BACK IN THE DAY

"Those are very good," he said, eyeing the thin potato slices that his apprentice had done. "Now throw them away and start on these!" He watched as the young man's face fell, a bag of truffles was placed in front of him. Pacey smirked slightly remembering the same lesson that Danny had taught him. Pacey was tough but fair, and all his employees respected and liked him. Though he owned a chain of restaurants, the Boston Icehouse was where he was the resident head chef.

"Come on!" he yelled across the kitchen, "the lunch rush will be on soon and prep work has to be finished!"

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Jen and Joey entered the restaurant and smiled at the maitre d', he led them to the table that Pacey had reserved for the three ladies. It was the best table in the house, looking out onto the bay. The restaurant itself was ultimately Pacey The décor was a bit kitsch, but it worked well. Joey wandered around the restaurant, while Jen ordered drinks at the bar. There were black and white pictures in wooden frames all over the walls, looking closely Joey recognised them as photos of the six of them. Pictures that Dawson had taken during his photographer phase, the girls sitting on the beach in their bikinis, True Love, the day Andie left Capeside, Jack and Jen, even Grams was on the wall.

One photo caught her attention and made her breath catch in her chest, it was a photo Dawson had given to her for Christmas many years ago, and a copy was here on the wall in Pacey's restaurant. The picture was larger than any of the other ones and seemed to be the central feature. It was a picture of Joey and Pacey. It had been taken in a split second, a shared moment that Dawson had caught on camera. They had been sitting on the steps to the B&B and Dawson had taking random photos, Joey had just turned round and caught Pacey's eye, they had looking at each other for a fleeting moment, but Dawson had caught it perfectly, the love and chemistry between them was apparent. She longed to kiss him, just one more time. Why had she stopped him yesterday?

A hand on her shoulder brought her back to the present. "Jo, Andie's here! Time for that girlie chat we should have had ages ago!" Joey turned round and rejoined her friends at the table; they chatted like they had never been apart, giggling wildly like schoolgirls.

"Well ladies, I hate to break this up, but your starters are ready. I have taken the liberty of ordering for all of you," said a voice behind them, "I think it is fair to say that I know you all well enough to do so."

The starters were delicious. Pacey had chosen the most perfect food for all of them. "So, Jen tell us all about Mike, how'd you meet him? He seems very nice." said Andie, a slight grin playing on her lips.

"He is very nice, I met him through work, he referred a patient to me and we just clicked. He asked me out to dinner that night and we have never looked back. I guess I've just been lucky, he is a diamond compared to some of the jerks I've dated! Not including Dawson, of course!" She laughed as she remembered some of the guys she'd been out with.

"What about you Jo? Anybody keeping your bed warm?" asked Andie, I wild twinkle in her eye.

"If you can recommend anyone, I'm open to offers!" smiled Joey, she looked over her shoulder and caught Pacey watching them, he was looking gorgeous. He had been working out it was obvious. Joey felt a light flutter thinking about him. She clicked back and listened to Jen and Andie talking about the twins.

"They are so adorable! I can't believe you've lost so much weight."

"God, I felt like I needed to be moved with a truck when I was pregnant with them, and the LA heat didn't help, especially with Dawson being so busy with the shoot."

"How long are you guys staying around?"

"Not much longer, I don't think Pacey will be able to cope with the four of us any longer! We're going down to Capeside to stay with Jack and Doug, you know and visit Gale and my Dad, then we'll fly back home. It'll be hectic, but it was worth it just to see you guys again."

Joey smiled, "I bet Lily will be looking forward to seeing you. I still haven't been to Capeside, I really should go and stay with Bess for a few days."

"Why don't you come with us? In fact, you are coming with us. I won't take no for an answer!"

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Joey pulled on the zip of her travel bag, surely she hadn't packed that much? Dawson would be here any minute; she checked her make up, pulled her hair up on top of her head and lugged her bag downstairs. Hearing a car pull up on the drive she absent-mindedly opened the door and headed back into the house to put on her shoes.

"Going somewhere Josephine?" Joey's blood froze in her veins, her heart was beating so hard in her chest that it hurt. She held her breath and slowly turned round. There standing in the door was a tall man with short dark hair. His silhouette was striking; he had broad shoulders and an athletic body, which was one of the things that had drawn Joey to him the first time she'd seen him. Now he was standing in her doorway, sunglasses on top of his head.

"Well, are you?" he almost shouted, the rage was building up inside him, Joey had seen it before and recognised the signs.

"J.j..just going home." she managed to mumble.

"Nice place you've got here. " he said looking around. He stepped into the house, leaving the door open behind him. "Why'd you do it Joey? I come home from work, and where are you? Gone, not a note, nothing. You stupid bitch!"

He walked towards her, Joey backed away towards the wall, she was shaking uncontrollably.

"Where you gonna go now, Joey?" he said laughing at her. He grabbed the top of her arms with a tight grip, his fingers digging into her flesh.

"I know where you live, Joey and if you say anything to anyone, I'm gonna make your life a living hell!"

She closed her eyes and tensed her body waiting for the punch, the kick in the stomach, anything. It never came. Opening her eyes, she saw Chris slumped on the floor and Pacey standing behind him.

She started to cry, big sobs that racked her body. "What happened? Oh Pacey," he held her in his arms as she cried. "It's okay baby," he whispered, "you're safe now."

She looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy from the crying, "how did you know, Pace?"

"I didn't Jo. Dawson sent me to get you, the twins were being fussy, so I was to bring you to mine and then you'd all go from there. I didn't recognise the car on the drive and the door was open, so I came in. I heard him shout at you Jo and I hit him, the cops are on their way. You can't stop it this time. The guy would have done some serious damage to you. I couldn't just stand by and watch.." He drew her in closer and kissed her on the top of the head.

She drew in a deep breath and looked up again, she stared at his face, he looked down at her, and she leaned towards him and kissed him on the lips. She pulled away slightly and smiled at him.

"Jo?" he asked, a confused look on his face.

"Just hold me a minute Pace," she said.