Author Note: …..it's raining….it's pouring…..
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Chapter 21 – Tired of Running
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Jackie woke up on a chilly Saturday morning to a sound she hadn't heard in a long time - rain and thunder. She quickly ran into the living room and turned on the television praying there would be no lightning. The rain was pouring and flooding the pool downstairs – it must have been raining all night.
She looked at the clock and saw that it was barely six in the morning. It was then that she made a decision. If today was the last day they had the Jedi powers, then she wanted to be with Eric when she lost them.
Jackie parked on the street and hurried up the driveway, knowing the Forman's rarely locked the patio doors. She quietly ran up the stairs to Eric's room putting out a suggestion to Kitty and Red to sleep in. Laurie was gone and Steven wouldn't make an appearance until later in the morning.
She closed the bedroom door with a quiet "snick" and tiptoed across the carpet. She slid under the covers and put her hand over his mouth. "Shhh…it's me."
Eric's eyes flew open first because there was a soft curvy body touching his entire backside and second because he was being smothered. He quickly rolled over taking the tiny brunette with him. The room was dark but he could see still see her in the dim light. "I knew you wanted to sleep with me." He said with a yawn.
Jackie smiled and looked up at his dark green eyes. "You goof. It's raining. If there's a lightning storm today, I want to be with you."
Eric pretended to scoff, "Jeez, and here I thought you just wanted my hot body."
Laughing, she smoothed the collar of his pajamas, "You're just too sexy in flannel. I had to drive all the way across town just to be here."
Eric fell back on his pillow. "Lie down and let's snooze a little while longer. I'm still sleepy." He pulled her towards his chest and Jackie just snuggled up against his side. He was deliciously warm and she was still sleepy too. "I'm not sleeping with you, I'm merely napping."
Eric closed his eyes, "Tomato – tom-a-toe, call it what you want my dear…you're in my bed so good night."
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Jackie was wearing a beautiful gold gown and sitting on the endcap of a Price Mart display. Cotton balls were glued to poster board to create the illusion of clouds. Her little throne was surrounded by golden cherubs that were hung from the ceiling and danced around her head. She was holding a sign that said, "Free turkey to every 500th customer." Eric was showing his boss the beautiful holiday display as a big blue first place ribbon was pinned to his jacket.
Jackie carefully climbed down from the display and held the hem of her dress aside as she jumped into Eric's arms. "I love a winner." She said before kissing his lips. She was a light as a cloud in his embrace and she smelled so damn good!
A loud crash of thunder woke Eric from his dream. Startled, Jackie jumped and grabbed his arm. "Was that it?" she whispered. "Is it the lightning storm?"
Eric looked at the clock only to find the power had gone out. He reached an arm across the dresser for his watch. It was barely nine in the morning. How long had the power been out? "No," he replied in a low voice. "I think it's just thunder. The electricity is out."
Jackie rose up on her elbow. "Wait, is your dad going to freak out that I'm in your room?"
Eric grinned, "Nope. I'm an adult and if I want to have a girl in my bed…she better watch out for my mom." Eric made a claw with his hand and pretended to go in for a tickle and she squealed with laughter. "Don't even tickle me." She warned still laughing. Before he could react, she rolled out of his bed and straightened her clothes.
"Now I'm presentable." Jackie declared. Eric swung his legs out of bed and he walked over to wear she stood looking so adorable. He pushed her hair out of her face and softly kissed her mouth. The fire was there. She resisted the kiss for all of two seconds before giving in and giving back. He missed this. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her body was pressing against him in the most delightful kind of way.
He laughed, "Now, I'm not presentable." Jackie could feel him pressing against her hip and she smiled. "Forman, control yourself! You could put an eye out with that thing!" Jackie laughed. "I'm going downstairs to wait for you properly."
"Or you can take a shower with me…." He winked.
"You're such a pig." She laughed. "Get cleaned up and I'll meet you downstairs." Eric laughed as she walked out of his bedroom.
Eric
Are you still with me?
Jackie
I'm here
Eric
We haven't lost it then
Jackie
Correction….we haven't lost it yet.
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Jackie started some water boiling. The electric percolator was not functional, but she could use the metal basket to manually brew some coffee for the Forman's. While she was doing that, she threw some bacon on a skillet and scrambled up some eggs. It was a great way to kill time until Eric got dressed.
Red yawned as he stepped into the kitchen and stopped dead in his tracks. "Jackie? What are you doing here and is that breakfast? I love you!" Red grabbed coffee mug and kissed Jackie on the top of her head.
"What brings you over so early in the morning?" He asked before sipping his brew. Pretty good for an amateur!
Kitty opened the door, "I don't ever remember sleeping that late! What happened to the electricity?"
Jackie smiled and flipped the bacon. "Power's out because of the storm." Kitty grabbed a coffee cup, "Oh honey, how sweet of you to make coffee. Just like the pioneers! Ahahahaha."
Red nodded towards the stove. "She's making breakfast too."
Kitty smiled, "Are you here to see Steven? I don't think he's up yet."
"No, Eric and I have some stuff to do today – I need his help."
The man of the moment walked through the kitchen doors, "Awesome, breakfast!"
Kitty laughed, "Jackie's cooking for us."
"Oh." Eric wasn't so hungry anymore. Jackie glared at him, "You will eat my cooking or you'll be singing country songs!" Eric remembered her special persuasion and his weakness in that realm and quickly changed his tune. "I would sure love some bacon!"
Jackie smiled. Men were so easy!
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A large tarp covered the front porch and Jackie placed two folding chairs on top. The meager roof would provide some protection from the rain but Eric found a huge umbrella in the garage that would work better if it started pouring again.
Jackie unrolled two sleeping bags and set them in the chair – it was going to be a cold day. Eric brought out a thermos filled with hot chocolate and some cookies. He zipped Jackie into the sleeping bag and climbed in his own. "Are you ready for this?"
She looked over at him. "Yes. We have to recreate everything about that night with the exception of the eclipse and the Star Wars tape."
"Well, Kelso and Fez locked you out of the house but I don't think that had anything to do with The Event except leave you standing on the front step. What do you remember next?"
Jackie closed her eyes and remembered see a bolt of lightning strike a tree and then the oval sphere that danced on the lawn across the street. "You grabbed my arm when the ball of lightning started coming this way. Everything got real quiet and then it exploded."
Eric remembered Obi-Wan saying, "The Force will be with you, always." He certainly hoped it was still true! Right after the ball of light exploded, a bolt of lightning struck the side of the house and they both passed out.
"When the lightning starts, we have to be touching." Jackie explained. Eric waggled his eyebrows. "I don't see a problem there."
She laughed, "Get your mind out of the gutter."
Eric reached over and snagged her hand. "Let's hope this storm blows over quickly or we're going to be popsicles out here!"
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The rain was pouring heavy now and the umbrella was holding strong. The dark clouds were rumbling with thunder but there was no lightning yet. Kitty didn't understand what the two of them were doing but she saw a purpose in their eyes as she replaced the empty thermos with a fresh batch of cocoa.
"We got the electricity back honey. You can come in anytime now."
"Thanks mom but we're still waiting." Eric replied. Kitty shrugged and went back into the house muttering something about crazy kids. Jackie looked over at Eric, "Do you think we're wasting out time? I mean it doesn't necessarily have to be this storm that does it. It could be any one at any time."
Eric squeezed her fingers, "The mere fact that this one has you worried is reason enough to sit and wait."
Sometime later, the front door opened up and Kelso stuck his head out. "Hey guys, Red wants to know how much longer you dumbasses are going to be camping on the porch. Hey...AWESOME! Look at that UFO!"
Jackie and Eric looked in the direction Kelso was pointing when the sky opened up and a bolt of lightning cracked through the clouds and struck the asphalt between the Forman and Anderson's home. Jackie shrieked and jumped into Eric's chair while Eric shouted for Kelso to get back in the house. The door slammed shut and the flashing ball of light bounced around in the air. Jackie made a life changing decision. She grabbed Eric by the face and said, "I love you and no matter what happens, I would give this up for you."
She kissed him. While the clouds rumbled and shook the ground around them, Eric could feel the kiss with every fiber of his being. A second lightning strike hit the white picket fence around Red's front yard and still Jackie kissed him. Her fingers were in his hair and her lips felt so good.
Eric was aware of the ball lightning exploding above their heads and he didn't feel the pain this time – just the soft lips of the woman who loved him. The rain fell in torrents as he and Jackie slid onto the tarp just holding each other tightly while the sky lit up the clouds like fireworks.
They promptly passed out.
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