AN- Here's the newest update! ENJOY!


The next day, as Gale was preparing dinner, Joey entered the kitchen.

''Hi Gale. Would you like some help?'' Joey asked.

Gale smilied.

''Sure.'' she replied.

Joey began to help her.

''So, do you like it here?'' Gale asked.

''So far, yea. Dawson and his friends have been a big help.'' Joey told her.

''And you and Pacey?'' Gale asked.

Joey laughed.

''That seems to be the topic on everyone's minds.'' Joey said.

''Well, we can't help but be curious.'' Gale said.

''I like him Gale. He's annoying, but he's also sweet and funny and nice and a lot of good things.'' Joey said.

Before Gale could answer, the back door opened and Dawson and Pacey stepped inside.

''Hey mom, can Pacey stay for dinner?'' Dawson asked.

Pacey smilied hopefully.

''I guess.'' Gale said, grinning.

Dawson and Pacey high-fived.

''Let's go watch the game.'' Dawson said.

He headed into the living room and Pacey followed.

''Hey Potter.'' he greeted as he walked past her.

''Hey Witter.'' Joey greeted back.

He grinned and went into the living room.

Gale smilied.

''I think he likes you too.'' she said.

''Honey, I'm home!'' they heard Mike shout.

''In the kitchen hun.'' Gale called.

Mike walked into the kitchen and grinned.

''Ah, here are my lovely girls cooking dinner.'' he said, kissing Gale's cheek. ''Oh, Joey, a friend of mine gave me tickets to a book signing. I thought we could go together.''

''No.'' Joey told him, walking out of the kitchen.

Mike followed.

''Come on Jo. It will be something fun for us to do.'' Mike pleaded.

Joey glared at him.

''Look, I'm here ok? You got your stupid wish, I'm here. Be happy with that. Just because I'm here, doesn't mean we need to have that perfect father/daughter relationship.'' Joey told him, angrily.

''I'm trying.'' he told her.

''Well, stop.'' Joey said, running upstairs.

Mike sighed and turned, freezing at the site of Pacey.

''Mr. Potter?'' he asked.

''I take it you saw all that.'' Mike said.

Pacey nodded.

''I came to see if you wanted to watch the game with us.'' Pacey said.

Mike sighed again and walked into the living room. Pacey glanced up the stairs.

''Dawson, I'll be right back!'' he called, already heading upstairs.


He paused at the top, wondering which room was Joey's. He saw a door, half-way opened and peered inside. There was Joey lying on her bed, drawing.

''Jo?'' he said quietly.

She looked up and smilied at the site of him.

''Hey, what's up?'' she asked.

''Just wanted to see if you were ok.'' Pacey said.

Joey sighed.

''Can you just forget that?'' she asked.

''Only if you let me look at your drawing.'' Pacey told her.

Joey grinned.

''Deal.'' she said.

Pacey walked over and glanced down at her drawing. It was a picture of the house and it was amazing. She got the details just right.

''Wow, that's awesome Jo.'' he said.

''Thanks.'' Joey replied, quietly.

''So you're ok?'' he asked.

She nodded.

''Go before my brother wonders where you went.'' Joey told him.

''Fine, see you at dinner.'' Pacey said leaving.


At dinner there was definate tension between Mike and Joey. As Joey ate, she couldn't help but think. Pacey was being really sweet to her. He had even pulled out her chair for her, something Gale noticed. She did liek Pacey, really she did, but it was hard for her to trust someone with her heart after Eddie.

Across the table, Pacey was thinking too. Joey was an amazing girl and he had only known her for a few days! Still, her very smile or laugh sent butterflies into his stomach. He did like Joey but, it was hard to be with someone after what happened with Andie.

At the head of the table, Mike was also thinking. He was trying to spend time with his daughter, he really was. He wanted them to be close, but Joey wouldn't let go of the past.

Next to Joey, was Gale. When Mike first brought up the idea of Joey coming to live with them, she was all for it. She wanted her and Joey to be close, like Mike and Dawson were. So far Joey wasn't exactly welcoming, but she wasn't treating her like the wicked step-mom either. Maybe they could be close.

Dawson sat next to Pacey, wondering if him and Andie would be able to do anything tonight.

The phone rang, driving everyone out of their thoughts. Mike answered it.

''Hello? Oh, hi Lily.'' Mike said.

Joey's head shot up and she smilied brightly.

''Yea, she's right here.'' Mike said, as Joey got up and took the phone into the living room.

''Hey mom.'' she said, quietly but happily. ''How ya doing?''

''I'm ok sweetie. How about you? Mike and Gale making you feel at home?'' Lily asked, her voice weak.

''Yea, and I've made some friends. Well, they're manily Dawson's friends.'' Joey told her.

Really? Tell me all about them.'' Lily said.

''Well there's Andie McPhee, Dawson's girlfriend. She's really nice and really perky. There's the neighbor, Jen Lindley who is a lot like me andher boyfriend, Andie's brother Jack, who's really quiet and shy. And then there's Dawson's best best friend, Pacey.'' Joey said, and Lily could here the smile in her voice when she spoke his name.

''Oh, is he cute?'' Lily asked, teasing her daughter.

''Mom!'' Joey exclaimed.

''Sorry dear.'' Lily said, beginning to cough violently.

''Mom? Are you ok? Mom!'' Joey yelled into the phone.

''I'm here sweetie. I'd better go get some sleep. I'll talk to you soon.'' Lily told her daughter, her voice weaker now.

''Bye mom. I miss you.'' Joey said, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

''I miss you too. Love ya sweetie. Bye.'' Lily said.

''Bye mom, love ya too.'' Joey said quietly, clicking off the phone. tears streaming down her cheeks.

''Jo?'' Pacey asked softly, coming up behind her.

Joey quickly wiped her eyes and turned to face him.

''My dad send you to come check on me?'' she asked.

''No, I heard you shouting. I was worried.'' Pacey admitted.

''I'm fine.'' she said, as more tears began to form, soon becoming a light sobbing.

Pacey cautiously walked over and took her in his arms, trying to comfort her. As the tears fell, she clung to Pacey and he held her, whispering words of comfort into her ear. He kissed her forehead gently. His arms were around her, her head buried in the crook of his neck as she cried. That was how Gale found them.

''Joey?'' she asled softly, walking into the living room. Her smile matched her tone at the site of the two teens.

Hearing her voice, Joey broke away from the warm embrace and smilied shyly at him, as he wiped away her tears.

''You ok?'' he asked.

Joey nodded.

''I am now.'' she said.

He smilied gently and kissed her forehead one last time.

''Come on let's go have you serve me some food woman.'' he said, walking back into the kitchen.

Joey laughed.

''In your dreams Witter!'' she shouted after him.

As she walked by, Gale stopped her.

''You're sure you're ok?'' she asked.

Joey nodded and the two went back into the kitchen. Mike looked questionatly at Gale who shook her head and Joey sat down, looking at Pacey and catching his gaze. He winked reassuringly and she smiled at him.

She was ok now, thanks to him.