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Do you know, I might forgive you on the double Ed because, again, the lyrics work well here, and I’d go as far as saying this song is one of the more bearable ones. (If Pam had started thinking about being in love with the shape of Jim’s body or loving him till she was 70, on the other hand…)

This is such a great look into Pam’s mindset and why she didn’t call Jim - and her getting her hopes up and him not calling after the convention, just….oooof. I hadn’t even thought about that, and the way you’ve written it, and the 203 thing, is just gut-wrenching. I also really love that we got some more of her conversation with drunk Jim hehe, the gobble gobble gickle bit is amazing. I’m greatly enjoying the multiple phone conversations and seeing more from her POV to start piecing together what’s going on, too. Can’t wait for more!

Author's Response:

NO more Ed I promise!!!! 

Yeah - it worked well that Xerox is based in 203 area code like Jim - let me pile on the angst.

Glad you liked getting more drunk Jim - lots of fun to write.

Yeah - they're both having it rough.

Thanks for coming along on this one - it's always fun to see us on same page with lots as we both update. 

Thanks too for your great reviews.

Ok, I’m v excited that I’ve got two chapters of this to catch up on! I’m loving seeing more of Jim’s friendship with Matt, and the fact that he seems like a pretty decent guy (unlike Josh…) Also, Jim disillusionment with Josh for not having any integrity, and him barely sparing a good job in Massachusetts a thought, is lovely and very Jim. And then his concern for Pam and not wanting her to lose her job 😍 Although this call that he overhears with Pam & Danny gets more heartbreaking with every bit of new perspective lol, you’re killing me. Great chapter!

Author's Response: Very behind on my responses so I'll just say many thanks. I do appreciate all your comments.

Ok, I loved this chapter so much. The Kelly call!!! This was hilarious, and amazing, and maybe the most perfect way for Jim to finally find out what’s going on with Pam. (I also really enjoyed the little glimpse of Roy and Kelly interaction, which I’d never thought about but is something I’d pay to see). I liked the touch of the medal initially being something that reminded him of her friendship and wanting to get that back too, before his Kelly call. And I loved, loved his reminiscing on the Dundies night, and this bit about Casino Night:

‘He knew now lips were never meant to hear and so that’s why they heard wrong. His ears too, must have malfunctioned when they twisted her words to make them sound like she’d said, me too before they reached his brain.’

I was very happy to see that the story’s not completed yet (although that was a perfect ending to this chapter) - can’t wait to see where you take it next!

Author's Response:

Playing a little catch up - you always make me so happy with your reviews the way you seem so joyful about the things you liked.

I'm glad you liked my Kelly, she's a handful but I used her incessant chatter for good here.

Love to see the lines repeated back - it gives me joy to know they were noticed since they sometimes take forever to get just right.

Thanks again!!! 

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This is so incredible!! I obviously need to go back and do another adventure now, because this can’t be how it ends, but: the creativity here and the seamless blending of sci fi with stuff from the show is just amazing. And so is the way you’ve written Jim and Pam and their chemistry (I didn’t realise that could even be done for a choose your own adventure story). Michael and Dwight are also hilarious and so them - ‘stay fucking calm’ and Dwight bringing up that time Michael wore a woman’s space suit made me laugh out loud. I’ll be back off to chapter one: this is a masterpiece!

Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm honored that you checked out my little labor of love, and I hope you enjoy the other adventures!

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I was so excited to see an update to this! And Pam’s POV 😍 Ahh their entire chat on the plane, and her running after him in the airport is just lovely. And then the dream! I’m also greatly enjoying your inclusion of Kelly here (her having an affair with married Ryan is just perfect). I really like the way you’ve written the slow demise of her relationship with Roy - and the bit about her not quite noticing Jim at first because she was so caught up in Roy and her plans feels very realistic (and makes the fact that Jim broke through that even more striking). This was such a great chapter!

Author's Response: Thank you so much! The Ryan thing was such a throwaway idea and I'm already getting tons of mileage out of it, haha.. glad you enjoyed that.

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Ahh I think this was my favourite chapter yet, it was so perfect. Jim turning up at the gallery to finally give her the Christmas she wants, the pyjamas, the ice-skating, the rooftop…(also I’m slightly now wishing it was Christmas). And I’m loving their ergo/hence banter. And Holly as Pam’s friend/mentor!

The shared TV watching is adorable - I loved that in the movie, so thank you so much for bringing that here and making it so great and Jammy :) I’m really enjoying Pam’s slowly-developing feelings for Jim and her secret pining, especially with the pyjamas at the end - this bit was so good, and really stung:

‘The unarticulated thought sat in her chest like a stone. When she wasn’t actively wondering whether Jim had feelings for her, things were fine. Things were actually great. But anytime something reminded her he did not, she felt it acutely.’

The insight into Jim’s relationship with Karen is also a very interesting take. Can’t wait to see Jim’s POV on all of this!

I was already *very* excited for this chapter, and this lived up to that and then some - it was perfect. Jim’s reaction to seeing Pam in a dress, him instantly picking up on Toby’s crush, the dorky dance-off to the YMCA…so, so good. I also just really love the way you’ve written these little signals from Jim that it feels completely legitimate for Pam to misinterpret, even as you want to bang their heads together - like him getting uncomfortable during the romantic part of the song, and his reaction with her around Karen, and him being totally himself in front of her in a way he isn’t with Karen. Argh. The chemistry and yearning between them in this chapter is incredible, the slow dance and their kiss are just so great. (Also, I don’t know if Jim’s line was a nod to the Gallaghers confirming that cannonball lyric is in fact complete nonsense…but I love it).

I think you’ve captured Pam’s confusion and her genuinely being afraid of ruining their friendship even as she wants more so well - I especially loved this line:

"As suddenly as the moment had arrived, it passed. She nodded, feeling incredibly disappointed and somehow relieved in equal measure.”

Their friendship comes through so strongly in this one too, especially with the bit about Pam seeing her favourite person when she opens her eyes after the kiss. I loved the scene afterwards with Kelly - and Kelly incredibly astutely picking up on Pam’s underwear, lol. Also, Kelly’s Shazzer impression from Bridget Jones with the tongue down your throat line: YES. And Pam’s moment of genuine fondness for Kelly, even though she’s…Kelly. I’m all for the girls night!  

The ending with Pam falling asleep in the pyjamas he’s given her is so lovely. And a tiny bit heartbreaking. Amazing update!

PS I am a doofus - you did, in fact, make it pretty clear in the chapter before last about the Felicity boxset. I think I got carried away…

Author's Response:

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing as always!

* I also just really love the way you’ve written these little signals from Jim that it feels completely legitimate for Pam to misinterpret, even as you want to bang their heads together*

This makes me happy, as this is the most difficult thing about writing two characters that should so obviously be together. Argh is right (Also I'm really glad Pam's insecurities and fears are coming through because that will obviously be very important down the line...)

And you're not a doofus, lol... this is what happens when I "pants," apparently. Originally I intended to make the gift something else but reeled it back since it felt unnecessary. Always learning, heh.

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Ah, this was a great look into a proper conversation between those two, which definitely felt like it was missing in season 9 (and agreed on the investment never coming up again!) I really liked the more realistic view of Jim’s job here too, because it did feel like he was stressed a lot of the time about it (but again, the show didn’t really dig into that). And this line from Jim was just lovely: “Just know that I’m always exactly where I need to be as long as you’re right here with me.” Not that the DVD on the show wasn’t very sweet, but him actually telling her those things did feel like it was missing - so having it here works so well!

Author's Response:

Many thanks for the compliments!

Yeah, I wanted to present how much of a double-edged sword Athlead was.  A lot of people nowadays - especially young adult fans - criticize Pam because the show paints it as her keeping him from his dream (especially after all the times he supported her), when it's far more feasible that he missed Pam and his family and Athlead just wasn't worth it anymore.  Besides, he really did turn into just the *worst* person because he was so determined to make it work, even though she was hesitant about leaving Scranton from the start (which also frustrates me but that's neither here nor there).

As kind of a gesture as the DVD was, it was basically just a clip show; there wasn't much context as to why this was the "big Jim gesture" he decided on.  So I thought it'd be fun to make it clear that he's showing her everything she's given him and what that means to him.  And pointing that out aloud drives the point home.

Thanks for the review!

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Ahh, these are all so lovely! I haven’t read as much about Jim and Pam as parents, and the way you’ve captured their support for each other, and these little moments of them struggling/not being completely perfect is really sweet. Cece is great in this too, I like the idea of Jim being really enthusiastic about getting her into sports and needing a moment to realise she’s not - it feels quite realistic and in character, and the moment between them at the end is gorgeous.

Author's Response: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!! I definitely have a similar desire to push my girls to doing things I love and want them to get interested in, and they’re still very young so this is something I worry about. I love looking behind the scenes of jim and Pam as parents because I feel as though we missed so much of that on the show that it would have been great to see those realistic scenes of them at home with their kids. 

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Aw, I loved this! Childhood Jim is very sweet, I love the way you’ve written their dialogue here and him reminiscing on this moment with Pam. And then Pam buying him a transformer! (Also lol at Dwight’s reaction and Michael crying at that movie too, presumably when he was quite a bit older than Jim…) And now I need to add All I Need and Temper to my reading list :D

Author's Response:

Thank you!  And appreciate your interest in All I Needed!

I really enjoyed writing just the two of them sharing one of those little moments of their childhoods.  The best part was that Michael was in his early 20s.  And that “worth more than your car” moment in “Women’s Appreciation” was perfect to allude to.  I also wanted the childhood story to be realistic to Pete (and subsequently Tom) so that they’re brothers rather than more intense Michaels.

Thanks for the review! 

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Jim and Pam! And time travel! I am very, very excited about this. An Office/Harry Potter crossover is exactly the thing I didn’t realise I needed in my life.

I also never thought I’d enjoy hearing so much about Michael’s hatred of his new carpet, but you nailed it. This is exactly the type of thing I could see Michael doing Pam’s head in about, exactly as you’ve written it. And the sterling and platinum hues made me lol.

Jim and Pam bonding over Harry Potter is adorable, I love her ability to discuss the movies in-depth with him vs her conversations with Roy. (I also loved Dwight’s view that Rowling is a bitter squib). Really can’t wait to see where this goes!

PS happy archiversary!!

Author's Response:

I call it a crossover but really it is more of a borrowed concept. Hermione and Harry will not make an appearance, not quite.
I had a lot of fun with this but it was a challenge. Hope it lives up.
Yeah Michael likes things the way he's used to them so of course a new carpet would throw him off.
What can't Jim and Pam bond over, especially if Dwight's busy listening in.

Thanks again for the review. Can't wait for you to read more.

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I really appreciate the look into Pam’s slightly happier vacation with Roy here - as much as I’m biased to think Roy is just awful all the time, it makes much more sense that she must have had at least some good moments with him that weren’t captured on camera, and it’s very in keeping with the way she is in that episode afterwards. Although the line about his attention ‘only’ being split between her an the skiing is also so sad (and telling). And oooh we’ve come back to a v interesting time - can’t wait to see how this plays out! I love the little note with the coat too. And Pam and Michael on this escapade together continues to be a joy - I particularly love Pam’s parental softly whispered bark, this is such an excellent description of the way she is with Michael. And Randall at the end!!! The plot thickens…

Author's Response:

So yes, had to be some better time with Roy - she did seem happy some of the time with him even if fleeting and even if he was awful a lot.

Pam and Michael - I have a soft spot for them together although their relationship has not yet grown to the sweetness I see in later seasons, - who knows maybe after this experience it will - or will she just want to kill him after this...we'll have to see.

Thanks as always for being a regular reader and reviewer - I do appreciate it and enjoy sharing this with you.

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I’m really enjoying the growing complications with the time travel and Pam’s attempts to make sense of it all (her reading Harry Potter for help is a brilliant touch, hehe). I also love Pam pocketing Roy’s change - I’m 100% with her there. Oof, all the warning signs with Roy. His road rage, past Pam (can we call her that?) not questioning him when he’s telling her stuff that doesn’t make sense, and all the guys celebrating even though they’ve been engaged for 3 years (I loved that little side note so much) - come on, Pam! I like the slow build though, it does feel v realistic. And then Pam and Michael with the wine (“Chee-antie”) is just amazing, hee. Also lol’ing at the Meredith dig with the giant cheap bottle of Sauvignon. Great chapter!

Author's Response:

I'm so glad you are enjoying and picking up on the subtleties, not so subtle hints and complications that I'm sprinkling in throughout this story. 

I do worry a bit about the slow build, so it's nice to hear that since we have a ways to go yet. Hopefully, some interesting events and more funny moments with Michael will keep you entertained. If you liked the wine store got a few more Michael tricks to come. A few more near misses. A bit more eye openers for Pam - some a bit out there but all play a part in her journey. So glad YOU are reading since you have a great eye for the fun stuff.

Thanks again so much.