Oh, NLM, your story makes me want to buy AQP just to remind me how spot-on this is. Okay, here we go with what I love:
I love that Pam is the braver one at the beginning of the story (and if that bravery is motivated by the delicious-smelling meat, I can't blame her). You amazingly show Intuitive Pam without dialogue. What?! How did you do that?!
I so often shy away from trying to write Dwight and Angela because I don't know if I can "capture" them fully when writing dialogue. Yet you SPOT-ON 100% fully capture them individually...in silence. Again I ask: How do you do that?!
I also sort of love that Angela is driven by this need to be a "proper and hospitable hostess" but that judgment quickly rears its ugly (albeit, silent) head.
1 in 6 chance of getting murdered = Me Rolling!!
I adore your notes about researching the goats (I know so much random stuff due to fanfiction); you fit them into the story nicely.
I am a huge fan of the Dwight/Jim, Dwight/Pam, Dwight/JAM friendship. I love that each dynamic is unique and OMG you completely captured that. Jim praising Pam's fishing skills and the little exchange about what he brings to the table was so perfect.
I am so excited about where you are taking this story.

Author's Response: Thanks for the great review! I always thought Pam was braver than she seemed, especially when she had Jim's support, so I enjoyed making her the "braver one" here. I was definitely nervous about actually writing Dwight and Angela, so I'm very please to hear I'm doing them justice so far. And yes, Angela wanting to be a good hostess but also unable to turn off her judgy-ness is pretty much what I was going for. And yes I did a lot of goat research! I even watched a couple "how to milk goats" videos this is how dedicated I am! Hope you continue to enjoy the story!

See, I try not to bug you about updates, but then you go and write something like this and I almost can't help myself. First things first, that playlist is wonderful! I read the last chapter and then this new chapter twice while listening to it and, oh, it is so perfect. I mean, the Civil Wars (especially Safe and Sound with Taylor Swift!) music is just so perfect and so fitting for this story, especially.
I think this capture caught every nuance and emotion that makes this story unique. I am thoroughly impressed with how you keep them in-character (Jim being so protective, silently withdrawn, etc.) and the relationships canon (you are weaving that Dwight and Pam friendship beautifully) but it is still completely applicable to this world. There are also great moments from the movie (the discovery about the frequency, the waterfall) that aren't overdone, but help move the story along.
Part of what I love about this story (I mean, other than scenes like the stream, um, encounter) is how these characters have such great relationships but are also on their own journey with the Before. You've done a great job with all four characters, but this one was about the girls for me.
I'm worried about Angela! You've written her grief in such a delicate, hands-off way, but you've kept her, her. So I feel like you are going to have her crack or have a major badass moment (I'm hoping for the second!) But I'm worried with what she's carrying around. Bravo to you for making me feel real things for these fake people! :D
Pam's backstory in this chapter is written beautifully. I love her admission about Roy and how she handled Jim's confession about the guilt he carries with Larissa. That was a nice moment. Pam's wandering through the woods until she comes across the mailbox was great. I appreciate that tone of understated fate that she would come across it. Oh, and the connection to Penny and Larissa! So nice!
Way to go! This really is one of my favorite stories on this site; it's unique and familiar at the same time in all the right ways. Thank you for the update!

Author's Response: Thank you for the great review! Yes one thing I’ve enjoyed is getting to do these flashbacks and explore how Pam and Jim got to this point. We will learn more about Angela soon, but she is small yet fierce, she’s not as delicate as Dwight paints her. I had a few ides for the last scene but I like the mailbox, it was a I hope non cheesy way to have Larissa be the reason Jim’ and Pam met. I will try to get the next chap out sooner than 2.5 months from now XD

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This story is one that made me become an MTT member; I devoured it twice in a row. You really captured the reality of marital conflict, including how the growth from it can be kind of beautiful. Thank you so much for writing this! I love each chapter so much!

Author's Response: This means so much. This is one of my most favorite pieces of writing, and also the hardest to revisit. I am so honored to know that you find beauty in something so hard, and that you liked it so much you read it twice! Your words mean so much. Thank you thank you thank you!

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You have captured Pam's voice beautifully, but I must say that third paragraph is perfection. There is so much there that just resonates there of how that season in their relationship might have been. And I really like how you talked about laughter being more than just funny...I think that's important and a big part of their relationship too. :) Thank you for this beautiful two-part piece!

Author's Response: Perfection? You flatter me too much. Thank you!

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Woooooow! I love where this is going. I can't wait to see how this date goes and hear Jim's reaction. I know it seems small, but that umbrella bit got me. The confession itself, but you painted beautiful imagery.

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Why do I read this stuff in Starbucks?! Cause I'm grinning like an idiot and giggling like a small child.
When he asked about that green shirt and then the gray swishy skirt (before we even got to the why) I fell on the floor and convulsed slightly because it was too much in all the right ways.
I really enjoy how you add in references to these little moments from their day but are framed up during the two talking (like trivia night, etc.)
God, I love the little banter they still have even while they are, um, you know talking about Other Stuff...
Wait, what do you mean only one more chapter?! I mean, yea! to one more chapter, but I'm feeling greedy here!
Oh, and thank you for reminding me of so many wonderful things from these years such as MySpace and the amazing Begin to Hope album. I love a good soundtrack to go along with wonderful fic like this.

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So......I am ADDICTED to this. We’ve established that I can do angsty as long I get that happy ending, right?! I pray that’s where we’re going but god it’s gonna be gut wrenching to get there.

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I love how you’ve written Angela here! I could absolutely hear her in your words and scenario. Love this story!

I love how this chapter has Dwight and Meredith show unexpected strength. That they are (maybe?) going to be the ones who save the day is great.
But, geez, kill me okay? Cause Pam and Jim worried about how Jim will live without her made my bottom lip get all quiver-y. That moment when she realizes he will make the next woman miserable at first, that almost-blame she takes on while still taking care of him, is so lovely and in-character and damn heartbreaking. Ugh, and then Jim with his sister!! Great great great job giving us the visual on Jim's transformation through Larissa's eyes. Her empathy made it even more sad.
Creed! Of course! I love where this story is going.

I am in love with this chapter. The Dwangela aspect, Pam's reflection on her time with (and without) Jim.

Pretty much the moment where she remembers Jim's first day at DM and then waits for the shock to take over, I MAY or may NOT have been tearing up. It was this simplistic beauty and can you never, ever stop writing that?

I just, this story keeps getting better and better. I absolutely love it and I can't wait for where the story is going.

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This story is SO amazing. It’s beautifully researched, completely in-character, and delightfully transformative. And you take these lines FROM the show and blend them so perfectly that I have to read again. I love that you had Pam (still naive, still not so world-wise) open the door while we were all yelling at her to NOT OPEN THE DOOR.
And your use of secondary characters was PERFECTION! Nurse Phyllis was amazing; I could SEE her expressions in your writing. I could NOT figure out who Pam shot though and as soon as you said Troy I audibly shrieked with delight. This is just amazing; every bit of it reads like a movie I’d watch. (For the story, not the smut...)
I really can’t wait to see what we get from the epilogue.

Author's Response: Awww, DC! You are so sweet. This review put such a huge smile on my face. I hope you enjoy the epilogue and it gives you that lovely sense of having watched a good movie from start to finish! Thank you so much!

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Oh I love it! These little Before/After stories make my heart flutter. Great tie in with title and theme. Whew! Chapter Two in that “You hurt me” exchange had a simple rawness that was so real. Thank you for sharing this.

1

Great take on this scene. You did a great job capturing that canon piece in the Talking Head.

But let me talk about this line. "He...didn't want them to ask about the date. He felt protective of it."
Honestly, this is one of the most in-character-Jim statements I've read in JAM fanfiction. There are scenes (little comments or Talking Heads) that Jim throws something out there to be humorous and deflect how much he absolutely loves Pam, I think. And not because he is ashamed of her or his love for her, but because he is so protective of them. He knows how special what they have is. I love this line so very much. What a great catch you made in Jim's character!

"Where the hell has that shirt been hiding?" >>Oh, Jim. If you only knew. :)

Author's Response:

Thank you for your feedback, it honestly makes my heart hurt (in a good way) to receive thoughtful compliments like this. Maybe it’s just because I’m fairly new to the world of writing fic, but every single comment makes me smile like a loon! I hope that never goes away though. 

And you are so right! It felt really natural for him to want to keep this to themselves. I couldn’t have put it into words any better than you already have.  

Thank you again :)