I own none of the Characters. They are owned by ABC
Nick took Eddie home so he could clean up. His truck wasn't there in the driveway.
"Where is my truck?" Eddie asked as he and Nick walked into his house.
"Janet had to drive it home after you got thrown into jail." Nick responded.
"Well give me a few minutes to clean up and then take me over there."
"How about please?"
"Whatever."
Phil jumped up when Eddie walked into the house.
"Hey man, welcome home. How was jail?" Phil asked him as he slapped him on the back.
"Well the room service sucks and the bed was lumpy but other than that is was as good as the Ritz."
"Well since I have never been to the Ritz I will take your word on that." Phil said laughing. "So Eddie, what the hell were you thinking getting yourself thrown in jail?"
"Phyz, I need to go see Janet. Can we talk when I get back?" Eddie said as headed up the stairs to his room.
"No prob." Phil yelled at Eddie's back.
Thirty minutes later a showered and shaved Eddie stood on Janet's porch knocking at her door. Janet cracked the door open and handed Eddie his truck keys.
"Here you go." She said as he took the keys and started to close the door. Eddie stuck his foot in the door to keep it from closing.
"Janet, wait. Can we talk?"
"No Eddie. I don't want to talk right now."
"Please J. I brought a peace offering." He said grinning as he held a bag of cheese puffs.
"Cheese puffs Eddie? Do you really think that is going to work?"
"I hope so." Janet sighed and came outside. She took the cheese puffs out of his hands and sat on her porch swing. Eddie followed.
"So?" Janet began
"I overreacted at the courthouse. When I heard that asshole threaten you I lost control and punched him. I am so sorry for that. I didn't mean to scare you."
"When I saw you punching him I guess I had a flashback, but in my flashback I saw you instead of Paul. I think that your anger scared me."
"Oh God, Janet, I could never raise a hand to you ever. I would never hurt you." Eddie had tears in his eyes when he spoke those words.
Janet reached out and took Eddie's hand. "I know that, deep down I know that. I think that I was so emotionally raw because of all of the memories that were so close to the surface that I just got confused"
"It just kills me that you thought that I could hurt you. After what my mom went through I would never." Eddie said softly
"Your mom. Eddie, I never knew."
"No one does. I have never told anyone before."
"It means a lot to me that you trust me enough to tell me."
Eddie sat there silently for a few minutes staring at the house across the street. Finally he broke the silence.
"My dad used to beat my mom on a regular basis and I was too young to do a damn thing to help her." He said as silent tears ran down his cheeks.
"Did he ever hit you?" She asked him softly
"Just one time. When mom got home and saw what he did to me she kicked him out. He was a very prideful man. He was the principal of the high school at the time and mom threatened to go public with the abuse if he didn't leave. So he spilt and we have never heard from him again."
"Ok, I am confused. I thought that your parents were still married."
"No, Mom remarried when I was ten and I call him dad. He was the best thing that ever happen to my mom and me."
"Wow" Janet said
That sat in silence for a while, each of them lost in their own thoughts.
"Are we cool Janet? Do you trust me?" Janet didn't answer him right away. He began to panic. Finally she spoke.
"Yes Eddie, I do trust you. I trust more than I have ever trusted anyone else."
"I am so glad that you said that Janet, because if you didn't trust me I would hate myself."
"Well, that won't be necessary Eddie."
"Look, I did a lot of thinking while I was sitting in that jail cell and I need to ask you something important."
"Umm ok." She said slowly.
"I would like to be your baby's father." Eddie said looking right at her.
"Why?"
"Why? Because everybody needs a father. The man who I consider my father isn't biologically related to me. I wouldn't be the man that I am today if it wasn't for him. He made me realize that it's not just blood that makes the father. It's the man."
"Eddie, I don't know what to say."
"Look, you don't have to say anything right now. Just think about it."
"Eddie, don't make any promises that you can't keep. If you do this, it's not just for a few month or years. It's for the rest of this baby's life. It's forever."
"I know that Janet."
"I don't need you. I can handle it on my own."
"But you won't have to Janet."
"Are you sure about this?"
"I have never been more sure about anything before."
"You won't just be stuck with a baby, but me as well cause I'm the mom."
"Just icing on the cake pretty girl." He said smiling
"If you are sure about this, absolutely sure…" She began
"I am."
"Then Eddie, I would be honored if you would be the father of my child."
Eddie jumped up and gave her a hug. He then started laughing.
"What is so funny?"
"I am going to be a father." He said smiling.