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

…..

Speechless. She was speechless. It moved her that Nick would do this for her. Marry her just because he didn't want her to do it alone. And his speech was beautiful. It was perfect in fact, but she wasn't sure she could believe him. It was odd to feel like he wouldn't lie, and yet still be so unsure. If he loved her why had he never said anything before? Back at that book store he said they'd never work. That ship had sailed. Besides, she had thought Mitch loved her, and look where that got her.

"Now is a good time to say something," Nick said, still down on one knee, and starting to feel foolish.

"Um, I'm not pregnant." she said, and the look of confusion on his face was almost laughable.

"You're not?" he asked, rising. A mixture of emotions settled over him. On one hand he was relieved. Jess having to have a constant reminder of Mitch wouldn't have been easy on her. But he was also getting used to the idea of raising a child. Sure, he'd always wanted to have a kid someday, but that day was approaching sooner then he thought.

She shook her head. "No. It was a false positive." Jess rubbed her left arm and shrugged.

"You don't seem happy about that."

"I'm thrilled, actually. I wasn't sure what I was feeling before. The idea of having his baby. It was something I once wanted, but I felt sick over it. And when she told me I wasn't, I felt a weight lifted off me." She paused. "This was sweet, Nick. I really appreciate the gesture."

"I'm still asking," Nick said, giving her a small smile. He knew the no was coming, but he would be okay with that. He wasn't giving up. One day, he was sure she would say yes.

Okay, so that made her heart flutter, and the sickness she had just been feeling turned to butterflies. But she couldn't she wasn't ready. "I can't, Nick. I can't fall in love with you again."

"Why? Am I that bad of a choice?"

"I don't feel whole. I know that at some point this feeling will go away, and someday this mess might be far behind me, but I'm not sure I can ever be the Jess you once loved. I just…" She shook her head. "I'm broken, Nick. You deserve better than me."

"I'll wait," Nick said simply, getting a puzzled look from Jess. "I'll wait for you to feel less broken. I'll wait for you to feel like you can feel safe enough not to look over your shoulder. I'll be here to help you feel whole again, and I'll be here loving the Jess you are, not the one you think you used to be. I'll be here, and I'll wait."

Jess swallowed hard. She didn't know how to respond to that. She wanted to throw her arms around him and tell him that he made her feel safe. But she kept her distance. She cleared her throat. "You still up for that movie?"

"Yeah," he replied, motioning toward the living room. "I'll order some pizza too."

"Great," she replied. She took a glance at the baby stuff and thanked god she wasn't pregnant.

….

"He proposed!" Cece asked, her tone surprised.

Cece and Jess sat in Jess' bed, backs up against the headboard, legs covered. They were sharing a bowl of popcorn, and Jess nodded at her response. "It was really sweet. Swoon worthy, really."

"And you said no why?"

"Because I'm…" Jess sighed. She had thought about this all night. Nick said he loved her. Said he had known that he loved her from day one. He said them spitting up was the worst thing to happen to him, but how did she know he meant it? How did she know it wasn't just the heat of the moment? Nick being the good guy he is?

"Jess, he loves you." Cece said, knowing exactly what was on Jess' mind. "Maybe he asked now because he thought you were pregnant, but he would have done it anyway."

"How can you be sure? I mean, he made it clear that we would never be together. Remember? That's the whole reason I left in the first place."

"I know because that's why he and Reagan broke up. She confided in me that she was feeling overshadowed by you, and that said something considering you weren't even around. I told her to ask Nick about it. Well, she did and he said that he was pining for you." Cece let that linger.

"He was?" Jess asked, genuinely surprised. "Why? I'm nothing to pin over. I can't even." Jess stopped talking. Since when was she a self-doubter? "I don't know."

"Oh Jess." Cece shook her head. "You are the best, most loving, and caring person I know. You are my best friend and the god mother to my child. You're smart and passionate, and beautiful. Your worthy of love, and you deserve any man you want. And Nick is pretty great himself."

Jess chewed her lip. A habit she had picked up at some point over the years. "I don't know how to start again. I feel lost, and scared. I don't know."

Cece took Jess' hand. "You will figure it out."

There was a few minutes of silence while they ate some popcorn. "I'm going to be getting divorced," Jess said glumly.

"You are," Cece replied. She have Jess' hand a squeeze.

"I'm scared, Cece. I've been waiting for him to do something. Anything and I think maybe he thinks I'll still go back, and if I send him divorce papers it might stir the pot."

"You are not in this alone. We all have your back."

A knock on the door interrupted them. Winston pocked his head in, and smiled. "Hey, we are all here and ready to eat."

"Okay, we will be out in a moment," Cece replied.

"Thank you," Jess said, as they got off the bed.

"Anytime, babe," Cece replied, and followed Jess from the room.

…..

Mitch slammed his hand on the table, and was pissed when the lawyer didn't so much as flinch. "She's my goddamn wife!"

Mr. McManus slowly rose. "And she has every right to leave Mr. Coleson. Now I'd advise you leave the premises or I'll have you removed."

Mitch snarled as he left the fancy office. Fuck him, he didn't need legal help anyway. He would take care of this on his own.

Outside it was raining, but he took his sweet time getting to his car. He was almost there when he saw Will. His already dark mood darkened.

"Mitch," will said, inclining his head to him.

"You and your law mates are useless!" Mitch barked in return.

"I see, Will replied. "Stand down, Mitch. Let the woman go."

Mitch stormed away and Will watched as Mitch sped off in his car. As Will walked into his office he decided he needed to get ahold of Jess. Mitch was a lose cannon.

…

"That outfit is outrageous," Mitch said, standing crossed arms by the bed. Jess looked at him in the mirror and said nothin as she finished applying her lip stick. "I will not let you leave the house like that."

Jess looked at her outfit. He wore a green skirt with a sleeveless floral print top. She loved her outfit, and planned on paring it with flats. "You can't tell me what I can and cannot wear," Jess replied stubbornly.

She walked by him, but he grabbed her arm. She gasped as he dig his nails in. "You have no control over your life. Not anymore. You gave that to me when you married me. You silly girl." Mitch laughed.

"Let go of me!"

Mitch raised his and and struck her.

Jess woke with a start. Her heart pounded in her chest. She got out of bed, because she needed to be on her feet. She couldn't have the disadvantage of laying down if Mitch showed. But she was tired. So damn tired.

She wasn't sure how long she stood there, but she knew she couldn't stay there all night. Tomorrow she planned on going to the court house and file for divorce. She felt like it was important to get enough sleep for that.

Okay, so she felt ridicules as she crossed the hall to Nick's room, and even dumber as he hand hovered an inch away from the door in knocking position.

Do something! She urged herself. Either knock on the damn door or go back to your own room.

"You okay?" Nick asked, making Jess scream. And it wasn't a little one. It was loud and full of fear. She jumped away from him, and the moment she realized it was him, some of the fear in her eyes lessened.

"I didn't mean to scare you," Nick said, going to her. He hugged her, and was glad she let him. "You okay?"

Jess nodded and after she felt she could speak she said, "I know this is silly, but was was hoping it would be okay to sleep with you." She paused and because she realized that he could take that wrong she quickly clarified. "I mean sleep in you bed with you, not sleep with you."

"Yeah, I don't mind," Nick said, opening the door and motioning her in.

The both stood a little awkwardly, then Nick got in. Once he was settled he watched Jess and he could see she was debating. " I don't bit,Jess."

She nodded, and she knew that Nick would never hurt her, but the last time she spent the night in bed with a man it was Mitch. Yeah, Nick had laid with her when she was at Cece's but she had been so out of it. God this was stupid.

Before she chickened out she got into the bed. She faced away from him, but after a few minutes she turned toward him. He was watching her, and the look in his eyes took her breath away. Had Mitch ever looked at her like that?

"You okay?" Nick asked, his voice low.

"I'm working on it," she replied.

They lay quietly, and Jess hated that her heart raced and she felt like she couldn't breath. She knew she was having a panic attack, and that only made her feel worse. She was about to jump out of the bed with the fear that settled in her stomach, but Nick's arms engulfed her, pulling her to him.

"It's okay. You're going to be okay. Just breath." He kissed her forehead, and rubbed her back. "He's not her. I am, and I got you."

She clung to him in return, and the familiar smell of him calmed her some. And the way she fit against him. The familiar way the fit together had her heart slowing, and as he spoke to her softly, careingly, she drifted away in sleep.

…

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