Another fantastic chapter in an excellent story.  I love the flashbacks; they feel so real and easy to imagine as part of Jam history.  The argument - wow!  I kept finding myself agreeing with both of their points of view.  I always love reading about how they might've worked through their issues, since we probably won't get much of this on the show.  I love this:

So it had come to this, a sort of low-brow compromise with herself. A middle-road option that pacified her slightly, but yet left open the ability to acknowledge her own failure. If it wasn’t symbolic of her entire life, and her attempts with Jim lately, she didn’t know what else could be.

Great chapter and story.  I remember reading it in the fall and am so glad you updated!  You've focused on Pam's emotions in such detail which makes it seem like we're right there with her.  Can't wait for more.   

Author's Response: OMG how did I miss your review? Thanks so much for the kind words. I'm hoping to update more often than every 4 months. :) Actually there should be another chapter any minute now.

This is so well-written - I love your alternating viewpoints between the magic of the past and the current distance between them.  It seems very realistic that they could go down a path like this, as sad as it would be.  Hopefully they will work through their past hurt in "real life" (on the show).  Your ending is lovely with both of them realizing they can work through it together.

What a brilliant ending to this story.  I've enjoyed it all thoroughly!  You've delved so well into their heads.  I really enjoyed the dichotomy in this chapter, especially from Pam's point of view.  You described her conflicting emotions so well, like this: 

She gives him the time that he couldn’t bear to give her.

Even so, she hates him for taking it.

Please keep writing more Jam fics - you're great at it.

Yet suddenly, she was met with the startling realization that she cared more about the fact that she had quite possibly ruined her friendship with Jim, than the idea that she had ruined her ten year relationship with Roy.

I love this, and the way you've so clearly described Pam as she realizes her own true feelings for Jim.  I like the angst; it shows the depth of their emotions.  Looking forward to the next chapter!

I'm really enjoying this so far!  It's very believable; I can picture all of this happening on the show.  I can't wait to see where the Roy thing goes. 

Excellent!  I can't wait to see how they react to each other after 5 years.  Looking forward to the second part.

Author's Response: Me too! :)

I LOVE this entire story!  I've been meaning to review each chapter but am finally getting to it.  Your writing style is so fun to read and so realistic.  This chapter is great; such hopefulness mixed with anxiety while getting their feelings out.  Please keep writing - especially more date fics would be great.

Fantastic story and so well-written.  I love how you keep their dialogue straightforward and not overly wordy - this is how they seem to communicate on the show but it's hard to capture in fic.  There can never be too many first date stories and this is by far one of the best!  Holding each other at the beginning, Jim reluctantly talking about Karen, and then being so willing to stay at the end...it feels very realistic.  Keep up your great work.

Author's Response: Thanks! I added that bit about holding each other just recently and wasn\'t sure how real it felt, so I\'m glad to know it came across as I intended. :)

I have so enjoyed each of these chapters.  I love the angst and glimpse into their thoughts at different points. The poems/parts of poems are so appropriate.  Are you using poems from one Dorothy Parker book or several?  I'd love to know your recommendations!