Thanks so much to everyone for your reviews :) Melissa- What kind if ideas do you have? And they'll be together somewhat soon...Yes, fanfic was being a whore...I wanted to post this last night and I couldn't get in

**********

After much cajoling and the promise of her life if it was returned damaged, Brock caved and tossed Erika the keys to his Hummer. "I'll return it in one piece, I promise."

"You better," he mumbled. Erika rolled her eyes slightly and got into the car. Twenty minutes later she was pulling up in front of a house across town. She got out of the car and walked up the path, taking a deep breath before knocking on the door. When it swung open a minute later, she was greeted by a very surprised looking woman.

"Erika?" The emotion in the woman's voice matched the look on her face, and nervousness washed over Erika.

"Hi Heidi. Could I come in?"

"Of course sweetie, please do." She opened the door further, allowing Erika entrance. She hugged Erika as soon as the door was closed, and grabbed her arm to lead her towards the kitchen. "Steven, we have a visitor," Heidi called to her husband, who was sitting in the kitchen. He stood just as they walked through the door.

"Who is..." his voice trailed off when he saw Erika. He walked up to her wordlessly and wrapped her in his arms. He pulled back and smiled gruffly. "Well if it isn't Erika Lynn. It's been too long." When she heard those words, all of Erika's nervousness vanished. After all, these were people she should never be anxious around. They were Nicole's parents, and she had known them almost her entire life. Heidi dabbed at her now misty eyes and nodded.

"Yes it has, but I am so glad you're here Rika."

"We're glad," Steve corrected his wife. Erika smiled and looked around.

"Is Logan here?" she asked, referring to Nicole's now ten year old brother.

"He's next door playing, but he should be back soon." As if on cue they heard the front door bang open.

"Mom, is Brock here?" Logan yelled while running through the hall. He came to a screeching halt when he saw Erika, then launched himself into her arms. "Erika!"

She hugged Logan and laughed. "It's good to see you too little bro." Logan had always been considered the little brother Erika never had.

Heidi looked a little confused. "Logan, why would you think Brock was here?" He sat down next to Erika before answering.

"His car is in the drive." Heidi's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and she gave Erika an odd look.

"You've seen him?" Erika nodded and explained about the piece she was writing, and how she was traveling with the company. "But now you'll get to spend some time with Mya."

Erika smiled and looked a bit sheepish. "Yes, and I'm glad. But Brock's already thrown that up in my face once, about how I haven't seen her much."

Heidi patted her hand. "Honey, he doesn't know everything that happened. You had to get away. We understood that, and if he knew, he would too."

"No way," Erika said, shaking her head. "He doesn't need to know, and I'm not telling him."

"Mom, what are you guys talking about?" Logan asked.

"Just some old stuff, Logan. Why don't you go play a video game or something?" He rolled his eyes and left the room. A moment later they heard him stomping up the stairs.

"Same old Logan. Always wanting to know everything."

"Of course, but I don't think he needs to hear anything about this," Heidi told Erika. Steve stood and started for the door.

"And this probably isn't something I need to hear either." He stopped next to Erika and kissed the top of her head. "Come say goodbye before you leave this time."

"I will." He left, and Heidi looked at Erika, changing her mind about their discussion.

"I've got something you should have. Would you come upstairs?" Erika wasn't sure what she was talking about, but she followed anyway. Heidi opened the door to Nicole's room and went in, but Erika froze in the doorway.

"You haven't changed anything." Heidi looked around and smiled fondly.

"No. I know that she's gone, but we don't need the room for anything, so it stays this way. Eventually I'll pack some stuff away, but I want Mya to see the way her mother was."

"I think that's a nice idea." Erika walked slowly around the room, pausing to look at various items. "I can't believe she put that up there."

Heidi looked to where Erika was pointing and laughed. "Isn't it beautiful?" She was referring to a picture of Erika and Nicole taken at their first football game at the University of Minnesota, where they happened to be soaked to the bone and covered in running face paint. Heidi slowly quit laughing and reached into Nicole's drawer. She grabbed a package and held it out to Erika. "This is what I wanted you to have." Erika took it and sat on the bed.

"Nic's journal?" Heidi nodded.

"I actually read it, about a year ago. It's helped alot, and made me realize a few things. I hope it can do the same for you, especially since I knoe she would have wanted you to have it. I've got one question though. Do you remember the first day you met Brock?"

"Yeah, I do. Do you want the honest answer, or what Nic thought?"

"The honest one."

"Well..."

*****(flashback)*****

Erika was just putting the last of her things away when Nicole came back into their room looking very giddy. She fell back on the bed and sighed dreamily. Erika started laughing. "Girl, what is your issue?"

"I just met this hot guy in the bookstore."

Erika flopped on her bed. "Do tell."

"He is so hot. Tall, like six three, maybe six four, very muscular, blond hair, blue eyes."

"Does the creature of hotness have a name?"

"I'm sure he does."

"And you didn't get it."

Nicole gave her a sheepish grin. "I think I was too busy drooling." Erika busted up

"That is too funny. Maybe you'll see him around. Especially since he was at the bookstore an hour before most classes start."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Erika grabbed her bookbag and headed for the door. "You're both slackers? So when you're at the library at 3 in the morning the night before a paper is due, you'll run into him." Nicole threw a pillow at her. "Hey now!"

"Bitch."

"Yep." She looked down at her watch. "As much as I would love to stay and trade insults, I have class in about fifteen minutes. I'll meet you back here later?

"Yeah, we have to get ready for the party."

"I cannot believe you talked me into going to this party on the first day of school, Nic."

"It'll be fun, Rika. Go to class."

"Bye Nic." She shut the door behind her and headed to Kolbe Hall for her first class, Effective Oral Communication. There weren't many seats left, so she grabbed one in the back just as the professor was walking in.

"Good morning everyone. My name is Dr. Harris." He went through the normal first day stuff before giving an assignment. "You are to find someone in this class that you don't know and learn five things about them. You will resent them at the end of class." He sat down at the desk in front of him, obviously finished. Erika knew no one, so she turned to the guy sitting next to her. "Hi, I'm Erika." He smiled and stuck out his hand.

"Brock, nice to meet you." She shook his hand, dazed by his smile.

"You too. So, Brock, I need to know five things about you."

"Well, I dunno, we just met and all..." She laughed, putting them both at ease.

"In that case I'll tell you a little about myself first. My full name is Erika Lynn Angle and I'm from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I have five older brothers, I'm the only girl and the youngest of the bunch. My dad died when I was a year old, so I grew up mostly with my mom and my youngest brother. I didn't really want to come out here, but my best friend insisted. I'm majoring in Journalism. I love to ice skate, and I'm on the team which means you can find me at the rink most mornings."

"Your last name is Angle?"

"OK, Brock, out of all that all you got was my last name?"

He shook his head. "No, I got the rest, I was just trying to figure something out. You're related to Kurt Angle, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am. You watched the Olympics?" She gave him a doubtful look- he just didn't seem the type.

"No, I'm a wrestler, so I did pay attention to that much."

"Uhhuh. So tell me more cowboy."

He gave her an odd look. "Funny you should say cowboy."

"It just fit. Why is it funny?"

"I grew up on a farm in Webster, South Dakota. My full name is Brock Edward Lesnar. I attended Bismarck Junior College in North Dakota before I came here. I have two older brothers and a younger sister. I'm majoring in business administration, and you can find me in the gym most mornings."

"Copycat." He chuckled.

"Deal with it." She just shook her head. "Hey, maybe we could-" He was interrupted by the instructor saying that it was time for the intros. Erika gave him a smile and turned her attention to the front. After class she ran back to her room, hoping that Nic was still there. She threw the door open and saw Nicole reading. She flung herself down on the bed.

"Now I feel like you. The only reason you wanted to come here was because of the guys, wasn't it?"

Nicole set her book down, knowing Erika had just met someone and would want to talk. "You found me out. So what's he look like?"

"He has an amazing smile, a killer body, and eyes that could make even me drool."

"Now you sound like me." She got off the bed and put some shoes on. "I have class, but when I get back we need to start getting ready. Who knows, maybe our mystery men will be there?"

*(later that night)*

"Ugh, where is she?" Erika said to herself, and looked around the room again for Nicole. She thought she had spotted her mystery man as soon as they walked in, and ran off to meet up with him. Erika felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Hey, I found him!"

"Where is he?" Nicole reached back through the crowd and grabbed the guy's arm. Erika's face froze when she saw who it was.

"Erika, this is Brock. Brock, this is my best friend Erika." Erika slowly stuck out her hand.

"Nice to meet you Brock."

He shook her hand, too shocked to do anything but play along. "You too. Aren't you in one of my classes?"

"I think so." She turned to Nicole. "I'm going to cruise around, I'll catch up with you later, ok?"

"Sure chick. Did you ever find that guy?"

"That guy?" She said, hoping Nic would get the hint to drop it, but she didn't.

"Yeah, the hot one from your class earlier."

Erika blushed and looked away from Brock. "No, maybe I'll see him around."

*****(end flashback)*****

Heidi was nodding by the time Erika finished her story. "I think you might especially like the entry from that night."

Erika was puzzled, but agreed and followed Heidi back downstairs. "Heidi, I'm confused."

"Don't be. It'll make sense eventually." She reached out and hugged Erika. "Don't be a stranger either."

"I won't, but I can't promise I'll read this."

"I know, but I think you should. Bye Erika."

"Bye Heidi. Tell the boys I said bye, and that I'll stop back after my last day. We're ending in California, so I'll fly back here before heading home."

"I will." Erika gave her one last smile before walking back out to Brock's Hummer, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

**********

AN: I was able to get some of the back story out with this chapter, but it will ALL fall into place very soon :)