Title: Aftershock (7/7)
Notes: Finished at last. Big huge thanks to everyone who took the time to leave comments. And to Annie who wouldn't let me get away with a huge OOC moment.
~*~
Five Years LaterThe phone rang and Jackie rushed through the swinging kitchen door to answer it before the second ring. "Hello Steven." She smiled into the receiver.
"How'd you know it was me?" he asked, unable to hide his amusement.
"You said you'd call." She answered simply.
"How's my college grad doing?"
"Good. Can't wait until tomorrow." She lowered her voice and whispered into the receiver. "I don't think Donna gets out much anymore, she's letting her inner party animal run wild tonight."
He chuckled at the thought. "You taking it easy? Or should I be worried about my own party animal?"
"I've got a big day tomorrow, no way are dark circles coming near these eyes."
He laughed and leaned back into the chair, throwing his legs onto the coffee table. Jackie had changed over the years, but some things had stayed the same. Every once in a while her vanity would come shining through. "I'm sure you'll be beautiful."
"Of course I will." The 'don't be stupid Steven' was implied.
There was a sudden silence on both ends of the phone, Hyde could hear the muffled sounds of the party in the background.
"I miss you." She said, her voice small.
"Me too. You could let me come over…"
"No, we agreed. Girls only.
"It was a stupid agreement." He tried to reason. "And I protest your method of persuasion."
"Steven, you love my method of persuasion." She purred into the phone. "I'll make it up to you."
"Really?" he asked, imagining the ways.
"Promise." She agreed.
"So is Donna really hammered?" Hyde asked, wanting to at least get the gossip.
"Loaded." She giggled into the phone. "I can't believe straight-laced Donna Forman thinks she can drink everyone else under the table." Jackie pushed open the swinging kitchen door and peeked out. "Oh my god, she's arm wrestling someone. I think it's one of my old roommates."
"The first year or the second?" Hyde asked, trying to remember.
"The second, Kirsten."
"Oh, yeah--I remember…I don't like her. Every time I came to pick you up she was trying to psychoanalyze me. Tried to tell me everything was my parents fault."
"Steven, most of it was your parents fault."
"I didn't need her to tell me that."
"Of course not. Now you have me to tell you."
"Wow, how lucky can I get?" He said dryly.
"Try, never again if you keep that attitude."
"You know, you keep saying that but you never follow through."
"I'm hanging up now." She trailed off.
"No you won't."
She let out a small huff in frustration, he knew her too well. She guessed that's what two years of living with a person would do.
"Still there?" He laughed.
"Shut up Steven." She tried to sound angry, but it didn't work. Her next comment was interrupted by a loud crash and a sudden silence from the living room. Out of curiosity she pushed open the kitchen door and found a giggling Donna face down on the living room carpet, and the remains of an end table shattered around her.
"Donna just broke that table you liked."
"See? All the more reason for me to come over. Make sure nothing else gets ruined."
"Don't think so big guy."
"I'll see you tomorrow then?" he asked, somewhat resigned.
"How will I recognize you?"
"Jackie, there's not going to be that many people there."
"Just play along Steven." She demanded.
"Fine." He huffed and rolled his eyes. "I'll be the one at the front, you can't miss me."
"I don't know. You'll all look the same." She goaded him on.
"Then you'll just have to make sure that Red knows what he's doing, won't you?"
"I've waited four years for this Steven, he knows what to do." Jackie said with certainty.
He smiled at the thought. "I think his exact words were 'If she keeps this up, you two are eloping.'"
"Mrs. Forman would never allow it, I think she was more excited than I was when we were doing the planning." Jackie laughed, remembering the months they had spent together; going over wedding dresses, flowers, ….
"If I tell you something will you promise not to mention it to anyone?" he asked
"Oooh dirt. Tell."
"Promise Jackie…"
"I promise." She replied, like a child who had been reprimanded.
"Red's been acting all crazy the last few days. I thinks he's kind of proud that he gets to be the father of the bride." Hyde paused.
"Awww that's so sweet." She cooed. "And even after Laurie…Hey! I'm the favourite. And I'm not even a Forman. Wait 'till I tell Donna."
He could hear her hop off the kitchen stool. "You can't tell Donna, Jackie." He scolded.
"Of course I can, she won't remember it tomorrow anyway." She reasoned.
He paused to think it over, "True," he conceded. "And she did break my stuff…"
"Exactly!"
He heard a clunk and assumed she had put the phone down on the counter. He waited to see if she really would say anything to Donna, but before long she came back on the line. "Well that's just great. She passed out!"
"Would have been a great burn." He commiserated.
"Yeah, but I don't need a cranky maid of honour either. So I guess it's all for the best."
"Nervous?"
"A little." She relented. "I just can't believe after all this time we're finally going to be married. Kind of seems unreal, and a little scary."
"Jackie -" he started. "Damn it Jackie, are you sure I can't come over?"
"I'm sure. Don't want to take any chances, you know?"
He sighed. "Jackie, do you remember that first night, in the cabin?" He asked, referring to the first time they had made love.
"Of course I do. A girl doesn't forget."
"I knew that night that it was going to be forever. That you were going to be the last girl I would ever be with, the only one I would ever want. And do you remember the day you graduated?"
"The day you proposed." She whispered, remembering…
"That was the night we became husband and wife, when we agreed to always be together. A piece of paper and a big ceremony isn't going to change that. I'm not going to leave you, and I'm sure as hell not going to let you go. You're stuck with me baby, for better or worse." He finished, not believing that he could put into words what he had been feeling for so long. The silence on the other end made him wonder if maybe he had gone to far. He heard some shuffling in the background, followed by the sound of her sniffling.
"Steven, you made me cry." Her voice betrayed the extent of her emotions.
"I love you Jackie. I want you to know there hasn't been a single day in the last five years that I haven't considered myself the luckiest man in the world. I don't know what would have happened if you didn't give me a second chance."
"We would have been miserable and alone, pining away over love lost. But it doesn't matter anymore, and it hasn't for a long time." She paused to let her words sink in. "I love you. I'll see you tomorrow, 'kay?"
"Yeah, goodnight Jackie." He waited until he heard the dial tone on the other end before hanging up the phone. He rested his head on the back of the couch, his mind running through all of the highs and lows of the past five years. He wouldn't have traded any of it, because it led to where he was right now. Hours away from marrying the one good thing that ever happened to him.
Life was good.
The End…
For now. I have a confession; I can't let this story go. As I got farther into this little world, there were a ton of "scenes" or situations that I wanted to see. So, look for Aftershock: Interludes, coming soon. I'll gladly take requests too.