Episode 6529

Extended Summary

After Billie rejects VJ’s surprise marriage proposal, the young lovers struggle to navigate their way through this relationship challenge. VJ doesn’t understand why she has turned him down. Despite Billie’s desire to be with VJ, her guilt about lying to him about the paternity of her baby is weighing heavily on her. Concerned that he only wants to marry her due to obligation rather than his love for her, Billie tries to convince VJ that marriage won’t prove their love for one another and that you don’t need a piece of paper to be a family. Though VJ agrees with that in principal, he still desires to marry Billie, something she simply can’t do.

Nate spies Billie and VJ arguing and Phoebe informs him about the rejected proposal. Nate, concerned over Billie’s distress after the argument, attempts to calm and question her. Knowing the true paternity of her baby, Nate agrees with her decision to turn VJ down, knowing that it would be unfair on both of them to start a marriage with such an enormous lie. Whilst Billie agrees, the thought of losing VJ seems just as terrible to her.

Ultimately when VJ threatens to leave Billie realises she doesn’t want to lose him and urges VJ to propose to her again. Thrilled VJ proposes and this time Billie says yes, although her brittle smile betrays her lingering guilt. VJ’s joy at her acceptance only serves to increase Billie’s guilt. She asks to delay the announcement of their engagement. Her lack of enthusiasm and forced cheeriness makes VJ question her true desire to be married to him but she dismisses his concerns, insisting that they will live happily together forever, hoping to convince not only VJ but herself as well.

Caroline and Bryce prepare to leave Summer Bay for Hawaii. Duncan is down about the thought of saying goodbye to both his son and Caroline, especially now that he is aware of her illness. He feels like he wasted so much time being angry with her. Both Caroline and Duncan reminisce about the past and what could have been. Duncan is concerned over the chance that his son could also have inherited Huntington’s and suggests to Caroline that perhaps he should be tested. Caroline rebuffs his suggestion, explaining that her childhood diagnosis was like an early death sentence and not something she could inflict upon her son. They agree to let him decide when he’s older. After witnessing the support Caroline has from Duncan’s family and other Summer Bay residents he asks Caroline to stay, but she insists her life is in Hawaii and he can come and visit. Alf also seems to be struggling with the thought of losing his grandson who he has become very close to over the last few weeks. Unable to pass up the opportunity to have a life with Caroline and his son, Duncan decides to move to Hawaii with them.

The tension is palpable between Matt and Evelyn after their kiss. Following an awkward encounter in the Diner, Roo chastises Matt for how uncomfortable he’s made things between her and Evelyn. He concedes that he’s handling things poorly. After a chat with Phoebe, Evelyn becomes concerned that Matt has very real feelings for her that might ruin their friendship. After another awkward moment on the beach both Matt and Evelyn agree that they’re being weird around one another and discuss what’s going on between them. Evelyn’s concerned that Matt wants to be more than friends, something he vehemently denies, insisting he is not remotely attracted to her. After settling on being just friends Evelyn leaves the beach cringing after their uncomfortable exchange. Evelyn expresses her concerns to Phoebe that her and Matt’s friendship is ruined. She wishes things would just go back to normal, but Phoebe casts doubt into these wishes by stating that it could take time for Matt to move on. Evelyn absorbs this information and begins hatching a plan to make sure Matt moves on quickly.