"Too expensive," Joey shook her head, vetoing a lacy white dress that cut away at the thigh and tapered off in the back. "And too ugly." She and Jen were browsing the racks at a bridal store two weeks later, trying to find the perfect wedding dress for Joey, and a bridesmaid dress for Jen.

Jen smirked, "You're being too picky."

"I refuse to spend more than a hundred dollars on a wedding dress. One-fifty at most." She moved through the racks, coming back to a simple silk dress with capped sleeves and beautifully dipped collar that hinted a seduction. It was also $600 dollars. She didn't even dare try it on. "Maybe I should just wear the one from my first marriage?"

Jen shook her head, "That would be insulting Pacey. Look, just...splurge, okay? Enjoy this wedding and marriage while it lasts."

She shook her head, "If I start to play like this is all real, then I'm just going to disappoint myself."

Jen sighed, "I see your point. But what's the harm in having a little fun with it?"

"I am having fun, it's just...I don't want to give him the wrong idea." She shook her head, fingering the soft silk of her dream dress. "Not that he would or anything."

Jen smiled, "You never know. Maybe it would be giving him the right idea."

She shot Jen a speculative look, "If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting, I may have to smack you upside the head."

Jen smiled, "No smacking. I'm just saying..."

"I know what you're saying. And I'm telling you it's a bad idea."

Jen shrugged and looked at the dress Joey was staring at, "What about the dress in your hands?"

"Too much." She let the material fall from her fingers. "I want to get Pacey a nice ring, which means I have to skimp on the dress."

Jen shook her head, "How much is too much?"

"Six-hundred is too much."

Jen's eyes widened, "Okay, why are we looking on this rack. The clearance rack is over there."







"What do you think?" Jack turned a circle in front of a three-way mirror, holding his arms out as he turned. "Do I look sexy in black, or what?"

Pacey shook his head, "I'm not answering that question."

"I will," the sales lady appeared at his side, smoothing out the lines of the jacket. "We'll probably need to take in the arms a little. But really, this suit was made for you, Mr. McPhee."

Pacey smiled, "What about me? How do I look?" Pacey asked as he adjusted the collar of the shirt.

"Like a man about to sign his life away?" Jack suggested.

Pacey cut his eyes at Jack, "Shut up."

"But see," Jack perked up, "You're getting off easy. You're only signing away a year of your life."

Pacey nodded, "Yeah. But if you think living with Potter is going to be easy, you obviously don't know the same Joey I do."

"Oh, please. That woman's going to treat you like you hung the moon." He tugged on the ends of his sleeves. "Which is what you deserve considering what you're doing for her."

Pacey shook his head, "Let's face facts here, you would have done it if she had asked you. I...I don't want any special treatment from her."

"Yeah," Jack nodded. "I would have if it weren't for Landon. But it's different for me than it is for you. One, I'm gay. And two, I don't have the history you do with her."

Pacey sighed, "And man, is there a history." He brushed down the front of his jacket, "Does this look okay?"

"You look very dashing." Jack nodded.

Pacey raised an eyebrow, "I know it's hard, but try to remember that I'm off limits."

Jack rolled his eyes, "You're so totally not my type." He ran his eyes over Pacey. "Too beefy for me. I like my men lean."

Pacey shook his head, "I don't know whether to be offended or happy about that." He reached his hands into the jacket pockets, then looked at the price of the suit, "If Joey finds out how much money I'm gonna spend on her ring, she'll have a shit fit."

"Is she really that bad?" Jack arched an eyebrow.

Pacey groaned, "You have no idea. The woman doesn't want me buying food, paying for rent or anything. Too bad for her I'm more stubborn than she is."

Jack laughed, "The marriage from hell." He shook his head and smiled at his reflection before unbuttoning the jacket. "Are you going to fuck her?"

Pacey's eyes went wide, " What!?"

"That's the reaction I was going for," Jack chuckled. "You heard me."

Pacey shook his head, "No. I'm not going to 'fuck her' as you put it."

"What about...making sweet love to her?" he added with a grin.

Pacey shook his head, "Jack, I hate you sometimes."

"That's not an answer, Witter." He singsonged, moving into the dressing room to finish removing his suit.

Pacey sighed, "No. I'm not going to 'make sweet love to her' either. I'm doing this as a favor to her. So shut up."

"Something tells me that making Joey Potter your wife is not going to be simply a favor." Jack sighed from inside the dressing room. "This isn't as simple as you two are trying to make it."

Pacey sighed, "It is, Jack. Joey and I have been nothing but friends going on...nine years now. It's me helping her out. I'll sleep in a different room...it's not like I'm sharing her bed."

"Then why spend so much a ring?"

He sighed, "I feel bad that her last marriage ended because he was an asshole. I want her to realize that some guys aren't all that bad. Even if they are me."

Jack chuckled, "So you're single-handedly trying to restore her faith in the male species?"

He grinned, "Who worse, right? I know I'm...this man-whore to all of you. But when it really matters I'm there, right?"

"There's no question about that, Pace," Jack agreed, pulling his pants on. "You've proven your friendship time and again. And you're proving it now in the most selfless way possible."

Pacey smiled, "I only want to help her, you know. If it wasn't for her, I'm not so sure I would have passed high school."

"A passing grade and becoming her husband are not one in the same, Pace." He sighed, "But, like you said, I'd have done it too."

Pacey sighed, "I know they're not the same. But...she helped give me a reason to go on back then. I mean, just when I lost all hope, she showed up and...she made me a better man."

"Wait a minute while I wipe away a tear," Jack sniffed comically.

He shook his head, "You know, people have always said I was an ass. But if people really get to know you, they realize that you are so much worse than I am."

Jack chuckled, "I'm just giving you a hard time. I know how much you mean to each other. That's what has me worried."

"Well, don't worry. We're know what we're doing. Believe me. I thought about every possibility the night she asked me, and I want to do this for her."

Jack nodded, "I know you do. And I'm sure it'll work out for the best."

Pacey nodded, "Yep. Now, wanna help me pick out her wedding ring?"

"I'm at your service," Jack said with a smile.






Jen leaned against the wall as Joey tried on the dress behind the curtain, "Are you going to have sex with Pacey?"

Joey dropped the lacy skirt of the dress and it pooled around her feet. "Excuse me?" She screeched.

"You heard me. Are you going to have sex with Pacey? I have a lot of euphemisms, if that would help you with the meaning."

"I really couldn't have heard you correctly," Joey protested. "'Cause it sounded like you asked if Pacey and I were going to have sex. And now, I can't think of a single reason why'd you ever want to know that. Let alone think to ask me about it. So, I really must have heard you wrong."

Jen sighed, "You didn't. I'm just wondering, you know? You and Pacey playing happily married, the way you two like to fight and pick on one another, he's gonna be living with you. And in that year, you won't be getting any unless it's from Pacey. So, I'm just wondering if you plan on having sex with Pacey."

"Nope," she shook her head, even though Jen couldn't see her. "Pacey's going to keep seeing his women, and I've managed to survive not having sex ever since Samuel found out I was infertile, it really hasn't been that difficult."

Jen smiled, "You know, I think you're kidding yourself. Think about it. Pacey would probably feel guilty about the other women thing. You may never hear or see him with one while he's with you. And this is Pacey we're talking about. You know, the guy who's one fine male specimen. You'll be playing house with him. Looking at him every day, possibly walking in on him while he's in the shower, or shaving, or half dressed sitting on the couch watching television. Sexual frustration will run rampant in that house. And maybe not just from your side. Even if he does decide to date other women, he would only be replacing the woman who's really driving him crazy."

Joey glared at the back of the dressing room door. "You've been reading romance novels again, haven't you?"

Jen rolled her eyes, "No...I'm looking at this from the angle you aren't. The you-getting-some angle. It's not a bad thing if you find him attractive...we all know you do. But just...don't be in denial about it, okay? It will only cause more problems."

"Okay, Jen. Let me propose something to you. Suppose, by some strange hormonal glitch, I do find him attractive. And we do have sex. What then? Do you think we get some story book happy ending?"

Jen shrugged as a small smile tugged at her lips, "You already sailed off into the sunset once. This time, it might end better than the last."

"Pacey has no intention of settling down into family life, Jen, least of all with me. He's quite happy in his apartment screwing all the beautiful women that pass his way. I'm not going to fool myself into thinking otherwise."

Jen shook her head, "You're not serious are you? Do you remember your relationship with Pacey at all? I mean...things were different with you two. He was never the same way with Audrey that he was with you. He never looked at another woman with you, he nearly cheated on her. Things have always been different where the two of you are concerned. He would move hell and high water for you and never know why. He thinks the world of you, Joey. He always has. I...you know, never mind."

"No...what were you going to say?" Joey asked softly, pulling the dress up and sliding her arms through the sleeves.

"Maybe if he thought he had the chance to finally...be with you...this might last a lot longer than a year. But you know, you won't listen to me. What do I know, right?"

"No way, Jen." Joey shook her head vehemently. "First of all, when I asked him about this, I promised him he could see other women. If I started to give him any indication that I wanted something more permanent, he'd be running out of my house faster that Speedy Gonzalas. Second of all, I don't want a man in my life. I've been hurt too many God damned times."

"Then maybe it's about time that you let the right man make you happy. Look, all I'm saying is...enjoy this marriage."

"I plan on it. I love Pacey, he's one of my best friends and we get along great. But I'm not going to sleep with him. Ever."

Jen shook her head, "You just jinxed yourself."

"What?" Joey gave an exasperated sigh and opened the door, turning her back to Jen. "Button please?"

"Oh nothing," Jen said smiling and began doing up the buttons along her spine. "So, are you two going to have a honeymoon?"

"We haven't talked about it. Every time I try to broach the subject Pacey thinks of something else he needs to be doing that very second."

Jen furrowed her brow, "He's avoiding the topic? That's very un-Pacey like."

"No, it's very Pacey like when he's trying to hide something."

Jen nodded, "Good point. I wonder what he has up his sleeve."

"Something devious, no doubt." She shook her head, "We'll probably end up in Disneyworld or something."

Jen smiled, "He likes to keep you on your toes." She finished with the buttons, "All done."

"Okay," Joey turned and took several steps back, "What do you think?"

Jen smiled, "You look beautiful."

Joey made a face, and turned to look in the mirror, "It's passable."

"Passable? Are you crazy? You look wonderful. Every jaw will drop when they see you." Joey smiled slightly, "Speaking of jaws dropping, did Pacey tell his parents?"

"God, yes." She groaned, "They were so thrilled they felt the need to call me themselves and thank me for making an honest man out of their son."

Jen laughed, "Well, they always did like you."

"I got the feeling they were willing to take any female into the family fold as long as they were going to get grandchildren out of it. Little do they know."

Jen smirked, "That's part of the deal. The main reason for the deal." She sighed, "They'll be crushed when you guys divorce."

"Maybe." She sighed, still looking critically at her reflection. "But it's not as if they don't have ten grandchildren as it is."

"This is different though. This is one of their boys. And it's not Doug. I bet this knocked Pacey up the ladder in that family."

"That's true," Joey acknowledged. "I really don't think this is the right dress."

Joey walked back into the dressing room after she undid the buttons, and removed it. She then looked at the next one. She liked this one. A lot. She slipped the dress on then moved out to let Jen button it in the back. She stared at it and a slow smile crossed her features. The capped sleeves hung slightly off the shoulder, creating a smooth line down to the scooped neck. The silk cut off right above her breasts, then clung to her stomach, and as it reached her waist, flared out to a large ballroom fashioned skirt, with a small train leading off the back. The silk was smooth and shimmery, the hem was lined with intricate flowers adding a little elegance and she decided that was her favorite feature.

Jen smiled at Joey's reflection in the mirror, "This is the one."

"I think so too." She winced, "Look at the price tag for me. I'm too afraid."

Jen sighed, and reached for the tag on the back and closed her eyes, "Splurge."

"If I splurge on the dress, I can't splurge on him."

Jen smiled, "Then let me give you a present and pay for half the dress. It's two hundred less than the other one...but...Joey it's perfect. This dress was made for you."

She frowned, "How much is it?"

"Four hundred."

"But I said no more than $150, and I really can't expect you to pay for half of my wedding dress."

"Sure you can. You just won't be getting a sterling silver gravy boat. This is my present to you. So let me do this."

"Maybe I could sell it to a consignment shop after the wedding...I might be able to pay you back then."

Jen rolled her eyes, "You will do no such thing. This is your present. You're wedding gift from me, my husband, and our baby. So take it an stop arguing with me."

"But Jen, this isn't a real wedding."

"But this is a real wedding gift. So take it. And if you say another word, I will hit you."

Joey smiled reluctantly, looking back in the mirror. "Pacey'll like it."

Jen rolled her eyes, "You could wear a burlap sack and he would probably like it."






"What about this one?" Jack pointed to a diamond ring flanked by two emeralds.

Pacey shook his head, "Nah...too flashy." Pacey sighed as he looked over the rings, "I'm at a loss here, Jack."

"Obviously." He sighed, "We've been here almost two hours. The way you're acting, you'd think you were actually marrying her."

Pacey looked at him, "I am. I'm actually getting married to her in a church in front of my family and friends. I am actually marrying her."

"You know what I mean." Jack pointed at another right, a slim rose gold band with silver flowers imbedded over the surface. "That one?"

Pacey tilted his head, "Now...that one has potential."

"Do I sense a spark of interest?" Jack gestured to the jeweler, "Could we see that ring?"

Pacey took the ring from the man and looked it over. It was simple enough that Joey wouldn't have a fit, but it was also elegant in a way that the other rings covered with stones weren't. He smiled, "I think we've found a winner, Jack."

"Thank God," he checked his watch, "We've got just enough time to meet the girls for lunch."

Pacey handed it back to the jeweler, "I'll take this one."

"Will that be everything for you today?" At Pacey's nod he smiled and gestured towards the computer in the back of the store. "This is an excellent choice. What's her ring size?"

"Seven."

"Well then, you're in luck. This one is already the perfect size. If you'd like, we can box it up in just a few seconds."

"Yeah. Do that."

"And what is your method of paying? We have a great financing plan if that interests you at all?"

Pacey shook his head, "I can pay for it now."

"All right then," He hit a few buttons on the keyboard, "It comes to $624.12 with tax."

Pacey removed his check book, "You take checks right?"

"As long as you have your driver's license with you." He smiled.

Pacey nodded, removed his wallet and tossed his license onto the counter, then began scribbling down the amount on the check. He tore it out then handed it to the man as he handed over the ring. Pacey looked over at Jack and smiled, "She's gonna go ape shit."

"Yeah," Jack smirked, "And you're going to love every minute of it."

He nodded with a smiled, "Yep."

"Just make sure she doesn't try to return it."

He shook his head, "She can't return it if she doesn't know where I got it."

"Smart man." Jack nodded. "Let's get out of here before this rubs off and I start considering rings for Landon."