Author Note: …this chapter is dedicated to my few surviving reviewers – thanks guys…I almost threw this story in the recycle bin….I appreciate the kind words of encouragement.

T7S

Chapter 10 – One Week before Uncertainty

T7S

Eric entered the kitchen and slid the doors shut. He couldn't stop smiling and it was either the date or the kiss or the wine or all three – didn't know – didn't care. He passed his parents on his way upstairs and Kitty smiled. "Looks like someone had a nice date."

Red grinned, "Yep. Eric and I had a father/son talk and I think it worked."

Kitty looked at her husband, "What kind of talk." Red didn't think she would ask and quickly replied, "Well….the same kind you had with Laurie."

"Oh….ahahahaha….the sex talk. We had that years ago, did Eric need a refresher or something?"

Embarrassed, Red replied, "Yeah…something – like that. Maybe it's time we called it a night!"

-o-

Eric was laying on his bed in the dark reliving the date from the minute he picked Jackie up until that last kiss goodnight. He liked her. He really liked her and it wasn't because he knew her as a friend. She was funny and engaging and just as nervous as he was! Deep inside, Eric knew this was infatuation at it's finest but he hadn't felt like this since he was 14 and it was crazy wonderful! He just didn't want that feeling to go away.

Jackie floated up the stairs and lay on her bed hugging a pillow to her chest. She loved the butterflies and breathless moments of the evening. Eric was such a romantic and why didn't Donna ever tell her about moments like these? Did Donna get the same head rush when Eric's long fingers ran through her blonde hair? Did Donna get weak in the knees when those green eyes looked into her soul?

When Donna and Randy showed up next weekend, she would have to ask the lumberjack. Wait! Jackie sat up. Donna was coming. This could be bad. Did Eric want Donna back? They never discussed that. Randy was in the picture but it was so like Donna to destroy Eric's happiness. Okay, they destroyed each other but that was teenage drama. They were all adults now.

What was going to happen? Jackie needed to make a decision.

T7S

Kelso and Brooke were excited to see both Jackie and Eric come for a visit. Brooke immediately noticed the surreptitious glances that the couple thought went unnoticed. Brooke smiled as she handed Betsy over to her godmother and watched as Eric went out on the patio with Michael.

"Spill it." The older girl demanded.

Jackie kissed Betsy's forehead. "What are you talking about?"

Brooke laughed, "You know exactly well. You guys can't keep your eyes off each other. So….the date was good?"

Jackie sighed, "Yes…..it was wonderful and romantic and he wants to date me again."

Leaning against the sofa, Brooke groaned. "Details! How are we going to be best friends if you leave out the important stuff?"

Jackie looked at the twinkling brown eyes and grinned. "It was moonlight in the park and a great movie and the best kiss of my life. I didn't feel like I had to put out to have a good time and most important of all was that he respected me."

"Those weren't the details I was looking for but okay. Eric seems very happy too. I think you're good for each other."

Jackie put Betsy back in her bouncer, "He knows all these sensitive places in my mouth to lick."

Brooke shuddered, "Oh! That's nice! That's the kind of detail I was looking for!"

-o-

Kelso offered Eric a lawn chair so they could sit and spy on the bathing beauties lounging by the pool. "So…you and Jackie." Kelso said as a conversation starter. Eric looked at the cool water and recalled swimming with a pink bikini, "Yeah, she does something to my heart."

"Is it like when you eat extra hot tacos? Because I have some Rolaids."

Eric laughed. "No, it's not heart-burn. It's….I don't know the words…it's like I have this huge crush on her but I don't know what to do next."

"Cool. A Rolaids burn." Kelso laughed. "Well, first thing, don't let her boss you around…unless of course you like that kind of thing. Now me? I let Brooke because….well cuz she's good at it."

"Dude, you are so funny. This Jackie isn't the same teenager you used to know. She's mature and sweet and fun." Eric laughed.

Shaking his head, Kelso said, "I don't think we're talking about the same Jackie. Has she freaked out on you yet?"

"Do you mean have I met bitchy Jackie yet? Yes, I've encountered her a couple of times but she's only like that because she's been hurt."

"Yeah…Hyde did a number on her." Kelso agreed. Eric looked up, "Oh and like you didn't?"

Kelso looked shocked. "Well I'm not saying I'm innocent…I mean when you have looks like mine…it's meant to be shared. That's all I was doing. I'm a changed man now." He crossed his heart with his finger.

"So has Jackie. No one ever gave her a second chance and that girl has a big heart. Kelso, do you think a guy like me has a possible opportunity….with a girl like her?"

"Well, she already knows your dorky and about your love of Star Wars and she dated you….yeah, your foot's in the door."

Eric laughed and looked up as the door opened. Jackie smiled. "Brooke says we have to make our own sandwiches." Kelso stood up, "AWESOME, I'm going first so no one gets all the turkey."

Eric said in a low voice that only Jackie could hear, "I think he is a turkey." She giggled and reached for his hand. "Come inside, it's too hot out here and Betsy is asleep now."

T7S

They pulled into the Forman driveway after a nice day at the Kelso's. Eric noticed on the ride home that Jackie was little more quiet than usual and bit her lip more than she should.

"Okay… tell me about it." He said softly.

She looked over at him in the dark of the car interior. "Donna and Randy are coming Saturday." Jackie said it like it was a death sentence.

He touched her arm. "So are you trying to get out of Fez's movie party?"

She blinked. "What? I mean I thought you wouldn't want to go with me."

Eric frowned, "Why wouldn't I want to go with you? I'm dating you lady and you better get used to it."

She smiled, "Thanks." Relieved, she continued, "I thought you were going to blow me off because she's going to be here."

Eric scooted over to the passenger side of the seat and put an arm around Jackie's slim shoulders. "Again. I'm trying to date you. Why would you think something like that?"

She put her cheek against his shoulder, "The irresistible pull of the little neighbor girl. The one you almost married…."

Eric touched her cheek, "But I didn't. You said she was coming with Randy. Let's do the hard thing and make it a double date. If she has a problem with you or me seeing each other…let's get it over with in the beginning; because Jackie, I'm not going to stop seeing or calling you for a week just because they are here."

Jackie was speechless. No guy ever stood up for her like that before. Eric was putting her first and the little cheerleader heart was doing cartwheels and handstands of happiness. "Really? I mean if you're saying that just to be nice I'm going to be very pissed off."

Eric chuckled and kissed her forehead, her eyes and her lips. His fingers tangled in her long hair and he started leaving her breathless. She wrapped her hands around his face and kissed him back with as much reckless abandon as she dared. This was new and fresh and Eric was putting her first – how did a girl respond to something like that?

He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life

I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'till the end of the night

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"Oh Jackie…honey…that's too much salt. Cut a potato and add it to the liquid. We don't want Red to stroke out okay?" Kitty laughed and quickly rinsed off a brown potato and handed it to the brunette. Jackie was having her weekly cooking lesson and tonight it was beef barley soup.

She was especially glad for this Wednesday lesson because it took her mind off the impending arrival of Donna and Randy. Eric tried to convince her he had no lingering feelings for Donna except friendship but Jackie wasn't so sure. Time after time Eric always chased the lumberjack. Could he really let her go this time?

Did Donna ever really let Eric go?

-o-

Red unbuttoned the top of his pants. "I ate too much." He declared. "Jackie you are becoming a fine cook of soup and sandwiches."

She smiled and reddened slightly. "Thanks Mr. Forman. Oh. If you can wait until Sunday, I can get you the paint at 50% off plus I'll give you my employee discount."

Kitty gasped, "You wonderful girl! We can paint Eric's room!"

Eric looked up from his bowl. "I didn't want my room painted. I mean I don't plan on living in it forever."

Red leveled a look at his son, "It hasn't been painted since Laurie left and we thought a nice calm green would look good for a guest bedroom."

Jackie got excited, "We have this color called sea foam. It's so nice! I think you'll love it. Anyways, I have to work Sunday so come down whenever you want!" Jackie winked at Eric, "You could always come down and pick up the paint for your parents."

Red sat back, "Now that is a great idea. The Vista Cruiser has more room for the supplies than the Toyota. I'll just write a blank check."

Eric realized that Jackie was making a faux-date and he grinned, "I would be happy to go paint buying on Sunday."

Kitty clapped her hands, "Oh-Yay! I have new floors and soon new walls and then I can make my…..what are they called again dear?"

"Window treatments – just fancy words for drapes and blinds." Jackie replied as she stood up to take her bowl to the sink. She glanced at the clock and declared, "I have an early start tomorrow so I have to leave. Thank you for the cooking lesson Mrs. Forman."

Kitty stood up and hugged the young girl, "Keep up the good work and I'll teach you to bake soon."

Red waved as he watched Jackie leave and Eric was hot on her heels. Kitty smiled, "They do like each other don't they?"

Red laughed, "He's hooked like a fish and she's ripe bait. I think they're good for each other." Kitty took the dirty dishes and carried them to the sink. "You do know that Donna and Randy are going to be here this Saturday."

"I heard something like that. Let's just hope there are no fireworks." Red replied. Kitty looked out the patio doors where Eric was kissing Jackie. "There's already plenty of fireworks in our driveway." She said with a sigh.

-o-

Jackie felt a tug on her belt loop and turned around only to be pulled into Eric's arms. He bent his head and kissed her. Her arms slid over his shoulders as she kissed him back. "It was very clever of you to volunteer my paint delivery services." He said against her throat.

Jackie giggled triumphantly. "I just didn't want you hanging around here needlessly while I had to work. Maybe that's a little selfish of me but we are dating so….it's a work date."

Eric kissed her temples, "And you saved me from my parents."

Her eyes were still closed but she smiled, "And from a certain old girlfriend."

Eric hugged her close, "No need to be jealous…but I'm flattered."

T7S

Eric was surprised when that Friday afternoon, Jackie showed up at Grooves with lunch for him and Leo. In fact, she hadn't returned to the record store since he threw out Hyde's old cologne bottle. "I love what you've done! New couches!"

Leo grinned and bit into a big double cheeseburger. "Yeah, Forman said if I sat in it and my ass liked it, we would buy it and then I got to have dinner with Mrs. Forman."

She sat on a love seat and patted the cushion next to her. "Come on Eric, even store managers have to take a lunch break some time." Eric grinned and came around the back of the counter. "Hey, we got some new Air Supply."

She smiled, "I've decided that I don't need Air Supply anymore. I'm a Journey girl. You know….Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'…. It's a great song."

"I've been on a journey." Leo declared. "What a trip that was!" He bit into the sandwich again and moaned. "This is so good." Jackie giggled. Eric tried not to laugh but Leo had his moments when he was funnier than Friday Night television. Jackie enjoyed this last day before the weekend. Donna was returning tomorrow and life would change. She looked at Eric's smiling face and sincerely hoped that it would be there at the end of next week.

His green eyes looked at her as if knowing what she was thinking. "I'm not going anywhere."

I need a hero, I'm holding out for at hero 'till the end of the night

T7S