Home and Away is set to deliver one of its most emotionally charged storylines in recent memory next week in the UK, as Eden Fowler is forced to confront

a past she has spent years trying to bury. What begins as a tentative step toward family unity soon spirals into a deeply unsettling ordeal, proving

that some wounds never truly heal—and that forgiveness cannot be forced, no matter how much time has passed.

At the heart of the drama is Eden’s long-estranged relationship with her father, Jimmy. For Eden, the pain dates back to her teenage years, when Jimmy’s infidelity shattered her family and led to his departure from the family home. While her siblings, Levi and Abigail, eventually found a way to maintain contact with their father, Eden drew a hard line. She refused to forgive him, cutting him out of her life entirely. To her, Jimmy wasn’t just a flawed parent—he was the architect of her family’s collapse.

That tension resurfaced sharply last year when Jimmy briefly visited Summer Bay to see Levi, unaware that Eden was also living there. The accidental encounter sent Eden into a fury. She made it abundantly clear that his presence was unwelcome and demanded that he leave town immediately. For Eden, seeing her father again without warning reopened old scars she had never allowed to heal.

Now, with Eden’s wedding to Cash Newman fast approaching, the unresolved family fracture becomes impossible to ignore. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Eden confides in Abigail that she is looking forward to having the whole family together on her big day. Abigail, never one to tiptoe around uncomfortable truths, gently but firmly challenges her. If Eden truly wants the entire family present, then that includes Jimmy.

The idea initially horrifies Eden. However, a visit to her mother, Deb, shifts her perspective. Deb reveals that she has found it within herself to forgive Jimmy, choosing peace over resentment. Hearing this unsettles Eden. If her mother—who was directly hurt by Jimmy’s betrayal—can move on, does that mean Eden should at least try?

Reluctantly, Eden agrees to consider inviting Jimmy to the wedding. But just as she begins to contemplate the possibility, Levi throws an unexpected obstacle in her path. Despite usually being the sibling who encourages forgiveness, Levi voices concern that unresolved tension between Eden and Jimmy could erupt into conflict and ruin her wedding day. His words land heavily. Eden realizes that if there is any hope of moving forward, the air must be cleared long before she walks down the aisle.

Driven by equal parts guilt and determination, Eden reaches out to Jimmy. What starts as a cautious phone call quickly escalates into panic. Somehow, Eden ends up inviting her father to Summer Bay the very next day. She arrives at Cash’s place in a frenzy, overwhelmed by the enormity of what she’s done. Cash, ever her anchor, reassures her that she won’t face this alone. If things go wrong, he promises to be right across the street.

Determined to control the situation, Eden devises a backup plan. She invites Levi and Abigail to a barbecue with Jimmy, hoping that the presence of family—and their partners, Mackenzie and Molly—will keep emotions in check. Levi is cautiously optimistic, seeing it as a healthy step forward. Abigail, however, is far less convinced. To her, the gathering feels like a ticking time bomb.

When Jimmy arrives, he is all smiles, clearly thrilled to see his daughter after so many years apart. But Eden’s frosty demeanor makes it painfully clear that forgiveness is far from guaranteed. As the rest of the group arrives, introductions are made, and Jimmy attempts to charm Mackenzie and Molly with warmth and old stories. On the surface, it looks like a family slowly finding its footing again.

But Eden is barely holding it together.

When Jimmy congratulates Eden and Cash on their engagement, praising their commitment, something inside Eden snaps. She excuses herself and retreats to Remi and Adam’s room, struggling to contain her emotions. Cash follows, and Eden unloads years of pent-up anger. To her, Jimmy has no right to talk about commitment after walking out on their family. Cash gently reminds her that if reconciliation is the goal, she can’t attack every word Jimmy says. With effort, Eden takes a breath and returns to the barbecue.

Outside, Jimmy continues to bask in the moment, delighted to be surrounded by his children for the first time in over a decade. Some of his nostalgic stories are quickly shut down when they drift too close to painful memories involving Eden. Molly soon excuses himself to deal with personal matters, and as he leaves, Jimmy reveals a surprising truth: it was Molly who helped reconnect him with Deb, paving the way for this reunion.

Moved by the moment, Jimmy thanks Eden for forgiving him and expresses hope that they can finally move forward as a family. For him, this gathering represents healing and redemption.

For Eden, it is a nightmare.

Overwhelmed, she flees to Cash’s place and delivers a heartbreaking confession. This barbecue was a test—a trial run to see if she could cope with Jimmy being back in her life. The result is devastatingly clear: she can’t. Eden insists that Jimmy cannot be at their wedding and begs Cash to ask him to leave.

Cash reluctantly returns to the backyard and apologizes as he shuts the gathering down. But Jimmy refuses to go quietly. After waiting ten years for this chance, he is not prepared to walk away again.

Months later, the conflict reaches a chilling new chapter. Jimmy tracks Eden down at Cash’s place, demanding answers. Why invite him back if she was never ready to forgive? Eden is brutally honest. She wanted to see if there was a way forward, but now she knows there isn’t.

Jimmy refuses to accept her decision. If things are broken, he insists, then it’s time to fix them—whether Eden is ready or not.

And with that, Eden’s worst fear becomes reality: the past she tried to confront may now be impossible to escape.