Sharon returns with Dennis for Billy (Perry Fenwick) and Honey Mitchell's (Emma Barton) second engagement party only to find Phil collapsed on the floor from coughing up blood. His family discover at the hospital that unless Phil stops drinking and undergoes an urgent liver transplant, his condition will be terminal. Sharon refuses to reconcile with Phil and he files for divorce to which Sharon agrees. Sharon and Phil receive letters saying their divorce is close to being finalised, but they decide to rekindle their marriage. Sharon is unaware that Dennis has remained in contact with Gavin, but eventually finds out, and Buster Briggs (Karl Howman) tells her that Kathy has gone with Gavin, so they trace her to Gavin's house. As they arrive, Sharon's aunt and Gavin's sister, Margaret, falls to death on Buster's car after being pushed from a balcony by Gavin. Buster and Sharon break into the house to help Kathy, and Sharon urges Gavin to surrender himself to the police, promising to continue their relationship. Gavin decides to comply, but when she lets him out of the room, he tries to escape but is trapped on the balcony. The police arrive on the balcony and he threatens to jump with Sharon but lets her go and is arrested. Sharon returns when she hears that Ben is missing, and she contacts Grant to help find him. She is shocked when Grant's daughter Courtney Mitchell (Alice Nokes) tells her that he is not returning, but she finds him and he tells her that he loves her, but Sharon turns him down. Phil then discovers a letter that Michelle Fowler (now Jenna Russell), sent to Peggy, learning that Grant fathered her son, Mark Fowler Jnr (Ned Porteous), after a one-night stand 21 years previously. To stop Phil from telling Grant that Mark is his son, Sharon tells Phil about Grant's declaration of love. However, Grant finds out the truth, and Sharon confirms it to Mark when he comes to the realisation.
