Author Note: Warning this chapter leads to light smut in chapter 20 (love your comments DFT!)
Chapter 19 – Kill Me Now – Really!
Jackie fell asleep with Eric's arm around her shoulders. If Heaven had a small spot on earth, Eric was in it right now. His favorite movie was playing, he was surrounded by his best friends and Jackie was back. Life just didn't get much better than that. When the movie credits started to play, Kelso turned on the living room lights.
He stretched dramatically, "And that is Cinema Kelso – hey wake up Jackie, Brooke and I got news."
Eric nudged her shoulder, "Hey, Kelso's got some news."
"Wha – what?" she yawned and rubbed her eyes. Brooke came out of the kitchen and slid an arm around Michael's waist. "You guys are going to be so jealous! I got a new job, an awesome job and you guys are going to be so jealous!"
"Tell us you sonofabitch." Fez said annoyed. "I want to be jealous already."
Kelso smiled. "I did so good with the Kelso the Klown that I got hired at a private security firm to watch animals…."
Everyone was waiting for the punch line. He looked at them and flabbergasted added, "I work for the Kenosha Zoo! I get to protect the animals and looks for crooks."
Brooke picked up for him. "It's the perfect job, he works days and gets evening off and we found a rental house not too far from where you guys live!"
Kelso was jumping up and down, "Now we can hang together more often! "
Fez clapped. "Oh, think of the Zoo candy - and the monkeys. Can I play with the monkeys Kelso?"
He pretended to think about it, "Maybe… after I do! Oh, and they fling poo too! Isn't that an awesome job?"
Eric smiled, "Congratulations Kelso, you finally your perfect job." Jackie pushed herself off the couch and gave Michael a hug. "You are a natural with animals. I'm proud of you." She hugged Brooke, "I have a present for you in my car." She whispered.
Rhonda stood up, "I'm going to freshen up." She gave Kelso a hug. "Congratulations Michael."
Jackie turned to Brooke. "When do you guys move? I can get a moving van for you."
Brooke smiled. "We're already starting to pack, but we move in at the first of the month. If you want to come pack, we'll make a party out of it. So…. let's go get my present!"
*
With the girls gone, Kelso turned to Eric. "Dude, Fez and I have noticed that you've got a crush on Jackie. Is there something you want to tell us?"
Eric smiled. "I like her. I mean I always thought she was the devil but since I came back, she's pretty cool. She's helping me get back into dating again."
Fez shook his head. "But Donna was the love of your life. What happened?"
"We were like Luke and Leia. Donna and I spent so much time growing up together it was almost like we were brother and sister and didn't know it. The Force was too strong." Eric said sadly.
Kelso laughed, "No, Donna was way out of our class my friend. She was one of those feminists that want to be President of something. She was bossier than Jackie and she could kick my ass too! She was a strong girl. Eric should have married a girly girl."
Fez pointed a finger in the air. "Like Jackie!"
"So is Donna back on the market?" Kelso asked. Eric should have been outraged at the question about his ex-wife but surprisingly he wasn't. How weird is that? "I guess she is. I haven't spoken to her since the divorce but Bob talks to my folks once in a while. I hear she's doing good."
Fez nudged Eric with his shoulder, "So…do you want to kiss and make up?" Eric didn't realize Fez was teasing. "What? No! I like my life now and Donna would never approve of Karaoke Nights or lady wrestling. She had things she liked to do and that was about it."
Kelso laughed. "Yeah, she could be boring sometimes!" Rhonda came out of the bathroom. "Who are you talking about?"
"Eric's ex-wife … not you my sweet lovely piece of cake." Fez cooed. Rhonda grabbed Fez's elbow. "Let's go, Eric can ride with Jackie."
Fez waved his good byes and headed out the door to say farewell to the ladies. Kelso reached out and frogged Eric on the shoulder. "Okay, now what's really going on between you and Jackie?"
"Ow! Man you bruise! Well, if you want to know, there's nothing. Not for lack of me trying. She wants to be my friend and I'd like to step it up if you know what I mean."
Kelso smiled. "Good answer. At least you'd treat her better than Hyde. I never knew why she let him treat her like crap. You're a good guy Eric, but if you hurt her..."
"Brooke will kick my ass. Yeah, I've had the lecture." Eric laughed. Both men paused when they heard Fez squeal with delight. "Oh, Jackie brought out the presents."
*
Fez was holding a miniature Statue of Liberty made of sugar in the palm of his hand. "This is so beautiful I can not eat it." He declared. In his other hand was a brown sugar bride and groom cake topper. He smiled. "This will be dessert."
Jackie was leaning against the trunk when Kelso and Eric came out. "Michael, I got you and Eric a gift also."
Brooke held out her arm. "Michael, look…. a Tiffany bracelet - from Tiffany's!"
Michael tore off the wrapping off the large box. "Hey! Rockem Sockem Robots. I am SO playing this with Betsy!'
Jackie handed a smaller box to Eric. He smiled, "You didn't have to get me anything." Still, he ripped the paper to open the box. Inside the small box was a gleaming silver wristwatch with a pristine crystal face. He lifted it out of the packaging and knew by the weight of it that it wasn't by any means some cheap watch. He turned it over and saw that Jackie had inscribed: Friends
He looked up to see Jackie was waiting for his approval. "It's great. How did you know I needed a new watch?" She reached out and ran a finger over the frayed leather band currently surrounding his wrist.
She turned to Rhonda. "I didn't forget you either." Jackie pulled two beautifully soft colored cashmere scarves from a gift bag. "You'll love them in the winter."
Rhonda smiled. "Thank you so much!"
Jackie pulled out another large bag. "These are some things for Betsy when she gets home." Kelso tried to peek in the bag but Brooke took it away. "We'll see you guys after we get the keys to our new place!"
Fez shouted his goodbyes and rushed Rhonda into his Fiat. "There goes my ride." Eric said bumping Jackie with his shoulder. She rolled her tired eyes. "Like you really want to drive back with a sugar eating Fez…will you drive my car for me please?"
She handed him the keys and leaned into his chest. Brooke and Kelso had turned off the porch light and locked up for the night. Eric wrapped his arms around the small girl and rested his chin on her scented hair. "I would be happy to drive your car."
*
The drive back to Kenosha was quick. Jackie had fallen back asleep once they got on the freeway. Fez's car was missing so Eric assumed he was spending the night at Rhonda's. He parked next to the Vista Cruiser and shut off the engine.
"Jackie, we're here. Let's get you upstairs and you can unpack tomorrow." Eric held the car door open while she stepped out. "How did we get here so fast?"
Eric wrapped an arm around her waist as they climbed the flight of stairs. "You slept through it Missy."
She smiled and watched as he unlocked door. Awkward moment – go in or step out? Jackie turned, "Aren't you coming in?" Question answered – affirmative! Eric set her keys in a tray by the door and sat on the arm of the sofa.
She slid out of her shoes and walked over to the couch. It was just the two of them and Eric had this déjà vu moment of being petrified by the thought of being alone with her in this apartment. She touched his cheek, "What are you thinking about?"
He blinked, "Er – I was just remembering the first time we were alone here and I was afraid of you." He said honestly.
She smiled. "So are you still afraid of me now?" She was weaving her fingers through his hair and lightly scratching his scalp – it felt good.
"Maybe just a little." He replied. "But… not as much as before."
"If I asked for a favor would you say yes without any questions?"
"See – that right there is what scares me about you."
She chuckled and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I took this trip because I wanted to get away from all those people. The party, the crews the vendors, God I was surround by people all the time and I felt suffocated. But when I was alone – even in the most gorgeous places in the world, I was lonely. Because I missed my friends - I missed you. I had no one to share stuff with or tell about the extraordinary things I saw or did."
Eric held her apart. "Me too - It's almost like you're the only one that gets me sometimes!"
Jackie smiled. "So my favor is…just sleep with me tonight? Before your mind goes there, no sex, I just don't want to be alone tonight."
"I realize you said no questions, but can I at least kiss you good night?"
"Always." She said leaning into him. Eric cradled the back of her head in his hands and breathed in her scent, he missed that. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his and he tried not to lose his mind. He missed this too – soft lips and satiny skin. She broke the kiss and pressed her forehead to his. "Let me get my nightclothes on and wash my face."
She kissed him again. "The room on the left is mine." She kissed him one last time and turned for the bathroom. Eric stood there for a minute. Another night of sleeping and no sex with Jackie was far better than ten dances with Candie!
He turned off lights and went into the kitchen to rinse his mouth out with some water and entered the never before realm of Jackie's bedroom. He was expecting pink streamers and unicorns and shelves of stuffed animals but was pleasantly surprised to see a large bed with soft pillows and muted colors – not Jackie-like at all, but then it was the new Jackie he was learning about.
He stripped down to his boxers and slid in between the sheets. Damn, this bed made his twin size feel like a camp bed! Her pillows were soft and the blankets smelled fresh. Just a short time later, Jackie entered the room with a freshly washed face wearing a tank top and tap panties.
Eric gulped, how could those be called nightclothes? She slapped at the wall switch and he could feel her slide into the sheets next to him. Okay, kill me now…I know she's not wearing a bra! She fluffed her pillow and scooted over until her back rested at against his chest. His arm fell naturally over her tiny waist and he could hear her sigh happily.
Eric could only lay there with a nearly naked Jackie Burkhart touching every part of the front of his body. This was going to take more self control that Eric Forman had ever had to use! The warm skin on the back of her thighs was like a ribbon of silk and the back of her knees were softer than he wanted to think about.
She reached over and grabbed his hand and pulled it up to rest against her heart and Eric nearly lost it. "Good night Eric." She said drowsily. If having one's hand trapped between two soft orbs sounded like a wonderful thing, it could also be a mini version of hell. He dare not move his fingers and she hadn't let go of his hand. Every time she rolled her hips, he could feel it in his groin. Kill me now – Really!
Eric started thinking about inventory ledgers and the names of the Green Bay Packers and eventually counting sheep must have worked because he finally slipped into the realms of sleep.
*
The sunlight filtered through the curtains as the late May morning started to dawn. Sometime during the night Eric must have rocked and Jackie must have rolled because now they were facing each other and their arms and legs were tangled together. Not that Eric minded of course because now he could see directly into and through the thin fabric of Jackie's tank top.
He decided that would be a nice picture to wake up to all the time but the minute she caught him looking; he would be the one shouting, "Ow, my eye!" His gaze skimmed her throat and up to her face where she was looking at him with wide open eyes.
"What!" he said awkwardly.
She smiled and said nothing which unnerved him even more. "I swear, I wasn't looking – I mean they're right there – I can't help but look."
"Eric, I'm a girl - of course I have boobs. Get over it. How long have you been looking anyways?"
His face turned a slight shade of pink. "I just woke up, I swear."
Jackie tugged his hair. "Liar." She smiled and rolled on her back pulling her legs out of the limb sandwich they had created. "I haven't slept that good in a long time!"
Eric rolled on his back and adjusted the pillow under his head. "You know if you ever want to donate this mattress…there's an apartment down the hall that would take it in a minute."
Jackie snorted. 'You wish Forman. This is my bed and I'm not giving it up. I've sat on your mattress and I don't know how you stand it."
Eric grinned, "Yeah, now that I've slept in a real bed, I may just go shopping….what with my new raise and everything."
Jackie looked over at him. "Seriously, you got a raise? How great for you! Congratulations!' She squeezed his hand. "Really, you earned it. That's a big hotel to manage." Jackie pushed herself into a sitting position and leaned back against the headboard.
Eric made the mistake of looking up and caught a nice view of the underside of her chest. "Say, Jackie can you pull the sheet up or something? I'm a guy and you know, I'm gonna look."
She blushed. "Sorry but I like to sleep comfortable." Eric pushed his pillows against the headboard and sat up as well. "Hey, I'm not complaining. I'm just reminding you."
"And I'm a girl that can make you very uncomfortable." She had a mischievous glint in her eyes. He pointed at her and said, '"See – that right there you're scaring me again!"
*