This episode shows some of the biggest fears of the Salingers. Kirsten discovers that their insurance will cover 90% of the laparoscopy for her endometriosis, so she calls Charlie, who was talking about bookshelves and lines with a fellow worker. She's happy because they'll be able to live their lives without the IVF regimens, and asks him if she already should schedule a date with the doctor, he says no time like the present. She remembers that Charlie is stuck with a problem in the factory, he has to produce some of his designs with more money than they have, so she asks about it, he answers that he'll solve it and tells her to call for the surgery and then call him back. Next morning, at the apartment, he's working early on the designs and also has attend a call from Tommy, one of the workers who tells that some couldn't go because they're sick. Kirsten goes to support and comfort him over about the problems and she also prepares coffee. He says he read the risks of the surgery (worst case scenarios, rare cases like ectopic pregnancy or bladder damage), and has fears and worries, but she tells him they knew that, and that as long as they are trying to have a baby, doctors will be check up on her every month (to watch if there's an ectopic pregnancy). She tells him to try to avoid being worried. Later, he arrives home earlier than her, and reads a bedtime story to Diana. While preparing dinner with his wife, he says he'll put the designs to produce on hold, so he can spend time with her and Diana, but she pushes him and tells him not to give up, because the expo for the factory furniture is next week. He says he's out of ideas and she tells it's been 5 years since his last and only chance for producing his designs (Seattle job), so she wants him to find a solution. He wanted to think in Diana and the surgery, but Kirsten says those things can be worked out, and that he must figure out why he wants to wait to take the chance (for the end of the conversation, I guess it was a silent dinner). Still, the next day at the hospital, Kirsten, shows her own fears. After the operation, in the hospital bed, when Kirsten wakes up, Charlie was there waiting next to her and tells that Dr Vazquez said that it went well, that they have a real shot so she can get pregnant. She feels scared because the doctors already did their job, so now having children is up to her. He comforts her saying there's nothing to be afraid of, she did all she could to have children, she doesn't need excuses. Also, he thanks her for make him realize that he has no more excuses for not trying to produce his designs, before there was the restaurant and his siblings, but now there's nothing. Still, he is afraid of not being able to solve the problem, she tells he just needs to do it, so he says "what if I can't?" and holds her hand, implying how much he needs her to apart his fears. Somehow, and despite being a little harsh when she pushed him, she still manages to get the best of him because he finally loses his fear: in the night, he has a dream which reminded him of Frank Gehry, and tells her he will leave stuff unfinished to save money for the designs. If it worked for him, to design inexpensive buildings, seemingly unfinished, but excellent by view, he can do the same. She says that's great and returns to sleep, while he keeps drawing. The storyline was very good, and the best scene was the one at the hospital because it showed the fears for both of them, and how they were able to overcome those fears, with each other's support and love. He waited for her and stayed there, prioritizing her over the job. He recognized that in the past he had excuses (like in 1x11, when he wanted to drop out architecture class given his family responsibilities), but he also admitted that he was afraid. In the past, when things got hard, Charlie always leaned on Kirsten, and that tells she always has been like his wife and why she'll always be. And well, the other result of this is that after 5 years (she had the bad news in 1x12, five seasons ago), now Kirsten is able to have her own kids with Charlie, just like they always wanted. Maybe from now on they can have 2 kids, considering they are both 30 years old, the risks of ectopic pregnancy, and the risks of her daily dosage of lithium. That's why they'll be cautious, they'll talk to doctors, and things will turn out fine. On the other hand, a small fear presents when Charlie finds out Luke now lives with Daphne, so Diana's safety is unsure in Daphne's place. Kirsten's not worried about this, probably because she trusts Daphne now. He tells Daphne that she is a responsible mother but that he doesn't know Luke very well, and just after a few weeks, might not be a good move. He wonders how he'd handle discipline or saving her if she has a piece of food stuck, and Daphne simply tells that Luke has been great with Diana. Later, she visits the apartment to take her daughter, but Charlie can't find her because he was asleep. When she finds her in the bathroom, she says even he can make mistakes. Then, when Charlie sees how Luke behaves with Diana by preparing a room, he loses his fear and accepts Diana sleeping in Daphne's place. Luke asks him if he's sure, and he answers that Kirsten can have a good night sleep if Diana stays with them, and to tell Daphne thanks. Probably seemed that Charlie gave up easily to Daphne's request, so I guess he just decided to trust her. About why she rushed to move in with Luke, this is part of her process of keeping a boyfriend, she wants to be sure that she can commit herself and not lose him.
Then, Bailey, as in early season 2, when he couldn't get over Jill, now he has the same fear of losing people (as he recently lost Sarah), so he finally wants to be exclusive with Holly, after seeing her spending time with someone else. The problem is that Holly, probably because she doesn't know him enough, does the worst thing she could do to him: she dumps him because he is not ready yet. It's bad that he suspected her for walking with a colleague, but he proved he didn't want to lose her. It's sad, and this will have a bad turn out for Bailey. After all the persons he lost, he is right, is harder for him to fall for someone. On the other hand, Owen is afraid of a bully in school, so Victor teaches him how to defend himself. The story was a little funny, the scenes when the kid is without shoes and pants were played for laughs, but also are unrealistic (no one noticed that in the school?). Anyway, this was the best of Victor, he helped Owen in the right way, to not be afraid of bullies. Also, for the first lines of the episode, seems that Claudia is helping Owen with homework, when Bailey is busy. This is important because Owen still has dyslexia, and shouldn't be forgotten.
As for the sisters, they travel to the East Coast to check colleges for Claudia while also Julia spends time with Justin and his new girlfriend Laura, both in their third year at Yale. Turns out that Laura is kind of pushy, talks quickly, and changed Justin's life, making him get up early and go to run, to think about the future. Julia is afraid and stunned when Justin considers proposing to Laura, but she doesn't express her doubts to him. It's true, Justin lost his mind, but maybe he wants to commit the same mistake that Julia did with Griffin. At the same time, Julia worries about her sister being alone around Yale, but she says she'll be fine. She wants to accompany her or have dinner together, very aware that for Claudia would be more safe not to be alone, but her sister prefers to be on her own. Claudia meets a friendly guy, Peter, who shows her some nice places in college, and offers her his scarf for the cold. But her biggest fears return when he waits outside a co-ed bathroom for her and starts talking like a "boyfriend", saying he couldn't wait to see her, so she decides to cancel the other interviews and return home inmediatly. Julia is worried and tells Justin she will leave earlier with Claudia, and he understands, he also cares about her. They say goodbye with "I love you", and it's clear they still mean that. Later, Claudia avoids Julia's questions and asks her if she can travel back on time and stop her from going to that room with Derek. Julia obviously says she can't, so Claudia says "Then, you can't help me". Later, Julia reaches her sister again, asking what happened, so she finally cries, saying she doesn't know what to tell. In the last scene (which was really great, under the snow), Claudia confides in her, that she can't trust no one, and Julia felt the same after Ned. As they get in a cab to return home, Claudia starts telling her about Peter. These stories were excellent, comparing to last episodes. Julia's plot today was the best of this season so far, being there for Claudia just when she needed her. This showed how strong is their bond as sisters, how much Claudia needs Julia. And still shows an innocent and sad Claudia, who suffered a lot of bad things in the series, making her emotional, sensitive, honest and fearful. Besides, all the parts in the East Coast were perfectly set, the snow all over the place made the story even better, special, unique.
To finish, I've read that around the time this episode and the next one aired (january 2000), FOX announced the series wouldn't be renewed for a seventh season due to low ratings, cast departures and high costs. Part of the reason of why ratings dropped was that season 6 aired on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, which has been their cushy week day since season 1. Surely JLH's departure also had certain impact, and Julia's terrible storyline with Evan too. Season 5 did some damage in separating the family, but an episode like this and other excellent moments proved why Party of Five deserved a seventh season. Because of that, it's sad many people didn't watch the series, even now.
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