TITLE: Don't Stop Dancing
AUTHOR: Shawn
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Dawson's Creek, or the characters. So leave me alone.
SUMMARY: The only love we know is the love we've always had. But the love we never knew existed, that is something to hold on to.
DISTRIBUTION: You can take it, Just let me know first.
RATING: PG
SPOILERS: Season 5
DEDICATION: For Elise.


A cool, autumn night. Dawson Leery sits alone on the dock, watching the stars go by. His hair blowing in the breeze, the sound of water flowing threw the crystal blue creek. He only thinks about one, Joey. The love of his life. The one that got away. He thinks back on the fallout they had, just before she went to college. He wishes that he could turn back time, he wishes that he could hold her again, just one more time. He lies down on the old wooden dock. A shooting star goes by, he closes his eyes. The cool breeze sends leaves by him, into the creek. He can only imagine what it would feel like, to have Joey back.

To his amazement, he hears a beautiful voice, "Dawson?". Dawson quickly hops to his feet, to see the beautiful Joey Potter standing just a few feet away from him. Her long, brown hair blowing in the breeze, her eyes focused on Dawson's eyes.

"Joey?", he says, "What are you doing here?".

"Visiting Bessie and everybody for the weekend.", she replies. "How have you been doing?"

He answers, "Okay, everything has been okay.".

Hesitating, she says "Dawson, I know things haven't been so great between us lately. But I want to know that we can at least have our friendship. I think, it'll work better if we were just friends, ya' know?"

He is struck with sadness, he sighs, and looks down. The pain inside grows as he knows that if he would have just stayed with Joey and not have slept with Jen right before she went to college, that everything would be okay. But he still loves Joey, more than anything in the world. He'd do anything for her, and it pains him to know that it's his fault that they are not together. He loves her. "Joey, I love you.".

A bit surprised, she looks at him. "I love you too, Dawson, and I always will. But, it's just hard for us to be together now."

Dawson's left trying to understand, "I know. I want you to be happy, and if that's what makes you happy, then so be it. But, Joey Potter, from the bottom of my heart to the depths of my soul, I just want to say, that I love you, and I will always be here for you, for the rest of my life."

She walks up to him, giving him a big hug. She holds him close to her, heart to heart. She gives him a little kiss on the cheek. As he wishes he could stop time, and stay with her, for her, forever. She pulls back, looking at him, holding his hands. Their eyes lock and for one moment, Dawson knew that they would spend the rest of their lives together. It would just take time.

"I have to get going now, Bessie's waiting for me in the car. Maybe we can catch a movie or something this weekend, like old times.", she says.

He nods, knowing that any time spent with Joey Potter, is like being in heaven.

"See you later, Dawson.", she says. She then turns and begins to slowly walk away.

"Joey.", he says.

She turns to him.

"Don't stop dancing.", he says.

"What do you mean?", she replies.

"You know, be happy, carefree. Have joy in your life and bring joy to others around you. I don't want you to feel an ounce of sadness or sorrow, ever again. I want you to go on with life, happy, I want you to sing with rapture and dance like a dervish.", he says.

Joey smiles, "I will.", She turns and slowly walks away. Dawson is left standing there, he sighs and softly says to himself, "See you later, my angel."

...The End...