Title:  Green Apples - Part 6
Author:  Angie
E-mail address:  [email protected]
Category:  Pacey/Joey
Rating:  PG13
Warning:  Touches on the very touchy subjects of death and religion.
Disclaimer:  These characters are not mine.  They belong to Kevin Williamson, Paul Stupin, and the WB.
Summary:  The gang is finally graduating!  Everyone is planning on attending college together...except Pacey.  Joey is upset, but love can withstand anything, including separation, right?  But when the unthinkable happens in the lives of these six friends, will it cause Pacey to rethink his situation?  Find out the answers in this new fan fiction series.
Author's Note: I just keep getting more and more feedback and I really appreciate it guys!  Please continue to send me your comments!

Pacey rubbed his eyes.  �So...you heard every word, huh?�

�Yeah.�  She said matter-of-factly.  �I did.�

Pacey braced himself and then looked up at her.  �Ok, then, let�s have it.�

�Have it?�

�You know.  The lecture.  The one where you tell me that we are 18 years old and it was monumentally stupid of me to even think of bringing up the subject of marriage and commitment when you were lying there unconscious and unable to argue with me.  I mean we have a lot of time to think about that right?  I was just so scared of loosing you, Jo.  And I guess I was grasping at straws.  Just anything to hold on to.  And I understand that you think I am a complete moron, and you are probably very angry...�

�Angry?�  she asked, looking at him as if he had just sprouted wings.

�Well, yeah...�

�Ok, forgive me for being confused.  But since when is it appropriate to be angry at someone for loving you.  Pacey, I have waited for a lifetime to find what I have when I�m with you.�

Pacey looked shocked.  He had never felt as loved, wanted, and most of all, as needed as he did at that very moment.

�And, I guess, being the dreamer than girls usually are, I just always assumed that you and I would always be together.  So, how could I be angry with you.  It�s what I�ve always wanted.  What I�ve always dreamed of, Pacey.  And I am not saying that we should rush out and get married the moment I check out of the hospital.  But being engaged just seems like the next step in our relationship.  And I think we are mature enough to take that next step.�

Pacey continued to stare at her, unable to speak.  What she was telling him seemed so unreal.  He was sure he would wake up any moment to find this all to be only a dream...the best dream he�d ever had.

�That is...� she continued, as the realization of another possibility dawned on her.  �...unless the offer no longer stands.�

Pacey finally found his voice.  �Are you crazy, Potter?  Are you completely, totally, and absolutely INSANE?�  He moved to sit gently on the bed beside her.  �Joey, I can�t imagine my life without you.  If I didn�t have you, my heart would surely stop beating.�

Joey smiled.  Pacey leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.  �Although, I do think we should do this right,� he said kneeling down beside her hospital bed.  �Josephine Potter.  I love you more than life itself, more than my next breath of air.  And I couldn�t bear to see tomorrow pass without you.  So when the right time comes, and you are ready, will you marry me?�

Joey looked thoughtful for a minute.  �Jo, don�t make me beat you...� he warned

Joey started laughing.  �Of course I will marry you, Pacey Witter.�

Never in his life did Pacey ever think he would hear such sweet words spoken through the lips of Joey Potter.  He kissed her hand.  �Thank you.  For making me the happiest man who ever walked the face of the earth.�

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Joey went through some more test the next morning.  She was sure they had checked her from head to toe at least a hundred times.  She could not possibly imagine what else they could be looking for. 

Just then a nurse entered her room.  �Hey, Joey.�

�Good morning, Linda,� she said smiling.  Linda was her favorite person in the entire hospital.  She seemed so sweet and understanding, and she checked on Joey often. 

�How are you feeling this morning?�

�Ick,� Joey answered in a flat tone.  �My leg is throbbing like a toothache and my side is killing me.�

�Your side?  Hmm.  You are probably just sore.  You have been through an awful lot young lady.�

�Don�t I know it.�

�Well, I brought you your antibiotic and something to ease the pain,�  Linda said as she injecting first one shot and then the other into the tube in Joey�s IV. 

Joey winced. 

�I know those burn, honey.�

�Ah, couldn�t be any worse than all this other stuff I have had done in the past few days.�

�Well, the results of your blood work should be in soon, and your doctor will be by this afternoon to check on you.  And we will also be sending in a physical therapist to get you up and moving around.�

�Oh, joy,� she said.

�I�ll ask her to wait until after General Hospital, how�s that?� Linda asked her, smiling.

Joey laughed.  �You have no clue how hard it is trying to catch up on a month�s worth of Luke and Laura.�

Linda laughed.  �You crazy kid.�  She finished administering the medicine then looked down and Joey�s hand and raised her eyebrows.  �And I WILL be back after I make the rounds and you will give me details about the guy and the ring.�

�You got it Linda, but only if you bring chocolate.  I can�t seem to recall anything on an empty stomach.�

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�So, his name is Pacey, huh?  You�ll have to point him out to me.  You have so many good-looking guys hanging out around here, that I don�t have a clue which one he is.�

�Well, here,� Joey said reaching for her purse on the table beside her bed.  She moved too quickly.  �Ouch!�  She pulled her wallet out of the purse and searched for the picture.  �Here is his senior picture.�

Linda took the wallet and studied the picture.  �What a cutie,� she said.  �Girl, mother nature has spent a lot of time on that boy!�

Joey giggled.  �I love him,� she said simply.

�So, let me get this straight.  You guys bitterly hated one another, then you hopped on a boat with him last summer, and then he waltzes into ICU, pours out his heart, and proposes to you.�

�Yeah, that�s about the size of it.�

�Luke and Laura may be entertaining, but they have nothing on you to.�  Linda said.

Joey laughed.  �Thanks.  At least now I know that my life is fit for daytime T.V.�

Just then there was a knock at the door.

�Oops, busted for sittin� down on the job,� Linda whispered.

�Come in,� Joey said.  It was her doctor.

�Dr. Andrews, hi,� she greeted him.

�Hi, Joey,� he said.  She could tell from his expression that he had news.  �Your test results are in,� he told her. 

�Um...there�s something less than comforting in the way you just said that,� Joey said.

�I�ll be back later, sweetie,� Linda whispered.

�Please, don�t leave me, Linda,� Joey pleaded in a panicked voice, grabbing her hand.

Linda looked toward Dr. Andrews.  �It�s ok,� he said with a small smile.

The nurse sat back down beside Joey�s bed and held on tight to her hand, listening intently for what the doctor had to say.

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End of Part Six. 
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You can e-mail me at [email protected].