JJ visits Chad at the hospital. He just flew in, but the kids are driving back with Jack and Jennifer. He promises that he just tagged along

with Jack and Jennifer to protect the kids — he wasn’t taking part in the custody battle. No hard feelings! Though he’s worried Theo’s still going to hate him.

 

 

Out in the square, Lani’s distraught over leaving her parents, but she and Eli are hoping for a Christmas miracle for Theo. Then before they can go “rescue” Johnny and Chanel from the twins, the two share a kiss under some mistletoe.

Sarah wishes her mom a merry Christmas, but Maggie can’t join her to go see the big tree in the square with Victoria. (She hasn’t seen it yet? Everyone seems to be in the square every day!) They’re gonna head to the Hortons’ separately, but worry about Jennifer and Chad’s custody battle and that carries them into Xander and how he’s not fighting Sarah and being a decent guy. For once.

After Sarah leaves, Xander drops in with a giant gift for Maggie. She thinks he’s buttering her up. “I tolerate you for the sake of the company, but…” Ouch. He begs her to just open the gift and if she doesn’t like it, throw it out. And it’s… a new portrait of Victor!

Well, if she throws it out, it’s like throwing out her husband, so check and mate, we guess, Xander. But he just wanted to make up for destroying the portrait and hurting her. Maggie gets all emotional and thanks Xander, breaking into tears. Victor did love him, Maggie insists.

Brady spots Sarah out in the square pushing Victoria around. They share a Merry Christmas, and talk about their family dramas lately. They’re both making peace with their exes. Kristen would do anything for Rachel and Xander’s doing the same for Victoria, against all odds. But they’ve both been making things easier for each other. They wish each other a Merry Christmas again, then notice the mistletoe. They have to kiss. It’s the law. So they do!

The Hortons Gather for Christmas
Julie’s getting all the Horton ornaments just right in their box as Jeremy helps her. He insists he wouldn’t miss this tradition — even if he has for decades… Then Hope calls and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. They’re off on a trip to Hawaii. See ya, Horton suckers!