A/N: I KNOW! It's been forever right? Well I did have to stop while we were packed up and moving into our new house... which was a nightmare... floods, famine, pestilence.... Take my word for it... I'll write the story someday and make millions (if only). Part of this chapter was written before and now that I have 2 free minutes I thought I'd post it and see if there is still any interest at all in the story?

I really apologize for the delay!

Chapter 5: The Hardest Button to Button

"Bess and Bodie loved Alex more than anything else in the world. And they showed it with actions, with effort, with time." Joey stopped and swallowed the lump in her throat as she quoted her sisters words to her. It was the first time since Pacey and Doug told her that her eyes were stronger, less hollow. "When someone loves you they do everything in their power to make sure you're happy. Even if they're not. Bessie did it for me her whole life. She sacrificed and worked, nurtured and disciplined. And on the last day, in the last hours of her life she taught me life's most important lesson: Love is a verb." She took a deep breath. Bess told me: "It requires action, effort, commitment and hard work. That is how I will remember my sister. By loving the way she lived and her expectations that others do the same. She never settled for less from me." Joey looked up at the congregation where many wiped at eyes and a few smiled distantly. "I won't accept any less from any of you." She stepped from the podium and all but collapsed in Pacey's arms.

"Pace, Take me home." She asked him quietly.

"A few more minutes, baby, and we'll go straight there."

She nodded and swallowed hard again. "Thank you, Pacey. As always you are my rock."

"I'd do anything for you, Potter, you now that." He smiled at her as the pastor walked down the center aisle following the 2 caskets.

"Forgive me?" She asked quietly without turning to look at him this time. She was too ashamed, too nervous, too deperate.

"Already done, Joey." He whispered with a steady, strong hand on her shoulder.

They walked to the graveside and Josephine Potter laid her sister and Brother –in-law to rest. She took their son by the hand and firmly grabbed Pacey's hand. "I'm going to need help to do this." She admitted as hot, angry, bitter, mournful tears streaked her down turned face.

"I'm right, here, Jo." He said and wrapped an arm around her waist.

Dawson approached from the door of the church with his mother and Jen at either side. The trio was solemn. "Jo." He nodded at her as tear filled everyone's eyes. "Pacey." Dawson choked out, noticing how tightly Pacey's arm was on Joey. "I can't begin to tell you..." he trailed off.

"I know. " She nodded and smiled at him. "Meant every word I said. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I meant every word." She looked up at him, her eyes red and painful. "Find her Dawson, Find her and don't let go." She didn't turn to him, but suddenly Joey was very heavy on Pacey's arm. He braced himself as Joey swayed toward him. "I wish I had never let go." She said in a whisper before she passed out. Pacey caught her while Jen comforted Alex.

"No, sweetie, Aunt Joey is fine, honey." She stroked the curls on his small head. "She's just really tired."

"She didn't sleep last night."

"I know, baby, it'll be ok." Jen said gathering the boy to her and rocking him gently.

A few feet away Pacey and Dawson worked together for the first time since their junior year at Capeside High. Pacey cradled Joey's head as Dawson helped him get her onto the bench next to the church. Pacey groaned at the pale color of her cheeks and looked over at Gayle. "Can you take Alex for a couple hours?"

"Sure, Lily would like that. She's been worried about him." The older woman's gaze wandered over to the small, now sleeping boy cradled on Jen's lap. "You boys take care of her." Gayle nodded at Joey and regretted her words earlier in the week. She just hoped her son didn't get too involved again. She knew this time would break him. She looked at Pacey. The boy had loved Joey so long.; his love was nothing like Joey's love for him, and nothing like her love for Dawson. Gayle sighed and walked toward Jen. For now she would take care of Bessie son. It was the best she could do.

"Want some help getting her to the car?"

"Yeah." Pacey nodded at his oldest friend.

"Pace?" Dawson waited until Pacey looked up at him. "Take her to your place." It was killing him to say, Pacey could see that, but he could also see that his place would be best for Joey—no lurking memories.

"Right. Why don't you sty for an early dinner while she sleeps this off."

Dawson paused and searched Pacey's face. No anger, no bitterness, no competition. Just compassion for their best friend. He nodded. "All right. That would be nice."

They gathered Joey into Pacey's car and headed off to his beach house. He put her in his bed since he's turned the guest room into an office the year before and hope she wouldn't flip. "Thing we should call a doctor?" he asked Dawson as they headed for the porch with beers in hand.

"Let her sleep. If she doesn't come out of it in a couple hours then call."

"Yeah." They sat in a tense silence for a few minutes before Dawson asked the question he's wanted to since seeing them together at the church.

"You still love her, don't you, Pace?"

Pacey stared into the distance over the sand and water and sighed. He couldn't look at his friend. It had been so long, and there had been no one else for Pacey. Joey was it for him. Reading her book nearly killed him. Dawson shook his head and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry, man." The two men stared out at the water. "For everything, Pace. I'm sorry for everything." With that, Dawson pat Pacey's shoulder got up and walked down the stairs and toward town.

The dim light was her first clue that she'd been out a while. The gently snoring coming from the chair next to the bed was another. Joey looked at Pacey as he slept and brushed a grateful tear from her eye. What has she done in her life to deserve such a loyal friend? "Pace?" she asked running a hand over his hair and down to his cheek. "Pacey? Why don't you get in the bed, Pace?" She asked, sliding from under the covers to make room for his large frame. He did as he was told, but caught her by the waist and gathered her body into his.

"Stay, Jo. Just a few minutes. Stay with me." She settled back against his chest and yawned. She dozed off playing her fingers through his hair. The night drifted silently by outside.