This is an awesome twist! Can't wait to see how it plays out. Also nice touch with referencing moments from the show involving Jim/Pam, Jim/Karen.

Author's Response: I'm so glad you are liking my twists! I'm also glad you mentioned the references. Even though this fic is an AU, I wanted to keep the feel of the office, bringing some familiarly to the story. Thanks for taking you time to review!

Okay, I'm not going to lie here. There is a part of me, MUCH more than just a little part, that truly wants to tell Jim to just go F#$% himself and that I hope he dies lonely and alone about right now. I guess I'm going to deal with his side of things first this time. Before that I have to be really honest, first, NO WAY, NO NO NO don't even THINK about giving this up. If I'm going to be a good and faithful reader/reviewer/fan of yours and read even these chapters that are truly upsetting, if I'm not going to give up on you, you CANNOT give up on me until I get my nice happy ending.

Okay, this seriously, I think it was a lot more painful than even the last chapter to read. Maybe I'm making more out of what Jim and Pam had, but I thought they both felt it as that deep down, know it right away, once in a lifetime type of thing. I guess if that were the case, even if Jim feels he has no options but to move on, I don't get him diving all the way in with Karen so soon. I mean, I would just think that with what truly is not that much time that has passed, he would be still hurting for Pam whether he wants to or not. I'm honestly beginning to think that Jim just doesn't deserve to have Pam, or the baby, back. I mean, he was in love with this woman, he was going to marry her, but she didn't even know his 'ral' last name? HUGE violation! If I were Pam, that would be something that, when Jim finds her and it all comes tumbling out, I'd have a real tough time getting past that. What really gets me is again, he accuses Pam of knowing who he is and just wanting his money yet when Karen DOES know who he is, wants to dive right into a relationship fast and heavy, he doesn't suspect HER of using him apparently. Then, I was SO proud. Jim had a conviction. He wasn't ready to do any of the meet the parents stuff. He wasn't there yet, he knew he wasn't there yet and when Karen pouted he seemed to not care. I LOVED the flashback to him meeting Pam's mom. The thing is, that STILL doesn't make him ready to meet Karen's family. IMO when you meet the parents and especially begin spending holidays together you are basically saying that you have bigger intentions and are making moves towards the future. When Jim turned around and called Karen back, giving into her tantrum I was disgusted and thought no wonder your dad can so easily manipulate you, you have no backbone. At this point I'm thinking that Pam is damn lucky she broke free of him because the man (said not knowing that THIS Jim even acts like a man) that he is probably WOULD have allowed his family to manipulate him, Pam and the baby's life until Pam would have had enough of it and left his sorry self. I want OUR Jim back!!!

It made me sad,just like it made Pam sad, to have Adele at her side at the ultrasound and not Jim. They should be sharing this happy time together, picking out names, planning their future etc. It really brings a tear to my eye. I think in part because some of this is hitting so close to home for me. NO, no hidden riches or anything but when I was pregnant with my oldest my husband and I weren't married. It was a rough rough time for us and he didn't participate in the pregnancy at all. I was 19,living in an apartment all alone, having a really rough prenancy and working as many hours behind the counter at a Dairy Queen as I could to save money for when I had to take off. He chose not to be part of it and he chose no to be present for her birth (this is why I SO much want Jim to be able to be there for the baby's birth!) My husband has SO many regrets about especially THAT decision which became even more pronounced when he realized just WHAT he missed after being there for the births of our other children. He used to get very upset when I would tell her the story about her birth or the first month of her life, which was the time before he decided to stop being an idiot and come see his baby. He didn't even tell his mom about her until she was 3 months old. Anyhow, sorry for the detour but I think this is why I am having such a reaction. He was out dating around and having fun while I was going through a rough time having our child. Granted, Pam seems to be having it MUCH easier than I did. She doesn't seem to be aving much difficulty with the pregnancy and she has people taking care of her for free. All this aside I just keep screaming in my heart and honestly, I think it's from my own experience, I feel a physical ache because Jim should be there taking care of her. Supporting her and his child. Going to ultrasounds, rubbing her tummy and feeling his child move. Oh and BTW, he doesn't know his dad well enough to know that his dad's questioning about Pam, coming out of the blue, and him being all interested in Jim's relationship with Karen (BTW, why is it that his dad doesn't think that the apparently PERFECT Karen could be trying to do whatever it was that Katy did???) He doesn't see his dad's dismissal of him coming to Thanksgiving dinner and asking so many questions about Pam as being a bit odd. Doesn't wonder why?

You know, I wonder how a man becomes so heartless and cold like Jim's dad apparently is. Does having a lot of money just make people, even his own flesh and blood, just mere things to him. Things to be bought and sold, dealt with, disposed of or covered up? It's funny, the minute I read that Joe was in a meeting with an investor I IMMEDIATELY thought, OMG, the investor is going to be Jim's dad. I cannot believe I was right. His dad must have really become somewhat familiar with Pam in his looking for Jim and investigating things because how else could it be that 5 months later, her body bloated with pregnancy and he actually recognizes her. To the point where it makes him sweat. He even asks how far along she is, obviously because he KNOWS he was right all along and she is carrying Jim's baby. The really sad thing is, so now he knows where Pam is and he's going to hide that from Jim and give no thought to the fact that he's actually going to be a grandpa. The thing that really gets me about this cold, cruel man is that it should at this point be apparent since Pam left,and now he knows that she wasn't with Jim for the money, they were in love because she didn't even know his last name, but he's going to keep this vital information from his son. It honestly makes me want to cry, seriously. I hope he NEVER gets to have a damn thing to do with the baby n matter what happens. The thing is, one might say that Oh yes, he bought the story and thinks that the baby is actually the Anderson's grandchild BUT, you don't get to be a shrewd apparently heartless man like he seems to be without having very good instincts. I'm sure that because he was so certain Pam WAS pregnant before, he KNOWS it's Jim's and rather than coming to the realization that this IS his flesh and blood, he just wants to make sure the family money is safe from Pam and the baby so he just wants them to never be discovered.

I'm honestly really sad at the end of this one. I just think that forgiveness is going to be so hard with all things in place and really, no matter what the reasons Jim has for not looking for Pam (I would think that even if he wasn't going to hunt her down to try and continue the relationship, he claims he would have married this woman the very day he met her, I'd think he's at least want to find her and make sure she's okay.) I would think it would be hard for Pam to accept that he seemed to care so little after he broke her the way he did, that he didn't even attempt to look for her. It's just all so incredibly sad. Can you give ANY clue as to how many more chapters before maybe some little bits of happiness start happening? Any clue at all?

I'm sorry if this review is a downer. I HONESTLY don't mean it to be. It's funny how a story like this can dig up all these emotions that happened about 25 yrs ago for me. I mean, It's bringing out very raw and real emotion which I think says an awful lot about you as a writer to be able to do that.

You have another wonderfully written chapter with yet another sharp twist. If only one of these twists would twist those two towards each other. I'm starting to wonder if Jim is going to find Pam while Adele is still alive and either Pam will try to convince him that the baby isn't his, which I don't think she would, or if Jim will be forced to go along with pretending that it's Kenny's baby for Adele's sake. It would serve him right. Oh and I just thought, I think what it adding to the grief I am feeling for this situation is in part because Jim just seems to have cavilierely(sp??) pushed Pam from his mind and dove into a new relationship, even going to start meeting parents and spending holidays together. Then there is Pam. Last chapter she was still thinking about contacting Jim. This chapter he's heavy on her mind, her wanting him beside her with the stuff with the baby. I'm just wondering, the way Karen is pushing the relationshp, I wonder if she's going to be trying to force him into an engagement ring for Christmas? It wouldn't surprise ma and the way Jim here has no backbone, I'm afraid he's go along with it. God I hope not. Please know that THAT just might kill me!

Can't wait for the next chapter, at least I think I can't. I need to wash this one away. Gosh there has to be SOMETHING good coming SOON, right?

Great Writing and as always, thanks for the great and friendly responses to my reviews. Makes my day. Take care... T~

Author's Response:

Jim really messed up, didn’t he? Your anger towards him is very, VERY plausible. And I know this was (and has been) very painful to read. But hang in there, the sun will be coming out soon.

Even though Jim and Pam had this wonderful connection and he knew right away that she was the one, they had a really, REALLY bad break up. So bad of a break up that he feels he lost her forever…. So, in Jim’s mind he has no other option, but to move on. You are definitely right about them jumping into a “relationship” so soon after everything that happened. But Jim is just trying to fill the void. In my head I see it like this… You just built a jigsaw puzzle with 1,000 pieces. But there’s one missing. Even though you have 999 pieces together, it is not satisfying as if you had all 1,000. Jim has all the 999 pieces and he doesn’t feel complete. He almost needs to fill that empty space so he can feel whole and fulfilled. Does that make sense? Jim keeping his last name a secret from her, I see it as him trying to protect himself and her. If he used his real last name, don’t you think his dad would be knocking on his door the next day? The irony was that he did trying to protect them, but ended up harming them.

The thing about Karen here and that she knows who he is and Jim is not at all alarmed that might be pulling the same trick on him is because, in this fic, she also comes from a similar background as Jim. Her family is not as well off as the Halperts, but they do okay. Remember their fathers are friends, so Gerry does approve and perhaps, encourages Jim do date Karen (especially now since Pam returned to the picture).

Jim hesitated meeting Karen’s parents. But the reason why I had him agree to spend the Thanksgiving with them was because he refuses to acknowledge that Pam still has a hold on him. Him agreeing was as if saying, “Look, I’ve moved on, see? SEE???” That’s how I see it. And you are right, where’s the backbone in this kid?

Pam’s side of the story is much sadder. And I wanted to convey that longing that she felt. Because if you think about it, she was the one that left and she was the one to break things off (Yes, Jim made her do it because he is….an idiot) But I want her to slowly wish things were different. Every time that baby kicks and nudges her, I want her to remember him. I want her to slowly start to forgive him. I know this story is hitting home for you. And I’m sad to say it (even hesitant) that what will follow (according to what you’ve told me) with hit home… even harder. I apologize for it already! (I hope I’m not giving too much away) And I hope you keep reading this one too!

As usual, you were right about Jims’ dad and the whole investment thing. And Jim’s dad, Gerry, definitely know who Pam is. He knows exactly who she is and possibly whose baby she’s carrying. And of course you are also on point concerning the fact that Gerry will want to keep Jim away from Philly for as long as possible.

Don’t worry your reviews being sad or happy or long. I’ll take them however they are. So, I will not give this one up. I’ll see it to the end. -D

Another twist!  Jim's father resurfacing surprised me.  Looking forward to more.

Author's Response: Twists, twists, and more twists! Jim's father is just getting warmed up! Thanks for reading!