Days Of Our Lives Relationship Timeline: Kayla And Steve
"Days of Our Lives" viewers have been watching Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) and Kayla Brady's (Mary Beth Evans) love story for decades. The couple have become one of the most beloved duos on the NBC soap opera, and have cemented their place among other "DOOL" super couples such as Bo and Hope Brady, John Black and Marlena Evans, Will Horton and Sonny Kiriakis, Belle Black and Shawn Brady, Ciara Brady and Ben Weston, and more.
Of course, things haven't been easy for Kayla and Steve over the years (via Nine). The couple has had to endure so many ups and downs and fight through adversity such as being kidnapped, brainwashed, medical emergencies, trauma, and more, per Soaps in Depth. Of course, they've always been each other's rocks through all of the drama and heartbreak. It's easy to see why Kayla and Steve are one of "Days of Our Lives" fans' favorite pairings. So, let's take a look at their epic romance.
Kayla and Steve had a very rocky start
Longtime viewers of "Days of Our Lives" know that Steve Johnson and Kayla Brady had a very rocky start to their relationship. The couple met after Steve was hired by Victor to give Kayla a terrifying scare. Meanwhile, Steve had a vendetta against Kayla's brother, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell), who had gouged Steve's eye out during a fight over a girl — which is how he got his nickname Patch, per TV Fanatic. Kayla tried to resist Steve's charms, but the pair were drawn to one another. Sadly, the Brady family did not approve of the couple's romance in the beginning.
Of course, life got in the way of the pair's relationship and when Kayla's then-patient Jack Deveraux (Matthew Ashford) was believed to be dying, she married him (via Soaps). Steve later found out that Jack was his half-brother. Although she was married to Jack, Kayla couldn't keep herself away from Steve. The pair had an affair and when Jack found out he flew into a jealous rage and sexually assaulted Kayla. Kayla eventually left Jack and when she was ready to move on Steve was there waiting for her.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Tragedy brought Steve and Kayla closer together
After reconnecting "Days of Our Lives" fans were stunned when Kayla was caught in an explosion and lost her ability to hear and talk, per Soaps. The couple was forced to learn sign language so that they could communicate with one another, and Steve was right by her side through it all. He even sang the lyrics to the song "The Rose" when he proposed to the love of his life. The couple eventually held their wedding ceremony on a boat after Kayla underwent surgery to restore her hearing. Kayla worked hard and her voice returned just before it was time to say her wedding vows (via TV Fanatic).
Sadly, the couple's happiness didn't last. When Steve's ex-wife Marina Toscano showed up in Salem she caused a lot of trouble for the pair. Marina eventually ended up dead, and Kayla was arrested for her murder. Kayla, who was pregnant at the time, gave birth to the couple's daughter, Stephanie, while in prison. However, when Stephanie was kidnapped, Steve broke Kayla out of jail and it was Jack and Jennifer Deveraux who helped the couple find their daughter and eventually clear Kayla's name.
Steve was presumed dead for 16 years before returning
Just when it seemed that Steve and Kayla may get their happy ending, "Days of Our Lives" fans were saddened when it appeared that Steve had died in the hospital after being poisoned by Lawrence Alamain. Everyone believed Steve to be dead, although he was kidnapped by the DiMera family. Steve was thought to be dead for 16 years before his brother, Jack, eventually found him living with amnesia. Kayla was stunned to see her late husband, but he had no memory of their life together. Instead of reuniting with Kayla, he began dating Billie Reed (via TV Fanatic).
Later, when Kayla was on the brink of death, Steve pretended to regain his memories to give her a reason to live. When he suspected he was faking, she took him to a special place, where being with Kayla gave him his memories back. He even proved it by using sign language to say the word "courage," just as he had done during the couple's wedding, per Soaps. The couple reconnected, but Steve's past would eventually come back to haunt them.
Kayla and Steve's family expanded
After Steve got his memory back, he and Kayla got back together. Later, "Days of Our Lives" viewers watched as the couple visited Ireland with Kayla's father, Shawn Brady Sr. Sadly, the trip turned tragic when the airplane crashed, killing Shawn and injuring others, per TV Fanatic. It was revealed that Steve's former girlfriend Ava Vitalli had sabotaged the plane. At the time, Steve kept the information secret because Kayla was pregnant with their second child.
After Ava fled the country, Kayla went into premature labor with the couple's son, Joey. The couple was forced to spend time at the hospital waiting to find out the fate of their child. Thankfully, Joey made it and eventually went home with his parents. The family later moved to Africa. Years later, Kayla returned home to Salem by herself, revealing that she and Steve had divorced and that he had returned to his dangerous job at the ISA. In 2015, Steve came home to Salem to help Kayla parent Joey, a rebellious teenager who eventually helped his parents reconcile (via Soaps).
Later, Steve was stunned to find out that he had another child, son Tripp, with Ava. Tripp came to Salem to live with his father and step-mother, Soaps in Depth notes, and Kayla and Steve continue to defy the odds and delight "DOOL" fans to this day.