Cairo wiped the last of her tears from her face the next morning, and shoved the rest of her clothes into her bag.

It had been a horrible night. After she had finally calmed down enough to convince Nick that she was fine by herself, and he could leave (after promising to stop by to say goodbye to her tomorrow), she had broken down countless times, trying to figure out what to do. Finally, she had decided that she had to go to Toronto to see him. She had to explain everything to him.

She made the flight arrangements at 3 a.m. (thank god for 24 hour service) and her flight left at eight forty-five. She finished packing her bag and went downstairs to do a once over of her house. She locked and barred the back door and checked every window. Then, as if in an after thought, she went to her desk and picked up her laptop and adapter.

She heard a soft rapping at her door. She turned around and unlocked the door. It was Nick.

"Well, Kay, I'm leaving in a few minutes. How are you? You didn't sleep, did you?" he asked quietly.

"Not much. Um, do you think I could catch a ride to the airport? I'm going home for awhile," she said.

"Yeah, sure. What time's your flight?" he asked.

"Eight forty-five. I have two hours. How 'bout yours?" she asked.

"About the same time. Well, lets go," he said, and she ran to grab her stuff.

* * * *

"Well, this is my gate," Cairo said, as Nick walked with her. She set down her bag and looked around.

"Look, you'd better go before someone recognizes you and starts chaos," Cairo said, blinking back yet another set of tears. These past few days had been an emotional roller coaster.

"Listen baby, everything is going to be okay. If he doesn't give in, then he deserves to lose the greatest thing in his life," Nick said, causing her tears to overflow. She reached up and hugged him fiercely.

"I'm going to miss you so much," she whispered into his neck.

"Flight 987 departing from gate 34 B at eight forty-five is now ready for boarding," a voice boomed over the speaker. Cairo pulled away from their embrace and picked up her bag.

"Call me whenever you get time, Nick," she pleaded. He nodded and she turned away and headed towards the departure ramp. He watched as she waited in line and then was ushered onto the ramp. He watched her desperately until he lost sight of her.

"I love you," he whispered into the air. He closed his eyes, sighed and turned and walked to his gate.

* * * *

"Carrie! Carrie, you came home!" an excited voice called out. Cairo had just gotten off her flight and was in the middle of the airport when she heard her mother call her from halfway across the airport. Smiling for the first time in a day and a half, she ran to her mother and hugged her.

"Carrie, I'm so glad to see you!" her mother said, grabbing her bag and leading her through the crowds.

"I'm glad to see you too, Mom. It's been awhile," Cairo said.
"It's been too long, and it's great to have you home again," her mother said.

"Mom, it's only for a little while. I guess you know what happened with Brad," Cairo stated rather than asked. She had no doubt in her mind that Brad had told everyone.

"Yes he told me. Poor boy, he feels so bad for running out like he did, but everyone fights some times, it's a sign of communication. But he'll feel a hell of a lot better when he realizes that you came after him," her mother said, ushering her out of the airport, into the cool breeze. Cairo shivered slightly; she had forgotten how cold it could get at night in September in Toronto.

"How is he? Have you talked to him?" Cairo said.

"He's okay, I guess. But for awhile there we were really worried about him. Normally he'd stop by and talk with us a few times a week, but when you left, we never saw him. And when we did, he looked horrible. Trista, your sister, has been a godsend to him. She's always there for him. You should really thank your sister," her mother said, as they climbed into the car.

"Yeah, remind me to talk to her when I see her," Cairo replied, easing into the front seat, leaning her head against the cool glass, feeling the edge of stress that had been coursing through her veins since the day before ease slightly. I guess I missed my home more than I thought, she said to herself.

* * * *

"Tell me you're joking!" Brian pleaded.

"I wish I was," Nick said sorrowfully.

"So you finally put the moves on the girl you've been after for a long time, just as her boyfriend decides to show her face? You have to have the worse timing!" Howie exclaimed.

"I haven't been after her for a long time. We're just friends. And I wasn't 'putting the moves' on her. It was more like her putting the moves on me," Nick tried to explain the way things had happened, but none of them understood.

"So he ran out, and she's chasing after him. That doesn't look to good for you, man," AJ said.

"Well, I've been thinking about that, and I think it's more or less to settle things. I mean, if they're going to break up, she's not just going to assume they did when he ran out. I think she either wants to make things right with him again, or get some closure on their relationship," Nick said.

"But still, it's gotta suck not knowing what's going on. By the time we get back, she may have moved right back home and they could have gotten married!" suggest AJ, getting killer glares from everyone else.

"I doubt that. And I don't think she'll move until she finishes her book. It's only about half done now," Nick said, more to himself than to anyone else.

"Don't worry about it Nick. The good guys always win. At least we think you're the good guy," Brian said, recalling Nick's practical jokes in earlier years. That set them all down memory lane, telling old stories about the stupid stuff they used to do and the differences between performing then and performing now, leaving Nick to brood.

* * * *

"KAY!" a voice bellowed from her parent's driveway. Cairo was standing at the steps, watching the maniac driver rip into the driver, practically jump out the window in her hurry and start running towards her.

Cairo ran to meet her best friend. They hugged and laughed with each other, just glad to be in one another's presence after so long an absence.

"Kay, I'm so glad to see you! I've missed you so much! You wouldn't believe how much trouble I've gotten into since you left!" Lacey declared.

"Oh, I wouldn't doubt it! What's new with you?" she asked.

"Well, remember while I tell you, that I said I got into some trouble and don't freak out of me…" Lacey began slowly.

"Uh-oh. What did you go and do?" Cairo asked, her eyes widening.

"I went and got engaged! I'm getting married!" she squealed. Cairo threw her arms around her squirming best friend in delight.

"Really? To who? Do I know him? If not, when can I meet him?" Cairo asked, all at once.

"Robbie. You remember Robbie. I only dated him for three years, until he went off to University. Well, we met at a party a couple months ago and it was like everything was back to the way it was before he left. It was fabulous. He's working downtown; he's got the job of his dreams. So, the other day, I was talking about maybe taking this position in Alberta and he begged me not to go and then he proposed. It was beautiful!" Lacey gushed. Cairo did remember Robbie. When she had first met Lacey (who was three years older), she had been dating him. After he left, she had been Lacey's shoulder to cry on, which had cemented their friendship, despite the age difference.

"Wow. It's so great to see you so happy! You're glowing!" Cairo said, a little wistful. She couldn't work up the courage to go to Brad's yet.

"Honey, you have to go see him soon. You still have his house key, right? If he's not there let yourself in and wait for him. Don't leave until you settle everything out," Lacey advised. Cairo agreed and with enough encouragement, grabbed her coat and her mom's car keys and headed over to Brad's.