Now that he's with Jan, there's so much Michael's learned about love. He feels obligated to spread the word. Set sometime Season 3-ish but not specific.
Awwwww. I loved the Michael/Jan interaction.
What does Gil know? Did I miss something?
I loved the viewpoint. It was such a great idea. It would be fun to hear other people's opinions of the wedding.
Hey, Jen -- I like to think Gil's more intuitive about Oscar's coworkers than Oscar is, and knows about Jim + Pam.
It would be fun to hear other viewpoints. Someone should get on that :)
It's amazing the magic a simple Valentine's Day card can hold. Throw in a troubled relationship and a good snowfall, and it's a holiday to remember.
10 Oh gosh, LOVE it. Love the song too. Now for "Deeply" :O)
You know what I liked about this. They got to it. She gave him the card, and they just went for it, no misunderstandings, or miscommunications. I wish the show would do this.
Eight years has passed since Jim and Pam have spoken. Many things have changed in their lives including a little girl that captures their hearts.
This is really good. Please keep going!
Jim's with Karen. Pam's with Roy. Misery all around until Pam fights to find her passion again. In her art and in her love life.
Oh Gosh, hurry up and post the next chapter. This was very good.
Wishful thinking for a Jim/Pam fan who's convinced it'll all work out, but is sick of waiting.
10 Oh, I loved it. I like the flashbacks to Boys and Girls, as well as what their emails would have said. I can't wait to see what comes next.
Jim's basketball game with the C.F.O. (not his actual initials) gets interrupted with news from what happened at Poor Richard's; he reacts accordingly.
I just love your writing style. So enjoyable.
Author's Response: Thanks so much, Jen!
Oh I really liked this ending, the taking time. I think that is a very realistic scenerio.
And you are updating ONLY?!? I love it when you get itches. (That sounded so much better in my head)
Thank you so much - I was worried that it might disappoint. (I mean, c'mon...my usual ending involves smut, smut, and more smut.) But yeah, in this case, I really think it'd be a slower resolution. And aside from that, this entire fic was motivated by that hug - the sweetness in it, the way it captures that innocence that they have, while at the same time conveying the depth of all they feel. (See how easy it is to get me to ramble?)
Your itches comment made me laugh right out loud. That said, I'm relieved to hear that someone's still interested in "Only." I feel really, really guilty for abandoning that fic when a lot of people expressed an interest in it - like I let you guys down! But the thing is, I'm extremely wary of forcing it; if I'm not feeling it, I think it comes through.
So...yeah, I'm feeling it again, so hopefully I can finish that one.
Thanks, as always, for reviewing - you're so great and consistent about it!
I really like how you portrayed Jim here. Willing to turn his back on his own desires to prevent Karen from feeling pain. I also like how you put words that you emphasize in italics. It really helps me to narrate the story in my head. Loved it!
It's funny that you mention the italicizing, because I did it twice in one sentence (in a Karen quote), and I was concerned that it'd be distracting - so it's nice to hear that it wasn't. And yeah...I've mentioned before that, while I'm fascinated by the discussion on TWoP re: Jim vs. Pam (i.e. who's at fault, why Pam's a passive doormat, why Jim's a sullen prick), I just don't subscribe to either opinion. My sense is that these are two people who are caught in a very difficult - and very real - situation that has been exacerbated by their inability to communicate honestly. (And I can also see why they're hesitant - all the misunderstandings and missed signals have come off as believable to me thus far, however impatient I may be getting.)
All this to say that I really picture Jim as struggling with the fact that he'll go down in Karen's history as a "bad" guy, because I don't think he identifies himself as such. (And with Katy, I somehow don't think he was as invested as he has been with Karen - maybe that's just wishful thinking, or selective memory on my part.)
Anyway...we will see a resolution soon, right? Right Greg Daniels???
Thanks, as always, for the review!
"...he was her past made tangible." I mean, if I wrote that line, I would be so proud of myself that I would cross stich that on a pillow. That is an awesome line, it just really stood out to me. I am so proud of Jim and Pam (yes, I know, two fictional characters, but still...) for taking it slow, letting things simmer a bit. They will be better for it, that's for sure. Phyllis rocks, as per usual. And I love how just looking at Jim makes Pam weak in the knees. Very steamy!! Great chapter!
Author's Response:
I read your review very late last night, when I was all drowsy and half asleep - and I just cackled out loud at the cross stich comment (mainly because I imagined my husband coming home to find a pillow on our bed that says "her past made tangible" and the WTF? face I'd probably get). I'm glad you like the pacing here; I've run the gamut in my stuff from them taking it incredibly slowly to their not even waiting much past the confession of feelings to get down to business. :o) Obviously, everyone has his/her own opinion, and mine is that these two likely wouldn't jump right in immediately, just because it's such a big deal. That said, I don't think they'd make it very long, but I do think they'd give it at least a few weeks. I also find that it's easier and a little more fun to write steam than all-out smut, but that's just me.
Thanks, as always, for reviewing!
Okay, first of all, I loved, LOVED, the splinter story. So much double meaning in that whole conversation. Of course he would never hurt her. And she so knows that, and always has. Then, I loved how she realized he was more of a man than the boy he was when he started DM. Because he so is. And the slinging of the dish towel over his shoulder, so hot. And I have that cookbook, and am so going to look up that recipe. And as for the smut, please sir, may I have some more. Okay, yeah, that's for gruel, but it works here too :) Loved it!
Author's Response:
Yay - glad you liked the splinter story! (I just thought that'd be such a Jim Halpert thing to do.) The boy/man thing is something that strikes me whenever I watch season one - he seems light years away then from the man we see on Casino Night. Not to say he's nothing in season one, but...he strikes me as more boyish (except in "The Alliance" when he's leaning on her desk rubbing his hands over his face - guhhhhhh).
The spinach lasagne thing is actually stolen from my real life - on our first date, my (now) husband & I made that dish, using that cookbook. It's actually a great recipe. :o)
Thanks for reviewing!
Holy Mother of all that is good and pure in this world.
If I promise I'm not crazy, will you give me your address. I have a case of wine to send you.
Anytime they are lying on top of each other on a kitchen floor is good, good, good. And I loved Pam's realization that it could have gone another way, the merger might not have happened, they might not have happened. And going back to him. They had waited long enough. And when he realized that she was back, and he just knew why.... And the kicking the door closed as he pulled her in, I just love that move.
Finally, the mere thought of Jim whispering "com.e" in her ear, Oh. My. God. That was aaaaamaazing./kelly.
Good things come to readers who wait. You are beyond awesome!
Your review has me sitting here grinning like a lunatic...thank you! I'm really glad that you liked it - and I'm especially glad that you liked her going back. I wrestled with that, because in all honesty, I don't believe those two characters would immediately jump in with both feet; they've taken such baby steps toward one another for so long (which could, of course, be an argument for why they'd decide to go all in). At the same time, though, I understand why some readers find it not plausible that they'd stop themselves because they're both experienced adults who obviously love each other. So I tried to find a balance here - exploring the possibility of them not taking the leap, then a sort of "surprise" (in a way) when they do.
I think this response may have made absolutely no sense whatsoever. :o)
Anyway - thanks so much for such a thoughtful (and funny!) review; you rock!
This is definately not boring, it's setting the stage. Hope to read more.
"Yeah,I'm thinking I won't do that."
Love that line, go tough Jim! Update soon:)
Yup, it’s a post-Cocktails fic! With a bit of a twist. Karen does a bad thing, and Jim is about to suffer the consequences…Oh my gosh, this is awesome. I would love to see this on the show, just get it all out in the open. Drama, drama, drama. I love it.
Author's Response: Thank you! I feel like this probably won't happen on the show, since the writers tend to steer it away from lots of drama, but I really want a "get it all out in the open" moment. So thanks :)
Ahhhh! Yes Pam, tell him you had feelings for him when she was with Roy. Write really fast shan!!!
Author's Response:
Ha! I can't make it that easy, now can I? We'll see... Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Oh that was so great. And I loved Jim breaking Drunk!Roy's nose. He deserved it. Now I can't wait for the next chapter. Jim and Pam have some 'splain'n to do.
Author's Response: I was soooo nervous about having Jim punch Roy. It seemed like something Jim wouldn't normally do. But I kept having these moments in the chapter when I was writing Jim get angrier and angrier, only to restrain himself at the last minute, and I thought--I gotta let him do it once. Hee!
Pam's discovered the world of internet chat rooms. Jim can't resist the chance to be near her in cyberspace. Spoilers up to Cocktails. Oh my gosh, I love it. I haven't been in chatrooms in years, but it is all coming back to me. Can't wait for more !!!
Author's Response: thank you!! I so appreciate the review! I'm working on chapter 2 tonight...
Gah, this is my favorite chapter so far. I love the "inner monlogue" of Jim, because I loved that. And the part where Pam said "I", then messed up and started over is so true to life of a chatroom. Can't wait for more!
oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god /Kelly. Moxie, this chapter was so great. First of all, I am dying to know who Vexin is. Or is it even anybody that we know, or is it Jim's "guilty" conscience just messing with him. And the Ms. Congeniatlity quotes game, so cute. So Pam and Jim, she has to have an inkling! And his avoidance of all things Karen makes my inner seventh grade girl happy. Can't wait for more!
Do I really need to sing the South Park song again? Seriously awesome! And I am mucho intrigued with what Karen will do. I hope that you feel better soon!
Oh My Gosh! I cannot, CANNOT, wait to find out what happens when this all resolves itself. But I am not good at waiting. I will probably read the last page of the new Harry Potter first when it comes out, just to see who dies. Awesome chapter, hope you are feeling better :)
"Yes," he finally said. "This is it. This is my favorite color."
That line is awesome. I loved this chapter, and can't wait to see where it all goes!!
I. Love. You.
That is all.