Title: Brother and Sister Day 7: A Day at the Beach
Author: Kjiara
Author's E-Mail: kjiara@comcast.net
Category: PJR       
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Nothing specific but it takes place the summer after
season three.
Archive: Yes, please!
Feedback: Makes my day!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of 'em.
Summary: Those left behind gather for a day in the sun.

Part 4 in my Brother and Sister series, other parts may be found
at 
http://www.geocities.com/kjiara



Brother and Sister Day 7: A Day at the Beach
By Kjiara


The sun was blistering, the air was thick and humid, the sounds of
hundreds of sun seekers threatened to overwhelm, the scent of
grilled food and suntan oil was pervasive, but the young woman on 
the beach noticed none of it.  She only had eyes for the man and
toddler frolicking at the water's edge.  They were attempting,
against all odds, to build a sand castle.   However, Mother Nature
and her tides had other plans for their stretch of sand.  The
third time the sea claimed their mighty construction, the toddler
squealed loudly and began to aid in the destruction.  The man
stood laughing as the giggling child kicked and waded through what
had been a rather sorry sand castle.  

When he was satisfied there was not a single grain left unstomped,
the small boy lifted his arms to the man in a silent request. 
Hoisting the boy onto his shoulders the man skipped up the beach
to the blankets, the child holding on to his hair and squealing in
delight.

Bessie let out a squeal of her own as her dripping wet son landed
in her lap.  "Doug!  That's cold!" she admonished the grinning
man as he joined them on the blanket. 

"Oh please, B, you haven't even been in the water today.  It feels
great, doesn't it, Alexander."  He picked up the grinning child and
settled him onto his lap.

Bessie couldn't help but smile at the picture they presented.  She
had always believed Doug would be a wonderful father, seeing him
with Alexander confirmed that belief.  "So, have you two finally
decided to settle down and eat or am I going to have to dig into
this delicious basket of goodies all by myself?" she asked,
handing Alexander a rather large piece of watermelon.

"Delicious?  I thought you said you packed dinner, B?" Doug
teased, feeling safe with the baby between himself and Bessie.

"Fine," Bessie huffed.  "Starve."  She moved the basket behind
her.

"Aw, c'mon, B.  You know I'm kidding."  He set Alexander on the
blanket and made a grab for the basket.  Bessie laughed and dodged
his hands, taking the basket with her.  Doug managed to grab an
ankle dragging her back down to the blanket with himself and a now
laughing Alexander.  "C'mon, B, you wouldn't ley a guy starve now
would you?" he said grinning, as he pinned her to the ground. 
"'Cause if that's the plan, you forget, I know your weaknesses and
I have an assistant."  He began tickling her.  Alexander, seeing
his mommy playing his favourite game, joined the fun, on Doug's
side. 

"Okay, okay." Bessie giggled breathlessly, smiling up at Doug. "I
give, you can eat."

Doug grinned down into her glowing face.  Then he seemed to
realise their position and sat up quickly.  He immediately felt
the loss of contact.  He was searching for something to say when a
voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Hey guys."

Bessie and Doug turned to see Dawson, Andie, Jack and Jen smiling
at them.  "Hi!" Bessie said too brightly, feeling a bit
overwhelmed by the earlier closeness.

The four teens eyed the scene in front of them a bit strangely. 
Dawson cleared his throat.  "Well, we should--" he began 
awkwardly.

"Why don't you guys join us?" Bessie asked hopefully.  She didn't
want her day with Doug to end, but a buffer wasn't a bad idea. 
"C'mon, we have enough food for an army.  Sit."

The teens looked at each other, seemed to come to a group decision
and settled on the blanket.  

"So, have you guys been having a good summer so far?" Bessie
asked, handing out napkins for the food.

Dawson shrugged.  "Okay, I guess."  He looked at Doug.  "I got a
postcard from your brother today."

The others stopped what they were doing and stared at Dawson in
wonder.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Andie cried.

"I guess I didn't want things to be as tense as they always get
when someone mentions their names."  Dawson looked at his friends. 
"You guys tip-toe around the subject so carefully I'm afraid to
bring it up and set off your guilt-o-metres."  He smiled at the
stunned expressions on their faces.  "It really is okay guys.  It
still hurts and I'm not altogether overjoyed with the situation, but I 
know they are still your friends.  Until they get home and I
actually have to look at them again, I can deal with it.  I just
don't want you guys to feel guilty for being their friends."

Jen smiled at Dawson understandingly.  "I got a card too," she
said sheepishly.

Dawson laughed.  "From Joey or Pacey?"

"From both." 

"Me too."  Jack spoke up.

"Mine was just from Pacey, I think Joey's still a bit
uncomfortable with me."  Andie smiled sadly.  "I don't think she
knows I'm happy for them."

Bessie smiled at the kids.  "So what did they have to say?"

Jack pulled the postcard out of his knapsack.  "I was going to
show this to Jen later."  He handed it to Bessie.

Bessie read aloud, "Dear Jackers (sorry, man, couldn't resist.)
   Jo' says I have to be brief or she won't have room to write
anything.  Things are great.  Who woulda guessed Joey Potter and
Pacey Witter could spend four days alone together and not have
there be any bloodshed.  Really its been pretty awesome.  We've
been having a good time, Jo's becoming a pretty good sailor, she
can take the helm now when I need a break.  Well I should go she's
gonna burst something if I take up too much room.  Later, Pacey.

Hi Jack.
   As Pacey said things have been great.  I am learning to sail
this barge and he even lets me take the helm now.  As crazy as it
may sound we are getting along even better now than we did at
home, less tension I guess.  Its genuinely wonderful, Jack.  We
spend our time either talking or just being together.  I can
honestly say, that for the first time in my life I am truly,
disgustingly happy.  We'll write again when we get to the next
port.  Bye for now, Joey."

The small group was silent for a moment as Joey's words sunk in. 
Finally Dawson said rather snidely, "well, at least *they're*
happy."

"Dawson. . ." Jen said warningly.

Dawson sighed.  "I know, I know.  It just  so heartwarming to hear
she's happy *for the first time in her life*," he said
sarcastically.

"Dawson, you know what she meant," Bessie said soothingly. 

"Yeah, whatever.  You want to read my card?"  He handed it to
Bessie.

"Hey, D
   Hey man, not sure if you want to hear from me, but Dougie said
you were getting closer to okay, so. . .  hopefully you're
somewhat pleased to get this.  Anyhoo, things are great, I've been
teaching Jo to sail, it's been easier than teaching her to drive a
stick, believe me.  She's actually a pretty good sailor. 
Weather's been great, nice calm water so far.  How's everyone
there?  When are the parents back from the islands?  I can't wait
to see my first palm tree.  Well I gotta bolt, we're getting ready
to cast off and I have to get this in the mail before we do. 
Later Pacey
P.S.  I do miss you Dawson, and I hope we can make things okay."

Bessie smiled at Dawson.  "Seems he really wants things to be good
between you two."

"I'm sure he does.  I'm just not sure if I do," Dawson said
bluntly.

"Dawson!" Andie cried.  "Of course you want things to be better. 
He's your best friend."

"He forgot that long before I did," Dawson said sullenly.

"He never forgot it Dawson," Jen said softly.

"Yeah, right."

"So, who wants to read my card?" Andie said brightly, trying to
alleviate the strained atmosphere.

Bessie took the card from her.

"Dear Andie.

   Hey you.  God this is strange.  I feel like you and Jen may be
the only people who really understand why we've done this, but I
also hate feeling like I'm rubbing your nose in it.  So I'll just
say I'm having a great summer so far.  The weather has been
perfect (knock wood) and we've seen a couple of picturesque little
coastal towns.  I guess we can see why people gush all over
Capeside.  Joey's learning to sail, she's getting pretty good at
it actually.  Well that's about it for now, hopefully I'll have
some interesting, or better yet amusing, stories to share next
time.  Talk to you soon, Pacey.  P.S. I also wanted to say thank
you again for being your amazing self about all this.  You know
more about being a friend than anyone I know."

Jack smiled at his sister.  "You two are okay, I take it."

Andie shrugged one shoulder.  "He deserves to be happy, she makes
him happy.  It's pretty simple."

"They're both lucky to have you," Doug said.

Bessie nodded her agreement.  "They certainly are." 

Andie blushed and tried to divert attention from herself.  "So,
Jen, do you have your postcard too?"

"As a matter of fact I do, I'm just not sure. . ."  She looked
hesitantly at Dawson.

He sighed heavily, feeling rather put upon.  "What could it
possibly say that could make me feel worse?" 

"I- I just think maybe--"

"Oh, for Christ's sake, Jen, give Bessie the card!" Dawson
snapped.

"Fine!  Don't say I didn't warn you."  She handed the post card to
Bessie.

"Hi Jen.
Pacey's making me write first, I don't think he wants me to see
what he says to you.  I'm having a wonderful summer thus far. 
Pacey has been nothing short of amazing, so sweet, and I don't
remember the last time I laughed this much.  Did you know he is
an astronomy nut????  I didn't either.  We spend time each
evening looking at the stars.  He brought his telescope, I didn't
even know he had one. There are so many incredible new things I'm
finding out about him, which is strange because we've known each
other forever, but we're getting to know each other so much more
intimately now.  I can honestly say that when we first sailed out
of Capeside I was a little worried about my decision, it was
scary, huge even.  Now I know I made the right decision.  I
couldn't be happier.  Well I shouldn't take up all the room.  Talk
to you soon, Joey. 

Hey Lindley.
How's things.  As you may have guessed I am in heaven.  She LOVES
ME!!  She said it Jen, just before she climbed on this boat to
come with me.  She smiles all the time now, I'm hoping it's
because of me.  I think so.  We spend all our time just talking,
about our dreams, our hopes, what we want, what we need, all our
secrets.  I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me, Jen. 
Other times we just sit and be together, it's incredible.  Okay,
enough mushy stuff, how're you fairing without young Mr. Parker? 
Chin up beautiful, if my summer so far is any indication the time
is going to fly by.  Well gotta go.  Later, Pacey."

"Well isn't that sweet, Dawson sulked.

Jen shot him a look.  "I warned you."

"Yeah you did.  You know what guys, I don't think I'm into 
spending time at the beach today.  I think I'll head home."  
Dawson gathered his things.

"Dawson--" Andie began, hesitating when Doug put his hand on 
her arm.

Dawson looked down at his friends.  "I'm sorry, you guys, I 
just--"

"It's okay, Dawson, we understand," Jack said sympathetically.

"Of course we do.  But since you are our transportation, would you
mind not taking off too quickly."  Jen and the others began
gathering their things.  

"Sorry to leave so quickly, Bessie.  Thanks for inviting us to
join you," Andie said politely.

Bessie smiled at her.  "You're welcome for the invitation.  And
don't worry about leaving, I understand."

"Bye, Doug," Andie waved cheerfully.

Doug chuckled and returned the wave.  They watched the teens walk
up the beach to the parking lot.  "Do you think Dawson and Pacey
will ever get back to where they were?" Bessie asked, turning to
face Doug.

Doug scrubbed his face.  "No, I don't think they'll ever be the
same as they were."

"What?" Bessie was shocked at his pessimism.  "Why not?"

"Think about it, Bessie.  They both love the same girl.  She loves
Pacey.  Dawson is never going to be able to look at them together
and not see what might have been."  Doug hesitated and looked down
at the baby, now asleep on his lap.  He stroked the downy hair
gently.  "He's always going to see everything he lost when she
walked away from him," he whispered.  "When he wasn't enough."

Bessie watched him holding her son, so careful, so gentle, saw the
pain in his eyes and felt the pressure behind her own.   She knew
there was nothing she had the right to say that could make this
better, but she had to try.  "What if he meets someone, falls in
love.  He's very young."

"Yes he is.  Hopefully he will.  Dawson doesn't strike me as
someone who will do alone very well.  He's basically a good kid,
I'm sure he'll find someone else." 

"He and Joey have always had a pretty strange relationship, I know
she loves him, he's her best friend, at least he was.  Maybe if
she hadn't fallen for Pacey she could have found happiness with
Dawson.  There's nothing wrong with building a relationship based
on friendship.  It can be nice, safe, secure."

Doug looked up at her sharply.  "Friendship is fine and wonderful,
but what about love, what about passion what about all the things
she only finds when she's with Pacey.  She should give all that up
for safety?   Security?" he asked angrily.

"No!  Joey made the right decision, the brave decision.  I am so
happy for them, they had the guts to do what they had to in order
to be together.  I'm just saying her having a life with Dawson
wouldn't have been a great tragedy." 

Doug snorted, "unless you're Pacey.  I said Dawson would probably
recover from this, fall in love with someone else, I'm not so sure
about Pacey."

Bessie stopped short, there were tears in Doug's eyes.  She had
said too much.  She looked down at Alexander again, sleeping so
peacefully, then at her watch.  "I should get him home."  She
began to re-pack the basket.

"He doesn't know where you are, does he?" Doug said exasperated,
if this was the way she wanted to handle it. . .

"He's at work, he wasn't home when I left."  Bessie was avoiding
Doug's eyes.

"We made these plans three days ago, B."

"Drop it, Doug, please," she pleaded.

"Dammit, Elizabeth."  She looked up shocked at his use of her full
name.  "If we are going to be friends you have to tell him.  He's
not going to be happy if he thinks we're sneaking around behind
his back, and frankly I won't blame him!"

"It's not that simple, Doug."

"Then explain it to me, B.  'Cause I'm a bit lost."

"Can we talk about this some other time, Doug please."  She cast a
glance a Alexander who was showing signs of waking up.

"Fine, later."  Doug stood, lifting Alexander into hi arms.  "You got 
everything?"

Bessie nodded sadly, hating that their perfect day had been
ruined.

"Let's get you two home then."  Doug headed up the beach, not
waiting for her.


The End Brother and Sister Day 7: A Day at the Beach 

As alway feedback is drooled upon and answered promptly.

KJ

kayjay@sunwave.net