A/N Going to try and upload a lot of new chapters to this piece over the next few days. Any suggestions I will gladly receive them. I'm also working on a sequel to 'Alone Without You' but I don't think I can write the two at the same time because of the different tones in both. I'm also going to round off New Soulmates, as I have left that one dangling a little. So just to keep you updated I'm moving this one forward in time, to around the same time as the season finale took place.
Over My Head
Days turned into weeks, which turned into months, which turned into 5 years. Dawson had managed to graduate from USC, just. All his student films were considered to be formulaic and based on the same story. He had re-made Creek Daze around 6 times. But it was enough to get him noticed by a TV network that wanted a new show. He was trying to write one for them, desperately searching for stimulus. And so one sunny June afternoon, he stepped out of his taxi and walked across his lawn in Capeside. Time felt as if it had turned back. It was 1998 again and his life hadn't begun yet.
He hadn't been home in a long time, his Mom and Lily preferring to travel to LA. No one else came back to Capeside anymore. Jen and Jack were living together in New York, Jack as a teacher and Jen as a councilor at a rough inner city High School. It was a hard job. But they had each other for support and they loved it. Dawson occasionally visited them, as well as trying to see Pacey who was also in New York. Him and Audrey had been together since college and he had been with her through all the rough patches she had endured. They loved each other and Pacey followed her to New York when she wanted to work on Broadway. Pacey did the only thing he knew how, he cooked. He cooked well and started a small bar/restaurant which was filled with nothing but locals. But he loved it. And then there was Joey.
Joey had not been seen or heard from since that fateful day in the dead of winter. Bessie stayed good to her word and told no one anything more than she had Dawson that night. She let people know she was okay but nothing about where she was or what she was doing. When Andie came back from Italy after one year and Joey didn't, Dawson had resigned himself to losing her. He knew it was the only way he could move forward. Andie had spoken to him a few times but never about Joey, only about life in general. The conversations were pained and void of all emotion and so eventually they stopped. Andie went back to Boston and finished her degree, going pre med and was currently working her way through Med School.
Dawson dropped his bag on the porch and made his way to the dock. He sat down and swung his legs over the edge, taking in the scent of an impending summer in Capeside. The first summer he had spent there in almost 4 years.
'Penny for them?' his mother's voice interrupted his thoughts. She lowered herself next to him on the dock and hugged him gently.
'Hi Mom,' he said into her shoulder. 'It's just strange being back, you know?'
'I know. But it's lovely to have you back,' Gail said, looking at how old Dawson looked. He was now sporting the famous Californian tan, with sun bleached high lights in his hair.
'Where's Lily?' Dawson said, looking around the garden.
'She's playing with Alexander up in your old bedroom. She's always playing with Alexander's. I swear, its history repeating itself.' She smiled to herself and Dawson couldn't help but join in.
'Well it wouldn't be Capeside without some kind of soulmate thing going on.' Dawson said, turning to his mother with a yawn.
'You must be exhausted. Why don't you kick the kids out of your room and get some sleep?' Gail said, standing up and reaching out her hand to pull him to his feat.
'Okay, that sounds good,' he said, taking her hand and following her into the house.
As he climbed up the familiar stairs he heard the two small voices coming form his room. He couldn't help but smile and remember about Joey and his endless summer play dates.
'Knock knock,' he said, pushing the door open. Lily and Alex were on the bed, playing with his ET doll.
'Dawson!' the little girl yelled as she jumped to her feat and reached out her arms. Dawson hugged her tightly. She had grown into a cute little 7 year old, all pig tails and toothless grins.
'Hey there! How's my favorite sister?' He said, placing her back down on the bed.
'Great. We were just about to watch a movie, wanna join us?' she said, lisping slightly. It broke Dawson's heart.
'No honey, he needs to sleep. He has had a long day.' Gail said from behind them.
'No, it's alright Mom. As long as I get to pick,' he said, moving towards his ancient video collection and picking up a dusty copy of ET.
'Alright!' Alex said 'How did you know that was our favorite movie?'
'Call it a hunch,' he said, turning on his old TV and putting the video in the machine. He sat on the bed, with Alex and Lily either side of him. Gail watched from the door and couldn't help but smile. There was a noticeable absence though and she knew that Dawson could feel it too.
'I'll get some Popcorn for you guys,' Gail said, walking out of the room and down to the kitchen.
Gradually Dawson felt himself drift off, followed shortly by Alex and Lily. When Gail went upstairs she found them all fast asleep. She pulled the comforter over them and turned the television off, smiling at herself. She had both her babies home.
Gail went outside and sat on the porch. It had been a lonely few years without Dawson in the house. She hadn't told him yet but she had meant a nice man called Steve. They went on dates and she couldn't help but think he might want to stick around. She slowly rocked herself in the old rocking chair and looked over the creek. The phone ringing jolted her out of her dozing.
'Hello?'
'Hey Gail its Bessie,'
'Hiya. I guess you want Alexander home?' Gail said, standing up and making her way inside.
'Kind of, has he been any trouble today?' Bessie said.
'No, actually he is sleep at the moment. I'll wake him up and drive him home if you want?' Gail said, picking up her car keys.
'Could you? I've got a special guest to see him and I think he would like to come home. You might want to see them as well,' Bessie said, her voice bubbling over with excitement.
'It's not... she's home?' Gail said.
'This morning, taking us all by surprise.' Bessie said, hearing Bodie and Joey laughing in the background.
'I'll be right over.' Gail said, hanging up and running up the stairs. The three were still fast asleep, especially Dawson who was out cold. She picked up the sleeping boy and pulled the comforter back over the siblings. Alex stirred slightly and she whispered in his ear they were going home.
The drive over to the Potter's seemed to take forever, the scenery passing slowly. Alex was bouncing up and down in his seat, excited at seeing his Aunt Joey for the first time in years. Gail was excited too. Joey was like a daughter to her. Not only that but having both Joey and Dawson in the same place for the first time in almost 6 years tantalizing. She pulled up in front of the B&B and found Bessie sitting on the front step.
'Hey there neighbor,' she called from the car. Bessie stood up and waved as Alex ran past her and straight into the house.
Gail walked over to Bessie and they met with a hug, as they always did. Bessie had obviously been crying on and off all day.
'Are you okay?' Gail asked, linking arms with her friend.
'I'm really good. She's changed a lot Gail, she's so grown up! I can't believe she's my little sister anymore,' Bessie said, griping onto Gail's arm.
'She will always be your little sister,' Gail said as they reached the front door. Gail placed her hand on the handle but hesitated 'Are you sure she will want to see me, after...you know,' Gail said. She didn't want to upset her or make her nervous.
'She asked for you personally Gail, stop worrying,' Bessie reassured her and placed her hand over Gail's on the handle.
They walked through the door and found Joey standing at the breakfast bar with Alex running around at her feat. Gail couldn't quite recognize her. She had a deep Italian tan, her hair extremely long, down to her elbows almost. It had maintained its healthy brown color she had always had but it was now very curly. She was still the slight little thing she was when she was little but was defiantly a woman now. What stuck Gail most was she seemed more confident that ever, compared to the scared little boy she had left tucked up in bed earlier.
'Joey, is that you?' Gail asked walking towards her.
Joey looked up and her face lit up 'Gail!' Joey said, opening her arms and hugging her tightly. 'God I missed you. How are you?' Joey said.
'All the better for seeing you, you look amazing,' Gail said, standing back and looking her up and down again. She was wearing jeans with a blue T shirt but she had customized her belt and her arms were full of bracelets and bangles.
'Well, they say that Italy agrees with everyone. Come on in, I've got a present for you,' Joey said, taking Gail's hand and leading her to the living room. It was filled with various canvases with bright splashes of color on them. Some of them were very abstract while others were more traditional portraits and landscapes. In the corner was one under a sheet.
'This is very Little Woman of me so I apologize but I couldn't help it. I wanted to capture it for you,' Joey said, moving the sheet off the painting. It was a delicate oil painting of the Leery's house, dock and all, over looking the creek.
'Oh Joey, it's magnificent,' Gail said, touched that Joey would make something like that for her.
'Well in one class we had to paint home. And it was the only place that came to mind.' Joey said, lifting the painting up and giving it to Gail.
'Should I be offended by that?' Bessie interrupted smiling. She knew that Joey always considered the Leery's to be her home, more so than the B&B. After all, she had only lived in the B&B for 2 years before moving away
'Of course you should,' Joey said, a big grin crossing over her face. 'Do you really like it?'
'Joey, I'm so proud of you I couldn't say,' Gail said, putting the picture at her feet and hugging her tightly.
'Thanks Gail, that means the world.' Joey said softly into her shoulder. She started to yawn.
'What is it about me today? I just make people want to sleep.' Gail said preoccupied with the painting to realize what she was saying.
'Has Alex been trouble today then?' Joey said.
'No, it's just that I had to wake him up to bring him here. Alex, Lily and Dawson fell asleep watching ET and...' Gail suddenly stopped and looked over at Joey.
'Dawson's here?' Joey said, trying to keep her tone light.
'Yeah, he's come back because he had writer's block. He is writing for a big TV network.' Gail said, glancing over at Bessie who was looking concerned.
'How long is he home for?' Joey continued, walking over to another painting in the crowded room.
'The whole summer,' she said quietly.
'I must drop by and say hello at some point.' Joey said, moving some of the paintings around into order.
'That would be great. You can come over for dinner if you want?' Gail said, immediately cursing herself.
'I'll get back to you on that but thanks Gail,' Joey yawned again 'I'm sorry I better go get some sleep before dinner. I was great to see you again.' Joey said, hugging her again.
'Same here Joey. I've missed you,' Gail said into her shoulder.
Joey smiled and walked off to her old room. She closed the door and leaned against the back of it. Dawson was home, something was thought she wouldn't have to deal with. At least not yet.
