Jen, Jack and Pacey sat around the kitchen island, the bassinet beside them as they drank coffee, Jack having already finished his breakfast. "So let me get this straight," Jen set down her mug of coffee, "This Melanie person you met last summer came back for a week during the fall and you knocked her up. Instead of informing you of this when it happened, she waits fourteen months and leaves her at your front door?"

Pacey nodded, "That’s about the gist of it, yeah."

"And she named her Victoria Celeste?" she winced. "She sounds like a prima donna."

"Actually," Pacey said thoughtfully, "I think Melanie was."

"So, what are you gonna do?" Jen asked, quietly studying Pacey’s eyes as he watched Jack play with Victoria.

"I’m going to try and get a hold of her grandparents and give her back," He replied easily. "And then I’m going to go to work, and then on my date with Becky after we close."

Jen tilted her head meaningfully. "And you’re just going to forget you have a baby now, Pacey?"

"Yes." He nodded, "That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to have kids. Let alone before I can purchase my own alcohol. Victoria was an accident, and she’ll be much better off with her grandparents than with me."

"Pacey…are you sure about that?" Jack questioned, tickling the baby’s stomach as she lay cradled in his arm.

He let out a choked laugh, "Can you seriously picture me raising a baby? The entire idea is ludicrous. She wouldn’t make it past her first birthday."

"You’d make a better parent then most people out there," Jen pointed out.

"And it’s not like you don’t have the income for it."

Pacey shook his head. "No." Jack and Jen exchanged looks, "It’s incredibly rude to have a conversation with your eyes, behind my back, you know."

At that point, the back door opened, and Grams came inside, two grocery bags in her arms. "There’s more out in the trunk, Jack." She said, putting the bags down, and finally seeing Pacey at the table. "Why, Pacey. We haven’t seen you around here in weeks. How are you?"

"Been better actually."

She didn’t pay much attention to his reply, her eyes landing on the child Jack was holding. "Oh my," she smiled warmly, holding out her arms to take Victoria. "And who is this charming young lady?"

"Grams," Jen smiled weakly, standing beside her grandmother so she see the baby better. "This is Victoria Witter."

The baby smiled happily up at the older woman, and waved a fist. "She’s quite the beauty isn’t she?" Grams traced the round curve of her cheek. "I wasn’t aware Douglas had a child."

Jack laughed, "Look closely at her eyes," he suggested.

"Oh." She glanced heavily at Pacey, her disappointment clearly stated in her eyes.

"Hey," he held up his hands in innocence, "I didn’t know until last night." His voice softened, "See, Grams, that’s the problem. The mother just abandoned her on my doorstep last night, and skipped town on a plane. Being the baby of my family, I haven’t the least clue how to take care of a child." He gave her his most charming smile, "And I was hoping I could throw myself on the mercy of your kind and generous heart and leave her here until I could get in contact with her grandparents. It shouldn’t take me more than a day. Two at absolute most." He flashed her another hopeful smile.

Grams looked from Pacey to Victoria, who’d stuck a thumb in her mouth. Pacey thought he saw her start to relent when the back door opened and first Joey, then Audrey entered the kitchen.

"This had better be good and have coffee involved to drag me out of bed at eight-thirty in the morning," Audrey scowled, wearing pajama pants and a jacket.

Joey rolled her eyes at her friend’s comment and smiled at her friends, taking in the scene. "Who’s this?" she smiled innocently at the baby in Grams arms.

Pacey crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Jack, "Didn’t I tell you they could wait to find out?"

"I didn’t call Dawson." The brunette blinked innocently.

"Wow, Pacey," Joey glanced from Victoria to her friend. "She looks a lot like you."

Pacey sighed again, "Joey, Audrey, meet my daughter. Victoria."

"Your what?" Audrey started to choke on her coffee.

Joey’s eyes widened expressively. After a moment she got control of her vocal cords. "Nice of you to let us know now."

A muscle in his jaw jumped, he was getting tired of retelling the story. He just wanted to leave her here and get as far away from the baby as possible. "Chill, Potter. I found her on my front step last night with a letter from this woman I…dated. Melanie abandoned her with me. And just as soon as I possibly can, I’m taking her back to her grandparents."

"Huh." Audrey regained her breath and studied her ex-boyfriend’s closed expression.

"She’s beautiful, Pacey," Joey said softly, looking into Victoria’s sweet face. "She has your eyes."

"Yeah, that seems to be the consensus."

"Can I hold her?"

"Feel free," he shrugged indifferently.

"Wow, so," Audrey sat down, "This was definitely worth getting up for."

Grams handed the baby over to Joey, who grinned down into the little face, softly touching her cheek. Patting Victoria on the head softly, Grams turned to the boy who sat in front of her, trying his best to mask his desperation.

"Pacey, I find that I do have time on my hands today. Perhaps I could watch over Victoria for a few hours. But she’ll have to go home with you tonight," he started to protest and she shook her head. "I’m too old to be waking up for midnight feedings. You work tonight, I presume."

"Yes." Jack, Jen, Joey and Audrey watched this quietly, curious as to how generous Grams was going to be.

"Then you’ll have to return her and pick her up when you finish."

"Yes, ma’am." He nodded, relieved to at least get free of her for a few hours.

"Now, where are her things?"

"Her things? This is all she’s got. Mel left her with nothing but her doctors records, one diaper and one thing of baby formula."

Grams sighed, kids shouldn’t be having kids. "Very well then. You’ll need to go shopping before your shift starts. Let me make you a list. Just get the essentials first, and then go back for everything else." She turned to Jack, "Shouldn’t you be leaving for class?"

"I do believe I should," Jack smiled, loving to see Grams in action. He moved to Joey, who still held Victoria, and gave the baby’s hand a little squeeze. "Bye guys."

Grams turned to the stove, "Since you girls are already here, you’ll be staying for breakfast. Jen’s volunteered to make french toast since she’s already awake." Jen rolled her eyes at that announcement. "Joey, since you’re dressed, could you help Pacey?"

Her eyes widened for a second and handed the baby to Audrey, "Yes, of course."

Audrey froze, holding the baby stiffly, panic lighting her eyes. "Someone take her, someone take her, someone take her."

Grams took the baby from Audrey with a tolerant smile in her face. "If you could go get the groceries from the trunk, Audrey, that would be quite helpful." She then handed Pacey the list, who sat on his stool, watching his friends ordered around one by one. "Now, off you go. You’ll want to be back while the food’s still warm."

He nodded his head, and took the paper. "Thanks, Grams."

She smiled softly at him, and rested a hand on his shoulder. "All will be well, Pacey. You’ll see. God has a plan." He didn’t reply and silently left the house, Joey trailing behind him. Grams shook her head, how quickly things changed for these kids.

Having watched Jen and her friends grow up over the last six years, she had come to think of all of them as hers. Minutes before, in front of her sat this boy—and no matter how old and seasoned he thought he was, he was still only a kid—who was trying his best not to let his friends see how scared he was.

If pressed, Grams might admit she had a soft spot for Pacey. While the others saw him as a pillar of strength, the one who toughed it out, stood up for right, fought what was wrong, and possessed an impulsive hero-complex. She’d also seen in him deep hurt, and that he hid it so no one could see. Jen and the rest might be aware of the impenetrable walls Pacey had built around himself to protect his broken heart, but Grams, in all her wisdom, could see them as clear as day. She feared that maybe Pacey had forgotten how to feel altogether. He’d spent almost two years building thick walls around his heart.

She smiled softly to herself, and now God had sent the perfect little wrecking ball.

Pacey was unlocking the driver’s side of his car when Joey caught up with him. "Wait up, Pace." She was still trying to pull on her coat as she walked around the car to the other side. He nodded his head once, not really looking at her as he climbed into the car and leaned over to unlock her side.

After several minutes of the tense silence as they drove, Joey couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up. "What a way to start a morning, huh? Quite the shocker to learn your best friend has a baby."

He sighed, "Jack really shouldn’t have dragged you guys out of bed like this. It’s not that big of a deal."

"Not that big of a deal?" Joey’s eyes widened expressively. "Are you kidding me?! You’re a father."

"No. I’m not. I’m sperm donor or whatever you want to call it. But I am not a father. I’d make a terrible father."

"Oh, Pacey." She scoffed, "You will not."

"We wont have the opportunity to find out. I’m not keeping her. She’s going back to her home as soon as I can get a hold of her grandparents."

She winced, "Isn’t that kind of cold of you? She’s not just some stray puppy who followed you home Pacey. What if her grandparents don’t want her?"

"I’ll put her up for adoption."

"She’s your flesh and blood!"

"Flesh and blood that I never asked for and don’t want! There’s no place in my life for a baby."

"You should have thought of that before you fucked Melanie."

Her words were tinged with bitterness and hung heavily in the air between them. Pacey’s fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly and Joey frowned out the window. "Victoria was a mistake. One that I don’t plan to spend the rest of my life atoning for."

Her mouth fell open, "I can’t believe you’d be so cold. That baby is yours, whether you want her or not."

"No, that baby is going to be adopted by a family who’ll want her and raise her under a loving roof," He refuted. "I’m going to do what’s best for her."

"You’re doing what’s best for you and to hell with the rest of the world. Who do you think you are? You’re not exactly the worst father-material in the world. I have news for you, you’re not a heartless bastard like your father, or a drug dealer like mine. And family? Who do you think all those people in Grams house were? You would make a wonderful father. I’ve seen you with Alexander. I know."

He shook his head from side to side, "Joey, you’re my friend, and I love you. But you don’t know me anymore. Not even the half of who I am. I’m twenty years old, Joey. The only thing I have going for me is a steady job. I shouldn’t be a father."

"But the fact remains, you are a father, and you’re running away from it. The Pacey I know would never—"

"They Pacey you knew doesn’t exist anymore, Joey. He’s long dead and buried."

She sat back for a moment in defeat, "No, you’re right. The Pacey that knew how to love got on a plane for Florida two summers ago and never came back."

"Exactly," he bit. "So now you can just drop the whole ‘Daddy’ thing. She’s going to her grandparents."

"Fine, I wont push you. And after this, I wont say anything more," she turned to look at his stony profile. "The Pacey who knew what it was to love someone, he’s not gone forever, you’ve just locked him away good and tight. And no matter what you say or how much you protest, he’s still there somewhere, trying to fight his way out. Eventually, he’s going to win and you better hope he’s not too late."

"Forget about it Joey. There’s no one locked inside me. I am who I am and I know what I want. End of discussion."

Joey frowned and looked out the window, watching Boston fly by the rest of the way to the grocery store.

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