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To begin, Ice was Fantastic here. You captured her so perfectly in this story. (And I don’t know about you but I think Kelly is so much fun to write!)

I love how Pam and Jim still struggle, just briefly, to get on the same page. It kept them (as you’ve done nicely throughout) so in-character. And then when they finally finally realize what’s going on, it just comes together perfectly.

As I confessed earlier, I don’t understand half of the sci-fi specifics of this BUT you never lost me while also keeping me firmly grounded (or not 😉) on that spaceship with them. Thank you for not intimidating/excluding this Jam fan from this genre because I would have hated to miss such a great story. I am always so impressed and in awe of your talents in AU and this reaffirmed every step of the way.

Ps I would NOT complain if there is an epilogue that shows Ensign Howard and Ice interacting. I feel like Ryan would have a lot of pontificating he could do in space and about their mission and about Kelly’s selfish use of valuable storage space for her many adapted flightsuits... 🤷r05;a92;a039; Just a thought...

Author's Response: Thank you so much! Hearing all of this means a lot to me. I'm particularly glad you liked Kelly/Ice: I agree, she's a ton of fun to write, but I feel like I always dangle on the edge of overdoing her, so it's nice to hear it sounded good. And I'll think about that epilogue...

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Aw! One of my favorite bloopers! This was fun. Thanks.

Author's Response: Thanks, there's more coming so it'll be fun to see how this all pans out.

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There’s something I love about the structure of this:
“Jim raises his eyebrows.

Pam frowns.

Jim smirks.

Pam sticks out her tongue.

He has forgotten all about this warm feeling that takes over his insides whenever he and Pam are sharing a moment. How long has it been since the last time he felt this way?”

It goes from that endearingly childish banter to deep (but maybe hopeful?) pain. Lovely.

I also really like how you wrote about Jim going behind Pam’s desk. Like, he was an almost expected intruder the way you wrote it.

Great stuff and kudos for jumping at the challenge!

Author's Response:

Thanks so much for such a nice review!

I enjoyed writing this, and going from banter to deep feeling and back to banter again. Waltching S3 is difficult, but there are these moments, or the possibility for these moments that make it a fascinating time.

Jim going behind Pam's desk was one of those things that you don't really plan and suddenly appear when you're writing. And then I realized I needed it (Jim needed it) so that the next part can make sense.

Again, thanks a lot! 

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Comfect this story is so wonderful! I especially love this part:
"On the one hand it felt like divine revelation, like clouds of fire by night and smoke by day, like tablets at Sinai and an empty tomb on Easter Sunday. On the other, it was just the natural order of things: waking up one day and discovering your parents are aging, or your little sister is a woman now, and forgetting to be surprised by the news because today is not actually any different from yesterday; you’ve just noticed it now. "
I mean if that doesn't explain how Pam Beesly probably lives her whole life, I don't know what does. There is such a beautiful blend in this chapter of dramatic exit and subtle nuance that are, again, so very in-character for Pam. Really wonderful.

Author's Response: Oh, thank you DC! You picked up on my favorite line I wrote in this, so thanks, that really warms my heart. 

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Such a great chapter! We get to experience so much in a short space. When you got here, I really really feel in love with chapter:
"She looked up at him, seeing the naked emotion in his eyes..." Just everything here and after was wonderful and sweet and delightfully funny.

Author's Response: Thank you! I tried to make these pack a punch, and I'm so delighted they did that for you!

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I like where this story is going! It was nice to see Pam's awakening and that Roy isn't depicted as the bad guy here. I look forward to where you take this.

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So so so incredibly wonderfully gloriously good. Amazing little ways to capture the absurdity of this without it BEING absurd. That ending is So Wonderful and appropriate and makes absolute sense.
But can we talk about this little gem for a minute:
"He turned away, and then turned back before taking a step. “But just so you know, I’m not so sure Roy’s that good at noticing a really pretty face..”"
Is your goal for me to die when reading this because I DID when I read that so in-character subtle moment of Jim's?!

Author's Response: Oh, thank you DC! That is exactly what I intended except that I want you alive so I get to read the rest of Hello My Old Heart. ;)

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This is my absolute favorite chapter so far because I love Healthy-Selfish Pam. That moment in the library where she pulled at the brochures was so quirky and beautiful and I love it and I'm not at all secretly going to beg for there to be some sort of link back to that Stamford, CT brochure.

Really, just Pam doing what PAM wants to do is lovely and I 100% believe this is how she would show herself some self-care. Well done, man. I can't wait to see where you take this story.

Author's Response: There will be a lot of healthy-selfish Pam and yes, the Stamford brochure 110% will make at least one reappearance. Thank you for reading!

Comfect there's so much to enjoy in this chapter but I really love your characterization of Penny. I see these traits in that very limited screen time we got. Well done with fleshing that out! This is a great chapter.

Author's Response: Ah, DC, I really appreciate your review waterfalls! Penny was fun to write, and I'm really glad you enjoyed her.

Oh this was lovely, blissful, perfection. I love that we began with Pam's stagnant, passive existence and end with this beautiful realization. Wonderful chapter; one of my favorites in this story so far.

Author's Response: Thank you so much! I am very grateful for your positive feedback and your careful attention to the story arc :)

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I love to hate Season 3 and the fics that come from it are just glorious. I'm so looking forward to where this is going. I don't know if it was intentional, but I really liked the formatting at the end. Those one sentence paragraphs completely changed the pace in all the right ways.
I LOVE people getting caught in the rain. L-O-V-E it.

Author's Response: THAT IS MY FAVORITE TROPE. Rainy day confession fics are EVERYTHING to me, both as a writer and a reader haha.

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You have this way of adding in all these little things that make me so in love with this World and want more from it. Guh to the near proposal to Ryan; I want that story as much as I want to know exactly what Bill said to Roy behind closed doors on Thanksgiving.

Here is the other great thing you do in this chapter. Okay, there's a little tongue-in-cheek absurdity in the backdrop but there are REAL emotions that Pam is trying to juggle. Not only do you do a great job of showing the depths of that, but also evoking so much empathy for where she finds herself. Like, in this fanfic world it's so easy for me to be like "PAM, it's JIM; this isn't a difficult issue!" but in all the right ways I'm feeling for her. Big Time.

Oh my god. Dwight is perfection here. And Jim's response? Equal perfection.

Again, you just... you write their banter in ANY situation with such a natural ease that it's disturbing how good you are. The shift between serious and teasing and mild flirting is just too well done.

Ha! I can't lie, I thought when she was going into the house in that first scene, she would reappear with either 1) alcohol for a loyalty toast or 2) a knife for a blood pact. I clearly watch too many movies. What you did is far more in character and better for the story! :D

I WANT TO SEE MORE AT THE PAINTED LADY PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!

I'll say it again; you are fierce with their banter! And I love how you are keeping it fresh while we're trying to, you know, solve a MURDER! For example, this little gem:
“You’re a bit of an asshole, you know that?” She kept her focus on her menu, scared that she would crack a grin if she made eye contact with him.

“You’re not the first to say it. You’re kind of a bitch though, so we’ll balance each other out just fine.” He was smirking when she finally looked up at him. “And obviously get the BLT because it comes with fries.”

Pam ordered the Cobb salad."

I mean, I howled every time I read that. It is PERFECTION. Oh and the part about Pam's therapist is too fantastic and please tell me get more of THAT!

But the part that killed me, like KILLED me, hosted my funeral, and brought me back from the dead were those damn dossiers. It's like every inspo-board brought to life and I LOVE it. (What DID happen in Mexico in 2008?) I just love every bit of that lunch scene and how in character you have kept everyone. Oh my god, Phyllis Vance as the gossiping Housewives of Scranton ring leader is too perfect. Katy's not a "meet the family" kind of girl; oh boy I hope we hear more about that! And that little backstory Pam and Jim concocted so easily was a great throwback to the ease they had when planning a prank. Well done!!

AGH! And the way you threw in the "it's a date" line was an unexpected treasure! I am so in love with where this story is going. You know I'm already a little obsessed with it and I feel like it just keeps getting better and better with each chapter.

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So, ya know, I KNEW this was going to happen but I didn't know how perfect (but I'm also not surprised even a little). I hate/love the cliffhanger. Like a lot.

Here are a few other things I am really into with this chapter:
Kind of neurotic Helene who is also grieving (when she had to turn away because Pam reminded her of Mr Beesly *swoon at that emotion*)
Wild Larissa - like I'm here for that spin off but also hoping she gets a bit of redemption
Good natured guilt-trip-giving, baiting Betsy. I can't wait to see how you write Betsy further in this story.
Katy would send needy messages. Whatever works for you, Jim. For now...

Funny thing, I always fall asleep when Carrie's Russian lover shows up too...Hmmmm... But really, the entire Sisterly Support theme of Pam and Penny in this story is wonderful. I look forward to where you will take that.

But let's go back to that ending. WHAT?!?! I need this update, like yesterday. Please please please. I need it like air. Please.

Author's Response:

I’m so glad you’re loving Betsy and Helene! I’m actually really loving all of the women in this story for so many reasons that’ll be come clearer as we go on, but it’s so great to see that you’re on board with them all so far. 

Katy WOULD send needy messages. Doesn’t mean Jim has to answer them though. And yet...

As always, thank you! :)