Chapter 4

"Time for dessert" Pacey gets up to serve his Bourbon Pecan Tart and home made ice cream.

"Dougie I hear you are the sherrif around these parts nowadays?

"Yeah, after our dad had a heart attack he decided it was time to step down, so I naturally took over."

"Oh wow, I didn't hear that about your dad guys, hows he doing?"

"Yeah, hes doing fine now, thanks for asking" Doug replied.

Pacey looks up from his dessert, catching Jen's stare, "taste awful Lindley?"

"What?" Oh, no its fine, great in fact, I was just wondering who was going to mention the elephant in the room.."

Pacey laughs, "leave it to Lindley"

Doug not catching on, "What elephant?"

Jackers nudges Doug and gives him a grin before everyone turns to Joey. "Jen means Dawson, how is Dawson doing Joey?"

"Uh, He was fine last I heard from him."

"Last you heard from him, meaning you haven't talked to him for awhile or?" Jen pushes

"I haven't talked to Dawson for a month or so, but he was wrapped up in doing some television show, he seemed real happy" Joey said, her voice trailing off near the end.

Dougie looking at Joey he frowned and said "I ran into Gail a couple weeks back, I thought she mentioned you two lovebirds were engaged"

"Oh, umm we were, but I called it off" she noticed everyone staring at her, "Guys i'd rather not discuss this and ruin a great evening."

Jen sat with her mouth open and tried to catch Paceys glance, he was avoiding her so when he got up to clear the table she immediately jumped up to help.

"Joey,? Doug and I are going to walk down the beach for a spell of fresh air, want to join us?" Jack asked.

"Sure, sounds great guys"

"Won't be long" Jackers calls out.

Jen helped Pacey put the dishes into the dishwasher. "Shes available" Jen stated.

"Not interested," lied Pacey

"C'mon Pace, why not?"

"Jen, she lives in NY, she is happy and besides she and Dawson will work things out, they always do."

"I would love to find out what happened between them" Jen smirked.

"I get the feeling she doesn't want us to know" Pacey said thoughtfully.

"How long did she say she was in town for?" laughed Jen as Pacey shook his head in amusement, goodluck Joey he thought, Jen is coming for you.

Standing on the balcony, Pacey stands with the wind whipping at his face, leaning against the railing, he looks down the beach at the shadowy figures of his brother Doug, Jack and Joey.

He closed his eyes and let the breeze wipe away all fears, this was his favourite place in the world, other than out to sea itself.

"I tell you, it is not easy work finishing things off." Pacey remembers a conversation he had with 16 year old Joey Potter.

"Pacey, what does this mean?"

"Well, it means you were right, That my leaving would be giving up on you and I am not quite prepared to do that just yet, But it also means that I need to know that your not quite prepared to give up on me yet either, so with all that being said, I refer to the wall, with its hastily yet adoringly written SOS, which I guess kinda speaks for itself. I spent an hour and a half staring at this half painted wall after we talked last night, just staring and thinking, so the way I figure it, its your turn to stare now."

"Pace, are you Okay? Jen interupts his musings, standing next to him.

"I am fine" he smiles at her before looking down the beach at the figures coming closer.

"I know a Joey trance when I see one" she says watching his face.

"Just remembering yesteryear is all, lets get you inside," he places his arm around her waist and guides her back indoors.

Walking up the beach, Joey listening to Jack and Doug planning their weekly schedule, she looks up at the house and sees Pacey's outline.

"I'm happy to see you and Pacey are on such good terms Dougie" she comments.

"Yeah, turns out he wasn't such a bad kid after all," Doug smiled,

Jackers laughs "Pacey was instrumental in our pairing, when I first came back to Capeside, Pacey told me that his brother had finally come out and he remembered when I thought Dougie was cute so he set us up a fantastic dinner at the Icehouse, and the rest is history." Doug leans over to kiss Jack, Joey can tell they love each other.

"Jack?" she asked.

"Yea Jo?

"How is Andie doing?

"Andie is great, shes living in Boston, shes a medical resident and absolutely loving every minute of it," he grins with pride.

"Wow, thats awesome, good for her!" Joey remarks.

Continuing to walk towards the house, she now sees Jen has joined Pacey on the deck, Joey sighs, it must be nice she thought. To have this dynamic between friends, knowing no matter what life threw at them, they would be friends forever. Right now, she never felt more alone.

Jack and Doug shake Pacey's hand, "Thanks for the meal, it was awesome" they say as they walk towards the car.

Pacey grins and then looks at Jen, "Sweet dreams hun, I will come over tomorrow" and he places a kiss on her cheeks.

"Night Pace," Jen says as she turns to jump in the car.

"Potter," Pacey says as he grabs her in a hug,

"Thanks for having me, dinner was fantastic Pace"

"Always a pleasure my darling" Pacey replies.

He watches as they turn out of his driveway then heads inside. Closing his door, he wonders if he will be able to close his heart to the overwhelming amount of emotion he just felt for that little Potter girl down the creek.

"You Okay Jo?" Jen asks quietly as she notices Joey hasn't said a lot since they got in the car.

"Just wondering is all" came the reply.

"What bout?"

"Who is the father of your baby Jen?"

"That question came out of left field" Jen laughs, "Long story Jo, I'll tell you one day, if you tell me what happened between you and Dawson maybe..?" Jen nudged Joey.

"Is Pacey seeing anyone?" Joey decides to change topics then instantly regrets going there.

"Yes", came the chorused reply as Doug and Jack added their voice to Jen's.

"Oh, anyone I know?" Joey asks as she feels her stomach tightning in knots.

"Audrey, Kristy, Sadia" they all say at the same time. Jen starts laughing, "well as you can see its not a serious relationship"

Joey wasn't sure how she felt about that information, "still breaking hearts I see" was all she managed to say.