Hello! So sorry it's been over 6 months since my last update. I think for just about everyone life got hard. Mine did and if yours did too I'm sending you a masked virtual hug.

Thanks so much to rhimeowmeow, darcy, Rhi, judithneary, wthrt890 and I'dRatherBeMeThanBeWithYou for the wonderful reviews that really motivated me to stay with this and keep writing and also to the new follows. Special thanks to Rhi for more than 1 review/encouraging words and a name for the new ship. So exciting! I won't keep going with comments and instead I'll give you the next chapter for the Tiny Sun (Peter and Jackie) ship.

Goodbye

Thursday, January 4, 1980. 8:00 am. Forman kitchen.

Kitty answers the phone. "Hello. Hi, Leah, how are you? Do you need someone to babysit that sweet boy of yours?"

"Okay well, you know I love having him over. He reminds me of our boys when they were little."

"But I thought they weren't leaving until Sunday."

"No no no dear, we'll still have it here."

"I can have this house ready sooner without a hitch. Don't you bother with fixing things to be in that bar. I'll make a roast."

"Well, I suppose that's fine. I'll tell Red and the kids. Thanks for letting me know and you and Jackie better spend some more time here and bring grandma precious babies."

"Oh, that makes sense. Then tell Russ what I said. This house is always open to him too."

She hangs up and looks a bit sad as she says, "You need to be here for lunch at noon on Saturday for Jackie and Peter's farewell party."

Red put his newspaper down. "You said it was a diner. I have a shop to run and people like service on Saturdays."

"The devil can't stick to a schedule for her own party?" Eric asks, rolling his eyes.

"Whatever," Hyde adds.

"That is enough from you three. Jackie doesn't want Maddy to travel for almost two hours in the morning cold to get on an airplane. She also said Peter wants her and Maddy to have dinner with Zilla's family. So they're leaving for Chicago in the afternoon right after the party. It makes perfect sense. I expect you all here at noon. You understand?"

"Yes, mom."

"Yes, Mrs. Forman."

"Fine."

Meanwhile at Burkhart Mansion.

They lay on the big bed tired but happy. "This is nice," Peter says then kisses the top of her head.

"Can't get too used to it. We're getting Maddy back in a few hours and then we'll have our baby all the time."

"You really love her, don't you?" She nods with a smile on her face. "Me too, but let's enjoy time by ourselves while we can." He smiles at her and starts caressing her ass and then pulls her into a kiss.

"You're nutty," she moans as he starts to do delicious things to her body.

"Me? You're the one that made me agree to leave Madds with Russ again... exactly for this."

"Oh you love it!" she states as she turns them over and climbs on him with a glint in her.

"I do. Might even do it again before we leave. Oh... ummm."

Saturday, January 6. Grooves Records. 10:20 am.

Peter dropped her right by the front door and headed to pick up Maddy. She has not set foot in here since Sam arrived and takes a deep breath before entering. The store is almost strange in its familiarity; the crates are the same, so is the counter with the cash register, and the couch and armchairs. But some of the posters are different and welcome the music of the new decade. More importantly, she's different. She'd like to believe the past six months have made her better; more mature, stronger, a bit considerate, maybe even helpful. She's no longer the idealistic teen that thinks the world is at her fingertips. She's more suspicious and protective of herself; ready for people to let her down. Maybe she's not better at all. She touches the bracelet on her wrist and it feels right. She's not perfect. But she doesn't need to fake perfection and declare herself the most beautiful anymore or cling to a man. She may have someone who honestly thinks she's beautiful and won't betray her or belittle her over her mistakes. But she's not going to have her life depend on him completely. That's why she needs to do this. She wants to be better for Peter, but most importantly for herself, and their future. And being better means proper closure and helping Steven. It means mending things so she can keep the bond with the basement gang and him.

She realizes now that her relationship with Steven imploded because there was no closure with her past with Michael and they were unable to be honest with each other until their relationship was at stake. She loved Steven but didn't tell him until after the get off my boyfriend fiasco. She now sees how he loved her too, but couldn't bear letting it out until after he cheated. They held onto their pride and never allowed their friends to see them down instead of working things out and coming clean in front of everyone. They made so many mistakes. But she won't do that again. She needs to let go of the past and give herself a chance to be happy with Peter. She also needs to try to help Steven move on. She's noticed the way he avoids her in the basement and yet… the way he looks at her when he thinks no one's watching... it's heartbreaking. And even though she can't fix that, she still wants them to try to be friends. She doesn't want avoidance. She wants real closure.

"Loud girl!" she hears as she sees the dirty hippy approach her.

"Hi Leo," she says with a smile.

"I thought you were in Chicago? I told Hyde to go to Chicago."

"I know Leo. But Steven and I broke up and I married Peter."

"Oh, that's why Hyde is sad."

"Maybe," she answers. "Is he in his office?"

"Who?"

"Steven."

"Oh yeah, but I told him to go to Chicago to see… hey loud girl you're back from Chicago!"

She shakes her head and giggles. "Yeah."

"Man, that's good. Hyde's really missed you. He loves you, you know."

"Hey Leo, can you do me a favor?"

"Can you never tell Steven that he loves loud girl and that she went to Chicago?"

"Okay."

"Thanks. See you later Leo."

She walks to the back and knocks on his office door. He looks surprised when he sees her.

"Hi."

"Hey."

"Can we talk?" she asks. He shrugs and walks into his office. She follows and they sit on a couple of stools that often get used to make a circle.

She giggles. "I suppose this is a two-person circle."

"Yeah," he answers with a small smirk.

"Jackie, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be packing or something?"

"I'm all packed and… you've been avoiding me and… Steven, were you drinking on new year's day because of me? Have you been drinking since?"

He stands up looking annoyed and she hears a soft hiss, "Foreman."

"Eric didn't tell me. Well, not directly, he told Donna, and she told me and… you know how it is. Her and Mrs. Forman are worried."

"What does it matter?" he asks, sitting on his desk.

"It matters to me, Steven. I don't want to be the reason you drink or get arrested or hurt."

"You don't have to feel guilty. I'm a grown man and you're not my girlfriend."

"I'm still your friend."

"We've never been friends."

"Maybe, but we've always been family. And I want to try to have a friendship with you."

"Why?"

"Why not? Steven, I love you-"

"You probably don't want your husband to hear that."

"Let me finish! I love you. I am just not in love with you anymore."

"I guess I deserve that."

"No. God, you're frustrating! I'm trying to say that you and I need to get over this angry and upset thing and be able to be exes that are friends. I think we should be friends because for two years we loved each other and we share friends that are practically family and… even if we're not in love any more we're still like family. And I don't want to hear about how you're drinking and angry! I know you can be a great man and I don't want to be the reason you throw that amazing man away. Steven, I want you to be happy."

"But nothing else?" She looks confused. "I'm just like family, nothing else."

"Nothing else."

"Do you love him?"

"That doesn't matter. Any romantic relationship between us is over and Peter is not the reason for that. Please Steven, try to let go of the anger and sadness and move on. Someday, you'll find someone who will make you happy. I know you will."

"Right."

"No."

"No?"

"No you don't get to dismiss everything I say with one-word answers just because I closed the door on us as more than friends. Steven, you and I need closure and friendship so we can move on with our lives and be happy."

"You're being unfair."

"What?"

"Look man, you're married, and moving and even have a baby to take care of for at least a while and I'm happy for you." She raises an eyebrow at him. "I don't mean I'm happy that things ended up this way… I just… look when I gave you that unicorn and told you to go be happy in Virginia, I meant it. So give me some credit because I was trying. But then hearing Fez talk about your sex hair and Kelso say married whoopee and then… the last time Peter dropped you off at the Formans… the way he kissed you before he left… it was just… too much, you know. "

"I thought everyone was downstairs."

"I came back up to get a soda from the fridge."

"I didn't know. Is that why you left right when I got downstairs?" He nods. "I'm sorry. You went to the bar after that, didn't you?" She asks as she moves to sit next to him on the desk.

"Yeah. But you shouldn't be sorry. You're married and can make out wherever you want without worrying about me. And I didn't get drunk, just got away for a while."

"I get it. I just wish you wouldn't drink when you're upset. I work at a bar and see the regulars that are in a bad place and use alcohol to escape… I don't want you to be that way. You know it's not healthy and it gets you into trouble."

He nods. "Suppose after the stripper and jail I should know better."

"You really should," she says in her bossiest tone.

He smirks. "Alright."

"So not more drinking to escape your issues? Please."

He nods. "Can I still have a beer for the fourth of July?"

She shrugs. "You're a grown man. I'm just a friend asking you not to drink as an escape from your problems."

"Fair enough. So… you happy to leave Wisconsin?"

She nods and gives a hesitant, "yeah."

"You'll be great."

"I don't know. We're staying on base and I'll watch Maddy and not much else."

"Thought you like the little girl."

"I do. I love her. I just think I'll miss my job and friends and stuff. It's scary to think about, you know."

"Not really. I'm still here so I don't know."

"Right. Steven, you should travel. Maybe go see WB and try going places."

"So I can be scared like you?"

She shrugs. "It's scary but also exciting. I have no idea what will happen next but that's okay."

"Cause you'll be with him. You do love him."

"Steven."

"It's okay to say it. What are you hiding?"

"Nothing. It's just happened so fast and we haven't said it yet."

"You married him before you heard the L-word?" he says in a jokingly horrified tone.

"Shut your pie hole!"

"That's my line!" he laughs. "For the record, I don't think you should worry. I'm pretty sure he loves you."

"Really?"

"Hard to avoid."

"Steven."

"Sorry. Just… the way he looks at you and at me, yeah the man loves you." She stares at him with a smile. "What?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For loving me, even if we messed up and for this. I want to keep this."

"Anytime and… I guess I'd rather have you in my life as a friend than not at all. And if Mercer fucks up I'll kick his ass." She laughs.

"Wanna go to the basement?" she asks. "Michael is visiting Leah so we could call him and have a proper hangout with everyone. Plus I need a ride."

"Of course you do." She raises an eyebrow at him. "Fine. Let me talk to Leo and get some film." She gives him a meaningful look. "I'm not angry or sad or escaping. Just planning a circle with friends."

"That's cool."

Forman basement. The six original gang members laugh and smoke and laugh some more.

"My hands are huge," Donna says. "They're like… like giant boxing gloves."

"Have you seen your feet?" Jackie cackles.

"No more for Mrs. Cheerleader. Mrs. Devil who's leaving. The devil went down to Virginia; she already grabbed a soul to steal..." Eric giggles. "Man, I'm good."

"My goddess... practically my sister... is leaving us," Fez says with a pout.

Jackie stares at him then laughs. "I know you'll miss me, Fezzie. Mr. Russell Mercer… Mr. and Mr. Mercer… wait I'd be related to a foreigner…" She laughs hysterically then stops and her eyes get huge. "You should MARRY him! In Europe!"

Fez smiles. "Don't jinx it!"

"Jinx!" Kelso laughs. "Minx. Man, Leah is so hot."

"Oh shut up!" Donna says and they all boo at him.

"Hey guys, did you ever hear about that car that runs on water? It has a fiber-glass air-cooled engine and it runs on water, man!" Things are thrown at Hyde.

"It's like we never run out of things to talk about down here," Kelso comments.

"Kids! Peter and Russ are here! Time for lunch!" they hear. "Baby, come to grandma Kitty!"

Chicago, IL, 5:30 pm.

"Do I look okay?"

He smiles at her. "You know you're beautiful."

"Ahh, sunshine loves me."

"Umm... the way you were eating today was kinda off-putting."

"Jerk," she squeals and throws Maddy's little stuffy at him.

"Say no to violence. I have a baby."

"It's a plushie and I have perfect aim. Also, I had the munchies!"

"I know. It was hilarious," he says, pulling her close for a kiss.

"Oh get a room!" they hear Zilla say.

They separate and Peter speaks smugly, "We have one and will go there after dinner."

"You're gonna traumatize that poor kid."

"It's a suite!" Jackie adds.

Zilla looks at Peter. "You got them to pay for a suite for your scrawny ass!"

"Yeah right? We paid the difference." Jackie is looking at him dreamily and he pecks her lips. "Totally worth it."

"You two have become sickening. Get inside."

They are greeted by Zilla's mom, dad, and his two sisters who welcome Jackie with open arms. The evening goes great and dinner is delicious. They stay at the table talking and drinking some wine.

"Girl, you gotta introduce my player brother to someone nice," Zilla's older sister says.

She frowns. "Why? He's already dating Laurie."

"Laurie who? George!" his mother says.

Zilla looks annoyed and turns to Jackie, "Really girl?"

"Was Laurie supposed to be a secret?" Peter asks.

"No, but-"

"George."

"Mama, it's… a new thing. We just got kinda serious before I left Wisconsin."

"You gotta serious thing?" his sister jokes.

"Boy, how did you meet this girl?" his dad asks.

"Well, you see..."

"They met at our wedding," Jackie answers. "I've known Laurie forever. We're not too close since she's older. But her parents practically raised most of us kids since we spent so much time at their house because we're Eric's friends. That's Laurie's brother. The Formans are the best. I can show you pictures, Leah made us a scrapbook of the wedding as a farewell present."

Zilla's mother smiles. "I'd like that. Tell me more about Laurie and these Formans."

Jackie speaks fondly of Red and tells them he is a former Navy man and keeps their dumbasses in line and he taught her how to fix cars and not be useless. She also explains how Mrs. Forman is the most amazing cook and always takes care of everyone and that Kitty is a nurse. Then she speaks of being her helper in the latest LOPPs Christmas party.

Zilla's dad talks to Peter. "You gotta good one boy."

"Yeah."

After they leave Zilla's place and put Maddy to sleep they spend the night wrapped up in each other.

January 6, 1980, 4:30pm

"Mrs. Forman, it's me, Jackie, you told me to call."

"Yes. You got there safe?"

"Yeah."

"How's Virginia and that sweet baby girl?"

"Warmer than Wisconsin, which made me and Maddy be way over bundled but we're still the cutest things here," she says with a small smile. "There was this welcome group for us at the airport. I guess the Army wifes try to support each other and have this club here that helps new families get used to things. We had to wait for two other soldiers and their families to show and then took a forty-minute drive here. Amanda, Jane, and Diana came with the lieutenants to get everyone. Each rode with one of the families to explain the process of joining the base. Once we got here Diana brought Maddy and me to the house while Peter checked in with his commanding officer. She's so nice, Mrs. Forman. Even had a casserole in our fridge ready for me to heat up and offered to show me how to cook when she realized I had no idea how to set the right oven temperature."

"Oh dear, what kind of casserole is it?"

"Something with green beans and onion things on top?"

Kitty proceeds to repeat instructions on how to heat that up and they laugh remembering her cooking lessons. "Okay, I'll turn the knob to 350, wait until it beeps, and then put the casserole for twenty minutes. I'm excited to see what else Diana shows me and when I get the chance to explain a few things about matching lipstick to your outfit and complexion. She's not as bad as Donna but honestly orange lipstick while wearing a green blouse and jeans, a big no-no. She might be married but still needs to ward away the skanks and simple pink would have been perfect for her."

"Aha ha ha," Kitty nervously laughs. "So when are you making dinner?"

"Oh Zilla is coming in a bit then we'll warm things up and eat."

"Oh good, make sure he calls Laurie."

"Okay, I'll remind him."

"How is the apartment?"

"Good, it's like a small house, a duplex thing with two floors. It's small but nice and I'm so excited to go furniture shopping tomorrow. We have enough things for tonight, but we need a real crib and a dresser. No way all my things are fitting with Peter's in one closet and the small chest of drawers they gave us. I also need a vanity because where am I supposed to put my makeup?"

Kitty laughs, "Of course dear. Make sure you check on pots and pans and get the crib soon. That baby can't be in the playpen for so long."

"Yeah. We're trying to get everything together before Peter goes on field training on Wednesday." She explains that Peter's unit is assigned to field training for a week, starting Wednesday so it'll be just her and Maddy for a while. But it will be okay and the wife group is getting together Friday and Diana told her she'd be by tomorrow, so she'll be busy and have company.

"Promise to call us so we know you're okay when he's not there."

"I will. Thank you, Mrs. Forman."

"Of course. How was the flight?"

"It was awful. Maddy cried most of the time. I think her ears bugged her and there was turbulence and it made things worse. There was also a jerk across the aisle that kept glaring. Who glares at a baby!"

"Well, that's just… rude!"

"Yeah! But Peter took her from me after the turbulence and stood right next to him with her wailing. My angry towering army man in uniform seemed to be enough for him to focus on his magazine and stop his evil eye. Didn't stop her crying, but everyone else was cool."

"Well good for you and Peter. R-"

"Mrs. Forman, Zilla's here. I have to go."

"Oh okay. You say hi to those boys for me and give Maddy a kiss."

"Will do. Bye, Mrs. Forman."

"Bye, Jackie."

They tease Zilla about Laurie and have a great time at dinner. Peter feeds Maddy while Jackie takes a shower and then she puts the baby to sleep while Peter has a turn getting cleaned up. For the next few days, they cling to each other whenever he's home, knowing they only have a few days before he's completely gone for a week. She knows it's too soon, but as they laugh and get used to new domesticity in the apartment, make love, and then hold each other, that little four-letter word is at the tip of her tongue. She doesn't say it and then watches him go on Wednesday at 5 in the morning. If it was anyone else she wouldn't wake up at that ungodly hour, but she does, kisses him goodbye, and watches him get into the back of a military truck from their front window.

She takes a deep breath and whispers, "he'll be back. It's only a few days and he'll be back." She goes upstairs and lays back on the bed that she swears smells like him and sighs. There is no getting back to sleep, but she lays there and takes comfort in their bed, their sheets, and the good memories they've made so far in this new year. Then she hears Maddy cry and gets busy taking care of her favorite baby. Later she watches Three's Company and then has a little Abba dance party with Maddy. Before she knows it Diana is at her place and they have a great time talking. She tells her they should go visit some of the other women on base and she packs up Maddy and off they go. That's when she meets Gaby and her baby boy Jorge. They laugh and Jorge and Maddy love sharing Jorge's big blanket. She misses Peter but the day is fun and Jackie and Gaby make some playdates for the kids.

Time passes quickly and when Peter returns their relationship gets more and more intense. They can't get enough of each other. She's kissing him the moment he walks in the door, with Maddy in her arms or not. And he gets teased during ops because he looks like he gets no sleep. He smiles and tells his teammates they wished they were him and had a super hot wife to be with at home instead of going to the barracks. Jackie slowly learns how to cook and clean and manage that with a baby, but she misses work. She keeps in touch with Mrs. Forman and Donna and they tell her how Steven left with W.B. for a week and came back to announce he's moving out to Milwaukee. Kitty is sad for a week telling her all her babies are gone. It gets better when Leah asks her if she could babysit Felix once a week after school and on the weekends Michael comes to visit. And then it's that time of the year and she's so excited. It's almost Valentine's day and they convinced Zilla to watch Maddy. She doesn't know where Peter is taking her, but she can't wait.

February 15, 1980

They drive the cheap 68 Plymouth they bought a few weeks ago, holding hands. It takes about twenty minutes to arrive at Hopewell.

"Where are you taking me?"

"You'll see. Sergeant Henderson recommended it. Said I better show my new wife a good time for Valentine's not act a fool."

They park at a seafood joint on the waterfront. Quaint, not fancy. She smiles as they are led to a table by the window. They take their seats and order drinks.

"It's beautiful," she says looking at the river. Twinkle lights illuminate her face. Peter stares at her and says, "Yeah, beautiful."

She turns to him, happy, then perplexed. "You didn't even look!"

He shrugs and takes her hand on the table. "You know, we've never been on an actual date before."

"Yeah. Unless you count when we met and talking, drinking and singing as a date?"

He looks thoughtful. "That night did end in a hot way, but nah that wasn't a date."

She smiles. "This is the best date I've ever been on."

"We haven't even eaten."

She shrugs and looks at the menu; they order and get their plates. They talk about how good their food is and wonder how Zilla's doing with Maddy, evilly hoping he gets a diaper with a big poop. She tells him about the military wives and how Gaby is hilarious and had her tearing up from eating spicy food and Jorge is the sweetest baby and Maddy's BFF. He's become friends with Gaby's husband Andres who outranks him and has given him advice about moving up the ranks himself. They talk about Point Place and Racine and Russ' progress in AA and with Fez; Donna's new gig at a Madison newspaper; Hyde's move to Milwaukee and his new job looking for talent for W.B.; his aunt Karen's increasing stress that Leah is dating an overgrown child and how much Felix adores hanging out with Kelso and Betsy is happy with everything. They eat, toast with some wine and share a piece of chocolate cake. Then they go for a walk along the river.

They walk bundled up in a cool, starry night with a bright moon. She's wearing a black knitted dress, warm tights, and black boots, with a long tanned wool coat and a pretty black hat with pink trim. He has khakis, a blue dress shirt with a dark tie, and a dark coat. They're comfortable as they walk onto a dock holding hands and then look up at the glimmering silver water.

"I love this," she says, looking at peace and smiling. "I wish life was always like this."

"Yeah, it's pretty perfect. No worries about anything, just the two of us."

She nods and they continue to stare at the water. She leans onto a railing and he moves to hug her from behind and kisses the top of her head. She turns and looks at him adoringly, "Happy Valentine's day, boyfriend husband."

He smiles and touches her neck, her cheek, her mouth with his thumb. "Happy Valentine's day girlfriend wife." He leans in and kisses her. A tender, soft kiss. He pulls away. They look at each other a moment. "You make me feel..."

"Happy?" she asks with a teasing smile.

He nods. "Hopeful. Before I met you... I didn't want to think about the future, things just seemed bleak and it was like I was on autopilot. But now I feel optimistic and yeah happy. "

She touches his face and they kiss again, deeply. After a while, they break apart. She's smiling brightly, practically glowing. He pulls away slightly to study her face as she speaks. "I feel calm. It's like… I've always been ready to demand something or wine because I'm scared to be alone but with you… I can just be and learn new things and… relax."

He touches her cheek and pulls her close for a short kiss. Then their foreheads stay touching each other. "That's good, Jackie… I want you to know that I care about you… so much and I want to keep being that person that makes you relax and gives you peace."

"I care about you too and I want to make you happy."

"You do."

They kiss again and again. She feels like she's never been so close to another person. He's scared to death about how much he's gotten to feel for this tiny chick in such a short time. But he refuses to let that take over, he wants to stay happy and she's worth dealing with being scared.

I hope you liked this one. I have the next chapter outlined and hope to make progress fast, but after this last year, I won't make promises because well I can't predict what curve ball comes next. But like the old saying, "if life gives you lemons then make lemonade." :)