Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: July 07, 2007 Title: Chapter 1: She was wearing pink when she answered the door

OH MY GOD Kelly is dawesome! Hee! Reported him as "missing". Brilliant. And she totally doesn't get that she's being brutal to him. Love it.

Author's Response: Well, I wrote it just for you! I was trying and trying to do a Kelly POV with plot and motivations and all that, and then I realized that I needed to stick to my strengths. Heh. I'm so glad you liked it!

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: July 10, 2007 Title: Chapter 1: Five Months Today

Boys.  They always seem to think "Look what I have for you in my pants" counts.  HEE!  This story was just so sweet!  I love that Jim is trying to turn back the clock and make up for their lost time together.

Author's Response: Maybe it's because I can still see the look on Pam's face when Roy told her what her "valentine's day present" was going to be - but I could just HEAR her saying that to Jim.  Half-teasing of course, but let's face it - I bet that was Roy's idea of a birthday present, too.  The all-holiday gift!  ;-)  Thanks for reading!!

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: July 12, 2007 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1

The lack of dialogue brought out so many other perfect details, from Pam's body language to Jim's innate kindness to strangers.  Despite appearances, I really think this is an auspicious start for them.  It would be a bit suspicious if things went too swimmingly after all they've been through just to get to this point!

Author's Response: Thank you so much! I am glad you mentioned that "lack of dialogue" thing- it was intentional. I wanted their words to be what connected them at the end. I'm glad you liked (and thank you for your comments after your sneak preview, too!).

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: October 23, 2007 Title: Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Love Will Come Through It's Just Waiting For You

Celery.  Heh.

But seriously, this Jonathon?  Should totally be a semi-regular on the show.

Author's Response:

It just thrills me to death when somebody mentions an affection for Jonathan; I have so much fun with that character (and with envisioning Scott Foley and John Krasinski in the same room together).  I'm just enamored with the idea of a foil for Jim -- and older brother who sees it and gets it, you know?

Of course, now that I've started watching Chuck, I'm itching to write a younger brother for Jim (Zach Levi -- have you seen him?  He absolutely channels JK/JH sometimes, so much so that it's almost eerie.  ...But it's more sexy and cute than anything else.  LOL)

Thanks for reviewing!

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: October 17, 2007 Title: Chapter 19: Chapter 19: We're Strange Allies With Warring Hearts

Despite the lighter tone, it's still so refreshing to return to other characters.  Dwight!  I missed you!  (Congratulations universe, you win.  Heh.)

Author's Response:

You know, writing ensemble fics intimidates me, because there are so many people here who do it astonishingly well -- and I find it really daunting.  Glad you enjoyed the Dwight/Jim interaction here (and Starry Dreamer deserves a lot of credit; she's the one who nudged me in the direction of Pam's phone call & Jim's subsequent prank).

Thanks so much for reviewing!

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: October 17, 2007 Title: Chapter 17: Chapter 17: What the Head Makes Cloudy the Heart Makes Very Clear

Ah now that's the fight I think we were all expecting to see on the show.  Nice.  I don't find this chapter angsty because things actually happened.  That makes a difference.  Heh.

Author's Response:

Yeah, I would've liked to have seen a little something more than we actually saw.  I'm so intrigued by David Denman's mention of the deleted fight scene from season 2 (for "Boys and Girls") when Jim sort of got in Roy's face and refused to back down.  I do think he has it in him, but I don't think the show demonstrates that very often.

Ah...so the angst bugged you when it didn't advance the plot?  I see now.  Yeah, I'm heavy on the interior monologue at times, which some people find off-putting or just plain boring. 

Thanks, as always, for the feedback!

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: September 19, 2007 Title: Chapter 15: Chapter 15: It's All Right, I'm Okay; I Think God Can Explain

Man.  You're killing me.  I'm with Jonathon.  Jim had better get MAD and he'd better do it soon.  I can not take much more of Pam and her fucking bullshit.

Author's Response:

I'm sorry I'm killing you.  :o)  And I promise, Pam will straighten up soon (and she will also have to sit with the decisions she's made -- or rather, refused to make, as the case may be).

Thanks for reviewing!

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: August 21, 2007 Title: Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Lost In a Snow-filled Sky We'll Make It Alright to Come Undone

Gah!  As beautifully written as this is, I am so glad that the writers didn't go this route.  I would have hated Pam so much!  I was torn between, "God Pam, grow a pair" and, "Shut the hell up why are your torturing him like that?!"  Hee!  I'm so hooked on this excellent little what-might-have-been!

Author's Response:

Listen, I'm having the hardest time writing it as such!  Because I don't believe that Pam could be so cruel as to lead him on - give him false hope that's so tangible - then go back to acting like nothing ever happened.

...So I turn to the lovely, dramatic Jim/Pam videos on youtube for inspiration. :o)

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: August 07, 2007 Title: Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Running To Stand Still

Confession:  I took a big huge long break in the middle of this chapter, just after they went to sleep.  I'm not sure why I needed it.  It certainly wasn't as painful as the previous one.  But I am holding you to your promise of smut and a happy ending!  That said, I really liked the flashback history of Pam and Roy and how you've managed to bring this up to a point where we can actually see a glimpse of how Pam and Jim are at the beginning of the show.

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: July 28, 2007 Title: Chapter 7: Chapter 7: The Sacred Geometry of Chance

Once. Holy shit. Ouch. You really DO like to inflict pain on Jim, don't you?! I take back what I said about Pam being an intentional cockteaser. She honestly doesn't know what she's doing. I know that it's not technically canon, but if she really did have her first kiss with Roy, as well as her first everything else, then...that explains a LOT. I really believed that most dangerous game they were playing in the pool room with the basket. It reminded me of some of my own high school experiences.

Author's Response:

I do...it's awful, but I do.  :o)  Yeah, I do think that while Pam has a general idea that he's got feelings for her and is attracted to her, she has absolutely no clue as to how deeply they run.  And in this scenario, I think she's had just enough to drink to start to play with fire a little bit, but she'll find that she's in waaaay over her head, and that it is indeed possible to push Jim Halpert too far. 

Yikes, that sounded like one of those NBC promo voiceovers, didn't it?  *Cue Lamar's "Stars"*  LOL

Thanks so much for the review!

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: July 16, 2007 Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Content to Compromise

Question:  How did you get to be so awesome?  Seriously, what a fantastic idea for a story!  Great start, can't wait for more.

Author's Response:

Well, I always make my sales numbers, I'm charming, and I make a good impression on everyone I meet.  Oh wait...that's Jim. :oD  I'm really glad you're enjoying it so far!  (I'm about to post the next chapter...)

Thanks for reviewing!

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: July 26, 2007 Title: Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Into the Sea of Waking Dreams

First of all, I need to see Michael dancing with Meredith to an old Madonna song!

If this is truly what Jim went through before the documentary cameras arrived, I'm shocked it took so long for him to leave!  Wow.  This Pam is just so close to the unfortunate label "cocktease".

Author's Response:

Oh my god, belsum -- me, too.  We re-watched Booze Cruise the other night, and I was telling my husband that I could watch Michael dance in every episode, and it would not get boring. 

And no kidding (about Jim not leaving sooner!).  I had intended originally to end this with the end of the trip, but I'm intrigued by extending it a chapter or two after that to sort of construct a plausible (well, semi-plausible, LOL) scenario of how they could go from here to where they are while the documentary is being filmed. 

And oh yes, I do believe Pam is likely earning herself that dubious honor, LOL. 

Thanks for reviewing!

Reviewer: belsum Signed
Date: July 31, 2007 Title: Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Lights Go Out and It's Just the Three of Us: You Me and All That Stuff We're So Scared Of

"Will you tell me about it?"  Seriously?!  Jesus Pam.  Are you that drunk or just that dense?!  And it just got worse from there.  Honestly, are you trying to kill me dead?  This was so painful.  It took me a very long time to read; I had to keep taking breaks because it just hurts so much.  But it's also so beautiful.  Damn you and your sublime writing!!  ;-)

Author's Response:

I know - I'm awful; I can't help it!  I don't know why I feel compelled to write Pam as so horrendously awful to Jim sometimes.... I'm not trying to kill you dead, I promise -- just want to make you squirm a little, entertain you a bit, LOL.  (That came out sounding all kinds of wrong and dirty; I apologize.) 

Thanks so much for reviewing!  I'll be posting the next chapter in a few hours, I think.