While fans are still reeling from the unexpected results announced in Dancing With The Stars Season 20, one of the pairs eliminated in last episode felt that their departure from the show was inevitable. Nastia Liukin and Derek Hough, the couple who have been hailed as judges' favorites since the start of the competition, shared that they both had an inkling that they will be sent home that night, according to Us Magazine.
"I knew we were going home Monday night. I could tell watching the show, the packages, the way they pieced everything together. It's a feeling, the energy of the room," Hough said in a statement in TV Guide. He went on to say, "It was an amazing show, probably one of the best we've ever had with all the judges' dances, and my intuition kicked in."
He admitted, "I told Nastia yesterday, "I think we think we're going home today, babe." I told her to be proud of herself."
For her part, Liukin appeared to echo the sentiment of her pro partner. "Like Derek said, I kind of knew once Riker was safe," she revealed with Us Magazine. "I don't know why, but I'm kind of good with gut intuition, too. The night before the Olympics in 2008, I had a dream - and I never dream about gymnastics - that I won at the Olympics. And then that happened," Liukin shared.
Hough also felt that the remaining contestants deserved their spot. "So for me, coming into this tonight, I felt like it was going to be between Riker and Allison [Holker] and ourselves - and Riker and Allison destroyed it, killed it last night," he disclosed. "So as soon as they were safe, I looked at [Nastia] and said, 'Dude, you did such a great job, but we're going home tonight," the pro dancer stated.
Although the duo seem to be quite accepting of their fate in the competition, Hough expressed disappointment over the fact that the public failed to see how close he and Liukin got throughout the show. He wrote, "I think the thing I'm most disappointed in is that I don't think people truly saw what Nastia and our relationship were like."
"We did have a great heart-to-heart last week, but we've always been close. Out of all my partners, Nastia has always been the most affectionate toward me," he revealed. "I'm not even exaggerating. She's an amazing friend -- and nurse!" Hough added. He went on to share that his partner constantly brought him ice and water while he was recovering from the injury.
Hough said, "She played nurse on top of juggling two partners. It's those moments, that tenderness and heart -- there was so more beauty to show, but they went for the cheap shot. I feel bad for that. But it is what it is. You can't control it."
