"Hey," she said quietly standing by the entrance to the living room where Pacey was currently busy typing on the computer. Her hair was brushed back in a ponytail and her face had been scrubbed clean, leaving no traces of her earlier tears. She had changed into a tank top and a pair of flannel pajama bottoms after she'd taken another shower.

He flicked the computer screen off, and turned in the comfortable office chair to greet her. "Hey," he smiled, happy to see her fresh faced.

She returned his smile halfheartedly and glanced at the computer curiously. "What were you doing?"

"Nothing really," he shook his head. "How ya feeling?"

She shrugged. "Okay I guess…considering."

He tilted his head to the side, "Anything I can do?" He wanted more than anything to do something helpful for her. To show her he cared and end her suffering. There just didn't seem to be a way.

She shook her head and shifted uncomfortably. "No, I should be fine. I hope."

"Anything I can get you at the store? Are you hungry? I could make something." He got up and headed for the kitchen, not waiting for her reply. "I know I'm not that great a cook, but I-"

"No, I'm fine. You don't have to do that."

"What do you want me to do, Jo?" He asked, his eyes sad. "I don't know."

"You don't have to do anything."

"But I want to. I want to help you," he tried to explain. "I want to be what you need." He spoke from the doorway to the kitchen, a few yards separating them.

She sighed not knowing what to say. "It's just something that I have to get over on my own."

"Okay, I can accept that. I may not like it, but I can accept it. That doesn't help me know what to do, Potter. How to act." His brow creased in worry.

"The same. Nothing has to change. Just don't treat me like I'm going to break or something because it gets annoying." She smiled faintly.

"Sorry, it's habit." He shrugged, "I want to take care of you...even when you don't want to be taken care of."

She sighed again. "Just try not to I guess."

"So I'm just supposed to let you be unhappy?"

She shrugged helplessly and threw her hands up in the air. "I don't know. I don't know what to tell you. I just don't want to feel this away."

"I don't want that either. I hate seeing you so...broken. I don't want to talk this to death either because we keep regurgitating the same words. Just...let me know what you want from me?"

"Right now I don't know what I want."

"Okay," he folded his arms across his chest and leaned up against the doorway. "Fine."

"Okay then…"

He watched her stand there uncomfortably, and he couldn't stand seeing her that way. He pushed away from the door frame and sat on the couch, "When you know what you want, tell me." He said quietly, flicking the television on.

She frowned uneasily moving to sit on the far end of the couch. "I don't want you mad at me."

"I'm not." He muted the volume on the TV. "I'm just..." he made a face, "hurt, I guess. I would do anything to make you feel better and you wont let me."

"I just…I don't know if there's anything you can do."

"I know." He sighed, "I don't...are you even comfortable with me touching you?"

She shrugged. "I guess."

He bit his lip and looked away from her. "Okay..."

"You can," she said slowly. "If you want to that is," she added quickly.

Pacey shook his head, "Not if it's gonna make you think of...what he did."

Her gaze fell to her lap. "Maybe you're right."

He looked down for a minute and then un-muted the TV. Staring at it, without really seeing or hearing it.

She stared down at her hands hopelessly not knowing what to do to make everything okay again.

He put his feet up on the coffee table and bounced his leg anxiously. He hated that he made her uncomfortable or unhappy or confused...but he couldn't seem to find the right thing to do. Or the right thing to say or the right thing not to say. He just wanted to help her forget about Dawson and what he'd done.

She licked her lips nervously mentally debating with herself. "I'd really like it if you'd hold me," she said finally.

"It won't remind you?" He asked, his brow knit.

She shook her head. "No...it'll make me feel better."

He slid along the couch towards her and put his arm behind her along the back of the couch. "You're sure?"

She nodded turning to look at him. "Yes, I'm sure."

"You know, it shouldn't be this awkward between us," he rested his arm across her shoulders. "We didn't do anything."

She laughed nervously brushing hair away from her face that had escaped her ponytail. "I know. It was me."

"It wasn't you," he shook his head. Using his index finger, he directed her to look in his eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong, Potter. Absolutely nothing."

"I just can't help but feel like this is all my fault," she said honestly.

"How?"

She lowered her eyes. "Because I shouldn't have went to see him at all."

He frowned, "Why did you?"

"He's getting married."

"Ugh," he made a face. "He is?"

"Yes."

"To who?"

"A friend of Lucy's." She brought a hand to her forehead tiredly. "God, I didn't even know he dated Lucy."

He made another face, and hugged her loosely. "I'm surprised, poor girl."

"Yeah..."

"But Jo, just because you went there...that doesn't mean you were at fault. It may not have been the brightest thing to do. But he's the one who did wrong."

She frowned. "I don't want to talk about it anymore."

"Will you ever stop blaming yourself?"

"Will it ever stop being my fault?"

"It was never your fault. You didn't know he was that dangerous. You couldn't have known." He told her adamantly. "Jo, it's not your fault."

"Then why does it feel like it is?"

"I donno, honey. Maybe you're still in shock. You've got to believe me, it's not your fault," he traced the curve of her cheek. "Would I lie to you?"

She shook her head pressing the palms of her hands against her knees. "No, I guess not."

He inhaled a deep breath, "Shall I shut up for the remainder of the night?"

"Let's just not talk about it anymore."

"Okay," he nodded and slouched back on the couch, his eyes returned to the TV and he turned the volume back on.

She settled beside him watching the television disinterestedly.

He kicked off his shoes and nudged them under the coffee table during the commercial. He wasn't even sure what he was watching. "Mind if I change it?"

She shrugged. "Don't care."

He flipped through the stations until he landed on old reruns of Friends. "Friends?"

"Yeah…sure."

He tossed the remote to the side and watched the familiar faces of Joey, Ross, Chandler, Monica, Rachel and Phoebe. He smirked, thinking to himself how long this show has been around. He found he could recite almost every line along with the characters.

"I never could've predicted Chandler and Monica getting together," Joey commented after a while.

He nodded in agreement, "Me neither. The smart ass and the obsessive-compullsive...who'd have thought."

She smiled. "Yeah."

"Look how well they turned out though. There's a surprising amount of chemistry between them."

"Yeah…I just never noticed before."

They watched a little longer and a scene with Ross and Ben came on. "Hey Jo."

"Hmm…what?"

"We're gonna have a baby."

"Yeah, we are." She smiled. "Thanks for reminding me."

He smiled too, "I know you weren't really thrilled about it...but I kinda think it's something to be thankful for."

"It's not that I wasn't thrilled about it…I was just shocked."

"And unhappy." He added, "It's okay, I still love you," he squeezed her lightly.

"It wasn't really that either…" her voice trailed off. "It's hard to explain."

"It's not important now." He shrugged, "What's important is how you feel now."

She sat up thoughtfully. "How did you know?"

"How did I know what?" He gave her a curious look.

"That you loved me. When did you first realize it?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

"Oh." That shut him up for a few moments. "I think, somewhere around five."

"Five?" she repeated dubiously.

He shrugged, "I've always had strong feelings for you. Whether they be fear, love, or animosity." He smiled at her, "If you're talking more recently, I think it was the moment I realized someone had hurt you."

She frowned faintly. "Oh."

"That was the moment I think I realized that I couldn't live without you. Not again." He arched his eyebrows, "But I can't tell you when I fell in love with you... I've been falling since I was five years old and you threw a chunk of my own birthday cake at me."

She smiled. "I think that's the cheesiest thing I've ever heard you say."

He rolled his eyes, "Well, I have a lifetime to try and top it."

She laughed slightly. "I'm sure you will. I remember you being quite cheesy when we were teenagers."

"Don't even try and pretend you didn't love every moment of it."

"Never said I didn't," she said with a grin.

"You have a beautiful smile," he said, smiling adoringly at her.

She laughed. "And look you just keep on getting cheesier."

"You'd rather I kept my blinding adoration for you to myself?" He tugged on the back of her ponytail, "Consider it done."

She crinkled her nose as he pulled at her hair and pursed her lips together. "Fine. I don't care."

"You don't want to hear how much I cherish, idolize and worship you?" He gave her a dubious look. "What kind of woman are you?"

"The kind you cherish, idolize and worship," she said a small smile creeping its way onto her face.

He stuck his tongue out at her teasingly. "You're a snot, ya know that?"

She smiled and waved him off. "Ah, bite me."

"Nope," He shook his head, "no more biting. That falls under worshiping."

"Oh well, too bad." She shrugged.

He stuck out his lower lip, "This isn't how it's supposed to work."

She raised an eyebrow. "And how is it supposed to work?"

"You're supposed to argue with me. We have it out in a battle of wits, and in the end I give in, leaving us both happy, cause you beat me and I got what I wanted." He paused, "Now, you're just ruining things."

She brought a hand to her chest in mock sympathy. "Well, then I'm so deeply sorry for ruining things. How selfish of me. Really, what was I thinking?"

"Ya got me." He removed his arm from around her shoulders.

She sighed. "You're impossible."

"I try," he smiled wryly. "You're too easy to bother."

"Well, that's because you're so annoying."

"I've always been annoying. Aren't you used to it by now? Annoying, impossible, and cheesy. That's me."

"What's not to love?"

"Plenty. Which leads me to wonder if Bessie dropped you on your head multiple times as a child."

She playfully smacked him on the arm. "Hey!"

He chuckled, "Violent much?"

It was her turn to stick her tongue out at him. "Once again, bite me."

"Nuh uh."

She rolled her eyes and moved to get up. "This is getting redundant."

He caught her arm and pulled her gently across his lap. "You'd rather we act our age?"

She smiled. "I don't know. You think you can do that?"

"For you? Yeah." He cupped her cheek in his hand and ran his thumb over her cheek bone.

She shut her eyes for a moment simply enjoying his touch. "Hmm…I guess that's good."

He smiled softly, looking into her face, still as innocent and beautiful as when they were teenagers. "So, do you want to know?"

"Know what?"

"The sex?" He touched the rounded curve of her belly. "They can tell us tomorrow. Do you wanna know?"

She shrugged. "I don't know…maybe it'd be better to be surprised. What do you think?"

He shrugged, "I kinda want to know." He twirled a few strands of hair that had come loose from her ponytail around his finger. "We can know what kind things to buy. And if it's a girl, it'll put an end to the debate over boys names," He shrugged. "But it's up to you."

She paused thoughtfully. "I hadn't thought about that. I guess we can find out tomorrow."

"Don't change your mind on my account."

"But you're right it'd help with the shopping."

"Speaking of, we should probably start soon. I've been saving my tips since you told me, I've got a good two thousand extra."

She sighed resting her head against his shoulder. "There's still so much to do."

"Yeah. It'll be fun though." He smiled, "I'm still waiting for those weird midnight cravings to start."

"Oh yeah that'll be fun," she said with a smile and a nod.

"I'll forever be able to tease you about wanting chocolate covered pickles at two in the morning."

She made a face. "I don't think so."

"Tuna and marshmallow sandwiches?"

"Eww," she brought a hand over her stomach. "Are you trying to make me nauseous?"

He smiled wryly, "No, I'd never."

She smiled faintly. "I almost forgot that you did this all before." He made a face and looked down at her stomach. Her smiled widened in amusement. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing. I'd just rather not remember." He smiled weakly. "I'd much rather pretend that my first go at parenthood is with you."

One corner of her mouth turned down and she rubbed the back of his neck placing a small kiss on his forehead. "Okay," she said softly.

He smiled his thanks, "If-if there's anything you want to know, though, ask. Okay?"

She nodded. "Okay."

He cuddled her closer, and savored the feel of her in his arms. "I still can't believe it sometimes."

"Can't believe what?"

"Any of this. You, here. Us having a baby."

She tilted her head slightly. "I know...but it feels right."

"Yeah. I'm unbelievably lucky."

She smiled her eyes light. "Can I kiss you right now?"

"No."

"No?"

"Ask a silly question, get a silly answer."

She grinned and brushed her lips against his. "I love you."

His heart jumped in his chest at her words. "You're crazy."

She shook her head. "No, that was one of your ex-girlfriends."

"You too. I'm afraid only the crazy ones fall for me."

"Nah, we're all sane until we start dating you."

"Which leads one to wonder why you'd start."

"I think it comes with the loving you territory."

"You sure that you do?"

She smiled. "I've known for a while."

"You have?"

She nodded embarrassedly. "Yeah..."

"How long?"

"Since before I left to Capeside," she admitted with an uneasy shrug.

His brow furrowed, "Then why did you leave?" He asked in a small voice.

"I didn't think you'd feel the same so I wanted to have my head clear before I agreed to anything. I wanted to go into this realistically."

He frowned, "At least it turned out okay, reasonably."

"Yeah…at least."

He traced her cheek, "It hurt when you disappeared, Joey."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I just needed time to think."

"I know and now I understand. But back then, I was freaking out. I didn't think you'd be coming back."

"But I did."

"I know," he smiled. "That's part of what amazes me."

"It amazes me too. What was I thinking coming back to you?" she teased.

"It's that whole being crazy thing." He shook his head, "Totally messes with your common sense."

"Oh yeah, that must be it."

"I love you."

She smiled. "I bet you say that to all the women you knock up."

"Nope," he shook his head seriously. "I've only told two women that I love them and have loved only one."

"I want to kiss you again now."

"You don't have to ask, you know." He smiled.

"It wasn't a question. It was more of a declarative statement."

"Oh, well in that case, what are you waiting for?"

She shrugged. "It passed."

He chuckled, "Passed, huh?"

She smiled and nodded her head. "Yep."

He lifted her chin with his index finger, "Good thing I'm still in the mood then." He pressed his lips to hers tenderly.

She sighed against his mouth wrapping her arms around his neck.

He tightened his hold on her, pulling her body tight against his, feeling her heart beat against his. He kissed her until they were both breathless, his lips brushing hers lightly and with a fire that existed only between them.

She shifted on his lap her lips curling into a small smile. "Mm...that was nice."

"Nice...yeah." He gave her a shorter kiss. "How come kissing you makes everything seem right with the world?"

"I don't know," she breathed lightly. "But maybe you should keep on doing it until we find out."

"Your wish is my command." He breathed against her lips before claiming them with his own.

She moaned softly raking her nails through his hair and pulling herself closer to him. It felt so good to kiss him making her forget about all that had happened with Dawson.

His kiss was deep and thorough, his fingers lightly caressing her face and neck. He kept his hands mostly to himself, not wanting her to get the wrong message. He wanted to do nothing that would remind her of what Dawson had done.

She pulled away slightly breathless and smiled. "I'm hungry."

He chuckled, "Yeah, me too." He winked, "but I don't think for the same thing."

She ran her tongue over her lips her eyes pleading. "Feed me?"

"Yeah." He loosened his hold on her. "What do you want?"

"Food."

"Anything in particular or can I just whip up whatever I find in the kitchen?"

"Whatever you find will be fine as long as it's nothing disgusting. So no tuna fish and marshmallows."

"Okay," he nudged her up off his lap.

She smiled. "Thank you."

He kissed her head. "I want to." He chuckled as he walked the kitchen. "I could so get into the dom/slave thing."

She laughed and rolled her eyes. "I don't want to know."

"I just love being able to do things for you." He said loudly from the kitchen as he opened the refrigerator and gazed at it's meager contents.

"Hey, then give birth to this baby for me."

"Sorry, babe. I don't quite have the anatomy for that." He pulled out the milk, twisted off the top and took a whiff.

She pouted playfully. "What good are you then?"

"The conception part." He pulled out a salad mix and a soup mix from the cupboard. "Besides, you get me to wait on you hand and foot."

Joey yawned leaning back on the sofa. "At least I get that."

"Tired?"

"A little."

"Cream of Mushroom okay?" He asked, reading the labels. "Or we have tomato."

"Tomato is fine."

"With grilled cheese, or is the salad enough?"

"Ooh grilled cheese, please."

He smiled and opened the refrigerator, pulling out the cheese and butter. He laid out his ingredients across the counter and began going through the drawers. "Hey Princess, where's the can opener?"

"It should be in the second drawer on the right."

He dug a little deeper through the cooking utensils and pulled it out. "Thanks."

"Not a problem." He chuckled to himself and opened the soup. "What's so funny?" she asked pulling her legs onto the couch. She rested her back on the armrest and pulled her knees up glancing down at her nails critically.

"Just how 'couply' we sound." He added water to the pot and put it on the burner. He then turned his attention to slicing the cheese.

"And that's a bad thing?"

"No, just amusing." He rewrapped the cheese and put it back. He turned up the heat on the frying pan and started buttering the bread.

She smiled faintly and placed the palm of her hand against the exposed skin of her stomach. "Well, I'm glad we sound 'coupley'."

"Me too." He tossed a slice of bread into the pan and heard it sizzle. He added another and then placed the slices of cheese across them. "Better than the alternative."

"Yeah..."

He stirred the soup and turned down the heat. "Hey, when's the last time you talked to Jack or Shane?"

Joey paused thoughtfully. "Wow...it's been a while."

"You might want to give him a call." Pacey suggested, flipping the sandwiches over in the pan. "From what I gathered from Shane, he's getting a little lonely. And...maybe...since you're not comfortable talking about it with me...maybe you could with him."

She bit down on her lip. "No."

"No?"

"I'm not going to tell Jack."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Jo..."

"I'm not going to tell him Pacey."

"Why not?"

"I just don't want to."

"Okay. It's up to you," he shrugged. "I just want what's best for you." She frowned crossing her arms in front of her chest. "You want to eat in there?" He asked, pouring the soup into a bowl.

"You know what? I changed my mind. I'm not hungry anymore." She climbed off the sofa and headed to her room.

He frowned, turning the heat on the soup down and followed after her. He rapped his knuckles lightly on the door. "What is it?" Joey asked sitting down at the end of her bed with a grimace.

He opened the door quietly and entered the room. "You kinda stormed out of there in a hurry."

"I'm tired," she said simply.

"You slept all day."

She shrugged. "Maybe I just want to sleep some more."

He moved further into the room, "Was it something I said?"

"I want to be alone now."

"Yeah," He backed out of the room. "Okay." He sighed, closing the door behind him.

The silence in her room was deafening, the words in her head on stereo. She curled her hands into fists at her side, her nails digging into her palms with fierce determination and she bit down on her lip drawing blood. Her eyes squeezed tightly shut; she tried to force unbidden images of what happened with Dawson away.

She could remember everything so clearly. It was emblazoned in her brain, stuck on repeat with no stop button. She could feel every soft caress harsh with intent, heavy, ragged breath against the skin of her neck. She brought her hands to her head locking her fingers in her hair. She wanted to rip every strand of hair out in frustration and anger.

Forced against the door.

Wrists above her head.

Hand on her thigh.

Fingers in her hair. On her lips.

His mouth on hers.

His tongue in her mouth as he tried to kiss her.

She let released a frustrated cry unable to take it anymore and wrenched her eyes open. Her hand reached out for the trash can by her bed and she leaned over, emptying the contents of her stomach inside it.

Pacey flipped through 'Parenting' magazine with his right hand in the waiting room of Joey's obstetrician. His left hand was holding Joey's as he skimmed down the articles the next morning. There was nothing all that interesting in the magazine. He paused at a list of baby names, "What about Malcolm?" He asked.

She shrugged. "That's fine."

"Jo," he gave her an appalled look. "It's horrible."

"Oh."

He frowned, watching her profile. She'd been acting distant since the night before. He'd been trying to give her whatever space she needed, but her demeanor still worried him. He hardly expected her to be okay overnight, but he'd been hoping, foolishly perhaps, but still hoping she'd get better.

He lifted the hand the held hers and kissed the back of it. "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you scared?" he asked, hoping her odd silence was due to nervousness as opposed to what occurred with Dawson.

"Of what?"

"The appointment?"

"Why would I be scared of it?"

"I don't know...maybe nervous is a better word." He shrugged.

"No. I'm not scared or nervous. It's just a doctor's appointment."

"Okay," he squeezed her hand lightly. "You'd tell me if you were bothered right?"

"I'm not bothered."

He smiled weakly and turned back to the magazine. His concern for her hadn't faded any, if anything, it had only increased. But he'd learned when to stop pushing.

Joey released a sigh of relief as the doctor finally called her and she headed inside her office. Pacey glanced up when Joey's name was called and watched her walk after the nurse. He stood up and caught her hand, "Do you want me to stay here?"

"Do you want to see the sonogram?"

"Yes."

"Then you should come with me."

"Do you want me to come with you though?" He asked, more pointedly.

She sighed turning away. "Do what you want to, since you're obviously not listening to me."

He decided that maybe he should listen to her and followed behind her and the nurse as they were lead to an examination room, complete with the little TV screen and various instruments that Pacey could only imagine being used for some horrific torture.

The nurse smiled pleasantly at the tense couple. "Ms. Potter. You can hop right up there," she pointed to the examination chair, complete with stirrups and a wide strip of paper. "You'll need to expose your stomach, but there's no need to get undressed. Dr. Palmer will be in to see you in a few minutes." She waited to hear if they had any questions.

Joey returned her smile and pulled herself onto the table. "Okay. Thank you."

Pacey nodded at the nurse as she closed the door behind her and left them alone. "I swear I've seen her at the club before." He tapped his chin, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Probably slept with her too," Joey muttered.

He gave her a surprised look, his eyes wide at her bluntness. "I-" His brows drew together, "No. I haven't."

"Well, not like you'd remember anyway, right?"

He gave her a disbelieving look, "Jo, what's gotten into you?"

She stared at the wall in front of her blankly. "Nothing."

"I can't change my past." He told her, "And if that's what's bothering you...you should have told me earlier."

She rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest.

"Look," he took her hand. "I love you. Only you. I don't know what's bothering you." He paused, "Okay, I do. But I don't know how to make it better or how to make you forget or even if that's the right thing to do. But I do know that I love you, and you can't ever forget that."

"I know."

"Then why are you mad at me?"

She sighed tiredly. "I'm just cranky."

"Okay," he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "I love you even more when you're cranky."

She managed a weak smile. "Thanks."

He smiled down at her, and touched the swell of her stomach, "I think the doctor is going to want access to Junior here."

She lifted her shirt revealing her stomach and placed the palm of her hand against it. "So do you think it's a boy or a girl?"

He squinted his eyes thoughtfully, "I donno." He tilted his head, "I think everyday I change my mind. One day I'm hoping it's a girl, the next a boy." He shrugged, "I'm indecisive."

"Let's bet on it."

He shook his head, "Oh no. Last time I made a bet with you, you cheated."

Her mouth fell open in surprise. "I did not cheat, besides you didn't even pay up your debt. Shane had to take me to the apartment," she said pointedly.

"Yeah, well. You left before you could collect." He shrugged a shoulder, "Besides, you get to see my slovenliness day in and day out now."

"Joy."

"What kind of bet were you thinking," he asked slyly.

"We'll see who guessed the correct sex and since I came up with the terms of the last one," she said begrudgingly. "To be fair. You can name the terms."

He thought for a moment, "You're not going to like my terms." He said softly.

"What are they?"

He gave her a serious look, "That if I'm right, you go see someone."

She glanced down at her hands. "For what?"

"For what happened with Dawson." He said softly. "I know you're not going to want to, but I think it might help. And if not, you can stop after a few weeks."

She shrugged uneasily. "I don't know..."

"It wont be easy, but," he caressed her hair lightly, "I can't help you, no matter how much I want to. You need someone who can."

"I'll think about it..."

"Make it worth your while. What do you get if you're right?"

She smiled faintly. "You tell me."

"Um...what do you want more than anything, Potter?" He asked her.

She shrugged. "I don't know."

"Okay, then," he touched her stomach lightly, "if you're right, you can name your conditions whenever you decide on them."

"Fine."

"So we're in agreement?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"Boy or girl?" He asked her caressing the curve of her bare stomach with his hand.

"Girl," she said evenly.

"You want a girl?" he asked, with a small smile.

"A girl would be nice."

"I think it's going to be a boy." He told her, "But I'd like a girl, they're easier to raise then boys." He smirked, "I'll just have to buy a shotgun, that's all."

She smiled. "A boy, huh? Just like you?"

"God, I hope not." His lips curved at the corner, "Although, he'd be lucky to be blessed with the Witter charm."

"Charm? Is that what you call it?"

"Why, what would you call it?"

"Annoyance."

He chuckled, "Call it what you will, you fell for it."

She rolled her eyes. "Bite me."

"Later." He promised.

The door swung open and Dr. Palmer entered. She was an older woman, her light brown hair streaked with gray and pulled back in a loose bun. Her friendly brown eyes glimmered at the couple. "Hello Miss Potter, Mr. Witter." She greeted them and shut the door.

Pacey smiled his greeting at their doctor. "Good morning." She pulled out a clipboard.

"Good morning." Joey echoed

She consulted her chart, "Four and a half months along." She smiled up at Joey, "How've you been feeling?"

"Okay," Joey said. "Just a little tired."

"How's your back?"

"It's not that bad."

She smiled motherly, "That will change. Your ankles?"

"They're okay too."

"Mood swings?"

"Yes..."

Pacey nodded emphatically and the doctor chuckled. "How severe?"

"I don't think they're that bad."

Pacey shook his head, standing behind Joey's chair so she couldn't see. The doctor scribbled some more. "Have you been eating right? A balanced diet?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"How's the nausea?" She continued to write across the page.

"It's starting to subside."

"Good, that's pretty common. Any cravings?"

She shook her head. "No, not really."

"Sounds like everything's pretty normal. I'm going to prescribe some prenatal vitamins, those should help with the mood swings and in general make sure you're getting enough iron, zinc, and all that good stuff." She put her clipboard to the side. "Are you ready to see your baby?"

She nodded with a smile. "Yes, I am."

She took her roller chair and moved to the machine, Pacey went around to the other side of Joey and took her hand. "This is going to be cold," she held up a tube of lubricant and squeezed it onto her stomach.

The corner of Joey's mouth turned up slightly. "You weren't kidding."

"Most women give a little yell." She held up a six inch long tube, rounded at one end, the other had a thick cord coming out of it. "This receptor will transfer the picture of the baby onto the screen." She touched it to her belly and spread around the jelly. A mess of black and white appeared on the screen. Two major sections of white appeared before them, the head and the body.

Joey's eyes widened expressively and she lightly squeezed Pacey's hand in nervous excitement.

"And there's your child." The doctor said, watching them stare at the screen in amazement. This was her favorite part of the job. Next to the moment the parents first held their child.

Pacey felt the sting of tears behind his eyes as Dr. Palmer pointed out the head and shoulders. The baby's tiny feet and hands. Their baby...life that they'd created together. He kissed Joey's temple and whispered "I love you" in her ear.

Joey's grin widened her eyes slightly teary. "Wow," she said quietly.

The doctor smiled at them, "Yeah." Squinted at the monitor, "Usually by this time we can tell the sex." She used her pinkie and pointed at a spot on the screen that looked like absolutely nothing to them. "It looks like you're going to have a son."

"God help us if he's anything like his father," Joey said with a smile.

Pacey was still staring at the screen. He swallowed thickly. "A boy."

"Our baby boy," Joey said still smiling.

He smiled dazedly. "Ours. I guess we get to continue discussing names." He said thickly, he looked down into Joey's face, his love for her reflected in his eyes.

"I guess we do."

"You guys want a picture to take home?" Dr. Palmer offered.

Joey nodded her head. "Yes, that would be nice."

"Okay," she hit a few buttons on the screen, freezing the picture. It started printing out on the computer. She handed Joey a wet cloth, "Use this to clean up. Do you guys have any questions?"

Joey shook her head. "None that I can think of right now."

"Okay, Feel free to call my office if anything comes up." She rose from her chair, "I'm going to go write up this prescription." She took the photo print out and handed it to Pacey. "Be sure to pick it up on your way out." She smiled as she paused at the door. "And Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Pacey took the cloth from Joey and cleaned off her stomach lovingly for her. "A boy, Joey. We're gonna have a son." Awe tinged his voice.

She smiled in amusement. "I know Pacey. I was there."

He smiled happily, "I know. I just...it seems so real now." He watched her struggle to zip up her pants and pull her shirt back down. "I think it's time you got some maternity clothes, Princess."

She sighed. "I'm getting fat."

"You are not," he held out his hand to help her down. "There's a baby growing inside you, our baby boy." He couldn't help smiling. "You're supposed to gain weight and not fit into your clothes."

"This pregnancy thing just keeps on getting better and better."

"Well, think how happy you'll be holding a little blue eyed baby boy in your arms when it's all over." He tilted his head to her, smiling as he pictured them in his mind.

She smiled. "Blue eyes?"

"Yeah, yours specifically, dark blue and stormy." He wrapped an arm around her waist loosely as they entered the hallway and headed back to the waiting room.

"He's going to be beautiful," Joey said quietly.

"Very beautiful." He agreed. "So, you feel up for some shopping today? I suddenly feel the urge to buy lots of blue."

She nodded. "Yeah, let's go shopping."

"Sounds like a plan." They approached the receptionist, "Prescription for Potter."

The bored looking woman ran her eyes over the names on the computer and printed out the prescription. "There you go," she handed the slip of paper to Joey. "That should last you two months before you need a refill, and be sure to read the instructions." She smiled thinly and dismissed them.

"Thanks," Joey mumbled sliding the papers into her purse. The woman didn't bother looking up at them as the left.

Pacey kissed her shoulder, "Where do you want to start?"

"With some food," she said turning her head to look at him. "I'm starving."

"Color me shocked," he teased, holding a hand to his chest.

She made a face. "Not funny."

"C'mon," he held open the door for her. "We'll go feed you, then work on spending everything in my savings account, 'k?"

She smiled brightly. "Okay."

"You sound so pleased." He unlocked the door of the passenger side of his car for her.

"Is that a problem?"

"No," He slid into his seat. "I just wish I'd known food and shopping was all it would take to make you smile earlier."

She smiled shyly adjusting her seat belt. "And maybe it has a little bit to do with the company."

"Maybe." He smiled to himself and backed out of the parking space. He shifted into drive and then took her hand in his, lacing his fingers through her own.