The next morning.

Dawson woke up before Andie did. She was still in a deep sleep. It took him a minute to remember why she was there. It him like a ton of bricks when it did. Somehow the pain was worse now that it had marinated overnight than it was when it was still raw. Joey and Pacey were probably somewhere off the coast of Connecticut right now, he figured. He let go of Andie and rolled over.

"Morning, Dawson."

"It still hurts."

"Of course it does. It's going to hurt for a very long time."

He had forgotten how good it felt to wake up next to someone, someone who was going to be there for him unconditionally. Ever since Joey had stopped sleeping over, he had lost a part of himself. When he looked at Andie, he could tell she was having much the same thoughts. He just smiled at her.

"I know."

"Oh, can you take me over to my house later? Jen gave me a ride yesterday, so I don't have the car."

"Sure. Thanks so much for staying over last night, by the way. It really went a long way to helping me heal."

"Right back at you, pal."

"God, I don't even know what I'm going to do this summer. Joey and I made so many plans together, and now it's all out the window."

"Do them with me instead."

"You don't have to do that."

"I want to. I told you, I'm not going anywhere."

"But, you just said you wanted me to take you home."

"To get clothes! I can't just keep wearing your old clothes. Unless you want me to?"

The way Andie asked that question bordered on flirtatious. He quickly sidestepped that notion. He still wasn't sure how much credence to give to the promise Andie made last night. She was always prone to hyperbole.

"Oh, I just assumed, last night, I thought you were just saying whatever I needed to hear to feel better. I didn't actually think, expect…"

"Dawson, we need each other right now! Joey and Pacey are on the boat together. Jen and Jack have each other. She's pining after poor Henry, and Jack is finally accepting who he is. He's going to have so much fun now. Even your parents, they've gotten remarried. It's just us, Dawson."

"My parents!"

Dawson hadn't even thought about that. Andie had just announced she was going to be moving in for the foreseeable future. What were his parents going to think?

"What about them?"

"We need to ask them if you can stay here. You are staying here, right?"

"That's what I said. Besides, Jack and Daddy are really starting to bond. It'll be nice for them to have some time together without me to get in their hair."

"Let's go ask them, then. My mom used to make pancakes for Joey when she slept over, but I don't know if you like pancakes or…"

"Dawson! This is their wedding night. I'm thinking they're not going to be in any rush to get out of bed and cook breakfast. I know! Why don't we make them breakfast! That'll put them in a good mood and make them more amenable to me moving in."

"You really are the cleverest girl in Capeside, aren't you?"

Andie beamed at him.

Later that morning.

It was over an hour before Dawson's parents came down, and Andie had been waiting impatiently the whole time. She brewed a pot of coffee and made the pancake batter. There wasn't much else they could do, and Dawson wasn't in the mood for conversation yet. They sat in a comfortable silence instead.

"Good morning, sweetie," Gale greeted Dawson before she noticed Andie.

"Morning."

"Oh, Andie, how are you?"

"I'm good, Mrs. Leery. Dawson needed some company, so I stayed over, you know, like Joey used to. I hope you don't mind"

Mitch was about to say something, but Gale cut him off.

"That's quite alright."

"I made breakfast. Well, I didn't make it yet, but I prepared everything. Dawson said you always used to make pancakes for Joey, so I thought I would whip some up for everyone."

"Oh, that's great, I'm starving," Mitch said mischievously. "We worked up quite the appetite this morning."

"Mitch!"

Dawson should have been put off by his parents' open discussion of their sex life, but more than anything he felt jealous that they had each other. He thought about what Andie said that everyone had someone else and that all he and Andie had were each other. He played the part, though.

"Thanks for that image, dad."

"Sorry, son. So, Andie, Jack's brother, right?"

Andie nodded enthusiastically.

"Great kid."

"He really is. I'm lucky to have such an amazing brother." She started cooking the breakfast and poured out two more cups of coffee, which Dawson's parents accepted gratefully. Gale brought up the topic on everyone's mind.

"Dawson, sweetie, that was something really special you did yesterday. Jen told us everything. I can't imagine how much it hurt to have to make that decision, but one day you'll realize it was the right thing to do."

"That doesn't make it any easier." It hurt just to say those words. It hurt to love another human being so much that her happiness mattered more than his own. The fact that it was the right thing to do just made it hurt more.

"No, of course it doesn't.

"So, actually, about that. There's something I wanted to tell you, ask you, I mean."

"You can ask us anything."

"Well, you know Andie used to date Pacey. He was her first boyfriend, actually."

"Right, now that you mention it."

"So, Andie and I, we're both going through the same thing right now. We need each other's company and support."

"That's great, Dawson. You've always been so close with your friends. It's one of your best assets."

"I'm glad you think that," Dawson laughed nervously, "because Andie wants, I want, I was hoping, if it's okay with you, of course, that Andie could stay with me, with us, for a while."

"Define a while."

"Until we start to heal."

"And where would she sleep?"

"In my room."

Gale was silent.

"I don't know about that, son," Mitch interjected. "We wouldn't let Joey sleep over anymore once you started dating."

"But Andie and I aren't dating. We just need each other right now."

"Mitch, we can't possibly understand what they're going through. Dawson, I'm sure what you did yesterday was the hardest thing you ever did in your life."

"Nothing else ever came close."

Mitch hesitated. Dawson realized his luck in catching him in such a good mood.

"No funny business, okay? I know what it's like to be 17. Andie, you're sure about this?"

"It was my idea," she said brightly.

"Well, it's settled, then," Gale said, ending the discussion. "Andie, those smell amazing, what's your secret?"

"Lots and lots of butter. You can never use too much butter when making pancakes."

"Now, that's my kind of girl!" Mitch exclaimed.

Andie beamed at the compliment.

That afternoon.

Andie wasted no time in endearing herself to Dawson's parents. They had spent the whole rest of the morning laughing and joking and doing whatever they could to take their mind off of Joey and Pacey. Before they knew it, it was time for lunch. After lunch, they went to Andie's house to get clothes. Jack and Mr. McPhee were talking and laughing on the couch. He stood up to shake Dawson's hand when they walked in.

"You must be, Dawson, I don't believe we've ever formally met."

"No, I suppose not." Dawson shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, Mr. McPhee."

"Mr. McPhee, that sounds so stiff. Joe will do just fine."

Dawson shuddered at the sound of the name, which did not go unnoticed.

"Well, if you insist, you can call me Mr. McPhee."

"No, it's not that, it's just-"

"-his ex's name was Joey," Jack cleared the confusion. "He called her Jo sometimes. They just broke up."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I should have realized. Jack told me all about it. I really liked Pacey, but that's a tough break, son."

Andie shifted uncomfortably.

"I know, but I had to let her go. Anyway, did Andie tell you what she was thinking?"

"Jack mentioned something about it. I know she stayed at your place last night, but I wasn't sure how long she wanted to stay."

"Daddy, I want to stay with Dawson as long he takes to feel better." She looked at her father with puppy dog eyes.

"Well, you're a big girl, I trust you to make responsible decisions."

She went running into his arms, and he hugged her tightly.

"Thank you, Daddy."

"Besides," he looked at Jack, "us boys wouldn't mind having the house to ourselves for some time. Right, Jack?"

Jack looked at Andie, and they shared another one of those looks that conveyed a hidden meaning between siblings.

"Yeah, I'm going to beat you at chess soon enough, you know."

"That's my boy, love your competitive spirit."

Andie went upstairs to get her clothes, and Joe gestured for Dawson to sit down next to him on the couch. They made small talk until Andie got back. It took far longer than either could have imagined. Only Jack seemed nonplussed, but something else was on his mind. Eventually, he went into the kitchen and gave Dawson a look he knew to mean he was supposed to follow him.

"Excuse me a minute, I think Jack needs my help in the kitchen."

Joe nodded in a way that made it clear he knew better than to take that statement at face value, and Dawson was grateful for the feigned ignorance.

"What is it, Jack?"

Jack looked perturbed.

"Look, Dawson, I know you're hurting right now. I get that big time. I'm hurting too."

"Okay, what are you trying to say?"

"I need to know you're not going to take advantage of Andie."

"I would never take advantage of her."

"I know you wouldn't mean to, but she's in a dark place right now. She always thought there was a chance Pacey would forgive her and they could work things out. I'm just worried, she's vulnerable, and she might try to get back at Pacey somehow."

"I'm still not following."

"Dawson, she's putting on this whole act about taking care of you, but you need to take care of her, too, make sure she's okay, make sure she doesn't go down that dark path again. Just be there for each other, but, not too there, if you know what I mean. Please."

It finally clicked for Dawson. Jack was saying what their father was unwilling to say.

"I get it, Jack."

"Do you? Because if you start dating my sister, it's just going to add another level complexity to this whole thing we've got going on, and I don't think any of us can handle the additional drama."

Dawson wondered if he should push back against what Jack was saying. It wasn't his place to tell them whether or not they could date or do whatever they wanted to do together, but it was all moot. His head was so far away from any of those kinds of thoughts right now. A part of him wondered if he'd ever be ready to start dating again.

"Yes."

Jack handed Dawson two glasses of water.

"Good, here take these glasses, give one to my father, make it look we actually did something productive in here."

They walked out with the three glasses of water, and Dawson gave one to Joe. It was at that moment that Andie came down the stairs lugging a suitcase that was bigger than the one he packed for his summer in Philadelphia last year.

"How much clothing can one person wear?" Joe asked in mock surprise.

"Oh, you know me, Daddy, I can never make up my mind, so I just packed everything. Dawson, you ready?"

"Let's go," he said with half a laugh at her joke. Andie hugged her brother and father, and Dawson shook her father's hand one more time while Jack and Andie shared one last knowing look.

Later that afternoon.

Andie was unpacking her clothes in Dawson's room while his parents were getting ready to leave for their honeymoon. Mitch was impatient, while Gale was hesitant.

"We don't have to go, sweetie. We can put it off for another time."

"No, you two enjoy yourselves."

"You, sure, Dawson? I feel bad I'm not going to be here for you after what happened with Joey."

"I'm sure. Andie will be here. We can manage things."

"That's good. It's good you have each other. Do you need money for groceries or anything?"

"No, we're fine. Just go, have a good time."

Gale was about to say something. It was clear to Dawson that she didn't want to leave, but he was dealing with enough right now, and the thought of ruining his parents' second honeymoon was an added burden he didn't need. Mitch spoke up before Gale had a chance to say anything more.

"Dawson, give me a hand with the bags, why don't you."

Dawson and Mitch each grabbed a bag, and they walked to the car. After they put the bags in the car, Dawson started to walk back to the house, but Mitch put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Look, Dawson, I get it. I could give you some big lecture right now or lay down the hammer, but I'm not going to do any of that. You're 17, and you need to make your own decisions. You're way too old to be having a girl sleeping in your bed without it meaning something else. I know what I said earlier, but I also know that you're going to have the house to yourself for a week, so nothing I say is going to make a difference. If you want to have girls over, or go over to a girl's place, you're going to do it."

"What are you saying, dad?"

"I'm saying to be a man about things. You and Andie are both old enough to make your own decisions, but try to make smart decisions. Don't let your emotions cause you to make decisions you'll wind up regretting. And, for the love of God, use protection if that's where things go."

"Got it."

"Come here, son."

Mitch hugged him tightly, and Dawson returned the hug.

"It's going to be okay. I know it doesn't feel that way, but it will be. It will be."

Dawson certainly hoped he was right but didn't know what to say in response. He walked back in the house and found Andie talking to his mother in hushed tones. They stopped as soon as they noticed him, and he decided not to inquire into what they might have been discussing. They both just smiled at him, and Gale gave him one last chance to change his mind.

"Last chance, Dawson."

"Go, mom. See you in a week."

She hugged him. "Love you, sweetie. Call me if you need anything."

"Love you, too, now will you go."

She looked at him one more time wordlessly from the doorway before leaving. He went to sit down on the couch, and Andie immediately sat down beside him. All the emotions he had been ignoring for the better part of the afternoon came rushing back. There was no hiding from this crushing pain. He could put it off for a while, but the piper had to be paid, and the longer he ignored them, the stronger they were when they came back. He didn't even realize Andie had been rubbing his back. He just started crying and collapsed on her lap. She started stroking his hair without saying a single word. It was exactly what he needed.

That evening.

Dawson had lost track of time. The sun was starting to set. His head was still on Andie's lap, and his eyes were damp, but he wasn't crying anymore. He dried his eyes and looked up at Andie. She smiled at him.

"How long was I like this?"

"A few hours. You fell asleep. I didn't want to wake you. You looked so peaceful."

Dawson was still getting used to this new living arrangement. His parents would be away for a week, and the thought of spending that week alone in the big house with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company was scarier than he cared to admit. He was glad to have Andie there. He wondered what was going through her mind. She always did her best to put on a happy face, and he was thankful for that. He sat up, and she seemed disappointed, but he wasn't sure if he was misreading it.

"I'm starving."

"Me too. I'll see what you have in the kitchen and make us some dinner."

"You don't have to do that."

"Do you know how to cook?"

"Well, uh, no, not well, at least."

"So, what's the alternative?"

"I thought we could go out."

"And that's what you want to do? Spend a night out in public at a restaurant?"

How did she always know what he was thinking before he even thought it?

"We could order a pizza."

"Where's the fun in that? I happen to be a halfway decent cook, you know."

"Okay, just let me know if you need me to go to the store to get any ingredients."

"We can go shopping tomorrow. I'm sure I can find enough to make a nice dinner in the fridge."

Before he had a chance to respond, she went into the kitchen and started rummaging through the fridge and listing ingredients she found. She suggested a few dishes and asked him which he'd prefer.

"Whatever you want to make, Andie. Food doesn't really have any savor, it's just sustenance at this point."

"Well, I want to make something you'll enjoy."

"Okay, how about spaghetti? I'm sure my mom has some spaghetti in the cupboard, and you can make whatever sauce you want for it."

"Sounds good!"

Dawson stayed on the couch while Andie got dinner ready. He unsuccessfully tried not to think about what he'd be doing if Andie weren't there. He'd probably awkwardly attempt to engage in some forced attempts at male bonding with Jack. He didn't think he'd want to spend much time with Jen, between her newfound infatuation with Henry and the fact that she was a constant reminder of how he found out about Joey and Pacey. Maybe he'd have tried to channel his frustration into a new screenplay.

"Dinner's ready!"

Dawson slowly walked into the kitchen. By the time he got there, Andie had set the table and put two bowls of pasta down, along with some bread that she had found. Dawson was thankful for the effort she put in to preparing the meal.

"This looks amazing. You really didn't have to put in all this effort."

"Anything for my best friend," she beamed at him.

As he sat down, Dawson thought for a moment she was being hyperbolic again, but then he realized she didn't really have any close friends either. Jen was the closest thing she had to a best friend, but that seemed a strained friendship. His own friendship with Jack was also too casual to be considered a best friend. No, his best friend was somewhere off the coast of New Jersey now, probably sharing a bed with the only other person he ever considered a best friend. Dawson just smiled back at Andie and started eating.

"Andie, I was thinking."

"About what?"

"Let's make sure we have a great summer together. Whatever else happens, let's make it a great summer."

"I'd like that! So, tell me what you had planned with Joey."

"Well, she was the one who was planning it all. That was when I knew how trapped she felt. She tried to put on her happy face, but I could tell she was just going through the motions, listing the things she considered part of a perfect Capeside summer."

"Then let's have that perfect Capeside summer together. Tell me everything."

"Uhh, my dad would always take us waterskiing."

"I like waterskiing!"

"We usually go to Waldeck Island to see the fireworks on July 4th."

"Ooh, Witch Island, scary."

"Yeah, it's really fun. Those kinds of things."

"Dawson, what are you leaving out? Seems to me like there's a big one you're not mentioning."

"I don't know, maybe it was, maybe it was nothing."

"Tell me."

"Joey suggested we go to Boston for the weekend, and I just thought, maybe she meant-"

"-that it would be your first time together?"

"I don't know. She was just saying what she thought I wanted to hear. It doesn't matter. Her first time is going to be with Pacey on the boat."

"You don't know that."

"How do they spend months on a boat together and not do it? You know, when we were younger, we promised we'd be each other's first time, and now look at us."

"Dawson."

"What, Andie!" He instantly regretted snapping at her. She was being nothing but kind to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."

"It's okay, I know how tough of a subject this is for you, but I just wanted to tell you something."

"What's that?" His voice was still harsher than he meant, but he couldn't be bothered to modulate it.

"Pacey won't pressure Joey into doing anything she's not ready to do."

"How do you know that?"

"Hello? Don't you remember, he was my first time."

"How could I forget…"

"Dawson, do you know what he did? I told him I wanted my first time to be with him but that I wasn't sure when I'd be ready. I told him the romantic fantasy I had of a perfect evening. He made that fantasy happen. He planned it all out for no other reason than because it was what I wanted. Then, at the end of the evening, he told me that I wasn't ready and that he just wanted me to have that perfect evening with no agenda."

"But didn't you sleep together that night, anyway?"

"Yes, because I was ready, not because he pressured me."

Dawson wasn't sure if this comforted him. Knowing how romantic Pacey could be didn't seem to entirely outweigh Andie's assurance that he wouldn't pressure Joey into doing anything before she was ready.

"I don't know."

"It's not your place to know. It's only your place to process your own feelings, and that's what I'm here for."

He had no response to that, and they ate the rest of the meal in silence.

That night.

After dinner, Dawson and Andie had gone back to making small talk. They came up with a few other ideas for summer activities before reverting to an uneasy silence. Dawson wasn't sure what to think of this new domestic life they had suddenly built for themselves. It was almost as if they would be playacting at being husband and wife for the week. Almost.

He started to wonder for a moment what it actually would be like to be married to Andie, but before he could give the matter any more thought, his mind shifted back to Joey, thinking what it would have been like if they had the house to themselves this week, or even for a few nights this week. Tears started to form in his eyes again. Andie seemed to magic a tissue out of thin air and used it to pat his eyes dry. She didn't have to say anything. They both knew what the other was feeling. Andie broke the silence.

"We still have that third movie to watch."

"That we do," Dawson replied, glad for the distraction from his thoughts.

"Let's go."

She grabbed his hand as they walked upstairs. When they got upstairs, Andie reached for the tank top and sweatpants that were laying on her pillow. She started to change into them, and Dawson immediately turned around again. He heard Andie sigh but put a lot of effort into not analyzing her sigh.

"So, did you and Joey just always sleep in your jeans?"

"Yeah, I mean, sometimes I was already in my pajamas when she came over, but we were usually pretty modest around each other. I don't know, I guess I just didn't want to give her the wrong impression or whatever."

"And how did that work out for you?"

He didn't have a response to that.

"Can I turn around now?"

"Yes, Dawson. Are you going to change, too?"

"I guess, I might as well."

He grabbed his pajamas and started walking towards the bathroom.

"Ugh, you don't have to be so dramatic. I'll cover my eyes."

She did, and he changed into his pajamas before putting the movie in the VCR. They got into bed, sitting up against the headboards. Andie sat close enough to him so that their arms were against each other. He was glad for the human contact.

Two hours later.

After the movie was over, Dawson turned off the TV. There was nothing left for them to say, and Andie seemed as tired as he did. He laid down on his back, and Andie laid down on her side, facing away from him.

"Goodnight, Andie."

"Goodnight, Dawson."

"Andie?"

"Yes, Dawson?"

"Can I hold you again?"

She didn't say anything. She just rolled over onto his chest. He put his arms around her and fell asleep, glad that the pain ached a little less than it had last night.