Chapter 16 – Necessary Paperwork

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Thursday, after the work day was over; Eric drove to Howard Atkinson's office with his legal papers in hand. His left finger had a small light skinned circle around it where it once held a promise - a promise that was now broken. Strangely enough, Eric didn't feel as heartbroken about it as he thought he should have. Is it possible that his subconscious knew all along and just now his brain was catching up?

Howard's instructions were simple. Basically, sign here, here, initial here, full name here and we are done. Eric wrote a check for the required legal fees and asked how long the proceeding would take and would he have to go to court or not.

"You….as the respondent, no you wouldn't. Wisconsin is a no-fault state. Your paperwork will go through and there is a 120 day waiting period. Usually, but not always, the divorcing couple end up reconciling….what are your thoughts about that?"

Eric took a deep breath and wondered how it would feel to wake up next to Donna again. How would it be to eat another TV dinner while complaining about the budget…." Eric didn't feel any 'longings' to go back to that old life and replied, "Nope. Not a chance."

As Eric drove back to his Jackie-littered house, he determined that May 16th would be the date his freedom began. He could live his life as he wanted – just as Donna wanted for herself. Eric even decided to seek out a counselor to help him figure out why he felt all the guilt of this doomed marriage. It was like knowing that the obstacles could be gone.

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Ash rained down from the darkened skies. Many fires had been left unattended as the bullet riddled buildings were emptied. This was not the Baku that Donna had expected to see when they met up with Henrik. Martial law had been declared. It seemed like Anna was relishing the cat and mouse game they played with the grounded Military.

Fences and watchtowers had been tumbled. Destruction was evident everywhere and there were rumors of over 25,000 Soviet troops on the way to Azerbaijani. Donna and Henrik were huddled in a bunker as a large truck lumbered by; powerful spotlights hitting the ground and buildings above them.

Henrik's command of the English language was dismal at best but he warned them about being American's in this communist country. Donna swiped more mud through her shortened hair. She wasn't vain but wanted to cry.

Snip. Snip. Snip. Donna's pretty blonde locks fell to the floor of the train's pitiful excuse for a bathroom. Anna had used dirt from the bottoms of their shoes to tint the blonde hair. She ran a black felt marker through the strands to darken the shades. There was no mirror, only a stainless steel plate that gave Donna a clue of what she looked like now. Anna smiled at her handiwork and kissed her accomplice. "You are still beautiful to me."

But now, hiding from the locals, weary from walking the last 15 miles in ill-fitting boots on a rutty broken road – Donna just wanted to go back, blisters and all.

Back to her boring life.

Go back to her bed, beg for her sad job and hope for something better.

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Friday after the work day was over, Eric drove straight home and decided that first he would tell Jackie that he signed the papers and then second he would tell his parents of his decision, comforted to know that he wouldn't be declared a dumbass.

He dialed a now familiar number.. A raspy yet sultry voice answered, "Hello…this is Mel….if you know which honey you're calling for….leave your name and number and….one of us will get back to you."

Eric replied, "Mel….this is Eric. I wanted to give Jackie an update when she gets home. Can you ask her to call me?"

Suddenly, there was a banging noise, a hollered, "Hang on!" and a rapping sound before Mel came on the line. "Did you put on your big boy pants and do it?"

Eric had to laugh. Melanie was speaking and it just sounded weird when the feminine voice talked. "Yes. I signed the papers and in May I'll be a free man."

The next voice was the masculine Mel, "Well dude, it's about damn time. You were letting your ex control your life and you still have so much left to live. Start being proactive, not reactive – do what you want. Now that you've signed the papers what is your plan for the future?"

Eric hadn't really thought that far ahead and he really didn't expect himself to be opening up and discussing his life with Mel Dupree but it was good. Eric confessed that he still had a passion for collecting action figures and a love of Star Wars and felt heartened when Mel didn't ridicule for the pastime.

"Hey, I collect baseball cards. You are gonna crap your pants when I tell you what I paid for an autographed 1961 Topps Hank Aaron card and it wasn't even in mint condition!"

In Wisconsin, Eric smiled. Mel really did get him. This was two dudes sharing a hobby that women just didn't understand. "So, what happens next?"

In California, Mel smiled, "I would think that this collection of yours could be a new vocation. Look, Star Wars was a great movie and there are tons of memorabilia out there. Trade shows. Fan clubs. If you have some hard to get collectibles you could resell them to people like us. Start a business. Go to some comic book conventions – scout out your potential customers. Or…"

Eric was on the edge of his seat, "Or what?"

"Go back to school, get a degree and try for a desk job."

Eric frowned. Back when he was 18 and hopeful, that sounded like the perfect thing to do. Go to Madison….with Donna…..graduate…..with Donna….get married….to Donna and have a family. Now it sounded like a bad dream. "Mel, you have some good advice. I'm gonna think on this and check some stuff out."

Mel replied, "Good. When Jackie gets back from Seattle, I'll give her your message."

Eric hung up the phone and sat back on his white leather sofa. This was a new year. He had a new life ahead of him. Every day forward was new and it was his to do as he wanted. Crossing his arms behind his head, Eric looked at the kitchen and decided that he would never again eat a TV dinner. Ever.

Eric Forman was going to take a cooking class. Really?

Eric Forman was going to start hanging out at the library researching. What was that Jackie had said? "….. In order to play a role, sometimes I have to get into a characters mind…if you will….see things from their perspective…" That's what he had to do, get into the minds of what younger fans wanted. Eric knew there was a market out there for Star Wars and his Joes were still popular. He could expand and use the garage for inventory just like Jackie was doing.

Now he needed to find out what paperwork was necessary for getting a sellers license.

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Soviet tanks rumbled through the streets, shaking the ground. Soldiers were beating innocent peaceful protesters. Bloodied bodies were lying exposed in the streets. Women hunched over their dead husbands and children, sobbing with agonizing grief. Donna wasn't even aware that she was crying as she was pushed from one crowd to another.

In the melee that followed the mass protestation, Donna's backpack and passport had been stolen. Anna was caught up in the crowd of citizens that were throwing rocks and homemade weapons at the soldiers. The Wisconsin pair was separated. Somewhere within a span of ten minutes, Donna was lost in a Baku alley and bleeding from broken glass meant for the soldiers. She wanted to shout, "I'm one of the good guys!"

Something hard shoved her from behind and Donna felt a sharp pain strike her head. All she remembered was falling to the ground under trampling feet.

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Jackie was sitting with her accountant who was going over his ledger of her expenses. The occasional "…hmmmm…..: followed by an "aha….." and was often punctuated with an "I can't believe you….yeah, I can…never mind." She sat across the desk and filed her nails as the accountant punched numbers into the adding machine until he was happy.

Looking up he smiled, "Yes, your net worth has grown and now is a serious time to decide what to do with future incomes. I say this because in Hollywood, there comes a time when every actor and actress goes through a….lull."

Jackie knew exactly what Norm Ashworth was talking about. Women started losing their looks….offers for good movie roles went to younger actresses.

She smiled, "I understand what you are saying and I have a plan." This time Norm looked surprised. It wasn't often that the Hollywood bimbos actually thought about their futures. Not that Ms. Burkhart was a bimbo by any means but he was still surprised. "Can I ask what your plan is?"

Jackie smiled. "I want to invest in a mall."

Norm sat back in his chair and pursed his lips. "You mean a shop in a mall."

Jackie shook her head, "No, I mean I want to invest in a shopping mall and I have a co-investor. What do I need to do to make that happen?" The accountant decided at that moment that whatever Ms. Burkhart was planning, he was also going to invest in. This little lady rarely failed and that was refreshing. "Miss Burkhart….are you interested in shareholders?"

Jackie beamed. "I might. Let me know what I have to sign and we can all be rich!"

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Eric and Hyde spent the weekend walking Kelso around the Point Place football field track. They walked him up and down the bleachers until they were winded and Kelso was dripping in sweat and begging for a break. Every time Kelso started to falter, Betsy's name was brought in as an incentive.

Fez stopped by with some water and fruit cups. Despite the cold winter weather, burning calories could make a fellow warm. Fez seemed more excited than usual. "I have a surprise!"

Hyde raised an eyebrow, "I figured something was going on with you…you're acting more….girly than Kelso." Eric took a swallow of water and wiped his brow. "What is the surprise?"

Fez was grinning. "I told Jackie that we were jealous because Eric got to go to the Land of Mouses….and…..she's sending all of us to Orlando Florida on vacation!"

Hyde frowned, "I don't want to go to freaking Disneyland! What do you think I am…some kid? I have a business to run. Give my ticket to Betsy."

Kelso's mouth fell open. "Gawd…..she would love that!" he nearly shrieked his happiness. Him and his little girl on….. Thunder Mountain!"

Eric cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Dude, I don't want to be the bearer of bad news….but….you're gonna need to lose like 50 more pounds to fit on the airplane. Even first class doesn't have seats as wide as….your pants."

Kelso looked at his abundant lap and sighed. "I know you're right….but…losing weight is hard work! I'm hungry all the time."

Hyde rolled his eyes, "Man, I know somewhere in that pudgy puss of yours is the vain Kelso we all love and remember. Get there! Think of girls again. Stop thinking of those damn donuts. Think about your daughter and not the stroke you're gonna have if you don't lose that fat."

Fez nodded and added, "Even Big Rhonda lost weight. She is gorgeous now but sadly won't go out with me."

Eric looked over at Fez's sad face, "Why not?"

Fez replied," She said I was too needy. Am I needy? I have my needs but what man doesn't, I ask you! "

Kelso tried to think of the last time he dated a girl and couldn't remember. That was terrible! Being fat affected his memory! Michael Kelso had a buttload of bitchin' memories and he wasn't gonna lose them. Just the fat!

He slapped his palms on his thighs, winced a little as it hurt, and declared, "I WILL GO TO DISNEYLAND!

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While her friends in Wisconsin were making plans for the future, Donna was laying on a threadbare cot in some room of the American Embassy in Baku. No one had found Anna and Donna's missing backpack was probably history. The telephone towers had been toppled in the protest and communications outside of the Embassy were non-existent.

She had once dared to peer out the windows and was only saddened to see emergency workers removing sheet covered bodies from the streets. Donna had learned that Defense Minister Yazov decided to use military law to stop the violence and stop the Azerbaijani independence movement.

The whispers in the halls indicated that over 800 people had been injured, 130 plus Azerbaijani civilians had died and five persons were still missing.

Anna Cantana was still missing.

The ambassador's secretary had brought Donna the documents she needed to complete to get a replacement passport. Donna tried not to cry as she filled out the forms but as she started to write down her address, Donna realized she had no home to go to.

Anna was gone.

The story was gone.

A/N: The author blames wiki and the internet for any errors in the Azerbaijani conflict. The story is an arc for Donna/Anna and not meant to educate the general public. Thank you. :D