All This Time

Part 3 - All This Time

As the cool winter air began to filter through the apartment, Joey wrapped her bathrobe tightly around her as she climbed out of bed to close the bedroom window. Sitting on the window seat she picked up one of the pictures from the dresser and folded her legs under her bum.

The picture was of Dawson holding Jordan a few hours after he was born.

She ran a finger over the image of Dawson. Things had seemed to work out well; at least they had so far. In the picture he was smiling as he looked down at Jordan who had been born almost eight months ago in April. Jordan had grasped hold of Dawson’s finger just as the picture was taken.

Her eyes moved to Jordan. He’d been born with a tuft of sandy blonde hair, weighing in at 7lb 3oz after almost 12 hours of labor.

After Dawson had showed up in Capeside, her mind had moved to how she’d cope with parenthood and there were a few times she felt she may not be ready. But Dawson had alleviated her worries with a kiss on the temple and told her she’d be great. She’d already had the experience of helping Bessie with Alexander. They were in it together and they’d learn together.

They’d spent a few nights in Capeside, staying in the B&B and visiting Gale and Mitch. They’d both been pleasantly surprised to hear that Dawson and Joey were back together and when Dawson casually asked how they would feel about being Grandparents, Gale nearly fainted. “Wasn’t it a bit early to be thinking about kids?” Dawson’s reply had been, “Tell that to the baby.”

Ten days after Joey had left LA she found herself back there again, ready to start the rest of her life with Dawson, the first guy she’d ever loved. They’d half-heartedly discussed the sleeping arrangements, with both agreeing that Joey would sleep in the guest room to begin with. However the two of them were masking the disappointment and when Joey fell asleep on the couch that night Dawson couldn’t bare to have her out of his sight.

So he’d carried her to his bed and that’s where she stayed. That’s where they seemed to have their major talks, about decorating the nursery, Joey’s desire to be working again for M.A.D and what his thoughts were of their being a branch in LA. Dawson hadn’t been overly thrilled about her working during the pregnancy, just in case.

“What if I wasn’t over seeing the opening of it and I only worked a few days a week from home?”

“I guess I’d find it hard to argue with that.” He’d replied and she’d kissed him as a ‘thank you’.

Nicola and Sarah had taken it in turns to come out to help with the business starting up.

There’d been more discussions as the pregnancy had progressed, about their fears as memories surfaced from the past and they talked them out, sometimes only having to listen. And with each fear they talked about it openly, worked through it.

In the end the only ‘complication’ had been that Jordan was two days late.

Joey placed the picture back on the dresser and crossed the room moving under the covers, wondering what was keeping Dawson.

A few moments later he entered the room wearing his own bathrobe, carrying a tray with two steaming cups of hot chocolate and a small vase with a single red rose (like he had done on so many other occasions).

“I was beginning to wonder what was keeping you.” Joey told him as she adjusted her pillow and his, while he placed the tray on the bed between them.

“I decided to stop in a check on Jordan.” Dawson replied, sitting on the bed.

“Is he sleeping?”

“We had a little chat, man to man.” He began and she cut him off.

“You know Jordan can’t talk yet, right?” Joey laughed. “Those are the voices in your head.”

“Very funny.”

“Okay, I won’t mock.” Joey started seriously. “What were you boys discussing?”

Dawson pointed to the square velvet box on the tray. “We were discussing the contents of that box and the likelihood that you would wear it.”

Joey’s eyes slowly moved down to the tray, focusing on the velvet box beside the vase. She glanced back at Dawson and then back down again, putting her hand out to take the box. She opened the box to find it empty and puzzled she looked back at Dawson.

“There’s…” she began but stopped when she saw Dawson lean his face on his hand, the ring being on his pinky.

“That was before I took it out of the box to show him how it sparkled.” Dawson smiled at her as he removed the ring from being half on his finger.

“What did Jordan think?” Joey asked emotion evident in her voice and as she tilted her head slightly.

“It was very interesting; there were two trains of thought.”

“Really?”

Dawson nodded his head and took her hand and started to place the ring on her finger.

“He thought that you’d either say yes or if you said no it was because the diamond wasn’t big enough.”

Joey laughed.

“What do you say Joey? Want to marry me?”

“Yes.” She replied and started to lean into him. “Wait, maybe I should go consult with Jordan first.”

“Can’t, he’s asleep.” Dawson smiled at her. “But before he finally closed his eyes again he said he was hoping you’d say yes.”

“I’ll be checking that in the morning,” Joey began as she tugged on the collar of Dawson’s bathrobe. “But for now the answer is yes.”

Their lips met in a sweet kiss before Dawson lifted the mugs and Joey placed the tray on the floor after putting the vase on her nightstand. They cuddled up in bed, enjoying their hot chocolate as they started to talk about when and where they’d like to get married.

They’d eventually agreed on having just a small wedding a few months after Jordan’s first birthday. The wedding took place in a small church outside of LA, with James acting as Dawson’s best man and Bessie as the bridesmaid. Dawson wore a tux and his hair was slightly ruffled while Joey wore a white chiffon sheath dress with spaghetti straps and her hair was pinned up.

Only close friends and family, the people who meant the most to them present to see them exchange simple vows.

“Dawson, for the longest time it seemed as though I wasn’t living my life the way I had always intended.” Joey began as she held onto Dawson’s hand. “But then one fateful day I walked back into your life and it seemed as though a whirlwind had been created and everything seemed to fall into place. I’m at my happiest when I am by your side, you’re the only person who is able to drive me on to better things, to make me believe that nothing is impossible. For that I love you, for that I am eternally yours.”

Once she finished she placed the simple gold band on Dawson’s finger.

Dawson took Joey’s hand and as he spoke his voice was filled with love. “When I look back on our time together, it’s hard to define the one moment where I fell in love with you. All I know is that since that day, you have captivated my heart in a way no one else could. Through the good and the bad, we somehow made it back to each other. My friend, my lover, my conscience, my soulmate.” Dawson placed the ring on her finger, beside her engagement ring and finished. “I love you.”

Dawson and Joey had honeymooned in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico for a week while Gale and Mitch took Jordan to Capeside. Their honeymoon was filled with moonlight strolls, late breakfasts and a lot of room service. After the honeymoon Dawson and Joey stayed in Capeside for a few days, stealing some alone time before heading back to LA where they were sure to get caught up in work again.

They did everything together, Joey would bath Jordan before bed and Dawson always made sure he was there to help out, even though she said he didn’t need to help. It was just something he wanted to do.

If Jordan would wake up during the night crying, Dawson would tell Joey to sleep, he would take care of it. But Joey would crawl out of bed with him to see Jordan was okay. And in the end they’d normally bring him into their bed beside them.

That was still the case almost four years later when it was Jordan’s first day of preschool. Dawson had helped Joey prepare for the fact her little boy wasn’t so little anymore. He even made sure he wasn’t working when they took him to school that first day, so he’d be there to comfort her because she’d gotten all emotional as the time for the school year to start approached.

After Jordan had entered the school with his classmates, Dawson had stood with an arm around Joey and she had an arm around him.

“Why does it seem like it’s passed so soon?” Joey asked him, not wanting to leave in case her little boy needed her. “Feels like it was only yesterday we brought him home from the hospital.”

“I know.” He replied, kissing the top of her head while rubbing the small of her back soothingly. “It’ll get easier.”

“You’re just saying that, you don’t know.”

“Maybe I don’t know but you can’t be there for him all the time.”

Joey played with the collar of his shirt, her head still leaning on his shoulder as she contemplated his words. “What if I said we could be back here in five years time?” She asked as she lifted her head so she could see his face.

For a brief moment there was a questioning look on his face and then she saw that look, as though something had just registered and the light bulb was switched on. A smile started to tug at the corner of his lips and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close before lifting her slightly and twirling her around as he laughed.

He put her back on her feet and kissed her quickly.

“So what do you say?” She asked him as she toyed with a button on his shirt.

“I say I can’t wait until Taylor gets here.” Dawson smiled down at her and she gave him a puzzled look. “Hey you picked last time; I’ve been saving that name for this very occasion.”

“Taylor Leery? I like it.” Joey replied as she cupped his cheek, kissing him longingly before adding, “You know we have to call Grandma and Grandpa.”

“And Bessie and Boddie.”

“You’ll have to tell Jordan about the birds and the bees.” Joey grinned.

“Why me?”

“Why should I get all the difficult jobs?” She asked as he tugged her arm leading her towards the car. “We’ll have to celebrate.”

“Where do you think we’re going?” He asked cocking an eyebrow at her suggestively.

“Oh, I could take you right here, right now.” Joey replied, playfully swatting his ass before grabbing the car keys out of his hand before adding. “Oh by the way, my sonogram appointment is next Tuesday.”

“I’ll make sure I’m there.” He informed her as she leaned against the car door. “I love you.”

Joey wrapped her arms around Dawson’s neck and leaned up to suck on his bottom lip. “You’re just saying that because I’m carrying your baby.”

“No, but that makes me love you all the more.” Dawson replied kissing the corner of her mouth.

“I love you too.” Joey responded as Dawson walked around the car.