Mark Nicholas returns to the area where he grew up to discover that his grandmother is now living in his bedroom and he hardly knows his teenage sister Jodie. He runs into his first love Alice who is now married with a child. It's not long before Mark becomes reacquainted with his past, including his old friends Lucy, Carly and Jeff.

The Nicholas family are having money issues, so Mark decides to try and get some temp work at the council. Betty also manages to get a job at a hotel where she begins an odd friendship with Daniel, who has a strange obsession with Betty's family. Mark's mother used to work at the council and he finds out that her old colleagues have been keeping a secret about her personal life which ends up having some devastating repercussions for the whole family.

Mark tries to discuss his grievances over the police investigation with Alice, but she does not want to listen to what he has to say. He goes to the council in an effort to persuade Shireen to look into the police investigation but she warns him to stop causing problems. Mark is forced to reconnect with his family after Betty ends up in hospital. Jodie tells him it's time to get over his obsession and begin looking after them like he promised he would. Mark ends up agreeing and they celebrate Jodie's 16th birthday. After a new piece of information from their parents' past comes to light though Mark knows he has to keep pushing until the truth is revealed.