Chapter Text
“Nick!”
No answer.
“Nick!”
Still no answer.
“Nick!”
“I’m in the shower!”
Finally, a response, Jess thought with frustration. She made her way into the bathroom and- lo and behold- steam was coming out from the top of the shower and her boyfriend was singing the Dirty Dancing soundtrack off-key. “Nick, why are you in the shower? We have to be at the airport in,” she checked her watch, “just over an hour!”
“I’m getting clean.”
Jess rolled her eyes because, yes, that was the entire point of a shower. “Well, where’s your suitcase?” she asked.
“I haven’t packed it yet.”
“You,” Jess facepalmed, “you haven’t packed yet? Nick, we’re going on a 6-month trip to Europe. Why haven’t you packed?”
Nick turned off the water and stuck his hand out of the curtain, trying to grab a towel that wasn’t there. Jess sighed and took a damp blue towel from the rack and passed it to her boyfriend. “You see, Jess,” Nick said as he exited the shower, the towel wrapped around his waist, “during the many years of being alive, I have discovered that I work best under pressure.”
“What are you getting at, Nick?”
“That I will be way more productive now than if I had started packing weeks ago. Relax, Jess.” He gave her a gentle kiss on the lips and made his way into the bedroom. Jess followed him.
“You do know that we’re spending 6 months in Europe, right? We’re spending 189 days there. That’s 1,323 pairs of underwear for you. Can you pack 1,323 pairs of underwear in,” she checked her watch again, “65 minutes?! Can you?!” She was up in his face, challenging him.
“Yes, Jess, alright. I promise we’ll make the flight.” Nick chuckled to himself. “That rhymed.”
They did end up missing their flight by 20 minutes.
“Alright,” Nick said, returning from talking from one of the staff, “there’s a flight tomorrow at 11.”
Jess sighed. “We were supposed to get in today.”
“I know, I’m sorry, Jess,” Nick replied, wrapping his arms around her. “At least we won’t miss any of my tours.”
“I know, but I just wanted us to have a romantic weekend there. It’s Paris, Nick. We only have a month there and you’ll be spending most of it in bookstores.” She had stupidly imagined a whole week of the two of them sleeping in bed together until the late morning, and sightseeing, and buying souvenirs for Winston, and Cece, and Schmidt, and Coach, and Aly, and Ruth. God, Cece and Schmidt had a kid together and Nick and Jess couldn’t even board a plane on time. But Jess pushed those thoughts out of her head. They didn’t need a kid, or a house, or even an engagement ring. They had each other, and that was more than she could ever hope for. “I’ll just miss you when you’re on tours all day.”
Nick nodded in agreement and kissed her cheek. He was also disappointed in missing his flight since he had something special that he also wanted to do in Paris. But it could wait.
He would always wait for Jess.
They went back home after booking their tickets for the next day.
“On the bright side,” Nick said as they abandoned their suitcases by the front door and sat on the couch together, “I have an extra night to pack.”
Jess gave her boyfriend a glare. “You didn’t pack enough underwear, did you?”
“I don’t even think I packed underwear.”
Jess shook her head fondly. “I guess we woke up early for nothing.”
“I rushed my shower for nothing.”
“Hey, you don’t get to complain! This is all your fault.”
“I know,” Nick raised his hands in surrender, “and I’m willing to take full responsibility for this.”
“That part was never up for debate.”
Nick kissed Jess’ cheek. “Okay, I’m going to go pack.” He made his way into the bedroom and Jess followed him.
“I’m going to take a nap,” she said and proceeded to collapse onto the bed.
Jess woke up a few hours later to the sound of her boyfriend whispering and the smell of croissants.
“Jess…” Nick said softly, tickling her chin.
Jess groaned and lightly slapped his hand away. She cracked open her eye and saw Nick staring at her, a plate of croissants in his hand.
“Your eyes are so blue,” Nick said.
“Thanks.” She pulled him into bed and he adjusted himself so he was laid beside her. “Did you make these?” she asked, taking a bite of the baked good. It wasn’t entirely cooked, so Nick must have made them.
“Yup. And I packed everything.”
“Enough for 6 months?”
“I’m pretty sure they have dishwashers and clothing stores in Europe, Jess. Come on.” Nick chuckled as he reached for a croissant himself.
“Dish… washer? You know they’re meant to wash dishes right, not clothes? It’s in the name.”
“Dishwashers can wash more than one thing, Jess. It’s called being productive.”
“You are not a functional adult.”
“Not at all.”
Jess heard Nick sigh happily and rested her head on his chest. “What’s up?”
“Nothin’, just… this.”
“This?”
“Lying in bed, with you in my arms, eating food. This is what I want.”
“Me too.” Jess tilted her head up to kiss him, but Nick abruptly jumped out of bed. “Nick!”
He ignored her and scavenged about the room. He cheered when he found his notebook.
“What are you writing?” she asked, getting out of bed and peering over his shoulder.
“Notes for the next Pepperwood book. This stuff is perfect!”
“It is?”
“Yes. Julius is in love now; it makes sense that he’ll want to spend his days with Jessica Night. Merle is gonna love this!” Nick turned to Jess, beaming. “You’re my inspiration, Jess.”
Jess smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. They had scarcely said the words to each other since that day in the elevator, 2 and a half years ago. But they didn’t need to, their actions and facial expressions said it all for them. It just made it all the more special when they did say the words out loud. Like right at that moment. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Jessica.”