There are signs the Britney Spears-Kevin Federline split could get nasty very soon.
Just one day after it was revealed the pop diva filed divorce papers against the rapper-singer and declared her intention to ask for custody of their two kids, K-Fed has contacted his own lawyer.
His goal: keep his two sons from living with their mother.
Federline filed his own court documents Wednesday seeking sole custody of 1-year-old Sean Preston and his months-old brother Jayden James.
"Kevin is prepared to go the distance in order to do what he feels is necessary to protect and safeguard the children and will not be intimidated or dissuaded from pursuit of those goals," vows Michael Sands, spokesman for Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan.
The two year marriage of the dynamic duo had been in trouble for a while.
But just what was the last straw for the pop star that led to her divorce decision?
According to various reports, it all exploded at the launch of K-Fed's new album, aptly titled "Playing With Fire", on Halloween.
British entertainment journal bangshowbiz.biz claims something happened at an L.A. club party and that Britney wound up screaming at her husband, "You're useless - you're nobody," before running out of the bash barefoot with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Federline did not go after her.
Other sources indicate the estranged couple both checked into the same New York hotel the next day - but stayed in separate rooms.
Spears later made a surprise cameo appearance on the David Letterman Show, where she wasn't wearing her wedding ring.
Federline seemed unconcerned about his marriage when he was at MuchMusic on Monday.
"I've been away from the kids for like a week right now," he told the crowd on Queen St. W. "It's killing me inside, you know, but, baby, I'll be home soon."
Shortly after that, cameras caught K-Fed receiving a text message that seemed to capture his attention and put him in a pensive mood (top left). It's suspected that may have been the moment he received word his wife was planning to call it quits.
For her part, Spears doesn't seem the worse for wear for the experience.
She was spotted Tuesday in the most public of places, going for a skate on the rink at Rockefeller Center in New York City, just hours after her divorce papers were filed.
Those documents cite "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the break-up.
There's no mention of a much noted pre-nuptial agreement the 24-year-old diva supposedly had her spouse sign, but Spears has apparently claimed certain items of jewelry and some personal effects as her own property.
It's not clear just what Federline might get as part of a settlement, although sources indicate he may be eligible for alimony.
The tabloids are already referring to the fledging rapper as 'Fed Ex', signifying his potential status as Spears' former husband.
The pair met when the now 28-year-old was a dancer on one of Britney's tours.
The two are now engaged in a very different kind of dance. And their two kids may wind up paying the price.
The life and times of Britney Spears:
Dec. 2, 1981: Britney Spears born in Kentwood, La., the second of three children of father Jamie, a building contractor, and mother Lynne, a secondgrade teacher.
1991: Spears, her mother and her little sister, Jamie Lynn, go to New York for the next three summers. Spears studies at the Professional Performing Arts School and the offBroadway Dance Center. The move pays off with commercials and a role in the offBroadway comedy "Ruthless."
1992: Chosen for "The All New Mickey Mouse Club" along with Ryan Gosling, Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell, Justin Timberlake and J.C. Chasez.
1994: "The All New Mickey Mouse Club" canceled.
December 1996: Lands development deal with Jive Records.
October 1998: Releases first single, "... Baby One More Time." By December it sells 500,000 copies.
January 1999: Debut album and single each hit No. 1; album goes platinum and is the secondhighest seller of the year.
April 15, 1999: The 17-year-old Spears appears on Rolling Stone's cover in a bra and hot pants.
May 16, 2000: Releases second album, "Oops! ... I Did It Again." Sells almost 8 million copies in 2000 alone.
Sept. 7, 2000: Covers The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" at the MTV Video Music Awards, stripping down to a nudecolored glimmering bikini top and matching pants.
Sept. 6, 2001: At the MTV awards, performs "I'm A Slave 4 U" with a 7foot albino python around her neck.
Feb. 15, 2002: Stars in the film "Crossroads," earning a worst actress Razzie Award.
March 2002: After dating fellow Mousketeer alum Justin Timberlake for three years, announces she's "not in an intense relationship with anyone."
July 2002: Tops Forbes magazine's most powerful celebrities list, beating out Tiger Woods, Steven Spielberg, Madonna, U2, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan and Tom Hanks.
Aug. 28, 2003: Live at the MTV Awards, Madonna gives Spears an openmouthed kiss.
Nov. 18, 2003: Album "In the Zone" released at the top of the charts.
Jan. 3, 2004: At 5:30am in Las Vegas, marries childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander. Wearing a baseball cap and torn jeans, she's escorted down the aisle by a limousine driver at the Little White Wedding Chapel on the Strip. The marriage is annulled after 55 hours.
Summer 2004: Starts dating backup dancer Kevin Federline, who has a child and another on the way by actress Shar Jackson.
Sept. 18, 2004: Marries Federline, 26.
May 2005: Spears and Federline star in their own UPN reality show, "Britney and Kevin: Chaotic," featuring private home videos.
Sept. 14, 2005: Gives birth to Sean Preston Federline.
Feb. 7: Photos of Spears driving her car with infant son Sean Preston on her lap are published. Authorities visit home to investigate.
April 1: Sean Preston falls from his high chair; authorities return to her home.
May 9: Confirms second pregnancy on "Late Night With David Letterman."
May 19: Almost drops baby in stumble in front of media as she holds child in one hand and glass of water in another. Later seen in tears.
June 15: In a wide-ranging, rambling interview with Matt Lauer on "Dateline," a pregnant Spears says her marriage is "awesome," blames media scrutiny for making her an "emotional wreck." Later mocked for incessant gum chewing, sobbing, and overdone makeup.
June 29: Appears nude on cover of Harper's Bazaar.
Sept. 12: Gives birth to another baby boy, declines to release name.
October 31: Appears on Federline's debut album. It does not top the charts.
Nov. 6: Newly trim Spears appears on "Late Night With David Letterman" sans wedding ring.
Nov. 7: Files for divorce.