Although the divorce of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman appeared to be heading to a nasty -- and very public -- courtroom showdown, the couple has averted that outcome.

The New York Daily News says that after nine months of legal squabbling (and gossip-column warfare), Cruise and Kidman have reached a settlement.

The most eyebrow-raising accusation came from Kidman's friends, who told gossip columnists that Cruise was challenging the date on which the couple officially broke up, to prevent the marriage from reaching the 10-year mark. A clause in their marriage contract would have given Kidman a bigger chunk of Cruise's estimated $300 million fortune if the union had lasted a decade.

Now those issues won't be explored in court, and a friend of Kidman's told The Daily News she's happy with the settlement.

A statement from the couple's lawyers said they will remain friends, and in fact, Cruise is expected to join Kidman and the couple's children in Sydney next month, The Daily News said.


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