I've been writing fanfiction for awhile now. Just recently discovered The Office and figured I'd try my hand at that as well.
At first I thought of having all my stories in the same universe, but then I had some AU ideas. So any stories that occur within a common universe will be in a given series.
On all the days of Christmas, Jim's true love gave to him...the gift of pranking
For the 2022 Holiday Fic Challenge.
So I now have this image of Dwight standing in the middle of an abandoned field where the market was as realization finally hits him and screaming out, "Dammit JIIIIMMMM!!" Always fun to send Dwight off on a wild goose chase for sure.
Pam applying her makeup in the car and also having the card that Jim forgot is such a beautifully ordinary detail. Loved it.
Author's Response:
Oh yeah I can imagine that happening for sure!!
Glad you liked this one!
1 Okay, that was just cute. A "Guten-pranken" to round it off. Yeah they drove Dwight a bit batty, but in the end it was fun and he even got his beloved toy.
Jim and Pam really do work so well together. This is just the best way to show it. Getting Dwight to believe in Santa was just the sprinkles on the Christmas cookie. Loved every bit of it.
Same with three cups of early morning tea Pam trying to get everything done super early. Nice bit of crazy domestic bliss there too
Author's Response:
It’s not quite rounded off just yet! A little more to go :)
Glad you liked this chapter, thought Dwight needed a nice little treat in there!
Thanks so much for the review!
My apologies that it's taken me so long to review this chapter.
Lovely little slice of life to round things off. Pam rushing around seems very in keeping. At the same time they're still doing great by each other. The final gifts were just the star on top of the tree.
Lovely job with all of these. They were a lot of fun to read and enjoy. Merry Christmas.
Author's Response:
Absolutely no apology needed!!
So happy you liked this whole fic! Merry Christmas to you too!
1 Awww, look at Jim already falling for Pam. Loved it. Also loved that Pam is pranking Dwight prior to Jim showing up. Makes sense when you think about it for sure. She would know that Dwight is intense based on her warning and so yeah why not try to take Dwight down a couple pegs.
Also I really liked it that Ed Truck is still in charge here. Not something we see very often so that's fun.
Author's Response:
I actually had to work backward on the math and realize some of the dynamics would be different. Imagine having a "normal" boss in the office.
*Becomes confused*
Anyway, thank you!
Very interesting getting into his head as he meets everyone. Yet at the same time Pam is always kind of there in his mind. Like he's looking for her as a way to stay sane in what he's discovering is a pretty crazy office. Nice touch with that.
Author's Response: Exactly, you nailed it. And thank you!
Feels a little disjoined because his thoughts are revolving around Pam. Because she's there, he can't quite think straight. Then in comes Roy and his thoughts become disjointed for an entirely different reason. Jim thinking Roy was a nice guy, but still and ape, shows his optimism, at least at this early stage. I'm sure that opinion will change as time goes by though.
Author's Response:
I'm glad you understand the purposeful disjointedness.
Burgeoning love can sometimes cause situational ADHD. ;)
And thanks for reviewing!
Pam has always wanted to spend Chanukah somewhere warm.
So it's a good thing then that Roy just bought two tickets to sunny California!
Or, as it happens, not.
Written for the 2022 Holiday Fic challenge
1 Wow, Roy is really clueless here. Not only forgetting something huge about Pam but saying he's going there to ogle girls. I mean could there be a bigger red flag snapping in the wind? If this doesn't show her how wrong he is for her, I'm not sure what would. Hopefully she realizes it too.
Wonderful to see a new story from you too. Can't wait to read more.
Author's Response: Thank you! Roy is getting the worst of this, definitely. In my mind of his mind, he thinks that it's OK to note that he's gonna ogle as long as he's clearly not going to do anything more. This is wrong, but that's the kind of bro I think Roy is at this point in his arc. Don't worry, while this gets worse for Pam before it gets better, it's also got a happy JAM ending.
Yeah, good reason for Pam to be off-kilter like that. First she's pissed off at Roy. Then everything conspires to grate on any nerves she has left. To bad Jim wasn't there to run any sort of interference. Just a maddening circle of chaos. My heart goes out to her. And they Roy left her there. Hey look another Red Flag snapping in the wind!
Author's Response: Yeah, Roy is coming out pretttttty bad here. But the rest of the office ain't great either.
1 At last! She can breathe again. Good for Jim for trying to find her and also giving her space. Just what she needed. Hey was that a green flag being run up the flagpole? Coulda sworn it was. Anyway moving on. Love that William is basically doing the same. Giving her the space she needs and isn't pushing her. Just what she needs after this day. I adore Penny here. Asking about rigor mortis, being virulently anti-Roy. Glorious. Then William with the bomb from left field! Hopefully things are starting to percolate for Pam. Can't wait to find out what' in the bag.
Author's Response:
Thank you! Everyone needs people who will give them space, and also people who will push them when needed. Good thing Pam has both!
Bag is revealed next chapter...
Pam giving her dad something from the despised team feels very right for her. No wonder she seemed so taken with Jim. She was already pranking long before he showed up. *Salutes another green flag in passing*
Feels like she's getting her feet under her a bit here too. The previous day was a mess in just about every sense of the word. Glad she's got some time to recover. Getting Dwight on the botanical technicalities of nuts is so perfect. Mainly because I'm sure he thought himself an expert on the subject of anything and all things produce, but no, it's just beets. Or at least that's how it reads.
100% agree that if Roy and Pam were to host a party at their place it would be trashed at the end of the night and Pam would be stuck cleaning up since Roy would be passed out. Looking forward to seeing how this shindig of her goes.
Author's Response: She's definitely getting the hang of her life without Roy even this fast--so we'll see how that goes ;)
I love that Pam wanted to host a party with old high school friends. But then realizes that most of her high school friends were kind of driven off by Roy. So the only people who DO show up are not only the most anti-Roy people she could have but are also very much Pro-Jim. And yes I'm also including Jim in with the Pro-Jim crowd.
But also Roy not contacting her at all since getting in and now calling in drunk when it's barely 6:30 there? I mean come on Pam! All these red flags are going to combine to form a giant banner if not tapestry across the sky!
Onwards to find out what happens next.
Author's Response:
So many red flags. So many.
And yes, everyone at that party wanted her to break up with Roy.
1 Well done Pam! I mean it just shows how wrong he is that he is still acting this bad. If she really was important to him he would have stayed on the line when she said it was over. Instead he's clearly made the choice that his brother is more important than his, now, ex-fianc?. Not to mention what he said off hand to said brother. Yeah she doesn't need a crude uncaring man-child like that in her life anymore.
I'm also glad she turns first to family. They have shown they're on her side and it's great to see. Though it's when she spots something of Jim's is when she breaks down feels telling. Big moment and while I'm sure it stings quite a bit right now, she really everywhere to go up from here.
Author's Response: Oh yeah, this Roy is definitely 100% the wrong person for her in so many ways. But at least she's going in the right direction now!
1 Once more after a big moment, she takes some time to gather herself before jumping into anything else. Good for you Pam. Especially good, letting Roy go to voicemail. Let him be the one to be ignored for once. And then like magic, Jim appears and starts to make things better via banter. Delightful banter by the way. And it paves the way for what one could see as a real first date. And Jim spends it celebrating her heritage. Always liked that guy Jim. Looks like Pam has finally spotted all the green flags snapping in the breeze and is acting on them. Love it.
1 It wouldn't be early season Pam if she didn't overthink things just a little. Feels about right. Though all the memories she does come up with tell her more and more that not only is Jim right for her, but she's right for him too.
Then to bring in the Teapot and that Pam is actively making sure to get it back during Yankee Swap? Perfect. Hmmmmm, maybe those were Teal Flags flapping in the breeze all along. Regardless, it's a wonderful read to have that moment be where she finally gives in and kisses him. Well done!
Outstanding job for what feels like a novel concept. L'Chiam!
1 Oh the tension between these two. I mean clearly they realize on some level that there's something going on between them. Ah well, they figure it out in the end so there's that.
Pam trying and failing to knit seems about right. Lots of cute images there. The backstory for her necklace was a nice to get in there. Typical Roy doing the least amount of work though. Jerk. Wow, Dwight and Angela are in fine form here. Granted it's pre-show so they haven't had some of their rough edges sanded away, but wow. They were just mean. That even Michael would pick up on that and call out Dwight yeah.
Their moment in the snow by the snowman just about killed me. Beautiful but those melancholy hints were just about right. The cheeks kiss though was lovely. Pretty much as much as they can get away with for now.
Well done for sure.
Secret Santa fic present for a very lovely lady <3
1 So this story is a delight wrapped up in a bow ready to rip the paper off. Love it! Loved that Pam found her courage early and set off for herself. That Jim has to follow her was just delicious. If she can be brave, so can he. Pays off for them too. Great Christmas present for everyone involved.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! A bit of a role reversal in her being the brave one first, even if it wasn't in the same way he was brave in the show! I'm glad you enjoyed!
Jim finds advice in an unexpected place.
Written for the 2022 Christmas story exchange.
1 Very cute way to add some friendship tones to Dwight and Jim. Felt like Dwight was holding onto the teapot specifically to trade it to Pam rather than Jim. A bit of a retaliation on Dwight's part maybe, but the teapot still gets to where it needs to go. Nicely done.
1 So an interesting concept to be sure. They have to take bond-suppressant tablets? Curious to be sure. That being said I'm not sure Jim's tablets are working. Clearly there's more than none soulmate within the walls of Dunder-Mifflin based on the banter Jim and Pam had there. Pam also admitting that Roy is not her soulmate and that she's getting so irritated by him proves this too. Onwards to the next chapter and welcome to MTT!
Author's Response: Aw, thank you for such a warm welcome! :) I must confess, I first came across this particular soulmate concept in a story by Ao3 user elsaclack, but I liked it enough to try it out for Jim/Pam. I like to think it works okay! :D
1 At first I was hesitant about the script format for this chapter, but it worked. Tons of S2 vibes for sure. Jim's jokes were spot on as was him messing with Dwight. The fact you captured Dwight and Angela's more unique style of romance so well is something to be proud of.
No wonder Jim has to take those tablets. If he's feeling everything Pam feels, but is only getting friendship back (hopefully for now) no wonder. Though there's some very telling lines from Pam where it seems like she's getting more and more of a clue.
The last bit though with the yogurt? Perfection. Hopefully it helps clear her eyes a bit more as to what's right in front of her.
Author's Response:
I'm glad you liked the script format - I know whenever I read this chapter it can seem pretty long and quite daunting, so thank you for sticking it out and I'm glad you enjoyed it! The yogurt realization was one of my favorite parts to write! I love taking these lovely bits of canon and trying to put a new spin on them. :)
1 And here's Jim and Pam at their best bantering form. Loved it. Even with the angst going through Jim's mind for most of this chapter about how he loves her and will probably always have to love her from afar. But then he notices the ring is gone. Makes sense that he'd think she's just forgotten it that day. But it seems like Pam's vision has finally cleared. Though her way of expressing her feelings is delightfully JAMMY. A bit of a lighthearted prank so it works.
The image of them just staring across the table smiling at each other was just precious. Great story. Can't wait to read more from you.
Author's Response: Yesssss Jim/Pam banter is such a delight, I was really happy with the way they ended up teasing each other here so I'm so happy you enjoyed it! So happy you enjoyed the story, love love love!! :D
1 This is such a wonderful piece! Not sure if you intended it this way, but if feels like the morning after their first night together. The specter of the past is still there. They're still sort of figuring out how to go from being best friends to more than that. At the same time the way forward is clear. Jim being very okay with Pam leaving some of her stuff at his place and wanting to do the same. Bodes well for their future together. What I really love is that they're back to bantering with each other. Their conversation just feels easy, like it should be. And in leaning into that, they discover that this new phase of their relationship will be the best they'll ever have.
Great job.
Author's Response: Aw, thanks so much for such a lovely comment! I'm glad you like it. :D They're still figuring out how to move forward after everything they've been through, but they both want to move forward and they're holding hands as they take those first few steps, and that's how we know it's going to be okay! :)
1 So this is delightful! Sometimes we just need someone to push us and that happens here big time. It's one hundred percent believable that Pam would have all those fears and doubts about Jim. Why she would chicken out on contacting him. She's scared, like all of her courage got used up in calling off the wedding. Yet she still has some left, it just needs to be drawn out. Jan giving her that excuse fits the bill nicely.
And then Jim is delighted to see her. As if her being there sparked something alive again and he can't help but respond to it. Pam had the courage to show up and ask him out. Clearly all lights are green and he wisely hits the gas.
I kinda feel a little bad for Karen, but better she find out this way than get sucked into being used as a shield for Jim's broken heart.
Great job with this one. I like it a lot.
Author's Response:
In this story, what was clear to me was that things would be simple. If Pam was given a chance, she would take it, and if Jim met Pam, and understood what an effort it was for her to have come to him, he would take her in with no problem. As if nothing had happened.
Thanks for your lovely comment.
June 7th 2006 - Jim has a very weird experience after he bumps his head, but why is his third grade teacher involved... and where does Christmas fit into it?
For the 2022 Holiday Fic Challenge.
1 This was a lot of fun for sure. To get more of a reason why every so often we'd get glimpses of the real Jim in S3 was a nice way to frame it. As Jim said just before they got married, he knew all along he was waiting for his wife. Love that we get more detail as to why he's able to hold on to that kind of hope. While it would have been fun to have an AU Jim and Pam get together early kind of thing, this works well too. By the time they're truly together, they're ready for each other and then have a bond so strong, nothing will tear it apart. Lovely job.
Author's Response: Thanks Warrior! I thought hard about those moments when "our Jim" rather than the "evolved" version popped out in S3. It made sense that his subconscious might have a reason for that, however far-fetched! I watch S3 with a heavy heart sometimes, mainly because I want Pam to shake some sense into him and to get them together that much quicker! But it just wasn't their time yet. And I feel like I've given myself a reason to be able to watch S3 with a little more enjoyment.
It's Jim's first Christmas party in Athleap.
Pam decides to give him a hard time.
For the 2022 Holiday Fic Challenge (Let us all pretend time has frozen and it is still December 25)
1 Lots of fun down in Austin for sure. The fact Cece has Jim wrapped around her finger is adorable. As a father, yeah it's hard to say no to those puppy dog eyes. Love that Jim and Pam are still so ardent about each other. Feels like they have a great relationship still and I love it. Though the continued interpretations were funny too. That is till they finally get home and are alone. Very hot back in the bedroom. Great job.
Author's Response:
Cece definitely gets whatever she wants from Jim. I’m pretty sure she got that puppy.
Team Halpert, all the way. Kidding, lol. Let’s hope they didn’t make a third baby with that.
Thank to you so much!!
1 Oh Jim, we know you're hurting because despite what you're trying to tell yourself, you still love her. You can't not love her. Even when you're so wounded by her. Thing is it's not just you and Pam would get caught up in this. Kind of makes me feel bad for Karen because we really get the sense she's getting caught in the crossfire since she doesn't know the full truth.
Very real and powerful emotions even if they're as biting as these are.
Author's Response: When Jim has wanted something, he has gone for it without thinking about the consequences. Karen was always a victim of his, but she could have broken off the relationship and did not. Thanks for your review!