Days of our Lives Recap, September 12, 2025: Javi tells Leo the story of his daughter's death

Here’s your Days of our Lives recap for Friday, September 12, 2025, when Brady asked Rafe for a favor, Kristen got a surprise visitor, and Javi told Leo about his daughter’s death.

What happened on Days of our Lives

Brady called Steve, and he told him what Tate had said about Sophia’s strange behavior after the Fourth of July. “The day the firehouse baby was born,” Steve said. Brady said it was not conclusive, but he thought they should follow up. Steve agreed.

Tate was walking around the bookstore when Holly called his phone and told him about her run-in with Rachel in the park. Holly said that Rachel had blamed herself for Kristen’s imprisonment. Concerned, Tate called Brady.

As Tate resumed perusing the bookstore, Sophia walked in. Tate apologized for having yelled at her in the pub. Sophia explained that she had done what she thought had been best for the baby. “But why didn’t you just tell me all this at the time?” Tate asked. “Because I was so scared that you’d be angry with me. But I shouldn’t have lied,” Sophia said.

Tate asked for any information Sophia knew about the adoptive parents. Sophia provided little information. Tate demanded to know why Sophia was lying to him. Sophia argued she had not lied, she had just been too exhausted by childbirth to remember. “Yet in that compromised state, you made the biggest decision of our child’s life,” Tate argued.

Tate said he did not understand why Sophia had trusted people she had not known. “I need to make sure my child is safe! And I can’t trust anything you’re saying because you’re just acting shady,” Tate yelled. Tate softened, and he asked Sophia to tell him the truth.

“Whatever it is, I won’t be angry with you,” Tate whispered. Tate reminded Sophia that they were bonded for life because of their baby, and he asked Sophia if she trusted him. Sophia said yes. Tate said it was obvious that Sophia was pained by whatever secret she had been keeping. “I promise I won’t judge you. I’ll stand by you,” Tate said.

In the square, Brady called Rachel’s school and yelled at them for having allowed Rachel to leave school. When Brady demanded to speak to his daughter, the office administrator said they had been unable to find Rachel. “Where the hell is she?” Brady bellowed.

At Statesville, Kristen was shocked to see her daughter waiting for her in the visitor’s room. “What are you doing here?” Kristen asked. Rachel said she had snuck out of school. As Kristen hugged Rachel, they both talked about how much they had missed one another.

“I am so, so sorry that I didn’t say goodbye to you,” Kristen said. Rachel asked Kristen if she was okay, and she told Rachel not to worry about her. Rachel explained she had used Kristen’s rideshare account to get there. “I’m so happy to see you. But you shouldn’t have done this,” Kristen said. Rachel argued that if she had not teamed up with her grandma to kidnap Ava, Kristen would not have had to shoot EJ.

“I’m glad that you found Grandma Rachel. Otherwise, I never would have known that she was still alive. I’m in here because of what I did. It has nothing to do with you,” Kristen said. “Really?” Rachel asked. Kristen nodded yes, and she assured Rachel that everything would be okay. Brady arrived.

“You wouldn’t let me visit mom!” Rachel yelled at Brady. “That’s no excuse for you to leave school without permission, okay? Not once but twice,” Brady said. “Twice?” Kristen asked. Brady told Kristen about Rachel’s run-in with Holly. Brady sternly warned Rachel never to skip out again. Rachel refused to leave Kristen’s side.

“For everyone’s sake, it was important that I accept responsibility. And right now, this is where I need to be, just like you need to be at home with your father,” Kristen said. Rachel agreed to leave if Brady promised to let her visit. Kristen promised to work things out.

While Rachel was texting Marlena, Brady told Kristen he resented that she had cornered him on visitation. Kristen growled that she had not appreciated that Brady had asked the judge to extend her sentence. Kristen warned Brady that he did not know everything. “Don’t make me out to be the bad guy here. I understand you miss your daughter. But you should have thought about that before you shot your brother in cold blood,” Brady said.

At Steve’s request, Rafe met up with him at Black Patch. Steve explained that a friend believed he might be Tesoro’s father. “He just wants to know the truth,” Steve said. Steve said the only request was to meet the child. Rafe guessed that the father was Tate.

Rafe explained that Amy had said that Tesoro bore a strong resemblance to her son. Rafe added that Javi had pointed out that the baby appeared to be partly Asian. “That coupled with the fact that Sophia and Tate gave their baby up for adoption around the same time made Javi wonder, could the baby be theirs. So was he right?” Rafe asked. Steve laid out all the evidence for Rafe. Rafe agreed it sounded suspicious.

Steve theorized aloud that Sophia had panicked after labor because of Amy. “If that’s true, I can’t even imagine how traumatic that must have been for her,” Rafe said. Steve agreed, and he noted they needed proof. Rafe promised to get a DNA sample.

At the college, Johnny greeted Holly in the hallway outside his classroom. “I just hope the other students are okay with me as the last-minute replacement professor,” Johnny said. Holly offered to talk him up with the other students. Holly teased Johnny about his nervousness. Holly reminded Johnny that she had basically taught her everything she knew about movies. “So don’t be worried. You’re gonna be great,” Holly said.

Holly asked how Johnny was doing after the trial, and Johnny said he was adjusting. When Johnny mentioned that he was still working at Titan as well, Holly was surprised. Johnny explained that a teaching job was not a big enough salary, especially because he and Chanel had decided to adopt a baby. “I really hope things go smoother for you guys this time around,” Holly said.

After class, Johnny asked Holly if she had heard from Tate. “No. But it’s not like he would skip class. He said this was his only one that he was looking forward to,” Holly said. After a moment, Holly told Johnny about Rachel skipping school, and she worried aloud that something else had happened. Holly promised to update Johnny.

At the Hernandez home, Leo urged Javi to open up to him. “I had a daughter and she died,” Javi said. “I’m so sorry,” Leo whispered. Javi sniffled back tears. “I love you and you are important to me, which means that you should know all about my daughter. I don’t want to keep her a secret,” Javi said. “I’m here. I’m listening,” Leo whispered. Javi told Leo that he had dated a woman to please his mother.

“About three years ago, we had a beautiful daughter named Solana,” Javi said with a grin. An emotional Javi told Leo that his daughter had been his whole world. Javi struggled to explain what had happened. “Take your time,” Leo said gently. Javi explained that he had been hungover, and Silvia had offered to drop the baby off at daycare for him. “Silvia had forgotten Solana in the car when she went into work,” Javi said. In tears, Javi said that the heat had killed his daughter. Leo hugged Javi and let him cry.

“I can’t even begin to imagine what you must have gone through. I am so sorry,” Leo said. Leo stressed that Javi was not to blame for the accident. “It’s really hard to not think like that. Because if I had changed one thing in my day, Solana would still be here,” Javi said. “You have to try to stop thinking like that. You have to,” Leo said. Leo asked about Silvia.

“Even though Silvia had only forgotten Solana because of the change in routine, they charged her with child abuse and neglect. They arrested her right at the hospital. And she didn’t even get to say goodbye to our daughter before we took her off life support,” Javi stammered through tears. Javi said he knew that Siliva had been shattered and had blamed herself, so he had made an effort to show her that he did not blame her for what had happened.

Javi admitted that he had fallen apart after Solana’s death, but he had eventually pulled himself out of his depression. “And that was when I wanted to dedicate my life to making sure that Solana didn’t die in vain,” Javi said. Javi explained that he had been inspired by the paramedics who had worked to save his daughter’s life.

“I wanted to do that for other people in need,” Javi said. “In that case, I am even more proud of you than I already was for deciding to be a paramedic again,” Leo said. Javi admitted that giving up Tesoro felt like he was losing his daughter again. Javi showed Leo a picture of Solana, and he apologized for not having told Leo about Solana sooner.

“You told me when you were ready. I’m just glad I could be here for you. Especially if we have to give up Tesoro,” Leo said. Javi said he regretted that they would not be able to adopt Tesoro. “I just think a part of me is afraid to become a dad again,” Javi confessed. “Like I said, you were not to blame for what happened to your daughter. That accident was not your fault,” Leo said. Javi nodded yes.

Leo told Javi that he hoped he would be able to get past his fear. Rafe returned home, and Javi said they had talked about Solana. Rafe said he was glad that Javi had Leo in his life. While Javi and Leo stepped outside, Rafe took a cheek swab from Tesoro.

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