What if Jim never went to Stamford? What if Pam started making life changes a little sooner?
An AU look at season 3.
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This isn't one I've read before, but thank you so much for finishing it, because maybe I'd never have come across it otherwise? I really enjoyed it. The angst at the beginning is a killer :( I love that you had Pam spend some time on her own after leaving Roy (and that she told Jim she needed that time) - so true in the show too - if only Jim had known then too! The proposal sounds just lovely, regardless of the audience! ;)
Author's Response: Thanks Katie! Yeah, before updating it had been buried pretty deep by the sands of time. :) I'm glad it felt right to you - for me, the story was about Pam changing not just her relationship, but her whole life. Thanks for reading!
It's about time I came out and declared my love for this story. I lost most of a day to it recently, and it was totally worth it! (I did at the time write down some quotes I loved from the earlier chapters but I figure it'd be an insanely long review so I'll keep it short ;) Love the latest update, I'm glad Karen is finally out of the picture, but I definitely can't help but feel bad for her, I'm glad she made him realise what a jerk he'd been. Anyway, awesome update, awesome story :)
Author's Response: Wow, your first review! Thanks and welcome to the official user community! I'm glad you are enjoying the story.
She is his faith, his hope, and his love.
Excellent - Thank you :) This has made me even more excited if that's possible - I've got a huge grin on my face now!
Author's Response: I'm so pleased to make you smile! Thank you.
I'm loving this story :) Her tears when it hits her (yet again I'm sure) just how much he noticed and how long he waited for her - perfect. (I often think that these two must want to weep for all that time they lost back then... but I'm sure they do not dwell too often :))
Author's Response: I'm sure that moments like these are especially poignant for Pam...when everything is SO perfect. But I bet they've moved on from regrets seeing as their future is just so great!
The more nuggets the better :) Or any Jam you throw our way ;)
Author's Response: Thank you KatieJ! You got it!
This entire story was amazing Lovefool, and this ending is perfect, captures them looking forward to their life together. :)
Aww, this is really cute :) I've been hoping someone would write about this!
One nitpicky issue: Even if your car is in gear, if you have the clutch down when you turn the ignition (As it reads that Jim did to me), the car won't stall? (If you do not have the clutch down you will.)
...and now you'll have to excuse me whilst I go watch that scene in Niagara for the millionth time...
Author's Response: I'm glad you liked it. Yeah, the way I wrote about the the car stalling seemed a bit obscure. So, I changed it! The way it reads now it that Jim didn't have the clutch pushed all the way. I hope it makes more sense now. And I can't tell you how many times I've watched the scenes from Nigra, specially the tie cutting scence. AMAZING! Thanks for reading.
Awww :) Very sweet! Crap it is not!
Author's Response: thanks so much for taking time to review! tis always nice to hear that something isn't crap, and i was quite worried about this! so thanks so much! :D
Ooh, I really liked this. I thought the analogy with the fallen asleep foot was especially good.
Author's Response: Thanks =]
Ooh, nice work! - I enjoy a fic that makes you hurt ;) Jim hoping/praying that she would twist her ring right off especially got to me :( Luckily, Pam had already come to her senses!
Ooh, this has me very intrigued. Looking forward to more :) (and finding out what's happened with Pam over the last 12 years too!)
Author's Response: Thanks Katie! Glad you're liking it. Of course we'll soon here what Pam's been up to!
Oh, I was so excited to see an update on this fic this morning! Totally understand the busyness though, and so glad you found the time to update. :) I fear things could get difficult if he doesn't explain to Claire why he's suddenly so drawn to philly... although things could get difficult either way. Intrigued to know what he'll say about Sarah, (and Pam) to her. I'm in no doubt over the answer to Claire's question, but I think it might be hard to make her understand how he feels about Pam without tainting how she views her parent's relationship (whenever that may be addressed). Looking forward to more :)
Author's Response: Katie, you hit the nail right on the head with this reviews. I'm playing on that and that's what makes the fic so much fun for me. Dealing with a parent whose lost their spouse, but has found someone else is so difficult for a child, and that's why I'm being very careful with what Jim says to Claire. :) Thanks so much for the review!
10 Thrilled to see an update on this one (so it's high time I reviewed!) :) Love the tension you've got going, and I'm getting increasingly concerned about Jim! I couldn't decide at first if he was just so sick that he actually didn't care if Pam was there (didn't have the energy to cope with seeing her right now - acting as reserved as he did in S3 must take the boy some effort) or if he was feigning nonchalance (as usual) - I think the way he kept hold of her hand is a good indication ;) Can't wait for more!
Wh...Wh...What?! Sorry, think you may have just broken my brain, and I'm not sure a coherent review is possible. Really was not expecting that. She can't still be with him though can she? I mean, her reason for being hesitant was Karen?! *tries to reassure self* As if I wasn't hooked to this fic enough already. ;)
Oh Pam, take the boy to see the doctor!
Awww :) That was such a sweet story, with great characterisation - the Candy exchange amused me and I can just hear them saying it :)
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm so glad you felt the characterisation worked because it's been a while since I wrote these two so I was a bit nervous of getting back into things :)
Hehe, nice insight into the cookie metaphor :) I don't think you need worry about them being out of character at all - I could hear their voices in my head through the dialouge :) and they definately do have human emotions underneath ;) I'm even sort of craving these too a bit lately what with the happenings on the show - I hadn't realised quite how much I actually kind of want them to be together. lol.
Author's Response: Thanks you for reviewing! I glad you thought they were in character, I was afraid that someone might think Angela admiring Dwight, or Dwight apologizing to Angela might seem out of place. But I really do think they bring out the best in each other. Now that JAM seems like they'll be happy for a while, I hope the writers will remember poor Dwangala.
Had to follow up the "Money" call-back in "Secretary's Day," obviously. And don't think that "six weeks" comment in the deleted scene got by this girl!10 Oh my. This? was just emotionally magnificent. I don't know what I was expecting in this second part, (because the signs were there) but I was not expecting that. Pam's insecurities about how Jim would feel about sex now, and how that affected how she felt, were just... perfect? can the word perfect be used in that context? The way Jim reassured her? That whole conversation was just, beautiful, and so bittersweet.
Oh, and: "And instead, we got excited about her and you're the only person in the entire world that I've ever done that with, so..."
Guh - Jim.
And then they have sex, and it is satisfying, and then they're all together as a family, and their baby is smiling at them and it was wonderful, because they're just this amazing little family, and she's somehow like this epitome of all this love they share, and, I'm gushing...
But, also? "Those legs belong in a desert" - LOL.
I really don't want to take anything away from the awesomeness but there is a point, in their beautiful conversation, where I'm hoping Jim should be scratching his 'chin' and not his 'china' because well, that's... distracting.
Awesome.
Great accompaniment to the episode - You seem to get inside Pam's mind so well! Looking forward to the 2nd part!
Author's Response: Thank you!
9 This is just adorable :) and funny. and, oh Jim. He really is just always there to save her in S2 isn't he?
Author's Response: Thanks! Yes, he really is.
19 Jim gives Pam some wonderful birthday gifts that get her thinking... (Set about a week after Drug Testing.)
Forgot the disclaimer ... Don't own anything, not even any of the baubles mentioned in the story.
I'm not quite sure I can put into words quite how awesome I found this fic. Ugh, the angst... I swear I felt like a part of me was dying with Jim during some of these passages. When Maggie was telling Pam about Jim buying the cheesecake and how great Roy must be for her to be passing up on him, I actually started to tear up - frustrated with Pam, feeling so bad for Jim. Everything he does for her, and always with no reward.
There are so many perfect details - from the fact he picked her favourite painting and knows her favourite movie without asking her, to him mentally undressing her when she turns up looking so nice, to the story with the fisherman knit sweater and Pam making it because she loves him, and yet still not realising she loves him (I think something totally in character for her. Not only that but then not even wanting to give him it because he might get the wrong impression, seems to imply that perhaps subconsciously she knew exactly what it meant.)
Must read again once I have worked my way through the rest of this fanfic you've so wonderfully arranged for Nancy. :)
Author's Response: Hi, Katie J! Thanks for taking the time to leave such a detailed review! I'm really glad to see you enjoyed the story. I'll be looking forward to seeing YOUR take on Jim's gift-giving dilemma!
10 Ahh, what a perfect combination of angst and steam. I love that they don't let all that fear and hurt/disappointment get in the way of what they really want, and even though Jim checks that she won't regret this, he doesn't need all of the explaination right away, knowing that she won't is enough - for now :)
Some great lines, but this stood out for me: His eyebrows went up and he looked almost hopeful. Or maybe that was just her own hope reflecting back.
I really didn't mean for it to end up this long... But I sat down to write it out and it just all happened so fast! NanReg, I know you love your first date fics, so... Happy birthday, lady. :)9 This is lovely :) Poor Jim - forgetting the one thing he's been waiting years for. The story was just a great combination of sweet, awkward, and funny. Drunk Jim and Pam sounded very cute, and I kind of loved Jim's drunken declaration of love, when he was planning on taking things slow! hehe.
Hehe. Aww, poor Pam. Gald it was a misconception - bless her.
I loved this analogy too: "her moods changed with all the frequency but none of the predictability of a traffic light"
Author's Response: Thank you! I like Pam too much for it to be anything but a mistake. :)
10 Was so good to see all these characters again. They're fresh in my mind though - I have been slowly been working my way through your fic since around January, and I just love it :) Nice to know Roy/Karen can be happy for them. Also, I'm secretly shipping Libby and Patrick, when I really don't suppose I should be *rolls eyes*.
9 Brilliant. Loved the playful banter - If I started quoting I'd never stop though! The whole thing just made me smile! :)