On Days of our Lives, Brady embraces his uncertain future, Leo and Xander bond over their complicated futures, and Dimitri paints a bleak picture of the future for Javi.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

At Alex and Stephanie’s apartment, Stephanie told Alex and Steve that she was typing an engagement announcement to run in the newspaper. Steve cautioned against the idea because he didn’t want to further agitate the obsessed fan. Stephanie argued that was exactly what she wanted. She was tired of walking on eggshells and believed they should make an attempt to draw the stalker out. Following a bit of convincing, Steve and Alex agreed.

When Steve took the computer so he could look over the announcement, though, something drew his attention. He explained to a concerned Stephanie and Alex that he’d been perusing message boards on the dark web that talked about Stephanie and Anastasia Sands. He’d just come across a new message from the fan: a message that threatened Alex’s life. When someone else had replied to the message warning the fan about going to jail, the fan had responded that he wouldn’t get caught.

Steve’s alarm bells went off even more after he viewed a picture the fan had taken of Stephanie and Alex in Horton Town Square. Stephanie, stunned, confirmed the photo must have been taken that morning. She wanted to follow Steve’s suggestion to nix the engagement announcement. It was Alex’s turn to resist that idea. If his life was in danger, it should be his choice whether or not to go public with the engagement.

Alex firmly stated he didn’t want to live his life in fear. Stephanie, although hesitant at first, accepted his decision…as did Steve. The trio prepared to send their lure – the engagement announcement — out into the world.

Xander fires Brady

At Titan, Xander fired Brady from Basic Black after Brady hinted that Sarah and he were an item. Maggie came in as tensions escalated and asked what had happened. “This whining toddler thinks I stole his favorite toy,” Brady sneered. He called Titan a “sinking ship” before storming out the door. Maggie quickly followed suit, with a parting shot to Xander that she couldn’t stand to look at him.

Outside the office, Maggie pledged to Brady that she would make things right with his firing. Brady, however, told her it didn’t matter because he’d been giving serious consideration to quitting Basic Black anyway. He’d only stayed on for the family and to honor his father’s memory, but working with Xander was proving impossible. Maggie accepted Brady’s decision, and she promised him she would keep Xander from targeting anyone else at Basic Black.

After Brady left, Maggie returned inside and lambasted Xander for losing control yet again. He tried to apologize, but she told him to leave the office for a while. She would take care of the shareholders’ meeting. Xander acquiesced, and Maggie called Sarah at the hospital and told her about the developments. Sarah said she would speak with Xander, but Maggie urged her to keep away since Xander had gotten his divorce decree; Sarah decided to track down Brady instead.

Sarah offers encouragement

Before she left the hospital, Sarah spotted Paulina and Javi and updated Paulina about Chanel’s condition. While Paulina went to visit her daughter, Javi stayed behind with Trey and Sarah. Javi opened up to Sarah about how Leo and he had bonded when caring for the baby. Sarah acknowledged that a child could connect two people like nothing else. She comforted Javi and urged him not to give up on Leo after Javi admitted he couldn’t withstand another loss.

Later, at the Kiriakis mansion, Sarah found Brady contemplating the day’s events. While she was outraged on his behalf, Brady called his firing “ a blessing in disguise.” Over time, he’d realized that Basic Black wasn’t his passion anymore. Xander’s temper had given him the reason he needed to walk away. Brady was only worried that his dad would be disappointed in him for abandoning the family legacy.

Sarah gave Brady a pep talk and reminded him of how he’d been there for his kids over the past year. His commitment to family would have made John proud. “You’re his legacy,” Sarah affirmed. Brady was grateful for Sarah’s words, and they reinforced for him that Rachel had to be his priority. Brady told Sarah that when he went to visit Rachel at Bayview, he was going to ask her therapist how to approach the topic of Sarah and him.

Leo’s Temptation

At the DiMera mansion, Dimitri laid a passionate kiss on Leo, who responded at first before pulling away. Leo again stressed to Dimitri that he was in love with Javi and no one else. Dimitri wanted an explanation for Leo’s about-face on his feelings, so Leo told his ex how hurt he had been after receiving Dimitri’s letter. Dimitri said nothing in the letter had been true. In fact, the thought of getting back to Leo had been the only thing to keep him going while he’d been imprisoned.

Dimitri believed the kiss proved that Leo hadn’t forgotten him. Leo chastised himself for being drawn to Dimitri’s “symmetrical” face, but he insisted he was a changed, better man since meeting Javi. Dimitri countered that Leo didn’t need to change anything, because he was perfect, and perfect for Dimitri. No one had ever understood him like Leo, as Leo had been willing to go on the run with him. Likewise, no one would ever really understand the true Leo like him, Dimitri said…giving his ex food for thought as Leo exited.

Xander and Leo: misery loves company

Later, Leo made a beeline for Marlena’s place, only to discover Xander knocking on the door as well. Leo was surprised to learn that Xander was going to therapy, too, and snarked about how it upped Xander’s sexiness quotient. When they realized Marlena wasn’t home, both men agreed to commiserate together over a drink. They made their way to the pub, where Xander lamented his lack of a love life and Leo lamented his overabundance of a love life. Xander gave Leo blunt advice: tell Dimitri to “bugger off.”

Leo wished Xander’s advice was that easy, but he still felt a pull to Dimitri. Xander could empathize, as he regretted “every day” choosing to let Sarah go. But Xander was beginning to think freeing Sarah was the best thing he could do for her, since he’d never really change. The words seemed to strike a chord with Leo.

Dimitri goads Javi

In Horton Town Square, Dimitri approached Javi and reintroduced himself. Javi sarcastically replied that he couldn’t forget the man who’d ruined his life. Dimitri, unfazed, took a seat and ranted about Gwen’s culpability in his kidnapping. He tried to casually mention that Leo had been by to see him and was taken aback that Javi already knew – as Javi himself had sent Leo. When Dimitri asked why, Javi said that Leo needed to work out his feelings.

Dimitri was all-too-happy to fill Javi in on what had happened with Leo, including the kiss. Dimitri veered from the truth, though, when he claimed that Leo had returned his passion with a second kiss. Javi admitted he’d wanted to throw the coffee he’d just drunk in Dimitri’s face, but he didn’t take the bait. He harshly commended Dimitri for his honesty and walked off.