No 32
Chloe's awkward conversation with David and Aaron continues. Aaron says they'll understand if she's reluctant to take part in the baby shower, but Chloe insists that's not the issue.

AARON: But there *is* an issue?

However, at that point, Susan and Karl come in, interrupting. Karl is staying for the party, but Susan has to head into work; she's just come to drop round a present for the baby. Karl heads out into the garden, while Susan leaves. David and Aaron get back to quizzing Chloe.

CHLOE: Let's enjoy the party. Don't make it about me. Not today.
AARON: Listen, we're not gonna go anywhere until you tell us what's going on.
CHLOE: (...) Alright. I was avoiding being here because... I don't know if I want to be with Nicolette anymore.

In the garden, Terese is presiding over a change-the-doll's-nappy game, in which Nicolette and Jane are the contestants. Observers include Karl, Roxy, Kyle, Harlow, Leo and a raft of extras. Harlow remarks to Leo that she doesn't think she's seen Nicolette so happy. Harlow wonders where David, Aaron and Chloe are, noting that they're missing out on all the fun. Leo looks worried.

Back indoors...

AARON: How long have you felt like this for?
CHLOE: I guess it's been bubbling away for the last few weeks.
DAVID: Weeks? Why haven't you said anything to her?
CHLOE: Because I've been trying to figure out how I feel. That's why I've been spending so much time at the vineyard. I swear, there is nothing going on between Leo and I. He was just there for me when I needed to vent - that's all.
AARON: Hold on - if it's been going on for that long, was it Pierce coming back that started it?
CHLOE: Not in the way you think. Nic went off the rails when he was here. She was acting possessive, and she did crazy things...
DAVID: We talked about that when it happened, and she apologised. Pierce just gets under her skin.
CHLOE: Yeah. But it made me wonder if I really know her. Like, maybe I was just making the same mistakes all over again. Rushing into things. Plus there's been all this talk about babies -
DAVID: Well, mine and Aaron's baby.
CHLOE: - and the future, and.. and I'm just not sure if it's a future I want anymore.
AARON: This is exactly what I warned you about when you and Nic first got together. You told me that I couldn't be more wrong!
CHLOE: Well, I didn't feel like this then!
DAVID: Alright. When are you planning on telling her?
CHLOE: Well, I don't - I haven't really -
DAVID: Do you have any idea how unfair this is for her, being kept in the dark? (...) You've been lying to her for weeks, making her think that everything's okay, that you two have a future.

Paul comes in with some ice supplies. He remarks it's good to see that Chloe's finally turned up, but she uses the ice as an excuse to get out of the conversation with David and Aaron, taking it off his hands and heading back outside.

In the garden, Jane and Nicolette's doll nappy-changing contest continues, and it's getting competitive.

JANE: Be careful, darling - because, you know, if it's a boy, you might get weed on.

Chloe comes out with the ice, and Nicolette calls on her for help with the nappies! Meanwhile, Karl and Terese are by the 'guess the name' jar, where everyone has to write a baby name guess on a piece of paper and put it in the jar.

KARL: I think I'm gonna go with 'Karleen', with a 'K'.

Terese is incredulous, but Karl insists it's 'completely altruistic', and a tribute to Aaron and David's time on Ramsay Street!

Paul comes out to chat to Leo, and asks him what's going on with David, Aaron and Chloe, having detected an atmosphere when he walked in before. He wonders if it has anything to do with Leo and Chloe turning up late.

LEO: Chloe and I are the last thing on their minds today.

Paul moves over to talk to Harlow, and asks why she didn't bring Jesse to the baby shower. Harlow admits she's been avoiding him, as it 'doesn't feel right' being around him, now knowing who he really is. Paul accepts this, as long as Jesse doesn't get suspicious that they're onto him.

HARLOW: You know, being chummy with the enemy isn't as easy for me as it is for you, okay? Neither is hiding things from Terese.

But Paul says it won't be for much longer, as he's settled on a plan.

Ramsay Street
Aaron and David are trying to have a conversation about Chloe at the front of No 32, but are interrupted by Kyle looking for bin bags. Once he's gone...

DAVID: What about Nic? She's about to have our baby, and your sister's thinking about dumping her. She's supposed to be avoiding stress.
AARON: David, can you please just calm down, alright? We both know Chloe, and how she freaks out about things.
DAVID: This doesn't feel like that.
AARON: What if it is? Chloe's more than likely to wake up tomorrow and go, 'You know what? I'm sorry, guys. It was my bad.'
DAVID: Then why tell us?
AARON: We dragged it out of her.
DAVID: It still isn't fair on Nic. She's in there clueless, and we all know.

But Aaron insists they shouldn't stress, and just forget about it for today.

No 32
Nicolette and Jane's nappy-changing contest has finished up, and the final scores are in. Terese asks Chloe to read the times for the final round; she does, reluctantly, and Nicolette is the winner by three seconds.

NICOLETTE (squeals): Who is the baby queen, and who is the has-been?
JANE: You do share a bed with one of the judges - I have my suspicions!
NICOLETTE: I will take it any way I can!

She summons Chloe over for a hug, and Chloe unenthusiastically goes along with it. Leo can see how uncomfortable she is. David approaches, apparently intending to talk to Chloe and/or Nicolette about Chloe's relationship doubts. Aaron tells him not to.

DAVID: The longer this goes on, the further Nicolette is gonna fall when she finds out.
AARON: Yeah, I know, but have a look around. Do you really want to do this in front of everyone?
DAVID: It's unfair. Chloe needs to communicate how she's feeling.

But Aaron doesn't think it will help, and begs David to stay quiet for now.

Shortly afterwards, Leo tries to engage Chloe in another chat about her relationship doubts. She admits she's just blabbed about it to Aaron and David.

CHLOE: So now, on top of it all, my brother and his husband hate me because I don't know if I want to be with the mother of their child.
LEO: Chlo - anything I can do, any way I can help, just ask, okay?
CHLOE: There's nothing you can do. I just have to suck it up.

Meanwhile, David has been talked down from the brink by Aaron, and goes to make some coffee. Harlow tells Paul she hates lying to Terese. Paul explains what he wants to do - slip Jesse some incorrect information about Lassiter's, which he'll then take back to the Quill Group. That way, they can 'really damage' the Quills and help their own business interests.

HARLOW: I really think you're overestimating my ability to lie right now. Okay, and what if Jesse finds out?
PAUL: Harlow, they are responsible for the deaths of Josh and Doug. And this is a golden opportunity to get something back, and I'm not gonna let it go.

Harlow looks guiltily towards Terese, who is in the sun room socialising.

In the kitchen, David is putting the kettle on, while Jane tells Kyle and Roxy about the next game.

JANE: It's called My Waters (...) All you do is fill the balloon with water and keep it under your shirt. The first person to burst theirs without using their hands is the winner.

Kyle and Roxy are implausibly enthusiastic about this, and head outside with Jane, just as Leo comes in to talk to David. David's a little sore at Leo for not telling him about Chloe's doubts about her relationship.

LEO: She told me as a friend in confidence. What did you expect? For me to run to you and tell you everything?
DAVID: Is that all you want from her? To be her friend? (...) I know about Hendrix's theory.
LEO: Since when do you listen to anything Hendrix has to say? And what are you doing getting caught up in Nicolette and Chloe's drama anyway?
DAVID: This affects us, Leo!
LEO: It's not your problem!
DAVID: Not my problem? Nicolette's having our baby! This pregnancy has had enough stress on it already.
LEO: Exactly, so just stay out of it.
DAVID: Do you have any idea how messy this could get if Chloe ends things? That's why I needed to know about it. I understand that you wanted to be Chloe's friend. But you know what? You're also my brother. This would've been a good time to make that a priority.

On the patio, Roxy and Kyle are playing My Waters, while the assembled RSRs and extras cheer. Aaron takes the opportunity for a stern word with Chloe. He explains David wanted to tell Nicolette about Chloe's relationship doubts.

AARON: I had to stop him. He's ropeable.
CHLOE: What about you? I can't help the way I feel. What am I supposed to do?
AARON (bitter): I dunno, Chloe. Maybe try therapy.
CHLOE: I'm sorry, what?!
AARON: Well, you obviously don't want my advice, because you haven't mentioned any of this to me the whole time (...) and you clearly can't help yourself. I think you need to see a professional.
CHLOE: Aaron!
AARON: No, no - you do this every single time, Chloe. And every time, it's the same pattern, right? You have this fear of commitment, and then you have a total meltdown, and then you just go into self-sabotage. Why can't you just let yourself be happy?

Chloe doesn't have an answer. Meanwhile, Roxy beats Kyle at the My Waters game, resulting in them both getting soaked.

No 22
Roxy has come back to the house to get changed, and Harlow follows her in, wanting to talk to her about Paul's plan to feed misinformation to Jesse and the Quills. Harlow's not happy about it; she doesn't like lying to anyone.

ROXY: You lied pretty well when you told all of us that Jesse was your boyfriend. Now, that was a good lie, wasn't it?
HARLOW: Yeah, I know. But this is...
ROXY: Different? How?
HARLOW: Well, the Quills are dangerous. And Terese still doesn't know any of this. We'd be going behind her back.
ROXY: For the greater good.
HARLOW: Maybe, but... I guess I just don't know where this is gonna end. I know what Grandad's like, and if he's gonna make me do this, what else will he try and make me do?
ROXY: Okay, fine. If Paul tells you to do something that you don't want to do, then don't do it.

No 32
In the garden, Nicolette, Aaron and David are reading the baby name ideas that people have put in the 'guess the name' jar. Nicolette seems to rather like Terese's suggestion of Isla, but less so 'Karleen'!

KARL: Rhymes with 'Charlene'. A very important name on this street.

Nicolette is getting emotional, and decides she wants to give an impromptu speech to the assembled guests.

NICOLETTE: In Canberra, I didn't really have anyone very close to me. I kind of resigned myself to the fact that I didn't need a family. Moving here made me realise just how wrong I was. (tearful) I've reconnected with the most amazing mum in the world...
JANE: I love you, darling.
NICOLETTE: ... and despite my hardest efforts to stuff things up, I managed to find my tribe. Aaron and David - I have never felt more safe or secure or valued than you make me feel. You've always got my back.

Chloe and Leo are looking worried.

NICOLETTE: And I'm just so excited to bring this baby into our family. Whatever her name is - not Karleen! She's gonna have the best daddies, and the best uncle in Leo, and the most amazing grandmother in Terese, and... Paul, I guess. And don't think I forgot about the baby's favourite auntie. Chlo, I can't count the number of times that you've been there for me - the times we've laughed, times we've cried. You just get me. And I will always, always be grateful for you. I love you, Chloe (voice breaks) I love you Aaron, I love you David. I love you, Mum. I love everybody.

Chloe smiles, conflicted, as everyone applauds the speech.

Back indoors, Chloe, Nicolette, David and Aaron gather on the couch for Jane to take a picture of the group.

In the garden, Kyle and Roxy are about to head home. Roxy teases Karl about 'Karleen', and Karl prepares to leave too. Terese asks if Paul and Harlow are ready to go as well; Paul tells her they'll join her in a minute, and she goes inside. Harlow tells Paul she's on-board with his plan to feed the Quills misinformation.

PAUL: Great. This is the right thing, trust me.
HARLOW: Where do I start?

Paul says their first task is to win the film festival back for The Flamingo Bar. Harlow's job will be to tell Jesse that the film festival organisers are tied up in a lawsuit that will smear anyone connected to them. This, he says, will get back to Shay and lead her to pull out of the contract.

Harlow gets a phone call from Brent, and tells him he's missed the world's greatest baby shower.

Back inside, Roxy is saying goodbye to Nicolette's baby bump. Nicolette suggests Roxy and Kyle stay for dinner.

ROXY: I have had such a good time, that I need to take this one home to make a baby of our own.
KYLE: What?
ROXY: I'm just kidding. But we need to go practise right now.

This overshare delivered, Kyle and Roxy leave, and Jane shows Chloe and Nicolette the photos she's taken of them.

NICOLETTE: Aww, could we hug each other any tighter?
JANE: You know, when you first got together, I'll admit I had my doubts. But I'm also happy to admit that I was wrong. You two truly are a perfect couple.
NICOLETTE: Thank you, Mum. And thank you for making today so special.

Jane hugs them both, then heads outside.

NICOLETTE: Sorry for going all 'Love Actually' on you back there.
CHLOE: What's to be sorry about?
NICOLETTE: Just wasn't very me.
CHLOE: It was perfect. And I love you, too.

And it feels like Chloe means it. Later on, when she's with David, Aaron and Leo, she explains to them that she's had a change of heart.

CHLOE: I love Nicolette. What I said... was a blip. I know I doubted myself, but today made me realise I want to be with Nicolette more than anything.
LEO: So, that's all it takes? A heartfelt speech and you're cured?
CHLOE: I know my head's been all over the place, but... yes. Everything makes sense now. What I have with Nicolette feels right.

Leo struggles to hide his disappointment, and David seems to notice.

AARON: are you sure?
CHLOE: Aaron, you know me. I freaked out because I was scared, just like you said.
AARON: Yeah, but I mean, you know that doesn't just magically go away.
CHLOE: Of course, I am still scared, but I don't want to be that person who freaks out about the future anymore. Please.
AARON: Alright. Look, if it really was nothing, then the only thing we can do is forget what happened earlier, right? Nicolette's meant to be taking it easy; we can't stress her out. And that goes for you especially.
DAVID: I want it known I'm not happy about keeping up a lie to Nicolette. But I agree she needs to stay calm at the moment.
AARON: Great, alright, so we agree - nothing happened, yeah?

Chloe nods in agreement, but Leo looks worried.

That evening, David, Aaron, Nicolette, Chloe and Leo are sitting around the pool, with their legs in the water. Leo is visibly uncomfortable that Chloe and Nicolette are back to flirting and being couply, as if nothing happened. Nicolette offers to buy Chloe brunch tomorrow in exchange for a foot rub, and Chloe agrees.

LEO: Sorry, you might have to rain check that, guys. We've got way too much to get through at the vineyard tomorrow.
DAVID: (...) What, you can't give her one morning off? It's not like she hasn't been breaking her back there already.
LEO: ... I guess it's only a couple of hours. Enjoy.
CHLOE: Oh, we will!

Chloe and Nicolette kiss, and Leo goes inside for another beer. David follows him in.

DAVID: Are you gonna explain what that was out there?
LEO: Nothing. Chloe's on the payroll, and we're snowed under right now.
DAVID: Hendrix was right, wasn't he? You do like Chloe.
LEO: Don't be stupid.
DAVID: I saw the way you looked at her, Leo.
LEO: You didn't see anything.
DAVID: You haven't just been helping her as a friend. Have you been feeding her doubts about Nicolette?
LEO: You've been watching too many romcoms, bro.
DAVID: What did you think was going to happen? You know, they'd break up and you'd swan in and move in on her?!
LEO: Of course not! But am I seriously the only one who thinks the relationship is just a car crash waiting to happen?
DAVID: You're the only one doing their best to *make* it happen!
LEO: All I've been doing is listening to Chloe. She's gonna change her mind - and you and Aaron keeping quiet, you're just delaying the inevitable.
DAVID: You are not going to say anything to Nicolette. Not now.
LEO: You don't care about Nicolette! You're just making yourself believe what Chloe's saying cos you're worried about the baby. And you think *I'm* the one being selfish!
DAVID: I mean it, Leo, back off!
LEO: Or what?
DAVID: Or their relationship won't be the only one you ruin.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Amy getting up close and personal with both Levi and Ned (separately!)
- David tells Leo there's been a development between Chloe and Nicolette
- Leo asks Chloe if they're celebrating or commiserating
- Mackenzie tells Harlow she's found out something that she deserves to know