A Matter of Convenience

A/N: Thanks for the feedback...I'm glad you like it! I apologize that Dawson appears to be a decent human being, but this IS an alternate universe. ;)

Chapter Two:

"Yeah, thanks, Dad...sure, I know he'll appreciate it," Dawson smiled, "Yes, I'll certainly congratulate him for you. OK...gotta go, Dad. Yeah...Bye."

Michael grinned, "Did you set up that appointment at the house yet?"

"On for tomorrow."

"So you just have to convince them to do it."

"Yeah..." Dawson swallowed, "No big deal."

***

"Let me see if I have this straight..." Pacey frowned. "You want ME to marry YOUR girlfriend."

"It would be doing us all a favor, Pace."

"If you wanted her taken off your hands this badly, you could just dump her like a normal person," Pacey chuckled, pouring his friend a beer.

"This isn't about wanting to break up with her," Dawson lied quickly, "But think about it, Pace, this solves all our problems."

Pacey rolled his eyes, "So I get financing for the club and a place to live... You are guaranteed to get the house when you move back and Joey gets financial aid. Yeah, I can understand that...except I question if the house is worth it. But all the clubs in the world wouldn't be worth it when Joey kills me."

"It's my idea, Pace, she won't-"

"Oh, not for this," Pacey waved off the suggestion, "For whatever unnamed thing happens next week.

Inwardly, Dawson smiled. He could see it.

"So...your only objection is that Joey will kill you?"

"Well, I could claim I didn't want to cheapen the vows of Holy Matrimony if you wanted to have a moment of honor."

"But you don't care as long as you get the Club," Dawson deduced.

Pacey winced, turning to eye the skanky looking angel in question. "It's a big house, right?"

Dawson smiled, "Three bedrooms."

"Well, if you can convince her, be my guest," Pacey laughed. "Is there any chance you can videotape it?"

***

"THERE'S NO FUCKING WAY!" Joey's eyes flashed and Dawson had never felt closer to death.

"Calm down, sweetie," Dawson soothed, taking her hand as she glared daggers at him and led him and lead her to a table in the corner.

"How could you want this?" Joey frowned at him. "You want me to MARRY another man?"

"It's Pacey, Joey," Dawson chuckled to himself.

"So?"

"It's just a piece of paper."

"Good to know marriage means that much to you," Joey snorted.

"Jo, look, marriage obviously means more to me than that--"

"Then YOU marry Pacey!"

Dawson cleared his throat, "He's not really my type, Jo..." It was true, Pacey was bigger than he was and Dawson didn't like that.

"Joey, I'm just trying to help you out here..."

"OK, then. Hint for next time: Proposing marriage to another guy? Not a turn on."

"Just think about it, Jo. It would help all of us out. Did you really spend three years working your ass off just to spend your last year at the cheapest school you can find?" he asked softly.

"No, but--"

"Then the only other option I see is to call your dad," Dawson whispered.

Joey's shoulder's slumped in defeat. "Why Pacey?" she whined softly.

Dawson smiled, knowing she'd agree. "Well, he's the only one that will agree to it without wanting more. Plus, I know he'd look after you, Jo."

Joey snorted, "I'm sure."

"I know you guys clash, but if it came down to it, he'd be there and you know it."

"Well, why can't you...nevermind," she muttered quickly, swallowing. "So...when's this going to happen?"

Dawson sighed, "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"TOMORROW?" her eyes widened and flew past Dawson, to Pacey, pouring cocktails.

He caught her eye and gave her a sardonic shrug.

Joey closed her eyes, burying her head in her hands.

"Call me tomorrow, Jo," Dawson got up. "Think about it tonight."

They both knew she would do it. But it was nice to pretend she had a choice.

***

"Umm...hey," Joey muttered, approaching Pacey at the bar.

"Hey Potter, got an order?" Pacey asked with a grin.

"Not unless I'm suddenly allowed to drink on the job."

Pacey looked around and poured her a shot.

"Go for it," he shrugged, pouring himself the next one, "I think we deserve it."

"Definitely," Joey replied, throwing back the burning liquid and shaking her head. "Are you really okay with this?"

"It's not exactly how I planned my wedding, but we don't always get what we want," he muttered, downing his shot.

"Don't I know it," she stared at her glass.

"You know I don't hate you, Jo," he said softly.

"Doesn't mean you were planning to propose," she said wryly.

"Seeing how thrilled you are at the prospect, I'd have to say no," he chuckled.

"You think we can survive without killing each other?" Joey sighed.

"I have it on good authority there are three bedrooms, so we should be able to avoid each other.

Joey rubbed her temples. It was too much, too fast. She couldn't breathe. "I'll...call you tomorrow," she muttered, stumbling toward the exit.

"Where's Joey going?" the manager asked, stepping up to the bar.

"Asked her to do an errand for me...we're almost out of Scotch."

The manager nodded, taking his word.

It wouldn't really matter if they caught her skipping anyway, he'd just hire her back on when he bought the place.

Depending on her, of course.

***

Joey pushed into her dorm room, closing her eyes immediately as Jen shrieked, pulling the covers over herself and CJ.

"Uhh, I'll just be taking a shower," Joey muttered quickly, grabbing her towel and quickly shutting the door behind her.

Tossing her costume in the corner listlessly, Joey made herself get in the shower, longing to feel the warmth of the hot water hug her.

She didn't have the strength to stay standing and slid to the ground as the heat poured down around her, enveloping her as she hugged her knees to her chest and laid her head on her knees.

Just for a few minutes, she couldn't think, but relax and feel.

Her mind slowed and her body drained of tension as she floated into sleep.

***

"Sorry about that, Joey," Jen told when she finally came out of the bathroom.

Joey shrugged it off, "No biggie, you didn't know I'd be here."

"Yeah..." Jen frowned, "Why'd you leave work early?"

"Pacey's covering for me..." she mumbled.

"Pacey Witter?" Jen asked. "Covering? For YOU?"

Joey smirked, "Yeah...if only that was the most unexpected event of the evening."

"Well...what happened?"

"Dawson wants me to get married."

"WHAT?! CONTRATULATIONS!" Jen gasped.

Joey laughed, hearing her own bitterness. "To Pacey," she finished.

Jen's jaw dropped, "WHAT?"

"Yes, isn't that grand?"

"What the fuck's he thinking? Was he kidding?" Jen frowned.

"Nope," Joey outlined Dawson's plan to get her financial aid, make his parents think Pacey was a person they could rely on and even put Dawson in a position where he could buy that stupid house he was constantly raving about.

Jen said the only thing that came to mind, "Isn't his hard on for that house a little disturbing to you?"

A laugh escaped Joey's lips, "You have no idea."

"So it was in a fucking Spielburg movie," Jen rolled her eyes, "Honestly...he could just jerk off to a picture of it and leave you the hell out of it."

Joey winced at the imagery, "Thanks, Jen. Graphic."

"Dude, he's YOUR boyfriend."

"I still don't like to think of him jerking off!"

"Whatever, hon...but anyway, you tell him off?"

"Umm...no, not exactly."

"What? Why?" Jen asked, eyeing her friend incredulously. A light dawned in her eyes and they widened impossibly, "You're gonna do it!"

Joey groaned, throwing herself back on the bed.

"I can't believe you're gonna do it!"

"What are my other options, Jen?"

"Uhh...you could switch schools, get another job...call your dad?"

"I didn't work my ass through Worthington to graduate from some cheap ass school, I don't have time for another job and there is no way I'm asking him for money."

"Damn," Jen muttered, "What did he do to you?"

Joey shrugged off her questions, "It's what he didn't do."

"So you're gonna marry Pacey Witter," Jen smirked.

Joey groaned. "So what's up with you and CJ?" she changed the subject.

"God," Jen moaned, "He can keep going and going... I swear he's genetically enhanced."

"So I guess you're over Jack, then?" Joey asked.

Jen shrugged, looking away. "Snooze, you lose, baby."

"On to bigger and better things?" Joey smiled.

"Hmmm," Jen smiled. "Yes on both counts. So when's the wedding?"

Joey looked away, not answering.

"Joey..."

"Umm...tomorrow?"

Jen's mouth dropped.

"You...uhh...wanna be my maid of honor?"

"I'd be...honored?" Jen grimaced and shook her head.

Joey laughed. How could this be happening?

"Oh, fuck," Jen groaned suddenly.

"What?"

"I have no time to plan your bachelorette party."

Joey rolled her eyes, "Believe me, you'll get another chance. I just have to stick this out for a year."

"Pacey Witter," Jen chuckled, "Fabulous."

Joey threw a pillow at her.