I don't own Dawson's creek.

"Jo are you ready?" Bessie poke her head around the corner of the door.

"Yeah, oh second I'm coming one second," She pulled her hair into a ponytail twisting the elastic band around her hair. She turned to look at her sister.

"You look nice Bess," She smiled. Bessie was wearing a soft yellow cotton dress with silver heels her hair curled around her shoulders.

"Thanks Jo," Bessie beamed.

"I'm sure you're excited Douglas is coming home for good."

Bessie sighed. "We can only hope, yes he's graduating the academy today but that does not guarantee he'll get a job in Capside."

Joey laughed, "Bessie you do realize his father is the chief of police of course Doug will get job that's a no brainer. Not to mention he has one of the highest scores in his graduating class, He only was two points off of becoming the valedictorian.

"I guess," Bessie sighed. Joey was making sense but she didn't want to get her hope up and then lose him to long distance. Well their relationship was strong the back and forth of the academy and of Lily's illness had put a strain on it. More strain then Bessie was comfortable with she really didn't want to lose him.

Joey saw the look on her sister's face and sighed. Bess, she walked passed her laying her hand on her shoulder. "He loves you just as much you won't lose him." With those words she walked out the front door and started towards the Witter's were everyone was meeting up to carpool to the graduation.

Bessie shook herself out of the thoughts that had been running through her head. She made her way into her mother's room, her heels clicking across the floor. She sank against the door frame as she looked in at her mother. Lily looked so frail and weak, She had good days and she had bad days. They seemed to have evened out, Bessie just hoped the bad days didn't overtake the good. She was barley holding it together as it was, and Joey was almost a wreak twenty four seven. The only person who could pull her out seemed to be Pacey.

"Mom," At Bessie's soft spoken words Lily's eyes fluttered open.

"Bessie" a thin smile lit up her face.

"Mom are you sure you don't want to go with us?"

"No dear you and Joey go and have a good time and don't worry about me, I promise I'll be fine." Lily tried to assure her oldest daughter. She knew how both of her daughters worried about her. She saw the strain covering their faces and the ghost of despair dancing in their eyes. It made her want to cry. Bessie should have a love story for the ages, Joey should have a childhood, and here they both stood taking care of her, no complaints falling from their young lips.

"if you're sure," Bessie was reluctant to leave her mom. "Mrs. Ryan promised she'd come and check on you in a few hours." Bessie crossed the room and kissed her mother's cheek. "We'll be back later.

"Don't rush home Bess. Have fun." Lily told her. With one last reluctant look Bessie left the room and made her way down the well worn path to the Witter house.

Joey had swung the door open and rushed into the house. "Pacey John you better be ready." She yelled up the stairs before running into the kitchen.

"Hello Joey," Mary looked up as she packed the rest of the picnic she'd gotten around for after the graduation.

"Good morning Mrs. Witter do you need any help?" Joey made her way around the counter.

"here why don't you put these in the basket." Mary handed her a stack of the wrapped sandwiches. Joey took them and carefully placed them in the basket around the chips and drinks shutting the lid.

Pacey came into the kitchen, khakis and button up shirt on, "Dang you sure can holler."

"I know it's a gift" she smirked. "Now I think you should take this basket out to the car," She nodded to the wicker basket on the table.

"And you're bossy to." He sighed but walked around the table and hefted the basket making his way to the door. Just as he reached to turn the knob the door flew open. "Yes thanks for almost killing me Bess." He grumbled walking around her lugging the basket after him. Bessie giggled and walked into the kitchen.

"I see you've already got Pacey working." Bessie winked at her baby sister.

"Ah he has to be good for something right." Joey shrugged causing the other two women to laugh.

"Is Carrie coming?" Bessie asked.

"No," Mary shook her head. "She doesn't think it would be good to take the baby out for that long." Bessie nodded her head. Gretchen came down the stairs. Grabbing an apple as she passed, "Where's your sister?" her mother asked.

"Trying to fix her hair," Gretchen sighed. "She's convinced she'll meet the perfect guy at this thing and live happily ever after, I kind of want to slap her."

"Young lady, you will not slap your sister." Mary scolded her youngest daughter. Well at the same time trying to hide her smile. John came into the house and made his way towards the sink.

"Well the tires have been fixed the car is filled and I think we're ready to go. Is everyone ready?" he looked around the kitchen.

"No Laura seems to be still in front of the mirror."

John grumbled and walked towards the stairs. "Laura Jessica Witter get down here this minuet." He shouted causing Joey to jump slightly. It wasn't often that John Witter would raise his voice but when he did it was scary.

Pacey had just walked into the room as his father shouted up the stairs and he saw Joey flinch at the tone. He rushed to her side and stood behind her. He rubbed her arm as he whispered in her ear, "Its ok, you know my dad, his bark is worse than his bite he'd never hurt any of us."

Joey nodded taking a shaky breath, she knew that was a fact but that didn't stop her from being scared. It was almost as if it was grown in her bones. "I know I'm sorry."

"Hey there's no need to be sorry." Pacey assured her. Neither kid noticed the looks they were getting. The stares were only broken when Laura came down the stairs a scowl on her face.

"Ok fine I'm here."

"Great," her father scowled at her, causing Joey to once again jump and pacey to tighten his hold on her. Mary noticed what was going on and subtly shook her head at her husband who quickly caught on. "Anyway lets go," he herded everyone out of the house, They split into two cars Mary driving one with Bessie Pacey and Joey and John driving the other with Laura and Gretchen.

The drive went by quickly and they found themselves on the campus, "It's really beautiful here." Joey got out of the car and looked around.

"it really is," Bessie stood next to her sister taking in the landscape.

"Ready girls?" Marry asked coming up beside them.

They nodded and the whole Witter family but the Potter girls made their way to the seating area. They all filed into their seats as Bessie twisted her hands nervously to some people this may be an ending. But this was just the start of a long road for Bessie and Doug. He had to get the job and Bessie wasn't as confident as her sister not to mention that She still had almost sole care of her sick mother and not yet teenage sister. Sure they had help but she couldn't rely on others. And that all wasn't even taking into account the fact that her father was in jail and her boyfriend and his father were police officers. Yes her life was quite complicated.

They sat quietly through the valedictorian speech and through almost the whole list of graduates before finally his name was called. "Douglas Witter." The whole family jumped to their feet clapping wildly. He shot them a grin, waving slightly to Bessie who waved back. They sat back down as the last few people were called.

Doug came up to them after the ceremony, "You did it babe." Bessie flung her arms around him hugging him tightly. After she let him go he was hugged by the rest of his family.

"I'm proud of you son," John slapped him on the back.

"you did good my baby," Mary patted his cheek causing Doug to blush. "I have a picnic in the car so lets get out of here. She suggested. They all nodded especially Pacey who hadn't eaten anything that morning.

"Yes food please." He pleaded causing everyone to laugh at him. They started to walk towards the car when Joey noticed someone missing.

"Wait where's Laura?"

They all looked around and Doug groaned when he saw her trying to flirt with one of the other graduates. "I've got her." And with that he was off. He walked up to them and tapped Laura on the shoulder. She whirled around and glared at him.

"What Doug?"

"Well baby sister it seems mom and everyone is ready to go for one, and for another I don't appreciate my sixteen year old sister hitting on men my age." His classmate backed away.

"Sorry dude I had no idea." Doug just nodded is head dismissing the other man and steering his sister towards the others.

"We'll be talking about this later young lady." John told his daughter. She just grumbled as they split up into cars only this time Bessie got into Doug's car with him.

"I'm so proud of you Doug." She entwined their fingers together.

"I couldn't have done it without you," he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. As they pulled into the park. The other people had gotten out of the cars and Pacey was once again stuggling with the giant picnic basket.

"Let me take that." Doug effortlessly lifted the basket and carried it to a picnic table nearby.

"Showoff." Pacey muttered. Joey elbowed him.

"Be nice," She hissed. He just rolled his eyes as he sat down at the table grabbing one of the sandwiches.

"So son are you ready to start at the Capside Police station?" John asked.

"What are you talking about I haven't officially gotten in yet."

"Of course you have." John scoffed, he could see that his son was about to protest about special treatment. "I've looked at your scores I know you're be an asset to the force and everyone else at the station agrees. The job is you're you start next Monday.

"Thanks Pop." Doug smiled.

"No need to thank me." John said. "You earned this yourself.

"I couldn't have done it without the help and encouragement of all you that sit around this table."

"I knew you loved me Dougie." Pacey joked. Feeling that there was to much sentimentality in the air.

Doug just rolled his eyes as he felt Bessie's hand slip into his. She felt a weight lift off her heart. They could make it through now. They'd would both be in Capside they would get through everything together and with the people that surrounded them. Also including the Leery's and Laura. Together this group was unstoppable.

A/N sorry for the long wait I lost the outline and finally found it. I'll try to update more soon but I have many papers to write for class so it might be around Christmas when the next one comes out. Please review.