Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Virgin River season 6!

The brief return of Ricky in Virgin River season 6 hints that the show might solve a Lizzie mystery by following a storyline involving him in the Robyn Carr books. Netflix’s drama follows a nurse named Mel who makes a new home Virgin River, California. Even though she doesn’t know anyone when she arrives, the people who live in the small town become like family to her. Due to Virgin River’s large cast, characters weave in and out of the show across six seasons, with some moving away.

An 18-year-old Ricky left home for the Marines at the end of Virgin River season 4 and doesn’t come back in season 5. Because he remained absent for a whole season, it seemed that his story might be over. However, Ricky returns to town in two episodes of Virgin River season 6. In addition to updating the audience on his life in the Marines, his return to the show foreshadows that Denny might not be the father of Lizzie’s baby.

Ricky Is The Father Of Lizzie’s Baby In The Virgin River Books

Lizzie And Ricky Get Pregnant With A Baby As Teenagers In The Robyn Carr Books

One of the most confusing parts of Lizzie’s storyline is how she got pregnant so quickly after getting together with Denny. However, Netflix’s Virgin River could answer this question by following the storyline of Robyn Carr’s books. In Paradise Valley, Ricky is the father of Lizzie’s baby. The pair get pregnant as teens, which brings them closer together. However, Lizzie ends up having a stillbirth.

While they go through a difficult period, Lizzie and Ricky are endgame in the books, which might appeal to some fans of the Virgin River show since many people dislike Denny.

Though the Virgin River TV show changed the books by aging up the characters, the story still has Lizzie and Ricky getting into a romance as teens (18 for Ricky and 19 for Lizzie) and having a sexual relationship. Lizzie gets pregnant after having sex with Ricky, so the basic storyline still lines up with the books. As of the end of Virgin River season 6, Lizzie is only seven months along, and Charmaine was pregnant for five seasons before giving birth. So, it might be a while before finding out if Lizzie will have a stillbirth or not.

There are other hints that Virgin River could be heading in the direction of the book, though. After the stillbirth, Ricky joins the Marines and gets deployed to Iraq. This is mirrored in the show, as Ricky comes back in Virgin River season 6 after boot camp before getting deployed to the Middle East.

If they follow the books, Ricky will be severely injured while downrange and return to Virgin River angry, bitter, and pushing everyone away. While they go through a difficult period, Lizzie and Ricky are endgame in the books, which might appeal to some fans of the Virgin River show since many people dislike Denny.

How Ricky Being The Baby’s Father Fits Into The Virgin River Show Timeline

Ricky’s Absence Seems Long But It’s Short Within Virgin River’s Timeline

Even though Ricky has been gone for two seasons of Virgin River, only six to seven months have passed since he left the town for the Marines. This estimate is based on the understanding that 1-month passes per season, and then there’s a three-month jump between the end of Virgin River season 5, part 2 and the Christmas episodes. Then there’s another three-month gap between the Christmas episodes and the start of season 6.

Since one month passes per month until the time jump, Lizzie and Denny were only together for around a month and a half when she announced her pregnancy. They only start having sex in season 5, shortening the span to a little less than a month. Although it’s improbable, it’s technically possible Denny got Lizzie pregnant. This would epitomize the phrase, “it only takes once to get pregnant.” She also had sex with Ricky right before she got together with Denny at the end of Virgin River season 4.

Considering the difference is only half a month, it’s equally possible Ricky got Lizzie pregnant. Gestational ages have a margin of 7–10 days, but they can be less accurate if the pregnant person has irregular periods — a detail that’s unknown about Lizzie. All things considered, either Ricky or Denny could be the father of Lizzie’s baby without contradicting Virgin River’s timeline.

Lizzie & Denny Agreeing To Test The Baby For Huntington’s Sets Up The Paternity Reveal In Virgin River Season 7

Lizzie And Denny Plan To Test The Baby For Huntington’s Disease

If Virgin River uses the book storyline, they’ll need Lizzie and Denny to learn about the baby’s paternity at some point. Luckily, Virgin River season 6 set up the perfect opportunity for them to find out in season 7. The crux of the conflict between Denny and Lizzie this season is whether they will test the baby for Huntington’s Disease. Although he resists the idea at first, Denny realizes after working at the clinic that it would be better for them to know about the disease sooner so they could prepare the baby before Denny’s death.

Virgin River season 7 was confirmed before season 6 came out, but the release date is unknown as of the time of this article’s publication.

After expressing his desire to test the baby, Lizzie becomes upset. She doesn’t want to confront the reality that she might lose both Denny and the baby. She also realizes that they can’t financially prepare for Denny and the baby’s end-of-life care, even if they know that both will be needed. She also fears that the baby’s Huntington’s diagnosis will define them.

Despite this, Denny and Lizzie eventually come to an agreement to test the baby despite her fears. Depending on what tests they do, the genetic testing could very well reveal that the baby isn’t Denny’s. If this test takes place in Virgin River season 7, Lizzie and Denny will have to figure out how to move forward.

Will Denny & Lizzie Stay Together If Ricky Is The Father Of The Baby?

Denny And Lizzie Could Break Up In Virgin River Season 7

If Ricky is the father of Lizzie’s baby, and she doesn’t have a stillbirth, many questions come up for all parties involved. While Ricky seems like the type to want to be involved in raising his child, there are no guarantees he wants to participate. Additionally, Denny and Lizzie repeatedly get into conflicts because he feels like a burden on her due to his Huntington’s Disease. Even though disabilities and illnesses don’t make a person less, Denny seems to view himself this way.

There’s a strong chance, based on his past behavior, that Denny would break up with Lizzie if he found out the baby wasn’t his, so that Lizzie could have a picture-perfect family free from the impending loss. He might even leave Virgin River altogether, breaking Lizzie’s heart. Given how excited she is to be a mother, the likelihood of her giving the baby up for adoption is low, even if Denny’s out of the picture. This would leave room for her to either raise the baby as a single parent, co-parent with Ricky, or rekindle her romance with him.