“And they always seem unhappy to see me here when they show up. I don't get it.” Oh, Michael. I love that you worked in an "actually" moment for Oscar, too.

"the chill in her bones after seeing her fianc? hard to shake without something to warm her back up from the inside." Oh, Pam. Michael offering to go shirtless so she won't be cold is classic Michael. I hadn't even thought about the potential chaos of Michael in the warehouse unsupervised. Daryl must think he's going nuts right now.

Hmm. I initially thought this was a nice grace note for Roy with the card being in his locker, but paired with the photo and sandwiched by all the disrespect Pam described, hard not to think the real theme here is "the wave runners" rather than Pam's art. Although putting it in terms of his immaturity is a kindness still... maybe his future is just about him growing up.

HOT. TO. TROT.

The combination of relief and disconcertion at the explanation of the condom (and the book) holds up well, I think. And it's consistent with the picture you're painting of Roy as a guy who needs to grow up more than anything else... very high school moves.

OW. Okay, how is that reveal worse than finding out he was (potentially) cheating???

Well this chapter had quite a few ups and downs for Pam. Every time she thinks she's found something she can love about Roy, there's always a reason to second guess herself. Wake up, lady!

*It was her, a photographic representation of the girl that once existed back some years ago, a snapshot from their high school days. In it, her hair was shorter but just as frizzy, her cheeks fuller, her smile wider. She had on his football jersey over her turtleneck, the garment so big it seemed to dwarf her smaller frame.

The old photograph was faded, the colors now muted and broken down from the years of exposure. Still seeing it was like a having another Time Turner in that it had her traveling further back in time to when their romance first began. When she felt like the luckiest girl in their school because he, who could have dated his pick of girls, had chosen her.*

I love this, because I imagine a great deal of Pam's reluctance to see Roy for who he is today is her inability to let go of who he was before.

Michael in the bubble wrap (and Tiki Barber) were great!

Okay... Darryl. I agree with you that he grew and changed quite a bit post-Roy, and it doesn't necessarily seem like something OOC for him to do. But it still grossed me out that he'd need their bed for some reason and that Roy would let him do it. Ew.

GROUNDHOG DAY!

Okay Jim's note was adorable. I like to believe he would do something like that and she would appreciate it.

*“What earring?” Roy asked coming back into the bedroom, hand down his boxers, scratching himself.*

Well, thanks for that image.

I love the significance of the earring and how it seems to continually be trying to tell Pam something.

*All these little cracks in her relationship, the ones she thought would go away, they were not repairing themselves but rather seemed to be splintering in the last two weeks.

She never stopped to think they had not been brought about from waiting on a wedding, but perhaps they were there from the start. That they were faults in the foundation itself.*

YES. Wake up, Pam!

Author's Response:

Sorry to paint that image - but Roy is a pig right. At least Jim is making up for it with cute notes.

As always thanks for the review. 

So once more I find myself being very perplexed. Future Pam and Michael are out to prevent Packer from doing what Packer does. Not sure how successful they'll be at that because well, Packer seems to just bullrush over Michael but who knows? Future Pam is also trying to get back to an even keel, but all those boxes are still overflowing, or the lids are just barely on. I don't think it'll take much for something to shift and they all come crashing down. How she reacts to that crash will be quite the read, what with the last two weeks of soul searching she's been doing.

Past Pam is also acting up as well. Rather than just blowing off the argument, she stands her ground. Seems like Past Pam is getting some steel in her spine, even if it feels hard. Sounds like she's been doing some soul searching too. And she's not really liking what she's seeing. Roy's default is anger when there's a perceived injustice. Just like when they were driving to the bar he reacts with aggression, and it doesn't feel like there's any changing his mind. Hard but good thoughts there Past Pam. What would that look like going into a marriage? Seems like Past Pam's vision is starting to become a little more clear as well if she's having thoughts that the foundation of their relationship is cracked not just surface level stuff.

So how does this all reconcile? Past Pam is thinking things that seem to be affecting how her future thoughts would travel. Meanwhile at the same time Future Pam is actively trying to change the future. Like I said, all those boxes seem to be teetering and just ready to cascade down on her.

Author's Response:

Exactly why Pam can't leave him alone and needs to keep it together a little bit longer- we will see how that goes.

A lot of good insights Warrior.

Thanks always for sharing your thoughts - I'm always so excited to read your reviews.

Wow, this was long! And a great read. Wow, that was horrible for Pam (trying not to leave a spoiler in the review) but it will help her resolve. You did a good job explaining their relationship, I think it was very plausible.

Author's Response:

Yeah I know it was a long one - but a lot had to happen in this chapter - for things to come around in the end.

This trip has been a real roller coaster for Pam but well - you of all people know how it all plays out.

Thanks  for hitting me up with a review.

UGH this chapter, Max! I loved it!

Pam comparing her relationship and the aftermath of hearing Gabby's story....ugh!

I have a lot of questions, number one how dare you? I'm kidding, but GABBY CAME UP WITH THE BEAUTY IN ORDINARY THINGS PIECE?! EXCUSE ME?!

Also, I loved hearing Gabby and Randall's story. Funny how it parallels someone else's love triangle, huh?

This was great, cannot wait for the next one!

Author's Response:

It's quite an interesting coincidence, right?

I love that Gabby said that Pam could stay, but Michael couldn’t, lol!

This was cute, I liked hearing about Pam’s day with Gabby and her bringing up Jim when Gabby asked about her missing Roy, as well as the fun piece on time travel at the end! So cute!

Author's Response:

Well I love time travel stories so it was fun to dissect the different models.

Thanks again for all the reviews. 

Oh Michael....... you always have to ruin things, don't you?

Max, I loved Gabby's technique while handling Michael here. I hope we get to see this in the future from Pam lol!

Author's Response:

Was there ever a doubt he'd get kicked out? 

I absolutely love how their families treat Roy finally setting a date as if it were the night he proposed! It's hilarious, but so fitting for Roy!

Aw! I love that Randall opened his home up to Michael and Pam. I'm happy there's someone along the ride with them through this time travel business!

Once more there's a lot to unpack here. The comfort Pam seems to be seeking back in her own home doesn't appear to be there. At least when she thinks about her home when shared with Roy. Now I get that she and Roy have years of history together at this point in their lives. Yet for all their history there's something there that comes across as stagnant. Pam and Roy got together because he needed a tutor. Years later he still needs one from time to time. Clearly it's not just Pam who is scared of change. But with Roy it comes across as that he'll hide it as best he can under layers of machismo. Puffing out his chest as much as he can to be "the man." While that can be somewhat attractive, it can also get boring. I think Pam's starting to feel that, thus not quite comfortable in her own home and trying to convince herself that what she has with Roy is good even if it means hurting Jim. Also curious that there's really only two mentions of Jim in her thoughts this time around. One when she thinks of him as playful fun colors and the other when her heart breaks a little because she knows that by choosing Roy, Jim will be hurt. Considering she's back in the home she shares with Roy it's understandable that her thoughts would turn to the man she actually is with right now rather than who she's still trying to see as just a really good work buddy.

But then Michael comes over and you transplant his reaction of her art showcase from S3 to now. His reaction is of course wonderful for Pam's confidence, but there's something more there. Pam knows that beneath the bluster and childishness, Michael IS a good guy with a heart of gold. He really does care about the people who are important to him. As many artists do, she craves validation. For someone to say her work is good and appreciated. Michael gives her that validation and the pebble that starts an avalanche gets rolling. She's known Roy a lot longer than Michael so why hasn't she ever gotten similar praise from the one guy who is supposed to be her biggest fan. The guy who's words say he is, but on reflection his actions don't seem to match up. And so the pebble becomes a snowball.

Her quest to find out if Roy DOES in fact care comes across the one area she's never explored. Now I get that it's important for a healthy couple to trust each other and have some space. At the same time being open with your partner is a lot easier when you don't have anything to hide. Case in point I have no qualms sharing my phone PIN with my wife because there's nothing there she'll find untoward. Likewise I have access to her phone and the same is true. Yet here with Pam we get more of the same kind of unease we've had throughout this chapter. Pam's level of trust and what her relationship mean to her might not be the same as what Roy feels about the relationship. The graphic porn is only the tip of the iceberg. A note from another woman that Roy DIDN't throw away. A box of open condoms that it really feels she needs to bend over backwards to explain away. Oh Pam, there's a reason why Occam's Razor is so sharp. That snowball is feeling more like the bottom layer of a snowman now, and it's still going downhill. Picking up speed and more snow too.

Thing is past Pam, what with her vision (literal and figurative) clouded as it is probably hasn't seen all these aspects. Future Pam with her vision clear and already with a week's worth of introspection under her belt, these flaws she's been overlooking for so long, aren't just passing flaws. They're actually big issues and despite her not wanting to, will need to be addressed. After all that snowball is only getting bigger and it's starting to suck in debris along with snow now too.

Author's Response:

there is nothing more gratifying than to come to a review that tells me I've made the reader think and see and want to discuss the words I've written.

I love your snowball analogy too. 

THANK YOU for this review and all of them. This fic has been a beast but to get reviews like these - it keeps me going.

I love this convo with Katy! I kind of figured that Pam would have known more about Jim than she did, but this reminds me of his relationship with Karen as well: not telling her key pieces of his personality. Interesting take that I absolutely loved!