Oh, wow. Just wow. I loved every single word of this, from "it" to "really." The call from the mall, the "Snoopy dance" (Buffy fan?), the Hanukkah gelt, the mistletoe moment, buying the teapot, writing the card, finding the card. Gah. I'm definitely going to go back and read this over again. And probably again.

I have to admit I was really hoping you would fast-forward in time for this chapter, and you did it in spectacular fashion. What a fantastic way to wrap up this wonderful story.

Oh, and I lovelovelove the fact that you didn't write what was in the card itself. Because that's been done so many times before, and this way we can imagine it ourselves (dirty in places - ha!). And embarrassed Jim in PJ's is officially the cutest thing ever. (Okay, this is getting shallow, so I'd better finish here.)

Author's Response: Blanca! Thank you! I love hearing that people re-read my fic - tickles me pink. And I'm glad you liked the fast-forward. I knew from "Sales Call" that I was going to end this one in the present with Pam finding the card. And, while I did write the card, I decided not to include it for the very reason that you suggest (though I couldn't resist making allusions to the content - just a bit dirty ). Thank you again.

10

Once again, Talkative, you've outdone yourself. The entire premise of this fic is lovely and unique, and your spin on the development of each item in the teapot is so thoughtful and subtle. You understand these characters inside out and backwards, and that's a challenge for any author, fanfiction or original source material. Very, very well done - I am, once again, thoroughly impressed!

Author's Response: Thank you for reading and reviewing. I'm pleased that you enjoyed it. :)

Aw! So sweet! I love that he kept the card and that she found it. Such a sweet little moment between them. Nice job with this whole story. I loved it all.

Author's Response: Thank you for your review, Azlin. I'm glad you liked it.

10

Jim had begun composing death threats to the members of Mannheim Steamroller and emailing them to Pam, requesting that she print them out on company letterhead and leave them in Dwight's inbox for his signature.

YES!

"This whole time. Really." 

Perfect. This is so awwwwwwwwww. I love the fact that first, you pair the writing of the card with Jim and Pam's happily-ever-after, and secondly, that you preserve the tradition of never telling us what the damn card actually said. :D Well done.

Pam told herself the whole story for the first time.

I love the way you put that. Yes, first you have to tell yourself the story, before you can tell it to anyone else. Good insight!

Pam imagined the kisses getting longer and slower until the spaces between them disappeared. 

One of the most erotic sentences in this entire collection. :)

10

The blindfolded yogurt may be the cutest thing I've read in a month.

More brilliance:

The timer had disappeared, removed before it could have run out, the moment suspended in the dark of his pocket or the warmth of his hand. 

I love every word of this one.

This is OUTSTANDING. I am so jealous of the ease with which you have captured Jim and Pam's banter. It really sounds like them. And this? Is very insightful:

The easy, happy way in which he took her abuse was one of the several dozen things Pam really liked about Jim.

So very Pam. Well done!

Me again.  I was just over at general fanfic discussion on the MTT forums.  The lovely and talented sweetpea just clued us in on the meaning of the title of this last chap.  Wow.  Love that. 

Author's Response: Me, too. It was a last-minute thing, but I think it fits.

There's so much to love here and this is going to be one lousy review, but I'm at work and can't go into too much detail.  Two things that I really loved:

Pam rarely said hello when she called. It made him want to take her pretty face between his hands and kiss her.

Just perfectly Jim and perfectly wonderful.  I also loved how Pam loves all the paperwork of being married!  God, that is such a great little detail and SO TRUE!  i love the ending and the whole chapter felt like a giant embrace, your writing is so smooth and warm.  Really lovely.

10

What a perfect ending to this fic, Talkative.  I'm still feeling all tingly and full of holiday cheer (like a good little pixie).  I was delighted to realize that you had skipped ahead to Jim and Pam's future.  You had me thinking I was casually observing a mundane moment in the life of the future Mrs. Roy Anderson, you trickster.  Why is it so appealing to me that Jim is Jewish?  I suppose because it's kind of out of the ordinary.  I love that he keeps it to himself but that Pam knows.  So sweet that she would quietly honor the holiday for him.  You've captured Jim's personality so well--the sweetness, sincerity and awkwardness.  So thrilled that he wrote Pam a love letter and is embarrased at it being discovered.  Extra points for mentioning It's a Wonderful Life.  I'm such a sap that I could watch it every day and still not tire of it.  Your mentioning the swimming pool scene brought a smile to my face, as did your reference to Linus' speech in A Charlie Brown Christmas, another perennial favorite (of course Jim would like that). 

Love this awesome exchange:  "Well, I'm totally reevaluating my plan to earn extra money for holiday gifts, but I'm fine."

"You'd make a lousy Santa. You're too skinny. Bony lap." He could picture her face, the glint of anticipation in her eyes as she waited for his comeback.

"Oh, yeah? When have you ever -" quickly, he corrected his course, "An elf, then."

This warranted a laugh. "Freakshow elf."

"See? I could charge extra."

"Clever. Very clever. I'll see you tomorrow, Halpert."

"I'll be the one in the curly shoes."

He hung up and sat staring at his phone for ten minutes.

 Excellent job, darling. 

10

I feel like I should feel cheated that we don't get to see what he wrote, but I don't--this is better. In fact, this is just...perfect. I pulled out a few of the passages that
really struck me:


He considered asking Melissa's advice and came close to doing it, but that would mean having to pick through a veritable minefield of loaded questions and knowing smiles. He was laying on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate resting on his chest, his eyes half-focused on the tree lights, and a blanket across his legs. He didn't need his own mounting certainty that he was in love with Pam to be vocalized by the well-meaning matchmaker in the easy chair, not while Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed danced into the swimming pool underneath the gymnasium floor.

--I really liked the visual there; I can see him, and smell the hot chocolate, and feel his resignation to what's happening to him.



Her inner anthropologist wonders if this box was packed and taped shut during the move he made without her, because of her.

--Okay that appeals to the anthropologist that I am. But without her, because of her is the kicker.


Of course, she opens the envelope, with one small, guilty glance in the direction of the living room. She can hear an adroit string of obscenities being directed at the most abused member of the household, the Playstation.

--Again, nice visual of home. "Of course" she opens it. Yes. :)



And then this whole exchange is wonderful, just spot-on:

"There was a lot to say."

"It's really romantic."

"Well, thank you." He smiles.

"And, uh, kind of dirty in places."

"Pam, please - the word is passionate." He doesn't seem to be able to look at her.

"Oh, really?" She reaches for the card, "Isn't there something in here about wanting -"

He is on her in an instant, pushing the card out of reach and pressing her down to the floor. "Nope." He brushes his lips against hers and she knows that he remembers every word.


Gorgeous ending to a really great story, Talkative! Thank you for it. :)

Author's Response: Thank you for your detailed review, Callisto. I know you know how much it means when a reader (esp. one as respected as you) takes the time to comment. I went back and forth wrt to the card the entire time I was working on this. In fact, I even wrote the whole thing, just in case. This might sound strange coming from someone who has written Pam and Jim into a series of compromising positions, but the card just felt too personal to share. So I didn't. Thank you again.

This one strangest hit home in a couple of odd places for me.  The line "the only door that was ever hers alone" really did because I can relate to that.  And now the sleeplessness of pregnancy.

Author's Response: I'm glad you liked it, belsum. There was some pretty personal stuff in there for me, too (including one of the things you pointed out).

10

Oh, you just made my day. Once again, you have done it. Where to begin, so much to love.

I thought the telling of Pam dealing with her breakup and move where just beautiful and perfectly in character. I love your take on Pam’s thought process. I can see Pam going through all of her past treasures and silently coming to terms with the reality of her time with Roy. Just beautiful and subtle. Also, I was moved by her finally, though hesitantly, admitting to herself and a perfect stranger that she loves Jim and that you mention that she really only allowed herself to think about him “that way” a few times. I feel this slow realization is very true to her character. As much as we the audience wants her to see and feel what we want regarding Jim and Roy, she had made a serious commitment to Roy, and it took a long time for her to come to grips with the truth.

I’m also glad that you addressed how angry she was at him for giving her an ultimatum. While I completely understand Jim’s motives, what did he really expect? I always thought that anger and perhaps a reevaluation of his feeling for her had to play a part in why she didn’t contact him.

Also, I’m just curious about your thoughts on the unexplained timeline between S2 and S3 that has left all Office fans wondering, if you wouldn’t mind sharing or perhaps you want to leave this up to our imaginations. How soon after Jim’s confession did Pam break up with Roy? And I want to make sure I’m reading this correctly, but does your story have Jim leaving for Stamford after he found out about the canceled wedding?

Once again, what can I say, your stories are wonderful and beautifully, perfectly written. I can’t wait for the next installment.

Author's Response: Hey, WhatAWaste - thanks for this lovely, thorough review. I agree (obviously) that she must have been pretty angry with Jim and that this anger played a part in how long it took them to get back in touch. I also assume that she must have been confused: he says he's in love with her and then he leaves? Pam's not the most assertive person in the world, even now. I imagine she would have had a hard time figuring out how to respond to that. As for the S2/S3 timeline - I didn't want to nail it down, but I'm pretty sure that Pam would have called her wedding off in short order after Jim confessed his feelings. I can't imagine how hard it would have been for them to be at work together after that night. And, yeah, in this story, Jim leaves with the knowledge that Pam has canceled her wedding. My assumption here was that he had already made the decision to do leave before he got the news, and decided to go in spite of it. It seems to me that he's basically throwing a giant, months-long fit in S3. It had to start somewhere, right? Thank you again.