1

So sometimes a fic just touches you in all the right places and this one did that for me.

From the opening with Creed where I heard his voice to the polar bear (although wasn't this on Jim's desk? - I guess she's good sharer) and I love how Cece (both Cece's perhaps) got her name.

The cozy comfort of Pam with the Halperts, even without him there is something I too imagine and I smiled with delight as Vanessa called Pam, Aunt Pam.

Despite the way the family kept busy doing fun winter holiday stuff, I could somehow feel the fear they all tried to not let too overwhelming.

It isn't Christmas without a little Scotch and I like how you worked it in (that is the twist that makes this a Warrior Christmas story).

This line - “I know exactly what it means to have a silent night.” just the amount of Jam steam to do it for me. I like to think I know what came next.

Nice job bring the merry in the end.

Wishing you a very merry christmas, may you enjoy your family, your holiday and your Scotch!

Author's Response: I always look forward to your reviews Max. This one was no different. I'm glad Creed came across well. He can be tricky. I probably should have included a line that Jim was keeping the bear in his desk before he gave it to Pam. But yes Vanessa telling Pam of the meaning of the name Cece in the Halpert clan was intended to get the name in Pam's mind for when little Cece shows up in a few years. Always fun to have the Gerald and Betsy be warm and loving to Pam, and considering in this universe Gerald is a whisky guy why not bring that in. The hint of steam was fun too. Glad you liked it so much.
Happy Holidays to you as well.

1

SO first off - I kind of love Snow Globes - find them magical and mesmerizing and well so what a perfect gift for him to give her - especially with her love of snow, their shared love of the city (that I also love) and in light if his knowing Roy had flaked out on getting her a gift for Valentine's one year... good way to bring that in and also the three piece of tape way to wrap presents - glad she's teaching this to the right man though.

But how he say I wanted you to have snow for Christmas one way or another - well that melted my heart.

Okay so I love the bits about the pregnancy hormones - and that it got them in trouble (with the help of Michael and the ill-advised key he had). Um the boner-patrol was absolute Michael and the 'only really good friends show up early' - greatly repurposed here.

Jim was adorable being all nervous and out of sorts after the horrifying incident of getting caught - what with Pam's dad already making him nervous. SO what else could go wrong...well a lot as per this story.
Kelly showing up, Holly and Michael stealing their thunder announcing their own pregnancy (but how fun Pam and Holly will be pregnant together) but the worse news seems to be about Pam's parents. 'When I said I wanted it to snow on Christmas I didn’t mean I wanted a shitstorm.'

At least you gave us a little fun and games with their contest (but isn't that more Seinfeld than The Office?) but it was fun how you snuck the wagon wheel in. And the scene that came out of it - oh boy....

Loving it - and on to see how this story wraps up (three parts like only three pieces of tape?)

1

You did a great job working your recipe into a sweet holiday fic with a happy little ending complete with a little scene from the show that always melts my heart when Pam falls asleep on Jim’s shoulder. But all throughout the way she lets him struggle through this “misunderstanding” with Katy was also very them - as was Dwight playing the song on repeat.

PS. you had me curious from the title nun - but very, very clever

1

Well you had me assured this would be a whole lot of fun right from the summary.

I am 100% with you that Pam is all about the Christmas season, that she would delight in being able to decorate two places and mostly that seeing Lumberjack Jim would set her on fire and distract her from the that.

And that Jim would do anything to make her happy. That trip to see the stars was a perfect and magical Jim-gesture.

Okay I'm not usually into fics that have bondage scenes but when it's Jim tied up with Christmas lights, well that is my exception. This whole scene was easy and very enjoyable to envision. 

Okay, here's where I'm with Jim -Die Hard not a Christmas movie but sorry Pam, neither is Fargo but I loved how you worked this element in. And that they did exactly what Pam wanted.

Great writing and scene setting throughout. I such had a great time in your winter wonderland.  

Happy 2022 to you. 

1

Thank you TLC for giving us a Pam whose vision started getting better with the arrival of her new friend and kept getting clearer as she noticed how much a part of her life he was.

For having her recognize she belonged next to him, not just in meetings and at lunch, but in all parts of her life but as long as she wears another man’s ring (one that isn’t her style at all) she couldn’t claim that spot.

For having her try out not wearing it for short bits to give her courage so that when she does reach her breaking point she could take it off for good.

I felt you did a good job with having there still be time for growth and her finding her own personal independence before bringing them together.

And thank you for giving us a Pam who could go after her dreams because her eyes were open and not feel she had to be at DM forever just because he was. Because this clear-sighted Pam knew the strength of their love.

Really enjoyed this story if you couldn’t tell. Well written and engaging. Some stuff I’ve written (some posted and some to come) have similarities. Always enjoy a storyteller that see some things in the same way I do.

Welcome to MTT and looking forward to more from you.

1

Great concept - love your cupid's voice.
Taking Michael's goof and making it a thing, worked well.
This should be fun.

1

These have been such a joy to read. So much fun. Looking forward to the ones to come.

1

This chapter was perfectly done, you nailed every aspect of Michael, his pure heart and his need to be loved (and where that stemmed from), his reversed logic and actions, his cartoon eyes face at seeing Jan's boob job.

Oh and you pretty much nailed Jan too and all told with the Cupid humor that this story has been doing so wonderfully. I mean- Keep your arms and legs inside the ride- love it.

I loved the Michael Holly love story almost as much as I loved Jam - the speech he gives about them at the company picnic - I saw that as a huge turning point for him - now he still wasn't completely evolved - as you point out there was Helene and Donna and Scott's Tots still had to happen but now I like to think some sparrows had been sent to get him to the place of that speech.

And with the point that he left his everything for his new everything - well that kind of sums it all up. A Very wise Cupid indeed.

1

Let me start by saying I'm singing along to the disclaimer -and that's how you do a disclaimer (and don't get sued - too funny)

Next let me say I don't know much about the MCU (Marvel edition) but now thanks to this fic I know more than maybe anyone should about the MCU - Michaelscott Cinematic Universe.

Okay Deep Nose - that is classic MS and I love the image of the Golden Torch.
I'm kinda giddy over thinking about the MCU version of Chocolat...hoping it includes some commentary about the texture the cake takes on when you eat one, how they almost expand in your mouth and take over. Also is the link because not everyone will know what these are? Quite honestly I haven't had one in quite a long time and now I'm kind of craving one so thanks for that.

'Never completed' made me laugh. But I do think I like the Let's Talk About health baby, Let's pick a new PCP the best.

Totally see Pam dropping out thanks to a costume - it works even without the blades of glory reference which I din't know until the end notes.

Nice to see there's a comic book division too. Cute.

You always come up with such clever stuff for these.
Lots of fun with this one.

Author's Response: I'm not going to lie: I am starting to run out of clever ideas for disclaimers, so I'm glad this one worked.

Much like the actual MCU, the Michaelscott Cinematic Universe is wide-ranging, convoluted and requires you to do a lot of work to understand what's going on. But you can see Michaelscott Cinematic Universe movies basically for free, so really, there's a clear winner here.

Deep Nose is my sneaky favorite joke of this fic, so I'm glad you noticed that one.

Yeah, it turns out devil dogs are like a very brand-specific thing and not widely available most places, which I guess I *should* have known not having ever seen them anywhere too far from New England, but was not a connection I ever made. And if I've made you hungry for one, I'm calling this fic a success.

Those lyrics were entirely too fun to write.

Ha! Awesome. I was banking on everyone getting the Jenna Fischer bio-reference, so nice to hear that it works otherwise.

Thanks for taking the time to read and write such a detailed review!

1

YOu've got me channeling Meghan Trainor

'YOu know it's all about that desk, bout that desk -and that disclaimer.'
That was running through my head as I got to the end of this adorable cold opener. I know I'm pretty corny - can't help what my brain does sometimes.

I totally buy that he is drawn to Phyllis. They are a work couple after all- proven further by the fact she helps him with his crossword clues.

And magic desk - well even Erin found her pairing in Pete so maybe.

Pam and Jim here are drawn so well (but I will defend that their magic is a force beyond).

Oh as a crossword aficionado (Rex Parker is my Phyllis) I loved your clues - so perfectly puzzle.

And of course it was the perfect disclaimer for this one.
Loved it.

Author's Response: I will confess to a not-so-secret love of Meghan Trainor, so I appreciate this reference.

YES. The scene of him casually asking Phyllis for help on his beloved crosswords was the inspiration for this... although I suppose this doesn't necessarily line up with him not noticing that it's Kevin.

HA. Not going to lie, I was deeply proud of the trapezius one.

Thank you so much as always for taking time to read and review, my friend.

Right from the chapter title I knew this one was going to tear me up little bits at a time - and whoa did begining with this line:

She waits for “Beesly” to tumble off his tongue. It doesn’t.

That stung. But you brought it around a little with all the stuff with the Andy prank - that was fun.

Now you know how I feel about Independent Pam - just wish she had discovered some of this independence a little sooner so she could be enjoying it with him instead of ruing the fact that 'Sometimes the brain works faster than the heart'. what a great line.

Getting to the Jim POVs - I really enjoyed getting some of the backstories from the early days in Stamford. How and why he came to get Tuna that day and how along with the nickname bestowed on him from Andy was the post-it note that said smile. I like this new head canon for where it came from and why.

It was interesting that Andy was insightful enough to know about his heartbreak.

'today is about survival' was the line here in this memory that tore at my heart a drop more.
Oh and that mention of the second string camera crew.

And then just as there was a little bit of hope:
He can’t keep doing this to himself, he can’t.

Explains a lot.

Even knowing how this story turns out its still tugging at my heart in the best possible way. Great job as usual giving the peek at what going on in their heads and adding some new backstories.

Looking forward to have my heart tugged a little more with the next chapter.