Author Note: ….revelations are made….shocking!

T7S

Chapter 13 – The Future is Wide Open

T7S

The reception area of the radio station was full of Point Place politicians and Kenosha's television TV anchors looking for a story at the remembrance party for Hot Donna. A large picture of a younger Donna Pinciotti was placed on an easel and there were several others that had been taken with various artists she had interviewed.

Bob and Midge arrived and were properly greeted by Stan, the station's producer and Paul the afternoon weatherman. They expressed their condolences and told Bob how brave Donna was on that terrible day. Midge had not known the details and just cried when she learned that no one was able to get in the booth and rescue her little girl.

Kitty was holding Red's elbow and was astounded at the trays of expensive appetizers that were circulating around the room. "Red," she whispered, "Shrimp on a stick. Oh! Get me one of those drinks with the umbrella!" Red pulled her away from the dessert table and over to where the Pinciotti's were talking to the radio station staff.

Hyde and Samantha were sitting at a table near the back of the room. Samantha looked comfortable in any setting, probably because she worked in the "public". Little snippets of Donna's old farm report were being played between music sets and Hyde could actually remember listening to them the first time. It bothered him because no one was paying attention.

"Oh Steven, just admit it – you're only here to see if your friends will show up." Samantha said nudging his elbow.

He looked at her over his shades. "Okay so I miss Kelso and Fez."

"Come on, it's okay to say you miss Jackie. I totally understand you picking me over her." Sam replied confidently. Hyde looked at her, "I didn't pick you over her…she's knocked up with Forman's kid….what was I supposed to do?"

Samantha stirred her drink and downed it in one swallow. "Pick, choose, whatever…you're still with me and not her. I'll be back honey."

Brooke and Kelso greeted Fez on the steps outside and they entered the station as a trio. It was difficult for Fez because out of everyone, his ears could pick up on the little taped conversations Donna was having as she interviewed celebrities. He missed the tall red head almost as much as Randy. If Donna had been a guy, they would have been best friends but Fez still loved her so much.

-o-

Eric had his head between his knees and was sitting on the edge of the driver's seat. Jackie was encouraging him to take big deep breaths of air. "You'll be okay. It's not the funeral and you're just a little nervous." Eric squeezed her hand and looked at the laces on his black leather shoes.

"Eric, look at me."

He looked up at her pretty face that glowed in the early afternoon sunlight. "We're doing this for Donna. It's the nicest way to say goodbye and your parents are in there. I don't want your dad sticking his foot in my butt."

Eric chuckled. "You make me laugh." Jackie suddenly gasped and froze. "What's wrong?" He asked urgently. Jackie grabbed his hand and pressed it lightly against her tummy. "Do you feel that?"

Eric closed his eyes to block out everything and there…he felt it. Like a butterflies wings touching the palm of his hand. Jackie's glowing eyes met his and she squealed and hugged him. "Little Forman kicked!"

Eric smiled. Who was kicking ass today? The Forman baby – that's who! Eric scooped Jackie up in his arms and kissed her cheek. "I love you." She looped her arms around his neck. "I love you too. That was so awesome!"

He agreed and set her down on the radio steps. "Stick with me okay? I don't want to get sucked into some 'oh you were Donna's old boyfriend' conversations okay?"

Jackie nodded. "You got it. Do I look gorgeous or beautiful in this dress?"

"Both?" Was there a right answer for that question? "Just what I was looking for." Jackie smiled. "Thank you."

Eric held the door open she walked into the room like a beautiful Madonna glowing with happiness. She spied Brooke and Michael and practically dragged Eric towards the group.

Steven's eyes lit upon Jackie the minute she walked through the door. He devoured every inch of her like a thirsty man does a tall glass of water. She looked ravishing and he had forgotten how that smile lit up the room. She could look innocent and sexy all at the same time and he missed that. Now she was looking at Forman with those beautiful eyes that used to look at him with such admiration. Then Forman has to ruin the moment by putting his huge paw on her stomach and she lets him! The little band of merrymakers are having a laugh over something and Hyde feels so excluded. They're supposed to be here for Donna dammit!

-o-

Kitty smiled and wrapped an arm around Jackie's shoulders. "Bob, Midge…we didn't want to say anything earlier because that time belonged to Donna but we have exciting news."

Midge, with her soft sultry voice, replied. "Bob and I have exciting news too! You go first."

Kitty looked at Red who shrugged. Midge had news – everything was new to her. He motioned for Kitty to continue. "Bob…Red and I are going to be grandparents. Jackie and Eric are having a baby in the Fall." Eric thought Bob was going to be pissed because his face turned beet red and tears started streaming down his cheeks.

"Tell them Midgie!" Bob managed to say. Midge spoke, "Bob and I are going to have a baby too! I know!" She said in the shocked silence, "I'm having a change of life baby! Can you imagine?"

Bob hugged Red. "It's like my pumpkin blessed me!" Bob hugged Jackie and Eric, "Our kids can be neighbors and grow up together!" Eric and Jackie looked frantic, "Uh….that's a possibility Bob…if we lived with my folks."

Red was confounded. He knew Midge was younger than Kitty but his wife thought the same thing and Midge had only been back a couple of months – damn! Midge looked at Red, "We went to the doctor and he confirmed it. Like Bob says, this is a miracle baby."

Kitty smiled politely for Midge's good news but Bob wasn't having a GRANDchild, like the Forman's were. Grandchildren were special. Then Kitty felt bad because Bob and Midge would never have grandchildren. "Oh Midge," Kitty said with tears, "I'm happy for you." She was. She really was.

Red looked at Eric, "Well son, I think Bob stole your thunder." Eric grinned and replied, "That's okay dad because a little earlier, we got to feel the first kick."

Red lifted a brow, "Is that right? Maybe it'll be a boy!" That thought got Red Forman smiling. A grandson he could throw a ball to. A child he could take fishing or watch sports with! The future was wide open!

-o-

"May I have your attention please?" Stanley Ducarty, the station manager for WFPP tapped on his microphone to get the audience's attention. The conversations dulled to a soft murmur as cameramen and journalists jockeyed for the best position for this memorial speech.

"Thank you everyone for coming. Hot Donna's show was an icon for our listening audience. Complete with her own sizzling bacon hiss, Donna Pinciotti drew in a growing group of young people that made our little Point Place station into the competitive company it is today. Hot Donna had spirit and an energy that made everyone in the lower Wisconsin listening area tune in to hear her spunky conversation or the power blocks of songs she chose to play.

"She interviewed some of the best of the best from Jethro Tull to Alice Cooper and her voice brought a fresh new sound to AM radio. It was with great pride that she graduated to the FM dial where classic radio is played with less commercials. Of course, that doesn't mean that the air time is less free."

Stanley paused for the FM chuckle and continued. "So it is with great pleasure that the parent company of WFPP is dedicating their new radio satellite dish in Donna's name." Stan held up a golden plaque with Donna Pinciotti's name inscribed on the face. "She will never be forgotten in the city or on the airwaves in Point Place. Thank you."

Stan put the microphone down and the applause was deafening. Donna meant so much too so many different people. Journalists who scorned DJ's were often jealous because they didn't get the good interviews. Cameramen could only film what the television station rep wanted the public to see. Radio DJ's were the eyes and ears for the public and Donna was one of Point Places best.

Eric smiled a happy tear. Donna would have really hated this and loved it at the same time. Jackie squeezed Eric around the waist. "I'm really glad we came. That was the nicest speech I've ever heard."

Bob was still weeping and smiling, "My pumpkin. Wasn't she just the best?" Midge hugged Bob, "Oh my bear….just think, Donna made all of this possible. Oh look! There's that nice Randy boy."

Eric turned around and could see how much it affected Randy to be in this place where Donna died. When he really thought about it, Eric was in love with the teenage Donna. The adult Donna was just someone he loved and cared about whereas Randy loved her from start to finish.

Eric held out his hand in friendship. "Hey man. No hard feelings?"

Randy looked at Jackie who was smiling. "Really. He's not going to hurt you. He promised. Right Eric?"

Eric grinned, "Yeah, I promised earth mother here I would be nice. I think we could be good friends. I mean hell, you know everyone else."

Randy smiled. "I'd like that. It's like I already know you and I do miss hanging around with Kelso and Fez. Sam and Hyde are okay too but Jackie's a trip."

"Yeah, she is but I love her." Eric confessed. "If I could only get her to marry me."

"I'm still thinking about that Forman."

"Randy, my folks are having a get together with food and stuff when this is done. Why don't you come over?"

"I'll be there. Hey, I have some people to go see. Meet back with you later?"

Jackie squeezed his hand. "That would be great." She watched Randy walk away with a skip in his step. "I'm proud of you Eric. That was a very mature thing to do."

Eric looked at her beautiful face. "I couldn't have done it with out you."

She tweaked his nose. "I know. Get used to it."

T7S