The Life
Chapter 2: Dinner with Friends
Category: Other
Rating: This part's actually PG-13 as well, none of the hot stuff yet :)
Author's Note: Thanks to Matt for the support, and the grammar lesson.
Please Read and Review, even if it's to suggest something for a future part that would make you like this more. Or a criticism. I'd rather you hated it than be indifferent!
********
"I'm exhausted" Jen ran her hand through her dishevelled hair and looked around their new apartment from the kitchen doorway. They'd unpacked most of their belongings and despite the fact that it had taken almost three solid days of arguments about furniture placement, it was beginning to resemble their old home.
"Yeah, but it looks damn good." Pacey joined her in the kitchen and she handed him a steaming cup of coffee. "I think we've outdone ourselves, Lindley."
"We? I think you'll find I did most of the work. You stood around with those deplorable removal men all day, discussing god knows what, commanding me to get you all beers and calling me 'little lady'". Jen responded jokingly, fanning herself with the newspaper that had been lying on the countertop. "Dammit, it's like a furnace in here."
Pacey chuckled "Are you sure it's not just me?"
"You wish, Witter." Jen rolled her eyes and smiled. "What time are the kids getting here?"
"Andie and Jack are bringing them at 7."
She glanced at her watch, it was only 5.30. "Gee Pacey," she enquired in a pseudo-chaste voice, "what do you think we can do for the next hour and a half?"
"Well, since we've just got the new TV set up, I think we could christen it by watching a couple of my Simpsons videos…?" He picked up his mug from the counter and began making his way out of the kitchen, smiling to himself as he waited for her to get overwrought about it.
Jen followed Pacey out of the kitchen. "Are you trying to piss me off, Pacey? Because I swear to God, if I never see another Simpsons episode in my entire life, it won't be too soon."
Pacey turned around, grinning widely. "Yes, Jennifer. I am teasing you. Obviously there's only one thing on my mind…test running that splendid new bed we just bought." He walked toward their bedroom door, "Care to join me? Or will I be bouncing alone this afternoon?"
"I thought you'd never ask…" Jen giggled, following him to the bedroom door and allowing him to lead her inside.
Pacey closed the bedroom door and backed Jen against it, revealing jokingly in-between heated kisses that his first choice was unavailable. "Plus, I left those videos with Ryan and Joe this weekend."
Jen broke away from him, managing only to hold her scowl for seconds before it melted into a smile and she leaned in for another kiss.
********
"Mommieeee?" Ryan raced through the house on his little legs, looking desperately for his parents.
"Hang on a second, Ry" Jen called out from behind the closed door of the bedroom. "We'll be right out."
Impatient to see his Mom and Dad after the three days he'd spent apart from them, Ryan ignored his Mom's last words and burst through the door.
Jen and Pacey looked up, Jen was sitting on the bed buttoning up her shirt, and Pacey was just pulling on his pants. But at the sight of her son, Jen bolted up from the bed, clothes be damned, and swept him up in her arms, hugging him tightly.
"Ryan sweetie," She kissed the top of his head and stroked his hair tenderly. "Did you have fun with Uncle Jack and Auntie Andie?" she smiled to herself at the latter name, which sounded more like a cartoon character than anything else.
Ryan nodded eagerly, beaming up at his mother and then looking to Pacey. "Daddy take me now?"
Pacey obliged, lifting their son-who was the image of him as a child-out of Jen's arms and following Jen out of the room, all the while asking him questions about their trip up, and what he'd been doing over the weekend with Jack and Andie.
"Jack! Andie!" Jen exclaimed excitedly upon seeing them. "How's my little fella been this weekend?"
She took Joe from Jack's arms gently, kissing his tiny forehead and smiling as he struggled to get down. Now he was almost a year he was crawling anywhere and everywhere, and disliked being held more than anything. She held onto him for a few minutes more as she underwent the pleasantries with Andie and Jack, and showed them through to the living room. Then she sat down on the sofa nearest the door, where Pacey was incessantly tickling Ryan, and she set Joe on her lap.
Jack sat down on the opposite sofa, whereas Andie began walking around, inspecting the old photos they'd had newly framed.
"They're the same photos as in the last apartment, just new frames." Jen explained with a smile, knowing that Andie's prying nature would mean she'd inspected the apartment from top to bottom before her departure.
"Oh," Andie turned around and smiled sheepishly at Jen. "I realised that…just like looking at them."
They all knew to what she referred, and why she liked looking at Ryan and Joe, and why she agreed to look after them at anytime they asked – no matter how short notice. Andie couldn't have children, she had tried for the last year with her long-term boyfriend, and when it turned out she had complications in that area, he had left her.
"Yeah, Andie, I'm sorry" Jen said quickly, feeling bad about her last words.
Andie smiled happily, but it was obvious to everyone that it was forced. "Don't worry about it Jen, I'm fine, honestly."
"Ok," Pacey stood up, setting Ryan down in the space he'd just vacated on the sofa. "I'll get started on dinner. Any requests?"
"Pizza!" Ryan yelled deafeningly, earning him a warning glance from his mother. He repeated his request at a more normal, but equally demanding volume. "Pizza!"
Pacey laughed, and Jen rolled her eyes. She knew already that her older son was going to be the exact double of his father.
"Jack? Andie? Any requests?" Pacey turned to the guests, who both shook their heads. Jack shrugged, "We'll eat whatever you were planning to make…but make it soon, I'm famished."
Pacey laughed, "Coming right up, Jackers."
"Hey! I haven't been called that for years, and I'd like it to stay that way." Jack protested light-heartedly.
Jen looked sheepish, "Not one of the best nicknames, I have to say."
"Well let's speak of it no more." Jack smiled, and Andie nodded.
"Jackers, Uncle Jackers."
They all turned to look at Ryan, and Jack groaned, knowing now that the nickname was going to stick around…for a little while, at least.
********
"Joey, I really think we should go down there."
Joey piled the remainder of the dishes from dinner into the sink, and began scrubbing them furiously. "Dawson, I'm a little busy right now. Go down yourself if you want to."
"Joey, you can't keep inventing chores you have to do so we don't have to go down."
Smiling falsely, Joey turned around to Dawson. "Look, honey, if you want to go and fawn over Jen, Pacey and their picture perfect children then I'm not stopping you. But I don't feel particularly friendly today."
"Do you ever?"
Joey saw red, and her temper took over in a split second. "You know what? Fuck you, Dawson."
"I'll be back in a couple of hours." Dawson replied flatly, not even shocked by what she'd said to him, as he would have been a few weeks ago. Something was up with Joey and he wasn't even sure if she knew what it was.
Joey heard their front door slam, and dropped the dish she was scrubbing back into the sink with a splash. "What am I doing?" She wondered aloud.
Shaking her head, she picked the dish back out of the sink and began scrubbing again. "Get a grip, Joey" she scolded herself, continuing her washing as the tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped into the soapy water.
********
Dawson knocked lightly on the door of their apartment, curiosity seeping over him as he heard the sounds of laughter and music from inside. Eventually Pacey pulled the door open, his expression turning to one of confusion when he saw Dawson…alone.
"Hey, D-man" He ushered him into the apartment, "Come in…where's the significant other tonight?"
"She, uh, she's really busy…she has loads of work to do, something to do with this case she's in court with on Monday." Dawson stumbled over his words, wishing he'd created a better excuse for his wife's absence.
"Whatever you say, Dawson man. I can't say my heart's broken she decided not to show." Pacey led Dawson into the living room, where Jack was sitting with Ryan on his knee, and they were singing along to some nursery rhyme or other.
Dawson laughed out loud "Hey, Jack! I didn't know you were here."
Jack stood up, setting Ryan down on the floor where he immediately took up residence hiding behind Pacey's leg, peeking out warily.
As Jack and Dawson hugged and caught up, Ryan eyed Dawson suspiciously from his hiding place.
"Do my eyes deceieve me, or is that Dawson Leery I see?"
Dawson turned around to see Andie McPhee standing in the doorway of the kitchen, holding a wooden spoon in her hand and grinning broadly.
"Hey, Andie." Dawson crossed to her and hugged her tightly, avoiding the wooden spoon she was brandishing that was covered with some conspicuous looking green sauce.
Andie giggled, walking out into the living room. "This is so weird, like some naff High School reunion movie. Now all we need is Joey and we're set."
"She's actually just upstairs, she was a little busy." Dawson explained quickly.
Andie nodded understandingly, Jen had explained to her and Jack about Joey's weird reaction to their visit weeks before. "Well maybe I'll see her tomorrow or something?"
"Yeah," Dawson replied quietly, pretty sure that if Joey had anything to do with it, she wouldn't. "Maybe…"
"Pacey," Jen yelled from the kitchen, "Get your butt in here and do something about these pizzas."
"Can't you do it?" Pacey complained from his chair in front of the TV.
Jen appeared in the kitchen doorway, looking unkempt and frustrated. "I'm trying to make the salad, lay the table, and listen out for Joseph crying over the racket of the TV." Jen realised Dawson was sitting with Jack and Andie, and wondered briefly where Joey was.
"Ok," Pacey stood up reluctantly and followed her into the kitchen, slapping her on the ass on the way in and laughing delightedly when she shrieked.
Jen closed the kitchen door behind them, and the only sounds their guests heard from them for the next ten minutes were occasional shrieks and laughter.
"It still amazes me." Andie mused out loud.
Dawson looked at her in confusion, "What amazes you?"
"That Jen and Pacey ended up together…they were just the one couple I never imagined out of the six of us."
Jack grinned "I don't know Andie, I definitely found the idea of you and I a little less likely."
Andie and Dawson laughed, and then Dawson spoke up. "I actually see where it came from. They were always really good friends when Jen was at college, and I suppose it was just natural progression for them to fall in love."
Jack nodded, compliant. "Yeah, I can totally see that they're being perfect for each other. And I know that Jen had a huge crush on Mr Witter in senior year, not that she admitted it to anyone. Or would even admit it now, unless she was under oath or something."
Andie shrieked with laughter, "Really? I'm glad I wasn't around for senior year, it sounds like a bloodbath of emotion."
"You wouldn't believe…" Dawson replied, and he and Jack exchanged a look.
Just then, Jen re-emerged from the kitchen looking flushed. "Ok, you guys, dinner's ready."
They all filtered into the dining room, and Jen scooped Ryan up from the sofa, where he was in the process of falling asleep. "C'mon sleepy-head, let's get you to bed."
"But Mommy, I'm not sleepy." He protested groggily, yawning mid sentence and contradicting his last statement.
Jen smiled fondly at him, stepping into the bedroom she'd already put Joe to bed in, and flicked on the light. "Fetch your pyjamas from the top drawer, and I might just sing you the special bedtime song."
"I missed you, Mommy." Ryan whispered as he handed her his pyjamas.
Jen felt her eyes filling up "I missed you too, Ryan. Now let's get you ready for bed."
********
"So, are you guys looking for jobs then?" Dawson enquired, biting into his third slice of pizza.
"Actually, Jen already has a job at the Elementary school a few blocks away, and I have two interviews at the newspaper offices next week." Pacey explained, pouring Andie another glass of wine and proffering it to Jack, who refused.
"That's great news" Dawson enthused, and Pacey nodded, smiling at Jen.
"Yeah, isn't it?" Jen replied distractedly. "I'm gonna go check on the boys, I haven't heard a peep out of them in hours."
Jack frowned "Wouldn't that be a good thing? Considering they are supposed to be sleeping?"
"Not with our boys, right Pace?" Jen explained, getting up from the table and heading towards the bedroom her sons were sleeping in.
"Yeah," Pacey agreed. "It's pretty much a bad sign if they sleep for more than half an hour at a time, especially Ryan – he's a horror. I don't think he's ever going to start sleeping through the night. Joe's already pretty good, he only wakes up once or twice."
Jen came back to the table a few seconds later, smiling. "They're fine. Ryan woke up the second I went into the room, complaining that he's hungry."
Pacey chuckled "That sounds about right."
Jen nodded in agreement, turning to Dawson. "So Dawson, are you looking forward to having your own bundle of joy?" She asked as she helped herself to more salad.
"Absolutely," Dawson's face broke into a smile of unadulterated happiness. "It's what I've always wanted, it's like a dream come true."
Andie's face fell a little, but she recovered herself quickly. "Have you thought of any names yet, Dawson? I'll bet Joey has had some great ideas."
"Well…Joey likes Elizabeth for a girl and Mitchell for a boy. But I was thinking of something not connected to our families. You know, start a new line of names?"
Jen laughed "Let me guess, you like the name Stephen for a boy and Stephanie for a girl?"
Dawson's smile faded quickly into a confused expression, "How did you…?"
She cut him off "Dawson, I hate to break it to you…but you really are that predictable."
Dawson shrugged and smiled. "I guess you're right. But what's wrong with honouring an idol like that?"
"Nothing, I guess" Jen concurred, "But I don't think Joey will go for it…somehow…"
Pacey almost grunted with derision "Yeah, I don't think Joey will go with anything that wasn't her idea."
"Pacey…" Jen warned.
Dawson interrupted "No, you're right, I know Joey's sometimes a little egocentric. But I see the side that other people don't…she's always been that way and she's sometimes even more so now. But I love her."
Andie sighed. "Man, I need to get myself a Dawson Leery who'll forgive all my faults."
They all laughed, and then Jen disappeared into the kitchen to get dessert.
Chapter 2: Dinner with Friends
Category: Other
Rating: This part's actually PG-13 as well, none of the hot stuff yet :)
Author's Note: Thanks to Matt for the support, and the grammar lesson.
Please Read and Review, even if it's to suggest something for a future part that would make you like this more. Or a criticism. I'd rather you hated it than be indifferent!
********
"I'm exhausted" Jen ran her hand through her dishevelled hair and looked around their new apartment from the kitchen doorway. They'd unpacked most of their belongings and despite the fact that it had taken almost three solid days of arguments about furniture placement, it was beginning to resemble their old home.
"Yeah, but it looks damn good." Pacey joined her in the kitchen and she handed him a steaming cup of coffee. "I think we've outdone ourselves, Lindley."
"We? I think you'll find I did most of the work. You stood around with those deplorable removal men all day, discussing god knows what, commanding me to get you all beers and calling me 'little lady'". Jen responded jokingly, fanning herself with the newspaper that had been lying on the countertop. "Dammit, it's like a furnace in here."
Pacey chuckled "Are you sure it's not just me?"
"You wish, Witter." Jen rolled her eyes and smiled. "What time are the kids getting here?"
"Andie and Jack are bringing them at 7."
She glanced at her watch, it was only 5.30. "Gee Pacey," she enquired in a pseudo-chaste voice, "what do you think we can do for the next hour and a half?"
"Well, since we've just got the new TV set up, I think we could christen it by watching a couple of my Simpsons videos…?" He picked up his mug from the counter and began making his way out of the kitchen, smiling to himself as he waited for her to get overwrought about it.
Jen followed Pacey out of the kitchen. "Are you trying to piss me off, Pacey? Because I swear to God, if I never see another Simpsons episode in my entire life, it won't be too soon."
Pacey turned around, grinning widely. "Yes, Jennifer. I am teasing you. Obviously there's only one thing on my mind…test running that splendid new bed we just bought." He walked toward their bedroom door, "Care to join me? Or will I be bouncing alone this afternoon?"
"I thought you'd never ask…" Jen giggled, following him to the bedroom door and allowing him to lead her inside.
Pacey closed the bedroom door and backed Jen against it, revealing jokingly in-between heated kisses that his first choice was unavailable. "Plus, I left those videos with Ryan and Joe this weekend."
Jen broke away from him, managing only to hold her scowl for seconds before it melted into a smile and she leaned in for another kiss.
********
"Mommieeee?" Ryan raced through the house on his little legs, looking desperately for his parents.
"Hang on a second, Ry" Jen called out from behind the closed door of the bedroom. "We'll be right out."
Impatient to see his Mom and Dad after the three days he'd spent apart from them, Ryan ignored his Mom's last words and burst through the door.
Jen and Pacey looked up, Jen was sitting on the bed buttoning up her shirt, and Pacey was just pulling on his pants. But at the sight of her son, Jen bolted up from the bed, clothes be damned, and swept him up in her arms, hugging him tightly.
"Ryan sweetie," She kissed the top of his head and stroked his hair tenderly. "Did you have fun with Uncle Jack and Auntie Andie?" she smiled to herself at the latter name, which sounded more like a cartoon character than anything else.
Ryan nodded eagerly, beaming up at his mother and then looking to Pacey. "Daddy take me now?"
Pacey obliged, lifting their son-who was the image of him as a child-out of Jen's arms and following Jen out of the room, all the while asking him questions about their trip up, and what he'd been doing over the weekend with Jack and Andie.
"Jack! Andie!" Jen exclaimed excitedly upon seeing them. "How's my little fella been this weekend?"
She took Joe from Jack's arms gently, kissing his tiny forehead and smiling as he struggled to get down. Now he was almost a year he was crawling anywhere and everywhere, and disliked being held more than anything. She held onto him for a few minutes more as she underwent the pleasantries with Andie and Jack, and showed them through to the living room. Then she sat down on the sofa nearest the door, where Pacey was incessantly tickling Ryan, and she set Joe on her lap.
Jack sat down on the opposite sofa, whereas Andie began walking around, inspecting the old photos they'd had newly framed.
"They're the same photos as in the last apartment, just new frames." Jen explained with a smile, knowing that Andie's prying nature would mean she'd inspected the apartment from top to bottom before her departure.
"Oh," Andie turned around and smiled sheepishly at Jen. "I realised that…just like looking at them."
They all knew to what she referred, and why she liked looking at Ryan and Joe, and why she agreed to look after them at anytime they asked – no matter how short notice. Andie couldn't have children, she had tried for the last year with her long-term boyfriend, and when it turned out she had complications in that area, he had left her.
"Yeah, Andie, I'm sorry" Jen said quickly, feeling bad about her last words.
Andie smiled happily, but it was obvious to everyone that it was forced. "Don't worry about it Jen, I'm fine, honestly."
"Ok," Pacey stood up, setting Ryan down in the space he'd just vacated on the sofa. "I'll get started on dinner. Any requests?"
"Pizza!" Ryan yelled deafeningly, earning him a warning glance from his mother. He repeated his request at a more normal, but equally demanding volume. "Pizza!"
Pacey laughed, and Jen rolled her eyes. She knew already that her older son was going to be the exact double of his father.
"Jack? Andie? Any requests?" Pacey turned to the guests, who both shook their heads. Jack shrugged, "We'll eat whatever you were planning to make…but make it soon, I'm famished."
Pacey laughed, "Coming right up, Jackers."
"Hey! I haven't been called that for years, and I'd like it to stay that way." Jack protested light-heartedly.
Jen looked sheepish, "Not one of the best nicknames, I have to say."
"Well let's speak of it no more." Jack smiled, and Andie nodded.
"Jackers, Uncle Jackers."
They all turned to look at Ryan, and Jack groaned, knowing now that the nickname was going to stick around…for a little while, at least.
********
"Joey, I really think we should go down there."
Joey piled the remainder of the dishes from dinner into the sink, and began scrubbing them furiously. "Dawson, I'm a little busy right now. Go down yourself if you want to."
"Joey, you can't keep inventing chores you have to do so we don't have to go down."
Smiling falsely, Joey turned around to Dawson. "Look, honey, if you want to go and fawn over Jen, Pacey and their picture perfect children then I'm not stopping you. But I don't feel particularly friendly today."
"Do you ever?"
Joey saw red, and her temper took over in a split second. "You know what? Fuck you, Dawson."
"I'll be back in a couple of hours." Dawson replied flatly, not even shocked by what she'd said to him, as he would have been a few weeks ago. Something was up with Joey and he wasn't even sure if she knew what it was.
Joey heard their front door slam, and dropped the dish she was scrubbing back into the sink with a splash. "What am I doing?" She wondered aloud.
Shaking her head, she picked the dish back out of the sink and began scrubbing again. "Get a grip, Joey" she scolded herself, continuing her washing as the tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped into the soapy water.
********
Dawson knocked lightly on the door of their apartment, curiosity seeping over him as he heard the sounds of laughter and music from inside. Eventually Pacey pulled the door open, his expression turning to one of confusion when he saw Dawson…alone.
"Hey, D-man" He ushered him into the apartment, "Come in…where's the significant other tonight?"
"She, uh, she's really busy…she has loads of work to do, something to do with this case she's in court with on Monday." Dawson stumbled over his words, wishing he'd created a better excuse for his wife's absence.
"Whatever you say, Dawson man. I can't say my heart's broken she decided not to show." Pacey led Dawson into the living room, where Jack was sitting with Ryan on his knee, and they were singing along to some nursery rhyme or other.
Dawson laughed out loud "Hey, Jack! I didn't know you were here."
Jack stood up, setting Ryan down on the floor where he immediately took up residence hiding behind Pacey's leg, peeking out warily.
As Jack and Dawson hugged and caught up, Ryan eyed Dawson suspiciously from his hiding place.
"Do my eyes deceieve me, or is that Dawson Leery I see?"
Dawson turned around to see Andie McPhee standing in the doorway of the kitchen, holding a wooden spoon in her hand and grinning broadly.
"Hey, Andie." Dawson crossed to her and hugged her tightly, avoiding the wooden spoon she was brandishing that was covered with some conspicuous looking green sauce.
Andie giggled, walking out into the living room. "This is so weird, like some naff High School reunion movie. Now all we need is Joey and we're set."
"She's actually just upstairs, she was a little busy." Dawson explained quickly.
Andie nodded understandingly, Jen had explained to her and Jack about Joey's weird reaction to their visit weeks before. "Well maybe I'll see her tomorrow or something?"
"Yeah," Dawson replied quietly, pretty sure that if Joey had anything to do with it, she wouldn't. "Maybe…"
"Pacey," Jen yelled from the kitchen, "Get your butt in here and do something about these pizzas."
"Can't you do it?" Pacey complained from his chair in front of the TV.
Jen appeared in the kitchen doorway, looking unkempt and frustrated. "I'm trying to make the salad, lay the table, and listen out for Joseph crying over the racket of the TV." Jen realised Dawson was sitting with Jack and Andie, and wondered briefly where Joey was.
"Ok," Pacey stood up reluctantly and followed her into the kitchen, slapping her on the ass on the way in and laughing delightedly when she shrieked.
Jen closed the kitchen door behind them, and the only sounds their guests heard from them for the next ten minutes were occasional shrieks and laughter.
"It still amazes me." Andie mused out loud.
Dawson looked at her in confusion, "What amazes you?"
"That Jen and Pacey ended up together…they were just the one couple I never imagined out of the six of us."
Jack grinned "I don't know Andie, I definitely found the idea of you and I a little less likely."
Andie and Dawson laughed, and then Dawson spoke up. "I actually see where it came from. They were always really good friends when Jen was at college, and I suppose it was just natural progression for them to fall in love."
Jack nodded, compliant. "Yeah, I can totally see that they're being perfect for each other. And I know that Jen had a huge crush on Mr Witter in senior year, not that she admitted it to anyone. Or would even admit it now, unless she was under oath or something."
Andie shrieked with laughter, "Really? I'm glad I wasn't around for senior year, it sounds like a bloodbath of emotion."
"You wouldn't believe…" Dawson replied, and he and Jack exchanged a look.
Just then, Jen re-emerged from the kitchen looking flushed. "Ok, you guys, dinner's ready."
They all filtered into the dining room, and Jen scooped Ryan up from the sofa, where he was in the process of falling asleep. "C'mon sleepy-head, let's get you to bed."
"But Mommy, I'm not sleepy." He protested groggily, yawning mid sentence and contradicting his last statement.
Jen smiled fondly at him, stepping into the bedroom she'd already put Joe to bed in, and flicked on the light. "Fetch your pyjamas from the top drawer, and I might just sing you the special bedtime song."
"I missed you, Mommy." Ryan whispered as he handed her his pyjamas.
Jen felt her eyes filling up "I missed you too, Ryan. Now let's get you ready for bed."
********
"So, are you guys looking for jobs then?" Dawson enquired, biting into his third slice of pizza.
"Actually, Jen already has a job at the Elementary school a few blocks away, and I have two interviews at the newspaper offices next week." Pacey explained, pouring Andie another glass of wine and proffering it to Jack, who refused.
"That's great news" Dawson enthused, and Pacey nodded, smiling at Jen.
"Yeah, isn't it?" Jen replied distractedly. "I'm gonna go check on the boys, I haven't heard a peep out of them in hours."
Jack frowned "Wouldn't that be a good thing? Considering they are supposed to be sleeping?"
"Not with our boys, right Pace?" Jen explained, getting up from the table and heading towards the bedroom her sons were sleeping in.
"Yeah," Pacey agreed. "It's pretty much a bad sign if they sleep for more than half an hour at a time, especially Ryan – he's a horror. I don't think he's ever going to start sleeping through the night. Joe's already pretty good, he only wakes up once or twice."
Jen came back to the table a few seconds later, smiling. "They're fine. Ryan woke up the second I went into the room, complaining that he's hungry."
Pacey chuckled "That sounds about right."
Jen nodded in agreement, turning to Dawson. "So Dawson, are you looking forward to having your own bundle of joy?" She asked as she helped herself to more salad.
"Absolutely," Dawson's face broke into a smile of unadulterated happiness. "It's what I've always wanted, it's like a dream come true."
Andie's face fell a little, but she recovered herself quickly. "Have you thought of any names yet, Dawson? I'll bet Joey has had some great ideas."
"Well…Joey likes Elizabeth for a girl and Mitchell for a boy. But I was thinking of something not connected to our families. You know, start a new line of names?"
Jen laughed "Let me guess, you like the name Stephen for a boy and Stephanie for a girl?"
Dawson's smile faded quickly into a confused expression, "How did you…?"
She cut him off "Dawson, I hate to break it to you…but you really are that predictable."
Dawson shrugged and smiled. "I guess you're right. But what's wrong with honouring an idol like that?"
"Nothing, I guess" Jen concurred, "But I don't think Joey will go for it…somehow…"
Pacey almost grunted with derision "Yeah, I don't think Joey will go with anything that wasn't her idea."
"Pacey…" Jen warned.
Dawson interrupted "No, you're right, I know Joey's sometimes a little egocentric. But I see the side that other people don't…she's always been that way and she's sometimes even more so now. But I love her."
Andie sighed. "Man, I need to get myself a Dawson Leery who'll forgive all my faults."
They all laughed, and then Jen disappeared into the kitchen to get dessert.