Joey, Dawson, Bessie and Mr. Potter were all sitting in a small isolated room. They were waiting for an "adolescent representative". They were in the adoption agency ready to plan the baby's future. The only problem was that Pacey was no were in sight. Dawson tried calling him before they had left this morning, but he had not answered the telephone. Dawson had assumed that Pacey had made up his mind and went against Dawson's opinions.
"Ms. Joey Potter." A young African-American woman had walked into the room.
"Yes." Joey answered.
The woman took a seat, "My name is Penelope Bedingfield and I am the social worker… I hope I did not keep you waiting too long."
"No, not at all." Mr. Potter stated.
The woman opened Joey's file and started skimming the papers, "Okay I see you're twenty six weeks into your pregnancy and you just had a doctor's appointment. The baby looks perfectly healthy. That's an extra plus…. Everything looks in order…"
Everyone looked at each other please because this was becoming an easy process. Before they knew it, it would have been over.
"Let me asked you this simple question. Do you want a closed adoption or an open adoption?" Mrs. Bedingfield asked.
"What?" Joey was shocked with such a question. Joey had never thought about actually being in the baby's life.
"A closed adoption is when you basically hand over the baby to us and you never have to see the child again. But an open adoption allows you to be part of the child's life." Mrs. Bedingfield elaborated.
"Joey wants a closed adoption." Mr. Potter declared. He did not even ask for Joey's opinion.
"Yea. I agree." Bessie noted.
"Joey I think it is for the best." Dawson approved.
Mr. Potter, Bessie, and Dawson were all looking at Joey just waiting for her to agree. Joey was afraid that if she did have the same opinion as everyone else, everything would go tumbling down.
"Yes. I want a closed adoption." Joey agreed like a mindless dummy.
"Now I need you to sign these papers." Mrs. Bedingfield handed her a packet.
"What is it?" Bessie asked. Bessie took the packet of papers and started reading it.
"It's just a standard agreement. It just basically allowing us to know that you are willing to give up your baby." Mrs. Bedingfield acknowledged.
Joey was amazed at these terms she was learning. They were talking as if the baby were a dispensable thing. It seemed horribly wrong to her. Joey did not know if she was starting to love the baby? Nonetheless, she did know that she had to respect it since it was an innocent life.
Bessie handed her the packet and said, "It looks fine to me Joey."
"Go ahead and sign it." Mr. Potter said in demanding way.
Joey did not have time think about what she was going to do. This continuous process was moving so fast for Joey. She did not have the willpower to stop the permanence. She wanted to have time to think about what choice to make.
Before Joey could make up her mind, Mrs. Bedingfield said, "And Mr. Leery, I am going to have to have you sign one too."
"Why?" Dawson wondered.
"You're the father right?" Mrs. Bedingfield assumed.
"No." Dawson said softly.
"Oh." Mrs. Bedingfield said in distress.
"What's wrong?" Bessie queried.
"Do you know who the father is?" Mrs. Bedingfield questioned.
"Yes she does. His name is Pacey Witter, but what does have do with all of this?" Mr. Potter intervened.
"Well, if the biologically father of the unborn baby does not sign the form, he technically could have custody of the child. If he wanted to." Mrs. Bedingfield informed.
"What?" Bessie shouted.
"Would he do that? Would he want custody of the baby?" Mrs. Bedingfield inquired.
"No. I mean Pacey Witter is a piece of work but he's not that daft… He would not want custody." Bessie labeled.
"Are you sure?" Mrs. Bedingfield double-checked.
"No… He might want custody." Dawson contradicted everyone.
"What!" Bessie was appalled.
"Dawson what makes you think that?" Mr. Potter furiously asked.
Dawson took a deep breath ready to explain, "Well, I talked to Pacey last night and I told him about this. About this meeting at the adoption agency. And, you see, he went in this long argument about how it was morally wrong to put the baby up for an adoption and he said that he knew better… He might want to keep the baby. He doesn't care about the negative effects."
Dawson over exaggerated a bit. Actually, Dawson knew that he was putting everything way out of perspective. Dawson was just trying to make Pacey look bad.
"Mrs. Bedingfield, Pacey Witter is a not the father figure. He's a loser, he comes from a terrible family, he has no money and he has a bad reputation. In fact, he slept with his English teacher a few years ago. Her name was…"
"You know what, why don't you three leave." Mrs. Bedingfield interrupted.
"What? No, Joey needs a parent, guardian, or lawyer in this room. We're not leaving." Mr. Potter initiated.
"Mr. Potter this will be off the record. Whatever I say to your daughter will be confidential. What ever I say to your daughter will not on any legal documents." Mrs. Bedingfield declared.
Without any argument, Mr. Potter, Bessie, Dawson left the room meticulously. Joey watched as each and every one of them left the room. As they left the room, Joey realized that they left her to defend for herself.
Author's Note: I want to thank all of you for reviewing so quickly so I decided to update quickly. As you can see the faster you review my story, the faster I'll update. I know it might be asking a lot but it would be nice if I could get 8 reviews for this chapter.
Author's Comment: I would like to thank Stephi889 and Superfan for their quick reviews therefore I have already sent them this chapter. The first two people who reviews me and I feel like the deserve a turn, I'll send them this review.
Next Time on the Dawson's Creek FanFic Life is Complicated: Joey finally realize that she has to make decision instead of sitting on the side. What choice will she make? Also Dawson and Pacey verbally butts heads with one another. Will it get personal? How will it end?
