Ok. Last update before I head to the UK. This is a coming home for Pacey and Joey much as my trip to the UK will be a coming home. Hopefully I'll be inspired and find time to write. This chapter is long. There's good and bad. It is canon so some dialogue is lifted but reworked to reflect the new way things are.

Please read and review! I need the love;-)

Thanks to my regulars - you know who you are. I will list you all by name soon to prove I know who you are - really I do. The time you take to give me a review is so important to me. Thank you guys!

Tab:-)

Chapter 29

Joey stared at the horizon absentmindedly wondering how three blissful months could so quickly be coming to a close. She didn't really know how she felt about senior year - part of her wanted to sail the seven seas with Pacey forever. She knew she may not feel that quite so strongly about boating life when winter rolled around.

'Hey! Just caught us some dinner,' the boy in question called cheerfully from the end of the boat.

'Ahh, seafood. Great change of pace, Pace,' she mocked gently.

'Was that a note of disgust I detect at our sustenance of the ocean born?' he grinned at her.

'After this trip, if I never eat a thing that breathes through gills again, it'll be too soon,' she kissed his cheek and hugged him close, wrapping her arms around his waist despite the fish clutched in his hand. She was surprised that he didn't have a quick glib comeback so she looked up at him to find him staring into the distance at the land, much as she had been doing mere minutes earlier, only she'd been staring out to the open sea.

'So there she blows, huh? Capeside, Mass. Our first and last port of call,' he mused somewhat sorrowfully.

'Doesn't look much different than when we left it, does it?'

'Well, that's cause it ain't, Fraulien,' he shrugged.

'I'm in no more of a race than you are to get back there, but it's not like we have another choice,' she sighed and nudged her hand under his t-shirt smoothing it across his skin,

'We don't have to go home,' he gave her a long look, 'I mean face it Jo - we survived three months taking odd jobs. We can survive as long as we want. Just as long as we're happy. You know, that place - it isn't any different, but you and me? We are.'

'Pacey, if you're so serious about this, then why bring it up now? Two hours from home?' she asked softly because really the whole notion of just drifting was appealing.

'Two hours from home? See, I think we should probably drop anchor here, have a bite to eat and then we can debate whether or not to scrap this whole mission home,' he gave her an encouraging kiss.

'You know, I don't believe you, Pacey Witter. I mean, as truant as your natural instinct may be, you'd never really suggest skipping our senior year entirely,' she poked him in the stomach as he dropped the fish on a plate.

'Think about it Jo - just what would we be missing from the land of poorly scripted melodramas, huh? Recycled plot lines, tiresome self-realizations. Throw in the occasional downward spiral of a dear friend, maybe a baby here and death there, and all you really got is a recipe for some soul sucking, mind numbing ennui, and I for one could skip it,' he kissed her soundly on the lips but she shifted the kiss until she was placing a tender kiss on his nose,

'You know what continually amazes me, Pacey?'

'What's that?' he wrapped his arms more firmly around her now that he'd got rid of the fish,

'How long you've lasted without being thrown off this boat,' she gave him a deadly serious look,

'Well finally. There's something we can both agree upon,' he released his firm grip on her and took her hand and with a last look at each other they jumped into the water. Joey came up gasping for air in the cold water, but as ever Pacey was there, one hand on her waist as he kicked steadily.

'We really aught to take off our clothes before we jump,' she kissed him because she loved him wet,

'Hmm, we tried that - remember? We just ended up having sex.'

'Are you saying that there's something wrong with that?' she teased and he flushed,

'No,' he laughed then, 'actually we should have thought this through because sex sounds really good right now...'

'Pace, are you serious? That you'd rather not go back?'

'In a way yeah. I'm selfish you know. I like having you all to myself. I like how free we are to be together,' to demonstrate the point he knocked down the straps of her top and pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder, his other hand skimming her waist.

'I don't know how I'll sleep without you,' she admitted.

'We still haven't finished our book,' he felt the same way. 'The truth is, if we had this back in Capeside...you know you and me together, free to be ourselves, I wouldn't mind. The problem is all the outside crap we put up with there.'

'The reality of life is outside crap,' she told him firmly. 'You're just meant to find someone who makes the outside crap more endurable, and who helps eliminate your inside crap,' she looked at him and saw that he was trying not to laugh.

'Inside crap?' he queried. 'I think you may need a strong laxative not a boyfriend to eliminate your inside crap...'

'Oh shut up,' she threw herself on him and dunked him, her hands tickling his sides.


Joey found it hard to describe her mood. She was excited to be home, excited to see everyone, most particularly Bessie, but she felt awful about not getting to be with Pacey - she honestly wasn't quite sure how she'd get through the full 24 hours of separation they'd stupidly agreed to. She saw it as cold turkey from a severe addiction.

'Boy! That's a little on the heavy side. Who's that one for?' he handed her a heavy wrapped package and she blushed, laughing at the same time,

'Well I didn't know what to get Dawson, not at all, especially not after Key West but I got everyone else something...'

'So what did you decide on?' he was smirking.

'A brick,' she told him with just a hint of sass, rewarded with his huge smile,

'As a symbol of the friendship you're rebuilding?' he waggled his eyebrows.

'Some thing like that,' she admitted.

'That's cute,' he winked at her.

'Pacey,' she flushed, 'Is that everything?'

'Yeah for right now. I figured we'd just leave the rest of the stuff on boat and pick it up tomorrow. Uhh, before we leave though, there is one other thing we should cover.

'What's that?' she frowned.

'Well, they're gonna ask,' he shrugged.

'Who's gonna ask what?'

'The masses. They're gonna ask what happened on the boat. Between you and I, you know, sexually speaking.'

'No one cares, Pacey. Okay, maybe they care, but they're not going to ask. It's too crass. Besides, lets face it Jen, Jack and Dawson know, which means Andie probably knows. That is far too many people knowing about what is meant to be private.'

'We live in a crass age, sweetheart.'

'Okay, so what are you going to say?'

'That really depends,' he looked at her pointedly.

'On?'

'On what you're going to say,' he chuckled.

'Well, I guess I'm going to say nothing because it's no one's business, not with as many people knowing as currently do.'

'That's good. Nothing sounds perfect.'

'Besides, they're not going to ask.'

'Oh, they'll ask.'

'Well, this is it. The last of our summer. I go left, you go right and we spend the next full 24 hours away from each other,' she spoke with false bravado, her heart aching slightly at the impending separation. Her heart also somewhat miffed at Pacey's apparent indifference.

'If you're curious as to why I'm not currently awash in sadness, it's only because, to be perfectly honest, you were starting to get on my nerves, Jo,' he gave her a shoulder nudge.

'Good, because you know, I'd hate to think after all of our intimate talks, you were actually covering up your aching heart with false bravado.'

'Well, put your mind at ease. I guess I'll call you tomorrow, maybe,' he was entirely dismissive.

'Oh, if you think about it. Sure, okay. Good luck out there.'

'Thanks,' he turned and walked, and so did she, only to return seconds later, met by his strong arms and fevered kisses. 'Not ready,' he breathed unwilling to break the kiss. Joey dropped the brick, her bag and even the Carolina Jasmine she'd picked up for Bessie, looping her arms behind his neck.

'Let's live on the boat forever,' she really didn't care that much about senior year anymore.

'Deal,' he picked her up and edged back towards the boat.

'If you're planning on trying to lift me onto the boat we'll be swimming with the fishes,' she grabbed his hand and jumped on board, followed hastily by Pacey, stumbling slightly in his eagerness.

'I don't wanna swim with the fishes, I wanna drown in you,' he cooed whilst placing warm kisses on her neck, following her below deck. She laughed,

'Such a romantic,' she teased.

'I'm not being romantic,' his hands found her bare thighs and brushed up them pushing her skirt aside, 'I mean I literally want to drown in you,' he brushed his fingers between her legs to emphasize his meaning and his intent.

'You're obsessed,' she chided lightly falling back on the bed.

'With you? Yes I am,' he peeled off her panties and then lay on top of her, his hard cock pressing against her naked flesh exquisitely.

'So why are we having a 24 hour break,' she sighed as he trailed kisses across her neck.

'That was your crazy suggestion,' he pointed out resting his face in the valley between her breasts for a moment, clearly pleased to be there despite the clothing in the way. 'If I had it my way we'd always be together,' as if to emphasize his point he shimmied down her body and breathed hot air between her legs, 'you're so wet,' he groaned, his words vibrating against her inner thigh, 'it makes me so hard,' his tongue sweeping into her took her by surprise and her back arched off the bed,

'Pacey,' she cried out his name and dug her fingers into his hair as he relentlessly licked and kissed and sucked, whatever it was he did that sent her body crazy, her heart racing, a pulse thrumming between her legs, and her lungs gasping for air. Just when she felt her body about to fall hedonistically into Pacey induced heaven he stopped. 'Pacey,' she growled his name in complaint, but then he was above her looking into her eyes, his hard cock against the thrumming ache, nothing between them. 'Please,' she all but whimpered and he took no mercy slamming into her, his body close to hers, and with that one movement she fell apart, her thighs clamping around him, as she arched upward. He didn't allow her recovery time though, apparently he had an aching need of his own and he thrust in and out of her, her legs still tight around him, until she was scratching her nails down his back and his hips were moving faster and more erratically, his own cry swallowed in a needy kiss.

'Twelve hours,' he whispered.

'Huh?' she frowned.

'You wanted twenty four hours. I think I can only manage...you know twelve minutes, but let's face it, that's a little pathetic, so twelve hours. If you need more, you got it, but I'm gonna call.'

'Call,' she agreed.

'Now let's make you somewhat decent so Bessie doesn't ask that question because the answer so obvious.'

'Hmmm, no one knows we're back,' she mused. 'Maybe we could just lie here.'

'Anytime Potter,' he agreed, pulling her close.


'Finally managed to tear yourself away from Pacey, huh?' Jen fell into step beside Joey as she ambled towards the B&B.

'Jen,' Joey greeted her friend and they shared an awkward half hug. 'And what do you mean?'

'I saw the boat in the dock, saw the way it was rocking and walked away.'

'You did not,' Joey blushed and nudged Jen, unable to help the smile despite her embarrassment.

'It wasn't rocking, I admit it, though I saw those items currently in your hands dropped to the ground, and I put two and two together...you get a little separation anxiety?'

'Something like that,' Joey admitted. 'I think we have a problem.'

'Trust me Jo, it's not a problem. A problem is a boyfriend at boarding school, not a boyfriend you want to have a lot of sex with, who loves you fiercely. So not a problem.'

'Sorry about Henry,' Joey wrinkled her nose and Jen slipped her arm through Joey's.

'I'll cope, which is of course all wrong. I shouldn't be able to cope, you know like you - the girl who abandons her gifts on the dock in favour of hot nookie.'

'So you don't think I'm a sex crazed animal?' Joey asked, a touch of insecurity.

'Oh you are, you absolutely are. You and Pacey are all out crazy for each other. However, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. In fact I think there's everything right with that.'

'And what are you going to do about Henry?'

'Wait it out I guess. Probably end things. I don't know. What I do know is I've found you a job.'

'Good because I desperately need one of those,' Joey smiled, 'where am I working?'

'You're a serving wench at Leery's Fresh Fish,' Jen smiled proudly.

'Well that beats the yacht club for sure. Andie suggested there back in Key West...'

'It's ok, I recall your reaction,' Jen chuckled. 'Let's work together - and you know the boss is good.'

'I don't think I'm ever going to escape food of the ocean,' Joey sighed.

'Not for a while. Let's see where you go to college...'

'Haha,' Joey laughed.


'Guess who?' Joey felt warm, familiar hands cover her eyes.

'Uhh, let's see. It can't possibly be my boyfriend. We're not supposed to see each other till tomorrow. He was growing sick of me.'

'Yeah, that was before he found out he was homeless and needed to bum a couch for the night,' he plonked down beside her and began to shell peas with her.

'If you only want me for my couch you can think again...'

'Well you know I want you for your bed and your body, but I didn't think Bessie would be down with that.'

'Well you can't have either. The B&B is booked so I'm on the couch till Tuesday. It's not big enough to share,' she shrugged.

'Is it just me, or are you starting to get the distinct feeling that this town really didn't miss us all that much,' Pacey grumbled.

'You mean it's like the reverse of "It's a Wonderful Life", except everybody's better off without us.'

'Except for each other,' he cut in and she laughed,

'They're pleased to see us grumble puss. You know they are, so stop feeling sorry for yourself.'

'Jack and Jen, absolutely, everyone else is a no. My parents gave my room to Carry's kids, Gretchen is home from college for no good reason, for no known amount of time, so even Dougy doesn't want me...'

'I want you, even grumpy and pouty as you are.'

'So you'll stay on the boat with me?' he looked so optimistic she kissed his nose,

'Beats the couch. You can tell Bessie though.'

'She asked, huh?' he gave her a shit eating grin,

'She asked.'

'And you said?'

'At first I evaded, but she's my sister...I planned to just say yes we did it, but then she wanted details and whilst I love my sister and yes we're close, I can't tell her how you make me come so hard I faint, or that I love you on top of me, inside of me, behind me...I have such a bad, bad mind these days. How is Shakespeare going to squeeze his way in between thoughts of naked you?' she looked at him slightly desperately only to find him laughing so hard he was making no noise. 'Oh shut up,' she bashed her shoulder into his.

'I'm sorry,' he breathed heavily trying to calm down, 'so Bessie didn't get details?'

'I told her it was good, that you were sweet and kind, that you bought me chocolate hearts. I told her you were an excellent lover before you go all pouty.'

'You did huh,' he looked inordinately pleased.

'Yeah, and don't be so smug. She says you can't stay over. Not good for the B&B's image.'

'That's not true. I'm excellent for the B&B's image...' he frowned.

'I tried every argument in the book,' she arched her brows, 'they didn't fly.'

'I'll try too,' he mused. 'You think she'll let you sleep on the boat?'

'Well she let me all summer, and it's gotta beat me on the couch in front of the guests.'

'Well good,'

'So what do you want to do tonight? Wanna grab some pizza and hang out on the boat or, I was thinking maybe we could go catch a bad summer movie at the $1.50 theater. What do you say?'

'Well, uhh, actually, Jen invited me to the Dive-In,' she squeezed his finger threateningly as he grabbed for her pea and he flicked her back,

'The Dive-In? Everybody from school is gonna be at the Dive-In. To be perfectly honest, I don't think I'm prepared for that quite yet,' he sighed over dramatically and so Joey shot him a look, because they weren't supposed to be spending the night together. 'Oh I get it, you were you gonna go without me?'

'We could just go together. I think it would be fun. And healthy. You know, to see everyone.'

'To see Dawson,' he said and she didn't like his tone. He was honestly ridiculous when it came to Dawson sometimes.

'Yes, to see Dawson, which we've talked about, Pacey. It's no secret that I'm anxious to improve things between us. You know that. Don't be crazy jealous Pace about it, ok?' she tangled her fingers through his.

'It's no secret, I know. And to be perfectly honest, I don't really care where we go or what we do. As long as we do it together,' he kissed her and she sighed into the kiss. She didn't think kissing Pacey would ever grow old.


The dive-in was crazy crowded, but she and Pacey soon found Jen, Jack and Andie on a boat and joined them, Andie hugging Joey enthusiastically.

'How goes it all?' Joey asked her.

'So, so, you know. Dawson and I aren't together...which you guys know of course, but we did try to date when we got home...it just didn't really work. But I'm good. You look great,' she touched Joey's tanned arm.

'Doesn't she, just,' Pacey dropped his arm around her shoulder but she shrugged it off.

'Go boy talk with Jack,' she suggested and he wrinkled his nose in amusement before joining Jack at the front of the boat, Jen taking his spot.'So you're ok about Dawson?'

'Actually yeah. I think we could be good but I'm not able to compete with his feelings about you,' Andie admitted. 'No offence.'

'Well Pacey's sister is back in town...Dawson used to have the biggest crush on her. He thought Pacey and I didn't know but we so did. Dawson can't hide it. Maybe she'll knock the shine off me. You are far better for him than me, he just needs some time and distance to realize it.'

'Have you seen him?' Jen asked and Joey shook her head.

'I was hoping to see him tonight. I went round to his house but he was out. His room was like a stranger lived there...'

'He went for a big overhaul. A fresh start to mend his broken heart.'

'It was a relief to see the picture of the six of us in Key West up otherwise I might think our friendship was in my imagination.'

'He's just doing his best,' Jen offered kindly.

'I know, I do. I miss him is all.'

'And he misses you,' Jen gave her a hug, 'and speak of the devil.'

'I'm the devil?' Dawson asked with a low laugh.

'I was just saying I went to see you today but you were out. I wanted to catch up. Shall we go get drinks together?'

'Yeah ok,' Dawson smiled. 'Hey,' he nodded cooly at Pacey, who smiled back, though it didn't reach his eyes. 'I forgot to bring nuts. Am I to assume they are still necessary?' it was his attempt at a joke and they took it for what it was,

'Here man,' Pacey dug in his bag and tossed a bag of nuts Dawson's way.

'Thanks,' Dawson actually laughed and Joey jumped off the boat.


'There you are,' Pacey met her on the sand but he didn't look as happy as she expected.

'What's the matter?'

'You've been gone for over an hour,' he frowned.

'We got to talking?' she frowned back.

'We should go,' he looked angry and she honestly didn't have a clue what his problem was.

'Excuse me?'

'Well maybe I should go, 'cause it seems like my presence is superfluous to requirements.'

'Maybe you should,' she could be just as angry, 'I'm having a fun time.'

'I'm sure you are,' the insinuation was heavy.

'And you're not? Because I'm not hanging off you? Is that it?'

'You know that's not it,' he growled.

'It can't be because I'm talking to a male friend? I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to be that kind of boyfriend.'

'That's not fair,' he told her. 'An hour. You disappear when we're spending an evening together for an hour - with the guy that has tried to convince you to break up with me countless times.'

'If you recall, tonight was supposed to be about a little time apart...'

'And you just couldn't wait to get to Dawson could you?' he glared at her.

'I can't believe you're behaving like this,' she shook her head,

'And just how am I behaving?' his eyes were narrowed and it just made her more cross,

'I don't know, currently I'm deciding between asinine, immature child, or arrogant infantile boyfriend,' she narrowed her eyes - two could so play at that game.

'You know, I shouldn't have come here in the first place,' he shook his head.

'Maybe you shouldn't,' she agreed.

'Yeah, I guess you would have loved that. It would have given you all the time in the world to sort things with Dawson. Those were your words, right?'

'I said I wanted to work on our friendship.'

'You said relationship.'

'For gods sake Pace, I didn't. You and I have a relationship, Dawson and I have a friendship. Fixing that friendship is a reality for me, for both of us.'

'I'm pretty sure the guy hates me and I can't fix that.'

'Well, you can try!'

'I am trying. I'm always trying. Maybe I'm sick of trying so hard all the time.'

'Well I do want to keep trying. I think it's worth it and I'm sorry if you have a problem with that,' she was sick to death of this same issue the whole time.

'You're damn right I have a problem with that. You're not even unpacked yet, and the first thing you think to do is seek him out for alone time...

'Look, I can't help it if it has been on my mind, lots has been on my mind. But it doesn't mean what you think it means...' she was beginning to feel weighted down, like the argument was more than she could deal with.

'I don't know what it means. I don't care what it means. I just watched you grow more and more preoccupied every day this week, and I'm tired of it. And it better stop,' he told her and she found the strength and the complete willingness to fix him with steely eyes,

'You better watch who you're ordering around Pacey. We're not on the boat and we haven't been for a day,' she hissed the warning. 'I also find that hugely unfair.'

'Maybe you could try thinking about how you'd feel if I disappeared up the beach with Andie for an hour at a time,' he looked down and coughed, 'sometimes I feel like you don't get it. I want you to have what you want, but some times I do feel like throwing a tantrum about it. I love you. Do you get that, I love and adore you and when you go with a guy that's held you heart and soul for years...I freak out...especially after a summer entangled with you...'

'You'd think a summer like we just had would have given you a little faith,' she chastised.

'I have faith that what you two have will always be that much more than us,' he told her, most unfairly In her opinion before he stalked off.


For the first half hour following Pacey's storm off Joey was mostly angry. The anger changed to hurt and after a soul searching twenty minutes with Jen she just felt sorry and entirely determined to undo Pacey's very stupid belief that he was second best to Dawson in particular, but really second best in lone in general. She'd thought her readiness to accept the evolution of things between them months earlier would have given him confidence. If that didn't, standing up and saying to everyone at Aunt Gwen's that they were together should have. And if both those things failed to let him know how highly she thought of him, how important he was to her, more important than anyone else, well surely the sex should have emphasized it. And not just the sex but the accompanying intimacy. And telling Dawson about it. She hadn't realized he'd been broken so thoroughly by his parents until that moment. They called him a loser - had done so in front of her - he clearly believed them and she just couldn't have that.

She hitched a ride home with Jack and then drove the truck to the boat. She wasn't sure how to start especially in the face of his stoic magazine "reading." Really he was ignoring her,

'Well, I've decided something. And it is perhaps the singularly most important thing that I've realized in the last 45 minutes, so I must share it with you. This town has far too many stoplights for somebody who's not very good at driving stick. I stalled 7 times coming over here,' she spoke clearly and calmly because he was going to hear her this time,

'Too bad it wasn't 8,' he said and she rolled her eyes.

'I stalled 7 times and 6 out of the 7 times, you know what I thought about? You,' she sat beside him, his tenseness radiating off of him. The things was he had never had someone who thought he was the best, who believed in him and her realization of this made her ache for him, because she understood how that felt and whilst she doubted her father, and Bessie at times, she never doubted that Pacey loved her. She trusted it implicitly and hurt to think he might not trust in her love so easily. She took a breath,

'It's this secret thing I do whenever I get really pissed off or confused or angry or upset or sad. I think of you and I immediately feel good inside. I guess it's kinda like taking a good-mood pill or something. And I swore to myself that I would never tell you that I did this because it is so girly and stupid. And I just told you because I needed to score major points for not explaining what went down tonight. Or where I've been the last week when I haven't been on this boat.'

'Keep going,' he didn't look at her but she felt him breathe out.

'Pacey, you remember that time you took me to see my dad?'

'In sophomore year?' He frowned looking at her for the first time, apparently confused.

'Yeah. When you bribed the guard,' she nodded.

'Where's this going?' he asked because she clearly wasn't forgiven.

'I needed to go there that night because I wanted to ask my dad if he loved me. That must seem crazy...'

'Not so much,' he admitted and she risked resting her hand on the back of his,

'I spent a long time after my mom died and dad was sent away feeling really lonely. Bessie didn't hug me, or say she loved me and so I had you and Dawson. He soothed me verbally and you, you gave me safety and security...you gave me a little peace. Neither of you loved me. I used to feel very lonely. And sad,' she admitted.

'What did your dad say? When you asked?'

'He said...' she laughed a little wryly, 'he said he loves me more than I can ever know and he said that Dawson loved me.'

'Right,' Pacey sighed and looked the other way off the boat.

'Dawson does love me. I don't think he loves me as a girlfriend any more than I love him as more than a friend, but I don't have many people. He's important and so I wanted to see him. To try and be friends. I hurt him deeply and I hate that.'

'Your dad really said that?'

'Yes,' Joey admitted and then blushed. 'Apparently he saw us hug...I mean after the visit...you remember? You held me.'

'I remember,' he said simply.

'When he was released...he asked about you. A lot. He would tease me which was crazy because you were with Andie and I was with Dawson but he knew.'

'That sounds more like it,' he turned back to her and offered her a small smile.

'I have been distracted lately. But not because of Dawson. Because of you. I was stupid and I began mourning the end of our trip before the end of our trip. My head wasn't on the boat. It was on school, on college and yeah on Dawson. I kept wondering how all these things might change us. I am fiercely protective over what I have with you. You're mine Pacey. Wherever my head may go, my heart never leaves you. And it won't.'

'Okay, you got me,' he admitted wrapping and arm around her and kissing her head, 'I do wanna know one thing, though.'

'What's that?'

'I want to know what exactly it was you thought of the 7th time you stalled.'

'That I was never going to drive stick again,' she grinned, loving his laugh as he kissed her,

'How very practical,' he rested his head against her.

'Pace.'

'Hmm?'

'Can we go read our book? I just feel like I need to...I don't know just be with you.'

'Yeah we can,' he smiled and pulled her to her feet. 'Before we go in I need to say something.'

'What?'

'I'm sorry. Some of the things I said I were way out of line. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way or bossed you around. That was the green eyed Pacey talking.'

'I know who you are Pace so I know that.'

'I'm sorry. I want you to know that too. I think my inside and outside crap collided and I got a little crazy.'

'I can relate to that. And I hear that you're sorry.'

'Good.'

'I'm glad we're here tonight. I've hated the thought of not being with you,' she admitted as they headed into the cabin. 'All part of the stress we had going on I guess.'

'I feel ya,' he agreed stripping off for bed. 'You need to do teeth? I did mine earlier.'

'Did them before I came. I was optimistic we'd resolve our argument.'

'Maybe I should just marry you,' he mused softly, watching her undress. 'I would you know. I love you that much.'

'But then you'd be stuck with me forever,' she laughed.

'That's the idea,' he rolled his eyes.

'You're stuck with me regardless. Forget everything inside that makes you doubt that and trust me. I'm in love with you. Wildly, madly, insanely in love.'

'You sure you just wanna read?' he edged closer as she pulled off her bra.

'Tonight I want to read,' she told him firmly taking the tank top and boxers he had selected for her.

'Come on then Potter,' he pulled her to bed and once he was in she fixed herself firmly to his side, her head on his chest and breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of his voice soothing the worries out of her. She hoped her words had sunk in, hoped he believed them, and that she in turn was soothing away his worries.