Days of our Lives Recap, September 3, 2025: Gabi gets the goods on the Kiriakis brothers

On Days of our Lives today, Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Xander begins therapy with Marlena, and it’s move-in day at Salem U for Holly, Tate, Ari, and Aaron.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

At Cat’s place, Cat helped Aaron pack up to move into the college dorms. She conveyed how happy she was for her brother to be getting a fresh start after he had sacrificed his senior year to be with their mom. Aaron said he’d been happy to do it. Both siblings hoped their brother Mark would soon be out of prison so the entire family could be together again.

After Aaron and Cat packed his stuff into his car, Cat made a comment about an “adventure,” which prompted Aaron to chide her about sounding like their mom. Cat said she was trying to “channel” some of their mom because it was an honor to be helping her brother with a major milestone in his life. Aaron grew serious for a moment and thanked Cat, then remarked how happy she seemed. His lighter side came out again when he teased Cat about Chad. Felicity had told him that Cat was “in love” with Chad, and after observing the two on the golf course, Aaron had seen “sparks flying” as well.

At the Kiriakis mansion, Holly excitedly prepared for her big dorm move. Maggie shared her granddaughter’s excitement and extracted a promise from Holly that she would stay in touch and come home often. After Holly made a video call to Nicole and Eric, Maggie confided that Holly had inspired Maggie herself to find a new adventure. Maggie wasn’t sure exactly what her “adventure” would entail yet, but she wanted something to “keep me on my toes.” Holly assured Maggie she’d be amazing at whatever she chose to do; grandmother and granddaughter affirmed how much they’d miss each other and hugged.

At Marlena’s place, Tate updated Brady on his conversation with Sophia. Tate had been surprised when Sophia hadn’t fought him on getting a copy of the adoption papers, and her turnaround made him question if she was really hiding something. Brady reminded his son about the stock photo of the adoptive parents and the baby. Tate conceded Sophia must have given him a fake photo for a reason.

At Foster’s bookstore, Marlena looked pensive as she picked up a book. Later, Marlena returned home with her book and some scones for Tate and Brady. She congratulated Tate on the start of his college life. Tate pledged he would visit often, especially when he needed to do laundry or “annoy” his little sister. After Brady and Tate departed for the dorms, Marlena sat down and took out her book, which was titled Calm the Mind.

At Rafe’s house, Gabi listened in on the beginning of Xander and Philip’s exchange at Titan-DiMera via the listening device she had put in the office. She cheered Philip on when he stood up to Xander. Arianna came into the room shortly thereafter and cut Gabi’s spying session short. Gabi got emotional about Ari going off to college and attending Gabi’s alma mater. She credited Salem U with sparking her interest in fashion. Ari acknowledged Gabi’s success in her career and anticipated her own journey at college.

Later, Gabi and Ari arrived at the dorm room and found Holly and Maggie already inside. The girls hugged and giddily looked around their new accommodations, while Gabi made a somewhat disapproving remark about the smallness of the room. Ari admired the flowers Will and Sonny had sent her, then the girls raced off to soak in their surroundings. Once they were alone, Maggie invited Gabi to a birthday party she was helping plan for JJ. Gabi thought it would be awkward since JJ and she had broken up.

Gabi also invoked Julie’s hatred of her as a reason for not attending the party. Maggie pledged Julie would be on her best behavior. Gabi cracked that at least Julie had found someone else to hate, referencing Cat.

When Holly and Ari returned, they began decorating their room and subtly insinuated that Gabi and Maggie could leave. The women got the hint, but before they left, they took their respective girls aside for a few parting words. Maggie reiterated how lucky she was to have Holly in her life and to have watched her granddaughter grow into a beautiful young adult…an opportunity she had lost with Holly’s father Daniel. Holly believed she was the lucky one to have had an incredible “substitute mom” like Maggie. The women shared another loving embrace.

Meanwhile, Aaron, Tate, Cat, and Brady converged in the boys’ dorm room. After greetings were exchanged, Tate and Aaron departed to get the rest of their things out of their cars. Cat asked Brady about Marlena and gave her condolences about the loss of John. She expressed gratitude for what John had done for her mother.

Brady asked Cat for an update on her mom and wondered how Cat herself was doing. He felt bad about Marlena’s leave of absence potentially costing Cat her job. Cat assured him she understood why Marlena needed the time off. She mentioned her new job with EJ, which got a visible reaction from Brady. He admitted he had no love lost for EJ.

When Tate and Aaron came back, Brady and Cat gave them a light lecture about keeping the room clean. Sensing the teens wanted them gone, Brady and Cat hugged the boys and said their goodbyes. Aaron and Tate immediately made plans to check out the campus…right after Tate checked in with Holly.

After Cat returned home, she found a bouquet of flowers waiting on her doorstep. She read the attached note and smiled broadly. The note said, “Looking forward to another round or two – of mini golf, that is.”

Back at the girls' dorm, Ari received a text from Sophia. Holly inquired if Sophia would be living on campus, but Ari didn’t know. Holly filled Ari in on Sophia’s sudden decision to work at the pub with Tate. Holly was certain Sophia was still scheming, and she told Ari about Sophia signing up for a film class with Tate. Ari suggested Holly sign up for the class too, and Holly took her up on the suggestion.

When Tate stopped by the room, Ari quickly excused herself so Holly and he could have alone time. They used the time to break in Holly’s new bed.

Ari, meanwhile, encountered Aaron outside his room. He said they’d met at Senior Night and reintroduced himself. After Ari told him that she’d given Tate and Holly privacy, Aaron shyly asked if she wanted to hang out in his room for a while. He seemed pleasantly surprised when she accepted the invitation.

At Titan-DiMera, Xander was busy in his office when Philip strode inside and demanded to talk with his brother. Xander tried to brush Philip off, but Philip replied that Xander would start showing him respect. He was tired of Xander treating him like “the enemy.” Xander groused about Philip’s annoying tics. Philip defended that at least he was trying to make the situation work.

As Xander’s ire grew, Philip asked about the anger management therapy. Xander hissed that’s where he was trying to go, pushed past Philip, and stormed out of the office. Later, Philip ran into Gabi in Horton Town Square. Gabi gushed about Ari's first day of college and stated she intended to live her live to the fullest too…just as she’d done the previous night with Philip. He admitted he’d had just as great a time as Gabi, and he even suggested that they might not need to worry about HR if they continued seeing each other.

When Philip elaborated that he was considering quitting his job at Titan-DiMera, Gabi was caught off-guard. He expressed his frustration with Xander’s treatment of him and hinted the only reason he had stayed as long as he had was for the sake of Gabi…and the other employees, he quickly added. Gabi encouraged Philip to do what was best for him.

Back at Marlena's place, Xander arrived for his session with the psychiatrist. Marlena invited him inside and assured him that her home was a “safe space.” Xander was grateful he’d “made the cut” for Marlena’s private patient list, given his history with her family. Marlena stressed she wanted to help Xander, but when he mentioned Sarah “forcing” him to undergo counseling, she questioned his resolve. Xander opened up about how his most vivid memories of Victoria’s first birthday party weren’t about her but about him losing control; he never wanted anything like that to happen again around his daughter.

Xander confessed that no one – except Sarah at one time – had ever looked at him the way Victoria did. His little girl only saw him as someone who was “loving, caring, gentle, and reliable.” He feared shattering that image for her, and he wanted to become the man she saw. Even though he wore expensive suits and worked at a fancy job, Xander still saw himself as a “thug.” He had felt that way since he had become Victor’s enforcer in order to “prove” himself as a Kiriakis to Victor.

Marlena gently reminded Xander that Victor was dead and that Xander was free from his expectations. Xander didn’t believe he could truly change and become a different person. Marlena insisted he could if he tried. When Marlena asked about the root of Xander’s anger, he said that “lies and scheming” set him off. After confirming that what he said would be protected by patient confidentiality, Xander confided in Marlena about Philip’s deception with the letter and Sarah’s complicity in keeping the truth from him.

Xander had expected the lies from Philip, but Sarah’s lies and distrust of him had been what truly hurt the most. He didn’t see a path to forgiveness. Later, after Xander had left, Brady returned and filled Marlena in on his day with Tate. He observed that Marlena appeared tense and asked if she was okay. She sighed and admitted she wasn’t, then added, “Sometimes the burden of keeping other people’s secrets is just too much.”

Back at Titan-DiMera, Xander and Philip had both made their way back to the office and immediately resumed their hostilities. Philip challenged Xander on whether they’d ever be able to get past “it.” Xander angrily said Philip should have thought of that “before…” After a vague back-and-forth, Xander finally blurted out, “Before you claimed Victor left you half his company, using a letter that was forged.”

Back at Rafe’s house, Gabi – having overheard the entire exchange – broke into a huge grin and exclaimed, “Oh, my God!”

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