Hi. I hope everyone enjoys this. I only have the last part to write. My aim is to post every day and post the last part on Christmas Day - for fun why else?! That said I have kids, it's Christmas and I have no tv to entertain them. Fingers crossed this all works.

Please review. My motivation to write and post flies out the window without feedback - that's the truth!

thanks, Tab :-)

Green Christmas

Chapter One

It was when he was climbing out of the shower that he heard his cell phone ringing. He cursed himself for selecting the ring tone that sounded like an alarm warning system for some catastrophic event, and so he answered the phone, dripping water on his bed as he sat down.

'Hey D,' he said into the phone.

'Pacey man,' Dawson's excited voice chirruped in his ear.

'What's up?'

'Are you busy, you sound busy?'

'Just drying my hair off. I got out the shower thirty seconds ago. I can talk though.'

'Do you have work?'

'I'm due at the restaurant in an hour. I can talk Dawson, so get to the point.'

'I wanted to ask you a favour,' Dawson sounded light and frothy.

'Sure,' Pacey walked to his dresser naked and pulled out clean boxers, pants for work and a shirt.

'My girlfriend is flying into Boston on the weekend. She's never been to the city and I said she might be able to stay with you? I know you normally work weekends but is there any way you can pick her up and you know look after her a little?'

'Is this the girl you've been going on about for the last few weeks?' Pacey grinned.

'More like the last six months,' his friend laughed, 'and yes. Joey is something special. I think she's the one Pacey.'

'The one?' Pacey couldn't quite hide the note of scepticism.

'You know twenty five is not too young to find the one,' Dawson chided.

'But there still so much of life to live. You don't want to settle down yet, trust me.'

'By life to live you mean, women to sleep with?' Dawson half teased.

'I mean fun to have before it all gets to serious.'

'Trust me, Joey's a girl it's worth getting serious for.'

'Really?' Pacey tried not to sound too sceptical.

'There's more to life than a different girl in your bed every night.'

'Not every night...' Pacey hastened to correct.

'What happened Pace? I mean to my glib, heart on his sleeve friend? You used to play the cad but were a romantic at heart?'

'As opposed to now?' Pacey let out a wry almost laugh.

'You used to believe in love!' Dawson went on.

'No my friend - you believed in love. I was raised a cynic by cynics. I'm not a child of Hollywood dreams. I don't believe in happy ever afters. True love is myth. Sex and endorphins create the illusion of love. You, my friend, are high on your own pheromones...and your girlfriends.'

'Joey, her name is Joey.'

'Trust me Dawson - this girl isn't as perfect as you believe. She's not as sweet or wonderful as you think.'

'Oh but she is Pace. She's sweet and innocent, and wonderful. She isn't tainted with cynicism. She's my soul mate...'

'Come on Dawson,' Pacey scoffed, 'soulmate? That is total Hollywood bullshit.'

'You are a cynic,' Dawson cried in triumph. 'What kind of person doesn't believe in a soulmate? The perfect other half to them. Joey is my soulmate.'

'Whatever you say.'

'Her flight gets in at 11 - can you pick her up?'

'I'll rearrange the weekend and be there to collect her,' Pacey gave an over exaggerated sigh. 'And she can use the spare room.'

'Thank you,' Dawson chuckled down the line.

'How long will she be using the spare room?'

'Until she finds an apartment,' Dawson explained.

'And why is she moving to Boston again? If her soulmate is in LA?'

'So droll,' Dawson snarked back good naturedly, 'she got a job there.'

'Doing what?'

'She's a doctor. She's an intern.'

'Creative you and a doctor?' Pacey laughed.

'She's amazing Pace, you'll see.'

'That I will,' Pacey grinned, 'speak to you soon.'

'Thanks Pace.'

'Anytime.'


Pacey was late to the airport. He'd struggled to leave his restaurant, Sophie's, because the manager was late, then the traffic had been terrible, parking had been worse and by the time he got to the airport and then into the arrivals he realized he didn't have a clue what Dawson's beloved looked like. Running to the Starbucks he charmed the barista into a date and a piece of paper and then scrawled Joey on it and proceeded to a visible position, only to hear an awkward cough from behind him.

'You're Pacey?' she asked and she had a nice voice. Turning Pacey clocked a pair of large hazel eyes looking at him from a beautiful face, dark hair in a haphazard bun on her head. For several seconds he gaped like a fish.

'Joey?' he asked and cringed because it really didn't sound like he believed she could possibly be Dawson's girlfriend, and really he didn't. Dawson favoured pretty girls, cute and homey looking - this girl was a goddess. This girl was his type, not Dawson's.

'Pleased to meet you,' he gave her a charming grin and she smirked as if she knew what he'd been thinking.

'Thanks for picking me up, and for having me stay.'

'Well I had your boyfriend on the phone pleading, I mean what's a guy gonna do?' Pacey shrugged and picked up her bag.

'You don't need to carry that,' Joey said at once attempting to retrieve the bag, her fingers brushing his. Pacey shot her a "get real" look.

'I know you can carry it, but you don't need to.'

'Well ok,' she frowned a little but fell into step beside him. 'I'm sorry if this is putting you out,' she said at length. Pacey laughed,

'You don't need to be sorry, though the sentiment is appreciated toots. Dawson has been my best friend since we were in kindergarten but he doesn't really get the whole other people's work thing, but you know, I managed.'

'Dawson said you're a chef?' Joey looked at him and he faltered slightly in the cocky bravado under those invasive eyes of hers,

'Well yeah, he would say that,' he shook his head and chuckled, a low and not particularly happy sound.

'So you're not a chef?' she frowned.

'I own my own restaurant. So yes I'm a chef, but I'm also a manager and not working the weekend is not as simple as Dawson imagines.'

'You know, contrary to what Dawson thinks I don't actually need a babysitter,' she gave him a dark look.

'I'm sure,' he laughed out loud because whatever Dawson thought, he was quite convinced that Joey wasn't as innocent as she seemed. She looked a little offended, caught between manners and offence. After all he was letting her stay at his place.

'I could be offended by your insinuation but I can't be bothered,' she muttered in a haughty voice.

'Oh don't be offended, it was a compliment,' he grinned at her as they reached his battered old station wagon.

'I didn't know you had kids,' she said in amusement.

'Haha,' he rolled his eyes, 'this car is extremely practical for lugging crap,' he gave her a pointed look, 'now in you get,' he followed up with a sweet smile.

Joey glared at him but slipped into the passenger seat.

'So is your apartment as nice as your car?' Joey asked as they pulled out of the airport short stay.

'My place has a spare room and is near the hospital,' he responded brightly.

'Oh great.'

'Apparently, thanks to Dawson, it's also free,' he shot her a look.

'I can pay you rent.'

'Let's see how long you stay first,' he rolled his eyes.

'You don't seem to be anything like Dawson,' Joey murmured after a few minutes driving in silence.

'Really?' Pacey chuckled.

'Really.'

'Didn't he give you the run down? Explain how it was we became friends?'

'He said your moms were friends.'

'Our mom's weren't friends, not really,' Pacey muttered. Silence stretched.

'So are you going to explain?' Joey broker the silence impatiently.

'Sure,' Pacey laughed, 'Dawson is the golden one - always has been. We met in kindergarten and he attempted to pass some of his golden glow onto me. Dawson could do no wrong so I followed him around, trailing disaster in my wake. Good cop, bad cop, good twin, evil twin, golden child, proverbial screw up. You can imagine which he was and which I was. But we liked each other. Unfortunately his glow didn't help me, and luckily my shade didn't effect his glow.'

'He mentioned that you were unique but he didn't use the words screw up, evil or bad.'

'Well he wouldn't, he's my friend right? You must have noticed that Dawson doesn't really live in the real world, well not mine anyway. But he's a good friend.'

'Dawson is amazing,' Joey stated and Pacey laughed,

'Well yes, Dawson has always been "amazing."' They fell into silence after that.

'So I figured we'd head back to mine, have some lunch, you can unpack. When do you start at the hospital?'

'Monday and that sounds good.'

'I have a spare bike you can use to get to the hospital - if you want. It'll mean it only takes five minutes. I imagine your shifts will be antisocial at times?'

'That would be great, thank you,' she seemed genuinely relieved.

'My hours can be antisocial too, so let's try and keep it quiet.'

'Absolutely,' Joey nodded.

'After lunch we can cycle to the hospital, so you know the way and all. Then we can go do whatever it is you need or want to do,' he shrugged easily as he parked in front of his brownstone.

'Wow I love this building. It's so different to the west coast,' her eyes shone as she made the enthusiastic declaration. 'I love the steps, the windows, the fence. Everything.'

'Me too,' he chuckled. It was hard to knock her when she was so clearly enamoured with the place.

'How many apartments inside?' she asked with a tilt of her head.

'Um...' he coughed a little, 'well none. I own the whole of it.'

'You own it?' Her mouth dropped open in an adorable expression of surprise.

'Now I bet Dawson didn't mention that,' Pacey mused.

'You own it?' she repeated. 'How at twenty five do you own that?'

'I just do,' he said. He didn't really feel like discussing the where's and whys so he tried to make it clear by his tone for her not to ask - thankfully she didn't.

'I love it,' she gave him a smile, the kind of smile that made his insides warm.

'I love it too,' he agreed. 'Come on in,' he opened the front door. 'Ok, so downstairs is my Airbnb holiday let. It's self catered and has its own entrance. I have it all sorted, so you don't need to worry about that.'

'Can I see it?' She asked hopefully, 'I mean if no one is staying.'

'Unfortunately there's a couple there for the weekend, but yes I'll show you it soon.'

'This is beautiful,' Joey stared at the ornate tile floor, the wooden stairs, the stained glass above the door, the old metal hooks for coats.

'Thanks. There's a hook for you,' he nodded at the empty hook. 'Shoes in this cupboard.'

'I don't think I can say enough how much I love this house. This is my dream house.'

'It's pretty nice,' Pacey smiled, leading her into the living room, with the large kitchen joined dining room on the back.

'Dawson didn't tell me that you live in my dream house,' Joey echoed again staring at the large oak farmhouse dining table with its bench and chairs, a hand running over the dark brown leather couch with it's large eclectic cushions and blankets. She ran her hand over the granite kitchen surfaces. 'He said you were messy?' she almost accused.

'Well I'm messy, but clean,' he explained. 'I did however know you were coming so I picked up a little. There's a dishwasher, and I do keep the kitchen clean and tidy. You can relax elsewhere,' he added.

'The bedrooms are upstairs?'

'Follow me,' he smiled leading her up the stairs, watching as she took in everything.

'My bedrooms at the front,' he gestured to the closed door, 'bathroom, my study and your room,' he pointed into his clean spare bedroom. It was plain but serviceable.

'Thank you,' she seemed thrilled with it.

'Upstairs isn't really finished but if someone needs to stay over, let me know and there's space in one of the rooms I can clear. I prefer it if people don't sleep in the lounge.'

'Sure,' she smiled as he plonked her bag in her room.

'I'll go make some lunch. Bacon sandwiches ok?'

'Perfect,' she nodded and he headed off, shooting one last look at her over his shoulder.


'So are you an LA girl?' Pacey asked as she demolished her sandwich.

'Oh no,' she laughed, 'not at all. I'm from a small town in Oregon. The less Oregony bit of Oregon.'

'And how did you end up in LA?'

'Med school,' she shrugged easily.

'So where in Oregon?'

'A small town called Wilton. I don't mean east coast small. I mean tiny. Two thousand seven hundred people on a good day.'

'Ok, that's small. My high school was eight hundred and I consider Capeside a small town! Now why describe it as not Oregony?' he leant forward, watching her smile,

'Well it's not green like people think, certainly not in the summer. The mountains are brown. There's no canyon, no gorge, no beaches.'

'Ok, all those no's are my vision of Oregon,' Pacey pulled some chocolate from the fridge and offered her a piece.

'It is beautiful, but it's isolated and lonely. There's Wilton and the nearby Comat, then mountains and farmland.'

'And I thought Capeside was the sticks,' Pacey teased.

'It's an hour from Boston, it's not the sticks,' Joey stated and he nodded.

'If you're finished do you want to go out, or you happy hanging out here?'

'I'm pretty nervous about Monday. I would love to see the hospital route.'

'I'm sure you'll be great,' he told her as he cleared the dishes.

'Hmm, yeah, medicine, so easy, the stakes aren't high at all.'

'Haha,' he rolled his eyes at her sarcasm.


Pacey eyed the blond at the bar as he and Joey ate dinner at a table in his restaurant. The blond was with a couple of friends, waiting for a table to clear and she was hot. Joey had spent the last forty minutes drivelling on about Dawson's many virtues, Dawson's creative genius, Dawson, Dawson, Dawson in general and though Joey was more pleasing to look at than the blond, Pacey was pretty certain he could get the blond to go on about Pacey, Pacey, Pacey.

'Right,' he heard the huffy noise through the general Dawson drivel he'd blocked out.

'Huh?' he looked back at Joey who was glaring at him with fiery eyes. Hot but scary.

'Clearly I'm so boring it's more interesting to stare at big tits,' her glare deepened.

'I spent twelve years listening to the Dawson golden balls broadcast twenty four seven. I'm good.'

'I thought he was your best friend,' she scowled.

'He is and thus I've heard this all before, and in the same exuberant tones. The guy's a god and I'm very happy for him.'

'You're a bit of a jackass,' Joey muttered looking toward the blond. 'That your type then?' she asked as the blond gave a vapid laugh.

'Sometimes,' he smirked.

'And I bet you're her type,' Joey shook her head and looked into the bottom of her wine glass.

'Meaning?' he arched an amused brow.

'Dawson said you have fun with girls, that you like...you know, that kind of girl.'

'I like most types of girl,' he said easily and she tutted,

'I bet.'

'Is there something wrong with my liking women? I'm single.'

'I just don't get the sleeping around thing,' she said haughtily.

'And who said I sleep around?' he asked and she didn't answer, merely shrugged, 'ah, Dawson,' Pacey nodded. That hardly surprised him, Dawson had a very clear vision of Pacey in his head. 'Ok, so occasionally I sleep with a girl. I like sex and that's not a crime.'

'I happen to think sex should mean something.'

'Well that's why you're with Dawson and not me,' Pacey shrugged.

'You think sex doesn't mean anything?' she was indignant.

'Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't,' he said easily. 'Sex when I'm in love means something, sex when I'm single is about having fun.'

'Ok,' Joey stared at him, distaste marring her features.

'Let me guess, you and Dawson make love.'

'It's none of your business what Dawson and I do,' she glared at him.

'Oh that's rich! You're free to pass comment on my choices, but your relationship is sacrosanct?'

'It's a relationship,' she stated patronizingly, 'relationships are private, something between the two individuals involved. Causal sex isn't a relationship.'

'Spoken like an uptight prude. I bet you're real warm between the sheets,' he muttered. He could do sarcasm as well as her.

'Did you just call me a prude?' her arms crossed under her boobs and she looked gorgeous but Pacey nodded,

'I wouldn't call you a prude if you weren't being all haughty, taughty over my choices in life. You don't even know me. You have no right to judge what I do. You're not my girlfriend,' he told her.

'Well I guess if I'm a prude you must be some kind of pervert,' she attempted.

'No, Joey, I'm not a pervert. Enjoying sex, being ok with sex, having fun with sex, it doesn't make you a pervert.'

'And wanting sex to mean something, doesn't make me a prude,' she glared.

'Let's forget it,' Pacey muttered and stood and headed for the bar and the blond, 'ladies,' he interrupted with a polite cough, 'I noticed you've been waiting for a while. Let me get you a drink on the house,' he nodded to Tom behind the bar.

'Is this your restaurant,' the blond had noticed him looking.

'It is. I'm pretty sure we can have a table for you soon.'

'Can we convince you to join us?' the blond asked with a suggestive flutter of her eye lashes.

'We'll see. I'm with a friend,' he nodded at Joey who was glaring at him from her seat.

'So answer something for us,' the blond put her hand on Pacey's arm, 'who is Sophie? She must have been someone special for you to name your restaurant after her.'

'She was,' Pacey nodded.

'An old love?' The blond asked.

'Something like that,' Pacey agreed.

'I'm heading home,' Joey was behind him glaring, 'have fun with him girls,' she gave them a fake smile and turned on heel.


Pacey had had fun with the blond and tequila slammers. The girls were on vacation and he and the blond had made the most of her hotel room. It was the early hours by the time he made it home. Heading to bed he'd slept, only waking after ten the next morning. Pacey headed through the shower and then downstairs for much needed coffee. He spared a glance at the closed door of Joey's room feeling a twinge of guilt for abandoning her. It was only a twinge however - he didn't take judgement over his personal choices so kindly these days. Entering the kitchen he realised Joey wasn't in her room but in his kitchen.

'There's coffee in the pot,' she stated from the table where she was pouring over a large book.

'Thanks,' he got himself a large mug and poured his hot coffee. Pulling out a loaf of bread he popped a couple of slices in the toaster. 'You want toast?'

'I'm good,' she said looking up at him from her book, her eyes appraising. 'I'm sorry,' the words were soft. The words were sincere.

'Sorry? I'm the one that abandoned you.'

'I had no right to judge you and I'm sorry,' she stated.

'I'm sorry for calling you a prude,' he said at length, buttering his toast.

'Meh, it may be a little bit true,' she shrugged and he laughed. 'I'm sorry for calling you a pervert.'

'Meh, it might be a little bit true,' he gave her a wicked grin. 'You studying?'

'Like I said, I'm nervous.'

'You're pretty smart though?'

'Yes,' she answered simply.

'Dawson is pretty smart,' Pacey acknowledged.

'You say it like you're not,' Joey gave him a look as he sat down at the table.

'I'm not dumb,' he stated and then reconsidered, 'I hope I'm not dumb. I didn't achieve at school,' he shrugged.

'Apparently you didn't need to,' Joey gestured around them. 'There's more than one way to be smart,' she said and he smiled a large genuine smile,

'Wanna say that to my dad one day?'

'Sure.'

'In his world there's only one way to be smart and I'm not it,' Pacey stared at his toast and then looked back at Dawson's beautiful girlfriend. She really was insanely gorgeous. Tall, with legs that went on for ever, that long dark hair and those eyes of hers. He'd always been a sucker for eyes and Joey's were probably the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen.

'I've learnt that dad's don't know as much as they'd have us believe,' Joey said and he got a feeling there was quite a lot behind that statement.

'I agree,' Pacey said, 'or I'd like to if my dad didn't have me doubting my own opinions.'

'Have a little trust in yourself,' she told him and when she said it, when the words came from her mouth, he wanted to try.

'So what would you like to do today? I have the whole day off and we can do anything?'

'Would you be willing to play tour guide? Take me to your favourite bits of the city? Or Dawson's?'

'Sure,' he nodded rolling his eyes internally as the constant Dawson focus. Dawson was her boyfriend, of course she would mention him a lot.

'I should really look for somewhere to live...you know more permanently.'

'You're fine here. Get into work and then look.'

'I'm pretty sure if you wanted a roommate you'd have one.'

'I'm not against having a roommate. I don't have one because I don't need one.'

'Well thank you.'

'It's no problem.'