Having Jim's prank be the start of an ultimate demise of Pam/Roy must be the most original take on the situation I've seen. However, you made it seem like it was the most natural thing to occur. I loved your Steve/Katy pairing and Jim&Mark&Steve throuple (and that's saying something, since the supporting characters usually don't bring much imo/are simple plot devices).

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Wonderful d84;a039;d84;a039;

This is a wonderful repurposing of it’s a date. I love the moment of clarification & Pam’s face dropping only to fix it so very quickly - thank goodness!

The imagery of Jim six inches off the ground is so very lovely. It made me smile.

“And here I thought I was being incredibly obvious about my crush on my hot new coworker.” Oh, this exchange is just delightful.

Pam continuing the bit with Steve is just perfect.
Nice way to tie it all together at the end too!

Author's Response: Thank you so much, especially for noticing the circular bits of the fic (I love bringing things back around).

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I’m Steve, and I approve this story.

Seriously, well done. Loved reading this!

Author's Response: Well, what greater endorsement could I ask for? :-D Thanks!

Awww! Loved the ending! I lkked how they just slip into a relationship in which they already were without really noticing. Nice chapter.

Author's Response: Thank you! I think that if they didn't have the CN/Merger trauma they'd just slip into it a bit easier...

Well done as ever. I wish I hadn't run out of jellybeans earlier since this clearly deserves a good jellybean-ing. The first (of many) fun moment was the suave do you want to go out to a dinner moment only to be revealed as a psuedo German compound word of adorablness. Lovely image there.

Then of course there's the fun moments of getting dinner and Pam finding the easter eggs in her mental memory.

Pam greeting "Jim" again was a ton of fun as well. Without all the hang-ups she just fits really easily into Jim's group. Probably in a new and exciting way she hasn't felt in years.

Loved the subtle line there about the end of the night and after night activities.

All in all yet another great trip down AU from you. Just great fun all around.

Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat

Author's Response: Thanks, friend! I'm really glad you've been along for this ride, and I'm glad you enjoyed the little tidbits in this particular chapter :-D

Ahhhhh, there we go. That feels better. Though the lead up to the moment was rough at times, it's always fun to get here. Pam was kind of adorable in her beating around the bush about Katy. Seriously, Pam just ask the guy the direct question. You'll avoid a lot of heartache. Jim being confused to everything untill he spells it out that Katy is with Steve.

Though I am of course getting ahead of myself a bit. Kinda skipped over the first part of this delightful chapter. Jim carpooling with Pam everywhere, just kind of causually sliding right into her life like that, well done Jim. Not pushy or overly aggresive. Just being a good friend and (once a certian misinterpritation is cleared up) leading right into something more than that.

Lots of great visuals with everything here. Loved it.

Author's Response: So glad you liked both halves! I've really enjoyed writing this, so it's delightful to know it's fun for you too. Thanks!

Yay!
I really, truly, want to point at every little detail I enjoy here (like Pam's thought about driving stick or that Jim was her big bald wish), but all I can do right now are grinning and exclaiming 'yay' with different voice modulations.
"Then it's a date."
Yay once more!
And thank you!

Author's Response: Thank you! I couldn't ask for a better reaction!

First of all, awwww! Usually, I read your updates in the morning, but this time I read it before going to bed, and I fell asleep with a big smile on my face. I still read it one more time in the morning, with the same result :)
I can't describe how much I love this pure happiness of the state 'she's single and so am I' and anticipation of something more. Among all the angst I usually read (and write), I meet this rarely, and that makes these feelings so precious.
I love Jim's interactions with Pam so much. Jellybean questions? Awesome! Love that they can communicate that easy (even though Pam still thought that Jim's with Katy now). And Jim's thoughts made me giggle.
Also, (and I can't believe that I write this) but I like Roy here. No sad puppy eyes, no anger and accusations (he saw Jim near Pam's desk after all) — just calmness and quite mature behavior. He and Pam held each other back for sure, and apart they'll be much happier than together.
'Sometimes you just need a new perspective on things,' — so, so true!
Thank you for all these emotions, and I can't wait to see that happens next!

Author's Response: Thank you! Time zones...so crazy. I'm really glad you're enjoying their communication, but I'm even gladder that this Roy worked for you. I think Roy is not actually a bad person, but one who is totally unsuited to the situation with Pam. So hopefully he'll be happy (we will not be following up on this). 

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I just really love me some Season 2-esque Jim and Pam, where there is banter and innocent cuteness before any confession of feelings and risking of the friendship has gotten in the way. Of course I love post-confession JAM, but’s it’s always lovely to remember the friendship at the base of it all, and you did a great job with their banter and playfulness here.

I also really love Pam telling Jim about Roy instead of brushing it off and not wanting to tell him, and she can do that in part because she thinks he’s with Katy.

The jelly bean “plan” was also adorable. :)

Author's Response: Thank you! Since we're post Hot Girl now, I guess this IS S2 JAM. I am so glad you're enjoying it!

Oh, I'm so glad that this page of Pam's life is finally turned, and she can have a fresh start. Though, of course, it wasn't that simple, and she'll feel the aftermath for quite a time (I guess so, at least).
And it's both lovely and sad that Jim again appeared in her thoughts. This misinterpretation might have unpleasant consequences (though I hope not! ).
"She's more afraid of losing her friend Jim than she ever was of losing her fiancĂ© Roy." — this line is perfection! For me, the most important part of JAM is friendship, and I love stories with this slow-burn dynamic.
Thank you so much, and I'm full of anticipation about that Monday brings to them :)

Author's Response: This is a fluff story in its heart, even if it is going through angst first, so worry not about unpleasant consequences! Thanks for the review, and I'm so glad you're here for their friendship!

And goodbye Roy. Always a nice moment when that moment comes. Though a bit of a twist here. Pam is also taking ownership of her part in the failing of the relationship. At least to herself. I do kinda like that. The demise of Roy and Pam, while is probably mostly on Roy, Pam had her part to play too. As you put, she let Roy coast and was leaning on Jim. She was putting in effort true, but not enough to really make the relationship work.

So now that Pam's free of the Roy relationship we're getting set up to see how her relationship with Jim evolves. She's thinking he's the one off the market now. Will there be more misinterpretation? Will there be relief when he tells her he was setting Steve up with Katy? I don't know, but knowing your skill as a writer, I'm sure it'll be good.

Author's Response: We shall find out how that conversation goes in our next Pam POV! Thank you for the review!

Nice chapter here. Jim wandering around figuring things out seems kind of in keeping. Also seems like a bit of the calm before the storm. Last we saw Jim he was telling Pam he was going to see Katy. Now it looks like Pam has seen him with Katy and Jim and Katy are having a good time together.

I do find it really interesting as well that Jim is already thinking of Australia. Granted he also hasn't had the "never, never, give up," moment with Michael, so there's that again.

As always looking forward to more.

Author's Response: Thank you! I'm always glad you notice these little things I toss in. It's such a relief to know someone is paying attention. I think Jim might well be thinking of Australia here--there has to be something that leads him to actually buy a ticket, not just think about it (assuming he doesn't lie about that) and I think a lingering idea is more likely to lead there than a pure impulse.