Tasha Raveley's husband Matt is killed in Afghanistan. His parents,Paula and Howard,a veteran military couple,organize a military funeral but Tasha struggles to accept her widowhood and channels her affections into her young son Alfie. When Paula opens a letter from Matt to Tasha,revealing that they had a big row Paula sees that Matt was distracted at the time of his death and blames Tasha.

When Joe returns from Afghanistan for a fortnight's leave Louise confronts him over the picture,which he claims is a doctored fake. At a charity day to commemorate Matt Louise sees the woman in the picture,soldier Nicki,and warns her off but later catches up with the guilty pair talking secretly at a gym and is convinced of Joe's infidelity as he returns to Afghanistan. Tasha's mother,Cheryl,arrives from Spain and instantly clashes with Paula over her upbringing of grandson Alfie.

Claire does well at work but has yet to inform Pete,still on tour of duty. She also discovers Pete's daughter Millie in a state of undress with soldier boyfriend Rob and promises not to tell her father provided she ends the affair. When Pete comes home he is annoyed to find that Claire got a job behind his back but he has another problem when his commanding officer Spalden tells him that Matt's brother Tom is planning to change his evidence at the inquest which is likely to discredit Pete.

Though Sam is returned Claire believes that the stressed Pete needs her support at Matt's inquest and ,after an incident at work,resigns her job to accompany him. His evidence is that Matt was a hero,who died saving a child and is commended by the coroner for his own efforts to save Matt's life. The embittered Paula tries to use the letter her son sent to Tasha in evidence but Tom,rather than offer any controversy as expected,backs Pete and a verdict of Accidental Death is recorded.

The troops return from Afghanistan and Joe finds that Louise has changed the locks on their front door. Initially they agree to pretend to stay together so that their children will not be made homeless but Joe then finds out that Louise has been seeing Carl and beats him up. This prompts Louise to take her daughters and leave Joe but finds that he has already collected them from school and run off with them. Helped by Claire she tracks them down and Joe is arrested by the military police.

Claire's wedding plans are interrupted when Sam is arrested for smoking weed belonging to her ex-husband Martin. Feeling confused she cancels the wedding on her hen night,ringing Pete to say that she no longer feels like herself. Tasha goes into labour at home and Tom delivers her baby daughter,the presence of a grandchild doing something to give Paula and Howard a lasting memory of their other son. Louise feels happy with Carl until she finds out that he sent the compromising photo of Joe and decides to move on and leave the area.