Disclaimer: The characters held within are not mine. If they were, I would have put Pacey and Joey together way back in season one, and Dawson would be road kill. But they aren't mine and I'm writing this because I have nothing to do. So please, don't sue me

Author's Note: The characters of Noel and Felicity are a little...out of character for the two. I did it on purpose. I wanted them to be a little more...coniving then they really are.

Rating: Not bad, just a little kissing!

Joey and Pacey stood quickly, feeling like their worlds were about to come crumbeling down around their feet. It was awful. Dawson had caught them. Neither had time to think about him in the split second it took for him to say what he had to say. And neither thought about him when they kissed again. It was just a sudden reaction to a very powerful confession.

He was hurt, they could both see that. But he seemed more angry that he was hurt. Angry for what? Joey moving on? Pacey moving in on what he considered his territory? Neither knew exactly why he was angry, other than the obvious reasons.

"Look, Dawson...we can explain."

"Explain what Pacey? That you suddenly decide that you need a new conquest?"

"No! I would never think that. Especially not about Joey..."

"What Pacey...that you...you what?"

"Dawson...you don't understand..."

"Okay, Joey...I'm waiting. I thought you loved me."

"I...do," she said softly.

Pacey looked down at Joey. His heart sinking into the pit of his stomach as he heard her say that she loved Dawson. Not five minutes ago did she say that she loved him. How can she love two people?

"Then why are you kissing Pacey?"

"Because, I love him too."

"You're in love with the both of us?"

"No. Just Pacey."

Dawson grew more angry by the moment. "You just said that you loved me!"

"I do love you. But I'm not in love with you. There's a difference."

"Well, by all means Joey...explain."

She moved forward to stand in front of Dawson. "Dawson...as friends we were great. We were the best. But as a couple...we sucked. There was too much between the two of us...too many expectations and things like that. But...I don't have those things with Pacey. There's honesty and there's compassion and there's more there than either of us ever thought there could be. I know that this confuses you...but I can't help what I feel. And what I feel for Pacey is very strong. And I don't have the strength to hide it anymore."

"Joey, you can't be serious. I mean...Pacey?"

"Why can't she be serious, Dawson?"

"Stay out of this, Pacey!"

"Don't tell me to stay out of this! I'm as much a part of this as you are!"

"No! You've confused her. She knew who she loved...I should've known better than to have sent you to look out for her."

"You two stop! Now! You're acting like children. And I am not a prize to be won!"

"Sorry," Pacey said softly.

Dawson calmed down some. He stared at his feet and then slowly looked back up at the two. "Pacey, don't ever talk to me again."

"Dawson..."

"No. You knew how I felt about her. You knew that she was everything that made me whole...and you took her from me. I thought you were my friend. But...I now know differently."

"Dawson...I didn't mean for this to happen."

"Just...stay away from me. Stay out of my life."

"It figures."

Dawson cocked his head to the side. He looked at Pacey strangely. "It figures?"

"Why do you think I never told you how I felt for her? I knew you'd act like this. You always do when it comes to Joey..." Pacey took a deep breath and looked down at Joey. As much as he loved her, he couldn't destroy one of the only stable relationships in his life. No matter what had happened to Pacey, his relationship with Dawson had always been a constant. He saw the tears in her eyes. She knew exactly what he was about to do and she turned away. "Dawson...I don't want to loose you as my friend. So...I'm sorry Joey."

With that, Pacey walked away from his two friends. As he made his way outside the park, he leaned against a telephone pole and tried to fight the tears that were not far from spilling over. He couldn't believe he'd just done that. He finally had a chance to be with the woman he loved and he passed up for an arrogant asshole. He knew that in the long run, Joey and Dawson would both thank him for his decision. Especially Dawson. The selfish bastard.

Pacey quickly ran home. He didn't want to chance running into Joey once more. More than anything, Pacey wanted to scream. He'd been so close. So close to finally having what he wanted. He could have been with her. But the one comforting thought in all this was he at least got to hear her say she loved him. That was the one phrase that would forever stick out in his mind. She loved him. And if she hated him after this moment, then he at least took comfort that at one point in time, they were in love with one another.

What he found the strangest was that she seemed willing to throw her relationship with Dawson out the window for him. Whether that was the truth or not, he couldn't understand that look in her eyes. The look of complete love. He loved her. And she loved him. That was all he needed to make it through the rest of his life utterly content.

Joey's tears streamed down her face as she saw Pacey leave the park. He'd just given her up for his friendship with Dawson. Was he lying when he said he loved her? He couldn't have lied. She saw that look. The look he used to give to Andie. The more she thought about it the more she cried. Dawson wrapped his arms around her and she quickly pushed him away from her. She was angry.

"Don't you ever touch me again!"

"Joey?"

"You self-serving bastard!"

"Joey calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down!"

"What's the matter with you?"

"I love him, Dawson! That's what's wrong with me! I love him and he left me because of you!"

"Not because of me! He left because he knew that we were meant to be."

"If we're so 'meant to be' then why aren't we together? Why am I not in love with you? Why do I feel like strangling you?"

"Joey, you may not see it now, but you will...we're soul mates. All soul mates find their way to each other."

"But not all of them live happily ever after Dawson."

"Yes, they do!"

"No, Dawson! They don't!! Romeo and Juliet...they died! They were soul mates! They didn't make it!"

"They died together, though Joey!"

"Dawson...I don't want to hurt you...but I don't want to be with you. I don't love you like I used to. I don't want you. I don't want you to want me. And I will never feel for you the way I once did, because you ruined a chance for me to be happy..."

"Pacey made you happy?" He asked incredulously.

"Yes. He makes me happy!"

"Apparently the feeling isn't mutual or he would have stood here and fought for you."

"Dawson Leery, if you ever put down my feelings for him or his feelings for me again, I will castrate you."

Dawson was in shock. Joey was serious. She really loved him. Why? Pacey wasn't the one for her. He was. He was supposed to get the girl. Not Pacey. Pacey wasn't right for her. He was her worst enemy. She hated Pacey.

"I have to go find him."

"No you don't. You two aren't right for each other."

"Thank you, Dr. Leery expert relationship councilor."

"Joey, you hate Pacey."

"No...I don't. Read my lips, Dawson. I. Love. Pacey. Not you."

"Damnit Joey..." Dawson pulled her to him and kissed her. Joey quickly pushed him away and slapped him. She then took off out of the park. She didn't want Dawson. She didn't want Dawson to kiss her. She only wanted to feel Pacey kiss her. To feel his lips on hers and loose herself in the passion of his kiss.

Joey went to the first place she could think of...Doug's house. She needed to find Pacey and tell him that she needed him. That without him, she was nothing. She wanted him, not Dawson.

She climbed up the few steps that were the front of Doug's apartment. She pushed the buzzer anxiously. The door beeped and she opened it. Doug greeted her at the door and let her in quietly. She walked and looked for Pacey.

"Where is he Doug?"

"In my room. I told him he could crash in there tonight. Looks like he lost a battle of the wills."

"Something like that."

Joey opened the bedroom door without knocking. Pacey was lying there sleeping softly, his dark lashes falling over his pale cheeks. His hair was tousled, standing out on all ends. She didn't want to disturb him, but she needed to tell him. She needed to tell him that she didn't want Dawson, that she only wanted him. She wanted him to know that if Dawson couldn't accept their relationship then he wasn't a real friend to begin with.

Staring at Pacey's sleeping figure made her realize that he was what she wanted. She never knew to what extent until she saw Pacey laying there, peaceful, content, she wasn't aware that she cared as deeply as she did.

She sat on the edge of the bed, content for the moment with watching him sleep. Mrs. Ryan was right. You really know you love someone when you can just watch them sleep. Pacey favored that little boy that used to chase her around and call her names. He'd changed so much and then not at all. He was still the boy that she'd grown up with, but was the man she loved.

Pacey must have felt her presence, he opened his eyes to see her sitting next to him. He looked confused and startled to see her there.

"Joey?"

"Yeah."

"What are you doing here?" he asked sleepily.

"I'm here to talk to you."

"About what?"

"About tonight."

Pacey sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed. He didn't want to talk. He wanted her to leave before he made a huge mistake that would cause him to hurt more people than it would to save himself from heartache.

"Joey...I don't want to talk."

"Is he more important to you than I am?"

"Joey...not many things in this world are more important to me than you."

"Then what is it?"

"Joey, we can't do this."

She began crying again. Angry and hurt she was going to let him have it. "And why not? Are you afraid? I thought you said you loved me. Was that a lie?"

"Joey...I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it."

"Then what?! What's the matter with you?"

"Joey, I have loved one woman in my life, and she hurt me in a way that I didn't know anyone could. When she told me that she'd slept with another guy, I felt like wasn't man enough for her. And to run the risk of loosing you...and the possibility of loosing you to my best friend...I'm not sure I could take that."

"What makes you think that I would leave you for Dawson?"

"Joey...you and Dawson are soul mates. Meaning, you belong together. I wouldn't be anything more than a little side road to your real destination."

"Pacey you are anything but. You don't realize how much you mean to me. You and Dawson are the two people in this world that know me better than anyone...you know I would never hurt you. Especially not the way you're suggesting. Pacey, you have been my savior. You've helped me any time I needed it, you let me cry on your shoulder, you even taught me how to drive stick...and you can sit there and tell me that I would hurt you after all you've done for me?"

"Anything's possible, Joey."

It felt like someone had hit her incredibly hard in the stomach. He did think that. She wouldn't do that. No matter what, if her feelings ever changed for Pacey she'd tell him first. But she didn't see that happening. It was just impossible for her to not see Pacey there in her life in the future.

"Pacey...if that's what you think of me..." Joey stood and walked out the door of Doug's bed room. She walked out of the apartment quickly and leaned against the door. "I love you," she whispered.

Pacey rushed out of the bedroom. She was already out the door. Pacey looked down at the couch and saw Doug sleeping. He went to the door and rubbed the wood. "I love you, Joey."

He turned slowly and went back into the bedroom. He plopped down on his back and stared at the ceiling. Pacey turned to look at the bedside table. He saw the telephone, knowing that he needed to talk to someone.

Pacey picked up the phone and dialed the number. "H'lo?"

"Felicity, did I wake you up?"

"Yeah. Where did you get off to? Dawson said you'd made Joey mad and she left and you went chasing after her."

"Yeah."

"What happened?"

"She told me she loved me."

"That's great!" she said enthusiastically.

"No, it's not."

"Okay...see now I'm confused. I thought you wanted her to say she was in love with you. Did something change?"

"I forgot about a really big problem."

"And that is?"

"Dawson."

"You're best friend? How is that a problem?"

"He's always been in love with her and she's always been in love with him. They're soul mates."

"Oh, Pacey, I'm sorry."

"Not as sorry as I am."

Felicity was quite for a minute. "So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I don't want to do anything."

"Meaning?"

"I just want to be with her. I don't want to deal with Dawson or anything that goes with the whole Dawson and Joey saga. I just...I want to be with her."

"Then be with her."

"I can't ruin my friendship with him and I can't let her ruin her friendship with him for...this."

"This?"

"Me...my feelings."

"Pacey...you have to give it a chance."

"I've spent my entire life being the third wheel. And now, when I can finally have the one thing I want, someone else already has a claim on it."

"I think you're forgetting on very important issue."

"And what's that?"

"She doesn't belong to anybody."

"She does to Dawson."

"Pacey...you have to fight for her."

"Why fight for something you can't win?"

"Because sometimes the underdog comes out on top."

"Not in this case."

"Pacey...fight for her."

"No."

"Yes. If you ever stand a chance at real happiness, you have to fight for her. You have to show her that you love her more and better than the person before. You have to show her than no one on this earth can love her the way that you do. She is what you love and you are what she loves and together the two of you can make it through anything." She paused, trying to form her thoughts. "If this friend of yours can't accept your relationship or your feelings with Joey, then he's not really your friend, Pacey. He would be able to handle the fact that his best friend is in love with the girl that he wants. And if he respected the both of you, then he would be able to put all his feelings aside and let you two have the chance to see where the future will lead you."

"You make it sound like it's so simple. But what you don't seem to be grasping is that...one day, she'll wake up and realize that she made the worst mistake of her life when she chose me. She'll never forgive me and she'll never want to see me again...and honestly, I'm not sure I can live without her."

"Then that's exactly why you have to fight for her."

"I can't. I can't betray Dawson."

"Who gives a rat's ass what Dawson's thinks?! Look, Pacey, your main goal in life should be to be happy for the rest of your life. And you said that the only thing that could every make you happy is to be with her."

"It is."

"Then be with her."

"He'd never forgive me."

"How can you forgive him?"

"Huh?"

"How can you forgive him for forbidding you the one thing that would make you the happiest in this world? How can you let him rule your life like you are? He should be the one worrying about whether or not you could ever forgive him."

"I'm still the lousiest friend in the world."

"No. You're not. You are trying to do anything and everything in your power to protect him...making your own self suffer so he will remain your friend. If you ask me...you're the better man in this situation."

"Thanks. But I still feel like scum."

"Let me ask you a question."

"Okay."

"How is Joey reacting to the fact that Dawson is coming between the two of you?"

"She doesn't know that's the reason."

"What?"

"Well, I kind of told her that it was trust issues."

"Pacey..."she said woefully.

"I know."

"You lied to her. Why?"

"I don't want her to throw her friendship with him away."

She sighed. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe she's willing to let him go so she can be with you?"

"You mean give him up for me? Nah. You're talkin' crazy talk."

"Why is that so crazy?"

"I did mention the fact that they're soul mates right?"

"Why are they soul mates? Because they've known each other all their lives?"

Pacey thought for a minute. What was it that made Dawson and Joey soul mates? A while back he would have had a thousand reasons, but he couldn't think of one off the top of his head.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know."

"So. Fight for her, Pacey."

"You really think I should?"

"Yes!"

Pacey looked over at the clock. They'd been on the phone for an hour and a half. "Hey, I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"K. Good night, Pacey."

"Night Felicity."

Pacey hung up the phone. She thought he should fight for her. Fight a fight he didn't think he could win. That was great. But he was going to give it his all. He was going to give it everything he had into showing Joey that he was the one to be with her. He was the one that could love her the way she deserved to be loved. It was him that she should be with, not Dawson.

Joey cried on Jen's shoulder, telling her all the events of the night: the confession of love, the kiss, Dawson finding out, Pacey letting her go, her refusing Dawson, and Pacey's feeling of mistrust about her.

Jen tried her best to soothe her. But nothing was working. She kept crying. It seemed to Jen that she would never stop crying. Pacey hurt her, bad. To what degree was impossible to tell right now. All she knew was that Joey was hurting, Pacey was probably hurting, Dawson was hurting, the whole thing had turned into a huge ball of angst. What should be a wonderful night for Joey and for Pacey turned out to cause them both more pain than either expected to ever go through.

"Jen..."

Joey pulled away from Jen's shoulder and looked at her new closest friend. She was so wrought over with turmoil and heartache. She wanted to hit Dawson. She wanted to hit Pacey. Because of Dawson, Pacey wasn't as open about being with her as he had been before. And now, it seemed that Pacey couldn't trust her. He'd been able to trust her before. What changed?

"I don't understand, Jen."

"I know."

"I mean, one minute, he says he loves me. The next, he tells me he doesn't trust me. What could have happened that would change his mind?"

"I have no idea, Joey. But I think you need to talk to him."

Joey sniffled. "I tried to talk to him...that's when he said it."

"Did he really say he couldn't trust you?"

"Basically."

"And you think that is the only reason why he would say that?"

"What other reason would he have? I know Pacey. He wouldn't deliberately hurt me. So why would he start tonight?"

"So you really think that's the truth?"

"I don't know."

"Joey...I know Pacey too. He some times does stupid things in order to protect the people he loves from being hurt. Maybe he thinks you'll be hurt."

"How? How would I be hurt?"

"I don't know. But, you know guys. They don't think straight most of the time. And when they do think, it's usually not with the right head," she said with a smile.

Joey smiled softly. "Look, Joey, you know what you want and what you love. I think that maybe he's not aware that you really love him. And it may just be your history with Dawson that's standing in the way."

"I can't erase the past and even if I could, I wouldn't."

"I know that. He knows that. But...you and Dawson are considered to be so much more than a romance...he could be scared of losing you to Dawson."

"That's what he said. He said he was afraid I would leave him for Dawson."

"Would you?"

"I could have tonight, but I didn't."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't love Dawson any more. Not like I did. That part of my life is over with."

"Do you mean that?"

"You know I do."

"Then tell me something. Are you willing to loose your friendship with Dawson for your relationship with Pacey? Because that is more than likely going to happen if you chase this."

"Yes."

"Then, good luck," she said with a smile.

"Thanks."

"Now go home. Go to bed."

Joey stood slowly, as a flash of light flickered into Jen's room. Joey glanced out of the window and caught a glimpse of Pacey's truck. He quickly climbed out and up the ladder to Dawson's room.

"Bye, Jen."

"Dawson, where are you?"

Dawson walked into his room, the look of anger coming across his face. Pacey was not in the mood to deal with the bitchy side of Dawson Leery. He'd come over to tell Dawson that he wasn't giving her up without a fight.

"Pacey, only my friends are aloud to use that ladder."

"Well, in that case, I'll use the stairs when I leave, because after I say what I'm going to say, you will definetly hate me."

"What?"

"I'm not letting her go, okay? I'm not letting you ruin what the two of us have just because of your petty jealousy. You are not going to control my life or my happiness by saying that I can and can not date Joey. Because, frankly Dawson, if you're willing to let her come between us in the first place, then I guess you were never really my friend to begin with."

Dawson was seething. He wanted to punch Pacey. He had a lot of nerve coming into his bedroom and telling him that he wasn't going to say he couldn't date Joey.

"Actually Pacey, it was you who was never my friend. You betrayed me."

"I never betrayed you, Dawson. You only see it that way. I hid what I felt for her to spare you the hurt. I didn't let her know because I didn't want to ruin our friendship, but that's already happened."

"You will never mean as much to her as I do."

"That maybe true. And it may not," he said walking out of the room.

Pacey felt liberated. He felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. As Pacey walked back to his truck, he noticed Joey sitting on the hood, bundled up under her jacket. She looked so beautiful. Dark hair falling against pale skin, she was a sight to see.

"Hey," he said slowly.

"Hey."

"What...what are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

"Taking care of some unfinished business."

"Like?"

"My issues with Dawson." He moved over to stand in front of her. "What about you?"

"Talking to Jen," she said lowering her head. "Look, Pacey...I don't know what your reasons are for not wanting to be with me, but I want you to know that I'm not willing to let Dawson stand between us. And if that's what this is all about..."

He cut her off with a kiss. A kiss that was slower than the first one, and sweeter than the second one. This one was everything. This one was the one that signified the beginning of something new and exciting and the end of innocence as she knew it. This was what she wanted and this was what she had been waiting for.

Pacey pulled away, stroking the smoothness of her cheek. "And just so you know, Joey, I do love you."

"I love you too, Pacey."

He kissed her again. Neither knew of the audience watching them. Dawson stared out his window at his best friends. Make that ex best friends. They had thrown away their friendships with him for something that would never last. Why? Why would they betray him...betray his trust like this? They will break up and will both come to him begging for forgiveness and he would not give it to them. That would be his revenge.

But across the yard, Jen watched as Pacey slowly kissed Joey. She smiled. It was about time. Pacey was willing to get over what ever it was to be with Joey. Joey was willing to get rid of her past history with Dawson for Pacey. It's strange how things turn out. One minute, Joey hates him, the next she loves him and is in teenage angstville with no return in sight, and then he kisses her and everything seems to fix itself.

Joey pulled away and smiled at Pacey. She was happy. For the first time in weeks she was happy. And she could tell he was too. She wanted Pacey to be happy for the rest of his life, and if it was at all possible, she wanted to be the one to make him happy.

Look for the continuation called "Next To Be With You"