So I kinda of thought the way Melissa and Joey got together wasn't super romantic, not like, let's say Jim and Pam from The Office. I didn't like them being drunk the first time they slept together and Mel pretending to be someone else. I felt like they have so much chemistry, that should have happened on its own. Anyway, started thinking about putting Mel and Joe and some of my favorite Jim and Pam situations and it kind of wrote itself. Extra points in you can tell me the quote and the episode that I borrowed from.

I don't own Melissa and Joey or The Office. Just having some fun.

Bad Day

Joe Longo was having a bad day. The stupid thunderstorm, made the stupid electricity flash during the stupid night which is why he over slept. Rushing the kids and Mel downstairs and rushing breakfast, he burned his stupid hand. Driving too fast in the stupid rain, he got pulled over. And because he'd been rushing; he left his wallet on the stupid kitchen counter. DAMN IT!

There are some days he swore his life just cannot suck more. Where is the person he once was? His suits. Being the boss. Getting to use his freaking brain! Speaking with other adults that spoke his language of stocks and bonds and hedge funds and risks. There are days he just misses it terribly. His soul just feels unused and hollow.

With a face rub, he pushes the door into the kitchen. There, next to his stupid wallet, he sees it. A lunch box. Mel's.

And just like that, like a dam bursting on a desert, his soul is overflowing. He is smiling and he doesn't even know it. Guess he would just have to take this to her. Now. Guess he'd just have to see before dinner time. Bummer.

He opened the door to her office. Her hair was down and she's wearing some tight little number, and her cleavage, sweet Jesus, he can barely tear his eyes away, and she's struggling with some plastic sandwich thingy she's gotten from the vending machine. "Burke, what the hell are you doing? That is molded!"

"Oh my God Longo, you just saved my life!" She ran and through her arms around him dramatically! And he knows she's kidding and making a joke, but her sexy body squeezed into his and his body is about to respond in a not so kidding way. "You brought my lunch! Thank you thank you thank you!" she squalled, before yanking the lunch box out of his hands. "I was so hungry! I almost just ate the plastic instead of the sandwich. Oh my God I love your lasagna!" She had two bites down before she'd even finished the sentence. He laughed, really laughed. God he loved how she could do that to him. Even when they argued, he'd never met anyone who was as quick witted, and who kept him on his toes like Mel Burke.

And then she started, "Mmmmming." And here is the thing, if he couldn't have her in his bed making those moaning noises, then the next best thing was having her moaning over his food that he had cooked for her. He'd just have to stand there and listen to it for her entire lunch time. Again. Bummer.

Then the door opened , "Hey honey want to go to lunch?" Austin asked. Of course her boyfriend would pop in when Joey was here. Her gorgeous, tall stupid boyfriend whose athletic body occupied the entire doorframe.

"Sorry, Austin. Joey brought me some of his lasagna, do you want some?"

"Sure, if you don't mind." He didn't even acknowledge Joey was in the room, but quickly made his way to his girl friend's side.

"I only have one fork we can," she wiggled her eyebrows at him "…share."

"Ewww."

Boom! Just like that I'm reminded I'm just the hired help. And just like that, the bad day was back.

The weather just would not let up. And after picking up the kids and doing the daily teenage drama, the home work thing, and reinjuring his burned hand while cooking dinner, arguing with the kids about getting to bed on time because they wanted to stay up to talk to Mel when she got home. He was pissed she was so late too. He'd just had it! He was done. They should be half way through their first glass of red wine and fighting about something stupid.

He peeked out the back yard. The sheets of rain continued. They wouldn't be hangout out there tonight anyway. Damn it.

He heard her car door slam. 10:30? Really? No call or anything? He poured a glass of red waiting for the front door. And the second he saw her face, he just couldn't be mad. She'd had a hard day too. He made it a double and handed it to her. "Backyard is rained out, how about a chick-flick on the couch?"

"Ugh, yes. That's perfect. I'm changing first."

And when she came down, no make up, in her favorite yoga pants, and an old shirt of his…God! He knows they are not a real couple, but times like these…he just wants to pretend this is real. Because at time like this, it feels real.

And then she tells him about her crappy day at work. He tells her about his. She looks at the burn on his hand and goes and gets medicine for it. As she is rubbing the lotion on his hand she says, "Austin and I had a big fight. He doesn't want kids, Joe."

This is where being her "best friend" and being "into her" kind of sucks. As a friend he knows this information rocks her to her center. Austin is perfect or Austin was perfect for her. This could be a deal breaker for her. And he hates that she is hurting.

But the "douche-bag-that-is-really-into-her" wants to celebrate, scream, and beat his chest like some kind of crazy gorilla mating call.

But he doesn't. Instead he tells her that Austin is a freaking idiot. And they finish watching When Harry Met Sally. Or he does at least. He looks over and Mel has nodded off using his shoulder as her pillow.

He cannot stop smelling her hair.

He cannot stop watching her sleep.

He cannot stop smiling.

"Not a bad day," he whispers.

Author's Notes-

So, I know no one is ever in to Mel and Joey any more, scared I'm going to write this and no one is going to read it. And there is more coming…so if you do read it, please leave me a little note : )