On New Year's Eve morning, Nick woke up to a tense atmosphere, having still not heard a thing from Jess. Knowing he could not take much more he moved to the roof. Winston came up to bring him something to eat, which he ate more out of need than actually want. Everything seemed to taste like cardboard. Jess always made them a nice lunch if they were lucky to both be off, he liked to watch her in the kitchen as she prepared the food normally talking to herself.

Once the 24 hours had passed, Joan phoned them to let them know that the police were now going to be looking into her disappearance.

Disappearance.

So that's it, he thought. Jess was now officially a missing person. With that piece of information the lunch that Winston made soon found its way into the toilet. It had been too much for Nick to take at that point.

By late afternoon, Nick was still on the roof when Winston sat down next to him. There had been a lot of times over the years when Winston had been worried about Nick, but this had to be the worse state that he had seen him in.

"It will be alright Nick, she will be home soon."

"I hope so Winston, I really need for that to be true." Nick replied without even looking at his oldest friend.

Winston didn't say anymore, just sat there with Nick. Knowing that all he could do for him was just be there.

The cold settled in, and Nick reluctantly left the roof to return to the loft. During the day Schmidt had decided not to cancel his party, so at least he had something to do to keep him busy. Between Nick and Cece he didn't know what else to do.

Joan called to check in just after dusk "Apparently Jess missed her flight to LA, getting a flight to San Francisco instead. After that the police are not sure what happened to her."

Nick wasn't sure if this news helped at all, but at least they knew something.

Midnight was drawing closer and closer, and before they knew it is was 5 minutes to the New Year. No one felt like celebrating, barely even registering the time. At 3 minutes, Nick hear a commotion outside the door. Thinking it was party goers they ignored it, until the door opened a couple of seconds later.

It was a very surreal moment for all of them, standing in the doorway was a very dishevel Jess. Everyone else stood up staring at her, almost as if they did not believe she was standing there.

"Jessica?" Nick whispered.

Jess nodded starting to laugh and cry at the same time.

"Jess!" Nick ran around the couch to be the first to take Jess into his arms. The others stayed back, knowing that now that Jess was home, it was going to be alright. It was Nick who needed to be with her first, they could wait, even Cece.

"You're okay." Nick said into her hair.

"I'm here Nick, I'm so sorry. I had one hell of a journey." She replied holding Nick close. She hadn't been lying. There were times on her journey when she thought she would never be back in Nick's arms.

"No Jess, I am sorry. I should never have let you leave like that. I should have told you..." Nick started.

The background noise started 5 – 4- 3- 2 -1 HAPPY NEW YEAR! Then all the fireworks going off everywhere.

Jess could not hear a word of what Nick was saying. "Nick what was that?"

"I LOVE YOU JESSICA DAY!" he shouted. This time the whole room heard and he didn't care.

"I love you too Nick." Jess started to cry, the emotion of the last week and being back with Nick rushing over her.

Nick pulled away slightly to take a good look at her. His palm cupped her face and his thumb wiped some of the tears away "Happy new year Jessica."

Jess laughed, having completely forgotten what day it was, even with all the noise around them. "Happy new year Nick."

Nick leaned in for a quick kiss. He didn't want to get too carried away. There would be enough time for that when they were alone later, and boy did he plan on making on for lost time!

Before he pulled away to let the others greet her, Nick whispered into her ear "Just so you know Jess, next year we stay together."

"Could not agree with you more Nick."

By this point Cece decided that Nick had enough time greeting her friend and not so subtly nudged him out the way.

Nick caught Jess' hand, finding it extremely difficult to let her go.