Episode 6424

Extended Summary

Alf watches as Nate pushes himself to the limit, running on the beach. Alf counsels Nate, reminding him he’s not to blame for what’s happened to Ricky, and Hannah. And punishing himself – physically, and otherwise – won’t help. Nate admits he’s just not sure what else to do.

Phoebe is still in a state of shock as Dom explains that he currently has full time custody of his ten year old daughter, Bella. He can see how thrown Phoebe is by the revelation, and wonders if this changes things between them? Phoebe admits she’ll need some time to get her head around it. She later complains to John – why do things need to be so complicated? Does she really want to get involved in a guy with a kid? John begins to try and give her advice but Phoebe barrels on, weighing up both sides of the argument herself. In the end, she realises that it comes down to how much she really likes Dom. She thanks John for his counsel and a bemused John heads out as Phoebe ponders the question. Later when she next meets up with Dom, he’s assuming he’s about to get dumped. He’s astounded when Phoebe tells him she wants to meet Bella… Phoebe understands that Dom and Bella are a package deal, and she’s ready to go for it!

Nate visits Ricky in the hospital, and it’s clear they’re both avoiding any discussion surrounding her hysterectomy and the fact she’ll no longer be able to have children. Ricky perks up for the first time, however, when Nate says he’s going to pick up Casey to bring him in to see her. Maddy, meanwhile, is also struggling to come to terms with her new reality of only having one arm. In spite of Roo and doctor Tori’s best efforts to buoy her spirits, Maddy can’t help but feel utterly bereft. She can’t understand how Matt will want to be with her after this… It’s certainly not the future he thought he was signing up for.

Nate returns to Ricky’s room with Casey, then mentions that doctor Tori has suggested a counselling session before Ricky’s discharged. Ricky doesn’t see the point – how’s it’s going to change what’s happened? Nate thinks it’s important to talk it through and Ricky finally agrees, mostly to get Nate off her back. She turns her focus back to Casey, but as Nate leaves to give her space, Ricky cries.

Phoebe is waiting at the diner for Dom and Bella to show up when she confesses to John she’s going to give the man-with-a-kid thing a shot. John advises not to try too hard to win her over – kids are smart and they’ll turn it to their own advantage. Phoebe seems to take it on board but when they show up, Phoebe’s excitement is a bit over the top. Bella makes a dismissive comment and it’s quickly apparent that winning over Bella is not going to be easy…

Under duress, Ricky attends her counselling session with therapist Maria. Ricky admits that she and Nate aren’t talking about it. She hates the fact that she’ll never have that biological connection with Nate. She knows Nate will say all the right things and reassure her that it doesn’t matter, but Ricky knows in her heart how much he wanted to have kids. She’s scared he’ll grow to resent her in years to come. Nate, however, in a heartfelt admission to Casey, vows that Casey will always knows how much Nate loves him.

Things with Phoebe and Bella, meanwhile, are going from bad to worse, and John’s attempts at good advice aren’t helping. Phoebe’s starting to think she’s made a very bad decision. However, in a last attempt to win the girl over, Phoebe gets self deprecating about her mothering skills, or lack thereof, and she finally manages to get a smile out of Bella… At last, a ray of hope! Maybe this isn’t going to be a disaster, after all. Back at the farm house, Dom’s more than impressed with Phoebe’s effort. Both in a great mood, things heat up quickly and they head to the bedroom…

Matt arrives at the hospital to see Maddy, but she seems determined to pick a fight. Matt wonders if every single thing he says is going to be wrong? Matt wants to know what he can do to help, but Maddy keeps pushing him away. Matt tries to tell her that even though their future will be different now, different doesn’t have to mean bad. But Maddy won’t be talked round, telling Matt to leave. He does, but only to return later. Matt won’t let her push him away – he’s in this for the long haul. But Maddy’s scared and emotional and gets angry. Through tears she yells at him to go, and this time don’t come back. Seeing how upset she is, a crushed Matt has no choice but to leave.

Ricky, meanwhile, begs Maria to tell her what to do. How does she make things work with Nate, knowing she’ll never be able to give him children? Maria tells her that Ricky already knows it won’t be easy, but communication is the key to overcoming their difficulties. Later that night, Nate asks Ricky how the counselling session went, and it seems like the perfect chance for Ricky to open up to him. But she just can’t force herself to do it and the distance between these two grows wider…