Chapter 27
The week after Christmas seemed to fly by, Jackie and Steven spent time with WB shopping for furniture for the new house. Kitty was able to take off the week to spend with Eric, even Red had taken and closed the shop to spend time with his son before he left again. New Year's Eve came and Bob was able to let Red and WB know that he was going to be picking up Donna who was going to stay a few days and help finish packing up the house. They decided not to worry the others and just be on the lookout for Donna to say something to upset especially Jackie. WB had decided to let Angie know before the party knowing she would be sticking close to Jackie. Angie had spent the week at Grooves going over books and helping to find someone to help Randy when Eric left so Steven didn't have to be at the store as much. Randy had found a new girlfriend and was going to Kenosha with her for a New Year's Eve party, but promised he would be back on the 2nd to work in the store while Jackie and Steven got moved into their new house.
The party was just starting as the guests began to arrive, Red hoped everyone would leave shortly after midnight since he was driving with Kitty and Eric to Chicago to see Laurie the next day. He was looking forward to seeing his little girl and hoped he would be able to get a good night sleep, and that no one got too drunk.
Jackie had been forced to take a nap before the party, Steven had noticed that she was getting tired more than usual, he was looking forward to getting moved in, he was going to do everything he could to keep Jackie from doing too much this week. He had been surprised she really hadn't said anything about wedding plans, that had been a huge surprise, especially after her actions back when Eric and Donna was planning their wedding. An hour before people were supposed to be arriving he made his way up to their room to wake her up, he knew their would be hell to pay if he didn't give her plenty of time to get ready, he just hoped an hour would do.
"Jacks, time to wake up, everyone will be here in an hour" he bent down to give her a kiss"
"Wow I didn't think I would sleep that long" she said as she started to stretch and sit up. "Do you know if everyone is going to make it?"
"Yea Eric talked to Michael earlier and Brook came in with Betsey, and I talked to Fez earlier, he talked to Laurie she said she hoped we could visit her sometime soon. I told Fez that I wanted tomorrow to just be the family, he argued we are family, so I told them since I am going to be down next weekend I would try to see her then before I come back. For some reason she wants to see me, and Fez said it would be good just for me to visit, I don't know what that is about, but I guess Laurie is like a sister to me."
Jackie was sitting in front of the mirror putting on her make up while Steven spoke, "Well both you and Eric cheered for me when I kicked her ass that time"
"That we did Grasshopper. You are not expecting me to get dressed up for this tonight are you?" Steven said as he looked down at the jeans and concert tee he was wearing.
"No, actually I think I am just going to throw on that new maternity dress I got the other day, it is actually comfortable, and tonight I am all about comfort"
"You say the word and we are back up here in bed"
"What a good night kiss to ring in the new year not good enough for you?"
"No that isn't what I meant, but then that could be a good way to bring in the new year" giving her his signature smirk.
Steven and Jackie was making their way down the stairs just as WB and Angie showed up. Red was sitting in his chair, Eric was on the couch with Fez and Kitty was going around the room putting finishing touches on everything.
"Kitty is there something Angie and I could help you with?" Jackie asked
"Well we are just going to have all the food set up in the kitchen, and drinks at the bar, everything is finger foods so no forks needed, everyone can eat as they want. I have champagne and sparkling grape juice for the new year." Kitty took in Jackie's appearance, "Why don't you fix yourself a plate now and eat a little something before everyone else gets here, I want to make sure you eat"
"Yea if I wait I might get too caught up talking and forget, and this little guy is hungry it seems"
"Have you guys decided on a name yet?" Angie asked as they both got plates.
"No we have been so busy that we haven't had a chance to talk about the baby or even the wedding"
"Jackie are you alright, it is strange you not talking about your wedding" Kitty pulled out a chair for the pregnant girl.
"Well one I want to get through this pregnancy first, and two I promised Steven years ago I would not talk about wedding stuff in the continental United States. And truth fully I am not sure what I want wedding wise anymore, I just want to be with Steven for the rest of my life and raise our family."
Kitty took a seat and joined the girls, "Sweetie you have done a lot of growing up, sadly a lot of it was forced on you, but don't give up on your fairytales"
Just then Steven walked in, "I was hoping you was getting something to eat, what were you guys talking about?"
Angie looked at her brother, "Steven did you actually make her promise she couldn't talk anything wedding related in the continental United States?"
A guilty expression was washing over his face as he sat down at the table opposite of the girls, "Yea I did, but Jacks I hope you realize that is now invalid since I proposed to you. Is that why you haven't said anything about getting married this week?"
"Yea and we have been so busy, and I honestly not sure what type of wedding I want anymore, its not like my parents will be there, and I do know I want to wait till after our son is born, I don't want to be fat in a wedding dress" Ironically stuffing a meatball with a toothpick in her mouth.
"Jacks you will look beautiful in any wedding dress you pick out. But if you want to wait for this little guy then we will wait, I don't want you stressed out, so lets take one thing at a time"
"Plus I am not going to rush it before Eric leaves, and I don't want to getting married without him by your side"
"As long as you are the one meeting me, but yea Eric does need to be there, he's been there for both of us hasn't he?"
"Yea, he really has"
The girls finished their food and went in to wait for the rest of the guests, some were neighbors along with the rest of the gang, Jackie was sitting on the steps with Brook and Betsey as everyone began to mingle.
"Well I hope to be moved back to Point Place this month, looks like I am going to get my job back at the library and an apartment is opening up in Fez's building, I just don't know what to think of the land lord."
"I know from what Steven has said he is a little creepy, and he isn't sure what the beef between him and Fez is, apparently it goes back years."
"Yea I got the feeling he likes Michael and seemed disappointed when he introduced me to him as his girlfriend"
"Well Red has joked that he helped them get that apartment by getting the land lord to believe they were a gay couple, maybe he has a crush on Michael."
"Maybe I need a different apartment building"
"True, but this is Point Place there are not a lot of options"
Bob walked in as everyone was talking and mingling, "Happy New Year's Eve"
Kitty walked over to greet Bob, "Bob great for you to come, I thought you would have been here sooner, the food is all in the kitchen and drinks at the bar"
"I would have but I got a little delayed at the airport" Just then Donna walked in the door and all eyes was on her. Steven and Eric was both shocked that she would come back and made their way to join Jackie and Brook on the stairs. Donna took in the room and noticed the quick movements of Steven and Eric. She wasn't prepared for the looks she was getting, when Red came up next to her she was taken back.
"You don't do anything to upset anyone here, I want your dad's last days here in Point Place to be pleasant," he said in voice for only her ears.
"I just want one last night to hang out with my oldest friends" She made her way over to the stairs, Steven had taken to sit the step above Jackie and had her between his knees, she was holding Betsey who had fallen asleep on her chest. "hey guys, what's new?"
Brook knew none of the others really wanted to speak, and she held out hope that Donna wasn't there to cause trouble decided to break the tension "I was just telling Jackie that Betsey and I are moving back to Point Place this month, Michael and I decided we didn't want her growing up in a big city, so I am going back to the library and Betsey will get to grow up in a small town like Michael and I"
Donna turned to the burnet "so I hear congratulations are in order"
Jackie did not know how to take Donna's words if she was being sincere or not, "yes we got this little guy coming in March and Steven and I are getting married sometime this year" making sure to rub Betsey's back with her left hand.
"Well Hyde you always said the reason to get married was if the chick was pregnant"
Everyone on the steps felt the tension go through their bodies, unsure how Steven was going to react, Michael and Fez had both started over to the stairs. Michael took and put his arm around Donna, "Big D its not Hyde, he goes by Steven, in fact we all decided it was time to grow up and call each other by our first names"
"Yea I should have never been called Hyde, that isn't my name. And not something I want to pass on to my son"
Hoping to get the boys alone, "so can we go down to the basement one last time? Get away from all the parents?" Hoping that Jackie and Brook would understand they were included in the parents category.
Eric looked around at the others and they figured why not, maybe it could be a drama free night of all hanging out together one last time "sure, we don't go down there much anymore"
Steven looked over and made eye contact with Angie, "sis the young folks are going to head down to the basement for a little bit, come on"
He took Betsey from Jackie and helped her up. Donna led the way down the steps to the basement. The rest of them hadn't been down there since Christmas Eve. Donna sat in the middle of the couch, waiting for the boys to join her. She was shocked when she realized that the girls joined them, but at least they had left Betsey upstairs.
"Brook Kitty took Betsey from me, she said she wanted practice or something like that" Steven said as he pulled Jackie on his lap. Angie sat on the couch close to Steven and Jackie and Brook carefully sat on the other side of Donna, Michael sat on the arm of the couch next to Brook, Fez sat on the lawn chair by Michael and Eric grabbed the stool and sat next to Steven.
"So I guess with the pregnant one here having a circle is out? I haven't smoked since before I left."
"Well the rest of us have stopped as well, I realized being a dad I needed to take my job seriously and be a good example for my daughter"
"I haven't since I left for Africa, and honestly I haven't missed it, getting home all I wanted was to spend time with my friends, not talk crazy stuff that we wouldn't remember."
"And I realized I didn't want to go down the same path as Bud and Edna, and that's what I was doing getting high and drinking like I was. I hate them and I don't want to become them, and like Michael I want to set a good example for my son, I don't want him to see me the way I saw Bud and Edna growing up. Plus getting drunk was getting me no where other than hurting Jackie. I had this ring for 9 months before I finally manned up and did what I should have done 9 months ago." He put his arms around Jackie and held her a little tighter.
Jackie leaned into his embrace.
Donna couldn't believe no circles, she noticed none of them seem to be drinking like they used to either, "are you all not drinking either?"
"Well I have a trip to Chicago tomorrow with my parents and I'd rather not have a hanghangover in a car with Red several hours." Eric answered
"I have to work in the morning and plus want to spend time with Betsey"
Fez looked around the room, he didn't feel like letting Donna know any more about his wife than she might already know, it was best if he just stayed quiet.
Donna looked around all of her friends were changing without her. She wanted to get Steven alone to ask about the Christmas gift, but seeing the hold he had on Jackie knew that wasn't going to happen.
Jackie brought it up instead, "Donna did you get your Christmas gift from Steven and me?"
"Um it was nice, not expected anything"
"Well Steven and I was shopping and I wanted to get something that reminded you of your dreams of traveling and writing, Steven picked out the book"
Donna didn't know what to say. But Eric spoke up "Donna I just saw you and never your dreams, you need to take the time and chase your dreams"
"Like you all are following your dreams? Eric was your dream to go to Africa? Jackie was your dream to get knknocked up and unwed, or was it your plan to get someone to marry you and get your dream wedding?"
Eric stood up, "That's enough, Africa is a means to help me reach my dreams and go to school its been a help to het away and see my life in a different perspective, and not let everyone have their opinions. I realized I had been a crappy friend to Steven, I should have had his back from the beginning with Jackie and when he started drinking like Bud and Edna. But I like to think I am learning to be a better friend." Jackie reached over and patted his shoulder he had been a great friend to her.
The small girl turned to the blonde, "Donna my real dream has always been just to have a family, something I have never really had, my final threads with my parents unraveled, Donna its one thing to have your parents fighting each other growing up, but no matter what I did to be the perfect daughter it didn't mean anything to them. When that dream seemed gone I had to make changes because it wasn't about me anymore, but when the Station manager in Chicago found out I was pregnant he told me he couldn't use me. It hasn't been easy few months but everything is falling into place."
Steven took and rubbed Jackie's baby bump, "Donna you know that you are a lousy friend to all of us but you was the worst to Jackie." he checked his watch, he wanted to get Jackie out of there, he wanted to make sure the new year on a good note and then rest. "well I think I want to get upstairs to the other adults, and ring in the new year"
Everyone started to make their way up the steps but Donna, Fez being the last one up looked back, "Donna there comes a time when we really have to look at our life and we have to decide where we go from here, sometimes we have a purpose that drives us to do better"
"Like the baby for Jackie?"
"No not always, sometimes a crazy decision made one night can come at you and can make you rethink your life" Fez ended it there and went upstairs.
Donna finally went upstairs to join her dad for ringing in the new decade, nothing going as she expected.
Before the countdown started Angie helped Kitty get glasses together of champagne and sparkling grape juice. The as the countdown started Steven and Jackie was standing on the landing by the stairs, with Angie and Eric near them, Fez when he got up the stairs walked over to join them. Michael was holding Betsey with Brook with him on the stair case, Kitty joined Red sitting on the arm of his green chair. Bob was on the couch and relived when Donna came up and joined him, while others mingled around the room.
As the countdown hit zero Donna took in the people in the room, the couples kissing, Steven when he stopped kissing Jackie bent down and kissed her bump. Eric was hugging Fez, Jackie, Steven and Jackie. Her dad for a moment she felt lonely her dad had given her a hug and a kiss on her cheek. She felt very left out of her friends and began to realize that it wasn't just being away for a few weeks in California that caused the rift, or even Eric being gone, she had checked out as a friend long ago. She was staring as the Michael had handed Betsey to Steven who was wishing his goddaughter a happy new year, with Jackie. She started to see what Michael saw when he picked them as godparents, they were in it for the long haul. Before she knew what was happening, Jackie had made her way from the group and came over to hug Donna "Happy New Year, Donna"
Taken back Donna hugged the small girl back, "Happy New Year to you too"