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Chloe looked out from her bedroom window into the Witter backyard, a small smile on her face as she watched Pacey walk between the rows of white folding chairs, straightening one, wiping a blade of grass off another. He stood at the end of the row, assessing his work before moving on to the next row.

She looked over her shoulder when the door opened. Joey walked in and carefully laid the veil she had just steamed a few wrinkles out of on the bed beside the same wedding gown she had worn fourteen years earlier when she had married Pacey by the creek of the B&B.

Walking over to Chloe, she wrapped her arm around the girl's slim waist as Chloe rested her heads against Joey's shoulder. They both looked down into the yard and giggled as they watched Pacey go about his chair inspection.

"I think he's even more nervous than I am," laughed Chloe.

"He just wants everything to be perfect for you. After all, it's not everyday the top chef from Boston's Ice House marries the number one draft pick from the New England Patriots."

"I don't know about the top chef thing," said Chloe, "but he hasn't stopped talking about how smart the Pats were to choose Alex as their new quarterback."

"Don't let him hear you say that. He thinks you're the only chef in all of New England who is better than him."

"He always has been the modest one, hasn't hear," laughed Chloe.

Looking down at Pacey again, Joey said, "You should have seen him before he and I got married. Uncle Doug threatened to handcuff him to the bed if he didn't calm down and go to sleep. Uncle Jack was ready to hog tie him with the phone cord if he didn't stop calling to make sure he still had the rings. Aunt Bessie finally had to take the phone off the hook at the B&B because he keep calling over there to make sure I hadn't changed my mind."

"I can't believe I'm getting married today. If it wasn't for you convincing me to give Alex another chance, it might not be happening at all."

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It was the end of Chloe's second year of college. She and Miranda had both been accepted at the University of Massachusetts and had been roommates since freshman year thus fulfilling one of their childhood dreams. The fact that Chloe's boyfriend Alex Potter-Welles also went to school there had in no way influenced their decision to apply there, or at least that's what they told people.

She and Alex were walking across campus towards her dorm to pick up her duffle bag so they could head home to Capeside for the weekend.

"Hey Al," yelled a voice behind them.

Turning around, they saw two of Alex's teammates and four scantily clad girls hanging from their arms.

"We're heading over to The Tap for a few brews, want to join us," asked the broad shouldered fullback.

"Please come with us, Alex," said the blonde in the skin-tight skirt and extremely snug T-shirt. "You can even bring you're little friend along ."

Chloe glared at the girl who just looked smugly at Chloe in her preppy little skirt and J Crew sweater as she puffed her chest out just a little more.

"Sounds like fun. Let's go for a little while, Clo."

"But Alex, we're supposed to be heading home tonight."

"So no big deal, we'll just go tomorrow," he dismissed her request lightly.

"But I already promised Lily I'd be there tonight. She's looking forward to it."

"For God's sake Chloe. Can't you just forget about Capeside for a while and have a little bit of fun."

"I'm very sorry, but watching you and your friends get drunk isn't my idea of a fun evening," she said anger creeping into her voice.

"I'm not going to get drunk. It's just a few beers. Loosen up a little," he sighed.

"Maybe you'd prefer I acted like one of those football groupies over there," she said nodding towards the four half dressed girls.

"At least they know how to kick back and relax after a long week."

"Well bt all means Alex, go kick back and relax with your friends," she said as she turned around and headed towards her dorm alone.

Alex stood there for a minute looking between Chloe and his friends.

"I'll call you in a few hours to set up a time to leave tomorrow."

"Don't bother," she said but he had already turned towards his friends and didn't even hear her.

When Alex called Chloe around ten o'clock, and didn't get an answer, he figured she was still upset with him so he called Miranda's cell phone figuring they were probably together.

Last year Miranda had gone home with them to Capeside every other weekend, but she had met a nice guy in her economics class in October and now preferred to stay at school to be with him on weekends. Occassionally, the four of them would go to Capeside together, but Jason usually worked weekends and Miranda enjoyed spending whatever free time he had on weekends with him.

"Hey Miranda," Alex said when she answered the phone. "Is Chloe there with you."

"No," she said with a little edge to her usually soft voice.

"It's almost ten thirty, where the hell is she," he asked suddenly worried.

"She was pretty upset when she got back to the dorm earlier. She called home to tell her folks she wouldn't be coming home tonight and Pacey came and picked her up about two hours ago."

"Oh shit," sighed Alex.

"You said it," said Miranda as she hung up on him.

The phone call that Pacey had been expecting since they got home finally came around eleven o'clock.

"Hi Uncle Pacey, can I speak to Chloe," asked a weary Alex.

"No," said Pacey.

"Excuse me," said Alex.

"I said no, Alex. Joey has finally gotten her calmed down and I won't have you upsetting her again tonight."

"I just want to talk to her for a minute."

"Not tonight. I'll let her know in the morning that you called but I'm not waking her tonight."

"What have I done," Alex asked himself as he heard Pacey hang up the phone.

When Chloe came downstairs the next morning, she found Joey and Pacey sitting quietly at the kitchen table drinking coffee.

"There's my girl," said Pacey as she walked into the room. "I have all the ingredients ready for your favorite breakfast; French toast and sliced bananas.

"I'm not very hungry," she said as she accepted the cup of coffee Joey handed her.

"A good breakfast will make you feel better," Pacey reassured her as he began dipping raisin bread into the milk and egg mixture.

"Fine," she sighed as she slipped into the seat beside Joey.

"Where are the kids?" she asked looking into the family room.

"Uncle Doug came and picked them up about an hour ago. He's taking them to the Science Museum in Boston for the day."

"On family Saturday," questioned Chloe.

"We all thought a little peace and quiet would be nice today," said Pacey as he lifted the first slice of French toast from the griddle.

"In other words, Uncle Doug knows what happened," asked Chloe.

"Yeah," said Pacey sheepishly. He was with me at the Ice House when Joey called and asked me to go pick you up."

"Who else knows."

"No one, not even Lily and JP. We just told them you weren't feeling good and needed to rest today," said Joey.

"Listen honey," said Pacey setting the plate down in front of her, "Alex called last night after you fell asleep. Now I'm sure he's going tpo come by today to try to apologize for last night. If you're ready to see him, I'll let him in. If not, we can take Sweet Dreams out for her first sail of the season.

"Let me go change. I'll be ready to go in ten minutes," said Chloe as she carried her plate over to the dishwasher.

The three of them were on the boat by eleven with Chloe at the wheel.

Joey had suggested years ago that Pacey teach Chloe to sail thereby giving Chloe a chance to have Pacey completely to herself for a few hours on Sunday afternoons.

They sailed to Martha's Vineyard, toured the shops and had a late lunch before heading back to Capeside.

As they walked up the path towards the house, it was evident by the vase of flowers on the front porch, that Alex had stopped by.

"Daisies," said Chloe as she lifted one out of the vase, her eyes filling with tears.

"Of course he'd bring her daisies," thought Pacey. "They are her favorite flower."

He remembered how she had cried that first Valentine's Day she lived with them when he had come home from the restaurant with roses for Joey and daisies for Chloe and Lily.

"Why don't you take them inside," suggested Joey.

Chloe just nodded as she picked up the vase of flowers and walked into the house.

Joey turned to Pacey.

"Pace, why don't you call Doug and see what time he's bringing the kids back. You could invite him for dinner and then maybe go down to Dewey's and pick up some lobsters for the grill.

"If you want lobster, why don't we just tell him to meet us at the Ice House for dinner."

"Because sooner or later, Alex is going to find her and neither one pof us knows what will happen when he does. If they're going to break up, I'd just as soon it happened in private instead on in a crowded restaurant."

"Or a crowded boat," Pacey winced as he remembered how much their breakup at the senior prom had hurt Joey. It still surprised him that she was able to forgive him for embarrassing her that way.

Taking her hand in his he raised it to his lips tenderly kissing each finger.

"I love you, Jo," he whispered as he turned her hand over and kissed her palm.

Realizing where his thoughts had drifted at her last statement, she squeezed his hand as she leaned over and placed the softest of kisses on her lips.

"I know you, sweetheart. I love you, too"

The stood there starring at each other for a few more minutes before Joey said, "I better go make sure she's okay."

"Right. I'll call Doug and then head over to Dewey's." He stole one more kiss before he turned and headed for the car.

When Joey went inside the house, she found Chloe sitting on the sofa in the family room. The vase of flowers sat on the coffee table in front of her.

"What am I going to do, Joey," she sobbed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Oh honey, I wish I could tell what to do," said Joey taking a seat beside her on the sofa, "but this is one decision you have to make on your own. I can tell you though that all men are idiots. They act before they think, whether they're seven or twenty-one or thirty-six or even older than that. They don't mean to hurt us, they just don't think first."

"But Daddy never"

"Oh sweetie, as perfect as we like to think Daddy is, he's no different than any of the others. How many times have we eaten dinner without him because he forgot to call and tell us he was running late. Remember when he wanted to beat up Billy Caulfield. He would have too without even thinking about it if we hadn't stopped him first. And what about that time he and Uncle Bodie planned that fishing weekend on Aunt Bessie's birthday. They're still paying for that one. They act first and when they have time to think about it, they regret it but by then the damage is already done."

Chloe sniffled as she wiped her eyes with the tissue Joey handed her.

"What you need to do now is ask yourself if you love Alex enough to overlook his selfishness and concentrate on his good qualities."

"Like you do with Daddy."

"Believe me, he overlooks a lot of my not so favorable traits as well. That's what love is all about. Seeing someone's imperfections and knowing you couldn't live without them, faults and all."

"What if I know I really love him but I'm just not ready to forgive him yet."

Joey laughed as she put her arms around Chloe hugging her close.

"I don't think letting him stew for a few days will kill him. You know what, maybe tomorrow, you and I could take a short road trip to Rochester. We could leave early in the morning, stop and visit your grandparents and Paige and Rick and then I could drop you off at school on Monday night."

"Could we really do that, just the two of us," asked a now excited Chloe.

"Sure. Pacey can spend the day with Lily and JP tomorrow and get them off to school on Monday morning and then they can hang out at the Ice House or with Aunt Bessie until I get home."

"I love you, Joey," said Chloe throwing her arms around Joey's neck.

Maggie and Charlie had been thrilled to see "their girls" as they called them and Paige had insisted that they stay with them overnight.

It had been a fun relaxing two days and the two of them laughed and giggled like teenagers all the way back to Boston.

With his girls off on their Rochester adventure, Pacey was the one who answered the door when Alex showed up Sunday morning.

"She's not hear Alex," said Pacey as he stood in the doorway. She and Joey left for Rochester about an hour ago."

"Okay," sighed Alex as he turned to leave.

"As long as you're here, come on in. I'll make you some breakfast while we talk," said Pacey.

Talking to his girlfriend's father wasn't exactly what Alex had in mind after a sleepless night but he didn't see that he had much of a choice.

As Pacey chopped ham and vegetables for omelets, Alex waited patiently at the table for the awkward conversation he knew would come with his eggs.

Pacey set up snack tables in the family room for Lily and JP explaining to them that they could watch cartoons while they ate since he needed to talk privately to Alex in the kitchen.

Setting the plate in front of Alex, Pacey sat down across from him.

"Okay Alex, I'm not going to tell you how disappointed I am with you right now because I'm sure you already know that. What I am going to say is that I don't care that I've know you since the day you were born, or that I'm married to your aunt, or that your parents are two of my closest friends, if you ever hurt my little girl again, I'll beat the shit out of you. I hope you understand what I'm saying because I don't ever again want to see her crying the way she was Friday night."

"Yes, sir," said a humbled Alex.

"Girls have very fragile egos, Alex. They're hurt easily. Someone very special once told me that when you're in a relationship you have to always remember that you're thinking for two. I know sometimes it's hard but if she's really worth it to you, you'll try to think before you act."

"I try to remember that. And Uncle Pacey, she's worth everything to me. I can't imagine life without her.

"Good. I'm glad we got this straightened out, said Pacey slapping Alex on the back. Now eat your breakfast before it gets cold."

Pacey answered the phone when Chloe called Tuesday night.

"Hi Daddy. Can I talk to Joey."

"Sure," moaned Pacey. "After all I'm just the guy that pays your tuition at that fancy college you go to. No need to talk to me. It's just Joey, Joey, Joey."

"Dad," laughed Chloe. "How are you? I miss you. You're the best dad in the whole world. Thank you so much for sending me to this wonderful college."

"That's better," Pacey said laughing out loud as he called Joey to the phone.

"Oh Joey," said an extremely happy Chloe, "Alex was waiting for me when I got back to my dorm after my six o'clock class. The poor thing looked awful. He said he hadn't been able to sleep since Friday night. We talked half the night and everything is okay again. He said he was sorry for hurting me and that he loves me and I do love him Joey, and you were right. I can't let one unhappy moment ruin all the good times we've had together.

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As they watched Pacey move to the next row of chairs, Joey giggled and said, "What do you say we go make a pot of tea and drag him inside before he rearranges the whole yard.

By the time the teapot whistled, Lily and Miranda had joined them in the kitchen.

Pacey sat at the table, his hands wrapped around his warm mug as he watched the four girls chattering and giggling.

He loved every one of them with his whole heart and would gladly have given his life for any one of them.

He smiled over at Joey, his wife, the love of his life. She looked every bit as beautiful as she had the day he fell in love with her as she sanded the chipped paint from the sides of the True Love. It still amazed him that she had given him a second chance when he finally sailed back into Boston after his stint on Dean Kublick's yacht. She had forgiven him, loved him and married him and he knew his life would be worth nothing without her.

He watched Chloe as she laughed at something Joey had said. He didn't even know what it was as he really wasn't paying attention to the conversation. He remembered how scared he had been the day she showed up on their doorstep nine years ago. He had no idea at the time how much one lonely frightened little girl could change his life. He couldn't imagine his family without her in it. Lily and JP didn't even remember a time when Chloe wasn't their big sister. He didn't feel he had had nearly enough time with her yet and now today he was going to have to give her away to another man. He knew he wasn't ready but he had promised Joey he wouldn't do anything to ruin Chloe's day. He had never in fourteen years of marriage, broken a promise to Joey, but this one was going to be the hardest promise he ever had to keep.

His eye shifted to Lily, his baby girl who at age seven had promised him she would never fall in love and leave him. At twelve, she was already almost as tall as her sister and had her first crush on the new sixteen year old busboy at the Ice House. Luckily for him, the boy never looked twice at the boss's little girl otherwise he would have been out the door as fast as Pacey could throw him.

And finally there was Miranda. She had been a part of their lives as long as Chloe had. She had spent a portion of every summer with them. They shared birthdays, holidays and vacations with her and her parents, and he loved her as much as he did his own daughters.

"Pacey, Paceeeey, Pace," Joey finally shook his shoulder to get his attention.

"Honey, come on. We have to start getting ready. You still need to take a shower and help JP get ready while I help the girls."

He entwined his fingers with hers as they headed up the stairs.

"You going to be okay," she asked giving his hand a little squeeze as they reached the top of the steps.

"Yeah. It's just that they're growing up so fast, Jo. Chloe's getting married today, Lily's already in middle school, even our baby is in school all day now."

"I know, sweetheart. I wish we could stop time too, keep them our babies forever but no matter how hard we try, they're going to grow up. We just have to be thankful that we have such a great relationship with them. We're luckier than a lot of parents, Pace, and they're certainly luckier than either one of us was as kid."

"You always did know how to put things in perspective," he said leaning over kissing her softly. "I love you," he said as he headed towards the bathroom.

She smiled as she watched him pull the T-shirt over his head revealing his broad muscled back before she headed to Chloe's room.

Joey could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as she stood ion the doorway watching the three girls. She was happy for Chloe. She knew how much she and Alex loved each other, but after today this house would no longer be home to Chloe and she was going to miss her so much.

"Hey Mom," smiled Lily as she spotted Joey. "You're just in time to do up all those tiny buttons on the back of Chloe's dress.

Joey blinked away her tears and smiled.

"It will be my pleasure," she said as she walked up behind Chloe.

She helped Chloe with her buttons, zipped up the back of the pale blue bridesmaid dresses Lily and Miranda were wearing, and wove daisies through the two girls' hair before putting on her own sea blue tea length dress.

"You look so beautiful," she said as she made each girl spin around so she could get a full view of them. "Just wait till Daddy sees all of you."

She hugged Lily and Miranda. "Would you two mind if I had a few minutes alone with Chloe," she asked.

"We'll be waiting downstairs," said Miranda as she hugged Chloe and dragged Lily out of the room.

Joey walked over to the bed and opened the bag she had left there earlier and lifted a black velvet jewelry from it.

"Come sit," she said patting the space beside her on Chloe's bed.

Taking Chloe's hand, Joey's eyes misted again.

"You look so beautiful. You're mother would have been so proud of you. I know I am. You're been a daughter any family would be proud to claim as their own. You're not only beautiful, but you are so brave. I knew that the first day you showed up on our doorstep. You were so scared, you had no idea what to expect and you came anyway. You have brought so much joy into our lives. I can hardly remember when you weren't an important part of our lives. I don't think Lily and P realize how lucky they are to have a sister like you."

"Oh Joey, I love you all so much. I don't know how I would have survived without you after my mom died. I would never have bee happy at Aunt Rachel's. You never made me feel like I was a disruption in your life the way she did. I know I was a complete shock to all of you but you just accepted me, gave me a home, loved me like I had every right to be here."

"Oh honey, you belonged here just as much as Lily and JP. Your dad and I love you so much, which is why I want you to have this. She opened the black box and lifted out a delicate silver bracelet.

"This belonged to my mom. I was wearing it the night I realized how much I loved your father."

"Oh Joey, I can't take this. You should save this for Lily."

I already have something set aside for her. I want you to have this." She lifted Chloe's arm and hooked the bracelet around her wrist.

Chloe threw her arms around Joey.

"I love you, Joey. If I couldn't have my own mom, I so glad I had you.

A knock on the door interrupted their hug.

"You girls ready," asked Pacey. "The photographer is here and he wants to take a few pictures before the ceremony begins.

"We'll be right there," sniffled Joey. "We just have to fix our make up."

Pacey could tell Joey was crying and as much as he wanted to hold her, he knew if he saw the two of them crying, he would too.

"I'll see you down there then," he said as he moved away from the door.

Pacey's heart skipped a beat as the two of them walked down the steps.

"I don't think I've ever seen two more beautiful women," he said as he took each of their hands in his.

He kissed them both before pulling them against his chest and just holding them close to his heart.

"Ready to get this show on the road," asked the photographer.

"Yeah, we're ready," sighed Pacey giving them each one more hug.

A few minutes later, JP looking so grown up in his tux, strutted with all his nine-year old pride down the aisle, as he walked his mother to her seat.

Pacey stood on the enclosed back porch, holding his daughter in his arms.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this," he asked Chloe. "Because if you have any doubts, we don't have to walk down the aisle. It doesn't even matter how much money we've spent on this wedding, if you change your mind, we'll just walk right back into the house."

"I love him, Daddy, as much as you love Joey. Don't worry. I know I'm making the right decision."

"Always remember how much we love you and that our door is always open for you. Just promise me you won't forget about us when you're an old married woman."

"Daddy," she smile, "I love you to much to ever forget about you. You gave me this perfect life where I felt loved and cherished. How could I ever forget that."

She reached up to wipe a tear and Pacey's cheek and that's when he noticed her wrist.

Taking her hand in his he kissed the fingers that curled around his hand.

She noticed his eyes shift to the bracelet.

"Joey gave it to me. It was her mom's. She said she was wearing it the night she fell in love with you."

"I remember," he said the words catching in his throught.

Running his fingers along the bracelet he said, "It's still simple, elegant, beautiful; just like you, just like Joey."

He smiled as he looked down into her sparkling blue eyes.

"Well, my girl, let's go get you married," he said as he took her arm and led her out the door to give her to the man who loved her as much as he did.

It had been a beautiful ceremony and as he stood beside Joey watching as his little girl married the love of her life, he didn't even try to hide the tears that were running down his cheeks.

He watched from the sidelines as Chloe and Alex shared their first dance as husband and wife. He pulled Joey in front of him, wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "I hope they will always be as happy and in love with each other as I have always been with you."

"How can they not be," she said looking over at Bessie and Bodie who were also beaming with pride today. "They've both been raised in families where they've always been surrounded by True Love."

Pacey couldn't help but smile as he led his true love out to the dance floor to extend their best wishes to their daughter and the nephew who was now their son.