Finally it’s Friday. All week Pam and Jim have been dealing with another one of Michael’s broken hearts. This time it was a girl from the bagel place. She knew just how to slice his bagels. Unfortunately, he had no idea that she was married to the owner. So when he made his big gesture, he ended up getting himself escorted out by Scranton‘s finest. They’d been bringing him other tasty breakfast breads, but it just wasn‘t the same. Pam was looking forward to being away from the office gang for the weekend.

At five till five, Jim was still on the phone trying to finish the sale he’d been working on all afternoon. At five, everyone started filing out of the office. Angela grabbed her coat and buried herself in it, even though it was a balmy seventy-two degrees outside. Andy followed like the puppy dog he’d been lately. Kevin walked to Pam’s desk, turned, smiled, and giggled as he walked out the door. Dwight seemed a little down as he pulled on his brown overcoat.

“Ready for the weekend, Dwight?”, Pam inquired.

“It’s time for Mose to try out some new recipes. He thinks he can actually cook, but the last concoction made me feel like my intestines were on fire. I spent five hours…”

Pam interrupted, “That’s okay, I got an idea.” Just then, Pam’s computer dinged with an IM from Jim. Dwight took this chance to exit. She looked over to Jim, who was still on the phone.

JHALPERT: Open the file marked HOWSWEET then tell me what you think.

PBEESLY: K

Pam went to her documents on her computer and found a video file titled HOWSWEET. She looked back over to Jim, still chatting on the phone. She opened the file and it began to play. The screen went black, for a moment she thought Jim was playing another prank. The crisp, white letters filled the screen. ‘How sweet it is, Pam’ The song “How Sweet It Is” started playing as clips of the two of them were choreographed seamlessly to the music. Memories flooded her head as tears rose to her eyes.

The time I peaked at Jim on Valentine’s day.
Our first hug when he returned from Stamford.
That day in the kitchen when Jim admitted he had had a crush on me.
My walk of courage across the coals.
Those goofy sombreros.
The look on Jim’s face when he found out my computer crashed when I bought that sex tape.
Jim talking to Michael?

“That’s when I told Michael I had a crush on you the night of the Booze Cruise.” Jim had slowly crept behind her. He was watching with her as he began massaging her shoulders.

The call from Stamford.
When we tricked Dwight into believing Jim could move things with his mind.
The teapot.
My Darth Vader impression.
Jim telling me he had sent Dwight his final mission .
Taking Jim’s money at the poker tables.
Jim asking me to prank Andy.
At the beach, after my confession, that hug that I never wanted to end.
Getting busted by the cameraman.
That kiss… at Jim’s desk. Oh, how I wished I would have just let myself hold on.
Walking hand in hand at the Fun Run.
Jim coming back from New York and asked me out on our first date.

Then the footage turned to a scene she remembered well. She mistakenly blurted out in front of the cameras that she would have to be engaged to live with Jim. Then came something she hadn’t seen. Jim, alone, in front of the camera. She wiped her tear stained cheek as she felt his hands leave her shoulders.

“I am not kidding.” Jim pulls out a black velvet box. He shows the camera the diamond ring that rests inside. “Got it a week after we started dating.”

“A week?”, Pam exclaims as she turns to see Jim down on one knee with the same black, velvet box.

Jim takes her hand and brings it to his lips. Pam’s heart is racing. Jim takes a few deep breaths. This is the moment she’s been waiting for. He wouldn’t of gone through all the trouble with the video if this wasn’t really it. Would he? She searched his face for a sign of what was to come. She couldn’t help but launch into a nervous giggle. Jim’s deep breath turns into a deep laugh.

“No, no. This is serious, Pam.”

“Sorry.” They both struggle to regain their composure.

Another breath later, Jim begins.

“Did you know this is the very spot where I first laid eyes on you? I knew then my life was never going to be the same. I tried with everything I had not to love you. It must have been that undeniable Beesly charm. I just couldn’t help myself. It has taken an incredibly long time to get here and now that I’m here…” Jim pauses to wipe a tear that had strayed down his cheek. Pam is glowing. She feels as if her heart is going to beat right out of her chest. Jim opens the box to reveal the perfect solitaire diamond ring. “ Pam Beesly, will you accept this ring and form a life long alliance with me?” Pam’s tears were free flowing at this point. “Marry me, Pam.”

“Absolutely, I will.” Jim slips the ring on Pam’s trembling finger. She brings his hand to her lips. A soft kiss caresses his knuckles. His fingers find her face a wipe the thousandth tear away. She takes his face in her hands. She goes in for the first kiss with her fiancé, the man she will spend the rest of her life with.

Lost in the eternal bliss of the moment, they both forget to take breath. Jim gasps for air as he breaks from her lips.

“Not that this isn’t the happiest moment of my life or anything, but can I get up now? My knee is killing me.”

“Oh, god. Yes.”

Jim rises to his feet. He takes her hand as she floats up from her chair. She wraps her arms around his waist as his fingers caress her face.

“Did that just kick your ass, Beesly?”

“Consider my ass thoroughly kicked. Do I want to even know how you got all that footage?”

“Our friends gave me several hours to mull through. I edited it down to our best three minutes.”

“Wow.”

“Impressed?”

“A little shocked that you could edit it down to just three minutes.”

“I wasn’t easy.”

Jim flashes his signature smile followed by kissing her on the tip of her nose. He looks at the clock on her desk.

“We need to go. We’re going to be late.”

“Late, for what?”

A grin creeps across his face. He’s aching to tell her his plans.

“What are you up to, Halpert?”

“I have a certain intuition about things. Tonight, it was about you saying yes. So, I put together little party.”

“What kind of party?”

“An engagement party.”

She bites her lower lip then smiles.

“You’re really on top of your game tonight.”

“I’m just getting started. Really though, your mom is surely going nuts.”

“My mom is in on this. Who else knows?”

“You family, my family, the office. Except Michael and Dwight. Kevin has been working overtime to keep them out of the loop.”

“That’s what the giggling was about tonight.”

“I asked him to get Michael and Dwight to the party. I knew you’d want them there. I suggested getting Daryl and throwing them in the back of Meredith’s van.”

Pam’s entire face smiles, her eyes, her nose, her lips.

“God, you’re beautiful.”

“Take it in while you can, Halpert. See if you still think that in thirty years.”

“I’ll be worried about you running off with the mailman. Do you think these school boy looks are going to last forever.”

They both laugh as she finally gather her things and they head out to the elevator.

“You realize, you’re my fiancé now.”

“I know what it means to be engaged.” Jim keeps tight hold of her hand while pushing the buttons. “I hope you don’t think this is going to be a long engagement.”

“God, no.” The elevator doors closes as she releases a soft laugh.

“Perfect. I don’t think it will be a problem.”

“We can do it as early as the end of the summer.”

“I was hoping a bit sooner than that.”

“How much sooner?”

“Tomorrow.” Jim exits the elevator leaving Pam in suspended state of shock. He turns and pulls her out just before the doors close again. Jim waits to speak for fear of the rejection of the idea. Pam’s head is swimming with thoughts of dresses, flowers, the vows, the service. Where to begin. All in less than twenty-four hours. They silently get into the car and head off to the restaurant.

“Don’t worry, really. I’ve got a perfect place, the license, the minister, the music. Our mothers' are working on the flowers. You mom has even picked out a few dresses. I promise it will be perfect.”

She hears the words, but she can’t fully comprehend them.

“You planned our wedding?”

“I had help, but if it’s too much too fast, we can wait.”

“No, I don’t want to wait.”

They pull into a parking space in front of their favorite little Italian restaurant. Jim looks straight ahead as he places the car in park. Pam takes his hand from the steering wheel and interlocks her fingers with his.

“I still can’t believe you’ve done all this, for me.”

“For us. We deserve it don’t you think?”

“Absolutely.”

Jim leans in for a kiss. The heat rises in the car as their passions get the best of them. Interrupted with a tap on the window. Kevin moves back from the door as Jim opens it and gets out.

“Were all here.”

“Even the monkey and his friend?”

Kevin laughs as Jim walks around to the other side of the car to Pam’s door. “The plan worked like a charm. Wish we would have taped it.”

“Go on in and we’ll be there in a minute.”

Kevin scampers into the restaurant as Jim helps Pam out of the car. Jim takes her hand as they begin to walk.

“Just think of it this way. By Sunday, we’ll be off on our two week honeymoon.”

“You’ve planned that, too?”

“I heard Maui is nice this time of year.”

Pam grabs his arm and pulls him to a stop.

“Maui!”

“Yep. Ten days in paradise. I know a guy. Then a few extra days to get settled.”

“The surprises just won’t stop tonight.”

“More to come.”

Jim’s hands slide around her back as she rests hers on his chest. She presses her flushed cheek against his chest to hear the soft, melodious beat of his heart. Pam brings her eyes to his making sure everything she was seeing, feeling, was real.

“Come on. We’re starving and we can’t start without you.” Pam’s mom, Betty, calls out to them from the entryway of the restaurant.

Pam rushes over to her and is taken in by her mother’s loving embrace. Betty gives a wink to Jim. He nods back in acknowledgement.

“I almost didn’t think we could pull it off. Jim was so optimistic though. He made sure we all pulled together to make it work.” Betty looked at her daughter’s radiant smile. One she had never seen before. Not once during her whole relationship with Roy. Betty was now positive that Jim was the man for her daughter.

They arrive in the banquet room where dozens meet them with thunderous applause. Kelly starts the chant, “Kiss her. Kiss her.” The rest of the crowd joins in.

Jim turns to his bride to be, leans and meets her lips for one of their rare public displays of affection. The applause grew even louder with a few hoots and hollers thrown in by Daryl and Kevin.

The applause subsides as the couple make the rounds before dinner is served. Their favorite Italian dish, lasagna, is served with plenty of red wine to mark the occasion. During dessert, Betty fills Pam in on the schedule for the next day. Everything was in place, they had thought of everything. Pam was so relieved. By tomorrow night she would be Mrs. Halpert. Not one thing could take the smile from her face, even the constant stinging from overuse. Pam never wanted to let it go.

Jim’s brother, Jonathan, would be his best man. Pam asked her mother to stand up with her as her matron of honor. She then needed someone to walk her down the isle. Fancy New Beesly was independent, but there were some traditions that just needed to be followed. When the thought entered her mind, it wasn’t as unsettling as it probably should have been. After Jim’s approval, she walks to the end of the table and sits at the chair next to him.

Pam smiles as he takes her hand. He was like a goofy older brother, that of course no one would ever want to own up to. “Michael, you’ve always been more than just a boss to me. No matter how strange and unconventional your methods may be, things seem to turn out right. Usually through no fault of your own, but that’s besides the point. You have a good heart and most of the time it’s in the right place. That’s the kind of man I want to walk me down the isle.”

Pam notices a tear trickle down Michael cheek. “I would be honored.”

“There are some conditions though.”

“Shoot.”

“No replays of Phyllis wedding. You will walk me down the isle, hand me off to Jim, then sit quietly through the entire service. You will be aloud to make a toast at the reception only if it is approved by Jim or I before hand. Do we have a deal?”

Michael gets lost in thought for a second. “I get to kiss you before handing you off to Jim, don’t I?”

“On the cheek, that’s it.”

“Then, yes.” Pam pulls Michael up out of his chair and into an embrace.

“Thank you.” She pulls back from him.

“You know I was the one who told Jim to never give up on you. So, it’s kind of because of me that you’re even together today.”

Jim comes up behind Michael and puts his hands on his shoulders. “I’m going to have to steal her away for awhile.” Jim takes Pam’s hand and leads her to an empty corner of the room. Jim gives Kevin the thumbs up. The lights dim and some slow dancing music begins to play.

“Now is the time to show off those famous Beesly dance moves.” Jim swings her around and into his arms.

“You know, after tomorrow, you won’t be able to call me Beesly anymore.”

“That’s right. I’ll have to pull out another one of my pet names.” Jim devious mind searches for the perfect name. “I’ll call you… Hummer. You know, because of that sweet little sound you make just before…”

Pam interrupts, “I think we can just stick with Beesly then. We’ll keep that one just between us.”

Her eyes flutter as sleep leaves her body. She turns to the empty space in her bed where his scent still lingers. After today, she would never have to be without him again. It’s her wedding day. The day every little girl dreams of all her life. Even before she realized just how much she loved him, she imagined him there with her. Standing at the altar. Slipping that simple band on her finger. Vowing to love her as long as they both shall live. Looking back, even if she had made it to that June 10th, she thinks she could have never gone through with it. His kiss still radiated on her lips for months afterwards. It would have been most present then. She had stopped herself then. She wouldn’t stop herself now.

Pam rises from her bed and wraps her Victoria’s Secret robe around her. Her feet glide across the carpet as she makes her way to the living room. The moment she come around the corner, she spies her mother waiting with several garment bags lying about.

“I think one of these should work. Where do you want to start?”

“I can’t even begin to know.” Pam sits on the couch taking it all in.

“It really doesn’t matter what you wear. You’re marrying the right man today.” Betty put extreme emphasis on the word ‘right‘.

“Yes, I am. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to look radiant. You think one of these can help me pull it off?”

Betty pulls a gown from a bag . The gown is the perfect shade of candlelight silk. Pam eyes follow the gown as it floats through the air, coming to rest in front of her mother. Simple. Elegant. Just what she would have chosen for herself. “I thought this one with the one strap across, but I think I’ll have to see it on you to decide.” Betty runs her finger across the sheer silk as tears forms in Pam’s eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sleep eluded him for most of the night, except for the last three hours. His subconscious took him on a journey through feelings of anger, regret, and remorse. The kiss that changed everything. The nights he spent aching for her in Stamford. The way he used Karen as a stand in. How he hurt the one he loved just because she had hurt him. The sadness when their eyes met at Phyllis’s wedding. When he saw her take Roy’s hand. When he realized she had come clean to Roy about their kiss. Wondering why then. The night on the beach, if Karen hadn’t been there, would he of acted differently? A yogurt lid made it all clear. Every sleepless night, every pain stricken moment, would be worth it as soon as he could get to her. When they finally got everything out, how sorry he was. Then their first night together. How she touched him, freed him from years of torture. How he felt like he was making love for the first time. The next day, he bought the ring, then searched for the perfect way to ask her. He had been planning this day since then.

“Uncle Jim! Uncle Jim! Wake up! Wake up!” Little Brody Halpert bounces all over the bed trying to get Jim’s attention.

Jim struggles to sit. “I’m up. You can stop now, Brody.”

“Grandma says come down for breakfast. You need to eat for your big day.”

Jim grabs Brody and pulls him onto his lap. “You tell grandma I’ll be down in a minute.” Jim tickles Brody before he wiggles out of his grasp and down the hall.

Jim stands in his childhood bedroom in front of the floor length mirror. Over the years, Jim had gotten ready for so many special occasions in front of this mirror. Now, it was the most important day of his life so far. His wedding day. He closed his eyes and remembered their last kiss the night before. He savored every second, knowing the next time they kissed, she would be his wife. With a t-shirt and his sleeping pants, as Pam called them, now covering what had been exposed, he makes his way to the kitchen.

Jonathan, Brody, and his mother, Larissa, are seated at the kitchen table when Jim enters.

“There’s still time, little brother. You can take me to Maui instead.”

“Not a chance.” Jim pours his coffee and sits down next to his mother.

“Don’t listen to him, Jimmy. I think it’s just payback for all you did on his wedding day.”

“It was pretty good, you have to admit.” Jim smirks as he takes a sip.

“Putting my car keys in Jell-O to make me late to the church was not what I call a joke.”

Both Larissa and Jim smile and laugh softly.

“What? He could have ruined the remote. The pocket of my tux smelled like cherry Jell-O all day.”

Brody started to giggle.

“Everything turned out fine. Plus it will be a good story to tell your grandchildren some day.” Larissa pats Jonathan on the hand.

“Don’t worry, his is coming. I still have the toast to make.”

“Oh god. It can’t be any worse than Michael’s. You might want to make sure you speak up first.”

“Why are you friends with that guy? I’d never be friends with my boss.”

“He’s a good guy, most of the time. He’s just unique.”

Larissa whispers, “He means gay.”

“No, mom. I didn’t mean that. He’s just.. Michael. It’s hard to explain.”

“Maybe I should just finish making breakfast before it gets too late. Betty already called. I guess it wasn’t a hard sell on the dress. She says, Pam fell in love with the first one she tried on.”

Jim’s head perks at the sound of Pam’s name. “So, things are going as planned?”

“It would seem that way.” Jim smiles as his mother set down his breakfast, his favorite, pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries. “Eat up. We have about an hour before you need to be at the hotel.”

Jim searches for the clock. “Right.”

“I like most of your friends, Jimmy, but there are just some things I don’t want to leave in that Kelly’s hands.”

“You and me both, mom.”

Jonathan knocks on the hotel door.

“Come in.”, Pam nervously answers.

Jonathan enters, with his hand behind his back, to see Pam at the balcony door. She’s a vision in silk. He thinks to himself, if he wasn’t married, she would be in so much trouble. Pam turns her gaze to Jonathan.

“You like it then.”

“Yes, you look amazing.”

“Thanks, you can stop drooling now.”

Jonathan wipes his hand over his mouth, then shows her what he’s been hiding behind his back. “You needed one more for your bouquet.” He hands her an ivory colored rose. “Jim just wanted you to know he was thinking of you.”

“Of course, he’s so sweet.” She looks back out the balcony door to the courtyard below. Jonathan joins her at the door. The courtyard is set up with dozens of chairs with ivory chair covers. The isle is already scattered with rose petals. One can only assume an over zealous flower girl had already been at work. “It’s so incredible. It’s perfect. He‘s thought of everything”

“Not everything, but close.” Jonathan takes a small velvet box out of his pocket. “Actually, I was hoping you might wear this.” He opens the box to show the silver chain with diamond pendant hanging from it. “It’s been kind of a tradition in our family. My mother wore it on her wedding day. She gave it to my wife to wear on our wedding day. Now, I’m giving it to you.”

Jonathan takes it out of the box. “I think if three people have worn it, it’s considered a tradition.” She turns as he places it around her neck. She feels the pendant caress her skin.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.”

“It means so much to me. You know I never had a brother.”

“Well, you have one now. You’re almost a Halpert like the rest of us, so god help you.” Pam lets out a soft laugh then kisses him on the cheek. “Now you know, if our little sister, Jessie, ever decides to take a trip down the isle.”

“I will pass it on to her.” Pam rubs the pendant in between her fingers. “Where is she anyway? I was hoping I would finally be able to meet her.”

“I don’t know. Zimbabwe or something. Our Jessie thinks she needs to be on some sort of safari photo shoot. I e-mailed her, but she couldn’t get a flight back in time. So expect a VERY big gift. You wouldn’t believe all the stuff she sent when Brody was born. Now, enough of that. Do you have everything?”

“I’m assuming this necklace can be my something old. My earrings are my something borrowed from my mother. My dress is something new. Then my something blue is the garter Kelly gave me.”

“Wouldn’t mind seeing that.”

Pam smacks him on the arm. She picks up her bouquet from the dresser and works the rose into it. She picks up Jim’s wedding band that was lying next to her bouquet. She brings it to her lips and kisses it.

“For luck. You’ll hold onto it for me until we need it?“

“Of course.“ Jonathan places it in his pocket. She takes one last look in the mirror. Jonathan steps behind her and rests his hands on her shoulders. “Next time you look in a mirror, you’ll be a married woman.”

“I’ll be a Halpert.” They both smile as Pam hugs Jonathan
.
“Shall I escort you down then.”

“You shall.” Pam takes his arm as he walks her out of the room.

They arrive just out of Jim’s site where Michael and Betty are waiting for her. Jonathan leaves her in their capable hands. He makes his way down the isle to his little brother.

“Where have you been?”

“I was bringing your bride down. She’s waiting for her queue.”

Jim wipes his hands across his tux jacket. His long black tie flush against his crisp, white shirt. His jacket lays across his broad shoulders. “How is she?”

“She’s ready.” Jonathan places his hands on Jim’s shoulders. “Plus, she’s smoking’ hot.”

Jim smacks him on the shoulder. “Thanks for the observation.”

Betty stands with her daughter hand in hand. “I suppose this is my last chance to tell you a few things before…”

“Mom, you’re going to make me start crying, again. This is waterproof mascara, but I don’t know if it can take anymore and the service hasn’t even started.”

“Just let me get this out.” Betty’s voice is a little choked up as she tries not to cry. Pam just listens as she squeezes her hand. “Sometimes a person comes into your life and you know at that moment they were meant to be there. To serve a purpose, teach you a lesson, or help you figure out who you are and who you want to become. Jim is that person for you. For years, he’s been your best friend. Even though the road between becoming friends and realizing you were soul mates was incredibly long, you learned so much about each other along the way. You are the amazing woman you are today because of this journey you’ve been on. In finding Jim, you have found the you I always knew you could be. I am so blessed to have a daughter like you. I have no doubt that you will be happy for the rest of your life with the man you truly love.”

“I love you so much, mom.” Pam finally lets a tear go as she enters her mother’s embrace.

“I love you, too.”

“I love you both. I’m so happy to be here, sharing in this moment.” Michael hugs both women as they start laughing. They had almost forgotten he was standing inches away.

The processional music starts to play. “That’s my queue.” Betty gives Pam’s hand a tight squeeze as she leave to get Brody and the flowerless flower girl down the isle.

“I guess it’s my turn to bestow some words of wisdom.”

“No really, Michael. You don’t have to.”

“It’s just… I’ve always wanted love in my life. I had thought that I had found it so many times. I could just never make it work. When I see you with Jim, I get it. The two of you, it’s how love is suppose to work. You are an inspiration to me and to everyone around you. I have learned how to love from the two of you.”

“Thank you, I think.”

“Your welcome. Just a little something from me to you.”

Michael steps out onto the isle. Pam’s breath catches in her chest as she hears “What a Wonderful World” start to play for her to walk down the isle. Jim stands at the end of the isle waiting to catch a glimpse of his bride. Pam extends her hand to rest in Michael’s. Michael kisses her hand as he pulls her into view. Pam turns to face everyone, but she only sees him. She hardly notices Michael placing her arm around his. Jim smiles as she slowly makes her way down the isle. He can’t take his eyes off her. She’s radiant in a dress that extenuates all of her best features. Her hair is slightly blowing in the breeze when she makes it to end. Michael sticks to the plan. He kisses Pam on the cheek, extends his hand to Jim, then deviates a little by pulling Jim into an embrace. Jim reluctantly pats him on the back. Michael then takes Pam’s hand and places it in Jim’s. A soft sigh seems to emanate from all the guests. Michael starts crying as he makes his way to his seat in the front row.

“We are gathered her to join James and Pamela in the bonds of matrimony.” They could hear the words, but the beat of their hearts was thundering in their ears. Jim almost misses the judge say, “They have prepared their own vows. Jim?”

“What? Yes… sorry.” Jim voice cracks a little. He clears his throat and begins. “Somehow, I never thought this day would come. I’m sure many of you had that feeling.” He turns to look at the guests. “Now that I’m here with you, I have this to pledge to you. I, James, choose you, Pamela, as my best friend and my love for life. I promise to love you, to commit to you, and support you. I will stand by your side and sleep in your arms. I promise to laugh with you in the good times, to struggle with you in bad, to wipe your tears with my hands, to comfort your body with mine, to share everything that I am with you, all the days of my life.” Pam’s smile radiates across her face.

“Pam.”

“I’m not sure I can follow that, but I’ll try.” She sniffles as she begins. “I, Pamela, take you, James, as my husband. I promise to love you, encourage you, and inspire you. I promise to laugh with you in good times and comfort you in bad. I will be your best friend throughout our lives, always putting our family first. I will cherish you all the days of my life.”

Jonathan takes the rings from his coat pocket and hands them to the judge. He hands Jim Pam’s ring.

“Take this ring as a sign on my unending love and fidelity.” Jim slips the band on her finger. He smiles down on her as a tear falls from his cheek.

The judge hands Pam Jim’s ring. She takes Jim’s hand. “Take this ring as a sign of my unending love and fidelity.” She slips it effortlessly across his knuckle and squeezes his hand.

They both let out a sigh of relief as the judge announces, “With the power invested in me by the state of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Jim places his hand on her cheek and pulls her lips to his. He takes in her breath and lets out a soft moan.

“Not half bad, Halpert.”

“We’re just getting started, Mrs. Halpert.”