The will they/won't they dynamic between Nick and Jess in New Girl kept fans guessing until the very end of the series. It was clear that the two loved each other, but they didn't always work as a couple. Despite being best friends for years, they faced many complications when it came to being in a relationship, and there were times it seemed as though they wouldn't ever work.
Thankfully, Nick and Jess got it together and ended up married by the series finale. It was made clear by his actions that Nick cared about Jess more than he cared about anyone else. He shows his love in interesting ways, and the things he does for Jess throughout the seasons proved how special she was to him.
He Picked Up Rubber Bands For Her Ponytail
As Jess said herself, every day, in his own way, Nick shows how much he cares about her. One of the things he did was collect rubber bands for her that he found on the street. He claims it's for her ponytail. It's weird and it's not a very sanitary thing to do.
It's also hard to imagine that Jess would ever put them in her hair, or even let them near her. But it's the thought that counts, right? Every time Nick picked up a rubber band, he did it to show his affection for her.
He Soundproofed His Room
Saying Nick "tries" to soundproof his room is probably more of an accurate description. It gets crowded sharing a loft with three other people, and sometimes Nick and Jess need their privacy. As a way to give that to her, Nick put egg cartons all over the walls thinking it would contain the sound.
To no one's surprise, it didn't work. But, once again, it's all about the effort he put in, and it's clear that this was something that took him a long time. Jess was moved by the sentiment, and viewers could physically see her fall in love with him just a little bit more.
He Broke Into Her Student's Shed
Despite being the more grounded of the two, Jess easily gets caught up in Nick's conspiracy theories. When Nick reads a short story written by one of the students in her Creative Writing class, he becomes convinced that he was a serial killer out to murder her.
Nick shows up to her classroom to investigate, drags Jess to his yard to look around, and even breaks into the student's shed trying to find proof. It did all turn out to be false, but the lengths he went to in order to protect her were admirable, though breaking in should still not be condoned.
He Gave Her The Birthday Of A Lifetime
It's no surprise that Jessica Day is a huge fan of birthdays. She has high expectations, and Nick wants to meet them. Nick isn't always the most responsible of the bunch, so it was up in the air whether or not he'd be able to pull it off.
After overcoming a few roadblocks, Nick manages to get all of her friends to surprise her at the movie theater and plays a video he put together about Jess. In Jess's words, it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her.
He Started A Bank Account
Starting a bank account is usually something a person does for their own benefit, but Nick was never going to do it without a shove in the right direction. Nick hates banks and anything that forces him to get his life in order, and he even yells at Jess when she uses the money he inherited from his dad to pay his own bills.
At the end of the day, Nick goes to the bank to open up his first checking account because he wants to be a man Jess can be proud of.
He Searched For Her In A Haunted House
Nick has a huge fear of haunted houses. He'd never go into one unless the situation demanded it. But when Nick finds out information about Jess's boyfriend that she needs to know immediately, he braces himself and runs right in.
He spends the entire time screaming and searching for Jess among the employees, and appears to be having a miserable experience. When Nick does finally reach her, he accidentally punches her in the face. He might've ended up doing more harm than good, but once her face stops stinging, Jess appreciates the effort.
He Jumped Into A Hole After She Fell In
Not many people would dive into a hole headfirst after they saw someone fall. But Nick didn't even think about it. The moment Jess falls in the bear trap, Nick goes right in after her. It wasn't the smartest plan, because they both ended up trapped, but, luckily, the rest of their friends are able to pull them out.
When it comes to Jess, Nick doesn't think before he acts. However, it is just as sweet as it is hazardous.
He Got The Neighborhood To Turn On Their Christmas Lights
Nick spends the whole evening worried that he'll miss his flight to see his parents, as it happened almost every year. He is determined to get there on time, and nothing was going to get in his way.
However, Jess ends up having a horrible night after their Christmas party leaves her feeling defeated. Instead of going to the airport, Nick takes Jess to a neighborhood full of Christmas lights. They are all turned off for the night, so Nick screams at the houses to turn them back on, which they do.
He Burned His Finger On A Cigarette Lighter
When Jess puts her finger in the car's cigarette lighter to show up Nick, she burns herself. Nick feels so bad that he kisses her while driving and then sticks his own finger in the lighter. When Jess asks him why he would do such a thing, he says he wanted them to both be in the same amount of pain.
It doesn't actually make logical sense, but it's also exactly the kind of sweet thing he's known for. If Jess is going to suffer, Nick wants to make sure he is too.
He Jumped Her Boss's Fence
Trespassing usually isn't a crime that comes without consequences, but when Jess ends up in her boss's backyard, Nick immediately hops the fence to join her. Jess doesn't have a good reason for what she did, other than that she felt pressured by the other teachers.
Regardless, Nick makes sure he's there for her. In an incredibly sweet scene, Nick tells Jess that no matter how stupid something is that she wants to do, he's going to do it with her.