. Summary: Who doesn't love the episode 'Four to Tango'? This story is an alternate version because that episode deserves to be relived in as many ways possible. This begins in the classroom scene right after Pacey starts talking to Joey about his casual sex pact with Jen. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8

"What are you talking about?" She questioned flipping through a magazine on her porch as he paced back and forth along the short length.

"Just last night I invited her for a movie night and she had plans with him, just the two of them," he said with emphasis.

"Ah yes, because if I was secretly having sex I would come up with such a broad excuse as having plans," Jen said dryly rolling her eyes.

"What about that condom I found a month ago, that mystery has still yet to be solved and now there is more evidence proving my theory."

"You're still hung up on that?" She tossed the magazine onto the wicker table patting on the chair next to her. "Okay, I guess since this has been over for a while now it's no big deal to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"After the whole Andie debacle and my ill fated run in with a freshman, Pacey and I were just feeling really lousy and awful about love and relationships," she sighed. "Andie was blaming Pacey for their bitter yet inevitable end that comes along with the betrayal in affairs. I had broken some innocent na?ve Leonardo wannabes heart and in the process took a startling blow to my own ego. We just needed to feel accepted again, to not feel like the monsters that we were being described as so we found comfort."

"You were sleeping with Pacey," Dawson questioned dumbfounded.

"Not exactly," she chuckled, "it was like kissing my brother, every time we tried to muster any level of passion this weird sibling vibe came out and I couldn't keep a straight face. We barely got passed kissing that's how awkward it was and our raging hormones were no match for our lack of sexual tension." She shrugged her shoulders dismissing the thoughts, "We both just gave up on love, we decided that emotions and relationships just got in the way and all we wanted was sex, but it didn't work out."

"Sounds like Pacey," he added wryly rolling his eyes. "I just can't help but wonder what's going on with them."

"Have you asked her?"

"I can't exactly think of the proper phrase to bring up the subject that doesn't border on jealous ex-boyfriend or strange obsessive stalker. I mean this past year after the party with Eve we've become so distant, I barely even know who she is anymore. And after that fight we had on Witch Island," he trailed off his eyes downcast, "she said she lost that connection."

"We've all become distant this year, Jack with his football career I only see him now at breakfast and dinner, Andie's been off trying to get over Pacey with that play, you've been busy with your Blair Witch Rip-off, and I've been trying to start up a relationship. We've all been pretty crappy friends."

"Meanwhile Pacey and Joey have been discovering that they could actually be friends. My whole life I've been trying to get them to get along but now that they have I feel like I'm being pushed out and I can't help but get insanely jealous." His eyes darkened staring down at the old decaying wood holding up the rickety blue porch, his blood boiling at the simple thought of betrayal.

"Joey and Pacey are not sleeping together," Jen said reassuringly, placing a hand on his shoulder, "that I can promise."

~*~

"Wow," Joey began wiping her thumb over her lips, "That was amazing."

"It gets better," Pacey reassured his grin dripping with sarcasm. "There is no greater talent my mother possesses then her skills in a kitchen." Joey kicked his shin from under the table giving him a stern look.

"So Andie," Mrs. Witter began.

Pacey cringed gritting his teeth; "Mom Andie and I broke up four months ago, this is Joey, you know Joey right?"

"It's the Potter girl," John Witter mumbled. "Remember the whole drama last May?"

"Oh yes Joey," she nodded forcing a smile. "Whatever happened to that Andie girl, she was in the loony bin for a while right sweetie?"

"I don't see how this could possibly be proper dinner conversation, ma." Pacey warned nervously directing his attention to his plate.

"Anyway, Danny."

"Joey," he corrected.

"You're Lilly's girl," Joey nodded tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I thought you were with little Dawson Leery, he's such a good kid the kind we always wanted our Pacey to be."

"Thanks, ma."

"We still love 'im, don't get us wrong," John added in, "we're just not quite sure what he's good for yet, not like Doug'ere."

Pacey folded his hands burying his face trying to somehow hide from the situation he was in. He knew bringing her would be a stupid idea, but he wanted everything to be perfect, he wanted to be sure that they could develop a healthy relationship by putting everything out on the table and one of those things was his family. "Pacey has many talents that you haven't realized yet," Joey said bravely and sincerely, her eyes focused on the terrified boy in front of her. "He's done an amazing job on that sailboat he bought, made a tremendous improvement in trigonometry and is always there for his friends when they need him."

He glanced up at her from his fetal position at the table a bright twinkle in his eye as his lips curved up into a smile; 'Thank you' he mouthed and she smiled at him in return.

~*~

"I'm sorry about dinner," Pacey began shutting his bedroom door and leaning against it, "I'd say that they mean well but I can find no reason to defend them."

She placed her hands comfortingly on his shoulders looking up at them; "I've already learned to block them out."

"Proving once more just how perfect you are for me," he chuckled clasping her cheeks between his hands and kissing her soundly.

"Well I'm pretty sure there's a mission to your madness," she tilted her head hooking her hands behind his neck.

"Oh right," he nodded with a playful smile, "Josephine, would you be my girl?"

"Gee whiz Pace, that sure sounds swell," she replied already breaking with laughter. "Now don't I get to wear you're lettermen's jacket or something?"

He scrunched his nose, his eyes scanning the room, "Hmm, seeing as I haven't played a sport since I was twelve, you will have to settle with this." He rummaged through his closet coming out with a trucker's hat and placing it sloppily on her head, "My little league baseball cap."

"I'm honored," she said dryly adjusting the brim.

"Hey I think it's time that you started acting a little more thankful," he began scooting his feet out to become eye level with her. "Because I'm becoming offended with your lack of greatfulness."

"Oh so sorry Mr. Witter, what ever could I do to make up for my lack of sincerity?" She joked, "Is there anyway I could possibly show you how much this hat means to me?"

"Well," he shrugged sinking down onto his bed; "it just really hurts that's all."

"Don't think I'm not onto you Witter," she accused tilting the hat to the side and straddling him.

"Then why are you playing along with the game?" He said in a low husky drawl as his lips teased hers, the heat of her body on his immediately causing him to react.

"Because we both win," she explained her tender lips descending on his.

“See I’m a good recreational planner,” he mumbled cut off by her lips again. Pacey moaned running his tongue along her lower lip before she parted them for him allowing his tongue to delve through the deep cavern. Her fingers grasped onto his sweater bunching the fabric in her hands as he deepened the kiss pulling her hips against him. 

She instinctively rolled her hips, her hot core rubbed against him hardening him further. Unable to control himself he rolled them over against the mangled sheets of his bed thrusting hard against the barrier of their jeans. Joey wrapped her arms tightly around his neck arching her back and crushing her breasts against his chest a soft moan escaping her lips. He kissed down the column of her long silky neck biting down on the sensitive juncture between her shoulder. He thrust against her again his erection throbbing to be inside her as his hands journeyed up her thin white blouse.

“Pacey,” she panted losing control to the sensation of her rough jeans rubbing against her swollen clit.

His hands kneaded her pert breast through the flimsy lace of her bra feeling the hardened nipples come to life under his touch. She hooked her legs around his thighs matching his erratic rhythm there bodies moving together as he smothered her soft cries with his kisses.

“Pace dad wants Joey home,” Doug’s muffled voice came from outside the door.

Pacey pulled away cursing under his breath before resting his forehead against hers. “I guess it’s time for you to go,” he said reluctantly.

“Yeah,” she breathed heavily her chest rising and falling rapidly below his weight. They lay there for a long moment their eyes locked as they caught their breath, “I think you need to get off me then.”

He smirked rolling off of her fidgeting uncomfortably. “Bye then.” She sat up dropping a kiss on his forehead before disappearing through the door. Running his hands through his hair he let out a heavy sigh his heart clenching every time she left the room.

~*~

Adjusting the display in the window at Screenplay Videos Dawson glanced out at the darkened streets of Capeside. It was only 6:30 but the winter season brought night fall early, not that he minded however because the streetlights reflected off of the light dust of snow like a pile of diamonds. He looked up into the dark sky which was glimmering with a blanket of stars so prominent this time of year. He remembered just a year before this when he and Joey would sit on his roof and stare at the moon and the stars around them. 

He felt so alone, his soul mate was gone and she was hiding something from him and he was almost certain it was relations with his best friend. He glanced out at the dark street again this time catching a glimpse of Pacey walking cheerfully down the street spinning Joey in front of him before dropping a kiss on her cheek and disappearing in the Starlight School of Dance.

Dawson’s eyes darkened as he stared at the closed door with daggers, asking Joey would be so anti-climactic; catching them in the act would be cinema gold.

~*~

“You know technically since I’m no longer a deviant in math there’s no reason for me to hold up my end of the bargain,” Pacey began swaying the petite brunette around with practiced ease.

“And what do you mean by that?”

“I’m no longer in need of Potter tutoring services yet you’re still in need of Witter’s dance experience, I’m no longer being compensated for my work, I feel that retribution is necessary.”

She scoffed pouting her lip and giving him puppy eyes, “Thank you?”

Letting out a light chuckle he twirled her out whipping her back against him, “I wasn’t thinking verbal as much as physical retribution.”

“I guess it’s time for me to get another dance partner then,” she shrugged pulling away from him.

“Very funny,” he joked pulling her back into his embrace.

She gave him a teasing smile wrapping her arms back around him. He could always make her laugh or smile; he could make her think about him constantly, could make her do things she never knew possibly. But most importantly he could make her happy, happier then she had been in a long time. Leaning up towards his ear she whispered softly, “I love you.”

Blinking a few times he tried to compute her statement, “What?”

“I love you,” she repeated with more ease. Pacey swooped her off her feet, ignoring any designated dance moves they were shown as he tightened her in their spinning hug. He kissed her on the cheeks a few times his smile so bright she felt her heart melt for making him as happy as he made her. “Not exactly the answer I was looking for,” she joked.

“I love you too,” he mumbled pressing his lips against hers, “more then words, I love you too.”

The couples continued to dance around them while they stood still shielded in their own embrace almost unnoticed by the outside world, except for the dark blond standing in the corner.