Chapter 4 The Dance

Donna stayed in the bathroom as Kitty lavished Eric and Hyde with hugs and kisses and orders to Red to get the camera. Delighted that she got her "boys back".

"Are you okay, Donna? Did you tell Eric what we spoke about?" asked Jackie watching her daughter hold both Steven and Eric's hands.

"I'm fine," She wiped the corners of her eyes, she was doing too much crying lately, "these are tears of joy. And no I didn't tell Eric, he brought it up on his own." Even if she did supply the trigger point.

"Do you want to go somewhere? I promise no shopping."

Granted the plans of going out were obviously forgotten and no one wanted really wanted to go, despite Eric and Hyde being fawned over by Kitty, Donna still wanted them to have the moment by themselves. If they were going to be friends again they didn't need any buffers around them. Red would microwave Thanksgiving leftovers and watch sports, Tiffany would tire herself out, and that only left Kitty who would probably leave them alone once she realized they were done eating.

"Not really, Jackie. I just want to sit somewhere quiet and write."

"Well, I'm going to scoop up Tiffany and get something to eat, I'm starving. Do you want anything brought back?"

"No, thanks. Listen-"

"Listen to what? I don't hear anything."

"I know. That means they aren't yelling. I'd say the worst of it is over. They have to decide if they want to be friends or not."

"I don't know where you are going to find somewhere quiet to write, but you can stay in our room if you want."

"No, I know where I'm going. Tell Eric not to worry when you get Tiffany in the kitchen."

"I will, Donna. See you later."

Before she left the apartment Donna closed and locked the bathroom door. She straightened up the towels and other assorted bath stuff so Kitty wouldn't have to clean it up. She needed to wash her hands so she put on the water in the sink full blast.

12:15AM

Donna felt Eric kiss her on the cheek.

"Good night, Donna." he said

"I'm still up, kind-of," Donna yawned, "How'd it go between you and Hyde?"

"Okay, I guess. We didn't fight, if that's what you mean." Eric replied, trying to get comfortable on this sofa. He was definitely getting his parents a sofa bed for Christmas.

"You two just need to take it one step at a time."

"That sounds like the recovery mantra." Eric replied wryly.

12:20AM

Jackie sat up when she heard Steven walk in the room. She had to remember to talk quietly so she wouldn't wake Tiffany up.

"So, Steven,"

"So, Jackie," he took off his jeans as he sat on the bed.

"How did it go between you and Eric?" Jackie asked

"Fine."

"Just fine?"

"We didn't fight."

"That's good," Jackie yawned, "Come to bed."

"I will once you stop bugging me with questions," Hyde realized that might have sounded harsh, "Sorry."

"That's okay. Good night, Steven." Jackie said when he finally joined her in bed.

"Love you." He kissed her good night.

Early December 2000 The Test

Jackie invited Donna and Eric to come to New York City. It was a great sign to her that Steven didn't scoff at the suggestion when she brought it up over breakfast. He and Eric sent a few emails but what guy keeps that up when its another man on the other side of the modem? They weren't going to pick up the phone to "shoot the breeze" like women do. It was also their chance to have a Christmas gathering of sorts because they wouldn't be seeing each other during the holidays. Donna was going through Hyde's records that suddenly found their way into the modern living room. He moved the CD player to their room to put a record player in its place. She picked up the 1976 reissue single of Aerosmith's "Dream On". That song along with Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" were the most requested when she worked at WFPP and was unofficially known as "Hot Donna". The Burkhart-Hyde apartment was decorated for Christmas; the only thing missing was the tree because Jackie always had it delivered on Christmas Eve.

"Hey, Eric," Donna wondered what took him so long? He only had to park their rental car, "Let's dance."

Eric didn't like to dance but considering all that they've been through, he wouldn't deny his wife's request.

"What brought this on?" He asked

"Your scrawny body turns me on."

"I know it, baby. -Hey, wait a minute didn't we decide that I was 'wirey'?"

"Shut up, Eric, and just dance." Donna replied.

Jackie was in the kitchen talking to Hyde on the telephone.

"Yeah, they are. Make sure you don't load Tiffany up with junk food. Okay. Love you, Steven. Bye."

Jackie hung up the telephone and brought the drinks in.

"All right, that's enough," Jackie turned the record off, "Don't you two ever stop?"

"What's with you?" Donna asked

"I'm sorry you guys. I got a phone call from Brad today." Jackie wanted to go the bar and dump vodka in her iced tea but didn't because if Steven found out she even thought of having a drink while pregnant he'd be just as angry as if she had the drink anyway.

"What did HE want?" Donna asked before Eric could

"To see Tiffany. Like he cares. He hasn't pushed the adoption issue since I mailed him a copy of his phone message to me. He wants Tiffany to go to some dance tomorrow-but I know it's to show off his daughter like some mini ornament to the secretary he's probably f***ing. Don't tell Steven that I told you that."

"How could he not love his daughter?" Eric asked Jackie. Tiffany was such a sweet girl.

"Because she's not a boy," Jackie replied, "That's how his stupid mind works. I don't mean to be rude, but you can two entertain yourselves for awhile? I'll be back." Jackie left the room

"Do you think her and Hyde are okay?" Eric asked Donna, he was afraid if he worded it the way he really wanted to say it, "Are Jackie's hormones acting up?" that Donna would have punched in the arm, called him sexist, and made him sleep on Jackie's, albeit fancy, sofa.

"Yeah. It's probably having to deal with that loser, Brad, and of course, her pregnancy hormones."

"Hey, Donna! How come you can say that, but if I did, you'd have called me a sexist pig?"

"Because, I'm a woman, I don't mean it in the same context when a man says it."

Eric rolled his eyes. There shouldn't be double standards for anyone.

Next Night 6PM

"Mommy, that's an ugly dress." It was a young girl's version of a ball gown. It was pink with small glittery silver stars in the taffeta.

"It's beautiful, I picked it out." Donna sat on the young girl's bed and silently laughed. Didn't Jackie realize the little girl hated typically girly stuff? Except her Barbie headphones because they were from "Santa".

"It's still ugly." Tiffany pouted

"It's a formal party and when a party is formal you dress up for the occasion. Do you want to wear a tiara?"

"What's a tiara?"

"Jackie, are you serious?"

"Donna, you stay out of it! How many formal parties did you go to when you were a kid?"

"A couple." The Pinciotti's didn't live in a cave you know.

"I didn't know they made lumberjack clothes for BIG little girls?"

Donna threw a pillow at Jackie, which made Tiffany laugh.

"A tiara is a sort-of crown made of diamonds." Or in Tiffany's case some high quality Swarovski crystals.

"That sounds stupid!"

Jackie got the velvet box off the table, "Wait until you see how pretty you'll look."

"I don't want to be pretty."

"Sure you do, sweetie. Now all we have to do is put on your cute shoes and you'll be ready for the party."

"Is Dad picking me up or was he just sending the big long car with the old man driver in it?"

"Yes, at seven." Jackie brought Tiffany over to the mirror so she could look at her dressed up self.

"I don't like the crown." She took the tiara off and threw it on the bed. Donna admired the child's independence.

"Okay, you don't have to wear it tonight, then. How about a little make up?"

"No! Donna, do I have to wear make up?"

"Jackie, let her look like a child. She looks pretty."

"Oh, all right, Let's show Eric how pretty you look." She kissed her daughter on the head.

Although, Jackie was happy Steven was back working in the music business, she still thought he could've adjusted his hours at least for Donna and Eric's visit. He barely had any interaction with Donna or Eric. She asked him if it was because of Eric being there and he replied, "No, it's not Forman, it's my job." Jackie had to take him on his word.

"You look very nice, Tiffany." Eric said, at times he wished she were his child.

"Thank you, Eric. Mommy, may I wait for Dad downstairs?"

"Okay, I'll take you down, but I want you to stay in the lobby, DO NOT go outside, and I'll tell James your Father (ick) is coming to pick you up."

"Bye Eric, bye Donna!"

"Bye." They replied in unison.

Rather than have a few self-pity moments on why they were childless Eric suggested that they wrestle on the floor to change the subject and to make Donna smile.

"You're asking for it, Eric."

"I know-Are you chicken?"

Donna laughed, "Are you serious? I can throw your body from New York to Tokyo without getting off this sofa."

"Donna, I'm about to introduce you to an old friend, the tickle monster."

When Jackie got back upstairs she was treated to the sight of Eric and Donna laughing and twisting around each other on her floor.

"AHEM! I'm back! -do you two ever come up for air? It's rather sickening." Jackie joked, it was good to see that after all these years they still were in love with each other despite the obstacles themselves and fate put in their way. Much like her and Steven.

"Sorry," they replied in a we're-not-really-sorry-way

"The next time, I'll put the hose on you."

"Ooh, Jackie, we're really scared." Eric and Donna said in unison together. Laughing.

The Dance 7:22PM

Eric somehow wound up being the one to go around to the market on the corner and pick up the box of pastries that Jackie ordered but she didn't feel like waiting for the delivery boy to bring them. Hyde came through the back entrance that led to their kitchen fifteen minutes earlier. They shared a "hello". Eric supposed that it had to go slow. They couldn't just pick off where they left off as friends the way him and Donna were able to resume being a couple. That was different. You think it would have been the other way round but Eric realized why. It all stemmed from That Day. He took the stairs because he figured he could get to the store faster if he didn't wait for the elevator. He was almost at the bottom when he saw something that broke his heart. He had two choices and he knew he was not the one to go down there and make it better. Eric quietly turned around and walked back upstairs where he bumped into Hyde who also thought taking the stairs would be quicker.

"Hyde, I was just going back upstairs to see you."

"What for?"

"There's someone in the lobby who wants to see you." Eric continued to walk up the stairs.

Hyde wondered what Forman's problem was and who could possibly want to see him, as this was a security controlled building. Then he saw her standing there like a little soldier.

"Hello, Tiffany."

She turned around, "Hi, Steven-My Dad's not here." She sadly replied

"We could call him," 'Better yet, I could strangle him', "Here." He reached in his jean jacket pocket to take out his cell phone. He handed it to her to dial. She had his number and her home number memorized.

"Hello? Dad---um---" She had a confused look on her face that Steven gently took the phone from her to hear what was on the other end. He heard a woman moan Brad's name and he said in the background, "Hang it up, it can't be anyone important."

"Steven, who was that?"

"Wrong number, cell phones do that sometimes. Let's not worry about your Dad, okay? I'm sure he's fine. Tiffany, you look very pretty, why don't we go out somewhere just you and me?"

"I don't wanna."

"Come on, I know where we can go," Hyde took off his jacket and wrapped it around her, "I promise it'll only be for a minute." He held her little hand.

"Okay."

Hyde didn't know who was the worse Father the alcoholic abandoning Bud Hyde or the upper crust, snobby, neglectful Brad Worthington? He certainly knew what it was like to feel let down by people who were supposed to love you. They went in the elevator and Hyde pushed the button marked UL-Upper Level.

"Why are we on the roof?" The only time Tiffany was up here was when herself and Jackie looked at the skyline on nice days.

"I'm sorry there's no music, but would you still like to dance?"

"Okay. Will you show me?" She didn't have experience with slow dancing. Tiffany was in tap class because she hated ballet.

"Sure." Just like Mrs. Forman showed him, granted he was older, but it was still someone teaching him how to dance.

He wanted to show Tiffany how much he loved her. It wasn't about how much he could spend on her. He didn't want her love based on his buying of material possessions for her. It was easy to open up to her; he didn't have to have his wall with this child. He could just dance with her on the rooftop on this cold but thankfully not snowy December night. The stars were against the darkest blue night sky he had ever seen. When she smiled like her Mother it made it all worth it to him. He thought of his unborn baby and how he was going to be a Father to an infant. Steven Hyde never thought he'd be the type of man who would help with the diapers and the midnight feedings. His parents thought he'd never amount to anything and he'd have almost believed it, if it weren't for the Forman family. He truly thought of Kitty and Red Forman as his parents. That Edna and Bud Hyde did not exist. He didn't consider Laurie a sister she was always the type that wanted to get away from her family. However, he did consider Eric a brother. That's what hurt the most. Even after overhearing Eric bare his soul to Donna about That Day it was still difficult. Yet, he was thankful, Eric had the opportunity to "save the day" like Luke Skywalker out of Star Wars and he could've been extremely selfish and supported Tiffany. But he was coming back upstairs to get him so he could be the one to do it. Eric knew how important this would be for both Hyde and Tiffany. Because even if the papers weren't signed yet, he was still Tiffany's Father. Brad Worthington did not exist. He was able to be a real Father to her not just the cool guy who taught her Zen or the guy to watch cartoons with. He was here for moments like this when you know it counts. She was the most beautiful little girl and he never wanted to see her cry, especially over her biological Father, he wanted to go over there and knock some sense into the jerk but he couldn't do that. He didn't want Tiffany to think he was some sort of violent psychopath that just goes around beating up people. Unlike Bud, Hyde was certain Brad would be around for certain events and occasions and that was fine he supposed, even when the papers were signed, it would still have to be okay. But the moment he makes her cry, it would be all over for Brad Worthington. He got a free pass for that crap he pulled with Jackie and standing up his own daughter tonight just so he could have meaningless sex with a meaningless wh****. It would not happen again.

"Are you having fun, Tiffany?" Hyde asked

"Yeah. Mommy wanted me to wear a tee-tee-"

"A what?"

"A crown."

"Oh-are you trying to say tiara?"

"Yeah! Tee-ara."

Hyde laughed, "Your Mommy is something else."

"You love her?" She made it a question

"Of course, I love both my girls." He kissed her on the forehead.

Only Jackie Hyde would think to buy a tiara for their young daughter. Hyde bet Donna found it "stupid". He loved Jackie's zaniness; he wouldn't change her for the world. Tiffany yawned and Hyde picked her up. He didn't want this moment to end. It was nice to not be known as the "gruff one", "unreliable one", or "the one who looks like he should be in prison" because even though he wasn't a teenager anymore there were some people out there who actually thought he was a dreg of society. There were a lot of snobs in this apartment building and he liked it when Jackie would lose her cool and defend him. But better to be known as a guy that they assumed would someday be escorted out of his apartment in handcuffs then to have the "goody-goody" or "upstanding citizen" label that Forman had. Everyone had their good and bad sides. Why everyone wanted to compartmentalize you as one thing left him speechless. Can't people walk and chew gum at the same time without giving themselves nosebleeds? Steven Hyde could not stand the judgmental hypocrites that seemed to rule the world.

"When we get downstairs, I'll tuck you in your bed and read you a story. Would you like that, Tiffany?"

She opened up her eyes and smiled, "Yeah. I love you, Daddy."