Austin Reed met good girl Carrie Brady and they fell in love, much to the chagrin of her father, Roman. Austin was known to be a brilliant piano player, but as of late, we haven't seen much of this skill. Austin showed his loving, vulnerable side to Carrie. Austin, also a boxer, was involved in a prize fight which he was supposed to lose on purpose. He didn't do that. As a result, acid, as revenge for not participating, hit Carrie and she became scarred. Meanwhile, little Abby Deveraux developed leukemia. Austin was a match and he donated his bone marrow.

Austin's sister, Billie, was charged with the murder of their father, Curtis. Through a twisted chain of events, it was revealed that Kate was the Reed children's mother. Austin accepted her, but Billie didn't. Sami soon became obsessed with Austin. She drugged him, and raped him. When he discovered what he'd done, he told her that this affair couldn't continue. A pregnant Sami ran off to LA.

Austin and Carrie made their way to alter, only to be interrupted by Sami admitting she was pregnant and the groom was the father. Doing what was right, he devoted his time to the baby and Sami. William Robert reed was born soon after that.

Sami and Austin married after Will was taken by French authorities. Then Austin ran Sami over with his car, causing her to get amnesia. He could not annul his marriage to a woman with amnesia. Eventually, they did separate. On the day they were supposed to remarry (Austin thought Carrie was in love with Dr. Mike Horton), it was revealed Sami was faking her amnesia and Lucas was Will's father. Austin and Carrie married that same day.

Sami was accused of murder not long after she accused Lucas of child abuse. Austin took Will and Sami on the run, evading the police. Carrie, felt abandoned, and found solace in the arms of Mike Horton.

Sami was freed in the nick of time. Carrie and Austin continued to have problems in their marriage, finally separating and divorcing when Carrie left Salem with Dr. Mike. Austin and Sami finally reunited, and were just about to get married when Austin learned the truth about Sami's past history. He left her at the altar in Las Vegas.

Three years after leaving town, Austin returned to Salem, and was instrumental in saving Sami from a life in prison (or worse). He soon opened up a new company in Salem, hiring both Nicole Walker and Sami Brady. There was another reason he came back to Salem, though -- he had never stopped loving Carrie Brady. When Austin and Carrie finally met again in Salem, both realized the other had never forgotten them and wanted to try again, but unfortunately Austin had just taken over Carrie's company Highstyle without knowing Carrie was the C.E.O.

Austin eventually learned the truth, but it was too late to do anything. Carrie had recently discovered she was pregnant with Lucas' baby, and with Carrie looking forward to a future with Lucas, Austin renewed his connection with Sami. They nearly wed, even though Austin's heart remained with Carrie, but Austin and Carrie learned that Sami had lied that they shared genetic markers that would make having a child inadvisable. After Carrie learned she was never pregnant with Lucas' baby, she and Austin found their way back to each other and wed before leaving Salem for Switzerland. A few months later, Austin's nephew, Will, came to live with Carrie and him in Switzerland.

In September 2011, Austin and Carrie returned to Salem for the dedication of Horton Square. While there, Austin got a call from work, telling him that he needed to go over the files of a CEO who was up on embezzlement charges. It turned out that the CEO was John Black.