Dallas, Texas

Sitting in Liz's office on Wednesday morning, Pam asked a question she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer to if it wasn't positive, "are you upset?" She respected Liz and loved working with her and she hated to think that all the discussions they'd had about where she expected her life to go in the future made her seem like a phoney when compared to the life she was actually living now.

"Are you?" not sounding upset, Liz turned her question back on her, likely able to deduce from her earlier confession that to her the news of a baby wasn't all positive.

"I was at first. This wasn't planned and the timing is terrible, it's so soon and we had so many plans, plus, I love this job and I was so excited to experience everything we spoke about", admitting that a pregnancy hadn't factored into her thoughts about the near future, she listed a couple of other reasons besides surprise for her lukewarm enthusiasm.

"But…?" picking up on her comments about being upset at first, Liz fished for more information on that end of things; 'at first' meant that something had changed and she wanted to know what that something was.

"But now that I've had some time to think about it and I've started telling people and they're all so happy, I feel differently, I'm not so hesitant about it", not going as far as to say she was personally excited about her situation, she did admit that as upset as she'd been earlier, those feelings were beginning to dissipate. It would be a lie to say she was thrilled, because she really wasn't, but she didn't have a choice as far as the future went now and considering her circumstances, her life really wasn't that bad. She loved Bobby, she was married to Bobby, they had the means to give their child everything her or she deserved, and eventually she had planned on having children, so while the timing wasn't what she would have chosen if she'd had a choice, now was not the absolute worst time or place for her to be pregnant.

"Is this a resignation?" asking her a direct question, Liz likely assumed that as quickly as she'd come to work with her, she'd be gone, which was a fair assumption to make considering what society expected, what the Ewings expected, and practically speaking what was most likely to happen.

"No! In fact, if I can I'd love to keep working, until the point where I can't anymore", sure about the former part of her answer, the latter was a bit more complicated. She didn't intend to give up work anytime soon, she liked working and considering how good her health was, she was completely capable of continuing on with her job at present, however, she knew that her health was likely to change in the coming months, not to mention the expectations of those around her.

Her working was already an issue within the family and while she could brush off the comments directed at her choices for now, she knew that eventually the case for her slowing down, resting at home, and then caring for her child herself would be made, and perhaps she might think differently about where she stood then. She'd grown up without a mother and wouldn't wish that on her own child, she'd also gone into work on days where she didn't feel completely up to it because her options for recuperation at home were limited. Her circumstances were different now though and while she felt absolutely fine about working and wanted to work, she didn't need to, and soon enough a time would come where the argument for her not working would be stronger than that for her working.

"I personally don't have any objection to that, I just ask that you keep me updated as to when that will be", taking the news of her family developments impacting her work better than Mr Thompson at her previous job had, Liz still stuck firmly to talking to her as a boss rather than as her friend.

"I will, and for now I'd estimate that to be sometime around early November", knowing nothing of what the future held for her, she offered a date that she could only assume was realistic but she could revise if she later came to realise wasn't.

"November, that gives us about another six months", assessing the situation, Liz said nothing more, leaving her still unsure of how her boss felt about the whole thing.

"Yes", agreeing, she nodded and left the discussion open. It wouldn't be her job to hire someone to fill her position when she was gone so there wasn't much she could add to Liz's thoughts.

"I can't keep your job open after that…", leaving her sentence hanging, Liz's words didn't come as any surprise to her.

"I don't expect you to, and I probably won't be returning, as much as I'd love to", well aware of how easily she could have a job one day and then not the next, she was just glad that Liz was happy to have her around until she chose not to be anymore, it made a nice change.

"That Ewing grasp has you good", chuckling, Liz assessed her life accurately. The Ewings weren't the only reason she wouldn't be returning to work after giving birth, she had her own reasons for not doing so, but she knew that even if she hadn't, the judgement of her and her actions at that point might just be harsh enough to push her into turning her back on her job. She was strong-willed, she knew what she wanted and didn't generally listen to unsolicited and unnecessary criticism, but she had also heard and was starting to believe that the shift in hormones she was experiencing was only about to make her more emotional, and when she was emotional, sometimes she wasn't rational.

"Tell me about it, I love Bobby, but I could do without the constant back and forth with the rest of the family about things that shouldn't concern them", shaking her head, she laughed as she confessed her feelings about her in-laws interference. Liz had to know by now that she'd had just about enough of Jock and Miss Ellie's well-meaning but overly personal commentary, she'd told her enough stories during their time at work together.

"Well, if you ever need to get away just know that as long as I'm here, I can probably make space for you, I just can't guarantee it'll be as a buyer", chuckling at her comments, Liz offered her a lifeline.

"Thank you Liz", smiling, she was genuinely grateful to her boss and friend. They both knew her current position couldn't stay open indefinitely just waiting for her to return, but it was lovely to know that the option to do something was available to her should she want it and have the ability to take it.

"You're welcome, and before I forget to say it, congratulations", sincere, Liz's personal comments meant a lot to her.

"Oh Liz", expressing her feelings simplistically, she was happy to have her friend back beside her; of course they were sitting together as colleagues, but that wasn't all they were and it was nice to feel that that connection was still there.

"I'm disappointed of course, I love having one of my own in here, but I understand. If I had a husband like Bobby I don't think I'd have a difficult time making a decision", complimenting her, personally and professionally, Liz's attitude improved her mood. Sometimes she took for granted that she was Bobby's wife and he'd asked her to be his wife because he loved her and she'd agreed because she loved him, sometimes she needed reminding of that and other women's comments and attention did just that.

"It's not easy, but Bobby has a job, and so do I, at least for another six months", acknowledging that Bobby was irresistible, she brought the discussion back to their mutual interest, work.

"Yes, you do. I suppose I'd better enjoy every minute of having you around before you disappear, banished to your wealthy husband's big ranch house in Braddock", smirking, Liz made light of her situation.

Laughing, she answered Liz, saying, "yes, we both need to enjoy it while we can". As dramatic and unappealing as she could make being Mrs Ewing sound at times, she still had an enormous amount of privilege and it was important to remember that; her life wasn't bad, not by a long shot.

To be continued…