December 24.

Pacey pushed open the kitchen door to the Bed and Breakfast and shivered, "God, I hate my family." He shut the door behind him, blocking out the dark cold from outside. Christmas Eve he promised to spend with his family and he was just now returning from his parent's house. His nose red from the cold and his eyes shining.

Joey looked up from the tray of hot chocolate she was arranging for everyone else in the living room. "That bad, huh?" she said sympathetically.

"No, it was worse." He smiled wanly, shrugging violently out of his coat.

"Well, you're welcome to join us," Joey said lifting the tray filled with mugs. She gestured to the living room. "Everyone's out there watching movies. Again."

He tore off his mittens and unwound the scarf. "Maybe in a few minutes."

"Okay." Joey carefully balanced the tray as she made her way out. She set it down on the coffee table and sighed. "Here I thought I'd finally seen the end of having to serve people their drinks."

"Was that Pacey I heard?" Jen asked from her spot on the floor between Dawson's knees. The latter ran a hand through her blond curls with a soft smile.

Joey nodded as she sat down on the couch and grabbed a mug for herself. "He's in the kitchen."

"Well? Why isn't he joining us?" Audrey asked, rising to her feet to go get him.

"He'll be out in a few minutes."

Audrey paused under the doorway as Pacey appeared. "Actually, I'm right here." He gave them a weak smile, not quite back to his good humored self.

"Great, we're watching another movie." Audrey took his hand to pull him inside the room with everyone else.

"Wait a second," Jack said and pointed at the sprig of mistletoe above the doorway.

Dawson and Jen laughed, "It's tradition."

Joey wrapped her hands around her warm mug and glanced up. "I didn't even notice that was there."

"Your loss, my gain," Audrey said with a wink for Joey. "Up for it, Witter?"

"I don't think we've got a choice," he smirked, putting his hands on her hips. She rested her hands on his upper arms and tilted her face upwards until their lips met. Joey rolled her eyes and glanced away uncomfortably. She took another sip of hot chocolate and continued to watch the movie.

"I must say," Audrey commented as they both moved to sit down, "Pacey, you're a good kisser."

He chuckled, "Why, thank you."

"Honestly, much better than I expected."

"You weren't so bad yourself, Audrey." He smiled warmly at her, sitting down on the floor beside Jen and just in front of where Joey sat on the couch.

Joey set her mug down on the end table beside her and sat back comfortably. "This movie's cute."

Pacey rested his head against the side of her knee tiredly as he sat back against the couch. "Miracle?" he wondered, recognizing a few of the characters on screen.

"Obviously."

He sighed tiredly and fell silent. Joey reached for her mug again and stood up. "I think I'm going to get a refill." No one paid much attention as she left. She set her mug down on the kitchen counter and pulled open the refrigerator grabbing a chocolate chip cookie off the plate Bodie had put in there earlier. She bit into it and then turned to the stove, grabbing the pot of chocolate and carefully refilling her mug.

Dawson and Jen came into the kitchen where Joey still stood, stirring her hot cocoa with a spoon. "Jo, we're leaving." Dawson said, interrupting her reverie. "The movie ended." He came further into the room and grabbed Jen's coat from the hanger by the door and helped her into it.

"Thanks for having us." Jack came through the doorway and gave her a kiss on the cheek before grabbing his own coat.

"We'll be back here in the morning to open presents." Jen added as Dawson too gave Joey a kiss on the cheek.

She forced a faint smile. "See you tomorrow then."

"Merry Christmas," they chorused as they filed through her kitchen door, letting in a stream of frigid air.

Once the door was shut, Joey sighed and emptied her cup into the sink. Audrey wandered into the kitchen, empty coffee mugs clutched in her arms. "You'll need to wake Pacey, he's conked out on the floor."

Joey rolled her eyes and brushed her hair behind her ear. "Fine."

"I'm going to hit the sack," she grinned, "The sooner I get to sleep the sooner Santa will come, right?"

Joey smiled. "Right."

"'Night, Jo-Jo." She deposited the dishes in the sink and headed down the hall to her room.

"Goodnight Audrey." Joey decided to load the dishwasher for Bessie before going wake up Pacey. Once the machine was going, there was nothing left for her to do but return to the living room. She sighed and knelt down on the floor beside Pacey, trying to gently shake him awake.

"Hhhmmgh," he turned on his side and curled into a tight ball but didn't wake.

She began to shake him forcibly. "Pacey, wake up!"

He grunted and tugged on her arm, still half asleep and pulled her to the floor beside him. He rolled slightly, his body half covering her, one strong thigh between hers, an arm wrapped around her waist and his head pillowed on her breast.

Joey exhaled sharply in surprise. "The highlight of my life," she mumbled before trying to get him awake and off her. He sighed deeply, holding Joey tighter as a frown crossed his features.

She groaned and shoved at him. "Get up, Witter!"

He jerked awake suddenly, his breathing heavy and his eyes frantic. It was a long moment before his eyes focused on Joey beneath him. He immediately released her and slammed his eyes shut.

Joey managed to pull herself to her knees despite her heart's intent on slamming out of her chest and she leaned over Pacey, peering at his face intently. "Pacey?" she whispered unsurely.

He let out a ragged sigh, "Sorry, Jo." He forced his eyes open to meet her concerned ones. "Bad dream. Really bad dream."

She shoved at him as she climbed to her feet. "You scared the hell out of me."

"I'm sorry," he shook his head, sitting up. "I was asleep, I didn't know."

She frowned. "Want to talk about it?"

"My father and a gun," he sighed. "Need I say more?"

She sat down on the edge of the couch. "So I guess you're not in too much of a hurry to get back to bed."

"No...not particularly." He sighed, "But I should."

She shrugged. "Everyone left already."

He smiled weakly at her. "How nice of them to wake me."

"Well, if they had as much trouble as I did, I can see why they'd give up."

"Yeah, again, sorry about that."

She waved it off. "It's okay."

"Santa's on his way." He lamely attempted to change the subject.

She smiled and cast a quick glance out the window. "So I guess we should go to bed then."

"Yeah," he stood up and held out a hand to her. "Who knows, Santa may bring you exactly what you wanted this Christmas."

She took his hand before climbing to her feet. "I doubt it."

"You never know." He squeezed her hand and led her into the hallway.

She smirked. "I doubt Santa would be able to fit Ben Affleck under my tree."

"And here, I thought you wanted socks."

"I'll manage."

He smirked and gave her a kiss on the cheek when they got her door. "Merry Christmas, Potter."

"Merry Christmas, Pacey." She smiled and disappeared into the room she shared with Audrey.