Rafe and Nicole have it out again over Sydney's whereabouts. Rafe is finally convinced Nicole is telling the truth that she doesn't know. Nicole then tells Rafe about the flash of memory she had that the person who took Sydney is a woman. She pleads with Rafe to believe her and use that info to find Sydney. Rafe needs more info than that, and Nicole recalls a distinctive pair of women's boots walking away with Sydney. In the cottage, where the mystery woman has Sydney, the same boots that Nicole described sit nearby. Arianna tells Brady her plan that if she appears to be a team player and wants to help the higher ups with any problems they're having, maybe they'll trust her more and the big boss will meet her. Later, Troy relays this message to EJ. He also wonders if Arianna's more trouble than she's worth because she's Rafe's sister. EJ has his reasons for keeping Arianna around. When Arianna meets up with Troy at the pier, she expects to meet the boss, but he's not there. She becomes frustrated. EJ pretends to be happening by and comes to Arianna's rescue with Troy. Arianna covers that Troy's just a friend. EJ asks her what's really going on. In the meantime, Brady comes home to Victor who warns Brady that no good can come from dating a drug dealer. Philip and Melanie try to have a casual date at the Java Café, but Melanie's mood is spoiled when Nathan comes in. Philip goes home to Victor, Kate and Vivian fighting over him and leaves, seeking comfort from Melanie. In the meantime, Melanie runs into Nathan and Stephanie hanging out. When Nathan steps away for a call, Stephanie makes Melanie think it's more than it is and even says she and Nathan are spending Christmas together. After Melanie goes, Nathan calls Stephanie out on her comment. Stephanie plays innocent as she explains she thought the Hortons and the Bradys were getting together. Nathan knows better, but suggests they hang together on Christmas anyway. Philip meets up with Melanie, who is baking cookies at Maggie's. They both bring each other out of their bad moods and Melanie agrees to spend Christmas with Philip. Kate shows up at the Kiriakis mansion off hearing an ugly rumor about Vivian moving in. They fight over Philip. After Philip walks in on it, and Victor sees how it upset him, he orders Kate out. Kate learns Stefano's in jail and goes to him. He needs Kate's help.