The Young and the Restless Recap Dec 24: Nikki comes home for Christmas, and Sally shares her family with Victoria

In The Young and the Restless recap for Wednesday, December 24, 2025, Jack, Diane, Victor, and Nikki exchanged meaningful gifts with history, while Sally shared her personal history with Victoria, and her hopes for the future with Billy.

The Young and the Restless Recap

At the Abbott mansion, Jack came home, and Diane was waiting to greet him. Tracy had gone for dinner with Amy, Ashley was in Europe, and Kyle had taken Harrison to a friend’s party, so they were home alone. 

Diane and Jack had a drink together on the couch, and she reflected on how she was lost for so long but now they have a home with love and acceptance. “The life that I share with you and our son is everything to me and the only gift I could ever want,” Diane told Jack.

Diane gave Jack the Max Factor autobiography and likened his accomplishments to those of John Abbott. Jack was touched that Diane remembered that they’d had a conversation about him a while back and got the book.

Jack gave Diane a necklace that belonged to Coco Chanel. After putting it on Diane, Jack said he wasn’t sure which outshone the other: the necklace or his wife.

Jack told Diane what an integral part of the family she was. They slow danced in the living room and wished each other a Merry Christmas. 

At Billy and Sally’s, Victoria, Johnny, and Katie came over with a tree. Billy teased them for outdoing Charlie Brown, but Victoria explained it was the last one in the lot. Billy had lights but forgot to get out the decorations from storage, but Sally had an idea.

Everyone gathered to make popcorn strings for the tree, and the kids asked about Abbott Communications and how it was different than Newman Media. Billy told them straight up that their company had integrity. 

Johnny asked about Billy’s past transgressions, and he told him that he credited Sally for showing him what was important and letting go of grudges.

In a moment alone, Victoria told Sally that Billy was the happiest she’d seen him in a while. She was still concerned, though, that he had a history of pretending everything is okay when it’s not. Sally admitted she had the same worries.

Sally said the hurt Jill caused Billy ran deep. Sally confided in Victoria how her relationship with Billy developed, and she didn’t doubt his heart. But the broken part of his heart worried her because he has sworn that he’s let go of revenge. She wanted to believe him but she’d been through it before.

Sally told Victoria that her father had a gambling and drinking problem. Victoria wondered if Sally was trying to love Billy…or save him. Sally told a sad tale, remembering how she wanted a kids’ sewing machine one year for Christmas.

Sally said that her father swore he’d get it for her, but neither the present nor her father was there on Christmas morning. Sally told Victoria that when she saw her dad a week later, he was all smiles, unaware that he’d let her down.

In the hallway, Billy listened as Sally explained to Victoria that when Billy promised her Abbott Communications, then it went away, and then it came back; it was like reliving what her father would do. “I just don’t want to do it again. I can’t. This has to be real with Billy,” Sally said tearfully. 

Sally apologized for venting all of that on her, especially on a year that she was grieving. Victoria was fine with Sally sharing her feelings, noting that she and Billy had been so warm and inviting, and that’s what family was for.

Billy and the kids returned to put the star on the tree, and then Victoria wanted to take the kids home. Billy saw them out and promised to see them the next day. Once alone, Billy told Sally how happy he was to have her in his life. 

Nikki came home, to Victor’s surprise. She admitted she’d left for work in the morning and intentionally avoided him. Nikki noted how much had changed in a year, how they lost Cole after Victor finally invited him into the family.

Victor knew they were both still angry with one another, but didn’t want to acknowledge it over the holidays for the sake of the kids. Victor pulled out a present for Nikki. She stubbornly didn’t want to accept it, but eventually opened it.

Inside the box was a stunning diamond and ruby necklace. Victor said it was rumored to be part of the collection belonging to Maria Theresa, the mother of Marie Antoinette. Nikki let Victor put it on her and told her there was something else in the box.

Nikki read a note that was also part of the collection. She read aloud, “My heart is entirely devoted to my people, and I shall never spare myself where their welfare is concerned.” Nikki said it sounded like something Victor could have written. 

Nikki was momentarily charmed, but then told Victor she knew what he was doing. Victor insisted he wasn’t trying to change her stance about Jack, but did want to get rid of the conflict before Christmas Day when the family was over.

Nikki went to the tree and got a present for Victor as well: one of Hannah Arendt’s personal journals. “She was one of the most important German-American thinkers and philosophers,” Victor said, impressed. Nikki said she knew how much he admired her work, and when it was available, she thought it belonged in his library.

Nikki and Victor were moved by their personal gifts. Victor said they should remember all of their Christmases together as they were some of the most happiest times of their lives. 

Nikki and Victor recalled with a flashback to a year when Nikki came by with a small tree and invited Victor to join the rest of the family, but he chose to be alone. Victor admitted to Nikki that that Christmas tree had meant everything to him, and although they were apart then, she was always in his heart.

Nikki thanked Victor for their children. She said it was times like this that you realize what’s important. Victor recalled at how his mother left him in an orphanage on Christmas Eve when he was a child. “Now look at the life we have built together,” he said tearfully as Nikki held his hand.

Nikki agreed they had a lot to be proud of. “Merry Christmas, Victor,” she said, and then they kissed.