So first off the chapter title for this one- that there is a word that means this and that you used it is here is so right.

Jim's card - loved it. Her reply sketches too and the conversations you write for them are a delight.

Hope there's still some of your signature fun to go along with the angst of what comes next.

Like you said Season 9 was a bummer and I think you captured well how the love was still there through the hurt. How he was trying but struggled not knowing how deep the hurt got. And how she struggled to have confidence things could get back.

Season 9 is tough to write so kudos for doing this chapter justice.

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ok- since reviews are supposed to be about the story and not all about my personal anecdotes in relation to said story I'll start by saying you've done a very good job of accurately describing what is like to be 8 1/2 months pregnant. And the telling of the story was just so sweet. Ok was that enough about you? Now me. But seriously, this story made me reminisce, maybe not the right word, but it did bring me back...first to a Valentine's day while I was pregnant that will forevermore be renamed St. Vomit's Day - cause that's what it is when you are already having morning sickness and then get a stomach flu on Valentine's Day while pregnant.

Next anecdote you made me think of...second child I wanted to know, hubs did not. So at 20 weeks I found out it was a boy and had to keep it a secret for another 20 - which I did, even started a wicked fight with him over a girl's name so much so that he was kind shocked when they announced It's A Boy. I love that Pam found out - and love love love the vision of little MAry Janes on black dress shoes.

Finally, my son was scheduled to be induced - the day after our anniversary (due to medical issues but it was predestined anyway cause labor started that night) so we had a very "unexciting" Anniversary. Your last lines were so perfect (see brought it back to you)...

anyway, thanks for bringing me back through your words... it was a real treat especially with where I am now in my family's story.

As promised - Jelly Beans for this one

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I absolutely adored this chapter - you are so good at their banter and their love ...

"Fine, there was mutual way-having, - had me laughing out loud.

The leaving of roses - love devices like that especially when they come with mentions of all the ways they fell in love and notes like that at the end.

The detail about the shared wall was great - I can tell you some juicy stories about shared apt walls. Remind me to share offline.

great fun - very sexy and so jammy!

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NLM - You are so creative- in all you do, the writing and the art and even the way you make this site so engaging and welcoming and fun.

As most I'm not a fan of Roy's but I felt so happy for them both here and I could just sense Pam's excitement in the moment. I kinda can't believe Roy was smart enough to pull the ruse of he fallen knife but I'll buy it.

Anyway, I just read someone's blog about how even the beloved and well-read writers still crave the reviews and comments and so I felt the need to drop you one.

Love this already and while it may take a while to read all the chapters I am excited to do so.

Author's Response: Much belated response but thank you for reviewing. You are right, getting a notice of a new review almost always instantly lifts my mood, especially on older fics! Yes, in light of those new superfan episodes where Pam says Roy proposed via newspaper ad with as few words as possible so it was cheapest, this proposal was pretty thoughtful and romantic (I did get the V-day proposal right though!) But I figured Pam’s desperately holding on to *some* kind of romantic, happy moment to justify staying with Roy so maybe they did have a nice proposal. 

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Okay, I'm confused. Not from the story but by the lack of reviews. This is so good, I can't understand that.

I'm quite intrigued by the premise and world you have set up. Pam and Jim seem to have retained their Pam and Jimness (which is always important in a fan fic) and the tie-ins and recontextualization of canon events is done so well.

Your writing is also very impressive in how it is so engaging and clever- freedumb, gittar, Makeyourselfathome,haveaseat! - you have a way of making the reader feel right there and in the world and though much is still to be revealed, it's easy to get a sense of what their life is like.

Looking forward to seeing where you take this.

Author's Response:

I appreciate your kind words, more than you know! Characterization is one of my strengths... there is a trade-off in that I'm not always sure of my own identity. These characters don't just live in my head, I become them. I love it and I hate it.

Got a little meta there. That's just my style. I will come back to this story when I can <3 I've been busy trying to live in the real world and energy is such a precious, limited commodity. Always a trade-off.

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I finally was able to read this story. I started reading it a little while back. I was already somewhat deep in writing my own first date fic with the outline written up until the end of the first night. Anyway I began reading this and got to the part where he stops for gas and that was almost where I stopped scared of the similarities. But I read on, similar but still different enough until I got to his note. And that's where I shut the iPad down. I knew where my Pam and Jim were going at the end of their date. It was too late for me to be unique in that but at least I wanted to come at it unifluenced and with my own vision. Now that I finally finished fleshing it out and posted it I immediately came back to finish the story I started reading weeks maybe months ago.

Wow. We have a lot of similar vision don't we?Still enough is different too.

I really appreciated the speech from David. Always like seeing wisdom passed down. And it was very sage advice.

Likewise the honesty at the office. You know I'm all about unpacking the feelings and releasing themselves of all that was unsaid so they can move on. But also the way they fell right back into their playful banter. It goes without saying I was all in for that too.
Over dinner they got to know a little more of each other's past, all the makings for a true connection and the start of something with that deep connection.

And while they already know they love each other glad you made the choice to not have them do more than kiss on the first date. You know I'm on board with that decision and feel it is completely in character.

I'm so glad I finally got to read this first fic of yours. I loved it.

Author's Response:

Glad you liked this one. You're right in we have similar ideas, but there's enough that's not the same to keep things our own. There's the briefest of shots in "The Job" when Pam has her talking head but there's a montage of shots of Jim, of Jim still in the office with this small little smile on his face. He's already seen the note from Pam. That's where I envision him listening to David.

Meeting at his desk and the conversation in the office are fairly similar to what you thought too. Go back to where it fell apart, heal the scar, move on from there. Glad you liked my take on it.

As for what happened after the date, well, I actually flesh that out a bit more in "This Thing Called Life." Hopefully when/if you get around to that you'll get why I wrote what I did.

Thanks for coming back to this one. It's always fun to see what people think of my early stories as well as the newer projects. 

Dancing Queen - cheese for sure but the best kind.

As with every chapter it is nice to get the added insight of what is going on in their heads throughout the scenes we already know, especially in this bedroom scene.

Man in black and Blue Angels -like seeing those references here.

She sleeps over - how did Jim sleep at all knowing she was just downstairs (oh and how did he not give up his bed for her?)

Oh - one thing and not a big deal but you might want to edit - the song is Islands in the Stream - you have in the Sun (which is a Weezer song) - again no big deal but easy enough to fix - unless they sang a Weezer song too.

Excited for the next chapter -will we get to see what the letter says?

Author's Response: It was fun to put in those internal thoughts and add in the things like the Blue Angels and the Man in Black. I'm sure Jim was all sorts of restless. She did ask to crash on the couch and Jim was already discombobulated enough (and happy to be spending more time with her) that offering her his bed would have been even more awkward.

Stream, Sun, chalk that one up to I was still fairly new to the fandom and might not have done all proper research. 

As for the letter, well, you'll just have to read and see. Thanks as always.

What do you do when your sister shows up at your door in a state weeks before her wedding, call for reinforcements. Nice job bringing in all the important women in her life to not only comfort her and give her advice but lay into Roy as well.

But what I really liked most here was the addition Shakespeare and where it came from. Pastor Dan seems to have reached her in way that even the women couldn't. I think my favorite part of this chapter was:

“I understand,” Dan nodded at her. “That’s a nice thought, you’re right. But personally, I think it’s better if you marry your best friend.”

Second only to : "This will always be yours".

Now I know this story is based in canon and so I know where it's headed but this ending still pretty much broke my heart.

Author's Response: Kinda figured Pam would need some friendship at that point in her life. Also some much needed perspective on Roy. I've always kinda got the feeling she never really asked anyone if Roy was right for her, especially with the long engagment and the fact he only set a date because he was drunk. Glad you liked Pastor Dan. I saw that play while I was writing this story and those lines stuck out.

Sorry to break your heart there a bit. We all know the levels of angst Jim and Pam went through so it's kind of unavoidable.

There's one hugely implausible thing about this chapter - that you would ever write a story where Whiskey gets poured down the drain.

But I do appreciate his family coming out because they were worried about him even if they were a bit pushy.

I enjoyed seeing his first day - nice to see him pulling himself together enough - it was really tough to see him in the state before his family showed up.

Larissa saving the box for him framed against how he shredded the letter has a kind of balancing - he'll never get back that letter (see as I have stated Jim is too impulsive- had he taken a moment) but at least the box is not off to the dump.

Ending on a bit of a sad note I'm interested to see how far we jump next.

Author's Response: It was just Old Crow, a cheap bottom shelf bourbon. But my view on alcohol what I wrote for Gerry. Better to dump a bottle than let a bigger problem develop. I've personally seen where that road goes to many times at work, no thanks.

Jim's at one of his lowest points of his life here. Tough love can sometimes be kind of pushy but that's the way it goes from time to time. Yeah, he pulled himself together, but he's still reeling which is making him act as impulsivly as you see here. He's putting on the Stamford Jim facade, especially after he shreds the letter and can't get it back. Which was tough for me to write too.

Glad you liked that Larissa kept the box. As I've said before, the sisters are fun characters.

Sorry about the sad chapters. I've got a feeling you'll like what's to come though.

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My bookshelf is full and I've got four of my own stories in the works but I've been anticipating starting this one for so long and since there hasn't been a new Chapter of SW in a while (no pressure - none at all - take your time by all means ((hope you can read my levity)) ) and I miss reading me a little Warrior style writing so I finally dove in. 

Right off the bat (I know wrong sport) this fic is delightful. Interesting twist with the names - wondering if there is some significance later since we already know it is Jim and Pam. I like how you made it so she really hasn't seen him - although I was surprised how much interaction they already are having with the chat room - oh and how I remember chat rooms like that - funny how even though we don't have to wait for the Pshhhhhhhkkkkkrrrrkakingkakingkakingtchotchotchochhhhchhhh*ding to connect any longer we still love our chat rooms (only now we call it Discord).

I got really swept up in the scene with the coach and the wind sprints and Code of Contact.  

Never, for one instant, forget that the name on the front of your jersey is more important than the one on the back!" This was my favorite of the mantras.

Nice to see the Jim qualities we admire were there even from high school - honor and leadership -  and that his goofy brothers were also the same - funny though how they reminded me of Fred and George a bit here. And you know how I love a good jixing - but in this case ugh had it not been for it she might not have ever dated Roy, that hurts. (JK)

Looking forward to getting into this one. 

That was a pretty intense chapter. With your knowledge and history you must have been spinning when you caw the episode with the pepper spray but like you say here they don't always get things right on TV.

Speaking of which and we've discussed before - your job is intense and tough to take sometimes. it was interesting to get the perspective here from the Ethan character.

Somehow I remember them being couple friends and was wondering how they would become that was - I take it you don't often befriend subjects of calls so it was really good Pam ran her cart into his wife (yours a social worker too?). Befriending them was better than therapy.

I enjoyed getting the glimpse into Karen's reaction at the beach. You know she had to be pretty mad about that and clench down harder afterwards.

Good times ahead -this should be fun.

Author's Response: