Written by: fandreamer1
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I hereby state that I do not own, nor have I ever owned any of the characters from the televison show Dawson's Creek. These characters are the property of Kevin Williamson, The WB, Outerbanks Entertainment, Columbia TriStar, and Sony.
ONE YEAR LATER…
Dawson puts the phone back in its cradle. There is another knock on his office door. He stares at the closed door for a few seconds and then says, "Come in."
The door opens. There stands Joey Potter.
"Hi Jo."
"Hi Dawson."
Joey stands in the doorway for a moment playing with her hair. She walks inside and closes the door.
"What brings you to L.A., Jo?"
"Well… um... Pacey says hi."
"How's that bum treating my kidney?"
"You know he's grateful Dawson."
"I know. We flew down to Pebble Beach a month ago to play golf and I let him pick up the greens fees and also let him win, you know, for old times sake."
"Dawson?"
"Yeah, Jo?"
Joey shuffles her feet and moves a little closer to Dawson.
"Pacey and I are over."
A look of concern crosses Dawson's face. His gaze drops to his desk.
"Damn. Here we go again."
Joey takes another step, hesitantly, toward Dawson.
"No Dawson", she shakes her head, " It's not like that. There was no dramatic breakup. No loose ends. We gave it a good, honest try but it ended."
"Can I make a confession Jo?"
A look of uncertainty crosses Joey's face.
"Of course Dawson."
"I knew about you and Pacey. That was Pacey who called just before you knocked on my door. Weird timing, but then we always danced to a strange rhythm. This once, though, the fates were on our side. I think the soap opera may finally be over and Pacey agreed."
"What did you say to him Dawson?"
"Well, I asked him to be my Best Man."
Joey opens her eyes wide.
"Dawson, what are you...?"
Before Joey can complete her thought Dawson leaps from behind his desk and plants himself on one knee in front of her.
"Josephine Potter, will you marry me?"
Dawson opens the velvet box in his right hand and reveals a simple diamond engagement ring. Joey is stunned and silent for a moment, and then she begins to cry softly.
"Dawson... how... how do you have a ring if you just spoke to Pacey?"
Dawson smiles up at Joey. Tears are forming in the corners of his eyes.
"Ever since Jen died, and probably for a long time before that, I knew we would start a family together one day. Not just hoped or felt but really knew it, deep down inside. I even had a dream, a kind of vision really, of our wedding, the night before my Mom remarried. Buying the ring didn't just seem like a good bet, it seemed like a sure thing."
Joey silently nods. Tears are streaming down her cheeks.
"Oh Dawson."
Joey is wracked with sobs.
"Yes, Dawson Leary. Of course I'll marry you. I've had every detail planned since we were nine years old."
Joey begins to laugh beneath her tears. With a fluid motion, Dawson gently slips the ring on Joey's finger and stands to face her. They smile at each other for a long moment and then kiss deeply.
In the background the phone rings several times but Dawson and Joey are oblivious, delirious with joy. Eventually, the answering machine picks up.
"Hey Dawson. Lovable Pacey Witter here. Of course I'll be your Best Man, brother. After all the water that's gone under all the bridges we've crossed and burned behind us, I'd be honored. I love you, man."
The End