Chapter One

The gentle breeze guided the few developing puffy, cotton candy clouds across the Atlantic horizon. He gazed out over the sea as the tide rushed against the shore and then receded. He inhaled the familiar salty scent of Capeside, Massachusetts, his home for the greater part of his complicated life. This town was the backdrop to his many family conflicts, his childhood pranks, and teenage angst. And contrary to his own popular belief, he would actually miss being a townie, well, a tiny part of him anyway, he thought as a well-known nagging voice cut into his reverie.

"Are you sure about this, little brother?"

Pacey dropped his last duffle bag into the back of his truck before turning to his sibling and did what he did best. He evaded his question with idle chatter. "Like I said last night, Dougie, I wholeheartedly believe the Bruins will go all the way this year. Sure, they had a few mishaps," he rambled on with a straight face, "but I think they have a great shot."

"Pacey," Doug groaned in his perfected irritated tone.

Pacey sighed. God, he wished that he made his getaway five minutes sooner before Sheriff Doug, or formerly referred to as Deputy Doug and still was by Pacey, decided to block his brother's escape with his patrol car in front of the entrance of the parking lot of Pacey's apartment building. As much as Pacey was grateful for Dougie's concern, he really didn't want to endure another interrogation.

"Honestly, Doug," Pacey said gesturing with his hands, "I truly believed that finally coming out of the closet and entering the world of domestic bliss would've finally removed that stick from up your…"

The Sheriff cut in with humorless laugh, "Here we go again. Pacey, can't you be serious for one second with me?" he asked but didn't wait for a reply. "This is a big step, preparing to move your life to New York. You're a successful business owner now, respected by this town. I just want you to think this through."

Pacey blew out a long breath and rubbed his forehead, trying to keep his irradiation at bay. "Look, Dougie, I'm not being rash about this. It's just a weekend trip. I will be back Monday."

"But you are planning a permanent move?

Pacey nodded, "Like I already told you and Pop, once I find an efficient, full-time manager other than Gretchen, but not before then." He'd graciously asked his sister to oversee duties at the Icehouse for a weekend here and there, but she was a fairly, new newlywed married to a preppy, but decent lawyer in Maine. Hence why he needed to find someone closer to Capeside to take a permanent position. "Why are you so worried about me? Are you scared that I'll ask you for another loan to open a New York restaurant or that your already invested money will go down the tubes with the Icehouse? You know, I understood why you got in my face about the Maddie Allen thing. You were right on that front, but I'm finally back on track, I finally have the woman that I have endlessly longed for back in my life, and this is my first opportunity to see her in a month after a chaotic reunion." Pacey's voice softened as he admitted, "But I am happy, with no doubts, no reservations. I am just happy for the first time in a long time, so cut me some slack, will ya, man?"

Doug's demeanor eased a bit at that, "I just don't want you to get hurt again."

"Well, I hurt her too. I 'd say we 're even now," He said with a hint of regret before his mouth curved into a relaxed smile. "But Joey and I are finally on the same page." That fact still seemed surreal to him. That somber day of Jen's memorial a month ago still didn't seem real. There was a whirlwind of emotions that overtook him that day- sorrow, anger, regret, determination, hope, exhilaration, and peace.

Pacey honestly meant what he'd declared to Joey in the kitchen. He'd wanted to let her off the hook. He'd wanted to find his own happiness even if it was without her. And he truly wanted her to be happy even if he was not the one by her side. He'd experienced a moment of clarity with Jen. Over the last five years, hoping, praying with each sparse email and phone call that one day Joey would crease to be terrified of a life with him was doing him no favors.

So, he let her off the hook.

"The simple act of being in love with you is enough for me," he'd affirmed with a giant lump in his throat.

Only to have the tables turned around on him.

Joey's moist eyes had met his as she released the words that he'd never thought that he'd hear. She loved him and she didn't want to keep running. Yeah, there was those words about Dawson being her eternally innocent soul mate, but Pacey knew what she meant.

Dawson was her past. He was her future.

Of course, because of Gale and Bessie's interruptions, Pacey had to wait hours upon hours before he received confirmation, well, at least it felt that way. But he'd kept himself busy after the mourners and his staff left by doing a second round of unnecessary clean-up and a quick inventory. More than once, his fingers had itched to grab his cell and call over to the Potter B&B, but he held back. This was a time to be with your family and grieve over their dear friend. Pacey decided his unfinished conversion with Joey would have to wait a little while.

So, he made his way to his parents' house where he was greeted with rare hugs by both his mother and father. They sat in a comfortable silence in the living room for a while. The silence was nothing new in the Witter family living room, but this time was different. Pacey didn't feel any tension with his parents which was common in his childhood but slowly lessened as he's entered his twenties. The harsh Witter dynamic morphed into an actual family somehow. That isn't to say that there weren't still arguments and disagreements with John Witter and his younger son, but they'd found respect for each other as Pacey worked hard to achieve success. And on that particular night, he found much needed support as he grieved for a close friend and waited to hear from the one person, he needed the most

It was close to midnight when the wait ended as Pacey walked up to the entrance to his apartment building. His head was bowed down lost in contemplation when her sweet, sarcastic voice stopped him mid-stride.

"I was wondering what was keeping you."

Pacey looked up to see Joey sitting on the stoop. Her knees were bent to her chest as a lopsided smile appeared on her bewitching face, her wavy, dark hair gently blew in the night breeze. He'd exhaled the breath he seemingly held in since she left him standing in limbo that afternoon.

And he smiled back, "It's late. What are you doing here, Potter?"

Her jean clad legs slowly stood up as her doe-like eyes became solemn and he knew her mind turned to Jen, "Today was a draining day, to say the least. A day I wish had never come to pass, a day I don't want to be repeated…and I needed to see you."

"And why is that?" Pacey asked softly, barely audible through the rustle of tree leaves.

Her intense gaze melted into his as she admitted vehemently "Because, Pace, I've finally come to terms with the fact that I cannot live without you and I don 't wants to."

And with that he closed the distance between them and wrapped her in a fierce hug as if finally coming home from a long war. "It's about time, Potter, it's about time," he whispered in her ear before he pulled back a bit to grin down at her. Their eyes locked, blue melting into brown. Then his lips descended on hers with years of pent up yearning. The kiss was tentative at first, but quickly deepened, leaving him wanting more…

Unfortunately, his cell started to vibrate in his pants pocket.

They reluctantly pulled apart dazed from desire, not comprehending what caused their unwelcome third interruption that day.

Joey was the first to speak as she reached back into his pocket and pulled out the cell. "I could make a joke about this, but I will refrain," she slightly smiled as put it in his palm.

It turned out the call was from an urgent Doug. He wanted Pacey to come over immediately. Amy had a high fever, and Jack was going crazy with worry. Evelyn Ryan had reluctantly taken a sleeping pill. She was overwhelmed with grief and needed to rest. They didn't want to disturb her, Doug said, unless they had no other choice, they had already left a message with the pediatrician's answering service, but the doctor hadn't called back yet. Pacey's heart ached as sad wails from a sick baby came from the background. He closed his eyes and said that he'd be there. And then he looked at Joey with a silent question and her only reply was "Let's go."

After an exhausting five or so hours of helping to take care of poor Amy who probably just wanted the comfort of her mother, they drove back to Pacey's place in a comfortable tranquility as the first rays of light began to peak in the pinkish sky. Once the little girl's fever had broken and she fall into a deep slumber, Doug and Jack thanked them and told them to go get some rest. They looked like hell, Jack tried to joke as he rubbed his own tried eyes

As Pacey parked in front of the apartment, he had hope that they would finally have more than a moment to reconnect, but luck was not on their side. Maddie Allen stood by the door in all her manicured glory. A jealous scowl etched her face when her eyes landed on Joey. An awkward encounter ensued, an encounter Pacey wanted to forget, although thinking about Joey's peachy approach to the situation made him smile.

"It's really nice to meet you, Mrs. Allen…. Yes, I'm that woman Pacey kissed on the dance floor. How nice of you to remember…. As Pacey just said it wasn't a performance for your benefit. You just gave him the excuse to kiss me and thus, by doing so, you in essence made me realize what I was depriving myself." Joey put her arm around his waist touching her lips briefly to his shoulder. "So, thank you and now please excuse us," She put her hand in his as he led her into the building, leaving Maddie in a huff as the door shut behind them.

…...

"Pacey, are you listening to me?" Doug asked now, "I know how much you love Joey and how much she loves you, but love is not enough to make a problem free life. Just take things slow. Have you and Joey really had time to discuss your plans?"

Pacey hesitated. He wanted to say everything was worked out, but all he could say was, "W…we talked every night on the phone for the past month." After the Maddie incident, they did have time to reconnect in his bed, in each other 's arms, but only to have sleep overcome them almost instantly as soon as their bodies hit the cushy mattress. A few hours later, they were rudely woken up by her buzzing cell. Her boss had wanted her back in New York ASAP. Their new best-selling author, Christopher Sade Joey's newly ex-boyfriend, misplaced a manuscript with important notes in the margins Naturally, according to the brooding writer Joey was the only one who could help find it.

Joey rolled her eyes as she related this to Pacey reluctantly saying that she had to go back that afternoon. This Christopher was going to be a pain in the ass, Pacey had realized, but kept his mouth shut. The last thing he wanted was to ruin their reconciliation with ex-boyfriend talk. Their history had enough of that with Dawson and that Eddie guy to last a lifetime. This was supposed to be their fresh start with no worries of exes, Pacey told himself, and no hasty actions.

This included sex. They both wanted their first time together to be more than a quickie, Thus, they settled for a brief, but ardent make out session with a lot of clothed groping reminiscent of the beginning of their high school relationship. And then Joey left to pack and hit the open road while he went to deal with the daily grind at the Icehouse, leaving them both unsatisfied.

Time, it seemed, was still not on their side. Time and place were their main problem.

But Pacey was determined to change that, to make things work for them, "Look, Dougie," he argued now, "Joey has the same concerns as you. She does not want me to uplift my life overnight. She even offered to relocate to Boston, but New York is where she's making a name for herself in the publishing world. I don't want her to mess with that," he confessed earnestly, then added on a somewhat witty note, somewhat serious note, "And yeah, I've been thinking of what it would be like to be a world-renown restaurateur in the Big Apple."

Doug sighed, "Okay, little brother, sounds like you made up your mind in that thick head of yours," he then smiled before saying, "I do want to see you two happy. I've always rooted for you guys, you know."

Pacey smiled at that as he let the tension leave his body, "Ah, Dougie, I've always known you were a romantic at heart."

"Yeah, yeah" his brother waved him off as he started backing up. "Do you want a ride to the train station?

"Nah, I don't want anyone to think the big, bad sheriff's hauling me to the slammer again."

Doug laughed and began to walk away.

"Wait," Pacey stopped him, "you knew I wouldn't be swayed by your lecture, didn't you? So, what was this about?" he gesticulated with his hands.

"To do what I do best," Doug grinned, "to nag you and wish you a safe trip. Give Joey my best," he called over his shoulder, walking to his patrol car still illegally parked at the lot entry.

Pacey chuckled as he got into his vehicle. Yeah, he'd miss some things in this town, but he was more than ready to set eyes on his future.

…...

"Yes, Rachael, I promise that I'll have your manuscript completely proofread by Monday." Joey feigned a polite tone as she ended the tiresome conversation with a new author and hung up the phone. Sitting back in her cubicle, Joey rubbed the tight muscles in her neck. For the past month, she had to deal with over two dozen demanding writers. Upon her return to work, she'd had similar conversations with almost every one of them: My deep condolences for your friend, but about my manuscript…. Where is my manuscript? Do you have my manuscript ready? God, where did all the humanity go in the world? Did people actually have souls or was that just a myth like being safe under an overpass during a tornado? Granted, editing manuscripts was her job, but was sincerity too much to ask?

Joey should've known that things would go from bad to worse upon her return to the city. She'd been the "saving grace" to Christopher's writing career, his words, when she'd located his must-have manuscript under her bed. Easily located by anyone with eyes, Joey thought, wryly.

Yes, she was a fool, a fool to think an amicable break up could happen over the phone. The Love is so short, forgetting is so long poetic farewell was too good to be true.

"Well, I just thought you needed some space," Christopher had divulged when she returned his manuscript. "You know, with you finding the ring…. yeah, I guess that. And everything with your friend…I just figured you were overwhelmed."

Guilt had swept through her as she replied gently, "Christopher, it's more than that…I just don't think we're meant to be." Because I'm still in love with my high school boyfriend and we're back together, she confessed in her head, but she didn't want to add more fuel to the fire at that moment.

The back and forth of whys to the sudden end to their relationship continued for a while. Joey had explained that it was nothing he did or said. This was all on her. In other words, she gave the it's not you it's me speech.

But the frustration in the tone of his voice raised to a heartbreaking pitch, propelling Joey to blurt out, "I'm in love with someone else." A palpable moment of silence followed, then she'd said more softly, "I'm sorry, but I have been in love with someone else for a long time."

"Who is he?" Christopher had asked flatly

"He's an old boyfriend from back home, from Capeside," Joey had admitted gently, "Nothing happened between us until this past week after I called you." Except for the weak-kneed lip lock on the dance floor, she'd thought dully, but she wouldn't make that precious moment into something to be regretted.

Christopher just glared at her for several seconds before turning on his heel and storming out of her apartment, leaving her drained.

And that feeling remained every time she'd had to speak to him professionally. Because she was still his editor. Her boss had said that Christopher wanted the best and that meant her. But his cold, impersonal demeanor had not improved, making their working relationship very strained.

And the vibe from her co-workers didn't help matters. In fact, it was as if she'd been transported back to high school. Only now the whispers and looks weren't for having a convicted father, but for breaking the heart of the most popular boy and author linked to this publishing house, especially when said boy sauntered into the office for revision meetings for his upcoming release, Discovering Her Secret Life. Ironically, the plot involved a man investigating the mysterious life of his ex-girlfriend.

Joey sighed now at her desk, resting her chin on her hand and closing her lids. Was one stress free weekend in her future? She hoped so. God, Pacey could not arrive fast enough. She knew that Pacey had a life in Capeside, a business to run, but she was very grateful to Gretchen for coming to help this weekend. Random emails throughout the day and nightly calls were not as good as the real thing. She missed his mischievous grin that compelled a roll her eyes in feigned annoyance. She missed his tender and loving smile that put her at ease. She missed his melting blue eyes that could warm her in an instant. She missed his simple caress that made her feel alive, his kiss that sent burning desire to her core….

She just missed him.

Joey shook herself out of her dream-like state and looked at the time on her computer. Only 2:05 pm. Another sigh escaped her. Approximately four more hours until she met him at Grand Central. How did she go a month without him? No, how did she go five years without him?

"I know that look," Susan Moore, one of her few friendly co-workers left these days smiled down at Joey from the adjacent cubicle, "The new beau coming this weekend?'

"Yeah, well, I mean, he's an old beau, but yeah," Joey rolled her eyes at her own rambling and then smiled.

Susan grinned back, 'Well, hope you have fun. You deserve it."

And with that, Joey's spirits lifted.

…...

Joey maneuvered her body through the throng of travelers at Grand Central Terminal. The echo of voices bounced off the high domed ceiling, making one feel small and insignificant. A beer bellied man in a Yankee cap almost knocked her over, yelling at a little boy to hold his hand. Joey sidestepped him just in the nick of time. A silver haired woman of about eighty then smiled at Joey as if to say Don't you just love New York. Joey sighed.

She finally made it to the information booth where a line of people stood. Her gaze raised to the four-face brass clock. 5:59 pm. Her heart thumped rapidly in anticipation as she scanned the faces coming through the terminal gate. Seconds passed, then a minute…

Then his dazzling sea-like eyes captured hers.

They both grinned, gravitating toward each other, both saying "excuse me" to the maze of people separating them.

And then they fell into the familiar warmth of each other's embrace as the nosy terminal seemed to disappear around them. Her arms encircled his neck as his hands intimately caressed up and down her back. "Missed you, Jo" Pacey mumbled softly against her lips before they became lost in one another. Jolts of heat shot though Joey as his tongue slipped between her teeth deepening the kiss, making her melt all the more with a mixture of love and want.

When their lips reluctantly pulled apart, Joey whispered, "Missed you too, Pace,"

Pacey grinned boyishly, "What do you say, we get outta here?"

Joey simply smiled, leading him out of the station.

…...

As softness of dusk illuminated the interior of the taxi taking them through rush hour traffic to Joey's apartment, Pacey enlaced his fingers with hers. He couldn't stop touching her even as they relaxed into their usual comfortable banter, his favorite thing to do with her, besides the obvious that is. It had been their initial form of foreplay even when they didn't know it was in fact foreplay, even when they loved to hate each other.

"So, tell me, Potter," Pacey began, "why did you insist on coming to pick me up? I could have found my own way to your place."

Joey lifted her brow, "Why? Didn't you enjoy our little heated exchange back there?"

"No, I enjoyed it very much, very much" he admitted scratching his chin in an attempt at nonchalance, "But I never took you for a train station reunion type."

She looked him pointedly, "And oh wise one, what is such a type, may I ask?"

"Ya know, man and woman search the crowd. Suddenly the crowd parts. There's some type of unexplained fog. Man and woman lock eyes and the scene changes to slo-mo and a romantic musical score plays as the couple make their way into a sweeping embrace," Pacey grinned.

Joey smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "Pace, you better be careful. You're beginning to sound eerily like Dawson."

"Ouch, Potter, that hurts," he winced even though he no longer held any ill will toward Dawson. In fact, he was proud of his Hollywood success.

"Besides," Joey gave a hesitate smile, bringing forth a hint of vulnerability in her eyes that went straight to Pacey's heart. "What if I do like grand romantic moments for us, to reflect back on at a later date? Would that make me too girly?"

And just like that, the humor left him, and he uttered tenderly, caressing her cheek, "You can never be too girly for me and I mean that with the utmost sincerity."

Joey rested her head on his shoulder, sighing, "Pacey, I have a feeling this weekend will be over before we even know it."

He closed his eyes at that, dreading Monday, "I know, Jo, but as soon as I find a full-time manager, I'll be here…"

She lifted her head and looked at him intently, "I didn't mean to apply that I want you to rush things with the Icehouse. I mean I want you here, yeah, but that restaurant is your success, your great achievement. You're diligent with the Icehouse like you are with everything else you care deeply about and I'd hate for you to change on my account."

Pacey couldn't have loved her more in that moment. Joey always had compelled him to do better. Even when she didn't hold faith in them, Joey always held faith in him. As his chest tightened with painfully sweet affection for this Potter girl, Pacey touched his lips to hers into a feather light kiss and then said, "Let's just be about you and me, in the moment, tonight, this weekend. And think about the rest later, no thinking about leaving, work, the outside world. Only you and me."

Joey nodded giving a lopsided smile, "Okay, I really like that. After the season finale of The Creek tonight, it'll be just you and me."

Pacey's eyes widened as if she just said pigs could fly.

And just like that the poignant moment evaporated. God, he hated Dawson. Yeah so what if it was irrational. Pacey hated Dawson for putting his show on the same night that Pacey planned to spend endless hours having long awaited reunion sex with the love of his life. Leery still found ways to stick it to him,

"Joey, can't we record it?" he asked, his eyes almost begging.

Joey stared at him as if he grew an extra head, "Pacey, it's only one hour and we promised Dawson we'd call him afterward," she whispered as they both caught the suspicion gaze of the cab driver in the rearview mirror. "Plus, tonight's supposed to be the night that Sam and Petey kiss for the first time, and then she denies any feelings and runs off to Colby."

Oh hell, just what he needed was to be reminded of the triangle tonight of all nights, "Jo," he whispered back, eyeing the beefy guy with a scorpion tattoo on his left bicep. Why didn't they notice that before they got into the taxi? Pacey thought faintly before saying to Joey, "Why relive our distorted teen angst when we can write a blissful reality tonight?" he gave a hopeful grin.

Joey smiled, crookedly, "Nice try."

The cab screeched to a halt

"We're here," the driver said gruffly.

Sighing, Pacey took out the money from his wallet and leaned forward. The man swiveled around in his seat taking the fare with a buck tooth grin, "Thanks man, and I gotta say you guys were very entertaining and touching and I'm rooting for Petey and Sam too."

For a second, Pacey was taken aback by the comment, then turned to Joey. They both smiled, stepping out of the vehicle.

"Hey, we have a fan," he exclaimed enthusiastically as they walked up to her Upper East Side building.

Joey looked at him and grinned, "It does not take a lot to make you happy, does it?"

"No," Pacey admitted honestly, "now that I have you."

…...

Once they ended their congratulatory call with Dawson, Joey promptly returned to her teasing of Pacey, "So why were YOU crying?" she leaned over to him again on the sofa, her eyes sparkling with lighthearted intrigue. "You couldn't have been that overcome with joy with the Sam and Colby end?"

Pacey shrugged, casually, "I'm all for soulmates getting their shot."

She laughed, "That is such crap, Pacey! That has always been crap…at least I hope," she added suddenly feeling sullen.

He eyes her quizzically, "What does that supposed to mean?"

"Well," Joey hesitantly replied, thinking back to her freshman year ill-fated college try with Dawson. As unfair as it may been, greedy even, it hurt to hear Pacey say that it was time for them to get their shot as if he was completely over her, no hint of jealously nor regret in his voice. "You said something along the same lines about Dawson and me. And I guess, I've always wondered if that was truly your sentiment."

Comprehension dawned in his blue gaze, "What do you think?" he uttered quietly. "No, look at me, Jo," he insisted when her eyes lowered to her lap. His callus fingers tenderly lifted her chin back up, "I just wanted you to be happy, like I said, but it pained me to say those words just like it pained me to hear you give Audrey and me your blessing."

"I…I just wanted you happy," Joey echoed his words, smiling slightly with moist eyes.

"Yeah," Pacey simply smiled, cupping her cheek, "so you see, it really doesn't matter if Sam and Colby get together this season or if she ends up with Petey nest season. We know how it truly ends."

"With you and me," Joey said softly, mesmerized by his warm touch and intense gaze. She brushed her lips against his chin, craving more of him, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine.

"Just as it should be," Pacey added huskily just an instant before their mouths came together in a fevered, thorough meeting that sent her mind and body reeling. One kiss became another kiss, and another. Soon their hands and lips were roaming everywhere Her insides liquefied into lava. This time there was no interruptions, just two lovers reconnecting in every way possibly, body, mind, and soul.

At some point in the dizzy haze of desire, they made it from her living room couch to her bedroom, in her bed. Slowly but surely, their articles of clothing faded away. Her want-filled gaze took in his broad muscular form, drinking him in, her mouth and hands then explored his hard-heated skin, making him groan, a groan that was very familiar to her from years past. And the sounds intensified her need for him, wanting to make up for all the time they missed out on because of her own cowardly fear, fear that seemed nonessential now.

When Pacey started his own incredible torment over her body, Joey became lost and her desire for him to be inside of her grew to unbearable proportions He licked and sucked down her neck, to her breasts, to her stomach. When he finally reached her wet folds, she squirmed and pleaded, "Please, Pacey."

His darkened eyes met hers, reflecting the same overwhelming desire that she felt. Slowly he entered as if wanting to prolong their exquisite outcome. Inch by torturous inch, Joey felt like they were returning home.

Then, finally they were there, fully joined, completely one.

They instantly found a rhythm and their lips came together hotly again and again, making her lose her remaining control and welcome her freefall.

And he soon followed with complete fulfillment

A contented peace ensued as Joey's head rested on his chest, listening to his heartbeat return to normal. His fingers lazily traced circled on her shoulder, making her lids lower feeling completely sated and happy. This was what she had run from? Joey thought sleepily. It was almost inconceivable now that she had been scared to be with this man who made her feel so good, a man who was so selfless, who satisfied her every need emotionally and physically. She couldn't imagine ever letting Pacey go again.

His lips brushed her forehead, "What are you thinking in that pretty head of yours?" he asked softly.

She gazed up at him and softly returned, "Just how much I love you."

…...

"I love you, Jo, but we're not going to share razors. If that happens, this domesticity will surely turn into anarchy," Pacey argued, wiping the remnants of shaving cream off his chin in the bathroom the next morning. They had a late start to the day. It was close to noon. But neither of them had been compelled to get out of each other's arms after their night filled with rounds of amazing reunion sex. But now Joey desired something else, his delicious Belgium waffles, and yes, his razor.

Joey rolled her eyes, "Pace, I don't want to share razors. I just don't have any useable ones left and forgot to go to the store yesterday," she countered crossing her arms over her chest. "Why do you have such a problem with this?" she raised a brow.

"Because one razor will soon lead to two. Soon we'll be sharing deodorant and that'll lead you to expect me to use your womanly fruity body wash," his arms flapped up in exaggeration. "And as much as I love the scent on you, it wouldn't do well for my manly image."

"You're impossible," Joey replied, then tilted her head to the side, her eyes softening, almost pleading, "Please."

Pacey sighed and grumbled, "Oh no, those eyes," and in the end handed over the razor. He then pulled Joey to him with the belt of her pink robe. "What am I gonna to with ya," he whispered before giving her a long, hard kiss.

She smiled crookedly after coming up for air, "As much as I enjoy this, I need to take a shower."

"Hmmm, why don't I join you?" Pacey asked huskily, his lips brushing her neck.

Joey shivered, melting into him, "That…that does sound tempting, but I'm starving for your waffles." she pushed his chest lightly and stepped back.

Pacey moaned, "I see how living with you is going to be and it ain't pretty." He then grinned giving her one last peck before walking away.

Joey was all smiles as she entered the shower. As the steaming water cascaded down her body, her mind was consumed with Pacey and the hot night before. She lathered a washcloth with her fruity wash and began to scrub down her throat, then her left breast, and then her right. That was when she unintentionally pressed down on the soft tissue around her nipple. She stilled. Hardness, hardness that she could have sworn wasn't there the other day. Joey dropped the cloth and explored the area more closely with her hand. Sure, enough there was a pea-like lump.

Joey closed her lids, thinking that her period was still a couple weeks off. It couldn't be because of that. And as self-conscious as she had been about her body, she'd learned to do self-examinations at an early age, thanks to her mom. Oh God, her mom. A flash of her mom's pale face invaded her mind. No, it couldn't be, Joey told herself. It couldn't be. She was only twenty-five.

Her shaky hand turned off the shower. Banging pots and pans and whistling came from the kitchen. Happiness. She finally had happiness.

Her forehead leaned against the cool tiled wall, trying to fight down the familiar feeling of fear bubbling to the surface. It had to be nothing.