LAX seemed more crowded than usual. It took awhile to get over to the gate because of everyone in their way. Right after they sat down, an announcement was made that they would be lining up for boarding.

"We're group 5," Nick said, "Let's just sit for a few minutes."

"I hope I remembered everything!" Jess rummaged through her purse. "I packed in such a hurry."

"What are you looking for?"

"My phone charger. I must have left it at home. My phone is only at 30%, I forgot to charge it last night."

"There's a gift shop right across from us. Why don't you run in there real quick and buy one? We have plenty of time before we actually get called to board."

"Okay Nick. I'll try to hurry!" Jess got up and decided to run into the restroom before the gift shop. They had only been finishing up group one so she had plenty of time. But what she didn't know was that after the plane had started boarding, the pilot had noticed a slight crack in the windshield that the other pilot who had been flying the plane before hadn't noticed. Because of this, they had discontinued the boarding process and were telling those that got on the plane to get off. And, they were redirecting everyone to another gate.

Poor Nick was panicking. While everyone else was walking to the other gate, he went into the gift shop to get Jess but he couldn't find her. He thought maybe she had gotten mixed up and gone to the other gift shop way down the terminal.

Jess walked out of the restroom and into the gift shop. She quickly found the charger and paid for it. She walked back over to the gate and saw that everyone, including Nick, was gone!

"Damn it," she thought, "He must have went ahead and boarded without me!"

She went up to the woman at the gate. "Excuse me, but I ran to the gift shop really quickly and when I came back, everyone had boarded. My boyfriend has my ticket. I promise I'm on this flight! I just need you to go get him."

"I'm sorry ma'am, but no one will be boarding this flight," the woman replied, unaware that Jess had no idea that the flight had been changed.

"What do you mean no one will be boarding? I have my ticket! I just, don't have it," Jess was trying her best to come across believable.

"Ma'am, the flight has been canceled. All of you that were on this flight will be taking another flight. You need to go to Terminal B, gate 9," the woman explained in a rude tone.

Jess just nodded and started walking quickly to the other gate. She tried to call Nick to tell her she was on her way but his phone went straight to voicemail. Little did she know that Nick was literally a few feet behind her.

Nick reached in his pocket to find his cell phone to try and get a hold of Jess, but it wasn't there. He sighed and started to jog to try to get to the gate quickly because he had no idea when the new flight would leave. He jogged right past his anxious girlfriend.

Jess found the gate and sat down and low and behold, there was Bearclaw sitting in a chair while scrolling through a webpage on his iPad.

"Bearclaw," Jess said hesitantly.

Bearclaw looked up and then seeing that it was her, he quickly looked back down at his iPad.

"Hey!" Jess protested. "I know I really upset you and everything, but I really am sorry. I didn't mean to lead you on like that."

"It's fine Jess," he said, looking up. "I've got a girlfriend now. She's pretty and makes me laugh and we make passionate love every time we're together. I'm on my way to visit her right now actually."

"Well, great! That's good to hear. By the way, speaking of relationships, have you seen my friend Nick? Actually, he's my boyfriend now. We're flying out to Chicago together and I can't find him!"

"You sure do get around. First me, then the doctor, now Nick the bartender," he rolled his eyes.

"That's beside the point! Seriously, have you seen him?" she demanded.

"Nope. Why are you with him anyway? He doesn't seem like your type. You need to be with someone who has the passion. Who can seriously show you a good time. Nick isn't that guy."

"And do you think you are?"

"I know I am. You and I connected so well. Emotionally. Spiritually. And I'm sure we would have connected sexually if you had just given me a chance!"

Jess couldn't believe this. Nick was missing and Bearclaw wouldn't shut up. Out of all the people in this world, why would she run into him?

"I thought you just said you had a girlfriend! I think she'd be pretty pissed to hear you saying all this stuff about me!"

"I lied! I haven't found love since we were together."

"We were never together! We had one horrible, very short date. In fact, I wouldn't even call it a date because you were just so weird and disgusting!"

Bearclaw looked like he was about to cry. "You're the meanest woman I've ever met!" He got up and his iPad dropped on the ground, the glass cracking in the front. "See what you did!"

Just then, she finally saw Nick walking toward the gate. She waved him over. "Thank god you're finally here!"

"Where have you been?" Nick was pissed.

"I went to the restroom and then the gift shop and then back to the gate and everyone was gone! Then, I went here and you weren't here either. Where have YOU been?"

"I was looking for you! When they said the gates were changing, I tried to find you. "

Jess sighed. "It was just bad timing."

"Hey, it's Bearclaw!" Nick said, walking over in his direction. "Hey man, how's it going?"

"Asshole!" Bearclaw hit Nick over the head with his broken iPad.

"What the hell was that for?" Nick demanded but Bearclaw had walked off in the direction of Starbucks.

"Never mind Nick. He's not your biggest fan," Jess smiled wanly.

Five hours later, they were in the Windy City and in a taxi on the way to Nick's childhood home. When they arrived, Mrs. Miller answered the door.

"Nicky! Jess! You two made it safe and sound! I was beginning to worry. A storm is coming in you know," she gave hugs to both of them.

"Hey ma," Nick said, kissing his mom on the cheek.

"It's so good to see you again Mrs. Miller," Jess smiled.

"Nicky told me all about you two!" Mrs. Miller grinned. "He's never sounded as happy as he did as he was on the phone the other day."

"Ma," Nick groaned.

"Your son makes me pretty happy too," Jess said to be polite.

"The Miller men know how to please! If that's one thing about your father that I miss Nicky, it's the fact that he never once left me feeling unsatisfied."

"MA! Seriously?!" Nick looked disgusted. Jess was blushing a scarlet red.

"Oh grow up Nicholas! Sex is a normal part of everyday life. You have nothing to me ashamed of. If you're anything like your father, I'm sure Jess has nothing to complain about!"

"Sex is a beautiful thing," Aunt Ruthie cackled. She was sitting in a chair in the corner wrapping up a ball of yarn.

Jamie walked into the room wearing a golden colored crown that resembled the ones that Burger King gave away and a purple bathrobe that was loosely tied around him. "Nick! You and glasses made it! You ready for my bachelor party?"

"Bachelor party? I'm not even in your wedding! I didn't know you'd have one," Nick replied.

"Of course you're in it! You're my best man!" Jamie grinned and whacked Nick hard on the back.

"Ow! How was I supposed to know? You didn't tell me. I have nothing to wear!" Nick complained.

"It's going to be real casual. Just wear a button down and some khakis. That's all I'm wearing!"

"DeAnn is okay with that? If Jess and I were getting married, she'd kill me if that's what I was wearing."

Jess's heart skipped a beat. Married? Nick was actually thinking about THEM getting married.

"Different strokes for different folks," Jamie shrugged. "You are going to do it right?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Nick agreed reluctantly.

"Good! I need you to buy all the alcohol. My license got revoked so I can't buy it on my own anymore."

Jess and Nick both exchanged brief looks of panic. Nick couldn't afford alcohol for a bachelor party and he knew Jamie couldn't either.

Nick sighed."Yeah, I can get the alcohol. Just don't expect too much Jamie. I'm not made of money."

"You're the best!" Jamie whacked Nick on the back again.

"Ya gotta stop doing that!" Nick grumbled.