A/N: Happy Friday everyone! Here's a little something featuring the Potter sisters from the Guess Who's Coming To Dinner epi. It's set after the Thanksgiving dinner. Hope you enjoy…
**Potter Talk**
Bessie looked up from her nest of comfy throws in the corner of the couch as Joey quietly eased the door shut behind her. "Hey, Jo, have a good time?"
Joey nodded as she divested herself of her coat and slipped off her heels. "Yeah," she said, quickly settling on the other end of the couch and tucking her feet under one of the throws. "It was really nice to see everyone together. It's been a while since that's happened."
Bessie muted the television before spreading the fleece over Joey's legs, gently rubbing them to ease the chill from outside. "So tell me. Did Jen know her mother was coming?"
Joey shook her head. "Nope, not a clue! I have a feeling if Mrs. Ryan had told her ahead of time, Jen would have made it a point to spend the day elsewhere. From what Jen's told me, she only heard from her mom once or twice since she's been in Capeside." She tucked her hair behind her ears. "Did you know her when she lived here?"
It was Bessie's turn to shake her head. "She's a lot older than me, I think. Maybe fifteen years? I knew of her. She didn't graduate from Capeside High; she went to some private school her last two years."
"Do you know why?" Being the target of gossip in all its ugliness did not always prevent Joey from partaking, especially in the privacy of her own home.
"Nuh-uh." Bessie's eyes lit up when she saw her sister's face. "Wait, do you?"
Joey bobbed her head. "She got pregnant!"
Bessie frowned. "So?" Her short and pointed question jolted Joey's awareness of just what the accusation must have sounded like.
"That's not the big deal, Bess. The big deal is exactly who that baby grew up to be!"
When Joey didn't offer any more information, Bessie playfully nudged Joey's leg. "Well?? Tell me!"
"Eve." The revelation was shocking enough to stand on its own and Joey let it sink into Bessie's consciousness.
Taking just a second or two to make the connection, Bessie's mouth hung open. "'Sex with Dawson on the stage at the Pep Rally' Eve?" she named her.
"Ding, ding, ding! Can you believe it? Jen's sister, well… half-sister." Joey shook her head in wonder. "Looks like Dawson, even if he didn't know it at the time, was on track to hook up with all the girls in the Ryan family. Mrs. Ryan better watch out!" She laughed teasingly.
Bessie snickered and scolded, "Joey!" Her visage then became serious as she asked, "How did Jen take it? And how did you find out?!"
"Dawson told me at movie night last week but of course, swore me to secrecy. Now that Jen knows, the cat's out the bag so to speak - no more need for secrecy." She shifted on the couch getting further under the fleece. "She seemed…. okay, by the end of the evening at least. But she was all over the place the rest of the day. Angry, mostly, which you'd expect. I mean, the way she found out was pretty awful." Her eyes grew wide in empathy. "All these years she didn't know she had a sister. And then her mom up and left."
"Really?" Bessie clicked her tongue in disbelief. "You mean she drove back to New York tonight?"
"Yep, right after you left. Dawson and I were sitting at the table talking when we saw her leave. Jen and Mrs. Ryan were there to say goodbye. From their body language they all seemed to be on better terms, but we couldn't hear them."
She dragged out a heavy breath and let her eyes drift around the room. No lights were on, the darkened room only lit by the glow from the television, distorting the objects. After the conversation she'd had earlier in the day with her sister, thoughts of their mom had lingered, never far from her mind. It was only natural after today's events and seeing Jen interact with her mom that she compare the relationship she'd had with her own. She was so grateful for the time she'd had with her, and for the person she'd been. So open, so loving.
Her eyes automatically sought Bessie's and she gave her sister a small, private smile knowing she felt the same way. "All in all it was a day of revelations." She suddenly remembered something. "Hey," she exclaimed, "did you know Gale and Mitch's divorce is final?"
Bessie frowned, her eyes narrowing as she considered. "Gale didn't mention anything to me. I'm sure she didn't think it was the right time or place. Why, did she tell you?"
Joey rolled her eyes a bit. "Of course not," she said dryly. "Gale and I may have bonded over the course of my long, long relationship with Dawson but I'm not exactly high on her "go to" list for confidences, especially after the debacle with Bob. No, Dawson told me himself. He just found out today!" She paused for effect. "After dinner."
"When they were at the Ryan's?" Bessie sounded surprised. She was quiet for a moment as she took the news in. "It's just so sad. I kept hoping they'd reconcile." She pursed her lips. "Is Dawson okay?"
"He says he's relieved that they did something definitive. But… I don't know. I still think that kind of trauma in his all too-perfect world will either give him material for his next movie or reinforce his propensity to rewrite history, ya know? Knowing him, there's a very real possibility that one day next year he'll wake up and say, 'My parents are divorced? Noooo, my parents aren't divorced. That's not in the script!'"
Bessie laughed conspiratorially, neither confirming nor - more importantly - denying Joey's insight. "Speaking of breakups, I was surprised to see Andie and Pacey in the same place at the same time today. Didn't the Witter's have dinner planned at their house?"
Joey smirked. "Bess, please. Pacey eats dinner here almost every night. Why would the fact that it's a holiday improve Mrs. Witter's cooking? Not to mention, I think Carrie and her kids were visiting, which makes for a whole houseful of crazy. Besides, Andie and Jack were supposed to be having dinner with their father and he got stuck in Chicago. I don't think Pacey even knew she was going to be there."
"Well, at least they behaved civilly," Bessie remarked.
"Yeah, I suppose." Hearing the tone of Joey's voice, Bessie gave her a look, which in Potter Talk meant "spill". Joey sighed with a shrug. "It's just… they're both hurting. I don't know how to help, or even if I should. Andie is so devastated. I tried to tell her it would get better but I know she won't believe me until it happens. Which I get. I'd feel the same if I were in her shoes." She took a breath before continuing, "Pacey, well, I don't know. It's hard to tell with him because he simply won't say anything when it comes to Andie. He keeps those emotions so close to his heart. He either has that brooding thing going on or he makes a joke out of everything."
Joey didn't share the conversation she'd had with Pacey as the Thanksgiving party was breaking up.
But that didn't mean he didn't want to know. Hands
deep in her coat pockets, she slowly walked over till she stood by
his side and cleared her throat. "Hey." She kept her eyes in the
same direction as his watching Andie and Jack get in their car. He
didn't answer her until she looked at his face. "What's up,
Jo?" he said, slowly changing his focus. Joey tipped her
chin toward the car now slowly backing toward the street. "She
misses you, you know." Then softly added. "And she's
sorry." He nodded amicably and shrugged, his eyes sliding
away again, this time to study the last of the embers in the fire.
"Yeah, I know." His voice was quiet but confident, no traces of
remorse or bitterness - just calm acceptance and belief. "She'll
find the right one." Wanting him to say more, but knowing he
wouldn't, she tried anyway. "What about you, Pace? You okay?" He
flicked his eyes back to her face. It was so quick she almost didn't
catch it, but it was there. An ever-so brief look of doubt. Then it
was gone. He stood up so they were face-to-face and morphed his mouth
into his trademark grin, opting for a care-free quality to his voice.
"Don't you worry about me, Potter." He mocked her concern with
a playful tap on the head. "It's a world of endless
possibilities, right? Anything can happen." It seemed she
wasn't likely to get a straight answer out of him tonight. So she
reverted to their fail-safe banter. "I've told you before, Pacey,
they'll never give porn away for free." He raised his
index finger and shook it in the air. "Never say never, Jo." Then
quickly added, "Although it's nice to know where your mind is at
and thinking of my sex life." He smiled impishly at her heated
glare. "I'll have to return the favor one day." She knew there
was no need to vocalize the "bite me" burning in her eyes.
"Night, Jo," he chuckled. She rolled her eyes at the
retreating corduroy coat as Pacey walked away and climbed on his
bike, disappearing into the dark. Just like she thought, she
hadn't got any straight answers.
The campfire had died down and the damp night chill
rolling off the creek impelled the friends to say their goodbyes and
head their separate ways. She noticed Pacey had yet to move; he was
still sitting in the same spot on the log as he watched Andie as she
and Jack headed for the Saab. She knew that Pacey had seen Andie and
her talking on the Ryan's front porch before dinner, just as she
knew he wouldn't question her about what was said or if Andie was
okay.
"Earth to Joey! Come in, Joey!" Bessie waved her hand in front of Joey's face. "Where did you go just then?"
Joey blinked. "Hmmm? Oh, nowhere! It's late. I must be getting tired." She stretched and yawned to prove her point. "Could you get off my bed, Bessie, so I can go to sleep?"
"Not until you tell me what's going on with you and Dawson."
Shrugging, Joey sighed, "I don't know. Same old thing… nothing, really. At this point, I'd just be happy to be friends and stay that way without any drama. Who knows what will happen?"
She bit the inside of her bottom lip. Then a warm smile gradually graced her face as she echoed Pacey's words, "It's a world of endless possibilities, right? Anything can happen."
