Nick turned his head to look at the girl beside him, she had a woollen blanket pulled up past her chest, moonlight bouncing off her smooth cheeks and shoulders, flecks of sand in her hair which flowed over his arm and the type of lazy smile on her face that only comes after making love. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He wondered how long it would be before he staring crossed the line from romantic to creepy.

"I can't believe we just did that on the beach Nick. I think that is officially the wildest thing I've ever done."

"It was officially the most amazing thing I've ever done." He replied smoothly eliciting a smile from her as she chuckled and ran her hand over his chest, seeming to enjoy the new found freedom to touch him however and whenever she wanted.

He ran his fingertips up her forearm as she snuggled into him, feeling small goose bumps breaking out all over her skin.

"You cold?"

"A little, I guess that's what happens when you're outside...and naked."

"Oh...hang on...I got you something today."

He wriggled beneath her to get himself into an upright position, as he stood he watched her hug the blanket around her to protect what little modesty she had left and run her fingers through her hair roughly trying to shake the sand out. He always wondered if she knew just how cute she was. As he rummaged round the front seat of her car he could feel the cool air running over his back and decided a shirt was probably a good idea. Walking back to her in his boxers and his now not-so-white dress shirt, he noticed her eyes running over him from head to toe and her mouth fall open just a little and it felt incredible. She wanted him, it was actually possible she wanted him as much as he wanted her - no wait, that wasn't possible. Settling back next to her on their makeshift bed he handed her a paper bag folder over at the top.

Furrowing her brow with a smirk she pulled out her gift and laughed heartily as she proudly held against her torso a bright blue, oversized t-shirt of a cartoon cat wearing a sombrero.

" I saw it and I thought you would think it was cute."

Pushing her arms in the sleeves she pulled it over her head, her smile never wavering.

"Ha I love it!"

Arranging it over her waist she stroked her hands down the front of it and leaned over to kiss him. As he grabbed her face to intensify the kiss she wrapped her arms round his neck using the weight of her body to push him back down on the blanket covered sand. Snuggling back into the crook of his neck they resumed their earlier position with Jess now feeling a little warmer. She closed her eyes and smiled as he pressed his lips against her forehead.

"I know it's silly I just thought it would be nice to have something to ...you know...remember this trip."

"I'll never forget a second of this Nick."

Nick looked at the wristband in his hand, amazed at how a small strip of green plastic could evoke such vivid memories. Not that he had forgotten, repressed was probably a more accurate term, self-preservation was probably a better one. He placed the band back on the pile of miscellaneous bits and pieces he had pulled out of his draw. Assuming it had all been left in there intentionally he picked up the pile and moved towards the trash can.

"Wait!"

Nick stopped and turned to Jess, startled by her voice. She set the box she was holding down on the bed and moved towards him, stretching her hand out tentatively before pulling it away with uncertainty.

"Can I...I um ...I wanna keep that." She said almost weakly, like she was unsure of what he would say or how he would react.

As the room fell silent, Schmidt who had been fixing the new bed frame together, took his cue to leave. No excuses he just got up and left them to it. Nick stepped towards her and handed her the wristband, the gesture fraught with emotion which threatened to push them both over the edge.

"Thanks"

"You're welcome."

"So...I think this is the last of it."

Nick glanced at the solitary box of her stuff sitting on his bed and briefly regarded his room which now felt devoid of colour. The sunshine had officially been blotted out of it once again, that familiar fog he hoped he would never see again creeping back in. Finally he allowed his eyes to settle on hers which were now moist with unshed tears as she still clutched the wristband tight in her palm.

"I don't know what to say Nick"

"Me either"

"The thing I want to say to you I can't say...not any more...but I want you to know that I do. I still do."

Nick blinked a single tear down his cheek, a tear he swore he would never let her see.

"I do too."

Nick's voice broke but before she had the chance to see his face crumble he pulled her into his arms in a tight embrace. He knew this was the last chance he would get to do this for a long time. The pain in his chest was unbearable as he pulled her close, he could feel her fingers clawing against his back as she clutched at his t-shit. Neither able to bring the other one close enough.

Finally Jess pulled back grasping his face in both hands.

"Nick I need you to know that this...what we had ...it was..."

"I know"

There were no words. There was nothing left for them to say. She kissed his forehead and he sighed and closed his eyes, then she picked up her box, faced her bedroom and she walked away.