Author Note: No disrespect to pop rocks, REO Speedwagon or any of their music or Chicago radio stations. Again my readers have blown me away with their observations on chapter 36! DFT – your Jackie comments crack me up! zorro424 – thanks for the character analysis – you are right on the mark, ddtje70 – thanks for the elephants reminder – I've got some work to do! Sharingan no saab – Thanks for the ratings warning - – Thanks for the encouragement! Nannygirl – Wish you could've been at the party! ------- Ya'll Rock!!!

37

Monday morning was difficult. Jackie didn't get two weeks holiday like Eric did. She still had to go to work. The short drive seemed to take forever. Eric tried to make her jealous by watching her get ready from the comfort of the bed. "I think I'll sleep until noon, have lunch with the folks and then watch movies all day.

She thought about that, yeah, bite me Eric. It was back to the office where the reminders of the Christmas party still lingered. Jeremy and Linda were waiting for her. Bitchy boss lady is back – Jackie passed out the reports for the psychic hot line show the company wanted to check out. She briefly went over the premise and feigned a headache so she could escape to her office.

She closed the door and sighed. Her desk was in disarray, a Santa cap covered her telephone and rhinestone bobby pins were scattered all over the desk and floor. She set about cleaning up the mess so she could think. Jackie, you are in the Top Five Club – get professional girl! She found her huge bonus check and looked at it again – a reminder of why she needed to remain professional. She was very fortunate that Mr. Scott didn't find her and Eric in a compromising position. I guess I'll have to thank Eric for that, too! Damn!

Eric relived Friday night over and over again in his mind – it was pretty amazing to discover Eric Forman was so recklessly desired by the beautiful Jackie Burkhart. If he ever dreamed of a night like Friday, the actual event was so much better! He suspected the passion, but to experience it was a complete head trip.

Eric started thinking, what was a girl like her, doing with a guy like him? What in the world did he have to offer someone like Jackie Burkhart? She was smart, popular, lovely, sweet, wealthy and sexy – he was none of that. Okay maybe smart and she thought he was sexy but he was just a school teacher! But he was seriously attracted to her – loved her – and he had a feeling that she felt the same way even if she never said as much. Brooke had told him to romance her – the small gestures he had tried so far did work. The flowers, talking in the moonlight – Jackie loved romance – she always had.

Then Brooke brought up Donna and Hyde – what if they came back into the picture? Eric had no worries about rekindling what he had with Donna. She clearly moved on and he waited long enough for her to change her mind – she knew how to get in touch with him but she never did. Now Hyde was going to be an entirely different situation. Jackie was crushed when he chose Samantha over her and he did it so maliciously. Yet, Jackie kept going back hoping for something – anything from his half-brother, but it never came. Right then, Eric knew her pain – they clearly had that history in common.

If Hyde ever came back for Jackie….Eric needed to be there to protect her. He needed a way to keep her in his life – so what if she made 100 times the money he did – she saw something in him that kept her coming back; something that made her move him into her house. Something nobody else could give her. He had that over Steven Hyde and he had to make a plan - make a list of what he wanted from this relationship – a very Jackie-like thing to do!

*

During the afternoon Jackie called Eric to let him know she would be coming home late. She was going to the salon with Brooke and Rhonda and she would meet him when she took Rhonda home. The house felt lonely without her so Eric headed over to Fez's for some company a little early. Shortly, after he arrived Kelso had the same idea and brought a six pack.

The Fez household was still being unpacked but the guys found an empty spot to sit and consume beverages. Fez was just happy to have the companionship. "Guys, this city is so much better than Kenosha. My Big Rhonda and I didn't have many friends and the ones we had only wanted my precious candy."

Kelso grinned. "I want candy. Oooh, what if we invented a beer candy? You could have sugar and still get the buzz."

Eric looked at his silly friend. "Kelso, haven't we discussed this before?"

Fez was intrigued. "Well, I do sell bourbon balls – they are sweet and have liquor in them." Kelso burst out laughing, "Dude, you said balls!" Eric laughed at the joke but Fez was slow on the uptake. "I guess I could experiment but beer has bubbles and I don't want my candy exploding. Except for pop rocks, I love pop rocks."

Kelso tossed Eric a bag of pretzels. "Fez, what's Rhonda getting you for Christmas?"

Fez grinned, "She's getting me a new pair of leather pants that make my ass look remarkable." Kelso and Eric didn't really need all of the details. Kelso looked at his watch, "Where's the girls? It's getting late and we still gotta pick up Betsy from Grandma."

Fez offered, "My goddess said they were going to touch up the Brazilians."

The two men looked at him strangely. Fez said, "What! Why are you looking at me so strange?" Fez shrugged and reached for some chips. Eric ventured to ask the question Kelso couldn't, "What is a Brazilian?"

Fez looked at the two men and scoffed, "Aiiy! Why do only I know the secrets to a woman's beauty?" Fez briefly explained the details of a Brazilian wax. Kelso looked at Eric and they both looked at the door - simultaneously, the two men dashed for it. "Fez, we gotta go! Something suddenly came up!"

*

Jackie dropped Rhonda off at home surprised to see only Fez's car in the driveway. "I thought all the guys were supposed to be here." Rhonda shrugged. "I did too! I guess Fez chased them away. Now I don't get to cook my pasta tortellini. "Jackie waited until Rhonda got to the door before she drove off. That was strange; Brooke explained to Kelso that she left Betsy at her grandma's so the gang could have dinner. Oh well.

Jackie pulled into her driveway and saw the Christmas lights blinking through the window. After a crappy day at work, this was nice to come home to. She grabbed her purse and coat and hurried to the door. Much to her surprise, Eric had started dinner without her. Whatever it was, it was mouthwatering. She smiled as she set her car keys in the dish beside the door. Eric grinned and brought over a spoon of something delicious smelling. "Tell me if it needs more pepper."

She tasted the broth – quite good! "I think it's great like that. Let me go change into something more comfortable. These shoes are killing my feet." Naturally, Eric's eyes latched onto the ankle boots that were snug against her dark leggings. "I'll set the table and we can eat when you're ready." She smiled her thanks and went upstairs to change.

Eric lit some candles and turned the radio on to a soft pop station. Jackie worked all day and he got to play around so tonight would be all about her. He only hoped she liked his secret surprise. When she came down the stairs later she had to pause at the very romantic setting below her. Steaming food on nice plates, candlelight, music, a burning fire in the hearth – Eric really made the dinner look good. She stepped into the dining room and he held out a chair for her.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked suspiciously.

Eric faked a shocked look. "I'm always nice to you. What would make you say that?"

Jackie waved her hand over the beautiful dinner, the fireplace - the romantic music. "You can't just "wing" something like this. This is a planned event."

Eric sat down next to her. "You mean I can't be spontaneous?" He poured her some wine into a goblet. "Are you saying I don't have an imagination?" He tucked a curl behind her ear, "So you are saying that I am not a romantic kind of guy?" he teased.

Jackie started laughing, "I'm not saying that. It's just you've never made dinner for me before. If I didn't know better I would guess these were Kitty's leftovers."

"Madam, again you wound me. I cooked this and I have a mess in the kitchen to show for it." Jackie peeked around the kitchen counter and found he was telling the truth. "I am impressed Eric Forman!"

They ate dinner while Jackie told him about the new psychic show she was working on. Eric was interested, "So she can talk to spirits? Could she talk to Grandma Forman?"

Jackie looked at him strangely, "Bernice Forman -I thought you hated her. Didn't she die in the Vista Cruiser?" Eric shuddered at the memory, "Yeah, she did. I just want to make sure she won't come back to haunt me." Eric looked at his watch; it was nearly 8:00 – time to put his plan into motion.

'Jackie – I'd like to talk for awhile if you're up to it."

"What about the dishes?"

Eric looked at the mess in the sink. "Eh, it's not going anywhere." He took her hand and led her back towards the living room. "Will you dance with me? I found this great radio station today; they play the kind of music we like." Jackie took his hand and moved into his arms. This was unexpected as well. Eric twirled her towards the fireplace – it was a little romantic. He rested his chin on the top of her head, "I was listening to this REO Speedwagon song the other day and it reminded me of us."

"Is that right?" she said into his chest. "Well, yeah because we have a backwards kind of relationship. I knew you – okay, the old you – for a long time and then spending time with you again and discovering we had this thing for each other makes us extraordinary. Because without you, I wouldn't be me and lady, I love the new Eric Forman!" Jackie laughed when he dipped her and brought her up for a sweet kiss. Then without warning he hushed her.

A sultry voice on the radio said, "From Windy City love songs, this goes out to Jackie from Eric – I think he's trying to tell you something."

Jackie gasped as the piano keys began playing, "I Can't Fight This Feeling" – she looked up at Eric in disbelief, "You dedicated a song to me?" This was swoon material! Eric smiled as he felt her melt in his arms and they swayed to the song.

I can't fight this feeling any longer.
And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow.
What started out as friendship
has grown stronger
I only wish I had the strength to let it show……

He held her close through the second verse as he let the lyrics say the words in his heart.

And even as I wander,
I'm keeping you in sight.
You're a candle in the window,
on a cold, dark winter's night.
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might…

The drums and rest of the music arrangement was power guitars and drums and Eric hoped she was really listening to the song because that was how he was feeling about her. The music played on as Eric held Jackie tenderly in his arms. His voice wasn't really pop star material but as he softly sang the last chorus to Jackie, she knew how he felt about her and it cemented how she felt about him.

Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
And if I have to crawl upon the floor,
Come crashing through your door,
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore.

The song faded and the DJ came back on the air, "That was a beautiful song for a fellow that loves his girl – so all of you listeners out there call the Windy City love song line to request your favorite."

Jackie looked up at Eric whose face was glowing against the twinkling tree lights. "Do you mean it? Do you really mean it?" He looked down at her crazy mismatched eyes and cupped her face with his large warm hands. "Jackie, I spent the whole day by myself. Six months ago it would have been no big deal but do you know what I look forward to every day now?"

She shook her head no, wanting him to continue. "It's seeing you. That's the best part of my day. I can't wait until I get off work or you get home." He kissed her mouth. "I want tell you about my day ask you about yours and even just listen to your voice because at the end of the day that makes my life worth living."

"Oh Eric, you do love me." She sighed against his mouth.

"Jackie Burkhart – I love you with all of my heart."

*