No 24
We pick up where we left off, as the hooded intruder is revealed to be... Wendy! Nicolette helps her up off the floor, as Wendy nurses a hurt arm. Irritated, she tells Nicolette that she's here with Jane's permission to do some washing, as the Rodwells' machine has broken.

WENDY: We've got keys, remember?

How could we forget! We learn that Wendy had headphones in, which is why she didn't respond when Nicolette called out. Nic is apologetic, and Wendy asks why she's so jumpy. Aaron comes in, and immediately sees something's wrong. When he asks what's happened, Nic just bursts into tears...

Lassiter's Hotel
David and Krista are in her room, discussing ideas for the Lassiter's Longest Lie- In. There's a knock at the door; it's Leo with Abigail, who hurtles joyfully into the room on her scooter! Leo asks if Krista would mind looking after Abi for a couple of hours while he picks up some vineyard supplies. David offers to step in.

LEO: Thanks, bro, but Krista's our first choice - right, Abi?
KRISTA: Yeah? Do you want me to babysit?

Abigail shakes her head cheekily! But Krista says it's fine, and asks Leo if he's sure it's okay, after what happened when Sadie left Abi with her. Leo insists that Krista should forget about that, as she is Abi's 'favourite'.

KRISTA: Oh my goodness! What do you want to do?
ABIGAIL: Colouring!

David decides to leave Krista and Abi to their colouring session, and Leo thanks Krista for helping out. She asks if he'd mind her taking Abi to the lake later.

LEO: Yeah, of course. I trust you.

They kiss, and Leo heads off.

No 32
Byron is ironing a shirt, and Mackenzie asks him if he's looking forward to getting back to his job at Lassiter's. He says it'll be good to see everyone again, but admits he's worried about 'the Paul Robinson factor'.

MACKENZIE: Don't worry. After I've audited the hotel for the council, Paul will be too busy hating on me to even notice you.

Mack gets a call from Harold's Café, saying Haz was supposed to be there 30 minutes ago to cover the afternoon rush, but hasn't turned up. Deciding Haz must have slept through his alarm, Byron is about to go and wake him up. But Mackenzie says Haz has barely slept since Trevor left, and suggests that they go and pitch in at the café instead. Byron's sceptical, but Mack thinks they can muddle through...

No 24
Aaron, Nicolette and Wendy have been joined by Andrew and David, who is treating Wendy's bruised arm with a bag of frozen peas. Andrew says it's lucky no one was seriously injured.

NICOLETTE: I know. I'm so sorry, Wendy.
WENDY: It's alright. I know you've got a lot going on.

Wendy decides to head home, while Andrew opts to stay to catch up on the latest on the Veronica situation. Wendy tells him to bring the washing with him when he's done, then goes to leave.

NICOLETTE: Apologies again. Keep the peas!

Nic then confirms to the others that she met with Sasha and that he's promised to set Veronica straight, and tell her that they never had an affair.

DAVID: I guess seeing him wasn't easy for you?
NICOLETTE: It was pretty confronting.
ANDREW: Look, we're not taking this situation lightly.
NICOLETTE: I know that you can't charge her unless you can prove that she broke the law.
ANDREW: In the meantime, try not to break the law yourself.

Harold's Café
Terese and Toadie are In This Episode™ being served coffee by Mackenzie. She apologises that it's a latte rather than a cappuccino as she doesn't know how to make the latter, but Toadie promises they won't tell Haz. At that point, Haz himself comes in, annoyed that Mack and Byron opted not to wake him. When Mack says she knows he hasn't been sleeping much, Haz insists he'll survive, and tersely relieves Byron of his kitchen duties, and his apron.

MACKENZIE: I'm sorry if we made the wrong call. We were just trying to help.
HAZ: No, thank you for pitching in, but... just because Trevor's gone, it doesn't mean I'm gonna fall apart. I'm just gonna be sad for a little while.
MACKENZIE: It doesn't mean you should isolate yourself either. I know from Hendrix that isolating myself only made things worse.
BYRON: Yeah, Mack's right, okay? We're your people - Number 32 Ramsay Street. You can lean on us.
HAZ: Thank you for all this, but... I'm just not there yet.

Mackenzie looks worried.

Lassiter's Lake
Krista and Abigail are watching the ducks on the lake when Leo shows up to meet them. Leo's bought her a present - a hat for the baby - but Krista says he didn't have to, as she's really enjoyed babysitting. But she says she'll have to think about getting more baby clothes soon, and stuff for a nursery, as well as maternity clothes for herself.

KRISTA: I'm actually worried about tearing a seam. I think I'm about to show any day now.

She holds her belly, and Paul, who has been watching from a distance from the rear of Harold's, notices this immediately...

Lassiter's Complex
In the car park, Nicolette is with David and Aaron. She says she hates the fact that they're back to the two of them not trusting her.

AARON: You know when we were in the country, it actually felt like we were solid.
NICOLETTE: We were. I just didn't want to burden you with another one of my stuff- ups.

At this point, Veronica approaches the trio, very angry and upset.

VERONICA: You liar! You said you couldn't contact Sasha, but you knew where he was all along!
NICOLETTE: No, I only just found him!
VERONICA: He emailed me, demanding I stay away from you.
NICOLETTE: He also told you we didn't have an affair, right?
VERONICA: All these months of silence, and the only time he contacts me is to protect you!
DAVID: Isn't it a relief to know that he didn't cheat on you?
VERONICA (shouting): Are you insane?! Didn't you read their messages? Their disgusting messages!
DAVID: I'm more interested in getting you the help that you need.
VERONICA: Help? Me?! (to Nicolette) You've completely destroyed my life! (to David and Aaron) And apparently, you're fine with that. I'm gonna make you all pay.

She repeats her threat, glaring at the trio, then walks away.

Harold's Café
Mackenzie and Byron are at a table, watching Haz work.

MACKENZIE: I can't stand seeing him like this. It makes my heart hurt (...) I get that Trevor's old family love him. But even when couples get divorced, they find a way to share pets.

Mackenzie has a lightbulb moment then, and decides that Haz could negotiate a custody agreement with the Gavalas family - so he could have Trevor on alternate weeks, or have walking privileges. She says Haz wasn't in the headspace to consider this before, but maybe now he would. She decides to look into it, asking Byron to keep it quiet from Haz for now.

Erinsborough Police Station
Nicolette, David and Aaron have come to report Veronica's threat to Andrew. He says the fact they all witnessed it will be enough to secure an intervention order against her, preventing her from coming near them. If she breaches it, the police will then be able to take a much tougher stance.

NICOLETTE: Is there a chance this could make her more volatile? When Mum had a go at her, she responded with that leaflet drop.
ANDREW: Yeah, look, she's very unpredictable. For the time being, I suggest no one goes anywhere alone.
AARON: Well, we have to speak to Jane and Sam. They have Isla.
ANDREW: Well, look, if it's any reassurance, I really don't think she's gonna hurt Isla. She could have easily done that before, and she didn't.
DAVID: What about the rest of us?
ANDREW: I strongly recommend you keep your wits about you.

Everyone looks worried.

Penthouse
Paul is staring pensively out beyond the balcony when Leo and Abigail come in. Sensing something's wrong, Leo sends Abi to get one of her books, while he speaks to Paul.

PAUL: Please tell me it isn't yours?
LEO: What are you talking about?
PAUL: I saw you and Krista at the lake. Leo, I've had enough children to know how a pregnant woman behaves. So, is it yours?
LEO: It's Eden's.
PAUL: Did you know that before you got together with her?
LEO: Of course I did.
PAUL: And you still went ahead? Leo, why would you do that? What, is she expecting you to play daddy or something?
LEO: You're such a dinosaur! Krista hasn't asked for anything from me.
PAUL: You know, this is so obviously about Britney, it may as well be written in neon! Please tell me you can see that.
LEO: Are you so beyond genuine human connection? Are you really that broken?
PAUL: You can't be this naive!
LEO: It is all strategies and conspiracies with you, Dad! Krista and I like each other. End of story.
PAUL: No. You are better than her, Leo! She is not good enough for you.
LEO: You, of all people, are in no position to make that call.

Paul looks furious.

The Waterhole
Mackenzie has convened with Alyssa's husband George Gavalas, to discuss the possibility of some kind of shared custody of Trevor between his family and Haz, selling her idea as meaning that no one would miss out and that Trevor - or Bodie, as the family knows him - would get 'double the love'.

GEORGE: I think that would be a great idea, except for one problem. Bodie is completely miserable right now (...) He won't eat, or come for a walk. And he's been trying to jump the fence. He clearly doesn't want to be with us. Max couldn't even get him to play ball.
MACKENZIE: Trevor said no to ball? That's his favourite thing in the world.
GEORGE: Under any other circumstances, I'd think he was sick.
MACKENZIE: Sounds like Haz. Not eating or sleeping, looking like the saddest human.
GEORGE: Getting Bodie back was our dream for so long. But maybe it's too late for him to be part of our family again. It seems cruel to force him when his heart is clearly elsewhere.
MACKENZIE: Wait... are you saying what I think you're saying?

Lassiter's Complex
Outside the pub, Leo is telling Krista and David about his spat with Paul. Krista thinks he's being a protective dad, but Leo says Paul just needs to be in control of everything.

KRISTA: I'm really sorry that us being together is making things difficult.
LEO: No, if it wasn't you or me, it would be something else. Right, bro?

But David's in a world of his own, evidently worried about Veronica. Tuning back in, he asks if Leo has thought about moving out of the penthouse. He says he has, but doesn't want Abigail to suffer too; she and Paul are really close.

DAVID: True. I wish things had been different for him and Isla.

While Krista goes to chase up their coffee order, Leo tells David that now Paul knows Krista's pregnant, he'll be looking for ways to use it against her; David agrees.

LEO: Krista's never had anyone in her corner. I need to look out for her and protect her from him.
DAVID: We will.
LEO: What about this Veronica stuff? Can I help?
DAVID: Thanks, but the police are onto it. We have no choice but to sit tight.
LEO: Alright. Well, I don't think we should use the same approach with Dad...

Penthouse
Paul is settling down to do some work when David comes up in the lift.

PAUL: Didn't expect to see you here.
DAVID: I'm here to give you some advice.
PAUL: Okay. Go ahead.
DAVID: If you keep persecuting Krista, Leo's gonna turn his back on you.
PAUL: Why am I the only person who can see how wrong she is for him?
DAVID: It's not your call.
PAUL: What, so I'm supposed to just sit back and watch the bus crash, am I? Watch Leo take on responsibility for a kid that isn't even his?
DAVID: I'm here to help you. Leo is deeply invested in Krista's happiness. The more you attack her, the further he's gonna push you away. That's all I came here to say.

David leaves again, and Paul looks thoughtful.

Harold's Lakeside
Aaron and David are out for a walk, discussing the Leo/Paul situation. Aaron's surprised David visited Paul; David admits he just felt like he should do something.

DAVID: And I guess with everything that's going on with Nicolette, it just reminded me of all the mistakes that I've made.
AARON: Hey, David, we've spoken about this. You can't change what happened with Gareth, so...
DAVID: Yeah, I know. I've just spent so much time being angry at myself, at Paul, at life. It's exhausting.
AARON: So, give yourself a break.
DAVID: A break? Is it wrong that part of me wants to escape back to the country again right now?
AARON: No, it's not. What are we gonna do, just hang around here and wait for Veronica to pounce?
DAVID: And it wouldn't have to be forever. We could just do a 'leave all our troubles behind' weekend.
AARON: Yeah. You know, I think Leo and Krista might like the sound of that too. Maybe we could ask?

No 32
Haz is about to make a sandwich, but decides he's not hungry and puts the food away again. Byron asks if it would help to get drunk, but Haz isn't convinced.

HAZ: I know he was just a dog to you guys, but... Trevor really knew me better than anyone in the world.
BYRON: I know.
HAZ: I honestly can't handle coming home and not having him do the happy dance.
BYRON: Here I was thinking that *I* was your best friend.
HAZ: You know what I mean.

Mackenzie comes in looking excited.

MACKENZIE: Okay... so I went to talk to Trevor's old family, thinking we could do some kind of custody agreement with them. But it turns out Trevor was missing you so much, that they realised that he wasn't a part of their family anymore. So...

With that, Trevor bounds into the room; Haz is overjoyed to see him, and plasters him with hugs and kisses.

HAZ: Hey, buddy! Hi! (to Mackenzie) Are you serious? Is he back for good?
MACKENZIE: Yep! He's all yours.

Lassiter's Complex
Krista, Leo, Nicolette, David and Aaron are all outside the pub, discussing the possibility of a getaway for all of them, to escape from both Paul and Veronica. Jane and Sam have said they'll be happy to take Isla and Abigail for a few days, Aaron explains, and he and David have even found a beautiful house in The Bush™ which would house the five of them perfectly - what could possibly go wrong?

KRISTA: Hey, I'm sold.
NICOLETTE: Yeah, let's do it!
AARON: Great. I'll make the booking.

At this point, Leo gets a message from Paul, saying he wants a chat with him and Krista.

Penthouse
Leo and Krista have accepted Paul's invitation, and arrive in the lift. He offers them a drink.

LEO: If this is about you offering your unsolicited opinion on my private life, this is gonna be a short meeting.
PAUL: How does a ceasefire sound, then?
LEO: What's brought this on?
PAUL: Well, your brother reminded me of the importance of family (...) Look, I can't give my blessing to this relationship. But then, from what I understand, you don't really care anyway, do you?
LEO: No, we don't.
PAUL: Yeah. You see, I work with Krista and I live with you, so I don't want any unnecessary friction. (to Krista) And regarding the Lie- In event, I know you're keen on that, so don't worry about the pitch. I'm gonna give it the go- ahead. And Leo, I promise I won't interfere in your private life.
KRISTA: Why the one- eighty, Paul?
LEO: Yeah, what's the catch?
PAUL: No catch. (to Krista) And look, if you need time off for medical appointments, I'll make sure you're accommodated. Lassiter's has an excellent parental leave programme - I'll get HR to walk you through it.
KRISTA: ...
LEO: Yeah - I'm sorry, Dad, but this all sounds a bit too good to be true.
PAUL: ... Leo, I don't want to lose you, too. And if this is what it takes, then, so be it.

Leo turns to Krista for her thoughts, but she shrugs, making it clear it's up to him.

LEO: Okay, then. Ceasefire accepted.

The beach
Haz and Mackenzie have brought Trevor out to play ball on the beach, which he looks to be thoroughly enjoying.

HAZ: What you did today for him... for me... thank you.
MACKENZIE: Well, you and Trevor did all the heavy lifting, missing each other so much. I just asked the right question at the right time.
HAZ: Don't downplay what you did. You're always looking out for me.
MACKENZIE: Well, I want you to be happy.

He takes her hand.

HAZ: I want you to be happy too, Mackenzie. It means the world to me.

There's a loaded pause, before they both move in for a kiss... and then another. We pan back and upwards to see the beach in its full glory as the kiss continues, and Trevor bounds back along the sand to join them.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Melanie points out to Karl her 'fruit guy', Santo... who looks curiously like Dennis Dimato!
- Melanie and Santo are going on a date, precipitating Toadie's 'rabbit in the headlights' face
- Terese moans to Jane about the way Mel looks at Toadie, and looks peeved when she catches him looking back!
- Haz and Mackenzie are all loved up, but Byron asks if they've told Holly they're together
- Mackenzie pays Holly a visit, preparing to break the news