Author Note: Gosh the ending is coming so soon…. A fluffy little chapter that made my heart go..aww…..

Chapter 20 – Surprises and Housewarmings

The first week was spent arranging furniture and making the house look like a home. Jackie's leather furniture complemented the new window treatments and a careful arrangement of sofa and loveseat actually enabled Eric to move around the living room without the crutches. He loved the recliner for the times he had to elevate his leg.

Now that the upstairs had beds and blinds, Fez and the Kelso's were invited for an official housewarming party. Eric was proud of the fact that his friends could actually spend the night in his home.

The new downstairs guest room was like a showcase. Eric's old television was hidden in an armoire and a refurnished dresser from the old upstairs master bedroom now graced the new room. Pictures of Red and Kitty Forman from younger days were placed in antique frames and artfully decorated the wall behind the bed. The building contractor installed a new wood burning stove and Jackie added a couple of rocking chairs and a lamp for reading on a cold winter night. It looked like this room had been waiting for someone to sleep there.

Eric loved his new master bedroom. All the little Jackie touches that made him happy were apparent everywhere in the room. Soft pillows and sachets of intoxicating scents were scattered in the closet. Fat candles of lavender and vanilla lined the top of the dresser. A nice stereo was installed with speakers near the ceiling and the bed was so much for comfortable than the rental.

The only thing in the house that didn't change was the basement. Jackie was nearing the end of her hair conditioner experiment and didn't want to jinx the formula until it was completed. She loved what they had done to the house and even though it was just the two of them, the house no longer felt empty.

*

Eric was paying bills in the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. He looked up to see his friend Greg at the patio. He waved at Greg to come in. Greg was grinning happily as he sat down. "Hey buddy, I got some good news."

Jackie came up from the basement with a basket of clean clothes. "Hi Greg!" She stopped and gave Eric an overly dramatic kiss just for Greg's benefit and waltzed through the living room doors.

"Dude, are you…"

Eric smiled smugly. "Yes I am."

"Damn. This is your lucky day" Greg slid an envelope towards Eric. Puzzled, Eric looked at it, the address seemed vaguely familiar. Greg was beaming, "It's a settlement from the insurance company. I got a brand new car and some cash for my pain and suffering.'

Eric was curious. He slid a finger along the flap and opened the envelope to find a fat check that made his eyes bulge. He was speechless. This would replenish his savings and then some!

"The other driver's insurance company got copies of the accident report and some sad pictures of your injuries and the fact that you still can't walk. The jury demanded repayment of all your hospital expenses and that nice little compensation for your pain and suffering." Something was different; Greg couldn't put his finger on it. "What happened here Eric?"

Eric looked up from the check, 'What?"

Greg looked around. "Something's changed. What happened during the summer?"

"Oh, you mean the house! I decided not to sell it so Jackie and I fixed it up and man, I nearly depleted my savings, but it came out great. Care for the tour?"

Greg admired the kitchen. "Well, first off, I love that you got rid of the ugly wallpaper."

Jackie came back in the kitchen for a drink. "Amen brother!" She laughed. "Are you giving the tour?"

"Yeah, he's been here at the 'before' stage, so I want to see him fall down at the 'after' stage." Eric quipped. Greg followed Jackie through the doors and he was surprised that just a few changes made such a difference in the old Forman house. "Dude, you could sell this for maybe three times the market value."

"Nah, my folks gave it to me and I'm gonna keep it in the family. Check out the dinning room."

Greg walked through a set of double doors that had never been there before and was astounded at the size of the guest bedroom. 'Man, this is bigger than my apartment!"

Eric smiled. "Check out the upstairs." Greg approved of the hardwood floors and glossed wood of the landing at the top of the stairs. He hollered down, "Eric, if you ever want a roommate - call me!"

Eric looked at Jackie. "He's kidding of course. Eric handed her the envelope. She took it with a puzzled look on her face. "It's from the insurance company."

She gulped; this was a very large amount of money! They spent nearly all of Eric's savings to fix the house and with this check he could get a new car and still have a lot of money left to replenish his bank account. Eric couldn't stop smiling.

Greg skipped down the stairs. "Man, this is sweet. So when are the two of you getting married?"

Eric looked at Jackie who looked back at Eric, they felt married already. "Soon," Eric said weakly, hoping Jackie didn't kick him. Greg smiled, "Well congratulations, you guys have it really going on. I'll see you next month when school starts."

Greg gave the pair a hug and let himself out the door.

*

Jackie sat on the stair step. Marriage never crossed her mind. She and Eric moved together so well and their relationship grew from friendship into something she had been looking for all of her life.

Eric watched all the expressions shifting over her face. Was he being an idiot by telling Greg that he was going to marry Jackie when he never asked her? Yeah, that was a dumbass move if he ever had one.

"Um, Eric, I need to take care of something in the basement. I'll see you at dinner okay?" She fled the room before he could say anything. Eric sighed and went to sit in the recliner, flipping on the TV as he elevated his leg.

There wasn't really anything on so he just kept flipping channels until he saw a face he was very familiar with.

She was a couple years younger but the smile and twinkling eyes were right there on the screen demonstrating her Fancy and Free shampoo. Eric didn't need the volume turned on, he watched with rapt attention to every move she made and how her hands, he loved those hands, slid through the models hair like it was silken.

This was what Nancy saw when she wanted Jackie's autograph. His mom saw this and wanted shampoo samples. Eric realized he never really knew what Jackie did and the enormity of her success hit him like a brick. Her shampoo creation could possibly go national. That was why Fez was so successful and Jackie could have all this free time to create a conditioner.

Still, he did want to marry her. He just needed to ask the right way and keep her in this house she built with him. She was a Forman; she just didn't know it yet!

*

"Aiiy! I'm here already, what was the rush?" Fez complained loudly. Eric gave his brown friend a hug. "It's not for the party, you have to wait for that, but I need you to help me with a surprise for Jackie."

Fez looked suspicious. "Why, so she can slap me again? No." Eric only grinned. "Fez, I want to propose to her and I need your help picking out the ring."

Fez nearly squealed like a woman. "Oh Eric, that is exciting! I know all of the jewelry my goddess loves." Eric was counting on that. "So you'll give me a ride into town?"

Fez grinned. "Let me get the van keys so it will be easier. Where's Jackie?"

"She's working in the basement. But don't tell her okay?"

"Aiiy, don't worry, I'll tell her that we're going to… um…going to…"

"Look at new cars. When my cast comes off I need to get a car."

Fez looked at Eric, "You're really getting a new car?"

Eric smiled. "Yeah, maybe I'll get that BMW." He teased. Fez punched him in the shoulder. "Don't you dare get my sexy car!"

*

Jackie didn't want to think about her non-marriage existence. She was nearly finished with the formula for the conditioner. In between the renovation work, she would slip down here and combine her ingredients and found that mint oil was the missing ingredient. She dipped a balsa stick into the mix and spread it on her paper and smelled it. Coconut, mangoes, apricot and mint scented the paper and it smelled wonderful. She wet the tresses of her human hair wig and applied the oils and rinsed. She grinned…this was it!"

"Jackie are you down here? It's Fezzie! I need to borrow your van!"

Jackie turned around. "Fez I think I did it! Come here." Fez walked over to the rectangular table she had set up and examined the wig hair and smelled it. "Nice." He said appreciatively. "What was your last ingredient?" She picked up the beaker. "Just a touch of mint oil."

Fez touched the tresses again. "I think you're right. Jackie you may be going on tour again!"

The pair of them started squealing and laughing and jumping up and down. Fez was singing how he was going to be a rich man and Jackie was just glad that she had created the conditioner.

Fez's eye was caught by a large piece of construction board. "What's this?"

Jackie looked up. "Oh, I call that The Recovery Board. I took a bunch of pictures of Eric the first week he was out of the hospital and then every other day." She pointed to the long cast on his leg and the sling across his chest. Fez remembered all the stitches and big purple bruises. As he went picture to picture, he could see the subtle changes as Eric healed and the happiness that started to show in his eyes.

"Has Eric seen this?"

Jackie blushed. "No, he can't make the basement steps yet and this is something I did for me. I wanted to prove I could heal him and if you look at him now, you would never remember this poor sad guy in the top left picture."

"Wow Jackie. You could call our conditioner, Recovery. I mean you started it here in the old basement and our boy upstairs is nearly recovered…"

Jackie gasped. "That's perfect! If someone only uses the conditioner, it will take care of whatever nasty shampoo they use. But if you put the shampoo and conditioner together…."

Fez's eyes got big. "We'll be millionaires!" Jackie swatted him. "No, we can sell the line to a big corporation and get money for the rest of our lives! I've been thinking about a skin care regimen. Actually, I've been using it and some aloe on Eric's scars."

"What scars?" Fez asked.

Jackie squealed again. "I Know!!!!"

Fez finally remembered why he was in the basement. "Your keys please." She pulled the keys out of her pocket. "Why do you need the van?"

"Oh, Eric is looking for a car. He goes back to work in a few weeks and wants to see what's out there." Fez hoped that was a good lie.

"Okay – make sure he doesn't pick a stick shift, it's gonna be six months before he can really put weight on that leg and he needs to be careful."

"Yes goddess…I know that stuff. Go back to work and make me rich!"

*

"You are sure. Absolutely positively sure this is the one?" Eric didn't care about the price; he just wanted to make sure it was the right ring." Fez was getting impatient.

"Do you want to match the belly ring or what?"

Eric blushed. "Um, well, not necessarily."

"Good, because I told her to change it up to a diamond if she starts wearing low cut jeans this winter. It's flashier."

A diamond piercing on her belly? How sexy as that! Eric got that kick in the gut feeling again. He picked up the princess cut stone and looked at the setting, it was nice and it would look good on her finger. Eric held out the ring to the jeweler. "I'll take it."

Fez still wanted to look at new cars. With the conclusion of Jackie finishing her formula, Fez could change cars when that first check came in. Eric sat in many cars and although he couldn't really drive just yet, he decided he liked the new 1994 Ford Explorer SUV. It was like a truck and a car and the anti-lock brakes and safety features really appealed to him.

He put a nice down payment on the car and told the salesman he would be back later to pick it up. By the time he and Fez got done, Eric realized he just spent a years worth of his salary and he felt great!

*

It was over dinner that Eric told Jackie about his latest purchase. He slid a brochure of the car towards her plate. "This is nice Eric. You told me you used to drive a Honda, but I can totally see you driving this. When do you pick it up?"

He grinned. "I can't drive it yet, but I think I'll have Kelso pick it up for me this weekend."

Jackie looked skeptical. "Are you sure you want Michael driving your brand new car?"

Eric gulped. "Oh, maybe Brooke could drive it for me."

Jackie smiled. "Now, you're thinking smart – oh, hey, I have some good news too!" Jackie explained how she finished her conditioner and drove it to the lab in Fez's VW and the technicians were going to start their testing immediately.

"If I pass all the tests, then by next month, I can start my home shopping tours again!"

Eric knew what this meant to her, she had been working so hard in addition to helping him in his handicapped state. "I'm very proud of you. You are like the miracle worker."

She blushed. "It's all in the name of beauty. Now if I can only cure Marge's blue hair." She laughed. "Oh! It's MacGyver night! No fair doing it on the couch again. We have to watch tonight!"

Eric laughed. "Yes ma'am. Oh, I decided to get a dishwasher after all." Jackie clapped. "Good, cuz I've had this fantasy about kissing you in the bathtub…we need to do something about that cast…."

Eric smiled. His life was finally coming together.

*

Brooke was carrying a large palm tree, followed by teenage Betsy Kelso who looked like she was doomed for life. Kelso dropped their overnight bags on the floor. "Jackie, this does not look like the same kitchen! It's gorgeous! Betsy plopped down at the table. 'Hi Aunt Jackie."

Jackie smiled at the sullen teen. "Hello my sweetie. I have some surprises for you in the basement." The slim chestnut head popped up with a smile, "Really?"

Jackie nodded. "After I show your mom and dad around, I'll take you down okay?"

Eric came into the kitchen when he heard the car drive up. Kelso was ecstatic to see his friend looking almost normal. "Dude, you're in a walking cast! AWESOME! Can I have your old wheelchair? I have this idea about rocket boosters and the chair."

Eric laughed. "No, But I do like the way you think! Come in." Jackie took the tree as the Kelso's followed Eric into the living room. Brooke loved it immediately. "This is gorgeous! Look at all the light and the floors are stunning."

Kelso jumped over the sofa to land on the soft leather. "Hey, wasn't this from Jackie's apartment?" Jackie smiled. "Yes it was."

Brooke looked at her. "You guys moved in together!"

Kelso gave Eric a high-five. "Dude! I'm taking this little wooly rug home with me - just wanted to give you a heads up." Brooke liked the lambskin run under the coffee table. The setting was cozy and leant towards conversation or some good television watching. Jackie set the palm in front of the window for some light.

"Come see the new bedroom." Jackie opened the double doors." Kelso's jaw dropped. "I remember eating turkey in here with your parents but it didn't look like this! Hey, look at this picture, Red has hair! He had red hair. Wow, I didn't know that. Man, your dad is old!"

Brooke laughed and opened the armoire surprised to see the TV and amazed at the closet space. "Jackie, this is like those rooms at a Bed and Breakfast. The stove in the corner is perfect."

Eric grinned. "Well, you guys get to be the first guests to sleep over." Jackie smiled, "The bathroom is through that door."

Eric hobbled his way upstairs to continue the tour while Jackie took Betsy to the basement.

The old cracked yellow couch was still there but pushed in a corner with the small television hooked up to a Nintendo console. Betsy got excited. '"That's for me?" she asked? Jackie looked at the miniature version of Brooke. "Yes sweetie. When I was just a little older than you, I used to hang out down here. It always felt safe and I loved it. The old people stayed upstairs and I could just watch TV or eat Mrs. Forman's popsicles."

"Oh, so while you old people are upstairs, I'll be down here playing video games." Betsy laughed. Jackie tickled her god-daughter. "Are you calling me old?" Betsy laughed, "Well, yeah…cuz it's true!"

Jackie smiled. "Wow, I did get old didn't I? That doesn't matter; I have something else for you." Jackie pulled a plastic box from a shelf and put it on the old wooden spool that was used as a table. "This is for you. All the colors are brand news so you can paint your toes one different color than your fingers."

"Wow, it's a beauty kit!" Betsy was awed. "Mine?"

"Yours sweetie. Oh, and Uncle Fez will be by later to French braid your hair." Jackie started to get up but Betsy held her hand. "Aunt Jackie can I talk to you?"

"Sure Bets. What's on your mind?"

Betsy got shy, "There's this boy I like that dad hates." Jackie sat back on the sofa. "Why do you think he hates him?"

"Because I let him kiss me." Betsy confessed. Jackie's eyes got big – Betsy Kelso was that old already? "Well honey, do you like him because your dad hates him or because you think he's nice?"

"Well, sometimes he can be real nice but mostly because dad hates him."

Jackie laughed at the thought of a younger version of Michael Kelso out there in the world putting the moves on Betsy Kelso. "Honey, can I tell you something that you probably won't understand for a couple of years?"

"Sure. You say stuff so much better than mom."

"Betsy, you are going to fall in love about six more times than you know, but while you think you are in love with this guy, ask yourself, does he love me just as much? Do I love him because I need him or do I need him because I love him?"

Betsy pondered that and with a clarity Jackie didn't know she possessed she whispered, "I need Eric because I love him…."

Jackie stood up, "Oh honey, I glad I talked to you! Stay down here as long as you like and I have a bedroom upstairs for tonight okay? Snacks are in the fridge and have fun!"

Jackie ran up the stairs as fast as she could. She needed to find Mr. Right here in the house. Not in the kitchen, she looked in the living room and they were watching a movie. Jackie waved frantically to Eric.

"Excuse me guys, I'm needed in the kitchen." Eric used the couch and love seat to get to the kitchen door. Jackie ambushed him with a kiss. "Whoa, I was just in the next room. If you want, I can come back in and we can do this again…"

"You idiot." She laughed. "I love you. It just hit me like a rock in the head and if I didn't tell you before, I'm telling you now. I just think that we are perfectly suited for each other and if I couldn't see you ever again, I would want you to know today just how much I love you Eric Forman."

Eric blinked and felt the air whoosh out of his lungs. "I can't believe you said it before I had a chance. Jackie, I've been carrying this thing around for a couple of days waiting for the right moment." Eric reached into his front pocket and pulled out the most exquisite diamond Jackie had ever seen.

"I can't get on one knee for you but I would be so honored if you would marry me… one day."

A big fat tear fell from her eye as he slid the perfect diamond ring on her finger. "I would love to be your wife. I don't need a ring for that; I just needed for you to ask me."

"Oh, then I can take this back cuz it cost a fortune!" He teased. Jackie swatted him but laughed tearfully. "It's mine now and one day soon… you'll be my husband." She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him closer, on her tip topes and hugged him tight. She was afraid that if she said anything else she would start crying again.

Eric closed his eyes as he felt her hot happy tears on his neck. He never felt so relieved and scared in his life. What if she said no? But she didn't and being in love with Jackie was so easy and he felt exposed in a good way. She loved him and life didn't get much better than this!

Kelso came through the doors and groaned, "Ah, are you too at it again?" Jackie wiped her eyes. "Michael, Eric proposed to me." She held out her ring so he could see.

"Dude! You are totally AWESOME! Wait, now I have to get Brooke a bigger ring! You jerk!" Brooke heard the commotion and nearly knocked Kelso over as she pushed the door open. "What happened?"

Jackie showed her the ring and the girls were squealing and Eric smiled. Fez already knew – this was going to be a great evening.

*