A/N: It's Christmas in August today! I cannot believe we're finally at this point in the story. Next chapter is the last one (well, except for the epilogue)!

Chapter 14 (XIV)

Christmas Eve, 1984

"Wow, it looks like Santa threw up in here," Kelso remarked as he stepped through the front door and saw all the Christmas decorations that adorned the Formans' living room. Little Betsy, dressed in a plaid Christmas dress, giggled hard at her dad's joke and Kelso grinned. A very pregnant Brooke slipped the winter coat off her daughter's shoulders and rolled her eyes.

He wasn't wrong - Kitty really had gone all out this year. A tall fir tree stood in its usual corner, decorated base to tip with lights and tinsel. Piles upon piles of brightly wrapped presents sat underneath it. The banister was draped with red and green ribbons, and the family stockings were perched just so – each one labeled for Red, Kitty, Eric, Laurie, and Hyde. Paul McCartney crooned about a Wonderful Christmastime in the background. In the center of it all was Kitty, dressed in a red and white Mrs. Claus-inspired dress, a serving platter full of eggnog in her arms and the biggest smile on her lips. She was always happiest when she was surrounded by all of her kids.

"Go put our gifts under the tree, Bets," Brooke gently directed her daughter. The six-year-old gleefully added her family's presents to the mountain of packages underneath the tree.

"Find the ones that are for Daddy, honey," Kelso added, and Brooke batted at him.

"That's the Christmas spirit, Kelso," Hyde nodded from the couch. "What's in it for me?" He took a swig from his beer and Kelso joined him, plopping down onto the couch like the big kid that he was.

"Yeah!" Kelso agreed excitedly, not picking up on Hyde's sarcasm, per usual.

Jackie and Fez were next to arrive, and to Hyde's dismay, they were wearing matching gaudy Christmas sweaters. Jackie's depicted an elf and Fez's a reindeer. Kitty, of course, thought they were darling, and demanded that the couple pose for a picture in front of the stairs. While Kitty dashed off to the kitchen for her camera, Jackie and Hyde briefly made eye contact. Jackie glanced away first, pretending to be enamored with the decorations on the tree.

It had been two weeks since that day he'd come to her at her apartment, and asked for a second chance. They hadn't really spoken since.

When he thought about it, that sort of felt like an answer.

Kitty dashed off to the kitchen, and Red took advantage of her absence to poke Eric in the side. "Cookie," he demanded, out of the side of his mouth.

Eric swiped a star-shaped sugar cookie from the tray that sat on the coffee table, and slyly passed it to Red. Kitty was insistent that Red followed the doctor's orders, which included limiting his sugar intake. Eric, on the other hand, was insistent upon making sure his father enjoyed his last Christmas.

"They're here!" Kitty announced, as she entered back into the living room with her camera looped around her neck. Red quickly shoved the remainder of the cookie in his mouth.

"Donna and Natalia are here," she continued. "We can start the gift exchange!"

Natalia entered from the kitchen first. She wore a red, velvety dress and her usually messy hair was done up in a high pony-tail held together with a big, festive bow. She held a present in front of herself primly, but a big grin lit across her face when she saw all of the presents. "Whoa!" she shouted, running over to the tree. "Are these all for me?!"

"No," Donna laughed. She'd entered just behind her daughter, and wore a simple pair of black slacks and a maroon turtleneck. She touched the back of her daughter's head gently. "They're for everyone. Remember how we went shopping and then wrapped up those gifts?"

"Oh yeah. We bought a picture frame for Mrs. Kitty and a blanket for Mr. Red."

"Okay, yep, glad you remember," Donna shook her head, bemused. "It's supposed to be a secret, though, okay?" She lifted a finger up to her lips. "So shhh."

"Shhh," Natalia agreed, imitating her mother's gesture before bounding off to sit on the floor next to Betsy.

"Okay, who's ready for Secret Santa?" Kitty called.

"Me!" Kelso's hand shot into the air first, and Betsy and Natalia both copied him.

"Me! Me! ME!"

"Okay, okay," Kitty clapped her hands together. "Now, everyone get a seat."

She walked over to the tree and picked up a small package.

"And remember the rules: once you open your gift, your 'Santa' has to reveal who they were!" She clapped her hands together excitedly and laughed. "Steven, the first one is for you!" She handed the small, light package over to Hyde, on the couch.

Hyde sighed. Opening presents made him uncomfortable. He slipped his hand through the wrapping paper to reveal a plain white box. It was held shut with tape, and he easily broke through the seal and popped it open.

"Tickets," he said slowly, as he read what was printed on them. "Rolling Stones, in Chicago. March 8th. Hey, this is great." He smiled a genuine smile, and glanced around at his friends and family, unsure who to thank.

"Those are from me," Donna volunteered with a smile. "And you are totally welcome to invite me to be your plus-one, by the way," she teased.

"Hell yeah. Thanks, big D."

"Yay," Kitty exclaimed. "Okay, one of the little ones next. Betsy, honey, here's yours."

Over the next couple of minutes Betsy received a 'learn-to-crochet' kit (from Kitty), Fez opened – and promptly started eating – a yard-long pure chocolate bar (from Brooke), and Eric got a rare GI Joe he had been looking for and a new sweater vest (from Jackie) because, "They're tacky, but you really seem to like them."

"Okay, Jackie, your turn!" Kitty passed a small, flat package across the room. It passed through a few hands before it arrived to Jackie.

"Hmm, what is this?" Jackie smiled, and made a show of shaking the package. "Looks too big to be jewelry," she narrated slowly. "And it's not heavy enough to be shoes…" She tugged the wrapping paper off slowly, and when she saw what was inside she gasped quietly. "Oh, wow."

"What is it?" Kelso craned his neck to see like a five-year-old.

"It's a painting," Jackie said slowly, still fixated on it. She held it up so the others could see. It was a small square canvas, with an abstract painting of a wilderness scene. There was a small building on one side, and the edge of a body of water on the other.

"You like art?" Kelso wrinkled his nose, confused. "Doesn't seem like your thing."

"Yes, Michael," Jackie snapped. "I do, actually." She glanced around at her family and friends. "Who is this from? I love it." No one spoke up, and Jackie frowned.

"Now, now, don't be shy," Kitty laughed. "Mr. or Mrs. present giver… who are you?"

Clearly uncomfortable, Hyde cleared his throat. "Uh, it's from me."

"Steven?" Jackie was surprised.

"Hyde, you like art?" Kelso exclaimed. "Man, what the hell?" Brooke tapped his arm, shushing him.

"I, uh, pulled your name and I didn't really know what to get you, Jackie," Hyde admitted. "There's this guy at the mall who sells his paintings and I saw this one day. It reminded me of –"

"My cabin," Jackie finished for him, nodding. "I think so, too."

"Your cabin?" Fez set his arm around Jackie's shoulders. "The one we helped you clear out after your family went bankrupt because your dad was convicted for his white-collar crimes?"

"Yes, Fez, that one." Jackie rolled her eyes, just slightly. Then they turned wistful. "I've always said, that was my favorite place in the world."

"I remember," Hyde said softly.

"Thank you, Steven." Jackie brought the canvas to her chest, truly touched.

"I hope you like it," he nodded.

"I do."

The room went quiet, as everyone glanced back and forth between the two former lovers.

"Okay," Hyde slapped the tops of his legs overzealously, eager to get the attention off of himself. "Who's next, huh? How about Natalia."

Natalia sat up onto her knees, nearly bouncing with excitement. Kitty slid a large box across the floor towards Natalia. "For me?" she asked eagerly.

"That's right," Kitty smiled. "And it looks like, um… this one, and this one too." She slid two more packages addressed to Natalia over to her. "My my," Kitty laughed. "Your Santa was sure generous!"

Donna narrowed her eyes. "I thought there was a price limit."

"Well, maybe they're all small gifts. Go ahead, honey. Open them up!"

"Whoa, it's a land speeder!" Natalia shouted gleefully, as she opened up the first package. "And lookit all the guys!" One by one, she plucked various action figures from the box and lined them up on the carpet, naming them as she went. "Boba Fett, and Chewbacca, and C-3PO, and a storm trooper…"

By the time she finished unboxing all of her gifts – which included a light saber and a full replica of the Millennium Falcon – it was clear both that Eric had been her Secret Santa, and that he'd gone recklessly over the established budget.

Donna bit her lip. "It's too much." She looked directly at Eric.

He shrugged. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. There's so much cool Star Wars stuff now."

"She already has a lot of toys."

"Mo-om," Natalia whined, interrupting her. "I want it!"

"It's Christmas, Donna." Eric pooched his lower lip out pathetically, hoping to make her smile. It worked.

"Alright, whatever," Donna agreed. She touched the top of Natalia's head. She was already attempting to rip off the packaging on her light saber. "What do you say to Eric?" Donna prompted her daughter.

"I wish I had a dad like you!" Natalia blurted, still wrestling with opening the packaging.

For the second time that evening, the room went quiet.

Eric's eyes shot to Donna. She'd immediately closed her eyes, and her cheeks looked like they'd flushed pink. Abruptly, she stood up. "I'll be right back," she announced to the room. "I just, um, need to get some air." She exited the living room through the swinging door to the kitchen. Everyone else glanced around at each other uncomfortably.

Finally, Kitty laughed. "Well, we can finish Secret Santa later. Let's just…" she fumbled. "I'm gonna put on some music. Who needs another cookie? Or some wine," she muttered under her breath.

Donna exhaled sharply when she got out to the driveway, her breath forming an icy cloud in front of her. She glanced around for something to hold onto, and let out a chuckle when she noticed the good old Vista Cruiser, still in its faithful spot on the driveway. Red and Kitty didn't drive it anymore, but she'd never asked why they still held onto it.

She eased herself onto the hood slowly, and immediately the memories came flooding back. She and Eric talking. She and Eric fighting. She and Eric making up. She and Eric making out. Donna shook her head, as if that would shake the images away. It didn't help, and a moment later she felt tears threatening.

"Hey."

She whirled around to see Eric standing just a few feet away, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets. She hadn't even heard him come outside.

"Eric." Donna leaned forward until her feet met the ground, and slid into a standing position.

"I'm, um, sorry," he offered, leafing a hand through his hair uncomfortably. "For getting all that stuff for Natalia. I didn't, um. I didn't mean to make you mad."

"I'm not mad." Donna tilted her chin so that a few stray strands of hair blew out of her face. "I'm just embarrassed she didn't say thank you."

"Oh." Eric waved that off, and took a few steps closer to Donna so they were standing right next to each other. "That's okay. She's just a kid."

"Well, thanks, anyway." She nodded, then dropped her chin to her chest. She could feel Eric's eyes on her.

"Are you really okay?" He asked, softly.

Donna made a face. "Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Eric studied her for a minute longer. "Right."

Donna sniffed, and turned her face away from him. He… knew. He knew her too well.

"Hey, do you wanna…" Eric trailed off, hesitant. "Do you um, wanna dance?"

"What?" She spoke the word over a chuckle, involuntarily escaping her chest. It was about the last thing she'd expected him to say. There was music wafting out onto the driveway, through the cracked open sliding door. She hadn't noticed before.

"It's The Pretenders," Eric grinned back. "That Christmas song they did last year." Donna still stared at him incredulously. "C'mon," he nudged.

"Dance?" Donna raised her eyebrow, skeptically. She glanced behind him at the sliding door.

"Yeah, dance with me. Just this one song. No one's gonna see." She still looked at him like he had an extra head, and he started to laugh. "Oh, c'mon. One dance. You do that at weddings with, like, weird relatives you don't even like." To his surprise, she laughed, and appeared to be actually considering it.

"…okay."

"Okay?" Eric's eyebrows shot up into his hairline. "Okay." He smiled and opened his arms, offering them to her. She stepped forward into his embrace, and rested her arms lightly atop his shoulders, while his dropped to hold her loosely at the waist. Gently, they started to sway.

He's gone 2000 miles

It's very far

The snow's falling down

Gets colder day by day

I miss you…

Eric let his eyes flutter closed, taking in the moment. The scent of her hair was just as he'd remembered it – a hint of something fruity, like strawberries or watermelon. As they began to establish a slow, swaying rhythm, he held her a bit closer.

"It's a pretty song," Donna murmured, before leaning into him further and resting her head against his shoulder. The thrill of their intimacy rocked his entire body, just like he was seventeen and getting his first kiss all over again.

"Mhm," Eric agreed, lost in the feel of her in his arms and the memories of all the other important moments he'd shared with her, right here.

Three minutes and forty seconds passed much too quickly, and the song slowed to a crawl and then was over. They still clung to each other for a few beats of silence before Donna moved like she wanted to step back, and Eric reluctantly dropped his arms.

"Eric," Donna sighed, her face still inches from his. "What are we doing?"

"I don't know," he admitted, his voice hoarse. "I never do. But I know that right now I," he swallowed, his eyes darting from her eyes to her lips. "I want to kiss you."

She quirked an eyebrow at him, in that maddeningly cute way that he could never quite read.

"Mom!" A shouting four-year-old materialized at the sliding door seconds later, and Donna jerked out of his arms just in time. "Mrs. Kitty is gonna make me strawberry shortcake!"

"Wow, that's nice of her," Donna commented, slipping right back into her mom voice as she crossed the driveway towards Natalia. "You've already had a lot of sugar today, though."

"Mo-om. It's my favorite!"

"Natalia, every dessert is your favorite…"

Their voices faded as they walked back into the house, leaving Eric alone on the driveway. He sighed, and slid onto the Vista Cruiser, sliding back until he lay his whole body against the hood. Hello, old friend, he thought.

"There." Kitty flicked the overhead light off, so that the living room was dark except for the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree. She crossed the room to rejoin her husband on the couch, under a cozy knitted blanket. It was true, she loved entertaining and she loved to have all her kids home. But these quiet moments afterward, just her and Red… this was her absolute favorite place to be.

"You'll have to have Steven drag that thing out to the curb," Red commented drily, nodding at the tree. He petted her hair affectionately while he spoke. "It looks like it might outweigh Eric."

"Oh, don't think about that now." She patted his chest. "I know you don't like Christmas, but it's still here for another 24 hours."

"Yeah, I don't," he agreed. "Least it's my last one."

Against him, Kitty started to shake. Red looked down at her, surprised to find that she was crying. "Kitty," he soothed. "It was a joke. I'm sorry."

But her tears didn't stop. "It's not – it's not funny, Red."

"No," he agreed, leaning his face against the top of her head. He pressed a loving kiss there. "Hey, you have to promise me something."

"What?"

"Next year, next Christmas… you'll still have your big party. Okay? Will you do that for me?"

She looked up at him, and he brushed the pad of his thumb across her cheek, catching a tear. "I don't want to think about that," she shook her head.

"We have to," Red cupped her chin affectionately. "Just for a minute."

"What do you mean?"

Red sighed, and looked down at his hands. "I don't… I don't want you to stop living when I go. I don't want you to stop being who you are."

"But you're such a big part of who I am," Kitty's voice warbled.

"I know it'll be hard," Red nodded. "But I can't," he hesitated. "I'm not gonna be able to let go until you promise."

Kitty was silent – something that hadn't happened in all their years of marriage. They just sat together, underneath the blanket, for several minutes. "I'm scared, Red," she finally whispered, and he squeezed her with the remaining strength he had.

"Me too." He paused. "But this is what we had those damn kids for. So you won't have to be alone." Kitty laughed, despite herself. "Hey, at least one of 'em came back. Maybe Laurie will be next. Hell, she might even show up with a grandkid or two."

Kitty laughed, then rested her head against Red's chest. They were silent for a few minutes, again. "Oh, Red."

"Hmm?"

"I just," her tears were back. "I hate this. I don't know how to say goodbye."

Red reaffirmed his grip around her. "We're doing it, honey. Right now. Like this."

Jackie sat at the edge of she and Fez's bed, mindlessly braiding her hair before she went to sleep. Tomorrow, Christmas, would be a long day. They'd drive over to see Pam, have brunch, and exchange some (meaningless and half-hearted) gifts with each other. Then she and Fez would drive back and stop over at the Formans' again for dessert – pumpkin pie. It was Fez's favorite, they never missed it.

She heard the shower start in their attached bathroom, and gently brought her hands to her face and her shoulders slumped with the weight of all that had happened today.

The picture Steven had given her was propped up on her bedside table, and Jackie gazed at it for a long moment. It really did remind her of her cabin. But it also reminded her of Steven – of how thoughtful he could be, and how good – truly good – it felt to receive his love.

On cue, Fez's horrible, off-pitch singing rang out from behind the bathroom door, and Jackie couldn't help but giggle.

"Mamma mia, here I go again. My, my, how can I resist ya?"

It was true, Steven made her feel things she never thought she'd feel again. But Fez… he had a part of her heart, too.

"Mamma mia, does it show again? Ooh ooh, just how much I've missed ya?"

Like the big smile that would light up his face anytime he saw her – a smile that was genuine, and real, and just for her. The goofy way he sang Abba in the shower. He cooked for her, and he was always dutifully on her side when she told a story. And, she thought bitterly, she'd never once had to convince him to love her. He had from the start, and he told her all the time. Unlike Steven.

She knew what would happen if she stayed with Fez. He would propose – she'd already found the ring, hidden away in his underwear drawer, and it was exactly what she'd always told him she wanted in an engagement ring. Because he listened to her. They'd marry, they'd have two kids. Maybe Fez would work his way up and be able to open his own salon one day. She'd continue in her role as a marketing manager for a clothing store. Like her mother naggingly warned, they'd never be rich. But they'd be comfortable. And she'd be happy. Mostly.

Steven, on the other hand… Steven was a crapshoot. They had passion, but she needed stability, too. After he'd come to her door and professed that he wanted to be with her, Jackie had considered it. She'd let her heart take over, and considered what it would be like to leave Fez and to get together with Steven.

It's not the smart move, she heard her mother's voice in her head. Deep down, she knew what she meant. It was like Steven held the key to her happiness. He could either make her the happiest she'd ever been… or destroy her, again. And she wasn't sure she could come back from that this time.

"My darling."

Jackie was startled, and she turned around to see Fez, dripping in his towel. She always asked him not to do that. It would ruin the carpet.

"We should hang it up," Fez gestured to the small canvas, the gift from Steven. Jackie hadn't noticed, but while she was lost in her thoughts she had picked it up, and was holding it close to her chest.

"Oh." She held the picture away, and looked down at it again. "Um, no. That's okay." She opened up the drawer of her bedside table and dropped it inside. "I don't really want to."

"Are you sure? You seemed to like it so much."

"Yeah," Jackie spoke, her voice cracking. "I'm, uh. I'm sure."

And she was. Because in that moment, she realized with crystalizing certainty that she'd never leave Fez for Steven. She wouldn't. It was her fault for getting into this situation, and now she wouldn't be able to get out of it without hurting a man that she loved. That was her penance for the affair – it was almost funny, it all made sense now. And she just couldn't do it – break his heart like this. Not after all the times her own heart had been shattered by an unrequited love.

Anger at herself rose in her chest, and Jackie pushed the drawer shut with a bit more force than was strictly necessary. They were both quiet for a few moments, and she felt Fez's soft gaze on her.

"Go to him, Jackie."

"What?" Jackie exclaimed, her eyes shooting to his like she didn't believe her ears.

Fez shrugged. "Go to him," he repeated. "To Hyde."

Jackie shook her head, completely shocked. "Fez…"

"I know what is going on," he continued, with a resigned sighed. "You are torn between two lovers and I… well, I have lost. But it's okay. It's okay to choose."

"You know?"

Fez smiled, sadly. "Yes. For months now."

"Then why…" Jackie found it difficult to form sentences. Her mind was reeling.

"Why did I stay?"

Jackie nodded.

"It's hard to explain." Fez wasn't smiling any more.

"It's like… I knew that you didn't love me the way I love you. But my love for you… it's so big. I can't ignore it." He shrugged sadly. "And so I took what I could get, even if I knew it wouldn't last. Can you blame me?"

A/N: The last chapter should be up sometime later this week, lovelies. Please let me know what you thought! :)