It had been two weeks since they had driven away together from Cece's "wedding". Although they were happily enjoying their new relationship, they found that it was much more complicated when they were outside of the loft. At home, it was easy to fall into a very synchronized, relaxed, and almost domestic dynamic. She enjoyed cooking breakfast, he always made her tea without asking, they spent the evenings cuddled on the couch talking or watching their favorite shows, and every night they wordlessly made their way to one of their bedrooms. Even Schmidt and Winston had adjusted to the affection they were now free to openly display.

When they were outside the loft, however, things remained complicated. Neither one had ever verbalized what they were to each other, and since their close friends already understood they were together, they didn't need to. At some point though, a situation was going to arise that required them to officially put a label on their relationship, and it probably would happen sooner rather than later.

Nick was behind the bar with his back turned, when Jess came in and claimed one of the bar stools, throwing her purse up on the counter. She was smiling when he turned around.

Nick walked towards her, grabbing a wine glass and pouring her favorite pink wine. "Hey there, beautiful." He slid the glass towards her and winked. "I thought you were coming by later."

She took a sip as he leaned his elbows on the bar. She smiled. "Thought I'd surprise you."

Just then, someone called for him from the other side of the bar. He gave her a small eye roll as she waved him away.

She was deep in thought sipping her wine when she heard a voice next to her.

"Hey there. Nice night."

Jess turned her head to the left where a relatively attractive blond in his early twenties, had sat down on the stool next to her. He was wearing a black polo shirt and khaki shorts. She gave a small smile as he leaned his left arm on the bar.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

She took a sip of her wine and unconsciously scooted a little further away from him on the stool. "Um, I'm almost finished here, but thanks."

He spun around on his chair and raised his hand to get Nick's attention. Jess watched as Nick came towards them with a visible scowl on his face. "What can I get ya?"

"A beer for me, and" he nodded his head toward Jess. "Another glass of wine for this lovely lady right here."

Jess nervously put her glass down on the bar, her eyes widening as she shrugged her shoulders.

Nick threw the towel he was holding over his shoulder and spread his arms out gripping the edge of the bar. He leaned a little closer to him. "You said a beer?"

"Right, and she'd like another glass of wine."

Nick looked over at Jess as she replied. "No, really I told him I was good." She looked at the man seated next to him, once again saying. "Thanks for the offer though."

The guy raised his eyebrows at Nick, waiting a second for his glare to somehow coax Nick to fill his order before he turned back to Jess. He reached out to touch her arm. "I think you can handle ONE more, right?" She jerked her arm away with a scowl as he winked at her.

Nick's nostrils flared as his hands gripped the bar. In a gruff voice directed at the man he said, "Did you hear what she said?"

The man gave a laugh. "Hey, just bring us our order, will ya?"

Nick looked at Jess and she frantically glanced back and forth between them. She tilted her head giving Nick one of her looks and slowly slid off the right side of the stool. She locked eyes with the increasingly agitated young man, "I'm actually waiting for someone, so I need to go find a table." Her expression softened as she looked once again at Nick. She grabbed her wine and purse, and started toward an empty table by the back wall.

The guy, clearly irritated at this point turned back to Nick. "Mind your own business, man. Just get me what I ordered."

Nick took a deep breath and watched as Jess safely sat down at one of the tables.

"You got it. One beer coming up." Before the man could correct him once again, Nick left to grab a beer. A moment later he came back with the bottle. "That'll be $4." He motioned his head toward Jess. "She's taken, you got that?"

The man stood up, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket, throwing the money down on the bar. "Whatever man. It's not any of your damn business."

Nick shook his head as he picked up the money and turned around to put it in the cash register. As he was closing the drawer, someone called him to the other side once again. After a quick glance to make sure the guy wasn't bothering Jess, he went to serve another customer.

Jess had been sitting at the booth drinking her wine and texting Cece for about 10 minutes, when the man from the bar slipped into the seat across from her.

"Hey, sorry about that bartender. I'd still like to buy you a drink."

Jess looked up from her phone startled. "Hey, um. Actually, I'm meeting some friends here any minute. Maybe another time." She tried to think of something else to say to get him to back off when she saw Nick walking towards them. She was relieved until she noticed his clenched fists and the speed at which he was coming towards them. When he stopped, he gave the table a small punch as he stood next to Jess.

"Jess, is this guy still bothering you?"

She gently put her hand on his arm. "Nick, it's ok. I was just leaving anyway."

The guy looked back and forth between them and then leaned back, pointing to Nick.

"Wait, so you know this guy?"

Jess smiled at Nick and then turned back to the guy. "I think you should probably go now."

The guy scoffed and started to get up. "Whatever." He nodded his head toward Jess while keeping his gaze on Nick, "You might want to tell this one to quit throwing herself around." He leaned over with a disconcerting smile on his face. "Might get her into some trouble one day."

"That's it." Nick muttered under his breath and lunged at the guy, grabbing the back of his collar as he turned him toward the door. "Get out of this bar. NOW." Jess jumped up from the booth screaming Nick's name.

The guy jerked away and raised his arms, his beer still in one hand. "Hey, lay off. I'm leaving." He shook his head one last time in disgust and walked away.

Nick's face was red and his eyes angry when he turned around, standing face to face with Jess. She was frowning. "Nick, I had it covered. You don't have to get so worked up."

Nick took a deep breath, his expression turning to one of surprise. "Jess, he wasn't taking no for an answer!"

She tilted her head, shifting to look around his shoulder and motioning across the room. "He's gone now Nick. Nothing happened." She reached out to gently stroke his arm.

"I know, I just..." He turned to go back over to the bar. "I gotta get back..."

"Nick, wait." She grabbed his arm and he turned around to face her. She was trying to get a read on his expression, but she was only confused. "What's gotten into you?"

He pulled away from her grasp. "Nothing. Just forget it. It's stupid."

"Well clearly it's NOT, or you wouldn't have tried to throw that guy out right now."

"He was being a jerk."

"Nick."

He held her glance for a moment and then looked away. "I just." His voice became a little huskier. "If some random guy comes up and starts hitting on my girlfriend, what do you expect me to do?"

A smile slowly crept into the corners of Jess' mouth as her eyes softened. Her voice was so quiet he could barely hear her. "Girlfriend?"

He just made a face at her, as if her question was the most ridiculous thing in the world.

"Nick, you uh...you've never called me your girlfriend before."

The realization hit him, as she took a step closer to him. "So," she slowly took his left hand. "that's how you really think of me?"

His eyes never left hers and his breathing became more shallow. He reached up and lightly swept his fingers under her bangs, his thumb lingering along her cheek as his hand rested on her back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair. He held her gaze for a moment longer, before he leaned in for a kiss. He started to smile against her lips, as she backed away giggling.

"I take that as a yes, then?"

He smiled, and with a very quiet and decisive tone replied. "You're my girlfriend, Jess."