Chapter Text
“Ok we are almost there,” Pacey said, drumming the wheels of the car nervously. A hand lays over his, and he sends a quick grin of thanks in her direction.
“So what’s the game plan?” He tries again.
“Go see Alex!” J.W. squeals, bouncing in his seat in excitement.
“Go see Jack!” his partner says, smirking.
“Bbabbbabaabaaaa!” the baby squeals and the car breaks into chuckles as if she was sharing the conversation.
“Ok, Bbabbbabaabaaaa” first, then Jack, then Alex since we are staying at the BnB. “ Pacey said, cutting off J.W. mid groan and turning it into a yay.
“Great save, Dad” Jen said, patting his shoulder in sympathy.
“Thanks.” Pacey let out a deep breath and his knuckles tightened on the steering wheel.
“Nervous?” Jen said softly.
“Yea,” Pacey admitted. “I mean, it’s the first time we will see everybody in what, 6 years?”
What do you mean “we?” Jen raised her brow.
Pacey chuckled. “Fair. So it’s the first time “I” will see everyone since the last time I saw everyone.”
“You mean, right before “The thanksgiving that never was?” Jen said saucily.
“Ho ho Lindley! No fair! You know why I couldn’t make it.” Pacey said
“I do now, but at the time, I just thought it was just another flaky Pacey moment. “ Jen said
“I haven’t been flaky Pacey in a long time” Pacey defended.
“No, you haven’t,” Jen said, seriously.
“Mamanana!”
“See, Amy agrees!” Jen said looking back at her daughter, clapping and squealing as J.W made her baby giraffe dance in the air.
Jen’s smile slid off her face as she turned to face Pacey once again.
“Are you ready to see her again?” Jen said softly.
“No, but Bessie said she’s agreed to be cordial for Gail’s sake.” Pacey sighed. “It should be enough.”
“I hope it’s enough.” He muttered as they sped past the “Welcome to Capeside” banner.
----------PJo--------------Pjo----------
Capeside. Joey felt her stomach tighten as she drove past the Capeside marker. Her reluctance to come back overshadowed by her loyalty to the woman who had been like a second mother to her most of her life.
It would be the first time seeing him again in almost 7 years. As much as she tried to erase their last encounter, it replayed over and over in her mind over the years, her brain recreating the years in between as if they had never been apart.
It probably would have been longer if Bessie hadn’t been the voice of reason. “Its been years Jo. You cant expect to avoid him forever.”
She pulled up to the BnB and parked, taking a deep breath before getting out of the car. Her gaze, as always, swept over the creek, only to be interrupted by a hammock stand blocking the view. It swayed gently in the breeze, aided by the weight of the man laying in the hammock, his arms resting loosely around the lanky boy sprawled across his chest.
“Papi, dime un cuento.” Joey’s heart squoze painfully at the sound of the little one’s voice- one she’d never heard in reality, only in her dreams of what could have been.
“A story huh?” Pacey muttered. “Well, lets see. You see that dock right there? Right there is where your mom and I ate smore’s in the winter and swam in the summer.”
“Como amigos?” J.W. questioned, propping his head up on his arms to grin into Pacey’s face.
“Yes, we were friends back then.” Pacey agreed stroking the back of J.W’s head as he grinned back.
“They are so cute together” Joey spun in surprise, not hearing Jen walking up behind her in her efforts to eavesdrop on Pacey’s conversation.
“Too bad you chose to walk away from it all” Jen said coldly, before walking with Amy down to join the boys, pressing a kiss to first Pacey, then J.W.’s forehead before passing Amy to Pacey and heading around the back of the house. Amy squealed in delight as J.W. made room on Pacey’s chest, wrapping his arms around Amy as his father did the same.
Joey turned from the sight, the ache in her chest becoming a stabbing pain. She always knew he’d be a great dad, the proof in front of her too much to bear.
But Jen was right, she was the one who sent him away, and there was no going back.