Disclaimer: I do not own That 70's Show.


Jackie and Steven left the basement bundled up against the winter chill that had settled over Point Place. Jackie scurried to the El Camino, her arms wrapped around herself, cold in spite of the matching blue pea coat, hat, and scarf she wore. She was already in the car by the time Steven was just reaching the door.

"I don't know how you aren't freezing, Steven," she chattered.

"Real men don't freeze, Jackie. You're thinking of Forman," he replied, turning on the car. He did, however, put on the heater full blast.

She scooted closer to him, holding onto one arm and tinkered with the radio.

"For the love of God don't-" Steven began but Jackie's yell of triumph cut him off.

"Ha! I knew it, they always start on the 1st," she said looking smug. Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" floated out of the speakers.

"You know how I feel about Christmas music, Jacks," Steven groaned and pulled out of the driveway.

"Yeah, yeah, it perpetuates the government's scheme of getting us all to buy from giant chain stores. I don't care, Steven. Christmas music is one of the greatest parts of the holidays. Don't you feel all warm and fuzzy already?" Jackie sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder.

Steven wouldn't admit it but there was a little tingle somewhere in his chest. It may have had to do with the warmth of Jackie pressed up against him as he drove though decorated streets and light snow. And Bing didn't hurt the mood either…


They soon enough pulled into a converted dirt lot, filled with families heading to the rows and rows of Christmas trees.

Jackie got out of the car, tugging her hat lower to cover the tips of her ears and fixed her scarf. Steven walked up next to her, waiting for her to lead the way.

"Okay Steven. Now don't forget," she began as she fixed the collar of his coat, "we can't just choose the first tree we see. We have to be sure it's the perfect tree. And don't look too desperate or the salesman will just hound us as we look around." She smiled up at him and kissed his nose.

Steven rolled his eyes but smiled, "Yes, dear." Jackie rolled her eyes in return and tugged him toward the mayhem.

She pulled him past the first couple of rows, and he grew confused, "Wait, what about these? They look fine?"

Jackie only turned back to look at him for a second before looking ahead to continue to wind through the crowds, "Steven! Those trees are the four-footers! Mrs. Forman's living room would look pathetic if we put a measly four-foot tree! We need at least a six-footer!"

"Of course, what was I thinking…" he mumbled.

She finally stopped when the trees started to reach past their heads. A sign posted at one of the rows signified the six-foot trees that she had been looking for.

In her excitement, she let go of his hand and entered the row or, as Steven thought, maze of trees. He tucked his hands in his pockets and strolled in behind her. A couple of kids no older than ten, bundled up in winter clothes of red and green ran past him laughing and yelling. Their mother called after them to not get into trouble.

He passed an elderly couple following a young man pulling a tree, slowly making their way back to the front.

Steven turned a corner to the next row and heard Jackie's voice. Thank God, he was worried he'd be looking for her all day.

The scene he came upon was one he was used to. One of the workers had apparently stopped to ask if she needed help. Jackie was never one to turn down a chance to talk about herself. However, the worker was less interested in what she was saying and more in looking as suave as he could. He stood with his hands on his tool belt, legs spread and chest out. Jackie, lost in her explanation of the perfect tree, hadn't seemed to notice his body language. Steven smirked; crushing the hopes of these guys was his favorite pastime. Three years ago and he would've seen green but after everything they'd been through, there was no need in getting worked up over the small stuff anymore.

He approached the pair, "Hey doll."

"Oh there you are, Steven!" Her face was pink from the cold and her eyes were shining. Goddamn, he loved her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and smiled.

She continued, "I was just talking to Mark here about the kind of tree we need."

"Uh…it's Matt, actually…" the man began unsurely.

She barely spared him a glance, "Right, sorry. Anyways, he was just telling me that they got a new shipment of seven-footers. We should go look!"

"Sure thing," Steven said still smiling, "Thanks for the tip man." He nodded at Matt.

Matt smiled, though looked a little put out, "Yeah, no problem."

Jackie grabbed Steven's attention by laying a hand on his chest, "I have a good feeling about the next row, baby."

"You know what? Me too," and he led them out of the row.

The middle aisle that carried most of the traffic was bustling still with people heading back with trees and children running around.

An idea came to Steven's head. "Do you think we should grab a tree for the apartment?"

"Oh my God, Steven! You want to decorate the apartment for Christmas! You're getting into the Christmas spirit!"

"I don't want to decorate anything. I just think it's practical so we don't have gifts just lying on the floor…"

"Uh-huh, sure," she smiled, "I doubt we could fit anything bigger than five-foot tree though. We would have to head back here some other time to fit it on the roof."

"Well tomorrow is Sunday, we should do it then before the week hits."

"Oh! We get to buy our first ornaments together! And tree lights! And tinsel! And we're gonna need…" And she was off.

Steven tuned her out as she got lost in plans that he would have no say in.

They reached the seven-foot row and found it empty of people except for two other families. Again, Jackie ran off ahead to find the best tree.

Steven reached her by a bunch of trees, opting to stand in the row's path and wait for when she was done. Jackie circled trees checking for holes and lopsided branches. She would inspect the needles closely, then back up to check the quality of the point that would hold the star.

A man next to Steven holding a baby no older than one nodded at him, "You got dragged here too?"

Steven nodded back, "Seems like it."

The man smiled and shook his head, "Yeah my wife's the same way when it comes to picking trees. Especially now that we have this one, we need 'the perfect tree for pictures.'" He bounced the baby in his arms. The baby laughed, only her face visible through the armor of pink fluff that protected her from the cold. "Name's Tom by the way," he said extending his hand.

"Steven," he shook his hand, "And yeah, I've definitely been educated on the importance of a good tree today," Steven replied feeling a little awkward with the social interaction.

"Uh-oh, seems like the ladies have joined forces," Tom said, nodding over to where Jackie and a lady with long blonde hair stood talking animatedly and gesturing to a tall tree.

The woman looked over to Tom and called, "Tom, come here and meet Jackie! I've met a shopping soulmate!"

Tom and Steven approached the women and Tom replied, "Yeah I just met her husband, Steven."

Both Steven and Jackie made to correct him but Tom's wife cut them off, "Oh, hi! Nice to meet you! Jenny," she said and shook his hand. "And this is Sophie. Say hi Sophie!"

Sophie raised a mittened hand and attempted a wave which was more of her hand closing and opening.

Jackie gave a little yell, "She has to be one of the most adorable babies I have ever seen! Hello! You're just the cutest aren't you?" She adopted a voice Steven had never heard before. It was mushier than the one she used when she called him Puddin Pop.

Sophie smiled at the attention she was getting from everyone. She turned to look at Steven and stared at the sunglasses he was wearing. She reached out and took them right off of his face.

"No, Sophie," Tom told her gently, trying and failing to get the glasses out of her grip, "Sorry, she's going through a phase where she has to grab everything."

"It's alright, they've been through worse than a baby's inspection. You hold on to them for me, Soph," Steven replied shrugging.

Jenny said, "It's her first Christmas so we're super excited for all the firsts. This weekend is picking a tree and decorating. We're taking her to meet Santa next weekend. And I have all her little outfits planned out!"

"I keep telling Jenny she won't even remember all this but Jenny's set on taking pictures every minute," Tom joked.

"They're important! Do you want her to grow up and not be able to look back on pictures?" Jenny replied.

Jackie added, "Pictures are so important! How else will she know just how adorable she was?"

"See, Tom!" Jenny said smugly.

"Steven, you agree with me don't you?" Tom said.

Steven smiled, "Man, I think it's best I don't take any sides here."

"Steven knows to always take my side," Jackie said, hugging his side.

Steven felt Jackie jump next to him, "Oh, how about we take a photo of you three!"

"Oh would you? That'd be so nice for the album!" Jenny was already digging through her purse.

"Sure, it's no problem," Jackie said.

The family of three stood by the tree the girls had just been bonding over. Steven managed to get his sunglasses back easily as Sophie was distracted by the moving around.

Jackie was about to snap the picture before she lowered the camera, "Wait, Sophie! Look here!" Sophie had apparently found interest in the trees' branches.

"Look Sophie a camera!" Tom tried pointing at the camera. Instead Sophie now was interested in her father's face.

"Sophie!" Jackie tried again. Sophie looked briefly before looking at a button on Tom's jacket.

"Hey Soph, look," Steven said and put the sunglasses on, wiggling them up and down.

Sophie laughed at his trick and a flash went off as Jackie took the picture.

"Thanks again," Jenny said taking the camera back, "How about a picture of you two?"

"It's alright, we didn't bring a camera," Jackie replied, but she pouted at the thought.

"It's okay, I'll use my camera! Then, when I develop them I'll give you a call. It's a good excuse for us to stay in contact and we can have a shopping date!" Jenny said.

"Told you they were scheming," Tom muttered to Steven who rubbed his beard to hide his smirk.

"Oh would you!" Jackie was already tugging Steven to the tree.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and Steven put an arm around her and a hand in his coat pocket. They smiled and the flash went off once more.

"You guys' have to be the cutest newlyweds. Other than Tom and I," Jenny laughed.

"Oh, Steven and I aren't married," Jackie said easily.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry," Jenny blushed.

"It's okay. We're still a great looking couple, aren't we baby," Jackie smiled up at Steven.

Not keen on sharing his soft side with the other two, Steven only replied, "Yep," kissed her forehead, and smiled.

"Well, I think we've delayed you two long enough, our tree's waiting for us up front. And the in-laws are waiting for us for Sunday dinner," Jenny said putting away the camera.

"Oh, let me give you our number for the picture," Jackie took out a piece of paper and pen and quickly wrote their number down. She handed Jenny the paper, who put it in her purse.

"It was great meeting you two!" Jenny said shaking Steven's hand, and hugging Jackie. Tom nodded to them both, and Sophie waved as the family left the row.

"They were really nice," Jackie said standing with her hands in her coat pockets. Her nose was only getting pinker the longer they stayed out.

"I can't say I disagree," Steven replied and checked his watch seeing it was almost five, "But we should really hurry before Mrs. Forman sends out a search party and you freeze your butt off." He fixed her scarf to cover more of her neck.

"You mean my perfect butt," Jackie corrected.

"Yeah, whatever," he said but as she turned to look at the trees he smacked her ass.

"Steven!" Jackie yelled but couldn't fight the smile.

"So is this the one?" He asked gesturing the tree they had used for the picture.

. It was a full tree, no holes a nice long pointy top that could be cut down to hold the star just right. The needles were fresh and green.

"I think so…It's seven feet and as far as I can see, it's as beautiful as me," Jackie said walking around it once more

"Then it's the perfect tree," Steven said.

Jackie peeked around the tree to him, "Aw! Puddin Pop!"

Steven frowned, "What did we say about using that name in public?"

"You smack my ass, I call you Puddin Pop. Anyways, you're just so cute I can't help it," she said kissing his cheek.

"I'll let this one slide, Burkhardt."

Jackie rolled her eyes, "Gee thanks, Hyde," She clapped her hands, "Alright, this is it! You wait here and guard the tree and I'll go find Mick or someone to haul it to the front."

"Aye, aye, captain." Steven said, and saluted her.

Jackie chose to ignore him and went off in search of help.


A/N: This makes me wish I lived somewhere it snowed during Christmas. My aunt who actually lives in Wisconsin called the other day to say they got their first snowfall. I'm totally jealous.

Let me know what you think!