center
font size="6"New Life/font/br
font size="5"Part 7~With Or Without You/font
/center
phr
pAuthor's Note: Thanks to my beta readers for helping me out with this.
phr
centeri
See the stone set in your eyes/br
See the thorn twist in your side/br
I wait for you/br
Slight of hand and twist of fate/br
On a bed of nails she makes me wait/br
And I wait....without you /br
/br
With or without you/br
With or without you /br
/br
Through the storm we reach the shore/br
You give it all but I want more/br
And I'm waiting for you /br
/br
With or without you/br
With or without you/br
I can't live with or without you /br
/br
And you give yourself away/br
And you give yourself away/br
And you give/br
And you give/br
And you give yourself away /br
/br
My hands are tied/br
My body's bruised/br
She's got me with nothing left to win/br
And nothing left to lose /br
/br
With or without you/br
With or without you/br
I can't live with or without you /br
~With Or Without You/br
~U2
/center/i
phr
pJoey went through Noah's bag one last time. She made sure he had enough
shirts, shorts, underwear, his tooth brush, and anything else that he might need
while he was away at camp. After she dropped him off at the place where the bus
would pick him up, she had to go to the airport and pick up Jen.

pShe started smiling thinking about who was riding with her. No matter what
happened, she loved being around Pacey. She loved talking to him, laughing at
how much he really hadn't changed over the years. He was still the same guy,
making her laugh easier than anyone else ever could. She knew that he tried to put
on a brave face for Sam, but she knew that he was hurting more than anyone could
ever know.

p"Mommy, can I take this with me?" Noah asked, holding up the Chuck E.
Cheese doll.

p"Yeah, stick it in your bag."

pThe little boy was so excited, he could hardly contain himself. She loved him
so much, but she needed a break every once in a while. And she was going to get
a week long break.

p"Mommy, will you tell Aunt Jen that I said hey?"

p"Yeah sweetie," she said smiling. "She's really mad at me for letting you go.
She told me that I should keep you here with us."

p"NO! I want to go!"

p"I know that," she said laughing.

p"Is Nick coming too?"

p"Yep."

p"Tell him I said hey too."

p"I will."

pNoah zipped the bag up. He looked up at his mother. "I'll miss you Mommy."

pShe kneeled down in front of him, hugging him, "I'll miss you, too sweetie.
And you know that I love you very much."

p"I love you too, Mommy. Can we go? We have to go get Sam."

pJoey picked up the bag, turned off the light, and walked down the stairs. She
climbed into the car, tossed the bag behind her seat, made sure Noah was buckled
in, and pulled out of the driveway.

pShe pulled up in front of Pacey's house two minutes later. She honked the
horn, and got out of the car. She took Noah's bag from behind her seat, and moved
it to the trunk. Pacey and Sam walked out of the house, Pacey carrying Sam's bag
on his shoulder. He put it with Noah's then closed the trunk.

pNoah and Sam were seated in the back, both talking at the same time about
what they were going to do at camp. Pacey climbed into the passenger's seat, and
looked over his shoulder at Noah and Sam. Their excitement beamed off of them.

p"You two excited?"

p"YEAH!"

pPacey and Joey both laughed. About fifteen minutes later, they were at the
school. Six year olds were running around everywhere. Their parent's saying their
good-byes to their children. Pacey and Joey climbed out of the car, and went to
get their bags. Noah and Sam met their parents at the back of the car.

p"Okay, so you guys are going to have lots of fun right?" Joey asked with a
smile.

p"Yes ma'am."

pPacey picked Sam up, hugging her tightly. "I've never been away from you,
baby."

p"I know, Daddy."

p"If any boys start being mean to you, kick them."

p"I'll beat up any body that tries to hurt Sam," Noah said with a smile.

pPacey put Sam back on the ground. "So...you're gonna protect Sam?"

p"Yes sir."

p"What if they..." Pacey picked Noah up by the leg, "held you upside down like
this? Would you still protect Sam?"

pThe little boy laughed as Pacey turned him upright and sat him back on the
ground. Pacey tousled Noah's hair, then walked the two children over with the rest
of the group.

p"Okay, Noah, I don't want you getting into any fights. If someone picks on
you...tell on them."

p"But mom..."

p"Don't 'but mom' me. You heard what I said. I don't you being the bully at
camp. So, Sam, could you make sure that he doesn't get into any fights?"

p"Yes ma'am."

p"Thank you."

p"Now hold on a second. If Noah can't fight, whose going to take care of Sam?
I mean, those boys better keep their hands to themselves..."

p"I'll be okay, Daddy. Stop worrying."

p"It's what fathers do best, Sam," Joey said with a smile. "Let him worry all he
wants. He's just going to learn that you aren't as helpless as he thinks you are.
And you don't need him to do everything for you."

p"Thanks for making me feel needed, Jo."

p"Any time, Pacey." Joey looked at her watch, "I wish the bus would get here,
we have to be at the airport in an hour to pick up Jen and Nick."

p"It takes thirty minutes to get there, Jo. Calm down."

pThe bus pulled up the street and the screaming of the children grew erratic.
They were all jumping up and down, smiling at their parents.

pJoey bent down and kissed Noah's forehead, "You have fun. And no fighting,
and you better not bring home another animal."

p"I thought you liked Henry," Noah said confused.

p"Henry?" Pacey asked curiously.

p"Noah brought home a snake. He had it for a week before I knew anything
about it."

pPacey laughed, then turned to his daughter. "And that goes the same for you
little missy. Don't come home with anything furry, something with scales, or
something that could be qualified as an animal."

p"Okay Daddy."

pPacey kissed the top of her head one more time, then handed the bag to the
councilor. He watched as Sam hugged Joey. The two had become rather close in
their time together. If Sam had something to talk about, she usually went to him,
but about other things, she went to Joey.

pJoey said good-bye to Noah one last time, then they watched as the bus drove
Noah and Sam away from them for a week. Pacey placed his hand on Joey's
shoulder, the simple contact igniting things within Joey that not even making love
to Dawson could.

p"You ready to go pick up Jenny and Nick," Pacey asked.

p"Yeah," she said sighing.

p"What's wrong?"

p"Nothing. I'm just going to miss Noah."

p"I know what you mean. Being away from Sam is going to drive me insane."

p"At least Nick and Jen are staying with me. That should keep my mind
occupied."

p"While I, on the other hand, will go insane without someone to talk to."

pJoey and Pacey climbed back into the car and drove down the road. "Pacey,
you know any time you need to talk, I'll listen. If there's one thing I hope I've
proved to you is that you can talk to me."

p"I know, Jo. And I appreciate it. More than you know."

pJoey smiled at him. Pacey leaned forward and turned the radio up. They rode
to the airport in a comfortable silence, finding that neither had to say anything to
enjoy themselves, so long as they were in the others company.

pJoey found a parking space and pulled into it quickly. Pacey put his hand on
the dash board to keep from hitting his head on it.

p"Jesus Jo, where in the hell did you learn to park?"

p"Park? I never learned to park."

p"That's obvious," he said dryly.

p"Oh shut up."

phr

pJoey and Pacey sat in two chairs waiting for Jen and Nick to get off the plane.
Pacey's arm was behind Joey's chair, his hand absently played with her hair. Joey
tried to remind herself that she was giving her heart to a man that didn't think he
could ever love again, a reality of which she did not want to face. She played with
her hands, trying in vain to keep from thinking about how his thumb that kept
brushing against her back.

pPeople began to walk off the plane, Joey and Pacey stood to look for Jen.
She's really missed her since she's moved, but she did it for Nick. And Joey loved
Nick. He was a great guy and took very good care of Jen. She was the one who
introduced the two of them, and both Jen and Nick had been eternally grateful.

pJoey saw Jen and waved at her. Jen pulled Nick by the hand led him over to
where Pacey and Joey were standing. Jen hugged Joey, a sight which Pacey never
thought he would see.

p"You look great, Jen!"

p"You too."

p"Hey, Jo. Where's Noah?"

p"He's at camp."

p"You sent him to camp?"

p"You didn't tell him?"

p"He wouldn't have come if I had told him."

pPacey smiled. "Damn, Jenny. Doesn't your old pal Pacey even get a hello?"

p"No. You get a slap in the head for not staying in touch."

pPacey laughed. "Okay, okay, I know I probably deserve it."

p"Probably?"

pJen hugs Pacey, then remembers that Pacey and Nick have never met. "Nick,
this is Pacey Witter. Pacey, this is my husband Nick."

pThe two shake hands. "Nice to meet you."

p"I've heard a lot about the infamous Pacey Witter."

pPacey looks over at Jen, "What have you been saying about me?"

p"Nothing that isn't true."

p"Which could be very bad."

pJen smiles, "You? Bad? Nooo." She loops her arm through Joey's and they
head off for baggage claim. "Aren't you guys coming?"

pPacey and Nick follow the two ladies, "So how long have you and Jen been
married?"

p"About four years."

p"Jenny's been married for four years."

p"Hard to believe?"

p"A little."

p"What about you?"

p"I was married for eight years."

p"Was?"

p"My wife died."

p"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

p"It's okay."

p"So...what's the story with you and Joey?"

p"There is no story. We just grew up together and when I moved back
here...she was the only person I knew besides my family."

p"What do you think of Noah?"

p"He's a miniature Dawson."

p"Well, let's hope not. I would hate to see some woman get hurt like Joey did."

p"Yeah. But, Noah is a good kid. My daughter thinks he's great."

p"How old is your daughter?"

p"6. She'll be 7 next month. She's getting so old so quickly."

p"I heard kids tend to do that."

p"I still remember the day she was born. I didn't know I could lose my heart as
quickly as I did that night. The first time she was placed in my arms...she held my
heart in the palm of her tiny little hand. And it's been that way ever since."

p"So would you say that fatherhood is the best feeling in the world?"

p"Yeah. Hearing your child call you daddy...it will melt you in ways you didn't
know were possible."

p"Sounds wonderful."

phr

p"You were right," Jen said smiling.

p"About what?"

p"He's gorgeous."

p"Did you think I lied?"

p"I thought you were only saying that because of the lack of male
companionship in the last...what four years?"

p"And you think that because of that I would be attracted to someone who
wasn't good looking?"

pJen casts a quick glance back at Pacey, "Honey, he's more than good looking."

p"Hey, remember that you are married."

p"So? Looking isn't a crime."

pJoey sighs and continues walking with Jen. "So, now that you've seen what
I'm up against, mind telling me what you think I should do? Should I commit
suicide and spare myself the complete anguish that this will undoubtedly cause me
or hold out for about fifty years and let mother nature do it for me?"

p"Just wait until he gets to a point where he thinks he may be able to cope with
dating again. And I'm willing to bet that the first person he sees like that will be
you."

p"I'm not getting my hopes up."

p"You are such a pessimist."

p"I know. You used to be one too."

p"Until I got married and lets keep in mind that I have sex often...and you
don't."

p"Are you saying that my lack of sex is having an effect on my outlook on
life?"

p"Yes."

p"You're right. It is. Being sexually frustrated sucks, Jen."

p"I wouldn't know. I haven't experienced that in a very long time."

p"No need in bragging."

p"Oh come on, Jo. Are you telling me that there is not a single guy in Capeside
that wouldn't jump at the chance to have sex with you?"

p"I can think of one I really want."

p"Okay...Joey...as your friend, I will try to talk you down from something that
won't happen for a while." She takes a breath then looks at her friend, "I know
that you are developing feelings for Pacey. In the past, you pretty much harbored
them whether you would admit it or not. But lets keep in mind that Pacey just lost
his wife. He loved her very much, and they have a child together. I can't see him
getting over that too quickly. So, I think it would be a good idea for you to not get
your hopes set on him for anything other than friendship any time soon."

p"I know, Jen."

p"So...you going to sit and pine away for him?"

p"Do you see another option?"

p"Not with a six year old son."

p"I didn't think so."

phr

pJoey, Pacey, Jen, and Nick are all at Joey's house, talking and laughing at
stories they have from their time away from each other. Pacey showed Jen and
Nick pictures of Sam, and they both said that she resembled Pacey. She had his
eyes.

p"So, what's on the agenda for tonight?" Jen asked, looking over at Joey.

p"You guys want to go out?"

p"Yeah. Should we go casual or semi-formal or grungy?" Nick asked with a
smile.

pJoey laughed, "Jacket and tie good for you Nick?"

pJen turns to Pacey, "How bout you Pacey? You coming?"

p"If I'm invited."

p"Of course you are," Joey said with a smile.

p"I gotta go home and get ready then."

p"I'll call and make reservations at Entrées Novous. How does that sound?"
Joey asked.

p"Sounds good."

phr

piThree Hours Later.../i

pThe doorbell rang as Joey was putting on her earrings. Nick ran down the
stairs and opened the door for Pacey. He was wearing a black suit with a blue silk
tie.

p"Where are they?"

p"Jen is trying to find her black shoe..."

p"I found my black shoe," she said with a smile as she walked down the stairs
in a black cocktail dress.

p"Looking beautiful Lindley."

p"Looking sharp Pacey."

p"So, we're just waiting on Joey?"

p"Yeah."

p"Doesn't surprise me."

p"Why's that?"

p"I always have to wait on her."

pJen looked up at Nick, then back to Pacey, "You always wait on her? For
what?"

p"For anything. I find it funny that back in high school she was ready to go
before all of us and now we have to wait for her."

p"Are you complaining?" Joey asked as she walked down the stairs.

pPacey turned to look at her, doing a double take. The red dress she was
wearing was like a second skin to her You could see the slight swell of her breasts
as it gently hugged her body, showing off her tiny waist and flowed into a loose
skirt that hung mid-thigh. The spaghetti straps only served to show off her dark
skin and long neck. Her hair was pulled up in loose curls on her head, several of
them hanging down into her face.

pHe tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but found that it was as big as the
state of Minnesota. He blinked making sure that he was seeing what he was
seeing. Joey Potter in goddess form.

p"Joey you look great," Jen said with a smile. She noticed Pacey's slack-jawed
expression and nudged her husband. He turned to look at Pacey and saw the same
thing Jen did. A man in complete shock.

pJoey walked the rest of the way down the stairs. She stood next to Jen, but in
the heels she was wearing, she towered over the blonde. He tried once again to
take it all in. Joey's very tanned legs extended from the short flowing skirt of her
red dress, her nipped in waist was showed off by the slenderness of the dress, the
top revealing the top of her breasts and the spaghetti straps of her dress only
seemed to show off the smoothness of the skin on her long neck.

p"So, who's driving?" Joey asked looking over at Pacey, who for the first time
in two minutes showed signs of consciousness.

p"I...I will."

p"Okay." Joey smiled at Jen, "Shotgun!"

p"Oh God, we're not playing that game," Jen said exasperated.

p"Sure we are."

p"Pacey, please tell her we are not twelve any more."

p"Jen, sit in the back. She called shotgun."

pJoey stuck her tongue out at Jen. "HA. I get the front."

p"Fine, I'll just sit in the back with my husband make out."

p"Not in my car," Pacey said sternly.

pNick then got into the conversation, "Hey, it's not like we'll be having sex."

p"No. Not in my car."

p"Fine," Jen said with a smile.

p"Shall we go?" Pacey asked, extending his arm out to Joey.

p"We shall."

phr

piA few hours later.../i

pJen and Joey were laughing, after having finished more than two bottles of
champagne, both were more than tipsy. Pacey watched Joey hiccup and all he
could do was smile. She looked so beautiful, almost like she wasn't afraid of who
or what she was anymore. And why should she be? There were plenty of women
in that room, but none had him captivated the way she did.

pU2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" began to play in the
restaurant. Joey formed a goofy smile and looked over at Pacey.

pcenter
iI have climbed the highest mountain/br
I have run through the fields/br
Only to be with you/br
Only to be with you /i/center

p"Will you dance with me?"

p"Yeah. Come on, you drunk."

p"I am not drunk," she said taking his hand as he stood. She wobbled and
almost fell, "I'm a little tipsy."

pPacey wrapped an arm around her slender waist and walked to the dance floor.
She slowly moved into his arms and sank against his body.

pcenteri
I have run, I have crawled/br
I have scaled these city walls/br
These city walls/br
Only to be with you
/i/center

pPacey slowly swayed with her in his arms. Her hands moved up around his
neck, softly stroking the hairs at the back of his neck, causing ripples of desire for
her to course through his body.

pcenteri
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for/br
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for /I/center


pJoey felt his large hands on her back and resisted the urge to run her hands all
over his body. She just wanted to be close to him for a while. She laid her head
on his chest, listening to the pitter-patter of his heart, feeling hers float into her
throat. This was it, she just knew it. She was so in love with him she didn't know
which way was up and which way was down. She slowly lifted her head and
caught the intensity of his eyes.

pcenteri
I have kissed honey lips/br
Felt the healing in her fingertips/br
It burned like fire/br
This burning desire/br
I have spoke with the tongue of angels/br
I have held the hand of a devil/br
It was warm in the night/br
I was cold as a stone
/i/center

piI don't know if I can take her rubbing against me like this and looking at me
with those truly remarkable eyes/i. All he could think about was how much he
wanted her. But the more he wanted her, the more the guilt began to rack up in his
brain and his heart.

pcenteri
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for/br
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for /i/center

pShe knew that Pacey wasn't ready for any relationship with her, and that just
made it hurt more. All she wanted was to just get lost him his arms and let the
warmth of his body completely surround her. She wanted to lose herself in his
shining blue eyes. Why did she have to be reunited with him when he was dealing
with the loss of the love of his life? Of all the horrible luck.

pcenteri
I believe in the kingdom come/br
Then all the colors will bleed into one/br
Bleed into one/br
Well, yes, I'm still running /i/center

ipWhy do I want her so badly? Why is it like a gnawing ache inside to want
her?/i She broke her gaze away from his, and put her head back against his
chest. It felt so right holding her like he was now. So intimate, and so wonderful.
He hadn't realized how much he'd missed holding a woman.

pcenteri
You broke the bonds and you/br
Loosed the chains/br
Carried the cross/br
And all my shame/br
All my shame/br
You know I believe it/br
/I/center

pShe nearly stopped breathing when she felt his hand brush the skin of her
shoulder. His hand ran down her arm, stroking the smooth skin that was there.
She didn't know what to think. She didn't know what was going on, feeling his
large hands rubbing her in ways that no one has in years.

pcenteri
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for/br
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for/br
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for/br
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
/i/center

pPacey recalled their conversation from the first night he was back. She was
looking for the romance of her life. That one person that made her happier than
anyone should be aloud. In ways he hoped that he would never want to be that
man for Joey. He never wanted to be the one that she wanted or loved, in his
wife's memory, he couldn't. But everything else was telling him that there was no
one else more right for her than him. No one else could ever understand her the
way he could. No one else could love her the way he could. Love Joey? What
was he thinking? He loved Veronica, and no one else. He never thought he could
love someone the way he loved her, but it was getting harder to remember her face
while looking at Joey.

piI just want to stay like this forever/i she thought with a smile. She hadn't
felt this safe and warm in years, and it was a long time in coming. She never
wanted to move from his embrace, she never wanted to pull away from him, but
the song had ended and a faster song was playing. But the two of them still softly
swayed together. Pacey's hand moved down to the small of her back, sending
shivers down her back?

p"Are you cold, Jo?"

pShe sighed against his chest, then looked up at him and smiled, "Nope.
Surprisingly warm."

phr
pcenter
To Be Continued...
/center