Home and Away spoilers: Harper and Archie smile brightly, revealing Tane’s future with his son

In a week brimming with intensity and emotional upheaval, Home and Away delivers one of its most dramatic plotlines yet—Harper’s bushland labour ordeal takes center stage, forcing characters to confront long-standing fears and hidden intentions. As the gripping scenes unfold, the fate of Harper and her unborn child teeters on a knife’s edge, while Tane’s future as a father becomes ever more entangled in a web of mystery and danger surrounding one troubled teen.

Labour in the Wild: A Race Against Time
What begins as a peaceful walk in the bush quickly spirals into a harrowing fight for survival. Harper, heavily pregnant and nearing her due date, sets out for a stroll accompanied by the enigmatic teen Eliza. But the tranquillity is shattered when Harper is suddenly struck by intense labour pains. As contractions grow stronger and the pain becomes unbearable, panic sets in. Isolated, vulnerable, and far from any medical help, Harper’s worst fears come to life.

What makes the situation even more precarious is that the only person with her is Eliza—a 14-year-old with a disturbing past and an increasingly unpredictable demeanor. Harper, unaware of the true depth of Eliza’s troubled psyche, mistakenly believes the girl has a fascination with motherhood and babies. But it’s not maternal instinct that draws Eliza in—it’s the chaos and suffering of childbirth that seems to hold her attention.

Jessica Redmayne, who portrays Harper, tells TV Week, “Harper genuinely believes Eliza is just a lonely, misunderstood girl. She wants to help her and doesn’t see her as a threat. But what Harper doesn’t realise is that Eliza is hiding something dark.”

A History of Fire and Shadows
Eliza’s background has been a source of tension ever since her arrival in Summer Bay. Rumours of arson and theft follow her like a shadow. Her former foster home burned down under suspicious circumstances, and ever since, the townsfolk—particularly Marilyn, Roo, and Alf—have grown wary of her increasingly hostile behaviour and chilling threats. Though many around her are on high alert, Harper remains convinced that the teen simply needs compassion and support.

But the cracks in that assumption widen dramatically during the bushland labour crisis.

As Harper pleads with Eliza to call an ambulance, Eliza picks up her phone and pretends to make the call—buying herself time as she watches Harper writhe in pain. What Eliza doesn’t realise, however, is that Harper is about to uncover her duplicity. And with no help on the way, time is rapidly running out for both mother and baby.

Tane’s Growing Fears Confirmed
Meanwhile, Tane—Harper’s ex-fiancé and the father of her child—has been growing increasingly uneasy about Eliza’s presence in Harper’s life. Already wary of the teen’s erratic behaviour, his concerns reach a boiling point when Harper fails to respond to multiple phone calls.

Eventually, Harper manages to return one of Tane’s missed calls, and through gasps of pain, explains her dire situation. Tane’s panic is immediate and justified. Not only is Harper alone and in labour, but her unborn child has a known medical condition—a cyst on the lung—which makes natural birth extremely risky. Doctors had previously warned that complications during delivery could prove life-threatening for the baby.

“Harper is terrified,” Jessica explains. “She knows she was advised against a natural birth, but out in the bush, she doesn’t have a choice. She’s doing everything she can to stay calm, but she fears for her baby’s life.”

And just as the stakes reach their peak, Eliza secretly presses ‘record’ on her phone—capturing the moment not to call for help, but for a reason still disturbingly unclear.

A Glimmer of Hope: Archie’s First Smile
Despite the overwhelming drama and tension of this week’s storyline, fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Behind-the-scenes photos captured during filming at Sydney’s Palm Beach late last year confirm that both Harper and her newborn son, Archie, will survive the ordeal.

In the images, Harper can be seen smiling and playing with baby Archie in his buggy, a picture of peace and joy following her traumatic experience. Tane is also present, sharing a warm moment with his son—signaling that, despite the uncertainty and fear that dominated the birth, he will be a part of Archie’s life after all.

The images offer a powerful contrast to the current on-screen turmoil, and promise a storyline shift from survival to healing, as Harper and Tane navigate co-parenting and possibly rekindling their bond.

What’s Next for Eliza?
While Harper and her baby find light at the end of a very dark tunnel, questions still swirl around Eliza and her true intentions. Her decision to record Harper’s labour rather than seek help paints a disturbing picture, and her past remains shrouded in secrecy.

Will the Summer Bay community finally uncover what Eliza is hiding? Or will she continue to weave her web of deceit, endangering others in the process?

As the storylines grow darker and more emotionally complex, Home and Away continues to showcase the high stakes and layered character drama that have kept viewers captivated for decades. Harper’s near-tragedy serves as both a cautionary tale and a triumph of resilience, marking the beginning of a new chapter for her, Archie, and Tane.

Stay tuned as secrets unravel, alliances shift, and the bonds of family and trust are tested like never before in the days to come.