Author Notes: …everyone is infatuated….it's a good thing!

T7S

Chapter 11 – Everybody's Talking

T7S

Eric glided up the stairs and changed into his pajamas and found his dad reading Good Night Moon to Gabby. Red Forman's grandfather persona quickly changed back to gruff dad as soon as he saw Eric. "I'm guessing it was a nice date?"

Eric smiled. "Very nice…thanks for reading to Gabby."

The little girl shouted, "Da!" and ran to her fathers arms. Eric settled them both in the rocking chair. "How's my best girl?" Gabby curled up against his chest and sighed, her hair smelling fresh from her bath and scented with baby powder. "Daddy went on a date."

She looked up at the unfamiliar word. "I had dinner with Jackie."

"Key-key!" That was a word the little girl knew. Eric bushed her bangs from her face. "Yes. Dad had a wonderful date with Jackie." He sighed as he relived that good night kiss that reminded him that he was a full blooded male. How long was he supposed to wait for he asked her out again? What were the rules?

He rocked and told his little girl about dinner and his confession and by the time he go to the part about the movie, he had bored her to sleep. Eric carefully tucked her into bed and kissed her cheek. If only he could fall asleep as quickly!

J & E

"Did I wake you?"

"Jackie? Why are you calling so late?" Rhonda looked at her clock, it was barely after ten. "What's going on?"

Jackie sighed. "I got one. I needed it just like you said."

"You got laid?"

"No! You piglet. A sizzling kiss. That kind of kiss that makes you feel weak at the knees." Jackie replied smugly.

There was a noise at the other end of the line. "Okay, I'm sitting up and you have to give me all the details. I'm missing Mr. Roarke just for this phone call so it better be good!"

"I went to dinner with Forman."

Rhonda gasped. "I hope he wasn't wearing that tacky Oberon outfit. Details, where were you standing?"

"Just outside my gate."

"Go on." Rhonda encouraged.

"Well, earlier he admitted that he used to have a crush on me." Jackie began.

"And what guy didn't? Go on."

"I asked him what he would have done if I was single and he grabbed me in one of those full body hugs where everything is touching everything, if you know what I mean and then his lips got hot and wet and his tongue…"

"Oh god now I need to take a shower in a good way! Did you kiss him back?"

"Yes and it was good but he was a damned freaking gentleman and went home."

Rhonda laughed her loud patented Big Rhonda snorting laugh, "Oh, I gotta get one of these. Set up a double date."

"With who?" Jackie asked.

"How about that spicy guy that works down the street from you – I'll be Forman's date. I need a good kiss like that!"

Jackie was laughing, "Rhonda, I'll just set you up with James okay? I think you're more his type."

"What makes you say that?"

"He's into blondes and you're gorgeous." Jackie told her friend.

"Okay, you twisted my arm. But make it soon! A double date."

"Okay! I'm going to shower and go to bed. I had a long day and I've got parade hair to make tomorrow."

"Call me!" Rhonda ordered before she hung up the phone. Jackie leaned back on her futon/bed and hung up the sunshine yellow telephone. She had to admit that was a very nice date and not once did Eric try any of those moves Donna always ragged about.

His kissed like….like he knew exactly how she wanted to be kiss - like he already knew her mouth. She was willing to let him to second base but he had to remember his manners and stop short.

So tomorrow she worked on parade hair and then Sunday was the invite to Red Forman's Fourth of July party. Maybe she'd let him kiss her again. Before Rhonda had the opportunity!

Jackie scooted down under her fluffy comforter and closed her eyes. Maybe Eric would get lucky. The telephone rang again and she blindly picked it up. "Rhonda, I don't have anything more to add."

"Jackie? It's me Eric. Is it too late for me to call?"

Jackie sat up. "Well, it's late but I'm still awake. What's going on?"

Eric was lying in his lonely bed cradling the telephone between his shoulder and his ear. "I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed spending the evening with you." Wimp! "Were you still coming for the barbecue?"

She replied, "I had a nice time also and just so you know….you left too early. I hadn't considered the date over." Jackie heard Eric drop the phone.

Eric fumbled in the dark for the receiver, "Oh! Sorry about that. I thought I heard you say the date wasn't over…or something like that." He heard Jackie's tinkling laugh as she replied, "I could have invited you up for coffee or….another kiss…but you had to run off."

Eric groaned, "Oh you don't play fair!"

She laughed again. "I play all kinds of ways….you just need to pay attention Forman. Good night."

"Good night Jackie. See you on Sunday." Eric heard the line click and he held the receiver to his chest. What he wouldn't have given for a second kiss! She was going to invite him up. Damn!

T7S

Fez was winding the left side of Mrs. Baham's hair while Jackie rolled the right side in tight perm rollers. Just as long as Fez didn't wield a pair of scissors, he was good to work as a salon assistant. Jackie liked that his nimble fingers could roll hair faster than hers.

"Fez, I'm going to put the solution on, can you wash Trixie's hair? She wants a French braid and some temporary highlights." Jackie pulled on some gloves and starting wetting each roller with the perm solution. As she wetted each curler she thought back to that good night kiss. Brooke and Rhonda were right. She did need to start dating again. If that was just a taste….she wanted a full course meal!

Fez was wrapping Trixie's head in a towel and led her to the fairy lighted mirror. He sing-songed, "Some-one's think-ing about a kiss….." Jackie came back to the present and snapped, "No I'm not!" She looked over at Fez, "How would you know anything about that anyways?"

Fez smiled knowingly, "A man has many needs…Eric was glowing when he got home. I figured it had to be the date."

Mrs. Baham looked back at Jackie in the mirror. "Oh honey, this is a beauty shop where gossip is supposed to run rampant! Tell us about the date." Jackie tucked the plastic cap over Mrs. Baham's hair and wrapped a length of cotton batting around the delicate skin behind her ears. "Okay, we started at the steakhouse."

Trixie looked at Jackie's reflection in the mirror while Fez was combing her hair into sections. "Did you have the special? I always have the special!" Jackie smiled, "Then we went to the new Clint Eastwood movie."

Mrs. Baham was moved over to the large hairdryer. Jackie tucked her heavily rolled head under the cover and turned it on to a medium heat before setting the timer. "Then he took me home and it was….." Three sets of eyes were anxiously waiting for Jackie's next word.

She smiled and said. "…magical." Three collective sighs filled the room over the hum of the dryer. "I would have gone for more but he was a gentleman. Dammit!"

Fez laughed, "That doesn't sound like the Eric I know! I've seen him kiss Donna and it wasn't that magical!"

Trixie looked at Fez in the mirror. "I love gossip. Who's Donna?"

Fez replied, "Ex-girlfriend and used to be Jackie's best friend."

Trixie exclaimed excitedly. "This just gets better and better!" Fez began rolling the blonde's hair onto the three in rollers and replied, "I know! Eric was such a…non-aggressive guy and now he has a daughter…."

Trixie's eyes got bigger. "Donna's?"

"Nope. Someone else. Who would have thought that he was such a playboy?" Fez replied to the reflection in the mirror.

Jackie laughed at the gossip boy and went to check her appointment book. There was one last cut at one o'clock and she could close the shop. The phone rang and Jackie picked it up. "Queen Bee's Salon, may I help you?"

"Jackie Burkhart, how dare you get a sizzling kiss and not call your best friend?" Brooke admonished lightly. "I had to hear it from Rhonda!"

Jackie laughed. "It was late! If I called I would have woken up Michael and Betsy and then you would have been pissed."

"Well, yes, but I would have rather heard it from you first. So….is he good?"

Jackie giggled, "Surprisingly." She looked to make sure Fez wasn't paying attention, "He said he had a crush on me. How cool is that? Rhonda wants to double date."

"No! Michael and I are coming up this weekend to visit his folks. We'll leave Betsy with Casey and you double date with us. I won't take no for an answer."

"Okay mom. I'll ask him tomorrow."

"Good. Now that I have you on the phone, I need to know the best way to get motor oil out of Betsy's hair. Before you ask, she was helping her dad."

Jackie laughed and Fez looked over at his happy friend. Coming home to Point Place was a good thing after all. Thing were starting to happen!

T7S