Hey guys! Here it is, chapter 2! Before you read this, I did make a couple of small changes to Chapter 1 so this would work better as a multi so you may want to read that again. Chapter 1 also still stands alone as a one shot should you prefer it.

If you like this and want me to continue the story, please review! Reviews are the only way to know what you amazing people think!

Proper Title (can't put one this long in the title box!) - How mornings after don't have to be (that) awkward

They lay next to each other, neither sure what to say. If they knew each other a bit less, or even a bit more, it may have been less awkward. Finally, she had turned onto her side and he hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, spooning her.

She was acutely aware of their nakedness: the feel of his warm, slightly moist skin against hers, his roughened hand wrapped firmly about her, gripping her stomach. His breath tickled at her neck and as he fell asleep his body made involuntary little starts, he must be tired, she thought. Her own sleep had come less easily. She was confused about what had just happened, it's meaning, it's consequences. If this was just a rebound, should she be feeling this way? Still, she enjoyed the feel of his arms around her, and replaying the events of the last couple of hours left a smile on her lips as she fell asleep.

Instinctively, he had pulled her towards him, took in the feel of her peachy flesh and buried his head in her soft, fragrant hair. The day had tired him and his reaction after sex was to sleep. He did this, with ease, enjoying the feel of a woman in his arms.

His own rumination had begun in the early hours – he awoke to find she had rolled forwards onto her stomach. The sheet around her had slipped and revealed her smooth back and the hint of the curve of her buttocks. He studied her, smiling in disbelief. He had been partially joking when he had suggested he be her rebound, he hadn't really thought… But she had, and they did, and it was… Something else. More than sex, that was for sure, but he wasn't really certain what it was. Happy to just enjoy the moment for what it is, he copied her pose, placing one arm under his pillow and hooking the other around her before returning to sleep.

Stifling a yawn as the morning light eked towards the bed, Jess felt Nick's arm wrapped around her. She smiled as she remembered where she was and why she was there. Slowly rolling onto her back and slipping his arm to her waist, she had bitten her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud in surprise. If anyone had told her this was where she would be now only 12 hours ago, she would have laughed and asked them what they were smoking. Anything can happen, she thought.

"Good morning," he said sleepily, rubbing her stomach gently with his hand. She turned her head and looked at him, biting her lip, before quickly looking away and bursting into a peal of laughter.

"Hmm," he frowned, "Not quite the reaction I was hoping for." She turned back to him, covering her mouth with her hand until she had composed herself.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she finally said. She took a deep breath and looked over at him with large round eyes, smiling. He matched her smile, moving his hand to rub her shoulder. "I'm just a little nervous; I don't really know what to say."

"Well that makes two of us," he replied, raising his brow.

After a pause, she asked, "If I say thank you, would that be weird?"

"A little weird," he replied, laughing again. "Jess, that was… I don't know how to finish that sentence without sounding creepy."

"I think it was pretty awesome, as rebounds go. As you know I'm such an expert," she playfully jabbed his shoulder.

"Nah, you're little miss innocent, aren't ya?"

"You got me. I'm innocent and pure as white snow," she answered playfully.

"Well, if last night was pure and innocent, I'd love to meet down and dirty," he said, a dangerously flirtatious edge to his voice. He slid his arm behind her waist and shifted her closer to him again causing her to let out a little gasp as he did so.

"Seriously Nick, that was great, just what I needed." She moved her right arm around his neck and buried her fingers in his hair, "And I'm so glad this isn't… awkward."

"Well, I'm pleased to be of assistance. And may I say that was hands down the most fun I've had with a roommate, like ever."

"What – you, Coach and Schmidt never-?"

"Well, Schmidt has made the odd suggestive comment… That guy, he loves me too much," Nick shook his head and Jessica had to laugh once more. Nick's easy and playful manor had negated any awkwardness she had earlier felt.

"Ah, it's going to take a while getting used to living with three guys."

"It's going to take a while getting used to living with a girl like you."

"Like me?" she asked, wide eyed.

"Yeah. Crazy!" She let out a little shriek. "Sexy," he continued, a little quieter.

"You think I'm sexy, Miller?" she inquired, in a low voice.

"Nah, this boner I have here is cos I think you're goddamn ugly and I can't wait to get you out of my bed." She couldn't help but laugh again. When had she last laughed this much?

"Down boy," she said, placing her hand on his chest," I'm hungry." He gave her a puppy dog look. His hand began to snake down her back until it was cupping her buttocks and he began to trace small circles with his fingers over her soft skin, causing the areas they touched to throb gently. A smile began to curve at his lips as his look became more playful. With his other hand, he reached towards her face and began to trace the fullness of her lips with his thumb, before drawing lower, over her neck and down towards her chest, his hand finally reaching her breasts. Taking hold of one, he caressed it with his hand, before his mouth followed the trail his fingers had left, eventually taking her breast in his warm mouth, playfully teasing and biting her nipple. She sighed contently.

"Are you sure you're hungry?" he asked in between kisses.

"Huh?" she asked. He took this as a negative and continued his work. She moved her leg so his hand could move to the front of her and tease her, slipping a finger into her warmth and circling her with his thumb. She sighed again deeper, more breathlessly. He could feel her temperature rising along with her longing.

Finally he stopped and tore his self away; beholding the aroused expression she now wore. "Round two?" he asked. In response Jess simple smiled and pulled him on top of her, wrapping her legs around him and kissing him passionately.

Eventually Jess had to eat. After an hour or so of playful activities and surprisingly hot sex (for both of them) the growling in her stomach became more urgent. Grabbing her clothing, that was now scattered about his room, she had borrowed one of his T-shirts before shyly leaving, giving him one last coy look over her shoulder before closing the door behind her.

That evening was the weekly loft dinner, that Schmidt had instated in an attempt to bring the loft mates 'closer together'. It was an early dinner – Coach had a late night PT session and Schmidt had a date - so the time had been set for 6pm.

Jessica had spent perhaps more effort than would have been anticipated in getting ready for dinner with her roommates. She'd curled her hair, wore a new dress and applied a coat or two more of mascara that was really necessary. Nothing wrong with playing dress up, she told herself. But deep down, she knew it was because of him.

She stepped into the hallway just before six, only to see Nick leaving his room at the same time. For a second they were momentarily surprised by the sight of one another. She carefully studied him; he wore a dark, button down shirt that looked like it had been ironed – she hadn't seen Nick in anything that had been pressed in the few weeks she had lived there. It also seemed he had shaved today (that disappointed her a little, she liked the little bit of scruff) and he'd placed some product in his hair. The overall look, however, was devilishly handsome.

His surprise at seeing her in the corridor was more than matched by his amazement at how good she looked. In the weeks she had lived there she had donned a variety of odd outfits, her hair was usually a little crazy and she covered her eyes with thick framed spectacles more often than not. Today she wore a simple blue dress, her hair was pretty and her glasses were gone allowing him to appreciate her hypnotic eyes.

"Hey," she has eventually said.

"Yeah, hey," he'd replied. "Good day?"

"Not bad, I will say it started out pretty good," she said with a cheeky smile.

"Oh, really? Lucky you," he responded with a wink, which made her laugh in reply. She paused and bit her lip.

"Hey Nick, shall we keep last night between us? I don't want the guys to get weird if they found out…"

"Of course, we're just two adults, scratching an itch," he began, placing his hands into his pockets, "Nothing to do with them."

"I guess that's one way of putting it," she stepped forward at the same time as him to move towards the kitchen, their bodies lightly brushed each other. They both felt a surge of attraction pulse through their bodies and quickly moved apart. "Oh, sorry, after you," she began to babble.

"No, ladies first," he insisted, reaching out his hands in a permissive gesture, before following her along the corridor in a contemplative state.

Schmidt had cooked dinner and Nick and Jess helped by setting the table and getting drinks ready. Occasionally, as they were working, their hands would brush together, causing their eyes to meet and a sly smile to cross between them.

"Why are you two being so quiet?" Schmidt asked from the kitchen where he was stirring the contents of a wok.

"What ya talking about, Schmidty?" asked Nick, giving Jess a wide eyed look. Schmidt turned around to look at them.

"You've said less than ten words to each other since you came out of your rooms. Something's up." He placed his hands on his hips.

"Geez Schmidt, I'm just tired. Last night was exhausting. At the bar drinking I mean," she finished a little too quickly before involuntarily darting her eyes towards Nick.

Nick continued, "Yeah man, last night I had to do inventory at the end of my shift. So tired," he fakes a yawn. Not very convincingly, in Jess's opinion. Schmidt gave them a strange look before turning back to his noodles.

"I'm still suspicious. I'm watching you both," he finished, flipping a towel over his shoulder as he did so, as if to emphasise his point. The both looked at each other, stifling a laugh.

Later that night the loft was quiet except for the sound of an 80's movie on the TV. For once Jess had not insisted on watching Dirty Dancing and they had settled on a movie on cable, The Breakfast Club. Jess had a thing for Molly Ringwald and Nick appreciated the angry man angst of Judd Nelson so it was a good call. She lay on her side with her head on the arm of the couch, feet reaching into the corner. He was laid against some cushions, a considered distance from her, facing the screen.

In the movie, the gang had just snuck out to steal something from one of their lockers and were trying to avoid getting caught by the teacher who was overseeing their detention. Jess burst into a loud chortle as they all simultaneously skidded in the school corridor as they tried to change direction. He looked at her bewildered. "Haven't you seen this movie like a million times?"

She pushed herself up a little with her elbows so she was sitting up a little, "Yeah," she replied.

"And it still makes you laugh like that?"

"Yeah!"

"You're crazy," he said, shaking his head.

"And you're a grumpy old man who likes to complain about everything," she replied flirtatiously.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah," she repeated.

"Would an old man be able to do this?" he asked before launching at her and attempting to tickle her – attacking her waist, knees and underarms, all the killer spots.

"Truce, truce!" she finally cried, aching from laughter. Nick was now almost on top of her and she paused for a second, his lips inches away, before she scrambled into a seating position, "Let's agree to appreciate our differences and not criticize each other."

"I'll try, but it won't be easy, you've given me far too much ammunition already," she playfully elbowed him before they both lay back against the couch, her head eventually falling onto his shoulder.

It was the end of the movie; the jock had got with the Goth girl and he was kissing her in front of his dad. Jessica swallowed, "I guess opposites attract," she said quietly.

"In movies," he replied.

"Only in movies?" she asked. He turned his head to look at her.

"Maybe not only in movies," was his eventual reply. She felt the tension between them rise with every second that passed, picking up the remote control she muted the sound just as the final song began to play.

"Nick, I'm not really sure how to have this conversation but I really enjoyed last night. And this morning."

"Yeah me too, Jess," he replied with a smile, reaching his hand along the back of the sofa and resting it on her shoulder.

"So I was thinking, I mean I'm not ready to start something new and I don't think you are either…" his eyes squinted a little as he tried to anticipate her next words, "So, as we seem to do this stuff pretty well, I thought it might be nice to help each other out every once in a while. You know, scratch an itch so to speak."

He looked at her, her head tilted, red lips parted and soft curls lying over her shoulders. Here was a beautiful girl offering him no-strings-attached sex and even better she lived four feet away from his own room.

"I think that is the best idea I've heard in a long time," he replied, pulling himself a little closer to her.

"Okay, great. Um, I'm not sure how this works; I mean what do we even call this?"

"I think the technical term is friends with benefits," he said, laughing a little.

"Okay 'friend', so how about if either of us wants a 'benefit' they let the other know and if they're willing…" she let her voice trail off as she momentarily got a little embarrassed.

"Then the benefit will happen?" he finished.

"Yes, exactly, but no pressure. The friend is perfectly able to say no to said benefit on any occasion without negating the original agreement," she nodded, pleased with herself.

"Um, I think I followed that, so I say yes."

"Let's shake on it," she said, holding out her hands.

"This is a little weird, but okay," he answered before taking her hand and giving it two firm shakes. She began to yawn.

"I really oughta sleep, I guess," she said, starting to stand and turning the power off on the TV with the remote.

"Yeah, you're right, it's getting late." They both began to walk towards the bedrooms before pausing awkwardly in the space between the two rooms.

"So, I guess this is goodnight," he said.

"Yep, gute nacht, bonne nuit, buenas noches…" she paused for a second before turning and going into her room.

She felt strangely unsettled as she removed her clothes and put on a clean cotton pyjama set. Unsure as to the reason, she frowned a little. Finally realizing as she sat down that she was a little disappointed he hadn't invited her into his room for a second night. She quickly chided herself, don't be greedy. Your agreement is only an occasional thing.

Pulling back the covers of her bed she was about to slip in when she heard a soft knocking at her door. She walked over and pulled the door in; he was stood there, his arm extended and hand resting on her doorframe, looking down. As the door moved, his eyes lifted up and met hers. He didn't wait for her to speak.

"Jess, I need your help," he asked in a low, sexy voice.

"Uh-huh," she responded, swallowing, anticipating what was to come.

"I have this itch, that I just can't scratch," he said, shaking her head.

"Well, we can't have that ,can we?" She grabbed the centre of his shirt with her fist and pulled him further into the room before using the other hand to pull his lips towards hers. He swiftly kicked the door behind him closed before they fell into a hot, steamy embrace and collapsed onto the bed.