A few weeks later, Nikki lay in her bed in the apartment that she shared with Haley staring up at the ceiling.

"Mind if I come in?" Haley asked entering the room.

"Hey Haley what's up?" Nikki asked.

"I thought you could tell me," Haley said sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I'm not sure what you mean," Nikki told her.

"You been moping around here ever since you came back from Hawaii," Haley replied.

"It was paradise, I guess I just miss it, that's all," Nikki answered.

"You don't have to cover anything up for me, I know you're disappointed that your vacation was cut short," Haley said.

"My vacation wasn't cut short, I was going to Hawaii for a week and I stayed the whole week," Nikki replied.

"Yeah but you didn't exactly plan on ending up in Hawaii alone," Haley reminded her.

"No I didn't but if Thomas said he had no choice but to leave then I believe him," Nikki told her.

"But things haven't been the same between the two of you since you got back," Haley replied.

"I don't know what happened but it just feels like there's this huge wall between us now," Nikki told her.

"Have you tried telling him how you feel?" Haley asked.

"What am I supposed to say, that maybe I resent the fact that he left and couldn't tell me the truth about why and now his secret has created this rift in our relationship," Nikki said.

"It's a start, I'm sure Tommy would understand," Haley told her.

"It shouldn't even matter where he went but for some reason it does and him keeping this secret from me makes me feel like he doesn't trust me," Nikki explained.

"Tommy's a pretty private person, you know that, if he's keeping this secret from you it's because he has to not because he wants to keep it from you," Haley replied.

"I know your right Haley and because of that I'm going to forget all about it and move on, I mean graduation is coming up soon and then who knows where we'll be," Nikki told her.

"Have you given any more thought to Anton's offer?" Haley asked.

"That's another thing I'm trying to forget," Nikki replied.

"He isn't going to wait forever for an answer you know," Haley told her.

"I know but how can I go so faraway, especially now that Thomas is in my life," Nikki replied.

Across town Tommy was in a meeting at Mercer Industries with Anton Mercer.

"So Tommy graduation is coming up pretty soon," Anton said as they sat in his office.

"Yeah I can't believe it," Tommy told him.

"After that I guess I'll have to start calling you Dr. Oliver," Anton said smiling.

"That's definitely going to take some getting used to," Tommy joked.

"Well I just wanted to let you know that everything is in place and we'll be ready to leave for the island a week after your graduation," Anton informed him.

"I didn't realize we'd be leaving so soon," Tommy replied.

"I just assumed that you'd want to get started on our projects as soon as possible but if that's a problem…," Anton said.

"No, it's not a problem it's just that I thought I'd have more time," Tommy told him.

"More time?" Anton asked.

"Well, um it's just that Nikki and I haven't really discussed what's going to happen with our relationship," Tommy confided.

"Yes well I'm sure it won't be easy with you on the island and her away in Europe," Anton replied.

"Excuse me, did you say Europe?" Tommy asked.

"Oh I'm sorry I just assumed that Nikki had told you about my offer," Anton said.

"Um, no she didn't," Tommy replied.

"Oh well, I'm sure she was just waiting for the right time," Anton replied.

"Since you brought it up mind telling me what kind of offer you made her," Tommy said.

"I'm sure you're aware that Nikki is one of the smartest business people around and so I naturally thought she would make the perfect choice," Anton started.

"Perfect choice for what?" Tommy asked.

"Why to run the European division of Mercer Industries," Anton stated.

"Hey Tommy," Haley greeted as she came from her bedroom into the living room.

"Hey Hales, I just came over to talk to Nikki," he said sitting on the couch beside Nikki.

"Oh well don't worry I was just on my way out, see you two later," she said heading out of the door.

"So Thomas what was so urgent that you had to see me right away?" Nikki asked.

"I, um just came from a meeting with Anton Mercer," he replied.

"Oh did he say when the two of you would be leaving for the island?" she asked.

"Yeah he wants to leave a week after graduation," Tommy told her.

"Wow, I guess he doesn't want to waste anytime," Nikki replied.

"No he doesn't," Tommy remarked.

"That doesn't give us much time, what does this mean for us," Nikki said.

"I was hoping you'd tell me especially since you'll be leaving yourself," Tommy told her.

"Why do you think I'm leaving?" Nikki questioned.

"Anton told me about the offer he made you, but when were you going to tell me," Tommy declared.

"I wasn't trying to keep it a secret, I've just been avoiding having to make a decision," she said.

"It shouldn't be that hard either you want to go or you don't," Tommy told her.

"It's not that easy I mean if he had asked me a year ago I probably would have jumped at the chance but now I have you and my life has changed so much, and what about you, I mean you haven't exactly changed your plans have you, your still leaving for that island and who knows how long you'll be gone," Nikki said slightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spoken to you that way, hearing about Anton's offer was just a surprise that's all," Tommy said.

"I guess this isn't as easy as we thought it would be is it?" Nikki asked.

"That's because we've been avoiding it, neither one of us wanted to face the facts that after graduation we'd have to make some decisions about what to do next," Tommy told her.

"Thomas, I won't go to Europe if you don't want me to, I'm sure Anton would let me keep working here," Nikki replied.

"But running the entire European division is such an amazing opportunity, how can I just let you walk away from that," Tommy said.

"You wouldn't be letting me walk away from anything, it's my decision and I love you Thomas all I want is to be with you, if things don't work out at Mercer Industries I could always find a job somewhere else," Nikki answered.

"You're such an amazing woman you know that," Tommy said moving closer to her.

"I never expected to find love and now that I have I'm not going to give it up so easily," Nikki said as they began it kiss.

"I want you to go to Europe," Tommy said as they broke apart.

"What?" Nikki asked confused.

"I'm leaving for the island and I have no idea how long Anton and I are going to be there and it doesn't make sense for you to be stuck here in a job you've been doing for so long when there's this amazing job waiting for you," Tommy told her.

"But Thomas what about us, do you really want to be so far away from each other," Nikki said.

"Of course not, but you can't go to the island with me and once my experiments are over I was thinking that I could join you in Europe," Tommy told her.

"Oh Thomas you'd really move halfway around the world for me?" Nikki asked.

"Yes, I love you Nikki and if Anton has a problem with it then I'll just end my partnership with him, nothing is going to keep us from having a future together," Tommy replied.

"ATTENTION, FLIGHT 773 TO LONDON WILL BEGIN BOARDING MOMENTARILY" a voice said over the loud speaker of the airport.

"I guess this is it," Nikki said standing up to gather her things.

"I really going to miss you, you were the best roommate ever," Haley said giving Nikki a hug.

"I'm going to miss you too Haley but I expect you to come visit me, good luck with your business I know it's going to be a huge success," Nikki told her. Haley had decided to return to her hometown of Reefside, California where she was going to take over her uncle's business.

"Tommy I'll wait for you in the car," Haley said as she gave Nikki one last hug.

"Let's just get this over with," Nikki said looking into Tommy's eyes.

"I didn't think this was going to be so hard," Tommy said as he pulled her into his arms.

"We won't be apart forever, I mean you'll be joining me in London as soon as you're done on the island right," Nikki said not wanting to let go of him.

"Right, the minute I'm done I'm going to book the first flight," Tommy told her.

"I love you Thomas," Nikki said giving him one last kiss.

"I love you too Nikki," Tommy said as he gradually let go of her.

"I better go," Nikki said as she picked up her bags and started walking away.

"Nikki, wait!" Tommy shouted as she stopped and turned around.

"Thomas, I have to go I'm going to miss my plane," Nikki said as he walked up to her.

"I know this isn't the best time but if I don't say this now then I'm going to have to wait and I've already waited long enough," Tommy told her.

"Thomas, what are you talking about?" Nikki asked.

"I want you to marry me," Tommy replied.

"What did you just say?" Nikki questioned not believing her ears.

"I planned on asking you in Hawaii but then things got all messed up and I couldn't let you get on that plane without knowing," Tommy said getting down on one knee.

"Will you marry me?" he asked pulling a ring box out of his pocket.

"Of course, Thomas," Nikki said tears forming in her eyes.

"I love you," Tommy said as he put the ring on her finger.

"I can't believe you just asked me to marry you in the middle of the airport," Nikki said smiling.

"What can I say, I'm just full of surprises," Tommy replied.

"I really do have to go now," Nikki said frowning.

"I know but we'll be back together in no time you'll see," Tommy told her giving her one last kiss and hug.

"I love you, Thomas," she said walking away.

"I'll see you soon I promise," Tommy shouted watching her leave.