Sarah has to write an essay about who she is to apply for a scholarship (same as Julia), and asks Bailey for time to herself to figure this out. She wants to go to the place of the geology trip, but in the road, in a coffee station, she calls him to remind Owen's doctor appointment, to call the exterminator, etc, and forgets her bag with the laptop there. When she returns, Bailey already tracked the laptop through phone calls, and found it so she can keep with her essay, but she realizes that now she turned into a kind of wife and kind of a mother. With only 19 years old, she is afraid of admitting who she become (Charlie was right in what he said to her in the episode Fam-i-ly). Bailey is happy how things are and tries to comfort her assuring that everything is ok, as she takes care of everything as he does (Owen, Claudia, the house and exterminators for mouses, etc), but she doesn't seem pleased or glad to hear this. In the final and most emotional scene here, Bailey goes to see wedding rings, with the intention to propose to Sarah. This story was great and touching at the end, because Bailey and Sarah's love (also, the melody at the end, is exceptional). After all the things that happened to them, especially in season 3, Bailey now feels sure that Sarah is somehow his wife. Probably she feels that way too but is afraid and wants to feel more free. Anyway, they love each other and deserve to be together, despite their youth.
As for Claudia, with 16 years, to Bailey's shock, rebels herself with a tatoo in her right hand and changes her hair color to dark red. Sarah tries to let her be who she wants to be but Bailey tries to ground her. Instead, she doesn't listen and goes out with Cody. When they return, Bailey confronts them, and smells alcohol in Claudia (a guy accidentally spilled beer on her), so he thinks that Cody got her drunk. Cody tells that he can't drink, and then Claudia allows him to leave, while she handles Bailey. She keeps avoiding his worries, and tells him that he doesn't trust her. The next day, she's kind to Sarah given her struggles with the essay, the laptop, and still refuses to listen to Bailey, and goes out again with Cody. About this, I know that Bailey crossed slightly the line towards Claudia, but I understand him and I also wish for Claudia to be the same she always was. I know she's 16 and being rebel can be normal, like Bailey was when he had Jill, or like Julia when she went to the night club, but seemed that Claudia wouldn't take that road. She always was a sweet child, eccentric but truthful, honest and funny, the voice of good and reason. Now she blasted Bailey because he's not her dad, not even Charlie, ignoring the special bond they used to have. She said that she has been taking care of herself for a while, which implies she has some anger towards her siblings for the neglect suffered in part of seasons 2-3-4-5. Bailey hasn't been for her in past seasons (he had his drinking, Sarah, Callie, Annie, Natalie, even Owen), so now she struggles to accept his parental worries. Instead, she respects more Charlie despite this mistakes because overall he has been there for her. He wasn't a perfect, but he did the best he could, and was the only "father" she had after Nick's death. Charlie did the right thing, he told her it was ok about the hair, to not upset her or because it wasn't bad, but he also said that she has to be patient with Bailey, now he is the running the house and if she defies him, he will "need a bypass by the time he is 21". Also, Claudia pondered crashing in Charlie-Kirsten's place, and he told her she knows she always will be welcome. In the meantime, Julia also changes who she is in the worst time possible. Josh asks her out again, and, deciding that she usually falls for the wrong guys, she says yes, but in their date they find Perry, whose words ruin everything. She tells her in private that she doesn't have to be afraid of being alone. The day after their date, Julia explains to Josh that now she has to be alone instead of dating guys, something usual for her. I didn't like this, because I have a feeling that Josh was the perfect guy for her, and was really unfair that she gave chances to guys like Morgan, Cooper and Ned, for example, and not to Josh, who clearly is a much better and nice guy than all the rest. Considering how popular became Adam Scott later, a season 6 with him as a regular would have been a great idea, but sadly, it didn't happened.
Initially, Charlie and Kirsten remain in paradise while she plays with baby Diana and they talk how exceptional she is (this was a very nice scene for them, and yes, the baby is really sweet). Kirsten says how Diana tried to say "apple", that she'd be a leader in a nation of 1 year olds, but Charlie downplays the politic figure. She says, "this is your child I'm admiring", he says that now is kind of theirs, and though they recognize it was a dumb thing to say, he assures her that Diana loves her, she feels loved by her. They happily kiss, and she says he wants to feel that baby Diana loves her. But soon troubles hit paradise when Daphne first rings the Salinger house (where Bailey and Sarah welcome her without telling the change in Charlie's life), and then the school, looking for Charlie and Diana. He was in a field trip for school, Bailey couldn't warn him, and after getting down the bus he gives her a kind but distant welcome, busy to tell her how things are now with he, Kirsten and Diana. She tells him that her mother died in Texas, that made her think in return, believing they were happy together (what a lie). He says that she (actually, they weren't) wasn't happy, and that he'll explain the situation in half hour in a school break (another teacher called him to watch the students), but she doesn't wait and leaves. In the night, he talks to Bailey by phone about what she said, while Kirsten happily takes a cute and slippery Diana to her crib. After hanging up, Charlie tells her the news, but he mishandles the situation by saying it's a good thing. He says that he went to LA so Diana could have her mother, so Kirsten saddened says "her real mother". He knows that no one can take care of her the way Kirsten can but she's not comforted by this. He says they don't know what Daphne wants yet or if she'll return, so his "wife" says that not knowing is not a good feeling, and holds Diana again, leaving the room to spend more time with her. Kirsten has doubts and fears not only because she might lose him again, also because she might lose the only baby she can take care of, considering she can't have kids so far. Besides, she is still unemployed, so she spent the last month full with Diana, giving her baths, changing diapers, clothes, and with Charlie, when he wasn't shop teaching. The next day, Daphne gets Charlie's adress from the school and is surprised to see Kirsten holding Diana in the apartment when she visits. The talk they had was very well written, for one side showed a forbearing, shocked and uncomfortable Daphne and a patient, honest, generous, but also uncomfortable Kirsten. Daphne asks her if she's still married to Paul, and after the negative says "that happened fast" (she has no idea of how long it really was). She also reveals that only 4 persons attended to her mother's funeral, including herself and her mother's boyfriend, and tells "imagine a life that lonely" (this implies why she returned). Although Daphne didn't say that Kirsten acted like if Diana was hers it's clear that she thought it, that's why Kirsten mentioned that she always knew Diana is Daphne's daughter. Finally Daphne leaves giving a stuffed frog for Diana, and though she rubs her still being hold by Kirsten, she refuses to take her. Then, in a coffee shop, Charlie tells the truth to Daphne: he won't leave Kirsten for her (their relationship changed many times and is not changing anymore), he just wants Diana to have her mother around. He also says that whenever she wants to spend time with Diana, "you can call us". Daphne obviously is saddened or a little heartbroken, but seemingly accepts to go in the night for the baby (anyway, for me there's no comparison between this and all the times that Kirsten suffered for Charlie's love). Finally, Daphne goes to play with Diana while Charlie is close to them, and a saddened Kirsten has to watch the picture from the kitchen, so she leaves to see a movie. Charlie chases her to comfort her, telling that he understands how she feels but that Daphne is just there for Diana, that's all. She says she sees what she sees, "that's a family up there", hurt by what she can't have, and promises to return in 2 hours. He lets her leave but surely he returned upstairs saddened, thinking how he'll convince her that she is the only woman for him. It's really sad that Kirsten has to suffer one more time. She is Charlie's Wife since season 1-2, she was always there for him and it's bad that not having his children makes her feel like she is a stranger. She is the one who taught him how to be a father for baby Owen, who supported him during the Seattle job's offer and afterwards, who made of him a Man by convincing of manage the restaurant and a being a Father to Claudia and the siblings, who stayed with him during the Spencer's scheme, who shared parenthood for their "children", who proposed him, went to an aisle with him and later forgave him for getting cold feet on their wedding day, who stayed and comforted him during his cancer and even when Daphne and Diana appeared. The truth is the truth, the facts are the facts, Daphne is just the mother of Charlie's daughter and a friend, but no more. The theme with Daphne is that she met a man with the heart already taken, already "married", that for complicated situations couldn't be official. Still, Kirsten always will be Charlie's wife no matter what happens.
As for Claudia, with 16 years, to Bailey's shock, rebels herself with a tatoo in her right hand and changes her hair color to dark red. Sarah tries to let her be who she wants to be but Bailey tries to ground her. Instead, she doesn't listen and goes out with Cody. When they return, Bailey confronts them, and smells alcohol in Claudia (a guy accidentally spilled beer on her), so he thinks that Cody got her drunk. Cody tells that he can't drink, and then Claudia allows him to leave, while she handles Bailey. She keeps avoiding his worries, and tells him that he doesn't trust her. The next day, she's kind to Sarah given her struggles with the essay, the laptop, and still refuses to listen to Bailey, and goes out again with Cody. About this, I know that Bailey crossed slightly the line towards Claudia, but I understand him and I also wish for Claudia to be the same she always was. I know she's 16 and being rebel can be normal, like Bailey was when he had Jill, or like Julia when she went to the night club, but seemed that Claudia wouldn't take that road. She always was a sweet child, eccentric but truthful, honest and funny, the voice of good and reason. Now she blasted Bailey because he's not her dad, not even Charlie, ignoring the special bond they used to have. She said that she has been taking care of herself for a while, which implies she has some anger towards her siblings for the neglect suffered in part of seasons 2-3-4-5. Bailey hasn't been for her in past seasons (he had his drinking, Sarah, Callie, Annie, Natalie, even Owen), so now she struggles to accept his parental worries. Instead, she respects more Charlie despite this mistakes because overall he has been there for her. He wasn't a perfect, but he did the best he could, and was the only "father" she had after Nick's death. Charlie did the right thing, he told her it was ok about the hair, to not upset her or because it wasn't bad, but he also said that she has to be patient with Bailey, now he is the running the house and if she defies him, he will "need a bypass by the time he is 21". Also, Claudia pondered crashing in Charlie-Kirsten's place, and he told her she knows she always will be welcome. In the meantime, Julia also changes who she is in the worst time possible. Josh asks her out again, and, deciding that she usually falls for the wrong guys, she says yes, but in their date they find Perry, whose words ruin everything. She tells her in private that she doesn't have to be afraid of being alone. The day after their date, Julia explains to Josh that now she has to be alone instead of dating guys, something usual for her. I didn't like this, because I have a feeling that Josh was the perfect guy for her, and was really unfair that she gave chances to guys like Morgan, Cooper and Ned, for example, and not to Josh, who clearly is a much better and nice guy than all the rest. Considering how popular became Adam Scott later, a season 6 with him as a regular would have been a great idea, but sadly, it didn't happened.
Initially, Charlie and Kirsten remain in paradise while she plays with baby Diana and they talk how exceptional she is (this was a very nice scene for them, and yes, the baby is really sweet). Kirsten says how Diana tried to say "apple", that she'd be a leader in a nation of 1 year olds, but Charlie downplays the politic figure. She says, "this is your child I'm admiring", he says that now is kind of theirs, and though they recognize it was a dumb thing to say, he assures her that Diana loves her, she feels loved by her. They happily kiss, and she says he wants to feel that baby Diana loves her. But soon troubles hit paradise when Daphne first rings the Salinger house (where Bailey and Sarah welcome her without telling the change in Charlie's life), and then the school, looking for Charlie and Diana. He was in a field trip for school, Bailey couldn't warn him, and after getting down the bus he gives her a kind but distant welcome, busy to tell her how things are now with he, Kirsten and Diana. She tells him that her mother died in Texas, that made her think in return, believing they were happy together (what a lie). He says that she (actually, they weren't) wasn't happy, and that he'll explain the situation in half hour in a school break (another teacher called him to watch the students), but she doesn't wait and leaves. In the night, he talks to Bailey by phone about what she said, while Kirsten happily takes a cute and slippery Diana to her crib. After hanging up, Charlie tells her the news, but he mishandles the situation by saying it's a good thing. He says that he went to LA so Diana could have her mother, so Kirsten saddened says "her real mother". He knows that no one can take care of her the way Kirsten can but she's not comforted by this. He says they don't know what Daphne wants yet or if she'll return, so his "wife" says that not knowing is not a good feeling, and holds Diana again, leaving the room to spend more time with her. Kirsten has doubts and fears not only because she might lose him again, also because she might lose the only baby she can take care of, considering she can't have kids so far. Besides, she is still unemployed, so she spent the last month full with Diana, giving her baths, changing diapers, clothes, and with Charlie, when he wasn't shop teaching. The next day, Daphne gets Charlie's adress from the school and is surprised to see Kirsten holding Diana in the apartment when she visits. The talk they had was very well written, for one side showed a forbearing, shocked and uncomfortable Daphne and a patient, honest, generous, but also uncomfortable Kirsten. Daphne asks her if she's still married to Paul, and after the negative says "that happened fast" (she has no idea of how long it really was). She also reveals that only 4 persons attended to her mother's funeral, including herself and her mother's boyfriend, and tells "imagine a life that lonely" (this implies why she returned). Although Daphne didn't say that Kirsten acted like if Diana was hers it's clear that she thought it, that's why Kirsten mentioned that she always knew Diana is Daphne's daughter. Finally Daphne leaves giving a stuffed frog for Diana, and though she rubs her still being hold by Kirsten, she refuses to take her. Then, in a coffee shop, Charlie tells the truth to Daphne: he won't leave Kirsten for her (their relationship changed many times and is not changing anymore), he just wants Diana to have her mother around. He also says that whenever she wants to spend time with Diana, "you can call us". Daphne obviously is saddened or a little heartbroken, but seemingly accepts to go in the night for the baby (anyway, for me there's no comparison between this and all the times that Kirsten suffered for Charlie's love). Finally, Daphne goes to play with Diana while Charlie is close to them, and a saddened Kirsten has to watch the picture from the kitchen, so she leaves to see a movie. Charlie chases her to comfort her, telling that he understands how she feels but that Daphne is just there for Diana, that's all. She says she sees what she sees, "that's a family up there", hurt by what she can't have, and promises to return in 2 hours. He lets her leave but surely he returned upstairs saddened, thinking how he'll convince her that she is the only woman for him. It's really sad that Kirsten has to suffer one more time. She is Charlie's Wife since season 1-2, she was always there for him and it's bad that not having his children makes her feel like she is a stranger. She is the one who taught him how to be a father for baby Owen, who supported him during the Seattle job's offer and afterwards, who made of him a Man by convincing of manage the restaurant and a being a Father to Claudia and the siblings, who stayed with him during the Spencer's scheme, who shared parenthood for their "children", who proposed him, went to an aisle with him and later forgave him for getting cold feet on their wedding day, who stayed and comforted him during his cancer and even when Daphne and Diana appeared. The truth is the truth, the facts are the facts, Daphne is just the mother of Charlie's daughter and a friend, but no more. The theme with Daphne is that she met a man with the heart already taken, already "married", that for complicated situations couldn't be official. Still, Kirsten always will be Charlie's wife no matter what happens.