Packed To The Rafters

Julie receives a surprise invitation from the charming editor of a local paper Adam Goodman - an offer that will ultimately send her into uncharted waters but is she ready to say 'yes'? After interviewing two male sparkies, Dave is stunned when an attractive woman arrives for the interview.

With an expanding business, new premises and a new employee, Dave has high hopes indeed. But it seems what Dave considers chivalry, Frankie considers sexism. Coby too is having trouble adjusting to his new workmate. But is his disapproval masking deeper feelings?

It's Valentine's Day, and matters of the heart are front and centre. Ben and Emma try to dodge the pressure by doing a shift at the Boat Club. Donna is still carrying a candle for Ted and Julie is unimpressed when Ben encourages Donna to invite Ted to a romantic dinner. It gets off to a rocky start, with Ted turning up at the wrong venue, but Ben rushes to the rescue.

Despite Coby trying to hide his true feelings, it's becoming obvious that he has the hots for Frankie. But it seems Coby may be setting himself up for a fail - is Frankie harbouring feelings for someone else? Julie gets her nose out of joint when Ted invites Donna over for dinner. Meanwhile, Retta is loving life as a career woman and has set in motion a five-year plan.

Jake's world is thrown into a tailspin when his father Jim makes a surprise return into his life. It's off the back of this that a shaken Jake makes several poor judgements that threaten not only his job but also his relationship with Dave. Meanwhile, when Dave notices how much Julie's new boss, Adam, enjoys being in her company, can Dave accept Julie's new friendship?

Dave struggles with his secret fear that his relationship with Jake is permanently damaged and that Julie's relationship with Adam might turn out to be more than just professional. Will Dave be able to rein in his fears before they cause him even more heartache? A love-struck Coby completes a painting for Frankie. At first she's thrilled - until she learns how he really feels.

Ben is being driven quietly crazy by the baby-obsessed Carbo and Retta. Feeling edged out of the world they are creating, Emma suggests that the two of them get out of town for a few days, a large step forward in their relationship for Ben. But once you've found escape, the trouble comes returning from it. After being romantically shunned by Frankie, Coby does his best to avoid her at work.

Julie admits to Donna having had a recent raunchy dream about Adam, but denies anything is wrong in her marriage. Questioned by Ted, Dave also comes to the same conclusion. But alone that night, Julie and Dave argue yet again, this time about who will baby-sit Ruby, as Julie has a movie premiere with Adam and Dave is taking his employees away to a seminar.

Following an awkward moment, Frankie announces she's going to quit but Dave convinces her not to make an rash decisions. With a niggling feeling of guilt, Julie tells Dave about Adam's visit for a late-night drink, stopping short of sharing her growing attraction to her boss.

Tension remains high as Julie and Dave struggle to forgive each other. Ted is caught in the middle and is feeling the strain. He's sick of having to hide the real reason behind their squabbles from Ben and implores them to move on before they have to explain everything to their son. But it's clear that letting go could be a long way off.

For Ben, it finally feels like the right time to move on from Mel and start a new chapter with Emma, beginning with the purchase of their country cottage. But when he begins to reminisce about Mel, the surprising intensity of his feelings throws Ben into a tailspin. For Julie and Dave, it's time to seriously examine whether their marriage - which is still on shaky ground - can survive.

Julie muses on the nature of life's surprises when she receives two big ones - the unexpected return of one child, and the sudden departure of another. Nathan, returning home unannounced, is taken out by the elated family for a boisterous family lunch. Marvelling at all the changes that have occurred since he's been travelling, Nathan has massive news of his own.

Jake is settling into a comfortable, productive routine with Sian when a familiar whirlwind blusters back into his life... Alex. Dave is concerned Matt will become a freeloading mainstay at their house, but Julie, trying to fill the void left by her absent children, sells him on the idea.

Everyone's favourite family, the Rafters, are back with more drama and more laughs than ever before.

In light of his ongoing tests, Ted isn't sure whether he should reveal his health concerns to his family. When he suffers a mild stroke and he witnesses how badly the incident affects Julie and Dave, he resolves to keep the tests to himself. However things soon go from bad to worse when Ted has a slip of the mind that could have catastrophic consequences for everyone.

Julie is in denial that Ted may have dementia and Dave carefully voices his own concerns about Ted's condition but Julie doesn't want to discuss it. Jake is still having issues with Alex who's partying too hard. After visiting his estranged father, cashed up, Alex goes on a bender, forcing Jake and Dave to come to his rescue. Meanwhile, Carbo too is feeling out of place.

Julie feels at odds with both Ted and Dave over the severity of Ted's condition - and falling back into step is going to be easier said than done. Meanwhile, despite having rejected Coby's initial interest in her, Frankie is finally letting her guard down. But can she open herself up enough to admit her true feelings for Coby, or are they destined to never quite fall into lock step?

Frankie is caught up in that heady rush a new relationship brings. She seems to be coping pretty well. But can she contain the tsunami that is Coby? Dave is riding a heady rush of his own when Duncan offers the Rafter Electrical team a big contract. But celebratory drinks take a sour turn, and Frankie's forced to rebuff a drunken pass.

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.

Given the circumstances with Coby, Dave and Julie try to end their business dealings with Duncan. Unable to avoid Frankie, Coby steps up, taking full responsibility for everything. With everything that's going on, the last thing Jake needs is to run into Sian and her new boyfriend. Then, Ted is rushed to hospital after taking a confronting turn.

Hours have passed since Coby took off and he's not answering his phone. Dave is feeling privately guilty over having not stopped Coby from leaving when he had the chance. So when he learns that a drunken Coby recently accosted Duncan and tried to get him to drop the assault charges, he calls the troops into action.

As Dave and Julie's 30th wedding anniversary approaches, thoughts naturally turn to family and history. But Julie's view of the past is rocked by a surprise admission from Ted. Julie also assumes their celebration will be a small affair, but little does she realise, Ben and Nathan have returned for the occasion! Coby is finding it hard to adjust to life in Remand.