Epilogue: A Slight Detour
Washing down her latest bite of sandwich with some more of the Thermos Wine Nick had packed, Jess smiled enthusiastically as she looked at the beautiful scene before her. The surprisingly vibrant mix of browns, oranges, and reds of the Grand Canyon set against the backdrop of the blue sky were something that all the photos just couldn't do justice.
As her and Nick leaned back against the moving truck, she felt incredibly at peace. Diverting her attention to Nick, she couldn't think of a time she was happier with her life. Even though there were plenty of reasons to think this thing between them wouldn't work, wouldn't make sense, they were all blocked out of her head now. Between his surprise visit to LA and their current pit stop, all she could think about were the positive possibilities of being with Nick.
"So is this what I can expect when I date Nick Miller? Everyday a new adventure? Romantic detours to the Grand Canyon?"
"I highly doubt that, Jess," Nick said while laughing. "Most days are pretty uneventful in my life, actually. I'm sorry if I'm setting up unreasonable expectations. Heck, Schmidt is the one who helped me figure out the best way to get here without letting you figure it out. So no, most gestures from me won't be this…grand…for lack of a better word."
Shooting him a smile, Jess waited for him to make eye contact. "That still sounds really nice."
Nick grabbed the thermos and took a swig of wine, thankful for its disguise from the nearby tourists. With him and Jess leaning on the front of the truck, they seemed out of place from the families and other couples who had parked cars that could fit in a proper garage. It all seemed too crazy to dream of just a few months ago. He was helping Jess move her life across the country, just so they could be together. With any other woman, he would have been scared to death by the current situation. With Jess though, all he needed was one of her trademark smiles, and his fears would be calmed, if not his nerves. Seeing that smile now, he was sure about one thing.
He wasn't afraid.
-The End-
A/N: One last thank you to everyone who took the time to read/review/follow/favorite. I am considering writing a sequel to this about Jess and Nick developing their relationship in Chicago, but that won't be for a while because I have no plot or outline. Details. I will try a few one-shots here and there in the mean time. I wasn't surprised by how much work this multi-chapter was to complete. What did surprise me was how rewarding and fulfilling it was to write it. Thank you once again.