"Claudia, are you sure you want to stay on this tour?" Josie asked Claudia who was lying on the bed crying. 

"Mum, what do you mean by that?" Claudia asked turning to face her mum. They both sat up on the bed.

"Sweetie, you have a husband who misses you and loves you. You love him too." Josie explained and Claudia shook her head. 

"I don't think he does anymore." Claudia replied as she nearly cried again.

"Let me tell you something." Josie said crossing her legs over. Claudia looked up at her mum. "When I was seventeen and I met your father, I was touring on broadway around London. Your dad was asked to go on tour and he said no to be with me. Then we had your brother. Your dad could of been something special but he said no for me. Look how happy we are. You have been on tour if you leave you still have a shot with Nathan." Josie explained and Claudia looked at her wedding ring lying beside her.

"How do you know?" She asked and Josie took her daughters hand.

"Claudia, you wouldn't of asked for my permission for this marriage if it meant nothing to you. I am not going to sit here and let you throw marriage away." Josie said sternly and Claudia looked at her ring again, asking herself if she made a mistake.

___

Nathan walked up to the bar that Taylor worked at.

"How bout a gin and tonic?" Nathan asked and Taylor turned around smirking. 

"How bout I see some ID?" Taylor asked jokingly and Nathan held up his fake ID before placing it on the bar. Taylor laughed. "So, what brings you to town, sailor?" She asked smirking as she handed him back his ID.

"I just wanted to check out The Swinging Donkey; see if it's really as... classy as everybody says it is." Nathan sighed and Taylor raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm, what d'ya think?" She asked excitably.

"Not so much." Nathan replied and Taylor smiled. "But, it does have one thing I'm kinda craving." Nathan continued. 

"I know, gin and tonic." Taylor gasped as she took out a glass.  

"Yeah, that too." Nathan smirked and Taylor smiled back. 

"I guess my phone call worked. You staying the night?" She asked pouring him a drink.

"I don't know. Haven't thought that far ahead." Nathan replied.

"Well, I'm house-sitting the apartment upstairs. You're welcome to stay with me if you like." Taylor explained as she set the glass in front of him. "What d'ya say?" She asked smiling. 

"Sounds like a plan." Nathan replied and Taylor placed a straw in his glass grinning. 

___

Taylor and Nathan were chatting about Claudia when a girl ran up to them.

"Taylor, come on, we need you now!" The girl shrieked and Taylor looked at Nathan. 

"We'll talk about this later, I gotta get to work!" Taylor exclaimed and Nathan looked confused.

"I thought you said your shift was over!" Nathan replied. 

"Somebody's gotta pay for these drinks!" Taylor laughed as she put a cowboy hat on. The music started up and Taylor, along with other girls, climb on the bar and dance. The crowd all cheer and Nathan was clearly enjoying it. A girl jumped off the bar and placed a cowboy hat on Nathan before she dragged him to the bar. The girls all switch their attention onto him. Nathan drank as the girls all danced around him.

___

Nathan and Taylor are stood in front of an arcade type basketball game. Nathan threw the ball and it went through the hoop.

"So this is you're 'A' game, huh?" Taylor asked as she threw the ball and missed. Just liked Claudia used to do. 

"You know what my dad always told me? Forget about practice; as long as you come to play," Nathan explained as Taylor shot again and it went in, "on game day when the stakes are high, odds are you'll come out a winner. Last time was just a practice round." Nathan continued to say as they both threw balls. 

"Since when are you taking advice from your dad?" Taylor asked teasingly.

"I know, alright. But if there's one thing he knows about, it's winning." Nathan replied as he picked the balls and threw them again. 

"Okay, so what are the stakes tonight?" Taylor asked looking up at Nathan.

"Well, if I make this shot, we go upstairs." Nathan said tossing the ball and Taylor studied him.

"And do what?" Taylor asked smirking.

"Whatever I want." Nathan replied, he was acting just like old Nathan.

"And if you miss?" Taylor asked and Nathan threw the ball and it watched it go throw the hoop. 

"Let's go." Nathan said and they leave, Taylor was giggling.

___

Nathan and Taylor entered the apartment. Nathan took her hand and pushed her against the wall. He came extremely close to kissing her before he stopped and hit the wall beside her lightly.

"I can't do this." Nathan said and Taylor looked at him.

"Because of Claudia?" Taylor asked and Nathan shook his head.

"No. Because of me." He replied and Taylor took a deep breath.

"Claudia called me;... right after you left Austin." Taylor began to explained and Nathan stood up. 

"Were you planning on telling me this before or after we had sex?" Nathan asked confused and angry.

"We weren't gonna have sex, Nathan. I knew that; I was just waiting for you to figure it out." Taylor replied.

"Oh,... so what, you're like my, uh,... my guardian angel?" Nathan asked sarcastically.

"No, it's not that. It's just,... you're lost,... and lonely, and I'm pretty good at making people forget how lonely they really are." Taylor said shaking her  head.

"Right,... that's a nice way of describing what you're really good at." Nathan smirked. Taylor was hurt and you could tell.

"Sleep if off, Nathan. You have a long drive tomorrow." Taylor snapped back.

"What're you gonna do?" Nathan asked.

"Apparently, what I do best." Taylor muttered before she walked out of the apartment. Nathan closed his eyes and sighed.

___

"Sneaking away without saying goodbye? That's original." Taylor said as she walked out of the bar. Nathan was packing the boot of the car. 

"I, uh,... didn't think you'd wanna see me." Nathan said as closed the boot and took the keys out. Taylor nodded her head. "I'm really sorry, Taylor, for what I said. How I acted." Nathan apologised sincerely.

"It's OK. You get one free pass with me. Next time, watch your back." Taylor replied jokingly. Nathan grinned. 

"I had fun, though,... before that." Nathan smiled.

"I know you did. But after a while, all the parties just... blend together. You know, sometimes I just wish I could start over." Taylor said.

"You can. We all can, right?" Nathan smiled certain.

"Not me. Once people think of you a certain way, you're never gonna be able to change their minds. I am who I am and I have to live with that. But you, nobody's put a label on you yet. You can still be whoever you wanna be." Taylor explained giving Nathan hope.

"Without Claudia." Nathan said looking saddened. 

"If she's not gonna be there for you, you have to start being there for yourself." Taylor stated, even though she did want Claudia and Nathan to be together.

"I don't know if I can." Nathan replied putting on a brave face.

"You can!" Taylor exclaimed nodding her head. "And you will, just... wake up every morning and live your life." Taylor explained.

"What happens if she comes back?" Nathan asked, hoping that she would.

"Well, then, it'll be your decision." Taylor smiled as she walked forward towards Nathan. "Get home safe, Nathan." Taylor said as she hugged Nathan. "Try not to go dancing on any bars." She joked laughing. 

"I won't if you won't." Nathan replied seriously. Taylor smiled at him but it fell as she considered it. She nodded her head and Nathan got in the car and drove off. Taylor watched him contemplating her life choices.

___

Claudia had almost finished her set. She looked at the crowd and took a deep breath.

"Now, for my last song. I am going to sing a cover. This cover is to Nathan Scott- my husband." Claudia explained and Josie cheered from the side of the stage while Chris looked pissed off.

"That's my girl." Josie shouted and Claudia sang a cover by Wendy Williams.

https://youtu.be/XrF3OK2c0oY