Pacey settled into the plush cushions of the couch, the portable phone in his hand, the large Boston Area Telephone Book in his lap. Letting out a tired sigh, he stared unseeing across the living room. He could hear the soft murmur of their voices in the kitchen. Grams, her voice calm and serene, Audrey and Jen, indignant, Joey, soft and soothing as she talked to Victoria.

What did they know, anyway? They’d be singing a different tune if they had been the ones with a five-month-old child dropped in their laps. Honestly, if any of them found themselves pregnant, would they even consider raising a baby on their own at this point in their lives? No. It’s all well and good for them to insist that he do it. Just because he has a steady job, and not going to school, doesn’t mean that he should raise a baby.

Raise a baby. Just the thought of it was ludicrous. He was twenty years old. Twenty! What did he know about babies? Let alone kids? The only children he’d ever been around were his nieces, Alexander, and Buzz. Alex and Buzz were boys, so sure, he got along with them just fine. Even if Buzz was a miniature terror. But his nieces…they were a nightmare. What the hell would he do with a girl?

What the hell would he do with any child? Teach them how to sauté mushrooms? Or how to do tequila shots? Shoot pool? No. Definitely not. He was no way prepared to be a father right now. Maybe never.

He probably never should have brought Victoria here. It would have been a hell of a lot easier if he’d just taken her to her grandparents. Never gotten Grams or the girls involved in any way. He should have known they’d want him to keep her. Were they crazy? Exactly what kind of father did they think he’d make?

Better just to get her out of the house, and out of his life as soon as possible. Make things get back to normal.

He flipped through the phone book, and found the number he was looking for. He didn’t hesitate even a moment as he dialed.

“Hello. Thompson residence,” a formal voice announced.

“Yeah, um. I’m looking for…” he paused. He didn’t even know their names. “The parents of Melanie Thompson?”

“May I ask whom is calling?” That prim voice asked again, it had to be the housekeeper, he assumed.

“Pacey Witter.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Witter, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have no wish to speak to you.”

“Yeah, listen, I figured as much. Frankly, I don’t blame them, if someone had knocked up my daughter-“ He cut himself off. He actually had a daughter now, he pushed the irony of that out of his head. “I don’t blame them. I just want them to know that I don’t want Victoria and since they’re her grandpar-“

“Mr. Witter.” The housekeeper interrupted again, “Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have no wish to see their grandchild. They are currently in Venice at the moment and have left express instructions to turn the child over to Protective Services if she is given into their care.”

“They’re in Venice?” He repeated stupidly. “For how long?”

“Through Christmas.”

“Are you kidding? That’s…that’s more than a month!”

“I’m well aware of that, Mr. Witter. Now if we’re done here…”

“No, wait. Is there anyway you could tell me where Melanie is? I need to get in contact with her.”

“No.”

“No, you wont tell me? Or no, you don’t know where she is?” He tried his best to charm the middle aged woman.

“Just no.”

He sighed. “So in other words, I can either put the baby up for adoption, or…”

“Whatever you choose to do does not concern Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. As I have said, if you bring her here, she will be given to Child Protective Services.”

“Can I ask you something? Have they even seen their granddaughter?”

“I do not believe so.”

“Then, there’s still the chance that they might lay eyes on her and have a change of heart.”

“Mr. Witter, I feel obligated to inform you that the chances of that occurring are very slim.”

“But the chance exists,” he smiled into the phone.

“I-I suppose so…”

“There, now if you will be so kind as to inform me of when they are expected to return, I’ll be sure to drop by with Victoria.”

“I’m afraid I cannot do that, Mr. Witter.”

“Please, Mrs…”

“Mrs. Huntington.”

“Mrs. Huntington, it is.” He turned on the charm. “Could you just imagine what it would be like having a baby in the house? Have you see Victoria? She’s a pint size version of Melanie. She’s got that honey colored blonde hair, big blue eyes…”

“Oh…well.”

He sensed her beginning to weaken. “She’s a sweetheart of a baby. Good tempered, always smiling.”

“It would be nice to have a child in the house again…”

“So, could you tell me when they’re scheduled to return? I don’t see how they could possible resist her once they’ve laid eyes on the little darling.”

“January third.”

“That’s perfect. I’ll be sure to bring her by then. Or perhaps, do you think it would be better to wait a day, give them some time to settle in again?”

“Best that you wait a day, I think.”

“Well, than you very much Mrs. Huntington.”

“Call me Ida.” She smiled into the phone.

“Well, Ida, you’ve been a huge help. I’ll be looking forward to meeting you. As is Victoria.”

“Me too. Good day, Mr. Witter.”

“Call me Pacey.”

“Very well then, Pacey.”

“Good bye, Ida.” He said with a smile, hanging up the phone.

This was perfect. Ida knew the Thompson’s better than anyone, being their housekeeper and all. So if she thought they were open to keeping their granddaughter, than that meant the chances were good. He’d just have to take care of Victoria until then.

That thought sudden filled him with dread. That was more than a month away. It was the fifteenth today…He did some quick math, forty-nine days. He’d have to take care of a five-month-old baby for forty-nine days. Well, fuck.

He bit his lip and rose. Well, at least, hopefully he wouldn’t be alone in this. Entering the kitchen again, he took in the four women and his daughter. Everyone was eating, Grams balancing Victoria in her lap with practiced ease as she did so.

“Okay,” he clapped his hands together once, splaying his legs in an I’m-in-charge position. “Here’s the plan.” The girls turned wary eyes on him, except for Victoria, who happily hit her tiny fists against the edge of the table. “I talked to the Thompsons’ housekeeper. There’s good news and there’s bad news. The bad news is that Victoria’s grandparents are out of town until early January. The good news is that Ida seems to think there’s a good chance that they’ll want her once they meet her. So, I’ve only gotta take care of her until then.”

Jen and Audrey exchanged looks, “And you’re okay with that?” Jen asked, her hazel eyes regarding him suspiciously.

“I don’t really have much of a choice, do I?” He sat down in his seat and cut into his cold breakfast, suddenly ravenous. “I can’t give her up for adoption, otherwise her grandparents wont be able to get her back. And don’t you think she should be with family as opposed to strangers?”

“That’s exactly what I think.” Joey agreed, “But you said you wanted nothing to do with her.”

“I don’t. But I really don’t seen any way around it. It’s only for a month and a half, I’ll be able to survive.” He took a bite of his french toast and swallowed. “Besides, I have you guys.”

“And we’re just going to drop everything and come to your aid?” Audrey arched a blonde eyebrow. “Think again, cowboy.”

He rolled his eyes, “That’s not what I was thinking at all. I was thinking my kind, soft-hearted, stunningly beautiful best friends would find it in their heart to help me out a little bit while I’m slaving away over a hot stove at work.” He blinked brilliantly blue eyes at the four women innocently.

“Well, I never,” Grams murmured under her breath, a tinge of red coloring her cheeks.

“Don’t fall for it, Grams,” Jen narrowed her eyes at Pacey, “And how exactly to you see this working out, Pace?”

“I hadn’t exactly thought that far yet. I’m still trying to work through the fact I have a daughter.”

“It’d be easier if you didn’t ignore her,” Joey muttered.

Pacey pretended not to hear her. “What would work out best for you guys?”

“Well,” Jen sighed, looking at the other girls, “We’ve all got classes during the day. But that shouldn’t affect you too much, since you work nights, right?”

“Actually, Joey and I have a night class together Tuesdays and Thursdays.” Audrey added.

“And you can’t expect Grams to take care of the baby all by herself at night.” Jen frowned at Pacey.

“You can so.” Grams straightened indignantly. “I may be old, but I am no invalid.”

“Even so, the burden shouldn’t fall on you alone,” Pacey agreed.

“Wait, I don’t know how much help I’m going to be,” Audrey announced suddenly. “I have the same schedule as Pacey, except for Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

“Okay, wait, wait, wait. What about Jack and Dawson?” Jen pointed out, “They’ve got two hands and two eyes, there’s nothing wrong with them helping either.”

“Right. So really, when you think about it.” Pacey smiled at them, “Between the five of you, that’s like a day of baby-sitting each.”

“You are completely spoiled, Pacey.” Joey pointed out, “We’re not taking care of this baby for you.” She stood and carried Victoria to Pacey. “She is your daughter, you’re going to have to learn how to take care of her.” He opened his mouth to stop her, “And don’t start talking about how she’s leaving, that’s nearly two months away.”

“Can I talk now?” He questioned.

“No. Take her.” Joey held out the baby to him, her eyes hard with determination.

“You’re being-“

“Take. Her.”

“Fine,” he held out his hands, and took Victoria into his arms. The baby blinked wary blue eyes up at her father. He drew her uneasily against his chest, settling her into the crook of his arms. She stretched her mouth into a tiny yawn, and Pacey might have smiled if Joey wasn’t standing over him, her arms on her hips. “There, happy?”

“Sort of.” She moved back to her chair.

“You came to me for help, Pacey.” Grams spoke up, having watched the interaction between Joey and Pacey with interest. “I am willing to provide it, if you provide a few things in exchange.”

“That sounds fair,” he nodded.

“First, I expect you take care of her on the weekends, and times you are not working."

"Done." Pacey nodded eagerly.

"Secondly, I want you to provide a home for that little girl, no matter how long you plan to keep her. A child needs comfort and consistancy, not to be shuffled from place to place at such a young age," Grams' expression was severe.

"I'll do my best."

"Lastly, I expect you to show the proper amount of gratitude for what your friend's are willing to do to help you. The girls had the generosity not to make you grovel."

He eyed each of the women, "And for that I thank you. Believe me, if you'd asked, I would have. Trust me," he returned his eyes to Grams. "I'm grateful."

She smiled, "Then we have a deal."

"Great," he glanced down at Victoria, who'd fallen immediatly to sleep.

"How much longer do you have before you go to work?"

"A few hours yet," he replied after checking the clock on the wall.

"Then you have time to do some more shopping. She'll need a crib, clothing, a car seat," Grams began listing supplies.

"My next class was canceled," Joey spoke up. "I can go with him."

"I have errands to run, so you'll be taking the baby with you." Grams informed them.

Pacey nodded, just thankful that he had help from both Grams and his friends. Visibly releaved, he settled back in the chair. "We can go whenever you're ready, Jo."

"Give us a ride back to the dorms to change, and then I'll be set." Joey gestured back behind her to Audrey.

"I hope you know what you're getting into, Jo." Jen said with a wry smile as she stood up and headed for the stairs so she could get ready for her class.

"I don't."

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