Dear Eric,

Did your kids like the flavor of Blow Pops that I sent? They were new at Fez's favorite candy place and I couldn't resist buying another box on top of the assorted ones that I usually get.

I was at your house the other day and I saw your mom packing Twonkies in her box to you so, ta-dah! You'll find two boxes of Twinkies together with my letter today. :)

Christine said I was 'severely inexperienced' and 'overwhelmingly under-qualified' at work today. Hmph. What does she know. Talent makes up for everything, and I have oodles of that.

Jackie chewed on her pen. The next bit was hard for her to write, as it was hard for her to come to terms with, but the trials of the past months have mellowed her somewhat, and she came to realize that it was simply easier to accept certain things than it was to rage fruitlessly against them.

—Donna and Sam seem to be getting along really well. In a way, I'm happy for her, it seems she and Sam do have some things in common, unlike, you know, me and her—

—It used to hurt, a lot, but I suppose I've sort of given up on holding on to something that doesn't want to hold on to me. And I'm so tired of having to fight for it all the time—

If you need anything else, just let me know and I'll be sure to include it in my next shipment to you.

Reply ASAP!

Yours,

Jackie

She signed off with a little heart above the 'i', and danced off to find stamps and an envelope to put her letter in.

The phone rang a few days later on a Sunday at the apartment she shared with Fez. Jackie was enjoying the quietness of the afternoon, alone by herself and humming happily as she packed another special Jackie Box to send to Eric when the post office opened the next day.

She headed to the living room to pick up the phone.

"Hello?" she sang out.

"Hey you," came an unfamiliar male voice.

She frowned. "Who's thi-. Omigod, Eric?"

He chuckled. "Who else?"

"Eric! Gosh I could hardly recognize your voice! What're you doing calling here? How did you get my number?"

"Jackie, it's written over every face of the Jackie Boxes that you have sent me so far, along with your return address." He continued wryly, "I'm sure that the boxes will find their way back to you even if they do get mistakenly posted to a frozen tundra in Antarctica."

She chortled.

"I'm so glad you called. We've only written so far you know. It feels so different to finally be talking to you." She smiled and added, "I'm packing my latest Jackie Box for you now. You'll probably get it in, oh, a few days."

"Looking forward to it."

She carried the phone back to her room with her, leaving the long line trailing behind her.

"Anyways, I was over at your mom's the other day and she wanted to know if the reason you haven't been writing is because of Donna and you know," —she cleared her throat— "Randy. I wrote you to ask in the letter I sent a couple of days ago. Not sure if you've gotten that yet though."

She heard him sigh and imagined that he was probably scuffing up the back of his hair now.

"Yeah, that's one of the reasons that I called actually."

"Huh. Sounds serious." She scooted back against her pillows and made herself comfortable.

"Nah, it isn't really. Donna and I are over, so you don't have to skate around the issue in your letters. I'm not upset, so don't worry. Yep."

"That's it? You called me long distance just to tell me that? What're your other reasons?"

He laughed. "That, and… I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Really?" Jackie laughed, baffled, and down the line, Eric smiled at the sound. "That's the first time anyone has ever said that to me."

"A first for everything, Jackie. How're things at the studio? Dragon lady still giving you a hard time?"

"The worst." She stared out of her window for a moment. "It's better now though, not that Christine's any better, just that, because, now I have you. It helps, Eric." She continued in a low voice, "Especially with Steven and all."

"It will get better, Jackie."

"What if it doesn't?"

"Well then, you have me. I'm here for you."

She smiled, a fluffy warmth filling her entire body. She knew it was silly to ask it of him, but she couldn't help herself, "Promise?"

Without hesitation he replied, "I promise."