Author's Note: I wasn't planning on getting another chapter out until after finals, but all of your lovely reviews inspired me to keep going (hint, hint). Here's chapter eight. Hope you enjoy it!

Six Weeks

Chapter Eight

"Marry me, Pam."

Jim reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. He opened it and took out the ring.

He'd picked out the ring at a jewelry store in the Los Angeles airport shortly after he'd gotten off the phone with Pam. He hadn't planned on it, and frankly Jim wasn't sure why there would even be a jewelry store in an airport, but as he'd walked past it on the way to his new gate he saw a ring in the window that just reminded him of Pam. It was simple, understatedly beautiful, which in Jim's mind made it perfectly her. The band was thin platinum, with a sizeable round diamond in the center, and two smaller pear-shaped stones on either side of it. The way they glittered in the light reminded of her smile, and Jim impulsively bought it, not knowing for sure when he was going to propose but absolutely certain that he would when the moment was right.

And right now, after hearing their baby's heartbeat for the first time, the moment was definitely right. Jim got down on one knee, offering the ring up to her and smiling shakily. Pam sat up on the bed, swinging her legs around to face him, her eyes welling with tears. She extended her left hand, and Jim slipped the ring onto her wedding finger with a nervous, trembling hand. It fit perfectly.

"You haven't said yes yet, Beesly," he said, his voice choked up.

She smiled, a tear meandering down her cheek. "Jim Halpert, I wouldn't rather be permanently, irrevocably attached to anyone else for the rest of my life."

… … …

They had their first fight the night after Pam's twenty-week ultrasound.

They had just found out they were having a little girl, which they had both been hoping for, and went out on a dinner date to celebrate. Pam had bought her first maternity dress, an alternative to the larger skirts, slacks, and sweaters she wore to work every day. It was made of periwinkle blue satin, with an empire waist and a tie in the back, and she wore it with a black beaded cardigan. She wouldn't be able to wear it if her belly button popped when she grew, but until then, it made her feel pretty.

Pam had really begun to embrace her baby bump, sometimes showing it off when she woke up exceptionally happy, which was fairly often. Most days, Pam truly loved being pregnant. Those were the days when Michael and Kelly's cooing and fawning over her belly didn't really bother her, nor did the narrow-eyed looks Angela shot in her direction on a regular basis. That morning Michael had traced her stomach again, and the now-moderately sized bump made Pam smile in delight rather than weep at her increased size.

And to top that off, Jim had called to say he had good news, and would be in Scranton by lunchtime, strongly encouraging Pam to leave a little earlier than she'd planned so they could grab some lunch (she'd been craving grilled cheese and pickles) and go to her sonogram appointment together. He'd told her a few days ago that he might not be able to make it, but had apparently had a change of plans. Now they'd get to discover the sex of their Bean together.

It had certainly seemed like quite the promising day, and Pam couldn't stop smiling if she wanted to. She'd nearly squealed with glee when Jim called to tell her that he was waiting outside. She had wasted no time, rushing to put on her coat and heading out the door. As the door closed behind her, she put on her engagement ring.

She and Jim had decided to keep the engagement under wraps at the Scranton office, for Pam's sake. They knew how it would look if Pam was sporting a brand new ring just two weeks after calling off her wedding to Roy. And further still, they knew exactly how the office would react to such news so soon. Every time Pam slid her ring on as she left the office, her heart fluttered in her chest. And lately, when her heart fluttered the Bean would flutter, too. She couldn't wait for Jim to feel it.

As soon as Pam made it to the parking lot, her heart sped up in excitement and the Bean started wiggling around. She saw Jim's car parked next to hers and quickened her pace toward him, motioning for him to get out of the car. He did, and right when Pam reached him, she immediately grabbed his hands and pressed them to her belly.

"Well, hello to you, too."

"Feel that?" she asked, excited. "It feels sort of like bubbles."

Jim met her eyes, grinning like a madman. "Is that the Bean?"

Pam nodded enthusiastically, and Jim swept her up into his arms, spinning her around. As soon as he put her down, his hands were back on her belly.

"God, Pam, that's incredible!" He kissed her with gusto, holding her face in his hands. "Let's go find out what it is!"

Pam laughed, finding his giddiness adorable. "Well, all signs so far point to a baby."

"Ha-ha. Funny, Beesly. Meet me at home and we'll take your new little blue car, okay?"

She nodded in the affirmative, and they were on their way. It made Pam happy that Jim had called her townhouse "home" even though he had his own place in Stamford. She knew he'd caught the slip-up, too.

The day had only gotten better from there. Their new sonogram photo showed their baby girl sucking her thumb, and according to Dr. O'Dell, she was very healthy for her age, if not a little chubby. Pam made a Fat Halpert joke, and Jim kindly reminded her that she'd be Mrs. Fat Halpert soon enough.

He'd taken her to Cugino's for their date, partly because he had special news, and also because as soon as he'd mentioned it Pam suddenly couldn't live without their chicken alfredo. After they ordered, Jim clasped her hands in his across the table. He could barely contain his excitement.

"Pam," he started. "The Stamford branch is closing, and I have the opportunity to transfer back here."

Pam's eyes lit up, but she could tell he wasn't finished.

"And that's not all. If I transfer, I'll be promoted to Assistant Regional Manager, Michael's number two. The branches are combining, so it'll actually mean something."

Pam grinned. "Dwight is going to be so pissed."

Jim laughed. "I know! But there's just one problem."

Pam's face fell. "What's that?"

"Well, I'd need a place to live, and on pretty short notice. I mean, my first day is tomorrow and I really don't like hotels."

The grin returned in full force. "I think I may be able to help you with that."

"That's what I was hoping you'd say."

The rest of their dinner had gone by in a happy haze. Jim and Pam split a slice of tiramisu and talked excitedly about their future, discussing everything from which pieces of furniture Jim could bring from Stamford to their favorite names for a baby girl. They'd played footsie under the table like a couple of amorous teenagers. It wasn't until the ride home that it all hit the fan.

"Won't it be nice to not have to hide anymore?" Jim had asked with a smile.

"What do you mean?" she asked slowly, her face paling.

"I mean being open, you know, about us, and about Fat Halpert in there." He reached across the center console to rub her belly.

"Jim," she started, using the same voice she'd used to shoot him down on Casino Night. He knew that voice.

He hated that voice.

"You have got to be kidding me, Beesly."

"What?" she said, clearly agitated. "It's hard enough going to work like this as it is."

"And it won't be even harder pretending we're not together? Pam, come on."

"It's nothing we haven't done before," she pointed out angrily.

"Yeah, and it's why I moved to fucking Stamford, if you remember" he spat back.

Pam huffed and slammed herself back into her seat. She tried crossing her arms over her chest, but her belly got in the way so she rested her hands on it. She looked out the window and crossed her legs away from him, making a point of ignoring Jim. She was so dead-set on not talking to him that she didn't say a word when Jim headed in the complete opposite direction of her house. She didn't say a word when Jim drove them to Lake Scranton, and she didn't say a word as they got out of the car and walked toward the shore.

They sat on the swings for a while, swaying silently and listening to the water. There was a chill in the September night air, and Pam pulled her arms in close to her body to ward it off. Despite her best efforts, she shivered, and without hesitation Jim took his jacket off and draped it over her shoulders. Pam felt herself soften as he rubbed her arms before he went back to his own swing.

"Pam, I pretended every day for three years that I didn't love you, and it was hell. It's the reason I left Scranton, you know that. I couldn't do it anymore."

"I know," she said quietly. Her feet didn't quite touch the sand beneath them.

"I just," he started, kicking the sand under the swing. "It was so hard, Pam. I don't know if I can do it again."

She nodded, but still faced the water.

"They're gonna find out sometime."

"I know, but does it have to be now? Angela just stopped calling me a hussy, and it's not like you'll have Roy to worry about. Just give it a little time, please."

Her voice was pleading, and Jim felt his resolve crack. She did have a good point; he'd only have to pretend he didn't love her at work, and then they'd go home together. He wouldn't have to pretend he didn't love her and then watch her go home with Roy every day. He'd give a little.

"I'll try, Pam," he said. "But we're telling them in two weeks no matter what, if they haven't figured it out by then. They're idiots, Beesly, but they're not blind. Also, I think I should tell you that Kevin already has a betting pool going for when you're going to pop, and another one for who the father is."

"You're joking," Pam said, incredulous. Jim shook his head.

"He emailed me last week to ask if I wanted to place a bet."

"Did you?"

"I told him I'd think about it and get back to him later, but I did ask who everybody else was betting on."

"You have to tell me."

"Well, everyone who understands how babies are made is betting on late January," he started. "And everyone who can count and has a pretty good sense of deductive reasoning is betting on yours truly."

"So how many is that?"

"Three people, but none of them are Kevin."

"Nice." She smiled. "Hey Halpert?"

"Yeah, Beesly?"

"Was that our first fight?"

"Yeah, I think it was," he said, rising from his swing.

Pam scrunched her nose in distaste. "I didn't like it," she said. "Let's never do it again, okay?"

Jim offered her his hand and she took it, gladly accepting help up from the swing. He pulled her in close to him and kissed her gently on the lips, and then planted a kiss on her forehead, smiling as though he'd been lobotomized.

"Beesly, I am all for that."