A/N: Ha. That was the LONGUEST delay in history. Very sorry. I got a) writer's block and wasn't sure where to go next, having to choose between three versions of this chapter and b) school is just insane right now, with my two jobs and finals and all.

Dawson is making an appearance in this chapter. He'll be in the next one as well. And the whole Joey/Dawson relationship confusion that is so typical to Dawson's Creek is getting somewhat cleared up in my version of 'what happens after the series finale'. I want/need them to just move on.

Please read and review.

And you know what? I can guarantee you an update within a week. Wow. How is that?

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He stood there, looking at Joey. The table was a mess, some pink paint had even crawled up her cheek. There were papers scattered everywhere, some had landed on the floor.

She was not only doing this for Amy, he knew that now. Of course, Amy was important; she was the reason behind the book. However, Joey was creating the book for helself as well. And for him and for Jack. The woman he loved more than anything in the world and beyond was trying to heal them all, to soothe the pain they all felt, the pain that crept up to their hearts and caught the breath in their throat at any moment. Everything they saw, or touched, or thought about brought back vivid memories of Jen and, although they did no really talk about her that much, she was permanently there, among them all.

Joey adored Amy, and that feeling was obviously mutual. Amy's face just lit up everytime she saw Joey or heard her voice. Saturday nigts with the baby were becoming their ritual, the three of us together and they had both quickly developed a special bond with the little girl.

Pacey bent down, placing a soft kiss on Joey's forehead. His hand lingered in her hair for a few seconds. She was focused, painting a butterfly on a flower. Her gaze was intense, her hands moving with precision, every touch was perfected.

She did not care that it was two in the morning, that she was hungry, that she was physically exhausted, that her back and her hands were killing her. The feeling of peace that seemed to overcome both her mind and her body as she concentrated on her work, her 'new masterpiece', as Pacey had named the project, was worth all that.

Pacey went to the kitchen, filled a glass of orange juice. He took some chicken out of the fridge, made a quick sandwich, cut an apple and put all that on a platter. He walked back to the table, sat beside Joey, setting the food in front of her.

"Eat".

She looked between the food and her work. Finally deciding on the food, she moved the papers and paint aside and took a bite of her sandwich.

"Hmm. This is delicious. Thank you". She offered him a small smile. She was starving, she realized that now.

"You'll have to go to bed at some point, Jo." He took a bite out of a piece of apple.

" I know. I just... I'm like in a transe. I've been in a transe since I started working on this book. It just brings back all those memories... It's great, Pace. I thought it'd be hard, and for a second there I really wondered if it was a good idea at all but... it helps, somehow." She paused, locking her eyes with his, before adding, softly "I get to think of Jen and smile."

"She would be happy about that. I think she'd be very upset to see all of us so... sad." Pacey let out a sigh. She would actually be very mad. She would want them to live and to love, to just embrace this life that ran short on her.

Joey finished her sandwich, yawned.

"Bed time?" Pacey questionned.

Joey looked around the table. She was halfway through the first book. She had worked nonstop for the past week. She was feeling accomplished... and tired.

"Yeah. Bed sounds so good right now".

"Come on". He stood up, offering his hand and pulled her out of her chair.

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The phone was ringing. Joey just turned around, snuggling her head into the crook of Pacey's neck. He wrapped his arms around her tighter, both trying to shut out whatever that noise was that was disturbing their peace on that early Saturday morning. Finally, the answering machine picked up.

"Hi guys! It's Dawson… I guess you're still sleeping. Hmm. I'm in town. I'm at my mom's, actually. I was wondering if you guys wanted to have breakfast with me. I'll be at the Icehouse in about an hour, if you want to meet me there. Ok? Bye." There was a click, announcing he had hung up and both Pacey and Joey looked at each other, startled to hear Dawson's voice.

"We should get up… meet him. What is he doing in town anyway?" Pacey asked her.

"No idea… ". She yawned, putting the blankets over her head and her arms around Pacey. She burrowed her face in his chest, planting kisses over it.

"Jo…"

He felt her smile against his chest and ran his hands through her hair before bringing them around her waist, tugging at her tank top. She pushed on him, bringing him on his back. She moved over him, kissing his mouth, her hands caressing his face. He ran his hands on her back, bringing her tank top up over her head. He looked at her. God, she was beautiful. She was just sitting on him, straddling him, her hair circling her face and the morning light caressing her. She smiled, putting her hands flat on his chest.

"Jo… what about Dawson?"

She looked at him, confused. "What about Dawson?"

He laughed softly. "I mean… are we meeting him for breakfast? Because if so we should be getting ready, rather than doing… this."

She bent her head toward him, still straddling him, with only his boxer and her underwear as a barrier. She moved her hands on his shoulders to support herself. "Pace, your girlfriend is offering you morning sex, and you are thinking about Dawson?" She glanced at him, bringing her eyes down on herself, as if studying something or trying to figure it out. "I don't think I'm doing this right, then". She was almost whispering, her voice low, as if talking to herself.

Pacey sat up, his hands circling her waist again. She stopped talking and brought her eyes on him. He stared at her for a moment: "I love you". He was whispering, his lips hovering less than an inch from hers. She smiled again, bringing her arms around his neck and closing the distance between their lips, while circling his waist with her legs and locking her feet behind him. Joey barely opened her mouth and Pacey slid his tongue in, exploring it and deepening the kiss to a dangerous level. He brought his hands up between them, cupping her breasts and brushing her nipples with his thumbs. He heard and felt the quiet moans escaping her.

They could both feel the butterflies.

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They were in the truck, driving toward the Icehouse. They were late for breakfast. Pacey glanced at Joey, at their joined hands on her lap, at the smile on her face, at her eyes, sparkling with happiness and love and contentment. He felt his heart swell a little more everyday, knowing that he was in part responsible for her happiness and the fact that she was just glowing because of it.

They finally got to the Icehouse and walked toward the patio, holding hands. They spot Dawson, sitting at a table at the far end, working on his laptop and waiting for them. Joey's smile got bigger, somehow. She was so happy to see him. She had not realized how much she had missed him. They had had the 'relationship' talk, defining what they meant to each other, once again. It was after Jen's funeral, weeks ago. And finally, this time, Joey felt it was the right definition. She felt that there would be no more awkwardness between them or between the three of them. He knew about Pacey and her and had sounded happy about it. He had told her, over the phone three weeks ago, that he wanted her to be happy and knew that Pacey could and would succeed at doing just that. He already did make her happy, always had.

Dawson turned his head in their direction as they approach his table and got up to greet them. Joey let go of Pacey's hand and ran toward Dawson, jumping in his arms and wrapping him in a big hug. Pacey felt uneasy for a moment. Then he reminded himself that Dawson and Joey were just friends, that she truly loved him, not Dawson. He also realized that there might well forever be a part of himself that couldn't quite believe that he ended up getting the girl, a scared part of himself that was just waiting for him to wake up from that very sweet dream that his life felt like.

Joey let go of Dawson and told him how happy she was that he had decided to come. She walked to one of the chair opposite to his, turning toward Pacey as she sat down. She saw the look on his face and the fear in his eyes. She reached for his hand and took it in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Pacey turned toward her as she did so. He understood at once that she had read his thoughts and he felt bad for feeling that way. He didn't want to make her have to proof herself to him all the time. He knew she loved him and he didn't want his insecurities to dawn on them. He shot her a smile and kissed her hand.

Corey came and took their orders and Dawson just sat there, looking at them. They looked happy, he had to admit that. He wasn't expecting the pang of jealousy that he thought he was feeling right then. It was surprising, somehow. He had been jealous before, but it was years ago. He had talked to them since they had gotten together again. He hadn't felt any jealousy but had rather felt glad for his friends. They had found each other again and the hopeless romantic in him really thought it was meant to be. That is why the bit of jealousy that he felt at that moment was startling. He tried to ignore it, pushing it back, leaving it for a later analysis.

He looked at the little exchange between them: the touches, the smiles, the looks. "So… how have you guys been?"

"Very, very, veryyyy good. " Joey smiled at him and then at Pacey. Wow. She was truly happy. He hadn't seen her look this happy, this content since… since that week, in high school, before he had found out about the two of them or when she came back from the ski trip. The look on her face was identical to what it was back then. She was glowing with happiness.

Pacey interrupted his thoughts. "She's writing a book". Pacey told him, a proud look on his face.

"You're writing a book? Wow, Jo! That's fantastic! What is it about?"

She cleared her throat and shot Pacey a look before turning to him. "About Jen… it's for Amy. It's a kid's storybook, actually. I just figured that Amy needs something to remember Jen by and…" she started rambling, uncomfortable. She didn't know how people would take her stirring of the past. She didn't want to make anyone sadder than they already were by bringing back memories.

"That's… brilliant". He smiled at her.

"You think?" She needed an honest answer, needed to know what he thought about it.

"Yes, I think it's brilliant. And that you're great for doing it."

"Thanks Dawson, that means a lot to me."

She shot him one her trademark half smile before turning to Corey and the food he was bringing. She attacked her food, literally. Dawson laughed.

"You hungry, Jo?"

"I'm starving. We got busy this morning." She said that, her mouth full, without thinking, focusing on her food. Dawson's arched his eyebrows, questionning. Pacey chuckled. She realized what she had just said and felt herself blushing.

Some things just never changed.

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A/N: Thank you for reading. I'll be updating within a week, as promised above :) Please review, let me know what you thought/think. I'm very open to suggestions, so if you want this story to go in any specific directions, let me know.