"Joey? You have to be kidding me right, she would never let anything like that happen to her." Dawson says with no emotion showing on his face or in his eyes.

"I'm sorry Dawson but it is, she wasn't herself after you left. She fell into a rutine after that, she finished school with honors. But by the time she did he had his hooks in her and it just keeps getting worse. I was hoping no praying that you could make the diffrence." Pacey tells him.

Dawson looks towards the creek before answering him. "Sorry Pacey, Joey isn't my problem any more. That stopped five years ago. I have a carrer, a girlfriend, just about everything i want. I am here to vist my mom, dad and sister, not get involved in someone's life who is apart of my past. Aren't you the one who told me,' don't look to the past always look to the future' Well that is what i have done and will continue to do. Sorry Pace i can't help her she is on her own." Dawson tells him looking him right in the eyes.

"I'm sorry to hear that Dawson, i geuss time doesn't always heal wounds, or friendships. Ok, well like i said hope you enjoy your vist, tell your family hi for me, and i will see them later." Pacey says with a sad look on his face. 'I'm sorry we turned you into this kind of person old friend,I hope you find your way back some day.' Pacey thinks to himself as he walks away.

Dawson is left standing in his parents back yard, wondering why Pacey would even come to him.'like Joey would ever listen to me any ways. She made her choice, just like i did, time to move on.' Dawson thinks to himself as he walks into the house and is greeted by Lilly running and jumping into his arms.

"Hey kiddo, how are you doing?" Dawson asks her.

"Oh great now that your here. I missed you big brother. You going to be here long?" Lilly asks him with hopeful eyes.

"Well a week or two, if that is ok with mom and dad." Dawson tells her as Mitch and Gail enter the room rushing over to hug Dawson tightly.

"Of course son as long as you want." Mitch tells him.

"Oh welcome home son." Gail says.

"Thanks guys, i just kinda need a break. Three movies in two years is alot. I just need to take a small break before i start the new one." Dawson says.

"Yeah three movies and four oscars. I am so proud of you my boy." Mitch says with a wide grin.

"Ok dad enough i hear it all the time which is why i need a break. No one knows where i am and i would kind like to keep it that way. Well with the exception of family and friends." Dawson says.

Dawson puts Lilly down and she runs out the door telling her mom and dad she is going to see Alex. They tell her to be careful as she runs out the door.

Dawson gets a worried look on his face and then looks his parents in the eyes.

"Mom, dad i need to know something."

"What son?" They both say.

"Well when i first got here i was greeted by Pacey, and he told me this story about a friend of ours who is in trouble. Do you two know anything about this?"

Gail sucks in her breath and looks away from him. His dad looks at the floor before saying. "He was talking about Joey, Dawson. She is in really bad shape, but won't listen to any of us. We have all tried, me, your mom, Pacey, Jen, Jack, Bessie, even Mrs. Ryan tried, all to no avail." Mitch says

"It is bad Dawson, he beats her all the time she always has some kind of mark on her. No one else knows this but she even lost a baby because of it. Every time Doug tries to arrest him Joey tells him no. She just won't leave him. She told me it was her punishment for a bad thing she did in the past. Dawson i am really worried about her, i am afraid that one of these times he will go to far." Gail tell Dawson.

Dawson looks away and sighs. It just isn't his problem any more. He knows it sounds cold, but he put it out there for her and she ran away. He can't do it any more.

"Son maybe you could talk to her she might listen to you." Mitch says.

"I can't dad i am sorry. I swore when i left Boston five years ago i was done with Joey and Pacey. I have worked so hard to put that all behind me, i gave her a chance i did and she ran away. So i'm sorry but she is on her own." Dawson tells them.

"Oh honey you can't mean that, can you." Gail asks him

"Yeah that is not the son we raised talking." Mitch says

"Yes it is dad, thing have changed in the last five years. I am not that niave little film geek any more. I have worked so hard to accomplish the things i have. I did the only thing i could do when she destroyed me, i went on with my life. So did Joey, i am sorry she made a mistake and is having a hard time now, but she chose it, she chose that life. I can't help her." Dawson says with no emotion.

" Well i guess you have changed, i am not sure for the good or for the bad but you have changed." Mitch tells him.

"Well honey if that is the way you feel i guess we can't tell you to do other wise. Dinner will be done in a little while why don't you go freshen up." Gail says to him

"Ok thanks mom, again i am sorry if i seem rude or uncaring. It is just the way it has to be." Dawson says as he walks up the stairs.