When Eric returned home, everybody was waiting for him on the couch.
"Eric, how do you always get the red-haired beauties?" Fez asked. "Fez would like a red-haired beauty!"
Eric smiled and shrugged. "I don't know, Fez." He looked over at Charlotte, who was half asleep, with her head on Jackie's shoulder. "Char?" He kneeled down in front of her.
She opened her eyes slowly. "Huh?"
"What did you think of Amy?" he asked.
Charlotte yawned sleepily. "She was pretty."
Eric smiled. "Yeah. You wanna head to bed? I'll take you upstairs," he offered.
Charlotte nodded. "Yeah."
Eric looked at the rest of the gang. "Be right down." He led Charlotte up the stairs and took her to her room. Once Charlotte got settled in bed, Eric tucked her in.
"Alright, Charlotte," he said as he started to stand up. "I'm gonna head back downstairs."
Charlotte shook her head. "No, tell me a story!"
Eric stopped and smiled. "Alright." He got back down, next to Charlotte's bed, and watched her hug her teddy bear. "You like that bear, don't you?"
Charlotte nodded. "My mommy got it for me when she first got sick. She got it from the hospital."
"Oh." Eric said, and thought for a moment. "Your mommy was a good person."
Charlotte looked wide-eyed at Eric, and nodded. "I miss her so much." She looked down and Eric saw a few tears fall when she blinked.
"Aw, Charlotte." Eric scooted closer to her. "I know you do. It'll be okay, though. She's in a better place now." He nodded along with his story. "She's watching over you."
"Really?" Charlotte asked, and Eric nodded.
"She's watching me and you right now, and she's probably really happy that you've got me and everyone else." He smiled. "And she's probably laughing at the fact that Aunt Jackie and Uncle Hyde are back together. She's probably happy that the group is all together again, all because of her, and you."
Charlotte smiled. "That's good."
Eric nodded. "I know." He thought for a moment. "I wonder what story I should tell tonight."
"Make it a good one!" Charlotte ordered, and Eric smiled.
"Alright." He took a deep breath, knowing that this would be a hard story to tell.
"Once upon a time, your mommy and I were engaged."
"What's engaged mean?" Charlotte interrupted.
"We were gonna get married," Eric explained, and continued. "We kept it a secret for a while because we were still young and in high school. When we told my mom and dad, they were really upset about it." He frowned, thinking back to it. "But then, they accepted it and got everything planned out." He sighed. "The day before the wedding, I… I took off. I left because I got scared. I wish that I never ever did that." He closed his eyes, remembering. "We never got married, and I've been so mad at myself for it ever since."
Charlotte nodded with sadness in her eyes. "If you and my mommy had gotten married, would you be my daddy?"
Eric looked sad. "Yeah, probably." He looked up at the little girl. "But Charlotte, I want you to know that I think of you as a daughter and I… I hope you can see me as your daddy."
"Uncle Eric," Charlotte's eyes looked hopeful. "Can you be my daddy?"
Eric felt his heart rise and fall. He didn't know what to say. Then, he nodded slowly.
"You know what, Char? I can be your daddy." He looked down at the little girl to see her response.
She slowly smiled a wide smile. "So… does that mean I can call you Daddy?"
Eric nodded. "Yep." He smiled and noticed a few tears in Charlotte's eyes.
"Oh, Daddy!" Charlotte jumped out of bed and threw her arms around Eric. "I love you."
Eric smiled and hugged her back, feeling a tear fall down his cheek. "I love you, too, daughter."
"Knock, knock," a voice said at the door, and Eric turned around after wiping his eyes.
"Jackie," he said slowly, noting the concern in her eyes.
"What's-" Jackie started to ask, but Eric shook his head, indicating that he'd tell her later.
Jackie walked in the room. "Charlotte, are you tired?"
Charlotte nodded, and Jackie walked towards her.
"I just wanted to say good night," Jackie said. She gave Charlotte a hug, Eric another look of worry, and left the room.
"Good night, Aunt Jackie," Charlotte said after her, and looked back at Eric. "So you're my daddy now?"
Eric nodded. "Yes, I am."
Charlotte thought for a moment. "Wow. I have a daddy." She grinned and hugged Eric again. "Daddy, I'm tired. Will you tuck me back in?"
Eric smiled at her and nodded. "Of course, Char." Charlotte got in bed and he put the covers around her and kissed her good night. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Daddy." Charlotte smiled, and Eric reciprocated. Then, he got up, walked out, and closed the door.
Eric went downstairs and saw the gang in the living room. Kelso and Fez were on the couch; Jackie and Hyde were in the chair. He walked down and sat next to Fez on the couch.
Hyde looked at him. "You cryin', man?"
Eric shook his head. "No. I mean, not anymore."
Jackie looked concerned. "Explain to me what happened up there."
"She…" Eric looked away in thought. "She asked me to be her dad."
Jackie raised her eyebrows. "And…?"
"I said I would. And so, I'm gonna see if I can adopt her. Listen, I love her. She's Donna's, and… I would give anything for her to be my real daughter." He frowned.
"Aw, Eric," Jackie said slowly.
Eric nodded. "This is really important to me right now. This is… what I want."
"Well, that's good," Fez said with a nod. "You need to do what you want, Eric."
"Yeah." Eric stood up. "Well, I'm going to bed. Night, gang."
"Night," everybody said, and Eric went upstairs.
"So," Kelso said, turning to Jackie. "You and Hyde are… havin' a baby?"
Hyde looked straight ahead in a bored stare, while Jackie grinned.
"Yes! Isn't it great?" She beamed.
"Yeah." Kelso smiled and looked over at Hyde. "So, Hyde… not too happy about the whole thing, huh?"
Hyde just grunted.
Kelso grinned and looked at Jackie. "Jackie, I'm willing to give everything up to help you in this situation, since Hyde isn't too keen on the idea." He leaned over to her and put an arm around her. "I'm here for ya," he whispered, and Hyde leaned over and punched him in the arm.
"I am here, you moron," Hyde muttered. "I just… it's not right for us to have this kid like this. It's a bad time, and-"
"Maybe you and Jackie should have thought about that before you guys did it!" Fez said. "I am always careful."
"Fez, you don't do it," Kelso said.
"I would if I had offers!" Fez cried.
Jackie sighed. "Steven, maybe this wasn't supposed to happen, but this is what did happen, and you need to accept that. Our child is growing inside of me, and you need to be there to help me!"
Hyde put his head back and sighed. "Jackie, can we not talk about this in front of Kelso and Fez?"
"Fine, let's go upstairs!" Jackie said, and started walking up.
Hyde groaned and followed her.
"Good luck, buddy!" Fez called after him, and Kelso grinned.
"When this is over, it'll just be me and Jackie."
Hyde went upstairs, into his and Jackie's room.
"Steven, I-" Jackie started to say.
"Jackie, of course I'm going to be there," Hyde said. "I'm not like Bud. I'm just mad that things happened like this. I'm obviously gonna help you and be here with you."
"But I need you to… can you make a long term commitment to me now?" Jackie asked.
Hyde shrugged. "Not now, Jackie. Please, just let this go."
Jackie rolled her eyes. "For God's sake, Steven, are you ever going to say yes? Am I not the right girl for you or something?" She sat down and felt her eyes well up with tears. "I mean, can you imagine yourself being with someone other than me."
Hyde thought for a minute and shrugged slowly.
Jackie glared at him. "Say something!"
He just stared ahead.
"Steven!" Jackie said, and she looked up, tears spilling onto her cheeks.
Hyde frowned. He hated when she cried; he always had. "Jackie," he said softly as he stood up from the bed.
"What?" Jackie said angrily, crossing her arms.
"Don't cry, okay?" He attempted to walk over to her and put his arms around her, but she backed away.
"Give me an answer or go away, Steven," Jackie said, not looking at him.
Hyde sighed and turned around. He didn't want to look her in the eye. "Fine, Jackie. I can't imagine being with anybody other than you, but being tied down scares me."
"Why?" Jackie asked. "It shouldn't!"
"I don't know; it just does." Hyde sat back down.
"Do you love me?" Jackie asked. Hyde nodded. "Isn't that enough of an answer then?"
Hyde shrugged. "I don't know."
Jackie rolled her eyes. "Go away, Steven."
"No, Jackie, I-"
"Go away!"
Hyde leaned his head back, taking a deep breath, and stood up, and walked up to her. She glared at him.
"Didn't you hear me?" she asked.
"Yeah," Hyde said. "I'm not Kelso, though, and I don't take orders like he does." He stepped closer. "What're you gonna do, leave me?" He looked in her eyes, and when she didn't say anything, he spoke again. "Jackie, I'm gonna be here, I promise. Just a little time is all I need."
Jackie frowned, and didn't say anything.
oOoOoOo
"Ready to meet my mom?" Amy asked, eyebrows raised. "Believe me, she's no… regular mom."
"It'll be fine," Eric said. "Wasn't she ragging on you for not having a boyfriend?"
"It's always something new," Amy said, rolling her eyes. "I'm the least favorite of my family, I think."
Eric's eyes widened. "Me too!"
Amy smiled. "I can't believe that." She unlocked the door and opened it, taking a deep breath. "Alright, Eric."
"Amy, is that you?" a voice rang out.
"Yeah, Rox!" Amy yelled. She turned to Eric. "Everyone's here tonight."
"Ah, more pressure." Eric grinned.
They walked into the home, which was quite large.
"Impressive," Eric said, looking at the staircase and wood floors, along with the extensive hallway.
A pretty dark-haired woman stepped out of the hallway. "Amy, is this your friend?"
"Boyfriend, yeah," Amy said, glancing at Eric. "Eric, this is my sister Roxanne. Roxanne; Eric."
Roxanne smiled an obviously fake smile. "So great to meet you, Eric." She shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you, too," Eric said.
"Alright, now… excuse me." Roxanne scurried away.
"And… she's off to tell my mom that you actually do exist," Amy muttered.
Eric raised his eyebrows. "That bad, huh?" He frowned as Amy nodded.
"Come on," Amy said. "Let's go."
They walked into the kitchen, where Roxanne and two other women sat. Two young girls were running about, and a young boy was sitting on one woman's lap.
The first woman was thin, with blonde hair. She had a sophisticated look about her; and a child on her lap. Next to her was a dark haired woman with hair up to her shoulders. She had a tight smirk on her face; a look of amusement flickering through her brown eyes. She had a white dress on, along with a fancy gold necklace.
"Well, Amy," the dark-haired woman said, "Are you going to introduce your friend?"
Roxanne spoke up. "Since Amy won't do it, I will."
"No," Amy said. "Mom, this is Eric, my boyfriend."
"So handsome," her mother said, standing up to gently shake Eric's hand. "I'm Beverly."
"Nice to, uh… meet you, Beverly," Eric said with a nod.
"Eric, this is Dawn, my sister-in-law, and her son Gabriel," Amy said. "My brother Nick is… somewhere around here."
Eric shook Dawn's hand. "Nice to meet you." He looked at Gabriel and smiled, and the boy hid in his mother's arms.
"Nick and Dawn's daughter Jocelyn is over with Roxanne's daughter Angeline. Roxanne's husband David couldn't make it tonight," Amy explained.
"Oh," Eric said awkwardly.
"Sit down, Eric," Beverly offered, and looked over at her daughter. "Really, Amy, where are your manners?"
Amy took a deep breath and said nothing.
"Oh no, really, I'd rather stand," Eric said, standing by Amy.
Beverly raised her eyebrows at him in surprise. "Well, dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes. Amy, go introduce Eric to your brother."
"Where is he?" Amy asked.
"Living room," Beverly said. Eric and Amy left the room.
"Wow," Eric said. "She really… wow."
"She's nice to everybody but me," Amy admitted. "I don't know why. I never did anything wrong growing up, at least, not things that Roxanne and Nick did. They were the bad ones. I guess she liked that."
"What about your dad?" Eric asked. "Does he ever come around?"
"Well, no," Amy said. "Since the divorce they prefer not to see each other."
"Is he better than her? With you, I mean." Eric looked at Amy.
"Oh, yeah. I think I might actually be his favorite." She smiled. "I just wish he wasn't so far away. Plus, my mom would kill me if I ever left. She needs me too much. I have to do everything for her. That's why I was, fortunately, getting the pizza that night."
"It's like a real life Cinderella, huh?" Eric smiled, and Amy nodded, a playful smile on her lips.
They walked to the living room. "Nick?"
"Hm?" A handsome dark-haired man looked over at them. "Oh, Amy."
"Yeah," Amy said. "This is my boyfriend, Eric. Eric, this is my brother Nick."
"Good to meet you, Eric," Nick said.
"Same to you," Eric said, shaking his hand.
"I bet Mom is disappointed," Nick said with a small smile aimed at his sister. "She was hoping that he didn't exist."
Amy snickered. "Yeah, I know. I'm amazed that she hasn't accused me of faking yet."
"What do you think?" Nick asked, turning to Eric.
Eric shrugged. "She seems…" He trailed off.
Amy laughed, and Nick smiled.
"She's different," Nick simply said. "To Amy, at least."
"I think Nick's the only one in the family that treats me like a human being," Amy said with a glance at her brother. "Well, besides Dad. And Dawn isn't too bad, I guess, but I don't really talk to her."
"Roxanne's talked too much behind your back, huh?" Nick asked his sister, and she nodded.
"Everything I say goes straight to Mom. She's like her miniature." Amy shrugged.
"Well, you don't have to worry about that with me." Nick smiled and sat back down on the couch.
Amy smiled. "Alright, Eric, ready to head back to hell?"
Eric laughed. "Believe me, I was born there."