Chapter 5

Our Kids

     It was hard to believe that designer clotheshorse, make up loving, and jewelry aficionado Jackie Hyde could and actually wanted to make the holiday dinner for her family and close friends.  But yes, she had self-taught herself how to cook by reading cookbooks and watching videos of snobby chefs from five star restaurants.  She thought who else was going to cook, Steven?  Not that he couldn't—he would make the kids grilled cheese sandwiches when they were little and came home from elementary school and whenever they were outside having a barbeque like most men he took charge of the grill, what was he supposed to do? Make the salad? 

Jackie loved having the kitchen to herself as everyone slept in.  It was a long night between picking the kids up at the police station to going out for donuts after.   She washed her hands in the sink as she finished stuffing the turkey. She was about to start on the homemade cranberry sauce, because Steven said he liked it better than the stuff in the can as Donna slowly walked in the kitchen. 

"Hi, Donna, you're up early."

"No, coffee?"

"Oops!  Sorry, I forgot to make it.  There's an instant coffee bag in the small canister behind you."  

Donna looked a picture in Eric's old robe and messed up hair.  She took one of tea bag like pouches that held coffee instead, filled it with water, put it in a blue mug and nuked it in the microwave.

"Yeah—"

"You're cheery in the morning."  Jackie stopped what she was doing to put the coffeemaker on just in case Steven wanted a fresh cup when he woke up.

"It's been a long night, Jackie."  Donna sat down. 

She was glad that Hunter was there to protect her daughter from the ignorant but on her way to the bathroom early in the morning she heard Elton John coming from the living room stereo and Megan wasn't in her bed.  She KNEW what they were doing.  She didn't want to think about them making out.  She liked Hunter and she wouldn't stop them from seeing each other—but now she didn't want to let go.  Her eyes couldn't close until she heard Hunter walk to his bedroom and that was at one o'clock in the morning.  Sometimes Donna was relieved that Megan was in a wheelchair, they couldn't try to sneak sex in the living room, it would take too long and they weren't going to repeat the sofa incident.  Hunter Hyde was a good kid and he respected Megan and she realized that they both loved each other.  But she hoped they would just take their time.  There was absolutely no need to rush things.  They had their whole lives.  But kids view their time as if they didn't have any tomorrow's left to come when Donna realized that's all they had. 

"Are you okay?"  Jackie took a small tray of coffee cake out of the refrigerator

for breakfast and placed it on the table.

"Yeah.  As I said it has been a long night."

"Hunter is just like Steven when it comes to defending the people closest to him."

"Jackie," Donna stood up, she didn't even finish her coffee, "I'm going to wake Eric up, he's been sleeping too long."

Jackie could tell something was on Donna's mind, she wondered what it could possibly be?  Her son was nothing but a gentleman with Megan [sofa incident aside] she didn't know if she could nod her head in politeness if Donna had a problem with her son.  She figured there was no sense worrying about it, if Donna wanted to talk, she had a mouth and normally was not afraid to use it.  Jackie went back to making the cranberry sauce as she waited for the kids and Steven to get up.  Steven wasn't the only one who would defend their family.

     12:00PM

       Eric and Hyde did what men did best during holiday functions before and after the meal—watch football on TV.  Hunter didn't like sports as he and Megan had to do acceptable family activities like play Scrabble instead of being in his bedroom exploring their bodies like they both wanted to.  Hannah did keep her Father company on the sofa, even though she didn't like football, but liked the tight pants the guys wore.  Donna waffled back and forth between helping Jackie

'Damn, I thought I was a feminist' in the kitchen and obviously checking on Megan and Hunter in the computer room.

"If she comes in here one more time---I mean, I know she's your Mother---"

Hunter put the tiles on the board to spell P-E-S-T

"That doesn't mean she's not a pest.  I don't know what her problem is.  It's ironic and cool that you got that word."

His face was still a tiny bit swollen but the cut on his lip was minimal. 

The doorbell rang; Jackie wanted the "Sugar Plum Fairy" music from Tchaikovsky's, The Nutcracker Suite.  Steven said "No f***ing way, I have to live here, too, and that will definitely drive me insane."  And she didn't want him to have the Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven" music, so they just decided on "Average American Doorbell".

"Tiffany's here."  Hunter said, not bothering to get up.

"Don't you want to say 'hi' to her?"

"I'd rather be here with you and play Scrabble.  I'll say 'hello' later."

Megan had the right tiles to spell out L-O-V-E but thought it would be too embarrassing to do on a Scrabble board especially if her Mom walked in again, and if Megan's calculations were correct Sgt. Donna should be checking back on them in 5.4 minutes.

     Dinner With The Hyde's

          Jackie put the rolls on the table and had to slap Hannah's hand.  She put her hand on her Husband's so he wouldn't carve the turkey. 

"Before we eat—"

'Don't say it, Jackie---You mean well, but don't' Hyde thought, he wasn't particularly in the mood to verbally share.  He was never in the mood for that-ever.

"I thought since we're all here that we'd all like to say a few words on what we are most thankful for this year.  I'm thankful for Steven," She kissed him on the cheek "And my children.  I'm glad you came for Thanksgiving dinner, Tiffany.  We'll start in order—Steven, what are you most thankful for?"

"That this holiday only comes once a year."  She knew he was thankful for his family; but he couldn't he have said it out loud?

"My turn.  I'm thankful that finally all the Star Wars movies are going to be shown uncut on Pay-Per-View for a Christmas Day marathon."    Eric said as Donna slapped his arm.

"And of course my lovely wife, Donna, and sweet daughter, Megan."

"If you think you are going to watch movies that you have seen a million times already on TV all day on Christmas you have another thing coming, lovely Husband, Eric.  I'm thankful that I can skip over this question." 

Hyde smiled.  Donna ruled the Forman family.

"I'm thankful for doing better in Math class."  Hannah said

"You've got to be kidding, right?"

"No, Tiffany, what are you most thankful for?"  Jackie asked

Eric couldn't find out if she had a boyfriend, because Tiffany knew Eric was asking on her Mother's behalf and she told him to tell her, "When there's something to tell her, she'll be the first to know."

"To be living in New York City."  'Away from this hokey cr**'

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, Hunter—you do."  Jackie said

He held Megan's hand, "I'm thankful for Megan."  He was embarrassed to say it in front of everyone at the dining room table.

"And I'm thankful for Hunter.  Especially for last night.  And good books," She winked at him.

Donna wondered what that secret code meant.  Her daughter might have confided in her more, but she still wasn't opening up to everything regarding her relationship with Hunter. But that was a mystery that she was determined to solve, because there was something bugging her on the whole Megan/Hunter coupling lately.

"Now can I carve the turkey, Jackie, or are we going to reenact the first Thanksgiving by means of shadow puppets?"  Hyde remarked, gently, after all he wanted his bedtime sex tonight!

"Yes, we can eat now."  So much for any good conversation Jackie thought.

      After Dinner

     Donna told Jackie to sit and relax since she slaved over a hot stove all morning and that she and Megan were perfectly capable of doing the dishes, drying them, and putting them away.  Despite the fact that they had a working dishwasher. 

"I can't put this away, Mom.  It goes in the high cupboard." 

"That's okay, you can leave the top cupboard stuff on the table for me to put away."

"Are we done?"

"Megan, you know there's more dishes to be washed.  The reason I told Jackie we'd help her out is because I want to talk to you."

"Hunter and I didn't do anything."  Megan almost dropped the serving bowl that was used for the mashed potatoes.

"I didn't say you did.  I just wanted to remind you that while your Father and I think Hunter is a nice boy—we still think you guys should take it very slow.  You have your whole lives to be serious.  And before you roll your eyes, you should know I speak from experience.  Your Father and I went through some very tough times."

"I know—from the Promise Ring to the loveless first marriage---to Daddy's foray into Coke addiction."

"Don't use a smart mouth with me, Megan, but yes, you're right."  Donna put the dishes in the wooden criss-cross rack.

"Sorry.  Why were you checking up on Hunter and me a million times while we were playing Scrabble?"

"I don't know.  I'm just worried about you.  I don't want you to think you NEED a man—don't get me wrong, men can be great, I don't want you to think that you NEED a man to survive."

"I Love Hunter."  Megan replied while drying a dish

"I know—and he loves you, but you are both TOO YOUNG for a serious grown up relationship."  'Good one, Donna, that statement will probably push them even closer together'.

"I'd like to think that you'd be happy for me—but I remember you once saying you weren't happy for me.  But after last night, Mom—"

"I'm very proud of Hunter for what he did last night—but I don't want you thinking you need a knight in shining armor to save you from each and every little thing.  When you have college and your whole future to look forward to."

"Am I grounded?"

"No, you're not grounded.  You didn't do anything wrong, Megan.  I just want you to keep in mind, that you are only young once.  The next thing you know, you'll be my age.  I love your Father, but I'm just saying, we moved too fast.  A lot of problems could have been avoided.  I'm just advising you to take it slow, that's all."

"Is this about sex?"  Megan whispered, "Because we haven't done it yet."

"No, it's not about sex, but I'm glad that you have decided to wait.  Respect your body."

"I'm done putting away the last dinner dish.  Can I go now, Mom?"

"Yes."  'She didn't listen to a damn word, I said' Donna replied tiredly.  She only wanted to protect her daughter was that such a bad thing for a Mother to do?

      Eric laughed silently as Hyde fell asleep on the sofa.  He was going to get a soda but didn't feel like going in the kitchen because he was sure Donna was grilling Megan about her relationship with Hunter.  He didn't want to be hypocritical because he found his way to Hunter's bedroom and knocked on the door. 

"Come in."

"It's me."  Eric said as he opened the door to find Hunter drawing in his sketchpad.

"What do you want, Eric?"  He was half-expecting this talk.  He supposed every Father had to "protect" their daughter. 

Eric closed the door.  "I'm going to admit, while I wasn't thrilled with your and my daughter's sofa activity and brief trip to New York City—I am very proud of what you did last night.  Which leads me to ask you, what is your intent with Megan?" 

Eric pulled up a chair.

"I Love Her." 

"I know you do—and she loves you, probably more than anyone in the world, right now.  But again, what is your intent with my daughter?"

"I'm sorry, Eric, I don't follow you."

"Let me word it another way.  A long, long time ago when I was about your age.  I thought my adolescence was going fairly well.  I had good friends, a part time job, school was okay, but most importantly, I had Donna.  Now, I'll tell you in my generation growing up—women were expected to stay at home and have no careers.  My Mom balanced her career as a nurse, but still took the time to care for her family—Well, I was kind of sexist back then—just a little and expected Donna to do everything that I wanted to do.  I bought her a---"

"Oh God, is this the promise ring story?"

"Who told you about that, Hunter?"

"Everyone knows about the promise ring story, Eric. You tell it to everyone, but go on, I'm sure there's a point in there somewhere."  Hunter rested his head on his pillow.

"Thank you.  And yes, there is a point.  It scared me so much that Donna did see a future without me in it.  She accepted my ring at first, but I couldn't deal with it when she wore it around her neck.  So, as you and everyone else knows, we broke up. ---and it was the worst hurt I ever felt in my life.  I had terrible dreams about it—I dreamt an Angel took me through time and space to see what life would've been like if Donna and I never hooked up—and she chose your Dad—"

"Really?"  He couldn't picture that.  His parents complimented each other perfectly.

"In a stereotypical, clichéd, over exaggerated way.  I couldn't get out of bed; I could barely eat those first days.  I saw Donna's face in my lunch meat and her name in my Alpha Bits."

Hunter laughed, that was just too funny. 

"Okay, it might be funny in parts now, but it wasn't then.  It was a terrible heartbreak—and one I NEVER want Megan to experience.  She's had enough heartbreak in her life.  That's the point I'm trying to make."

"You don't have to worry about me hurting, Megan, Eric.  I love her too much."

"Sometimes love is not enough and sometimes bad things happen.  I just hope you kids take it slow.  There is absolutely no need to rush things.  If the two of you are meant to be, it'll happen.  You're a good kid, Hunter.  I don't want to scare you or come across as someone you can't ever talk to.

I just don't want Megan's dreams to be shattered. Or yours for that matter."

"They won't be.  I promise you that."

Eric stood up and put the chair back against the wall.

"Hunter, you shouldn't make promises that you may not be able to keep."  Eric said as he left the room leaving Hunter to absorb all of what Eric just said.

        "You what, man?"  Hyde asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Talked to Hunter.  I just want him and Megan to take it slow—I don't want Megan to be hurt.  I don't want Hunter to be hurt, either---"

"I know what you mean, Forman."  Hyde thought that speech probably bored his son to tears.

Jackie and Donna came in the living room.  Jackie sat on the sofa and cuddled into her Husband.  Donna sat next to Eric but didn't touch him.

"What are you guys talking about?"  Jackie asked

"If you want to know our kids," Eric said, "I talked to Hunter."

"Good, because I talked to Megan.  But they're kids, they're not going to listen."  Donna said

"You can't stop true love," Jackie replied, kissing Steven on the cheek, if he didn't slightly pull away a bit—and she knew that's just where Hunter got it from.

"Yes, but they are just kids."  Hyde said.  He trusted his son and all, but still, they were just kids and they should just take their time and not rush into grown up situations that they probably weren't ready for.

All of the adults in the living room knew their fair share of heartaches.  That's why they were all concerned for their kids and this relationship of Megan and Hunter's.

"As I said they're not going to listen.  Megan had that look in her eyes like I didn't know what I was talking about.  As if I were from another planet."

It was so quiet in the living room other than the voices of four old friends.  Tiffany was in the computer room, Hannah was in her room, and Hunter and Megan went back to their Scrabble game moving the board to the dining room. 

"To them we don't," Hyde started to say, "To them, we don't know what we're talking about because they think they are the only ones to go through, what we've all gone through before.  But they don't want to hear it." 

"What's the plan for Christmas are you guys coming to our house?"  Donna asked

"As much as I'd like to ruin Forman's Star Wars marathon and have you guys come here.  We'd like the break—and spend Christmas in Point Place."  Hyde said.

"Like the break? AHEM! Excuse me, Steven!  You didn't clean AND cook today! All you did was watch football and carve the turkey."

"Yeah, but I'd like to watch football on Forman's sofa for a change.  You love me, Jackie."  He kissed her on the cheek.

"Where's my kiss?"  Eric asked Donna

She playfully pushed him away.  "That's sweet, real sweet. Nice wife I got."

     Megan and Hunter got bored with their Scrabble game and quietly went into the laundry room.  It was after the pantry and passed the dining room.

"Hunter, I'm sorry that my Dad gave you a lecture."

"Don't be, it's okay.   How was your Mother's talk?"

"About the same—sit on my lap again—"

"When are we going to put that book to the test?"  Hunter asked, after he kissed her on the lips.

"I—I don't know—"

"I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, Megan.  I'll wait for when you're ready.  I just love you so much—and our parent, even my quote unquote cool Dad, doesn't understand.  You know I'm not going to leave you after we 'Do It'—I'm not—"

"Shut up, Hunter."  Megan swallowed her nervousness and kissed him—but went the extra step by gently putting her tongue in his mouth.

He pulled away, he didn't want to, but he pulled himself away.  Usually in situations like this it was the female that pulls away.

"What's wrong—Did I---?"

"No, Megan, it's not you.  I just wanted to make sure that you're ready for that."

"I am ready for that.  Why do you think I initiated it first?  Just so you could pull away?  Let's try that again, only don't pull away this time."

They kissed passionately as Hunter took her glasses off and was able to put them on the washing machine without stopping.  She was more rough than he was, he was just afraid of hurting her, and she had to prove that just because she was in a wheelchair didn't mean she wasn't a sexual being.  'Way better than regular kissing' Hunter thought as they took a pause.  He put her glasses back on.

"Did you like?"  She asked

"Yeah!"  He replied blushing, thinking so much for taking it slow, and he was convinced if they had the house to themselves, this could have been the moment that they tried one of those pages from the "Enabling Romance" book.

"I'm glad."  Megan rested her head on his shoulder. 

"You know what, Megan?"

"What, Hunter?"

"F*** our parents.  Our relationship is about us and not about them.  I'm not putting pressure on you for sex, that is all about for you to be ready.  Men are always ready, because we're pigs---"

She laughed.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that we love each other—and you are going to be here for a week—and then there's the Christmas holidays—I'm saying that I never want to leave your side, Megan—I don't know if they're trying to break us up or show us the error of their ways, but as I said f*** our parents, because they aren't us."

"I feel the same way, you do," She took her glasses off, she couldn't see a thing, but a blurred outline, "Are you up for another round?"

"Megan!"

"What?  Hunter!  You're right men are pigs!  That's not what I mean, but I'm glad you are in excellent working order---I meant---you KNEW what I meant—Shut up and kiss me with your tongue."

She wasn't her parents little girl anymore and he wasn't the saint his Mother thought he was.  They were the offspring of long time friends who found true love with each other, despite what their folks thought—maybe, after all, the kids really did know best.

Tomorrow was all they had.