"May I please have the pleasure and honour of dancing with the bride?"
Pacey asked approaching Dawson and Joey.
"Yeah, why not. I'm getting a little sick of her." Dawson joked lightly.
Joey hit him on the shoulder "Already? You aint seen nothing yet!" she warned.
"Oh really?" Dawson leaned in to her, his eyes dancing in front of hers.
"Really" She leaned in and stole a kiss from him.
Pacey rolled his eyes and grabbed Joey's arm.
"You have all night for that; you're dancing with me now Potter!"
Dawson and Joey laughed as Pacey pulled Joey away.
"Don't miss me too much" Joey called to Dawson.
"I didn't think you two could get any worse" Pacey pulled her into his arms as they reached the dance floor.
"Well you were wrong" Joey's face beamed up at him.
After dancing silently for a few moments Pacey looked down into her smiling face.
"So how's married life Potter?" he asked jovially.
"That's Leery to you"
"You'll always be Potter to me"
She grinned.
"It's amazing. You should try it sometime."
Pacey sighed.
"I'd love to, but at the rate I'm going, it's not happening anytime soon. Do you realise that my last long term relationship was with Audrey? What does that say about me?" Joey shook her head at Pacey's self-deprecation.
"You know, you're only difficulty is finding a woman good enough to deserve *you*. And I know that it will happen one day because you're too special not to find happiness."
Pacey looked down at the sincerity on her face, touched by the intensity of her words.
"I love you, you know that?" He told her smiling warmly.
"Yup" She answered cheekily, "How could anyone not?" He laughed and kissed her forehead, noticing Dawson lead Andie on to the dance floor.
Joey followed his gaze and smiled to herself. She recognised the look on his face. It was one of intrigue and captivation. Jen had mentioned something to her earlier about some old sparks being ignited, and now it became clearer to her.
"So it's great to have Andie back isn't it?"
Pacey tore his eyes away from their focus and settled back on Joey.
"Yeah it is" he agreed. "The old gang back together again"
"It's been a while"
"Too long" Pacey nodded.
"Well we just saw Andie over the summer, but you can't have seen her for years" Joey exclaimed.
"5 years"
"Wow"
There was a few moments silence and Pacey's stare found its way back in Andie's direction. He couldn't help it. It was as if she possessed some sort of magnetic force that bound him to her.
"Seeing her has caused quite a stir hasn't it Pace?"
Pacey rolled his eyes.
"Not you as well"
"Well it is kind of obvious"
"Not to me it isn't"
"You're practically drooling" Joey answered him flatly.
Pacey sighed.
"I don't know Joey. I don't know what's happening"
She waited for him to continue.
"As soon as I saw her, it was like everything that's happened in the last 7 years vanished and I was back to being 16 again, and I don't know what that means."
"Well" Joey said decisively pulling away and grabbing his hand "Why don't you go and find out."
"What are you doing?" Pacey hissed as she dragged him to where Dawson and Andie were dancing. She tapped Dawson on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but would it be ok to have my husband back?" She asked Andie casting a conspiratory glance Pacey's way.
"We've only been married for a couple of hours and she's already getting possessive" Dawson joked.
"You are treading on thin ice Mister Leery" Joey pulled him into her arms.
"Then I better make up for it, Mrs Leery" He kissed her and they danced off oblivious of everything except each other. Pacey chuckled to himself shaking his head at Joey's contrivance as he and Andie stood next to each other in the middle of the dance floor.
Andie looked at Pacey awkwardly.
"Well it appears that we have been usurped." She smiled at him trying to make conversation.
He chuckled again.
"That it would." He replied gaining courage and finally turning to her.
"May I have this dance, Miss Mcphee?" He bowed echoing an action he had performed before, in a time less complicated.
"I thought you'd never ask Witter." She took his outstretched hand, accepting his offer and moving into his arms.
Joey shot Pacey a thumbs up sign from across the dance floor as Pacey shook his head at her.
They danced in silence, getting used to being in each others arms once again, waiting until the awkwardness passed into familiarity.
"So" Pacey began, clearing his throat and breaking the silence. "We haven't had a chance to catch up yet."
"That may be because you've been avoiding me." Andie answered him candidly.
Pacey creased his forehead in an attempt to feign confusion.
"Why would I avoid you Andie?" He questioned her ashamed at being caught out.
"That's what I would like to know." she answered feeling slightly stupid all of a sudden.
Pacey quickly changed the subject feeling bad for making her paranoid.
"So tell me how you've been?" Andie laughed at the generality of the question.
"How I've been?" she smirked "Erm.not bad." She answered just as vaguely.
"You still work at the clinic?"
"Yup, I do counselling for the English speakers. It's quite ironic really, crazy Andie Mcphee counselling others into insanity."
Pacey shook his head "On the contrary your own experience of combating your problems makes you an inspirational example." His voice was soft as he looked straight into her eyes, scorching her with his stare. She looked down smiling slightly as her cheeks tinted red. She cleared her throat ready to change the subject.
"So erm.what about you? I still can't believe that YOU can cook!"
"Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it."
"It must be another one of your many talents." Her light voice floated, tickling the insides of his ears. He grinned down at her and winked.
"Just one of many."
She had to look away again, she couldn't take any more. His steady stare caused her cheeks to instantly blush every time she looked into his eyes.
"Well, I guess I'll have to come along to the restaurant and sample some of your talent."
"Or I'll give you a private viewing."
"I like the sound of that." She flirted lightly wondering where her bravado was coming from.
His heart jumped as she responded to his banter, remembering how well they meshed and bounced off each other.
"So have you set yourself up in Italy for good?"
"I don't know." she creased her forehead "It's different now I'm not at college."
"In what way?"
"Well, all the friends I made at college live in different parts of the country and I don't really get to see many of them. I have to admit that it's been a little lonely recently."
"So come home."
Andie shook her head.
"It's not as simple as that."
"Why not?"
"You won't understand."
"Try me."
She sighed. "The last five years in Italy have been a breeze compared to the rest of my life. No family drama, no brothers have died, no mothers have gone crazy, or fathers run away, no major heart breaks have torn me apart," She looked away from his eyes "And no pills have been popped."
Pacey listened to her, reminded of her old fears. He remembered the time when she desperately went to see the fortune teller, needing to know that everything was going to be okay. He was reminded of her fragility and was overcome with a need to protect her.
"It's been so liberating. I don't have any problems in Italy."
"Andie, all those things, they're still there." He paused watching this register on her face.
"What I mean is, being in Italy means that you can run away from them for the moment, but if you really open your eyes you'll see that they're still there-"
"But they're not in Italy."
"But they are a part of you."
She sighed knowing that he was right.
"And I think that you'll find that all those things have actually become a lot easier to live with now. I mean look how strong and independent you've become." He lifted up his hand and brushed the stray strands of hair that had obstructed her eyes. She stared up at him and their eyes locked.
"You are now equipped to come back and face your life head on."
His hand lingered, lightly tickling her cheek causing her insides to dance. Suddenly aware of his forwardness, Pacey brought his hand back down to rest behind her back, clearing his throat and looking down in embarassment.
She blushed looking away from him again, still feeling the effect that his touch had on her face. She had become a lot more independent and she had noticed the strength she had gained through her independence. They danced silently again, each mulling over what he had said.
They swayed in unison, the awkwardnss with which they had begun, completely waning as they settled into a comfortable rhythm remembering a time where this was the most natural feeling in the world. Feeling a lot more relaxed, Andie gravitated closer to Pacey's welcoming embrace, pulling her hand out of his grasp and putting it around his neck. Smiling down at her, Pacey placed his arms around her back and tightened his grip, pulling her closer to him so that she leaned her head against his chest. He sucked in his breath as he looked down at her resting on him. It was all he could do to stop himself from kissing her forehead and getting lost in the scent of her hair. Memories invaded his mind as he was overcome with a familiar feeling that hadn't been felt for years. He had to tell her. He had to find out what was going on. He cleared his voice nervously wondering what would come out.
"You were right." Pacey paused, "I was avoiding you before."
Andie pulled away slightly so that she could look up at him. She nodded, looking into his eyes. She placed a hand over his cheek.
"Why?" Her voice was soft and silent.
Putting his hand over hers, Pacey closed his eyes as he revelled in the warmth and flutter that the touch of her skin had on his.
"I.I.don't really know." he swallowed. "I think that I was scared."
Andie nodded, communicating to him that she knew what he meant. He saw in her eyes an understanding that caused his heart to leap. She had felt a similar feeling.
She placed her head back on his chest causing Pacey's whole body to be affected by her. He could feel her with every single one of his senses. He felt suffocated by her essence and their breathing became as one. Pacey leaned his head down so that his chin rested on her bare shoulder, causing Andie's stomach to do summersaults. She loved the feeling of Pacey's strong arms around her. She could easily surrender herself to his masculine strength that surrounded and over powered her. Nuzzling her neck, Pacey couldn't take the sweet torture of holding her any longer. He brought his mouth close to her ear and lowered his voice to a whisper.
"Please tell me you feel it too?" he pleaded desperately.
She shivered as his breath tickled her ear.
"Yes." she whispered breathlessly.
Pacey gasped in relief and Andie's knees almost buckled as he brought his mouth to her neck and placed a single kiss on it tenderly.
He brought his head back up and looked down at her, their eyes locked instantly. Unable to keep his hands away from her face, he caressed her cheek with his thumb. She trembled and closed her eyes as he brought his lips to her forehead tenderly kissing her like he always used to.
"Yeah, why not. I'm getting a little sick of her." Dawson joked lightly.
Joey hit him on the shoulder "Already? You aint seen nothing yet!" she warned.
"Oh really?" Dawson leaned in to her, his eyes dancing in front of hers.
"Really" She leaned in and stole a kiss from him.
Pacey rolled his eyes and grabbed Joey's arm.
"You have all night for that; you're dancing with me now Potter!"
Dawson and Joey laughed as Pacey pulled Joey away.
"Don't miss me too much" Joey called to Dawson.
"I didn't think you two could get any worse" Pacey pulled her into his arms as they reached the dance floor.
"Well you were wrong" Joey's face beamed up at him.
After dancing silently for a few moments Pacey looked down into her smiling face.
"So how's married life Potter?" he asked jovially.
"That's Leery to you"
"You'll always be Potter to me"
She grinned.
"It's amazing. You should try it sometime."
Pacey sighed.
"I'd love to, but at the rate I'm going, it's not happening anytime soon. Do you realise that my last long term relationship was with Audrey? What does that say about me?" Joey shook her head at Pacey's self-deprecation.
"You know, you're only difficulty is finding a woman good enough to deserve *you*. And I know that it will happen one day because you're too special not to find happiness."
Pacey looked down at the sincerity on her face, touched by the intensity of her words.
"I love you, you know that?" He told her smiling warmly.
"Yup" She answered cheekily, "How could anyone not?" He laughed and kissed her forehead, noticing Dawson lead Andie on to the dance floor.
Joey followed his gaze and smiled to herself. She recognised the look on his face. It was one of intrigue and captivation. Jen had mentioned something to her earlier about some old sparks being ignited, and now it became clearer to her.
"So it's great to have Andie back isn't it?"
Pacey tore his eyes away from their focus and settled back on Joey.
"Yeah it is" he agreed. "The old gang back together again"
"It's been a while"
"Too long" Pacey nodded.
"Well we just saw Andie over the summer, but you can't have seen her for years" Joey exclaimed.
"5 years"
"Wow"
There was a few moments silence and Pacey's stare found its way back in Andie's direction. He couldn't help it. It was as if she possessed some sort of magnetic force that bound him to her.
"Seeing her has caused quite a stir hasn't it Pace?"
Pacey rolled his eyes.
"Not you as well"
"Well it is kind of obvious"
"Not to me it isn't"
"You're practically drooling" Joey answered him flatly.
Pacey sighed.
"I don't know Joey. I don't know what's happening"
She waited for him to continue.
"As soon as I saw her, it was like everything that's happened in the last 7 years vanished and I was back to being 16 again, and I don't know what that means."
"Well" Joey said decisively pulling away and grabbing his hand "Why don't you go and find out."
"What are you doing?" Pacey hissed as she dragged him to where Dawson and Andie were dancing. She tapped Dawson on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but would it be ok to have my husband back?" She asked Andie casting a conspiratory glance Pacey's way.
"We've only been married for a couple of hours and she's already getting possessive" Dawson joked.
"You are treading on thin ice Mister Leery" Joey pulled him into her arms.
"Then I better make up for it, Mrs Leery" He kissed her and they danced off oblivious of everything except each other. Pacey chuckled to himself shaking his head at Joey's contrivance as he and Andie stood next to each other in the middle of the dance floor.
Andie looked at Pacey awkwardly.
"Well it appears that we have been usurped." She smiled at him trying to make conversation.
He chuckled again.
"That it would." He replied gaining courage and finally turning to her.
"May I have this dance, Miss Mcphee?" He bowed echoing an action he had performed before, in a time less complicated.
"I thought you'd never ask Witter." She took his outstretched hand, accepting his offer and moving into his arms.
Joey shot Pacey a thumbs up sign from across the dance floor as Pacey shook his head at her.
They danced in silence, getting used to being in each others arms once again, waiting until the awkwardness passed into familiarity.
"So" Pacey began, clearing his throat and breaking the silence. "We haven't had a chance to catch up yet."
"That may be because you've been avoiding me." Andie answered him candidly.
Pacey creased his forehead in an attempt to feign confusion.
"Why would I avoid you Andie?" He questioned her ashamed at being caught out.
"That's what I would like to know." she answered feeling slightly stupid all of a sudden.
Pacey quickly changed the subject feeling bad for making her paranoid.
"So tell me how you've been?" Andie laughed at the generality of the question.
"How I've been?" she smirked "Erm.not bad." She answered just as vaguely.
"You still work at the clinic?"
"Yup, I do counselling for the English speakers. It's quite ironic really, crazy Andie Mcphee counselling others into insanity."
Pacey shook his head "On the contrary your own experience of combating your problems makes you an inspirational example." His voice was soft as he looked straight into her eyes, scorching her with his stare. She looked down smiling slightly as her cheeks tinted red. She cleared her throat ready to change the subject.
"So erm.what about you? I still can't believe that YOU can cook!"
"Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it."
"It must be another one of your many talents." Her light voice floated, tickling the insides of his ears. He grinned down at her and winked.
"Just one of many."
She had to look away again, she couldn't take any more. His steady stare caused her cheeks to instantly blush every time she looked into his eyes.
"Well, I guess I'll have to come along to the restaurant and sample some of your talent."
"Or I'll give you a private viewing."
"I like the sound of that." She flirted lightly wondering where her bravado was coming from.
His heart jumped as she responded to his banter, remembering how well they meshed and bounced off each other.
"So have you set yourself up in Italy for good?"
"I don't know." she creased her forehead "It's different now I'm not at college."
"In what way?"
"Well, all the friends I made at college live in different parts of the country and I don't really get to see many of them. I have to admit that it's been a little lonely recently."
"So come home."
Andie shook her head.
"It's not as simple as that."
"Why not?"
"You won't understand."
"Try me."
She sighed. "The last five years in Italy have been a breeze compared to the rest of my life. No family drama, no brothers have died, no mothers have gone crazy, or fathers run away, no major heart breaks have torn me apart," She looked away from his eyes "And no pills have been popped."
Pacey listened to her, reminded of her old fears. He remembered the time when she desperately went to see the fortune teller, needing to know that everything was going to be okay. He was reminded of her fragility and was overcome with a need to protect her.
"It's been so liberating. I don't have any problems in Italy."
"Andie, all those things, they're still there." He paused watching this register on her face.
"What I mean is, being in Italy means that you can run away from them for the moment, but if you really open your eyes you'll see that they're still there-"
"But they're not in Italy."
"But they are a part of you."
She sighed knowing that he was right.
"And I think that you'll find that all those things have actually become a lot easier to live with now. I mean look how strong and independent you've become." He lifted up his hand and brushed the stray strands of hair that had obstructed her eyes. She stared up at him and their eyes locked.
"You are now equipped to come back and face your life head on."
His hand lingered, lightly tickling her cheek causing her insides to dance. Suddenly aware of his forwardness, Pacey brought his hand back down to rest behind her back, clearing his throat and looking down in embarassment.
She blushed looking away from him again, still feeling the effect that his touch had on her face. She had become a lot more independent and she had noticed the strength she had gained through her independence. They danced silently again, each mulling over what he had said.
They swayed in unison, the awkwardnss with which they had begun, completely waning as they settled into a comfortable rhythm remembering a time where this was the most natural feeling in the world. Feeling a lot more relaxed, Andie gravitated closer to Pacey's welcoming embrace, pulling her hand out of his grasp and putting it around his neck. Smiling down at her, Pacey placed his arms around her back and tightened his grip, pulling her closer to him so that she leaned her head against his chest. He sucked in his breath as he looked down at her resting on him. It was all he could do to stop himself from kissing her forehead and getting lost in the scent of her hair. Memories invaded his mind as he was overcome with a familiar feeling that hadn't been felt for years. He had to tell her. He had to find out what was going on. He cleared his voice nervously wondering what would come out.
"You were right." Pacey paused, "I was avoiding you before."
Andie pulled away slightly so that she could look up at him. She nodded, looking into his eyes. She placed a hand over his cheek.
"Why?" Her voice was soft and silent.
Putting his hand over hers, Pacey closed his eyes as he revelled in the warmth and flutter that the touch of her skin had on his.
"I.I.don't really know." he swallowed. "I think that I was scared."
Andie nodded, communicating to him that she knew what he meant. He saw in her eyes an understanding that caused his heart to leap. She had felt a similar feeling.
She placed her head back on his chest causing Pacey's whole body to be affected by her. He could feel her with every single one of his senses. He felt suffocated by her essence and their breathing became as one. Pacey leaned his head down so that his chin rested on her bare shoulder, causing Andie's stomach to do summersaults. She loved the feeling of Pacey's strong arms around her. She could easily surrender herself to his masculine strength that surrounded and over powered her. Nuzzling her neck, Pacey couldn't take the sweet torture of holding her any longer. He brought his mouth close to her ear and lowered his voice to a whisper.
"Please tell me you feel it too?" he pleaded desperately.
She shivered as his breath tickled her ear.
"Yes." she whispered breathlessly.
Pacey gasped in relief and Andie's knees almost buckled as he brought his mouth to her neck and placed a single kiss on it tenderly.
He brought his head back up and looked down at her, their eyes locked instantly. Unable to keep his hands away from her face, he caressed her cheek with his thumb. She trembled and closed her eyes as he brought his lips to her forehead tenderly kissing her like he always used to.