A/N: Thank y'all for such wonderful, wonderful feedback. For some reason my Mac & Firefox can't login/upload chapters so publishing these last 2 has been an interesting workaround...

Joey turned from the window and stood up off the couch, her heart jumping in her chest.

Dawson and Pacey? Were they really here? Together? The why and how of it shocked her.

Andie stood staring back at her. As though her whole world was spinning with Joey as its axis.

Pacey? Was he really here? For Joey? "It is them?" Andie asked, needing to be sure. "Dawson and…Pacey?"

Joey turned, her expression a match for Andie's, waiting for the answer.

"It was," Jen announced, peeking back out from behind the curtain.

"What?" Joey raced back to the glass, but Jen was right. They were gone.

"Wait. Over there. Oh, this can't be good," Jack tapped Joey's shoulder and pointed to the right.

On the edge of property, the two were face to face.

Joey raced to the door and pulled it open. On the steps there were two bouquets.

Behind her, Andie grabbed her coat and scarf, and Jack's keys, and headed out the back.

"Dawson, it's been a …"

"This is preposterous," Dawson interrupted, dragging his hand through his hair. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"10 years as your faithful sidekick and that's all you got to say to me?"

"No, after the greatest betrayal of my life, that's all I got to say to you. You know, I find it absolutely fascinating that the moment something finally begins to happen for Joey and me - you suddenly abandon your great Hornblower delusions and pop back up in Capeside. You shouldn't have bothered. Go back where you came from."

"It's still a free country, Dawson. You don't dictate who I visit. Or what she wants."

"How would you know what she wants? You don't even know her anymore. You never did! It was all a game to you, wasn't it?"

"You know it wasn't. And you and I each played our part in what happened last summer. If only you could have shown just an ounce of friendship for Joey when she and I fell in…"

"Don't you dare say it!" Dawson shouted. "Love? Is that what you call it when you run out on someone? You destroyed that woman much deeper and much more effectively than anyone else ever has and considering the life Joey's had – that's really saying something! If that's love, I think I speak for us all when I say – please, show us your hate."

"So your version of love is to punish her and force her to choose? Wow, you're right – that is so much more superior."

"Oh, come on!" Dawson tossed back, his jaw twitching in anger. "That entire scenario was your doing, Pacey. You're the one who put us in competition and forced her to pick!"

"Now you're rewriting history, Dawson!"

"I remember when my best friend turned his back on me, on her, on everyone."

"Spare me the speech. You talk about hurting her," Pacey indicated where Joey stood on the steps of the B&B, watching them. "All she ever wanted since this whole thing began is for you and I to make peace…"

"Except you were gone. And I was left watching her isolate from everyone…"

"From you, you mean?"

"Oh, hell…" Dawson muttered, looking a Pacey's smug expression. In a haze of fury and confusion, he couldn't help what happened next. With Pacey's challenge to punch him from the previous spring ringing in his ears, Dawson felt his arm pull back and his fist fly like an arrow at Pacey's smug face.

It stung but in a way that felt good when his fingers slammed into Pacey's chin, knocking him backwards, arms pin-wheeling, until he swung back onto his balance. Pacey quickly recovered though and twisted back his shoulder and returned the favor, crashing his fist into Dawson's cheek.

Dawson landed on the ground, rubbing his face for a moment before launching himself at Pacey's legs. Then they were rolling, punching. Hitting from both arms. Ripping into each other with a year's worth of fury and all the violence their bare hands could inflict.

Joey ran across the yard, shouting for them to cease and desist.

Jack and Jen followed, pulling on their coats as they jogged.

Joey launched herself onto Dawson's chest, pushing him back with both hands. "Stop! STOP!"

Pacey rolled over to his side. Watching the blood drip from his lip into the snow. Panted as he tried to catch his breath. Starting to stand.

"You!" Dawson roared.

Pacey lifted a hand in surrender, and stayed down.

"Enough! It's not worth it! Nothing is worth this!" Joey cried, giving them both a look of pure frustration.

Jack reached a hand to Pacey.

"Got it out of your system, or do we need to let this go another round?" Jen asked, turning to help Joey off Dawson and then reaching to assist Dawson in turn.

"We're done," Dawson announced.

"You can say that again," Pacey agreed, marching off towards his car.

Joey looked at Dawson and shook her head with an expression of utter disappointment. Then she chased after Pacey.

"Jo-!" Dawson called, pushing past Jen.

Jack moved to block him, hands up. "Let her go, man."

Dawson watched her, frustration detonating on his face. Jen saw it and pulled him by the hand towards the B&B. "We need to get you cleaned up," she insisted, tugging.

With a grunt, Dawson let her lead him away.

"Pacey!" she shouted, trotting behind him and catching up as he reached the Wagoneer.

"Never mind, Jo," Pacey said, pulling the keys from his pocket.

"Never mind? What exactly? That show of fisticuffs you just put on? The fact that you appear out of nowhere, 8 months later, without warning? What? What exactly should I 'never mind', Pace?"

"God!" He swore turning to face her. "You're right. I'm sorry, Joey. I am. This wasn't planned…"

"You had a plan?"

"Half of one, anyway. Maybe it was a half of a half, not thinking so clearly at the moment," he conceded, touching his face and wincing as his fingers found bruises.

"You should let me get you some ice for that lip, at least."

Pacey shook his head. Reached down to the ground and gathered up some snow, holding it against his lip.

"Tell me about this plan," She asked simply.

"What happened after I left, Jo?" he demanded.

She exhaled in a gust, rubbing her arms for warmth. "Nothing. Life. We talked about this on New Year's."

Pacey sighed and used his free hand to pull off his coat, wrapping it around her shoulders. "No, we clearly didn't."

"Thanks," she said, tucking her arms into the warmth. "What is this about, Pace? What did he say to you?"

"Tell me, Joey. What happened?"

"It was the same as before."

He lifted his brows in disbelief.

"It wasn't sunshine and gumdrops," she allowed. "I worked, took some summer school classes…"

His eyes shot up in surprise.

"Not everything's remedial, Pace," she teased.

"I shouldn't have left," he muttered.

"You had to go, I understood that, Pacey. And if Dawson doesn't, then it's just because he's had to grapple with your ghost."

"You finally believed in me for a second and it really came around to bit you in the ass, huh, Jo?"

"No," she insisted. Joey took a step towards Pacey and cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. "Your whole life, you've lived expecting the worst."

"It cuts out a lot of disappointment," he observed, staring into her large eyes.

"Yes, I understood why you left. It hurt, but I was glad for you. She proved seaworthy after all, didn't she?"

"The boat did," he assented. "But we…"

"We were a dream, Pacey. A beautiful dream."

"Not to me," he said hoarsely, reaching up to cup her face back. Leaning his forehead against hers. "I didn't realize. I was so damned selfish. All this time, I thought you'd picked…"

"I picked me," Joey interjected. "Whatever he said, he said out of pain. He's missed you. We all have."

"We're gonna have to agree to disagree there, Jo." Pacey kissed the skin at her hairline and stepped back. "Because this lip is telling me that Dawson Leery missed me like a paper cut, maybe with a quart of lemon juice poured on it."

She dropped her hands and shook her head.

"You and I…" he gave her a poignant look. "We've had a very confusing run of things, haven't we?"

"That's one way to put it…"

"How do I make this right, Joey? Just tell me, and I'll do it."

She just stared at him. "You know what I want, Pace."

He realized what she meant and rolled his eyes. "No. Not that. Please. It almost killed me last time, and for what?"

Joey lifted an eyebrow.

Pacey exhaled in a gust, and then winced and touched his lip. "Can I at least wait until the wounds heal from this latest encounter before attempting another hopeless reconciliation?"

"Thank you," she dimpled in satisfaction. "It's all I ever wanted since this started. For you two to make peace."

That certainly was true.

"So, tell me about this plan," she demanded, leaning against his truck.

"First, I need to know something, all right?"

She nodded.

"If I told you that I came back for you. Begged you to forgive me and come back to me. Promised to do anything to make it up to you…"

"Oh," Joey straightened in surprise. "Oh, Pacey…"

He searched her expression intently. His eyes sweeping across Joey's face, taking in everything.

"You wouldn't want me, would you?" Pacey guessed.

"Pace-" She stared back at him blankly, completely at a loss for what to say.

"So you haven't been waiting for me to come home? For us to be together?"

"Is that what he said?" She surmised.

"No. Not really. Just…"

"I can't believe it," she bit out, trying to cap her emotions before they spilled over.

"Oh, God," Pacey breathed, taking a step closer to her. "You're back in love with him, aren't you?"

She didn't respond.

"After everything he does, and you…" She winced and Pacey stiffened in surprise. "Joey, did you two-"

"Don't ask," she held up a hand.

"Right. None of my business."

"It isn't."

"Plus, I can't keep my promise to you if I kill him."

"Pacey…" she groaned. "Was this your plan? To torture me?"

"No."

"You really came back for me?"

"I should have," he rubbed a sore spot on his cheek.

"Then…?"

"I came to your house to see you. To make amends. To tell you…"

"You're in love?"

His eyes snapped to hers in surprise. "You can no more hide it from me than I could from you," she gave him a rueful smile.

"With Andie," he confirmed.

"Well, uh," she cleared her throat. "You don't have to explain to me the power of first loves."

"Kryptonite," he concurred. "You're surprised?"

"I shouldn't be, I knew her feelings for you never died."

"But there was a long time, when I had tucked all that into a box," he nodded. "Then she walked back into my life and it all came back, and stronger than ever."

"I understand," Joey breathed.

"I am completely myself with her, and yet the best possible version of that self. Of course, the problem is that as rough and unworthy as I am – I seem to only love women who are so beyond my stratosphere as to be heavenly. But no one else will do."

"You're not unworthy," Joey refuted, watching the wind in the pine trees.

"Thanks."

She nodded.

"I love her, Jo. Madly, utterly, permanently. I had to come here and tell you. I felt I owed you that. Because if nothing else, you should know how amazing you are. How much I wanted… well, how hard it was to pull the line free that day and sail away from you."

"If it was anything near as hard as it was to watch you go, then I understand."

"We had some moments, Jo. And they mean more to me…" He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I'm so sorry, Jo," he added.

"Me, too," she smiled a little sadly. "No regrets."

"No regrets. This is gonna sound corny, Jo, but…"

"You have my blessing, Pacey."

He breathed in relief.

"I want you to be happy. To recognize all the love in your life."

"I want the same for you," he returned. "Even if it's with…" he waved his hand over his forehead and gave her a goofy look. "Don't let him make you miserable."

"I won't. And remember your promise."

The seconds passed with the plaintive cry of a mourning dove, and then Pacey said. "I think this is the part where I go and get the girl."

Joey looked around the B&B's parking lot, her lips pursing in thought.

"What?" He asked.

"Well, Andie was here, Pacey. Before, anyway."

"What?" he yelped, looking over at the house.

"But I haven't seen her since you and Dawson started your WWF match. And Jack's car is gone."

"Shit," he muttered.

"Go," She handed him his coat back.

Pacey kissed her cheek, jumped into the Wagoneer and drove away.

Once he was out of sight, Joey turned back to the B&B. Gathered up the wilting flowers off the doorstep. And went inside the door.

Joey pushed through the door. She looked at Dawson, who cradled a bag of peas against his face.

He looked back, his face dark with pain and anger. The long minutes she'd spent with Pacey had stretched his patience beyond human limits.

"Well, meeting adjourned, I think," Jack announced, tugging on Jen's arm.

"Oh, no way. I gotta see the second act."

"Get lost, Jen," Dawson ordered. "Please."

Jack pulled her off the couch.

As Joey entered the room as the two left, waving in passing.

Dawson glanced at the flowers she held and turned away.

"I don't want to hear about him," he warned.

"You're going to. What were you thinking, Dawson? Fighting in the yard? Telling him I was still in love with him?!"

"I didn't!"

Joey planted her hands on her hips and stared at him.

"He left you, Joey. He left you on that dock. You threw us away for nothing! And then put up a wall that no one could get over…"

"So that's what this is all about? STILL? Dawson, we got problems right here and now without borrowing baggage from the past!"

"You mean about Gretchen?"

"About you. About what you did, Dawson. About you being Gretchen's boyfriend when we..."

"I admit, the timing wasn't great. But Joey, you and I both know if either one of us had stopped and thought for even a second that night, then what we did never would have happened, and I for one am not sorry that it did. Are you?"

"That's not the point!"

"That's exactly the point! I mean, forgive me for pointing it out but how you feel about our first time is a pretty critical indicator for the rest of our relationship."

"Dawson, you had a girlfriend! How is that not a big deal?"

"Do you truly believe that some perfect timing was ever gonna happen for us? Or have you failed to notice the big mark on my face from Pacey's fist?"

"What does that have to do…?"

"It meant everything to me Joey. My first time and yours. And the beginning of what I hope is a whole new chapter for us. If we'd actually waited for this storybook moment, then I can pretty much guarantee you that it never would have happened. I want us to be together. And I am willing to cut through anything to get there. Don't you understand?"

"Including Gretchen's trust, it seems."

"Dammit, no! You're missing the point. I am in love with you. And I was when we were making love."

"So Gretchen was just this colossal time suck while you punished me for Pacey?"

"Why are you being so childish? Why can't you just admit that you wanted what happened as much as I did?"

"I wanted you," she admitted. "But not under those circumstances. Do you really think I could be happy knowing it was the cause of someone else's pain?"

"A scruple you didn't seem to have when it was you and Pacey betraying me!"

"God! So two wrongs make a right? Is that your argument?"

"No! Why do you keep twisting this around? The reason I left that day was to see Gretchen and apologize. To beg for forgiveness, if that's what it took. Because I get it, I do. And I am standing here, right now, telling you that you are the only woman in my life and the only woman I want in my life. That night was real. More real and more amazing than any juvenile fantasy."

"I guess I'm a child then. Because I want the fantasy. I want more than anything for us to be together. But not like this. Not with innocent bystanders, and lies, and screaming and old grudges that we can't seem to get past!"

They both fell silent, breathing loudly.

"Guys?" Bessie stepped into the B&B holding groceries.

"Oh," Joey jumped. "Hey, I didn't realize…"

"It's OK," Bessie held up a hand. "But I just couldn't stand out there any longer. I have another load and then I need to put these away, so if you want privacy…" She indicated the door behind her, to Joey's room.

"Actually, I think we're done, Bess. Thanks."

Her sister gave them both a tight smile and headed back out to the truck.

"Done." Dawson reiterated softly.

"I'm sorry," Joey's eyes were dry, but her chest was painfully tight. "But this feels all wrong."

"Don't do this, Jo."

"We're doing this, Dawson."

He exhaled in a hiss, and then gave up. Zipping the coat he'd never taken off, and quietly walking out the door.