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�Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!� Alex screamed, running around the room. �Whoa there little man.� Pacey laughed as Alex bumped into Pacey. �I�m not little!� Alex protested. �Oh really?� Pacey teased as he picked Alex up by the scruff of his collar and moved the boy upwards so that Alex and Pacey were eye to eye. �Pacey stop teasing Alex.� Joey scolded as she walked by. Pacey promptly put Alex down. �Are you and Aunty Joey going to get married?� A look of startled surprise crossed Pacey�s face. �No. Why do you ask Alex?� �Because you act like a married couple. Joey tells you to do something and you do it. Just the way Mom and Dad do.� �That�s because we�re dealing with the Potter woman. Smart men such as your Dad and I know that it is always wise to do exactly as the Potter women say.� �We heard that Pacey.� Both Bessie and Joey yelled. �Not so smart anymore huh Uncle Pacey?� Alex smirked. �You are going to get me into far too much trouble.� Pacey grumbled as he lifted Alex onto his shoulders and carried him around. The past few days had been hectic with Christmas preparation and Pacey and Joey had not had any time alone. Despite the fact that they were sharing a bedroom, they were both too exhausted from the day�s events to talk. There was however a contagious excitement in the air. The joy of Christmas and the thrill of simply being near one another. Family and friends united and celebrating together brought an overwhelming happiness within everyone. Capeside was a small town filled with love and the spirit of Christmas. The Christmas party at the Leery�s had been a roaring success and Christmas Eve was spent at Grams� house. Jen and Jack had arrived and Dawson with his fiancee Fiona was there. Even Andie had flown in from Europe to spend Christmas in Capeside. The whole gang was together again. Laughter, tears, talk and egg nog filled the house that Grams� built and everyone was equally excited as Alex that Christmas was coming. It was late at night that Bessie, Bodie, Alex, Pacey and Joey returned to the Potter�s B&B and although everyone had gone to bed Pacey could not sleep. He sat quietly in front of the Christmas tree surveying the vast array of gifts and pondered on his own gift to Joey. �Hey.� Pacey turned to see Joey behind him. �What you doing up Potter?� �I couldn�t sleep.� Joey confessed. �You weren�t there besides me and well�I couldn�t sleep.� �Awwww�did I just hear Joey Potter confess that she missed my presence?� �Maybe. But I�m not repeating myself.� �Come here Jo.� Pacey said gesturing to his lap as he pulled her down. They sat there nestled in each other�s embrace. The moments of silence that followed were perfect. The silence enchanting as they listened to the world sleep, listened to the other breathe, listened to the beat of their hearts. The clock chimed twelve and they broke apart. �So it looks like it�s Christmas.� Joey commented. �So it would seem. Think I can open my Christmas present now?� �Actually I think I�d prefer it. Just the two of us exchanging presents.� Joey got up and moved behind the heavily ornamented tree to take large, rectangular parcel. �This is for you.� �Hhmm makes my gift seem small and insignificant.� Pacey commented thinking back to the tiny box that fitted into his pocket. �Pacey you know that size doesn�t matter.� �I�ll remember that Jo.� Pacey teased as he wiggled his eyebrows. He carefully unwrapped the present to find an oil painting of himself and Joey. �Jo...you didn�t?� �I did.� �I always said you were talented Potter...but this...this...surpasses anything I�ve ever seen. It�s truly a work of art.� �You�re just saying that because it�s a painting of you.� �You got me there Jo. But seriously�this is amazing.� �Let me explain.� Joey said. �Remember how, several months ago I went on that art refuge?� �Of course I remember! You left me home alone for over several weeks!� �Well during that time they asked us to do several exercises. Paint a flower, a bowl of fruit, paint our home. When I heard the word �home� this is what I came up with.� �Jo.� There were tears in Pacey�s eyes. �I know how hard Christmas is for you. For both of us. Every Christmas I miss my mom and my dad. I think about how it�s meant to be a family holiday and how unconventional my family was. And I know for you...how hard it is. Visiting your parents, your Dad. I realise that things are so much better between the two of you now but I also know you Pacey. And I know you can�t help but feel the loss of your father�s love when you were young. How you always wonder how you could make things right or what could have been if you hadn�t of screwed up that baseball game. And I want you to know that you�re my family. You�re my home. And I�m always going to be there for you�because I love you Pacey. I love you so very, very much.� �Thank you.� Pacey said as they hugged, holding on tight and experiencing the comfort of home. �My gift to you�well�� He reached into his pocket and took out a tiny velvet box. Joey took the box, untied the tiny gold ribbon that adorned it and opened it up to find a ring. �Do you know what this ring means Jo?� �I do.� Pacey carefully took the ring and gently slipped it on her finger, on her right hand. The metal heart, the crown and the hands evident in the intricate design. A claddaugh ring. �You put it the wrong way Pace.� Joey reminded him. �The crown�s turned inward. It�s meant to be turned outward.� �A special commitment.� Pacey noted with a smile and wondered if one day soon the ring would be on her left hand, the crown faced outward. �You do realise that claddaugh rings are considered to be Irish marriage rings.� �One we�re not Irish Pace. Two you haven�t proposed yet.� Pacey slapped his forehead dramatically. �You see I knew there was something I forgot to do.� �So you were planning on proposing Pace?� Joey teased. �Yeah�� �So where�s my proposal?� �Well you know me! I couldn�t live with the rejection.� Joey murmured so softly that Pacey could not hear, �And who said I would reject you?� �Did you say something Jo?� �No. Nothing at all.� Pacey knew it wasn�t yet time to give Joey the diamond ring. They weren�t ready for that yet but as time passed Pacey could literally feel the day approaching. The dream of proposing and marrying Joey was starting to feel less like a dream and more like a possibility. No confessions of love were spoken that Christmas but none were needed. At least not for now. For the time being they were content with their relationship and actions speaking louder than words. �Hey Pace.� Joey whispered a glint in her eye. �Yeah?� �Isn�t there something you forgot to give me?� �Huh?� Joey smiled as her left hand held a bunch of mistletoe over their heads. �Oh that!� Pacey stated a grin on his face. They leaned into to kiss and it was sweet as well as passionate. And it was real. Out of sight, near the door, Alex stood. He had been hoping to catch Santa but instead had found his Aunt Joey and Uncle Pacey kissing underneath the Christmas tree. Alex grinned. They were sooooooo getting married.
Christmas day was officially a crazy day. There were visitors in and out the B&B. The morning was spent feasting on the delicious Christmas breakfast Bodie had concocted and exchanging gifts with Bessie, Bodie and Alex. Alex was a ball of excitement and noise creating havoc wherever he turned and yet no one seemed to mind. �Uncle Pacey!! Look what Mom and Dad got me! Uncle Pacey!! Look at what Aunt Joey got me!! Uncle Pacey!! Uncle Pacey!!� Alex cried. Joey watched Pacey play with Alex and indulge the young boy�s whims. He was a perfect uncle and one day Pacey Witter would make a perfect father. Later that day Pacey and Joey visited the Witter clan and had Christmas lunch with them. Things were pleasant but hectic and the Witter household with all Pacey�s sisters present as well as their children and of course the still single Doug Witter. �Doug!� Joey embraced Pacey�s older brother. �How have you been?� �I�ve been good Joey. And I see you look as resplendent as ever. Surprisingly it seems that living with my brother hasn�t killed you yet. You must tell me your secret. I swear Pacey was the death of me.� �Well for a ghost you look mighty fine Deupty Witter. So the question is why hasn�t some woman been completely swept off their feet by your charm and eloquence?� �I�m still waiting for you to accept my proposal.� Doug joked. �C�mon Dougie! No need to hide. Jo here knows the truth. I mean don�t you think it�s time to come out of the closet?� Pacey interjected. �Little bro that is so old. And here I thought you had matured and finally grown up.� Doug and Pacey laughed as the two brothers embraced the animosity between the two clearly contrived. �Well, well. What do we have here?� A female voice spoke. �Gretchzilla!� Pacey yelled. �So Joey still hanging out with this loser?� Gretchen asked. �Well I just keep him around to make me look good.� Joey replied. Gretchen, Doug and Joey laughed and the look of disgust on Pacey�s face. �You know I didn�t come home to be abused.� �You didn�t?!?� Both Dough and Gretchen exclaimed. �Then what did you come home for??� It was a good Christmas in the Witter�s household. Pacey had experienced far worse Christmases during his childhood but a lot had changed since then. Of course there was the added bonus of having Joey by his side. With Joey by his side Pacey felt as if he could withstand anything. They left sometime after lunch to visit Lillian Potter�s grave. It was a sombre moment amidst the joy. Joey carefully placed red roses onto the grave and spoke to her mother, Pacey watching a few steps behind. A few tears were shed and then there was Pacey�s warm embrace as he held Joey and murmured into her ear words of comfort. Then they made a move to the Leerys. Dawson�s ladder was nestled next to his window as during the old days and Pacey and Joey clambered up the ladder and into the room. Inside they found Dawson, Jack, Jen and Andie already comfortable settled. ET was blaring in the background, popcorn and sodas and a whole heap of gifts. �Don�t you think ET is kind of inappropriate?� Pacey queried. A look of horror and agitation crossed Dawson�s face. �How could you suggest such a thing Pacey?! ET is the perfect Christmas show. It demonstrates the importance of family and friendship, the value of giving. Important aspects which are fundamental to the whole spirit of Christmas and�� Various pillows were thrown in Dawson�s direction as the group broke out in laughter. Dawson stopped the tape with a laugh. �Okay time to exchange presents!� All sorts of gifts were exchanged and received. The expensive, specially crafted paintbrushes Joey had been searching for. A shirt Jack had been eyeing. The book Andie had been literally ready to kill, to read. Some new camera gear for Dawson. Some hardware tools for Pacey. A bunch of CDs for Jen. Everyone ooohed and aaahed expressing their delight at their gifts. It was a wonderful time not only because it was Christmas but in many ways it was reliving their childhood. Without all the angst. As Jack, Andie and Dawson made their way downstairs Jen turned to Pacey and Joey. �So how do you like your Christmas presents?� �Great.� Both Pacey and Joey answered. �Good. Although there�s another present�for the both of you�that I wanted to give you in private.� Pacey and Joey exchanged looks as Jen handed them a plain white envelope. �Well don�t just stand there!� Jen scolded. �Open it.� �Tickets.� Pacey announced slowly. �Not just any type of tickets. Read the writing.� Jen instructed. �Jen! How did you?!� Joey gasped. �You could say connections.� Jen replied smugly. �Now I fully expect both of you to use them because it took a h/ell of a lot to get them.� �So it looks like we�ve got tickets to New York�s biggest, most extravagant and social event for the New Year.� Pacey commented. �I can�t believe Jen got us tickets! It must have cost a fortune! The place is going to be packed with New York�s finest socialities and celebrities.� �And it looks like Joey Potter and Pacey Witter � the black sheep of small town Capeside will be attending. You gonna be my date Potter?� �You asking Witter?� �If the answer�s yes.� �Yes.� �Then I�m asking.� �Well then it looks like we�ve made our New Year�s Eve plans. Courtsey of one Jen Lindley. Looks like we�re going to be welcoming the new year in style.� �Looks like it. And I know I�ve got the best looking date.� �You�re such the charmer Witter.� �So you�re finally admitting I�ve got charm?� �Never!� Joey screamed as she ran laughing down the stairs. �C�mon Jo it�s meant to be Christmas!!� Pacey protested as he hurried behind her. |
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