Nick jumped at the sound of someone knocking on his door.

It had been his first night at his new apartment, and his first sleepless night in a while. There was nothing wrong, it wasn't that he wasn't used to being there, or anything. He was just used to staying up late on the couch with Ashley, the TV on and turned down low, and they would just talk, about whatever, until they went to bed. He loved it. And now, he missed it.

He slowly walked to the door to open it, finding Ashley and Ellis on the other side. Ashley had asked to come over the next day to say hi and to see the place, and Ellis just wanted to tag along, which was odd because Zoey was not coming.

"Well, shoot, Nick, did ya get any sleep last night? You look mighty tired." Ellis asked when he walked in the door.

"No, you know, I really didn't, and I am tired. But it's all good." He shrugged, smiling at Ashley when his eyes met hers.

Ashley hoped that the makeup she had put on concealed her dark circles. She hadn't slept the previous night either. In fact, the night they arrived and the night Nick had taken her out were the only nights she had gotten a good night's sleep in a long time. Last night, she didn't even know why she couldn't sleep. But she couldn't. She didn't want to say she missed Nick but she also didn't want to say it wasn't him at all..

"This is nice." She said with a smile to pull herself away from her thoughts. "It's.. cozy."

Nick laughed a little and Ellis slouched onto the soft, white sofa.

"Don't worry, I ain't been to work yet." He told Nick's half-disgusted, half-pained expression.

"Oh!" Ashley exclaimed. "I got you something, but hold on I left it in the car." And with that, she was out the door, trotting down the stairs to her Jeep, and Ellis and Nick were left inside with the silence.

"I think y'all should be official already." Ellis said after a while.

"What?"

"You and Ashley. I think you should be officially dating now."

Nick didn't say anything for a moment, and then he shrugged. "I don't know if we ever will be, I only hope so."

"Did ya kiss her yet?"

Nick felt his face get hot but he hoped it didn't show, and thankfully Ashley came back in so he didn't have to answer.

"Ta-daa!" She held up two black pillows. "I know it's not much but thought they would look nice on your couch." She shrugged.

"Thanks." Nick smiled as she tossed him a pillow, and he set it down on one end of the couch.

Walking by, she smacked Ellis in the face with the other one and then tossed it in his lap making Nick snort a laugh.

Then Ellis' phone rang. "Hello?.. Oh, yeah, hey! I-.. Well, you-... Okay.. Ummmm..." He turned to Ashley and covered the mouthpiece of the phone with one hand. "Zoey wants me to go pick her up.. her car is being borrowed right now and I have my truck keys with me.."

"Oh.. Um.. yeah, here, you can take my car, I mean.." She turned to Nick.

"It's fine if you stay here."

Ashley tossed Ellis the keys.

"Thanks so much," he said. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, don't worry 'bout it I'm on my way.." his voice faded as he walked out the door.

"Sorry." Ashley shrugged after a few seconds.

Nick tilted his head to the side. "Why? I don't mind you staying here, I mean, hell, you let me stay with you this whole time."

She smiled a little and shrugged again, and he patted the spot on the couch next to him.

It was like it should be; shoes off, TV on, Nick and Ashley side by side on the couch.. he loved it.

He loved her.

Wait, what? He thought to himself. I mean... Yeah I guess I do love her..

"Hey, Ashley?"

"Yeah?" She turned to face him.

He took a breath to speak and then his eyes drifted.

"What is it?" She leaned towards him, her smile falling. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm fine.. I just don't know how to say this."

"Come on, Nick, you can tell me anything."

"Alright.." he thought for a minute. "So, help me with this scenario: let's say there's a girl and I really like her. I mean, we're friends and stuff, but I don't think she likes me back, and I don't know that she knows I like her."

Ashley thought for a moment. "Wait.. You like a girl, Nick? Wow, that's a step up for you, I didn't think you liked people at all." She laughed a little and he rolled his eyes.

"Is she here? Like, in the apartment complex, I mean."

He paused before a smirk appeared on his lips. "Yeah, yeah, she is.

"Aww! Okay, well, have you tried to show her that you like her?"

"Absolutely. I just think she thought I was being friendly. I kinda wanted to give up 'cause she just doesn't see it.."

Ashley was quiet for a minute. "Ya know," she looked up at him. "Just go up, and kiss her."

Nick's eyes widened a little as his eyebrows raised.

"Really, I mean, like, if you've got a chance with her, that's how you find out, and if she slaps you and runs off, then it wasn't meant to be anyway."

Nick just stared.

"You feel me? Really, Nick."

He shrugged. "I guess I could try. Do I like, catch her by surprise?"

"Yeah, yeah! Like.. next time you see her, or you're with her, or whatever.. just... kiss her, ya know? And then see where it goes from there."

"I'll keep that in mind, thanks."

"Sure thing." She smiled, and then the attention of the two went back to the TV.

A few minutes of Ashley absentmindedly fiddling with her shirt hem went by and Nick pretended to be paying attention to the TV.

"Hey, Ashley?" he said, again.

"Yes?" She laughed a little and looked up at him.

And then he did exactly what she told him to, and he kissed her. On the lips. Right there.

And the best part was, she didn't pull away.

The door opened in the background, and Ellis walked in, followed by Zoey, but the couple didn't seem to notice.

"Hey, I hope you don't mind I brought Zoey back, and I brought my truck, 'cause like I thought it was gonna take longer but-... holy shoot.." Ellis and Zoey just stared at the two on the couch before Zoey slowly set Ashley's Jeep keys on the counter and pulled Ellis' back towards the door by the arm, and the two left silently.

When the kissing couple broke apart Ashley's face had confusion written on it, and her eyes were wide and curious.

"Thanks for not slapping me in the face and running away." Nick grinned at her.

She chuckled and blushed a little and she froze as he gently kissed her on the cheek the same way he had the night they went out.

"It.. She.. Me?" She barely managed to get out, but Nick understood her.

"Yeah, you." He smiled, but then his expression fell. "I mean.. I know I was a total dick in the beginning, but.. I hoped I could show you I changed, and that.. I'm really falling for you, Ashley."

Their eyes met and locked onto each other.

"Give me a chance?" Nick said softly.

Ashley slowly shook her head and smiled. "What am I gonna do with you, Suit.."

Nick laughed softly, and their lips briefly met once more before Ashley laughed and said, "Come on, we'd better go find Zoey and Ellis before this gets out of control."

Nick just laughed and they walked out hand in hand as they left for her car.

This was how it should be. And he loved it. And he loved her.