Just finished all of the chapters and it was so much fun to read. I really enjoyed their dates at Christopher's through the years. Especially the Blessings chapter. And, the last chapter with Cici was just adorable.

Author's Response: Haven't been on much so it was a lovely surprise to get a review on an old story. Thank you for reading and your review.

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Cece’s love for her daddy is adorable!
So sweet that Jim took Pam on their first date at her perfect date spot.

I can see these moments so clearly here. The who-can-hug-the-hardest contest has my eyes assuming full heart shape. Too cute! These kids are just so real and fully realized. The details of them and their relationships with their parents are terrific.

"At least this time he knew enough to let Pam pick out the outfit for the date." See? He's learning! About time, Jimbo.

Dwight the friend versus Dwight the stickler. Yeah, tough to know who you're gonna get there. But him and Angela having a Jam moment and the Angela growth! The boar getting the lecture! Dwight doing fundraising calls! Ahhh, I'm gonna miss the Goldverse.

So many good callbacks here, too.

"Her alter ego, Crankypants, sometimes made a cameo when she woke abruptly, and she had not been invited on this date." LOL.

I reread the original Beth chapter before digging into this and am honestly kinda bummed to find out Pete is gone. Poor Beth!

Awwwwwwwwwww you got me. I thought this was gonna be a make-up date from the last disaster, but nope. Cece and Jim time. Oh, that's really good circularity with him picking up on Christopher's originally!

Well, I'm sorry to see this journey end. But thank you for bringing us along on it.

Author's Response:

Writing the kids is in a way my revisiting my own past- remembering having little ones and parenting them and passing that on to Pam and Jim in my writing. And some of it is so real...

Yeah, well if Jim picked out Cece's outfit, it might have been an Arcade Fire tee shirt, or just a mismatched shirt and top. It was best for Pam to be on that and of course it was a first red herring.  

Yeah, people do move on and just wait until Beth hears that the Halperts are moving too. 

Got even you. I'm going to pat myself on the back for that.

I am going to miss the Goldverse too, but I thank you for always being a fan of it. 

These last two chapters are incredibly emotional for entirely different reasons and you handle that range of emotions so well.

There is so much angst in this part of their story but that’s what makes it richer and more realistic. You do such a great job at capturing her feelings of frustration and doubts and uncertainty. Wonderful updates!

Author's Response:

Many Thanks. I used to be nervous about writing anything angsty. It is a boost of confidence to hear it comes across when I do. I agree it keeps it real to write this part of the story as well.

Thanks again. NExt one wraps it all up! 

Okay, that test dream was too real. (I once asked my father how long after he graduated he stopped having that sort of dream and he said he'd tell me when it happened). I can see Jim and Pam both suffering from this one frequently. And having Kevin there to twist the knife was a nice touch.

DEEP DIVE REFERENCE. Jim being removed from his normal sources of comfort - and being removed from it even if he was physically present with them - stings.

"Mold in the kitchen, Dwight could take care of, and had." My headcanon as well. And also, good metaphor.

The POV transition around the dress... OW. Very Season 9. Totally well-intentioned gesture that just hits all sorts of nerves for Pam. In general, this feels very true to how raw she is at this point in the narrative... everything's a potential trigger, right down to the Berry Smash.

This description of how he's recharging at home while simultaneously making things worse for Pam... brutal.

“I was telling Beth about Athlead, and how you take off to Philadelphia for half the week.” Oh, Jim. Jim Jim Jim. That was... not something you should have missed the implications of. He's just so bad at picking up on her tone here. Man, this season was a bummer.

Ugh, and Pam ends up being completely undercut by the ending. And so we continue on our downward slide.

Okay, that was INCREDIBLY angsty, but well done!

Author's Response:

I knew you'd mention the dream...they can be very scary stuff. Luckily, it's been a while since I've had one but I'm sure they're not done  and I've had my share...well, well, well after any school I've attended.

Like the deep dive - do you?

Sorry for the all the angst, but the show started it! At least I give a little hope at the end and we know that while it gets much worse before it gets better...it does get better. Nice mornings ahead.

Thanks so much for the read and review. I'm humble and grateful. 

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This was a great take on S9 angst which still fills me with dread when I can sometimes stomach them on Comedy Central reruns. I love the reference to Dwight fixing the kitchen… but not being able to fix this mildew— that could turn to mold. My stomach dropped though when I read that Jim was going to surprise Pam with the dress from 5 years ago. Ugh. Great intent, but has so much potential for going wrong. Her stream of consciousness about the outfit was great… and of course Jim fit into and spiffied up HIS first date shirt… oh my heart aches a little for Pam. I loved the shadow stuff with the menu and bread basket… their problems were definitely much bigger and darker unspoken… and that reinforced that concept. Great call to the fact that as part of Dunder Mifflin, Jim’s business was also Pam’s business— but that Athlead was not.. and whether it was Jim not trying to bother her with “unnecessary stress” (maybe his thinking) or just that Pam didn’t know the specifics, I can see how that really stung not being a part of those moments.. which could potentially lead to bigger implications. And her reaction?? Oooh!! I think that you taught us all a little bit about assuming what someone else is doing… in this case Jim being on the phone for not Athleap but for Isabel and the kids— not that he’s out of the doghouse, but that without them speaking, they’re never going to get on the same page.

Mostly I love that this ended with hopefulness… because that season 9 shit was INTENSE!  I love that Jim still (literally) reaches out— and Pam still accepts.  As long as that’s happening, It’s gonna eventually be okay.  Thanks for this hopeful take on the S9 shit— it was well handled and I loved it! 

I love seeing Jim with his kiddos! This is so sweet and wholesome.

Author's Response: Me too and we didn’t get nearly enough of daddy Jim on the show so we must write our own.   Thanks for the read and review.  

Awwww, that was a moving and thoughtful chapter, Max. A lovely tribute to Meemaw and just pitched right writing-wise IMHO. Nice to have Beth back again.

Author's Response:

Well thanks. I was sorry to have to knock off Meemaw, for the sake of a chapter plot but I'm enjoying bringing Beth back to my writing. 

Always love to hear from you. 

Outstanding job getting through all these huge emotions. I can easily see Pam having such a big response to Sylvia passing. Especially since she's also pregnant. Made it all feel very real. Jim here is doing a great job at being the rock she needs. Just the kind of husband and father I also aspire to be. Without any hesitation he's right there to support his wife and daughter. Love that Betsy also jumps right in. Shows the power of having family close.

Pam writing her own eulogy was a nice touch too. Same with her spotting Michael at the funeral. That was a wonderful nod to the relationship that Michael has built with his work family, that he's there for her in a hard time.

Love the return to Christopher's and Beth's wise words. It really comes across as to how special Christopher's is to Jim and Pam. A place where they can go to celebrate and now also commemorate the important tomes and people in their lives.

Bravo with this one.

Also Cece sounds cute a button in this one too.

Author's Response:

Cute as a button but crying a lot, as little ones often do.

Yes, everyone turned up for Pam in this one, Jim, family and even Michael. 

Thanks for your comments - as always. 

I mean, you know I always love your Mama Pam fics, and this is no exception. This description of not just the exhaustion and love and frustration but sense of extension of self that motherhood brings is terrific and eye-opening.

This is also a great picture of Helene as well-intentioned but maybe still working through a few things too much to be at her best right now. (Although it occurs to me, she might be doing this on purpose... is she that clever?) Kelly, almost by accident, seems more helpful here.

I love the connection between the solidification of crystals and the solidification (and stulification) of Pam's life with Roy, and Pam's musings about Jim's childhood paralleling Cece's are a nice touch.

Michael absolutely special ordered a "If You Think I’m Cute, You Should See My Mom and Dad's Boss" onesie.

THEY INVITED BETH TO THE WEDDING!!!!!!!!!!!

Author's Response:

OK I could hug you for mentioning Michael's onesie -  you know when you write those lines that make even you laugh and you can't wait for everyone to read (and then never get mentioned) - well let's just say you made my day by mentioning it.

Of course I appreciated the rest of the review too - and yes, if they invited Angela and Ryan, then Beth surely was worthy of an invite too.

Thanks friend. 

Oh, Max. This is my favorite chapter so far. You took me right back to those early days with a newborn (particularly the first). Some of it was so spot-on it made me relive how wonderfully awful it all was.

*It wasn’t until she met Jim that she got a proper education in the subject of chemistry*

Oh my god, I adore this.

*Jim tested out his swaddling skills, which had improved slightly since the hospital, but then again so had Cece's ability to wiggle and squirm so his bindings were more?snack wrap?than?burrito.*

This is a great way to work in Jim's canon swaddling prowess and how, when presented with a real infant, all of that completely goes to shit.

*breast mangling device*

so true and so funny!

*Cece carried on with unrelenting cries as he switched her to the other shoulder. Knowing the further risk he posed by asking, he made a follow-up inquiry all the same.
“Could she be hungry?”
If he could grab the words back from the air, he would have.*

Okay I can SEE this scene. You wrote it so perfectly. Also I remember wanting to throttle my husband for similar stupid questions, hahaha

*It didn’t matter she knew she was with her father who would do everything in his power to soothe her and was perfectly capable of watching her while she took a short walk down the block. All she could think was how out-of-body she felt as her nostrils filled with the scent of the night air instead of Desitin and baby shampoo and Cece.*

This separation anxiety is so real and so well portrayed here. This entire chapter was wonderfully visual but I can see Pam's increasing panic as she attempts to make it around a single block without breaking down.

*There on the couch was Jim, now down to his bare chest.? Cece lay sprawled across it, strapped in by the large hands that even when layered atop each other, covered the span of her whole body. They both were fast asleep.
Smiling as she gazed upon the two people she loved most in the world, immediately she felt whole again.
Another time she might have grabbed her pencil and sketchpad to capture the moment in graphite but in this instance settled for picking up her camera to preserve the memory. Fortunately, it was only Jim she woke with the sound of the shutter and the spark of the flash.*

This is so soft and perfect, I adored it. They deserve all the happiness in the world.

The first night out was great, I love how Beth taught Pam about pumping and dumping (essential) and her anxiousness about wanting to go home and Jim's desperation to get her to relax were both so well done.

Glad they got some at the end, too. Good for them.

Brava, amazing job!

Author's Response:

Aww this review was the best. Really made me feel like I connected with you as someone who knows what the experience is like. I'm a little more removed from it but as you can see the memories don't fade and in fact become a little more vivid as the little birdies fly the nest.

Thanks you so much for all the words and validation and for loving it so much, especially the Cece asleep on the chest scene - one of my favorite moments to write.   

Thanks again from one mom to another. 

*That though the words had not yet been said officially, for richer or for poorer was how he loved her, and he would have Creed marry them in the Dunder Mifflin parking lot if need be. Jim was sure he had some kind of ordination and license to perform weddings.*

Okay. I would have loved to see this, haha

I like how you tackled the strain on their sex life that could have been going on at this time. And I see we also agree Cece was conceived after Michael sold the company ;)

Author's Response:

Jim is what we call a mensch - well not quite always but with Pam he is, but as for Creed - well remember DJC (never know if I should write it as JDC or DJC) wrote a piece A Real Mensch - that was in part born out of this idea (and his talking head from the Fun Fun episode).

But yeah, me too.

As far as stress and sex goes, yeah I feel like this would be the time one would kind wreak havoc on the other - but resolve itself in the most beautiful way - Cece.

Thanks for binging through these but now that you have only one more I'm feeling the pressure to get another chapter written. 

Anyway, big thanks for reading and reviewing. 

I love how tuned in your Jim is to Pam's disappointment. It's very sweet. You're totally right btw, it's eerie how closely our headcanons aligned on this one!

*By morning all he’d come up with was to cover the beam on the underside of her mouse to keep it from working, hoping she’d call him over for help before she flipped it over to investigate why. The cause of its malfunction would be the small note he’d have taped there that would read, From the minute I met you I knew we clicked. Marry me, Pam.*

OMG okay that's cute but not enough. Good instincts, Jim.

*He knew before then he was in love but it was in that moment that he could taste eternity with her, know their souls would be tied to each other forevermore. It was there in the sky, in her touch, in the way she looked away from the horizon and into his eyes, the gold of the heavens reflected in hers. There were few words spoken that morning, but there didn’t need to be. *

Wow, this is beautiful!

*“Jim, I’ll be honest. I was upset. It was super romantic sitting watching fireworks with you, real ones this time and it had me thinking how symbolic the moment would be if only you would have...”

Jim looked down at his plate. It was exactly the reason he’d paid Phyllis to get those fireworks. He’d had a whole speech prepared about all the moments they’d shared right there in the office that led them to that instance. Freakin’ Andy.*

Freakin' Andy is right. The parallels between what that proposal would have been and their first "date" are too much for my heart to handle. Although I can't complain because the real proposal is my all time fave Jam moment ever, so...

Excited to see what's next!

Author's Response:

You went on a reading binge - but I'm so glad - thanks for all the great review, starting with this one.

 Yes, I often feel like we see things very similarly when I read your stuff...reaffirming and fun to have that similar viewpoint.

I thought so too, save it for a Dwight prank - although they (Jim and Dwight) take a bit longer to click.

Awwh thanks. Yeah I was deep in my Gold story stage around this time - I tend to let my stories bleed into one another. 

Freaking ANDY -yeah it would have been...but yeah I enjoyed the proposal at the gas station as well.

Thanks again - ever so much.