I will get to MBE… this weekend… I'm having such writer's block weith that story it's not funny…. But I'm updating EGWC that's good right? I'll try my dammdest to update MBE this weekend. I promise :)

It was already early December. The snow was falling peacefully in good, old Michigan. Lacy had begun teething, and had been crying more then usual. Connor was all excited about what "Santa Clause" was going to bring him. And Jackie was falling into the season cheer. She had begun hanging some of the decorations and was skipping around, smiling.

I wasn't working for the rest of the month, which I was pretty happy about, that's why I like the community college. Connor had another week till his Christmas break. I was happy he loved school so much though.

I was sitting in the living room with Jackie, Lacy, and Connor. Lacy was sleeping soundly in the bassinet, (that I had to drag down from the bedroom), Connor was playing with our Toy Spaniel, Princess, (courtesy of Jackie). Jackie was curled on the couch reading her Danielle Steel book. And I was in my big, leather, recliner looking at the sports section.

The phone rang. I began to get up but Jackie placed her book down.

"I got it." She smiled. Connor was staring at Princess, who was staring back at him. She was a lazy animal. I smiled back at Jackie as she walked through the dinning room to the kitchen.

After about fifteen minutes, with Connor now watching the TV, and Lacy playing with the dangling thing in the basinet, I looked towards the kitchen. Jackie hadn't returned. I couldn't imagine who she was talking to.

I got up and made my way to the kitchen. As I got to the door I could hear soft sobbing. I opened the door and saw Jackie sitting on the wooden chair, crying. Her face red, her eyes puffy. She was sobbing into a dish towel.

"Baby?" I whisper. I knelt in front of her. She stared at me and then latched onto my neck.

"My dad died." She said, barely above the whispers. "Alcohol poisoning."

"I'm… I'm sorry." I let out a minute later. She just began crying harder.

Jackie and her father had become closer over the past few years. After her parents divorced, it was only natural for Jackie to choose sides, and for some reason, she picked her father.

"The funeral's this weekend." She sobbed. I rubbed her back. As her tears soaked my shirt…

"Will you talk to me?" Eric asked. Donna was packing a large suitcase.

"It's not a big deal; I haven't talked to him in seven years. What? Am I suppose to be that upset?" Donna questioned her husband.

"Donna… he was your grandfather." Eric sighed.

"Look Eric, I'll go to Florida for a few days and then come back. I'll call you when I get settled into the hotel."

"Are you sure you don't want me to come?" Eric asked.

"No, I'll be fine." Donna said, her voice rising.

"I'm just asking." Eric put his arms up defensively. "You never let yourself cry, Donna. I mean… its ok to want a hug, or support."

"Eric… I don't need comforting arms. I need to get to the airport and prepare what to say to people I haven't seen since I was little." Donna zipped her suitcase and looked at Eric. "I'll call you tonight or tomorrow… don't wait by the phone, please?"

"I won't." Eric replied softly. Donna patted his head and then exited the bedroom with the large suitcase. "What's the point of waiting by a phone when I know it's not going to ring?"

The funeral was going by slowly. The sky was grayer then gray. There were, more or less, two hundred people gathered around the grave. Jackie was standing perfectly straight, her hands holding a small purse, a black veil covering her face. She had a ridged appearance. I put my arm around her, she relaxed and place her head on my shoulder. She had been hounded for the past two days by nameless people, with forgettable faces, and pitied voices.

I looked to my left to see my own parents. My mother had a solemn face and looked as if in prayer. My father was staring at the grave, his hands in his pocket. I looked at my right to see Mrs. Burkhardt standing under a large umbrella. She didn't look like Jackie's mother, more like a slightly older sister.

As I looked around I could see familiar faces of people I knew through high school, people that had lived in Point Place all their life.  Most people came to the funeral to pay respect to a man that had had his hand in everything in this town.

After the funeral we all went to the Burkhardt Estate. I help Jackie and her mother greet the forgettable, the familiar, and the nameless people into their home.

Connor and Lacy were left with my co-worked Jeanie Harvest. I had known her for ten years, and Jackie knew her for five. I always knew her husband. I knew Connor and Lacy would not work well with the funeral, and it was unnecessary stress to ask Jackie to have.

"Eric?" I looked down slightly and saw Jackie, her head slightly toward me. "Can we get out of here?"

"Sure." I smiled.

We went upstairs, into the study. Jackie went over to the large desk and touched it. She looked at the fire place, and the mantel. And then stared at the liquor cabinet that was almost empty.

"He was such a heavy drinker." She laughed/sobbed. "I would always hide the key from him. He would get so mad. He'd yell, and shout, until one of the maids found the key." She laughed a bit. "God, and he was never home. But he always had advice to give, even though it was so stupid."

I just watched as she made it around the room, touching everything; or picking up something. She then turned to me. Tears rolling down her face.

"Eric… I miss him." She said, with a forced smile and a sob.

"Come here." I brought her into a tight hug. "He misses you too." She sobbed harder, and tightened her grip around my waist. She just cried, and I was ok with it…

"Jackie…" Eric smiled softly.

"Yeah?" Jackie said, sipping her wine.

"Happy Anniversary." Eric smiled as Jackie's features lit up.

"You remembered?" She said excitedly.

"Of course." He kissed her hand. "Want your present?"

"Eric, I thought we said no presents?" Jackie scolded and then smiled. "Of course I do!"

Eric placed a long box in front of us. Jackie smiled excitedly and opened it. There was a thin gold chain.

"Oh, Eric." Jackie smiled softly and kissed him across the small table. Eric smiled as she pulled the rest of the necklace out. There was an engagement ring around the necklace. "Oh my god."

"Will you?"

"Eric… yes." Jackie smiled.

"I love you." Eric said, and then leaned across the table, grabbing Jackie's face.

"I love you more." Eric barely made out as Jackie spoke through the kiss.

Christmas was a sadder holiday this year. Donna had sent Connor a new video game. And I sent Nathan the video tape of his favorite movie.

Jackie stayed in a small depression for a few days upon arriving home. But she was back to her normal self upon Christmas.

We were at my parents' house. Something Jackie had actually insisted upon. Laurie and her husband, with their two kids, were there as well. Jackie was sitting on Red's favorite chair, watching as Laurie's youngest, Charisma, played with the Barbie box rather then the Barbie. Connor and Laurie's middle child, Greg, were playing with the G.I. Joes I had bought them. Laurie's oldest, Cynthia, who was going on twelve, was bored out of her mind, stroking the puppy her father had bought her.

I went over to Jackie and gently began to massage her shoulders; she looked up and smiled at me. She then grabbed my hand and led me out of the festive living room. She dragged me out to the back porch. The air was bitterly cold, and nipped at my skin. Jackie smiled as the snow gently fell into her hair.

"Hey lover." She moaned as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Hey baby." I smiled back, wrapping my arms around her waist.

"It's snowing…" She giggled.

"It's cold." I added. She simply laughed. She had such a gorgeous laugh. It was so, livid…

Eric and Donna walked into the tiny apartment.

"—I'm just saying, it makes a better impression when one's *wife* laughes at her husband's jokes." Eric said, glaring at Donna.

"It wasn't funny Eric." Donna said. Eric glared at her and then sat on the couch.

"What's wrong with us? I mean… we use to be *happy*." Eric groaned. Donna glared and shook her head.

"Eric… its ok for me not to laugh at every little thing you say." Donna said her voice openly hostile.

"Donna… that was a funny antidote!" Eric said pointing at his wife. Donna shook her head. The phone rang. Donna grabbed it.

"Hello?… Hi…" Donna said. Eric looked at Donna. After a few minutes Donna hung up the phone. "That was Jackie."

"Ok?" Eric shrugged slightly.

"Hyde's getting married…" Donna said. Eric looked at her.

"Are you serious?"

"That's what Jackie said, I don't if it's true."

"How could Hyde get married?" Eric asked. Donna looked at him.

"Eric… it's been... what…two years? God we're like… twenty-three, it's time he moves on with his life." Donna said. Eric's jaw dropped.

"Donna… Hyde and Jackie were in LOVE. They almost had a baby together! I think him running away, leaving her… was hard enough… he should at least wait till she's… somewhat moved on herself."

"Jackie is never gonna move on Eric! She holds way to much freakin regret! And when she finally does move on, it'll probably end horrible because she's so wrapped up in her own little world!" Donna argued. Eric stared at her.

"Who are *you*?"

"Practical!" Donna shouted, walking into the bedroom.

Yeah… it was the beginning of the end.

But Jackie moved on, and I don't think her and me will ever end, at least not horribly.

And Hyde… yeah, he never got married, I don't even think he really moved on…