Ivy, so many cute details!  Everybody is perfectly in character.  And I love that the Halperts escape and no one even notices!

My favorite line was  “Is the party over yet?” He whispers through laughs. “When do I get to take my girls home?” Ah, so Jim!

Thanks for adding to the birthday funtivities!

Just re-read this and I have to say again how beautiful it is.  Such a lovely sentiment and it's so lovely the way Karen shares with Pam and Pam shares with Erin.

Ah, wendolf! I was so, SO happy when you replied that you'd participate in our birthday surprise for NanReg. I've missed your stories here. You have such great control of language. Like this little gem:

She thought of him again as she stopped by the refrigerated coolers to pick up a cheap bottle of white wine and saw cans of grape soda lined up neatly, taunting her like a row of little bullies on the playground.

Great pacing. Just enough hesitation to let us worry with Pam. Jim's anger was palpable. Pam's initial reticence and fear, giving way to the freight train force of her deciding not to be afraid anymore. All very believable and well written.

Thanks so much for joining in on the party!

Author's Response: Thanks for including me, VB! It was truly an inspired idea, and Nancy definitely deserves it for all the support she constantly gives us. I'm glad you enjoyed this one -- I've always loved the idea of Pam letting go of her fear and second guessing and just ACTING. I suffer from fear-induced inaction myself, so ... this was cathartic for me to write. Again, thanks!!!

So, I watched The Hangover this weekend for the first time and the way the guys spend the day discovering what happened on their Las Vegas bender the night before made me think of this story.  What a fun re-read today!  ... And it still makes me smile that both of our stories had a little Groundhog Day hook to them.

I haven't been around here much lately.  I hope all is well with you!

This was awfully sweet!  I could just see young Jim trying to do something nice for Pam and being totally oblivious to how it could be perceived.

Author's Response:

VB, when it comes to Pam...let's face it...the tall guy just can't help himself.  Those syren powers of Pam Beesly...are just way too strong.

p.s.  Just a big thanks for putting all this together for Nan...seems to have been a huge surprise and an obvious success.  So, thanks for asking me to participate.  It's been such fun and I'm having a great time reading all these wonderful stories.

This was wonderful! A new fic and a stroll down memory lane all in one! I think I'm gonna have to sit down and re-read some good old fics!

I'm so glad you decided to participate!

Wow!  I missed this on my passes through the birthday stories.  This is perfectly delightful, JHalpert!  I think you have done just a splendid job of capturing Jim's romantic and sentimental streak.  It's a really sweet picture of life in the Halpert family.  I love it!

Thanks for adding to the birthday fun!

Yep. Ms. hands speaks the truth! Her story was ready before May 1st!

So, here I was doing my little beta run through (HARDLY any comments ... and NONE that recommended any changes to the smut factor ... because, really, who does that better than JAMhands?) when in walks Mr. Blood.

Mr. Blood: What are you doing?
VB: Oh, just a beta run-through.
Mr. Blood: What is it?
VB: Pure smut. (Having not been initiated to the new term, SWAP.)
Mr. Blood: ?
VB: Wanna see?
Mr. Blood: Leans forward to read. Blushes. Shakes head and leaves without a word.
VB: :-)

Author's Response: Woooot! I made Mr. Blood blush! I hope you made that up to him for me. ;)

Um ... now that you've wiped a bit o' the rust off your fanfic skillz ... maybe we can hope for a new chapter of On London Time?  Please??

Author's Response: I intend to finish it. Honest. Sorry - I didn't really give you an answer there, did I? I guess I don't want to write another chapter and then stall again. People will rightfully lose all patience with me if this happen. But know that when I do get around to it, you'll be the first to know, VB. :)

I LOVE this nomadshan! I was SO hoping you'd do a period piece when you signed on to the birthday project! I'm glad you didn't use Dwight, Angela etc. for the ancillary characters. In this piece that would have felt forced somehow.

It's lovely and I think your phrasing is just reserved enough to sound appropriate for the period. So many wonderful turns of phrase. I think this was my favorite:

Faced with an impatient cabby, a crying drunk girl, and an abrupt end to the evening, Pam felt words jumble in her throat. Nice to meet you fought for space with I wish we could talk more and have a good life. She swallowed come back alive and settled for goodnight.

Author's Response: Glad you liked it, VB -- thanks again for organizing everything! (I felt the same about having other Office characters in there.)

This is SO cool! I just love all the variants of Pam & Jim's love story that you have created. They are all so intriguing. I especially love the last one, of course. It leaves me wondering if this is a bittersweet story, where Pam and Jim will meet AGAIN as future in-laws ... or will they meet for the first time when their children introduce them? Wonderfully ambiguous.

Very nice! I like how it's not necessarily EASY but that all three are able to be kind to each other.

Everyone's voting for a Roy loose end. I'd go for that but ... for a BIGGER challenge ... I'd propose Michael and Holly or Michael and Jan! If you could pull one of THOSE off realistically, I would be MOST IMPRESSED!!

Nice chapter! I like getting a glimpse of the Halpert family's life beyond the one father-daughter relationship.

And, yes, it does catch your attention when the child stops saying Mommy and Daddy. It's a little bittersweet.

I haven't a clue about Ms. Melendy. I'll be interested to see who guesses correctly.