There’s drama in the air next week on EastEnders, as a shock return causes ripples in the Square. Old faces come back for a sad event, but with them comes more than just sadness – it awakens old sores, raises eyebrows, and brings out old secrets. One couple’s sudden disappearance – and the appearance of a new bloke – leaves friends and relatives shaken. So what actually went down between one of Walford’s longest-running couples?

Vicki and Spencer Are No More After Two Decades Together

Vicki Fowler makes her way back to Albert Square next week, joined by her new boyfriend Ross and his son Joel. They’ve come to represent her mother, Michelle, at Uncle Martin’s funeral – but Vicki’s sudden appearance without Spencer Moon raises eyebrows.

Vicki and Spencer were the golden couple of the early 2000s—childhood sweethearts with a turbulent history. Their story began in 2003, when Vicki arrived from the States to live with her grandmother, Pauline. Spencer quickly caught her attention, but Pauline disapproved, going so far as to throw him out for being too familiar.

Things took a dramatic turn when Vicki became pregnant after a one-night stand. Spencer, despite his young age, vowed to support her. Sharon Watts, Vicki’s half-sister, even offered £10,000 to raise the child as her own – a shocking proposal that led Vicki to end the pregnancy and pushed Spencer into despair. Eventually, they patched things up on New Year’s Eve, bonding after a breakdown in the Scottish moors.

The pair made various missteps, such as Vicki trying to play matchmaker for Spencer and Kelly Taylor. That didn’t go anywhere, and Spencer soon got in trouble fetching drugs for Danny Moon, prompting Alfie to ship him to Australia. Vicki took the same path the following year, and later, rumors circulated that the two got back together while overseas.

For years, everything indicated a happily-ever-after. A decade ago, Sharon even dropped hints that they would have a bar business together. So when Vicki shows up solo – and with a new person – questions abound. Sharon’s brother Zack Hudson first spots Vicki’s return, and when he shares the news with Alfie and Kat Slater, they’re stunned that Spencer is nowhere in sight. When pressed about the breakup, Vicki gives a vague account – one that leaves Kat suspicious. Before long, Vicki drops the act and admits the real reason things ended.

EastEnders: An Ulterior Motive and A Desperate Ask

The real reason Vicki is back strikes closer to home than anticipated. Vicki and Ross haven’t merely arrived to pay their respects—they’ve arrived with an agenda. And before long, Ross puts Vicki in the uncomfortable position of asking her sister Sharon for cash.

Vicki, who is still reeling from Sharon‘s recent emotional distress over ex-husband Phil Mitchell, is conflicted. She can‘t bring herself to ask Sharon for money—not after all she‘s been through. Instead, she turns on her heel and goes to Ian Beale, her first cousin once removed, and tells him a fib about owing money and needing assistance.

As rumors circulate and Sharon starts to sense that Vicki is not quite right, the suspense increases. Why is Vicki so desperate? And what is she and Ross actually hiding? Only the upcoming EastEnders spoilers can reveal. Until then, stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more soap updates.