Description: New Dawson's Creek story that I have been working on. Its based before the shows high school graduation but post Joey and Pacey's break up at prom.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the original story.

Authors Note: if this story receives reviews I will update it regularly.

Consequences and Actions:

Chapter #4

(Pacey's pov)

" Why not?", I question with a disappointed sigh. There is no use in my asking this though. I already know the answer. Joey and I aren't together anymore. We haven't been for nearly a month. My privileges of having her spend the night and fall asleep in my arms are over. In a moment of frustration and insecurity, I allowed Joey to slip through my fingers. She isn't my girl anymore and probably never will be. This is a regret that I'm going to have to learn to deal with.

" We're not together anymore, you broke my heart Pacey.", announces Joey confirming what I already knew. She wants nothing to do with me. Can I blame her? No. If I were Potter, I would be sickened by the mere sight of me. She didn't deserve any of the harsh words that I said to her that night at prom. I'm not even all that sure why I said them. I had myself all but convinced that Joey was going to wake up one day and realize that I'm not the one she wanted to be with anymore. I let my doubts about how she felt about me get the best of me.

"….I know that I did.", is all I'm able to muster up in reply. Lowering my head in disgrace, I stare at the ground quietly. There is nothing that I can say. Joey is right. It isn't anyone else's fault but my own that we aren't together anymore. ….I miss her. What the hell was I thinking? I knew ending things with Joey was a mistake and I still did so anyway. I'm still in love with her; I never stopped caring about her. None of this matters any more though. The damage is already done.

" Look, don't worry about me Pacey. This is my problem, I'll be fine.", discloses Joey in a dismissive manner before turning to walk away. Don't worry about you? This is your problem? Not it isn't, it is ours! I scream at her silently. I slept with Potter just we did this together. She isn't in this predicament alone. Whatever happens affects me just as much as it does her. I'm not going to bail on Joey. Why the hell would I? Sure, I'm terrified as hell. Who wouldn't be? But that doesn't mean that I am just going to walk away from this.

Not wanting Joey to leave, I block her path," This isn't only your dilemma Joey, we're in this together. …Even if we're…you know."

Tensing when my hand accidently brushes hers, Joey tucks a strand of hair behind her ear," You mean that Pacey?"

" Of course, that baby isn't even born yet and I already love it Joey.", I answer with an encouraging smile. This seems to ease Joey's uncertainties as a smile slowly makes its way across her face as well. Did she honestly think I would let her go through all of this alone? Not a chance. Was I looking to be a father at seventeen? No. Would I run away from my responsibilities to Joey and our unborn child? Never in a million years.

" Thanks Pace.", mutters Joey before glancing down at her hands awkwardly. More than anything I want to pull her into my arms. She looks so frightened and alone…fragile almost. It is killing me that Joey actually thought I would abandon her in her time of need. We might not be together but that doesn't mean that I still don't care about her. It was never my intention to break things off with Joey that night at prom. Before I could think twice words that I would soon come to remorse spewed from my mouth.

" Hey…hey, we've got this Potter.", I comfort her as I bring my hand to her cheek gently. Pregnant or not I'm not going to leave Joey's side during this. When Bessie told me about this positive pregnancy test she'd found, I was beyond petrified. Out of the handful of times Potter and I slept together we were always careful to use some sort of protection. I didn't understand how this could happen. At first I was livid that Joey would attempt to keep this information from me, I had a right to know. Then as I calmed down and began to think things over…I realized I couldn't hold Joey at fault. She had every right to want to hide this information from me. Joey probably thought that I wouldn't have reacted well to the news.

" ….I'm just scared Pacey. I don't know what to do, I'm not ready or prepared to have a kid.", confesses Joey with a tired look in her eyes. She's confused and stressed out, this much is obvious. I want to calm her but I'm not sure how. I can Joey that everything is going to be alright, but it would be a lie. I don't know that for certain. All I can do is be here for her in any way that she needs me to be. We'll know more once I take Potter to the doctors tomorrow and go from there.

Startled when Joey walks into my arms, I hold her protectively," It will be alright Jo, come stay with me tonight. Please?", I plead taking her hand in mine. Letting out a relieved breathe when Joey makes no attempt to pull away, I hug her close. This is one thing that I have missed the most. Holding Joey is my embrace is the best feeling in the world. When I have her in my arms, nothing else matters to me but never letting her go.

Biting down on her bottom lip, Joey nods her head in agreement," I'll stay with you Witter. …This changes nothing Pacey."

" I wouldn't expect it to. …Come on Potter. ", I smirk before guiding her down the streets of Capeside. My arms never leave her waist the entire walk back to Doug's place. It almost feels like old times again between the two of us. I know that it isn't this simple though. Joey won't just take me back. While I might want to rekindle things with her, that doesn't mean the feeling is mutual. I crushed Joey; she has every right not to want to take me back. Best that I can hope is that she'll realize I made a mistake and eventually forgive me.

" Well it doesn't, just so we're both in agreement.", points out Joey in a firm tone. Her words sting me to the core. I didn't expect anything to change just because of a mishap such as her possibly being pregnant. Guess I can only hope that in time Joey will change her mind. I can't exactly make her take me back. She is way too stubborn. If Joey didn't want me around though, she would have made her feelings clear by now. I'm not positive what the future holds for Potter and I. But whatever happens, whether we're together or not, I'm not going to leave her side. ….