Jim and Pam have forgotten how to breathe. 
9 Amazing how you did this w/o dialogue. I love the line about twin pillars of hope and fear and love.
Author's Response: Thanks! That was my favorite line.
Jim and Pam, in the rain, in a confined space.9 Awww...I love that. You kept with the show's continuity but made such a sweet JAM moment. I think their voices were very in character. Good job!
Author's Response: Thanks, support_the_rabid -- I appreciate all of that! :)
10 You're so good at this it's sick. I'm supposed to be sleeping and, instead, I'm on an unfold binge. Damn you.
Jim sees a therapist. Starts in the midst of season two. 10 The bit about the chocolate and peppermints just cracked me up. Too much funniness.
You know, you do conversations really well. And I'm just realizing that you don't always do conversations. And this whole thing is a one-sided conversation. And its better than most dialogues I read.
Therapists suck. Well, mine did so I quit going.
10 Now compare this to Jim's confession/consolation to Dwight in the stairwell in 4.04. It COMPLETELY fits. You nailed it. He was miserable. Freaking phenomenal. Are you sure you don't write for the show?
Jim's thoughts...pre-Casino Night.
10 That has got to be spot on with Jim's mindset before Casino Night. I like the depth you have added to their story with the little vignettes that we would never have known about. Jim spotting Pam changing in the bathroom adds a hint of sexuality to their story that is subtle but believable. Great fic!
Author's Response: Glad these little moments rang true for you, support_the_rabid. There's just something about pre-CN Jim's mindset that's so relatable - and makes what's happening now that much more satisfying. Thanks much for reading and reviewing!
They say there are 5 stages of grief - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. You'll see Pam go through them - with some future fluff every other chapter to keep you from pulling your hair out. There will be 10 chapters in all. :)
8 Great story! I agree with you - I like the tone of the 'Before' better. I think it's b/c you have to figure out what Pam is thinking as she goes thru this change which is really exciting for all of us b/c all we ever wanted was to see Pam grow and realize how much she loved Jim. And your story did that well. As with the show, I don't think Karen's presence was necessary and, obviously, another woman wasn't needed in your story. It is better that Pam just figured it out, albeit after Jim was gone. Anyhow, great job with this and thanks for posting!
Author's Response: This was a fun one - not in content - but in trying to weave the differences in time together. I am so with you about Karen. I know others really enjoyed her character - but I think she was once compelling and became a mere obstacle in the end. Though truth be told - the real obstacle Jim had to face was first Pam - then himself. Anyway - so glad you liked it!!
10 This whole series is crazy good. I would love to see more of S3...you are really an amazing writer!
Inspired by a certain deleted scene from the Client. 10 That was the best first date story I've ever read. Better than those post The Job when Pam and Jim are really together. Cause you got Jim's feelings so right. Too bad the show's writers had to go and mess up the continuity on who came to work at DM first!
Oh, and I love the last line!
Stamford!Jim angst. Post Gay Witch Hunt. 'But eventually, I get used to the color of my walls and the street signs and how there’s nothing in this city that reminds me of you.'
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
10 I like how everyone calls to tell Jim they miss him...except Pam. And the details you have here - the nail polish from before Roy?! Wow! That was awesome!
This picks up pre-merger and is spoiler free, a bit AU as well. I began this back in October (maybe even September), and obviously the show has deviated quite a bit from what I speculated here.
This begins with angst, but there is a great deal of fluff, steam, smut, and silly...for several, several chapters. My idea was to go beyond the happy ending, so to speak.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.10 OK, I had to log in just so I could review this chapter. This part right here:
...when she took a piece of him away every single day. Back when he’d willingly given her all those pieces, so sure that one day, she’d realize what they were worth – what he was worth – and she’d just love him.
...was some serious girl7 magic. I mean I was hurting reading it and I KNOW everything is going to work out in the end.
In fact, the whole over the counter exchange was brilliant and I am hooked! Only 30-something more chapters to go. Thanks a lot! ;-) Just kidding!
10 For some reason that one had me laughing out loud even though the subject wasn't so funny...basically Jonathan knows how to get Jim riled up. You're even brilliant with sibling exchanges!
"Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations." Faith Baldwin
A story inspired by Ms. Fischer herself and her recently publicized version of Pam's backstory that explains what the hell is going on in her mind now that she's made that poor heartbroken boy move away.
9 Love it, love it, love it. Especially like how you've gone thru the weekdays and had Pam making changes to her lifestyle each day. Her Tuesdays almost make me wish I were single again (not quite!). Fridays sound great, too. Bold but still timid...you captured that perfectly.
In the first sentence there is a 'like' thrown in that I don't think is supposed to be there.
Awesome fic!
Author's Response:
Thank you so much! LOL! I am single and I gotta tell you that her Tuesday isn't much fun truth be told. I think it's all about perspective. :)
As for the 1st sentence - it does look awkward now that I look at it - but I intended the "like" to be there. Explanation in parenthesis - On Monday nights she goes grocery shopping, because it's pretty quiet and there's little chance of running into Roy's mom like (she would) on Saturdays.
I bought a new suit and cancelled a plane ticket.9 And that was very sad and luckily an AU for sure! Thanks for posting!
9 The index cards was my favorite part, particularly the pause written in.
9 I love how you broke the scenes out into types. I was thinking of TO scenes that fit each category as I read. Fantastic as usual!
This is for kath and Code Name Remax, both of whom wanted a fic in which Michael spilled the beans he has so miraculously been holding thus far....
Begins the night of the Christmas party (or rather, the two Christmas parties...)
10 I like the way you ended this. And I like how Pam says, " I can."
Toby's admonition to Pam was perfect, too. Someone needed to say that to her!
The end of another great girl7 story!
Author's Response: Yeah, this was before they turned Toby into a passive aggressive semi-stalker, lol. (I love Toby, but ehh...not liking some of his behavior this season.) I'm really glad you enjoyed this, and again, I so appreciate your taking the time to review all the chapters! :O)
10 "Michael"
Jinx.
They just left the room so Jim could buy Pam a Coke, right?
p.s. For the horror that the scene is, I think you did a great job with it. I knew what was coming and I grimaced while reading Michael's comments!
Author's Response: I'm glad you enjoyed that scene -- it was the catalyst for the entire fic, actually. A few people on some message boards were saying they wanted someone to write a fic wherein Michael just blurted it all out, so I did. :o) Thanks again for reviewing!
9 Surely he is worth it, Karen...He'll come around if you just keep waiting and making him stay up all night talking. Yeah, that'll do it.
Author's Response:
You're cracking me up! I was a real fan of Karen before BF -- that's where the writers really lost me, because I could not abide the thought of a woman who would stay with a guy who admitted he still had feelings for someone else...especially if she nagged and made him talk all five nights. Blech. ;o)
Thanks for reviewing!
9 Ahhh, the teapot...
I meant to say that you even write slurred speech well in the last chapter but my finger slipped (oops) and I hit 'next' instead :)
Author's Response:
Hee - glad you like the slurred speech! I'm always torn when writing a drunken scene (which sounds odd, I realize, lol) as to whether or not to try to write in the slurred language or not. Very strange. :o)
Thanks for reviewing!
No receding into the background! Wear the red sweater again, Pam!
Oh boy. It's late.
Love the way the story is moving. And quickly, too (which is good cause, like I said, it's late!)
Author's Response:
Heh - I had to go back and re-read the story again to figure out what you were talking about! (Re-reading old stuff is weird sometimes, especially when I completely forget having written a given scene, hee. Senility is striking early, I'm afraid....)
So glad you're enjoying the story -- and yeah, it's a rarity for me in that the chapters are fairly short. :O) Thanks for reviewing!
Yeah...maybe Pam can tell you something useful, Karen...
Author's Response: Was that mean? [/Pam] I couldn't resist alluding to the irony there, because I wrote this back before Karen found out about Jim & Pam's history (I think....) Thanks for reviewing!
10 Um, this part:
But the regret that cut most deeply? Looking Jim in the eye when he was being so brave, so fucking honest - his stubborn insistence ("I want to be more than that") and tears included - and telling him she couldn't while her heart screamed that not only she could, but she should....
is brilliant. Damn you do angst well.
Author's Response: Oh wow -- thank you. :o) My beta tells me I'm obsessed with the CN confession scene, and she's so right. :o) I've written about it a hundred different times; it just never loses its power for me, no matter how many times I watch it.
Say it out loud, Pam!
Author's Response: I know, right? YELL it, Pam! :O)
Fluffy random morning after Jim/Pam type stuff.9 Aaannnddd another great story from unfold. Love the conversation at the end. That one really happened, I am pretty sure. I am so obsessed with this show that I think of it as reality now!