The next morning Joey awoke and turned over to see that Pacey had gone and on his pillow he had left a lily. She took it and smelled it, smiling. He was so spontaneous, always surprising her. She still could feel like she was that same girl who had ran to him to set sail for the summer all those years ago when she was with Pacey. She was reminded of the girl who knew without a doubt that she loved him fearlessly that night when they had first had sex. Pacey was somehow able to reawaken the young Joey Potter who at some times seemed to have faded for good. He still made her feel alive. Like the way his arm against hers had felt at Dawson’s aunt’s house during spring break in senior year. He still had that power over her, and that’s why she loved him endlessly. She climbed out of bed and pulled on a hoodie and slipped on the slippers she still wore from that night in K-Mart. She went out into the kitchen, where Bodie was serving breakfast to the guests at the B&B.

“Good morning Joey!” Bessie smiled, as she washed dishes at the sink.

“Morning.” Joey smiled, holding the lily.

“Oh! Where did you get that?” Alexander asked pointing at the flower.

“Pacey left it for me this morning. I guess he went out.” She smiled, as Bessie took it and put it in a vase, smiling secretively.

Joey looked at the table to greet the guests and her jaw dropped.

“Omigod! Andie!” She shrieked, as Andie laughed. She had been sitting at the table all morning eating breakfast, waiting for Joey to notice her. She got up and hugged her tightly.

“Joey! I missed you!” She took Joey’s hands and led her to the chair next to her.

“Wow, what are you doing here?” Joey asked, unable to contain her excitement.

“Well, there’s sort of two reasons. One is that I’m moving back here in the fall. Back to Capeside!” She grinned broadly.

“What? Why! Are you going to be working at the hospital here?” Joey stuttered, unable to process the fact that her old friend was sitting in front of her.

“I have no choice. I can’t go on missing Capeside like I have for the past year. I think it’s just time for me to return. And Jack is here, and I mean him and Doug are great with Amy but I want to be there too. Jen deserves everyone’s involvement. It doesn’t seem right for me to be in Europe when my brother is here raising a family.” Andie explained brightly.

“Wow. You’re right, I’m just so glad you’re back. And what’s the second reason?” She asked.

“That. That is a secret.” Andie smiled suspiciously, and went back to eating her breakfast, leaving Joey puzzled.

Just then, Pacey entered the kitchen, and Joey stood up to greet him with a hug, and a kiss.

“What was that for?” He asked.

“I just wanted to say thank you for the flower. And for being you.” She laughed.

“Well Miss Potter, I think you may have just officially become the cheesiest girl in the world.” He laughed.

“But you love me!” She smacked her lips excitedy.

He shrugged, “You bug me.”

She pretended to look appalled, as they went to the table and sat down with Andie.

“Can you believe she’s here?” Joey said in disbelief to Pacey.

“We actually already reunited this morning when I woke up, Jo. Not all of us sleep in until mid-day.” He joked.

“It’s only 10:30!” She argued, and he rolled his eyes.

“I can’t believe Jack didn’t mention that you were coming.” Joey said.

“He knew to keep it a surprise. Him and Pacey were the only ones who knew.” Andie explained.

“You knew?!” Joey said, in shock.

“All part of the secret surprise.” He said secretively.

“Okay, guys. What’s going on?” She insisted.

“Nothing. Nothing at all. Now, go get dressed, we’re all going to see Amy at Jack’s.” Pacey kissed her quickly on the cheek, and she got up.

By noon hour, Dawson, Jack, Andie, Pacey, and Joey had all assembled in Jack and Doug’s living room.

“Where’s Taylor?” Joey asked pointedly, to Dawson.

“Back at my house. She’s helping Lily get ready for a birthday party. Alexander’s going too I guess.” Dawson explained.

Joey quietly muttered something about how she could of helped Lily if someone would o just asked, as Doug brought Amy into the room. He held her hands, as she stepped cautiously.

Immediately the room was full of oohs and aahs as the old friends played with their old friends daughter. For several hours, the group enjoyed one another’s company as they laughed along with the toddler.

“She’s really beautiful.” Andie sighed, and everyone agreed.

“She definitely has Jen’s eyes.” Joey commented.

“It’s like you’re looking into Jen’s.” Jack agreed.

They all sat quietly for a minute, and watched her. They were all feeling the same thing. The sadness and hollowness that Jen had left behind when she died. It had been a year, but it had been hard to heal alone. Joey and Pacey had left for New York, and they had just seemed to leave Capeside and all the troubles and memories of the past behind without ever really dealing with them. Dawson had chased his dreams in Hollywood, where no one knew Jen – they just knew her character from the show – and when he was there it was like he could pretend she was still alive. Andie had returned to Europe and lost herself in her last year of her studies. The only one who had really dealt with the loss was Jack, who was undoubtedly also the one with the most responsibility. It didn’t seem fair, and they all knew it.

“I’ve been thinking.” Dawson said.

“About what?” Pacey asked.

“Well. I think it’s time for me to come home. I have enough support at the studio for them to carry it on there. I could still write here, and fly out for the occasional conference. But I think it’s time for me to return to Capeside. I think it’s almost time for my next project.” He said, thoughtfully.

“I think that’s a great idea.” Joey hugged him, and was reminded of how he had always been so representative of her childhood and Capeside, and somehow it gave her peace of mind to know he’d be back there where she had spent so many of her days with him growing up.

“I’m coming back! I’m officially starting employment at the Capeside Memorial Hospital on September the 14th.” Andie announced, gleefully.

“Andie, that’s great! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” Jack stood up and hugged his sister excitedly.

“I guess we’re all going to be back!” Dawson said, a hint of hopefulness in his voice.

“Except us.” Joey said, somewhat sadly.

“Well, you guys will be visiting a lot more. You have no choice. I can’t live in this town with just a bunch of boys, Amy and Lily are my only allies!” Andie shuddered.

“Oh please, Bess would love to see you, you can always visit her. And I’m sure Gail would love to have you come by too.” Joey rolled her eyes.

The group laughed, and continued to catch up until later in the evening, around supper when Pacey asked Joey if she was ready to go. She agreed, and he took her down to the docks.

“This is my new boat.” He said, pointing at one sitting in the marina.

“What?” She said, looking at him, confused.

“It’s my new boat. I’ve always missed True Love. And I finally got this one. And I was hoping you would help me christen it.” He held out his hand to her as he boarded the boat.

“Permission to come aboard?” She teased.

“Permission granted.” He smiled, as he helped her on.

“What’s her name?” She asked.

“Take a look for yourself.” He said.

She looked to see.

“Second chance.” She whispered.

“I suppose you think it’s cheesy.” He said, modestly.

“No, no it’s perfect.” She smiled, leaning in wrapping her arms around him and kissed him.

“I’m not sure I ever really told you how thankful I am. How happy you’ve made me. How much I appreciate you. For giving me a second chance at true love” He said, between kisses.

“You’re the only one who ever deserved a second chance. You’re the only one who ever gave me true love. You’re my one and only, Pacey Witter.” She looked into his eyes.

“How do you do that?” He asked.

“Do what?” She whispered.

“Make me fall more in love you every second of every day. You would think after ten years I’d be immune to your charms, but I swear that I’m just getting more and more caught up in you every minute.” He answered.

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” She laughed softly.

“I love you Joey Potter.” He kissed her, meaningfully.

“I love you too.” She smiled, holding him tightly.

“Joey, I know it’s hard for us to take a summer with work and everything, but do you think, do you think we could – “ He began, and she put her finger to his mouth.

“I once told you that you wouldn’t have to ask. And you still don’t. Let’s set sail.” She smiled.

“Right now?” He asked.

“Right now. And I don’t want to return to the Cape for at least a good three weeks, so you better have meant what you just said, cause you’re stuck with me for awhile yet.” She replied, sitting down on the side of the deck, as they set off, ready to relive the time they had spent when they were seventeen. For the next few weeks they were going to be that age again. They were going to remember how everything felt nearly a decade ago. And they were going to be together, just as they had always been meant to be.