Hi all,

So this is a one parter I wrote years ago. Spfan09 reminded me that this story even exists and so I went and reread it and decided to post it here. I may hunt and find and rework another couple of stories I haven't posted here as well. This does involve character death and is a one shot that I've split into two. It came to me...well I can't remember when but it was really the first scene I had in my head and it went from there.

Please review! I beg as always;-) A little bit of feedback may invigorate me into getting those other stories into a fit shape to post (imagine me smiling a big cheesy grin here;-)

Tab x

Part One

The bell at the front desk was being rung. Ting. Pause. Ting. Pause. Ting. Pause. Huffing loudly Joey stalked into the foyer trying to plaster her best hostess smile on her face, but the smile fell when she saw him standing there leaning on the counter, feet crossed, the most lazy of smiles on his face. He was thinner than she'd seen him but even under the black t-shirt she could make out the sinews of defined muscles. He was tanned, a tan that only served to make his eyes bluer than any ocean she'd ever seen. His face was as youthful as ever, but it seemed slightly more serious, like there was a lot going on his head these days. Five years was a long time - he looked almost entirely different and yet achingly the same. His hand was paused ready to press the bell again.

'Press it again and it'll be the last thing you ever do,' she threatened with mock anger but was unable to take the lilt out of her voice completely.

'Well hello Joey Potter,' Pacey tugged at the ragged baseball cap on his head and grinned, as unfazed as he'd always been at her wrath.

'Pacey Witter,' she moved behind the counter officiously. 'What can I do for you?' she was all business.

'Well I'll be needing a room for a few days,' he leaned against the counter and his scent wafted up her nose - he smelt stupidly good.

'You've come to the right place,' she arched her brows.

'Thought so,' he turned his twinkling eyes on her taking her in. She was paler than she was when he left and her hair was shorter, about at her shoulders. It wasn't wild as she'd worn it senior year, but smooth and sleek - well conditioned. She was noticeably thinner, not entirely angular but she'd lost a couple of her curves he was sorry to see. Of course she was still beautiful - she'd always been beautiful. And the pretty summer dress, more like something Jen would have worn than Joey, was just perfect - out of character enough to make him wonder at how much this girl he'd once known so well had changed.

'A single room?' she asked pointedly looking behind him as if expecting to see some woman dragging a bag.

'With a double bed thanks,' Pacey shrugged easily.

'You expecting company? For the register,' she explained, with a sarcastic and somewhat caustic tilt of her head.

'Just like to spread out,' he smirked.

'This way,' she told him stepping from behind the counter, he waited a beat and then followed allowing him the opportunity to watch her ass as she lead him down the hall. 'This do you?' she asked pushing open the door to the newest room at the Potter B&B. It had a large double bed and a nautical theme.

'Suits me great,' he entered the room looking around and then turned to stare at her. He didn't mean to do it. Hell, it had been 5 years and they weren't more than friends before he left. It was completely inappropriate. Completely out of line. Completely not the done thing. But who was he to toe the line? When had he played by the rules? It had been going to happen the moment she stepped into his line of sight - basically a forgone conclusion. In fact it was a miracle he'd managed for it not to happen for so long. He stepped up to her and without a word kissed her. He kissed her good and proper, his arms scooping her close and then tangling that manicured hair. He kissed her so intently that she had barely a second of intelligent thought before she didn't care about thinking and kissed him back.

She had to give him credit, he made fast work of her panties, and fast work of his jeans. But she didn't think to be embarrassed - she didn't think - seemed to be a problem with this mysterious and ever so handsome Pacey Witter. It might have been half an hour, or it may have been half a minute, Joey couldn't say how long it was before he was inside her, her back against the wall, his hot fiery kisses scorching her naked flesh. She couldn't have said how long it was before she came for the second time in her life with her entire body, with every cell. She almost collapsed on him, but he held her tight, his own orgasm bleeding from him for what felt like minutes.

They remained paralysed in one another's embrace for several moments until Joey coughed. Pacey stood back and grinned, pulling up his jeans with a nonchalant confidence.

'Welcome home Pacey,' he practically growled in low tones. Joey brushed her dress down, scooping to pick up her torn underwear.

'I hope you have a restful night. Enjoy your stay,' she spoke quickly before backing out of the room and closing the door behind her. Pacey just chuckled.

'Good morning Bess,' Pacey slept late the next morning missing breakfast.

'Pacey,' Bessie practically shrieked hugging him tight. 'I can't believe you're back!'

'Neither can I,' Pacey leant against the counter taking the coffee Bessie passed him gratefully.

'I'm not sure I even know where you've been. I lost track after you left India.'

'That was three years ago,' Pacey tugged his hat on.

'Well after that I couldn't keep up. One minute you were in Vietnam, the next Australia. Then you were in Italy and suddenly it was Spain. I even heard you went to Iraq.'

'So you have an idea where I've been!' Pacey smirked.

'But where were you last?'

'I've been in Nigeria for the last few months - I was in the Sudan for a while. Wherever the WHO is required.'

'So how come you're back?'

'Comes a time when you miss home. Can't say how long it'll be for but…' he shrugged.

'Have you seen my sister?' Bessie asked carefully. Pacey didn't pick up on the tone tucking into the pancakes Bessie had placed in front of him.

'She checked me in. Didn't she say?' he knew she probably hadn't said a thing and he smirked.

'Dawson picked her up early early this morning.'

'So Dawson's still in Capeside - what happened to the film career?' he frowned despite the mild flush of triumph he treacherously felt at the idea of Dawson failing.

'Oh Dawson lives in LA - he's doing alright for himself. Making some kids show. We watch it occasionally. Alex loves it.'

'Alex?' Pacey raised his eyebrows at Bessie. 'Man, how's Alex?'

'He's good. A good kid. He's 11 now. And a big brother.'

'You have another?' Pacey grinned.

'Sasha. She left with Joey this morning.'

'Congratulations Bess,' he slurped his coffee.

'She's 4 years old Pacey,' Bessie laughed.

'Well to me she's brand new!' Pacey laughed. 'Hey Bess, I don't mean to eat and run, but I haven't been to see my folks yet - I think I better do that - they weren't exactly aware I was coming back,' he gave her a sheepish smile.

'You change but you're still the same aren't you?' she rolled her eyes reminding Pacey of Joey.

'Thanks Bess,' he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and left.

'So what did Dawson say when you told him Pacey was back?' Jen leaned forward eagerly.

'I didn't tell him,' Joey wrinkled her nose.

'Why not?' Jen bit her lip.

'They fell out, it's been five years, why should Dawson care?' Joey shrugged as Jen gave her a pointed look. 'Pacey will find Dawson if he wants to see Dawson.'

'So how did he look?' Jen asked changing the subject and closing down an email all at the same time.

'Like Pacey,' she was non committal feigning interest in her computer.

'It's been five years Jo, give me more than that!' Jen protested swirling around on her chair to stare at her friend. Joey stared steadfastly at her screen,

'He looked good - better. He's tanned… and rugged… and strong… and his eyes are the same…bluer… and…'

'You slept with him!' Jen couldn't keep the shock from her voice, the words rebounding around their small, friendly office. Joey blushed fuchsia confirming Jen's suspicion.

'It's not…' Joey began stuttering on her words almost immediately.

'I cannot believe you slept with him. You haven't seen him for five years, you don't even know where he's been for the last three years and you barley say five words to each other - on your own admission, and yet you slept with him…'

'It wasn't….' again Joey stuttered.

'It wasn't what? The brightest idea - no kidding Jo. What about Tom? I thought you liked Tom.'

'I do like Tom…' Joey protested.

'I don't think Tom would like you sleeping with Pacey.'

'Jen…' Joey tried to rationalise.

'What?' Jen gave her a stern look.

'I didn't mean to,' she attempted.

'You mean his cock accidentally fell inside you?' Jen frowned.

'Sort of,' Joey conceded.

'Come on,' Jen shook her head.

'Everything was normal and well fine. We were just talking and kinda teasing I guess. I showed him to his room and asked him if it was ok and then he was kissing me…'

'He came onto you?' Jen asked.

'It's hardly likely that I threw myself at him is it?' Joey bit out somewhat scathingly.

'I guess not,' Jen conceded.

'It just happened. We were kissing and it was unbelievable and then, then… somehow we were…you know.'

'What did he say afterwards?' Jen's emails were entirely forgotten.

'He said "Welcome home Pacey,"' Joey mimed quotation marks.

'Welcome home Pacey?' Jen squinted not entirely impressed. 'What did you say to that?'

'Something like "I hope you have a restful night, enjoy your stay."' Joey grimaced at her words. Jen burst out laughing. Even though Joey looked indignant Jen continued to laugh until Joey couldn't help but smile.

'Well now if it isn't Jen Lindly,' Pacey almost walked past his old friend as she strolled down the waterfront. 'And who is this little miss?' he bent down in front of the little girl with blond pigtails eating an ice cream.

'I'm Amy,' she smiled at the man who tweaked his cap at her.

'A pleasure to meet you sweetheart,' he charmed. Jen smirked as her daughter turned red.

'Pacey - still the same effect on women!' she teased pulling him into a tight hug.

'Not you of course,' he teased back.

'Nah… I have better taste and a charm detector,' she ran a hand over the very fine lines that had snuck up at the corner of his eyes.

'Amy is yours?' he smirked at her knowing the answer.

'This is my little girl,' Jen tweaked a pigtail.

'Wow,' Pacey couldn't believe it. 'She's gorgeous just like her mom!'

'What are you doing back and where the hell have you been?' Jen wasted no time in getting down to business. If Joey couldn't talk to Pacey without doing him then Jen would have to get the information.

'Around…'

'Around?' she arched a cynical brow.

'Around most of the world I guess.'

'Doing what?' Jen wasn't impressed.

'I became a doctor in the UK first of all… they allowed me to finish my training…'

'Oh,' only slightly impressed.

'Then I worked for a year before travelling around… just looking at the world I guess… I did some work in various places, as a volunteer before joining the WHO. Been in Africa the last couple of years, mostly Nigeria but Cote d'ivoire, Niger, Botswana, Ghana, Sudan… all over really,' Pacey tugged his hat on firmer. He didn't like telling people what he'd been doing.

'Oh,' Jen was more impressed than she wanted to be. 'Well I'm glad you're back you big lug,' she hugged him again.

'So…' he shifted from foot to foot, 'Joey Potter…'

'Real subtle Pace,' Jen rolled her eyes.

'I wasn't striving for subtle,' Paced grinned. 'She's pretty gorgeous.'

'Yeah,' Jen nodded.

'Is she single?'

'You didn't worry about that last night did you?' Jen told him off watching Amy as she balanced on the wooden edge of a box surrounding a tree. Pacey shrugged sheepishly. 'She's been seeing a guy for a couple of months,' Jen admitted.

'Uh-huh,' Pacey didn't seem perturbed.

'He's nice,' Jen added.

'I'm nicer,' Pacey smiled easily.

Pacey's eyes scanned the water as he waited for Jen to return from the washroom.

'How do you know my mom?' Amy asked.

'We were at school together. We're friends.'

'Do you know my dad?' she asked.

'I can't say I do. Who's your dad?'

'I don't know my dad,' Amy didn't seem to care. 'My friend Holly doesn't know her dad either so it's ok.'

'Dad's aren't always worth knowing,' Pacey confirmed.

'That's what my mom says. She said that if my dad knew me he'd love me and that's what matters.'

'Right you are little miss,' Pacey agreed whilst absentmindedly flipping his beer mat and catching it, enchanting Amy.

'What are you two chatting about?' Jen asked sitting back down at the table.

'Dad's,' Amy announced.

'Oh,' Jen looked worried but Pacey reassured her with a little shake of his head.

'So how old is Amy?'

'I'm four and a half,' Amy announced.

'Wow… so you must have been pregnant when I left?' Pacey asked.

'Yeah,' Jen sighed thinking back, 'and in denial. He didn't want to know,' she mouthed the latter over Amy's head.

'Jerk,' Pacey mouthed back. 'So what you been doing with motherhood? With 5 years?'

'Lots. I was in New York for a while, but after Amy came along I decided to move back here - better friends. Jack was here teaching and Joey had come back from New York a couple of months before. Joey and I bought my Gram's old house and we started a business together.'

'I thought Joey lived at the B&B?' Pacey asked feigning disinterest. Jen knew better.

'No… she was helping Bessie and Bodie out last night. They had a parent's consultation at Alex's school. Buying together seemed to be the only way to get a place. We have separate spaces but Joey and I just get on. We understand each other.'

'Not too much working together and living together?' Pacey asked.

'With anyone else I'd say yes, but Joey and I - no,' Jen shook her head, 'We don't have to work all that often - the business is a success and we kind of just oversee things. We have a laugh when we work in the office together and at home… I guess we're like family.'

'What's this business?' Pacey was intrigued.

'It was Joey's idea… after Amy. We decided we needed a place to go. Somewhere where children could play, parents could talk, have a coffee, get information… so we opened up Come and Play. It's a coffee shop but there's a space for babies and toddlers to play. It's simple play - we have story tellers, do puppet shows - they're Joey's specialty believe it or not but mostly it's lego, rattles, ride on toys that kind of thing. We even run something called the Green baby - it helps parents know how to be green when they have children. Through it there's a nappy service to promote the use of real nappies, breastfeeding support to help avoid formulae, and the equipment exchange so that you can get stuff second-hand and avoid the gluttonous consumerism associated with children. I mean the stuff is nice but it's eco friendly,' Jen couldn't stop her enthusiasm showing.

'Wow… that sounds pretty cool,' his sincerity was obvious.

'I know we've not been off saving the world but it's a little something in our own backyard,' she shrugged.

'Don't be so modest. It sounds awesome. I can't wait to see this place. Is it near by?' Pacey pushed a napkin across to Amy who was in need after her melted ice cream. Jen didn't miss the gesture.

'It's a block away, on Water Street.'

'Shall we head there now?' Pacey asked looking the epitome of laid back, with his legs stretched out in front of him, his cap pulled on his head and his bronzed skin glinting in the sun.

'Now?' Jen seemed taken aback.

'Yeah now… unless you and Amy have other plans? You busy little miss?'

'No,' Amy giggled.

'You wanna show me where mommy works?' he winked at her.

'Sure,' and Amy stood up, took Pacey's hand and led the way despite her mom's reservations. Jen stood up and followed unable to stop herself marvelling at the perfect pertness of his butt.

There was no way Pacey could deny the success of Jen and Joey's business. The place was heaving at 6pm on a week night. Jen explained that they offered an early dinner for parents that wanted a night out. The children were either sitting at the table with their parents or listening to Joey read a story. Pacey smiled widely at the sight of her.

'She doesn't need to do it but she enjoys it,' Jen explained although she realised she'd lost Pacey who had headed over to the story area as if in a trance. Like a boy of 5 he sat down cross legged at the back and listened to Joey tell some story about children who found a rocket in their back yard, her voice lilting like poetry. He grinned leaning back on his arms watching as Amy sat down right next to Joey, Jen turning and chatting to people eating.

It was about ten minutes and a new story later that Pacey noticed the little girl sat by herself, somewhere off to his right, in a little corner looking at a book and humming softly to herself. A pretty little imp of a thing. Tiny with dark hair held back by a clip. A look of absolute concentration on her cute as a button face. Pacey felt his heart go out to her, remembering himself as a kid and how he always used to feel on the outside. Granted it was normally with his family that he felt like an outsider but he could easily relate to the unease and the need to hide away.

'Hey sweetie,' he shuffled over to her but she didn't look up. 'What you reading?'

'Pace,' Jen tapped him on the shoulder and he looked at her,

'I wasn't…' he began but Jen interrupted,

'It's ok Pace… I was just going to say that Holly is deaf. She signs,' Jen smiled at him.

'Oh, ok,' Pacey nodded and unperturbed turned back to the impossibly cute little girl with soft dark hair, combat trousers and a pink t-shirt. He tapped her shoulder and waved. Smiling, Holly waved back.

'You ok?' Pacey asked pointing at her and then making an ok with his fingers. The girl nodded and pointed at her book.

'A frog?' Pacey asked looking at the picture. The girl nodded and made a sign. Pacey repeated the sign and said 'frog,' again. Holly nodded smiling. Pacey settled back to enjoy going through the book with Holly. Occasionally his eyes flitted to Joey, whose eyes, he noted, flitted to him. And they were beautiful eyes. Eyes that made him want to take her to bed again and again. Eyes that made him wonder why he ever left for five years. Of course, five years ago he'd not felt like that. Five years earlier Joey and Dawson had been entrenched in their love affair. If you could call watching films on a Friday night, never making it past second base and being buddies a love affair. It didn't matter what he, Jack and Jen called it, the point was to Joey and Dawson it was a love affair. They'd dated at 15 then broken up a month later. Dated at 18 then broken up a month later. Then dated at 23, just before Pacey decided to leave, and of course they'd broken up a month later - of course it didn't matter how long they were and weren't together. With Dawson everything was so inflated. Joey was his soul mate. The soul mate Pacey slept with a couple of weeks before he left.

How had he and Joey ended up in bed? It was hard to come up with one solid reason, it was like the finale of years of sexual tension, finally breaking in one awesome night. He figured it was pretty much the same way he had ended up inside her twenty minutes after seeing her for the first time in 5 years. There'd always been a little something between he and Joey. They'd had a love hate relationship, a relationship full of banter, battles and the every now and then moments that scared them both. Pacey had known he was leaving when he'd slept with Joey. Knowing he was going probably gave him the push to do what he wouldn't admit he'd always wanted to - make a move on the best girl in the world. Joey hadn't known he was leaving. No one had. Pacey had applied to go to Oxford as an intern without telling anyone and when he was accepted he was so certain it would all fall through he'd kept it to himself. He let his friends know the night before he left, and though he sent the odd postcard, things had taken off and the postcards were sent to his family when he got the chance, when he found a post office, if he found a post office. He didn't call because his parents and he had been in a very distant place.

Pacey would have kept more in touch, but after the night he spent with Joey, that one amazing night, things kind of exploded. She'd withdrawn - typical Joey Potter, and felt the need to tell Dawson despite not being with him - typical Joey Potter, and had blamed Pacey- typical Joey Potter, and had asked for time before pegging it back to Boston - typical Joey Potter. He'd seen her at his leaving party - the fact that he was leaving had really pissed her off. She wouldn't even talk to him and that was it. She'd received more post cards than anyone but… Pacey was surprised she didn't beat on him the moment she saw him again.

He'd thought about her. More than he liked to admit. Despite seeing women from all over the world no one had quite shaken her from his mind. When time fell quiet his mind would turn to her, the way she looked in the moonlight, the feel of her skin, the way she bit her bottom lip, the way she'd put him in his place… goddamn every little thing about her.

Pacey copied Holly's sign for tree and looked at Joey again. She was looking at him so he smiled and she smiled, the nervous smile of hers before turning back to the story - the last story she was telling before they shut up for the night.

'Sorry to interrupt,' Jen was bent down next to Pacey and Holly. Pacey noticed she signed at the same time as talking.

'Jen, how do I sign my name's Pacey?' he asked.

'I'll do it for you,' Jen sighed a deep sigh that Pacey didn't understand before signing to Holly. Holly looked at Pacey quizzically as Jen signed then responded triggering another response from Jen. 'So, Holly sweetie, come and have some dinner with Amy. We need to talk to your mommy. I know it's late but we'll get you home soon,' Jen ruffled the girls dark hair. Holly smiled and signed back before rushing over to Amy at a table with a bowl of pasta on it. She hoisted herself up into the chair and signed something to Amy who giggled and signed back, looking over her shoulder at Pacey.

'Amy can sign?' Pacey asked casually.

'They're best friends,' Jen explained simply. 'Come and have some dinner,' she told him.

'Joey joining us?' he asked with a sly grin.

'Yeah,' Jen rolled her eyes and sighed.

'Sure.'

Pacey was half way through his delicious bowl of pasta when Joey appeared at the table, she kissed Amy on the head, then Holly before sitting down opposite the latter and next to Pacey. Pacey watched Jen and Joey fall into a signing conversation which confused him as Holly was talking to Amy.

'Hello Witter,' she murmured a few minutes later without looking at him before signing at Holly.

'You're a pretty fantastic story teller Potter,' he winked at her, casually brushing his finger along the side of her hand. Joey moved her hand faster than lightening.

'I see you met my daughter Holly,' Joey stated rather abruptly just as Pacey took a mouthful of water. He began to choke in a rather undignified manner.

'I'm sorry your what?' that was the last thing he'd expected.

'My daughter Holly,' Joey gestured at the dark haired imp, that gave him a large smile.

'Yeah… yeah I met her,' Pacey attempted a recovery. 'A little cutie,' he offered lamely.

'Isn't she,' Joey responded signing something at Holly and making her giggle.

'So… um… how um old is Holly?' Pacey coughed out the question.

'Four and a half. Born two months before Amy,' Joey rolled her eyes. He was clearly doing math. She watched him breathe a sigh of relief. Pacey was relieved, but also surprisingly a little disappointed that the math didn't add up. That disappointment, however, was something he didn't want to deal with. The little imp that was Joey's daughter was something he couldn't avoid dealing with especially when it didn't dampen his desire to touch Joey, talk to her and generally be in her vicinity. Pacey was surprised at the strength of his attraction to her. They'd been friends for most of their lives and he'd had a thing for her for most of his life but he'd been away five years. A lot could happen in five years. Heck - Joey had a daughter. Jen had a daughter. And if his family were to be believed Jack McPhee had yanked his brother out of the closet. He'd seen the world. He was a doctor. He'd seen people with their legs blown off, watched children die, seen people die of starvation and yet something hadn't changed - he'd come home after five years and he still had a thing for her. But he was older now. More confident. And he didn't give a shit about Dawson.

'She's just the cutest thing,' Pacey grinned at Holly. 'She and Amy,' he turned his charming smile on Jen.

'Charmer,' she muttered ignoring the rise in temperature his smile could cause. She was beginning to see how Joey could end up sleeping with him after 20 minutes. 'Amy, come with mommy and say goodbye to Sophie,' Jen nodded at one of the waitresses.

'I can't believe you have a daughter,' Pacey murmured as Jen retreated. He watched Joey sign. 'What are you telling her?' Pacey asked.

'I sign everything we say. Just because she can't hear doesn't mean she doesn't have a right to know what's being said same as any other kid,' Joey shrugged.

'So last night…' Pacey began with a twinkle in his eye. Joey abruptly stopped signing as he leaned close and whispered, 'I'd almost forgotten how amazing you are…almost…'

'Pacey,' Joey broke eye contact with him, her tone chastising.

'Joey,' he matched her tone.

'I need to get Holly home…'

'Can I take you out later? We'll go for a drink and a game of pool. If Jen doesn't mind.'

'Like a date?' Joey frowned. She was signing again.

'Yeah a date,' Pacey touched her hand fleetingly. 'I want to talk properly.' Joey hesitated for a long moment,

'Sure.'

The bar was busy for a Wednesday night. Joey hadn't been out for so long and she wouldn't normally have come to the side ally bar but Pacey walked in there as if he'd been going there his whole life. Once inside she was surprised to find herself loving the atmosphere, enjoying her beer and being thrashed at pool by Pacey.

'Did you actually spend any time doctoring in the last five years or did you just play pool?' she teased. Pacey tweaked his cap and gave her a wink before potting his next ball without even looking.

'Sometimes I needed to chill out. Some of the things I saw… some of the things I had to do… you had to find something to calm your mind down. I played cards, I played backgammon and whenever I could find a pool table I played pool.'

'What sort of things did you see?' Joey impulsively put a hand to his chest touching the hard pectoral muscle before withdrawing it.

'I saw cruelty… I saw what one human will do to another because they disagree. I saw little kids so hungry they couldn't barely move… I… I… god Jo, you don't want to know what I saw…'

'But you helped them,' Joey said gently.

'I tried,' he explained honestly.

'I can't believe all the things you've done,' Joey said. 'I mean, you really showed them…'

'Them?'

'Those jerks that used to drive you so mad in high school. Your family… everyone…'

'That's not why I did it,' Pacey stepped closer to her.

'I know, but it is a happy coincidence,' Joey teased.

'It wasn't what I expected.'

'What wasn't?' Joey felt shy, a crazy feeling with someone she'd known forever.

'All of it. Becoming a doctor, being a doctor, travelling the world, coming home, seeing you…'

'What did you expect when you saw me?' Joey couldn't help but ask.

'Well I didn't expect to be having sex with you twenty minutes after setting eyes on you again,' he gave a chuckle.

'I guess not…'

'And I didn't expect to want to be around you so much…'

'Oh,' Joey didn't know what to say to that.

'And I didn't expect five years to have no impact on the massive thing I had on you growing up.'

'You had a thing for me growing up?' she blushed.

'Come on - you know I did,' he touched his finger to hers.

'I didn't… I mean we fought all the time.'

'Joey I made a move on you in tenth grade, I made a move on you senior year and I made a move on you two weeks before I was due to leave…'

'Why did you do that again?' Joey asked flushing.

'Make a move on you?' Pacey frowned.

'No… leave…' Joey badly wanted to kiss him.

'There was nothing to stay for,' Pacey shrugged. He wasn't going to pretend. 'And it was something I needed to do for myself. It's funny, I was driven away because I cared so much about what people thought of me and now I've come back I realise it's only important that I'm a good person. People will think what they want.'

'You've always been a good person,' Joey told him.

'But I didn't always know it,' he grinned and nudged his finger against hers, a casual yet obvious gesture. 'So tell me about you. You've been coy so far.'

'I'm not sure what's to tell Pace. I had a baby. A gorgeous little girl and yeah I've got about a million stories about that but they're not much compared to all you've been doing.'

'But I still want to hear them.'

It was surprisingly easy to fall back into the banter, the back and forth that had so patented their relationship growing up. Only now it was more exciting, underlined as it was by a sexual chemistry that neither could deny. Pacey laughed at the stories Joey told and the more he laughed the more funny she became. The more funny she became the more Pacey wanted to kiss her and he wasn't one to hold back anymore. Leaning across he kissed her and then kissed her more until they were ducking out of the bar and taking a taxi to the Potter B&B even though it was only a fifteen minute walk.

Joey took a deep breath inhaling Pacey's delicious scent for one more moment before attempting to slide out of bed.

'Where are you off to?' Pacey raised a rumpled head and looked at her with big blue eyes.

'How on earth did that wake you up?' Joey grumbled.

'I'm a doctor - we have to go from sleep to awake in less than 30 seconds, now stop avoiding…'

'I want to get home before Holly is up. She doesn't need to know her mom's a dirty stop out,' Joey snuck back into bed curling into Pacey, who welcomed her with sexy little kisses. 'Pacey… bad idea…' she pushed him away. 'I need to get home.'

'I'll let you go if we can meet up later… for dinner? I got breakfast with Jack and Doug but I want to see you…'

'I can't do tonight. Jen is out so I'm with the kids.'

'Can I come over and help?' Pacey pulled her against him letting her know just how much he wanted her to stay. Joey considered for a moment,

'Ok,' she nodded before tearing herself from him.

'And what time do you call this?' Jen was sat at the breakfast table and tapped her watch pointedly as Joey tried to creep in.

'I'm sorry,' was all Joey could muster.

'You can't stop having sex with him can you?' Jen tutted. Joey blushed, 'not that I can blame you,' Jen continued.

'What is it about him?' Joey seemed relieved.

'He was always sexy but now he's just so damn… irresistible. I don't know whether it's the clothes, the world traveller look, the fact that he's a doctor, the fact that he's Pacey… but my god, he's just…' Jen trailed off and Joey's arched brows.

'You sound pretty taken yourself,' she smirked.

'Just appreciating some fine attributes.' Jen closed her eyes briefly. 'You know what it is?' she said suddenly. Joey shook her head. 'When he left he was a boy and to sound cliché and a bit cheesy, he's a man now, and a drop dead gorgeous one at that.'

'I don't know what to do,' Joey sank into the chair next to Jen.

'You haven't told him?' Jen squinted sympathetically.

'Nope.'

'Tell him.'

'When?'

'As soon as possible. Before someone else does. Imagine he runs into Dawson,' Jen scowled and Joey frowned.

'Don't scare me,' she muttered before picking up the phone and grabbing Pacey's number scrawled on a piece of paper in her pocket. She waited but it clicked through to answerphone so she left him a message inviting him to lunch at a new little restaurant on the water front. About twenty minutes later, when she was dressing her daughter she got a text "see you there."

'I want to stay with mommy,' Holly signed the words, mouthing them and pouting.

'I've got to do something important,' Joey explained.

'Why can't I come?'

'It'll be boring. You'll have far more fun at the beech with Aunty Jen and Amy. I promise to come and join you as soon as I can,' she kissed the little girls cheek.

'Can I have an ice cream?' Holly asked hopefully.

'Maybe,' Joey smiled before smothering her in kisses and heading off for the water front Jen calling good luck as the door slammed shut.

He was already waiting when she got there. He was drinking a glass of water and had on the surprisingly sexy cap, with an old t-shirt and some board shorts. He looked sensational.

'Hey gorgeous girl,' he stood and kissed her cheek when she arrived, pulling out a chair for her to sit on. 'Couldn't wait till later?' he asked but Joey just smiled at him awkwardly. 'This place is cute. Capeside hasn't changed all that much but it's changed enough…'

'Maybe you've changed,' Joey croaked.

'She speaks,' he teased.

'Holly is your daughter. I don't mean to blurt it out but I can't believe you couldn't tell immediately. She has your blue eyes and she's cheeky like you and just so like you. I know the dates don't work… that's what you're thinking,' Joey looked at his blank expression. 'But you're a doctor. Things don't always go smoothly. She was early. Like 11 weeks early. I meant to tell you straight away if I ever saw you again but sometimes things are easier in your imagination. And Holly is a person now, an individual. You don't have to be part of her life but I hope you want to be for your sake because she is just the most gorgeous girl…' Joey trailed off. Pacey was staring at her, his expression impossible to read. For a long while neither said a word and then Pacey coughed uncomfortably,

'You must have been really, really pissed at me,' he frowned. 'I mean… god… you were all alone… and young and…. Did my parents know?' Pacey took her hand and kissed it.

'Yeah they knew and eventually… eventually believed me. But when you called the lines were so bad and they knew I wanted to tell you and you never called me. Your postcards never had addresses and we didn't always know what you were doing these last few years,' she shrugged.

'But you were pissed?' he asked feeling deep down that there aught to be some anger there somewhere.

'No. I have Holly,' Joey explained simply.

'Does Holly know?' Pacey gaped.

'Yes.'

'You told her but not me?' Pacey frowned feeling anger bubble from his surprise.

'She's always known who her father is - she had the right to know what an amazing man her dad is. She's seen old photographs, lots of them and she knows her dad's name is Pacey Witter. You introduced yourself or you got Jen to.'

'Oh,' the anger drained away. 'I wasn't expecting this.'

'I know and I'm sorry. I didn't want to tell you like this but I didn't really know how to tell you. I certainly didn't want you running into Dawson and have him telling you with a typical Dawson slant.'

'We did it just that once,' Pacey shook his head. 'I thought we were careful?'

'We were drunk,' Joey rolled her eyes. 'And you know full well it was more than once.'

'Wow,' Pacey let out a deep breath. 'Her deafness… was that due to her premature birth?' he asked at length.

'Not exactly,' Joey shifted away from him subconsciously.

'Then what?'

'It's complicated.'

'You talk about rights - I do have a right to know,' Pacey frowned, the anger bubbling up again.

'Yeah you do. But I don't even know how long you're going to be in town, let alone how involved you want to be, whether to let you get to know her, or whether it's a mistake because you'll announce you're leaving in 2 weeks and then she'll be heartbroken. And god, I don't know what to do because you and I can't seem to keep our hands off one another,' she gestured between them where Pacey was surprised to see his hands wrapped around hers yet again. 'I mean if it was just you and me - well I can look after myself but Holly… I'm very protective over Holly.'

'What would you like to have happen?' Pacey asked her.

'What would you?' Joey countered not quite ready to put all her cards on the table.

'I'll stay. I was thinking of going to Pakistan with the WHO in a month but I'd rather stay. Holly is more important. I can get some work at the hospital, in Boston if necessary.'

'When you say you'll stay…' Joey didn't want to push.

'I don't know how long for,' he replied looking down. He didn't know he'd be making a decision between Joey and his love of travelling. And even further from consideration was the thought that he might be choosing between his daughter and the world he wanted to help. It wasn't that there was really a competition - Pacey had always wanted a family and to have a daughter with Joey Potter his all time crush… the greatest girl he'd ever known, well that couldn't be so bad. It was simply that in ten seconds he'd gone from being a single guy to a father. It was easy to chill out and see where things went with Joey - no pressure. He couldn't, however, just chill out and see what happened with Holly - it wouldn't be fair.

'I've got to go,' Joey looked at her watch.

'You're telling me that and then leaving?' Pacey seemed startled.

'I promised Holly I'd meet her, Jen and Amy down at the beech.'

'Can I come?' Pacey asked after a beat.

'Sure,' Joey also waited a beat before responding. They stood and walked in an awkward silence towards the car.

'So….' Pacey tapped the steering wheel as he and Joey drove to the beech.

'Hmmm… so,' Joey agreed.

'Why are you so quiet?' Pacey asked eventually.

'Why are you so quiet?' Joey asked back.

'I asked first.'

'And I chose not to answer,' Joey smirked.

'Are you mad at me?' Pacey looked at her momentarily before facing the road again.

'Are you mad at me?' Joey countered.

'Stop answering every question with a question,' Pacey huffed.

'I'm pretty sure you're mad at me. I land all this on you. You have no idea you're a dad and then poof suddenly a little girl is all yours.'

'I'm not mad at you…' Pacey attempted.

'I can tell there's a but…' she scowled.

'But I am mad at myself. I'm such a jerk. If I hadn't got so swept up in everything and had tried harder to stay in touch. I just didn't want to deal with anything… I just wanted to do what I was doing. I mean, what the fuck was I doing? I leave you here pregnant and alone. Man…I thought I'd stopped being a screw-up…'

'Let me set one thing straight here Pacey,' Joey pulled over and he knew he was in trouble, 'I don't ever want to hear you call yourself a screw-up when it comes to Holly. Holly is 100% the best thing that ever happened to me. And I thank you every day for giving her to me,' she leant across and kissed him on the cheek. Pacey couldn't help but tangle a hand in her hair and brush his lips to hers until they were embroiled in a very enthusiastic make out session at the side of the road. They were broken apart by a tapping at the window. Pacey opened his eyes to see the official and very serious glare of his brother.

'Well, well, well, what do we have here?' Doug teased flipping open his ticket book.

'Oh come on Dougy, you're not gonna write us a ticket? Surely you and Jackers get carried away…'

'Come on Doug,' Joey battered her lashes, 'I just told Pacey about Holly and we.. um… I …'

'You told him everything?' Doug asked pointedly. Pacey didn't miss this shift in Joey's demeanour or the way she neglected to answer.

'Ok, I'll let you guys off this one time. But a little food for thought, you guys messing around might seem fun until Holly gets wind of it. You've been back two days, so chill it out Pace,' Doug wrote something on his pad, tore it off and handed it to Joey. Both she and Pacey read the words at the same time, "TELL HIM." By the time they looked up again Doug was gone.

'Tell me what?' Pacey leant back in his seat appraising Joey as she started the car and finished the journey to the beach.

'Look Pace… it's nothing. I don't know what he's talking about. Lets just go see Holly and worry about her,' Joey stuttered her way through the sentence and Pacey fell into a stony silence.

Joey pulled into a space and got out to pay for parking whilst Pacey sat in the car. Looking at him she could tell he was in deep thought, and brooding. He was sexy when he brooded that much she remembered. Finally he got out of the car. She locked it and they stood opposite each other for a few moments. Looking at his face she could see the questions, the disbelief, the shock and it made her feel ill, so she sought out the best comfort she knew and reached for his hand. Rather abruptly he pulled it from her,

'Look Jo, I don't mean to be harsh but Dougy got me thinking. Whatever this is between you and me, well we need to be the grown ups and resist. Holly is most important and how can she accept me as a dad if she is looking at me as your… lover?' he offered up the speech, looking her in the eyes. She hoped he didn't see her heart crumple. He'd only been back two days. Two days and her heart was already twisted round his. She knew why.

'Um… sure… sounds like a good plan,' she nodded and turned, leading the way to the part of the beach where she and Jen always went. They walked through the rushes and down the path through the dune. They were less than a metre apart but there was miles between them. Watching them approach Jen knew immediately that something was very wrong but she watched Joey pull herself together and smile genuinely at her daughter. Holly ran into her arms then looked at Pacey and signed.

'It's him again,' Joey said and it took Pacey a few seconds to realise Joey was translating for Holly. 'You know who he is don't you?' she asked and Holly nodded. 'And you remember what we talked about last night?' again Holly nodded.

'I'm sorry I haven't been around little miss,' Pacey said softly and Joey signed for him. Holly shrugged and signed as Joey translated,

'You're here now and my mommy likes you. She said you were nice. And you've made her laugh and I like it when she laughs,' she eyed him warily. 'Can you build sandcastles?'

'I can build sand palaces miss,' Pacey grinned engagingly and looked at Joey who smiled encouragingly despite her own heart ache.

'Will you build one with me?' Holly asked, Joey speaking the words and she could see her daughters unease and the excitement beneath it.

'I'd love to,' Pacey grinned and took her small hand in his, the most delicious feeling of his entire life.

'What happened?' Jen asked flopping down beside Joey as Pacey played with Holly and Amy, clearly delighted at the opportunity he had been given and in awe of the little imp who treated sand castle building like a college final.

'Um… well I told him about Holly but I couldn't manage the rest,' Joey sighed. 'Um Doug caught us making out at the side of the road,' she smiled faintly, 'warned us to be careful of Holly, and he's right. I mean what am I thinking?' Joey shook her head.

'You're thinking you have a right to be happy.'

'But how do I know Pacey will make me happy?'

'You don't know Jo. He either does or he doesn't and he does. You know that.'

'Doug gave me a ticket - it said in big letters "Tell him." He knows I'm withholding. You know Pacey. I think he decided that if I can't be honest, and with Holly involved it would be better to keep things simple. And you know Jen, who knows when he's leaving? Who knows what his commitment will be to Holly, or me… or anything.'

'Joey, you know I love you right?' Jen put an arm around her friend, Joey nodded fighting back tears. She knew what Jen would say. 'I think that you have no choice but to tell him everything and to do it now.'

'Ok,' Joey brushed the tears aside vigorously as Pacey ran up. He looked at Joey for a long moment.

'What does this mean?' he asked copying a sign that Holly had been making.

'It means daddy,' Joey told him watching the smile on his face as he ran back to his daughter.