 A new member of the McLeod family is on her way and Tess is naturally excited about the prospect of meeting her cousin Regan. The meeting sours in the rear drive however - Regan has a fear of dogs, and most other animals beside. Not a good start to a visit to the farm. Things deteriorate further as Regan is shown around the property. By the time she gets into the homestead and feels the full weight of history, her resentment of the treatment of Hugh takes over and she storms from Drovers Run, telling Tess she could never stay in a place where her father had been so cheated and dispossessed. Tess has had no luck getting to know Regan, as Regan s resentment has placed a barrier between them. Stevie however, after confronting Regan over her rudeness, finds herself laughing with the visitor. Regan comes to stay with Stevie, who is disarmed by her blunt manner of speech and quick wit. When Regan returns she manages an apology to Tess, but things remain cool between them. Tess has the grace to invite her to a BBQ later that night. After failing to bond with Regan, Tess looks inward for family and confronts the issue of children with Nick. Nick does not want his own children because of the genetic risks, but will not talk about other options. When Tess looks into sperm donation as an option the couple argue into the night. It is up to Alex to spell out the truth to Nick with some childhood memories - all life is a risk, if we really want something to happen we just have to shut our eyes and roll the dice. Dave falls for Regan, which puts Regan into Kate s very bad books. Meanwhile Jodi is still reeling from Luke s arrest, and her moping is starting to drive Kate crazy, although Jodi insists she is fine. Kate s tried everything; she even enlists Alex to give some brotherly advice. Still trying, Kate borrows Alex s prize bull and suggests Jodi handle the animal at a show in Coonarra. To her surprise Jodi agrees and the girls set off on a road trip. It s fun until Jodi stops at the end of a road and looks towards the road that leads to Luke s detention. Jodi s wants to visit him since it was on the way. Kate takes the keys out the ignition and hides them. Jodi gets of the car angrily and says to Kate that she will walk all the way there if she had to. Kate Jodi stops and breaks down. She confesses she is a mess and that she misses him so much and just wants to see him. Later, they return to Drovers with the first prize and Jodi feeling a lot worse after having come so close to seeing Luke. Kate tells her she will back off a little - and gives Jodi a two year plan she has drawn up. It s up to Jodi to pull life together on her own or with Kates help as she offers. Jodi takes a small step back into the real world. Regan sneaks away in her car and takes some soil samples from a creek bed. Her car gets bogged in the mud. Stevie comes to Regan s assistance, but Stevie ends up wedged between the car and a tree trunk, in danger of being crushed. Regan is forced to confront her worst fear, and ride Banjo to get help. As Banjo takes off through the paddocks, she clings to him, utterly petrified. She alerts the others, and Stevie is rescued. Regan is feted for her courage and taken into the Drovers fold. With all the fuss, nobody thinks to ask about why she was out there in the first place. After Stevie s brush with death and Alex s advice, Nick makes a decision about children. He disappears to Killarney but returns with his childhood cricket bat and gives it to Tess; he wants to pass it onto their children, their own children. Tess is right, life is too short. They will have kids, come what may.