Category: PJ ROMANCE!!

Rating: PG

Summary: Joey finds out that AJ is a creep. It's up to Pacey to show her how much someone cares. But will she return his love?

Author's note: My fic for the CP Val Contest

"Yellow is for friendship. White is for purity and beauty." Bessie mused aloud while scrubbing the afternoon dishes. Joey's heart warmed at the thought of someone going to this much trouble.. she just hoped that all of this was sincere.

"Who do you think they came from Bess?" Joey asked as she dried and put the last of the glasses into the cupboard.

"I could think of a couple of people." She handed her the last two plates to be dried.

Joey's eye brows shot up in question. "Like who?" She reached up and put the plates into their rightful place.

Bessie smiled mysteriously, as she moved to settle herself at the kitchen table. "You'll have to figure it out on your own."

"Oh, come on Bess! You don't know who it is do you?" As Joey took the chair beside her sister, a very disturbing idea crept into her head... "Bessie, you didn't..."

"No!"

"Because if this was some sorta scheme to make me stop feeling sorry for myself, I'll...." "It wasn't me, Joey! I swear!"

"Well, okay. But why won't you tell me who you think it might be?"

"Well, I'll give you a hint. Tall, handsome, a little goofy, 'bout your age."

Joey blushed unwittingly. "You don't mean Pacey do you?"

Bessie shrugged in affirmation.

"You've got to be kidding me?" Joey tried to cover her excitement of the prospect with disbelief. "Pacey Witter!" she laughed nervously. "Pacey Witter, hasn't got one romantic bone in his little loser body."

At that moment a lone figure approached the kitchen door, red roses clutched firmly in hand, in hopes of not disturbing any of the Potter's paying guests.

"Oh, I don't know, Jo. He seems to care about you a lot. Don't sell him so short."

"Bessie, do you hear what you're saying?! You're talking about Pacey! The town freak! The lowest of Capeside's low! He is positively incapable of doing anything like this... next time you want to throw out a joke, Bess, do it when I'm in the mood." Joey pushed the chair away harshly and whisked off into her bedroom, slamming the door tightly.

"When are you ever in the mood." Bessie mumbled in irritation. Suddenly, she heard a clatter outside on the side porch.

Bodie? How could he be back from the market already? Great, I get is 5 minutes of yelling time with Joey, as my rest for the day. Guess it's time to start getting ready for the party. She stood up quickly and made her way around the table towards the door. Sticking her head out, she called, "Bod? Bodie, is that you?.... Pacey?"

"Um, sorry about that Bessie. I know you have guests." Pacey said from his unusual position on the floor of her porch.

"Pacey, what happened?"

"I.. I just tripped that's all."

She noticed the flowers, laying every which way around the crest fallen looking young man, who for some reason made no move to rise to his feet.

They both heard movement coming from inside of the house. Whoever it was, was getting closer.

Joey appeared in the doorway, speech already in progress. "Hey, Bessie I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just that..." Joey stared disbelievingly at the sight before her and swallowed. "Pacey?" Lucky thing she'd stopped when she did, or he would have heard her confession to Bessie on the real reason, she'd snapped at her so furiously a few short moments before.

"Hey, Jo." He said finally, moving into a sitting position. He knew the jig was up. He couldn't believe that he'd screwed this up this badly. After hearing Joey's heart crushing opinion of him, he'd decided that maybe he had made the wrong decision on telling her. Maybe it was just better off if he'd gone home and wallowed in self loathing once again... at least he'd be saved the humiliation.

What a bone head he'd been! To think that she could possibly care for him, to think that he would be able to handle it if she really truly did not. And now, the humiliation he'd hoped to avoid was being showered upon him ten fold.

"Pacey... I..." Joey's eyes scanned the scene, flowers... roses... RED ROSES! Pacey had brought her roses? Could he really...

Bessie silently made her exit, softly clicking the door shut behind her.

Pacey rose to his feet, eyes cast to the floor. He couldn't bear to see the mocking stare he was sure to be in her eyes. "Uh, Jo. This.. I mean.. I'm sorry.. I didn't mean..." He just could not bring himself to form a complete sentence. He then bent over and attempted to pick up the flowers with trembling fingers. No such luck. He couldn't seem to grasp the thorn shaved stems correctly.

Then he felt a warm hand on his shoulder, and a soft whisper. "Here, let me help you."

He dared a look into her eyes, and what he saw nearly knocked him back on his ass. Joey was crying. Tears shining in her beautiful dark eyes... But these weren't tears of sadness.. those he knew all too well. These were... he hoped... were tears of admiration.. tears of love. "Pacey... you did all this? You... you are my secret Valentine?"

"You disappointed?" He asked, not completely assured by his interpretation of her expression.

"Never."

Pacey reached out and ran his cool hand through her deep brown locks. "I love you, Joey... Please don't laugh, I couldn't take it." He added quickly, solemnly.

She punched him playfully in the shoulder, "You moron. You never did catch on too quickly, did you?" she teased, reaching her hand out to caress the spot between his neck and his ear. "I love you, too, lame brain."

He grinned happily at her completely Joey-esque admission of love.

Re-shifting himself into a sitting position once again on the cold damp porch, he brought Joey into a tight, yet tender hug.

Simultaneously, the pair sighed into each other's necks. 'So this is what it really feels like?... To love and be loved back.' "Wow..." They both mumbled. Realizing their dual actions, they laughed and pulled back to look at one another.

Pacey let out a grunted protest of pain, "Agh! My ass is freezing here!"

Joey quickly removed herself from his lap. "Way to ruin a romantic moment, Pace. I thought you were going to kiss me."

Pacey rose to his feet beside her and waggled his eyebrows. "Whoever said I wasn't?" he asked rhetorically, as he took her face between his hands.

His lips met hers in a soft delicate kiss. He wanted to savor every possible second of this unbelievable moment. He and Joey? Pacey and Joey? Her and him? Together? Kissing?

'I must be in Twilight Zone,' they both marveled inwardly.

She pulled away from him, timid smile on her lips, and looked up at him. She kissed the corner of his mouth once more, forgetting just exactly what she'd pulled back to say. Pacey nuzzled his nose against her the soft skin, on the side of her own. Then bent down to place a tiny peck onto her neck.

"Hey! You wanna drive away all of our guests?"

They broke apart from each other quickly, as they heard Bodie's deep voice from across the yard.

"I don't recall it saying anywhere in the brochure about an early evening peep show. But perhaps I was mistaken," he teased. Walking up the steps with a sleeping little Alex on his shoulder.

"Uh.. Bodie... We.. um.. we were just..." Joey nervously ran her hand behind her ear, tucking away a strand of hair that had already been tucked.

"No need to explain, guys. I know all about young love."

"You make it sound like you're some old man, Bodie. You're only 27!" Joey admonished, embarrassment slightly recovered.

"Come on Alex, we know where we are not welcome."

Joey shot Pacey a shy glance, and a half smile.

"But you better find some place a little less public soon. Your sister and I will be out in a few minutes to get the groceries... And pick up those flowers while you're at it."

He disappeared into the house before Joey had a chance to respond. She looked over at Pacey, who was still flushed with embarrassment.

"I guess we better pick these up now," he said quietly.

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry I dropped them all over the ground, Jo. I wanted them to be perfect."

"And just how did you come to drop all of these, Pacey?" "I.. I was, uh.. I tripped in attempts of making a not so hasty retreat." He half smirked at her.

"Uh huh. And why were you trying to attempt such a thing?"

"I heard you saying what a loser you thought I was and..."

"You know I never mean that when I say it."

"Yeah, when you say it to me. To hear you saying it to your sister.. when I wasn't even in the room to be affected by it... I thought it had to be true... That you really thought that way about me."

"Pacey, I've always talked about you like that to other people. Mostly, especially lately, to hide the way I really feel about you." The last phrase was spoken softly under her breath, eyes glued to a spot on his brown leather coat.

Pacey just watched her. He marveled in her perfect beauty. He still couldn't fathom the notion that she actually reciprocated his feelings towards her. Clearing his throat he remembered he had a lot more to say to her. "Joey, I just want to let you know, that you mean more to me than anyone else in the world. And I love you completely. All of me. And I will take you anyway I can. Even if you would have rejected me, hated me," he laughed to himself, "Even if you spit in my face... and cursed the day you'd met me. I'd still love you... and I will love you forever."

Joey gasped, "I..."

"What?" he asked softly.

"I can't believe you said that to me, Pacey."

"Did I say something wrong?" He brushed his fingers across her cheek.

"No... it's just I thought that... I never thought that anyone would ever really..."

"It's true, Joey. All of it."

And she knew it was true. She knew that words like that did not come easy to Pacey Witter. She knew that he had just poured his heart out to her, and she cherished him for it. She cherished the honest and total love she now saw, in his eyes.

"I'll be right back!" Suddenly, Pacey was running down the porch steps and off towards his car. Joey looked on with an amused and curious stare.

When he returned he was slightly out of breath, and was carrying a lumpy object beneath his coat.

"What are you doing?"

"Here." He smiled proudly, handing her the cute little stuffed object.

"A Dalmatian."

"Yeah. Remember that one summer, we were about 8 or 9 and all you talked about was wanting a little Dalmatian puppy? Well, when I saw it in the store, the memory all came back to me and.. I had to get it for you."

"Damn it, Pace. Quit getting me all misty eyed." She hugged him lovingly around his middle, snuggling her cheek into his warm chest.

"Are you guys finished out here?" Bessie asked tentatively.

"Yeah, Bess. Just two more seconds, please?" Pacey requested, as Bessie moved back into the kitchen. Undoubtedly with her ear pressed up nosily to the door.

Pacey moved out of Joey's embrace, planting another sweet kiss on to her lips. "I'll see you later," he whispered as he broke away.

"What do you mean? Where are you going?"

"Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, Jo! I've got to take my best girl out. Wouldn't want her to happen by and catch me in a comprising position with you."

She slapped his chest lightly. "Shut up freak."

"I love you, Ice Queen." He kissed her cheek tenderly, before moving away from her and heading toward his truck.

"Pace?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"Thanks, Jo." He smiled contently, watching her from his position in her yard. "I'll pick you up at 10." "At night?!"

"No, not at night."

"Why so early then?"

"Just be ready. And be prepared for a day you'll never forget."

Joey beamed, her eyes shining with pure and utter joy. It took all of the strength he had in him, not to run back to her, and pull her into his arms again.

"I'll be ready. Should I wear anything special?"

"No, just your usual jeans and a t-shirt will be fine."

Joey rolled her eyes. "I do have other outfits."

"I know, I know, Jo." He began walking away once more.

"Pace?!"

He stopped and turned again, waiting for her to continue.

"Happy Valentine's Day.. even if it's one day early."

He smiled affectionately back at her, "Same to you, sweetheart." And he was gone.

'Sweetheart? I must be in the Twilight Zone.'