Reasons I love this story:
1- ordinary detail juxtaposed with unique imagery (thinking of laundry, then...if he had made himself dredge up the moment when he bled the contents of his heart all over that dull, grey, ground then perhaps tonight he wouldn’t have tried to cover it in the colors of their future), also, Pam in her pajamas and him running to the store kind of blends into their perfect love story, and makes me remember that love doesn't always have to be shiny and technicolor to be perfect.
2- Phrases like "even though they’re the sort of together that means he can stride around her kitchen like it’s his own." Phrases like that perfectly convey an idea and the attendant emotion and tie a reader into the story because they perfectly identify with it. Phrases like that are not easy to come up with, I feel confident in saying.
3-Making us see Jim through Pam's eyes and Jim's eyes at the same time, for that delicate balance of "I know I'm ordinary but they think I'm more than that, and isn't that a great feeling"
You did this through the phrase "“Yeah I was,” he cuts her off, looking up with a face full of disappointment, a carrot in one hand and a block of cheese in the other. He thinks he probably looks absurd but she seems to be melting at the very sight of him, visibly relaxing into her seating position atop the back of her sofa."

And finally, I love this story because that is the hands down best proposal I've ever seen, in print or in person. Nice job!

9

“I can’t promise you that the fireworks are always going to work out perfectly, or that the Champagne will be fancy and expensive, or even real Champagne. But I can promise you that I’m always going to want those things for you, I’m always going to think you deserve them. And when something goes wrong, I am always, always, going to come back and try again because this life that we have, it’s worth it.”

Perfect.

10

“So here’s the thing,” he begins and somewhere on the journey from the kitchen to here he’s fallen apart a little and his voice is low and gravelly, “I can’t promise you that the fireworks are always going to work out perfectly, or that the Champagne will be fancy and expensive, or even real Champagne. But I can promise you that I’m always going to want those things for you, I’m always going to think you deserve them. And when something goes wrong, I am always, always, going to come back and try again because this life that we have, it’s worth it.”

Shootingstars, this is brilliant. Exactly how I would see Jim proposing. Great Job. Can we get another chapter?

Author's Response: Thanks so much for taking the time to quote and comment on my story, I'm really glad you liked it. As for another chapter, maybe at some point but I can at least promise I'll be posting plenty more fics over the summer because I am unemployed and have a long break til University starts again!

10

Jesus, this killed me. Just, really really good and quite possibly my favorite post-finale fic I've read. And I really want to quote this entire thing because I loved it so much but this: He kisses her then, in the middle of her living room and Andy can have their fireworks because the promise of their future is an explosion of color going off in his head that’s a thousand times more vivid. slayed me. Just, guh, so very very lovely. Thanks for sharing it with us. :)

Author's Response: Wow. Thanks so much oobadnama for taking the time to leave me such a lovely review. I'm totally floored by your compliments and I'm really glad you liked this :)

10

"I can’t promise you that the fireworks are always going to work out perfectly, or that the Champagne will be fancy and expensive, or even real Champagne. But I can promise you that I’m always going to want those things for you, I’m always going to think you deserve them. And when something goes wrong, I am always, always, going to come back and try again because this life that we have, it’s worth it."

Love. That.
Also love the connections you made between Casino Night & Goodbye Toby. A very lovely piece of writing.

Author's Response: Thank you so much for taking the time to quote and comment on my story. I'm really glad you enjoyed this :)

9

"And when something goes wrong, I am always, always, going to come back and try again because this life that we have, it’s worth it.”
AWESOME.  Great story - thanks for writing and sharing it with us!

Author's Response: Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment :) I'm glad you enjoyed this.

10

This is, well I'd have to say sublime!  I love the symmetry with Casino Night, his celebratory cheesecake and sparkling wine (except you can't get that at a grocery store in PA), and his actual proposal is one of the absolute best I've read!  PERFECT!

“So here’s the thing,” he begins and somewhere on the journey from the kitchen to here he’s fallen apart a little and his voice is low and gravelly, “I can’t promise you that the fireworks are always going to work out perfectly, or that the Champagne will be fancy and expensive, or even real Champagne. But I can promise you that I’m always going to want those things for you, I’m always going to think you deserve them. And when something goes wrong, I am always, always, going to come back and try again because this life that we have, it’s worth it.”