NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  You had to pull a "Phyllis' Wedding" on us!!!  (In Office-speak that will forever mean to stab someone in the heart with a rusty ice pick).

Oh, oh, oh!  I forgot that I wanted to mention this:  Jim and Pam are arguing about who didn't call who, but I was under the impression that she had tried him and that he inadvertently deleted the messages when he was hungover.  Am I wrong or is there a method to your madness, my dear?

Author's Response: Okay, usually I wait to respond to reviews, but since I knew this was going to come up, I'm gonna get on this now, in hopes that other people read the reviews. Short answer #1: yes, Pam did call Jim back in chap. 6. And yes, there's always a method to my madness. ;) Short answer #2: Had she mentioned that, they may have actually had a conversation, figured things out, and the story would be over, so dramatic licensing there. Long answer: a) they actually both called each other at some point, Jim, albeit accidentally, called her first in chap. 5. If he hadn't of done that, she would have never tried to reconnect--so he's partially right, she never took initiative. b) The phone call Pam made was never about the baby--it would have been all small talk, probably about Michael/Dwight/Work. Maybe eventually they would have gotten around babies after multiple calls and reconnects but that original phone call Pam was never going to tell him about the baby. c) In this argument here, Pam is obviously upset that she's not getting the reaction she had hoped and when he, in a way, attacks her, she goes defensive, immediately wanting to point out that he is just in the wrong as she is (even though, technically, they're both in the wrong). So, instead of saying, Yes, I did try call you--she turns it around on him saying--you've been just as bad as I have. On top of that, she knows, in a way, he's right, that she should have done it earlier, and by lashing out at him, it makes her feel less guilty for putting it off for so long. It's an emotional response instead of a logical one. A knee-jerk reaction. On top of that (or point d I think) It can be interpreted that her 'you never called me either' could be referring to him not calling back after she tried to call him. Even though it was accidentally erased, she didn't know that. So, all in all, technically they both called and in a way, they both didn't. The whole thing boils down to mass miscommunication, which is one of the themes of the story. I hope that makes some sense, and/or answers your question. If not, let me know, and I'll try to explain better. :)

I honestly have to give both you and ItalianFood credit for making this never-ending winter seem like it'll be okay after all. So, thank you bunches.

Nope, you are so so right. Never imagined that would be how Pam would let Jim know that he was gonna be a dad. While I was reading, it felt like the baby was kicking Pam and tryna say, 'C'mon mom, enough is enough, let's let dad in on this secret!' I cannot wait for Jim's reaction!

I was so sad that Jim had lost his Jim-ness. I felt like, aww Karen, you broke him! And when Karen marked her territory, I agreed with Jim's inside thoughts about her peeing around his desk. But, when Karen confronted Pam in the break room, I thought, OMG, this is whole 'nother level territory marking going on here. I cringed just like I was in the room with them.

I fear that, if your AU follows along with the season 3 angst, that we are in for a rocky, rocky rocky time before it gets better. Phylis' wedding scares me. I also wonder if now that Jim knows that the baby is his, will he become territorial, jealous of Roy?

So glad you update quickly, I really need to know what happens next!

Author's Response: Yes, yes, I really wanted the baby to be the catalyst to get things moving, as if saying to its parents that they really need to figure things out so they can be a family. I'm so glad you picked up on that! Yeah, Jim isn't going to be Jim for a while, it's a little sad that Karen kinda broke him. And, oh Karen, clinging to her failing relationship with such a tight grip. It's sad for everyone. Yeah, Phyllis' wedding...but, really, it's going to be rocky but at least they're on the right path now. Interesting you mention Jim becoming jealous of Roy's involvement with the baby. You're a rather good observer when it comes to this story. ;) Thanks so much for the review, more soon, promise. :)

YEAH! Finally! Go Pam, be blunt and just say it to him! That was awesome! LOVED IT and I can't wait to read the next chapter!

Other things I loved - Isabelle and the way you write her, I know she's not featured on the show much but I really believe you have totally written her character as it should be. I adored the "he liked you for your dorky self," line, very cute. I laughed at the Friends reference and could really see Pam cringing as she tried to flirt with Isabelle. The conversation in the kitchen between Pam and Karen was tense enough and so subtle with Karen telling Pam that it was no big deal, the way it happened on the show. I love your twist on Ben Franklin. I can see it all happening, the long talks draining Jim and her just coming out and saying that he's the father. I really can't wait to see what happens next, the fallout is going to be huge, I can just sense it!! I hope you're ticking away at that keyboard! Awesome chapter!

Author's Response: As I had Isabelle once say, Pam's best decisions have been from ones she's made impulsively. I'm glad you really liked the Isabelle stuff! I liked all the humor in that scene and I'm glad you're liking Isabelle herself because I'm always afraid with more original characters that they may seem too out of place in the fanfic world. Yes, Karen is being pretty damn manipulative. One of these days, it's gonna backfire on her. I am ticking away at my keyboard, right now!! only , I'm responding to your review. ;) I'll have to get back into writing after, lol. Thanks so much for the review and insight, really appreciate it. :)

Ugh the big reveal happens in the office kitchen! Thats so Pam.

Author's Response: I know, isn't that fantastic? I loved doing that. Thanks for the review!!

Yay!  What a fantastic reveal!

Ben Franklin is one of my all-time favourite episodes and you wove it into your chapter beautifully.  Having the baby kick be the way to re-connect Jim and Pam was brilliant.  You are also spot-on with writing all of the characters' dialogue and actions, which is what makes this such a pleasure to read.

Can't wait for the fallout from this chapter!

FINALLY! SO happy the cat is out of the bag as it were! Ready to see where they go from here ;)

Author's Response: I know!! New territory, exciting. Thanks for the review!! :)

9

I was hoping this would be the reveal chapter and I like the way you wrote it...did not see it coming like that. Really liked it and can't wait for the next chapter.

Author's Response: So glad you enjoyed it!! Thanks for the review, more soon. :)

She's told himmmmmmmm!!!! What's going to happen now? OMG! I hope he doesn't drag it out with Karen, that wouldn't be fair for anybody aw :(

Author's Response: Nope, wouldn't be fair, but when is life ever fair. Thanks for the review!! :)

Yay, finally. I was beginning to think she was gonna wait till she was in labor to 'fess up! I expect there will be more angst in the immediate future but now that it's out there, at least they've got a chance to set things straight and figure out what they want to do about each other. Should be interesting going through the rest of this...

I like Isabelle. :)

Author's Response: Nah, I'd never make you wait that long. There's a ton of fun stuff to do with Jim knowing it's the baby to do that. Yeah, I suppose more angst is in store when writing a season 3 story, but the worst of it is almost over. I hope it's interesting going through the rest of this. ;) Yeah, there's a little bit of me in Isabelle, so I like her, too. Thanks for the review, much appreciated!

::::jaw drop:::: I feel a little like I was hit by a speeding car! THAT was completely unexpected and so SOOOOO totally awesome! I was pissed, I'm telling you really pissed after Karen carnered hr in the kitchen and had the balls to confront her about that night, the night that belonged to ONLY Pam and Jim until Karen ad to barge her way in and start tainting it will all her drilling Jim mercilessly about it and basically telling him that it meant nothing to Pam, rather than having him ask Pam what it mean to her, anyhow, more on that in a minute, but so when Karen had the nerve to ask Pam right out if Jim was the father (Karen HAS to have balls stored secretly SOMEWHERE on her being) I was PISSED! I'm thinking, how dare you bitch! Basically you've talked Jim OUT of asking that question and then you ask it yourself and it isn't YOUR question to ask! I was SO relieved that not only did Pam NOT reveal to Karen that Jim is the dad, she didn't tell Karen that Jim wasn't the dad either. YAY for small victories! When the scene in the break room started I remember just how akward that was for our Pam in season 3 and I was cringing a bit. It was off to a rough start because Jim was being that Dick Jim version of himself that he was to Pam in season 3 and I'm thinking, he doesn't even deserve this baby if he won't in ANY way fight for it, and for what he feels for Pam for that matter. I LOVED when the baby started moving and Pam became uncomfortable, Jim couldn't help but show concern which opened him up Just enough for Pam to ask if he wanted to feel the baby move. I have a feeling that feeling that movement inside her belly, shoot, even just feeling a part of her again, is going to REALLY stick with Jim. Anyhow, I LOVED that it all caused him to say that about Danny being the father leading Pam to the big reveal with him that he IS in fact the father of this baby. Now it's back to his turn. Does he still ignore her. Does he tell Karen because if he does, she will immediately start working on emotionally seperating him from the pregnancy and the baby and will make her further speed up her plans for their exitting Scranton. SOOOOOOO much to come in the chapters that are coming up and I can't wait!!! I don't think you ever need to apologize for posting too quickly. I think those of us who are following both this story and 4th Wall (ME ME ME!) appreciate you updating anyhow and for me it takes nothing away from the other story it's just like double prizes for us. I check to see if both stories have an update and am so pumped when there is one! (I check endlessly all day just in case there is one even if there has already been one because there have been time autors have updated more than once a day!)

Anyhow.... I skipped right to the end there when there was a lot of stuff in this chapter. I guess I just had to do the most exciting stuff first. I was sad when Pam told Isabelle that Jim had stopped talking to her but I was cracking up when Is was trying to teach Pam how to flirt. Hysterical. The next part, it made me feel sad, and drab. Poor Jim. Sooooooo completely browbeat and basically told that the very real feelings he has basically mean nothing and must be forgotten. Imean, who thinks their current girlfriend who has admitted that she thinks she loves them and who is FAR more visted in the relationship, who takes that persons advice on very real, very tender feeling that you have for another person? Karen is even less qualified to give him advice about his feelings for Pam than Mark was back MANY chapters ago. I really don't bame him for resorting to sex if it would shut her up. I DID really like that you changed the term away from making love clearing up that THAT isn't what he is doing with Karen. Karen has just really semed to snuff the life right out of Jim. I wonder what affect finding out that he fathered Pam's baby will have on Jim. If he continues on the course he has been on, especially since he knows now and gosh, he HAS to know that this has been an IMPOSSIBLE situation for Pam. She is carryig HIS child inside her while he has forced her to watch the little Kaen and Jim show. One would hope that he would realize just how difficult that has been for her. If he keeps that stff up, I hope he DOES see things that make him jealous. He will certainly deserve it.

SUCH a wonderful chapter! I just cannot wait for the aftermath of Pam's confession. To see what each of them do with it and if anyone else is told about it. Can't wait for the next chapter.

BTW thanks for explaining the timeline for me. You are really an excellent author!

Author's Response: Aww, thanks so much for your lovely long reviews. It's fun for an author (okay, well me) to have a discussion on their work. You have to give Karen credit for being gutsy/ballsy, blunt and to the point. While yes, in some ways, she's being rather selfish, she's also trying to protect herself and her relationship the only way she knows how. But unfortunately, Karen is like the someone on the Titanic, after it hit the iceberg, claiming that it will never sink. Yeah, I absolutely loved the fact that the baby was the catalyst for them to talk to each other--it was like the fetus was trying to get its parents to figure out what they were doing. That was a lot of fun to write. Glad you loved the Pam/Isabelle stuff, it's always great to write the support system scenes, it's a way to comment on the situation and inject a little fun by using Isabelle being a little crazy yet right on the mark. Poor Jim, he is a shell of a person at this point and it's going to take a bit to bring him out of it. Karen really did a number on him. He's really on autopilot. I'm so glad you've enjoyed it!! Thanks so much for your kind words. :) More soon!

Yes, Yes, Yes, I was very surprised. I think my heart skipped a beat. I have to be honest I'm a little scared about what's next. I have such bad memories of Phyllis' wedding. I 100% trust you though. Thank you once again for such quick updates.

Author's Response: Aww, KH, I'm glad you trust me because it is going to get a little rough. Phyllis' wedding is, well, going to be Phyllis' wedding, I'm afraid. But, you know, I've got some pretty awesome stuff coming up as well. So glad you're enjoying it!