So...an interesting chapter. We'll first focus on Jim here, what little we've seen of him this go around. When last we saw, he was still friendly to Pam, but not so much his girlfriend. Now both Jim and Karen are out sick for two days in a row. However Jim still has the energy to drive to Schrute farms for a prank. Part of me thinks that since the FBI prank the real Jim, Scranton Jim, has started to come out more. Karen fell for Stamford Jim, who was a brokenhearted wreck of his former self. Now that the real Jim is peaking through the mismatch that is Scranton Jim and Karen is becoming a lot more pronounced. Especially with all this attention Jim's been giving Pam. Took him long enough to reply to her message though.

Now to Pam. Some big progress for sure with that letter to Santa. Admitting in black and white her love for Jim and how she wants his love in return. Though her mind still seems to keep going to worst case scenarios. What are Jim and Karen doing together type of stuff. She's driving herself crazy there. Very sweet way for her to try and make nice with Dwight. She is a caring soul after all.

Christmas Eve is a time for wishes to be sure. Something tells me that the fates may be taking that wish smoke up and doing something with it. Looking forward to seeing what exactly. I would give a jelly bean, but I think it's prudent to save one.

Author's Response:

I think Scranton Jim is definitely back in town, which is what is causing some of the issues!!

As Pam doesn't really know what's going on with Jim, especially as he's disappeared with his girlfriend, she's all sorts of confused. She's getting there though

Thanks for the review, we're almost there! 

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Good god! How in the world did Pam not see that huge red flag just billowing in the breeze like that? If it had been the first time, that would have been one thing, but after several years of ditching her in and around Christmas? Holy crap! Roy is just the worst here.

Lovely timing, for once this early in the canon timeline, that Jim and the Halperts were there. Clearly Pam just started to shine as soon as she sat down with them. Taking off her ring like that though is very telling about her state of mind. As we know, she'll get there in the end, but a little melancholy when we fast forward through what we know canon holds for them.

Looking forward to more for sure!

Author's Response: I think Pam learned to put up with a lot from Roy, but it does serve as a handy catalyst in this story! It's interesting to have them come into the story this early, but also gives Pam the realisation that she can be who she wants to be in this new situation - and she knows Jim won't hold her back from being herself, so feels a bit more comfortable. Thanks for the review! 

I mean if you were to take this AU, I certifications wouldn't mind. Clearly a non drunk Pam is feeling a bit more brave and sure of herself. Almost as if she's thriving in the relationship she should be in rather that withering in the relationship she shouldn't be.

You've got things set up either way right now. Courage for Jim and Pam to break off things with Roy and Katy or guilt to send them back. Either ways works for sure. Considering that this Roy stood Pam up and isn't even there to apologize, that we've seen yet at least, shows how poor a partner he is. Actions speak louder than words and there's some pretty loud actions screaming at all parties right now.

Author's Response:

Yes absolutely - it is exactly that, only problem for Pam is she doesn't realise these things just yet! Whether her decisions are wrong or right, it was fun to give her what she wants for just a hot second - and definitely wanted her to be sober for it to give Jim more to reflect on leading up to the Booze Cruise. 

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So that was fun. Larissa explaining it all, and winning the bet. Lovely to see how Pam has now grown so much that she's willing to be open about everything. The Pam from the first chapter would have clammed up in red faced embarrassment for sure. However now that she and Jim are fully together and she's grown so much as a person, she can be honest with everything. Loved it.

Tons of great Halpert family banter as well. The silent scheming about how they're all going to prank each other was just a hoot. Even more that Pam's going to be right in the middle of it all. Great stuff for sure.

Thanks for bringing this on in for a landing. Lots of fun moments through it all.

Merry Christmas.

Author's Response: Thank you and hope you've had a lovely Christmas! I am glad you could see Pam's growth here, especially as I didn't write quite as much of her as I had in previous chapters. I wanted the reactions she did have to show her progress and evidence Larisa's decision that Pam hadn't been ready previously to be confronted about her engagement ring. Always fun to write the Halpert family and the dynamics between them all. Thanks for reading along and reviewing! 

Oof, full on self destruction mode for Jim here. Not that I really blame him. He just had his heart trampled on and his mind and body are way to keyed up to to anything. This feels like full on run away as fast as possible panic. Considering he hasn't even changed clothes shows just how far his mental state has gone. Same with physically punishing himself every time he thinks about Pam. The wound is deep and fresh, but he's unconsciously making it deeper. Like I said he's not really in his right mind right now, so I get it. I do kinda wish he'd had the foresight to talk to someone like Larissa or family, but again that would call for rational thought which he seems to be lacking.

You really set the stage for turbulence ahead, and not just the airborne kind.

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Holy crap that was hot. The teasing they did on the couch setting up the bucket list. Pam's solo portion of the trip to the mall. The preamble to NYE and then just going for it when he got back. Glad Gerald is ok by the way. But then they just throw themselves at each other and it was amazing. Even some fun banter to finish things with. Great job with this one.

Author's Response:

Haha well thank you! And thank you for the push to write it!

Glad you enjoyed this! A very happy new year to you! 

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See, now you're giving me flashbacks of various calls I've been on. People about Jim and Pam's age in the story who did exactly what they did. Wanted to try gummies or other such things, didn't think they were working so kept eating them, then when all that THC kicked in, called 911 because they were "freaking out." No, you're just high and need to sleep it off. No? You want to go to the ER? Sure, I'll even be nice and start an IV to give you fluids you can't throw up then the nurses and I will roll our eyes and have a little laugh when we walk out of the room.

An interesting take on Jim and Pam's New Year's for sure.

Author's Response: So sorry about that! Something different, but back to my normal scheduled fics now!

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Ok so this is fun. Of course there's still a little tension considering it's S2 and everything that entails. But regardless, I love that Jim is using his pranking prowess for good here. Or at least nothing disruptive or destructive. Pam initially hesitant but then jumping on board fits her so well right now too. Great JAM banter throughout as well. Onwards to more!

Author's Response: Glad you liked the Jam banter! Love keeping these two playful, if yet a little cautious at this point still!

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Well, that's one heck of a way to start things off! Then of course hilarity ensues with following Michael around everywhere. The idea that he'd recreating the entire movie 100% tracks with him. Lots of fun to see it from Jim and Pam's point of view.


Ooh more revelations from the two of them. That they'd each want to be in each others time loop. Especially from Pam who makes no mention of Roy. That's huge!

Now the bar and an interesting drink order. And now we come to the 'oh holy crap!' moment. Wow, Jim being bold there. Forget everything I said in my last review about the timeline of this fic. Big shock to Pam there of course. To just hear it said loud and clear like that would of course be a lot. I don't blame her for wanting to get some space. Makes Jim a little despondent though.

However, we get to the park. Looks like Pam did a lot of soul searching in a very little bit of time. Though, maybe with reflection it wasn't as hard for her as she might have thought. Loved all the references to things like the teapot and when she first realized she liked him. Great use of all that backstory material. Then she goes ahead and has her own surprise for Jim. It really is amazing what something like 10 seconds of insane courage can do. Jim had his own moment in the bar. It then strengthens Pam to realize and also go for what she really wants. Can't wait to see what happens next!

Author's Response:

Haha last review forgotten. Poof!

Glad you like this all - the comedy and the revelations!

Thanks so much for the review! 

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Great bit of introspection there at the start. Pam is obviously reeling from what Jim just told her. You really got the whole head spinning in a thousand different directions feel of things.

Good for her to take an honest look at her relationships with the two men in her life. How she's better apart from Roy than with him, and that she's really only still there due to familiarity and length of relationship. Same for how Jim fills up her day.

I really like that she calls Larissa. You gave Larissa just enough moxie to give Pam the kick in the pants she needed. At the same time Larissa was a great sounding board for all the thoughts going through Pam's mind. I've said for a long time that if Jim and Pam had just gotten some more perspective on things, they would avoided all the drama and angst of S3. Really glad we got that here.

The kiss and aftermath were so much easier this time around. Great use of the canon lines but with different context. Jim can easily walk away this time knowing there's something there to wait for. The reward there at the end just proves that. I also really like that Pam took some time for herself before jumping in with Jim. Good for her. Take time to heal from what was a big part of her life.

Great job with this fixit. I enjoyed it all.

Author's Response: Thank you! I did think if Pam maybe had someone else to talk to, maybe someone who also kind of got Jim a bit better, then she would work through her feelings a bit better - especially at a point where her world just got spun in another direction out of nowhere. 

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Tons of fun with a good old drunk IM session. Loved the discussion when they got back online too. They get funny when they're drunk and that played out really well here. See you in 9 months Phil!

Author's Response: Thank you so much!

Speaking from another writer who has put Morse Code into his story, I see you and I feel you. I imagine there was a lot of going back and forth between a diagram of the code and your writing document.

Lovely bit of banter. I also liked how you put in the mistakes. Show's that they're still learning and occasionally get things wrong. Delightfully realistic in that regard.

Author's Response:

Yes! It's very hard!! I checked it SO many times!

The mistakes were my favourite part, I have to say! 

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This feels like they're pranking each other a bit. Which really fits since they're finally together. Great fun with that perspective. They're back to being the fun loving couple they always are.

Also thanks for the bit of sports history.

Author's Response: Yeah I thought a nice little prank on their first Valentine's Day together would be kinda fun!