Last night I took a walk in the snow
Couples holding hands, places to go
Seems like everyone but me is in love
Santa can you hear me
As Joey looked through her closet trying to decide on what to wear to the Leery Christmas party that night, she wished Bessie would hurry up and vacate the bathroom. She wanted to look good tonight.
Somehow she'd managed to convince herself that it was because she'd never really had any nights out in months because she'd been studying so much, but deep down a smaller part of her knew that she was trying to impress tonight.
Why had she waited so long? Why hadn't she ever broached the subject of dating with him after that day at the airport?
The truth was she thought that maybe he'd bring it up, she sort of hoped he would and for some reason she was never able to say anything, even if at times she wanted to.
Picking out a black strappy dress and matching shoes, Joey laid them on the bed before going to find out how much longer Bessie would be.
"Come on Bess, I need in there." Joey called through the bathroom door.
"I'll be out in a minute." Bessie assured her from behind the bathroom door.
"You said the same thing five minutes ago."
"Well I actually mean it this time." She called back to Joey who by this point was becoming frustrated. "It's not like it takes you long to get ready anyway, since when did you care so much about how you look?"
"I just do." Joey replied as Bessie opened the door and exited. "You look great by the way, I guess you justified the age you were in there for."
"Hmm, either that was a genuine compliment or else you are trying to hide something from me."
"Hide something, in this house?"
As Joey charged past Bessie she didn't see the curious look thrown in her direction.
"Is there something going on I should know about?"
"Like what?"
"Between you and Dawson."
Joey couldn't help but laugh at that.
If someone had asked her six months ago where they stood she'd have told them that despite the fact he was on the other side of the country she didn't have a clue. If someone had asked her that three months ago she's have said she wasn't entirely sure but it was possible.
But now?
"No Bessie, there's nothing going on with Dawson." She replied with a sigh.
"Ah, I take it from that sigh that you wish there was?"
"Yeah." She began turning to face Bessie. "For a while there I thought something could happen, hoped it would..." She trailed off.
"But..."
"He started seeing someone else." Joey sat on the edge of the bath. "The thing is he never told me he was seeing someone else."
Confused Bessie asked, "Then how do you know?"
"I saw them about to kiss, I've seen them together." "Why wouldn't he tell you?" "The only thing I can think of is that he's trying to spare my feelings, maybe because something almost happened."
"And why didn't it?"
Joey half shrugged her shoulders. "To be honest with you now, I don't know. After a while the reason sort of got lost and now it's too late."
The bathroom was silent for a moment as Bessie searched for something to say; something that would somehow console her sister but she sensed that Joey had somehow accepted the situation.
"It's okay Bessie, I'm okay with it."
"Really?" Bessie questioned.
"Geez, I hate when you can read me." Joey rolled her eyes. "I'm not totally okay with it but it's not killing me and there's nothing I can do about it. Better?"
Moving in to hug her Bessie said, "I'm sorry."
"Thanks." Joey replied accepting the hug. "Now if you don't mind."
"Okay, I get it. You want me to go so you can get changed."
*****
I signed my letter that's sealed with a kiss
I sent it off, and just said this
I know exactly what I want this year
Santa can you hear me
As the final preparations were being made for the Leery Christmas party, Gale made sure everything was set up before anyone arrived, giving Dawson orders on where the drinks should go, telling Mitch to move the mistletoe. All the while she couldn't help the excitement she felt; this was Lily's first Christmas.
She'd gone out earlier to pick up her final gift and on her way home it had started to snow lightly, casually glancing outside she saw that it was still snowing and everything was covered in white. With one final look around the room she was sure everything was set.
"Okay you two," She began as she moved to Lily's playpen so she could take her upstairs. "Everything's done, you can both go do whatever it is you have to do now."
"Are you sure?" Dawson asked as Lily grabbed hold of his finger and smiled at him causing him to make a face at her and she giggled.
"Yeah, I'm sure." She assured him as they started to walk upstairs. "Joey, Jen and Grams helped me with a lot of the preparation stuff earlier this morning. Bodie's ringing some of the food over later. Your father was in charge of the drinks."
"And that's all taken care of." Mitch chimed in from the top of the stairs.
"Just get yourself ready for everyone arriving." Gale said as Dawson neared the top of the stairs.
"Okay." Dawson replied kissing Lily's forehead. "Would you like me to look after her while you get dressed?"
Gale laughed. "You're determined for me to give you something to do, aren't you?" She didn't wait for Dawson to answer. "I was going to let Lily lie down in her crib, see if she'd sleep a bit before people arrive."
"Dawson, don't purposely look out for chores to do." Mitch joked. "Otherwise it'll have repercussions for me."
"As long as you're sure."
"I am." Gale assured him. "Now scram!"
Dawson didn't wait around after that, heading straight for his room so he could get ready for the party. He'd gone out earlier to buy his final gifts, all of which were now under the Christmas tree in the living room.
As he moved to the closet to start changing he couldn't help but reflect on the events of the past year. This time last year he was dating Gretchen, Joey was with Pacey, Andie was in Italy and he was set on the idea of school on the West coast and now look where he was. Back East.
After leaving Capeside, going to his 'dream' college he realised California wasn't where he wanted to be…yet. Being a filmmaker was still his dream, but being away for the summer showed him how much he was missing back home. Dawson missed his parents and his friends, but the biggest thing for him was missing his little sister grow up.
Sure his parents had promised to bombard him with constant photos of her so he wasn't missing anything, but it wasn't the same. Add to that the fact that he wasn't really enjoying life at USC. He'd had friends, dated a few times but he ached to be closer to home.
After he'd made the decision to stay he'd told his parents, who in the beginning thought his decision was related to Joey, but he assured them it wasn't. And after some more prodding from Mitch, Dawson admitted that maybe Joey was part of the reason he'd changed his mind but it wasn't the main reason.
He'd thought maybe something would happen between them after he'd decided to leave California, after he'd started school in Boston he moved into the dorms. Grams had said he could move into her house in Boston but Dawson didn't want to intrude and thought it may get crowded.
For a month he'd just taken the time to adapt to college life in Boston, saw Jack and Jen and Joey as often as possible, usually at Grams for dinner. Neither Dawson nor Joey said anything about what had been discussed at the airport, there was too much happening.
One night he'd decided to surprise her at the dorm, figuring she'd be studying and would probably be in need of a caffeine break, Dawson brought her a latte.
As he approached her building he saw her outside, walking and talking with another guy. The guy smiling at her, touching her arm a few times and Joey seemed to be acting flirty with the guy too. As they were about to enter the building the guy put his hand on her shoulder, Joey stopped and he touched her face.
Dawson, figuring Joey had already started dating someone else decided not to bother her that night.
Now that he thought about it, Joey never had mentioned she was dating anyone. Not that he should assume he would hear about every date she ever went on. But after that night he'd decided not to pursue things with Joey. Maybe for now they were better as friends.
After picking out the shirt and pants he was going to wear he decided to see if the bathroom was free so he could have a quick shower.
*****
I want my baby, baby
I want someone to love me
And someone to hold
Maybe, maybe (maybe, maybe)
I'll be on my own and I'll be thankful
Almost an hour later guests start to arrive for the party, with the usual greetings, comments on the Christmas décor and the usual small talk.
Jen's in the kitchen helping Gale with food as they hear all about how much Andie loves life in Italy but has decided that she'll be back to start life at Harvard after the summer, Jack is keeping Lily entertained as Mitch makes sure everyone has a drink. Grams is catching up with an old friend as Dawson goes to answer the door.
As he passes underneath the mistletoe hanging at the bottom of the stairs Jack called to him, "I'd watch that Jen doesn't catch you under that."
Dawson just laughed as a passing Jen glared at Jack, "I heard that!"
"You were supposed too." He replied before telling Dawson, "She tried to drag me under that when we first arrived."
"I did not." Jen protested with her hands on her hips. "I was dragging you upstairs so we could go find Dawson."
"Like there's a difference."
"Do I have to referee this lovers spat, or can I let those poor cold people in?" Dawson asked as he took a step towards the door. "I'm inclined to believe Jen's take on events."
Jack scoffed, "You're just jealous she wasn't dragging you under the mistletoe."
"Nothing gets by you, does it Jack?" Jen replied as she winked at Dawson before he opened the door and Jen's voice faded as she entered the living room.
He opened the door expectantly, he knows that not many people have yet to show up and he knows Joey is one of them. But he's faced with Bessie, close enough he thinks knowing Joey must be coming from the car.
"Hey Bessie, Merry Christmas." He said seeing all the gifts she's carrying.
"Merry Christmas to you too." She replied as Dawson took some of the parcels from her before looking over her shoulder to Alexander. "Alex, stop playing in the snow and come inside."
A moment later he trudged inside with a petted lip.
"Hey Alex."
"Hello Dawson."
Crouching down Dawson whispered into Alex's ear, "Maybe we'll try and sneak out later to play in the snow, but shhhh." He put his finger to his mouth. "Don't let your mom hear."
As he finished he looked from Alex (who had a finger to his lips) to Bessie who had a small smile on her face.
"Shhhhh." Alex said to Dawson before he raninto the living room.
"You're gonna be a bad influence on him, I can tell." Bessie told Dawson as he straightened up. "If anything I would have expected that from Joey."
"Speaking of Joey…"
"She's helping Bodie in with the rest of the gifts and the food we brought." Bessie replied with a curious smile.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing. Can you do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Can you take this stuff through to Gale, it needs to go in the fridge."
"No problem."
Dawson went to the kitchen and within a few moments he's been roped into helping with the food and finds himself wrapped up in a conversation with Andie.
Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is here
He's all I want, just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I'll be waiting here
Santa that's my only wish this year
As Joey entered the house behind Bodie the first thing she noted was the smell, cinnamon, orange and mulled berries - the embodiment of what Christmas has always smelt like…for her anyway.
She always loved Christmas Eve at the Leery's, the chance for all of her family to be together to celebrate something.
And it was always the chance to see Dawson too, even if he was with someone else. She'd survived seeing him kiss Gretchen under the mistletoe; she'd survive seeing him with someone else, if he'd invited his girlfriend.
"Hey you." Jen greeted her as she descended the stairs while Joey took off her coat. "I was beginning to think you weren't gonna show"
"Really?"
"No, but you sure took your time in getting here."
"We had trouble getting the car to start; Bessie joked that if the creek hadn't frozen we could have rowed over." Joey told Jen causing her to laugh as she neared the bottom of the stairs. "How are you?"
"I'm good, can't really complain. The drive down was long considering how close Boston is."
"Where are you guys staying tonight?"
"Somehow we are all gonna cram in here. Grams is in the guest bedroom and Jack and I will either fight for the couch or just pull out the sleeping bags and bunk in Dawson's room." She shrugged lightly as they entered the living room. "We'll see."
Within the next twenty minutes or so Dawson and Joey still hadn't seen one another, any time Joey would go into the kitchen Dawson wouldn't be there and whenever he went into the living room she wasn't there. Both having a slight feeling that the other may be avoiding them.
Dawson sort of thought Joey hadn't brought whoever that guy was he'd seen her with and when he'd asked Bessie where she was he was told she was with Bodie. He figured Bessie would have told him if someone else was there...unless Joey wanted to tell him herself.
At the same time Joey wondered if Dawson's girlfriend was there, although the fact that Jen said her and Jack might sleep in D's room made Joey think she wasn't there.
Yet again Joey found herself wandering into the kitchen and there was no Dawson in sight, making her wonder if he was upstairs. 'Yeah upstairs with his girlfriend', she found herself thinking as she reached the stairs, contemplating going up to see if he was there.
"I was starting to think you weren't really here." She heard that oh to familiar voice say from slightly above her.
Joey couldn't help the small smile that played on her lips as she looked up the stairs to see him walking towards her.
"Hey." She simply said.
"Hey yourself. Where have you been hiding all night?"
"Nowhere, I was thinking you'd been hiding somewhere."
Stepping off of the bottom step he replied, "I got roped into helping with things in the kitchen and whenever I tried to find you, you weren't anywhere to be found."
Joey's heart almost skipped a beat on hearing he'd been looking for her.
"Well here I am." She said laughing before twirling around. "In the flesh."
"I see that." He murmured under his breath as he wondered if she'll be able to tell if he's blushing.
"What was that?"
"You look great."
"Thanks." Joey blushed as Jen walked out of the living room on her way to the kitchen.
"You two do know where you're standing, right?" She saed as she passed.
"Huh?" Joey said turning to see Jen walk away and as she does so she gestured to the ceiling. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Yeah. I guess we can't mess with tradition."
Joey shook her head as her heartbeat started to increase, as did Dawson's.
It feels like an eternity for both as their lips finally come together, for a moment both throwing caution to the wind. Both setting out for a quick kiss but somehow it seems too linger, their lips gliding together as though dancing. One of Joey's hands moving up to cup his face, while his settle on her waist. It continues for a while longer, neither wanting it to stop until it has to.
As the kiss ended, Dawson and Joey both try not to look in the other eyes, but find it harder to do.
"Well ah, that was a kiss." Dawson blurted out, finally finding his voice.
"That was a kiss!" Joey verified with his hands still resting on her waist, her eyes wavering momentarily to his lips.
"So um."
"Yeah."
They both can't help but to smile at how this feels awkward yet at the same time it feels so natural. And within a few seconds their lips are touching again, this time it seems more heated as they fully let down their guard.
Neither sees Jen leave the kitchen on her way to the living room again, this time with a smile on her face. "It's about damn time you two!" She said as she passed them.
They break the kiss for a moment both smiling at the other before they continue to kiss.
*to be continued...*