Gale's Flashback Of Great Sadness. The Flash is putting Dawson's crib together. How much do I wish we could have seen some nifty early-'80s hair and wardrobe on the Flash? I betcha he was a loafers-without-socks kind of guy. Sadly, I assume the powers that be spent that wardrobe cashola on Bessie's mini-cameo. Anyway. "What do you think he's going to be?" the Flash asks. "If he's anything like you, a pain in the ass," Gale retorts. The Flash chortles, and says some stuff about not wanting Dawson to be a big sports star, because "team sports teach conformity." Okay, Mr. Football Coach. Also, if Dawson was going to be some brilliant athlete, I think it would have happened already, so you can stop worrying. In fact, the Flash hopes his son grows up to be "a freak." Gale raises her brows. "Freaks never peak in high school," the Flash says. "They never grow up to sell real estate, drink heavily on weekends and beat their kids." Gale thinks about this, and agrees cheerfully to "hope for a freak." I think they got their wish. "Mom, you okay?" Dawson asks, behind her. And Gale comes into the now. She sighs and says that, for the moment, anyway, she is okay. They watch Lily play in her crib. That kid is so cute. "You know what the worst part is?" Gale asks. "She'll never even know he existed." Dawson tightens his mouth, and assures his mother that Lily is "going to hear about her daddy every chance [he] get[s]." Gale starts to cry. "You are going to get your life back, I promise," she tells him. Dawson looks off into the distance, and tells her that he's not going anywhere any time soon. "My place is here with you and Lily," he says. Gale stares at him, and tells him that he can "fall apart any time [he] wants," that there's nothing to be ashamed of. Dawson tells her that he isn't ashamed, he's just numb. He doesn't feel a thing. "Which, to tell you the truth, is really not so bad," he says. Gale agrees that numbness is great, "until it all comes crumbling down." Dawson smirks. "Well, until then," he says.

Leery Yard Of Terrible Anguish. Pacey pulls the car onto the lawn and casts a long glance at the flowers behind him. Flashback part…four? Whatever. This time, the Flash is teaching Pacey to drive, telling him to switch the car into reverse. "Ooh, careful, watch the flowers! My wife will have me killed. And…park. There you go, Pacey, you did it. You know how to drive. Not terribly well, mind you, but good enough to pass that test." Pacey, I must say, is the only person acting like this is a moment he's remembering, rather than something he's experiencing firsthand. It's actually quite touching. He thanks the Flash softly. The Flash says it's "his pleasure," and gives Pacey a little pep talk about cutting his own dad some slack. Because it's hard to be the sheriff! He then tells Pacey that if he ever wants to practice driving, to "knock on [the Flash's] door." Pacey agrees…and the Flash fades away. Pacey sits in the car for a second, thinking, then gets out and heads into the house.