Disclaimer: I don't own New Girl or any of its characters. All rights belong to the creators of the show.

Jess stood on the sidewalk, looking up at the loft she had lived in three years ago. The memories that plagued her made her eyes swim with tears, and her lips smile with happiness. Those six years had really been some of the best years of her life. She never regretted her decision to move into a loft with three guys, and while it was odd at first, and there was a lot of adjustments, she had loved living with them. Not only had they become family, but they had given her six great years.

She wiped at the tears that slid down her cheeks, as she began making her way to the bus stop not too far from there. She was only in L.A for a few days, and she was already late getting to Cece's. They never get to have enough time together, so there wasn't any time to waste.

Jess watched as L.A flashed by the bus window. She missed this. The sights, the people. She had fled from Portland, wanting new and exciting experiences, only to end up back there. Three years ago she had intended to spend the summer there, and come back to L.A when school started again, but life happened, and three years later she was trying not to let regret settled In her heart. If she allowed herself to feel regret, then she would feel guilty because she had a life with her husband in Portland.

"Oh my god! You're here!" Cece exclaimed, pulling Jess in for a bear hug. The two squealed as they embraced. "I have missed you so much!"

"Me too!" Jess replied. She looked over at Lana who had come to investigate the noise. "Oh my god! How have you gotten so big?" Jess asked the two year old.

"Aunt Jess!" the toddler said happily, going to them as fast as her little legs could go. She grabbed Jess' legs, giving them a tight hug.

Come one," Cece said, taking one of Jess' bags. "Let's get you settled."

The two talked on their way to the guest room. Just the usual, how have you been? And What's new? The usual small talk you used as you were still getting settled. After Jess' bags were unpacked, and Lana was settled down for her nap, Jess found herself sitting at the breakfast nook, spreading mayo on bread as Cece cut up a tomato.

"So, have you talked to Mitch about moving here yet? I need my best friend to be closer. I've had it with this long distance thing." Cece said, giving Jess a smile, but stopped when Jess' mood dampened. "Jess?" she asked, as Jess started to tear up.

She shook her head as she tried to compose herself. "It…"I'm okay. He…is not interested in moving. So." she shrugged. She hated that Mitch wouldn't budge on the subject, but she had no intention to bring it up again.

"Jess, why are you with him again?" Cece asked, knowing she was putting her foot in something Jess had made clear in the past was off limits.

"I love him. Why do we always have to do this? Why can't we just enjoy the time we have together?"

"Because," Cece replied, as she put the tomatoes on the sandwiches. "He's a jerk who doesn't deserve the love of my best friend."

"Look, I really appreciate where this is coming from, But I don't want to fight. So can we just agree to disagree. He's not the monster you seem to think he is."

Cece waited a beat, then nodded. "Fine." Cece took a deep breath. "Agree to disagree."

They finished making the sandwiches, and settled onto the couch. The talked about everything and anything as they ate, and both were reminded why they were best friends. It was nice to be able to spend so much time apart, but once reunited, it was like they were never apart at all.

"So Schmidt was red as a lobster because he'd thought he was using sun screen, but it was just lotion," Cece was saying, but she stopped mid story as Jess leaned over to grab her drink from the coffee table. "What's on your arm?"

"What?" Jess asked, giving Cece and innocent look.

Cece grabbed her arm, and pulled the sleeve back to reveal a large bruise. "He's hitting you?" she asked, her blood running cold, and then was quickly boiling as anger took over.

Jess tried to pull her arm away, but Cece had a good drip. "Let go Cece." Jess demanded.

"No until you tell my what the hell happened!"

Jess fumbled over words as she tried to come up with a lie until a sentenced formed. "I fell down the stairs. I missed the step because I was carrying down the laundry."

Cece let out a huffed laugh as she shook her head. "I can't believe this. Are you kidding me right now? Do you think I'm stupid?"

"It's was an accident. Accidents happen all the time Cece."

Cece let out a laugh that was more disbelief then humorous. "Really?" she asked as she let Jess' arm go. "That's what you're going with?"

"What's going on?" Schmidt asked, alerting both girls of his presence. And Nicks.

Jess felt her heart jump, then sink. It had been a year since she had laid eyes on him last, and her heart still fluttered like a school girls did.

"Jess is in major denial that her husband his a complete and total dick." Cece stood and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'm not in denial of anything! You have been nothing but judgmental toward him since the first time you met him." Jess yelled back, also standing.

"Yeah, Jess. That might have something to do with the fact that he told you that he didn't want you to be yourself when you guys went to his office party. He told you to tone down the Jess." Cece added air quotes around the words. "And when he took you to meet his parent? He told you to act like a normal person! Who wants a guy who won't let you be yourself?"

"He said that because he is a business man and I can be a bit much. And his parents are prudes! He was trying to help."

"If he doesn't want you just the way you are, then he's crazy. You're perfect," Nick cut in before he could stop the words from escaping his lips. God he missed her.

"No one asked you, Miller." Jess said, as she walked past him a Schmidt to the guest room. She wasn't doing this. She didn't need to explain herself to any of them. Mitch wasn't a monster. He was sweet and Romantic. She didn't want for nothing, and he made her feel like she was the only girl in the world.

"We can't let her go back to him," Cece said. She looked in the direction of the guest room with worry.

"We can't stop her," Schmidt replied, running his hands down her arms, then took her hands.

"I mean, we could…" Nick said, but stopped because this matter couldn't be made light of. He felt a raw anger toward the man who put that bruise on Jess.

"Where is Auntie Jess going?" Lana asked, as she stood in the doorway, rubbing her eye.

Jess paused at the front door. She would have made it out without them knowing if Lena hadn't caught her. She put down her bags, and went to Lana. "I have to get back home. Something unexpected came up." Jess hugged Lana.

"Jess, please don't go," Cece pleaded. "We can talk about this."

Jess straighten. "You know, I think we've drifted. Maybe it's best to end this here and now." She retrieved her bags as her heart broke. "There's nothing let in Los Angeles for me. I don't think I will be coming back." With that, she left.

Cece stood, stunned into silence. It wasn't until Schmidt held her tight that she realized she was crying. "I don't understand. How doesn't she see it?"

"I don't know," Schmidt said, rubbing her back in soothing circles. He looked at Nick over her shoulder, and was glad that Nick understood he wanted to be alone with her. He left through the kitchen door.

"How could she just write me off like that? We have been best friends forever." Cece shook her head. "I never expected this from her. Not ever."

"Well… people change."

Cece pulled away because she realized that Lana was still watching. "Hey, sweetie," Cece said as she scooped Lana up into her arms. Why don't we go to the park? Maybe get an ice cream after?"

"Okay!" Lana said excitedly. "Daddy too?"

Schmidt smiled as he took Lana from Cece. "Yeah Sweetheart, daddy too."

….

"Jess!" Nick called out as he caught up to her.

"Go away, Nick!" Jess snapped. She didn't want to do this. Not with him.

"No," Nick said, as he grabbed her unbruised arm and spun her around. "What the hell was that back there? She's your best friend."

"I don't have to explain myself to you Nick Miller!" Jess pushed him away. She hated that he made her feel weepy. Like she could just unload all her pain, but she was stronger than that, and she deserved this bruise.

"Who are you?" Nicked asked. He couldn't believe this. The Jess in front of him wasn't the one he'd once knew. The one he was still in love with.

Jess felt like she got smacked in the face. Not because she felt he was being unreasonably mean, because he wasn't. It wasn't even because he screamed at her, because he didn't. The words were spoken in a soft tone barely louder than a whisper. And they stopped her in her tracks. They seeped into her skin.

"I'm me, Nick! This is just the me I couldn't be stuck in a loft with three immature boys." she snapped. It was harsh, but she was angry that they were making her second guess Mitch. She was happy, and had a gorgeous home. Her husband took care of her.

"No," Nick said with a shake of his head. "The Jess I knew was a strong woman who would never be with a man that hits her."

Jess let out an a sound of disbelief. "You don't know anything about my life, Miller. And you never will. Mitch is a good man, and he isn't some man/child hybrid. He knows what he wants and takes it, and he isn't afraid of the future."

"You know, burning all your bridges in one day isn't the way to go. You're going to look back, and none of us are going to be there!"

"Good! I don't need you guys anyway!" With that, she started off again. At first she was thankful that Nick didn't follow after her. But as she was getting into the cab that would take her home, she wished Nick would have stopped her, because while she was ashamed to admit it, she was sure who she was anymore, and that scared her.

…..

"We can't do anything unless she reports the incident to the police," Aly said, as she sat next to Winston. "I'm sorry Nick."

"The guy left a bruise on our friend, and we are going to sit back and do nothing?" Nick asked, repulsed and frustrated. Letting her walk away was the hardest thing he ever had to do.

"Nick, I am upset too. But Aly is right. If we tried to get involved, and Jess did in fact fall down the stairs, we could lose our badges. If she won't report the abuse, we can't lawfully get involved.

"So the hand shaped bruise on her arm means nothing?" Nick stood needing to move.

How could he just sit there and do nothing? It didn't matter that it had been years since Jess was his, he still had a strong urge to protect her. He still loved her. And he was still hurt by the way she left L.A in the first place. She just packed up her bags, and walked out of his life. She didn't say goodbye. Didn't give an explanation as to why she left. She wouldn't take his calls. Not that it stopped him from calling every night to tell her about his day. Even now he left her voicemails, even though he was never sure she listened to any of them.

"I can't sit back and do nothing." Nick informed them.

"Look," Winston said, not liking the look on Nick's face. He had never seen the anger so strong before. "Let me see what I can do. I have a buddy who works in Portland. I will have him run the guy, and see if there is any reason to investigate. Okay?"

Nick nodded, figuring that was probably the best he was going to get. It was better than nothing. "You guys want to stay for dinner? I was going to order Italian."

"Oh," Aly said, scrunching up her face. "I would love to stay, but not for Italian."

Nick's brows pulled together. "I thought you love Italian?"

"Oh, She does. The growing baby however doesn't." Winston replied, putting his hand on Aly's swollen belly.

"Yep. Thank god I only have a month left. I am done not eating the foods I've always liked to eat."

"What do you guys want then?" Nick really didn't want to be alone.

"Fear not," Schmidt said, as he walked into the loft, followed by Cece and Lena. "We come with Thai food."

"Yes! That sounds amazing." Aly said, as she help him with the bags.

"Hey, I didn't know you guys were coming over," Nick said, as Schmidt put the food backs on the table.

"It was my idea." Cece replied. "I figured we could all use some time together."

"Agreed!" Winston said.

A comfortable ciaos took place as everyone grabbed plates, cups, silverware, and whatever else might be needed for the feast. Everyone laughed and talked as the food was passed around. Cece and Aly were busy talking about boy names, and everyone else kept cutting in. So far Danny, Oscar, Peter, Kevin, George, and Marvin were a no go.

Even though laugher and the joyous sounds of friends filled the loft, there was still a settle weight that made the mood darker then it usually would be. Everyone was worried for Jess, and they all were busy thinking about ways to help her.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Reviews and comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks :D