Number 28
Preparations are underway for Christmas Eve lunch and Susan remains optimistic that Dan may still turn up, but Libby knows he's gone for good. Lucas pops in and Karl asks if he's heard from Dan, but he hasn't. He won't return any calls. Susan apologises to Libby for suggesting Dan come for lunch as it's going to break Ben's heart that he's gone.

LIBBY: I don't know how I'm going to tell Ben.
SUSAN: Well, maybe tell him Dan can't make lunch and tell him the rest later.

Karl doesn't think they can lie to him and everyone agrees that he needs to know what's going on and deserves to know the truth. Libby asks for Steph's opinion and she shuffles about awkwardly and gives a non-committal response. Libby decides she needs to think about it more and make a salad.

Number 30
Toadie gives Sonya a Christmas Eve present of a lovely bracelet. Sonya thanks him but feels awkward because she didn't get him anything and eventually confesses that she doesn't "do" Christmas.

SONYA: It's not a religious thing...it's a Christmas thing. An anti-Christmas thing.

Toadie is a bit thrown but says he understands. I don't know how, she hasn't given any reason, but he's a genius and all.

Harold's
Kate serves up brownie with ice cream and extra chocolate sauce to Toadie and Callum who are once more drowning their sorrows over Sonya. Kate doesn't think that Christmas is the right time for relationships. Toadie is a bit suss and Kate realises she's probably given something away so she makes for the kitchen followed by an intrigued Sophie.

SOPHIE: Have you met someone? You've been in a mood for ages.
KATE: I have not.
SOPHIE: And you sigh all the time. Who is he?
KATE: No-one.

Sophie promises not to tell and hopes it's not Kyle Canning (I wish it was!). She thinks that Kate needs someone who is sweet and kind and smart and funny and who thinks she's the most beautiful girl in the whole world. (And who says Kyle can't be those things?) Kate is feeling decidedly uncomfortable now and shoos her sister out of the kitchen.

Sophie sulks over to Callum and tells him it's going to be a sucky Christmas. Callum guesses that she's never heard of a Christmas miracle. Sophie looks incredulous.

CALLUM: Serious. Look I didn't believe in them either until I saw one with my very own eyes.
SOPHIE: Yeah, yeah. You told me before - Santa's Sleigh - get real!
CALLUM: It was real.
SOPHIE: It was a comet or something.
CALLUM: Er, lead by reindeer?

Actually, I seem to remember it just being twinkly lights, but Callum's right. You've gotta believe. Sophie doesn't though. She tells him that life isn't like a movie that has to have a happy ending - only kids believe in miracles. (And religious people, surely.)

Number 28
Karl comes off the phone from Ringo who is visiting his family and takes the opportunity to bring up the subject of VCE results with Zeke. Apparently Ringo did quite well...but how did Zeke do? He hasn't given them a number.

ZEKE: Because the number doesn't matter.
KARL: It's all about the number.
ZEKE: Not to me it's not.
KARL: It's high isn't it? Come on, just whisper it to me. It'll be our little secret.

Susan says there will be no secrets in their family so Steph decides to take her dirty little secret back home to help Lyn with lunch, blowing off Lucas in the process. Ben bounds in to put Dan's present under the tree and to open a present early. Karl and Susan realise Libby hasn't told Ben and give her disappointed/exasperated parent looks so she takes Ben back home for a chat.

Number 30
Lucas pops in to see how things went as Libby and Ben have been gone a while. Ben is still high as a kite though showing off his present so Lucas guesses they haven't talked yet.

LIBBY: I couldn't do it. I know, I'm gutless.
LUCAS: No no no, you're not gutless. You're a good mum, you just didn't want to hurt him.
LIBBY: I'm going to have to sooner or later.

Lucas says he's going to try and fix things. He's going to get hold of Dan and make him come back. Libby says he's never coming back, but Lucas is desperate to try, for Ben.

Number 32
Lucas is willing Dan to pick up his phone. He ends up having to leave another message.

LUCAS: Just answer your phone you coward. Look I don't know why you left and I don't care, but Ben is going to be heartbroken. Is that really the way you want to leave? Ruining a kid's Christmas? Just sort it out mate!

Number 28
Karl has now resorted to the sort of bribery someone might use on a young child. He offers Zeke a present to open early if he tells them his VCE score. Zeke's good though, thanks.

KARL: Are you sure? You know what they say, good things come in small packages.
ZEKE: Good things come to those who wait, Karl.

Karl ups his offer to two presents and Susan tells him to leave him alone. Karl offers three presents and Susan points out they aren't even for Zeke. She tells Zeke that if he doesn't want to tell them his score, that's fine, it's entirely his business.

ZEKE: 98.5

Karl and Susan are overjoyed and say that Alex would have been so proud. Karl can't see why he wouldn't want to tell them. Zeke says it's because he knows what they next question will be; what does he want to do next year. Karl thinks he could do practically anything with that score but Zeke just wants to work at PirateNet.

KARL: Well a gap year, not a bad idea before you face the slog of Uni.

Zeke tells him it's not a gap year; he wants to do it full time. Karl doesn't think he should waste a score like that. He study science and make a real contribution - find a cure for cancer or what causes MS.

ZEKE: You're the doctor, why don't you find a cure instead of hassling me?

They continue to argue, Zeke adamant he wants to be a DJ until Ben comes in and tells them to stop yelling. He tells them they can't be fighting when Dan arrives or he won't stay.

Number 30
Steak for dinner? Nope, a dead bird is on the cards for Toadie and Callum's Christmas dinner. Sonya calls in to explain why she doesn't "do" Christmas. Apparently she fell out with her parents about a lot of things after a number of years of disastrous Christmases and hasn't spoken to them since. Toadie asks her what she does do - lie in, big breakfast, walk, movie - and says that he and Callum would love to join her. Sonya thinks there are too many bad memories. Kate drops Sophie around as she's still feeling down. Callum assures her there will be a miracle.

Ramsay Street
The Kennedys come outside and Ben spots an awesome bike just like from the catalogue. Libby asks Lucas if he spoke to Dan, but Dan never returned his calls. Ben is uber excited and wants to know who it's from. Libby opens the card left with it and tells him that Dan left it for him. She shows him the card and Ben realises he's not coming. Heartbroken he clings onto his mum.

Git.

Number 28
Ben cuddles up to his Uncle Lucas while the rest of the family look on, upset to see Ben's Christmas spoiled. Susan takes him to feed the animals outside and Steph and Charlie call in with mince pies from Lyn. They go to help too and Zeke comments that the good thing about nobody eating is lots of leftovers. Karl apologises to him about their earlier argument. Zeke suggests they start again.

ZEKE: Hey, guess what. I got 98.5 for my VCE entry score.
KARL: Ah, well done mate!

Lucas tells Libby that he yelled down the phone at Dan and is sorry if that made things worse. Libby assures him it's not his fault, she doesn't want all this to effect his relationship with his brother. Lucas should have known he'd do a runner. Libby wants to know what that means and Steph, who has rejoined them, looks anxious.

LIBBY: Lucas, if you know something...
LUCAS: Nothing that helps.
LIBBY: Tell me, I have to know.
LUCAS: I think Dan ran away because he felt guilty about something that he did. But just leave it Lib, please.
LIBBY: You have to tell me now.
LUCAS: Just after you guys split, Dan spent the night with um...with some random woman. You know he gives me a hard time about my engagement and my life and then he runs off and does something like that. And then runs away! I think we're better off without him.

Lucas decides to go, leaving Libby and Steph lost for words but presumably for different reasons.

Charlie's
Lucas sits at the bar nowhere near as full of festive cheer as everyone else around him wearing mad Christmas hats.

Number 28
Ben wonders what's wrong with him, why do his Dads never stay around? Steph tells him that Drew really wanted to stay with him but had no choice. He loved him so,so much though. It's always Steph that gets these lines. Hmm, always after Libby's men, eh? Ben decides he doesn't want the bike and he and Charlie go off to play in Zeke's room. Libby wonders if Lucas knows who the woman was.

LIBBY: Maybe Dan was seeing this woman all along.
STEPH: Nah, I don't believe that. Dan loved you and Ben.
LIBBY: He broke Ben's heart.
STEPH: Ben's strong. Just like his mum, he'll get through it.
LIBBY: You're the best. Thank you.

They hug and there's some random clip clopping in the background. Someone's got the coconuts out again. Karl and Susan

Oh speaking of, Karl comes in and calls for Susan and thrusts her coat at her as she comes out of the bedroom. It's time for her Christmas treat. He takes her outside with Steph and Zeke where they find a horse (or two) and carriage.

SUSAN: Oh Karl, this will never fit in the garage!

Karl wanted Susan to have something special after the year they've had. She thinks he's quite the romantic and they climb on in.

Those at number 30 come out to see and Callum tells Sophie again that miracles do happen.

SOPHIE: It's a horse and carriage. They hired it.

The Kennedys clip clop off down the street and who should appear from behind the carriage but...

SOPHIE: HARRY!!!!

Sophie and Kate throw themselves at their brother who is home for Christmas. He tells them that Jen (the foster mum?) saw them together and reckoned she couldn't keep them apart. Karl and Susan wish them a Merry Christmas and Sophie decides that Callum was right all along, Christmas miracles do happen.

Charlie's
Things aren't so cheerful for Lucas though as he receives a video message from Elle.

ELLE: Hi, it's me! I don't really do Christmas cards so I thought I'd send you a video message. Just checking in, I'm back in New York for a few days then straight back to the Middle East. It's pretty full on. Um...yeah, I guess you were right. Probably wouldn't have worked out, even if you had have come over here, but hey, life goes on right? Yeah, I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. Hope you're well. And um...yeah. That's all. Bye.

Upset and angry, Lucas abandons his beer and phone, picks up his keys and walks out.

Country Road
Lucas speeds along a country road on his bike. 86pmh, 87, 88, his speed keeps climbing exceeding the 70 speed limit sign he whizzes past. He races past a car, his speed up to 103 now, 108. He flies past a police car which immediately starts up its siren and gives chase, but Lucas just keeps driving faster. He has a flash of memory of telling Dan that he's got used to having him around and that he needs him, particularly with Elle gone. Up to 118 and the police still way behind him he thinks of the video message from Elle, saying it probably wouldn't have worked out anyway. He races around a bend and accelerates to 125mph and is unable to stop in time as a truck pulls out of a side lane. He crashes straight into its side and everything goes black...

Preview
- Paul resolves to put the final nail in Lyn's Christmas Coffin.
- Declan wonders who is judging the Christmas spirit competition.
- Toadie and Karl go head to head in the Ramsay St. lights competition.
- Ringo wants to know why Donna is being an overly perfect girlfriend.
- Paul decides to throw a Christmas party.
- Paul throws another surprise Rebecca's way as Santa turns out to be a marriage celebrant.