Author Note: ….some questions are answered….are you paying attention?

Chapter 05 – Nice Doing Business With You

-o-

Kitty had been settled comfortably on the sofa and was in full command of the remote control. Pillows were stuffed behind her back to relieve some of the pressure and blankets were folded behind her knees. Red was grateful that the pain relievers were working full force. She had been given a sandwich and something to drink and he watched as his wife easily dozed off. Red signaled for Eric to join him in the kitchen.

Was he in trouble? Eric had barely been home one day, Donna was gone and his mom was crippled by the cheerleading midget. This was not how he planned his homecoming to go! He had watched Hyde boxing up his belongings and stowing them in the back of the El Camino and then left without a farewell but thenHyde didn't do "goodbyes" very well. If needed, he would be at Grooves.

Red sat his weary frame down on a kitchen chair. "Son, I have something to tell you and you probably aren't going to like it or understand it but it's for the best."

Frowning, Eric replied," So….I guess whatever it is….tell me."

Suddenly the glass doors slid open and a brunette whirlwind blew in the kitchen catching Red in a hug. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you Mr. Forman, I really appreciate this!"

Eric blanched. "You can't be serious."

Jackie smirked, "Bob arranged everything."

Eric retorted, "He sends his daughter to college and you here to torment me?"

Red disentangled the tiny arms from around his neck. "Jackie sit. Eric shut your yapper. I have something to say to both of you."

Jackie took a seat but not too close to her nemesis. "Go ahead Mr. Forman." She smiled prettily but glared at Eric.

Red sighed. "Listen, I know that neither of you have jobs. Yet. Jackie I am willing to let you stay in Laurie's room on the condition that you are here to help Kitty while she's injured."

Eric said a private "Yay no more bathroom visits" But to Jackie he replied, "Yeah, it's the least you can do since you almost killed her!"

Red glared. "Eric, you can stay here on the condition that you help Jackie take care of your mother. I will not charge either of you rent. But I do expect both of you to find part time jobs to cover the extra expenses."

Jackie swallowed hard, "Expenses?"

Eric bit his lip, "Excuse me?"

Red continued, "There will be four people living here, eating here, showering, blow drying their hair….do you understand what I'm saying? Kitty can't work at the hospital so I need the two of you to work out a solution while I get a part time job. I have extra expenses with her physical therapy, hospitals bills and the ambulance cost." His expression dared either of the two to argue with him.

Jackie felt like the square peg trying to fit in the round hole. She pulled all of her emotions in check and said, "Mr. Forman, I'm sorry that your wife tripped on me but last night was crazy and I don't know what happened but I'll be more than happy to do whatever it takes to get her well. Even if that means working with your….what's another word for dumbass?"

"Hey!" Eric pointed his index finger at the brunette. " Do you think it's going to be a pleasure trip working with you? My mom is hurting and she doesn't need some 98 pound devil making her feel worse." Eric could feel a twitch in his eyelid.

Red could see some fire here and this would distract Kitty from the pain – just as long as he could distance himself from the bickering that would ensue once this pair got working. "So Jackie, take your belongings upstairs and get settled then come on down and we will all put our heads together and make something for dinner."

Jackie paused, "Wait…what about Steven? Can't he cook?"

Red shook his head, "Nope. We had a talk while I was waiting for Kitty. Steven's decided to move in the back room at the record store. He's thinking about getting an apartment. He's doing the responsible thing unlike the two of you."

Eric thought, "So much for that comment …I'll take good care of the house Mrs. Forman." The dumbass!

For a nanosecond, Jackie briefly considered asking Steven if she could stay with him, but Grooves did not have a shower and the office barely had room for one person.

No. This was her chance to prove to Fez and the world that she could be the dependable one. She could be her own woman just like Donna went on and on about without sounding like a feminist!

"I'll get my things Mr. Forman." She stood up and held out her hand to Eric. "It will be nice doing business with you."

Eric shook her small hand but didn't know what to make of that comment and could only watch as she left the kitchen and out to her car. Red shrugged and replied, "Works for me!"

-o-

As the last family turned away, Tatiana headed back to her Airstream to make preparations for the New Year's Eve….enchantment. She spent some time making the room soft and comfortable and ready for her reading. It was fifteen minutes until the next year and it was important that she prepared her trailer for scrying. Soft fat candles of vanilla scented tallow were placed at each corner of the scarf covered table. She darkened the lights and placed her Crystal Ball gently into the center of the table.

Tatiana crossed her legs and placed the backs of her hands to rest on her thighs. She kept her spine straight to ground the energy that would course through her body during the ceremony. After meditating quietly for a few minutes, she gently picked up the ball with her hands and could feel the slight pulsation that connected her with the crystal.

She cleared her mind and remembered the last time she saw the king. Tatiana was only 16 years old when her parents had made the arrangements for them to be wed. He was older and wise and so handsome. Many called him strange but they did not know he was part Gypsy.

Suddenly impressions of souls filled the glass ball – she did not know these people but they were surrounding the king. Tatiana focused harder and got a sense of the thoughts being sent out to the universe.

The most vibrant soul was what the Tarot cards would call The Star. This was a woman who was in between stages in her life – she was in the middle of a self-imposed crisis and Tatiana couldn't help her. The alternate Tarot card impression was The Sun. This was a female who was filled with clarity and at the same time the reverse of the card was showing loneliness and a clouded future.

Tatiana caressed the ball and saw a restless soul…The Hanged Man. Oh dear! She looked for clues in this man's future and saw that he needed to sacrifice to rise to a higher level. This man was clearly an underachiever. Still she rolled the ball in her hands and found one that made her smile: The Hierophant. This soul was always seeking answers to questions he didn't understand but he had a good heart.

Gently holding the ball with both hands, Tatiana moved the orb around the table in a clockwise direction and brought it back. The impression that jumped out forefront was the Tarot card for Temperance. This young man was strong but didn't realize it and he easily frustrated because his life was filled with conflict. She felt a tug of sympathy for this one.

Swimming lazily through the souls was The Chariot – this impression was also conflicted but that was his nature and he learned from his failures the hard way. The Chariot was often unsuccessful but his character charmed many and his life seemed easy.

Tatiana wiped the smudges from her ball with a velvet pad and a single impression rose forefront and she nearly dropped the crystal ball. She gasped loudly. The king! He was again The Wheel of Fortune card. Only this time she could see that he was in the beginning of a new change of fortune amidst some unexpected events. She could even see a cloudy image of his face – it was older and the eyes were kinder and she was so hopeful. This could finally be the event her parents had been waiting for! She lightly pressed her cheek to the image before it floated away.

Before snuffing the candles, Tatiana reached for her cards and laid out the impressions on the table: The Sun, The Star, Temperance, The Hanged Man, The Hierophant and she smiled before laying down the Chariot into a circle. In the center of the circle she laid the Wheel of Fortune. From outside the Airstream she heard the countdown for the New Year and she murmured a chant.

Hail fair Moon rising high

Hear my wishes hear my sigh

The King has come to bring us light,

The winter dies and all is bright,

Those restless hearts please cast in good stead

A relaxing sleep they wake not in their bed

Craft this spell and weave it higher

Weave it now into my fire

Blessed be

As the Gypsy's chant ended, the candles at each corner of the table flamed so bright it was visible beyond the sapphire curtains at her window. With a flick of her wrist and wiggle of her fingertips, the Tarot cards on the table took flight and drifted, floated and landed on the floor.

Tatiana fell back against the soft cushions thoroughly exhausted.

T7S

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