Josh and Cassie host the BBQ when Rick cancels, Lizzie tells Remy about Ava's baby, Bill still loves Lizzie.
Rick walks through the park when his phone rings. It's his father wishing him a happy Fourth of July. Rick admits that he doesn't feel up to throwing the Bauer BBQ this year; it doesn't make sense when he is the only Bauer left. Beth arrives. He wishes her a happy anniversary. She doesn't wan to talk about it. He admits that he knows it's over between them. "We tried to go back in time and it didn't work," she says. They agree to move on and she walks away.
At their new home, Lizzie suggests to Alan that they start their own tradition: The Spaulding picnic. He explains that Beth is off with Rick right now and they may still have something. "Things that are supposed to work out, work out," he says. But Rick and Beth didn't have much of a real marriage, he adds. They look at Bill and Ava's picture in the paper. "There are a lot of unreal marriages," she comments. They go inside. Lizzie asks her mother what's wrong. Beth just feels bad. Lizzie reminds her that they are family and they stick together. Alan brings up the picnic idea and suggests they go to the lighthouse. They laugh at him for this, but agree on the plan. Lizzie announces that she will get them food and walks out. "Independence Day. Time to be independent," she says to herself.
At the mansion, Ava tracks Bill down. She needs to know where they stand. He says there are things they both want out of the marriage and they'll deal with that. Right now, they need to keep up the public front. He wants to read the paper, take her to the doctor and then over to the BBQ. She doesn't feel up to it. He's insistent.
Bill brings Ava to Cedars for a checkout. As he leaves to make calls, Remy walks over to Ava. She didn't think he'd still want to talk to her. "I'm a sucker for punishment," he smiles. They have an awkward moment and he leaves, she smiles after him.
Cassie surprises Josh on their porch. Rick walks by, explaining that he doesn't feel up to throwing the BBQ this year. They understand. He wishes them a happy holiday and walks away, leaving his bag of flags behind. She wonders what they'll do with all the food she made. Josh is about to offer his help to Rick calling the thing off but Cassie stops him, suggesting that they throw the BBQ. They decide to call Buzz and tell him.
At Company, the Coopers are going over their list of things for the BBQ. Lillian feels bad for Rick and wonders how Beth could have chosen Alan over him. So does Frank, but he doesn't want this to put a damper on the day. They prepare to leave as Natalia arrives. They invite her along. She asks Buzz for an update on Harley and her son. He insists that they're fine. Lizzie arrives to pick up her order. She asks her grandmother to come along for the Spaulding picnic. She agrees to drop by later. Remy walks in and Lizzie offers to buy him a beer after seeing his disappointment at the wedding. As she rants, he tells her to stop. She bluntly comes out and explains that the baby is not Bill's.
Bill takes Ava home. She says she'd like to go to the BBQ after all. He leaves to take care of something. Soon, Remy arrives, mumbling to himself. He confronts her about the baby. She searches for excuses. He thought that she was someone else, but he guesses he was wrong and angrily walks away. Later, Bill returns. Ava tells him she still wants to go to the wedding and prove they are a couple.
Alan, Lizzie and her mother are heading out to their picnic. Lizzie is trying hard to pretend that she doesn't care about Ava and Bill. She gets a text message that the BBQ has been canceled. Alan doesn't care. Beth thinks she should talk to Rick. Alan says he feels bad for th guy but... Beth thinks she should help. Lizzie tells her to snap out of it. She wanders across the park and finds Bill in a gazebo. "You got your picture perfect family just like you wanted," she says. Marrying Ava when he knows the baby isn't his says a lot. "I love this baby," he says. "I get it. Once you start loving a child..." she sighs. When she tries to leave, he stops her and begs her to let him fix this. He takes her hand and she points out his wedding ring. "You are the one I want to be with," he says. He doesn't want to live without her and loves her. "Are you asking me to have an affair?" she asks in disbelief before walking away.
Beth goes to see Rick at his house. "You have to go to the barbecue," she says. He says it doesn't matter where it is. She agrees, but it does matter what it is and it's him. It means a lot to people. She encourages him to think about it.
Lizzie and Alan returns home with the baby. He goes down to the basement, tripping on the stairs. Lizzie rushes down and helps him up. He decides to go to the BBQ and asks her where she disappeared to in the park. She says she just went for a walk.
Everyone starts to gather at Cassie's. Buzz arrives and wonders where Rick is. He soon arrives at the BBQ and everyone hugs him, excited to see him there. Josh hands him the spatula. "Now I'm going to drink," he announces. Rick smiles and starts teaching the children how to cook burgers, accidentally flipping them onto the grass."We'll give that one to Alan," he says. Remy arrives and the Spauldings arrive soon after, almost simultaneously with Ava and Bill.
Alan and Natalia sit at the picnic table. She feels like she doesn't belong. Neither does he: He's never even invited to these things; he just shows up. "Gus would want us here today," he says. She wishes Gus would just keep an eye on their son. Alan spots Rick and walks over to wish him a happy Fourth. "I know what it's like to lose Beth," he says, leaving Beth and Rick alone to talk. They walk off to chat. Sitting down, she reminds him that he was her best friend in high school and he is someone she still loves and counts on. "Maybe we just reached too high and should have appreciated what we had?" she asks. She doesn't want to lose her best friend.
Remy finds Lizzie at the BBQ. He thanks her for telling him the truth. He wishes he knew before or he wouldn't have asked Ava to bail on the wedding. "She obviously said 'no'," she laughs. "It was closer than you think," he says.
Ava and Bill sit inside. He feels the baby kick. They giggle and she kisses him. Lizzie spots them through the window, becomes upset and runs off. He tells Ava to stop. She reminds him that most newly weds can't keep their hands off each other and they need to keep up the act. He agrees and takes her outside.
Josh and Cassie are glad to be doing something normal. He calls everyone together and announces that it's time for Rick to make a speech. Rick steps up and thanks them, but that's all he has to say. They call Mallet up to talk while Yankee Doodle Dandy plays. He thanks everyone for friends and family and Cassie's cherry pie. He talks about Independence Day and how he feels about the country. They toast to it. The kids and adults play on water slides, Lillian and Buzz make out in the woods, Beth drags Alan onto the kids ride.
Next on Guiding Light:
The screening of the Reva movie outrages Josh and brings the sister back into battle mode.
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