slow roll: to delay or avoid showing one's hand at showdown, forcing other players to expose their hands first.

Friday morning, Vegas

After waking up and hitting the road early, Nick and Jess had made it out of LA with little traffic and arrived in Vegas much earlier than they expected. As Nick pulled up to the Bellagio Hotel, Jess grabbed his arm and squealed in excitement.

"This is amazing, Nick! Oh my God, it's beautiful!"

Nick smiled and reached out to grab Jess' hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Her eyes were bright as she turned and gave him a quick kiss. He was about to say something, when the valet knocked on his window and gestured for him to unlock the door.

Nick laughed. "Well, have to say it's probably pretty embarrassing to have to park this thing."

Jess rolled her eyes at him. "Oh, Nick it's fine. Come on." She reached for the door handle just as a second valet opened it for her. Bending down to grab her purse, she hopped out of the car and gave him a cheerful greeting. "Thank you!"

Nick climbed out of the driver's side, nodding to the valet as he was handed a ticket and Nick exchanged it for the tip he had pulled out of his pocket. Making his way to the trunk, Jess helped him unload their suitcases and garment bags.

"Jess, how do need all of this for one weekend?"

Jess just frowned and started piling bags onto the luggage cart. "It's our best friends' wedding. We have to look incredible you know!"

Nick couldn't help but smile as he reached for the last bag, Jess trying to take it from him. He swatted her hand away and pulled it out of the trunk, closing the tailgate. "I've got it, woman."

"Nick, I can get my own suitcase." She gave him a scowl and put her hands on her hips. He just shook his head and reached out for her waist, swinging the suitcase in the other hand. Leaning towards her, he pressed a firm kiss on her cheek.

"Quit it, Jess. I know you can, but it's a special trip. Let me do this right."

"Oh, fine."

She giggled and leaned her shoulder into his chest as they stepped away from the car, onto the concrete path leading into the lobby. He placed the bag on the luggage cart, just as Jess started to walk toward the hotel. He reached out to grab her elbow to stop her.

"Jess, wait." She turned toward him with a questioning look on her face, his hands settling on her waist.

"What is it, Nick?"

He smiled nervously at her, gently running his thumbs along the soft fabric of her blue sweater. He took a deep breath. "Look, I have a surprise for you this weekend, but you have to trust me, okay?"

"Okay." She smiled at him and narrowed her eyes, slightly confused.

He let out a small, nervous laugh. "I mean, I can't just give it to you..."

"Niiiick." She wound her arms around his neck and rose up on her toes to kiss him. Shaking her head gently, her eyes sparkled while gazing at his. "You didn't have to get me anything. I know this trip was expensive." She looked around them, gesturing her hand at the hotel. "I mean, look at this place."

Nick just shook his head, gripping her tighter. "I wanted to...It's just...it's something really special," He took a deep breath, before nervously running his tongue along the inside of his lips. "I didn't want you to think I forgot our anniversary if I didn't give it to you right away."

"That's really sweet." She grinned, gently poking him in the chest with a devious look in her eye. "I actually have something special for you too."

"You do?" He looked puzzled.

"Of course! But, I want to give it to you right before the wedding. So, no worries?" She bit her lip, giving him a sideways glance.

Nick nodded with a sly grin. "It's a personal serenade by an Elvis impersonator, isn't it?"

She slapped his chest and glared at him. "Nick,..."

"Maybe a beautiful blue-eyed one...if ya know what I'm saying..." He wiggled his eyebrows and she started to laugh as he tickled her sides.

"Oh my God, NICK! One time in an Elvis costume was plenty!"

He just shook his head and laughed, grabbing her hand and turning toward the entrance to the hotel. He was about to reach for the luggage cart, when a bellhop stepped in front of them and smiled cheerfully.

"Would you like me to take that and check you in, Sir?"

Nick turned to Jess and grimaced, just as she shook her head and giggled at how uncomfortable he was. He leaned over and whispered under his breath, "Do I have to tip if they offer first?"

Jess pursed her lips and rolled her eyes at him, before turning and smiling, "We're here for the Schmidt wedding. Our room is under Miller?"

The bellhop nodded and began to walk ahead of them with the cart rolling behind him.

Jess leaned her head against Nick's shoulder briefly as he squeezed her hand. He took a deep breath, feeling a bead of sweat slowly forming down his back. The way Jess called both of them Miller gave him such an exhilarating feeling deep in his gut, that he didn't think it was possible to wait much longer to propose. He quickly glanced at his suitcase on the bottom of the pile on the cart just in front of them, letting out a small sigh of relief that it was safe. The ring hidden deep inside would soon be secure in their room, and he could start to relax a little until he found the perfect time and place to ask Jess to marry him.

"Are you sure you're ready to see this? Because, you know, I can just hand it to them and we can keep it all a deep, dark family secret." Schmidt sat on the bench in the hallway of the municipal building, just outside the County Clerk's office.

Standing over him, Cece held out her hand and tapped her foot on the linoleum floor. "Hand it over, Schmidt or you're staying single."

He sighed dramatically and started to hand it to her, only to pull the document back at the last minute. "Listen, no telling the others alright. This isn't turning into a new holiday for 'let's make fun of Schmidt'".

Cece raised her eyebrows, extending her fingers firmly in front of her. "Schmidt."

"Fine. Take it." He passed the birth certificate into her outstretched hand and cringed, not wanting to see the expression on her face. He slowly squinted one eye open and then the other as she turned around and slowly sat down on the bench next to him.

Cece stared down at the piece of paper in her hand with a dumbfounded look on her face. She spoke slowly, confusion evident in her voice as she shook her head from side to side. "But this is...And you? Are you for real?" She turned her head toward his nervous expression and bit her lip. "What was your mother even thinking?"

"Oh for the love of...gimme that." He grabbed the document from her hands and folded it carefully, smoothing the paper as he pressed along the creases and tucked it back in the front pocket of his shirt. "I'll have you know, Cecelia, that it was a male name for centuries before this one. Perhaps I'm just ahead of my time for a comeback."

She clicked her tongue in her mouth, a slow grin coming across her face. "So...that's really your name, huh?" She raised her eyebrows and smirked, leaning over and nudging him with her shoulder playfully.

"What exactly were you expecting?"

A small laugh escaped her lips, which she stopped abruptly as he glared at her. "I'm not really sure, but definitely not that."

"Alright, alright." He rolled his eyes and gestured toward the glass window. "Now you've seen it. Are we go do this license thing or what?"

She started to stand up and shrugged her shoulder. "It's gonna be really weird calling my husband by our last name." She scrunched up her nose and placed her purse under her arm, before grabbing Schmidt's hand. "Did you ever want to just change it? I mean, if you hated it that much."

"And give up my singular name? Please." They started to walk toward the clerk behind the window.

"Okay, but the kids? I'm telling you right now, none of these weird, Jewish naming traditions, you got it?"

"Fair enough." He leaned over to kiss her and raised his eyebrows. "So how about we do this thing, Mrs. Schmidt."

She grimaced. "Yeah, not a 'thing'."

Schmidt nodded, knowingly. "Right, first almost husband sore spot."

"SCHMIDT!" She pulled her purse out from under her arm and slapped him hard.

"OW! What the hell..."

She glared at him, poking him once last time with her purse, speaking through clenched teeth. "I know your real name and I am not afraid to use it!"

"Oh my God, Nick. Is this my surprise?!"

Nick scrunched his face, confused, as Jess stepped into the hotel room ahead of him. He caught the door with his foot and opened the door. He glanced around the room, then over at their luggage cart and the number on the door. Jess threw her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss, before she tore off into the room to look around. Nick rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a nervous grin when she glanced back at him.

"Jess, I..." He mumbled after her, looking around in shock.

She just smiled and walked around in a daze, taking in the large suite around them. He followed her through a small foyer that opened into a large living area with overstuffed chairs and a couch, all arranged in front of floor to ceiling windows looking out over the hotel's fountains on the strip. Walking through the living area, they came to a separate bedroom on the right with a large four poster bed, attached to a bathroom with it's own shower, tub, and marble sinks. Jess walked ahead and stared into the bathroom, before turning around towards him.

"Nick, I don't know what to say." She gasped and took several quick strides forward, almost knocking him backwards when she excitedly enveloped him in a huge hug. When she pulled back, he could see her eyes glassy with tears. "This is the most amazing surprise, how did you do all this on such short notice?"

Nick stared at her dumbfounded, unable to speak coherently. "Jess, I..."

She kissed him hard, his hands finding her waist and pulling her body against his. She spun them around and squealed as she ran toward the bed. "Nick, this is so amazing!" She jumped up onto the bed and bounced several times on her knees, before flopping down to a seated position. Nick laughed as she patted the bed next to her with a sly look on her face.

"Come here, tiger." She smiled flirtatiously at him as he walked to the bed and stepped between her legs, grabbing her waist.

He looked into her bright blue eyes and smiled. "I love you so much. You know that, right?"

She let out a small laugh as she melted against him, pulling his arms as they wrapped tightly around her waist. Her eyelashes brushed against his as she mumbled into their kisses, "I love you too, Nick Miller." She pulled back, staring at him in amazement, her hands running along his chest. Her voice got quieter. "This is the best present, thank you so much."

"Well, actually I ..."

Before he could finish, she leaned forward and kissed him again, her hands making their way to the back of his neck as she pulled him on top of her. Her voice cracked as Nick slid her back along the silky bedspread, climbing on top of her. Tugging at the hem of his shirt, he sat up just long enough to pull it over his head as she reached down to shimmy out of her skirt. Finding her waist, he slid his hands up under her thin sweater, making quick work of the clasp on her bra.

"You're so beautiful..." He breathed against her lips and her hands pushed his now undone pants over his hips.

"Don't stop..." She moaned softly against the precise movements of his hands over her body.

Nick paused, looking into her eyes, a slow smiled creeping across his face with a ragged breath. "Happy Anniversary, Jess."

After Jess had left the room to meet Cece for lunch, Nick made his way to Schmidt and Cece's room on the same floor as theirs. Nick knocked loudly for the second time, before Schmidt finally opened the door, smiling.

"Hey. Jess just left with Cece."

"I know, I passed them in the hall." He pushed his way past Schmidt as he held the door open. "What's going on with the room? Did you book us that suite?"

Schmidt closed the door behind him and smiled. "Of course I did. You're welcome, by the way."

"Okay, but..." Nick turned around and held up his hands.

"They were more than happy to help me out, since I booked the huge wedding package. It's your one year anniversary, man!" Schmidt reached out and punched Nick in the arm.

"Right, my anniversary." Nick clenched his hands into fists, a determined look on his face.

Schmidt just shrugged his shoulders. "But you're here for my wedding, Nicholas. And besides, I figured I still owed you for all the trouble I caused you two." He grinned widely. "I'm really proud of you. A whole year, man!" He reached out and slapped his hand on Nick's shoulder.

Nick nodded, raising his eyebrows. "Thanks buddy. I really appreciate it but,... Jess thinks this is her present."

"So what," Schmidt shook his head confused.

"Yeah, but you know I had something else in mind..."

"Oh right, the necklace, I was there." Schmidt just waved his hand as he sat walked over and sat down on the couch, crossing his leg over his other knee. "Hey, I'm sorry. I just wanted to say thanks for everything. You're my best friend, Nick! We're in Vegas because I'm getting married."

Nick took a deep breath and slapped his hands on his thighs in defeat as he sat down in the chair across from him. "You're...you're right. Look, I'm happy for you." He leaned forward and clasped his hands together. "Jess is really excited so..."

Schmidt shook his head, a wide grin still on his face. "She doesn't have to know it was my idea."

Nick narrowed his eyes. "It wasn't your idea. It's not like I didn't have my own plan..." He paused and waved his hand in front of his face, stopping himself from saying any more. "You know what, it doesn't matter. We're here for you, Jess is happy. I'm just gonna enjoy myself."

"Wow Nick, I'm impressed. You've really come far this year." Schmidt leaned forward and shoved Nick gently in the shoulder. "Look at us man, two good looking guys..." He pointed back and forth between them. "Well, one really incredible one and one slightly out of shape..."

"Watch it, Schmidt..."

Schmidt continued, unfazed. "... in Vegas with two beautiful woman..."

Nick nodded in agreement. "We're pretty damn lucky."

Schmidt leaned back against the couch, shaking his head. "Can you believe Cece is going to be my wife?!"

"It's been a crazy year, man." Nick crossed his arm over for a fist bump, which Schmidt returned.

"It has. It really, really has."