"So then, Trevor turned around and threw the report away." Jen complained, pacing the living room of the apartment Joey and Pacey had shared for the last year. "God, I knew he had it out for me, but I can't believe he went so far!"

Joey followed Jen's pacing with her eyes, every so often pausing to take a bite of the ice cream bar in her hand. She shook her head sadly, having lost what Jen was saying somewhere between the first and second bite of her melting almond bar. "Sounds terrible."

She shrugged, "I'll take care of it. It's not like I've ever let someone get the better of me. He'll just happen to find his computer down for a few days. Just before his evaluation." She smiled maliciously, flopping onto the couch beside Joey.

Joey glanced down at the newly revealed ice cream stick. "You know, the jokes on these things are never funny."

"That's your second one of those," Jen said, just now noticing her friends odd behavior. "I thought you hated almonds."

She shrugged. "They taste pretty good on ice cream."

"If you say so," Jen shrugged, lifting her riotous curls of blonde hair off the back of her neck. "You got anymore? It's roasting in here."

"Um, check the freezer."

She nodded, and rose from the couch and headed for the kitchen. "When is Pacey coming home?"

Joey propped her feet up on the couch and flipped through some cable channels. "Soon. Probably."

"Is he bringing by food?" She asked hopefully, pulling out an ice cream.

Joey rested her head against the arm rest. "How should I know?"

"You're practically married to the guy," she unwrapped her ice cream and tossed it into the garbage before joining her on the couch.

"But alas," Joey brought her hand to her forehead. "I can't read his mind."

Jen shot her a grin and took a bite of her ice cream. "I honestly can't imagine wanting to read his mind."

"It's not something I wish for either." She rolled her head back in annoyance. "Why is there never anything good on TV?"

"Um....because entertainment industry has conspired to piss you off?"

"Bastards."

Jen giggled, "God, I've missed this. When did we get so busy that we only get together once a week?"

Joey shrugged. "Life is funny that way."

"Okay," Jen reached for the remote and clicked the TV off. "When are you going to tell me?"

She raised an eyebrow curiously. "Tell you what?"

"Whatever it is that's bothering you," she smiled innocently. "And don't think you can fool me after ten years of friendship."

Joey sighed. "I'm pregnant."

Jen dropped her ice cream, smearing chocolate and vanilla down the front of her dress shirt. "Joey! Oh my God! That's fantastic!" She looked up from the mess on her shirt to her friend's less than thrilled expression. "Isn't it?"

"I'm not sure yet...I haven't told Pacey."

Jen reached for the tissues on the end table and tried to mop up the mess. "Why not? How long have you known?"

"I found out officially, three days ago."

She frowned, "So why not tell him? Has ever talked about wanting kids?"

Joey shook her head. "We've never actually discussed it."

Jen glanced down at her friend’s smooth stomach. "Sounds like you're going to have to." She was quiet for a moment, "Unless you don't want the baby...?"

She unconsciously placed a hand over her stomach. "No, it's not that...It just changes things."

A faint smile crossed her lips as she turned to face her friend, "What makes you think that?"

"Oh, I don't know..." Joey rolled her eyes. "Maybe it's because a baby is a huge responsibility!"

Jen grinned, "Well, yeah, but who says that's a bad change?"

"Pacey can barely take care of himself."

"That's not true, he had a dog once." Jen smirked.

Joey frowned. "I'm serious."

Jen schooled her face to seriousness. "You don't think he'd want a baby?"

"We're not ready for a baby."

"Honey," Jen smiled reassuringly, "No one is ever ready for a baby. You'd make a wonderful mother, it's instinct. And Pacey...well, you'll just have to learn not to leave him alone with the baby," She grinned.

"I don't know how this happened..."

"I damn well hope you know how this happened. You were there."

"Of course I know how it happened." She sat up and hugged her knees to her chest. "I just don't understand how it happened. I mean, we're careful."

"Were you careful every time?" Jen asked. "You weren't overcome with passion one night and...?"

"Ugh!" Joey groaned and buried her head in her hands.

Jen frowned, rubbing Joey's shoulder sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Joey."

Joey let herself fall onto her side with a moan. "This is all Pacey's fault."

"Was it?"

"I can't afford to be nitpicky right now, okay?"

"Okay." Jen nodded, "It was completely Pacey's fault. He should know to keep his dick in his pants where it belongs." She agreed full-heartedly.

Joey smiled. "Thank you."

She tilted her head, "No problem."

"He's just insatiable."

"Right. Doesn't he think of anything but sex? And how dare he be so sexy? It’s completely inconsiderate."

"Exactly!"

Jen grinned, "And it's all his fault for making you love him, right?"

"You're reading my mind so well, it's getting scary."

"I'm just being the supportive best friend here. Reading your mind is part of the job description."

Her lips twisted in an unhappy frown and then exhaled sharply. "So how do I tell him?"

"Wait until after you've had sex. Definitely." Jen nodded decisively. "He’ll be in a good mood.

Joey nodded. "Okay."

"How do you think he'll react?"

"I have no idea."

"Really?" Jen made a face, "Dawson would love to have a baby. Way more than I would."

"Well, that's great for you and Dawson."

"I'm just saying, I know how Dawson feels on the subject. I can't believe you and Pacey haven't discussed it."

"Well, why would we discuss it?"

"You've been together for two years." Jen pointed out, "Sleeping together a little less than that, right? I figured it would have come up during the marriage conversation."

"What marriage conversation? Pacey and I have never had a marriage conversation. Not even a little bit. Not even a mention."

Jen scowled, "Seriously?"

"Yes. Why would I lie?"

"Because...because I can't believe you haven't brought it up yet. I mean, I understand why Pacey hasn't, he's a man."

Joey shrugged. "I just never did."

Her brow furrowed, "Do you want to marry him?"

"I've thought about it."

"And?"

"Maybe one day, in the future."

"In other words..." Jen smiled gently, "You want to desperately but don't have a clue what he thinks."

Joey nodded and rested her chin on her knees. "Exactly."

Jen leaned over and gave her a hug. "Men suck."

"Tell me about it."

"Sweetheart, I'm home." Pacey announced coming through the front door, a plastic bag in his hand.

Joey glanced at Jen. "Did you bring any food?"

"Yeah, your favorite." He shrugged out of his coat and tossed it over the chair. "Hey, Lindley. I think there's probably enough for you too, blondie."

Joey climbed to her feet with a faint smile. "Thanks."

"You wanna sit at the table?" He asked, coming to her side and giving her a quick kiss. "Or should I go bring some plates in?"

"We can sit at the table."

"Okay, you guys set. I'll serve." He headed for the kitchen.

"Are you sure you want me to stay?" Jen asked quietly as they slowly followed behind him.

Joey shrugged. "You can stay. I don't mind."

"Okay," she nodded. "Besides, if I go home, Dawson'll expect me to cook."

Joey laughed. "Well, the longer you're here, the longer I can put off the inevitable."

"Hey sweetie," Pacey smiled over his shoulder as Joey entered the kitchen as he was watching dishes, the radio playing. "I'm just about done here."

"Need any help?"

"If you want to dry the last few, I wouldn't put up a fight." He said with a smile.

Joey grabbed the dishtowel off the counter. "I can do that."

"How was your day?"

"Um, pretty much uneventful."

He fished the stopper out of the drain and the water started to disappear. "Mine too."

She shrugged as she dried the last dish. "I guess that's good."

He quickly wiped out the sink and washed his hands. "Ya hear that, Potter?"

"What?" she asked, drying her hands on the towel before setting it down.

He caught her hand and pulled her towards him, "I could be mistaken, considering this is me and all, but I believe this is our song."

She smiled. "We have a song?"

"If we didn't before, we do now." He grinned, wrapping his arms loosely around her waist.

"I thought you didn't dance?" she raised an eyebrow as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I have to make an exception every once in a while."

"Okay, just remember, I like my toes right where they are."

"I'll try to keep that in mind, but you know how clumsy I am," he brushed his fingers along her spine.

A corner of her mouth turned up slightly. "That's very reassuring."

"I do try." He grinned.

She grimaced. "Try harder."

"Sorry," He glanced down at their feet. "Here," he stepped back and lifted her up into his arms. "Your feet are no longer in danger."

She smiled softly. "Thank you."

The song came to an end, and he gave her a soft kiss. "You know I love ya, Jo, but you're not exactly a lightweight."

"I don't know what I'd do without your flattery."

"You'd be living with some other guy, I'd imagine." He carried her into the living room. "Are you ready for bed?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"Kay," he carried her to their bedroom and laid her across the bed and then moved to stand up.

"Do you ever think about us getting married someday?"

His eyes widened, "Well...I..."

"I'm not suggesting that we get married, it's just that Jen was saying that she and Dawson had the marriage conversation. We’ve been living together for a while now and we haven't had that conversation, so I just thought that..." She sighed. "Never mind. It was a stupid question."

"Jo, it's not a stupid question."

"But it was very random. Hello, non-sequitor," she said more to herself.

"Yeah," he smiled, moving beside her on the bed. "I'm a little blindsided."

"You don't have to answer. It was just, you know, rhetorical."

"No," he shook his head. "I haven't given it much thought." He admitted with a shrug, "But I guess I always figured that's where we were headed."

She raised an eyebrow. "Because that's the next step and that's what we have to do?"

His eyebrows quirked together. "Well...yeah," he replied, having the distinct impression that was the wrong answer, but not knowing what else to say.

"That's what I thought."

"Isn't...isn't that what you want?"

"Oh, I'm just thinking out loud."

"So...you haven't thought about marrying me?"

"Not really..."

"Oh. Well." He shrugged a shoulder, looking away from her, "Then there isn't much point to this conversation, is there?"

"Right. None at all."

He brushed a kiss on her shoulder and moved off the bed, "I'll be right back." He disappeared through the bathroom to get ready for bed.

Joey nodded and slid off the bed, walking over to her closet. She opened the door and stared at her reflection in the mirror, placing a hand over her tank top and the stomach beneath. She turned to her side, and observed her profile. She grabbed a sweater off a hanger and rolled into a ball, then stuffed it under her top. She tilted her head thoughtfully and tugged up her low riding, pajama pants and for good measure stuffed some of the sweater inside the waistband. She frowned and braced her hands on her lower back as she studied her reflection, not sure if she liked what she saw.

The sound of running water disappeared, and the click of the bathroom door closing echoed down the hall. Joey quickly tossed the sweater back inside the closet and shut the door, before taking a running leap onto the bed. She smoothed out her hair and reached for the book on her night stand, opening it in front of her.

She had just seconds to spare before he pushed open the bedroom door. "Did you need the bathroom?"

She shook her head, not looking up from her book. "Nope. I'm fine."

He moved to his side of the bed and pulled off his shirt and pants, throwing them into the hamper, knowing anywhere else would get him a harsh reprimand from Joey. "Whatcha reading?" he questioned, sliding under the covers.

"A book."

"Okay..." he moved closer to her, sliding a hand over her stomach to curve around her waist. "Is it terribly interesting?"

"I just started it."

"Would you mind putting it down, I'd like to talk about something."

She turned her head to look at him. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I love you."

She arched an eyebrow. "That's why you wanted me to put my book down?"

"Yeah, pretty much." He smiled, curving his hand over her cheek. "You look like you needed to hear it."

"Thanks." She pressed her lips quickly to his and returned to her book. He sighed and moved back to his side of the bed, tucking his arm behind his head. He had the distinct impression that he had done something seriously wrong.