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


Hyde, Kelso, and Eric took a seat on the sofa as the women grabbed the boxes of ornaments to open.

"I'm surprised you idiots managed to get the tree up this year without almost burning the house down," Red said as he walked in from the kitchen and took a seat in his green chair.

"Who leaves a candle burning by the staircase?" Kelso said defensively.

Hyde chimed in, "Better yet who leaves a candle burning when Kelso's within a fifty foot perimeter."

Kitty brought over a pile of boxes over to the guys, "You boys can help by making sure they all have strings to hang them up."

Red turned on the TV, hoping to catch a rerun of a game.

"And Red, put on something nice for Christmas tree decorating," Kitty smiled.

Red slumped, "Kitty, can't we start with all this holiday crap next week. Or better yet, on Christmas Eve."

Kitty blinked, "Fine. Waste away the only time we have with Eric and Steven before they have to head back far away from me. Apparently, I'm the only one who cares about my happiness."

Red said, "Eric and Donna are here almost every weekend. And those two," he gestured to Steven and Jackie, "live less than twenty minutes away!" But Kitty only continued to glare at him.

"Fine," and he changed the channel to a showing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Kitty laughed and kissed him on the head to which he smiled, or tried to.

The guys on the couch were all smirking at Red, to which he simply said, "Shut it."

"Now, Mrs. Forman, usually I put the expensive ornaments first then fill in with the cheaper ones but since you don't have any of those, do we just start with anything?" Jackie asked.

Kitty laughed nervously, "Maybe I should start with a drink." She moved to the bar and grabbed a glass and a bottle of wine.

Donna, hoping to cut down some of the tension, jumped in, "How about we start with the lights? Jackie you hold them while I start at the top."

Thankfully, Jackie didn't put up a fight and they worked together to light up the tree.

The kitchen door swung and in entered Fez, "Ms. Kitty, I looked again but I couldn't find -" he gasped, "You're decorating the tree without me?! Will I ever gain any respect in this house?!"

Eric didn't look up from trying to get the thread through the ornament, "I wouldn't hold your breath, man. I've been here for 23 years and I've never gotten any of that R-E-S-P-E-C-T."

Kitty approached sipping from her wine, "Oh sweetie, we've only started. And you had such an important job!"

"Didn't you just ask him to find the holiday coasters?" Eric asked.

"Yes and you can't host holiday parties without holiday coasters! You can't expect people to put their drinks on autumn leaves!" Kitty said shaking her head.

Fez thought it over, "Well…because it's Christmas I will forgive you all."

"Thank God, I was really worried…" Red grumbled.

Behind them, there came a yell, "Donna! You're putting them on crooked!"

"Well, if you're so good why don't you get up here and fix it? Oh wait! You can't because you're a midget!"

Jackie's eyes narrowed, "Compared to you everyone's a midget, you're as tall as the tree they put in Rockefeller Center!"

Steven rose from the couch and over to them, "Ladies, ladies, there's a simple solution."

Both Jackie and Donna crossed their arms and looked unimpressed.

"Let's leave the tree trimming to Mrs. Claus here," he pointed a thumb at Fez who was sitting on the floor going through the ornaments, "and let's head to the basement for a Christmas circle of friends," he grinned.

"No Steven! We're going to trim the Christmas tree and feel the freakin' Christmas spirit," Jackie said, her eyes warning a major eruption coming if he disagreed.

Steven rolled his eyes, "Alright, alright. Don't get you're panties in a bunch." He reluctantly returned to helping with the ornaments.

Donna relaxed her fighting stance, not wanting to get into it with Jackie, and fixed the lights, "There, is that better?"

Jackie eyed the tree critically, "There you go, Donna. I knew you had at least one feminine bone in that manly body of yours."

Donna rolled her eyes and continued to wind the lights ignoring the jab.

Everyone was silent as Rudolph being teased sounded from the TV. The boys worked on the ornaments. Red sipped his beer is eyes on the film and next to him Kitty nursed her drink. Fez was oblivious to it all as he gladly sorted ornaments.

"Ah! The traditional Christmas tension. I love it!" Eric said sarcastically.


Jackie and Steven knew that if they wanted to leave at a reasonable time they'd better start leaving an hour before they actually wanted to leave.

It was minute forty of this effort. They had been sitting at the kitchen table with Kitty and Red sipping hot chocolate and talking.

"Really, Mrs. Forman, we should be heading back home. I've got to get my beauty sleep if I don't want to end up looking like Donna," Jackie said standing.

Steven smirked at the burn. He loved how nonchalantly she burned people. He stood alongside her grabbing their coats from their chairs.

Kitty looked around the kitchen, "Oh but you should have another cup of cocoa to warm her for the drive!"

"I think we've reached a cocoa limit," Steven said, "any more and it'll be all we're made up of."

Red rolled his eyes, "They have their own home to get to, honey. I'm sure they're just as desperate for some peace and quiet as I am."

"You two better swing by tomorrow for dinner!" Kitty said, defeated.

Jackie put on the coat that Steven held open for her, "I promise we'll be here."

"Wouldn't miss your Sunday roast for the world," Steven smiled.

Kitty laughed, "Oh you two are just too sweet!"

They smiled at her, flattered but more relieved they'd finally be able to go home where they could unwind.

They headed out the sliding door and Kitty and Red followed them.

"Bye, Red, see you tomorrow," Jackie said smiling and giving him a hug she knew would make him uncomfortable.

She traded places with Steven who had just kissed Kitty goodbye. They shared a hug and a kiss. She promised once more they'd be back tomorrow.

As they pulled out the driveway waving back to Kitty, they sighed but neither spoke as they enjoyed the silent drive home.


"Steven have you seen my red nail polish?" Jackie said entering the living room from their bedroom.

He turned a page of the magazine he was reading, "I think you left it in the bathroom."

She hummed thoughtfully and went to check.

Their apartment wasn't much, but in the six months they had been living there it'd become their home. Jackie had a knack for making any place cozy and her handiwork was definitely noticeable throughout the entire place.

In their living room she'd placed a plush light grey couch, just light enough and comfy for her and not-girly for him. In front of it was a black coffee table that was the perfect height for resting his feet when she wasn't around. They had a modest TV to watch their game shows (and her soap operas though he'd never admit to it). The apartment was carpeted in simple white (she said egg-shell white) which they both loved especially now that it was getting cold. On the walls she'd put up both simple art they'd compromised over as well as pictures of them over the past two and a half years. One was of them at the state fair holding giant turkey legs. Another showed them posing in their Halloween costumes from their first year back together, she'd convinced him to go as the Superman to her Lois Lane. The latest was a simple photo from Fourth of July of him with his arm around her as she held a sparkler. They'd just moved out together and she'd been proud to bring a dish from their kitchen, it didn't matter it'd been a fruit platter.

Their bedroom had been a touchy subject. Jackie wanted a redo of when she'd fixed Steven's old room. Steven swore up and down that there'd be no unicorns or flowery patterns anywhere near where he laid his head. They'd finally compromised on a pastel blue scheme that included a quilted comforter and two decorative pillows with swirls of yellow as a design. She was allowed three stuffed animals that sat on the pine dresser and he could keep two posters from his old room.

There'd been no argument over the placement of lavender scented candles around the apartment.

The bathroom had been by far the easiest room to decorate – which was a surprise to Jackie. She'd quickly learned that Steven loved a clean, luxurious bathroom which meant they'd agreed easily on the softest deep-purple towels and matching rugs.

Jackie entered the bathroom and saw the red nail polish resting by the sink. She grabbed it along with her pedicure kit and joined Steven in the living room.

She turned on the TV to "Loveboat" and settled on the couch.

Uncapping the nail polish, she rested her feet on the coffee table and swiftly but carefully applied the first coat.

"I don't get why you're allowed to do that," Steven said lowering the magazine.

"Because, Steven, this is about beauty. You put your feet here because you're a pig."

Steven went back to the magazine, choosing not to start an argument.

They passed a while in silence. Steven half-watched the show and Jackie painting her nails, while still trying to read an article on the decreasing sales of records.

During a commercial, Steven spoke up, "Do you think Forman's finally gonna make an honest woman out of Donna?"

Jackie scoffed, "I'd hope so. I'd blame Eric but they're both idiots. I talked to him today but he was worse than Fez when you catch him during his special time."

Steven laughed, "Yeah, I brought it up today too. At this rate they're never gonna be the next Kitty and Red Forman we know them to be."

"I know. Who would've guessed that Michael would be the first one of us to settle down and marry?" she said shaking her head.

Steven put the magazine down on the table, getting more comfortable, "I think the real question is how Brooke puts up with having two kids."

"That reminds me, we have to start thinking of presents for Betsy. Now that she's four she's gonna be able to remember what we get her."

Their goddaughter loved them both since they spoiled her rotten every time they saw her; which was more often now that Michael had moved back to Point Place.

"I think it won't be too hard to impress her. She loves us more than Kelso," Steven replied, though he knew that wasn't entirely true. Kelso adored his daughter and she was one of the biggest daddy's girls out there.

Jackie tightened the cap of her nail polish and leaned back onto the couch to wait for them to dry. It was still early in the night, only nine o'clock, but the coziness of the evening was making her sleepy.

Steven moved over closer to her and wrapped an arm around her.

"Loveboat" had wrapped up and apparently in honor of the first day of December they'd be showing "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

Jackie yawned and snuggled closer to him, resting her cheek on his warm chest. Another reason she loved Christmas was because he would start to wear his winter sweaters. Not only did they look great on him but she loved cuddling with him when he wore them.

They enjoyed the film but by the time they reached the singing around the tree, the warm weight of Steven's arm around her and the murmuring sound of the television lulled Jackie to sleep.


A/N: thank you to those who've reviewed! They really brighten my day and motivate me to continue this story!

Let me know what you think! xoxo