So this is the final chapter. I've had a blast writing this and now have the confidence to continue to post stories so thank you kind people of FF! Hope you have enjoyed. :)

"Shh! You'll wake her up."

"I don't care."

"I do! She's probably still jetlagged-"

"Then just shut up and kiss me woman, before I drag you back out here."

Amy cracked one eye open. Her twin sister was stood with her back to her in the doorway in her pink robe, hair wild. Amy resisted the urge to smirk as she saw Nick lean over the threshold and grab her round the waist, kissing her neck and making her giggle quietly as she tried unsuccessfully to push him away.

"I'll see you later Miller," Jess whispered softly as she took his chin in her hand, pulling his face towards her and giving him a gentle kiss. He smiled against her lips after they broke apart before kissing her nose quickly and turning away, out of sight. Amy quickly shut her eyes again as her sister shut the door quietly and crossed the room to her bed, climbing in beside her. Jess exhaled the happiest sigh Amy had ever heard, and she could practically feel the hum of excitement coming off her.

"I see you were just gonna leave the robe on and hope I didn't notice it," Amy mumbled into the pillow, making Jess jump next to her. She opened her eyes to see her sister staring wide-eyed down at her like a deer caught in the headlights. There was a moment of silence as Amy broke out into the most ridiculously smug grin she had ever mustered up in her life. Jess shook herself out of her reverie and playfully smacked her in the arm.

"Ow." Amy laughed. "Busted."

"Whatever do you mean?" Jess asked, smoothing down the covers in front of her. Amy cast her an are you serious? Look.

"Maybe you should be doing that to your hair, then you would look a little bit less like you just re-enacted Fifty Shades of Jessica Day last night. Someone got laaaid." Amy finished her sentence with a little shoulder wiggle and a head nod, emphasising the last word. Jess wordlessly lifted her hands to her hair, going a little pale when she felt the mass of knots there.

"Well," she sighed. "That's humiliating."

Amy swelled with pride and amusement. "So you guys are a thing now."

"I don't know. We're still figuring everything out, but I like him. I really, really like him Amy."

Amy propped her head up on her elbow. She could see Jess going through a range of emotions as she worried her lip with her teeth. "Hey," she said, reaching for her sister's hand and lightly squeezing it. "He's lucky he got you and he knows it."

They shared matching grins before Amy threw the covers back and hopped out of bed. "So, breakfast? Or did Nick give you enough of that already?"

"Whaddup JayDay, AyDay," Schmidt greeted the girls as they emerged, jogging on the spot and pouring his smoothie into a plastic bottle with a flourish. Amy looked to Jess as they approached the kitchen counter, bewildered. "AyDay? That's not a thing right?"

"Schmidt being a douchebag? Yes it is totally a thing. Jar Schmidt," Jess retorted, pointing behind her. Schmidt merely grinned, continuing his light jog to the lounge. "Nuh, uh," Jess carried on as he stuffed a ten into the jar, "twenty."

Schmidt looked up at her, offended. "Why?"

"Dude, your shorts man," Amy giggled from behind a fresh mug of coffee. "they are tight."

Schmidt beamed at them. "Aren't they? My player down at ESPN Sportswear fixed me up with these bad boys – chamois pad, Luxury Lycra, only the best for this dawg." He was doing his gangster impression again. Amy raised her eyebrows at Schmidt's confused logic - gangsters didn't wear Lycra. Once again, not a thing.

"I meant-" she paused and then sighed. "…Not worth it actually."

Schmidt made his way back over to the kitchen, some of his swagger still present. "So, Amelia-"

"Not my name-"

"-Are we still on for our gym date? I am ready to pump. Some. Iron." He accompanied each word with a deep lunge. Jess covered her eyes in horror, trying to unsee.

Amy slapped her forehead, annoyed with herself. With her busy schedule and the booking of her flight to Portland later today she had completely forgotten that she had promised to attend Schmidt's spinning class with him. Cursing, she gulped down the last of her coffee and shot off towards Jess' room, shouting brief apologies over her shoulder. She could hear Schmidt muttering to himself about women and tardiness as she stuck her head back round the side of Jess' door. "Uh, sis, I need to borrow some gym clothes."

Schmidt checked his watch dramatically as Jess brushed past him. "You have five minutes or I'm leaving without you. Do you think Batman waits around for Robin?"

Jess tossed him an incredulous look before she shut her bedroom door behind them.

Now Amy felt ridiculous, cycling away in Jess' 'sportswear', as she had called it while handing over what could have easily been a pair of pyjamas. They probably were, knowing Jess.

"So," she panted as she tore her eyes away from the Hello Kitty tee and frilled shorts she was currently sporting as they kept up with the extremely peppy woman at the front of the room. "What's it like living with Jess?"

Schmidt took a swig of his smoothie, his face the picture of concentration. Amy had only known him a little longer than a weekend but she was pretty sure he was under the impression that he was secretly the star of his own reality TV show. "It's a little weird sometimes, but the abundance of accidental sideboob sightings have been just delightful." He turned to shoot her a dazzling grin. Amy twisted her face into a grimace, reaching for her water.

"Seriously though," he continued, his smile turning a little more genuine, "Jess is awesome. We'd all probably still be depressed, unemployed and…" he stopped to think of an adjective to describe himself, glancing upward, "…without the lovely Cecelia, if she hadn't answered our Craigslist ad."

Amy chuckled through her swig of water, wiping some sweat from her brow. "Cece huh? Didn't see that one coming."

"Did you see any of this coming Amy?" he laughed, a little breathless as he refused to let up on his pace, even for the sake of conversation. She shrugged and swallowed another gulp.

"I guess not. But I'm glad it did." She grinned at him. "She has you guys now." Schmidt gave her a thumbs up without looking at her, before letting out a squeal.

"Eeyah! Cramp!" he doubled over, clutching his calf as Amy rolled her eyes, ignoring his whimpers. Schmidt really wasn't that bad, she thought. Even if he did then proceed to lay a towel down over the car passenger seat before they drove home.

They returned sweaty and exhausted to the loft, Amy collapsing face down on the couch. Schmidt had jumped in the shower first to avoid being late for work. When he was done he passed Amy's place on the couch, jabbing his thumb behind him to signal that the bathroom was clear. She nodded and hauled herself up with a sigh of protest, dragging her feet down the hall. She paused briefly in the doorway when she saw Winston already brushing his teeth in there. He caught sight of her in the mirror and she felt her face heat up. Ugh, trust him to see me a gross mess like this.

She nervously took a step into the bathroom, grabbing the towel Jess had hung up for her and placing it on the hook behind the shower curtain, before turning the knob. Water gushed out and she leaned instinctively towards the spray, desperate to clean off. Stepping behind the curtain and starting to undress, she tried to fill the awkward silence.

"Got any plans for today Winnie?" she asked nonchalantly, reaching around the curtain and dropping her shirt on the floor. She heard Winston choke and start to cough, and blushed furiously as she realised her mistake. She was so used to throwing her clothes anywhere. The thought of Winston having a fit as a result of her awkward strip tease was quite amusing though. She stifled a laugh with her fist, continuing to take her clothes off and dropping them in his view.

"Uh, I was just…I was gonna do, um…go for a walk."

"Really? Jess told me you were meeting some fancy radio man for brunch."

There was a pause, then "yeah. That's what I'm doing." She could hear the scoff in his voice and imagined him shrugging in the mirror to himself. "That's what I meant. I'm walking…to the brunch."

She stepped under the spray of water, enjoying herself. "Oh right. Glad we cleared that up."

There was a long silence permeated only by the rush of water and the faint sounds of toothbrush against teeth. Surely his teeth are clean by now, she thought to herself, grinning.

"Hey, Amy, listen. I meant what I said yesterday."

Her hands halted as she was lathering up shampoo. "What did you say yesterday?"

"I can't-" he gave a small cough and she heard him spit. "I can't do this. With you."

Forgetting her foamy hair piled atop her head, she stuck her face through the curtain. "What?"

He looked at her, taken aback. "Well, you're going back home today and then who knows where. You're too adventurous for me Amy. Don't get me wrong, I'm…so attracted to you," he said the last part with a slow smile. She returned it shyly. "But let's be honest…this isn't going anywhere. I don't want to get into something that isn't gonna last."

Amy's heart sank and she tore her eyes from his. She was so looking forward to seeing where this might lead. Winston was the first guy she'd met who appeared to genuinely care about her, and she knew it wasn't about her looks or her adventurous streak – he'd just admitted to that being the cause for his hesitation. She didn't just want to jump into bed with him like her usual tendencies either, she wanted to sit and talk for hours like that night on the roof. She actually wanted to get to know him. And here he was, telling her he wasn't ready for it.

He was still watching her, looking a little torn himself. She wanted to slap him over the back of his head and shout "fight for me! Tell me you want me to stay! I know this isn't what you want, I'll stay here and we can see where it goes!" She wanted what Jess had, someone to fight with her and yell at her and be her best friend and her underpants captain and her confidant. She wanted him to sweep her off her feet and make her feel like she was more important than doing the right thing, because she was all he wanted. She had always led with her heart, not her head, and she was beginning to realise that maybe she and Winston weren't all the same in that department.

Suds were beginning to slide dangerously close to her eyes and she wiped a hand over her forehead, trying to think of something to say. What do you say to that?

"I thought, maybe, we had something going on," she tried to say. He dipped his head forward, straining to hear her timid voice over the stream of water. He looked slightly pained as his brain worked to find an answer for her. She didn't want to sound desperate, but she needed more explanation than what he'd given so far.

He scratched his chin. "I have a job here, I'm not about to up and leave. And you'd be unhappy holed up in LA when all you ever talk about is how much you want to get out there again and see the world," he replied softly. "It's a difficult situation, but what is there to do?"

She contemplated his words, chewing the inside of her cheek. She could see his point. What did she expect? This wasn't the movies, and even if it were it was pretty clear to Amy that Jess was the lead in this romcom, getting the guy and the kiss in the rain. She was a supporting character, meant to ooh and ahh happily at her sister's new found love but expect nothing for herself. She was just the girl who flitted about, unable to have what she really wanted because she wanted too much to begin with.

It was true – he did make her feel a little fluttery and she really thought there was potential there, but the idea of the two of them dropping everything for each other, it was absurd. She was going away to be an overseas journalist. She barely knew him. She wasn't willing to sacrifice that for him, was she? Of course not, this was her lifelong dream she was considering abandoning. For the possibility that something might develop between her and her sister's roommate? She almost laughed to herself. Usually this was exactly the type of thing she would do – no thinking about the consequences, just going for it. She found herself torn between Winston and her passion for travelling. Between what she wanted right now and what she had always wanted. She couldn't have both. The glimmer in his eyes as he stared her down said that he was giving her an ultimatum, and it was time for her to decide.

She nodded. "I get it. I suppose now you mention it… I feel the same way."

She wasn't willing to sacrifice and neither was he. Bitterly, she thought of how different things could have been if their similarities and differences weren't so goddamned polar. It was like trying to push identical magnetic poles together, watching frustratedly as they refused to come together, constantly sliding past each other. Just a few adjustments and they could have snapped together perfectly.

She locked eyes with him and he smiled, almost apologetically. She returned it with a sad smile of her own. Time to get over it and move on, Amy. He was expelling a long, shaky breath as he removed the toothbrush from his mouth and transferred his gaze to the sink. She didn't want them to part like this. There was no harm in asking for one last thing.

She took a breath. "Maybe I could get your number, and if I decide to come back we could- AAAHHHH!"

She shrieked, jumping back and twisting the curtain around herself. Winston's eyes bugged out in shock and he cursed loudly, fumbling for the tap again.

"Sorry! I was listening to you and I forgot and the water here, it's not good and you can't use both…you can't…ah, hell no, I'm sorry Amy!"

"So c-cold!" she stuttered, clutching the material to herself, blinking away suds. Winston was frantically spitting and rinsing, before he looked up at her once more.

"I'm really sorry but I want to know what…what were you gonna say?" he almost pleaded, wanting her to ask him again, so that he could say yes, of course she could have it, and please could she come back, even if it was in five years time, and he thought they had something special, and he wished things were different but they weren't and he really wasn't ok with not seeing her ever again. But Amy shut the curtain, desperate to get back under the hot water and rinse the soap out of her eyes. In her blind pain, she had forgotten. The moment passed.

Her flight was at exactly 5pm, which meant that Jess was at work and couldn't drive her. Winston and Schmidt were both out, leaving Nick, who was on night shifts all week, free.

Amy was dressing when she heard them talking in hushed voices in the corridor. She crept a little closer to the crack in the doorway.

"There's no one else to take her Nick. I don't exactly like the idea either, ever since you sexually harassed her but it's the only way."

"I did not sexually harass her Jessica."

"You're right, that's what you were doing to me last night." Amy silently pinched the bridge of her nose as there was an awkward silence, shaking her head. Jesus.

"…Sorry. I think I need to work on my dirty talk."

"Yeah, I think so. Do I have to? It's gonna be the most painful drive ever."

"I'll make you those PBJ cookies you love."

"Done. Absolutely a deal."

Amy sat in the passenger seat on the journey, tracing patterns on the window as Nick gripped the steering wheel, staring blankly ahead. Feeling his stomach clench with discomfort at how loud the silence was becoming, he asked, "radio?" and when Amy looked up, startled out of a daydream and nodding enthusiastically, he reached over and flipped it on. It crackled to life before a familiar song blasted through. The Black Keys. He visibly relaxed, drumming his fingers on the wheel. Finally, a song he actually liked.

Amy had straightened in her seat, letting out a pleased noise. "I love the Black Keys! Can we turn it up?" she looked at him delightedly. He laughed, seeing the picture of Jess in that moment. As he continued to shoot sideways glances at her while she played drums on the dashboard, he wondered how anyone used to be able to tell them apart when they were both brunette. This time however, he wanted nothing more than to hurry up and drop Amy off so he could get back to the dark haired woman who would hopefully be in his bed tonight, getting her flowery smell everywhere. The weight lifted from his stomach and he suddenly felt happy. Delirious, even. Jessica Day was practically his girlfriend. He liked the sound of that.

"Of course we can turn it up," he replied, grinning as her blue eyes lit up with glee. He knew there was a reason he didn't want more than one Jess floating about. How was he supposed to say no to either of them? This was a nightmare. They were so gonna use this to their advantage in the future. "What are you waiting for?! Yeeaah!"

They sang loudly and air guitared (air violining in Nick's case) all the way to LAX, and Nick even let Amy keep the station on when Beyonce started playing, watching her lean forward and carry out an extensive and complicated routine to the song. Women, he thought, shaking his head.

He drew the line at Sean Kingston, flipping off the radio as they pulled into a space. Hurriedly exiting the car and pulling her bags out of the back, he met her at the driver's side door. She was chewing her lip and squinting in the late sunshine as she took the bags from him. He cleared his throat, resting one hand on the car.

"You got your passport, tickets and all that?" he asked gruffly, not knowing what else to say. She nodded silently up at him, contemplative, before slowly advancing. He internally panicked for a second, and then her arms slid over his shoulders and he realised she was hugging him. Hugging. Calm down, Casanova.

"It sounds clichéd, but take care of my sister Nick. We have that twin telepathy you know. If you break her heart, I'll feel it."

He relaxed into the hug, feeling a pang in his gut. He was gonna miss having two Jesses around. He'd never admit it to anyone, but he was.

"If anyone's getting their heart broken here, it's me," he chuckled, letting her go. She stood back, a sad expression taking over her face that he didn't quite understand. "You alright?" she looked up at him, snapping her face into neutral. "You look like you went somewhere for a sec there."

She gave her head a little shake, laughing. "Fine. I'm just gonna miss everyone. Especially Jess."

He wanted to comfort her but it wasn't his speciality so he extended his arm and patted her awkwardly on the shoulder instead. She cocked an eyebrow at him, but let it slide. "You'll be ah…you'll be missed too. You're welcome back here any time. Maybe you could come back before you leave the country again," he said, scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably. "And hey. Erm. Thanks, you know, for everything with me and Jess. I don't know what you girls discuss in private, or what you talked about with Winston, but I guess it worked. And I…don't think I could be any happier right now. It was so hard, before. Living with someone like her just across… anyway, it's good now. Everything's good. So thanks."

She beamed at him.

Embarrassed, he shrugged as she reached up to ruffle his hair. "You know, in the future, at family dinners, I'm gonna tell the story of how you tried to relentlessly hit on your girlfriend's sister before you came to your senses."

He smiled at her, knowing it was her intention to panic him, but feeling oddly calm about the whole idea. Dinner with the families, swapping stories, it all seemed…ok with him. Maybe Jess would even be more than just his girlfriend then.

Woah, slow down Miller. Don't get creepy. We're not there yet.

Amy hoisted the bags over her shoulders with a grunt and turned back to Nick. "Oh, and tell Winston, he can call me anytime." She blushed furiously under Nick's amused gaze.

"Will do," he chuckled, opening his door and resting on it. "See ya, Amy."

She gave a little wave and set off towards the building, calling over her shoulder, "I'm sure you will, Nick. I'm sure you will."

Two years later, Amy was walking down the dusty dirt road to the local post office in Uganda, where she was currently residing, in a comfy little shack on the outskirts of town. She woke every day to the sound of children playing soccer on the land beside her place, the shouts carrying up through the shutters as she got ready for work.

She had awoken at around nine and showered, leaving her latest man tangled in the sheets, still slumbering as she left for the local post office in the village. The few tendrils that had fallen out of her ponytail were sticking to the back of her neck as she now stood in the small queue for collection. She shifted uncomfortably, tapping her foot.

The kind-faced and graying old man handed over a couple of envelopes when she stepped up to the glass. She smiled gratefully, taking them. "Weebale Joel," she said as she waved and turned away.

"Yowelcome Miss Day!" Joel said in his thick accent, raising his hand after her in return before serving his next customer.

She had rushed back to the house, eager to open her first mail in months. One of the envelopes had the familiar cursive that could only be Jess'. She sat at her desk, ripping it open impatiently and pulling out the delicate piece of paper inside. She was deathly silent as she read it, resting her chin on her fist.

"What's so interesting?" a gruff morning voice sounded from the bed. She heard the rustling of sheets behind her.

"It's from Jess. She's… She and Nick are getting married. Oh my goodness, they're getting married!" she swivelled round in her chair, beaming excitedly. "She's put Amy Day plus one. I suppose you could come." She shot a goofy, exaggerated wink at him. "If you must."

Winston laughed, voice cracking, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Her chest constricted. She loved him in the morning. "Thanks, that's so gracious of you. I guess we should book a flight huh?"

"Yep," Amy replied brightly, admiring the invitation again, shaking her head happily. "Mr. and Mrs. Miller…" she pressed the invitation to her chest, her eyes glazing over. "That's so nectar."

FIN

I just want to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who took the time to read, review or message me while I was writing this. As my first proper fic it is gonna be important to me so thank you for being so encouraging and making it worthwhile. :) 3 I also want to thank Captain Crunk for his continuous support, advice, ideas and general conversation and for making sure I was giving each chapter my best before I posted it. 3