Author Note: …. She's back….it's Spring Time… it's short and a little fluffy stuff…

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Chapter 14 – Back From the Beach

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March 1987

Jackie was standing by the luggage carousel waiting for her bags. The flight from Miami to Kenosha arrived sooner than she anticipated and she didn't get a chance to call Michael or Brooke to meet her. She could always take a cab but then she risked the chance of no one being home.

Well, getting her baggage was the first order of business and then she could make some phone calls for a ride. Jackie elbowed her way through the crowd and grabbed her purple duffle and suitcase. She wheeled the case over to the payphones and reached in her pocket for some change.

She dialed the Kelso house and it just rang and rang. She pressed the coin return and called Eric and Fez's apartment. "Come on Eric, please be home." Suddenly, two warm hands covered her eyes and a low voice said, "Guess who?"

The voice vibrated against her ear and sent shivers down her spine. She could smell his cologne and her heart sped up just a bit. "I don't know…could it be…Luke Skywalker?" Eric moved his hands and spun her around. "How did you know? My land speeder is parked outside ready to take you to your destination of choice. May I suggest anything but a Death Star?"

Jackie laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck in a big hug. "You saved me! I was almost stranded at the airport!" She kissed his cheek and then the corner of his mouth. His arms wrapped around her waist as her head slanted and she pressed her warm soft mouth against his. At first, Eric didn't move…couldn't move…he couldn't even breathe. The blood that pounded in his ears made his vision seem to blur. Her hands were threading through his hair and his stomach tightened with anticipation.

Then she moved her hands down his shoulders and stopped on his broad chest breaking the kiss, suddenly feeling shy. "Um…I think that was thank you." She murmured against his shirt.

Eric stroked her dark silky hair, "You are most welcome and you can kiss me anytime."

She looked up and he was smiling. Her stomach was filled with butterflies and she just knew she was happy. She was kissing at the airport and deliriously happy. Eric held out her truck keys and she grinned. "You drove my Chevy."

He laughed, "It's a monster compared to my Honda, but let's get out of here before you get a ticket. I double parked."

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Betsy came out of her room modeling the new little sarong type bathing suit Aunt Jackie brought her. She walked the length of the living room, curtsied and walked back to her bedroom. The gang applauded.

"So where is my South Beach taffy? The sweet sticky wonderful candy you promised me?" Fez demanded. Jackie grinned and pulled a bag of saltwater taffy from her tote. "I promise you'll like it."

Kelso was bouncing on the sofa cushion. "What did I get!" Brooke admonished him to relax but Kelso was excited about getting a present. Jackie handed him a long slim box. He grinned and opened the lid just a bit and slammed it shut. "Oh man, this is AWESOME!" He peeked again and shut the lid.

"Dude, quit messing around, what did you get?" Eric and Fez were eager to know.

Kelso opened the lid. "Bottle Rockets. The REAL kind from Mexico! Oh man, I can't wait to light one off!" Brooke rolled her eyes and mouthed, "Thanks a lot." Jackie laughed and pulled another present out of her bag and handed it to Eric.

"You got a gift for me?"

"Of course, you're my friend too." She said smiling. Eric unwrapped the gift to find a wind up C3PO action toy and R2D2. They looked authentic but only six inches tall. He looked at Jackie, a smile playing around his lips. "Wind it up." She encouraged. He twisted the little plastic tab and R2 started walking stiltedly across the coffee table.

"Dude…that is so cool. Do 3PO now." Kelso said excitedly. Eric wound up the toy and the two robots were walking towards each other. Kelso was bouncing again. "Oh man, they're gonna crash into each other. Let 'em crash!" The two walking figures were winding down and when they collided, they merely fell on their sides with the little legs still sawing back and forth until the action wound down.

Eric grinned; this was the coolest present he could ever remember getting. "Thanks Jackie, I really love it."

Jackie handed a jewelers box to Brooke. "Now this is all the rage in Miami and I'm told that it's going to be very popular soon."

Brooke smiled and opened the velvet lid to find a small golden sandal with rhinestones studded on the Y of the shoe. The sandal was hanging from a delicate gold chain. "Oh Jackie, I love this. It's so cute and now I want to wear sandals and a bikini!"

Kelso looked at Brooke, "Cool, I want you to wear a bikini too!"

Jackie smiled at her happy friends – it was good to be back but it would be better to be at home. "Guys, I have a long ride back. Thanks for taking care of my truck."

Eric stood up, "Hey, can I walk you to your truck?"

Jackie looked at Brooke who was giving her a "time out" sign. "Hang on; I need to talk to Brooke for a minute. Excuse me gentlemen." Brooke grabbed her friends arm and nearly dragged her into the kitchen. Out of earshot of the guys, Brooke exclaimed, "Are you out of your mind?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I've seen you looking all goo-goo eyed at Eric all night and then you get him a special Star Wars gift? How long did you have to shop to find that? I thought you were going to recheck your feelings while you were gone."

Jackie fell into a kitchen chair. "I did. I have feelings for him. I talked to him at Christmas."

Brooke sat down beside her at the table. "Honey, are you sure you're just not lonely?"

Jackie smiled. "No…and yes. Brooke, I just feel so happy when I'm around Eric and I know that I don't have the best track record with guys, but I've got all the symptoms of puppy love, infatuation and when he's gone…I miss him. I get lonely and I haven't been lonely in a long time."

Brooke regarded her best friend. "You know what Miss Hart would say…." Jackie stopped her. "Yes, I know what Miss Hart would say and I'm disagreeing with her on this one. I think I want more than a friendship…I just don't know how he feels about it. He's been divorced and I never got that far with Steven."

"Oh honey…I just don't want you to get your heartbroken. I don't think that Eric would do that…it's just you have such high expectations. What if you're making him out to be more than he really is?"

Jackie simply smiled. "Brooke, I've seen him at the lowest point in his life. Almost three years ago he was lonely, stranded and didn't have a friend. Look at him now! He's like a totally different person and I've seen the gradual changes over time."

"I'll agree with you there but think about your future. I seriously doubt that you'll ever move off that mountain."

A small smile hovering over her lips, "Maybe I can bring him to the mountain. Oh Brooke, I know you care….did he date anyone while I was gone?"

"Not one girl. I had Fez spying on him. He was just a regular workaholic."

Jackie clapped her hands. "Perfect. So I'm going to let him walk me to my car and you're going to butt out."

Brooke laughed, "Yes ma'am! Of course I'll be watching through the window."

"I know you will. But, I'll give you a call later and we'll set up a raft trip." Jackie stood up and gave her friend a hug. "You really are the best friend a girl could have."

"I love you too." Brooke replied.

Jackie went back into the living room and gave goodbye hugs to Fez and Michael and kissed Betsy on the cheek. Eric followed her out the front door and down to her truck. She tossed her handbag and jacket on the front seat. She turned to see Eric looking at the toes of his shoes.

Jackie poked him in the ribs. "What's so interesting about your sneakers?"

He looked up and grinned, "I was gathering courage."

She frowned, "Why do you need to be brave?"

"Because…I'm getting ready to ask my best friend out on a date." He admitted.

Jackie bit back a smile. "Really?"

"Jackie Burkhart, what are you doing Saturday night?" Eric started holding his breath. She stepped closer and flattened a crease in his shirt. - Her wonderful vanilla scent making him crazy. "Well, I'm going out to dinner at the country club with Eric Forman." She looked up into his dark green eyes, "That's if he wants to. He hasn't asked me yet."

Her hands moved up his chest and circled around his neck. "Would you kiss me already?" Instantly his arms wrapped around her shoulders and he pulled her closer, lips meshing and breaths melding into one. She felt just as good has he remembered and her silky hair tickled his arms. This one long single kiss had his heart pounding against his ribs and she left him breathless when she pulled away.

Breathing hard, Jackie whispered, "Do you think he'll ask me?"

Eric smiled, "Jackie, can I take you to dinner on Saturday at the country club?"

She squealed with happiness, "Yes! Oh yes! Be at my house at six and don't be late!"

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