It's always calm before the storm. Sunlight flutters through the window kissing the bare skin of the two love birds cradling each other on the sofa. The old clock on the wall ticks with each passing second until they'd wake. Hidden beneath the rumbling sounds of Steven's snores, neither of them startle to the sound of the door chime open. No it was the voice their favorite dirty hippie that woke them from their slumber.

"Hey! Loud girl is back!"

"Oh my god!" Jackie exclaims with embarrassment. She jerks Steven up and uses him as a human shield as she realizes her dress is across the room.

"Leo, man get out of here!" Steven shouts throwing his older friend out the door. The clock on the wall hits the linoleum with the force of the slamming door.

"I guess it's time to get moving huh?" Jackie spoke with just a hint of utter disappointment, she stepped back into her previously disregarded dress slowly as she was distracted by the wondrous man fussing with the button of his jeans. His muscles were flexing in his chest and she was ogling him.

"Yeah, I've got to open the store in ten minutes." He bent down to kiss Jackie's forehead as she fastened the buckles on her t-strap heels.

"Alright, well I've got to get home, shower, I'm thinking today would be a good shopping day."

"Alright, doll", Steven left the office followed by Jackie. "I'll see you at the basement tonight."

Jackie nodded in agreement and kisses her love goodbye.


Grooves

2:30pm

The bell above the entrance jingles as Eric walks into Grooves. Pink Floyd music can be heard playing quietly from the record player in the corner. The room was filled with the mumbled conversations of the the dozen or so shoppers. Hyde was standing behind the register dealing with a customer as Leo lay napping on the couch.

"Hey man, I hope your not here for a circle break cause I'm a little busy." Hyde sounded annoyed but considering the fact that his only worker was sleeping on the job, Eric didn't take it to heart. Besides annoyance wasn't necessarily outside Hyde's character.

"No, I uh… weren't you wearing that yesterday?" He was distracted from his previous thought by Hyde's dingy clothes.

"Yeah I haven't been home yet."

"Why not?"

"The basement is too crowded, Jackie and I just need alone time every once in awhile."

"Then get your own place Hyde."

"I don't know man." Hyde wiped his hands down his face in stress.

"You own one of the most successful businesses in town, you can afford it."

"Yeah and then maybe Jackie can move into the basement, she needs her own space."

"Or you know, Satan could live with you."

"Forman, it's too soon for that."

"Is it?"

"Things are good now, I don't want to mess up."

"Yeah but listen, when things are going strong and smooth you don't just sit around waiting for the next storm, you move forward. Man, you've gotta get moving or you're going to fall behind." Forman walked around behind the counter to pat his oldest friend on the shoulder. "That's why Donna proposed, she realized our relationship was at an eternal standstill so she took the first step. Jackie loves you man, and you can deny it but clearly you love her too, stop being afraid of the possibility of getting hurt or the unknown in your future, you are not your parents. Honestly you and Jackie are more so my parents than your own." He watched his friend exhale slowly, assuming the cogs in his head were turning but he was unsure as Hyde had his glasses masking his facial emotions.

"Why are you here again?" He responds in his usual tone of zen.

"Actually I came to ask for a job."

"Yes! You're hired! Here take over this line." Eric switched spots with Hyde, and watched as his grumpy friend left out the front door leaving the store in his unqualified hands.


Point Place Mall

Food Court

2:55pm

The aroma of greasy food made the rumbling in Steven's empty stomach echo loudly above the voices of nearby shoppers. He stood in the center of the room up on his toes in search of his girl. He knew that if he stayed quiet enough her voice would ring out loudly above everyone else's. She was indeed only about twenty-five feet in front of him, her bouncing, brunette curls cascading down her back. The jeans she had changed into were hugging her small curves, her form, god she was irresistible.

Sneaking up behind her, he wrapped his arms tightly across her chest causing her to jump slightly at his surprising arrival. "Steven! What are you doing here? Wait, who's watching the store?"

"I got Forman to do it."

"How'd you manage that?" She twisted in his grasp until she faced him, kissing him hello. Her head rest just below his chin and the scent of coconut from her hair flooded his senses.

"I hired him." He took Jackie's hand and lead her to the nearby bench. "I was going to go home to shower and change but I wanted to ask you something before I talk myself out of it."

"What's going on?" Her voice grew very concerned. Things lately were going pretty smoothly after the Chicago fiasco or so she thought. She was indeed jobless, homeless, and she had no plan anymore. This version of Steven was frightening to her. He was so rarely open with her let alone anybody else so the topic of his conversation was making her anxious than eager.

"I'm thinking I should start to look for apartments, I'm not a kid anymore and I have a great job, it's time I move out of my friends basement." She held his hand with a smile on her face. The 'your amounting to your potential' smile she had shared with him after the SAT's and when you got the job at Grooves. He appreciated that even though that would remain a secret.

"Oh my god, Steven that's great."

"Yeah and I was thinking, you know since you hate sleeping at Donna's so much maybe you could sleep at my place when you want. And I'm sure I'll have extra closet space where you can keep some stuff if you want." Steven spoke very unsure of himself, stumbling over the words that were coming out of his mouth. He avoided her eyes.

"Steven?" Her fingers under his chin turned him to look at her. "Are you asking me to move in with you?"

"I mean, if that's what you want."

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes."

"Yes, what?" She was toying with him now. And it was driving him crazy but she knew all too well it was the only way to get her man to speak up.

"Damn it Jackie! Yes I want you to move in with me." And in true Jacqueline Burkhart manner, she jumped squealing loudly enough to catch everyone's attention. "I'll take that as a yes," he pulls her in for a quick kiss that turns passionate with the ever addicting fell and taste of her lips. "Okay I've gotta get back to work before Forman and Leo destroy the place, or worse what if they find my work stash. Do you have a ride?"

"Um… no, Donna dropped me off but she's at the station til eight tonight."

"Alright come on," he picks up her bags, "I've gotta take a shower at home first anyway."

"I could use another shower too." She flashes him his favorite devious smile and he leads her eagerly to the el Camino.


Forman Residence

Kitchen Table

7:30pm

"I just got one of my babies back and now you're going to run away from me!"

"Kitty! The boy isn't running away he'll be no farther than ten minutes away and with the way Jackie cooks he'll be here for every meal."

"Red's right."

"Hey!" Jackie smacks Stevens arm in offense.

"Well come on Jacks your cookies could be used as building blocks."

"At least I try, the last thing you made for yourself was ketchup on Saltines."

"Why would I cook, when I have Mrs. Forman." He flashes a smile to his surrogate mother who was teary eyed as she served chicken dinners to her three boys and Jackie.

"Enough you two!" Red shouted he definitely didn't want to deal with the consequences of an upset Kitty.

"Congratulations again man, proud of you."

"Thanks, Forman."

"When will you start looking?" Eric questioned as they all began to eat.

"I was thinking tomorrow, since I have you to watch the store." Jackie jumped as Mrs. Forman slammed her silverware down on the table and stomped her way out of the kitchen sobbing.

"Damn it! This is worse than when you left for Africa." Red exclaimed as he followed his upset wife upstairs.

A/N: As always I hope my readers are enjoying this story so far I know I am. Please Review!