Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I don't own the movie "Fools Rush In" or the show, Dawson's Creek, kay? I'm just borrowing the plotline from "Fools Rush In" and some of the characters from Dawson's Creek.
Author's Note: Yay! I finally got off my butt and watched a little more of the movie!! For those of you who've seen this movie will instantly pick up on a few lines that we're cut. I personally think that if I we're to have written them in this story, they wouldn't have served much justice since Joey has no other siblings besides Bessie, who serves more as a mother than a sister. And just the rest of the scenes. So I decided to start it off where it would make the most sense to for this story. This chapter takes place a few weeks after the last part.
Thank You's: A BIG thank you to Jessie who helped me get ideas together.
Spoilers: There aren't any spoilers in here this time (Well, except if you haven't seen the movie "Fools Rush In".) This is an AU (Alternate Universe) fan fiction. So what you know about Dawson and Joey growing up together, being best friends, sadly there is none of that in this fan-fiction.
"So Bessie and Bodie know all about Dawson and I getting married, -and about the baby," Joey continued, stabbing a piece of tomato in her salad that came with her lunch. She and Audrey had been talking all morning, catching up on the past few weeks, and what had been going on with her and Dawson.
"Wow, how'd they take it?" Audrey asked.
"I don't know; Bessie's kinda disappointed," Joey began. "I mean, I don't understand why she's so upset! She got pregnant with Alex when she was around my age!" she protested.
"Yeah, but Joey; did you ever think that maybe that's why she's disappointed?" Audrey said. "Maybe she wanted to see you do better; to learn from her mistakes." Joey sat there and thought about it for a second.
"I guess that could be it. I just wish she'd be happy for me is all," Joey said.
"Bunny, I'm sure she's happy for you. But at the same time, I'm sure she's also worried for you," Audrey said. "How'd Bodie take it?"
"He was pretty neutral about it, actually. He was a little hurt that Dawson and I eloped, but overall he's just happy for me," Joey explained. Audrey nodded.
"How about Dawson's parents. How'd that go?" she asked.
"Oh, he went the other day, but he said they went to Florida for the summer," Joey explained.
"Joey, it's April," Audrey reminded her.
"I know, he said that they like to get there early," she explained.
"Whatever," Audrey said, her thoughts wandering as she took a bite of her pizza. Joey rolled her eyes and in return, took a bite of her own food.
"Dawson and I still haven't settled on a name," Joey said, sitting starting on another topic. "Hence the baby name book." She held up the book beside her that she had been glimpsing through all morning.
"I see. Well it's still a little early to decide, I mean you have quite a few months to decide on one," Audrey reminded her. Joey sighed, flipping another page filled with baby names after she had skimmed through it.
"By the way, what are you going to do about your name?" Audrey asked, taking a bite of her pizza. "Joey Potter, Joey Leery, or are you going to be all fancy and hyphenate it and be Joey Potter-Leery?" she asked.
Joey paused, and tried out each name in her head once more.
"I think I'm going to go with Mrs. Dawson Leery," she said proudly, putting down the baby book.
Audrey rolled her eyes. "Okay then."
"Excuse me," a blond woman said from behind them. Both Joey and Audrey turned towards the blond at the table behind them, who excused herself from the people she was dining with before bringing her attention back to Joey and Audrey.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude, but did you say Dawson Leery?" she asked.
"Mm Hmm," Joey nodded.
"Dawson Leery from L.A?" the woman asked. Joey looked over at Audrey, unsure of what to make of the woman.
"I believe he's from L.A. yeah," she said.
"Late twenties, about six foot tall, blond hair, blue eyes, loves to talk about movies?" Jen guessed. Joey smiled as the description fit him to a T.
"Yup, that's him," Joey laughed. Jen paused for a second, causing Joey to feel uncomfortable, and worried.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Jen Lindley," she said as she extended her hand. "Dawson and I old friends; our families are very close," she explained.
"Oh, your kidding!" Joey said excitedly. "Oh that's great!" she said, still shaking her hand. "I really don't know any of Dawson's friends. I'm so glad to meet you." Joey then stopped shaking Jen's hand.
"I'm Joey, and this is Audrey. She was my roommate before I met Dawson," she explained.
"Hi," Audrey said flatly, sensing something about Jen; something she didn't like.
"Well I've missed Dawson the last couple of trips down here. It's too bad; he's always so busy," Jen said. She paused. "Not to be rude, but how do you know Dawson?" she asked.
"I'm his wife," she said. Jen's jaw dropped.
"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you correctly. Married?" she repeated.
Joey laughed. Yeah, Dawson and I; we're married," she explained. Jen just looked at her shocked.
"And," Audrey said, finally speaking up, feeling the need to further rub it in the woman's face. "They've already got a baby on the way." If it we're possible, Jen's expression grew more shocked than before.
"A baby. Really? Oh," Jen said, obviously surprised and clearly speechless. Audrey sat there, mimicking Jen while eating her food. "Well…congratulations."
"Thank you," Joey said, smiling
"Wow, isn't this a surprise," Jen said, still shocked by the news.
"Hey Jo?" Dawson called out as he walked through the kitchen, into the living room; holding a baby book Joey had picked up a few days ago. "I'm confused! If babies can only see in black and white, the how come that Barney guy is purple?" he asked.
"Dinosaurs come later, Dawson," Joey laughed as she continued cleaning. Today she had her hair up in a ponytail since she had been cleaning all morning. She wore a pair of shorts and an old oversized t-shirt. Dawson continued looking at the book as he took a seat in the chair closest to where she was cleaning.
"Don't sit there!" she said quickly, causing Dawson to jump right back up. "I'm doing the floors next," she explained.
"Again? You did the floors what, two days ago?" he said in disbelief.
"Mm hmm."
"Oh, I read about this," Dawson said as he he opened the book back up and began looking through it. "This is the uh, nesting period; isn't it?"
"It must be, because I just can't get anything clean around here," Joey explained, walking over to the chair and picking something off of it before heading towards another place in the house. Dawson smiled and grabbed her wrist softly, pulling her back towards him. She smiled as she reached up and kissed him; her arms wrapped around him. A few minutes later, her hands traveled to his pants; Joey quickly trying to unbutton them.
"What about your cleaning?" Dawson mocked, his pants now down to his ankles. Joey smiled at him.
"It can wait," she assured him as she continued kissing him. Before things could really heat up, the doorbell rang. Dawson and Joey broke apart. Joey groaned in frustration.
"Hold that thought; I'll be right back," Dawson assured her before leaving the room, attempting to pull his pants back up in the process. The doorbell rang once more.
"Coming!" he said, quickly trying to button his pants. Finally, he opened the door, shocked to find who was on the other side.
"Surprise! Hi honey!" Gale Leery said, hugging his quickly.
"Mom? Dad? W-what are you-" Dawson began, surprised they we're there; at his doorstep. He closed the door half way, in hopes they he could get rid of them before Joey realized who they we're.
"This was your mother's idea," Mitch Leery explained, "I told her to call first, but…" he trailed off.
"Nonsense," Gale said, waving her hand. "I ran into Jen the other day and she insisted we comedown here and see what you've been up to."
"She practically insisted!" Mitch added.
"Honey? Do you know what she was talking about?" Gale asked.
"Dawson, who is it?" Joey called from inside of the house, not standing in total vide of his parents.
"I got it hon.." he trailed off silently as he closed the door all the way. He didn't want his parents to find out about Joey or the baby like this, although he felt terrible about lying to her a while back.
"Now that is what I call a housekeeper," Mitch commented, trying to sneak another peek of Joey through the window beside the door. Gale swatted Mitch on the arm before turning her attention back to their son.
"Honey, did we come at a bad time?" she asked.
"No. No, it's just that she's cleaning the oven and the fumes…" he trailed off. Mitch and Gale both laughed.
"Wow, you're here. Your really here," he said, making a mental note to kill Jen next time he saw her.
Before either Mitch or Gale could respond, Joey opened the door and stood in the doorway, next to Dawson.
"Hi," she said, not quite sure who the two people we're standing in front of her.
"Hello," Gale said, just as unsure of who she was. Dawson just stood there, unsure what he was going to do next. He had a feeling, no he knew; he was going to be caught on his lie.
"Dawson, aren't you going to introduce us?" Gale asked.
"O-of coarse," Dawson said. Joey smiled, standing up a little straighter so she didn't look like a total slob.
"This is um, uh…" Dawson paused, his gaze going from Joey to his parents.
"Joey," she finished for him, hurt and anger showing in her expression.
"Joey. Joey; right," Dawson said. Joey just stood there feeling hurt and humiliated that he paused, trying to remember her name. Or he pretended he didn't reember. Either way, she was hurt.
"Hi Joey; it's nice to meet you. I'm Dawson's mother, Mrs. Leery," Gale said. "This is Mr. Leery," she said, motioning to Mitch, who smiled at Joey.
"Ohmigosh, you're his parents!" Joey exclaimed. "Oh my god, lok at me; I-I'm such a mess," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm so glad to meet you!" she said, hugging Gale then Mich. "Please, come in!" she said, grabbing Mitch's hand and dragging him inside.
"You must be exhausted. Did you guys just get in?" she asked, thinking they had just gotten back from Florida.
"Uh, yup," Mitch said, slightly confused but went with it.
"Would you like something to drink?" Joey asked just as Dawson wedged between his parents, and whisking Joey away from his parents.
"Joey, that is a great idea," he said. "Why don't you get the drinks?" he suggested. "I love you," he whispered.
"Okay," she whispered back, before heading towards the kitchen.
"And I'll… think of something," he mumbled under his breath. Joey then rushed back into the room.
"Who wants a cold beer?" she asked.
"Sure," Gale said.
"I'd love one," Mitch said. Joey smiled as she grabbed Dawson and spun him around as she made her way back to the kitchen.
"Don't you dare tell them, anything until I get back," she whispered before disappearing into the kitchen. Dawson's face fell, feeling guilty about lying to his parents when she told hers.
"Dawson, she is wonderful!" Mitch said, still thinking Joey was a housekeeper.
"Mom. Dad. Why don't you sit down?" he suggested.
"Honey, is there something wrong?" Gale asked as she and Mitch walked over to the couch. Dawson quickly looked over in the direction of the kitchen, then back t his parents.
"Yes. I have to.." he paused for a second, unable to come out and tell them, "Tell Joey where the bottle opener is," he lied as he began towards the kitchen just as Joey came out.
"So how was Florida?" she asked as she walked over to his parents, and handed them their drinks.
"Florida?" Gale repeated.
"Dawson said you were gone for the summer," Joey explained as she walked back over to Dawson and rubbed his back lovingly.
"Florida," Mitch laughed, "Dawson you know we don't go to Florida in the summer. Too many tourists." Joey stopped rubbing Dawson's back.
"You lied to me," she said under her breath, unable to believe he had lied to her. "All this time you were lying."
"Jo, I-" Dawson began. Joey held her hand out, not wanting to hear his excuse; especially in front of his parents.
"Don't," she said before heading up the stairs, into the bedroom; the door slamming behind her. Dawson stood there for a second, his hands on his hips. Finally he sighed, looking up at his parents.
"I'm sorry but would you excuse me for a second. I just…" he trailed off before going up the stairs, feeling awful for lying to Joey.
When he opens the bedroom door he finds Joey sitting on the side of the bed, looking down at her lap.
"Joey, I'm so sorry. I was going to tell them," he explained.
"When Dawson, after the baby was born?" she said, raising her voice.
"I didn't- I didn't want to do it over the phone," he explained. Joey got up from the bed and took a few steps towards him.
"Dawson, my sister won't eve talk to me she's so disappointed. But I did it; I told her," she began. "But you. You don't even have the balls to pick up the phone and just let them know about what's been going on!" she said, her voice filled with anger.
"What is it, Dawson; you want out? Is that what this is all about?" she asked, half afraid of what his answer would be.
"Of coarse not," he assured her, waling over to her. "Look, my family isn't like yours, okay? I never talk to them, I never see them, and I sure as hell don't have dinner with them every week," he said.
"Great, more excuses," Joey threw her hands up in the air. "You know what, you should have told them!" she shouted.
"I wanted to do it in person. Why is that so hard for you to understand?" he asked, his tone a lot lower than hers had been. Joey looked up at him, up in his eyes for what seemed hours before walking past him. Dawson turned around, waiting to see what she was going to do.
"Well, here's you big chance, Dawson," Joey said as she opened the bedroom door. Dawson stood there for a second, knowing she was right.
"Alright, c'mon," he said as the two walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs, hand in hand.
"Mom. Dad. I have some surprising, yet exciting news," he began. Mitch and Gale looked at the couple confused. Dawson looked over at Joey and smiled.
"I'd like you to meet Josephine Potter….Leery," he explained.
The room went silent.