Being an Angel Is Always Simple, Not Being an Angel Is What Can Get Complex
Angels Will Take Care of Us Part Three by: Vlada

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Joey walked down the hall to the exit. She couldn't wait to get home and sit down. She'd felt awful all day and the sight of food caused a nauseous feeling to overcome her everytime. Her doctor's appointment was tomorrow so she figured she'd just wait till then. There was no point in going today, she told herself constantly, but she couldn't help feeling that something was wrong. It was a strong feeling that caused an acute pain in her stomach. Every class seemed like an eternity. All she wanted was to see Dawson. Things had been a little awkward at first and still were sometimes, but they had managed to regain a sense of belonging and togetherness even if was just the beginnings of them putting back together what they had.

Yet, as much as she still felt for him, she hadn't told him about Lilly. She had managed to convince herself that keeping it to herself was the right thing to do. A couple of giggling girls walked by her and nearly knocked her down to check out the guy walking besides her. Please save me, she thought. She spotted Pacey and quickened her pace.

"Pacey, where's Dawson?" she asked worriedly finally catching up to him. "You're supposed to walk him."

"Slow down, Potter. Take a moment and breathe the populated air," he said inhaling and then exhaling.

"I'm serious, Pace," she said not cracking a smile. "I thought I could depend on you."

"Don't worry. Jen wanted to help out so she's walking him today."

"Oh," she said feeling guilty for giving Pacey the third degree. They continued to walk down the hall in silence. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have burst out at you like that."

"If friends aren't good for bickering, then what's the point of you?" he said smiling at her. "All's forgiven. You know, you don't look so good."

"Oh thanks, you're so kind," she replied sarcastically.

"Seriously, are feeling okay?" He looked down at her concerned. Her face was pale and she looked like she was going to break. He put his hand to her forehead. "No fever."

"Thanks for the check up, Dr. Dolittle. Anyway, I'm fine. It's probably just the flu," she replied trying to change the subject as they turned down the hall. "So how's it going with the morning routine?"

"It's hard and weird, you know? Having to walk him to class and remind him of his locker combo. I love the guy and all, but I'm glad Jen's helping out now. I don't think I could do it all myself."

"It means a lot to me, Pace, that you're taking charge and relieving me of having to deal with the painful stuff. Yesterday he asked me which notebook was his history one. I couldn't do it; I walked and told him to ask you when you came. This is the person I've known all my life and now he doesn't even know which notebook is which. I couldn't even face him."

"It's gonna get better," he said trying to reassure her.

"I hope so. So, let's change the subject to something cheerier," she said taking off her coat. "Is it just me is it hot in here?"

"It's just you. Hey don't look now, but I think you're giving those freshman a free show," he said pointing to a group of gawking freshman boys.

"Not even in their dreams," she said falling.

"Wow, there," Pacey said grabbing her as she fell to the ground. "You okay? You're starting to scare me."

"I'm fine, Pacey! I must have just tripped over my shoelace or something."

"Your shoelace isn't un…" But he never had time to finish his sentence. Joey fell to the floor and Pacey quickly fell to his knees and caught her head before it hit the ground. "Jo? Joey, wake up!"

She didn't respond. A group of on lookers had formed. People started whispering and pointing. If your gonna stand there like you have nothing better to do, then you could at least get help, Pacey thought. Pacey looked down at the unconscious Joey in his hands. He felt his blood rush and his mind wander in every which way. How did this happen, he asked himself, she was perfectly fine yesterday. But that was yesterday, and this is today and so much can happen in twenty-four hours.

Henry walked down the hall when he noticed a large group of student standing in a circle around someone.

"A fight!" he said excitedly, to no one. He jogged up to the group and made his way through until a senior blocked him. "What's going on?"

"She fainted or something," someone yelled out.

"Henry!" Pacey called at the sound of his voice. Henry made his way through the crowd to a Pacey kneeling. "The nurse is usually gone by now, damn. Call 911 and see if you can find Dawson or Jen. Tell them something is wrong with Joey."

"Got it," he said running off.

"Joey, please," he begged, "wake up."

Dawson opened the door and let Jen in. The sight before their eyes was a gruesome one. It reminded Jen of that day in the hospital when they found out Dawson had gotten into an accident and was in a coma.

All the same people gathered together in a room with mournful looks on their faces. Like there's no tomorrow, Jen thought ironically, but the sun will come out tomorrow. It has too. Andie will smile and the sun will come out. Jack will want to stay up all night with her and the sun will come up. She missed these things since Dawson's accident. Nobody wanted to move on and do the things that once made Jen's day light up. And Pacey, he'll make a wisecrack, and…wait, she thought surveying the room. Andie was seated in the big armchair fidgeting with her nails. Jack stood leaning against the back of the coach looking down at the ground. Neither crying, no one was crying.

It was like they had willed themselves not to anymore or they just didn't have it in them after the last crisis. Gail, sitting by the phone staring at it like it was going to ring any minute, looked on the verge of tears, but they didn't come. Mitch sat besides her on the sofa trying to be strong as a rock. You fool no one, she thought. And then there was Bessie with little Alex seated on the floor by her feet. He looked at all the people around him with big blue eyes. A poor, little, harmless child caught in the middle of one tragedy after another with no idea what was going on around him. Wait, Jen thought alarmed, Joey and Pacey were missing. She looked at Dawson besides her. He was starring at everyone with big blue eyes as if he were as new to the world as Alex was. He looked down at her and met her gaze. His face was of astonishment and bewilderment while Jen looked more concerned.

"You guys are freaking me out," Jen said. "What's going on? Where's Pacey and Joey?"

"Pacey called me from the hospital and told me to get everyone together here," Jack replied quietly. He seemed to be the only one who could muster up the strength to talk.

"What do you mean he called from the hospital?" Dawson asked worried.

"Joey fainted after school as they were walking home. He took her to the hospital."

"Oh god, is she okay?" Dawson questioned.

"Pacey said she sleeping right now, but the outcome looks good. They can't let her go though until she wakes up and the doctor takes a look at her," Jack continued solemn faced, "Pacey said they should discharge her soon so there's no point in going over there."

"Bessie, Mitch," Gail said signaling to the door. Bessie picked up Alex and the three adults went into the kitchen.

"I don't get it," Jen said once the grownups were gone as little tears slide down her cheeks. "Why does this keep happening to us?"

"I don't know," Jack said coming over to her and hugging her. "Maybe it's because we've all grown together in the last two years. We've developed closeness and have maybe even surpassed the Peach Pit. Now we're being tested on our true strength and friendship. But you know what, we're passing."

"It's my fault," Dawson stated quietly.

"What?" Andie spoke for the first time.

"If it wasn't for the problems and pressure my accident caused this probably would have never happen. She probably ultimately fainted of stress," he answered.

"You can't ever blame yourself," Andie responded. "What do you think my life would be like if I blamed myself for everything's that happened to Jack and me? If I blamed myself for our dad leaving, my mother's emotional instability, my problems, and the ones Jack has to deal with too? Stress isn't caused by having a person you love be by your side."

Jack, still hugging Jen, opened his arms. Andie slowly walked over and joined them. As Jen stopped crying, Andie just started. Dawson watched not sure what to do. Jack looked at him with his arms extended outward.

"Come on, Dawson. You choose to love your friends," Jack said wisely. Dawson approached him carefully like Jack were a stranger with candy.

Finally reaching them, he took a deep breath and let it all out. Sobs started running down his cheeks. Jen wrapped one arm around one side as Jack warped his around the other with Andie in the middle.

"We need to do this group therapy thing more often," Jen said. A faint laugh could be hard from her friends. "You could be the therapist, Jack. You choose to love your friends," she said mocking his words.

"How beautiful, I think that alone made Dawson cry." The four friends broke out into laughter.

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Pacey watched as Joey's eye's fluttered open. It had been too long. He loved Andie very much even though they weren't together, but he could tell what had made Dawson fall in love with Joey. She was beautiful, funny, and smart, he admitted. At one point he even tried to kiss her, but now friendship was all he wanted from her. That and an explanation.

"Welcome back among the living," he said.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"You don't remember," he continued, "fainting in the hall?"

"Oh yeah, that's right,' Joey responded. "So, can I go home now?"

"Wow there, first the doctor has to check you and I want to know when will I be an uncle," he said calmly.

"What?!" she asked surprised, startled, and scared all at the same time.

"You heard me. How long were you going to wait, Jo, before telling us? As far as I know, no one knows, not even Dawson. Were you thinking labor time?"

"How did you find out?"

"Doctor came in and said the baby's fine then asked me if I was the father. I'm honored really, Joey, but us sleeping together doesn't seem to be too monumental for me."

"Pacey, you can't tell anyone. Promise me," she pleaded. Her eyes were desperate.

"I won't." Her face relaxed and she breathed deep. "You will. Dawson deserves to know. And don't even think about saying no, I won't hear it."

"Yes, sir," Joey said saluting him. "I'm scared. What if he doesn't want a baby or he thinks that's moving too fast for two people just starting to rebuild a relationship, especially when one partner doesn't even remember the old one."

"This is Dawson. He'd always be there for you and love you no matter what. Sure he may freak at first, heck it's expected when your girlfriend tells you she's pregnant and you don't even remember making the baby."

"He used to remember," she said remembering that day and the look on Dawson's face. "He was so happy, Pacey. He wanted to raise the baby as a family and get married. And me? Well, it was my worst nightmare. I thought now I'd never do anything with my life now. I'd never get out of Capeside and eventually turn into my sister. We argued and yelled. I felt like I was walking around with a dark cloud over my head, until one day I almost miscarried from all the arguing." Tears ran down her cheeks as Pacey reached for a tissue. He handed it to her and kissed her on the forehead.

"I almost lost the baby, Pacey. That's when I realized how much I really wanted it. How much I needed it. How much we needed it to mend all the strings that had been broken. It brought us closer and gave me a feeling I never wanted to lose. It was like content. To everyone else it was like we had fallen in love again and it made them want to puke, but it was more than that. It was falling in love again, but it was content too. This great feeling of being truly happy for once in my life and to be able to share with someone…," she trailed off, "but it's gone now."

"Don't worry. Everything is going to be okay and everything is going to go back to the way it was," he said sitting down on the bed besides her and stroking her hair.

"Excuse me," someone said. Joey and Pacey broke from their embrace and turned around. There stood a middle-aged doctor with green yes and dark brown hair.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Friend." Joey and Pacey both stifled a laugh. "Yes, I know it's silly. How are you feeling, Josephine?"

"It's Joey," Pacey said.

"Thanks for the reminder, Pacey. I'm okay, I just want to go home," she replied.

"Well, excluding what looked to be a crying fest I'd say your ready to get out of here. The baby is perfectly healthy and so are you. What caused you to faint was a lack of essential vitamins during pregnancy. I'm going to give you a prescription. I also want you to take it easy for a while and go on a healthy diet."

"Yeah, M&M, what did I tell you?" Pacey said grinning.

"Well, then I'll be right back with the subscription and discharge papers," Dr. Friend said.

"Thank you," Joey replied. As the doctor left Joey turned around to face Pacey. "I need to ask you a favor and I know you've already done so much for me."

"I am not going to sneak you M&M's," he said.

"No, Pacey, it's serious," she said. He could tell that by the look on her face it was important. Her eyes looked straight at him and they were piercing. Her mouth was firm and her face was solid. "This is really big and if you can't promise me this I understand."

"Well, what is it?" he asked impatiently. "I have to go to the john."

"If Dawson doesn't want to raise this child with me," she was cut off by Pacey.

"Jo, thats ridiculous," he said.

"Pacey, just let me finish. This is really hard for me. If by chance he doesn't want to, will you raise this child with me? Be a father to her like she were your own?" she asked.

Pacey just looked at her shocked and then finally spoke after a minute, "Why? Why me?"

"I don't want this baby to go through what I did. I want her to have a father and a mother at the same time, something I never had. If I can give her life and bring her into this world, I want to make sure I can give her love and happiness to. You and me, we both had absentee fathers. We never quite received affection and love from them. Don't you want to make up for that and give somebody else what you could never have? Show them that you can turn your negative childhood into a positive one for someone else? Prove to them they can't hurt you and you can be a fantastic parent?" she looked at him questioningly. She couldn't read his face. It was deep in thought at the tough decision that was being presented to it. It was cast downward in a whole other universe. God, please say yes, she thought. But the outlook looked gloomy. "I understand. Its too much pressure, especially since this isn't even your child and I'm not your girlfriend. How would you explain it to people?" She looked away. He was still starring at the ground contemplating what just happened. It was absolutely silent for minutes.

"I promise," he answered quietly. She just looked at him and smiled.

Pacey opened the Leery's front door and let Joey go in first. Then he followed her. They walked into the living and were face to face with seven distraught people and a baby. Joey looked at them as they looked at her for an answer.

"Oh God, " she said.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Dawson asked as he came up to her.

Pacey slowly walked to the kitchen doorway.

"Freeze," she said to Pacey angrily. "You're not going anywhere. You knew about this, didn't you? You told them all to come over so I'd have to tell them all, didn't you?"

"You'd have to sooner or later," he replied with a puppy dog look. "That line always works."

"Not this time and I prefer later."

"What's going on?" Jen asked confused. "Tell us what?"

She took a deep breath and looked at all the people in the room. Bessie, she'll be so disappointed I couldn't have done better for myself, she thought, and Gail and Mitch will be furious for not be careful. I can do this, she told herself, it my life. It's my baby, and Dawson's, she reminded herself. She looked at Dawson standing in front of her with his beautiful, blue eyes. So young, yet so ahead of his time.

"I'm pregnant," she stated firmly. "Two and a half moths. A girl. Dawson's."

Dawson looked at her. His eyes were full of hurt. Oh no, she thought, please don't leave me. He shook his head at her and ran into the kitchen. She looked around the room. Everyone was starring off into space except Pacey. He was standing behind her, his hand on her shoulder for support.

"Go," he said. "I'll give them the summary."

"Thanks," she said walking into the kitchen. "Dawson?"

"How could you not tell me?" he spoke from the chair at the table. "Granted I don't remember conceiving this baby, I deserve to know I have a daughter on the way. Just because I don't remember doesn't change the fact that I am her father and she is my responsibility."

"I'm sorry," she pleaded sitting down at a chair next to him. "I'm so sorry."

"That's not good enough," he said getting up.

"Where are you going?"

"Anywhere, somewhere, away from here. I just need time to think by myself," he said walking out the door. Joey started shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. I'm gonna need you, Pacey, she thought, so badly.

Dawson walked down by the creek, tears rolling down his cheeks. He had cried so much today, he didn't think it was possible to cry more. Well I was wrong, he thought.

"Don't let go when hope be gone," the voice said. Dawson stopped walking and listened carefully. "Don't to be thee way."

"What do you want from me? Who are you? Don't let go from what?" he yelled question after question. "If this is a prank, I swear…"

"Don't thee be so," it said. "It is near."

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Author's Note: I'm really happy with this part. I tried to pack comedy and lots of emotion. Let me know what you think! Thanks to all the wonderful people who sent me feedback! And those of you who are reading this, but haven't sent me anything, do so. All you have to do is drop a line saying "I like your story" and that will make my day.

Part 4: Will Dawson return and forgive Joey? Will Pacey become father to Lilly?

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