"Forever Young: Part II"
by
emily~ruth
Dawson pulled away from Joey and smiled. All his words escaped him,
and all he could do was laugh. "Joey Potter! I mean, Joey Crawford! I
can't believe it's you!" She looked incredible. She looked just like
she did when she was eighteen. She looked like she a few years on her,
but not as much as eleven! He thought.
"Actually, Dawson, it's Joey Potter. Me and Anderson divorced last
month." Joey happily played with Casey's hair. He looks great! I
guess the years of fame has treated him well. Joey thought as she
glanced at his khakis and forest green polo shirt.
"Oh...sorry Jo....." Dawson sincerly meant all of what he was
saying, but he couldn't help this enourmous wave of happiness that ran
through his body.
"Don't be...I'm fine. We were separeated for seven months, it just
wasn't meant to be....I guess I always knew that." She smiled.
Dawson, for the first time, noticed the two toddlers that were
staring at him in Joey's cart. "Wow, Jo. Are these your kids?" He looked
amazingly at the two children. The little girl was the spinning image of
her mother when she was little, and the small boy was a mixture of his
parents, so he guessed. He had brown hair and brown eyes, and the same
smile as his mother's, but everything else seemed strange to him.
"Yah, these are my two twins. This is David..."she hesitated, then
thought she was being ridiculous, "..Dawson Crawford. And this is Casey
Gail Crawford." She affectioningly flattened David's hair, which had
started to stick up a bit.
"Wow, Joey, they're....they're....amazing." Dawson couldn't help
but stare at the two children. "Is Anderson...I mean, if I may be so
audacious, do you 'share' them with Anderson?"
Joey laughed at his choice of words, "No, I have full custody of
them. Anderson is just too busy with his job, we just thought it was in
the children's best interest if they stayed with me, and just let them
slowly forget about their dad. You know, kinda like, he was just a
dream?" Joey whispered low enough so the children couldn't hear, but
loud enough so Dawson could understand.
Dawson felt a pang in his heart as he saw the hurt in Joey's eyes.
He doubted that it was because of her divorce, but more so because her
children wouldn't grow up with their father.
"Well, how long are you visting for?" Dawson asked.
"Actually, I moved here, just last night. I'm staying with Bessie
right now, but I'm planning to find a home of our own. How about you,
Mr. Director?" She stressed the last part.
Dawson smiled, "Well, I'm on a break from the big lights of
Hollywood. Actually, coincidentally, I just moved back here last night
too. My parents bought me a house not far from the ruins. 2020 Bush
Lane? It's a new development, it's nice. The house is huge though. Too
big for just me, but I guess that's what you get when you give your
parents a blank check, and ask them to buy something for you!" He
smiled, he couldn't believe his luck. He felt like he was being given a
whole other chance with Joey.
Joey's laugh woke him from his thoughts. She smiled at him,
thinking the exact same thing. Just then, Casey started to whine.
"Momm-eeeeyyyyy!!!!!! I want to go home! Mommy, please?" Joey
turned around and saw David fast asleep, and Casey looking irritable.
She picked up Casey in her arms, and started to cradle her. Casey soon
calmed down and fell asleep in her mother's arms.
"Well, I guess, you better be going...." Dawson smiled admiringly.
Although, not wanting her to leave.
Joey looked at her watch and her eyes bugged out. It was all ready
11:45! She had been standing in the isle, talking to Dawson for almost
an hour! She wasn't even near finishing grocery shopping, but she knew
she had to get the kids back for lunch, and then they have to have a
nap. UGH!!!
Dawson noticed the stressed look on her face, "What's wrong,
Jo?"
"Nothing really....just that....I'm not near finished
shopping, and I have to get the kids back for lunch, and then they have
to have a nap....and they CAN' T go without a nap...trust me, they get
very irritable without a nap...and I still have to unpack the kid's
stuff from the boxes, not to mention my stuff! There is just not
enough time in the day!" She said flustered.
"Jo, don't worry about it. I have to shop anyway, I'll finish your
list and my shopping, then I'll drop by Bessie's house and drop off your
stuff. Sound good?"
Joey smiled greatfully, "Thanks Dawson, you're a life saver!" She
hugged him with one arm and kissed him on the cheek. "Do you need the
address?" He nodded as he took a piece of paper and a pen out of his
pocket. "The address is 1454 Thicket Court. It's just a three blocks
away from here. It shouldn't be hard to find. It has a big banner that
says, ' Welcome Home Aunt Joey, David, and Casey'."
"Kay. Sure thing. I'll be there this afternoon..I still have to
stop by my parent's house. Unless that's a problem, i can...."
"No, no problem. Thanks again Dawson." Joey picked David up with
her free arm, and walked out of the store.
"My pleasure, Jo."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Dawson finished his grocery shopping he took the short drive
to his parent's house. He pulled into the driveway and honked the horn
twice. He saw the front door open and his parents walk out happily.
"DAWSON! I'm glad you could grace us with your presence! We
expected you a little bit earlier though." Gail Leery hugged her
son.
"Sorry, I had to go grocery shopping. You'll never guess who I ran
into there!" Dawson said as he hugged his father.
"Who?" Gail and Mitch asked simultaneously.
"Joey!"
"REALLY?!?!?!?! How's Anderson? We went to the wedding, she was
very hurt that you didn't come. Wait! What is she doing in Capeside?"
Gail asked as she lead her son into the house.
Ignoring the wedding part, Dawson answered, "Actually, she and
Anderson divorced last month. She moved back here! Oh! And you HAVE to
see her two children! They look just like her!"
"Yah, we know, she sends us pictures every year." Mitch commented.
He didn't seem the slightest bit fazed that she and Anderson split up,
he had always expected it.
"Well, I'm sorry that I have to come and go so quickly, but i have
to bring these groceries to Bessie's house." Dawson hugged his mom and
headed for the door.
"Why are you delivering groceries to Bessie's house?" Gail
asked.
"Long story! But I'll be back tomorrow!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joey changed into a light blue sundress, and took her hair down.
She started brushing it while thinking. I can't believe Dawson's
here! Of all the people to run into, I run into DAWSON!!! Talk about
God's little favors! He should be here any minute. I think I unpacked
everything in record time! She pulled two small sections of her hair
into two different parts, and fastened each one with a butterfly clips.
She wanted to look her best when Dawson came.
Just then, the doorbell downstairs rang. She got up from her vanity
seat, and headed out the door, giving herself one last glance before she
left.
"Coming!" she yelled as she went down the stairs.
Dawson heard Joey's voice through the door, and took a deep breath.
The door opened and there Joey stood, as beautiful as ever. He almost
dropped the four bags in his arms.
"Oh, gosh Dawson! Let me help you with that!" Joey scooped up two
bags and headed to the kitchen, motioning for him to follow. "Thank you
so much for doing this!"
Dawson smiled, "Any way to see you again."
Joey blushed as she placed her bags down, as Dawson did as well.
She started to unload the numerous things around the enormous kitchen.
Dawson tried to help, but found himself lost in a maze of numerous
cupboards, and drawers, and pantries. So he gave up and sat on a stool.
Just as he sat down, Bessie walked in.
"Hey Dawson! Long time no see! How's the big life treating you?"
She laughed as she hugged him.
He laughed too. "Pretty good, but I need a break from it. But I
mean, look at you guys! I heard Chez Bessie is one classy
restaurant!" Dawson said as she let go of him.
"Well, what can I say? We try. But sometimes I miss the old days of
the S.S. Icehouse." Bessie sat on a stool next to him. "Hey, why don't
you stay for dinner? Bodie is cooking Joey and the kids a welcome home
dinner. I would love for you to stay seeing as how it's your welcome
home too. Joey told me about '2020 Bush Lane' you did pretty well for
yourself kid."
Dawson laughed, then looked at Joey, who looked so incredibly
beautiful, he couldn't resist, "Sure".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Two hours later)
Bodie, Bessie, Alex, Meme, Joey, Dawson, David, and Casey were
seated around the huge dining room table, with David and Casey on
high-chairs. Laughter filled the room, as well as chatter and smiles.
Joey was feeding Casey, occasionally putting some food into her own
mouth. Bessie was feeding David, who had gobbled up all of his food
already. Dawson couldn't help but stare as Joey lovingly fed her
daughter. She did it with such love and gentleness.
After two hours of eating, Casey and David were put to bed, and
Alex and Meme had retired to the TV room. The adults were drinking
coffee, and talking.
"So, Joey. Have you heard from Pacey or Jen lately?" Dawson asked
as he took a sip of coffee.
"I talked to Jen a day before we left. She sounds uncontainably
happy. I haven't spoken to Pacey in almost a month! But I hear he's
doing well as head of a police force in North Dakota." Joey smiled as he
pictured Pacey in uniform.
"Head of a police force?!?!?!?! Wow, that would be the last thing i
would expect him to be!"
"Yah...i feel sorry for the people in North Dakota...I mean, having
Pacey protect you from the bad guys, isn't quite a reassuring thought."
A buzz of laughter floated in the room.
"So what do you do?" Dawson asked, keeping all his attention on
Joey.
"I taught a little bit before Casey and David were born, but there
was no real need to. Anderson made enough money to support us, so I
guess I'm just a full time mother! When the kids get older, I want to go
back to teaching. I love it.....So, what was the last thing you worked
on?"
"It's a romance movie...It's about high school sweethearts that
meet up again after ten years. They fall in love again, but not before
experiencing a number of trials getting in the way of their
relationship. It's really good, it's stars a pair of new stars, Janey
Parker, and James Collins...two of the most talented actors I have ever
met." Dawson finished. Joey had become so engrossed in what he was
saying. Her body language was completely towards him. She rested her
head on the back of her right hand and her eyes bore into his eyes.
There was silence as Bodie and Bessie exchanged knowing glances.
"Well, we better clean up...Joey, why don't you and Dawson take a walk
on the beach? We'll watch the kids, don't worry! You haven't seen each
other in eleven years, I'm sure you guys have so much to talk about."
Bessie said as she started to clear off the table.
"Sure, shall we?" Joey asked as she got up.
Dawson extended his arm for her, "We shall".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Ten mintes later on the Beach)
Dawson and Joey were walking on the beach, Dawson's arm around
her shoulder. There was a soft breeze as the moon shone on the water.
They had walked in complete silence, when they were supposed to be
"catching up".
Dawson thought back to their senior prom eleven years ago. Joey
was dressed in the most beautiful light blue dresss he had ever seen,
and he had a black tux on. Together they looked perfect, but then again,
they always looked perfect when they were together. They had the best
time at that prom...everything just seemed so right. It was held at the
yacht club, the very same place Dawson realized he loved Joey, and they
had danced the whole night.
"Joey, how would you like to dance?" Dawson heard himself ask.
"I'd love to." Dawson held her in his arms as he slowly spun her
around. "Dawson, I missed you so much."
"I missed you too Joey. To tell you the truth, after we had broken
up before college, I had always wanted to get back together with you.
But my schedule never let me leave California, unless it was for a
movie....i always regretted not being able to have you again, ever since
you called me and told me you were getting married." Dawson stopped and
let what he had said seep in.
Joey was so peaceful and warm in his arms..and what he just said
made her absolutely elated. She hugged her arms around his neck and
whispered into his ear, "I love you."
His arms dropped to her waist, "I love you too." He lifted her mouth
to his and kissed her lips lightly.
She hugged him tighter, and whispered, "I feel young again....like
we are back at senior prom, and none of these eleven years ever
happened."
He smiled, "You know what they say, no matter how old you get,
you're forever young in your heart."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well that's the end of "Forever Young: Part II" Stay tuned for Nombre
Trois! Au revoir!
I LOVE feedback!!!!! emme706@aol.com
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