Her return appearance at the MTV Video Music awards left Britney Spears's comeback up in the air. But the pop star seems intent on putting to rest her custody issues with her ex, Kevin Federline.

Spears, 25, attended an unscheduled meeting with Federline, 29, and his attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan Wednesday. The exes arrived separately to the Century City offices of Spears's attorney Laura Wasser. The meeting fell on son Jayden's first birthday and five days before they are due to face each other before a family court judge on Monday.

The meeting was Spears's idea according to a source close to her. "Britney asked for [the meeting]. She wants to put an end to this public debacle," says the Spears source. "However, Kevin [has] refused. He needs more money so he's determined to win this."

Court documents released Aug. 30 show that Spears's income is $737,868 a month and that Ferderline receives $20,000 a month in spousal support but has no "net income after business expenses."

A source close to Federline confirmed the meeting, but said that Federline was not drawing out the process due to financial self-interest. "He's not going for additional child support in the court papers that were filed. It's not about the money."

When asked if Spears was hoping to settle, the Federline source retorted: "She might settle, she's got stage fright."

Spears's Vegas weekend featured eight party-hopping nightclub excursions and one disastrous nationally televised dance number. She has kept a low profile since returning to Los Angeles Monday.