Part 1/3

Rating: R

Summary: Post finale, Dawson and Joey are in a long distance relationship.

Note: I know! Another new fic. This one I have been working on for a while, though, and only has three parts. I was listening to Mary Beth Maziarz and the song came into my head and I realized it was perfect for Dawson and Joey...just perfect.

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****

this trinity, it gets to me...missing you,
aching for quiet
And its too late to call to New York
You're probably awake, I guess i'm afraid.

****

Summer, 2009

"Darlin, you having a good time?" Joey groaned inwardly. Todd sidled up to Joey on the balcony, holding out a beer. The party was in full swing and Joey had been searching for Dawson but couldn't find him anywhere. She and Audrey were staying with Dawson for the weekend and she'd barely talked to him since they had arrived that morning. He had been on the phone, or yelling at someone (usually on the phone.) before relaxing around five PM for the party which was an `impromptu' get-together for some friends to meet his `two favorite girls.' So far, Audrey had met everyone while Joey shrunk back like a violet.

"Have you seen Dawson?" she asked lightly, taking the beer with a languid smile.

"Yup. He's flittering around like a bumblebee, being a good host," Todd chuckled, "You look lovely, love," he added thickly, obviously a little drunk, eyeing her slender neck and breasts in her black lacey dress.

"I never understood why Leery chose that other gal over you�"

Joey frowned and said frostily, "He didn't *choose* her over me, I *dumped* him."

"Do I need to separate you two?" Dawson came up behind Joey, putting his arms around her for a quick hug.

"Oh no, we're fine, we're old pals," Todd winked at her, and then sashayed off.

Joey couldn't help but laugh. She hugged Dawson back. "Where have you been all night? I've barely talked to you," she lightly scolded him, pushing him down gently onto the iron cast chair which overlooked the Hollywood lights from the hill.

"I know, I'm sorry. But you won't believe the amount of people who I didn't even know were coming, people I haven't seen in years," he added wryly. "Well we're alone now. So lets talk now because we won't have time tomorrow, I'll be competing with Audrey for noise."

"Where is that girl?' Dawson mused.

"Probably dancing on a table somewhere," Joey quipped, crossing her legs and smiling at him. God he looked good. She was so happy to see him, she really was. He noticed her looking at him and said in a strange voice, "What?" his hand was inching up her leg, in a friendly- bordering-on-flirty way.

"Nothing, I just�"

"Dawson, here you are." A soft, southern feminine voice interrupted

Joey and she squinted in the half-light of the balcony to see who it was.

"Bec, hi�' Dawson untangled himself from Joey to greet this Rebecca. She was petite and stylish, with bedroom eyes and long, straight ice blonde hair. She was actually wearing the same black pointy boots Joey had bought herself from Bergdorfs the previous fall. "I have been looking for you everywhere," Rebecca continued, in what had to be an accent from South Carolina or someplace. She reached up to give Dawson a sensual hug, and Joey watched with a pang as she saw how sweet they looked, just hugging.

"I've been around," Dawson joked, standing back, his arm around her waist. "Bec this is my best friend, Joey. We've known each other since before I got my front teeth," he explained, and Rebecca smiled in what Joey described later to Audrey as a `cool' smile. "Hi there," they shook hands.

While Dawson chattered on about Joey working in New York publishing, and Rebecca in PR, Joey watched with an interest as Rebecca's hand traveled down Dawson's back to his butt and squeezed. Dawson didn't seem too surprised, though, he just laughed and covered her hand with his.

"Dawson you really must call me more often," Rebecca said with amusement. "I mean, the things I did for your precious TV show�and for you, I might add,' she winked at Joey salaciously and Dawson had the decency to look embarrassed.

"I will. Go have a good time, I think I saw Ben looking for you." As soon as Bec left he sat back down again, shaking his head with a bemused smile. "She was a handful. Thus, she became my ex-girlfriend.' "And uh�what kind of things did she do for you?' Joey asked breathily in a Southern accent, fluttering her lashes.

"Never you mind, Miss Potter,' Dawson retorted, leaning in close to her, and suddenly kissing her on the mouth, quickly. She could taste peach schnapps, and she liked it. "You bad boy," Joey teased him, pushing him away and wagging her finger at him.

They had been doing this all day. All month, as a matter a fact. Teasing, flirting, and building up the delicious anticipation and tension to be broken by one thing, one thing that could never happen: sex. Ever since his birthday back in March. They hadn't done anything, it was just all talk. Too much punch and too many hours of closeness, and Dawson had admitted to her he'd like to sleep with her again, out of `curiosity,' now that she was single, and Joey had found herself agreeing with him. They just felt so comfortable with each other, so at ease, that the flirting came naturally and the sex talk was like a moth to flame, they were both attracted to each other and it gave them adrenalin to talk about it, no matter how dangerous or completely `unsuitable.' They had come close to doing something about it, the day after his birthday in his old room; he had backed her up against his door when someone had tried to open it, propelling Joey forward into him.

But it was dangerous. Too dangerous. Joey was no stranger to sex ruining relationships. And she had just broken off one of the longest relationships in her life. Pacey was running a restaurant in Capeside now, occasionally he drove up to New York and had dinner and went to bed together, but even that was losing its appeal. She wanted� something more. Dawson's mouth was traveling south, down her neck, playfully, his hair tickling her face. It felt so nice, but�"You have no idea how sexy you look in that dress,' Dawson murmured, moving from her to take a better look at her. His hand was on her bare thigh now.

"Dawson this has to stop," Joey said quietly, but firmly, peeling his hand off her leg. Dawson's expression changed from relaxed, turned on, to taut, anxious. "I'm sorry, Jo, I thought we were just playing around�It would never have ended up with anything�happening." "How do you know?" Joey said, getting up and walking away, quickly, afraid if she stayed she'd rip all his clothes off and start a public spectacle.

****

If only she knew. Actually, if she did know, she'd freak out, for sure. Dawson downed another shot--it was only his third, he vowed to stop after this one�and looked around the crowded house for her, but she was nowhere to be seen. He was in love with her. Completely and utterly. And the sexual mind games they had been playing hadn't satisfied his thirst. He wanted her, all of her, so much it made his balls ache.

When she had come out of the guest room in that black dress he had nearly lost it. So he stayed away, all night, eventually swooping in to rescue her from a salivating Todd, and then of course, things got out of hand. Never mind the jealousy in her eyes when Bec had felt him up. Joey was still teetering on the edge, not wanting to fall, fall into him or his life. He didn't know if he could stand it.

****

The last party-goer left at 3am, to Dawson's relief. He slammed the door and locked it, then waded through beer bottles to the balcony, taking off his shirt and undoing his pants, thinking that a shower would be great right about then. He stopped when he saw Joey, though, on the deck chair by the pool, underneath a halo of roses, looking thoughtfully out to the city.

He knew he shouldn't bother her, but� She saw him anyway and smiled, meekly. He sighed and buttoned his jeans back up, going down to the front porch to see her.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, lying back on another deck chair. "No," Joey admitted, sipping a hot steaming cup of tea.

She was wearing an oversized shirt of his she had borrowed to sleep in, and boy-legged panties. He felt himself getting hard.

"Dawson, this will never work," she sighed after a few moments.

"What?" Dawson sat up.

"Us."

"You mean�there's an us?" his brow wrinkled, and a smile tugged at his mouth.

"You know what I mean."

"You know what I think?" "What,' she sighed.

"I think I want to kiss you right now.' His eyes were blazing. He was braver now than before.

"Are you crazy?" Joey's hands shook. "I'm a little drunk, I admit, but I just do."

"We can't. Not now." Joey shook her head. "Just one? Before you go and we never see each other again?'

"Don't be silly, we will." Joey put her tea down and looked down at her crossed legs.

"What if we don't? What if you marry Pacey and run away to� to�Miami or something?" Dawson looked dead serious, but the idea was so preposterous Joey just said nothing. She gazed at him, his eyes, his lips, his warm, muscly chest, thinking, this is Dawson�I love this man. And she gave in.

"Just one kiss.' She said softly. Dawson got off his chair, and slowly, smoothly, slid onto hers. He kissed her once, but of course, one wasn't enough. The kiss went on for a long time, cautious, sweet, tender kisses gave way to long, hot, urgent passionate ones, their breathing and murmuring mingled with their sighs and the rustle of clothing as Dawson undressed her, until she was completely naked and he was too, their bodies actually softly glowing in the moonlight.

Joey giggled when she thought what they must have looked like to the neighbors, or anyone who could see them. No one could see them, thankfully, because everyone in the house was asleep. He kissed her breasts, her stomach, her lips, and she touched him everywhere she could, until he was inside of her, so strong and thick until she couldn't stand it. How `one kiss' had turned into this Joey didn't know.

She never thought she'd ever make love on a deck chair, although it was actually a great place to do so. They were strong deck chairs, they must have been, because Dawson's thrusts were. The pool reflected off the moon and she had never felt sexier then she did then, in his arms, in the fragrant sultry night air, sweaty, laughing, kissing. It felt like they had always done this.

"How about a swim?" Dawson suggested in her ear, still breathing hard.

"Sounds like a plan," she kissed his neck invitingly, and he got off the chair, holding out his hand. Joey giggled again, letting him lead her into the small but refreshing saltwater pool. It felt a little surreal to see Dawson naked again after so long. Once in the pool she realized she'd never done this: had never `skinny-dipped'. "Have you done this before?" she asked Dawson softly as he came up behind her and started to kiss her neck. "Oh, a few times," he murmured, chuckling, cupping her breasts. "But I always wanted to do it with you."

A while later, lying together in his bed, Joey said it again. "Dawson, this will never work,' she said tiredly as her eyes fluttered and she tried hard to stay awake. The sun was beginning to rise.

"Just go to sleep, Jo." Dawson replied, stroking her hair.

*****

For weeks i've been crying too much.
Christmas lights. Can you believe it? already again...
(I know you can, cause...)
You know me better than anyone, anyone ever so far
you show me things That I never see, thanks for completing me
The way that you do.

*****

Winter, 2010

"Joey? Phone call on line three," Joey's secretary, Annabel, popped her head into Joey's office and told her.

"What? Oh�take a message, Bell," Joey said tiredly, holding her temples. It was six pm and there was no way she'd be able to make it to drinks with her friends.

"I think you want to take this phone call," Annabel said with a knowing smile, disappearing.

"Mmm," Joey grumbled, picking up the phone. She just knew it was PMS time again�not good.

"Jo."

"Oh Dawson, you have no idea how great it is to hear your voice," Joey said with a long, drawn out sigh, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes.

"Bad day?" he chuckled, his warm, deep voice filling her body despite the 3000-mile gap between them.

"The worst. And the heater has broken, so I'm freezing and pissed off," Joey added wryly.

"I wish I was there with you.'

"I do too,' Joey said quietly, fingering the blue lined notebook paper in front of her longingly.

"Well I come bearing good news." Dawson said. "I'll be in New York for three days next week on my way to the U.K." "Ahhh�" "

And I need somewhere to stay, so�" his voice trailed off invitingly, and Joey snorted. Like he had to ask!

"Just tell me what time you arrive," Joey purred.

"Seven thirty, Tuesday. I'll take a cab to your place."

"I can't wait," Joey smiled into the phone. On the other end, Dawson smiled too.

"I love you," Joey said in softer tones. "I love you too."

She put the phone down gently and sighed, starting out her window at the skyscrapers, not noticing the cold anymore.

****

new part

News from L.A, well, I�m not a big star yet
Trying real hard but I can�t seem to write what they want
Its so elusive and clear. They�ll know it when they hear it
(if they ever do, not like you)

****

So the long distance thing could be a bit of a trial, Joey thought, her heels clicking quickly on the sidewalk as she marched up to the curb and waited to cross the street, especially when it came down to the basic, physical human yearning: sex. But it wasn�t like they hadn�t had a long distance �relationship� most of their adults lives. At least, up until she and Pacey reunited, a year Joey sometimes couldn�t, when reflecting on it, understand.

Joey�s brow furrowed deep in thought as she dawdled down the street, ignoring the rude glares and pushers who stomped past her, rushing to catch the subway or a bus.

It was seven thirty, and she had too much nervous energy to go home or to catch up with her friends so she decided to go to the gym. On the treadmill she was able to think more clearly. She had to plan around Dawson�s arrival�she�d ask to take the day off Wednesday, she was owed a day off anyway and this was perfect.

Getting sweaty and exhausted reminded her of something she and Dawson often liked to do together on (most) occasions, and she smiled to herself, her thoughts wandering to Dawson�s body and the things it did to her.

Early on in their budding romance Dawson had insisted they�at least she, see other people, otherwise they�d go crazy, and Joey had tried, but it hadn�t worked. The guy running next to her was cute and he was checking her out, but she just wasn�t interested. Dawson consumed her every thought and desire�she sighed dreamily.

She had a shower, then quickly blow dried her hair and decided to take a cab home, now her legs hurt. Her apartment was dark and she almost wished she had a roommate. But it was nice having her own space for a while, especially after living with Pacey, which had been both tiring and irritating at times. She checked her messages.

�Jo, bunny, its me.� Well, duh. Who else called her that fuzzy-fluffy-animal pet name?

�Just calling to say hi, I saw Dawson tonight at the Viper Room, he was with his posse which included Quentin Tarantino, who is actually not bad for a scary crazy old filmmaker. Anyway, �Hi� I had hoped for a gab�oh! That�s right, I�ll be in New York Sunday till Wednesday. Obviously, I won�t be seeing you Tuesday, so how about Sunday afternoon? Call me back. Bye.� Joey felt a stab of jealousy. Why did Audrey get to see Dawson? Well, for obvious reasons, Audrey lived I L.A now since taking a job there, and she lived in New York.

Not that Audrey hadn�t been a wonderful friend. She was always inviting her down, dropping hints about jobs, and keeping her updated on Dawson, who would then tell Joey herself on the phone, usually late at night. The second message was from Pacey. �Joey, its me, your beloved ex�� Joey smirked. �I�m in town with Andie. We want to see you�give me a call, I�m thinking dinner tomorrow night? Call me.� Joey wrote a note for herself to remind herself to call him tomorrow morning. It was the �Creek� reunion night, Joey thought wryly, when Jack�s voice filled her apartment. �Jo, Audrey just called me, and I called my sister. We�re all going to get together Wednesday night�think about it, all of us together, that�s pretty amazing. Call me. Amy says hi.� Joey smiled.

And then the fourth message�

�Jo, Dawson here. I miss you so much. I saw Audrey today. Um�Okay, I�m horny and I really want to talk dirty to you, but I don�t think that would be a good idea�I can�t talk dirty to a machine. Its too weird,� he chuckled, and Joey rolled her eyes, but smiled. �So I sent you a text message instead. I can�t wait to see you next week.�

He sounded a little trashed. Joey swore she could hear someone laughing in the background, maybe he was in the Viper Room? She sighed and disrobed, pulling on old track pants and a sweater, and checking her cell phone. She laughed out loud at his message, which was indeed dirty��Joey, I can�t wait to fuck that sexy, gorgeous body of yours.� �Me either,� she murmured.

Oh god. Now she was aroused. She tried so hard not to get horny, and it usually worked, but some nights�next week. She only had to wait until next week. He usually visited her once a month, sometimes twice, vice versa for her in L.A, but over winter he had a busy schedule and could only make once every six weeks or so, and Joey couldn�t go in the spring when deadlines were due.

When he came to New York they spent the week or couple of days he was there in bed, venturing out only for a late dinner and a walk down the streets with an ice-cream cone. Sometimes they went on double dates with Andie and Pacey, or out with some of her friends, or Jack and Doug, but usually they just liked to be by themselves. Thinking about those hot, delirious nights and mornings under the quilt in her bed made Joey�s hands go clammy. She quickly went into her room and flicked on the TV. Law and Order� new episodes, well it was better then reruns of the Creek�she couldn�t go there, not tonight. She lay back and sighed, closing her eyes.

Audrey had given Joey a vibrator as a twenty-sixth birthday gift, a gift that was meant actually seriously, and Joey had used it a few times during phone sex with Dawson but it just wasn�t enough. Although, it certainly helped some.

Sometimes Joey thought about all those gorgeous actresses Dawson worked with everyday, and she�d go stiff with jealousy, but he convinced her it was okay. �I hardly see them in front of me. Honestly.� He had told her the other week when the subject had been brought up. �I�m not interested in any of them, I�m only interested in you. Besides, don�t think I�m not freaking out either. I mean, Pacey lives four hours away from you,� he�d said quietly. Joey had just laughed, �Dawson, there is absolutely a zero percent chance I will hook up with Pacey. Our relationship is like hitting a dead horse. There�s no point,� she added truthfully.

After a few moments Joey realized she wasn�t slipping into the deep sleep she�d imagined, so she went to brush her teeth and wash her face. She forced herself to do some editing on her laptop, she replied all her emails, and even contemplated calling a friend for a late drink. But she was too tired. And what if he called?

She looked at her night table drawer and thought about the vibrator. That would take up some time until she got sleepy, wouldn�t it?

****

Can you come here and stay, you know it�ll be good for you
(it�d be good for me)
How�re they treating you�re play?
Have you found the right job yet?
What did the fortune tellers say? They don�t have them here�

****

�C�mon, dude, she�s giving you the eye.� Dawson�s friend Max coaxed. He and a couple of other friends, including Max�s girlfriend Liz, were having drinks at Temple, the latest hot spot. They had grown bored with the Viper Room, and Max had dragged his buddy Dawson with them, leaving the A-list directors behind. Dawson was too drunk to care.

�She� was a moderately pretty raven-haired girl (probably an actress) who had indeed been giving Dawson the eye. She looked familiar. Probably an extra, or something.

�Max, you know I�m a one-woman man,� Dawson said with a laugh, ordering another beer from the bartender.

�I don�t know how you stand it.� Max shook his head in disbelief. �Only having sex a couple times a month. Are you crazy?�

�Its only temporary. Its just�for now,� Dawson tried to explain, but sometimes he didn�t get it himself. �Besides its not just sex, would you believe, I love this girl.�

�Got a picture?� Liz�s friend Jessica who had been giving him the eye all night asked, curiously, to see who her competition was. �Yup,� Dawson grabbed his wallet from his jeans pocket. It was the one he took of her the day after their memorable evening on one of his deck chairs. They had been playing around with the camera on the beach at Malibu, it was gorgeous, she was smiling right into the camera, sexily, her hands in the pockets of her denim skirt, her hair wavy and tousled.

The other picture was of the two of them kissing under mistletoe Christmas 2009, his mother had taken it and sent it to him. Their eyes were closed and she was smiling into his mouth, her arms flung around his neck.

�She�s a babe,� Max complimented. Jessica craned her neck for a better look. Suddenly Dawson felt sad. He knew he was seeing her next week, but he wanted what Max and Liz had, living together, being together, 24/7. He knew the major reason Joey wasn�t in L.A or he wasn�t in New York was just only that, just one major reason, but it was a big one: career. They had both worked too hard for too long to give it up now�but on what, Dawson wondered, their careers or their relationship?

****

He called her that night, outside the bar on his way to his car. �Hello?� she answered sleepily.

�Hey beautiful.�

�Oh�Dawson�hi�� on the other end, Joey stretched like a cat in her bed and smiled silkily. �I�m on my way home�talk to me so I stay awake.�

�Hmmm okay�what have you been up to? Chasing girls?� Dawson snorted, �Hardly. What have you been up to?�

�Um�oh, nothing,� Joey laughed.

�What is that sneaky tone for?� Dawson asked curiously, unlocking his jeep.

�Hmmm�nothing�� Joey tightened the drawstring on her blue cotton pajama pants.

�I�m onto you��

�I wish.�

�I better go,� Dawson started the ignition.

�Only three days�� Joey sang. Weird, Dawson thought. She usually only used that tone of voice when she had just had an orgasm�

****

�Oh my god, Audrey, there�s nothing down there.�

�That�s the point,� Audrey said candidly, pulling Joey up fifth avenue. �Come on Jo, I�m staaaarving�bikini waxes always take it out of me.�

�I didn�t ask for a�what do you call it? Brazilian?� Joey complained, adjusting her panties underneath her jeans.

�We were just with Anastasia. She ONLY does Brazilians, but she�s the best,� Audrey explained.

�But�� Joey tried to reply but Audrey interrupted again, �Dawson will love it, don�t worry.� �Believe me, anything to do with down there he�s okay about, I�m more concerned about the growing-back period,� Joey retorted, �And the major discomfort period.�

�Oh Joey, honestly,� Audrey shook her head. �Oooh, a grilled chicken place. I love grilled chicken. Lets go.� She dragged Joey in. �Oh its perfect, I resemble a �plucked� chicken,� Joey quipped.

So far, her Monday had been a little strange. But then, things always were strange with Audrey. They had met after work, and Audrey had suggested a �fun� afternoon at the spa. Fun, ha. She was staying at the Intercontinental and after their grilled chicken she invited Joey upstairs. Joey admired her hotel room, and flipped through pictures, then Audrey ordered room service and they watched cable, including five minutes of an adult movie before Joey seized the remote and changed it back to Sleepless in Seattle. Joey was glad Audrey was there to take her mind off things, especially when she got Dawson�s phone call.

�Joey�� he sounded stressed.

�Dawson, what�s up?� Joey pressed her cell to her ear, and Audrey turned down the volume.

�I can�t make it. Shit, I can�t make it tomorrow, I am so sorry.� �What? What do you mean? Why not?� Joey bit her lip. �I have to go to Sydney, instead of London. They want me there for a meeting on the shooting pro

cess for the movie I�m doing next fall.� �Australia?� Joey exclaimed. Audrey looked concerned.

�But,� Dawson said hurriedly, �I�ll be back in a week. And then I will definitely fly out to New York. I am such a fuckhead.� She assured him he wasn't a fuckhead.

On the cab ride home, Joey told herself not to feel so upset. She would see him in a week. Only a week. When she got to her apartment she realized she couldn�t wait a week�she couldn�t wait to be with him. It wasn�t fair. Why did everything always have to stand in their way?

****

Not much snow yet this year.
I like it so gray�feels like a mirror
And my diamond still shines, I wear it at night
But id be more brilliant with you here�

****

So on Wednesday, she worked. She decided to get a lot done, to take her mind off things, and told her secretary not to let any calls�any�through. Dawson sent her messages but she ignored them, still feeling hurt. She knew he was just doing his job, and she had done the exact same thing a few months ago when he invited her to go to Hawaii with him and she had a conference�an important one that could have lead to a promotion�in Boston.

He had understood somewhat, what he hadn�t understood was she had also vetoed visiting him in Hawaii after the conference. Her reason was, while on the phone with hi, she had heard a females voice in the background, in his ROOM and had flipped. Joey reasoned now she could be a bit sensitive at times. At times. So Dawson going to Sydney was just�well, it was almost a payback. It was funny, how the person you loved the most in the entire world, could be the one who could hurt you the most. Even if it was unintentional.

She agreed to still go out with Jack, Andie, Pacey and Audrey, though. They�d help cheer her up, they always did. They all understood about Dawson. Even Pacey. He was one of her best friends now, thank god! He had actually gotten over her having sex with Dawson (on a deckchair) the weekend they were on a �mini� relationship break. What she had with Pacey now was ten times more special then when they were dating�there were no fights, no jealousy, just support, joking around and laughter. She could talk to him, when she couldn�t talk to Dawson, which wasn�t often.

Joey finally clocked off at 5pm, and decided to walk the several blocks home, bundled up in her

coat. She was nearing her apartment entry door when she saw that someone was leaning against the wall, talking to two girls on roller blades�roller blades! In winter! That was New York for you.

He looked up, and smiled, and she felt her voice catch in her throat.

�Dawson!� �Yup I believe that�s my name.� The two girls skated away tactfully.

�What are you doing here? You�re supposed to be in Sydney.� Joey managed to say. �Did you know it�s supposed to be really hot in Australia this time of year?� he mused. �So�you don�t like the heat?� Joey said incredulously, staring at him. He looked better every day.

He was wearing a brushed suede jacket, jeans and a navy blue sweater. Blue was such a good color on him. �Oh I like the heat,� he said quietly, and he moved closer to her so she could smell his aftershave.

�But I like you more.�

�We better go inside,� Joey said, reaching up to touch his face. �Its cold out here.� �Okay. But can I hug you now?� �Yes,� she laughed, and he hugged her tight, pulling her body right up to his. The hug sent thrills down her spine, and when they separated, they kissed. Before the kiss went on for too long, Joey tugged him towards the entry, she keyed in the pin and then dragged him upstairs.

****

Their catching up had reached an important peak, when it was interrupted by the phone. When neither of them answered it, Audrey�s voice filled the room on the answering machine, causing Dawson and Joey to stop immediately. It was as if Audrey was watching them make love on the side of Joey�s bed.

�Joey! Where are you? I�m beginning to give up on you. We�re all here. Get your butt over here now.�

�What�s that all about?� Dawson asked breathlessly. �Oh�a gathering,� Joey laughed weakly. �If you want to go later on we can.�

****

He had just gone through security at the terminal when it hit him�he wasn�t going to go. It was possible. He could apologize later, or do a teleconference. Joey was more important. He�d done some crazy things in his life for her when they weren�t dating�drive 1000 miles, lend her lots of money (that wasn�t crazy though) and the less crazier things like building things, run all over town non-stop and watch as she fornicated with his best friend, because he loved her. And if he loved her so much now, and he�d be getting her love in return, why not just drop Sydney and go to New York? He had gone back, gone to the terminal, booked a flight for early Wednesday morning and gotten to New York by 4pm.

****

�Come to New York,� Joey said softly, kissing his chin and gazing into his smoky blue eyes. �I can�t,� Dawson looked a little pained. �I can�t leave my job. I want to. I really do. I love you more than anything�but�I�m afraid if I left my job, and I couldn�t find work here I�d become less special to you anyway.�

�Oh Dawson�� Joey sighed, closing her eyes. �Come to L.A�you can find lots of publishing work in L.A,� he coaxed.

�But New York is my dream city, my independence city,� Joey answered, slipping her hand into his and studying his fingers. �This can never work, can it?� Dawson sat up a little. �It can. Somehow. It has too. We�ve been through so much,� Joey argued.

�Lets just forget about it for tonight,� Dawson suggested, lying down again and stroking her neck. �Lets just be together.� �I promised Audrey I�d go out with her and everyone,� Joey said ruefully. �Its one of the few nights we�re all together.�

�Call them and tell them�you�re�preoccupied�� Dawson whispered, sliding down the bed to her navel.

****

�Mmm I love kissing you�� Dawson murmured, leaning over for another kiss. �Dawson,� Joey laughed, smiling widely, as she tried to button up her jeans. �We�re already extremely late.� �But it was worth it, huh?� Dawson said, reluctantly getting out of bed. He wasn�t even dressed yet. Joey watched him retrieve his clothes, put his jeans bunched up in front of his crotch and sideline it into the bathroom, winking at her. She just laughed again. She had missed seeing his butt.

�Hey Joey,� Dawson said, coming out a few moments later, �Is my butt cuter than Pacey�s?� as if he had read her mind. He studied it in the mirror quizzically. �Dawson you have never cared about your butt. Why now?� �I don�t know.� He shrugged. Joey just rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand. All guys were the same, weren�t they?

****

Everyone was surprised but pleased to see Dawson that night��We were just about to give up on you two,� Audrey said cheekily.

�I thought you were in Australia,� Pacey said curiously.

�I changed my mind.� Dawson squeezed Joey�s hand and they sat down together at the table.

From the looks on their faces, everyone there could tell from now on things were going to be a little different between them.

And they were. Two weeks later, Joey moved to L.A after getting a transfer with her company. It turned out it wasn�t as hard as she thought it�d be. Funny how things weren�t so difficult when Dawson was around.

***

THE END