Part Two One week later, New Years Eve, Dawson and Jen's house

The roads are covered in snow as Joey and Pacey pull up in their car. Joey is almost smothered in a coat, hat and scarf and all that can be seen is her eyes.

She glared at Pacey 'Whose bright idea was it to come over here in this weather anyway?'

He sighed and stared out of the window 'I'm sorry Jo, I couldn't really turn around and say no could I?'

'I would imagine that if you were the size of a house and felt like crap I would have thought up an excuse for you, say like, ooh, Joey doesn't feel well'.

He turned to look at her, exasperation evident in his glare 'I've said I'm sorry; we haven't got to stay long. Now can we just get in out of this freezing cold weather'.

She nodded and opened her car door, obstinately refusing any help from him when he came round to her side and tried to offer her his hand 'Jo let me help you, you're going to hurt yourself.' She grabbed his hand and he pulled her out of the car, keeping hold of her hand to make sure she didn't fall on the way to the front door. He jogged back to the car and took Megan out of her car seat, hoisting her into his arms and locking the car doors.

Once the front door was opened Joey plastered a happy smile on her face 'Happy New Year!' She followed Jen out into the kitchen and tried to keep the tears from her eyes. Her hormones were causing her moods to swing violently and she silently cursed herself for making Pacey feel like crap. She turned to look at him before she crossed through the kitchen door and saw the sadness in his eyes as he chatted to Dawson. She wanted to go over and hug him, but she knew it wasn't fair to confuse him more. Once in the kitchen she tried to busy herself helping Jen but she couldn't help but let the tears fall. Jen noticed this at once and quickly gave her a hug 'Jo, what's wrong? Is it the baby?'

Joey shook her head into Jen's shoulder and sniffed loudly 'No, it's me, my hormones are going insane and I'm being a complete bitch to Pacey' she wiped her eyes 'He hates me'.

Jen laughed and pulled back so she could look her in the eyes 'Jo, Pacey loves you and he knows that you don't mean any of what you are saying'.

Joey nodded and tried to compose herself as they heard footsteps approach the kitchen from the living room. Dawson appeared in the kitchen door holding Megan and looked in alarm at Joey, he instinctively caught Pacey's eye across the room and he was at Dawson's side in an instant.

'Jo?' He stepped into the kitchen and cautiously approached her, heart lurching at the tears on her cheeks and at Jen's understanding nod, he was at her side before she would turn her face to look at him, her eyes swimming with more unshed tears. 'Oh Jo, it's alright'.

He enveloped her in his arms and she buried her head in his shoulder, Jen and Dawson quietly left the kitchen.

'Please don't hate me' her voice was muffled against his shoulder.

He closed his eyes and pulled her closer 'Never' he rubbed her back with his hand 'I love you more than anything Jo, I could never hate you'.

She smiled and allowed him to support her weight with his at he leaned against the counter. 'I'm sorry I made you come out tonight, I didn't know you weren't feeling well'.

She sobbed quietly 'I'm just so tired and my back hurts'.

He nodded and pulled back to look at her 'Do you want to go home, we can make our excuses'.

She shook her head 'We're here now; I just need some time off my feet. You're daughter has been driving me insane today'.

He grinned 'I like the way that she's my daughter when she's not behaving'.

'I'm sorry I've been a cow Pacey' she looked down at the floor 'You are the most amazing husband and father and I don't deserve you at all'.

He tilted her chin up 'Joey you are the most wonderful wife and mother a person could ask for. I go off to work in the morning and come home at night and I forget all the effort that goes into running the house and looking after Megan' he kissed her on the forehead 'And you're eight and a half months pregnant Jo, you're allowed to be a bit grouchy sometimes'.

'I love you Pace'.

'I love you'.

Megan was fast asleep in Joeys arms as the ball dropped and the New Year arrived and she was engulfed in kisses and hugs from all angles. She watched the room from her seat as her closest friends hugged and kissed each other, her child asleep in her arms and wanted to freeze time for that split second and be thankful. Pacey caught her gaze and crouched down beside her chair, watching his daughter as she slept. He turned to Jo and placed a hand on her cheek 'Happy New Year Jo'.

She turned her face and kissed the palm of his hand 'Happy New Year Pace'.

They said their goodbyes to Jen and Dawson soon after midnight and carefully buckled Megan into her car seat, as they waited for the car to heat up before driving off Joey felt a sharp pain in her side and gasped sharply.

'What's wrong?'

She placed a hand under her stomach and looked at him in alarm 'I've just got a pain in my stomach'.

'Is it a contraction?'

'I don't think so' she winced as another pain coursed through her stomach.

He turned sideways in his chair, the fear in her eyes scaring him 'Do you want to go the hospital?'

She closed her eyes and tried to feel around her stomach for some movement from the baby 'Just give me a minute, I think it'll pass'.

There were a couple more shoots of pain before she felt the baby move and she sighed with relief 'I think it's ok, I'm just tired Pace, let's just go home'.

He placed his hand over her one on her stomach 'I think we ought to go to the hospital Jo'.

'It's stopped now, it's ok, and I just want to go to bed'. He nodded and started the car, grabbing her hand as he pulled out if the driveway.