Jackie

Four years later…

Fez is still…wherever he's from. He called Michael once while Eric and I were visiting, so I got to speak with him. His great plan to rule with an iron fist is going quite well, though his only subjects so far are sheep. He does seem to be reasonably happy and recovering from his… experiences with Caroline.

Michael just moved back in with Brooke and Betsy. Apparently, the skanks are getting wise to him, and, unfortunately, the men Brooke has tried to date have seen her being a mom as a turn-off. Brooke seems to be adjusting-she said it's like having two kids. I can certainly understand, I dated the idiot after all. And while they were shocked at first, they're okay with us as a couple. She's a librarian at one of the universities in Chicago, and he's trying to be a cop again. Sooo glad I don't live in Chicago. Well, I take that back a little, Brooke's been a good friend these past few years, filling the hole Donna left when she befriended…Samantha. Betsy's almost nine now. I can't believe it. Eric and I have babysat some, and she, Brooke, and I have done girly things together. It's been nice.

From what I hear from Kitty who heard it from Bob, Donna and Randy are still in New York City, and she just got a promotion at the magazine where she works. He was in construction for a while, but he runs a music store there now, not unlike Grooves. I haven't heard from them. It's sad, losing a friend like that, but Donna made her choice. And (Eric) and I have made mine.

Kitty also hears from Mr. Barnett on occasion. Steven and Samantha are still mad at the Formans, but there's nothing to be done. He's still scouting bands, and I don't care what she's doing, probably still dancing. Maybe she should meet Laurie. They'd certainly get along! Fortunately, Laurie's still in Canada.

Red is enjoying the retirement he basically bought from Muffler Masters. When he's not tinkering around the garage, he's chasing various animals away from the garden he started. Mrs. Forman thought it would be a good way for him to get some exercise. She's semi-retired now-she works at the hospital when there are too many nurses out sick or whatever.

Aside from a few postcards addressed to the Formans', no one's heard from my parents sadly, but Formans and Sigurdsons have been very nice and welcoming since that incident four years ago when Red and Kitty caught us. Not our best day, but we survived.

Eric and I both received our degrees. He's a tenth grade history teacher and all his students love him. My meteorology degree allowed me to work at one of the Kenosha TV stations when one of their meteorologists, who looked as though he'd been there since television started, suddenly decided to retire one day. It's been fun, and the greater Kenosha area gets to see me Jackie Burkhart every day!

Eric and I are still together, though we had to move closer to Kenosha. I was right, we just took things slow, and we've been happy, but today changed things…

But I managed to get Christmas off this year, at least for the noon broadcast. Eric and I were at the Formans' house again. It was a smaller crowd this year-just his parents, Bea, Paula, and us. The six of us had lunch and were sitting in the Living Room.

"Who wants to pass out presents?" asked Kitty.

"I guess I'll be Santa," said Eric.

"Not unless you gain a hundred pounds," I joked.

"If I'm Santa, are you Mrs. Claus or an elf?" Eric whispered.

"What do you think?"I replied.

"Well, would be thematically correct, but she's too old…"

"Go on."

"You in a tight elf uniform…hmm, that works." Eric replied before I gently punched him on the shoulder.

"Will you two just pass out the damn presents?" grumpily asked Red.

"Red…it's Christmas…" nagged Mom.

"Okay, Dad," said Eric, who got up from the couch, put on a Santa hat, and started passing out presents.

When he was done, Kitty asked,"Didn't you get each other presents?"

Eric and I shared a knowing smile.

"My present for Jackie's in the car."

"Mine is too, " I said. Besides, I wanted to give him his present in private. Well, the non-physical one too.

I got up from the couch, and we left for the Driveway. As we left the room, I heard Grandma Bea ask, "Has she gained weight?" So she noticed. I wonder if anyone else has?

Eric had finally gotten a new car after he graduated. A nice foreign model (according to him), he keeps bragging about how many miles per gallon it gets. Red's…not exactly as enthusiastic.

We got to the trunk of the car, but Eric said, "Actually, my present for you isn't in the trunk, it's in my pants." Later on, I realized that I should have noticed the four people at the kitchen door.

"You perv," I smiled.

Eric looked flustered, "Well, that too, maybe later, but it's actually in my pocket."

"Well, my present IS in the trunk, so will you…"

"Yeah, sure," Eric said before he opened the trunk.

I got a small box out of the trunk and closed it. "Do you want to go first?" I asked, betting that he couldn't top my present.

"If that's what you want," Eric replied.

I certainly trained him well over the years!

He got down on one knee and pulled a small box out of his pants pocket. He opened it to reveal a very beautiful engagement ring. It was a beautiful ring-a larger diamond than in the ring he'd bought for Donna ten years ago that was in a platinum band in an older type style I'd never seen before. It was perfect!

"Jackie, you've been my friend, my best friend, really, my lover, and everything else I could want. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Eric asked earnestly.

We hadn't discussed it before…he really surprised me! We each knew the other's views on relationships, so I was hoping he'd propose someday. I thought back to everything we'd been through together-from him supporting my breakup from Michael to being supportive during and after my relationship with Steven to everything that had happened while we've been living together and dating. And I knew the only answer I could give him…

"Yes! Yes!" I screamed as we hugged and started kissing after he placed the ring on my finger. But we were interrupted by his family, particularly by a fifty-something blonde missile named Kitty.

"Let me see the ring!" she almost screamed. After she saw it, she said, "Good job, honey."

To Eric, Red said, "Don't screw up, dumbass," and then to me, he said, "Welcome to the family, Jackie." Red and Kitty then went back in. Paula and Bea were waiting in the kitchen because of the cold.

To all of them, I shouted, "We'll be inside in a minute."

To Eric I whispered , "I need to give you your present."

"We can't do that in public," he joked.

With a smile at his goofiness, "Here's your present," as I handed him the box.

He opened it to find a small onesie with the phrase "Jedi in Training" printed on it.

Eric started, "Well, it's a little small for me, and I would say I'm already a…" and then he finally started using his brain. "Wait…you mean…Are we?" he asked with hope slowly dawning in his eyes.

I nodded as we came closer and started kissing.

It's been a long ten years, and they were certainly eventful, but all in all, I know who my real friends are and have a family and a fiance who actually loves me, so I think everything worked out.

The End

AN: Did anyone get the hints I left about Fez's homeland? I'm still working on Building a New Life, which is going to be my main focus going forward. It's currently at around 23000 words, but it's nowhere near done. I also have some ideas for additional one-shots in its universe as well.