General Store
Max is smiling at Charlie, as Angie comes up and asks if she has seen Jarrod - she has a roast in the oven and she wants him home! Max says he hasn't, and Angie tells him to enjoy Charlie before he can answer back! She asks how Steph is, and Max says she is doing ok, he is just about to pick her up. Angie says she is a plucky one, and makes Max promise to take care of her. Summer comes in asking what max thinks he is doing. Coffee? Honestly! They have Steph-shaped business to attend to!

Katya tells Rachel she knows she is upset about the Stingray bizzo, but Rachel just can't see what gives Katya the right to treat people this way. Katya says Alex wouldn't want Rachel hanging around with a guy who is old enough to drive, but Rachel still can't see her point. Zeke suggests they go home and watch telly, but Katya says it is pointless - she doesn't have one. They never did before, so why should they now? Rachel huffs that's he'll just go watch it at Bree's. Katya points out they are fighting. Rachel says she'll go to Summer's then. Katya asks what is wrong with them spending their first night as a family together.

RACHEL: Susan was a teacher and she didn't have a problem with us watching TV.
KATYA: Well I'm not Susan. Now. Sit. Down.

Scarlet Bar
Stingray is complaining to Connor and Toadie about Katya, and they say that, even though they know it is all above board, it might look a bit...'you know'...to an outsider - Rachel is just a teenybopper! Stingray says that they have heaps in common.

CONNOR: Oh of course you do! Dolls, lipstick...boyfriends...

Stingray skulks off, as Connor tells Toad that he has an interview with a PI tomorrow. Their celebration is short lived, however, as Angie storms in and pops a gasket about them drinking at the Bar, when they told her they were just going to get sweets. Angie drags Connor out by the ear, and Toadie chases after them.

Over in the corner, Jenny and Karl laugh at the domestic. Karl is trying to get jenny to tell him where they are going on their mystery date tomorrow, but Jenny won't give over. But what should I wear? Asks Karl. Jenny says whatever he likes, and offers more wine.

Hoylands
Lyn and Summer are bouncing with excitement as Max and Charlie arrive home with Steph. Summer gives her and extra huge cuddle (burying her head in her left side. Where she had major surgery a week ago. And she doesn't even flinch. Tough chick ), and Max says to be careful, but Steph says she wants all the cuddles she can handle. Speaking of which, where's her boy? Lyn asks does she haaaave to give him up already? Steph jokes to 'hand him over, grandma'.

STEPH: Aww, hello my gorgeous baby!

Lyn says that she's got all the foods and herbal stuff she will need to go with her treatment, so they don't need to lift a finger. She just wants Max and Steph to bond with baby Charlie, and help Steph recover. She'll do nappies, dishes, dinners, getting up in the middle of the night...Max's alarm bells ring. Lyn says just bung a mattress down for her and Ozzie - it'll be fun! Now, who's for herbal tea? Max sinks back into the lounge.

Susan's
Janelle pours herself some wine as Rachel comes in.

RACHEL: What are you doing here?
JANELLE: Er...house-sitting! What are you doing here?
RACHEL: Nothing...

She says she just wants to sit for a while. Janelle asks if Katya knows about this, and Rachel says it is none of her business - why can't everybody just leave her alone?

Susan's
Rachel doesn't know why Katya won't let her see Stingray. Janelle says he is about the best kid there is, but Rachel has to obey Katya. Rachel wishes Katya would treat her like an equal, not a child, but Janelle points out that she did a Janae and ran at the first sign of trouble - that's pretty childish. Janelle says Rachel needs to give Katya more of a chance, and she is going to take her home to do just that.

HoT
Connor and Toadie grab their dinner and go to race through to the loungeroom - it's the first night of footy! But they get busted by Angie. It's her roast and they will eat it at the table! She goes off to feed the dog, because the boys, being the useless males they are, haven't fed him yet. Connor glares and Toadie and he says that he can't kick her out! She's his mum! Connor says he can and he will - that woman is one spell short of being the wicked witch of the west!

CONNOR: I want my life back! I want to be able to leave the house without making my bed! I want the dishes to stack up in the sink! I want to be able to sit in there, on the sofa, and watch the football EATING MY DINNER!
TOADIE: I guess you're not that happy then...

Connor says that if Toadie doesn't tell her, he will. Toadie says he knows she has to go, but she's fragile, with everything that has gone on with Kev. Lightbulb!Connor - they'll get Kev and Angie back together! Brilliant!

Hoylands
Steph can't believe how much Charlie eats, and Summer says that between him and Boyd, there'll be nothing left in the house! Lyn comes in with a basket of nappies and says she will take them home to wash, and be back in the morning to move in properly. She says she is so proud of Steph, and Max walks her out. He turns around and Looks™ at Steph, who quickly says that it isn't that bad, really! Max says she can't be serious! Steph says she isn't in the condition to be looking after Charlie 100% of the time. And she's going to be having treatment, and she'll be tired...and she's scared. Max says he'll be here, and Boyd. Summer says she will too, but Steph reminds her she'll be back at school before too long. And Boyd is busy with Uni, and Max has to run the bar - they still need money. Max says Lyn is just across the road - how about they see how they go first? Lyn has just presumed they need her to move in.

STEPH: It was hard enough to beat this the first time...without a new baby.

She says after a while they will wonder how they ever managed without her! Max does the half-smile-half-groan-'this is only because I love you'-look.

Susan's
Janelle is into the choccies as Katya barges in, looking for Rachel. Janelle is all 'far out, can't I just fill in Jackie's scenes in peace? I so don't need this drama right now!' She says she dropped Rachel home, but Katya says she is gone again. Zeke says they had another fight - they woke up the whole street! Katya says Rachel has no respect and she won't listen to reason. She could be lying dead in the gutter! What is she supposed to do, put locks on the doors? Janelle says she is a teenage girl. It's hard, but you have to give her some space. If she keeps fighting Rachel she won't get anywhere. Katya can't believe how difficult this parenting thing is. Janelle tells her she learnt the hard way with Dwayne - she was too hard and he shot through before he was 18. Katya realises she did the same thing - what if her sister ends up like her! Janelle tells her that any teen will crack it if you are too tough - that's how they are wired. She has to give her some leeway. Now that's sorted, she thinks she can guess where Rachel is.

Number 26
Janelle comes in and greets Lynnie, who thought Janelle was in bed! She says that she is house sitting for Suse. Lyn says she didn't know. 'Neither did I,' Janelle thinks to herself, 'until I got in this morning and they told me Jackie was sick/unavailable/awol!' They are after Stingray, and Lyn says he has gone to bed. Janelle goes in and comes out with a boxers-and-fluffy-slippers clad Scotty, and Rachel. Katya goes ballistic, despite their claims that nothing happened. She says she could go to the police, and Janelle tells her to relax - they said nothing happened! Katya tells Rachel to come with her, and Rachel says no - she's not her mother. Lyn tells her to go with her sister, and Rachel says why does she have to? Lyn says Oscar is asleep and they are all tired and might say something they don't mean. The Kinski's leave, Katya sniping that this just proves she wasn't strict enough, and she is going to do everything she can to make sure stingray and Rachel are kept apart.

STINGRAY: I just needed someone to talk to...

General Store
Janelle is complaining to Karl about Katya.

KARL: Yeah, well we've all had our trouble with teenagers, haven't we?
JANELLE: Well, when she ahs had one in jail, then I'll listen - but until then she has to figure it out for herself!

Karl comments to Janelle that Susan has a top like that one...Janelle says Susan lent it to her, and Karl says that he thought Susan's clothes would be a bit small for her...but...*pulls foot out of mouth*...obviously he was wrong!

Janelle leaves and Jenny asks Karl if he is ready for their surprise date. He says he'd be readier if he knew what it was! Jenny caves and says it is a pool party.

KARL: Right, well I love swimming - and now I know to bring a cozzie!
JENNY: A naturist pool party...
KARL: Right, not what I expected, but it should be interesting!

Ok, Karl Kennedy did *not* just take that so easily...He starts rabbiting on about politics and Greenies, and...clearly he has misunderstood!

JENNY: Karl...you do understand what I meant by naturist, don't you...?
KARL: Naturist - yeah - pertains all things botanical, environmental, and...er...natural...
JENNY: A la natural...
KARL: Aha...ha...*gulp*

HoT
Angie is all lovey-dovey-soppy talking with Kev on the phone, and Connor and Toad give themselves a pat on the back. Connor wants to know how Toadie did it, and the Toad says he told Kev that Angie was prepared to back down on some key issues, then she fed Ang the same line...that's so gonna blow up in his face...On cue, Angie starts yelling at Kev that he can take his plan and stick it! Connor whimpers 'what is plan B?' RUN BOYS! Too late, Angie has found them!

CONNOR: I have a job interview!
ANGIE: Too bad!

Angie says she doesn't take kindly to being manipulated, especially by her own son! Connor asks if that means she is staying. Oooh yes it does Irish! And there are going to be a few changes. They are all on the market, and have to look their best - DIET TIME!!

General Store
Karl kisses Jenny goodbye, and she leaves as a very tired Max and Steph come in with Summer and Charlie. Max asks if Charlie is asleep yet, and Steph says know - she can't believe it - she thought the walk would have done it! Summer goes to say hi to Rachel, as Max orders some Dandelion tea for Steph and a VERY strong latte for him! He comments to Karl that the Store isn't quite the same without the 'old fella's'. Karl asks if he can ask max a question, man-to-man. Jenny and him are dating again, as he knows (insert Max making a sniggering remark about 'parties' here, tehe!), and they are going on a date.

MAX: Oh well, good.
KARL: It's a pool party.
MAX: Right...
KARL: For naturists...
MAX: Right...*lightbulb* Oooof! Eeeh! She's a bit of a livewire that Jenny, isn't she!

Max asks what the problem is - doesn't he want to go? Karl says he does, but it is early stages...and it might be a bit...confronting.

MAX: Oh mate, you've got nothing to worry about there!
KARL: You reckon?
MAX: Oh, yeah.
KARL: You'd go?
MAX: Yeah, in a flash!
KARL: You don't think it's a bit...weird?
MAX: Mate, it's a pool party - it's good, clean fun.
KARL: You reckon?
MAX: Oh, yeah.

Max tells him to go - he'll have a ball! Tehe.

Zeke is trying to convince Rachel not to wag school, and Summer says she has changed so much! And what's the deal with Rachel and Stingray? She can't believe how much she has been missing out on!

HoT
Angie makes Toadie throw out his chips, and says he'll thank her when he has a washboard stomach and a bird hanging off his arm. Of the babe-shaped variety. Not of the Polly-want-a-cracker variety. Stingray comes in and Angie leaves the room. Toad pulls out a new bag of chips and tells Stinger to spill. He says he is being persecuted by Katya. He just wants to be friends with Rachel. Can Toadie walk him up to Katya? Toadie says he supposes he can, but is Rachel's friendship worth it? Stingray says it is. Toadie says ok then - if he is sure...

Hoylands
Steph is almost asleep all cuddled up with Summer, her head on Sum's shoulder. Max comes out and says he *finally* got Charlie to sleep, and Steph comments she won't be far behind! Max sits on the other side of Summer, and says he won't be either! Sum laughs that they are like a couple of 150 year olds. Steph points out to max that a couple of geriatrics like themselves need all the help they can get! At that moment, Lyn crashes through the door with Ozzie. Max jumps up and quickly informs them that Charlie just got to sleep, so they have to keep it down. Lyn asks if everything is ok, and Max says it is wonderful. Lyn is pleased and says she'll make them a cuppa right after she gets another bag. Max is like 'what?! MORE!' Lyn says they just brought the bare essentials... Ozzie runs over to the toy box, pulls out a plastic trumpet and starts squawking around on it. Max is like NOOO Charlie will wake up! Lyn says he is going to have to get used to sleeping through a bit of noise anyway! Charlie starts to cry, and Max says it took ages to get him off to sleep, and Steph is tired from her walk too!

LYN: Walk! She's recovering from surgery! Max the *last* thing she needs is exercise, you know that! Argh! (storms off to get her bag)

Max backs away into their bedroom to see to Charlie, whistling to calm himself down. Steph giggles and snuggles back into Summer's shoulder.

HoT
Toadie gets off the phone from Katya and tells Stinger he failed to mention to him the part about Rachel being caught in his bedroom. Stingray says nothing happened, but Toadie reminds him Rachel is 14 - Katya has every right to be angry!

TOADIE: Have you got feelings for this girl?
STINGRAY: ....No....not like that...
TOADIE: Like what?
STINGRAY: Like...we're friends. Really good friends. I couldn't do without her right now.
TOADIE: Bingo! That is feelings mate - that is more than friends!

He tells Stingray he has to take a big step back and focus on girls his own age. Stingray storms out and Connor comes in with chips. JunkFoodDetectorAngie comes past and takes them before leaving the room again.

Connor tells Toadie he got the gig - he is now Connor O'Neill: PI!!! He already has his first assignment too - look! Toadie opens the folder as Connor excitedly tells him apparently she is dodgy - really dodgy. She could be a serial killer or anything! This is gonna be, like, so totally FUN! Toadie looks kinda funny himself, and Connor asks if he knows the person.

TOADIE: This is Jenny McKenna - it's Karl's new girlfriend!

*audience gasp*