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Christmas at the Potter B&B was always spectacular. Bessie had outdone herself with the decorations and Bodie must have slaved for days preparing the delicious feast. It had never felt so good to be back in Capeside. There were hugs and kisses, reunion after reunion. The Potter B&B gave Christmas the meaning of �family� and �giving�. Surrounded by family and friends Pacey stood, next to Joey, soaking in the atmosphere. �Ahem.� Bessie cleared her throat as she pointed upwards. Both Pacey�s and Joey�s eyes travelled to the ceiling as they stared at the innocent looking piece of greenery hanging over the top of their heads. �Mistletoe.� Pacey stated ruefully as the rest of the room chuckled and waited. �There�s no way your lips are nearing mine Witter.� �Awww�c�mon Potter. It is tradition.� �Screw tradition.� Joey stated before her mouth descended. The kiss was searingly hot reigniting the flames of passion that had never died. They kissed for minutes upon minutes until finally the crowd of people coughed discreetly and Pacey and Joey parted embarrassed. The rest of the evening was spent avoiding one another until bedtime when they both discovered that Bessie had assigned them to the same room. Neither said a word until Pacey unable to stand the silence finally spoke. �Jo�that kiss out there�.� ��don�t worry Pace it didn�t mean anything.� �And what if I said it did?� �Pacey??� He knelt down before her, the glow of red and green Christmas lights shining through the window, and spoke. �Joey, you�ve been my best friend, my room mate. You�ve been there for me whenever I�ve needed you. You�ve supported me and loved me and encouraged me and believed in me. I can�t imagine my life without you. So what I�m trying to say�Josephine Potter will you marry me?� He had no idea where his courage came from as Pacey�s hands trembled and produced the diamond ring. She stared, shocked, with tears in her eyes and fear coursed through Pacey�s heart. He wondered if he had just made the worst mistake of his life. �Pacey�� �Jo� I understand if you�� �Pacey. Yes.� �Yes?� �Yes!� �YES!� They kissed and hugged and then Pacey slipped the ring onto Joey�s hand. �So you got a me a diamond ring as a Christmas present?� Joey teased. �Well it was the perfect gift. So what did you get me??� �So you want your Christmas present now?� �H/ell yeah! Ooooh�I can�t wait to see what you�ve gotten me!� Pacey exclaimed like a little excited boy. Joey�s eyes gleamed, a devilish look on her face before whispering seductively, �Okay. Close your eyes and open your mouth.� Joey moved closer to Pacey both their breaths ragged with anticipation. Their lips were almost touching. Their lips touched. Joey ran her tongue across Pacey�s lips before entering his mouth. Pacey�s tongue enters Joey�s mouth relishing the feel of her their tongues duelling before� �before his tongue quickly flicks out and steals the piece of gum in her mouth. �Hhhhmmm strawberry flavoured. My favourite.� Pacey exclaimed happily. Joey stood there half pouting and Pacey munched away happily and blew bubbles.
Pacey groaned. Another dream about Joey. It was decided. Pacey Witter was officially insane. There was even the distinct flavour of strawberry in his mouth. He groaned once more looking at the slumbering Joey by his side. No ring on her finger. No surprise there. Getting out of bed Pacey looked outside the motel�s window and saw that snow had fallen leaving the world white. It was going to be a long drive to Capeside.
After hours of driving they finally reached Capeside and pulled into the driveway of the Potter B&B. Everything was exactly was Pacey had pictured in his dream. The whole place was beautifully decorated, Bessie and Bodie were out there to greet them and Alex came running out screaming �Aunty Joey and Uncle Pacey are here!�. A delicious aroma overwhelmed their senses even before they entered the house and Pacey�s stomach grumbled at the smell of Bodie�s cooking. Jack and Jen were meant to arrive later that night and everyone was preparing for a huge Christmas bash at the Leery�s. Lugging their suitcases upstairs Pacey was surprised that he and Joey had been designated into the same room, Joey�s old bedroom. He wondered idly if perhaps the dream was somewhat prophetic or at least his sub-conscious trying to tell him something. Maybe the diamond ring was the perfect Christmas present. But then again�maybe not. Downstairs he heard Joey squeal in delight and Pacey came down the stairs to see Dawson Leery. Neither of them had set eyes on Dawson for over 3 years now although frequent letters, emails and phone calls were exchanged. The three of them spent the afternoon reliving old times before Joey went into the B&B to give Bessie a hand, leaving Dawson and Pacey alone. �So seriously man how�s it been?� Pacey asked. �Good. Good. Pacey�you�ve been my best friend since I can�t remember when and you�ve always told me the truth, always guided me when I most needed it. And although we haven�t seen each other in over 3 years I still regard you as my best friend. So in the name of friendship I can speak to you? Man to man?� �Sure Dawson.� Pacey answered looking at his friend curiously. A squeal of laughter was heard inside the house as Joey swung Alex around the room. �How�s she been?� �Joey. Good as usual.� �You�ve been taking care of her Pacey?� �Of course. You don�t even need to ask.� �The two of you have really gotten closer over the years but I suppose it is the nature of things.� Pacey shrugged not sure what Dawson was trying to get at. �Pacey�have you ever thought about how you�re meant to be with someone for the rest of your life? I mean have you ever felt that there�s this one person you were meant to be with?� �Yeah.� Pacey nodded, thinking of Joey. �I�ve been thinking a lot about marriage lately.� �Really?� Pacey said happy for his friend. �Yes really. I�ve been thinking a lot about marriage lately. About marriage and Joey.� The silence that came after Dawson�s statement overwhelmed Pacey. He had no idea what to say, no idea how to respond. �Pacey is everything okay?� Dawson asked noting Pacey�s silence. �You say you�ve been thinking about marriage and Joey.� Pacey stated slowly. �Yeah. It�s been on my mind constantly and now being back in Capeside, seeing Joey once again�it�s brought back all those old feelings. Nostalgia I suppose.� Dawson laughed. Pacey could not bring himself to laugh instead he found himself exploding. �Dawson it has been over 3 years!! Three years!!! We haven�t seen you, contact is inconsistent and sometimes bordering on rare and you�re trying to tell me that your seriously contemplating marriage with Joey???!!???� Dawson stared at Pacey�s outburst before breaking out into laughter. �It�s not funny Dawson. No matter what screw up ideas you might have about getting back with Joey�� �You�re in love with her and the thought of Joey with anyone else but you just kills you.� �Yes! What no! I�m just concerned about Joey. She�s my best friend and I honestly don�t think the two of you getting back together would be in her best interests especially given your misguided notions�.� �Relax Pacey. I have no intention of getting back with Joey. I said I had been thinking about marriage and Joey. I didn�t say I had been thinking about with Joey.� �Honestly man I don�t see the difference.� �I�m getting married Pacey. In a few months time to the most incredibly woman save for Joey. Her name is Fiona and I�m hopelessly in love with her. And I know I�ve made the right decision asking Fiona to marry me but I suppose with such a life altering decision one cannot help but reflect. My whole life I thought Joey and I were soulmates. H/ell everyone else seemed to think so too. And then came Senior year and the realisation that we really didn�t belong together, that for all our proclamations about soulmates was just a childish dream with no basis in reality. But even after we parted ways, part of me always thought that one day we would reunite. I always believed that Joey and I would somehow find our way back together and the dream about soulmates would come alive once more and be real. Fiona shattered that dream. I fought against it not wanting to let go of the past and honestly man I think a part of me will always love Joey Potter. Yet I know now that we�re not meant to be. Coming here to Capeside, seeing Joey again it�s finally letting me bury the long dead dream. It�s the resolution and finality I need. So I�ve been thinking about marriage and Joey a lot but not in the context you suggested.� �Oh.� �Pacey. Now as your best friend who has known you all your life, albeit my neglect of the role over the years, I�m going to give you some advise. I�ve seen the way you and Joey interact. I see the glances, the touches and part of me has known since Senior year. You and Joey are hopelessly in love with one another. You make each other happy and that�s what you both deserve � happiness. So I�m telling you as your friend, as both your friends, don�t let this get you buy. What the two of you have is something special and incomparable. I nearly lost Fiona because of my own stupidity and I don�t want you and Joey to lose each other because of your own stubbornness and stupidity. Make the first move if Joey won�t and tell her you love her.� �Dawson where is all of this coming from?? Joey and I are just�� �You�re not just friends and both of you know it.� Pacey stared downwards at the ground. �Pacey, I think you already know what is in your heart. I think you�ve already admitted it to yourself. Now all you have to do is admit it to her. Everyone knows how you feel.� �Everyone knows?� Pacey was startled. �It�s so obvious. One look at the two of you. I mean geez� when Jen told me the two of you had it bad, I had no idea how right she was!� �Jen?� �Jen.� From inside the B&B Joey could be heard calling them. �Dawson you go ahead. Tell Joey I�ve gone for a walk�.to see my parents.� Dawson nodded and made a move towards the house but not before turning to Pacey for one more final word. �It�s your move man. And let me tell you Joey Potter is worth it. She�s really worth it.� Standing alone outside the Potter B&B Pacey thought back on the diamond ring hidden in the depths of his suitcase.
�Hey Dawson. Is Pacey still outside?� �He�s actually gone to visit his parents.� �Oh. I thought we were going to do that together.� �I guess he wanted some time alone with his family.� Joey�s eyes flashed with spirit. �Dawson maybe you don�t realise this but Pacey is family.� �I know that Joey. I didn�t mean it that way.� �Fine. Just be careful how you state things next time.� �Okay then. I�m very carefully going to state that I�m getting married.� �You�re what?!?� �I�m getting married.� �OMG!! Dawson!! I�m so happy for you!! Why didn�t you tell me sooner?� �Joey can we talk?� �Of course.� �Remember a time, long ago when we were so in love and we thought we would always be together. When you were my soulmate and I was yours.� �Yeah.� �And then we grew up and realised that wasn�t the case. That things had changed but we both kept on holding on, so tight we were suffocating one another and I�I couldn�t bring myself to let go. I held on so tightly I was killing you, killing everything I had ever loved about you.� �And I stayed Dawson. It was me who chose to stay.� �Remember how it ended? That we both agreed it was something we needed to do. It was the hardest thing I�d ever done.� �I remember.� �I was still so in love with you, no matter how stuffed up our relationship was. And breaking up was the right thing to do because if we had stayed together things would have only gotten worse and worse. But I never stopped loving you and I always imagined we would get back together some day. Only I�ve met someone. Fiona. And she�s the one I�m meant to be with. Correction, she is the one I want to be with.� �I�m happy for you Dawson.� �Thank you. Although a part of me will always love you Joey Potter.� �And a part of me will always love you Dawson Leery. But honestly Dawson without meaning to be bitchy or spiteful but only truthful � I didn�t expect us to get back together sometime in the unknown future.� �I realise that now. And you know the reason why you moved on and let go so easily.� �It wasn�t easy Dawson.� �No I don�t suppose it was but you let go first Joey and it wasn�t simply because of your maturity and wisdom.� �It wasn�t!?!� Joey teased. �No it wasn�t. Part of the reason was Pacey.� �I owe a lot to Pacey. He�s been my best friend, my confidante, my strength.� �He�s all that and more Joey. You�re in love with him.� �Where did you get that crazy idea�� �Joey, you never were able to lie very well and I could always tell when you were lying. You want to know why I always felt so threatened by Pacey? It wasn�t because you were spending all that time with him. It was because I was watching the slow process of the two of you falling in love.� �Dawson�� �Don�t deny it Joey. Don�t deny yourself this. You deserve this. You deserve him and he deserves you. You make each other so happy and maybe you think you don�t deserve this happiness. When we were younger both of you used to think of me as the �golden� boy and both of you were used to getting dished out the worst that life could offer. But you hit the jackpot when you found one another Joey. You have this incredible, amazing thing that half the people, maybe more, on this world would kill for. It�s something that everyone searches for in their entire lives � true love. Don�t throw it all away because you�re scared.� �Dawson�� �Joey let me finish. I love you and I want what�s best for you and Pacey Witter�well I couldn�t find a better man in this whole universe for you. Take what you�ve been so generously given.� �Dawson. Thank you.� �Don�t thank me Joey. Just tell Pacey how you feel. That will be thanks enough.� |
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