Episode 6431

Extended Summary

Kat and Ash are kissing passionately at the garage, much more interested in each other than going to work. They’re blissfully happy, having just slept together for the first time. This new relationship is definitely heating up fast… Meanwhile, Phoebe is doing her best to counsel Ricky, in the wake of Ricky’s admission that she believes her marriage to Nate is over. Phoebe encourages Ricky to sit down and have the tough conversation with Nate, about their inability to have children together. Surely they owe it to themselves to give the marriage every possible chance, before calling it quits?

Hunter is desperate to do whatever he can to help Olivia, following her revelation that she’s still cutting herself. He suggests telling Leah and Zac, but Olivia is adamant she doesn’t want them to know. She promises Hunter she won’t do it again and despite having misgivings, Hunter reluctantly goes along with the request. Later that day however, Olivia is on the bathroom floor, distraught, as she’s once again tempted to cut herself. Chris catches her in the act and Olivia admits to him what’s going on. Chris is upset that he’s been too caught up with his own problems to realise what Olivia’s been dealing with. He promises to get Olivia the help she needs. Over in the Diner, Phoebe runs into Dom and Bella, and in spite of their attempts to avoid each other, it seems there’s still a warmth between Phoebe and Dom. Dom ends up taking Phoebe’s advice and asks Bella about deleting the photos, telling her he knows she did it on purpose. He’s disappointed in her. Bella is left sullen.

Ricky meets Nate outside the house that she’d wanted to look at. He apologises for not being enthusiastic about it previously, and says he’s called the real estate agent to show them through. Ricky’s impressed that he seems to be making an effort, and they’re both impressed by the house. The real estate agent, however, puts her foot in it as she mentions the number of bedrooms and how great that’ll be for when more children come along… Suddenly the awkward tension is back. Soon, Tori arrives at the open house and feels horribly awkward when she realises Nate and Ricky are thinking about buying the same house. The real estate agent puts her foot in it again, and Ricky suddenly tells her she doesn’t think the house is right for her and Nate. It’s another awkward moment, and more confirmation for Ricky and Nate that they can’t put off having a proper conversation about their issues for much longer. So when they get home, Ricky and Nate finally have the conversation they’ve been putting off for weeks. Ricky admits she’s scared Nate will grow to resent her now she can’t give him children. Nate assures Ricky that she and Casey are enough for him. He loves her and wants to make their marriage work. Ricky feels the same way. They kiss, relieved to have finally shared their feelings. It seems this relationship may finally be back on track.

A frantic Dom runs into Phoebe on the beach. Bella’s gone missing! She and Dom had an argument and she took off, and now there’s no sign of her. Forgetting their tension, Phoebe offers to help look for the child; she calls Kat. Phoebe assures Dom they’ll find her. Kat informs them that there are patrols out looking for Bella and she’ll keep them updated. But when there’s no sign of Bella, Dom has a go at Phoebe, blaming her. She should’ve stayed out of it! Phoebe understands how upset Dom is, and doesn’t blame him when he later calms down and apologises.

Olivia tells Hunter how impressed she was with Chris’s offer to help her. Hunter is annoyed but not at her; he admits he thinks she blames him for this whole thing. Olivia assures she doesn’t – not even one bit. But allowing Chris to help her, instead of Hunter, means the couple can get back to being just them. Hunter accepts this and hugs Olivia.

Still on the hunt for Bella, Kat enters the diner and informs Dom there’s been a sighting of her on a bus heading for Yabbie Creek. Unfortunately the bus has already made a few stops, meaning Bella could be anywhere. Dom and Kat head off to investigate, and Phoebe heads home… Where she finds Bella curled up on her sofa. Phoebe wonders how she got here? Bella admits she got Phoebe’s address out of her dad’s phone and caught the bus. A contrite Bella admits she wanted to apologise to Phoebe. She’s sorry she was mean, she just wishes her mum and dad were back together. But Bella doesn’t want to make her dad unhappy either. Phoebe’s touched then calls Dom with the good news. Dom’s ecstatic to be reunited with his daughter, although Dom and Phoebe are both a little awkward when Bella asks if they’re going to put get back together now? Looks like it might be on the cards…

That night, Chris arrives home to tell Olivia about a youth group counselling session at Yabbie Creek – he’s signed her up. Olivia’s surprised at how fast he’s moved but Chris offers that maybe being around people her own age and hearing their experiences might be what she needs. Olivia is thankful and impressed by Chris’s efforts. She comments on his newfound maturity and Chris admits that he definitely feels like a changed man… As he moves into his room and looks at a photo of him and Hannah, we can see how hard he’s finding it to move on. Back in the kitchen, Hunter’s come to apologises to Olivia – he made it all about him before and he’s sorry. Olivia thinks it was sweet he was worried about her and just wants them to get back to normal. They agree and remind each other of their love.

Phoebe runs into Nate, who’s feeling a lot more chipper following the conversation with Ricky. Phoebe’s relieved to hear they’ve patched things up, but as she walks back to her table, she leaves her phone as it beeps with a message from Ricky – “All good. Don’t tell Nate what I said!” Nate sees it and pressures Phoebe to tell him… will Phoebe spill?