Chapter 7 Decisions

January 2001 St Louis, MO

Donna was under a verbal agreement and had to finish the article she was working on, but her heart wasn't in it. She was none too happy to get up and answer the door. It was Hyde.

"Hello, Hyde. Jackie didn't tell me you were coming to St. Louis." She invited him in.

"She doesn't know I'm here, she thinks I'm a few towns over producing a record."

"So, why are you here?" Donna sat on the sofa.

"Did Jackie tell you anything new about her pregnancy?"

"What is this about, Hyde?" Donna offered him a drink, but he declined

"So, you don't know. Jackie told me on Christmas Eve she is pregnant with twins and wanted to give you and Forman one of the twins."

Donna was shocked and was almost speechless

"She meant well and it's one of the reasons why love her, but to be quite honest here, Donna, I don't want to give up one of my babies just because you and Forman are having trouble in this area. And I also chose to tell you because I have a feeling Forman would get all excited and seriously would take Jackie up on her offer."

"I have to tell Eric," Donna was still stunned by the news, "I can't keep secrets from him, but I agree I don't want your baby. I'm glad you told me, Hyde. That was a very selfless thing for Jackie to even consider."

"That's all I came to say, because I really am producing a record. I'll talk to you later."

"Thanks again for telling me, Hyde."

Now she had to take care of the hard part-Donna took a deep breath as she turned off her computer. Hyde was right; Eric would have taken Jackie up on her offer.

Why?

Eric took off his jacket and undid his tie when he saw Donna come in the front door. The holidays were over and it was him who had to make an appointment to the Golden Cross adoption agency which was cancelled last week when Donna said she wasn't feeling well and it was never rescheduled.

"Eric," Donna breezed in and sat down on the chair usually reserved for clients who don't know what to do with their 401K's, "We need to talk."

"What, no 'hello'? No kiss?"

"This is hard because the old me never would have told you, but I learned not to keep secrets from the one you love, so here goes. Hyde came by earlier and Jackie's having twins and wants us to raise one."

She watched Eric's eyes grow hopeful then downcast when he realized why she was here.

"And you said 'no'."

"Hyde said he didn't want to give up his baby. Yes, Eric, I said 'no'."

"I thought marriage was fifty-fifty and now you're making decisions without me?"

"Eric," Donna stood up, "What decision is there to make when Hyde came by and told me he doesn't want to give his baby up? And also, I don't want to raise Jackie and Hyde's baby!"

"Donna, what difference does it make whose baby it is? It's almost like adoption, which need I remind you, you didn't reschedule our appointment. Did you lie to me on Christmas?"

"No, I didn't lie. Eric, I dreaded telling you this, but keeping it from you would have been worse. And I'll worry if tonight you'll seek out Coke. But, this is not the way to have our baby."

"I'm not going to touch any drugs. We were given a gift. I see that, Jackie obviously sees that. Why can't you and Hyde see that?"

"It was very sweet of Jackie to consider, but do you think she could easily give up her child? I bet you would take Tiffany if she showed up on our doorstep."

"That's not fair. What's more neither you nor Hyde are being fair. F***," Eric remembered he had a meeting in five minutes, "I have to go, Donna. We'll continue this later." Eric grabbed his tie and jacket and went to the men's room as Donna left the building feeling like she just burst her husband's dream.

Donna wanted to suffocate herself with one of the plastic bags from the grocery store. She couldn't believe her husband and his "turnabout is fair play" quote at the dinner table, she had no idea that he would go to Jackie, which of course put a strain on the Hyde-Eric friendship that was starting to come together, as they all sat around their small kitchen table. Eric got Jackie just as she was to fly out the door because she wanted to come to Missouri to surprise her husband as Tiffany the poor child had to spend time with Brad.

"I knew I was right. You would take the baby, Forman. I don't fault Jackie's reason, but you ought to know better."

"Steven,"

"You took Donna."

"Eric, don't."

"It's okay, take the pot shot, Forman."

"You make it seem like, I'm taking your baby as if I were a kidnapper. It's only because Jackie made the offer and I don't see why Donna and me shouldn't be allowed to consider it. Of course, Donna likes to make these life decisions without me, which really pisses me off."

"Eric-" Donna didn't know what to say to him.

"Enough, everybody," Jackie replied calmly, "Every time I have an idea something bad happens. I think we were given a gift-"

"I want that on record that, that's the word I used in my office yesterday." Eric broke in.

"You're so f***ing petty, Forman."

"Steven, may I continue, please? I think we were given a gift and I only wanted to help OUR two friends Donna and Eric because they cannot have children. And we're not going to drudge up anything from the past because none of us can change it. If we are blessed with having twins, why can't we give one to two people who like us would be great parents?"

"That's all fine and nice, Jackie, but I have a Devil's Advocate question for you. You say this now because you are pregnant, but I don't think you could give up one of your babies so easily, but my question here is, what happens if the baby we're given dies in childbirth or gets sick and dies later on? Or vice versa what if it's your baby who dies. Did you even think about that happening, Eric? I know in your mind it's all decorating the nursery and setting up a college fund, but you have to realize, we cannot have take their baby. I'm sorry if you feel like I made a final decision without you, but that's how I feel." Donna said

"You go first, Jackie." Eric replied

Jackie took a drink of her milk before continuing, "I guess, I didn't think about those things."

"You're giving up that easily?" Eric stated

"I never thought of something happened to either baby."

"See, Jackie? Your intentions were pure and you are a great woman who is already a wonderful Mother, but Forman you are so goddamn selfish."

"I knew this would happen," Donna sighed, "Hyde, please. I think we've all said what needs to be said. Jackie, I hope your twins are healthy and happy, and I do appreciate the offer, Hyde, if you use this as an excuse to not be Eric's friend anymore, you are the selfish one, and Eric, I'll talk to you later. But right now my head feels like it's about to explode and all I want to do is go to bed and lie down."

"I'd like to put something on the table that if you even look at cocaine, you better not think of blaming me for it." Hyde said to Eric

"Shut up, Hyde. Goodbye, Jackie, tell Tiffany I said 'hi', but right now, I need to go for a walk." Eric replied, it was just a walk; he could care less if no one believed him.

They had the answer right in their hands, Eric thought. How could they throw this chance away?

**************************************************************************** ****************

Late January

What happened to their new start? This was just like their first marriage only they were older. There was hardly any talking and that great burst of sex they had that was also gone. Eric watched Donna pull away from them and it hurt him. They barely talked. If she left he would wither up and die. It was one o'clock in the morning when he turned on the light.

"E-Eric what the hell?"

"Donna, I don't want this to end our marriage. We haven't been talking to each other or making love for weeks. I don't want this to end us. I love you, Donna."

"Eric, I love you, too, don't you think it has hurt me, also? But this is the first time in weeks that you said you loved me."

"Because you weren't talking to me."

"If Jackie's gift is not an option, you can't get pregnant, and you dance around the topic of adoption just how are we supposed to be parents?" Eric asked frustrated

"I don't know, Eric, but I missed holding you. For one night can we not think about this? I just want to be in your arms."

"And I missed having you in my arms, Donna." He kissed her on the cheek.

NYC

"Mommy, you ate my giggle meal." Tiffany pouted

"I'm sorry, sweetie, I thought you were done." She gave her the rest of her fries back.

Steven came back to the booth with two small chocolate milkshakes and one small diet soda.

"I don't get a milkshake?" Jackie asked

"You don't need a milkshake." Hyde replied

"Steven, I'm pregnant with twins, I can eat what I want."

At least Hyde was concerned for her health but Brad wanted her to be "anorexia chic" when she was pregnant with Tiffany.

"Daddy, I want to play a game." Tiffany said

"We'll be right back." Hyde said, kissing Jackie on the cheek.

'Damn' they both took their milkshakes with them.

Jackie didn't know what to do. She thought she always made a mess of things whenever she had the best intentions. Hyde assumed she changed her mind, but she didn't. It broke her heart that Donna and Eric had some very difficult moments for weeks after their roundtable discussion. She told her on the phone that they weren't speaking let alone having sex. Everything seemed to be all right between them as long as they didn't have the "Baby Discussion". Then there was the Hyde and Eric factor. They were starting to get along with each other again and Jackie hoped that they wouldn't let the "Baby Stuff" affect their relationship with each other. Jackie read up on adoption and found out unless you were very wealthy and knew the right people to pull the right strings you could be on a waiting list for years. She knew Steven was adamant on the subject, but why? Eric and Donna would be excellent parents just as she and Steven already are. Jackie really didn't want to have this discussion in a kid's themed fast food restaurant but when Hyde came back to the table after putting Tiffany on the coin operated horse ride she felt she had to.

"She's getting so big," Jackie waved to her daughter, "Steven, I just want you to know I really haven't changed my mind." She finished her soda.

"I know. I haven't changed my mind, either."

"Donna and Eric had a terrible falling out over this."

"And that's our problem?"

"They've started talking again, but, please Steven," Jackie held his hand,

"We have the opportunity to make it better."

"Why should it be our place? Damn, Jackie," Hyde had to stop as Tiffany got off the horse and ran back to the table, "Can I play more games?"

"No, sweetie, we really need to go back home. I want to take a nap. Maybe, your Daddy will take you to the park?"

"Yeah. We can make fun of the rich old ladies."

"Tiffany! Who taught you that?"

"Daddy."

Hyde smiled she was coming along nicely.

Eric picked up the telephone and started dialing his parent's number but he put the receiver back down quickly because he didn't need to be yelled at by Big Red and he wasn't thinking about his Father.

He was supposed to be working but his mind wasn't on it and the last thing he wanted to do was type in the wrong numbers on his computer and give someone more money than they had or take it all away with a few clicks of the computer mouse. He thought about talking to his Mother, just as unknown to him that was Jackie's back up plan to talk to Kitty. In many ways it seemed that Donna and Hyde should've been the couple-and what would've scared the Hell out of Eric then but not now was that he and Jackie probably could've had a nice life together. His heart would always belong to Donna; it was just that she seemed to have more in common with Hyde. Although, he didn't know what he had "in common" with Jackie except loving her daughter except they did think alike at times. Donna and Hyde were extremely stubborn. Someone knocked on his office door and he had to quickly pretend that he was working so he opened up a Manila folder and picked up a pen.

"Hi, Stan, what do you need?" Eric asked

"The folder for the Kelly account."

"It's on the table."

"Are you okay, Eric? You haven't seemed like yourself for awhile now?" He inquired.

"You can tell all the people who like to gossip around the water cooler because their f***ing lives are so boring that they like to interfere in mine. I am NOT on Coke." Geez, everybody always thought he was one stressful incident away from running back to the white lines.

"I didn't mean anything by it."

"Who is more foolish the fool or the one who follows the fool?* Take your folder, Stan and leave me alone."

"Sorry, Eric."

"Dumbass." Eric muttered under his breath when Stan closed the door behind him.

2PM

Donna dropped off her article at the newspaper office and she thought of seeing Eric but if they had an argument? They talked but it was polite, even when they made love it was polite. She sat on a park bench to have her bottled water in peace. The weather was cold but she didn't care. She saw a Father take his baby out in a stroller. She knew Eric looked forward to those little things. How could they take Jackie and Hyde's baby? It was wrong on so many levels. Jackie didn't think about either baby getting sick or what if one died, then what? Eric and Hyde's friendship that was on very shaky ground, but you couldn't blame Hyde for wanting all of his children, it was his parental right, although he didn't have to bring up Eric's problem, but then again so did she in his office. It all went back to that one time. That one day that they were all paying the price for.

~Donna's flashback~

"You are so unreasonable, Donna!" Eric stood up, how come she never wanted the same things that he did?

"Eric, we're too young to have children. I didn't say I didn't want to have a family someday."

"And when do you think that day will come?" Eric took a beer out of the refrigerator.

"Don't push me!"

"Oh, it's your precious career, well Donna I don't see you being nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. You write fluff pieces!"

"F*** you, Eric!"

"My Mother didn't put off having children."

"I am NOT your Mother!"

"You don't have to tell me that." Eric slammed the bottle down on the counter

"What am I supposed to do stay at home and cook and clean all day while you come home from a hard day's night at the office?"

"My Mother's a nurse. I didn't say working was wrong, but she found the balance why can't you?"

"Eric, I don't want to be pushed into having children right now. You should understand that. Be an adult for once. I don't get much understanding from you."

"I'm not sorry. I'm not. Either you want a child with me or you don't."

"Sometimes you act like a spoiled child who has to get his way!"

"You're the one who won't marry me, either! How long am I supposed to be engaged to you? Do you know what being engaged to be married means Donna?"

"Don't you dare be condescending to me," She twisted the ring, but didn't take it off

"You know what your trouble is? You don't know what you want. How long do you think you can string me along before I just break up with you? And I'll tell you another thing I won't be chasing you cross country, either."

"Are you threatening me, Eric?"

"Take it anyway you want, Donna. I'm done arguing with you. I'm going out."

She watched him put on his jacket and of course he had to prove his manhood by slamming the door. The phone rang and Donna was in no mood to answer it, but when she heard who it was on the answering machine she picked up the phone.

"Hey, what's up? Nothing, I just have a cold. He's not here, he went out. You are? That's great. I could use one. Just give me twenty minutes to change and I'll meet you there."

Donna was not going to sit around and wait for Eric to return. She thought of the future he wanted and the future she wanted and even though they both tried like hell to stretch the high school 'promise' into the college 'promise' and now the we're just starting our independent lives 'promise' they were a complete mismatch. He wasn't even a friend to her anymore and that was a big let down. Hyde called for Eric, but he got Donna instead and he seemed almost surprised that she accepted his invite for drinks. She went to her dresser and took out a clean shirt. She thought of the night at the disco and the night at Jackie's cabin. He always wanted her. They had more in common then her and Eric. She knew Hyde wouldn't push the kid issue and he wouldn't call her writing "fluff pieces". She went to her closet and took out her dressier black jeans. She didn't know why she thought she wanted Eric. Maybe it was because he was more reliable and more responsible? But that seemed so boring when their young lives were on the horizon, now was the time to be crazy and carefree not to follow an engaged-married-kids blueprint. They would be older adults soon enough, why rush it? Why was Eric in such a hurry? She put her hair in a ponytail because she didn't have time to wash it and it was a mess. She tripped over one of his-oh excuse me, not toys collectibles-and threw it across the room where she knocked their University of Wisconsin diplomas off the shelf. The doubts were there in college for Christ sake. She skipped the perfume. She wasn't one for much perfume, besides Eric bought her most of these bottles and the one she bought for herself was mostly used up. Maybe her future lied with Steven Hyde and not Eric Forman? ~End flashback~

Donna rubbed her gloved hands together to give herself some warmth as she was sitting on the bench way too long, she threw all of her stuff in her tote bag, and proceeded to go home. She knew what she had to do.