Pam was not looking forward to the Dundies after work. Michael had forced her to re-watch previous years to note down the “Best” jokes and so she had been reminded almost all day how insensitive and horrible they could be, not to mention some of the awards. She and Roy had won longest engagement almost three years running, and so Pam did not have high hopes for what her award would be this year now that she was no longer with Roy – or anyone for that matter. Pam expected something along the lines of “Runaway Bride” or “Hottest Spinster.” The only upshot so far today had been her writing a joke on the women’s room wall and having Dwight go all super-investigator on it, but that had unfortunately ended when he barged in on Phyllis in the bathroom.

Nothing was helped by the fact that the camera crew seemed to be trying to make up for lost time on the drama that had once been her love life, pulling her aside for updates on her summer, how was Roy, and other crap like that. Pam stayed vague, but she couldn’t help but gush over her new house, dog, and art classes. Then they started asking questions about Jim, and Pam wasn’t nearly as comfortable or confident answering those, because honestly she wasn’t really sure what she thought of Jim at this point, not that she would admit this to the cameras, she gave enough non-committal answers that they moved on and let her go.

Jim had noticed that while Pam had styled her hair in loose curls and pulled it back with a barrette, something that she had begun doing more frequently over the summer, she was also wearing the grey knitted sweater that her mom made for her, which Jim had observed usually meant Pam was subconsciously bracing for disappointment. Jim liked to think that Pam wore the sweater to remind her of her mother hugging her or something, but he’d never really found a way to ask without it being totally creepy that he noticed these things. Jim’s suspicions were only confirmed when Pam came over to his desk late in the day to ask if he would be willing to drive her to the Dundies so that she could “Consume as much alcohol as possible” before her assumed public embarrassment. Jim was only too happy to oblige, greatly anticipating the pleasant surprise she was in for tonight when the award wasn’t a terribly insensitive joke about her failed engagement.

After going home to let Nikita out, Pam rode with Jim to the Chilli’s where the Dundies were being held this year. Upon arriving Pam noted that they were not the first, however, nor were they the last. Most of the office workers had already arrived barring Toby, Kevin, and Stanley, and none of the warehouse had rolled in yet because they had been busy loading a late shipment. Pam was a little apprehensive about seeing Roy in a public setting again, having spied him and Katy together on numerous occasions over the summer, so she knew that was still going on and really hoped she wouldn’t have to see her here. Katy was a painful reminder to Pam that even if Jim was her best friend, she was still alone every night, lacking the courage to potentially ruin the best friendship of her life.

‘You have to take a chance Pam, you deserve to be happy,’ rung in her ears from when Jim had encouraged her to go after the means to take her summer art course. They were seated at a raised table just in front of Michael’s presentation area. Pam decided that if she didn’t have enough courage to take Jim’s advice, she was going to acquire some in liquid form. The plus side to drinking was that it also offered a buffer from her impending public embarrassment. Pam was halfway through her beer, enjoying just being in Jim’s presence, when she saw Roy, Darryl, and Katy walk in and get seated a few tables over by the corner. She finished her beer with determination and ordered a margarita, looking back and focussing only on Jim, on happy thoughts, like how it might be to be his girlfriend.

Jim noticed a distinct change in Pam’s demeanor when Roy and Katy entered and were seated. Pam finished her drink and quickly ordered another, all the while she looked him straight in the eyes, seemingly determined not to look anywhere but him. She had downed half her margarita by the time Michael came onstage to give his opening speech and song.

Pam recalled the last time she had gotten drunk in a bar with Roy and Jim, it had ended with a bruise on Jim’s cheek and spiteful words from herself. So, Pam was relieved when Michael announced that there was no group tab and the warehouse crew rolled out, Roy and Katy included, and she ordered herself another margarita to celebrate.

Jim was having a great time just watching Pam, she seemed so joyful and carefree once the warehouse left and he noticed that her gaze rarely left his face, as if she drew her energy from his reactions to the train-wreck that was Michael’s Dundies presentations. When Ryan got the hottest in the office Dundie and she gave a catcall before dissolving into giggles, Jim almost fell out of his own stool laughing at her, adoring the pure joy on her face.

Pam found that alcohol did strange things to her. She actually found Michael funny, and couldn’t hold in the giggles at each award he presented, which she admitted was a red flag that she had probably had too much to drink, but she couldn’t bring herself to care because she could also finally admit to herself that Jim was handsome and she wouldn’t mind waking up wrapped in those strong but lanky limbs. These thoughts caused another fit of giggles, and Pam loved how his eyes sparkled when he laughed with her, even though he didn’t know what it was about.

Jim was having a blast; drunk Pam was a barrel of laughs. The waitress had stopped serving Pam so she had taken it upon herself to start crushing the ice in her margaritas so that it would melt faster, claiming it was like “second drinks” before bursting into more giggles after he raised an eyebrow at her in challenge. As the presentations progressed Jim was slowly working on the mound of fries on his “side” plate, wondering how he was ever going to finish them, when the waitress deposited a milkshake beside Pam.

“What are you doing Beesly,” Jim exclaimed with disgust as she started dipping his fries into her milkshake before eating them.

“It’s the best, you shouldn’t bash it until you try it,” Pam said around a mouth full of soggy fries, dipping another and then reaching over the table making airplane noises, moving it towards Jim’s mouth.

Jim decided to play along and let Pam stick the fry in his mouth, beyond amused at how cute she was in that moment, as he ate the soggy fry.

“There you go, big baby,” Pam said with a triumphant smile, “Was that so bad?”

“You were right,” Jim was pleasantly surprised at the taste and texture, “I never should have doubted you.”

They polished off the fries pretty quickly after that, and even Pam’s second drinks had run out so she had switch to water, having gone around to a few other tables and stealing any fruit garnishes she could find and shoving them underneath the ice cubes in her glass in an endearing display of drunk logic. As Michael started his next musical number it drew some heckling and projectiles from the bar area, visibly discouraging him.

When Pam willingly told Michael that she hadn’t gotten a Dundie yet Jim was amazed. Her compassion for Michael even while drunk was a beautiful trait, Jim mused to himself, joining in on encouraging Michael to continue, evidently making his day by the smile that he gave them as he pressed on. Pam cheered as Kevin and Stanley got their awards, quickly brining the party back to life, her enthusiasm rubbing off on their coworkers.

“This next award is going out to our own little Pam Beesly, we had to change things up this year, you all know why… I think you all know what she’s going to be getting this year,” Michael trailed off for dramatic effect.

Jim watched as Pam’s face suddenly fell at Michael’s preamble to her award, barely able to contain himself waiting for her reaction to what it would be.

“It is… the Fancy New Beesly award, because she’s really come into her own this year!” Michael exclaimed before adding a quick, “That’s what she said,” with a cough, and Jim watched the shock on Pam’s face become tinged with joy, as she got up to accept her award.

Jim tuned out of whatever Michael was saying, unable to tear his eyes away from Pam’s beautiful face as she accepted her award giddily, grabbing the microphone to make a speech.

“I have so many people to thank for this award,” Pam began, short of breath from laughter and with a smile that almost reached her ears, “First of all, my Mom and Dad, for being awesome; And, just while I’m up here, can we thank Michael and Dwight for running this? It’s a lot harder than it looks. And I’d also like to thank Jim, for being my best friend; My dog, for being so cute; and finally god,” she paused, sobering, “Because god gave me this Dundie, and, I feel god in this Chilli’s tonight,” she finished earnestly, before letting out a loud yell of victory, raising her Dundie in the air.

Jim could only watch in awe as Pam kissed Michael on the cheek before doing a victory dance and making her way back towards him at their table. He got up to pull Pam’s chair out for her, but instead of moving to sit down she threw her arms around him and wrapped him in a very enthusiastic hug. Jim was stunned when she pulled her head back and planted a kiss straight on his lips, leaving him unable to really react before she spun away to sit down. His heart pounding in his ears, Jim tried to affect an air of indifference in front of his coworkers but internally he was on cloud nine, Pam had just kissed him on the lips for Pete’s sake.

A while later Jim was shaken from his daze by the camera crew. He looked around and realised he was sitting at the bar beside Pam, he must have followed her there for a refill or something. Jim was doing his best to answer their questions and recap the Dundies for them, but having Pam sitting so close to him was distracting, to say the least. It didn’t help to see Pam staring at him intently and trying to look sober by nodding along to his commentary enthusiastically.

Jim finally looked over at Pam and just asked her, “What,” to see if he could shake her out of it.

When she responded with nodding a little more and then, “Nothing,” before pausing and asking “What,” back to him, Jim struggled not to laugh.

“I don’t know, what,” Jim prompted her, beginning to laugh.

Apparently, this was enough to set her off, and she giggled herself off the stool ending up on the floor. The ensuing scene somehow entailed Dwight shirtless and thus Jim tried his best not to pay any more attention and helped a still giggling Pam up once Dwight had finished making a fool of himself threatening to have the manager arrested. Their party was promptly asked to leave and Jim took Pam by the arm to steer her towards the exit.

Upon exiting the Chilli’s Jim was again amused as a drunken Pam screamed at the camera about this year being the best Dundies ever, and then proceeding to hug every single one of their coworkers goodbye, even Angela. Jim’s heart was full with the knowledge that he had helped put a smile on Pam’s face, and joy in her heart.

As Jim walked Pam over to his car to drive her home, she suddenly broke away from his arm to plop herself onto a bench, tilting her head back to stare up at the sky.

“What’s up,” Jim asked after sitting beside her in silence for a few minutes.

“I don’t know… I just don’t want this night to end because I know I won’t feel this good when I wake up tomorrow,” she explained, still staring dazedly at the constellations.

“Well, I hate to break it to you Beesly, but you do have to go to bed sometime, and it is already fairly late,” Jim said, glancing at his watch to see it was almost eleven at night.

“But how about we get you home, and tomorrow Larissa and I can join you in the park for a picnic,” Jim offered, as that was an activity that always brought joy to Pam’s face, “How does that sound?”

“Mm,” Pam mumbled as she finally raised her head, only to rest it on his shoulder, “That sounds really great,” she said, not making any move to get up.

Jim chuckled, “Come on Beesly,” he said as he wrapped his arm around and under her armpit to support her, “Up we get!”

Pam half-heartedly assisted Jim’s efforts to get her up, wrapping her arm across his shoulders, and Jim walked her over to his car, opening the passenger door for her and helping her in. Pam seemed content to loll her head to the left and stare at him during the drive home, and Jim couldn’t help but feel warm under her gaze. Pulling up to her house Jim went around to help her out of the car and up her steps. When she unlocked her door, she opened it but hesitated, turning back around to face him on the front steps, suddenly looking very sober.

“Hey Jim, can I ask you a question?”