Author's note: I know that some of you are going to want to throw eggs at me for my very long departure from this story… but please don't, they smell. I'm just finishing up a really hectic time in my life and I do believe that I now will actually be able to finish this story. And I really mean that. So, I know that this chapter is really short but I hope you like it. And as always, I own nothing!

/Several hours before

Nicky sat in the oversized restaurant booth, utterly stunned. The cold brown vinyl clung to his overheated skin and pulled at it angrily as he shifted his position slightly. His mother watched on as his mouth contorted into several odd shapes before finally the word, "oh," sputtered out from within it. He could honestly say that when he had decided to grab a bite to eat with his mother, he had not seen this coming; though parts of the situation really didn't feel that unpredictable.

"Nicky?" his mother prodded after a minute or two, trying to draw his gaze away from the chicken on his fork that he had become entranced by. His arm had been mid lift when she finally told him the news and somehow the food still had not made it to his mouth yet. It was his favorite dish here, the chicken piccata, but while he had been starving before… he really didn't feel that hungry now.

"Sorry," he mumbled, looking up at her finally. "I just really didn't expect that. She's really pregnant?" he questioned. His mother nodded and took another bite of her cob salad. He couldn't believe how un-phased his mother seemed. Then again, she had had a lot more time to process the information than he had.

"So she's pregnant," he began again, "and you want me to move in with her?" His mother lowered her gaze, she looked guilty.

"It's not fair, I know. I know moving back to Boulder wont be easy but at least the gym is there and all your friends. She shouldn't be alone Nicky, both your father and I agreed on this. She needs you right now."

Nicky sighed. He was only 19. How in the world was he prepared for this? For a split second he considered saying no, telling his mom he would absolutely not go back to Boulder. And then he thought of all that his mom and dad had put up with for him to be a gymnast. He didn't feel guilty for pursuing his dreams, but was grateful to them, and knew he owed them a lot.

Slowly, Nicky nodded his head. His mind swam at the immensity of what he was agreeing to. "Okay," he said, "I'll go to Boulder."

His mother smiled and within seconds it was as if the whole conversation had never happened. Yet Nicky could help but think of how in a few hours he would be packed up and leaving for the one place he truly wasn't sure he could handle.

/ Present

To Kaylie it felt as if the whole world had gone still. She tried to look away from the eyes that were so intent on her own, but found the attempt pointless.

Somewhere in her mind she knew that she was in a very compromising position, wearing just a sweatshirt entangled in Nicky's amazingly muscular arms. Somewhere in her mind she recognized that this was a truly bad idea for so many various reasons. But Kaylie wasn't paying attention to any of that.

Her heart raced as his hand ran up her back to cup the back of neck. The sweatshirt pressed against her wet skin and goose bumps erupted across her skin. This was so intimate. Her breath went ragged as his hand nudged her closer, lowering his gaze to her lips which she bit at nervously. He chuckled and it sounded much more deep and throaty than usual. Why was that? Did she do that to him? She was positive now as he leaned in closer that he was going to kiss her and instinctively her eyes fluttered closed. She could hear her heart hammering in her ears, but then suddenly a new noise was filling her ears.

The fog that had settled around her lifted and startled she lightly pushed against Nicky's chest. He didn't resist and dropped his arms from around her, but she saw something in his eyes, something like regret. The noise sounded again and then he was pulling his phone from his pocket and turning away from her. Their moment was over.

Trying to regain her composure, Kaylie slowly walked back towards her gym bag. Her chest felt unexpectedly tight as she looked over her shoulder to glance at Nicky. She tried to say goodbye, but her throat felt thick and swollen. He wouldn't have heard her anyway.

Grabbing the bag and swinging it over her shoulder she walked back towards the door. The rain still angrily pelted the ground as she pushed the doors open and headed towards her car. Cold wind whipped around her and stung her face, but Kaylie didn't run this time. She didn't think she could.

/

"Did you hear?" Payson asked way too perkily, dropping her bag with a thud by Kaylie's foot and plopping herself less than gracefully next to it on the chalky mat.

"Hear what?" Kaylie asked, trying to muster up some sort of enthusiasm for her friend. Payson glanced sideways at her, eyeing her suspiciously.

"You okay," she asked, her eyes going wide as though she were imagining all the things that were wrong with her friend. Undoubtedly Payson thought Kaylie was talking about her mom and dad. Lately, that was all Kaylie had been able to think or talk about. Kaylie smiled. She was lucky to have a friend like Payson, a friend who took the time to worry about her.

"I'm fine," she said with a shrug, positioning her body into her next stretch, "I'm just tired. I had a long night."Payson nodded, indicating she understood and wouldn't push further. For that, she was grateful. She didn't know what she would have said.

"So what should I have heard that I didn't hear?" she asked finally, genuinely curious that something had happened at the gym that she hadn't heard about by now. She had already been here an hour and no one had mentioned any new gossip to her. Though she suspected that was more because of the foul mood she had come in to the gym in.

"Well...,"Payson said, wearing a much wider than usual smile, "Nicky's back!" Kaylie froze. What did that mean, Nicky was back? Of course she had known he was back, but she hadn't known he was staying. Maybe he was only staying long enough to say hello, or for a few days. Or did back mean, like, back for good? Suppressing a rising panic in her chest, Kaylie managed to squawk out, "what do you mean by 'back'?"

Payson took one look at her face and laughed. "Kaylie, he's not that bad. Besides, "she added with a slight twinge in her voice, "didn't you two call some sort of truce before he left for Denver?" Kaylie nodded.

"Well in any case he says he's back for good. So if you guys did fight or something you should just work it out. The gym has finally been drama free, and I like it that way."

"Yeah" Kaylie said, still absorbing the information that had just been shared with her. He was back for good. But what had brought him back to Boulder for good? And what the hell was she going to do if she saw him? Payson's gentle shove pushed her questions aside, and Kaylie shifted her attention to her friend who suddenly looked a lot more serious.

"By the way, I found this when I got here this morning."In her palm sat the lime green iPod that Kaylie had left playing in this very room the night before.

"Thanks," she said grabbing the iPod and setting it on the mat next to her. "I didn't mean to forget that."

"No problem. But if I were you I wouldn't advertise that you were here last night. Lauren is on a witch hunt. She thinks someone stole Carter's sweatshirt from her locker." Kaylie groaned and leaned forward, letting her forehead rest against the mat. She knew she had forgotten something this morning.