Just a filler chapter because I don't have time for more. I manage to write these whilst away on vacation because my son takes a half hour to fall asleep and likes me in there with him. Reviews spurn me to write rather than check facebook...you catch my drift? *wink wink* Seriously guys, thanks for the reviews and support!

Tab:-)

Chapter 35

'I hate winter,' Joey groused as they walked through Capeside in the icy weather.

'But we first fell in love in winter,' Pacey pointed out.

'I would say it was Fall,' Joey shrugged and tugged him along by their joined hands.

'Ok, but we first acknowledged it in winter. I mean it's true that I spent forever falling in love with you,' he stated dismissively, 'but the point being, we got together in winter.'

'I guess,' she frowned.

'Ok, so this conversation brings a good point to my attention. Did we get together in fall or winter? I mean we fell in love throughout the summer and fall, or maybe our whole lives, but when did we get together?' he gestured with enthusiasm, 'Was it that moment on the bed when you told me about AJ, or when we first kissed and declared ourselves? I mean, I guess I don't really know what kinda girl you are about anniversaries and stuff, and you know I just assumed we'd celebrate the day we got together with an all out fiesta. Is that day to celebrate the falling in love bit, which would be an everyday celebration, or is it the actual day we kissed by the welcome to Capeside and if it is I'm not actually sure what day that is...'

'Well if it was the first day you...evolved one of our hugs into a grope fest...'

'You groped too sweetheart,' he pointed out blithely as if she were contesting the issue.

'I never said I didn't...although now you mention it I didn't actually grope, I just allowed your body to keep touching mine...'

'Allowed?' he raised a sceptical brow at her. 'The way you breathed my name, that breathy, pleading voice...I wouldn't say 'allowed' covers that.'

'Ok,' she conceded, 'I turned to a mushy puddle of hormonal goo when you pressed your body to mine,' she gave him a sweet smile.

'Better,' he acknowledged. 'So do we count it from that day?'

'If we do,mee've missed the year mark by over a month or two.'

'Oh,' he looked crestfallen.

'And it's not exactly an anniversary if we say it's everyday because we were always falling in love.'

'So the kiss?' he smiled at her as they walked.

'Yeah, I count it from our kiss at the side of the road, the day we admitted how we felt about each other,' she said smiling back at him.

'Ok, and I haven't missed that right?' he looked at her with panicked eyes.

'Well that was right before Spring break, the sixth of March.'

'The sixth of March?' he looked at her.

'Which is soon.'

'It's not soon Joey,' he shook his head and she laughed,

'It is, it's really soon, tomorrow in fact!' she looked at him pleased to have known when he didn't, 'Now don't go all male on me and start panicking because you didn't remember, I honestly don't care about things like that and we'd never clarified when it was before...'

'I meant it's not soon Jo, it's today,' he grinned at her impishly and she rolled her eyes, swatting him in the chest.

'Nice try Pace...'

'I'm sorry to say Jo, but you've lost a day somewhere along the line because if you hadn't I wouldn't have decorated the boat up like this,' he gestured to the dock, the end destination of their walk, where in the distance True Love bobbed in the water, the lights twinkling on board, 'I wouldn't have cooked you risotto and I wouldn't have bought you flowers and a gift.'

'Today is really the sixth of March?' It was her turn to look devastated.

'Yep,' he looked utterly proud of himself.

'Well ok,' she bit her lip and looked down before looking up at him with wide, doe eyes. 'The thing is I had a gift for you but I didn't bring it because I thought it was tomorrow, so I guess I'll have to give you a different kind of gift,' she ran a hand up his pant leg and cupped him, letting him know what she meant, as if it hadn't be obvious from the expression on her face.

'Sorry missy, but tonight I'm going to wine and dine you - we're going to talk. You can't distract me with sex,' he pecked a kiss onto her forehead, and slipped away from her,

'I can try,' she stated obstinately, walking after him.

'Well sure, you can try,' he smirked.

'You're so dead Witter...'

'I don't think dead is what you're after,' he grinned and held out a hand to help her onto the boat.

'Fine...you're so naked Witter...'

'Well eventually sure, after the wining and dining and gift giving...after the adoration...'

'Ok,' she shrugged easily, too easily he was sure, as they stepped into the cosy cabin. 'So glad you got that heater,' she took off her coat, gloves, hat and scarf.

'Me too,' he said and when she turned to look at him he was holding out a small box to her, which she took shyly.

'What is it?' she murmured and he laughed.

'Why do you always ask that? Open it and find out. I hope I got it right...I may have asked Jen for a little guidance...' he watched her as she lifted the lid to reveal the dainty silver necklace with a small arrow strung within it.

'Oh I love it,' she gasped entirely thrilled and took it out and handed it to him, 'please?'

'Sure,' he was smiling at her reaction, as she lifted her hair and he did it up for her. She turned around and he smiled, 'looks really pretty,' he said, or managed to half say before she pressed herself against him and kissed him, her hands running through his hair, as she shifted her body against the front of his, eager to find that friction that made her feel so good. For a nano second she contemplated her success at deviating his attention away from food, for he was of course impossibly hard and his eager hands were grasping at her ass to help her get closer, it was only a nano second though because then her mind was consumed with the feel of him, with one sole goal which was to rid him of his clothes and let him fuck her - she knew that was a good gift because Pacey was a selfless lover - no matter what he wanted, he wanted her enjoyment more, and she knew he had fantasies, ones he might even feel a little guilty about which involved him taking her, claiming her as his and it wasn't about her enjoyment but about his. Given that he wasn't sexist in the slightest, given that it was just a fantasy and the reality was he'd probably still try and make her come, well she was more than happy for him to play at domination. She wasn't up for the BDSM, not at all, but if he wanted to take her from behind and fuck her, well the thought was a complete turn on to her. It wasn't like he'd transfer that to his treatment of her out of the bedroom.

'Pace stop,' she managed to gasp and his hands were instantly off of her. It was things like that which made her comfortable with a little light role play. She took in his apprehensive expression, and peeled her top off, before pushing off her jeans and socks until she was in just her underwear.

'Joey,' he pleaded, taking a step forward but keeping his hands off. She slid off her bra and panties then looked at him.

'I want you to fuck me from behind, up against that counter,' she nodded to where the meal he'd prepared sat.

'Joey,' this time he growled her name but she merely stood facing the counter, resting her hands against the wooden edge.

'I don't want your fingers, or your mouth, I just want to feel your cock pushing into me,' she wondered where her baddass nerve was coming from, but she didn't feel embarrassed or self conscious, she just felt really, really ready to have him fill the space between her legs. The last time she could recall that feeling of heavy, pulsing need had been in Key West, the night she forewent panties, the night Dawson lost it. Without being able to see him, knowing how much he'd want her, she wanted it more than ever, and each second that she stood there waiting, made the beating desire harder to withstand.

She had no idea he could move so stealthily because it couldn't have been half a minute later and she felt his body close in behind hers, felt his hands grasp at her boobs, his feet kick apart her legs a little and then his cock was pushing into her, hard. He began to move in and out of her, hard, fast, and needy thrusts of his body into hers. His breathing was already erratic but so was hers, the area between her legs welcoming the intrusion with an enthusiastic response to each thrust of his body into hers. She didn't even know how she was building to a climax without any friction on her clit, but she was moaning and gasping, and feeling an unbelievably strong build up. The plan apparently had the desired effect on Pacey because he was fucking her hard, selfishly, his hands slightly rough on her chest but with a dazzling effect that only served to heighten her own excitement.

'Oh god, fuck, Pacey,' she couldn't even think to worry about how loud she was being, to blush as she might usually do over it, because she realized that she no longer knew her own body, and she had certainly underestimated the effect Pacey had on her. Her orgasm hit around the same time as his, she couldn't have said who was first, who's was longer, or much of anything, because her body seemed to come and then come again, until she was left like a marionette who's strings have been cut, just a rag doll in his arms. Pacey for his part seemed to be shaking, his arms tight around her preventing her from falling,

'God baby...Mmm...' seemed to be all he could manage and he muttered the words repeatedly for several minutes until he was ready to move away from her. 'Here,' he mumbled against her neck and then he was scooping her up and depositing her on the bed, before pulling back the covers and climbing in beside her, the two of them instantly cocooned in a ball of hugging beneath the fluffy quilt.

'Happy anniversary,' she giggled after a good half hour of silent hugging and she was rewarded with his deep, happy chuckle.

'Happy is right,' he pressed a kiss to her cheek. 'I am going to insist you put your clothes on. I did make a special dinner and I plan on serving it by candlelight and talking to you, not just ravishing you.'

'Pace, we rarely stop talking,' she teased, but he just rolled his eyes,

'That's because we like talking to each other,' he said as if that should be obvious.

'But I can't move,' she gripped onto him.

'Ok,' he nodded, 'ok...just lie there,' he said and she closed her eyes as he left the bed. When she opened them again he was back beside her and holding out a pair of his boxers and his T-shirt from that day, because he knew she adored wearing his T-shirt when they smelt of him. She looked around and noticed the lit candles and the smell of dinner which he'd put on plates at the bottom of the bed.

'It's an in bed picnic,' he smiled.

'It's perfect is what it is,' she told him. 'I love hanging out with you like this,' she mused as he passed her the plate.

'Well we're going to have to get creative when we get to college you know. Find new places to go on dates, maybe go out dancing. I would love to take you out somewhere where we could get a little drunk and flirty, and dance, not the cha cha, but up close,' he ran a hand across her cheek. 'We'll need to find new places to be intimate as well...I mean imagine we both have roommates...'

'Well I hadn't thought of that,' she frowned.

'I had,' he smirked.

'Maybe the showers...I've heard that might be an option...'

'Where did you hear that?' he asked.

'TV shows and movies,' she grinned.

'Well I think I could do that, I mean be in a shower with you...'

'You have done that,' she rolled her eyes, 'several times.'

'Hmm, maybe we should just get a place together. Can you imagine that? You and me in a little sunlit apartment. Jen and Jack nearby. I could cook for you...you could wash my clothes...we could play to our strengths. No crappy, weird roommates...'

'Well speak for yourself. In that little scenario you'd be my roommate and you're definitely a little strange. Strange and messy.'

'But I'm clean,' he pointed out.

'Pace we can't live together the first year of college,' she chided softly.

'Why not?' he pouted.

'Because it's a life experience. The weird roommates, college dorms, trying to hook up in awkward places...dorm room parties... I love the idea of living with you, but this isn't summer on the boat...'

'It's ok, I can take it,' he sniffed, a mock frown in place, 'I guess I love you more...'

'Oh shut it,' she nudged his shoulder with hers. 'You'll regret it if you don't experience it all and as I plan on keeping you, I can't have you resenting me.'

'As if I could,' he smiled and kissed her cheek, before shifting so he was lying on his tummy looking up at her, picking bits of salad off his plate. 'You're really beautiful you know?'

'So are you,' she murmured looking down and feeling her blush on her cheeks. It surprised her that his sincere comment could cause her to blush, but when he was fucking her earlier she'd felt no embarrassment.

'I would love to live with you. Maybe third year? We could even convince Jen and Jack if they're in the same town,' he suggested.

'We've all applied to Boston and New York, chances are we might get lucky.'

'Would you consider that then?' he asked with deep blue eyes fixed on her.

'If we're still together, I would,' she nodded.

'Why aren't we still together?' he asked pouting yet again.

'Because you get sick of me? Or you drive me literally insane. Maybe I get fat...'

'I don't love you because you're thin,' he pointed out.

'Well good.'

'I mean I do love your body,' he put the plates to one side and pulled her down on the bed beside him, so she was lying on her back. He ran a hand down her stomach, 'I love this bit of you,' he leaned across and pressed a kiss to the warm skin.

'But you'd still love me fat?' she laughed at him.

'Yes I would,' he kissed her tummy again and looked up at her, his lips still on the skin there.

'Even if I don't get fat, if I have a baby my stomach will never be the same...' she looked at him, loving the way his eyes twinkled as he grinned,

'But you'd have had a baby. I mean so long as it was mine...'

'You wouldn't mind huh?' she arched a brow.

'Exactly. God, I'd love you to have my baby, one day of course...' he added hastily.

'You mean not right now?' she smirked, her tone sarcastic.

'Not until we choose to,' he lay his head on the flat of her stomach and she put her hands in his hair.

'And how many babies would you love to have?' she asked.

'Hmm,' he thought about it, 'as many as you'd let me.'

'I'm not surprised,' she told him.

'Why not?'

'You're a big softy. You're good with kids.'

'And you...I mean I hope I'm good with you...'

'You're very good with me Pace,' she stroked his cheek and ran a finger lightly across his eyelid. 'You're very good for me.'

'And what if we don't get into the same school?' she could hear the insecurity, the concern. 'I mean what if college separates us?'

'Hmm, well I guess that we have to trust each other and trust what we have. Life isn't always going to be as smooth as it has been.'

'I wouldn't call Dawson's temper tantrum "smooth,"' he griped and she laughed.

'Or your parents,' she admitted.

'No. But you and I...I suppose we've always been certain, and I guess I trust what we have entirely.'

'Well that feeling is mutual,' she agreed.

'So...whilst we're talking...' he began and trailed off.

'Yes?'

'Well my grandma, the one who died, turns out she left me something in her will. She left us all something but for whatever reason she left me more. The will said it was to finance what my parents wouldn't...I guess she knew my dad pretty well.'

'How much did she leave you?' Joey sat up and he moved his head off her lap.

'I don't actually know, it's all still with the lawyers. My dad's been shouting about this and that. It's probably not much, but I'm hoping it would cover some of my college expenses and maybe I could do the rest with loans. I heard the figure fifteen thousand mentioned,' he shrugged.

'Wow Pace, that would be amazing!' she squeaked. 'That would help so much and if you do get some financial aid you could save it...spend it if you need it without having to ask your parents. Why didn't you tell me sooner?' she took both of his hands,

'Do you not recall my desire to wine and dine you? Me wanting to talk to you and declaring there'd be no hanky panky until after then?'

'It sounded more like a challenge to me,' she offered up sweetly and he laughed loudly before kissing her,

'A challenge you won instantly.'

'Which is as it should be,' she nodded.

'I'd like to pretend I have more willpower but it's blatantly apparent that when it comes to you I have none.'

'Not when I'm standing naked in the cabin of your boat and offering myself to you,' she turned herself around so she was sat between his legs, her back resting along his chest. 'Do you think you'll get bored of me?' she asked.

'Clarify that question please,' he kissed her neck.

'If I manage to convince you to be mine for longer than the average high school romance...I mean do you think you're going to get bored of me? Will I lose you through boredom or is it more likely to be circumstantial?'

'These are crazy questions Jo,' Pacey tutted softly. 'The bigger risk is that I lose you. Why are you worrying about this again?'

'Because everyday there's more and more evidence piling up that suggests you are a much more wonderful person than I could ever dream of being. I mean I got our anniversary wrong, there's an example right there.'

'It was sweet and you more than made up for it,' he held her a little tighter.

'I did have you an actual gift, one I wrapped up and everything...'

'Maybe next year you can wrap up you naked against a counter...' he suggested.

'Pace, I'm being serious. It's not as pretty as this necklace though,' she fingered the chain around her throat, 'it's just a couple of photos from last summer.'

'When I'm not with you I'm a bit of a romantic mush monster and I stare at pictures of you so it'll be good to have some to add to my collection.'

'Boys are hard to buy for,' she admitted. 'Christmas was a disaster...'

'I loved the boxers, it was very thoughtful gift,' he hid his smile in her hair.

'I guess I don't know much about men's underwear...I figured it was like bra sizes and you seem extra large to me...'

'Not around my middle,' he pressed a sloppy kiss to her neck.

'Personally I quite liked the automatic fall down effect,' she pouted.

'Not exactly practical.'

'Well no.'

'So listen,' he turned him self around so they were sprawled haphazardly on the bed facing each other. 'I hate hearing you doubt how much I love you. How much I fricking worship the ground you walk on. The truth is I won't be walking away from this, from you. It would take an awful lot to turn me away, and in all likelihood it would be about me and not you. I trust you. I literally trust you with all of me, that I am the most important person to you. I don't worry about Dawson anymore. I'm not bothered because you've made me feel that you love me more than anything. I want you to feel the same. What am I not doing here?'

'That's the thing Pace, you do everything. Everything makes me feel that way and I just love you. I love you so much and generally speaking I don't get to keep the things I love. They die, or they leave and the thought of losing you...it just makes me feel so panicked and so I'm always mentioning it so I'm prepared if it happens. As much as I can be. I figure maybe I get left behind because I'm not worth staying for,' she shrugged a little.

'Don't you say that. Jo, I can honestly say, that I'm certain you are it for me. I'm done falling in love. Whatever happens you're it for me.'

'How are you so sure?' she frowned.

'Because for me, everything I do is in an effort to make you happy. I want your happiness more than I want my own. That's the only important thing and I know, I know that if that meant Dawson, or being alone, or even moving to Paris, well I'd want that for you. I would hate it, might even die of a broken heart, but that's how I know.'

He stared at her and she had no words that did justice to anything that was going through her mind, the jumble of thoughts and emotions too complex to extrapolate into actual words and so she threw herself at him, hugging him tightly, kissing him everywhere, before pressing her head against his chest and finding the innocent relief and comfort she'd always found in his arms.