Lying beside you, here in the dark
Feeling your heart beat with mine
Softly you whisper, you're so sincere
How could our love be so blind

We sailed on together
We drifted apart
And here you are by my side

Kristy rested in the chair, enjoying the comfort. She was, for once, actually grateful for Brian's insanity. The house had progressed fantastically, and almost everything was unpack. She shut her eyes, and was surprised when the song switched to Journey. Someone cleared their throat, and she peeked one eye open, curious to know who it was. Nothing could have prepared her for what she saw next. "Oh my God..." she gasped. "Nick?"

He bit his lip, too nervous to say anything. All he managed was a nod.

Kristy was stunned. "Why- how- why are you here?"

He chose his words carefully. "I need you," was the only thing that escaped his lips. He admitted, "I miss you so much, Kristy, you can't- you can't fathom how big an impact you left. When you left, you broke my heart."

She was touched, but there was still resentment. "I broke your heart? Hello!"

"I know, it goes both ways, but will you- just gimme a chance," Nick begged longingly.

"Chance," she repeated, considering the choice.

"Chance," he confirmed.

Kristy was quiet, but she relented. "What are you going to do?"

He thought for a moment. "Do you wanna dance?"

There was a moment of silence, and Nick feared the worst.

"Okay," she whispered, and stepped towards him. allowed herself to be wrapped in his arms.

So now I come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am, with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms...

She inhaled, breathing in an unfamiliar scent. It puzzled Kristy, almost frightened her. She missed the old Nick smell, that perfect mix of Gravity, soap, and his skin.

Nick was intoxicated by the moment. It was broad daylight, in an unfamiliar living room, and it was his new favorite place. Kristy in his arms, Journey on the CD player. It was perfect.

Kristy adjusted her head, and expected to slide right into the crook of his neck, just like it used to, but it didn't. He'd grown, and her head didn't fit the way it used to. She was suddenly, and unwillingly, struck by the realization that he had changed, and so had she. "No," she stepped back, shaking her head. "No, this doesn't work anymore, why are you here? Why? You're just going to screw with my life again!"

She was delievering the questions rhetorically, giving Nick a zero chance of answering.

"Kristy, please, stop it," Nick was desperate. Having her back for two minutes wasn't enough.

Kristy's head was shaking, and every memory of Nick she'd ever known flooded her body. "Leave," she muttered insistently. "Leave!"

He was shocked by the sudden attitude change. "All I want to do is hold you," Nick said dejectedly. "And I think that if you let me do that, for just a few more seconds, I can walk away and never speak to you again."

"No," Kristy repeated painfully, "I can't let you do that, just leave me alone!"

He didn't say anything. Just left a piece of paper, and the sound of her tears.

Living without you, living alone
This empty house seems so cold
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near
How much I wanted you home

Nick sat in his car, banging his head against the steering wheel. "Dammit!" he shouted loudly, and a bird flew out of a tree. What happened to the perfect plan, and the perfect day, and his perfect girl?

But now that you've come back
Turned night into day
I need you to stay

So now I come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am, with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms...

Her eyes watered, and panick coursed through her veins. "Not happening," Kristy forced herself to think of other things. 'Flowers, rainbows, nice things.' If someone had some into the room at that moment, they would have been convinced that she was mentally challenged, but Kristy desperate to get Nick out of her mind. "Fuck him!" she shrieked at length, and heard someone come thundering down the stairs.

"Kristy?" Howie was bewildered. Twenty minutes ago she was happy, chirpy, smiley Kristy, thrilled that her new house was well under way, and now she was curled in a chair, crying like a child. "What happened?"

"Nick-fucking-happened!" She declared.

'The plan,' it all suddenly came back to him. Nick's great, well, obviously not so great, plan for getting back together with Kristy. "Ah."

"I'm going- I don't know where I'm going! God, now my whole bloody house is contaminated!"

She was making no sense to Howie, mumbling and walking around the living room. He made a small noise.

Kristy looked up at him. "What?" The trail of tears was gone, and her face was flushed.

"Why didn't you give him a chance?"

It was a simple question. But Kristy didn't know what to say.

"It was two years ago Kristy, he's sorry, but he can only be so sorry. You gotta stop blaming Nick, it's not only his fault. Don't take it harsh or anything, but grow up."

Howie's words burned Kristy. For as much as she'd grown, and as mature as she thought she was, Kristy felt incredibly juvenille at that moment.

"He's fine most of the time, but everytime someone mentions you, or there is something to do with you, Nick zones. You're as bad as Estella."

"Estella?" Kristy was puzzled.

"Estella, Great Expectations." He explained the comment. "The bitchy one."

"Oh."

"My advice is grow up, and shove your pride up your ass, because if you're not gonna be nice to Nick, then leave him alone."

Kristy agreed with Howie, she had to. Anybody with morals would.