Hayden walked toward Natalie's dressing room, his fists tightened at his sides with anxiety. Hayden took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

A few seconds later, Natalie opened the door. "Hi," she replied quietly.

"Hi," Hayden replied. "Can we talk for a second?"

Natalie nodded and shut the door as he walked into the dressing room.

"Where's Gael?" Hayden asked.

"He flew out this morning," Natalie replied.

Hayden nodded. "I'm sorry I blew up at you about him....that wasn't fair of me. A lot of what I've done over the past few weeks hasn't been fair of me....I've completely confused you and everyone else and I need to set the record straight."

Natalie swallowed and waited to hear the rest of what he was trying to say.

"I blew up about Gael because when I saw him with you, it enraged me. Not like a pang of jealousy, but actual and complete anger. I kept thinking that he shouldn't be here, he's not the who you're supposed to be with...." Hayden said.

"He's not with me--" Natalie tried to say but Hayden wouldn't let her finish.

"--just please let me try to get this out....this isn't easy for me," Hayden said. "When you had been seeing Jake behind my back, it absolutely crushed me. I was so devastated...and that eventually just became rage. Through all of that, I know now that I never stopped loving you...and I don't think I ever will."

Natalie could feel the tears stinging behind her eyes as she listened to him.

"You have completely captured me in a way that no one else ever has -- when you're around, even when someone just mentions your name, I can't think about anything else....you can't be replaced. Believe me, I've tried -- I have had feelings for other women - like Tricia - but you are so much apart of me that even that couldn't take the place of how much I love you."

Natalie was crying freely now. "I know how much I hurt you and that was something I've been dealing with every day since then. I have learned from my mistakes and I never want to have to regret losing you again. I love you Hayden."

Hayden stepped to her and took her in his arms. The two held each other for a long time. Hayden pulled back and looked into her tear-filled brown eyes.

"So what was Gael really doing here?" he asked with a glint in his eye.

Natalie studied his face, knowing full well that he knew her true intentions regarding Gael, "...how did you know?"

"I'll never tell," Hayden smirked. "...but you don't have to play games with me -- its not necessary."

Natalie looked at the ground, "...I was all out of ideas - and though it was manipulative...I needed to see if you still truly cared or if I was just hoping for a lost cause. "

"I love you Natalie and that will never be a lost cause," he said.

"I love you too," she replied through her tears.

Then he kissed her.