June 2000
Capeside, Massachusetts

Dawson couldn't believe the wild tale Jen and Jack and just recounted to him. And Grams? This was the stodgy old lady that had been living next to him his whole life? No, it couldn't be. As heartbroken as he was, he couldn't help but laugh.

"See, I knew we could cheer you up!" Andie said brightly.

"It's a start," Dawson replied, the laughter draining from his voice and immediately giving way once more to melancholy.

"So, which movie should we watch first?" Jen asked.

Andie looked subtly at Jack, who gave a nod of understanding, the type of wordless exchange that only siblings could exchange. It hurt remembering how many such looks Dawson had shared with Joey.

"You and Jack have had a long day, and I'm sure you just want some rest. I'll stay here with Dawson."

Jen was about to protest, but Jack shot her that same look Andie had shot him. Dawson still didn't get it. His friends had already gone above and beyond the call of duty. Besides, he really did just want to be alone.

"Actually, why don't you all take off, just leave me the movies. In the immortal words of Greta Garbo, 'I want to be alone.'"

"I want to be alone," Andie repeated the awards with exaggerated effect in imitation of the scene from Grand Hotel. "No can do, buckaroo."

He laughed again at the way she delivered the line and said goodbye to Jack and Jen, who crawled out the window. He then turned to Andie.

"You really don't have to stay. I'm fine just watching the movies by myself. I'll be okay."

"No, you won't. I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay right here with you until you actually are okay."

"Andie, I don't know when I'll ever be okay. It could be weeks, or longer. You're just going to stay here?"

"It's not like either of us have anything better to do this summer. Whatever plans we might have had for the summer just got on a boat headed for Florida."

Dawson decided to stop arguing with Andie. He knew he'd never win an argument with her stubbornness.

"And where are you going to sleep?"

"Right here." Andie patted the bed.

Dawson sighed.

"What? You used to let Joey and Jen sleepover."

"That's different."

"Nope. Not unless you want it to be."

Dawson put a lot of effort into not considering just what she meant by that last part. He sighed again.

"Move over, Joey always slept on the left side."

She beamed at him as she laid down in Joey's old spot.

Dawson sighed again as he laid down next to her. "So, which movie are we going to watch first?"


That night.

They had watched two of the three movies, and it was now well after midnight. The searing burn he had felt that afternoon was giving way to a dull ache. True to her word, she had not left his side. He wasn't sure she actually was planning on sleeping over.

"Dawson, do you have some pants I can wear? I don't think I can sleep in this skirt."

"You really don't have to do this, Andie. You've done so much for me already."

"What makes you think you have a choice in this matter? I told you, I'm not leaving your side until you're okay."

"So, you're just going to move in with me for what could be weeks, maybe even months?"

"If that's what it takes."

"I can't ask you to do that."

"You're not asking me. I'm just doing it. And if you don't like it, you're going to have to make me leave."

"No, I'd never do that. I think you might fit into some of my older jeans."

He got up and found a pair. He handed them to her, and she examined them approvingly. She started to take off her skirt, and Dawson quickly turned around.

"Dawson?"

"Yes, Andie?"

"You seem to be forgetting something big."

"What's that?"

"Pacey was my first love, too. I'm hurting every bit as much as you are right now. We're the only people who can understand what the other is going through. I need you as much as you need me."

He turned back around, assuming she'd have changed into the jeans by now, which she had. He considered what she said as they got back in bed.

"I never thought of it that way."

"There is one big difference, though. It's my fault that I ruined things with Pacey. I just wanted him back so badly, but I never had that chance, and I yelled at him when I found out about him and Joey."

"I yelled at Joey, too. I'll never forgive myself for what I said to her that night."

"Yeah, but you had the chance to be with Joey. You told her she needed to be with Pacey because you didn't want to stand in the way of her being happy. You put what she wanted ahead of what you wanted. I never got a chance to do that with Pacey, and, to be honest, I don't think I could have done it."

"That doesn't make it hurt any less."

"Of course it doesn't, not now, but one day it will."

"I hope you're right."

"I know I am."

"Thanks, Andie."

He kept thinking about what Andie just said. She was on to something. Dawson turned off the lights, and he felt a warm body roll into him. He moved away.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Dawson. I should have asked. I just assumed that was how you and Joey slept. You two were always so affectionate with each other, even when you weren't dating."

"No, we always kept to our sides of the bed."

"What about Jen?"

"Well, that was right after her grandfather died, so she slept on my chest and cried herself to sleep."

"I think a part of us died when that boat left the harbor."

"I suppose it did, didn't it?" He could feel the tears welling up, and he rolled back towards Andie.

"Hold me?"

He did. He realized in that moment that Andie actually did need him as much as he needed her. He decided that this was better than being alone. They could be alone together. The thought provided him a small measure of comfort. He held her as tightly as he could without making it hard for to breathe.

"This is nice," she said softly.

"It is." He meant it. For a moment, he had stopped thinking about Joey, but the moment ended as soon as it began.

"Goodnight, Dawson."

"Goodnight, Andie."

They were both crying as they fell asleep in each other's arms, each wishing the other had been their preferred partner who had just set sail.