Grove of Trees
Andrew and Aaron are talking in the police car. Andrew says it was a 'close call' with Slade; Aaron could have seriously hurt him. But Aaron is unmoved by this.

AARON: Yeah. He deserved it.
ANDREW: You need to leave Slade and his mates to the police.
AARON: You know, they spraypainted all over David's face like he was nothing.
ANDREW: They were targeting Melanie; they have no idea who David is. You don't want to be up on an assault charge on top of everything else.
AARON: There has to be consequences for these guys. For Slade - for Paul. You know, if Paul had been there instead -
ANDREW: But you going out and causing trouble won't help anything! Do you have someone you can talk to? You need help, Aaron. Before you seriously hurt someone else, or yourself.
AARON: No one can help.

Ramsay Street
Haz and Mackenzie are hard at work scrubbing the graffiti off the Drinks Divas van. Haz is blaming himself for the vandalism, presumably because he was gung- ho about reporting Slade to the police, but Mackenzie tries to persuade him it's not his fault. At this point, Cara, Remi and JJ arrive to offer their help, Cara having some handy hints on what substances will best remove the spraypaint.

Haz praises JJ for having come out of the house to confront Slade and his minions, saying they could have done much more damage otherwise. JJ chirpily laps up the praise, and proudly tells Remi and Cara, who hadn't known of JJ's involvement, what happened.

CARA: Wait, you confronted them on your own?
JJ: Yeah, well, I didn't go up to them or anything. I just sort of yelled at them from the front yard.
REMI: Well, you're lucky they ran off. What if they'd decided to have a go at you?

JJ begins to regret saying anything! Andrew arrives in his police car; he explains that Aaron has told him that JJ saw the vandals, so he wants to take a statement from JJ. Remi says she and Cara will sit in.

Lassiter's Hotel
Krista and Leo are lying on the bed in her room. Krista wonders if Paul has tried to talk to Leo again, but he says no. He has heard from the staff, however, that Chelsea has moved into the penthouse.

KRISTA: Wow.
LEO: Yeah. As far as I'm concerned they deserve each other. I still can't believe he tried to convince me you had something to do with David's death.
KRISTA: Let's not keep going over it.

Krista shows Leo something she found earlier - a notepad, full of David's jottings and ideas about the Lassiter's Longest Lie- In, from when he and Krista were brainstorming the concept.

KRISTA: Even though we're not doing it anymore, I thought you might like to keep it.
LEO: Thank you. God, he was really detailed, wasn't he? (...) You know, you should still do it.
KRISTA: The Lie- In?
LEO: Yeah. There's some really good stuff in here. I'm sure it would have made David really happy for it to still happen.

He suggests she clear it with Aaron, so Krista agrees to talk to him. Leo says he should get back to his new apartment and unpack the moving boxes, and spend some time with Abigail. But Krista manages to persuade him to stay a little longer.

No 30
Andrew is with Remi, Cara and JJ, having just finished taking JJ's statement about the drinks van graffiti. Andrew says he thinks the gang is mainly just bored kids, but that he will be charging Slade with vandalism, and making it very clear that he's not to come into the Ramsay Street area again. Cara wonders if more can be done, but Andrew says the police need to follow procedure.

ANDREW: Slade did have a big scare today, so I don't think he's gonna be coming back here for seconds.

But Cara looks unreassured.

No 24
Jane, Sam and Byron are polishing off a meal of osso buco, which Byron has cooked. Aaron comes in and Jane tells him there's a plate for him in the fridge. They also tell him that all the spraypaint has gone from the van, but Aaron looks like he didn't need reminding about the graffiti incident. Nicolette comes out of Isla's bedroom and is relieved to see Aaron, saying that Isla won't go to sleep no matter what she tries.

NICOLETTE: Can you read her your mum's poem? She loves that.
AARON: Umm... no, I'm gonna go to the complex. I'm no good to her now, Nic.
NICOLETTE: Just spend five minutes with her, please!
AARON: No, I'm gonna go. I'm sorry.

He heads straight back out of the door. Nicolette is very annoyed.

Harold's Café
Aaron comes in and Krista calls over to him. She explains about how David was helping her with the Lassiter's Longest Lie- In event before he died, and how Leo thinks she should go ahead with it, but says she wanted to check with Aaron first. She offers to go through the details of the event, but Aaron tells her not to worry - it's 'cool'. To the surprise of Krista, and Haz who is behind the counter, Aaron then walks out.

Haz tells Krista he's about to close up, but offers her another tea while he's cashing up. She's keen, saying it's better than being alone back at the hotel, with Leo busy with Abigail tonight. Haz goes to get her tea, and looks thoughtful...

The Waterhole
Aaron is taking his frustration out on the dartboard at the pub, when Nicolette arrives to give him another serve.

AARON: Don't start, Nic.
NICOLETTE: Sorry to be a party- pooper. I'm just not up for you avoiding your parental responsibilities and coming home wasted.

At this point, Aaron sees Slade walk into the pub, and immediately confronts him, getting right in his face.

AARON: Listen, I'm gonna tell you this once, and once only - you get out of here.
NICOLETTE: Aaron!
SLADE: Whatever. This place has old man vibes, anyway.

Slade walks out, and Aaron explains that Slade was the one who trashed David's van.

NICOLETTE: Okay. But, wow, did you have to go that hard? He's just a kid.
AARON: Yeah? Well, he's lucky I didn't go and break his face.

Nicolette looks worried as Aaron downs his drink and walks off.

We cut to the next day, and we're still in the pub; Byron is telling Mackenzie and Haz about Nicolette following Aaron here last night. Byron's worried about Nic, as she's shattered and Aaron isn't doing much to help. Changing the subject, Haz admits he's worried about Krista, saying she was at the café till closing time last night and seems really lonely.

BYRON: She's obviously missing David. Not only has she lost her main support, but a good friend.
MACKENZIE: ... We have a spare room.
BYRON: That's true. And she really did enjoy it that one night she was over.
HAZ: I dunno. Is our house really the right environment for her? She's about to have a baby.

But Byron says they could 'iron that stuff out' with her if she was keen. Mackenzie says she's seeing Krista later, so suggests she raise the topic with her then. Haz and Byron are in agreement.

No 30
Cara and Remi are discussing how JJ's coping with the Slade situation. Remi says she heard him telling Dex about the interview with Andrew, and there 'was some poetic licence', so Remi thinks JJ is okay!

REMI: He's a good kid.
CARA: I know. And his heart's in the right place. But it was pretty impulsive.
REMI: Yeah. But we did teach him to stand up against bullies, and that's exactly what he's doing.
CARA: Yeah - it's more complicated than that, because they know where he lives now.
REMI: Yeah, and the police know where *they* live. They're not coming back.
CARA: Maybe I've got some PTSD from the Linwell situation.

JJ has emerged from his bedroom, still half- asleep. They wait till he's laid on the couch watching TV before resuming their conversation.

REMI: The Linwells were basically construction mafia. These are bored teenagers looking for something to do. They're not the same; don't let them get to you.
CARA: I just wish he'd kept his mouth shut. Does that make me a bad mum?
REMI (smiling): Yeah. I know you just want him to be safe; I get that. But Andrew says they've gone to ground now. We have to trust that he knows what he's talking about.

Cara looks somewhat reassured.

No 24
Aaron is looking at a picture on the fridge that Isla has drawn, of herself, Aaron, Nicolette and David. He removes it and stares at it for a while; but when Nicolette comes in, he screws it up.

NICOLETTE: What are you doing?
AARON: I don't want Isla thinking that's our family anymore.
NICOLETTE: That *is* our family. Just because David's gone, doesn't mean that he's not her dad.
AARON: Yeah, well, I don't want to see it.
NICOLETTE (angry): Oh, we all get it, Aaron. You lost the love of your life, and that is awful, and traumatic, and devastating! But you can't go on like this - we can't go on like this!

Jane and Leo come in and witness the confrontation.

NICOLETTE: Isla needs you to be her dad! She is relying on you to help her through this, and you don't have the option of just checking out on her!
JANE: Nicolette...
NICOLETTE: We all lost him, Az.
LEO: Hey, let's not do this right now.
NICOLETTE (tearful): If David could see you now - if he knew how you were treating Isla - he would be so ashamed!

Aaron is now tearful too, as he looks away from Nicolette in silence.

Lassiter's Hotel
Mackenzie comes to see Krista, bearing breakfast, and explains that Haz noticed her long stint in the café last night. Krista insists she's fine, but admits she hates being on her own right now.

MACKENZIE: I know you miss David. It must be really hard.
KRISTA: ... Yeah. I just keep wishing he could walk through the door, you know?
MACKENZIE: I know.

Mackenzie takes her hand.

KRISTA: And I get everyone misses him - like, I'm not special. I'm determined to stay straight for him and the baby. Just, being alone is making it really tough.
MACKENZIE: On that - we have a spare room at the sharehouse. Haz and Byron are clearing it out as we speak, and it is yours, if you want it.
KRISTA: What? As in, move in?
MACKENZIE: Yeah, if you'd like. For as long as you need.
KRISTA: Hmm. Are you sure that you want a pregnant woman living there? Or a baby? It's not exactly a fun sharehouse situation.
MACKENZIE: Hey, we wouldn't have offered if we all weren't a hundred percent on board. Krista, please say yes.

Krista does say yes, and they hug it out.

No 24
Jane is watering some plants while Nicolette sits on the couch. Nic gets a message from Veronica McLain.

JANE: What does she want?
NICOLETTE: She's hoping that we're coping okay, and she thanked me for giving her closure with Sasha.
JANE: Well, you must have said something quite profound to inspire such a change in her.
NICOLETTE: ... I just owned up to some stuff of my own, that's all. And now I have to own up to how badly I just treated Aaron.
JANE: ... Yes, you were a little harsh. But Aaron hasn't been dealing with his responsibilities very well, and everyone's on edge.
NICOLETTE: I just don't know how to be the reliable parent.
JANE: What are you talking about? You're a very reliable mother.
NICOLETTE: I'm not stable like David was, and I don't have Aaron's patience. And that's what Isla needs, not some crazy emotional screw- up.
JANE: Now, you listen to me. I mean, I agree that you... well, you are inclined to make some unusual decisions. And to put yourself in some unusual situations.
NICOLETTE: (laughs)
JANE: But, that is not who you are as a mother. You're always there for Isla.
NICOLETTE: What if Aaron just completely checks out? I can't hold it together for both of us.
JANE: Of course you can. And don't forget that you will always have me and Byron to support you, and Leo, well, he'll always be there for Isla. And Aaron... Aaron will come around.
NICOLETTE: How?
JANE: He just needs to know that his village is there for him. David's wake was ruined when Paul was exposed. How would you feel if we had another one here at home? Just something small and intimate, so that he can see just how much we want to support him.

Nicolette seems keen on this idea.

No 32
Haz, Byron and Mackenzie welcome Krista with a 'happy moving day' banner on the patio.

HAZ: Welcome home.
MACKENZIE: Hot tip - label everything you don't want these two to eat.
HAZ: Hey, we're not animals!
MACKENZIE: (...) Oh, and be careful where you step out here. Trevor likes to surprise us with new pooping spots.
KRISTA: Okay. Look out for *all* the animals - got it... Thank you, guys. It really means the world that you're supporting me.

No 24
Aaron is putting his trainers on to go for a run. Nicolette comes in, asking to talk.

NICOLETTE: Firstly, I shouldn't have gone off at you... and I especially shouldn't have said that David would be ashamed of you. That was cruel, and I didn't mean it, and I'm really sorry.
AARON: ...
NICOLETTE (crying): I'm exhausted, Aaron. I'm emotional, and I'm really scared about what's happening. Like, obviously, we didn't plan for this to happen. We were like the Three Musketeers. And we had this unbreakable bond; and now it's broken, and I feel like I'm the only one left standing.
AARON: Look, I, umm... I appreciate everything you're doing. I do.
NICOLETTE: I just feel like I'm messing it all up. I don't know how to be the sensible one.
AARON: That's not me either.
NICOLETTE: It was David. Like, he kept us all on track. Made sure that we were eating properly, and getting enough sleep. And he was the only one that washed the towels. He was such a nerd.
AARON (laughing): Yeah. He was just so domesticated. Just, always caring for everyone else.
NICOLETTE: We need to work this out together... for Isla.
AARON: I will. I will. I'm going to work on it.
NICOLETTE: Thank you.

Nicolette tells Aaron about Jane's plan to have a little memorial for David at home, if Aaron feels up to it. This immediately sets Aaron on edge again, but he agrees to it nonetheless. He tells Nic he'll grab some drinks for it on the way back from his run, and makes a quick exit, hesitating before closing the door behind him.

Lassiter's Complex
Remi, Cara and JJ have come out for lunch; Dex is elsewhere, we learn, having pizza with Nell.

JJ: I'm sorry about making you worry about the Slade thing. I thought I was doing the right thing.
REMI: Oh, we know, mate. We just don't ever want you getting yourself hurt.
CARA: Proud of you helping with the police investigation, though.

Remi's left her bag in the car, so JJ volunteers to go back and get it, agreeing to meet him in the pub. As she and Remi walk on, Cara admits she was overly negative earlier - saying JJ did the right thing by challenging Slade, and she shouldn't let her experience with the Linwells ruin it. We learn Cara has been working on 'beer garden renovations' at the pub, and agrees to give Remi a sneak preview.

Back at the car, JJ has retrieved Remi's bag, but is shocked when Slade approaches.

SLADE: Out with mummies, kiddo?
JJ: What do you want?
SLADE: I know you told the cops about the van. So you'd better watch your back.

Slade walks off, having made his point. JJ looks scared.

Cemetery
Aaron is running along a path at the perimeter of the cemetery where David was buried. In his head, he hears Nicolette telling him David would be ashamed of him, and Andrew telling him he needs help before he hurts someone else or himself. Panting, Aaron reaches the gate to the cemetery, and walks inside. Here, he falls to the floor and has a full- on breakdown - sobbing, yelling and pounding the ground with his fists.

No 24
Back at home, Nicolette looks sadly at a photo of herself with Aaron, Isla and David. She's lit a candle next to it, and nearby Jane, Sam, Leo, Byron, Krista and Haz have congregated for the memorial. Jane says that once Aaron arrives, everyone who wants to can say a few words about David. Leo goes over to Nicolette, who's apart from the others in the kitchen, and asks where Aaron is. At that moment, she gets a text.

NICOLETTE: It's Aaron. 'I'm not coming home tonight - don't know when I'll be back. Don't worry about me.'

Everyone else looks shocked, and Nicolette upset.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Visiting the penthouse with Remi, Cara asks Chelsea what her exact role is here
- Krista tells Chelsea she'd like to speak to Paul, but Chelsea retorts that she's speaking on his behalf
- Melanie is wearing her famous tiger- print dress, and Holly asks where she's headed in it
- Karl tells Toadie he's on a slippery slope and 'could easily falter'
- Melanie struts through the Lassiter's Complex in the tiger- print dress
- Nicolette rages that Aaron might never come home, so may as well be dead too