Title: Never, Neverland part 6/10
Author: Kjiara
Author's E-Mail: kayjay@sunwave.net
Category: PJR
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Season three
Archive: Yes, just give credit where due
Feedback: Makes my day!
http://www.geocities.com/kjiara
Disclaimer: I don't own any of 'em.
Summary: What if Cinderella Story had a slightly different ending?



Never, Neverland part 6/10
by Kjiara

She could see the brilliant blue of the dawn sky as she peered
through the hatch.  It was only six a.m..  Far too early to be up
and about, but when she had awakened alone she had come looking
for him.  She found him on deck throwing bread crumbs to the
gulls.  "Hey," she said settling into his arms.

He placed a gentle kiss on the side of her neck.  "Morning."  He
squeezed her tight.  "How come you're up so early?"

"Couldn't sleep.  Bed's too damn big."

He laughed.  "Oh, really?"

She half turned to face him, pressing soft kisses along his jaw
line.  "Yeah.  Just little ol' me, all alone in that great big
bed.  A girl could begin to feel abandoned."  She moved up to
nibble on his ear.  "Neglected even."

Pacey laughed.  "Big ol' bed, huh?"

"Yup."

"The same 'big ol' bed' you declared a few short months ago was
barely big enough for one of us let alone both?" he teased, his
laughter turning to groans as she found a particularly sensitive
spot on his neck.

"Shut up," she captured his lips in a slow sensuous kiss.  When
she was certain she had his full attention she released him. 
"Now, what say we go back down below and I get to wake up
properly, hmm?"  She cast a coquettish look up at him from beneath
her lashes.

"Well, I wouldn't want to get your morning off to a bad start now,
would I?"  He stood lifting her into his arms.

"Pacey!" she protested weakly.  "Put me down."

"Ummm. . ." He pretended to consider her order then grinned. 
"Nope."

Any further protest was cut off by his lips on hers.  This was the
way she wanted to wake up.  This morning and for every morning to
come.  This man and his wonderful deep, delicious, incredibly
erotic kisses that made her whole body sing.  "God, Pacey," she
panted when he finally broke the kiss.

"Still want me to put you down?" he asked, his tone playful and
knowing.

"No.  But if you don't get me below in the next thirty seconds,
those gulls you were feeding are going to get one hell of a show."
she rasped, her voice hoarse with need.

"Anything the lady wants, the lady gets."  He ducked as he carried
her into the cabin.

"I could learn to like that."  She nipped at his ear.

"Hmm, I would imagine so."  He laid her on the bed.  "So, what
*does* the lady want?"  

Joey pretended to consider.  "Hmm, how about,"  She grabbed him
and hauled him down beside her, "you."  

"I always did say you have impeccable taste."  He began to
unbutton her shirt.  "Hmmm?  Why is it women always look so much
better in our clothes than we do?" he asked as he kissed and
nibbled each newly exposed inch of skin.  "God, you taste good." 
He pushed the shirt off her shoulders suckling gently on her
collar bone.  He felt her tug on his hair and looked up to meet
her eyes dark chocolate with arousal.  "What is it, Jo?"

"I love you Pacey."  She smiled when she saw his eyes light up. 
She would never get used to how happy those three simple words
could make him.

"I -"

"Joey, you in there?"   The banging on her door dragged her back
to reality. 

"What?"  Joey shook her head to clear it.  "Come in."

Dawson's blonde head popped around the door.  "Hi."

Joey barely stifled a groan.  Did he have some sort of radar that
let him know when she least wanted his company?  "Hi, Dawson."

Dawson was a bit taken aback by her less than enthusiastic
greeting.  "Is this a bad time?"

Joey was a bit resentful at having her beautiful daydream
interrupted but she could hardly explain that to Dawson.  "Nope. 
Everything fine, come on in."  She waved at the chair beside her
bed.  "Have a seat."

Dawson ignored the chair and sat next to her on the bed, taking
her hand.  "So, how are you feeling?"  He smiled at her.  "Better
I hope." 

Joey nodded.  "Definitely better.  I have to go see the doctor
this afternoon and I'm hoping he'll tell me I'm well enough to at
least get out of bed and join the real world again."  Joey had to
smile to herself at the irony of that statement.

"Perfect.  May I offer my services as your chauffeur?" 

"Uh, thanks for the offer, Dawson, but I already have a ride."

"I'm sure Bessie won't mind if I drive you." 

"Actually, uh, well, Pacey's going to take me."  Joey looked down
at her hands.

"Oh."  Dawson  stood up and walked to her window.  "You and Pacey
seem to be spending an awful lot of time together lately."

Joey caught the edge in his voice.  "Is that a problem, Dawson?"

"No!  No, of course not.  Why would I have a problem with you
hanging out with Pacey?  I mean you two have spent quite a bit of
time together this year."

"Yes, we have.  Pacey's been a good friend to me."

Dawson cleared his throat.  "I guess I'm just surprised that's
all."

"Surprised?  By what?"

"Well. . .  I guess I thought that once you and I got back on
track you would. . .  I don't know. . .  maybe not. . .  it's just
that we used to be. . ."

Joey almost choked.  "You thought that once you deigned to be my
friend again I would drop Pacey!"  She just stared at him.  Who
*was* this guy.

"NO!  Don't be ridiculous.  Of course that's not what I thought." 
Dawson paced back and forth trying to choose his words very
carefully.  "I guess I never expected you two to get so close. 
That you would need him more than you need me."

Joey sighed.  "Dawson, sit down."  This time he chose the chair. 
"Dawson, Pacey has been there for me this year.  Every time I
needed him.  Hell, even when I didn't know I needed him he was
there.  No matter how badly I treated him or how often I forgot to
say thank you, he was always there beside me."  She felt the tears
sting her eyes at the memories of the ways in which she had hurt
and rejected Pacey, in reality and in her dreams.

Dawson saw the tears, he saw the pain she was feeling.  And he saw
something else.  Something he'd never dreamed he'd see in Joey
Potter's eyes.  Something he wished he'd missed.  "My, god, you're
in love with him!" he blurted.

Joey's head snapped up to stare at Dawson.  "Wha - what are 
you. . . Dawson!" she stuttered.

Dawson moved to sit next to her on the bed.  "The other day in the
hospital, when you asked me how I would feel about you falling in
love with someone else, it was him, wasn't it?  He was the one you
were thinking of."

Joey shook her head wildly.  "Dawson -" 

"Please do me the courtesy of not trying to lie to me.  You owe me
that much."

Joey snorted.  "I *owe* you?  For what, may I ask, do I *owe*
you?"

Dawson knew he'd talked himself into a corner but he was too angry
to care.  "I can't believe you!  Ten years of friendship and this
is what I get.  After everything we've been through you're willing
to throw it all away for a mindless fling with *Pacey Witter*? 
God, Joey!"

"What exactly am I throwing away, Dawson?"  Joey demanded coldly. 
"How does the way I may or may not feel about Pacey have anything
whatsoever to do with our relationship?"  She challenged, aware
that she was not going to like his answer.

"You really think you and I are going to have any sort of
relationship if you're with him?"

Joey was growing angrier by the minute.  This conversation was all
too familiar.  "I don't see what one has to do with the other."

Dawson stared at her incredulously.  "You think I'm going to stand
by waiting to pick up the pieces when he gets tired of you?  Think
again, Joey.  I won't play second fiddle to Pacey."

Joey laughed bitterly.  "No, I guess I couldn't expect my best
friend to want to be there and support me.  How irrational of me
to think that you might want me to be happy.  I should have
realised that I am only allowed to be happy if it doesn't
interfere with your ordered little universe.  Wouldn't want good
old Joey overstepping her bounds now would we?"

Dawson was stunned.  Joey had never spoken to him like that
before. Never.  She had always place utmost importance on their
friendship.  "I won't let you do this, Jo."

Joey gaped at him.  "You won't *let* me do this?  And how exactly
do you plan to stop me?"

"So you're saying that you're willing to discard ten years of
friendship and everything we've been to each other."

"No."

Dawson smiled, he knew she wouldn't do it.

Joey saw the smug grin and her chin came up.  "From where I sit,
Dawson, it's you who's willing to throw away our friendship
because you can't handle the fact that I may feel something for
someone other than you."

"It's hardly just *anyone*, Joey.  This is Pacey we're talking
about.   Come on, you know what he's like!"  He decided to change
tactics.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just what I said.  Pacey likes women.   What makes you think
you're any different?"  he asked snidely.

Joey smirked at him.  "You mean different from Tamara Jacobs, who
he loved so much he was willing to be labelled a punk kid liar and
trouble maker just to save her skin?  Or do you mean different
from Andie, for whom he went to hell and back trying to be
everything she needed, and is still willing to be her friend even
after she betrayed his love for her?  Are you asking how I'm
different from those two women, Dawson?  After all they are the
only two women he's actually been involved with.  To be perfectly
honest, Dawson, I'm not so sure I want to be different than them. 
Except maybe I'd realise what a precious gift his love is and not
abuse it the way they did."  Joey folded her arms across her chest
and stared at her friend, waiting.

Unfortunately for Dawson, although he knew everything she said was
true, he just couldn't let it go.  "Fine, you go to Pacey.  Tell
him how you think you feel about him.  He'll laugh in your face."  

Joey gasped as the barb hit close to her deepest fear.  "Get out!"

Dawson was startled by her vehemence.  "Joey "

"GET OUT!"

"Fine.  But don't expect me to be there when you get hurt."  He
marched out slamming the door behind him.

As soon as he was gone Joey gave in to her tears.

                         ~*~
                           
Pacey was laying on the living room floor colouring with Sarah
when he heard the door slam.  He sat up in time to see Dawson
charge down the stairs.  "Dawson?"

Dawson stopped suddenly and turned on his *best friend*.  "You
know what, Pacey.  I always knew you were a thoughtless bastard,
but I didn't think even you would go this far."  He whirled back
around and slammed out of the house.

Pacey just stared at the place where Dawson had stood.  What the ? 
He turned to his niece.  "Sarah, sweetie, Uncle Pacey will be back
in a minute okay?"

Sarah grinned up at her new favourite uncle.  "'Kay, I'll save
your spot."  She patted the picture he had been working on.  "And
I won't colour on it neither."

Pacey had to smile at the sweet child.  He looked toward the
stairs wondering what sort of drama Joey and Dawson had cooked up
this week and if he really wanted to get in the middle of their
issues again?  He knew it wasn't really a choice.  Squaring his
shoulders he climbed the stairs.  

Joey jumped slightly when she hard the tap on her bedroom door. 
Surely Dawson hadn't returned.  "Come in."

Pacey opened the door and stepped into the room.  "Hey."

"Pacey!  What are you doing here?  My appointment isn't until this
afternoon," she blurted, shocked to see him and terrified he may
have overheard her argument with Dawson.

"I got here about ten minutes ago.  Carson and Bessie asked me if
I'd watch the kids.  They said Dawson was up here so I didn't want
to interrupt."  He sat on the bed beside her, taking in her
flushed, tear stained face.  "What happened, Jo.  Dawson stormed
outta here after laying into me.  Now I can see you've been
crying."  He reached up and gently brushed away a tear.  "You
wanna talk about it?"

Joey looked up at him, her eyes full of something he couldn't
quite identify.  "What did Dawson say to you?"

"He called me a thoughtless bastard and seemed to think I'd done
him some injustice.  You know what he was talking about?"

Joey fidgeted with her blankets.  "I, well, he may think that,
well, that I-- Oh God, I can't do this."  She buried her face in
her hands.

"Hey."  Pacey gently disengaged her hands, holding them both in
his.  "Joey, you know you can tell me anything, right?"

Joey nodded, sniffling.  "I know.  But this is, well, this is
different."

"No, it's not."  He tilted her face up so he could see her eyes. 
"You can tell me anything."

Joey searched those blue eyes she trusted so completely and found
nothing but gentle caring.  She smiled damply at him and took a
deep breath.  It was now or never.  "It's kind of a long story."

"I got plenty of time- "

"Pacey?"  Bessie hollered up the stairs.  "You up there?"

Pacey went to the door.  "Yeah, I'm here.  I'll be down in a sec." 
He turned to Joey.  "I'll be right back."  He started down the
stairs.  

Bessie met him halfway.  "You stay with Jo.  I just wanted to let
you know Carson and I are taking the kids out to see your
parents."

"Oh, WOW!"  

"Yeah, should be interesting, but Doug wants to tell them and
Carson's hauling me along as back-up."

Pacey laughed.  "Yeah, well, with my parents she may need it."

Bessie smiled at him.  "Let's hope not.  There are some leftovers
in the fridge, if you don't mind getting lunch for you and Joey."

"Sounds great."

"Thanks, Pacey."

When Pacey re-entered Joey's room she was standing staring out the
window.  "What are you doing out of bed, young lady?"  He teased
coming up behind her.

"Would you mind if we went out to the dock to have our little
talk?"  Joey asked, not turning around.

"Are you sure you're up to that?  It's pretty chilly out."

She nodded.  "Yeah, I'll bundle up.  I just think I'll be able to
think better if I'm outside.  By the water."

Pacey hesitated, not sure what to make of her strange mood. 
"Okay, then.  We'll go outside.  You get dressed in something
cozy, I'll go get us something warm to drink."  He rubbed her
arms.  "Okay?"

She nodded again, and he left her alone.

Pacey was boiling water for tea when Joey joined him in the
kitchen.  "Whatcha makin'?" she asked coming up behind him.

"Well, the doctor said no caffeine for you so hot chocolate and
coffee are out.  How does Lemon Zip tea sound to you?"

"Horrid, but hot.  It'll do."  She sat at the table to watch him
putter around.  "How did you know what the doctor's orders were?"

"I asked."

"You what?"

He shrugged self-consciously.  "I knew you might not take the best
care of yourself so I asked her if there was anything in
particular you should or shouldn't be doing.  She seemed to think
it was a good idea that someone look out for you."

Joey shook her head, his obvious concern soothing her nerves and
warming her heart.  "Thanks, Pacey."

Pacey stopped what he was doing to face her.  "For what?"

Joey shrugged.  "For looking out for me.  For being you."

Pacey could feel himself blushing.  "Aw shucks, ma'am.  Twern't
nothin'," he joked to cover his discomfort.  He filled two cups
with the hot liquid.  "So, you ready?"

Joey swallowed hard and stood on shaky legs.  "Yeah, I guess so."

Pacey could see how nervous she was.  "Are you sure you want to do
this, Joey?"

"Not really, but if I don't it's going to drive me nuts."

"Okay then, can't have that."  Pacey helped her on with her coat
and opened the front door.  "Shall we?"

Joey nodded firmly and walked out onto the porch.

The end Never, Neverland part 6/10

I would love to hear what you think.

kayjay@sunwave.net