Four houses later Jackie and Steven was heading back to the Foreman's. WB was picking Angie back and going to the hotel.

"Puddin why was all the houses so big?"

"WB wants me to have a house with extra bedrooms for him and Angie"

"That makes sense"

"So what is going on with Fez?"

Jackie knew she couldn't tell Steven yet, she hated not telling him but would also hate to have him keep a secret from the Foreman's. "Well I can't really tell you now, he was going to go back home but something came up and he's staying. We did stop and talk to Nina and she said if we come in tomorrow you can get your new license done."

"We'll open the store tomorrow and then go to the DMV, and just hang out and then go close up" he said the last part with a smirk.

"Oh really, I am guessing you have other things in mind" she put her hand on his thigh.

He grabbed her hand and held it as he pulled into the driveway.

They joined Eric, Red and Bob at the table while Kitty was bringing everything to the table. Jackie was missing cooking with her. "I am gonna have to cook with you some time this week" Everyone but Kitty, Red and Eric looked up in shock.

"Babe remember the last time you tried to fix me cookies?"

"Oh Steven she has been cooking with me since she came back from Chicago and waited for you" Kitty stopped herself from saying more after that.

Steven felt the guilt, Jackie grabbed his hand, trying to overcome the tension, "I figured I needed to start eating better and if anyone could teach me it was Kitty"

Red spoke up, "she was doing pretty good with no dumbasses around to distract her."

"Well Jackie how about Friday we fix dinner together?"

"That sounds great, I've missed cooking

So Bob have you heard from Donna?" deciding to change the subject.

"Midge called and let me know she got there Ok, but Donna wouldn't talk to me"

Kitty patted his arm, "I'm so sorry Bob"

"It's ok Kitty my baby is growing up maybe time with her mom will do her some good"

Donna spent the flight to California going over reeling over the events of her life. To her confrontation with her friends, she didn't understand what was going on with them. She didn't understand why her dad was trying to get her away from Point Place, she didn't get to talk to Eric and find out why he was back. She did not want to be in California and despite her age it seemed like her age her parents was treating her like a child.

Midge was there to meet her when she stepped off the plane. Bob had called her after he got Donna off and filled her in on everything going on back in Point Place, she couldn't believe her daughter had turned her back on Jackie, she had always liked her and thought Donna had a good friend in the little girl.

Midge greeted her daughter at the gate and they had a quiet ride to her apartment. In fact the whole day was quiet, Midge tried to talk to Donna but Donna only gave glares or one word answers. She decided to let Donna adjust and hope she was ready to talk soon, it was going to be a long visit if it kept up like this.

Steven had just changed to get ready for bed assuming everyone was already in bed he started up the stairs, but noticed Red sitting in his chair watching the late news. When he saw Steven come in he clicked the TV off. "Have a seat Steven"

Steven took a seat, and wondered if he was going to have the same talk he had with Kitty last night. He didn't know what to say so he figured best keep his mouth shut and let Red speak.

"You know for the last 6 months Kitty and I have been worried not knowing where Laurie is, and we still don't, as a parent it doesn't matter how old they are you still are going to worry about them being safe. Then Eric decides to take off for Africa, while I am proud he is doing something and trying to find what he wants to do, we still worry, but at least he has kept contact. That morning that Jackie came in our house after you left her, and then as time passed and you never contacted us, I had Kitty worried about all 3 of her kids and Jackie staying in your room waiting for you. I didn't think anything of it, and then when you finally showed back up, I had a hysterical girl in my shop. I took Jackie home that night and realized one of the reasons she was staying at our house, not just waiting for you, but that girl was alone. Everyone had left her, Kitty and I had thoughts that her hormones where showing signs of pregnancy, but we kept quiet till she was ready. Now I know you are looking for a house, but I want to know are you going to leave her again?"

"No sir, I regret everyday letting her go to Chicago in the first place and then leaving her there when I went to get her"

"Remember Steven women don't always come straight out and say everything that is going on with them, they want us to pry it out of them."

"Like the time she said she was going to the Doll Expo and really she was cleaning out her parent's cabin?"

"Exactly, you are not always easy to read and Jackie doesn't know how you would handle things, she wants you to be there for her but she'd rather keep things to herself than face your rejection. That is what happened with the cabin and with Chicago. She was so scared that you would reject her, you kept saying you wasn't ready for marriage she didn't know how you would handle being a parent and the responsibilities, she was preparing herself for the possibility of doing it all on her own."

"Being a father scares the crap out of me, but I am not going to abandon Jackie and our baby. I wish I could say that Jackie's insecurities were not founded, but I know I had done a lot to make her doubt how I felt about her. But I am going to do my best to make sure she never doubts me again."

"It's a scary thing to be a parent, it doesn't get easier. I doubt I have been the best at it, Eric I think can do a lot better than he was aiming for in high school. And well Laurie…"

"For what it's worth, I think you have been a terrific dad, God knows where I would be if it wasn't for you and Kitty, pumping gas, prison or dead."

"OK enough of this, and this conversation never took place" Red got up and patted Steven's shoulder "Now go upstairs and go to sleep"

"Don't you mean downstairs?" Red just gave him a look instead of answering him to get his point across, he knew where he had been sleeping, and he was fine with it.

Steven crawled in bed with Jackie, he knew tonight he wouldn't be tossing and turning, his mind was clear and all he wanted was his family in his arms and go to sleep.

The next day at Grooves Jackie was running the register while Steven was sorting through a new shipment of records when Eric came in. "Ok I didn't plan this trip home right."

Jackie had just finished with her last customer and went and joined Eric in the listening pit. "What is wrong now?"

"Well everyone is working during the day, mom offered to let me come with her to work but that career day was enough, I was getting bored at home and well out of all my friends hanging out here is safer than hanging out with Michael and I really don't know or want to know what goes on at Fez's"

"Well if you ever learned to hold a flashlight you could go help your dad in the shop"

Steven walked out of the store room to see the store empty aside from Jackie and Eric sitting in the listening pit "Eric what are you doing here?"

"I was just telling Jackie it is boring at home, and everyone is working so I thought I would hang out here with you guys, but if I am going to get scolded for not knowing how to hold a flash light, maybe I should get home and rebuild my Millennium Falcon"

Steven took a seat by Jackie, "No you can hang out here, but we are leaving in a bit, we are closing tonight, hey would you like to earn some extra money while you are home? Leo is a no show it looks like today, and I don't want to leave Randy by himself and we have stuff we need to get done today."

"Do you think I'll get along with Randy?"

"Sure you can both compare notes and trash Donna" Jackie told him.

"Babe that is what girls do, not guys, though I could see Eric and Randy doing that" Steven gave a Eric a big smile. "But seriously, you two have a lot in common, though he does care about his hair too much"

"Well it has to be better than sitting at home or hanging out with dad in his shop"

"I miss working with Red" Jackie pouted

"I miss watching you work with Red" Steven gave her a smirk

"Just remember I am still in the room!"

Randy walked in, "Hey guys, slow day?"

"It is right now, Randy this is Eric he is going to work with you today, he has no life right now so needed something to do and doesn't look like Leo is coming in, we will be back around 6 to finish the night and close up" He helped Jackie off the couch in the pit. "And make sure he doesn't play Styx"

"What's wrong with Styx?" that came from both Randy and Eric

"well better have that crap off when I get back"

After what ended up being a quick trip to the DMV thanks to Jackie and Fez talking to Nina the day before they got in the car, "So what else do you have planned today? Jackie asked

"Well Christmas is coming up and I thought you might help me with some Christmas shopping"

"You are wanting to shop with you? And not just shop but Christmas shopping? Who are you and what have you done with Steven?"

"Hey we have had fun shopping the first time we went"

"Steven, that was the only time we went shopping together, the next time you and me was at the mall together you made fun of my cheese maiden costume, and the last time I was shopping with Eric you picked me up and carried me into the dressing room, I thought you was coming in there with me, but YOU LEFT ME?"

He was smiling at the memories, "OK doll how about we shop, if you try to kiss me I will not push you away, I won't make fun of you and let you know how hot you really look, and if you want me to go in the dressing room with you just tell me OK?"

By then they had parked at the mall, Steven got out and held the door open and helped Jackie out, instead of walking towards the mall entrance she placed her arms around Steven's neck and pulled him in for a kiss, not protesting he kissed her back. Finally Jackie pulled away, just making sure you wasn't going to push me away and say 'bad Jackie' this time"

"Never, if I tell you how hot you are can we find a dressing room"

"Pig, I'm hungry and need to eat first"

"Yes dear"

Later the couple was sitting at a table eating their lunch, Steven looked up, "So what about we go to Sizzler tonight before we go back to Grooves tonight?" he couldn't help but wink at her.

Jackie looked at him and couldn't help but smile, "five different types of Jello does sound good"

"Well unless I give everyone records for Christmas I got nothing but one gift"

"Whose gift do you have?"

Not making eye contact with her, "yours"

"Well I got most of my gifts the other day with Angie and Brook, but really couldn't get theirs with them there"

"Have you got Betsey anything yet?"

"No but I have an idea of something, Brook saw but it was too expensive for Brook with her salary, librarians don't make much and Chicago is expensive, I think she is looking to move back here after Christmas to get out of the city"

"Well if it's from her godparents, and we get to start getting prepared for this little guy"

They spent the next few hours shopping, they had gotten Betsey a doll house and all the furniture to go with it, along with gifts for all their friends. Somehow the last shop they ended in was a bookstore, "Jacks we are done aren't we? Who would we get a gift for in a bookstore?"

"Honestly I was thinking about Donna, you know before all the wedding and such she always talked about becoming a writer or a journalist, traveling and such it was why she was reluctant to wear the promise ring. Was she giving up that dream?"

"Babe the same could be said about you, did you give up your dreams?"

"Please most of those was childhood fantasies, what was expected of a cheerleader, or by my parents, my cover. I was always afraid of being laughed and mocked if people knew my real dream, especially from Donna, because it was so anti-feminist" rubbing her belly "this is my dream, to be a mother, to prove I could do it and do it better than my mother, of course the dream of dressing in mother-daughter matching outfits will have to be put on hold for a while"

Taking her in his arms, "Well we could always get him a little Led Zeppelin shirt, so do you have something in mind for Donna?"

"I want a book that maybe reminds her of her dreams and maybe encourages her to try and pursue them"

Looking up Steven saw the perfect book, he wasn't sure if Donna had it or not, but still would be everything she just said, he let go of her and picked up a hard copy of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, "not sure if she has this, do you remember?" holding up the book.

"No I don't think I have seen this one before, have you read it?"

"Not completely but I know enough about it that it might be what you are looking for, and you could write a note on the inside cover to her"

After purchasing the book they went and sat down at a table and Jackie took a pen to write a message inside:

Donna,Don't forget your dreams, discover what they are and go after them.Love,Jackie and Steven

She showed Steven what she wrote, "That is perfect, we can give it to Bob to put in his box he is sending her for Christmas, let's head home you need some rest"

When they got home, Jackie was exhausted Steven helped her upstairs and put everything but Betsey's and Donna's presents in the closet. "You get some sleep I'll see if Bob is home and give him the book and then figure out where to hide Betsey's present."

"Ok I should be as good as new in time for dinner and go to Grooves with you later"

"Love you doll"

"Love you too Puddin"

Steven had went next door to find Bob and ask if he could send Donna's gift with what he what he was sending.

"You seriously got her something?" Bob was surprised anyone would bother with the way she had been before she left

"Actually it is from Jackie, but she put both our names on it"

"I talked to Midge earlier, Donna has hardly spoken since she got there, she is so much like Midge at that age, maybe once she finally talks to her mom she will realize things and not want to make the same mistakes we did. I should have paid Eric for not showing up at the wedding, that was one of the best things he did."

"Well at the time it didn't seem like it, but yea it probably was for both of them. Look could I hide a Christmas present here?"

"Sure is it for Jackie?"

"No her present is hiding in my room, and well she doesn't seem to want to go in my room, no it's for Betsey, it's kind of too big to hide easy and we don't want Michael to see it before we give it to Betsey"

"Sure, I'm not sure that I am going to do much for Christmas this year, I have a lot of stuff packed up already, I have someone that has put an offer on the house so I hope to be out of here soon after the New Year."

Bob helped Steven carry the doll house and everything and hid it behind the bar in the living room.

"You know Mrs Foreman would probably love for me to buy this house, but it doesn't meet WB's requirements of guest bedrooms for him and Angie"

"Well I am not sure Jackie would want to live here either, she has some pretty bad memories here" Bob noticed the sunken expression on Steven, "Not you but some bad fights here with Donna and her mom, of course the last one is that sleepover that Donna had before Jackie left, I honestly don't know what has been going on in her head for the last year or so"

"Well I think we might have found a house a couple blocks over, just waiting to hear back on our offer, I didn't even tell Jackie yet, heck I haven't asked her if she wants to move in with me yet even when she went with me looking at the houses"

"In my experience it will do you good to let her know your intentions right out"

"I know, especially with Jackie, I am going to ask her to marry me, but I want to make sure she knows it isn't just because of the baby"

"I am so happy for you two"

"Bob you are going to be missed around here, but please keep in touch, and don't say anything about me proposing to Jackie, and now that you look like you are going to cry I am going to leave, by Bob"