10

I have been following this story so first let me say I'm really sorry for not reviewing sooner.

This is truly amazing. This story has a feel of it being very real. I find myself feeling genuine concern and compassion about this very real, very difficult situation. I've found I've had to MANY time through this, remind myself that it's not real, simply a fictioal story.

I wasn't sure when the story began just how well I was going to enjoy the format of Jim writing letters to tell the story. Let me say, I have grown to really REALLY love it. It's a really unique way to give us so many of the details along with his feelings not just about his fears about Pam and the pregnancy and then his very real fears about Ben, but we also get his feelings about Cece and what she is going through and how this is affecting her. Along with that there are a lot of background details you have been able to share through the letters.

What to me though, makes this so SO special is the way that you are able to get across to us, the readers, that this is a man who is head over heals in love with his wife, his daughter and his son both before he was born and after. You get the feeling that there is nothing he wouldn't do for them. It's also clear that he falls in love anew with each of them on a regular basis.

This chapter was amazing in the way that you had Jim deal with the situation with his father in law. First just him knowing his wife well enough to see and feel her hurt, then in the way he cares enough to act. The way he handle the situation is so perfect. Him simply inviting his FIL along while he changes Ben, not being heavy handed, letting him look around the room and see Pam's work, see the pictures of a newly born struggling Ben and see what he is missing. I love that Jim remains quiet long enough for Bill to begin the dialoge but when he does, Jim is honest and straight with him, letting him know that he is really hurting Pam, then challenging him to stay through lunch. In all of this you kept it real. Bill stayed just through lunch, it wasn't like he had a huge change of heart and decided to make up for all the hurt that day and was the last one to leave. It was real, a man who has messed up and wants to make steps to make it right, but realistically is still the same flawed person so he makes a step but you can see it is going to take time.

Truly an amazing story and an incredible journey, that is really meaningful and very realistic, that you have taken us through.

Thank you for sharing this with us. Your writing is always very incredible!

10

I cannot tell you just how happy I am that you are bringing this story back. I enjoyed it so much when you posted it before and was extremely sad when it was suddenly gone. I think I'm enjoying it even more this second time but I admit that I really enjoyed the way the story was written and progressed the first time (though I admit that I had so problems with the 1 chapter right before you took it down, but who care what *I* think?:o) ) I am hoping that with the changes you are making, there won't be any major changes with how the storyline progressed the first time.

I love you showing such a strong Jim/Pam connection or dynamic right from the day they met. You show so clearly how they are really feeling the other out and really right from pretty much the start you can see a spark of something or other because they really, Jim especially, seem to care about what the other thinks and there are worries about being misunderstood or about having accidentally hurt feelings. I get the feeling that in the job Jim has, he hurts a lot of feelings without being able to care about it really, it comes with the job. To me, the fact that he cares if he has hurt Pam shows a very eary connection.

You are doing such a fantastic job with this story and it is just such a fbulous premise. I am thrilled that you are able to update so quickly because I absolutely hate waiting for the updates. Knowing that you have so much ready to go, I find that I check back for updates muliple times a day, even if there has already been one that day, to see if there's any chance for us to score more than one chapter in a day! (as a reader I ALWAYS find that to be a bonus.)

I can't promise a review for every chapter, even though I know it's the right thing to do, I just CAN'T review them all right now (my health is mess!) But I CAN promise I will be reading, I KNOW I'll be very much enjoying it, an I WILL review as much as I am able to!

Thankyou, Thank you thank you for bringing this awesome story back!

Jenny.... where are you??? OMG I was just waiting and waiting for us to pass the point where the story ended last time so we could get more of the story and I think we got a chapter or two beyond and you disappeared! Where are you??? This story is SO SO SO great, it needs to be continued and completed! Please come back to us. Please, please PLEASE come back! We ned resolution! We need to know what Jo does. We need to know that Pam goes through with leaving Roy. Does Pam take the program in Fl. and how does that go? Is the future as bright for Pam and Jim as I hope it is and how does his family react to maybe meeting her or at least knowing that she's here to stay? We NEED to know! Please Please Please come back! I'l see about getting you a Dundie if you dooooo... Seriously, first I hope all is well with you and then I REALLY hope you'll be back and pick this story back up soon!

Oh Danielle! You broke my heart! I'm not even talking about the content of your story at much as it is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, if that makes any sense, but your authors note broke my heart and also made me feel really very guilty. I'm trying to keep up, I promise I am. November has been one of the hardest months for me, well, actually it started back around Oct 22, I'm adjusting to meds that just aren't doing well and the pain has just been unbearable pretty much every day. That said, it's just awful to 'hear' you voicing that your writing could EVER EVER disappoint us. Seriously. I think many of us get caught up in life, for me it's pain and others it's being overwhelmed with work or kids or any of a billion other topics and we read, I think many of us may have good intentions to return and review and then life gets away from us. At the same time I'm disappointed in myself because if I've allowed a writed as brilliant and talented as yourself to doubt herself because I didn't take the time to write a review, that's a real shame on me. We shouldn't take any of our writers who take their time to share with us for granted, much less one as talented as you. Heck, I rarely write reviews for stories that were written some time ago, especially if the writer isn't currently writing here because I doubt that the review will be seen. I recently reread a story that was older and I had always really liked it but I really appreciated it anew and realized that there is always a chance the writer would see the review and also as a reader I often look at reviews first to see if a piece seems to be worth my time, especially older ones. Who knows, maybe my review of an older piece could be the thing that makes someone else decide to read it. Anyhow, I review and amazingly just 3 days after I did the author just by chance was looking at some of her older work and saw my brand new review. She took the time to PM me thanking me and telling me that it meant a lot that I took the time and that she had been looking for inspiration for her writing and I had helped etc. The point is, we never know how us taking the time to let an author know our thoughts on a piece will affect that person. We should never take you guys, our wonderful authors, I believe those that write on this site are among the most talented authors out there and so many, you included, I believe strongly, would be able to make a living from writing in one way or another. I'm just really sorry that you have had any doubt in yourself, any at all, especially because of something I did, or didn't, do. From the bottom of my heart, I'm really sorry! NOW, onto the review of this chapter and I PROMISE, the Doomsday review will be coming soon!

You captured this episode and just all the things I took away from it, the feelings I had about the things that happened, just so perfectly. I loved once more getting to go on the journey with you, home from the office and into the home and lives, hearts and minds of Jim and Pam. I guess there are many aspects of Pam's personality that I've never thought a lot about and you really had me thinking and more to the point, had me believing. I can totally see Pam reacting to realization that Jim has HBP, ESPECIALLY after not only being there when Jim's dad had a heart attack but had one soon after they began their relationship. I know for me, the significant things that happen early in the relationship when you are still finding your footing, trying to make impressions and learning how to take care of and be there for each other, tend to leave especially big impressions. I'm sure this carried her back to sitting with Jim at the hospital and at his parents home after that event but this time, heck, especially with it being the SAME home they sat in then, she is picturing Jim in the bed his dad was in and herself in Jim's mom's place. Certainly not something that Pam EVER wants to think about. Because of this especially it's so realistic that she would be determined not to eat out and to purge their home of anything and everything that could possibly add to the problems for Jim. I'm sure the very first thing the next morning she found herself on the phone to Jim's DR setting up an appointment. I hope that after he sees the DR and the DR explains what changes need to be made and I am sure will start trying to find the right blood pressure medicine for Jim, I hope at that point maybe Pam will feel a little more at ease. I KNOW the whole thing with HBP, my husband has struggled with it for many years now. Of course, unlike Jim, he's not fit, in shape, athletic atuff like that. These things to me, would make the whole HBP thing more frustrating for Jim and Pam I would think because in so many ways, aside from food choices I would think, Jim is living the way that people with HBP should. (As a side note, I know that this is just a chapter in a much larger fic BUT, I would love if you would maybe think about making a bigger story out of this. I just think you could take this and follow it into the future with them. Tell us how it goes as they struggle with both trying to get Jim's BP under control while at the same time dealing with both a brand new baby who likely will keep them from sleeping a whole lot and introducing a second child into their lives and routines which will likely throw everything including Cece's life, at least for a time, into chaos. I'm wondering if, since this comes so close to the arrival of their baby boy, will Pam try and take too much on her shoulders to try and keep stress off of Jim? Also, what will happen even furture in the future. It's easy to slip back into bad habits after the initial scare wears off. Just something for you to maybe think about. I know you have this and the season 3 fic going right now but when you're done with one it just seems like the kind of thing you would do a great job with.) ANYHOW...

I just love the picture you painted, they didn't go home and have Pam go right back to questioning about Jim finding Kathy attractive, that was over for both of them the minute Jim's health became an issue. I just love the thought of them talking about wanting to return to Niagara Falls and Puerto Rico when they have been married so long. I can also no only see them wanting to be the 60 yr old couple that can't keep their hands off each other, I can see them BEING that couple.

I'm kinda having problems finding the words to explain what I am feeling... I just guess I really like and can imagine them taking care of each other exactly the way you describe. Jim has been freaking out about Pam and her pregnancy. I'm sure he has a lot of concerns for her health and this episode showed that he is very aware of her mindset in that he is just determined to make her feel secure. (funny thing is, it was probably too much. I know when I was pregnant and had an issue with my husband and two girls that worked for him, his denials of my most basic questions which I am sure was to keep me from having doubts and being insecure but because he wouldn't admit to ANYTHING, in my mind I didn't really believe anything he was telling me and it all became a MUCH bigger deal and for a much longer time than it would have had he just admitted to some of the things he later did. Things that BTW, weren't a big deal but he was just concerned they would be.)

The thing about Jim and Pam is that they really get each other. The writers show that and you always drive the point home in your stories. Pam KNOWS there is no way Jim doesn't see an obviously pretty girl as being pretty. She's not dumb. Jim, OTOH, knows his wife, knows her insecurities and is willing to go as far as he can to help with those insecure feelings. He even anticipates her little tests and gos as far as being willing to take part in Dwight's craziness because he knows that at the end of the day, Dwight IS crazy and won't prove anything. So we see Jim very much taking care of Pam but then comes the switch when we learn about the HBP and suddenly it's all different, those early concerns don't matter and after throwing out all the offensive food, Pam just wants to learn everything she can so she can take care of her soul mate, forever if possible. I really like that you bring up those old feelings, how she'd already had to experience living without him and because of that she is determined that she'll never have to do that again.

It's nice how you set up the story for future episodes about Jim wanting to go for drinks with co workers rather than going home. In THIS context, it makes that whole like of thinking easier to bear. I was really not looking forward to that being part of any story on the show, no matter how small, but you bringing it up the way you did, putting it in the context of trying to use it to deal with the stress. Well, it makes it easier to take. I also like how you have Jim thinking about the marriage falling apart but vowing to himself that it just cannot happen. I like him thinking that there is nothing he believes in more than him and Pam because I very much believe that's true!

It's so nice, and very sweet and true to their characters that when you switch from Jim's thoughts to Pam's. it shows just how very much they think alike. They both think about the stress their own situation is putting on the other. They think about how much their family and each other means to them. Them remember their vow about their 75th anniversary and you have Jim thinking of all the future functions he is determined to be there for while Pam is thinging how she needs him there for the same type of big moments he had thought about. The image you give us of Pam finishing with the computer and going and wrapping her arms around Jim, it's just beautiful. As is them standing in the darkened kitchen holding each other and heading up to bed as she tries to hold in her tears before finally surrendering. These two have come a long way as it shows when they talk about this and try to ease the burden on the others mind rather than bottling it up like the early seasons Jiam and Pam did.

Then what you left us with

'Tomorrow morning, when the alarm goes off, I’m not going to take waking up with my husband for granted. '

Such a beautiful place to leave it. You did an amazing job here. Truly, it may be your very best work to date. You always amaze me with just how talented you are and how vividly you are able to portray the lives of Jim, Pam and Cece for us. You do such an amazing, indepth job of digging into these characters, who they are, how they think and their wonderful dedication to each other an their family. I love how you always show how much they appreciate each other. Real, true talent. I am privledged to be able to read your work. Thank you for sharing it! I can't wait for more!

Hugs to you... T~

Author's Response: Thank you so much for saying that, Tina. I always fear that the lack of response means I didn't do something quite right. I'll try to keep things in perspective. It is almost holiday time now so people are getting more rushed. :) I'm sorry I've been so delayed with review replies, I get caught up in writing so much that I haven't dedicated an afternoon to reply until today. I'm so happy and thankful that you're in my corner through this story, I really appreciate it. I took away an idea that I incorporated into 15 Months where Jim's father goes to the hospital so that's where that little bit came from. I thought with the way he was walking away with Pam and the way she was comforting him just seemed like they were taking it very seriously. So that led to this piece of hopefully not too overly emotional inner thoughts. I think 75 years may be too long now that I calculate it, but I think I'll go with calling it another way of saying forever, since they'd be well over 100 years old by the time 75 years of marriage came around. I still think it works though. I know they don't show it much on the show, but I think Jim is definitely in love with his family and would want to be at all of his kids functions and I think he would have been sort of slapped in the face a little by the realization that he has hbp. I have actually considered writing a story where Jim gets ill, but I'm going to save that idea for a later date. It could work, but I don't want to do too many stories at once. I really think that for Pam, she's just so happy with Jim that this little scare could really have led her to empty the house of all of the things that were bad for him and make her search out information on how to take care of him. I got that all by her telling him SHE was going to call his doctor. It made me think that she really needed to step it up and take care of her guy. I definitely over analyze things with these two. I'm so happy that you liked it. Thanks so much! hugs back to you too, :)

10

OH Danielle.... I LOVE so much about the things you choose to be, or at least the things you choose to write! You have this seriously awesome talent when it comes to writing Jim and Pam in and especially out of the office. What I LOVE about scenes like this is you give us that part that so many of us crave. We want to see them at hom interacting with sweet little Cece. We want to see what they are like or think about things like trick or treating and also stuff like how Jim is around Pam's mom. You write it so fluidly it's like in my brain I feel like it really is a continuation of where the show let off, well in this instance. In other instances you fill in the blanks with thigs they didn't show us in an episode. SUCH talent!

I just love that you decided to start this one as they are getting in the car and how funny is it that Jim can't wait another second to be out of costume. Honestly, I think for the Jim in my mind it would be about the costume but it would also be about the fact that he wore another team's jersey and if they showed us anything in this episode, they showed us that Jim is fiercly loyal to his teams. Actually I think I could stop that statemet at simply Jim is fiercly loyal.

LOVE that they continued the debate about ghosts on the way and even when they were at home. I can see this type of debating going on between them on a regular basis. It's not fighting and it has a loving friendly tone behind it. They just are both so competitive I don't see either wanting to concede their side.

The driveway scene was so cute and again, you hit it right on as far as how I would imagine them, being loving and affectionate often and maybe even moreso during one of their little debates just kinda reassuring each other of their love and that the debate isn't what's important. You wrote Helene the way I SO picture her after all of that with Micheal in season 6. Being honest, the writers that did that small season 6 arc of Micheal dating Helene, which BTW I HATED, really smashed to bits the way I had always thought of Pam's mom. This, how you wrote her here, a bit intrusive, needing to make comments especially since I'm sure she picks up on Jim's enbarassment, that's my sadly updated view of her. I think it's funny and very in character that her tossing out comments makes Jim embarassed. It's very obvious that he isn't big on his displays of affection being seen by others, you add in her making comments and I can see him squirming.

How cute is it that not only did Cece let mommy borrow her stuffed Roo, she will also be going as a kangaroo for Halloween. I think it also says alot for the way Jim and Pam are parenting that she makes a point to thank Cece for letting her borrow the toy.

So then we have adorable daddy Jim, whipping out the thermometer at just the mere mention that Cece MAY have an ear infection coming on. I just know that the two of them are awesome parents!

So cute that the ghost debate continues on as she is cooking dinner and OMG, SO Jim that he would want to give the kids a trick rather than a treat. I'm sure even if Jim gets his juggling routine down, Pam will slip the kids a treat anyhow.

Then we have Jim conceding, agreeing to at least consider the existance of ghosts. Actually, I guess they both give a little and meet somewhat in the middle. He isn't saying they exist, just that he'll consider it and that makes Pam happy.

Some more GREAT, really strong writing. I don't know how you do it, I really don't. You write more than one story at a time and keep each updated and current. The ideas are fresh and the character are always spot on. I don't know HOW you do it but PLEASE, keep doing it!

Author's Response: Yep, I completely agree, Jim wouldn't want to wear a costume any longer than necessary, especially since he was so hesitant to put it on. I don't know why I love the thought of what happens when they get home, I feel like it's their time to reconnect after spending the whole day together but not being able to engage in PDA. Helene in my eyes, is sort of sad, maybe a little bitter about the divorce, and it hurts to see Jim fawn over Pam some times. I'm sure she's happy for her daughter overall though, but yeah, some times I think she can be a little intrusive. My idea of who she is really has changed over time since seeing her in season 2. I wish that even if they couldn't keep the same actress, that her character would stay the same sweet way she was. I completely agree with you. I am so happy you liked the little bit where Pam let's Cece borrow her stuffed toy. I think they'd be all about sharing right now with the new baby on the way and what not. I think they're good parents, maybe not perfect but they're trying to be good parents. Oh, yes and I could see Jim so clearly wanting to trick the kids instead of giving treats, and you know Pam's standing next to him with a bowl of chocolate and candy, rolling her eyes at her husband lol I always worry that I'm portraying Jim in too much of a romanticized way, so I'm really happy and relieved that you think I'm doing good with their characters. Thanks so much for the wonderful compliments, I'm so glad you're along for the ride with this series. :)

10

Oh Danielle what can I say???? WOWOWOWOW just about sums it up for this one. I meant to get back and review a few other chapters.. well... I meant to keep up but when that didn't happen I know that in particular your Christmas and Thanksgiving bonus chapters were just so absolutely superb, really heartwarming and honestly I remember when I was reading them thinking that it was exactly how I could envision the holidays in the Halpert household as going. You have a way of just capturing that essence of Jim and Pam's relationship for us and I think you really do such a supurb job of summing it up here, I mean, yes, their relationship has evolved with time. I mean, forgetting ANYTHING else, with the addition of two small children that literally take absolutely everything you have to give, it has to, there's no choice.If they didn't realize that they would have certainly ended up with a relationship in shambles because they would have been trying to do something that just can't be done.

I particularly like the way you wrote this one. With the five thingsish format but not exactly. It really really worked for this. I mean, I just can't say enough just how much I love it.

I love love loved the phone call you wrote between them because it was SO them! I could see Pam there in the house with the house feeling like it's ready to fall down around her, on the phone with her husband who I am sure when she picked up the phone upon seeing it was him, and having no idea of what he was going to request, she was probably so happy. A few minutes to talk to the love of her life which I'm sure grounds her, helps energize and keep her going. I particularly liked the part where she is reminding herself of all of Jim's good traits, what she loves about him, because it just seemed so very realistic, I could seriously see that (really all of this) play out on an episode of the Office. I also think that, maybe because of Jim having a more easygoing nature, maybe because of how long he longed to be with her and I see him as being forever grateful for having gotten that chance, it just seems to me that the giving on these things seems to maybe come just a tad easier to Jim than it does to Pam. I mean, heck, he could have always been the type, like many many other husbands, even good husbands, that would say, hey, I wouldn't even be in this spot if it weren't for the fact that you were so overwhelmed that I staye home all week to help you. The thing is, I get the sense that Jim and Pam don't really even think like that. It isn't tit for tat though I must say, it certainly should have been a good enough reason for her to want to help him. The truth is though that in the end, she wanted to help him out because he's her husband and that's what they do. That's how their marriage works. That's WHY their marriage works.

It was such a beautiful picture of them together in the kitchen that you painted for us. I just love them stealing those bits of time when they can, even as she's getting their daughter's dinner ready. Such a peaceful, serene scene brought to an abrupt end by the very thing she had warned Cece of just earlier that day. So sweet though that we know he isn't a dad that leaves her to deal with their crying children because she's the mom. You know that with them, they're a team and they do it together... always.

I also love the next picture you paint. She may have gotten annoyed at Roy for some of these very same things, but with Jim, beause she knows, he shows his love, his gratitutde, she doesn't do the things she does for him out of obligation or grudgingly, it's with lve. I love how you describe that she knows that the messes he leaves behind are because he's taking such wonderful care of their children and you sense that she is jst so very grateful to have a partner like that, a daddy that truly cares and wants to absorb every minute he can with his kids. It's also great and realistic that she lets him clean his way, without nagging and you sense she's just thankful that he wants to help her. They just have the most amazing give and take relationship and at the root of it is the energy and love they get that feeds off of each other and just grows.

The rest, this will jst get too long and my head is throbbing but you so describe how I envision them... how I see them just being quiet and being together. How they hug and kiss and just recharge from the energy they get from each other and I can see them doing that even as a little old couple when the kids are long gone.

The thing is.... it's an absolutely beautiful kind of relationship because I've witnessed this very type of relationship IRL. Two people who the odds were against them being together (for different reasons than Jim and Pam) but from the time they met they were drawn together and they just couldn't let anything stop them. This is my RL Best friend and her husband. The thing is, they have done things pretty much like you have described here and now, 25+ years into their marriage and 4 children later they are MORE in love... MORE attracted to each other.. MORE crazy about each other. They handled disagreements so differently than anyone I'd ever seen. They parented so well together and now their children range in age from the youngest at 13 to the oldest at nearly 21 and they are the four nicest, most well adjusted kids. They are always laughing and smiling. They are so kind to each other and those around them. It's VERY much how I see Jim and Pam's relationship at that stage and because I knew them way back when, I know that so much of what you wrote here is so eerily how they handled things. In essence, you wrote a manual for a really good marriage and family! :o)

This really was just amazing Danielle! You truly did outdo yourself! I'm sad that we've really not had much contact lately, I hope that will change. I will tell you, you haven't lost it as an author, AT ALL! It sounds like you are saying that not only are you ending this, you're not planning to write any longer and I sincerely, VERY sincerely hope I'm wrong about that because that would practically be a crime! You consistently keep the quality of the material here at such a high level, you and Dedeen give those that are just starting out greatness in writing to strive for! I think you still have so very many fresh ideas, I don't want to see you go! Honestly, I have still been very VERY much hoping you would have a change of heart about that Match.com story that I just love and believe in so very much! I again want to urge you to reconsider reposting and continuing it! I KNOW that there were a lot of people that truly were enjoying it. There are even more that enjoy you as an author and just would hate for you to go so I'm pleading my case, please if I am right, PLEASE reconsider!

Thank you for another heartfelt quality piece that you have added here. With every word you write you make these archives a better place for those that are here already and the newbies that continue to discover fanfiction all the time. Thank you for your time, I know it has to take a lot for the type of quality that you ut out and to also give time to mentor and beta for others shows how selfless you are. Thank you for all you do and have done for us, and for me personally. I've told you, you were the first person I wrote a review for, and in your response, so warm and welcoming it felt as if you were reaching out to me. Thank you for all that you are not just as an author, but also as my friend! *hugs* XOXO Tina

Author's Response: Thank you so much, Tina. This is such a lovely review. I hope you're doing well. I love Jim and Pam's relationship, so writing it has been a lot of fun. I know that I had thought I wouldn't be inspired to write anymore, but it turns out apparently I can't stay away from this place. So I'll never say never ever again and see what happens as the days come and go. I don't know. There's something about them that draws me in so much and I can't help myself. Go figure. I definitely think that they get along so well and know each other so well that things don't bother them. I'm really happy with the way this chapter turned out. I wasn't sure it would fit in anywhere, but I had the idea and went with it. Glad it came out well. I do think that they would do these things together to keep their romance alive. Anyway, thank you so much for taking the time to review, it truly means a lot to me. I do hope you'll let me know what you think of the update I just posted too. Thanks so much.

I'm going to see if I can remember at least some of the rest of what I wrote for this chapter, the part that was somehow cut off. I was talking about Karen and how I saw her as maybe a bigger threat to the Halpert family than many other girls. I will say, and I think I pointed this out, I am SO thrilled that Jim made the decision to go to Australia despite what Karen thought or wanted. To me he actually didn't seem to really even want her to go. I mean it seemed a lot like a throwaway invitation, and I have another ticket if you want to come, something like that. I think he may have been stating to see clearly that his reasons for being with Karen in the first place, to purge Pam from his mind, simply weren't working. In adition, if he still felt like he didn't want to follow his dad's script for his life, I'm CERTAIN that he could easily tell that daddy dear was absolutely thrilled with his choice to date Karen and that his dad was in fact doing his best to move that particular relationship along. We of course know that if his dad would have ever had any reservations about Karen, because of the dire situation with Pam, he would have thrown any of those aside because with a boy like Jim who clearly wanted away from anything and anyone his father in particular wanted for him, Karen was as good as it was going to get. She's the daughter of his friend and while they aren't Halpert wealthy, at least she isn't a little mousy receptionist nobody. I think what his dad would have really like to see happen is, let's face it, if Pam is going to continue living in Philly in the situation she is in, with the Andersons, there is a huge chance that at some point Jim is certainly going to come across her or a picture of her, something. Dad's goal I think is to move this relationship with Karen towards marriage as quickly as he can. It would be GREAT I'm sure in Gerry's mind if they could be married with Karen at the very least expecting before Jim were to come across Pam again because in Gerry's mind I think one of two things would prevent Jim from going to Pam at that point. Either he would actually feel as much for Karen at this point that Pam didn't really matter any longer (because I simply think Gerry cannot grasp the concept of clear, pure, true love... of being soul mates and the fact that this is what Jim and Pam represent to each other) or if Jim hadn't actually fallen that far for Karen I think in his dad's mind he knows Jim is really a good guy at heart and he knows it would be a problem for Jim to leave if he either has a family or one on the way. So, I'm really glad to see that this time neither his dad's manipulation with buying Karen tickets to Australia as well, nor Karen's in getting angry and trying to force her will on him to get him to go with her to Scranton, worked. Of course, Karen doesn't know that Jim really can't return to Scanton. There are a mulitude of reasons, the biggest of course being that he just cannot face returning to the memories he left in Scranton. He's been running so fast and so hard away from those memories, trying to erase them if possible and if not lock them far away, he certainly isn't going to return there, not when he has optioms. As a Halpert I imagine there are always options. He also isn't going to retuen there because Pam isn't the only one who doesn't know the truth about him, people in Scranton know him by a different last name and have no idea about his family history. Last, Jim has caredully avoided telling Karen about Pam and how in love with her he was/is. Once they would return to Scranton there is just no doubt that not only would questions about Pam assult Jim, Karen would quickly learn the truth and Jim wouldn't want that. So while I can't help but reserve a little room for doubt about Karen REALLY being gone in the corner of my mind, the rest of my mind is rejoicing that YAY! Jim has broken things off with Karen and headed in a different direction. I seriously doubt that he'll even be in touch with her at all now because I think he knows that any contact is going to bring questions about Pam, even if they are no longer a couple. (Very happy to be waving good bye to Karen out the rear window.)

Now, as happy as I am to see Jim taking the path that ends things with Karen, I can't help but want to smack him upside his head. HELLO JIM????? Are you in there? You realize that if your dad is dismissing you from Thanksgiving, pushing your relationship with Karen, dismissing you from the family Christmas party, the party that you already missed last year because they didn't know where you were so certainly they would expect your attendance this year, yet daddy dear is absolving you of your duty though mom clearly has been expecting your attendance and dad is not just allowing you to also skip Christmas at home, he is really ordering you away. You think he's joking but you grew up with this man. Not only those things, now he's handing you your dream vacation. I mean really Jim??? You think your ruthless businessman father would reward you with a vacation to Australia after all that has happened???? Why are you not questioning your dad's motives. You KNOW your dad and if he seems to be just fine with what you are doing, you of ALL people should be one that is going to question this! UGH!!! Attention Jim, please somehow get knocked hard on the head so you can have some freaking sense knocked into you! I can't help but think that I wonder if at some point Jim is going to see some pictures from the Christmas party, maybe there is a Halpert newsletter that goes out that he would get, and he would see pictures of Pam at the families Christmas party. I think it would be neat if his mom, not knowing the schemes his dad has going, sent some pictures to Jim. Just something that floated through my mind.

Now, on the other side of the coin, about Pam and Adele. I know others seem to really like her but I just find her to be pushy and manipulative when it comes to Pam. She seems to be always right there, pushing her will on Pam. I had problems back chapter or so when they were at the U/S and Pam asked the DR if he/she could tell what the baby was and Adele piped right up with, but don't you want to be surprised? making it clear what Adele's desires are. I wonder about things like this Christmas Party. Pam is very clearly NOT into looking for a dress though Adele again seems to be pushing what she wants and likes on Pam, but the whole idea of this party in the first place, it just seems like about the last thing that Pam would probably want to do. She big pregnant. She's got the miseries, aches and pains that come with that stage of pregnancy. She doesn't have the person she loves with her and other than the Andersons she isn't going to know anyone at the party, I can't see her really wanting to go. I CAN see Adele just sorta telling her they are going to be going to this party and not really asking about if Pam wants to attend. I see Pam right now as kinda Adele's little thing that she wants to show off and I would think the more she wants to and the more she actually does show Pam off and pronounce to the world that Pam is carrying Kenny's child, the more it seems that Pam would become uncomfortable with it all because it's one thing to pretend with a small family, well, actually just the one person since the dad and Roy know the baby isn't Kenny's, so it's one thing for Pam to Pretend just for Adele that she is carrying Kenny's child. When she has to listen to Adele tell person after person about this being Kenny's child as she parades Pam around like she's somehow Adele's own little prize, I have to believe that this would make Pam begin to grow very uncomfortable. I KNOW that she doesn't want all of these people viewing this baby as belonging to anyone but her and Jim, after all, she loves him. He continues to haunt her mind which is so understandable as part of him is growing and growing and now continuously making it's presemce known to her. I imagine her in her room alone talking to the baby and reassuring her that her dad's name isn't Kanny. His name is Jim and going on to tell the baby all about it's dad and about her how very much she loves him. I think is the stillness of these times is probably when Pam tries to decide what she can/should do about things with Jim. I very much believe that Pam would not be able to go forever without letting Jim know that he is a dad. All her fears aside, I just think that's the kind of person she is. I think she probably also hopes that Jim is missing her as much as she is missing him. After all, she does know that he did in fact love her and he didn't want things to end. SO, I think if things continue like this with Adele for much longer, I think Pam is going to become resentful of all the intrusion. (I also hope that like on the show, Pam secretly calls and asks the DR what the baby is. After all, the DR did specifically tell her she could.) The thing is, none of this is what Pam bargained for. She went along with this whole ploy because she was told that Adele was a very sick woman and so fragile that just learning the truth about something that she made up in her own mind, that this is Kenny's baby, is not true, might kill her. So Pam went along thinking that she wouldn't have to do this for very long and in the meantime she could pull her life together and decide what she is going to do. Well, somehow Adele has aparently gotten much healthier as she is able to go to DRs appts with Pam and shopping at the busiest time of the year. Not to mention attending huge Christmas parties so she is doing much better and there appears to be no end in sight for the pretending that Pam is being forced to do. I mean, will these people expect her to go as far as listing Kenny on the birth certificate and giving it the Anderson's last name? ::shudder::: I can see Adele trying to push these issues. The thing is, though I have to believe that this has to all now be weighing Pam down and making her at least a bit resentful of the situation, how does she get out of it? I mean, it's going to become even harder to extract herself from it after the baby is born so I'm hoping she's starting to think about these things. The thing is, she has alowed these people, however nice they are, to take total control of her and her life, the baby's too really. They are feeding her, clothing her, housing her and paying all her bills. That's a pretty steep price to pay for someone like Pam who seems like she's been pretty independent. I just can't help but wonder what Pam is thinking and where she sees this all ending. How long is she going to pretend?

This chapter was certainly a MUCH easier read than the last few but I can't help but hope we are getting closer to some real happiness for our couple. I mean, Pam is okay where she is, but she is sad missing Jim and I think the pretending is probably weighing heavy on her. Jim is learning that he can't just erase Pam from his mind, not even by putting someone else in her place. I think they have suffered and would just like to see them start seeing some glimmers of light.

Another well written chapter, full of suspense. You know, maybe this fic doesn't have the largest of audiences, but I just hope you know that the core of us that are here, that come back and review chapter after chapter, believe in this a whole lot and are so grateful that you are seeing this through. I can't wait to read more!

Author's Response: This is all too accurate and a perfect analysis once again. I have to go and pick up the brain pieces that fell out of my head! Wow! Just.... wow!

oh wow! You sucked me right into this one like a vortex! I read it and I kind of thought as I was getting to the yucky parts that maybe I would skip this for now because my real life is just so riddled with angst at the present, I just felt I couldn't deal with it in the fiction I love. Funny thing is, I simply couldn't stop reading.

I found as I read that I became so angry at Jim. I understand that because of where he comes from, his life and his circumstances, he has learned not to trust people and that they more often than not have ulterior motives. The thing is, he didn't even give Pam a chance. Je spent all that time getting to know her, falling in love in a way he never had been before but then the moment his dad put that doubt in his mind he ruthlessly accused the woman he loved of being so low. I would bet that Pam would have been very happy to have signed away all the money and just been content to have Jim and their baby. She is right, he IS the one that lied. He concealed a huge part of who he is and it is because of that very reason, who he is and the circumstances he comes from, that he refused to see her as anything but a munipulative gold digger when she happily told him she thought they were going to have a baby.

Good for Pam for telling him it was done. I mean, I suspect that she could have gotten past the fact that he concealed his idenity, I mean, heck, I bet she would have been his biggest chapion in trying to break free from the life he came from. She would have stood by his side and helped him make any decisions he had to make.

I do though suspect very strongly that Pam was lying about being pregnant. Not the first time when she told Jim she thought she was. I think she lied the second time when she insisted she wasn't. I think Pam feels that she needs to get her baby away from these people who could turn the man she thought she knew so well, the one she loved, into a cold hearted monster. I think Pam is probably very broken hearted to have to leave but if she is pregnant as I suspect, I think she will take solice in her child and the she feels that she will always have at least a part of the man she loves. I think it's also a good enough reason to get away from these people when Jim says things like, my parents will take care of the baby. First off I'm sure Pam would want JIM, not his parents to take care of his child. Second, I think it would be scary to suddenly be dealing with people who think they can buy anything and anyone they want. I think Pam needed to make sure that there was never a situation where people with a lot more money than her are trying to take her baby from her. After all, I think she envisioned making that announcement to Jim and because they were so in love they would both be thrilled and they would go off and happily raise a family with nothing mattering other than being together.

I have a sneaky feeling that dad just may be keeping tabs on Pam and know where she is and what is going on but because he feels she isn't good enough for Jim his goal is to just make sure they stay apart. The sad thing is that if this is true, daddy is keeping him not only from his one true love and his child (if my theory is correct) but also from the one person that can and does truly make Jim happy.

The reason I decided to let myself get sucked in despite the heavy angst that is hard to bear right now is that you are a phenomenal writer and I have always followed all of your stories. I don't think you have ever written one tht didn't leave our couple blissfully happy and in love, and together at the end. I HAVE to believe you won't end that streak here. Also, this is such a unique idea, I've never seen this and I am intriqued. Also, I LOVE that you are a writer that tends to not leave ushanging. Your updates to your WIP, as I recall, tend to come quickly and that is something that means alot to me.

Thank you for sharing this unique story and the wonderful way tour brain works with us. I can't wait to read more and I DO beg you don't keep us in the angst and heartbreak TOO long. Give us that happily ever after (and a lot of happy moments in between) that you are the expert at.

Author's Response: First off... WOW! Your review left me with my mouth hanging wide open! WOW! You are BEYOND intuitive! Everything you said was what I was thinking while writing this chapter. You explained Jim's actions perfectly! He is just a confused fellow and Pam just happened to be a casualty. Your fourth paragraph???? SPOILER ALERT! You saw right through my writing! I have so much to say to you, but I'm speechless! Thank you for the kind compliments, it made me blush all kinds of red! And you are right about my endings... I'm a happy-ever-ever kind of girl. I'll be posting ch. 3 real soon. Luvs.

This one really IS quick! I LOVED this line

“Ohh sure one day I’ll love another girl,” he said and smiled. “And she will call you ‘mommy.”


I think it's my favorite of the entire story so far. Really, it was awesome! LOVE his flashbacks to his memories with Pam!

Author's Response: I wish I could take all the credit for that line... I heard it somewhere and I don't remember where! When I was outlining this chapter that was a line that I wanted to include as a past memory. I've actually been saving that line for to add to one of my stories... I've tried writing in other contexts, but it never worked...till now! Yay!

Really missing this tons! Hoping very much to read more soon! Hope all is well with you!

Oh WOW... O H WW OO WW !! THis chapter is just all sorts of amazing all over the place! Before I say anything else I have something inside of my that is just trying to burst out and I don't think I can contain it any longer so just excuse me for a moment... RoyisadickRoyisadickRoyisadick! WHEW There! I feel SO much better! Not that that little outburst shows my feelings on any particular character or anything....

So anyhow, first and foremost... I would NEVER take HannaHalperts threats of oming to your house to 'make you write' very seriously. I think the worst that would happen if she showed up at your door is that she would braid your hair or paint your toenails... maybe volunteer to make your husband dinner? Hey, maybe you WANT her to come to your house!!!! (When you're done with her please send her to MY house to make MY husband dinner! ) Okay, seriously....

This chapter truly was ALL sorts of amazing and it was up before I expeted a new chapter so I think it seems that the 'red bull that keeps you up until the weee hours of the night writing' is REALLY keeping you writing and jusdging on this chapter it has you all sorts of inspired too!

I have to say, a queston I had last chapter that was answered in this one but I still don't quite get is, why is it that Jim knew when he took Pam and Cece for lunch {breakfast?} that they would be coming to his house for a dinner party that night, so why didn't Jim say something about it to Pam? Was it just that he got caught up in being with her and soaking her in and learning about his baby daughter and just being with them so he really didn't think about it OR was he thinking that if he told her she would make up an excuse to get out of it and with Adele she probably wouldn't, something like that? It's just something I thought of last chapter when he called her about going to eat I thought for sure the dinner party would come up and was surprised when it didn't. Also, I am anxious to see if we will see any change in Pam's behavior around and toward Gerry Halpert. This is the first time (unless I am mistaken) she will be seeing him since finding out how horribly he trampled her privacy (I mean really, a PI watching you buy a pregnancy test so you go and tell your son first off that she is pregnant which may or may not be true and second all sorts of made up garbage about her for the simple reason of getting him away from someone that you have deemed as not good enough for him!!!) and also since finding out that he KNEW who she was and kept it from Jim, thereby keeping him from Cece's birth all because he decided she wasn't good enough for Jim. I can't imagine that she could possibly just treat him as if nothing has ever happened.

Okay... I think that's all out of my system finally! I have to say, I was rather sirprised at Adele's lack of curiosity about just why Pam would have been out with Jim. I will admit, and you know that I haven't been quite as taken by Adele and just don't trust her as much as others seem to, but things like her just reaching out and taking Cece from Pam and saying that she's going to go change her this time, doing these things without asking like, hey, can I take her for a bit? or How about if I change her this time? it just kind of gets my back up, I can't help but think that really, the Anderson's are NOT long time friends of Pam's, yes, they were there and helped her when she needed help, but then again, like I've said before, they owe her a FAR bigger debt and I think that kinda gets forgotten. I think it's easy to forget that none of this is what Pam wanted, what she signed up for. She went along with the story because Joe begged her to saying that the truth would kill Adele because she was in suh fragile condition. They credit Pam and the baby for Adele's return to health so in my eyes at very least the debts cancel each other out but then again, beause of the deal Pam made, she couldn't acknowledge her sorrow, despair and greif over Jim, she had to be careful about everything lest Adele find out and mostly she had to pretend that the love of her life was not the father of the life growing inside of her. As I have said, the Anderson's debt to Pam is FAR greater than her's to them, giving her a place to stay, food to eat and clothes on her back. She had to pretend a whole life that had to be very painful for her. Okay... that's kinda one of my favorite rants here and it just sorta got away from me... SORRY! So anyhow, it just kinda gets me that Adele just seems to have this bit of a posessiveness when it comes to Cece that just gets under my skin. It's the kind of ownership, for lack of a better word, that only belongs to the mommy and the daddy so in thinking about it, I'm wondering if at some point this will become a real issue with Jim. I know it would be a real problem for me if I were him and I saw it.

Roy... oh ROY!!! YOu know... I KNEW earlier in the story his part went away just FAR too easy. I just knew he's the kind of snake that simply doesn't die that easy. Just grows a new head and keeps at it. You know, Pam has turned him ans his offers down how many times now? She's made it very clear that she isn't interested in ANYTHING but friendship and what does he do? Goes and get all possessive! Oh and here I'm simply talking about after Jim left the house, the dinner party... that's a whole different story! So, I guess that Roy is one of those guys that need to be cut off completely, you can't even give them friendship because what it seems to me now is that while Roy would seem to act like he accepted what Pam would tell him, that she wasn't interested in more than friendship, he hung around, working on wearing her down in ways that she didn't even realize that she was, thinking that at some point she would be worn down enough, lonely enough, desperate enough and convieniently, there he would be. In the times when they had some words he was carefully trying to ruin Jim, or her prception of him, whatever with things like 'he's never coming back!' and 'what do you think he's going to do when he finds out you've been hiding her from him? He's going to take her from you!' What Roy NEVER could forsee is that Jim, a man who I'm sure in Roy's mind was his sworn enemy, would walk through the front door of his home, invited in by his own mother, and have a tight grip back on Pam's heart far before Roy had any idea that anything was even happening. THAT makes me oh so happy! So, I had to laugh at Roy, thinking he could forbid Pam from seeing Jim again! Clearly at this point Roy is thinking along the lines of Pam maybe just having some interest in dating Jim so Jim being competition for him, little did he know what was coming! I didn't think Pam had really said it, I thought it was what she thought so you are BRILLIANT in that she didn't even realize that she had said out loud that Jim was Cece's father! I mean, SOMEONE had to know (other than Jim's dad beause he's do anything he could to keep it a seret!!!) in order for this lie to finally start being torn down and Jim and Pam being able to emerge with Cece, from under it. I cannot tell you just how much I adore your twist on the bar scene, complete with Roy breaking something, showing Pam just what a moron he really is! LOVED how the first thing after all that is that Adele tells them they are going to a dinner party at the Halpert's that night!

Sooo.. Roy Roy Roy... planning all afternoon to stake his claim on Pam that night by hurting Jim, going right to Jim's heart and letting him in on not only the fact that Jim missed out on all that stuff, but also that Roy was there for it. He also seems to be trying to hint to Jim by going in and putting his arm around Pam, talking about when 'they' first brought Cecelia home and I had to laugh when Roy said 'she's a big girl now!' ROFLMAO!!! Of course she is... she's what, two weeks old now? Your typical two week old is now back at what they weighed at birth so yeah Roy, real big girl. I DID love how Pam was seeming to try and make it clear that this was Roy and now her. Shrugging his arm off, not adding to his crap, trying to change the subject. Pam knows, and Roy knows too that the things Jim missed were because of Pam and the choice she made, such a jerk move of Roy to use what Pam did to hurt Jim with what he missed. I cannot even begin to tell you just how much I LOVED Jim pulling Pam to another room to get himself together, reassure himself and give them a moment alone, just the three of them! Your description of that kiss absolutely gave me chills! So so awesome! The way he pulled Pam and Cece in, gethered them close to him.... :::sigh::: I love Jim Halpert! :::shakes self from Jim induced haze::: Oh as I was saying... so this also gave Pam the opportunity to clearly explain Roy's behavior to Jim, which is so wonderful that THAT was able to happen before there was a new misunderstanding to come between them1 i just sighed with happiness and contentment when Pam said, Jim... she's yours and then when he came back with 'I know, I just needed to know that your mine also.' For Jim it all begins and ends at Pam. Nothing makes sense to him without her and if Roy is going to try some macho ploy to stake a claim, Jim just needs to know that Pam is right there beside him and that Roy is doing nothing more than blowing smoke and trying to hurt him. I cannot emphasize enough just how brilliant you are to have given them this time together to collect themselves and really, gain strength from each other before anything really gets going.

I couldn't help but wonder if Betsy has some inkling about things. I wondered if she had laid that picture out on purpose or maybe, after having noticed the resemblence between Jim and Cee in the hospital, it sticking out strongly enough in her mind that she even mentioned it to her husband later, maybe she got out that picture after that to maybe tell herself how silly she was being, only to see that the similarities are even more striking than she had remembered.

Roy... he had NO idea what he was walking into with the grilled cheese omment. He's trying again to hurt Jim but I have no doubt that Jim made Pam the grilled cheese for their first date because it was his favorite food, and he probably, actually I'm sure there's NO DOUBT that even if he didn't tell her that the night of the date, she certainly had learned it in the six months they shared so he was able to dish it right back to Roy in asking his mom if she had those because it's his favorite food. I'm sure that all brought up memories to Pam of their first date as well! I can't say how much I love that Jim doesn't even give it a second thought when he insists that he help Pam get Cece set up in the other room. I was so happy when Jim realized that the others had to be giving him weird looks but he realized he just didn't care. Sounds to me like a man that is ready to let people know how things REALLY are, letting the chips fall where they may. (Just as long as two of those chips, the ones named Pam and Cecelia, land right with him!) I think you take that frame of mind and add Roy continuing to push at Jim and the situation and why is it that I have a feeling that this is going to turn into quite some dinner party? Dinner party from hell perhaps? I just think there are too many variables, Jim and his dad, Pam and Jim's dad, complete with the knowledge of what his dad has done, Jim's dad and Pam... complete with the knowlwdge that he would STILL like to keep Pam away from Jim and hmmmmm maybe Roy is a viable alternative in his mind, then there is the secret of Jim and Pam's relationship/Cece's paternity, the secret that Joe, Roy, Pam and now Jim have from Adele, Roy's annimosity towards Jim, Pam certainly being at very least annoyed and probably plain ole ticked off at Roy... there is enough dynamite in that room to destroy at least Philly, probably all of Pa! I DON'T KNOW, i get a feeling that at dinner maybe a lot of things may start unraveling and a lot of carefully held secrets may come to life. Oh and I get a sneaking suspition that Roy is going to take a swing at Jim but with no Dwight there complete with pepper spray, he may connect. Can I ask a favor.. PLEASE... if that happens just please let Jim get in at least one or two REALLY good hits!

I cannot wait for the next chapter... YOU BETTER BE WRITING!! Oh crap... I just channelled HannahHalpert! That being the case, I'll show up at your house too. She's said she'll bring pizza, I guess I can bring pop. Any preference? Then while she braids your hair and paints your nails, I'll give you a back massage and sharpen your pencils, okay? (NOW... I think we should threaten to show up at her house if she isn't busy busy busy with the next chapter of HER story! )

Silliness aside... this story just continues to get more and more amazing. You have kept it yours and so unique while being amazingly in character and the bits you borrow from the show slide in and fit as if that's where they came from in the first place. I think you should considere getting a patent on your mind! It is so creative and unique, you don't want to run the risk of someone else claiming it as their own! Thanks again for sharing your creativity and hard work with us. Just amazing!

*hugs*

I just needed to add something real quick here... (I know, how could I write THAT much and still have more to add? ::::sigh:::: SORRY!) Anyhow, in response to my last review you talked about being scared about posting this because you have Jim and Pam out of character for the first time. I just want to say that, while any time you present especially an extreme AU scenerio like this, they will be I guess somewhat OOC. Thing is, for me persoanally, I just if they are OOC based on if it seems, given the situation they are put in by the author, do their actions seem to be the actions of the Jim and Pam we know. I personally feel that you have written Jim and Pam VERY much IN character. I mean, that's how I'm guessing at so many of the things you have said I'm getting right. I'm thinking, how would the Jim, or the Pam, that we know, act, given these unique circumstances. I think you are so in tune with these characters because you have written so many excellent stories about them, that you have them down. I think you KNOW how they would react. Jim, even being our own wonderful Jim, had he been raised in the environment you set forth, it would be resonable if his father told him something was going to happen and those things began to fall into place, VERY IN character IMO for him to fall back on what he has been conditioned to believe. That's why when he came back from Stamford he was so condtioned to believe that Pam only wanted to be friends, he couldn't see the times she reached out. The chances she took. Pam OTOH I believe though it would be difficult and seemingly OOC for her to lie to and leave Jim, she saw something different and scary in him and Pam doesn't do different and scary very well. At the same time as we saw with Cece, she was very happy from the time she learned she was pregnant which I feel shows something very maternal in her and I think it's VERY IN character for Pam to put the welfare and well being of her unborn child first and foremost. It was maybe a bit OOC for her to accept the offer of Roy, someone she doesn't know, to go live with his brother, someone she REALLY doesn't know. The thing is, you have to factor in that she was scared of losing her child to the Halpert empire so she knew she would NOT lose her child (which is IN character) and she had to get away and get away fast. When she left she didn't look at this as her final step, I think it was a place to breathe and collect herself until she could think it through and figure out the next step. Anyhow, to me, I find Jim and Pam to be amazingly IN character in your story. (Of course, that's a lot of convoluted thinking BUT that's MY story and I'm sticking to it!!!) :o)

Author's Response: YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUN I HAVE READING YOUR REVIEWS! They always leave me speechless. You are something else!

Ok wow!! Another fantastic chapter and we really are starting to learn so much, unravel the various mysteries and understand where the diferent prsonalities came from. Oh before I forget, VERY sorry I am so late to review. Pain caught up with me and I was in the hospital for a little stay so while I WAS online a bit, I just haven't been up to much at all. So please forgive me for how late I am on this one. I assure you, I very much enjoyed it, as usual. (Well, as much as one can enjoy a story that has Pam in a setting with Roy and Jim in one with Karen. UGH! Well, we knew it was coming and for the sake of the story I suppose it can't be helped. I just very sincerely hope that neither are with each other, in ANY way, for very long!) ANYHOW...

I confess that to me one of the biggest mysteries is Pam's family. We have always known Pam to be close to her mom and really I always got the vibe that she was comewhat close to her entire family so, I can't help but wonder where her family is in all of this. Is she in touch with her mom? Is her family, which I picture to be working class and really not able to help her had the Halperts tried to get her baby so that still fits with her running even if she loves her family, she now loves and needs to protect her baby more. I mean all she knows of the Halperts is that there is something that both made Jim run from them AND more important probably, something about them that turned her loving sweet partner into a paranoid cold stranger at the drop of a dime. She knows she could never let the people that did THAT to Jim ge their hands on her baby, her piece of Jim that will always be just hers. But I just wonder, is her family aware of why she took off? Do they know where she is?

So, interesting developement here. Not only are the Halperts extremely rich, the ANdersons are as well. Funny thing, in describing the Anderson home and how warm and homey and welcoming it is, contrasting that with what feels to be a cold and controlling, not so loving, very, fake maybe? vibe, you know, people that need to keep up appearences, that vibe from what we know of the Halperts, I KNOW these families NEED to be portrayed this way for the sake of this story but in any other case I would always think that the Halperts would have the welcoming home while the Andersons would be cold.

So, I was right and Adele wanted Pam moved right into their home. I sincerely hope that this will be temporary, maybe Adele's illness is further advanced than it seems and once she is gone Pam won't feel the need to do everything she wants. I would just really love to see Pam as more independant. I would think that if Jim's father is keeping track of her, as I suspect he is, this would look very very bad for her. Jim called her out on going after him for his money so in his dads eyes, she goes right after another family with money. They are nicer, they buy into it and take her into their home. The question is, I think either way Jim''s dad is going to keep tabs on Pam because I think it's very clear to him just what she means to Jim, BUT, does he realize that this baby really and truly IS Jims OR, could he be thinking that it is or could be Kenny or Roy's and that she also KNEW that the Anderson family had money and that was her fallback plan and maybe she was sleeping with both sides and doesn't even know who the baby belongs to. Just some interesting questions that flit through my mind.

I'm still convinced that when it all starts tumbling down and the road begins to be paved for Jim and Pam's reunion and for them to somehow gain the trust that has been completely destroyed, I totally believe that in some way mommy Halpert is going to have a key role and that it's going to be about proving to her son how much she really loves him. Which reminds me, I'd also love to know about if Jim has siblings and how they have adapted to their parents (father's?) manipulations of their lives. Did they just go with the program or did anyone else rebel?

So, Roy gets further embedded into Pam's life and I have to believe that this is him doing it on purpose. I'm glad he's being nice and sweet with her but I think it's clear what his intentions are and let's face it, she's vulnerable and also indebted to his family at this point. Maybe Roy trying to push too much will be the catlyst for Pam as far as getting out on her own. I admit, I was disturbed that she allowed him in on her sonogram. I was thinking, you barely know him, don't cave to him. I think though that when she begins to see his intentions she is going to become protective of her little part of Jim, unwilling to share that part. I think it will just feel like it's just, IDK, private maybe> Anyway, I think she is going to be honestly unwilling to have Roy take a paternal role in the baby's life, even if it isn't born yet. I think she will struggle with feeling that it is disloyal to Jim and the love they shared even if he was ugly about things in the end. I just couldn't help but note a few things about Roy. Apparently Roy (amd Kenny I guess) have a big thing in common with Jim. They each have a controlling father that they needed to get away from. I mean, it must have been bad for Roy to run and take a position as a laborer in a warehouse. That's worse, much worse IMO than Jim's job as a salesman. Maybe, just maybe this seeming similarity will become apparent to Pam and she will be able to at least see a bit of what Jim's life was like, why he ran and why he was so terribly jaded. That would be a very redeeming part of the Roy factor for me and would hopefully make Pam more ummmm... open to Jim, willing to at least hear him, when the time comes. Also, Kanny was going home to help but according to what Roy had told Pam, he had a spare room. That means that Kenny had no intention of living at the Anderson Estate and wanted to remain independent. One would think that if Roy felt strong enough to flee, and had that many issues with his dad, that he would follow what Kenny had planned. Interesting that with Pam going to lve in the house, Roy decides he's going to move back into the home he fled from and live with his father who he doesn't see eye to eye with. I can only think that the Pam factor has everything to do with this. It seems to me that Roy has started falling and is falling fast. Hopefully he will remain nice with Pam but I sincerely hope that she can see this for what it is and understand what is happening. I can see the mother as pushing this because if Pam can't raise Kenny's baby with Kenny, well, Roy would be the best replacement and will keep the baby with the family. I am shuddering at Roy being around Pam this much!

So now our other lovely duo. I was right about Karen knowing about who Jim is. I do wonder though, so the parents are friends but, are the Halperts much more wealthy than the Fileppelis? I ask becausw, well, it fits with the way I think the story is moving. You know, Karen wanting to get her claws into Jim because then she will be set. If she's already from a family as wealthy, or close to it, as his, then it wouldn't seem that it would matter. Also, I couldn't help but notice that while you had Karen ask Jim the logical question, why he was working for DM and not the cushy daddy supplied job. Jim did not ask the same of Karen and Jim IS now at least assitant manager while Karen is simply a saleswoman. It seems to me that Karen's family maybe has SOME money but nothing like what the Halperts have and they don't have an empire of any sort where they could provide her with a job. Now onto Karen herself. I think she is a sneaky devious snake who has devised a plan with the intention of snaring the wealthy Jim Halpert. Of course once she were to snare him, DM will no longer be good enough for either of them and it would be her total focus in life to get him back to his family, to his cushy job making what I assume would be a fantastic salary and her goal would be to no longer work and find ways to spend his money. I suspect that her returning to the office, down about not making sales and needing help is all the beginning of her deception. I think Jim is getting worn down by being alone and wants a friend, nothing more. I am sure that Karen has already turned on her charm, full tilt, smiling and all but Jim, thinking only of Pam didn't even see Karen so she needed to come up with something new. SOOOO I think she has noted that Jim, because he is avoiding his empty apt. and equally empty hours, so she knows he stays at the office as late as possible. She knows if she waits to go back in, he'll be alone in there. Then she needs a plan to get him to socialize with her SOOOO she knows he has thrown himself into his work so she plays the damsel in distress. 'Oh Jim, I just can't do it and oh my I have this big pitch to make and I just can't fail at it oh my.... what am I to do??? She very convieniently invites him to a bar where I think she has every intention of loosening him up with alcohol. Taking advantage of the situation if she can. (My only real question mark at this point is if she is doing this under the guidence of Jim's dad. I would think that he would very much want to get Jim interested in another girl hoping it will make him finally forget Pam. I think this man, Mr. halpert is so jaded by life that he either never waited for true love or has forgotten what it feels like or how powerful the hold is. Perhaps part of Jim's grand plan in sending him to Stamford, oh wait, THIS makes sense... Jim's dad suggests Stamford where his friend's very attractive daughter works. He gets the daughter to work on Jim and in their minds this is what eventually brings Jim home. They are severely underestimating MY theory. I think that Jim's mom will know/see right through all of this. I think she knows her son is much different, has a gentler, kinder, more sensitive heart and soul than his dad and she is not going to want to see Jim turn out like his dad and see Jim settle for someone when he has true love and a child that is being grow, just waiting for him!!! Yes, I think Jim's dad factored Karen into the plan in sending Jim to Stamford all along. I really had wondered why he would think that asst regional mgr at a failing midsized paper co was much better than salesman but now it makes sense!!!!) So, we are left with Jim having too much to drink, seeming to like Karen's smile and just really wanting a friend. I think he wants life to not be so empty. I think I'll lose it if he completely is giving in and living it up with Karen in Stamford while Pam is going through pregnancy which even an easy one isn't REALLY easy, especially if the one you love isn't with you. She is also so doubt thinking about him A LOT and I think she is going to in many ways try to be true to him even is she can't be with him. It'll make me want to maybe shoot Jim if he is sleeping around and just drowning himself in Karen (I can't even think that name without thinking UGH!!!) while Pam is busy worrying about the pregnancy, being a good mom, I'm sure thinking of ways to teach their baby what a wonderful man it's father was, and just trying to clutch onto the piece of Jim she has.

I have to say, I LOVED the flashback. THAT is without a doubt one of my very favorite scenes and I am so happy to see it incorporated here. Maybe at some point Jim will think about it too and realizr that if Pam was after who he is she could have easily jumped at the chance of moving in with him when he offered. I believe that probably even in this story, Jim probably still bought the ring a week after they started dating. I'm wondering when it all happens and they are together and he at long last proposes, I see him still proposing with that modest ring, or maybe it will be upgraded just a bit because he did get a pay raise with his promotion but even if he upgrades it will still be modest compared to a) what he would normally propose with if he were still living 'the life of a Halpert' and b) I believe that Roy, even if they aren't much more than friends, I see him proposing thinking he will 'save her'. Take care of her and give the baby a name. I think if I'm right and Roy does propose, I think it will be a fairly significant ring. One bought with the 'Anderson money' rather than money he earned independently like Jim. I think the sizable ring I see Roy offering will simply not be Pam or anything like her. It's just meant to impress where I believe that she will see herself in Jim's ring and I think Jim will offer a sizable 'Halpert' upgrade that I believe that Pam will turn down flatly because I think she will LOVE her ring. Oh dear, here I go with all my far flung theories again. I'm at least glad that you don't mind all my thoughts and actually seem to snjoy them. That makes me smile because I really do enjoy really delving into the stories like this and expanding on what it looks to me like is coming bades on what has and is happening. Thank you SO much for being so extremely kind to me in your comments about my reviews. It makes me feel good and makes me feel like it was worth it to really get into the chapter so much. It's really made reviewing fun again and I sincerely LOVE that you feel that I am insightful about the story and the fact that you say that we seem to think alike. Thank you for say/sharing those things with me.

As always, thank you for sharing the creations of your mind. I know you feel like you went out on a limb and that this was certainly different than your normal stuff. I hope that you are seeing that this story was/is without a doubt worth the risk. There is no doubt that it is not easy to come up with Pam/Jim scenerios that haven't been done in some way or other but yours is truly one of a kind and I don't think this has in any way even been approached. I mean, heck, the closest in any way and it's totally different is one where Pam comes from a family where her dad is a DR, mom I think is a nurse, Pam was expected to go into medicine and sister is going into medicine. Her family is cold but does come around. Anyhow, THAT is the closest I can think of but like I said, not close at all. This IS unique. You took a risk and I think it's really paying off. I think people are really interested and the credit all goes to you because I DO think that a story like this has to be done just right and has to be written well and, well, you've nailed it! I just can't wait for more!!!