My Only Wish This Year
Part 2 - Christmas 2002
by Karen H

As it snowed heavy on the quiet streets of Capeside, Joey crawled into Dawson’s bed, waiting for him to come to bed. While waiting she began to reflect on the past year. She couldn’t help but marvel at how things had turned out. Exactly one year ago today, she had still been single and now here she was found herself waiting for Dawson on the eve of their one year anniversary.

One year…they actually made it that far.

Closing her eyes she thought about how this, staying at Dawson’s, sleeping in his bed had made transitions over the years. From being regular and natural to awkward and then non-existent.

Then they’d started dating and sex was thrown into the mix. That started after they’d been together for two months. It’d been explosive to say the least.

Then one night six months after they started dating, while they were watching a movie with Dawson’s parents Dawson casually asked, “Is it okay if Joey spends the night?” As though he were asking if he could have some juice.

Joey wished that the couch would swallow her whole and she sunk further against it, glad the room was in darkness so they couldn’t see her blushes.

Mitch sort of stuttered and Gale looked quite taken aback, maybe because they would have expected Dawson to have asked something like that in private.

Before letting on their answer, Mitch and Gale seemed set on giving the sex talk when Dawson assured them it was not required.

“No hat, no glove.” Dawson told them which somehow eased Joey’s embarrassment as she remembered.

“It was actually ‘no glove, no love’.” Joey informed him.

“See, we still remember the last sex talk. It’s all locked in here.” Dawson assured them gesturing to his head.

Mitch and Gale looked at one another for a moment before Mitch replied, “Then I guess Joey can stay.”

At the time Joey had been mortified and as soon as they had entered his room to go to bed she had assured him, “We will not be having sex tonight!”

“What? Why not?” He’d asked with a sly grin a he moved towards her.

“Because...” She said as she backed away slowly.

“Because?”

“Because your parents are just down the hall and you practically just told them we’d be having sex.”

“No I didn’t.”

Joey rolled her eyes at him. “Please, you practically said ‘can Joey spend the night so we can have sex’.”

Dawson thought about it for a moment, still edging closer to her. “They pretty much already suspect we’re having sex.” He responded. “We’ve been together for over six months. I was just asking if you could stay…” he trailed off putting on his best innocent face.

“And you weren’t thinking we’d have sex?”

“Well, I wasn’t thinking that we wouldn’t have some but there was always the possibility.” As he finished something seemed to flash in his eyes that made her just want to give in, especially when he’d wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

“Okay, maybe your crotch isn’t listening but I hope your ears will hear this.” She said as she placed her palms against his chest and pushed him away. “I am not having sex with your parents just down the hall!”

“Alright. But we both know they’ve probably never said ‘we’re not having sex tonight because Joey’s staying over’, right?”

Joey found she couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“God knows we heard them often enough.”

“I guess I should call Bessie.” Joey said trying to look away from the intense gaze he was throwing at her. “I don’t have any pajamas you know?”

“Hey, I’m open to your sleeping in the nude.”

“You would be.” She replied.

“And just so you wouldn’t feel uncomfortable with your nudity, I’m all for my sleeping in the nude too.”

While in bed that night he’d asked her if Bessie knew they were sleeping together and she’d replied ‘yes’ and he’d enquired as to how Bessie knowing was any different from his parents. Her retort had been that her sister knowing was different from his broadcasting the news to his parents and especially since he’d done it in front of his girlfriend.

Then she’d casually told him that sharing that sort of thing was like sharing it with a friend, say Jen and um roommates talk, so Audrey knew too.

Dawson was momentarily surprised by that and in some attempt to maybe shock Joey; he’d told her that he’d already told Jack.

“Yeah I know.” She replied. “Jack told me, said he had to act like he didn’t already know.”

In the end they did have sex that night; it had started off with them harmlessly carrying on as they giggled before one thing led to another.

She’d kissed him a little too heatedly for it to remain innocent. His hand moved down her side, grazing the side of her breast. Joey brushed her thigh against his crotch and the rest was history.

Opening her eyes Joey saw Dawson leaning against the closet door watching her. “Hey” he said.

“Hey.” She responded sitting up a little. “How long were you standing there for?”

“About five minutes.”

“I must have dozed off. Are you coming to bed?”

Dawson nodded his head as he moved towards the bed. “You just looked so peaceful. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Joey looked at him thoughtfully as he pulled back the comforter and climbed in beside her. “Did you mean what you said the other night when you said you could get used to coming home to me at the end of the day?” She finally asked him pensively.

“Yeah I did.” He replied as he moved closer to her and they lay down, his body spooning hers. “I wouldn’t have said it if I hadn’t meant it.”

The night in question was the one before Dawson’s last day at college before the holidays began. Joey had already finished college and Dawson had an assignment due the next day as part of a final examination that was due first thing the next morning and spent hours in the film lab.

As he’d left the lab he’d called Joey to ask if it’d be okay for them to skip their date that night as he had really just wanted to go home and maybe eat whatever he could find and go to bed. She’d said it was okay, she’d see him later.

But he’d returned to his dorm room to find his roommate had gone home for the holidays and that he’d let Joey in the room first. Joey had lite some candles and called for some take-out which arrived just before he did.

Dawson had been surprised by the gesture and although he’d called asking for a rain check he was extremely happy to see her. Seeing her had somehow woke him up and he no longer felt so tired.

As they ate he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of her, not because she was wearing something particularly special, it just seemed like she was a totally different person to the one he’d known a year ago. Yet at times she was the same person.

As they finished dinner she’d looked at him curiously when she saw he was staring at her.

“What?” She’d asked blushing. “Do I have something on my face?”

He shook his head in reply. “I was just thinking that I could get used to coming home to you at the end of the day.”

His comment had caused her to blush more and she told him it was nothing, she just figured he’d feel drained after working so hard and she wanted to do something for him. She’d packed all the stuff she was taking home with her and had even made a start on packing up some of his things.

“It was nothing really...I just wanted to do something to make you smile.” Joey told him as she recalled the night, turning in his arms so she could face him.

“Believe me it did.” Dawson replied as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face and as he did so he noted something in her eyes, there was something she wanted to ask. “What is it?”

She half closed her eyes. “Sometimes I hate that you can read me so well, how can a girl surprise a guy if he’s always reading her.”

“Joey?”

“Okay smart ass.” She said acknowledging that there was in fact a question to be asked. “Why did you say it?”

“Because it was the first thing I thought when I opened the door and saw you.” He answered honestly. “I felt beat otherwise I wouldn’t have called to cancel, but as soon as I saw you it was like I was a different person and…” He trailed off not sure if he should continue but knowing full well she’d prod for more information.

“And?”

“I wondered what it’d be like to do that on a regular basis.” He finished pausing for a moment to allow her to adsorb what he’d said. Dawson watched her eyes as she processed what he said; saw the slight hint of a smile twitch on her lips. “Wondered if I were to ask what you thought of us living together, what you’d say to that.”

Joey opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She licked her lips and tried again, letting out a small laugh. “I think you’ve gone and rendered me speechless.”

“They do say there’s a first time for everything.” He joked, not trying to make light of the situation but trying to make her feel that there was less pressure for an answer.

“Haha Dawson.”

“You don’t have to answer right…” Putting one of her fingers to his lips she indicated for him to stop talking.

“When you said that the other night it made me think about it, us living together.” Joey began while tracing the outline of his jaw. “I wondered if you really meant it or if it was just because you were tired and I was a little disappointed when you never said anything else after it. When you didn’t ask.”

“Does that mean…?”

She cut him off by pressing her lips to his, allowing them to linger for a moment.

“Yes that means.” She replied with a grin before kissing him quickly. “I guess I’ll need to let Audrey know she’ll be getting a new roommate.”

“I guess you will.”

“How do you think everyone else will react?”

“Well, Mom and Dad probably had a sofa on layaway for us since we were like eight…”

Joey playfully swatted his shoulder. “I’m serious.”

“And I’m not?” He replied looking serious and she couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. “They’ll be fine with it, for all we know they probably think we’re practically living together already.”

“I guess.”

“And Mom will be happy to know that I will finally be getting fed properly.”

She raised her eyebrows at him.

“It was worth a shot.” He shrugged. “Everyone will be fine with it, it’s not like it’s something we’re rushing into. We’ve been together almost a year…”

“Ah yeah, speaking of that.” Joey cut him off.

“What?”

“I hope you don’t mind but, ah…I won’t be staying here tomorrow night.”

“Why not?”

“You’re gonna tell me it’s a silly reason.” She told him as she diverted her eyes from his.

“I won’t, I swear I won’t.” Dawson assured her.

“We’ll see.” She retorted before continuing. “The reason I won’t stay tomorrow night, even though it’s our one year anniversary, is because…” She mumbled the rest and he couldn’t hear what she said.

“Is because?” He asked gently stroking her back to reassure her.

“You’re really gonna make me repeat it?”

“Only because I didn’t hear it. Come on Jo, you’re killing me here. You won’t stay because?”

“I’m not having sex with you under the same roof as Grams.” She said quickly before turning around in his arms so she could hide her face.

“That’s it?” He asked to her back pulling her closer.

Joey just nodded her head in silence as a response.

Dawson covered one of her hands with his before lacing his fingers in hers, then he moved some of her hair off of her neck and kissed it softly.

“We don’t have to have sex.” Dawson said and she could feel his breath on her neck. “We’ll just cuddle and sleep.”

Joey turned her head to the side so she could see him. “Sure.” She said rolling her eyes at him. “Just like I said we were not having sex with your parents just down the hall.”

“Ah, you got me there but do we really need to put the creek between us to ensure there’ll be no sex under the same roof as Grams?”

“Are you mocking me?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Dawson assured her. “There are other options you know.”

“Name them.”

“Grams can sleep in the car.” Joey raised her eyebrows at that. “Okay that’s a no.”

“I would suggest staying at the B&B but then you’ll miss seeing Lily opening up her gifts and this is the first Christmas were she’s more aware of what’s happening.” She told him.

“Well I could find out what time Mom was planning on exchanging gifts and get up so I’ll be here for that.”

“I suppose you could stay then.”

“I’m assuming there’s still gonna be some sex.”

Joey couldn’t help but laugh. “You’d think it was a special occasion the way you say it.”

“Oh but it is.” He replied kissing her slowly and she turned her body towards his, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“So, who should we tell first?”

“We’ll decide on that in the morning.” Dawson replied before kissing her again slowly while pulling her body closer to his.