Chapter Eighteen - Joey's P.O.V.
Pacey proposed to me and I can't stop from grinning like an idiot. I am so happy right now I feel like I could explode at any moment.
"So you never answered my question Pace?" I ask looking up at him from where we are snuggled up together on the sofa enjoying each others closeness.
"Which question is that baby?" he asks softly, gently kissing the top of my head.
"What do you think of a June wedding? I mean its seven months away plenty of time to plan, and well be on summer break so we don't have to worry about school."
"I think June is perfect, whatever you want is fine by me."
"Great let me go find a calendar and we can pick a day, Pace I'm so excited." I say before running to the kitchen to find the calendar I know Bessie keeps next to the fridge.
Returning to the living room I watch as Pacey starts the fire that is always left ready in the fireplace.
"Hey!" I whisper and smile at him as he turns to look at me sensing my presence in the room again.
"Hey, beautiful. Dance with me?" he asks as he stands up from in front of the fire. For the first time I hear the music playing softly in the background. I float into his arms, tossing the calendar on the coffee table, and rest my head on his strong chest.
"So, when do you think everyone will return so we can share the happy news with them?" he whispers in my ear.
"Don't know, don't really care right now." I sigh happily, as he holds me in his arms.
Laughing softly he pulls me in for another kiss. We continue to kiss softly, swaying back and forth to the music and listening to each others hearts. I'm not sure how long we stayed like that, but when I opened my eyes again the room was warm, and lit by the glowing fire, it had gotten dark outside so it must have been quite a while.
"Hey Pace, what do you say we go find out where everyone is?"
"Sure Baby, I just need one more kiss." he lowers his lips to mine and I again become lost in him. He wraps his arms around me, and I feel so safe and loved that I never want to leave his embrace. When we finally break apart we are both struggling for breath, and incredibly warm.
"Let's go find Bessie." I say grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the kitchen, where I can here the sounds of quite conversation.
"Well, look who it is, the love birds. Finally decide to grace us all with you presence?" Jen teases from where she is sitting on the counter watching Bessie feed Alex.
"Jealous much, Jen?" I tease right back. "Hey sis!" I say to Bessie.
"Hey Jo, you look happy. How was mom?" she asks.
"I am, and she's okay it was hard but thats nothing new. So where is everyone else?" I ask, wondering where Jack, Grams, and Bodie are hiding.
"They went for a walk before dinner, they should be back soon, why?" she responds.
"No reason." I say smiling mischievously at Pacey.
"Well, dinners almost ready so you two may want to wash up. I was about to come a get you. I saw you two in the living room when we came in and decided to let you have your time alone, you looked like you were having a moment." She says smiling at us.
"Okay, well can I do anything for you? Set the table maybe?"
"Nope, Jen kindly did that for me while I concentrated on feeding this monster." Bessie says, ruffling her nearly three-year-old sons soft curls.
"Jen how was your day?" Pacey asks.
"Good, after you kicked me out of here I went down to the docks sat and had coffee and enjoyed being home again."
"Funny isn't it, we all spent so much time and energy trying to get out of this town, and now that we come back none of us can remember why that was."
"It's like the old saying. You never miss something until it's gone, I guess Capeside is kind of like that."
Smiling Pacey cups my cheek, and brings my face up to meet his stare, "Lindley, I know exactly what you mean." He says never tearing his gaze from mine.
"Oh, get a room you two!" she teases throwing a dishtowel at us, laughing all the while.
"Hey!" we both respond in shock at the sudden interruption.
"Well, I'm going to go wash up. You children play nice while I'm gone." I say leaving the room.
I go down the hall to the bathroom to wash up, I glance down at my hand and smile. Everyone is going to flip when they find out. I dry my hands and smile again thinking how happy I am. Returning to the kitchen I see that everyone has returned and food is being placed on the table.
"Hey, sweetie!" I say sliding into my spot next to Pacey, kissing his cheek. Soon everyone is gathered around the table.
"Pace?" I whisper softly.
"Yeah?" he asks leaning closer to me.
"Um, I think now is as good a time as any." I whisper back.
He grabs my hand and pulls it up to his mouth, placing a soft kiss on it before lacing our fingers together.
"Hey guys, can I have your attention for a minute before we all dig into this delicious meal, I, we have something important to tell you all." Pacey says getting everyones attention.
I smile at him, silently telling him to continue. "Um, well you see, I um..." he stammers not really sure how to break the good news.
"Oh, for heavens sake Pacey!" I sigh watching him sweat, trying to tell our friends and family, he looks so cute. Holding my left hand up so everyone can see my ring and say, "We're getting married!"
"Oh my god!"
"Really?"
"Congratulations!"
"Let me see." Everyone speaks at the same time.
They all laugh at the commotion, as Pacey and I grin at them. Bessie is the first to speak again "Joey, Pacey I'm so happy for both of you." She gets up and comes over to hug us. I can hear her whisper in Pacey's ear "Christmas my ass!" as she hugs him tight.
"Yeah, well I know I said that, but today just seemed right so I decided not to wait."
Bodie is the next to hug me, "Congratulations kiddo."
"Thanks Bodie." I smile.
"Pacey," he says offering his hand "Welcome to the family."
"Thanks, man." He pulls Bodie in for a hug.
Jack and Jen are next, more congratulations are offered and more hugs received. Finally Grams hugs us "I wish you both every happiness, I always knew you would end up together."
"You guys are our family, and we wanted to share this with you all. Thank you for loving us." I say getting a little teary looking at everyone, their love for us shining in their eyes.
After a few minutes everyone is once again settled back into their seats around the table.
"So when's the wedding?" Jen asks.
"June 15th." I respond
"But that's hardly seven months away. We can't get everything planned by then!" Jen exclaims.
"Yes we can. Jen it's plenty of time, trust me."
"But there are so many things to do." She continues.
"Jen, it's okay." Pacey interrupts.
"Um, Bess we we're wondering if maybe we could have the wedding here at the B&B?"
"Like you would have any other choice." She beams.
"Thanks Bess, we only want a small wedding with our close friends and family."
"Guys, I know that this is a happy occasion and all, but I'm starving can we talk about this later?" Jack asks.
"Okay, Jack. We'll can the wedding talk for now but after dinner it back on." Bessie says feeling sorry for him.
Everyone eats in happy silence, and soon the dishes are being cleared and everyone is relaxing in the living room, in front of the fire that has once again been built up. Pacey and I are curled up together talking softly in one the two large armchairs that are in the room.
"Pace, I think I want to ask Jen to be my maid of honor, do you mind?"
"Not at all, in fact I can't think of any one better. What about bridesmaids?"
"I don't really want any, I mean Bessie and Bodie are going to be acting as mother and father of the bride, and other than Jen I don't really have any close girl friends."
"Okay, that means I just have to decide on the best man."
"Any ideas?"
"I was thinking about asking Jack, he's probably my closest guy friend right now."
"I'm surprised that you wouldn't pick Dawson."
"Jo, I always thought I would too, but after everything that happened I don't think its right. I want someone who respects our relationship next to me, and Dawson while he may have accepted it eventually, I don't think he really respects it."
"I know, and it's your decision to make. Jack will make a wonderful best man, he'd be honored that you asked him."
"Well, with that decision made what do you say we ask them and put Jen out of her misery, look at her squirming over there, you'd think she was the one getting married." I say, we both laugh looking over at Jen who is about ready to explode with questions and ideas. I think I can actually see the wheels turning in her head.
"Jen, Jack can we ask you guys something very important?" Pacey says.
"Sure, whats up?" Jack replies.
"Well Jo and I were just talking and we would really like you two to be a part of our special day, so will you guys stand up with us?" he continues.
"Oh guys, I would be honored." Jen gushes as she rushes over to hug us again.
"Easy Jen, I actually want to see my wedding day." I squeak as she hugs me tight to her cutting off my air supply.
"Jen, let go of my fiance, only I get to squeeze her like that." Pacey teases a very emotional Jen.
"Pace, thank you for asking me I'm truly honored that you would ask me, but isn't Dawson a better candidate for the position of best man?" Jack asks a little shocked.
"No Jack, you and Jen have both been so supportive of us since day one. And thats why I want you standing next to me in June." Pacey explains.
"Well, in that case I'll do it."
"Great, now with that settled what do you say we do a little celebrating?" Bessie asks coming in to the room with a tray and seven glasses of champagne on it. She hands a glass to each of us.
"I'd like to be the first to make a toast, and as acting mother of the bride I'm entitled. So Joey, Pace I have watched you two from the time you were both old enough to walk, and even way back then we all saw the sparks that you two created. No matter what happened, or what was said you two stood by each other even during the times that you thought you hated each other. I watched you two fight the feelings that were developing between you because you didn't want to hurt someone else. It broke my heart to know that you both were suffering with out a good reason. Finally against all odds you found your way to each other, and I have never seen either of you this happy. Live for the good times, learn form the bad times, and always be as happy as you are right now. Congratulations. I love you both." We all drink to Bessie's toast.
"Thanks Bess. I'd like to go next if I could. Pacey over the past couple of years I have come to realize how deeply I love you. You have always been here for me, even when I didn't know that I needed you, sweetheart you made me realize that my dreams can come true. You have stood by me and loved me unconditionally. You are a truly amazing man and I can hardly believe that I am going to spend the rest of my life with you by my side encouraging me. I love you. I always have and always will. You are my true north. I love you." I say toasting him and kissing him softly on the lips.
We continued like this in front of the fire each of us having a turn, some toasts were sentimental, some funny like Jen's who knows how to break a melancholy mood, and gave us a humorous toast making us all laugh.
It is getting late and Bessie and Bodie have just gone to bed, and Grams went to her room nearly an hour ago, leaving just the four of us again in front of a fire all mellow and relaxed.
"So, I guess things are going to change a little over the next six months, huh?" Jack asks from him place on the sofa.
"What do you mean Jack?"
"Well, it seems like things always change when people are getting married."
"Jack, are you worried that we won't have time for our closest friends?"
"Maybe, I just realized that after June you two are going to be off in the real world and the rest of us will be left behind trying to figure out what to do next. We hardly get to see you as it is."
"Jack, we love you. You will always be important to us. I can't say what next year will bring but you guys aren't going to lose us." I explain.
"Jo, you, Jen, and Grams are more like family to me than my own family. I don't know what I'd do without my girls." Jack says.
"Well you won't have to find out, because I'm not going anywhere." I go over to him and give him a reassuring hug.
"Jackers, I'll make you a deal right now. How about the four of us agree to have a group bonding night twice a month once we're married, and that way we can all keep up with each others lives."
"Pace, first off don't call me Jackers and second I like the sound of that. You got you self a deal."
I smile, looking around the room at these people who I have come to call my family and I find it hard to believe that we have all come so far, and beaten so many stereotypes that were cast against us. We are a strong bunch of people who depend on each other and letting that go is going to be hard.
"Well, this is becoming a little too sappy for me, so I think I'm going to turn in. We have a long drive ahead of us tomorrow and I need my beauty sleep." Jen says before saying good night and making her way up the stairs to bed.
The three of us sit in silence a while longer, after a few minutes Jack says good night and disappears upstairs leaving Pacey and I alone again.
"Come here my love." I say crooking my finger at him, my eyes twinkling in the firelight.
"Potter, you are amazing." He says moving to sit next to me on the rug in front of the fire.
"Why's that?"
"Because." He says simply before kissing me. He kisses the tip of my nose, and each of my eyelids, before gathering me close and burying his face in the crook of my neck.
"Thank you Pace."
"For what."
"For being so understanding with Jack, he may look like some big tough jock on the outside but really he's a soft teddy bear on the inside. He really depends on his friends and I'm glad that he wont lose us."
"I know baby, that's why I suggested what I did, honestly I'd miss him too."
"I love you Pace."
"Good because I intend on keeping you."
I can feel him playing with the ends of my hair, his finger slowly making their way up my back to massage my neck. God, he knows exactly where to touch me.
"Mmm, that feels good." I moan in his ear my lips barely touching him, I feel him shudder.
"Jo." he manages to say before I turn my head and kiss him passionately on the lips. We continue like this in front of the fire each of us afraid to make the next move. He finally breaks out of our embrace and stares at me.
"Jo we can't remember, we promised Bessie. I know things changed today but we're still under her roof and need to play by her rules."
"I know, I think it's time I turned in any way. Walk me to my door?"
"Okay, come on." He pulls me to my feet and takes my hand leading from the room.
"Good night Josephine." He says standing at my door.
"Night Pace, I love you!" I kiss him softly before slipping in to my room and falling asleep with dreams of our future in my head.