Chapter Two:

“Hey Nick.” Pete warmly welcomed the two adults. “Wow, Nick. Do you have good taste or what.” Pete said after looking at Jess and the dress.

“I know.. isn’t the dress gorgeous?” Jess asked.

“I wasn’t JUST talking about the dress.. I was talking about you too.” Pete laughed as her face turned red. During the limo ride, Nick and her had discussed interest and other things. They both loved basketball and music. Although they favored different groups, they kept open minds with each other.  “Alright.. miss let me measure your foot. I have the perfect pair of shoes for you.” Jess smiled as he measured her foot and disappeared into the backroom.

“Nick I want to thank you for anything.. If I can pay for anything just let me know.. ok?” Jess asked, as Nick’s hand found hers.

“You aren’t paying a thing for tonight.” Nick said.

“Nick.. I couldn’t.” Jess protested.

“Well, you’re going to have to.” Nick said. Just then, Peter came back with a box and a pocketbook in hand. He checked the shoes and the purse matched and then had Jess try on the shoes.

“Perfect.” Pete breathed. “I want pictures of you two from tonight. You guys are going to be the best-dressed couple. Whatever you get from me tonight is on the house.. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.. got me?” Jess and Nick nodded. “Now Nick, can you come back after leaving Jess with mommy dearest?”

“Of course..” Nick said, not wanting to mention the jeweler, he would go after a fitting.

“Thank you so much Peter. And if I ever see you again, you can call me Jessie, alright?”

“Sure.” Pete turned his head and whispered, “I’ll have to call you Mrs. Carter after that.” He chuckled at his own little joke and went back to matters with Nick.  “So I’ll see you in a little. Have fun tonight, Jess.”

“Thanks!” Jess said as Nick dragged her out of the store with her shoes, dress and purse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ok, we’re here. But one thing before we get out.” Nick said. She began to ask what and he kissed her mouth.

“Oh.. that.” She giggled as Q helped her out of the car. Nick got out next, his hair flying in the wind. They linked arms and began to walk up the driveway. She shivered in the cold and he gave her a questioning look. “So, I’m cold..” She joked. He held her closer as he knocked. Again during the ride, they had gotten talked more and felt closer to one another. She was prepared to meet the family. His mother opened the door and ushered them in.

“Hi, you must be the mystery girl. I’m Jane, Nick’s mother.”

“I’m Jessie. Thank you so much for helping me with everything. You don’t know how nervous I am. And just to think today started as me helping Nick search for a dress.” Instead of a hand shake, Jess got a hug from Jane.

“Girl, you’re freezing. Nick! Where are your manners. Don’t even try to give her your jacket now, it's too late. Boys!” Jane said frustrated. “AARON! Bring a blanket to the front door please!” Jane screamed. Soon, you heard feet running downstairs, a green blanket in hand. “Thank you. Here you go, Nick.” She handed the blanket to Nick, who opened it up and wrapped it around Jess, leaving his arms around her a little too long, which Jane picked up on. “Alright, Aaron, show Jess the living room please. I’ll be right with you.”

Jess gave Nick a hug and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for everything. See you tonight.” She left with Aaron.

“She’s great.” Jane said.

“Yeah, she is. She’s gorgeous. She’s a great person to know. Ok. I gotta go back to Pete’s and then to the jeweler. Q has brought in her stuff.. So. Thanks mom. I appreciate it. I love you.” He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek and left the house.

“He’s in love.” She muttered while locking the door before running into the living room to start on Jess’s makeover. A hairdresser was already giving Jess special shampoo and conditioner to use in a shower. Jane gave clothes to Jess to put on after her shower and shipped her off to shower. As Jess showered, Jane looked at the dress and accessories.  “This is gorgeous. Can't wait to see it on her.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Yo Pete?” Nick screamed.

“In the backroom, Nick.” Pete yelled back. Nick trudged to the back, where he found pieces of clothing hanging up and lying on the floor. “I found the perfect shawl for Jess because it's cold. I have three outfits for you to try on.”

Nick nodded. “Pete, you think of everything, don’t you?”

“Unhuh. Now go start trying on..” Pete shoved him into a dressing room already filled with the clothing to try on.

“Pete, the jeweler is coming by with the stuff for me.. ok?”

“Sure Nick.” Nick changed and went out to Pete. “Turn round.” Nick did as Pete said to and soon after three changes, Pete decided on Nick’s wardrobe. Now it was time to custom fit it. As Nick stood up, with Pete pinning the pants, the jeweler came. He showed Nick the jewelry and Nick nodded in agreement. “Nick and her are going to be the best-dressed and looking couple there.” Pete said.

“Could you hold on while I change?” Nick asked as he was shoved back into the fitting room to change. The jeweler nodded and Nick was soon back. “How much do I owe you because everything is beautiful?“

“Just my fee of a rushed order.”

“That’s it? What about everything else?”

“No.. Nick I wont allow you to pay.. If you’re going to be the best looking.. It’s fine.. If you hold on for a half hour.. I’m gonna go find rings for her. What size is she?”

“I have no idea.. I’ll find out for you and call you right away.. ok?”

“Sure Nick.”

“Thank you, George.” George left and Pete was busy hemming the pants. Nick decided to call his mom.  “Mom, ask her what size ring she is for her right hand, thumb and ring finger.”

“Thumb is 8.. Ring finger is 7..” Jane answered

“Thanks mom. I’ll see you soon. The hairdresser doing my hair?”

“Unhuh.. See you in less than an hour.” His mother hung up. He called George right away with details. Pete gave him the pants to retry on. They fit and Pete handed him a shirt and jacket along with shoes to try on. Nick’s cell phone rang as he was changing into everything.

“Alo? Hey there. How are they treating you?…. I can't wait to see you all dressed up….. No.. it's ok.. keep singing… I gotta go right now. I’ll see you soon, man I can't wait… Later..” He hung up, grinning to himself.

Chapter Three:

At 5:15, Nick entered his house. “Mom?”

“In here, sweetie.” Jane called out. He heard her talk to Jess and Jess respond by saying, “I’m going geeez.” He also heard her cheerful laughter. He entered the room, waiting to see her. She wasn’t there. “We didn’t want her wrinkling the dress more than it has to get.. so she’s changing now.”

“Thanks mom.” Nick said, hugging and kissing her cheek. Q held a few things in arm, a dozen roses and a few boxes, along with a shawl. “Can you give her this please.” He said, handing the shawl to her.

“You do it yourself.” Jane answered. Nick smiled, taking the roses and boxes also and moving to the guest room. He knocked lightly.

“Who is it?” a voice came through.

“Nick.” He could hear Destiny’s Child playing in the background.

“Hold on.. it's good you came.. zipper time. It’s open.. come in.” He turned the knob and walked in, closing the door behind him. He finally looked up at her.

His mouth dropped open, his eyes bugged out as she did the same. The hairdresser had shown up to do his hair before he left. “OMG. You look gorgeous, beautiful, and indescribable. Wow, girl.” He chuckled. (authors note: now I'm singing a whole new world (ps I do that a lot.. sing from a word to the lyrics))

“Thanks Nicky. Oops. Sorry, Nick.”

“No, you can call me Nicky. I don’t mind. But turn around. Let me zipper you up and I have a few surprises for you.” She turned around and felt her stomach turn in more butterflies than she already had from seeing him as he zipped her. He kissed the back of her neck, smelling her Tommy Girl perfume. “These are for you.” He said, placing the roses in front of her. “Pete thought you might need something because it's cold, so this is from him.” He placed the shawl on her as Pete had shown him to. “All this is for you.” He presented her with the box. She opened it to reveal two pairs of earrings, a beautiful necklace and two rings. She looked at her own rings and decided to take two of them off, except her claddaugh ring.

“Thank you so much Nicky, anything I can do to repay you?”

“Help me have the time of my life tonight. And act like my girlfriend.” He said, but his heart wished for her to be his girlfriend. It was too fast for a relationship, though his mind said.  “Let me do that.” Nick said as she picked up the necklace. She nodded and handed him it. She watched him in the mirror as he placed it on her and fastened it, kissing her neck once again.

“No more.. I don’t want hickies.” She joked. She added the star ring on her left ring finger and put the moon thumb ring on her thumb. She looked back into the mirror to put the earrings in. She was thankful she had her guess silver watch today, rather than her Timex sport watch. She finally put her shoes on, buckling each on. Her hair was down, but now was face framed. She switched CDs as she began to change purses. Now, it was Jessica Simpson. Something hit her.

“Nick I just want to thank you for everything. This is going to be the best night ever. I wont forget this night.” The couple smiled and went into a hug.

“Hello? Nick and Jess? Are you guys ready? You have to meet at Kevin’s in less than an hour. You gotta go now.” Jane’s voice told them from outside.

“Coming!” Jess screamed and picked up her new purse, leaving her articles of clothing and other things lying on the bed. Jane had given her the room for the night, so she was sleeping there later.

Chapter Four:

Ditto