With feather light touch, Pacey skimmed his fingers over her skin as morning sunlight streamed in through the gap in the curtains. Her luxurious auburn hair was spread out across the pillows and her naked body pressed snugly against his as she slept. His fingers moved over her smooth skin under the sheets as his eyes watched their movement. She felt beautiful under his touch.

Joey shifted slightly gradually opening her eyes to the morning light. She brought a hand to her mouth to mask a small yawn and she smiled contentedly remembering the night before.

“Hey,” Pacey’s morning voice rumbled deep in his throat as he placed a light kiss on her neck.

The corner of her mouth lifted slightly. “Hey.”

“How ya feelin’?” He wondered, his hand splaying over her flat stomach.

“Fine...you?”

“Pretty damn good.”

She smiled shyly and bit her lip. “So...”

“So...” he mocked with a smile.

“I should probably go.”

“Hmmm? Why?” he kissed her shoulder again and moved up to her neck.

She smirked. “I should go take a shower, brush my teeth.”

“You’re all about oral health, aren’t you?” He mumbled.

“I don’t see what’s wrong with that.”

“Nothing,” he smiled against her neck.

“Exactly.”

“So...I have today off...”

She nodded with feigned indifference. “That’s nice.”

“It’s very nice, since we have a mini-road trip next week.”

“Where to?” she asked shifting back slightly.

“Arizona I think. Maybe Texas.” He smirked, “I just go where the plane takes me.”

She shrugged. “Okay then.”

“Okay, so what’s wrong, Potter?” He propped his head up with his elbow and looked down into her face.

“Nothing’s wrong.” She gazed up at him plainly.

“Then why so distant?”

She smiled faintly. “What were you expecting? Tears?”

He rolled his eyes with a smile, “You’re coming with us, Jo. But I’m going to have to share a room, that’s all.”

She grinned. “Well, I won’t. One of the perks of being the only female.”

“Good point,” He smiled, “Think I can come up with a plausible reason for not sleeping in my hotel room?”

“And that won’t make anyone the least bit suspicious?”

“That’s what we’d be going for.”

“Good luck with coming up with something because I can’t think of anything.”

“Maybe I’ll just sneak out after Trevor goes to sleep.”

She raised an eyebrow. “And sneak back in before he wakes up?”

He shrugged, “Or claim to have been down in the hotel gym or something. I’ll work it out. Assuming you don’t mind me sharing your bed.”

“Hmm...I really have to think about this then.”

He curled an arm around her waist and pulled her back to him, giving her a passionate kiss he could feel down to the tips of his toes. “Had to plead my case,” he murmured after pulling away.

She nodded almost breathless, her lips curved into a grin. “I guess I wouldn’t mind that much then.”

He smiled, “So what are you going to do today besides shower and brush your teeth?”

“Well, I do have an article to write.”

“Not to rush you or anything, how long will that take you?”

“It depends on how organized my notes are.”

“Say...by three?” He arched an eyebrow.

“Why?”

He smiled mischievously, “What fun would it be if I told you now?”

“Well, I suppose I can be done by three but like I said, it depends.”

“The time is flexible,” he assured her.

“I’ll let you know when I’m done then.”

He smiled, “I’ll probably hit the gym until then.”

“Okay.” She began to climb off the bed. “I’ll see you later.”

“No kiss goodbye?” He asked, admiring the smooth lines of her naked body.

She shook her head. “No, then that’d probably defy the whole goodbye part.”

“Think you can’t resist me?”

“Ha,” she scoffed. “You wish.”

He crooked his finger, “Come here, I promise I’ll be good.”

She smiled. “I don’t know if I can trust you.”

He sat up, using his finger to cross his chest, “I swear, I won’t do anything you don’t approve of.”

“So you say...”

He arched an eyebrow, “You say stop, I stop.”

She sighed dramatically and sat back down on the bed. “I better not regret this.”

“Hey,” he held up his hands, “If you don’t want to, I’m not gonna force you.”

“Okay then, see you later.”

He smirked, rising from the bed and heading for the bathroom to take a shower, completely unashamed of his nakedness. “See ya.”

She had only made it halfway to the door before she was in the shower with him.

“So, uh, aren’t you going to at least give me a hint about where we’re going?” Joey asked gazing out the passenger side window at the passing scenery.

“Nuh uh,” he smiled to himself as they sped along the freeway in the car Pacey rented from the hotel.

“Oh come on, just one little hint.”

“Hmmm,” he glanced over at her, she was dressed in shorts, a comfortable looking T-shirt and tennis shoes, a sweatshirt was tied around her waist. “You dressed for the occasion.”

“That’s so not helpful.”

“It wasn’t meant to be.” He smirked, “Have a little patience, Potter. I’m nervous enough as it is.”

She eyed him dubiously. “About what?”

“Well,” he shrugged one shoulder, keeping his eyes on the road. “There’s a fairly good chance you may hate going where we’re going.”

She smiled. “Well, you can just tell me now and we can get that out of the way.”

“Then you lose the joy of anticipation,” he smiled cheekily at her.

“Oh fine.” She sighed resignedly and sat back in her seat.

They passed a sign listing Disney World as the next exit, and Pacey glanced to his right to see if Joey had noticed. She didn’t give any indication she had, and he hit his turning signal, “This is our exit.”

She sat up in her seat. “Finally.”

“I know you have many virtues, Joey. Many very nice virtues,” he shot her a lecherous look. “But you might want to consider adding patience to the list. We’ve only been on the road for half an hour.”

“What and there’s something wrong with wanting to know where we’re going?”

“No, not at all. But if I tell you it’s a surprise, can’t you just be patient and wait?”

She smiled. “No.”

He took a right turn at the first light, “Look ahead of you, Jo. That’s where we’re going.”

“So, was this a good idea, or bad?” Pacey asked, taking a sip of his soda as they sat at a small table in a cafe in the heart of Disney World.

She grinned, her face flushed. “Good.” She wrapped her lips around her straw and took a small sip of her soda.

He smiled sincerely, “Good. It’s been a good eight or so years since I was here. I thought maybe we could both use the regression.”

“I’ve never been here before.”

“Well, we’ve got another,” he checked his watch, “three hours before we should head back. Where do you wanna go exploring next?”

“Space Mountain?”

He grinned, “Yeah, sure.”

She smiled. “Okay then.”

He glanced up as the waitress delivered them their food. As soon as the woman left, he stole a fry from Joey’s plate and bit into it, almost spitting it out when it burnt his tongue. “Damn, that’s hot.” He took a long drink of his soda.

She laughed. “Yeah, cooked food tends to be that way.”

He stuck his tongue out at her, “You’re so sympathetic.”

“You’re so immature,” she shot back.

“We’re in Disney World, you’d rather I act forty-five?”

“What about just acting your age?”

“All of my twenty-five years?” He arched an eyebrow.

“It’s a thought.”

He rolled his eyes, and turned to his own food, “So, when do I get to hear your life story?”

She shrugged picking sparingly at her food. “It’s really not that interesting.”

“It’s interesting to me,” he said easily, taking a bite of his club sandwich.

“Trust me. It’s not.”

“Try me?” He gave her a sincere look, “Come on, it’s not fair that you get to know all about me, and yet I know nothing about you.”

“There’s really not much to tell.”

“When I know next to nothing about you, there’s a lot you could tell me.”

She gingerly lifted a fry to her mouth. “What do you want to know?”

“Your life story, of course. And how many men you’ve been with before me.” He smirked, at the stunned look on her face, “Kidding about that last part.”

“Father, sister.” She shrugged. “I grew up in a small town in Massachusetts, not really all that interesting.”

“No mom?”

“I had a mom but she died. She had cancer. I was twelve.”

He blinked rapidly for a moment, “Wow. For lack of something better to say...that sucks.”

She shrugged. “Yeah, well...”

He nudged her foot gently under the table, “Were you close?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“How’d you handle it?” He wondered softly, his sandwich held halfway in front of his mouth as he watched her face carefully, trying to understand the enigmatic woman.

She raised her glass to her lips. “It was hard at first but I was lucky enough to have Dawson.”

“Dawson?” He arched an eyebrow.

“Dawson lived right across the creek from me.”

“Neighbors. Was he much older than you?” For some reason, he had the impression this Dawson guy was far older than her.

She shook her head. “No. He’s only a couple of months older than me.”

“Oh.” Maybe it was only his wishful thinking that made it seem like this Dawson guy was older. Inwardly he cringed at the thought of anyone else touching his Joey. His Joey? When did that happen? “Dawson’s kinda unusual for a first name, isn’t it?”

A corner of her mouth lifted in amusement. “And Pacey isn’t?”

The corner of his mouth curved into a smile, “What can I say, my mom was delirious from the pain killers and my dad wasn’t there to stop her.”

“Oh, that explains it.”

“So this Dawson of yours...where is he now?”

She smiled. “He plays football.”

His face was blank for a minute, then he made a face, “Do you mean Dawson Leery?”

“Yes, Dawson Leery.”

He smiled in relief. “So you knew Dawson before he was the Dawson Leery.”

She shrugged. “Just Dawson to me.”

“So tell me about the rest of your family,” He asked, taking a bite of his sandwich.

“My sister owns and runs a B&B in Capeside with her husband Bodie and they have a son, my nephew Alex. He’s eleven.” She took a surreptitious drink of her soda.

“Close with them?” He wondered.

“Pretty much.”

He brushed his foot against hers as he took another bite of his sandwich. “So I’ve heard about mom and sister and family. What about your dad?”

She bit her lip. “I’m not really sure now. He moves around a lot.”

“Miss him?”

“Kind of.”

“I sense family is a touchy subject with you,” he said lightly, continuing his game a footsie with her.

She shrugged picking up another French fry. “It’s okay.”

“Not so easy talking about yourself, is it?”

Her lips played at a smile. “And here you thought it’d come easy for someone as self-centered and self-righteous as myself.”

“Have I apologized for that yet?” He asked with a wry smile.

“Don’t bother.”

He smirked, “Whatever you say.”

The corner of her mouth turned up slightly as she watched him. He really was good-looking. “The ape comments are too good to apologize for.”

“I’m not an ape,” he insisted good-naturedly. “I may smell like one after a hard practice...but that’s the only similarity.”

She brought her soda to her lips. “I’m sure.”

“I sense you don’t believe me.” He nudged her foot again.

“I never said I didn’t.”

His eyes twinkled merrily, “That’s okay, I don’t believe me either.”

“Hi,” the waitress reappeared; she seemed slightly shyer this time. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”

Joey smiled sweetly at Pacey. “I don’t suppose you have any bananas, do you?”

The girl smiled in confusion, “Well, we have a few we use in banana splits, I could bring you one of those?”

Pacey chuckled, and flashed the waitress a grin, “No, thanks. I think the check is all we need.” The twenty something smiled and nodded, but seemed reluctant to leave the table.

Joey smiled. “Oh, are you sure?”

The corner of his mouth lifted indulgently, “Yes, I’m sure.”

The blonde watched their interaction for a moment as the couple stared into each others eyes. It was rude, she knew to interrupt what was obviously becoming a private moment, but...she couldn’t resist.

“You’re Pacey Witter, aren’t you?” She blurted, her cheeks flushing red in embarrassment.

Joey tilted her head. “Funny, I always thought Pacey Witter was much better looking.”

The waitress looked disappointed, “So then, you’re not?”

“No, I am.” Pacey corrected, “Just...much uglier than expected.”

“It’s amazing what a little airbrushing can do,” Joey added.

The girl grinned, “I think you look very nice.”

Pacey smiled at her, “You’re quite pretty yourself.”

Joey rolled her eyes at the exchange and picked up another French fry.

She blushed a fiery red. “Could I get your autograph? No one will believe I actually met Pacey Witter. Certainly not my boy--my brother.”

“Yeah, sure, no problem.” He smiled and took the pad and pen from her hand. “What’s your name?”

“Lila.” Her smile was stretched widely across her face.

Pacey scribbled quickly across the pad. “Well, thank you for the fine meal, Lila.” He returned the pad and pen to her hands, giving her a wink.

The man was an insatiable flirt, Joey decided. He had to know what that smile did to a girl. Poor Lila didn’t stand a chance.

The girl let out a high-pitched giggle, “Thank you.” She was almost skipping as she walked back to the kitchen.

Pacey turned back to Joey and stole another fry from her plate. She shook her head. “You’re impossible.”

He laughed, “What’d I do?” She raised an eyebrow knowingly and took a bite of her fry, not saying anything. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“There’s that look in your eye,” he said slyly.

“Look? What look?”

“That ‘I see right through you’ look.” He pointed his fry at her, “And I don’t much like it.”

She shrugged. “Oh well.”

He grazed her calf with the tip of his shoe, “You think you have me figured out, don’t you?”

She bit her lip. “What are you talking about?”

“I think you think you know me.”

She brushed her hair behind her ear as she leaned back in her seat. “I know enough.”

He arched an eyebrown, an amused smirk on his face. “Oh yeah, and what exactly do you know?”

“A lot more than you think.”

“Really?” He stretched the word out on his tongue. “Please, I’m dying to hear how well you think you know me.”

She wanted to wipe that insolent smirk right off his face. “You’re a lot of bluster but virtually harmless.”

He arched an eyebrow, “That’s the best you can do after two weeks of investigation?”

“I think it sums it up perfectly without delving into too much detail.”

“You leave out the detail, and it just proves how little you know me.”

“You act overconfident to mask insecurity. You’re genuinely honest and passionate about something you care about whether it’s playing ball or helping Andie and the kids. You’re a nice guy. A big ol’ softie.” She smiled. “And let’s not forget overly annoying.”

He crossed his arms over his chest, “I am not a softie.”

She smiled knowingly. “Okay then, you’re not.”

“Quit looking at me that way.”

“What way?”

“That way. Like you know me inside and out.”

“Fine.” She couldn’t bring herself to hide her amusement.

He narrowed his eyes at her, “You don’t.”

“Alright. I don’t.”

“You’re laughing at me.” He accused.

“I am not laughing.”

“I can see it in your big brown eyes, Potter.” He shook his head, sitting back in his seat, “I know what you’re thinking.”

“You have no idea of what I’m thinking,” she responded pertinently raising her soda to her lips.

“Oh, I don’t?” His eyes glimmered in challenge.

“No. You don’t.”

“This very second you’re absolutly sure I’m not gonna know what’s going on behind those chocolate eyes of yours. You’re thinking about how perfectly you have me wrapped around your pinkie, how little you know. And you’re about to remind yourself just how annoying I am.”

“I don’t need to remind myself when you do it for me.” She smiled.

“And you’re thinking that I’m in denial about being a softie. Which, by the way, I’m not.” He smiled charmingly, “And you’re suddenly noticing how cute I am. Which of course, leads to dirty thoughts about last night...and now you’re gonna look at your watch to see how much longer until we can...well, you know.”

“You are absolutely delusional.” A slight tinge of annoyance tainted her voice.

He picked her hand up from the table and brushed his lips over the back of it, “And now I’m going to shut up before you decide you hate me again.”

“Wise decision.”

He tilted his head to the side, “I thought so too.” He gestured to her food, “Ya ready to go attack Space Moutain?”

“Now I’m not so sure that’s a smart choice after just finishing eating.”

He stood up and pulled her to her feet, standing very close to her, so that she had to look up to meet his eyes, “There’s always the Tunnel of Love,” he suggested with a wink.

“But like I said, I just finished eating.” She smiled sweetly.

“Ha ha, you’re so cute.” He pulled on a lock of her hair. Using his finger he tilted her face up and lowered his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

“I know.” She quickly sealed the distance between them again and brushed her lips lightly against his before pulling away.

“The wait for Space Moutain is going to be at least an hour, think your stomach can handle it after that?” He asked, taking some money out of his pocket and depositing it on the table for taking her hand and threading his fingers with hers.

“It’s worth a try.”

“See, that’s what I love about you, Jo,” he smirked, swinging their hands between them. “You’re always so agreeable.”

“Here I thought it was just the sex,” she said dryly.

“You’re agreeable about that too,” he kissed her temple and tickled her side all at once.

She giggled and moved away. “Stop that.”

He swept her into his arms and carried her through the doors of the cafe. “Never,” he grinned at her.

Her eyes widened in surprise and her cheeks colored in embarrassment. “Oh my God. Put me down.”

“Loosen up, Joey,” he smiled widely at her as he carried her out into the sunlight. “We’re alive, we’re young and we’re in Disney World.” He let one arm drop and she regained her footing. He took his sweaty baseball cap and slipped it on her head, “Let’s have some fun.”