Fri, Dec 20, 2002
The press brings the hospital hostage story, so the worried wedding party gathers outside. Young Tony finally pulls through after David and Syd's tireless efforts, under absurd conditions, but needs long-term care. The boy's despair-driven dad faces facts, kisses Tony goodbye and surrenders his weapon the the SWAT team. The next day, Syd has her last dream-visit from mother Linda before saying goodbye to dad, Jim, the Hansen home and Providence hospital. Both her and Owen's families and guests can finally enjoy the Christmastide wedding.
Fri, Apr 12, 2002
Robbie asks dad to 'babysit Petie' so he and Tina can retreat to sort out their tax claims urgently, but Jim can't move his earlier date. That means poor Pete has to play with Hannah and her doll-house, which he proves great at but can't admit to it when a pair of hockey-mates drop by. In fact the young couple are firstly to frisky to get much paperwork done, then rather obsessed with picking baby names, which they can't agree on. Owen encourages Syd, whose patient accountant John Smith is tax season-stressed, to play ruthlessly in a city-wide Gocha (paint gun mystery) game for charity. Jackson Palmer's 'fun course' rock history seemed so cool, but soon convinces Joanie she's the class dinosaur, except with fun student Aiden, who appreciates a Mrs. Robinson to 'improve his dating technique'.
Fri, Nov 22, 2002
On Thanksgiving, the Victorian street decorations committee 'queen' blackmails Robbie (who needs consent to open his B&B) to decorate according to a fitting Candy-lane theme by the next day, yet Joanie refuses him the use of the Hansen home decorations. Jim sells his vintage trains, a gift from his granddad, to pay for Syd's ideal wedding reception, but Tina has a better idea. A patient keeps Syd away from her bridal shower, so the hens horde holds Owen hostage, sitting trough the male stripper he ordered, hunky Wally, who proves actually a charming young father.
Fri, Oct 4, 2002
Five months later, premature baby Nicholas Luke is keeping Robbie and Tina awake to their despair, everybody suggests some soothing technique. Pete enjoys camping in the Hansen backyard. Jim waves Heather's worrying Meredith's postcards are rather impersonal, she's just in time for the christening but on a different wave-length. Syd worries St. Clare clinic is closed after a terrible building report, repairs will take six more months after uncertain funding and planning. Owen warns her not to take too much notice of arrogant college professor Dr. Bill Augustine and cheers her up with a romantic surprise, then a big one. Joanie feels no guilt for chasing both perfectly good lovers to new jobs in Denver and Canada, and volunteers as college radio WWEN's graveyard shift gopher under med student rock DJ Ray, who passes out on air, exhausted from cramming.
Fri, Oct 26, 2001
Young Pete is hostile towards the wedding, Tina grounds the boy 'till he apologies' for preferring an ice-hockey match with his dad Peter. This is answered with a lock-out barricade; poor groom Robbie is caught in the middle and squirms heroically both ways till he can come to the kid's rescue. Jim is miserable now that Fearless is afraid of him, and his surgery role may be reduced to fur-grooming, although his relevant memory starts returning. Syd is finally frolicking with Joe, but days before the senatorial election his veteran adversary Susan Bradshaw starts playing dirty. When his campaign retaliates with the truth on her marijuana abuse and abortion, this causes their own affair to become Examiner interest. Syd cancels her trust but gives a campaign-favorable TV interview, denying a relationship; he wins without her vote.
Fri, Jan 25, 2002
Pete has fought with Nicole at school, so the principal insists 'parents' Robbie and Tina chaperon them at the winter dance that neither kid even wants to attend, each embarrassing the kid of their gender with outdated 'tips'. Pete ends up the only boy in a suit, but they sneak out to skateboard and bond anyway. Jim is finally back in the surgery's driver seat. His canine patient belongs to a couple in marital crisis and swallowed a crucial prop. Syd accepts teaching a med school class, with insecure eager beaver Alexander Conrad. She dislikes unconventional, erudite top lawyer Owen Frank at first sight, but given his record and the lack of an alternative accepts to follow his instructions. She can't keep her big trap closed during the deposition and is dumped by the lawyer. After Joanie left Phil frolicking on the couch to check an the babysitter, he cooks her an aphrodisiac feast and loses his patience when she calls it a porn set.
Fri, Nov 1, 2002
Robbie is impressed by Tina's Halloween preparations, neighbor kid Taylor annually pulls his pranks on Jim. Yet Tina, who really can't handle baby Nicholas's incessant crying, comes down like a ton of bricks on Pete for trying to retaliate (which lands him and especially Jim in surprising trouble) and on sympathetic ex-rascal Robbie for making her the only 'bad cop'. Syd gets stuck working on Halloween night. Owen is vexed she seems to make life-changing decisions without even consulting her groom. The hospital is swamped with costumed patients and total weirdos, including 'witches' and lonely Hank who claims to be a harmless vampire. After Pete bluntly tells Tina she's so impossible since the baby's birth and her choice to start a B&B that he would be better off without such a mother, she snaps back to hate him too and runs away.
Fri, Apr 5, 2002
Robbie decides to earn extra money to set up a trust fund for the baby. However, Tina wants him to pull the plug on surprisingly lucrative parties at O'Neils when she discovers it's how prostitutes recruit customers. Syd won't have the family attend her jury trial but can't wait, so she decides to track the victim's grandfather herself. However, Owen discovers the overbearing mother Lenore Decker gave a fake name. Syd meets the real dad, a charming 17-year old Jack Finch, after visit hours and messes up her testimony, but Owen gets inspired. Immature Joanie decides to register in college but takes her cue from cute student Aidan Green to change a sensible minor to history of rock music.
Fri, Nov 2, 2001
Robbie's wedding preparations prove pure torture, especially if Tina's dad and twin mates the cops have their wicked prankster way, which only appeals to dad's reduced mental abilities, making him a worthless best man, her ma is pathologically vain. Syd ignores a hint to buy Robbie a microwave and gets nearly scolded when she pretends to know 'obviously' what her 'kid brother' -the offensive phrase- wants, her alternative crystal punch bowl breaks in the commotion. After the idiotic in-laws' coarseness chases him from his own bachelor party, getting blamed for dad joining in their stripper fun by his haughtily (but badly) 'advising' sisters gets too much even for gentle Robbie. Still the wedding is serene and moving, even dad's speech till he loses his thread and clumsily slaps the groom a bloody nose.
Fri, Jan 11, 2002
Robbie worried he will be fired when pub owner Terra O'Neil's visits, despite his great business-boosting innovations like a baby salad and Friday live band. Instead he gets a proposition to take over as managing partner for 25% of the profit. Tina sees Syd behind his back about her 'pregnancy' symptoms, and tells him they're not ready for a baby; they both reconsider. Jim is finally back in the veterinary surgery, albeit shadowed by his temp, and finds a way around a father's religious objections against medical 'meddling' in treating his daughter's dog. Syd's clinic is under suspicious scrutiny by Dr. Minkus from the Board as she's being sued for alleged malpractice, yet refuses a settlement on principle. Phil and Joanie try to intercede for the needy with bureaucracy, notably Mike O'Brien's preteen son Ethan who needs special help to stay in his school where he's captain of the hockey team.