Three days later, Caitlin found herself sitting with Brandon in the deli she used to frequent when she stayed nearby. It was also the deli that she had bumped into Paul, Shawn and Kevin after they had first hooked up.

A brief chat with Mr Torrelli, the owner, told her that there was a large apartment for sale in the next block, and that Mr Torrelli, who also owned the apartment, would be willing to give her the keys today if she really wanted it. Initially she was confused, as it often took weeks for the paperwork to be organised, but he assured her that he would let her move in and they could sort the particulars out later.

"Are you sure?" Caitlin asked. "Is it ready?"

"It's perfectly ready, it has some furniture in it, which I assume you'll want to keep a hold of that until you sort something out? You can always get rid of it when you don't need it anymore.

"It's been empty for a few months, ever since my last tenants won some cash prize and left practically overnight. They barely gave me any notice, but I didn't mind that much, although at the time I pretended I did.

"I just don't have the time or inclination to be a landlord anymore, but I haven't gotten around to putting it on the market. I like you Cait, I have ever since the first day you walked in here, and I can see you are desperate." His eyes glanced down at Brandon, who was happily licking a lollipop and watching the people around him. "This young man needs a roof over his head and a room to call his own, so I only have one question. How quick can you get me the cash?"

Remembering the bank down the street, Caitlin assured Mr Torrelli that she would be back with the money, in cash, by the end of the day. Mr Torrelli phoned his lawyer, who assured him that the deeds would be ready by then. Apparently they had been drafted up a while ago and they were just waiting for a buyer to fill in his name. They agreed to meet at six o'clock back at the deli, where, if everything went to plan, Caitlin would get the keys for her new home.

Caitlin didn't care what state the apartment was in. She had a home in an area she knew, and her and Brandon were safe. Plus she knew that no matter how bad the place was, she could always redecorate and have some work done. Anything was better than the alternative. Staying with Jeff, each growing more and more resentful towards the other, until the day came that they were no longer friends, they just co-existed with each other.

With a mission in mind, Caitlin picked up Brandon and strode out of the door, determined to get her money.

After negotiating with the bank to release the funds, Caitlin left with her money, flustered, irritated and vowing to change banks, but excited and happy at the same time. Brandon, who was wrapped around her like a Koala, was growing weary, but every once in a while he spotted something that revived him, and turned his eyes into saucers. So far he had pointed out big cars that he liked, women with "funny" makeup on and a balloon vendor who had been standing on the corner.

Returning to the deli, Caitlin realised she had a few hours to kill, and nothing to do until then. She decided to phone an old friend to see if they could find her a job.

"Good morning, Mr McMahon's office," a cheery voice greeted her. Caitlin hated those receptionists who were always cheery, the falseness drove her up the wall. "How may I help you?"

"Can you tell Mr McMahon that Caitlin Masterson is on the line for him, please?" She replied equally as cheery.

After listening to the music for a couple of minutes, Caitlin heard Vince's voice at the other end of the line.

"Hello Mr McMahon," she began, unsure what she really wanted to say. "Long time no hear. I hope you are keeping well."

"Caitlin." Hearing him say her name made Caitlin instantly begin to feel better. "Can I just start by saying how sorry I am about how things happened back then -"

"Vince, why are you apologising? You had nothing to do with what happened, other than helping bring Stephanie into the world." She laughed, before becoming serious once again. "You didn't know what would happen so please don't say sorry for it."

"I still feel bad. So, what can I do for you Caitlin?"

"To cut a long story short, I am back in New York with my three year old son, and I was wondering if perhaps the WWE had a vacancy that I could fill."

"Were you thinking about anything in particular?"

"Well, I'm a single mother, and Brandon needs some stability, so I was hoping for something that doesn't involve a lot of moving about. In a perfect world I would like to go back to writing for the magazine."

"Not a problem, Caitlin. I'll get in touch with the editor. We actually lost a reporter last month, and we haven't been able to find a suitable replacement. With you having already worked there, I can pretty much guarantee you will get the job."

"Thank you very much Vince. I knew you would pull through for me."

After promising to get in touch with her when he had confirmed the details, Vince hung up the phone. Caitlin sank back into her chair and grinned. She knew that a lot of Vince hiring her back had to do with guilt over the Stephanie situation, but she didn't care. Why shouldn't she get something positive out of what had happened between Paul and Stephanie?

"Mummy," Brandon looked up at her, face covered in chocolate ice cream, eyes full of love. "Why are you smiling?"

"Because baby," she replied, lifting up a napkin and trying to clean her son, although it seemed as though the ice-cream had cemented on his chin. "I have a job, and we have a house, and this is the start of our new adventure."

That night, Caitlin and Brandon moved into their apartment, and Caitlin was surprised at how nice it was. Mr Torrelli had kept it well, and there was very little that needed done to it, except to paint Brandon's room, which he was still trying to decide what colour he wanted it. After signing all the documents, Mr Torrelli and his lawyer left Caitlin sitting in the living room, her brain swirling with ideas for furniture and colour schemes and where things should go and who she should invite over to celebrate.

"Can I phone daddy?" Brandon asked excitedly, charging through from his room. "I want to tell him all about my new bedroom and the neighbourhood and what is going on."

Caitlin dialled the phone, and listened to it ring, praying that Jeff was out doing something with one of the guys. The last thing she needed to hear was his voice, she knew it would knock her off cloud nine.

"Hello?"

"Jeff, it's me. Brandon wants to speak to you." She passed the phone to Brandon, who eagerly snatched it away and held it to his ear.

"Hiya daddy," he began, and Caitlin could see he was keen to tell him everything they had done since they pulled out of the driveway back in Cameron. "I'm in...Mummy, what's it called again?"

"The Big Apple," she told him for what seemed like the fiftieth time that day. He had been obsessed with the phrase and she was beginning to regret telling him it in the first place.

"I'm in the Big Apple, and I have a new bedroom, and mummy says I can paint it any colour I want, but I was wondering if you would come and draw me a picture on the wall like in my old room...I know that daddy...I love you too...Will you come and see me sometime?...Okay, well, I'm going to go to bed now...Goodnight daddy."

Brandon handed the phone back to his mother, and sat down on the floor, watching her intently. He wanted her to get off the phone so she could tuck him in and tell him a story.

"Caitlin, are you there?" Jeff asked, his voice steely.

"I'm here." Oh shit, she thought. It sounds like he's really going to erupt at me.

She was wrong, however, as Jeff managed to keep his voice even. "So, you're in New York. I kinda figured you would go back there. So what's happening next?"

"Vince has given me a job, I'm back at Raw magazine, so I'll be able to pay for us to live. I have to get a bit of furniture for the place, and as Brandon said, I have to paint his room, but it's nice. It's in the old neighbourhood, so it feels sort of like a homecoming."

"As long as you're happy."

"No, I'm not happy," Caitlin spat, careful to make sure Brandon wasn't listening. "I would be happiest back with you, but that can't work anymore so I'm dealing with the situation I'm left with."

Caitlin heard the dial tone click, and a sadness washed over her. That was how it was going to be between the two of them from now on, and it was something she was going to have to get used to. She knew she was playing the cold-hearted bitch when she spoke to other people, but really her feud with Jeff was killing her inside. He had been the only man who had never let her down and now he'd done it and it hurt her to her very core. If it weren't for Brandon, she knew that she probably wouldn't have gotten out of bed.

I have to stop thinking about this, it's not good. I hate that man for everything he said and did. I'm better off without him.

But is Caitlin really better off without Jeff? Find out soon.