I got bored and I can't stop writing so this is just a random idea I couldn't get out of my head.
Enjoy!
And you will never know
Just how beautiful you are to me
But maybe I'm just in love
When you wake me up
Nick arrives home from the bar at 2am from a ridiculously tiring night. First, some drunk started a fight and he had to call the cops (albeit the best part of the night as Winston and Aly were the ones that responded to the call), there were only two people working the bar and then Big Bob fell ill meaning Nick had to take over and do the scheduling for the next week plus some other important bar-owner duties.
This explains why when he gets home and finds Jess sleeping on the couch, he can't help but watch her for a few moments before he lies back on the couch and wraps his arms around her. She smells so good and it's a bad idea but he's a little tipsy and a lot tired, he just misses her.
He kisses her hair and it's a risky move, but he doesn't think he'll regret it in the morning.
Jess wakes up on the couch and she can feel a strong pair of arms wrapped around her. The arms feel familiar, and she can smell Old Spice. Was it…? She opens her eyes and Nick is there, eyes closed and his face is so close. She should freak out but it feels like old times and she doesn't mind it. She doesn't think about what it means as she snuggles in closer, breathing him in. Not realising how much she missed being this close to him.
They stilled hugged, spent time together, but this felt so nice and right. She doesn't want to be just friends with him anymore, and she can't believe she's only just realising this now? Jess wants to be with Nick.
What is she talking about? She can't jeopardise her friendship with Nick again. That's when she begins to panic. She jumps out of his arms, breathing heavily. Nick stirs awake, rubbing his eyes and taking in the scene in front of him.
"Nick what the hell!" Jess shouts.
"Jess, I'm sorry…" Nick says groggily, "I just couldn't be bothered goin' to bed and I fell into weakness."
"I can't believe…" Jess goes quiet as he stands up, his eyes meeting hers. "I… I can't!"
Jess runs into her room, slamming the door. She can hear him walking to her room and she's so overwhelmed, she can't deal with him.
He's knocking on her door and she's freaking out. Why does he have to ruin this again? They were doing so well. "I'm sorry. Jess, this won't happen again."
2 weeks later
Jess falls into temptation this time. She was lying in bed, trying to sleep but she was feeling lonely. Things with Nick had been a little weird, for a few days but it went back to normal after that. She wants to be held, and she has the strongest urge just to climb into his bed. She can't. It won't happen again.
She needs him. Not like that. She just needs to be close to somebody.
The next minute she's next to his bed, staring at him sleeping peacefully. This is a disaster in the making but she climbs under the covers, snuggling into his side. "Jessica? What are you?" Nick mumbles.
"Just be quiet." Jess whispers, resting her hand on his chest.
Both their hearts are beating harder and faster, lying there in silence for minutes. "What's happening here?" Nick asks quietly.
"I just feel lonely."
"I understand." He replies, his arms wrapping her waist and pulling her closer.
They both wake up at 6am, and she feels so well rested. Jess has to get out before anyone wakes up and questions what the hell is going on here. "Thanks Nick." Jess croaks out, running her hand through his hair. She leaves before he can say anything and her feelings are all over the place. Jess needs to talk to someone but she can't tell Cece, she would freak out. She can't tell anyone at all because everyone will assume they're getting back together.
Jess is just lonely, and she needed someone to hold her. That doesn't mean they are getting back together.
4 weeks later
They continue sleeping in each other's beds together, but nothing more. It's been a month and they don't talk about it at all. It's comforting that they can just hold each other and not think about the consequences.
They don't tell anyone, because what is there to talk about when all they do is sleep?
One night she comes into his room crying, because she had a hard day and they still didn't talk. Nick just holds her while she cries until they both fall asleep.
Jess knows that they need to talk about what was going on between them but she's afraid it will explode in her face and her heart will break all over again. She can't lose him again. What the hell is she doing? Jess is panicking once again.
She stops going to his room at night, because she won't let herself lose him again. It's the worst week of sleep she's had since they started.
Jess can hear him come home one night, and she's begging the universe that he'll just come inside and hold her once again.
He does. She missed the smell of him. She missed his strong arms.
"I missed you." Jess squeaks out, burying her nose in his neck.
Nick wakes up first, and he sees her sleeping, so peaceful and so beautiful. He loves her. Always has, always will. There was no denying it. He missed being with her and all they do is sleep. It was a long week. He doesn't care if all they do is sleep, he's just happy he can be near her.
His thumb brushes her cheek, and his mouth brushes her forehead. Her skin is so soft as always and she smells so nice.
Jess wakes up, stretching her legs before realising how close their faces were. Her eyes meet his, her breath catching in her throat when he leans his head in and she doesn't stop him when their lips connect.
Nick feels her respond immediately, her arms wrapping around his neck. She had never felt more alive as she did when he kisses her. She's been denying it for a month but now, feeling his hands moving to her waist she can't deny that she still loves this man.
He rests his forehead against hers, "You are so beautiful, Jess."
Those words manage to make her feel everything at once. Love. Fear. Light. Worry.
"I can't lose you Nick." Jess breathes, "God I can't lose you again."
"I don't want to lose you either," he replies, closing his eyes, "But we've changed. I love you and I won't let you slip through my fingers this time."
"I-I love you too."
With that, his lips are back on hers and he's pulling her body close to his because he never wants to let go again.
They decide not to tell Schmidt, Cece or Winston about them getting back together. Jess wants to figure out where they go from here because they want to make it work this time. It has to work, because if they broke up again, Nick isn't sure their friendship would recover.
Keeping it a secret is fun. It's been going on for 2 weeks now and they make up random reasons for going out at different times and they go out together. Tonight Nick is lazy with his excuse and says he has to do work at the bar and Jess says she has to buy crafts for a lesson coming out, then she's going out for a coffee with her work friend.
They go to a diner because it's relaxed and they don't feel like being too romantic. She's content with that, because she's with Nick and he makes her so happy. The both of them are sitting in comfortable silence, Nick staring at the hand that he's stroking and he's so in love with this woman that he can't control what comes out of his mouth next.
"Marry me, Jess."
Her eyes bug out of her head and she snaps her head up at him. Her mouth is going dry and she can't form words. "I love you, and I know we just got back together but that's where I'm at. I have never loved anyone more than I love you, no one compares. I love you and I want to marry you."
"I… Nick…" Jess needs water, she knows her answer but she needs water. She picks up her glass and takes two large gulps before putting it down and grinning at Nick, "Yes."
Nick jumps out of her seat and picks her up, kissing her hard on the lips. He realises that this isn't the most romantic spot to propose, but neither of them care because they love each other and they're going to get married.
They still don't tell their roommates because Nick really wants to buy her a ring before they find out. But one day they don't have very good timing and Schmidt walks in on them when they are very much naked and having sex and he almost faints.
He yells at them to meet him in the living room in 2 minutes because he's so confused and what the hell is going on?
Nick and Jess sit on the couch, her in the soft pink robe Nick loves and him in a shirt and boxers and they're holding hands because Schmidt finding out is a big deal. "Tell me everything!" Schmidt yells after ranting for five minutes about how if they are going to have secret sex to be discreet about it.
Nick explains the situation. How they just started sleeping together in a non-sexual way, then they kissed, started dating again and now, "We're getting married."
"WHAT? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME NICK?" Schmidt snaps, "Are you crazy?! This is going to blow up in your face Nicholas!"
"Schmidt are you crazy? Cece showed up at the door and you proposed within 2 minutes! At least Nick waited a few weeks!" Jess retorted, rolling her eyes.
"Look Schmidt, I love Jess and I don't want to be apart from her anymore. Surely you understand." Nick says, turning to Jess and smiling.
Schmidt goes quiet then, because of course he understands. "I'm sorry you guys, this was all so sudden." Schmidt sighs, "You guys deserve this and I am so happy for you!"
"Thanks, Schmidt." Jess jumps out of her seat, giving him a giant hug.
Cece and Winston are told as soon as they come home and they freak the hell out just as Schmidt did. They weren't wrong in reacting this way, because it was extremely spontaneous but Nick and Jess don't care anymore.
Seeing them so happy seemed to calm them down, and they couldn't be happier for their friends. Schmidt takes a bottle of champagne and fills them all glasses. All surrounding the kitchen bench, Schmidt raises his glass, "To Nick and Jess."
Everybody repeats Schmidt and clinks their glasses together. With Nick's arm around Jess' waist, he kisses her jaw because he couldn't be happier and he knew he wouldn't regret falling asleep on the couch with her.