Author Note: I told myself that if Chapter 11 got 100 views, I'd put up this one since they are a continuation of the same night. Enjoy.


Chapter 12 – In and Out of Love


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As Donna was returning the kiss with an equal amount of passion and pleasure she heard a loud gasp and a "How dare you!"

Donna looked up at a wild eye brunette who had kissed her husband and all she could say was, "How dare you!"

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Jackie's fingers were fisted so tight those little fingernails were cutting into the palm of her hands. She was shaking with anger. "How could you Donna? You disgust me."

Anna scrambled to pull her bra strap back over her shoulder and Donna tucked her blouse back into her pants. She was equally angry. "How could I? How could you! I saw you kissing my husband on television."

Jackie threw back a venomous reply, "If you had paid attention, you would have seen it for the New Year's Eve kiss it was. I could have been kissing Dick Clark for God's sake. What about it?"

Donna didn't have an argument. In fact, she hadn't been expecting to see anyone from Point Place, especially here in Europe! But of all the people in the world, it had to be Jackie Burkhart to catch her kissing and fondling her girlfriend in a tavern.

Shit.

Jackie brushed her hair from her face, "Do you know the hell you are putting Eric through right now?" As Jackie stepped towards the table, Donna and Anna leaned back into the seats.

"He misses you. He feels like he's been a bad husband. He's worried about the bills. Hell, he hasn't even told his parents about the divorce papers. What kind of wife are you?"

The little hand squeeze from Anna to Donna under the table didn't go unnoticed. Jackie crossed her arms over her chest. "I thought I knew you Donna. I thought we were friends. I see what you're doing and I think you are a coward."

Donna sat up taller in her seat and said, "Excuse me? You think I'm a coward? This….from the woman who fakes her way through life as an actress?"

"Tell that to my Oscar, Donna. You are rejecting Eric so he can't do it first. You can't handle being married or maybe you tried and it's just not your thing…apparently you dance on both sides of the fence..." Jackie tapped her chin, "Didn't know that about you and I don't think Eric does either."

Donna could feel her cheeks getting flushed. "Are you threatening to blackmail me?"

Jackie shook her head slowly. "I think you better prepare to answer some heavy questions after this story of yours is over. You and Anna can't hide forever."

Donna felt like tossing her drink in Jackie's face but wouldn't have been able to prevent the short actress from calling attention to the situation and then everything would be on TV instantly. Instead, she carefully bit her tongue and said in an even voice, "We are not hiding. I gave Eric everything. There's nothing at home that I want anymore. Divorcing my husband gave me back my freedom."

"Except you aren't divorced - Eric never signed the papers and from what I've seen….you are committing adultery." Jackie shook her hands open. "I don't think I want to talk to you again Donna. Have a nice time with…Anna."

Anna waved her professional television reporter wave and smiled, "I love your movies!"

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Jackie paced the floor of her hotel room fretting about what to do. Call Eric and tell him what she saw? Wait for Donna and her mistress to make the first move? All Jackie knew was that Donna was cheating first. A cheater and Donna was playing games – using all those times she would fly out to help Donna meet people to help her career wise. Those were just excuses for Donna to cheat on her relationship.

Biting the edge of her thumbnail, Jackie looked at the clock. It was 10:30 at night in Germany…what time was it in Point Place? Jackie decided to call the lobby and find out.

She flopped into the chair. Holy cow it was still afternoon there! Eric would be at work and she certainly didn't want to lay something like this on him at work. Jackie decided she would call in the morning before her flight. Donna assuredly wouldn't be calling home this evening – Jackie was sure of this!

The telephone rang and Eric rolled over, his pillow knocking over the lamp. What the hell time was it? He squinted at the glow-in-the-dark hands on his clock. It was 2:30 in the freaking morning. He sat up. Something must be wrong with his parents! Quickly he grabbed the phone, "Hello!"

"Good morning Eric! It's me, Jackie!" a happy voice greeted him.

His heart reverted back to a somewhat normal rhythm. Whew! Parents were fine, but why was Jackie Burkhart calling him at 2:30 in the morning? "Are you still in Germany?"

She sighed and answered, "Yes. I have news for you."

Eric blinked, "Isn't this something at could wait until morning?"

The reply was, "Why it's 9:00 on a beautiful Thursday and I'm at the airport. This is the only time I can talk to you until my flight leaves."

Dimly Eric remembered the time change over the Atlantic. He had the same problem calling home from Africa. Trying to be a little more courteous, he responded, "Sorry, it's just you called in the middle of the night and I thought something happened to my mom or dad. I mean who calls at 2:30 in the morning except drunks needing a ride home?"

Or Jackie Burkhart!

She laughed into the receiver, "You are right. I should call later but this couldn't wait. I need you to do something for me."

This better not be about the fan club! "Sure, what is it?"

"Go to your lawyer today and have those divorce papers looked at. Something is going on and I want you to be protected okay?"

"Okay?" he parroted. Was this about Donna? He was going to sign the damn papers anyways!

"Eric, seriously, you need to know what is in them. I don't want you getting screwed over." Her voice was stern and he decided that it was too early in the morning to argue.

"Okay, I'll make an appointment and I'll take the papers."

Jackie added, "I'll call you when I get home and you can tell me what he said."

"Fine….can I go back to sleep now?"

"Good night Eric. Sweet dreams." And the phone clicked leaving him with the dial tone buzzing in his ear.

Good night? As if!

T7S

"Huh." Was all Eric could say as he plopped back in the chair across from the attorney Hyde had recommended. "She doesn't want anything?"

The smartly dressed lawyer steepled his fingers and shook his head. "She is leaving you the house and everything in it, your car and all the money in your shared account. All she is asking is that you remove her name from the bank account, leave her automobile at her parents' house and that you forfeit all claims to any future monies such as her pension, Social Security etc. Are you in agreement with this Mr. Forman?"

Eric felt blindsided. It seemed like Donna was trying to erase the last ten years. She didn't want any of the things they bought together – spent time picking out for the house and as he thought of it, Eric realized he could get rid of that ugly red Coca-Cola chrome table! But surely out of all their belongings, Donna would want to keep that.

He shook his head trying to understand what happened that made his wife want to leave him like this. It's like all her love for him dried up and died. All for a story? Her career? Did he not give her the attention she wanted? Hell, Donna took whatever she wanted and was clearly vocal when she didn't want something. What was a husband to do?

What was Eric to do?

He was confused but this wasn't an ordinary marriage either.

Hyde sat back in the listening pit with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked at his friend and then furrowed his brow asking again, "Nothing?"

Eric shrugged, "Nothing."

Hyde uttered, "Well hell. You are getting off lucky man. I've seen dudes that got taken to the cleaners! How was Howard?"

"Howard?" Eric asked dumbly.

"Yeah, Howard Atkinson. The attorney I referred you to? He's a good client and I asked him to give you a good deal on the service."

Eric popped open a beer that sat in the ice filled cooler. The cool drink felt good on his throat. He exhaled, "He was great. He read that whole document and explained it in ordinary words."

Hyde leaned forward and snagged his own brew. "So, what are you planning on doing now?"

Shrugging, Eric replied, "I don't think it has sunk in yet. I'm still trying to figure out when or where things went so horrible. I haven't signed….I guess I want to talk to her first…I want some answers. You know?"

Steven Hyde did. He was also curious about why his long time female friend could do such an about face to one of the gang. It was a mystery Scooby Doo! "Well, you know if you want to talk, I'm here and Kelso is out Watching Weight somewhere…or you can call Jackie."

Why call Jackie? She was the one that told him to go to the attorney so he wouldn't be screwed….unless Jackie knew something that no one else knew….but how could she? She lived on the West Coast and Donna lived in the Mid-West – two different time zones.

"I'm just saying she's a chick and she would understand better than us guys," Steven added. "Girls talk to each other. Guys just don't understand all the relationship stuff – this coming from a guy who was almost married." He laughed but knew that Eric got his meaning. Even this stuff with Donna puzzled him – Pinciotti rarely acted out of character…maybe she was sick? Like tumor in the head sick? Hyde didn't know, but he did see the affect this bad marriage had on his friend.

Eric nodded. "In fact, I think she said she's gonna call me tonight. Maybe she can tell me something I don't know."

"Apparently dude, there's a lot you don't know or you wouldn't be here talking to me about it." Hyde said resolutely.

The phone rang at 8:30 Wisconsin time. Eric had no doubt it was Jackie and really wanted to find out why it was so urgent that he went to an attorney today. She was pretty stern about that topic, but Eric didn't know why there was such a rush. If she rummaged through his closets, how was he to know Jackie didn't already read the divorce paper?

"Hello?" he answered on the third ring.

"Hey." Jackie's voice was like a breath of fresh air. "Did you go?"

"How was BMW?" Eric didn't really want to jump into that conversation just yet.

Jackie replied, "It was okay. Just a one day shoot that ended due to some snow. Why are you procrastinating?"

He chuckled. She really did get straight to the point. "I'm not procrastinating; I just wanted to have a conversation. I haven't really got to talk you since New Year's and by the time that was ended, I think I was too hungover."

She snickered, "That was a great party….wasn't it?"

Eric agreed and answered her first question. "Yes, I went to an attorney. Didn't have one, so Hyde gave me a business card for one of his customers – I think I got a discount!"

"Good. So tell me what were Donna's terms for requesting the divorce?" Jackie persisted.

Eric scratched his head. Did Howard even bring that up? "Um….I think irreconcilable differences. Basically I think she fell out of love with me."

Jackie inhaled sharply. Did she tell him the truth or just let the truth come out on its own? When she shared her findings with Mel, the advice was, "Don't start a fire where there is only a spark." Mel even went so far as to ask, "Why are you so interested in Eric? Is there something more than friendship?" That was a question Jackie had to ponder.

"Eric, people just don't fall out of love that easily. Something else must have happened." Jackie said cautiously.

He sighed over the telephone, "Well, hey….the next time you come over, we'll talk about it okay? I kinda just want to be alone right now."

"Sure, I understand." Jackie answered. "I need to check on Fez pretty soon to make sure he's doing a good job." That was a lie. But she liked going to Eric's house.

A few weeks ago, the Forman house was a place to drop by, see a couple of old friends but then it became the hub of her fan club base and an excuse to drop by. Eric was his usual laid back snarky self – just an older version of the teen she used to know but that was good.

Eric Forman, being himself, helped Jackie feel grounded. Being in Point Place where nothing much had changed was grounding also. California was chaotic and her schedules were never consistent so Jackie liked knowing at all times that when she called Point Place – Eric would be there.

Was she using him? Yes and no. He didn't fall down on his knees begging for attention or a photo op like so many Hollywood wannabes – no, Eric merely got irritated when she asked for something that took him out of his norm. That was when she found she could have fun.

The studio trip that was intended for Donna was entertaining with Eric hanging with the producers. Surprising him with an updated wardrobe – well that was just necessary if she was going to hang around for a while. The Forman house for Christmas – that was like a much needed vacation. Having all the safe reminders of Point Place around her was like being in a secure little bubble – away from all the craziness that was becoming her life.

Was she leading Eric on? She never really kissed him. That brush of lips was the same as the one she gave to garlic and onion breathed Rob Lowe. However, the New Year's Eve kiss he planted on her was spectacular and she didn't want to read much more in to it because he was married to her best friend.

Well, ex-best friend considering that Donna was using her as a decoy for visiting with Miss Anna Cantana, the best friend gloves were off. If Eric was interested in Miss Jackie Burkhart – well, she could be available! She just had to talk to Mel first.

Carefully, she hung up the telephone and thought to herself, "This is going to be an interesting next few weeks."

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