Landon bent over the pool table, eyeing the last of the four balls spread across the felt and pulled back his pool stick, letting it fly. The crack of the cue ball hitting the two echoed in the small bar, and the yellow ball fell into the corner pocket with a thunk.

"Bravo, sweetheart." Jack clapped his hands from where he was watching at a nearby table with Pacey. Mike flashed him the finger as he waited for Landon to take aim at the eight ball and win the game.

Pacey shook his head, "See, that's why I don't play pool anymore. I got tired of kicking everyone's asses."

Jack laughed loudly, "Bullshit, I whipped your ass the last time we played."

"I let you win, my friend."

"Uh huh, sure ya did." Jack scoffed, taking a long drink from his bottle of beer.

"Fine, don't believe me."

"I don't need to believe you. I was there. I vividly remember the humiliation you suffered," he smirked.

"Ha...Like I've ever suffered humiliation at your hands."

"Repeatedly, Pacey. Repeatedly."

Pacey rolled his eyes and took a sip of his beer, "How're things going man?"

"Same as always." Jack shrugged. "I'm thinking about taking Landon back to Capeside for a few days. Like a mini-vacation. Kinda show him where we all grew up."

"Good. Sounds good."

"We'll be back in plenty of time before the baby gets here." Jack smirked, "I just need to get out of here for a few days."

"I understand that."

"Yeah, so how's life in the Witter household?"

Pacey smiled and took a sip of his beer, "Good. Pretty good."

"If your smile is any indication, it's going a lot better than good." Jack tossed a pretzel into his mouth and arched an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Intuitive, aren't you?"

"It's all part of the gay man psyche," Jack smirked.

"Ah...is that it? Well, you're right. Things are going great."

"How great?"

"Really great. I mean...we're getting along, we don't really fight, and I'm sure Jen told you that we're having sex, right?" Jack nodded, "Well, that is especially great."

"Yeah, it is. I won fifty bucks off you two," Jack grinned.

Pacey laughed, "Congratulations."

Jack tilted his head to the side, admiring the curve of Landon's ass as he bent over the pool table again. "So, for a man who swore he'd never marry, you seem to love it."

Pacey glanced at Landon, then rolled his eyes as he looked at Jack, "You know, you stare at him any harder your eyes are going to pop out of your head. And I do love it. I don't know what's going to happen when the year is up though. I'm actually dreading it."

Jack's eyes flickered immediately back to Pacey, "You dread it? It's only been two months."

"I know," he sighed. "I've just gotten so used to being there, you know. I'm used to seeing her bra laying in the top of the clothes basket. I'm used to the way she always ends up cuddled beside me when we sleep. I'm just...used to being with her."

"Not to say that this is a bad thing...but wasn't this whole plan based around the idea that you wouldn't fall in love with her?"

"I didn't say I was in love with her," Pacey said looking at Jack.

He smiled, "No you didn't. And given the fact that you've only technically been together for two months, it's probably safe to say that you aren't. Yet."

"I won't be."

Shaking his head, Jack laughed, "Sure, Pacey."

"You don't believe me?"

"No, I believe that you believe yourself." He continued to smile, "That's what so funny."

"I do, Jack. I'm not going to fall in love with Joey."

Jack's smile faded, "Dude, you're already half way there."

"What?"

"You went on about how you like seeing her bra lying in the laundry, man. If that's not falling for her, I don't know what is."

"I've been living with her for two months...I'm just used to seeing her stuff around."

"Denial."

"Shut up, Jack."

"Seriously though, Pacey. If you keep on the path that you're going on, you're going to fall in love with her. And she's still going to divorce you."

"So what do you suggest Jack? I move out?"

"No, I think you just need to be aware of what's happening." He shrugged a shoulder, "And personally, I think it's great. You guys deserve that second chance. Neither of you has ever been as happy as when you were together."

"But we're not really together. We're playing a part...and having sex too."

"I wasn't necessarily talking about right now, I was talking about in high school." Jack eyed him carefully, "You can't tell me you haven't noticed...she was never as happy with any other guy as she was with you. She married Samuel, and even he couldn't hold a candle to you."

Pacey shook his head, "I noticed. But...I just think...you know, she's better off without me constantly in her life. I mean, I'm not this great guy. I hurt her badly in the past...I just...I don't understand how she can forgive me for that."

"She forgave you, does the why really matter?"

"Yeah. Because...as horrible as this sounds, part of me is still mad that she chose Dawson over me."

Jack made a face, "So really, it's less about her forgiving you and more about you not forgiving her."

"I forgive her. I did a long time ago. It just hurts to think that the one person you gave up everything for, didn't love you enough to consider your feelings. It hurts Jack. It still hurts really bad. And when...Jen told me that after I left our Senior year, she pretty much went after Dawson, well, that kind of did it for my heart."

Jack sighed, "It's not my place to argue on her behalf. Especially about things that happened so long ago that I can barely remember. But the one thing I do remember, the one thing that sticks out from the summer after graduation, was Joey crying because you left. Did Jen tell you all about that?" Jack leaned forward in his chair, "Whatever happened between Dawson and Joey before he left was nothing, Pace, it didn't matter. She was heartbroken when she found out you'd gone without a goodbye. She'd never admit to it...but she held out hope that during that summer, you two would fix whatever went wrong in your relationship and get back together. You killed that hope."

"That hope was dead at prom."

"No," Jack shook his head. "That hope lasted most of the summer, and every day that went by and she still hadn't heard from you, it died a little more."

"I couldn't come back, Jack. I just couldn't. I-it hurt too much to think about what had happened. And I know she was hurting...but my heart died, Jack. I was years before I could give my heart to anyone."

"And you gave it to Joey's roommate, of all people," he replied ironically.

He shook his head, "I wasn't in love with Audrey."

"You know, it's not my place to argue any of this." Jack held up his hands in defeat. "It's water under the bridge, and if it isn't...than you need to talk to her about it, cause it should be."

"It is...it's all water."

"Right," Jack smiled again, "So you're free and clear to fall in love with her."

Pacey sat back in his chair and rolled his eyes, "Oh God...come on Jack, give me a break."

"What would be so bad about loving her?" Jack arched an eyebrow as he took another swig of his beer. "You had no problem with it before."

"Because...this will all be over in ten months. Ten months. I was with her before with no time frame in mind of how long we were going to be together. But if I fall for her and she gives me those divorce papers�it'll kill me, Jack."

"Or, you could fall for her, she could fall for you, and there's never any divorce."

"There will be a divorce. I would bet my life on it, Jack. She's going to serve me with divorce papers, and I'll be out of there."

"If that's what happens, you'll always be left wondering, Pacey. She could very easily love you back if you only tried."

"But what if she doesn't Jack? Then I get hurt again."

"So what? At least you tried, right?" He arched an eyebrow, "Can you really see yourself with anyone other than Joey?"

Pacey sighed, "Honestly?" he said looking at Jack, "No."

"So...then why not try?"

"I just...I don't want to get hurt again, Jack."

"Okay, this is the last I'm going to say about the subject." Jack put his bottle down, "You both have grown up and matured since high school. Don't pass up something great because of your history."

Pacey shook his head, "I'll keep my options open."

"That's all I'm saying." Jack sat back with a grin and looked over at Landon and winked at his boyfriend.

"Oh, go fuck him already," Pacey said shaking his head, laughing slightly.

"We don't fuck," Landon said, sliding onto Jack's lap with a laugh. "It's *making love*."

"Well...go do what you do and stop staring at one another, you're making me sick."

"I second that," Mike added, approaching the table, pool stick in hand.

Jack shook his head, "This coming from the two men who wouldn't get out of bed with their wives if they didn't make them."

Mike tilted his head to the side with a grin, "Point made. You up for a game of pool, Witter?"

Pacey sat back in his chair, "Nah. I think I'm gonna go home. You know, don't want Joey throwing things at me for coming in late."

"You are so whipped," Jack teased.

"You're one to talk."

"Touch�," he waved a hand to Pacey. "Have a goodnight."

"You too. Later," he said as he stood and removed his jacket from the back of the chair.

"I should head home too then," Mike grabbed his coat as well, and tossed some bills on the table to pay for their bill. "Leave these two to make out."

Pacey smirked, "And I'm sure they will."

Jack hit Pacey on the arm, "Shut up."

"'Night guys," Landon waved a hand and then turned to Jack, pulling him into a kiss.

Pacey climbed into the car and sighed. As he pulled out of the parking lot his mind went back to what Jack had said. Basically, he needed to keep his heart open to the idea, that it could be possible to fall in love with her. He shook his head as he sat at a red light at the idea that it may not be far away from happening. He really cared about her. He liked being with her. He liked having her there when he woke up, he liked her being there when he went to sleep. He loved the sex. He sighed, knowing that it was just going to hurt him in the end to have her serve him with divorce papers.

If he fell for her, he wouldn't be able to deal with her asking him to leave. He just wouldn't be able to deal with the fallout of that happening. It would kill him. It was going to bad enough as it was to move out and away from her, but if he was in love with her, there would be no repairing his heart.

He pulled into the drive way and noticed all the lights were off but the one in the living room. He pocketed his keys as he got out of the car and walked up the steps. He opened the door and found Joey laying on the couch watching television. "Hey," he said with a smile.

Joey sat up with a soft smile and used the controller to turn the TV off. "Hey, how was your night?"

Pacey sighed, "It was good. How about yours," he asked as he removed his jacket.

"Jen and I went shopping," she stood up with a grin, stretching her arms over her head. "How do you think it went?"

"I'm assuming since you love shopping you had a great night."

"The best." She nodded, "I bought some things for Rebecca."

"That�s the name of the day?" Pacey smiled, walked over to her, "Good. I'm sure she'll be thankful. So...you ready to hit the sack or what?"

She licked her lips, gazing up at him as she circled her arms around his neck, "Is sex all you think about?"

"Actually, I was talking about sleep. I guess we know where your mind is."

She shrugged a shoulder, "If you don't want to, that's okay. Hmm, what do you think of Rebecca. It sounded good to be me this morning, but now I'm having second thoughts. Maybe we should go back to Dillan?"

Pacey put his hands on her hips, "I didn't say no to sex. I'm just saying we know who thinks about it more now. And I honestly like Dillan more."

"I do not think about sex that often," she protested, sliding her hands into the back pockets of his jeans. "I just think about you all the time."

He sighed, "Why? I'm not that good am I?" he asked with a smirk.

"You're so-so in the sack," she said with a faint smile.

He smiled, "Only so-so? Well, I can live with that."

"I knew you would," she stood on her tip toes and pressed a kiss on his forehead. "I take it the guys wore you out?"

"Yeah," he gave her a tight hug, "they did."

"Let's put you to bed then, you big baby." She smiled up at him and led him down the hall.

He nodded, "Bed sounds good."

"But go brush your teeth first, sweetheart," she winked at him. "I can smell the beer."

He nodded and padded into the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, then walked into the bedroom. He yawned and nearly tripped over one of his shoes in the floor.

"Sleep in tomorrow, okay?" Joey asked him as she changed out of her clothes and into a nightgown. "I'll call in to work tomorrow and let them know. I don't think you're getting enough sleep."

He waved her off, "I'm fine," he said as he tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the floor. He then removed his jeans after kicking off both shoes. He climbed into bed beside her and rested his head on his pillow. "Although, I could use a day off."

"I don't want you to get sick, is all."

"What about you? You could use a day off."

"I'm taking four months off after the baby comes, I can tough it out 'till then." She tucked her hand under her pillow and turned on her side to face him, "Besides...I never get sick."







"Pacey..." Joey pouted, falling back onto her pillows two days later, "I'm sick."

He looked over at her and noticed she looked pale, "You certainly look sick." He put his hand on her forehead, "You have a fever."

"Tell me something I don't know." She folded her arms grumpily across her chest.

He sat up and smirked, "I thought you didn't get sick."

She narrowed her eyes at him, "I will hurd you." Her stuffy nose and scratchy throat distorted her words.

"You want me to get you anything?"

"Drugs. Ged me drugs."

He smiled, "I can do that." He crawled out of the bed and made his way to the bathroom. She heard him rummaging around and he finally reappeared with a glass of water and two Tylenol, "Take this, then call your doctor and get him to call you in a prescription and I'll go pick it up."

"I don't wanna." She shook her head, and then started to cough. "Can'd you jus' go to da store?"

He raised an eyebrow, "I can. You want anything else?"

"Sevend-Up."

He smiled, "Okay. I'll get you some Sevend-Up."

"Don't make fund of me," she glared at him, "I wond put out."

He smiled softly, "No offense, but I don't want you right now."

"Jus' go already." She turned her back to him, feeling ugly now, in addition to miserable.

He wrapped his arm around her from behind and kissed her on the side of the head, "I lied...I want you. Right now."

"You do nod."

"Do too."

"Nuh uh." She shook her head, feeling horribly stupid for the tears that stung behind her eyes.

"Joey...I do. I was kidding with you," he pulled her back against his body, "Don't you feel how much I want you?"

She sniffed, "You're a shick man if you're attracted to me like dis."

"I'm always attracted to you. But I understand that you're sick. You need rest, medicine, and fluids, not me telling you that I want you. Do you understand that? I didn't mean to hurt you when I said that."

"You weally wand me?" She turned around so she faced him, her eyes red and swollen, her nose stuffy and her face flushed.

"All the time. Even in the most inappropriate times, I want you."

"You're da best huthband ever." She sniffed again, her eyes welling.

He kissed her on the forehead, "I know. I'm going to get you some more medicine and some Seven-Up."

"A magathine too?" She asked hopefully.

He smiled, "Okay. A magazine too," he said pulling on his clothes. He checked his wallet for money and walked back over to her and kissed her on the top of her head, "Stay in here, you don't need to spread germs all over the house."

"Okay," she curled herself into a ball on the mattress and closed her eyes, attempting to go back to sleep. Pacey looked back at her one last time and walked out of the bedroom.

By the time he came back, Joey was in the kitchen, dressed and buttering a piece of toast. He shook his head, "You don't listen very well, do you?" he asked with a smile as he set the bag with her stuff in it on the counter.

"I couldn'd sleep," she explained. "Den I threw up."

"Ew. You made it to the bathroom, right?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "Barely."

He rubbed her back as he moved to stand beside her, "So now you're making toast. You want some Seven-Up?"

"Please." She took a bite of the toast and the swallowed, wincing as it scraped down her raw throat. "Whad else did you bring be?"

"I brought you some sinus medicine, and it's a good thing I bought some Pepto Bismal too. I got your Seven-Up...and Cosmo..."

"Cothmo?" She smiled at him, "How'd you know?"

"You have several on the coffee table."

"So? Doethn't mean you thould know I like Cothmo."

"Well, I've been paying attention," he said with a smile.

"Pertheptive of you." She smiled, and then began coughing until tears came to her eyes.

He rubbed her back and looked at her with concern, "Are you okay?" he led her to the couch and sat her down. He walked back into the kitchen, pulled out a cup and the Seven-Up and poured her a small glass. He grabbed her toast and walked back into the living room, "Drink this."

She nodded, and obediently took several sips, feeling the cold liquid slide down her scorching throat. "Thank you," her voice was raspy.

He nodded as he took a seat on the coffee table in front of her, "Look, I know you think you're super woman and everything, and I admire that, but why don't you just take it easy today. Let me take care of you, okay?"

"Don't--" she had to stop and clear her throat painfully. "Don't you have da be at work?"

"Beauty of being the boss. I can take off whenever I need or want to."

She blinked up at him, her eyes watery, "I hade being shick."

He cupped her face in his hands, "No one likes being sick. So, will you let me take care of you?"

"Alrighd," she nodded, her eyes falling closed.

He stood and pulled her to her feet slowly, "Come on, back to bed, I'll bring everything to you."

"Bud..."

"No...no buts. Into bed."

"You'll be bored," she warned him.

"I'll be fine. Go."

She started down the hall towards their room, "You should go ta work."

He smiled as he followed her into the bedroom, "Will you let me worry about me? Please?"

She sighed, and then sneezed. "I'll stop nagging ondly 'cause I'm shick."

She crawled into the bed and he pulled the blanket up around her after setting her Seven-Up and toast on the table beside her bed. "Stay in bed. The only reason you should get up is if you have to go to the bathroom. Understand?"

She nodded obediently, rubbing at her eyes. "Whad are you gonna do?"

He smiled, "Don't worry about me, okay? I have plenty to do around here."

"'Kay." She curled up on her side and snuggled into the pillow. Once he was reasonably sure she was half asleep, he slipped through the door to go make arrangements for someone to cover for him at work.






"Pathey?" Joey stuck her head out of the bedroom door much later that evening. Just like she promised to, she stayed in bed all day, leaving only once to use the bathroom. Combing her fingers through her messy hair she looked up and down the hall for him, "Payth?" His name dissolved into a fit of coughing.

He stuck his head out of the nursery and closed the door behind him as he met her in the hall, "Hey, what are you doing up?"

"Hungry," she said simply. "Whad were you doing in dere?"

"Nothing. So...you think you can keep food down? I can make you some soup," he said sticking his hands in his back pockets as he looked at her innocently.

"Soup would be good." She nodded, "Whad were you doing?"

"What?"

She pointed at the nursery, "Pathey."

He looked where she was pointing, "Oh, you mean in there? Nothing. Just thinking."

"In da nursery?" She arched a doubtful eyebrow.

"Yeah. It's quiet in there. Come on...go back to bed. I'll make you some soup." She tried to step around him and open the door. He moved in front of her, "Come on, Potter, go to bed. Remember what I said about only getting up to go to the bathroom?"

"I jusd wanna see."

"Wanna see what? All the boxes sitting around the room. It will only make you want to put everything in it's place and you aren't well enough to do that. So go back to bed."

"You did someding, I know you did."

"I honestly didn't do anything, Potter. You think I'm going to spend my day off doing work?"

She sighed and went back to the bedroom with a pout. "Fine."

He shook his head and knew the second he walked into the kitchen, she would be in that nursery. He sighed and headed for the kitchen, "Always depend on Joey to ruin her own surprise," he grumbled.

He was just about to pour the chicken noodle soup, minus the chunks of fake chicken that he knew she wouldn't eat, when she came into the kitchen. Wrapping her arms around his middle, she squeezed tightly, her face buried against his chest.

He smiled, "You just couldn't resist could you?"

She shook her head, "No." After counting to twenty, she'd snuck back into the hall and into the nursery, shocked to find that everything she'd purchased over the last two months was unpacked and put neatly away. The crib was in the corner, the sheet, bumpers and blankets neatly put inside. The changing table was beneath the window, the mobile she'd bought hanging over it, the diapers, powder and baby wipes on the shelf below. A book shelf full of toys and baby books was against the wall, next to the closet. In the other corner, the rocking chair sat, a blanket draped over the back, a stuffed teddy bear on the seat, just waiting for someone to come and use it. On the opposite wall, was the dresser, half-filled with folded baby clothes, several bags that still had clothes in them nearby. It was obviously what she'd interrupted him doing.

"So, you couldn't have just waited for me to come get you and show you when it was all finished."

"You know I don'd take surprises well," she mumbled into his shirt.

"I know." He kissed the top of her head, "I take it you like it."

"It's beautiful."

He smiled, "I'm glad you like it. Go back to bed now, please."

"I can't ead soup in bed." She told him, pulling away. "It'll spill."

He sighed, "Okay, go sit at the table then."

"Kay," she pressed a kiss to his chest, since she didn't want to get him sick, and headed to the living room, wrapping an afghan around her shoulders before sitting at the dining room table.

"So, was there anything you think should be moved?"

"No," she shook her head, giving him a weak smile as he put the soup in front of her. "It's perfect."

"Glad you think so. I would hate to hurt you."

"You couldn't hurd me," she shook her head, her eyes glimmering with amusement.

He smiled and kissed the top of her head, "Eat. I'm going to finish." She nodded, watching him go, a smile on her face despite the cold that was ravishing her body.