Author Note: It's sometime near 1985 – the teens have grown and moved on with their lives…some are happy…some are still trying to find their place in the world. With the help of a friend, a bartender and a newspaper manager might find love on the docks…This is their story.

Chapter 01 - On the Docks

Jackie saw the tall bearded stranger walk into the club and look around not specifically knowing what he was looking for. He ambled over and found the bar towards the back of the room. He shrugged off his denim jacket and straddled a padded bar stool. Jackie slowly walked over. "What can I get for you?" she asked, leaning forward to catch his order in the crowded room.

His voice was gruff, "Whiskey." He slapped a bill on the table and Jackie turned to the mirrored shelf and pulled down a bottle of the amber liquor. She poured his shot into a miniature glass and set it on the bar.

She watched as he downed it in one swallow. He pushed the glass towards her, an unspoken request for a refill. He slapped down some more money and held up three fingers. Jackie gave him three more shots and leaned her hip against the counter. "You know, I'm pretty good at listening … if you want to talk about it. That's what a bartender does."

The stranger looked up, "What's your name miss?"

"They call me JB" she replied.

He smiled ruefully and looked at his shot glass. "Oh, like Jim Beam. Nice." He swallowed the drink and continued. "My wife left me - again." This was a sad story Jackie had heard time and time again. She let the man tell his tale of woe and gave him the attention he required. She nodded when appropriate and conveyed regret when it looked like he needed it.

The stranger left the club a little happier, a little bit toasted and left Jackie a $50 tip. She folded the bill in half and tucked it in her bra. Nice little boost for doing her job.

*

"Mrs. Anderson, we will be glad to deliver a fresh paper to you and I will talk to your paperboy about throwing the Point Place Reporter on your roof." Eric Forman hung up the telephone and sighed. He was a circulation manager, not a customer service rep! He looked at the roster of news carriers on the Anderson's route and found the carrier. Now he had to find the kid's supervisor and give the patented "it's my ass or yours" speech.

Eric rolled up his sleeves and loosened his tie. The supervisor would have to wait; Eric had a weekly safety meeting to conduct. He unlocked his desk drawer and pulled out his notes and headed to the conference room.

Most of his staff was lounging around the long oval table and a couple of slackers filled in the empty seats. "I'm going to pass around a sign in sheet. Make sure you write legibly this time or you won't get credit for attending. Daniel? That means write in English, not Pig Latin. These sheets have to go to HR." There was a scattering of laughter at Dan's expense.

The half hour meeting went quickly. The subject of slips, trips and falls was effectively covered by volunteer demonstrations and the written test was a no brainer. Eric cleared the room and looked at his watch. One hour to go and then it was a free weekend!

*

"Mrs. Forman, I just think it's time. I've lived in your basement for over seven years and it's time I stood up and took responsibility for my own actions."

Kitty looked at Steven Hyde with a cheerless scowl. "Samantha won't take you back will she?" Hyde lowered his head, "No. I really cared about her. I won't say I loved her but she was low maintenance and that's what I need. I have too much going on to worry about a chick."

"Meaning you've finally accepted that Jackie has moved on."

"Mrs. Forman, you are very perceptive - which also means I'll never find a gal like you!" He kissed her on her wrinkled cheek and went downstairs to finish packing. "Steven, don't be late for dinner. Eric's coming over."

*

Red closed the muffler shop early. This was a slow Friday – fall was coming – he had gutters to clean and Kitty was making her special pork chops for dinner. A hot meal and a cold beer while reading the newspaper, was the perfect way to end the day. Red got in the Toyota and headed for home.

He thought back to the conversation he had with Steven the previous Friday. He knew that deep down, Steven Hyde was a good kid, but he was unmotivated, lazy and it was time he set out on his own. In fact, Eric had his own job, apartment and seemed to be doing well for himself. It was time to get the kids out of the basement so he could enjoy his privacy and Kitty's company.

*

Laurie Forman still pined for Fez. Sure she was blonde and unmotivated but she missed that feeling of worship she got from the brown skinned foreigner years ago. The current loser she was shacked up with lost his job and well, it had been a long time since she saw Daddy…maybe it was time to go check out things in Point Place.

Perhaps she could look up her long lost ex-husband. Granted their marriage gave Red a heart attack, but Fez sure could roll his "R's" and she needed a good "R" right about now! Well, that and she needed a new place to call home.

*

Eric parked his car next to the El Camino. As he pocketed his car keys, he noticed several packed boxes stacked in the bed of the truck. Hyde was finally moving out? He saw his mom standing at the kitchen sink and waved. He slid open the patio door and was greeted with the smell of something good baking in the oven.

"Hello honey how was work?" Kitty smiled at her son. He had ink on his shirt and looked a little worse for the wear. Eric shrugged, "Just glad this week is over. Smells great, what are you cooking?"

"Your dad's favorite pork chops." His mom smiled.

Eric washed his hands in the sink. "So Hyde's moving?"

Kitty sighed sadly, "Yes, another one of my brood is moving out. I'm a mother hen with no more chicks. But, one day, there will be grandchildren. Right… Eric?"

Eric gave his mother a half-smile. "Sure mom. One day. So….where's Hyde moving to?"

Steven came up from the basement to answer that question. "Hey." He nodded his head at Eric. "I'm moving to an apartment down the street from Grooves. W.B. bought the building. I live rent free, and have a do nothing job. It's perfect for me." He continued through the kitchen to carry the box out to his car.

Life is perfect when everything is given to you. Eric thought to himself. "Mom can I help you with anything?"

"No sweetie, just tell me about your day. I'm waiting for your father to get home." Eric chatted with his mother when the trusty old Toyota pulled into the driveway. Red opened the door and Kitty rushed over with a cold beer and a kiss.

Red looked at the table to see Eric sitting in the green "dad chair".

"Son…." Red said disapprovingly. Eric quickly moved to a different seat and gave up the chair. Hyde came back through with another box. "So Steven…" Red said as the curly haired man passed by. "There are a couple boxes of yours in the garage."

Hyde looked back. "Got it Red thanks. Well, this is my last box."

Kitty looked about to cry. "Oh Steven…We're going to miss you." Hyde gave his adopted mother a tight hug. Red stood up, "Yeah…the basement is going to miss you."

Hyde shook Red's hand. "I'll miss you too. Dad." Red smiled at the joke and sat back down to drink his beer. Eric nodded, "Maybe well catch a beer or something."

Hyde looked back at his old friend. "Sure Eric, we'll do something like that." Eric watched Hyde load the last box into the passenger seat and drive off. He was secretly relieved that his old friend was finally moving on. Not that he wanted to live with his parents, but seeing Hyde at his folks house all the time only brought back the memories of happier days he couldn't relive.

*

"Bear!" Jackie waved at the 6 foot 5 inch club bouncer. Samuel "Bear" Makwa was a Wisconsin Chippewa Indian who fought in Okinawa alongside Red Forman. The two men were old friends and drinking buddies, and Bear worked at the club, On the Docks, as a bouncer. Red asked his old friend to keep an eye on the Loud One, as a courtesy. Over the last three years, Jackie and Bear formed a curious partnership. Part father, brother and bodyguard, the big man was wrapped around Jackie's little finger.

"Yes Miss Jackie?" he smiled.

Jackie grinned, "I'm closing in ten minutes. Can you clear the bar? I don't think that group is going to get much drunker than they are now."

Bear nodded and turned up the house lights while Jackie started the nightly ritual of wiping down counters, putting chairs on the table tops and gathering empty glasses. Pete, the part time janitor, rushed in with his broom to sweep the floor. The last party of drinkers staggered for the door and because of Bear's size, complained less loudly about being kicked out of the bar.

Ten minutes later, the lights were extinguished, the safe was locked and On the Docks was closed for the night. Pete and Bear walked with Jackie to her car. "Thanks guys, I'll see you on Monday!"

"Good night Miss Jackie. We'll wait here until you drive off." Bear looked at Pete as a warning. Pete knew better than to argue with the huge man. "Yes, we'll wait right here." He squeaked. Jackie smiled her thanks and got in her bright red Jeep Cherokee feeling safe that the two men were watching out for her.

She drove home with the windows down, the breeze blowing the smell of cigarette smoke from her clothes and hair. She knew this was a $300 night. Her bra was full of ten, twenty and fifty dollar bills. It was easy money; a nice smile, a sympathetic ear and a gracious personality went a long way when a stranger wanted a drink and a pretend friend to talk to. It didn't hurt that Jackie attended school to become a professional "mixologist" as she liked to call herself. Mixing alcohol was like chemistry – too much of one liquor and not enough of a base could ruin a perfectly good drink and waste money at the same time. The difference between a good drink and a great drink was a nice sized tip.

She stopped at the driveway of her condo, hit the garage remote control and waited for the door to go up. A minute later, she drove in, closed the garage door and breathed a sigh of relief. She was home and could finally relax. This was worth every minute of working at a club. She finally had her own slice of heaven – paid for and owned by Jackie Burkhart.

*

Eric unlocked his door and was glad to see his answering machine blinking with waiting messages. Dinner with his parents was great but it was always nice to go home. He jumped onto his sofa and grabbed a pen and paper. Maybe that girl from the receiving department was considering his offer of a movie date!

He pressed the button and listened to the first message:

Eric, this is Donna. Please quit calling my dad. You don't need to check on me. I'm fine! When I said we were over, I meant it! It's been three years…get a clue Eric. I've moved on. You should too. I'm not calling again.

Okay, that message was going to be deleted! This definitely meant that Donna had no interest in even being friends. He pressed the button for the next message.

Eric… my friend. This is Fez. We were supposed to go to lunch today but someone did not show up! I had to eat your dessert! By the way, you had German Chocolate cake and it was good! Call me!

Ooops! Eric had totally forgotten about lunch with Fez. He rarely saw any of his friends and with Kelso in Chicago; he mainly hung out with the guys from work who were pretty much boring. He'd call Fez tomorrow. Eric pressed the button for the next message.

Eric, this is Donna AGAIN. Please quit calling my mom. She calls me collect to tell me you're leaving messages. It's OVER. Good bye.

Okay Donna, message received loud and clear! Eric deleted the message and pressed the button for the next message.

"Hey Fore-Play. This is Casey Kelso. I'm looking for Pinciotti's phone number. I heard she's single…I'm single and well you know, Hot Donna always had a thing for me…have her call me at…."

Eric deleted the message before he could hear the telephone number. Man, I'm so sad - Calling old girlfriends…no steady date…crappy job. Eric was beginning his own pity party. He turned on the TV to catch the late show and grabbed a beer from the fridge. Being 26 and a single guy was tough. His co-workers had wives and families already or some steady girl to go home to; Eric had his apartment and his parent's house. As the department manager, he often pretended to have a girlfriend just so his employee's quit inquiring into his personal life. A life which pretty much didn't exist!

"Oh well", he thought as he toasted himself. "Here's to another lonely Friday night at home."

*