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So glad you picked up this story again. I like that Roy finally got a clue and is backing off. I can’t wait to read what happens with Jim, now that Pam’s free.

Author's Response: Thanks Merria. It was fun to get back into this one. Roy needed a wake up call and a good man-to-man talk. It should be a lot of fun from here on out with Jim and Pam. Glad you liked it.

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That was a fun chapter! I couldn't help but felt a little awkward at first, but that was fine (and I still believe that Izzy was evil! but, for Pam's sake, her teasing and observations were for the better).
"Looks like we're getting close," I bet! And I can't get rid of an impression that not only the dish was meant here...
And... okay, I both like and hate cliffhangers, and I'm anticipating so much to see that happens next. Thank you for writing!
Also, I might need some snacks right now. Reading about delicious food makes me so hungry...

Author's Response: You're not the only one who has said this chapter has made them hungry. In that regard, mission accomplished. Yeah it does feel like things are getting better with Jim and Pam. It's always fun to write them being cute together. As for the cliffhanger? Should be interesting to see it reslove, that's for sure. Thanks for the review.

Another great update. Starting from the end and working back up.

Roy are you really so daft? Guess so. It's am interesting approach here. I'm intrigued.

That was a fun twist on the expired yogurt line. A little prank on her. Well that seems to be just like him and sets the stage for their banter moving forward.

Always love how you manipulate the lines. Having izzy be the one to say look out world. But don't call her Pammy.

I am a big fan of Betsy here. She did a good job teaching him. And my stomach was rumbling the whole time I read the earliest part and not just because I didn't have a proper breakfast. meal sounded yummy. I might like to try it. Wish Jim could make it for me too.

All your descriptions enhanced the story so well. I could hear the click click of the gas oven and practically smell the garlic.

always love to read your stuff.

Author's Response:

Roy needs a chance to grow. He's getting that chance forced on him and he's not ready for it at least that's how I'm trying to write it. We'll see more from him going forward.

Really glad you caught on the twists of the canon lines. It's always fun to give them a shift for a new meaning.

Yeah Betsy was going to make sure her kids were ready to take care of themselves as best she could. I can send you the recipie if you'd like it.

Glad everything brought you into the story. Always fun to hear when writing connects with a ready. Always love to read your reviews. Thank you. 

This was such a delightful continuation of Cooking with Jim. I’m not sure if I would rather be Jim, Pam, or Isabel in this situation, all I know is that the scene was so fun to read.

I was *not* expecting that ending, and I actually gasped out loud when I read it. I’m excited for your next update!

Author's Response: Thank you. It was a lot of fun to write the cooking scene. Really glad you liked it. As for the end, did we really expect Roy to just give up like that? It should be a fun ride from here on out. Thanks so much for the support.

First off you are forgiven for the lapse -I get it. However I know feel a lot like I do when those 10 episode series come back after a year or more in that "wait, what happened at the end of last season" kind of way, that has me re-watching the whole series before I can dive in. But I enjoyed rereading Chapter 3.

I'm going to have find time to get into a old story and experience more of this wise Johnathan. He seemed to have good advice for Jim which I'm glad he seemed to take to heart. Just like in canon it seems Pam needs time between Roy and Jim to learn to love herself.

Isabel is a bit of a trip - forcing Jim to come make them dinner. Good choice to have it be a threesome (TWSS)not but really, Izzy is a good addition here.

So Jim is a man of many talents. I like Chef Halpert. And he is right about the the knives (even though my Shun and Henckles are probably about as dull as Pam's right now).

Ok so the knife scene with Jim and Pam kind of channeling Demi and Patrick was a really good vision until I pictured Meredith in The Fire episode. But seriously, that was a great bit. Who knew cutting a tomato could be so sensual.

Looking forward to the dinner.





Jim is a man of

Author's Response: Yeah, I need to do better about updating quicker. Things to work on, still thanks for still being here for this one. One of the best fics I've found with Brother Johnathan is "Distance Learning" by time4moxie. Be forewarned it's a long one, but REALLY good. There's a bunch of other great ones out there too. I'm having a lot of fun writing Izzy. The kind of no-nonsense friend Pam really needed. Glad you liked Chef Jim. Yeah there's a bit of similarity between this and Demi and Patrick, but it's also a fairly standard trope, but still fun. Thanks as always for your feedback. Glad you liked it.

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Okay, first of all. First Cuts? That is an *excellent* chapter title. Kudos on that.

The phone conversation between Jim and Isabel really made me laugh. There's something so uniquely scary and reassuring about trying to make a good impression on friends of the person you're interested in. But it seems to me that Jim shouldn't have much trouble with that. ;)

I loved reading about Jim showing off his kitchen skills! And anything that involves Jim teaching something is a fun read. You combined the two superbly.

Part of me wants to hope we get some dessert along with dinner in the next update, but we all know Jim will be as patient as ever until Pam is ready to move on. Thanks for such a fun chapter!

Author's Response: Thanks TPB. I had a lot of fun writing this one, even if it sat in limbo for a while on my hardrive. Glad you liked the conversation between Jim and Isabel. She's turning into a fun character to write. Kitchen skills are a lot of fun to write, especially with a lot of the knowledge I've gained doing a lot of cooking recently.

I completely forgot about any kind of dessert. I shall have to remedy that. Thanks again, glad you liked it.

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So... in my last review I mentioned Roy's pathetic attempt to please her with dinner as the thing that pushed her into taking a stand. It's clear now that the food fiasco probably only pushed her over the edge because she's seen over the fence.
I can see how Pam's conflict avoidance would play a big part in them still being together, in spite of him being a less than stellar boyfriend. And I like that Pam is realising this.
And it was great to meet Izzy; I really liked their conversation, and Izzy's insight into her friend's relationship and behaviour.
Many thanks!

Author's Response: I've often thought that maybe one of the reasons Pam stayed with Roy so long is she didn't really have a good sounding board for his foibles. It's usually read that Pam and Roy started living together fairly quickly so Pam wouldn't have really known any different. Being a naive high school can really only last so long and that's what we're starting to strip here.

Glad you liked Izzy. I find it a lot of fun to add in secondary characters like her to give a lot more outsider perspective.

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I've been following this for a bit and I like the concept! Pam has always been one who's had difficulties being assertive so I like how you're taking that and flipping it on its head; having it before the cameras arrive is interesting as well.

What I appreciate is that you didn't make Darryl and Lonny jackasses, since that could have easily been done given how they were written (Darryl less so, but he develops a lot as a character). As blunt and unfiltered as they are, they're right: Pam's a catch, and them seeing Jim hanging out with her proves that Roy should stop screwin' around, get off his ass, and prove his worth before she runs off with Jim.

I can relate to Roy on a tangental level in that I'm a simple guy who's content with being at home and eating TV dinners (then again I've been single all my life). But putting in some effort once in a while in a relationship is a given, and Roy's attempts to show Pam his love are severely lacking, especially with the proposal. It's as if putting in any type of effort is strenuous, when it really isn't. While Pam's complaints could come off as nagging to some, it's actually her pointing out not his flaws, necessarily, but his insecurities: he resists trying because he feels as if he doesn't need to (calling it gay for good measure), he feels threatened by Pam interacting with another male, and lastly he acts just like he did in high school. Her pulling out his old nickname (*brutal*, by the way) proves there's a refusal to move forward; if he can't move on from his 'glory days', neither can their relationship. That's where the cracks form and that's what she refuses to tolerate any longer.

Despite its title, I appreciate the fact that Jim hasn't had a major role yet. This seems like Pam's story so far, her accepting that she wants more out of life in general, not just Roy. Though Izzy eggs it on, Pam doesn't believe her interest in Jim is romantic yet. I mean, of course, it is, but what shakes her is that she's had Roy for so long that she always assumed he's what a romantic partner is like, which is immediately challenged when Jim walks in with his Halpert charm and takes her breath away. Their genuine connection is a strong foundation of their relationship and it's apparent in these chapters. An added bonus is, with Pam's sudden burst of confidence, she won't have a need to hide how she feels, and he wouldn't have to either. Steamrolls over all the angst.

Also, I initially thought that the manager would be another figure from her past but nope. 'Nother Halpert. Turns out that charm I mentioned is hereditary. Wonder how he'll play all this. A friends-and-family discount for JAM's first real date is my current working theory.

Finally, the dress? Blink-and-you'll-miss-it Casino Night nod? Nice touch.

Can't wait to see where this goes!

Author's Response:

Ok first off, wow, epic review 3V. Thank you. Yup you're picking up on just about everything I'm going for with all this. Roy is stuck in the past, can't move on, and feels threatened by any percived threat to his masculinity. Thus he lashes out. Pam does want to grow and experience new things. I once heard a concept that sometimes when one changes the course of their life even by 1 degree, eventually down the road, they'll be in a place they never thought they'd find themselves. This is a bit more than 1 degree for Pam, but the concept still fits. Make even a small change, like not put up with Roy, and the difference could be big.

I do like writing fiesty assertive Pam. She proves with Jim she's quick witted and smart. Thus can recall the old nicknames and the like. 

Also glad you like how I've been writing Jim so far. This has been primarity about Pam and Roy, but we'll start to hear more from Jim going forward. Maybe Halpert charm skips a sibling or two. Tom and Pete in canon don't often come across as charming to me. But a fanon character who is often seen as the wise older brother kind fo guy, yeah, we'll go all in on charm with him. And don't worry I've got some good plans for Johnathan. 

Well done on picking up on some of the quicker details, like the dress and everything. Thanks for such a great review. I'm glad you've liked everything so far. 

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Well, you have written a delightfully hatable Roy here. He’s just totally unable to pick up on the clear signals Pam is sending that she’s fed up and so obviously aggravated at having to do even the minimal work to check the boxes she’s laid out for him – this is a portrait of a guy who has no idea how much his relationship is on thin ice in spite of all the big WARNING: THIN ICE signs around him. And he keeps revealing more and more about himself and the way he views the relationship, none of it flattering.

I particularly appreciated you throwing in the little moment of him not noticing she’s not with him at the bar – their last date has a lot of echoes of their first. You’ve done a good job of illustrating your point that Roy just hasn’t changed that much from the guy who once left her behind at a hockey game. (Bringing back Candace Keegan was a nice touch, too, and a fun show of Pam’s spirit.)

His quickness to default to physical intimidation, and especially that moment of grabbing the phone out of her hands when she’s trying to arrange to leave, makes me very happy that Pam is getting as far away from this guy as possible. This is very much the guy from the parking lot fight after the Dundies.

And you’ve laid out a clear contrast with Jim’s genuine interest, concern, willingness to drop everything and come get her and immediately noticing when he accidentally brushes her off couldn’t be sharper. Just like in the earlier chapters, the problem here is that Roy is a disaster of a significant other, but Jim’s actions put him in perspective and maybe give her something of a basis for comparison – which Roy explicitly ends up playing into.

Not going to lie, I was mildly worried for a second at the appearance of the handsome manager, although I appreciate you mentioning that Pam found him familiar – great to have a Jonathan sighting!

Author's Response: I love your in depth reviews. You always seem to pick out pretty much everything I'm going for. Especially with Roy here. Yup, he just can't really see the writing on the wall. Mainly because he's not really in the relationship to see what he can do for her, but rather what she can do for him along with not appearing weak in front of his buddies. And yes the contrast between Roy and Jim is very intentional. Jim is there for her regardless of anything. We'll look into that some more too.

Always fun to bring in Johnathan. I'm really glad eveyone's taken a shine to him.

Wow, Johnathan! What a throwback to the old days.

I like that Pam is so assertive and willing to stand up for herself. That’s not an easy thing for a woman in a relationship with somebody like Roy to do. Roy here feels a lot different from how we saw him in the show in terms of his aggressiveness and his lack of attention to hygiene details like bandaids and showers. I wonder if Pam will offer any rationalization as to why he stayed with him so long. He had his moments of sweetness and being loving in the show, certainly, but doesn’t seem to have those here.

Also, any Olive Garden with a server that pulls double duty as a sommelier is way fancier than any Olive Garden I’ve been to! They train their waitstaff well in Scranton!

Author's Response: Thanks BT. Lovely to hear from you! Cousin Johnathan is a fun way to bring in a character that was a lot of fun in those old stories. Assertive Pam is one of the best Pam's and it's a treat to bring her out. I get what you're saying about Roy. However a lot of times in the show when Pam got assertive he wouldn't really be at his best either. The fight in the parking lot of Chili's, the brief clip of Pam and Roy arguing about the internship, and of course the final break up scene at Poor Richards. It's those moments I'm basing this on. So since Roy and Pam are clearly at odds, details might slip, such as the band-aid. I know I've forgotten things when I've been stressed, so that was me trying to add in some realism.

Glad you liked the bits with the wine. It's fun to add in some finer things like that.

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Olive Garden. Yes, 100%, that is what Roy considers a fancy restaurant.

I appreciated all the details of their outfits, that was a nice touch. I also thought you nailed the conversation about why Roy thinks Jim would care about Pam’s drawing. That is very telling of the whole situation between the three of them. Definitely feels like something that would have happened on the show.

Oh the return of non-canon Johnathan Halpert! Great touch, that really took me back to reading the early stories on this site. Loved the chapter, as per usual.

Author's Response:

Glad you liked all of this TPB. Glad you liked everything with Roy's motivations. He really hasn't grown past high school jock, thus his views on everything. 

Johnathan should be a ton of fun to bring into this story. He's usually a great character and casting him as a cousin is often my way of paying homage to all those early brother Johnathan stores that are so great. Thanks for the review. 

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I always enjoy a good Isabel-as-the-voice-of-reason story - and this does a particularly good job illustrating how Pam could have benefited from having that perspective on her life during this time period. I love the use of the coin flip exercise - and the way Isabel ends up making her apply it to Jim, too.

This is a different sort of backstory for the beginning of Roy and Pam's relationship, too. Normally she's portrayed as this sort of Cinderella figure shocked that the King of Valley View High has noticed her... in some ways this feels more realistic to what we know of their relationship, that there were some distinct pros to it that didn't have to do with the relationship itself. Explains a little better why she would've gone out with him again after the the hockey game debacle.

And I think you've used Jim well so far. At this point, Jim is sort of this flashy new thing in her life, and Roy is an established institution. Jim might be the spark behind all this, but it makes a lot of sense that he's sort of a side character amidst the REAL major change in her life - dispensing with Roy.

Can't wait to read the next chapter!

Author's Response: Thanks for this very in depth review. Yup, you got basically everything I was going for in this chapter. Pam having more of a sounding board for Roy's foibles. A better grasp on their entire relationship. And the spark of something new and some perspective on that newness too. I'd love to talk more about everything, but it'll all come out as we move forwards. Thanks again for the great review.

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Someone's been listening to Office Ladies.

Great use of the coin toss  -I really do like her method and seeing how it works in here was a great demonstration. But go back and check the line - seems there may be a typo to fix (exercised). 

Of course, Izzy sees what she doesn't quite know yet - sometimes the best mirror is a best friend. That Pam is drawing more with Jim's appearance is one of those details that really speak to what he brings out in her unlike Roy who it seems she is with out of habit and comfort and sticking with the status quo. Sometimes, a little shake-up is what is needed to bring the bubbles to the surface but sometimes the shake-up can result in a explosion. 

True that - change is often short-lived. Double true- break-ups always suck. And sometimes when the reason to stay together doesn't exist any more, what's left? Memories aren't a reason to stay together.

Love the prank (I'm a sucker for good pranks and I know how hard they are to come up with) and I love this for way it gives Jim an excuse to get in touch and give her a gift that would be meaningful to her.

A great chapter - but what else would I expect from you.