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"But apparently, I'm not allowed to be happy anymore." I can hear this in Jim's voice and it's so good.

That whole fight is so painfully real and like, I'm on Team Pam here because I 100% believe Jim doesn't write things down on the grocery list. And then to bring in her mom and have it spiral into a Whole Thing without either of them really knowing how? Ugh, always keep writing because you wove this story together from so few details so perfectly. (I'm using the word 'so' a lot in this review.)

Jim's escalating puns and messages to try and get her to smile might be my favorite part of this story and for something so cute and fun to flip to pulling into a Kohl's parking lot? I'm not mad about any of it.

"They didn’t really do this--the whole apology thing. Not since Roys and Karens and misunderstandings. But this was growing up. So he let her apologize." I LOVE this! Its so perfectly them.

It had nothing to do with peanut butter. I don't know how you did this, but I love the whole thing a lot. And we all needed a laugh like pencil dick today.

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How. Dare. You.

I can't believe you did *that*. You did THAT. You did it. And honestly, I'm equally ashamed and astonished at how much it hurts that you broke a fictional teapot and had Jim crunch a chunk of it under his heel, but well, here we are.

And even with all the pain and sadness in this story, there are still so many parts that made me laugh. Like Jim thinking she was asking him how to buy a teapot. And Michael's face pressed up against the window. And everything Dwight, but we'll get to him in a minute.

Then there are the lines that broke me like the teapot, like Jim admitting he hated watching her with Roy, and Pam wondering out loud why she felt like she couldn't hate Karen. And the weapon vs. the shield? I'm continuously impressed with the ways you tear Pam and Jim down to build them back up!

Let's be honest though. Dwight is the hero of this story. Dwight and Pam's friendship is one of my favorite things and you nailed his fondness of Pam and total disdain for Jim in the best of ways here. "Let Jim clean up his messes" indeed!

"Oh. Well, that makes it difficult to talk. Jim and Pam are inspecting each other’s tonsils." I needed this moment of levity in this story. It was amazing.

OKay fine. So you shattered the teapot. But you put JAM back together so beautifully that I'll forgive you. This time. ;)

Author's Response:

I had two thoughts in my head when I started writing this, and neither of them were destroying the teapot, so... 

This whole thing has come from that weapon v. shield line. That was the entire concept. So, I’m so glad it stood out to you. 

Well, that and somehow having Dwight stand guard. And then I started writing and somehow the teapot was shattered? I don’t even know. I’m mad at myself. I love teapots. I love *this* teapot. I’m a murderer... Although, I love the general consensus that people are mad I broke the teapot. I love how we all love that damn teapot. 

Thanks for taking the time to review - you know I love them so! 

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Oh my God. I love this so much. Now, I didn't pay all that much attention to history in school, but I *have* read Gone with the Wind and North and South more times than any person should, so this all reads very accurate to me and I'm obsessed.

I kept re-reading it this morning, trying to decide what my favorite line was, but there are so many beautiful moments in this story, I think I have to just go with the one at the end where Jim's first thoughts are "She has a fiance" and then he reminds himself about his own fiancee. Poor Jim, he's in so much trouble and I don't hate it at all.

Author's Response:

You have read Gone with the Wind? I'm impressed! I enjoy historical fiction but I must say I am finding myself putting a ton of research into this one. 

Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to comment!

“See, Miss Beesly, I knew there was a reason I must stay,” he managed to get out between heaving breaths. - Oh. You're good. That's all.

"His grey shirt covered in streaks of soot, tucked loosely into his pants, his suspenders still hanging down at his sides; he knew he looked disgraceful. He ran his hand through brown hair before realizing his hands were black as the charred logs at his feet and cursed his condition." I don't hate this visual at all.

I really love that James is staying and that he knows but doesn't want to admit why; but I also love Pam's bravery in asking him. Her independent/defiant streak really is on show in this chapter, and it's really lovely to see; especially when she's thanking James for his help and then turning Roy's down in the next breath.

In this chapter and in the last one, the scenes where James and Pam have conversations on the porch both have reminded me of the Booze Cruise boat conversation; and I don't know if this is intentional, but it gives me the same feels here as it did there.

"“I have a confession. I do not particularly like Mr. Anderson,” looking shyly down as she spoke." I love this so much. It's the opening he needs for what's coming next, but it's just also... I love how in only two days' time, Pam is comfortable enough to be this open and upfront with him. It doesn't feel forced, and that is one of your many strengths as a writer - how willing I am to believe whatever direction you take this story in.

Especially since that direction is "You could marry me." It doesn't matter that this is the fourth or fifth or sixth time I've read this story - that line gets me every single time.

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I love a lot of things about this chapter, but one of my favorites are the insults Roy slings at James. He's truly a despicable human being here but I giggled a lot at picturing Roy saying "Dirty Yankee scum." I wasn't laughing so much at "A whore to a Federalist scoundrel." but I did appreciate the visual of James aiming a pistol at Roy all the same.

"He reluctantly pulled away but his thumb continued to stroke the soft skin of her cheek, as their eyes exchanged silently what their bodies longed to and he saw there a reflection of what he had just felt, causing a heat to flow through him that threatened to burn him to his core." This sentence is far more poetic and beautiful than any sentence I've ever written and I keep rereading it, and it's perfect every single time. This gift you have? One day I'll make you teach at least some of it to me.

"“Oh good, now we are formally introduced.”" Ha! Oh, I do love this little bit of banter between them.

Hey, that second kiss they have? By the horses? Again I say, how dare you. But also please never stop.

I think we both remember how the final scene of this chapter broke me when I first read it, but just... the way you take the "and there was only one bed" trope and turn it into THIS?

"As he lay down beside her in the dilapidated old bed, pulling the moth-eaten blanket over them both, she tensed slightly. He moved his hand to rest in the valley of her waist but beyond that, he took care that no part of his body touched her.

“Is it okay, that I put my hand here?” " Is it okay, you ask? No. No, this simple and innocent exchange still hits the same reading it now as it did months ago, which is to say, I still don't understand how a simple hand on her waist could be my undoing, but here we are.

I'm not mad about it. I've also been stingy with the jellybeans this fic, because I'm saving them, but this chapter gets one. For reasons.

Is it weird that I grinned throughout the entirety of their early morning pillow talk? I love reading these two get to know each other and that she's comfortable enough to tease him about knowing what his house looks like. The "Miss Biddable" callback from the first chapter was perfect.

And the scene in the store where he asks her to help him pick out new clothing? Booooooored, you're killing me with the subtlety of their flirting. Absolutely killing me.

""I expected you to be rested given the amount of time you spent asleep against my arm."" Uh huh. I see what you did here. I like it a lot.

The entire dinnertime conversation is perfect and I really appreciate both of them realizing that the relationship between them is far from typical.

""Patience is a virtue, James," she replied quietly, focused on her laces, deftly loosening them at a pace that caused him to smirk lupinely." Did I laugh? I laughed. I truly love this version of Jim and Pam so much.

Author's Response: I love that you love all my favorite parts as well. Thank you, as always, for your detailed and fun reviews. They bring me so much joy. ;)

Entanglements.

To quote someone else, “Well fuck you very much, ma’am.”

I love this and you and I’ll be back with a better review after I read it 11 more times. Best birthday present ever.

Author's Response: I'm laughing so hard at this. I'm so glad you loved it and it made your birthday a little bit brighter. ;) 

Like Jim, I would like to sit in that dress shop and listen to all of the gossip, especially if Larissa was talking. I really enjoy her part in this story.

"Eleanore always seemed to admonish James when he entered the back of the house, and it continually amused him." Please never stop with this either as it makes me smile every time she's flustered by him just showing up in his own house.

""From what I can see already, Monsieur, you make her very happy indeed."" Well, I love Julienne immediately. This should prove interesting!

Well, that's a rude good morning from Gerald. His horror at the realization that James loves Pam made me laugh, but also made me really sad, given the way we usually see Gerald and Betsy in fic and remind me again that these are fictional characters and I'm too invested. It's fine.

"He looked up at her, her worried brow and somber expression urged him to supply some sort of explanation. "I find it hard to put into words what I sometimes see, what sometimes haunts my sleep, only that I would never want you to endure such horror."

"Perhaps, you should let me choose whether I would bear that burden with you."

He slipped his hand from her grip and stood, his composure reasonably returned, "What kind of husband would I be if I did that?"

She frowned slightly at his attempt at levity but acquiesced, allowing the subject to drop." I think this might be one of my most favorite moments in the entire fic thus far; which is saying something because nearly every word of this fic is my favorite.

Oof, talk about an awkward dinner party. My heart kind of broke for Larissa and her "maybe I won't die a spinster" speech, but I love how clearly she pointed out why no one is welcoming Pam with open arms.

""That charm, James. Did you purchase it at discount?"" That made me laugh.

Another place I could sit and listen to endless hours of gossip? Eleanore's kitchen.

Entanglements. That's all.

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Hey, feel free to write Pam channeling her inner-Meredith Grey any time the mood strikes you if it means we get stories like this. You have my full support on that.

I love angst. I adore great angst. This was so much angst that I've had to reread it about 7 times to fully appreciate each and every single sucker punch. It's so, so good.

Starting right out with "this is her admitting there's no chance". I don't know what it says about me, but I am here for this side of Pam - we don't often get to see the self-loathing, regretful, bitter side of her, and I think you nailed what she would have been feeling that night/the morning after perfectly.

She threw out the dress. I see you, JB. I see you destroying another piece of JAM history right before our eyes and yeah, it hurts.

"It’s like he knows about her betrayal. She lets the ire of his gaze fuel her own quiet discontent. He can’t possibly hate her as much as she hates herself." I'm so glad for this section, because I love how it builds into the rest of the fic; from Roy showing up to Jim's snarky comments, to Pam just being over both of them in the moment and letting THEM have their moments while she figures out the way to her own.

Her "you don't get to judge me" just makes me so happy. I love this bit of backbone. I love that it happened in front of everyone. I love that she just walks away.

"She could survive the aftermath. It didn’t make her want Jim less. But, it was nice to know that she could do this on her own if she had to. So, she let the calm settle over her." Can I just copy and paste this entire fic into this review, because I'm realizing every word of it is my favorite.

This is so good. God. You killed with this story. And a Tegan and Sara song? Yep, everything is fine over here. Just fine. I hope your day back wasn't as terrible as it was in your head!

Author's Response: Oh. Hey. Coley. Feel free to leave me epic reviews like this anytime. 

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OMG, I've finally had the time to sit down and read this story and it's so, so good! I am a trope loving girl, and this whole thing is checking off all of the tropes in the best sort of way.

He just kisses her in the subway when Roy is right there? I love this Jim. And then that wasn't enough for you - you went ahead and gave us a rain kiss.

This is me waving my Team JAM flag. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

p.s. #royisoverparty made me laugh so hard. You have no idea.

Author's Response: Thank you so much! Confident Jim is taking chances, it’s his time to shine. So glad you’re waving your JAM flag, we might start a celebration with them for the Roy is Over Party ;)

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Oh. My. God.

As I was reading this, I could HEAR Holly's voice saying every single word Pam uttered. You've hit that tone perfectly... every time she called Jim "Darling" I died a little bit more.

I can't even pick a favorite bit of dialogue, it's all so good, but I particularly enjoyed this:

"“Nonsense.” She waved her hand dismissively at me, still too busy with her sketchbook to look my way. “I can pay attention to other things. How miserable to spend one’s life thinking about love. Look at art, have a party, go outside for heaven’s sake.”

“But you must think about it sometimes?”

“You ask a lot of questions. What do you do for a living?”

I told her I was a writer, trying not to dwell on the fact that she’d ignored my question completely. Perhaps that was the kind of thing she did, ignored things that she didn’t want to, or couldn’t answer."

And then this: "“Would you write about me?”

“If I wished to.”

“And do you?”

“Look at who’s asking a lot of questions now.”"

I cannot see where you go with this from here. Selfishly, I have scenes from the movie I'd love to see you recreate, but I'm going to keep my mouth shut and let you write your story however you want because this is already off to such a gorgeous start that I have no doubt you'll do the whole theme justice.

Author's Response: I had to put my Holly Golightly hat on for this! I’m so so glad you enjoyed the dialogue, I feel like that was the most important part of the story to get right. Thank you so much, I’d love to recreate some of my favourite movie scenes too :)

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You are a gift to this fandom, and I need you to never change your fanfic writing ways.

See? Do you see now why I said I needed you to write this story? It’s so perfect. Start to end, from the witty banter, to the sweet Jim moments, to the dirty, dirty smut - it’s just perfect.

I got kinda sad reading the paragraph where Jim remembers all of his combined memories of the house but then he tries to literally fuck Pam into the house and I felt better about it. They can create new memories in Austin.

AGIAN. FOR YOUR NEXT TRICK I NEED YOU TO WRITE THE FIC WHERE THEY CHRISTEN THEIR NEW HOUSE AND MEET THEIR NEW NEIGHBORS.

“Use your words” is another one of those lines that’s always going to get me.

I can’t even pick a favorite moment in this entire thing. Her dress rips. They break a mirror. The moment in the kitchen where he swipes at her chin with his thumb and then she licks him off of him? Okay, maybe that’s the favorite. And the ending! Poor Henry.

Thank you so much for writing this! You’re the best.

Author's Response:

"For your next trick" GURL. I AIN'T NO WIZARD (*slowly sneaks away and makes a new Google Doc*)

You also pick up on my favorite parts. I love that. Twins. 

Thanks, love!