DAYS fans are invited to read today's in-depth Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, December 22nd, 2016 (Continue reading below)

At the Horton house, Abby says goodbye to Jenn and leaves for Boston. JJ returns home later to find out that his sister is gone. Eventually Doug and Julie arrive for the annual ornament hanging. Julie sees Jenn is upset, and asks if Chad is coming by with Thomas. Jenn says he has other plans, which annoys JJ. Later, Maggie arrives without Victor, because he threw his back out. Abe, Valerie, Theo, Lani, Claire, Shawn and Ciara also arrive. Lani continues to give JJ a cold shoulder, and Ciara is upset to see Claire and Theo together. From outside the window, Abby looks in. Julie gathers everyone to begin the ornament hanging, and suggests they reflect on each person when they hang their ornament and how their presence made them a better person. One by one the family hangs ornaments of those no longer in Salem, or no longer on earth. Maggie hangs Daniel’s ornament next to hers and Mickey’s, and Shawn and Ciara hang their parents’ ornaments. JJ and Jenn put Jack and Abby’s ornaments on the tree. Later, Claire surprises Theo with his gift, a baseball card that he’s been wanting. They kiss. Claire also got a bug to plant in Valerie’s purse, so Theo can finally find out what she’s up to. Theo distracts Valerie while Claire sneaks it into her purse, though Ciara sees what she does. Shawn notices Ciara is upset and thinks it is because of Claire, but she says she is missing mom. Meanwhile, Doug sees JJ with Gabi’s ornament. Her original one was damaged and JJ got her a new one as a surprise. Doug gives him words of advice and tells him not to give up on love. Everyone eventually gathers as Julie jokes about how she can still hear Tom’s voice telling them the Christmas story. She speaks about how the story is really about the test of one’s faith, and that miracles can happen. Doug tells them that their Christmas prayer for all of them is to hang on and keep the faith, and remember what they have to be grateful for. Doug leads the family in singing, “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.”

DAYS OF OUR LIVES 12.22.16 - At the DiMera mansion, Chad tells Andre to stay out of his personal life. Andre leaves when Gabi arrives, and she and Chad exchange gifts. She got him cufflinks and he got her a heart-shaped locket. Later, Chad goes to his room to change his shirt and put the cufflinks on, and Gabi walks in on him shirtless. Down in the dark living room, Abby sneaks in and looks around. Upstairs, Chad confesses that it’s been a long time since he’s felt excited for the future. Gabi kisses him, and the two move over to the bed to make love. Elsewhere, Abby sneaks into the nursery to check on Thomas. Back in Chad’s room, Gabi and Chad put on the breaks as they don’t want to move too fast. Gabi has to get home, but before she goes Chad tells her that he loves her. She says the words back to him. Later, Chad walks in to check on Thomas and finds Abby holding their son.

At the motel in Chicago, Nicole calls Deimos to tell him about Chloe and the baby. He tells her help will be there soon as he finally got a chopper to fly out. Brady arrives, he drove there, and soon the chopper with Deimos and an EMT make it to them.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES 12-22-16  - Rafe drops by the prison to surprise Hope on Christmas Eve. He also brought her a cupcake for her birthday, and while he can’t light the candle, he tells her to make a wish anyways. She pretends to blow it out. He gives her a gift, a relic from Our Lady of Guadalupe down in Mexico. It was his grandma’s and he thought it would help her out in here. Later, Rafe gets a call from Justin. He hopes for a miracle, but the news isn’t good. Hope’s appeal has been denied.

Brady, Deimo, and Nicole get Chloe to Salem Hospital, where a doctor informs them that Chloe went into pre-eclampsia and suffered a stroke. Chloe is unconscious and the next 48 hours will be critical. Nicole leaves to check on the baby. Deimos tells Brady that Nicole needs to be told the truth so she can bond with her child. Brady warns him that he needs to be sure, so Deimos decides to have a DNA test done. Meanwhile, Nicole holds the baby and a nurse asks Nicole for the baby’s name to put on the birth certificate. Nicole tries to pick a name for her, something festive, and settles on Holly.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES 12/22/16 - Gabi stops in the park on the way home and looks at the memorial statue to Abigail. She misses her friend, and hopes she is happy for her and Chad. Gabi says she’s never been this happy before.

Christmas Eve continues.