Joey hesitated outside of Dawson's window, wondering for a moment if she should really go inside. She'd been bothering Dawson for three months straight, leaning on his strength after her mother died, and she was uncertain as to whether or not she should actually do so again. It took her a moment to realize that despite her hesitation she had already climbed inside the window, and was now standing in Dawson's room. *So much for that idea*, she thought wryly to herself.
"Joey?" Dawson said, stopping the VCR and hopping off the bed to look at her. "You okay?" Joey nodded her head, completely unaware that she had started crying. "I'm fine, Dawson," she told him softly, and unconvincingly. Dawson had his arms around her in moments, and Joey leaned against him, crying on his shoulder. "It just -- it hurts so much," she murmured against him. "It's okay, Jo, you're going to be okay." "How can I be okay, Dawson?" Joey asked, pushing away from him. "God, I -- I just miss her so much . . . " She wrapped her arms tightly around herself, fighting the urge to hold Dawson tightly to her and cry as she had done just moments before. "It's gonna take some time, Jo," Dawson replied. "It's been three months!" Joey shouted. "And it still hurts as much as it did the night she -- she -- " Joey was unable to finish her sentence and once again began to tremble. "Joey," Dawson whispered, somewhat shocked. Although Joey had climbed into his window quite often this was the first time she had said anything about the night her mother had died, and Dawson was somewhat shaken by the pain he heard in her voice. He would have done anytihng in his power to make that pain less for her, anything at all. "I -- I'm sorry, Dawson," Joey replied quietly. "It just . . . it hurts . . . " Once again the tears began leaking from her eyes, and she hugged herself tighter, trying to make herself stop, trying to push the emotions away. "Ssshh," Dawson murmured, wrapping her once again in his own arms and hugging her tightly. Before Joey knew what she was doing she was returning his embrace. "It'll be okay, I promise you." Joey sighed and rubbed her eyes, fighting the tears with everything she had. "I hope you're right, Dawson." "I'm always right," Dawson replied with a grin, pushing her away and touching her cheek with his hand. "You want to watch a movie or something?" "Dawson -- " "It might help get your mind off of her," Dawson said, interrupting his friend. "And besides, I hate watching movies alone." Joey sighed once more, and then nodded. "Sure," she muttered. "What do you want to watch? And don't you dare say E.T." Dawson laughed. "Okay, I won't say it, I'll just rewind it." Joey rolled her eyes and jumped into his bed, Dawson only a few steps behind her, and they began to watch the movie. Within moments Joey was sound asleep and Dawson gently wrapped his arms around her once more before continuing to watch, not wanting to wake her. The movie ended, and Dawson sighed, knowing he was going to have to awake Joey so she could get home before her sister started to worry. "Joey?" he muttered to her softly. "Come on, wake up, Joey," he repeated. Joey moaned and rubbed her eyes. "Just a few more minutes, Mom," she muttered, and then sat up in bed abruptly, beginning to shake once more. Dawson wrapped his arms around her yet another time that night, and she pulled away, getting out of the bed quickly. "You okay?" Dawson asked, watching her nervously. She nodded. "Yeah, it's just . . . for the first time in three months I forgot, for just a moment, that she . . . that she was gone," Joey whispered. Dawson followed her out of the bed and hugged her, resting his chin on her hair. "It's okay," he said, catching a tear that had fallen from her eye with his index finger and gently licking the liquid off it. "And you know if you ever need me, I'm right here." Joey sniffed and pulled away from his embrace, instead leaning against him, but supporting herself. "I know, Dawson," she replied. "Believe me, I know. And -- and I want to thank you, too. I mean, these past few months you've always been here for me, and -- " she hiccoped on a sob and wrapped one arm around his waist. "Like I said, Joey, you need me, ever, and I'll be here for you." Joey sighed, looking up at him, and it was in that moment that she began to fall in love. **** THE END© 1997 Erana Zeitler