10

I know this story is really really old, and this is far from my first time reading it but I realized I had never commented on it before, in the past I sorta thought it was pointless to comment on the older stuff. I now know that sometimes the authors actually do come back through and see the comments and I also know it can help a reader who is trying to decide if a story, especially one that is many chapters like this is, is worth reading. So, I now try to comment at least some on the older pieces that really hit me.

I just have to say that this is simply beautiful from beginning to end. I LOVE agressive Jim in the beginning. He KNOWS that Pam kissed him back and he knows that it has to mean something so rather than running away like he did, he stays and he challenges her and he pushes her. He refuses to allow her to just remain in her little comfort zone knowing she's going to make a huge mistake. The thing is, IMO, with Jim remaining in Scranton I think this may have been the only way that Pam would have actually gone through with calling it off. Many fics have pointed out that it was Jim leaving that brought Pam to the point where she called off the wedding because with him there she had everything she needed, she just simply didn't realize that it was Jim that was giving here the things she really needed, not Roy. So, in most cases unless Pam had given in and decided on Casino Night, I think she would have gone through with the wedding never really realizing that the good parts of her life were coming to her from Jim and the miserable and lonely parts were courtesy of Roy. You brought a new element with Jim and her in the stairwell, Jim challenging her and telling her that he simply wasn't going to stop until it was too late. Simply brilliant.

I admit, there were many times in this story where I kinda wanted to smack Pam and try to knock some sense into her. I mean, the whole thing of not really completely calling off the wedding, Roy had 10 years and yes, at this point he is going to be on his very best behavior but she had already seen a nice long preview of Roy who feels he is not threatened, did she really think that 'best behavior Roy' would be there to stay? OTOH there is Jim who has been loving her and taking care of her in his own quiet way, completely thanklessly, for YEARS at that point. I think that Pam is ao amazingly lucky that what Jim felt for her was that one of a kind true love that he just couldn't give up on because otherwise there were several points AFTER Casino Night, like when she revealed she hadn't completely given Roy up and when he drove 5 hours, taking a half day off work from a new job, which could have certainly made him look bad, simply because he had heard that she had a really rough day and he wanted to be there for her so he, because he loves her volunteerily goes for a 10 hr round trip drive, meaning he probably also will be tire and not impressing anyone in the new office the next day either, to spend just a couple measly hours with her only to have her jump to Roy's defense. Roy, the person who made her day so awful. The one who accused her of things he was probably guilty of himself and certainly should have known her well enough to know she wouldn't do those things. She really walked a line there and if Jim were a different man she probably would have lost him, at very least temporarily. I also thought that it was just, well, unfortunately typical the way things went when Roy went to Pam's parent's house to pick her up. I mean, the guy doesn't even really care what's wrong, here's a blanket appology, ok, all better let's go home. When that doesn't work that's when he starts getting irritated at her and unbelievably at the end of that she agrees to give him another chance.

Something that I LOVE and what goes a very long way towards redeeming Pam and her actions in my eyes is her taking that blind leap of faith, her obviously somewhere inside of herself believing deeply in her and Jim being together, so deeply that she makes the move to his town. A move that moves her not just away from Scranton but farther away from her parents. I think that's very cool that it kinda makes up for the things she had put him through.

I certainly do understand and think it was completely realistic that Pam would first need to not automatically jump from Roy to Jim, that's always been my thing about CN, was Pam really supposed to go ok, now I'm done with Roy and Jim and I are a couple. Let's face it, in the world of boys and dating, Pam is young and not mature so it makes sense for her to need a little 'Pam time.' Even more, when you consider that Roy has been the only guy Pam has ever been with, and it's been so so many years since she last navigated trying to decide when and logistics plus, the fact that she would know that Jim has obviously had experience with far more partners than she has, I would think thaose things would all add up to making that decision terrifying. Is it to soon? Will "I" be enough, know enough, to satisfy him, what will he think of me, will this change our relationship, make him lose interest? She's only navigated those questions and answers once, a LONG time ago, so I feel for her. In the end I think it worked out perfectly because even though it was incredibly frustrating for them both up until it happened, I think it made it extra special that it was on the first night of their first vacation together. I also thought you had the flow and progression of their relationship pretty perfect. The moving in together, the pregnancy scare where he was fully prepared to propose and it was sweet that it wasn't just a big sigh of relief that the test was negative, they loved each other enough that they were also a bit disappointed at the results. Then there was Pam's showing of her first art combined with their perect proposal that rolled right into her selling her first piece. Their implied wedding, as it was talked about at the wedding they attended and rnding with the wonderful knowledge that there's nothing more wonderful than a sweet Halpert baby on the way. (Well, nothing more wonderful as long as mommy's name is pam!!!)

I DO have one point of contention, something that came up, maybe halfway through... when Jim was returning from Australia (LOVE that Pam made the decision and put in the efort to pick him up from the airport! Also LOVE that you skimmed his time in Australia and just mentioned a few postcards rather than trying to detail his time there!!) Anyhow.. You mentioned something and I then watched for it through the rest of the story, I'm guessing that you had just forgotten about that detail. You mentioned about a rather large purchase Jim had made for Pam that he seemed to doubt he's ever even be able to give her but did still have some hope that he would. I assumed that he bought her an engagement ring that is the ring he eventually propose with but I'm just not sure if I have that right or not since it was never again mentioned. I'm going to go ahead with my own assuption unless I somewhere somehow learn differently, though I'm not sure how I could. Maybe if I skim the comments of other readers, maybe someone else caught that and commented as well. Not sure if you responded to the reviews but I may take a look.

Other than the one point, and that is so so minor, such a brilliant story. It really is IMO different than any of the others I have read and I just realy love it. I'm sad that you don't seem to be writing for TO any longer, I enjoy your fics because there doesn't tend to be heavy angst but there does tend to be lots of happiness and not like 12 chapters of angst or so so and 3 chapters of them finally headed towards happiness. Most of yours is pretty much brightness and sunshine and sometimes that's what a girl really nees. Oh and lastly, also, your fics will just never never get old. No matter where they are in life on the show now, your fics remain fantastic reads. Thank you so much for sharing such amazing talent with us!

10

Oh my goodness, this story is perfect! That's all I want to say. The proposal was brilliant, in fact I liked the 14th chapter the best. It was incredible! And I'll have you know that I stayed up until ONE AM last night reading this, and for the past 30 minutes instead of doing homework or sleeping. SO THERE- that is how perfect this is, I couldn't stop reading. This has got to be one of my favorite stories ever!

I found this when I decided it was about time I checked the MTT primer, because wierdly I never have.

I wanted to stop and review every few chapters, mostly to tell you that I love how much your Jim fights for her in this, but I got drawn in and now it's like an hour later and I'm at the end.

This is just wonderful, a lovely story and hands down the best Jim/Pam proposal I have ever read.

:)

Author's Response: Sorry for the delay in replying to you.  Thank you so much for your kind review.  I love this story myself.  It has a place near and dear to my heart.  I'm so glad you liked it too!

8

...wow.  what a really fantastic story.  i love the beginning, how it's pretty ugly (as in the situation, not the writing; the writing is fab!), but eventually clears out and becomes bright and cheery, etc. i really like the dark edges of this, i think it works.  what a great, great fic of clean lines.

Author's Response: Oh thank you so much!  This one was one of my firsts and there are parts I am really really proud of.  I'm glad you seemed to agree!!  It's always such a treat to get a review for one of my oldies so again - thank you!!!!

Well, it's 3 a.m. and I had to keep reading till I finished!  I just love this story.  I like this Jim much better than the angsty season 3 Jim.  Good characterizations all around.

Author's Response:

Sorry to keep you up so late.  This was written back before I knew who S3 Jim would be.  Thank you so much for reading and for the sweet review. :)

10

Aww, its the last chapter. It was way enjoyable reading this again, and again, I have to thank you and this insane story for bringing me here and making me have no life outside of the office.

Oh, and you know how I said those two were perfect, this story is. From new babies, weddings, proposals, freakishly tall Jim, and the ending and the how it like comes full circle, and everything.

Just perfect...

Author's Response: Thank you so much Emily.  Sorry it took me so long to come back and reply to you but I wanted you to know how much I appreciate your feedback.  Getting reviews for a story that I wrote ages ago always makes my day.

Well, dammit.  You have made me cry.  That's just not nice.  And yet, it's...FREAKIN' AWESOME.

Sorry, but that was seriously about the sweetest thing ever.  I love this story.  And I'd say even more great things about it if it weren't almost 1 a.m. and I didn't have to get up for work in 6 hours.

So, yeah: IT ROCKED.  I loved it.

This was great:

"I mean, look at me. I’m so freakishly tall I don’t think anyone else will have me.”

Ha!  Great story, great romance, great banter.  Love it.  Love.

10

bravo

Author's Response: Thanks Kate!

LOVED this story!!! My roommate recently recommended this website and I've been reading a couple of your stories the last few days. You are great! You've got such a knack for Jim and Pam's voices. Keep up the good work!

Author's Response: Hi Brandy!!  I'm so glad you liked it.  It's probably my favorite of the one's I've written - if a bit unrealistic based on what we've seen really happened. ;) Thanks so much!

10

Yes! One of my favorite fics ever- I just reread the entire thing, and loved it all over it again. It's both realistic (everything up through Pam needing to wait) and sweetly adorable (pretty much everything after that). The proposal and matching pregnancy surprise are so original and cute. Love, love, love!

Author's Response: I'm glad you liked it. It has a soft place in my heart too. I think it's my favorite thus far.

9

Okay. So now I'm half an hour late because I couldn't tear myself away from this fic, but I don't care! I'm a better person for it. :) Loved it. I could see Jim and Pam in every word of it. Great job.

Author's Response: I'm sorry. :( I hope I didn't get you in trouble. Thank you. I'm glad you liked it.