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I really like S9, because it is honest with real life and the problems we all have with our partners. Monotony and routine, third people un your life that you pay a little more attention to than you should, kids that make your life a little hell, etc. So, thank you for writing this story, I really enjoyed reading it.
Another day we'll talk about how I don't like the Jim-who-lets-Cathy-into-his-room-even-knowing-she-comes-trying-to-fuck-him, and the Jim who doesn't understand what life is all about, when in S9 he shows he cares more about his job than his family. (I was always surprised to see, how Jim comes to become Roy in his family life, and how Roy has become a romantic Jim on his wedding day -that's Pam's karma).

Hey! To be clear, I liked your writing! I just couldn't and still can't stand the season underlying it. You do a wonderful job working through and then past the angst. And I agree with one of the earlier reviews I saw: you're doing a major service to the site, because S9 angst is underdone on here. So huzzah and hooray and good job.

Author's Response:

I know, I know! Thanks so, so much!

That's what makes your reviews are the more valuable to be.  I don't know if I could keep on reading fics from parts of stories I don't really like. Then again... I might.

What I like  the most about JAM in season 9 is that is so very real. That happy ending kiss and how everything is supposed to be perfect afterwards is just a big fat lie. Couples have issues, and they might get over them.

Again, thanks a lot for your support. :) 

Ohmygosh, this is so, so delicious. I don't remember reading another fic that walks through this territory, which is tragic because it is probably only second to Casino Night in emotional wallop. Beautifully done.

My hubby and I were high school sweethearts. While we were in college, we only saw each other on weekends, and I remember that we always used to fight when it was close to time for him to leave. And that was without kids and running a home and all those responsibilities. So this all makes a lot of sense. And of course, added to their stress was the fact that Jim failed to include her in the decision-making.

It was so wonderful to walk through this reconnection with them, with all your gorgeous added touches. Wow! Love it Kuri!

Author's Response:

Thanks so very much!

I'm glad you're enjoying this. Season 2-4 are very popular around here, but I found myself really loving season 9. So real, and so relatable. And Paper Airplanes is just perfect!

I love the fact that the issues here are more or less the same than those in season 2. Pam wanting to stick with what's familiar, and Jim trying to make decisions for the both of them (Casino Night much?). And then Pam finally gets around moving out of Scranton, because she just needed some time to process it all. 

Thanks for sharing that story with your husband. I'm glad you made it! During the first moths of my relationship with mine we were living in different continents and that was something we had to work on every day.

That's the sort of reality I love about the office. It's not just happy endings, because, in real life, those alternate with trouble and everyday problems. The only thing I have an issue here is that Brian guy. A little bit lazy, because it never felt as a threat. Maybe he had a crush on Pam, maybe he didn't, but she seems completely oblivious. So, there. The real threat was inside the Jim-Pam situation, and that's enough.

Again, thanks very much for your support, Clover!  :)

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I'll be honest this was not what I was expecting at all. You turned this around in a great way. I love that this is the moment of clarity that Pam realizes she needs to keep fighting for her marriage even though it's been hard. She's right that, nothing's really happened but she's also wise enough now to see something could have and she's putting up barriers to ensure she and Jim are secure.

A couple editing things that might add some clarity. Maybe use bold font for the text messages. It was a little hard to figure out exactly what was in the texts to her Mom. Likewise maybe consider using italics for the actual writing in the card Jim gave her. Again it would help the reader to understand exactly what was written.

Author's Response:

Thanks a lot! OMG, I did used italics, but at some point they disappeared. Maybe because I did some editing in my phone. I just fixed it, thanks very much!

And thanks a lot for the review as well. I'm glad you like it.  

It's funny because between this and Paper Airplanes there are two months, and I think this is just the beginning of a somewhat long process of healing. :) 

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I love Paper Airplanes. Excited to see your take on it.

Author's Response: Thanks for reviewing! I hope I make it justice.

Yeah that was a tough episode. You round it out here in a way that's very believable. While it's hard to see Pam go through all this, especially since there's someone else that she's leaning onto for support, it's where she is right now. Good emotional depth to this chapter for sure.

Author's Response: Thanks a lot! This might be one of the toughest episodes to watch, especially considering on how excited Pam was about telling Jim she got the mural commission... which she never gets to do.

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Yes, Jim is wrong here, most of all this: "Not since that first time he mentioned Philadelphia and she agreed because, let’s be honest, he’d already done it and all there was for her to do is catching up" (which again, later writers, why is he so inconsiderate? Why is that suddenly his character now?).

But also--yes, Harry is overstepping a line, and Pam needs to talk to her husband about this, not shut down on him ("There") and talk to someone else. I'm not saying it's out of character, either for Pam (remembering how she was with Roy) or for late-season The Office. But it feels like backsliding to early-season Pam for drama reasons (in the show, not just here) and that's precisely why I don't like it. Again, not criticizing your writing, just where the Pam-Jim relationship went in this season. You're doing a good job of making hay out of that.

Author's Response: Yeah... Maybe that's where the writers got it wrong. In order to make up from the season 8 debacle (what was that, really?) they tried to bring back some stuff from the first seasons. The saddest, I think, was Pete/Erin. And, hey, what not put Pam back on square one, make her hide her feelings and doubt herself again...?

I think is realistic, but also lazy. And the laziest thing in this whole season, the thing I have an issue with, clearly, is Brian. Especially at the end of Junior Salesman. Not subtle, not ok. When there were Roy and Jim, you could see Pam had feelings for both, hence, the conflict. Here, Brian just happens to be there and Pam doesn't show having feelings for him whatsoever. Not a threat.

So, the response came out longer than the review. Sorry about that!

And thanks a lot for keeping up with this, and for your inspiring feedback!

Gonna put some blame on Pam's plate here: "She had wanted to call Jim and tell him." THEN DO.

Seriously, this is why I avoid S9. You're doing a good job of telling it, but it's not that hard to communicate in a marriage and they're just so bad at it (which I feel is a misstep on the part of the canon writers).

Author's Response:

Oh, but she did! But he was busy playing ball with what's-his-name. The phone rang. It is shown it was Pam and he didn't answer. So she went drinking with Meredith. 

 I'm going to write that so there's no doubt. :)

 Thanks a lot! Really! I pinky promise it's almost over.

 (BTW, season 9 has many sweet JAM moments, only they are so surrounded by the bad that it's easy to overlook them)

Again thanks SO much! 

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Nice to see them connect like this again. I'm not liking Harry for putting that thought in her mind. Yes she wears her wedding band, she's married. However it's great to see them be together again.

Author's Response:

Poor Harry, condemned to be the bad guy. I have a whole story for him that I don't think will ever see light, but let's just say that he has not a lot of faith in marriage right now. And Jim has been pretty absent so far, so...

Thanks a lot for your reviews! 

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Ugh, the return of angst at the end...dude needs to stop projecting his own stuff onto Pam, and she needs to stop accepting the projection.

Glad Jim came home early. Now he just needs to do more of that to stay involved and invested in his family. I don't generally like married-JAM angst, but I do think you're doing a good job here.

Author's Response: Thanks a lot! I really appreciate it, considering that you don't like the premise. It's far from over yet, but I do promise a happy ending and not much collateral damage

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Girl. You have me really worried.

Author's Response: Since I don't really know how far am I taking this (although the end is more or less finished), I am worried, too. 
Anyhoo, thanks for reviewing!

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Awww, Pam. Great job at capturing her heartache here. You can feel how much she wants things to calm down but being by herself like this it's hard. Nicely written.

Author's Response: Thanks a lot for reviewing! I am scared of how much I relate with some of the things here. Mainly, the early morning chaos. No hubby in Philly, thankfully!