Chapter 07 – Three Sentences

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Fez stayed for Christmas Eve at Eric's request because he didn't want to be left alone with the magical Miss Burkhart. She was weaving some spell and Eric Forman wasn't going to fall for it. The scents from the tree and the gingerbread house were nice but every time Jackie walked passed him, Eric caught a whiff of gardenias or jasmine or some damn flowery smell that reminded him he was still married. He needed to focus on NOT getting divorced. A divorce meant failure and Eric Forman was not going to go down without a fight.

The twinkling lights from the tree reminded Eric of happier times and a little melancholy sensation creeped up on him as he remembered his first Christmas Eve as a newlywed. Donna had tried to bake sugar cookies that looked like snowmen but when they came out of the oven they looked more like burnt blobs of something he couldn't describe. Being a good husband, Eric choked down at least two while Donna watched with smiling eyes. They exchanged stockings and he delighted in the new watch while Donna's eyes glowed when she saw the engraved pen set with her new last name – Pinciott-Forman – which cost extra since she had decided to hyphenate her last name! Still, it was a special time.

Was she thinking about him now – wherever she was?

"Earth to Eric!" A piece of mistletoe was waved in front of his face and Jackie's bright eyes were smiling. "You have to kiss me. It's tradition."

Fez was bouncing on the sofa, "Oooh! Give him one of those movie star kisses like you did with that guy from Dirty Dancing! You remember when you were with him in that….what was the name of that movie?" While Fez was still pondering the title of one of Jackie's earlier film roles, the actress parked herself on the arm of the Barcalounger.

Eric's eyes widened as Jackie's face came closer. She put the mistletoe in his hand and whispered, "Hey Eric…have you ever experienced a movie star kiss?" Her breath was minty and warm and he was getting uncomfortable. "…er….no?"

She pressed her lips near his ear, "Would you like to?"

He turned his face and her lips were just a whisper away. His stomach knotted and his heart was beating in a way he hadn't experienced in more than ten years. It was a rush. It was exciting. It was forbidden. Eric could only surrender as a small hand wrapped around the back of his head and soft fingers threaded through his hair, angling his face for the kiss. Eric could only think about that kiss that Princess Leia had given Han.

His eyes closed as Jackie's lips gently brushed and slowly pressed against his while one of her hands smoothed the skin of his jaw. It was the most sensual kiss that never involved a tongue that he had ever experienced. Her lips were soft, supple and skillful – it was…a *movie star kiss* - there was no saliva to wipe off, no bad breath and when she pulled away he didn't want to ruin the moment by opening his eyes.

He felt his hair being tousled and a quick peck on the cheek. "Good night boys! I'll see you in the morning. Oh and Eric? I got invited to your parents' house for Christmas dinner!"

Eric's eyes flew open and his mouth hung slack. How did she do all that without him knowing? He looked at Fez who seemed to still be in love with the new sofa. "Er….Fez…I think you should go home now."

Fez looked up, 'What? Oh…yeah…are we still gonna meet at Grooves tomorrow?"

Eric looked at the closed bedroom door and shook his head, "I'm not sure. I'm not exactly sure of anything anymore."

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Jackie woke up and stretched slowly like a cat. Having her own clean sheets and soft pillows made sleeping in the icky Forman bed much more tolerable. But then having her inventory in the attached garage was a bonus too! She smiled at the wedding picture of Donna and Eric and then touched the smaller framed photo of the Point Place graduates standing around the old Vista Cruiser. Her little contribution. It was the last picture she had of the gang and a friend with clever talents managed to remove Laurie from the photo.

She sat up and yawned. It was Christmas Day and there was so much to do before she left! The gifts for Red and Kitty Forman were under the bed still to be wrapped. She had to decide what to wear and definitely needed to touch base with Steven and Michael. She was missing her ex-boyfriends after these many years. There was a knock on the bedroom door followed by a, "I know you're awake in there."

She smiled at Eric's discomfort. He did not like having someone come in and tip his world upside down, but that was exactly what he needed the most. "I'm awake!" she sang out happily.

The door was still closed but he replied, "Er….I need to shower, but my clothes are in MY room. May I come in?"

Jackie opened the door and gave him a charming smile, "Of course you can come into your room. Was the couch more comfortable?"

Eric glanced at her and could feel his ears getting warm when he saw she was wearing another one of his shirts. Now she was going to leave it all Jackie-smelling.

"Yes." He was being polite. "It was more comfortable." He couldn't help but gape at the size and number of soft pillows stacked against the headboard. The mattress was covered with soft downy filled comforters and it looked so warm and inviting…damn, she was messing with his mind again.!

Jackie pulled the soft down filled blanket up to the pillows and Eric was rewarded with a glimpse of well-toned thighs. Was she doing this on purpose? He covered his eyes with the side of his hand and strode over to the closet to pick a pair of pants and shirt. Where were his Lee jeans? What in the hell were these faded denim pants? Who was Brooks Brothers? What was an Izod? He whirled around to see Jackie biting back a smile. "What in the hell did you do with my closet?

Jackie crawled to the edge of the bed and sat cross legged and Eric tried desperately not to look. He made eye contact and stayed there. Damn those movie star eyes. He was waiting for an answer!

She smiled, 'Okay, so last time I was here…I snooped. That's what I do okay? In order to play a role, sometimes I have to get into a characters mind…if you will….see things from their perspective and frankly Eric….yours was dull."

Full of indignation, Eric argued with a pointed finger, "I am not dull. I may be a lot of other things but dull is not one of them Missy!"

"Well your wardrobe is!" Jackie answered back. "Some of those shirts have wire hanger indents Eric…wait, didn't you see Mommie Dearest where Joan Crawford said, "….No... wire... hangers. What's wire hangers doing in this closet when I told you: no wire hangers EVER?" Because they ruin your clothes and also, I remember some of those shirts from the basement days. I merely noted what size you wore and updated your look."

Eric frowned, "I don't have a look."

Jackie gestured towards the closet, "Well you do now!"

Eric grabbed a dark polo shirt and some blue pair of pants and shouted "FINE!" as he stormed to the bathroom.

Jackie merely fell back against the covers and laughed softly, '"You are welcome."

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While Jackie was in the shower, Eric was secretly admiring his new 'acid washed jeans' and Ralph Lauren Polo shirt with the little horse jockey insignia on the shirt in the mirror. Okay, so maybe he would admit that the pants made his butt look nicer and the quality was better than his old clothes….but that didn't give Jackie Burkhart permission to dress him up like he was one of her dolls.

Wait….that was what his mom used to do and he liked it. Boom! Mind is blown! Donna didn't care how he dressed actually…only if it was clean or not. Jackie truly put some thought into what an 'outfit" looked like and it was good. Maybe after she left he would look through the rest of the closet to see what she put in there.

His attire musings were interrupted by the ringing of the telephone. He picked up the receiver and answered, "Merry Christmas mom!"

A different accented voice greeted him, "Will you accept a collect call from Prague, Czechoslovakia?"

Eric blinked and cleared his throat. "Um…yeah…sure." There was some static on the line before a tinny voice broke through. "Eric, hey…it's me…your wife. I just wanted to make sure I wished you a Merry Christmas."

"Donna?" he could scarcely believe she called him. "How are you? You're in Prague?"

"Yeah, I can't talk long but I wanted you to know I was thinking about you." She admitted. Eric wouldn't concede that her words were something he wanted to hear weeks ago, but still hearing her admission made him feel a little better knowing she was alive and somewhere.

"I saw your dad – he's doing good." Eric said as casually as possible.

"Uh..yeah….I called him last week. Mom is planning a vacation." There were some pounding noises in the background and then the line filled with loud static. "Eric, something's happening…I gotta go! Bye!"

"Love you!" he hollered back but the only thing that heard his words was the dial tone of the phone. He fell back on the white leather sofa still holding the receiver in his hand. Prague? What the hell was Donna Pinciott-Forman doing in Prague?

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Jackie came out of the bathroom amidst fragrant steam and wrapped in her softest robe to see her friend sitting on the sofa looking a bit shell shocked. She walked over and removed the telephone receiver from his curled fingers and replaced it in the cradle. Carefully sitting beside him, Jackie asked softly, "Eric….who were you talking to?"

His eyes were sort of glazed as he replied, "Three sentences. She could only give me three freaking sentences."

Jackie surmised that Donna had finally called. "So…that's good news right? Your wife called you on Christmas day?"

Eric shrugged indifferently. "She couldn't even say she missed me….or loved me." He looked over at Jackie's beautiful face and asked, "How bad of a husband could I have been?"

Jackie's heart melted as she enveloped him in a hug. "You are not a bad husband. She's not a bad wife – just a distant one. I mean she's withholding her affection and I'm not sure that she's even aware that she's doing it."

Eric welcomed the hug because it was warm and caring and on this sad morning it was exactly what he needed. "If I didn't say it before, thank you… for being here… Jackie."

She pulled back and touched his cheek and replied with a smile, "We are friends Eric. That's what friends do."

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His mother's kitchen smelled like nutmeg, cinnamon and baked ham. Red couldn't stop remarking about the Town Car parked in the Forman driveway. "They rent those?" Eric grinned as his mother rolled her eyes and gave him a warm hug. "Merry Christmas honey….and I see you brought a guest!"

Kitty winked over-dramatically at Jackie who then gave her back a theater wink. "Thanks Mrs. Forman….I missed your cooking….how could I say no?" Jackie certainly did miss the festive atmosphere and the scents of fresh baked goods….she never really got that in California.

Red put his arm over Jackie's shoulders like she had never been away. He leaned down and whispered, "Did Gene Hackman really shave off his hair for that damn stupid Superman movie?" Subconsciously, Red rubbed his own scalp.

Jackie looked up and smiled sweetly, "Why Mr. Forman…do you really want me to give up movie secrets?"

He grinned, glad for the company, and replied, "Hell yeah!"

Jackie whispered, "Skull cap. But only for one scene at the end of the movie…..glad you enjoyed it." She gestured to the gift bags she was holding. "Can I put this under the tree?"

Kitty's eyes lit up, "You got us presents?"

Eric felt a little insecure - he didn't get anything for Jackie, but then he didn't know she was flying out either. Hell, she just showed up when she wanted! Somehow he had to covertly put his parent's gifts under the tree without his mom making a fuss.

Jackie pushed her way through the kitchen door and into the living room just like ten years had never passed. Everything was the same as she remembered and it was grounding. The Forman house was a foundation where the teenager grew to become a woman. She had the Forman's as a guide to serve what a solid marriage could be (without all the booze, but hey, they had Laurie for a daughter!)

She gently set Kitty's brightly packaged gift bag on the floor and put Red's larger box beside it. It was so nice to see the old furniture in the same places and the smells of Lemon Pledge and pine tree filling the air. This was so much better than a lonely day in her condo trying on new clothes with Mel!

"So what did you get them?" Eric's voice behind her was startling. She jumped and stepped back. "Well, I'm sure it's nowhere as nice as what you got."

Eric laughed dryly, "C'mon….you're a girl…..everything you do is better. I mean look – you got me a couch that I didn't even know I needed and now I need it."

Jackie smirked, "Well….you'll just have to wait until after dinner to find out!"

There was Red shouting from the dining room, "Get in here and eat before that damn Kettlehead shows up and devours everything!"

Eric translated, "He means Kelso."

Jackie smiled, "I figured. Do you think I can see him today?"

Eric's eyes widened. He remembered that Jackie did not know her ex-ex-boyfriend was now a pudgy balding dude these days. That would be very disconcerting! He nodded, 'Yeah. Sure….but there's something you need to know first…." Eric's warning was interrupted by Red Forman chewing on a turkey leg, "Are you eating or not?"

Jackie laughed, "I'll have what you're having!"

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Red appreciated the wallet his son had given him wrapped in Muppet Christmas paper but he went nuts over the leather football jacket signed by Green Packer Quarterbacks Anthony Dilweg and Don "The Majik Man" Majkowski. Jackie has told Red the story about meeting the Green Bay Packers President and CEO, Bob Harlan, and mentioned that she knew someone who was a BIG fan….hence, the autographed jacket. Red knew a good gift when he saw it and couldn't wait to go share the tidings with Bob Pinciotti.

Kitty loved the manicure set that her son had given her but she adored the 18 karat white gold Tennis Bracelet that circled her wrist. She counted all 52 sparkling diamonds three times and was still smiling. Jackie had picked out the most perfect gift and she hugged the small girl hard enough to make her squeal.

"Oh! This is the best Christmas ever!" Kitty had exclaimed. "Jackie, how long will you be staying?"

"I fly out tonight." She replied, "Eric even offered to drive me to the airport and drop off my rental car."

His head snapped around, "I did? Oh…yeah, I guess I did." He was too busy looking at the instructions for his new Mr. Coffee machine with his/her matching mugs. He wasn't a real big coffee drinker….Donna liked her caffeine. Eric exhaled, "Uh…..yeah, Jackie's renting the garage so she spent the night….saves her from all the photographers and stuff."

Jackie smiled brightly, "And your son is a perfect gentleman."

Kitty's eyes were glowing, "…and he's dressing so much better! Where's Donna?"

Jackie's glanced at Eric who looked like he just sat on a wet chair. His lips were moving but nothing came out.

"Working." Jackie quickly replied. "She's on some special assignment and couldn't be here so….. here … I … am! " the last of the comment was made in a singsong voice.

Red frowned, "That girl is always working on the weekends. Eric you should say something about that."

"I… should. You're right dad." He agreed so the conversation wouldn't turn into an inquisition – this was not the time to tell his parents that his wife wanted a d-i-v-o-r-c-e. He looked at his watch and slapped his hands on his thighs. "Hey Jackie…isn't it time we go pick up your luggage and get you to the airport? You don't want to miss your flight. Right?"

Raising a delicate arched brow, she answered, "Nope….don't want to miss my flight. Do I have time to say good bye to your parents and the Pinciottis'?"

Eric scrubbed his face. Of course she would want to see Bob. Bob was like a favorite old stepfather – if Bob learned she was at the Forman's and he wasn't invited….Eric was never going to hear the end of it! "Yeah, sure. I think Midge and Bob would enjoy the short visit." And the emphasis was on the word *short*

Jackie grinned and hugged Kitty and kissed Red on the cheek even though he acted like he didn't care for it. The Packer's jacket hugged him when he put an arm over the slim shoulders. "You just come over any time you want Jackie.

Kitty's bracelet glittered in the Christmas tree lights and she was still dazzled. "Oh honey….if you could get me a picture of you with Matlock? I just think that Andy Griffith has aged so well…."

That old geezer? Jackie tried not to laugh but instead said solemnly, "Yes Mrs. Forman….I'll do my very best."

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Eric and Fez dropped Jackie off on the tarmac behind the airport. A private shuttle would escort her to the plane since a reporter had discovered she was in Point Place and the paparazzi followed. Fez was driving Eric's car while Eric was pulling luggage out of the rental Town Car. Fez looked up at all the Jackie fans waving from windows as they were jumping and shouting – some holding signs "We love Jackie!"

Eric sighed as he pulled out her heavy cosmetic bag. "Don't you ever get tired of this?"

She stopped and leaned against the trunk of the car, "Look Eric…it's a job. It's something I'm good at and I'm not going to apologize. You could have just sent me on my way with a taxi cab but you didn't. Don't start complaining about my celebrity when you've already had a taste of it."

That reminded Eric of his afternoon spent with George Lucas. He smiled despite his irritation. "Okay, you're right. Why do you have to be right all the time?"

Jackie tapped him on the nose. "Maybe you need to think about that with your wife."

Fez was shouting, "Oooh! Jackie….before you go, give him a movie star kiss for your fans!"

Taking him by surprise, Jackie grabbed Eric by the hip and the back of his head and brushed her lips over his so lightly it felt like a kiss and to her fans up in the wings, it definitely looked like a kiss but for Eric it was a real kiss and he hadn't had a kiss in a long time. Those awesome two seconds allowed him to remember he was a guy and she was an attractive girl (who just happened to smell wonderful) and the warmth of her body thrilled him.

She turned and waved to her fans, Fez and Eric as she walked to the waiting shuttle.

Eric Forman just discovered he had a mini-crush on Jackie Burkhart.

He was a married man.

Crap.

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