Date: June 04, 2021 01:54 am Title: There's a part of me hoping it's true
I'm not sure if enjoyed is the right word for this chapter, because it's hard to say I enjoyed seeing Pam in pain like that at the end. It did feel very real for her that's for sure. She's still trying to come to grips with what she ran away from and the effects of that feel very real. Especially with someone saying she, Jim, and Julia make a nice family and Jim pretty much agreeing with that.
Add to the fact that there seems to be more tension in between Jim and Karen. Karen being anti-ice cream? Jim's sweet tooth was one of the things that connected him with Pam. A bit of a hallmark of his. To think he's with someone that doesn't see that part of him feels like a big crack in his marriage.
At the same time it really felt like him being with Pam felt like how it should. Easy and normal. Though of course nothing in this fic seems easy.
On a lighter note, Julia is adorable. Nice to have that as a counterpoint for everything else going on.
Author's Response: Right now Pam is in a rough patch, she’s still dealing with the aftermath of her decision and trying to figure out her future. With what I have planned for the next few chapters, things should start to make sense, and eventually, look up. Glad your enjoying Julia, she’s the comic relief who also happens to remind Pam of everything she lost, lol.
Date: June 03, 2021 01:15 pm Title: There's a part of me hoping it's true
Yikes. Way to immediately taint her post-Jim memories, Jimbo.
Okay, now, I will give Jim credit for assuming that Pam actually isn't in to him (which, to be clear, she hasn't given him much reason to think she is), but this is odd and not very nice behavior. He's either kinda torturing Pam or his being pretty awful to his actual wife.
Author's Response: Confused Jim, wishy washy Jim, dad Jim, all different types of Jim, all of them sending mixed messages. He’s a mess, and I hope that what I have planned for the next few chapters help fill in the gaps.
Date: June 02, 2021 06:42 am Title: There's a part of me hoping it's true
I think that Pam and Jim need to grow a backbone
and have the discussion that they need to.
Jim’s comment about Karen not allowing ice cream looks like another clue into his marriage.
In canon I didn’t think that J&K had much in common, not to mention the complete lack of chemistry. So it looks like that the same is true for them in this story. I’m also curious as to why J&K
only had one child. Is that also a sign that things aren’t looking too bright in their marriage?
It’s good to see that Pam has decided to move on from Jim, even if it doesn’t work out, at least she’s going to actually try. I think Pam needs to get rid of the purple dress because it has only brought her pain.
Author's Response: We’re going to learn more about J&K in future chapters, so you’ll get to see if your suspicions are correct. And yes, I couldn’t agree more about the dress, Pam just isn’t there YET.
1 [Report This]Date: June 02, 2021 06:40 am Title: There's a part of me hoping it's true
OOF. Ouch, that ending hurt.
I can only imagine the awkward feeling Pam had of being assumed to be Jim's wife and Julia's mom. I'd cringe at that moment, but Pam not being able to say anything? Makes sense.
The painting? And the reminder of the dress? Brilliant!
1 [Report This]Date: June 02, 2021 05:41 am Title: Birdcage
AW! I loved this prank! And the butterflies in Pam's stomach?! YES!
I'm so here for this, I need MORE!
Date: May 30, 2021 06:45 pm Title: Birdcage
So this is very interesting. I get why Pam would be a bit confused. Jim says he wants a fresh start, but they're dropping back into old habits. However this time the situation is reverse. Jim is married and has a kid, yet he's abandoning them to be with Pam to pull a prank. Also they really haven't had a the deep conversation about Casino Night. How that night made both of them run from each other and from their homes. How because they ran they're in the situation they're in now. I like that the connection they once shared is still there, but there's also still a mountain of things said and unsaid between them. Should be interesting to see how they get over that mountain.
1 [Report This]Date: May 30, 2021 05:40 pm Title: Birdcage
So they've still clearly got their rhythms down, for better or for worse... and they're still using pranking Dwight as an excuse to flirt without really acknowledging what they're doing.
VERY curious what's up with Jim here, because he's clearly got some sort of agenda he's being opaque about.
Author's Response: The return of wishy washy Jim! When I was writing this chapter I referred to it as “JAM gets their groove back, but at what cost?” And I feel like that rings true to what the next few chapters are going to look like. Jim’s agenda will become clear, as well as Pams true intentions, it’s just going to be a minute.
1 [Report This]Date: May 30, 2021 04:03 pm Title: Birdcage
Ok so now I’m dying to know what is going on with Jim’s marriage, because something is definitely off. 🧐Things aren’t all rainbows butterflies in the Halbert house. I think that Pam was right when she could tell that Jim was
a shell of his former self.
Normally I couldn’t care less about Karen’s feelings, but I can’t help but be curious about
her thoughts in this story. Is she suspicious of Pam and wondering about the JAM friendship?
Also is Karen a shell of her former self as well? 🤔
It was nice to see JAM pranking again. 😂
Author's Response: You hit the nail on the head, right now Jim is in a tough spot, which you will learn more about in future chapters. Also writing this has made me care about Karen WAY more than I am willing to admit.
Date: May 28, 2021 11:52 pm Title: Dinner and a show
So this is an intriguing chapter to say the least. On the surface Jim appears to have built a lovely life with Karen. However we're also looking at this through Pam's perspective. How she sees the love in his eyes, but now turned to Karen. How she feels he's a stranger now. Kind of heartbreaking to see her go through that.
But Jim never told Karen about Casino Night? Granted in this universe they both basically ran from each other after that night. However it feels like neither one of them have really dealt with the aftermath of that night. Instead they both ran. They're both hiding.
So where do we go from here? I don't know other than it feels like there's still more than a few bumps in the road before it's all said and done.
Date: May 27, 2021 11:53 am Title: Dinner and a show
This is so well written, just beautifully done, though this chapter was incredibly difficult to read. I had hoped after the previous chapter he was divorced or his marriage was strained or anything to get them back to each other. I have to say though this is delicious angst. Can't wait for the next update!
Author's Response:
1. Thank you! I’m so happy your enjoying it so far.
2. Jim and Pam are really in the thick of it right now, but if they just hold on a little while longer, it’s going to be amazing.
1 [Report This]Date: May 27, 2021 09:27 am Title: Dinner and a show
This is an interesting story.
I just have to say that Pam is a bit pathetic.
She spent five years pining over Jim while he’s living his life, even if it seems that there is something off about his marriage.
I always thought that there two Jim’s.
Stamford Jim and Scranton Jim. Stamford Jim was the Jim that Karen knew and wanted to be with, and I think that’s who she married.
Scranton Jim was the real Jim.
The one that Pam loved. And it looks like the
real Jim is trying to come back out.
I just hope that Pam grows a backbone in this story.
1 [Report This]Date: May 27, 2021 06:46 am Title: Dinner and a show
Hmmmm. This is an interesting and maybe not-so-smart choice on Jim's part to immediately bring her in to have dinner with him and his wife. Wondering how much of this is spite here.
Definitely some interesting hints at how Jim has handled the last five years here - the fact that Julia was already an infant at their wedding seems significant, as does the fact that even in this universe he's not honest with Karen about Pam.
1 [Report This]Date: May 26, 2021 01:50 pm Title: another heart breaks, I'm so much older than I can take
Poor Pam! Yearning for the "what could have been's." Poor thing...
Excited to see why Jim calls her, and what will happen next!
1 [Report This]Date: May 26, 2021 06:47 am Title: another heart breaks, I'm so much older than I can take
I love the "guest that overstayed their welcome" line - feels very true to the experience of being back in your parents' home after a while being away.
Breaking the teapot is always a gutsy call, but I also really love the image of the picture frame that's never really been filled - very true to Pam's life, in which she's gotten rid of Roy without ever really building much in the wake of doing so.
Date: May 24, 2021 06:02 am Title: another heart breaks, I'm so much older than I can take
Yeah this one is kind of tough to read. Her shock of the brief glimpse of Jim and his life would understandably make her get like this. Really sad that the Teapot broke like that. She does appear to still be a bit of a mess. Kinda feels like that's how she's been for the past five years to be honest. Will she be able to un-mess herself? I don't know but I'm curious to find out. Especially since Jim is calling now.
Date: May 24, 2021 02:02 am Title: another heart breaks, I'm so much older than I can take
As long as you leave me with music cues, I'm good.
Author's Response: Well there’s more where that came from.
1 [Report This]Date: May 22, 2021 06:39 pm Title: I wanted to see the world through your eyes, until it happened
You've hooked me! Now I really need to see where this goes. Great job setting everything up.
PS Daddy Jim is my favorite Jim, so thank you for that. Wish it was Pam's, but it'll do. ;)
Date: May 22, 2021 05:04 pm Title: I wanted to see the world through your eyes, until it happened
So big change there. Jim is married and has a kid. That's really going to change things. Especially since it's been five years and the last time they saw each other was Casino night.
The glimpses of Pam's journey these past five years are interesting too. She keeps running because she's still hurting. She's running because she still loves him. However it seems like any hope she might have of them being together is really gone now. I can feel her hurt through all of this. Nice job to bring out those feelings.
Date: May 22, 2021 04:58 pm Title: Prologue: what she left behind.
Well that's a good way to start things off for sure. Remains to be seen how it'll go from here. Onwards to the next chapter.
1 [Report This]Date: May 22, 2021 12:39 pm Title: I wanted to see the world through your eyes, until it happened
Ooooof. Oww. Ow ow ow. And in the very same convenience store, too? Welcome back to America, Pam.
Does seem like Jim maybe hasn't gotten over her either, though, Karen-figure or no-Karen figure...
Author's Response:
This is one of the best reviews I’ve ever gotten. And yah, WELCOME TO AMERICA PAM, you were smart to stay away.
1 [Report This]Date: May 22, 2021 11:21 am Title: I wanted to see the world through your eyes, until it happened
OOF!
What are the odds that Pam would return home, and run into Jim right away?
Poor thing, wanting to cry in a CVS.
This was SO good! Cannot wait for more!
1 [Report This]Date: May 22, 2021 10:37 am Title: Prologue: what she left behind.
For various reasons, I'm a sucker for AUs where Pam and Jim are not magically reunited by circumstance post-Casino Night, so I'm glad you're taking this one on.
I like the way you've drawn Pam here, in all her glorious inconsistency - brave enough to change her life but not to call Jim, ready to move on from Roy but not get rid of the dress, able to get to Paris but not able to get out of bed.
"Exhausted from hours of travel and nine years of Roy" is a good line.