Author Note: Happy New Year Everyone: Okay, I caved to the pressure - I'm continuing the story after all. Some things just need to be told. (Thank you for all the story alerts and fav authors). The remainder of this story won't be as long as my last. I have some situations to tie up and a couple new ones cropped up out of nowhere – Enjoy!

Chapter 22 – School and a New Job

Aunt Paula had boarded her pink Cadillac and headed for the airport. The wind of the Bahamas vacation was calling her name. Red really was sorry to see his sister-in-law leave. Kitty only cried for a short time before she discovered the coupon for a day spa package that was tucked in her purse. Jackie and Eric had waved their goodbyes and the New Year blew in with a storm.

School had resumed the following Monday as Jackie and Eric started trying out new morning routines. Since she didn't have a job, Jackie got up early to make Eric some breakfast while he showered. She would watch the traffic and weather report while drinking tea and then walk out with him to the car.

After a quick kiss goodbye, Eric would leave for school. He loved being married – Jackie finally quit hogging the covers and they were sleeping better. At lunch, he would call home to see how she was doing and they would talk like the old times when he was in Africa. Sometimes Fez would drop by to keep her company and other times she would be upstairs trying to cook something with Kitty.

It took a couple of weeks, but Jackie was finally insured, they both had a joint checking account and started painting the nursery. Red actually assembled the crib but let Eric take most of the credit for keeping track of the screws. Kitty was sewing a quilt and Jackie started getting tired of staying home all day. When the weather had eased up, she drove to the college to talk to the art teacher. She needed something to do with herself and this was the perfect plan.

*

"Miss Jackie! We missed you!" Danny greeted her at the classroom door with kisses. "It looks like someone is gaining weight - come sit! Tell Danny why you are here." She followed the skinny smock covered art teacher to his desk.

Jackie smiled and explained the failure of the Burkhart Baby Project but still wanted to model if Danny was interested. Danny covered his cheeks and smiled. "Darling, you are the answer to my prayers! I have been approached to do a coffee table book."

"What's that? You're going to make a book about coffee tables?"

Danny snorted a laugh, "No dear. It's a HUGE book that they put in banks, and large businesses or just offices so people can look at pictures while they wait for whatever reason they have AND they leave it on coffee tables. The reason this is fabulous is because a publisher saw some of Danny's students' watercolors of you. I have so many charcoal, inks and paint abstracts of you before you gained this baby weight, wouldn't it be wonderful to catalog your pregnancy and put it in a book?"

Jackie thought the teacher was slightly skewed but she was interested. "So people want to see abstract pictures of me?"

"Miss Jackie you have a most photogenic face! Your lines are easy to sketch and look at you all in bloom – my students would just be itching to paint you now. We can do a plaster cast of your tummy now and then until your little baby busts out! I have the perfect set of backgrounds – no more Greek columns – we'll use rocking chairs and sexy mama outfits – oh, I'm getting excited just envisioning this book!"

Jackie grinned. She liked the idea of being a hot mama. "Danny, let's talk money. I need a job and I can't stay home all day, I'll go crazy!"

Danny opened Jackie's coat and saw that she still looked mostly svelte and probably be that way for a while which made her attractive for his class. "Tell you what. I'll pay $200 a day - cash and you'll get 10% of the book profits."

Jackie mentally calculated that this could work in her benefit. Danny continued. "I would like you three days a week and as you get bigger, we'll take down to two days. Danny knows that expectant mommies need their rest. How soon can you start?"

"Next Monday?" She asked hopefully. This would be great; she could drive in with Eric and only spend two days home alone.

Danny clapped his hands, "Then Monday morning at 9:00 it is! I need to get busy – this is going to be so fantastic!" Danny kissed her cheeks "Bye love – drive safely – you are my future!"

*

Jackie wandered the campus looking for the wing with the advance mathematics courses. Eric had no clue she was on the college grounds and she wanted to surprise him. She finally found a directory and was glad his classroom was on the first floor.

The next class hadn't started yet so she slipped in the door and sat in a chair in the back where he couldn't easily see her. The students started milling in and she watched silently as Eric stacked papers into a pile and wiped the blackboard clean. The bell rang and he turned around to greet the class with his classic Eric Forman grin.

He was engaging and answered questions on the fly – his students were eager to watch him draw complex formulas on the chalkboard while they scribbled their notes. He passed out graded papers and collected completed homework. The two hour class flew by and before Jackie knew it, the bell rang and students rushed out the door.

Eric picked up some books and took them to his little office. Jackie weaved her way down to the front of the classroom and knocked on the glass door. She heard Eric say, "Come on in, I'm just making some notes." She stepped up behind him and whispered, "I think math teachers are so sexy."

Her warm breath against his ear made him shiver; shocked he turned around to find the student was actually his wife. He pulled her down into his lap. "So are you one of my failing students?" She nodded with a smirk, "I think I need a tutor. Can you help me…Mr. Forman?"

Eric smiled, "Of course there will be a cost for my services." He tucked a loose curl behind her ear.

"What's the going rate for a handsome professor these days?" She teased back.

"Well, maybe a little dinner and you definitely have to sleep with me."

With mock indignation, she pretended to punch his arm. "Do you sleep with all of your failing students?" He nuzzled her neck, "No, I don't really have any bad students. Now my wife, she's a different matter."

Jackie loved the feel of his lips against her warm skin and the idea that she was kissing a teacher in school made it sexy. She leaned her head back as he kissed her throat and moved to her ear. She smelled delicious and her warm skin was intoxicating. Eric moved some papers from his desk and easily sat her on the edge. "Tell me… Mr. Forman" she said mischievously, "Have you ever done it in on a desk before?"

Eric growled happily and tore her coat off. She was wearing a cute little dress and leggings and she was getting curves in all the right places and this was driving Eric crazy. She grabbed him by the tie and pulled him down onto the desk, "No seriously, have you ever done it like this?" She wrapped her legs around his and pulled him closer. He brought his face down to her chest and just breathed in the scent of her.

She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him softly, "You have a nice big desk Mr. Forman…" Eric reached out and shut his door and came back to steal a kiss. 'You are killing me here… you know that? One of my students could walk in at any time."

She rose up on her elbows and nipped his bottom lip. "I know and it's kind of exciting isn't it?"

"God Jackie!" he murmured and slid his hand under her blouse and unclasped her bra. She sighed when his lips replaced his fingers. "You smell so good." He groaned. Jackie grinned and scooted closer grabbing his hips and pulling him towards the desk. "I think I have a crush on my teacher."

"Ah, Jackie…" Eric could hear someone in the classroom. "Sweetie, I'm dying here." He kissed her lips and then kissed her again. "There's someone out there. Let me look."

She smiled and tidied her clothes noticing that Eric's hair was all mussed and his clothes were sticking out in odd places. She muffled a giggle as he looked out the door. Whoever was there must have left. He turned back to see Jackie sitting in his chair.

"You minx! You got me all hot and bothered..." He complained but his eyes were shining. "Now tell me what you're doing here and I know it's not to improve your math skills…."

"When's lunch again?"

Eric looked at his watch. "Um, actually it is lunch."

Jackie stood up and put on her coat. "Let's meet at the cafeteria. I have something exciting to share with you!"

*

Eric watched as she dipped another French fry into a glob of ketchup and popped it in her mouth. He found the fry extremely sexy. She watched him watching her eat and smiled. "So what do you think?"

Eric realized she had an entire conversation and he could only concentrate on watching her eat. "I'm sorry, you are distracting me here. Just give me the highlights."

"Eric, you gotta listen the first time!" She grumbled with a smile. "I will continue modeling for the art class three days a week and they're going to pay me cash plus I get 10% of the book sales!" Eric tried to tear his eyes away from her lips. "Is it safe?"

"It's as easy as sitting in a rocking chair for two hours. This is a dream job and we can carpool!" she squealed. Eric liked the idea that she would be on campus with him. Not just for a tiny tryst in his office but for her safety as well. "Well I think it's perfect for your successful married mom campaign."

"Thank God you agree. Your mother wanted to teach me how to make salmon surprise for dinner!"

Eric grimaced. "We are so NOT eating upstairs tonight. Let's get a pizza on the way home!"

Jackie smiled, "Well, I have to go by the bank so meet me at home?" Eric leaned across the cafeteria table. "I'll be there and just for fun, leave on the skirt okay?"

She caught him looking at her chest again. "Just don't be late!"

*

The pizza was long gone and they had just enough time to watch MASH before they went to bed. Eric made Jackie some tea and they turned down the lights and watched a little TV. Jackie rested her head on Eric's shoulder and he rubbed her little belly in slow lazy strokes. Jackie laughed at something Hawkeye said and then froze. What was that? She felt like something touched her.

She looked at Eric who was looking at her. What was that? Eric stopped moving his hand and felt it again. It was like a gentle push against his palm. His baby was kicking him. Eric grinned and Jackie was still dazed. "I can feel it." He whispered. "It's kicking!" Eric guided Jackie's hand to the same spot where he felt the movement.

"Why isn't it kicking now? I could feel it from inside - it's kind of like a weird fluttery feeling. Do that belly rub thing you were doing."

Eric started lightly touching her stomach again. Jackie got excited, "Over here!" She pressed her hand against her side and felt the tiny kick from the inside out. She was smiling happily – her baby was moving and she had a job. This was the best day ever!

*