Oh, you are killing me.  I already secretly lust after Toby (the green tie! goodness) and this has just taken it up a notch.  I envy your prolific awesomeness of writing.  (That doesn't even sound like english, but oh well.)  

Amazing and wonderful, as always.  :) 

I did not see that coming.  And yet...it was so natural!  Really nice work.  It wasn't forced, it was sweet, it was a happy ending!  I think I wouldn't mind another chapter even.

Author's Response: Thanks!  I was thinking about doing another chapter, maybe in Toby's POV???

Ooh, Toby is a good distraction for when it all goes to hell (for Karen, that is...)  And the description of Toby's 'Kindergarten teacher' voice -- awesome!

See, here's a problem I had with Two: on re-read, it doesn't seem entirely possible that Karen can be friends with either of them; wouldn't it hurt? She moved here from Stamford, for a guy whose background story she seems to know zilch about, and only to find out she doesn't really stand a chance. >< My only consolation is that I wrote it before A Benihana Christmas, so...uhm.
Then last week I saw a comment on LJ about possible Karen/Toby, because both of them deserve to be happy, and I was sold. I personally think they need it.

And you mixed both the K/T and the gradual-loss-of-the-probable-awkwardness [if she stayed] in one, lovely, super, awesome story.

First of all, all the JAM [since obviously I'm a fruity-bread-spread-fan at heart]: I adore thinking that it's them who get Dwight back, working on that together [it's like the opposite of Halloween: full circle! or something.] and I loved seeing that bit on Valentines' Day.

I love Karen's POV, especially the way she notices Toby's green tie, because that tie of his is my absolutely favourite - oh, Toby. Also, my sister first called him a shaved-mopey-dog-face the first time she saw him, and though I hardly agree with her eight-year-old perception of him now, I didn't find him all that attractive at the beginning, either; I love that it starts off that way for her, and then moves forward. It's just like Karen, I think, to automatically diss a guy she may end up liking: like Toby, here, and Jim, in Gay Witch Hunt. [sorry, lit tendencies.]

And noticing the way his voice squeaks, and the contradicting way he feels fit and solid and bulky [although that makes sense since it was said before that he runs] - I loved that detail. 

Actually I loved a lot of things, especially the way you made things progress. All kinds,  all kinds, of freaking awesome. I'm entirely serious. 

I'm going to go read this again. KATIE! =P  

Um, yeah, I never thought of these two together.  Somehow Toby seems very.... asexual... to me.  So, with that bias, I must say that I like reading your stories.  This one flows well, it's easy to keep up with and keep in to.  Maybe I should mentally give Toby another chance.  :) 

Adorable!  Love Karen's commentary and the kind of bumbling attractiveness you give Toby!  Perfect!

Everything he does to her in his bed betrays his sweet, Kindergarten teacher voice. But his voice still squeaks a little when he gently urges her, come on...come on.

Okay, that? That is one of the hottest things I've ever read and I read a lot - a lot - of smut. *ducks head* But really, that was hot. Way hot. Way to make me lust after Toby. FOR SHAME.

This is really well written; the pace of it is very strong - it really makes me think about a few of the ways I've gone about characterizing Karen. Very nice!