Everyone was gathered in one of the arena's lounges for dinner, and everyone sat and ate in almost complete silence. Nick and Laura had been avoiding each other all week, and it was finally starting to bother everyone.

Frustrated, Brian dropped his silverware on his plate, startling everyone. "OK, what the hell is going on?"

"Nothing," Nick and Laura answered simultaneously, never looking up from their plates as they pushed their food around with their forks.

"Nothing," Brian echoed. "Look, I hate to be a complainer here, but you guys have not even so much looked at each other unless it was absolutely necessary, and even then it's been minimal. Not to say that it hasn't been nice to eat dinner, or be in makeup prior to the show, or anywhere for that matter, and not have to listen to you two bickering. But this is the first time ever that you guys have not been at each other's throats for more than an hour, not including sleeping periods." Brian sighed as he finished. "So, would you mind telling us what's up with you two, and why Becky suddenly left last week? I'm assuming this has something to do with her."

"You can assume all you want, Brian. Rebecca and I were having problems, and that's all there is to say. It has nothing to do with Laura," Nick replied calmly, never looking up from his plate.

Laura, on the other hand, looked up quickly from her plate, surprised that Nick was covering for her. She stood up and walked away from the table as she spoke. "Nick, can I talk to you... now?" It was more of a statement rather than a question. Nick looked up and his eyes followed her as she walked out of the room. He sighed as he pushed himself away from the table, getting up to follow Laura.

Walking out into the hallway, Nick felt Laura's hand grab him and drag him into an empty dressing room. She pushed him in, turned and shut the door, locking it. "Damn, girl," he said, wondering why she was being so forceful with him.

"What was that?" Laura asked, half shocked and half angry, her eyes beginning to water.

"What was what?" Nick asked, still clueless as to what she was getting at.

"'It has nothing to do with Laura!?' It has nothing to do with me? Christ, Carter, it has EVERYTHING to do with me!" Laura sat down, her tears flowing freely now as she buried her head into her hands.

Nick was stunned. He had never seen this side of Laura. She has always had this tough-as-nails exterior, especially when it came to him. He didn't know what to do, but he sat down next to her and put his arm around her, talking softly as he did so. "Laura, please. I've never seen you like this, and quite honestly, it scares me. Why do you think Becky leaving has everything to do with you?"

"Um, DUH, Nick... you were there, you know," Laura replied between labored breaths as she sniffled. Nick got up to grab Laura a kleenex and handed it to her. She wiped her eyes and her nose, and took a deep breath. "I heard her yelling at you. I heard her cussing to you about me. I heard her slam the door as she left. Hell, I fucking felt the floor shake as she stomped by my door on the way to the elevator. So don't even sit there and tell me that it has nothing to do with me, because I'm not stupid, Nick." Laura paused as she took another deep breath, then continued, her voice shaky. "Look, I know I've been less than nice to you since I've met you, but I've never wished you unhappiness. And I never have liked Becky, but damn, she was your girlfriend. I can't believe that I, of all people, interfered with that."

"Laura, you interfered with nothing. I told you, Rebecca and I have had problems for a long time. It was bound to happen sooner or later, with or without your being there. And actually, I'm quite relieved she's gone. I couldn't handle the fighting anymore. That's all we ever did, Laura, was fight. I can't have a relationship like that, and I won't."

Laura laughed through her tears. "Kind of ironic that you're talking to me about not fighting with someone, don't you think?"

Nick laughed. "Yeah, I suppose so." Laura began to cry again. Nick put his arm around her again and pulled her close. "Now why are you crying again?? Geez, when you let loose, you really let loose," he said, handing her another tissue. "Laura, is there something you're not telling me?"

Laura sat up and looked at him. Nick's eyes were soft as he looked back at her, full of concern and curiosity. She sighed as she stood up, walking about the room, aimlessly pacing. "I'm ashamed to admit it, but--" she hesitated.

Nick became anxious. "But what?" he asked, urging her to go on.

Laura turned and sighed as she looked at Nick, butterflies in her stomach. Just say it, Laura, she thought as her eyes met his across the room. "I'm glad she's gone, Nick. I'm glad she's gone because--" Laura's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Hold on a second," she said quietly, as she turned to walk to the door.

Damn it! Nick thought as his eyes followed her across the room. Laura opened the door, and her mouth fell open. "Derek!" she said, genuinely surprised as the man standing at the door took her in his arms. Nick stood up as he watched them hug, a fire building in the pit of his stomach as he walked up to where--

"Whoooaaa, wait a second," Nick interrupted as he sat himself up taller in his chair, totally intrigued. "Who is this Derek guy?"

Leighanne smiled. "Derek was your mother's... fiancé."

Both Nick's and Karen's eyes widened. "Fiancé?!? What in the hell are you talking about?? Mom was engaged to another guy???" Karen shrieked. "Oh my God!"

"Wow, so what in the hell was she doing smooching Grandpa then!?" Michael asked, just as surprised as everyone else in the room.

"Stop asking so many questions and I'll get to it!" Leighanne replied with a smile as everyone leaned back into their chairs and eagerly listened as Leighanne continued. "Now where was I... oh yes..."

Nick stood up as he watched them hug, a fire building in the pit of his stomach as he walked up to where they stood. Coughing a bit to get Laura's attention, she broke away from Derek's embrace as she turned to face Nick, suddenly aware of her awkward situation. She nervously looked at Nick and back to Derek. "Derek, this is Nick... Nick, Derek," she said, quickly introducing the two men. She sighed and added quietly, "Derek is my fiancé." Nick looked at Laura wide-eyed, flabbergasted by what he had just heard.

"Nice to meet you, Nick," Derek said, extending his hand. Nick timidly shook his hand, and simply nodded in acknowledgment. Sensing a tension between the two of them, Derek tensed up also, noticing Laura's tear-stained face. "Did I, uh, interrupt something? Is everything OK here??" he asked, getting no answer from either of them as they just stared at each other anxiously. Derek became defensive. He turned back to Laura and said quietly, attempting to stifle his anger, "Isn't he the one that you don't get along with? Is he bothering you again?? If he's why you're upset, I swear I'll--"

"No," Laura said quickly, rubbing her hand on Derek's arm in an attempt to calm him down. "No, Derek, nothing like that. Really, it's OK," she said, wiping the tears from her eyes, attempting to regain her composure.

"Well, if you say so," Derek replied, looking toward Nick who had turned his back on them, then looking back to Laura. His face softened as he smiled at her. "Oh, it's so great to see you, baby... I've missed you so much!" he said enthusiastically, sweeping her up into a hug and spinning her about. Laura leaned her chin on his shoulder, and when she felt herself stop from spinning, she opened her eyes, and they met Nick's just a few feet away. Tears started to form again as she blinked hard. "I'm sorry," she mouthed to him as Derek started to walk with Laura still in his arms, letting her go a few steps ahead and she continued walking with him, as she glanced over her shoulder, looking at Nick standing in the doorway, watching them until they faded around the corner.