“Hey,” Pacey stepped out of the dugout two hours after the game ended.

Try as he might, the reporters wouldn’t let him get away without at least a few words, seemingly more interested in his public display of affection than the 5-2 win. The first moment he got, he sent Will out to give Joey a message to wait on the field for him. Then, once he’d gotten free of the reporters, the coaches had pounced on him after his shower to lecture him on pre-game behavior. Then the head umpire got a hold of him, and fined him a thousand dollars for delaying the game. Just as he was about to leave, Jack called him and proceeded to lecture him like everyone else had. He tuned him out, just like with everyone else, he didn’t care what Jack thought, all that mattered was that he’d gotten Joey back.

His dark blue eyes drank in her tall form, the dim light from the moon giving her an ethereal glow. The stadium was completely empty, all the lights off, giving the impression that they were the only two people in the world.

“Hey.” Her lips curled into a smile and she fought the impulse to throw herself into his arms. She had missed him so much.

He smiled back at her as he stepped closer. “Sorry I took so long. They wouldn’t let me out.”

“You’re forgiven.”

“For how much?” he asked quietly he stopped in front of her, clenching his fingers at his sides so as not to reach out and touch her. After five hours, there was a chance she might have rethought everything, and he wanted her to be sure.

She tilted her head in thought. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t make it too easy for you.”

The corner of his mouth curved slightly, “This wasn’t easy. I promise.”

“Now I’ll really have to think about this.” She tapped her finger against her chin.

He smirked, “Okay, while you’re thinking, remember that I love you.”

She grinned. “I’ll try.”

He smiled, “That just keeps getting easier and easier to say. I love you.”

She raised an eyebrow and placed her hands on her hips. “I think you’re trying to sway me.”

“Nuh-uh, no way,” he shook his head, “I’d never. I’m just...” He gave her a half smile, “exercising my new found ability to express how I feel about you.” He paused. “I love you.”

She bit her lip, each time he said the words it sent a small thrill down her spine. She threw her hands up in exasperation knowing she wasn’t fooling anyone. “Oh fine. You’re forgiven.”

He swept her into his arms, spinning her around in a circle, before setting her on her feet and claiming her mouth with his. Her arms went around his neck and she kissed him enthusiastically, eager to make up for lost time.

“God, I missed you,” he murmured, kissing the corner of her mouth lightly. “Your scent, your smile, your voice,” he chuckled, “You’ve turned me into a complete sap, Potter.”

“I missed you too.” She sighed contentedly trailing her fingers across his cheek and enjoying the slightly rough feel of his skin.

He licked his lip, “I want to make us work, Potter.” He said honestly, “I don’t ever want to be without you.”

She smiled and lightly brushed her lips against his. “You don’t have anything to worry about. I’m not planning to go anywhere.”

“I was hoping you’d say that...” he stepped away from her and went back in the dugout to grab a duffle bag. Returning to her side quickly, he took her hand and led her out onto the field.

She regarded him curiously her eyes bright. “What are you doing?”

Giving her a secretive smile, “We’ve still got a few minutes left, I thought we’d star gaze.” He stopped in the grass between the pitchers mound and second base and opened the bag. Pulling out a blanket, he spread it on the ground, and then gestured for her to join him.

She smirked as she sat down. “How original.”

He shrugged a shoulder with a smile, “I’m nothing if not unique.” Leaning over her body, he pulled two glasses and a bottle of champagne from it, giving her a soft kiss was he did.

She arched an eyebrow. “I see you came prepared.”

He nodded, “And just think, it would have all gone to waste if you had decided not to come.” He poured her a glass and handed it to her.

“Good thing I came then.” She smiled and brought the glass to her lips.

“Very good, I wouldn’t to be forced to drink the whole bottle alone,” he took a drink from his glass and leaned back across the blanket. “You know, there is something I don’t quite like about Boston,” he said looking up, “The night sky is so empty. It’s almost impossible to see many stars.”

She raised her gaze. “I’ve never really noticed.”

“Back home I used to camp out in the backyard during the summer. The sky actually glittered.” He shook his head, “Nothing like here.”

She smiled faintly thinking back on what the sky was like in Capeside when she was growing up. “I guess it just makes you appreciate some things even more.”

“Wise words coming from someone so young,” he turned his head to give her a soft smile.

“Bite me.” She stuck her tongue between her teeth before taking another sip from her glass.
He sat up and gently nipped at her throat. She bit her lip and shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t mean literally.”

He carefully took hold of her wine glass and slipped it from her fingers, putting it carefully aside. He then slid closer to her before pulling her across his lap. He smiled tenderly at her, “There’s something we should discuss.”

“And what exactly would that be?”

“The future.”

She smiled. “And what about the future do we need to discuss?”

“I want to make sure you know what you’re getting into.” He gestured around them, “This is my life, Potter. This is the only thing that ever mattered to me since I was five years old.” He gave her a soft kiss, “Until you came along.”

“I think I’ll be able to manage.”

He bit his lip, staring into her eyes intently, “I’d leave it for you, Joey. I want this to work, and baseball got in the way with Andie...I don’t want that to happen with us.”

Her brown eyes were wide with incredulousness. “But you love baseball.”

“I love you more.” He replied with simple honesty. “I won’t risk losing you so I can hit a ball with a stick.”

She smiled and she was pretty sure she’d fallen in love with him all over again. “I can’t let you quit.”

“I don’t want to quit, but if it’s going to be too hard having me on the road for half the season...I can find something else to do. Maybe work at the orphanage full time, or go back to school.” He shrugged a shoulder, his arms instinctively tightening around her. “I mean it, Jo. I won’t lose you again.”

She rested her head against his shoulder. “I’m sure we’ll work something out.”

“Are you sure?” The pads of his fingers moved along the length of her bare arm, just absorbing the softness of her skin.

“Positive.” She smirked. “Besides, I kind of like the uniform.”

He grinned, “You’re too good to be true, Potter.”

“I try.”

“I guess there’s only one more thing to discuss.”

She sighed softly as she trailed a finger along his collarbone. “And what ‘s that?”

He leaned over to get the bag, pulled it to his side, and began digging around inside with one hand, the other securely around Joey. “I know it’s here somewhere. Aha.” He gave her a half smile as he turned his eyes back to her. “I know it’s kinda sudden, but,” he brought his hand up where she could see it and flipped the velvet box open with his thumb, revealing a simply cut diamond ring. “Will you marry me?”

It was a good thing he was holding her or she would have fell right off his lap. Her breath caught in her throat and she took the box with trembling hands and tilted it just so, that it glimmered in the faint light of the moon. She inhaled sharply and gazed up at him with watery eyes. “On one condition...”

“Anything.”

A soft smile came across her lips. “I want to adopt Allegra.”

He stared at her in awe, blinking back a haze of tears, it amazed him that this beautiful, and giving woman was agreeing to be his wife. He shook his head, at a loss of words to express how he felt about her right now.

She slipped the ring on with a small smile and settled against him. “Amazing. The only time you’re not annoying is when you’re speechless.”

He smirked, his eyes alight with love, “I think it’s time someone else was speechless for a while.” He wasted no time waiting for a reply and kissed her deeply, a promise of the future.