"In retrospect, his inability to keep her from penetrating his every thought was just another confirmation to Jim, that no matter what they were always meant to be together; that a more powerful force was at work. It was not really in his nature to have such a strong conviction about a concept such as kismet, he didn’t usually believe in signs, or ghosts, or horoscopes. The supernatural was something to enjoy on television or the movies, it didn’t exist in real life. He never once avoided a crack for the sake of his mother or wasted more salt over his shoulder because he was clumsy enough to spill some in the first place. But of his destiny to be with Pam, of that he was sure of."

Oh my god, I LOVE this. Slightly related: it's not really clear in canon (other than a church wedding and a christening which I assume were both Pam's or Pam's parents idea?) if Jim is religious. Do you have a take on this?

Author's Response: Thanks so much. It’s funny it’s been a bit since I wrote this story that when I started reading your review I was like “wait did I write that? But it came back to me as I got to kismet and the whole thing about ghosts was meant to be a nod to the Halloween episode late in the show where Pam talks about having seen a ghost and Jim is kinda appalled by it. 

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I like you digging further in here on the idea that Jim believes they were on some level bound to end up together - certainly that's a big foundational part of his views on Michael's treatment of Holly if he thinks that some relationships are just MEANT to work out.

I love the placement of this whole conversation on Valentine's Day. It always bugged me that we saw so little of their Valentine's Days together (and missed the first one completely!), so filling in the gaps there has my enthusiastic approval. And I love the naturalistic way you end up getting there - this isn't a conversation about predestination that torturously makes its way into them discovering they've met before or some totally random confluence of events, it's a pretty normal progression from desperately seeking a non-awkward conversation with the Vances to memories of bar and bat mitzvahs past to a noteworthy incident having nothing to do with Them that they both remember. It's a nice and realistic touch.

That being said, I sure hope the holding-of-shoes-for-ransom tidbit turns out to be relevant to the flashback... looking forward to meeting Young Jim ad Pam!

Also, props for the Wayne's World reference.

Author's Response:

Love that you love the Wayne's world.  I don't know how many others will get it but I couldn't think of a better way to indicate we're going back.  

 I'm also glad you appreciated how the discovery came about.  The last time they discussed this was way back on their first date so it worked out that they were with the Vances this day.  It was after they went to a bar mitzvah that Michael wanted to throw his own so it seemed like something they would discuss especially in the post sex in the restroom awkwardness. 

The incident they both remember has shades of the crazy that happens so often in the office so maybe why it's slipped their mind for so many years.  I'm glad you felt the way they got there was natural and unforced. That was what I was going for.   

Maybe not that exact tidbit but some fun stuff.  Better I hope.  You will have to let me know

party on Wayne