Nick walked back into the room as Jamie and Bobby were breaking up their argument. Everyone slowly made their way out of the room, except for Jamie, who was sitting on a chair by the back wall. Nick walked over and sat down next to him.

"So, you ready for this?"

Jamie nodded. "Yeah, guess I better be, right?"

Nick took a deep breath and leaned forward on his knees, his thumbs nervously twitching. "Sorry dad is isn't here for this, Jamie."

"Yeah, it's kinda weird. I mean, not like he was around for much, but at least he showed up for the good stuff, right?"

"I guess he did, didn't he?"

"You know, ever since he died, I keep thinking he's just gonna show up one day." Jamie gave a short laugh. "I guess I'm still that stupid kid that waits for him to come home."

Nick just nodded as they sat for a few moments in silence. "So," He sat up and gave Jamie's shoulder a punch. "Guess I need to impart some kind of wisdom on you, or some crap like that."

"Nah, you don't know shit about this stuff anyway."

Nick laughed. "Yeah, you got me there."

Jamie smiled his typical goofy grin. "So what's up with you and that hot brunette, anyway? At least you're finally...you know." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Shut up, Jamie."

"Aw, come on, you two can't keep your hands off each other and you know it."

Nick just grinned. "You know, I'm not even gonna argue with ya there."

Jamie leaned back against the chair and crossed his arms. "So you guys serious?"

Nick ran his hands through his hair and cleared his throat. "Yeah, you know..."

Jamie nodded. "Oh, yeeeeeah."

Nick punched him in the shoulder again and stood up. "You're such an idiot". He motioned to the door. "Get out there to get married, man."

Jamie stood up and Nick followed him out the room.

Jess made her way to the third pew and sat next to Schmidt. Music was playing softly in the background and everyone was starting to fill the church. They spoke in hushed voices.

Schmidt turned to Jess as she sat down. "I assume you found Nick in his tux?" He looked her up and down with a smirk.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

Schmidt leaned in closer. "It means that I'm fully aware of what's been going on on this trip the past few days, Jessica Day. You two have been all over each other."

A little smile crept onto Jess' face. "Possibly."

"Well, you certainly didn't have to christen Nick's childhood room multiple times."

"JAR!"

Schmidt leaned back against the pew, his expression relaxing a little. "Well, regardless, what IS up between you guys?" Her eyes squinted and gave him a questioning look. "I don't know, something seems different."

Jess sunk back into the pew. "Really? How so?"

"I don't know. I mean, shouldn't Nick be panicking by now that his mom seems to like you so much?"

Jess turned to Schmidt with a confused look on her face. "What are you talking about?"

Schmidt slid his elbows up and rested them on the top of the pew. "You didn't hear her going on about you out there?"

Her eyes lit up slightly. "Really? When?"

"Just now, everyone's been asking about you apparently." He glared at her. "Although, maybe they're just in awe of your skimpy attire."

Jess grimaced. "Never talk about me like that again Schmidt." She pointed a finger in front of his face. "It's really disturbing."

Jess turned her head around toward the back door, glancing around at Nick's relatives and smiling. She had to admit, she was excited that his mom had been talking so highly of her to everyone. Something about finally winning Bonnie's approval felt really nice.

Schmidt crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Well, at least you two could be here together. I'm still not happy about having to come to this thing alone."

"Seriously, Schmidt? The wedding is small and let's be honest, you should be glad that YOU were invited. When was the last time you said more than two words to Jamie? It's not like you grew up with them like Winston."

"I'll have you know Jess, that we had a very in-depth conversation about our musical preferences back in 2004."

Jess just rolled her eyes.

As Jamie made his way to the front of the church, Nick met his mom in the lobby waiting to walk her down the aisle. Bonnie took her son's arm and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh Nicky, I wish Walt was here to see this." Nick saw tears in his mother's eyes and patted her hand.

"I do too, Ma."

Bonnie smiled at her son, quickly trying to change the subject. "So, does all this make you excited for your own wedding one day?" Her eyes sparkled.

"Ma..."

"Oh please, I see the way you look at her." Bonnie winked. "Promise me you won't wait forever, I want to see my boys happy."

Nick just gave his mom a nervous smile. "You got it."

They slowly walked into the church and made their way down the aisle. Nick caught Jess' eye as they approached the front pews and he couldn't help but smile. He thought about what his mom had just said to him, and realized just how incredibly happy he was to have this amazing woman smiling back at him at that very moment. Everything was working out for him. NICK MILLER. His life was finally starting to make sense, and it was all because of her. He leaned down to give his mom a kiss on the cheek as she sat down, then made his way to his spot next to Jamie.

Jess watched Nick as he walked his mom down the aisle. She flashed him a sweet smile and couldn't help but notice how handsome and...grown up Nick looked in his tux. In so many ways, it felt like someone had pushed the fast forward button on their relationship from the moment they stepped foot in Chicago. Part of her was terrified that Nick was moments away from a panic moonwalk straight back to LA. A larger part though, was seeing a new side to Nick. Maybe she was seeing a side that he was afraid to show back home, the side that embraced responsibility for the sake of Bonnie and Jamie. Whatever the reason, she was enjoying how open Nick had become with his feelings and how much more confident she felt in sharing her own. From the very beginning, their relationship had been so unconventional. The things that came easily, living together and knowing the tiny, intimate details about the other, were things that typically took MONTHS to adjust to in any other relationship she had ever been in. But then things that SHOULD be easy, seemed to be exponentially more complicated, like being able to admit to each other how they felt. It was perfectly messy and so imperfectly simple.

Whatever their relationship was transitioning into was happening fast, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time.

Nick watched as Jamie took Deanna's hand and the minister began the ceremony. His mind was racing and he could barely pay attention.

"...To share one's life with another, from the simplest to most trying times ...When we find someone we want to share each day with, finding laughter and contentment in all of life's little moments. Love is ..."

Nick thought back to all the "insignificant" moments he had shared with Jess. Moments that, on the surface, were mundane and boring. Yet, somehow sharing all these moments with Jess was far from ordinary. He smiled, thinking about how infuriating and adorable Jess could be all at the same.

"Nick, it's important to buy organic fruit and vegetables when you're eating the whole thing, like these strawberries." She picked up the container, placing it gently in the grocery cart.

Nick made a turtle face and leaned on the cart handle. "How do you REALLY know it's organic?" he motioned to the display. "They're just telling you that so you're ok with spending more money, when they could just be dumping any old chemical on them anyway."

Jess crossed her arms and started tapping her foot. "Really? You know they have to follow certain guidelines, they aren't going to just lie to all of us."

"Oh, right Jessica. No company has eeeeeever lied to a consumer before."

She pushed her arms down her sides and blew her bangs out of her face. "Well, think what you want Nick, but I'm going to keep buying it, because I think it's healthier." She smirked and tilted her chin over her shoulder. "I want to be around to bug you for a long time."

Nick slowly shook his head and couldn't resist the smile that was creeping across his face. He pushed the cart past her as she turned her back to him to grab a bag of apples off the shelf. With one hand still on the cart, he stopped to softly put his free hand on her waist and rested his chin on her opposite shoulder. "I can't argue when you talk about being with me for a long time. You get whatever you want."

She smiled and leaned her head against his as she gently tapped her hips into his. In her matter-of-fact tone she chided, "You love me."

"Yes I do."

Nick was only half listening as the minister continued speaking. He couldn't take his eyes off of Jess, as he thought about how much he truly cared about her. What if he really WAS ready to settle down with her? What if he said something to her and she thought it was too soon? If he was going to be honest with himself, there was no denying that he had thought about it. A lot. More than he'd care to admit. Even after being together only this short time, he knew he wanted to be with this woman forever. He couldn't spend time with her, or even think about her, without fantasies of a house and children coming into his thoughts. This wasn't him, was it? He was the guy that screwed up, the one that always ran when things got too complicated. The one who messed up everything he touched. He was fooling himself into thinking that she would take that next step with him, right? Even in this moment, watching his brother exchange wedding vows, all he could think about was the day that he would be standing here with Jess.

He couldn't tell her yet though. Not now. Not after seven months. He couldn't risk losing her or facing himself if she said no.

Jess' eyes met his and she gave him a smile. She looked so happy. Was it just being here at the wedding, or was it something more? How could someone like her, so full of life and ambition, be satisfied with someone like him? Just then, Jess' expression changed and her eyes got wide as she mouthed "Nick". He blinked hard and heard Jamie whispering, "Nick, the ring".

Nick shook his head, "right. right, sorry man". He pulled the ring out of his pocket, handing it to his brother. He looked back at Jess and she gave him a wink. God, how was it possible that she was this amazing? He watched Jamie and Deanne kiss and he got a lump in his throat.

He wanted this. He wanted it all. He wanted it with Jess.