Author Note: ….important life changing decisions to be had by all….(and a second posting because Doug asked so nicely)

T7S

Chapter 25 – Is Three a Crowd?

T7S

"…"Mommy and Daddy think the two of you should elope…."

J & E

Eric stood up. "Jackie and I need to talk in the kitchen." Jackie took Eric's hand and followed blindly while Gabby waved at the family over her dad's shoulder. Eric paced the kitchen floor quite dismayed at the turn of events. "Jackie, I'm sorry that they had to spring that on us. I wasn't expecting anything like this to happen. Ever."

Jackie sat down at the table and put her chin in her hands. "Do you think Chelsea is going to want her daughter back?"

Eric sat down and Gabby ran to her toy box. "I don't think so. I mean I hope not. It's my name on the birth certificate. The adoption was legal and I guess she can contest it with an attorney but that's not my biggest worry."

Jackie looked at his sad green eyes. "Fess up. What's the BIG worry?"

"Gabriella's so happy. She adores you and my family…when or if Chelsea enters the picture; it's just going to confuse her. I mean, Chelsea didn't want her in the first place and was going to give her to Social Services….that's cold. I don't want someone like that around my little girl."

Jackie agreed. "So your folks think that if we paint the perfect family picture then Chelsea will play nice and just go away?"

"I think that's what they're shooting for." Eric reached across the table and linked fingers with Jackie. "But I don't want to mess up what we have started. I think we have something special."

"Me too." She smiled simply. "How does a nice guy like you go from being a boyfriend to a fiancé to a husband in less than two weeks?"

Eric smiled grimly, "He hopes he has a girlfriend that wants to be a fiancée and a pretend wife for as long as necessary."

"Let me try something." She winked at Eric. "Gabby. Come to mommy." Gabriella threw her toys in the air and ran to Jackie's chair and hugged her legs. "My mommy!"

"I guess that worked." She really didn't expect it too! "If I do this thing…I mean it's a big IF…the sex has to continue."

"I have no problem with that." Eric smiled.

"I have to be romanced." Jackie added. "Not any sloppy greeting card or Clint Eastwood pictures."

"You got it."

"I still get to run my business."

"I still work in my store. None of that changes. I'll just get a new babysitter for Gabby."

"Where would we live? My apartment is tiny…IF…I agreed to this."

"Ummm….here? This is the only home Gabby knows. My bedroom is big enough for two people and we'd only be in there at night…"

"Your mother? She's not exactly feeling warm and fuzzy about me."

Eric smiled, "Jackie. This was her idea. If she didn't like you then she would have come up with a different plan. This was a Kitty Forman special."

Jackie looked down to see Gabby untying her shoelaces. "What are you doing little girl?" Mischievous green eyes looked up and her and smiled. "No-no."

Jackie hauled the little girl up on her lap. "Should I marry your dad for this crazy idea your grandma hatched up?"

Gabby patted Jackie's cheeks and gave her a sloppy wet open mouth baby kiss. She tucked her head in the crook of the brunette's shoulder and said in a soft voice, "My mommy." Man, this kid could sell it!

Jackie took a deep breath. "Laurie and Fez could stay in my apartment and do the daycare thing. That gives me Fez to work longer in the day and I wouldn't have to work with him and then come home to him….IF I chose to do this."

Eric smiled – he liked the way Jackie was thinking. "Now that Laurie's pregnant she'll be all hormonal but we won't have to live with her and we can pick up Gabby after the work day. IF that's what you want."

"IF this turns out to be horrible, the annulment is on."

"Agreed."

Jackie liked the little puffs of breath that warmed her neck and the strong small arms that hugged her. It wouldn't be so bad to tuck a kid in bed at night would it? "I don't do diapers."

Eric laughed, "I can handle that. In a couple of weeks she should be totally potty trained."

"We have to update her wardrobe. No negotiations on this."

He smiled. "Anymore demands?"

"We can't elope. It looks too phony. We need a small ceremony with friends and family. If I get married without inviting Brooke and Rhonda, I'm toast."

"You're right. We're going to need pictures and things that make look like the real thing. I can get Pastor Dave to do that part."

"Your dad can give me away."

Eric loved how she had these ideas just popping out of her head, "Betsy can be the flower girl and push Gabby in her stroller or something. Kelso can be my best man."

"Okay, take me home so I can think this through. I don't want you to lose your daughter and I hadn't planned on getting married at this age so I have some decisions to make. I'll give you my answer tomorrow."

Eric sighed with relief. Jackie looked over Gabby's shoulder, "There better be a nice diamond in this deal or it's off now."

Startled, Eric sat up, "A ring! Definitely."

T7S

Eric dropped Jackie off at home and Gabby waved "bye Mommy" and he sped home to tell his family what Jackie's ideas were.

"Our own apartment? Above the salon? I don't know." Laurie said. Fez was excited. "Laurie, it's nice! It would just be us. Well us, and you babysitting during the day. We wouldn't have to pay rent."

Eric didn't want to add that keeping Gabby in town made him feel safer. "I would pay you what I was paying Sophia."

Laurie crossed her arms over her chest, "Well I guess it's better than the basement because I'm PREGNANT and everyone keeps forgetting that."

Kitty sighed, "Oh sweetheart we didn't forget it. This will be fine; you're in town and the hospitals just down the street. I can visit you when I get my hair done."

Red just realized that during the day the house would finally be empty! No children or grandkids – peace and quiet was finally returning – this worked for him.

Eric looked at his dad, "She wants a ring. Can you help me pick one out? She says you're like her dad and I thought…."

"You want me to help spend your money?" Red asked with a raised brow. Eric nodded. "Nothing too expensive but not anything cheap looking – she knows the difference."

Kitty loved that she got to make the wedding arrangements. It was nice to be needed in a non-babysitting fashion. "So she's going to tell you tomorrow?"

Eric nodded. "She wants to think about it." He sat on the piano bench. "Guys…so you think she'll be a good mom to Gabby?"

Red knitted his brow. "Son, you should be answering that question yourself. Your mother and I had no idea of how to raise a kid and now you're springing a two-year old on a single gal. There's going to be some crying and it won't be those two girls, I guarantee it."

Laurie laughed, "Good one daddy!"

Fez added, "Yeah…like me and Laurie are going to find out!"

Laurie gave him an elbow to the ribs, "Not funny. Let's go downstairs and you can tell me more about this apartment."

Eric waited for his sister and Fez to leave and he looked at his mom. "So was this how you thought your plan would work out?"

Kitty smiled and laughed, "Ahahahaha….this is better! Let's break out the Kahlua honey, I'm celebrating!"

J & E

"Did I wake you?"

"Hello Eric, yes you did. I haven't made my decision yet."

"But it's going to be yes, right?" Eric asked hopefully. He was rewarded with a soft laugh. "I don't know. Quit rushing me. This is my life we're talking about. I have a career and how can I do an emergency wedding if I have a child?"

"The same way you do now. Gabby's getting two parents…even if it is short term. This should not impact your business in any way. Plus, you might get some cool wedding gifts if you spread the word."

"Eric Forman, don't try to persuade me with the promise of gifts. We would get gifts right? Never mind, I'm just going to sleep on it and I'll call you tomorrow."

"Hey Jackie?"

"Mmmm?" She was getting sleepy again.

"I had the best day of my life and that's because you were in it."

"Forman, you got sex. Of course you had a great day. Good night."

Eric smiled as he hung up the phone. He was sure she was going to agree. She had to say yes…didn't she?

T7S