This might be one of my top favorite chapters so far. I love the tension between everyone with the comic relief that Michael provided. The stockroom scene was amazing. I love how they do feel bad about doing this to Karen and he wants to do the right thing by breaking up with her but they both don't want Karen to be hurt more than she needs to be and ugh. All of it is just SO good. And then Pam having to watch Jim and Karen kiss and make plans right in front of her, that hurt. My soul hurts. But I love it.

Author's Response:

Ah thank so much, that’s amazing to hear! Really glad you liked it :) it was really great to write. And yes haha, I thought it needed a bit of comic relief with all the hurt...

Thanks so much for reviewing!

HOLY CRAP. SO MUCH HAPPENED. I wasnt prepared for ANY OF THIS. My jaw has been on the floor since Pam said “Paris.” I did NOT expect that. I thought it was gonna be like Pratt or something. Omg. And then she tells him that she loves him, shes in love with him, with casino night lines, I think I died and then came back to life so I could read about their kiss. AND THEN KAREN CATCHES THEM?! Please tell me you are updating asap as possible because im about to explode.

Author's Response:

Haha thank you! I know, this was a bit of a mad one. Update is coming soon! Thanks so much for reviewing :)  

Ugh, it figures as soon as they're able to be together, they're not able to be together. I am so excited to see what happens while Pam is in Paris, though! I think the separation could also be good for them, let them have some space before they truly get together. But I also love how now they can fully admit how much theyre going to miss each other. Ugh. The scene on the couch might be one of my most favorite scenes in this whole fic. Thank you for blessing us with this story.

Author's Response: Thank you so much, that's so great to hear! :) And haha, I think you're right that they both need a bit of time/space before they can be together though...and thanks so much for reading, and for all your reviews! 

The perfect ending to a perfect story. I love that we got both the past and present in this chapter, it felt like a really good way to tie everything up. Their little banter at the end was also amazing, reminding us just how good of friends they are, even if they have finally moved past that. I know I have told you this a million times, but this story is truly one of my all time favorites. I love it so much. I know I'll be rereading it a few times. I can't wait to see what else you write!! Amazing job with this story, you are such a talented writer.

Author's Response: Thank you so much! That's so kind of you to say :) I'm so glad you liked the story and the ending. It was a much nice chapter to write than all the angst, haha. Thanks again for reading, and for all the feedback that you've left - I've really appreciated it! 

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bored, this killed me in the absolute best way possible. I loveee the idea of Fancy New Beesly crashing a corporate party in order to win Jim back. Karen's response was perfect as well, trying to figure out what Pam is doing and keeping Jim moving forward. And then their little "we'll always be friends" talk really just ripped my heart out. I am SO glad that he found her and they told each other to stay. And then Pam packing a bag without booking a room, ughhh. Amazing. I'm sure to read this at least ten more times in the next month.

Author's Response: Aww, thank you Aly, so so much. I was hoping the entire thing wouldn't come off as being terribly cliché, so I'm thankful you enjoyed it so much! Thanks!

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warrior, this was so good. I loved everything about it. You could truly feel how devastating it was when they thought Phil would be in the hospital for Christmas, and then their joy when he was able to come home in time. You captured Cece and Phillip perfectly. This was a great fic, that ending definitely put me in a Christmas mood.

Author's Response:

Thanks Aly. As I've told others, I've had my own experiences dealing with hospital stays around Christmas. Two years ago I was in the hospital myself for heart surgery and was able to come home Christmas morning. I fed a lot of those kinds of feelings into this story. I'm very glad you liked Cece and Phillip. My daughter is Phil's age in this story so I was able to use a lot her mannerisms as a base for how he would act here. I'm honored the end helped get you into a Christmas mood.

Hope you and yours have a great holiday season. Merry Christmas. 

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BT I'm dying. I never thought you would actually write rope daddy Jim, but I'm all for it. The way you made it happen was perfect too. How it started off as a joke, then a threat/promise, then a reality. Ugh. Merry Christmas to all of us.

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I'm sorry, what? You give me wet shirt Jim and expect me to be fine? And *then* you give me shirtless, muscled Jim, and you really think I'm able to form words right now? Unacceptable.

Except thank you because wow I loved this. Him buying her a muffin but claiming he got it for free is perfect. I love that she found that out. Ugh. And then her painting them listening to music during The Client, but she's not sure why she painted that? Amazing. "She wouldn't be keeping the painting." Can I have it then??

And then we get the sheer *perfection* that is wet shirt Jim "proposing" to Pam. And the fact that he's oblivious to his position and she is all too aware of it, while he's holding a diamond ring out to her is just. Amazing.

Love the name Arooga's. Wonder where you got that from (;

"I don't mind." "Me neither." Okay just kill me, why don't you?

I hate that Roy called and ruined everything that was perfect in life. "They would always be friends."

This fic is going to be the death of me.

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Okay, what do you want? How can I possibly even begin to pay you back for this masterpiece of a chapter? He *stayed*, WW. He stayed because she asked him to and what else could I possibly want in life?

Oh yeah, her going over to his place and playing video games and babysitting and finding the teapot stuff. That's what else I could want. Thankfully, you delivered. When she saw the box with her last name on it, i gasped. Seriously. I loved the stories you put behind each object, especially the boggle timer.

and then *of course* Jim notices that something's wrong. and sorry but irritated Jim is pretty hot (im not sorry). BUT THEN! THEIR MAKEOUT SESSION. I'm framing that. It's going right next to my bed so I can see it every morning when i wake up and every night when i go to sleep. He freaking lifted her up onto the counter. THEY BOTH TOOK THEIR SHIRTS OFF. Is this what Heaven looks like?

as devastatingly heartbreaking as it was, one of my all time fave parts of this entire story so far is her "I'm so sorry." after she makes him stop. Just the way you described it, I felt so, so bad for Pam. She's so confused and scared and unsure and it breaks my heart but you wrote it so well that I can't help but just adore it.

And then bringing back the "Cheaters don't deserve mercy" line from mario kart at the end. I'll be sending you my hospital bill from when i needed to be resuscitated.

to say that I can't wait for the next chapter is an understatement. Do you think NLM will be concerned if she sees me just constantly refreshing the site? Let's find out.

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You did those prompts *justice* with this fic. I legitimately don't have the words to express how much I loved this. I think you captured Pam perfectly in how she would feel about the documentary. And then you made me laugh quite a few times, with Cece quoting Dwight, her asking if they actually need to bring the telescope outside, and then just the references to what we all do when it comes to Jam (freak out, obsess, overanalyze), I loved it. And then Jim's "stocking stuffers" and how they both feel like they have so much to make up for. Ugh. My heart melted, but I couldn't have asked for anything more. This was fantastic.

Author's Response: Seriously, thank you so much. Far too kind, and I’m really pumped this read as canon Pam for you – I was worried she was going to come off like an author surrogate rattling off commentary on celebrity culture rather than the actual character. Also thank for clocking the joke about bringing the telescope outside, which was one of my faves to write. I definitely felt a little hypocritical writing a fic with Pam complaining about Jam fans, too – I’d hate to see what she would think of MTT. I’m really glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to review!

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I literally don't know where to begin. I had assumed Jim would be the one Michael invited, so I was so sad when at first it seemed like he was there with Karen. And then when Pam caught them kissing, I had to take a moment. I was ready to kill Jimothy. I totally get why Pam thought what she did and even though the line "Spare me, Jim. I know what I saw. Or do you kiss all your friends at formal work events?" literally crushed my soul into a million pieces, I get why she said that too. She's angry and upset and not thinking straight. ugh. my heart hurts.

and then I really thought he just up and left her out in the cold. But I was so happy when he was in the car and then when she got in. Ughhhhh. Then their confessions. "It's always going to be you" just throw me in a casket because I'm deceased.

And just like Pam, I did *not* expect Michael to say he was kidnapped. I love how excited he was over Jim being there with Pam, but I am SO curious on what happened. I have to assume it has something to do with Dwight, but I can't wait to find out.

Again, amazing story. I love it so much.

Author's Response: “I have to assume it has something to do with Dwight” because of course Michael getting into strife has Dwight written all over it! It’s such a given. 

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TPB. I am *so* proud of you. I've told you a million times over how much I love this story, and I'm so excited that you are finally posting it. I know that angst isn't your thing, but dang it tpb, you're so good at it.

I could feel Jim's hurt. How much he loved the kiss only to be crushed by her rejection. How he wondered if he could have said anything differently to change her mind, while knowing that he couldn't.

"The chance was gone. It was probably never there in the first place." This really just hits me hard every time I read it. Ugh.

Reading about Jim sobbing hits so much harder when you know that he barely cried in the episode. A stray tear in front of her, but when he's alone, he's a mess. Very true to Jim. I loved it.

I also loved Mark's little scene, how he could tell instantly what had happened and what had been the result. I think that was just a nice touch.

And then imaginary Pam. Ugh. Crush my soul into a million pieces, why don't you? And then if that wasn't enough, the picture on the fridge. When he throws it away, my heart actually hurts.

Jim is just so sad in this chapter, as he has every right to be. I think you captured him beautifully. I don't really know what to say that you havent already heard from me a million times, but I truly, honestly, love this. I can't wait for the next chapter.