Disclaimer: I do not own That 70s Show.
Yes. I'm back! Here we go.
"…And that's…uh all you need to know, honey," Brooke smiled tightly and everyone held their breath.
Betsy pondered on the choppy, vague explanation for a second and then shrugged, "Okay." She took a bite of her food and everyone else took a breath.
Mrs. Forman was the first to move as she started clearing away the table, "Well…I need a drink," she laughed, "I'll bring some glasses." She headed to the kitchen.
"Let me help you, Mrs. Forman," Donna jumped up, grabbing Eric's plate out from under him even though he was grabbing a last forkful. She leaned down to whisper at his exclamation, "It'll give me the chance to butter her up on this whole moving situation."
Eric looked impressed, "Oh Donna, my little scheme-y mc-schemerton."
The table all rolled their eyes at the couple, knowing it was hopeless to expect Eric's mother to let it all happen without out World War III. A little less drama than Africa but definitely worse than when they got engaged.
Red gestured his drink at Eric, "You better not make your mother cry. Or my foot will be the only after-dinner drink you'll know." Everyone raised an eyebrow at the poor threat, but said nothing knowing it was because of the young ears in the room. No one wanted a repeat of Thanksgiving.
"Dad, you know how mom gets. She'll cry no matter what I say, if she could only relax," Steven snorted in laughter, "and just see that I'm a grown man." It was Jackie's turn to laugh and Eric threw her a glare.
"You know Forman," Kelso jumped in, "if you want my advice," he ignored Eric's answer, "the best way would be to buy her something nice. Women always are easier to handle when you get them gifts."
"Kelso, I don't think anyone ever wants your advice. It usually ends in either death or serious injury, if not jail," Hyde said dryly.
"Thin ice, honey," was all Brooke said.
Fez sang around a mouthful of cookie, "Oh, someone's in the dog house."
Jackie frowned, "Fez, when'd you get that cookie?!"
They were interrupted, "Okay! Here we go!" Mrs. Forman's words and volume were cheery but from the look on her face and her tight voice, whatever conversation Donna had attempted in the kitchen hadn't gone well. Donna's exasperated look and mumbled words to Eric also pointed to failed a failed plan.
Glasses were quickly filled and passed around, as per tradition of family dinners. That is until Steven remembered an important detail. It hit him slowly, a simple glance at Jackie smiling as she passed down the glasses. Then he thought about how she'd definitely miss the drinking for the next nine months. And finally, the important detail: she shouldn't be drinking at all!
He took a half a second to see if she had realized it yet but as she settled her hands around her own drink, settling in, he knew she hadn't. The next moment as she raised her glass he didn't know what to do. He wasn't sure how much alcohol it took to hurt the baby but he wasn't keen on finding out. He was a smooth man, at least he thought himself to be, so he couldn't explain his next move.
"Uh, Jackie!" he said way too loudly, evident by the way she and everyone jumped. "Maybe you shouldn't drink that, you know, uh."
Jackie's face dawned with understanding and she set the glass down with a thud. Confused faces zeroed in on the couple who had no explanation.
"Um…what?" Eric said.
Jackie scrambled for words, "Oh! I haven't been feeling too well that's all! Steven's right, it's probably best not to drink wine."
Mrs. Forman said, "If you're feeling under the weather, I could whip up a Hot Toddy. It'll fix you right up."
Steven's heart raced, more alcohol! Definitely not.
So he tried to help, "No, it's not a cold or anything. She just drank too much wine last night and adding any more in her system now would just make it worse."
Eyes pinged back to Mrs. Forman, who looked at Jackie seriously, "You know Jackie, drinking that heavy are signs of drinking problems. I could grab you some pamphlets from work with some resources."
Jackie gaped at the words, thinking it couldn't have come from a more ridiculous source. Steven grimaced hoping she could hold her tongue. Fez ate another cookie.
"Right, Mrs. Forman," Jackie said calmly not saying what she wanted to in order to move past this awkward encounter.
"There's no sense in it going to waste," Mrs. Forman reached over for Jackie's glass and poured it into her own.
Eric said, "Oh-kay."
Everyone, minus Jackie and Betsy, took a long drink of wine, knowing it was best to occupy their mouths.
Steven unlocked the door, ready to escape Jackie.
"I'm just saying, Steven, how could you not think of something that didn't make me sound like a damn alcoholic!"
He sighed, "I said I was sorry. I didn't know what else to do!"
They walked into the bedroom, flicking on the light as they undressed and pulled on their pajamas. Jackie turned for Steven to unzip her top, but didn't stop complaining about how humiliating it was for her. He could only sigh again as he grabbed a clean pair of boxers and pulled on an old t-shirt, faded from years of washing. She quickly changed into her camisole, shaking her head.
He followed her into the bathroom, "Jackie, what did you want me to do? Let you drink?"
Washing her face of make-up, she couldn't answer but she huffed. He reached around her and grabbed his tooth brush, and began to brush his teeth.
She dried her face and her voice was muffled by the towel, "Okay fine. You're right I wouldn't have remembered. But we're gonna have to be better than that if we want to keep this a secret until we go to the doctor."
Steven spit in the sink, "That's another thing…" He rinsed and took the towl from her hands to dry off.
Jackie raised an eyebrow, "What?" She brushed her teeth but kept her eyes on him.
"I think we should tell the Formans, at least," he lathered soap in his hands and washed his face.
She spoke around the toothbrush, "Thee-ven!" She brushed vigorously. The bathroom was silent except for the sounds of water and brushing.
Once done, he continued, "I don't like lying to them, man. They're the closest things I have to parents. I just think they should know." He crossed his arms stubbornly.
Jackie dried her face, "We're not lying to them," Steven's eyebrow rose this time, "Okay, technically we are, but not really. We're not keeping something terrible from them. I'm not ashamed or guilty."
"You're not?"
"You are?"
"'Course not!"
"Then, it more of a secret, like lying for a surprise party. We have to think of the baby Steven!"
Steven bristled, "Hey, I'm thinking of the baby!"
"Not like that! Ugh you can be so annoying."
Jackie left him behind in the bathroom heading for their bedroom, pulling off decorative pillows roughly. She pulled back the duvet and climbed in as he entered.
"You're one to talk," he scoffed, and joined her in bed.
Jackie took a breath, "Look. What I'm saying is we only just found out today." She paused to see if he was listening or preparing for his rebuttal, sensing his calm she continued speaking, "We don't know if I really am pregnant, like one-hundred percent certain. We don't know how far along I am. And also, I don't want to think about it…but we also don't know if this is gonna stick. I could lose the baby Steven, it's still really early." She said the last part softly.
Steven uncrossed his arms, thinking for a moment. "Alright you have a point. But I still don't like this."
Jackie smiled, happy to see their conversation taking a turn for the better, "I know, puddin'," she wrapped her arms around one of his and he relaxed into her embrace. "How about this: I'll call tomorrow and make the soonest doctor's appointment I can. Then we can find out all the important stuff and get some advice. If everything's alright, we tell the Formans."
"Deal. Now I have another proposition for ya," he smirked.
She knew that smile well but she played along, "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah," she replied and tugged her under him as she laughed into his kiss.
A/N: School really did take it's toll on me, I'm wrapping up my last master's course and I have way more time which had led me back here. I really do intend to finish this story, tho who knows how long it'll take; fingers crossed I get a lot of it done this summer. I've created an outline and I've the next 4 or so chapters planned which will hopefully help me crank them out.
A sincere and big thank you to all of you who have stuck with this story, followed it, and reviewed. Every notification I get reminds me of my love for this stuff and helps get me back to my computer writing. Again, really appreciate you all!
