Chapter 11
Full Circle
(same day as the end of Chapter 10)
MO
Eric was taken aback when he saw Donna comforting their baby. This moment was not about them so he didn't think it best to talk about their marriage through surgical masks and with half of the hospital staff present. The doctor told them that she was going to be all right and there was no permanent damage other than what they normally expected with a drug- addicted baby. The nurses liked to call Megan "The Little Fighter", Because they saw a great deal of cases like hers where the baby's hearts gave out after a week or less after birth. When they were in the elevator after the session an hour later they were both so tired that they didn't want to say anything that would upset the other one. Donna thought Eric would have been a little happier to have seen her at the hospital, but he wasn't. She couldn't blame him. He thought she up and left him and considering what they fought about at the café she knew she hurt him.
"Since, we're coming here tomorrow, it makes sense to only take one car back." Donna figured they could take a taxi tomorrow.
"Fine. Whose car?" He didn't want to fight with her.
They settled on taking his car back, Donna couldn't let this rest, the hospital staff and everyone else connected to their file would certainly know if they weren't the same happily married couple that they met. That's the kind of ammo social workers love to look for.
"Eric, you thought I ran off, didn't you? I'm sorry. I was getting ready for bed when the hospital called me and I forgot to leave you a note and because I couldn't call you from the ward the nurses assured me they'd contact you."
"Yes, I thought you left, I'm always the one to decipher your contradictory attitude."
"I'm sorry."
"Is that all you can say?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to promise me you won't do what your Mother did to you and your Dad. Leaving me would be terrible enough, but don't leave our child."
That's what he was worried about. Her turning into Midge. She couldn't be too angry with him. She often thought about that herself. When it related to matters of the heart, her instinct was always to run from the trouble rather than to face it head on. He was going to hold onto his disappointment and anger for quite sometime. Now that she would allow herself to get angry over.
"I'm not going to leave you NOR our baby, Eric. It's up to you to believe me."
He nodded, "Did you give thought to what we discussed yesterday?" He just remembered it himself.
"Yes, we'll have to tell the social worker as soon as we see him or her." She thought it was a good idea this apartment was just going to be too small to raise a child in not to mention she didn't want their babies needs to be lost in a metro cities red tape.
"I'm surprised you agreed to it," Eric sighed stretching his hands on the steering wheel, "You don't have a problem with going full circle?"
"No, I don't." They didn't speak anymore for the rest of the night; they just arrived home and went to bed angry at each other.
End of August
"Finally! Donna where in the Hell have you been?" Jackie seemed to scream into the phone.
"Busy," Donna watched Eric as he tried putting the crib together, they only were going to have dismantle it, but he wanted to practice so that way when it came time to really assemble it he would know what he was doing. "And yourself?"
"Busy with two babies!"
"See? " Donna cupped the mouthpiece, "Eric, do you know what you're doing?"
"How come the instructions are only in Spanish?"
"What's Eric doing?"
"Trying to put together a crib."
"Crib?! Oh! So you two are definitely adopting a baby then?"
"Sort-of."
Jackie gave a confused look even though Donna couldn't see her over the telephone.
"I'll explain it later. How's Hyde?"
"Steven's not here, he's in India."
"India? Why is he over there?" Eric looked up and part of the crib that was he thought he put together properly fell over.
"What was that noise?"
"Eric not reading the instructions."
"They're in Spanish, Donna." He replied thinking 'this is a two person job and she's gabbing on the phone'.
"Steven's producing a record in India. He's coming home in a few weeks. I miss him so much."
"Oh, I thought that went out in the sixties with the Beatles," Donna gave Eric the phone to talk to Jackie while she looked for the English instructions for putting the crib together.
"Hi, Jackie. How are the kids?" Eric asked "They're fine, Eric. Where'd Donna go?"
"To see how difficult it is to put a crib together by oneself with instructions written only in Spanish."
"What does sort-of adopting a baby mean? That's how Donna explained it to me." Jackie was like the tabloids, she had to know plus she was concerned.
"It means we're not going through a traditional adoption agency. We're taking part in a program that I was recommended for in rehab that puts a drug addicted baby in with a parent or parents who were former users themselves."
"Oh. Why couldn't Donna tell me that like you just did?" Jackie sighed
"I don't know. When is Hyde coming back home?" Eric asked
He wanted to ask why couldn't Hyde just not accept this producing assignment but he thought it best not to get involved in their marriage.
"In a few weeks, why?"
"We are interested in buying back the house in Point Place."
Eric looked over at Donna thinking she was going to flinch and really didn't want to go back and was going to send him bodily signals, but instead she found the English instructions stuck to one of the foam pieces that the crib came packed in which made Eric wonder if she heard him speak at all.
"I'm sure you guys can move in at anytime. Steven's been paying the mortgage---"
"I know. I'll pay him back." It was the least he could do, he thought. He could never fully make it up to Hyde for all that he did to him just for the sake of the drug.
"Eric, are you going to get off the phone to help me put together this crib?"
'Huh? I don't get women'
"Tell Donna bye and when I hear from Steven tonight I'll tell him about the house, okay? See you, Eric." Maybe Eric and Donna weren't so perfect after all, Jackie thought as she hung up the telephone. She couldn't figure them out one minute they were the lovey-dovey can't stop kissing each other in public couple and the next minute they were angst ridden and strained as if they were frustrated teenagers again couple.
Next day
When She Cries
Eric was thankful as he and Donna went to their usual booth in that same café a block from the hospital, he could've shared his thoughts with his wife but chose not to. While doing his own independent research on the internet he found that there was a quite a movement to put drug addicted babies in loving, caring, and secure homes and there were couples that got attached to their babies only to have them pulled away by the red tape pushers who work in any building labeled 'Child Services' but it was the brainchild of a man in Indiana, a man who lost his job, spouse, and material possessions for his drug habit that after years of rebuilding his life again and became an active member of his community thought during his own support group meeting about creating a network that puts the addicted baby in homes of users that like him fit the profile of an addict who went through their expected relapse period and have shown signs of never taking drugs again. Eric's profile was someone who would look at his baby and wouldn't even want to take legal cough syrup let alone Coke because of the babies pain mirroring his pain but in a different way was good for both the infant and the parent who was the addict. It also eliminated the 'Child Services' brigade, except for the obligatory social worker who was more of an observer than someone who would take the baby away for no reason. They only dealt with the babies that had no next of kin. It was important that no one ruin the lives of the new baby and the new parents by having some long lost aunt knock on the door at three in the morning demanding the child. Eric was grateful not having to worry about waiting lists (although technically, he's been on a child waiting list since he graduated from the University of Wisconsin.) or the system. They couldn't hold her as a proper baby yet due to the low birth weight, but she gained half a pound, and he was grateful for that. When Megan cried it tore his heart in half, he knew those cries. Those shrieks. It was the infant version of what grown up addicts did. She wanted the drug, not the drug per se, but the feeling from it, every single time he had the choice when he shoved it up his nose. She did not. She had no say when her Mother satisfied her habit at her expense. She was worse than some as it was determined she was going to be paralyzed from the waist down but not as worse as others who needed coffins and headstones instead of bottles and teddy bears.
"She's such a sweet baby." Eric was almost surprised to hear Donna say that, because it seemed to him that his wife wanted out of this whole thing.
He touched her hand, it was warm, "Yes, she is." He was afraid of saying the wrong thing to Donna that it might set her off on a tangent.
Kitty was over the moon and of course concerned about the baby's health when he told his Mother over the phone this morning, even Red was proud of his son for taking on such a grown up task. Of course he wouldn't say it in the emotional way Kitty had, but it was still a rare compliment from Red Forman. Kitty was ecstatic that Eric wanted the house to raise his family in and already told him that as soon as they move in with the baby Kitty and Red were flying out to Point Place to see them. Eric still didn't know if Donna was okay with the moving back to Wisconsin issue. She could write anywhere, but that wasn't the point, he could picture her saying when he was on the sofa trying to watch Star Wars.
"After we eat, do you want to go to the mall to buy some baby clothes?"
'Okay, who are you and what have you done to the real Donna?!'
"Sure. How do we know what size to get?"
Donna laughed as she finished her cheesecake, "Always buy up one size they'll grow into it anyway."
"Who told you that?"
"Jackie."
"I swear, when did she become the genius of our group?"
"I've asked myself that very thing."
Eric sighed, it was now or never, and he was always a glutton for punishment. He was ready for the worst.
"Donna, are you happy?" There. He asked it. He needed to know.
"Yes, Eric, I know I've been tense lately, but I never said I was unhappy."
'Then why did you want to run, not once but twice?' he figured it was better to be satisfied with her reply rather than to start an argument. Donna could've used some therapy sessions herself, he thought.
"You know what I think we should do?"
"What?" She noticed the gleam in his eyes
"I think we should both go to different stores and see what we each buy for Megan."
"Is this a contest?"
"No, just something fun so all of her clothes don't look the same."
"Eric,"
"What?" He grabbed the check before she could. That was her little contest.
"Don't buy-"
"Don't buy what?" He knew exactly what she was referring to but he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of saying it out loud.
"I know what you're up to, Forman."
"Good. And there's to be no peeking in the car until we get home."
"Are you sure this isn't a contest?" She replied, ready for the task. If she took all the moments too seriously she would lose her mind. It was nice to have fun every now and again.
"Hi, Steven. We aren't going to get cut off again, are we?" Jackie asked, it was after five in the morning where he was, and it was almost eight pm in New York City.
"No, honey. How are the kids?"
"The twins are fine and Tiffany is okay, she misses you though, just like I do."
"I miss all of you, too, especially you." He seemed to whisper
"When are you coming home?" she asked that every night they talked on the phone and in any sparse email
"Looks like it'll be around the beginning of September."
"September?" Jackie twisted her face
"Stop twisting your face, Jackie, September starts in a few days."
"How did you know I was twisting my face?"
"Because I know you.-"
"I talked to Donna and Eric today and guess what? They're adopting a baby!"
"Really? That's cool." And about time, he never understood why they delayed things.
"And Eric wants to buy his old house."
"Fine by me, I don't live there." He just purchased it for Kitty's sake so it would remain in the family and not go to strangers.
"I knew you'd say that, Eric says he'll pay you back."
"Jackie, that's all fine and nice, but I don't want to spend all day talking about Forman and Donna when I'd rather spend what short time I have on the phone talking to you."
"Aww, you're so sweet, Steven. I love you so much."
"I love you too, Jackie. Kiss the kids for me. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Bye, baby." She hated when their too short calls ended she already had his homecoming party planned, the emphasis on the word homecoming.
Donna put the lights on in the parlor after they got home from shopping. It was actually fun buying stuff for the baby. Not only did she buy clothes she also had to buy a Baby's journal for Mom and a cloth rattle, she didn't think she'd be safe with the traditional plastic ones.
"Let's see the clothes you picked, Big Red" Eric smiled sitting on the sofa, guarding his bags on the floor
Donna happily rolled her eyes, "Why do I have a feeling you bought clothes that are way too big for this baby?"
"We're not on me now, we're on you."
Donna opened her bag and took out the typical clothes you'd buy for an infant under one year old, not to mention one that was very small, going up a size to ensure she could wear the clothes a little longer than normal. Various one pieces in pastel colors, top and short sets, little socks, and booties. She was going to have to try to hold back her laughter when Eric opened up his bag and showed his selections.
"I got all that boring stuff, too, BUT I also bought---"
It was a cute little ruffled pink dress with a little pink bow in the center, it screamed baby girl and that's why Donna knew Eric picked it out. His heart was in the correct place.
"Eric, she can't wear that until she's like two! Probably three with the size you got!"
"I can see you want to make fun of me."
"Yeah, I do."
"But did you not hear what I said; I got all those boring infant clothes, too. I thought the idea here was also to have some fun. Besides, she'll grow into it. Eventually. I suppose you think these overalls are too big as well?"
"No, they look fine. What's in that other bag?"
"What other bag?"
"The one you're trying to hide under the sofa with your foot."
Eric grabbed it and ran to the other side of the room. "You can't see! You'll just make fun of it. Listen, do you hear the sound of the fax machine?"
"No," she inched closer, "But-" She waited for the right moment to take the bag off him and run into the kitchen with it.
"Donna, don't laugh."
"Don't laugh! This is the funniest thing I have ever seen, Eric! She won't be able to fit into this until she's seven!" Not to mention the fact that she knew he was going to buy something just like this. It was a black hooded sweatshirt with the face of Darth Vader on it.
"Actually, I bought it for a reason smarty pants."
"I'm sure you did," Donna couldn't stop laughing, she kissed him on the cheek before collecting all the baby clothes she bought to put them back in the shopping bags until they needed them. "Don't ever change, Eric. I think I'm going to take a shower before bed-" She stopped the sentence to indicate that it was an open invitation to join her.
"Is that supposed to tempt me?" He started putting the clothes he bought away when he heard the sound of the shower go on, "Damn!" It got him every time. She seemed happy, Eric just hope that it stayed that way.
September
Ordinary Tuesday
Eric went to turn on the radio but Donna stopped him as they drove to the hospital in silence to have their morning visit with Megan. She was healthy as she could be under the circumstances and they couldn't wait to see her. It was a nice sunny day and it felt like it was still summer. Since Eric was management (how he sometimes loathed the term) he only had to jump through one corporate hoop to be able to do these morning visits, of course, Eric would have done it anyway, even if he were the janitor.
"Donna, when do you think we'll be able to hold our little girl?" He asked
"Eric, you know the answer to that. When she's well enough and the proper weight to be out of her incubator."
"I know, but I wish it could be today."
"Me too, but it won't. She has a long way to go."
"I wonder if we're making a difference," Eric sighed, "Health wise, I mean."
"Of course, we are. Not just because the doctors and nurses told us so, but you can tell she responds to us. Is it your turn to be down today?"
"No. I'm not down, " Eric said as he parked the car in the garage, "I just wonder if she knows we're here?"
"Eric, in her own way, she knows."
"Sh**, my watch just gave out, what time is it, Donna?"
"Eight forty-five." She replied glancing at hers.
Frightened
Jackie was never so scared in all her life, there was no one here to watch the babies, and she could leave them just for a few minutes with their bottles while she looked for Tiffany. If her little girl died she'd never forgive herself. She needed the calm headedness of her Husband to prevail. He was supposed to be home NOW but two days ago he called her and said he had to do "a few quick things" and would come home today.
"What am I going to do?" She cried, she couldn't call Donna and Eric, they were in St. Louis and what could they do?
There was a knock on the door and Jackie ran to answer it, "Oh, hello, Mrs. Andrews. I don't feel like talking right now. I have to find Tiffany. Will you baby-sit the twins, please?"
"Jackie, it's not wise to go out there."
"Well, I'm going out to find my daughter anyway!" Jackie bolted and for the first time since she's lived here actually took the stairs on purpose and ran to the lobby, where she could see a small crowd outside the doorway of her private apartment complex.
"James, have you seen Tiffany?" Please god. Please have him say she's in the back office playing checkers and eating candy.
"No, Mrs. Hyde," He politely grabbed her arm when she tried to open the door, "I think you should stay inside."
"No! I have to find my baby." Jackie opened the door and pushed through the crowd and called Tiffany's name.
She ran up the block and ignored all of the sounds, which was hard to do even on a normal day.
"Tiffany," She'd never forgive herself. Never. If something happened to her sweet little tomboy girl.
"Mommy?"
"Tiffany, where are you, sweetie? Keep talking so I can walk to you."
"I'm by the green car,"
Jackie was never so happy to see another living soul in all of her life. "My baby! You're all right!" She picked her up and gave her the biggest embrace.
'What in the f*** was that noise?'
"Another one?" She heard someone say in the crowd
Jackie carried her daughter which was no easy task because she was getting bigger by the minute when James saw them come up the walk he held the door open for them. He smiled to see her in one piece. He handed her a lollipop.
"Thank you." She said
"I just want to hug you all day!" Jackie said as they took the steps up to the apartment. She suddenly didn't want to ride in the elevator.
"Mommy, what happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"I was on the subway,"
"By YOURSELF?" Damn him.
"Yeah. And when I got off people started yelling and saying stuff."
"What stuff?"
"About a bomb."
"A bomb?"
Jackie was having trouble piecing this all together. She still didn't know all of what happened.
"Wait a minute, I thought you weren't coming home until three?" Jackie asked when she opened the door, as Mrs. Andrews didn't lock it.
"I was bored, so Dad put me on the subway."
"Oh, there you are, Tiffany! We all wondered where you went."
"Hi, Mrs. Andrews."
"Jackie, would you like me to watch the babies while you make some phone calls?"
"Uh, sure." She seemed to go on autopilot.
"Mommy, can I watch TV?"
Jackie didn't realize what she was saying to her daughter when she said 'yes' to her question.
"Sure, in my room."
"Okay." She ran off.
And when the day started it was just an ordinary Tuesday.
10:30AM (NY time)
"Donna, what the f***?" They had the TV on mute. Eric decided work wasn't important today.
"I can't get Jackie on the phone. The lines are dead. Do you think they're all right?"
"I'm sure they are." 'I hope they are'
Steven Hyde lay on his hotel room bed, telephone to his chest, crying. Praying even. Hoping they were okay. Why didn't he leave two days ago when he had the chance? Those things he 'had to do' didn't seem important now. All he wanted to do was see his beautiful wife and kids again.
"Please God, let them be okay."
Author's note-I had reservations about writing the last three pages but one of the nice people who read and reviewed my stories when I emailed her asking if it was an okay real time plotline to put in the story she said it was okay and nothing to worry about. If anyone finds the last three pages truly offensive, I will take them down and replace them. ~Carol
(same day as the end of Chapter 10)
MO
Eric was taken aback when he saw Donna comforting their baby. This moment was not about them so he didn't think it best to talk about their marriage through surgical masks and with half of the hospital staff present. The doctor told them that she was going to be all right and there was no permanent damage other than what they normally expected with a drug- addicted baby. The nurses liked to call Megan "The Little Fighter", Because they saw a great deal of cases like hers where the baby's hearts gave out after a week or less after birth. When they were in the elevator after the session an hour later they were both so tired that they didn't want to say anything that would upset the other one. Donna thought Eric would have been a little happier to have seen her at the hospital, but he wasn't. She couldn't blame him. He thought she up and left him and considering what they fought about at the café she knew she hurt him.
"Since, we're coming here tomorrow, it makes sense to only take one car back." Donna figured they could take a taxi tomorrow.
"Fine. Whose car?" He didn't want to fight with her.
They settled on taking his car back, Donna couldn't let this rest, the hospital staff and everyone else connected to their file would certainly know if they weren't the same happily married couple that they met. That's the kind of ammo social workers love to look for.
"Eric, you thought I ran off, didn't you? I'm sorry. I was getting ready for bed when the hospital called me and I forgot to leave you a note and because I couldn't call you from the ward the nurses assured me they'd contact you."
"Yes, I thought you left, I'm always the one to decipher your contradictory attitude."
"I'm sorry."
"Is that all you can say?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to promise me you won't do what your Mother did to you and your Dad. Leaving me would be terrible enough, but don't leave our child."
That's what he was worried about. Her turning into Midge. She couldn't be too angry with him. She often thought about that herself. When it related to matters of the heart, her instinct was always to run from the trouble rather than to face it head on. He was going to hold onto his disappointment and anger for quite sometime. Now that she would allow herself to get angry over.
"I'm not going to leave you NOR our baby, Eric. It's up to you to believe me."
He nodded, "Did you give thought to what we discussed yesterday?" He just remembered it himself.
"Yes, we'll have to tell the social worker as soon as we see him or her." She thought it was a good idea this apartment was just going to be too small to raise a child in not to mention she didn't want their babies needs to be lost in a metro cities red tape.
"I'm surprised you agreed to it," Eric sighed stretching his hands on the steering wheel, "You don't have a problem with going full circle?"
"No, I don't." They didn't speak anymore for the rest of the night; they just arrived home and went to bed angry at each other.
End of August
"Finally! Donna where in the Hell have you been?" Jackie seemed to scream into the phone.
"Busy," Donna watched Eric as he tried putting the crib together, they only were going to have dismantle it, but he wanted to practice so that way when it came time to really assemble it he would know what he was doing. "And yourself?"
"Busy with two babies!"
"See? " Donna cupped the mouthpiece, "Eric, do you know what you're doing?"
"How come the instructions are only in Spanish?"
"What's Eric doing?"
"Trying to put together a crib."
"Crib?! Oh! So you two are definitely adopting a baby then?"
"Sort-of."
Jackie gave a confused look even though Donna couldn't see her over the telephone.
"I'll explain it later. How's Hyde?"
"Steven's not here, he's in India."
"India? Why is he over there?" Eric looked up and part of the crib that was he thought he put together properly fell over.
"What was that noise?"
"Eric not reading the instructions."
"They're in Spanish, Donna." He replied thinking 'this is a two person job and she's gabbing on the phone'.
"Steven's producing a record in India. He's coming home in a few weeks. I miss him so much."
"Oh, I thought that went out in the sixties with the Beatles," Donna gave Eric the phone to talk to Jackie while she looked for the English instructions for putting the crib together.
"Hi, Jackie. How are the kids?" Eric asked "They're fine, Eric. Where'd Donna go?"
"To see how difficult it is to put a crib together by oneself with instructions written only in Spanish."
"What does sort-of adopting a baby mean? That's how Donna explained it to me." Jackie was like the tabloids, she had to know plus she was concerned.
"It means we're not going through a traditional adoption agency. We're taking part in a program that I was recommended for in rehab that puts a drug addicted baby in with a parent or parents who were former users themselves."
"Oh. Why couldn't Donna tell me that like you just did?" Jackie sighed
"I don't know. When is Hyde coming back home?" Eric asked
He wanted to ask why couldn't Hyde just not accept this producing assignment but he thought it best not to get involved in their marriage.
"In a few weeks, why?"
"We are interested in buying back the house in Point Place."
Eric looked over at Donna thinking she was going to flinch and really didn't want to go back and was going to send him bodily signals, but instead she found the English instructions stuck to one of the foam pieces that the crib came packed in which made Eric wonder if she heard him speak at all.
"I'm sure you guys can move in at anytime. Steven's been paying the mortgage---"
"I know. I'll pay him back." It was the least he could do, he thought. He could never fully make it up to Hyde for all that he did to him just for the sake of the drug.
"Eric, are you going to get off the phone to help me put together this crib?"
'Huh? I don't get women'
"Tell Donna bye and when I hear from Steven tonight I'll tell him about the house, okay? See you, Eric." Maybe Eric and Donna weren't so perfect after all, Jackie thought as she hung up the telephone. She couldn't figure them out one minute they were the lovey-dovey can't stop kissing each other in public couple and the next minute they were angst ridden and strained as if they were frustrated teenagers again couple.
Next day
When She Cries
Eric was thankful as he and Donna went to their usual booth in that same café a block from the hospital, he could've shared his thoughts with his wife but chose not to. While doing his own independent research on the internet he found that there was a quite a movement to put drug addicted babies in loving, caring, and secure homes and there were couples that got attached to their babies only to have them pulled away by the red tape pushers who work in any building labeled 'Child Services' but it was the brainchild of a man in Indiana, a man who lost his job, spouse, and material possessions for his drug habit that after years of rebuilding his life again and became an active member of his community thought during his own support group meeting about creating a network that puts the addicted baby in homes of users that like him fit the profile of an addict who went through their expected relapse period and have shown signs of never taking drugs again. Eric's profile was someone who would look at his baby and wouldn't even want to take legal cough syrup let alone Coke because of the babies pain mirroring his pain but in a different way was good for both the infant and the parent who was the addict. It also eliminated the 'Child Services' brigade, except for the obligatory social worker who was more of an observer than someone who would take the baby away for no reason. They only dealt with the babies that had no next of kin. It was important that no one ruin the lives of the new baby and the new parents by having some long lost aunt knock on the door at three in the morning demanding the child. Eric was grateful not having to worry about waiting lists (although technically, he's been on a child waiting list since he graduated from the University of Wisconsin.) or the system. They couldn't hold her as a proper baby yet due to the low birth weight, but she gained half a pound, and he was grateful for that. When Megan cried it tore his heart in half, he knew those cries. Those shrieks. It was the infant version of what grown up addicts did. She wanted the drug, not the drug per se, but the feeling from it, every single time he had the choice when he shoved it up his nose. She did not. She had no say when her Mother satisfied her habit at her expense. She was worse than some as it was determined she was going to be paralyzed from the waist down but not as worse as others who needed coffins and headstones instead of bottles and teddy bears.
"She's such a sweet baby." Eric was almost surprised to hear Donna say that, because it seemed to him that his wife wanted out of this whole thing.
He touched her hand, it was warm, "Yes, she is." He was afraid of saying the wrong thing to Donna that it might set her off on a tangent.
Kitty was over the moon and of course concerned about the baby's health when he told his Mother over the phone this morning, even Red was proud of his son for taking on such a grown up task. Of course he wouldn't say it in the emotional way Kitty had, but it was still a rare compliment from Red Forman. Kitty was ecstatic that Eric wanted the house to raise his family in and already told him that as soon as they move in with the baby Kitty and Red were flying out to Point Place to see them. Eric still didn't know if Donna was okay with the moving back to Wisconsin issue. She could write anywhere, but that wasn't the point, he could picture her saying when he was on the sofa trying to watch Star Wars.
"After we eat, do you want to go to the mall to buy some baby clothes?"
'Okay, who are you and what have you done to the real Donna?!'
"Sure. How do we know what size to get?"
Donna laughed as she finished her cheesecake, "Always buy up one size they'll grow into it anyway."
"Who told you that?"
"Jackie."
"I swear, when did she become the genius of our group?"
"I've asked myself that very thing."
Eric sighed, it was now or never, and he was always a glutton for punishment. He was ready for the worst.
"Donna, are you happy?" There. He asked it. He needed to know.
"Yes, Eric, I know I've been tense lately, but I never said I was unhappy."
'Then why did you want to run, not once but twice?' he figured it was better to be satisfied with her reply rather than to start an argument. Donna could've used some therapy sessions herself, he thought.
"You know what I think we should do?"
"What?" She noticed the gleam in his eyes
"I think we should both go to different stores and see what we each buy for Megan."
"Is this a contest?"
"No, just something fun so all of her clothes don't look the same."
"Eric,"
"What?" He grabbed the check before she could. That was her little contest.
"Don't buy-"
"Don't buy what?" He knew exactly what she was referring to but he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of saying it out loud.
"I know what you're up to, Forman."
"Good. And there's to be no peeking in the car until we get home."
"Are you sure this isn't a contest?" She replied, ready for the task. If she took all the moments too seriously she would lose her mind. It was nice to have fun every now and again.
"Hi, Steven. We aren't going to get cut off again, are we?" Jackie asked, it was after five in the morning where he was, and it was almost eight pm in New York City.
"No, honey. How are the kids?"
"The twins are fine and Tiffany is okay, she misses you though, just like I do."
"I miss all of you, too, especially you." He seemed to whisper
"When are you coming home?" she asked that every night they talked on the phone and in any sparse email
"Looks like it'll be around the beginning of September."
"September?" Jackie twisted her face
"Stop twisting your face, Jackie, September starts in a few days."
"How did you know I was twisting my face?"
"Because I know you.-"
"I talked to Donna and Eric today and guess what? They're adopting a baby!"
"Really? That's cool." And about time, he never understood why they delayed things.
"And Eric wants to buy his old house."
"Fine by me, I don't live there." He just purchased it for Kitty's sake so it would remain in the family and not go to strangers.
"I knew you'd say that, Eric says he'll pay you back."
"Jackie, that's all fine and nice, but I don't want to spend all day talking about Forman and Donna when I'd rather spend what short time I have on the phone talking to you."
"Aww, you're so sweet, Steven. I love you so much."
"I love you too, Jackie. Kiss the kids for me. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Bye, baby." She hated when their too short calls ended she already had his homecoming party planned, the emphasis on the word homecoming.
Donna put the lights on in the parlor after they got home from shopping. It was actually fun buying stuff for the baby. Not only did she buy clothes she also had to buy a Baby's journal for Mom and a cloth rattle, she didn't think she'd be safe with the traditional plastic ones.
"Let's see the clothes you picked, Big Red" Eric smiled sitting on the sofa, guarding his bags on the floor
Donna happily rolled her eyes, "Why do I have a feeling you bought clothes that are way too big for this baby?"
"We're not on me now, we're on you."
Donna opened her bag and took out the typical clothes you'd buy for an infant under one year old, not to mention one that was very small, going up a size to ensure she could wear the clothes a little longer than normal. Various one pieces in pastel colors, top and short sets, little socks, and booties. She was going to have to try to hold back her laughter when Eric opened up his bag and showed his selections.
"I got all that boring stuff, too, BUT I also bought---"
It was a cute little ruffled pink dress with a little pink bow in the center, it screamed baby girl and that's why Donna knew Eric picked it out. His heart was in the correct place.
"Eric, she can't wear that until she's like two! Probably three with the size you got!"
"I can see you want to make fun of me."
"Yeah, I do."
"But did you not hear what I said; I got all those boring infant clothes, too. I thought the idea here was also to have some fun. Besides, she'll grow into it. Eventually. I suppose you think these overalls are too big as well?"
"No, they look fine. What's in that other bag?"
"What other bag?"
"The one you're trying to hide under the sofa with your foot."
Eric grabbed it and ran to the other side of the room. "You can't see! You'll just make fun of it. Listen, do you hear the sound of the fax machine?"
"No," she inched closer, "But-" She waited for the right moment to take the bag off him and run into the kitchen with it.
"Donna, don't laugh."
"Don't laugh! This is the funniest thing I have ever seen, Eric! She won't be able to fit into this until she's seven!" Not to mention the fact that she knew he was going to buy something just like this. It was a black hooded sweatshirt with the face of Darth Vader on it.
"Actually, I bought it for a reason smarty pants."
"I'm sure you did," Donna couldn't stop laughing, she kissed him on the cheek before collecting all the baby clothes she bought to put them back in the shopping bags until they needed them. "Don't ever change, Eric. I think I'm going to take a shower before bed-" She stopped the sentence to indicate that it was an open invitation to join her.
"Is that supposed to tempt me?" He started putting the clothes he bought away when he heard the sound of the shower go on, "Damn!" It got him every time. She seemed happy, Eric just hope that it stayed that way.
September
Ordinary Tuesday
Eric went to turn on the radio but Donna stopped him as they drove to the hospital in silence to have their morning visit with Megan. She was healthy as she could be under the circumstances and they couldn't wait to see her. It was a nice sunny day and it felt like it was still summer. Since Eric was management (how he sometimes loathed the term) he only had to jump through one corporate hoop to be able to do these morning visits, of course, Eric would have done it anyway, even if he were the janitor.
"Donna, when do you think we'll be able to hold our little girl?" He asked
"Eric, you know the answer to that. When she's well enough and the proper weight to be out of her incubator."
"I know, but I wish it could be today."
"Me too, but it won't. She has a long way to go."
"I wonder if we're making a difference," Eric sighed, "Health wise, I mean."
"Of course, we are. Not just because the doctors and nurses told us so, but you can tell she responds to us. Is it your turn to be down today?"
"No. I'm not down, " Eric said as he parked the car in the garage, "I just wonder if she knows we're here?"
"Eric, in her own way, she knows."
"Sh**, my watch just gave out, what time is it, Donna?"
"Eight forty-five." She replied glancing at hers.
Frightened
Jackie was never so scared in all her life, there was no one here to watch the babies, and she could leave them just for a few minutes with their bottles while she looked for Tiffany. If her little girl died she'd never forgive herself. She needed the calm headedness of her Husband to prevail. He was supposed to be home NOW but two days ago he called her and said he had to do "a few quick things" and would come home today.
"What am I going to do?" She cried, she couldn't call Donna and Eric, they were in St. Louis and what could they do?
There was a knock on the door and Jackie ran to answer it, "Oh, hello, Mrs. Andrews. I don't feel like talking right now. I have to find Tiffany. Will you baby-sit the twins, please?"
"Jackie, it's not wise to go out there."
"Well, I'm going out to find my daughter anyway!" Jackie bolted and for the first time since she's lived here actually took the stairs on purpose and ran to the lobby, where she could see a small crowd outside the doorway of her private apartment complex.
"James, have you seen Tiffany?" Please god. Please have him say she's in the back office playing checkers and eating candy.
"No, Mrs. Hyde," He politely grabbed her arm when she tried to open the door, "I think you should stay inside."
"No! I have to find my baby." Jackie opened the door and pushed through the crowd and called Tiffany's name.
She ran up the block and ignored all of the sounds, which was hard to do even on a normal day.
"Tiffany," She'd never forgive herself. Never. If something happened to her sweet little tomboy girl.
"Mommy?"
"Tiffany, where are you, sweetie? Keep talking so I can walk to you."
"I'm by the green car,"
Jackie was never so happy to see another living soul in all of her life. "My baby! You're all right!" She picked her up and gave her the biggest embrace.
'What in the f*** was that noise?'
"Another one?" She heard someone say in the crowd
Jackie carried her daughter which was no easy task because she was getting bigger by the minute when James saw them come up the walk he held the door open for them. He smiled to see her in one piece. He handed her a lollipop.
"Thank you." She said
"I just want to hug you all day!" Jackie said as they took the steps up to the apartment. She suddenly didn't want to ride in the elevator.
"Mommy, what happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"I was on the subway,"
"By YOURSELF?" Damn him.
"Yeah. And when I got off people started yelling and saying stuff."
"What stuff?"
"About a bomb."
"A bomb?"
Jackie was having trouble piecing this all together. She still didn't know all of what happened.
"Wait a minute, I thought you weren't coming home until three?" Jackie asked when she opened the door, as Mrs. Andrews didn't lock it.
"I was bored, so Dad put me on the subway."
"Oh, there you are, Tiffany! We all wondered where you went."
"Hi, Mrs. Andrews."
"Jackie, would you like me to watch the babies while you make some phone calls?"
"Uh, sure." She seemed to go on autopilot.
"Mommy, can I watch TV?"
Jackie didn't realize what she was saying to her daughter when she said 'yes' to her question.
"Sure, in my room."
"Okay." She ran off.
And when the day started it was just an ordinary Tuesday.
10:30AM (NY time)
"Donna, what the f***?" They had the TV on mute. Eric decided work wasn't important today.
"I can't get Jackie on the phone. The lines are dead. Do you think they're all right?"
"I'm sure they are." 'I hope they are'
Steven Hyde lay on his hotel room bed, telephone to his chest, crying. Praying even. Hoping they were okay. Why didn't he leave two days ago when he had the chance? Those things he 'had to do' didn't seem important now. All he wanted to do was see his beautiful wife and kids again.
"Please God, let them be okay."
Author's note-I had reservations about writing the last three pages but one of the nice people who read and reviewed my stories when I emailed her asking if it was an okay real time plotline to put in the story she said it was okay and nothing to worry about. If anyone finds the last three pages truly offensive, I will take them down and replace them. ~Carol
