Hey, so good news. After our conversation tonight, I took it upon myself to re-read this to see if a particular word was used in it and, it was not. I think we confused it with the whole BDE conversation at brunch (a brunch I still wish I could have been a part of and not just because I want a Bloody Mary) and once again - let’s just appreciate how delightful and amazing this entire story is from start to finish. I got extremely giddy reading the birthday party and the party in May all over again. You’re so good at this whole writing these two people thing.

So back to the good news - you can incorporate that word in the next chapter of HMOH now (just think of all the possibilities of WHO could say it!). I think you have to do this. It might get you an edible arrangement…

I still really, really love this story.

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That fall was glorious but now my head is absolutely SPINNING YOU TURNED THE TABLES THE TURNS HAVE TABLED HE'S THE ONE WHO SAID THAT OMG OMG???

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AWWW karen isabel and pam such a cute ass trio

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Ahhhh! I don't even know where to start. I just loved this fic, okay? I loved loved loved it! Of course, no matter what universe they are in, Jim and Pam are going to take the long road because of course they are. It doesn't matter how perfect they are for each other or that everyone around them can see it, they always have to torture themselves and each other before getting together.

This was just the perfect combination of Jim and Pam being Jim and Pam, many great references to canon and a bunch of little cameos (Dwight and Angela! Jan! Andy and Katy!) I absolutely love that you gave Pam a healthy and fun group of friends, and the fact you added Karen in there was just the cherry on top because I like Karen and have no doubt they could have been good friends if canon hadn't happened. I wish we had gotten to know a bit more about Jim's life, but I understand this was from Pam's POV and I did love learning a bit about hers, so it was all good.

Sorry I couldn't leave a better comment, and thank you so much for writing and sharing this wonderful story with us!

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This was the chapter I was anticipating reading....how I enjoy the way you weave your stories tying together traits or the characters and stories from the show into a your world which somehow has a tone that remarkably feels both different and the same simultaneously.

The whole bit with Ryan and Kelly and Michael and Jan and the perfect icing, Dwangela - As if I don’t know what Dwight means when he stops by weekly to check on Angela’s pipes. ‘You know these old houses,’ he always uses as an excuse. But I know for a fact he’s never checked my pipes. Ew. - that line was brilliant.

These two idiots is right - oh how you nailed the way it went down - from the heat of the moment (I'm thinking of an Aisa song now, thank you) to the awkward afterwards, Pam's vulnerability hangover (love that expression), the trying to get back the easy flow only to talk about runs and shopping trips. The way you've repurposed the lines and swapped positions, with Jim not having a commitment he's tied to, but instead what seems a Peter Pan attitude from her vantage point(and haven't we all had an experience with that type at some point in our life) and that she thinks he values the friendship to much to have just a one-nighter with her, but in reality is just their classic miscommunication.

The adorable scenario you created to find their sort of resolution (at least the naturalness of their friendship is back) - a fun bit that seems very much in Jim, Pam and Dwight's essence.

That mantra of Pam's - We're Friends. We'll always be friends, perfectly repurposed here.

If you can't tell I really love this story.

"It’s not as sexually provocative as it is just a need to keep touching each other. I don’t think we’ve stopped touching in one way or another since we held our little confessional at my front door nine hours ago." is amazing. So of course you follow it up with "I'm not worried about YOU" not being quiet. Rude.

"such a powerful orgasm he was certain that I broke his brain." Poor Andy.

This version of the teapot is great, and I love this coming back around to the fortune.

I was struck by the BDE section, actually - I always sort of associated an element of BDE as being charisma that comes from an otherwise inexplicable place. Like I wouldn't have thought of Idris Elba having it because you would assume just by looking at him that he has reason to be confident. I kinda think of Pete Davidson as the ultimate in BDE - it's the explanation for why people are drawn in and don't really know why. Am I just... you know, wrong about this? Out of step with the young people, with their Tiktoks and their Cardi Vitamin B and whatever?

"Sometimes we fantasize about elaborate vacations that always seem to include the other without planning an actual vacation together. Sometimes we dissect about our jobs, or rather our dream jobs, and imagine moving to places like Philadelphia or New York City, our conversation seamlessly transplanting both of us. Neither one of us pointing out the probability of the other being left here in Scranton; it’s just talk." These lines have really stuck with me.

Okay, again, a great remix of canon. And also OUCH. The fact that you flipped the Casino Night script is kinda fascinating to me - we don't see many fics with Pam thinking of herself as the primary pine-r.

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Oh, man. This is just fabulous flirtatious friends banter. AND HE HAS PIZZA AND BEER JUST FOR HER. *Kelly voice* What's taking you so long?

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Idk why it has taken me so long to read this. It was published during my absence from MTT and last chat Coley said “go read this” and now here I am and I have a lot to say but mostly


How dare you make me feel all those mushy feelings like this

I've loved this story! It's emotional and funny, and the premise is great. I really like what you've done with Jim and Pam. Thank you!

I loved every chapter of this! The supporting characters were great. Of course Kelly would be all about BDE! Thank you for this gem of a story.

Author's Response: Thank you so much, Sprinkles! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Those supporting characters were so much fun to write and I’m so glad you liked where they fit in the story. Thank you for taking the time to read and review. 

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After reading the summary for some reason this one told me to wait until it was complete to read all at once and I am so glad I didn’t torture myself by waiting between updates. I kept checking which chapter I was on because I didn’t want this to end, and then in the last chapter I kept checking the side scroller to see how much I had left of this to enjoy. I REALLY didn’t want this one to end. (Except I wish I had never read that part about crazy!cathy. Brain bleach please! I really thought he was just saying that to get a rise out of Pam and later was going to say he never slept with her, just couldn’t get her to leave...ew!)

Aside from the really enjoyable and believable way you wrote Jim and Pam in this universe I especially enjoy a story where karen is written in the way I feel she truly fits best… typical role of best friend with an actual personality. Thank you for that, I loved Karen and her role here.

Author's Response: Oh man, BoY thanks so much for this review. I really appreciate it. I have to say, giving Karen an “actual personality” (GREAT way of putting it!) is one of my favorite things to do in an AU. I’m so glad you liked that. Also, I am so glad to hear you needed a brain bleach after that Cathy scenario. 😂😂 I spent a day contemplating which direction to take the Jim/Cathy thing and the Pam/Danny thing. Ultimately I think (I hope?) it worked, but I think Pam probably wants a bit of a brain bleach from that as well. 🙂 Thank you again for taking the time to read this and review it.