Chapter 25: Red's Birthday
With the month of December creeping up over the next week some changes started to occur for each member of the gang. While Eric and Jackie's relationship continued to blossom a new relationship started to take its form in Fez and Caroline. As each day passed the gang watched from afar as Fez and Caroline's bond got stronger. That it was getting so strong that they both had managed on the same day to get jobs together at a local dmv. Something that in the coming years each other member of the gang would soon thank their lucky stars for. But that was not the only relationship that started at the end of November.
As November ended the gang watched as Kelso raced down into the basement before announcing some bad news to everyone. That not only that did his older brother Casey Kelso returned home from his duty in the army but that he was now already in a relationship with a former member of the gang. Within minutes of hearing this new information each member of the gang snapped out of their shocked state when they came to the realization that they shouldn't care. That they weren't friends with Donna anymore anyways so why should they care about her love life. Besides that after what Donna told them a few months ago each had it in their minds that Donna was just using Casey. That she was going to just use him to get whatever she wanted before dumping and throwing him to the side.
Now with the month of December beginning a special day had arrived for someone special to the gang. Someone who everyone in the group looked up to as a second father figure. But on this given day things didn't start off the way everyone in the Forman residence expected. Instead of having a nice planned breakfast in bed like everyone had hoped to do instead a piece of the Forman residence caved in over the bedroom of the Forman parents.
After hearing what had happened with a quick trip over towards the local lumber to pick up some plywood to fix the damages Eric and Jackie find themselves sitting patiently in the living room with the rest of the gang for Red to emerge from upstairs.
" Okay everyone i want Red to enjoy his birthday so please no funny business today. Please try to be on your best behaviour today. Okay?"
Everyone in the room looks towards Kitty before in unison says.
" Yes Mrs Forman."
" I don't know if i can promise about the no funny business part today Mrs Forman. Aww!"
Everyone lets out a small laugh after they see Brooke elbow Kelso in in the ribs. Hearing the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs everyone turns their attention towards the stairs where they see Red slowly making his way towards the couch.
" Oh look it's the birthday boy!"
Everyone lets out a small cheer and start clapping their hands as Red takes a seat on the couch next to Eric and Jackie.
" Okay birthday boy start opening up your presents!"
Looking over towards the living room table seeing three boxes one very long which he deems to be plywood and the other two to be clothing Red glances around over towards everyone in the room. Feeling a nudge on his shoulder Red turns to see Eric whispering over towards him.
" I wonder what's in the big one."
" Hm is it a corvette?"
Turning his attention towards the long box Red grabs a hold of the wrapping before tugging his hand back revealing plywood underneath.
" Nooo it's 2 by 4."
" For the roof!"
" Oh yeah. Thanks for reminding me."
After a few seconds of staring at the plywood Red starts to glance around the room when he hears everyone letting out a small laugh.
" What?"
" Dad did you really think that plywood was your birthday present?"
With a smile on her face Jackie wraps her arms around Eric as she gives Red a nod.
" Yeah Mr Forman. All of us wanted to get you something really special this year for everything you have done for us over the years. Your real birthday present is outside."
Getting up off of the couch Red follows after everyone outside of the house before his eyes go wide when he sees a large object outside in the driveway covered up with tarp. Looking around seeing nothing but smiles on everyone's faces Red moves over towards the object seeing a red bow on top with a card attached saying happy birthday Red. Taking a glance over his shoulder Red sees Eric nodding over towards the object.
" Go ahead sir open it!"
Grabbing a hold of the tarp Red flips it over to the side before a smile slowly appears on his face at what he sees. Standing before him on its kickstand is a black motorcycle with green and yellow stripes going down the side. As he circles around the motorcycle with amazement out of the corner of his eye Red sees Eric wrapping an arm around Jackie's shoulders.
" Happy Birthday dad. The gang and I each pitched in. We were gonna do a custom paint job for you but we thought it would be best for you to decide what you wanted your bike to look like instead."
With a smile Red looks over giving Eric and Jackie a nod before reaching down towards the motorcycle's mirror. As he rubs the mirror to see his reflection Red hears everyone letting out a small laugh.
" Okay everyone! That's enough excitement for now! It's time to get the birthday boy some breakfast!"
Reaching over Kitty wraps her arms around Red before slowly leading him inside of the house with each of the kids following after them.
With the help of the rest of the girls in the gang after a couple of minutes of working together as a team breakfast was served out to everyone. As the girls made breakfast having a good time that was when everyone else lead back into the living room to unwrap the rest of his presents. What Red found in each of his other two presents made a smile come to his face. First a new black motorcycle helmet was revealed in the first package before Red opened up his last present to find a new leather jacket.
After the breakfast festivities were over the gang scattered all over the town of Point Place after waiving their goodbyes to the Forman family. Within of their friends leaving Eric,Jackie,and Laurie took their leave from the Forman parents with the excuse that they needed to get to work. That Eric would drop Jackie and Laurie off at the hospital before leaving for work for a few hours.
Once they had gotten to the sliding doors Kitty called out to Eric and Jackie reminding them of the promise they had made to her just a few days ago. A promise to watch her friend Carol's baby later in the day while she and Red went out with the Pinciottis for supper. Something that Red did not want to do but agreed to anyways after being convinced to by his wife.
With a bright smile on her face Jackie told Kitty that they didn't forget their promise to her. That she was actually really excited to babysit with Eric. After being told by Kitty to be back here for 1 o'clock Eric and Jackie gave her a nod before leaving the house with Laurie following after them.
Now just mere hours later Eric and Jackie kept their promise arriving back at the house just as another car pulled into the driveway behind them. After being introduced to Carol and her baby Marissa by Kitty with a smile on her face Jackie took little Marissa in her arms before her smile widened when she watched little Marissa smile towards her as she grabbed a hold of Jackie's necklace.
For the next hour all the sounds that could be heard coming from the living room was the sounds of joy and laughter. All across the ground were baby toy one after another scattered all around with a happy Marissa laying down on the ground shaking a rattle in her hand. For the last hour a smile was seen on Eric's face from seeing the joy and happiness coming from his girlfriend as she interacted with little Marissa. With the only thoughts of Jackie will be the greatest mom ever running through his mind Eric watched silently as Jackie played with Marissa before after a few minutes joining the fun.
When they heard the older Formans calling out to them that they were leaving Eric and Jackie waved to them goodbye before Kitty and Red were off. Heck even Marissa waived over towards them with the help of Jackie which only made little Marissa squeal with joy. But after having thirty minutes of having fun that was when Eric and Jackie worse nightmare occurred. Well Eric's worse nightmare anyways of having to change a dirty diaper. Although for some reason Jackie was unfazed by this which Eric just thought of as must be a girl thing.
Watching over from over the top of Jackie's shoulder with Laurie who had just gotten in mere minutes before Eric looks on with amazement as Jackie changes Marissa's dirty diaper.
Looking on seeing Jackie removing the diaper to see what is beneath little Marissa bare bottom Laurie covers her nose trying to block out the smell.
" Oh my god! That is so disgusting!"
Glancing over her shoulder Jackie looks at Laurie before looking back down towards Marissa with a smile.
" It's not disgusting! It's perfectly naturally. What do you think huh Marissa? I bet you that Laurie just needs to take a nap like you huh."
Hearing Marissa squeal out in joy Jackie's smile widens before she carefully places the dirty diaper in a plastic bag that Eric is holding. Letting out a small laugh Jackie watches Eric quickly making his way out of the living room before she hears little Marissa giggling.
" Oh you don't have to worry little Marissa. He is just shy about these sort of things right now. In the future one day you will have a little playmate to play with."
Hearing a gasp Jackie looks over towards Laurie who has a smile on her face.
" So you are saying that one day you want to have kids with my little brother?"
" Yep. But only when we are older and are ready. There isn't anyone else that i would rather have a child with than Eric. What about you?"
" I honestly don't know. I mean babies are cute."
Walking over Laurie starts tickling little Marissa in the belly as Jackie puts a new diaper on Marissa.
" But i haven't found the right guy yet. Besides i don't know if i am ready for that kind of thing in my life."
Finishing up wrapping Marissa in a new diaper Jackie looks over towards Laurie as she reaches over towards the living room table for a bottle.
" You don't have to worry about that Laurie. There is someone out there for you. In fact i know so."
" Really? Why do you say that?"
Gently picking up Marissa from the couch Jackie cradles Marissa in her arms as she holds the bottle over towards Marissa. Seeing Marissa latch onto the nipple of the bottle Jackie looks back over towards Laurie with a smile.
" Well it is a known fact to a few people including Brooke and that lumberjack next door that i, Jackie Burkhart am a love expert. I may not be able to tell the future but i know you will find who you belong with just like the rest of us. Who knows maybe it is the last person you would expect. Could be someone right under your nose. But time will only tell."
Hearing the sound of the kitchen door opening Jackie and Laurie turn their heads to see Eric emerging back into the living room.
" Well i don't think we will ever have to worry about Bonkers coming over here anymore. Marissa sure can pack a diaper."
Jackie and Laurie let out a small laugh before Laurie heads over towards the stairs.
" Alright i'm off to take a shower."
Giving wave to his older sister as Laurie makes her way up the stairs Eric quietly sits down next to Jackie. With a smile forming on his face Eric watches Jackie slowly rock her arms with Marissa before quietly humming a little lullaby.
As she hums a small lullaby Jackie's eyes remain on Marissa until she looks to her right at Eric when she hears him let out a small chuckle.
" What?"
" Why don't you sing? You have a great singing voice. It's like listening to a angel. Marissa will love it."
With a bright smile forming on her face Jackie looks down towards Marissa before quietly singing as she continues rocking her arms back and forth.
" Golden slumbers kiss your eyes….Smiles await you when you rise….Sleep….Pretty baby….Do not cry….And I will sing a lullaby."
Seeing little Marissa's eyes starting the close Jackie gently removes the bottle from Marissa's mouth as she continues quietly singing.
" Cares you know not….Therefore sleep….While over you a watch i'll keep….Sleep….Pretty darling….Do not cry….And I will sing a lullaby."
Seeing Marissa's eyes fully closed Jackie looks over towards Eric with a bright smile before she feels him wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Quietly Jackie snuggles closer over towards Eric as she looks down towards the sleeping baby in her arms.
Looking over seeing the smile on her girlfriend's face from looking down towards Marissa sleeping peacefully in her arms Eric leans over and whispers into Jackie's ear.
" You are going to be a great mom."
With her smile widening Jackie looks over towards Eric before leaning in giving Eric a gentle kiss.
" So will you. I know you will make a great dad."
Turning back over towards Marissa with a smile Jackie leans her head down on Eric's shoulder.
" So just so we can have a head start. What names do you like? I mean future names for any kid we have."
With her smile widening Jackie glances up towards Eric.
" If it's a girl then Diana."
" Diana?"
" Yeah it's a pretty name. In mythology it also mean Moon Goddess."
" And it is Wonder Woman's real name."
With her smile widening Jackie rolls her eyes before giving Eric a nod.
" Maybe?"
" You know now things are starting to make sense. I was wondering why i was getting Wonder Woman comics in the mail with my Spider-Man and Batman comics."
With his smile widening Eric looks down to see Jackie with wide eyes.
" Don't get any funny ideas mister. I like her. She's cool. But if even think about canceling that subscription then i will make you pay. Remember i know all of your secrets. Secrets you wouldn't want anyone to ever find out about."
" Why would i want to do that? You are the coolest girlfriend ever! Besides now that i know that you like reading comics like me that just makes you like a 100x hotter."
Pulling Jackie even closer to himself with a smile Eric leans his head against hers.
" And if it's a boy?"
" If it's a boy then i would want him named after his father."
Leaning his head up Eric looks down to see Jackie with a bright smile before he leans down giving her a deep kiss.
Just a few hours later Red and Kitty arrive back at the Forman residence after an interesting evening to say the least. Unaware to their knowledge when Red and Kitty waited patiently for Bob and Midge to show up both were shocked to see both Bob and Midge bring a date. Something that made the whole situation awkward for everyone at the table. Well in Red's mind he told himself that at least he got to eat a great steak for free anyways.
Moving through the kitchen when Kitty and Red were making their way silently into the living room that was when a smile came to each of their faces. Looking over towards the couch was both Eric and Jackie snuggled closed to each other sleeping with little baby Marissa sleeping peacefully in Jackie's arms. Seeing the smile on each of Eric's and Jackie's faces makes Kitty's smile widen before she looks over towards Red.
" One day they are going to make great parents."
As he nods his head Red looks over towards Kitty with a small smile.
" Yeah they will. Besides maybe my grandson of the future will be a heisman winning quarterback."
Nudging her husband in the ribs Kitty's smile widens when she feels Red wrapping his arms around her as she turns her attention back over towards the peaceful scene in the living room.
" We should wake them up. Carol will be here an minute."
" Not yet Kitty. How about we give them a few more minutes."
Slowly Red leads Kitty out of the living room back into the kitchen leaving the peaceful scene of the living room in silence.