"How's your dinner?" Joey asked innocently across the kitchen table, while underneath she'd slipped off her high heels and ran her toe under the material of his jeans.

He raised an eyebrow, "Pretty good, how about yours?"

"I like it," she smiled at him, picking up one noodle from her spaghetti and sucking the long strand between her lips.

He smiled, "You better stop that...or I'm gonna throw you on this table..."

She licked the sauce from her lips with a pleased smile, "The doctor gave me a clean bill of health today."

"Oh really?" he asked with a smile.

"Yep," she nodded. "Strep throat is completely gone. One hundred percent erased from my system."

"Hmm, and you chose now to tell me this?"

"This is the first time I've seen you all day," she replied with a slow smile, twirling her noodles around the tines of her fork. She inserted the utensil into her mouth, and then slowly withdrew it, leaving the metal clean and shiny.

He smiled, "You know, eating is vastly over-rated."

She giggled, "God, you're easy. I think your hormones got stronger with age, not weaker."

He smiled, "No kidding."

Using her napkin, she wiped away the sauce that clung to the corner of her mouth, and then pushed her plate away. "I guess it's time to tame the savage beast."

Pacey smiled, "Oh, is that what we're calling it now?"

Pushing out of her chair, she walked around the table, her high heels clicking on the floor as she watched him push his chair away from the table. "Honey, we can call it whatever you want," she slid onto his lap, one arm around his neck and crossed her legs demurely, the skirt of her business suit riding up her legs slightly.

He moved his plate out of the way and stood, sliding her onto the table. He placed his hands beside her hips, "Let's stop talking now."

"Impatient, are we?" She asked with a delicately arched eyebrow.

"Shut up," he said as he pressed his lips against her neck.

"Don't I deserve a..." she lost track of her thoughts, arching her neck to give him better access to the baby soft skin. "A...um..."

"Deserve a what?" he asked as his hands moved up to her blouse and began unbuttoning it. He removed it to reveal her pale blue bra.

"Bed...soft surface..." she cupped his cheeks and drew his mouth back to hers. "I want to go slow," she murmured against his lips, slipping her tongue into his inviting mouth.

"There is no slow after a week, Jo."

"It's only been a week?" She slid her hands under his shirt, gliding over the smooth planes of his chest. "Feels like months."

"I know..." Pacey unhooked her bra and pulled it off her. He bit lightly on her nipple, "I need you naked. Now."

She cried out, her nail's scraping over his skin as she lifted his shirt over his head. "You first."

He pulled on her skirt as she raised her hips to allow him to remove it. He tugged on her panties and she sat in front of him completely naked. He moved his lips over her shoulder down to her breasts. He felt her rub her hand against the bulge in his pants and groaned as she cupped him. She unzipped his pants and pushed them off his hips. "God," he groaned as she gripped him in her hand.

Smiling up at him, she continued to stroke his shaft slowly, lightly squeezing him at the base before smoothing her hand along his length. "Talk to me, Pacey," she murmured, "Tell me what you want."

"I want to be inside of you," he said as he gripped her hips.

She tightened her hold on him, "More."

"I want you screaming as I make love to you." He groaned, "Can I just be inside of you now?"

She laughed throatily and guided him toward her, leaning her elbows back on the table. Gasping as he entered her, her head fell back, the ends of her hair touching the table.

Pacey thrusted inside her and braced both hands on the table, "Joey..."

The phone began ringing.

"Oh God..." she squeezed her eyes shut. "Machine...God, yes...let the machine get it."

Pacey rubbed a hand over her stomach, then moved up to cup her breast. The machine buzzed into the room, "Joey...Pacey, this is John. Robin's gone into labor. We're at the hospital now. I thought I would call and tell you guys. The doctor said it might be a few hours. I gotta get back to Robin, see you guys when you get here."

It was a few second's before John's message penetrated the haze of desire. "Pacey," she pushed at his shoulders trying to sit up. "Pacey! The baby...the baby's coming," she tried to explain breathlessly.

He sighed, "But he said it could be hours..." he said trying to kiss her.

She turned her face away, "We have to get to the hospital."

He sighed as she climbed off the table and began gathering her clothes, "Jo..." he whined.

"The baby." She grinned, ignoring him as she fastened her bra, "I'm going to have a baby!"

He nodded, "Yes you are. In a few hours. Can't we finish what we started?" he asked as he watched her pull on her panties followed by her skirt.

"How can you think of sex at a time like this?" She brushed her hair back behind her ears, scanning the floor for her blouse. "God, I hope everything's okay, she's not supposed to be due for another two weeks."

He sighed, "I'm sure everything's fine...and how can you even ask me how can I think of sex at a time like this. Look at me. I'm hard as a fucking rock."

She glanced at him, feeling a tug at the pit of her stomach, "Hmm...that you are..."

He threw his hands up, "I'm going to the bathroom. Don't leave without me," he said, slightly irritated.

"No, don't do that." She reached for his hand, "Can you drive okay if I'm giving you a blow job?"

He shook his head, "Honestly, no."

Giving him a long kiss, she smiled softly, "Then we'll have to do it when we get there. Get dressed."

He sighed, "You aren't helping the problem any."

"I promise I'll help at the hospital." She moved away from him and started to gather his clothes. "The doctor promised us a private waiting room, remember?"

He nodded, "Oh yeah, I can see it now. In the middle of us getting busy, John busts in to tell us that Robin's dilated 10 centimeters."

"I could always leave you here," she reminded him, pulling his shirt down over his head, since he wasn't willing to do it himself.

He sighed, "Fine," he said brushing her hands away as she tried to help him with his boxers, "Don't touch me or you're back on that table."

She withdrew her hands and started for the living room, "Let me get my things. I'll meet you in the car."

He grumbled, "I can't believe it. First time in a week...and Robin goes into labor..."





"She's dilated to four, so we're looking for it to be a few hours yet. Everything else is going just fine, her heart rate's normal, the baby's is normal."

"Okay," Joey nodded, listening to the nurse explain what was going on. "But she went into labor early...are you sure that everything's okay?"

"Yes," the nurse smiled, "This happens all the time. Sometimes the baby just decides to come early, there's really no way of telling. They've been known to stay in there for weeks."

Robin sighed, "Thank God she didn't."

"We have a special waiting room for you, I was told the doctor had promised it to you?" The nurse gestured to the door, "It's right across the hall here. "I know you're probably want to stay here, but there really isn't anything to do, and we like to keep as few people in the delivery rooms as possible."

Pacey nodded, "No problem," he said taking Joey's hand and walking into the room immediately.

She giggled, letting him lead her inside. Glancing around the tiny room, she noticed a couch along one wall and two very uncomfortable looking chairs along the other, a table and stack of old magazines between them. "Charming little place, isn't it?"

"Stop talking and take off your clothes," he said as he pulled his shirt over his head.

She laughed, and backed towards the door, "Down, Tiger." Unfortunately, there was no lock on the door, and so she moved to the window that looked out into the busy hallway and pulled on the blind, effectively giving them at least some privacy.

"What about �get naked� don't you understand?" he asked moving to her and pressing her against the door.

"Pacey," she tried to push him away, unable to keep the smile from her face. "We have to be quiet."

"I can be quiet," he said as he reached beneath her skirt and pushed her panties off her hips. He unbuckled his pants and hoisted her against the door. He slipped inside her, "The question is...can you be quiet."

"Ohhhh...." she bit down on her lip. "Pacey....not--not against the door."

"Why? It stops people from coming in," he said against her neck.

Her nails scraped over the nape of his neck, and she bit back a moan. "It rattles."

"So?" he said nibbling on her collarbone.

"Someone...oh, Pacey," she groaned, rocking her hips forward, trying to take him deeper. "Someone...will...investigate..."

"Let them, I'll kick someone's ass..." he said as one hand cupped her breast.

Tightening her legs around him, she caught his lips with hers, her tongue sliding into his mouth and stroking his. He sped up his rhythm as he felt himself getting closer. He groaned softly as she threw her head back against the door.

"Pacey..." she moaned his name, arching her body closer to his as best she could, her nails running over his back.

He rested his head against her shoulder as he grew closer to his orgasm. When she came, she bit down on her lip to keep from screaming. He felt her walls close around him and he groaned as they triggered his own orgasm.

She held him close as her body melted, "Feel better?"

He kissed her, then pulled away slowly, "Much."

"Good," she let her legs fall to the floor, and she nearly stumbled.

She reached for her panties and pulled them back on as he quickly got dressed. Once she was dressed, looking slightly more rumpled, she sat on the couch. Patting the spot beside her with a small smile and he joined her.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. He kissed the side of her head, "How are you feeling?"

"Ecstatic." She turned her head and grinned at him, giving him a quick kiss. "I'm going to have a baby."

"Yeah, you are. A little baby girl...that still technically doesn't have a name."

She groaned, resting her head against his shoulder, "Don't remind me."

"So...wanna think of one now?"

"I still kinda like Dillan," she frowned, "But it doesn't really jump out at me."

"Okay. What about...Sarah?"

"Too common."

"Tootsie?"

She laughed, "As in Tootsie Pop?"

"As in from the Facts of Life."

She arched an eyebrow, "You used to watch Facts of Life?"

"Of course. I had a huge crush on Jo."

She stuck her tongue out at him, "I'm not naming her for a character on a TV show." She rested her hand on his leg, smoothing her fingers along the inseam of his jeans, "Brianna?"

"Eh...sounds too formal. What about...Tess?"

"I like Tessa better."

"Tessa? As in Contessa?"

"As in what?"

"Contessa...I heard it in a movie. Too snooty."

"What if I just name her Tessa? Hmm, or Morgan. I still like Emma, too."

"Emma I like."

"Well," she tilted her head, "What about Bryn?"

"Bryn? I thought we liked Emma? Why do you pass by the ones we like?"

"Well," she shrugged a shoulder, "I can't decide between them. It's gotta be the perfect name, Pacey. Once I decide...it's permanent. It's gotta be right for her."

"Okay."

"Hailey, maybe?"

"Hailey? Sounds a little prissy."

"Mia?"

"Momma Mia," he said with a smile.

She giggled, "So that's a no on Mia."

"Yeah."

"Sierra?"

"Desert."

She laughed again. "That's Sahara. I kinda like the sound of Sierra Witter."

"I thought it was Potter," he said looking at her.

She turned her eyes to him, "Would you mind if I let her keep your name?"

He smiled slowly, "I have no problem with that."

Leaning forward, she pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Thank you."

He sighed, "Okay, can you think of any other names?"

"Madison?"

"Madison? Madison?"

She smirked, "I don't like it either."

He chuckled, "Then why mention it?"

"It popped into my head."

"Okay...what about...Sharone?"

She arched an eye brow, "Pass on that one. Kira?"

"Uh...no. Tanya."

"Crystal?"

"Clear."

"Danielle?"

"Eh. I once dated a girl named Danielle�so no."

She laughed, "Melissa?"

"I slept with a girl named Mel. No."

Joey made a face, "I remember her."

"Yeah...so next."

"Sage?"

"Sage? Isn't that a spice?"

"Uh huh." She grinned, "Ginger? Rosemary? Paprika?"

"Uh..no, no, and hell no."

"Shea?"

"Shea? I don't think so."

"So...to recap, we have: Emma, Dillan and Morgan, right?"

"Yeah."

She looked thoughtfully across the room, "They just don't feel right."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "We�ll think of something."

"Before she graduates college?"

"I promise, she won't go through life being known as Baby Witter."

"Vanessa?" She asked hopefully.

"Look...wait until you see the baby. I have confidence that you will know the name of your baby when you see her, okay?"

"What? Like it'll magically come to me?"

"Yeah...something like that."

"Hmm, mother's intuition and all that..."

"Exactly"

"What if I don't have it?" She whispered after a moment.

"Then we put our favorites in a hat and draw one."

"Well, that might work for names. But what about the rest? I'm not her real mother. How will I know if she lies? Or what if she gets hurt and I don't know what to do?"

He took a deep breath, "You'll know. Because even if you don't have her, raising her makes you her mother. She'll turn to you when she cries. She'll come to you when she wants to talk about boys. She'll call you Mommy. You will be her mother, Jo. And you will know what to do. I believe that with everything inside of me."

She circled an arm around his waist and hugged him, "Don't you ever get tired of reassuring me?"

"It's a tough job but someone's got to do it."

"I'm sorry I've been such a pain."

"You've been fine. Stop worrying."

"I have not." She shook her head, "I'm a complete bitch and I take advantage of you all the time. You've been wonderful through all this."

"Well, I'm wonderful, what do you expect?""

She curved a hand behind his neck, and pulled his lips down to hers. "You really are."

He kissed her again, "You know...we can always do what we did against the door again."

Smiling, she brushed her lips over his, "We'd get caught for sure this time."

"Wouldn't it be worth it though?" he asked with a smile.

"It feels kinda dirty," she wrinkled her nose. "We have a baby getting ready to enter the world, and we're over here...trying to make another one."

He shrugged, "I have no problem with that."

"I suppose....just one more time wouldn't hurt." She trailed her fingers over his inner thigh. "The baby's probably still hours away."

Pacey leaned forward and kissed her hungrily. The door to the room swung open and Pacey looked over his shoulder at John who stood in the doorway, "She's at ten, they�re taking her to delivery."

"Oh God," Joey broke away, jumping up from the couch excitedly. "Really? So soon?"

John nodded, "She's going now. Robin told me to come get you."

Joey glanced nervously at Pacey, panic in her eyes, "She's...she's really coming."

"Go on. Go watch your daughter come into this world," he said pushing her lightly towards the door.

"I wish they'd let you come in too," she sighed wistfully, starting towards the door with John.

"I'll be fine. Go."

She nodded, "Let's go."

Pacey sat back on the couch and smiled as he watched the door close behind John and Joey. He hadn't seen her that happy or nervous in a very long time. It was good to see her smile. He leaned his head back against the back of the couch and stared at the ceiling for no telling how long. He thought about how things would change once the baby was in the house with them. Their sex life would definitely plumit, their lives would become centered around this little person who depended on them for everything.

He shook his head. He needed to get out of this 'we' and 'our' frame of thinking. The baby wasn't going to be his really. It was hers. Her baby. Her life. He was just temporary. He leaned forward and put his head in his hands. Jack's words still haunted him. He knew it would hurt him to leave. But it was what Joey wanted. He had to give her what she wanted. He couldn't deny her anything. He groaned when he realized that he was getting too close to the point of no return. He'd told Jack he'd gotten used to being with Joey, but that was only part of it. He liked being with her. He liked her waiting up for him when he'd come in late, he liked talking to her while she was in the shower and he was shaving at the sink. He enjoyed her company.

It was going to kill him to leave. He didn't know if he could keep his promise. If she asked him to stay at the end of the ten months, he wasn't sure he could really walk away. He wasn't sure he even wanted to.

Twenty long minutes later, Joey came bursting into the room, her eyes moist and a bright smile stretching over her face.

"She here?" Pacey asked as he stood and smiled.

She nodded, biting her lip and gave him a tight hug. "She's so beautiful Pacey. And small. I've never see anything so small."

"How much does she weigh."

"Six pounds, seven ounces," She replied, tears gathering in her lashes. "I'm a mommy."

He hugged her again, "You're a mommy."

She pulled away from him, wiping at her eyes, "They're cleaning her up now and the doctor is checking her vitals. Robin's doing great." Joey grinned again, unable to help it. "I'm supposed to take you down to the nursery so we can hold her."

"Well, let's go then."

She took his hand and led him out of the little room. The nusery was at the end of the hall and to the right, she paused at the window looking in on all the babies. "She isn't in there yet," she explained to Pacey as they entered the room beside the nursery. After a quick talk with one of the nurses, they were led to a private room, painted a soft baby blue, with a rocking chair and two regular ones.

Pacey looked around, "So what is this place?"

"It's a visitation room," the nurse answered. "We use it from time to time for the fathers or other members of the family. Your daughter should be here in a few minutes. If you have an questions, someone will be right outside the door."

"Thank you," Joey smiled at her and sat down in one of the chairs.

"So...she's beautiful, huh?"

"Oh yeah," Joey nodded with a grin, "A little red and scrunchie, but beautiful."

Pacey sat beside her, "She'll grow out of the red and scrunchie."

She leaned against him, taking his hand in hers and played with his wedding ring. "Thank you," she sniffed, tears gathering in her eyes. "You made this possible."

He brought her hand to his mouth, "It's no problem."

She started to cry, "I love you for this, Pace."

He looked at her, a little shocked by what she'd just said, "Yeah...well...honestly, it's been a pleasure so far, Jo."

She smiled, and started to dry her tears with the sleave of her shirt. "I'm sorry, I'm just an emotional wreck right now." She giggled, her eyes continuing to water. "But I know I can never repay you, you've made me so happy."

He stood up and shoved his hands into his pockets, "I'm ready to see this kid." He looked at Joey and felt his heart melt at the sight of her staring up at him with the brightest smile and watery eyes. "I'm glad you're happy, Jo."

Joey bit back another grin, as a knock sounded on the door and a nurse entered, a bundle of blankets in her arm. "I've got Baby Witter here, and she's eager to meet her parents." The same nurse from before looked between them. "Who want's her first? Daddy?"

Pacey looked over at Joey, "Let her hold her first," he said with a smile.

"I've already held her," Joey smiled, "You take her."

The nurse gestured to the rocking chair and Pacey sat down, looking decidedly nervous. The nurse set the baby in his arms, making sure that his arm supported her head. He looked down at the little person cradled against his chest and felt things inside of him warm up in a way he'd never felt before. He looked at her head, covered by a little cap, her little face was red and splochie as Joey had said. Her eyes were closed as she slept softly in his arms. He let out a breath he wasn't aware he'd been holding in.

The nurse smiled softly and made a discreet exit, while Joey looked on with soft eyes. "Hope," she whispered.

He looked up at her, "What?"

"Her name," Joey explained softly, watching them together as tears prickled yet again in her eyes, "It's going to be Hope."

"Hope Witter?" He asked looking down at the baby in his arms and smiled. "It works."

Joey stood up and knelt on the floor beside the rocking chair, looking into Hope's face. "And if she doesn't like it, she can go by her middle name."

"Which is?"

"Dillan." She smiled up at him.

He smiled, "Hope Dillan Witter. I think we did much better than our parents."

She nodded and gave him a quick kiss before turning back to the baby, tracing the curve of her pink cheek with the tip of her finger.