First of all: Sorry it took me so long to update the story! :(
I could lie and say that I was very busy, but to be honest, I was just lazy :P (and had a small writer's block)

Second: As always, thanks for the reviews and follows guys :)

Third: I originally wanted to go a bit different way with this story but now I can't bring myself to do it :D So maybe the title of the story is not 100% accurate anymore. But it's still okay...

Forth: I know it is a little bit angsty. I don't know why i can't just write happy stories. I guess, I'm a dark person
But it will get happier. I promise! :D

Fifth: Enjoy :)

The next day, Nick woke up with half of his face leaned against the cold window of his car door. He pressed his palms against his eyes and let out a growl. His neck hurt and for a few seconds he was confused about where he was and how he got there. When his memory came back, he bumped his head back against the window.

After he'd just driven away from Jess and the apartment he'd continued to drive without any destination until the fact that he hadn't slept the night before and the excitement of the day had kicked in and he hadn't been able to keep his eyes open anymore.

Now he was on a parking lot somewhere in nowhere. His head started to spin and he closed his eyes again, rubbing his thumb and index finger against them. What should he do now? Jess was going to kill him. It had been a knee jerk reaction. He'd panicked. But that didn't change the fact, that he just left her alone.

Why did this even happen? They've been dating only four months and now she was pregnant. That was not what he had planned. Why was everything in his life always so messed up?

It's not that he didn't want children. He always saw himself married someday. A beautiful wife on his side. Two, maybe three kids. A dog, maybe even cats. And a turtle of course. There were surprisingly many living things in his future for someone who claims to don't like them. And yes, since Jess had moved in, this future wife had turned more and more into someone with brown, long hair, bangs, big, blue eyes and a smile that could make him melt.

But he wasn't ready for it NOW. This future Nick with his beautiful wife and all these living things around him was most certainly not jobless. He actually never imagined what job he would have, but it was clearly not none.

He got out of the car to get a bit fresh air and to stretch his legs. It was surprisingly cold and he closed the zipper of his hoodie. A small smile creeped up his face, when he realized it was the hoodie Jess had worn, when he had tried to seduce him to get the parking spot. Everything had been so easy back then. Except it hadn't been because he wanted to be with her so badly but couldn't. But at least he hadn't sucked her into his crappy life back then.

He physically shook the memory form his mind. He couldn't turn back time anyway. And now there was only one thing he could do. Fix it.

He took a deep breath, got back into the car and started it.

It was almost 9 pm. More than half an hour ago, he arrived at the apartment and he was still standing there, staring up.

His way home hadn't been as easy as he had hoped. First he had to find out where he was and where he had to go. Then, midway, his car broke down shortly after he'd spent the last of his money on gas. It actually needed to be repaired professionally for a long time, but he was Nick Miller and so that has never happened. The last times something broke, he fixed it himself. Like he did it with everything. But that never lasted for long. So he'd spend almost two hours trying to fix it until he gave up, just left it there and used the public transit, which was horrible with all these people in it, and finally ended up, walking home the rest of the way.

And now he was standing in front of the main entrance, a little bit scared of what would happen when he went up there.

„Nick?", he heard Schmidt behind him.

He turned around and Schmidt was walking towards him with relief on his face. But when he reached him, his expression suddenly turned into anger and the next thing Nick could feel was Schmidt's fist on his cheekbone.

The punch was hard and took Nick by surprise. He lost his balance and fell down on the pavement. His hand shoot up to his cheek and he felt a stinging pain immediately. His first impulse was to yell at Schmidt, but when he saw that Schmidt was jumping around with his hand pressed against his chest and an expression of pain on his face, he was satisfied. And besides, he knew why Schmidt had punched him and it was a good reason.

"Why does it hurt so much to punch someone?", Schmidt squealed, "It was suppose to hurt you, not me"

Nick sat up and sighed. "I deserve that", he admitted quietly still rubbing his cheek.

Schmidt was still whining but reached out his other hand to help Nick back on his feet.

"Where have you been, man?", he asked, still mad.

Nick shook his head sadly. "I freaked out"

"I figured", Schmidt replied and took a closer look at Nick. "Did you sleep in a coal mine?", he grimaced disgusted, "You look and smell terrible"

"I tried to fix the..", Nick started to explained but then decided to ignore Schmidt's comment.

"How...how is Jess?", he asked instead and looked down at his feet to avoid Schmidt's eyes.

Schmidt stayed silent for a few seconds. Then he took a deep breath. "She's doing fine considering the fact, that her boyfriend is a complete idiot"

Nick sighed. "I got it Schmidt"

"So are you coming up with me or do you plan to stay here a little bit longer?"

Nick nodded, opened his mouth and slapped himself in the face, but winced when he hit his already swollen cheek. "Okay let's do this"

When Nick entered the living room, his hands were shaking. He saw Jess sitting on the couch watching the news with a worried face. She looked pale and had dark circles around her eyes.

A wave of guilt washed over him, when he realized that it was probably because of him.

She hadn't noticed him yet, so he stepped a bit closer to the couch, rubbing his oil-covered hands against each other.

"Hey Jess", he said. His voice was just a shaky breath.

She immediately jumped up and faced him. Her eyes widened and he could see the relief in her expression. "Nick"

She ran around the couch and towards him but similar to Schmidt she suddenly stopped and her face hardened. "You left"

It were only two words but there was so much sadness in them, that he felt his lungs tighten again.

"Jess, I am so sorry!", Nick started and made a step in her direction.

She moved backwards. "What happened to your face?"

Her voice sounded almost a bit hopeful. Like she thought about the possibility that Nick was held hostage or something and that that was the reason why he was gone for two days.

"That w..."

"Schmidt happened!", Schmidt cut him off as he entered the room.

He faced Jess. "I tell you one thing. I don't care if Nick is my best friend. If someone is messing with ma girl it means pain!"

Jess smiles slightly, but Nick started to get really annoyed with Schmidt. He knew that he messed up, but it was none of Schmidt's business.

"Listen Jessica. If this child", he pointed at Nick, "is not able to be there for you, I just want you to know, you can always count on me. We could all move in together. You, Cece and me. Harem style. Of course, I will only bang Cece, because I love her and because I don't think, I could sleep with the same woman Nick slept with. No offense Jess, but he kind of ruined you for me", he looked at Nick and grimaced, "Anyways, I can take care of you"

"Schmidt, enough!", Nick growled at him.

Jess touched Schmidt's arm and smiled gratefully. "Thanks Schmidt, but I think I'll be fine"

He nodded, gave Nick a last glance and disappeared in his room.

Jess looked back at Nick. "What happened? Where have you been?"

He looked at her a bit helpless. "Shane fired me", he finally said after a few seconds.

"Yeah, I know", even though she was mad, she still managed to sound compassionate.

"You know?"

"I went to the bar last night after you hadn't showed up here. They told me"

"Well...", he said as if this would explain the whole situation.

"Why did you ran away?", she asked, her voice surprisingly soft.

Because he was ashamed

Because he felt like a failure.

Because he felt like he was buried under a huge pile of responsibility and suddenly couldn't breath anymore.

All these thought ran through his head, but he ended up with saying nothing. Instead he just looked at her with pleading eyes.

"So you're still not talking?", she shook her head and let out an annoyed sigh while she walked pass him towards her room.

"Jess!", he grabbed her wrist and tried to stop her.

She shook him off and for a moment they just stared at each other. Her eyes had an expression in it, that Nick feared the most. Disappointment.

"Nick, I have to go to bed. I'm tired. You should ice your cheek", a sad smile appeared on her face, "Goodnight"

And with those words she walked into her room and closed the door.