It was three months after Jen's death and not only had Dawson's show been picked up for another season, showering the world with Dawson and Joey like characters and their on again-off again romance, but in reality things between Pacey and Joey were stronger than ever. Joey stood outside the Icehouse, contemplating whether or not it was a good idea to ask Pacey the question she so eagerly wanted to ask him. She entered the restaurant, skimming it for her tall, dark savior. He had always spoke of her saving him, but she knew all too well that he was the one that saved her. She sat down at the bar and watched him as he exited the kitchen, waiting for him to notice her. It took only a moment and his face lit up.
"Jo!" He ran to the other side of the bar and wrapped his arms around her, spinning her slightly as he did so. Before she had a chance to explain what she was doing there he gifted her lips with the warmth of his. As he backed away she felt her whole body turn to moosh, as it always did. "What are you doing here?!" he asked.
"I felt the need for some spontanaety," she told him, flashing him her famous Potter smirk. How could he resist that look? Again, his lips met hers.
"Well, I'm just about finished up here. So, I will be right with you," he told her.
It was a cool night along the capeside docks that held so much of the past within their grasp.
"So, what's on your mind, Potter?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I mean, what do I owe the pleasure of this? Spontanaety has never been your strong suit, unless ruthlessly pushed into it that is," he grinned.
"Things change, Pace-" She looked down to the ground. He pondered what the curious look on her face was.
"Okay, you're starting to make me a little nervous here-"
"You once told me that the arrangement we had going sucked up one side and down the other," she blurted out."...Well, I think we are to that point again." He stopped dead in his tracks, looking perplexed. He hadn't a clue what she was talking about, he thought things were going well. As he searched for words she searched for the strength to just ask him. "I came here to ask you something, something that is kind of unfair to you, but-"
"What is it Jo?" he asked seriously.
"I know you have your place here, and I have my place in Boston, but the more I think about it the more it seems silly that," she stopped short, her nerves getting the better of her.
"You want me to leave the Icehouse?" he asked.
"No," she retorded. "No, of course not. I just wondered, I mean, they usually don't need you much but on the weekends, and I have weekends off and I just thought that if we stayed here on the weekends maybe we could live there during the week."
"Together?"
"Yeah."
"You want me to live with you?"
"I know it may sound crazy, but I think it could work," she said, standing firm. He sighed as he moved away from her toward the edge of the dock. She studied the upset look on his face. Suddenly, her heart sank. "I'm sorry," she quickly stated. " I didn't think you would react this way, I mean-"
He looked up into her big brown eyes and sighed again. "You know, you will never fail to amaze me. The timing is just never there with us, is it?"
"What are you talking about, Pacey?" she asked. "You're doing great here, and my load has been lighter lately, I've had more time to think and I just don't see what would be so horrible about us living together."
"Nothing, nothing would."
"Then what is it?"
"You leave me no choice... you just had to ask me this now."
"What's wrong with now? What choice?"
He turned to face her directly and gazed into her eyes. She studied him, in complete confusion. He always had a way of keeping her guessing what he was up to.
"I had it all planned," he began. "A beautiful weekend, we'd go to one of your favorite Boston spots. But now that we're here, I realize that maybe this place is better." Before she had time to think about what he was saying he got down on one knee. Her eyes grew wide as he pulled a black velvet box out of his pocket. "Josephine Potter," he began, opening the box. "Will you put up with me for the rest of your life?" She couldn't find the words to answer him as the tears swelled in her eyes. He stood waiting for a reply.
"Yes," she finally managed to get out as she burst into tears. He got to his feet and wrapped his arms around her.
"And by the waqy," he began, holding her. "Your plan sounds good to me. It's actually exactly what I was thinking." She attempted to compose herself as they parted. She examined the beautiful diamond ring as he slipped it on her finger. It represented the way in which he had always seen her: simple, elegent, and beautiful.