Episode 6634

Extended Summary

Roo and James are walking near the beach and he jokes about her holding his hand in public. They see Ash and VJ arguing. Ash says he can give Luc a home. VJ retorts that Ash is a convicted armed robber who lives in a caravan. Ash says VJ stuffed up. Back at the beach house, Irene is trying to settle Luc. Hunter and Olivia come downstairs and she tells them about Ash applying for custody. VJ returns and tells them Ash won’t budge. Irene feels bad about missing the fact Luc was ill but VJ says Ash was just looking for an opening. He decides to go and tell Leah. Hunter goes with him.

Marilyn helps John pick out a tie for court. Morag turns up, surprising them since they weren’t expecting her. She says there’s something important they need to discuss. Meanwhile, Ash goes to the police station and tells Kat he’s applied for custody. He tells her about Luc going to hospital and VJ hitting Zac, adding that he needs her to be behind him. Kat says she finishes in half an hour and they’ll talk then.

Leah is furious when she gets the news and VJ and Hunter have to stop her storming out to find Ash. VJ admits it’s not just Irene he has a problem with now, since he saw VJ hit Zac. Leah decides to call Morag. At the beach house, Irene is feeling guilty about not realising Luc was ill. Olivia does her best to reassure her, while similarly feeling guilty for telling Ash about Irene’s past. Irene admits she thought she could make up for Mick. Olivia doesn’t think the family court would take VJ’s daughter away from him but Irene replies that it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve made the wrong choice.

Kat and Ash talk at the Diner. Kat is less than behind the idea, especially when Ash makes it clear he wants them to get a place together and have Luc with them. He says that Irene and VJ can’t be trusted to look after her and tries to get Kat on board. Back at the Palmer house, Morag explains that she doesn’t think Nate’s testimony will be enough: They need to show that the community has forgiven John and the best way to do that is to have VJ speak on his behalf. Marilyn agrees but John is reluctant. Morag gets the call from Leah and offers to talk to VJ while she’s there; John says if they do go down that path, he has to be the one to ask him.

Roo gets James a coffee at the Diner and suggests they have dinner and a movie at hers later. James jokes about taking her to Salt in disguise and makes himself scarce when John and Marilyn come in. Roo asks them about the trial and they tell her what Morag said about VJ. Roo tells them about seeing VJ and Ash arguing. Meanwhile, Leah and VJ fill Morag in on the case. She doesn’t think Luc getting sick or VJ hitting Zac will have much bearing on anything. VJ asks about the fact Ash is a blood relative. Leah says VJ is on the birth certificate and Morag thinks him being listed as the father and married to the mother will be enough.

Kat and Ash walk near the beach with Kat still less than certain. Ash says there’s no other solution. He isn’t expecting Kat to give up work and be a full-time mum but says Billie wanted Luc to have a better life than the two of them had. Kat agrees to support him. Meanwhile, Hunter comes home and tells Irene and Olivia that Morag is optimistic. He invites Olivia down the beach. Olivia says they’ve washing to do but Irene says she’ll do it. Olivia doesn’t seem keen but Hunter happily accepts and goes upstairs to get changed. While Irene is reassured by Morag’s opinion, Olivia is less convinced, thinking the decision might favour the blood relative. She suggests Irene apply for custody but Irene thinks that would just complicate things.

VJ comes downstairs and tells Leah there’s no birth certificate: He and Billie got the paperwork but she got ill before they could fill it in. What’s more, Billie didn’t sign the marriage certificate, so officially he’s neither Luc’s father nor Billie’s husband. Leah calls Morag and relays to VJ that while they can register the birth they can’t register him as the father or the marriage. VJ says there’s nothing in writing about Billie’s wishes and is scared he’s going to lose Luc. Leah decides to call Ash: His main problem was Irene not noticing Luc get sick, so they need to bring her home and prove they can look after her.

Ash and Kat chat at Salt, with him saying they need to get their own place quickly. Ash gets a call from Leah; they’ve both heard there’s mediation next week but Ash agrees to come round. Roo comes in and Kat tells her about the custody application. She’s worried since she knows nothing about babies and thinks they need a lot of work. Roo thinks it’s worth it. Ash goes round to see Leah and VJ. Leah says they understand his concerns and are going to bring Luc home. Ash says it doesn’t change anything. Leah gets angry and Ash exits, saying to save it for the mediation. John chooses that moment to come round and ask VJ to speak for him in court. VJ snaps that it’s John’s fault and storms upstairs. Leah says sorry before following him.

John tells Marilyn it was too much to ask and, while VJ’s forgiven him, he obviously hasn’t forgotten. Marilyn begs him not to give up and hugs him. Back at the caravan park house, Leah joins VJ in the front room and promises she’s not going to give a lecture. VJ says he can’t pretend everything’s okay. Leah insists they can still win the custody battle. VJ asks what if they don’t.

Leah and VJ go to the beach house to collect Luc. Irene says she’s packed and ready and VJ goes to the nursery to fetch her. Irene asks if VJ’s ready and Leah insists he is. VJ picks Luc out of the cot and tells her he’s taking her home. In his caravan, Ash is looking at articles on custody on his laptop. Kat sits with him but a look at the cot leaves her looking pensive.

Next morning, Marilyn helps John get ready and tells him that Irene and Roo wished him luck and are arranging a celebratory dinner. Morag turns up and they tell her they couldn’t get VJ to help. Morag is disappointed but says the show must go on and asks John if he’s ready. John takes Marilyn’s hand and nods.