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Such a sweet story. Even if you never finish it, I'm glad I read it.

I like this note here at the beginning... as much as this feels like fate to the reader and probably a little bit to them, this is also still the early stages of a fraught relationship between two people who really haven't been in touch in years and have a lot of stresses on them, and it's good to acknowledge that. I like Jim's realization that no, they've actually always needed more words than they've given each other.

I also appreciated Pam's nod towards the fact that they've aged a bit since they first wanted to do this, which feels very real (and is definitely a concern I've thought about Pam having in writing future fic).

Author's Response:

Thanks a lot for reviewing!

If I were Pam, I'd be concerned about my changed body. But, on the other hand, I like to imagine she'd be more secure of herself, and a little more assertive on what does she want and when.

:) 

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It think it's great that Jim basically rushes back to Scranton as soon as he can. Now that they've really found each other they don't want to be apart. I can just imagine the raised eyebrow Helene gave Pam. And then of course when they get back to her place they can't keep their hands off each other. Lovely to see them now in this place. Thanks for the update, I was wondering when we'd see this one again.

I really like this version of the origin story of Pam's friendship with Dwangela, and how it ends up being on multiple levels connected with Jim's departure.

Good on Jim that he immediately recognizes (and is acting like he recognizes) that Pam is a package deal now. Feels like an area ripe for conflict, but he at least grasps the basics.

This was a great (and necessary) trip down memory lane. I especially appreciated your acknowledgement that at this point, some of those memories which were once so vivid (and are to those of us who can, say, watch them on repeat) have faded. I'm intrigued by the mention of Jim's time in Utica - are we going to get a similar memory lane trip for him next?

Author's Response:

Thanks so much!

If Jim wasn't in the office, I thin Dwight would've been Pam's go-to person. It just makes sense. Also, I love it when Angela kinda tells her about her relationship with Dwight...

And with Jim gone, Roy being an ass, and Pam just feeling alone, she just needed somebody to trust.

(I am still toying with the idea of a flashback in which Pam takes baby Jack to Angela for babysitting, just for the fun of writing that)

And yeah, I need to explain the Utica thing. Which I have in my mind, but I haven't figure out how to put in on paper.

Thanks again! 

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Loving this so much. I really enjoy stories where they come back to each other after years of life has happened between them. I love the new Pam you’ve created; you can tell she’s been through a lot and come out stronger. And you can tell Jim has been a little beat down by a decade of failed relationships. Looking forward to more updates and seeing how they grow closer together.

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This just lovely - seeing Pam staking out her ground and how well Jim is responding to it. And you did a great job exploring the unique intimacy of a first time that they've both spent decades dreaming about.

This is also a very funny use of Dwight and Angela, down to Dwight's probably-serious death threat.

Author's Response:

I just realised I never replied to your review! Sorry about that!

I wasn't sure about including Dwight and Angela, but I love them, and I think that in this scenario, them being friends with Pam is not entirely far fetched. I glad I worked for you. 

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Hell of a date for the two of them. I really like that they don't spend more time avoiding hard discussions. There seems to be enough regret from the past that dwelling on it longer seems uneeded.

Rock on Pam. Good for her to realize what a complete ass Roy was. And still is. A visit once a year, money, and memes? Those boys deserve someone much better than that.

Great chapter.

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Nice to see the two of them working through the bump in the road from the last chapter - and actually communicating about their history and how they got here. Long overdue, obviously.

The gap-filling seems necessary, but ooooof. Good heavens, is Roy a tool. And I think this is a fairly believable outgrowth of the guy he is in canon too - lousy partner, uninvolved father, and quick to drop any obligation if it gets in the way of what he wants.

I love the little moments of them still affecting each other so much after all these years, too.

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Awkward, followed by getting back to civil, followed by more awkward. That seems to track. It's been 15 years after all. People grow and change in that time. So I get why there would be quite a bit of tension.

Though I have to say this paints a very unflattering portait of Roy. 5 years into the marriage, just when the going gets tough with the kids, he and Pam split and he moves to Montana? Ouch.

Still a lot of really heavy emotions going on with this story. Nice job with that.

Author's Response:

I think it's a balance between them being Jim and Pam to the core, but also 15 years and lots of kissunderstandings that seemed to have grown bigger.

There is a reason why Roy left then, and I'll write it soon enough. Not exactly redeeming but... well, a reason.

Thanks a lot for reviewing!! 

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Ugh the cliffhanger. I love it!

Author's Response: Thanks!

Feels like both Jim and Pam are dealing with regrets of the past. Like they know their lives should have gone one way, but didn't. So the question remains, what do they do now? Kind of a melancholy chapter here, but that also feels like it's to be expected.

However I also notice that there at the end, it's Pam Beesly, not Pam Anderson. That should prove very interesting to see where it all leads.

Author's Response:

Thanks so much!

This is a sad chapter, but they need to acknowledge a few things before moving forward.

Indeed, Pam Beesly. No Anderson. No Roy. 

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Okay, a lot of interesting table-setting in this chapter.

I like this note of Pam kind of unburying this part of her past - that it's less that it's been minimized so much as it's so distant that she needs some time to access it all again, and it has in fact knocked her off her feet. Given the amount of time that has gone by that feels real. (And I love the "Facebook is for old people/we are old people" bit - both funny and so true.)

I'm interested in the hints here that Jim and maybe Pam have both gone on to chase their professional dreams a little, even without each other's support, and looking forward to seeing what you're going to do with that.

It feels right that for Jim, his love for Pam is a little bit more of a continuing presence, and it's so telling that Larissa immediately picks up on who he's talking about. One gets the feeling they've had this exchange about why he left a lot over the years. And I always love a good Larissa-gets-involved story.

And of course having seen that Pam is still using the name Beesly, I am eagerly awaiting your next update.

Author's Response:

Thanks very, very much for your review! 

I'm just going to say that each of them went their own way and that they both were careful to avoid looking for or meeting the other. At least at the beginning. Then, autopilot.

About Larissa getting involved, in my backstory she asks her group of moms for Pam's number. That's what I would've done.

I hope you enjoy the rest. Chapter 3 is up! 

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Okay, I am *endlessly* fascinated by the idea of post-Casino Night scenarios where Jim and Pam never end up reuniting, so I am very much here for this concept.

I like that you choose to start with this moment of real meta pain for the reader - this is not just them having gone in separate directions, this is a Jim and Pam who are so disconnected they literally can't recognize each other anymore and don't seem to have all that much to say. This line of him telling her she hasn't changed and her not really being sure he was right is powerful stuff.

Anyhow, this is a very intriguing start and I look forward to seeing where you go with it. Hope to see more of it soon!

Author's Response:

Thanks so much for reviewing!

I have mixed feelings about post Casino without a reunion. There are some great fics out there with that premise, but there are also many heart-breaking ones and well... 

So, yeah, we have these two strangers, seeing each other after 15 years. They moved on, perhaps too much so.

Chapter 2 is on its way and it's going to be longer. Some stuff will be explained then, I hope.

Again, thanks a lot!