"Okay, 7 sounds good. I'll be there", Nikki replied into the phone, and then hung up.

A million thoughts raced through her head, namely, what in world was she doing agreeing to have dinner with this man. Had she no self-control? She was only human she reasoned with herself, and everyone gets lonely. Usually she would busy herself with her children or her best friend Kay, but everyone had their own lives to worry about. And then there was Victor, oh Victor. The last words they shared were far from pretty. He accused her of single handedly destroying their relationship. She was more than willing to take the blame, but she could not understand how Victor would not accept that she acted out of hurt over the fact that she honestly thought he had married Meggie. Yes, she knew she should have talked to him first, but as she knew all too well, you can't change the past. And with that, he left, just as always, and ordered her to get out. The first week she moped about the ranch in denial about what had come to pass. The second week she forced herself to find a place to live, but the GAC made her cringe. She had no plans to buy a house, but that's exactly what she did.

Nikki thought the house had a lot of charm when she saw it from the driveway. White with black shutters, and a huge wrap around porch on the first floor. The house wasn't big, but then she didn't need that. She would be living there alone after all. When she opened the door, she really liked it. Hardwood floors, butter cream yellow walls, lots of windows, and vaulted ceilings. It felt like how home should feel. She walked across the living room to the screened in porch, and that's when she fell in love with the house. She remembered she all but ran out the screen door across the lawn, her high heels sinking in the grass along the way. There it was, a beautiful barn. Nothing fancy, but very clean and bright. Five stalls, a tack room, a grooming area, a feed room, and wash rack. Outside, two paddocks and a large riding arena. She ran out the door back to the house meeting the Realtor halfway. She remembered telling the woman she would take the house. It's a buyers market after all she'd said. She didn't know why exactly she'd done it, but she remembered she told Victor she wouldn't chase after him this time. And by God, she wouldn't.

"Mr. Newman, we should be in Genoa City in about an hour", the pilots voice came over the intercom.

Victor wasn't sure how he felt about coming home. Nothing had changed really. He dropped Skye off and tried to forget the hurt and betrayal he felt from those he loved back home, but when all was said and done, he still felt hurt and betrayed. Abby had taken a step forward and tried to make amends, and for that he was grateful, Victoria on the other hand was being just as stubborn as ever. She refused to budge on the lawsuit. Of any of his children, she was the last one he expected this behavior from. And then of course, Nikki. He hadn't wanted to come home because he feared everything he saw would remind him of her, and anytime he thought of her, he saw her in bed with that scum Deacon Sharpe. "I should have killed him the first time", he muttered under his breath.

Nikki ran out the door towards the barn. She needed to feed the horses fast so she could shower and be ready for dinner at 7. She thought she would have to hire someone to help with the feeding and cleaning, but she found she actually enjoyed it. And it was after all only 3 horses. She brought her own horse from the ranch, but found out very shortly the mare was very lonely. Who could blame her Nikki thought, and so she bought another mare and an older gelding she thought would be perfect for Summer, Reid, and Faith when they were older. "Hello darlings", she said as she walked through the door. All 3 horses whinnied to her. She wanted to think it was because they missed her, but she knew they just wanted dinner. "Okay, Okay, I'm hurrying", she said. She dished out hay, measured grain, and topped off the water buckets, and ran back up to the house to get ready for a date with a man she swore she would never see again.

Victor headed up the driveway to the ranch, his sanctuary. It always had been in the past. He had had some of the best times of his life here, and too, the worst. He opened the garage door and noticed Nikki's car was not there. "Good" he said out-loud, but it was a weak attempt to convince himself he was happy she was gone. He walked in the house. It was dark. He was alone. He reached in his pocket for his ringing cell phone. "Hello?"

"Hey Dad! I saw you drive up" Nick replied.

"Yeah, I'm home".

"Well, um, I was thinking if you wanted we could grab dinner or something at the AC? Catch up you know?"

"Sounds great son".

"7 work for you?" Nick asked.

"Yea, um, I've got a few things here to finish up, so if I'm late just wait alright?"

"Yep, see you then".

At 7:15 Victor walked through the doors of the AC restaurant. His gaze went to the back of the room where his eyes rested on her. His heart was in his throat. After all this time, all the pain and joy, she still took his breath away. She was, as always, beautiful. Nikki's head was rolled back in laughter. Who was she with he wondered. He could not see who she was so in-captured with as a partition was blocking the view. He took a few steps to the side and his heart went from his throat to his stomach like a punch in the gut. His blood boiled just as intensely as the first time he saw Deacon with her. "That son of a..." Victor said under his breath. He had every intention of breaking every bone in that slimy mans body. He took 3 forceful steps towards the table when a hand touched his shoulder. Nick. His welcome home speech cut short as he directed his attention to the object of his fathers stare. Nick's jaw dropped. He was equally as shocked to see his mother out with Deacon. "Umm...we can go some place else if you want. I'm sorry dad, I had no idea" Nick said quickly.

"Don't apologize for your mother's poor choices" Victor shot back. "We are not changing our plans because of her. Just get a table far away so we don't have to see it". As they made their way to the table, Victor glanced back to Nikki. She was still laughing and unaware that Victor had seen her. Full of jealousy Victor mumbled under his breath, "I really should have killed him".

More to come.