Description: this is a story I have been working on for a while. This is my first Dawson's Creek story so take it easy on me, I'm rusty on my characters.

Disclaimer: I may not own the characters but this story is original and from my imagination.

Author's note: this is my first try at a Dawson's creek story, be nice to me please. This is a Pacey/Joey fic, my version of how they got together. Enjoy and review thanks

Chapter #26

(Pacey's pov)

" Hey Joe, everything alright?", I ask when I find Joey sitting by herself on the docks just outside her house. Joey only sits alone like this when something is bothering her or she is thinking. I came over to see her, we need to talk. I haven't seen Joey in a few days. Its not that she's avoiding me, she just hasn't left her house much. A few times I thought about calling her, but I wasn't sure what to say. I thought it best if I came to see Joey face to face.

" I'm fine Pace. I was just thinking.", answers Joey with a tired smile on her face. Something must really be bothering her. It wouldn't be too hard to take a guess at what. She's upset about what happened last weekend on the camping trip, that much is obvious. Joey wanted to tell Dawson in her own way. My blurting out that there was something going on between the two of us kind of ruined things for her though. She didn't leave me much of a choice though, Joey refused to admit she liked me. I did what I had to do, I put her on the spot.

" Why are you sitting out here by yourself then? Penny for your thoughts Joe?", I inquire as I stare down at her quietly. Does Joey even know how beautiful she is right now? Joey has always been breath taken, but tonight? Under the moonlight and stars? No one else holds a candle to her right now. All I want to do is kiss her. But I'm not sure if that's the best idea. If Joey is upset, I don't want to do anything that might make her even more so.

Leaning back into my arms as I sit behind her, Joey stares across the creek," How long did you know Pacey?"

Wrapping Joey in my embrace, I pull her close," How long did I know what Joe?"

" How long did you know you liked me, Pace?", ponders Joey before sneaking a peek up at me. Her question catches me off guard and I'm not sure what to say or how to react. Should I tell Joey the truth? Honestly, I think that there was always a small part of me that has liked Joey. I was just never able to admit it to myself. Then Dawson asked me to look after Joey, and having her so close all the time became torture. It was then that I realized I couldn't continue lying to myself, I liked Potter but couldn't do a damn thing about it.

" I've known for a few months Joey.", I confide after a minute or so of consideration. I decide that its best to tell a little white lie. Joey doesn't need to know that I have secretly been pining for her since grade school when she'd give me a kiss on the cheek for kicking the crap out of some guy who had been bullying her. That is a secret that I plan on taking to my grave.

" Well, why didn't you say anything?", asks Joey with a frown taking over her features. Why didn't I say anything? She can't be serious right now. When the hell was I supposed to say anything to Joey? After her and Dawson broke up, she was crushed. I couldn't have exactly said anything then. Then there was that damn AJ guy. Joey met him on her visit to Boston University and he somehow managed to win her over for a while until it all feel apart. The only reason Joey knows that I like her now is because she admitted that I was one of two people who knew her.

Placing kisses on the back of Joey's neck, I whisper in her ear," You know how many times I tried to Joe?"

Glancing up at me, Joey pecks at my cheek," What stopped you Pace?" ….(End Pacey's pov)

Description: this is a story I have been working on for a while. This is my first Dawson's Creek story so take it easy on me, I'm rusty on my characters.

Disclaimer: I may not own the characters but this story is original and from my imagination.

Author's note: this is my first try at a Dawson's creek story, be nice to me please. This is a Pacey/Joey fic, my version of how they got together. Enjoy and review thanks

Chapter #27

" Oh, you mean aside from Dawson and that guy AJ you were once seeing?...When did you know Joe?", asks Pacey with a hint of sarcasm and a smile. Yeah, I guess he makes a good point. He never really had the chance to tell me. I had been pining for Dawson for two years, when we finally got together. I thought that things were going great between us. Apparently I was dead wrong though. Dawson broke up with me last spring and I took it hard. Then I met AJ and well, every chance I was able was spent with him. Until we ended things that is. He invited me to an award ceremony for a piece he had written and it was then that I realized he was in love with someone else. He wants to know when I knew I liked him? Truth is, I'm not exactly sure. I guess that I began seeing Pacey differently when he helped save the Potter's B&B. That was when I knew, I didn't hate him as much as I claimed.

" I can't believe how clueless I was. I think that I have know for a while, Pace. I just didn't realize it until you kissed me.", I confess before sneaking a peek up at Pacey. Grinning when I notice the smirk on his face, I lay my head on his chest and listen to his heart beat. I seriously was as clueless as one could be. I had no clue how Pacey felt about me. It took me by complete and utter surprise when he kissed me. I didn't know what to say or how to react. That's probably why I flipped out on him the way that I did.

Resting his chin on my shoulder, Pacey takes my hand in his," that would explain your reaction Joe."

Staring down at Pacey's hand in mine, I bite at my bottom lip in thought," You caught me off guard, I freaked out. I'm sorry Pace."

" Don't worry about it Joe. I understand, but did you have to hit me repeatedly? That really hurt Potter.", complains Pacey with a chuckle. Yeah, I did kind of overreact just a little bit. I didn't know what else to do though. I wasn't expecting Pacey to kiss me anytime soon. When he did, I had no idea how to react. I lost it and went bizerk on Pacey. I feel bad how much I yelled and hit him, if I could take it back I would. Things seemed to have worked themselves out though. Pacey and I are...well, I don't know what we are. We still have to figure that out. But I like him and he makes me happy, that's what counts.

" What happens now Pace?", I question after a few minute of silence. Are Pacey and I a thing now? I know that I want to be. I don't want to not be with Pacey. Not after all the two of us have been through. Everyone knows about us now. There is no used trying to deny how I feel about Pacey anymore. Dawson and Andie might not like the idea of Pacey and I but it is something those two are just going to have to get used to.

Sitting up in his spot, Pacey sighs to himself," That's up to you Joey."

Tilting my head back, I press my lips against Pacey's," I want to be with you, Pacey. I love you."

" I was hoping that you would say that Joe.", confides Pacey with a goofy smirk on his face. Its the truth, I'm in love with Pacey. I think that I have known for a while. Why should I lie to myself about it anymore? I want to be with Pacey. Nothing is going to come between the two of us anymore. Not Dawson, not Andie. Nothing. Pacey makes me feel safe and I'm happier than I have ever been when I'm with him. ….(End Joey's pov)