10

ACK... it's chapters 3&4 that are the same rather than 2& 3. (I hope I have that right!)

Oh WOW! First of all, this is an absolutely incrdible story! A friend told me about it and from the first I was hooked! I've been ill and not really up to reviewing until now but I've been following and excited to see each new chapter posted! (and incredibly happy about how quick you update!) I admit, 'm in agony, each new chapter I think, now THIS chapter is the one where either she finally says something, she's had a few false starts so it seems like she should be able to get up the courage and it seems like once he knws, I would think Jim would want to know all about and be involved with the pregnancy. Anyhow I think either that OR Jim has enough information to be able to put things together. I mean, I keep wondering, with as perceptive as Jim is, why isn't he repeating in his mind the fact that right before Karen brought the margaritas over and Kelly outed Pam's Pregnancy, Pam was just asking Jim about getting together after the holidays and I think she had starte to say she needed to talk to him or something. BIG tip off. Also, he had asked her about how far she was, it seems like he would not just back down on that and not ask again. I would love to know his reaction to Roy helping her put together baby furniture since he seems to always have the reaction of wanting guys to stay away from her. I mean, if he knew Roy was helping her, on thing he knows for certain is that it isn't because Roy is the father because Pam told Roy he wasn't right in front of Jim. I would think that if Jim knew that Pam was needing help with that type of stuff, he would volunteer if for no other reason to get a chance to talk to her outside the office and outside of Karen's scrutiny and also just to spend time with her.

This last chapter was GREAT! I LOVE how you combined the prank with Dwight and Andy and I could see Jim wanting to do the prank even if he didn't need to get at Andy because it seems lke it would make him upset that Dwight is making Pam ill like that with the eggs.

I do want to question your timeline, maybe I read something wrong. The conference was in September, and the prank was in late January, right? I think you said Pam was six months or nearly six months but wouldn't that only put er at just over 4 months along? Who knows, math was never my ting.

It doesn't surprise me that Karen finally pushed Jim in a corner here though I do think that Jim needs to make sure that Pam knows that Karen now knows this. It's so sweet just how much that drawing that Pam made means to Jim. Thing is, Karen was so upset over it but really, she doesn't even know it's significance which is the thing that would be really upsetting.

You know, I would just hope that Jim, with all te information he has now, he KNOWS he has strong feelings for Pam that won't go away, He KNOWS there is a really good chance that he just may be the father of Pam's baby. He KNOWS Karen is trying to push him out of Scranton, away from Pam, and that's not something he is really willing to do. Most of all, he Knows that Karen as said she thinks she's in love with him and more importantly, he KNOWS he isn't in love with her and he has tried to be so it isn't likely to hapen so my goodness, do the right thing and let it go!

One thing that has bothered me since the convention... yes, Jim gave Pam HIS phone number and as far as e knows, she didn't call (and that would be a GREAT question for him to slip in one morning when he's talking to her so he can find out she DID call and he erased it!) anyhow, he put all the pressure on her to call when the fact is, they BOTH knew he may not have gotten her personal number but he could have very easily called her. She is after all the person that answers the phone in Scranton so it would have be very very easy to call her. I feel that him sitting back, easig into a relationship that he never really wanted to be in because the girl that was really on his mind didn't call was acop out on his side. He owed it to himself to at least call her once. I did and continue to adore how you showed that they had/have that connection that was just absolutely instant. The chemistry between them is so awesome and the really sad thing about how they dance around it all is that it's something so wonderful that doesn't happen for everyone, or even most people and for them not to open their eyes and see what's right in front of them is almost a crime!

Awesome AWESOME story!I can't wait for more and please put my heart to rest and let Jim find out soon which ever way it's going to happen!

Author's Response: Wow, just...wow, love lengthy reviews, thank you so much! I'm so sorry to hear that you're not well. I do hope you feel better soon!! Alright, lots of points to comment on. Jim has plenty of information to put it all together. In fact, subconsciously, he knows. But he's under the impression that he keeps misinterpreting what Pam feels for him and it doesn't help that Karen is constantly harping on him, and doing what she can to bring focus to her and not to him. I don't necessarily he's going to take well to Roy taking care of Pam/The baby. And at first, it's not going to be all sunshine and roses. They need to work through some of their issues first. Jim's a good guy, but he's not perfect, and he's not in the best of places after this chapter. I loved the prank, I kinda wanted to take Dwight and Andy on, hence both of them are pranked, glad you liked it! The timeline is tricky, but here's how it works, Pam got pregnant at the beginning of Sept. Sept is her first month of being pregnant, making Jan her 5th month. By the end of Jan she's almost to her 6th month. Make sense? I had to write that all down to get it straight when i started writing the story. I think Karen gets that it has significance and that scares her a lot, that her boyfriend has sentimental feelings over an object from another girl. That's going to kick Karen into defense mode. Lol, you'd think with all that info that Jim would do the right thing--but how often in life do we do what's right for us? Yes!! I love that you brought up the point about Jim never calling her. That will come up eventually. It is definitely not fair that the blame all falls on Pam's shoulders. So, I know Pam gets a lot of the blame, but Jim does as well. They were both being cowardly, I think, though, too, they were both a little afraid that what they share was real. To them, they're used to relationships with Karen and Roy, to think that they could have a relationship as easy as one they'd fall into if they did date each other is a foreign concept to them. And, you have to remember, they've just met. They don't have years of back story, so they both worry that they could have just read the other wrong. I think, in order to trust any kind of relationship, they have to trust each other as friends first, and they're still working on that. Of course, Roy and Karen are definitely going to be pain in their sides and playing on their doubt for their own reasons. It is a really sad dance, which, unfortunately, will continue a little while longer. It's a sad commentary on life that I think we all occasionally miss out on great things because we are afraid or we don't see it all. It's a part of being human. I'm so, so glad you've enjoyed it and taken the time to leave such a review. Very much appreciate it! :)

10

WOW... just... so so sad after reading this. I KNEW it was going to break my heart, but wow, it REALLY broke my heart.

Jim's reaction to the baby... I know... I didn't see that coming. First let me say, I was glad that he found athe strength (and I get the idea it takes a great deal of it) to tell Karen he had other things to do the night he found out so that he was able to be alone. The LAST thing Jim needed that night, the very night that Pam actually told him that he was in fact the father, is Karen browbeating all her ideas for them and fleeing Scranton and bigger and better things and such. Jim needs the time to wrap his mind around the idea that he is in fact going to be a father and he just doesn't strike me as the type to be an absentee or long distance dad. I have the feeling that even if Jim and Pam ended up not going the relationship route (and dear God... PLEASE I pray ON'T let THAT happen) but if that were the case, I think Jim would still stay put in Scranton because I cannot imagine him allowing ANY real space between himself and his child. Anyhow, I digress... I was glad that he was able to explain it more, that he had obviously suspected it and even more I was VERY glad that Pam was able to explain the position that he had put her in that made it darn near impossible to actually tell him, them being almost strangers, him coming to Scranton with a girlfriend in tow. Her explaining that she wasn't sure she should even do that to his life. I don't know how I would have been able to do it. I like how she was able to explain to him that all the feelings he was currently having she understood because she went through them already months ago but I'm really glad that she put in there that the big difference is that she is the one that is actually having the baby.

I don't get why in the battle of you never called me, well you didn't call me either (which I was SOOOOO glad she put RIGHT ack on him. Would have been SO Pam to just take the blame! A business card with his number is no excuse when he could have EASILY called her and it's not like he would have even needed to track her down. He KNEW where to reach her, would have been eas. And she knew that he knew that.) Anyhow, why didn't she point out to him that she DID in fact call him. I think she called several times. The fact that he deleted the messages without listening because he ASSUMED they were from his boss, ot her problem. He missed what was a very important phone call because of that and I just really feel that she needs to call him on that. Heck, eve if she didn't leave a message (but I thought that she did) he NEEDS to know that she didn't totally drop the ball on the phone call thing. Even if it was some time after the fact. She called and he didn't get it because of HIM!)

Anyhoe... the wedding... so so sad You know, so he watches her the entire time. He KNOWS that she is sad. He knows because she told him that less than a year ago she called off her own wedding so my goodness, one would think that he could have some consideration of the fact that she is sitting there pregnant with his baby, going it alone while everyone has pretty much beat her up about it, he is unscathed because no one knows his involvement. So she is pregnant, probably nostalgic for the fact that this was suposed to have happened to her, no matter how happy she may be that she called it off, it's still something that she dearly wanted for a very long time. Then she has to live through a replica of what she called off last year. Granted, e doesn't know that but then again, he doesn't even take the time duing the wedding/reception to ask how she's feeling. At the reception she has Kelly all over her badgering her and she gets to watch the guy she cares very much for and is carrying his baby share warm, tender, intmate moments with his girlfriend not seeming to care that she told him just two days before that his baby is inside of her. Seems pretty callous of Jim to me even if he is o autopilot he should at least uunderstand ESPECIALLY since he HAS in fact been following her through the entie thing. He KNOWS she is sad. He KNOWS all is not well with her yet he carries on. He looks up and shares what I assume is a sad wistful look with her and he I am thinking is getting it. He then realizes that he actually has fallen in love with Pam but for the first time since that night, Jim actually gets off his ass to make a move ad he's too slow. He sees her leaving with Roy and it makes him upset and suddenly he's happy with Karen again?! Unreal, but VERY Jim! I mean, he REALLY couldn't see that after watching her sad, upset, parading around with Karen all nigt, holding Karen close and tight in his arms while Karen snugles up to him dancing, he couldn't understand that pam needed comfort and who is she going to look to for comfort? The only guy who has REALLY been in her life. The ONLY guy who has been there at all through the pregnancy. Did Jim ever offer to help with baby things? Hell, he suspecte he could be the father, seems reasonable to say, if you need help with anything, you know I'm a phone call away. Roy OTOH (BTW, don't get me wrong, I sound like a Roy suporter here and that could not be further from the truth. Can't stand him. Just stating the facts of the story) so Roy, KNOWING there is no chance he is the father has offered to help and has done it. I understand that Roy has big ulterior motives and I'm sure Pam does too, but it seems to be getting him somewhere. If Jim doesn't step up and decide to take some action, his baby is going to be calling Roy daddy and he won't have anyone to blame except himself. (and maybe Karen because I'm always up for blaming Karen for whatever.) That last paragraph just really hit me in the gut. The way he could simply watch her all night while playing the game with aren and forcing Pam to watch, KNOWING she was sad. Then he gets so upset because she finds someone to comfort her for the evening (he sure as hell wasn't available and excuse her if she wasn't privy to the fact that he had unearthed some real actual feelings. There was NO reason he couldn't have pulled her aside and talked to her anyway! May have changed the course of the whole mess! I wonder if he understands that she told him that being involved with the baby is his choice and the signals he is sending her is saying a great big o thank you. My baby is going to need a different daddy!!!) Okay... I need to go read some happy fics... I'm just too upset now....

BTW... excellent job on this. I may hate the way it is going but freaking season three will do it to you! Ironically I just replaced my season three DVDs because I couldn't find my 4th disc. That has the only two season three episodes that I like... well, LOVE! Like you, I wasn't a fan yet during that time though I did watch all the discs in order so I saw them the same way the fans did having no way how it would turn out. Thankfully for me I was able to watch one after the other and know quickly that it would be okay rather than slow and tortuous! Oh, I did like the return in season three and some of Ben Franklin. Anyhow, can't wait for the next chapter. I was spoiled before this so I kept checking and checking for a new one and started thinking something was wrong with my darn computer!

Author's Response: I hope you didn't think I was ignoring your review, I just had limited time and I like to respond to reviewers in full, so I saved yours until I had more time. :) No, Jim will be a good father, no doubt. But unlike his canon counterpart, this Jim does not have a stable relationship nor did he know from the pregnancy from the beginning. He'll need a little time to adjust to the idea of being a father before he can really step up. And interestingly, yes, Pam can say she has already been there but I think the point can be argued that since she has, in a way, gotten past that, that she's a little less tolerant of Jim's need of time to process. I answer your question about the phone call in NanReg's review of this chapter. If it's still confusing, please let me know and I'd be happy to explain more. :) The thing about Jim at this point in time is that he's being selfish (possibly rightfully so). A logical Jim may understand Pam's positioning and her issues of the wedding but since he's so wrapped up in his own issues, he misses what's truly bothering Pam, and therefore, they start another dance of miscoummication. I also don't think that he's happy with Karen. He's again using her as to mask reality because he's too scare to take a chance. It's easier for him to hide behind Karen and let her dictate his life than for him to make his own decisions and attempt to be with Pam--he's afraid with Pam because the risk is greater with her. I'm so glad you understand why Pam would go back with Roy, you hit the points wonderfully. No, he'll show his true colors soon, but Roy has been trying to do better by her and since that is all she has ever known, it is appealing. Thank you for such lovely insight and kind words. I do appreciate the reviews, it's fun delving into like that. :)

10

Ahhhhh... so I admit, I was really jonesing for interraction between Jim and Pam and was REALLY sad to not get any at all, but it was stil a great chapter, as they all are. SO, I was glad that Pam was standing on her own two feet, proving first and foremost to herself that she can fix things like the garbage disposal but even better, she proved to Roy that she doesn't need him, or any guy around for those things, she's quite capable herself. I was disappointed, afraid she was falling more into things with Roy with him just casually stopping by and bringing dinner, but wow the tide turns quickly. First of all, what a moron. He knows she shouldn't have caffine but he actually thinks she should have a beer instead? AND he wants to be back with her so much yet he can't do something as simple as stopping to get her juice which is good for the baby. NO, if it doesn't benefit Roy, he won't do it. The food, well, Roy needs to eat. Beer? Roy LOVES his beer and probably thought he was making the ultimate sacrifice getting lite beer. @@ But juice, nope, he's not going to have any of that so he can't be bothered to pick it up simply for Pam or the baby. It didn't surprise me that Roy FINALLY started to show that he wasn't simply being there, he wasn't interested in being Pam's friend and he never was. He had an ulterior motive all along, that was gettng in Pam's good graces and getting back together with her so then he wouldn't have to take care of her any longer and she could return to taking care of him. Oh and I'm sure he would expect her to take even better care of him because after all, he was putting up with someone else's child. I'm SO glad he showed what he was all about and I am even more glad that Pam acte quickly and decisively in telling him first to stop and when he wouldn't ordering him to leave, letting him know that she wouldn't hesitate to call the police! GO PAM GO! Thank God that pest is gone! I was REALLY surprised first tat Kelly's rumor had spread even to the warehouse. I wonder if Danny has heard the rumor yet that he's going to be the father of a child by a woman who he not only didn't have sex with but that I am sure that he has probably figued out by her being pregnant and having thrown up twice on the date, she as already pregnant when they went out. I was shocked that Pam simply blurted out to Roy, of ALL people in the world, that Jim is the father. I am really anxious to see if this is going to somehow play out like the episode on TV after Roy found out they kissed. I'm not real sure what to expect since Roy honestly has no right to be upset with Jim. Jim didn't do anything wrong to Roy since they were broken up, she was free and Jim and Roy did't know each other at all. Interesting to see Roy's violent tendencies, throwing the glass, come right back in spite of Pam being pregnant. Hopefully that's it with him.

Onto Jim... first and a minor point that doesn't mattr but I was shocked that Jim would have even introduced Karen to his family at Christmas. I have always just thought of Jim as being a guy that wouldn't bring a girl aroud his family unless it was something that he knew was going to last and at Chistmas he and Karen were stil relatively new AND there was the added fat that by then he knew that there was the possibility of him having fathered Pam's baby so it just really surprised me. I really liked the interraction between Jim and his sister in law. I like how much his niece and nephew obviously adore him and I really wondered if maybe at least a part of Jim's reason in going there was his SIL being pregnant and maybe he could get some perspective on pregnant ladies if that makes sense. Maybe something that would help him understand a bit more what Pam is going through, what she is thinking a little bit. I liked that his SIL knew instinctively that something was going on and that's why he was there and she was able to get him to open up to her about it. It was great how she laid out to him the options of being an deadbeat dad or being involved, pretty much showing the choices in black and white and I think helping to really show Jim that he already KNOWS what his choice is going to be. I like that she showed him that he simply has no idea what is going on with his child, she just seemed to ask all the right questions that I think would really hit Jim, ending with pointing out in her way about the baby being part of their family and growing up with it's cousins including the one she will soon have that will be close in age to his baby. What I really liked though is that she seemed to get that Pam herself would end up as part of the amily. I think she got that Pam isn't just some girl that Jim got pregnant but cares nothing more. It seemed to me that she could sense under the surface that Pam is going to be very important in Jim's life and will be part of their family. I also found it interesting that Jim didn't take Karen with him for this visit. I just wondered how he got away from her for the weekend. Obviously he wouldn't want her there because if she was he wouldn't be able to talk about what was on his mind.

I'm SOOOOOO anxious to see what is next. I'm wondering if there will be a Roy explosion and that's how Karen finds out, I can think of so many ways this can go and I can't wait. I just really hope that Jim can rally try to see what Pam is going through and maybe, just maybe he'll finally step in and be what Pam needs him to be for bot er and is child. I just wonder with his hesitation if he does finally start trying to step up if Pam will question his real dedication to being there because the last thing she needs is someone else with ulterior motives. She needs someone that just really wants to be there for her to help out with all she is going through and dealing with. Her life has just changed so drastically so quickly.

You are really reat at this. You bring so much realsm into it. Oh and BTW, thanks for always being nice about my long rambling reviews. I love the 'discussions' you have with me in this section. I'm pretty much stuck in my bed most of the time because of my illness so I think that's why I write such long reviews and I really enjoys so much the way you really take your time in responding so compltely to what I have to say. I DO understand that while time is something I tend to have lots of, for other people they have to make time so thank you for doing that and putting such an excellent story out there for us. (Now bring back Jam interration for us in the next chapter... grrrr... just kidding... bit not really!! )

Author's Response: Hey, thanks again for your lovely insight. Yeah, I think Roy, here, is working off of selfish intentions and as Roy and Pam go down a familiar path, old patters are picked up again. For Roy, this is how he's always wanted it and that's why he flips out at the end because, finally, it's getting to him that he and Pam's relationship really is over. I'm proud of Pam in this chapter, she is growing and learning that she can do things on her own, not to mention that finally standing up to Roy is huge movement forward for her. Despite how much of a mess she feels she's in, she's headed in the right direction. The small point on Karen and Christmas: The way I saw it was that they both went back to Stamford (because in this story they're both from Stamford) to visit family. In my head, Karen only popped in to the Halpert's for about five minutes just to be greeted, tortured by Jim's brothers, and say hi before she headed back to her own family. I didn't really see them as actually spending Christmas together since their relationship was only months old at that point. Yes!! Jim's entire reason for visiting his brother was to not only be in contact with his niece and nephew, so that he could try out parenting skills, but to talk with his SIL, who happens to be pregnant. I always imagined Marcie to be like Jim's Isabelle, a person he could talk to about the entire situation. And Jim doesn't take her advice lightly, I think the stay with family does much good in getting him out of his rut and focused on the important things, like being a good father. Thank you again for your kinda words and lovely review, it's always a joy to have these discussions with you, too! :)

10

Oh YAY!!!! This chapter, without exception, left me satified and smiling! (and I'm STILL smiling!) I just LOVE that you kept the way that they entered into a relationship so easily and that they just have that nice, easy way of talking to each other and just being with each other.

It just wouldn't be the office if these oddballs weren't extremely inapropriate, seeing to have no internal governor telling them what is and isn't appropriate, would it? From Kelly's belief that ever dating couple is obviously headed for marriage and that of course all you need to do is ask the future potential bride and of course she'd be thrilled to have you as a bridesmaid, to Phyllis who so many treat as this totally sweet jolly happy lady when really, she has made some of the very most snarky comments on the show. I LOVE your portrayal of her first way back in chapter 9 or 10 when she let Jim know that she would be thrilled to have sex with him and basically manhandled his butt, to here where she is so wildly inapropriate with the questions she asks Pam both about the actual act of sex with Jim and also about Jim's personal ummmmm.. boy parts. Meredith, now that made me laugh with how bizarre it is... I just had this picture in my head of Jim and Pam with a newborn, wacking it upside the head several times a day from birth because after all, the baby HAS to know it's place. As far as where Meredith sent her child for daycare or anything else, I'm sure Jim and Pam will be staying far far away from everything and anything Meredith.

Then there was the scene with the guys which you also did SUCH a great job with. Love you having Andy come back and as on the show announce that he is now Drew and people need to call him like that and just like on the show Jim told him, yeah, I don't think so. It kind of cracked me up that Andy feels he can demand that Jim (and everyone of course) call him Drew even as he continues to call Jim by that ridiculous nickname, Big Tuna. You had Keven so completely spot on, hey, now that you are the father of Pam's baby you should totally hit that and Jim's reply was fantastic, Kev, how exactly do you think she got pregnant. Then Danny comes up again and Kein shows he just is not the brightest bulb by asking, what are the chances that both Danny AND Jim are the father? DUH!!! Of course in typically Creed out of nowhere style he comes up with a number, and I LOVE that during this you have Creed eating the red potato. I always LOVED that on the show. I just love that Jim made no bones about it though, speaking up and telling them that the odds wee zero, that he is te father, the ONLY father of the baby. Then you have arogant Ryan who has to pipe in with his two cents and even asks, are you even sure that she's really pregnant? Gee, I guess that will be very obvious soon when she has a baby, as if the fact that she is growing large in her belly area weren't enough evidence. I can really see Ryan saying something like that!

I saved for last Pam's confrontation with Karen. I thought that Karen was really very unfair. IMO Pam was really nice to say anything because in reality, I don't think she had anything to really need to apologise for. That's all Jim. I mean, just like how Jim didn't do Roy wrong because they never knew each other and Roy and Pam were finished before anything happened with Pam and Jim, Pam did nothing to Karen because she not only didn't know her but also Karen and Jim were not yet anything at the time that Pam was with Jim. As a matter of fact, Pam tried very hard to stay out of it and let Jim and Karen be. She could have told Jim the day they showed up n Scranton and it probably would have ended the relationship then. She actually tried to be Karen's friend and even gave Jim advice that while it wasn't totally in favor of Karen's view, it wasn't self serving like it could have been either. On top of that Jim and Pam made a decision to keep things about their new relationship quiet particularly ecause of Karen and honestly, I think Pam would have been justified if she wanted to go public right away. Sort of a declaration that the father of her baby really DOES care about her and want her. I just don't think that either on the show or here, which is totally in character for Karen, I don't think Karen ever took responsibility for the fact that she had to know somewhere in her heart that Jim was never really in the relationship. He made it clear that he wasn't in love with Karen while admitting that he has feelings of some type for another woman. Heck, he didn't kiss Karen for some time and the first time he was willing to have sex with her it was because e was totally trashed yet he met pam, had this awesome connection that caused him to have a one night stand with her that very day they met, you would think that the fact that Karen knows that THAT isn't part of Jim's character would have spoken to her as well. Karen just willingly played blind to anything she didn't want to see and while Jim may have said the things she wanted to hear, I don't think he ever rally said them with a lot of conviction. Karen had to know that he just wasn't really present in that relationship very often, but she chose to ignore that and in the end she wante to be seen as a huge victim with no responsibility for what happened. I think both Jim and Pam seperately and then as a couple went out of their way to be gentle with Karen's feeling but I don't think she really cared about their feelings much at all. Oh well, glad she's quickly making that move to Utica because I'm hoping that Jim and Pam will be able to be out as a couple before the baby makes it's appearance.

Now, the 'scenes' here with Jim and Pam together just made me feel all warm and gooey... well, with one exception and all I need is two words to describe that gag worthy moment... green panties! YUCK! I love love LOVE Pam and Jim going on dates and I thought it was cute when she told him she wanted to have sex with him but there were just all those reasons why it wasn't a good idea right then and it was so cute when it ended with him massaging her feet. VERY Jim and makes it SO clear that the Jim that we all love so much IS in fact back! Oh and Jim saying to Pam what Pam told Erin last season when Erin was feeling so down about Andy, that was totally cute! I just LOVE these parts of the show, some just little things, that you have found a home for here in this story. I could certainly see, after all im and Pam have been through, her questioning if what they now have could really be real. It would certainly have to seem like a bit of a dream. Actually, I went through something a LITTLE like this in real life when I was pregnant with my first only my husband (my husband now for 23 yrs, NOT my husband then by a long shot) DID know about the baby, just hose to deny things. Came complete with him dating someone else while I was pregnant and while we didn't work together, we DID work next door to each other so I got to witness lots of it. After she was born, when she was a month old things came together and I felt very much like Pam in this cene, wondering if maybe I was dreaming and feeling so lucky. (Now I know that sometimes what looks like a dream is really a nightmare, but that has nothing to do with the story so anyhow....)

Then the final scene where they are discussing how Micheal was certainly going to kill himself, with Dwight's help, if he hadn't been talked out of it. I just love that you incorparated SO much from the show into this little scene.... the watermelon, Micheal's almost suicide, Pam's first visit to Jim;s house and her hanging out in his room. The guitar in his room along with Pam's interest in his yearbooks, LOVE the stuff with the shun and unshun, it's just all so great! OHHHH and strumming isn't playing, FANTASTIC paralell to swaying isn't dancing! LOVED that. I also thought it was amusing that Jim said he wasn't sure that they knew each other well enough to share the yearbooks yet they know each other well enough to be aving a baby togethter. That just amused me.

I am really enjoying how you are showing the process of them now beginning to date and really take the steps to get to know each other. I think they are doing the right things that will help them to parent their baby together as a team rather than as two different parents doing things alone. I'm also enjoying seeing the goings on in the office with the complete inappropriateness. Oh, I WAS surprised to hear nothing from Micheal on how Pam and Jim did him wrong by not telling him and how Pam is like a daughter to him and Jim is his best friend and he should have been the first to know just the fact that they had sex. Wondering if we'll get Micheal's reaction (and surely a demand to be named the baby's Godfather!)in another chapter. I also look forward to hearing if Isabel and the other people in Pam's life are supportive of Jim now not only taking responsibility for the baby but also being part, a big part, of Pam's life. I just wonder because in my life, those close to me were NOT supportive of his involvement. They felt he'd had a chance while they watched what I went through which wasn't easy so they felt basically that he had blown it and I shouldn't let him in. That's why I wonder if we'll see how that plays out in the story with the important people in Pam's life. Luckily, Pam has a guy who is totally worth being let in and is already showing why he should have been there all along!

Thank you for another amazing chapter. You REALLY brightened my day today. I saw you said we are i the last 1/4 of the story, do you have any thoughts and/or plans for future stories? I certainly hope so. A talent and gift like yours just begs to be shared with others! Thank you for sharing with us!

Author's Response: My apologies for taking so long to respond. I've been a little busy lately and I like to give your reviews more attention than "yeah, thanks". You've been such a lovely reviewer, and I appreciate it greatly! :) Yes, I think you've got it right, there is no internal governing for any of them. None of them women seem to have any edit function, do they? The scene with the guys was such fun to write, it was great making a collage of funny bits and pieces from the show and rolling it into one, so I'm glad you enjoyed it! I think you've hit it on the head with Karen--at this point int time, while I do think she's aware of what really happened, she really doesn't want to think about it because then the truth of how deluded she was would come forth. I think its easier for her to be mad at the circumstances, Jim, Pam, etc, than to face up to the truth. Once she gets out of Scranton, however, I do believe she'll finally come to terms with all of that. Aww, I'm so glad you're enjoying the dates that Jim and Pam go on. I wanted them to be sweet and sentimental, yet a little bit surreal, like they weren't quite sure it was actually happening. I know that eventually wears off after a while, but it's fun to finally get into the gooey part of their relationship. And you're right, the Jim we all know and love is finally here (or back)! Also so glad you're picking up on all these small references to the show, I love putting them in there for people to find and it always is thrilling when people enjoy it. I didn't think there was room for Michael and Dwight's reactions, so those are actually moved. I think you get a lot more of how they feel about the situation in chap. 22. Believe me, I do think at least Michael has something to say. I'm so glad I could brighten someone's day, it means a lot to me as an author to hear that and I hope I can continue to bring great stuff. That you so much for your kind words, I'm so happy to be sharing the story with all of you. :) I know know if I'll write more after this, it somewhat depends on how up to it I feel and if there's any inspiration to do so. Thanks again!!

Oh wow! First... so excited to see the update! I swear I no longer have ANY patience! I really loved how this chapter started and I thought, yes, this is the chapter where tey are really going to start things for real. But then I was so incredibly sad by the end of it.
The stuff about them each getting up so early in the morning just to be able to go in and spend a solid hour of uninterrupte time together, that was so sweet. Showing them taking those steps to get in some time however they can. It was really cute that Jim went so far as to leave then, taking the evidence of their meeting with him, then buying coffees for the crew and meeting him downstairs as if he had never even been there. Oh and her having Jim stand there while she draws a picture of Dwight, priceless! I mean, you can't tell me that by that time she doesn't have a stack of drawing of Jim somewhere anyhow that she could whip out and show him. Really good play on Dwight coming in and picking up the expense reports for Angela, neat that you worked that into the storyline and it was a good way to have them get 'caught' but no way would Dwight tell because he is more desperate for no one to know he was there than he would be to tell anyone that he saw them there.

Anyhow, my heart sunk when he first read te email saying about the dating stuff with Pam but I thought, oh,he'll find some way to pull her aside privately and work something out. I wasn't really concerned when he was asking the guys in the office about her, the only real concern at all would be Toby, but that wouldn't really go anywhere becase, well, they just aren't a match. The thing is, I get the idea that Pam thinks Jim might be interested in her, but she just can't be sure. She doesn't know really how to classify what this is that they are doing and she still isn't a real confident person yet. So, she thinks there is interest, but she knows it's not allowed and she questions probably why any guy would risk anything especially his job, for her. I think this probably all goes into her thought when she is trying to figure out just what she and Jim are doing. Sooooo... I think Jim coming up to her so casually, with an office full of people, and saying that they want to see more of her with guys and dating, that's probably all it takes to convince Pam that she had it all wrong all along. She is probably asking herself how she ever thought that some producer from Ca would ever be interested in her anyhow and all the doubts creep in and any confidence she had drains and it just makes me so. sad. You know, theres a big part of me that thinks Jim feels he doesn't really have to show his intentions, at least not right away because she has told him that her attempts at dating since Roy have flopped and I think she has conveyed enough for him to not feel threatened that she is even going to date much less meet someone because right now she jus isn't interested so he can sit back ad realy do nothing. It makes me think that maybe, just maybe he SHOULD see her going on some dates. Having some fun on them, not really connecting on a romantic level, but he doesn't need to know THAT. I think that would shake Ji up a great deal. I mean, he has had this thing for her ever since he first saw her on tape and it has grown a great deal since he has spent real life time with her. Maybe it takes him feeling threatened, like he's going to lose her if he doesn't make a move. Oh, I like how you put his thoughts... he knew there would come a time when he would have to pick between his job and Pam, (which shows how deeply he feels to feel he'll need to make such a drastic choice) but he never thought he would have to choose between some other guy having Pam and his job. I think that last part speaks to what I was saying about him feeling safe, like she isn't going to date/fall in love because she sn't interested so there is no other guy to think about.

Really great, if sad, chapter. I hope they can soon really find some solid footing, make a conection where they each truly know where they stand. I mean, if Jim IS truly felling for her, jobs, while they may not be EASY to come by, especially a producer job like that, there are jobs to be had all over. OTOH, if he truly thinks she IS something special, the person maybe he is meant to be with and maybe just maybe the whole reason for this trip was fates way of introducing each of them to their sould mate, well, there's only ONE sould mate out there... don't blow it Jim. I am WAYYYYY anxious for the next chapter(s)!!!!

Author's Response: Yay! You're back! Where to start... I think you will find the next chapters close to what you were thinking about Jim's thought process. And that's exactly what Pam is thinking, that maybe she isn't up to par for this producer. I really hope you like where this goes! And so happy that you are feeling good enough to leave me this wonderfully long reviews. They really make me smile.

Okay... I don't mind begging... on my knees... if that will help! Seriously, I am missing this story BIG time! I hope all is well with you and please know, as one of your biggest fans I am waiting, pretty impatiently, for you to come back and bring us more of your brilliance! You left this at such a key point, Jim had met Pam's parents and was honest about the plans for Pam to move with him to the West Coast (though I still have a sneaking suspition that they are going to end up remaining in Scranton. It's just where they seem to belong.) It seems like there was something sneaky going on with Jill Daniels... I need, really REALLY NEED to know more of this story! PLEASE Italian Food! I've been good (well, sorta) and your stories brighten my day. I just think I DESERVE more! (also, if it works better for me to work the side of sympathy, I've just been in as bad of shape as I ever have and these stories, with YOURS as one of the best, is what keeps me going. You DO want to keep me going, right?)

All silliness and such aside, I REALLY hope you see this and I SERIOUSLY hope you will be back with more of this FABULOUS story and SOON! I MISS YOU!

10

YAY!!!! I kept waiting all day Thursday and Friday to see if this story (or the other story I've been following) had an update and just when I was certain I was going to have to suck it up and wait another day, you posted!!!! YAY! I did remind myself that I KNOW that you DO sometime post late so I hadn't given up on you completely. My waiting paid off. I was just especially eager because we had just gotten to that point where things were happening, so I was ready to read about them happening!

SUCH a great chapter. It's great that you picked up with their early morning meeting the very next morning and honestly, I thought the talk they had was extremely realistic. I would think that for Pam, the fact that he was only suppose to be here until May, another 4 months, would weigh heavily on her mind when thinking about what his intentions are, is this a fling? What happens in May, do they just say hey, it's been fun, have a good life? Is there any chance he would want something that would last beyond May? oh and I am SO glad that you had Pam smart (or insecure) enough to ask him about if there was someone waiting for him at home. You can never just assume these things no matter how they seem.

Love that they actually discuss that they probably shouldn't be doing any of this in the office, yet they go on to make out enough that Jim is grasping for skin under her shirt AND he unbeknownst to either of the, give her a hickey! Oh Meredith! She has so little interest in the world around her, especially at the office, yet she watches Pam closely enough to spot the hickey. Then there's Ryan, sory but I've always thought he was a douch! Instantly texting his friend in spte of the fact that he and Kelly witnessed all interaction between Joe and Pam and the he just has to share it for the camera. Thng is, I actually have gotten a curling iron burn and they really can resemble hickeys so it's not really an outlandish claim for Pam to make although it IS the claim that every girl that doesn't want to fess up to having a hickey makes. I don't know what to make of how Nick was about it with Pam. I actually thought that he really believed her. Do you put ice on a hickey? I haven't heard of that. On the other hand you would want to put ice on a burn. I still just love that neither of them knew about it.Oh yeah, I'm also not sure what to make about Nick's comments to Pam about her conversation with Roy. Maybe he's feeling a bit better about the situation with Pam and Jim because Pam DID go on te date and it sounded lke the tape probably showed her having a good time so maybe Nick is trying to be nice and the things he is saying are his way of encouraging her to keep dating.

I wondered where it was all going with the scene with them going after Dwight and Jim ending up riding back with Micheal. I was laughing when Micheal of all people comments on the way Jim smells and then even connects it that Jim and Pam must use the same soap, yet Micheal, being Micheal, simply is clueless and has no idea what he has connected. I have a feeling that Jim and Pam are going to have to both go to non scented soaps/body washes, lotions and no perfume or cologne on workdays or weekends if there are work events to be filmed.

Great chapter! I can't wait to see how they start working out seeing each other outside of the office because lets be honest, while there WAS an accidental hickey that happened in the office this morning, the things they can do outside of the office HAS to be a lot more interesting!

I have to say, I'm just really glad that Jim realized that he needed to take a chance on this and that if the worst were to hapen, there ARE other jobs. I just have this feeling that Jim may be looking for another job either way because I think they are going to find that what they have is a lifetime thing. SO if that is the case, someone will have to move (I think a long distance thing between PA and CA would be impossible and doomed from the start) and since Jim doesn't particularly feel he realy has roots since he moved around most of his life, and Pam is from Scranton, ot at least PA ALL of her life and that's where her life has always been, I just see Jim moving there for her. Just my prediction for down the road. I DO tend to get ahead of myself. I can't wait to see how they work on things and how things happen in the meantime. Also I can't wait to see if/when they discover they actually are in love. I've ALWAYS thought with Jim and Pam it happened really soon after meeting even if one or both was deeply in denial. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out here! Oh and the whole weekend off... you should be able to crank out I'd say a good 10 or so chapters in that time! ROFL

Author's Response: Sorry that you had to wait both days. Okay, where to start... I had to start with the morning. I played with the idea of skipping ahead but I knew it wouldn't be right. Mean Nick will play a bigger role soon. As far as the relocation thing goes it will be for sure a big thing for them. I think you'll like it.

10

Wow! This story is so awesome and continues to get better with every new chapter. I can't really do a proper review right now, or at least MY kind of review. My health is really, really bad... ANYHOW, just wanted you to know that I am out here still, reading and enjoying your story an I promise I will get back on the reviews as soon as I possibly can. In the meantime, thanks for keeping me entertaine. THAT is no easy job thesebdats. Also thak you for continuing to write rivetin, awesome stories that we can get invested in and that raise the bar for other writers. I'm sad with what is going on right now but I know your writin and you always work out the obstacles in our duo'w way in the most amazing ways. I'm personally rooting for Jim to remain in Scranton with Pam, hey, maybe she'll find out she's pregnant and they'll know they must remain together NOW, can't put it off. I confrss, I love little tiny Jam babies!!! :o) Either way, I hope they look at this as an oportunity for Pam to fly to the west coast and meet Jim's parent's much sooner than planned. Just so awesome, but then I expected no less from you! Okay, longer than I planned but I am so pathetic these days, just typing it has seriouslt exhausted me! Can't wait for the next chapter(s)

Author's Response: I'm so sorry to hear that you aren't doing well, but really happy to know that you're finding time to read. I will keep the chapters coming! I too like tiny Jam babies, and Jim and Pam in Scranton... ;)

10

Oh wow! I find that I am really falling in love with this story. I absolutely adore the changes starting with ust more or less Pam's mentality, the way she is thinking and the fact that she is very much aware that she at least has a crush on Jim. She is disillusioned by her relationship with Roy right from the beginning of the story but then they have a few good weeks and she is really wiling to look at it and see if things are turning around. I think she is just hopeful because she just doesn't want to feel as though she has wasted such a large portion of her life on a guy who doesn't deserve her.

Poor Pam has to quickly see that those couple of good wek were in fact the exception rather than the rule and I couldn't help but feel her hurt when Roy couldn't be bothere to care that Pam had to work and couldn't go to the lake, he didn't even have a discussion with her like most couples that live together do. The lake was there, his brother was going and he was going too. The fact that pam couldn't go was nothing more than her problem. I felt especially bad for her because he simply didn't seem to care in any way that she couldn't go. he didn't tell her he wished she was going to be there or that he'd miss her, he just went. It was actually a very good thing for her because it was a very eye opening experience for our Pam and really sent her thoughts in the right direction, really questioning the rest of er life and if she really was going to mary this guy. Oh and she got to spend so great time at the mall with Jim so that was a real bonus.

I absolutely adored your changes to the hot girl episode. You left the good stuff like the scene in the kitchen at lunch where idiot Roy is ogoling another girl right in fron ot pam, then he says they are dating. You's think after being engaged THAT long he'd be able to gt it right. I also loved that you kept in Jim's lines about what kind of girl he likes... moms, single moms, soccer moms and then the too late kev. LOVED it! Then was Jim cheering her up with the Dwight/purse stuff but then came the really key change that gosh I wish they had done on the show. Roy simply refused to take what Pam had to say about being finished seriously and he came up and tried that tickle scene which on the show made me a little sick that she let him tickle her out of beign upset, and on Jim's desk no less. Here when she is telling him to stop it, she MEANS it and she follows it up with stern words and even though the office mates are watching, she refuses to back down. So then rather than jim going into the conference room alone to see Katy and ending up asking her for drinks and winding up dating her, we have Jim and Pam deciding to go in there together to be nice and save katy from Michael. YAY, we are saved from the whole Jim and Katie dating stuff! I bet Katy was really disappointed that the only really attractive guy in the office never made it a point to come in and talk to/flit with her.

It was great how Pam reached out to Jim, asking him if they were going out for drinks and could she go and letting him know she wanted to be with him. Oh, and Katy had to stick with plan A, Michael giving her a ride. I like how Pam heads off Roy in the parking lot and whatever she said must have gotten through because he left alone and she left with Jim.

Finally, I like that while it took a bit for Pam to open up, she ended up opening up completely with Jim, using him for support (which I have a feeling she will need to do a lot in the days to come) and allowing herself the pleasure of cryig on his shoulder and hilding onto him.

This is really great stuff and the changes you are making to the episodes are believable and feel like it is certainly an alternate way they could have done things. I hope we will find out what happenes that night after drinks and crying with Jim. I mean, does she go back to her and Roy's house where it will be uncomfortable and Roy will probably do a lot of begging, I'm certain he does NOT want to lose his caretaker. Or, will she go to Jims and let Jim take care of her and dote on her a bit. He would certainly be a great salve to her wounded soul. He wouldm I am surem reassure and comfort her.

I just cannot wait to see what is next for us. I'll appologize in advance... I know my reviews tend to be long, rambling and probably boring and also probably overwhelming. I just can't seem to help it. I always tend to want to discuss the chapters at length.

Can I ask one thing? Is there any chance of you going back and finishing Treehouse? I ADORE that story and I've always thought it was a real shame that it was unfinished, not to mention tat you left off at such a pivotal point with the stuff with Pam and Roy coming to a head and Jim and that girl and it looked like Pam and Jim were maybe finding their way back to each other. I REALLY hope (and am willing to beg for it) that you will strongly consider continuing treehouse. I think there are A LOT of people who would really be happy to see you working on it again. Heck, I've even read it several times in spite of knowing I will be very disappointed because of where it leaves off! Anyhow, something to think about.

I'm excited for the next chapter of this story to see if pam follows through. What does it mean for Pam and Jim. What other growth will we see in Pam. Tahnks for sharing your writing with us!

Author's Response: Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I do not mind the length at all, TWSS, ha! I have wanted to do this story for so long and more recently it has been waving it's hands in front of me, so I write. I am glad you are enjoying it, I love Pam, and I always thought, if she would just open her eyes and look at the way Roy treats her, she would be so much better off and would break it off. I think Jim and Pam's friendship though always strong will be even stronger with Roy out of the way, he is her best friend and she needs that. It is not an easy thing to change everything in your life, so she needs someone right? I had Pam ask Jim to go for drinks after watching the Pilot again and seeing where he asked her to go before Roy walks in and is totally rude. You feel so bad for Jim, the second you realize that he is right for Pam and not the ape she is with. I hope you enjoy the new chapter and keep enjoying this as I go on. As for the Treehouse, I do plan on finishing, I love that story. I had a block when it stalled and then my fic addiction kind of fizzled due to real life, but now it is a fun hobby for me again, my husband is constantly at work or school these days, so I need to spend my time with something. And I am loving this. I want to finish this story and then I am going back to the Tree house, I started the next chapter back when I stalled, and I have an outline of where it will go, so no begging necessary, just a little patience, like Jim :) Thanks again :)

10

Oh wow! :::sigh::: You left me satisfied and smiling! Seriously, sorry I haven't popped in and reviwed before this, but I adore this story. The entire premise that the story is built on, Pam and Roy being finished before she came to D-M and met Jim, therefore all the feelings they had for each other from the start never needed to be repressed and they are able to proceed with a romantic relatioship without the situation. You added a lot of realism to the story by introducing Roy, who is a mess and expecting Pam to both be a pushover and to fix him, to the story. I loathe Roy admit but I really admit that the way you are using him makes this story very real. I RESLLY hope though that Pam A. lets Roy know that they won't be having a romantic meal that next day or any other day and B. keeps to her word and doesn't let Roy stay a day past 2 weeks. I'd really like to see her tell him that she let him stay so he could pull his life together, get a job and whatnot and if he's going to drink and/or sit around the apt all day, not taking advantage of the time to pull his life together, he's going to have to go right away. While Roy may have upset his family members, that still doesn't even make him Pam's responsibility. I think it's sweet of Pam to give him a chance, shows what a caring person she is and I thought it was neat that Jim was able to see past how much he didn't want Roy to be staying with Pam, let's face it, this would be about one of the WORST circumstances to start a new relationship in, but I love how Jim is keeping himself in check. It helps that Pam is very clear and direct with Jim, letting him clearly know that she wants HIM (who wouldn't?? ) I also like how when Jim had doubts because of Pam telling Roy that she was going out with people from work, he told her rather than letting it fester in his mind. Then it was great that rather than making something up, she was honest telling him about Roy's romantic gesture. I actually agreed completely with the way she handled things.

I really REALLY like this Pam and Jim and while they ARE different and that makes them seem a bit OOC, they still come across as being really very much in character. Just PLEASE PLEASE don't let Roy screw up the beautiful relationship and the trust they are building!

Thank you for all the quick updates to this. It's one of my favorite current WIPs and I get restless waiting for the updates! Great job, please keep it coming! There is SO much more sroey that can be told on this one!

Author's Response: Thank you SO much for your lengthy review! I figured I had to throw Roy in there because it can't ever be easy for Jim and Pam, right? And I really cannot stand Karen so I went with Roy as my road block to happiness, so to speak. It means a lot to me that you think they are different, yet still somewhat in character. I think a lot of what drove their characterization seasons 1-3 was Pam being with Roy, so without that, they are different people. I was watching "Hot Girl" the other day and Jim was so coinfident and charming when asking Katy out. I like to think that's how he would have been with Pam if it hadn't been for Roy.

10

Oh Danielle... I just love the story you have told us throughout these chapters. This is a man who loves his family so completely and worries SO much that he is going to fail them and somehow lose it all one day. I sense through this that Pam is very aware of his fears and probably feels guilt, like they are her fault, so she does everything she can to build him up and also keeps her own worries and fears inside herself because she worries about giving him a heavier load to bear. At least thats how I see it. The thing is, they are such an awesome, dynamic couple. They do everything in their power to build each other up and empower one another. I cannot help but wonder what a force they would be if they really shared everything with each other, even the bad stuff. Of course in this they are forced to share bad stuff and wow, the good that comes from it. The way Pam pulls out all stop first in trying to help Jim first find just people to interview him. Then they each have to realize that if Jim took that first job he was offered, well it would likely destroy them because they get their strength from each other. Then Jim gets to again see Pam's strebgth and wisdom when he calls her after the initial interview with the radio station when she gives him insight as to just why they may be sending him out to try and sell without promising him a job if he does it. Instead Pam is in the background gathering information that will help and just building him up, letting him know that he can do it. In turn, Jim does what he does best and just takes care of Pam. I love how he wasn't upset for a second when she told him she was pregnant, in fact, he was thrilled. When he realized how much it was tearing her up to sell the house, he vowed not to. Then when she was hospitalized because she was dealing with the stress in such an internal way that it affected the pregnancy, he doted on her and tried to do what he could so she wouldn't be feeling that stress any longer. They are just such a wonderful couple, truly makes me believe that there must be such a thing as soul mates, they must be a lot of fun to write about!

I really like how you've had this whole thing with the radio statio play out. None of it has come to Jim really easily, he's had to really go after it. Then, after the interview when he saw that Vance Refridgeration was on the list and felt that he had the sale locked up, he would just need to be able to convince to station to hire him, well, even that wasn't easy. I loved how you had this play out, Bob Vance, VR, totally sure he wouldn't be able to help Jim and Jim having to draw on all that information that Pam found and supplied him with, even making up a bit and though he didn't want to take advantage of his and Pam's situation, darn it, his back was against the wall and if he was going to fail, he was going to go down fighting. In the end, he had to fight for it, but he prevailed. It was brilliant then that who is it that interviews him? His sweet daughter's best friend's dad! So great!

I LOVE how you took our wonderful Jim, put him in a bad situation where he is feeling like a failure, and he shines. He is still happy to find out that they are adding to their family. He gets this once in a lifetime opportunity to bond with his sweet, precious daughter and is able to find self worth in being able to teach her things. Ultimately you are able to take Jim from a job he never liked and never intended to stay at for long and move him to one, still in sales, which he is admittedly very good at, but in a field far more suited to him and one that I am sure he will be happy and thrive at. This dynamic couple has faced horrible adversity but you have shown how they draw strength from each other, their daughter and their daughter who will be here soon and you've also shown the solid support they get from their parents.

The very worst thing about this story is... there's only one chapter left. ::::sob:::: I sincerely hope you are ready to begin a new story... or maybe revive the Match.com one. You've done such an awesome job with this, as you ALWAYS do. I cannot wait to see what more we find out about this little family in your epilouge. ( Shoot, I Know I spelled that word, as well as plenty of others in this reviw, really wrong. Please forgive me but my head is throbbing so bad I'm thinking I may need to make a trip to the hospital. Keep that in mind when you are wondering why this all sounds disjointed and just plain stupid.)

Thanks for sharing more of your amazing imagination with us. Your stories will never get old.

Author's Response: It's so wonderful to hear from you! It is not disjointed or anything like that, I'm always so happy to hear from you! I hope you're okay and that you did not need a stay in the hospital! This review was just so lovely, and I'm so thrilled to see that everything I incorporated into this story, even the little things, came out to you so well. I really did need Jim to come out fighting in the Bob Vance interview, to not take no for an answer and to show how great of a salesman he can be, even if he did use his personal situation as an edge - my weird twist on the everything happens for a reason saying. At the end of the day, good or bad, he loves his family more than anything else, and I'm glad that those emotions came through in this story. I'm thinking about a new story at the moment, not so sure about the match.com story, but we'll see. I'm going to take a few days and see what my thoughts come to and take it from there. There will definitely be something else very soon though. I can't thank you enough for all of your support and I'm so happy that you stuck with this story. I hope you're doing better!

10

Oh Danielle! You are writing again! Two chapters in a short period of time and they are amazing. Actually, just like with all of your stories, each chapter is better than the last.

I admire you for tackling this story. There are tons of stories where Jim and Pam or Jim, Pam and Cece are all rainbows and happiness, and don't get me wrong at all, I certainly LOVE those, but I REALLY love that you have decided to take a look at how their lives go when things aren't all sunsine and roses. Losing a job, I can only imagine what that would do to a man's self esteem. Take a man like Jim Halpert who because of the past I think he feels like he has this need, this drive, to do a little more, a little better, make sure he is taking better care of HIS Pam than any other guy could because when he got her, when all the years and the tears and the heartbreak finally paid off for him and he could call her his own, he just, I would think, would have this driving need to always make sure that she never feels like she made a mistake. (Never mind that there are probably parts of Pam that fel the same way towards Jim, that she needs to be THEbest wife, mother, lover, etc... because of bothe the damage inflicted during the Stamford/Karen time and because of him giving up a promotion and a girl that Pam probably felt was better than she herself is in order for him to return to Pam!) Anyhow, I just think the emotional toll of losing his job on a guy like Jim Halpert would be overpowering, crushing! I could see where there would be a tiny voice in the back of his head telling him that he is proving he doesn't deserve her and waiting each day to see if she's finally tired of him and what they are dealing with.

I cannot tell you just HOW much I love the whole direction you have taken with this story. First off, I think it was really wise to have Pam suffer something at work as well, it just really made sense. What I really really love is the quiet strength you are showing in Pam in this story. She is really watching and reading Jim. She is proving to be truly her husband's best friend and biggest fan. She is championing him the way he did her for all those years and that is just really special.

I love here as she sees that they need to communicate, they need time alone and she is so determined to not let this hurt her child (as is he) at all. Her thinking outside the box about the list of clients he had is really a ice twist as well.

I admit that I'm really worried about Pam at work right now because it truly sounds like things just aren't okay. She back to a job she didn't like, but with more responsibility and the one thing (person) that got her through the day back then is gone. I worry about with the pregnancy and her taking the worries of the family on her shoulders that she is taking on too much and there will be some type of a price to pay. I hope once things stabilize a bit for them that Pam, seeing how poorly both of them, especially Jim, were treated, will maybe find that it's time to move on to something new. Pam has so many different talents, along with her ability to think outside the box, I would think there would be many different jobs that she could do, and one that would make her much happier than her present job, especially her present one without Jim there.

I hope we see Jim and Pam continue to lean on each other as this progresses. I really do love the dynamic between them that when one is weak, the other is not only strong but builds the weaker one up. You have written this the exact way I always pictured things would go for Jim and Pam once they got their acts together.

Oh, I also want to say since I didn't review earlier chapters, I am SOOOO happy that Jim was thrilled with the news of the baby in spite how things were/are going for them. I really have always felt that Jim would never be unhappy about he and Pam having a baby but this just proves my point. (Okay, YOUR point!)

Danielle... you are SUCH an amazing writer. You constantly surprise me by how you can take so many different scenerios and write the characters IN character. For me a good gauge of an author (this is just in my eyes) is if the particular story I am writing were to be suddenly aired as an episode of the show, would people be able to still tell that those are their beloved characters, the sme ones that the writers took a lot of time and money to develope. There are stories out there that in order to make a scenerio work, the author completely changes the character's personality and aside from calling that character by the name the writers gave them, you would NEVER know that it WAS that person. Your stories are always completely in character and I really appreciate that. You are so very gifted with your writing skills, I really hope you know that!

Can't wait for the next chapter!!!! (And 'm still completely pouting that you discontinued the Match.com story. It had a lot of promise and you were bringing it to life in the way that you do so well~! I guess I'll get over it!!!)

Author's Response: Thank you so much for taking the time to review, and I hope you're feeling well! I always enjoy hearing from you and hope you're able to let me know what you think of future chapters. You are very spot on with what I'm doing here, picking up on my subtle things that I'm adding. My basic premise is that when things hit the fan and their life isn't all rainbows and sunshine, that they are one another's greatest friends, you're so right about that. They can argue and have a spat or two and go through something like this and not break, which is what I'm trying to show, and I'm so happy that it's coming across exactly the way I intended it to! Pam does think outside the box and she's strong, maybe in a quiet way, but she does have the ability to see through things, maybe more so than Jim does, because as we've seen, he can get choked up and just stand there, not knowing what to do when things don't go right. I hope you continue to read and enjoy this story, it's definitely not over yet! And thank you for the comment about the online dating story. I may dig it back up and redo it once I'm done with this story here. Thank you so much for the lovely in-depth review I always look forward to from you. More on the way soon! :)