I know, I know, it's been a while since my last update. I own North Chicago bank. This is one of the three last chapters. I'm just glad I got this one out because I have homecoming Saturday and I have so such to do. (Yeah, Sam, see ya at the cougar!) Hope you enjoy…to the story!

Joey slowly opened her deep brown eyes. A ray of light streamed though the window and warmed her face. Joey turned onto her back and smiled. She rested her hands on the hem of the sheet that covered her body. She heard some clicking outside of the bedroom. Joey stood up, with sheet wrapped around her, and searched the floor for her discarded clothes. Once she had the sleepwear back on, Joey opened the door and walked out to the kitchen.

"Smells good," Joey said taking a seat at the table.

Pacey, clad in a t- shirt and a pair of boxers, turned to Joey and smiled. "It better be. I have worked very hard on this breakfast."

"You don't have work today?"

"Not till one. I figured this would be a great time to cook for you,' Pacey said putting a plate in front of her.

Joey smiled at him. "I thought you would be out of here already."

"Why is that?"

"Well, because of yesterday. I thought you would be one of the first people to see Gretchen today."

"Oh," he said thinking of something else. "Visiting hours doesn't start until eleven but I'll be there early."

Joey nodded. Everything was a bit awkward that morning. After they ate in silence, Joey played with her fork. "How do you feel about last night?" she asked looking at her plate.

Pacey put down his drink. "As in what?"

Joey still looked down. 'As in what happened last night, as in you and me, as in us…sleeping together. What do you think?"

"I…I think last night was sudden. It was unexpected and definitely put a wrinkle in our friendship game."

Joey lowered her head. "I guess you're right," she said quietly.

Pacey watched her head fall. "I don't regret it if that's what you're thinking."

Joey looked up to him. 'But you said last night was sudden and unexpected."

"I know what I said. What happened last night was unexpected but that doesn't mean I regret it. Us together always feels perfect to me. Whether it be talking or having sex, we just always feel right."

She couldn't help but smile. "You know, I've missed this. I forgot how being with you was so different than anyone else."

"The sex is that good?" Pacey joked.

Joey smirked. "I don't mean just sex, I mean doing anything with you. You're the only one who can still give me butterflies."

Pacey couldn't help but smile. "I should clear the table he said getting up and moving by her.

Joey put her hand softly around his wrist. She looked up into his wanting blue eyes. "Pace, I still love you."

Pacey stared down at her. "Don't do this to me, Jo. Don't say you love me just because of last night."

Joey smiled. "I never stopped loving you. I never thought I would see you again after real world and then when I got the call to work out here I figured it was just a chance thing. After we started hanging out more I realized that I couldn't deny the fact that I still loved you...maybe even more than before. I wasn't sure of when to tell you but after what happened last night I'm sure that this is the right time to tell you. So, I still love you and I want to be with you."

Her tone was so natural. Pacey kept looking into her eyes, searching for an ounce of doubt. When none was to be found, he smiled. "I've always loved you."

Joey could feel a big grin spread on her face. She reached up and brought his face down to hers. They shared a sweet kiss. "How about we finish this in the bedroom?"

Pacey grinned and picked her up. "That sounds like a great idea."

XXX

Pacey walked out of the hospital room and rubbed his face. Doug handed Pacey a coffee as he sat down. Doug looked down at his coffee and rubbed the lid.

"She's doing a lot better," Doug said. "She's been stable all morning."

Pacey nodded. "How long till she wakes up?"

"The doctors aren't sure, Pacey. A coma can last a few hours, a few days… a few years. All we can do is pray that Gretchen will open her eyes again."

Pacey made a deep sigh. "That doesn't even look like Gretchen in there, Doug. There are all these wires and tubes coming out of her, the machines are keeping her alive. Did you feel her skin? It's ice cold and hard. You can even see a bit of blood under her nails. I just…I can't believe this happened."

Doug put his arm around his brother. "These things just happen. Something like this teaches us to be careful, we only get one life."

XXX

Joey held up her dress as she sat down across from Steven Clio, the CEO of the bank of North Chicago. It was his decision as to where they would be that evening. He picked a quiet dark corner in the back of Harry Carry's restaurant. Of all the places, he had to pick Pacey's restaurant. Joey shifted her eyes around quickly, looking for the familiar face, before smiling at her company for the evening.

"Are you ready to begin Mr. Clio?" she said grabbing her purse to take out her pad and pen.

He smiled and leaned his back against the rest. "Like I said, call me Steve. I see you're playing reporter Potter again."

"That is my job, sir," Joey said picking up the pen.

Steve leaned forward. "I was hoping tonight would be just you and I eating dinner, not me and the reporter on an interview."

Joey put down her pen and clasped her hands. "Mr. Clio, I am a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. I am here to interview you on economic growth and your viewpoint of that said growth. THAT is the only reason I am here with you."

Steve just grinned wider. "Is that why you wore the dress?"

Joey rolled and squinted her eyes. "Do you want to do the interview or not?"

"Fine," he said. "Let me order some food first."

Joey nodded and called over the waitress, she didn't notice the tow workers on break staring at her.

"Who's the suit?" Lucky asked Pacey after a few minutes.

Pacey crossed his arms. "Probably a date."

Lucky shook his head. "Didn't ya just get back together?"

Pacey sighed. "I don't know. Does sex count as getting back together? We're getting too complicated already."

The waitress had come out of the kitchen with the tray of food and looked at Lucky and Pacey. "Hey guys, can one of you deliver this food? I really have to pee."

Pacey nodded. "Sure, what table?"

"Table nine. The one with the cute couple."

Pacey rolled his eyes and made his way to Joey's table.

"Here's your food," he said handing it out. "You look a bit nervous maim," he said looking at Joey.

Steve laughed. "Yeah, the girl's nervous because our first date went sour."

Joey's mouth fell and she looked at the hard expression on Pacey's face. "What? no. No, this was never a date. Pacey, this was never ever going to be a date. I was interviewing him…"

"It doesn't matter," Pacey said before walking away.

Joey looked between Pacey who had walked away and Steve. Did she risk her interview for love? Or did she let the love of her life walk away for a newspaper?

"Steve, I need to leave for a few seconds,' she said getting up.

Steve stood up as well and placed some money on the table. "No, problem, toots. I need to leave myself. That should be enough for the food. We'll do this interview some other time."

Joey nodded and walked away towards the kitchen. Lucky stopped her from going in.

"Lucky, you either bring Pacey out here or I go in. Pick one," she said forcefully.

Pacey emerged from the kitchen.

"Pace, we need to talk about this," Joey said.

"It's too complicated already," he responded.

"What do you mean?"

"We slept together less than twelve hours ago and you're out with another guy."

"I was just interviewing him!"

"At a restaurant?"

"HE wanted to come here."

"And you had to go along with him?"

"Yes! He's the main focus of my story. Whatever he wants, he gets."

"What if he wanted to sleep with you? Would you give him that too?"

"Is that what you think of me? You think I'm a slut who would do anything to get a story!"

"No, it's just...we can't do this."

"What do you mean by that? I love you. I thought you loved me."

"I do love you, I love you with my whole heart but it won't work. We've tried so many times before and it hasn't worked. Maybe you were right. Love just isn't enough."

"No, I was stupid back then. Please don't say that we can't work. I want it to work...I need it to work."

"It won't."

"Can we at least try? Pacey, I love you!"

"We can't, Joey. If I've learned anything in the past two days it's that life is too short for so much drama. All we are is drama. "

"You don't love me, do you?"

"I do love you. I will always love and don't ever doubt that. I just can't handle this right now."

Joey felt the tears running hot against her cheeks. She slowly nodded. "Okay, I need to go," she whispered before walking away and out of his life.

Reviews are much appreciated. New chapter soon!