Breathless by Bitsy
Part 4 in the Reunited series
by: Bitsy

Rating: PG

Short Summary: Dawson and Joey, realizing they have been set up, neither wanting to have the other think that he was an accessory to the scheme, continue to find their ever-stronger feelings from one another. Meanwhile, Jen and Pacey are having a wonderful time on their date... Disclaimer: The disclaimer mentioned in part 1 applies to all parts of the story.

* * * * *

Joey slowly rose from her seat. Her heart had stopped the second she recognized Dawson and had not started since. She was weak in the knees and although her mind told her to go over and give him a hug, her body wouldn’t obey. Dawson, who had stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her now walked up to her and swept her up in his arms, embracing her for what seemed like a long time. Tears sprang to both of their eyes. The shock and emotion was too great for words. Joey had not anticipated that she would have to face Dawson at all now that she was calling the wedding off, and Dawson had expected their hug hello to be a little less personal than it had been--after all, hugging somebody in a room full of people was different than hugging somebody alone.

Reluctantly, Dawson pulled away and stepped back from her, still holding both of her hands, looking down into her deep brown eyes. He could get lost in those eyes.

«You look absolutely gorgeous, Joey», Dawson said sincerely, not taking his eyes off of hers.

«You look great, too», Joey managed (he heart hadn’t resumed beating yet), «a lot better than you do on TV.»

They both laughed at that one, and as the laughter broke the initial awkwardness of the situation, Dawson pulled Joey’s chair out for her, and then seated himself. Much to her body’s relief, Joey’s heart started beating again. She loved how Dawson could do that to her--get her so nervous and upset yet make her so at ease. Maybe she could get the courage to tell him right now, face to face, how she felt about him. But what did he have up his sleeve right now? What was going on? She had talked to Christian personally about their dinner date. What was this all about?

«Dawson--I hate to sound completely clueless, but I think I’m missing something and I have no idea what’s going on...», Joey started.

«I came here for the rehearsal dinner, but we’re the--»

«Rehearsal dinner? The rehearsal dinner isn--wasn’t supposed to be until next Thursday!»

«Wasn’t supposed to be?», Dawson asked.

Before Dawson and Joey could get to the bottom of what was going on, a thick book was delivered to their table. They looked at each other quizically. Somebody was definitely up to something.

«You open it, Dawson», Joey said, catching his eye, feeling her heart flip-flop.

Dawson hesitantly reached out to the book and opened it in his left hand, not believeing his eyes. They were picture of he and Joey when they were kids, placed in chronological order. Some of the pictures he recognized as his mom’s, others he didn’t. Only one other person could have those pictures.

«Bessie», Dawson whispered, unaware that he had spoken aloud.

«What about her?», Joey asked, «I saw her earlier today in Capeside..»

«You were in Capeside today?», Dawson asked.

«Yeah, I spent the night there...», Joey said slowly.

There was a long silence between the two of them. Dawson’s head was slowly putting it all together. Photo album, phony rehearsal dinner, Capeside, Pacey taking a half an hour to park the car...

«Joey, we’ve been set up.»

* * * * *

Pacey had already been watching Jen bite into strawberries for a half an hour and was totally captivated by her. But it wasn’t just her physical appearance that had changed for the better. Now, eight years later, she was a lot more stable in her life, her dreams, and her insecurities. When she had first come to Capeside when she was fifteen, issues surrounding her family and her life in New York had made her whole time in Capeside a kind of soul-searching journey. Even though she was back in New York right now, she had really come out of her shell a lot and was a very smart, motivated, and beautiful woman.

Jen was equally impressed with what a refined gentleman Pacey had become. There was still evidence of his playfulness in his easy manner, but otherwise, he had developed a businesslike serious side to him, and Jen liked it. He made her feel completely at ease despite her rapidly growing attraction to him--or was it simply that quality which had attracted her to him to begin with? But as much as she wanted to discover this previously unseen side of Pacey, he seemed more interested in her.

Pacey hung on her every word. He wanted to know everything there was to know about her now--it sounded strange after only having been speaking to each other for the week, but he knew that he wanted to spend time with her while they were in Boston and completely catch up with her. He wanted them to be friends again, maybe more.

After having finished their bottle of champagne and strawberries, the question of ‘what next’ came up. Neither was terribly hungry after the strawberries. Compared to the cities that each of them was from night life in Boston was a bore--besides, Pacey Witter, although not yet a household name, was a celebrity in his own right and could very easily be recognized. They decided to stay where they were and get cozy until the bar closed. Good friends, good conversation...what else did anyone need?

* * * * *

Joey couldn’t believe her ears as Dawson told her what he thought was going on. Now it all made sense--Jen’s suggestion that she spend the night in Capeside, her mysterious private telephone conversations which Joey now guessed must have been with Pacey, getting her all confident and dressed up to break up with her fiancée...And she had fallen for it hook, line and sinker. Jen and Pacey would have a lot of explaining to do when they got back to the hotel, but she couldn’t help smiling a little bit at the thought. Everyone thought that she and Dawson belonged together.

«Unbelievable», Joey began taking a sip of her wine, «They all got together to try to get us together, and almost succeeded.»

«It is pretty unbelievable. But we were Capeside’s favorite couple. Everyone thought we’d end up together, no matter what.», Dawson mused.

Dawson didn’t know what to do. Nothing could have prepared him for being face to face, alone with Joey that night. He knew that the whole idea had been to get her alone and tell her that he had never fallen out of love with her, but instead of making the situation easier, the fact that Joey had cancelled the wedding made things even more complicated. The fact that they had been set up didn’t help either. Dawson didn’t want to make himself look like an accessory. But just seeing her again, and being with her--God! he couldn’t believe how incredible she looked. She hadn’t gotten taller, but the way in which she carried herself now was more flattering, more commanding. She was wearing her hair in an effortless but elegant french twist being held together with chopsticks, and her dark, slinky dress which highlighted her beautiful and now more developed shape did the same for her dark brown eyes and hair. Her lips, a deep shade of wine, were as luscious as ever. But there was a sadness about her, and Dawson wanted so badly to reach out to her.

«Joey, I can see by looking at you that there’s something wrong. Do you want to tell me what it is?», Dawson asked softly, taking her hand.

Joey avoided Dawson’s concerned stare. If he only knew how badly she wanted to pour her heart out to him...She realized that earlier she had let it slip that she had cancelled the wedding. Dawson wanted an explanation, she knew. She looked down at the hand that Dawson was holding. Her left hand. Dawson lightly stroked her ring finger with his thumb, where her engagement ring had been. She wanted to get up from the table and crawl into his lap and cry on his shoulder--to tell him everything, but she couldn’t--not after they had been set up. She didn’t want to make it look like she had been a part of the plan. She told Dawson as close to the truth as she could get without revealing her true reasons.

«I didn’t love him», she began, «I mistook respect and platonic love for romantic love and it just wasn’t there.»

«What made you change your mind, Jo? When did you realize this?», Dawson prodded.

«Last night at the ruins», Joey revealed.

Dawson’s heart started beating wildly. This was fate. But what was fate doing? If fate wanted them to get together, why hadn’t they found each other last night at the ruins, and why did it take the interference of their friends and family to try to get them together? Maybe everyone had been wrong--fate had been against them all along, and no matter how hard they tried to fight it, they weren’t supposed to be together...

«And you haven’t told him yet--that’s what you thought tonight was....», Dawson continued.

«Yeah», Joey whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

«Oh, Jo, come on», Dawson said, choking up. «If you cry, I’ll cry...»

«I’m sorry Dawson, it’s just that--well, it was telling you that I was worried about.»

«Telling me?», Dawson asked, intrigued.

«When I told you on the phone last week that I was happy with him, I lied, Dawson. I know I’m really bad at lying, especially to you. I know it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other and an eternity since we’ve really talked, but you’re Dawson--you’re still my best friend in the world...», she trailed off, «At the time I was lying to myself, too, but it’s like, when I tell you something that I know isn’t true, I know that you’ll see right through it like you just did...I knew you’d want an explanation for why I called off the wedding, and I’m ashamed to admit that it’s because of my own stupidity», Joey said, the tears now flowing freely.

Now Dawson got up and crouched down by Joey’s chair so that she was only slightly above him as she sat in her chair. His heart ached to see her like this. Again, taking her hand, he kissed it, and with the other, caressed her face and wiped her tears away. Her wounded eyes met his and he melted in her gaze. She was such an angel...

«Shhh, Joey. We’re all entitled to make bad decisions. I’m not judging you--I would never judge you. I wish you had told me sooner, Joey. I wish that there’s something I could’ve done...», Dawson said soothingly.

«Oh, Dawson, I’ve made such a mess of my life!», Joey began, «I--»

Dawson stood up now, pulling Joey with him into a hug. How could he have gotten so caught up in his own life that he had neglected to make sure that Joey was okay? It had been the selfishness of his own love that stopped him from picking up the phone and calling. It had hurt him too much to be reminded of her--but where had he been when she needed him?

«It’s alright, Jo. I’m so sorry--this is all my fault. It’s just that I get so caught up in my own life that I neglect to check on yours. I just always figured that you were fine and probably didn’t need me anyway. But you were always on my mind, Joey, I want you to know that. You’ve always been with me everyplace I go. I don’t know how I could’ve been so blind to your needs. I’ve been an awful friend...I’m so ashamed of myself for that!»

«Dawson, don’t be like that! I should’ve come to you with it. I should’ve--»

«Shhh, Joey, I’m here now, and everything’s going to be alright», Dawson assured her.

* * * * *

In keeping with the party mood, Jen and Pacey had moved from champagne and strawberries to cigars and cognac. Pacey loved when women smoked cigars--he found it completely sexy. Jen clearly did not indulge frequently in smoking of any kind, as was evident from her technique. Watching her made Pacey smile widely, genuinely amused. When she took her first sip of cognac he laughed out loud as her face reddened from the sting. He put her arm around her, and kissed her on the forehead, still laughing. Jen put her glass down and, cigar in hand, started laughing with him.

«You know, Pace, the next time you and I find ourselves sharing a cigar, it might be for the birth of our possibly-still-friends-with-us-tomorrow’s first baby», Jen reflected.

«Do you think they’ll still make us the godparents even though we pulled this?», Pacey asked thoughtfully.

«They’ll make us godparents because we pulled this», Jen said honestly.

«That’s a thought--our best friends with chilren, and us...», Pacey trailed off.

«Without love.», Jen finished.

«How do you know that Prince Charming isn’t going to ride into New York in his white Jaguar and sweep you off your feet?», Pacey asked.

«Come on, Pacey--New York and LA are the same socially--they’re playgrounds for adults who want social lives that are completely devoid of structure, fidelity, and committment. I can’t live like that. Besides...», Jen hesitated, not wanting to offend Pacey.

«What?», he smiled.

«In New York, most of the eligible bachelors are gay.»

At that, both of them took one look at each other and burst out laughing.

«You know Pacey», Jen said through her laughter, «You were right all along--Dawson and Joey belonging together, Deputy Doug being gay, you showing everybody in Capeside who ever doubted you--I really admire you that way.»

«I’m touched, Jen», Pacey said, genuinely moved by the notion that Jen admired him. «But you did the same», he continued. «You showed your parents, your grandmother, and all of your friends back in New York that you changed. That had to take courage.»

«Yeah», Jen murmured thoughtfully, half to herself.

«A toast», Pacey said softly raising his snifter.

«To what?», Jen asked.

«To the courage to follow your heart», Pacey said, mesmerized by Jen’s eyes. Jen raised hers, not once pulling herself away from Pacey’s gaze.

«Here, here», she almost whispered.

* * * * *

Following Joey and Dawson’s outpouring of emotion to one another, a wall that had been up between them had torn itself down. After their long hug, both had excused themselves to the bathroom. Joey, her makeup on the verge of running, fixed herself as well as she could, dabbing on a little more lipstick and tightening up her hairdo. Blowing her nose, and subsequently inhaling deeply, she detected Dawson’s scent, and it brought back a complete wave of nostalgia--it wasn’t that he still wore the same kind of aftershave or cologne--he didn’t. It was his smell, and now it was on Joey. She looked at herself in the mirror. She felt beautiful. The way that Dawson had looked at her and told her that she was gorgeous...Only Dawson saying that to her could make her believe it. No matter how badly it hurt her to harbor her secret love for Dawson, Joey still felt like a queen when she was with him. Conceivably, she could never tell him how she felt. Just being near him was enough...She pulled herself out of her fantasy of a world with Dawson and closed her purse. He was probably waiting and she didn’t want to miss a second with him.

* * * * *

Dawson washed his face with cold water and looked at his reflection. He looked good--Pacey was right, like a new person. Pacey...he couldn’t believe that his best friend had set him up, but despite the currently awkward situation, was glad that he did. Now the wedding was off, and Dawson had Joey all to himself, if she wanted him. He just couldn’t figure out how he was going to tell her. Now was certainly not the appropriate time. She wasn’t going to agree to a second engagement without having broken the first, although if Dawson thought that Joey would say yes, he would propose on the spot. He would marry her in a second without an afterthought. He would definitely tell her before he left, but now was a sensitive time for her, and he had to start thinking about her needs. He had to protect her from sadness and pain in any way he possibly could. She was so special to him, and it pained him to see her look so lost. Didn’t she see that Dawson would always be there for her?

Dawson dried his hands and made his way back outside. Joey was just coming out of the ladies room at the same moment. They both blushed when they saw each other. Dawson recovered quickly, smiling, and sticking out his elbow gallantly for Joey to take his arm, she did. The two walked back to their table like a couple, each one loving every second of it. Again, Dawson helped Joey into her seat and then took his own. This time when they sat, they heard soft music playing and found menus in front of them and a basket of warm bread. With all of the surprises that the evening had brought, dinner itself had been forgotten. It was already after 9:15!

Joey didn’t even need to look at the menu to know what she wanted. Even though the restaurant had an Italian name, it featured traditionally Spanish cuisine. Joey ordered the Gazpacho and the Paella Catalunia every time she came, as well as a carafe of Sangria. Dawson ordered the same as Joey had, and could taste why this was Joey’s favorite restaurant. With no more tears, the two thoroughly enjoyed the meal, catching up on what was happening in each one’s respective profession, asking about how the family was doing, etc.

Joey revealed that she had seen all of Dawson’s films at least three times in the theater and owned all of them that were already out on video. And every time she saw him in the paper or in a magazine, she saved the article.

«Really, Dawson--I know this is going to sound corny, but I’m very proud of you--not that I’m surprised in the least. I always knew that if any of us succeeded it would be you.»

«Joey, I couldn’t have done it without you--you know, every time I accept an award and you’re the first person I thank, it’s not just because I know you’d physically injure me if I left you out. You’ve been my inspiration in more ways that you’ll ever know.», Dawson said, staring intensely at Joey, making her blush.

«Thank’s Dawson, really--but the same is true from you to me.», Joey replied.

«I inspired you to do groundbreaking cancer research?», Dawson asked incredulously.

«Dawson, when my mom died, you were the only one that was really there for me. My dad and Bessie had issues of their own. You were the one who told me everything was going to be alright. I felt so helpless--I didn’t want anyone to have to go through what my mother and all of us went through. You were the one who convinced me that my life could go on and that someday I’d be the one to find a cure for Cancer.», Joey explained.

Dawson had completely forgotten that he’d said that. He didn’t realize what an impact he’d had on her.

«And I’m not at all surprised at your progress, Joey. I’m still convinced that you’ll be the one to find a cure. I have 100% faith in you, Dr. Potter.», Dawson whispered sincerely.

Joey had to change the subject. All of the wonderful complements Dawson was paying her were becoming too much. She could feel herself falling more and more deeply in love with him. She had to take a reality check.

«So I saw you in People Magazine’s 50 Most Eligible Bachelors», Joey began, «How long is that going to last?», she asked preparing herself for the sting of the girlfriend profile. As long as it takes for you to fall in love with me, Joey, Dawson thought.

«Much to my mother’s dismay, I don’t see myself anywhere close to marriage», he said.

«But you must have opportunity, Dawson. What’s stopping you?», Joey continued trying unsuccessfuly to sound unattached.

«You know how I am, Jo, when it comes to women», Dawson said taking a sip of his wine. «I’m too picky--after you, nobody was good enough.», Dawson said smiling sheepishly and blushing.

«Please, Dawson...», Joey said, obviously having taken his last remark as a joke, «like nerdy little Doctor Potter compares to all of the glamour of Hollywood and its fashionable women!»

Not wanting to open the can of worms labeled ‘Joey’s social life’by reminding her also that with her looks and brains she could have her choice of men, Dawson allowed the subject to drop. After all, Joey was about to call of her engagement, and Dawson didn’t want the conversation to go back to that. But the fact that Dawson avoided the relationship question certainly did not go unnoticed by Joey...

By the time dessert rolled around, they had gotten to the photo album. Dawson brought his chair closer to Joey’s as the two pored nostalgically over the photo album. They laughed over flan about their adorable baby pictures and cried over café madrileño about the more meaningful pictures they had taken together when they were older. Dawson, Joey, and Mrs. Potter at the kids’ middle school graduation; Dawson with Joey’s whole family at Martha’s Vineyard when they were nine; Dawson and Joey at the Junior Prom, and then a year later at the Senior Prom. Neither of them could ignore what happy times those were for them, and feel sadness when they looked at them. Dawson flipped the back cover of the photo album shut.

«Those were the days, huh, Jo?»

«Yeah. Those were the days...»

When they had assured the waitstaff that there was nothing more that they needed, the Maitre’d came over and thanked them for coming and told them that their whole evening had been taken care of. They walked out arm in arm.

«Would you mind giving me a ride back to my hotel, Jo? I know it’s been a long night, but Pacey kind of left me here without car...»

«No problem, Dawson--I’m actually going to a hotel tonight myself. Some anonymous secret admirer sent me a bunch of wildflowers.», Joey said, frowning.

«Yikes!», Dawson had immediately made the connection.

«Where are you staying?», Joey asked casually as Dawson opened the drivers side door for her, tipping the valet generously.

«The Commons», Dawson replied through the open window.

«What a coincidence...», Joey muttered, thinking about how he was going to ream Jen and Pacey for doing this.

Driving in the car, realizing that he would need to set the tone and opportunity for his next meeting with Joey, Dawson felt her out.

«So, Jo, I took some time off of work this week, and, since there’s not going to be a wedding, I was hoping that we might be able to spend some time together. I know you’re probably reeling from the whole recent series of events, so if it’s not okay, say so, and we’ll do it another time--»

«I’d love to spend the week with you, Dawson», Joey said, smiling over at him genuinely.

That was all of the conversation they needed for the short ride to the hotel. Both were ecstatic and had to conceal their emotion from the other. Did each one have the chance to make the other fall back in love? If not before, they had just bought themselves a week! Getting into the elevator together, Dawson casually asked Joey what floor she was on.

«Five», she said easily.

«Me too.» Dawson pressed five and got out with Joey, following her to her room.

«Hey, we must be right across the hall from each other», Dawson replied seeing Joey stop between 517 and 518.

«Well, I guess this is good night, unless you want to come in for a drink...», Dawson said hopefully.

«Sure», Joey said. Had her Nancy Sinatra savvy found her again on the ride home?

As Dawson started for room 518, Joey stared incredulously. Not only had Dawson tried his key in her lock, it had worked!

«Uh, Dawson, aren’t you in 517?», she asked, confused.

«No. 518. I thought you were 517...»he replied.

«Unless...»they said in unison.

«They got us again», Joey admitted reluctantly. It had Jen and Pacey written all over it. Where were those two anyway?

Dawson, the first of the two to walk into the room, found it completely transformed. There were lit candles all over the room, the balcony doors were open, filling the room with the slightest of summer breezes, a silver room service tray stood by the bed, piled high with strawberries. Dawson lifted the champagne out of the ice bucket. Dom Perignon. Even in the large whirlpool bathtub, floating candles and rose petals stood ready in a basket. A soft music mix was playing in the background and the city could be heard below. On each bedside table was a little easter basket full of condoms. Joey saw Dawson pick one up.

«Pacey.» they said simultaneously, smiling.

The letters they didn’t see until last. One made out to Joey, one made out to Dawson, both in different handwriting. Should they stop this matchmaker game in its tracks for the sake of the other, or play along? Both thought the same thought and had now come to face each other at the foot of the bed. Was the fate of their relationship sealed in those letters?

«Same time?», Joey asked

«Yeah.», Dawson replied.

Sitting down at the foot of the bed with their backs slightly to each other, each read in silence.

Dear Dawson,
If you’ve gotten this far, you’re in your hotel room with Joey (it’s her hotel room too and don’t even try to get out of the door or change the room. Neither of those options will be available until 9AM tomorrow). This is a golden opportunity that I hope you take full advantage of. As Joey’s best friend and one of your good friends, I refused to stand by and allow you two to deny your love for each other any further. I apologize to you for sticking my nose in business that’s not mine, but in this case, I felt it my duty. Everybody around you can see how much you are still in love with each other. I know that Joey loves you, Dawson, and I know that you love her. Set yourself free tonight, Dawson. Save yourselves through saving each other. Love as pure and true as the one you and Joey share only comes once in a lifetime.
Love,
Jen

Dear Joey,
You probably pieced together hours ago me and Jen’s artful plan to get you and Dawson together. Personally, I hope that you don’t even get to read this letter until Saturday morning--but in the case that you and Dawson haven’t gotten together on your own just yet, let me clue you into a few important facts. First of all, Dawson loves you more than life itself--when he heard that you were getting married, it almost destoryed him. No matter how far you are away from him, Joey, you’re his reason for living. In his films, all of his strong, beautiful, intellegent female characters are you, and the dreamers he gets them together with are him. You are the love of his life and he is the love of your life. Without each other, you are incomplete. Let yourself go. Tell him how you feel. He needs to know as bad as you need to tell him.
Love,
Pacey