Disclaimer: Sorry to disapoint you, we do not own the characters of this story, we never have, and we never will. Those rights belong to Columbia Tristar Television, and various others.
Author's Note:This is the sequel to Untouched. The third book of the four book series. This takes place FOUR years after Untouched. Everything else pretty much ends up explained. Pacey and Joey haven't communicated at all.

Smiling, Jack McPhee hung up his phone. The last call for Joey's surprise birthday party had been made and all was set to go for Saturday night. Unfortunatly, he'd been so busy with his new job that he hadn't gotten any free time to spend with either Joey or Pacey. His date with the latter had to be pushed back two weeks, to Joey's party.

He had to laugh, imagining the look on Joey's face when he told her Pacey was his date. He still hadn't admitted to being attracted to Pacey, every time she started teasing him about it, he changed the subject. Come to think of it, she hadn't even mentioned Pacey in the last week. He shrugged, that was Joey for you. He picked up the phone and dialed her number, while flipping through the evening news.

She answered the phone after the fourth ring, slightly breathless. "Hello?"

"Hey Joey." Jack greeted. "What's up? Running a marathon?"

"No," she laughed lightly. "I was putting something away in the closet and I thought I heard the phone ring, and I was just going to let the machine answer it but then I remembered I had left the machine off, so I kind of hurried to answer."

Pacey smiled against her breast as she lied into the phone. He'd shown up at her place about twenty minutes ago and they'd immediatly headed for the bedroom. He lightly bathed her nipple as she glared at him while whoever was on the other end spoke.

"Oh," Jack smiled, "Well, Potter. Since you've been relativly anti-social these last few...years. I've taken it upon myself to force you back into the world of men."

She shivered faintly and tried to discreetly push Pacey away. "You really don't need to do that," Joey began in protest.

Pacey chuckled and moved over her on the bed, his lips traveled down her stomach slowly. Every once in a while his tongue would dart out to tease her sensitive skin.

"No, I do. Our first foray into the dating world only served to reveal Pacey. And I know he's great and all, but he's not exactly going to be boyfriend matieral for you. And since I've started dating again, it's time to focus on you."

She shuddered and glared down at Pacey, 'Would you stop that?' she mouthed before turning her attention back to Jack on the phone. "You're right about that…so you've started dating?"

Pacey ignored her, his mouth continuing on its journey. His large hands caressed her thighs, occasionally his fingers would brush over her swollen lips, but for the most part, he avoided the juncture of her thighs.

"Dating's a relative term." Jack said slowly.

She gasped quietly and tried to cover it up. "Um, so what did you want from me again?"

"We're going out Saturday." He replied.

Pacey teased her legs apart and blew gently over the moist curls of hair there. He grinned widely, as she glared daggers at him. He knew he'd have to pay for this...and he was looking forward do it.

"Um, fine. Saturday is fine," Joey answered hurriedly.

"I was thinking we could-" Jack started.

"Talk about this more later? Someone's at the door, I'll call you back later," Joey interjected.

"Okay," he heard a click and then the dial tone, "Bye..." He hung up the phone and smiled, his plans for Joey's birthday party were working out perfectly. They'd go out and come back to his place, where Pacey will have had everything set up. It would work out perfectly.

Joey hung up the phone and sat up glaring at Pacey. "I was on the phone."

"And I was on you," He said sliding along her body. He kissed her lips with a passion he still wasn't used to having. "Any complaints?"

She smiled and shook her head in amusement. "You're impossible."

"Yeah, I am." He agreed, a self-depricating smile on his face. "You gonna do anything about it?"

She laughed. "I think you'd like that too much."

"You're right, I would." He nipped at the sensitive skin of her neck. "There are other things I enjoy far more though."

Her eyes fluttered shut and she shivered, smiling hazily. "Mmm…Like what?"

"Like you," he replied moving down her body again, his lips stirring the heat in the pit of her stomach.

Moving against him, aching to feel his skin against hers, she moaned softly enjoying his ministrations far too much. "I like that," she breathed.

"Like what?" he asked, he leaned forward and kissed her lips, "Tell me what you like," he breathed.

"I like it when you kiss me," she said softly, "hard and demanding, soft and gentle, cupping my face in your hands and stealing the air right out of my lungs, setting me free of my senses. Even when we were dating, I always liked kissing you. No one has ever kissed me like that, like it was the most important thing and the rest didn't matter."

Looking into her eyes, he didn't know how else to reply except to kiss her with everything he had inside him. He pulled away breathlessly, "Like that?" he whispered against her lips, his hand running through her hair.

She nodded gently, her voice breathy. "Yeah, like that."

"What else?" He asked, his hands moving along her side, his nails just barely grazing her skin.

She paused thoughtfully stretching out her body languidly, her words soft and melodic. "I like the way it feels to have your mouth on my breasts, the way you tease my nipples with your tongue, making them so hard they hurt and I all I can think about is having you inside of me."

He nodded, his mouth decending over her left nipple, as per her directions. He alternated between them, blowing lightly upon the peaks before taking them in his mouth, suckling lightly, then with growing pressure. She squirmed beneath him and he pulled away, "Like that, maybe?"

She nodded again, her tongue darting out to wet her lips, chest rising and falling with each erratic breath. "Just like that."

"And then what?" He asked, moving over her, the hard length of him throbbing against her abdomen.

She groaned at the feel of him against her, the pressure between her thighs growing unbearable. "I like it when you touch me," she breathed huskily. "Teasing me, stroking me, touching me everywhere but where I need it most, until I'm crazy with desire and I feel like I'm going to die from ache and want."

He smiled tensely, his fingers dancing over her skin. He brushed his fingers lightly over her breasts, he watched as goosebumps spread over her skin and she moaned.

"There?" he asked. His hand then slid slowly along her stomach and his nimble fingers began playing with the downy hair at the juncture of her thighs. "Or here?"

She whimpered in response as he accidently-on-purpose brushed against her engorged clit. He watched as she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to arch her hips closer to his touch. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open in a small gasp. "Oh God, there," she answered in breathless anticipation, eyes wild.

He ran a single finger along her slit, before slipping it inside her velvety warmth. "Or is it there?" He mumbled, moving his finger in and out of her slowly. Watching her writhe watonly beneath him had him hotter than he'd ever been. He added another a second finger, feeling her clench around him. He increased his pace until he could take no more, and knew he needed to be inside her. He withdrew his fingers and kissed her deeply, "What comes next, Potter?" He asked, putting her off to prolong the bittersweet torture.

She shut her eyes for a moment and inhaled sharply, trying to follow a sane train of thought. "I-I like the way it feels to have you inside me," she ran her tongue over her lips anxiously, her voice wild and laced with want. "How hard you are, filling me up completely, making me whole, screwing me until I scream."

He moved between her legs and she bent her knees to angle herself up to him. He positioned himself at her opening, "You mean, like this?"

She nodded her head enthusiastically, brown eyes dark and impenetrable with desire. "Yes," she said breathlessly. "Like that."

He entered her slowly, watching her face as she sighed in pleasure. He kissed her as he withdrew and sank back into her tight warmth. Her hips rose to meet him, her tongue swirled around his, as they ground into each other, their pleasure mounting with each stroke.

She moaned loudly, digging her nails into his back, her hips rising off the bed violently as she rose to meet his quickened pace. She squeezed her legs around his hips, holding him captive inside her, her inner muscles contracting and tightening around him pulling him deeper inside of her slick passage.

He groaned as she held him tightly, his blood was surging through his veins, leaving him hot and lightheaded as he thrust deeply into her. She shuddered in his arms as she came, gasping his name. He followed soon after, his seed spilling deeply into her body.

She sighed contentedly her body deliciously spent and she kissed the side of his neck, tasting the salt of his skin from the light sheen of sweat that had gathered on their bodies. She smiled lazily. "Hmm…that I liked. A lot."

He smiled, "See, this sex thing isn't so bad."

She shook her head lying on her back exhaustedly. "Nope. Not bad at all."

He relaxed, and moved to rest against the pillow beside her. "You know, I never asked," He paused, "Are you on the pill?"

She nodded and brought a hand to her mouth to mask a small yawn. "Yes. I'm on the pill. That's all the world needs, for you to procreate."

"Ha ha," he said dryly. "I'll have you know, I make beautiful children."

"I'm sure you do, but you won't be making beautiful children with me." She yawned again.

"Good, 'cause I made a rotten father." He leaned over her and gave her a soft kiss. "I can take a hint. I'll call you tomorrow. Get some sleep."

She sighed sleepily resting her eyes for a minute. "I'm sure you were a wonderful father."

He sighed, "I wish you could have met Chelsea, you'd have loved her." He said softly, moving off the bed to gather his clothes.

She nodded her head mutely turning onto her side and nestling her head in the pillow. "I'm sure I would have."

He pulled his pants and boxers on, "I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, looking around for his discarded shirt.

"Mmhmm," she mumbled already halfway asleep.

He found his shirt half-way under the bed. He pulled it over his head, and walked back to the bed. "G'night, Jo." He said quietly, turning off the bedside lamp.

"Mm, goodnight," she murmured unintelligibly.

He smiled quietly to himself and slipped out the door to her bedroom. On his way to the frontdoor he grabbed his shoes from where'd they been dropped on the floor in the haste to get to the bedroom.

Joey rose from her couch with a grunt, a quilted blanket wrapped tightly around her at the sound of knocking on her apartment door. She scowled, already anticipating who her late night visitor would be. She opened the door, and upon seeing Pacey, slammed it in his face.

He frowned at the door and knocked again, wondering what her problem was. True, he hadn't seen her in the last two days, but that didn't seem like such a huge deal.

She opened the door again, her scowl stretched across her tired looking features. "What was that for?" he asked, taking a step inside. She didn't move to let him in so he just stayed there.

"I'm not fucking you tonight, Pacey." She said bluntly.

His eyes widened in surprise. "O-k." He agreed complacently, giving her a curious look.

Her glare grew more furious. "I haven't slept in seventeen," she checked her watch, "No, make that twenty hours. And you know why, Pacey? Because there's a jackhammer set on destroy going off in my uterus and there are little invisable men trying to dig my overies out with very, very dull spoons." She seethed, than took a deep breath, and immediatly she grabbed her lower back. "Not to mention the fact that every time I so much as try to breathe, my lower back goes into spasms. And if all that weren't enough, as we speak there is blood trickling down my leg. Now," She paused and pushed him hard on the chest, forcing him back out the door. "If you ever, and I mean ever, want to get laid again, by me, or anyone else, you wont step foot back in this building for the next five to seven days!" With that she slammed the door in his face for the second time.

She let the blanket drop from around her, and grimaced, making her way to the bathroom, rubbing her lower back as she did so. She stripped and stepped under the warm stream of water from her shower and proceeded to clean herself up. She cursed her father for giving her an x-chromosome instead of a y. She turned the water as hot as it would go and stood under it as the stream beat upon her aching back. She forced herself not think about how miserable she felt and tried to concentrate on the fact that the first day of her period was almost over. The first day was always the worst for her.

Why had Pacey decided to come today, of all days? Was sex all he thought about? Damn him for having a penis in the first place. She'd sure like to see him deal with cramps, he'd be curled up in a fetal position within minutes. She smiled at the thought.

After ten minutes she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, wrapping herself in a cozy terrycloth towel. She headed for the small laundry room down the hall and quickly pulled on clean underwear and added a pad. She dug through her clean clothes, and suddenly feeling a hot flash, pulled on a pair of boxers and a tank top. Frowning as stab of pain shot through her back she made her way to her bedroom, hoping to maybe get some sleep. She doubted it though, considering her uterus was doing the rhumba.

She opened the door and stopped up short, finding Pacey reclining on her bed, the television remote in his hand as he flipped through channels. Noticing her, he turned the TV off and smiled at her. That of course, only served to infuriate her further. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?" She cried angrily, "Do you want to lose a testicle?"

"I only really need one," he replied with a teasing smile. Seeing she wasn't quite amused as he was, he patted the bed next to him, "Come here."

She glared at him, her arms folded across her chest. "I'm not giving you a blow job, Pacey."

"I wasn't asking for one," he replied, unfazed. "Lay down."

Reluctantly, she joined him on the bed, turning her back to him she lay down. He slipped one arm between the matress and her body. He turned on his side, and his other arm came around to encircle her, his hands resting just over her stomach. He slipped his thumbs underneath her shirt and began massaging her stomach gently.

She whimpered lightly, the warmth of his hands performing some unspeakable magic to the aches of her body. He froze instantly, "Does that hurt?" He asked worriedly.

"Hmmm, no." She replied softly, "Feels nice." She nestled deeper in the pillows as his hands drifted underneath the elastic of her shorts to massage her abdomen. Her hands came to rest over his, directing him to where the pain was worse. Slowly, he began to strengthen his massage and was met by her moans of pleasure.

She sighed as the soothing warmth spread throughout her lower body, the aching slowly dulled.

"Does this help?" He whispered in her ear.

"Oh, God yes." She mumbled, relaxing against him. She twined her fingers through his as he continued his ministrations. "Where did you learn this?"

He smiled against her hair, "Mitch and Gale, believe it or not," he said, his voice a low rumble in her ear. "He used to do this for her all the time. I remember walking in when I was younger and see them sitting on the couch, her back him as he rubbed her stomach."

"Hmmm," she spooned herself contently against his warm body. She twisted her head to the side and kissed his cheek, "Thank you, Pacey." She mumbled sleepily.

He shrugged slightly, "Get some sleep, Jo." He said quietly, continuing to rub her aching flesh, intent on giving her enough relief from the pain to get at least a few hours sleep. She nodded, her heavy eyes drifting closed as she gave into the fatigue.

His lips curving into a faint smile as her breathing slowly evened out. Lightly, he continued his massage, contentedly listening to her breathe. He understood for a moment why Mitch had been so content to perform this simple service for Gale for all those years. That was the last thought in his mind before he too drifted off to sleep.

The light streaming in from her bedroom window woke him up the next morning. Blinking rapidly, he shifted, trying to escape the blinding light. He found he couldn't move and after a few seconds, he realized Joey was the one sleeping on his arm. During the night she'd turned in his arms, curling up to him. He smiled faintly and kissed her forhead lightly before slipping out of the bed.

He quietly slipped his shoes on and looked back once before going out the door. He frowned, he spent the night. Shaking his head he walked out the door. It didn't count, he rationalized, they hadn't had sex, so it didn't count. He hadn't really broken one of his rules.

Joey's eyes flickered opened and she smiled softly to herself when she heard the click of her bedroom door swinging shut.

Jack fumbled in his pockets for his house keys. He glanced over his shoulder to Joey as she climbed up the stairwell behind him. He faced forward again, so she wouldn't see the small smile on his face. "I'm so sorry, Jo. I was sure I had my wallet with me when I left to come pick you up."

"It's okay, Jack. It's not like it's the end of the world or something now," Joey said adjusting the strap to her purse.

"I know," He shrugged, "but you know me, I still have to apologize." He slipped the key into the lock on his door, making sure to jingle the keys so Pacey would hear him inside.

She smiled. "Yes, that's your problem. You're too nice of a guy."

Jack just smiled and opened the door widely. Joey gazed at him quizzically. "Jack, the wallet's just not going to walk up to you."

"Oh, right." He looked curiously into his darkened living room, "Why don't you come inside with me, Jo. And get something to drink." He held open the door for her to enter first."

"Nah, that's okay. I'll just wait for you out here."

"Don't be ridiculous, Joey." He took her arm and nudgeded her to the door. "Come on."

"Since when does it take two people to get a wallet?" Joey began as he pulled her inside.

Jack didn't reply, instead he flipped the lightswitch on and, as he predicted, thirty or so people jumped out of various hiding places, "Surprise!"

Joey's eyes widened in shock and she lifted her head to get a look at Jack's face and smiled forcibly. "Please, tell me the reason these people are all here is because it's your second birthday."

Jack rolled his eyes, "Happy Birthday, Jo."

She sighed. "You really shouldn't have."

"It was no problem, Joey. You deserve a party." He smiled widely. He took her hand, "Come on, lets say hello to everyone."

Joey raised a hand to shield her ear and turned her head away from the noise of the party as she tried to talk into her cell phone in the small corner between the fridge and the table in Jack's kitchen. "Okay, can you just call me back later? Now's not really a good time--No I will not wait another week! We're either going to get this done on Monday morning or not at all."

Jack rolled his eyes as he entered the kitchen and spotted her in the corner talking on the phone. He crossed the distance between them, and stood in front of her, his arms crossed with an impatient look on his face as he waited for her to wrap up her call.

She tried to convey apology to Jack with her eyes. "What do you mean you don't have anything definite yet? I was told last week that it'd be ready this week and now you're telling me that I have to wait another week. Do you not see anything wrong with this picture?" She ran a hand through her hair irritated. "Next. Week." Her voice rang with finality. She hung up and sighed turning to Jack. "Tell me that I did not just agree to wait another week."

"You did." He moved away from her and opened the refrigerator to pull out more drinks. "What are you doing in here in the middle of your party?"

Joey groaned and collapsed into one of the wooden kitchen chairs. "I told you not to tell me." She held up her cell phone. "Emergency business call. Sorry."

"You're forgiven," he smiled. "As long as you go back out there and have fun for once."

"I will. Eventually." She motioned to the seat in front of her. "Pull up a chair and chat with the birthday girl. She's feeling a little depressed that she caved and consented to wait another week for something that she's been waiting months for already."

His eyes flickered back to the doorway with longing, then back at Joey. He slid into the seat next to hers as he twisted open one of the beer bottles he held. "Yeah, sure. So, what's up?"

"I want to have a baby."

Jack nearly choked on his beer, he ended up spraying it across the table. He wiped his mouth, "You what!?" He asked wide-eyed.

"Not right this moment," Joey amended. "But eventually, I'd like to be a mother."

Jack nodded as his heart rate returned to a healthy speed. "O-kay. Most women feel that way." He snorted, "Hell, I feel that way. Not be a mother," he amended, "but I'd like to have a child someday."

She frowned and grabbed one of the beers off the table holding it contemplatively. "Yeah, but don't you ever feel like someday is never going to come? You just keep on putting it off and putting it off until it's too late."

"Well, now I do." He replied with a frown.

Joey sighed and held up her cell phone. "I worked so hard to get where I am and for what? I have no one to share it with. I don't even have a kid to pass it on to eventually."

"Joey," he put his hand over hers, "Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself?"

"I know but this whole party just reminded me that I'm a year older and no closer to getting what I need. I worked so hard for all the wrong things."

"I don't think that's the case, Joey." He smiled, "You worked so hard to prove to yourself your independance. And that--that was something you needed for yourself. And now, look at what you have...you have so much to offer a man. Any man you chose to be with should be on his knees thanking the heavens for delivering you to them." He smiled, "And, when the time comes, and you've found that man, you'll make the most wonderful mother."

The corners of her mouth curved up into a crooked smile. "Thanks, Jack."

"It's all true, Jo." He shrugged. "You ready to come out?"

She stood up with a shrug. "As I'll ever be. You know the same goes for you. You deserve the best, too bad I have to compete against you for guys."

He chuckled, a mischievous look in his eyes, "Not anymore, you wont," he said with a teasing lilt to his voice.

Joey fluttered her lashes in mock surprise. "Why is Jack McPhee a spoken for man?"

He chuckled, "Looks that way."

"And who may I ask is the lucky guy?"

Jack's eyes lit up, "Pacey."

Joey choked a little. "Um, Pacey? How is that possible?"

"Well, think back like two weeks ago, when we all went out to celebrate my promotion."

Joey nodded her head slowly. "Okay..."

"I kinda asked him on a date, and he said yes. But because of my promotion and all the work I've had to do, we never really got the chance. So this is it. Our first date." He continued, "I know, you've been teasing me about him forever and I've always just kinda brushed it off, but Joey, I really like him. With what happened before with Chris, and the fall out from that...I just think maybe Pacey is it, you know?"

"Oh." Her face fell. "But, Jack are you sure Pacey is really with it?"

"What do you mean?" He asked, his eyes already on the door.

"I mean, are you sure Pacey's on the same page as you are?" Joey questioned delicately.

He gave her an exasperated look, "I asked him on a date, and he said yes."

"Does he know it's a date?"

"Yes, he knows it's a date." He frowned at her, "That's not something you mistake. What's with the third degree, Joey?"

"It's just, Jack, unless Pacey is bisexual or just plain confused, he doesn't know this is a date."

"What are you talking about?" Jack turned his full attension to her. "Yes, he is. He wouldn't have agreed otherwise..."

"Jack. Think about it. Honestly think about it."

"You can't mean...Clarify for me, Jo. Because you wont like what I'm thinking right now if I'm wrong."

"Jack, it's just that--I saw Pacey with a girl," she lied.

"Are...are you sure?" He asked, his face falling.

She nodded brushing a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "Yes. I'm sure."

Jack fell back into his seat with a thud, "Then why would he...?"

Joey frowned and knelt before Jack so she was eye level with him. "It's not your fault. Pacey's retarded maybe he just didn't pick up on it."

"Retard is not a nice term, Jo."

"Mentally inept?" Joey said helpfully.

"Better," he cracked a smile.

She grinned and patted his knee as she stood up. "You know we can always tell everyone to go home."

"Naw," he shook his head. "It's your party. And this isn't the end of the world or anything. He's just not gay. That's all." He tried to shrug it off.

She smiled. "I really wouldn't mind."

"At least he doesn't know I thought he was gay." Jack groaned.

"Well, cheer up," Joey said throwing an arm around his shoulder. "It could be worse. This could be your party."

"Glad you're enjoying yourself so much," he said dryly. "If I didn't love you so much, I'd be hurt."

"Jackers, it's not like I hate the party," she said leading him out the door of the kitchen. "I just hate the people."

"These people, or just people in general?" He allowed himself to be dragged back into the livingroom.

Joey shrugged. "Either or. I'm not picky."

"And I thought I was careful about who I invited."

Joey laughed. "Well, at least you got one part right."

He sighed, "I suppose I should go mingle."

Joey sat herself down on his couch ignoring the people sitting on the other side and waved him off. "Go on if you must. Leave me to fend for myself."

"Try again, Joey. You're not going to find the future father of your children while sitting on your ass."

"Oh, Jack did you really get me the man of my dreams for my birthday?" She brought hand to her mouth in a gasp.

He rolled his eyes, "Who's to say he's not in this room right now?" He gestured around them. "You're not gonna find him unless you look."

She tilted her head back and looked up at him. "Jack, the reason I know the man of my dreams isn't in this room is because I know all these men."

He sighed, "Do you really know them all well enough to judge them that severly?"

She paused in thought before nodding. "Yes. Yes I do."

His shoulder slumped in defeat, "You're impossible." He turned away and went off to greet a late comer.

"I'm not impossible. I'm a realist!" Joey called out after him.

A pair of warm hands came from behind and covered her eyes. "Guess who," a husky voice whispered in her ear.

"Um, a homosexual hit man? That way I'm put out of my misery and Jack is left happy."

Pacey chuckled, "Good guess, but no. Try again."

"Um, well unless you're the man of my dreams or Jack's, I have no use for you."

"Oh, you have a use for me." He said confidently. "In fact, you used me quite well last night."

She smiled sardonically. "David, I thought I told you that we weren't supposed to acknowledge each other in public. People will talk. You're married."

"Nope, this was your 10 o'clock," he chuckled, "You're thinking of your 11 o'clock." He chuckled, "Not that I blame you, you have them coming and going so often..."

She smirked. "I guess 11 o'clock was just more memorable."

"You're a barrel of laughs, Potter."

"Ah, you called me Potter. This must be Pacey." She leaned her head back and grinned.

He smirked, dropping his hands from her eyes, "Damn, did that give it away?" He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, "Happy Birthday, Jo."

She raised an eyebrow. "Thanks."

"So how old are you now, twenty-nine going on eighty?"

"Ugh, please don't remind me. I just had an enlightening talk with Jack in the kitchen."

"Oh yeah? What about?" he moved around the couch to sit beside her.

"I'm going to have his baby."

Pacey froze, "Y-you're what?" He asked wide-eyed, looking remarkably similar to Jack just minutes before.

Joey laughed. "God, relax it was a joke. I'm going to have a baby not his in particular."

That didn't seem to ease Pacey's confusion any. "You're pregnant?!"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Pacey. I'm pregnant."

He shook his head and gave a confused sigh. "Remind me again why I'm sleeping with you?"

"No, I think you should be asking me that question considering that right now you're supposed to be on a date and don't even know it."

"What on earth are you talking about now?" He asked, fresh confusion contorting his features. "I thought we weren't getting involved that way."

Joey sighed. "You know what? Never mind. It's not important." She stood up. "I have a man to look for."

"No," he caught her hand and pulled her back down onto the couch. "Did you think that...?"

She shook her head. "No, I didn't. But apparently someone else did."

"Who?" Pacey asked dumbfounded.

"Just think about it."

"Jack? Jack McPhee?!"

"Yes, Jack." Joey glared. "Don't tell him I told you."

"Why would he think that? I'm not gay," he shook his head in disbelief.

"Oh well, obviously he thought you were."

"Why would he though? I mean, do I come off as gay?"

Joey looked thoughtful. "Well, hmm...now that I think about it..."

He gave her a 'get serious' look, "Does he know now?"

"I wished him luck on his date," Joey deadpanned.

"O-kay," He rubbed his hands nervously against the knees of his pants. "I should probably go straighten this out then." He started to rise from his seat.

"Don't bother. I already told him."

"Okay, um, thanks." He said, settling back into his seat.

Joey laughed. "Hmm…I wonder if that means something. Him thinking you were gay and all, maybe he's seeing something I'm not."

"You're seeing a lot he doesn't. And if you don't object, I'd like to keep it that way."

"Like what?"

"Like things that are best left in the bedroom," he smiled and began ticking off his fingers. "And the bathroom...and the hallway, and-"

"O-kay." She stood up. "I'm going to go look for that person I'm supposed to be looking for right now."

He chuckled, "And who would that be?"

"Whom," Joey corrected pertinently. "And that would be the man I'm going to marry. So excuse me."

"Hold up, the man you're going to marry?"

"Yes, Jack told me that the man I'm going to be marry could be at this party. So I'm going to go and find him."

"Then by all means," he gestured for her to get up. "Wouldn't want you to miss out on that."

She tossed her hair over shoulder and her eyes widened upon spotting a good-looking blond guy in the corner. "And there he goes." She stood up and walked over to him. Pacey chuckled, and sat back, an amused smile on his face as he watched her approach the guy.

Joey smiled coquettishly in major flirt mode and looped a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "I don't believe I've met you before."

The tall man turned to face her, "No, I don't believe I've had the pleasure." He smiled sincerely at her.

Joey grinned and extended her hand. "I'm Joey."

"Shane," He shook her hand, pleasantly. "So you're the one who's birthday we're celebrating."

She blushed faintly. "That would be me."

"Happy Birthday." He leaned forward secretivly, "I got you a candle, seeing as I didn't know you at all. Lame, I know."

She giggled. "Well, it's the thought that counts and thanks, seeing as how you could have just not brought me anything considering we don't even know each other."

"I'm not that inconsiderate a guy." He smiled, "So how old are you turning?"

"Too old."

He laughed, "That's right, you're never supposed to ask a woman her age."

She smiled sweetly. "That would be correct."

"So, Joey," he took a sip of his drink. "What do you do?"

"I own and manage a personal art gallery and yourself?"

"I'm a stripper." He said bluntly.

"Surprisingly, there seems no shortage of those around here," she said with a grin.

He smiled, "Then you know Pacey?"

"Unfortunately."

"Unfortunatly?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.

She frowned slightly. "Long story. I grew up with him."

He chuckled, "I'm sorry. I've only lived with him for three years, that's bad enough. I can't imagine what he was like growing up."

Joey winced slightly and her face fell. "So you're Shane. His roommate."

"Yeah, that'd be me." He smiled, "Don't believe anything he told you."

She sighed disappointedly and glanced around the crowded apartment. "Have you met my friend Jack?"

"Yeah, we met a couple of weeks ago, actually." He smiled again, "Truthfully, he didn't seem all that interested in getting to know me. But Pacey convinced me I should give him a second chance."

"Yeah, he was probably preoccupied with work. He was just recently promoted…"

Shane nodded, "Yeah, I heard. Pacey's been talking about him non-stop. He only has good things to say about Jack. And you."

Joey forced a smile. "I'll bet."

He shrugged and looked thoughtful, "He doesn't say much about you, but when he does, it's all complimentry. Jack on the other hand...he seems to think he and I would hit it off."

Joey's smile brightened. "I think the two of you would too."

Shane bit his lower lip, "I think maybe I should find out for myself," He smiled at her. "If you'll excuse me." He gestured to the kitchen doorway Jack had just dissapeared through.

Joey stepped back. "Go right ahead."

"Later, Joey." He said, as he walked passed her and headed after Jack.

Joey groaned. Why did the good ones always have to be gay?

She whirled around prepared to slam Pacey for not telling her that the man was Shaneand letting her make a complete fool of herself. She stopped herself, surprised, both to find him in heavy flirtation with some blond and by her own peculiar unease.

Pacey twisted on the couch to give the peppy blond his full attension. "I don't know about that," he teased her, "You don't seem like the type."

She smiled secretively. "You'd be surprised."

"Would I?" He chuckled. "I've been around, and I know your type."

Joey frowned recognizing the woman as one of Jack's colleagues from work. Bethany, at least that's what Joey thought her name was. She frowned even more wondering why the hell this was bothering her.

Bethany grinned intrigued by whatever Pacey had said. "And what exactly is my type?"

"You're the type to play-act being coy and sweet, when really," he leaned forward, his voice dropping, "talking dirty, god forbid, turns you on more than anything."

She shifted in her seat and re-crossed her legs, black skirt creeping up her thighs. Her cheeks colored faintly and she cocked an eyebrow. "And if it does?"

He arched an eyebrow, "Than I'm your man." He replied easily. He wondered vaguely what made him constantly flirt with random women. No one he ever picked up lasted more than a night.

She smiled, her eyes washing over him appreciatively and she licked her lips. "I-" She gasped and stood up as a wave of cold liquid poured over her.

Joey raised a hand to her mouth in horror and she quickly righted her beer. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I'm such a klutz."

Bethany glared at her and wiped at her skirt. "Um, obviously." She glanced around the apartment awkwardly. "Where's the bathroom?"

"Down the hall. The second door on your left," Joey commented pointing out the way. "If you want I'll take you."

Her eyes narrowed. "Thank you, but that won't be necessary."

"Bitch," Joey mumbled and sipped her beer as she watched her storm away.

"Joey!"

"Accident." She replied innocently.

"And the bitch comment?" He asked, giving her a skeptical look.

"You heard that? Well, she was rude. I apologized."

"Rude?" He shook his head, "Remind me not to get on your bad side."

She scoffed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Okay, and we'll leave it at that. She was boring anyway." He caught her arm and pulled her towards him on the couch. He knew he'd never be able to understand the inner workings of the Potter mind. "So tell me, Joey." He changed the subject, "What do you want for your birthday, just so I know how badly I screwed up."

She shrugged taking healthy drink from her bottle. "Um, I don't know."

"Well, that makes it easy."

She sighed. "Yeah. Well. Whatever."

"I see you met, Shane." He tried another topic, "I take it he wasn't The One?"

Her eyes narrowed. "You could have warned me."

"And take all the fun out of it?"

"Haha," Joey remarked unamused, her eyes drifted around the room as she drank.

"Okay, if you're not intrested in talking, I'll just go and see if I can help Bianca," he said rising from his seat.

Joey lowered her head and half laughed in disbelief. "Her name was Bethany."

"Bianca, Bethany, I hadn't really gotten a chance to get it straight before you so rudely interupted us."

Joey snorted. "Like you actually cared what her name was."

"No more than she cared what mine was," he replied dryly.

"And that doesn't bother you."

"Why should it?"

She raised an eyebrow along with her drink. "I forgot who I was talking to. Pacey Witter big on sex, not on love."

Pacey glared at her, "I have only truly loved one woman my entire life," he said, his voice low. "And she screwed me over. So you'll have to excuse me if I come off calous towards matters of the heart. Sex, I can trust. It doesn't change, it doesn't hurt, it doesn't mean anything. My heart, however...let's just say I've learned my lesson." He folded his arms across his chest as he awaited he reply.

She shrugged dispassionately, placing her beer on the coffee table as she stood up. "Hey, far be it from me to stop you from that meaningless sex with Bianca," she said purposely using the wrong name. "I think she's still in the bathroom."

"That's what I thought." He mumbled. He turned on his heel and left. He headed towards the bathroom, then veered into the kitchen once he was sure he was out of Joey's sight.

She rolled her eyes and went to mingle with her guests. Already wishing that the party was over so she could go home.