Chapter 22

Dawson sighed as he paced back and fourth with the phone in his hand. Joey was out shopping, insisting she needed some 'alone' time; which made what he was trying to do easier. Since Andie had called, Dawson had realized he had to get in touch with Pacey, if not for the upcoming holidays, then for fifteen years of friendship. He stopped pacing, turned the phone on, and began dialing Pacey's number. Dawson then hung up.

He groaned in frustration. "It can't be this hard to call him up!" He put the phone down on the coffee table and continued to pace back and fourth in front of the table.

"I have to do this before Joey gets home," he said. He didn't want Joey around when he called Pacey up, he wanted to do it alone. He looked at his watch, knowing Joey would be home in a little while. He then looked over at the phone.

"That's it," he said, picking up the phone and dialing the number. He heard it ring, and he stood there waiting. He doubted Pacey would be working at the Ice House at this time-he had hoped so at least. Before he could give up and hang up, someone picked up.

"Hello?"

"Pacey, hey; uh it's me," Dawson sad. He mentally kicked himself for sounding so dumb. There was a pause on the other end. He probably hung up on me, Dawson thought.

"Dawson, hey," Pacey said finally, sounding a little shocked and surprised Dawson was calling. A few seconds passed before Pacey spoke. "So, what do I owe to this phone call?" he asked, wasting no time.

"Actually I called to talk to you, see how you we're doing," he paused, "and to see if there was any way to bridge the gap between us."

"Well, a few months late, but I guess it's better than nothing, right?" he said.

"Look, Pace, we're both adults, and before all of this you and I we're getting along again, and…And I guess I miss it," he admitted. "I just don't want to loose our friendship again after years of the both of us trying to get it back again."

"Only this time it wasn't me who screwed it up," Pacey pointed out.

"Pacey I know we messed up. I missed up. But we can't go on like this forever," he told him. "I forgave you for your mistake, I guess I was kinda hoping you'd forgive me for mine."

"Woah, Dawson, things are a little more different now than it was back then. First off, you and Joey weren't even together at the t-"

"But you still took her from me, Pace. And I know what your feeling right now because I spent an entire summer feeling the way your feeing."

"So you slept with Joey to get back at me for what I did to you?" he asked.

"No, Pacey, what happened between Joey and I… it just happened okay? And I'm sorry we hurt you but I don't regret that it happened," he told him truthfully. "But I do regret how much it hurt you; everyday. And so doesn't Joey."

"Yet five months go by before you decide to call me?"

"Pacey, I didn't want to call you while you we're still royally pissed at me," he explained.

"And what makes you think I'm any less pissed?" he asked.

"Well, I don't. I was just kinda hoping we could talk about this, and maybe resolve some things between us. If not for the sake of our friendship then for the holidays." Pacey paused, thinking about what Dawson had said, realizing he was right, or at least had a point.

"For the holidays, huh?" Pacey repeated, all traces of anger and resentment gone. Dawson smiled, knowing Pacey was trying to lighten the mood. The two talked 'till Joey got home, about what they had been doing since they had last spoken, leaving Joey out of a lot of it; Dawson figured it probably wasn't a good idea to go on to Pacey about how happy he and Joey had been. Dawson felt happy knowing the two of them we're taking a step towards building back a friendship-again.

A few Days Later; Christmas Eve…

Dawson and Joey sat on the couch, snuggled together with a big warm blanket covering them both as they watched the movie in front of them. Every few minutes, one of them sneaking glances at one another. A few minutes later, the end credits rolled on the TV screen. Dawson stretched before leaning over to grab the remote from the table beside them.

"I love that movie," Joey said as she wiped a tear from her eye. They had just finished watching 'A Miracle on 34th Street.'

"I thought it would be appropriate for the holidays," Dawson said as he took the DVD out of the machine and put it back in its case. So far all they had done this Christmas eve was anything they could possibly think of, together. Which included going out to the park, making a snow man, singing Christmas carols, the list went on. Dawson had even planned a romantic dinner for the two of them. After their dinner, they had decided to watch a 'Christmas-y' movie.

"I'll be right back," Joey said as she got up from the couch.

"Where are you going?" Dawson asked as he stood up from a squat position on the floor.

"Bathroom," Joey called over her shoulder as she disappeared from the room. Dawson waited to hear the sound of the bathroom door close. He then began to pat the side of his pants; he then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box, smiling. He slowly opened the box, revealing a beautiful engagement ring. Tonight was the night; he was just waiting for the right moment to propose. He had mentioned marriage to Joey not too long after they had gotten back together, but Joey had told him she didn't want to get married right away, so he had dropped the subject…until now. In the other room, he could hear the toilet flush; he quickly put the box back into his pocket.

"I for one feel much better," she announced, walking back into the room, her right hand on her back. Dawson smiled, taking in the site of her; her glowing smile, her growing belly. She couldn't have been more beautiful.

"Hey Jo, there's uh…" he began. She looked at him curiously for him to continue as she sat back down on the couch.

"Well there's something I," before he could continue, the phone rang. He groaned, hanging his head.

"I'll get it," he said.

"No it's alright, I got it," she said, getting up once more, and disappearing out of the room once more.

"Stupid," he said to himself. "That was terrible," Dawson mumbled. It wasn't like he hadn't practiced this before. In fact, for the past few weeks, while Joey was at work, he would sometimes practice. Dawson listened, and by the sound of her voice, it was Bessie calling.

"Thanks Bess," he said under his breath. It wasn't like they we're going to Capeside the next day to see them all; why did she have to call now? Dawson sighed just as Joey walked back into the room.

"That was Bess. She just wanted to see how we were, ya know, make sure we we're all ready for tomorrow," she explained as she began back to the couch. Dawson grabbed her wrist softly, stopping her.

"Dawson, what-" she began.

"There's something that I've been waiting to do all night," he began as he slowly knelt down. "Hell, I've probably been thinking about this day half my life, but…" he trailed off as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the box. Joey's eyes grew wide as she realized what he was doing.

"Jo, will you marry me?" he asked as he opened the box. Joey stood there, her hands to her mouth as she looked down at the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.

"Dawson, I…" she trailed off, at a loss or words.

"Jo, we've known each other our whole lives; I wanna spend the rest of our lives together. We've been through so much over the years to get us to right here, right now. And now that I've got you back into my life, I don't ever want you to leave. I love you so much, and I know for a fact you feel the same way I feel. I love you and our unborn child so much that I couldn't stand the thought of life without you, so please…" he paused. "Marry me."

For some reason, the thought of marrying Dawson didn't scare her like it had scared her with Christopher. Seeing Dawson on one knee in front of her, holding the box out to her warmed her heart and the tears she had tried so hard to hold back let loose.

"Yes," she whispered, tears running down the side of her face. Dawson broke out into a grin as he stood up and pulled her into a hug. He pulled away only to kiss her.

A few minutes later, Dawson pulled away and just looked into her face. This was the happiest day of his life, and the thought of doing this with someone else was unthinkable. Everything in both of their lives intertwined in some way or another, and he wouldn't have had it any other way.

"Oh, here," he said quickly, as he took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her finger. Joey smiled as she looked down on the ring which was now on her finger.

"I love you," she said softly, her arms around his neck and their faces inches apart.

"I love you," he said back, as Joey leaned in for another kiss.

"Okay, do we have everything?" Joey asked the next morning as Dawson carried their suitcases out, Joey carrying a single bag- which was simply filled with presents. They exhausted themselves out after he Dawson had proposed, thus causing them to sleep in. The entire morning consisted of them rushing around the house, getting the suitcases together along with everything else they planned on bringing with them.

"I think we have more than enough," Dawson assured her as he sat the heavy suitcases down on the couch. "You anyways." Joey smiled and rolled her eyes as he walked to her.

"Yeah, yeah," she said.

"What'd you pack in there?" he asked, not able to believe it weighed so much more compared to his own. Joey playfully swatted him on the arm as he pulled her into his arms.

"We're going to have so much fun," Joey said as she wrapped her arms around him. "You know, Christmas is my favorite holiday. I can't wait 'till the baby's here with us next Christmas," Joey said, happiness evident in her voice.

"Four more months," Dawson reminded her. The two stood there, arms wrapped around each other, smiling. Dawson leaned down and kissed her. He slowly pulled away as their kiss ended but Joey wouldn't have any of it. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him into another kiss, longer and more passionate than the last one. Knowing their kiss would cause them to be further behind schedule if they continued, Dawson broke it off.

"We should probably get going before this turns into us being a few hours late," Dawson said. Joey grinned.

"Your right," she said as she reached down and picked up the bag she was carrying a few minutes ago. "We have an entire three weeks to do that with me being off for the holidays," she reminded him as she headed towards the door.

"Now I like that idea," Dawson said, grinning like an idiot as he followed her out the door. Joey laughed, hearing his comment.

"We're here!" Joey announced a few hours later as they entered the Potter B & B. Dawson rolled his eyes at Joey, who was carrying the bag of presents inside with them. The ones for Bessie and Alexander at least. The rest we're all in the car. Joey could hardly wait to tell Bessie the news of their engagment- and of coarse to show off the gorgeous ring she proudly displayed on her finger.

"Aunt Joey! Dawson!" Alexander exclaimed as he ran over to them.

"Hey sweetie," Joey said as she put the bag of presents on the table, away from her nephew. She then began to take her winter jacket off along with her scarf and gloves.

"Did you have the baby yet?" Alexander asked as he looked around for the baby. He got his answer when Joey unbuttoned her jacket, revealing her belly.

"Not yet sweetie, I'm sorry," Joey said.

"But he'll be here soon sport," Dawson assured him behind Joey. Joey turned around towards him, noticing he had already taken his jacket off.

Alexander's expression changed when he heard Dawson say 'he'll.' "The baby's going to be a boy?!" he asked excitedly. One night on the phone he had begged Joey to 'make' the baby be a boy, while Lily had begged for it to be a girl.

"No, Dawson's just playing around," she told her nephew. "We don't know what the baby's going to be until he or she is born," she explained.

"Oh," Alexander said, sounding disappointed. Joey smiled.

"Where's your mom?" she asked. As if on cue, Bessie walked into the room.

"Hey guys!" she said, smiling brightly as she walked over to them and gave both Joey and Dawson a hug. Bessie then bent over and rubbed Joey's stomach.

"And my little niece or nephew," she cooed. "Has the baby moved around any today?" she asked.

"Eh, it was moving around a lot this morning. Kinda stopped though," Joey told her. Before Bessie could respond, Alexander noticed the bag Joey had put on the table.

"What's in there?" he asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Bessie said, smiling.

"Are there presents in there?" he asked excitedly, still wound up from a morning of opening presents.

"Na, just a bunch of coal," Joey teased.

"Aunt Joey!" Alexander said. Dawson smiled, not standing beside her as he out an arm around her.

"Your awful," he said.

Joey smiled. "I know." She picked up the bag and handed it to him. "Merry Christmas sweetie/" Alexander grinned as he looked inside the bag, finding presents.

"Can I open them now?" he asked.

"Tell you what, why don't you bring them into the living room and put your moms presents under the tree, then you can start opening them," she said.

"Yes!" he said, quickly running out of the room with the bag. Bessie studied her sister, sensing she had something to tell her.

"OKay, spill. I know your not about to tell me your pregnant because…" she motioned to Joey's stomach, "well, you already are, so…" Joey looked over at Dawson and grinned before thrusting her hand towards her sister.

"Dawson proposed last night," she explained. Bessie's face instantly lit up, quickly looking up at Dawson and Joey before pulling the both of them into a hug.

"Ohmigosh, congratulations!!" she exclaimed, having waited for this moment for just as long as Joey had. She pulled away from their group hug, looking at both Dawson and Joey, realizing not only Joey was glowing, but Dawson as well. You could tell they we're truly happy.

"Dawson! Joey!" Lily exclaimed as Joey and Dawson stepped onto the porch, shutting the porch door behind them.

"Hey you, get back inside; it's cold out here!" Dawson said, trying to sound stern, which wasn't working because the excitement in his voice was very noticeable. Lily stepped back as Dawson and Joey finally entered the house, brushing off the little bit of snow on their coats. It had begun to snow while they we're still at the B & B, and had picked up before they had left.

No sooner had Dawson put down their suitcases; they had decided this trip they'd stay there since they stayed at the B & B last time; Lily jumped into his arms. Joey loved to see the two of them together, the bond between Dawson and his sister was quite obvious. Joey began to take the extra clothes off, once more, when Lily hugged Joey's leg.

"Hey sweetie," she said, quickly hanging her jacket up so she could bend down- or attempt to- and hug Lily.

"Lily, honey, why don't you let Dawson and Joey get in?" Gale said as she walked over to them.

"It's alright," Joey assured Gale as she stood back up, and hugged her surrogate mother. Gale turned and hugged Dawson.

"What's in the bag? Lily said, finally noticing the bag Joey carried in with her.

Joey smiled. "Alex and Lily are so much alike, it's creepy," she said.

Dawson grinned. "Presents." Lily's grin matched Dawson, which was adorable.

"I thought I heard someone come in," John said as he joined them.

"Can I go open them??" she asked.

"Sure honey, but save one or two so that Dawson and Joey can see you open them," Gale told her. Lily smiled before disappearing out of the room with the bag of presents.

"Hey," Dawson said to John, extending his hand. Joey knew Dawson still didn't totally feel comfortable with John; the two still settling onto the roles or 'step-father' and 'step-son.'

"Hey Dawson, how are you?" he asked.

"I'm doing pretty good. You?" he asked.

John smiled. "I'm doing alright." He then looked over at Joey, still smiling.

"Joey, hey!" he said, carefully pulling her into a hug. "Woah," he said as Joey stomach bumped into his. Joey pulled back and laughed.

"Yeah I know, I'm getting fat," she said.

"Honey, you wear it well," Gale assured her. "Pregnancy definitely agrees with you."

"Well I don't agree with it. I mean, wow. I never knew what either you or my sister we're feeling when the two of you we're pregnant. My back hurts, my ankles are starting to get fat…" she trailed off. The adults laughed.

"Just wait till you get the gigantic breasts," Gale said.

"I know I can't wait," Dawson said under his breath, but meant for then to hear. Joey blushed furiously as she turned and swatted him, John holding back laughter.

"Dawson Leery, you are awful!" Gale said. She then noticed something on Joey's hand.

"Is that.." she trailed off, pointing to the ring.

Both Joey and Dawson grinned. "Yeah, it is," Joey confirmed.

Gale smiled, hugging Joey, then Dawson. "Oh mi gosh, What, I mean, when?" she asked.

"Last night," Joey said.

"Wow, honey, it's beautiful," she said. As if on cue, Lily' called out from the living room.

"Can I finish opening them now?" she asked, her innocent little voice hinting a bit of impatience.

Joey and Gale laughed. "I think maybe we should let her finish opening presents before anything else," Gale suggested as she and Joey began into the living room.

"…and the doctor said that everything was progressing as it should, and we should expect the baby around the first week of April," Joey finished, looking over at Dawson, smiling. John, Gale, Dawson, Joey and Lily had gotten a bite to eat before settling in in the living room. Lily lay fast asleep on Dawson's lap, her head resting peacefully on his chest. She had fallen asleep a little after eight, while the adults sat, talking, yet no one had brought her upstairs yet.

"Oh, your sister and I saw the cutest little outfits while Christmas shopping last week," Gale said.

"Uh oh," Joey said.

"What?" Gale asked.

"You and Bessie? Shopping together? Never a good thing," Dawson explained, Joey laughed.

"This is my very first grandchild," she reminded them, "probably the first of many," she added slyly. Joey and Dawson smiled. "I fully plan on spoiling he or she."

"And on that note, why don't I get Lily up to bed," John said as he made a move to get up.

"It's alright, I got her," Dawson assured her, carefully standing up. Lily stirring in his arms as he shifted her into a better position.

"Well, I suppose it's time to head up to bed," Gale said as she stood up, John following.

"Goodnight honey," Gale said as she extended her arms; hugging Joey and quickly rubbing Joey's stomach before heading off to bed.

Joey stood there, gazing at the brightly lit tree, while rubbing her stomach. The baby was moving around, something Joey enjoyed feeling. She then let out a long yawn, realizing she was more tired than she realized and decided to head up to bed herself. She smiled, thinking of memories past as she began to play with her ring, making her way to Dawson's bedroom; where they we're staying. His bedroom alone held though sands of memories of the two of them together.

Joey stopped when she walked past Lily's room and saw Dawson tucking his little sister in. She smiled as he made sure she was covered, and squatted down; brushing the long blond hair from her face before kissing her forehead.

A few minutes later, Dawson joined her in his old bedroom. Dawson sat beside her, both now dressed in their pajamas.

"You got her to bed alright?" she asked.

"Yeah, I miss tucking her in. I've missed so much of her growing up as it is, with being in L.A most of her life."

"You'll be able to see her more, with you living in New York with me now." He smiled.

"But I do have to make one final trip to L.A. to get all my stuff I have in the storage unit down there.

Joey frowned. "When do you have to go?"

Dawson scratched the back of his head. "I was thinking about going in the next two weeks or so."

"Oh," Joey said simply. Dawson smiled as he put an arm around her.

"Don't look so sad, it's not like I'm staying; besides…" he paused, "it's not like you can't come with me, I just assumed with the baby due in another 4 months or so, you wouldn't want to fly to L.A, help me pack, then ship it all here," he explained.

"Yeah, I'm not liking the sounds of that," she admitted.

"I'll be gone a week tops," he assured her.

"Wow, you pack fast," she said.

"Well, it's not like I'm shipping furniture here, we got all that. I just want my personal possessions." Joey smiled.

"I suppose I'll survive a week without you," she said.

Dawson laughed. "I'll be sure to call you every second or so…if your lucky," he added as he covered up beside her.

"Oh yeah?" she asked, leaning down to kiss him. After a few minutes of heavy kissing, Dawson momentarily pulled away.

"Wait, Joey; here??" he asked.

Joey shrugged. "After all those years of platonically sleeping together in this room; in this bed, I think it's more than about time," she said as she pulled off his shirt and continued kissing him, falling back onto the bed.