Date: January 1st, 1980

Eric's eyes opened. As soon as he awoke, he thought he was still in Africa, the transition between sleeping there and here was harder than he thought. He realized where he was, looking around at the room.

He couldn't believe it when he found out that his parents changed his room into a sewing room. His mom would never use it. He expected that his room was gonna be changed somehow while he was gone, but not like that.

So now he was forced to sleep in the basement until he could find an apartment. For some reason, Red didn't want him sleeping in Laurie's room, which was dumb. She hasn't been here since before he even left, but he supposed Red secretly never got over that. She was the favorite.

He sat up on the uncomfortable couch, stretching his arms. He didn't get much of a good sleep because of two things. One, was because of Hyde's snoring in the back room, and two was because of what happened with Donna. He couldn't get over that, he didn't think she would react the way she did. He figured she would be a little upset, but not like how she was yesterday. But, he really couldn't blame her, he felt like he ruined her plans for a future. It was guilt that haunted him everyday, knowing that she could be off at college right now. Yesterday sure was crazy.

After they counted down, him and his former gang got to catch up, but it wasn't for long. Kelso left a little bit after the party, back to Chicago, and Fez and Jackie went home soon after. He found out that they were a couple. While he nodded his head and congratulated them when they told him, he knew that they wouldn't last long. They would break up and Jackie would probably be going back to Hyde or Kelso. He never in a million years thought that her and Fez would have dated.

He looked at his watch; it was only 8:27. He had gotten on a new sleeping schedule in Africa, so instead of waking up in the afternoon, like he did before he left; he was now a morning person.

He stood up, and stretched out his body a little bit. He heard footsteps from upstairs and distinct chatter, so he headed up.

Being in this house was still a little odd for him, seeing the wallpaper, the pictures, the furniture. It was all a little much for him. He had only been gone a year, but it seemed like so much longer.

He heard the noise come from the kitchen, where he figured it came from and walked over there.

When he got in, he saw Red, Kitty, and Hyde, who all turned to him immediately as soon as he walked in.

Red smirked and put down the paper he was reading, sitting at the table along with Hyde as Kitty was getting breakfast ready. "Wow. Africa taught you how to wake up at a decent time in the morning. I don't know why Donna is so upset, that was well worth the year there", he said with a sarcastic smirk before going back to his paper.

Eric rolled his eyes and went to the kitchen counter to get out a box of Raisin Bran. "Please dad, I'm not even up two minutes and you're already giving me crap about Donna." He got out a bowl and started pouring the cereal in there, and then heard his mom's voice.

"Red, please leave him alone. Just be glad he's home", she said putting a plate of pancakes on the table, but then turned to Eric, who was putting the box of cereal back in the counter. "Oh, Eric, are you sure you don't want any pancakes?"

Eric nodded, "I'm sure mom. Cereal is fine." He told her and sat at the table next to Hyde.

It was so weird eating at the table again. He never realized how much he missed breakfast time over here until he was in Africa, even if Red was giving him crap.

He started eating his cereal but felt Red's eyes on him and he looked up to see him staring at him.

"So son. Now since all the greetings are over. What's your plan now Eric since teaching was all a big mistake?"

Eric swallowed some of the cereal he was eating. "I don't know Dad. Can we not talk about this right now."

Red did a small laugh, "Well son, there is no better time than now, because don't think you'll be staying here long."

Kitty then put a plate of multiple pieces of toast in the center, and looked at her husband, almost with a glare. "Red, stop it." She then turned to Eric. "You can stay here as long as you need to honey."

"No Kitty, he cant. We are now back to the way things were before he left. Just now it's the 80s and not the 70s", Red stated.

Eric groaned. Putting down the spoon after eating only a couple bites. "Dad I'll-"

Son," Red interrupted with a smirk. "How about you give that traveling documentary film thing another shot. I thought you were getting somewhere with that one."

"Don't forget the chiropractor thing. He did a great job on Donna's neck", Hyde butted in the conversation, who was stuffing his face with syrup covered pancakes. ' And don't forget that drawing competition" he said with his mouth full.

Red smiled at Hyde and then turned back to Eric. "See Eric? You have so many talents. It's just too bad the only job you'll get with those talents is being a janitor."

Eric clenched his fist, unnoticeably by the family. He felt rage inside him, he knew he had to hold it in, but he didn't know how much he could, and for how long he could. They were starting to piss him off. But one thing got him….they were right.

He quickly got up from the chair, nearly knocking the chair over in the process. "You know what!?" He yelled, holding out a finger to them. "Your right. Okay, your right, I screwed up. I'll be out of here, I'll look for apartments and job listings and everything. But, can I just ask for one request?"

"What is it?" Red asked.

"Leave me the hell alone about it!" He shouted to him, leaving Red nearly speechless with his son's aggressiveness. Eric then walked and stormed out of the kitchen and into the living room as his family watched.

Then Kitty turned and glared at Red and Hyde. "Steven, Red. Why would you push him like that? The poor kid has enough troubles right now."

Red rolled his eyes, "Oh c'mon Kitty. It's just tough love. Just like what he always had when he lived here."

"Well, maybe he's not as tolerable as he was."

Red smacked the newspaper down next to his untouched breakfast and aggressively got up just like how his son did, seconds go. "Kitty, he is not going to be babied again. I don't care if I have to kick him out on the street myself. He is going to have plans dammit!" He shouted and stormed out of the kitchen, out the sliding door and in the driveway.

Kitty sighed, watching her husband walk off. But then she turned to Hyde." Steven. Maybe you can go talk to Eric." She pleaded

Hyde got up from the chair and shrugged in his bathrobe. "I'll try Mrs. Forman. But I have never been great with advice."

Kitty rolled her eyes and smiled, "Oh Steven, now you know that's not true. Just go talk to him, he usually opens up to you, you're his best friend you know."

Hyde sighed, "Yeah. Damn my big heart."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXx

It was nearly 1:00 now and Eric was sitting in the basement by himself. Once again, the strangeness struck him. He could just imagine, a couple years ago, him and his friend sitting down here watching TV.

He didn't know where Hyde was, he knew he wasn't at Grooves because he didn't like to open the shop on holidays, or whenever he felt like sleeping.

He then heard footsteps coming down the basement stairs, he looked and saw Red with a newspaper in his head. When they locked eyes, the older man tossed the paper and it landed on the couch. "Good luck, hophead." Was all he said before going back upstairs.

Eric sighed. He told him he didn't want any pressure about it, but of course Red didn't listen. He was going to use the 'so why does Hyde get to stay here' excuse but realized that Hyde owned a shop now, and he didn't own anything. Not even his action figures anymore.

He grabbed the newspaper and started reading. He was going to go to the funny pages, before going to the job listings but the front headline caught his eye. In big bold, black letters, it said: SOVIET WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.

It seemed interesting. The picture also caught his eye. It was a black and white photo of a couple of Mujahideen fighters in Kunar Province. They were holding weapons. It disturbed Eric, but at least this war wasn't on U.S soil.

He started reading on and soon found out that the war started only six days ago, on Christmas Eve. Below the description, it said that Mujahideen would be supported by Pakistan, the U.K, China, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

Then on the side, in bold black letters again, it said: U.S AND U.K SOLDIERS NEEDED! ENLISTINGS ARE AVALIABLE. FIGHT FOR YOUR FELLOW MAN!

He knew it was just another cheesy motto to get poor kids to sign up for a war they have no business being in. Why was the U.S getting involved in this? It was none of their business. It's just gonna cause more American solider deaths in the process.

He was about to go to the job listings but then the basement door opened and in came Hyde.

"Hey man" he greeted before sitting down on his chair.

"Hey. Red's making me look through job and apartment listings", Eric mopely said.

Hyde nodded, "Yeah. Never heard you yell like that before….Well, you know I did, but usually you had a squeaky voice when you got mad."

Eric couldn't help but laugh a little bit and playfully through the paper at Hyde.

Hyde smirked and set the paper aside but then looked back at Eric. "So anyway man, what's your plan now?"

Eric looked down at his lap, not knowing the best answer to give. He started shaking his head and sighed. "I don't know man. I thought I had everything figured out. And as much as Red made me mad earlier, he wasn't wrong, you know. I'm back to where I was before. Where I'm gonna live is probably my primary goal, cause I don't know how long Red is gonna let me stay here."

Hyde crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. "Hmm. Well, I think I might be able to help you man."

Eric quickly looked over to Hyde, but trying not to get too excited, "Really? How?"

"Well, I think there is an empty apartment over at Jackie and Fez's. Maybe you can go over there and see if they can help you or something."

Eric's depressed and bored face, suddenly turned into a face of surprise and excitement. "Oh man Hyde. This might be my silver lining. I mean, I have some money left over, I think I could make the payments." He got up and put his hands on his hips. He smiled and started nodding, "Yeah man. This could be great. You're great man."

Hyde rolled his eyes, "Forman don't start."

Eric started walking over to him, "You're the brother I never had!"

"Forman stop."

"Let me give you a hug", he said with a grin, spreading his arms.

Hyde glared in Eric's direction, "Do I have to kick your ass."

Eric put his hand on his chest and put on a face of fake hurt. "Don't hide it. It's okay to love orphan boy!" He yelled before attacking him with a hug.

Hyde tried to scramble out of it, "Get off me!"

"It's okay orphan boy, it's okay!" Eric shouted to him, before Hyde pushed him off.

Eric started laughing uncontrollably, having to put his hands on his stomach from laughter. Looking over at Hyde, he saw that he was trying to hold in a smile. "Okay man, Imma go to Jackie and Fez's."

"Yeah, go do that before I punch you in the nads", Hyde warned.

Eric smiled and walked out the basement door.

On his way to the Cruiser, he thought about Hyde in there. He always helped him out in some way.

He loved his little orphan boy.

I know much didnt happen in this chapter but the 3rd chapter is coming very soon. Let me know what you think of this chapter in a review!

And P.S I know U.S soldiers didnt actually fight in the Soviet war in Afghanistan. But they did support Mujahideen. So Im just putting a little spin on it as if they actually fought in that war so please dont give me hell for that.