Disclaimer: I own nothing. I do no town That '70s Show or any of it's characters. Nor do I own the song that the story is named after. I own nothing!
Author's Note: Hello all! How are you? Hope you're doing well! Happy Valentine's Day to you all! If I could I'd give you all some homemade cookies and some tasty chocolate but unfortunately I can't. But what I can do is post up a new story! I know you'd probably want the candies and cookies more but hopefully you'll still enjoy this little story. It is Red and Kitty and it's a story I've been wanting to do for awhile now so I really hope you all enjoy it. A couple of things though this story is complete flashback it opens in 1955 and will most probably end in 1955. It revolves around the story that was told by Red and Kitty in 'Can't You Hear Me Knocking' you don't have to rewatch the episode to get the story but if you wanna, go for it! It is also a two-shot. It got a little too long so I had to split it. Hope you're okay with that! As always please forgive any errors that I've made regarding the time period and such. I was not around n the 1950s and while I did research I found the best research by watching I Love Lucy episodes! It helped! Or so I hope lol I really do hope you all enjoy this story and if you have the time to leave a review, long short, signed in or not signed in—I'd love to hear from you! And finally a few thanks. Thanks to MistyMountainHop and msstock87 for their help on deciding whether or not to post in one or two parts. Thanks very much to Eliza Ghost and MidniteRaine for their encouragement. A great big thanks to Marla's Lost for her help in Betaing and letting me know that the story was worth posting. And thanks in advance to all of you who read and especially those who take the time to review. Thank you! I hope you like. Again a Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Thanks for reading, hope you like, please review if you can, and please, Enjoy!
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
"Kitty?" Red Forman called as he walked through the front door of the small apartment, "I'm home…"
As he took off his hat and hung up his coat, his tone remained in a questioning like tone as he announced his arrival because he wasn't quite sure his words were heard by anyone other than the empty little living room.
Though he and Kitty had been married for less than a year and were still considered newlyweds, the hospital that she worked at could care less about their nurses' personal lives and even less about their lonely husbands waiting at home for them; and instead continued to give Kitty long hour shifts. He'd hated those long hour shifts when they were dating but figured they'd stop when they got married and Kitty quit her job at the hospital, but Kitty would have none of that. Of course that didn't mean Red didn't stop trying to talk her into the idea.
Red tried explaining to her that now that they were married he would be the one to protect her, take care of her, and provide for her, she didn't have to work anymore—but Kitty knew this already. She then did some explaining of her own telling him how she would go stir crazy home alone all day and how she wanted to work, wanted to help those in need. And just like that the subject was dropped and Kitty continued to work at her job at the hospital, and in the end Red was glad that she hadn't listened to him. Kitty working at the hospital was good for her, it made her happy and that made Red happy.
The shifts she usually had also fit well with Red's own schedule and they often left to work at the same time and came home an hour or so apart; that usually meant Red didn't come home to dinner ready on the table but the smile on Kitty's face when she talked about her day made it worth it. It helped that the extra money coming from Kitty's paycheck was helping build up their savings so they could move out of this small cramped apartment and into a house of their own.
But of course not everything could be a bed of roses, and the Formans had recently learned this in the past two weeks when Kitty began her new shift. It had the same amount hours but began and ended at different times that weren't all too convenient. Kitty had the evening shift at the hospital and would come home to the sight of Red snoring on the couch. And then to make matters worse, Red's job had him working during the day leaving him to come home to an empty apartment and no dinner.
The quiet living room that welcomed him was something he still didn't like all that much but was slowly getting used to; however when he saw the kitchen door swing open he realized he wasn't going to have to get used to it today.
A smile sprung to Red's face the instant he saw Kitty wearing her own happy smile as she made her way towards him.
"I'm home too." she said and once she was close enough she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him down for a welcome home kiss.
"Mmm I see that." came Red's reply once the kiss broke but the embrace didn't; Red even slipped his hands to her sides to keep the embrace intact as he asked hopefully "And your home for the day?"
Keeping her smile in place Kitty nodded, "That's right. And not only that but I finished with my round of evening shifts." She giggled seeing the happiness on his face and had to stop herself from giving him another quick peck since she still had more good news to share with him, "And I have tonight and the rest of the weekend off."
Red's eyebrows rose with interest, "Oh yeah?" he asked and seeing her smile and nod again caused his own mischievous grin grow, "That sounds like a cause for celebration." He told her while slowly moving out of their embrace, "Come on, I'll race you to the bedroom."
He then raced off in the direction of their bedroom door and it wasn't until he was a few inches away from the door that he realized his companion wasn't beside him or anywhere near him as she usually was when they ran to their bedroom. Turning around he found Kitty still standing in her spot by the front door, no longer wearing a smile but she wasn't frowning either. This made Red frown.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She shook her head, "I just thought…we could celebrate somewhere else."
"Somewhere else?" he asked, confused.
Kitty nodded again before giving her explanation, "I thought it would be nice to change things up a bit little and celebrate somewhere else…by doing something else. And then going to the bedroom for a private celebration."
"Oh. Okay. We could do that."
"Oh really, Red?" Kitty asked, her excitement easily heard in her voice.
"Sure." Red replied with an assuring smile as he walked away from their bedroom, "I'm sure we can find something playing on television."
The smile that had appeared on Kitty's lips flattened when she heard Red's words and as she watched him pull out the television set to move it in front of the sofa she began to frown unhappily. She knew that they were very lucky to have gotten a television set as a wedding gift but honestly there were times when she wanted to hit the person who'd given them the set over the head with a frying pan—though to be fair she usually felt that way she was around Bernice Forman. It was a very nice set and Kitty did enjoy watching some of the aired programs but Red seemed to enjoy it even more which led Kitty to believe the gift had been another ploy to break up their marriage. But of course, she never told this to her husband.
"I didn't mean watching television, Red." She said while walking behind the sofa where Red was currently seated.
Red shifted himself so that he could see his wife but still remain in his seat, "You didn't?"
"No." Kitty answered lowering her hands from her hips and putting a smile back on, "I meant we could go out tonight."
"Out?" Red repeated as if what Kitty had suggested was the most obscure thing he'd ever heard, "As in out, out?"
"Unless you know of another kind of out."
Red groaned, "Kitty, I just came from out there."
"But you didn't come from out there with me." Kitty persisted, "Come on honey, it'll be fun."
"Kitty, you don't wanna go out there." he tried to convince her, "It's cold out there. It's gotta be below zero. You could get sick and…"
"I'll wear a coat." She interrupted his speech still desperately wanting to get out of their apartment for the night, "Please Red, it's been so long since we went out somewhere together. Even before I started working the evening shift we spent all our nights here at home."
"Because it's the middle of December, Kitty. It's freezing outside and what's worse there are crowds of people…everywhere." He argued, his loathing feelings towards the holiday crowds becoming clear by is tone of voice.
Kitty was unfazed though and pressed on, "And we can join them. We could do our own Christmas shopping!"
His frown deepened at her eagerness, "I thought you were trying to talk me into this."
"Okay Ebenezer, we won't do our Christmas shopping. Tonight." She made sure to add in that 'tonight' to remind him that they would still eventually have to do their holiday shopping. Her enthusiasm remained strong as she walked around the couch and sat down the cushion beside Red, "We could still go out though. We could go out to dinner. We could go to a movie…Oh we could go dancing! We haven't been dancing in months, Red. Let's go dancing…"
Red's scowl grew the longer he listened to Kitty ramble on about going dancing and how it would be a lot of fun until finally he's had enough."
"Kitty, we're not going dancing." He said firmly and the saddened expression on her face told him he might have been a bit too firm, so he cleared his throat in attempt to soften his voice and began again, "Look Kitty, I would love to take you out dancing just…not tonight."
"But why not?" she asked, her voice breaking with her hurt feelings.
Hearing the crack in her voice filled Red with guilt and he knew he couldn't leave his answer like that, he continued on. "Kitty, it's the end of a long day after an even longer week. I don't have the strength to go out there and deal with…people." he practically spat out the last word before softening his features and moving his arm behind her, "Besides, it's our first night together in almost two weeks. I don't wanna take you to an overcrowded place where I'd have to share you with a bunch of people. I wanna stay in and have you all to myself."
Kitty gave a tight smile that was holding a giggle behind it, knowing this very fact made Red's own grin grow.
"Oh Red." She spoke before leaning over and kissing him quickly but softly. "Maybe staying home tonight wouldn't be so bad. I mean we might be able to find something good playing on television and if not we can always get started on our private celebration a little earlier."
"There you go." came his response, happy to see she was finally beginning to see things his way.
She stood up from the sofa and nodded her head, "Of course we'll still have to have dinner. But that doesn't mean it can't be romantic. It'll be a quiet romantic, homemade dinner."
Red heard her words but was only half listening. He was more fixated on getting the television tuned on—after Kitty stood up and headed towards the kitchen he'd turned his attention back to the appliance—and so he understood that she was talking about plans for dinner but the romantic part went flying right over his head.
"I'm thinking meatloaf. What do you think, dear?" she called out from the kitchen.
He both heard and listened to that and his head shot up and away from the TV. Though Kitty's cooking had definitely improved since their first month of matrimony there were still a few dishes she hadn't quite yet mastered. Meatloaf was one of the items on that list. And Red had never particularly been a meatloaf fan.
Without giving it another thought Red dismissed the still off television and hurried his way into the kitchen just in time to see his wife tying the strings of her blue apron around her waist. She hadn't gotten started on the meatloaf yet! He breathed a small sigh of relief before giving his best smile and stepping farther into the kitchenette.
"Kitty, take off that apron. I'm taking you out on the town tonight." He declared proudly watching as her hands froze and she turned to look at him.
"Oh Red, really?" she asked in a hopeful tone that she hoped he believed—she knew he hated meatloaf and she could barely eat the one she made herself.
He grinned, "That's right. I'm taking you out to dinner."
She pulled off her apron, her optimistic eyes staring up at him, "And dancing?"
"No." he answered a bit too quickly, "I mean, no not tonight. You've got three nights off, we don't wanna have all the fun in one night."
Kitty let out one of her girlish giggles as she neared him, "Thank you, Red." She said smiling at him again, making him give his instant reaction of his own smile; this time her kiss was a tad swifter,. "I better go get ready."
"Ready? It's only five thirty." He said glancing back up from his wrist watch.
Her hand resting on the swinging door, Kitty nodded, "I know, but since you're being so sweet and taking me out for dinner, I thought I'd do something sweet for you and actually be ready to go on time."
Red could only chuckle as he watched her disappear behind the door and into the living room before he followed right after her—planning on killing some of his waiting time with the help of the television set.
0o0o0o
It was a good thing that Kitty had decided to get ready early that evening, since it usually took her well over fifteen minutes to get ready. And today was no different she'd completed her finishing touches just short of a complete hour. Red was seated on the sofa in the middle of reading one of the articles on the back of the newspaper when Kitty finally came out of their bedroom.
"Well what do you think?" she asked as she walked into the living room.
Red glanced up just in time to see her do a small twirl to show off the results of the waited hour and the smile on his face proved that it was well worth it. Kitty looked very pretty with the curls in her hair redone, her makeup fresh, and in the beautiful emerald colored full skirted dress and matching heeled shoes. She knew she was probably going to freeze out there wearing her dress and only silk stocking to cover her legs but this was the first night in weeks that she and Red were going to be out of their apartment together, she wanted to look her best!
Like any gentleman, Red stood up for the woman entering the room and as he approached her his grin grew more and more the closer got, "You look terrific, sweetheart."
"Thank you." she said with a giggle, "See aren't you glad you decided to take me out to night?"
He couldn't take his eyes off her even as he grabbed her coat off the couch to help into it, "I sure am."
"Thank you." she said, glimpsing back at him while slipping her arms into the sleeves, "You know it was awfully chilly in the bedroom."
Red nodded in agreement, "It wasn't very warm out here either."
"Did you mess with heater?" Kitty asked while looking at herself in the mirror on the wall fluffing her hair once more.
"Yeah. Didn't do any good though." Red responded while putting on his own coat, "It's probably Old Man Williams pinching pennies and not turning on the damn heat."
Kitty scowled at his reflection, "Oh Red, he's just trying to save a few dollars. And he does turn on the heat….it just takes him awhile to do it."
"At this rate it'll be summer when he turns it on, Kitty."
"Well it will be cheaper by then." she pointed out and then whipped around, smiling as she change the subject, "Did you decide where you wanted to eat?"
"I read in the paper there's a new place, Phillies." He explained to her, "Thought we could try that out."
Kitty's mouth turned into a small 'o' as she watched him put on his own coat now, "Oh, a new restaurant! Fancy! But you know that means they'll be even more people there." she teased him with a small laugh.
"Yeah, I know." he grumbled back at her but a faint smile soon reappeared, "But I'll be fine as long I get a table with you."
The couple shared a smile before Red went on to add, in a tone similar to the previous one he used, "And away from any morons in the place."
Kitty shook her head in a disapproving manner but couldn't help the little laugh that escaped her lips. Meanwhile Red had opened the front door for his wife and placed his hand on the small of her back and started to lead her out of the apartment; both of them smiling and looking forward to enjoying the other's company at dinner and neither one of them noticing the very important item left on the small side table—a ring of keys.
0o0o0o
"Well I thought Phillies was a nice little cozy diner." Kitty said as she and Red walked up the steps of the stoop leading to their apartment.
"Yeah, it wasn't half bad. It wasn't half good either." Red commented gruffly, "But they did have some good food at fair prices, it wasn't overflowing with morons, and they did sit me with the prettiest girl there."
Kitty let out a girlish giggle at his words. They were now standing in front of the front door of their apartment, facing each other with little space between them. As his eyes locked with hers Kitty couldn't help but giggle liked a love struck teenager, which was exactly the way she felt now—and she loved that Red could still make her feel that way after almost a year of marriage and years of courtship.
"Red Forman, you really are a hopeless romantic aren't you?" she asked with a smile playing on her lips.
Confused, Red frowned down at her, "What do you mean?"
"Right now." Kitty started to explain, "The two of us standing close together in front of the door after going out to dinner, it's just like when we were dating and you would bring me home, walk me to the door, and kiss me goodnight. You've set this whole little moment up to be just like that so you could kiss me goodnight, it is just so romantic."
"I wasn't gonna kiss you goodnight." Replied Red with his scowl still in place, however when he saw Kitty's own unhappy look appear on her face he knew his words needed some clearing up, "I mean I was. But I was waiting until we got inside and then I'd kiss you goodnight…and then some." Her giggle made him smile before he added, "But I was waiting for you to open the door."
"Why do I have to open the door?" She asked, frowning again though this time because she was puzzled and not upset.
"Fine, I'll open the door." He reasoned, truly not caring which of them opened the door, "But you need to unlock it."
Kitty still didn't understand, "Why would I have to unlock the door if you have the keys."
"I don't have the keys."
"Yes, you do." she argued firmly.
Red shook his head, "No, I don't. I thought you had yours."
"Well I don't!" Kitty said, her voice starting to show her panic, "I didn't get my keys because I saw yours on the table."
"Which is where I left them because I thought you had yours." he explained to her.
"I left my keys because I thought you were brings yours." Kitty shared her reason for not having her keys as she pulled her coat tighter around her—not only because of the cold gust of winter air that blew by but because she feeling quite nervous about their apparent situation, "So neither one of us has the keys to our home?"
Red could see the worry in her eyes and knew it was his job to ease it.
"Now hold on, maybe one of us did grab a set of keys and just forgot. Check the pockets of your coat." He instructed as he started to check the pockets of his own overcoat.
Giving a quick nod Kitty did as she was told, sticking her hands in her pockets in hopes of finding the small pieces of metal. No such luck. She looked over at her husband who had gone from checking his coat pockets to the pockets of his pants.
"Anything?"
He shook his head, "No. You?"
"No." she said mirroring his head movement before suddenly getting an idea, "Oh wait! I didn't check my purse!"
"Oh jeeze." Red groaned as he leaned back a bit against the railway of the stoop.
Though he'd never seen the inside of Kitty's purse himself, he saw how long it would take her to retrieve items that she knew were actually in there. If a set of keys were in fact inside her handbag it would take a good while before they were found. Kitty rummaged through her small handbag for several minutes, searching it thoroughly several times before looking up at Red.
She looked at him nervously, "They're not in there."
"Are you sure?"
His question wasn't meant as a challenge, he really did want to make sure that she was sure. For a small purse it could hold several things which caused many of those same things to get lost inside there. Kitty however, didn't like the tone his question had been asked in and set a glaring glance his way.
"Do you wanna check?" she asked and this was a challenge; she even outstretched her arm with her purse towards him.
"No thanks." Red was swift to decline with his palms open in defense, "I mean I just realized if neither of us have the keys to get in then neither of us had the keys to lock it either. It might still be open."
Kitty looked up at him with hopeful eyes, "You think so?"
"Only one way to find out." Red answered, pushing himself away from the rail and heading back to the front door.
He grabbed a hold of the handle set on the door and carefully pushed against it but the door didn't budge. Red stayed with his hand on the door's handle and his shoulder against the door itself, trying to think of another solution, however to Kitty it looked like he was still trying to get the door open.
"Well?" she asked anxiously, her hands clasped together and pressed against the bottom of her chin.
Red gazed at her, wishing he could give her better news, "Would you believe me if I said it was open?"
Her shoulders slumped with disappointment and her voice filled with worry, "Oh Red, we're locked out of our own home! What're we gonna do?"
"Kitty, don't worry. We'll figure out another way to get in." he tried to sound convincing as he reassured her but the truth was he had no clue what to do now; but that didn't mean he wasn't wracking his brain for a clue or two. Suddenly he got one. He turned to his wife, "Help me find something heavy."
"Heavy?" she repeated with a frown.
Nodding his head Red searched around the area, "Something like a rock would work."
"A rock?" Kitty asked with alarm, "What are you gonna do with a rock, Red?"
Red didn't reply right away and instead focused his attention on searching the ground around the stoop that Kitty was still standing up on.
"Ah here's one." He declared and then grabbed the stone and climbed back up the steps to meet his wife, who was still waiting for her answer, "I'm gonna break the window and then reach in and unlock the door for us."
Kitty looked at the window near the locked front door that she knew was the one Red planned on breaking. She looked away from the window and folded her arms over her chest as she frowned warningly at Red, "Red, if you break that window all you'll get is a cut up hand, two messes that I'll have to cleanup, and broken window in the new room you'll be sleeping in."
Hearing this Red kept the stone in his grasp, "Alright, fine. Have you got a better idea?"
"Well…" her lips pressed together as she brainstormed but they soon turned into a smile when she got an idea and clapped her hands, "Oh! We could call the landlord! He's got to have a spare key."
Red nodded, "Okay, good idea. Now how do you plan on calling him if the phone is inside the apartment?"
"We could use a payphone at one the drugstore on the corner." She answered much quick than before.
"Fine." Red reluctantly agreed, "But if we're going to another crowded place, I'm taking this rock."
Author's Note: So what did you think? Yay? Nay? A mix of both? Want to read more? End it here? Or were you not even able to read through the whole thing? Lemme know in a review!
Next part is almost done so don't worry it will be posted and the story will be completed. Again Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Grab some chocolate on your way out! ;)
Until next time, thanks for reading, hope you liked, please review and lemme know what you think, stay tuned, take care, and have a nice day!