Author Note: …damn, now I have to find a tissue…..
T7S
Chapter 13– Tears
T7S
Jackie was taking pictures and videos of Red and his family. She wanted to preserve this moment of time for the Forman's for posterity. Laurie was truly penitent and no one was surprised to find that she and Casey had married. Well, Kelso was, but that was because he still wanted to meet "Glo." Red was holding his daughter's hand and not letting go. This was exactly what Kitty wanted - One very special Father's Day.
While Jackie was shooting her little movie, in the background she could hear Steven and Benjamin arguing the merits of future movies with the Black Eyed Peas and should Fergie collaborate with Lady Gaga or Kei$ha. Steven laughed while a clueless Eric was saying, "What?"
Ben was experiencing a bit of hero worship. "So you really met Kid Rock?" Steven put an arm around the kid's shoulder. "Ben, not only did I meet him, we partied with Willie Nelson. You can't have a better time than that."
Eric opened his mouth, "I – I would have partied with Willie."
Ben and Hyde looked at Eric. "No dad. You wouldn't." Hyde laughed, "Forman, you have a cool kid here. I might have to borrow him."
Delilah was flirting with Eric and he just mumbled, "Go ahead, I think I'm going to be busy."
-o-
The party lasted hours longer than the room had been reserved for. Red fell asleep in his chair with a big smile on his face. Kitty spent time with both Casey and Laurie, catching them up on family events. Brooke was learning a lot about her new sister-in-law and Jackie was falling more in love minute by minute.
Eric nudged her with his shoulder. "Hey chick."
"Hey geek." She smiled.
"Did you know he found my sister?"
Jackie looked at Eric. "Honestly? I had no clue. I just asked if he'd heard from her way back when we first decided to invite him….I didn't know he was going to do this."
"He's changed." Eric commented while sipping some champagne. Jackie nodded, "He's so different from the 1979 Steven and yet he's still the same."
"He has all of his natural hair." Eric lamented. "I have blonde Heidi hair. Really, don't you think I look like Justin Timberlake? I saw him on SNL and we resemble each other!"
Jackie laughed, "No Eric. You look like a blond you and I wouldn't have it any other way. Hey, here comes your girlfriend. When are you going to make an honest woman out of her?"
Shocked that she asked, Eric looked at Jackie. "How did you know? God, I thought I was good at keeping secrets."
"Seriously Eric, who do you think you're talking to? You guys are a perfect match! Ask her before some really handsome guy comes along and sweeps her off her feet."
Eric hugged his best friend/sister. "You'll be at the wedding?"
She pretended mock indignation. "You expect me to stay away? I better go save Benjamin before Steven takes him out back and they party in the Hummer." Jackie watched her friend take his girlfriend into his arms and whirl her into a dance.
For a moment, she just basked in seeing the faces of friends and people she never thought she would see again. Brooke and Michael would go back to Washington. Casey and Laurie's whereabouts were still a mystery – Steven would go back to one of his two estates….Ben and Brittany would most likely live together.
She took a sliver of Red's cake and it tasted sweet. Jackie really hoped that this was something Red would always remember. He got his daughter back and gained a son-in-law. It was a twofer that made Kitty smile.
-o-
Goodbyes were said, and tears were rampant everywhere. Promises to keep in touch were exchanged with pictures and updated email addresses. Laurie and Casey took the Forman's home while Ben and his date drove Eric's car. Jackie walked out to the Hummer with Steven and she leaned against the door. This was it. This was the big goodbye. Again.
"I'm so glad you came." She began. "It meant so much to Mr. Forman."
Steven tugged on a lock of her dark hair. "Hey….don't chase me away so quick. I still have one reunion left. Get in the car."
Mick drove the Hummer while Hyde poured some flutes of champagne in the back, the tinted windows giving her no clue of where they were going. The ride was nice and being so close to Steven was making her blood pressure sky rocket. This was something she had dreamed of forever.
The car stopped and Hyde opened the door and took her hand, helping her step outside. She looked around and laughed. "Inspiration Point. What are we doing here?"
Hyde took her hand and led her around to the front of the car. "We are reuniting….this is where we had our first date…or can't you remember that far back?"
Jackie laughed and swatted him. "I remember. That was Veteran's Day and my date Chip, called me a bitch and you punched him."
Hyde blushed a little, "Okay, he shouldn't have called you bitch in the first place and punching him actually felt pretty damn good."
Jackie was remembering sharing the quiet of the trees and drinking his soda. It was the best date she ever had in her young life. Back then. She leaned against the grill of the car, "So you're most likely thinking, I'm on a date with this beautiful girl…and you want to know if she's going to kiss me…."
Steven put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to his chest. "You still talk too much don't you?"
Jackie smiled happily up into his face as suddenly, Leo Sayers', When I Need You blasted through the speakers, reminiscent of that Veteran's Day so long ago. Jackie grinned, "So do you still like bowling?"
He chuckled, "I don't hate it." She lifted her chin and touched his cheek. He lowered his head and crushed her against his chest. "I think I still love you and this could be a problem."
Jackie was floating. "I think I still love you too and I have no problem. Just kiss me already okay?" He pulled her to him and she clung…two desolate souls that needed each other more than they knew. Her tears started and she couldn't hold it back any longer. "I missed you so much." She whispered. Steven kissed the warm tears from her cheeks – her wet lashes.
"I didn't think I needed you but I'm not a whole man without you Jackie." His hands were around her waist, her soft puffs of breath against his throat and his body was humming. This was exactly where he was supposed to be. The life he was supposed to live began and ended in this exact spot. The kisses from this waif were only for him.
He was experiencing a happiness he hadn't felt in a lifetime. Steven Hyde had come home. His real parents were here. His brother was here.
The love of his life was here.
Jackie sighed, "I guess you were right about us all along."
"Yep." Steven rested his chin on her soft silky hair. She tugged on the collar of his shirt, "So…what happens now?"
He grinned into the dark just as he did over 30 years ago, "I'm not opposed to doing it."
Jackie laughed in his arms. "You're still a pig. Take me home."
"Yes dear."
T7S
February 2013
The baby was crying. Jackie groaned and rolled over, "Steven." She said sleepily, "Wake up."
Hyde felt a warm naked body pressed against his back. Wake up? Was she out of her mind? "Mac's crying….you promised to do the morning feeding."
He rolled over and pulled Jackie on top of his naked chest. "Sorry doll but I agreed to changing diapers and you were bottle duty."
"C'mon Steven…it was your idea to send Ben and his wife to the Grammy Awards. You can take care of little MacGyver Forman. He likes you." She gave him that smile that melted his heart.
"Damn. Why did Forman have to go on his honeymoon during the Grammies? I'm going to kick his ass when he comes home." Hyde muttered swinging his legs over the bed. "Don't go anywhere or put on your nightgown because I'm coming right back!"
Jackie looked at him with glowing eyes, "Steven, I'm never going anywhere ever again…without you."
-o-
Red Forman had lived long enough to spend a couple of years with his daughter and wife before he passed away painlessly in his sleep. Over the course of the last two years he saw the birth of his great-grandson, Eric's second marriage and was a witness to the quiet civil ceremony that wedded Steven J Hyde and Jackie Forman.
Kitty and Laurie took care of the elder Forman as the disease worsened. They said their goodbyes to Red during the hours he was cognizant and after passing, they celebrated his life by taking a cruise to the South Pacific to see the islands Red Forman fought from. Kitty wanted to see the places that made her husband the wonderful man that he was.
Brooke and Kelso moved back to help take care of the ailing John Kelso. Casey had been promoted to a Grooves manager and spent his free time working with hospice to care for his dad. John was able to get around with the help of his children and even Betsy would come out for a few weeks to spend time with granddad Kelso.
Kitty Forman knew her time was near and when GrammaKitty finally won the online Full Tilt Poker jackpot, she was in heaven. She left her winnings to baby Mac and left the house to her children.
Red was waiting for her in heaven. "Kitty, you always had to take the long way to get here."
She smiled at her husband angel, "Because I knew you were holding the gate for me Red. I love you."
"I love you too doll."
The future had a happy ending for all the people of Point Place. Life went on and Fergie finally performed with Lady Gaga and Kei$ha because Ben Forman directed the video. Isn't that a kick in the head?
The End.
A/N: I would really like to thank the constant reviewers below for the motivation to do this story:
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Until my next story… THANK YOU – YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL FANS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND CRITIQUES!
Marla