Part Six

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"Mom!"

"Beth!"

Joey Andersson ran up to her daughter and gave her a great big hug.

"I can't believe you're really here at last!" Beth felt almost like crying.

"Hey," Joey rubbed her daughter's shoulders comfortingly. "I'm pleased I could finally get here. I've really missed you, Beth! Home just isn't the same without you around."

"Or Dad," Beth added.

"Yes … well, you know what his business trips are like!"

They started to walk up the path together towards the B&B.

"How's Jackson?" Joey asked smiling. "Bessie said you're inseparable lately."

"We were inseparable. I haven't seen him for a week." Beth said shortly.

"Oh, Beth, why?"

Beth shrugged – now wasn't the time. "We had a stupid argument, but it's nothing. He's just been busy with his dad."

Joey stopped in her tracks.

"His dad? Pacey?"

Beth sighed. "Yeah Pacey. Pacey Witter. He's come back so he and Jackson can enter the boat race."

"Oh," her mother replied, starting to walk again. "I haven't seen him for years."

-------------------

Pacey Witter threw his son a soda and opened his own.

"So you're not going to see Beth today?" He asked lightly, taking a sip.

"No," Jackson said.

Pacey leaned lazily against the outside of the boat, watching Jackson securing the rope.

"Don't you think she wants to see you? You haven't seen her for over a week."

"Nope."

"And might there be a reason for that?"

Silence. Pacey went over and grabbed the rope from Jackson's hands and looked him in the eye.

"Cut your old man some slack here, Jackson," he began. "You've been like a bear with a sore head all week but you haven't said one word about it. I know it's got something to do with Beth – so tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help."

Jackson sighed in resignation. He would have to say something.

"I told you – we argued."

"Yes, you did. What did you argue about?"

"You wouldn't want to know."

"Try me. Honestly, son, I won't judge you – whatever it is. You know that."

"Okay " Jackson slammed down his drink. "If you really want to know, we argued about you."

Pacey was truly surprised. "Me? Have I offended Beth in some way? You should have told me, Jackson…"

Jackson realised his father was honestly upset that he might have hurt Beth's feelings so he wasn't as harsh as he intended when he told him,

"She doesn't dislike you, Dad, really. She liked you, but unfortunately so did her mother which is the real problem here."

"What are you talking about?" Pacey asked.

"Beth can't handle the fact that my father and her mother once went out. And it's been pretty weird for us being in Capeside together – nearly every street corner turns out to have some Pacey and Joey story attached to it. And it's not going to get any easier now her mother's back in town."

"Joey's here?" Pacey asked, surprised again.

"Yeah," Jackson sighed. "She was due yesterday. Things are just going to get weirder for Beth and I, especially … "Jackson paused and looked carefully at his father. "Especially if there's still something between you two."

Pacey looked at his son, incredulous.

"Something between us?" He laughed. "After twenty years?"

"Dad, we both know how strange you acted on the phone when I told you who Beth was. And Joey reacted similarly according to Beth. The whole thing's a big mess."

"And that's what's really happened between you and Beth?" Pacey asked.

"Yeah," Jackson grunted.

"Ah," said Pacey.

"Yes, indeed 'Ah', " said Jackson.

-------------------

Pacey smiled as he found her, sitting out on Bessie's porch with her back towards him.

"Hey, Potter," he said softly, pausing as she turned around.

Joey didn't reply for a moment, just looking at him instead.

"Hello, Pacey Witter," she said eventually, smiling at him.

He grinned and walked over to her. Joey stood up and they hugged for a long moment. Pacey kissed her on the cheek.

"You look great, Jo," he said sweetly.

"Thank you," Joey smiled. "You were always good at saying that and sounding like you mean it."

"I do mean it! You're still beautiful, Joey Potter and you still don't realise it, do you?"

"God help me when I do! It's good to see you again, Pacey," she said, sitting back down and gesturing that he should do the same. "How long has it been?"

"A very long time," Pacey sighed. "Yes, indeed, but things have gone well for you? Work, marriage and everything?"

"It's … well, yeah, I guess they have. Don't get me wrong, thing's aren't perfect but they're … holding together."

"Good, that's good," Pacey said.

"Well, what about you? How's California treating you?"

"Oh well, it's very sunny, ya know?"

"Typical Pacey! How about life generally? Are you happy?"

"Sometimes," Pacey told her.

They sat in silence for a while. Looking at each other, thinking about the past.

Eventually Pacey broke the peace.

"So which one of us is going to bring it up first?" He asked.

"Bring what up?"

"Well, let me see, what's the most interesting thing concerning you and I that's happened in recent weeks. Hmm, could it be…. Our children? Our children and their burgeoning romance?"

Joey gave him the look. "You know, there's no need to be sarcastic."

"Yes there is, just to see you look at me like that again!" Pacey grinned.

"I haven't met Jackson yet. He and Beth seem to have fallen out or something. What's he like?"

"Jackson?" Pacey thought for a moment. How could he describe his son? "He's one of the good guy's, I think. He's really smart too, smarter than he let's on."

"Didn't he inherit anything from you?" Joey asked sweetly.

"Oh-ho! That's nice!" Pacey laughed. "Well, he seems to have got my taste in women at any rate. Your daughter has been running rings around him."

"That's my girl!"

"She's just like you, Joey. And just as beautiful."

"Thank you, but I'm not sure she gets it all from me. I was pleased when she told me about Jackson. She's … well, she's had a really hard time this last year or so and your son seemed to have really got her sparked up again. I haven't seen her like that in a long time."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Pacey nodded. "Jackson was pretty low as well. That's why I sent him here. Beth really worked some kind of magic on him. I've never seen him like that before."

"I really wish things hadn't gone wrong for them," Joey mused.

"Ah, yes, well, that's why I'm here really," Pacey said.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. See Jackson told me why he and Beth argued, and I think we're duty bound to do something about it."

"Duty bound?"

"And I have an idea…"

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The race was in full swing. Pacey and Jackson were busy on board the She-Devil trying to stave off an attack from the Glum One who were tailing on them fast.

"Quick, Jackson!" Pacey shouted to his son. "Get that sail under control!"

Jackson leant nearly off the boat in order to turn it away onto a different tack.

"Yeah! That's got 'em!"

"Another twenty minutes or so," Pacey decided. "If we keep going like this, we should get a pretty good placing. Think Beth'll be cheering you on?"

"Somehow I doubt it. In fact, knowing Beth, she's probably joined the other boat."

"Well, that's not what Joey said." Pacey said innocently.

"Joey?" Jackson said sharply.

"Yeah, you know - Beth's mom?"

"I know who she is, Dad! You went to see her? Why didn't you tell me?"

Pacey looked indignant. "Last time I checked, I was the parent round here. And I don't really need your permission to go and visit an old friend." Then, he smiled at Jackson. "Relax, son. I know you're worried about us and any left over feelings we might have, but I can assure you on that score. Sure, we got down and dirty pretty quick but I think we've got it out of our system now."

He laughed out loud at the look of horror on his son's face.

"Jackson, I'm kidding."

"Well don't, that's disgusting."

Pacey moved to the end of the boat. "You deserved it."

Jackson glanced behind them. They were making good time.

"Okay, I'm sorry. Of course you can visit Joey whenever you want to. I guess it doesn't matter much anyway. Beth and I are over."

Pacey sighed at the dejected look on his son's face.

"Did I really teach you to accept defeat so easily? I'm wasn't entirely joking before. There really is nothing between Joey and I anymore. There hasn't been for twenty years. Jackson, maybe this situation is a little weird, but I've spoken with Joey and we both want you and Beth to be happy. If that means you two being together, then I for one can accept that."

"And you think she can?" Jackson asked uncertainly.

"Maybe. Maybe not. But don't you think you should damn well get off your butt and make her accept it?"

Jackson stared thoughtfully at the water. Gotcha, Pacey thought.

"I happen to know she's out there watching us right now. So the sooner we bring this baby home, the sooner you can confront her. So get round here and help me get us moving!"

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"Looks like they're moving up into second place!" Joey called out excitedly.

Bessie clapped her hands and moved forward to get a better look. Beth looked at her shoes.

"Mom, I want to go."

"Beth, don't be stupid, the race is almost over!"

"I know, and I don't want to see Jackson. I'll meet you afterwards."

"Oh no, young lady, you're staying right here and you're going to talk to Jackson afterwards whether you like it or not. I promised Pacey."

"Pacey?"

"Yes. He told me why you and Jackson have fallen out. It's because of the situation between Pacey and I isn't it?"

"Mom, please, it's not your fault. It's just… it's too strange, it's freakin' me out in all honesty."

Joey sighed, and pulled her daughter back from the crowds.

"Beth, listen to me. Okay, so I never spoke to you about Pacey before. Why? I don't know why. He was such an important person in my life, I don't know why I couldn't tell you about him."

"Maybe because he still is important to you?" Beth mumbled.

"No, sweetheart, no. Not in the way that you mean. Pacey will always be special to me, and for a long time - actually much longer than we were together - I thought he was the one. But my feelings for Pacey were always mixed up with my feelings for Dawson Leery, and it was only later - when it was too late, I guess, that I realised what he really meant to me. He broke my heart, and it hurt for a long time."

"And now?"

"Now? It doesn't hurt anymore. Now there's you and Jackson, and there's no way in the world I would let myself jeopardise your happiness Beth. It feels right that you two like each other. And maybe you can make a better job of things than Pacey and I did. You deserve the chance to try. Forget about us, Beth, we're the past. You and Jackson are the future."

"But - "

"No buts!" Joey held up a finger.

"They did it! Joey, Beth, they did it!" Bessie came excitedly to find them. "Pacey and Jackson came first! They cut up Tempus Fugit right at the end! Didn't you see it?"

"No! But then I think the best is yet to come." Joey smiled. "Where are the glorious winners?"

Beth felt herself being pulled against her will towards the quayside and towards the She-devil. She saw Doug Witter congratulating the boys on their win.

"All hail the conquering Witter-men!" Pacey was calling. Jackson didn't say anything. He had caught sight of Beth and just stood looking at her. Catching his eye, she gave him an awkward half-smile, then looked quickly away.

"How did it go?" Pacey whispered to Joey.

"Don't know," Joey whispered back. "You got time for a walk after?"

Then turning to Jackson, she paused slightly. It was almost like looking at a seventeen year old Pacey.

"You must be Jackson?" She said at last. "I'm Joey."

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Pacey walked with Joey away from the crowds of people.

"Well, at least we've given Dougie another trophy to keep shiny!" He said.

"You did really well in that race, Pacey. You and Jackson. It was great to finally meet him. He looks like you."

"Yeah, he does a bit."

There was a bit of an awkward silence.

"You spoke to him?" Joey asked.

"About Beth? Yeah, I think I got through to him. But whether or not he can get through to Beth … "

"I know. I did my best. I hope they can work things out. But Beth can be quite timid about taking risks sometimes."

Pacey stopped suddenly. Looking about him, seeing the familiar scenery, walking along with Joey by his side.

"Did we do the right thing?" He asked her.

"What do you mean?"

"Encouraging them. I mean, will we really be able to handle it if they stay together. Being in-laws? After all this time?"

"They're not about to get married, Pacey!" Joey said incredulous.

He waved his hand impatiently. "You know what I mean."

She did. Joey sighed. Looking out on the water, thinking.

"We just have to agree, any uncomfortable-ness we keep to ourselves. We can discuss it between the two of us, but keep it from Beth and Jackson."

"Well, I'm feeling some right now." Pacey turned to her.

"Pacey please, don't."

"Joey, we have to. Just this once. The last time we saw each other we were about to get back together for God's sake!"

"Pacey I was still in college when that happened! It's over and done with!"

"I'm not going to try anything on, Joey. I know that we'll never get back together. You're married - happily or otherwise - and our children are involved. But don't tell me you didn't feel anything when you saw me again!"

Joey looked at him. Pacey Witter. Her first serious love. The guy she hadn't really got over until she met her husband. Okay he was older, she didn't know him now, and they were worlds apart but…

"Yes. Yes, I did feel something. A pang or whatever. And I've missed you. All these years, not seeing one another. I rarely see Dawson anymore but I know how to get hold of him. If Beth and Jackson getting together does nothing else, it's given me the chance to see you again."

Pacey smiled at her. The look he had always kept just for her.

"C'mere," he said and pulled her into a hug.

"Maybe we can finally salvage our friendship out of all of this, huh? We've had a little time to cool off now?"

Joey laughed and put her arm through his as they started to walk again.

"Why don't we give it a go?" She said.

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Jackson found her after the presentation ceremony, sitting at a quiet end of the docks.

She stood up when she saw him coming.

"Aren't you going to congratulate me?" Jackson started. Seeing the blank look on her face he added, "for the race?"

"Oh, congratulations," she'd hardly given the race a second thought.

"I've missed you," he said, looking at her.

She turned away from him slightly, and ran a hand through her hair.

"I know," she said sadly. "I've missed you too."

"You know, I'm leaving in ten days. When my dad flies back. I've said I'll go with him."

"Oh."

"Beth, I can't leave with things like this. I'm not going to just ignore you for another ten days and pretend nothing ever happened between us. After everything we've talked about! I told you several weeks ago that I wanted to be with you - however hard it would be. And I still do. Don't you?"

"Oh, Jackson, it's not that easy! I wish I could stop my feelings for you, but I can't. But it's just not going to work. There's too many things against us!"

"Well name them, and we'll see how many we've got."

"Well, how about distance? We live on opposite sides of the country!"

"We can visit each other! We can write, email, telephone. And think about it - final year at school, you won't be bothered by keeping dates every weekend. You can concentrate on your school work and have a boyfriend in the holidays - it's the ideal arrangement!"

"How about that we're both on the rebound and don't know if this'll last once we leave Capeside?"

"I think we both know the answer to that one."

"Then what about our parents?" Beth said slowly, facing him.

"They're history."

"Exactly." Beth agreed.

"Explain please?" Jackson said, confused.

"Haven't you been listening to everyone?" Beth asked earnestly. "We're just like them. The way we look, the way we argue, the way we fell for each other. And what happened to them? They broke up. Broke each other's hearts and didn't sort it out for twenty years. How do we know that history won't repeat itself with us?"

Jackson did a long low whistle. "That's a brain teaser all right."

Beth stared at him. "Aren't you taking this even a bit seriously?"

He finally smiled at her. "Beth, listen to me. Life's too short. Yes, okay so things ain't perfect, but when are they? Do you know how lucky we are to have found each other in the first place? And as for our parents - I believe we make our own future. Who cares what happened to them? Everyone can say what they want. Yes, we may look like them, yes we may argue like them but we're not them. And there's a real humdinger of a way to tell the difference."

"Oh? What's that then?" Beth asked uncertainly.

"I am not my father. And I'm not in love with your mother - I'm in love with you."

Beth felt something thump hard deep in her chest.

"You… you love me?"

"Utterly and completely, waves-crashing against rocks, orchestra's playing - the whole works. Beth Andersson I am gut-wrenchingly and heart-stoppingly in love with you."

Beth couldn't say anything. She couldn't hear herself think over the strangely loud thumping of her heart.

Jackson was staring at her, his eyes full of longing and hope. A huge rush of emotion threatening to take over all cognitive thought. But something was still registering. One message was slowly sneaking through. She hasn't said anything.

Jackson walked over to her, and said to her, ever so softly;

"Don't you love me too?"

The pause was unendurable. A chasm seemed to open up at his feet at the thought that she might say no. All the noise of around them suddenly seemed to rush back into his ears so that he could hardly hear her low, sweet whisper, the sweetest sound he had ever heard.

"God, yes."

And it was everything.

_________________________________________________

Finis.

Need a little bit more? See part 7 to read the coda…