Ainsley's preparations for a gender-reveal party are derailed by the wrath of Lachlan's ex Mel.

Ainsley receives news from a more distraught than usual Cheryl that Des has passed away. In Ainsley's priority of being the nurturer and despite her feelings about Cheryl, Ainsley decides to invite her to stay in the house for however long she needs while she is in town to deal with Des' affairs, and in support for "family". Ainsley also issues the directive that no one is to tell Manju about Des in Ainsley not wanting to burden her with more bad news considering her health, hiding it from her which may be difficult especially due to Cheryl's boisterousness. Of everyone in the house, Ainsley seems the least emotionally affected by Des' death, outwardly due to that nurturing taking priority, but inwardly due to her confusing relationship with her father, that confusion especially since Cheryl came into the picture intimately which was even before Ainsley's mother's passing. The situation gets even more confusing for Ainsley shortly after Cheryl's arrival, the specific stressor which Ainsley will have to deal with both emotionally and legally. Meanwhile, Ainsley's decisions have an unexpected negative effect on Liz and Stuart's already crumbling marriage. And Cheryl's arrival leads to a game of musical bedrooms, Heather the most obvious person to relinquish hers in having Ed's as a place to stay where she is most nights anyway. However due to a family situation with Ed, Heather decides to stay in Colin's granny flat. As the one now geographically closest to Heather, Colin discovers that Heather's outward reason for not staying with Ed was a lie which he figures indicates problems between Heather and Ed, such news which he has to share with his fellow "Heather spurnee" Ben.