Disclaimer: Don’t own The Office. Don’t even own a microwave :(

Author’s notes: I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the kind reviews! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I wish I could personally hug you all :) I’m so relieved you liked the first partand I hope this part doesn’t disappoint you! It’s a lot different than the first half of the story, and I hope that isn’t a bad thing :O! Oh! Also, for those of you who aren’t familiar with it, the Tidal Basin is the big lake/pond thing in D.C. that the cherry blossom trees circle. Honestly, I’m not sure about the legality issues, temperature, or general toxicity, but it is, after all, fiction ;)

Dedicated to everyone who was kind enough to review. Thank you so much :)!

Blossom

Part II

After a struggle for the check (in which Jim ended victorious), the two sat staring blankly at each other. Both thought the same thing, but Pam was the first to speak.

“What now?”

Neither had a real answer to the question, and there really couldn’t be one. Life moves on, whether affection does or not. Jim lived in New York now and Pam in Maryland. It had been too long, and time had taken any will they may have had for gambles.

“I’m in Washington till tomorrow,” Jim offered up hopefully.

“Me too,” Pam lied. She had checked out of her hotel room earlier that day. The words had just slipped out, and she knew she couldn’t take them back now.

Jim was unsure of what he was doing, why he was so unwilling to let go of her when it was inevitable, but he stumbled forward anyway because for some reason, around Pam, logic just seemed silly.

“We could probably still catch the fireworks,” he said.

She smiled and nodded, though he could have suggested bear wrestling for all she cared, as long as it meant a little more time together.

They made an awkward stop at Jim’s car, which Pam claimed was closer, to drop off her things, and then they headed towards the Tidal Basin. The walk back over seemed shorter as the two started joking and laughing again.

Pam began to develop a sort of scamper to make up for the immensity of Jim’s stride. Every so often he would look down and smile, both hating and loving the fact that she never ceased to be adorable. The sky grew darker and only brief sparks of lighting flashed through it.

“Guess no fireworks tonight,” Jim mentioned casually, glancing up just as it thundered.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Pam retorted playfully. She smiled at him briefly, but quickly returned her eyes to the ground, a barely visible blush tracing across her face.

And once again, more than ever before, Jim was desperate to break that barrier and scream out that he never stopped caring, and sure, he had moved on and dated and worked and became successful, but that (and this) only made him more sure that she was the one he cared about.

Of course, he had learned in the past that blurting out undying love was…less than successful. So he had played it by ear, letting her make the moves. But now…

“Are you seeing anyone?” he said, and winced as soon as the words came out. “I’m sorry. That was…blunt…I just meant…just curious.”

She smiled, sort of. She’d never been too good at hiding her emotions and now she was such a mix of excitement, disappointment, guilt, hope, happiness, and depression, there was no way a half-hearted smile was going to hide it.

“No,” she admitted. “I mean, I have…seen people. But no, nothing’s worked out.”

He nodded, stuck in a sort of limbo, wanting to take the next step, but being faced with a thousand reasons not to. There was another moment of silent walking.

“…what about you?”

“No,” he answered honestly, though he couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t have lied if he had to. “I’m not.”

“With your social grace?” she gasped in play shock. He grinned widely and gave her a light flick on the shoulder. She automatically assumed her so called “fighting” position; bent knees, fists out, bouncing back and forth on the toes of her feet.

Jim made a fake jab towards the stomach, throwing her off balance so he could quickly throw his arms around her waist. “Say ‘Jim Halpert is the most amazing, graceful human being I have ever met,’” he requested.

“Or what?” she snorted. It wasn’t that she had a problem saying it; in fact, she believed it wholeheartedly (save the graceful bit). She just wasn’t in any rush to be let go.

Really, he hadn’t thought his plan entirely through. He quickly scanned the area for possible threats. “Or I’ll toss you in,” he said, titling his head towards the Tidal Basin.

At that, Pam’s eyes suddenly lit up. “You know, I’ve always wanted to swim in there.”

Jim let go, becoming slightly apprehensive. “Pam...” he started, but she had licked her lower lip slightly and bit it, donning a sly little smirk. He knew after that, there was virtually no stopping her.

“Pam, it’s illegal, it’s cold, you don’t have a swimsuit on…it’s illegal.”

She was grinning mischievously now as she took off her sneakers. “Oh come on Halpert,” she coaxed. “Don’t be such a wimp.”

His stomach did an involuntary flip; he loved when she called him that. “I’m not a wimp,” he retorted, knowing full well he was. “It’s just a bad idea. Besides, that water’s a little iffy. It’ll probably destroy that lovely outfit.”

Pam, in paint stained jeans and large T-shirt, let out a large guffaw.

“You sure you won’t come in?” she asked, edging closer to the water.

He eyed her, eyebrows furrowed, decidedly unconvinced. “You’re bluffing.”

She shook her head with a smile. “Jim, Jim,” she laughed like a knowing mother, “You’d think you’d learn from your mistakes.” And with that, she jumped into the water.

Jim looked on in disbelief. His eyes were wide open, and he began laughing out of pure surprise. “Pam,” he said, unable to think of any other word. “This can not be the same mild-mannered, rule-abiding, receptionist Pam I knew in Pennsylvania.”

Kicking backwards gleefully in the water with her big shirt bellowing upwards, she grinned. “It’s not.”

Jim thought about this for a second. No, she was still Pam, he thought, she’d always be Pam. She had just gotten a little braver.

He shook his head as Pam paddled around, calling out about how nice the water was. “Alright, alright,” he sighed, removed his shoes and sweater, and waded in.

She applauded happily. “Now go under! Or are you afraid you’ll mess up your stylistically messed up hair?”

“Oh no, I’m sure it can’t look any worse than yours,” he grinned. That was true enough. Her long hair had fallen out of its bun and was clinging to her skin in a variety of angles.

“Oh really?”

She used all her strength and years of pool party experience to splash Jim with as much water as she possibly could.

“Oh, that’s it,” Jim said before dunking her into the water. An inevitable battle ensued, which continued long after the two were completely soaked through.

“I surrender!” Pam announced finally, through gasping breaths. “I surrender!” She climbed out of the water and lay down on a nearby hill.

Jim followed soon after, flopping down beside her. “It’s amazing how I win at everything,” he noted with a large exhale.

“You cheated,” Pam stated.

“Oh?” he turned to face her.

“You made me laugh,” she said, in almost a whisper, eyes locked on his. She smiled at him.

“God,” he breathed, overwhelmed with the idea as he watched her innocently tucking a strand of wet hair behind her ear. “You’re beautiful.” He would have held it back he could have, but it was the sort of thing that was so present in his mind that when he opened his mouth, it was the only thing that could possibly pour out.

Pam blushed, but forced herself to stay silent.

“I’m sorry about everything Pam, I acted-”

“We both did,” she interjected quietly.

“It sucks, you know?” he said, shaking his head, too angry to make himself sound eloquent. He searched for a way to explain. “It’s like…relationships are chemical reactions…and some just fizzle out…but ours…ours…spontaneously combusted.”

Pam laughed through emerging tears. It had been so fun to pretend like the past didn’t exist, and now he was forcing her to face it. “Dork,” she sniff-giggled, though she knew just what he meant.

He sighed, nodding slightly and wishing he had come up with slightly less nerdy metaphor. He looked back up at the sky. “What I mean is…I never stoppe...caring. But after everything…the fighting, the screaming, the moving, and everyone finding out…it’s…”

“Impossible?” she suggested weakly, sitting up as if waking from a dream.

He nodded and heard an echo that night, of her telling him “I can’t.”

“Or just about…” He laughed as he stared pensively at her, “I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed you.”

She tried her hardest not to let him see her cry, but it was apparent in her voice.“You have no idea…I just…I wish I could go back and change things…change how things happened…how I acted.” She paused, trying to think of a way to let him know he hadn't been alone. “I wish I had told you that I…” she couldn't let herself say it. She was confused and angry. It had taken her nearly four years to get over it the first time she lost him, and she didn't want to go through it again. Yet here he was, being so much like she tried to forget, that she couldn't help but fall for him again. "I wish you weren't you."

He laughed. In one beat, his heart flew to his throat and plummeted to his stomach. “SometimesI do too...I justwish wishing made a difference.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, wiping her eyes. They went silent for a second. Although, the physical barrier remained, a certain understanding was between them. Though neither had said it directly, they both knew if they had the chance to choose again, they would have chosen each other.

But they didn’t have that chance. Things had, as Jim put it, combusted. So there they lay, inches from each other when they might as well have been miles apart.

He looked over at her, her whole body soaked and now her eyes too, as they glistened over with tears.

“I still want to kiss you so much right now,” he admitted in the open air.

She turned to him, laying her cheek against the grass. “Then kiss me.”

He shook his head. “I can’t have this mean nothing.” He paused, as if reviewing the options. “But after all that’s happened and how things are now…what else can it mean?”

She shrugged. “I don’t care right now, Jim. Right now I just want you to kiss me, too.” She sat up, and he followed in suit.

They both stared at each other awkwardly, nervously; so much so neither knew what to do.

“So…” she said.

“It’s your turn,” he said, hoping she couldn’t hear his heart beating as loudly as he heard it. He wasn’t sure why he was prolonging something he wanted so badly, but something felt so different. It was as if it was all some sort of trick or dream and the second he leaned in, it would all collapse. He was scared, inexplicably and unstoppably terrified, despite the fact that everything was finally out in the open.

“My turn?” she asked, trying to keep from shaking.

He shrugged slightly. “I kissed you last time.”

She let out an awkward laugh. “I…can’t…I”

But he only stared. “Jim..I…” she agonized.

“I did it last time,” he repeated, as if it made any difference.

“Oh God,” she groaned. In her whole life, she had never once leaned in for a first kiss, or a second for that matter. She knew if she didn’t, he might not either, and she might never get to kiss him again. Yet, she was paralyzed too, by the same ridiculous fear and anxiousness. She stuttered out some more excuses, asked for promises of friendship and phone calls, and finally let out a fairly high-pitched, “Screw it!” She failed her arms out quickly and then jumped forward hands first, catching the back of his head and then kissing him forcefully on the lips.

With that, all awkwardness and questions were lost because finally, it was reality. They were kissing each other and no one had died or laughed or jumped backward. Nothing collapsed. The world hadn’t ended. And with all those happy realities, their kiss grew more involved as they fought to make up for all their lost time. They tangled themselves in each other, and yet they somehow felt freer than ever before.

It was only the dinging of Pam’s cell phone that separated the two. She pulled it out quickly, instinctively. It was an alarm set to remind her of the last bus home. She winced slightly.

“Who was it?” Jim asked, grasping her hand tightly and kissing her gently down the neck with surprising courage.

She laughed. “I just missed the last bus home.”

“I thought you were staying till tomorrow?”

“I lied,” she said, knowing now she needed no explanation.

“Good. Stay with me,” he whispered, stroking her wet hair.

Pam raised an eyebrow. “Jim Halpert, do you really think I’m that easy?”

He pulled nervously at the bottom of his wet shirt (which he only just realized had been lifted half off his body), his previous confidence shot.“No, not at all-I just meant-“

“I was only kidding,” she comforted, giving him a quick kiss. Meekly and blushing she added, “…I think I’d like that.”

He grinned, blushing slightly as well, and got up

She took the hand he held out for her and couldn’t help but emerge him in a tight hug. Now that she had finally gotten to touch him, she felt as if every moment she wasn’t was a waste of time.

“And tomorrow?” she asked, voice muffled as she pressed her face closely to his chest.

He kissed her on the forehead and squeezed her shoulders, which were beginning to shiver from the cold. “Tomorrow we figure out tomorrow.”

That was all the answer she needed.

Fin.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you liked it (or at least didn't hate it!) :O! I left the ending pretty loose because I think the first step, breaking that "barrier", is the most important part ;) Reviews are appreciated so much, if you have the chance to write them :D

Thanks again:)