“We’re here, sweethearts.”  Pacey turned first to Joey in the seat beside him, then to Lillie in the booster in the rear.  Both were sound asleep.  He leaned over and gave Joey a kiss on the cheek while gently rubbing her arm.  “Jo, honey, we’re at Doug’s.  Ya gotta wake up now.”

 “Mmmm, Pacey.”  Joey stretched her arms and yawned.  “How long have I been sleeping?”

 “You made it most of the way.  You only dozed off about an hour ago.  Do you want to wake Lillie or should I just carry her in?”

 “I’ll get her up.  She’s been napping long enough.  You can get our things.”

 Pacey opened the Tahoe’s rear compartment to pull out their overnight bags while Joey roused Lillie from her sleep.  The trio walked up the flagstone pathway to the white colonial with the slate blue trim.  As they approached the front steps, the door swung open and a smiling little girl with curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes burst out.  “Uncle Pacey!  You’re here!”

 Pacey put down the luggage and scooped the child into his arms.  “Laura Marie Witter, how is my favorite four-and-a-half-year-old?”

 “Four-and-three-quarters, Uncle Pacey.  It’s getting real close to my birthday.”

 “That’s right.  April 9^th will be here before you know it.  It’s too cold for you to be out with no coat.  Let’s get inside and I’ll introduce you to my friends.”

 Pacey let Laura down and gathered up the bags.  As they stepped inside the house, Doug greeted Pacey and Joey, giving each a bear hug.  “Joey Potter, you are a sight for sore eyes.  And this young lady,” he knelt down in front of Joey’s daughter, “you must be the lovely Lillie we’ve heard so much about.”  Lillie clung to Joey’s leg, eyes wide open, taking it all in.

 “Hey,” Pacey interjected, “I promised Miss Laura here that I would introduce her to my friends as soon as we got inside.  Laura, this is Joey and this adorable munchkin is Lillie.  Joey’s been my friend since we were little kids.  Lillie’s her daughter.  She’s three-and-a-half… no, wait,” he paused, furrowing his brow, “make that three-and-three-quarters.  Ladies, this is my charming niece Laura.”

 Joey extended her hand to the child.  “Hello, Laura.  I’m so very glad to meet you.”

 “Laura, why don’t you take Lillie downstairs to the playroom and show her the kitchen set Santa brought you for Christmas,” Doug suggested as he looked towards Joey.

 Joey nodded her approval.  “Lillie, that sounds like a lot of fun.  I’ll be down in a little while to see it for myself.  Let Mommy have your jacket.”

 Lillie took off her coat and gave it to Joey.  Laura held Lillie by the hand and led her to the basement.  “We can play house.  I’ll be the mommy and you can be the baby.”

 “It is great to see you, little bro,” Doug enthused, clapping Pacey on the back.  “And Joey, you are more beautiful than ever.  I’m so glad you could all make the christening.”

 “I wouldn’t miss being Stacey’s godfather for the world.”

 “Ashley should be down any minute.  She’s nursing the baby and putting her in for a nap.  I’ll put your things to the side.  Come on in and sit down.”

 They moved into the living room and settled in on the sofa.  An aging chocolate Labrador lay on the rug next to the fireplace.  She lifted her head to inspect the visitors.  “Hey, Candy,” Pacey called, affectionately rubbing her head, “I brought your old friend Joey to see you.”  The dog perked up and began wagging her tail in recognition.

 “Hey, girl,” Joey said as she stroked the canine’s back, “good to see you.”  She smiled at Doug.  “I’m glad you were able to take her in when Pacey left Capeside.  She looks great for an old dog.”  Joey paused.  “She must be 13 now, right?”

 “That’s right,” Doug replied.  “She’s been a solid pet, very gentle with Laura and the baby.”

 “So, when are Gretchen and her guys arriving?” Pacey inquired.  “She’s pretty psyched about being the godmother.”

 “They came up last might.  They’re staying with Mom and Pop.  We figured it would work out better if you bunked with us ‘cause Lillie could play with Laura.”

 “Thanks, Doug, for letting us stay here.  I hope we’re not putting you out,” Joey remarked.

 “Not at all.  Lillie can sleep in the extra bed in Laura’s room and you two can use the guest room.”  Doug turned his head towards the staircase.  “Here she comes now.  Hey, Ash,” he called to his wife, “look who’s here.”

 “Hello, you guys!  I am so happy to see you!”  Ashley Witter was a petite, blue-eyed beauty whose vivacious personality brightened any room she entered.  With honey blonde hair that cascaded to her shoulders, a flawless ivory complexion, and her dazzling smile, Ashley had been a welcome visitor to the Witter household in the difficult months of the Sheriff’s recovery from his stroke.  Doug had immediately been smitten with the lovely young nurse and before long, the two had become a couple.

 “You look fantastic, Ash,” Pacey gushed as he embraced his sister-in-law.  “I’d like you to meet Joey.”

 “Hello, Ashley.  Thank you for inviting Lillie and me.”

 Ashley hugged Joey warmly.  “Of course!  I am so happy to meet you.  I’ve heard so much about you that I feel like we’re old friends already.”

 The couples spent the next ninety minutes chatting, sharing stories, photographs, and videos.  When Ashley announced it was time for her to prepare dinner, Joey offered to help in the kitchen.  The girls were content watching The Little Mermaid in the basement and Stacey was still sleeping, so Doug and Pacey had some time alone.

 “You seem pretty happy, Pacey.  Things with you and Joey are going well, I assume.”

 “Everything’s great.  I think we’ve finally gotten it right this time.”

 “Still have the butterflies?”

 “Ahh, Dougie, the infamous butterflies.  I am very glad to report that when it comes to Joey Potter, I have not yet lost the butterflies.”  He smiled then looked down at the floor, slightly embarrassed.  “Sometimes I still can’t believe she’s back in my life.  And she’s not afraid anymore, she’s not holding back.  I can feel how much she loves me.”

 “Well, it’s about time she opened up her eyes and gave you the love you deserve.”

 “Thanks, Doug.  That’s nice of you to say.”

 “It’s the truth, Pacey.”

 “Did you talk to Ashley about watching Lillie on Monday?”

 “She’s fine with it.  There’s no Pre-K because of President’s Day so Laura will be home, too.”

 “And you’re okay with us leaving Sunday night?”

 “Sure.  The church service is at 11:00 so folks will be at the house around 1:00 or so.  I guess most people will be gone by 6:00, so you can count on going then.  Have you told Joey yet?”

 “Actually, no.  I wanted to surprise her.  I just wasn’t sure if she’d be comfortable leaving Lillie alone, but I think if Lillie’s happy with Laura, it’ll be all right.”

 The men quietly slipped down the basement steps to peek in on the girls.  Laura and Lillie were captivated by the video.  Laura was lying on her stomach, chin resting on her folded arms.  Lillie was cuddled in a beanbag chair, sucking two fingers of her right hand and twirling her hair with the fingers from her left.  “I think it’s safe to say they’re getting along,” Doug declared.

"Okay, so you have the number of my cell and Pacey’s and Lillie’s grandparents in New York.  I have your phones and pagers written down here in my purse…  I guess that’s everything.”  Joey picked Lillie up and squeezed her tight.  “You like being here with Laura, don’t you, hon?”

 "Yes, Mommy, I do.  She’s fun and she shares her toys.”

 "Well, you be a good girl and Mommy will be back tomorrow night.”

 “Mwah!” she said as she kissed Lillie goodbye.  “I love you.  You are my bestest girl.”

 “Bye, Mommy.  Bye, Pacey.”

 Pacey gave the child a peck on the forehead.  “Bye, sweetie-pie.  Have fun!”

 Joey turned to Ashley and Doug.  “Thank you so much for watching her.  Lillie and I were both sick with a stomach virus on Valentine’s Day and it ruined Pacey’s plans.”  She grinned at her boyfriend.  “He tells me this is to make up for not spending Valentine’s Day together, but he won’t let me know anything else.”

 “My lips are sealed,” Pacey offered with a smirk.  “Now, Ms. Potter, let’s leave these kind people to their own devices and be on our way.”

 Pacey led Joey to the SUV and opened her door.  “You got everything you need, Jo?”

 “I think so, Pace.  So, do we have much driving to do?”

 “A couple of hours…just relax and leave everything to me.”

 “I will, honey, even though I have a pretty good inkling where we’re headed.”

 “Just play along, Jo.  Pretend we’re on a mystery trip.”

 Joey reached for Pacey’s hand, linking her fingers with his.  “I’m thinking of the mystery trip I took you on for our first Valentine’s Day.  Do you remember that, Pacey?”

 He sighed and squeezed her hand.  “I remember everything.”

 “It’s a mystery trip, Pacey.”

 “A mystery trip?  This is Valentine’s Day, not Halloween.”

 Joey’s smile was so full, her nose crinkled.  “I know that!  I wouldn’t have cut school to go trick-or-treating with you--- well, unless you were willing to fulfill my ultimate fantasy and dress up as Frank N. Furter,” she said devilishly.  “But this… this is for something special.  That’s why it’s a mystery trip.”

 “Man, Potter, what is it about a guy in black stockings and a garter that turns you on?”  Pacey paused and eyed his girlfriend suspiciously.  “We’re not headed to Provincetown, are we?”

 “No, we are not.”  The light turned green and Joey accelerated, easing the truck perfectly through the gear changes.  “I am getting so good at this clutch thingy,” Joey declared proudly.  “Just think, last year at this time I was struggling under your tutelage to shift without lingering on the clutch.”

 Pacey began to drum restlessly on the dashboard.  “You’re really not gonna tell me where we’re going, are you?”

 “You need to work on your control issues, Pace.  Seems to me I had enough faith in you last summer to hop aboard True Love and head out onto the open seas with only the clothes on my back.  You could at least trust me enough to safely guide you to our destination a mere half-hour away on dry land.  Besides,” she said as she drove the truck into a small parking lot, “we’re here.”

 The sign on the cinder block building read Cape Cod Animal Shelter.  “After your birthday party, I talked to Gretchen.  She told me the whole story about what happened to Scraps and how much you loved him.  I thought it was about time that you got another dog.  And a real animal’s a lot better than one of those robot dogs you always talk about.”

 “Does Gretchen approve of this?”

 “Indeed she does.  She took a little convincing, but eventually she warmed up to the idea of having a dog around the house.  She just had two caveats--- only one and try to keep it smaller than a bear cub,” Joey laughed.  “I assured her we’d comply on both counts.  Soooo, Mr. Witter, are you ready to become a daddy?”

 Pacey leaned over to give Joey a kiss on the cheek.  “You are too much, Jo.  All this time I missed having a dog so much.”  He rubbed his hands together gleefully.  “This is gonna be great.”

 They went inside and spoke with Lydia, the volunteer working the reception desk.  Presently twenty-five dogs were being housed at the shelter of which nineteen were up for adoption.  There were several puppies, but most of the canines were adults.  The couple visited each run, carefully looking over the dogs to find the best match.  The animals barked and stood on their hind legs against the fencing, tails wagging furiously.  Each dog seemed to be saying, “Take me home.  Please!  Take me!”

 “Kind of heartbreaking, huh, Pace?”

 “Now I know why Gretchen said just one dog.  This makes you feel like bringing them all home with you.”  Pacey took Joey’s hand and led her to a cage with a friendly chocolate Labrador.  “She’s really beautiful.”

 Lydia slipped inside the run, snapped a leash on the dog’s collar, and opened the gate.  “Here.  You can take her into the back room and play with her a bit.  Her name is Candy.  She’s three-years-old, very calm, thoroughly housebroken.  She belonged to a family who had to move overseas when the father was transferred.  They couldn’t take the dog with them so they had to give her up.”

 Pacey took the leash and led Candy to the open room.  He and Joey petted her and she responded warmly, licking their hands and wagging her tail.  Pacey began to rub her belly and the dog rolled over on her back, her lower right leg moving quickly in rhythm with his strokes.

 “Oooh, Pace, look!  She’s doing magic leg.”

 “Of course, Potter.  You know I have a way with the ladies,” Pacey said jokingly.  “Well, what do you think?  You like her?”

 “She’s really sweet.  She’s a little big, but she seems well-behaved.”

 “And it makes perfect sense to be getting Candy for Valentine’s Day.”  He paused, smirking.  “Ba duh bum.”

 Grinning, Joey put her hands to Pacey’s face and pulled him close.  She brushed her lips against his softly.  “So, you like my surprise?” she murmured.

 “Mmm hmm,” Pacey replied.

 “Good.  I want to be sure this will be a Valentine’s Day you’ll always remember.”

 “There’s a good girl,” Pacey said soothingly as he stroked Candy’s head.  The dog lay contentedly on the front seat, her head resting on Pacey’s lap.  “Joey, do you think you can stay with Candy for a bit while I run to the grocery store?  I need to pick up some things for tonight’s dinner, plus I should get dog food and bowls for her.  I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave her alone right away.”

 “Hey, that’s right.  You’re cooking for me tonight, aren’t you?”  Joey glanced at the small digital clock stuck to the dashboard of the truck.  “It’s only 2:00 and we’re just about home.  Sure, I’ll stay with Candy and fill her in on the Witter quirks and neuroses.”

 Pacey took the dog’s face in his hands and looked her square in the eyes.  “Don’t believe a word she says, girl.  She bitches and complains about how much I bug her, but she really loves me.”

 “Pretty sure of yourself, Pace.”  Joey pulled into the driveway of the beach house and cut the ignition.  “You think you’ll be back by 4:00, 4:30?  I need time to get all gussied up for my evening at Café Witter.”

 “Dinner’s at 7:00,” Pacey said as he led the dog out of the truck, “and we have the place to ourselves.  Gretchen’s  closing.  She won’t be home from work ‘til after 1:00.”

 Joey stepped down from the truck’s cab and circled round the front of the vehicle.  “Gee, Pace, all that time alone.  Whatever will we do?”  she asked with mock coquettishness.  “I know!  I’ll bring a deck of cards.  Maybe we can get a wild game of gin rummy going after dinner,” Joey added mischievously.

 “Excellent idea, Potter,” Pacey responded facetiously.  “I’ll borrow Yahtzee and Scrabble from the folks and we can play them, too.  Why don’t we call up Grams and ask her to join us?”

 Laughing, Joey stuck out her tongue and stuck out her hand.  “Give me the house keys and get going already, will ya?  I’m gonna take Candy for a walk before I bring her inside.”  Joey stood on tiptoes and gave Pacey a peck on the forehead.  “All kidding aside, Pace, I’m really looking forward to tonight.  It’s our first Valentine’s Day together and I think your idea to spend a quiet evening at home is perfect.”

 Pacey sweetly kissed Joey’s outstretched hand before depositing his keys and handing over the leash.  “Hey, being with my girl makes any night perfect for me.”

 It was not quite 4:30 when Pacey returned from shopping.  Joey let him know that things had gone well with Candy then she went home to shower and change.

 Wrapped in her pink terry cloth robe, Joey was still damp from the shower as she stood before the bathroom mirror blow drying her hair.  She stared at her reflection and thought about how much she’d grown up in the past year.  She had fallen deeply in love with this boy who, in so many ways, was already a man.  Pacey loved her in return, but more than that, he respected her, trusted her, believed in her.  He made her know she was not only loved but cherished.  There were people who lived their entire lives without ever feeling that; here she was experiencing it at seventeen.

 She put down the dryer and began to brush her hair.  The sensation of her own hands in her long, dark locks reminded Joey how pleasurable it was when Pacey touched her hair.  He’d smooth it, stroke it, wrap his strong hands within its strands.  She loved when he pushed the tendrils back, cupping her head in his palms.  He’d nuzzle her hair, sometimes burying his face within its thickness, and she shivered as she recalled the feel of his warm breath on the nape of her neck, the sound of his endearments whispered throatily in her ears.  It was at moments like these that her desire for Pacey flamed, threatening to burn beyond her control.

 He wanted to make love to her--- he’d made that clear--- but he was willing to wait as long as she needed to be ready.  At times Joey felt pressured about sex, but if she were honest she’d admit that the pressure came from within.  She ached for Pacey, too, yet she continued to hold back, imprisoned by her fears.  She was afraid of her inexperience, of pregnancy, of not living up to Pacey’s dreams or to her own.  Most of all, she was frightened by the significance of the act.  She’d grown safe and comfortable in the role of Pacey’s girlfriend.  She made him happy, he made her happy; life was good.  If they left the security of being boyfriend and girlfriend to become lovers, would the added responsibilities and emotions imperil the relationship they had both worked so hard to build?

 Joey stepped into her bedroom and found the bag of items she’d purchased from the card and gift store earlier in the week.  She’d spent nearly an hour in the shop reading Valentine’s Day cards, but nothing came close to expressing what was in her heart.  In the end, she’d bought some paper doilies, construction paper, and a package of heart-shaped stickers with the intention of creating her own card.  She reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a box with ribbon, lace, and decorative flowers.  Still stymied by what to say, she sat chewing on the cap to her pen.

 She thought of the game she loved to play with Alexander, so big.  “How big is Alexander?” she’d ask him, her arms held up high.  In response, she’d spread her arms as wide as could be.  Alexander would imitate her movements and together they’d call, “Sooo big!”  They’d repeat this over and over until finally she’d scoop Alexander in her arms and bury him in an avalanche of hugs and kisses.  She looked at the picture of Pacey and her that Dawson had taken at the Leery’s Christmas party.  “How much does Joey love Pacey?” she whispered to the handsome image in the photo.  “Sooo much.  So very much.”

 Smiling and suddenly sure, Joey took her pen and began to write.

 “Thank God for the Food Network,” Pacey declared as he lowered the flame under the pan of pasta primavera with chicken.  He carefully stirred the mixture then replaced the lid.  “Candy, are you as nervous as I am?” he asked his new pet who was following him around the kitchen.  He walked to the counter and tore a Nylabone from its packaging.  “Here, girl, go chew on this.”  The dog eagerly took the bone, found a spot in the living room, and dug in.

 Pacey glanced at the clock above the kitchen sink.  It was 6:35.  Joey would be here soon.  He looked proudly at the table setting.  With help from Doug, Gretchen, and MarthaStewart.com, he’d managed to prepare an attractive display.  He’d placed candles in the center and a single red rose across Joey’s plate.  A bottle of non-alcoholic wine sat chilling in an ice bucket.  In each wine glass was a cloth napkin folded fancily like they did at weddings.  The menu consisted of salad, fresh semolina bread, the pasta primavera with chicken, and apple compote with vanilla ice cream.  He’d even remembered fresh grated Parmesan cheese for the pasta.

 He heard Joey’s truck crunching up the gravel driveway and he and Candy headed to the door to greet her.  “There’s my girl, as beautiful as always.”

 “Great minds think alike,” Joey observed as she pointed to his periwinkle
T-shirt and black jeans.  She unbuttoned her coat to reveal a silk blouse in the exact same shade worn with a long black skirt and black ankle boots.  They both looked exquisite.

 They leaned into one another and shared a lingering kiss.  “Mmm, mmm, good, Potter,” Pacey purred.  He took her hand and steered her to the kitchen.  “Do you like it?”

 “Oh, Pacey, it’s lovely!  I can’t believe you did this all for me.”  She squeezed his hand and smiled broadly.

 Pacey moved behind Joey and placed his arms over her shoulders.  She leaned back into him, both comforted and stirred by his strength.  “I wanted to make tonight special, Jo.  Let me hang up your coat and we can sit down to eat.  I think I managed to get everything prepared on time.”

 They ate dinner, chatting happily about the latest movies, CDs, and school gossip.  Pacey’s cooking was delicious and he was able to serve the entire meal without a mishap.  When they finished dessert, Pacey began to clear the dishes.  Joey stood to assist.  “You don’t need to help, Jo.  I’ll take care of everything.”

 “I want to help.  Besides, it’ll go faster if we both pitch in.”

 “What’s the rush?” Pacey teased.  “Can’t wait to start the gin rummy tournament?”

 “Well, I see that present on top of the refrigerator,” Joey responded, pointing to a box wrapped in glossy pink paper with a big white bow, “so I was hoping…”

 Pacey chortled, “Keep hoping, hon.  That’s Gretchen’s birthday present for my Mom.”

 Joey’s face fell and she felt the flush of embarrassment creep into her cheeks.  “Oh, I don’t mean to be greedy.  Supper was a wonderful gift.  I don’t need anything else.”

 “Relax, Joey.  Of course I have a present for you.  It’s in my room.  I’ll get it as soon as we’re finished in here.”  They continued cleaning for a bit, then Pacey brought Joey back to the living room.  “Wait here.  I’ll put on some music and go get your gift.”  He slipped David Gray’s White Ladder CD into the stereo and returned a few minutes later with a card and a large gift bag.  He bent down to give Joey a kiss as he handed her the present.  “Happy Valentine’s Day, Jo.”

 Pacey sat on the floor at Joey’s feet.  Candy came over from her corner spot to join them.  Joey opened the card first and read it aloud.

 “My Dear Jo,
They say that smell is the strongest of senses, that a scent
can bring back memories that were buried long ago.  I
hope my gift will help you to always remember our summer
 on True Love and the happiness we shared.  I love you with
all my heart.
Always, Pacey”

 Pacey climbed onto the couch and into Joey’s arms.  “Let go your heart, let go your head, and feel it now,” he sang along with the CD in a soft, sexy voice.

 “Oh, Pace,” Joey said weakly, the sound caught in her throat as their lips met.

 They kissed fiercely at first, biting and pressing, their tongues fervently probing each other’s mouth.  After a few minutes their frenzy abated and Pacey began to softly kiss Joey’s face, gently moving to her ear and then to the back of her neck.  As he caressed her nape, he felt something odd.  Curiously, he removed a small heart-shaped sticker.  “What’s this?” he inquired.

“Read it,” Joey instructed.

“Be mine.”

“Will you?” Joey asked in a small voice.

“Always,” Pacey replied.  He hugged Joey and noticed another heart sticker peering out from the top of her blouse.  He pulled it off.  “Crazy 4 U.”

“That I am, Pacey.”

“Joey, are there more of these?”

She blushed.  “Well, yes.  I wanted to make you the most fantastic Valentine’s Day card ever to show you how much I love you.  I kinda got carried away.”  She giggled self-consciously.  “I’m the card.”

“Oh, Joey, you are gonna be the death of me.”  He moved his hands toward the opening of her shirt then hesitated.  My oh my you know it just don’t stop/my oh my you know it just don’t stop.  The music from the stereo surrounded them, fueling the intensity of the moment.

“Don’t stop, Pace.”  Joey began to unfasten her blouse.

“Let me, Jo.”  Pacey’s fingers trembled as he released the tiny buttons one by one.  When her shirt fell open, Pacey saw several more hearts adhered to Joey’s creamy skin.  Carefully, he took each sticker, read it aloud, and placed it on the top edge of the sofa for safekeeping.  “My Darling… Dream Lover… Sweet 2 Me… Hot Stuff… True Love… those you are, Miss Potter.”

“I meant them about you, Pacey.”

Pacey’s smile came from deep within.  “Am I blushing like a schoolgirl?” he asked playfully.  “Because I just felt my face getting all hot and bothered.”

“That’s not the only thing getting hot and bothered now is it, Pace?”

“Grrrrr, Joey.  What are you doing here?”  He laid his head on the soft flesh of her belly and felt the gentle rise and fall of her breathing.  The only things worth living for innocence and magic--- amen.  The voice on the CD pierced the quiet of the moment.  “You’re not being so innocent here, Joey.”

“Maybe tonight I want magic.”  She lifted the waistband of her skirt and pointed to one final heart.  Gingerly, Pacey reached for it.

“Love me,” he read.  “I do so love you, Jo.”  He looked into her eyes and saw her longing.  “Should we keep going?  I’m not sure if that’s what you want.”

 Using her fingertips, Joey carefully traced the outline of Pacey’s face, pausing to caress each feature.  “I’m sure, Pace.  I know what I want.  I want you.”

 Pacey stood and extended his hand to Joey.  “C’mere,” he said in a voice filled with the promise of pleasure.  The heat of their desire enveloped them as they kissed.  “Let’s go upstairs,” Pacey murmured, wrapping his arm around Joey’s shoulder as he led her to his bedroom.  They walked inside and Joey started to close the door.  Pacey gently put up his hand to stop her.  “Leave it open, Jo.  We need the light from the hall.  You’re so beautiful, I want to see you.”

 They stopped at the edge of the bed and began to undress one another, slowly, silently, deliberately, each captivated by the splendor of the other’s body.  Joey broke the stillness.  “I love you, Pace,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.  “I love you so much.”

 They embraced, reveling in the warmth of each other’s skin.  “Open up my arms and fall, losing all control, every dream inside my soul.”   Pacey breathed the lyrics into Joey’s ear.  He held her tighter as the music swelled and Joey tilted her head back to kiss him.  “I love you, Joey Potter.  I.  Love.  You,” he growled as their mouths collided and lips and tongues became consumed with frantic exploration.  Then as one they sank onto the bed, arms and legs entwined, and submerged themselves in their passion and their love.

  They lay tangled in the bed linens, Joey’s body snuggled into Pacey’s, the fingers of their left hands interlocked.  Pacey’s head was nestled in Joey’s hair and her right hand rested on his bare hip.  With his free hand, Pacey tenderly caressed Joey’s breasts.  “This feels so right, doesn’t it?” Joey asked quietly.

 “I was just thinking how I could hold you like this forever.”  He leaned forward and kissed her shoulder, his tongue making lazy patterns on her delicate flesh.  “Are you happy?”

 “Very.  Are you?”

 “Very, very happy.”  Just then, they heard paws padding up the stairs and down the hallway.  Candy entered the room and approached the couple on the bed, whimpering.  “Hey, I’m a pet owner now, aren’t I?  Can you see what time it is, Jo?”

 “It’s 10:36, Pace.  I think she needs to be walked.”

 “Because there’s nothing more invigorating than a late night dog walk.  In Cape Cod.  In February.”

 Joey laughed huskily.  “Oh, I can think of a couple of things that are at least equally invigorating.”

 “I bet you can, Potter, I bet you can.”

 “C’mon.  We have to get up eventually.  Let’s get dressed and we’ll go together.”

 “You’re gonna be freezing with that outfit, Joey.”

 “I wore my boots, my skirt’s long, my coat’s warm.  Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

 They put their clothes back on and Pacey hooked the leash on Candy.  The night air was frigid so they strolled with arms around each other to keep warm.  They reached the pier and walked out to the water’s edge.  Pacey motioned to Joey to sit down.  He dug into his jeans and pulled out a pocketknife.  He passed Candy’s leash to Joey and began carving the piling.  A few minutes later, he leaned back to reveal a Cupid’s heart with the initials PW & JP inside.  “It’s not as extravagant as your filling my locker with grade school Valentines all week or making yourself into a living Valentine, but I kinda like the permanency of it.”

 “Me, too, Pace, but you forgot something.  Here, take Candy back.”  She gave Pacey the leash, took the knife from his hand, and began to cut into the wood.  Upon finishing, she turned to Pacey and declared, “Forever.  You needed to add the forever.”

 “Oh, Pacey, I can’t wait to tell Bessie and Bodie.  The O’Briens have done such a good job with the place.  This addition is gorgeous.  What do they call it again?”  Joey’s words tumbled out as she surveyed the Capeside Inn, formerly the Potter Bed & Breakfast.

 Pacey glanced at the brochure they had picked up at check-in.  “This is the Fireside Wing.  Each room features a king-sized bed, a working fireplace, and last, but not least, a private bath with deluxe whirlpool.”

 Joey peeked into the ivory tiled bathroom.  “Definitely an improvement over the communal baths in the main part of the house.  Everything looks so lovely and well cared for.  Bessie’ll be happy to hear she left the B & B in good hands.”  She stopped for a moment and looked around the room again.  “It feels weird to be back here, but it’s a good weird, you know?”

 “Yeah, Jo, I know.  Driving in, when we passed by the spot where I pulled off the road and kissed you on the way back from Boston, I felt like I was 17 and it had all just happened last week.”

 “Well, thank you for bringing me back.”  Joey laughed.  “Seems funny to hear me say it, but I’ve missed Capeside.  Once we left Doug’s I figured we were headed here, but it never even crossed my mind on the way up to Attleboro.  I thought we’d be too busy with the christening and your family to make any side trips.”

 “Ashley’s such a sweetheart I knew she wouldn’t mind watching Lillie.  I really wanted to come back here with you.”  Pacey put his arms around Joey and pulled her close.  “I fell in love with you in Capeside.  Everything around this town reminds me of you.  When we broke up, that’s why I had to leave.  I just wanted to feel what it would be like to be back here again with you.”

 Joey hooked her thumbs in the belt loops of Pacey’s jeans and leaned in to kiss him.  “I think it feels great.  How ‘bout you?”  She began to rub her hands sensuously across Pacey’s lower back, creeping beneath the soft cotton of his blue boxers.

 “It’s getting greater by the second, Potter, if you know what I mean.”

 “So which feature should we try out first--- the bed, the fireplace, or the bath?” Joey asked flirtatiously.

 “You mean we get to use all three?”

 “You know how frugal I am, Pace.  I like to get my money’s worth.”

 “That bed’s looking mighty inviting.”

 Joey grinned.  “Last one in’s a rotten egg….”

 They were cuddling and giggling after a very playful round of lovemaking when Pacey was inspired.  He drew a warm, sudsy bath in the tub and invited Joey in.  She questioned what he was doing, but he hushed her and she acquiesced, stepping into the fragrant water and sinking blissfully into the bubbles.

 Pacey squeezed some bath gel on the wet cloth in his hand and massaged it with his finger until it was foamy.  Starting at the back of her neck, he began to gently wash Joey.  He reached below the puffs of bubbles and slowly traveled the path of her body--- shoulders, back, arms, breasts, stomach, inner thighs, legs, feet.  His touch was soft, the cloth in his hands caressing Joey’s skin as he moved it about her.  She quietly thrilled to the feel of Pacey’s hands, occasionally stroking his head or face with her fingertips.  Once, as she brushed by his lips, he caught her finger in his mouth and began to suck it, all the while continuing to tenderly bathe her.  The faint moans from the back of Joey’s throat bespoke her pleasure.

 When he had finished washing her body, Pacey poured a cup of warm water over Joey’s hair.  He rubbed some apple-scented shampoo into her scalp creating a froth.  He gathered her brown tresses in the lather and continued his soothing massage.  He eased his fingers down her nape and began kneading her neck and shoulder muscles.  His hands worked their magic for several minutes, relaxing Joey yet exciting her at the same time.  Her face flushed and her breathing became more rapid until Pacey began running warm water from the faucet and rinsing her hair.  He wrapped her head in a towel and then took her by the hands and gently pulled her to her feet.  Using a bath towel, he patted her dry, carefully, lovingly, lingering ever so slightly to savor the curves and mounds of her beauteous body.

 Folding the towel around her, Pacey began to direct Joey from the bathroom.  “Let’s go in front of the fireplace,” he suggested, his voice laden with desire.

 As they stood in front of the hearth, Joey looped her arms around Pacey’s neck and kissed him deeply.  “Make love to me, Pace.”  Her words were fierce and pleading.

 “All night, Jo.  I want to love you all night.”

 Pacey propped his head upon his hand as he silently watched Joey sleep.  They had loved one another to the point of exhaustion till, cradled in his arms, Joey drifted off, the words “I love you” falling silently from her lips.  He gazed at the steady rise and fall of her chest and recalled the night long ago he’d spent at the B & B staring at her asleep on the sofa.  The room had been lit by the glow from the fire, just like tonight, and he’d been hypnotized by her presence.  He’d known then that he was falling in love with Joey.  Eleven years later, he knew that he was more in love with her than ever.

 The couple spent the next day visiting their old Capeside haunts.  Some places like the library, the docks, Joey’s wall, and the country club looked the same as they remembered.  Others were gone or vastly different.  Screen Play Video was now the site of a mobile phone store.  The Rialto had been refurbished and turned into a seven-theater multiplex.

President’s Day was a school holiday, but they poked around Capeside High until they found a friendly custodian who let them inside.  The wall where Joey’s ill-fated mural had been was now an alumni Wall of Fame.  The pool, site of the infamous senior prank, hadn’t changed and neither had the school library.  The cafeteria had been redecorated and the tables and chairs were new.  The hallways and lockers were painted a different color, but they had no problem finding their old lockers as well as the rest of the gang’s.

They had lunch at Leery’s Fresh Fish, chatting amiably with Gale and Mitch.  When Dawson’s little sister Katrina stopped by with a friend, Pacey and Joey regaled her with horror stories from their days as Fourth Graders with her teacher, Mrs. Dinnerman.

Around 2:00, Joey asked to drive out to the cemetery to visit her mother’s grave.  They were ready to return to Doug’s, but Pacey had one more stop he needed to make.  Ten miles and twenty-five minutes later, he pulled up in front of Gretchen’s and his old beach house.

“I couldn’t leave without passing by this place.  We had a lot of fun here, didn’t we, Jo?”

She put her hand on his arm as she paused to remember.  “There are a lot of special memories wrapped up in this house, Pacey.  It’s really good to see it again.”

“C’mon.  Let’s walk around a bit.”

They left the Tahoe to stroll the paths along the beachfront.  Hand-in-hand they walked, arms casually swinging, sharing anecdotes from their high school days.  When they reached the pier, Pacey put his arm about Joey and guided her to the end.  He eyed the piling and smiled.  “It’s still here, Jo.”

She was puzzled for just a moment, then her face lit up.  “The heart you carved on Valentine’s Day.  Let me see.”  They both looked at the marks in the wood, smoothed by the years but still very visible.  PW & JP Forever.  She squeezed him tight and rested her head upon his chest.  He ran his fingers through her hair and tenderly kissed her on the forehead.

“We took a little detour, Jo, but that doesn’t matter anymore.  I love you.  I always have.  I always will.”

“I love you too, Pace, with all my heart.  And I promise you, I always will.”

Pacey reached into his coat pocket and brought out a small box.  “I’ve been carrying this around with me since before Valentine’s Day, waiting for the right moment.  I think it’s time now.”

Joey opened the box to reveal a ring with a small round diamond set amidst six tiny sapphires.  “Oh, Pacey!” she gasped, “It’s beautiful.”

He swallowed hard and took a deep breath.  “Josephine Potter, will you marry me?”

Tears spilled from Joey’s eyes, but her face was radiant with joy.  “Yes, Pacey, oh yes!  I will be honored to be your wife.”

Pacey slipped the ring on her finger then gently lifted her face to his.  He brushed away the salty trails with his thumbs and tenderly touched his lips to hers.  “It took a long time, Joey, but my birthday wish came true.”

“Your birthday wish…?”

“For my eighteenth birthday, I wished that no matter how many different roads we traveled that in the end we’d find the one that would bring us together again.”

 “It’s like this old song I know.  I thought of it that first night when I saw you at the mall.  Twenty-thousand roads I went down, down, down, and they all led me straight back home to you.”

 Pacey closed his right hand around Joey’s left one, gently rubbing her new ring with his thumb.  “Let’s go back to the car now,” he said.  With smiles on both their faces, they turned and walked back up the road together.