Ness as Parents- New Girl Fanfiction

Fireworks in Mexico

"I've been really wanting to try the beignets at that new coffee shop." Jess remarks to Nick, swinging Frances' tiny hand back and forth as they walk.
"What are those again?" Asks Nick, confused.
"They're kind of like fluffy donut holes. They're square and dipped in powdered sugar." Jess explains, licking her lips.
"Yummy!!" Reggie exclaims, tugging on Nick's hand. "I want some!"
"Wait, those are called beignets? I thought they were beg-nets." Nick smiled sheepishly.
"I'm still sometimes stunned you're a author." Jess chuckles.
"Well, I don't usually have to read words like that out loud if I'm writing them." Nick defends himself.
Just then, Reggie stumbles slightly, and Nick catches him.
"Woah there buddy, looks like your shoe is untied." Nick bends down to tie Reginald's shoe. Jess walks on, oblivious that Nick and Reggie had stopped walking.
They're about to reach the coffee shop, when someone exclaims, "Oh my god, Jess?!"
Jess whirls around, taking in the figure with long brown hair and wearing an athletic jacket.
"Reagan?? Hi!" Jess responds, giving her an awkward grin.
"Michelle, this is Jess! She was a friend I made when I was here for a work trip like 5 years ago." Reagan introduces Jess to the women standing next to her.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Michelle," the women smiles. Jess shakes her hand, not sure how to interact with Reagan given their... history.
"And who do we have here?" Reagan coos, looking down at Frances, who's still holding Jess' hand.
"This is my daughter Frances." Jess explains. "Say hi, Frances." Frances shyly hides behind Jess, peaking slightly out to gaze at Reagan.
"She's a little shy around new people." Jess laughs. She's about to ask how Reagan is, when she hears her name being called again.
"Jess, wait up!" Nick comes up behind her, panting. "Reggie's shoe was untied, so-" Nick stops suddenly, seeing who's standing next to Jess.
"Hey Nick," Reagan says cooly.
"Heyyyyyy Reagan-from-my-pastttt. How are you?" Nick mumbles, flustered.
Reagan is about to answer, but then stops. She looks back to Jess, then to Nick, and then to Reggie and Frances. Jess stands there awkwardly, and Nick looks like he's about to run away.
Jess is about to say something, but then Reagan exclaims, "Oh my god I can't believe this!" Jess, how dare you-" Nick winces, and Jess opens her mouth to defend them, but gets cut off. "-Not tell me you were still in love with him the whole time! I'm soooo sorry, I had no idea!" Reagan says sincerely, and takes Jess' hands.
Jess stands there stunned for a moment, she definitely had expected something different. Nick breathes a sigh of relief, and relaxed his shoulders.
"You aren't mad?" Jess stares quizzically at Reagan.
"No, no, it's fine! I'm married!" Reagan grabs Michelle's hand to show off their wedding rings, and Jess smiles. "Besides, me and Nick weren't going to work anyways, I'm glad you two figured it out."
"So you seriously didn't realize I was still in love with Nick? I mean... I accidentally told you that whole speech about how I'll always love him at his book reading." Jess laughs, and Nick looks at her, surprised.
"You said that?" He asks, grinning at her.
"Yes, but can we talk about this later?" Jess tilts her head in Reagan's direction.
"Honestly, I thought it was just your guys' whole friendship thing ya know?" Reagan points between Nick and Jess.
"Thank you for being so cool about this. I know we didn't end on the best of terms, but I want to apologize. I acted really childish, and although I love my wife, I appreciate what our relationship helped me realize." Nick steps in.
"You're welcome, Nick. It was interesting times, living with you weirdos." Reagan chuckles. "Winston still texts me, apparently he trained his cat how to shake hands." She rolls her eyes. "Anyways, we got to go, nice running into you guys."
Once Reagan and Michelle walk away, Nick turns to Jess.
"Wow, I did not expect that." He grins at Jess. "You told Reagan a speech about how you would always love me?"
"Be cool," Jess chuckles.
"Cause you know I had a girlfriend, right?" Nick teases her.
"Oh, come here already." Jess pulls Nick towards her for a kiss.
***
Nick's head rests on Jess' shoulder, his neck lolling slightly whenever the car turns. Reggie and Frances are also dozing in the backseat, both snoring softly.
Jess smiles at how innocent Nick looks, almost much as the kids. His little stray curl is plastered to his forehead, and his lips are curved slightly upwards.
As Jess is admiring him, while also keeping her eyes on the road, Nick lifts his head and rubs his eyes groggily.
"Hey Day," he gazes at her, sleep still evident in his lidded brown eyes.
"Hey Miller, how was your nap?" Jess grins at Nick as he yawns and stretches.
"Comfy, I like your shoulder as a pillow," Nick chuckles and checks the eta. "Wow, only 46 minutes until we get there!"
"Yeah, you were asleep for a couple hours, you lazy pants." Jess pretends to scruff up Nick's hair.
"I can take a turn driving if you want to rest before we get the to the resort," Nick offers.
"It's fine, we're almost there- Oh my god look it's a monkey piñata!" Jess interrupts herself excitedly, pointing out the window.
"Shhh, you'll wake the kids," Nick chuckles at Jess' enthusiasm. "It is Mexico though, they have the coolest stuff."
"Wait so why are they having a 4th of July celebration if it's not the U.S?" Jess asks, confused.
"I think the resort we're going to is like super touristy and American," Nick explains.
"I hope they still have good food though!"
"Don't worry, they have a huge all you can eat buffet." Nick grins. "That was part of my criteria for choosing where to stay."
"Of course, how could I expect anything less from The Buffet Master." Jess teases him, laughing.
"That was an achievement! The restaurant record hadn't been broken in 30 years!" Nick brags, puffing out his chest jokingly.
Jess laughs, and turns on the radio. The first notes of an electric guitar plays, and Nick pretends to play his own air guitar.
"Down, down in my bones, somewhere I'd never have known..."
"Have you heard this song before? It's pretty good!" Jess looks at Nick and giggles at his funky dance moves.
"I don't remember hearing it, but it sounds familiar." Nick notes, pondering it as the song continues to play.
"Cause it's youuu, oh-oh-oh, it's always you. Oh-oh-oh I always knew, it's youuuu."
Jess taps her fingers on the steering wheel to the beat.
A loud yawn comes from the backseat, and Nick turns to see Reggie stretching.
"Hey buddy, did you have a good sleep?" Nick smiles at the tufts of Reggie's hair sticking up.
"Yeah," Reginald yawns again, sitting up straight.
"Now that you're awake, I know the perfect song to play." Nick grins mischievously and reaches into his bag. Jess lets out a fake groan when she sees the duct taped CD.
"Get your fists ready for some pumping!" Nick prepares Reggie as the song begins to play.
"Where did you come from, where did you go? Where did you come from cotton eye Joe?" Nick and Reggie start to fist pump at the same time, and Jess mockingly rolls her eyes.
"Reggie, did you know that according to Uncle Schmidt, this song is perfect to sabotage your future wife's wedding?" Jess laughs.
"What?! Aunt Cece's wedding?" Reggie questions.
"The one and only." Nick and Jess share a quick glance, remembering the wedding and all that happened.
"And you know what happened that was even crazier?" Jess asks Reggie, smiling.
"What?" Reginald looks eagerly at his mom.
"Me, your dad, and Uncle Winston all got stuck in the ceiling ducts... with a badger!"
"How- what?!" Reggie exclaims, and Frances wakes up with a start.
"Sorry Fran," he whispers. "What did you guys do?? Did you get out?"
"Well... we fell though the ceiling." Nick fills in, laughing.
"How do you guys have the craziest stories?! I hope I can have as much fun as you did when I'm a grown up." Reggie hopes wistfully.
"Oh don't worry, Reggie. With the combined genes of your dad and me, your life will never be free of drama." Jess snickers and pokes Nick playfully.
***
Reggie shows off his freestyle stroke to Nick, cutting through the bright blue chlorinated water.
"Very impressive!" Nick applauds, and swims over to him. "Want me to show you a relaxing trick an old friend of mine taught me?"
"Sure, what is it?" Reggie asks curiously, and yelps when Nick scoops him up. "What are you doing??"
"Shhhh, relax. Let the water gently cradle you." Nick says in a soothing voice, holding Reggie and spinning slightly.
"Just don't attempt to drown him like you did to me!" Jess jokes, from where she's trying to teach Frances how to float.
"Oh shush, you know you liked it," Nick responds, sticking his tongue out at Jess.
"So what is this supposed to be?" Reggie asks, still confused.
"It's called a water massage. The wisest person I know showed it to me, and from then on, I have tried to share my knowledge with the world." Nick continues to spin Reggie.
"The wisest person you know? Really?" Jess jokingly glares at Nick, and he smirks back.
"What can I say, that man has such a way with words."
"Oh, give me a break. He just allowed you get in touch with yourself and you know it." Jess giggles.
"Nu-uh."
***
"Wow, this view is really nice," Jess remarks, looking out at the shimmering ocean from their hotel room balcony.
"It really is," Nick agrees, eying Jess' silver sequin dress.
"Nick! I meant the ocean!" Jess playfully slaps her husband, and he grins goofily. "Do you know what time the fireworks start?"
"Nope, only that the buffet closes at 9 pm," Nick informs her.
"Very informational," Jess says sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Reggie, Frances, come out here! I think the fireworks are starting soon!"
Reginald scampers out to deck, followed by Frances, who's dragging a giant stuffed dolphin.
"You sure like that, don't you?" Nick admires the toy.
"Ya!" Frances hugs the dolphin tightly, flashing a toothy grin.
"Did you say thank you to your Dad for winning it for you?" Jess inquires.
"Thank you!" Frances skips over to Nick and throws her arms around his legs. Nick scoops her up and swings her around, and she squeals at the thrill.
"I was pretty impressed with myself for getting the ping pong ball in all of the cups," Nick sets Frances down with a beaming smile.
"Look, the fireworks are starting!" Jess exclaims, and everyone turns to look. An explosion of red and blue fills the sky, erupting loudly. Reggie cheers, but Frances cowards slightly, hiding behind Nick.
The fireworks keep coming, filling the dark night with bright colored bursts. Eventually, Reggie and Frances can't conceal their yawns anymore, and Jess tucks them into bed. Then she comes back out to the balcony, grabbing a bottle of champagne and two glasses. Suddenly, Nick wraps his arms around her. Jess lets out a soft yelp and almost drops the bottle.
"What's this for?" She asks, confused but still melting into his arms.
"You just looked so beautiful tonight," Nick states simply, gazing at Jess.
Jess beams at Nick. "I love you," she pulls him back towards her, pressing her lips to his. The fireworks continue to explode behind them, lighting up the night.