Thursday afternoon: two days until the wedding

"If they wanted to have a real wedding, I don't understand why they don't just have a real wedding."

"Nick."

"I'm just saying. Why go to all this trouble and drive to Vegas?" Nick stood facing Jess in front of a large set of mirrors in a men's clothing store, trying on the tux that Schmidt had picked out for him.

"First of all," she straightened his tie and smoothed his white shirt across his chest. "This is a real wedding, quit saying it like that. And second, this is what they want. So just suck it up and look hot in your tux." Tugging his tie, she smirked.

Nick raised his eyebrows. "Hot, huh?"

Standing up on her toes, Jess gave him a kiss. "Mmmhmmm. Smokin' hot. You can admit this is kinda nice." She raised her eyebrows. "Getting all dressed up like an adult once and awhile?"

"Maybe." He shrugged.

"Maybe?" She took a step back and held out his arms. "You are definitely wearing the hell out of those tuxedo pants, mister."

He pulled her to his chest with a quick motion, grinning. "So, now you've seen mine, when do I get to see yours?"

"You mean my dress?" He nodded and she just shook her head. "No way. I told you, it's a surprise." She gave him a gentle poke in the chest, before turning around to pick up his jacket off the bench and handing it to him to try on.

Slipping it over his shoulders, he turned toward the mirror to take a look. "Come on, Jess. Give me something. I have to drive all that way tomorrow..."

"Hmmm," She sauntered over to him and ran her hands up and down the sleeves of the jacket. "well, how about I promise you a little reward when we get there." She bit her lip and batted her eyelashes.

Pulling her close, he wrapped his arms around her waist as her hands settled against his chest. "Well..."

Jess let out a laugh. "Why do you want to know what I'm wearing so badly anyway?"

He shrugged. "I don't know... I'm just curious how this whole wedding-not-really-an-actual-wedding thing is supposed to play out. Last time you did wear that weird Indian twisty thing."

"Sari. It's called a Sari, Nick." She rolled her eyes.

He forced out a laugh, shaking his head in confusion and muttering. "Oh, right. That thing was impossible to get off..." He watch her glare at him as he continued. "You women come up with really weird names for clothes..."

Jess just shook her head, before pausing to look up at him. "Nick, can I ask you something?"

He stepped back and turned toward the mirror again, grimacing as he tugged at the bottom of the jacket. "Shoot."

"Why do you keep saying this isn't a real wedding?" Jess stared at him curiously, crossing her arms in front of her.

"I don't know." He glanced over at her, then quickly down at his shoes as he rocked back and forth to test them out. "Isn't a wedding supposed to be this big event you plan for years that you spend way too much money on?"

"Nick!" Jess threw her hands in frustration.

"Oh come on, of all people, I just figured Schmidt would be the one dropping thousands of dollars on his wedding. I mean, you remember Tinfinity."

Jess laughed. "Yeah, I guess I see your point. I think this was all Cece's idea. It took her, and her family, a long time to recover from last year. They still give her a hard time about it."

"Really?"

She sighed sadly. "Yeah. It hasn't been a great year for her."

His voice got quiet and he reached out to grab her hand, shrugging. "I didn't know. Guess I never thought too much about it after it happened."

She took his hand in both of hers and absentmindedly played with his fingers. "It's been pretty rough. So I think as much as she'd like a fancy wedding to remember, she just really wants to get it over with."

Nick raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "Get it over with? That's inspiring..."

Her eyes shot up to his. "You know what I mean. She just wants to start her life with Schmidt. I think it's really beautiful."

There was a moment of silence before Nick smiled and brushed a piece of hair off her cheek. "Well, what about you, Jess? You wouldn't want to elope, right?"

"I never really thought about it..." She dropped his hand and backed up to sit on the bench, her hands settling in her lap.

Nick just raised his eyebrows. "Jess..."

She leaned back on her hands and shrugged. "Okay, yeah, like you'd believe that one... Well, if I'm being honest, maybe I'm past all that. Weddings are expensive and...well, maybe there are other things I want more."

Nick sat down next to her, placing his hand on her knee. "Other things?"

"Yeah, you know. Like a house with a little yard, or not having to worry about how to pay the bills next month..." Her voice trailed off, barely audible. "being able to start a family..."

Nick watched her carefully as she started to play with the hem of her skirt. He gave her leg a gentle squeeze, his voice quiet. "Not very romantic though..."

She shrugged her shoulders again, a small sigh escaping her lips. "Maybe not...I'd just be happy to become someone's wife." She grabbed the hand on her knee and leaned against Nick's shoulder. He kissed the top of her head, before resting his chin there. He turned his head just enough to see their reflection in the mirror. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have this woman in his life. She was so honest, so open with her love for him. He still wasn't convinced he even deserved all this.

Jess started to sit up and he gently kissed her cheek. "I love you, Jess."

She just looked into his brown eyes and whispered softly, "I know."

Once again resting her head on his shoulder, an awkward silence hung in the air, both of them deep in their own thoughts after the conversation had turned serious. Nick watched her in the mirror until he felt her body finally relax. A huge smile began to creep across Nick's face and he let out a laugh, hoping to ease the tension.

"So...let's get back to how hot you think I am in this tux."

Her body rocked with laughter and she lifted her head to look at him. Jumping off the bench, she held out her hand, which he took in his as he stood up.

"SO hot. Irresistible." Jess reached out to wrap her arms around his waist, swaying gently trying to get him to dance. Her fingers playfully poked at his waist in attempt to make him laugh.

He bent down and pulled her close, enveloping her lips with his own. Her hands froze, gradually clinging to his jacket while their subtle movement ceased and she moaned softly into their deepening kisses. Jess pulled her head back breathless and glanced around at the empty store. He watched her carefully as she narrowed her eyes and nodded toward the dressing room. She reached down to take his hand and pulled him into the room, giggling as she closed the door behind her.

Once inside, her hands slid under his jacket as their kisses once again intensified.

Nick grabbed her hands as she yanked on the front of his jacket, trying to speak between kisses. "Jess...rented."

She giggled and removed her hands. "Right." He quickly shrugged off the jacket and threw it over the top of the door as she undid his pants, dropping them to the floor. He started to undo his shirt as she spun them around and pushed him backwards. He landed with a forceful thud on the tiny bench along the back wall of the dressing room.

"Jess!"

She just twisted her chin over her shoulder and smiled seductively. "Yes?"

A grunt escaped his throat as he reached out with his fingers to grab her skirt, tugging her towards him. Tucking his hands under her dress, he pushed down her panties and she paused just long enough to step out of them and straddle Nick's lap. His words were punctuated with soft groans as his head fell back against the mirror with his eyes closed, her lips pressing against his neck in a trail of hot kisses.

"God, you have no idea how crazy you make me, Jess."