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Oh, they’re so soft and natural with one another. It. Is. Adorable.

“Better than some boring office job right?” Too funny. And to top it off with a Dwight impersonation in a world where they don’t even really know Dwight - perfection.

Ugh. When Pam took that call and then said boyfriend... I’m with Jim, that is less than ideal news.

That last paragraph. Did you take some inspiration from John on Office Ladies? Oh Jim...

Author's Response: Yes I did! I’m so glad you noticed. Thank you so much, and I’m also really glad you picked up on the boring office job dialogue, I just couldn’t resist.

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This was all kinds of sweet! A perfect Mother’s Day for Pam. Jim was a sweetheart and the kids were adorable. So very lovely.

Author's Response: Thank you. It was fun to write. Glad you liked it.

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“This one has like, three kitchens!” Perfect repurposing of this moment is perfect.

“That’s a Victoria’s Secret model, Pam. Jesus Christ, please tell me you’ll at least try to catch him naked. Once. For me. For scientific research.” This version of Isabel may just be the best thing to ever exist. She’s the best friend we all need in a time of crisis.

Oh... okay... This Jim is a bad boy. But like, I’m here for it. Uh, is the nod to DC Jim’s drug use, because that’s very strong with the HMOH Jim vibes...

I love this. Truly. I feel like you’re setting us up for a wild ride and I can’t wait for more.

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Oooh, yes. This is Fancy New Beesly all over. I love that she’s sort of reinventing herself as more confident to take on New York - but, at the same time, it doesn’t feel like she’s losing herself. She’s still very much Pam, just with slightly more verbalized sass.

“The other was Jim fucking Halpert.” What a way to make an entrance.

“thankfully, his flesh was covered” Umm, no. I, for one, am not all that thankful the flesh is covered.

“He wasn’t supposed to make my entire body tingle as he said, “What’s up, roomie?” in a voice low enough that only I could hear him.” YES PLEASE. Ugh. We’re like ten seconds into them meeting and the tension is already SO palpable.

“but I don’t consider a one night stand to be at all romantic.” Cocky Jim is everything. I wasn’t expecting to love him so much, but here we are.

“What, are you going to give me one of those fucking leash backpacks, too?” I can’t see him hating it all that much if it was some sort of kinky cuffs situation...

“Sounds like you and your right hand will become well reacquainted over the next twelve months.” Damn, AG. This is hilarious. I love this spirited version of Pam.

“Katy 1.0.” Just when you think this is too AU to really track with canon, you throw in a brilliant nod like this. Perfect.

Speaking of perfect, this is the ideal use for Andy. His character doesn’t have to change at all. He fits so seamlessly into the role of douchebag.

The payoff of them finally meeting this chapter was so, so worth it.

Author's Response:

Dude. I'm not thankful that his flesh is covered either. But we gotta start somewhere, right? ;)

You picked out all of my favorite parts and then some. I'm glad the payoff was worth it! 

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Oh no. Druggie Jim has a mysterious backstory and now I’m even more attracted to him. How dare you, AG...

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Ooh, that’s a bit of a cliffhanger! How does Pam know Roy? My bigger question though, is who the constable before Jim was? The fact they don’t speak of him(?) seems ominous, because if there’s one thing I know about police stations is that they can be massive gossips... Plus, if someone has left based on something scandalous, they become warning tales shared the state over... Or that could just be my experience. My husband is a police officer, so I’ve done my fair share of policing social circles. I think that’s why I love this story so much, it kind of feels like him telling me about his day at work.

Stanley may just be the most relatable character of all time - there’s always a Stanley in every station. I can’t wait to see how you answer all the questions you posed in your end note!

Author's Response:

I didn't originally plan that chapter as a cliffy, but I got to that point... and I couldn't not! Sorry-not-sorry. You'll just have to wait and see on the mystery constable, I'll just say that there is a reason they're not gossiped about. This story is canon-adjacent as Comfect put it, so Pam knowing Roy... we'll see the details next chapter hopefully. I'm humbled to hear that you feel like this is similar to your husband telling you about work, that means a lot to me!

Stanley is definitely one of my favourite characters, he just fits this AU so well. Glad you liked him as well.

Thanks for reviewing, I really appreciate the feedback! 

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Oooh, that’s a somewhat dramatic end to the chapter. Why do I feel like Roy is going to react poorly to the news his brother has committed a crime...

I loved Michael calling them “constabros.” That’s just Michael perfectly. I can so see Dwight as the diligent instruction follower, jumping on those school zones. He really would make a great traffic cop - it’s all about the letter of the law. Dwight would be all over that.

I think you’ve got a nice balance of the procedural v. drama so far.

Author's Response:

Well... He's not exactly known for his cool headed decision making skills.

Glad you liked my Michaelism, it was a lot of fun to come up with that. Dwight is indeed the ultimate stickler - except now he has the authority to fine the poor souls that he comes across.

Thanks for reviewing! 

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I love Jim and Helene’s rapport. It felt very natural, but also subtle enough for the office.
I don’t mind that not much happens, that fits with canon incredibly well. The Office was never about super dramatic plot twists. The simple day to day is what makes it so great!

Author's Response: Glad to hear that you didn't mind not much happening, I appreciate you reviewing!

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You really added some depth to Halloween with the backstory here. Pam seeing Roy with Katy and pondering if she had been holding him back in some way and then her transferring that fear to Jim. An inspired way to take the source material and twist it a little to make it all still make a whole lot of sense. A very realistic, but also kind of nice first “fight”.

Author's Response: I drew heavily from the season nine (*shudders*) episode about Roy's wedding for that bit, I felt like it could fit here and I'm glad you liked the spin. Thanks for reviewing!

Your chapter note has me a little worried... (All for nothing I come back to add after finishing the chapter. I should have known given how delightfully fluffy this whole thing is)

Oh, I absolutely love the twist of Pam slipping the teapot card under her leg and saving it from being swapped. That’s so, so much nicer than Jim stealing it back.

Well, that’s super sweet. Such a nice way for Pam to use the iPod to get the teapot back. I like that you added in some elements from this story to the bonus gifts.

Bring on Thanksgiving brunch! I hope Jim gets the answer he’s hoping for to that important question...

Author's Response:

Yeah, very little cause for concern in this story, it's not really a 'will they/won't they'... more of a 'when they.' I thought I'd save Jim a from grey hairs, having your secret office romantic card stolen by a coworker... if I was cruel and comfortable with writing angst... maybe. In canon Pam trade the IPod for the teapot regardless, so I just gave it a little spin and left it that way, I'm glad you liked it. As for the callback to the previous story in the series, I couldn't not - I wrote that almost explicitly to give Pam a dog... well and break her and Roy up. Speaking of Nikita, I really haven't featured her much in this story have I? I guess I've been moving plot along too quickly, I'll have to change that at some point.

Thanksgiving brunch probably won't be covered in depth, but it will be touched upon. I really want to get to the booze cruise... Maybe I can smuggle Nikita aboard somehow.

Thanks for reviewing, as always I appreciate your feedback and the play-by-play always makes me smile. 

Oh antsy Jim. I feel for him. Fun (?) fact: the first time my husband tried to propose to me he kind of crashed an airplane (on the ground, it’s fine) and it took him another month to actually attempt it again. It’s a whole thing. Anyway, I’ve gotten vastly sidetracked, but I find antsy Jim all kinds of endearing and believable. It’s a bit of a nerve wracking thing!

I hate that Pam’s insecurities are so flared by all of this. It completely makes sense, but it’s still tough to see.

YES. A Booze Cruise proposal and I am living! Oh, this is so incredibly adorable and sweet.
I love, love, love that you’ve injected little moments of levity and humor in this too - “maybe a splash” “I thought your mom had cancer or something.”
It’s so great!

I was wondering if you’d have them announce it on the boat and I’m kind of glad you didn’t. I was worried there would be a hint of Roy conflict at the end, but it’s so much sweeter without it.

Author's Response:

Uhm, excuse me? Crashing an airplane. I just needed to let that one settle for a hot minute. Ok, moving on, thank you for that personal insight you just made my day, I'm glad you empathized with Jim here, it was tough to write. I'm sorry that I had to pull out the pam-securities, but it is one of her defining character traits unfortunately, I'm just happy that I'm writing fluff and I got to immediately affirm her.

I'm happy you liked the proposal, having never been a part of that in my life, it was a challenge to write. The added splash - I couldn't not. I had the image in my head of this all happening while Micheal was making his "This ship is sinking" bit, and it just stuck with me. Pam is understandably a little put out about the amount of stress Jim caused her in being nervous leading up to the proposal, so I had to throw that bit in there too.

Jim and Pam really are the camo-couple right now aren't they? I'm going to have to challenge that in The Secret equivalent chapter I suppose ;)

Thank you so much for your kindness and encouragement, your reviews always mean a lot to me. 

“Pam realised their fatal mistake.” Oh this sets it up so very well for what’s about to happen. I love Kelly’s enthusiasm. It’s such a delight!

“It’s pretty serious,” I love that you still had Toby ask them that - even though they’re engaged! Toby, Toby, Toby... So very predictable.

“We set a date,” Jim is so steadfast in this. It’s so very meaningful given Pam’s history. I like that he’s confident in it.

“it was becoming horrifyingly attractive” Hahaha. This is perfect! Yes! Have them get married at Schrute Farms! It aligns so nicely with their first night away together in canon.

“Did you find your ring,” Oh. My. God. Of course Roy doesn’t recognize a completely different ring. Why am I not surprised?! That’s terrible, and so very in character.

I’m so onboard with a Schrute Farms wedding! Your endnote made me laugh. I have lots of wedding planning stories, but I’ll spare you from that insanity for now...

Author's Response:

I'm glad that Kelly's enthusiasm felt genuine there for you, I rewrote the discovery encounter a few times in a few different places, and that was the one we ended up with.

Toby just can't catch a break - in canon or my story it seems. I felt kinda bad for his character but I really wanted him to have that line regardless, and I'm glad it landed.

That's a really interesting read on it! I read/wrote the "We set a date" line in my head as though he's being aloof and giving a non-answer, so I'm glad to hear your perspective on it, and that it didn't detract from the story.  

Jim was channeling me as I wrote this, and realized that it was inevitable that I was going to make them get married on Schrute Farms, because for all of it's weirdness it was really well done for Dwight and Angela's wedding, and Andy's garden party. 

Yeah, Roy. I had been building to that moment since the first chapter of Pam 6.0 if you'll believe it. Back when Roy was cleaning up and rushing out he threw Pam's ring in the trash with her takeout container that she left behind. His obtuseness has probably been turned up to 11 to suite my purposes, but I'm all in at this point anyway! I'm it rang true with you.

My sanity thanks you for this small mercy, let us hope it prevails in the future ;)

Thanks for reviewing! 

“With these thoughts Pam noticed she had been unconsciously twisting the engagement ring on her finger and pulled her hand away as if physically burned.” Oooh. I love this. I feel like it’s pretty common to treat Jim as the anti-Roy and I suppose in some ways his is, but I really love this image of Pam doing this unconscious gesture that’s associated with Roy and angst, and realizing and panicking just a little. It’s such a lovely little detail.

“But you already are an artist,” Wow. This is such a small change and yet SO significant.

This was a nice change of pace from canon, with Pam connecting with the kids a lot more naturally.

Author's Response:

I'm glad you liked the ring twisting detail. I viewed it as Pam still has some of these thoughts, but she's with someone now who she can share them with and have her voice heard, where Roy in my head I imagine kind of just grunting and rolling over, pretending to be asleep already or something. Probably not a realistic mental portrait, but hey, haters gonna hate.

I'm glad you liked the turnabout on Abby's line there, it was a pleasure to write.

Connecting more naturally indeed, and with only 50% more candy! 

I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the chapter, thanks for sharing your thoughts and reactions!