Pacey opened the front door for Joey as she carried Hope into the house for the first time. The baby was sleeping softly in her arms, not even removing her from her car seat had stirred her. Joey walked into the living room and took a seat in the corner of the couch as Pacey took the diaper bag into the nursery. He walked back out and found Joey staring at her little fingers. "Tiny aren't they?"

She glanced up at him and blushed, "Amazingly so. I can't get over how cute she is."

He smiled, "She is cute."

"I need a camera." She said abruptly, "And lots and lots of film."

He chuckled, "For what, exactly? To get pictures of her sleeping?"

She nodded with a soft smile. "She wakes up sometimes."

He sat beside her, "I suppose she does. So, did the nurse happen to tell you if she sleeps through the night?"

"She's seven days old, Pacey."

"So...Carrie's oldest slept through the night."

"Carrie's oldest was a mutant then," she leaned her head against Pacey's shoulder.

"Well, I completely agree with that. That little girl is crazy."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek, "It'll be a month or two before she makes it through the night."

"Well...that's fine."

She smirked up at him, "You should probably get reaquainted with your hand, Pace. I'm sorry to say, but sex is the last thing on my mind."

He looked at her oddly, "Who said anything about sex?"

"I assumed that's what this conversation was about."

"What conversation? I just asked if she was going to sleep."

"Okay, then I'm sorry."

"But now that we're on the topic...let's talk about it. Cause you know, you are always more concerned with my sex life than I am."

She giggled, and gazed down at Hope, "Well, your sex life is so very important to me."

"And why is that," he asked as he looked at her, then the baby.

"I'm your wife."

"Mmmhmm. See, this is what I think. You are just as worried about your sex life as you are about mine, considering that the two things are linked together."

Joey smiled down at Hope, who was slowly waking up, "I think your Daddy's being silly."

"I think your Mommy is in denial."

"Maybe we shouldn't be talking about sex in front of her."

"She's a week old. I don't think she knows what the word means."

"Baby's are like sponges. They absorb everything. Don't you, sweetie?"

Pacey smiled and rubbed Joey's head, "You're so cute."

"Me?" She smiled cluelessly at him.

"Yeah you. I don't think I've seen you smile like this since...honestly I don't ever remember you smiling like this."

"Oh, kiss me already, you big goon."

He smirked, "You know, I'm not so sure that's a good idea to do that in front of the baby."

"No...it's good. Remember, children should be exposed to lots of affection."

He laughed, "Well then," he tilted her chin towards his face and kissed her softly. He closed his eyes and reveled in the feel of her lips against his. The baby whimpered lightly and they both looked down at her little hands balled up beside her head. "See, she's not happy with us doing that."

Joey smiled at him, "She's just hungry. Or wet." She passed soothing fingers over Hope's forehead. "At this stage, there are pretty much only three things she wants. Food, diapers or sleep."

"Hey, that's close to what men want. Food, sleep and sex...and NOT in that order."

"I figured as much." She said with a roll of her eyes, "You and Daddy have a lot in common, little one." Hope gave another quiet cry, her lungs still not completely developed. "Alrighty," she said soothingly, "Let's figure out what it is you want."

Pacey watched as Joey stood with Hope in her arms and started back towards the nursery. He sighed and leaned his head back against the couch. Every time she used the word 'Daddy' it secretly killed him inside. He was a limited time 'Daddy'. He only had around ten months with both of them. He was already attatched to the baby. He'd held her and fed her. He enjoyed just looking at her. He was already in love with her and he'd only met her a week ago. He heard Joey walk back into the living room and looked at her, "Find the problem?"

"Diaper." She walked back to the couch and handed Hope to Pacey. "She's going to be hungry soon though, so I'm going to make her a bottle. You want some lunch?"

He looked down at the baby in his arms, "Nah, I'm good."

"Okay," she gave him a kiss on the forehead and headed for the kitchen. "But I'm going to make some grilled cheese, just let me know if you change your mind."

"Will do," she looked up at him with blue eyes, her little tongue peaking out between her lips and he smiled. "Hey, Princess," he said softy.

Hope yawned in response, her mouth opening wide as she flexed her fingers.

He shook his head, "How can I love you so much and we've only just met? Huh? Explain it to me," he said softly. He looked over his shoulder and saw Joey moving around in the kitchen, "I don't want you getting too attatched to me now. I'm not going to be here all that long, but I would like to be. I'd like to see you crawl, walk, talk, graduate from college," he said with a smile. She caught his finger in his little hand and felt a piece of his heart go to her and only her. He kissed her softly on the head, "I love you, Hope. Your Mommy too, but she doesn't know that, so mums the word."

Joey smiled softly to herself as she moved around the kitchen, buttering bread, putting it on the pan, cutting cheese. She was happy. So blissfully, completely, one hundred percent happy, she couldn't fully comprehend it. Everything she never thought she'd have was sitting in the next room. She was a mom now. And she had a husband who...

But she didn't have a husband, not really. She jumped as the microwave went off and she turned to get the bottle, carefully checking the temperture of the formula the hospital had given her. Pacey was her husband in every way except the one that mattered most, the slept together, ate together, lived and laughed and played together...he was taking care of her baby that very second. But he didn't love her and he wasn't going to stay.

She steeled herself against the ache in her stomach, but that was how she wanted it. She didn't want a husband again, not since Samuel and taken her heart and viciously ripped it out....even if that husband was Pacey.

"Uh...Jo," Pacey called from the other room, "She's getting fussy, you have that bottle ready?"

She jumped and then checked the temperature on the bottle again. "Yeah. It's ready." She carried it in to him and sat down on the couch beside them.

Hope took the bottle happily as Pacey watched her closely. He looked up at Joey and smiled, "You already eat?"

"No," she curled up beside him, watching her daughter have her first meal at home.

"You're not tired are you?" he asked looking back at the baby.

"No."

"Good."

She reached around him and brushed her fingers over the sparce blond hairs on Hope's head, "I just feel like bonding."

"You want to hold her?" he asked looking over at her.

"No, you can keep her." She looked up and offered him a smile, "For a little while."

He chuckled softly, "Oh how kind of you."

She kissed his neck lightly, "It's almost like we're a real family."

He smiled sadly, "Yeah. Almost."