Michael waited until the end of the day and everybody had left and walked over to the annex. Picking up the picture of Holly and Toby's unborn baby, he sat down and stared wistfully at it for a few minutes.
I want what they have. Marriage. A baby. Someone to come home to come home to every night. That isn't too much to ask is it? Why does he get what I want-what I deserve? This is nuts. There are other women.
And as he thought about all the other women he knew, only one name came to mind.
0000
"Thanks for seeing me on such short notice," he smiled as he poured the glass of white wine at the restaurant table.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a sitter like this?" Jan smiled, curious as to what Michael wanted.
"I know, but I really think that I'm worth it. We're worth it."
"We?"
"Jan, I've been giving it a lot of thought, and I think it makes perfect sense for us to get back together. I miss you. I like to think that you miss me. I miss us. I miss what made us great. I saw you when you were you, the real you, and you saw me- and we didn't care what the rest of the world thought. So what if the rest of the world thought that we were the absolute worst two people that could have gotten together-ever? I don't care what people think. And I know you don't care either. And what about little Astrid? Astrid needs a father. She's going to need someone to protect her from all the teasing she's going to get from having a name like that, for one."
Jan stared at him incredulously.
"Michael.."
"Jan..I know it was fate that brought you here tonight."
"No, it was the dozen phone calls that you left on my answering machine."
"But it was fate that you finally picked up," Michael smiled, and she finally cracked a grin in spite of herself. He took it as his cue.
"Anyways…I've come to the conclusion that we're soul mates. When it comes to true love nothing or no one can keep us apart. We're kind of like the Titanic."
Jan did a double take.
"What I'm trying to say is…"Jan…will you marry me?"
She could honestly say that she was truly shocked.
00000
Not much surprised anyone at Dunder Mifflin, but everyone pretty much agreed they weren't expecting Jan to show up with Michael Monday morning, let alone for what he had had to say.
"Everyone, you remember Jan. I hope you all make her feel quite welcome because- because she's my soon to be wife and hopefully mother of my yet to be born or even conceived children," Michael proudly announced.
Holly had happened to be standing by Pam when Michael spoke; her jaw dropped, giving Michael the exact reaction he'd been hoping for. He pulled Jan in for a deep kiss, and Holly excused herself. She quickly walked to the restroom, where the tears flew freely.
Instinct told Pam something was wrong, so she followed Holly in there.
"Hey… is everything okay?" she asked gently.
"Yes," Holly lied as she wiped off her face.
"Is it the baby? Are you feeling sick? Do you want me to get Toby?"
"No.." Holly said quickly. "It will pass."
"Michael's engagement seems pretty sudden doesn't it," Pam commented.
Holly nodded.
"Are you okay with it?"
"Why shouldn't I be? I'm happy for him. If he's found true love and has found someone that will make all his dreams come true than he should go for it. I've moved on and have happiness; he deserves the same."
"Do you think he's found it?"
Holly looked at Pam. "I don't think that's my business anymore."
"Well, okay. I'm always here if you need to talk. I hope you get to feeling better," she patted Holly on the arm and excused herself. Holly had wanted to tell her everything, how Jan was no good for Michael and if she wasn't pregnant she would tear her hair out. But there was no reason for that. Michael was free to make whatever decisions he wanted to, even though they were the worst ones he could possibly make. She knew he had hurt him and she had blinded him to other women, so she only had herself to blame for this. But Toby would want her to stay out of this, and Michael wouldn't listen, so she wasn't sure what she would do. Was it for the best that she stay out of Michael's life, or should she risk everything to help out a friend? What should she do?
Oh Pam, you have no idea how complicated things are. If you only knew.
