Work Text:
February 1980
Donna entered the Forman kitchen from the sliding side door. She needed to talk to Eric…but how was she supposed to tell him this? Maybe she could talk to Mrs. Forman first, she could usually give her some motherly advice that would make her feel better. But Donna realized that if she couldn’t figure out a way to tell Eric, how was she going to tell his mother? And telling Jackie was out of the question, she’d manage to tell the whole town and with Donna’s luck that’s how Eric and Mrs. Forman would find out the news too.
“Donna,” the booming voice startled Donna and caused her to turn and see—for the first time—Red sitting at the table with an open newspaper in his hands. “Eric’s not here, so why are you?”
Maybe it was because he had caught her so off guard. Maybe it was because he was looking down at his paper and not at her. Maybe it was because Red was just scary in general. Whatever it was, it caused Donna to blurt out her secret before she’d realized what she’d done.
“I’m pregnant.”
Red lowered his paper. “You’re what?”
By now Red’s irritated expression he’d first greeted Donna had faded away and into a different kind of expression that Donna couldn’t quite read—which made her even more nervous than before, especially when Red began to rise from his seat.
“I’m pregnant,” she repeated. She couldn’t believe she’d actually said the words out loud, but now that she had, there was no way to hold in her freak out. “I’m knocked up. I’m with child. I’m having a freakin’ baby!” her arms flew up at her sides and her voice raised in not just volume but nervousness too.
“And this time it’s for real,” she made sure to point out. “I got a doctor’s note and everything!”
This wasn’t like the last time a few years ago. She’d gone to the doctor, and he’d confirmed it. Gave her a due date and everything.
Red stepped towards where Donna stood and though she tried to hide her fear, she was sure he must have heard or seen her visibly gulp. Maybe she should have just let Jackie break the news to everyone for her.
“Congratulations, Donna,” Red said, with what looked like a smile on his face.
However, before Donna could study the rare sight for too long, an even more unexpected event happened: Red pulled her into a hug. Though the embrace was warm and welcoming, Donna’s initial reaction was to stiffen and look around the room, wondering if anyone else was seeing this. Had Red ever hugged her before? She didn’t think so.
“You’re okay with this?” Donna asked after Red pulled away from the hug and she had decided there were bigger questions to focus on than figuring out if she and Red had ever hugged before. “I mean, you’re happy about this?”
“Sure am,” he answered and this time there was no denying it—Red was grinning away.
“Hell, I think I was the only one who was genuinely excited the time you thought you and Eric were having a kid a few years back.”
“Seriously?” Donna couldn’t remember hearing anything about this.
Red chuckled softly. “Look, I know this isn’t the reaction you probably expected from me, but you and Eric are adults. And when you get to my age you start to realize life is short, my heart’s not in the best shape that it used to be. I’m fine,” he stressed when he must have seen the concern appear on her face.
He sighed before he continued. “After everything with Laurie…and you and Eric being so off and off again…I was starting to think I might not be around to get to know my grandkids. I hear it’s a lot more fun being a grandparent than a parent. And I can’t think of anyone else I’d want as the mother to my grandkids.”
At hearing Red’s words, Donna felt a sort of squeeze on her heart that must have triggered off the tears prickling at her eyes.
“Better chance of them being good at sports, right?” she meekly joked.
His index finger pointed in her direction. “Exactly.”
They shared a laugh. It wasn’t lost on Donna that she and Red were sharing a moment. A nice moment. She didn’t want to ruin it, but she also felt like sharing might make the last of her unnerved emotions disappear, even if only temporarily.
“I’m scared,” she confessed, nervously.
“And you should be,” Red sounded more like his usual gruff self. “Parenthood is a scary thing. Outright terrified me when Kitty told me I was gonna be a father all those years ago.”
Donna was starting to realize this probably hadn’t been the best idea, it wasn’t making her feel any better at all.
“But you’ll be fine,” Red assured, like he could already see into the future and knew the outcome. “You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. And Eric may be a dumbass, but he’ll step up and always do the right thing for you and your kid. And whenever he messes that up, Kitty and I will help with whatever we can.”
A smile formed on Donna’s lips. “Thanks, Mr. Forman.”
“Ah come one, you’re carrying the next generation of Forman. Think it’s time you call me, Red.”
“Really? Cool,” Donna’s grin grew, she’d always referred to Red as Red when talking about him with Eric or their friends—even with her dad, but she’d never called him by his name when actually talking to him. It made her feel grownup and pretty special. “Thanks, Red.”
Red chuckled and threw his arm around her shoulder, giving her a one-armed hug. “Anytime, kid, anytime.”
The End