Better Late than Never

Disclaimer: I lay no claim on Dawson's Creek or any of its characters. They belong to Kevin Williamson and all those geniuses in Hollywood – I only borrowed them for our entertainment.

Summary: Joey's pregnancy scare from season 4's episode "Late" was confirmed. She did not tell Pacey about it but decided to handle it on her own.

A/N: Well, here is my next story. I have been writing it for a few months but I need to get it typed up still. Let's hope now that I am on summer vacation I can get it posted quickly. Hope you like it! As usual, the italics mean the past.

Chapter 1

Joey had just gotten back from the weekly Sunday dinner at Grams'. She slumped onto her bed as soon as she entered the dorm. Audrey was nowhere in sight – as usual. She was probably at some party somewhere on campus but Joey didn't care. She liked having the time alone to think. She unconsciously rubbed her protruding belly, thinking about Pacey and senior year in Capeside…

Joey stood at the bathroom sink watching the clock. She had just taken a pregnancy test and the two minutes felt like an eternity. The seconds seemed to be going slower and slower until it seemed like they had all but stopped.

Finally, it was time. Joey closed her eyes and flipped over the test. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the two pink lines. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, thinking, hoping she was not looking at it right. The lines were still there, mocking her. Joey covered her eyes and slid to the floor as the tears started falling. She buried her face in her hands.

A few minutes later, Joey composed herself and went to find Bessie. She found her sister in Alexander's room. "Uh Bess?"

Bessie's back was turned as she dressed her son. "How'd it go, Jo?" she asked. When Joey didn't answer, Bessie turned and saw her little sister standing there with a fresh set of tears trailing down her face. "Oh no." Joey handed her the test, which she looked at before reaching for her sister. "It's okay," she soothed.

"What am I going to do?" Joey's voice was muffled against Bessie's shoulder but was still understandable.

"You have to tell Pacey," Bessie said matter-of-factly.

"No, I can't!"

"You have to, Joey. It's your responsibility. Pacey deserves to know."

"Bessie, you don't understand." Joey pulled away and wiped her eyes. "Pacey's already going through enough – I can't put this on him now. Promise me you won't say anything to anyone about this."

Bessie sighed. "Alright. Even though I don't agree, I promise."

Joey was brought out of her thoughts by Audrey coming in. "Hey Joey! How was dinner?" the blonde asked in her usual cheery voice.

Joey smiled. "You missed a great night – according to Jack and Jen, Grams has become a 'tramp'."

"Really? Sweet old Grams is a tramp now?"

"Yep. Apparently she's been bringing home all sorts of men from bingo." They both laughed.

"So, how's the baby?" Audrey asked in a high pitched child's voice, patting Joey's stomach.

"Fine."

"I still think you owe it to his or her father to tell him. I know you have all these reasons why not to but the guy deserves to have the chance to take responsibility. You shouldn't have to burden this all on your own."

"I'm not 'burdening' it alone. I have my friends to help me. Besides even if I wanted to tell him, I couldn't because I don't know where he is. Last I heard he was sailing the Caribbean."

Audrey rolled her eyes. "I know, I know – I have heard it a hundred times in the last few months."

Joey yawned. "I think I'm going to call it a night."

"Okay, okay – expecting mommies need their rest."

"Goodnight Audrey."

Joey began dreaming as soon as her head hit the pillow:

The words "When I'm with you, I feel like I'm nothing!" were still echoing in Joey's head as the limo driver dropped her off. She climbed the steps to the porch and entered the house. Bessie was still up getting things ready for the next day. "Joey! I didn't expect you to be back this early. Where's Pacey? Aren't you guys going to the after party?" Then she looked at her sister's face. "Jo?" she asked with a softer tone.

"Pacey – I – we're – over!" was all she could manage to get out.

"Oh Joey," Bessie cried and headed toward Joey to comfort her but she stopped when Joey held her hand up.

"I'm fine Bessie."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I just want to be alone." She went to her room and closed the door. Once inside, Joey took off her dress – the dress Pacey was supposed to take off for her – put on pajamas and slid into her bed alone. Nothing was going right tonight and the worst part was she was still pregnant but now she was really alone. For the first time, having an abortion crossed her mind but as soon as she thought of it, Joey pushed it away. She could never get rid of this baby. Sure, it was unexpected but it was not unwanted. Everyday she wanted it more and more…

Joey tossed and turned in her sleep, frowning from the bad dream. She visibly relaxed as a new one began…

It was almost graduation and Joey still had managed to keep her pregnancy a secret. It wasn't hard to do; she just bought bigger shirts to conceal the small bump that was just starting to show. If anyone asked, she just told them it was her new style. Only Dawson was suspicious; Joey often felt his stare from across the room but he never asked so it wasn't a problem.

After seeing Pacey leave the graduation rehearsal, Joey gathered the courage and went to see him at his house. She was considering telling him until he told her he did not want to think about the future and didn't even want her around. How could she tell him about a baby when he wanted nothing to do with her?

Then graduation was here and Pacey was gone without so much as a goodbye. Joey lost her chance and now she was really alone.

The alarm clock rang loudly, awakening Joey from her endless nightmare.

TBC