Number 24
Nicolette is stunned into silence by Chloe's declaration of feelings. When she gets her bearings, Nicolette tells Chloe they've fought too hard to save the friendship they have now, so she's not even considering the notion of something more. Chloe tells Nicolette that her feelings are genuine, and judging by Nic's flustered, angry reaction, Chloe thinks she feels the same too. But Nicolette vehemently insists the conversation never happened, end of story.

Number 32
David wonders if he and Aaron are going overboard planning the baby's gender reveal party, as Aaron discusses the idea of getting a skywriter involved. But Aaron figures if straight couples can go OTT with this sort of thing, they should be able to as well. Whatever happens, David just wants to ensure Emmett feels included so he doesn't think they're more excited about the baby's arrival than him moving in. Speaking of, Emmett and Brent walk in and discover what the boys are up to. David and Aaron ask for Emmett's thoughts, but he's all for it if there's a piñata involved. Brent and Emmett decide to play video games, and Brent does his best to ignore his phone ringing, presumably to avoid talking to Holden again in front of his brother.

The Waterhole
Paul's in another stellar mood, this time because the tenants at Grease Monkeys aren't renewing their lease. They claim there's been a significant decrease in foot traffic on Power Road, and Paul knows exactly what tram-shaped business is to blame for that. Terese thinks business will pick up again now The 82 has reopened, but Paul says the tram is nothing more than "a blight on the landscape". Roxy appears and assures Paul that The 82 is about to hit new heights - she's even helping out there tomorrow morning as a "support crew" with behind the scenes work.

ROXY: Before you know it, the whole area's going to be pumping.
PAUL: Yeah, stomach pumping more like it.

Harold's Café
Chloe walks into the kitchen where Nicolette's cleaning and tentatively asks if she needs any help. But Nicolette is struggling to look at Chloe, let alone talk to her. Chloe wonders how long it's going to take for Nic to stop freezing her out and tell her how she really feels. "You feel it, I know you do," Chloe insists. "I just don't know why you won't admit it." This causes Nicolette to finally snap and tell Chloe she doesn't have feelings for her, but she doesn't sound particularly convincing.

CHLOE: You're lying.
NICOLETTE: Okay, I used to care for you. Past tense. And now we have a friendship and that's all.

Nicolette accidentally knocks over some containers in her haste to get away. When Chloe moves closer to help her they share a moment of frisson before Nicolette tells her to go home. "I don't feel what you feel," says Nic. "Please just leave me alone."

Number 32
The next morning David is decorating cupcakes. He's happy to see Aaron and Brent arrive home with Emmett in tow, and the two teens take Emmett's luggage to his room to unpack. David asks how Linda was and Aaron says she put on a brave front but he could tell she was struggling. But Aaron promised her they'd help Emmett stay in touch, which she appreciated. Emmett returns for another one of his bags and overhears Aaron say that the skywriting place they were looking into want $3000. David points out how wildly over-budget it is, so Emmett sweetly offers to donate some of his money he saved up from his lawn mowing job. Aaron and David thank him for the kind offer but say they can't take his hard-earned cash; they'll think of an alternative. Brent tells Emmett he needs to duck out for a second, and passes Chloe in the hallway who has arrived for a chat with Aaron.

The 82
Roxy is cleaning in the tram and tells a delivery driver to leave an order of pastries on the table out the front. When her back is turned, Holden and two cronies show up and steal some of the food. Roxy notices and gives chase, but they end up outrunning her. What Roxy does discover, though, is what appears to be a little hideout they've been using - and graffiti of the exact same skull that was on the ring found at the scene of her attack. Stunned, she gets out her phone and takes a photo of it.

Number 32
David is quietly decorating more cupcakes in the background, trying to stay out of the sibling bickering match that has erupted between Chloe and Aaron. Chloe is peeved that Aaron told Nicolette about her feelings, especially considering he was the one who told her to bottle them up in the first place. But Aaron just wanted to get everything out in the open so it didn't eventually blow up in Chloe's face. He reminds his sister that she's been "all over the shop lately" and thought Nicolette deserved a little bit of warning in case Chloe did something crazy.

CHLOE: I wasn't going to! I was being mature and riding things out.
AARON: Oh really? Really? And how long for? Look, it's better it happens now than down the track.
CHLOE: Are you for real?
DAVID: Maybe we should hit pause and have a cupcake?

They ignore him and keep arguing. Chloe says Aaron dropped her in it and now Nicolette's not even talking to her. Aaron tries to protest his innocence, but doesn't get too far before Chloe swipes the whipped cream can from David and sprays it all over her brother's head. David calls for a timeout, but again he's ignored as Aaron calls Chloe immature and promptly smears cream all over her shirt. A whipped cream fight breaks out between the Brennans as they chase each other around the kitchen and then outside, David wearily copping some of the off-cast cream on his face in the process.

The Waterhole
Emmett sneaks in after following Brent and sees him talking with someone unfriendly. Holden has summoned Brent because he has another job he needs doing, but Brent says he can't anymore because "family stuff" takes priority. He gets stressed when Holden says he and the boys can look in on Brent's family too, then calmly reiterates to Brent that he'll send him the details of the next job. Brent goes to leave and notices that Emmett has been spying on him. Emmett is super concerned and says if Brent won't tell him what's going on, then he'll get David and Aaron involved.

BRENT: Fine. Remember those guys I hung out with when I was living on the streets? They set up camp near the tram. Holden over there runs the group.
EMMETT: That's the guy you were talking to yesterday?
BRENT: Yeah.
EMMETT: What did he get you to do?
BRENT: Look it's nothing major really. You know that stolen bike that everyone's been going on about? Well I'm the one that hid it.
EMMETT: I thought you were done being dodgy?
BRENT: Em, those were the guys who beat me and robbed me. I had to do it.

Brent says it was meant to be just the bike, but then the cops found out and now Holden is insisting Brent still owes him. Emmett is worried but Brent says he's planning on stringing Holden along until he gets bored, gives up and looks for money elsewhere.

Lassiters Office
Terese is glad Roxy told the police about the graffiti she found, but she's concerned that Roxy chased after them on her own. Roxy says it was just instinct, and it was worth it to get a new lead on her assault case. She shows Terese the photo she took and says it proves it wasn't just some random piece of jewellery that was found, "it's linked to a gang and one of them could be my attacker." Roxy says the cops thought it was a good lead and they're going to chase them down to get answers as the gang appears to be quite settled in to their hideout.

Harold's Café
Nicolette finishes making Paul his coffee, "with a dash of milk from a cow, as requested." Paul retorts that he shouldn't have to specify in the first place as almonds and mung beans don't produce milk. Nicolette sarcastically thanks him for that fun little factoid. Paul glares at Nic, and then at Brent who he passes on his way out of the shop.

NICOLETTE: Really lights up a room doesn't he.
BRENT: Yep, soon as he leaves it.
NICOLETTE: So he's still not going any easier on you?
BRENT: Nah. The more he sees me with Harlow, the more he hates my guts.
NICOLETTE: My latest strategy is to just ignore it. He lives to get a rise out of people.

Brent orders some food but notices Nicolette tearing up his paper napkin as they chat. She claims she's a "stress shredder" and tells Brent that Chloe apparently has feelings for her now. At first Brent thinks that Nicolette isn't interested, but then realises it's in fact the opposite.

BRENT: You really do like her, you just don't know if she means it. Look, Nicolette, you're a really cool chick. And she seems pretty legit to me.
NICOLETTE: I just can't take that risk anymore. I've got to think about the baby, and Aaron and David, they're Chloe's family.
BRENT: To me that's just a whole lot of excuses right there. If you really do like her, maybe you should talk to her. Even if you are scared.

Nicolette keeps shredding the napkin but looks heartened by Brent's advice.

The Waterhole
Holden is confused when Emmett approaches him and holds out an envelope, but his face lights up when Emmett explains he's Brent's brother and he's got some cash for him. There's a couple of fifty dollar notes in the envelope, which is everything Emmett could spare. He tells Holden that he and Brent are in a good place now and like their new family, so it's really important they stay out of trouble. Holden says it's a pretty ballsy move on Emmett's behalf, but Em hopes it's enough to leave Brent alone. Holden nods and says he'll stay out of Brent's hair, but judging by the hint of a smirk on Holden's face when Emmett leaves, he's not being genuine.

Number 32
Brent is stressing about his math homework but tells Aaron and David he doesn't need their help. Emmett arrives home and gets asked about his own homework, which he claims is totally fine. When David and Aaron are out of earshot, Emmett asks if Brent's heard from Holden again. But Brent says he's magically been let off the hook this afternoon - he has no idea why, but he's not about to question it. Emmett's pleased to hear it.

Nicolette pops in after getting a mystery text from Aaron about a big surprise, but she's not too thrilled to hear the boys are throwing a gender reveal party. Aaron and David can see she hates the idea. "Hate is a strong word," Nicolette replies. "It's just not my style. But hey, if you want to appropriate hetero culture, be my guest." Before Nic can head home, Aaron says he wants to apologise for causing trouble between her and Chloe.

AARON: Maybe I should have just stayed out of the whole thing.
NICOLETTE: No I'm glad you said something. I'd much rather it be out in the open than for it to make things weird between us.
AARON: I haven't made things awkward now that you're living together have I?
NICOLETTE: I certainly haven't handled it well so far. But I care too much about Chlo as a friend, so I'm determined for it not to ruin things between us.

Lassiters Office
Paul's in a tizzy after learning from Terese and Roxy that a bunch of hooligans have set up camp near his businesses. He wants to call security so they can deal with it, but Roxy begs him not to. She says the police are planning on staking out the place and they can't jeopardise the first lead they've had on her attacker. Paul still isn't keen on having violent criminals roaming about willy-nilly, but Roxy says it's only temporary, otherwise they might never be caught. Paul finally relents and says the police better not drag their heels, "because if they let you down, I'm cleaning house. Understood?" Roxy nods and says it's understood.

Number 24
Chloe is nervously sitting on the couch when Nicolette gets home and is relieved when Nic says they should probably clear the air so they can move past the issue. Wanting to return Chloe's honesty, Nicolette admits that she does have feelings for her, but she's not going to act on them.

NICOLETTE: Not only because of your situation, but because of mine also.
CHLOE: What do you mean?
NICOLETTE: Well I've just moved in and I'm pregnant with your brother's baby. There are bigger things here I need to prioritise. I have to be rational.
CHLOE: I suppose I have a track record for being all over the place lately as well, as my brother so kindly reminded me earlier today.
NICOLETTE: You would have loved that.
CHLOE: Yep. I showed my appreciation via a surprise whipped cream attack.
NICOLETTE: Ah, classic. However, I do find kimchi leaves a longer-lasting impression, you should try that next time.
CHLOE: Duly noted.

Nicolette says that just because they can't be together in a relationship, doesn't mean they can't still be friends. She knows it's hard when there's feelings involved, but she doesn't want to lose the friendship they've built. Chloe puts on a smile and says they can totally make the 'just friends' thing work.

Harold's Café
Emmett's catching up with Paul and Terese and is already into the chess talk with Paul. Em wonders how long it would take to memorise all the chess moves, then jokes he might be awesome when he's as old as Paul. Roxy walks over to them, letting them know how frustrated she is that the police still haven't followed up on the gang. It's obvious the graffiti symbol is the same one as the ring that was found where she was attacked. Terese says the cops should get onto it soon, but Roxy says if they don't get their butts into gear she'll be going down to demand answers. Paul thinks Roxy's determination is admirable. He doesn't know why the "louts" are tormenting everyone, but they're clearly a threat to the community and need to be dealt with. Meanwhile, Emmett is sitting there sweating bullets putting all the information together about Holden and the gang.

Number 24
Chloe and Nicolette are cooking together and discussing Aaron and David's gender reveal party. Nic doesn't understand why they'd buy into such an antiquated concept, but Chloe reminds her that Aaron and David are the most "sappy, basic couple ever."

CHLOE: They're going to be such sentimental parents.
NICOLETTE: They're not that bad.
CHLOE: We're talking about people who have matching Christmas pyjamas, remember?
NICOLETTE: How could I forget? That should have been a dead giveaway.
CHLOE: They also have this thing called a 'romance scrapbook', in which they paste receipts from every date they go on. Even the ones at Harold's.
NICOLETTE: I can't.
CHLOE: And you know the 'live, laugh, love' poster in their bedroom? It isn't some random gift - they ordered it. On purpose.
NICOLETTE: Okay, stop, I get the picture. They're massive dorks.

Having heard all that though, Nicolette still smiles and says the baby is going to be so lucky to have that in their life. Chloe grins and says the baby will be lucky to have Nic too, "I feel lucky to have you in my life every day." They realise they're veering beyond 'just friends' territory again and dial it back, but it gets kicked up a notch again when their hands accidentally brush together as they're reaching for the same thing on the bench. Throwing caution to the wind, Nicolette leans in and kisses Chloe, who reciprocates. Chloe asks if it's okay, but Nicolette can only nod before kissing her again with added gusto.