At the Outpost, Joan Goodwin, Vanessa Ford, and Donna gather on the eve of multiple missions and Donna’s impending delivery. When Donna asks about fear, Joan admits she is scared of launch, and Vanessa reframes fear as rational while declaring herself ready to face the risks. Joan and Vanessa share an intense look that Donna notices; Joan realizes Donna has understood their relationship and accepts it, which makes Joan feel safe and seen.

Donna shifts the conversation to motherhood, saying she fears societal judgments more than parenting and asserting that loving someone feels better than anything. Four days later, Donna gives birth to Thea after an eight-hour labor. Joan and Vanessa visit Hank and Donna with a teddy bear and a lasagna. Outside, Jimmy Hayman makes a pointed comment about how often Joan and Vanessa are together “early in the morning,” implying suspicion; Joan deflects with sarcasm and decides not to burden the happy visit by telling Vanessa immediately.

As October speeds by, training and simulations go well, but the weight of the imminent launch grows. On the night before quarantine, Barbara calls Joan—not about the mission, but to announce she is canceling Thanksgiving and going to Gstaad with Daniel, leaving Frances at school. Joan objects, believing Frances should not be left during the holiday and suspecting underlying conflict from a parents’ weekend where Frances acted out.

Barbara counters that Frances behaves and excels at school and accuses Joan of siding with Frances and lacking adult relationship experience, belittling Joan’s capacity to understand love or parenting. Joan considers revealing her relationship and arguing back but decides it is futile, recognizing Barbara’s conformity to social judgment and her inability to love Joan and Frances in the ways they need. Joan hangs up and unsuccessfully tries to reach Frances.

The next morning, Joan struggles to leave the comfort of bed and Vanessa’s warmth as she prepares to fly a T-38 to Cape Canaveral and enter quarantine with her crew. Reflecting on time’s passage from academia to astronauthood, she sees how small choices accumulated into a life with meaningful work and love. She kisses Vanessa goodbye, calling her “my love,” and Vanessa asks her to come home soon, underscoring their private commitment as Joan departs.