A/N: Aw....wasn't that a sweet P/J moment for all you P/Jer? Hah! But guess what? It doesn't mean that Joey has made her choice between Mr. Witter and Mr. Leery yet. There's quite a bit more to come, so, stay tuned.
Ch 5
It was early morning and Joey Potter had woken up with a start. After her talk with Pacey last night Joey hadn't the heart to talk to Chris. Sometime that day though, she would have to break the news to him before he left for China. A good two years of her life after she returned from Paris and got settled into her job as book editor at Random House in New York, Chris had been a main factor in her life. She had loved him at some point in time, but not like she had loved either Pacey or Dawson. Those two were always on her mind.
Climbing out of bed Joey already heard the laughs of her nephew and Dawson's little sister Lily Leery. Opening the door and heading towards the kitchen Joey saw the two kids seated outside on the rap around porch. Entering the kitchen she saw Andie, Jen, Grams, Gale Leery, Chris, Bessie, Bodie and a man she suspected was Gale's fiancé Tom. "Good Morning Josephine," Grams greeted Joey.
"Good morning," Joey smiled warmly at Jen's grandmother and then at the rest of the room.
"So, Joe, are you planning on taking Chris out for a tour or can I steal him?" Jen wondered. Laughs circled the room and Joey shifted uncomfortable in her place. Pacey's words from the night before echoed through her head as she stared at the happy face of her boyfriend. If only he knew...
"Sorry Jen, but I'm giving the tour today," Joey managed to grin, "Why don't we get started now? We can get something to eat around town?"
"Why don't you take Alex and Lily out with you?" Gale suggested, "Those two could use some walking around." Joey sighed but nodded. Alex and Lily were mostly well behaved.
"I wish I could come," Jen sighed, "But I've got plans with Andie and Jackers."
"It's okay," Joey locked eyes with her friend. Somehow she knew Jen understood what Joey was going to do because she just nodded.
A while later they were strolling by the Cape Yacht Club. Alexander and Lily were a little ahead of them, Alex holding Lily's hand protectively. Although there were three years apart the two were as close as thieves. Joey slowed her pace a little. "Alex, Lil, stay where I can see you. We're stopping for a second," Joey called out. Then, she turned to Chris.
"What's wrong?" Chris wondered. Joey knew he could tell something was wrong.
"Chris, I realized something yesterday," Joey began, "I can't spend the rest of my life with you." Chris had a confused look, but realization dawned.
"You saw the ring?" he inquired.
"Yeah," Joey nodded, "And I was happy at first but then I didn't know whether I loved you enough to marry you and, someone helped me realize that if I did really love you there would be no doubt that I wanted to marry you."
"But there was doubt," Chris sighed, "Thank you Joey, for telling me this. I wish it weren't true, but I can understand."
"Goodbye Chris," Joey smiled slightly.
"Goodbye Josephine," Chris kissed her lightly on the lips before walking away. Joey watched him go and then joined the kids she was sad, but she felt that a huge wait had been lifted.
Jen scooped up her daughter as she, Jack and Andie left the restaurant. Although the two women had eaten a small breakfast at the B and B they hadn't been able to refuse Jack's offer to buy them breakfast at a nearby restaurant before her headed to class for the day.
They stood outside a minute or so, finishing their discussion. The scamper of little feet approached them and Jen turned to see Lily and Alexander running towards them. "I won!" Lily jumped triumphantly as they reached the three adults. Joey was not far behind, a sad but relieved look on her face. Jen handed a whining Madison over to Jack and walked swiftly over to her friend, Andie en suite.
"I did it," Joey sighed. Sadness infiltrated her voice, "I mean, I didn't love him and I couldn't continue being with him."
"It's okay Joe," Jen comforted, "You were with him for two years, it's normal to be sad."
"Is it normal to be relieved?" Joey wondered, looking up, "I mean I was never relieved before with Dawson or Pacey or Eddie or even Charlie, but I'm relieved."
"It's normal," Jen confirmed "Now that Chris is gone you have one less person to worry about hurting."
"Two more to go," Joey mumbled miserably, "Why does it always seem to come back to this triangle we tried to put to rest last time we were here?"
"It's got some kind of gravitation pull on you three," Andie spoke up, "No matter how hard you try it always comes back to either Dawson or Pacey. Want to or not, this time you're going to have to choose."
"Fine," Joey pouted.
"Come on Joe, cheer up," Jen enthused, "You don't have to pick now and anyway, when you finally put this triangle to rest, it won't be with your mind. You're going to involuntarily choose which one you love. You can't just flip a coin or spin the bottle. When you least expect it you're going to know."
"The last time I made the wrong decision," Joey moaned, "I picked Dawson when I really wanted Pacey."
"No, you picked Dawson because he made you," Jen corrected, "Joe, I've heard every angle of this story and Dawson gave you an ultimatum. He forced you to choose him and then let you go. He had control over the situation. Now, you do"
"Sorry to interrupt..." Jack stepped in, "But first, Jen's right and second I need to go." Jack handed Madison to Joey who held out her arms for her. Jack gave all three women a quick kiss. "Be good," he warned and then to Alex and Lily he said, "Keep an eye on them." The two kids nodded enthusiastically.
"Shouldn't it be the other way around?" Joey quizzed. Her companions shrugged as Andie and Jen each took the hand of one of the youngsters and walked away from the restaurant.
"So, where do you kids want to go?" Andie asked Lily and Alex.
"The park, the park!" both shouted, grinning. Joey rolled her eyes, shifting Madison in her arms and turned in the direction of the park. It was going to be a long day.
Pacey Witter had opened early that morning even after the long night he had endured. Although the Ice House was a relatively fancy restaurant it still served breakfast and lunch to the hungry Capeside citizens. Pacey prided himself on his food. Staring out the window he watched bustles of people passing by and caught sight of three women he knew very well. Excusing himself Pacey sprinted out of the restaurant to join them.
"Small town," Pacey whispered into Jen's ear. Surprised Jen jumped, but realizing it was just Pacey she hit him playfully, suppressing a grin.
"Stalking us now are you?" Joey inquired.
"You never know," Pacey winked mischievously. Madison, who had her head buried in Joey shoulder, now turned her head to see Pacey. Her mouth formed and 'o' as she held out her arms.
"Pacey! Pacey!" she chanted, "I want! I want Pacey!" Joey looked at the two year old who had a brilliant smile on her face as she talked. She knew exactly what she wanted, when she wanted it. Joey envied her.
"You've corrupted her already!" Joey protested handing the two year old over to Pacey.
"What can I say, the kid loves me," Pacey grinned, "After saying mommy, Jack, and Grams she started calling for me."
"Fourth, Pacey you're losing you touch with the ladies," Joey smiled, "Anyway, shouldn't you be working?"
"What and miss out on spending the morning with my favourite ladies?" Pacey cracked, "I don't think so."
"Hey!" Alexander spoke up from where he still held Andie's hand.
"Ah, sorry little man," Pacey apologized. The eight year old shrugged.
"So, Pace looks like we've just strung you into coming on our little excursion to the park," Jen mentioned as they continued to walk, "After all unless Jack decides to show up you're stuck with Maddy."
"No objection," Pacey smiled at the two year old in his arms. Joey glanced over at Pacey, watching how happy and at ease he seemed holding Jen's kid.
When Dawson Leery had woken up the house had been silent. It was a first since his mother's preparation for the wedding kicked in full blast. Rubbing his eyes and getting up Dawson headed down the stairs. Empty.
He was all alone. For the first time in a long time Dawson Leery was completely alone. He considered going back over to the Potter B and B and catching up with Joey, but opted against it. When she and Pacey had returned from outside last night Joey hadn't seemed in a good mood. Somehow Dawson felt that hadn't changed this morning.
After eating breakfast Dawson pulled out his scripts for the next few episodes of The Creek, his pride and joy. It had been running high on The WB since in premiered and the actors and he had just signed on for another three seasons. He was surprised and ecstatic by its success.
Finally, after what seemed like hours of reading and editing Gale and Tom returned from wherever they had been for the majority of the morning. Looking up from his computer Dawson smiled at his mother and her fiancée, but something was missing. "Where's Lily?" Dawson wondered noticing his little sister was not with them.
"Oh, Joey and her boyfriend took Lily and Alexander out," Gale informed him, "But he came home and left after a while and said Joey was still out with them. I think something happened with them." Dawson perked up slightly. Could it be that Joey had broken up with him? Of course, he did have a girlfriend. Katherine was wonderful. She hadn't been able to fly down for the wedding but she promised she would try before Gale and Tom left on their honeymoon.
"Are Andie and Jen still at the B and B?" Dawson wondered. He didn't want to stay in the house any longer.
Gale shook her head, "No, they went for breakfast with Jack. I think they were going shopping afterwards." Dawson sighed. Maybe he could run by the restaurant and see Pacey. He wanted to talk about Joey with him anyway and what her appearance in Capeside meant to him. Somehow Dawson managed to wish it didn't mean anything although he knew the truth.
"I'm going out," Dawson announced, "I'll be back later." Gale and Tom nodded their consent.
To his surprise Pacey Witter was no where to be found at the Ice House. One of the morning waiters had been kind enough to inform him that Pacey had left in a hurry a half hour earlier. Dawson sighed. So much for 'the talk' and it seemed that all of his friends were out doing somewhat better things than he was.
Andie McPhee sat next to Jen on a bench at the park. Pacey was with Madison at the swings and Joey making sure Alexander and Lily didn't kill themselves on the jungle gym. Tons of little kids were running around as most of the parents sat on the sidelines watching from a distance. Andie couldn't help but notice how Joey and Pacey stuck out in the crowd, each looking like concerned, loving parent. "They'll make great parents one day," Jen read her mind.
"Yeah," Andie nodded distantly.
"Andie, you still love Pacey don't you?" Jen wondered watching her friend, concerned.
"I didn't think so," Andie admitted, "But being here, seeing him again. I just wish that things had turned out differently for us. That..."
"That he hadn't fallen in love with Joey Potter?" Jen interjected, "That he hadn't jumped into his place in between Dawson and Joey? That she didn't fall in love with him?"
"When we ran into Joey at the restaurant this morning," Andie sighed, "And I told her that she had to choose my mind was screaming to add, please don't let it be Pacey."
"But you didn't," Jen put a caring arm around her friend, "You kept yourself from jumping into an already complicated situation. I hate to say it Andie, but Pacey loves Joey more than anyone will know. He would do anything for that girl; even give her up to Dawson."
"You don't think Dawson would do the same thing?" Andie questioned, "He did last time."
"No," Jen confessed, "I love Dawson with all my heart, but I don't think he would do it this time. I don't think he could. Whereas Pacey, he let Joey go twice and although it might take all of his will power he'd do it again if it meant she'd be happy."
Andie raised and inquisitive eyebrow, "Twice?"
"They were getting back together before the whole money ordeal," Jen explained, "No one knew about it, but eventually Joey told me. They had gotten locked in a K-Mart and Joey had been pissed off at him but eventually they made the best out of it. Anyway, after Joey convinced Pacey to shave off his little beard he admitted he still loved her and all that. She ended up working for him and going to this school dance that she was supervising but Eddie had come back. Joey was in love with Eddie or something and Pacey let her go. Eddie left though; he went to Europe, he wanted Joey to come but it ended up he left her."
"The others don't know, do they?" Andie enquired.
"No, they never told them," Jen shook her head, "Joey ended up telling me one night on the phone. She had called me, upset and ended up discussing Dawson and Pacey."
During the story the laughter seemed to have ceased and the birds and sunlight to disappear. Now, as Andie looked back over to where Pacey was she noticed that Joey had joined him. Alex and Lily were on the big kid swing next to the baby swings and the two were talking as Pacey pushed Madison back and forth. From a distance Andie saw that they weren't bickering, but having an actual conversation. Which was rare as far as Andie knew.
Joey Potter smiled at Pacey as they talked. It was one of those rare moments that they were getting along and there was no sadness involved. No heart break or misery. Alexander and Lily were giggling at the swings nearby each trying to get higher on the swing than the other. Joey hated to break to moment but she needed to know something. "Pace," she muttered.
"Hmm?" Pacey turned away from Madison to face her.
"Are you still going to be my date to the wedding?" Joey asked.
"I don't know Joe," Pacey declared, "I mean, I though about it a lot and it might not be such a great idea. What with it being Dawson's mother's wedding and all. Do you still want me to be?"
Joey paused before speaking. Did she want Pacey to be her date? Then, she remembered what Jen had told her that her choice would be made with her heart. So, going to this wedding with Pacey would not mean that she had chosen. "Yeah, I do," Joey nodded.
"Alright," Pacey smiled, "What time shall I pick you up?"
"In time," Joey stated. Pacey laughed took Madison out of the swing.
"I better get back to work," he announced, "I've been gone too long. Hopefully no one had set fire to the Ice House in my absence."
"Hopefully," Joey nodded, a flicker of sadness danced in her eyes as she remembered the tragic demise of the first Ice House. Pacey kissed her quickly on the forehead, handing Madison to her before sprinting off to say goodbye to Jen and Andie. Joey looked down at Jen's daughter whose blue eyes glistened as she watched Pacey go away.
"Pa-cey," the two year old whined, "Want Pacey! Want J-ack!"
"Sorry babe," Jen joined Joey by the swings, "But you're stuck with us." Joey handed the girl to her mother.
"How about we bring those two brats back to their mothers and this one to Grams?" Jen questioned, "And then we can have ourselves that little reunion we missed two years ago?"
"Sounds like a plan," Andie agreed and Joey nodded as well. The three women gathered up Lily and Alexander and walked home. All the while Joey thinking about the past.
