A/N: Dear Roomfriends, I apologize for the long delay. Distractions and other obligations were abound, and this was kind of proof that I really can't be counted on to update stories regularly when I don't already have a concrete end point in mind and inspiration to get there. That being said, I hope you've all returned to this story for what I've decided will be the last installment. It's been fun, and I hope to do more one shots and new stuff soon too.

Heart of The Matter

It's his least favorite tradition of theirs, though he understands its importance.

It began after their first year wedding anniversary. The morning after should have been as equally passion-fueled as the night before, and yet when he finally woke up that seemed to be the last thing on her mind. Instead, she told him she'd made an appointment for him to see the doctor later that day.

Of course, that had put him into a kind of panic. "What, Jess? Why? Was it not good last night? Did you notice something on me or my-?"

"No!" she quickly interjected. "But check-ups are important, Nick. I made one for myself too."

"I'm fine, Jess. I feel fine. You know I hate going to the doctor."

She pouted, eyes big and wide. "Please, Nick? An anniversary present for me?"

"I already gave you a present," he countered, reaching to lightly touch the silver heart pendant on her necklace. "Forgot this already? I saved for months..."

"Of course not. Just one more present for me," she begged, and kissed him for all he was worth. Suddenly he could deny her nothing.

"Alright," he said, attempting to make it sound like a compromise rather than a total defeat. "But Jessica, we're going to talk more about what's got you so worried all of a sudden."

"I know," she promised. "Tonight, after you report back from the doctor."

And so they went about their day and he went to his appointment, had a full physical and blood work and nearly everything else imaginable. By the end he was pretty annoyed that they hadn't found anything and still had to put him through all of that. But that irritation melted away by the time he gave her the news that he was perfectly healthy according to the doctor (though his cholesterol could stand to go down a little.) She had smiled at that, and kissed him again. "Thank you for doing that, Nick."

He grabbed her hand and led her back to the couch. They sat down together. "Now tell me what it was all about, Jess," he said, looking her directly in the eyes.

She bit her lip in that way he'd always found frustratingly endearing. "You promised you'd tell me if I did it," he reminded her.

"You're right." she agreed finally. "It's just, last night I realized it's been an entire year that we've been married. Time is passing by us and it's gone, and we're getting older without realizing it. Which is fine, but you know, it's going to be noticeable eventually. We're going to need to keep an eye out to stay healthy."

He knew there was more to it, but he said nothing and waited.

"And sometimes I think about your dad," she admitted.

Nick's stomach tightened a little. He hadn't thought about his dad in ages. It seemed so long ago that he passed away. Passed away.

"The heart attack," Nick said, and Jess nodded in confirmation.

"I think about what you went through and what your mom went through, and I know there aren't any guarantees, but I think we should do what we can to not be blindsided. I love you and I want to keep growing old with you."

A few tears had sprung to her eyes as she spoke, and he understood everything she said and everything she meant. Not that he hadn't known it before, but he understood even more fully the extent to which she loved him. And the extent to which he loved her back.

She placed a hand to his chest, felt the steady beat beneath her fingertips. "It's this heart I fell in love with," she said warmly, and he cracked a smile at that.

"Not this hot bod?" he chuckled.

She gave a watery laugh. "Just a little of that, too."

He wrapped an arm around her and snugly fit her against him. All the while she kept her hand lingering against the steady rhythm in his chest, as if it were all that mattered. "We'll grow old together," Nick promised. "If I have to get myself checked out every year, I will. We both will."

"There's one more thing," she whispered, nearly so quiet he hadn't caught it. "One more reason I started to get caught up in our health and making sure we're both sticking around-"

"What is it, Jess?"

"Nick...we're...we're part of a family now." She reached for his hand with the one that wasn't on his chest, and then placed both of theirs squarely against her flat-for-now belly.

It took a long moment for it to register, but when it did she could tell, not by his expression, but by the way his heart suddenly pounded more fiercely against the palm of her hand. "Jess, are you serious?" he asked, sounding a mixture of terrified and overjoyed.

She nodded.

And he smiled.

Yesterday was their ten year wedding anniversary, and today is his least favorite of their traditions. Even if he understands its importance. He's no longer a young man by anyone's definition, though being married to Jess and raising their daughter often makes him feel as if he is. But later today, he'll go to the doctor and he'll see what he can be doing to stay healthy (within reason of course, he's not giving up a few beers now and then), and he'll report back to Jess and she'll report back to him.

When he goes downstairs, Jess has breakfast on the table, and their little girl is munching her way through that sugary cereal Jess swore they'd never buy for their kids (they learned quite quickly that you have to pick your battles).

She looks up at him with bright young eyes. "Morning, daddy!" she says, and he grins. There's nothing like her calling him daddy. He dreads the day she feels too old for it.

"Good morning, baby bear," he says, and kisses the top of her head. Jess smiles at the pair, then becomes a little more stern in that way only moms can be.

"Sweetie, if you're done with your cereal you need to go brush your teeth now."

The girl slurps down her milk in a way that makes her mother cringe and her father proud. "Okay," she agrees, and heads towards the bathroom. Nick ruffles her hair as she goes, then makes his way to Jess to give her a nice morning kiss.

She kisses back and smiles at him. "Doctor today?"

"You made the appointment," he gruffs, though his irritation is mostly for show. Ever since she explained the reasoning, and ever since he became a part of this family, he hasn't been able to hold it against her. It has been his greatest pleasure, growing old with Jessica Day.

She smiles, places a hand against his chest as she did all those years ago. "And how is your heart feeling today?" she teases.

"Happy," he says simply, and it's the most sincere thing he's ever said.

And just like that, Jess falls in love with Nick Miller all over again, just as she has every day for over ten years.

A/N: Too sweet? Probably. Also, I may have been using the song Grow Old With You from The Wedding Singer as inspiration...it just works for them. Reviews always appreciated. :)