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oh my GOD that was intense!

(also i need to know which characters Jim and Pam play Mario Kart with)

Author's Response: Pam is always Toad. Jim, despite constant teasing from his brothers, plays with Peach. (Thank you so much for reading this story! I'm glad you enjoyed it!!)

I've been keeping up with Begged and Borrowed and enjoying every chapter. This one was a great mix of everything that made them such great friends and the angst that their forbidden feelings brought about.

I just loved the babysitting of Vanessa and them drawing together. Once again we were onto the same thing,

Well I thought stumbling onto his collection was going to be a good thing but alas she's not this girl...oh no...but makes for a good story...looking forward the the next chapter.

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Oh, honey. OF COURSE he stayed.

A lot going on in this chapter! I love the opening and how her instinctive reaction to him being there is to be a little domestic, and the way the image of him in her and Roy's space has such obvious connotations that Pam is kind of forced to respond to it.

Mark recognizing the name and mocking Jim was on point. Poor Jim.

One of the things I appreciate about them as a couple is the way they can kind of be all things together - this chapter got into that. They get to act a little childish together, and like standard unattached twenty-somethings, and like actual grown-ups, and enjoy all facets of each other's personalities.

I loved "Practice and humility" and the description of Vanessa. 

Pam finding the contents of the teapot early was a great twist, and obviously that reads very differently note or note if it's outside of the context of Secret Santa. Also a great parallel with him finding the painting.

Their brief moment was great, but obviously it's two steps forward maybe 1.75 steps back with them. Sigh.

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Kinda figured it would all come to a head sooner or later. Before we get into the end, let's all just enjoy the start and middle of this chapter for a bit more shall we? Okay, let's do that.

Pam waking up to Jim on her couch was a great way to start things off. Those feelings she's been having are really starting to pick up. Wanting to curl up with him on the couch and everything.

Then when they get back to Jim's place. Kinda liked the bro humor there between Jim and Mark. And that Pam catches it. Fun cooking scene too. Talking trash and flirting with Mario Kart was a ton of fun. Somehow I doubt Pam's had that kind of fun in a long time. I think she needs it too.

Vanessa was wonderfully adorable. The Tazmanian Devil and Energizer bunny line make me laugh. I know that feeling all to well. The metaphor of the window and her getting hung up on the sill by her ring felt very true.

Then it's the Teapot Gifts that make things really boil over once Vanessa's gone. I mean, why wouldn't they. It really makes a ton of sense. She clearly has more than frienship feelings for him. Her painting, wanting to spend the day with him instead of calling Roy, admiring just about everything that is Jim. It's all there. Thhe make out session though proved to be just to hot to handle for her, right now though. I get it. She was upset to the point of getting drunk because Roy did basically the same thing. Now here she is in the same, and actually worse position becasuse they were toying around with second base there. Makes a ton of sense that she's freak out and leave. And not want to talk to Jim.

However the feelings are out now. So really looking forward to seeing where we go from here.