"Get me another beer, Conway," Adam called when Charlie got up to go to the refrigerator.

"Get it yourself," Charlie retorted. He grabbed a beer for himself and a soda for Bombay. He handed it over and his former coach accepted it with an appreciative smile.

"You got something for Coach."

They both ignored Bombay's words of I haven't been your coach in years.

"Yeah, but he's old," Charlie shrugged, plopping down beside the older man on the couch. "Who knows how many years he's got left."

"Me?" Bombay snorted. "I've still got plenty of years to me. You, on the other hand, were complaining just the other day about how much pain you were in from practice. Who's the old one?"

"It was a tough day," Charlie protested. He took a drink. And it's still you."

"You'll get here eventually. You just wait," Bombay told him.

"Yeah and by that time, you'll be almost sixty," Charlie said teasingly.

Bombay shuddered. "Don't remind me."

"I'm gonna write a fake obituary for that birthday," Adam laughed. He looked at Bombay seriously-Charlie was certain he was slightly tipsy at this point. "If your gravestone doesn't say that you hate hockey and don't like kids, I'm gonna riot."

"I'm still here," Bombay said dryly, "can we not talk about my grave just yet?"

The two boys laughed.

At this moment, the doorbell rang. Adam glanced at Charlie. "Is anyone else coming?"

"Not that I remember," Charlie frowned. He'd invited a few of the guys from the team-the ones who still lived in Minnesota, anyway-but they were all busy. He set his drink on the table beside the couch, getting up to see who was at the door. He opened it, surprise crossing his features when he saw it was his cousin, Pacey.

"Hey there, little cousin," Pacey still had that same boyish grin that he had when they were teenagers. "How's it hanging?"

"You didn't tell me you were coming!" Charlie stepped aside to let him in.

"I didn't tell anyone," Pacey shrugged. dropping his duffle bag on the floor. "Except Joey. I wanted it to be a surprise." He gave Charlie a once over. "Look at you, we're finally close in height again."

Charlie rolled his eyes, giving his cousin a brief yet tight hug. "It's not my fault you got tall fast." When they broke apart, he said, "How's Joey, anyway?"

Pacey got that gleam of undeniable happiness on his face. "Being driven crazy by her sister. She's been trying to 'help' with the wedding plans."

"Congrats, by the way," Charlie was genuinely happy for his cousin. Pacey absolutely adored Joey Potter and had been over the moon when she accepted his proposal. "Have you set a date yet?"

"Not yet," Pacey shook his head. "Joey said if her sister keeps it up, we're eloping."

"I better get invited to that," Charlie told him.

"Obviously."

"Are you-" Charlie lowered his voice, "are you inviting your dad?"

Pacey sighed, a little less happy than he was a second ago. "No."

Charlie nodded.

"Doug thinks I should," Pacey said with an eye roll.

"You shouldn't," Charlie said firmly. "He's a jerk."

"That's an understatement."

"What does Joey think?" Charlie asked.

"Said she'll trust whatever I decide," Pacey said.

"You got a good one, Pace," Charlie smiled.

"Don't I know it," Pacey grinned as well.

Charlie jerked behind him with his thumb, "I've got Coach and Adam here."

"Yeah?" Pacey was interested. "Nice. You could finally introduce me. Unless my baby cousin is embarrassed of me." He pinched Charlie's cheek, who shoved it off.

"Shut up," he rolled his eyes.

"Now don't be like Char Char-" There was that ridiculous nickname "In all the years you've known them, I've never once been introduced."

"You've never visited either."

"Ever heard of a phone call?" Pacey said.

"Have you?"

"Point being," Pacey deliberately disregarded that, "I wanna meet them. Give them the ol' Pacey stamp of approval."

"Which is pretty important."

"Of course it is," Pacey nodded and adjusted his collar as if he were an important person who gave off waves of power.

"You better not embarrass me," Charlie warned.

Pacey smiled innocently. "Me, embarrass you?

"Yes," Charlie glared. "No stories from when we were younger."

"We'll see."

"Don't do it."

"I don't know, one might slip out."

"Conway, what's taking so long?" Adam's voice was heard. He then said to Bombay, "I bet it's a lady friend. Do you think they're making out now?"

Pacey smirked.

Charlie snorted. "He's a bit drunk."

"Hey, if we weren't cousins, you'd definitely jump me"

"Pass," Charlie said with an eye roll.

Pacey put his hands on Charlie's shoulders. "You're gonna have to admit it one day. Don't be like Dougie, Charlie. Embrace it."

"There's nothing to embrace," Charlie shook his head. "Now are you coming or what?"

"Fine, fine."

Charlie led him to the living room. Adam and Bombay were in the midst of a quiet discussion. They looked up with curiosity at them when Pacey entered the room beside Charlie.

"It's not a lady friend," Adam attempted to whisper but it really wasn't a whisper at all.

"Guys, this is my cousin, Pacey," Charlie gestured.

Pacey waved.

"Cousin?" Bombay looked from Charlie to Pacey in disbelief. "You look like twins."

"He's right," Adam nodded, taking another swig of his beer.

"Everyone's been saying that since we were kids," Pacey said. "I don't see it."

"Me either," Charlie shrugged as he returned to his seat on the couch. Pacey sat on the chair that was across from them.

"It's nice to meet you," Bombay said before Adam could, "I'm-"

"Gordon Bombay, I know," Pacey said with a smile. "Trust me, my cousin never shuts up about you."

"Not true," Charlie protested.

"Completely true," Pacey retorted.

"Is there a reason you're here?" Charlie rolled his eyes. "Other than harassing me, which you've done over the phone."

"I was bored," Pacey shrugged. "Figured my baby cousin needed to see me-"

"You're only two months older," Charlie grumbled.

"And in those two months, it's given me much wisdom."

Charlie snorted. "What a load of crap."

"Do you play hockey?" Adam cut in.

"No," Charlie and Pacey responded simultaneously. Charlie wore a smirk while his cousin merely shook his head.

"He can't skate," Charlie said. "We've tried and he got a concussion last time. Remember that?"

"I remember you laughing," Pacey grumbled.

Charlie grinned cheekily. He adjusted himself. "How could I not?"

Pacey huffed.

"Get me a beer, Conway. It's the least you can do."

"Oh, yeah?" Charlie raised his eyebrows but regardless, he got up and went to the kitchen. When he was out of sight momentarily, Pacey leaned over to say to Bombay,

"I just want you to know that I really appreciate everything you've done for Charlie."

Bombay was modest. "I haven't really done much."

"You have," Pacey was adamant. "He really looks up to you. Sees you as a dad. I should know. He told me."

"Yeah?" Bombay was curious.

"Not having his dad around sucked," Pacey shook his head. "He was pretty jealous of the other kids, not that he'd admit it. But then he told me all about this new hockey coach they got." A grin appeared on his face. "Do you still hate hockey and not like kids?"

Adam laughed loudly-part of that was likely due to the alcohol. Bombay, grinning himself, shook his head.

"I'm never going to live that down."

"Probably not," Adam said.

"But seriously, man," Pacey spoke up again, "thanks for everything. You've made my cousin a lot happier."

Bombay admitted, "He's made me a lot happier too."

Adam was moving his arm up and down, pointing at Bombay. "I bet if Charlie was a girl, he would give him away at his wedding."

Pacey snickered.

Bombay sighed with amusement.

"I like him," Pacey said.

"He's drunk," Charlie said as he returned and handed his cousin the beer.

"Even better."

"So, Pacey," Bombay said, "how long are you staying?"

"For a few weeks or until my baby cousin gets tired of me and kicks me out on the cold, lonely street," Pacey said dramatically.

Charlie rolled his eyes.

"Can you tell who the dramatic one is?"

"I always thought it was you," Bombay shrugged.

"I like him too," Pacey told Charlie cheerfully.

"No ganging up on me," Charlie grumbled. Pacey feigned a thoughtful expression.

"I don't feel bad, do you?" He looked to Bombay.

"Not at all," Bombay played along.

Adam tried to get Pacey's attention. "What was Charlie like as a kid?" He asked eagerly.

"Well-"

"Shut up," Charlie said immediately. "Don't you say a word."

"Now, Charlie, it would be rude not to," Pacey said slyly.

"Pacey, I'm warning you-"

"Tell me!" Adam urged.

"No!"

"I'd be interested in hearing it too," Bombay said and smirked when Charlie glowered at him.

"No, you aren't."

"Well," Pacey blatantly ignored him, "there was the time Charlie thought he was drowning and my brother had to physically stand him up because he wouldn't listen when he told him to."

Charlie groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"That wasn't funny."

"Are you kidding! You cried."

"I did not cry!"

Pacey hummed. "You definitely cried."

"I hate you," Charlie muttered.

Adam thought it was hilarious. Bombay chuckled slightly and patted him on the knee.

"There was also you got into-" Charlie's hand came over Pacey's mouth, eyes flashing dangerously.

"Don't you dare!"

He knew which story his cousin was about to tell-that time he'd been pretty young and got into his mom's makeup, smearing it all over his face and going to tell his mom that he was "all pretty now."

"Fine," Pacey sighed.

Adam was disappointed.

"Only because I respect you too much to do that."

"Oh, please," Charlie didn't believe that crap. "You didn't respect me enough when you tried to blame me for us taking Dough's car."

"Police car, Charlie. Tell it right."

Adam and Bombay were astounded.

"You took a police car?" Bombay rubbed at his face.

"To his credit," Pacey said, "he told me it was a bad idea."

"Repeatedly."

"Yeah, yeah," Pacey waved that off. "But we had fun joyriding."

"The only reason we never got charged with anything was because Dough's your brother," Charlie grumbled.

Pacey shrugged.

"Please don't tell Mom," Charlie said to Bombay, grimacing. It didn't matter that he was in his twenties and living on his own. She would kill him.

"Only if you have enough sense not to ever do that again," Bombay said scoldingly. "You should've known better, Charlie."

"Yes, you should have," Pacey wagged a finger at his cousin.

Bombay turned on him now. "You too, Pacey. You're older."

"Not by much," Pacey protested.

"Oh, now it's not much," Charlie scoffed.

Adam watched then with fascination. "Looks like Dad Bombay is coming out," he said to himself but it came out louder than he likely intended for it to be.

No one paid him any attention.

"I hope you both know better now," Bombay was stern.

"Yes," they both said automatically.

Pacey nudged Charlie when Bombay turned his attention onto Adam. "I can see why you like him."

"Yeah," Charlie agreed, "he's pretty great."