TEASER

We see the skyline of New York, panning down to a long stretch of highway and get closer to a Jeep that is driving down the highway. Inside, Dawson’s driving and Joey is in the passenger seat. They laugh as two energetic, lively kids, Alex and Lily, jump and move around animatedly in the back seat.

"Oh my gosh, Alex, we’re almost there I can’t believe we’re going to New York," Lily squeals, jumping up and down on the seat behind Dawson.

"Lily, calm down. Be cool. You don’t want to stick out," Alex says, trying to sound cool, but excitement is evident in his voice.

"Don’t worry, Lily. Your brother sticks out so you won’t be alone," Joey laughs, feeling Dawson nudge her arm.

"Hey, don’t listen to her. I heard she looked like a tourist too when she moved here," Dawson says, sharing a look with Joey, who sticks her tongue out, making him laugh. The excitement of the kids is catching. They’re behaving like ones and they don’t care. It’s too much fun, and they haven’t done that in ages. Growing up can be so boring sometimes.

"Joey, what are you going to be for Halloween?" Lily asks, moving out of her seat to wedge herself between Dawson and Joey.

"I’ll have to see what’s available, Lily," Joey says.

"We have to be careful though when we go into the costume shop because Joey scares easily and we don’t want her to chicken out of going to the party with us," Dawson says, watching Lily and Alex start to giggle and ignoring Joey’s dirty look.

"Aunt Joey, are you a scaredy cat?" Alex asks, a bit surprised.

"No, I’m not. Dawson is just over-exaggerating, aren’t you Dawson?" Joey says firmly, looking for him to back her up.

"I’m actually not, Joey. You jump at your own shadow," Dawson laughs, getting a playful slap from Joey, causing him to flinch a bit while driving. "Careful."

"Well, I’m not afraid of anything and I’m going to have a really pretty costume and Alex and I are going to get so much candy and have so much fun at your party Dawson," Lily says matter-of-factly, causing Joey and Dawson to laugh.

"No, I’m going to have the best costume at the party and I’ll get way more candy than you and I’ll have the best stuff to trade when we’re finished," Alex protested, trying to one-up her. "And you’re only going to have fun at that party because I’m there and you won’t be the only kid." They stick their tongues out at one another but can’t stay mad and burst out laughing.

"Okay guys, that’s enough. We’re almost there and I’m going to have the most fun at the party. So there," Dawson teases, noticing Joey, Alex and Lily are looking at him and trying not to laugh.

"Real mature, Dawson," Joey snorted, rolling her eyes.

"I’m rubber you’re glue, what bounces off of me sticks to you," Dawson chants, blocking Joey’s slap, but Alex and Lily start to play fight with Dawson and Joey from the back seat. "Hey, careful with the driver here! Don’t make me pull this car over!" he says, feeling excited and impatient for evening to arrive so the fun of Halloween could begin.


Capeside, exterior of Jack’s house (Mid-day)

"Bye bye," Jack exaggerates his wave as he and Doug stand with Amy and Grams on their porch.

"Daddy loves you, sweetie," Jack continues to coo.

Doug clears his throat a little to get Jack's full attention. "We should probably get going if we don't want to be late."

"I know," Jack sighs as he plays with Amy's foot. "This is a lot harder than I thought it would be."

"We'll be fine," Grams can't help but smile at Jack's nervousness. "Amy is going to help me hand out candy to the big kids, aren't you dear?"

Grams’ question is answered with a small laugh from Amy.

"I know that you two will be fine," Doug says as he touches Amy's cheek. "But if anything does happen you can call the station or even Gale or Bessie. I programmed all of their numbers into the automatic dial on the phone. And I did the same with Dawson and Joey's numbers. Both their home phone and cell numbers should be there."

"And I set out a few of her favourite toys," Jack adds. "Oh, and I bought some of those animal crackers that she likes. I put them on the second shelf in the cupboard. And I set out her pyjamas for tonight and some clothes for her to wear tomorrow. They are on top of her dresser."

"All right," Doug puts his hand on Jack's shoulder "now it’s a little overboard."

"I know," Jack sighs. "But I've never left her overnight before. Maybe we shouldn't go. Maybe it's foolish to leave Amy alone overnight so we can go to a party in another city."

"I will be here," Grams says, smiling at him reassuringly as she reminds him. "You two go and have fun. You deserve it."

"She's right," Doug says. "Amy will be fine. You couldn't have found a better baby sitter if you tried."

"You’re right," Jack agrees. "But it's still hard to leave my baby girl, isn't it?" He directs the last part of his sentence at Amy who gives him a blank stare. Apparently, she has no problems with the thought of Jack leaving town.

"Bab Bab," she chimes.

"It's Amy's word for bye," Grams explains to Doug through her laughter.

Doug can't help but laugh along with Grams at Amy's nonchalant attitude.

"Do you think she'll miss me?" Jack sounds concerned.

"Of course she will," Grams says in her best attempt to comfort Jack. "But it will be easier for her because she knows me so well. I'll keep her occupied, I promise."

"She'll be fine," Doug says as he takes a step away from Grams and Amy in an attempt at forward progress towards the car.

"She'll be fine," Grams urges.

"She'll be fine," Jack echoes to himself in reassurance. "Bye bye, sweetie," Jack says once again, planting a kiss on the top of her head. "Daddy loves you."

He and Doug begin walking down the porch steps and Doug throws their bags in back seat of the car. Jack sits in driver's seat and Doug hops into the passenger side, putting a Bette Midler CD in the CD player.

"No way," Jack says as he turns the CD player off. "I'm already way too high strung about leaving Amy. I can't take any of your music right now."

"There is nothing like the Divine Miss M to soothe a worried soul," Doug counters and reached to turn the music back on.

"You turn that back on and I can't be held responsible for my actions," Jack jokes.

"Are you seriously threatening an officer of the law?" Doug tries to keep a straight face but a smile betrays him.

"She'll be fine," Jack sighs. "Won't she?"

Doug sighs and rolls his eyes as he turns the engine on.


Dawson’s loft in N.Y.

"And there's gonna be candy too, right Joey?" Lily asks as Dawson, Joey, Lily
and Alex all make their entrance into Dawson's loft. Dawson closes the door behind them once they all are in.

"What?" Joey winks at Dawson over her shoulder "Your mom didn't say anything?"

"Say what?" Alex asks suspiciously.

"I though that Bessie would have said something," Dawson leaves the bags in the floor, near the sofa and he faces Lily, Alex, and Joey, looking at the two kids with a concerned look in his face. "I don't know how to break it to you guys…" and he looks at Joey as if looking for help. The kid’s gazes go from back and forth from his face to Joey’s.

"Well, it’s just that New York is different than Capeside in a lot of ways," Joey continues for him, looking as worried as him.

"Different how?" Lily demands.

"Sorry Sis, but they don't give out candy on Halloween and especially not at Halloween parties."

"You're teasing us," Alex says. "Don't listen to them, Lily. They're just trying to trick us."

"Yeah," Lily seems to be convincing herself. "Dawson and Joey are just trying to trick us."

"Suit yourself," Dawson sighs. "Joey and I were trying to prepare you for what to expect. Just be sure to say thank you when people give you apples," he says, walking to the kitchen and pouring himself some water.

"Apples?" Suddenly Alex isn't as convinced as he was before.

"Apples," Joey agrees with Dawson. "And dental floss and pennies."

"What are we supposed to do with pennies?" an almost panic stricken Lily asks.

"Save 'em or spend 'em. They still have penny candy, right?" Dawson offers his advice from the kitchen.

"Get real," Alex snorts.

Joey can't help but laugh. "I don't even think they had penny candy when we were kids."

"For real Dawson," Lily pleads. "Are you kidding or not?" Lily asks, walking to join him in the kitchen, Joey and Alex following her.

"Well, sometimes someone will occasionally give out Smarties or those orange and black wrapped peanut butter candies. If you’re lucky."

Lily screws up her face. "Ick."

"Those aren't even like real candy," Alex can't help but groan. He's become convinced that Dawson and Joey are telling the truth.

"When did you become so picky?" Joey asks. "Candy is candy."

"Hardly. Those orange and black things are yucky. It's what you eat after all of your other Halloween candy is gone, even the Smarties."

"Oh," Joey can't help but smile.

"Get with the program Jo," Dawson laughs as he leans on the bar tool. "You remember how gross those peanut butter things are, don't you?"

"Yeah," Joey smiles at the memory. "Although Halloween was far from my favorite holiday."

"You are a world-renowned scaredy-cat,' Dawson repeats what he said in the car with a smile, pointing at her with his index finger and narrowing his eyes playfully.

"You constantly playing your pranks on me didn't help," Joey says, pretending to be offended as Lily and Alex watch the exchange slightly bored. All they wanna know is if they will get some candy.

"Sure, blame it on me," Dawson says. "You wouldn't even trick or treat at Gram’s house. You almost cried that one time that Bessie took us. As a matter of fact, I think you even waited on my porch while Pacey and I trick or treated at Grams. She gave out the peanut butter candies if I remember correctly."

"You were afraid of Grams," Alex laughs.

"Why?" Lily giggles as she is searching for something inside her travel bag. "Grams is nice."

"Okay," Dawson says, walking out from behind the kitchen’s counter clapping his hands. "Time to take everything to your rooms. Follow me," he says, and they do. Dawson smiles at Joey over his shoulder and she smiles him back as the kids run to the space that he has been designated for them upstairs.

"Candy!" is what Dawson and Joey hear from Alex when he finally reaches his destiny.

"You tricked us," Lily pouts a little before she pass them running in the direction of Alex’s voice. Dawson and Joey laugh as they walk upstairs calmly. When they arrive, both kids are already inspecting the bags of candy.

"It's the good kind," Alex says with an approving nod of his head.

"Can we?" Lily opens the bag without waiting for a response.

"Sure, kiddos," Dawson says, smiling and leaning in the wall, his arms crossed over his chest as he watches them.

"Not too much," Joey makes a meek attempt at discipline though. "Dawson, they're going to be wound up all night if they eat too much candy."

"Well it doesn't really matter," Dawson shrugs. "Since you'll be spending the night here too, we can double team them."

"Nice one, but still, I’d prefer if we didn’t have to. I don't want them to get sick."

"They won’t…I hope. I mean, how much candy were you and I able to eat when kids and never get sick? And tell me, are you going to be one of those mothers who never lets her kids have candy and makes them eat soy burgers instead of going to McDonalds?" he asks her, mocking her.

"No," Joey crosses her arms over chest, mirroring his posture and slightly wrinkles her brow.

"You are, aren't you?" Dawson teases.

"Am not," Joey uncrosses her arms. "Be careful!" she warns Alex as he chases Lily back to the space downstairs, they both, of course, carrying their candy.

Dawson's smug look says it all.

"Okay, you’re right. They shouldn't be anything that we can't handle together," Joey sighs.

The unexpected sound of glass breaking proves her otherwise.

"Sorry," Lily calls from a distance. "I just saw a picture that had Pacey in it and he had a funny beard. I just wanted to see it better."

"Just don't touch anything else," Joey calls out as Dawson walks pass her. "I think I better get the broom and dustpan."


A costume shop in New York.

In a small, rather cramped costume shop in the middle of New York City, Dawson stands in the middle of the store waiting for the costumes that he has ordered. He’s a bit panicky that it is taking the sales lady so long to locate all of them.

"Dawson, this place is kind of weird," Joey says standing next to Dawson, looking around, her eyes wide. "And it smells kind of funny, too."

Dawson softly laughs at the expression on Joey’s face. "This is the best costume shop in New York, Joey. I was given the address by one of the costume designers. And you know me and Halloween: the weirder the better," he nudges her a tad.

"Hey, look at me, Lily," Dawson and Joey turn around just in time to see Alex put a mask over his face. It looks kind of like a sea creature. Joey and Dawson look at each knowingly and smile.

"Alex, that’s gross. I like this one better," Lily places a tiara on her head and holds a sceptre in her hand.

"Lily, you might want to talk to Joey about that costume. I hear she was in a beauty pageant one time," Dawson moves away from Joey just in time as she tries to pinch him on the arm.

Joey just smiles coyly as she looks down and then back up again. Someone in the corner of the shop catches her attention. "That’s Ethan," Joey quickly walks towards him going sideways to make her way through all of the costumes.

In no time at all, Joey has dragged Ethan back over to where Dawson is standing, "Dawson, where’s Samantha?" She looks around the costume shop quickly, finally locating Samantha, who walked away a few minutes ago when trying to find the right costume.

"Stay right here," she motions to Ethan who gives her a rather confused look as she trails after Samantha. Ethan looks at Dawson, who just nods his head at him, both utterly confused. They both turn to watch the women at the same time, a blank expression on their faces.

Joey is quietly whispering to Samantha as they walk back towards Ethan and Dawson. "Samantha, this is Ethan." They nod to each other. Samantha looks at Dawson with a puzzled look and Ethan looks at Joey, rolling his eyes while shaking his head.

"Umm Joey, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Dawson, I’m -" He pulls her over towards the door.

"What are you doing?" He lets go off Joey’s arm.

"I just thought that maybe they should to meet," Joey smiles at Dawson and seems rather proud of herself. "Now, I’m going to go back and make sure those two are talking to each other. Step aside," she laughs as she just slides past him. He looks as though he wants to say something else but just stands there for a minute just shaking his head at her. He joins the three of them.

"I’m sorry. So where were we?" Joey looks at Ethan, then at Samantha. There is nothing but silence.

"Well, since you both have to get ready for tonight, why don’t you over of and enjoy it together? I have an idea…" Joey looks at Dawson as if she has had the greatest idea ever. Samantha blinks slowly while watching Joey, still trying to decide if she is really trying to play matchmaker. Ethan just looks at Joey with a blank expression on his face.

"Joey, what’s gotten in to you?" Dawson says, thinking he would prefer the earth to open and eat him rather than watch this awkward moment. "I’m sorry about this, Sam. I have no clue what’s gotten into her today," Dawson gives Joey a look that says ‘one more word out of you and you’ll pay’ but then he can’t help but smile at Joey’s innocent expression. As if.

"Excuse me, sir?" The sales lady calls out from the back of the store.

"Which one of us do you need?" Dawson says rather loudly.

"The other gentleman," the lady says and Ethan begins to walk to the back of the store, relieved, but the sales lady meets him half way.

Joey finds the exchange between the Ethan and the sales lady rather interesting. She watches Ethan turn on the charm and catches Samantha watching as well, "Oh please," she mumbles under her breath, turning back and going to check more costumes.

Ethan returns with his costume in a box. "Dawson, she needs you to go back and get the rest of the costumes," he says. "Thanks, and… well, nice to see you again" Dawson says as he walks away. Ethan watches the sales lady go in to the back room and Dawson joins her just as some of the boxes almost hit the floor. Then he turns to Joey. "Nice try," he says, winking at her and waving goodbye as he exits the place. Joey just looks a little disappointed that her master plan hadn’t worked. Then she smiles. There will be more chances.

"Joey, Lily, Alex come get your costumes," Dawson yells causing the youngsters to stop playing and Joey to walk quickly to help him.

Soon, all of them, including Samantha, have their costumes and are ready to leave.

As they do, Dawson holds the door open as Lily, Alex, and Joey walk out of the shop leaving Samantha to be the last one out along with him. He speaks rather softly, "I’m sorry about that. I don’t know why she did that."

Still speaking softly, "Come on, Dawson. Can’t you figure it out?" and with that she walks a bit quicker, catching up with everyone else. Dawson just looks pensive.


At that very same moment, a hotel In N.Y.

Two suitcases lay on the floor, the bed strewn with clothes and the TV on a local sports game. Jack and Doug stand shoulder to shoulder, trying on their costumes as Men in Black with full designer three-piece suits.

"Okay, I can’t get this thing," Jack complains playfully, tearing his tie off his neck and throwing in on the dresser in front of them.

"Come on, Jack, just take a deep breath and try it again," Doug laughs, finding his partner’s frustration a bit comical.

"Please, you wear a tie with your uniform on occasion so you have more practice than me," Jack pouts, taking a minute to watch Doug get ready. "I’m a teacher. Ties are not a required part of the curriculum."

"Well then, let me help you, dear," Doug laughs, grabbing the tie and moving behind Jack to help him with the tie. "You look so good in that suit though. I think I should talk with Principal Peskin about implementing a faculty dress code."

"Oh really? Well, with you helping me every morning, I could definitely be persuaded to wear a tie to work more often," Jack says, raising his eyebrow, making Doug chuckle and share a tender moment.

"It’s nice to get a change of scenery every now and then," Doug says, wrapping his arms around Jack, whose tie is now tied.

"Yeah, part of me is really glad to get out of Capeside for a bit but part of me really wishes we could be with Amy or at least have brought her here to see everyone," Jack sighs, resting his body back against Doug.

"I know, me too. But let’s just enjoy this time, just you and me, it’s been a long time since it’s been like that," Doug says, resting his chin on Jack’s shoulder.

"Tonight will be fun though. It’ll be a nice change to also be around a completely adult audience or at least have the majority of the guest be above the age of 5," Jack laughs as Doug nods in agreement.

"Yeah, it’ll be nice to not to worry about someone spitting up on my suit," Doug laughs, hearing Jack chuckle.

"Well, we might have to watch Joey if there’s alcohol there tonight. She could spit up if Dawson let’s her drink too much," Jack laughs, remembering back on drunken Joey stories Dawson and Pacey had told him about.

"Oh man, well I’m off duty tonight so if things get out of hand…at least at the party…I am not going to get involved," Doug laughs, raising his eyebrow at Jack who does the same back.

"Oh really? And what if things get out of hand later on?" he asks coyly, watching Doug squirm a bit.

"Well, then I may have to use some of my law enforcement tactics to take care of the situation," Doug says, throwing Jack a look.

"I see, well Office Witter I promise to cooperate fully if necessary," Jack says, moving closer to Doug and wrapping his arms around him.

"Well, sometimes putting up a fight isn’t so bad either," Doug says playfully, wrapping his arms around Jack as well, leaning in for a kiss.

"Remember, tonight is about us having fun," Doug says, pulling back just before they were about to kiss.

"Right, fun. Forget about everything else for now," Jack says softly and Doug nods, finally leaning in again for a kiss.


Later, at Ethan’s house

Ethan is getting ready for the Halloween party. Joey has invited him and she wouldn’t stop fussing about it for the whole week, saying that this friend of hers used to make the best Halloween parties ever when they were kids. And Ethan finally found out his name: Dawson. Before today, he had already met him before: he stopped by the office once to take her out for dinner. "As friends," Joey told him when he was teasing her about it. He seems like a nice guy, Dawson: polite, quiet, easy smile (mostly around Joey). Joey gushed about him being a famous TV producer and soon a famous director and he kind of blushed in a way Ethan was sure had earned him more than one sympathetic look from a woman.

Ethan checks the clocks once again and his mind goes back to Joey’s invitation. Surprised at first, especially since all the times he had tried to hang with her outside work, she had politely rejected him. It has been a little more than two months since he arrived in the city and he really misses having some friends. In Philly, he was the life of the party, quite wild at times. Probably because he needed to let out some steam, due to... due to some events in his life. But then he made the decision to move to New York and since then it had been only work, work, work… and some haunting memories.

He walks from the living room that is neatly clean and organized, to his bedroom that is as neat as the living room. Lying on the bed is his costume and he looks at it, amused. When was the last time he wore one? Okay, wrong question. He remembers way too well when it was. Solemnly, he sits in the bed and opens the first drawer of his night stand, the memory swirling in his mind. He takes out an envelope full of pictures and goes through them with a pained expression on his face.

God, they were so young. And they didn’t make it. Although, what unnerved him the most was that his father was proven right. His father. He thinks about him as stares at the pictures, not seeing them anymore. Tall, dark, just like him. Well built and disciplined after spending his whole life in the army. The army, that was also his thing until life stepped in and he had to make a decision. A decision that cost him his father’s love and pride. And he hadn’t gotten it back yet, not even after what happened last year. Quite the opposite. Somehow he knows that his father blames him for it all.

His gaze goes back to the pictures in his hand. For a moment, he stares at the first one and smiles, lost in his memories... then he collects himself as he always does and puts the pictures back.

He starts to undress to get his super hero costume. Isn’t that what the greatest part of people is anyway? We stumble, fall and then get up and start all over again.

When he finishes, he looks at the reflection in the mirror and can’t help but laugh. Joey promised him that this would be fun and if everybody is going to be dressed up like she said, (her words were more a command: "Everyone must wear a costume!" saying that these were Dawson’s instructions), he’s sure it will be.

She also said that he might even meet someone interesting. He’s not sure of what she meant exactly by that but it wouldn’t be bad if she were right.

With one last look in the mirror, he exits the bedroom.


Interior of Dawson’s loft

"I didn't know that I had to wear tights," Alex whines as he and Lily are helped into their costumes by Dawson and Joey.

"But you have to Alex or I can't be Tinkerbell," Lily pleads with him.

"Maybe I could be something else. Tights are for girls. I could be a hippie like Dawson and Joey," he says looking at them. They are dressed in true hippie fashion. Joey even wears some daisies in her head and dress.

"Without Peter Pan there's no Tinkerbell. And I wanna be Tinkerbell. I have to be Tinkerbell."

"Tights aren't girlie," Joey tries to help the situation and stick to the game plan. They are already running late. They were supposed to leave five minutes ago for the house to prepare for the party.

"Wrestlers wear tights and they aren't girlie," Dawson offers.

"I guess," Alex seems persuaded for the moment. "And I can fly."

"Me too," Lily says proudly. "And I have wings!"

"You both look great," Joey can't help but smile at the scene. "Why don't you two stand against the wall so Dawson can get some pictures."

"That’s a great idea," Dawson says as he takes his camera out one of the drawers.

Alex and Lily both proudly strike a few poses as Dawson happily clicks away on his camera.

"Aren't they cute?" Joey says as Alex and Lily do their best imitations of a flying Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.

"Reminds me of the time that you, me and Pacey went as the Three Musketeers," he says, still taking pictures as Alex and Lily get more and more into their roles. Alex has totally forgotten his earlier complaints.

"That's right. It took my mom almost two months to make those costumes." Joey says, a smile in her face. She had even painted a mustache on her face to match with the two boys.

"And then you broke your sword fighting with Pacey," Dawson laughs at the memory. "You were almost in tears."

"But then you gave me your sword," Joey let herself get lost in the memory for a moment, looking at Dawson sweetly, remembering the moment. He had just walked over to her, put his arm around her and gave her his own sword without a word. That was Dawson. Always had been, always would be.

"God, we must be old. Waxing nostalgic about our youth," Dawson jokes as he continues to take pictures of Alex and Lily.

"That was fourth grade, right?" Joey asks, not sure about the exact date.

"Nope," Dawson says with a shake of his head. "Third."

"Oh, that's right," Joey smiles once more as the moment comes back in full. "Fourth grade was the year you went as Elliot from E.T. and no one knew what your costume was."

"Yeah because it was just a red hooded sweatshirt, most people thought that I hadn't even bothered to dress up."

"At least our costumes are pretty obvious this year," she says, looking down at her own dress and then at Dawson’s.

"Not very creative, I know," Dawson concedes. "I've just had so much to do with the actual planning of the party, work, and just moving to the city. Something had to give."

"And that something was our Halloween costumes," she says, shooting him what is supposed to be a mocking glare, although she actually likes their costumes. (Okay, she loves it… so cute with all the daisies!) But she wouldn’t miss a chance to bug him about it, at least for a while.

"It was either flake on the costumes or flake on paying the rent this month. I didn’t have time for it all. And I kind of like my new place."

"Just kind of?" she says, raising her eyebrows

"Fine, I absolutely adore my new apartment. Better?" he concedes.

"Much better." Joey replies with a big grin. "And you know these costumes aren't that lame. I'm kind of getting into it. Makes me want to drop out and tune in and all that other "Make love, not war" stuff," she says, making the peace sign with her fingers.

"Yeah, the last part sounds good to me," Dawson says, finally putting his camera down and wiggling his eyebrows at her, making her laugh. "And I can almost smell the patchouli."

The Halloween house

It’s still early in the evening, but everything is ready. An old and large house is decorated for Halloween: pumpkins, skeletons… the house itself looks a little gloomy too. Just like a house should look like on Halloween.

"Anyone here?" the guest dressed as Catwoman calls out as she tries the front door of the house. She realizes that’s locked. She sighs.

"Hello?" another guest dressed as Batman comes up from the side of the house. Samantha looks at him.

"Batman?" she asks with an amused smirk, the only part of her face that is visible.

"Catwoman?" the man dressed as Batman appears to be equally amused and equally concealed. "I just checked around back and no one's here yet. I think we're the first to arrive."

"Well, well, well," she smiles once more. "I'm not sure if I should trust my nemesis."

"Was Catwoman a hero or a villain? I don't remember."

"She was a little bit of both. It's part of her appeal. In a lot of ways, she was just like Batman."

"Well then," Batman flashes her a smile. "I'm not sure if I should trust my nemesis."

"We've got Catwoman and Batman. Please tell me that you didn’t bring a friend masquerading as the penguin."

"No, I'm alone tonight. And you?"

"I didn't come with a friend dressed as the Penguin or anyone else for that matter," she says and shrugs her shoulders.

"Both Batman and Catwoman going stag to a party. Something isn't right about that picture."

They’re laughing when they hear voices coming around the side of the house.

"Hello?"

"Hmmm," Catwoman contemplates the scene in front of her as two men approach them. "The cat, the bat and…."

"Men In Black. Doug Witter," he extends his hand. "Pleased to meet you."

"Jack McPhee," Jack introduces himself.

Batman extends his hand as well. "Bruce Wayne," he says with a laugh, not wanting to give up in this mysterious game he and Catwoman have going on

"Selina Kyle," Catwoman matches his grin and also shakes hands with everyone.

"Where is everyone else?" Doug eyes the empty house. "This looks like a suspicious situation."

"Well, that’s because it’s Halloween. Everything looks suspicious," Jack says jokingly. "And aren't you off duty anyway?" Jack reminds him.

"No talk of work," they hear a voice float out to the entrance. "I demand that we all leave the shop talk outside," Dawson says as he joins the group with Joey, Alex, and Lily not far behind.

"What took you guys so long?" Jack asks.

"Pictures," Joey says with a smile. "Lots of pictures."

"Well," Dawson takes out a key and opens the front door for the group. "Let the party begin." He pretends not to notice the curious look that Joey throws his way as she enters the house. He has something up his sleeve. She *knows* it. Just a reunion of friends? Yeah, right...

After a while, in the middle of the reunion…

It’s been a while since they all arrived at the house. After watching a horror movie on the big screen, they all were eating the food Dawson had prepared.

Lily starts to wonder when all the action will start. There was just a little scare in the middle of the movie when they heard some strange noise coming from the back of the house but her brother went to check and came back saying that it was nothing after all.

Leaving the reunion of the adults without them noticing, she walks upstairs. The hallway is dark, and the shadows almost seem to move across the walls.

She walks tentatively forward, her eyes searching for her friend. Suddenly, without warning, she feels a hand clasp down on her shoulder.

"Eeeeee!!!" she shrieks.

Quickly, the unseen person spins her around. It’s Alex.

"Hey, relax!" he reassures her. "It’s just me. Geez, why are you so jumpy?"

"It’s dark in here," she replies. "And creepy. Please don’t sneak up on me like that."

Alex laughs.

"Oh, stop being such a baby!" he jokes. "Hey, did you hear? Aunt Joey thinks she saw a ghost." Lily gives him a look.

"When was that?"

"Like ten minutes ago, when she went to the kitchen for some water. That’s why I’m inspecting the place."

"So you think she did?" she asks, starting to get into the Halloween mood. "I mean, I don’t think she’s a liar, right?"

"There’s a difference between being a liar and being superstitious," Alex tells her. "There’s no such thing as ghosts. They’re just lightshows in movies. Halloween makes us see things that aren’t really there."

"But what if you’re wrong?" Lily sighs. "What if there really are ghosts? And there’s one in this house?"

Alex is about to reply, only to hear a loud crash. Quickly, the two children run towards the sound. Specifically, the bathroom.

The door had been left open, steam escaping from inside.

"Somebody was in the shower…better call Bill Murray!" Alex jokes.

Lily opens the door cautiously, turning the light on and then she gasps at the sight in front of her.

"What is it?" Alex asks, peeking over her shoulder.

She swings the door the rest of the way open. On the mirror, illuminated by the light from across the street, the words ‘You’re All Going To Pay’ are written in large letters.

The two of them scream simultaneously, running downstairs as fast as they can just before the lights go down.


Outside the Halloween house, later

"How did you do that?" Joey asks Dawson, as their flashlights arcs back and forth across the lawn. "Calm them down the way you did. I thought Lily was going to start crying for a minute there."

Dawson shrugs his shoulders, proud of his little sister but he can’t tell Joey that.

"A guy down in studio four runs a kiddie show," Dawson informs her. "I asked him for a few pointers. I thought that since I live so far away, I might as well do as good of a job being a big brother with the time I do spend with her."

"Ah," she states, as they come to the side of the house. There, the fuse box stands out against the wall. "Well?"

"Hmmm," Dawson mumbles. "I don’t get it…maybe lighting struck it or something?"

"You mean you didn’t do it?" Joey asked, giving him a look. "Come on…Halloween? Your obsession with scaring your friends? Wasn’t the lights usually the first thing to go?" Dawson chuckles.

"Please!" he scoffs. "I was a kid when I did that, Jo! I stopped doing that in tenth grade. Right after a few of my friends thought it’d be amusing to scare me with a blood-laden corpse who’s too cleaver for her own good."

"You swear?" she asks, not quite believing him. "Because things have been really weird today!"

"Weird?" Dawson asks. "What do you mean?"

"Well," she sighs, "When I went back to my apartment earlier to pick some of the things I had forgotten, I could swear someone was following me. Then on the street this trash can just crashed out in front of me…"

Dawson looks at her very intensely, as if pondering her words, deep in thought.

"Very interesting," he states. "And have you experienced any rampant paranoia before today?" Joey gives him a cold look. He simply laughs.

"It’s not funny, Dawson!" she tells him. "Is this you up to your old tricks again?"

"Old tricks?" he inquires.

"Don’t play dumb, Dawson," she sighs. "You remember? Séances? Dead baby dolls? Rubber fingers in my food?"

"Hey, that was Friday the 13th, Jo!" he reminds her. "Not Halloween. Easily confused because of a slasher flick by the same name that has been played way too often on Halloween movie night!"

Joey steps up to him, pointing an accusatory finger in his direction, her glare menacing.

"Hey, don’t blame me for that!" she says. "I hated those movies, remember?"

"Only too well," he replies with a nod.

Joey looks him in the eye, making sure she has his complete attention.

"You swear you’re not doing this?" she asks him one final time.

"I’m not," he says honestly. "Joey, I promise I haven’t been following you around trying to scare you. You have my word."

She smiles at him.

"Now just relax, okay?" he encourages her. "Have some fun. That’s what this whole party’s about, right?"

Dawson flicks a few more switches, causing the lights inside the house to turn on.

"Ah ha!" he says, turning proudly to face her. "Nothing to it!" Joey rolls her eyes, then smiles at him.

"You do have a point, though," Dawson mentions after a moment. "This whole night has déjà vu written all over it. Like a guy I hardly know showing interest in my ex. All that’s missing is a séance."

"Or a serial killer need directions," Joey adds.

"Or Pacey with his knife-wielding date!" Dawson laughs.

"Not a party without that!" Joey laughs along, remembering the freaky woman.

"I called him and asked him if he could make it to the reunion. He told me he couldn’t," Dawson mentions. "It doesn’t really feel the same. No Jen, no Pacey."

"I know. It’s weird. But that’s what happens, I guess. We are bound to lose some people along the way," she says, her tone serious.

"It doesn’t need to be like that, though. I mean, look at us. Here we are again."

"Yeah, that’s true" she says, looking at him and smiling.

Suddenly, the moment is broken by a loud scream coming from inside. Dawson and Joey stare at each other in surprise.

"That was Lily!" Joey tells him.

Quickly, they run back inside.


Basement of the Halloween house.

While Dawson and Joey look for Alex and Lily, Ethan and Samantha are in the process of searching the basement. Both of them are still dressed in their costumes, so they still have no idea who the other one is. Not even a suspicion, even though they had met earlier that day. They both have deleted that embarrassing moment from their memories.

"So tell me, ‘Bats’," Samantha jokes. "What are we looking for again?"

"Flashlights," he replies. "Or candles. Something that’ll help us see."

She gives him a smirk.

"I thought bats could see in the dark?" she asks.

"So can cats," he replies. "Unfortunately, it’s in name only. Look at this stuff. These people are such packrats!"

The two of them begin sifting through boxes. They search endlessly, sneaking looks at each other when the other one isn’t looking. Finally, Samantha catches him.

"What?" she asks. "What is it?"

"Nothing," he replies, shaking his head. "You just look like something’s on your mind."

She sighs.

"Who are you?" she asks. "All night you’ve been trying to protect me and I don’t even know your name. I don’t need you to protect me, by the way," she says, with a matter of fact tone.

"Aw, the big woman," he jokes. "Sorry, I can’t say," he replies. "Can’t give away my secret identity."

Samantha rolls her eyes.

"Besides, I don’t know your name either, do I?" he reminds her. "I’m a friend of Joey’s. Let’s leave it at that."

"You’re not the waiter guy, are you?" she asked.

Ethan laughs.

"No, I’m not Pacey!" he chuckles. She smiles at him. It is a long, knowing look. "What?" he asks. "Do I have something in my teeth?"

Samantha shakes her head.

"No, it’s just that whoever you are, you look really good in that costume," she says, in a low, seductive voice.

Ethan smiles at her. Suddenly, they’re surprised to find they’re holding hands. How did that happen? They don’t know, but it feels… exciting. Their faces move closer together as they close their eyes. However, before anything can happen, they heard a voice holler from upstairs.

"Power’s back on!" Dawson yells. "Everyone in the kitchen! We’ve got a problem!"

Samantha sighs, then heads towards the stairs. Ethan quickly follows her. What just happened?

Kitchen of the Halloween house.

Shortly, the eight of them find themselves in the kitchen. Dawson is pacing back and forth while Joey is attempting to comfort Lily and Alex. Ethan sits at the table with Samantha and Jack. Finally, Doug stands guard at the doorway.

"So, the lights are working, right?" Ethan asks, slowly becoming impatient. "What’s the problem then?"

"There’s somebody else here," Joey replies. "There’s somebody in the house. Besides the eight of us."

"That’s crazy, Joey!" Jack challenges her. "Who?"

"It’s a ghost!" Lily blurts out. "There’s a ghost upstairs!"

Doug tries to calm her using logic.

"A ghost?" he asks, ruffling her hair. "You mean to tell me that you saw an actual spectral anomaly?"

Silence.

"Uh, not exactly," Alex answers. "It was more like writing. Someone wrote on the mirror!"

"Oh, so I guess only poltergeists can do that?" Doug says, trying to keep the whole thing as a funny anecdote.

"Ghost or not, there’s someone here," Samantha replies, believing Lily. "It could be some psycho!"

"It could be Dawson!" Jack grumbles, looking at their host accusingly. Before Dawson can reply, Joey shakes her head.

"It’s not!" she defends him. "Dawson was outside with me when it happened."

"So, what?" Jack asks. "You’re saying we have an actual ghost in here?"

A stern look crosses Doug’s face. Okay, if everybody is going to believe the ghost theory or even the stranger in the house theory, he’ll have to take it seriously.

"I’m not taking any chances!" he states. "If there is someone here, I’ll find him. I want everyone to stay in here, just in case."

Ethan quickly stands up.

"No, no way!" he protests, walking up to Doug. "I’m not gonna stay here waiting to se what happens. We’re together in this…"

But before he can say anything else, they hear a loud noise coming from the living room.

The whole group stands up from their seats and come close together, facing the direction where the noise had come from. After a couple of seconds, Doug recovers and leaps inside.

"FREEZE!"

To his surprise, there is no one there. The only sign of life is the soft glow coming from the television screen. Sighing, Doug turns to face the whole group.

"All right! Who left the TV on?" he asks.

The other seven enter the living room slowly. On the television, the movie ‘Halloween’ is playing. The volume is turned up very high so Dawson grabs the remote and lowers it.

"It wasn’t on when we came by," Samantha tells him. "Is there a timer on this thing?"

No one replies.

"Okay…starting to buy the ghost theory more and more," she whispers.

"Come on…there’s no such thing as ghosts!" Jack argues, but not sounding very convincing.

Almost as soon as Jack finishes his sentence, the front door swings open. Everyone jumps.

"I suppose that was just the wind?" Joey snaps.

Dawson runs up to the door, shutting it, and locking it up.

"No one panic," he suggests. "Whatever it is, it’s not getting back in!"

"What if it’s already inside?" Lily whimpers.

Joey kneels down next to Lily as Dawson puts his hands over her sister’s shoulders and Alex stands closer to her.

"Shh, it’s gonna be okay," Joey reassures her. "Doug’s a policeman. He’ll protect you. Right?"

Joey looks up at Doug, who nods in approval.

"I’m going to bring them upstairs," he looks at Dawson for approval and he nods his head. "Then we’ll find out what’s going on here."

"Be careful!" Jack warns him. "Okay?"

Doug smiles, grabbing Jack’s hand for a moment. Then he leads Lily and Alex upstairs.


A few moments later…

After some argument, the rest of them decide to split up…despite Dawson’s warning that it was how people got killed in horror movies. Joey goes with Jack while Dawson stays with Samantha and Ethan.

The three of them are searching outside, in case whatever went out that door is still there.

"Good lord, I’m shaking," Samantha mutters. "I’m actually shaking. I’ve never been so shaken up before."

"It’s understandable," Ethan tells her with a smile. "It’s pretty cold out. I’m used to this, though."

She laughs. "Aw, we got a tough man!" she jokes.

"A smile?" he asks. "Look at that…I actually got you to smile."

"For a bit, anyway," she replies.

While this is going on, Dawson is making sure to pay attention to every detail of their exchange. An amused look come over his face as he starts to realize they are…attracted to one another.

"I’m going to check the shed," Ethan says.

Immediately, Dawson wants to join him.

"I’ll come with you!"

"Hey!" Ethan stops him, grinning. "Who’s the superhero around here, huh?"

Dawson rolls his eyes and mutters "Whatever" as Ethan approaches the shed. He turns back towards Samantha.

"Look at that guy!" he grumbles, looking for Samantha’s reaction to his next words. "He’s loud, self-centred, pushy, a glory-hog…"

"Brave?" Samantha adds. "And cute, too." With a smile curling up her lips.

Dawson smirks at her.

"How can you tell? You haven’t seen his face yet," Dawson laughs. "But you do like him, don’t you?" Dawson asks, smiling.

She smirks back at him, a shameless sparkle in her eyes

"How could you tell?" she inquires.

"I’m a perceptive guy," he replies, laughing once more. "Granted, I’m not so perceptive when it comes to myself."

"You can say that again," she says as she looks over to where Ethan has disappeared. "It took three weeks for you to get that I wanted you to ask me out."

Dawson laughs. "I have the feeling it won’t take him that long. Good for you. I was just kidding before. I like the guy."

"Good," she says with a smile. "And just for the record, I’d also be okay with any girl you just so happen to have a thing for," Samantha adds, with a magnificent gesture of her hand.

"Ha," Dawson laughs. "I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that for awhile, do you? I’m the big workaholic, remember?"

Samantha crosses her arms, staring at Dawson doubtfully.

"I used to think that, you know?" she tells him. "But you’re not, Dawson. It’s funny how you always find time to spend with Joey." Dawson suppresses a sigh with a `Here we go again´ expression on his face. "Don’t look at me like that, Dawson Leery, because it’s true. And tonight, the more I see you with these old friends of yours…it’s like you’ve become this completely other person. You open up. You have fun. Actual fun, not whatever it is you do at those parties back in LA. This whole Halloween bash of yours…despite the possible supernatural element…it was a pretty good idea."

Dawson shrugs.

"Being around them…" Dawson explains. "It reminds me of where I come from, I guess. My responsibilities don’t weigh on me as much. It’s hard to believe I spent five years hardly even speaking to any of them. But after what happened to Jen… maybe I just realize how important they are to me."

"You want my advice?" Samantha asks. "Act like this at work. It’ll save you a nervous breakdown."

Dawson laughs. A moment later, Ethan comes out of the shed.

"Nothing," he announces. "Shall we move on?"

"Sure," Dawson says with a smirk on his face. "I think I saw something over there that might help us."


Meanwhile, inside the house…

Upstairs, Doug slowly creeps towards the bathroom. Lily and Alex follow closely behind him, neither one knowing what to expect. They both think that, any moment, the ghost will come back.

Doug, however, isn’t even a bit superstitious. He is already starting to figure out what is going on and goes along with it.

"Stay close to me," he instructs the kids as he approaches the bathroom.

There, inside, he sees the exact same message Lily and Alex had seen. ‘You’re All Gonna Pay’, spelled out in letters on the mirror.

He steps inside. Alex and Lily just stand at the door, petrified.

"It’s okay," Doug reassures them. "No one’s here."

He kneels down, inspecting the floor. Something catches his eye, which he inspects closer. Dirt on the tiles.

"Oh my god…" he whispers.

"What is it?" Lily asks.

"Somebody’s here!" he announces. "Somebody is definitely here!"

Just as he says that, the curtains of the shower moves and they realize a silhouette behind them. Doug places his arm in front of the kids in a protective gesture as Lily reaches for Alex hand.


Back in the basement, moments later…

A pair of eyes watch silently as Jack and Joey walk down the stairs.

"I don’t understand why everyone’s so worked up about it?" Jack asks. "It’s just Dawson up to his old tricks again."

"I’m not so sure," Joey replies. "What if it really is a ghost? Don’t you think it’s possible?"

"Who cares?" he asks. "Ghost? Dawson? All I know is I get to see my man in action." He says, eyeing Joey with a chuckle. "Capeside has the lowest crime rate imaginable."

"Oh, what a shame?" Joey replies sarcastically, amused by Jack. "You’d prefer he lived in the Big Apple, where the police get into weekly gunfights?"

"Hey, at least we’d get to see you more often, right?" he shrugs. "Sometimes I need my friends close," he says, his mind wandering to the Amy’s custody thing.

Joey notices and smiles at him, giving him a quick hug that he returns.

However, a moment later, a can falls off the shelf. Moving in front of Joey, Jack goes to investigate.

"Wait here!" he instructs.

"Oh, come on, Jack" she tries to argue, but he doesn’t give her a chance.

Joey watches helplessly, as Jack goes around the corner. He disappears, and doesn’t speak again for several moments.

"Jack?" Joey calls out. "Is everything all right?"

Her answer comes in a loud crash. The light bulb overhead shatters, blanketing the basement in complete darkness. Joey gasps, spinning around.

"Jack?" Joey calls out again. "Please tell me that was –"

Before she can answer, a hand clasps down on her shoulder from behind.

"Noooo!" she screams, pushing her assailant away roughly.

After that, Joey runs as fast as she can up the stairs. All the while, she can hear footsteps racing behind her. She can’t bear to look back, afraid of what she’ll see.

Finally, Joey reaches the door, swinging it open. Before she can get far, she runs into somebody else…somebody who grabs her by the shoulders.

Joey screams once again, before realizing it’s Dawson.

"Joey, calm down, it’s just me!" he tells her. "What is it? What’s wrong?"

"He got Jack!" she yells. "Oh god, he’s right behind me. The lights went out and…"

At that moment, a hand grasps her arm from behind. Joey turns around to see someone in a dark hooded sweatshirt appears behind her.

Then she screams…


Halloween house, main door’s porch.

Time seems to freeze in the seconds it takes Joey to realize who it is.

"Audrey?" Joey asks with disbelief. "Is that really you?"

"Who did you expect, Bunny?" Audrey steps out of the shadows and reveals herself
fully, while laughing all the while, holding her stomach. "The ghost of Christmas, er Halloween, past. And you should’ve seen your face!"

Joey realizes that everybody is there and all of them are kinda laughing or smiling.

"Great! So I am assuming everybody knew but me?" Joey says, pretending to be mad, her hands on her hips

"No," Lily says, giggling. "But I knew about it from the beginning. My brother asked me for my help. Do you really think I’m that easily scared? Oh, please," she says, rolling her eyes and making Dawson laugh as they give the high five to each other.

"You knew and you didn’t tell me?" Alex says, looking at her with disbelief.

"Well, if I had, what fun would that have been?"

Alex just glares at her and Lily shrugs her shoulders.

"I just found out when we were upstairs," Doug says in his defense.

"And I did when we were in the basement but Audrey asked me not to tell you," Jack explains to Joey, laughing.

"Dawson told us when we were outside searching," Ethan adds, and Samantha nods her head.

Joey’s attention finally goes back to Audrey. "I didn't expect this! You do know that you scared me half to death, don't you?" she says, a grin appearing in her face as she finally rushes up to hug her.

"Not just me," Audrey says proudly. "Dawson too. He asked me specifically that you had to be the last one to know."

"You," Joey turns to Dawson with an almost menacing look in her eyes. "I should have known you would be up to your old tricks."

Dawson can only grin sheepishly. "And of course, you have always been my favorite target," he says as he walks to the door and opens it as a signal for people to go back into the house.

"Whatever," she says as she links her arm with Audrey and they walk back inside, everybody following, still amused.

"When did you two plan this?" Joey asks Audrey, as they enter the living room, Dawson appearing now by Audrey’s side. "The last I heard you were in Europe."

"I would have called you sooner," Audrey apologizes. "But I called Dawson last week when I was back in the good old United States of America because I thought he was still in L.A.," she says, smiling at Dawson who smiles her back. "Well, it turns out the boy up and moved across the country and I didn't have a clue. A girl can miss a lot hot trotting about Europe. Anyway, after I called Dawson last week he called me back and asked me to help him play some tricks on you guys. And let me tell you, you guys totally need to loosen up. I know it's probably hard for you to have fun with me so far away but…"

"Can I talk now?" Joey interrupts what is quickly becoming one of Audrey's rambling soliloquies and Dawson laughs as Audrey wears a straight face.

"If you must."

"When I called you a few days ago you said you were in Amsterdam."

"Yeah. I should so give up singing and become an actress."

"So you weren't on the other side of the world…"

"I was on the other coast. Dawson didn't want his cover to be blown. And have you ever known me to miss out on mischief?"


Moments later…

Inside the house, identities are still being revealed. As the group of old friends keep going on and on about old times, Ethan has been watching the woman that is wearing the Catwoman costume. He looks at her appreciatively through his mask. She glances towards him then turns her head away once again. ‘She’s been doing that since we came back from outside,’ he thinks to himself. He watches her walk out of the room and debates with himself for a moment. Then he stands up and follows her.

He is looking around in the hall when he hears an interesting sound kind of like a purr. He turns around and comes face to face with the sultry figure he has been admiring all night.

"Good, I’ve got your attention," she says getting closer to him. "The question is who are you?"

"I’ll take off mine if you take off yours," he says watching her mouth curve in to a smile.

"Okay, on the count of three we take them off," she reaches her hand up to her mask. He does the same.

They count together, "One…two…three." They both pull off their masks looking at each other with a questioning look and then with intense stares.

"Samantha right?" Ethan continues to try and get his bearings while still staring at her. "The girl from the costume shop?"

"I can’t believe it," she says laughing, her eyes staring at him intensely. "And you’re Joey’s friend right?" She now looks directly in his eyes. ‘His eyes are twinkling’ is her only thought.

"Yes, Ethan," he puts out his hand to shake hers, a bit formal he thinks but nevertheless polite.

"It seems that we have been designated to be a pair whether we like it or not," he says amused, but not able to hide he is happy with the thought just the same.

"Yeah, that’s what it seems," she says and he can swear he can see a dangerous, seductive sparkle in her eyes. He smiles.

"Well, as much as I love sharing this little moment with you, I think we better go back before they all start looking for us."

As they do, they catch Dawson’s attention, who smiles knowingly as he serves himself a drink at the mini-bar.

"Told you so," Joey comes up from behind him tickling him just a little bit around the waist. Dawson sighs. "Okay, okay, so you were right. Does that make you feel better?" he jokes.

"Yes, it does," she says seriously and Dawson laughs.

She stands next to him, drink in hand watching Samantha and Ethan talk while the rest of the group is now entranced by another horror movie. He hears Lily suppress a gasp and Alex mocking her for it. "How’d you know?" He looks sideways at her quickly.

"A woman knows these things." He gives her a puzzled look, which changes to a smile with a surprise half chuckle that escapes his lips.

Joey walks away and his eyes follow her as a smile lingers on his lips.


About an hour later.

"Well, the party is officially over," Dawson says as he stands up while turning off the DVD player with the remote. Everybody groans.

Jack and Doug are sharing a bowl of popcorn and so are Alex and Lily, who are sprawled on the sofa by Jack and Doug’s side. Samantha eats a candy apple while sitting on the floor and Ethan reads through a magazine, not really into the movie. Joey and Audrey are sitting on a smaller couch together and at Dawson’s words, Joey raises up her hand and smiles.

"Oh," she says, smiling. "You’re not the only one with surprises here, Dawson"

As everybody looks at her expectantly, she walks to where her bag is hanging and she retrieves an envelope from it.

"Empire State Building anyone?" She says, shaking the envelope in her hand. "I thought that a late visit up there would be the perfect ending to the day."

Her proposal is met with a few nods and smiles, everybody glad to prolong the night a little longer.

"Okay then, everybody get your stuff and let’s go!" she says, happily. And as everybody does so, Audrey approaches her.

"I really missed you," Audrey says as she hugs Joey again and pulls back a little.

"I missed you too," she replies, smiling. And she really has.

"But you know before when I said I was on the other coast?"

"Yeah?" Joey asks, her suspicions raised at Audrey’s tone. It’s her "I got to tell you something and I don’t really know how" voice.

"Well, I made a little pit stop in-between."

"Yeah?" Joey asks once again.

Audrey pauses for a moment as she tries to find the right words.

"I went to see Pacey."

"Oh." Now Audrey has Joey's full attention. "And…"

"And he's good. He's doing better than good Joey."

"So he’s still in New Orleans, right?"

"Right. Jo, he was totally relaxed and happy, really in his element."

"Did you see his new restaurant?"

"He gave me the tour. You wouldn't even believe it, the place is huge."

"So he was…good?"

"Yeah. He is really happy."

"Then I'm happy for him," Joey can't help but smile softly.

"You are, aren't you, Bunny?"

"Yes, I am. I had thought about giving him a call or something but I just don’t want to pressure him. You know? I’m sure he needs space and I’m gonna give it to him. But I hope I will be able to pick up the phone soon, or that he will, and we’ll be able to behave like friends again. That’s all I really want. And I hope he does too."

Audrey smiles at her. "I’m sure he does too. As you said, I think he just needs some space to figure things out. But he ultimately will, don’t worry about that," she says, putting her arm around Joey’s shoulder and squeezing her lightly.

"God, I’m serious, I’ve missed you," Joey says again as Audrey laughs and they hug.

"Aunt Joey," Alex approaches them with a big grin on his face. "We’re ready."

"Let’s go then!" she says brightly.


New York City, night

Nine people stand on a sidewalk in New York City, their eyes travelling upwards to an iconic structure, the Empire State Building. The steel structure looms over the streets of New York City. This time of year it’s lit with orange, blue and white lights.

"We’re going up there, Aunt Joey?" Alex points towards the sky feeling a bit queasy just thinking about it.

"Alex, a trip to New York City isn’t complete until you’ve gone to the top of the Empire State Building. Come on, everybody," Joey waves her arm as she begins to cross the street quickly in front of the cars.

She yells back at them, "We’ve got to move if we want to make sure we get to the top before they close down for the night." She turns around still walking, watching everyone trudge behind her. Dawson and Audrey have locked arms as they walk, Lily and Alex, walking by them still in costume, swing their arms and push each other every once in awhile.

Jack and Doug walk closely together with Jack reaching down to gently brush his hand up against Doug’s. She glances at Ethan and Samantha who seem to be in deep conversation. She waits for all of them, smiling at the fact that she is sure this will be a magical experience for them all.

"Aunt Joey, that’s an awfully high building." Alex looks up again now that he is closer to the tall structure. "I thought you were a scaredy cat?" Alex looks over at Joey who smirks at him.

Joey puts up her hands as they all reach her. "Okay, I have pre-printed tickets for everyone. This will save us all time so that we don’t have to stand in line."

"Well, aren’t you just Miss Organization," Audrey lets go off Dawson’s arm and goes up to Joey. "But Joey there isn’t any line." Audrey looks inside to see the night security guards and a few people exiting the building.

"Everyone, take one," Joey yells, ignoring Audrey’s comment. Audrey grabs a ticket out of Joey’s hand as they exchange a glance and Audrey winks at her, making her laugh. Then, as instructed, she goes in the door.

Dawson is next in line and tries to take the ticket out of Joey’s hand, but she snatches it away. "No, you and I are going in last."

Dawson just raises his eyebrows and steps out the way as she hands a ticket to both Lily and Alex. "Follow Audrey and stay with her okay?" They both nod and begin to run inside. "And no running," Joey yells from outside. •That goes for you too Lily!" Dawson adds.

Jack, Doug, Ethan and Samantha take their tickets from Joey and walk in to the building leaving Joey and Dawson behind standing on the sidewalk.

"You know what? This was a great idea. As you said, it’s the perfect way to end Halloween. I think we are a great team," he says smiling.

Joey smiles back at him. "Of course we are. That is, of course, when one of us is not hiding information from the other." Dawson coughs and then they both burst out laughing.

"I’ve been to New York City a few times but I’ve never visited the Empire State Building," Dawson finally says and they share a glance.

"Well, you know Dawson, they say that a lot of magic has happened at the top of this building," Joey smiles then looks down at her feet. Somehow, the mention of magic gives her a fuzzy feeling. She has a friend that is with her always. Pure magic, she remembers. It’s happening a lot to her lately - little memories, little moments that take her by surprise at the most unexpected moments.

Still looking down, she sees Dawson’s feet move, causing her to look up. "Shall we?" Dawson holds the door open for her and they both walk into the lobby. No one is there so they assume they have all gone up already.

A few minutes later, Dawson and Joey walk out of the elevator and onto the observation deck. Dawson walks over to the left as Joey goes to the right to make sure everybody’s there and everything is okay.

She walks over to Doug and Jack. Doug has his hand on Jack’s back, caressing it lightly. They turn around when they hear someone approach. "I’m going to go over and talk to Dawson for a minute," Doug says walking away, looking back at Jack.

"Jen would have loved tonight," Jack sighs thinking back to the time that he and Jen spent going to school in New York City.

Joey hugs Jack then pulls back. "I like to think that she is here with us," she whispers.

Jack nods his head and looks out on to the lights of New York City, "I’m glad you and Doug came," Joey says as she gently touches his back and then she leaves him alone with his thoughts.

She walks towards Dawson but not before stopping to watch Audrey with Alex and Lily.

"I want to look out of those things," Alex points towards the observation binoculars.

Audrey walks over to the binoculars and looks at the price, "Okay this is highway robbery to just put your eyes up to a piece of glass to look at what…lights?" Audrey reaches in to her purse in an attempt to come up with some change for Alex.

"You’re going to walk all the way out to the edge?" Lily looks at Alex with a rather apprehensive stare.

"Here," Audrey hands Alex some change. "But don’t get mad at me when all you see is lights." Alex looks at Lily who still has a rather pained expression on her face. He begins to move but steps back to take Lily’s hand and they walk to the observation binoculars. He puts in the money and lets her go first.

Ethan and Samantha are standing to the left of the observation binoculars, "Fun night huh?" Ethan glances sideways at Samantha who keeps her eyes trained on the lights of the city.

"Dawson told me Halloween has always been an interesting time for this group," she turns to look around at everyone.

Ethan turns around as well. "Seems we’ve stumbled upon an interesting group of people."

"It sure does." They smile at each other and then they both turn back around to once again look at the lights.

Joey walks over to Dawson just as Doug walks away. He is leaning on the railing, looking relaxed but pensive. She wonders what he’s thinking about.

"Hey," she says. Dawson turns to face her, smiling

"Hey," he echoes.

Joey stands right next to him. "Wow, look at those lights." She takes a deep breath and rests her forearms on the railing, mimicking Dawson, their arms touching slightly.

Dawson looks out at all of the lights. "I haven’t been here for very long but this city represents so much energy and potential to me." He glances over at Joey seeing her smile then close her eyes.

"When I moved to New York City, this is one of the first things that I did. I’ve come up here a thousand times but always in the daytime. I love to see the city alive at my feet."

"Is kind a powerful sensation, isn’t it?" he says. Dawson places his hands on the railing next to Joey’s, "I take it you’ve never been up here at night?"

Joey shakes her head then replies. "Yes, I have. With Jen, back in high school, that time I told you we had come here together, remember?" Dawson nods his head. "I was kind of waiting for a special occasion to do it again. And then, after Jen died…I didn’t want to come all by myself, knowing I would remember her." She looks at Dawson and smiles widely as he places his hand gently over hers. In a natural, instinct gesture, their fingers intertwine under Joey’s gaze.

"I’m glad you waited," he smiles softly at her when she looks back at him. She looks at their clasped hands and a sweet smile appears in her face.

"I’m glad I waited too," she says, both turning to face the city, side by side.

CREDITS