At the Abbott home, Traci found Jack working late again, and he said that work kept him focused and clean, but she warned him not to work too hard. She observed that the house seemed empty, and she hoped that it wasn't because of her. Jack revealed that Summer's senior prom was that evening, and Phyllis was at Nick's house to take pictures. Traci mentioned that she'd heard about Nick ripping into Kyle, and she assumed that Nick wasn't happy with the living arrangements. Jack understood that Nick had a problem accepting that his little girl was growing up, but Traci wondered if that was all there was to it.

Jack remembered when Colleen had nursed a crush on J.T., and he said that he and Traci had been just as worried as Nick was about Summer. Traci replied that the difference was that Kyle wasn't interested in Summer, and she wondered if Nick's concern was misplaced. Traci added that Summer's life was in flux, and Phyllis had moved her daughter in, but Phyllis rarely committed to anything for very long. Jack defended that Phyllis had stood by him at his worst, but Traci argued that commitment was more than just being present. Traci believed that part of Phyllis would always be with Nick, since they shared a child.

Traci reminded Jack that Nick had once ruined the chance for Phyllis and Jack to reconcile, but Jack asserted that he and Phyllis had worked it out. Traci wondered why Jack had had to work so hard to convince Phyllis to move in, but he said that Phyllis hadn't wanted to make the same mistakes again. Traci realized that she'd forgotten to call Steve, but she said that she was proud of Jack for having everything figured out. Traci left, and John appeared and queried whether Jack really had everything resolved.

Jack insisted that he had things under control, but John thought that Jack was choosing sides between a stranger and family. John contended that Traci had known Jack for almost his entire life, and she had always been there for him, while Phyllis had flitted in and out of his life. Jack questioned where everyone had been when he had really needed them, but John countered that Jack had caused the distance. Jack stated that Phyllis had never left his side, and he was sure that they'd all work it out together. John pointed out that he wouldn't be there if Jack truly had things under control.

Lauren told Fen that she'd never had the chance to get Scotty ready for prom, and Fen asked how he looked. Lauren called him incredibly handsome, and he good-naturedly complained that she had to say that. Lauren assured him that Summer would think so, too, but Fen lamented that he hadn't been Summer's first choice. Lauren insisted that he and Summer could still have a good time as friends, and she was sorry that her problems had affected him. Lauren implored Fen to forget about Michael and Lauren's issues and just have a good time, and he agreed to try.

At Crimson Lights, Michael presented Kevin with his community service deal, and Kevin thanked Michael for his help, because he wouldn't have survived prison. Michael warned that it would be the last time he saved Kevin, and he advised Kevin to clean up his act, or Chloe would walk. Kevin understood that Chloe was mad, but he swore to make it up to her. Michael chided Kevin for putting his marriage at risk by lying, and he believed that it would take more than an apology. Michael turned around and faced Carmine.

Kevin barked that Carmine wasn't welcome there, but Carmine contended that Kevin could use a paying customer. Kevin snapped that he'd rather hand his keys to the bank than serve Carmine, and he ordered Carmine out. Kevin spat that he hated Carmine, and Michael stated that he had good reason. Kevin asked why Michael had seemed so bothered to see Carmine, and Michael revealed that Carmine was sleeping with Lauren.

Carmine crossed paths with Lauren on his way out, and he asked how she was doing. She wondered if he had been following her. Lauren contended that it wasn't the first time Carmine had run into her, and he acknowledged that he had been out of line to send her text messages. He insisted that he respected her wishes to stay away, and he had simply gone there to get coffee, but Kevin had refused to serve him. Lauren assumed that Michael had told Kevin about the affair, but she realized that there was no longer a reason to keep it a secret.

Carmine noted that Michael hadn't seemed forgiving, but Lauren said that Michael needed time, and she planned to keep trying. Carmine didn't think that Michael would get past it, and he questioned whether Lauren wanted to keep begging and having to change, when Carmine wanted her for who she was. Lauren swore that it would never work between her and Carmine, because he wasn't Michael. She affirmed that she wanted and needed Michael, and she always would. Michael overheard from around the corner.

After Lauren left, Michael confronted Carmine, who said that Lauren had already told Carmine to stay away from her. Carmine declared that he wasn't sure why Lauren had to beg Michael for forgiveness, when Michael had taken her for granted and tossed her aside. Carmine added that both Lauren and Fen deserved better, and Michael attacked Carmine. Kevin prevented Michael from strangling Carmine, but Kevin told Carmine that he had deserved far worse.

Michael returned home, and Lauren reported that Fen was at prom with Summer. A surprised Michael relayed that Fen had been upset because Summer had been seeing another boy, and he grumbled that he could relate. Lauren repeated that she was sorry, and she recalled that Michael had once told her that life was a gamble. She pointed out that part of risking big was being prepared to lose it all, and she hadn't considered the stakes. She admitted that she'd taken too big of a gamble with their marriage and their beautiful life together, and she'd lost everything. Michael contemplated what would happen if she hadn't, and she wondered whether he was saying that he could forgive her.

Michael stated that he was tired of being angry, and it wasn't good for either of them or for Fen. She asked whether he was willing to repair their marriage, and he said that he was willing to try. She smiled through her tears and said that it was all she could ask. She hugged him, and after a moment, he put his arms around her. They tentatively moved in for a kiss, but Michael imagined Lauren kissing Carmine, and he looked stricken.

Phyllis thanked Nick for letting her stop by to take photos, and he apologized for being a jerk about Summer moving in with Phyllis and Jack. Phyllis conceded that it was weird picturing Summer with Kyle or anyone else, and she said that it seemed like Summer had just been walking around with Mr. Ears. Nick marveled that their daughter had progressed to fashion shoots and prom, and soon Summer would go to college. Nick wanted to be a part of Summer's life for as long as he could, and Phyllis assured him that he always would be, because he was Summer's dad.

Summer descended the stairs in her prom gown, and Phyllis and Nick fawned over her. Summer wished that she had a stylist to deal with her cowlick, and Phyllis went to get a brush. Summer asked Nick if she looked okay, and he said that she was gorgeous, but he hoped that she was also forgiving. He admitted that he'd been overprotective, but he loved her and wanted what was best for her.

Summer wished that Nick trusted her judgment, and she longed for the days when they'd go to the pond and feed the ducks together. He said that they could still do that over the summer, if she wasn't spending all her time with her friends. She confirmed that she could make time for him in her busy schedule. Summer reminded Nick that she loved him and always would, and they hugged.

Nick and Phyllis helped Summer get ready for the prom. Fen arrived and was taken aback by how beautiful Summer looked. Summer tried to make a quick exit, but Phyllis insisted on taking some pictures. Summer looked uncomfortable when Fen put his arm around her shoulder, and she whined that she didn't want to be late. Outside, Fen remarked that he was glad that he and Summer were going to prom together, but she informed him that they weren't, because she had made other plans.

Nick was suspicious that Summer had wanted to leave so abruptly, but Phyllis reasoned that it would have been strange if Summer had preferred to hang out with her parents on prom night. Phyllis admitted that she was hurt that Summer had confided in Avery rather than Phyllis, but Nick pointed out that Summer didn't have to worry about disappointing Avery, whereas Summer still looked for Nick and Phyllis' approval. Nick was concerned that Summer was thinking about having sex, but Phyllis said that Summer was 18 and could do what she wanted. Nick hoped to prevent Summer from making a choice that could haunt her.

Nick questioned whether Phyllis would like to change some of the choices she'd made at 18, but Phyllis asserted that Summer had to learn from her mistakes. She added that mistakes were part of life, and she assured Nick that he was an amazing father. Phyllis expressed concern about how Nick and Avery's broken engagement would affect Summer. Nick disclosed that it had been a mutual decision, because he and Avery had realized that it was important to make sure that they were ready for a lifelong commitment.

Phyllis returned home and asked to talk with Jack privately. She worried that she and Jack were moving too quickly, and she should have given moving in together more thought. She suggested that they take a step back to think, but she clarified that she didn't want to break up. She announced her intent to move back to her penthouse that night.

Later, Traci was shocked that in the time it had taken her to call Steve, Phyllis had packed and moved out. Jack conceded that maybe Phyllis had been right, but Traci didn't think he truly believed that. He remarked that he'd thought things had been going great, but it took two people to make a relationship work. He was willing to give Phyllis time, and Traci remarked that if Phyllis and Jack didn't grow stronger, at least Jack wouldn't be disappointed down the line.

Summer and Fen arrived at Phyllis' penthouse, and Summer explained that they were going to skip prom and go right to the afterparty. They entered the penthouse, where a bunch of teens had already gathered. Summer hugged Courtney hello, and they discussed having to convince their parents that they had been headed to prom. Courtney urged Summer to try a sour apple concoction, and another boy handed Fen a drink.

A couple headed to the bedroom, and Courtney pointed out that it should have been Summer and Kyle going upstairs. Summer said that there was no way Kyle would attend a high school party, but Courtney thought that he would be there if he thought that Summer was in trouble. Summer worried that Kyle would alert her parents, but Courtney suspected that Kyle would want credit and Summer's gratitude if he rescued her.

At the spring fair, Abby teased Alex for not being able to shoot the ducks at the firing range, and she proudly displayed the stuffed animal she'd won. He called her a decent shot, but he claimed that his gun had been off. She asked Kyle if he was having fun, but he felt like a third wheel, and she consoled Kyle over being stood up. Alex went to get some funnel cake, and Kyle decided to leave, but Abby argued that it was good for him to be out of the house and away from Summer. Abby said that she'd seen the way he looked at Summer, and she understood that it was good to feel wanted, even if it was by the wrong person.

Abby, Kyle, and Alex waited for Madame Miranda, the fortune-teller. Kyle opted to head home, but Madame Miranda appeared and told him to stop because the girl who had stood him up wasn't the woman for him. Madame Miranda traced Abby's heart line, and she noted that Abby was very interested in the opposite sex and had no trouble expressing herself. She predicted that Abby wouldn't have to look far for the man of her dreams. Abby was pleased with the reading, and Madame Miranda suddenly had a strong feeling about Kyle.

Madame Miranda said that Kyle had a strong aura, and she gazed into her crystal ball. She said that she foresaw many obstacles in store for Kyle, regarding love, and Alex joked that chicks would keep standing Kyle up. Madame Miranda said that Kyle's troubles would be immense, but love would find a way, because love only listened to the heart and not the mind. Summer sent Kyle a text message, saying that she was drunk at the penthouse with Fen, and she requested that Kyle pick her up.

At Crimson Lights, Abby thought it had been eerie that Kyle had received a text message during the reading, and she wondered who the man of her dreams was. Kevin asked to take their order, and Alex mentioned that Kevin would be working off his sentence at Alex's request, since there was no one better than a hacker to protect the police department's computer system. Kevin refused to bow down to Alex, but Alex commented that Kevin was only free because of Michael's connections, but Michael couldn't fix everything.

At the afterparty, Courtney suggested a game of truth or dare. Fen didn't want to play, but another boy insisted that everyone had to participate. Fen chose a dare, and Angie told him to make out with Summer. Fen and Summer both balked, but Courtney taunted that Summer was into older guys who weren't afraid of kissing. Fen pounced on Summer and planted a passionate kiss on her. Summer protested, and Kyle burst in and pulled Fen off of Summer.

Nick visited Cassie's grave, and he said that he had been thinking about her that night when Summer had been getting ready for prom. He lamented that Cassie hadn't gotten to go to hers, and he closed his eyes and pictured Cassie in a fancy dress with a beautiful smile. He remarked that she'd always had the best smile, and he began to weep. Nick cried that he missed Cassie, and losing her had nearly killed him. He added that he couldn't go through losing a daughter again.

Nick said that he knew that Cassie would understand why Nick had been acting crazy, but he couldn't help it. He saw the path that Summer was going down, and it scared him, because he knew where it ended. He worried that Summer couldn't bounce back, and he had to protect her, because as Summer's father, it was his job to keep her safe.

Nick returned to the tack house and looked at the envelope with his name on it, and he flashed back to telling Phyllis about labs that performed DNA testing. Phyllis had anticipated that Nick hadn't wanted her child to be his, and he had stated that it would probably be best if Jack were the father. Later, Nick had told Phyllis that the baby was Nick's. Nick took out the document, which requested that Nick submit another sample, because the lab hadn't been able to verify paternity. Nick stared at Summer's hairbrush on the table.