AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for the kind words and comments.

DISCLAIMER: I am borrowing the lovely characters from New Girl.

SPOILERS: MAJOR SPOILER for upcoming episodes (late season 2)-maybe skip ahead if you don't want to be spoiled? Also spoilers for 2x09 (Eggs).

Nick opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar bed. Taking a deep breath, he inhaled the scent of strawberry perfume and rolled over to find himself looking silky green robe over the back of a chair.

In the background, he heard a woman singing the theme song from Dirty Dancing.

Rubbing his hand over his face, Nick swung his legs over the side of the bed and tried to remember the previous night.

He watched her all night as she smiled and made small talk with the customers. The bar finally closed, and, hanging up his bartender's towel, he invited her for a drink. For once, the conversation was easy, and he enjoyed the uncomplicated attraction between them. "Nick?" she said. "You know, the night's still pretty young. I've got an unwatched episode of The Walking Dead on the DVR at home, but I need some company to make it through the episode. I was wondering if you would like to maybe watch some zombie TV with me . . . ? " she trailed off invitingly. Buzzed on whiskey and reciprocated attraction, Nick looked happily into her hazel eyes and said, "Yes."

For Nick, zombie TV turned into a beer, then two beers, then a kiss, then more kisses, and then, finally, a night spent with her. He could remember scenes from last night in flashes: a scared woman hiding her face in his chest, a kiss, the first press of skin to skin, and finally, comfort in a curtain of long brown hair. And now, surrounded strawberry perfume and the sound track of Dirty Dancing, Nick couldn't shake the feeling that something was not quite right.

"Oh, you're up! Good morning, Nick."

"Oh, hey. Good morning."

She pressed a kiss to Nick's cheek. "Hey, so, last night was . . . "

"Amazing," Nick said thoughtfully.

"Thanks," she said. She looked down and blushed, "For me too."

"Yeah," said Nick. "Listen. I like you. You're smart and funny and beautiful. You also have an appreciation for zombie culture, which, when combined with the other things, is like me being in the clubhouse when the Cubs are winning the World Series on my birthday. And there's chocolate cake."

"Um, thanks?" she laughed in confusion.

"It's just, we work together and I don't want things to be weird," explained Nick. "I like the way we work together. When I need a bottle of whiskey, you hand me bottle of whiskey . . ."

"Nick."

"If you need extra glasses or a refill on peanuts, I'm there . . . "

"Nick."

" . . . If I want to do that scene from Cocktail, where I throw the bottles around, you talk me out of it . . ."

"Nicholas!"

"WHAT?" Nick abruptly stopped.

She walked up to Nick and kissed him. "I had a great time last night. You're great, but we're co-workers, and nothing we did last night will change any of that. I will still get you whiskey, and ask for extra glasses, and I promise to keep stopping you from attempting "The Cocktail", at least when anyone's looking. We're cool, okay?"

Nick looked at her with disbelief, "Yeah, sure."

She smirked and lightly punched his arm. "Really okay?" she teased.

Nick relaxed and smiled, "Yes. Okay."

"Good. Now give me a good smooching before I kick you out and start my day," she laughed.

Nick grinned, took her in his arms, and kissed her for a moment before stopping. "Oh, just one thing?" Nick asked.

"Yeah, Nick?"

"Call me Nick, okay? I make even my mother call me Nick. Nick. Just, Nick."