Title:  Hotel California

Disclaimer:  Don't own, ain't getting paid

Pairing:  J/H, E/D

Rating:  Pg -13

Archive: If you want just ask – I will freely give.

Summary: Summer before Season 5.  Jackie and Hyde accompany Eric on his quest to get Donna back.  AU – Eric gets over his wallowing a lot sooner and the gang minus Fez spend the end of the summer in Cali. 

Credit:  The Eagles –Pretty Maids all in a row

AN:  Okay guys – sorry for the delay.  I was afraid of Donna – and starting a new job.  I promise Chapter 5 won't take as long.  Tell me what direction you want me to go in. (i.e.  More J/H – or if you want me to shake things up with E/D –or hell maybe you want me to focus on Kelso and Annette –jk jk jk )

Hi there, how are ya?

It's been a long time.

Seems like we've come a long way.

My, but we learn so slow

and heroes they come and they go

and leave us behind as if were supposed to know why.

Why do we give up our hearts to the past?

And why must we grow up so fast?

And all you wishing well fools with your fortunes,

Some one should send you a rose

with love from a friend.

It's nice to hear from you again.

And the storybook comes to a close.

Gone are the ribbons and bows.

Things to remember, places to go,

pretty maids all in a row.

The endless days of summer stretched out in front of her like the endless distance between home and this place she had run to.  She tried to seek solace in the rolling Pacific, garner comfort from warm sand on cool feet.  But nothing helped get her mind off how much she missed her dad and her friends.  Nothing made her forget how much she missed Eric.

Life sucked.  Maybe she was a little too young to be deciding that after all things could get better.  But at the moment it was something she couldn't ignore.  She'd always seen herself as a strong independent woman, but even the most ardent feminists would have been lonely.  She couldn't deal with her mother's hippy friends and Kelso's shenanigans.  Even Susan B. Anthony would have packed up and went home. 

But she hadn't.  She was still here bored out of her mind and wishing things had never changed.  It didn't sound like her – but she was tired of being independent.  She wanted to be Eric and Donna again.  Or okay – Donna and Eric, she wasn't giving up that much.  But he was home and she was here.

"Donna" Kelso yelled from somewhere in the living room. 

She waited for whatever ludicrous comment was coming next and wasn't surprised when he walked into the kitchen holding a giant funnel and a bag of ice. 

"Where does your mom keep her party supplies?"

Rolling her eyes she pointed to the large walk in pantry that to her dismay was filled with nothing but chips, coolers, and enough alcohol to knock a small village off the wagon.  "Kelso – what are you doing?  We aren't having another party tonight are we?"

Dumping the contents of the bag into a cooler Kelso laughed and tossed back a long strand of hair that was just starting to show highlights from the sun.  "OF COURSE, man what is your problem?  What is wrong with having a party now and then?"

Rolling her eyes again she wondered briefly if being around Kelso, in this his natural element, could be damaging to her retinas.  "You and my mother have had a party every day this week.  Isn't that a little excessive?"

"Nuh uh, we didn't have a party Tuesday." Kelso defended placing the funnel on the shelf beside several others and grabbing a bag of chips. 

"Then why was that guy in my shower Wednesday morning?" she asked crossing her arms across her chest.

Sticking four chips in his mouth, the answer came out all muffled and crumbly "He was left over from Monday's "Man the Weekend's over Party".  He got lost in your mother's walk in closet."

"So if we had a party Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday – why do we need one today?"

"Man –it's the weekend!"

God this was ridiculous.  Why had she ever thought that going anywhere with Kelso had been a good idea?  He fit in perfectly in this weird town, with these weird people.  She didn't.  Her mom and he had no problem making friends and forgetting their problems.  They didn't think twice about those they left behind.  Walking out of the kitchen and into the afternoon sun, Donna wondered if those she left behind ever thought about her. 

By Seven o clock the party was already in full swing.  It was a little early but Donna knew from experience that it would continue long into the next morning.  These people were freaks.  They had nothing better to do and they liked it that way.

Scanning the living room, she noticed her mom in the corner chatting up an Investment broker and drinking a fruity concoction handed to her by that guy that had been in her shower.  It seemed that guy hadn't found his way home yet.  On the couch, Kelso was wowing some blonde bimbo with his human garbage disposal impression.  He had at least twelve mini quiche crammed into his mouth and was making a sound that she couldn't believe anyone found sexy.  The blonde was laughing though, as well as a few other guests. 

Back home a party like this would have been fun to crash.  The gang would have went and made fun of all the losers trying to get a leg over.  Well Hyde, Jackie, Eric and her would have.  Kelso and Fez would have been trying to get a leg over.  But they were losers.  Back home this wouldn't have been her mother's party, or technically her's as well.  Back home that skinny guy that just walked in who looked a little like Eric –would have been Eric – and she wouldn't feel so lonely. 

"Donna?" the Eric-esque guy called out over the noise of the crowd.

If she had been drinking she would have spit beer all over the couple making out on the couch in front of her.  But she wasn't so she settled for expressing her shock through bugged eyes and the quickening pace of her heart.  "Eric?"

From across the way he heard her and smiled.  He pushed off a few partiers in his rush to get to her.

Following suit she knocked down a few folks herself in her haste to get closer to him.  She couldn't believe it, he was here.  And he was trapped behind Mr. Depava, the 400 pound butcher that lived next door.  Donna laughed, he had come to rescue her from tedium and solitude and she was going to have to save him.  "Mr. Depava!"

Eric looked helplessly from behind the man with half a cheese ball on his cracker and mouthed a silent "Help"

Donna motioned for the butcher to move and grabbed Eric with her other hand to pull him to safety.  Once he was free she took her hand back and waited expectantly for someone to say something. 

"Donna,  I …." Eric began.

"Man look at that guy over there trying to get with that red head.  What a freak!" Hyde laughed coming up behind them.  He already had a beer in one hand and was steering Jackie around the drunken Californians with the other.

"Yeah – she is soooo out of his league." Jackie agreed leaning into Hyde when a guy asleep under the coffee table rolled toward her foot. 

"Oh my god Jackie!  Hyde!  You all came to get me!" Donna squealed happy in spite of the missed moment.

Hyde glanced at Eric and sighed.  "Yeah we all came to visit.  See if you were done with this party life yet.  The beer isn't bad but I can think of better company."

Donna laughed and went to hug Jackie.  Jackie hugged her back harder than she would have expected.

"Yeah Donna, I don't know how you survived that car trip with Michael.  I almost killed your ex and he isn't a cowardly won't marry me loser runaway to California Jackass."

"Thanks Jackie" Eric stated sarcastically.

"You're welcome." Jackie commented oblivious.

A moment of silence hit them where they all awkwardly looked at each other waiting for someone to speak.  Donna knew that a lot needed to be said.  But she didn't know where to start.  And she couldn't do it in front of Jackie and Hyde.

"Jackie, let's go find that bathroom you were looking for earlier.  Your nose needs a little powder." Hyde explained breaking the tension. 

Jackie looked offended but caught on quickly and walked away with a little squeeze of encouragement to Donna's elbow as she passed. 

Looking at Eric all pale and nervous she knew she wouldn't need it.

"So…." She began.

"So." Eric offered.

Glancing toward their friends retreating forms Donna asked. "When did those two get so chummy?"

"I don't know. I'm glad you noticed it too.  I was beginning to think I'd lost my mind." Eric joked.

"Well that is possible." Donna joked back.

"Entirely" Eric answered with added hand gestures.

She had missed those.  She had missed him.  And she was so glad that he was here.  "I'm glad you are here."

Eric seemed to deflate, "OH THANK GOD!  I'm glad I'm here too.  I missed you."

She felt herself relax as well.  "I missed you."

"I love you Donna and I just want to start over and forg…"

But Donna didn't need to hear anymore.  He loved her and she loved him and they could figure out the rest later.  He was here and life was good and she wanted to savor the moment.  Grabbing him with both hands she silenced his speech with a tender kiss.