"They say when you're pregnant you should walk a bit each day and exercise." Joey shrugged and bit into a chocolate chip cookie. "I much prefer sitting on my ass and watching TV." She passed the box of cookies onto Jen.

She grinned, "I prefer sitting on my ass watching TV regardless of pregnancy."

Joey grinned. "That's why you're my best friend."

"So, how did Pacey take the news?"

"I haven't told him yet."

She winced, "That doesn't sound good."

"I know. It's been a week and I'm running out of excuses for why we can't have sex."

"You're not even getting laid?" She laughed, "Joey, you can still have sex with him and not tell him about the baby."

Joey shrugged. "It's kind of a test too."

"You're testing him now?" She arched an eyebrow, biting into a cookie.

She nodded. "Yeah."

"And...what exactly are you testing him for?"

"We had the marriage conversation." Joey reached for another cookie. "And he said he'd marry because he has to, because it's the next step."

"God, that man is dumb." She frowned, "But that doesn't explain why you're holding out on him."

"I'm trying to get him to propose. Kind of. Sort of." She shrugged. "It's a half-baked plan."

"So, you'd rather he propose so he can get laid than because he thinks it's the next step?" She asked skeptically.

"I'm kind of making this up as I go along."

"So I see." She polished off another cookie, "You must really want this baby."

Joey smiled, touching her stomach lightly. "I've gotten use to him."

"So why do you need him to propose first?" She asked in confusion.

"So that way I know he's not proposing because of the baby."

"Okay, yeah. Well, at least that part makes sense," Jen smiled. "So how are you going to do it?"

Joey frowned. "I'm not sure yet."

"What were his exact words when you asked him about marriage? Did he seem...happy about the idea?"

"Not really...He just seemed surprised."

"Oh, you know what you could do?" Jen said, a brilliant thought hitting her.

Joey looked at her curiously. "What?"

"You could borrow Alyssa from Jack and Paul." She grinned excitedly at Joey, referring to the four month old baby Jack and his partner Paul had adopted several months ago. "Offer to take her for the weekend to give them some time alone, and then this way you'll be able to see Pacey with a baby. Plus, hopefully, he'll realize how much he loves you and wants to raise a family with you."

Joey grinned, already reaching for the phone. "That's a good idea."

"Really?" Jen sounded exceptionally pleased with herself.

Joey nodded. "Considering that I had absolutely nothing, it's brilliant."

Jack and Paul were enthused at the idea of getting a weekend alone together, but were equally as reluctant to spend the weekend away from their newest family member, both parents completely in love with the little girl. Joey had finally suggested just an overnight visit, to which they'd heartily agreed, promising to come get her around six the next evening. Jen listened as Joey worked out all the plans, devouring the last of the cookies herself.

"So, in less then three days, you're taking over parenting duties for over twenty-four hours." Jen said just as Joey was hanging up, "And how exactly are you going to break the news to Pacey?"

Joey waved it off. "He won't mind."

"If you say so, but in my experience, horny men with the prospect of a weekend with their lover get kinda cranky when something interrupts their well laid plans."

"Well, it's good practice for when the baby comes."

"Yeah, it will be." Jen agreed, "And if I know Pacey, he'll fall madly in love with Alyssa. That baby is the most adorable thing ever."

"See? It's a good idea."

"Perfect." Jen nodded her agreement, just as the front door opened to reveal the object of their discussion.

"Hey Jen," He smiled at the blonde. "You're visiting a lot more often than usual."

"Complaining, Pace?" She asked.

"I'd never." He winked at her and then turned to Joey, giving her a kiss hello before shoving some magazines over on the coffee table and sitting down in front of her. "I was golfing with Doug this morning, and before you ask," he grinned, "I whipped his ass. But that's besides the point. I know you've been feeling kind of out of this last week or so, and Doug had these extra plane tickets down to Florida that he and Melissa couldn't use, so I made us some reservations for this weekend down at that B&B we stayed at our junior year. I figured we could rent a boat, sail the Florida waters. You know, rekindle some of those memories from our youth. Maybe make a few more."

Joey shook her head regretfully. "I can't. I just promised Jack and Paul, we'd watch Alyssa for them." She looked to Jen. "Maybe Jen and Dawson can use the tickets."

His face fell, "Oh."

Jen forced a smile, "I think I could probably talk Dawson into an impromptu trip."

He looked hopefully at Jen as she stood up, "Is there anyway you two could watch Alyssa?"

She exchanged looks with Joey, "No, um, Dawson's....Dawson's allergic."

"To babies?"

"No." She shook her head, racking her brain for something Dawson could be allergic to. "To, um, baby powder!"

Pacey gave her a funny look, not remembering Dawson ever being allergic to anything in all the time he'd known him. Reluctantly, he handed her the tickets from his jacket pocket, "I guess someone should get to use them."

Joey grinned. "Good, so it all works out."

"Yeah, I guess." Pacey sighed, watching Jen tuck the tickets into her purse. "Do you want our reservations too?"

Jen shrugged. "Why not? We're going to need a place to stay since we're probably never going to leave the room."

Pacey groaned inwardly at her announcement. "I'll give the travel agency a call and let them know about the change."

Jen grinned. "Thanks."

Joey tilted her head thoughtfully. "Do you think I should get something for Alyssa? Since she's staying here..." She glanced around. "I think the house is safe for a baby."

"Maybe some of those light socket things," he shrugged a shoulder. "She's only four months old, how much trouble can she get into?"

Joey nodded. "She'll have to sleep in our room."

"Our room?" She hadn't thought it possible, but his face fell further.

"Well, yeah. Where else would we put her? Besides, this way we're close at hand at all times."

"Right." He stood up, "I'm going to go take a shower. I'll see you two ladies in a bit. Jen, you plan on hanging around for a while?"

The blonde shook her head. "I think I'll head home and tell Dawson about our trip."

"He'll be thrilled, I'm sure." Pacey said wryly. "I'll catch you later then, blondie."

"Bye Pacey." She turned back to Joey once Pacey was out of the room. "He looked disappointed."

Joey shrugged, grabbing the empty cookie box and rising to her feet. "He'll get over it."

She looked back in the direction he'd gone. "That was so sweet of him though, to arrange a romantic getaway knowing he's only got about a 50% chance of getting some."

Joey nodded as she walked into the kitchen and tossed the box away. "I know. I feel bad that I had to dash those hopes."

"Oh well," Jen smiled, "His loss, my and Dawson's gain."

Joey smiled. "Right."

"Speaking of, I'd better get home and make sure Dawson doesn't do something stupid like offer to house sit for our neighbors."

Joey laughed. "Go."

"Okay, I'm going." She turned to the doorway, "But I think you at least owe that boyfriend or yours a blow job for raining on his parade."

Joey stuck her tongue out at her. "Leave."

"Bye," she sing-songed, walking to the door and closing it quietly behind her.

Pacey used the remote and flipped from the credits of the movie he and Joey had just finished to the eleven o'clock news. She was nestled into his side, her feet curled up beneath her, a light blanket draped over her lap. He'd gotten over his disappointment when she informed him they couldn't go on the trip he'd been planning for months...mostly. Part of him was still peeved that Dawson would be enjoying the fruits of his labor and most likely be enjoying a hell of a lot more than fruit this weekend.

Joey muffled a small yawn. "Hmm, I think I'll head to bed."

"Already?" He was beginning to dread bedtime. It always turned out the same. Her fast asleep. Him tossing and turning with a raging hard-on.

Joey tilted her head thoughtfully. "You're right it's still kind of early."

"That's my kind of thinking," he tightened his arm around her, pulling her closer.

"I think I'll read a bit."

His shoulder's slumped. "Must be a good book."

She nodded. "It's really interesting."

"Maybe I should give it a go."

She shrugged. "Sure, when I'm done."

He trailed the tip of one finger up and down the length of her arm. "How was work today?"

Joey kept her eyes on the television. "It was fine. Mostly some paperwork I had to finish up since Erin took a week off for her honeymoon."

"Hmmm," he shifted his hand to her waist, drawing soft circles over the flat of her stomach with the pad of his thumb. "I didn't know she got married."

Joey bit her lip and nodded. "Well, she did. It was kind of impulsive."

"Erin? Impulsive?" He slid his hand higher, just under the curve of her breast. "Must have been some guy."

"His name is Josh, I think. I haven't officially met him yet."

"All in good time, I suppose," he murmured, tilting her chin up with his other hand, he kissed her, cupping the weight of her breast as he did so.

She kissed him quickly before pulling away and climbing off the couch. "I am really tired. I think I'll just go to bed now."

He mumbled something that sounded like a curse under his breath. "I'll be in after I see the sports highlights," he sighed, focusing on the TV instead of her retreating form.

Joey smiled. "All right."

"I really need to work on my seduction technique," he muttered to himself, waiting for the sports to come on. A short five minutes later, he'd seen the highlights and flipped the TV off. He made quick rounds through the apartment, locking the door and turning off all the lights. Making a quick stop in the bathroom, he brushed his teeth and cleaned up for bed.

Entering their bedroom, he found her as he always found her these days, laying on her side of the bed, dressed in warm, completely-covering-every-inch-of-skin, flannel pajamas, a book held open in front of her. He stripped out of his clothes, tossing them to the floor haphazardly until he stood in only a pair of tight fitting boxer-briefs.

Joey didn't glance up from her book. "How were the highlights?"

"Yankees lost, Boston won, Reds lost, Tampa Bay won, Mariners set another record." He rattled off, throwing back the covers and sliding across the bed.

"That's nice," Joey murmured uninterestedly, flipping a page in her book.

He took the book from her, quickly marked the page and then tossed it to the floor. "That's enough reading tonight, I think."

"You didn't have to throw the book."

"I had to get it out of arms reach," he replied simply. "And you within arms reach."

"Not tonight, Pacey." She smoothed out her pajama pants and pulled up the covers, settling herself under them comfortably. "I'm tired."

"You were tired last night." He hooked an arm around her and pulled her so she was half underneath his body, one bare thigh settled between her flannel clad ones.

"Work has been pretty exhausting," she yawned for emphasis.

"I'm pretty sure I can think of a few ways to renew your energy," he bent his head and kissed her shoulder, his tongue sweeping out to moisten the skin.

She sighed, sliding a hand over the back of his neck. "I'm serious Pacey, I'm really tired and um...I have cramps."

"You're not on your period." He replied against her skin, his lips doing delicious things to her neck.

She bit her lip, trying to remain focused even as her body began to sink into the comforter. "How would you know?"

"I live with you," he reminded her needlessly. "And you said you were on your period last week." He traced the shell of her ear with his tongue. "And even I know your period doesn't last more than seven days." His words were a husky whisper, his breath warm in her ear, the hard length of him was pressed against her abdomen.

"Okay." She sighed. "The truth is that I'm just not in the mood."

He froze and then pulled back to stare into her face. A face he'd known his whole life, and loved nearly as long. Abruptly, he moved off of her and back to his side of the bed.

Her face fell, as she tried to harbor her guilt. "I'm sorry, but work has just been so stressful."

"Just tell me one thing," he asked, his voice tight as he stared up at the ceiling, "Is there someone else?"

She was quiet for a moment. "No." At least not exactly, she finished in her head.

"I know you'd never cheat on me," he continued as though she hadn't spoken. "But maybe you fell..." he couldn't even finish the sentence. "Is there someone else you want to be with?"

She shook her head. "No, of course not."

He turned on his side to face her, his blue eyes nearly black with hurt. "Than what explanation can you give me? We've always had a healthy sexual relationship. If you're not getting it from me, then what?"

"I'm just not in the mood," she answered evasively.

His eyes closed and he turned away. "Fine." He slid out of the bed, his erection prominent as he moved to the sock drawer and pulled out a Playboy. "Don't wait up." He muttered, entering their bathroom and closing the door behind him.

Joey stared at the bathroom door until her eyes began to tear, and then she grabbed her pillow and blanket, heading out to the living room.

An hour later, Pacey turned restlessly in the bed, finding sleep impossible. Throwing off the blanket, he quietly crept through the dark apartment to the couch. Regarding her sleeping form, he thought how unfair it was that she could fall so easily asleep. He bent down and slid his arms under Joey, lifting her and the blankets with her.

Joey's eyes fluttered open at the movement and she yawned sleepily. "What are you doing?"

"I can't sleep without you," he replied quietly, carrying her back to the bedroom.

She smiled dreamily, secure in his arms as he lowered her back to the bed. "Okay."