Warped

by JJOAS

A 30 year old get's reincarnated into the body of one ten year old Jackie Burckhart and because of this cosmic hiccup this That 70's Show dimension get's a little warped. Slice of life.

6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6: 1978

Dust motes floated through the beams of light that flooded through the basement's small windows. The sun peeked behind the clouds now and again. It didn't look like it would rain for a while. We were all lounging in the basement again. I wiggled in Steven's lap slightly trying to get the tingly sensation out of my legs. Steven winked at me subtly and stretched out his legs, "Eric Forman's first suspension. I'm so proud!" He took a sip of the root beer we had been sharing.

I gave him a startled look, "No, wait, back up. Why'd he get suspended?" I slipped the can out of his grasp and took a long gulp. That was really unlike Eric. Then again, Donna was acting anti-Donna as of late.

A wide grin stretched across Steven's face and his eyes twinkled, "Because he's stupid." I let out an irritated sigh while he plucked the can out of my hand and chugged the rest of the soda. I pinched him lightly and he kissed the side my neck fondly. Eric snorted at that note giving us an unamused grimace.

Michael looked up from the comic he was reading and gave us an oblivious look, "They can do that?"

I rolled my eyes at him, "No obviously not, Michael." I turned my head towards Donna and gave her a worried frown, "Donna, what happened?" I started fiddling with my hands slightly. Suspension wasn't a joke, so I was really curious as to what had actually transpired.

Donna shot Eric an irritated look crossing her arms across her chest, "He told them it was his cigarette. And that's stupid." She squinted at him and poked his chest roughly.

Eric snapped at Donna sending her a narrow eyed look, "Please, Donna, stop. Don't fall all over yourself thanking me." He pushed her away slightly.

A hurt look flashed briefly across her face. Donna shot back glaring at him, "I didn't need your help."

They'd been fighting a lot like that lately. I personally thought she was just lashing out at us because of what was still going on with her parents. It wasn't right by any means, but I could understand. When I had first gotten into this world, I wanted to lash out at everyone and everything. It wasn't fair, and that helpless feeling can make usually nice people cantankerous.

Steven chuckled and adjusted me slightly, "Yeah, Forman, I think she wants to get into trouble. It's Donna's little cry for help. "Help me, help me!" We hear you, Donna." He sent her a teasing smile, which caused her to focus her glare on us. I didn't think she was being fair at all since Steven had hit the problem spot on.

I winked at her, "And we love you." I could see that her look softened slightly before her irritation surged up again. She was being moodier than she normally was when she was on her period. I would never say that aloud though.

Donna threw her hands up into the air and started walking out of the basement, "Get bent, you two. You guys are jerks." I stuck my tongue out at her back and rolled my eyes before I snuggled into Steven. She was being the jerk.

Eric let out an exasperated sigh, "Wait. Why am I a jerk? I don't even know what's going on! This is freaking great. Why did I even take the fall? I mean, Donna doesn't care and, you know, Red's gonna kill me." He let his face fall into the palm of his hand while his other hand pulled on his hair slightly. I hoped he wouldn't pull any hair out at this rate, although knowing him…that may just happen.

Steven reached over to him and patted his arm jostling me slightly, "Relax, Forman. He's not gonna- Oh, wait, did you say kill you? Yeah, you're right."

Eric shrugged off his hand, "Hyde, this isn't funny. On Red's list of screw ups getting suspended from school is right up there with backing over my mom." I nodded along in agreement. Suspension was way up on his 'never do that' list. But then again a whole bunch of things appeared on said list.

Michael scoffed at all of us, "Hey, man, having a chick is about sacrifice. Like Annie she wants to decorate my van with some of her girlie stuff, right? So I tell her she can have one stuffed animal in the glove box. See? Sacrifice."

I shot him an irritated look while I fingered the empty soda can in my hand, "Michael, 'member how you used to put your whole fist in your mouth?" If I aimed it right I could hit him in the head with this can.

Michael nodded tilting his head slightly, "Yeah?"

Steven gave him a grim smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Do it now." I gently placed the can beside our seat and gave Steven a small high five that he returned. Michael was being totally inconsiderate and I personally thought he did need to shut up.

Michael pouted whining while he gave us a puppy dog look, "Damn, why is everybody so crabby today?"

I gave him an irritated look, my lips spread into a thin line, but before I could give him a proper retort Annette came in dragging a large suitcase behind her.

Michael gave her a curious look getting up and greeting her with a short kiss, "What's in the suitcase, babe?"

Annette rolled her eyes, stood back slightly, and popped open the suitcase, "Stuffed animals for the van, remember? Look, Michael, I know we agreed on just one but then I got to thinking, and, well, I want them all."

A slow smile spread onto my face and I felt Steven's chest rumble. I glanced back at him and saw that he was silently chuckling, a grin tugging at the edge of his lips. Eric was giving Michael an utterly satisfied look.

Michael looked flabbergasted and stuttered, "But – But…."

Annette gave him a challenging look with her hands on her hips, "What, Michael?" I don't really know how they functioned as a couple some times. They always had this sort of emotional 'tug of war'. At the end of the day one of them was always upset or disappointed. I wanted to help them, but if it meant ever giving up Steven…well… Annette would just have to suffer. I certainly tried to be nice and selfless normally, but I didn't ever do well sharing men. Ask my first four boyfriends. Heh.

Michael's face crumpled and he sighed, "But… Okay."

Steven rolled his eyes at him sneering slightly, "Whoa, ease up on her, Kelso." I nodded letting out my own sigh squashing down my irritation. They didn't really bring out the best in one another and I think that was why Annette rubbed me the wrong way sometimes.

Michael gave us a weighing look before taking back his seat, "You know, sacrifice is hard."
Annette happily plopped down onto his lap with her suitcase in tow.

Fez burst in through the door with a grin that spread from ear to ear. His eyes sparkled and he announced, "So, my host parents set me up on a blind date. Finally, somebody to love. And it gets better. She's not even blind. Get it? Blind." He happily sat down onto a nearby lawn chair and pouted at our unamused faces.

I gave him a consoling look gently saying, "That's not that funny, Fez." I really loved puns, but even that one was pretty bad.

Fez pouted and looked around at everyone's slight nods, "Oh."

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Kitty, Red, Steven, and I sat at the dinner table waiting for Laurie and Eric to show up. Those two were uncharacteristically late tonight. Dinner was always at eight pm sharp, but not tonight. I could see that Kitty was uncomfortable with a pinched smile on her face under the lamp light and Red was silently simmering. This would be one of those dinners. I coughed as quietly as I could. It wouldn't do to garner their anxious attention right now.

Eric walked in with Laurie following behind him. Red gave Eric a gimlet stare, "Well, if it isn't Mr. Smoker."

Eric gave Laurie a betrayed look while she cackled, "Oh, wait. Yes, I did." She took her usual seat across from me and sneered. I rolled my eyes and shot Eric a nervous smile. He in turn gave me a reassuring glace. He was totally going to be in hot water now. I started serving myself some mashed potatoes and gravy. Steven gently rubbed my knee underneath the table while he helped himself to some steamed vegetables and baked sweet rolls.

Red roughly placed some pot roast and mashed potatoes onto his plate while he gruffly stated, "Congratulations, Eric. You got suspended. Are you getting dumber?"

Eric placed some steamed vegetables onto his plate and gave Red an earnest look, "Look, Dad, I don't smoke."

Laurie snickered and placed a single sweet roll onto her plate. She was on one of her ridiculous diets again. She batted her eyes at Red and pursed her lips slightly, "Daddy, if Eric's a smoker and he lies about smoking doesn't that make him a smoking liar?"

Kitty gave Laurie a sharp look passing on some food to Eric, "Okay, you know what? That's enough. Eric, have some more pot roast. Here's some mashed potatoes, and here's a photo of a cancerous lung." She held out a cancerous lung print out to Eric and I couldn't help but laugh under my breath. It was kind of hypocritical for Kitty and Laurie to rag on Eric since I knew they both heavily smoked when the men weren't around, and when they thought I was at a safe enough distance away. They always left a lingering smell of tobacco when they would binge smoke.

Eric plopped his food down onto his plate and held his hands up shaking his head, "Whoa! Mom, gross! Look, I don't smoke!"

I spooned some pot roast mixed with gravy and mashed potatoes into my mouth watching the entire spectacle avidly. Steven chuckled under his breath taking a sip of his Tab soda.

Kitty shrugged popping a steamed broccoli bit into her mouth, "Okay, well, either way that's what's gonna happen to your lungs if you keep on smoking."

Steven sliced a bit of his pot roast deadpanning, "Well, the way he's screwing up his life, death will be a sweet release."

Eric shot Steven a grateful look before a lopsided smile crossed his face, "So I got that to look forward to."

Red put down his glass against the table violently, "You got suspended, pal. How do you think your college interviews are gonna go? Well, looks like we have a model student here. Excellent grades, secretary-treasurer of the A.V. Club. Uh-oh. What's this? You were suspended? Yes, sir, for smoking. Well, we can't have a loser like you at our school. I'm sorry to say, you're not Princeton material, dumb-ass! Oh, if only I'd listened to my mother."

Kitty tuned them out and quietly ate her dinner with this strange contemplative look on her face. I wondered what was going on in her mind. I sliced another piece of my pot roast and mixed it with my gravy and mashed potatoes.

Eric slumped into his seat pushing his food from one side of his plate to another, "Sorry. What a lesson I have learned. Can I go?"

Red nodded before firmly stating, "Sure. Right after you smoke this entire pack of cigarettes." He placed down a full pack of cigarettes onto the table, and I tilted my head at him. Did he really mean it? That was kind of harsh, but then again…this was the anti-drug era.

Laurie finished off her food and bounced in her chair. She had a smile that stretched far too far across her face and a mean twinkle in her eyes, "Yea, Daddy! Ooh, tear off the filters."

Eric gave him a disbelieving look, "Dad, you can't be serious." It did seem really harsh in comparison to what he didn't really do. I should probably step in at some point before; you know…it goes too far. I popped in some steamed veggies into my mouth. I would do it after I finished my meal. Eric could survive that long, right?

Red gave him a grim look pushing the cigarettes towards Eric, "Have I ever not been serious?"

Eric pushed the cigarettes back towards his father shaking his head, "Dad, I'm telling you the truth, okay? You have to take my word for it. I don't smoke." His word was all he really had, and despite the increase of dishonesty that Eric had been participating in… he had always been kind of a boy scout while we were younger.

Red glanced at Eric's pleading face and clenched the cigarettes in his hand, "Your word, huh?"

Eric nodded slowly sincerely stating, "It's all a man has." I guess he did have a point. I finished off the last of my pot roast and mashed potatoes. Steven finished off his steamed veggies and sweet rolls tilting his head to the side slightly. He raised an eyebrow at me and I shrugged slightly. I didn't know how this would end either.

Kitty gave Eric a sweet look patting his shoulder slightly before going back to her meal, "Well, now, that's nice."

Red shook his head and shoved the cigarettes towards Eric, "What a load of crap."

Eric let out an indignant, "I don't smoke!"

Kitty sighed and a guilty look flashed onto her face, "I think this might be my fault. I think he's just imitating me, so he can look cool." Didn't smoking in this era come off as more of a badass thing rather than cool? I always felt so behind times with people my own age. It was probably one of the many side effects of jumping through high school. Not that I was complaining about the group I was currently in. I just wished…I just wished I had more friends too. That wasn't a bad thing, right?

I finished my steamed veggies and drank the last of my fruit punch while Steven finished off his pot roast. I supposed that I should step in about now before he really did have to smoke all those cigarettes. I cleared my throat garnering their attention slightly, "Mr. And Mrs. Forman, Eric got caught holding Donna's cigarette at school. She's the one who was smoking."

Red gave me a startled look before pocketing the cigarettes, "Oh. Well, Lin, thank you for your honesty."

Eric scowled slightly at Red and huffily asked, "What? How come you believe her? I told you I don't smoke!" I agreed with him silently. Why did they value someone else's word over Eric's when up until this year or so he had never really had reason to lie to them? The only one he really lied to before that was our old elementary school teacher about who actually destroyed that girl's diorama.

Laurie's lips pulled down into a deep frown. She looked at Red and Kitty with disappointed eyes before surly saying, "Eric's not in trouble now? Fine!" She flounced off leaving her dirty plate at the table. I pursed my lips in dismay and Kitty let out a long suffering sigh. No matter what we said to her; Laurie was still going to be rude.

Kitty turned to Red and gave him an expectant look, "Well, now, I think you have something to say to Eric."

Red nodded and gruffly stated, "Oh, yeah. Nice job on the driveway yesterday." He then proceeded to stuff some mashed potatoes into his mouth. It really did look nice. Eric had voluntarily swept up the driveway yesterday. He was being uncharacteristically helpful that day. I think it was because Donna had let him grope her.

Kitty frowned at him and stated with a pinched smile, "Red." I got up along with Steven and silently cleaned up our plates. He picked up the glasses and cutlery and I balanced the empty plates in my hands. Kitty sent us a grateful look; her smile actually reaching her eyes causing the corner of her eyes to crinkle. I nodded, a small grin twitching onto my lips.

Red let out a deep sigh before giving Eric a slightly apologetic look, "Okay. Just- Okay, I'm gonna say I'm sorry, but you know, you do lie a lot."

Steven and I walked out of the dining room with the dirty plates in our hands. Steven placed them gently into the sink while I stood by the door and eavesdropped. Steven rolled his eyes at me and gently took the plates out of my hands clucking his tongue at me slightly.

I shrugged at him with an unapologetic grin. They wouldn't be out for while yet and I wanted to know what the ending was. It's not like I could find out otherwise.

I heard Eric grimace, "What have I lied about?" I could hear Kitty's spoon and fork clinking against her almost empty plate.

I could hear Red let out a tired sigh while he listed off Eric's indiscretions, "You lied about the beer keg, the dents in the Vista Cruiser. You lied when you said you weren't taking the car out of town."

I laughed quietly while Eric squeaked, "You knew about that?" If he didn't Eric certainly incriminated himself with that outburst.

I heard the triumph in Red's voice, "I do now. Oh! Ha! We're even."

Steven pulled me away from the door and I pouted. The last thing I managed to overhear was Eric's wry tone saying, "Oh, Dad, you've gotta be kidding me."

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We finished up cleaning up the dishes that we brought into the kitchen and Steven tugged me away from the sink back towards our home. I glanced back at the empty kitchen and let out an irritated breath. I didn't want to be rude and not say goodbye to them. I tugged my arm back slightly and Steven looked back at me rolling his eyes slightly, "Come on, Lin."

I pouted and dragged my feet a little, "Isn't it rude not to say, goodbye though?"

Steven paused in our journey and shook his head, "They basically raised us and they were all having a private conversation, doll. I doubt that they'd really care that we didn't say goodbye."

I shrugged and moved forward looping my arm with his, "Yeah…but still. Just in case do you wanna take the long way back to our house?"

Steven let out a long suffering sigh and a small smile twitched at the edge of his lips, "Alright, but just know that I'm only doing this because I love you."

A wide smile stretched across my face making my eyes squint slightly, "I love you too, puddin' pop!"

We walked along the side walk and I noticed that Michael was running after Annie. I pulled on Steven's arm slightly and pointed at the strange sight. Steven chuckled and shrugged, "That's those two for you; always doing something weird."

I snuggled into his arm and nodded slightly, "I suppose. Do you think that they're happy together?"

Steven snorted and gazed further ahead looking for something I couldn't quite see, "With all the cheating that Kelso does? I don't think he's that happy at all. I mean… he is a pig, but even pigs can be happy with one person right?"

I tilted my head while I stared out and tried to picture it, "Aren't the whole mate for life thing reserved for some people, gibbons, swans, black vultures, French Angel fish, and wolves?"

Steven nodded while we walked up our patio steps, "Mhmm. You forgot a couple more animals though."

I pursed my lips pouting lightly while I gently poked his side, "Well Mr. Smartypants. What animals did I miss?"

Steven sat down on the patio swing and I popped inside to open the patio light. I made my way back and found that he had made himself comfortable lying down against the entire patio seat. I slid on top of him and gave him an expectant look while I raised my eyebrow, "So?"

Steven tilted his head and looked down at me shrugging his shoulders bonelessly, "Mmm…Albatrosses, termites, prairie voles, turtle doves, a type of parasitic worm that I forgot the name of, and bald eagles."

I let my head rest on his slowly rising and falling chest, "How'd you know about all that?"

He chuckled lightly and his eyes softened in the evening light, "We did watch that special on valentine's day on that planet nature show. I forgot what it was called."

My head fell to the side and I nodded, "Ahhh… I remember that. Soooo?"

He rolled his eyes at me swinging us slowly with a leg that he managed to drop back onto the ground, "You wanna stay here a little while?"

I smiled inhaling his scent mixed in with the warm evening air, "That sounds lovely." I loved nights like this.

Steven chortled and I felt his arms tighten slightly around me while he hummed a nonsensical tune. Even though the evening started out weird I think it all turned out rather well.

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The morning light streamed through the kitchen window and I sighed happily while I took a sip of my orange juice. Steven wasn't present right now since he had an early shift at the FotoHut. Why they needed to start this early was beyond me. Kitty laid another pancake on my plate and took a seat beside me. I promptly doused my entire small stack with syrup sans butter. I liked it when they got just a little bit mushy, but not to the point of becoming pancake goop.

Eric took a big bite out of his pancakes and tentatively looked over at Red, "Hey, Dad, can I go to Vanstock with the guys this weekend?" I don't know why he was so hesitant. I think that talk that came about because of the cigarettes did a world of good for his relationship with Red. Then again, I could be overanalyzing things again. I did that far too often at times.

Red looked up from his customary newspaper giving Eric a suspicious look, "What the hell's a Vanstock?"

Eric gulped and smiled sheepishly, "Well, it's like Woodstock but with a greater emphasis on vans."

Red rolled his eyes before going back to his newspaper, "Sounds stupid. Have a good time."

Laurie had a plotting look shimmering in her eyes. She pursed her lips and batted her eyelashes at Red, "Oh, then, Daddy, since Eric is going out of town, can I have his car?"

Red peered over his newspaper and gave Laurie a measuring look, "Why?"

I tilted my head curiously asking, "Where are you going?"

Laurie sent me a disdainful look, "Excuse me. I was talking to Daddy."

I shrugged. She could be as bitchy and bratty all she wanted. I didn't really care what she thought. It would make visiting here easier if she was nicer though. "I know."

Kitty peered at her and took another bite of her eggs, "Where are you going?"

Laurie gave her mother a dismissive look and waved her hand lazily, "Frat party."

Red gently set his newspaper down and sent Laurie a hard look, "Frat party? No." I think she just really missed the university parties that she used to be at. From what I could gather while I subtly snooped now and again, she was bemoaning the fact that all of her friends were off doing cool things while she was "stuck" here. I bet if she got a job she wouldn't be so "stuck".

Laurie whined and wiggled in her chair, "But, Daddy –" That tone didn't quite work with him any more after all the numerous fuck ups she had dragged us through. Although, I could see his resolve melt a little. I finished off my pancakes and patted my stomach gently under the table. Ahhh. I loved being full. It was a much better feeling than the gnawing hunger that I had felt when I was this age in my original life.

Red gave her a pitying look before circling something on his newspaper, "Look, honey, it's up to Eric. It's his car." He took a quick gulp of his black coffee motioning to Eric.

Eric had a bewildered look on his face before a calculating expression flittered across his visage, "Really? Well, I mean, I guess- No!"

Laurie looked like she was going to protest, but before she could do so Kitty cleared her throat, "Well, that's settled then. Red, what are you gonna do today?"

Red let out a frustrated sigh and slightly slammed his newspaper onto the table. He gave Kitty a putout look, "Ah, read the want ads, look for some employees, check on the shop, and see if I get any customers. Then, just to break up the day, I thought I'd go down to Rexall look for some Gold Bond for my athlete's foot. Any more questions?"

Kitty patted his hand gently and stretched a strained smile across her face, "Well, oh, boy, Red, we've got the big hospital banquet to look forward to." I really didn't like it when Red lashed out at Kitty like that. Steven did that sometimes too. I wondered if Kitty ever talked to him about that. They were really old fashioned and traditional though… so 'feelings' probably wasn't a conversation that they usually participated in.

Red rolled his eyes and sarcastically stated, "Oh, right. Well, then, screw the Gold Bond. I gotta get my hair done."

Kitty exhaled a long suffering sigh, "Honey, I don't think it's gonna be that bad. And if it is, I can always give you a shot of Demerol."

Laurie perked up at the word Demerol, "You have Demerol? I mean, what's-what's Demerol?" I inwardly smacked my head with the heel of my hand. Sometimes I wondered about Laurie too.

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Steven and I helped Eric load up some of his stuff into Michael's van. He cheerily came up to us while Michael set up some seats in the back that he had scavenged earlier this week. I was still amazed that the scrap people hadn't gone after him for stealing. It might have helped that they were related to Annette and Pam though.

Eric happily announced plopping down a first aid kit under one of the seats, "So, Donna and I are all set for Vanstock." Well…all set was kind of relative when he said that. We had been roped into helping load up and pack since they had planned everything last minute Eric Forman style.

Michael sent Eric a distressed look shaking his head rapidly, "Whoa! No, Donna can't come with us."

I looked at him curiously while Steven went back into Eric's house to fetch something that they had forgotten, "Why not?"

Michael wilted slightly and gave me a sheepish look, "Well, it's kinda complicated."

Eric's eyes narrowed and he looked like he was going to rant again. Before he could do that though, Laurie bounced in between the two teens and chirped, "Hey, Kelso. So what time are we leaving for Vanstock?" This was going to be an interesting mix with Laurie there that was for certain.

Eric gave her an unamused look before growling, "No."

Laurie flipped her hair over her shoulder, "Yeah."

Eric actually stomped his foot quiet reminiscent of a toddler during a tantrum, "No!" I snickered while I adjusted everything that they had loaded into the van.

Michael piped in enthusiastically, "Yeah!"

Eric snarled at the two of them, "No!" I had only really seen him snarl a couple times in my life here. I think he was really pissed off that Laurie had decided to trample on another one of his "get into Donna's pants" attempts. I don't think he should've gotten so bent out of shape though. There would eventually be a time for doing it. Donna, despite her odd reckless streak, cared deeply for Eric. I should probably reassure him….but then again? Eh.

Laurie gave Eric a thin smug smile sneering, "I guess you should have given me your car, Eric. Now I'll be with you and Kelso all weekend." She flounced off to do something or another giving me a nasty look along the way. I stuck my tongue out at her and pulled down my lower eyelid. What a bitch. I composed myself before going back to my previous task.

Eric stared at Michael disbelievingly his voice dripping in betrayal and hurt, "How could you ask Laurie?"

Michael, as obtuse as always, pouted and whined at Eric, "Annie didn't want to go. What choice did I have?"

Eric rolled his eyes and threw up his hands into the air sarcastically exclaiming, "Oh, man!"

Relief flittered through Michael's eyes and his shoulders slumped slightly, "See? Now you see my problem. Since Laurie's going, I'm gonna have to make out with her. And if Donna goes, she's gonna see me making out with Laurie and then tell Annie. Therefore, Donna can't go." His logic made absolutely no sense and I made sure to bump into him roughly while I slid a cooler into the back of his van. Steven raised his eyebrow at me carrying a sack in his hands. He came over and I silently mouthed 'Michael and Laurie'.

Steven gently patted my behind and plopped the sack on top of the cooler. He rolled his eyes at Michael and firmly stated, "Or you could just not make out with Laurie, Kelso. Control man. Control."

Michael shook his head and frowned, "Be serious, Hyde." Steven made sure that the sack was secure before giving Michael an 'are you stupid?' look. Michael being Michael was oblivious to it.

Eric shot Michael a discontented look before stating firmly, "Okay, look. Donna's coming, and if that blows your weekend, then, too bad." He then started heading towards his house for another thing that he probably forgot.

I shrugged and Steven held me in a hug from behind. He let out a deep breath near my ear and I shivered. I felt his slightly smiling mouth on my neck, "You think we should help him?"

Steven glanced at where Eric had gone before nodding slightly, "Sure." We made our way towards Eric's house. While we walked I heard Michael yell, "Fine! But, you know what? You're makin' cheatin' a lot harder than it has to be." I rolled my eyes and slid my arm around Steven's waist. Michael was a pig. I was eternally grateful that I wasn't dating him. Woe to all the other Jacquelines that had to do so in any of the other dimensions.

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We came back to the van and double checked that everything that we had stored was still properly laid down. Donna looked at the two of us while Eric looked like he was about to pass out, "Did you guys know about this?" I wonder what she was talking about.

Eric stammered and waved his hands in front of him, "Did I- Uh, no, no. I didn't know about this." He sent us a helpless look, "Hey, Hyde, Lin. Donna just saw Kelso and Laurie making out."

I think Donna was the only one in our group along with Annette that didn't know that Michael was a dirty lying cheat. On one hand, I was Donna's best friend and I felt bad that I didn't tell her. On the OTHER hand, Donna was very bad at keeping things like that to herself. I had fiddled around with the idea of telling Annette before, but I knew that she would have to find out for herself if she was ever to really believe anyone. Annette was always swimming down denial. Get it? Hah.

Steven raised his eyebrow at the two of them and strapped in Eric's backpack so it wouldn't jostle throughout their journey, "So?"

I let out a deep sigh and leaned against Steven, "And?"

Eric let out a breathless nervous laugh, "Aren't you shocked? I'm shocked, for one, to have learned about this."

Donna looked like she was going to rip Eric a new one when Annette popped on by lugging a large duffle bag, "Hey, guys. I decided to go. I thought it'd be fun to surprise Michael."

Eric gave her a bewildered look deadpanning, "That would be fun."

I gave Annette a pitying stare finally deciding that she'd just have to swallow this bitter pill, "Um, Annette, before you surprise Kelso, there's something going on that you should know." It would be better if she knew sooner rather than later. Most people always asked why someone hadn't told them earlier if someone was cheating on them.

She looked at me with wide eyes and a nervous smile, "What?"

I suddenly felt my resolve crumble. I hated giving people bad news. I saw Donna's hesitant look and Eric's rapidly shaking head. Steven gave me a 'what are you waiting for' look. I let out a deep long suffering breath, "You know, Vanstock is gonna be really boring, and it's gonna be muddy. And, you know, there's a good chance there'll be some Canadians there."

Annette squeezed her eyes shut and wriggled in one spot, "Eww!" She was a very big xenophobe and really hated dirt, from what I recalled.

Steven's eyes sparked with mischief and a calculating smile appeared onto his face, "No, no, Annie, you should go. You can't let the Canadians win." Fez walked on by plonking down his stuff by everyone else's things in the back of the van. I personally thought Canadians were great, but then again I wasn't a xenophobe.

Annette glanced at Fez and held out her luggage, "Fez, put my stuff in the back, please." He beamed at her and silently complied with her request.

I gave Steven a questioning look and he mouthed 'wait for it'. He turned slightly towards Annette and grinned at her widely, "Hey, Annie, you know what would be the perfect surprise for Kelso? They'll pull the curtains, and you can hide in the back with them. And at some point, you jump up front and yell, "Surprise!""

Annette covered her mouth with wide eyes while she bounced in one spot, "Oh, my God. That is perfect!"

The perfect way to possibly make Michael possibly crack, you mean. I hoped that Steven's plan worked, although considering all the cheating Michael had done… I really doubted this would make him crack. I privately hoped that Steven wouldn't cheat on me in this universe. Sure he had said he wouldn't stoop down to Michael's level before, but I think everyone worried about that now and again. It was like when I worried about whether or not I was fat. Reassurances would only help so much.

Donna bit her thumb and I sighed motioning to Annette, "Now hop in the van before Michael sees you." Annette bounced towards the van slowly.

Steven rolled his eyes and pushed her slightly, "Hurry up." Annette pouted at us before she ducked down under a seat. Fez grinned and followed suit covering her with a blanket. I raised my eyebrow at him and he shrugged. Well that was one way to go about things.

Donna sighed and glanced at where Annette was hiding, "Oh, this may be the most interesting road trip ever."

Eric gave her a strained smile, "Yup."

I rolled my eyes at them and a smile twitched onto my face, "You guys have fun without us." Steven and I started walking away from them slowly hand in hand.

Steven sent them a curt wave, "Yeah. We have our own thing to do this weekend."

Eric sent Steven a stern look firmly stating, "Don't get my baby sister pregnant, Hyde." Honestly, like that would happen with the IUD in me? Oh. Wait. He didn't know about that. Oh well. He really didn't need to worry though.

I huffed giving him an irritated glance, "Jeeze, Eric. Calm down."

Steven chuckled, "Whatever, man."

I heard someone smack Eric upside the head; it was probably Donna, and his indignant squawk of protest. He really needed to chill sometimes.

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We were lounging on our couch with popcorn between us while Hawaii-Five-O played on the TV. Steven gently ran his hand on the curve of my waist while he popped some popcorn into his mouth, "So, how long do you think this whole thing has been going on?"

I laid my head on his shoulder and squirmed into a more comfortable position. I glanced at him popping a hand full of popcorn into my mouth. I thought for a moment before shrugging slightly, "Probably a while back when Laurie came back from university during thanksgiving. She was looking kind of mopey. I think another one of the boys she was toying with left her." Wiping away the salt from the popcorn on my shirt I patted down my hair. Sometimes when it got cool enough it would get a little frizzy. Hopefully that helped a little.

From all the years that I had known Laurie, I had found that when life got her down, she would lash out and make someone else feel worse. At those times I was really tempted to mention therapy. Just the word therapy made people in this era cagey though. It wasn't like how it was an okay thing to say in 2038, nope. Here it meant that you were implying someone was crazy and unbalanced; a potential danger to themselves and everyone else.

Steven stopped munching on popcorn for a moment and stared at the TV, "Damn."

I nodded, slowly popping more popcorn into my mouth, "Yeah. She's kind of a home wrecker when she gets sad."

He sighed and looked down at me briefly before popping a single popcorn kernel into his mouth, "Oh yeah. She slept with that married guy in Kenosha, right?" He chewed thoughtfully for a moment or so before swallowing.

I wriggled slightly making sure I was better snuggled against Steven, "Yeah. Mr. and Mrs. Forman really racked her over the coals for that one." I glanced at our rapidly depleting bowl of popcorn. I would probably have to make more if we were going to keep watching TV for a while.

Steven patted my hip slightly before taking a hand full of popcorn and popping some into my mouth. He let out a surprised, "Huh."

I nodded and patted his knee. I fed him some popcorn in return, "What do you think the guys are doing in Vanstock?"

Steven rolled his eyes, "Shenanigans since Laurie is there with Michael. Are you sad that we didn't go with them?" I had specifically asked, err rather begged, that we wouldn't go. My reasoning was, why go somewhere to have forest sex, if we could do it in our comfy bed? Steven saw the logic in this and went with it. My actual reason was because I didn't want to spend time in a cramped van with all the guys for three days. I could do camping if we all went in our own vehicles or were assured that we would get tents. Van living was not for me by any means.

I popped in the last bit of popcorn into my mouth. I chewed and swallowed while a mischievous look flooded my face, "Nah, I'd rather be with you. Besides, I think what we're going to do later tonight is much more fun." I wiggled my eye brows at him and palmed his hardening member through his jeans.

Steven yanked his attention away from Hawaii-Five-O and stared at me like a hungry wolf, "You wanna try that thing we saw in the porno?"

I took my hand away and sat up. I stared up at the ceiling trying to recall what he was talking about, "That thing that girl did?" I think she did something with her throat and the guy's balls.

He looked at me with the same hungry look, but his eyes twinkled in mirth, "Yeah. Now?"

I gave him a half lidded look licking my lips slightly, "Mhmm. Now." This would certainly be an adventure in the bedroom.

Steven popped out of the couch letting me flop facedown onto the couch cushion. I heard him merrily yell, "I'll race you to bed!" I snorted out a laugh while I got up and ran after him. I silently prayed that things would stay this way.

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Sweat trickled down Steven's forehead and I laid down next to him happily exhausted from our foray into pleasure. He pulled up a thin sheet covering us from the breeze that wafted in through our newly open window.

He turned to me and softly asked, "What are you thinking about?"

I blew out a dark stray curl that had found its way in front of my face. Was my contemplative look that obvious? I let out a snort burying my head into his side, "That Michael's an idiot, and if I say anything to Annette, it'll hurt her."

Steven nodded and I could feel him let out a slightly rumbling chuckle, "Yeah, but Kelso's acting like a scum bag."

I tilted my head back yawning slightly, "That's true. Do you think we should lay out more traps to trip him?"

Steven snorted and pulled me closer to his side while he turned us over into a spooning position. He slipped his leg in between mine and lazily groped my naked breast, "Mhmm. I love you."

I took his wandering hand and kissed it lightly, "I love you too, puddin' pop."

Steven nuzzled my neck and let out a content sigh, "Go to sleep, Lin."

I snuggled further into our pillows and nodded, "Alright. Good night, puddin' pop." I felt slumber's sweet embrace cling to my consciousness. We had lasted about thirty minutes this time, which was a new record for the two of us.

I felt Steven kiss my shoulder, "Night, doll." I was really glad we didn't decide to go to Vanstock with the guys. This, in my books, was a lot better in comparison.

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A couple weeks went by and Laurie had announced that she was going to leave and live on her own with a girlfriend. Red had looked shocked, Kitty looked just as pleased as Eric, and Steven and I looked at her with suspicion. The last girlfriend she ever had was one that she ended up screwing over by screwing the aforementioned girl's boyfriend. So I really didn't know who she was talking about. Now that I think about it….Laurie would be perfect for the Jerry Springer show. I don't think that they had that in this era yet.

I glanced at Red and the others giving them a nervous smile that crinkled my eyes, "So, um, Laurie's almost all packed." I had been dragged in along with Steven to help her pack up her things. She was thankfully silent through the whole ordeal when she had to participate, I couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were running through her head.

Red glanced at Laurie's packed boxes sighing sadly, "I can't believe my little girl is moving out which reminds me-" He turned to Eric and gave him a calculating look, "When are you leaving?"

Eric hauled out another one of Laurie's boxes and pasted a gleeful smile onto his face, "Never, 'cause I love it here!"

The way that he conveyed his sarcasm sometimes went over my head. I knew that he wasn't serious about that comment though. During one of our many talks, he had said that he wanted to get out of the house at twenty or so. He didn't want to be considered as some kind of mooch by the people that lived around us. I inwardly rolled my eyes at that thought. The people around ran on gossip like cars ran on petrol, so I usually tried my best to pay them no mind.

Eric continued hauling more of Laurie's boxes out of her room. Red turned and looked at Kitty nervously, "Right. Kitty, do you really think this is a good idea? I mean, it might be a little soon for her to be on her own."

Kitty taped up another box and gave Red a tired smile, "Red, she is gonna be fine. She's gonna split rent with a girlfriend."

Red nodded and packed away some bedding slowly, "She doesn't even have a job."

Kitty put down her duct tape and gave Red a slightly pinched look, "Well then, she is gonna get a job." I had honestly never seen Laurie work and break a sweat doing any sort of labor in my entire time of living next door to them. It was probably one of the many reasons why Kitty and her didn't get along too well.

Eric flopped onto the bed and tiredly asked Red, "Oh, that reminds me- Uh, can I have her room?"

Red raised his eyebrow at Eric and shook his head resolutely, "No, I already promised your mother that I'd turn it into a guest room." They had been talking about that before. I helped Kitty tape up another one of Laurie's boxes.

Eric shot Red an amused look before imitating Laurie's pseudo innocent voice, "But I'm your son, Daddy." Kitty chuckled and Red shook his head while the two of them went down to load up the moving van Laurie had somehow procured.

Steven came in wearing overalls and holding a bucket of cleaning supplies, "Oh, man, would you look at this place? We are going to have our work cut out for us helping Mr. and Mrs. Forman turn this into a guest bedroom." He looked over to me and threw a smaller pair of overalls at my head. I pouted and made my way to the bathroom to change. How did I get roped into this again?

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Steven inspected the wallpaper and made a disgusted face, "It's kinda girlie."

I rolled my eyes while I took down another one of Laurie's many posters, "It's a girl's room, Steven."

Steven snorted and helped me roll the posters up, "Oh, so all those guys, they were just passing through?"

I giggled and shrugged, "Well, that's gonna be over now."

We both looked at the pink paisley sheets that Laurie left. Steven grimaced, "We should burn the sheets."

I let out a sigh and pulled them off of the bed, "Probably."

Laurie poked her head into her old room and scowled, "You know, if I cared about this dump at all, that would totally creep me out."

I rolled my eyes at her and piled her sheets in a corner, "Come on, Laurie. You're gonna miss your room."

Steven raised his eyebrow at her and deadpanned, "It's not like you have no feelings ever about anything."

Laurie's lips thinned and I knew she was about to say something bitchy. Before she could say anything though, Michael bounced in looking positively exuberant, "Yes! I'm so psyched!"

Laurie rolled her eyes at him and sneered, "Oh, did you finally figure out how a thermos works?"

Michael shook his head happily ignoring her quip, "No, I'm psyched about your new place, you know? 'Cause whenever we fool around here I'm always afraid that Annie's gonna catch us. I don't wanna hurt her, 'cause I love her. You know? So this is great. It solves everything!"

Laurie's face contorted into a slightly panicked angry look, "Kelso, you are not allowed - anywhere near my new place ever!" She jabbed his chest multiple times with her pointer finger to probably get her point across.

Michael looked at Laurie beseechingly, "Laurie-"

Steven threw down his hands and growled at the two of them, "You know what? You freaks, you got about two minutes to deal with this little drama here. Then get the hell out of the room!"

I sighed and gently supplied, "We really have a lot of work to do, to turn this room around."

Michael gave us a disbelieving look before he turned sad eyes onto Laurie, "Whoa. I see what's going on here. You're breaking up with me."

Laurie threw her hair over her shoulder giving him a dismissive glance, "No, for me to break up with you there would have to be something between us to break."

Michael gasped his eyes wide and betrayed, "Oh! Uh - I cannot believe that you are being such a –"

I snorted and muttered under my breath, "Bitch?" Michael nodded happily at me and Laurie gave me another one of her snotty sneers.

She turned back to Michael and gave him a head to toe inspection. She rolled her eyes at him contemptuously, "Look, Kelso, it was fun and sweaty and all but you're just the guy I fooled around with when there was nothing good on TV. Sorry."

Michael gazed at her with a petulant pout, "Well, maybe there won't be anything good on TV at your new place! Aw, damn! There's always somethin' good on TV!"

Annette came up the stairs and popped her head into the room. Steven looked up from what he was doing and nodded towards Michael, "Hey, Kelso, look who's here."

I smacked Michael's shoulder slightly, "It's Annette."

He looked down at her panic flashing through his eyes, "Erm… Hi, Annie."

Annie gave him a contemplative smile before she gave Laurie a simpering look, "God, Laurie, I can't believe you're moving. I know we didn't spend much time together but I think some of my good taste was rubbing off on you, and I'm so happy for that."

Laurie looked at Annie with narrow eyes before she gave the girl a mean little smile, "Thanks, Annie. I'm gonna miss you too." She turned to Michael making sure that Annette saw what she was doing, "Oh, hey, Kelso, I almost forgot. I found a T-shirt of yours when I was cleaning out my room." She then proceeded to flounce off to God who knows where after shoving the shirt into Michael's chest.

Michael stuttered out, "Say, how'd that get there?"

Steven rolled his eyes and pulled the sheets into a spare box we had lying around. He deadpanned, "That's funny."

Michael shook his head rapidly at Annie's suspicious look, "Huh! N-No, this isn't even mine. This must be Eric's shirt." I sighed and muttered a silent dumb ass under my breath. I hauled the abundant posters that we had taken down and stowed them away in the box with the sheets.

Annette yanked the shirt away from Michael and inspected it carefully, "Your mom sewed your name in it, Michael."

Michael had tiny beads of sweat dripping down his face while he refused to look at Annette, "Man, Eric's gonna be pissed, huh?"

Annette wilted slightly and gripped the shirt harder, "I see."

Michael noticed her sad tone and held her shoulders. He gave her what was probably his attempt at a charming smile, "Annie, I borrowed Eric's shirt, 'cause mine wasn't working right and then my mom must've sewn my name in it."

Annette wiggled out of his grasp and muttered, "Hmm, I don't know, Michael." The drama between those three made me want to bring popcorn and just watch on a recliner. Did that make me a bad person? I pulled our bucket towards me and got the stuff we needed to take down the wall paper.

Michael let out a nervous laugh squinting at her slightly, "What, do you think I'm lying? Annie, if I were lying, I'd come up with a lot better lie than that."

I shook my head at him and rolled my eyes, "Yeah, you'd think so." I would make sure to go get some soda from my place after this.

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I popped back on over to my kitchen to fetch some sodas for me and Steven. When I closed the fridge sodas in hand, Donna peeked over asking, "So, Laurie's definitely moving out? And it's definitely over with her and Kelso?"

I jumped slightly holding the cans of sodas against my racing chest. I glanced around and noticed that Eric had decided to clamber on by too. I rolled my eyes at the two of them, "Well, she is moving all the way across town."

Eric nodded stealing a soda out of my fridge, "Probably, knowing Laurie. She is slutty, but - she hates to commute, so –"

Donna grunted leaning against my kitchen counter, "Good, because Kelso's a rat bastard and no one should be covering for him."

Eric opened the can of soda sipping on it before patting Donna's shoulder, "Look, Donna relax. It's over. So now you can get back to pleasing your man."

I set down the cans I had been holding and snorted out a laugh, "Nice try, Rico Suave."

Annette barged into my house and pointed at Eric, "Eric, please leave. I have to talk to Donna and Lin alone."

Eric gave her a bewildered look, "Well, okay, 'cause, I mean, it's not like this is my second home or any-"

Annette snarled at him and proceeded to push him out of my home, "Eric!"

Eric gave her a scornful look before throwing his hands up into the air as he walked away, "Fine, jeeze."

I let out a long suffering sigh popping open my soda, "Hmm. Yes, Annette?" I took a long sip and searched Annette's sad face.

Donna sat Annette down on one of my bar stools and asked her gently, "Annie, do you have something you want to ask us?"

Annette burst into a weepy rant, "See, I'm kind of worried about Michael and Laurie. I mean, she found his T-shirt in her room, and he said it wasn't his even though it had his name in it. At that time I believed him, but now I can't remember why. But if there is something going on, I think I want to know. But I don't want to know. God, I don't even know if I want to know. You know?"

Donna raised her eyebrow at the distraught girl, "I'm supposed to say-"

Annette yanked herself off of the barstool and narrowly hit Donna's face, "Donna, you're supposed to say that there's nothing going on, that Michael loves me, and we're together, and that's all that matters."

Donna distanced herself away from Annette and deadpanned, "That sounds good."

I chugged the rest of my soda and let out a quiet burp into my fisted hand. I looked at Annette and gave her a sad smile, "What you need to hear and what you want to hear are completely different things, Annette."

Donna sighed and threw Annette an irritated look, "Isn't there, like, someone else you could talk to about this?"

Annette rubbed her eyes and sighed, "Yeah, well, I used to have this pen pal in Nicaragua but she just stopped writing after this hurricane thingy."

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I came back up to the guest room we were working on. We had piled all of Laurie's other miscellaneous things into our last spare box, and Steven was attempting to try take down the floral wallpaper on the walls.

Fez slipped in and looked at all the floral wallpaper we had been stripping off the walls, "This new room is very pretty like a flower or a girl. You know, people might see this room and think you are a gay."

Steven rolled his eyes at Fez and continued stripping the last wall we had to do, "I don't think so, Fez. It's not my room. We're just changing it up for the Formans." Fez shrugged and walked out of the room probably to talk to Annette if the mischievous look in his eyes meant anything.

Michael stomped into the room and glared heatedly at Steven, "Hey, Hyde, thanks for your help with Annie, man."

Steven handed me the last of the floral wallpaper that he had taken down and dismissively nodded at Michael, "Sure thing, man."

Michael gave Steven a confused look, "Okay, Hyde, do you know what sarcasm is?"

Steven sat down on the bare mattress cracking his back slightly. He rolled his eyes and retorted in a sarcastic tone, "No."

Michael shook his head, not quite getting what Steven had implied, "Hyde, man, you almost got me caught."

I shook my head and took out brand new sheets for the bed. I nudged Steven over and he took the other side of the sheet while he sent Michael a look that clearly asked if he was stupid, "I almost got you caught? "My mom sewed my name in Eric's shirt"? You are so lame, man."

Michael leaned against the now bare wall beside the door frame, "Well, you know, half the time you act like you want me to get caught."

Steven helped me fit the new bedsheet on the bed and he straightened up while I set up the rest of the bed. He gave Michael a wary smile, "Kelso, you're my friend. I don't want you to get caught. 'Cause if you get caught, then my fun is over." Plus I think he meant to sort of punish Michael in his own way, but sometimes I think Steven when too far.

Michael gave him a hesitant smile, "Okay?"

Steven helped me slip the pillows into new bright white pillow shams, "So I'm just trying to prolong your suffering."

I snorted and gave him a dry look, "Because you certainly deserve it."

Michael shrugged happily beaming at us, "Well, okay. That's a little better. Friends for life, baby."

Steven sat down on the newly made bed and pulled me onto his lap. He gave Michael a wary look, "Yeah, man."

I pecked Steven's neck while Michael bounced out of the room with a happy pep in his step.

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Eric opened my pantry and grabbed some chips out of the bottom shelf, "Laurie's busted. This is, and I don't think I'm exaggerating here, the greatest day in the history of time."

Fez spread cream cheese onto his toasted bread and let out a happy sigh, "Except maybe the day cheese was invented. I love the cheese."

Steven rolled his eyes while he got a bowl out for Eric's chips, "Wow, man. She's gone one day, and she's already got a new guy."

I rolled my eyes at a despairing Michael, taking out a six pack I had hidden in the freezer, "Michael, you heartbreaker, you."

Michael ignored us and moaned into his hands, "I'm having a horrible day. I mean, Laurie's gone and Annie's all suspicious of me. And I'm gettin' no lovin'. None. I can't be me without lovin'."

Steven placed the chips onto our coffee table while I set down the beers on separate coasters. Fez plopped down in the recliner chomping down on his sandwich while Eric took a seat on the couch. Steven came over and sat on the couch pulling me onto his lap when I walked by. Michael dragged himself over and flopped down onto the bean bag chair.

Steven had a calculating look in his eyes before he handed a beer to Michael, "Kelso. If you want to keep Annie, man and, trust me, you don't; you gotta act innocent, okay? Let's practice."

I shook my head. Annette REALLY didn't deserve any of this. I couldn't see where Steven was going with this and frankly it made me a little disappointed in him.

Steven took a sip of beer with the arm that wasn't encircling my waist, "So, did you fool around with Laurie?" I shook my head at his antics.

Michael bemoaned, "You know I did!"

Fez munched on his sandwich and rolled his eyes, "Dumb-ass!"

Steven smirked, "No, man! Complete denial. Watergate. Learn." I really couldn't grasp what continuously lying to Annette would do to punish Michael. I would have to talk to him about this because, although I knew that Steven had a good heart, he could be needlessly cruel sometimes.

Eric sighed and participated in this- whatever this was, "Did you fool around with Laurie?" He popped in a chip into his mouth and took a sip of his beer.

Michael looked at us forlornly, "Yeah."

I gave him an encouraging look, "I think he's getting it right. The truth is the right way to go about this, Michael."

Michael glanced at me and shook his head rapidly, "Wait, no. I mean, no. Wait, I mean, yeah. Now, see, this isn't gonna work! It was just so perfect. If I could go back in time, I'd just relive that moment over and over again."

Steven nipped at my neck and I patted his knee gently. I gave Michael a chastising stare, "Just tell Annette the truth, Michael. She at least deserves that after all you've done to her."

Fez chipped in finishing off his sandwich. He stared off into space a goofy smile slipping onto his face, "Then if she leaves you for another man whoever he might be, no hard feelings. You do not need Annie; sweet, luscious Annie."

Steven chuckled and gave Fez an approving nod, "You are an evil, little, foreign man. Don't ever change." A smile twitched onto the edge of my lips and I let out a sigh. Eric chuckled openly and threw a handful of chips into his mouth.

Michael looked at all of us while a frown stretched his face down. His brows furrowed and he shook his head sadly, "You know, I guess it was wrong, what I did with Laurie. But I was just amusing myself, you know? And that's the key to life, right? Never stop amusing yourself."

Steven snorted giving him a disbelieving look, "Unless it starts to chafe."

I rolled my eyes at Michael, "Or you know; you burst into flames because you're a horrible human being."

Eric chipped in and laughed almost snorting out his beer, "Then you should take a week off."

Fez looked at us tilting his head slightly, "It's almost Tuesday, right?"

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The atmosphere was tense and Red was stoically silent stabbing his steak now and again. Laurie was surprisingly sullen pushing her potatoes to and fro on her plate. Eric gulped down some of his food looking up now and again fidgeting under the unusual, slightly oppressive, silence between all of us. Steven clenched my hand under the table and I gently squeezed back. He took a slow sip of his ice water taking in the tense participants of this dinner. I sliced through the soft steak with my fork and popped it into my mouth chewing as quietly as I could.

Kitty gave us all a strained smile that dimmed her eyes somewhat, "Well, I'm glad we're all eating dinner together as a family."

I murmured softly while Steven nodded silently, "Yeah, it's nice."

Red grunted slicing more of his steak violently, "Mm-hmm."

Eric took in the scene and cleared his throat, "Especially since Laurie could make it from all the way across town where she lives with some guy in sin."

Laurie sneered at him, stabbing her mashed potatoes, "Are you ever gonna hit puberty?" It was a weak insult considering it was coming from Laurie. Whatever had happened between her and Red must've really gotten her down. I kind of liked this sort of sullen nicer version of her though.

Eric rolled his eyes and waved his empty fork in the air, "Oh. Ow."

Steven gave her a cold look taking a bite out of his steak, "But you know what's really sad is that you got no respect for yourself - or this family."

Laurie gave him an affronted look before turning to Red, "Daddy!"

Red snorted and raised his eyebrow at Laurie, "Well, he's not wrong."

Laurie's eyes were glassy and her bottom lip jutted out, "But- But Daddy –"

Kitty gave Red a chastising look, "Red!"

Red gave Laurie a disappointed look, grunting, "Well, Kitty, who's gonna buy the cow when they get the milk for free?" I almost choked on my mashed potatoes at that statement. I was glad we were super careful when it came to our sexual escapades. I don't think I could stand either Kitty or Red looking at us with that disappointed gaze for real.

I cleared my throat and gave Kitty a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes, "These are great potatoes, Mrs. Forman." They were really good potatoes though.

Kitty gave me a soft smile, "Thank you, Lin." She looked at our quiet strained expressions and sighed, "Okay, why don't you kids take your plates in and watch some McMillan and Wife?"

Steven slowly stood up and picked up his plate and cup. I trotted along after him holding my own stuff carefully not spilling the rest of my steak onto the floor. Eric huffed slightly before shoving some steak into his mouth, "You know, just once today I'd like to finish a meal without getting chased out of the room." He got up and joined us in the living room. I hadn't known what he meant…Maybe whatever happened had happened earlier in the morning? Steven and I had spent the morning together instead of with the Formans, but I wondered if we shouldn't have.

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I walked into the kitchen with all our plates, cups, and cutlery. It was my turn to wash up so I took it in stride. I was rinsing off the plates when Kitty and Laurie marched into the kitchen.

Kitty yanked on Laurie's arm and forced her to sit down at the breakfast table, "Well, Laurie, you better stop your lying and face up to this one. Just look at what you're doing to your father!"

Laurie forcefully pulled her arm away from her mother petulantly crossing her arms across her chest, "Mom, I'm an adult, okay?" I rolled my eyes at her petty excuse. An actual adult wouldn't have hid this away from her parents, but at the same time I could see why she would want to do that. Her parents, while not overtly, were rather traditional. In either case, Laurie really didn't think this one through. I rinsed off the cups that I had soaped up earlier and continued to quietly listen in glancing at them now and again.

Kitty waved her finger at Laurie and started pacing. Her eyes were ablaze and her nostrils flared. I had never seen Kitty this pissed off before. Kitty turned to Laurie and snarled at her, "No, no, no. An adult would have told the truth and not lied about moving in with a girlfriend, which I knew wasn't true." I put the dishes that I had rinsed off onto the drying rack while I dealt with the small utensils. I hated dealing with them since they made my hands cramp. I made a face while I tilted my head towards them slightly.

Laurie stomped out of her chair marching past me while waving her hands in the air, "Well, Mom, if you already knew, then why didn't you tell Dad? Then we wouldn't be in this mess!" She slammed open the door and let it shut loudly behind her.

I finished rinsing everything off and patted my hands dry on my shirt. Eh. Whatever.

Kitty slumped down into a chair and buried her face into her hands, "Oh, good God. Rosemary had a better baby than me."

I quietly walked on over to her and gently patted Kitty's shoulder, "I don't think you did anything wrong, Mrs. Forman. She's just a little bent out of the shape in the head." This was the nicest way I could think of putting things.

Kitty let out a pained laugh, "I suppose that's one way to put it." I gave her a warm hug which she limply returned. This whole thing was really wearing down on her.

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Steven and I pulled in a new dresser for the guest room we were helping the Formans with. While we were doing that I noticed that Red and Laurie were talking out in the hallway. Me being me, I paused and listened in. Steven rolled his eyes and started putting up new curtains for the room. I'd help finish up later.

Red sounded nervous, "Laurie, I've been, uh, thinking- About the, uh the thing that happened at the place you live. And, uh, I want you to know that I understand that you're not my little girl anymore." What had happened exactly?

Laurie sounded like she was going to start crying, "But I like being your little girl." Whether they were real or fake tears, I wasn't quite sure since I had my ear pressed on a closed door.

Red let out a frustrated defeated sigh, "But you're not. You're my daughter. And you're a grown-up who's going to do awful and stupid things. And even though I still love you, I am utterly disappointed in you. Again."

I don't think Laurie really got the point since her voice brightened, "I love you too. And I'm sorry. So, Daddy, can I move back in?"

Oh, Red. Don't just let her get away with it again. Red let out a dry chuckle, "Oh, yeah. But you can't have your room back. Not without consequences. You have to get a job and start paying rent. If you want a room, there's one in the basement. I don't want another repeat of something this bad again. Great to have you back." I heard his footsteps fade and Laurie's footsteps move closer to the door.

She called out after him, "Okay, daddy."

I opened up the door and Steven peered through at Laurie, "So, your new boyfriend kicked you out?" He had put up the curtains, and opened the window to let some air circulate throughout the room.

Laurie gave us a sneering glare stomping away from us, "No! He moved back in with his wife."

I shook my head and pecked Steven's cheek lightly, "That's the second one in two years so far." I pulled out some spare towels and toiletries for the dresser that we had brought up from the basement.

Steven scrunched up his face while we put everything away, "You think Red gave her back her room?" I personally didn't want to aid Laurie in getting her room back after all the work we had put into making it a decent guest bedroom.

I shook my head pushing the dresser drawer closed, "Nope. Probably not at this rate she's screwed up too many times."

Steven chuckled and bounced on the bed patting the seat beside him slightly, "Do you think they've banished her to the basement back room?"

I hopped onto the bed beside him and let out a content sound, "Doubtless, but most likely not forever, knowing Laurie." He tucked me into his side and I laid my head on his shoulder. This was nice.

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It was another Forman breakfast with waffles filled with syrup, thick slabs of bacon, and creamy eggs. I had convinced Kitty to let me splurge on them again when we were grocery shopping last week. I'm not quite sure how I did it, but I managed to make her cave into my request. Sometimes I wondered if it would just be better if we ate at our place though. Were they getting tired of us yet? Were we wearing out our welcome? I pushed around my eggs and mixed it in with the slabs of bacon on my plate. Laurie was absent from this breakfast because she was apparently job hunting. I didn't quite believe her though.

Red looked at his newspaper and grinned, "Hey, look at this. It's the first day of deer season."

Eric pushed my leg with his foot and grinned, "Rabbit season!"

I rolled my eyes at him, but managed a small smile in return, "Duck season."

Eric shrugged and nudged Steven under the table, "Rabbit season!"

Steven snapped out of his thoughtful stupor and raised his eyebrow at Eric, "Duck season!"

Eric gave us a playful grin chirping, "Rabbit season!"

I took a sip of my orange juice and shrugged, "Duck season."

Kitty smiled at Red brightly, "Oh, Red, you haven't been hunting in ages not since the accident."

Steven looked up at Red and curiously asked, "What accident?"

Red gave Steven a weighted look before going back to his newspaper, "The really terrible accident that's none of your business."

Eric rolled his eyes subtly before popping some food into his mouth, "Oh, yeah, that one."

Kitty gave the boys a shark like smile before turning towards Red, "You know, why don't you go? It might be fun. Get out of the house, get some fresh air, maybe get out of your lousy damn mood."

Red gave her a nervous shake of his head, "Sorry. I'd love to go, Kitty, but we just can't afford it."

Kitty waved a dismissive hand towards him, "Oh, yes, we can. I will pack you some food and a nice box of bullets, and you're on your way."

Eric sighed and cautiously added, "Dad, you could use the Pinciottis' cabin."

Red placed his newspaper down onto the table and grunted, "Bob has a cabin? Well, isn't that just the cat's ass?"

Kitty rolled her eyes at him, "Oh, boohoo. The world's unfair. Now, just ask Bob if you can borrow his cabin."

Red let out a long suffering breath, "Okay. We'll go just us guys."

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I tugged Steven's head down and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, "I'm gonna miss you, puddin' pop."

Steven smiled against my lips and drew me into a tight hug, "I won't be gone long. It's just a hunting trip with the guys. Heh. If I get lucky, I'll bring you back some venison."

I nodded against his chest while I gave him a nervous smile, "I do like deer."

Steven rolled his eyes playfully at me and rubbed my back slowly, "Besides, I'll be fine, doll. I won't leave you by getting shot."

I gave him a firm pat on the butt while he walked away from me, "You better not. I love you."

He had a lopsided grin on his face while he walked over towards where the others were gathered, "I love you too, doll." I really hoped that he wouldn't do something stupid during their hunting trip.

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Kitty, me, Donna, and Midge were all sitting around my kitchen counter for some reason. I think they had designated my place as the hang out zone for this girl's weekend. I found it slightly off putting since I had no say in that.

Kitty tapped her finger nails against my island counter top and gave us a bored look, "So, so, so. What to do?"

Donna harrumphed and crossed her eyes looking longingly at my kitchen door, "I should have gone hunting."

Midge gave Donna a slightly panicked look before stating, "No, no! We can have fun."

Kitty nodded, another one of her strained smiles split her face, "We can have our very own fun."

I tilted my head and glanced at my oven wringing my hands a little, "We could –"

Donna deadpanned, "I'm not baking anything."

Kitty jumped up recalling something, "Oh! Okay. Who wants Jell-O?"

Donna deadpanned again, "Jell-O's baking."

I rolled my eyes at her attitude balling my hands slightly, "No, it's not. Jell-O's boiling." What was her problem?

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We ended up baking brownies to Donna's chagrin, although if we had ended up doing anything else Donna would've found something to be upset about anyways. She was never like this when it was just Kitty and me, so I assumed it was because of her mother's presence. Still…she was being quite rude if that was the case.

Midge took a pinch of the brownie she was nibbling on and popped it into her mouth, "So it's a standoff. I won't shave my legs. Bob won't shave his back."

Donna shoved the entire brownie into her mouth and made a face at her mother, "Okay, ew!"

Kitty had a genuine smile on her face for once that crinkled her eyes and made her glow, "You know, Red doesn't have a hairy back, and thank God for that. No offense. Good news for you, Donna. That means Eric probably won't have one either." Not like radioactive glowing mind you, but the kind of glow you get when you're truly relaxed and just happy for once.

I munched on my brownie and laughed lightly, "He can't even grow a mustache."

Donna gave us all an embarrassed look gulping down her glass of milk, "Oh, please."

Kitty shook her head continuing on despite Donna's embarrassment, "Eric's body is bald as can be. You know, I don't even think he hit puberty until about 15." She took another long bite out of her brownie.

Donna tilted her head at Kitty and I couldn't help but mimic her slightly. Donna coughed nervously smiled at Kitty, "Really?"

Kitty waved her hand carelessly at Donna snickering slightly, "Oh, he probably won't like that I said that."

Midge pitched in nibbling on her brownie some more, "I think Eric's the sweetest kid. So, Donna, have you and Eric-"

Donna buried her face into her hands and cried out, "Mother, please!"

I giggled and finished off my brownie, "The answer's no."

Donna looked at all of us with narrowed eyes before shouting, "Hey, hey! Everybody, just shut up."

Midge rolled her eyes and continued on, "Well, I, for one, am not so naive as to think that you and Eric-"

Donna let out a whine that reminded me of a wounded puppy.

Kitty must have got that too because she patted Donna's shoulder and gently said, "Okay, well, I guess we're upsetting her so what should we do now?" She took another large bite out of her brownie after dipping it into her glass of half full milk.

Midge sighed and gave Donna a petulant pout, "Well, if Donna wasn't so uptight, we could talk about-"

Donna got up and sent her mother a challenging look, "I'm gonna go home. You want me to go home? 'Cause I will."

Kitty pulled her back into her seat and sighed, "Donna, please don't go home. It's very nice that you're spending time with your mother."

I muttered under my breath rolling my eyes slightly, "God knows Laurie won't."

Midge clapped her hands, "We should play poker?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Sure."

Kitty finished off her brownie and pulled out the deck of cards I had in my misc drawer, "Alright, ladies."

Donna huffed in her seat, but I could see the slight upward tilt of her mouth. I hoped she wouldn't be so sour during our game. Midge wasn't that bad.

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Laurie popped into my house unannounced like most people these days. She looked over Kitty's shoulder and frowned, "Oh, wow, Mom. You're not good."

Kitty gave her a short glare, "Well, you're not even playing, so keep it to yourself, Miss Smarty."

Laurie shrugged and dealed herself in, "Okay, I'll play."

Donna rolled her eyes at this and Midge gave Laurie a calculating look. I shrugged not really caring either way. I only bet in one dollar bills, so I wouldn't go crazy and bet an absurd amount that would cause my accountant to call me in a panic. Lol. I don't have an accountant. Joking aside, I didn't want to go overboard with gambling, even for fun.

Kitty looked at her in disbelief, "You wanna play cards with your mother?"

Laurie shrugged and looked at her cards for a moment, "Sure."

Kitty snorted and rolled her eyes, "Well, I am gonna call the Milwaukee Journal."

I tilted my head towards Kitty, "Kitty, how many kings are in a pack?" I knew there were four, but our conversation would probably stagnate if no one said anything.

Kitty gave me a patient smile, "Four."

I nodded and put down a one dollar bill, "I bet a dollar."

Kitty let out a nervous little laugh, "Well, um I see that there are four queens in a deck too."

Laurie rolled her eyes at her mother, "Oh, Mom, that is so pathetic."

Kitty let out a disgruntled huff, "Fine. I fold."

Donna put her cards faced down on the kitchen island, "I'm in."

Laurie looked at everyone else expectantly, "Okay, everyone else?"

Midge nodded, "I'm in."

I looked down at my cards reluctantly and sighed, "Eh…. I guess I'm in." I wasn't very good at poker in the least, but this was sort of fun so far. I would've preferred it if we were playing with candy though.

Laurie nodded and stated, "Everybody, show your cards."

I looked down at everyone else's cards and tilted my head to the side, "Okay, did I win?"

Midge racked up her winnings; $5, and grinned at me, "Not even close."

I shrugged bonelessly, "Oh. Well, that's okay. I didn't really bet big on this game anyhow." I certainly wouldn't ever bet more than a dollar with the way things were going.

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Laurie grinned at us with a smile that was far too wide of her face, "Full house jacks over tens. Mom wins again."

Kitty gathered up her winnings chirping, "Well, this is fun. Isn't this fun?"

Midge gave Laurie a dark look simpering, "It was fun till Laurie started dealing."

Kitty paused and a pinched smile formed on her face, "What's that supposed to mean?"

I sighed and stretched out my back cracking it slightly, "I think Mrs. Pinciotti's saying that Laurie's cheating." If I knew Laurie at all, I knew that she would be cheating somehow. I mean really, she even tried cheating at checkers the one time we played.

Donna raised her eyebrow at me and shook her head, "No, she's not."

Midge flipped her hair over her shoulder and gave Kitty and Laurie a challenging look, "Wait. Yes, I am."

Kitty finished pulling her loot towards her and she gave Midge a shark like smile, "Laurie does not cheat."

Midge huffed and started to walk out of my kitchen, "Come on, Donna. We're storming out of here."

Donna nodded curtly at Kitty and Laurie, "Okay, see ya."

I gave her a short wave while I let out a tired sigh, "Bye, Donna."

Midge pulled Donna out of the kitchen by her sleeve and Donna quickly waved back, "Bye Lin!" The door slammed shut and I let out another deep breath. That could've gone infinitely better.

Kitty gave Laurie a hard searching look, "Laurie, were you cheating?"

Laurie started putting away all the cards and snorted, "You can't prove anything."

Kitty smacked her hands against the kitchen island, "Oh, for God's sake."

Laurie sighed and handed me the entire deck neatly packed away in its box, "Okay. Well, if you weren't such a crappy card player, then I wouldn't have had to cheat. And you were gonna lose all your mad money, and Midge bugs me." She was being awfully nice for once. I wonder what her deal was.

Kitty looked at Laurie with glassy wide eyes and a warm smile, "You were cheating so I would win?"

Laurie patted her mother awkwardly on her shoulder and let out a sheepish laugh, "Duh. I wanted you to have a little fun."

Kitty wiped at her eyes pocketing her winnings, "Well… Gosh, that's sweet."

I gave her a surprised grin, "Awe. That was really actually sweet Laurie."

Laurie pecked her mother's head and gave me an eye roll, "I love you, Mommy, and don't mention it twerp."

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The boys came back Sunday morning toting a couple dead deer. They took the meat to our local butcher, Sammy Rodrick, and he gave us a great price for chopping and skinning them. I paid for it while no one was looking and Sammy waved off Red's payment with a smile. It brightened Kitty and Red's day so I thought the $50 I paid was well worth it. There was a little voice at the back of my head that did warn me about my spending willy nilly. Then again, having so much at my fingertips did bend my perception about money… A little bit… Okay, sometimes more than a little bit when I cared to admit it. We all helped prepare some deer burgers, Kitty let me take some home to store in my freezer, and that took us till the afternoon.

The sun was shining, only a couple clouds were on the horizon, and the sky was moderately blue today. It looked like it was going to be a nice afternoon, although the weather forecast had called for rain during this evening later on though. As I looked up at the sky, I couldn't quite see how that would happen. Red was grilling deer burgers on their barbeque and as the smell wafted through the air I felt my mouth salivate.

Kitty put her feet up on another one of their lawn chairs and bit into her burger, "Well, this is just delicious."

I let out a satisfied groan while I took bit into my burger, "This is great."

Red nodded and gave us a slightly lopsided grin, "Sorry about the buckshot. It was jerking around, so Eric shot it with the shotgun."

Steven shrugged munching down his burger, "I don't mind. I mean, there's usually some mystery gristle in meat, and at least we know what it is."

Eric smiled wildly at us, "Well, I had to. It was screaming."

Steven nodded and added in, "I killed a raccoon once. Hit him with my 'uncle's' car. It was so bad."

I let out a slight chuckled and patted Steven's knee, "All right, settle down, killer."

Laurie made a face and picked at her burger, "I like it better when you fish, Daddy."

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Eric flopped down next to me on the basement couch. He landed with a slight umf making a small dust cloud float up into the air. I coughed slightly and waved away the rising dust while I continued trying to crochet a scarf.

Eric grinned at us, "So, guys, tomorrow is the anniversary of Donna's and my first kiss. And just for that, I'm gonna give her something really special."

I rolled my eyes at him curling my crochet hook around my yarn, "You've been trying to give her that for a year, and so far-"

Eric let out a choked laugh shaking his head, "Not that. Something nice."

Michael snorted and rolled his eyes, glancing back at Eric for a moment, "Forman, man, trust me, okay? Just pick her some flowers. The fact that you even remembered will guarantee you some action. And who doesn't love the action, huh?" He turned his attention back to the wrestling match. I swear that it was a rerun taping of it though.

I rolled my eyes at him. Mine and Steven's anniversary was coming up too. I wondered idly what Steven had planned. Or if he planned anything at all.

Eric shook his head and pulled out a magazine advert out of his back pocket, "Check out this necklace."

Michael eyed the picture letting out a low whistle, "Wow, man. Is that real gold?"

Eric continued smiling and shook his head, "No."

I peered at it and poked the diamonds in the advert, "Real diamonds?"

Eric shook his head and folded the picture back up, "Nope, but it costs 60 bucks."

Michael grinned and nodded in appreciation, "Nice." I nodded along with him. It was a nice necklace for a pretty good price in my books.

Eric climbed out of his seat and headed over to where we kept all the board games, "Yeah. So, if you'll all please avert your eyes I have to, uh, get my secret stash of cash."

I turned around and laid my head down on the backrest of the couch, "What, you mean your Candy Land stash? I still say you should just open up a bank account."

Eric sent me a slightly affronted look, "My Ca- I don't keep my money in the Candy Land box. And besides Lin, have you never heard of bank robbers?"

I rolled my eyes at that while I slid back into a proper sitting positoin. I would rather keep my money in the bank than in a place that everyone knew about.

Michael raised his eyebrow at Eric, "You moved your money from the Candy Land box?"

Eric angrily grunted, "Oh, shut up and turn around!"

Michael petulantly complied and made a face while muttering something about a bug crawling up Eric's pants. Or something like that anyways.

Eric yelped, "Oh, my God! You guys, someone stole all my money!"

Fez glanced up from the TV screen and morosely shook his head, "From Candy Land? How could such a sad thing happen in such a happy place?"

Eric gave Fez a disgruntled look while he hurried up the stairs towards the kitchen in a panic.

The TV blared out while the people in the background cheered, "And still champion, Muhammad Ali!"

Michael gave Fez a triumphant grin, "All right, Fez. You lose." He held out his hand expectantly, "Give me five bucks."

Donna waltzed on in with a smile on her face for once, "Hey, what's going on?" I grinned at her and waved slightly before going back to trying to crochet a scarf. It wasn't going well…All the lines I tried making ended up kind of crooked. Maybe I should just try knitting next?

Fez handed over his five dollars to Michael and pouted, "I just lost five bucks on the Muhammad Ali fight."

Donna gazed a the TV for a moment before frowning, "Fez, that's a rerun. That fight happened a week ago."

Fez glared at Michael and Michael had the decency to return his money back to him, albeit with a scowl at Donna.

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I chucked my failed crochet project into a pile by the TV and pouted for God knows how long. While I was currently moping; the guys and Donna decided to play Candy Land. Since I felt kind of bummed out I decided just to watch them play because really, what else was I supposed to do toady? Actually…I think I was supposed to do something to day, but I couldn't remember. Oh well. If it was important, I'll find out eventually. Hopefully. Maybe? Whatever.

Annette floated on in with a cheery grin, "So what are you guys doing?" I hadn't seen her happy like that in a while.

Michael looked up and gestured to the game, "We're playing Candy Land."

Fez nodded and let out a disheartened sigh, "And I'm stuck in the Marshmallow Mountain again." I still didn't get the appeal of this game. Wasn't it like snakes and ladders, but with candy and more rules?

I suddenly felt warm breath on my neck and heard Steven's voice behind me, "Where's Eric?" How'd he get here? Probably through the kitchen stairs while I was moping. I really had to pay more attention when I moped. I could've missed something interesting.

I looked up at him and smiled, "Hey puddin' pop." I craned my neck a little and pecked his chin.

He grinned down at me and placed a wet kiss onto my lips, "Hey doll."

I had the urge to wipe my mouth. I didn't quite like wet kisses and he knew that. I tilted my head slightly, "He's running around like a chicken without its head searching the house since he can't find his money stash."

Steven raised his eyebrow while everyone made sounds and grunts of agreement. He looked over to our empty chair and gave me a look. I sighed, got out of my seat and made my way to our usual seat. He let out a happy sigh once we were situated in our normal position. Steven leaned his head on my shoulder, "It's not in the Candy Land box?"

I shook my head and heard Steven's contemplative hum. I wondered what was going on through his head. I honestly wanted to tell Eric I told you so some more. I kept telling him while we grew up to just open up a bank account. I could certainly help him with that. I didn't quite know the details on how, but I figured I could come up with something if he asked.

Annette rolled her eyes at us and bounced on her heels, "Oh, my God. You guys guess who's gonna be in the Miss Dairy Princess Pageant?!"

Donna snorted and moved her game piece, "Oh, I know. A cow?" That was uncalled for. I really didn't know what was up with her.

Annette shook her head and her eyes widened along with her smile, "No. Me!" I swear, she reminded me of a kid who got access to the entire candy store after winning the candy lotto last year. They stopped having that contest when the kid vomited all over the floor.

I tilted my head and muttered, "A beauty pageant?"

She sighed happily twirling slightly, "Yeah. It's not enough that we know I'm prettier than everyone else. I want the world to know!" Donna snorted while Michael took his turn.

Steven let out a dry laugh and gave Annette a wry look, "And what better way to do it than go on stage and parade around like a piece of meat?" Steven didn't really think much of models or pageantry. He had mentioned it was all a part of a human trafficking thing. I thought it was just another hobby people liked to indulge in.

Annette hopped up and down slightly, "I know! I know! And get this. Michael is gonna be my pageant boy!"

Fez giggled and wiggled his eyebrows at Michael, "Pageant boy." Fez managed to get out of his sticky situation and move his game piece two more blocks down.

Michael's mouth thinned and he turned a slightly irritated glance at Annette, "Annie, I am not a pageant boy. I'm a beauty coach. That is a big difference."

Steve shook his head and snorted, "Yeah, that's a lot better, Kelso."

Annette looked at Donna and me with wide hopeful eyes, "So, Donna, Lin, do you wanna go see my gown?"

Donna nodded and toppled over her game piece, "Sure. Let's go." First she was irritated with Annette, now she wanted to bond with her? Sometimes I really didn't understand Donna.

I shook my head and let a sheepish smile fall onto my face, "I think I'll sit out for this one."

Annette chirped, "Alright, Lin. I'll call you later and tell you about it then!" She then proceeded to drag Donna out of the room with her.

Donna gave me a short wave, "We'll see you later, midget."

I smiled at her and nodded, "Count on it, Red."

Fez popped out of his seat, "Oh- Oh, I will help. I have a way with women's hair. Let's go, girls." He soon followed after them with a little pep in his step.

Steven looked at Michael with a disbelieving look, "Man, a beauty coach? What's going on with you?"

Michael smugly smiled his eye's twinkled in a strange sort of glee, "When Annie wins this pageant, I am gonna be the guy with the hottest chick of all of the hot chicks."

I snorted out a laugh, "Yeah, Michael, th-that's genius." I rolled my eyes and felt my nose for my pimple again. It was taking its damn time healing. Maybe I shouldn't have popped it? Oh well.

Michael stared out into space with a dazed happy look before getting out of his chair, "Yeah... Well- Okay, I gotta go win this thing." He ran out of the basement after the girls and Fez with a hungry look in his eyes. Was it hungry for women or hungry to win?

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We were both sitting up late at night after another foray into pleasure. Sometimes I just enjoyed talking to him, but even with the sex something still seemed to be bothering Steven tonight.

I combed through my hair patting down the frizz and glanced at Steven with a nervous smile, "So our anniversary is coming up in a couple days."

Steven shook his head looking out into space muttering angrily, "I can't believe Eric thinks I took his God damn stupid money? Does it look like I need it? I have a job. I certainly make more than him."

I scooted over closer to him pulling up the sheet while I went, "Oh puddin' pop. What happened?"

Steven let out an irritated huff and flopped down onto his pillow, "We were having our normal circle time, and Eric goes and accuses me of stealing his God damn stupid CandyLand money. Like I would do that? Sure I used to steal, but that was when we were kids! I certainly don't steal now."

I rubbed his back gently, "Eric is just being a dillhole, sweetheart. I'm sure this entire thing is just a misunderstanding."

Steven raised his eyebrow at me, "Why are you always taking his side?"

I gave him an affronted look leaning back slightly, "I do not always take his side. I'm just saying that this isn't anyone's fault." I hated it when he did this. It made me feel helpless and confused because I took Steven's side sometimes even when I felt that I probably shouldn't. Didn't that count for something?

Steven snorted, "Fine."

I narrowed my eyes at him and let out a long breath through my teeth, "Fine." I turned away from him onto my side and silently counted down from forty. Before I could get to twenty five, I felt Steven pull me into his chest; a heavy sigh pierced the silence of our room.

I held onto his hand and I let out a choked sigh, "Steven?"

I felt him nod, "I love you, Lin." It wasn't exactly an apology, but at the moment I think it was the best I was going to get.

I leaned back and willed my tears back, "I love you too, Steven." He kissed my shoulder and slid his leg between mine. I guess he didn't have anything planned for our first anniversary, and that made my heart sink into my stomach.

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I was glad we were finally hanging out in one of the many other places in town. Sure, I loved being at home or chilling out with everyone at Eric's place. I even really liked going to the Hub, even if we didn't really frequent any other restaurant. It just kind of got boring always going to the same place some times.

We really needed to hang out in this park more. I even noticed that there were a bunch of swings and a great big playground. Even when I was an adult in my last life; I still loved playgrounds. Did that make me creepy?

Almost everyone was here today. I saw that there were kids laughing jumping, skipping, and swinging on the playground. I looked over at our group; we were missing Michael and Fez today for some reason. I found it weird that Michael wasn't here, but Annette was.

Clouds were scattered against a blue grey sky and I felt a cold breeze pick up. We'd have to find another placed to hang out if it started to rain soon.

I played with the grass beside me while Steven messed with my hair. He let out a snort and gave us all a lopsided grin, "Soo Fez has a girlfriend."

I looked up at him squinting slightly, a playful smile stretched across my face, "Our little Fez is growing up so fast."

Donna sat up from her previously relaxed position, "Really?"

Steven nodded and threaded his hands through my hair again, "Mm-hmm."

Annette looked over at us from a nearby wooden bench with a bewildered look on her face, "You're kidding? I mean, good. God, he was so in love with me, it was getting embarrassing."

Eric looped his arm around Donna's waist and let out an awkward cough, "Right… So, anyways, you guys, how do you know when you need new underwear?"

Donna gave him an amused look rolling her eyes, "Uh, if you're asking then you need new underwear." Eric nervously smiled and nodded. That was a weird thing to ask. I wonder why he wanted to know.

Fez walked into view with a fairly curvy brunette, a silly grin was plastered onto his face, "Oh, good. My people are here. I want you to meet my girlfriend, Patty Killewich."

I waved at Patty and she smiled back at my timidly. I was pretty sure she lived next to the brat that was rude to us when we were retrieving Eric's car. I didn't know her personally though. She seemed nice so far. Steven seemed to know her since when they approached he waved slightly at her too. Or was it at both of them? Was I getting irrationally jealous now?

Steven snorted for some reason. Did he catch me? I turned into his lap and heard him chuckle slightly, "She used to be my neighbor before her dad found work."

I rolled back to face him and tilted my head. He was smiling down at me and I pouted, "You suck."

He shrugged, "The last time I checked, that was your job, doll."

I puffed my cheeks and let out a sigh, "Touché." He leaned down and pecked my lips.

Fez motioned to Eric and back to Patty, "This is Eric."

His eyes sparkled while he gazed back at Patty, "Eric, this is my girlfriend."

Eric snickered and waved to the loved dazed duo, "Hi." She waved back slightly.

Fez gave me a beaming grin, "This is Lin." Patty nodded with that timid smile still affixed on her face.

He pulled Patty into his side letting out a content sigh, "Lin, this is my girlfriend."

I tilted my head smiling at her with closed eyes for a moment, "Hey." She let out a quiet, "Hello." So far, she reminded me of a really scared rabbit for some reason.

Fez finally motioned to Donna, "This is Donna. Donna, this is my girlfriend." He pressed a kiss onto Patty's cheek making her blush slightly.

Donna raised her eyebrow and grinned broadly, "So you guys are just friends?"

Fez quickly looked back at her and firmly stated, "No, Donna."

Donna let out an awkward laugh shaking her head slightly, "Fez, I'm kidding. I'm kidding."

Steven tilted his head towards her politely, "How's it going, Killewich?"

Patty nervously smiled at Steven and nodded, "Good. Thank you, Hyde."

Fez cleared his throat and gave us a triumphant grin, "I have to be honest with you people. Patty and I were just over there making out. Because Patty's my girlfriend."

Annette huffed slightly and moved to face Patty and Fez. She stuck her hand out to Patty and gave her a syrupy smile, "Hi. I'm Annie. I'm sure Fez has told you all about me."

Patty took her hand and shook it lightly before dropping it. She tilted her head and gazed questioningly at Fez, "Um, no, no. Your name never came up."

A strained smile creased Annette's face, "What? Well, whatever." She sent Fez an irritated glare before going back to her bench. I really wished it would rain now, but knowing my luck, that wouldn't happen.

Eric let out a strained laugh, "Okay, isn't this pleasant, huh?"

I motioned to the grass beside us, "Um, Patty, Fez, have a seat. The grass is great." They settled into the grass with Patty propped up on his lap. They gazed at each other like they were the only ones here. I thought it was kind of sweet.

Annette cleared her throat, but before she could say anything Fez looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "Um, Annie, I'm a little busy right now, okay? Thank you."

Annette promptly crossed her arms and huffed into her seat. Some rain would really help right now.

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An hour or so later we all dispersed to do our own thing; Steven went off with Eric for one of their projects, Fez went off with Patty to probably make out, and Annette dragged me and Donna away from everyone else.

Today was a really odd day for me. I think it was because of all the places that we were actually going to today. Why hadn't I ever gone to this bakery? I tapped the glass lightly and sighed happily. The cashier gave me an amused look. Oh my god. They sold macaroons. Where have you been all my life?

I beamed at her, "How much are these, miss?"

She smiled at me and chuckled slightly, "A whole box is about $10. We also have a great variety of drinks as well."

I nodded and counted the money I had on hand. I let out a happy sigh. I had brought enough today. I hadn't anticipated spending anything today. "Could I have two boxes and ummmm…." I looked up at their drink board and tilted my head. Today was kind of cold, and I knew the girls liked chocolate so….I figured we could all enjoy some hot chocolate. I wondered if they got us a place to sit in this strange little bakery café place.

She nodded politely and I let out a sheepish smile, "Could I have two boxes of the macaroons in each of the different colors and three medium hot chocolates with whipped cream on top, please?"

She gathered everything and came back a couple minutes later, "So that'll be here, right?"

I smiled nervously, "Yes, please."

She punched in the numbers into her cash register, "Alright, that'll be $21.50"

I pulled out the crumpled money I had stuffed into my pocket earlier in the morning and apologetically said, "I'm sorry it's all crumpled."

She shook her head and laughed lightly, "That's alright. Here you go. Hey, before you go…Aren't you that little girl that took care of Delani's kid?"

I took my purchase from her and nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

She gave me a sincere grin that made the sides of her eyes crinkle, "If you're ever looking for another gig just give me a call. I'm Mrs. Johnson. I would love a break from my kids besides working here now and then." She scribbled down her phone number on a scrap piece of paper and handed it to me gently.

A small smile pulled at my mouth, "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Johnson. I'm Lin Burkhart, and sure I can watch your kids." I really didn't need the work, but the dark bags under her eyes made me feel bad for her. Wasn't she the other lady with like five kids in this town?

She let out a happy laugh and shooed me away, "Alright. Go hang out with your friends, right now though. The blonde one looks irritated."

I turned to Annette and Donna and chuckled. They had found a nearby table with free seats. I handed each of them a mug and placed the macaroons in the center of the table.

Donna gave me a grateful look and gulped down some of her hot chocolate after shoving a macaroon into her mouth. What happened while I was gone?

Annette took her mug of hot chocolate and sipped on it slightly before waspishly stating, "Okay, I don't like her. I don't see why we have to be nice to her just because she's dating someone in our group."

I bite into a chocolate macaroon and rolled my eyes, "Bites the big one, doesn't it?" I washed it down with a sip of my own hot chocolate. I scraped off the whipped cream onto the rest of my cookie and popped it into my mouth. I'd have to go here more often. God, even with this body I'd probably get fat with all the sweets I'd probably consume.

Annette let out a disgruntled hiss, "God, am I right, guys? Don't you guys hate her?"

I sighed and let out a thoughtful hum, "Not really, Annette."

Donna swallowed what she was chewing, and shrugged, "I kind of like her."

Annette chugged the rest of her hot chocolate like a champion, which was pretty out of character for her. She shook her head and heatedly said, "Just admit it, Donna, Lin. Patty is totally wrong for Fez."

My eyes widened and I raised a single eyebrow at her, "Wow, Annette. I've never seen you quite this transparent before."

She gave me a bewildered look, "What are you talking about?"

Donna snorted and nibbled on another macaroon, "She's so awful, Donna."

I let out a dry laugh sipping on my hot chocolate, "Let's hate her forever, Lin."

Donna gave me a lopsided grin and popped the rest of the cookie into her mouth, "Let's shave her head and run her out of town, Donna."

I almost snorted out my hot chocolate through my nose and shook my head at Donna. She impishly smiled at me, and I couldn't help the slight smile that tugged onto my lips. I really liked that one; that was funny.

Annette rolled her eyes and picked at a macaroon, "Focus, guys. We're ragging on Patty, remember?"

Donna sighed and gave Annette a patient look, "Annie, did you ever think that maybe you hate Patty because you like Fez?"

Annette gripped her mug and lowly stated, "Oh, you are in dangerous territory, Pinciotti."

I shook my head and gently said, "No, Donna has a really good point. You hate seeing Fez drool over someone other than you." I'd never seen Annette act this way. It was an interesting experience so far.

She let out a little hysterical laugh, "You're both crazy. I don't like Fez."

I tilted my head to Donna and noted that she was rolling her eyes and snorting slightly. I gave Annette a wary look feeling my mug cool slightly during our conversation, "Well…we think yah do." I didn't quite feel like eating for once and plopped my uneaten macaroon back into the box.

Annette deadpanned, "Oh, shut up you two."

Donna gave Annette a mischievous look, "Annie, you're blushing."

Annette noisily set her mug down onto the table, luckily not damaging the mug, "Fine! I'll admit that, uh, Fez would be okay for a quick fling if I was off on a vacation with my parents, like in Michigan or Cuba. Where no one would ever find out. Ever, ever, ever."

I impishly smiled at her, "Fez and Annette sitting in a tree-"

Donna chimed in, "Mr. and Mrs. Fez Fez." One day we should really get down to figuring out his real name. Just calling him Fez when it wasn't really his name made me feel kind of bad.

Annette sighed and buried her face into her hands, "Oh, my God. Oh, my God! I like Fez! No! No!" Donna snickered and while I smiled I inwardly contemplated what this might've meant. If she really did like Fez, why was she with Michael? Those two honestly didn't make much sense to me. I fingered the scrap piece of paper Mrs. Johnson had given me under the table. I'd call her later and see when she needed a sitter. It's not like I really had anything that needed my immediate attention any ways.

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I tuned back into the conversation and tried to let out a discrete yawn. I hadn't had the best time sleeping last night for some reason. Steven kissed the back of my neck softly. He had slept like a rock through my tossing and turning, lucky bastard.

Patty nervously smiled at Annette squirming slightly at Annette's hard stare, "Um, I guess Fez really got me with all of the poems he left in my locker."

Donna cooed letting her head fall onto Eric's shoulder, "Oh, that is so romantic." Eric grinned down at Donna and kissed her lightly.

Patty turned her wide eyes at Annette and fidgeted slightly before asking, "Does Michael write you poems?"

Annette tried to wave her question away, "No, no." I think the cracks in their relationship were finally showing and Annette didn't seem to want to acknowledge that.

Patty gave her a confused frown, "But he's not foreign."

Before Annette could reply Michael burst in through the door beaming at us, "Hey, you guys! The Eagles are on at Don Kirshner's Rock Concert tonight."

Eric frowned deeply and clucked his tongue, "Oh, man, I'm gonna miss the Eagles because I gotta- I gotta- I'm busy."

Donna gave him a curious look, "Do we have a date tonight?"

Eric snorted and let his head fall back, "No. I wish. I'm going to a movie. With my mom." He gave us a sheepish look and Donna patted his shoulder consoling.

Steven smirked and teasingly said, "He's got a special night out with Mommy."

I shrugged, "Hey, maybe you'll get lucky and your mom will pay for the movie?"

Eric rolled his eyes, "God, you guys aren't helping."

Annette gave Patty a calculating smile, "Patty, you know, we should really go to the mall together, so I can introduce you to –"

Fez stood up and took Patty by the hand interrupting what Annette was about to say, "Are you ready, darling?" Patty nodded glancing back at Annette worriedly.

Annette let out an irritated huff, "Excuse me, Fez. I was talking."

Fez shrugged carelessly while he and Patty made their way to the basement door, "Oh, I know, Annie. You are always talking."

Michael snickered, "Burn!" Annette shot him a dark glare and he muttered, "Sorry. I just appreciate a good burn."

I titled my head towards them and gently asked, "So, where are you guys going?"

She gave me a grateful smile for some reason, "Um, we are going to the Red Lobster for a romantic dinner of red lobster."

Fez beamed at us while they exited, "I'll see you guys later. After you my lady."

Patty grinned widely at him, "Thank you, Fez." At least she seemed more relaxed with Fez. That was the important thing.

Steven slipped me off of his lap and stretched out muttering, "I have a late shift at the Foto hut. So see you guys." He gave everyone a curt wave.

Before he could walk away I looped my arm around his waist and smiled at him impishly, "I'll walk with you, puddin' pop."

Steven chuckled and pulled me into his side, "Yes, dear."

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I sat down onto my porch and zipped up my hoodie up to my chin. It was surprisingly cold tonight. It was our anniversary, but I don't think that Steven remembered at all. I had ended up babysitting Mrs. Johnson's three toddlers. They were adorable and a hand full. By the time I had gotten home it was already seven pm, and I couldn't find Steven anywhere at home. I was tired, I was hungry, and by now all I wanted to do was burst into tears. This was not the anniversary I had imagined.

I let out a deeply defeated sigh watching as my breath turned visible against the cold air. I propped my head onto my arms resting them against my knees. After a while I just let my hands cover my face. I refused to cry even when my chest clenched and I felt like I had a frog clogging my throat. I sniffled and told myself that it was just the cold weather. I blinked away the tears that clogged my eyes and heard someone stop right in front of me.

I opened my eyes and kept trying to blink away my tears, "Yes?" I peeked through my fingers and found that Steven was standing before me.

He grinned at me and pulled out a slightly squished scraggly bunch of wild flowers in his hand, "Happy anniversary."

I stood up and let the tears that I had been holding back streak down my face. I closed the gap between us and threw my arms around him, "I thought you forgot."

Steven let out a bewildered chuckle, "Just cause I'm not that much of a romantic, doesn't mean I forgot, doll."

I kissed his neck and let go of him stepping back slightly, "Okay."

He frowned down at my rubbing my tears away with his thumbs, "You okay?"

I nodded giving him a strained smile, "Yeah." I pulled out the small box I had gotten him and shook it in front of him slightly, "Happy anniversary."

He handed me my flowers and took my box. A soft smile stretched across his face, "Thanks, Lin."

I tilted my head rubbing away stray tears and snot that I was desperately trying to hide, "You're welcome."

He popped open the top of the box and peered inside and chuckled, "Only you, Lin." He fingered the little record keychain and slipped it into his pocket.

I clutched the flowers he got me gently into my chest while he wound his arm around my waist. We quietly walked up our porch into our house. I leaned into him, "How was work?"

Steven let out a loud laugh, "Oh! You won't believe what Leo did…."

And while it wasn't the anniversary that I had imagined, I found that it was better than the alternative. Maybe next year it would be better.

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We hadn't had dinner with the Formans in a while. Sure, I still went grocery shopping with Kitty every week and dropped by Red's shop now and again, but I kind of missed it. We had been so busy with work or with whatever was going on with Annette and Michael that made it kind of hard to make time for what we always did. I kind of felt bad and worried that it might've made Kitty and Red like me less.

It felt good to hang out in the Forman household again even if it meant I had to take in Mary Jane smoke again. I didn't actually like it; I just liked being included. I took a deep breath inhaling my two inhalers one at a time before I sat down on Steven's lap. He patted my back slightly and I wearily laid my head onto his shoulder.

Circle time:

PAN TO ERIC

Eric smiled at me before he frowned suddenly, "Man, Red went ballistic on me. I mean, I wanna keep the job, but I really don't wanna wear my ass for a hat. 'Cause, you know, he said he could do that, and I believe him."

PAN TO STEVEN

Steven chuckled, "Come on, Forman. Fight the power, man. That way we can turn your room into a games room after Red kills you."

PAN TO LIN

I titled my head and gave him a dry grin, "Although I'm not sure an ass-hat is fatal." Eric rolled his eyes at the two of us.

PAN TO FEZ

Fez giggled and wiggled a little, "You know what would be a good job for me? Gigolo. "The loving is over, now pay me.""

PAN TO LIN

I raised my eyebrow at him, "I'm pretty sure Patty would object to that, Fez."

PAN TO FEZ

He shook his head getting suddenly morose, "She broke up with me."

PAN TO STEVEN

Steven balked and muttered, "Damn."

PAN TO LIN

I gave him a consoling smile, "I'm sorry, Fez."

PAN TO ERIC

Eric patted Fez's shoulder gently, "Sorry, Fez." Fez nodded and swayed with a sad pensive look sliding onto his face.

PAN TO MICHAEL

Michael ignored us and whined, "So, Laurie's been talking a lot lately, right? She's saying she wants a relationship, you know. And I kept waiting for the dirty part. But the dirty part never came." Was sex the only thing he really thought about? I knew that he was better than this, but why was he acting this way?

PAN TO ERIC

Eric threw Michael a derisive look, "Kelso, I have a real problem here, okay? I'd like to talk about that."

PAN TO MICHAEL

Michael nodded and continued on, "Right. You know, dating two girls wasn't supposed to be like this. No, it was supposed to be like- So, do you wanna talk? No way. I just wanna fool around. Yeah. Oh, talking is stupid. Hey, Kelso, you mind if I join in your sexy circle too? Why not?"

We all sighed and, if it was at all possible, sweat dropped. There was no way to talk to Michael sometimes.

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We all sat around the dining table and waited patiently for Red to come home. I had helped Mrs. Forman make a big dinner consisting of mashed potatoes, a roasted rosemary chicken, a cherry pie, a garden salad, and several bread rolls. I wasn't quite certain, but this probably meant that something big had happened. We really needed to have more dinners with them again even with our changed schedules.

Laurie crossed her arms and pouted, "Mom, how come we have to be here? I could be using this time to not be here."

Kitty frowned at her daughter and shook her head, "No, this is a very difficult day for your father, and he needs to be with his family. His entire family, missy."

Steven moved to get up and I let out a sigh. He winked at me, "I'll be in the basement."

Kitty shook her head and stated in a commanding tone, "No, you sit."

Steven jokingly stated, "Oh, sure, when things get ugly, suddenly I'm family." I patted his knee and kissed his neck lightly.

Laurie sneered, "Not to me, freak."

I rolled my eyes at her, "You are so going to end up in porno."

Before she could retort Eric snorted, "Probably a really bad porno too."

She glared at all of us, but resolutely clicked her mouth shut when we caught sight of Red.

Kitty nervously smiled at him, "Hi, honey."

Red nodded and went straight to the bar pouring himself some of the rum that Steven had given him for his birthday. He grinned at us, "What are you all looking at? Don't you think that best muffler seller in town deserves a drink? Yea! Yeah, I got 'em! I even managed to hire a mechanic."

Steven smiled and nodded, "Congratulations, Red."

I beamed at him, "That's great Mr. Forman!" He had been looking for employees for such a long time now. I wondered if they had arrived from the other smaller towns around us.

Kitty let her shoulders slump in relief and went over kissing Red's lips lightly, "Oh honey, that's wonderful."

Laurie batted her lashes at Red and sweetly said, "Great job, Daddy!"

Eric grinned at Red, "Hey, congratulations, Dad."

Red took a sip of his run and genuinely smiled at all of us, "Thank you all. Oh, and Eric; you're fired."

Eric balked and leaned back in his seat, "What? You can't do that. I'm not fired." The food was going to get cold at this rate.

Red sat down in his seat while Kitty sat in her respective seat as well. He gave Eric a careless shrug, "Okay, if it's so important to you, you're not fired. But if your grades start to slip, I'll find a way to get you fired! I love saying that." He grinned while we started passing around the food. Finally. I was actually starting to worry that my stomach would actually start grumbling.

Steven chuckled, "God help the poor bastards who work for you, huh?"

Red smirked, "Damn straight."

I bet Eric was glad that his father never offered him work at his shop now. Eric winced and smiled nervously. I piled food onto my plate and sagged happily in my seat. I missed these dinners.

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Story premise: A 30 year old gets reincarnated into the show as Jackie at the age of ten. She decides to screw the plot and live life as she wanted. Her end goal: marry Steven Hyde, have children, and be happy. If she can bring a little more joy to the people she meets along the way, all the better. This story is in first person point of view.

Girken: Thank you very much for your review!

Heavenly-vixen: Thank you for another fantastic review!

Beloved Butterfly: Thank you for adding my story onto your favorites list.

Author's Note: I've been sick with a pretty bad cold for a while so this chapter has come later than I had anticipated. Thank you for your patience. As a side note, I wanted to know if Lin comes off as a Mary Sue. I certainly try to steer clear of those types of characters to the best of my ability, but as I am biased, I'd like to know other people's opinions of her. I would like her to be someone that's, at the end of the day, three dimensional.

I also wanted to know whether you guys wanted to see how Steven fell in love with Lin in the first place as an omake or something. Is their relationship believable without it as an omake? Are the other relationships within this story believable?

On a side note, I found out that Tina Pinciotti was written out of the show, but since I mentioned her in this story…. I'll figure out some way to bring her back to maintain continuity.

I have also constructed a map for this story along with city stats. If you guys are interested in seeing it I'll post it up on deviant art and link it through my next chapter.

Ya'll are great and, as always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Digital cookies for all! c: