Jim stood at the front of the church with the reverend. They chatted briefly before the wedding began. When the music started, Jim felt himself tense up and felt beads of sweat form on his brow. He wiped them away quickly before Pam entered the room.

After the bridesmaids and the groomsmen were standing in their positions, the music changed from a soft lull to a beautiful rendition of the Wedding March. Jim straightened his stance and focused at the entrance to the sanctuary. He caught his breath when he saw Pam walk around the corner towards the door.

She stepped forward and stopped to grab Scarlet’s hand. Pam’s father linked arms with Pam before they stepped into the auditorium. Pam looked down at Scarlet, who was grasping her sweaty hand, and smiled.

With each of Pam’s life changing steps, Jim’s reality began to close in. After all those years of pining, waiting, guessing, hiding, and wondering, this was the end of it. No more waiting to find out how Pam feels or guessing about the future. This was it. He was getting married to the woman of his dreams and adopting the daughter he had always wanted.

Pam stepped up to the altar, dropped her father’s arm and Scarlet’s hand, and positioned herself across from Jim. Jim took her hands in his and could feel the dampness of her own hands. He smiled to ease the tension between them.

As the reverend read the vows, Jim lightly held on to Pam’s hand. Half way through the ceremony, he felt Pam squeeze his hand tighter and tighter. He gave her a smile and a questioning look. She just smiled.

“Are there any objections?” the reverend asked the congregation.

Under his breath Jim jokingly said, “There better not be.” Pam laughed at his attempt to break the silence.

“Then, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride,” the reverend said with a cheerful smile.

Pam sighed as Jim pulled her in close. With his hands on her cheeks, touching her damp skin where her tears had fallen, he placed a passionate kiss on her lips. She wrapped her arms around him and made sure to keep their embrace until they had to break apart. As they stood joined together, Jim could feel Pam’s heart beating rapidly against his chest. He wondered if it was just his, but once the clapping died down and they pulled apart, he knew her heart was racing too.

They turned toward the audience and Jim knelt down to pick Scarlet up. She jumped into his arms and he grasped Pam’s hand with his free hand and they made their way down the aisle. Outside the sanctuary Jim placed a kiss on Scarlet’s cheek before putting her down. He pulled Pam in close and placed another kiss on her lips. She pulled away, slightly stunned.

“What was that for?”

“I didn’t get enough when we were up there,” Jim said, smiling and nodding towards the platform.

“Oh. Me either,” Pam said, pulling on his tie for him to lean down. She pulled him in close and rested her hands in his hair behind his ears. They stood like that until Scarlet’s voice penetrated their ears.

“Stop! I want to go eat some cake now. Hurry!”

Jim and Pam laughed. “Oh yeah. Let’s go eat some cake now,” Jim said, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the reception hall doors.

-----

During the reception, Jim and Pam sat at the head table awaiting further instructions from the photographer and Pam’s mother. Sitting in the dining hall, Jim held on to Pam’s hand that was gently resting on his knee. Once the band began to play, Jim quickly pulled Pam onto the dance floor and wooed her. Not knowing more than a few steps he learned at his high school prom, he made due with what he had. Pam smiled and went along with his steps and playfully spun him a time or two. In between songs, the lead singer of the band came out to the dance floor with his microphone in hand.

“So, the newly weds need to give a toast before this night is over,” the man said, sticking the microphone in Jim’s palm.

“Oh, I don’t know…” Jim said, pushing the mike away.

“Come on. Tell everyone here how much you love her.”

Jim looked over to Pam and smiled. He sighed and then took the mike. The crowd clapped and cheered at his response.

“Um…I didn’t really plan anything,” Jim said, looking down at his shiny shoes. “ But, I think we all know how much I love this woman. She’s the best person I know,” he said, getting slightly emotional.

Pam looked over to him as she played with lace around her waist.

“I’ve wondered for years who could be the one for me and when I found her…again…I knew. She loves me like no one else I know,” he said and then turned to face Pam. “You’re my best friend.”

Pam wiped her eyes and stepped over to Jim, hugging him and placing a kiss on his cheek. He placed the microphone in Pam’s hand. She turned to face the majority of the crowd.

“I didn’t prepare anything either, so I’m going to do my best without crying. Oh, too late,” she said, wiping her cheek and laughing with the crowd. “Um…Jim and I go way back. Back then, we both knew that we loved each other but something just didn’t work out. And then, one day my daughter ran off in the grocery store and when I found her, I found him too,” Pam said, grabbing on to the piece of lace around her waist. Her face crumbled as tears begin to pour out of her eyes. “Scarlet took a liking to him so I thought I would keep him,” Pam said, laughing and crying at the same time. “But…seriously, Jim is the only person that knows the real me. He can read my thoughts from afar and he knows when I walk into a room. Something about that lets me know that we were meant to be together,” Pam said as she looked over at Jim.

“Ladies, you had your chance, but I got him,” Pam said, smiling and stepping closer to Jim. She handed the microphone to the singer and grabbed Jim’s face in her hands. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Jim said, smiling.

“I just needed you to know.”

“Once.”

“No. More than once,” Pam said and then pulled his lips to hers. The crowd clapped loudly and the music started back up.

With Jim’s arms encircling Pam, he swayed back and forth with his face nuzzled in her neck. As he gently kissed her neck, he whispered into her skin. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

Pam rested her hands at the base of his neck and closed her eyes tight. Scarlet came running onto the dance floor and wiggled her way in between the two of them. Jim pulled away from Pam and looked down at Scarlet. He then dropped Pam’s hands and took Scarlet’s and knelt down to her level. “May I have this dance?”

Scarlet smiled. “Yes.”

“Sorry Pam. It looks like the other woman in my life gets my full attention,” he siad, looking up at Pam with a smile.

Pam smiled back. “Fine. I guess I’m stuck with my father,” she said, walking off and grabbing her dads hand and pulling him to the dance floor. Jim swayed with Scarlet and when she got restless of that, he taught her how to put her feet on his feet. Jim stepped around the dance floor with Scarlet giggling. She had Jim cracking up as well.

After a few dances, Jim grabbed Pam and reminded her it was time for them to go. She gave a look of disappointment then her expression turned into a smile. Apparently she was ready to get away from everyone else too.

-----

“I’m so glad that I changed out of that dress,” Pam said exasperated.

“You are? You looked great.”

“Looking great has it’s downfalls. You’re feet hurt, you’re uncomfortable and all constricted. Breaking free is a good thing at the end of a day like this,” Pam said, turning to face Jim, who was driving.

“Well, you look wonderful,” Jim said, smiling.

Pam kept her eyes locked on the side of his face. She stared at him until he turned his head to see her gazing affectionately at him.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. What?”

“Can I just adore my husband while he’s driving?”

“Yeah, but you’re creeping me out,” he said with a laugh.

“I don’t care. I’m going to look at you all I want.”

“Okay. Well, I get my turn later then.”

“You have all week to look at me.”

“No. I was talking about staring at myself…in the mirror,” Jim said, glancing in the rear view mirror.

Pam dropped her mouth and playfully slapped Jim in the arm.

“Here we go again. More abuse. I think I might have to turn you in to the authorities Mrs. Halpert.”

Pam laughed. “Wow. I’m Mrs. Halpert.”

“Yes, yes you are.”

“That’s…just…crazy.”

“No it’s not.”

“It is when I never expected to see you again.”

“Eh. I knew things would turn out.”

“You did?”

“I guess I always had it in the back of my mind.”

“Really? Even when you were engaged to someone else?”

“Uh, Pam. Do you notice that I’m not engaged anymore? I’m married….to you.”

“So, is that why you ended it with Karen? Because you had me in mind?”

“I guess so. It was risky because I didn’t know where you were or if you were married. We just kind of found each other, huh?”

“We did. If it wasn’t for Scarlet, we wouldn’t be here.”

“I know. She’s our little angel.”

Pam smiled and then focused on where Jim was leading them. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

“I mean, the airport isn’t in this direction. What do you have up your sleeve?”

“It isn’t much but, I wanted to take you to our place before getting on the plane. They called me the other day and told me that the repairs were done. The carpet had been changed and the painting is done. So, I wanted us to stop by and see it before we left.”

“Are you serious?” Pam asked excited.

“Nope. I’m completely lying right now.”

“Stop it,” she said.

After a few miles, they pulled up into the driveway. Jim unlocked the door and swung the door open. He stopped Pam from bolting through the door with his arm. She looked up in confusion.

“What?”

Jim held out his arms. “It’s tradition.”

“You want to carry me over the threshold?”

“Yes. Now jump up here before I sling you over my shoulder.”

“I think I might prefer the shoulder better,” Pam said, teasing.

“Come on,” Jim said, cocking his head to the side.

Jim lowered his arms and Pam pushed off the ground with her feet and landed in Jim’s arms. She tightened her hold around his neck and placed a kiss on his cheek. Jim turned his head and brushed his lips against Pam’s. He squeezed tight to her as he held her in his arms outside their front door. In the midst of their kissing, Pam mumbled into his mouth, “Let’s go inside.”

“Okay,” Jim said, walking through the door with his mouth still pressed to hers.

“Hurry,” Pam said, kissing her way down his neck. Jim flicked the light switch and carried Pam into the living room and set her feet on the newly carpeted floor. Pam still had her arms wrapped around his neck and teased him with kisses.

“Aren’t we here to see the house?” Jim asked, pulling her closer to his chest.

“Not anymore.”

“Pam, we are going to miss our flight. Let’s take a peek and then go.”

“I don’t care about the house right now,” she said, rubbing her hands over his chest and placing kiss on his exposed collarbone.

“Hey. Despite how much I want to do that too, I think we should check out the house and then get to the airport. Save something for when we actually get to Paris.”

Pam pulled away and then went in for another kiss. “Fine,” she said on his lips. Pam turned and looked at the newly painted and carpeted house.

“It looks so good.”

“I know. It’s the exact color that you wanted it to be,” Jim said, running his hand over the wall.

“Man, this looks great. I cannot wait to move in.”

“Oh, and guess what else came in the other day?”

“What?”

“Go into the kitchen and look on the counter,” Jim said, flicking on the light to the kitchen as he leaned against the wall.

Pam obeyed and walked into the kitchen to where some papers set on the counter. She picked up the stack and glanced over the document. After a few moments, she looked up at Jim, who was still leaning against the wall.

“It’s finalized?”

“Apparently,” he said, holding out his hands. “All that’s left is our signatures.”

“Oh my gosh,” Pam said, holding her hand to mouth. Jim walked over and wrapped his arms around Pam as she stood facing the counter. “You’re Scarlet’s dad.”

“Well, not until we sign it,” he said, sliding a pen across the counter.

Pam picked up the pen and slowly took off the cap. “Here we go,” she said, signing on the dotted line. In mid-signing Jim reminded her. “Remember that you’re a Halpert now.”

“Of course,” she said, handing Jim the pen. He took it, sighed and then signed on the line next to Pam’s signature.

“It’s official,” he said, putting the cap back on the pen and embracing Pam again. She placed a kiss on his lips and let her hands linger in his hair. He pulled back and pulled her towards the front door. “We definitely need to go now. Our plane leaves in two hours and we still havent checked in yet.”

“Then in how many hours will we be in Paris?”

“I think twelve.”

“Wow. I don’t know if I can last that long, Mr. Halpert.”

“Oh, don’t worry; you can sleep on the plane.”

“I’m not talking about sleep…” she said, winking.

Jim made a face at her and then darted his eyes around the room. “It will be worth it when we get there Pam. Let’s go,” he said, pulling her to the door and shutting the light off.”

“You know, there’s always the mile high club.”

“I’m already a member,” he said, teasing her as he shut the door.

“Oh really?”

“Yup. I have my membership card and everything.”

Pam’s eyebrows shot up. “Well, we might just have to re-register this time.”

Jim placed a kiss on her nose as he locked the front door. “Who are you?” he asked, shaking his head as he stepped off the porch.