Nick's eyes widened, as reality hit him. Josie was his daughter. He and Jess had created a life. Jess turned to Josie. "That's right! It's library day! If we go now, we can make story time!"

Josie cheered. "Yay!" She turned to Nick. "Mom, Mr. Miller can come. So you guys can finish your conversation. I know how Royce doesn't like his conversations interrupted."

Jess patted Josie's head. "No, that's ok, He was just leaving."

Nick snapped out of his trance. "Actually, I think I'm free." He pulled out his cell phone. He scrolled through his calendar, not paying any real attention to his schedule. "Yup, Nothing. I can go." He replied, much to Jess's dismay.

Jess rolled her eyes. "Did you drive here?"

"I'm parked right out front." Nick said, motioning to the window.

Jess winced, and looked out the window. "In the . . . bus lane? Is that you? That big red SUV?"

Nick peered out the window, to see his Toyota Highlander surrounded by big, yellow school buses.

"Aw man! How am I supposed to get out of there?"

Jess shook her head. "Just wait it out. They should be leaving soon."

"Mom, we can't wait, we'll miss story time!" Josie said, poking out her bottom lip. "Can't he just ride with us?" She looked up at Jess, with pleading eyes.

Jess sighed. "Come on."

…

Josie ran into the library's story room, to secure her a spot. Nick and Jess planted themselves against the wall. They hadn't said a word the whole ride over, Jess blaring the Frozen soundtrack so, they wouldn't speak. "So, were you ever going to tell me?" Nick said, eyeing Josie, who was sitting patiently on the carpet as the librarian began the story.

Jess side eyed him. "Tell you what?"

Nick cleared his throat. "Tell me that I had a daughter."

Jess's head flipped around. "When were you going to tell me why you left me?"

The mom in front of them turned around, giving them a dirty look.
"Sorry!" They whispered in unison.

He lowered his voice "Ouch! Ok, ok, I deserved that. But I did leave you a note."

"A note? Nick you walked out on our relationship, a relationship that three months prior you were so secure in, that you asked me to marry you, but it's ok because you left a note? A note that didn't explain anything in my opinion."

"Jess, I'm sorry. I. . . " Nick glanced over at Josie. Every time he looked at the child, he saw more of himself. "Josie deserves to know that I'm her father."

"Look Miller, let's get one thing straight. Josie is MY daughter. I am responsible for her, I take care of her. She is my blood, sweat, and tears. You don't get to just waltz in here and get handed the father card. I will not let you hurt her the way you hurt me." Jess stood up, grabbing her purse, and stormed out of the story room.

Nick ran after her, struggling to keep up with her pace. He found Jess at the end of the hall, by the bathrooms.

"Wow you're a lot faster than I remember."

Jess wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "I go jogging now. Every morning. With Royce."

"Who's Royce?" Nick asked, the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach assuring him he already knew the answer.

"He's my boyfriend." She sniffled.

My boyfriend. Jess's words washed over him, furthering the pain in his stomach. "oh, you have a boyfriend. . ."

"We're not discussing it. You don't get to know about my life." She quipped.

Nick threw his hands up in the air. "No questions. I'm sorry Jess. I really am. It's just when I saw Josie today, all this guilt washed over me. I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at me. I woke up this morning not knowing that I had a daughter. That a piece of me was walking around here on this earth. I didn't get to sing to her while she was in your belly, I didn't see her first steps. I mean come on, I'm a father to a Kindergartner, and I've never been to a parent teacher conference."

"She's in first grade. She's educationally gifted." Jess said, wiping her eyes.

Nick smiled at her. "Yeah? Well she certainly did not get that from my side."

Jess giggled. "She does get a lot from you though. The other day she yelled at her oatmeal because it was too hot."

Just then the doors opened and people began to leave the story room.

"I better go get her." Jess said quietly, motioning to the room.

Nick nodded.

She fished a small piece of paper out of her purse and scribbled something on it. She handed it to Nick. "This is my address. You can come by after Josie goes to bed, and we can talk more."

Nick arched his eyebrow. "You don't live in the loft anymore?"

She laughed. "Would you want to raise a five-year-old in a house with Schmidt and Winston?"

…

Nick stared at the door. Not much had changed, but now every time he looked at the door, of 4D he saw the ghost of himself, walking out on his family that fateful night. The elevator dinged, awakening Nick from his thoughts. He swallowed hard. It was now or never. He knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" A familiar voice called.

"Cece? It's me. Nick."

The door flew open. "Nick Miller?" Cece stood in front of him, she looked a little older, but still as beautiful as ever.

Nick smiled. "In the flesh"

Cece's mouth gaped open. "Oh My God. Does Jess know you're. . ."

"I met her at the school earlier."

"Cece? Who's at the. . ." Schmidt called out, his words trailing off when he saw Nick standing at the door. "Well, well, well, it's the prodigal son!"

"Schmidt, don't be like that."

"Don't be like that? Don't be like that?" Schmidt said, his jaw tense, his hands curling into tight fists. "You just left! You didn't tell anyone! Then you show up here, and tell me, your 'best friend' , 'Don't be like that'. Nicholas, I. . . . I. . ." and with that he swung his fist, landing a punch square on Nick's jaw.