It was the beginning of senior year; Dawson had gone down to New York for the weekend to visit Jack and Jen who had transferred down to the University of New York. They had talked for hours about regularly meeting in Connecticut every few months to better stay in touch but the three knew it would never happen.

Their new apartment was tiny and Jen and Jack had to share a bedroom until about a year after moving there when they were able to pull together enough money, along with the aid of their parents, to buy a beautiful and enormous pad on the Upper East Side.

Dawson settled into the plush couch cradling the long crystal neck of his beer as he looked out the window onto the bright city lights. "I heard Joey moved here," Jen said entering through the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn, her chopped blonde hair loosely tied in a bun behind her neck.

He nodded staring down at his thumbs, "Yeah, she transferred here about two years ago, some prestigious college that's so small I don't even remember it's name. She decided after she got back from Paris a couple summers ago that she was going to be an artist." He let out a deep breath as he watched Jen fiddle with video cassette tapes, "But last I heard of her from Bessie was that she was going to be a writer."

Jen smirked, "The perfect job for us cynics."

"You're a cynic," he pointed out, "I'm the dreamer."

"So when was the last time you were up in Capeside?" Jack asked sinking down next to him.

He cleared his throat scratching his head before he spoke, "About a week ago," he replied a little unsure. "You know Lilly just turned four and I figured these are the years she's going to start remembering people. I actually took her out to the pier and found Pacey out there cleaning up a boat; he managed to straggle up enough change to get a new one so he took us sailing. It was amazing to see him in that element, and I've never seen Lilly's face that bright before."

"Well sailing Pacey is much happier and more trustworthy the stockbroker Pacey," Jack stated tilting his beer in the air.

"I miss him," Jen pouted sitting in between the two men as she crossed her arms firmly over her chest, "He never accepts our invitations down here. He rather just lie on Doug's couch watching soaps all day." Digging her hand into the popcorn bowl she popped a few kernels into her mouth, "See where that will get you in ten years, three heart attacks and a wife named Mitsy."

They all chuckled as the light of the screen filled the dim room and they were washed away in the fantasy of the movie.

Walking down the busy streets he checked the card with the written address one last time before he spotted the school. It was protected by a long black fence and behind the elaborate gates a medieval style building with high pillars filled the yard. It looked like an evil castle, one that he would probably fear and create stories of as a child. Walking along the gravel path he quickly found the dorms, checking in with a guard before being directed to a room.

Rounding the corner he saw her, her fingers running through the short hairs of his honey blonde hair, pinned against the wall of what had to be her room. She kissed the stranger passionately and Dawson cringed at the sight. Exchanging goodbye's he heard her soothing voice, a sound that he had missed for two years now, as the mysterious blonde passed by him. He straightened out his coat taking a few steps forward his fist hovering over her door but before he could knock it swung open.

"Dawson!" She exclaimed drawing her fingers to her lips in a guilty manor. A moment later her arms were wrapped around his neck and she was smiling from ear to ear. "What brings you to my corner of the city, Mr. Leery?"

Her long auburn hair hadn't been cut in a long while and the strands reached levels near her midriff. She was skinnier then he remembered making her limbs appear longer as they latched around his body. One thing that hadn't changed was the glow in her eyes, they were still so bright and mysterious and after drinking in her appearance again he remembered why he had fallen in love with her.

"Well I mean, good friends visit their soul mates every now and then," he replied as she ushered him into her room.

Scanning the small room he realized that she had gotten a single, her room distinctively Joey. Paintings she must have purchased in Paris were scattered around the room along with a few Joey Potter originals featuring a sketch of a photograph the six of them had taken before Andie moved to Venice. Some papers were scattered around the floor and on the desk he could see a word document glowing on her laptop.

"So Ivy League wasn't what you had anticipated?" he asked shoving his hands into his pockets.

She shrugged organizing a few CD cases, "I was sick of being pretentious." Setting down the stack she smiled brightly again at him, "So what have you been up to?"

He sat down on her bed still looking around the small room, "Well I've been staying with Jack and Jen for the past few days, which they say hello, and I just got back from Capeside, which your family also says hello, and asked for pictures."

She chuckled sinking down next to him, "I've been pretty distracted ever since I got home from France."

"How was that by the way?" He asked raising a brow.

"Beautiful, amazing, everything you could possibly dream of plus so much more," he noticed a daze in her eyes a she spoke, a real adoration seeping through.

"I'll have to go there sometime."

"Well you better bring me with you," she replied nudging his shoulder. "How is the movie thing coming along, did the thing we shot the other year get anywhere?"

He smirked thinking back on it, "Not really, I picked up a few honors at a couple of film festivals but there was nothing too life altering."

Her face melted, "Well one of these days, right?"

He nodded, "Yeah."

There was a long silence before Joey bounced on the bed changing her position to face him, "I've missed you all, how is everyone doing?"

Dawson furrowed his brows, "Well Gail is still running the restaurant and has recently started dating again," she cringed searching for his reaction but saw none, "Lilly is excited about going off to preschool so she can be more like yours truly. Alexander has gotten so big and he says that he misses his Aunty Joey but he has Pacey to entertain him."

She froze and he noticed her mind drifting at the mention of his name, "Bessie, Bodie and the B&B are doing great. Grams actually found a small little house back on the Cape and Jack and Jen live in walking distance of here. Oh and Andie got back from Venice and I see her up in Boston every now and then, she's perky as ever." He struggled with the next sentence but he knew it was what she wanted to hear, "Pacey's still Pacey, sleeping on Doug's couch like he did when he was sixteen and playing around with boats. He got a new one recently; it's beautiful, looks just like True Love."

She nodded absently a few times, "I really have been such an awful friend, I'm not even out of college yet and I've already lost touch." The bright gleam in her eyes returned as she wrapped her arms around Dawson again, "I'm really glad you came to see me."

"The summer of 2005 is upon us baby brother," Doug exclaimed rummaging through the kitchen. He popped his head out into the living room staring at the younger man resting on the couch and cringing as another handful of chips missed most of his mouth fluttering like confetti to the floor. "What are you going to do with your life?"

Glancing over his shoulder he shushed his older brother, "Not now Dougie," letting out a heavy sigh he glared at him, "Great I missed whatever insult Edward cracked this time."

"You're hopeless," his tone rose as he pulled at his hair, "how many years am I going to have you latched onto my couch watching woman's smut? And you question my sexuality."

He nodded a few times hopping off the couch and walking to the closet finally realizing what he had to do, "You're right." He threw his brown burlap bag onto the sofa staggering into Doug's room to pull out his draw worth of clothes. "I'm gonna make a life out of myself, no more screw up Pacey, this one," he said throwing his finger in the air, "is getting out."

Doug eyed him warily as his brother began stuffing the clothes in the bag mumbling something incoherent as he did so. "Pacey, I wasn't kicking you out; I just thought maybe you wanted to get a job."

"No you're right Douglas; this place offers no motivation it's time for me to go." He replied struggling with the zipper, "if she can run away from things, I can do it too, if she's going to move on, hell so will I!"

"You're still hooked on a girl you haven't seen for two years?" He said sympathetically.

He eyed him incredulously, "Of course I'm over the girl!" Doug shook his head as Pacey threw the bag over his shoulder.

"So where are you going this time for your great profound journey?"

Rubbing his forefingers along his chin he shook his head, "Anywhere but here," he stated before disappearing through the door.

He had just finished his last final and decided to celebrate at a bar he had been going to for years now. The thick smell of smoke filled the air and the neon lights of the beer brands added color to the misty haze. He sat down on a bar stool surprised when he looked next to him seeing the perky blonde. "Dawson, how are you!" She squealed as they embraced in a hug.

"I've been good," he nodded a few times as his beer was placed in front of him.

"So you're graduating now aren't you?" she asked stirring her thin red straw through her glass.

"Yep, next week actually," he said twirling his stool towards her and resting his elbow on the bar.

"That must be exciting," she smiled. "What do you plan on doing now?"

He shrugged sipping at his drink, "I think I'm going back out to LA, try that whole thing out again before finishing off my latest script."

"So you're really going to do this movie thing, huh?"

"I hope so," he chuckled. "So how's Jack doing, I haven't seen him since the summer."

"Oh, he's great, has a new beau," she said nudging him with her arm, "they are so in love it's nauseating. Jen's great too, she's actually producing some play."

His eyes widened, "Really."

"Yeah something very artistic, that I probably wouldn't understand until she explained it to me later." She paused nursing her drink again, "They also heard from Joey recently, they said they've hung out a few times seen some plays, you know did the whole New York thing."

He smiled her name always giving him a warm feeling, "I visited her actually at the beginning of the school year, she seemed really happy, I think she may have been seeing someone though."

Andie shrugged, "Well as far as I know she's single and swinging."

"Joey's the type of person who never really likes talking about new relationships," he sighed placing an order for another beer and refilling Andie's as well.

"Neither was Pacey," Andie slumped against the bar resting her head in her hand. "We're pathetic aren't we? Sulking over relationships that ended sophomore years of high school."

"No, no," Dawson countered tilting his beer at her, "We're entitled to these sulking reminiscing periods at the end of every deep profound era in our lives, and since I graduated college let the whining begin."

She laughed shrugging her shoulders, "I guess we always regret the first one that got away, especially when they're your self proclaimed soul mates."

"Yeah," he said slumping his shoulders, "and they run off with someone else's self proclaimed soul mate."

"And then the proclaimers of the soul mates are left in the dust, while they go off exploring the non-existent theory of true love."

"It's sad though," Dawson sighed, "I really don't think they would have cared if we ever hooked up."

She met his eyes and they sat there staring at each other for a long moment before he reached over and kissed her. She swerved in her chair to face him deepening it as he reached into his pocket laying down some bills and they exited the bar.

Packing up her last bag she threw down the hood of her trunk resting her hands on the edge for a moment. She had decided that she would just drive, no final destination no set expectations, just drive. After graduating from college she wanted to start writing on her first novel, and instead of rehashing old and painful memories from her past she was hitting it Kerouac style and finding her inspiration on the road. At twenty-five, she was still young and exploring her life, and a voyage too anew was always a good way to find herself.

The trek took her 5 days, stopping in Columbus on her first day, the next in Des Moines, the third in Bismarck, Helena on the fourth, and finally pulling into Seattle on the fifth day.

After living on fast food and alcohol celibate for nearly a week she pulled over at one of the first restaurant bars she could find near the center of town. It was by the water, but not the same body she was used to. The Pacific Ocean was different to her in so many ways, not only was it larger but its waves crashed with fiercer pounds, and that's what she needed, a new challenge. Slipping into the restaurant she immediately found a familiarity to it, as if she had been there before. The carpet was a blood red highlighted by light pink walls and a distinctive black trim. The tables were all a cherry stain with deep red flowers and a simple lamp with an orangish yellow shade. She suddenly felt under dressed as she glanced down at her wrinkled black pants and pea coat tucked tightly around her sweater.

She quickly dismissed this inhaling sharply as her eyes fell upon the bar. It was late far past the dinner hour and only a few straggling couples were left eating dinner off in the corner. A saxophone wailed in the corner to some classic blues song that she was sure she should have remembered as a piano tinkled softly in the background.

Sinking onto a royal blue barstool she swiveled in it for a moment before looking up at the bartender who chatted with a man who couldn't be much older then herself. But she wasn't interested in the man; it was the bartender who caught her eye. His chestnut brown hair was exactly how she remembered and she could still feel the soft strands gliding through her fingers. His face was slightly broader picking up the years between when she had last seen him. He tilted his head his crystal blue eyes catching in the light revealing that gleam she always reveled in.

He slid down over towards her, his head still downcast as he wiped down his table with a blue checkered rag and began fiddling with a glass, "What can I get ya?"

She leaned her elbows against the cherry oak of the bar smoothing her hands over a cup ring on the cool glaze. She licked her lips nervously, "What do you suggest?"

His motions stopped as the glass rattled to a stop. He worried his bottom lip between his teeth at the familiar sound of her voice, the voice he had longed to hear for five years now. He hesitated to look at her, afraid that if his eyes made the journey that he would be disappointed. Gritting his teeth together he took in a sharp breath the air sizzling as it hit his teeth, before his deep blue eyes met hers.

"Hey," was all he could offer his face suddenly lightening in his adolescent glow.

"Is that all you can say after five years?"

He grinned raising his brows, "Is this the most contact you can keep over a five year period?"

"I deserved that," she sighed.

Picking up a glass he dried it with a rag sizing her up for the level of alcohol he should be serving her before pouring her a whiskey sour. "So what brings you to this side of the country?"

She sipped at the drink flinching as the alcohol surged down her throat, "New profound journey."

"Sounds exciting," he replied clearing his throat.

"I'm writing a book actually," she continued, "and what better place then the dark dingy streets of Seattle."

He waved an accusing finger, "Hey, don't rain on Seattle," he said with full intention of a pun, "we're the home of the first Starbucks."

"Something always to be proud of," she said dryly. He stared at her straightly for a moment, "What? I lived in New York for nearly five years; I've seen enough Starbucks to fill a small country."

"So you've been around I assume?" He asked lightly a playful smile playing at his lips.

"Probably not nearly as much as you, for all I know you've slept with the entire country, five years is a long time to drive from Capeside to Seattle."

He chuckled, leaning against the counter as he shook his head in disbelief, "Some things will never change."

"So what about you Pace, what brings you to this corner of the world? And don't tell me it's because you needed a job because I'm well aware of numerous bars in the tri-state area."

"Sometimes you just want to start over, you know clear expectations." There was a long silence as the people at the end of the bar waved their goodbyes staggering out of the restaurant.

"I feel bad," Joey said in a soft tone, "you held up your end of the deal tending bar, and I never sent you a postcard."

He looked down at the bar and then back at her, "Oh, wait, you think I'm the bartender?"

She rolled her eyes, "You're not haggling free liquor again are you?"

"No you can rest assure that I own all the alcohol, all the food, all the décor, hell this whole building," he said motioning around the room.

"This is your place?" She asked behind wide eyes.

"That would be true, madam," he smiled warmly at her again. "It seems that abandoned burnt down buildings aren't the most appealing to others so they run cheap in the market."

"You put this place together?"

"You know me," he paused inspecting her left hand before smiling, "Potter, I like to build beautiful things out of smoldering death traps."

"It's beautiful Pacey, I'm impressed," she said still taking in the entire scene.

He leaned his elbows against the bar, "So what exactly brought you here."

She scrunched her nose taking another sip of her drink, "You know the book On the Road?" He nodded a few times.

"The one where they call sex 'making it' a whole bunch of times?"

"Yeah, well I am determined to write a novel, and me being the perfectionist that I am I want the story to be brilliant. But my life is so boring that I thought if I hit the open road I'd come up with these great stories."

"Didn't work that way though, huh?"

"Well I made the mistake of doing this great quest in the age of cell phones and airplanes, and I had too much money in my pocket, a car, and the fact that nobody's picked up a hitchhiker since Ted Bundy." She explained throwing her arms around dramatically.

He laughed as she froze her face falling, "What's so funny?" She asked pursing her lips.

Shaking his head he raised his eyes back to her, "Nothing, nothing, it's just really great to see you." Clasping his hands he rubbed them together, "So is this thing permanent or are you just stopping by?"

"I don't know yet, I mean, I didn't even know where I was going until I stopped here."

"Do you have anywhere to stay?"

She cringed, "I have a very spacious back seat."

"Well I have a very spacious spare bedroom so if you just chug down that glass I can get you settled in."

"Would that be okay?" She asked nervously, "I mean I wouldn't want to intrude."

He swung around the corner of the bar pulling on her arm, "Never, Potter, now let me get you upstairs."

"You live on top of your restaurant?" She asked him incredulously.

"People scare me, I like to reduce contact."

Deepening her voice to a narrating tone, "Says the owner of a trendy eatery."

"I'm not going to do this," Joey said crossing her arms over her chest.

He eyed her warily, "Not going to do what?"

"Just crash here at your place without retribution, it's wrong and unfair and I feel guilty," she pouted slumping against the wall across from his bed.

Pulling the covers over his face he drained the light of the room through the barrier, "Is this conversation entirely necessary at this hour of the morning?" He asked groggily still heavy with sleep.

"Pacey it's 12:30."

Peeking from his comforter he shrugged his bare tan shoulders, "It's time for my afternoon nap."

"I've been staying here for a week and you haven't been out of your bed before noon once," she argued bouncing heavily onto his mattress.

Bracing himself from the jerk he sat up, "I'm an afternoon person."

Crawling up the length of the bed she grasped onto his hand pulling him off the mattress, "C'mon, it's time that you grow up Mr. Witter."

He shook his head, "No you see, growing up they made me get up at insane hours when the sun was still in the process of rising." Standing up proudly straightening his shoulders he continued dropping his voice, "Now as a man I take advantage of having the luxury of an educational free day."

She rolled her eyes, "You truly are depressing," she paused as she saw her reflection in the mirror, behind her a dragging Pacey clad only in blue plaid boxers. "Now put some pants on and I'll treat you to lunch," she said blushing.

"I can treat you to lunch," he cut in, "I know this great place."

"Let me guess the food is free?" She asked wryly.

"Exactly," he smiled bopping her on the nose with his finger.

"Okay, so you want to give me money?" he asked fishing through his french-fries.

"Exactly," she replied nodding her head in content.

"But you don't have any money left."

Her face fell as she looked down at her lap, "Pretty much, yeah."

He grinned tilting her chin up with his thumb as he reached across the table, "Don't say I was never a good friend." He began sitting back into his chair smugly, "But I just so happen to have an opening on the wait staff here at this lovely establishment."

She stared at him blankly, "You want me to be a waitress?" He nodded at her still plastered with a cocky grin. "After I dedicated the better portion of my life serving jackasses their meals only to escape to New York where I once again took part in food service at a bagel store, finding hope in traveling cross country… so I can work for you…waiting on tables."

"Yep that's pretty much it."

"I hate you," she said desperately.

"And I love you too, so if you would like I can introduce you to the rest of the staff and size you myself for your cute little uniform," he began scooting himself away from the table.

"You come within two feet of me with a tape measurer and I will strangle you with it so help me God," she sneered through gritted teeth pointing a strict finger at him.

"I remember a day way back when, when you actually liked my roguish charm."

She smirked at him, "That was small town naïve Joey Potter, this," she motioned at herself, "This is tough New York Joey Potter."

Wrapping his arm around her waist he led her towards the kitchen whispering seductively into her ear, "We'll see about that." She melted against his arm surprised that he still had that affect on her and cleared the lump in her throat.

"I quit!" She exclaimed throwing her tie to the floor.

Pacey nodded at her blankly, "That was the eighteenth time you've quit over the past three months."

"Well the twentieth time I'll mean it," She sneered plopping down next to him.

"I really should just fire you, but then I just remember that you don't get paid," he said motioning with the remote control in his hand.

"I thought that my volunteer days were over when I got my college acceptance," she pouted resting her head against her hand.

"Hey at least you get tips and wonderful management."

She rolled her eyes, which settled on him; "Don't you do the girlfriend, one night stand, female contact thing anymore?"

"Sometimes," he said meekly, "what are you upset that my womanizing days are over?"

"No, I find it depressing that you spend Friday nights sitting on the couch with your ex-girlfriend from high school watching crappy sitcoms."

"Hey, we also had a thing in college," he said accusingly.

"Come on," she said pulling on his arm, "we're going out."

He followed reluctantly, "But, but Reba's on," he protested.

"Pacey you're this close to being spoon deep in a carton of cookie dough," she insisted with her forefingers.

"Alright, alright, I'll go."

Coming in from work the loud ring filled the apartment, "Jack?" She called out balancing the bags in her hands. "Jack can you get that?"

After no response she let out an aggravated sigh allowing the bags to fall around her feet as she dove towards the ringing phone, "Hello Lindley-McPhee house of Over Sexed Teens and Alternative Lifestyle Men."

She heard a warm chuckle on the other end of the line, one that she had come to recognize years before, "Hello Lindley."

"Pacey is that you?" She asked crawling into a sitting position on the floor.

"That would be correct," he replied his booming voice comforting.

"Where have you been for the past three year's young sir? We were thinking about taking out a missing persons report."

"I've been around actually," he paused taking a deep breath, "Jen do you believe in fate?"

"Pace if you're going to say that it was fate that I answered my telephone I'm really sorry it was just a force of habit."

"No, no," he trailed off obviously finding the right words to get what he wanted, "have you seen Joey lately?"

"Don't you think it's time to move on?" She asked folding an arm over her waist.

"Yes, yes I do," he nodded jerkily, "but do you know where she is?"

"No I do not she said she was exploring the country and left a few months ago."

"Back to that fate thing I was talking about, I'm in Seattle."

"Are you going sleepless?" She joked receiving only a light smirk from him.

"No, see I got a new roommate about three months ago," he explained.

"And she reminds you of Joey."

"She is Joey."

There was a long silence, "So Joey found you in Seattle and you're living together," she paused, "platonically?"

"Excruciatingly," he cringed painfully. "It's just every time I try to escape her I turn around and she's right there. First there was senior year when I sailed around the sea for three months only to stroll back into her life."

"That was on your own free will as I recall, especially since you knew she was in Boston."

"Don't ruin the analogy Lindley," he interrupted, "Anyway I run here, she appears here that, that is fate."

"Pacey you've had five years to get over her!"

"I know, and I was doing so well but, I'm a guy and whenever I hear the shower start to run and I'm not in it, my mind it starts to drift."

She threw her head against the edge of the couch, "Why do I feel like we're sixteen again?"

"I wish we were, at least back then we didn't have a history."

She sighed, "Okay Pace, I'm going to warn you that nothing good can come from this," she paused biting on her lip, "But, I want you to do whatever makes you happy."

"Thanks Jen."

"And if I don't get another phone call in the next three years from you Pacey Witter you will have hell to pay."

"Yes Jen," he replied, "bye," he finished hanging up the phone.

"Pacey Witter I hate you," she mumbled crawling into his bed clad in long sweats and a puffy pink robe. She carried a box of tissues and a trash can, and her messy hair and dark eyes immediately gave away the fact that she was sick.

He grumbled rolling over, the sheets twisting around his legs as he buried his face into his pillow, "What did I do?" He looked up at her, his nose a rosy pink with dark circles under his eyes.

"You got me sick," she pouted pulling some covers over her as she snuggled into the bed.

He sat up on his elbows and stole a tissue from her, "How did I do that? I've been sleeping in the privacy of my room for almost a week now."

She shook her head, "Did your mother ever teach you to use a glass when you drink orange juice? When you swig from the carton you backwash and then release your germs to all the innocent civilized people."

He scrunched up his nose arrogantly, "It's my orange juice I can drink it how I want to."

"I bought the orange juice," she said flatly.

His face fell, "Oh sorry about that." He rolled onto his back sitting up against his pillow, "So Potter, now that we're both in bed in the same health, alone, what do you want to do?"

She stared at him blankly her cheeks turning a light crimson, "Don't get any ideas Witter," she said reaching over him to the night stand and fishing for the remote.

"Don't you have your own room you can be hacking in?" He complained watching her warily as her body clashed against his.

"That I do," she said scooting back into her spot, "but you have a TV in yours."

"It's nice to see how that's all I'm good for."

"Oh no sweetie," she said running a hand along his cheek, "You make great omelets too."

"Hey Jo, I was thinking maybe we could catch a movie then get something to eat," Pacey called coming out from his room. He stopped mid-step eyeing her warily then jumping his focus to the man next to her, "Hello Joey and strange man I don't know," he forced a smile extending his hand.

"Tom," he responded meeting his shake. He was slightly shorter then Pacey with a mop of blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. His jaw line was strong and jagged and his large smile revealed all thirty-two teeth bleach white with perfection. His skin was so tan it looked like leather and Pacey could estimate that he was no younger then thirty-four.

Pacey continued to shake Tom's hand, his smile still plastered on his face but his eyes turning to a death glare. "This is Pacey, by the way," Joey said breaking the growing tension, "he owns the restaurant."

"Yep, I also live here, with Joey, been about six months now," he said smugly.

"That's," Tom began withdrawing his hand, "interesting."

"We," he began wrapping a protective arm around the brunette, "we, go way back, you know back to the time when you learn the alphabet, though that was probably a bit too long ago for you to remember."

Joey glared at Pacey but didn't have the will to move his arm. "Well it wasn't that long ago," Tom reasoned nervously.

"We used to date too," he continued his jealousy boiling, "a whole year, went sailing alone for a summer it was quite amazing."

"Pacey," Joey groaned through gritted teeth as she finally slipped from his grasp, "Tom and I need to leave for our reservation."

"So Tommy how'd you and Josephine meet?"

"At the book store, right up the street, we reached for the same book argued over it for a few minutes and then felt the sparks, I asked her for dinner and here we are."

"So if you don't mind," she said finishing the strap on her shoe, "we'll be going now." She locked gazes with him and his eyes were hurt and pleading as he watched him reach for her hand. She allowed Tom to guide her towards the door but her attention stayed settled on the other man across the room.

"Fill 'er up, Marty," he slurred raising his glass to him.

"I'm sorry boss, but I think I'm gonna have to cut you off," the young tender replied snickering at his wobbling motions.

"You're fired," he replied sternly.

Marty continued wiping out the last of the glasses replacing them on the shelf, "Are you sure about that Mr. Witter?" He began, having had this conversation before, "Who's going to serve you your drink?"

He thought for a moment tinkling his fingers along the empty glass, "What if I said please real nice?"

The door flew open and Joey appeared through the frame closing his drenching umbrella. She pulled her skirt down her thigh as she traveled across the length of the room.

"Joey! Joey's here!" Pacey announced triumphantly, "Drinks around the house," titling his face back in Marty's direction he grinned holding up his glass, "fill 'er up."

She rolled her eyes turning her attention to the bartender as he continued to shake his head, "Is he drunk."

"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner," Pacey drawled lazily.

She folded her arms across her chest as she sunk onto a barstool, "Pacey why are you drinking?"

"Well, I figured I always take care of you when you're tipsy so it's time for you to turn in a few IOU's."

"Come on Pace, it's getting late," she pulled on his arm but he shook it away.

"No, we haven't even talked about your date with Tom," he said bitterly, "how is Tom, did you have a good time?"

"That's not important," she said sternly.

Pacey turned to an amused Marty, "What kind of name is Tom? It's a cat's name, not just any cat an incredible stupid cat." Tipping the glass over his mouth he swiped his tongue over it picking up the last traces of alcohol. "I bet he lives with his mother," he mumbled.

She was aggravated now, "Are you done Pace?"

He held a finger up, "Hold on, hold on," he began imitating deep thought, "yes I'm done."

"Good, now let's go," she said pulling on his shoulders as they stumbled towards the back door. Dragging him up the stairs they tripped through the apartment until he finally collapsed on his bed. "Sleep tight, and happy hangover," she announced patting his stomach.

He grabbed onto her hand holding it in his own, "Jo wait."

"What?" She asked out of breath dropping onto the edge of the bed.

"I'm sorry that I was jealous."

"It's completely natural to feel protective of someone that you cared deeply for," she reasoned.

"It's not that," he mumbled rocking his head against the pillow his eyes drifting shut. "It's not because I cared for you it's because I don't want you to be with anyone else."

"What are you trying to say?" She asked dropping her voice as her brows knit together.

"I could sleep with every single woman in Seattle, hell the whole state of Washington and I still would be head over heels, ass backwards in love with you," he said his voice rising as he created a beat with each syllable. "I just can't run away from you," he trailed off, "I can't run away."

She ran her hand across his cheek watching him warmly chocking back an onslaught of tears. "Jo," he groaned drawing her closer by pulling on her hand, "stay with me tonight."

Before she could answer he was already sound asleep his breath steady his lips parted slightly. She just sat on the edge of the bed watching him, the gentle rise and fall of his chest accompanied by the occasional sharp intake. His eyelashes fluttered lightly against his cheek bones the soft lids closing off the porthole to his soul. She smoothed her hand over his cheek once again dropping a light kiss on his parted lips, "I love you too, Pacey," she whispered as she slipped out of his room sinking into her own bed as she finally allowed her tears to fall.

It was still early morning when his phone began ringing off the hook. Grumbling along the way he stubbed his toe against the couch cursing it silently, "Hello?"

"Dawson, is that you?" His lips twitched into a smile at the sound of her voice, his insides melting all over again, "It's me Joey."

"I know it's you," was all he could say.

"Listen I was wondering where you were staying exactly?" Her voice sounded frantic and a great fear washed over him.

"I'm in LA why, where are you?"

"That's not important," she dismissed, "I was hoping I could come stay with you for a while."

"Sure, sure, where have you been I haven't talked to you in such a long time?"

"I've been along the Pacific coast actually and if I leave today I may be where you are in about two days," she replied her pace quick

"Jo, what's wrong are you okay?" He asked warily.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine I just want to see the country you know, see you in your element. How have you been? I saw your film a month ago and it was amazing."

"I'm good, I'm working on a new picture actually so it's really exciting," he replied still a little confused.

"Well I will see you soon I better get going," she stuttered, "The sooner I leave the sooner I get there."

"Okay," he replied reluctantly not expecting their four year reunion to be so strange, "I'll see you then."

She dropped the phone back in the cradle struggling with her duffle bag when he came into the room, "Hey Jo, are you doing laundry?" Pacey asked still trying to push off his headache.

"No, I'm leaving," she replied softly.

"It's really no big deal you living here you don't need to find a new apartment."

She shook her head suddenly feeling the urge to cry still not knowing exactly why. "No I'm going down to LA."

He scratched his head squinting his eyes, "Cool, I'll come with you it'll be fun, I have great on road hijinx that will be perfect for your book."

"I'm not coming back," she mumbled with her back towards him.

"What why?" he asked storming through the door frame.

"This was never going to be permanent Pacey, I came here, I didn't find what I was looking for and not it's time for me to move on."

He paused watching her move throughout the room, "This is about what I said last night isn't it?"

"No," she lied fumbling through her dresser.

"No you're scared about what I said so now you're running off to Hollywood with Dawson where you know you'll be safe," he said accusingly knowing her way to well.

"That's not it Pacey," she cried turning her attention back to her bag.

"Jo," he said grasping her shoulders forcing her to look at him, "don't go."

She could feel the milky tears forming at the brims of her eyes, "I don't need this right now, I don't need to relive a relationship that ends badly every single time."

"Joey I love you," he pleaded. She was lost in his eyes again the pain so present that she could feel the knife driving through her heart as well. She wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him with the most passion she had ever released clashing her body rough against his. He returned her kiss his hands running down her back grasping at her shirt as his tongue desperately explored every inch of her mouth.

Pulling away she drew her fingers towards her lips her eyes filling with regret, "Goodbye Pacey." She whispered grabbing her bag and disappearing through the door.

Joey ran a towel through her hair as she stepped through the large French doors of his brand new house. She wrapped the plush white towel around her over the sleek black curves of her bikini. Her skin was a golden glow after a summer in the sun giving her a healthier complexion then the one she had gained through six months in the clouds of Seattle. LA had been good to her for the past year and Dawson was kind enough to take her in, his girlfriend Shellie only jealous on occasion.

Joey rummaged through the refrigerator pulling out a bottle of water as she flicked on the answering machine.

"Hey Joey, it's Rodger, I was hoping that you were still free this weekend because I was going down to my beach house and was hoping that you'd come, you have my number so give me a ring." Her face brightened at the sound of his voice as her tongue peeked through her teeth.

"Things are getting serious with you and this Rodger guy isn't it?" Dawson teased carrying in a bag of groceries, happy to just see her smile.

"Maybe," she said in a daze.

"Well it has been three months now hasn't it."

"Yes, it has," she replied a smile still planted on her face, "but I don't want to jinx it yet so I'm taking everything one step at a time."

"I think somebody's in love," he teased as she furrowed through the bag he brought in hurling a grape at him.

"So are you going?"

"I think so," she nodded not noticing the falling expression on his face which was quickly covered by a fake grin. "Well Shellie must be excited to get the house to yourselves for once, and you have the movie premier for Piece of Your Mind tomorrow so you won't even notice I'm gone."

He nodded, "Shellie's gone actually."

"Wait, why what happened?" She asked dropping a grape she was about to eat.

"Conflict in interest," he replied simply covering up the fact that she wanted Joey out.

"I'm sorry," she said offering him a sympathetic pat.

"Well there's no reason for you to dwell in my misery so you go with Rodger and have fun."