Photo Credit: JPI Studios

EJ tells Taylor he can’t deny his feelings for her anymore and pulls her into a steamy kiss. She responds by kissing him back. They profess their love for one another and begin to make love. However, Taylor breaks it off, saying she can’t hurt her sister. EJ suggests that Nicole never has to know – he’ll remain married to Nicole but carry on an affair with Taylor behind her back. Taylor is stunned. Nicole brings Fay to the hospital for a checkup. She runs into Lexie, who nearly spills the beans about EJ and Taylor’s feelings for one another. However, Lexie is able to cover and allows Nicole to continue thinking the two of them can’t stand each other. Later, Fay has a nice moment bonding with Nicole, saying she wants nothing more than her daughter’s happiness. Touched, Nicole invites Fay to move out of the guest house and into the main house so they can be closer. Back at the estate, Nicole and Fay collect Fay’s things and head for the mansion, on a collision course with EJ and Taylor.  Carly is distraught over losing a young patient in surgery. She runs into Bo, who instinctually starts to pull her into a hug, but stops himself. Nathan and Maxine try to assure Carly she did everything she could, but she struggles to keep all her emotions in check. She visits Jennifer, who worries about Carly being able to move on from Bo. Though Carly insists she’s fine, her downward spiral continues when she spies Bo and Hope kissing happily on the pier. Back at the hospital, Carly breaks down – and impulsively injects herself with a sedative. Bo and Hope disagree over him giving Ciara money to buy a toy. Ciara thinks she’s ruining her parents’ marriage and is more determined than ever to run away. When Abe takes Ciara and Theo to the Java Café, the kids try to make a run for it but Lexie’s arrival thwarts them. As Abe and Lexie talk optimistically about their son’s future, Ciara and Theo make plans to leave home forever. Elsewhere, Bo and Hope easily work out their differences and look forward to rebuilding their family. Jennifer bids a warm farewell to Nathan, who sets off for his fellowship at Johns Hopkins.

Rafe2 gets aggressive with Sami, who flips out over his scary behavior. They end up having their worst argument yet, which leads to Rafe2 getting kicked to the couch for the night. He privately congratulates himself for a job well done as a heartbroken Sami breaks down in tears. Fay sees the heat between EJ and Taylor, and she presses her daughter about the relationship. Taylor thinks she’s succeeded in shutting down her mom’s suspicions, but Fay is still concerned. Later, Taylor tells EJ in no uncertain terms that she’s not having an affair with him. However, she still struggles to keep her feelings for him in check. EJ is touched when he sees how affectionate Nicole is with Sydney. Daniel and Jennifer nearly catch Carly injecting herself with a patient’s drug. Carly confides to Daniel that she’s having a tough day. However, the drug starts to take effect and she regains an outer sense of calm. Jennifer and Daniel discuss their worries about Carly and vow that they’ll both be there for her. Chad remembers it’s his mother’s birthday and visits the pier where she died. Abigail tells Jennifer that she and Chad are just friends – especially since he’s moved into the DiMera mansion. However, she later runs into an anguished Chad and comforts him. Stefano confronts Vivian about her minions poking into his affairs. He warns her to leave him and his family alone. However, Vivian is still determined to find out Stefano’s secrets – and use them to gain leverage against Kate.

Nicole tries to drop Johnny and Sydney off at the loft but Rafe2 asks for her to keep them a little longer. Nicole senses trouble in paradise, and Sami tells her to mind her own business. Nicole backs off and agrees to take the kids. She runs into Stefano and tells him that Rafe and Sami seem to be having issues. Stefano is secretly delighted and notes that Nicole’s marriage isn’t exactly in better shape – she’s nothing more than a glorified nanny. Meanwhile, Sami tries to make peace with “Rafe” but he says he has no intention of changing. Rafe2 calls Stefano and tells him they need to meet. He reports that Sami is in hell and it won’t be long until she kicks him to the curb. Alone at the loft, Sami remembers the good times with Rafe and the more recent bad times. When Kate stops by, Sami unexpectedly opens up and admits she may never be able to accept the new “Rafe.” Kate has a run in with Vivian. Later, Vivian overhears Stefano talking down to Nicole. Once Stefano leaves, Vivian makes her presence known to Nicole. She offers to forgive and forget Nicole’s involvement in the sarcophagus scheme, but only if she helps bring down Kate. Fay calls Taylor on her avoiding everyone at dinner the night before. Taylor assures her mother that she’s imagining things. Fay later has a chat with EJ about his intentions towards her daughter. EJ responds by claiming he cares about Nicole but Fay says she’s talking about Taylor. EJ feigns innocence. Fay privately knows better and vows to protect Nicole. Maggie learns Victor blocked one of Brady’s business deals. Victor notes he went with his gut – he protected an associate from his grandson’s hostile tactics. Maggie rewards his good behavior with a kiss. Frustrated by Victor’s sabotage, Brady confides in Taylor, who tells him she thought it was a good deal.

EJ tells Taylor that he only wants to make her happy. Therefore, he will keep his distance to make things easier for her. Taylor is touched and later confides to Lexie this only makes her love him more. Knowing it will be too painful to continue living with EJ, she calls Nicole and asks to meet with her. Taylor decides she must tell her sister the truth: that she’s in love with her husband. Nicole refuses to join Vivian in her crusade to bring down Kate. Later, Vivian meets with Gus, who gives her the security code to the DiMera mansion. Rafe2 demands a meeting with Stefano and EJ to brainstorm the final step to end his marriage to Sami. EJ is irked by Rafe2’s disrespectful attitude, and they nearly come to blows. However, Stefano gets them to calm down. As EJ admits no one could have done a better job of impersonating Rafe, a figure watches from the foyer. It’s Fay, stunned by the revelation. Brady tells Dario to get out of town. Dario refuses, still determined to find out who killed his sister. Dario overhears Philip and Justin talking about the millions of dollars Melanie received in the divorce settlement. Dario realizes Melanie is rich. Meanwhile, Melanie visits baby Parker for closure and later runs into Brady, who comforts her. EJ tells Taylor that he only wants to make her happy. Therefore, he will keep his distance to make things easier for her. Taylor is touched and later confides to Lexie this only makes her love him more. Knowing it will be too painful to continue living with EJ, she calls Nicole and asks to meet with her. Taylor decides she must tell her sister the truth: that she’s in love with her husband. Nicole refuses to join Vivian in her crusade to bring down Kate. Later, Vivian meets with Gus, who gives her the security code to the DiMera mansion. Rafe2 demands a meeting with Stefano and EJ to brainstorm the final step to end his marriage to Sami. EJ is irked by Rafe2’s disrespectful attitude, and they nearly come to blows. However, Stefano gets them to calm down. As EJ admits no one could have done a better job of impersonating Rafe, a figure watches from the foyer. It’s Fay, stunned by the revelation. Brady tells Dario to get out of town. Dario refuses, still determined to find out who killed his sister. Dario overhears Philip and Justin talking about the millions of dollars Melanie received in the divorce settlement. Dario realizes Melanie is rich. Meanwhile, Melanie visits baby Parker for closure and later runs into Brady, who comforts her. Fay overhears EJ and Stefano plotting with Rafe2. When they leave, she calls Nicole, which prevents Taylor from telling her sister about her feelings for EJ. Fay’s frantic call is cut off before she can reveal anything, and the Walker sisters grow worried when they can’t reach her again.

Meanwhile, “Rafe” has returned and grabbed the phone out of Fay’s hands. Fay tries to get away, but he gets the upper hand. As Nicole and Taylor return to the mansion and are about to enter, Rafe2 throws Fay down the stairs. Bo and Hope learn that Ciara and Theo are missing from school. They’re relieved when the kids are found and brought to the police station. Bo and Hope disagree at first over how to handle the situation with Ciara, but then decide to work together as a team to resolve it. Ciara misinterprets and thinks they’re once again fighting because of her. She tells Theo she has to run away because her mommy and daddy won’t be happy till she’s gone. Melanie and Brady have a warm moment that is broken up by Chloe. Melanie hurries off. Chloe accuses Brady of getting too close with Philip’s soon-to-be ex and warns him he’s in for trouble. Brady insists that he and Melanie are only friends. Later, Melanie has a run-in with Dario. When Brady enters, she runs to him and kisses him to make it appear as though they are dating. Dario leaves as Melanie and Brady have their own reactions to the kiss.