Chapter One

Jim couldn't believe what he'd done. He had been planning on telling Pam how he felt since he talked to Jan. He still wasn't sure on what he was going to do with the transfer, even though he knew that he should. And here he was just staring at Pam, breathless. She was just staring at him; he knew he should say something before the moment was gone, but he had said what he needed to say before. He wanted her to say something, anything, but she kept staring at him.

At this point, Jim wanted something to interrupt the silence. Words from her or him, anything, but he couldn't get his voice to work. He just kept looking at her. She looked scared, conflicted, this worried him. He should have known, he shouldn't have kissed her, telling her way enough, but he'd already done it and there was no going back now.

"Jim," she said, finally breaking the silence.

"Pam, I-"

"I should…I need to go home," she said. She wasn't looking at him anymore.

"To Roy," Jim said, realizing what she was doing.

"What do you expect me to do?" Pam asked. "I'm going tomarry Roy, Jim. I'm engaged. I can't just-"

"You won't just break it off with him," Jim said, looking above her head, even though he knew the answer to the question before the words left his mouth.

"I told you before I can't," Pam said. "I've already promised Roy. I can't just break it off with Roy. I've been with him too long, don't you even know what that's like Jim?You can't just do that to someone."

They were silent until she made her way across the darkness of the office. "I'm leaving Pam. I'm transferring." His decision was made.

She looked back at him, surprised. "What? Where?"

"I'm taking your advice and Dwight's, actually, and I'm taking that position in Stamford. I already talked to Jam about it," Jim said. "I actually decided that you were right. I've got my future to think about and now you won't have to worry about things being weird or uncomfortable."

"Jim..." She was fumbling for the right thing to say, but they both knew, she couldn't. She couldn't have Jim working at the Scranton branch while she married Roy. Things would be awkward and not the same, they both knew it. What was between them would never be the same way again; there was no use in standing in the dark and grasping at straws. Pam had made her choice.

Pam had gotten a ride home from Ryan, who looked grateful for the chance to get away from Kelly. He hadn't asked very many questions about why Jim or Roy weren't taking her home.

"Turn right here," Pam said softly. "Then it's the first one on the left." Ryan pulled into the driveway.

"It, uh, looks nice," Ryan said nodding.

"Thank you for giving me a ride," Pam said, giving him a tight lipped smile. She got out of Ryan's car slowly looking at the home she shared with Roy. She gave Ryan a little wave as he pulled out her driveway. She slowly made her way up the drive; she didn't want to go in. There was still so much on her mind. She sat down on the porch and hugged her knees up against her. She rested her head on her knees and remembered everything that happened that evening.

She heard the door open and she jumped.

"Baby'zat you out here?" Roy asked his voice muffled with sleep.

"Hey," Pam said, standing up to greet him. Roy was her life. Roy. He was the person she had decided to spend the rest of her life with.

"Did you forget," he yawned. "Did you forget your key or somthin'?"

"No, I just wanted to get some air before I came in," Pam replied.

"Halbert bring you home?" Roy asked.

"Yeah, actually he did," Pam said, walking towards Roy. "Let's get you to bed, you've had a long day."

They entered the house together and Pam once again told herself this was her choice. Roy was her life, not Jim.