A/N Well aren't I one with the twists in plot line? Hopefully I will settle this one down a bit, maybe less time travel. Thanks for all the reviews JAS (I think it's just you and me reading this damm thing), good or bad they mean a lot. (By the way, I know it's an obvious song and title to use of this chapter but I couldn't help myself. Song is by Melissa Etheridge.)

Come to my Window

Joey splash another handful of cold water over her face. She never did get up to eat dinner in the end. She sat down for 5 minutes to consider the gravity of having Dawson so near to her for the first time in years and got lost in nostalgic dreams of the past. The reality of it was she awoke with a start early the next morning, famished from not eating the previous day and more confused than ever. As much as she wanted to run over to his house now, climb through the window and loose herself in his arms, she couldn't let herself.

She looked at herself in the mirror. She hadn't aged really. But then she had been leading an especially stress free life for the last 5 years. Going to Andie was an escape but it also provided her with a lifeline. Andie took her to the local university she was considering enrolling in as she was not then sure what she wanted to do. Joey got lost in the language and the romance of the place. And then she stumbled across the art department and fell in love. Seeing the work that people were doing and the passion in their faces ignited something she had left buried for a long time. That was enough for her. She enrolled for the next semester's teaching and signed off Worthington forever.

She moved in with Andie's aunt permanently, an artist herself and made a little money working in a local restaurant and teaching English to other students. It wasn't much but it was enough. She had finally graduated 2 months previously and decided it was time to come home. At least for a while anyway. As much as she wanted to come home for the holidays and birthday's she had missed out on while she was away, she knew a part of her would force her to stay. And she didn't want that. She wanted to discover the world on her own. She pulled her long hair into a lose bun at the back of her head and teased it until it was somewhat secure.

Resisted the urge to call people was the worst part of the whole experience. She asked Andie not to tell her anything about what was happening at home. She really wanted to be out of the loop for a while. She hadn't considered it would be five years before she would return. She knew she had to at least say hello to some of the people she had run away from, through no fault of there own. Friends like Pacey, Audrey, Jack and Jen.

Jen.

It was the one bit of news that Andie had forced her to hear. When Joey arrived in Italy, she didn't know that Dawson and Jen had split up. One night when she was trying to silently cry into her pillow at the old farmhouse where the three women had lived, Andie came in a told her in a quiet little voice. Joey had been shocked to hear it. She was more shocked to hear she had taken Charlie back.

Joey made her way outside and stood on the small jetty outside the B&B. It was warm outside but cold by her standards. Long Italian summer's had made Joey realize what real heat could mean. The sun was bright but it was not warm. The wind swished through the reeds and she heard a splashing noise coming from the corner. It was Dawson's rowing boat.

Joey jumped slightly but held her feet fiercely to the old wooden planks, starring down at them. She had to face him sometime. At least it could be now. She felt the boat bump into the jetty and looked up.

But it wasn't Dawson. A little blond girl with her hair all matted and bunched into pigtails grinned up to her from the boat.

'Hello,' Lily lisped.

'Hey,' Joey responded, not entirely sure if this little girl could be Lily. She hadn't seen Lily since she was a tiny baby. 'Can I help you young lady?'

'Nah, I know what I'm doing,' Lily said, jumping out of the boat and tying it to the jetty. She sure was a pro at this.

'Okay, well my name is...' Joey started but was interrupted by the little girl.

'I know, you're Joey. Dawson has pictures of you everywhere. I'm Lily,' she said, sticking her hand out for Joey to shake.

Joey tried not to giggle and met the little girl in a hand shake 'Nice to see you Lily. You've grown up so much since I last saw you,' she said, turning the handshake so she was holding hands with her.

'That's what Uncle Pacey says whenever he sees me. Do you known Uncle Pacey?' Lily said, pulling Joey towards the house.

'You could say that,' Joey laughed to herself, following Lily to the house.

'I'm here to get Alex. We're going to the movies today.' She said, stopping in front of the door.

'That sounds fun. Can I join you?' Joey asked eager to spend more time with the little girl she barely knew.

'Mmmm, I suppose. Do you like movies?' Lily asked as she opened the door

'You could say that too,' Joey said, following her into the house.

Lily barged through and went up to Alex sitting on the couch. She slapped him around the head and grabbed his arm 'Come on knuckle head. You were suppose to meet me like 30 minutes ago,'

Joey put her hand to her mouth to stop the laughter. Lily was unlike her brother in so many ways, almost like she was at her age. Bessie came from the bathroom and caught the end of the exchange, trying not to laugh herself. She wrapped her arms around Joey's shoulders and the two stared at the children.

Alex rubbed his head 'I know that. But my Aunt Joey's here and I wanted to see her,' Alex replied grumpily. The truth was Alex had spent the morning playing video games and not really paying much attention to Joey.

'She's coming with us too. So, you ready?' she said impatiently.

Alex thought it over for a second, realizing there was no escape from Lily Leery or her thirst for cinema. 'Okay, give me a minute.' He ran out the room, giving Bessie a stern stare as he went.

'I'm just going to change a little first. You okay to weight Lily?' Joey said to Lily, who by now had her hands on her hips.

'Yeah, I suppose.' She said, the Leery stubbornness shinning through.

Joey quickly brushed her hair through and changed into a casual t-shirt and pair of jeans. She gave herself a quick look in the mirror and followed the two out of the house.

'Umm, my mom is taking us Joey so we have to ride back in the boat if that's okay?' Lily said when they were out on the porch.

Joey took a deep breath. Well, this is as good as time as any to see him and at least the kids will be there as a distraction, she thought to herself.

'That's not a problem, as long as I can row.' Joey finally said, running towards the boat. Alex laughed to himself. He remembered when he was little Joey used to take him on boat rides around the creek. He wouldn't let anyone know, but he had missed her.

So the two generations of Capeside climbed into the rickety old boat and set sail for the Leery's house.

Dawson was sitting in his room, typing into his laptop at high speed. He had had a sudden burst of inspiration very early that morning and hadn't stopped. When he had finally woken up late the previous night he had found Alex gone but Lily curled up at his side. He had smiled and moved her to her own bed. By then the house was quiet, his mom already asleep. So he spent the night watching old movies of himself growing up on the creek. It had given him the boost he needed and he had been writing since 3 in the morning.

He saved his worked, closed his laptop and closed his eyes for a second. Although he had showered and eaten earlier he still didn't feel awake enough. He stood up and made his way downstairs for more coffee.

Joey stopped rowing for a moment when she saw the house. Her and Dawson's house. The ladder was still there, as was the dock. A lump formed in her throat. One of the last places she saw before she left was this house. She had rowed there on the morning of her departure, when the sun was about to rise over it.

'You okay Joey?' Alex said, seeing the far away look in her eyes.

She shock her head 'Yeah I'm fine, just forgot how much hard work this was,' she lied and carried on rowing until they reached the dock. Lily and Alex jumped out and raced to the house, leaving Joey to tie the boat up. She slowly climbed out and gazed over the creek from the dock. She hadn't seen it in 5 years but it was almost unchanged.

Come to my window
Crawl inside, wait by the light
of the moon
Come to my window
I'll be home soon

She tuned around and looked to the house. It too was almost identical to they way it was 5 years ago. Did time ever change anything in this place, she thought to herself. She could hear the kids banging about in the hallway, trying to get Gail to hurry up. How did Bessie and Gail put up with them? She paused briefly at the ladder.

I would dial the numbers
Just to listen to your breath
I would stand inside my hell
And hold the hand of death
You don't know how far I'd go
To ease this precious ache
You don't know how much I'd give
Or how much I can take

She couldn't see any signs of movement in the bedroom and slowly climbed it, making sure not to make too much noise. She just wanted to peak inside, not climb in. When she got to the top she saw the room hadn't changed since she last saw it all those years ago. She tried to resist the urge to climb inside but couldn't.

Come to my window
Crawl inside, wait by the light
of the moon
Come to my window
I'll be home soon

She lowered her legs down to the floor boards and ducked her head inside. The room smelt of Dawson and she inhaled deeply.

Just to reach you
Just to reach you
Just to reach you

Come to my window
Crawl inside, wait by the light
of the moon
Come to my window
I'll be home soon

She made her way around the room, picking up items that sparked memories in her long lost. She carefully placed each other items backs, mindful not to interrupt anything.

Keeping my eyes open
I cannot afford to sleep
Giving away promises
I know that I can't keep
Nothing fills the blackness
That has seeped into my chest
I need you in my blood
I am forsaking all the rest
Just to reach you
Just to reach you
Oh to reach you

Come to my window
Crawl inside, wait by the light
of the moon
Come to my window
I'll be home soon

She sat on the bed and picked up a t-shirt that Dawson had left on the floor nearby. She couldn't help it. She placed it to her face and inhaled his scent. He hadn't changed.

Dawson poured himself another cup of coffee and drank it quickly. He wanted to stay awake. He felt like he was in a daze this morning, all that writing and reminiscing had caused him to blur the line between reality and fiction. He went to fill his cup again.

'You know that stuff's not good for your mind,' Gail said, entering the kitchen in search of her car keys.

'No, but it's better than cocaine so be thankful.' Dawson muttered into his cup.

'Well thanks for that PSA Dawson, I'll be sure to look out for that slogan. Did you get a good night's sleep in the end' Gail teased.

'I did actually. What are you up to today?' He asked, taking a seat at the table.

'Well, as you can probably well hear, I'm taking the kids to the movies. Well, as soon as I can find the keys to the car. Wanna join us?' she asked, emptying her handbag on the table.

'Maybe. I've just hit a gold mine on the writing so I might try to exploit it a bit,' he said, taking another gulp from his drink.

'Oh, before I forget I've got to tell you something. Last night I saw...' Gail started before Lily came crashing into the room.

'Come on Mom, we are already late because of Alex. I don't want to miss this movie again!' she whined.

'Okay sweetie but I'm trying to tell Dawson something. I'll be a minute,' Gail said, turning the girl around and pushing her out of the room towards Alex.

'Fine, we'll meet you in the car,' she said, grabbing Alex's hand and dragging him out of the house.

Gail turned to get Dawson's attention but he had walked into the TV lounge. Joey's painting had caught his eye.

Meanwhile, Joey had climbed down the ladder after hearing the noise that Alex and Lily were making outside. She caught them running around the front garden and threw them in the back seat of the car.

'You two are a pain, you know that?' Joey gently scolded them as she climbed into the front seat.

'We know,' Lily said cheekily as she climbed across the front bench seat and sat next to Joey. 'Is it okay if I sit here?'

'I don't see a problem with that,' Joey said, smiling down at the mischievous child.

Gail found Dawson with the painting in his arms, tracing his fingers across the familiar outlines of his home.

'Where did you get this? It's wonderful.' Dawson said, examining it more closely.

'That's what I'm trying to tell you. Last Night...' Gail began but then the sounding of her car horn rung through the house. Gail knew that this conversation would have to wait. 'I'll explain later.' She kissed him on the check, leaving him to look at the painting.

'Actually, I will come with you. I think I need to get out of the house.' Dawson put the painting down and followed his mother out of the house.

'Okay. You can help manage the brats for me,' Gail said, closing the door behind her and leading Dawson to the car.

They approached the car from the back and Dawson saw Lily jumping around in the front seat. He decided to take the back seat as it was quieter and he needed to think. There was something so familiar about the style of that painting and yet he couldn't put his finger on it.

He lowered himself into the car and looked forward. That was a long haired woman sitting in the front seat, her back to him.

'You're coming too Dawson? That's so cool' Lily said spinning around to see her older brother.

Joey closed her eyes tightly. She hadn't wanted to meet him like this.

'I sure am. Who's you friend in the front seat,' Dawson said, trying to see the woman's face.

'You're silly Dawson,' Alex said, playfully punching him in the arm 'It's Aunt Joey. Say hi Aunt Joey,'

Dawson slowly looked up and studied the back of the woman's head. This woman couldn't be Joey. Her hair was the same color as Joey's was but it was considerably longer. But it couldn't be, she had left his life.

'Joey,' Dawson just about managed to say.

Joey slowly turned around to face Dawson. To face her soulmate. She turned her head slowly, keeping her eyes down and then meeting his eye line. Their eyes locked tightly.

'Hey Dawson,' she said quietly.

Gail stumbled into the car 'Let gets this show on the road...Oh hey Joey,' she said, realizing what had just happened.

'Was this what you were trying to tell me?' Dawson said in a quiet voice.

'Trying being the operative word.' Gail said, looking at the two of them. They intensely stared into each other's eyes, not daring to blink incase they were dreaming.

'Well... better get going. Ready kids?' Gail said, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

'Yeah!' Lily and Alex shouted in union.

Gail started the car and reversed out of the driveway, keeping her eyes on the unfolding drama in the car.