Description: Takes place a few years after Pacey and Joey's break up.

Author's note: If you review, I will update.

Disclaimer: I don't own the show or characters, just the original storyline.

Heart aches Revisited

Chapter #4

(Pacey's thoughts)

Potter and I spent the last hour or so taking turns reading Moby Dick. I can't believe she still kept this book after all these years, this book was our favorite to read together. Here I thought she would have given the copy I gave her away but not a chance, Jo still has it. We read until she fell asleep in my arms. I have been just watching her sleep since. Joey is still the most beautiful girl I have ever met. Emily could never hold a candle to her. This in part is why we broke up. Seems Emily came across a photograph of Joey and I that I had in my bedside dresser. When she confronted me about the picture, Emily had asked if I was still in love with Joey. I was not about to lie to her and say no. Needless to say, she ended things with me and we have not spoken since. Rubbing at my eyes tiredly, I stare at Joey sleeping in my arms. It's not long before I close my eyes and drift off to sleep too. ...(End Pacey's thoughts)

(Next morning; Bessie's pov)

" Hey Pacey, sorry to wake you. Have you seen Joey though? She has a...oh, well alright then.", I stumble mid-sentence when I notice Joey wrapped up in Pacey's arms. Wow, I was not expecting to walk in on this. What the hell is going on? Were they or were they not at one anothers throats last night. What the hell could have possibly changed? Guess poor Charlie boy might just be out of luck. Seems Joey and Pacey have found their way back to one another. While I am happy for the two of them, I have a feeling Charlie's not going to be. Oh there is about to be a lot of screaming going on.

" What the hell is going on here Joey?", I hear Charlie yell from behind me. This manages to wake Joey right up as she falls out of bed. Rubbing at her eyes tiredly, Joey jumps up at the sight of Charlie. Pacey is not far behind her. There is a noticeable tension in the room when Pacey places his arms protectively around Joey's waist. She hasn't even made an attempt to move from his embrace. This is serious. What the hell is going on here? Are these two getting back together? Since when? Last I recall Joey wanted nothing to do with Pacey. Swear I will never understand these two.

" Charlie...what are you even doing here?", asks Joey with a look of confusion. It's not obvious by now? The poor guy misses you and came to try and work things out. Unfortunately for Charlie it looks as though he might be too late. Seems like Joey just may be on the verge of working things out with Pacey. This girl can never catch a break, first she nearly breaks up Dawson and Pacey's friendship. Now she is all but crushing Charlie's heart. I sort of feel for the guy. While he must have realized Joey was scared off by the engagement ring, I am sure he never imagined that he could have managed to chase her back into Pacey's arms. Still have no clue what the hell is up with those two.

" It's not obvious? I came to see you Joey! This was obviously a mistake. Merry Christmas Jo, enjoy the new year.", mutters Charlie in a dismissive tone before taking off. Watching Joey run off after him, my eyes fall on Pacey. He looks heart broke and confused as to why Joey took off after Charlie. Now I don't know who to even feel bad for. One thing I would love to know is what the hell is going on between Pacey and my sister. One way or another Witter is going to answer my questions. We could either do this the easy or hard way. I will leave the choice up to him.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Pacey pulls on a t-shirt," Well, that was short lived."

Following Pacey from Joey's room, I walk down to the kitchen with him," Care to tell me what that even was Pacey?"

" You're asking the wrong person Bess.", mutters Pacey with a frustrated sigh. Making him a plate of breakfast, I pour us both some juice. While Joey might have taken off after Charlie, I am sure that it is not for the reasons that he thinks. Joey broke up with Charlie because she did not want to marry him. His showing up here is not going to change that. I am not sure what is going on with these two, but if they are trying to work things outs this is great. To be honest it would be about time too. Jen and Jack have only been trying to get those two to talk since they broke up three years ago. Do I think they will wind up together? I don't know but I hope so.

" For what it's worth Pace, Joey didn't take off after him for the reasons you're thinking.", I assure with a smile. Glancing up from his breakfast, Pacey takes a drink from his orange juice. Not sure if he believes me but it is the truth. Joey does not want to get back with Charlie. The whole engagement ring had her really freaked out. Whatever her reasoning was for going after Charlie it was not to make amends with him. If Pacey would only relax, he will see that I am right. Joey will come back and explain herself in time. He just has to sit and wait patiently until she does.

" Maybe your right Bess, but I would love to know what is going on in her head right about now.", confides Pacey before pushing his empty plate aside. That makes two of us. How does someone go from not wanting anything to do with Pacey to waking up in bed beside him? What happened between those two last night? I know they only slept, that much was obvious. My only question is what the hell happened between those two last night? One minute Joey couldn't get far enough away from him, the next she is wrapped in Pacey's arms. How did this come about? Was it only a one time thing or is Joey considering working things out with Pacey?

" That makes the two of us Pacey.", I acknowledge with an exasperated breath. One thing I know, when Joey does get back? We are going to have a nice long talk about just what the hell is going on. For starters, why did Charlie come here in the first place? Did he want to work things out with her? If so, would she have felt the same way? Who does Joey see herself with, Charlie or Pacey. This is a question I know is in the back of Pacey's mind right about now. It is easy to see Pacey would very much like to be with Joey. Is the feeling mutual though? Could she want to be with him just as much? …

(Later; Joey's pov)

" Been out here long Potter?", I hear Pacey ask from behind me. He is going to want answers. At least he does not sound angry or upset. What am I supposed to tell Pacey? I woke up in bed beside him and chased after Charlie when he took off. It was not for the reasons Pacey thinks either. Truth be told, I just wanted to explain to Charlie why I flipped when I saw the engagement ring. I am not ready to be married, simple as that. Truth be told, I didn't see myself marrying Charlie. I had always imagined myself marrying Pacey. I was not about to tell him this though.

" Pace, I am sorry that I took off before.", I apologize before moving to stand in his arms. Thankful when he holds me close, I grasp hold of Pacey's hands. Going after Charlie turned out to be a mistake. He didn't want to hear anything that I had to say. Charlie asked who Pacey was so I told him. When he asked if we were getting back together I told him that I didn't know what we were doing. Then when Charlie asked if I still loved Pacey? I couldn't give him an answer. If I told Charlie no that would be a lie. When I didn't say anything Charlie just turned and walked away. I didn't bother to go after him that time.

Resting his chin on my shoulder, Pacey whispers in my ear," It's alright Jo, I was just wondering...if you thought you made a mistake rejecting his proposal?"

Glancing up at Pacey in confusion, I kiss his cheek sweetly," No, it was nothing like that. I just needed to explain to him why I couldn't accept his ring."

" Which is why exactly Potter?", asks Pacey in a gruff tone. His voice sends shivers down my spine. After all these years Pacey still has that sort of an effect on me it seems. It's not obvious by now? Charlie is not the one I am supposed to marry...you are Witter. If only we could go back to the way things used to be between the two of us. Before you ruined everything at prom...when we were both happy and in love. I miss the two of us together so much that it hurts sometimes. What would I do if Pacey and I got our second chance? This is something I ask myself often.

" He's not the one I am meant to marry Pacey.", I explain in a quiet manner. Truth is, I always thought that Pacey would be that guy. Even after we broke up, I hoped we would someday work things out and he would propose. Now I am not sure if that will ever happen. What the hell are the two of us even doing? We're acting as though nothing happened and we're together when that clearly is not the case. Does Pacey want to be with me? He must if he is still here right? Do I want to be with him? Well, here I am tangled in his strong arms again. Wish I knew what any of this meant, it would make life a hell of a lot easier.

" Am I Jo?", questions Pacey after a few minutes of silence. Wow, he does not mess around. Pacey just goes right for the hard questions doesn't he? Do I want to marry Witter someday? Part of me says yes. The other part? Is afraid of him leaving me a shattered wreck again. I am torn between wanting to be with Pacey and being too scared to take him back. Wish I knew what the hell I was supposed to do right now about now. Unfortunately I don't. If I were to give Pacey another chance he would have to prove to me that he is able to trust and confide in me whenever something is bothering him. That is the only way the two of us will work.

" I don't know…part of me wants you to be Witter.", I admit with a shy smirk. Thankful when Pacey's lips meet mine, I hug him tightly. Not sure what is going on but I don't even care anymore at this point. I want to be with Pacey and he wants to be with me. Right now? This is all that matters to me. Maybe this time we will get it right and work. Pacey needs to know that I am not going anywhere. I never was the first time, just wish that he would have known this. God help him if he is stupid enough to break my heart a second time. …