Chapter 8
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: Okay, here's another chapter! Wow, 2 updates on one day… lol.
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.
"Joey it just wasn't the right time to introduce them I guess," Dawson said as he joined her in the bathroom to brush his teeth. She stood in front of the sink already ahead of him, as they continued to argue about what had happened earlier that day.
"And he wasn't serious about the whole us moving to L.A. thing, it-it was just an idea," he said. Joey shot him a look as she spit out the toothpaste in the sink. "Alright, so it wasn't just an idea, but we don't have to move; that's up to us to decide," he said.
"Don't start," she said, putting her toothpaste down and walking into the bedroom to get something before returning back to the bathroom to continue getting ready for bed.
"Well your sister wasn't any help with all that money talk," he said, his toothbrush in his mouth.
"Neither was your father!' she said, filling up a cup of water to take her prenatal pills. "Look, Dawson, what my sister was trying to say was that money isn't everything. Growing up, we had no money. Hell I was a waitress in my sister's restaurant as soon as I turned fourteen!" Joey began. "I'm not saying I had the worse possible childhood being short of money, but I'm sure I wasn't able to do or have half the things you did growing up."
Dawson sighed in frustration. "When did money become included in this debate over where were going to live!"
"Dawson, it's always been there, it's just never really been discussed," Joey said, taking her jewelry off and putting it in a small basket she had beside the sink.
"I don't get it; what is your thing with not wanting to live in L.A, huh? What do you have against it?" he asked.
"Dawson, we've been over this a dozen times!" Joey said. "It's not about liking the city or not- even though, I wouldn't rush to live there-" she began.
"Obviously," Dawson muttered. Joey paused, and put her hands on her hips. She took a breath and was about to continue, to now tell at him, but instead looked at him for a few seconds before walking out of the bathroom.
"Joey, where-" he began.
"Your not my favorite person right now," she explained over her shoulder.
"Oh yeah well, you either" he mumbled under his breath.
"If you want my advice," Pacey said as he and Dawson walked through the set at lunch time a few days later. "get out now," he said. "I'll even file it for you." Dawson turned and gave him a look.
"Hey, what did you expect man, you have a relationship that's based on heat and lack of protection five months ago," Pacey said finally coming to a halt.
"You know, I'm starting to think that maybe your not the right person to talk to about this," Dawson said as he came to a stop next to Pacey.
"Dawson, I'm the perfect guy to talk to about this cause I know what your trying to do," Pacey said. "I know you man, your trying to be that 'decent guy' -but I'm telling you, the longer you put this off the worse it's going to be."
"Put what off Pace, I just said we had a fight," Dawson said.
"You said more than that, man," he said. "Look, Dawson; were here to get a job done and in case you haven't noticed, were running a little behind."
"Hey can I help it if Natasha's set out to make my life hell?" Dawson asked.
"Just get your priorities straight, okay? Don't let this girl completely ruin your life," Pacey said.
"I'll handle it, okay?" Dawson said before walking off.
"Okay that's a wrap for the day," Dawson heard his boss, director Todd Carr, say later on that day. He threw his head back and sighed in relief before getting out of the chair beside Todd and stretched. Quickly catching a glimpse, he was reminded of the doctors appointment Joey had that day. And it was…now!
"Damnitt!" he cursed as he grabbed his coat and headed out of the studios, knowing he'd miss it of he didn't hurry.
Once he got there, he quickly ran it, and over to the front desk where a female receptionist sat. All around the room were pregnant women waiting for their name to be called. Most were further along than Joey was, who was now five months along.
"Hi, how may I help you?" the receptionist asked warmly, a smile on her face.
"Josephine Potter, uh Leery," he corrected quickly. The receptionist looked up quickly, as he corrected himself before looking b k down back down to look up her room number.
"She's in with the doctor, room 16," she told him.
"Thank you," he said quickly, disappearing out of the room in search of where Joey was.
"Joey!" he said in relief, finally finding the room and closing the door behind him.
"Dawson, I thought you had to work?" she said, already in the hospital's clothing and laying in the bed .
"I did. We uh, got out early. Joey, I need to talk to you," he began.
"I have to talk to you too," Joey said. "I feel really bad for the way things have been going and I'm sorry," she said.
"No, no it's not your fault, not at all; it's mine," Dawson said. Joey slowly shook her head.
"Look, I haven't been completely honest with you," he began. "And I was thinking on the way over.." But before he could finish, the doctor came in.
"Hello Joey," she said warmly. "And how are you today?" she asked.
"Were fine,' she assured her. The doctor walked over beside Dawson.
"Hello, you must be the father I've heard so much about. I'm Lisa Lawrence," she said, extending her hand.
"Dawson Leery," Dawson said, shaking the doctors hand.
"Your just in time for the show," Lisa assured him, putting Joey's file folder on top of the machines monitor and walked over to Joey. She hiked the paper suit over her stomach, which had grown more.
"Come here. Wanna watch?" Joey asked as she motioned for Dawson to get closer. Dawson moved behind the monitor, and stood at her bedside and watched as the doctor prepped the machine, squirting jell on Joey's bare stomach.
"Is that going to hurt her?" Dawson asked, concerned.
Joey laughed, touched by his concern for her. "No, it tickles," she assured him. As the doctor continued, there was a sudden noise throughout the room.
"Wow, what is that?" Dawson asked as a fast sound came from the machine.
"That's your baby's heartbeat," Lisa explained.
"It's so fast," he said.
"It's normal," she assured him.
"Neat, huh?" Joey asked, reaching for his hand; Dawson squeezing it lovingly as they listened to their baby's heartbeat.
"Yeah," Dawson said.
"Here's the leg.. That's its head.." Lisa said as she pointed out the little parts of their baby on the monitor. Dawson squinted his eyes, trying to picture the parts. Finally, he managed to see them, and recognize what they were the doctor was pointing out.
"Wait, is that his…" he trailed off, pointing to a part on the screen. Joey rolled her eyes.
"Uh, actually I think that's an arm. It's a little too early to determine the baby's sex," she explained.
"Let's take the first picture of you baby," the doctor said as Dawson looked over at Joey's stomach, amazed that he was seeing on the little screen what was inside her stomach, seeing their baby. The image he saw made the concept of their baby seem so much more reel than it had been before. He then up at Joey, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, resting his forehead on hers, feeling bad about them fighting.
"Me too," she whispered back.
A few days later..
"Pacey, you should have head it, it was unbelievable. I could actually hear it's heart beating," Dawson rambled on as they walked to the small front office they had set up. "And it was going so fast," he added.
"That's great, really," Pacey said, half listening. "Listen, I talked to Todd and he said our favorite competitor, Charlie Peterson, is at least two weeks ahead of us on his film," Pacey explained.
"Pacey, Charlie Peterson doesn't have a life," Dawson told him just as Joey walked into the building.
"Hey you!" she said, smiling.
"Hi Joey," Pacey said flatly.
"Wow, what are you doing here?" Dawson asked happily as he pulled her into a hug and gave her a long kiss on the lips.
"I came to kidnap you," she explained with a smile on her face.
"Uh, Dawson, this isn't really a good day," Pacey said behind Dawson.
"Pacey, don't make me hurt you," Joey said. "I want to take my husband out on his birthday; he disserves it," she said.
"Will you cover for me?" Dawson asked, already heading out the door with Joey.
"Have a good time," Pacey said.
"Thank you Pacey," Joey said sweetly.
"Thank you Pacey," Dawson repeated, mimicking the sweetness in his voice as they walked out of the door.
"So where are you taking me anyway?" Dawson asked as they headed towards her vehicle.
"It's a surprise, Joey told him simply.
"Joey, you didn't have to do this," Dawson told her as they sat back on the blanket she had brought after finishing the little meal she had packed.
"Nonsense, I wanted to," she explained.
"To tell you the truth, I never really made much of a deal about my birthday in L.A," Dawson explained.
"You didn't?" she asked.
"Nope. I mean, sometimes I'd go out to the bar with Pacey or something, but I didn't do much to celebrate," he explained. "I haven't really celebrated since I was a kid. But my mom still makes me a cake and brings it over on my birthday anyways." Joey smiled, listening to him talk.
"You really miss L.A. don't you?" she asked.
"I guess I do, as weird as it sounds, I mean, I've lived there most of my life," he said. Joey nodded.
"Well, I've been thinking about making you a deal," she began. "If we can stay here until after the baby is born, I'll move to L.A." she said.
"Joey that's so great!" Dawson said excitedly.
"I'm not saying I like it!" she said quickly. "But I'll give it a try." Dawson smiled and leaned forward, kissing her.
"Good, now I can give you your present," Joey said happily, after their kiss ended, as she reached over to the side of her
"You mean there's more?" Dawson asked as Joey pulled over a medium sized box out of the large cooler they had brought.
"Uh huh. I called my new mother in law, and asked about what you'd like for your birthday," she explained as she handed him the box. "This arrived today."
Dawson looked at the box, then at her first before he began to open it. Joey watched in anticipation as he took the bow off and moved the fabric bag it was in. inside the box was a cake his mother had baked for him the day before, and had sent out to Joey to give to Dawson.
His eyes grew wide as he opened it. "I can't believe you did this!" he exclaimed. She smiled, handing him a fork, knife, and a plate.
"Who said you can't have a little bit of home when your half way across the U.S from it," she joked.
"this is the best birthday I've ever had," Dawson told her truthfully as he pulled her in for a kiss.
"Okay, you gotta try a piece. My mom makes the best cake," he said as he cut her a piece and handed the plate to her, then cut one for himself.
"Oh she does, does she?" Joey said as she cut herself a piece. Dawson watched as she lifted up to her mouth and took a bite.
"Mmm. Mmmm, this is good," Joey said as she took another bite. Dawson smiled, and looked down at his piece, and taking a bite.
"Mmm," he said loud, enjoying the taste of his mother's home maid cake, memories of birthdays past coming to mind as they sat there, eating cake with his arm around Joey.