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So you know how much I love the grape soda and the secret meaning behind it and how his return to it symbolizes his true return and says more to her than even his words could.

All the banter and her inner musings were so in character as was the idea she would both be fidgeting with the coaster and saving it as a memento. Apparently Jim's not the only one to get sentimental over seemingly insignificant items. Another reason they are perfectly matched.

So with you they do not sleep together right away. Jim's not a 2 women in 24 hours type of guy especially when one of them is the love of his life but I enjoyed their getting friendly in the bar, not wanting to end the night right away.

The final banter was just so fun and loved the final line.

I know I've read it before but this time, purely as a reader, I had a great time.

Author's Response: Thanks Max - you have guided me so well with this, really glad it hit the spot for you. 

The naturalness and comfort they settled into seemed so right. happy just to whittle away the morning with a Sudoku and each other but only until desire gets better of them and whittling becomes something else.

But you also nailed the inner worries, the ones about getting everything you want and does that change the way you feeling - rich...something I'd never thought of before until you wrote it in here.
Also Pam's guilt at taking so long to see things....but think you are right in that she needed to have some of the experiences she did and glad your Pam can see that.

the ring- that seemed to answer that for him and us.

you know I'm glad they waited, but not all that long. And lots of fun getting to the part where they stopped. OF course they would be cute about it.

“A sleepover!? Like Tom Hanks in Big? I get to be on top.” Jim grinned and Pam rolled her eyes below him, before pulling away slightly and looking up to him.
“You can be on top if you like. But I don’t have a bunk bed…” she winked. He blushed. Jim and Pam banter in true form.

This was a wonderful first date story and I'm so glad you decided to share it with us. Looking forward to many more stories from you to come.

Author's Response: Thanks Max! I really enjoyed writing it and had a great beta ;)

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I enjoyed reading this take on the season 9 turmoil for Pam and Jim. It’s not easy to write about their struggles here because while there were problems and miscommunication and secrecy they still were very much in love. I think you did a good job in bringing that out.

I’m like you and felt neither was completely blameless and each had to come around to see things from the other’s view. I felt where you ended up was in that spirit.

I also very much enjoyed the bit with the peek a boo bra and Cece. Very cute.

Good job.

Author's Response:

Thank you Maxine Abbott. It was definitely challenging but that part of the season 9 is something I really enjoyed and I fed a bit of victory that writers like you found my version a passable one 😊

I agree with you that none was blameless indeed yet both were equally forgiving at the end. It was a great closure on the show and I am happy you liked the closing I gave this one. And Cece part was my favourite too so thanks again. 

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This was just delightful - a lovely mélange of a a feel good movie that is a favorite mixed up with all the jammy goodness of the our lovebirds. You did a great job staying true to the spirit of both and I can see a mix of Faye and Pam, and Jim and Guy. (oh and Andy as Lenny is also just perfect fit)
I enjoyed how you incorporated the older brothers into the story and the backstory of Pam and Jim's childhood friendship.

This is going to be a fun one. Looking forward to more.

Author's Response:

So, funny story. Lenny was originally going to be portrayed by Kevin, leading up to almost a half an hour before posting this story. I changed it for the "Tunes" nickname, and now I'm so happy I went in that direction! Kevin will find his place here somewhere, only time will tell!

Thank you for your review! I've been dreaming of Jim as Guy and Pam as Faye for MONTHS now! So excited to finally put it to paper (or sorts)! 

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Really loved this - even with my hesitancy to read it for reasons I shared offline.

It's just so impressive to see someone take a scene and build upon it to a story as beautiful and insightful as this

This is the line that did it for me.
*She can’t decide which is worse -- having a wall between them, or a mirror: the one that shows her exactly the kind of person she never wanted to be. The one Jim is holding up to her right now.


She doesn’t want to look into the mirror. So she chooses the wall.*

What truth in that - in the whole piece actually - the way you write them is so fluid and true to character - the fill in the blanks and window into their minds we don't see through a TV sitcom.

I love the layers too in some of the things he says to her- wants for her being advice he should take too - “You have to take a chance on something sometime.

*so he looks at her hand instead, at her engagement ring. Something designed to be a symbol of everlasting love, but he can only see it as a physical representation of someone who is holding her back.*

another line that struck me - so wonderfully expressed.

Thanks for giving us this multi-layered view into the moments we saw onscreen.

Bellisimo.

Author's Response: I always appreciate your reviews, thank you so much!

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What a beautiful lullaby this was. After the little hints and conversations I was so excited to see it posted and while it was not what I had been expecting - it was so much more, a beautiful love song to Pam's (your) heritage.

The scene in the dorm was so illustrative and gorgeous and tender.
And when they went out on their treasure hunt into the city, I was immediately brought back to my home, where every trip could be a new adventure even when walking the same streets you always had.

I love where their adventure brought them and Pam's adorable character and the charm of the restaurant and the PAMPUSHKAS! How long have you been sitting on that?

What a delight this story was. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Author's Response: Thank you, Max! Last year I finished a story set in Kyiv (Halfway Home), and since then, I've been thinking about what else I could've added... so, Pampushka Pam has a year-long history. And thank you so much for your advice and recommendations — I hope to use them for myself one day!

So I just got to finish with my read of this chapter when you posted the next. So I'll be brief so I can get back to my reading - one of the things I appreciate is your posting with regularity to keep us engaged and the story top of mind. I don't want to fall behind.

As usual with your stories you do a great job giving us the history while keeping us in the present. The flashbacks of memories serves well. So interesting that a a foursome they got on well in the house but once down to two - it all unraveled.

The backstory with Pam and Katy and they way you have their relationship now is an interesting set up.

Your Kelly and Erin are very spot on - interesting too that Kelly notices her bond with Jim and thinks he's the reason she won't agree to date her guy. (oh and love the bit that Erin set Pam up with her ex)

But what I loved most about this chapter was how she was realizing (sorry my spell check corrects this word with the s instead of the zed) how much freer she feels without Roy there. How much she was holding back when living with him. It is something I see as a very important part of her self-actualization - something I like to focus on too in developing post Roy Pam. Her being with him only worked if she stayed small was another line that resonated.

It was the subtle line about the capers that I felt the most meaningful.


So I guess I wasn't that brief after all. Anyway looking forward to the next chapter which I'm off to read shortly.

Author's Response: Thank you so much! I also love Pam and self-actualisation, so I'm really glad to hear that resonated with you - it's actually quite nice writing a fic that starts with her already in that position for a change. Glad you enjoyed the Erin and Kelly too lol, Erin drove me crazy on the show but it turns out she's quite fun to write. In small doses. Thanks so much for the review!! 

Pam is pretty cute wanting sports facts and even cuter confusing them. But it does lead in nicely to their connection despite not being completely invested in the same things. The dressing embarrassment also a good touch. Even on the phone, (especially now with iphones) being naked/half dressed always feels a little um weird.

Jim and Isabel have it right - Danny is a classic fuckboy and a dick! Boy am I glad ghosting wasn't a thing when I was dating (although I guess it kinda was it just didn't have a name and we didn't have texting)
Enjoying getting more insights into Jim and Katy relationship and the Jan bits were icky but accurate.

Looking forward to what happens next.

Author's Response:

Haha, I fully feel Pam on confusing the sports facts. I had to google just to find something vaguely sports-y for Jim to say. And agreed on the phone/iphone! (It’s why I’m always slightly confused by these stories about people accidentally being naked/getting changed etc on zoom calls, like how were they ok doing that in the first place?) But, for the sake of awkward tension in this fic…

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As I read this I was yelling at Pam. Come on answer his texts. You love him. He loves you. He didn’t mean to hurt you by keeping this from you. He’s got to have his reasons.

However I can understand her needing to go though the motions of anger at all three players abd then go through her own introspection at what she might have done and what her feelings were.

You really had me there when she finally decided to send a text of her own but I loved what you did having her meet up with Katy. And it was a nice touch to make Katy and her still stay somewhat friends in the end. I do like that you did not make her out to be much of a mean girl.

The little more Jan, Kelly and Erin added to the fun but what was so satisfying was how you had Jim give it to Donny corduroy even before he knew Pam was there. That’s perfect Jim.

Loved the wrap up of this story. Tbh I don’t know how much longer I’d would be able to take of Pam in denial. It was a beautiful moment when she asked for his advice about him. Really loved that.

Of course always happy to get a little more happy jam by way of an epilogue.

However you go, as always the whole thing was so entertaining to read and played out in true romcom fashion. Well done.

Author's Response: Thanks so much! And ha, I wasn't sure how long to keep going with Pam, but: I figured it was more about her needing time to process the triple whammy of Roy cheating on her, her kissing Jim, and her being allowed to want him than just her being mad at Jim (and I don't think she handles sudden revelations from Jim all that well in the moment, lol). I'm glad you enjoyed the Katy conversation! I still feel bad for her from the show and sort of wanted to give her a proper ending. The Donny Corduroy was a lot of fun to write hehe (also, I genuinely thought that was his surname when I first watched the show). And thank you! I was trying to go for a romcom-y vibe, I feel like there's something about the radio that lends itself well to that, so really pleased you liked it :) Thank you so much for your review! 

What a strange sensation to be picturing Pam in my head but hearing Meg Ryan's intonation. What a perfect melding of the two in the first part of this chapter... and what a perfect melding of the other two in the second. You did a fantastic job describing the scene and really get a the feelings going through their minds.

Sometimes the lines that aren't from the show or even that don't even have bearing on the movement of the story are the ones that strike me...
this one was one such for me...
She could hear rain pattering on the window outside, its syncopated beat complementing their movements.

I love circularity in a story and this brought the rain from the beginning of the chapter full circle and was the perfect partner to the Obviously sex can mean something, but it doesn't always have to mean everything that you set up much earlier.

Oh and the end note - even if I didn't know WHMS - you know it isn't smooth sailing from here on in, not just yet.

Really well done.

Author's Response: Thanks Max! Again, I love that you're always picking up on those tiny details like the weather. And yes, no smooth sailing, unfortunately... appreciate your reviews as always!

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One of my all time favorite movies rehashed to include one of my favorite screen couples written by one of my favorite FF authors - this is going to be a tour de force.

So you've switched the characters - totally works - first in the honking of the horn (Sally) and the keep an eye on her (Roy-CS).

The bit with Professor Schrute was delightful especially when you brought in the lines from The Dundies.

I must admit I never watched Felicity but know enough about it to see the way it works on so many levels. For one a connection for them that contrasts Jim with Roy but also back to Harry and Sally's discussions about the same (Who did Ilsa really want).

So the tie-in to Woman's Appreciation slid in here really well too as well as Booze Cruise (which I happen to be an expert in since I've watched that episode probably more than any other by now).

Of course there's only one bed in the one room - and the bit about Roy thinking Jim gay and his quip about explaining Felicity - really well played.

*For the first time in his life a word drifted through his mind that he felt very strongly could apply in this situation: soulmates. The crude, tumbling circle with the crack in its side finally finding its missing piece. Jim wasn’t typically prone towards flights of fancy but he felt very certain that Pam Beesly was supposed to be in his life somehow.* - this was beautifully written.

The proposition - I've seen that before - where was it - OH yeah in a movie with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal - oh and that line - from The Alliance

You did a great job bringing in all the bits we know from both.

But then that's where you twist it - and twist so it hurts with a final image of a receipt blowing in the wind.

Loving it.

Can't wait to read more.

Author's Response: I'm particularly happy you're such a fan of WHMS. I'm eager to see how you respond to the direction I take this :)

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Coming from someone who lived in Manhattan during 9/11 (although was out of the country on my Honeymoon at the time - which is a whole other experience) you've captured well the aftermath and the mood of the city post-tragedy.

Once again you have done a good job combining the two pieces - the football game with Ryan and Michael worked well..Ryan and his not me and this is just hardware like worked well. I am a little confused though - Jim is from PA?

The phone systems were down, you know, and I could not get through.

until we were allowed to go home. And when we did, nothing looked the same.

These two lines really hit home for me - but for my own reasons I'm sure you can imagine.

I really enjoy this stronger Pam/Sally combo - the new lines, Last Christmas he said goodbye to me, again, and told me he loved me, and I just said back: ‘I don’t think you do.’” followed by the ones I can hear Meg Ryan saying.

And the way you point out its the tire changing side of her in play really sums it up well.

Looking forward to seeing Jim's breakdown (if you go that way) - even if Karen wasn't meant for him - the ego blow hits hard but more so the developing friendship - (I also thought it smart to drop in the rebound bit as a reason he doesn't go right for it).