Seriously. How do you DO that? This is Jim all the way, you captured him perfectly. I actually imagined him throughout the entire story; not once was I taken out of it by anything non-Jim. Amazing.

The ending was just dramatically perfect, and yet so real life and RIGHT, too. These are conversations I can completely imagine happening in the family down the street....or my very own family.

You are extremely talented. I know everyone else around here knows that, but I'm new in these parts and just have to gush. Sorry. **blush**

Author's Response: Well let me be the first to welcome you to the neighborhood Recorderalways! What an awesome review!  I think the highest compliment any fanfic writer can be given is that the reader was never taken out of the moment by something out of character or just off...that's so so great to hear.  Hope you stick around! :-)

Last night, I read the whole story from beginning to the 5th chapter and fell in love with it all over again.  Now, I've read this last chapter about ten times and I'm still getting choked up.  Jim and Pam's "moment" in the shower felt so right to me - just a moment of tenderness and intimacy and normalcy for them before the day began.  All the underlying emotions are so right.  I could feel the hush in the house during Frank's final hours.  Allison telling Jim that it was going to be his responsibility to take care of the family...just killed me.  I can hear those words in my mother's voice.  I have a feeling that Allison is going to be just fine, but Jim is going to be the best son-in-law she could ever hope for.  The "You wanna have a baby with me, Jim?" and "No" - made me laugh out loud!  Perfect note of humor in the middle of all the tension.  The plate of bacon...Frank laughing at Jim's question...Frank knowing what he was going to ask - it's all so right in the larger sense, but it's also so right for them.  And there's the thing, LoveFool.  You made this family real and I'm going to be thinking about them for a long time.   

*SNIFF* So. Sweet. Really nice ending.

I love how you only really mentioned Frank's death in passing, because it seems to me (not that I've ever experienced this first hand) that when someone has been struggling with a disease for so long, it's becomes more about the the struggle and the acceptance of the situation then the outcome... you handled it beautifully in the story and finished with the same idea; Really beautiful :)

Author's Response: Thank you Ampay (love your screen name btw!). You know I really did feel like mentioning it more "in passing" was the best way to go. I really wanted this story to be more about the people living through it -- than the actual death. The way that people live through it and lean on one another and come out better on the other side sometimes for it. 

10

Thank goodness you didn't finish this last week when I was PMSing or I'd be a blubbering mess at my desk right now. Wonderful work.

Author's Response: Oh man...well it's a good thing I didn't wait to write this until next week -- it would have been even MORE angsty...lolol. I hadn't thought of that! Thanks so much for the feedback Andys_Gal!

There are no words to describe how I feel about this story. That scene between Jim and Frank was just about the best thing I've read in a long time. You wrote this perfectly. Great job.

10

Grown women should not be blubbering messes at their desks during work hours. This was an amazing holiday treat. Well Done.

Author's Response: hehehe, I've been blubbering at my desk due to stress before, so I figure it's ok to do it because you're reading something you're into! hehehe. THanks so much for the feedback Macolly...:::here's a tissue::  :-)

10

I had chills when I finished this. Just. Amazing. 

Author's Response: Wow...I'm a little speechless at that. Chills is a very, very good thing! Thanks so much.

10

I'm all choked up. Speechless.

Well done!

10

Well then.  That was just fine.  One of my favorite chapters of any story, ever.  A few things...if they make a movie of this story, make sure they get John Mahoney to play Frank.  He'd be perfect, don't ya think?  I thought the first person thing was very effective; I think more people should use it in fanfic.  Things I especially loved...Frankie showing a little decency and Pam appreciating it...Frank being irascsible with his wife to the very end...Pam's "I'm thankful for you" (exactly what Jim needed to hear then).  Thanks so much for this. 

Author's Response: Brokenloon! You're so great! I ABSOLUTELY think John Mahoney would be perfect! We can imagine him in our heads, right?  I really wanted things to come full circle in that Jim really did have an effect on these people whether he realized it or not. I think that's so often the case in life...and I think even though his time with Frankie was minimal, I'm sure he had more of an impact than he could have ever imagined. Frankie emerging as somewhat of a responsible, contributing, member of the family could also allow Pam to realize that she doesn't have to be the one to take care of everything. Thanks so very, very much for such a thoughtful review!

10

From beginning to end, this was truly amazing.  Such depth and emotion and humor, too.  Perfect. 

Author's Response: Thanks so much for your consistent reviewing NanReg! You rock! I'm so glad you enjoyed the story so much.

Be proud of yourself - this was an amazing, awesome, great, wonderful story! I absolutely loved it. You are so good at writing realistic dialogue. I also loved the "do you want to have a baby with me?" "no" exchange. Those two are never good with words. Sometimes I get jealous of Jim and Pam (is that weird? lol) and this is one of those times. Sigh. But I truly enjoyed reading this!

Author's Response: If you're weird than so am I....you are not alone. lol. I often get jealous of a fictional couple as well. Thanks so much for such great compliments. Dialogue is my most favorite thing to write, so that means a lot! Thank you.

Awww Jim is the best boyfriend ever...I'm glad Pam finally let him be there for her...poor thing!  Great job with this, you have me completely hooked and I can't believe there will only be one more chapter!  I hope that Jim and Pam's dad get to have a heart to heart!


Author's Response: Hope you enjoyed Jim and Frank's heart to heart! I think Jim got the closure that he needed during that conversation. Thank you so much for the feedback JRaddict!