Eric opened the door. Jackie stood, smiling.
"Hey Jackers." Eric said solemnly.
"What's wrong? Donna said to get over here pronto." Jackie said, confused.
"Your guess is as good as mine. She locked herself in our bedroom and isn't opening the door." Eric said.
"Seriously?" Jackie said.
"And it's not PMS, because she had her period two weeks ago." Eric cringed slightly.
"Hmm…" Jackie walked towards the bedroom. "Donna."
"Tell him to wait in the kitchen!" Jackie turned and saw Eric get all upset and then turn around to head for the kitchen.
"He's gone." The door opened just enough for Jackie to be pulled in. The door was then immediately shut and locked and the tall red headed woman was stalking back to the bathroom. "Donna?"
"My period is two weeks late." Donna said quickly.
"But Eric said you were on time?" Jackie said, even more confused.
"I faked it." Donna shrugged. "Look… I've never, ever been more then a few days late. And that's only one to three days. And I've only been late two to three times since I was eleven. So I took a pregnancy test…"
"And?" Jackie said getting excited.
"I don't know." Donna frowned. "I have to wait ten minutes."
"Oh." It was all Jackie could muster.
"So, where are the kids? And Hyde?"
"They went to spend the weekend at Bud's cabin, in Pennsylvania. Steven thought it be a good idea if I stayed and relaxed. They'll be back by Tuesday." Jackie said, sitting on the bed. Donna followed her into the bedroom.
"How's everything going?"
"Good, Jordan has yet to sleep through the night, but he's getting better. Holly is adjusting well to everything. She's starting a pre-preschool day care thing in January. So that's good. Steven is happier then anyone in the world. He's been so… perky and happy lately. Frankly it's scary. Bud loves the whole he's retiring next year. It's been a hectic two months in the long run though. Especially after Thanksgiving." Jackie laughed a little, Donna joined in.
"I can't believe we let the men cook. God I was sick for a week. I thought Kitty was going to get Red's rifle. Her kitchen was a disaster!" Donna and Jackie laughed.
"How's life for you going?" Jackie asked after the laughing had come to an end.
"Well, hopefully, I'm pregnant. Life would be different, a good different, so I'm hoping. The newspaper is getting boring, nothing cool is happening these days. And Eric is doing great with the supermarket and stuff. Who knew he could create a chain?"
"You and him are ready for a kid." Jackie admitted. "At least more ready then me and Steven was."
"You and Hyde did ok though. You're doing better then ok." Donna smiled. Jackie laughed a little.
"Yeah, I suppose so."
"Oh god."
"What?" Jackie said, alarmed.
"Ten minutes is up." Jackie smiled softly.
"Do you want me to check?" Donna looked at her, the answer on the tip of her tongue.
"Yes, please?" Jackie smiled and walked into the bathroom
Donna sat, ready to have an anxiety attack. She waited patiently. Jackie came out, her face was unreadable.
"Someone has to say it," Jackie said, her voice neutral. "And it's going to be hard to hear."
"Oh god…" Donna said preparing for the worse.
"Ok, they cry all the time! And they will always want! They want this and that and this and that. Are you ready to be called mommy? Well you'll have some time to prepare—"
"Oh my god! Is… am I… Jackie?" Donna said jumping up.
"Donna please! I'm trying to prepare you for motherhood!" Jackie smiled widely. Donna began jumping up and down. She hugged Jackie.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Donna smiled.
"Want to go tell Eric?" Jackie smiled.
"No, no. This Thursday is annual before Christmas dinner; we exchange the best presents that night. So this is my present to him. But… can you and Hyde come with us to dinner?" Donna said, her eyes pleading.
"Are you sure? It's kind of an intimate thing to tell her husband." Jackie saw the look Donna was giving her. The look that clearly stated, "Am I the type of person." Jackie nodded. "I'll talk Steven into it. I won't tell him about it. Don't worry."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
*
Jackie gently bounced her son, as she held him. She was more then excited to feel him in her arms once again.
"How was it?" Jackie said, not looking up from her son.
"Fine. Bud was his normal fun loving type of guy. Holly got a kick from it all. I think she'll sleep right until Christmas. Two weeks. Not that bad." Hyde smiled.
"Um… Eric and Donna are going out to dinner this Thursday and invited us. So… I said sure."
"Wait… isn't that when they go out to exchange a present, and have an intimate dinner." Jackie looked at him.
"…No…"
"You're lying." Jackie got up and kissed him softly.
"I'm putting him to bed, and we're going to the dinner. That's final." Jackie made her way up the stairs.
"Ugh! Women!" Hyde said to the empty room.
*
The restaurant was decorated for the holiday. Tinsel was everywhere, mistletoe hung over certain tables and the decorations were gorgeous. The high ceiling had gold and glittery streamers things, and there was a huge Christmas tree in the corner, with fake presents under it. Jackie walked in, wearing a black dress the sparkled sliver when she walked. Hyde was wearing a suit, but left it at casual formal.
Jackie was the first to spot Donna and Eric. She dragged Hyde over to the table.
"Hi you two." She smiled a knowing smile.
"It's great you can join us on our dinner for two." Eric said smiling kissing Jackie's cheek and patting Hyde's shoulder. Donna smiled and hugged her friend.
"You look stunning." Jackie smiled to Donna.
"Yeah…well." Donna had her red hair twisted into a French twist. Her make up was natural but stood out just enough. She was wearing a velvet green dress that went to her calves. She was wearing a pearl necklace with matching earrings and bracelet. Eric was, as well, in casual formal attire.
"So… what do you guys do on this little… dinner thing? We bought our presents." Hyde motioned to a bag.
"Slip it under the table with our presents. We eat, talk, laugh, share memories, dessert, and then presents. Eric said, lining the night out for them.
Jackie smiled. "Great!"
*
"You like it?" Hyde asked. He somehow was voted to go first with the whole present thing.
Jackie smiled, her eyes suggested going to the bathroom and doing it, but she held back. She looked back down at the statue. It was a woman, holding a bundled baby, while another small child tugged on the woman's long pink dress.
"Steven… I love it." Jackie placed it carefully back in the box and kissed her husband.
"Here." Jackie said softly, giving him her present. He unwrapped the gift and gasped quietly. It was a silver frame with to picture holders. The top picture was the picture of him and Jordan the first night Jordan allowed his father to hold him. The bottom picture was of him and Holly at the park, playing in the sand box. Engraved on the bottom was "My Daddy."
Hyde looked at his wife.
"You needed some new pictures for your office." Hyde kissed Jackie passionately.
"Ok… my turn!" Eric said after the couple stopped kissing. He turned to Donna and handed her a long, thin box.
Donna smiled and opened it. It was the tennis bracelet she had been eyeing for the past three months. The one that was not "in the budget."
"Oh my god! Eric!" Donna slipped in on to her right wrist and watched it glitter.
"You like?" Eric smiled. Hyde was about to open his mouth, when Jackie elbowed him.
"Oh Eric."
"I know you're not into the whole, material world. But…"
"This was exactly like the bracelet my grandfather brought back from the war as an engagement present for my grandmother."
"Well… actually. I made a few calls, especially to your mom. That's the bracelet your grandfather gave to your grandmother."
"You're joking?" Donna said looking at the bracelet.
"Your aunt Sarah sent it to me. I got it fixed up and cleaned." Eric took it off her hand. "Read."
"Wherever life sends me, I know you'll always wait for me at shore. Oh god, Eric." Donna began to tear up. "Thank you so much."
"I knew you always loved the whole bracelet idea. So I got you an original one." Donna kissed her husband passionately.
"I love you." She kissed him and handed him a thick package.
"This doesn't seem bookish at all. The New Star Wars Biography bonza maybe?" Eric smiled. He opened it to reveal to books. "YES! Star Wars Biography! EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS! Donna I LOVE YOU!" Eric said, excitedly.
"Look at the other book, stupid." Donna smiled.
"The Joys of being a daddy." Eric looked up confused. And then realization hit him. "Oh my god, you're… when… how… are you?"
"Oh god Foreman! She's pregnant! She gave you a damn book for Christ's sake!" Hyde said shaking his head. Jackie slapped his arm.
"I went to the doctor's after work yesterday, I'm three weeks pregnant." Donna smiled.
"Oh god! This is the best Christmas ever!" Eric grabbed a hold of Donna and kissed her passionately.
"Aw." Jackie said. Hyde kissed the side of her head.
"This should be an interesting year."