Love Is A Verb

A/N: For the sake of this story I am ignoring the last 4 episodes of Season 6 as they pertain to Pacey and Joey. All that happened between Dawson and Joey, Joey and Eddie..and so on and so forth still stands though. In my mind the last time Joey and Pacey saw each other was when they danced together and he walked away from her in "Love Bites." Everyone confused? All then let's go! PS Thanks to my sister, LaneWolf, for helping my put the idea to paper.

Chapter 2: Young At Heart

The small town looked so much the same Joey thought as she pulled her new Mercedes M Class into a space across from Lerry's Fresh Fish. She looked left and right before she crossed the street to look in the windows of the resturaunt. "Joey?" She heard her name called bhind her and turned. Gayle Leery stood beside a stunning ten year old version of herself.

"Gayle!" Joey said surprised.

"Wow, it's been so long."

"I know, too long. This is Lily?" The young woman nodded quietly.

"It is. She's grown up a good bit since you saw her last. I read your book, Joey."

The smile on Joey's face faded quickly. "I-- it was, uh, I mean I didn't mean--"

"It was beautiful." Gayle smiled at the flustered younger woman. "I know Dawson thought so too. He's still in LA—working on a movie with Spielberg." The proud mother looked off into the cloudless blue sky. "His dream come true."

"That's wonderful, Gayle." Joey started then spotted the pot along Main Street that had held the hobby shop for so long. Now it was a combination Toy store and old fashioned soda fountain. She looked at the vibrantly colored awning over the door and lingered somewhere between shocked and amused for about ten seconds. Young At Heart the white lettering read. "Pacey." Joey said as Gayle follwed her gaze.

"Yeah. It's pretty cool." Gayle said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

Joey didn't miss it. "Never got better?"

"No, honey. They still haven't spoken." Gayle sighed. "It's been hard on them both."

"I know." Joey whispered still staring at the bright awning.

"He's there today. We ate lunch there earlier." Gayle said. "You should go say hello." She suggested.

"I might." Joey nodded and squeezed Gayle's hand as she walked away. "Tell Dawson I said hi." Gayle nodded and Lily turned to give Joey's back a befuddled stare.



A tiny bell rang over Joey's head as she entered Young At Heart. Behind the counter of the soda fountain Pacey smiled at a snaggle-toothed little girl. "Thanks, Mr. Witter." She grinned.

"Don't tell your brother where you got that ice cream okay? I can't have that hooligan in here anymore."

"Sure." The little giggled as she jumped off the stoll setting her chestnut curls to boncing. "Hey!" she said to Joey as she ran out the front door. "I got ice cream, Dylan and you can't have anymore!" Joey turned to watch the sibling torture with a lopsided grin.

"Can I help you?" His familiar baritone asked.

"Hi, Pace." She said turning around to find the smile on his face gone.

"Joey." He nodded as he wiped ice cream residue from the marble countertop.

"Hey." She started a little too brightly. "It's good to see you. This--" She stopped to look around the store. "This is amazing, Pace."

"Thanks." He mumbled and looked up across his store. 'They say after you fall you always come back to what you love most."

"Ice cream and toys. It does remind me of the Pacey Witter I once knew."

"Yeah. Sweet and immature—that's still me." He sighed and looked her in the eye for the first time. "Even after 5 years."

"I know." she started still trying to keep her tone light. "It's been a long time."

"Yeah." He threw his polishing rag in the sink. "I seem to remember a dance and you breaking my heart."

"Yeah, I guess we're about even in that department."

"I guess, but somehow that part didn't make it into your book."

"Ah, I see. You didn't like Eric." She filled in the blanks regarding the character based on Pacey in her book.

"Ruggedly handsome is feckless and immature—no I liked him just fine. That you think of me that way—that I have trouble with considering you knew me better than anyone."

" Pace, everything was exaggereated. I took liberties with everyone. Even Dawson—I mean don't you think that James is just a little impractical and fanciful."

"Oh what nasty character traits." Pacey rolled his eyes. "I don't blame you, Jo." He shrugged. "I blame myself for thinking you of all people knew me better than that." He turned and walked toward the register. "The after school crowd'll be here soon." He said looking her in the eye again. "I've got a lot to get done before they come in."

"All right, Pace." She said slowly before she turned and walked out of the store. The jungling bell on the door sounded sad as she walked out.

Welcome home, Joey Potter. She thought with a heavy sigh.