Another wonderfully written chapter where you really brought us into the recovery room(s) and had us feeling all the emotion of the situation.

The way you keep teasing them finding out about their being Morgan and Jaimie, only to have the something prevent them really finding out is a great device you seem to be weaving throughout. What a reward it will be when they do learn.

Author's Response: Thanks about the feeling of realism in the recovery ward. My area of expertise lays in the pre-hospital setting which is why here in the hospital the medical stuff isn't nearly as detailed. So I'm glad you liked that.

It was a lot of fun writing all the close calls about them being Morgan and Jamie. We'll run into a few more before it's all said and done. Glad you're still enjoying this.

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.

So you call this a filler chapter but a lot happens for a filler.
First off, they do go home together and I like that you had them have the important conversation including going as far as having him stop at a drugstore.

Now I'm sorry, but I'm not one that would think he had a half year relationship with Karen and never had sex but it since it meant that he was not with Karen the day before and Pam the next I'll accept..plus it lets them have the same number. And the line that it was the first time she made love was strong.

So since I'm reading this much after the fact, I notice a pattern in your break-ups - how they don't always take on first go. Which was instrumental in setting up the spin on who reams out who. Having Jim be the one to tell her off is something new and I like to get a new perspective in fics (reading the same break-up scene over and over isn't quite as exciting) so well done there.

Other notes:
Nice Parks & Rec nod.
Call back to the shirt with his name on back.
Jim - how can you forget the raincheck?
He gets to read the shredded letter after all.
Thee two question talk at end, very mature and necessary as these two embark on the rest of their life.

Nice job with a "filler" chapter.

Author's Response: Thanks for the detailed review as always. Yeah, they go home together and so it makes sense Jim would want to be prepared.

I was still kind of new to the fandom when I was writing this and hadn't really gotten as good a bead on Karen's character, which is my reasoning for portraying her the way I do here. Thanks for indulging in my take on their relationship, even if it's against the normal grain.

Having Jim ream out Karen was another one of those choices. I'd read a lot of fics and it's kind of in canon that Karen reams out Jim. I wanted to try and do something different.

Glad you caught the Parks and Rec nod. The t-shift nod to the past was also a lot of fun. Yeah, Jim forgot about the raincheck, but to be fair it's been a long time since high school and to the best of his knowledge he threw out his Morgan box about a year ago. Yup, he gets to read the letter. I also wanted them to have a solid framework to heal some of their emotional wounds, so when other big things come up they're in a really good place.

Well you've done it. You've created a wonderland out of their history both from canon and what you created that was entertaining and whimsical and moving and musical and the perfect culmination to this story of their life thus far.

I have to admit I missed the significance of the rain check at the very beginning so I'm so glad you brought it up near the end.

Full circle, just like their life and their relationship and all the moments were perfectly represented in the drawings, mementos, places and songs. Seeing familiar people along the way was also fun.

I think my favorite song here was I hope you dance...really love that one and it works here.

Pretty remarkable feat to get everyone together so that he could thank them for his life. That was actually quite the gift she presented him there.

The arcade was good fun especially to the tune of Pinball Wizard (the loudest Broadway show I'd ever been to btw)

I was thrilled to see Coach Weller again even if he had to do his wind sprints again but it was here he started to get closer to learning about their real history but how she revealed it was just so delightful as was the reveal Larissa had rescued the box and she had found it and finally The Party to follow. But the end when Jamie and Morgan finally tell each other they love each other that was just a perfect ending to this story.

Except there is an epilogue which I'm sure will provide a beautiful button.

Author's Response: I'm really glad you liked this penultimate chapter. It was a lot of fun to bring everything to fruition. All the pain and angst they went through was only pointing them straight to each other. I had a lot of fun coming up with all the new bonus gifts and getting them to retrace their steps. I had a lot of fun bringing in previous characters too. Glad you liked seeing all of them too. Jamie and Morgan finally being together was a build up I'd had in my head for a long time so I've really glad it was so well received. Thanks as always for your great feedback.

1

So it's me who is bumping up the read count of this story lately. With the slowdown of new content lately I've gone to the archives to indulge in one I haven't read before.

I truly am enjoying what you are doing here - a AU period piece with our favorite cast and the Jack Ryan twist.

Your Jim here has his same lovability and gentleness with Pam yet is kick-ass and very hot with his JR side.

I've been enjoying it so far but this chapter I became really taken in with the way you paint the picture of the cabin. Your descriptive writing makes the reader (me) feel like we are there with them.

Also loving how you really get inside Pam's headspace and how she both is nervous and maybe angered to be drawn into the danger of Jim's world and yet always is still taken by the man she'd come to know and have feelings for - maybe not realizing the depth of them yet but at least knowing he'd become her closest friend.

Looking forward to seeing how this next chapter (and the whole rest of the story goes - always nice to read when it's all done - no waiting).

Again really enjoying this so far.

1

Seeing you make a surprise reappearance to our little kingdom inspired me to check out some of your works beginning with this which I am enjoying. To backtrack a bit - the concept - fun - thought it would be scary but I’m enjoying the angle. The mention of checking out all the movies/shows on the subject- spot on and exactly what I would do. Which leads me to the refusal to take the pain meds. Got to hand it to Jim. Personal bit- when during my pregnancy I got a tooth infection and had a root canal and then had the tooth pulled I too tried to not take the pain meds. Lasted about 3 hours before I did -(ps.. kid came out fine, grown up now and pretty awesome). So bravo for Jim and Pam too for making him a dinner that could instigate the gag reflex.
Your writing style and descriptions are so well done.

Looking forward to reading the rest and more of your work.

Author's Response: Thank you so much, it's always a privilege to hear that my writing is appreciated! Even the old writing 😍 I am trying really hard to motivate myself to finish and publish some of the stuff on my hard drive. Even if only self publishing. I will definitely keep the community in the loop if that happens. Motivation is fucky, god knows. 

1

It's my next reading break and I have to say this story just keeps getting better. The layers you have created in the back stories and characterizations of all the players are nothing short of brilliant. Your writing is captivating.

Your version of Karen is a strong, sophisticated grab life by the horns woman who I can love when she is not competing with Pam but instead is her champion and supporter. I love that she is the best friend and that Pam has a real girlfriend that she so needed. And I'll forever have a new perspective of Karen, your version is the real version not what we got on show.

Jim here however kinda breaks my heart. Everything he's gone through to numb himself from the loss of the only thing he wanted and didn't get. my heart the threesome was a bit of a shock but one that made me feel even more sorry for him, for The Jim I think him to be to use that to escape his pain is devastating as is all the other parts of his life like the fast car and supermodels with coke habits. Makes me wonder what the other playboys out there might be feeling inside.

I have to say I love the bit about the city number. I kept my 212 when I moved out also for much the same reasons. No longer available and the cache it holds. (Not to pry but curious Are you a 212 holder too?)

Pams rules for dating are very smart and the honesty here was so needed.

I'm very excited to get into the next chapters.
Again thank you for sharing this amazing story.

1

DC- I want you to know that when you posted this update I had just finished the book I was reading and rather than start one of the many books on my nightstand that were "next up", I made this one my next read. When I say this one, I mean I started from the beginning-in part because I have an old mushy brain that couldn't quite remember the story thus far - only that I loved reading it the first time just as I loved reading it again.

I do hope you will update sooner than three years although I'm sure I'd enjoy another reread. You have a great style in your storytelling - I love the little extra details and backstories and how you use the characters and elements from the show, along with some pop-culture bits that I can tell you are having fun with.

Gotta say - JO is especially well-used here and I laughed at the whole 'plot of the notebook' bit.   And using Dawn Tinsley - very clever.

I also have to tell you how connected I felt in this chapter to Pam's experience both up front and at the end (bookends for me) and the memories you evoked. Though it was many, many, many years ago, reading about Pam in her new apartment, you managed to capture the same feeling I had in finally getting my own place after a breakup and move-out from the post college apt I lived in with a serious boyfriend. That sense of freedom and empowerment...and when later my new boyfriend (husband now) the feeling of pride being able to share MY space. 

The end, with the bit about Betsy and Gerry -brought a similar rush of memory about losing the relationship with that boyfriend's mother - no text messages in my time -I got a letter, but the feeling of loss hit me the same.

As for everything in between - great read - love details like he didn't change passcode from her birthday, love Karen and Pam banter, love that Pam is getting a job offer, Pam's insecurity about the ex-wife, that Jim's past booty calls coming back to haunt him (and how that unfolded - terrif)

Again I do hope another chapter  - bring on Betsy and Gerry, and the whole Halpert clan - can't wait to see wat you bring to them. (ps I know you had no itentions on doing more about Karen and Paul but please do)

1

Well that was all kinds of adorable. Jim makes a fantastic story teller. and who doesn't love a princess that hands out candy.

This story had the perfect pairing of fairy tale lore and classic characters from the place where they fell in love in a way a young Cece could understand. of course Dwight was a troll but a happy troll who helps save the day.
Had to laugh at the bet pepper bomb and loved that princess Morgan walked through fire to get to her prince just like in the real life for our fictional characters (if that isn't confusing).

And your day in the life stories Wouldn't be complete with the relatable realism you depict so well.

Thanks for the sweet tale.

Author's Response: Thanks Maxine. I kinda figured that with all the drama Jim and Pam went through, the story would be kind of ingrained at that point. So re-casting it all as a fairy tale would be easy and yet fun. It was a lot of fun to take all the canon images and re-imagine them this way. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.

1

It's the teapot letter in reverse - very clever.
I can appreciate that Jim's pig Latin prank gave her just enough hope to continue the prank.

Even though we don't get a transcript of the letter I think what she wrote was so poignant and heartfelt.

I always love to hear the lines or scenes that resonate for readers so when I can I like to point them out in my reviews-

He was evolving and she wasn't part of the evolution. That was a great line. As was the took breaking up to get a decent present.

I love to bake, especially holiday cookie but I've never used a press and now I think I might need to try one. Looks like fun.