The Young and the Restless 'What If' Week of Mar. 16: Diane marries Victor, and Nikki marries Jack

The Young and the Restless was only on for three days this week because of the annual March Madness basketball pre-emptions, but the show jam-packed a week's worth of drama into the show! Not only has Nikki moved out of the Newman Ranch, calling into question her future with Victor, but Diane is also livid with Jack after catching him in bed with Patty Williams. Given the histories among these players, we're asking "What if" they all divorced and remarried ex-spouses!

The Young and the Restless: Victor and Nikki and Jack and Diane

Diane married Victor when she was dating Jack on Y&R | Image: JPI

Veteran fans of Y&R recall that in the mid-1990s, Victor (Eric Braeden) wooed Diane (then, Alex Donnelley; now, Susan Walters) away from Jack. Was he genuinely attracted to her, or did he just want to stick it to Jack? Yeah, it was likely a combination of both. Diane broke Jack's heart. She was fascinated by the world Victor Newman had introduced her to. She got swept up in the grandeur of it all, and Jack's heart was left in a million pieces.

Meanwhile, Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) had fallen in love with her doctor, Josh Landers (Heath Kizzier), and married him. The honeymoon was over when Josh's unbalanced ex-wife, Veronica Landers (Candice Daly), who had disguised herself as a woman named Sarah and gotten a job as Nikki's maid, shot Joshua dead and gravely injured Nikki when she shot her, too.

Nikki was dying. She had one final wish. And that was to die as "Mrs. Victor Newman." The only problem is that Victor was married to Diane. The mogul went to his wife with a proposition: Diane and Victor would get a quickie divorce, so that Victor could marry Nikki on her deathbed. Reluctantly, Diane agreed. (Victor is hard to say no to.)

Till Death do us part, and maybe not even then

Nikki and Victor have married many times on Y&R | Image: JPI

Victor remarried Nikki so she could fulfill her dying wish, to leave this mortal realm as Mrs. Victor Newman. In a world somewhere between life and death, Nikki started to walk towards the spirit of her late husband, Josh. Then, Victor appeared and spoke her name, "Nikki!" He commanded her to remain in the world of the living. Nikki found the will to live and recovered from her injuries.

It wasn't Mrs. Joshua Landers who was discharged from the hospital, but rather, Mrs. Victor Newman. Victor and Nikki were remarried again, much to Diane's shock and dismay. (When Jack told her Nikki had turned a corner and might make it, the look on Diane's face was nearly comical -- despite the dramatics involved.)

Once the shock of Nikki's survival and her insistence that she would remain "Mrs. Victor Newman," Diane got herself a lawyer (Michael Baldwin, played by Christian LeBlanc) and sued to stay in Victor's life. It took a few years, but in 2002, Victor and Nikki were able to remarry.

Mrs. Nikki Abbott

Billy, Jack, and Nikki on Y&R | Image: JPI

Jack had become involved with Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) around this time. It was revealed that Diane had not stolen Victor's specimen (as it was referred to on air) but rather, Jack's. In 2001, Diane gave birth to Jack's son, Kyle (Michael Mealor).

A triangle with Jack, Phyllis, and Diane played out. Eventually, Diane moved out of town. Phyllis moved on to Nick (Joshua Morrow). Diane was believed to be dead for many years, but Deacon (Sean Kanan) had helped her fake her death. Once both Phyllis and Diane were out of Jack's orbit, he remarried Nikki at one point. Their second marriage did not last all that long.

Diane returned to Genoa City. Naturally, everyone was guarded as she had faked her death. In time, Diane and Jack discovered a true love for one another. No more manipulations. They married. Diane redid the Abbott mansion, ensconcing herself within the Abbott family. Heck, even Ashley (Eileen Davidson) liked the "facelift" that Diane had given the Abbott mansion.

Now, Victor has apparently arranged for Jack and Patty to be found in a compromising position. Did Victor plan for Diane, Kyle, and Billy (Jason Thompson) to find Jack at the exact moment he and Patty would fall into bed? Nothing is impossible with Victor!

What the mogul wasn't counting on was Nikki pressing him on his treatment of Jack. It's nails on a chalkboard for Victor when he hears Nikki defend Jack. He has never cared for Jack, dating back to when Jack and Nikki were having an affair in the mid-1980s. (Victor was no saint either in terms of marriage vows, given his love affair with Ashley, played by Eileen Davidson.)

Nikki has moved off the ranch and into the Genoa City Athletic Club. Diane is in no mood to listen to Jack. Sure, he has told his wife that he'd been kidnapped and drugged. He's not responsible for what happened. In her head, Diane might know this. But in her heart, she's feeling deeply betrayed.

Changing partners

Jack, Nikki, Diane, and Victor could end up as mixed doubles on Y&R | Image: JPI

Nobody's drawn up divorce papers yet, but Christine is back from her honeymoon, and Michael is back working with Victor. What if we see four signatures on divorce papers, as Jack and Diane split and Victor and Nikki (again) dissolve their union?

What would Victor and Diane do out of spite? Yep, they'd get married again. What would Jack and Nikki do in response? Yep, they'd go for their third marriage!

Imagine the power plays that would go on. Forget AI (Please.) The divorce settlements could have Nikki taking charge of Chancellor or Newman Enterprises if Victor gets it back, and Diane could sink her teeth into half of Jabot Cosmetics!

Back where they belong

Victor and Nikki, love will lead them back on Y&R | Image: JPI

There'd be all kinds of boardroom, business, and bedroom drama going on if Victor and Nikii, and Jack and Diane, got divorces and then remarried their former partners!

There'd be longing looks among the four when they're dining at the Genoa City Athletic Club. Cue the "Through the Eyes of Love" love theme that belongs to Victor and Nikki, and they'd be back in each other's arms very quickly! We imagine Jack and Diane would beat the two back to the altar as they belong together, too!