Ness as Parents- New Girl Fanfiction

Father and Son Football

Nick sits at his writer's desk, rapidly scribbling things down in a notebook.
He doesn't stop writing until Reginald runs into his office and asks, "Daddy can you play football with me? I wanna beat Johnny next time we play during recess." He tries to climb onto Nick's lap, pulling himself up using Nick's shirt.
"Sorry Reggie, I'm working right now, maybe later."
"You're not working! You're right here!"
"My work is here buddy, we've gone over this. When I'm in this room, it means I'm busy."
"But I wanna playyy," Reggie wines, tugging on Nick's hair.
"I'm sorry, I can't. Maybe you should ask Randy next door if wants to play with you."
"But Randy smells funny, and last time I played with him he broke my space truck!"
"Well, I guess you're gonna have to find something else to do. Maybe when your mom comes home you could go with her to pick up Frances from her play date." Reggie stomps out of Nick's office, and Nick sighs but continues writing.
***
"Mommy! Daddy won't play with me!" Reggie complains to Jess as soon as she comes home. Jess sets her yellow purse down on the side table, and turns to Reginald.
"Sweetie, Daddy has work, you know that," she reminds him with a pat on the head. Reggie glares and crosses his arms, pouting.
"Reggie, I know exactly what you need!" Jess exclaims, and goes over to her purse. She pulls out a small wooden stick decorated with tassels.
"What's that?" Reggie asks, confused.
"It's a feelings stick!" Jess declares, handing it to Reggie. "Whoever's holding the feeling stick has permission to say whatever her or she is feeling, without being judged."
"But why is it so small?" Reggie questions, turning it over in his hands.
"Well, see, it's my travel size because, let's just say my regular sized one got... broken," Jess explains, not sure how to say it without giving Reggie any ideas to follow in his dad's footsteps.
"Ok... ummm I feel mad that Daddy won't play football with me," Reggie says hesitantly, looking as Jess to see if he's doing it correctly.
"Great! And why do you feel this way?" Jess asks, pressing Reggie to elaborate.
"Because I want him to!" Reggie insists, making a little turtle face at Jess. Jess tries to hold in a giggle, Reggie was reminding her so much of Nick.
"Ok, well I know you want him to, but can you think of any compromises you could make with Daddy?"
"I don't get what you're saying," Reggie responds, looking blankly at Jess.
"Like, for example could you play after dinner when Daddy's done working?"
"But I wanna play now!"
"Well, you know your options, it's up to you to decide." And with that Jess goes into the kitchen to start dinner. Reginald stands in the hallway until he finally scampers into Nick's office again.
"Reggie, I told you I need to work," Nick tells him, exasperated.
"Mommy says I need to compromise, so do you wanna play football after dinner?" Reginald asks, looking shyly at the ground.
"Sure Reggie, I'd love to! How did Mommy get you to change your plans?" Nick replies, surprised at his son's change of heart.
"Um, she gave me this fancy stick that she said would help," Reggie explains, and bounces out of the room.
"Fancy stick huh?" Nick smiles to himself and shakes his head in amusement.
Once Jess picks up Frances from her play date, she finishes preparing dinner. "Dinner's ready!" She calls, and dishes up the food. Nick comes out of his office and kisses her, eyeing the food.
"This looks amazing honey," he complements, and sits down.
"Thanks, how is your writing going?" Jess inquires, helping Frances into her chair.
"Actually it's going really good! It's like the words are flowing from my mind onto the paper, like a, ummm, what are those things called that are like thin oceans?"
"...a river?" Jess says hesitantly, staring at Nick in disbelief.
"Ya that's it!" Nick confirms, and digs into his dinner.
"You baffle me sometimes, you know that?" Jess rolls her eyes and starts on her own dinner.
Nick turns to his daughter and asks, "Frances, how was your play date?"
"Gwood," Frances says cutely, giving Nick her bubbly smile.
When everyone finishes dinner, Jess heads off with Frances to help her get ready for bed. Reginald runs and grabs his football, and then tugs on Nick's sleeve. "Daddy, now it's time to play football," He insists, and Nick chuckles.
"Why aren't you a stubborn little thing," Nick bops him on the nose.
"I'm not little!" Reggie sticks his tongue out at Nick, and runs into the backyard. As soon as Nick gets outside, Reggie throws the football at him, and Nick catches it.
"Ya know, I was pretty good back in my day," Nick brags, cocking an eyebrow at Reggie. "Here, go long." Reggie scampers backwards as far as he can go without hitting the fence, and opens his arms wide.
"I'm open!" Nick rears his arm back and releases the ball, but then lets out a loud moan. The ball goes flying into a bush, and Nick bends over, clutching his arm.
"Daddy! Are you ok?" Reginald exclaims, running over to Nick.
"Yep, I'm ok buddy," Nick says, clenching his teeth. "Just a little rusty, might have strained a muscle." He takes a deep breath and tries to straighten up, but then whimpers. "It's fine, I'm fine. Nothing a little stretching can't fix. How about you go get your mom." With that Reginald heads inside to get Jess, leaving Nick trying not to move his shoulder.
"Nick, what did you do this time?" Jess walks over to where Nick is hunched over. She lowers herself next to him, and gently pries his other hand away.
"Jess, no, stop, painnnn," Nick moans, feebly attempting to push Jess away.
"You big baby," Jess teases. "Can you try to rotate your shoulder?" She asks, and Nick mumbles something incoherent but tries. An inhuman sounds comes from his mouth, but he successfully moves his arm.
"Good job! I bet after you rest it a little, it will feel much better. This can't be bad as the other football incident, right?" Jess asks with a laugh, and Nick grimaces.
"Oh, when you steamrolled right into me even though I didn't even have the ball?" Nick glares good naturedly at Jess, but accepts her hand to help him up.
"Oh come on, it couldn't have hurt that bad," Jess ridicules Nick. "You try giving birth twice!"
"Oh believe me, I have no intention to try that," Nick assures. "You handled it like a champ though!"
"Did you just call me a champ?" Jess exclaims, staring quizzically at Nick. Nick starts to panic moonwalk away, but then screams and grabs his arm. Jess laughs, and pushes him into the house, with Reggie following them.
Nick stretches out on the couch while Jess plays Uno with Reggie.
"Mommy, why doesn't daddy wanna try giving birth?" Reginald randomly asks Jess after she wins for the third time.
Jess casts an anxious look at Nick, who unhelpfully shrugs. "Well, he was joking because only women can give birth, but... because it's painful to have children." Jess explains as best as she can.
"Well then why do you do it if it hurts?" Reggie asks, confused.
"Because it's worth it, we got you and your sister!" Jess smiles and caresses Reggie's cheek. Nick rubs her back gently with his good arm, and she turns around and meets his eyes. They exchange a meaningful glance, remembering when Jess told Nick she was pregnant for the first time.

The elevator doors open and Nick sees Jess standing there, looking at him.
"Nick... I..." Jess tries to speak but the words get stuck in her throat.
"What is it Jess?!"
"...I'm pregnant." Jess admits and releases a gust of breath that she had been holding. Nick stands there speechless, staring at Jess. Then he slowly walks towards her, his gaze so loving and intense Jess felt tears spring to her eyes.
Nick holds an arm out to prevent the elevator doors from shutting, and closes the distance between them. He sweeps Jess off her feet and into his arms. Jess gasps, and Nick presses his lips to hers.
Jess wraps her arms around his neck and clutches the fabric of his shirt, almost like she was trying to meld her body into his. Nick deepens the kiss, until he gently breaks away, and runs his thumb softly against her cheek. Jess looks into his eyes and smiles with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Nick leans forward again and tenderly pecks her lips once more, then rests his forehead against hers. The elevator doors close, leaving Nick still gazing into Jess' eyes.

Jess smiles at Nick, and turns back to Reginald. "Does that answer your question?" She asks him, and he shrugs.
"Sorta I guess," he responds, and deals up a new Uno hand. Jess glances back at Nick and grins, but then takes her cards.
"Get ready to be crushed again," Jess challenges Reggie, pretending to crack her knuckles.
"Oh no you won't," Reggie argues, and they both burst out laughing.