In upcoming episodes of Home and Away, longtime fan favorite Alf Stewart delivers a devastating ultimatum to his daughter Roo Stewart—one that threatens to fracture their close relationship

and leaves the Summer Bay community stunned. After the shocking fallout from troubled teen Eliza Sherwood and her destructive stay in the Bay, emotions are still raw for everyone involved.

But for Roo, the pain runs especially deep. Determined to believe that she can still make a difference in Eliza’s life, Roo refuses to give up hope—even when those closest to her insist that she must.

The drama begins when Roo returns to Summer Bay after taking a few days away to recover from the traumatic events surrounding Eliza’s departure. Her time away has done little to ease the emotional weight she’s carrying. When she arrives back home, the atmosphere is heavy, and it’s clear that she is still struggling to process everything that happened.

Roo soon shares the results of Eliza’s psychiatric evaluation with her family. The findings paint a complicated picture of a deeply troubled teenager dealing with serious emotional and psychological challenges. While the report confirms that Eliza needs long-term professional support, Roo tries to focus on the possibility of recovery.

In fact, she dares to suggest something that immediately alarms those around her—Eliza could one day return to Summer Bay.

Roo believes that with the right treatment and guidance, the teenager might eventually work through her issues. In her heart, she refuses to see Eliza as a lost cause. Instead, she clings to the hope that their bond could be repaired someday.

However, this optimism horrifies both Alf and Marilyn Chambers, who witnessed firsthand just how dangerous Eliza’s behavior became.

During her time in Summer Bay, Eliza’s actions escalated to terrifying levels, ultimately putting Alf’s life in serious danger. For those who lived through the ordeal, the idea of welcoming her back into their lives feels unimaginable. Marilyn, still shaken by everything that occurred, is particularly disturbed by Roo’s suggestion.

To them, Eliza’s departure brought relief—not regret.

But Roo refuses to let go.

Still convinced that maintaining some kind of connection could help Eliza in the long run, she attempts to reach out to the teenager. Unfortunately, the authorities quickly shut down that idea. Roo is firmly instructed that she must make a clean break for Eliza’s own wellbeing and for the safety of everyone involved.

The rejection hits Roo hard, but she refuses to accept defeat.

That’s when Alf steps in—and what he says next leaves Roo completely blindsided.

In a brutally honest moment, Alf tells his daughter that she needs to face reality. As far as he’s concerned, there is no future for her involvement with Eliza. More shockingly, he goes even further, suggesting that Roo should abandon fostering altogether.

For Roo, the words land like a punch to the gut.

Fostering vulnerable children has become more than just a responsibility for her—it’s a calling. She believes she can provide stability, compassion, and support for young people who have nowhere else to turn. The idea that her own father would question her ability to do that cuts deeply.

Roo quickly pushes back against Alf’s harsh assessment. She insists that one difficult experience should not define her future as a foster carer. In her eyes, Eliza’s situation was complex and tragic, but it doesn’t mean she failed.

What follows is an emotionally charged confrontation between father and daughter.

Alf argues that Roo became so emotionally invested in Eliza that she lost the ability to recognize the warning signs. In his view, her compassion—normally one of her greatest strengths—ultimately put the family in danger. The thought of history repeating itself is something he simply cannot accept.

But Roo sees things very differently.

She believes that helping troubled young people inevitably comes with risks and heartbreak. Walking away from fostering, she argues, would mean abandoning the very children who need support the most.

Despite their heated argument, time eventually allows the emotions to cool slightly. Later, Alf approaches Roo again—this time with a softer tone. He reassures her that he doesn’t consider her a failure. He knows how deeply she cared for Eliza and acknowledges that her intentions were always rooted in kindness.

However, he stands by his concerns.

Alf explains that Roo’s empathy may have blinded her to the reality of Eliza’s behavior. He fears that if she continues fostering, she could find herself in another dangerous situation—one that might not end as safely the next time.

Faced with this difficult truth, Roo reluctantly admits that bringing Eliza back into her life would not be a healthy choice. As much as it hurts, she recognizes that cutting ties may ultimately be necessary.

But that doesn’t mean she’s ready to abandon fostering entirely.

In fact, Roo remains resolute. She tells Alf that helping other children is still something she believes in with all her heart. Just because Eliza’s situation ended badly doesn’t mean every foster placement will.

Alf, however, refuses to change his stance.

For the first time in their long and loving relationship, father and daughter find themselves locked in a painful stalemate. Alf cannot support Roo’s decision to continue fostering, while Roo refuses to let go of the dream she believes defines her purpose.

The tension leaves the Stewart family at a crossroads.

As emotions simmer beneath the surface, the question now hanging over Summer Bay is whether Roo will follow her father’s wishes—or forge ahead on her own path despite his disapproval.

With their relationship strained and unresolved feelings lingering on both sides, the fallout from Eliza’s time in the Bay continues to ripple through the community.

And for Roo, the hardest decision may still lie ahead.