Disclaimer: I don't own the Office. I own many POBY icons... many of them. Kinda a problem I have.

A/N: Again, thank you so much for still taking interest in this little story of mine. I know I probably lost some readership over the months, but I will finish this story! If you're enjoying what you're reading, please let me know. It's much appreciated. As always, read, review and enjoy!

January 17, 2007

8:45 am

Pam was standing at the coffee machine, waiting for the final drop to hit the pot. She playfully drummed her fingers on the counter, feeling slightly upbeat. She had gotten up earlier that morning, actually doing some sketches she had been meaning to get done for class, causing her mood dramatically. She couldn't help but feel the urge to sketch more often in the past few weeks than she had in the past few months. She sighed from relief as she poured the fresh coffee and headed back to her desk. As she sat behind her desk, she noticed a few others enter the office, including Angela.

She was cleaning off her desk when she noticed Angela was standing in front of her desk. "Um... Pam?"

"Hey Angela. What's up?"

Angela rolled her eyes. "I'm not here for niceties." She shifted her eyes, looking to see if anyone could overhear them. "Have you seen Dwight this morning?"

Pam smirked slightly, finding Angela conspicuous attitude amusing to behold. "Sorry, I haven't seen him."

Angela nodded. "Well... when you do, please let me know." She gave Pam another curt nod and walked back to her desk.

As Pam watched Angela walk away, Jim came through the door, followed by Karen. Karen gave her a smile and a wave before nudging Jim and walking to her desk. Pam waved and looked to see Jim giving her a smile. "Morning, Beesly."

"Hey." She tried to give him a smile, but only a meek smirk appeared.

She noticed him fidget with his messenger bag, standing there before he took his seat. "So... um.. how was your weekend?"

"It was good, you know. Got some extra sketches done."

"That's awesome. Nice one." He stood there awkwardly for a moment later. "Well... see you later?"

"I'll be right here." She let escape a soft chuckle, seeing him relax slightly.

"Right. Later." As he took his seat, she noticed him shake his head, finding it endearing as well as a relief. She liked being reminded that he felt the tension that still remained between them, even though she knew she was the cause of much of it. She began to dwell on how much the tension seemed to effect her the most and her minor breakdown in the hallway with Dwight when Toby walked through the door. She felt a smile tug on the corners of her mouth seeing him walk up to her.

"Hey Pam." He gave her a gentle smile, pulling a message from his bin.

"Hey." She chuckled as she watched him fidget with his sheet, finding the gesture just as endearing as Jim's. "How was your weekend?"

"Oh, it was good. I had Sasha this weekend, so... that was cool."

"Nice." She smiled again as she saw Toby nodded. "See ya later?"

"Yeah. See ya." As he made his way toward the annex, she noticed a certain salesman eavesdropping. She didn't know why, but knowing that she and Toby were friends made her feel slightly better.

Toby walked through the kitchen, noticing Michael at his desk. He didn't want to know why he was there, and for a split second, he thought about ducking into the men's bathroom to hide, but he pressed on, finding Michael nod at his appearance. "Flenderson."

"Michael... um... what's up?"

Michael rolled his eyes, "Look, I really don't want to talk to you."

"Than why are you here?"

Michael sighed exasperatedly, "Listen, tell me all you know about Andrew Bernard."

Toby was taking aback by the question, "Uh... he transferred here from Stamford. He's director of sales, I think. Uh... he went to Cornell."

Michael shook his head. "I know that already, dumbass. I mean something that only HR reps would know." He folded his arms expectantly.

"You know I can't tell you that, Michael. That's something you have to ask him yourself."

Michael nodded. "Really. I see what this is. Be like that. That's cool." He headed toward the door.

Toby sighed, "Why are you asking this?"

Michael turned around, taken aback slightly. "Um... I don't know. He's always asking to hang out. If you could help me find some cool activity we could do together after work, I might reconsider that your not a complete waste of space." He shrugged. "But as usual, you've proved to be worthless." He headed for the door again, pausing briefly. "But if you hear anything, let me know."

Toby nodded, "Yeah, sure."

Michael rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He made his way through the kitchen, when Toby noticed Pam looking his way. He waved slightly, finding a small smile on her face. He went back to his desk, finding a smile on his own, taking him back a few nights ago when his smile seemed to brighten her face.

Toby found a chance to sneak away from the inventory "party" a little after nine when he saw Pam walking out of the warehouse. He stopped when he saw her walk toward her car, holding a melancholy expression. He was weary of seeing how she felt but was surprised when she was making her way toward him. "Hey Toby."

"Hey." He kicked some snow that was piled on the back wheel of his car, trying not to look at her in fear he might want to hold her. "Some party, huh?"

"Oh yeah. Way fun." She scoffed slightly, rolling her eyes. There was a small pause when Pam looked up at Toby, a small rim of tears around her eyes. "Do you think I'm too nice?"

Toby chuckled nervously. "I don't understand the question."

"You know, I mean..." She leaned on his trunk, crossing her legs at the ankle. "I try to help everyone... even if I don't want to, but there is something in me that doesn't want to at times. But I do it anyway! And it's so infuriating." She scoffed again. "And than I want to beat myself up, hating that I'm so friggin' nice." She chuckled softly. "When I was in high school, I thought it was so easy to be mean. All the mean, preppy girls making fun seemed so simple, you know. And here I am, twenty-eight years old and I still can't seem to find a backbone." At this point, she was shaking from the tears rolling down her cheeks and the cold. Without thinking, Toby wrapped his arms around Pam, stroking her curls, trying to stop her shakes.

Pam seemed to stiffen slightly, aware that they hadn't made contact since their Christmas kiss. But after a few moments, she seemed to breathe more steady under his embrace. Toby sighed in relief, feeling her pull away slightly. He saw her hopeful glance again, finding himself brought back months ago to a time before Jim Halpert and Karen Flipelli seemed to plague her dreams, when it was Pam and him. "I don't know about you, but I think you have a backbone." He blushed slightly, "I can't think of anyone who seems to stand up to Michael the way you do."

Pam chuckled. "Please... I'm just doing my job."

"That's what they all say." He was elated when she didn't pull away, but leaned into his embrace more, chuckling.

"You're an incredibly nice guy, Toby."

He shrugged. "I guess we're both just two nice people." He leaned his chin on the top of her head, smiling in the faint scent of her. "I don't think it's such a bad thing."

Pam looked up again, giving him a peck on the cheek. "Neither do I."

Toby wasn't exactly sure where they stood as far as friends or more. He had prepared himself all weekend for the conversation knowing it would be coming. He wasn't looking forward to it, mainly because he liked to think in the back of his mind he could be something more to Pam than just her 'office pal'. But to have something official began to look more and more appealing. He sighed miserably. "I got it bad."

10:20 am

Pam watched the repartee between Angela and Dwight and found herself envious of the bond they shared. Even though they seemed to be the two most far-removed people from affection or love in general, they seemed to mash well. Regardless of their morals, they seemed to deeply care for one another, which only made her love life that more pathetic. She glanced over at Karen and Jim in the conference room, and she couldn't help but feel this scene of loneliness, one that plagued her more often than not throughout the day. She watched as all the salesmen walked out of the office, getting a small wave from Karen again and a smile from Jim, trying her best to return the favor.

As the day progressed, she was able to breathe a little easier without having to put on a brave face. She noticed Angela smiling more than usual and couldn't help but feel a slight pang of jealousy. Without warning, Angela walked to her desk, "Pam... I was wondering if you like to get some coffee, get some fresh air."

Pam was taken aback, "Oh, sure." She grabbed her notepad, "I'll go ask everybody if they want anything."

"Okay. I'll meet you in a few minutes." She watched Angela with a slight bounce in her steps, finding the pang lessen, replaced with a more pleased feeling.

She walked to the annex toward Toby, clearing her throat. "Hey."

Toby's smile brought her back to their small moment before the weekend. She didn't realize how much his embrace helped her and for a split second she wished his arms were around her again. "Um... me and Angela are gonna go on a coffee run. Do you want anything?"

"You and Angela... really?"

Pam chuckled. "Yeah, I know. Weird." She shrugged. "So, you want the usual?"

Toby shook his head, "No, I think I might try that chai latte you're always raving about."

"I'm getting that too!" She blushed slightly, "Okay... one chai latte coming up. You won't be disappointed."

"I'm sure." She chuckled as she waved and headed back to the office as she saw Angela putting her coat on. With a wide smile from her, they both left the office.

11:32 am

As they headed back, she found herself still with Toby in the annex, wondering where they stood. She knew that their moment on Friday was a little more than a friendly embrace, especially during her drive home and thinking about him the whole weekend. Most of the sketches she made were of his hands, bringing her back to the human contact she lacked so much in her tiny apartment that seemed to stretch for eternity in her mind. She was fearful that something might have already started, bringing her back to the early days of her relationship with Jim while she was with Roy. She had always known that there was something different with Jim than there was with other guy friends she had in the past. But for the most part, she never really let herself open up with anyone like she had with Jim, not even Roy. There was something between them that she missed so much, even if she couldn't be with him, she missed the way they could talk for hours on the phone or how he would understand her like no one else. She missed the friendship more than anything these days, finding she longed that more than anything physically intimate with him.

Pam headed toward the annex with her and Toby's drinks when she saw Kelly. "Hey Kelly."

"Hey Pam." Kelly noticed the other cup, eying Pam suspiciously. "Who's the other one for?"

Pam blushed unintentionally. "Um... for Toby. Me and Angela went for a coffee run."

"That's cool." She nodded. "So.. how's your day going?"

"Pretty good, actually." There was a small pause while Pam watched Kelly bounce slightly with anticipation. Pam rolled here eyes slightly. "How's yours?"

"Ohmigod! I'm so glad you asked. Okay, well remember I was telling you about that epic party one of Ryan's business school friends are having next Saturday?"

"Um... no."

"Well, anyway I found the most amazing dress in this canary yellow online. I mean, I thought I was gonna die from shock it was so awesome. I'm gonna look so hot." She giggled. "You should totally come on Saturday."

Pam smirked, "Oh, that sounds -"

"You can come and see Ryan's face when he sees me in this thing." She shook with glee. "He's gonna be so shocked."

Pam watched Toby turn in his chair, watching with curious eyes at the scene in the kitchen. Pam threw him a pleading glance while Kelly's head was down which could only be described as, 'If you don't get in here, you are off my Christmas card list!'

Toby read it loud and clear, swiftly walking into the kitchen. "Hey... um, Pam? I need your help with these... papers?"

Pam nodded. "Sure." She smiled at Kelly, walking through the door. "Oh, here's your coffee."

"Oh yeah, thanks." They both stayed quiet when they saw Kelly walk into the office, sighing with relief. Toby smirked. "Was she talking about her dress?"

"You too?"

"Yes, but unlike you, I didn't have someone to save me."

Pam mocked a dramatic sigh. "My hero." She chuckled when she saw the supremely red cheeks appearing on Toby's face. "Uh... how's the coffee?"

Toby recovered by taking a large gulp, recoiling hastily. "I spent four bucks on this?"

Pam nodded. "The best four dollars you'll spend all day."

Toby chuckled, knowing if four dollars allowed him to have a few quiet moments with her like this and be her rescuer from the satanic, trill squeals of his deskmate, they were truly well spent. "So how was Angela?"

Pam shrugged. "She was... nice." She chuckled. "I wasn't really sure how to deal with it, actually. I just tried to stay quiet, you know, not really sure if anything might set her off."

Toby chuckled. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

"Right." Pam looked down at her cup, "Sorry you didn't like the drink. I would offer you mine, but.."

Toby shook his head. "Oh, it's okay. I'll get another cup later." He smiled. "Thanks, anyway."

Pam shook her head. "You really should be open-minded to new things, Toby. Try new things."

Toby looked at Pam, watching her with a careful longing. How he wanted to be something new with her, something different than the quiet man he had always been. He wanted to be the bold type, who did what he felt and went with it, and as he glanced at her brilliant smile that seemed to outshine the sun, he thought again to himself that he could be that man, for her. "I will, I promise."

Pam nodded. "Good. Well, I'll see you later." She turned toward the door, pausing briefly to wave at him.

Toby sat back in his chair, wondering when the inevitable conversation would occur. He shrugged it off again, willing his anxious stomach to settle.

12:12 pm

Pam watched as Karen and Phyllis walked into the office, trying to stifle the giggle that she longed to escape. "Hey."

Phyllis smiled. "Hey Pam. Has Michael returned yet?"

Pam shook her head. "Um, no."

"Okay. Thanks." She headed to her desk when Pam noticed Karen hanging up her jacket.

"Hey." Pam offered a friendly smile. "How was the sale?"

Karen seemed standoffish, nodding. "Um... we got the sale. It's a big one, too."

Pam smiled again. "That's awesome." She chuckled. "So um... you and Phyllis -"

"I should get back to work." She smiled slightly, walking back to her desk without another word.

Pam was slightly taken aback by her distant manner, but shook it off. She figured Karen might be embarrassed and didn't want anyone rubbing it in. As she minimize her FreeCell, she answered the phone. "Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam."

"Hello, this is the art teacher, Mrs. Hoover at Francis Willard Elementary School. Is this Pam Beesly?"

Pam smiled brightly. "This is Pam."

Mrs. Hoover chuckled. "Great. Well, I would like to inform you that your watercolor was chosen by our sixth grade class in our annual contest. Congratulations!"

"I did?" Pam smiled again. "Thank you so much."

"Well, I have to say that painting was very good. You can pick up your prize money after school, well I mean after work, whatever works for you."

"Okay, I will. Thanks again."

Mrs. Hoover chuckled. "You're very welcome, Miss Beesly. Hope to see you soon and congratulations again."

Pam hung up the phone and instantly looked at Jim's desk. She hated that when anything good happened to her that she would still look and want to tell him about it. She sighed and noticed Toby was away from his desk. She looked around the office, making a beeline to the conference room to give an interview, hoping at least the camera guy and Steve, the interviewer would be excited for her.

1:37 pm

Toby had just left the break room when he looked across the office to see Pam, doing her mundane duties, but behind her auburn curls lied green eyes that shown more brilliant than in previous weeks. He wanted to think that he was the source of her glow, but he knew from past disappointments to never jump to conclusions. He was going over the past weeks complaints from Stanley about Michael when he heard the annex door open. He turned, expecting Pam when he saw Karen walk through the door. "Hey Toby."

Toby had to hold back the laugh that was caught in his throat, seeing Karen in the makeup. He could only give her a meager nod.

She rolled her eyes. "Don't ask." She took a seat next to him. "I just.. uh... I wanted to know the policy for interdepartmental relationships." She smirked. "Word on the street is I'm supposed to see you about it." She blushed slightly, if it were even possible for her cheeks to be any redder. "So..."

Toby stole a quick glance at reception, knowing it was his duty to file the contract but he felt the cold chill of sympathy. "Um, yeah. I need you and -"

"Jim." She chuckled slightly. "Jim Halpert and I are dating." She smiled a smile that seemed to be only reserved for triumphs and personal victories, one Toby knew all too well, reminding him of his ex-wife's face at the court proceedings.

He went through a binder, pulling out two copies of the contract. "Okay, well Jim has to fill out one as well. You can gave him a copy or he can -"

"I'll give it to him." She took both copies and stood up. "Thanks. I'm sure we have your full discretion."

"Oh yeah, definitely." He watched her leave, finding her assertiveness and attentive attitude intriguing, understanding Jim's draw towards her. But where Karen seemed too intense, Pam seemed to carry a quiet grace that transcended the beauty of the other. In other words, Karen wasn't his cup of tea.

Toby made another glance toward reception seeing Jim and Pam talking and sharing a high five. He looked genuinely happy about something, Pam radiating under a fluorescent halo. He was anxious to find out what had caused her such joy but knew he'd patiently wait. With Pam, it seemed to be a constant game of cat and mouse, one where he would be plagued to wait and hope she'd be ready or the other way around. But he knew that with her, it was worth the wait.

3:56 pm

Pam looked at Angela, seeing the utter shock and fright that lied on her face. Dwight had just quit. It was a dream that her and Jim shared for many years, but secretly, she knew that she would miss his presence like everything else in this office, it had its purpose. She could feel Angela shoot daggers at Dwight and Andy, not really sure what transpired but convinced she didn't want to be in the path of her crossfire. She wondered where Jim was with all this, but found her eyes landing on Toby's in the crowd. With all the excitement over the last couple of hours, she nearly forgot to tell him about her contest win.

She watched as Toby walked past Michael's office, when Michael worked inside and closed the door. He simply shrugged and went up to reception. "Hey."

"Hey." She smiled again. "That was weird."

Toby nodded. "Yeah. I didn't see that coming at all." He shook his head. "I guess I have some paper work to do. And call Corporate."

"That sucks." Pam looked down again sighing, "I guess that puts a damper on my good news." She looked up to find Toby's eyes smile. "Guess what?"

Toby drummed his fingers, trying to play coy. "What?"

Pam bit her lip. "I, uh, I won an art contest today."

Toby felt his throat constrict, seeing the utter joy beaming through her smile. He couldn't figure out what to do, should he give her a high five like Jim must have? Should he hug her or shake her hand? He could feel the tension build and he knew he had to do or say something so he blurted out. "That's amazing, Pam!" When he saw her smile brighten, he figured he made the right decision.

She giggled. "I know it's not a big deal, but it feels so awesome, you know?"

"It is a big deal." Toby smiled at her, feeling a wave of pride. "I'm really proud of you, Pam."

Pam looked up, chuckling. "I'm proud of me too." She laughed. "I know that's silly, it's just... it's nice to know that my work... my art is well... good."

Toby looked down at her and felt the same courage that he held weeks before under the mistletoe. He knew there wasn't one around, but he knew he had to make a move. "Hey... why don't we go out and celebrate?"

Pam blinked. "Oh...um..."

Toby immediately felt that panic again, like the mistletoe and stammered, "We don't have to. It was just a thought. Forget I asked." He started to turn around, heading for the annex. He went to his desk, not noticing Pam following him. But when he heard her clear her throat, he couldn't remember in recent memory the sheer happiness that ran through his body.

"You didn't let me tell you where I wanted to go first." She smirked, taking a seat next to him. "There's supposed to be this film festival in Dickson City. They're playing Amelie. It could be fun. We could blow my prize money and everything." She laughed. "Maybe I should ask Kelly how to spend it."

Toby chuckled. "Beware. She might get you a totally awesome dress to match hers."

"Oh God. That would be interesting."

"Yeah." He watched as she stood up, heading toward the door. "So..."

"I have to go to the school to pick up the check, but we can meet up there if you want." She smirked slightly, biting her lip.

"Yeah, sounds good." He smirked again, finding they both found some unknown joke amusing. "So, I'll see you later than."

"Of course." She turned, seeing Jim and Karen walk through the door. She smiled at Karen, but she seemed to avoid her eyes. She looked at Jim, only getting the same result. She shook her head, figuring that they might have had an argument and sat behind her desk, anxiously waiting for her evening to start.

9:03 pm

Pam and Toby walked out of the theater, seemingly pleased with the film. Pam giggled. "I loved Mr. Dufayel. He was so kind to Amelie."

Toby nodded. "Oh yeah. But I have to admit, it was nice to see her finally get something she deserved after all the good things she did for other people."

Pam chuckled. "Definitely. Nino was a cutie." She blushed when she saw Toby shake his head. "Hey, you're not too bad, yourself." She chuckled some more, taking Toby's hand. She didn't feel like it was crossing any boundaries, it just seemed right.

Toby looked down at their hands, letting his fingers intertwine with hers. "You hungry?"

Pam rubbed her stomach, "So hungry..." She giggled again, feeling really good for the first time in weeks. She tried to remember the last time she felt this comfortable, realizing it was when she and Toby had had their first date so many months ago. She leaned into him slightly, walking down the quiet street of downtown Dickson City. She had always liked going to the theater there over the past few years when it went under new management. The owner wanted to bring some culture to the area, holding past festivals like the Alaskan Film festival a couple of years ago. Sharing it with Toby made her feel better than she had about a lot of things recently.

Toby motioned down the street. "I think there's a diner a few blocks away."

"Sounds great." They continued to walk when it started to snow. Pam looked up at the sky, finding the small flakes drown her past few months of confusion, leaving her only with the ever-present hand she held in her own. She turned to Toby, who seemed to stop and watched her. She smiled. "I love snow."

Toby chuckled into the night air, seeing his breath cloud around them. Smirking, he sticked his tongue out, catching a few snowflakes. He nodded. "January snow is always the best."

Pam snorted. "There's a difference?"

Toby nodded, giving her a mock serious expression. "Of course. You see, Pam, the new year brings new snow. And it's fresher than the snow you get in December."

Pam giggled. "That's ridiculous."

Toby smiled. "It's a proven fact. Just ask Lucy, from the Peanuts gang." He winked at her, taking her hand again.

Pam shook her head. "I think you're reading far into those cartoons. What does Sasha think?"

Toby stiffened slightly, never really discussing Sasha. "Um... she thinks all snow taste good." They both chuckled as they walked up to the small diner on the corner.

As Toby opened the door for her, Pam looked back, smiling softly. "This was really fun."

Toby chuckled. "It isn't over with, I hope."

"No way. I still have to get some Rocky Road ice cream." She walked toward the back, finding a small booth. As they slid in, Toby watched Pam across from him, hoping that more moments like catching snowflakes in the night and watching romantic foreign films would be the norm for them. He wanted to make plans with her. He wanted to see her all the time. He wanted to be the person she came to. He wanted her to know he was there. He wanted to be more to her. But he stayed quiet. He watched her order her ice cream, leaving a smile on his face. Whatever it was that she wanted, he would accept it, if only to see her smile.

Pam budded her head. "You gonna eat your ice cream?"

Toby nodded. "Yeah." He took a spoonful. "Hmm... this is really good."

Pam chuckled. "I know. Is it silly that I wanted ice cream in the dead of winter?"

Toby shrugged. "Ice cream's good no matter what month it is." He took another taste of his ice cream when he felt Pam's hand in his.

"Thanks for today." She squeezed his hand slightly, taking it back as she finished the last of her bowl.

Toby watched her again, knowing the wait will be just as good as the end result. "Anytime." As they locked eyes again, he turned toward the window, seeing the snow fall harder.

And that's it for now. I want to have another chapter up sooner. Only time will tell. Thanks again for your readership and it helps me so much when you all review!