Chapter 7
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: This will be a short chapter, so in advance… I get out of school in 4 more days, so after that, I'll be cranking out chapters faster- I hope. LOL. To Cevec: Your such a sweetheart! Thank you and I'm glad you enjoy my stories!
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.
Dawson tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, looking up into the rear view mirror at his parents before returning his gaze back to the road. A few seconds later, he looked over at Joey and smiled, knowing she felt a little uncomfortable with the dead silence in the car. He reached over and took her hand in his and squeezed it lovingly, reassuring her it was okay, while returning his attention once more to the road. They we're headed back to Capeside. He remembered back to the day before; when he had told his parents about Joey, and the baby they had on the way.
The day before..
Dawson and Joey stood there, waiting for his parents to say something. Anything. Just as long as the silence that had swallowed the room ended.
"Well, uh, we're also going to have a baby," Dawson added. Now his parent's officially looked shocked.
Finally, Gale spoke up. "I-I don't know what to say," Gale confessed. "Mitch?" Dawson's father sat there for a second, obviously trying to process the news.
"Dawson, was this what Jen was talking about or is there something else we should know about?" she asked.
"No. No, that's…that's about it," he assured them. "Look, I know it's a bit of a shock, but it's happening, so…" he trailed off.
"Dawson, why didn't you tell us sooner? About this. All of it?" Mitch asked, finally speaking up. Dawson looked over at Joey, then back at his parents.
"Well…" he began. Sensing he needed help, Joey decided to take over; not wanting him to look bad in front of his parents despite yelling at him only a few moments beforehand.
"We we're planning on it. Really soon. We've just been so busy," she began. "Actually, Dawson had suggested to me just the other day that maybe we fly out to L.A. to tell you guys the news."
"You couldn't have at least told us about the wedding?" Mitch asked.
"Well it was just so sudden," Dawson said quickly, not wanting to tell his parents that they had decided to elope so quickly because she was pregnant as a result of a one night stand and that really, they know her for as long as they had assumed.
"It was just kind of a 'spur of the moment thing'. My family wasn't even there," Joey added.
The room fell silent once more.
"How far along are you?" Gale asked curiously.
"Almost four months," Joey answered. Gale nodded, looking over at her husband.
"Well kids, the both of you are kinda young to be settling down and having kids at 24," he began, "But it sounds like, the two of you know what your doing," he said, more hesitant at the end.
"Joey, where do your parents live?" Gale asked.
"My sister and her boyfriend live in Capeside," she explained. Gale and Mitch looked confused, but decided it was another discussion to get into later on.
"That's not far away at all. Why don't we go and visit them?" Gale suggested.
"Mom, I don't-" Dawson began, already picturing the scene.
"I think your mother's got a good idea, Dawson. I mean, I guess since the two of you are…married, they're related now, and I'd like to meet them," Mitch said.
Dawson looked over at Joey, silently apologizing for all of this. She just nodded and forced a smile.
"Great. Sounds like fun."
Dawson blinked back to the present, asking himself why he hadn't just told his parent's no. But he just stood there, and in the end, agreeing on this little trip back to Capeside to make his parents happy. He was just glad they were leaving the next day and in the meantime, would be staying in a hotel.
"So how's Lily?" Dawson asked, trying to make conversation. "And where is she by the way?"
"She's with your grandmother; your mother and I decided not to bring her out here this trip," Mitch explained.
Dawson nodded. "Oh."
"Uh, what about you Joey? Do you have any younger siblings?" Gale asked from the back seat. Joey turned in her seat a little so that she could see Gale more.
"Nope, it's just me and Bessie. I'm the baby of the family," she explained. "But my sister has a ten year old son, so…" she trailed off. "He's like a nephew and a little brother." Since yesterday, Joey had felt a little more comfortable around her new in-laws.
"So Dawson, Joey; how long have you two been seeing each other?" Mitch asked. Joey and Dawson looked over at each other.
This is going to be a long ride… Dawson said to himself.
A little while later, they arrived at the B & B, Dawson introducing his parents to Bessie and Bodie. After talking for a little while there, they all decided to go to the nearby beach for the day instead of being at the B & B.
"You guys didn't bring your suits," Bessie observed as she and Bodie sat down on their blanket in the shade; Alexander playing in the water. Dawson and Joey sat together on their own blanket, Dawson's arm wrapped around Joey while she leaned against him.
"Well we weren't expecting…this," Gale trailed off. Bessie nodded her head, knowing what Gale was referring to. She hadn't expected it either.
"You know, not to sound like the bad guy here, but I don't think these two have any idea what they're getting themselves into," Mitch said.
"Yeah?" Bodie asked, curious to hear his opinion on it since he was kinda on the fence about it.
"Absolutely. I believe marriage is a serious commitment, and shouldn't have been rushed into," Mitch explained.
"I don't know honey, I think it's all kind of romantic," Gale said, smiling. She like Bodie, was kind of on the fence about the whole thing, yet it appeared Bessie and Mitch had solid opinions on it.
"Well I kind of agree with Mitch; I think this whole thing was rushed," Bessie said. "It's hard enough to make a marriage work without adding to it," she added, referring to the baby.
"Listen to the woman, Dawson; she has a point," Mitch said. Dawson and Joey both rolling their eyes at their families.
Dawson turned to Joey. "I think they're going to start spelling the big word out soon."
Joey turned to Bessie. "Why can't you guys just be happy for us?" she asked, more or less talking to Mitch and Bessie.
"Because we're afraid and worried for you," Bessie answered. "None of this would have happened if he would have just kept his-" Bessie began.
"Now wait just a minute Bessie, it takes two to…tango. Joey's just as responsible as he is," Mitch interrupted. Dawson and Joey just watched as their families went back and fourth over who was responsible for conceiving their child.
"Alright, let's just calm down, shall we?" Gale said, noticing the tension build by the minute. "They fell in love. There's nothing we can do about it except to accept it and be happy for the two."
"Joey, ask yourself this; where are you going to live? How will you raise your child?" Bessie asked. Joey looked at Dawson for a second and shrugged.
"We don't know yet," she said simply.
"You see!" Bessie said, "that's what I mean. you guys have no clue what your really doing, do you?" she asked.
"Bessie," Joey warned.
"Alright, well let's start with the basics; the baby will be Catholic," Bessie said. Mitch and Gale nodded in agreement, though neither households were really religious.
"And they'll live in L.A," Mitch said. Joey looked over at Dawson, who just shrugged. "Because that's where his job is," Mitch explained.
"Hold on just a second," Bessie said. "What about Joey's job? Which by the way, if you didn't know, is in New York."
"Well, no offense, but Dawson makes a lot more money, I'm sure, than she does," Mitch said.
"Well I'll have you know since your such an expert on my sister, she makes a good amount of money!" Bessie said in Joey's defense.
"Bessie, I'm not saying she doesn't, just that Dawson makes more with his job; in Los Angeles." Dawson and Joey looked at one another, sensing the beginning of an argument.
"Well money isn't everything, although to you people out in L.A. I'm sure it is," Bessie spatted back.
"Excuse me but what is that supposed to mean?" Gale asked, now speaking up. Bessie stood up, her hands on her hips.
"What about her family? Her 'support,' huh? She'll be down there and we'll be up here," Bessie pointed out.
"Are you saying we wouldn't be supportive?" Mitch asked, standing up as well.
"Well so far you haven't!" Bessie exclaimed. Dawson and Joey now decided to try and stop the conversation which was quickly becoming a shouting match.
"Bess," she said, trying to calm her sister down. "Dad," Dawson said, trying to do the same thing, both ignoring them.
"Neither have you!" Mitch exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, I guess you have to have loads of money to be there and be fully supportive!!" Bessie exclaimed. Both Bodie and Gale sat there, shocked while their spouses shouted at one another.