Pacey set Joey’s suitcase next to Jack and Andie’s.  The siblings had just returned from their vacation and were being filled in on the ‘Joey situation’ when she had returned.  Jack jumped up and gave Joey a quick squeeze.  “I’m sorry that we missed the funeral, Joey,” he whispered.

Andie followed suit and told Joey, “We’re glad you’re back.”

“This calls for a celebration,” Drue announced.  “Everybody get changed.  I’m taking you out for a dinner you’ll never forget.  I know just the place.”  Drue smiled wickedly.

The gang agreed and scattered off to their rooms.  Jen grabbed Joey’s bags and wrapped an arm around her as they headed towards their bedroom.

Drue, still smiling, glanced at Pacey.  Drue playfully punched Pacey in the arm and said, “Aren’t you happy, man?  She’s back.”

Pacey knew Joey well enough to know that nothing in their relationship was ever easy.  He didn’t expect things to fall back into place for them.  They had a lot to discuss.  As Pacey thought about his apology at the cemetery, he wondered if she had truly forgiven him yet.  A look of concern crossed Pacey’s face as he nodded slowly.  “Yeah…it’s great.”
Drue had chosen a quiet little Italian restaurant for them to dine at.  It had the checkered tablecloths and red candles on the table and everything.  It was impossible not to notice how comfortable and happy everyone was right then.  Things hadn’t been this content since before Tobey’s birthday party.

Pacey regarded Joey.  She seemed quiet but not really sad.  Maybe she’s preoccupied, he thought.  More than once, Pacey had been tempted to reach under the table and squeeze her hand.  She was definitely avoiding his gaze and that had him confused.

Joey was listening to all the conversations around her.  Andie had insisted that Drue call Ben and Tobey and invite them out with the group.  Andie was going on to Ben about how beautiful Hawaii was.  Tobey was listening to Jack gush about the surfing and that the food was the best he’d ever tasted.  Drue and Jen were all cuddled up together and Jen was actually…smiling.  What the hell is going on here?  I didn’t know that Jen and Drue were together, she thought.  Joey had been so caught up with her dramas that she had completely forgotten that the morning she had gotten the call from Bessie, Jen and Drue had come together.  At the time, she thought that they had seemed close, but she disregarded it.

Joey looked at Pacey now.  He probably knew what was going on with those two.  Pacey was picking at his food and not really involved in the conversations around him.  Joey lifted her hand and moved to place it on his, but she hesitated.  Yes, Pacey seemed delighted to have Joey back.  But was that guilt…or love?  Joey felt sick over the fact that she let Pacey think that she blamed him for not spending time with her father before he died.  It wasn’t true.  And now that Joey was back it was time to set the record straight and see what she could salvage of their friendship.  Pacey glanced up and caught Joey peering at him.  His eyes searched hers and there seemed to be words on the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t seem ready to speak them…yet.
Pacey unlocked the door to the apartment and held it open for Joey.  The apartment was so quiet now.  Jen and Drue had stayed at the restaurant, while Jack and Andie went home with their respective boyfriends.  Pacey reached out to Joey and helped her off with her coat.  After he had removed his own coat, he turned to her and smiled uneasily.  “We can talk now,” he blurted.  “I mean I’d really like to talk…to you.”

Joey reached up and pulled her hair into a ponytail.  She twisted it for a moment and then admitted, “I was really hoping we could wait until tomorrow.  I am so exhausted, Pacey.  You understand, right?”

Pacey sighed deeply and stuffed his hands into his pockets.  “Yeah, sure, Jo.  It’ll keep until tomorrow.”  Joey smiled and slipped past him.  She barely brushed against his arm but she was close enough to him that when he breathed deeply, he could smell her hair.  When her back was to him, he reached out to touch, but she was gone.
Joey had finished her unpacking and was getting settled into bed when Jen and Drue came through her bedroom door.  They were hugging and kissing and barely seemed to notice that she was in the room.  Joey cleared her throat and smiled.  “Joey!  Hey, how’s it going?” Drue stammered.

“Um, Drue, let’s take this out to the living room.”  The couple turned to leave as Joey protested, “You know what?  Let me go.  It’s no big deal.  You don’t mind if I sleep in your bed, do you Drue?”

Drue glanced at Jen before answering.  “Yeah!  Go ahead, Potter.  Or sleep in Pacey’s bed, if you feel like it.”  Jen punched Drue and apologized to Joey.  “He’s kidding.”  They watched Joey gather up her pillow and blanket and pad off to the room across the hall.

“So, Lindley, you have me all to yourself.  The question is…what are you going to do with me?” Drue smirked.

Jen tipped her head back to look at Drue and smiled.  “Well, I should beat your ass for being so insensitive to Joey.  But you’d probably like that…so no.  How about…” she reached up to cup his face, “if I kiss you?”
Joey edged Pacey’s door open and whispered, “Pacey, can I come in?”

“Sure.”  Joey opened the door to find Pacey stretched out on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.  A small glow was coming from the lamp behind him.  Pacey sat up when he saw her enter.  He smiled a little at the thought that she couldn’t wait to talk to him.  Confusion crossed his face when she placed her pillow and blanket on Drue’s bed and started making herself comfortable.  “What are you doing?”

“Oh!  Drue and Jen just got back so I thought I’d be considerate and let them have their space,” Joey explained.  “Goodnight,” she added.

“Drue…God, you are driving me crazy,” Jen breathed.  There was a pile of clothes on the floor and Drue was toying with the edge of panties.  “Take them off,” she whispered.

Drue lifted his head from the spot on her neck that he had just been nuzzling.  He gazed at her face with her eyes squeezed shut and her breath ragged.  Her eyes snapped open.  “What’s wrong?” she asked when she realized that he had not removed her under-garments yet.

Drue brought his free hand up to her face and stroked her cheek.  “Jen, you know you don’t mean it.  We said that we were going to wait.”

“Drue, we’ve known each other for seven years now.  How much longer do we need to wait?”  She reached up to pull him back into a deep kiss.  Drue eased back and kissed the top of her head.  “But I don’t want to screw this up, Jenny.  I’ve never felt like…I’ve never…” he tried to explain.

“What, Drue?  Tell me, please.”

Drue dropped his head and sighed.  “This is the first time that I’ve wanted to sleep with someone and thought that there would be a possibility of a future.  You know I’m crazy about you and I just can’t afford to lose the trust I’ve gained.”

Jen peered into Drue’s gorgeous blue eyes and smiled.  “You won’t.  I want this…I want you.  I won’t let you treat me like the skanks you usually date.”  Drue laughed and she kissed the tip of his nose.  “You’ve changed so much and I know that you won’t hurt me.  We’re doing the right thing.”

Jen leaned against Drue, which forced him on his back so she could position herself above him.  As she straddled his hips, she reached up to unhook her black lace bra.  She watched his eyes as he watched her.  Fingers explored as her nails raked his chest and he caught her nipples between each forefinger and thumb.  She began grinding into him slowly as his hands moved from her breasts to her hips.  Jen gripped the top of her headboard for leverage.  Drue captured a breast that dangled just above his mouth.  He suckled one and then the other as she drew in a deep breath.  Two fingers on each side removed her flimsy panties and then moved to discard his own.

Drue moved from Jen’s breast to her mouth and he couldn’t decide which tasted better.  His hands snaked up her back and sent tingles through her scalp.  His hands came to rest on the back of Jen’s neck.  Once she had released her grip on the headboard, he seized the opportunity to over power her and turn her onto her back.  Jen’s fingers explored his flat stomach and moved between them to tantalize the silky length of him.  Jen moaned when she remembered how big he was.  She couldn’t wait to experience the way he’d fill her up.  Jen released him only to open her nightstand drawer and find protection.  Drue never imagined putting on a condom could feel so good, but everything Jen did was so damn sexy!

She held him just above her moist opening.  He gazed down at her, as if to check one last time if she was sure.  When she smiled lovingly back at him, he slowly entered her.  Drue took his time and allowed her a moment to adjust to him.  They moaned simultaneously as each experienced the feeling of the other.  He began establishing a rhythm as Jen writhed below him.  Her fingers tangled through his thick, black hair and pulled him into another deep kiss.  Drue never remembered sex feeling this good.  He cared about Jen and how he was making her feel.  Maybe it was the anticipation of all the years he had yearned for her.  Or maybe it was something a little more.  All he knew was that she felt slick and soft and being inside of her was something he wouldn’t soon forget.
Joey awoke with a start.  It was still very dark but enough light trickled through the blinds to allow her to see the Pacey was not in his bed.  She sat up and peered around the room.  “Are you okay?” he asked.  Joey used the sound of his voice to locate him.  She stood on weary legs and crossed the room to join him.  Pacey looked up at her from his spot in his favorite chair.  “Come here, Joey.”

Joey allowed Pacey to pull her into his lap.  She adjusted herself and swung her legs over the arm of the chair.  Pacey rested one hand on the back of her neck and the other on her stomach.  He gazed up at her for a moment before trying to speak.  “I missed you,” was all he could think of to say.

Joey stroked his cheek and smiled.  “I need to tell you something, Pacey.  This isn’t easy, but I need to say it.”  Joey took in a deep breath and proceeded.  “I know you think that I blamed you because I rushed home after Christmas and I didn’t spend time with my father.  But that wasn’t entirely true.”  Pacey looked concerned.  “I was so angry with myself.  My dad tried to reach out to me before I came back here.  I was brooding about us and feeling guilty for the way I treated you before I left.”

“What are you trying to say, Jo?”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.  I wanted to be with you and I don’t regret coming back here or the time we spent together.  I just wish that I had had more time with him.  It was wrong for me to let you think that I blamed you.  I blame myself.”  Joey squeezed her eyes shut as tears struggled to break free.  Pacey used the hand on the back of her neck to bring her face to meet his lips.  He kissed her tears and held her tightly.

“It’s okay, baby.  Shhhh.  I understand.  I just needed to know that you didn’t hate me.”  Joey pulled away slightly and stared at him incredulously.  “I don’t hate you.  I could never hate.  You mean everything in the world to me, Pace.  And…I think I’m in love with you.”

Pacey’s face brightened as a huge grin spread across his face.  “You think or you know?”

“I know,” she replied.  Pacey stroked her chin with his thumb and tipped her face so that their lips were barely touching.  Joey leaned into him and kissed him gently.  He opened his mouth to her as her tongue explored.  As she deepened the kiss, Pacey lifted Joey and carried her to his bed.  As they lay sleeping next to each other that night, Pacey wondered if he’d ever felt more optimistic about his future with her.

3 months later…

Pacey walked around the town enjoying the warmish breeze on his face.  It was a typical spring day in Boston, beautiful and sunny but not exactly warm.  In fact, Boston would never be hot like the Caribbean, as he had experienced it last summer.  He smiled as images of the exquisite sunrises he had seen crossed his mind.  The only thing he was sorry for was the fact that he didn't have anybody to share these memories with and this was exactly the thing he wanted to change.

Before Christmas, before all these things happen to her family, Joey had told him that she wanted them to be together.  In fact she expected him to make a decision.  He didn't feel equal to her; he felt that he didn't deserve her but that had changed now.  He had found a purpose; he had found himself and all he wanted was to share this new happiness with the one person he loved the most.  He had to admit that life without sharing didn't deserve much.  But he should think about her too.

 Her father had just died and she almost made the worst mistake of her life over guilt.  Joey was hurt.  As a person, she had her own private dramas that she had to surpass in order to make a fresh start.  He had to be careful and that's why he waited so long.  But he couldn't wait any longer.  His body ached when she came near him for whatever reason.  His hands trembled by the urge to touch her, to bury her to his arms and never let her go.
 
After that night, when she came back from Capeside, she had practically moved to his room.  Jen and Drue were, as Drue charmingly stated, an 'item' and they wanted their privacy.  So Joey was sleeping in his room and sometimes in his bed.  Sometimes they kissed but nothing else.  This was a torment as far as he was concerned and he couldn't stand it any longer.  He wanted her so badly he couldn't breathe sometimes.  He wanted things to be clear with them, so he decided to take matters into his hands.  Of course this was not the only thing he wanted to take into his hands.

He found himself at the place he was headed to.  He nodded and went in.

Jen leaned by the kitchen doorframe as she listened carefully to her friend.

"I'm going mad," Joey stated seriously.  "I think that I'm going to take this pan," she lifted the one she was currently washing, "and hit him on the head.  Hard.  Doesn't he understand?  What is he waiting for?"

Jen shrugged her shoulders.  "Maybe he's waiting for you to make the first move.  I mean you had actually considered leaving Boston.  Maybe he wants to be sure.  I don't know."

"But I came back!  And we behave like a couple.  We just haven't said it yet and…" Joey blushed.

"There's a considerable lack of sex."  Jen finished her sentence.

"Yes." Joey condescended reluctantly.

"And you miss sex."

"I miss Pacey."

Jen smiled.  "That's what I said."

When Pacey entered his room later that day he wasn't surprised to find Joey on Drue's bed reading.  Oh, my God, I love her, he thought as she was sitting there, cross-legged with her book on her lap.  Her long brown hair was almost covering her face and she pushed it back with her hand, mechanically.

He stood in the middle of the free space between the two beds and talked to her as she looked up, realizing his presence.

"Jo, come here."

"Why?" she inquired while she stood up next to the bed.

He didn't answer her.  "Closer," he said.

She made a step to his direction and stopped.

"Closer," he demanded again.

She took one more step.  She was now right in front of him and she shivered as she always did when she felt him so near her.

"Turn around," he ordered.

"Listen, Witter, if you think that I'm going to turn my back on you…"

"Please?" he interrupted her and she obeyed.

"Now close your eyes."

She did and she felt his hands around her neck.  Something cold touched her body just below her collarbone.  She opened her eyes and saw the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen.  It was silver with a thin, elegant chain and small, very light pink stones scattered around it.

"Pacey…" she turned around to look at him.  "It's beautiful.  What is it for?"

"This is a way to say to you that I love you and to ask if…"

"Yes,” she said with a smile that reached her brown eyes.  "I want us to be together."  She put her arms around his neck.  "I can't stand it anymore.  I… I love you too."

He didn't need to hear anything more.  His eyes noticed her mouth, half opened waiting for him.  He didn't waste any more time.  He brushed her lips with his and then he took her lower lip into his teeth.  She made a little voice and returned the kiss passionately. Her tongue explored his mouth as she came closer to him and touched his body with her own.  He took her face into his hands as he placed little kisses onto her lips and he teased her constantly with his tongue.  Finally they broke the kiss by the need to breathe and Joey put her head on his chest.

They held each other there for a few seconds and she put her arms under his jacket, which he didn't have a chance to take off.  He ran his hands on her body and she felt his hot breath on her ear.  "Now there's one more thing that we have to do…"

"What?" she whispered and she felt her knees tremble.

"Date,” he whispered even slower. "What did you think?"

She blushed and didn't answer.

"Tell you what, Miss Josephine Potter. If you wear your most beautiful dress tonight and let me pick you up at eight, I'll do something for you."

"What?"

"I'll give you the chance to seduce me."

Before Joey had a chance to reply to Pacey’s request, Jen came bursting into the room.  “You guys, I have the best news!  Do you have any plans for tonight?” Jen asked, excitedly.

“Well…” Pacey began.

“It doesn’t matter.  Change your plans because I have a big announcement and I need you guys there.”  Jen rushed out before either had a chance to protest.  Pacey noticed the disappointed look on Joey’s face.  “It’s okay.  We have plenty of time, Joey.  Our spring break starts tomorrow and the only plans I have are to be with you.”

“That’s weird.  Those are the same plans I have.”  Joey smiled widely and tried to mask her disappointment.

An hour later, the whole group sat in a large booth at their favorite pizzeria and waited for Jen to unleash this news on them.  “Okay, so I talked to Grams today and I found out that if we want to, we could all go to Florida for spring break.”  Jen paused for a moment to gauge their reactions.  “You see, a friend of hers has a condo down in Miami and she won’t be there next week.  As long as we can pay our way down there and we clean up after ourselves, it’s ours.  The place has 3 bedrooms, so I thought we could all go,” she explained.

Pacey and Joey watched as the rest of the group chatted excitedly.  Pacey cleared his throat and addressed Jen.  “You know, that sounds like a great offer, Jen.  I just don’t know if we should all go.  Shouldn’t someone stay in town to keep am eye on the apartment...and Grams for that matter?”

Joey chimed in.  “Yeah, I just don’t think that I can afford to go, Jen.  But it’s a really nice offer.”  Jen glanced back and forth between Joey and Pacey and knew exactly what they were thinking.  They wanted to pass up sun and fun for some quiet time in the apartment alone.

“Well, if Pacey and Joey can’t go, can Jack and I invite Tobey and Ben?” Andie asked enthusiastically.  Jen agreed and the plans were made.  The group would take Drue’s truck and leave first thing tomorrow.  Joey couldn’t wait to have Mr. Witter all to herself.
Pacey shut the door after he and Joey had said goodbye to Drue, Andie, Jack and Jen.  They were getting an early start since they had to pick up Tobey, who was staying at a friend’s and Ben.  Pacey turned to find Joey smiling shyly at him.  “What are you thinking, Potter?”

Joey took Pacey by the hand and led him to the couch.  “Well, I was just wondering how we were planning on spending this week together.  I mean it’s not that often that we have this place to ourselves, you know?”

“I have an idea.”  Pacey stood and held his hand out to Joey.  She took it and followed him to the kitchen.  Pacey lifted Joey and set her on the kitchen counter.  He turned his attention towards the refrigerator and began collecting items from there.  “What are we doing, Pace?”

Pacey’s head peeked out from behind the refrigerator and he smiled.  “I’m going to make you breakfast.”

Joey thought that Pacey was being sweet but she doubted his competence as a chef.  She hopped down from the counter and protested, “Just let me do this.  I don’t mind…really.”

“No way!  Now get back up on that counter.  You get to watch…that’s it.  Your coffee will be ready in a minute, so here’s some juice while you wait.”  When Pacey handed her the juice, Joey seized the opportunity to pull Pacey into a hug.  He chuckled and said, “What’s this for?”

Joey pulled back and peered into his beautiful eyes.  “Just because I love you.”

Pacey smiled broadly and stroked her cheek with his thumb.  “Okay, Potter.  Let me get back to work.”

Joey watched lovingly as Pacey tried to crack eggs and fish the shells out of the bowl.  He burned the first batch of French toast, but he still kept trying.  Joey drank in the aroma of the blueberry muffins baking in the oven.

When the muffins were done and had cooled, Pacey buttered one and brought it to Joey’s lips.  After she had taken a bite, Pacey pulled back to gauge her reaction.  “Mmmmm.  Pacey, that is so good!” she exclaimed.  Some of the butter slid off the muffin and landed on Joey’s bare thigh, just below the hem of her boxers.  “Uh-oh.  Look what I did,” Pacey said innocently.

Joey reached for a dishtowel, but Pacey stopped her.  “Let me.”

Pacey lowered himself to his knees and began lapping at her skin.  The cool butter liquefied when it touched her warm skin.  The butter melted on her thigh and slid down to her knee.  Joey watched him now, licking and sucking on her.  She squeezed her eyes shut and let her head fall back to rest on the cabinet behind her.  “Oh, Pace.  This feels so good,” she murmured.

Once he had licked her leg clean, he rose and planted a buttery kiss on her lips.  “Hungry yet?”

Joey’s eyes stayed closed as she replied, “Yes, but not for food.”

“Josephine Potter!  I am surprised at you.  Are those impure thoughts you’re having?”

Her eyes snapped open.  She wiggled her eyebrows and smirked, “Mmmm-hmmm.  And what do you expect?”  Joey pulled him into a sexy hug and began planting tiny kisses on along his collarbone.  Pacey could feel himself melting as she touched him.  “No, no, no.  This can wait.  Let’s eat breakfast, Joey.”

“You are no fun!  How can you think of eating at a time like this?”

“It’s difficult, but I’m trying.  Come on.  I’ll let you set the table.”
“Oh!  I am exhausted.”

“I bet you are.  But it was a perfect day, wasn’t it?”

Pacey and Joey had just collapsed on the couch after having returned from their day in the city.  Jack was kind enough to leave Pacey the keys to his car.  So Pacey had discreetly packed a picnic lunch and surprised Joey with it.  The day had consisted of a long walk in the park, a lazy lunch under a giant oak tree, feeding ducks by the pond and a swim.  Joey couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun.

“Yes it was.  It was perfect because I was with you.”  Joey turned to face Pacey on the couch just as he jumped up.  “Hey!  I got one more surprise.  I’ll be right back.”  With that, Pacey took off towards his bedroom.

“Pace!” she called.  “You don’t have to.  You’ve done enough for me today.”  Pacey didn’t answer.  Joey turned her body and stretched out on the couch.  She was dozing off when Pacey returned.  “Hey, sleepyhead.  Come here.”