Author Note: ….leftover fluff and an interesting upcoming conflict…..

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Chapter 21 – Have Mercy

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"…you are trouble tonight and right now it's more than I can handle…"

Did he really say that? Eric felt like slapping his forehead in frustration. He looked at his watch and it was just after 9:30. He had to make a phone call.

Jackie was on the phone with Rhonda when the buzzer rang. "Hang on; let me see who that is." She walked over to the window and saw Eric waving his arms. She opened the sash and hollered down to the sidewalk, "Hey, I thought you were going home."

"I forgot something." He shouted up to her window. Seconds later, the door buzzed and he took the stairs two at a time. He knocked on the door and heard the sound of the telephone being hung up.

What did he forget? Jackie looked around the room and didn't see anything that belonged to Eric…unless he wanted the plush pink dinosaur she won at Skeeball. She hung up the telephone after Rhonda said goodbye and went to answer Eric's knock.

The minute she opened the door, she was pinned against the wood with the most erotic goodnight kiss of her life! Eric's mouth was pressing urgently against her lips while his hands ran over the swell of her breasts and down the curve of her waist. She could barely catch her breath before he started kissing her again and again - his tongue seeking hers.

Jackie's hands fluttered like a bird as Eric pressed and ground his hips against hers…she could feel how hard he was and with each push he would rub against that spot between her legs and she could only moan her approval.

He pulled back and looked at her swollen mouth, her closed eyes and her smile. "I forgot to say good night." Eric grinned and released her only to run down the steps in triumph.

He heard Jackie say, "Call me…"

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That following Saturday morning, Eric got an early phone call. "Eric dear, this is Sophia. I have some dreadful news." Kitty was making breakfast while Gabriella was playing with her bowl of Cheerios when her son hung up the phone. "Who was that Eric?"

Eric's brow was knitted, "Aunt Sophia. She slipped last night and broke her hip. She called to tell me she can't watch Gabby for a couple of months." Kitty put a plate of pancakes on the table. "Well that was thoughtful of her to call. Gabby and I will go visit later and make sure she's okay."

"Wow…okay...do you think I could get Laurie to babysit if I pay her what I gave Sophia?"

Kitty smiled, "Of course. She hates the Shop N Hop and would rather watch her soaps. Sadly, my daughter didn't marry a rich man and she's still as unmotivated as before. But her one redeeming quality is that she loves Gabby."

The little girl heard her name and laughed, "Gabby!" Eric smiled, "I'll talk to her when the basement wakes up. Gabby, eat your breakfast, we're going to yard sales today!"

She didn't know what that meant but it made her dad happy so Gabby replied, "Yay!"

Kitty laughed, "She's going to be saying full sentences before you know it. Oh, don't worry; I'll have Laurie pick up on the potty training." Eric kissed his mother's cheek. "Thanks mom."

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Jackie woke up with bruised swollen lips but smiled. Forman really brought it! She was totally surprised when he came back after her un-strip-tease and kissed her like that! Now he left her wanting for more! She sighed…how romantic. He could really be a take-charge kind of guy when he wanted.

She rolled over and dialed the phone. Kitty picked up, "Hello?"

"Hey Mrs. Forman. Is Eric there?"

"Oh no Jackie. He and Gabby are out doing some kind of shopping. Would you like to leave a message?"

"Could you please just let him know I called? I'm working today so I'll try and catch him later."

"Okay dear. My appointment for Wednesday is still on, right?"

"Yes and we're going to give you some subtle highlights. You'll love it!" Kitty said goodbye and hung up the phone. She turned to her husband, "I don't think Eric is doing the pursuing anymore. I think he's the one being chased."

Red laughed and poured more Mrs. Butterworth on his hot cakes. "This is just one strange relationship if you ask me!"

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Gabby chattered from her stroller while Eric examined a box of dusty old books. This yard sale was a potential treasure chest. Right now, he was holding in his hand a 1939 hardcover edition of John Steinbeck's, The Grapes of Wrath. Eric looked inside the cover and was stoked to find that this was a first edition print. With the exception of a bit of wear at the top edge of the book and some dust, this novel could be resold for thousands of dollars. Eric carefully set the book back in the box and waved at the fat man sitting on the lawn chair. "How much for these books?"

The large man scratched his belly, "Five bucks for the whole box." Eric quickly put the box on the bottom of Gabby's stroller and went to pay the man. "If'n you're interested, I've got more books in the shed over there. My granny used to read like nobody's business. Go see if there's something you like in there."

Eric approached the rickety shed like he would a treasure chest. He made sure Gabriella couldn't climb out of the stroller while he opened the door. He nearly choked when he saw shelves full of complete sets of popular author's works. When he spied a perfect Breakfast at Tiffany's, by Truman Capote…Eric knew he struck gold.

"Hey buddy. I'll give you a hundred bucks for all the books in here."

"Sold." Get rid of them before I chuck the entire lot." Eric quickly wrote a check and buckled Gabby in her car seat then backed his car up to the shed and started unloading. This was almost as good as last nights kiss. Aw, who was he kidding? The kiss was better but this book find was great! "Gabby want to go to daddy's store?"

Gabby kicked her feet and smiled. "Book!" She reached over for her cloth book of letters and pretended to read. Daddy was happy and that made Gabriella happy too.

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Rhonda smiled at Fez who was suddenly all clumsy and awkward. "Hello again Fezzie." He swallowed a lump in his throat. "Rhonda….looking beautiful." She laughed, "Would you mind giving me a deep….conditioner? My hair feels so….fried."

Fez felt tight in the pants! Why wasn't Jackie here yet? "Yes. Come sit at the sink and I'll shampoo your hair." …Get her out of my heart…help me Rhonda…. Fez wrapped the succulent Rhonda in a purple cloak and watched as she lowered her neck into the sink.

D & C

Long blonde hair was smoothed away from her face. Blue eyes gazed at blue eyes. "Is this what you wanted?" The blonde looked at the raven haired beauty and replied. "Yes and no. I'd rather stay here and not be judged for who we are but at the same time I miss my home."

Soft hands brushed cheeks and smiled, "It seems that our destiny is pointing us to Wisconsin. Why else would you have gotten that job offer and my aunt break her hip? It's fate."

"Chelsea…I miss my dad…but he'll never understand."

"Honey, my aunt doesn't either but she called me to come take care of her. She's the only family I have besides you." Foreheads touched foreheads as they gazed at each other. "It's not like you're going home and picking up where you left off."

"But it's not like we're not going to see the baby either."

Chelsea rolled over taking the blankets with her, "I've been thinking about her. Do you think she'll know who I am?"

Donna slid an arm around Chelsea's waist and kissed her bare shoulder. "I don't know. There's no telling if Eric said anything about us….we just have to find out when we get there."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

J & E

Rhonda was getting her hair rolled when Jackie finally wandered into her salon. It was a good thing too because Fez kept dropping his comb and rollers were all over the floor. Fez was a nervous wreck and Rhonda could only smile. Her flirting techniques were driving him crazy.

"Jackie! I'm glad you're here. I was telling Fezzie how HOT it was outside and that I was anxiously looking forward to a BIG cold POPSICLE when I got done." Fez dropped another roller and muttered, "Aaiiyyy….Jackie, take over!"

Fez flew out the door and around the corner. Jackie looked at her best friend, "You are so bad! Look at that – you chased away my hired help!"

Rhonda laughed, "But he was so easy and I got a 15 minute scalp massage."

"Well, I'll just charge you extra." Jackie laughed. She pulled on her apron and picked up the fallen rollers and comb. "You must have made quite an influence because normally, he would have already had this hair rolled and under the dryer. Rhonda smiled into the mirror. "I just have this effect on men. What do you want me to say?"

Fez was sitting on the bus bench trying to collect his wits. Laurie wanting to have sex all the time, Rhonda coming on to him – that was more than a foreign boy could take! He loved it yes, but Rhonda! Big Rhonda was the epitome of a classic beauty. Her hair was like silk in his hands and even though he was married to luscious Laurie Forman, thoughts of Rhonda still made him tight in the pants.

Eric pulled up to the curb and honked to get his brother-in-laws attention. "Fez, what are you doing? It's baking hot out here!"

Fez got up and walked to Eric's car window. "Hello Gabby-gab!" He smiled at the little girl and moaned to his friend. "Big Rhonda is in there. I can't be alone with her Eric. She gives me needs and I'm married to your sister."

Eric laughed, "Just hang in there buddy…if Laurie found out….well, you know what she did to Kelso…"

"Aiiyyy…don't remind me. You want to come in and say hello? The air conditioner is on and we have cold drinks."

Gabby looked at the sign with the Queen Bee on it and she kicked her feet "Key-key!" Eric grinned, "I guess that's a yes."

"Good, you can protect me." Fez exclaimed. Eric unbuckled Gabriella's seat belt and the little girl scampered out and ran straight for the salon door. She started banging on the glass with her little hand shouting for Key-key.

Fez smiled, "She likes Jackie a lot doesn't she?" Eric beamed, "So does her dad."

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