Chapter 5: New Routine

After their night together, things changed dramatically for them. Joey moved into Dawson's room, still keeping a few clothes in hers so people didn't think she abandoned the room completely, and they stopped going out for dinners in the public hotel restaurant. Now they settled on room service, usually for breakfast and dinner so they could spend as much alone time together as possible. They still went out during the day to lounge by the pool and walk along the beach, but instead of fighting the sexual tension, they acted on what they felt. They constantly held hands or had their arms around each other. They kissed openly in public, often making out like teenagers, unable to be away from one another. Joey had not spoken with Paul since her night with Dawson, she avoided his phone calls like the plague, which was the same thing Dawson did with Sara. Talking to their respective significant others made brought on the reality of what they were doing, cheating on them, which they refused to deal with now. They never spoke about what would happen after the trip or how they felt for one another. Joey knew Dawson cared deeply for her, and vice versa, but she also began to wonder if he was 'the one' for her or not. The time they spent together was always so amazing and passionate, but she began to wonder if they could even survive as a couple outside of the paradise they were staying in. He never said it, but Dawson knew he was falling in love with her. He knew it after their night together and he became more and more sure about it every day they spent together. They couldn't get enough of each other, spending their evenings after dinner snuggling close on the beach or on his porch, talking about anything that came to their minds, and making love every night and morning. No matter how many times they kissed or touched one another, there was still the electricity and spark between them, making every time they made love more and more intense. The more time they spent together, the faster time flew by and soon enough a week and a half went by and Dawson had to leave that night to fly back to Boston, while Joey had a few more days on the island. He tried to prolong his trip to be with her, but he knew if he wanted to stay that Sara would get suspicious. Knowing that his departure was imminent, they were both somber on his last day, despite their attempts to lighten up the mood.

They slept until almost noon, content just lying in one another arms for almost the last time. Dawson knew they would have to talk about what happens after he leaves and he wondered if Joey would go back and marry Paul as planned.

"It's going to feel weird to sleep in a different bed tonight," she smiled, hoping to get a small laugh out of him. He nodded, rolling over to look at her.

"It'll feel weird not to be woken up in the middle of the night by your snoring," he smiled, poking her jokingly in the arm. She laughed and rolled over on top of him, pulling her hair out of her face.

"Please, you snore too mister, I think I can recall a time or two that you've woken me up too," she said softly, resting her chin on his chest. They looked at each other for a minute, getting lost in one another again. "So do we have the talk now or later?"

"What talk?" he asked, playing with part of her hair, trying to avoid the inevitable conversation.

"Dawson you know what conversation I'm talking about," she sighed. "You leave tonight at midnight to go back to Boston, which means out little love nest is gone and other things come into play, like the so-called reality we've managed to avoid during our time together."

"I don't want to talk about this now Joey, okay?" he sighed, rolling her over so he was laying on top of her. "I just want to enjoy this time together and worry about that talk a little later on." She nodded and pulled him in for a kiss, feeling the nervousness and emotion between them.

They spent part of the afternoon somberly walking hand-in-hand through town for the last time, trying to remain positive and happy around each other. Both of them were lost in their own thoughts. Dawson was trying to figure out a way to stay with Joey in Hawaii until she had to go back as well without drawing attention from Sara. He didn't want to leave mostly because he was afraid to go back to his life without her. She made him so happy and alive that the thought of Sara and her whiney voice, demanding that he decide about marriage immediately made him feel sick. Joey was trying to figure out what she would tell Paul when he called again. She didn't know what she would say when he asked why she avoided his calls for a week. How do you nicely say that you've met a man that you think might really be "the one" for you and have been sleeping with him behind your fiancé's back for the last week? Still lost in her own thoughts, Joey was suddenly struck by a way to spend their last few hours together, but she had to be on her own for a bit. They were passing a clothing shop when Joey slowed down, pulling Dawson back a bit to get his attention.

"I ah have a surprise for you, but I need to go back to the hotel for awhile alone," she said with a smile. He was intrigued, but looked reluctant to go because of the little time left together. "I promise it should just take an hour so you go do your own thing and meet me in my room at five and oh bring your bags because we'll be leaving for the airport from there."

"Okay, five at your room, bring bags," he repeated, curious as her smile grew wider and wider. Still holding hands, she pulled him toward her, wrapping her free arm around his neck to kiss him long and hard on the mouth. He pulled back and smiled, watching her disappear in the crowd. I wonder what she's up to, he said to himself, but somehow he was patient enough to wait for the surprise.

As promised, Dawson showed up at the honeymoon suite door at five, holding the two bags that he arrived with in Hawaii and dressed in a pair of khaki short and polo shirt. He heard music faintly playing on the opposite side of the door, which made him more anxious to see what she had planned for them. Knocking on the door, he was greeted quickly by Joey, who threw the doors open and jumped in his arms, kissing him on the mouth so hard that it almost took his breath away. She slid out of his arms and looked at the shocked _expression on his face.

"Come in," she cooed, taking his hand and leading him inside with his bags. "So what do you think?" He broke his stare at her for a minute and raised his eyebrows at the sight of the entire room filled with candles and flowers.

"It's amazing Jo, how did you do this so quickly?" he asked, throwing his bags in the corner and joining her in the living room part of the suite. He stopped at looked at her for a minute, taking in how beautiful she looked in the candlelit room.

"I made a few calls and had a bit of help to get this all ready for you," she said softly, grabbing a remote off the coffee table and pointing it at the stereo to start the CD over again. "Would you like to dance?" He nodded and wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped hers around his neck, holding each other as close as they could. Nuzzling her neck in his, Joey couldn't help but feel sad because he was leaving and she didn't know if she would see him again. This amazing guy that walked into her life and opened her eyes was about to leave and she didn't want him to go. They danced for what seemed like hours, holding each other so tightly they could feel each others heartbeat, not saying a thing. After awhile though, Joey pulled back for a second, taking his hands in hers, knowing it was time for "the talk."

"So we did a great job of side-stepping this earlier, but we should probably talk about what happens after this," she sighed, leaning in to press her forehead against his. He sighed and nodded, knowing they could not avoid it any longer. "Are you going to marry Sara Dawson?"

"I don't know, are you going to marry Paul?" he asked, just as curious as she was for the answer. "Do you still love him?"

"Yes I do, but that love has kind of changed over the last two weeks and I don't know what I want to do," she sighed.

"Do you care for him like you care for me? I mean do you.care for me?" he asked. She looked at him for a minute, unsure how to answer that question.

"No I don't care for him that same way I care for you because you're totally different people," she sighed. "I love Paul Dawson, I mean we've been together for years and I feel safe and comfortable with him, but what I feel for you is so much more than that. What I feel for you is deep and passionate and I'm afraid of that because I've never felt for anyone what I feel for you."

"So let's go back together and tell Paul and Sara that it's over, then we can be together." he started, pulling her closer to him again.

"But what if everything we feel here is different back in Boston?" she asked, tightening her grip on his hands. "What if you saw me on the street one day and realize that all of this was just a mistake and there's nothing here between us."

"I don't believe that at all Jo," he said. "What we feel for each other is real and isn't created by this island. What we feel for each other would be here if we met in Starbucks, on this island or in the supermarket because it's that strong. Fate brought us here and put us together."

"So what if we put fate's work to chance again" she asked, looking in his eyes. "What if we go back to Boston separately, don't exchange phone numbers or anything and see if we're brought back together?" Dawson shook his head softly, staring at the ground for a minute.

"What if I leave on this plane and we go back separately and I never see you again?" he asked, sitting down on the couch, pulling her onto his lap. She sighed and looked away for a minute.

"Then we weren't meant to be Dawson," she whispered, lacing her fingers through his. "Then fate gave us this and that was all we were supposed to have."

"So fate brings us together and tears us apart so we can go back and marry people we don't really love?" Dawson asked shocked. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Joey we have the chance, the opportunity to be together and we don't have to test fate again, unless you don't want to be with me and you want to go back and marry Paul?" His heart was racing waiting for her answer.

"Dawson if we're meant to be, we'll be together regardless if we test fate again or go back together," she said, resting her head on his shoulder. "I have complete faith that no matter what happens, if this is really real, we will be together no matter what."

"So what do we do in the last few hours together before fate takes over again?" he asked, tracing his finger on her thigh. She sat up, staring at him for a minute with an evil grin.

"Well I thought that was pretty apparent by the candles and everything, but I guess I can spell it out for you," she laughed. "Before fate takes over again, let's just be together, I just want to be as close as I can to you for as long as I can." He smiled and wrapped his arms around her, picking her up off the couch and carrying her over to her king-size bed, kissing her softly as he laid her down on the soft comforter.

The Honolulu airport was deserted this late at night. It was 11 p.m. and Joey and Dawson were two of ten people in the entire boarding area, waiting to get on the last flight to Los Angeles, where he would catch his connection to Boston. After checking-in and getting his boarding pass, they sat side-by-side holding hands, waiting for them to begin boarding. They barely said anything after they left Joey's hotel room and began their drive to the airport. Dawson could see that Joey was tired, but determined to stay awake and say good bye. He watched her for a moment, noticing she was staring off into space.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, squeezing her hand softly.

"I'm thinking about fate and if it's such a good idea to test it again," she whispered, looking at him with tears beginning to fill her eyes. "I don't want this to be it Dawson, the end forever." He smiled and moved her tired body on his lap, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"You were right Jo, no matter what happens, we'll be together again and then we'll know if this is real, if we're supposed to be with one another," he said, trying to sound like he actually believed what he was saying. Secretly, he was having doubts about the whole fate thing too, but he tried to imagine what it would be like to run into her on the street and know this was really true. She nodded, nuzzling her face in his neck and kissing his cheek and jawbone, causing him to groan softly. "Okay we just spent the last few hours christening the honeymoon suite bed sweetheart, I don't know if I have the energy for you again." He looked at her for a moment and saw her laugh, the sweetest sound to him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to begin boarding Flight 624 to Los Angeles now," the stewardess said politely over the loudspeaker, causing Dawson and Joey to flinch and tighten their grip on one another. She slowly slid of his lap and helped him up, throwing one of his bags over his shoulder. They held hands tightly as they approached the gate, knowing this was it. He turned and looked at her for a minute, holding his hand tightly and seeing tears starting in her eyes.

"I'm going to miss you so much." he started, pulling her into a tight hug, running his hands through small strands of her hair. She nodded in his shoulder, tightening her grip.

"I'll miss you too," she whispered, feeling her heart race.

"You know just in case, and I mean if fate doesn't go in our direction Joey, there something I want to tell you now," he sighed, pulling away for a minute, pressing his forehead against hers. "I'll never forget you Joey, ever. You make me feel like a completely different person and no one has ever made me feel the way you do. I know we've only really known each other for this short time, but I feel like I've loved you my whole life or in another life. Remember when I told you about the great love I never met, well I think that might be you. I think you're my soul mate, the love that was out there waiting for me. I love you Joey." She pulled away for a minute when she heard those words, tears running down her face.

"I love you too Dawson," she whispered, putting her hands on either side of his face. "I'll never forget you or this whole time together. You've made my life so much better and I've never felt anything close to this for anyone else and I feel it too, like I loved you my whole life and just had to wait all this time to actually experience it."

"Sir if you're flying with us, you have to board now," a woman said, interrupting their tender moment. He turned to her, nodded quickly and turned back to Joey, who had her arms wrapped around him tightly.

"I have to go," he said sadly, taking one of her hands and walking closer to the gate. Handing the woman his ticket, he turned back to Joey, who managed a weak smile on her tear-stained face.

"I love you Dawson," she whispered, pulling him in for one last kiss. He responded eagerly, holding onto her and the kiss as long as he could, until the stewardess interrupted them again by clearing her throat. They broke apart and he sighed angrily.

"I love you too Joey," he whispered, kissing her again quickly on the lips before walking through the gate, stealing one last look at her before rushing down the gate, afraid that if he didn't hurry, he would never be able to leave her. After watching him go, Joey strolled over to the window and watched as his plane pulled away from the gate and headed for the runway. The entire trip back to the hotel, Joey felt confused and lost. She loved Dawson and he loved her, but she still didn't know how she felt about Paul and her life back in Boston. Arriving back at her room, she was too tired to gather up the candles in her room, instead settling herself on the couch, noticing the sweatshirt Dawson pulled out of his suitcase before they left. She picked it up, holding it close to her and inhaling the sweet smell of his cologne and soap that she found so irresistible. With a heavy sigh, she put the sweatshirt on over her shirt and picked up the phone, dialing an all to familiar number.

"Paul?" she said softly into the phone. "Hi honey it's me, ah look I'm coming back a bit earlier than expected, I think we need to talk."