A/N: So you will not be confused when you read this chapter, Karen does NOT exist in this scenario. I apologize to all you Jim/Karen fans out there, but I guess this just isn't the story for you. Go read something else or get a job.


The merger was now upon them.

The entire office was obviously looking forward to it. The Party Planning Committee had decorated the newcomer's desks with confetti and streamers. A giant banner reading WELCOME STAMFORD TRANSFERS! was hanging over reception. Phyllis had baked cookies and Angela had made her famous brownies. Both platters were sitting on the kitchen counter, covered in saran wrap and being eyed by Kevin from his corner. Everybody was looking better than their usual drab selves, too. Creed had combed his hair and had gotten rid of most of the rotten, mung bean smell around his desk. Phyllis was wearing a new perfume Bob Vance gave her that was making Stanley's eyes water. Michael was wearing his pinstriped birthday suit and kept sprinting back to his office to check his nose and ear hair on the back of a soup spoon. Pam had even decided to wear a cute little sweater her mother had knitted for her for the occasion. Her hair, which she recently began wearing down, was full and curly. She was leaning her back against the front of her desk as she fixed Ryan's silk tie, giggling at how proud and impressive he thought he looked. Pam thought he did, too.

"You look very handsome today, you know," Pam smiled as she rearanged his fancy wine-colored tie so it lied perfectly against his thin chest. Ryan grinned.

"I know. I picked the suit out and everything," He looked over her outfit, smiling, "And you don't look too bad yourself."

Pam blushed cutely as he fingered one of her cotton cuffs. She loved the way he made her feel.

Pam checked her watch. "They'll be coming any minute now. We should sit down, or we'll be making a rather uncomfortable impression on these new people." she actually didn't want him to go, but knew it was for the best.

Ryan looked a little hurt, but understood all the same. He took a step forward, gave her a kiss on the nose, and walked back to his desk. Pam, smiling, turned around and walked back around her desk to sit down and greet the newcomers. When she looked out, she saw Ryan wink at her from his desk and felt butterflies flit around her stomach. When he looked back down at his work, the smile slid slowly off her face.

She didn't tell him, but Pam knew the real reason why Ryan was wearing that suit.

She should have known he would pull something like this, and it made her sad. Ryan knew Jim would be coming back today in the merger, and he obviously wanted to look impressive. Even though both he and Pam had decided not to tell him about them being a couple, he still wanted to show him up. To show Jim how far he had gone, which was technically just to a desk over. But Pam would never point that out to him. She cared about him too much.

Her and Ryan had just come out with their relationship that morning. They both walked hand-in-hand to Toby's cubicle and told him the truth. Toby was mildly surprised, but smiled politely all the same and promised he'd take care of it. Of course, Kelly heard the whole thing, being only 2 feet away, and burst into tears, running through the kitchen door. Toby then sighed sadly, saying nevermind. When Ryan and Pam walked out the annex, everyone looked at them. A few started applauding, and Michael bear-hugged them both, saying how proud he was. Phyllis said how happy she was for both of them, Stanley rolled his eyes, and Creed mumbled something about "brother and sister". Ryan and Pam could only chuckle nervously throughout the entire ordeal.

But at least that was over with, and now Pam could just worry about the merger that was looming closer and closer with each passing hour.

The truth was, Pam was nervous about seeing Jim again. He had been her best friend for years, but then he told her he was in love with her. And she thought she loved him too. But he left her so he wouldn't have to deal, and both were left standing on thin ice with each other. Even though Pam had found new happiness with Ryan, she didn't know how Jim was going to act around her. Would he be nervous? Come on to her again? Act like none of it ever happened? Pam bit down on a fingernail, wondering what she should do.

Suddenly, she got an IM from Ryan:

NottaFireGuy: I love you

He was looking at her, smiling. Pam smiled back, her love for him growing.

BringingArtsyBack: I love you too

She knew she could get through anything with Ryan at her side. Even if when was facing Jim again.

***

To Pam's surprise, Jim was the first to arrive.

She was just sitting at her desk, playing solitaire and not expecting anyone to arrive for at least 10 more minutes. She had just finished an awesome move, when she heard a soft "Still with the mindless computer games, huh Beesly?" from behind her.

She whipped her head around to see the grinning form of Jim Halpert standing over her desk. He had his usual messenger bag slung over his shoulder, and his hair was still floppy and stuck out at the ends. Practically everything was the same about him, and Pam couldn't help but smile. She really had missed her friend.

"Hey Jim, welcome back!" she said happily. She ditched her game of solitaire to give him a friendly hug hello.

"Good to be back," Jim said, looking deeply into her eyes. Pam looked away.

"By the way, Ryan has your old desk now," she pointed to Ryan, who was watching them closely. Pam blushed slightly, knowing what he was thinking. "So you're sitting in the one next to it." she directed his gaze to the desk adjacent.

Jim's smile faltered slightly as he looked to where she pointed, "Oh," he said quietly. He stood there awkwardly for a second before looking at Pam again, but noticed she had turned back to her solitaire game. He glanced around the entire office for a few seconds before slowly meandering towards his new and unfamiliar desk.

No one noticed Ryan smile slightly as he typed up his quarterly on the computer.

More people kept coming over the course of the morning. An odd man named Andy came just a few minutes after Jim, then a large man named Tony. A woman named Hannah and a black man named Martin both came rather late. Michael greeted each one with varying degrees of loudness, and making everyone extremely uncomfortable. Each time Michael would sprint out of his office in excitement, Jim tried to catch her eye and laugh. She chose to ignore this, knowing it would just be giving him false hope and would give Ryan something to be suspicious about. She just focused on her solitaire game, and hoped with all her heart Jim's feelings wouldn't get hurt.

"Hey, man. How're you and Kelly doing?" she heard Jim ask Ryan just now. Pam's head shot up, eyes wide.

Ryan's lips curled slightly. He glanced briefly in her direction before answering, "Oh, yeah, we broke up a few months ago."

Jim looked concerned, "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

Ryan shrugged, full-on smiling now. "Eh, it's okay. We never really saw each other eye-to-eye, you know?"

"Mind if I ask why you guys broke things off?"

Pam felt a cold sweat break out on her body. She shook her head vigorously at Ryan, but he seemed to be positively enjoying himself.

"Um... well, I guess it was just an agreement."

Jim turned back to his computer, "Well, don't worry man. You'll find someone someday..."

Ryan didn't answer, which Pam thought was odd. That was, until her IM dinged:

NottaFireGuy: Yeah, maybe someday;)

Pam didn't know if she wanted to burst out laughing or throw something at Ryan's head. His shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter. Pam shot him a glare that said, if you tell Jim about us I will make sure you wish you've never been born!, but was having trouble with it because she kept smiling. She thanked God Jim had his back to her, or he would have seen the whole exchange. That really wouldn't have helped her cause. She quickly typed:

BringingArtsyBack: Shut up!!! he'll see us, and you swore you wouldn't tell!

NottaFireGuy: I love you

Pam laughed out loud, which made Jim look up at her. She blushed and quickly typed back:

BringingArtsyBack: You're not getting out of this one that easy buster!:) Promise me you won't give anything away.

NottaFireGuy: All right fine. You never let me have any fun...

BringingArtsyBack: I love you:)

Ryan beamed at her when he looked up, and Pam smiled back. She felt relieved, because she knew Ryan would keep his word, and not give anything away to Jim. At least that was over with...

"Excuse me everyone, can I have your attention please?" Michael called, walking out of the newly decorated conference room. He waited till everyone was looking at him before he continued, "It is almost time for the orientation to begin. In a few minute's time, we will all be seated in this conference room, to begin the presentation. My employee, Dwight Schrute, and I have prepared a fun little video for you all to enjoy, and a few other skits later on. There will also be food and drink for you all to mingle over, so we will all enjoy that in due time."

"But first..."

Michael suddenly motioned for Ryan to stand up. Ryan looked thoroughly nervous before doing so, wondering what Michael had planned. To his immense surprise and embarressment, Michael grabbed his hand and held it in his own, like a parent holding their child's. Pam grinned; she wasn't going to let Ryan forget this anytime soon.

"I would just like to make an announcement, for all you newcomers..." Michael dragged Ryan over to reception, "... about two certain people in this office."

Pam's and Ryan's eyes seemed to bug out at the exact same time, both realizing what he was going to do. They both started protesting, saying that he really didn't have to, but Michael shushed them both. He reached over the counter, grabbing Pam's squirming hand.

Pam could see on Ryan's face that he just wanted to die as much as she did.

"For those of you who haven't heard, Pam and Ryan have recently become an item. I repeat: they are both unavailable, seeing as they are dating. They are off-limits to any of you people who want to jump either of them. I'm sorry, you will just have to live with it." Michael smiled lovingly at both of them for a second before turning and hugging a very uncomfortable Ryan around the middle. He then walked around Pam's desk and gave her a very awkward hug around the shoulders, seeing as she was sitting down. Michael straightened up, wiping a tear out of his eye.

Pam didn't dare look over at Jim.

"I would just like to say, that I'm so proud of these two." Michael said, choked up by tears, "Today is a very special day. Not only does our family double in size, but two of our family have found love with each other." he smiled fondly at them again before sniffing and walking back around to the center of the office area. Ryan wouldn't even look at her before he quickly walked back to his desk, his face red.

"Allrighty, enough chit chat. Everyone, into the conference room! Time to begin the presentation."

As they all walked toward the meeting room, Pam chanced a glance in Jim's direction, and his expression made her heart break.

She wished with all her heart this day could be over.