If I Was The One
Part 5: Take You In My Arms
by Steph and Sophia

Disclaimer: We are not and have never claimed to be the creators of the characters portrayed here.  We just wanted Pacey and the others to come out to play.  Lyrics contained here are by Ruff Endz.  We don’t own those either.

Background:  We began writing this after season 4 ended.  For the purposes of the story, everything that happened on the show happened in our story.  The only difference is that Andie did NOT defer Harvard.

Summary:  Basically this is our version of season 5.  Jen finds a 3-bedroom apartment in Boston and invites Joey, Andie, Jack, and Drue to room with her.  All is good until Joey finds out that Pacey is the sixth roommate.

Rating:  NC-17 for, you know, the good stuff.

Author’s note:  We enjoyed writing this fic so much.  As always, we must send some love to the girls (and haze) at Pacey’s Pond because they encouraged us all along the way.  Thanks for your words of praise.

I want to reach out and feel you beside me,
right here beside me, babe.
Take you in my arms right now,
scream 'I love you' right out loud.

"Merry Christmas, Joey."

Joey looked away from the window, where she was watching the first snowfall on Capeside.  She managed a weak smile and then rose from her chair to collect the dessert plates, scattered around the living room.

"What's wrong?  You seem really sad."

Joey didn't answer.  She set the stack of plates in the sink and began rinsing them off for the dishwasher.  Mike Potter reached around her and switched the faucet off.  "You're ignoring me, Joey.  Why don't you tell me what's wrong?"

Joey sighed heavily.  "I'm okay.  I think I need to take a walk or something.  I'll be back."  Joey had pulled on he coat and hat before her father even had a chance to argue with her.

***************

Joey found herself sitting at the end of the dock.  She was watching the snow float down and land on the frozen creek.  She didn't plan on ending up here, but she should have known.  Joey smiled when she thought of the first time that she and Pacey had been on this dock together.

"What are you doing here?"

"It's an interesting phenomenon. I got in Dawson's rowboat and it magically drifted to your dock."

"Magically drift any closer and I'll kill you."

"I almost believe that."

"He told you didn't he? Didn't he?"

"What do you think?"

"I think I hate you both."

"You're gonna hate what I'm gonna say even more. He did the best thing, Joey. You two need to be apart now."

"How would you know what I need?"

"You're probably right. I'm sure I don't have any idea what you're going through. How hard it is to let someone go. How painful it must be to know that as right as you two are for each other, it doesn't mean you're right for each other right now. I wouldn't know a thing about that. About how it makes you want to scream, or hit someone...or cry."
 
"Of all people to see me like this, it had to be you."

"It's a new year, Joey. You never know, we could even end up friends."

"Pacey, I'm upset enough as it is."

Her smile turned to tears when she thought about the awful way she had treated Pacey before she left.  It's Christmas day, she thought.  He's alone and he thinks I hate him.  Why do I do this to myself?

"Hey."

Joey felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see who it belonged to.  She quickly began wiping her tears away when she realized that Drue was standing behind her.  He plopped down at the end of the dock and regarded her quietly.  "Having a great Christmas, I see," he finally said.

Joey nodded and sniffled a little.  "Yeah.  It was great.  You should have seen Alexander.  He ripped through all his presents in under five minutes."

"Then why are you sitting out here alone...crying?"  Drue waited for her response and when she kept silent, he continued.  "You know, you're pretty lucky to have a family that adores you like I know they do.  And it's really asinine that you can't see how lucky you are, Joey. You have no idea how bad some people have it.  And the holidays...well, that just seems to just bring out the worst in people."

Joey watched Drue stare out over the frozen water.  She heard the pain and sarcasm in his voice.  "What happened, Drue?  Did your mom do something?"

"We aren't talking about me," Drue commented solemnly.

"I think we are."

***************

"Merry Christmas."

Pacey turned his attention away from the twinkling Christmas tree and smiled at Jen.  "I want to thank you for inviting me over here.  I really wasn't looking forward to that Hungry Man dinner I had in the freezer."

Jen chuckled and moved to sit across from him on the footstool.  "You don't have to keep thanking me.  It was our pleasure.  It's not like we have the biggest family, you know."

"Still."

"Are you thinking about Joey?"

"Am I being that obvious?" Pacey joked.

"Yes.  I know how badly she wanted you to come home with her.  Especially after she found out about her dad."

"What about her dad?" Pacey demanded.

"She didn't tell you?"

"No, but I think that you had better spill it, Lindley."

***************

"I'm pretty sure that we were talking about you.  I know that you're sitting here, completely pissed off because you didn't get your way.  God forbid, Joey Potter was told 'no' for the first time in her life."

"Screw you!  You don't know anything about my life."  Joey was standing over Drue now.  "All I wanted was to be with my family and Pacey today.  I need him more than anything.  And I've been trying to figure out what I can possibly say to make it up to.."

"Pacey?"

"NO!  My dad, Drue.  Two and a half years ago, I helped send my dad back to prison.   I don't what to say to him.  I can't..." Her voice trailed off as the tears started again.

Drue hung his head in embarrassment.  He stood up and reached for her as she began to stalk off.  "Joey.  I'm sorry.  I didn't know.  Did Pacey know that your dad was coming back?"

Joey stared at Drue's hand on her arm.  "No.  I was so stupid.  I was angry with him.  I didn't get the chance to tell him what had happened."

"It's not too late."

***************

"Oh man.  That's why she was so upset."

"Yeah.  I think that she really needed you to be there for her today," Jen explained.

Pacey threw his head back and covered his hands with his eyes.  "She's never going to forgive me."

Jen reached for Pacey's hands and took them into her own.  "Sure she will, Pacey.  She has to know that you didn't want to stay here.  This was about school.  You couldn't help that.  I mean, you told her that you had to stay because of the test, right?"

Pacey shook his head.

"Pacey."  Jen sighed.  "You two really need to work on your communication skills."

***************

Joey pulled her arm from Drue's grasp.  "Just forget it, Drue.  Pacey could have been here if he wanted to.  He chose to stay in Boston...away from me.  And why is it that every time that I make a move to get closer to him, he just pulls away from me?"  Joey frowned at Drue and started back towards the B&B.

"You really think that's what's going on?"

Joey whipped around. "Isn't it?"

"No!  This isn't even about you, Potter.  Pacey has a test to take tomorrow.  And considering how long he waited to tell you that, I'm guessing that he was dreading it.  And with the way you're acting, I can see why."

Joey's mind was reeling.  "He told you that?  But why didn't he..."

"Tell you?  I don't know.  Did you give him a chance?  Probably not.  I bet you freaked out on him," Drue guessed.

Joey grabbed Drue by his coat sleeve and dragged him towards his truck.  "Go home," she ordered.  "Get your things and I'll get my bag packed. I'll meet you back here in an hour."

Drue jerked away from her.  "Have you completely lost it, Potter?  We're not leaving until Saturday."

"I want to go home now."  She opened up the driver's side door and shoved him inside.  "Get a move on."

Drue stuck his foot out to keep Joey from closing the door.  "We're not going home, Joey.  It's Christmas Day!"

"So?"

"It's snowing and it will be dark soon.  When we get back on Saturday, you guys can talk all this out.  You can explain about your dad and why you behaved like such a little brat."

Joey grabbed Drue by the front of his jacket.  "Let me ask you something.  Were you really having that great of a time with your family?  I mean, there must be some reason why you're here with me, right?"

Drue sighed and hung his head.  "I'll pick you up tomorrow at 10.  Be ready.  And get your hands off me."

A smile spread across her face as she realized that she had Drue defeated.  She released him and said, "Tomorrow."

***************

"Wow."

Joey couldn't believe it when she stepped through the door of her apartment the next day.  In the corner of the living room, Pacey had set up a large Christmas tree.  Joey breathed in the sweet aroma of pine and immediately knew the tree was real.  She set her bags on the floor and slowly approached the tree.  Joey smiled at the shiny glass balls and twinkling lights.  She bent down to plug in the lights and she watched as the gloomy room lit up with a soft glow.

"Pacey?" she called.  No answer.  Joey picked up her bags and went to her room to unpack.

An hour later, Pacey returned home to find Joey stretched on the floor before the Christmas tree.  She was lying on her side with a book in her hands.  When she saw him enter, she sat up and smiled shyly.  "Hi."

Pacey furrowed his brow in confusion.  He shrugged out of his coat and joined her on the floor.  "Is everything...okay?"

"Yeah.  It's just that...I...how was your test?"

Pacey rubbed the top of his head and smiled widely.  "It was good.  I think that...wait.  How did you know?"

"Drue told me," Joey confessed.  "The way I acted when you told me that you weren't coming to Capeside...that was stupid.  I had no right to throw a tantrum like that.  I am so sorry."

"Joey, don't even worry about that now.  By the way, where is Drue?"

***************

"I'll get it!"  Jen opened the door and shivered at the bitter cold draft that she had just let in.

"It's about time.  I'm freezing out here, Jen!"

Jen put her hand on the doorframe in an attempt to stop Drue from entering her grandmother's apartment.  "What are you doing here?  I thought you were in Capeside."

"I was.  But I was so lonely there.  I missed you, Jen.  Now let me come inside."

"Jennifer!  Who was at the door?"  Grams came from behind Jen and opened the door wider.  "Drue Valentine!  What a wonderful surprise.  How was your Christmas, my dear?"

Drue pretended not to notice the perturbed look on Jen's face as he slid past her.

Jen stared out over the snow-covered city and shook her head.  "God help me now."

***************

"Oh!" Joey squealed.

"What's wrong?"  Pacey was trying to feign innocence.  Joey had decided that there was not enough food in the house to keep a bird alive, so they had decided to go to the market and pick up a few things.  Joey set her two sacks of groceries on the front steps of the apartment building and turned to face Pacey.

"I know what you did, Pacey Witter!  And you're going to get it."  Joey scooped a mound of snow into her mittened hand and packed it into a perfect sphere.  Before she had a chance to send it flying, another snowball went whizzing by her face.  With perfect aim, her snowball hit Pacey square in the chest.

"Hey!  That's it," Pacey called.  He began chasing her through the now snow-covered grassy area beside the apartment complex.  "I got you now!"  Just as Pacey was in arm's reach of Joey, he stepped on an icy patch and his body went sailing.  He reached for Joey and pulled her down with him as they toppled over into the soft piles of snow.  Pacey landed on his back with Joey sprawled out across him.  Her face was mere inches when he breathed, "Are you okay, Jo?"

Joey couldn't help but laugh.  "Remind me never to play tag with you.  You're vicious!"

Pacey wrapped his arms around Joey's waist and smiled slyly.  "Hmmm.  I don't know.  Games can be a lot of fun."

Joey pushed away from him and teased, "You're a sick one, Pacey Witter."

He helped her up and chided, "What do you mean?  Cuz I was talking about 'Duck, Duck, Goose,' 'London Bridges,' 'Hide and Go Seek'..."

Joey linked arms with Pacey as they headed back to the front of the apartment.  "Sure.  I'll give you something to 'go seek.'"

"You promise?"

***************

"Where are we going?"

"I told you that it was a surprise."

"Well, I don't like surprises."

"Of course you do.  Everyone likes surprises.  Why are you being so grumpy, Lindley?"

"Because," Jen pouted.  "You didn't even bring me a Christmas present."

"Yes I did.  I have it right here."  Drue put his truck in park and reached for the present he had stashed behind his seat.  He watched Jen's eyes light up and he passed her the shiny, gold-wrapped box.  As soon as he handed it to her, he took it back.  "But you can't open it yet.  It goes with the surprise."

"What surprise?" she demanded.

"Look."  Jen opened the door stepped out of his truck.  She saw before her a giant, beautiful Christmas tree in the center of an outdoor ice skating rink.  The ice was littered with people all bundled up and smiling widely.  Jen shook her head and looked at Drue who had joined her.  "No.  I can't ice skate.  I tried once when I was little and I was terrible at it.  This really isn't a good idea."

Drue wrapped an arm around Jen and began guiding her to the entrance of the rink.  "I swear you're going to have a great time.  You just have to trust me."

Jen was still resisting.  "I don't know, Drue."

Drue turned to face her now.  He peered down at her with his gorgeous blue eyes.  "If you let me, I'll make sure that this will be a night that you'll never forget.  And the ice skating will be fun, too."

"Okay, but if I end up in the hospital..."

"You won't."

***************

"Hey, scoot over."

Pacey was sprawled out on the couch.  Joey pushed on of his legs out of her way and positioned herself between his legs.  She rested her head against his chest and sighed.  "Are you comfy now?" he asked her.

"Mmm-mmm.  What are we watching?"

"It's called, 'Butterflies Are Free.'  Hey, pass me the popcorn."

"Ugh.  How can you eat after that big dinner we had?"

"You'd be surprised how much I can eat."  Pacey paused and considered if he really wanted to ruin this perfect night, but he just had to ask her.

"Jo?"

"Yeah."  Joey turned over to face him now.  She didn't like his tone and she was concerned that this meant bad news.

"I've had an absolutely wonderful day with you.  The best day I've had in a long time.  You just don't know how happy I was to see you when I came through that door today."

"But?"

"But what does this mean...for us?" he asked gently.

Joey smiled her lopsided smile and her eyes seemed to twinkle when she spoke.  "I guess it means that I'm interested."

"You're...interested in what?"

"I'm interested in seeing what this means to you.  You're the one holding all the cards, Pace.  You broke up with me.  And you know that I've wanted to get back what we had last year.  It's always been you that's kept us apart.  You said that we would just be friends, remember?"

"But that's what I don't get, Jo?  I broke up with you.  I took off last spring and I never really said goodbye.  I can't even understand why you want to try this again.  I'm still not convinced that I'm the one for you."

"Pacey, why wouldn't you be the one?  Because you're not in college?  Wrong.  You are in college.  Because you're not motivated and goal-oriented?  Wrong.  You're doing double duty with your EMT training.  There's nothing standing in our way but your own insecurities.  When are you going to realize that you are everything I could ever want...and more?"

A small smile spread across Pacey's face.  He tipped his head and took Joey's face into his hands.  He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs.  "How did I ever get so lucky?"

Joey closed her eyes and purred, "Mmmmm.  I don't know."

***************

"Are you having fun?"

"Uh, sure.  Impending doom with every twist and turn.  My idea of a great date."

Drue moved in front of Jen and held both of her hands in his.  "Come on.  It's not so bad.  You're actually doing quite well.  How do you like your present?"

Jen beamed as she glanced down at her bright white ice skates.  "I still can't figure out how you knew what size to get me."

"Hey, I have my ways.  And you haven't even come close to sending us to the emergency room yet.  Imagine that."

"Yeah.  But that's only because you've been holding on to me the entire time."

"Well, I could let go."

"No!"  Jen looked absolutely terrified as released her hands and continued to skate backwards in front of her.  "Drue, this is not funny!"

"You're doing fine, baby.  Just don't look down.  I'm right here.  And I'm not going to let you fall and damage that sexy ass of yours."

Drue continued to stay just out of her reach.  "I'm really doing it.  I can't believe it!"

"And pretty soon, you'll be doing sit spins and triple toe loops.  Or whatever they call that stuff."  Drue sped up and skated in a circle around her.  He ended up behind her with his hands on her waist.  He nuzzled his nose in the crook of her neck and whispered, "You know, I think that I'll be intruding at the love nest if I try to go home tonight."

"Oh no.  You can't stay at Grams' tonight.  She'll freak."

Drue guided Jen to the railing.  Once she had a firm grip on the wall there, he turned her to face him.  "What are you talking about?  The woman adores me.  Besides, you two owe me.  I helped you pack, remember?"

Jen sighed.  "Okay.  But I'm only doing this to help out Joey and Pacey.  It has nothing to with tonight or my gift or..."

"Just shut up and kiss me."  Drue pulled Jen close and planted a searing kiss on her lips.  She felt her body melt against him as she decided that it was worthless to try and resist the Valentine charm.  Her lips parted as Drue used his tongue to massage hers.  When he finally released her, Jen felt dizzy.  She used both hands to support herself.  "I think we need to get out of here before we melt the ice, Drue."

Drue linked arms with her and teased, "Awww, Jen.  Is that your not-so-subtle way of saying you enjoyed that?"

"In your dreams."

"Mmmm, I hope not," he sleazed.

***************

"Hey, Potter.  Wake up, you're snoring."

Joey stretched and yawned.  "I don't snore."

"Okay.  Just keep telling yourself that.  Come on, let's go to bed."

Joey sat up and stared at Pacey.  "You want us to..."

"No!  I just meant we should get to bed...in our own beds.  Don't you think?"

"Of course.  I think I'm going to take a hot bath first.  That couch is not the most comfortable thing.  I'm kind of stiff," she commented.

"Me too."

"Pacey!"  Joey chased Pacey down the hall and tackled him outside the bathroom door.  He moved her to the wall and pinned her wrists behind her back.  "Do you give up?" he asked her.

"Let me go!" she squealed.

"No way."  Pacey moved closer.  Joey looked up at him with desire in her eyes.  Pacey knew what that look meant.  He let her wrists go and pulled away slowly.  "Go take your bath.  I'll leave you alone.  Unless you need someone to wash your back?"

"I do.  I wonder if Drue is busy," Joey teased.

"Goodnight, Jo."

Joey watched Pacey go into his bedroom.  She sighed when she realized that he wasn't going to join her.

***************

"Pacey?"

"Yeah?"  Pacey looked up from his book and smiled when he saw Joey leaning against the doorframe.  She had pulled her hair up into a messy ponytail and her cotton nightshirt was barely covering the top of her thighs.

"I was just wondering if..."

Pacey pulled the bedspread back and patted the space next to him.  "Come here."  Joey bit her lower lip as she watched Pacey turn to place his book on the shelf behind him.  He wasn't wearing anything but a pair of boxers.  "Were you studying?" she asked.

"Nah.  Just trying to keep my mind off of certain things."

Joey slid between the sheets and snuggled close to Pacey.  He wrapped his arms around her as he lay on his back.  "What were you trying to keep your mind off of, Pacey?"

"Oh, just the fact that this is the first time that you and I have ever been in this apartment alone together."

Joey looked up at him with adoring eyes.  "Is there anything wrong with that?"

"No, it's actually perfect."

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

More Fanfic