Julie recovers in hospital after the birth of baby Ruby, ruminating on how life is like a blank page at birth, while her adult children experience how blotted that page can become. Learning that Sammy has left him and determined to salvage his marriage, Nathan tries to track her down, only to discover she seems to have left for London. All fired-up to jump on a plane, he’s finally dissuaded by the arrival of Trish returning Sammy’s wedding rings. Trying to salvage something from the wreckage, Nathan starts decorating his room as a nursery, and announces his intention to move next door to make a new start. Jake has another fit but he and supportive Rachel must wait for a third before epilepsy is confirmed. Dave joins the modern world of facebook and Carbo becomes a YouTube sensation with his cheeky wa-wa-wincha thumbs-up.

Dave's dilemma over whether to reveal that his birth-father is alive leads to a roadtrip to meet his mysterious other family. With all seemingly at peace in the Rafter house, Dave wrestles whether to tell mother Chel that the love of her life, his father Tom Jennings is alive. With Julie's advice to tread carefully ringing in his ears, Dave decides to make up his own mind on the mysterious Jennings. With Nathan's constant partying weighing on Dave's mind, he decides to kill two birds with one stone and drags his son on a roadtrip to Coolong. Melissa is finding Sammy's secret increasingly difficult to keep from Ben. Ben jumps to the conclusion that he has done something wrong and a reluctant Melissa tells him the truth - Sammy is in Sydney. Ben immediately decides to tell Nathan, but Melissa insists he keep her secret, leading to the first serious fight of their marriage. Rachel becomes the green-eyed monster when Jake's client, an attractive housewife, seems to be coming on to him. Rachel embarrasses herself by behaving like the kind of jealous girlfriend she swore she would never be, to Jake's frustration. Can Julie's wise words about being a tradie's wife smooth over their relationship woes? Meanwhile, Dave's trip to Coolong seems fruitless - until he runs into nephew Coby Jennings at the local service station. Despite Nathan's negativity, Dave takes a liking to Coby - and resolves to tell Chel the truth. But suspicious Coby has a surprise of his own, as we see him scribbling down the rego of Nathan's vehicle. Will Coby discover their true identity and connection? Nathan returns reinvigorated from the road trip, determined to mend his self-destructive partying ways and put Sammy's ghost to rest. Will Ben defy Melissa's wishes and tell his brother the truth?

Ted struggles with feeling old and worthless after a girl gang attack and the death of a neighbour. Returning from a movie, Ted and Chel become involved in a teenage girl gang's vendetta. In the melee, Chel falls heavily and Ted rushes her to hospital. Kidney damage has occurred and Chel's dialysis is upped to three times a week. Ashamed he couldn't protect Chel, and feeling marginalised by the world, Ted begins to retreat into himself. Melissa discovers someone has been using her toothbrush. Already feeling marginalised in the house full of men and lacking in privacy, this is the last straw. She tracks down the culprit - Carbo who reveals he thinks of toothbrushes as common property. Nathan's sympathy and gift of a new toothbrush only makes Melissa feel worse about keeping Sammy's secret. But when Nathan receives separation papers, will Melissa and Ben risk hurting him further by telling him the truth? Dave raises the spectre of kidney donation. With Julie's tentative blessing, he lays it on the line with Chel. To his surprise, she accepts his offer to test for compatibility - she wants to see baby Ruby grow up. Meanwhile, Ted and Julie become concerned at the quiet absence of neighbour Mrs Luscombe. A simple visit turns to horror as they discover Mrs Luscombe has died. To Ted, this is another example of the world marginalising the elderly - and he resolves to make a difference through a seniors self defence class and a phone tree, reclaiming his sense of self. Carbo's internet fame jumps to a new level when he begins receiving sexy gifts from a secret admirer.

Rachel's dream of moving in with Jake is thrown into jeopardy by the unexpected return of Alex. Rachel's forced to deal with the fallout when Alex reacts badly to the many changes that have taken place in the Barton household in his absence. Feeling increasingly on the outer, Alex's issues erupt at drinks at the Rafter house, leaving Grace and Jake humiliated and the Rafters reeling. Jake is too angry with Alex to repair the situation and it's left to Rachel to restore peace. She discovers the truth about Alex's misery, and the realisation of how much he needs his older brother forces her to reassess her own house-hunting plans. But exactly how far is Rachel willing to go for the sake of Barton family unity? Meanwhile Nathan has been roped into helping Chel with her tax. Although her records are in a complete mess, they do have a good time, and in a discussion about attitudes to life he admits that he doesn't like himself very much and blames himself for the break up with Sammy. Chel's take on life gives him food for thought, and Nathan makes a surprising life-changing decision. But his grand intentions are quashed when Julie and Dave fail to share his enthusiasm. Meanwhile Melissa and Ben are trying to find ways of making the Karandonis house more like home, and decide to replace one of Carbo's ornaments with something more to their own taste. Carbo, fresh off the back of a disastrous encounter with a woman he assumed was his internet romance, reacts badly to having his home messed with. And things go from bad to worse when he finally meets his real internet lover, only to discover that his misadventure could potentially lead to time in jail...

Nathan is forced to question his motives for wanting to donate a kidney, triggering a crisis of confidence. Will he be able to put his demons to rest and in doing so, save Chel's life? Although he passes all the physical tests, Nathan is thrown into doubt when the transplant co-ordinator seeks answers on his true motivations for donating a kidney to Chel. When Sammy praises Nathan over the transplant, his feeling of pride seems only to confirm he is donating his kidney for self-serving reasons. While Ben and Rachel have no doubt Nathan is made of the right stuff, their younger brother can't seem to find the words to convince the co-ordinator or himself and he's terrified his failure will spell the end for Chel. With Chel's health on the decline, Julie and Dave decide there's no time like the present to hold Ruby's Naming Day ceremony. After a disastrous interview with a comically self-absorbed celebrant, the Rafters plans instead a much more laid-back gathering at the park and ask Rachel, Ben and Nathan to be Ruby's guardians. Baby Ruby's welcomed to the world by those that love and care for her. And perhaps something in the speech Dave makes gives Nathan the answer he's been looking for. Meanwhile, there are problems at the Barton house, with Alex struggling to accept his mother's new relationship. Alex goes out on a bender and when Grace returns from her date and finds Alex still gone, she flies into a panic. She and Jake lock horns over the whole issue, with Grace feeling that she should be more mindful of Alex's feelings and Jake insisting that she's entitled to live her life. Jake decides it's time both he and his brother stood on their own two feet and comes to a surprising solution to their joint need to cut the apron strings. Carbo struggles with his own rite of passage when he discovers some grey hairs – and not just on his head!

Someone's watching the Rafter House - and the surprise culprit leads to Dave and Nathan meeting Dave's dad Tom in prison for the first time. There's a strange noise in the night and Dave, feeling protective of his brood, gets up to investigate. It appears his misgivings are justified when he finds the living room doors left open. Exhausted Julie can't remember if she shut the doors and Dave feels uncomfortable about the perceived threat. Julie is also ill at ease - spending all her time with Ruby is leaving her desperate for adult conversation. Realising his daughter's suffering from cabin fever, Ted suggests she do something for herself and Ruby - join a mothers' group. Dave pops round to visit Chel after his run. Wanting to put her affairs in order and lay to rest some demons before the transplant, Chel admits that she's reconsidering meeting Tom in prison. The revelation gives Dave himself pause for thought. Meanwhile, Carbo's stalker Georgia tells Julie that a man was watching their house. In light of Dave's concerns the previous night, Julie decides to play it safe and calls the police. However, with no evidence of a break-in, and no definitive description of the man in question, Julie's left feeling somewhat silly. Georgia refuses to give up and eventually gets a photo of the man in question to the Rafters - and they're shocked to realise none other than Coby Jennings has been scoping their house. Dave's first instinct is to bury his head in the sand but a series of unexpected events conspire to propel Dave, with Nathan as support, to visit his father in prison for the first time. Will facing his father give Dave the answers he's always wanted? And Chel the closure she needs? Meanwhile, Rachel is shocked to find that Jake and Alex's domestic standards in their new bachelor pad are far from ideal, forcing her to make an ultimatum - unless Jake lifts his game, she's not stepping foot in his house

Ben is forced to step outside his comfort zone when a moral stand clashes with workplace politics. Ben's troubles begin when Melissa reveals she isn't keen on starting a family for years - partially because they can't afford kids. Determined to prove himself as a potential father, Ben asks boss Derek for a pay rise but is turned down. What's worse is being forced to discipline Lexi, friend and employee. Already having trouble giving her a written warning, with Derek on his back, Ben is forced to fire Lexi when she once again arrives late for a shift. However, she reveals her sister is in hospital - and soft hearted Ben agrees to talk to Derek. Ben's aims are thwarted when Ted recognises Derek's daughter Hayley as the leader of the girl gang who assaulted him and Chel. Ted confronts Derek with the unpalatable truth - and is deeply insulted when Derek dismisses him. Unable to let it go, Ted contacts the police, leading to Derek playing personal tit-for-tat and kicking Friend Finders out of the boat club - and ordering Ben to do his dirty work. Torn between keeping his job and standing up for what's morally right, what will Ben decide? Julie steps out of her comfort zone too by joining a local mother's group. Despite Dave's reassurances that the group will be full of normal mothers, all Julie's fears come true when she is welcomed as a senior mum to the group by Stephanie, a young, trim, and highly competitive mother. Despite herself, Julie is drawn into Stephanie's competitive world. However, the presence of Hamish, a charming stay at home dad, helps bring Julie back to earth and politely resolve matters with neurotic Stephanie. After Rachel's refusal to stay at Jake's untidy house, he has been sleeping every night at the Rafter place. The comical Mexican standoff seems destined to continue forever and Jake realises he has to change tack. He jumps at the chance to babysit Ruby, a plan forming to erode Rachel's resistance. However, his plans go awry when Rachel is called into work and Ruby won't stop screaming. Desperate, he hands Ruby to Ben and Melissa - who prove to be more than capable. In fact, Melissa has finally become clucky, and throws away her contraceptive pills - she's ready to have kids if he is. Julie and Dave meanwhile return home none the wiser and ask Rachel and Jake to babysit again on the weekend. To Jake's delight, Rachel capitulates - better Jake's house than constant babysitting duty. Resisting the negative impression Tom Jennings gave Dave in the previous episode, Nathan decides to give him a second chance, and asks Dave's permission to see him. Dave refuses, citing Tom's boorish dismissiveness of Chel, but Nathan is inspired by Ben's new-found ability to stand up for himself and politely informs Dave that he will visit Tom against Dave's wishes.

Rachel rides the ups and downs of happiness, struggling to find it in the frenetic pace of life. But will her choices have future repercussions for her relationship with her family and Jake? At the start of the episode, Rachel's on a high given her graphic designs have just scored CBM a major new client. But then things take a downward turn when an anonymous office worker farts in the crowded lift. To make matters worse, all her hard work comes to naught when CBM fails to hold the client. Rachel's fortunes once again change for the better when she's called in for a secret interview with Paul Morgan at the more prestigious EMB agency - a global player and competitor to CBM. But Rachel is sure she bombed out at the interview and things seemingly go from bad to worse when her boss calls her into his office for a talk, having heard she met with Paul. But instead of being fired, Rachel's offered a promotion to Creative Director - and then is offered the same position at EMB! Rachel's not sure what to do, and turns to Julie for advice. Tension arises when Rachel perceives her mother's reservations as a lack of support. But when Jake has a medical emergency, Rachel's given a painful reminder of what's important in life. Meanwhile Ben and Melissa are happy with their decision to have a baby and are all over each other at any opportunity - much to Nathan's and Carbo's chagrin. Over the moon at the prospect of a grandchild, Julie unwittingly puts pressure on them by giving them a cook book. Ben and Melissa each try preparing something from the book and both attempts are disasters. But these culinary setbacks are nothing compared to the problems that arise (or don't arise!) every time Ben and Melissa try to have baby-making sex. How can Ben and Melissa relieve the pressure and rediscover the fun of sex without the pressure to conceive?

Nathan faces a life-changing moment of truth - the operation to donate a kidney to beloved grandmother Chel. With only three days to go until the transplant procedure, Chel's need to put her affairs in order inspires Nathan to write letters to his family, in case he does not survive the operation. However when it comes to writing to grandfather Tom, Nathan struggles to find the words - and resolves to visit him in prison against Dave's wishes. Meanwhile, Ben reacts badly to Nathan's letter writing scheme - anxiety and concern for his brother manifesting as irritation. Melissa calls Ben on this behaviour, and Ben makes his peace with Nathan before the big operation. Despite his fears, the operation proves successful for Nathan and Chel - and he asks Ben to destroy the letters he wrote for the family - but not before Rachel sneakily reads hers and is deeply touched by the sentiment. Dave likewise is touched by the revelation of flowers sent from Tom for Nathan and Chel - and he vows to give his father a second chance. Meanwhile Carbo's "twitching" date with Solar Panel agent Amy proves to be a disaster. Undaunted he vows to continue the hunt for a wife.

Dave struggles with unfamiliar emotions that threaten to engulf the easy-going father and husband he has always been. Dave Rafter prides himself on being easy going and uncomplicated. He knows himself and life is going well - or so he thought. In rapid succession, life teaches him that no human ever has total control of things - and Dave's easy going ability to roll with the punches starts to fail him. He assumes Chel will stay with them to convalesce after her operation, but instead she's heading north to Ballina, to stay with an old friend. Nathan assumes the guest room Dave has prepared for Chel is for him and rejects the imagined offer. Rachel gets emotional about not being able to spend the night with Jake - and Dave takes it personally, thinking that yet another of his children doesn't want to sleep under his roof. Rebuff three. And then his beloved Ruby starts suffering separation anxiety and only wants her mother. It's enough to make Dave feel redundant in his own home. Rachel is trying to settle into her new job at EMB agency but her first day proves disconcertingly frustrating when the scheduled conference with boss Paul Morgan fails to eventuate and she is left all day to her own devices. New colleague Liam seems friendly on the surface but when he supplies her the wrong time for an important meeting the next day, is he friend or foe? And can Rachel really fulfill the demands of her new position? Carbo's wife-hunting on internet dating sites brings immediate success in the form of Loretta. It's love at first sight, despite warnings from Ben and Melissa that things are moving way too fast. Having secured a job in Dave's business, Coby is behaving suspiciously. Does he have a secret agenda and will this come as another blow to Dave if and when he finds out?

Ben begins to feel like the victim in a horror film who always goes where the audience knows he shouldn't as he begins to question Melissa's commitment to being a parent. Don't go there! When Melissa feels queasy during dinner, Ben immediately assumes she is pregnant and is beside himself with excitement. But Melissa seems hesitant and confused by the possibility, putting off using the pregnancy test kit until the morning and rebuffing Ben's attempts to open up about her feelings. Next door there's little rest and relaxation for Dave who is working extra long hours, saving up for a holiday to Fiji. But his plans cop a setback when an unexpected tax bill lobs on the doorstep. Rachel marches off to an important pitch meeting buoyed by Jake's encouragement. Inexplicably, the client rejects all of Rachel's ideas. What she hasn't yet realised is that oily colleague Liam is sabotaging her efforts. Will Rachel unmask Liam's duplicity? Or will he get the better of her? Meanwhile, Carbo's diet of horror movies has primed him for his own supernatural encounter, and he becomes convinced Mrs. Luscombe's sad, empty house is haunted. His nervous reaction is gold for Nathan who mercilessly revs Carbo up. But the final reveal of "the ghost" next door takes everyone by surprise! Carbo's relationship with Retta continues to bloom, and he hosts a dinner party in an effort to bond her with his housemates. After a painfully hilarious evening, the night ends with a startling announcement from the lovesick pair – one that sends Ben into meltdown. To top it all off, Carbo's mum rings with news that plunges the whole household into uncertainty about the future – she is selling the Karandonis house!

Rachel's relationship with Jake is pushed to breaking point when her work and personal lives collide. For Rachel, work is a world of pain. Colleague Liam is undercutting her at every turn, and Rachel doesn't know how to counter it. After some advice from Medusa, Rachel manages a temporary victory over him - but Liam turns the tables by schmoozing the client around to his idea. But the worst part? Her conflict with Liam is starting to affect her relationship with Jake, who advises her to be direct and take charge. Dave's money and work woes are stressing him out, so Julie offers to help the business by doing accounts, freeing Nathan up to do some light labouring. Busy Julie has a lot on her mind - especially when Ruby decides to stop breastfeeding - and she can't help making mistakes. Calls are missed, bookings lost - and Dave finally explodes, leading him to realise he and Julie need to work as a team to keep the business - and the family - working. Carbo has failed to talk his mother out of selling the house. As real estate agent Penny Malory and potential buyers rock around, Carbo puts on a desperate show, hoping to scare everyone away, but even Coby's bogan antics fail to discourage one couple, determined to buy. Will the happy Karandonis household be split apart - or will a last appeal to family history and sentiment win the day? When bathroom fittings go missing from their work-site, Coby pleads with Nathan to believe he is innocent. Nathan learns that Coby has trouble with reading and writing. He offers to help him out, and it seems their relationship is at last improving.

Ted returns from with renewed spark from a rejuvenating break, only to find all is not well with his family. Due to work and money pressures, Julie and Dave are snapping at each other and Julie seeks respite in light conversation with Hamish, one of her friends from mothers' group. Concerned by Julie's fond talk of Hamish and Dave's solitary midnight visits to his shed, Ted reminds Dave not to forget the important things in life. Next morning, Dave acts on Ted's advice, and he and Julie set off together for a much-needed afternoon off. But their time together is cut short by a call from the police, investigating a second robbery at Dave's work-site. Although Dave is not accused of anything, the coincidence persuades his builder boss to let him go, and Dave takes his pent-up frustration out on Coby, pretty much accusing him of being the thief on the basis of Ted's revelation that Coby's been lying about where he's been living. Nathan, however, is able to assure Dave that Coby was hanging at the Karandonis house with him the previous night. But alone with Coby, Nathan can't help but wonder whether Coby's arrival with beers was merely to create an alibi. His lack of trust, and Coby's growing guilt, cause Coby to lash out - will the Rafters ever give him a break? However, just as Hamish declares his feelings for Julie, both she, and Coby, are given a timely wake-up call. Dave, working too hard, micro-sleeps at the wheel of his van. Shaken by Dave's near-miss, Coby visits Tom in prison to tell him he no longer wants to exploit the Rafters' goodwill. However, Tom isn't going to let Coby off the hook that easily and turns up the heat. Will Coby buckle to Tom's will? Meanwhile, to the consternation of his flatmates, Carbo is totally besotted by the irrepressible Retta and valiantly trying to go along with her no-sex rule. Driven spare by their comic antics, Ben takes Carbo aside and tells him he has to make a decision about their future together. Carbo agrees and relieved Ben assumes he's going to end the relationship. However, to Ben's dismay, Carbo decides to take things in an unexpected direction!

Rachel takes a crash course in remembering to breathe as she juggles a toxic workplace and an estranged boyfriend. Something's got to give... Desperate to see each other, Jake arrives in the middle of the night with a gift for Rachel. But once again their issues flare and they fight bitterly. Jake storms off, leaving the gift in the front yard. Keen to put the tension with Liam behind her, Rachel works tirelessly to work one of Liam's ideas up and make it presentable. But when the pitch falls flat, instead of backing Rachel up as planned, Liam shows his true colours once again and kicks teamwork to the kerb. Rachel's life seems to be out of control. Finally opening the present Jake bought her, Rachel realises that Jake truly respects her ambitions, and that she's misjudged him. It spurs her on to bring up the lack of team support with her boss, Paul. Paul dismisses Rachel's concerns, suggesting she focus on the positive and move on. Suddenly Rachel realises she has a choice. Will love triumph? Or is it too late to salvage her relationship? Dave too is taking a crash course in remembering to stop and breathe. A welcome distraction arrives when Julie wins a phone-in radio competition - tickets to see Eric Clapton in concert, plus all expenses paid overnight accommodation at a very ritzy hotel. But Dave can't seem to fully enjoy it, finally admitting to Julie he's been suffering from a nagging but inexplicable malaise. Julie's worried for her husband. Could Dave be suffering from depression? Meanwhile, Melissa and Ben are still trying, unsuccessfully, to conceive. Retta inadvertently fuels Ben's anxiety by questioning his fertility. He manages to persuade Melissa to pull a favour at work to get his sperm tested and the situation is fraught with comic embarrassment for both of them. Will Ben's "swimmers" come up gold? Also tonight, Nathan finds a way to help Coby face the challenge of learning to write. In the process, Coby reveals some of his deeply guarded past.

The Rafter family say an emotional farewell to Melissa. Dave is determined to shelve his own battle with depression, but as tensions build, he finds himself exploding inappropriately in anger. Julie convinces Dave to go to counselling while Chel, who has not been around to witness the changes in him, returns home to comfort her son. Tom has a second agenda, and despite Coby's attempt to keep him at arm's length, Coby realises he can't escape his grandfather's reach that easily.

Rachel is faced with a terrible decision. Ben gets the wrong idea when he stumbles upon a secret in Melissa's handbag. Sammy is offered the possibility of a glamorous job in London — but will she leave Nathan behind?

The Rafters throw a surprise party for Chel, who's shocked and delighted as the family yells 'surprise.' She is swept up in the family history and moved by the love shown to her. But clouds are gathering. Rachel and Ted notice worrying marks on Chel's arm. Are they damage veins? Or trackmarks? Rachel takes the news to Dave and Julie, who debate the causes. Surely Chel can’t be a junkie? But they admit they don't know herwell. Dave confronts Chel, who reacts badly to the interrogations. Eventually she reveals the shocking truth. Julie reacts the most strongly to the news. She doesn’t want Chel in her house any more. This puts her at odds with everyone, especially Dave and Rachel. Nathan is stricken with guilt over his fling with Layla and manages to lose his wedding ring during the birthday barbecue. He searches for it desperately and lies to Sammy about it. Next door, Ben and Melissa are stricken with food poisoning. Their marathon bout of vomiting brings them even closer together. But will it end in Melissa finally accepting Ben's marriage proposal? Carbo works hard to fan the flames of his relationship with Artie. But he strikes out. Arties decides her mother has orchestrated the whole thing with Carbo, and, in an act of defiance, agrees to go out with Gavin a shy country singer from the Boat Club.

Dave is determined to take his business to the next level, beginning with his new contract with Duncan. But when Duncan's wandering eye puts him on a collision course with Coby, does Dave have what it takes to stop the impact? Meanwhile, Frankie's not impressed with Coby's seeming lack of maturity, starting with his inability to let go of his rage over Duncan's pass at her.

It's a matter of head versus heart as Julie and Dave wrestle with their decision to sell their beloved family home.

An unemployed Dave struggles to regain his manhood and position in the family, landing himself in hospital. When life keeps bowling Dave a series of problematic googlies, the question becomes: how will he play them? An overprotective Dave breaks a promise to his daughter and is brutally attacked. Rachel struggles with the aftermath of leaving her abusive boyfriend Daniel — and her own secret turmoil. Narrated by Dave, this episode focuses on Dave dealing with the reality of sudden employment and a house that has been unexpectedly inundated with family members — each bringing with them a dark secret. He processes it all through a cricketing metaphor — that of the googly — that devious curve-ball that life can throw at you, catching you off-guard.

Julie forces her dispirited family to the beach for a restorative weekend away — leading to everyone feeling restored but Julie herself. Ted receives advice from beyond the grave. Melissa's life is in danger when she goes into sudden anaphylactic shock during a Rafter BBQ. Romance beckons for Rachel — but is she ready to embrace it?

This week sees Rachel still trying to find her life's path. With much direction and focus she starts a new chapter in her life. Meanwhile, since finding a new business partner, Dave's life should have been made much easier – shouldn't it? Things just aren't going smoothly and instead it's all a bit of a struggle.

The aftermath of Jake's ill-fated rugby weekend is fully felt as Julie realises how much perception and misperception can affect the lives of her family and friends. Rachel is determined to support Jake in light of his charges of attempted sexual assault - if only he'd let her. Jake has gone to ground, reeling from the momentary doubt he felt he saw in Rachel's eyes. And when Rachel forces him to talk to her, assuring him of her love and belief, it's clear that Rachel, unlike resigned Jake, is unlikely to wait patiently for a court to reach its verdict. When it comes to light that it is in fact Camel who is truly to blame - not only for the charges but also for not sticking up for Jake - a furious Rachel goes to confront him. But is she only making the situation worse for Jake? Rachel's woes are compounded when her boss, Paul Morgan (guest star MARTIN LYNES) tells her he expects her to deliver a contract signed by Coby as the main artist for their new alcopop campaign. However, Coby can't be shaken from his perception that Rachel showing his work without permission is an unforgivable betrayal of trust. Paul makes it clear that the client won't take no for an answer. With a major campaign and now her job on the line, can Rachel convince Coby to change his mind? Ted meanwhile reveals to Julie that he's developed a crush on a beautiful Chinese woman, Mai (guest star ANNETTE SHUN WAH) who teaches Tai Chi in the park every morning. Feeling simultaneously like an old fool and a teenage boy, his attraction to her has been fuelled by her daily smile and wave to him. But when he reveals he's been learning Cantonese in an attempt to forge a connection with Mai, we see how powerful his crush is. Will Mai respond to Ted's advances, or has he set himself up for a fall? When Julie bites the "child care" bullet and goes to check the place out before enrolling Ruby, she is surprised to find Hamish at the centre. His son Jack has been enrolled five days a week since Hamish's marriage broke up. Despite the awkwardness of their last meeting, Julie's heart goes out to him as he reveals he has lost his custody case thanks to a judge whose perception of the world is that children belong with their mothers. Overwhelmed by the unfairness of life towards good men - Ted, Jake, Hamish - Julie can't help but feel that sometimes, despite your best intentions, you can't change people's perceptions

Rachel's growing alcohol dependence sends her family over the edge. Her careless actions could spell the end for one of them. Julie desperately brings the family together for a therapeutic barbecue but simmering tensions erupt. Ben finds himself the unlikely counsellor to both his sister and grandfather Ted as they confront traumatic turning points in their lives. When Ted's humiliating secret is discovered by Rachel, she unwittingly sets him on a path to self-destruction. Narrated by the Rafters' middle child, Ben, tonight's episode focuses on the dramatic and comic repercussions of his move towards independence and responsibility; and the on-going tension for Julie and Dave as they deal with the dark secrets of their family.

"Once upon a time in Dave's Magic Castle." All should be well in the world of King Dave, but with Queen Julie heading into menopause, the Rafter household is a bit tumultuous. Julie fears that her ability to dispense sound wisdom to family and friends, is severly impeeded by her hormonal fluctuations. Sammy returns from New York with many more bags than she left with, and Julie fears that Sammy's spending may cause problems between her and Nathan. Sammy then advises Julie that the money she has spent on gifts for the family, came from her mother as an early birthday present. Once again Julie worries! Meanwhile, Ben makes up his mind to declare his love for Melissa on national television, and comic results ensue. Life is always full when it is "Packed to the Rafters".