Author's Note: I miss this show. I actually started writing this story shortly after the series finale aired, and now I finally got around to finishing it. Enjoy, roomfriends!
Disclaimer: New Girl © Elizabeth Meriwether
"Nick, I can't wait any longer!"
"We're going to miss our flight, Jessica! You really can't hold it?"
"I told you I can't—"
"Okay! Okay. I'm pulling over."
Nick flicked on the turn signal and veered off the highway onto the shoulder. The wet, muddy grass squished beneath Jess' shoe the moment she flung the car door open and stepped out before Nick had even brought the car to a complete stop. She shrieked the second she felt the pelting rain, having nothing but an oversized gray sweatshirt to protect her, and she drew the drawstrings tighter as she whipped back to look at him.
"Nick, are you sure we have time?" she shouted over the rain.
"Yes, it's fine, just go," he said with such desperation it propelled her forward.
As she dashed into the wooded area, she could feel her entire body shaking—partly from the cold rain pouring down, but likely even more-so from the object she'd secretly purchased before they'd left. She was thankful this oh-so-delightful storm had encased the night sky in more darkness than usual, as having to do her business outside like a wild animal was degrading enough even in this emergency situation.
She crouched down and pulled out the item she'd stashed in her pocket, one she'd torn from the box immediately upon purchasing it and jammed into her pocket several hours earlier in their road trip.
The trees surrounding her provided temporary protection from the rain, allowing her a second to calm down and breathe. When she was done with her business, she took out a loose tissue she'd saved for this very reason, wrapped it up and slipped it back into her pocket.
Her heart was pounding as hard as the rain as she hurried back to the car. Nick had already thrust the door back open just as she reached the car.
"All good?" he asked.
"All good," Jess said as she got in, slamming the door shut to seal herself back into the safe haven of the car. She exhaled, relieved in more ways than one. "Thank you, honey."
"You got it. We're outta here."
He pressed on the gas pedal, and the engine roared, but the car didn't move. Panic dropped into Jess' stomach like a lead weight. Nick put the gear in reverse and pressed down on the gas pedal once more, the engine screeching over the sound of heavy rain, but still, the car didn't budge.
"Oh, come on."
He threw his door open and got out to inspect. Within seconds, he was soaked, his hair matting down and clinging to his forehead. Instinctively, Jess slipped her hand into her pocket, only to let go when Nick ducked his head in.
"We're stuck."
"We are?"
He nodded, water dripping off his chin. He turned to look out at the road, as if in some deluded hope that one kind stranger would stop to give them a hand, but the cars kept driving past. Jess could feel the aggravation radiating off of Nick as the headlights from the cars illuminated his face, highlighting his scrunched-up, tired countenance.
"Okay," she said, the wheels turning in her head. "Okay. It's okay. We can still make our flight. Let's call a cab."
"We can't just leave the rental car here, Jess."
"We can call roadside assistance. You bought the rental insurance, right?"
"What do you think?"
"I think…you think it's a way for those car rental places to rip people off, so…no, you didn't."
Nick nodded once more, finally slinking back down into his seat. He shut the car door and placed his hands on the steering wheel without saying another word. All Jess could do was sit there, watching him, feeling hopeless that she couldn't come up with a solution to get them back on the road. She studied Nick—noting his hardened eyes, his hands squeezing the wheel, his jaw set tight—all the tell-tale signs he was getting in his head. She knew she needed to deter him before he unintentionally directed his anger at her.
"You just couldn't wait."
Too late.
"I'm sorry, Nick, I—"
The sound of his long, exasperated sigh silenced her. He slumped his entire body forward, dropping his head to the steering wheel.
"No, I'm sorry. I just…" He lifted his head and looked straight at her. "I can't do this anymore, Jess."
Jess' stomach clenched. "Can't do—what?"
"This," Nick said, gesturing to the road. "The book tours. The traveling. The deadlines. The meetings. The non-stop stress of it all. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of everything I've accomplished over these last few years, but I honestly don't know how much longer I can keep this up. And, the truth is, I've been feeling this way for a while. I just didn't know how to tell you because…well, because I don't want you to be disappointed in me. You know your opinion is the only one that's ever mattered to me."
Without hesitation, Jess took one of Nick's hands, stroking the smooth pads of his fingers with her own. Now, she could see the signs of him visibly relaxing—his shoulders dropping, the corner of his mouth ticking up in that sexy half-smirk of his she loved so much—and she let the words she knew he needed to hear pour right out of her.
"Nick, you could never, ever disappoint me. If you don't want to do this anymore, I'll support you. Whatever you want to do, I'll support you. We're a team, and I love you. Always. No matter what."
He smiled—shining and grateful and brimming with undying affection—while her eyes filled with sudden tears. He leaned forward and kissed her, and her heart did a somersault as she kissed him right back with all the love she had for him, all the love they'd built for each other throughout the years, from roommates to friends to lovers to exes to friends again and finally to each other's the one. He gently took her face in his hands, and her heart pumped wildly with newfound invigoration. She cupped one of her hands over his, squeezing it tightly.
"I love you so much," Nick said against her lips, his voice rough with emotion. As he pulled back, he brushed his thumb over her cheek, wiping away a stray tear.
Jess beamed at him, a giddy feeling taking over. She looked out ahead, noticing the rain was beginning to let up, and she hummed, processing their next move.
"We could tell your publicist our flight's been delayed, and we can just head home early."
"Works for me," Nick said. "Now, if only we could just—" He snapped his fingers. "Wait. Jess, get in the driver's seat, and on my go, switch the gear to neutral."
He got out, and Jess followed suit, rushing around the front of the car while Nick headed to the back. The rain felt far more soothing now, a soft mist, a new beginning. She slid into the driver's seat and gripped the steering wheel, looking at Nick in the rear-view mirror. He gave her a thumbs up, and she switched to neutral and pressed down lightly on the gas pedal.
She watched him as he placed both hands on the trunk of the car and pushed, his arms trembling. Sitting there alone in the car, her mind wandered back to the item in her pocket that she was certain had the results by now, and she found herself recalling when this all happened the first time about five years ago.
"I can't believe Ruth's already four," Nick said. "Feels like only a year ago we were celebrating her third birthday."
Jess shot a perplexed look at her husband, only to shake her head to herself with a smile. They walked inside the gymnastics center where Ruth's party was being held to find dozens of squealing, energetic children running around and diving into foam pits.
"There's Ruth!" Nick said. "I'm so going to kick her ass at gymnastics."
"Don't forget to take off your shoes," Jess said.
"Got it!"
She smiled as she watched her grown child of a husband dash off to partake in the fun. Moments later Cece walked up to her, bright and smiling.
"Hey, babe," she said. "So glad you could—" Her facial expression abruptly changed from happiness to shock as she gasped and said, point-blank, "You're pregnant."
Jess froze. "What? How can you—I mean, no, I'm obviously not."
"Jessica Day-Miller," Cece said in her perfected, stern Mom voice.
Naturally, it worked on Jess like a charm, as she crumbled beneath Cece's hardened, impatient look. Her voice grew low as she confessed, "Okay, yes, I am pregnant."
"Oh, my god!" Cece said, clapping her hands in excitement. "I'm so happy for you and Nick."
"Nick doesn't know yet," Jess said. "Sadie only called me this morning with the news. I was planning on telling him tonight over a nice dinner. Speaking of which, what's a good 'honey, we're having a baby' meal? I'm thinking something with a lot of carbs. Rigatoni?"
"Excuse me?" Schmidt said, suddenly at Cece's side, as if he'd appeared in thin air like some sort of maniacal magician, which wasn't far off for him. "Rigatoni?" He scoffed. "Such a commoner. You gotta go farfalle, all the way."
"Are those the spiral ones?" Jess asked.
"That's fusilli! Farfalle are the ones shaped like bow ties, you blue-eyed nitwit!" Schmidt snapped, though he promptly collected himself and threw on his dashing host grin. "I am so sorry. Please, let me start over. Thank you for coming to Ruth's birthday party. You know she loves you the most out of everyone in our friend group. Besides Winston. Now, what's this about 'honey, we're having a baby?' Are you—" His mouth dropped open and hung there for a second as everything seemed to click into place, and he said, also point-blank, "Oh, my god. You're with child!"
"Schmidt, shh!" Jess said.
"Nick doesn't know yet, honey," Cece said.
"He doesn't?" Schmidt said. "Oh, Jess, I have to be the one to break the good news to him."
"I'm sorry, you have to be?" Jess said, and she scoffed the same way he had at her. "Let's get one thing clear. Contrary to what you believe in that overly styled head of yours, Nick is my husband, not yours."
"Fair enough, but you owe me," Schmidt said. "Remember? The bubble gum incident."
Jess folded her arms, though she didn't say a word, and it was all Schmidt needed. A cocky smirk spread over his face as he said, "Don't worry, I promise I'll do it right. NYIIIIICK!"
"What?" Nick shouted from inside the foam pit.
"What are you… That foam pit is for the kids, you silly man!" Schmidt said. "Get out of there before you injure that beautiful, flabby body of yours!"
"It's Ruth fault! She threw me in here," Nick said, pointing at the girl in question, who stood next to the pit, arms crossed in defiance.
"Uncle Nick's a tattletale!"
"I know he is, sweetheart," Schmidt said. "Nick, would you please get out of there? I have something important to tell you."
"Fine, but I will have my revenge!" Nick said.
"No, you won't!" Ruth said.
What proceeded was a downright embarrassing display of exertion as Nick struggled to get out of the foam pit. At one point he held out his hand for Ruth to help him, but the birthday girl merely ran off, flat-out ignoring him when he let out a strained, "Coward!"
Finally, he emerged and walked over to Schmidt.
"Oh, god," Nick said, rubbing his shoulder. "That was brutal. I could really go for a juice box right about now."
"In a minute, big guy," Schmidt said, and his sleek smile returned as he wrapped an arm around Nick's shoulders and led him away from the party. "Let's you and me have a chat first."
"You're acting super weird right now, pal," Nick said. "Gotta say, I don't care for it at all, but I'll let it slide since it's your kid's birthday."
"You're such a good friend," Schmidt said, now guiding Nick into the men's room.
"Why are you dragging me in here—"
"Hush," Schmidt said. He released Nick and did a quick scan to ensure they were alone. "As I was saying, you're such a good friend. But…" He paused for dramatic effect, reaching into his pocket, where he took out a familiar piece of clothing and held it up. "I think you're going to be an even better father."
"What…"
Nick stared at the item in Schmidt's hand, none other than the Chicago Bears onesie, the same one he'd ask Schmidt to save years ago and give back to him when he was having his own kid. He could barely form words now as the wheels turned in his head and everything hit him at once.
"Wait… Am I… Is Jess…"
"Congratulations, man," Schmidt said with a warm grin as he gave him a genial tap on the shoulder.
He handed the onesie to Nick, who simply stood there, too in awe to say anything in response. Suddenly, a rush of adrenaline took over, and he ran out of the bathroom, only to come to a halt when he found Jess standing in the hallway. One look at her—a soft grin on her face, tears collecting in her eyes, her hand sliding over her stomach—and he had the confirmation he needed.
A wide smile stretched across his face as he walked up and pulled her into a deep kiss.
"I was going to tell you over dinner tonight," Jess said when they parted, "but Schmidt guilted me into letting him tell you the news instead."
"Honestly, being barefoot in a public men's room isn't even the weirdest scenario I imagined I'd find out that we're having a baby."
The happiness of hearing her husband say those words out loud completely overpowered Jess in that moment. At last, the joyous tears escaped down her cheeks. Nick smirked in that warm way of his that always made her heart skip a beat. He cupped her face with both hands, the onesie pressed between his palm and her cheek, and he wiped away her tears.
For a moment, they simply stared at one another, consumed by all the overflowing emotions. His face softened, as did hers. As he leaned in and kissed her again, it was slower, more tender, lingering in this quiet, blissful moment.
When they parted again, their faces remained a whisper apart. Tears of joy were now shining in Nick's eyes as he repeated the wonderful news, "We're having a baby."
Jess simultaneously smiled and teared up at the thought of their son, Reginald. He was currently spending the weekend over her mom's house. Granted, he loved spending time with his grandparents, and his Aunt Cece and Uncle Schmidt and cousins Ruth and Moses, and his Aunt Aly and Uncle Winston and cousins Dan Bill and younger siblings, but it was never easy being away from their son whenever Nick would have to go to these speaking events to promote his latest bestselling novel, Chicago Hobo. Jess would occasionally tag along, as was the case now, but it was getting harder. And now…
The car suddenly inched forward, out of the sunken pile of grass the back tire had been stuck in, and Jess' heart leapt. She saw Nick pump his fists in victory, and he rushed back and got into the passenger's seat. He was breathing hard and soaked to the bone, and they didn't have anything he could use to dry off with, but it didn't seem to matter as Nick was suddenly focused on her. He exhaled softly.
"So, what does the test say?"
Jess' hands automatically tightened around the wheel. She stared at her husband, his face glistening from the rain. It seemed pointless to ask him how he knew, because of course he knew. He was always in tune with her even when she didn't realize it.
The sound of her heartbeat now drowned out the sound of the idle car engine as she reached into her pocket and took out the tissue concealing the pregnancy test. She handed it to Nick, and the look on his face as he removed the tissue told her the answer. His eyes glossed with tears, and a watery grin broke across his face. He'd barely had time to hold it up and show her the positive pregnancy test before their arms were around each other in an overjoyed embrace. They held each other like they never wanted to let go, crying tears of happiness all over again. A new baby. She couldn't wait to tell their son he was going to be a big brother.
Drawing back, they both said, "Let's go home."
Jess looked around at her friends and all of their children, a spark of competitive energy in the air. She looked at her husband next, an eager grin on his face that she mirrored herself. Finally, she looked at their young son, whose brown eyes beamed in anticipation. Their newborn daughter slept soundly in the next room, unaware of all the chaos that was about to ensue. This wonderful, wonderful chaos.
She raised her can of root beer. "The game, dear friends…is True American."