| Joey looked out of her apartment window onto the busy street below. She saw Jack pushing Amy in her stroller with Doug, his protective arm slung over his husband as they dodged traffic. She had only been gone for 5 minutes and Joey felt empty. When Dawson has returned from the park they had spent a quiet afternoon in, avoiding all questions and not giving any answers. They had both been transfixed by the little girl with the sunshine hair. Now she was gone, they had to talk about what was going to happen. �Empty isn�t it?� Dawson�s voice pierced through the mist of Joey�s thought. She looked around the apartment. No more toys or discarded books. Everything was orderly and in it�s place. �It�s like this every time she goes. But it�s not as if I won�t see her again.� Joey tried to sound upbeat but it failed. �You�re really lucky. I get to see her once in a blue moon,� Dawson slumped down on the couch, picking up a stray soft toy he found under a cushion. �That�s hardly her fault though is it? You chose to lock yourself away,� Joey said, slumping down next to him. She didn�t want to get into an argument about who was the most hard done by. Jen was; she didn�t get to see her at all. Dawson sat still, hurt by her sharp tongue. He knew it wasn�t Amy�s fault but he just wanted Joey to know things could be worse. �Sorry, I didn�t mean it like that.� Dawson passed the toy to Joey and walked into the kitchen. Joey sighed deeply. She didn�t mean to snap at him either. She followed him into the kitchen a minute later and found him with his head against the wall, he eyes tightly shut. �I�m sorry too. I forget sometimes she isn�t mine. I wish she were,� Joey put her hand on Dawson shoulder and drew him into a hug. He inhaled deeply the scent of Joey�s hair. She always smelt of flowers, no matter what time of year. �I think we need to get out of here,� �Okay, where too?� Joey asked, pulling away from the hug and looking into his eyes. She saw the same passion that was there the previous night. �We could go to a movie?� Dawson suggested, his mouth resisting the urge to spread into a huge grin. The absurdity of it all, asking Joey Potter to the movies with him after all these years. �Okay, we can go to the picture house around the block.� Joey walked into the hallway and pulled on a jacket. �But you�re buying the popcorn.� She said, throwing Dawson�s jacket at him. �Deal,� |
| If only for the night... |