Author Note: …this should have been titled Good Grief! Some things are said that needed to be said and others…read on.

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Chapter 12 – Fighting the Grief

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"…Okay, let me understand this. You've left Steven. Eric moved out of his apartment. You were both sleeping with each other while your "others" were sleeping with someone else? Yep, it's musical chairs with pillows. Jackie, sweetheart…while I'm happy about this, are you sure it's not Steven's?"

A voice from the kitchen door replied, "What about me?"

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Jackie froze with her fingers interlaced in Eric's. What was Steven doing here? Eric gave her a little tug backwards and murmured low, "I won't let him hurt you."

He stepped his booted foot into the living room. "I guess no one heard me. What about me?"

Kitty laughed nervously. "Oh Steven. How are you?" Red stood up and turned around. "Steven. Didn't hear you come in."

"Obviously." Hyde replied removing his glasses. "What's going on?" Kitty sidestepped so that she was almost standing in front of Jackie, wringing her hands nervously.

"Well Steven….Eric and Jackie had some wonderful news they wanted to share with us. Right Red?" Kitty threw the proverbial ball into Red's court. He glared at his wife.

Red replied, "Yeah. Eric, tell him. He's going to find out sooner or later and it's better coming from you now….than later." Eric received the verbal volley from his dad.

The younger Forman could feel a burning in his gut and he knew his dad was right, Hyde would find out anyways. "Dude...Jackie and I are going to be parents."

Hyde smirked, "Sure….that's got to be the lamest burn I've ever heard. Come on Jackie, you made your point. Let's go home."

"No Steven. I moved out. Eric and I are getting a place together." Jackie took a deep breath. "We're having a baby."

"What?" he exclaimed. "I told you I wasn't ready to have kids! There's no way in hell you're forcing me to marry you." His blue eyes flashed angrily. Steven's words and gestures destroyed what was left of her self-control and she could feel those damn tears brimming in her eyes. He came back to fetch her like she was a lost dog or something and expected her to heed his call.

"Steven, you weren't listening. Eric and I are getting a place together. I'm having Eric's baby."

Hyde's hands balled into fists as he leveled a glare at the man who was almost like his brother, "So what piece of shit buries his girlfriend and sleeps with his best friends girl? I thought you had morals man."

Red put a hand on Hyde's chest. "Do not use that kind of language in my home Steven. You know better. Apparently, you are not the innocent one here. While all of you dumbasses were sleeping around, I'd like to know where you were when Donna died." He pointed back at Jackie and Eric with his thumb, "These two were having a sonogram."

Hyde blanched. He couldn't lie to Red. Not after all these years. He couldn't look at Jackie but told Red in an almost soft voice. "Samantha came back last year and we….we've been seeing each other."

Jackie gasped when she heard Samantha's name and felt her body go cold with fury. She crossed her arms. "I hate you."

Her words hit Steven harder than he ever expected and the look on her face spoke volumes. She stepped back and Eric's arms went around her protectively. Steven could only shake his head, "What?"

Jackie stood firm but she was trembling on the inside. "I could smell her on you Steven. Every night you came home late. I knew you were cheating. I didn't know who she was….but Sam? How could you do that to me? With her? Steven…the stripper? Again? And in our bed?"

"And what? You go running to Forman and jump in his bed? You're no better than me." Hyde retorted furiously.

"Don't start. Donna was seeing Randy, we all know that, and Donna's not here to defend herself. Eric and I started as friends with something in common and I love him Steven. He is everything to me that you're not. I'm having his baby this Fall."

Eric stepped forward, "Hyde…man, I love her. We weren't trying to hurt anyone but it just happened."

Steven flew across the room before Red could grab him. Kitty gasped and pulled Jackie out of the way as Hyde tackled Eric to the floor tipping over the pea green chair. The two men punched and slugged each other and blood flew as grunts and curses gave way to exhaustion. Eric was fighting for his new love and Steve was fighting for the love he abandoned. Now the two friends lie on the floor hurt, bruised and exhausted.

Red pulled Hyde up off the carpet. "Steven, you've made your bed so to speak. Leave before I stick my foot up both your asses." Eric sat up and wiped the blood from his split lip. He was almost glad to see the bruise on Hyde's eye but he was too tired to be happy. Jackie ran over as Hyde left through the kitchen.

She hugged Eric and whispered, "You were so bad ass!"

Eric pulled her down into his lap. "Yeah?" He said smiling at the praise. "Let's hope the baby's a better fighter than his dad is."

Jackie laughed with relief and pulled Eric's head down for a kiss.

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Kitty looked around the empty apartment and gave her approval. "I think this will be perfect. That little bedroom would make a great nursery." Eric smiled and then his lip cracked again. "I have some things to get from my old apartment but I'm donating everything else to Pastor Dave."

Jackie shook her head in agreement. "I have some things at the condo that I want to keep but Steven can have the rest. Maybe Samantha can fill in the blanks that I leave." Steven how could you do that to me with her?

Eric could tell she was thinking about the betrayal and he hugged her from behind. "Like you said, we'll work through this."

Kitty smiled at the quiet sense of calm this pair shared with each other. She had thought Steven and her son were going to kill each other over Jackie, but the mother in her knew that both men were fighting something bigger.

Grief.

Steven grieved for his mistake in choosing Samantha over Jackie.

Eric grieved because Donna chose Randy over him, but also for Steven trying to take Jackie back when their budding relationship was fresh and young and a new life had been created. Her son was maturing into a fine young man and recognizing his responsibilities in life.

Kitty was proud.

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Within a week, the expecting parents were moved into their new shared apartment. There was a bit of awkwardness the first few days as Jackie and Eric had never lived with each other before. Eric slept on the sofa while Jackie took the bedroom. As the week advanced, Eric migrated to HIS side of the bed while Jackie slept on HER side. By the weekend, they slept all twisted together like pretzels.

Eric loved waking up first to find Jackie snuggled in his arms. His dreams of Donna were fleeting as dreams of a future with Jackie and his baby took center stage. Would Jackie be a traditionalist and marry him to give the baby the Forman name? Or was this just a comfortable nest under the child was born.

Eric didn't trust that Hyde wouldn't try to find a way to destroy this relationship. Steven Hyde didn't like sharing. He spent much of his life trying to keep what he had salvaged from his youth and unfortunately for Eric, Jackie was a big part of it. He brushed dark hair from her sleeping face. Yeah, she was worth fighting for. This little brunette had so much love to give and she asked for so little in return. If Hyde only knew how much he was going to lose….he would have never taken Samantha back.

"You're staring at me." She said with a sleepy yawn. "Do I have raccoon eyes?"

Eric kissed the tip of her nose. "No, you're just so pretty in the morning." He was rewarded with a smile. "So…are we painting the nursery today?" she asked.

"I was thinking we could get Kelso to do that." He smiled.

Jackie laughed. "Have you ever seen Michael paint?"

"Well, I've seen him finger-paint….oh…that's not a good idea is it?"

Jackie rolled over on her side and unbuttoned Eric's pajama top. "You don't have to wear this to bed you know."

Eric felt self-conscious. "Donna always told me I sweat in my sleep."

"Donna's not here Eric. I don't mind. You have a nice chest. You should show it off more often. We'll lay by the pool this summer and work on our tans."

He grinned, "I like that idea. You know, you are like….the best girlfriend, mommy-to-be EVER!"

"Good. Remember, that Jackie Burkhart always loves compliments and you'll never go wrong."

Could a guy fall more in love with a girl he was already in love with? That was like a double scoop of chocolate ice cream with fudge on top good!

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Several weeks after Donna's funeral, the management at WFPP was going to air a special afternoon show in Hot Donna's honor. Friends and family were asked to come down to the radio station and talk about the popular DJ and celebrate her fame posthumously.

Midge and Bob asked the Forman's to accompany them. Kitty wanted Eric and Jackie to join the party at the station. Red felt like it was a nice thing to do to remember Donna and her years of contribution to the citizens of Point Place. Kelso and Brooke agreed to meet their friends and mentioned that Fez would be coming alone.

Jackie looked sideways in the mirror. This dress made her look fatter than the other one. Eric teased, "A least you don't waddle!" Jackie scowled and threw her shoe at him which he easily ducked. "You big bad mama, you don't scare me."

He pulled her into his embrace, his hand curved protectively over her hip while Jackie nestled her head against his shoulder. "Are you worried?" she asked softly. He kissed her temple as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I'm more worried that Hyde's going to make a scene. It's going to be weird seeing all the people she worked with and making polite conversation."

Jackie looked up. "Promise me something."

"Anything."

"If Randy shows up….be nice? He loved Donna, I know because Brooke and I read all the letters. He never stopped loving her and it wasn't any kind of reprisal against you. He loved her when you were in Africa and he loved her even when she pushed him away. I know that you still hurt but please…."

Eric kissed Jackie's forehead. "I'll try. For you I'll try okay?"

"Thank you." She pulled his head down into a kiss and Eric's long fingers ran down along the back of her thick shiny hair. "That's all I could ask for."

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