2000
Nora gave birth to Matthew, believing that he was Sam's son. When it was learned that Bo wasn't infertile, Lindsay, who was now dating him, paid a lab tech to switch the DNA test results so everyone would continue to think that Sam was the boy's pop. Nora announced the truth at Lindsay and Bo's nuptials. Soon after, she was in a train wreck and was rescued by Dr. Colin MacIver. Lindsay paid Colin, who was her brother-in-law, to kidnap Nora and give her a memory-erasing drug. "[Her memory] kept coming back; the drugs ebbed," Smith explains. "I'm not sure now how much of her memory she has. But I don't want to ever remember the cabana [where Nora slept with Sam]. I'm gonna play it that she doesn't remember that [laughs]. I'd like to see more stories where the things at stake are real and count, and people understand them. They encounter them more in everyday life more than bizarre, mind-erasing drugs."

2001
Nora eventually killed Colin in self-defense. His twin brother, Troy, then came to town. Nora and Sam broke up, and she formed a relationship with Troy. Meanwhile, Lindsay was sent to a mental institution. "I love Ty Treadway [Troy/Colin]," praises Smith. "I was so happy when they brought him back."

2002
Troy kept a secret from Nora - that he may have driven ex-wife Joanna to her death. To keep Lindsay quiet about it, he slept with her. Nora ended things when she caught them together. Troy went insane and was sent away. "They bring back that handsome man and make him crazy," sighs Smith. "I love Lindsay and Nora's rivalry," she adds. "But [when it's revitalized], I'd like to bring it about in a different way. They had Nora go down to her level. They had her really get desperate and scrape the bottom. I'd rather see two smart, independent women, still moved by what motivates them - desperation, fear or whatever - but to deal with each other on a much more intelligent and socially conscious level ... sort of where they took Dorian and Viki. In the arena where everything was not illegal, but not so moral or ethical ... nothing to be proved. Where people were smart. That gives you longevity. Once you do something illegal, it's just a ticking time bomb until you get caught."

2003-04
Lindsay accidentally killed Sam. Nora and Bo then learned the truth — that Matthew was Bo's son. As they tried to bond as a family, Nora began dating D.A. Daniel Colson. However, Matthew is doing whatever it takes to reunite his folks. "Nora is all about her son," she explains. "I know in one of the soap magazines, they did a poll, and 75 percent wanted Bo and Nora back together. The Bo/Nora fans are rabid. There are also the Troy/Nora fans. There was a huge T/N contingent; they were very verbal. The Toras. Bo and Nora is Bora. They haven't really come up with one for Daniel/Nora because they're not sure what he is and who he is. They just kind of like us together because it's very relaxed. We're having a nice, relaxing time. We're not rushing anything, they're not rushing anything, which is great."