AN: This story is coming to a close, a new one is working in my head right now, but my hope was to finish this before the weekend. Thank you all for the reviews. I hope you enjoyed.

Epilogue

There is always angst to stand before we get to our happily everafters, dragons to slay, and journeys to make, fights to be fought. We were never told that it was ever an easy life. If anything those that might seem to have an easy life on the outside had their own problems that they tried to hide. Jackie had been a prime example of this. But now they were in their happily everafter. Steven and Jackie had just celebrated 2 years of marriage and was expecting their 2nd child, this one they found out was a girl. He was now running three stores, but had managers that he trusted at each and worked mostly from home. Randy was managing the one in Madison while Todd had moved to Kenosha and managed that one. Jackie still worked alongside him keeping up with the books and crunching numbers and had been learning the new Apple computer that WB had got them to help with the business. What would have been the den on the first floor of their house was now an office. The basement now was laundry area and a play room for Reggie. This pregnancy was going by a lot smoother and they expected no issues this time around.

Eric made a huge chunk of change with his prints from Africa, he had finally moved out. That summer after he got back he ran into Leslie Cannon that had been on the cheerleading team with Jackie. She had grown up herself, and Eric now had grown in confidence could actually talk to her unlike his teen years. She was actually running a shop in Point Place down from Red's muffler shop. She had felt bad that Red had sold his Corvette and couldn't believe how she drove it, even after dating and eventually marrying Eric they never told anyone else that she had drove it. The only other people that Eric knew for sure about it was Steven, Fez and Jackie. They had gotten married back a few months ago and did a honeymoon across country. The Vista Cruiser had finally been put to rest and Eric was able to buy himself a new reliable car. He was still taking pictures, he traveled some but home would always be Point Place. He was now not just taking pictures of landscapes but was being called to do family pictures as well as weddings. He had found his passion and was loving being able to make a living with it. He had his own house, which Steven as glad to finally move the dark room out of his house as his son was getting more mobile. Leo was actually working more with him and seemed to be more coherent over the past year or so. Leo had been the one to take the pictures at Leslie and Eric's wedding.

Fez and Laurie ended up buying Bob's old house when the new owner got transferred out of state. Years ago they would think it was brave of Fez to move next to the man that never called him by his right name, or at least what his friends called him and he actually got it legally changed to. Laurie was a different person that they all knew when they were in high school. While Fez now ran the salon he started out as a shampoo boy in, Laurie was the manager to the Grooves in Point Place. The day she got her 2 year sobriety chip all her friends and family was there to cheer her on. Kitty of course had to throw a party in her daughter's honor, the year before they had almost lost their daughter, Red was even happy to throw this party. During that party they announced that Laurie was pregnant. Laurie and Fez had just returned from visiting his family in his homeland, it was a honeymoon of sorts for the couple that had gotten married for reasons other than love but through it all they found love. Laurie and Jackie had become very close friends over the years now, building back what had started before the cheating had been uncovered. Kitty was over the moon that more grandbabies were coming.

Michael had finally won Brook's heart and they had gotten married the fall of 1980. Brook at first wanted a big wedding with all her close friends as bridesmaids, but then realized that they had all slept with Michael. It had even come out that Michael and Donna had a quick fling that summer in California. She realized that with already living together and Betsey being almost two that they just ended up with their friends going to the justice of the peace. Michael had finally grown up and was taking his job a cop seriously and Brook was working at the library. They talked about having another baby but wasn't there yet.

Donna did her best to keep in touch with everyone back in Point Place, she wasn't sure where her home was anymore. She lived with her mom while in school, but when school was out she would visit Point Place or her dad in Florida. She was writing and trying to find herself. She wasn't sure if she would ever find love. She was there for when Laurie got her 1 year chip, and she had been back for Reggie's 1st birthday, but she wasn't there for the weddings of Michael and Brook or Eric and Leslie. Weddings just was a reminder of what she didn't have. She had spent a few weeks in New York over the last summer and her dad wanted to have her tour Europe as a graduation present, with the credits she had taken in community college, she was finishing up college after only 2 years at Berkley, but then when you don't have many friends or a boyfriend and didn't live on campus, school was all she had. Before she left for Europe she decided it was time to return to Point Place, she hadn't been there since Reggie's first birthday. She let them know she was done with school and was stopping in for a few weeks. Jackie and Steven were always open to let them stay in their guest room.

Stepping into the airport Donna began searching for the small midget girl that was supposed to be picking her up, but instead she found Steven standing there alone.

"Hey Steven, where is Jackie?"

"Jackie just had our daughter Katie this morning"

"Oh wow I didn't realize I came so close to the due date, I have been crazy busy with finals and everything the past month."

"No worries, we tried to reach you but Midge had just returned from dropping you off at the airport"

"Yea, no direct flights this time, had two layovers. I guess with my trip to Europe I better be getting used to airports now."

"Yea well I need to get back to the hospital"

"Couldn't anyone else have come, so you wouldn't have had to leave Jackie and the baby?"

"Well Eric is out of town this weekend, Michael is on duty Brook is taking care of Betsey and watching Reggie too at the moment. Laurie and Fez are both working as well, along with mom and dad."

They got out to the parking lot to find a Chevy Nova, "wow what happened to the El Camino?"

"It's in the garage at home, this is my other car, easier to fit the family in this."

"I see you kept with black?"

He helped her put her suitcases in the trunk and they got in. There was still an uncomfortable silence as they were never really just the two of them. Donna stared out the side window as the familiar signs passed by. She noticed the water tower looked to be freshly painted. "Wow someone finally painted the water tower"

"Yea it was a last act of teenage vandalism, the four of us snuck up there the night before Eric's 20th birthday and painted over it. It was harder than painting the pot leaf"

"So just you guys?"

"Yea Jackie and Brook stayed at the house waiting to see if they needed to meet us in the hospital or jail. We found out why Michael always fell off, he had a time getting down that stupid ladder. He had never climbed down that thing. I was ready to push him down and just take him to the hospital on our way down."

"Oh my god, I never thought about it before, he has always fallen off before climbing down."

"Yea knowing that led to me doing lights on his house at Christmas this year when Betsey begged for them, and her godmother showed her how to pout to get her way."

"Aw the things you do for your goddaughter"

"Yea now I have Katie to join the ranks of Jackie and Betsey and get their way with me"

"You know, Michael did good picking you and Jackie, back then I was jealous, but in truth he was right you guys were the better couple and with everything you guys have been through in your life you both grew up a lot faster than the rest of us."

"Well we didn't have a choice in a way. Jackie who we always thought as a young girl only put on the front and convince us she was still just a little girl, when she had grown up more than all of us. At least I had the Foreman's, but she never had much of anything."

"So are you guys happy?"

"Donna I never thought growing up I would have what I have now. I was scared if I even thought of it I would lose it, but now I am happy. Jackie and I have two kids that will know love more than we ever did growing up."

"Yea some spoiled kids, how are Kitty and Red?"

"They are doing just fine, Red is selling the shop and retiring and Kitty has decided to retire now, she had cut back to part time after Reggie was born, she is constantly wanting to babysit. It will be interesting when there are three grandbabies not long after they retire."

They pulled into the parking lot at the hospital just as Kitty was pulling in parking next to Steven, he looked over and noticed she had picked up Reggie.

"Daddy!" Reggie yelled excitedly as he scrambled to get out of the car with his grandma. Immediately went to his father who picked him up. "I missed you, where is mommy?"

"Mommy is in her room in the hospital probably with your sister Katie, and I missed you too. Where you good for Aunt Brook?"

"Yes, when is Auntie Angie and Grandpa coming?"

"They should be here later today"

They walked up to the Jackie's room where she was laying in bed with a pink bundle in her arms. "Mommy!"

Donna laughed, "He still has his mommy's voice doesn't he?"

"Yup and I am in trouble if Katie is the same, but so far she seems a little quieter than her brother, even the doctor said so when she was born."

"Reggie you want to meet your sister?" Reggie nodded up at his mommy, "OK, let daddy bring you over and sit next to me, but you have to be careful, remember how we showed you with Betsey's dolls?"

"Yes mommy" Steven took his son and sat him next to Jackie on the bed, and then walked over and got the camera they had to take pictures of his kids together for the first time, they realized that they couldn't always have Eric or Kitty with a camera, but looked up and saw she had brought her camera too.

A few days later Eric and Leslie were home from their weekend trip and the basement gang was gathered at Jackie and Steven along with added spouses and Angie, they were planning a surprise retirement party for Red and Kitty.

"Ok guys the Katie is asleep and Reggie and Betsey are playing in the basement, so we better be quick about what we are going to do" Jackie said as she took a seat on Steven's lap in the recliner. Eric, Leslie, Laurie and Fez were seated on the couch while Donna, Michael, Brook and Angie were in chairs brought in from the dining room.

Laurie was the first to speak, "Ok we decided on a surprise party at their house, Jackie and I can plan that but we will need something to get them out of the house and set up and decorated, and we need to figure out what we are getting them as a gift."

"I have an idea on the gift if you guys could all pitch in" Eric said

"Well what is it?" Steven asked

"I want to get dad his Corvette, I have been talking to the guy that bought it from him and he is wanting to sell it, he wants something else, and has kept the Corvette in good condition, better than some people" he looked over to his wife.

"It was one time and you told me it was yours!"

"OK, I think if we pool our money together we could probably pull it off. Why don't Laurie and Jackie get everything planned then the six of us take them out for the day, do a brunch or something and then the rest of you can set up the house and everything." Steven said.

After everything was sorted out they all went home. Steven and Eric would take care of meeting and getting the Corvette, the guy would bring it to the party since he would come with his wife anyway since Karen had worked with Kitty for years.

Eric had went out and bought a 2x4 like he had gotten his dad for his birthday years ago, everyone signed it and they put the spare keys to the car on the wood. Jackie and Laurie wrapped it

The morning of the party Fez and Laurie went over as planned to take Red and Kitty out for brunch with Eric, Leslie, Steven and Jackie. Angie would watch the kids. Donna would help Brook and Michael get everything set up.

Donna stood in the driveway looking at her old house, "I can't believe Fez and Laurie live in my old house"

"Well to be honest there was a time that he lived in your closet, but now he doesn't have to" Michael said as he came up behind her carrying party supplies.

"It seems like yesterday Jackie had moved in and we were pulling him out from under my bed."

"Your old room is already set up for the nursery when the baby is born." Brook added as they walked in the Foreman's house.

They began to set everything up. Donna looked around pictures of the gang growing up were everywhere, they really had been parents to everyone. She expected her dad to be there soon, he was driving up from Florida and was planning on staying in a hotel nearby and was going to talk to the Foreman's if they would want to move to Florida with him. He was enjoying the weather and didn't miss the Wisconsin winters at all.

The Foreman's were having brunch with all their kids, it was a treat that they all were together and it was just the eight of them, that didn't happen too often they were all so busy to be off at the same time.

"Thank you all so much for this, it is nice just us having brunch together," Kitty said looking around at her husband and kids.

"So what are your plans now that you guys don't have to go into work?" Jackie asked

"Well I would say that we are going enjoy having the house to ourselves but it seems like you all just reproducing and we have to make sure they grown up right." Red answered.

Leslie was still getting used to her father in law and his rough exterior, but she had seen him with Reggie and how sweet he could be, "Have you guys thought about traveling?"

"I would love to travel, but then I would also miss my grandbabies." Kitty said

"You guys should travel now, you barely go out of town. It wouldn't hurt to leave for a week or so" Steven told them.

Kitty was ready to change the topic away from what seemed like they were trying to get rid of them, "So instead of talking about you guys getting rid of us, Laurie Fez have you decided on any names?"

"Yes but we are keeping it under wraps till the baby is born since we don't know if we are having a boy or girl" Laurie answered giving Fez a look.

"Well now that we are not working we can really plan a baby shower for you Laurie, since I didn't throw Jackie's"

"Mom you know that Angie wanted to do it and it worked out to surprise her more and you shouldn't have to do everything, you had already hosted Christmas, New Year's Eve and our wedding reception, you needed a break, and if not you then Red did."

"Damn right I did, I could have kissed your sister for taking a party over and not having it in my house"

Everyone laughed and enjoyed the time together, then they decided to head over to Red and Kitty's.

"I thought the reason for us to eat out was so you guys wouldn't be in my house?"

Eric came up and patted his dad on the shoulder, "Well dad as usual in these circumstances, you thought wrong"

The eight of them walked into the house with Red and Kitty and headed into the living room where they were met with a group of people yelling "SURPRISE!"

In the group was Donna, Bob, WB, Angie, Michael, Brook and nurses and doctors from the hospital and a few of Red's car guy friends.

"Um sorry daddy but we are throwing you a party" Laurie said a little hesitantly

"Yes Mr. Red we know how much you hate these things, but Ms. Kitty loves them, but don't kill us" staying close to his wife Fez told him.

They all turned to Eric and Steven who was holding up a long wrapped present.

"Dad this is from all of us, your kids and the ones that were forced on you over the past several years."

"Eric this looks like a piece of wood wrapped up, like that stupid gift you gave me several years ago for your birthday, I don't want to spend retirement with my foot in your ass"

Steven mumbled under his breath to Eric, "Wow Red saying he didn't want to stick his foot in someone's ass, that is a first"

Jackie stepped forward, "Why don't you open it before you threaten anyone?"

Red relented and unwrapped the gift, it was piece of wood as he guessed, but all of the basement babies had signed it and wrote little messages of how much Kitty and him had meant to them over the years. Then he noticed something at the top of the wood as set of car keys on a Corvette key chain.

"Is this what I think it is?" holding the keys.

"Red why don't you go out to the garage and see" Steven said as he and Eric put the present down. The party all followed Red who was holding Kitty's hand out to the garage, where Eric had the remote for the door and opened it to see Red's old Corvette with a big bow on it.

Jackie was the first to speak up, "Red you have been a father to all of us, those of us that didn't have one and those that had one you were the second father. You and Kitty mean the world to us, and we know how much you loved that car and giving it up when you thought you was going to be a father again proved to all of us the sacrifices you would make for your kids. So we wanted to show you that those sacrifices didn't go unnoticed by the dumbasses that hung out all the time in your basement." Unable to finish, she threw herself at Red and hugged him.

"Oh Red this is perfect, you kids are too much."

Laurie stepped up and had small present for Kitty, "Mom this is for you, it might not be as much as a car, but I am sure dad will let you ride in it. But this is for you from your kids"

Kitty opened up to a charm bracelet that had mom on it with charms with the names of each of her babies from the basement with their birthstones. Three were gold and the rest were silver. She noticed Laurie, Eric and Steven's were gold and the rest were silver.

Steven noticed there was three gold ones, he pulled Jackie off to the side, "Jacks why are there 3 gold?"

"Steven Laurie and Eric both agreed that you was as much Kitty's son and Eric and they didn't want you to have a silver charm, you are their brother. That is what Laurie told me when we went to pick it up and I saw it."

It was one thing to be looked at as a son by Kitty but for Eric and Laurie to see him as their brother even if they really had over all the years, it meant the world to him.

Bob looked around and realized Red and Kitty would never leave Point Place, they had their kids and grandbabies, especially when he saw Red with Reggie and Kitty doting over Katie later in the night.

Later most of the guests had left, the only ones left was the basement gang, along with Bob, WB and Angie. They spent time telling stories reminiscing about the past and how much everything has changed.

"You know Eric I just realized that you wanted that Corvette back because it was where you and Leslie first kissed." Jackie said to Eric.

Red looked up at his son who had his arm around his wife. "She's the one? I thought I told you to stay away from that one?"

"And I did dad, for several years, and I guess it is too late now since we are married"

Donna looked on, she didn't realize that Leslie had went out with Eric back when Red had the Corvette, but then she figured it out, it must have been when they broke up after the promise ring. She would always have a place in her heart for Eric, but she could tell looking at him now he was truly happy, Leslie was to Eric a lot like Jackie was to Steven, she drove him to be better to grow up, she was the one that would enjoy being a wife and mother, something she didn't know if she would ever really want.

"Trust me Red, we wouldn't have worked out back then, I just really liked the car. It wasn't till later that I got to see Eric and know him without the car, plus we had to grow up before we could love each other like we do now." Leslie said.

Bob looked around, these kids had all grown up, they were having their own kids now. He missed his friends but was glad they still stayed in touch, Jackie would send pictures of Reggie and he knew now he would get pictures of Katie as well along with updates. "Guys sometime you all have to come down and visit me, I am pretty close to the beach. I had thought about trying to talk Red and Kitty to moving, but you guys have too much family here."

"No Bob we could never leave this house, I have Laurie's old room into the babies' room and Eric's old room is now a guest room."

"I am going to be turning the basement into my own escape room recliners and a big TV, going to get cable hooked up down there too now."

Steven couldn't resist, "Sure now that I am gone going to get it hooked up down there."

"You needed to work not waste your time watching TV and trying to knock up your girlfriend"

"Well maybe if I had cable I…" yea he was smart enough not to finish that statement.

"Babe, probably best not to talk now, you have cable at home"

Kitty looked at her basement babies, "Thank you all for tonight and everything I love my bracelet and we all know Red loves his car. You kids have made our lives full."

Red stood up, "Yes thanks, I guess it was worth not killing you all to get my Corvette back, now you guys clean up Kitty and I are going to bed, I plan on a Sunday drive tomorrow, he looked at Laurie, "you don't have that baby tomorrow"

As the gang started to clean Steven escaped and went down to the basement, like everything else this place would be changing soon. Jackie came down looking for her husband to find him sitting in his old chair

"Pudding Pop what are you doing?"

"Just sitting here one last time before Red changes everything" He reached over and pulled her onto his lap, "Eric and Leslie have the Corvette we have the basement"

"Our first kiss was on the Lincoln"

"BuBut we both lied that night, we have this basement the couch and Price is Right." He moved her over to the couch and laid her down while he hovered above her, they were recreating memories in the basement when Eric, Michael, Donna and Fez came the steps.

"Guys don't you have a few weeks before you can do that" Donna said as she came down the steps.

"I can kiss my wife as much as I want" he pulled Jackie up and sat down on his chair again, the others took their regular seats.

"Sorry we was just reminiscing" Jackie said sitting on Steven's lap. "Not going to look like this much longer"

Michael looking around, "so who would win Samantha versus Genie?"

"To have Samantha's powers, Genie's bottle room and Woner Woman's accessories" Jackie piped in.

"I miss this out in California, I haven't made friends like you guys"

"Aiy Donna you are going to have to come back and meet my baby"

"Donna have you found the car that runs on water out there? I bet it started out there"

"Dude you're not even high and you're talking about a car that runs on water," Eric said to Steven, "Wow what a long strastrange trip it has been in this basement"

The End

Thank you guys for the comments and encouragement