Author Note: ……what did happen with those pictures of Donna's family?

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Chapter 29 – Red Wax Pencil

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"Brooke, I have the Pearson's photos done. Can you call them to come down and to review the proofs?" He walked around the counter and laid a stack of photographs on the edge of the desk.

"Can I look?"

"Hey, you're my assistant. You can give me critiques. Tell me what you think." Eric flopped down on the loveseat while Brooke perused the pictures. "Oh, this flying Batman is too cute! Oh…look at all the goofy faces. My kids do that on purpose."

Brooke flipped through the prints and found one she really liked. It happened to be the proud moment when Randy accepted the request to estimate the studio. "Donna looks so happy here. I haven't seen her in a long time." Brooke put the pictures down. "Eric, you should have an open house. Invite your friends and their families so they can see what you do. I mean you're famous and all but I'm the only one that's seen you work."

"My folks would like to come down and Fez hasn't been here since I've opened. I guess I should have a few members of the city council included…there's going to be a media circus if I don't."

"What about Maxine?"

Eric had a horror stricken look on his face. "Don't ever! You've talked to her."

Brooke laughed, "No, she talked to me and talked and talked and talked! But she's your agent so she should at least be invited."

"You win again. Let's do this next week….Wednesday. We'll order some champagne and appetizers. Do you know a good caterer?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. I think it should be a high class party, no children messing in my props. I'll have Casey babysit so I can keep Michael out of the toys."

Eric laughed. "You know I might get some good pictures out of this."

"Hey, you don't always have to think with your camera you know." She teased. Eric turned red. "Can I show you something personal?"

"Eric, I don't think we're that good of friends yet!" she said laughing as his shocked expression. "Seriously, though what is it?"

"Well, you probably know that Jackie and I are…."

"Dating? Yes, it's not a surprise. Wait! You've got pictures of her in there don't you? Come on Eric, show me."

Eric told her to lock the door. "These are personal to me and it's how I'm going to base the calendar."

This was Brooke's first venture into the darkroom. The orange bulbs gave off a glow like it was Halloween but she could still see clearly enough. Eric drew her attention to some photos that were hanging to dry.

He plucked one off the line. It was the one with Bedhead Jackie on his chest when she looked so beautiful to him. Brooke looked at it almost like she didn't recognize her best friend.

"She looked just like that when I told her I was falling in love with her." Eric said softly looking at the picture in Brooke's hands. "And then she said she loved me too."

"Oh Eric, this is so wonderfully romantic! You should frame this and hang it in the foyer. She looks like a movie star."

Eric showed Brooke the pictures from their whirlwind New York trip. "I was thinking that for the calendar, I could use different types of characters or should I say, have Jackie dress as characters with some great backgrounds. She photographs well and I can give the photos a sexuality that makes the frames more attractive."

"Oh, that's why I'm flying around getting permits!"

Eric clipped the pictures back on the line. "Well yes, but I've talked to Max and she wants you in the calendar. She said your brown eyes are like chocolate pudding and your flawless complexion is a testament to all women over 30."

"Really? What a great compliment. Well then, I would be honored to be in the calendar."

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Jackie stopped by the studio on her way home. When Brooke saw her friend, she couldn't help but remember the sexy picture and she grinned. "Glad you could finally come by!"

Jackie hung her head, "I was selling houses. I didn't want to bug Eric while he was working."

"You could have told me you guys were dating. I had to find out about it from Fez."

"Oh mom, I'm sorry. Didn't I ask for your permission?" Jackie teased. Brooke picked up a feather boa and pretended to throw it at her friend. Jackie picked up a sword and held it up in the air, "Help me Obi-wan, you're my only hope!" A long arm wrapped around her waist nuzzling in her hair.

Eric pointed two fingers at his assistant and said, "This is not the droid you were looking for." The trio started laughing. "Jackie come back to my office, I have something cool to show you."

"I'm going to start locking up Eric, I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Thanks Brooke!" Eric hollered over his shoulder.

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"I don't know why we had to come down here; couldn't he have just dropped them off?"

Randy parked the car in front of the store. "Donna, we might want extra copies and I want you to see my work." Donna looked at the studio front with the large pane glass that had the " f " scripted in calligraphy. "Fine. Let's just get the pictures and go. We still have to get the kids from your mom's."

Randy grinned and went around opening her car door. Donna stepped onto the curb and saw the black Camaro and felt her stomach clench. Randy pushed on the glass door and saw Brooke look up; smiling at them.

"Randy…Donna! How nice to see you again."

Donna was taken aback. "Brooke….what are you doing here?" Donna looked around the big room and saw the set with all the decorations and Brooke was sitting behind a desk. "Why I work here. I'm Eric's assistant and prop master."

Randy grinned, "She's a glorified shopper."

Brooke smiled, "Well, that's another way to put it. You guys are here to see your photos! Brooke pulled a red wax pencil out of her drawer, "If you see one you like and want it enlarged, put a + on it. If you see one you want extra copies of, put an X in the corner."

Donna and Randy sat down on the loveseat and started going through the pictures. Randy was amazed at how perfect they turned out. Donna loved seeing her kids in print just as she saw them on that day. "Oh look at Jeremy…he's so silly."

While the pair were looking at the photos, Brooke went back to let Eric know he wasn't alone in the store.

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Jackie was perched on Eric's leg holding the diamond frames in her hand. "They want me to wear this in a picture?" The glasses had more diamonds than her tennis bracelet. "Why not just take a picture of this? I mean it's gorgeous."

Eric pushed her hair from her face. "Because…silly girl, they want your eyes in the picture." He leaned forward and pressed his lips against the corner of her mouth and her breath hitched in her throat. He loved that he had that affect on her. She touched the light stubble on his chin as his lips covered hers. The diamond frames were forgot as his kiss warmed her blood and made her heart flutter.

An embarrassed coughing broke them from their kiss-fest. Eric looked up and Jackie looked guilty. Brooke smirked, "I'm leaving but Randy and Donna are looking at the photos. I gave them red wax pencil control."

Brooke put the diamond frames back into their box and put the box into the safe. "Good night Eric. Oh, and Jackie? Your ass better call me later."

"Yes mom." Jackie teased. Brooke exited through the side door as Eric stood up. "So you want to go out there with me?"

Jackie held onto his hand. "I would but I don't think Donna would be too glad to see me."

"But you're my girlfriend, I want you too." Eric argued. Jackie squeezed his hand, "Dorothy, this is business. Go take care of the Pearson's and I'll wait for you right here." Eric knew she was right but it didn't make him feel any better about leaving her in the storage room office. He took a deep breath, put on a smile and walked to the front of the store.

Donna looked up as Eric strode towards them. He was wearing a casual long sleeve shirt and some faded blue jeans and couldn't look any sexier if he tried. She nervously fumbled with the handle on her purse. "Hey, Eric, these pictures are great."

Randy held up the sofa photograph. "Forman, I would love this to be a family Christmas card." Eric took the photo by the edges. "Actually I know a company that makes post cards and they could shrink this down for you and emboss your family name and address on it."

Randy grinned and looked at Donna who had a hard time dragging her eyes from Eric's face. "Isn't that cool Donna?"

"What? Oh, I don't even want to think about Christmas this early. I love this picture." She watched as Eric casually leaned against Brooke's desk and folded his arms. "Brooke told me she gave you red wax pencil control."

Randy nudged Donna with his shoulder and she woke from her reverie, "Oh the pencil. Yeah we marked some up. Could we take a few with us?"

"Sure, just leave me the ones you want changed up."

Randy rifled through the stack and pulled out a couple of the kids. "If we're picking them up tonight, my mom would love these."

Donna rubbed her forehead with the heel of her hand. "Yeah she would. We'll send some to my dad too." Randy started talking to Eric about the studio and building a bookcase façade for some shoot that was coming up and all Donna could do was listen to the sound of his voice. Gone was the squeak and replaced with a lower more mellow quality that she found mesmerizing.

She watched as he moved; self-assured and confident. He led Randy over to a wall of the set and was describing something and all she could concentrate on was his hands and the last time they touched her.

Donna wanted her ten years back.

She wanted that second chance with Eric.

She wanted Randy.

Could she have them both?

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