Here I am again, back from my ever present writer's block. Hope you like it.

Thanks for all the reviews, you guys are really kind to me

Every second that brought dinner time closer made Joey more and more anxious and nervous. Mrs. Ryan, Jen, Jack and Charlie had already arrived. She was standing on the porch, while everybody was inside the warm house, waiting for Pacey, he had gone to his parents' to see his sister Gretchen, but promised to be by her side when the Leerys arrived. Jen came out to search for her friend, who didn't even notice her presence.

"Joey, it's freezing outside here..."

"I'm waiting for Pace." She put a lose strand of hair beside her ear.

"Jo, he would agree with me, come inside, there's no use waiting here, you may have pneumonia..."

Jen heard the sigh of relief, and the change in her face when she saw Pacey's car arriving.

"Ok, I'm going inside; I don't wanna see your public displays of affection."

Pacey left the car, worried by the way Joey was standing there. He knew her well enough to feel how nervous she was.

"Pace, why did you take so long?"

He held her close, kissing her forehead, trying to give her the strength she needed to see Dawson.

"Baby, I'm here now, don't worry...He won't do anything...and I still owe him a black eye..."

His words made her laugh, while she kept her face buried in his neck.

"Pacey, promise me you won't pay him back today, I don't wanna ruin Thanksgiving."

"I promise to keep my hand far from his face if he behaves, but one harsh word he says to you and I'll do what he deserves."

"Fine. Let's go inside, it's freezing here." She smiled.

"I know a better way to warm you." He whispered.

"Really? Which way?" She teased.

"This one" His mouth was over hers, in a kiss. She parted her lips to accept his tongue, hungry to taste him, her arms snaking around his neck, like they had a will of their own, his arms around her waist bringing her closer, molding her forms to his. They broke the passionate kiss, when they heard laughter behind them. And all their friends talking together, from the window.

"What did I say? Public displays of affection".

"We should've brought cold water to tear them apart." Jack joked.

"Come on, Witter, the girl needs to breathe..."

"Bunny, we know he is hot but can't you keep your hands off him?"

They burst in laughter along them, and joined them inside.

When the Leerys arrived, Grams was helping Bodie and Bessie with the dinner, Alex was playing near the young adults, absorbed with his toy cars. Joey was comfortably settled on Pacey's lap; Audrey and Jack were teasing them. Jen was sat on the floor and Charlie on a chair behind her, with his guitar.

"Bunny, why don't you sing? I'm getting bored"

"I'm busy, right now" Joey answered kissing Pacey's face.

"Oh, that's nauseating...and I thought you were bad in high school..."

"Weren't they that bad?"

"C'mon, Charlie, you are my friend, and I don't say a word about you and Jen."

"That's because we don't burn our friends' eyes mauling each other in public..."

"What can I say, guys? The girl can't resist my charming self"

"Pacey, darling, keep your mouth shut."

"It's an order, baby." He kisses her.

Dawson watched them from the door, where Bessie was greeting him. He felt nearly sick seeing everybody looking so good without him, like he wasn't even missed. He dropped his head, trying to hide the jealousy, the anger and the bitterness he was feeling. He saw his parents going to greet his friends, but he couldn't take himself there. He answered the most polite way he could to Grams and Bessie's questions about LA.

"Joey, darling, you look so good...you too, Pacey"

"Thanks, Gale. How is Lily?" she smiled, not bothering to get off her place.

"She's cranky today" Mitch answered. "Dawson, aren't you coming to say hello to your friends?"

Dawson approached them, trying to hold back his need to snap that cocky smile from Pacey's face. How could Joey stay like that, on his lap, while he held her possessively? He had no right to do that.

"Hi, guys." He managed to say.

The cold reception Dawson got, since they ignored the events from Halloween surprised everybody. Feeling the air filled with tension, Bessie announced the dinner was served. The dinner went by with no big deal. After dessert, Joey went outside with Pacey; she was so tired of looking at Dawson, who was acting like nothing had happened.  Pacey just held her, to protect her from the cold, his hands stroking her hair. Dawson went after them; he had to talk to Joey.

"I'd like to talk to you, Joey."

"Really, Dawson? Because I don't wanna talk to you right now." He heard her cold answer.

"Joey, please." He whined.

"If you wanna talk to me, say it now. You have five minutes."

"Alone, Joey."

"Dawson, anything you want to tell me, Pacey can hear."

"Joey, how can you do this to me? Haven't you punished me yet?"

"Punish you? Dawson, what do you mean?" she stepped out Pacey's arms.

Pacey was trying his best too control himself from making Dawson shut his big mouth up.

"Joey, you are doing all this to punish me, this thing with Pacey, because I pushed you away..."

"Dawson, have you even heard what you said? It's been two years, two damn years!" Her voice louder.

"Joey, I know I hurt you..." He stepped closer.

"Dawson Leery, is this big head of yours only for growing hair? You have to give me some credit here; do you really think I would be with Pacey just because you hurt me two years ago?"

"Joey, I'm willing to do anything you want me to, I'm going to drop out school just to be near you..."

"Are you on drugs or something? I don't wanna be with you."

"Joey, please, you have to listen to me, the only thing he wants from you is sex… I love you, you're my soul mate, and you're supposed to be with me..." He grabbed her arms.

"Dawson, are you deaf? Haven't you heard what Joey said? Let her go."

"Pacey, this conversation hasn't reached the scum yet." He tightened his grip, while she struggled to break free.

"Now it has." Pacey flew over Dawson, punching him. Joey screamed, crying, as they continued fighting, her voice attracting everyone to outside. Mitch and Bodie stopped the fight, holding the guys.

"Can you two please explain what the hell you were doing? Fighting like two kids?" Mitch shouted.

"Your son was hurting my girlfriend, what do you expect me to do?" Pacey asked, full of anger.

"Dawson, explain yourself"

"I was just talking to Joey, if Pacey has a problem with that..."

"Shut up, Dawson. I owed you a black eye since Halloween."

"Halloween? Dawson was in LA in Halloween." Gale said, confused.

"No, Gale, he wasn't." Joey told her, a strange calm filling her. "He went to Boston with this very same talk that I must be with him. Bodie, free Pacey, he won't do anything"

She grabbed Pacey's hand and turned to Dawson who was still being held by his father, lifting her chin, eyes full of tears.

"Look, Dawson, I thought I'd never say this. You are not my friend anymore; you haven't been in a long, long time. I chose be with Pacey because I love him, and if you could see the wonderful man your former best friend, you brother, like you used to call him, grew up to be, you would stop being this childish self centered creature you've become this past years. I won't lose touch with your family, because I love Gale and Mitch like they were my own blood, but I never, never want you to be near me or Pacey. You've hurt us more than you can imagine, I know you somehow got rid of Pacey's letter, I remember you leaving me here alone, passed out when I lost my baby, if it weren't for Jen, I could've died." Sighs of surprise were heard, nobody beside her knew that. "I remember every word you said to me and him. Please, go back to LA and forget you ever met us." Pacey remained in silence, knowing she had to say everything that was going on her mind.

"You don't mean it, Joey. I made you a favor when I took that letter. You will ask me to come back when he dumps you for the first slut he finds."

"Mitch, Gale, I'm sorry you had to find out what kind of person your son is like this. And Dawson, I'm serious, forget you ever met me."

"This is not over, Joey." He yelled while his father dragged him to the car, followed by a crying Gale, holding a frightened Lily.

"Yes, it is." She whispered, hiding her face on Pacey's chest, finally giving in to her tears.