Jack groaned as Joey took his hand and dragged him out of the backseat of the cab and onto the street. He looked up at the sign hanging above the double doors, Thunder Down Under, flashed at them. "Joey, why are we here? Shane isn't even working tonight."

She smiled sweetly smoothing down her hair. "I know, but Pacey is."

"I thought you hated it here." He offered her his arm. "Besides, you can see him naked any time you want."

Joey waved his comments off with the brush of her hand. "I know. I know but he has this new act now and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about."

"He's one of the new duo's?" Jack asked, his eyes widened. Shane had told him all about Max's new plans for Thunder.

She shrugged while looping a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "I guess. He just told me he was going to have a partner now and it was going to be different than anything he's done before."

Jack nodded slowly, "Yeah...Did he tell you about it?" He held open the door for her.

"Jack, what I told you is what he told me," Joey said as she walked past him. "Why? Do you know something I don't know?"

"You know it's with a woman right?" He followed her to an empty table off to the side of the main stage where one of the men was unbuttoning his shirt.

Joey nodded as she sat down. "Yes…I'm not profoundly clueless."

"Okay, I guess it's not much more than that." Jack settled into his chair and signaled one of the waiters. "A beer for me and, Jo? You feel like anything?"

"A Shirley Temple."

The waiter nodded and jotted down their orders. "That'll be right with you." He smiled and headed over to the next table.

"When does his act start?" Jack asked eyeing the man on stage.

"I'm not exactly sure..."

"I take it he doesn't know you're coming?"

"That would be correct," Joey said glancing toward the stage.

"This is a receipe for disaster," Jack muttered under his breath.

"So have you seen it yet?"

"No, I told Shane he couldn't do it." Jack shrugged, "I didn't even know about Pacey until you just told me. And being gay, there really isn't a reason for me to see one of the duo's."

Joey smiled as her drink was placed in front of her and took a small sip. "Why would you tell Shane not to do it?"

"I guess I'm a little more possesive than you are. The stripping thing doesn't bother me so much...but the idea of someone else's hands all over him..." He tilted his head to Joey.

Joey's eyes widened slightly and she paused mid-drink to her mouth. "What?"

"Joey, they're strippers. What did you think they'd be doing up there?"

She raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Stripping?" she said her voice faintly hopeful.

"Right..." He nodded, "It's a two person act though. Everything they do is together, otherwise what's the point? It's not erotic."

She frowned thoughtfully. "It's probably not that bad," she said after a while trying to convince herself.

"Yeah, we'll just wait and see." He took a deep swallow from his beer. "So, did you ever have that talk with Pacey?"

She smiled shyly. "Yeah..."

"And?"

"I realized I was just being insecure. I mean, I have nothing to worry about, right?"

"Right, what'd I tell ya?" Jack smiled.

She rolled her eyes. "Right, all hail Jack-the-all-knowing."

"I wouldn't say that," he grinned modestly. "I'd say Jack-the-almost-all-knowing."

She laughed. "Oh just shut up."

The man on stage finished up his show. "Thunder Down Under would like to thank Eric Neely, give him a round of applause." The announcers voice boomed out as Eric took his bows. "Now, as part of a brand new set of acts, Thunder Down Under brings you...Bonnie and Clyde." The lights dimmed slightly and the sound of gunshots and sirens rang through the speaker system, threads of sultry music increased in the background.

"I think this may be them," Jack commented, trying not to laugh at the idea of Pacey as Clyde.

Joey smiled and raised an eyebrow at Jack before turning her attention to the stage. "Well, this should be interesting."

A small statured blond ran through the curtains in back, a fake gun clutched in her hands as she sent a poor attempt at a panicked look over her shoulder. She wore a black thirty's style dress, the collar was low cut and the hem shorter than anything in the thirties ever was. An obviously prerecorded voice came through the speakers, "Clyde, Clyde!" Bonnie mouthed the words back to the curtain, the woman certainly wouldn't make it as an actress.

This was Pacey's cue to enter, he emerged wearing a trench coat and clutching a gun just as Bonnie was. He face was contorted in seriousness and he mouth the words along with the gravely voice on the tape, "This is it, Bonnie. We're surrounded." The voice growled as Pacey approached her, his legs braced widely apart.

"No, Clyde, it can't be." Bonnie hung on Pacey's wide frame, her blood red fingernails tracing the sinew of his neck. "Whatever will we do?"

"Well, baby. If we're gettin' caught, we're gonna get caught going down." With that Pacey stepped away and threw the gun back towards the curtain and his hands fisted on the lapels of her dress. With a harsh grunt, he ripped her dress down the front the buttons popping off and flying into the audience.

"Oh Clyde!" The voice on the tape purred as the music picked up and they began their dance.

"Oh God," Joey mouthed and made a face of amusement at Jack at the obvious contrivance before turning her attention back to the stage. He chuckled and took another swig of his beer, glad that Joey wasn't overreacting like he feared she'd be.

Bonnie played with the buttons of Pacey's trench coat, teasing the audience she moved behind him and pulled open the trench coat, baring his chest to the audience. His legs, encased in his signature leather pants were splayed a good distance apart.

Bonnie tossed the coat aside and pressed her chest to her back, her small hands sliding up and down over his tanned chest. Her nails scraped over his skin before she started playing with his nipples to the cat calls of the women in the audience.

Pacey caught her hand did some complicated looking dance move, pulling her in front of him. His hands fell to her waist, pulling her back against his groin. The beat of the music grew more noticeable as they gyrated to it. His large hands slid down her pale thighs, he slowly inched them up, pulling the hem of her dress up a few inches before smoothing them down her legs again. He repeated the process a few times, inching the dress up higher and higher each time.

Joey brought a hand to the side of her neck and rubbed it uncomfortably as she leaned against the table, watching the show on stage. It's just a show, she reminded herself. It meant nothing. Who cares if Pacey was dancing salaciously with a curvaceous blonde, that didn't look like the word fat was in her vocabulary? She frowned.

In one swift move, he lifted the dress over her head and discarded it behind him, leaving Bonnie clad in a thin black bra, her nipples clearly hard and visible through the lace, and matching black thong underwear. Her skin was a perfectly smooth and pale contrast to her underwear. Bonnie tried to appear shocked that 'Clyde' had shed her clothes but failed to appear anything less the aroused.

She leaned back against him, pulling his hands up to massage her breasts. After a moment, she bent over, her rounded butt cheeks pressed to his groin, her breasts nearly falling from her bra. She crouched down and slid between his legs seductively. Her hands slid over his outer thighs, the white of her skin contrasting sharply to the black of his pants.

The cheers of the audience, still mostly women were calling for Pacey to take it off. Bonnie, grinning over Pacey's shoulder slid her hands down his back and over the curve of his ass, much to Joey's shock, they continued between his legs, curving around the swell of his crotch.

Joey's eyes widened in surprise and her jaw dropped open in shock. "J-Jack," she said shakily reaching for his hand. "It's nothing right? Because this is not happening is it?"

Jack squeezed her hand reassuringly. "It's just a show, Joey. It's his job."

She nodded less assuredly, holding his hand tightly. "Right, just a job."

Bonnie slid her hands over his legs and back over the smooth planes of his chest from behind. The crowd groaned in dismay as she moved away from the clasp of his pants. He swung his hips to the side in the usual manner as his Zorro act.

She moved around his front, hooking one leg around his, her small frame made for easy maneuvering around his body. She slid seductively down his body, using him as she would a pole. From her crouched position near the ground, she played with his zipper, toying with the audience. Heightening their anticipation, she stroked him through the leather of his pants, she smiled slightly pleased to see him react to her.

Before he knew it, his pants were being ripped from him, the buttons along the sides ripped apart, leaving him fully exposed in only his white G-string. Bonnie slid up his body, brushing against him as she did so. His hands reached around her, unclasping her bra and pulling it away. She bent over backwards, his hands supporting her waist as her large breasts jiggled.

Bonnie hooked her legs around his waist, rubbing her lace clad crotch against his silk clad penis.

"Asshole," Joey muttered. She bit down on her lip hard, stood up quickly nearly knocking over her chair. She'd seen enough. "I'll be right back," she announced to Jack harshly.

Jack was torn between following her and waiting at the table like she'd told him to. He sat back instead and watched as she marched determinedly to the bar, one hand supporting her stomach.

"Excuse me," Joey said approaching the sound booth. She discreetly glanced down at the guy, who was obviously in charge, hand making note of the ring. "There's an emergency in the back. Phone call. Someone's sick and," she scanned her brain for the name of Pacey's boss. "Max, told me to get you right away." She smiled sincerely with just the right amount of concern. "I think it's your wife."

The a flash of panic went across the guy's face and he rose from his seat. "Marcia?" He left the tape player and microphone and headed for the door to the back room. "Thanks," he called over his shoulder.

"No problem," Joey said waiting until he was out of sight before sliding around to the other side of the booth. "Off switch. Off switch," she muttered under her breath. She shifted her eyes from right to left not wanting to get caught in there.

"Bingo," she whispered with a small smile as her landed on a stop button. She quickly hit it, successfully stopping the music and reached for the microphone, raising it to her lips. "Alright, let's hear it for Bonnie and Clyde. Little known fact, Bonnie and Clyde were shot and killed to death. Fun. We'll get back to you on that next act." She set the mic down and slipped out of the booth heading back to the table where Jack was waiting.

Jack joined in on the applause as Pacey and the blond made a hasty retreat behind the curtains. He grinned at Joey as she returned to their table, giving her a round of applause too. "I'm impressed Jo. You lasted longer into that than I would have. And my man isn't even straight."

She scowled reaching for her coat. "It's not funny."

His smile fell, "You're leaving?"

"No, Jack. I'm going to stay," she said sarcastically. "Of course, I'm leaving."

"You're not gonna wait and talk to him?" He sat up in his chair.

"Jack, if I stay and talk to him, I'm not going to have very nice things to say."

"Okay," Jack frowned and sat back. "I'm gonna stay, if that's okay with you."

She pursed her lips together angrily, slightly hurt. Jack was her friend; he was supposed to be rightfully indignant with her. "Fine."

"Want me to hail a cab for you?" He offered rising from the chair.

She nodded pouting faintly. "Yes."

He took her arm and walked out the doors with her, holding his arm out at the street, he hailed a cab. "Joey," he held open the door. "Remember, it is just his job."

"Oh I'm sorry, I must've forgotten that practically having sex on stage with some blonde bimbo was a requirement," she spat bitterly.

He pursed his lips. She almost had a valid argument, and there was no point in trying to calm her down right now. "Okay, Joey." He helped her into the car. "Give me a call later."

She grimaced as she sat down and shut the door. "Yeah, sure..."

The door closed and Jack watched the taxi drive away. He frowned and headed back inside to await Pacey's turn to wait behind the bar.

Jack cleared his throat as he walked up to Pacey, spotting him behind the bar. "Well, that was most certainly…interesting."

"Where is she?" He asked, his eyes still scanning the room for Joey.

"Gone."

"Gone?"

"Gone as in she left, took a cab home." Jack frowned.

"How upset was she?" He questioned, his brow furrowed.

Jack exhaled sharply, nodding his head. "Oh, I'd definitely say she was pretty mad."

"I don't know what got into Tessa." He ran his hand down his face tiredly. "Half that stuff we hadn't even discussed doing, let alone rehearsed."

"Well, I think you better save those explanations for Joey. You're going to need them. That is if she doesn't kill you first."

He groaned, "I told her about this. She knew it was a strip act with a woman."

"Yeah, well I don't think that's exactly what she had in mind…I'm surprised she even agreed to it."

"I was too, frankly." He sighed, "Should I give her time to cool off first, or go find her now?"

"Completely up to you."

He untied his apron and threw it on the bar. "I'm gonna go home." He caught one of his coworkers around the arm. "Tell Max I went home, there was an emergency."

"Yeah sure." He nodded, "Girlfriend saw the show?"

Pacey nodded gravely, "Yeah, but if anyone asks, my mom's in the hospital."

"Right." He smiled.

Pacey turned to Jack, "You wanna share a cab or are you gonna hang around here for a while?"

"I think I'll head home. Shane'll kill me otherwise."

"Okay, I've got to get dressed. You wanna wait or what?"

"Doesn't matter."

"I'll be right out." He disappeared out the back door.

Joey slammed her bedroom door behind her angrily and kicked off her shoes. How could she have been so stupid? She was an idiot to think that this thing with Pacey would actually work out. 'More time with me, my ass,' she thought as she hung up her coat in her closet, 'just an excuse to gallivant with some blonde bimbo.' "Bastard," she mumbled shutting the door to her closet. She sat down on the edge of her bed tensely. She shouldn't even be here. She should leave. She entertained the thought of running back to Capeside for a while. Bessie would probably be glad to see her sister.

Pacey jogged up the stairs to their apartment and found the door already open. He stopped up short, and entered the apartment slowly, the lights were still off, he closed the door and made his way to the bedroom apprehensively. He knocked lightly on the door, "Jo?"

"Go. Away."

"Joey," he opened the door and entered the room to find her sitting on the edge, her face flushed and her arms wrapped protectively around herself. He closed the door quietly behind him. "I'm sorry."

"Funny. I don't recall asking you to come in."

"I know." He leaned back against the door. "I'm sorry you saw that. Tessa got carried away."

Tessa. Great, the bimbo had a name. "Looked like you enjoyed it."

"I didn't." He replied. "It's just work, Joey. It's what I'm paid to do."

Joey slapped the palm of her hand against her forehead. "Oh yeah, the whole simulating sex on stage with a bimbo thing. I must've missed that aspect before."

"I thought I explained it, Joey. I told you we were stripping on stage." He sighed, "Granted, it wasn't supposed to be that graphic. There wasn't supposed to be any...stroking." He frowned, "But what did you expect?"

"Certainly not that."

"I'm sorry, Jo." He frowned, "What do you want from me?"

She blinked back tears and bit down on her lower lip. "Get the hell out of here."

"I can't." He replied. "I wont."

"You better."

"Joey, I love you. I'm not going to leave you."

She scowled folding her arms across her chest. "You better leave this fucking room right now before I do something 'll regret."

"Joey, I don't know what to do here."

She glowered staring at the wall in front of her. "Leave, Pacey. Leave because I don't want to see you or hear you now."

He closed his eyes and let out a resigned sigh. "Yeah, fine." He opened the door and closed it softly behind him, wondering dismally if this was fixable.

Joey let out a frustrated groan and reached for her shoes, sliding them back on and she retrieved her coat from the closet. She couldn't stay here now; she needed time to think, needed to be somewhere where she couldn't commit involuntary manslaughter. She grabbed her purse and left the room, slamming the door behind her. She lifted her hair and fixed the collar of her jacket with an irritated frown.

Pacey watched her disappear out the door from the couch. He groaned and made no effort to go after her. There was no point, she wasn't ready to listen to him. He tried to fight the panic that rose in his chest at the idea that she might not come back.

"I hate him," Joey said with finality as she sat across from Jack at his kitchen table. She wiped at her eyes fiercely and released her grip of the mug in front of her.

"Why?" Jack asked, his hands folded together. Joey glared at him, giving him a 'do you even have to ask' look. "Okay, so the act was worse than you thought it'd be. It was worse than he thought it'd be too. But it is really a valid reason to hate him?" He took a drink from his coffee mug.

She nodded solemnly. "Yes."

"Joey..."

"Hello? You saw it! Miss Blonde Ambition had her hands all over him!"

"Right, but you're the one he goes home to."

She released a huffed breath. "So."

"So, no matter what happens while he's working, he's going to come home and fall asleep in your bed. Not hers."

“Oh yeah, sleep in my bed; screw her in hers.”

"He is not." Jack frowned, picturing Bonnie hanging on Pacey, "But I see where you might think they were."

Joey looked up at him pleadingly. "See what I mean? If they'd been any closer she would've been wearing him."

"Yeah, but shouldn't you be mad at her as apposed to him?"

"Why? She probably doesn't even know I exist, bet you he didn't even tell her he had a girlfriend."

"You don't know that..." Jack tried to cheer her up.

"And, he enjoyed it," Joey said accusingly. "You saw it!"

"The whole club saw it." Jack agreed dryly.

"Bastard," she grumbled before taking a sip of her coffee.

Shane entered the kitchen, his sweats hung low on his waist. "Hey, Joey." He rubbed his eyes tiredly, "You're still here?" He glanced at the clock, it read two a.m.

Joey's face flushed embarrassedly. "I know…I'm sorry. I should probably be going soon."

"Home?" Jack asked hopefully.

She shook her head. "No…I'm not exactly ready to go back there yet."

Shane shrugged and headed for the refrigerator and pulled out the milk. "You don't need to go. Our home is your home. I'm just a little surprised." He took a swig directly from the carton. He wiped his mouth before putting it back, "What's up?"

Joey raised a hand to her forehead, as she propped her elbow against the tabletop. "It's just-I got into an argument with Pacey and Jack's kind enough to deal with my venting." She smiled faintly at her friend who returned it with a reassuring one.

"You fought with Pacey?" He raised an eyebrow. "Well, you're welcome to stay with us for the night if you don't want to go home." He offered, sitting down with them at the table.

She smiled sincerely. "Thanks but I don't want to be any kind of inconvenience."

"Nonsense, Jo. You know you can stay here if you want to," Jack interjected.

"Yeah, you're not an inconvience. Besides, no matter how upset you and Pacey are at each other, he wouldn't want you out on your own."

Joey rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure he doesn't."

"So, do I get the dirt on what happened?" He asked.

"You mean, Jack didn't fill you in on the lovely show we witnessed earlier tonight with "Bonnie and Clyde"," she scoffed.

"She went to see Pacey's new act," Jack explained with a face that said this was a touchy subject.

Shane grimaced, "I see. He didn't tell you about it?" He asked sympathetically.

"Yeah, he left out the part where Bimbo Barbie gropes him for all the world to see."

"I had a bad feeling about that girl." He frowned, "You know it's just work through, right?"

"Oh yeah, it really looked liked it too," Joey snipped. Jack tried to motion Shane to cut it as Joey turned her attention to him. "Ask Jack. He was there. He saw it."

Jack cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Well, it did seem kind of risqué…"

"We work in a strip club. Why are you surprised?"

"Yes, strip club. Not the local S&M bar," Joey said sharply.

He made a face, "It shouldn't have been that bad. Max gave them strict instructions."

"So great, what I saw was just an added bonus."

Jack rubbed his forehead tiredly. "It was pretty bad."

"Hmm, Like how?" Shane asked, his brow furrowed.

Joey grimaced. "I don't even want to think about it."

"Oh-kay." He shrugged, "You've gotta understand Joey, this is what he does for a living. He told me he was going to get your permission first."

"Yeah, more like tricked me into it."

"How'd he do that?"

"He told me he was only doing the show so we could spend more time together, obviously I was stupid enough to believe him. Just an excuse to cavort with the big breasted and brainless."

"Joey, if he wanted to covort with women, he wouldn't have to agree to a strip show to do it." Shane told her.

"Oh gee, that makes me feel so much better."

He shrugged one shoulder, "It's the truth. I haven't seen him show any intrest in other women since you came along, and that's also the truth. I don't see what you're so upset about."

"Well, then you obviously haven't seen him with Tessa," she said the name with just the right amount of disgust and disdain.

"I think you're overreacting." Shane replied. "He was just working, you knew what he did for a living when you got together with him. Why is it bothering you now?"

"I am not overreacting!"

Jack frowned burying his head in his hands.

"You sure? You're freaking out because some whore was hanging all over him. That's what he does for a living, it's how come you have money to buy diapers and clothes for your baby."

Joey scowled getting up from her seat, her eyes welling with tears. "Well, I don't need his money or his help. I can do fine on my own."

Shane caught her arm, "No, Joey. Don't leave. I'm just saying I don't understand."

"I don't need him."

"If you didn't, would you be this upset?"

Joey said nothing and Jack stood up. "Okay, it's late. Maybe what we need here is some rest and we can talk about it in the morning."

"Yeah, okay." Shane agreed and stood up, "Joey, you want to take our bed?"

She shook her head. "No, that's okay. I'll just go home."

"Home?"

"Yes."

"Okay," he smiled half-heartedly at her.

Jack eyed his friend concerned. "Are you sure?"

Joey nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine."

He frowned not really sure what she was thinking. "I guess I'll walk you to the door then." She nodded.

"I'm just going to go back to bed." Shane said, heading back to the hallway.

Joey smiled wearily. "Fine. Goodnight Shane."

"Night, Joey." He called as he disspeared through the bedroom door, leaving Joey and Jack alone.

"Are you really going to go home?" Jack asked worriedly as he walked her to the door.

She sighed. "I don't know yet, probably."

"It's late, Joey." He gestured to the clock. "I wish you'd just stay here."

"I'll be fine, Jack."

"This is Boston, Joey. Not Capeside. It's not safe for a woman to go wandering around town in the middle of the night. Especially not in your condition or state of mind."

"I'm just going to catch a cab and go home. That's all." She leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be fine."

"Joey, promise me you'll go home."

"I'll go home."

"Promise?"

"I promise I'll go home…"

"Okay," he gave her a hug as they reached the door. "It's gonna be okay, Jo."

She offered a vague smile. "Thanks."

"Be safe, okay?" He opened the door for her.

"I will."

"And don't do anything to him that'll get you a life sentance."

She smiled. "You'd bail me out though, right?"

"Of course." He replied.

"Good." She gave him a quick hug. "I'll call you later."

"Okay. Bye Jo." He said softly, watching her from the doorway. Jack shut the door quietly behind him and made his way back to his bedroom. "I hope she goes home," he said worriedly.

"So do I, Boston at night is no place for a pregnant woman." Shane sighed from the bed.

"Oh, and hey, thanks for the help out there," Jack said sarcastically as he sat down on his side of the bed.

"What? I was trying to help." He defended himself.

"If that was trying I'd hate to see you when you aren't. You just made things worse."

"How? She was completely over reacting. I was trying to bring things into perspective."

"By pointing out the fact that Pacey could probably already be sleeping with other women?"

"What?! I never said that. I said if he wanted other women, he'd have them, not start lewdly dancing to try and entice them." He crossed his arms over his bare chest.

"You don't tell an irrational pregnant woman, who's already feeling unattractive, that her boyfriend will have no trouble picking up other women."

He frowned, conceding that point. "Regardless of that, Pacey's not like most guys, he wouldn't cheat. He loves her."

"And right now, Joey's having issues with that."

"What's her problem? He's told her a million times, why wont she believe it?"

Jack shrugged. "I don't know maybe it's a pregnant woman thing but Joey's been feeling really insecure lately and seeing Pacey on stage didn't help her situation."

"Then why'd she give him permission to do the show? She knew it was with another woman."

"I guess she didn't put much thought into it."

"I guess I'll call her tomorrow and apologise." Shane sighed, "I didn't realize it was such a sensitive issue for her."

Jack smiled and reached for his hand. "I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

Shane tugged on Jack's hand and pulled him over to his side of the bed, "You think they'll work things out?"

"They usually do."

"Have they always been this dramatic?" Shane ran his fingers Jack's shortly cropped hair.

He idly traced a sinewy muscle in Shane's arm. "You should've seen them in high school."

Shane chuckled, "Yeah? What'd they do?" He asked, sighing with pleasure at Jack's light touch. "Pacey never told me much about his past."

"It was like a really bad high school drama."

"Complete with sex, lies and videotape?"

Jack smiled raising his eyes to Shane's. "I guess you can say that."

"How about we don't talk about them anymore?" Shane asked, gazing into his boyfriend's dark eyes.

Jack nodded slowly, moving in for a kiss. "Sounds like a plan."

Pacey checked the clock on the microwave again for the millionth time that morning. She hadn't come home anytime last night and still hadn't made an appearance by seven that morning. He was about ready to turn the city upside down looking for her.

He stared hard at the phone, he'd forced himself not to call Jack and Shane in the middle of the night, but he was starting to panic again. The ceaseless fear that one day she'd leave and not come back was working his nerves. He bit his lip, 7:18 wasn't too early to call in the morning. He dialed their number rapidly, his fingers tripping over the buttons so that he had to hang up and try again twice.

He tapped his foot on the floor as he waited impatiently for someone to answer.

Jack stretched his hand out from under the blankets and reached over Shane's sleeping form for the phone. He wiped at his eyes groggily as he pulled the phone to his ear. " 'llo?"

"Jack. Please tell me she's there."

"Pacey?" Jack questioned with a yawn glancing at the clock on his bedside table. "What's going on?"

"Joey isn't here. She hasn't been here since eleven o'clock last night. Please, tell me she's there."

"No." Jack sat up quickly. "She left here around two in the morning and said she was going home."

"Well, She never came home." He said, he ran a nervous hand through his mussed hair. "God, Jack..."

Jack brought a hand to his forehead nervously. "Well she has to be somewhere. Are you sure she's not there?"

"I haven't slept, Jack. I'd have known if she came back. What if something happened to her?" He bit his lip, trying to think of places she might have gone. "You don't think she'd go back to Capeside, do you?"

"I don't know. She could have, I mean that's what she did before right? Have you tried calling Bessie?"

"No...I was hoping she was with you guys." He replied disheartedly. "Why does she always leave me?"

"I don't know what to tell you, 'cept try calling Bessie, see if she's there."

"I will."

"Let me know if you hear anything."

"Yeah, I'll call you." He paced through the kitchen.

"Okay, thanks and I'll let you know if I hear from her."

"Thanks Jack." He muttered, hangning up.

Joey sat up in her chair disgruntled; pushing off the coat, she had used a blanket. Sunlight streamed in through the half open blinds of her office window. She squinted and brought a hand to her neck, massaging the now tense muscles because she had slept wrong. She wiped her bleary eyes and yawned glancing up at the clock above her door. It was eight in the morning on a Sunday. She didn't have to worry about Lucy coming in and finding her.

She stood up with a stretch and frowned not very anxious to head home and see Pacey but she had no choice. She had to go back sometime. She sighed and sat back down in her chair running a hand through her hair before standing up and grabbing her coat. First, she'll get some breakfast and then she'd worry about the rest later.

Pacey jerked awake from his troubled slumber at the sound of the door slamming, he looked around disoriented trying to figure out why he was sleeping on the couch. Soon enough the memory of Joey running away caught up with him. Bessie hadn't been any help, he'd called back Jack and they hadn't heard anything new. He'd planned to go out looking for her after he sat down for a moment. A minute turned into a nap.

Joey took off her coat and tossed it over her arm as she headed to her bedroom, ignoring Pacey.

He sat up from the position he'd fallen asleep in and gave her back an incredulous look. After a second of shock he followed after her. "What are you doing here?" He blurted from the doorway to her bedroom.

"I was under the impression that I lived here." She walked over to her closet and pulled out a hanger, hanging up her coat.

"But you came back."

"Because I live here," Joey said annoyed as she closed her closet door.

He wiped the sleep from his eyes. "And that's the only reason?"

"Yes."

"Where were you last night?"

"Out."

"Out where Joey? You weren't with Jack and Shane and I tried Lucy and Bessie. The number of places you could have gone is pretty small." He frowned as thought came to him. "Y-you weren't with Dawson, were you?" He asked nervously.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Pacey. That's where I was. I was with Dawson."

"Well, what am I supposed to think? You dissapear for the entire night and no one you know knew where you were."

"Oh yeah, Pacey you got me. That's where I was with Dawson, getting my brains screwed out."

"Fine, okay, I deserve that." He frowned, forcing the unbidden image from his mind. "Then where were you?"

"Don't worry about it."

"I have to worry. I don't really get a choice." He replied.

"I was at the gallery," she said tightlipped walking over to her dresser and grabbing the brush before running it through her hair.

"Oh," he let out a deep breath.

She set the brush down after she ran it through her hair a few times. "So are we done here?"

"I wish we were." He folded his arms tiredly across his chest. "How long are you going to be mad about this?"

"I haven't decided."

"How do I make this better, Joey? What do you want me to say? You know I love you. You know I'm sorry. What am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know what to tell you."

"Why are you so mad?" He asked. "This is what I do for a living. You know that."

"You're right. I'm just overreacting. Let's just forget all about it." She smiled with clenched teeth.

"No, let's not. You're obviously upset. I just don't see why. Yes, she was a little over exhubrent. But that doesn't justify the extent of your anger."

Joey folded her arm over her chest and pointed to the door. "Get. Out."

"Oh, so is our fight today going to be exactly like the one last night?" He asked in frustration. "Or will there be some deivance?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Bite me."

"I don't think that'd be any fun for either of us." He muttered. "Can't we just fight about this and get it over with so we can move on instead of having you continually demand that I leave?"

"Oh and we're not fighting now?"

"No, we're not. We're...I don't know. But it certainly isn't fighting."

"So what do you want me to do? Do you want me to yell? Scream? Throw things? Would that be more to your liking?" She grabbed her brush and threw it against the wall. "Happy now?!"

"No, I want to know why you're so pissed at me."

"Pacey, if you don't know I'm not going to tell you."

"Are you upset that she turned me on? Is that it?"

Joey winced and turned her back to him, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Leave."

"That's it, huh?" He asked again, his voice softer.

She frowned and bit down on her lower lip, kept her back to him and said nothing. "Joey, I can't help that. It's a physical reaction. I would have had an erection if it was a guy touching me there. I'm not perfect, Joey. I can't be. Physical stimulation is gonna turn me on."

She pursed her lips together tightly. "Out."

"Don't you have anything else to say?" He asked. "Give me something. I can't fix this if you wont let me."

"You know what? Maybe this can't be fixed. Maybe you should just leave."

"I refuse to believe that. After everything we've been though, this isn't going to be what tears us apart." He said vehemently.

Her lower lip quivered a bit. "Please, leave."

"Why is this so hard, Joey?' He asked, "It didn't mean anything. I don't even like the woman."

"Leave."

"No."

"Please."

"Why? Do you just want to leave it like this?" he asked.

"I want to be alone to think."

"About what? How she was so much prettier than you? And how I don't want you?" He took a step toward her. "If you weren't six months pregant, believe me, I throw you onto the bed and *show you* how much I want you. And only you."

Joey’s eyes clouded slightly. “Please go.”

"I wont." He frowned, "I love you and I want you and I need you, Potter." He approached her slowly. "You are beautiful, more than any blond bimbo ever could be."

Her countenance faltered slightly. "Pacey…"

"What?" He asked quietly. "What we have, Jo, is so much more than just physical stimulation. We have passion and we have lust and we have love, how can you even compare that to something I do on a stage to earn money?" He moved tentativly closer to her.

A small frown creased her lips and she spoke softly. "You wanted her?"

"No." He said emphatically. "I want you. I have never in my life wanted to be a part of someone as much as I want to be with you."

She looked away. "Don't lie to me, Pacey."

"I'm not." He replied, sounding hurt. "I've got no reason to lie. I want you every minute of every day."

Her shoulders sagged visibly and she shut her eyes for a moment. "I need time to think."

"Why?" He moved closer, only a foot or so seperating them. "What do you need to think about? I'm going to want you when you're thin, when you're pregnant, when you're sick and when you're old and it takes us an hour just to hobble to the bedroom." He tilted his head slightly, and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "And I want you here and now, Potter."

Her brown eyes softened, her resolve weakening and she blinked back tears. "Please?" she pleaded quietly.

"Honey, I'm not walking out of this room again." He told her softly, "You are so beautiful and so desirable, Potter. And. I. Want. You." He told her slowly.

The corner of her mouth turned up slightly as she so desperately wanted to believe him and she gazed at him wordlessly.

"Do you know how beautiful carrying my child makes you?" He ran a hand down her arm soothingly. "I thought you were all out gorgeous before... but now, everytime I see you, Potter..." he moved closer to her, his lips hovering over her ear, "I want to make love to you."

Her mouth fell open as she took in a soft, unsteady breath of air and she closed her eyes trying to regain her senses. "Pacey?" she questioned almost inaudibly not even sure of what she asking for anymore.

He cupped her face in his hands, "I love you, Jo. And for the rest of my life, you're the only one I ever want to make love to." He traced her lower lip with his thumb, "She had to touch me to turn me on. Baby, you do with just a look or a smile... just existing."

She smiled faintly, her tongue darting out and licking her lips. Her eyes were wide, and shining, with unshed tears.

"May I kiss you now?" he whispered huskily.

She nodded slowly. “Please?”

He flashed her a smile before gently pressing his mouth to hers. She gasped as his lips slanted over hers, softly, he pried them apart, his tongue thrusting passed the barrier of her teeth. Her body betrayed her, weakening with each deep, wet thrust of his tongue. Her fists closed around handfuls of his shirt, pulling him as close as she could with the obstruction of their baby between them.

They broke a part after a long moment, and without taking her eyes from his, Joey began unbuttoning his shirt. Her fingers moving leisurely, deliberatly. He leaned forward, tracing her lower lip with the tip of his tongue, as her hands smoothed his shirt from his body. His mouth drifted from her lips to her ear, then softly drifted down the smooth line of her neck to feast on the warm flesh of her shoulder.

Her skin was smooth and warm where it met his questing lips. Like a big, hungry cat, he lapped at the fluttering pulsebeat in her throat, then he sent his tongue to swirl in the shell of her ear. He could feel the deep, wracking shudders of pleasure that shook her with each nuzzling caress.

"Pacey..."

"I love you, Potter. I'm going to show you just how much." He whispered huskily, leading her backwards to the bed.

She sat down on the edge, sighing as he knelt before her and pressed his lips to hers again. He stroked his hands along the fullness of her breasts, his thumbs passing over the pebble-hard buds of her nipples through the material of her t-shirt. She leaned into his touch and he retreated, moving his hands down her sides to pull her maternity shirt up over her head, dropping kisses over her neck and shoulders as he tossed it aside.

Heat welled up inside her as she passed her hands over his broad shoulders, raking her nails along his back as his mouth made a wet trail down her chest. He kissed the valley of her breasts, reaching around to unclasp her bra. Sliding the straps down her arms, he threw the materail over his shoulder, and cupped the fullness in his hands, gently massaging them.

His slow seduction was an intoxicant in her blood and she moaned, "Pacey, please..."

Meeting her request, he blew cool air across her distended nipples, then chastely kissed first one then the other. Her fingers threaded in his hair, pulling his mouth to her aching breasts, forcing the contact she desired. She gasped when he finally closed his lips around the bud, his tongue swirling as he suckled lightly, sending shimmers of pleasure to pool in her abdomen.

He repeated the process with the other breast until she could take no more and pulled him by the shoulders to stand before her. Smiling up at him, she trailed her hands down his chest, her fingernails following the thin line of hair that ran down his scuplted stomach to fan out where it met the waistband of his jeans. She felt a rush of pride and desire as his muscles tightened under her touch. Unfastening the belt around his waist, she pulled it through the loop holes.

Leaning forward, she placed hot, wet kisses on his stomach as her fingers worked to unfasten his pants. She pulled the lapels apart, and pushed his jeans and boxers to the floor. Without looking up at him, she ran her palm along his length, smiling when she heard a low moan pass through his lips. He was hers.

He was hard and smooth, and she felt a rush of wet heat between her legs at the thought of him buried deep within her. Licking her lips, she leaned forward and kissed his tip, her tongue snuck out to brush over his head, collecting the drops of liquid that had gathered there.

She felt him shudder and groan, and she smiled, tracing the head of his cock with the tip of her tongue. It pleased her to hear his breathing become ragged. She opened her mouth wider, taking him into her mouth, her agile tongue masaging the underside of him.

"Jo...baby..." he gasped, trying to hold himself from thrusting into the moist cavern of her mouth. She leaned back, letting him pull from her mouth with a quiet pop.

Stepping out of his clothes, he kicked his shoes aside and he pulled of his socks. He knelt at her feet and slid her shoe from her foot and removed her sock. Lifting his foot in her hand, he breathed against the bottom and placed a soft kiss in the arch. He repeated the process with the other foot, his tongue snaking out to teasingly sweep over the ticklish skin, sending jolts of pleasure to swirl in her belly.

He gave her a half smile when he looked up to see her watching him, the love her her eyes vivid. "You're beautiful," he murmured, "From the bottom of your feet to the ends of your hair."

"You're such a sweet talker," she said affectionaly as his fingers latched onto the the waistband of her black maternity slacks. She lay back and arched her hips off the bed to help him remove them.

He smiled to find she wasn't wearing any underwear, she'd refused to buy the size twelve undergarments she needed now that her stomach had expanded. To her disapointment, Pacey moved back down to her feet, slowly he kissed a trail along the calf of one leg to the back of her knee and up along her inner thigh, parting her legs gently as he went. Reaching the apex of her thigh, he retreated starting from her other foot, earning a groan of protest from Joey.

Finally, he reached the apex of her thighs, and ran his tongue along her slit, tasting her. She rotated her hips, trying to bring him in contact with her aching clit. Instead, he used his fingers to part her , and slowly explored the folds of her sex, going over territory he'd long since memorized. He moved his tongue to her opening and buried it as deeply in her as he could and then withdrew before plunging into her wetness again. She gasped and bent her legs, bracing them on the bed, so she could lift her hips against him.

Her limbs shook as the intesity of pleasure built within her, and Pacey smiled, flicking his tongue over her swollen clit. "Oh God!" She moaned bucking her hips up, but he was already moving up her body. Kissing his way tenderly over her stomach, he bathed her nipples with his tongue for a few moments before moving up along her neck.

Settling between her legs, he lifted his head to look in her eyes. They were both quiet for a moment, just watching each other, their faces bathed in warmth of the late morning light. Tenderly, he lowered his lips to hers for a soft kiss, and she moved her tongue into his mouth, tasting herself. She threaded her fingers through his hair as he poised himself at her entrance.

Tearing her mouth away from his, she stopped him with the look in her eyes. "Pacey...I-I want to be on top." She requested quietly.

He paused, momentarily stunned by the emotion in her eyes. Wordlessly, he gathered her in his arms, a movement slightly awkward with her pregnant belly and rolled them over. Her hot center was pressed into his abdomen and she placed her hands flat on his chest.

Pacey always expected to feel uncomfortable and vulnerable in this position. Now that he was in it, he could only stare up at her, awed by how beautiful she was, perched above him like she'd always belonged there. He smiled reasurringly at her and paused to carress her breasts as his hands moved down to her hips, gently urging them to lift.

Coming to her knees, she moved back feeling his hard length just below her entrance. Swallowing once, she looked anxiously at him, wondering if he was ready for her to break this last rule. He nodded his head slightly, desire for her swimming in his eyes.

He let out a loud gasp as she sheathed himself around him. The muscles of her vagina clamped around his length, as she slowly lowered herself on him. With ever inch she took in, he thought that was it, and then she moved again and he went even deeper than before. She settled a top him, and just reveled in the feeling of him reaching the very deepest part of her.

Unable to stand the anticipation of waiting any longer, she rocked her hips forward, sighing as the pleasure radiated throughout her. She could feel him throughout her entire body. He leaned up, bracing his hands behind him on the bed, he lifted his hips up to her, burying himself in her welcoming heat.

She leaned forward to kiss him deeply, aching to feel even closer to him. "God, you feel good, Pace." She whispered, continuing the even rocking of her hips. Each movement sent tingling shivers of pleasure to race up her spine.

"I love you, Jo," he murmured against her lips as she rode him slowly, each silken movement slowly stretched out their union. It was neither fast, nor passionate...it held something deeper. Pacey didn't want it to end, he'd have gladly spent the rest of his life just like that, riding the waves of their love.

Gradually, the need for release became oppressive. She braced herself on his strong shoulders, digging her nails into his flesh as she increased the rythmn of their strokes. Pacey thrust his hips upwards with increasing speed, holding back his orgasm to wait for her.

A bead of sweat ran down the side of his face, and the muscles in his neck and shoulders contracted. Joey lifted herself from him, almost completely, before encasing him one last time in her tight, wet tunnel, she leaned forward, crushing his lips to hers as her vision swam and she exploded. He caught her cry of release in his mouth, her muscles clamped spasmically around him sent him spiraling into his own orgasm, his seed spilling deep within her.

Sweaty and sated, Joey kissed him again, softly and slowly, reveling in the feeling of being totally and completely loved. Gently, Pacey broke there kiss and turned on his side, taking her with him so that they both lay back on the bed.

"Why, oh, why haven't we done that before?" He asked, his voice warm and husky.

She smiled, tracing the curve of his jaw with her index finger, "Because someone had these really stupid rules."

"God, you remember those?" He mumbled sexily, kissing her again as he pulled the blanket from the foot of the bed over them.

"That's not something you forget, Pace."

"I never should have told you...they've caused way too many problems." He shook his head ruefully, kissing the tip of her nose.

"Hmm hmm," She nodded, curling into his side, one arm wrapped protectivly around her naked stomach. She noticed the marks she left on his shoulders and ran her fingers tenderly over them. "Oh, honey, I'm sorry."

He smiled, "Don't apologize, they were well worth it. I didn't feel a thing." He kissed her temple.

"Really? Cause I thought it was amazing." She teased.

"Ha ha, I felt that...oh, boy, did I feel that. We are definatly doing that again."