Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 1/?
Summary: AU Starts when the trio is 8 years old. Pacey’s father takes drastic measures to make things better in his family. More summary to follow.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

----------break------

“Pop why?” An eight-year-old Pacey Witter whimpered. Pleading with his father, his freshly bruised eye still hurt, his swollen lip trembling, his shaking hands holding his military duffel before him. “Why do I have to go?”

“Because I’m tired of your lip.” John Witter snarled, yanking Pacey’s arm nearly out of its socket as he dragged his son to his awaiting cruiser. It was nice to be sheriff of a small town, you have more pull with people in higher government like courts and adoption agencies. Which is exactly where he was going. The only person who knew his intentions was his wife, Mary. Throwing his boy toward the car, he growled. “Get the fuck in the car boy.”

Trembling Pacey nodded, turning and yanking open the cruiser’s door. Shoving his bag across to the passenger side, he nearly vaulted over the driver’s seat and into the passenger seat, clamming up as close to the door as he could. “Please Pop.”

“Shut your mouth boy.” John snapped sitting in the driver’s seat, his arm flying across the seat, his knuckles catching Pacey on the jaw. “I said shut up.”

Pacey cradled his new wound, tears silently trickling down his cheeks, his eyes drifting out of the window as his father put the car in gear and pulled out of the driveway.

Pacey watched in fear as buildings dissolved into roads which turned into highways. It felt like days had passed before they pulled up to a large building, a plaque hanging just above the door.

Southeast School for Children

“Pop please, I’ll be better.” Pacey pleaded once more, cringing as his father forced him out of the car.

“Bullshit! Move!!” John hissed pulling Pacey out by his hair then guiding him by the back of his neck toward the front door, an older man and woman standing just in front. “Paul, Barbara thank you for meeting me. I need to get rid of my troublemaker.”

“We can help with that.” Paul snickered accepting the envelope from John while nodding to Barbara to take Pacey.”

Rolling her eyes at the interaction Barbara dropped to eye level with Pacey smiling brightly. “Come on sweetheart, lets get you settled.”

Pacey eyed her carefully before following the older woman into the building.

Read and review…if you want more. I came up with this one literally hours ago but don’t worry I am still good on my others

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 2/?
Summary: Starts pre series AU. Pacey’s father takes drastic actions to make things better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot
Rating: R

-----------break---------------

“Momma can I go play with Dawson and Pacey?” A seven-and-a-half-year-old Joey Potter asked, her eyes shining brightly up at her.

“I thought you didn’t like Pacey?” Lillian Potter chuckled slicing up some small red potatoes to go with their dinner.

“He pulls my pigtails.” Joey complained crossing her arms across her chest in a juvenile huff.

“But she doesn’t care when Dawson pulls her tails.” A twelve-year-old Bessie Potter teased grabbing an apple off the counter and walking to the door.

“I do too.” Joey grouched, turning back to her mother, she pouted using her doe eyes as an extra tactic. “Please can I go momma?”

“Yes Josephine, just be back before dark.”

“Thanks momma.”

----------break---------

Joey smiled sliding in through her best friend’s window. She could see him in their favorite movie, E.T. “Hey Dawson.”

“Hey Joey.” He smiled watching her sidle up on her side of the bed, a giddy smile on her lips. “Have you seen Pacey? He was supposed to bring snacks but hasn’t showed.”

“Of course.” Joey rolled her eyes sliding down on the bed. “He probably forgot?”

“He may forget snacks, but he never forgets movie night.” Dawson admonished sitting back next to her on the bed. “Maybe I should call him?”

“How about we don’t and say we did?” Joey suggested grabbing the remote to turn the movie on when he snatched it back and stood up.

“I’m going to call him.”

Rolling her eyes again she lay against his pillows, listening to his soft timbre on the phone. He stepped in a minute later, confusion written all over his face. “What?”

“That was weird. Gretchen said she hasn’t seen him at all today.”

Joey sat up her own confusion registering. That was weird. Even if he was hiding Gretchen could always track him down without fail. “Did she look in all of his hiding spots?”

“Yeah. She looked everywhere, even said his room looks like it hasn’t been touched in two days.”

“Do you…do you think he’d run away?”

“I wouldn’t put it past him.” Dawson shrugged sitting on the bed. “But I think if he actually ran away, she’d come here or go to your place.”

That was true. Even the eight-year-old Pacey Witter. Sheriffs’ son. Wouldn’t actually run away. “Maybe he just needs a few days?”

“His dad has been pretty harsh on him lately.”

“I know.” A slight worry started to settle in the pit of her stomach. She had seen Mr. Witter get rough with Pacey on more than one occasion, she just hoped he hadn’t gotten violent. “Let’s watch the movie?”

“Ok.” Dawson hit play on the movie. Both friends watching the movie, each with a bit of worry still lingering between them.

Read and review…if you want more. This one is more angsty than the last three so be prepared.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 3/?
Summary: AU pre-series. Pacey’s father takes drastic actions to make things better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

------------break---------

8 years later

“Come on guys!!” A 15-year-old Dawson huffed for what felt like the thousandth time, his head shaking. “Can you guys not get one scene right?”

“I’m doing the best I can.” Joey complained crossing her arms in front of her, her oversized shirt covering up most of the bikini top she wore.

“I can’t help it that water is slick.” A 14-year-old Jack griped shaking his hair after taking off the monster mask.

“And that your extremely clumsy.” Jack’s twin, Andie smirked stepping up behind Dawson, her arm squeezing between his.

“Zip it.” Jack growled walking toward the other end of the dock. “Whoa. Who’s that?”

“Who?” Dawson and Joey questioned simultaneously turning to where Jack was looking.

From a taxi out stepped a beautiful blonde her hair and sundress flowing in the gentle breeze. As she walked toward the group the other door to the cab opened revealing a man in a blue ball cap, his route determined, heading directly for the house next to Dawson’s.

While Dawson and Jack had eyes on the blonde vixen, Joey’s eyes followed the mysterious man that walked in the house.

“Hi I’m Jen.” The blonde introduced stepping in front of the group, her smile dazzling.

“Hi I’m Andie…” The boisterous blonde, standing behind Dawson pointed to the man half still in his monster costume, standing next to her. “And this is my brother Jack.”

“I’m Dawson.” Dawson giggled eyeing the buxom blonde up and down.

Joey rolled her eyes shaking her head. “I’m Joey.” Pointing to the house she added. “Who was that?”

Looking back to her grandmother’s house Jen chucked. “Oh, that’s my adopted brother…well technically Grams adopted him, but I think of him like a brother.”

“Why didn’t he come over?” Jack asked, his eyes raising in question.

“He’s not very social.”

“That’s too bad.” Andie shook her head, her hand clasping over Dawson’s wrist. “What brings you here?”

“My Grams thought it was better to get us out of the city. She’s had this house since I was a baby.”

“So, Mrs. Ryan is your grandmother?” Joey asked remembering Bessie’s stories of the witchy church lady that used to live next to the Leery’s.

“Yeah. She can be quite the hard nut.”

Dawson chuckled, pointing to his equipment. “You want to check out my film?”

“Sure.” Jen grinned stepping over to the equipment as Joey’s drifted back to her house, a nagging feeling hitting her belly.

-----------break----------

“Hey Joey.” Andie came running from Dawson’s house stopping the brunette. “Dawson wants to have a movie night. Should we invite the new kids?”

Joey shrugged her eyes, turning to Jen’s house. “Couldn’t hurt.”

The pair walked up the steps of the house. Once at the door Andie knocked rapidly, her eyes bright. It was nearly a full minute before the door opened.

“Hey.” Andie started when Joey cut her off, her eyes wide.

“P…Pacey?”

Read and review…if you want more

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 4/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make things better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

------------break--------------

“P…Pacey?”

Pacey’s eyes widened in shock before he turned, running up the stairs to the second floor, leaving the door wide open.

Joey’s heart stuttered seeing her old friend before he bolted, Andie next to her shaking her shoulder gently.

“Who’s Pacey?”

Shaking her head Joey turned and sprinted back to Dawson’s house. Once inside she darted up the stairs. “Dawson!”

“What?!” Dawson grouched stepping out of his room, an irritated look on his face. “What Joey?”

“He’s back.” Joey breathed her eyes wide, her breathing heavy. “Pacey’s back.”

Shaking his head in confusion his own eyes bulged. “What? When?”

“When Jen came to town. Who she was saying was her adopted brother…its Pacey.”

“Adopted brother?” Confusion remained as Dawson shook his head once more. “What do you mean adopted? He has a family.”

“I don’t know. That’s what Jen called him yesterday.”

“We should go try and talk to him?” Dawson suggested heading for the stairs.

“I’m not sure he’ll be too keen on doing that right now.” Joey countered pulling him back into the room, her eyes drawing toward Dawson’s window.

“Why not?”

“Because I barely got his name out, he looked at me wide eyed and then bolted back upstairs.”

“He’s scared.” The blonde noted, his eyes moving to Joey. “We have to talk to him.”

“How?” Joey bit her lip, the worry settling back in her belly. If he was scared to see her and Dawson, then how would he be when he ran into his family?

“I don’t know.”

Read and review…if you want more. Sorry for the shortness, more longer chapters to come

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 5/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey father takes drastic action to make things better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot
Rating: R
A/N: I am slightly ahead on this one so I give you another chapter.

-------------break-----------

By sheer luck on Joey’s part, she got her chance to talk with Pacey later that night heading for her rowboat.

She found him at the end of the dock, head hanging over a lifted knee, his other leg dangling just over the water, his barefoot barely touching the water. “P…Pacey?”

Pacey’s head shot up heart pounding he moved to get off the dock when Joey put her hands up, inching closer. “Please don’t leave.” When he nodded backing up to the other end of the dock, he eyed her carefully. “What happened to you?”

His eyes dropped to the water, his fingers gliding across the wooden dock, his voice low as he responded. “You don’t want to know.”

“Actually, I do.” Joey answered back softly, her eyes drawing over his scared form. “One day you were here and the next you were gone.”

Pacey was quiet for a long minute when his ocean blue eyes met hers. “If I tell you Jo you can’t tell anyone…even Dawson.”

Her heart skipped a beat hearing her name escape his lips. She thought he may have forgotten who she was. “I won’t.”

“Do you remember that night we camped out on your lawn?” When she nodded, he took a breath, his voice eeking out shakily. “I had brought my dads finishing poles…without asking…he wasn’t too kind when I brought them back.”

Joey’s heart gave a lurch, that violent thought she had so many years ago felt like it was breaking the surface. “Did…did he put his hands on you?”

Blinking back tears Pacey’s eyes dropped to the dock, nodding. “I was still on the ground when he barked at me to get the fuck up and grab my shit…he forced me into his cruiser. He drove and drove until the sun was coming up…and we got there.”

Unshed tears were in her eyes as she listened to her friend tell his story. “Where was there?”

“Southeast School for Children in Brooklyn, New York.”

“He gave you up?” Joey deduced with wide eyes, her heart aching in her chest.

“Yeah I…” Pacey nodded before suddenly standing and heading towards Gram’s house. “I can’t talk about this anymore.”

Before he could get too far Joey stood grasping his hand. “Pace?”

He turned back to her, cautiously eyeing her hand that held his. “Yeah?”

Joey smiled giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m here if you want to talk…or just to hang. Whichever.”

Squeezing her hand back Pacey offered a small smile before dropping her hand. “Thanks Jo.”

Blushing Joey grinned watching him head into his house. “No problem Pace.”

------------------break------------

Hours later Joey tossed and turned on her couch bed. The ache in her heart deepened with the knowledge that a young Pacey dealt with so much that she and Dawson never saw.

He hadn't gone into specifics, but she could still imagine Mr. Witter knocking Pacey around. She had to wonder if anyone in the Witter household knew or if Pacey was in his own personal hell.

If he was, she wished she’d been a better friend to him, then maybe things would have been different. He would have been safe here with the people that actually cared about him, not taken to some random place with random people who knew nothing about him.

Right here, right now Joey made a promise with herself to make Pacey’s life better in any way she could from here on out. Pulling in a breath Joey tried to relax herself enough to fall asleep.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 6/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make things better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot
Rating: R

-----------break----------

“How often do you guys do these movie nights?” Jen asked from her spot hanging on the side of Dawson’s bed.

“At least once a week, sometimes more.” Andie giggled, sitting between Dawson and Jen on the bed.

“Is your brother coming?” Jack asked from his usual spot at Dawson’s desk.

Joey’s ears peaked from her spot in front of the bed as Jen relayed.

“No, he just wanted to be alone.”

Joey sighed she hoped he’d come, the longer he hid the more he felt like a figment of her imagination. “I’m gonna grab a soda. Anybody want?” Everybody but Jack said so she headed downstairs. She was midway through pulling out the Cokes when there was a knock on the back door.

“I got it.” She yelled toward the stairs, but she knew no one else would come down anyway. Stepping to the door she opened it without forethought opening her mouth to greet whoever it was when it dropped, finding Pacey on the other side. “Hey.”

“Hi…I’m not intruding, am I?” Pacey mumbled meekly, his eyes hitting the deck floor.

“Of course not.” She pushed open the door allowing him to pass into the kitchen. “You can help me take the sodas upstairs…you can grab one if you want.”

“Thanks.” He smiled pulling another soda out of the fridge before following Joey up the stairs. “I can’t believe Dawson still does these movie nights.”

“Every week.” They both stopped a few feet from Dawson’s room. “Are you ready to go in there?”

“No…” Pacey breathed eyes his friend’s door that he hadn’t seen in almost nine years. “But you gotta pull off the Band aid, right?”

“Yeah.” She could already see signs there was a different Pacey Witter before her. “Let’s go.”

Nodding he followed her into Dawson’s room, his heart racing.

“You’ll never guess who was at the door.” Joey announced to the room stepping aside to let them see who it was.

They all looked up Dawson’s eyes widening as Jen responded. “Hey bro, you made it.”

“P…Pacey…” Dawson stuttered standing up to get a better look at his long missing friend. “I can’t believe it’s really you.”

Pacey opened his mouth to stutter a response when Jen spoke up, her eyes bouncing between the three as the twins looked on. “You guys know each other?”

Pacey cringed placing the soda cans on the dresser by the door, turning to face the five sets of eyes in the room. “Lindley…when Grams said we were moving here…I was born here. My biological family is here.”

This time it was Jen’s eyes that bulged as Dawson questioned. “Where have you been? Where did you disappear to?”

Feeling sufficiently annoyed with the sudden third-degree, Pacey snapped. “You want to know what happened? After a thorough beating from my father…at eight years old mind you…he forced me into his police cruiser and dropped me off like a piece of trash at an orphanage in New York. Throw in the money that exchanged hands and it was a real party.” His final words came out sarcastic, but he could already see it. The judgement. What he learned to hide from. “I don’t need this.”

Turning back around Pacey stomped down the steps and out of his childhood safe haven and back into the night.

“Are you happy now?” Joey growled at Dawson dropping her sodas to the floor and followed Pacey.

“Did you know about this?” Jen hissed at Dawson, her arms crossing across her chest.

“Joey said she’d seen him, but I had no idea he was your brother.”

“And his dad?” Jen said carefully watching her new friend to see any changes in his demeanor. “Did you know about that?”

“No.” Dawson shook his head adamantly plopping back on his bed. “No one would think the town Sheriff would beat his son.”

Closing her eyes, Jen’s heart stuttered. “The Sheriff?”

------------break-----------------

“Pacey!!” Joey yelled as she got outside her eyes darting between the two houses. “Pacey?!” When she came up empty Joey sighed walking to her rowboat. She stopped short to find Pacey sitting, facing away from her, in the rowboat. “Pace…”

“Can we go to your house? I don’t want to be here anymore.” His tone was subdued, his eyes on the boat bottom.

“We can…but you have to do the rowing.”

Pacey carefully turned in the boat, a wide smile on his lips, his hand reaching out to help her in the boat. “I can do that.”

Snickering Joey grasped his hand, gasping at the sudden tingle that shot up her arm at the contact. To cover her reaction, she grabbed at the deck, easing into the boat. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He chuckled waiting for her to pull the rope off the dock. He put the oars in the water, rowing toward the direction he remembered to be Joey’s house. “So, when we get there are your mom and Bessie going to ream me? Or your dad?” When he received silence, he took in her rigid form. “Jo…what is it?”

Rolling her lips in Joey wet them bringing her eyes up to his, unshed tears in them. “Bessie will be more shocked to see you…dad went to prison about three years ago on drug charges…” She tried to hold back the tears, her eyes clouding. “Mom…passed away…from cancer…about a year after you disappeared.”

Pacey dropped the oars midway through her sentence, his eyes wide. “Oh my god Jo. I’m sorry I…”

“There’s no way you could have known Pace.” Then he did something she never expected, not from him at least. He pulled her into a hug, a bear hug, it was slightly awkward given their positions in the boat, but she leaned into it, into the warmth she didn’t know he had.

“Still…I’m sorry I made you relive that pain again.”

His hold was firm and his tone strong as he held her close for a minute longer before pulling back. “I know that, but you didn’t know so there’s no need to apologize.” Joey barked in complaint, a soft smile on her lips as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

Pulling back Pacey held his hands up in slight defense returning her smile. “Then I won’t.” Grabbing the oars he resumed rowing them toward her house in a companionable silence.

Coming to stop at her dock, Pacey pulled himself out of the boat before offering her his hand.

“Since when did you become such a gentleman?” Joey thought she hit a nerve when his silence came back, his hand dropping hers once she was safely on deck but the blush that fanned his cheeks proved otherwise.

“You can blame that on Mama Ryan. I told her I wont frequent church but she kind of beat the politeness in me.” He noticed his wrong choice of words too late as he backed up toward her house. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to say it like that.”

Joey chuckled shaking her head following him up the lawn. “You don’t need to apologize for every little thing…but keep talking. I like it.”

Pacey grinned his face lighting up to a bright pink hue. “Ok. What do you want to know?”

“What can you tell me?” Joey returned taking a seat on the steps leading up to her house.

Sitting down next to her he raised a finger to his chin in a comical fashion. “Hmm.” He waited a moment to add to the effect before responding. “Mama Ryan’s is the first I’ve felt at home…at home, ever.”

“Oh my god Pace…”

“Jo stop.” Placing his hand over hers Pacey shook his head. “If I have to stop apologizing, so do you.”

Throwing him a mock grouchy look she sighed. “Ok…when did you get adopted by Mrs. Ryan?”

Pacey groaned, his tongue slipping between his lips, his lips pressing together before he answered, his eyes on the deck behind them, his voice low and distant. “It was just after my tenth birthday. I had spent as much time out of the ‘school’ doing whatever I could. I had been ‘adopted’ twice before that, but they were no better than my dad.” He stopped, finding her eyes as saucers, the emotions of that time creeping in.

Taking a breath, he started again, his eyes once again diverting. “When they both brought me back, I found ways to stay out. My favorite was Central Park…I’d stay out there for hours, walking the park, playing with other kids and feeding the birds.” Rubbing his eyes tiredly Pacey resituated on the step. “I was sitting on one of the benches, feeding the birds with some day-old bread I found behind a bakery. Mama Ryan sat down next to me throwing her own bread. She did that for a bit before she asked me why I wasn’t in school…and I told her.” He paused to get his bearings. “After that she made it a point to come to same spot after that, talking to me for hours…one day she invited me to a party her daughter was throwing. I felt weird until I found out it was Jen’s tenth birthday. We got along really well and come to find out the next week Mama Ryan, her daughter Helen, and their lawyer came to the school announcing they were adopting me and that was that. I didn’t believe it until they showed up for me.” Tears pooled in his eyes at the memory, his eyes finally drawing up to her again. “I’ve been with them ever since.”

Tears pooled in her eyes with his story, the emotions getting to her as she leaned over pulling him into a tight hug. “Wow Pacey, that is so amazing.”

“It is.” Pacey chuckled pulling back. He felt a sudden frisson flowing between them he didn’t recognize. “Umm I should probably get back, so Mama doesn’t worry.”

“How are you getting back?”

“I guess walking…I just hope I don’t have a run in…with…”

Joey forgot he still hadn’t come across a Witter yet. “You could always use my boat…but there’s a caveat.”

Snickering Pacey crossed his arms playfully. “What’s that?”

“You gotta bring it back.” She announced playfully glaring back.

He felt the electrical jolt between them with their banter and her soft eyes constantly on him. “Ok.” Her answering smile sent another jolt through him before he bolted back to the boat.

Read and review…if you want more. Hope that clears some spiderwebs, working on writing more on this one and ‘Unforeseen’ so those will have more updates until my brain can come up with something for the final chap of ‘Heartache’ and the next of ‘The Longest…’

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 7/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey’s father takes drastic actions to make things better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot
Rating: R

-----------break--------------

“Please tell me I’m not doing this.” Pacey begged Joey as they sat outside Capeside’s only ice cream shop, their backs to the street. Their friends sat across from them chatting away.

After the debacle at movie night and a very intense talk with Jen, Pacey had a sit down with Andie, Dawson, and Jack, giving them an abbreviated explanation of what his father had done but he didn’t have in enough trust in any of them to say more.

With things on an even footing Andie suggested they all do something that didn’t involve a film and that brought them here.

“You are…” Joey chuckled knocking her shoulder into his. “What kind of ice cream do you want?”

“I can get it.” Pacey protested moving to stand when Joey pushed him back down.

“What kind?”

Sighing, Pacey relented, glaring at her playfully. “Cookie dough.”

“Ok.” Grinning in victory Joey stood heading toward the door.

Andie seeing her followed suit. “I’ll come with you Joey.” They were inside for just a few minutes when they stepped out ice creams in hand, when they stopped seeing what was before them Andie stuttered. “Sheriff Witter.”

Hearing those words Pacey stiffened his fearful eyes reaching Joey’s sympathetic ones. Taking a breath, he turned to greet the father he once knew when another shock hit his chest. “Doug?”

Doug’s eyes bulged as he subconsciously adjusted his uniform. “P…Pacey?”

Breath hitching Pacey tried to maintain enough breath to eek out another question. “When did you become sheriff?”

Doug still too shocked for words stumbled on them. “Where the hell did you go?”

“Ask Pop.” Pacey growled standing up and walking in the opposite direction of his brother, his pace steady.

“What the hell does he mean?” Doug uncharacteristically barked causing even Dawson to jump.

Joey swallowed the snap on her tongue, replying soberly. “You’d have to ask him yourself.”

Doug sighed in frustration shaking his head. Following in the direction Pacey went, he found him sitting on a bench on the dock, his eyes on the water. Sitting down next to him the older Witter turned to the younger. “Pacey? What happened?”

“I already told you Doug, ask Pop.” Pacey mumbled picking at his shirt, refusing to even look at his brother.

“Pace…I can’t…” Pacey’s eyes darted to his older brother, uncertainty tingling his toes.

“Why?”

“Because…” Doug hissed standing up and putting some space between them as he admitted. “Pop passed away…about three years ago…from a heart attack.”

“Of course.” Pacey growled heatedly standing up, trying to calm himself but it was to no avail, the anger he long held for the man who threw him out like a piece of trash, bubbling to the surface he snapped his blazing eyes meeting his brothers. “You want to know what happened? Our asshole jerk of a father decided it would be fun to beat me within an inch of my life before shoving me into his cruiser and driving me to an orphanage in New York where he left me at eight years old after paying off the Director.” Emotionally and physically spent, Pacey turned back to Doug, his eyes saying all he couldn’t. “Happy now?” Pacey didn’t wait to hear if Doug had a response instead heading home, he’d have to talk to Joey later when he didn’t feel like he was on shaky ground.

---------------break----

It wasn’t until a few nights later he found the strength to crawl out of his hole rowing Joey’s own boat back to her dock. Her look of surprise when she opened the door made Pacey smile. “Hey.”

“Hey there stranger, was hoping you’d come back after talking with Doug.” She smiled closing the door behind her, grabbing his hand she pulled him down onto the steps.

“I would have…but things got too emotional, and I didn’t want to put that on you.” Pacey sighed leaning closer to her playfully knocking his knee into hers.

“And just where are you putting it?” Joey leaned back on the steps bringing them even closer, her eyes squinting at him in silly half-hearted glare.

“That’s for me to know…and you to find out.” His last few words came out slowly, their eyes meeting, getting lost in one another as sparks shot like fireworks between them. Neither noticed how close they were getting until Joey placed a hand on his cheek muttering ‘I plan to’ before their lips met.

It was a tentative brush of lips that quickly turned into fire, his hands cupping her cheeks to keep her close while hers rest against his chest. The desire to take it deeper loomed between them, but shock and fear outweighed that for Pacey, forcing him back across the step, stuttering. “I’m…I’m sorry I have to go.”

Joey watched as he vaulted off the step, his retreating figure heading for her boat as she panted for breath. She knew why he left but she really didn’t want him to go, her heart raced while it ached for him. She’d give him a few days to process then they would talk about that kiss.

Read and review…if you want more. Woop woop another chapter

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 8/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R
A/N: I’m going to update all stories as quickly as I possibly can. Were having some issues with the place we stay so I will be doing quite a bit of packing and for a possible interstate move within the next month or two but like I said I will write and type as much as I can. I love creating these stories and love your feedback even more. So I will write and type as quickly and as often as I can.

--------break---------

Pressing his knuckles in his eyes Pacey groaned. They had started at school a few days previous and after his run in with Doug there was no way he was going to the greater Capeside area to be ambushed again. It didn’t help that now he was avoiding Joey, after their impromptu kiss he was afraid she’d sock him if he got too close.

Sure, they had gotten closer since he had been back, but he probably screwed that up. She hated him when they were kids and she’d hate him now.

Growling in frustration he tried to focus on his geometry, trying to get ahead when Mama Ryan stepped out onto the back porch, where Pacey sat, announcing. “You have some visitors Pacey.”

“I do…” Pacey responded standing up when he stopped dead in his tracks. There stood Doug and his sister, Gretchen, her eyes impossibly wide.

“Oh my god!!”

“Gretch…” Pacey started throwing his hands in the air to stop her but she didn’t pay no heed as she barreled into him, gathering him into a bone crushing hug, that she only ever gave to him.

Pacey could feel a tightening pressure in his chest. Gretchen had always been the closest to him. The most affectionate. Shielding him the best she could from their father’s wrath. The hug she gave him now was the most love a Witter had shown him in almost a decade.

“Oh my god Pace…little brother!!” Gretchen pulled back tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked Pacey in the eyes. “I missed you so much.”

Pacey watched her eyes move to Doug, their shared gaze causing his breath to hitch in his chest. “Pacey, did Pop really…did he…”

Pacey nodded, unable to answer verbally, the raw emotions on his sister’s face and the pain that dwelled in him eating him up from the inside out.

“Oh Pacey.” She whimpered, pulling him back into her chest, her hug even tighter than before.

Pacey felt the pool of liquid in the corner of his eyes, the tears clouding his vision as he caught sight of his older brother. The new sheriff. With a hand clamped over his mouth and tears drawing a line down to his chin.

Doug and Gretchen didn’t stay much longer, only leaving after the three of them agreed to meet again. This time over dinner to really think about what happened all those years ago.

Pacey sat back down trying to focus back on his math homework. But he only found a blurred jumble of blobs, his heart vibrating deep in his chest and felt as if he could barely breathe.

Abandoning his work, he pushed through the screen door blindly moving to the dock. How he got in the boat and across the creek he didn’t know. Scrambling across her dock Pacey tried to catch his breath enough to get to her door.

Pounding on her door he yelled out a breathless ‘Jo!’ before he collapsed against the jamb, praying she heard him.

Joey opened the door moments later, her eyes wide, her arms reaching out to catch Pacey before he hit the ground. “Oh my god Pace.” Pulling him inside she pushed him on her couch, it was only then she noticed his heaving breaths. “Put your head between your knees.” She instructed rubbing his back in a gentle soothe.

Pacey nodded, hanging his head between his jittering knees his shaking hands barely keeping himself upright.

“Take deep breaths. In and out. I’ll be right back.” She jogged to her bathroom pulling a hand towel off the stack, she quickly wet it before moving back to the living room. Finding him in the same position she let out a breath of relief seeing his erratic breaths had eased slightly.

Placing the wet towel gently on the back of his neck Joey sat back down next to him, her hand returning to its gentle movement on his back. “Pace what’s wrong? What happened?”

Unconsciously grabbing her knee Pacey sat up a bit pulling the warm towel off his neck. “Doug came to the house…with Gretchen…I didn’t even know he knew where I was.”

Shaking her head Joey lifted her hand to the back of his neck using the gentle movement to ease the tension in his neck and back. “Gotta love the job as sheriff.”

Ignoring her sarcastic comment je leaned back against the cushion his eyes drawing to hers as he breathed. “Gretchen...she hugged me…so tight…said she missed me…then I couldn’t breathe…couldn’t catch my breath.”

Sensing he was heading in the same direction Joey turned into him using her other hand to cup his cheek. “Relax Pace…breath. You had an anxiety attack.”

“Great.” He sighed, leaning into her hands. Opening his eyes Pacey became breathless for another reason. Joey stared warmly in his eyes, and he could feel himself leaning into her.

Joey had wanted to talk to him about their previous kiss but as he leaned in so did, she, their lips meeting softly.

Pulling back slightly he felt her exhilarated breath as he used his other hand to pull her back into him, capturing her lips once more.

Dizzy with want and the desire to taste more of him Joey grasped his shirt to pull him closer while pushing him back against the couch, their mouths opening as the kiss deepened.

Their tongues dueled in a dizzying dance, their hands exploring searching for exposed skin. Her hands clutched his hair as his explored her back slipping up her shirt, up her bare spine as the kiss deepened further.

“Joey!” Bessie’s booming voice yanked the pair apart, Joey forcing herself into the middle seat of the couch while Pacey stood up hands shaking as he shook his head.

“I should go.” Pacey sputtered shakily darting for the door stumbling past a confused Bessie.

“Where’s Pacey going?” Bessie questioned stepping in the living room, finding Joey with her head down and panting for breath. “Joey??”

Joey looked up at her sister, her heart racing as she replayed the kiss over in her mind, the feel of his lips on hers, his hands gliding up and down her back sending a delicious tingle down her spine making her wish he was back here. “Home.”

Shaking her head at her sister Bessie moved to the kitchen to put away the groceries he had in hand.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 9/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make things better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

------------break--------------

Joey could not concentrate to save her life.

Mr. Marks had put a few problems to work on the board as a warmup but as she wrote the first digit the numbers morphed into Pacey’s adorable face, a soft dimpled smile on his lips as he leaned in to take her lips. The memory took over from the daydream, her tongue leached out desperate for another taste of his lips.

“JOEY!!” Jen’s booming voice jolted her out of the memory, her heart racing in her chest.

“Jeez Jen give a girl a heart attack.” Joey grunted shoving her stuff carelessly in her backpack standing up and following her blonde friend to their lockers.

“Well sorry I called your name like three times after the bell rang and you didn’t budge.” Jen huffed, pushing open her locker and exchanging books. “Where the hell were you?”

“On another planet.” Joey muttered sarcastically rubbing a hand across her face. “You don’t want to know Jen. Trust me.”

Rolling her eyes Jen shoved her locker closed turning on Joey. “You know it’s sad enough I get this at home. I don’t need it here too.”

“What do you mean?”

“Pacey…the last few days has been acting even weirder than normal.”

Joey’s heart skipped a beat at his name, her eyes clenched shut. “Jen if I tell you, you can’t freak out and you can’t tell anyone.”

Jen’s eyes squinted in confusion as she shook her head. “Ok Joey…what is it?”

“Pacey and I…” She lost her breath just saying his name, her eyes squeezing shut tighter. “Pacey and I kissed. And I thought it was the once…and I know he’s going through a lot right now…but I can’t stop thinking about him.”

Jen’s grin was broad as she leaned against her locker. “Well that explains it.”

“What?”

“Why my brother is acting like a spazz and why your so distant.”

“I have not been distant.” Joey protested flushing as she realized she didn’t know if she had math homework.

“Joey you barely touched your food at lunch.” Jen pointed out raising an eyebrow in question.

“God I’m such an idiot.” Joey whined dramatically leaning against the wall next to the blonde.

“You’re not an idiot.” Jen reassured, a soft smile on her lips. “It sounds like you’re in love…you both are.”

Joey’s eyes widened at her friend. She couldn’t be right, could she?

------------break--------

Joey had a few days to think before she saw Pacey again, his head down and walk slow. He was once again walking up her lawn from her boat.

He looked up briefly, their eyes meeting, an electrical tether, pulling them to stand across from one another.

“Jo I…” He stopped short, his mouth opening to speak again, his eyes once again lifting to hers. Their gazes remained transfixed, their fiery frisson shooting between them like a lightning bolt. “I…”

Frustrated with his own lack of words Pacey growled before stomping off toward the side of the house.

Joey chuckled nervously following him to the side of the house. When she got there, she found him pacing a line from the tree to the A/C unit and back again.

“I don’t know what to do here Jo.” He breathed watching his own feet as they walked back toward Joey. “The one thing I remember…that I cant forget from when we were kids was the fact you hated me…so for us to kiss…even once is confusing me.”

His words finished as he stopped in front of her, their eyes meeting again.

Joey smiled, reaching for his hand giving it a gentle squeeze. “Its confusing me too…you’ve been through so much most of which I still don’t know…but I want to.”

Pacey gave her hand a tentative squeeze back swallowing down the sudden stir of emotions in his gut. “Jo…I want to tell you…but its not pleasant.”

Squeezing his hand again Joey took a half a step forward. “Try me.”

Pulling his hand from hers Pacey backed up to the side of the house, his eyes clutching painfully. “You know that director I mentioned…that my father paid off to get me in the orphanage?”

Joey watched him closely, his stance firmly against the wall, his eyes squeezing tight, and hands clenched at his sides. “Yeah.”

“On my ninth birthday he came into my room and tried to rape me…for the second time.” He opened his eyes as he finished staring at her shocked expression, eyes wide. “That’s not even the worst of it.”

“Pace…”

Shaking his head Pacey sighed rubbing a hand across his face. “Jo…I can’t do this…”

“Can’t do what?” She asked, stepping into him, her hands cupping his cheeks bringing his eyes back to hers. “The exact thing I asked of you? I know you’ve been through hell Pace…but I want to know.”

Staring into her honest chocolate eyes Pacey’s heart pounded like the beat of an old drum. “Doug and Gretchen want me to come to dinner, would you go with me?”

Grinning Joey traced his lower lip with her thumb, nodding. “Yeah.” Their eyes danced before mutually drawing together. Their lips like magnets, the electrical charge fueling the increase in passion between them.

Groaning Pacey changed their positions pressing her into the side of the house as the kiss deepened.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 10/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make things better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot
Rating: R
A/N: I am working on the last chapter of ‘Heartache’ and the next chapter of ‘Unforeseen simultaneously so I should have them in the next few days.

-----------break--------

“I can’t believe no one has noticed I can’t keep my hands to myself around you anymore.” Pacey growled pulling her into another deep kiss, his hands gliding up her sides and along her lower back.

“Just your sister…but I take fault in that.” Joey breathed curling her arms around his neck, turning her neck to the side to give him room as he trailed kisses down the slender column.

“Why?” He nipped at her neck causing her to whimper as he leaned back to look in her eyes.

“I needed to talk and there was no way I was talking to Bessie. Plus, Jen found me distracted…I let it slip.”

“Well, I thank you for that.” At her confused pursed expression, he pressed a kiss to those pursed lips, pulling her a fraction of an inch closer. “She came to the house and nudged me out the door. She told me to stop being a spazz and to come talk to you.”

“She should be a therapist.” Joey remarked standing on her tiptoes pressing a firm deep kiss to his lips. Pulling back, out of breath, she pressed her forehead to his. “When are we meeting them?”

Doug and Gretchen agreed to a sit-down dinner at the Icehouse. Not exactly the place he wanted to bare the horrors of his past but with the familiar location and Joey’s presence he hoped that’d be enough. “In a half hour…we should start heading over.”

Joey pouted mingling their lips once more before pulling back. “Ok.” They started walking to her boat, their fingers intertwining part way down the lawn.

He held a handout as they got to the end of the dock, helping her ease into the small boat. “Jo…promise me something.”

Sitting on one of the wooden seats she looked at him confused, watching him settle across from her. “Anything.”

Taking a breath, he put his hands on the oars but didn’t put them in the water. “Whatever comes out tonight…about my past…if you have any issues with any of it, please tell me…I don’t want to lose…”

“Me?” Joey finished for him with a smile on her face as she put her hand over his on the oar. “You know your not gonna lose me Pace…and I already told you I want to know. The good, the bad, and the ugly.”

Swallowing down the fear in the gut Pacey closed his eyes, covering her hand with his. “Ok.” Opening his eyes he pulled her hand to his lips before putting both hands back on the oars, rowing them across the creek to Grams, their ride to the Icehouse.

They arrived at the Icehouse five minutes early. Finding a booth in the corner of the room they sat to one side of the booth sitting side by side, their hands touching on the seat.

Joey could feel Pacey tense beside her as Doug and Gretchen walked in, their eyes light. Squeezing his hand underneath the table she whispered ‘relax’ as Doug and Gretchen slipped in across from them.

“Thanks.” Pacey whispered back, his eyes taking in his siblings. This was the first time he’d seen Doug out of uniform, and it was kind of jarring. “Hi guys.”

“Pacey…Joey, how are you?” Gretchen asked politely, her hand playing with the napkin on the table, her eyes on Joey.

“I’m alright.” Seeing where his sister’s eyes lay, he added. “I invited Joey…for moral support. I hope you guys don’t mind.”

“Of course not.” Doug answered for them both, his hands crossing on the table in front of him. “Do you want to order or talk first.”

“Talk…definitely talk.” He didn’t want to talk at all, but he knew being here and seeing them it would have to come out. Eight years of his life was taken from him and those that cared to know, should know.

“Well, we know where Pop took you…what happened after that?” Gretchen brought her eyes to her baby brother, her heart racing.

Pacey swallowed thickly, his eyes on the table as he recalled. “The first month I was the same mischievous rambunctious eight-year-old I was here…then one night the Director got tired of my attitude and decided to show me who was boss.” He watched Doug and Gretchen, their eyes trained on him as he finished. “He forced me face down on my bed, yanked my shorts off and had his pants almost all the way down when the house mother Barbara came in and got him off me.”

Gretchen gasped muttering an ‘oh my god’ behind her hand as Doug regarded him with wide eyes.

“He had tried again on my ninth birthday, but I didn’t let him. I was adopted the first time a few days later…” He stopped to catch his bearings tears coming to his eyes. He felt Joey squeeze his hand, but he was too caught up in the thoughts of the past to reciprocate. “That foster father was as bad if not worse than Pop…he tried to force me to go down on him, but I refused so he whipped me. The one time I got close enough to his dick I bit down on it and tried to mangle it, but he got so pissed he picked me up and rammed me into the wall multiple times.” He stopped to gauge the table but only found shock and dumbfounded looks, even Joey looked pale, stunned into silence.

“I fell to the floor, and he gave me a few good blows to my chest, broke a few ribs…a week later after the bruises faded, he took me back.”

“Is…was there more?” Gretchen asked tentatively, her hand squeezing at Doug’s trying not to let her true emotions out.

“There is…” Pacey cleared his throat, his eyes moving from his siblings to Joey, who was silently watching him, her hand pulling his into her lap, holding onto it tightly. “But I don’t want to overwhelm you guys.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that Pace.” Doug murmured genuinely, his eyes taking in his brother for the first time.

“Not your fault Doug.” Pacey sighed rubbing a hand on the back of his neck, his eyes turning back of his neck, his eyes turning back to Joey who stared at him intently.

“Pacey…we were gonna have dinner with mom this weekend, would you come?”

Pacey cleared his throat, his eyes clenching shut as his hand clamped Joey’s hand tighter between his, pulling her hand into his lap. “Mama Ryan is throwing me a birthday part on Saturday.”

“That’s ok…we can do it Sunday?” Gretchen offered glancing between the pair.

“Ok.” Pacey swallowed the lump that was growing in his throat, his heart racing. “Umm…you guys are welcome to come to the party…Mama Ryan always makes a lot.”

“We can do that.” Doug agreed with a smile grabbing a menu at the end of the table, he offered one to Joey and Pacey. “Why don’t we order.”

The rest of the meal was relatively benign, with easy conversations and soft banter.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 11/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make things better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R
A/N: Jillian Kennard, I am in the process of working on your story idea so be on the lookout in the next few weeks. Still working on Unforeseen and New Beginnings, The Longest… is delayed due to lack of a plot bunny but no worries it’ll come. Thank you, loyal readers!!!

----------------break---------------
Pacey stared at the quarter sheet cake in front of him. The stauch white frosting accentuated the bright green lettering spelling out ‘Happy Birthday Pacey.’ This was his first birthday since being back in Capeside and he wasn’t sure how to feel.

This was the first time his old life was mingling with his new one and he was nervous. His birthdays were usually cursed in one way or another and he had a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach that this one wouldn’t be any better.

He tried to reassure himself the smiles and birthday wishes Jen and Mama Ryan gave to him were still echoing in his ears, Helen’s annual birthday card sat on his desk, its contents burning a hole through the cheap dollar store card. 500 dollars for his 16th birthday. More than Pop would ever give him, if his father had actually cared enough to keep him under the same roof, that is.

Shaking off the dreariness that settled over him Pacey turned to Mama Ryan giving her a genuine smile. “I’m going up to my room to wait for people to show. Would you send Joey up when she gets here?”

“Will do son.” Evelyn grinned, even with her religious background she had enough trust and faith in her adopted son that he wouldn’t do anything to tarnish that.

Pacey took the steps to his room like an accused would to their execution, his heart filled with pure uncertainty. He wanted to believe today would be a happy day but half the guest list had only know him a short time while other half had only known him until he was eight.

The one sigh of relief was Joey. She knew him when they were kids and was open to learning more about him now…and on top of that she seemed eager to explore this spark that floated between them. He just hoped the rest of his past didn’t scare her away.

The rough footfalls behind him brought Pacey out of his stupor, drawing his eyes to his visitor. The beautiful woman who had taken over his thoughts appearing before his eyes. “Jo.”

“Happy birthday Pace.” Joey grinned placing his gift on the desk in front of him before grasping his shoulders and sliding herself into a straddle over his lap. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Pacey returned her grin nervously placing his hands on her hips, losing himself in her eyes.

Biting her lip, her grin widened before her arms moved behind his neck pulling him into a kiss, she had been dying to give him since yesterday, her leeching out to taste him.

Pacey groaned pulling her closer his mouth opening and accepting her tongue as it dragged across his lips begging for entrance.

“Jeez.” Jen squeaked, coming to a stop outside her brother’s room. “Is this the only thing you two do?”

Her words caused the two to jump apart, Joey nearly hitting the floor scrambling from his lap, a deep red hue painting her cheeks.

“Thanks Lindley.” Pacey grumbled grabbing Joey’s hand before she could dart from the room, pulling her back to his side. “Was there a reason you came by?”

“Grams told me to tell you people are arriving.” Jen snickered before walking back out of the room, leaving Joey and Pacey alone once more.

Pacey sighed, squeezing his eyes shut unconsciously pulling her closer.

Joey, taking notice of his sudden downturn put her hand on the back of his neck, caressing it gently. “Hey what’s wrong?”

Licking his dry lips Pacey fought to keep his tears at bay. “Something bad always happens on my birthday…”

Stroking his neck, she cut him off a soft smile on her lips. “Doesn’t mean its going to today.”

“I wish I had your optimism.” He responded bleakly pulling her back into him. Pressing a few soft kisses to her lips Pacey pressed his forehead to hers squeezing his eyes shut. “If things start going downhill, please save me.”

Joey chuckled pressing a tender kiss to his nose. “Things won’t go downhill…but yes, I will. Now come on birthday boy your late for your own party.” She chided playfully pulling him out of his room.

-----break-------

Two hours in and the party seemed to be going pretty well. A handful of kids from school came, Jack, Andie, Dawson and of course Jen. Mitch, Gail, Bessie, Bodie, Doug, and Gretchen all came bearing gifts.

Before the cake could be cut Pacey’s curse fear became reality. He had excused himself to grab a drink from the kitchen. What he hadn’t expected was for Joey to follow him, pressing him into the counter as she devoured his lips, her desire to taste him reawakening after hours trying to stay apart.

“What the hell is this?” Dawson all but screamed stepping into the kitchen, his eyes wide.

Startled Joey stepped back from Pacey, turning to an irate Dawson, glaring at him. “What’s it to you Dawson?”

Andie, Jack, Jen, and Gretchen, hearing the commotion filtered into the kitchen as Dawson growled. “So, what your idea of a present is to kiss him?”

“What’s it to you?” Joey repeated shaking her head, her irritation growing. “If I want to kiss Pacey I can.”

“What about us?” Dawson barked not noticing as Andie took on her own fuming look.

“Us? There is no us Dawson.” Her expression was livid but also confused her arms crossing in front of her. “We dated for two months over two years ago. Get over it.”

“Well…” Dawson lost a little momentum but still went on. “We don’t know, he could have been ass raped and has a disease that he’s passing onto you through kissing.”

“Are you serious right now?” Joey hissed stepping closer to him, her eyes like fire. “For one if you think that’s possible then you need to retake biology. Secondly you don’t know shit about what he went through, so you don’t have the right to pass judgement.” Joey breathed out feeling herself emotionally drained. “So, either apologize and go back to the party or get the fuck out.” Begrudgingly Dawson rolled his eyes turning on his heel and walking out, Andie just behind him.

Letting out a sigh Joey turned to comfort Pacey but found the spot he was in empty. “Where is Pacey?”

Jen sniffled leaning against the counter next to her. “He went out the door midway through your argument…why is Dawson such a jerk?”

“He’s an only child.” Joey offered shrugging her shoulders. Her mood dampened considerably after the argument but the urge to find Pacey and make sure he was okay increased. “I’m gonna go check on Pacey.”

Stepping outside Joey scanned first the porch then the lawn. “Pacey!!” Her eyes moved to the dock as she let out a sigh of relief, finding her boat gone. He probably rowed to her house for a reprieve.

But when she got home fear took over as she saw her boat but no Pacey. Heading inside her house she called Jen to let her know.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 12/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot
Rating: R

------------------break----------

Joey sighed gnawing on her bottom lip. It had been sixteen hours since anyone had seen or heard from Pacey. After Dawson’s immature blow up and Pacey disappearing from his party, the party came to an abrupt halt, his cake and presents still lying untouched on Mrs. Ryan’s table.

She had started to really worry at midnight, six hours of him being gone but Jen had tried to reassure her that he had done this before, but it still didn’t help the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach.

With very little sleep she sat on her porch watching and hoping for Pacey to show. After a talk with Bessie her concern evident she poured herself a fresh cup of coffee taking her seat back on the porch.

She nearly wept in relief an hour later when her porch door opened Pacey stepped through his eyes drawn. Without a second thought she stood up and enveloped him, holding him to her tightly. “Don’t ever do that to me again…” Joey pulled back lifting his chin bringing their eyes together. “Please?”

Pacey squeezed his lips together nodding. “I’m sorry.”

“Its okay.” She breathed cupping his cheeks her eyes closing feeling his hands on her hips her forehead pressing into his chin. “Its okay.”

They held onto each other for a few minutes basking in their closeness before Pacey spoke, his voice hesitant. “Jo.”

Pulling back Joey brought her eyes to his, her brows raising in question. “Yeah.”

Closing his eyes his hands clutched at her sides his body trembling. “Dawson…Dawson wasn’t completely wrong in what he said.”

Gripping his shoulders Joey kept her eyes on his face. “What do you mean?”

“It means…that I was raped…by my second foster father.” His eyes stayed closed as Joey’s grew wide, her breath hitched at his admission. “I tried so hard to fight him off…but he was so much bigger and stronger…”

“Pace…” Joey cut him off grabbing his cheeks forcing his eyes open and back onto hers. “You don’t have to say anything more. You didn’t do anything wrong…what happened after that?”

He squeezed his eyes shut once more, his hands flexing open and closed nervously at her hips. “I waited until the mother was at work and he was asleep…I found a small bag filled it with some clothes and a book I had been reading and snuck out the front door. I ran back to the orphanage…if I’d known how to get here, I would have.”

“Oh Pace.” Joey cried pulling him in as close as possible, her hand gliding up and down in a soothing manner. “I wish you could have.”

“But I did…” Pacey pulled back with a smile his hand gliding through her chocolate locks. “It may have taken years, but I did…and now I have you.”

“You do have me.” Joey grinned pulling him in and catching his lips, her hand clutching the back of his head to keep him close.

Pulling back Pacey pressed his forehead into hers, his hands moving up her spine. “Jo…I have to go to dinner with Doug, Gretchen and my mom…”

“Yes.” She answered before he could finish a wide smile on her lips. “Yes, I’ll go with you.”

“Thank you.” Pacey exhaled, pulling her even closer, burying his face in her neck. “Thank you for everything…for being there…for holding me…for...”

“Loving you.” Joey finished for him, with a smile, her fingers combing through the hair on the nape of his neck.

He pulled back in shock, taking in her affectionate eyes. “I love you too.” They shared a smile before falling into an addictingly deep kiss.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 13/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R
A/N: Trying to write and type, in the middle of trying to move and now my daughter gave me stomach flu, which is not helping, after my hiatal hernia surgery last year but I’m trying to push through. I love writing and getting all the feedback.

------------break-----------

“There’s a strong possibility I may run out of this dinner.” Pacey muttered somewhat cryptically pressing his forehead onto her shoulder. “But if I do…I’ll meet you at your house.”

“That’s ok Pace.” Joey grinned stroking her hand up and down the back of his neck. “I know no matter what happens tonight. You’ll be on my doorstep tomorrow.”

Pacey lifted his head smiling at her softly, but something was still on his mind. “Hey Jo…what happened with you and Dawson?”

Joey sighed knowing full well this was coming. “After crushing on Dawson for half my life he finally gave me a chance two years ago after I competed in the Ms. Windjammer pageant…I was stupid.” She paused chuckling slightly dropping her forehead onto his, their eyes meeting. “It was all aesthetics…I dress up for the pageant so that’s how I’m going to continue to dress…or so he thought. Then of course he read my journal and tried to pick a fight with me over what I said in it.”

Pacey’s eyes widened, his hands gliding across her lower back in a comforting manner. “Wow.”

“After that he got me to wear a wire to turn my father in when he found out he was dealing again…things haven’t been the same between us since. I don’t even where that stuff came from at your party.”

“And now he has some thought in his head that you’d get back together?”

“Apparently.” Joey smirked, running her hands through his hair, her body pressing closer to his. “But its not gonna happen. I’m content right here.”

Part of him didn’t believe it, he knew of her crush on their blonde friend even at eight years old but seeing the love in her eyes her warm body pressed into him he had to push that out of his mind. “Really?”

“Yes really…now there’s something I’ve been meaning to do since we got here.”

“Wh…” She cut off his confusion pulling him in by the back of his neck, her mouth opening immediately, her tongue slipping in to deepen the kiss. Pacey moaned as their tongues tangled their hands clutching desperately at one another.

“I see Dawson’s words had no effect.” Gretchen snickered walking up the drive to her family home. Finding the pair embraced at the back end of her mother’s car.

“Nope.” Joey grinned pressing another tender kiss to Pacey’s lips before grabbing his hand intertwining their fingers and turning to Gretchen. “Dawson acts like because we’ve been friends for so ling and dated for a short time that it means I’m his possession or something.”

Pacey groaned rubbing a hand across his face. “Jeez seriously I thought he grew out of that.”

“Only child syndrome.” Joey snickered shrugging her shoulders as they turned toward the house.

“Jen’s never been like that.” Pacey pointed out holding tighter to Joey’s hand as they got closer to the house.

“Jen also had you and Grams.” Joey smiled pulling their clasped hands to her lips, as they stopped at the front door.

“Pacey…are you ready for this?” Gretchen asked, seeing Pacey his eyes trained on the door, his breathing picked up.

Pulling in a breath Pacey squeezed Joey’s hand tighter, his eyes glowering at the intimidating door. “As I’ll ever be.”

Gretchen pushed open the door like it was nothing holding it open for the pair. Doug stood by the couch, the clanking of pots in the kitchen doing nothing to ease the anxiety in Pacey’s belly.

The air seemed to escape the room as Mary Witter stepped out of the kitchen, her eyes on her daughter. “Gretchen.” Her eyes barely touched Pacey or Joey, her voice one of disgust. “Pacey…Josie.”

Pacey could feel every fear seep back in with the less than happy greeting. “Mary.”

Joey turned to him her eyes slightly bulged as she acknowledged the older woman. “Mrs. Witter.”

“Let’s eat.” Mary growled gruffly, turning on her heel and walking back to the kitchen.

Doug caught Pacey’s eye offering a reassuring smile before he turned and walked to the kitchen, Gretchen just behind him.

Joey could sense Pacey’s hesitation, his eyes glued to the family table in the other room. “You can do this…lets go.”

Pacey nodded the tension and fear heightening as he and Joey took their seats at the table, Mary turned to him with an alarming glint in her eyes as she crossed her arms across her chest.

“So, you found your way back to Capeside.”

The way the words came out of her mouth made Pacey’s pulse race as he stood back up glaring at the woman that birthed him. “You knew…you knew Pop gave me up.”

Mary snorted glaring at her former son. “Who do you think gave him the idea?”

Pacey didn’t waste any time abandoning his chair as he took off back out of the front door, his breath near hyperventilation as he bolted out into the night, leaving his girlfriend, brother and sister sitting at the table with wide eyes.

“Is this real Ma?” Gretchen asked in shock, staring at her mother with new eyes.

“Yeah…so.” Mary shrugged, grabbing her beer and chugging it her eyes turning to her older son as he stuttered.

“W…why? Why did you give him up?”

“Things were tight….” Mary grouched taking another pull off her beer. “Your father was committed to giving you guys everything. We couldn’t do that with an extra kid…and his trouble making ways would have gotten in the way of your father continuing to be Sheriff.”

Joey felt sick to her stomach sitting at this table, her boyfriend’s mother talking about him like he was another bum off the street.

“So, you guys just dropped him off at some random place in some random city for the heck of it?” Doug hissed in exacerbation, his life taking on a whole new meaning.

Mary shrugged her shoulders, her face emotionless. “Basically.”

Joey couldn’t take it anymore, standing up roughly from the table, her eyes blazing at Mary. “You sick psychotic bitch! If that’s what you felt, then you could have dropped him off at my house or Dawson’s! Our mothers would have taken him in without question.”

“Sorry sweetie but John wouldn’t have done that.” Mary replied overly sweetly, her eyes moving across the room. “The town would talk, especially with the sheriffs youngest staying with the convict’s daughter.”

Joey squinted her eyes at her in disbelief, her heart pounding deep in her chest. “You can go to hell because I guarantee that’s where your husband is now.” Joey didn’t stay to hear anymore, leaving the way she came.

Heading back to her house she hoped Pacey would be there but knew he wouldn’t after the revelation that not just his father was a heartless jerk. She didn’t expect to see him until tomorrow…or the day after but that was okay as long as he was okay. And she planned on ensuring he would not have to deal with anymore pain.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 14/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey father takes drastic actions to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R
A/N: Today is my daughter’s birthday and tomorrow we’re throwing her a party so there may be more delay, but I am posting what I can as soon as possible. Thank you, loyal readers.

-------------break-------------

“Joey.” Dawson hissed startled pulling back from Andie. This was the first time she’d come in the front way since they were little kids.

“Dawson…you need to understand that nothing will ever happen between us again.” Andie looked on in shock as Dawson opened his mouth to speak but Joey shook her head. “And you need to apologize to Pacey for ruining his party and for trying to steal his girlfriend.” She looked between them her expression serious. “Pacey has been through a lot…and I do mean a lot…but he didn’t deserve your childish drama.”

“How bad?” Andie asked pulling back from Dawson her eyes on the brunette.

“Your parents’ worst nightmare.” Joey bit her lip, unsure if she should say more. “I want you to hear the rest from Pacey but Dawson…neither one of his parents wanted him…his mother said it was her idea…and even if he could’ve given him to your parents or mine…they wouldn’t have.” Andie gasped while Dawson shook his head, his breath shaky. “Maybe you should be thinking about that and not trying to get back with me.”

Joey didn’t wait for a response to leave she was eager to get home. Pacey had once again disappeared for the night, and she was hoping he was there when she got there.

Pacey didn’t disappoint as she stepped into the house Bessie informed her that he was waiting on the dock. With a quick ‘thank you’ she darted through the house and out the back door. As soon as she got to the end of the dock Joey dropped next to him, her arms enveloping him in a tight hug pressing him into her chest.

Pacey chuckled into her breast, his hand squeezing her thigh gently. “I’m ok Jo.”

“I know.” Joey sighed running her fingers through his hair her eyes on the ripples flowing across the water. “But you didn’t stay as long as I did last night.”

Realization hit Pacey as he leaned back, his eyes meeting hers. “Tell me.”

Joey gnawed at her lip, her hand closing over his on her thigh. “Your mom…Mary said that things were tight, but your dad wanted to give ‘his’ family the world…but with an extra kid who was decidedly a troublemaker he couldn’t make sheriff.” Pacey snorted but she just held tighter to his hand. “Though they could’ve easily brought you to mine or Dawson’s house she said that would look bad on them so they took you to a random city so that no one would know.”

Pacey sat eyes clenched his breathing slightly labored as he processed this new information. “You know I always knew my parents didn’t really like me…but I never thought they didn’t want me…that they didn’t love me.”

Joey pulled him closer pressing her forehead into the back of his head. “Well, it’s their loss Pace. You are an amazing man, and they didn’t deserve you anyway.”

“I think you’re a little biased.”

Lifting his head she brought their eyes together again. “And I think you’ve never been told just how amazing you are.”

“No but even when we were kids you didn’t think so.” Her eyes dropped in shame, her heart aching. Lifting her chin, Pacey smiled pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. “Can I take you somewhere?”

Joey pulled back her eyes squinting at him in confusion. “Of course.”

Grinning Pacey slipped into her rowboat, holding his hand out to her. “Come on Jo.”

Sliding in behind him Joey raised her brow, giving him a playful smirk. “Where are we going?”

He just smiled grabbing a hold of the oars. “Somewhere special.”

Pacey rowed for some time rowing first to a place she recognized then a place she didn’t. Guiding the boat through a string of tall reeds she was shocked to find a little nook in the reeds leading to an area surrounded by the tall plant a small beach near the back very secluded. The perfect hiding spot. “What is this place?”

Pacey pulled the boat to the edge of the beach. Once the boat was secured, he stepped out of the boat offering her his hand. Helping her out, he finally answered, a serene look in his eyes as he explained. “My sanctuary. I found it when I was five…my dad got bad. Dawson…was on a vacation with his parents and at that point I think you hated me for pulling your pig tails.” Joey cringed but stood firm, she hated her younger self for being so mean to him. “So, I ‘ran’ away…trying to find a place my dad didn’t already know.” Pacey sighed sitting on the ground. He waited until she sat next to him before he finished.

“I stumbled on this place by accident. It wasn’t a cold night, that night, so I fell asleep staring at the stars.” She stared at him dumbfounded, obviously awestruck that a five-year-old Pacey Witter slept alone in the middle of nowhere. “After that if it was my dad or if I was stressed or overwhelmed, I’d come here, and the world would fall away.”

Joey shook her head, turning more into him. “And you brought me here because?”

“Because…” He smiled, grabbing a hold of her hand and interlacing their fingers. “I wanted someone I love to know where I am if I have another incident like last night.

Joey grinned, squeezing his hand and pulling him to her. “I love you too.”

Pacey returned her grin pulling her into his arms, capturing her lips.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 15/?
Summary: AU starts pre-series. Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot
Rating: R

----------break-------------

Pacey shared Evelyn’s smile as he helped her wrap another ball of yarn, sometimes it felt nice to help her with small tasks like this, just knowing she liked having him nearby. The clearing of her throat woke him from his trance as she nodded out toward the screen.

Turning to the backyard, he halted his movement, finding Dawson on the other side of the steps quietly waiting for acknowledgement.

Evelyn answered for him as she took the yarn from Pacey’s hands nodding towards Dawson, “Talk to him.” before she walked back in the house, giving the two men time.

Clearing his throat Pacey stood up and opened the screen door, offering his friend a smile. “Hey D, come on in…” As Dawson stepped through Pacey added with a confused brow. “What brings you by?”

Dawson shuffled a bit uncomfortably before settling in the seat Evelyn abandoned, across from Pacey. “For starters I wanted to say I’m sorry for how I acted at your birthday party…its obvious you and Joey have something…I was just grasping at straws because I was afraid to lose her as a friend.”

Pacey snickered, shaking his head, a soft smile appearing on his lips. “Joey got to you huh?” He wasn’t sure how to feel that his girlfriend seemed to be fighting his battles for him.

“Yes…but she was right I was out of line and I’m sorry.”

Pacey nodded his hands clasping in front of him. “Thank you.” When Dawson didn’t move to get up Pacey eyed him carefully. “Was there something else?”

“Yeah…” Sliding to the edge of the chair Dawson sighed. “I know you’ve been through a lot, and I know I haven’t shown much interest…but I’d like to know…whenever your ready to tell me.”

“Ok…” The words came out long and drawn out, mainly out of shock. “I’m not quite prepared to share yet…”

“Outside of Joey.” Dawson cut off with a smile, his hand covering Pacey’s giving it a gentle squeeze. “Its ok…I’m glad you have her.”

“Me too.” Pacey smiled but the smile dropped from his lips a moment later, his eyes dropping to the table in front of him. “You know I thought she’d always hate me.”

Dawson chuckled, shaking his head. “She never hated you Pacey, she just hated how you acted around her.”

“I never was sure how to act around her.” Pacey admitted sheepishly, a blush resting on his cheeks. “I had sisters, but it was different with Joey…it was always different with her.”

“Uh huh.” Dawson smiled standing up and wiping his hands down the front of his pants. “That’s what it is.”

Pacey stood as well, a confused look on his face. “What?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Joey any differently.” Walking to the screen Dawson turned back to Pacey. “Maybe we could have another movie night? Or double date…” At Pacey’s bulging eyes Dawson explained. “Andie’s been bugging.”

“Ahh…well I’ll ask Joey, but I think a movie night is a safe bet.”

“Cool.” Dawson grinned, tipping his head toward Pacey before walking back out the screen and across the lawn to his house.

-----------break-------

“Hey.” Joey grinned feeling Pacey slide in behind her, on her bed, her eyes turning to him over her shoulder feeling his inner thighs press into her outer ones. “How are you?”

“Good…” He grinned pulling her back into his chest, teasing in her ear. “Bodyguard Joey.”

She jumped at his words turning into him her eyes nervously dancing with his. “What?”

Pacey gave her waist a reassuring squeeze pulling her in closer to him. “You stood up to my mother for me and put Dawson in his place, what else can I call you.”

Shuffling around in his arms Joey gnawed on her lower lip, her finger tracing his lapel lightly. “Girlfriend.”

“Well…” Pacey grinned running a gentle hand through her silken locks. “Will my bodyguard girlfriend accompany me to dinner with Jen and Mama Ryan tomorrow?”

She could feel her heart racing, his gentle touch gliding from her scalp down the side column of her neck. “I can and will.”

“And Dawson talked of an upcoming movie night…” His voice continued to hum low as his delicate touch drew shivers from her as it moved from her hair down.

“Ok.” Joey whispered leaning into his soft touch, mesmerized by how even his calloused hands could draw her in so gently.

“And…” He hated to throw off this moment but added quickly stroking a hand through her hair. “Andie asked for another double date.”

Joey stopped leaning into him, her eyes glaring at him in firm distaste. “No.”

He chuckled running a hand back through her hair pulling her closer. “I know and I told Dawson as such.”

“Good.” Joey grinned leaning in until their noses touched. “Anything else to say?”

Pulling her closer still Pacey drew his nose across hers mingling their breaths. “Your beautiful…and sexy…and I love you.”

Joey could feel the desire trickle up and down her spine with his words, her eyes drawing nearly closed as their eyes met. “I love you.”

Words disappeared as their lips met, their hands stroking, exploring as clothes dissolved, leaving them bared to one another in a way neither expected but neither wanted to stop.

Read and review…if you want more

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 16/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R
A/N: I have been trying to keep up on writing but its been a bit difficult because we are still finding things we need to get for the house. I promise I’m working as much and as quickly as possible on all stories, including ‘The Longest…’ and ‘Heartache’. Gonna try and work on ‘Heartache’ and ‘Only Time Will Tell.’ They are both near completion so I’m going to try and work on them next. I haven’t forgotten ‘Unforeseen’ either but if I can complete even one of the other two it will make it easier to work on. Thank you for reading, including this rant, and I will post more as soon as possible.

-------------------break---------------

“Ok…” Joey breathed stroking a hand across his bare chest her breath escaping her in pants. “I wasn’t meaning for that…to happen...but I’m glad it did.”

“Yeah?” Pacey’s eyes widened in question, his hand drifting down her bare back. “That wasn’t too soon?”

“If I was with anyone else yes…” She mumbled between kisses to his chest, up his neck stopping at his lips. “But it felt right…it feels right.”

“Right, it feels.” Pacey agreed pulling her up to him, attacking her lips. They were both shocked, jolting apart as Bessie bellowed, stepping into the room.

“JOEY!!” Her words stopped seeing the pair in a state of undress. Pulling the door she continued yelling into the door, giving them space to get redressed. “Josephine Potter, what the hell? You’re doing this under my roof!”

“Shit.” Pacey hissed scrambling for his boxers and shorts. Shoving his legs in his boxers then his shorts he barely acknowledged Joey’s ‘It’s okay Pace.’ before he pulled open the door and ran around a stunned Bessie.

It took both sisters a minute to hear the door slam behind Pacey’s rapidly retreating figure before they turned to each other. “I’m guessing Pacey didn’t know I knew about this?”

“No…” Joey bit her lip pulling the sash to tighten the robe around her. Pacey’s sudden jarring existent a jolt of worry to the pit of her stomach. She knew he had been skittish since coming back but this felt different.

--------------break-----------

Joey felt her nerves rattle, she had been right feeling the fear stir in her belly when Pacey bolted from her house, after they made love. Every time she had gone to his house, Jen or Grams politely informed her that he wasn’t there, she didn’t fully believe that. Even going to his special spot, he wasn’t there, so in an act of desperation she pulled Jen aside when she came into the Icehouse at the end of the week.

“Help. Pacey is avoiding me, and I don’t know why…can you just corner him so I can talk to him? Find out what’s going on?”

“Yeah Joey, of course.”

--------------break------------

“So, you’ve been gone a lot lately.” Jen muttered offhandedly, tossing a marshmallow at Pacey, who stood at the stove stirring the pasta sauce that simmered on the stove.

“Yeah…so?” Pacey mumbled evasively staring into the pot of bubbling sauce.

“Joey’s been by a few times…” When he didn’t say anything, Jen sighed. “What happened?”

“Nothing…” Pacey stirred the sauce slightly vigorously his eyes not leaving the stove. “I just…I think I messed up.”

“How?”

Pacey gasped, turning around to find Joey with her arms crossed in front of her. “Jo?”

“How do you think you messed up?” Joey asked pointedly, stepping closer to him.

Looking down Pacey cleared his throat. “I took advantage of you…and Bessie is pissed. I don’t want to ruin your life…your headed for ivy league…I…” Joey cut him off stepping across the room and pulling him into a deep kiss.

Getting lost in each other for a long minute Joey pulled back breathing heavily. “Stop…you did not take advantage of me. We mutually made love.” She grinned widely, looking deep into his eyes. “And Bessie knew you and I were going to get intimate…just not when.” His stunned look made her chuckle. “You wont ruin my life and ivy league or not I want to be with you Pace.”

“Are…are you sure?” Pacey asked tentatively pressing his hands into her hips.

“Yes Pacey…” Joey smiled, letting her hands glide behind his neck, her fingers playing with the short hairs on the back of his neck. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Pacey returned her smile pulling her into him, capturing her lips in a gentle but heated kiss.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 17/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic actions to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

-----------break-----------------

“What do you think of it?”

“It looks like it should be in a scrap heap.” Joey deadpanned shaking her head as Pacey caressed the boat the way he would her when they made out.

“Its beautiful.” Pacey dismissed, turning back to his girlfriend, a wide grin on his lips.

“If that’s beautiful…then what am I?” Joey snarked, popping her hip and crossing her arms.

Pacey grinned stepping up to her, his hands gliding up to her hips as he pulled her closer pressing her to his chest tightly. “You are gorgeous sexy and an absolutely amazing girlfriend.”

Joey’s lips turned up, her piercing brown eyes invading his blue eyes as she held him by his shoulders. “Now you’re messing with me.”

“No.” He whispered in confidence, his eyes gazing deeply into hers. “Josephine you are the sweetest kindest…most caring woman I have ever known.”

Joey blushed shaking her head her fingertips gliding up his neck, teasing the little hairs there. “You are by far the sweetest sexiest man I’ve ever known.”

“Now you’re pulling my leg.” Pacey snickered squeezing her even closer.

“Nope.” She grinned pulling him in by the back of his neck, capturing his lips, their lips opened mutually the kiss becoming thoroughly involved when someone behind them cleared their throat.

“Sorry to interrupt.” Doug smiled looking between the two teens slightly uncomfortable.

Pacey swallowed turning to his brother his eyes taking in his relaxed button down. “Hey, Doug, what brings you down here?”

“Well…Gretchen and I were talking…” Doug paused seeing Pacey shift in unease before he continued. “I understand after everything that happened with mom, if you don’t want to see her again…but Gretchen and I were hoping to get to know you again…especially before you leave for college.”

“Umm…” Pacey sighed looking to Joey who gave him a questioning stare. “Well, I’m not sure yet if I’m going to college…but I’d be okay with seeing you and Gretchen.”

Doug’s tentative smile turned to a grin as he nodded. “Good. Gretchen and I were gonna meet on Friday for dinner. Is the Icehouse okay or would you rather go out of the city?”

“I’m okay with the Icehouse…” Pacey grinned turning to Joey, he grabbed her hand before looking back to Doug. “Would it be okay if Joey came along too?”

“Of course, after the way she reamed mama…” Joey blushed a deep crimson hiding behind her palm. “She’s welcome anytime.”

Pacey laughed clapping his brother’s shoulder while squeezing Joey’s hand. “Yeah, I heard. Wish I could have stayed longer to see…but I know I will if someone tries to cross me.”

Doug and Joey chuckled in response, but she added a playful shove to Pacey’s shoulder. “I’m not that bad.”

“Its okay Jo. I love that you always stick up for me.”

“Of course.” Joey grinned pressing herself into Pacey chest while Doug watched on with a smile.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 18/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

------------break---------

“Why did I agree to do this?” Jen grumbled dramatically throwing down her sandpaper and crossing her arms.

“Because you love me.” Pacey snickered, sharing a smile with Joey, he knew she was there for the same and he loved her for that.

Jen growled rolling her eyes standing up she huffed. “I’m going to get a drink.”

Watching Jen walk toward town Joey shook her head. “Is she coming back?”

“Probably not.” Pacey shrugged in nonchalance turning back to the hull, scrubbing the worn paint on the side.

“That doesn’t bother you?”

“With Jen? No.” Pacey turned back to his girlfriend. “She’s never had the best attention span even with something she does like, I’m surprised she even came here, let alone stayed as long as she did.”

“It used to.” Joey replied casually turning back to her painting of the name plate.

Pacey raised an eye confused turning to his girlfriend. “What do you mean?”

“When we were kids, you hated when Dawson or I had to leave early.”

“Jo.” Placing his sandpaper down Pacey took a few steps toward her. “I hated it because I didn’t want you guys to leave…because when you left, I’d have to go home and deal with Pop.”

The reality of his words hit like a ton of bricks. The abuse he surely dealt with after leaving her and Dawson made her heart shatter. “Oh god Pace…I’m sorry.”

Pacey placed his hands on her hips pulling her closer as he shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Its in the past.” Pressing his forehead to hers he sighed in contentment. “My future is right here.”

Joey grinned leaning into him, her heart fluttering. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He nuzzled his nose with hers leaning down to capture her lips in a dizzying kiss.

“Jeez wont you two cut it out.” Jen griped making the pair jump apart as she grabbed her abandoned sandpaper and started on a new part of the boat.

----------------break----------

“Why do I feel nervous?” Pacey gnawed on his lip, pacing a small circle outside of the Icehouse.

“Because it’s your brother and sister who haven’t seen you in almost a decade who actually want to get to know you even after everything that has happened. “Joey explained trying to get Pacey to calm down. When he leaned against the wall, she smiled knowing she got to him. “Just listen to what they have to say and tell them what your comfortable with.”

Pacey sighed, leaning his head against the wall, a small smile on his lips. “I don’t know what I would do without you Jo.”

Stepping up to him Joey smiled, placing her hands on the wall on either side of him. “You Pacey would’ve been able to handle this with or without me. You are stronger than you realize.”

Cupping her hips he sighed enjoying her closeness. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it.”

“Well, you are.” Grasping his shoulders she pulled him gently away from the side of the building. “Now show me that, they’re probably already inside.”

Begrudgingly and shaky Pacey nodded, grabbing her hand, guiding her inside.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 19/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

------------------break-----

“I still can’t believe I’m going to have a niece or nephew.” Pacey marveled setting the plates down on the table, Evelyn and Jen behind him finishing making their dinner.

“The blessing of a child is always amazing.” Evelyn smiled at Pacey letting him know she counted him in that fact.

Pacey returned the smile as Jen asked. “When is she due?”

“Gretchen said she’s about three months so it should be right around Thanksgiving.”

“A blessed baby indeed.”

Pacey grinned with Mama’s words as her and Jen stepped up to the table with the roast chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. “Mama…I actually wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Oh?” Evelyn inquired while Jen served the chicken on each of their plates.

“I was…I was thinking when the boat is done that I would take it down to the Keys…if that’s ok?”

“Alone?”

“Well…” Pacey started gnawing on his lip, his eyes on Jen. “I was going to see if Joey could come.”

“The two of you…alone on a boat for three months?” Evelyn asked tentatively watching him nod, his eyes moving from Jen’s to hers. “Will you be safe? Call when you’ve docked? Have you talked to Bessie or Bodie?”

“Yes…of course.” Pacey chuckled nervously playing with his fingertips next to his filled plate. “And no, not yet. I wanted to make sure you were okay with it before I asked.”

“Ok.” Evelyn cutting into her chicken breast. “As long as you stay in contact. You and Joey are safe…” She gave him a look that told him she knew they had already been intimate. “You will keep her safe and both of you will come back in one piece.”

Jen chuckled as Pacey nodded. “Ok.” The three of them turned their food, devouring the delicious dinner.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 20/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic actions to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

----------break------------

“Oh jeez. I really should have had dad come with.” Dawson griped, making Jack and Pacey snicker next to him.

“Its not that hard Dawson.” Jack rolled his eyes scanning the list in Pacey’s hand. “I’ll grab these three.”

Pacey nodded looking at the items. They were three self-explanatory items that he knew were a few aisles over. “Thanks man.” Pacey turned to Dawson snickering. “How many times did you come here with your dad when we were kids?”

“Too many to count.” Dawson hissed irritated scanning the walls filled with boating supplies. “But I never paid attention.”

Pacey shook his head laughing under his breath as he pulled Dawson along to find the rest of the list.

The duo finished the list before going in search of Jack. When they found him Pacey nearly fell over as his breath caught in his throat.

There standing next to Jack, talking to him, was his second foster father, Anthony. Pacey barely felt Dawson pull him to them or when Jack introduced the pair to his ‘new friend.’

“Pacey?” Anthony asked coyly turning on the brunette, his eyes drawing over him in a disgusting fascination. “Pacey Witter?”

Pacey could feel his ears burning, his heart racing as he stuttered. “Yeah.”

“You know each other?” Jack asked out of curiosity, looking between the older man and his stunned friend.

“Yes, Pacey and I are old friends.” Anthony smirked, turning to the other two, his eye peering at Pacey. “So, you gentlemen are from Capeside...small town.”

Pacey momentarily clamped his eyes shut, of course the manipulative pedophiliac would weasel information out of Jack. “We…we have to go.”

“Already? Damn I wanted to catch up.” Anthony muttered playfully eyeing Pacey up and down.

Pacey shook his head latching his arms onto both Dawson and Jack’s, pulling them away from their full cart. “Sorry we gotta go.”

Dawson and Jack followed until they got in the car when they bombarded Pacey with questions.

“Who was that guy?”

“How do you know him?”

Immediately Pacey felt overwhelmed, his heart racing. He had had this feeling once before, but he was too far from his safe space and Joey was nowhere near. All he knew was that he couldn’t be there anymore, so he shoved the door back open bolting out of the back seat and away from his friends.

Dawson and Jack shook their heads using the car to search for their friend. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Capeside, to Joey.

Arriving at the Potter house Jack growled. “How are we supposed to tell her?”

“Quickly.” Dawson shrugged cringing as they stepped out of the car walking to the familiar door. Knocking Dawson held his breath as Jack shuffled on his feet when Joey opened the door, a bright smile on her sending a wave of guilt over them.

“Hey guys, where’s Pacey?”

Jack looked at Dawson before answering himself. “We don’t know.”

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 21/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own Anthony and the plot.
Rating: R

-------------break----------

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Joey growled glaring at the pair. “What happened?”

“We were at the boat store picking up supplies when I was approached by this man…he seemed easy to talk to, but it was odd he seemed to know Pacey.” Jack explained throwing his hands up in confusion as Dawson added.

“And Pacey seemed to know him. When we tried to question him, he freaked and bolted from the car. Jack and I went looking for him but couldn’t find him anywhere.”

Joey swallowed thickly fear swirling in the pit of her stomach. “What was the guy’s name?”

“Anthony.” Dawson supplied looking to Jack for confirmation.

Joey instantly tried to wrack her brain for any name Pacey may have said but he hadn’t. He mentioned his father hurting him, his two foster fathers and the director of the orphanage but he hadn’t said a name. “I gotta find him.”

“We’ll go with you.” Dawson declared as him and Jack followed her right out the door.

They searched for hours but it wasn’t until Dawson and Jack departed that she checked his safe place hoping maybe he was hiding there but found it empty.

Arriving back home, heart aching Joey fought the tears in her eyes. She had to find him. She was surprised, stepping into her house to find Jen sitting at her kitchen table. “Jen, what are you doing here?”

She smiled sympathetically standing up from her chair and walking up to the brunette. “You looking for Pacey?”

Joey’s eyes widened as she inhaled, nodding her head vigorously. “Yes, yes, I am. Do you know where he is?”

Nodding toward the kitchen door she muttered. “Come on.”

--------break----

Stepping into Jen’s Joey was about to ask again where he was when the blonde pulled toward Pacey’s room.

Once they stepped in front of the closet Jen smiled. “I’ve found him like this before.”

Joey opened her mouth to question when Jen opened the closet door, revealing a frightened Pacey pressed back in a fetal position against the wall of the closet, his body shaking back and forth. “Oh my god Pacey!” Dropping to the ground she pulled him to her chest, relieved when he fell into her arms, his body shaking.

“He’s back, he’s back.”

Joey shook her head at his whispered words, pulling him infinitely closer, whispering her own words of love as she shared a sad look with Jen.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 22/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

------------break---------

“Wh…what happened?” Joey whispered into his neck, sometime later after Jen left them alone.

Pulling back Pacey tried to catch his breath before answering. “Did Jack and Dawson…”

She cut him off nodding her hands squeezing his shoulder gently. “You ran into some guy named Anthony. Who is he?”

Pacey pulled back even further putting as much distance between them as the closet would allow, pulling his knees to his chest. “Anthony…was my second foster father. The one who…”

He didn’t need to finish the words for her eyes to grow wide her aching heart shattering in her chest. “Did he try anything?”

“No…” He whimpered burying his face into his knees. “…but he got out of Jack that we live in Capeside…he seemed too happy to know where I was.”

“Oh Pace.” Joey cooed guiding her hands back to his shoulders only to be shocked as he pulled away. “Pace?”

Shaking his head Pacey felt the unshed tears start to break free. “I’m sorry…I just…need some time.”

Joey nodded pressing her hand lightly atop his. “Ok…is there anything else I can do?”

“Yes…” Pacey whimpered grabbing onto her hand his tear-filled eyes meeting hers. “Promise me you won’t go anywhere alone…please?”

She could see the absolute fear in his eyes and knew this wasn’t a joke. “I won’t…I promise. Just take care of yourself and call me the second you need me.”

“Jo, you’ll be the first one…” He promised giving her hand a tight squeeze. “I just need this.”

“Its ok Pace…” Joey grinned pressing a kiss to his hand. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 23/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own Anthony so far
Rating: R

-----------break------

As much as Joey had wanted to stay with Pacey, hold him until he regained the strength, she knew he had, she also knew he needed the space. So, with much hesitation she tried to go on with her days waiting for Pacey to come to her.

It wasn’t until five days later that Joey finally met the man that put fear into the man she loved. She met Dawson, Andie, Jack and Jen outside the Rialto when an older man walked up to them.

“Jack…Dawson nice to see you again.” Looking between the group Anthony’s smile widened. “And who are these beautiful ladies?”

Joey felt sick to her stomach as Jack swallowed before answering tentatively. “Our friends Joey and Jen and my sister Andie.”

“Nice to meet you I’m Anthony.”

Andie, as her usual self, responded jovially. “Hi.”

Jen nodded while Joey, Dawson and Jack glared at the older man. Neither Dawson nor Jack knew why but even they could feel he wasn’t a good guy.

“Well, we need to get in or we’ll be late for the movie.” Dawson muttered urgently, putting an arm around Andie and Joey as Jack did with Jen.

“That’s ok. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.” Anthony grinned, giving them all a wave before walking back across the street.

“I don’t like that guy.” Jack hissed as they entered the lobby of the Rialto, Jen nodded next to him.

“Me either.”

“He seemed nice.” Andie squeaked in protest crossing her arms across her chest turning on the group.

“He hurt Pacey…badly.” Joey growled glaring at the blonde her own arms crossing across her chest. “I’m not going to tell you what he did, that’s not my place, but its bad.”

“Oh.” Andie swallowed, turning back the other way to regain her composure.

“We need to do something.” Dawson sighed, stepping up to his girlfriend and enveloping her in his arms.

“We do.” Joey nodded gnawing on her lower lip.

------------break-------

“Hey.” Joey mumbled hesitantly walking up to Pacey as he sat on the edge of the dock.

Pacey jumped smiling slightly upon seeing the brunette behind him. “Hey.”

“I know I said I’d give you some space…and I still plan on it…” Joey stuttered sliding down next to him. “But I think we should go to Doug…about Anthony.”

“What?” He stumbled over his words as he swiveled toward her, his eyes wide. “What happened?”

Joey breathed, grabbing his hand, interlacing their fingers, she used his touch to give her strength. “I went with the group to the movies…and he was there… and he made it a point to say he was going to be around.”

Pacey shuddered his eyes clenching shut as he gripped tighter to Joey’s hands. “Oh my god.”

“That’s why I think we should talk to Doug.”

Pacey squeezed her hands, his eyes drawing slowly to hers. Telling Doug meant informing his actual family what really happened to him, and that scared the daylights out of him. “Will you come with me?”

“Of course.” Cupping his cheek, she gave him an encouraging smile which brought tears to his eyes his face falling into her shoulder.

“Thank you.”

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 24/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

--------------break----------

“Its ok you can do this.” Joey encouraged squeezing his hand as they walked into the Capeside Police Station.

“What…” Pacey breathed his heart pounding in his chest as his eyes took in the familiar station. “What if he doesn’t believe me?”

“He’ll believe you.” Joey promised, holding open the door to let him pass anxiety swirling in her belly as she fought the same fear.

They had asked to speak with the sheriff and were led into a large room off to the side of the building.

When Doug entered a few minutes later his eyes widened, taking in the pair. “Pacey…Joey what are you doing here?”

“We need to talk to you.” Joey asserted looking to Pacey for him to finish.

“What about?” Doug asked slowly looking between the teens in concern.

Pacey swallowed thickly picking at the edge of his t shirt his eyes on his lap. “The guy who was my second foster father…Anthony…he found out I live here after he ‘ran into’ Jack at the boat store…”

“Ok…” Doug drew out slowly eyeing his brother critically.

“Well, a few days ago he ‘ran into’ the group at the theatre…asking about me…” Pacey closed his eyes squeezing his thighs for strengthening. “Doug…this man molested me after I was placed in his home.”

Dumbfounded Doug shook his head, unsure where to start. “Pacey…”

“NO!!!” Pacey yelled jumping out of his seat, his eyes blazing and breathing heavy. “He made me touch him…and he touched me…” He swallowed the growing lump in his throat, his voice seeping out in defeat as he added. “He was inside of me Doug.”

Doug’s eyes widened as Joey gasped her hands cupping her lips.

Defeated by his outburst Pacey dropped back into the chair, his body curling in on itself. “We have to get him.”

Letting out a breath Doug nodded, standing up from the table and crossing to Pacey. Placing a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder, he smiled. “You got it…we’ll figure it out.”

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 25/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own Anthony and the plot
Rating: R to M
Trigger warning. Turn back now if you can’t handle

---------------break-----------

Pulling in a breath Pacey squared his shoulders. He didn’t want to be here let alone by himself but that’s how it had to be, to make things right. He needed things to be right so that he could move on and not be burdened by another part of his painful past.

The knock on the door seized his breath in his chest, clearing his throat he stood up walking to the door, opening it slowly.

Anthony smiled upon seeing him stepping over the threshold leaving Pacey with no choice but to open the door wider to let him pass. “I was happy when you called…I missed you.”

Pacey shuddered at the hand that grazed his chest his pulse racing in disgust.

“I’m surprised you wanted to meet me here.” Anthony added his other hand, moving across the hotel room.

The hotel was a small one, ten rooms total, on the outskirts of Capeside and away from downtown.

“I’m not talking to you around my friends.” Pacey baulked trying to stand tall, but he felt like he was back to being a meek nine-year-old boy.

“That’s fine with me.” Anthony breathed his eyes devouring Pacey’s delicious form.

“Why did you take advantage of me?” Pacey stuttered nervously hearing the older man shut the door before stepping in behind him.

“I wouldn’t say I took advantage…” Anthony purred gliding his fingertip up the back of Pacey’s neck. “You’re a beautiful specimen.”

Pacey cringed his body shaking in fear as he protested. “Anthony.”

Anthony’s response was to clench his hand on the nerves in Pacey’s neck, paralyzing his body making him whimper. “Beautiful.”

“Ant…” Pacey breathed tears coming to his eyes feeling the older man’s hand slide down the back of his pants.

“Still firm and tender.” Anthony growled caressing Pacey’s ass slightly before pulling his hand back out and using it to force Pacey into the open wall next to the door, his hand tightening on the back of his neck.

“Please no.” Pacey whimpered feeling Anthony push down his jeans his heart hammering in his chest. “Stop…please.”

Anthony snickered, unbuckling his belt with one hand, pressing a kiss on Pacey’s back. “I’ll stop when I’m good and ready.”

“Don’t…” Pacey cried hearing the slam of Anthony’s pants hitting the floor. “Stop.”

In the next instance the door burst open, someone yelling. “Capeside Police, get your hands up in the air!”

Pacey felt relief when the door opened his body, folding to the floor as a sob overtook him. It wasn’t until he felt a blanket surround him, did he realize he wasn’t alone, his brother’s arm curling around him.

“Shh its okay…its over.” Doug soothed holding Pacey closer, trying to calm the shakes that overtook him.

“Jo…Joey did…didn’t see how far it got…did she?” Pacey stumbled out, his tear-filled eyes meeting his brothers.

Doug smiled, shaking his head pulling the blanket tighter around Pacey. “No, she stepped out when Anthony knocked.”

It had been Pacey’s idea to catch Anthony in a sting. Having had his personal interaction with the man Pacey knew he wouldn’t hold back he would jump at the chance to tear Pacey down to the little boy he took advantage of years ago.

Joey was hesitant, not wanting Pacey to go through that again but Pacey held his ground knowing if he didn’t this would torment him for the rest of his life.

Doug agreed with his own hesitation. Yes, he wanted to nail a child molester but not at the expense of his brother.

“I’ll give you a few minutes.” Standing up Doug offered Pacey his hand turning to the few other officers that still lingered in the room. “Everybody out…give Pacey some room.” Turning back to Pacey he smiled. “I’ll be right outside when you’re ready.”

“Thanks.” Pacey stuttered holding the blanket closed around him. Once the room was clear he shoved off the blanket pulling up his jeans rapidly ensuring they were buttoned and zipped before standing up. Pulling in a breath Pacey made sure he was composed before heading out the door.

Was he fully composed? Yes. But was he actually? No not by a long shot. Everything that happened in that hotel room was him reliving a nightmare he thought he had gotten over.

“Hey.” Joey smiled upon seeing him step around the multitude of cop cars, worry still gracing her face.

Pacey nodded, moving toward his girlfriend, his head pounding, air escaping him as she pulled him into a bear hug.

“Let’s get you home.” Joey sighed stroking his neck as she turned them toward the waiting squad car for them.

Read and review…if you want more. Sorry for the delay this one was hard to write..

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 26/?
Summary: Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own Anthony and the plot.
Rating: R

----------break----------

After the sting things seemed to go back to normal…or at least that’s what Joey thought.

Jen walked into the Icehouse a few days later looking a little worse, a yawn at her lips. “Hey guys.” She yawned again, taking a seat next to Jack in their booth at the back of the restaurant.

“Hey…you, okay?” Dawson asked across the table moving his arm around Andie who sat next to him.

“I’m fine.” She yawned again turning to Joey who stood next to the table, an apron around her waist. “Just didn’t get much sleep.”

Joey raised a brow her heart quickening with the look the blonde was giving her. “Why?” The responding look she received seized her heart.

Andie opened her mouth to say when Jen shook her head. “I’m ok…lets do something.”

“I…I gotta get back to work.” Joey stuttered backing away from the table her breathing heavy.

She lasted for half an hour, maybe forty-five minutes after her friends left before she ran back to the kitchen pleading with Bodie. “I need leave early…please?”

Bodie gave her a knowing look with a soft smile. “Pacey?”

Joey nodded, feeling guilty for even asking. “Yeah…he’s going through something…I just need to make sure he’s okay.”

Bodie sighed shaking his head. “Tell Michelle your leaving…if you can please try and come back.”

“Thank you.” Joey squeaked, turning on her heel and heading to the office to grab her keys. “Thank you.” She muttered breathlessly bolting out of the back door and moving near sprint to the truck.

The twenty-minute drive to Pacey’s was cut in half as Joey sped through the streets of Capeside. If Doug or his deputies would’ve stopped her, she would’ve gotten her first speeding ticket then Bessie and Bodie would have been really mad.

Parking down the dirt drive she bolted toward the front door. An exhausted Evelyn sat on the wicker sofa next to the door. “Pacey?”

“Oh child…he’s up in his room…” Evelyn yawned, folding the newspaper in her hand and placing it next to her. “Poor child has had little to no sleep the last few days.”

“Oh no.” Joey whimpered quietly her eyes turning toward the door. “Can I go see him?”

“Of course.” Evelyn smiled nodding toward the house.

Joey smiled back before pulling the door open and bolting inside like second nature reaching Pacey’s room. “Pacey?” She called softly as she knocked gently while simultaneously opening the door. What she found literally broke her heart in two.

Pacey stood at the center of the room rubbing at his blood shot eyes his breathing heavy.

“Oh my god.” Joey whimpered, taking a step into the room toward him but stopped as he put his hands up and took a few steps back, his head shaking vigorously.

“Don’t…don’t touch me…don’t.”

“Pace…” Joey started taking a tentative step closer her heart stuttering in concern. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Pacey shook his head, pulling at his long sleeve, it was only then that she noticed the angry red skin the shirt was hiding. “I’m…gross. Don’t touch me.”

Joey’s eyes doubled she had never seen him like this. “Pacey…is this because of Anthony?”

Pacey broke, tears bursting from his eyes as he backed into the wall sliding to the floor, his body shaking with sobs.

“Oh Pace.” She cried, stepping closer, she eased to the floor her hand moving carefully over his, she didn’t want to scare him. When he didn’t pull away, she squeezed his hand gently. “Talk to me.”

After a few minutes of silence his hand eased over, taking hers with obvious hesitance. “At…at the sting…he almost…” Pacey stopped his tear-filled eyes lifting to hers communicating without words what had happened when she left the room at the sting.

Joey’s breath hitched in her chest at the realization of what he was saying, her hand squeezing to his waiting for him to continue.

Pacey exhaled shakily, taking the strength, she was giving before responding. “It took me back all those years ago…every time I close my eyes; I see it all again.”

“Oh Pace.” Joey whimpered, letting her hand tentatively come to the top of his head as he broke once more his body shuddering in sobs. Leaning forward she encouraged him into her embrace letting his pain soak her shirt. “Shh its okay…I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 27/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to better his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

------break------

Joey stayed with him, held him, encouraged him into a lying position giving him the much-needed rest he needed. When he woke with a start, a scream lodged in his throat she was there to calm him down whispering comforting words in his ear, stroking his hair until he fell back asleep.

Once she was sure he was asleep she made her way back downstairs calling Bessie to let her know the situation.

Hanging up the phone she made her way into the kitchen where Jen and Grams nursed half-filled cups of coffee. “He’s asleep.” Joey announced plopping a chair letting her head fall to the table.

“That’s good to hear.” Grams smiled tiredly depositing a warm cup of tea on the table in front of her. “Tea dear?”

“Thanks.” Joey sighed lifting her head from the table offering the older woman a smile. “Is it okay if I stay? Bessie already said it was okay.”

“Joey.” Jen shared a smile with her grandmother before turning to the younger woman. “Pacey trusts you…and he is going through something that neither Grams nor I can seem to help with…”

“What she means to say…” Evelyn cut off her tired granddaughter with a tired smile of her own. “Is yes Joey you are welcome to stay.”

“Thanks…” Joey exhaled taking a sip of the warm tea. “…I just…with how he is right now…”

“Joey stop…” Jen interrupted placing her hand over her friends. “You don’t need to explain. Just take care of him…if you need us were here.”

“Thanks.” She repeated with a smile letting go of the cup she stood back up. “I should get back upstairs before he wakes up again.”

“I’ll bring you up dinner shortly.” Evelyn added watching her walk to the door.

“Thank you.”

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 28/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot and Anthony.
Rating: R

----------break---------

It was a struggle. Trying to help Pacey get past everything that had happened with Anthony and things seemed to be on the right track…until Doug came by informing Pacey of his need to testify…or at least give a deposition for the trial.

The anxieties he’d worked through all came flooding back, full force, causing issues to arise between them.

“You don’t get this Jo. How hard this is.” Pacey hissed, irritation evident in his voice as he paced the room.

Drained from the continued up and down Joey whimpered from her chair across the room her hands rubbing the tension from her head. “I’m trying to Pace…but I don’t know what happ…”

“You don’t want to know.” Pacey growled cutting her off his eyes glaring at her. “You don’t want to know what its like to be violated…physically and emotionally.”

“No, I don’t…” Joey agreed weakly leaning back on the couch. “But you’ve gotten through it…past it once before already.”

“No, I masked it…hid it from you and everybody else.” Pacey yelled out, turning away from her to get his bearings. “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t here.”

“Then leave!!” Joey growled in exasperation sitting up and staring at her boyfriend in frustration.

Pacey stared at his girlfriend, the fear he had of letting someone into his twisted past settling in, he didn’t want to bring her down with him. “Maybe I will.” Turning away, he yanked his jacket from its hook before he stomped out the door, the wood rattling as the door slammed behind him.

Joey let out a breath once he was gone, things had been tensing between them since Doug had told Pacey he needed to testify against Anthony. Joey just hoped he could get past this, she loved him. Maybe giving him some time alone would help.

-----------break----

Fear hit her the following day as Jen showed up on her doorstep asking where Pacey was.

“I…I haven’t seen him…” Joey stuttered her heart aching in her chest her eyes falling to the floor. “Not since yesterday.”

“Crap.” Jen gnaw on her lip trying to wrack her brain with where he could be. “He didn’t come home last night.”

The fear turned to absolute dread as her own words from the previous day played back to her. “Oh my god Jen…I think I made a mistake.”

Jen looked at her friend in confusion, her eyes taking in Joey’s distress. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Joey broke in that moment, her body sliding to the floor just inside her door tears clouding her eyes. “Pacey and I had a fight yesterday…I told him to leave.”

Jen’s eyes doubled as she dropped next to Joey, her own heart tumbling to the floor. “What? Why?”

Joey whimpered, pulling her knees to her chest tears streaming down her cheeks. “He kept going on about how hard it was and how I didn’t understand…and I just…got so frustrated…and yelled at him to leave…and he said maybe he would.” Turning to her friend she felt her heart seize. “I didn’t think he would…” A silence overtook them for a minute before Joey added running a frustrated hand through her hair. “Where did he go?”

Jen shook her head shrugging helplessly. “I don’t know Joey…you know him more than I do.”

“I know.” Joey responded mechanically, her mind racing. Yes, she knew him more but she also knew after their fight he wouldn’t go to his special place, which left her even more at a loss than she already was.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 29/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

---------break-----

It had been five days. Five days of searching for Pacey but to no avail.

Doug had been called into the search almost immediately, him and his deputies scouring the streets of Capeside for the last three days but still nothing.

On day six Joey was called to Jen’s house the uncertainty of what she could be told settling in her gut as she knocked on the door. Jen let her in, leading her to the dining table where Grams sat stirring her tea, an unknown expression on her face. “What is it? Did you find something out?”

Evelyn nodded to the chair across from her, meeting her granddaughter’s eye with hesitation. “Sit down dear.”

Joey felt her heart shudder in her chest as she sat in the chair her hand shaking as she looked at the older woman. “What is it?”

“I got a call from daughter Helen in New York…” Evelyn started somewhat hesitantly playing with the handle of her coffee mug. “She found Pacey hunkered down in her basement last night.”

Joey felt her breath hitch in her throat; he was in New York? How did he manage to get out there? “So, when is he coming back?”

“I’m not sure.” Evelyn offered a smile giving her a shrug, her hands laying flat against the table. “Helen didn’t say much. Just that he was there but also that he was not ready to come back just yet.”

Joey nearly jumped feeling Jen’s hand press to her shoulder for comfort. Was it normal for your boyfriend to go states away instead of confiding in you? No, it wasn’t. “Ok…” Joey cleared her throat standing up from her chair. “I guess I’ll call Doug and tell him…”

“Pacey already did.” Jen said quietly behind her making her heart jump once more. “They were going to figure out how Pacey can do his deposition.”

“Oh.” Joey felt the burn in her lungs as her breath expelled from her body. What was she supposed to think? Turning toward the door, she muttered mechanically. “Ok. Thank you.” She left that house feeling very confused about where she stood with her boyfriend.

Taking the long way, home Joey stumbled into her house feeling lost and confused. Drearily stepping into the house, she stopped finding Bessie standing near the door, sympathy radiating from her eyes. “Bess…”

Bessie swallowed thickly wiping errant moisture from her cheek. “There’s a message for you on the machine.”

Joey felt her heart stutter with her sister’s tone as she walked numbly to the little machine. Pressing play she held her breath.

‘Jo…’ Pacey’s soft yet hesitant voice came out of the machine her heart skipping a beat with his voice. ‘I didn’t want to do this over the phone…I know your going to hate me…and you will be completely justified in that.’ His voice started to crack which brought tears to her eyes. ‘…but Jo, I can’t be with you anymore…’ Joey whimpered her eyes meeting her sisters as he continued. ‘I love you and I’ll probably always love you…but I’m screwed up…and I’m not taking you down with me…you don’t deserve that…’ He paused catching his bearings on the other end of the line. ‘I’m checking into a facility to get better…I love you.’

The message came to an end and Joey slid to the floor, a sob breaking from her lips.

Bessie didn’t hesitate in dropping to the floor and pulling her sister into a tight hug, rocking her back and forth. “Shhh it’s okay…shh.”

Read and review…if you want more

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 30/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

-------------break----------

One month later.

Joey tried to get back to some form of normalcy, cleaning her room without question, helping Bessie and Bodie at the Icehouse and even meeting Jen and the group for movie nights.

That only worked so long as part way through the movie her mood would shift to melancholy her focus everywhere but the movie that played on screen.

Pacey had told her to move on from him…but she couldn’t. Her love for him, no matter what issues he was going through, ran deeper than she thought possible.

Surprisingly Dawson and Jen were the only ones to take notice of Joey’s drop in mood and made moves to try and cheer her up…but that too was to no avail.

So, Joey found herself walking home, stopping only to grab the mail on her way home. Flipping lazily through advertisements her heart stopped seeing the return address in New York, a personal letter addressed to her.

Dropping the rest of the mail to the ground she darted to her room, closing and locking the door behind her before tearing through the envelope. Sliding to the floor her eyes scanned the delicately written words, her heart in her throat.

Dear Jo,

I’m sorry for breaking your heart, I never wanted to. I have wanted your heart since the day we met but I don’t want to hurt you anymore than I already have. You deserve the world Josephine, and I wish I could be the one to give that to you, but I hope you can find someone who can.

I want you to know I’m doing well. It’s hard talking to people about what I’ve been through. You would figure it would be easier to speak to them; they don’t know me but all I see is their judgement. It makes me miss you that much more.
I’m sorry for pulling you into my pain.

Thank you for being there.

I love you,

Pacey.

Joey felt her heart skip a beat rereading his words, though his previous message said he wanted her to move on, his letter showed he wasn’t ready to. With a renewed sense she jumped from the floor snatching her backpack she pulled out a notebook and pen, settling herself belly down on her bed.

Dear Pace,

I know its hard…”

----------break------------

“You seem better.” Jen pointed out the following day stepping into the Icehouse to check on her friend.

“A little.” Joey admitted with a blush her eyes falling to the floor. “I got a letter from Pacey.”

“Really?” Jen was shocked, her and Grams had only heard from Helen once in the last month informing them of Pacey’s decision to get help.

“Yeah…” Joey smiled biting her lip leaning against one of the bar stools. “I think he still wants to be together…he just doesn’t want to hurt me anymore.”

Jen felt some skepticism when she spoke to Pacey on the phone. After he left, he seemed more hesitant to let information slip. “Are you sure?”

Shrugging her shoulders Joey let out a sigh. “I don’t know…but I can hope right?”

“Yeah.” Jen nodded giving her shoulder a squeeze.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 31/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot and Anthony.
Rating: R

------------break---------

Joey smiled placing the latest letter down on her side table. Pacey had gone from sending that first letter to sending multiple letters a week over the last two months.

The first one reiterated his apologies expressing his true and deep regret that this is how it was supposed to be but that he still loved her. Then after he would go into his day to day, how his therapy was, what chores they have had him do and what the stars looked like from the roof of the treatment center.

The second and third letter were rough and hard to understand as he retold about his deposition and the horrifying knowledge that Doug would know a good portion of what he went through after being taken to the orphanage.

After that the letter held some tension, but she could tell that lifted with each new letter until he was almost sounding like himself again.

“Hey…you almost ready?” Joey nearly jumped out of her skin as Jen knocked on her bedroom door.

“Oh yeah.” Joey stuttered, shoving the letters into her side table locking them away from prying eyes before grabbing her bag and standing. Jen had invited her for a weekend in New York to her mother’s brownstone, Joey instantly jumped at the chance, knowing full well they may run into Pacey. “Been ready.”

“I figured.” Jen smiled, pulling her from her room and out the door. Jen knew more than anything the difficulty she was having, having seen firsthand the love that flowed between them.

They took the train to New York, it was safer, and Bessie was happy, having agreed, hoping her sister would cheer up more.

Jen anticipated not being met at the train station, so she showed Joey around the city a bit before dragging her to her mother’s brownstone.

“Your gonna love this place…we have a pool just off the sunroom.” Jen boasted pushing through the door without knocking, pulling Joey toward the kitchen where the sunroom sat just off from. “I’ll show you…”

The pair stopped Joey’s eyes widening seeing Helen…and Pacey sitting at the large table, confusion writing her face.

“Pace?” Joey stuttered on a breath, her heart nearly coming out of her chest as their eyes met.

He swallowed rubbing his palm across his face his eyes drifting between the women. “Hey Jo…what are you guys doing here?”

“I invited her to come…” Jen explained stepping away from Joey to grab a drink from the fridge. “I told mom I was coming out for the weekend…but she didn’t say you were here.”

“I’m on leave from treatment.” Pacey muttered softly, his eyes falling to the table, his unease visible.

“Oh.” Joey mumbled her eyes dropping to the floor, she ached to reach out to him, but she didn’t want to push him away.

“I’m going up to bed.” He cleared his throat standing up from the table, eyeing Joey as he slipped around the wall to the staircase, climbing the stairs two at a time.

“Mom…why didn’t you say anything? You knew I was bringing Joey.” Jen hissed sitting at the table while Joey walked around the table, staring out into the small but beautiful backyard.

“I forgot.” Helen responded flippantly picking up her glass of wine and walking out into the sunroom.

“Sorry Joey.”

Joey just shrugged her eyes lifting to the ceiling as she responded. “Its okay.”

-----------break=====

Pacey couldn’t concentrate the book before him just a jumble of letters his mind on the brunette two floors below. Helen’s brownstone stood at four floors with his room in the attic, Jen and Helen’s on the second floor, and a guestroom that was usually saved for Grams on the third.

He was so lost in thought that he didn’t hear the light knock on his door, the door opening until he caught sight of the one person on his mind. “Jo? What are you doing? You shouldn’t be up here?”

Joey held her robe tighter to her, taking a few steps toward the bed gnawing on her lip. “But I should…I missed you.” Pulling the sash from her robe she let the soft material fall to the floor revealing her bra and panties making Pacey’s eyes widen.

“Jo…” He shook his head pushing back on the bed, but Joey was faster as she moved across the bed cupping his cheeks bringing his eyes to hers.

“Pacey, I love you. I don’t want to break up…” Pressing her lips into his, her arms curled around his neck finishing her words on his lips. “I want you.”

Pacey answered, pulling her into him and laying back on the bed his hands cupping her chin as their kiss deepened his tongue slipping past her lips.

They made love for what felt like hours but was really only one falling sated in each other’s arms.

“Pace…I wasn’t lying when I said I love you and want to be with you….” Joey sighed leaning into his caress across her bare back her eyes lifting to his, her fingertips drawing across his bare chest. “…but I also want you to get better…so if you have to stay out here for the next year…then so be it…I just want to be with you.”

Pacey smiled using his other hand to cup her cheek, his thumb tickling her lower lip. “I want to be with you too Jo.”

Joey returned his smile leaning down and taking his lips once more.

Read and review…if you want more.

Chapter Text

New Beginnings 32/?
Summary: AU Pacey’s father takes drastic action to make life better for his family.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
Rating: R

-----------break======

“I wish we didn’t have to go.” Joey whimpered, nuzzling his neck letting out a sigh of content.

“I know I don’t want you too either.” Pacey closed his eyes, pulling her closer letting her warmth wash over him. “But I have to go back to the treatment center tomorrow anyway.”

Joey smiled drawing her fingertips over his bare chest. “I’ll be waiting for your next letter…or call if you can.”

“Jo…” He grinned cupping her cheek with his hand.” You’ll be the first call…first letter…I love you, Josephine.”

Joey blushed a deep red, she hated her full name but when he said it, it sounded like the sexiest thing in the world. “I love you too Pace.”

“I’m sorry for pushing you away.” He breathed a moment later, stroking a hand through her disheveled locks drawing comfort from her as she leaned into his touch. “I didn’t want to bring you down with me.”

Lifting her eyes she smiled, her hand caressing over his soft skin. “You weren’t bringing me down Pacey…I was trying to help you anyway I could…and I know it wasn’t enough…but I’m not going anywhere.”

“Thank you.” He grinned, cupping her cheeks and pulling her into him as he lifted to meet her halfway, their lips meeting in a passionate display that led to more.

==========break-----

“So, I noticed you disappeared for the rest of the weekend.” Jen smiled knowingly stepping with the brunette onto the train.

Joey blushed a deep crimson, her eyes falling to the floor as they took a seat. “…yeah…Pacey and I got to talking…”

“Joey.” Jen stopped pressing her hand to her forearm. “You don’t have to explain to me.”

“I kind of do…” Joey stuttered sliding her bag to the floor. “I came out here to hang with you and get my mind off Pacey and instead I did the opposite.”

“Joey.” The blonde sighed turning in her seat to get a good look at her friend. “I brought you out here to get away…but I also knew there was a strong possibility Pacey would be here…I just thought my mom would tell me if he was.”

Joey opened her mouth to give her more explanation, but Jen shook her head.

“I know he makes you happy Joey…and that’s all I want for the both of you.”

Joey blushed a deeper red turning away. “He does make happy…and we are back together.”

“Good…I’m glad.” Jen’s grin was wide as she dropped the rest of her stuff on the train floor. “Now tell me all of the juicy details.”

Joey giggled nervously, turning to give her only some details, she couldn’t, nor would she give away all of the intimate details between her and Pacey, those were for her.

Read and review…if you want more.