Author Note: All fluffy goodness and yummy stuff….

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Chapter 21 – Christmas Gifts

"Really, when you start thinking about your future, I hope I'm still in it."

"You already are."

Jackie looked up at him with those beautiful eyes, still moist but unwavering and he felt his body start to shiver in anticipation. Eric needed to kiss her and her pink lips looked so wonderful. He slowly brushed his lips on hers and he could feel her tremble – this was like their first real kiss. The one he wanted where there was no competition or games…just a kiss that spoke volumes.

He pulled away to look at her face, her eyes fluttered open and she lifted her eyes to his, her hand reaching up to hold his face and she kissed him back. It wasn't a tongue kiss or something blatantly bold but sweet and endearing and Eric could feel his heart melting. This moment in the cold winter chill of Christmas marked a turning point in how he felt about Jackie. He was falling in love.

Kitty opened the sliding doors. "Okay you two…I have presents!" Then she saw that she had just caught them in an intimate moment. Her heart swelled – how adorable! "Now come in out of the cold!"

Eric could feel his face get hot at getting caught by his mom. Jackie blushed and squeezed his hand. "Oops - busted!"

"Yep. My mom has this uncanny sense of timing." Eric looked at his mother smiling through the glass door. He waved and smiled back. "Shall we?"

"Oh, I have gifts in the car. Help me get them?" Eric smiled, "There's nothing I'd like better."

*

Kitty handed out five boxes – all the same size to Red, Hyde, Eric, Steven and Fez. Her eyes were bright with excitement and she was just bubbling. "This is a gift I made with my own hands and I want all of you to open it at the same time."

Red looked at his wife like she was off her rocker. But then he also knew if he didn't play along, he would pay later.

"On… three. One. Two. Three!" Kitty sat on the couch and watched as the boys opened their gift. Eric opened the silver box and pulled out – a belt. A homemade beaded belt.

"Hey look…Mom made me a belt." He said wryly.

Red held his beaded belt like it was a snake. "Gee Kitty. This is swell." Kitty clapped her hands. "Ahahahaha. I know! I put your Indian names on it."

Fez looked at his. "What is Wilu?" Miss Susie started laughing and Bear explained. "Wilu means chicken hawk squawking."

Red started to chuckle. His belt had CHIEF beaded into it. He would never wear it in public, but he appreciated the thought and effort Kitty had put into his. Hyde didn't want to know what his Indian name was but thanked Kitty for the belt.

Jackie handed a box to Fez and waited for him to open it. He could smell it before the ribbon was off. He grinned and tore the paper. "A gingerbread house! Oh, all the candy. Oh Jackie, this is the best present ever. I can look at it or eat it. I choose to eat it!"

Jackie handed a present to Kitty and Red. Kitty smiled, "Sweetie, you didn't have to bring a present." Red smirked, "Yes she did." He tore off the wrapper to find a new leather wallet.

"Now this is a nice gift." He smiled. He opened the wallet to find two gift certificates tucked inside. He leaned over and showed Kitty. She gasped, "Longhorn Larry's? Oh my!"

Kitty tore the wrapping from her gift. "An angora sweater? Oh honey…you spent too much on this. I love it!" Kitty slid her arms into the soft furry material and sighed. This was a luxury.

Jackie smiled – she was glad they liked her gifts. Eric poked her in the ribs and whispered, "Where's my present?" She turned her head and smirked, "I left it at my house. You'll have to take me home to see what it is."

He bumped her shoulder, "Is it what I think it is?"

"Probably not…but you'll like it anyways."

Eric happened to notice that Hyde chose that moment to leave the table. Was there going to be trouble brewing? Fez was busy handing out bags of assorted candies when Bear gifted the foreign boy with a new kind of candy.

"We make this on the reservation." Bear informed the brown boy. Fez looked at the odd shaped candy. He snapped off a piece of the amber colored candy and tasted it. "This is good! It smells like breakfast!"

Bear laughed. "It's made with maple syrup we get from the tree. Very sweet."

Fez grinned. "I'm eating a tree!"

Bear stood up. "Miss Kitty, Susie and I must leave but we thank you for the dinner. It was delightful."

Kitty smiled. "You are welcome and I hope you – both of you come back soon." Bear dropped a kiss on Jackie's head. "Ayesha… I will see you at work on Monday."

"Thanks Bear – tell Anna I said Merry Christmas."

Fez stood up. "Wait one minute... chicken hawk squawking?" He looked indignant. "My Indian name is that?" Jackie bit her cheek so she wouldn't start laughing.

Eric spoke up, "Fez, your name is bold. You are doing something. My name means Appears bravely. Would you like to trade?"

Fez thought about it. "Nah, chickens can hurt you with their beaks. I think I'm good with that."

*

Eric was excited. This was his first time driving the Jeep. He hurried Jackie up into the cab and waited while she buckled in. He smiled as he turned on the ignition and the engine roared to life. He also liked the fact that it was Jackie's turn to sit in the middle.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" She asked skeptically. Eric smirked, "Don't you trust me?"

She grinned, "I don't know if you're going to try and repay me for the pothole ride over."

Eric shifted into reverse, his hand hovering near her thigh. She caught her breath and thought that was a pretty sexy maneuver too! Eric looked at his hand and the proximity it was to her leg. "I'm just going to enjoy the trip." He smiled.

The car reversed out of the Forman's driveway and went over the curb narrowly missing the mailbox. Eric shifted into neutral and said, "I meant to do that." Jackie giggled. He shifted into first and started the first leg of the short ride to Jackie's condo.

After he shifted into second, Eric patted her knee and left his hand where it was. The warmth of his fingers spread delicious shivers through her and she missed it when he shifted into third. The ride wasn't nearly as bumpy as Jackie made it out to be and soon they were rolling into her garage.

Eric took her hand and helped her slide out of the driver's side door. "I think I like the Jeep more than your Mustang." He confessed. She grinned, "I guess it's my turn to drive your Honda." She unlocked the kitchen door and was glad she left the heater turned on.

Eric followed her in and shrugged out of his coat. "Did you know my mom was making belts for Christmas?"

"Nope, but it was thoughtful of her to go through all the trouble to do it. I had a very nice time with the exception of one dumbass." She dropped her keys on the kitchen counter and picked up some gifts from the dining table.

"These are for you." She sat on the sofa and patted the cushion next to her. Eric smiled he hadn't really expected a gift much less a couple. They were relatively light and didn't rattle when he shook them.

Jackie admitted, "I didn't know what to get you but I figured you could always use them."

Eric opened the larger box and was surprised to find pillows stuffed inside. Jackie smiled, "They're feather pillows - nice and soft and very comfortable." He smiled warily. Who gives pillows as a gift? Eric opened the next box to find a couple pair of pants, some new tee shirts and some boxers.

"What, you don't like the way I dress?" he pretended to be insulted. Jackie didn't fall for his ploy. "No, those are for when you spend the night here." Eric blinked. Did she say what he thought she said? "Excuse me?"

She suddenly felt shy again. Where did aggressive Bartender Jackie go? "Well…I thought that if you were going to…hang out with me….maybe spending the night…then you would have something to wear. I mean you looked totally ridiculous in Michael's sweatpants and Fez's tee-shirt."

Eric smiled softly. "Is that an invitation?" Jackie looked flustered. "It could be. I mean when I have the group over…you don't have…you wouldn't…" Eric lifted his hands to frame her face and dip his fingers into her hair. Her words were swallowed in the light kiss he pressed to her mouth. He looked at her colored eyes for some kind of sign that she wanted another kiss just as much as he did.

She slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him down onto the couch wanting the kiss to last as long as possible. The pillows and clothes tumbled to the floor as Eric stretched out beside her on the sofa. All of the butterflies and trembling hands came back when he stroked her jaw. She felt like those green eyes were staring into her soul and when he whispered something into her hair the huskiness of his voice sent shivers down her spine.

Eric knew this night could end badly if he didn't stop now. She was right, they weren't ready yet but they were on their way to ready. He planted a smacking kiss that ended with a pop! "I have to go home…For both our sakes." He said as he pulled her back up.

"Thank you?" Jackie didn't know what to say – her head was still dizzy and she knew she was terribly infatuated with Eric at that moment. She wanted him to stay and keep kissing her like that all night long but she regretted that he was right. He did need to go home…it was too soon for the next step. She appreciated that he respected her that much.

Eric rubbed her arms. "Thank you for the gifts." She looked up totally forgetting why he was here. "Walk me to the door?"

She nodded and unbolted the front door. There were three cars blocking him in. Jackie walked out to see which neighbor was having a party and all lights were out. It seemed as if everyone had called it a night.

Eric shrugged. "Maybe tonight would be a good night to test out those pillows in the guest room…."

Jackie smiled. He was so freaking sweet! "I guess it couldn't hurt. You might have a better opinion of my guest bed this time."

Eric wrapped an arm around her shivering shoulders. "Let's crank that thermostat up high tonight okay?" She smiled, "I'll even show you how to work it."

*

Eric rolled over and looked at the clock. It was almost 1:30 in the morning and he couldn't go to sleep. The pillows were perfect; the boxers fit like a glove…the house was quiet… but his mind kept replaying that perfect kiss on his parent's patio. It was just a soft sweet kiss and he could feel like she had his heart in her hands. The feeling was new to him – to so willingly give his heart and not expect anything in return.

"Jackie, scoot over." He whispered. She brushed the hair out of her mouth, "Eric? Is everything okay?" He slid into the warm covers with her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "It's okay now. I couldn't sleep."

She yawned and snuggled into his chest. Within minutes she was fast asleep again. Eric closed his eyes – this felt right. He didn't need anything but this feeling of closeness. It just felt good to hold her in his arms and lie in her big bed. He fell asleep with the warmth of her body molding next to his.

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