Author Note: …..love holidays and family get togethers….this one is special…..
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Chapter 37 – You Too?
Kitty agreed to keep Eric and Jackie's baby secret. They wanted to wait until everything was coming along fine and there were no complications and at the family Easter dinner they would share the news. Jackie asked if the Kelso's and Fez could be invited to the dinner and Kitty loved the idea including Bear and Susie. Dinner for 12 and Kitty could break out the new china!
Rafe wasn't happy that his best employee couldn't work the bar anymore but he understood the health risks. "You can still do events, correct?"
Jackie sat in the office chair. "Well yes, as long as I am not around smoking or lifting anything heavy. Trust me Rafe, I didn't plan this."
Rafe waved his hand, "its okay Jackie. You've been training Amy very well and while she can't fit in your experienced shoes, I understand. When's your baby due?"
Jackie had finally got her head wrapped around the whole being pregnant thing. The nausea was easy and passed quickly and she still wasn't showing yet. "The doctor says between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I won't know until I get my next ultrasound."
"Well my dear. I hate losing you as a full time employee because frankly, you've made me a very rich man! But you are still young and have a full life ahead of you. Your boat in the marina is like a living advertisement to my club. Everyone who sees it wants to come up and have some JB." Rafe laughed. "If they only knew that 'JB' meant Jackie Burkhart."
Jackie smiled. "In a couple of weeks it's Jackie Forman. Eric and I are getting married in a civil service."
Rafe grinned. "Hey, if I ban all smoking, you could have your reception here - on the house. Limo service to the Wayside hotel… What do you think?"
Jackie laughed, "I'll have to talk to Eric. We're keeping the pregnancy thing kind of quiet."
"Well, after you get married it won't be taboo – let's plan this. I have a lot of regulars that would love to give you presents. Maggie would be mad as hell if she wasn't invited…."
Jackie caved, "Okay – I'll convince Eric and let you know. So, back to business, what's my next event?"
*
Hyde rode in with Laurie and met Bear at the patio doors. Hyde still didn't care for the Indian but was respectful and quickly entered the kitchen. He noticed that Kitty was overly excited about the holiday dinner. She just wouldn't stop smiling. "Mrs. Forman, is everything okay?"
Kitty looked at Hyde and Laurie and just hugged them; a small tear of happiness ran down her cheek. "Nothing could be better! Now get in the dining room. Fez and Susie are trying to talk and it's not going well."
Red came out of the living room. "Why did we invite the Kelso's again?" Kitty handed Red the basket of biscuits. "Because you love little Betsy and your future daughter-in-law asked us to."
"Oh. I like Betsy. She's only half a Kelso."
Jackie and Eric parked the Mustang behind Bear's truck. Eric opened her door and helped her out. "Are we good?" he asked anxiously. Jackie mussed Eric's hair. "We're good. I promise not to throw up any of your mom's dinner."
Eric smiled and tugged a lock of brown hair. "This having a baby is so…weird. I mean I know there's a little something in there." He pressed his hand to her lower abdomen and Jackie shivered from the touch and the intimacy of his fingers. "My dad is going to…wait until he sees the picture. We brought the picture right? We didn't leave it did we?"
Exasperated, Jackie exhaled. "Eric, chill out! The picture is in my purse. Do you want to hold it?"
Eric grinned. "Can I? I mean it's just a picture but that's my baby!" Jackie laughed and saw the Kelso family coming up the drive. "Quick hide it! Brooke doesn't know yet."
Kelso was smiling broadly. "Dude, after dinner I've got awesome news that's going to blow your mind." Brooke rolled her eyes. "Men! Just wait until your wedding. Eric is going to act just like that!"
Betsy was excited to see Eric and he scooped her up off the driveway and set her on his shoulders. Jackie smiled secretly - one that he'd do that with their child.
*
The dinner was delicious and everyone was groaning about how full they were. Eric loved every minute of his family being together. Laurie and Hyde were playing nice and Red was being pleasant to Fez. Kitty asked Eric to help her bring in the dessert and cautioned him not to wait too long before telling his news or she would do it for him!
Eric smiled and gave his mom a hug. "Let's do it mom."
Kitty wiped her hands on her apron and sat down holding tight to Red's hand. Red looked down and looked back to see a tear in Kitty's eyes. He whispered, "Is there something wrong?"
She whispered back. "No honey. You'll find out in a minute."
Eric stood up and tapped his butter knife to his glass trying to get everyone's attention. Once the guests had stopped eating and chatting Eric smiled. "Jackie and I have something we'd like to share with all of you."
Kelso stood up. "No, Brooke and I have something to share."
Red looked stern, "Kelso, you kettle head. Sit down and let Eric speak. Go ahead son."
Eric looked down at Jackie's smiling face. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the picture of the sonogram. "Jackie and I are pregnant." Forks fell, glasses tipped over and Red said, "Well I'll be damned." Eric was smiling like a fool and Kitty was crying happy tears.
Red reached for the picture. "I'm going to be a grandfather. How about that?" Laurie looked at Eric. "I'm going to be an Aunt!"
Kelso huffed and stood up, "Well! So are me and Brooke!" More glasses tipped over and Jackie looked at Brooke who nodded her head. "Sometime around Christmas… we didn't want to say anything too early."
Jackie smiled, "Us either. It was the night of the boat party."
Kelso grinned, "Us too! How awesome is that! Dude, we're going to have babies on the same day!"
Fez looked at the two expectant fathers. "You know, Jackie should change the name of her ship to the Love Boat. It makes babies!" Kitty was laughing and crying and went to hug Brooke and ran around to hug Jackie. "I love babies!"
Red was still looking at the picture. "I'll be dammed. I'm Grandpa Forman."
*
A small ceremony was held at City Hall with the Forman's, the Kelso's, Fez and Hyde in attendance to witness the marriage of Eric and Jackie. Rafe had arranged for three limo's to whisk the wedding party from the Point Place business district to Kenosha for the reception. There was plenty of sparkling apple juice and champagne.
Kitty was thrilled to find her champagne glass was never empty as she walked around visiting the mayor and the newscaster from channel three. Rafe introduced Red to some real poker players and Bear joined in on a high stakes game.
There was a pile of presents for the newlyweds which Kitty and Brooke surveyed carefully. "Oh my gosh…this is from Fabio!" Kitty held the box in her hand contemplating opening it but Brooke gave her a stern look. "Mrs. Forman, it's not yours." Kitty found a gift from the Governor's wife and almost fell over at the size of the fruit and cheese basket that came from the staff of the DC Trust.
Hyde commandeered the jukebox and a microphone. "Hey everyone. I'd like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Eric Forman with their first dance as husband and wife." He pressed F7 on the jukebox and Berlin's Take My Breath Away began to play.
Jackie smiled her thanks at Hyde and moved into Eric's arms as the music turned into lyrics;
Watching every motion
In my foolish lover's game
On this endless ocean
Finally lovers know no shame
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn around and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Hyde watched his ex-girlfriend dancing with the man who was like his brother and now they were going to be a family. He didn't feel jealous, but he did feel like his life was cycling. He was there when Jackie came to the group, when the Forman's took him off the street and now his weird relationship with Laurie brought him back to the family. Who knows…he could be an uncle too!
Eric was smiling as he reached forward and tucked a stray lock of Jackie's hair behind her ear and out of her face. "Do you have any idea of how ridiculously happy I am right now?"
She smiled up at her new husband. "Tell me again." He smiled and kissed her earning some ooh's and ahh's from the wedding party. "I think I need to give Fez a special present. If it wasn't for his blind date and your purple hair, I would still be in a dead end job praying for the weekend. One date with you and my world was tipped upside down."
"Oh, we hated each other." Jackie chided him softly. Eric swung her out and twirled her back. "I didn't really hate you – you were just so bossy and you know what? I needed that jolt of reality. I needed you."
She closed her eyes loving his words. "I love you too."
Watching I keep waiting
Still anticipating love
Never hesitating
To become the fated ones
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn around and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Kelso tapped Eric on the shoulder. "Best man gets to dance with the bride. You get to dance with the maid of honor. I think my prego wife is over there by the presents."
"Michael!" Jackie said swatting him on the shoulder. "Be nice, she's carrying your baby. Kelso laughed, "Yeah, my love boat baby. Jackie you should rent your boat out to couples that want to get knocked up. You'd make a ton of money!"
Jackie laughed and was quickly passed to Fez who danced with her and she ended up with her father-in-law. "Now if my dumbass son does or says anything you don't like, send him over and I'll put my boot so far up his ass he'll know my shoe size."
Jackie giggled. "Mr. Forman, Eric is a good guy. I won't have to do that."
Red smiled. "Now that has to stop. I'm not Mr. Forman any more. I'm dad. Okay?"
She smiled gently, "Okay. Dad." Jackie looked over Red's shoulder to see Eric dancing with his sister. She grinned and he looked just miserable. Jackie could hear Laurie telling her brother the conditions in which she would agree to babysit. It was a great wedding reception.
*