Summer Bay is heading toward one of its most explosive custody battles yet, and at the center of the storm stands Tane Parata — a father whose

desperate attempt to protect his son may ultimately risk losing him forever. In scenes set to air in Australia, Home and Away delivers a gut-punch twist

that sends shockwaves through the Bay. Tane, already walking a legal tightrope because of his past, makes a snap decision that leaves Harper Matheson terrified,

furious, and ready to fight back with everything she has. What begins as a disagreement over family boundaries spirals into a crisis with life-altering consequences.

A Fragile Peace Shattered

Ever since their romantic relationship collapsed, Tane and Harper have been trying to redefine themselves as co-parents. Determined to give baby Archie some sense of stability, the former couple continued living under the same roof, convincing themselves that maturity and compromise would carry them through.

But heartbreak has a way of leaking into even the most carefully negotiated truces.

Awkward silences, unresolved resentment, and clashing instincts about what is best for Archie have been bubbling beneath the surface for weeks. They both love their son fiercely, yet they no longer trust each other — a volatile combination in any household.

And now, that tension is about to explode.

Harper’s Gamble

The catalyst comes from Harper’s decision to reopen a door many believed should remain firmly shut: a reunion with her estranged mother.

After years of turmoil linked to addiction, Harper believes her mum has finally turned a corner. Hopeful and emotional, she allows herself to imagine a future where Archie might know his grandmother not as a cautionary tale, but as a source of love.

It is a beautiful dream.

Unfortunately, not everyone shares it.

Dana is deeply skeptical, warning her sister that addicts can be masters of reinvention and relapse. She fears Harper is seeing what she wants to see rather than what is truly there. To Dana, inviting their mother back into their lives is not brave — it is reckless.

Their argument is intense, personal, and impossible to ignore.

Tane Draws a Line

When Tane learns what Harper has done, his reaction is immediate and volcanic. Protective instincts roar to life, fueled by a terror of exposing Archie to chaos or danger. He sides firmly with Dana and wastes no time laying down the law.

Harper’s mother will not be allowed anywhere near his son.

To Tane, this is not cruelty. It is prevention. He has already watched too many families in Summer Bay crumble under the weight of poor decisions. Archie will not become another casualty.

But in making that decree, he forgets one crucial detail: Archie is Harper’s child too.

And she refuses to surrender her voice.

The Disappearance

Hoping tempers will cool, Harper steps away, believing time might soften Tane’s stance. Instead, she returns home to a nightmare.

The house is silent.

Tane is gone. Archie is gone.

All that remains is a note — brief, blunt, devastating. Tane insists he is keeping their son safe.

For Harper, the words are not comforting. They are a threat wrapped in righteousness. Panic sets in as she calls, texts, begs for contact, but Tane does not respond. Each unanswered ring sends her imagination spiraling into darker territory.

Where has he taken their baby?
How long does he plan to stay away?
What if he never comes back?

A Legal Time Bomb

Dana tries to anchor her sister, but even she cannot disguise the seriousness of the situation. Tane is already on a suspended sentence for kidnapping. Any hint of history repeating itself could obliterate his future.

If the police become involved, prison is a real possibility.

Yet Harper’s fear for Archie eclipses everything else. She cannot sit at home powerless while someone else dictates her child’s whereabouts. With her trust in Tane shattered, she begins considering the nuclear option.

Full custody.

It is not a decision she reaches lightly. She knows what it could mean — years of bitterness, courtrooms, and a father potentially pushed to the margins of his son’s life. But she also knows she must draw a line somewhere.

If Tane believes unilateral action is acceptable, she will show him how high the stakes truly are.

Tane’s Tragic Miscalculation

From Tane’s perspective, he is acting out of love. The world feels unpredictable, and Harper’s optimism terrifies him. He imagines worst-case scenarios, dangers he can prevent if he simply takes control.

But protection without partnership becomes possession.

By removing Archie from Harper without agreement, Tane may have handed her the very evidence she needs to question his fitness as a co-parent. Courts rarely look kindly on parents who act first and justify later.

His fear of losing his son could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Can This Be Fixed?

The tragedy is that both parents want the same thing: a safe, happy life for Archie. Yet grief, pride, and mistrust have twisted their methods until compromise feels impossible.

Even if Tane returns quickly, the emotional damage may linger. Harper has now seen how far he is willing to go. She may never again feel secure leaving decisions in his hands.

For a couple already balancing on the edge, that realization could be fatal.

Summer Bay Holds Its Breath

As word spreads, the community braces for fallout. Friends will take sides. Advice will be given — solicited or not. And somewhere in the middle of it all is a baby too young to understand why the adults who adore him are suddenly at war.

The coming episodes promise heartbreak, confrontation, and the looming question no one can answer yet:

Can Tane undo what he has done?

Because if he cannot, his desperate bid to keep Archie safe might be remembered as the moment he lost him.