Previously
- Aaron and David saying bye to Emmett.
- Shane leaving rehab early.
- Shane trying to help his wife... but being more a hindrance than a help!
- Chloe being taken into hospital with pains, fearing she is having a miscarriage.
- Fay so excited about Chloe's baby.
- Chloe not telling her mum about losing the baby and carrying on with the intended baby shower.
Number 24
In the living room, Nicolette manages to distract Fay by talking about her trip with the boys to allow Pierce to grill his wife in the kitchen. She tries to explain it as not wanting to disappoint her mum since she is so excited and doesn't want to ruin it. "You'll have to tell her eventually," Pierce points out (she knows) and the longer she waits, the harder it is going to be. Chloe is sticking to her guns; she wants her mum to be happy.
Number 30
Shane takes the hump when his offer to help his wife with the baby shower is rejected. She tries to explain that she doesn't think he is ready to be grilled by the RSRs over why he is out of rehab already. "I can hack it," he replies but given its Chloe's day, can see why his presence would be distracting. As a compromise, they agree to do something together that night before she heads off.
Number 24
In the kitchen, Nicolette and Pierce give each other knowing looks while listening to Fay chat to Chloe about her pregnancy. Chloe eventually manages to turn the conversation back round to Fay (and her trip) before suggesting her mum has a rest as she can see she's a bit weary (Fay explains she'd to get up early). Fay rejects the offer though as she is so excited about the baby shower and for them having this baby.
Meanwhile out of Fay's earshot, Nicolette eventually persuades Pierce to allow her to try and talk to Chloe about telling her mum the truth.
Number 32
After Aaron finishes a call with his mum, both he and David are curious about the errand they need to run for her, other than knowing it's another pressie for the baby that needs both of them to get it.
Now that they are alone, Aaron broaches the fostering subject with his husband, having avoided talking about it when they were with Fay. With a smile on his face, David is happy for them to broach the subject again.
The Waterhole
As Dipi sets up for the party, Pierce is dying to say something but keeps quiet and Susan's arrival is a good distraction.
Number 24
"How long are you going to keep up this charade?" Nicolette is eventually forced to ask Chloe after her softly-softly tact fails to work. "I don't know, but I have to give mum this," is Chloe's reply and begs Nicolette "to come on board."
Lassiters Complex
Pierce nips out to call Nicolette for an update when he finds her, along with Chloe and Fay making their way through the complex towards the pub. Fay asks if he is sneaking out of his own party, and he quickly replies that he was merely coming to see where they were.
Nicolette and Pierce hang back as Chloe pushes her mum into the venue, to allow him to ask why its not been shut down. "I tried, but Chloe wouldn't budge" she replies and adds that she is sure Chloe "is in denial" too. She explains about Chloe asking to respect "her decision" and thus tells Pierce he will be the one that needs to call the baby shower off.
The Waterhole
Despite some mutterings, the party proceeds beginning with a 'guess the baby' competition. At least Chloe manages to successfully pick out her husband before Nicolette manages to get a break in proceedings by reminding Chloe that she needs to eat. While they are at the table, Nicolette tries again to get Chloe to end the party but again, she wants to carry on.
Lassiters Complex
Nicolette runs into her mum as she heads to the car to get Chloe some paracetamol. Jane admits she is surprised to see her daughter and strongly suggests that she makes her excuses and leave, but Nicolette is adamant she can't leave however refuses to go into any details other than asking to "trust me on this one mum."
Number 30
As Shane finishes up the hoovering, he notices a photo of family. Suddenly he seems to have a 'lightbulb' moment and quickly gets out his sketchbook and begins to sketch something out.
The Waterhole
As they chat about how Shane is doing, Dipi admits to Susan that she is relieved he isn't at the do, even if it "sounds horrible." Susan gives a very diplomatic response (navigating a difficult situation) before enquiring if Shane has stuff to do, but after yesterday's disaster, Dipi is hoping he is doing as little as possible!
Meanwhile Jane arrives for the party and finds her daughter hiding behind the new shelving and isn't fooled by her quiet demeanour.
It's a good thing Jane brought a pressie as Fay declares that it is time for them to be opened and no amount of excuses from Chloe gets her off the idea!
Hendrix is first to hand his over... matching outfits a t-shirt for him saying 'Player 1' below the controller and 'Player 2' on a wee babysuit.
HENDRIX: I'm taking this big brother duty very seriously!
Chloe is in just about in tears as she takes Fay's gift out of the bag - another babysuit (yellow with elephants on it). We then (via video) find out what Fay wanted the boys to collect - a MASSIVE teddy bear! Pierce tries to at least pause the proceedings by getting Chloe to rest (on the pretence that she is getting weary) but she wants to soldier on and open more gifts.
Number 30
After reassuring Susan that he hasn't "burned the house down...yet," Shane is somewhat surprised that Susan has decided to forfeit the party to come to #30 and keep him company. She explains it as knowing what "the outcast of Ramsay Street" feels likes in the aftermath of what happened with Finn, and thus can offer him some advice.
SUSAN: When you feel on the outer like this, its very easy to pile on more and more negative thoughts about yourself.
SHANE: Pretty sure I deserve to be in the situation.
SUSAN: Whether its true or not, its going to be more helpful if you can find a positive way to keep you occupied.
On that note, Shane shows her what it was that he started to sketch in his book - a belated anniversary jewellery box for Dipi. "That's beautiful," Susan says on seeing the sketches he has done, and with the sentiment behind it (the design is based on one her grandma had) thinks Dipi will love it.
The Waterhole
Hendrix, being the novice at attending baby showers, checks with Jane whether the party has "a really weird vibe."
HENDRIX: Dad and Chloe are acting like they're at a funeral.
JANE: It has been a while since I've been to one of these, but I do know what you mean, you'd expect it to be more joyous.
HENDRIX: Mmm. Yes, and I'm not getting any of that... at all.
Pierce seeks Nicolette out to again get her help in wrapping things up and this time she agrees to help him get folk out of the pub. However they haven't moved quickly enough as Dipi wants all the women gathered to tell Chloe their "horror stories" especially since she doesn't "know what's ahead of you!" Pierce tries to end the show by indicating that Chloe is tired, which she backs up, however Fay has other ideas - everyone sitting down and recharging their batteries over a cuppa.
FAY: You have such a wonderful journey to look forward to.
Road somewhere
Aaron and David are stuck in heavy traffic trying to get to Chloe's party. David thinks it's another sign of "if there's anything to do with a kid, then we can't be involved." Aaron agrees with his husband, especially since they were great carers for Emmett, so David asks the question - is it "worth them considering having their own baby?" Aaron isn't quite sure what David is meaning, so David clears it up that he is meaning surrogacy, so they don't need to share the child with another parent, "we'd be the ones in control." "That got messy with Mark and Steph," Aaron reminds him, but David is sure "there are other ways to go about it" other than the route they choose.
DAVID: I'm not saying we have to make a decision right here, right now, I just thought it was worth putting the idea out there.
AARON: Yes.
The Waterhole
So, the 'horror stories' have begun with Dipi and Jane sharing happy memories of holding their child for the first time, "a moment you'll never forget." Fay adds in that Chloe will "love this little person more than you ever thought possible" and "it will be the joy your life."
FAY: You are going to be a beautiful mother.
Chloe at this point starts crying and at their table, Hendrix asks Nicolette "what's going on." Fay thinks that Chloe is simply feeling scared and its "something natural."
CHLOE: Mum, I lost the baby.
Number 30
Shane thinks he's bored Susan enough, but she is happy to sit and give him her time. She does though dish out her wisdom, including thinking it's good that the family are taking their time getting around what has happened.
SHANE: I know.
SUSAN: They have a right to be angry with you. But that doesn't mean you have to feel lonely or not be supported.
She asks if he's thought about going to NA, so he explains about going to some in rehab but hasn't attended any since he came home. He has though thought about going, so to encourage and support him to do that, she offers to accompany him to a session.
The Waterhole
Naturally the pub is like a morgue after the news about Chloe finally came out. Dipi tells Pierce that she's packed all the food up for them ready to take home and that if he wants to talk, she is available to lend her ears to listen.
Lassiters Complex
Outside, Jane has a quiet word with her daughter about trying to get the balance right about being a good friend to Chloe whilst equally not getting her heart broken. "That's what I'm trying to be," she replies back.
The Waterhole
Pierce apologises to Hendrix over how the news was broken to him. He rightly asks why they went through with the party, "why pretend?"
CHLOE: I'm sorry. I know it sounds crazy. Your dad wanted me to cancel, so did Nicolette.
Fay seems shocked that this was done for her and can't believe what they put themselves through "to protect me." "Please don't blame yourself," Chloe says to her mum, she simply wanted "to give us something to celebrate."
CHLOE: For us all to be happy.
Road somewhere
Aaron is driving along steadily having gotten out of the traffic jam that he was in. When his phone rings, its David who answers and hears the news about Chloe from Nicolette.
Musical montage time
As 'Bell notes' begins, we see Pierce and Hendrix sitting silently next to each other in the complex, while inside The Waterhole, Chloe begins to gather together all the pressies that she received as Fay sits pondering her thoughts. Nicolette enters the bar and weighs up whether to go over to Chloe or not. Out on the freeway, David and Aaron sit in silence as they make their way back to Erinsborough.
The Waterhole
Hendrix and Pierce have entered the bar, and everyone is now standing around Chloe. The lad asks how the miscarriage happened, then realises Chloe might not be comfortable with answering. She does reply though and explains it happened when she was out for a walk, with Nicolette, to help clear her head. This is news to Pierce as he thought she was alone, so she clarifies that she was "when it happened" as Nicolette had to leave to get to work. Pierce is unamused at her taking off and leaving Chloe stranded when Nicolette knew Chloe wasn't feeling great. "That's not fair," Chloe tries to say, knowing how mad Pierce is.
PIERCE: I bet you talked her into going too after all I said that she should be at home resting.
NICOLETTE: Pierce, I know you're upset, but it wasn't like that.
PIERCE: (irate!) You don't get to tell me how I should be feeling. You don't get to tell me that I'm wrong. We've just lost our baby and that's on you!
Coming up on Neighbours
- Ned planning on telling Yashvi everything.
- Ned freaking about his bestie fan finding out where he is.
- Ned feeling he's got no option but to go meet this fan.