38 [Reviews - 29] Printer ePub eBook
Summary:

 

What if Jim didn’t forget his umbrella?

An alternate look at season 9.

 


Rated: T
Categories: Jim and Pam, Past Characters: Andy, Cece Halpert, Clark, Darryl, David Wallace, Ensemble, Other, Phillip Halpert
Genres: Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Inner Monologue, Kids/Family, Married, Travel, Workdays
Warnings: Moderate sexual content
Challenges: A Day At The Beach
Series: None
Chapters: 5 Completed: Yes
Word count: 14821 Read: 8470 ePub Downloads: 0
Published: March 18, 2021 Updated: April 09, 2021
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Story Notes:

I never set out to write a Season 9 fic.

I never felt the urge.

Not even after I heard the Ben Rector song, LOVE LIKE THIS which is absolutely a love song from Jim to Pam – a poem to their blissful life together and with these lines:
It's funny how everything I dreamed about
Starts to seem so empty without you
It touched on the bump in road they hit in season 9. 

But even after hearing it I was content to just think about them whenever I heard it.

But then I stumbled on another song, GOLD by Jake Isaac and India Arie and while there is too much in the lyrics that makes it not quite about them (depends on your interpretation of some lines), it did spark an inspiration in me I could no longer ignore and this fic began to form, haunting me until I got it out of my system. (there was one more song that became tied to fic which I’ll mention and link to in notes for that chapter).

This fic, despite its name resides outside my Gold Mine series because it diverges from the canon of the show and some of the fics living there, but it does borrow a plot point from my Beets on the Tree holiday fic.

The significant lyrics to the songs for will be in Chapter notes. and click above on the titles to link to videos.

Oh and of course, I don’t claim to own any of these characters and yet I seem to want to protect them and watch their lives unfold as if they were my own children. However, no copyright infringement is intended.  



1. Broken Traditions by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 9] 9 (4681 words)

Some of you Office aficionados might pick up on the discrepancy with Darryl being in Scranton when I have him Philly but since we are diverging from canon we will start the divergence at the very beginning, however, figure most of the story stays true to the timeline we know of season 9 with the exception of Darryl who never seems to be where he is supposed to be.

I hope you might give a listen to the songs since they are just so beautiful but here are the lyrics that made me write: 

Love like This

Never was an early riser, used to be an up all nighter
Never saw the morning light quite like I do now
Never said no to a party, never started saving money
Everything is different since you've been around

It's the way you're smiling at me
It's in the way you hold my hand
It's the way I've watched you change me
From a boy into a man
It's a million things about you
And I don't know what it is
But I have never known a love like this

Never used to get excited to sit here in the silence
Holding onto something the way I'm holding you
Didn't use to know how fast time
walks and runs and flies by
I never thought I'd feel so deeply but damn I do

It's the way you're smiling at me
It's in the way you hold my hand
It's the way I've watched you change me
From a boy into a man
It's a million things about you
And I don't know what it is
But I've never known a love like this

It's funny how everything I dreamed about
Starts to seem so empty without you

It's the way you're smiling at me
It's in the way you hold my hand
It's the way I've watched you change me
From a boy into a man
It's a million things about you
And I don't know what it is
But I have never known a love like this
I have never known a love like this

 

Gold

Song of summer's past
And the way we'd walk and we'd hold hands
And the world would pass us by
But never cared nor you, nor I

'Cause we both had each other
Never was a time we stayed apart
A story of two lovers
I was your treasure and you were mine

Gold, I see you like gold
Look back how far we've come
Please, don't let go
Gold, no good on my own
Yours, I'll be only yours
If we get through this storm
'Cause I see you like gold

Oh and I don't own any rights to these songs either, however they are now forever embedded in me.

2. All In by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 3] 7 (3082 words)

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed so far. 

And a special thanks to grc73 for letting me bounce some ideas off her as I wrote.

 

3. Opportunities by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 7] 7 (3042 words)

I am not a marriage counselor and have never been in counseling myself so the only thing I had to go from was what I saw in the show and what I imagine it would be like so I hope it comes across as realistic. I did sprinkle in a bit of the speech the Rabbi who officiated my wedding gave because it has always stayed with me and I felt like it could help Pam and Jim at this time.

And this is where I can mention the third song that inspired me – a heavy influence on this chapter.

The song is called Setting Sail by Gary Clark and John Carney. You can click the song title to link to lyric video or read them here. (always feel more of the lyrics when hear them sung)


We face the music together
And throw our hats in the rain
Facing all kinds of weather
And not afraid of anything

When the Sun comes up we'll be on our way
And we don’t care where we land
And the waves are high but we won't turn round
'Cos your hand is in my hand

Aaaaah you make me feel invincible
Cause it's you and me
Through the wind and hail
Setting sail into the world

We built a house out of nowhere
And hung our hearts on the walls
I guess it all got too familiar
We let it crumble we let it fall

In the mundane stuff of the day to day
We forget what used to be
So I kick myself to remind myself
And it all comes back to me

Ah when we were scared of nothing girl
It was you and me
Through the wind and hail
Setting sail into the world

(side note: Song was used as theme song to series on Amazon Prime based off the Modern Love column in the Sunday Times. Highly recommend this anthology series that adapts different love stories taking place in New York City. I think it will appeal to many of my Jam fans)

4. Shiny Stuff by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 5] 6 (1328 words)

Thanks to everyone for reading and sharing their thoughts.

From what I’ve read in reviews there were a lot of feelings around season 9 – guess I had some deep-rooted feelings about their arc too. Feels good to speak my truth by way of this fic.

Oh by the way, Pam’s wedding rings are not silver, not platinum -- they are white gold.  Go with me here.

5. Waiting on a Sunset by Maxine Abbott [Reviews - 5] 9 (2688 words)

First off, a big shout out to all the readers and reviewers of this story. I’ve enjoyed reading all the reviews and connecting with you.

Second, here’s another chance to listen to the songs that inspired me -  {click through to hear}
Love Like This

GOLD

Setting Sail

Third, Again, I own nothing, not these songs (unless you count my apple music subscriptions as ownership), or the characters. Any recognizable dialogue from the show is from the show.

Finally, I do hope the ending lives up to expectations. (wow it still is hard to say goodbye to a story)