| The car slowly pulled up outside the all too familiar house, ladder still in place and dock still jetting out to the water. Apart from the scattering of snow laying gently on everything, it was like it had never changed. Dawson glanced over at Joey who was trying to wipe a tear away from her face without him noticing. �Good to be home then?� Dawson teased her. �I�m hormonal. Bite me,� Joey retorted, pulling her scarf on. �You say the nicest things.� Dawson muttered as he climbed out of the car and rushed around to the other side to open Joey�s door. He reached inside and pulled her out. She was now so big it was hard for her to move easily, let alone climb in and out of cars. �You�re Mom�s gonna think I�m having a litter of babies at this rate,� Joey said, as she tried to help Dawson by grabbing the side of the car. �Two is hardly a litter is it?� Dawson said finally pulled Joey into his arms. �I would advise not you not make smart comments like that in the delivery room,� Joey said, resting her head on Dawson�s chest. The act of getting out of a car was too much. �There will be plenty of time for that later!� a voice shouted from the porch. The couple turned around and saw a smiling Jack hanging out the front door, Amy grabbing onto his leg. �Jack!� Joey called �Merry Christmas!� Jack made his way across the yard as Doug grabbed an over excited Amy from following. �Wow, what the hell happened to you Potter?� Jack exclaimed when he caught sight of Joey�s over extended belly. �The joy of pregnancy,� she said, trying to change the subject hastily. She lunged towards him for a hug, her arms unable to reach al the way around him like they used to. �Lets get inside before I freeze!� She slowly tottered off into the house, leaving Dawson and Jack to un load the car. �So how are things? She looks......huge,� Jack said, lifting a bag of presents out of the car. �Huge and hormonal. Remind me never to get her pregnant again?� Dawson chuckled. �Seriously D, is she okay? When Jen was pregnant she was never that big,� Jack� face softened at the memory of Jen, her small belly and glowing face during her pregnancy. Dawson thought about telling him but held back, knowing how hurt Bessie and his Mom would be if they didn�t know first. �Yeah she�s fine. We actually went to the doctor last week and we are on schedule.� Dawson locked the car and hoisted another bag other his already overloaded shoulder. �Let�s get in,� The two friends made their way up the family frontage of the Leery house, the porch alight with dozens of fairy lights. Dawson looked over the creek and saw the snow had settled on the water in places where it has iced over. It was a time of year in Capeside he had never enjoyed as a child, as his and Joey�s life revolved around playing on the creek in the sun. When winter hit it had almost always stopped. The creek was never iced over enough for ice skating and the weather was too changeable to play outside in the snow. It was in winter that his love of movies had erupted, being stuck inside for weeks with nothing better to do. The memory of his and Joey�s old life made him smile. He watched through the window as his mother greeted Joey, obviously shocked by her size. He then saw Lily and Bessie also hug her. His family had changed so much in 10 years but he was happy. Of course, he wanted Mitch to have been here to see his first grandchildren. But he knew he was there, watching over them and keeping them safe. He walked into the front door and was greeted by many hugs and kisses. His Mom, Bessie, Gail and Amy all wanted to say hello, with Doug, John and Jack making a fuss over Joey and helping her to a chair. �Hi Honey. Are you okay?� Gail asked as she kissed him on the cheek. �I�m fine Mom. Tired but fine,� Dawson finally lowered the heavy bags to the ground and pulled of his jacket. �How�s work?� Gail directed him to the sofa next to Joey. �It�s okay. Steven has been great; he�s helping me to put all the pieces together. But he understands that Joey is my main priority at the moment and we�ve put the project on hiatus until next year. Just until we get used to being parents.� �And how is my grandchild to be?� Gail asked the question they had been dreading. �Very demanding and tiring! Is there any chance I can grab a couple minutes shut eye?� Joey interrupted. She had planed to make the announcement the next day over Christmas dinner. �Sure honey, we�ve made up Dawson�s room so go and have a nap. I remember how tired I was with Lily,� Gail helped Joey to her feet. �Thanks Gail. See everyone in a little while,� Dawson watched Joey slowly climbing the stairs to his childhood bedroom. She was so much slower these days, but then she was carrying around a large amount of excess weight. |
| Let it snow... Part one |