Disclaimer: I do not own anything about Dawson's Creek, I just borrow the characters for fun :-)

This one is for Eva - you know who you are 3

Author's Note: This is a sequel. I would highly recommend that you read "On different ways" first, for the lack of some essential information - for this story jumps right into it all. (and if you do, please leave me a note ^^)

Hi everyone,

I posted the original story "On different ways" back in 2015. Back then, there were many readers that wanted me to write this sequel - well, I don't know, if you are still around. I'm sorry, it took me so long. I would love to hear from you again! Here you go - this is for you, I hope this makes your day.

And in case you don't know me yet: I'm a review-junky and in the past it happened from time to time, that certain reviews added a twist to my stories I hadn't originally planned. But more importantly - they keep me motivated and writing - and they make me happy, each and every one of them.

So now - read on and have fun and in the end, click that review button.

Yours, Yana

Yesterday Rains Into Tomorrow

- chapter one -

Back home, after a blissful six weeks out on the open sea, Joey, Pacey and Daniel developed a daily routine. Joey worked most mornings, in the noon they joined Bessie and the kids at the B&B, where Joey helped her sister run the business, taking care of the kids or just enjoyed being there.

Pacey and Bodie had employed another chef - Liam. He worked every Thursday through to Sunday and helped out on other days occasionally, if needed. There was also a new guy named Eddie. He was great at the bar, mixed cocktails and entertained the crowd naturally. With that, and the fact, they stuck to the closed mondays, each Pacey and Bodie got at least two free days a week for family and friends. Eddie, the barkeeper, lived in Pacey's old place for a low rent. He was fun to be around, and quickly became part of their little group of friends. He grew pretty close with Tara very fast, causing Joey and Bessie to bicker at her, every now and then, because as of now, she'd refused to invite him over to any gathering or even acknowledge that she found him interesting.

So, they slowly but surely developed a new routine into their everyday life. Having barbecues, meeting friends, being able to spend time just for themselves. It felt like everything they could have wished for.

Joey's parents visited on a regular basis or having Daniel and Bessie's twins and occasionally Amy staying over in Boston. They had really grown fond of everyone and Joey was marveling at the fact that they approved so highly of her new life. Both loved the fact that they could be grandparents at last and cherished the times they got with the kids. Pacey's father, on the other hand, hadn't changed his mind about his son, whereas his mom had sent them a congratulation-card for their wedding, with her best wishes, apologizing for her husband, but Pacey wouldn't have any of it and threw the card in the trash. Afterwards he put off any attempt Joey made, to talk to him about it, so she just let it be eventually. Because this was his family, after all, and she wouldn't interfere - it was his decision and she was ready to go with whatever suited him best.

By the end of the summer, Joey had officially adopted Daniel and the little boy was as happy as any boy could be. Even though it didn't change anything in their everyday life, it somehow changed everything. Pacey used to look at her full of wonder as she first suggested it, but really, it felt like the most natural thing to do, making this boy legally hers, that so easily danced into her life and patched up wounds deeper as she realized they had been. Who made her a mother and really, she had the impression that she should be the one grateful and neither Pacey nor Daniel needed to be. She loved to be such an important part of Daniel's life. She knew, without him, Pacey most likely hadn't even been in Capeside, as she got here, because he would have led a significantly different life on some fancy cruiser, turning the heads of many women. But thanks to this little boy, whom she got to call son, Pacey had been here, for her to find him and be found all at the same time.

Fall came and went by, in the blink of an eye and suddenly they found themselves in the middle of christmas preparations.

Pacey and Bodie planned the menu for Christmas and New Years eve at the Ice House. Bessie and Joey hung lights everywhere and placed Christmas-trees in their houses. Joey loved this time of the year. She let out a content sigh, as they were done. 'This is just perfect.' She beamed at her sister. 'Sometimes I just can't believe all of this is real. That I get to live here with all of you.' Bessie drew her in a hug and kissed her on the cheek. 'Better believe it. You're stuck with us now.'

Snow fell silently outside, covering everything in a peaceful white. The house was lit with a thousand lights and filled with laughter. Bessie with Eliah and Rebecca, her twins, Amy, Alex and Lily - Dawson's sister - and Daniel bustled about in the kitchen, baking cookies and making a whole lot of a mess. But everyone was laughing and having a good time. They sang Christmas songs as suddenly the doorbell rang.

Joey jumped to the door, wiping dough in her apron on her way and opened. Her cheeks glowed from the heat of the oven and for having her house full of kids and teenagers. Her eyes lit up, as she saw Tara standing in front of the door

'Oh, hey, Tara, so good to see you.' Joey opened the door for her and gave her a peck on both cheeks. Oh, she loved this woman. 'I would hug you, but you'd just be covered in flour as well.' She shrugged apologetically and ushered her friend inside: 'Come on in, it's freezing outside. Help yourself to some tea and join us in the - oh no...'

Joey's eyes widened and she was back in the kitchen in an instant, in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Eliah from putting the bowl with dough-excess on his sisters head, spilling it all over the kitchen floor and into the hair of his sister, causing Bessie to swear, the twins to giggle and Tara to burst into laughter. 'Well, semmes like lots of fun.' Tara grinned and after she hung her jacket and placed her snowy shoes on the board, she joined them in the kitchen. 'I brought some spiced wine - anyone up for it?' Joey and Bessie nodded and Tara grabbed a pot and began to heat it up.

At length, they took the cookies out of the oven and shooshed the children outside to build a snowman or two, Alex and Lily joining them. Joey turned the garden-light on and smiled, while she closed the door and watched the kids for a moment. 'That should have them occupied for at least, say, twenty minutes' She wrinkled her nose and Bessie chuckled. 'Sure hope so, sis.'

The three women stood in the messy kitchen, each with a cup of steaming hot spiced wine and a still warm cookie cherishing the moment of peace.

'Oh….'. Tara suddenly put down her cup and clapped her hand in excitement. 'oh, I almost forgot.' She got to the bag she'd brought and produced a mistletoe out of it. 'Where shall we hang it?' Her eyes shone, as she presented it to Joey.

Joey laughed. 'Hang it here in the kitchen, Pacey is more likely to kiss me here, than he is at the threshold of any door.' She smiled and shrugged, causing Bessie and Tara to grin as well.

'I brought one for you, as well, Bessie and another for…' The sisters suddenly stilled and watched her closely, as an adorable shade of red graced her friend's cheek. Joey cocked her head and furrowed her brow.

'Spill it, Tara.' The young woman blushed even more and squirmed.

'It's not that big of a secret, is it, Jo?' Bessie grinned and Joey shook her head with a soft laugh. She shot her sister a conspiratorial look and whispered: 'No, it isn't - would just be nice, if she'd finally admit it.' She grinned as well and Tara gazed at her friends openly surprised. 'You k-n-o-w?'

'That you're head over heels for handsome Eddie?' Joey burst into laughter as did Bessie and Tara just shrugged but joined in the laughter, relieved that there was no need to explain anything to them.

'Hi Jo, hi everyb.-' suddenly Pacey's voice interrupts their laughter. None of them had heard him entering. He stopped mid-sentence and his eyes widened. 'What the hell happened here?'

'Oh, hi Pace, I hadn't expected you this early.' Joey smiled innocently at him.

'What did you do to my kitchen?' He whined, let the bags he was carrying fall on the floor, threw his hands up in partly-mocked horror as he looked around and obviously couldn't get his mind around the mess. There was flour and dough seemingly everywhere.

Joey stepped up to him, laid her hands around his neck and beamed up at him. 'We baked.' She stated, matter-of-factly.

'The kitchen?' He asked her, with wide eyes.

'No you goof.' She smacked him playfully on the shoulder. 'Cookies.' She pointed at the still cooling Cookies. 'With the kids.'

'Oh…. obviously.' His face softens, as he let his eyes wander over her face, smiling brightly and making her feel like the luckiest woman on earth. 'You smell amazing.' He looked deep into her eyes, as he wrapped his arms around her and sneaked his cold fingers up and under her shirt. 'And you look pretty adorable in that arpon and your glowy cheeks.' He picked some Dough out of her hair, eyed it, sniffed and then tasted it carefully, smiling at her watching. 'And you taste mighty fine.' He winked.

'Well, thank you, Mister Witter.' she wrinkled her nose, but her voice had become throaty. He never failed to make her want him. 'Will you kiss me already? We stand under a mistletoe for what it's worth…' She smiled lopsided and he pulled her closer. He gazed upwards and frowned. 'Since when do we have these in here?' Joey shrugged and pointed at Tara.

'Blame her, she's brought it - and I guessed, I would get luckier with you kissing me here, than I would at the threshold.' He smiled and caressed her cheeks with his thumb. His voice was low and sexy as hell. 'I would kiss you anywhere, don't care this much for mistletoes.' He shrugged casually. 'You're mine anyhow.' And he dipped her, as his lips met hers, making her smile into the kiss, cherishing, that he finally was sure of her.

'Okay, okay… enough of that floor-show you two.' Tara laughed. 'You're making me jealous here.', reminding Pacey almost painfully of Jen, because it was so much something she could have said.

'If you say so.' Pacey reluctantly let go of his wife and cleared his throat. With a painful expression he looked around his sacred kitchen.

'Well, we need to tidy up here.' Pacey bound an apron around his waist. Joey's eyes widened in sudden realization and in an instant she ushered Bessie and Tara out of the kitchen and behind the upper counter, which could be used as a bar. There were bar stools placed there, and the three women took a seat, each with her cup. 'Time for another sort of show.' Joey whispered, so that only her sister and friend heard it.

Pacey began wiping the countertop. 'I invited the crowd over for a winter barbecue at six.' he said and placed the smaller bowls, plates and the used cutlery in the dishwasher. 'Bodie will join us later, for Liam can cover the Ice House.' He placed the bigger bowl in the sink and filled it with water and soap, then started the dishwasher. 'Jack and Doug would have come either way to pick Amy up.' He disposed the used towels into the laundry and began to wash the bigger bowls.

'Impressive.' Bessie mouthed and Joey grinned smugly and mouthed 'wait for it' as she licked her lower lip. 'Pacey, my love, would you pour us more wine, please?' Pacey washed his hands and dried them with the clean towel he had put onto his apron on the go and poured them each more wine. 'Here you go.'

He turned and placed the pot back onto the hot plate, washing and wiping his hands yet again, while he returned to the half-clean bowl in the sink and continued washing it. ''Eddie said he had other plans - regretfully - I really like having him join us.' He dried the bowl with a fresh towel, while he frowned, but didn't say what was on his mind. As Pacey placed the bowl back where it belonged and popped a still warm cookie into his mouth, chewed for a moment and wagged his head. 'Not bad actually…' He looked around the kitchen, obviously pleased with himself, as he poured water into a bucket to wipe up the floor. As he gazed up to the three women, looking at Tara. 'What's with you, Tara, will you stay over?' He asked, with his back against the counter plate, another cookie in his hand. Bessie and Joey looked at Tara, too, who blushed again, ever so slightly.

'Well…' Joey smiled and stood, she placed a hand on Taras shoulder, winking at her, then she approached Pacey and took a hold of the water-filled bucket, placed it on the floor. 'Tara already has plans for tonight.' She said in a quiet voice while she fetched a mop and wiper.

'Yeah… yeah I have plans, and…' Tara brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly nervous and smiled a shy smile. '...and I think I'd better be going now.'

Bessie grinned and Pacey stopped mid-chewing, as he pointed with the hand, in which he still held the cookie in Taras direction. 'Why am I having the impression, I am missing out on something here?' Joey shrugged and kissed him on the cheek, while she stole a bite of his cookie, full well knowing he couldn't stand it. She closed her eyes appreciatively. 'Well, maybe because you are, my love.' She winked at him. 'Tara-darling, don't forget your share of cookies.' Joey called and Tara took the box they'd prepared earlier, kissed Joey on the cheek, whispering 'Thank you.' into her ear. 'Bye everyone, see you around.'

'See you.' Bessie and Pacey called after her and Pacey shook his head, clearly trying to wrap his head around what he had missed, while he popped the remaining bit of cookie into his mouth. 'Not bad at all.'

After the barbecue, they gathered around the fire, almost like old times. Amy, Daniel and the twins were already fast asleep on the big comfy couch in front of the crackling chimney, covered with soft, warm blankets. Pacey had his arms around Joey's slender figure, marveling at the still unique way it felt, holding her and knowing that she was his, truly his and his alone. Bodie and Bessie sat with a shared warm outdoor blanket and Doug with his arm posessively around Jack's waist.

'Pacey, dIdn't you say Eddie would be coming too?' Bodie asked all of a sudden. 'It's a shame he makes himself so rare lately.'

'Yeah,' Pacey shrugged, not caring all that much, because all he needed was Joey and he got her. Even though he agreed with Bodie - it really was a shame. Eddie was funny and a really nice, easy-going guy to be around. 'He said he had plans.' He stated absentmindedly. 'And Tara had been here in the afternoon, but she was on the go, as I arrived here, she had plans as we-...' And suddenly realization sunk in and he turned towards his wife. 'Tara had plans as well, right?' Joey tried to look nonchalant and nodded. 'Or so she said.' she cocked her head and shrugged, full well knowing, Pacey finally had got to the bottom of it.

'Wait…. do they…' Suddenly Bodie and Doug starred in unison with Pacey at the girls, but Bessie and Joey but both just tried to keep their expressions as blank as possible.

'Not that big of a secret now, is it?' Jack's voice suddenly startled them all and as they turned to look at him, he shrugged casually, making Bessi and Joey burst with laughter. The other three men exchanged oblivious looks, making it clear that they - in fact - hadn't expected anything like this.

'But why… when?' Doug found his voice first but Jack just shook his head and wrinkled his nose in that adorable way he had. 'I guess we'll have to wait until she tells us herself.' He stated matter of factly and placed a small, affectionate kiss on Dougs cheek. 'Patience, Doug.' - 'Yeah.' Doug smiled and took Jack's hand. 'Had never been good at that one…'

After everyone had long left, Pacey had carried Daniel to his room and Joey dried the last glas. She looked around the room and let out a small happy sigh. Smilingly, she put the glass on its place on the shelf as she suddenly felt Pacey's arms around her waist. He kissed his way up her throat, until his lips graced the tip of her ear. 'Happy much?' he asked in the most sensual voice - oh, but it sent shivers down her spine.

She laid her head to one side, to give him easier access as she closed her eyes, while giving a sound of utter contentment. 'I just love every little bit of my life right now, Pacey.'

She turned and beamed at him, his pupils dilated as he looked at her in complete wonder. 'I don't know how I manage to make you this happy, Jo, I just don't know. But I just try and keep it that way.' He kissed her until all she could think of was him. 'You just do.' She whispered and pressed her forehead against his. 'Please don't ever stop loving me.' He chuckled deep in his throat, making her shiver with longing. 'This I can promise.' He whispered, while his hands sneaked up under her shirt and pulled it over her head.

Christmas came and went by in the blink of an eye.

The friends celebrated New Years eve at the Ice House. Pacey held Joey close as the firework started. 'This year promises to be the best of my life.'

'And why's that, Mister Witter?' She asked.

'Because I live to see it with you as my wife and the legal mother of my son.' He looked at her in wonder. 'You really made me whole again, you know?' He placed a tender kiss on her forehead, and it made her feel like the most special person in the whole wide world. 'I can move mountains with you.' He leant his forehead against hers and caressed her cheek with his thumb. 'I love you so much, Joey. Please, never, never leave me. I could not bare, facing life without you'

She smiled up at him. Her head was spinning and she felt the love for his man bone deep. 'I have no intention to leave at all.' she leant into him, stopping shortly before her lips touched his, excited, that this still made his breath hitch and her heart accelerate. 'I want to stay here, forever. This is my home, Pacey. You are my home. I love you so much. I never want to be anywhere else than in your arms.' And she smiled as his lips met hers in the most tenderly deep kiss.

'Happy new year, my love.' he whispered with a deep and throaty voice that made her heart race and overflow with love. 'To you, too.' She whispered. They stood, his arms around her, her back against his chest and marveled at the fireworks. This was perfect.

Reviews are love and motivation.

/ Please, please, please review and let me know what you think of this. I'm curious to know if anyone actually read this and if you want this to continue or not./