AN: Loosely based off of my experience in Nassau. I don't own the characters, locations, etc.!
xXxXx
Eric had been down on his luck since he got back from Africa.
Teaching had proved to be a major bust. It only took him a few weeks to realize that it was definitely not his calling after all.
Donna had all but told him to go screw himself when he told her about his change of heart. "If you really just spent a year in Africa for practically nothing, why the hell should I be wasting any more or my time?" He recalled her words with a shudder.
The basement gang of his youth had gone their separate ways. Kelso and Brooke were raising their daughter in Chicago. Fez was touring around the country as a backup dancer for various pop bands. Hyde was supposedly holed up somewhere in Canada, hiding from "the man". Donna had left Wisconsin far behind, determined to see what the world had to offer.
But Jackie could be seen most nights, giving live reports for the Kenosha News station.
Feeling like he had hit rock bottom, Eric was living with his parents and desperate for a steady income. Kitty had welcomed him back with open arms and a fresh batch of cookies, but Red was making him pay rent now. What was up with that?
After making countless calls to every business he could think of, Eric finally caught a break when he got called back by 'Kenosha Insurers, Inc.'. He didn't know a thing about insurance, but it was too hard to pass up on an actual paycheck. There was even a health plan! Sweet!
xXxXx
Jackie was tired of being in front of the camera. Sure, the reporting totally came naturally to her. And yes, it was nice to know that countless male eyes were fixed on her four nights of the week at 8 pm. But if she didn't get a vacation soon, somebody was going to get a kick in the shins, dammit!
"Tom, I just won't do it anymore. I won't give another damn report unless you give me some time off!" Jackie told the station's producer, with exaggerated fury.
"Okay okay! All you had to do was ask, Jackie." Tom threw his hands in the air as a sign of surrender. Jackie smiled cheerfully, threw her hot pink purse, and strutted away. Like taking candy from a baby, she thought to herself.
As she made her way to her apartment in the trusty Mustang, Jackie thought of what exotic destination she'd escape to for a week or two. With all the money she'd saved up, she would be spending plenty of time on a beautiful beach somewhere.
xXxXx
Health Insurance, Disability, Premiums, Group Rates, Term Life Policies, and a lot more. It was all coming together for Eric Forman, who had a real knack for numbers.
Eric's duties were split between making calculations and writing reports in his cubicle, and driving to various businesses around the Kenosha area to either gain new clients or to check in on old ones.
The old Vista Cruiser finally gave out under the stress of all the miles Eric was putting on it, so he went out and bought a 1975 Ford Bronco. "Just call me 'Han Solo', because I'm behind the wheel of a total chick-magnet now!" Eric thought to himself with nerdy pride.
He was writing new business for the company left and right, and the extra effort hadn't gone unnoticed. Jim Kirkland, Eric's boss and the head of the insurance company had been so pleased that he gave Eric a hefty promotion after just five short months.
"Listen, Forman. You've done impressive work in you short time here. I can honestly say that you're a valuable asset to this company." With a smile, Jim added, "And I hope you won't be opposed to tagging along on our annual, expenses-paid trip. This year, we're heading down the the Bahamas."
Eric's eyes lit up as he shook the hand of the grey-haired man standing before him. The Bahamas? Expenses-paid? "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Mr. Kirkland."
This little vacation would be just what he needed.
xXxXx
Jackie was curled up on the couch in comfy yoga pants and a loose t-shirt. Since things had fizzled out between her and Fez, she had been living in a cozy one-bedroom apartment. Of course the decor looked like something out of a magazine.
Like most nights of the week, Jackie was winding down by drinking a couple glasses of wine and watching TV. The local news had just ended and she began flipping through a fashion magazine when an advertisement for bathing suits caught her eye.
It wasn't the bikinis that caught Jackie's attention, but the turquoise water and white beaches in the background. The caption in the lower corner read: "Paradise Island, the Bahamas".
That is where I'm going on vacation, she decided with a grin.
xXxXx
"Mom. Dad. Guess where the company is taking me on vacation next month! The Bahamas!" Eric was beaming as he sat in his parents' living room.
"Oh honey, that's fantastic!" Kitty shrieked, clapping her hands together. She had known Eric was doing well at work, but this was impressive.
Red, eyebrow raised, looked slightly interested as he sat in his chair. "I hear they've got pretty good beer. You better bring a case back, or you'll get a foot in the ass."
Eric's eyes widened and he let out a nervous laugh at his father's threat.
"I think this calls for a celebration! Who wants brownies after dinner?" Kitty asked, standing up and walking toward the kitchen.
As Kitty began cooking, Red looked over at his son with a renewed interest. "Son, this trip is a real opportunity for you." He rubbed the back of his head, seeming conflicted about what to say. "…Now I don't normally believe in accepting things for free, but there's some damn good fishing down there. If you're going to be spending someone else's money, you'd better do something worth bragging about."
Eric was completely uninterested in spending his entire trip going fishing, but was afraid to come across as a wimp to his dad. "Uh yeah, I'll definitely go out and catch a huge one. I mean, what kind of man wouldn't?"
Red nodded in approval and Kitty poked her head back into the living room. "Okay, boys. Let's eat!"
xXxXx
Neon colors, floral patterns, extremely thin straps, bikinis, one-pieces. None of these will do! Jackie was getting frustrated by the selection of bathing suits in this particular department store. "It's like they want people to look like trolls.." she muttered to herself as she continued scouring racks, searching for the perfect garment.
She had been meticulously planning the details of her vacation. Jackie had made several phone calls, finding out what the best activities and hottest locations were. Her flight was in two weeks, and she was almost completely prepared. She even had an incredibly glamorous passport photo. All that was left was the bathing suit.
All hope had nearly been lost when Jackie spotted it. The bikini seemed to call to her from the rack. A black top with straps interwoven across the back, and a hot pink bottom that screamed "Princess" - this was perfect!
Jackie snatched the bikini off the rack and went to check out, feeling proud that she'd gotten the only good deal in the entire store.