A/N: Alright, well, I'm going to bring Jen and Dawson into the story in this chapter and introduce Madison. Also there's going to be some more focus on Pacey and Jen now as well as Joey, Jack and some Dawson.
Ch 2
As soon as lunch was finished Jack excused himself to head back to the High School. He had two more classes in the day to get through. Joey sighed. The meal had been more than she expected. Pacey had known exactly what to serve her, which surprised Joey in a way but also made her feel special, loved. The lunch crowd, if it could be called that, had come and gone and consisted of the very few business men and women in Capeside. Joey prepared to leave and continue on her self-tour of Capeside when Pacey joined her at the booth. "So, what do you think?" he asked.
"I think this is my favourite spot in this whole place," Joey replied, "Brings back good memories."
"Mine too," Pacey admitted, "This was the first table I put in here. Originally I was going to have the whole restaurant with these, but it would've been too expensive. Either way, this booth is special. I couldn't rip it out and it just so happens that this is the most sought after table in the whole restaurant."
"I understand why," Joey told him, she paused before speaking again, changing the subject "If you had asked me back six years ago if I thought you would own a restaurant, I would have laughed."
"I'm head chef too," Pacey added conceitedly and Joey laughed.
"Pace, you already got my attention," Joey thought a moment, "What made you want to open the restaurant anyway?"
"I remembered how happy I was when I worked as a chef," Pacey explained, "Cooking was the only thing that helped me take my mind off of you..." An awkward moment passed between the two then and Pacey glanced at his watch.
"Let me guess...." Joey began, "You got to pick up Dawson at the airport?"
"Yeah," Pacey nodded, "And Andie. She was in LA and is flying in him. It's her little surprise to Jack."
"You're going to miss your after-school friends," Joey couldn't resist adding that as Pacey began walking away.
"How...how do you know about them?" Pacey stumbled on his words.
"Well, I sat through one of Jack's classes," Joey informed him, "At the end this girl, Kate, came up to me to tell me that she's heard about me."
"Well what can I say? They just love to hear about Capeside's own stripper extraordinaire," Pacey joked. Joey glared at him. They had all heard about Dawson's first attempt at writing his film. It had ended up being a movie about a stripper called Sunset. Pacey walked back over to the table and smirked.
"Seriously Pace," Joey stood up now, "What led you to become the confidante of those teens?"
Pacey shrugged, "They ended up once too many in Dougie's police car at twelve. I just didn't want what happened to me to happen to them."
"And what happened to you Pace?" Joey raised and eyebrow, "You seemed to have turned out fine."
"Joe, I barely graduated from High School, I was a slack and I lost the girl," Pacey pointed out, "To top it all off just when I was getting my friendships back I ended up homeless and poor, crushing my best friends dreams. Even now I'm barely able to make rent all the time."
"You didn't turn out all that bad," Joey shrugged, "All that stuff just made you the man you are today. "
"And how do you know I'm a good man?" Pacey wondered, "You've been gone four years."
"I just know," Joey smiled sadly. Pacey was right, she had been gone four years and now she almost regretted it.
"Anyway, by the time I get back from picking up D and Andie the kids will be out of school," Pacey mentioned, "Want to come with?" Joey shook her head slowly. "Alright, then I'll let them know you said hi."
"Don't," Joey said.
"Why?" Pacey asked.
"Let's surprise them," Joey said quickly, and then without thinking added, "Do you have a date to the wedding yet?"
"No..." Pacey trailed off not wanted to spoil Joey asking him to be her date.
"Well, neither do I," Joey began, "Would you like to accompany me Pace?"
"I'd love to," Pacey winked, "Why don't you come back later? I'm sure Kate will have told the others of your appearance I think they'll enjoy your side of our adventures."
"I can't believe fifteen year old teens are interested in our lives," Joey sighed.
"You'd be surprised," Pacey said before disappearing out the door of the restaurant. Joey watched him go with a slight flutter in the pit of her stomach. She had just set up a date with Pacey. Thoughts of Chris entered her mind, but she shook them off, she needed to be here to know whether or not she and Chris were meant to be. So, a date with Pacey was called for.
Dawson. Joey remembered now that it was his mother's wedding. That she would be showing up to Gale Leery's wedding with Pacey Witter. How that would affect Dawson, Joey wasn't sure, but then again Dawson did after all have a girlfriend. Yet, Joey couldn't help feel slightly guilty. Part of her found herself wanted to forget Dawson and go with Pacey but the guilty conscience was just as strong.
Joey trudged out of the restaurant and headed back towards the B and B. Saturday she would be seeing Dawson again as Pacey's date to his mother's remarriage. All of a sudden this didn't sound like a great idea.
Pacey Witter drove towards the airport. His thoughts were all on Joey Potter. She was back. For weeks he had been wishing she would come, though he had convinced himself she wouldn't, but she was here. Pacey was amazed by how Joey Potter still managed to surprise him even after all these years. As he reached the airport Pacey remembered Dawson.
Dawson Leery was his childhood best friend, his blood brother. His relationship with Joey Potter had once torn them apart but they had managed to mend things years later, with her help of course and now Saturday she was going to be his date to the Leery event of the year, Gale Leery's remarriage to another man. Although Dawson had a girlfriend Pacey knew he still loved Joey. Seeing her again would only strengthen those feelings, it had for Pacey anyway.
Pacey parked the car and sprinted across the street into the airport where he spotted Andie McPhee and Dawson looking around desperately, searching for him. Pacey waved and Andie squealed and ran towards him. Pacey embraced his ex-girlfriend and wondered what she had been up to the past few years. It had been so long since they had seen each other. When they pulled apart Dawson and Pacey shook hands. "So McPhee you decided to show?" Pacey wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Well it's not everyday I get the chance to see my old friends again," Andie responded, smiling.
"Speaking of which," Dawson spoke up as they exited the airport, "Have we heard from Joey yet?"
"Nope," Pacey lied, "As far as we know she's still coming. But since we're talking of the wedding, am I still allowed to bring a date?"
"Yeah, sure. It's not that woman you've been seeing right?" Dawson quizzed, "The affair woman."
"Pacey's having an affair?" Andie looked up now as they crossed the street, some what surprised by this news.
"Pacey was," Pacey corrected, "She broke it off. It's this other girl I ran into today."
"Does this girl have a name?" Andie speculated curiosity rang through her voice. Pacey listened intently for signs of anything else in her tone, anything that would lead him to believe that she might still have feelings for him even the slightest bit. Pacey hadn't realized that she had still loved him when he and Joey got together. He knew Andie had been hurt by that greatly.
"She does," Pacey smirked, "But she'll remain nameless until the wedding." Dawson and Andie shared a look as they reached Pacey's car. Pacey popped the trunk for them to place their bags and then entered the car. Dawson rode shotgun while Andie got comfortable in the back. "So, where to?" Pacey shifted in his seat so he could see both his friends.
"I'm staying at the B and B," Andie mentioned. Pacey froze. Joey would be there and their little surprise just might be ruined.
"Alright then," Pacey nodded, "I'll drop you off and then swing around to the Leery's place for you Dawson. Is that all right?"
"Actually..." Andie leaned forward in her seat excitedly, "I wanted to see the restaurant."
"Why don't you wait 'till tomorrow?" Pacey suggested, "When Jen gets here we're having our own little private gathering." Andie pouted, but agreed after a minute of so.
They arrived at the B and B and the three friends got out of the car. Pacey looked towards the house, half-hoping that Joey was in there. He knew that if he brought Joey to the wedding it would hurt Dawson more than one would think. He kicked himself for not thinking of that little bit sooner. Taking Andie's suitcase they headed up the porch steps, into the house.
As soon as they entered the B and B they were greeted by Bessie Potter who smiled brightly at them. "Hey guy!" she exclaimed, "Andie, you'll be staying in room 3."
"Thanks Bessie," Andie grinned and led Pacey off to her room. Dawson remained in the entrance with Bessie chatting idly. Pacey strained to hear the conversation, trying to pick up on whether or not they mention Joey. As they continued to Andie's room Pacey noticed that the door to Joey's old room was ajar. Peaking in, he caught sight of her suitcase. No Joey in sight.
When they got to Andie's room Pacey dropped Andie's suitcase on the floor and looked around. Andie dragged her bag over to the bureau beside the bed and turned towards Pacey, a serious look on her face. "I've waited too long to come back," Andie confided, "Everybody's changed so much and I was never able to really be a part of that. You guys were my closest friends and I lost touch."
"Andie," Pacey went over to hug her, "The phone goes two ways. We never called you either after you moved back to the States. And our e-mails ceased because I lost my money and computer."
"Well, I'm back now," Andie smiled slightly, "I'm glad too. I've missed you Pace."
"Me too, me too," Pacey kissed Andie's forehead lightly. Andie decided to get aquatinted with her room and Pacey returned to where Bessie and Dawson were still chatting. An eight year old Alexander barged into the room interrupting them followed by a laughing Joey Potter. The room froze as she entered and noticing both Pacey and Dawson standing there. Joey did too.
Joey couldn't believe her eyes Dawson Leery was standing in front of her. Glancing at Pacey she realized he hadn't brought Dawson here intentionally, there was some other reason. Joey stood in silence she didn't know what to say. Bessie looked confusedly between the three friends before breaking the silence, "Pacey didn't tell you Joey was home?"
"You knew?" Dawson turned to Pacey, who in return nodded.
"We wanted it to be a surprise," he stated, "She came in today; Jack brought her by the restaurant."
"The mystery date," Dawson mumbled almost inaudibly before turning to Joey, "Well, I'm glad you're here Joe."
"Me too," Joey managed to smile, "What are you guys doing here anyway?"
"They were dropping me off," a new voice joined the group and Joey looked passed Pacey to see Andie. This time Joey managed to smile widely for her other friend.
"Andie!" she made her way over to the other girl and hugged her tightly, "It's been so long!"
"I know," Andie said sadly, "Too long."
"Oh, Andie forget that," Joey picked up on her mood, "It's so great to see you again."
"Hate to break this up but I got to head over to the restaurant," Pacey put in, "Dawson, man, I'll drive you home first. Joe, are you still coming with me?" Pacey hated to mention it now after all this, but he had to. He saw that Joey wasn't too pleased about his mention of it either.
"Yeah," Joey nodded, "I need to set the story straight with those kids."
"Kids?" Andie wondered.
"When I ran into Jack at the high school I sat in through one of his classes," Joey explained, "One of his students came up to tell me that they've heard of me through Mr. Witter over there. Apparently Pacey's been spreading rumours throughout the younger Capeside community."
"You saw Jackers?" Andie wondered, "How is her?"
"Good," Joey replied. She knew her friend hadn't seen her brother in quite some time. What with her being in Italy and all, "He's got a soft spot for that kid of Jen's. You know about Madison right?"
"Yeah," Andie nodded, "Jen sent me the birth announcement. I can't wait to meet her."
"Same here," Dawson and Joey chimed. Only Pacey and Jack had managed to meet the famed two year old girl of Jen's. Joey knew for a fact that Dawson had been too busy with shooting of his show in LA to fly down and Jen neither could drive down to LA nor fly with Madison. So, their first meeting would be tomorrow.
"If I remember correctly we're supposed to be leaving," Pacey put in, "Andie, you need to go anywhere?"
"Yeah," she nodded, "Can you drop me off at the High School? I need to pop in on Jack." Pacey nodded and the four headed back to Pacey's car.
Jen Lindley sighed exasperated as she exited her daughter's room. She had just spent two hours trying to get Madison to sleep. Being a single mother had never been what Jen planned, but having Madison was wonderful, especially with everything happening in Jen's life. Madison was the light of her life. She couldn't wait to get to Capeside to see Jack, Pacey, and Dawson and maybe even Joey again.
Jen headed into the kitchen of her and Grams' house in Soho. She poured herself a glass of water and walked to the bathroom. Opening the medicine cabinet she pulled out a small orange bottle with her name on the prescription paper and opened it carefully pouring two tiny tablets into her shaking hand before popping them into her mouth. "Momma," a small voice squeaked from the bathroom door. Jen turned to see her two an a half year old daughter standing there. Jen sighed and went over to pick her up and carry her back to her room. Tomorrow she would be back in Capeside. The first real home she had ever known. Tomorrow she had to find some way to tell Jack and the others of her condition.
