Lexie, and Abe share a nice family moment at the party. Stephanie and Maggie convince Nathan to read the Christmas story to the kids like Tom Horton did all those years ago, and Maggie fondly remembers Tom on Christmas. While Nathan reads to the sick children, he spots Melanie's engagement ring. Arianna, Brady, Daniel, and Chloe find time alone to get into the Christmas spirit.