Milly was thrilled. She decided to not push it, but figured five signs a day wouldn't be that bad for him. Especially since she finally found a reward system that he seemed to respond to. So far in the kitchen they signed "Hello", "How are you?", "Goodbye.", "Thank-you.", and "Please." She even mixed them up, making sure that Eric wasn't just copying her. Eric did wonderful, even keeping eye contact with her the entire time, clearly signing, and nodding, or shaking his head. She knew finger spelling might take awhile, but she figured maybe the next time they signed she could show him how to sign his name. Each time he signed to her, or responded, she would lean across the table and softly kiss his lips. Each time he sat back blushing, and smiling proudly. She knew if her mother saw what she was doing she might have a fit, even though she figured that she suspected that the two were doing more than just holding hands. She was too embarrassed to tell Mrs. Sherman or Uncle Hugo yet, but liked that she had found the magic wand to motivate Eric.
The light outside was fading, and she knew that Luis would be home soon.
"I'm gonna order a pizza. Mom said you can stay for a while. That sound good?"
Eric looked up nodding and smiling. Milly got up smiling, before ruffling his messy hair. She knew it was oily, and that Uncle Hugo was probably going to have to struggle with him tomorrow morning to wash up. She sighed, wondering if maybe she could convince Eric to allow her to wash his hair in the kitchen sink? She knew he hated showers, so Uncle Hugo would usually have to run baths for him. Still, she figured it would be a nice surprise for him if she got him to bathe so it would be one less thing for Uncle Hugo to deal with. Before she grabbed the phone to dial the pizza guy, the phone rang in her hand, causing her to jump and laugh to herself. Eric was drinking the rest of his hot chocolate looking at her with curious eyes, before Milly answered.
"Hello?"
"Hi Milly it's me mom. Listen, Luis is going to spend the night at his friend's tonight."
"Oh okay."
"Listen..."
Her voice became softer, almost a whisper.
"Garry from the office asked me out to dinner after our meeting. I was wondering..."
"That's great mom! You should go!"
Her mom didn't sound so sure, before asking if she was okay being home alone?" Milly eyed Eric and smiled before shaking her head.
"I think I'm going to watch a few movies with Eric if that's okay?"
"Is Uncle Hugo home?"
Milly nervously chewed on her lip.
"Um yeah, I gotta get Eric back later but figured we would watch a few movies if that's okay?"
Her mother took a second before saying sure. She was about to say something else, and even started...
"Milly?"
"Yeah?"
"Nevermind. Just be careful. I'll see you later tonight."
"Okay, have fun mom. Love you. Bye."
Hanging up, Milly raised her eyebrows and smiled as Eric looked up.
"My mom is going on a date! The first date since..."
Her words trailed off sadly, before she pushed those thoughts away. Instead, she hung the phone up, and smiled before walking back to the table.
"Eric, let's order the pizza later. Let's go next door and get some comfy clothes for you and..."
She knew she couldn't lie to him, before she sighed, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear.
"We'll get you all washed up for tomorrow."
Eric's face showed alarm, as his eyes widened in distress. He cupped his hands, placing them over his ears, before shaking his head like a stubborn child having a tantrum. Milly sighed, before she pulled a chair up, and gently took his hands, and made him put them down.
"Eric, look at me. Listen."
It took him a second, before he stared at her, angry. Sighing, she shook her head.
"I know you hate showers, and Uncle Hugo will probably give you one. I bet you it's going to be freezing too. Why not I give you a bath here. Not a shower, a bath. We can make it warm, and even fill it with bubbles. My mom has all these soaps and you can pick out whichever one you like best. I'll..."
She blushed, before shrugging.
"I'll wear my bathing-suit and I can get in with you. I promise it won't be scary."
Eric stared at her with uneasy eyes, before Milly smiled and reached across the table, covering his hand with hers. Smiling, she knew the best way to coax him was to use what was working. Smiling, she shrugged.
"After you're all clean, and in cozy clothes we can come back down here, order a pizza, watch a few movies and..."
She leaned forward, gently kissing his cheek, before sitting back. Eric blushed even deeper, before she knew she had him. Hook line and sinker. Smiling, she motioned for him to follow her.
"Come on, we'll grab some clothes next door."
He got up, slowly pushing back his chair before she followed him. Together, they went out the back kitchen door and into the chilly windy night. Something told Milly if her mother had any idea what they were about to do...Eric might never be allowed to ever visit her again. While she walked across to Eric's house, she slipped her hand into his, as they walked side by side.
Later...
She figured just in case anyone did happen to swing by unannounced, it would be safer if Eric wore his boxers into the bath. She knew this wasn't ideal, but it was probably the safest way to do this without feeling as if she was doing anything wrong. They went to Eric's, and she went to his dresser, picking out fresh boxers, sweat pants, a T-shirt, and his blue hoodie. They went back to the house, where Milly turned up the heat, and took him to the upstairs bathroom. Here Milly flicked on the lights, before opening up the cabinet, and showed him the different boxes of different scented soap. "Lavender, honey, raspberry..." Eric nudged her arm when she held the rasberry one. Smiling, she held up the box for him to look at.
"You want this one?"
Eric nodded, before she walked over to the tub, knowing how careful and slow she had to be.
"I'm going to turn on the water. Not the showerhead. It might sound a little loud, but I just need it on for a few minutes so I can heat the water up and mix the soap in."
Eric didn't say anything, listening, before Milly sat on the edge of the tub, reaching down and putting the plug in while Eric pulled at his earlobe, and nervously paced the tiny bathroom, before Milly turned the water on. It startled poor Eric, who almost darted for the door, when Milly held up the "OK" sign, showing him it was fine. He stood by the door nervous, watching as she opened the box and poured in the soap. Slowly bubbles began to form, as Milly tested the water with her hand. She wanted to make sure it was plenty hot, but wasn't sure how Eric reacted to the heat. She loved taking scalding hot showers, steam fogging up the mirror, causing her mother to shout that she was using all the hot water, and how that kind of heat was awful for her complexion. Testing the water with her hand, she waited, until she saw the tub was basically filled, bubbles growing in large mountains. She shut the water off, shaking her wet hand, before turning and smiling at him.
"Come test the water with your hand and see if it's too hot. Come on, it's okay." Eric hesitated, before slowly he walked over slowly, acting with caution before he stood before the tub. Milly showed him, dipping her own hand underneath the thick bubbles, before lightly splashing the water with her hand. Eric didn't look so sure, but finally reached down, hand shaking slightly, before he tested the water, and brought his hand back up, slightly covered in soap suds.
"That okay?"
Eric stared at his hand fascinated, before Milly crossed her arms.
"I'm going to go get changed in my bathing suit...I'm just doing this so we can take a bath together. You take everything off besides your underwear okay?"
Eric nodded, before Milly smiled, petted his arm, before leaving and hurrying to her room. Digging through her dresser, she had to fish towards the bottom, before she found her faded one piece, which she knew was too small now, and started to pill. She had wanted to buy a two piece, but wasn't sure if she had the body to pull one off, even though Geneva claimed she did. She undressed quickly, pulling it on despite how cold it was, and pinned her hair up. She looked at herself real quick in her vanity mirror, sighing, wishing that her breasts were actually bigger and could fill some stuff out. Her mother claimed all in time, and now that she started her period last month, that just meant that her body would continue changing. Walking out, she went to the bathroom, before she knocked on the door.
"Eric? I'm coming in."
She opened the door and was relieved to see he had listened to her. He only stood in his boxers. The rest of his clothes, along with his socks, and sneakers were all tossed together in a pile on the floor by the sink. Staring at him, she remembered last month when she got changed in here, and how she couldn't take her eyes off him. His skin was slightly tanned, and she kept staring at his smooth arms, and that tiny trail of hair that went down from his bellybutton, down towards the waistband of his boxers. She stared at him with curious eyes, before feeling color flush in her cheeks. Taking towels, she laid one on the floor outside of the tub so water wouldn't splash out, and so they wouldn't slip while getting out. She took the other two towels for them to dry off with, and draped them over the sink, within arm reach, while the other went across the closed hamper. Smiling, she offered his hand.
"Ready?" She saw that he was looking at her, and she felt tiny goosebumps break out through her arms. Shivering, she knew she needed to get into the tub before she lost her nerve. She looked down at her old bathing suit and wrinkled her nose.
"Wish I had a nicer bathing-suit. Sorry that this one is so ratty looking."
Eric didn't seem to care. Instead he just stared at her, and she noticed his eyes were lingering on her breasts. She knew she didn't really have anything to be proud of, but she did have breasts, even if they were tiny. She remembered the way he stared at her just in her bra before the costume contest, and how it hit Milly that even if Eric was special in his own way, even if he could fly...he was still a teenage boy. Tempted to cross her arms, she decided that she was doing this because he trusted her. She needed to feel the same way about him. Taking his hand, and showed him as she stepped into the tub. She motioned for Eric to follow her. He nervously eyed the tub, before she stared at him.
"It's okay Eric, slowly okay? We'll do this together."
Eric didn't seem so sure, but slowly lifted one leg, and climbed into the tub the same as her. Together, they stood in the warm water, before Milly held both of his hands, and slowly got down, before sitting. Eric did the same, and slowly they sat down. Milly on one end, him on the other. They sat, before Milly smiled, and moved her legs to the side, feeling his cram on the opposite side as well. Together they sat surrounded by suds, and Milly smiled.
"See? It's okay."
Eric seemed a little overwhelmed, but nevertheless slowly relaxed before Milly smiled. Taking a handful of soap suds, she placed it on her palm before blowing it in his direction. Eric seemed surprised, but smiled, as they laid in the tub covered by bubbles. Milly could feel his legs and thighs up against her. She knew this wasn't perfect, and wondered if Uncle Hugo might have a problem knowing she bathed him herself and might tell her mother? Instead, she figured she would just lie and say that she got him to take a shower while she sat outside in the hallway. Sitting in the warm water, she took a facecloth , and dunked it underneath the water, before twisting and draining it. Handing it over, she smiled.
"Wash up, under your arms, and up and down your chest."
She took her own face cloth and motioned to him on what to do, and instantly felt silly that he didn't need any help. He washed up, dunking the cloth into the water, twisting, and draining it, watching the water drip back into the tub. He mimicked her, before she smiled.
"Ready to wash your hair?"
Eric blinked, before Milly reached and grabbed the shampoo bottle She turned it over, before squirting a coin sized squirt into the palm of her hand. Rubbing her hands together, she motioned for him to lean forward. He nervously watched her, before she showed him it was okay. "Maybe keep your eyes closed?" Eric wouldn't. Instead he stared forward as she squirted the shampoo into her hands, and egan to soap up his hair. She worked the shampoo through his hair, massaging his scalp, all the while he continued staring at her as she washed his hair. She smiled, before finally she played around, spiking his hair up the shampoo, making him smile, before she motioned to him, pinching her nose and pretending to dunk.
"Okay on the count of three. One, two, three dunk!"
He closed his eyes, pinched his nose, and went under for just a few seconds. When he popped back up, his hair was dripping wet. She laughed at the stunned look on his face, before he smiled. Playfully he splashed her, causing her to squeal, before she splashed some back at him. Both were dripping wet, laughing as water continued to slosh back and forth in the tub.
Later...
She knew he wouldn't let her use the blow dryer, so she dried his hair as best as she could with the towel. She wrapped her towel around him, while she hung the other towel over his shoulders. The bathroom was warm, and smelled like raspberry soap. He stood over the towel she had draped down for them. He wasn't shaking, in fact he looked pretty calm, and flushed from the heat of the bath. They had only spent twenty or so minutes together in it, before the water cooled down, and Milly helped him out. Now drying him off, she smiled as he bowed her head allowing her to towel him off. She then saw that he was staring at something. She looked down, and saw that since her bathing suit got wet , since the material was so worn, you could see completely through it. She saw he was staring, and instantly instead of feeling embarrassed, she actually felt pretty good about herself that Eric had noticed her. Nobody had ever looked at her breasts like that before. Smiling slowly, she stood back. He continued staring at her, when she took a deep breath. Standing there, she didn't even think. Instead she just decided enough was enough. She stood there, before she lowered her bathing suit, peeling it off, before she stood completely naked in front of him. Eric's eyes widened slightly, before he dropped his eyes. She could tell, he didn't quite know what to say or do. Instead, he stayed staring down at their bare feet for a moment, before Milly wondered if maybe she had gone too far. She stood there naked, feeling very exposed, before she took a deep breath.
"Eric?"
Eric took a second, before without so much as another word, before he leaned down, and pulled his soaking wet boxers down. Milly's eyes widened, totally caught off by surprise. She looked at his penis for just a second, seeing that it was slightly sticking up, before she dropped her eyes embarrassed. He cupped his hands, covering himself, before he took a step forward. Milly's heart pounded in her chest, before he leaned in close. Milly froze, before she felt Eric quickly kiss her cheek, before turning away, and grabbing his clothes.
Milly stood back completely stunned, watching as Eric's back faced her. He was carefully getting into his dry boxers, and she stood back staring at his bare ass. It was smooth and pale, and Milly couldn't help but find herself staring. Geneva did remark once that it appeared that Eric had a cute butt. Seeing it now, Milly had to agree that she was right. She stood back, slightly stunned watching Eric dress himself. Sighing, she turned and grabbed her sports bra, and pulled it on, before pulling on her baggy night T-shirt. It went nearly down to her knees, before she watched Eric slowly, his back still facing her, he pulled his sweatpants on. She looked at his back, and the bumps of his spine. Smiling, she tilted her head to the side closely watching him. How his shoulders arched as he leaned down to grab his T-shirt and hoodie. Smiling, she pulled on her pair of shorts, before fixing her hair into a tighter ponytail. When he finished dressing, he turned around, color still in his cheeks, but looking slightly relieved that she was dressed. Smiling, she reached down, scooping up his wet boxers, her wet bathing suit, and towels.
"I'll throw these into my hamper..."
She checked the bathroom, making sure she didn't leave it a mess, before walking out. Eric followed her with curious looking eyes, before they reached her bedroom. Tossing the clothing in, she cupped her elbows, and shivered. She could hear the wind starting to howl outside. Eric had followed her, and was looking at Tilly in the birdcage on her dresser. Smiling, she turned.
"Now you don't have to take a shower with uncle Hugo tomorrow. Your hair is clean."
She smiled walking over, giving his damp hair a slight tug, before she saw goosebumps had broken out over her arms. She shivered, before she was surprised to feel Eric's arms slowly rise, before his hands went to her bare arms. Slowly, very gently he rubbed her skin back and forth for a second. Smiling, she felt that same strange fluttering wash over him, before she nervously smiled.
"Cold huh?" Eric continued rubbing her arms, before she stared up at him.
"Sure wish you could spend Thanksgiving with me tomorrow. Mom says it's just because we're spending so much time together that I'm being so dramatic. I'm just gonna miss you. Maybe once you get home if it's not too late we can watch some movies and eat leftover pie?"
Eric continued staring down at her, still rubbing her arms. Smiling, she leaned up and softly kissed his lips. Eric smiled looking down at her, before she pulled on his arm.
"Come on, let's order the pizza. I'm starving."
Later...
Somehow after the whole bath episode things weren't weird for Milly. She had seen Eric naked, plain and simple. He hadn't taken advantage, or made her feel bad. Instead, he simply kissed her cheek like a gentleman, covered himself, and finished getting dressed. She wasn't sure if she had taken things too far, but he seemed perfectly comfortable afterwards. They ordered a pizza, and split it along with some pop in front of the TV, Like always, both sat snuggled up against each other watching late night movies, as Eric laid his head against her shoulder, and gently stroked her hand. When ten hit, she figured maybe they could go upstairs and red for a little bit. Eric usually would fly over next door by the time she fell asleep, but she told him he could stay with her until either Uncle Hugo came home, or her mother. She shut her bedroom door, before crawling into bed. She patted the side of the bed, motioning for him to come join her. He had sat and laid on her bed plenty of times, usually whenever she read to him. She was determined to soak up as much Eric time as she could. She motioned for him to come join her, and he crawled into bed behind her, his back against the wall. She pulled back the warm covers, before pulling them up to them, and snuggling up against him.
Taking the book she thumbed it open, before she began the latest chapter. Eric laid behind her, listening closely, before she finished the latest chapter, all the while feeling his warm breath against her neck, and the soft feeling of him gently stroking her hand as she read. Once she was done, she marked her place, before turning over and staring at him. He stared down at her, before Milly softly smiled, all the while absently playing with the ring he had given to her a while back. She hadn't taken it off since they became "official". She thought back on the night he first took her flying, and smiled staring up at him. She leaned down, and gently snuggled against his T-shirt.
"You smell nice, like raspberry soap."
He smirked, before she laid her head against his chest, faintly hearing his heartbeat, while listening to him breath in and out. She laid there, snuggled up close to him before she sadly smiled.
"Someday when we're older...and married, we'll have our own house, and never have to spend a single holiday apart. I promise."
She looked up to see his reaction, and instead just saw him giving that same small smile of his whenever he heard something he agreed with, or liked. She laid there, closely laying there with him, before she pulled back a little and smiled.
"You'll marry me someday won't you Eric?"
Eric looked as if he was thinking for a second, before he nodded. Loving that answer, she kissed his jawline gently.
"We'll get married and have lots of babies, and nobody will ever bother us. We'll go flying every night..."
She babbled, trying to see it all play out in her mind. At this exact moment, she had never felt safer, and never wanted this night to end. She was aware of how his body felt against hers, slowly breathing in and out, feeling strong and secure. She snuggled in close to him, wrapping her arms around him, before slowly drifting off to sleep.
The next morning...
Milly had woken alone in bed, but with the strong scent of raspberry soap lingering in the air. It made her feel absolutely wonderful, but partly lonely that Eric had flown back to his room across the way. She had noticed he had shut her bedroom window so she couldn't catch a cold. When she woke up early, it was sounds of Luis eating cereal downstairs, watching early morning cartoons before the Macy's parade began. She slipped on her extra hoodie Eric had given her, before shuffling downstairs. She wanted to see if Uncle Hugo's car was gone already or not. Venturing downstairs, she saw her mother looking out the front window and frowning. Confused, she walked over.
"Hey mom. Happy Thanksgiving..."
Her words trailed off, when she watched Uncle Hugo in his best blue suit, struggling to wressle Eric back into his truck which was parked up front. Eric was in a button down shirt, and cord pants. He was fighting Uncle Hugo, struggling against his grasp around his waist, kicking and struggling the entire time. She could hear Uncle Hugo struggle with him, sounding impatient, and exhausted.
"Eric! Come on now! Enough of this nonsense. Milly needs to spend some time with her family, and you need to visit your cousins! Now stop acting up!"
Her mother frowned, clicking her tongue, before Eric struggled again, breaking free of his grip, and racing towards their house. Uncle Hugo started off chasing after him, while her mother signed and placed down her coffee.
"Oh God..."
Eric ran up the lawn, before Milly's eyes widened, and she ran for the front door. Her mother called after her, but she ignored her. Yanking open the door, she ran out into the early morning freezing November air, before almost colliding into Eric who had reached the front porch.
"Eric!"
Eric's face was flushed, and he looked as if he was scared out of his mind. He tried to speak, struggling as he liped her name, but no sound escaped his lips. Milly grabbed him, allowing him to bury his face into her shirt, nearly pulling her down, when Uncle Hugo came running over, flushed and out of breath. By then her mother had already hurried out.
"Milly! I'm sorry, he's giving me a hard time. I don't think he wants to leave you. I explained that he would see you in a few hours..."
Eric was crying now, sobbing into Millie's shirt, as she held onto him. Looking up, she sighed.
"Mr. Gibb...if it's alright with you, could Eric stay with us? This way you can visit your family and stay as long as you want...you wouldn't have to worry about Eric."
Uncle Hugo looked exhausted, his mouth twitched as he stared at Eric, sobbing up against Milly. Clutching onto her, slightly pulling at her nightshirt as her mother stood in the doorway. He looked unsure as he dropped his eyes.
"I couldn't ask you that. Today's a holiday. You shouldn't have to..."
"We don't mind!"
Milly yelled, not meaning how loud she yelled that. Instead she felt a fluttering panic, and felt scared for Eric. She knew he hated visiting his uncle's distant family. They were older, and from what Milly heard from Uncle Hugo, they didn't quite understand what was wrong with Eric, and either ignored him, or forced him to sit between his two great aunts, sandwiched between them, having to have his cheeks pinched, and fussed over despite the fact he was turning sixteen in a few weeks. Whenever he came home, he looked worn out like he did whenever he returned from the hospital. Eric had only visited his family on Columbus Day weekend, and even though it was just a day, Eric returned looking absolutely terrible. He was flushed, and his hair was sticking up in different directions. When Uncle Hugo brought him inside, Eric instantly ran up to his room, slamming his door, and climbing out to sit in his windowsill. Milly, who had bad cramps had been up most of the night feeling extremely uncomfortable. She had an overnight pad on, which felt like a diaper, and she was terrified that she might leak through and stain her sheets. Her mother had allowed her to take a few aspins, but they hadn't done anything. After the third time of her getting up, her mother, who was reading up on the computer in her bedroom, dug deep into her purse, before finding a pill bottle. She shook out two small round red pills. She offered them to Milly.
"These are muscle relaxers. They are pretty strong. Just take one now, save the other for tomorrow. You'll sleep once it kicks in."
Milly took them, wanting to ask so many more questions, or just vent over how gross and frustrated she felt over having this now every month of her life until she was older than her own mom's age. She had been a pretty emotional day. Snapping at Luis one second, then tearing. up over the dumbest things on TV. Her mother reassured her that this was all perfectly normal, but Milly felt sick to her stomach whenever she changed her pad, thinking how impossible this would become at school. Her biggest fear was that it would leak through. She kept thinking back to Eric giving her his hoodie, and how she knew deep down inside that Eric understood a whole lot more than he let on. She had tried washing and returning the hoodie, but when she tried to give it back he simply smiled and shook his head. Now tonight, she had it on since she realized when you're on your period, you felt ten times colder. She figured this was because of the lack of blood. Geneva agreed that whenever she got hers she was freezing, even if it was a million degrees outside. She had her night shorts on, a baggy T-shirt, and Eric's hoodie.
It was pouring that night, and she could hear it picking up as it hit the roof. Usually the sound of the rain was soothing, but tonight since it was storming out, the rain kept sounding as if it was getting louder and louder. She laid beneath her covers, shivering despite the fact her mother had the heat on. She was bummed out that Eric had been gone all that day visiting family, and had witnessed what a hard time he had given Uncle Hugo, thrashing, fighting, and struggling to run as he loaded him into the truck. One thing she had to say about Uncle Hugo was that he never lost his patience, and had never gotten rough with him. Still, Milly felt her heart break watching the scene unfold through the front bay window. Her mother scolded her not to be nosy, and asked if she would help her in the kitchen. Watching Eric keep trying to run to their house broke her heart. They had spent all weekend together, and it had been wonderful. After school on Friday, Milly brought Eric and Luis to the ice cream stand, which would be closing in just a few weeks for the season. The ice cream hut was called Splits, and had picnic tables outside, along with a small little mini golf course. Luis was eating an ice cream dilly bar, while Milly bought Eric and her two sugar cones. Strawberry for her, chocolate for him. They had sat licking their treats, before Milly saw Eric staring at her cone curious. Smiling, she offered it to him.
"Want a lick?" Eric's eyes had brightened up, before she leaned forward offering it.
Eric smiled, leaned forward, and licked before he smiled. He then offered his to Milly who giggled and licked his. Both began taking turns, sharing their ice creams while Luis rolled his eyes muttering how gross they were. That night, Milly had Eric over for dinner. Her mother was on a date with Garry, and had allowed them to order whatever they wanted. In typical fashion, they decided on pizza. Luis played his video game as Eric watched him fascinated. Luis offered the joystick several times to Eric, who would stare at the TV screen. Finally Milly said he didn't understand, and to just let him watch. While Eric watched Luis play his video game, gently petting Max who had curled up on the couch with him, Milly got all of her chores done around the house ahead of time. She washed the dishes, vacuumed the stairs, dusted, and took out the trash. She knew the trash was Luis' job, but decided to just get it done. Once the pizza guy came, the three of them sat at the dining room table. Luis talked a mile a minute about his day at school, while Milly listened and laughed, all the while glancing over at Eric who was slowly chewing his pizza. He was on his third slice which meant he was hungry.
In fact at lunch, he ate his orange Milly, helped him peel, a tiny bag of chips, and his tuna sandwich. Uncle Hugo had explained some of his meds had gotten switched up, and he usually mixed it with his chocolate milk in the morning which he mixed up for him were almost like small doses of steroids to help his muscles developed since his doctor explained even though Eric was healthy, his muscle tone in his legs were still slightly off. He showed no signs of slowing when it came to growing. Uncle Hugo said he suspected he would end up as tall as him, and his late father who was nearly 6'5. He told Milly the meds would make him hungry, and as long as he took his time eating, and wouldn't make himself sick, this was perfectly fine. Milly had noticed his appetite had gotten better, and he looked like he had been really enjoying himself. Once they were done with dinner, and Luis helped clean up, he ventured upstairs to go play, while Milly and Eric grabbed pop cans, and settled down on the couch. A new show that Milly absolutely loved called Growing Pains was on tonight, and she had told Eric all about it. Snuggling up close to him, she watched her program, laughing, and even catching Eric smiling a few times throughout it. The next day Milly had gotten up early, and took Eric to the park. They had dressed warm, and brought her kite. Luis had to go shoe shopping with their mother, and sulked the entire time during breakfast. Milly and Eric had a blast running back and forth as the kite danced up in the gray November sky. A few hours later, Milly and him bought soft pretzels and hot chocolate from a cart at the park. After that, they took a walk after putting the kite away in Milly's bag. They walked around downtown hand in hand, before going back home. Milly attempted to show him how to play a few boardgames, but the only one that seemed to interest him was her Jinga set. She showed him how to play, and had never seen such focus in his eyes before as he leaned over carefully to move the pieces. Several times they blocks dropped, causing him to jump, before finally he seemed to get used to it, and even silently laughed as it continued to fall. They then read a few books, before she had Eric over again for dinner. She could tell her mother seemed slightly annoyed, but didn't say anything. Milly and Eric washed the dishes afterwards, before going back to her room. Here she took out her colored pencils, and told Eric they could design their own airplanes.
Eric laid on the floor with her as they colored. Milly did fancy designs of hearts, stars, while Eric scribbled with the different shades of blue and green. Once the papers were completely covered, Eric would begin folding them into paper airplanes. At one point she noticed Eric drawing stick figures. They were messy, and not drawn very well, but besides scribbles, this was the first thing she had ever seen Eric actually draw. In art class, he usually just made paper airplanes. She was fascinated watching him, as he hunched over the paper, pressing the back crayon against the paper, focused, and staring down. Milly watched, before she saw him give the girl a triangle dress, and stick like pigtails. Both figures were holding hands and he wrote beneath them...
eRic - Millie
Her name was spelled wrong, and the writing was sloppy, but this was the most she had ever seen him write besides his name. Looking at the stick figures she smiled before she leaned down, taking a red crayon.
"Can I?"
Eric nodded, closely watching her as she drew a heart around the two stick figures. Smiling, she eyed him before he grinned. She ended up asking if she could keep it? Using tape, she put it up on the wall, and couldn't stop smiling. That night when Eric went back next door, Milly started her period again, and the cramps came back with a vengeance. She felt cranky, and tried. Sunday flew by, and she mostly sat on the couch in front of the TV, a hot water bottle underneath the blankets, as she snuggled within the pillows and watched bad television. Eric came over for an hour or so, and sat with her. It seemed almost as if he knew something was wrong with her, and at one point he got up and went to the kitchen, having lately made himself at home. He brought her back a can of pop, and even opened it for her. The rest of the night they watched television, as Milly snuggled in close against him.
When Monday happened, which they had off, Milly saw Uncle Hugo struggle to drag poor Eric to visit distant family. Her heartbroke watching Uncle Hugo struggle to load him into the truck, and hated watching him keep trying to break free, and run to her house. Her mother told her to mind her business, and shooed her to the kitchen. The rest of the day Milly felt miserable. Her cramps were killing her, and even Geneva coming over to flip through magazines with her didn't cheer her up.
"So where's your boyfriend?"
Geneva casually asked. Sighing, Millie sat on her bed looking through a Tiger Beat. Geneva said she could keep any fold-out posters of C. Thomas Howell. Looking through it she sighed.
"Uncle Hugo took him to visit family."
"Really? Had no idea there was more family. I wonder if they're weird too."
Milly was in no mood for Geneva's little remarks. She lowered her magazine and shot her a look before Geneva held her hands up in defense.
"Sorry. Hey, you two are joined by the hip. I bet you that's what's bothering you, not your cramps."
Milly felt embarrassed and rolled her eyes as she continued flipping through the magazine again. Geneva smiled.
"So? Have you two...done anything yet?"
Milly's eyes widened as her face blushed.
"Geneva!"
"What? You two are going together now. I see you guys holding hands all the time. What have you done?"
Milly shurgged, before a small smile crept on her face.
"We've kissed."
Geneva grinned.
"And?"
Milly looked up still smiling before she shrugged.
"Just kiss, that's it."
"Oh Milly. You at least need to have one good make-out session with him! Is he a good kisser?"
Milly kept blushing, before she made a face.
"He's...the best actually."
Geneva cracked up, before she playfully hit Milly with her magazine.
"Well, well, well. Looks like Eric Gibb actually has a few tricks up his sleeve."
Milly cracked up with Geneva, all the while wishing he was home now. That night after she picked at her dinner, and showered, her cramps bothered her so much that she went upstairs to bed early. Her mother had given her the muscle relaxers, and now Milly laid underneath the covers, trying to breath in and out as wave after wave of cramps made her stomach ache. That's when her window opened, wind blew it, causing her to sit up as rain came in, hitting the foor for just a second, before Eric climbed in, most likely having flown over. His hoodie was soaked, and his hair was plastered down. He stood there shivering, before Milly jumped up and shut the door behind him, cutting off the pouring rain. She stood there with wide eyes, completely forgetting that she wasn't wearing a bra under her baggy nightshirt. She stood before Eric who shivered.
"Eric! Are you okay?"
She whispered, before grabbing her extra blanket off her bed. Unzipping Eric's hoodie, she took it off and draped it over the chair to her vanity
"You're soaked! Take your shirt off!"
He shivered, before peeling his shirt off, which was completely soaked as well. Staring at him, she sighed, before leaning down and unbuttoning and unzipping his pants. Eric tensed up for just a second, before Milly instructed him to kick off his sneakers and socks. She helped him pull down his pants, and draped them across her dresser next to Tilly's cage. He stood in just his boxers, shivering as she put the blanket around Eric's shoulders, and rubbed his arms trying to heat him up. He was still shaking, his bangs dripping as he looked at her grateful. She brought him to her bed, and sat him down before sitting beside him.
"Did you just get home?"
Eric nodded, still shaking, before she sighed.
"Was it bad?"
He nodded again, as she put her arms around him.
"I missed you."
They sat together like that for a while, before another cramp hit her. Shutting her eyes, she took a deep breath, before Eric stared at her, confused and concerned. Smiling sadly she shook her head.
"I'm okay. Remember how I told you I got my period, well it happens every month. I have it right now and the cramps are killing me."
She sighed, shaking her head and staring at him.
"You're lucky to be a boy. Nothing ever happens to boys..."
She yawned, knowing the pill was starting to kick in. She motioned to her bed.
"Wanna cuddle for a while? Get you warmed up? You gotta leave before morning, but maybe stay until the rain stops?"
Eric nodded, before she crawled underneath the blankets, and patted the side of the bed for him to lay down on. He moved slowly, getting underneath the covers, before he laid behind her. Milly reached, and took hold of his arms, before settling down against her pillow. She laid there, taking a deep breath, before Eric stopped shaking. He laid underneath the blankets with her, arms wrapped tightly around her, as the two cuddled for warmth, and listened to the sounds of the pouring rain.
Now weeks later, she stood on her front porch with Eric snuggling up close against her, as she gently stroked his hair. Uncle Hugo sighed, asking if it was alright with Milly's mother, who waved her hand, walking out.
"We would love to have him. If you can't...make it back tonight we'll even do up the couch for him. He'll be fine. You deserve a break too." Uncle Hugo looked unsure, before nodding.
"Thats very kind of you. As long as it's not too much trouble..."
"It won't be. Go and enjoy yourself. Besides, I'm sure the kids want to be together anyways."
Uncle Hugo warmly smiled, before he nodded and thanked her again before heading to his truck. He called out to Eric to behave himself, before wishing them all a happy Thanksgiving. Eric finally lifted his flushed sweaty face, to watch Uncle Hugo drive down the road. Once he knew it was safe, he pulled back slightly, and looked at Milly relieved. She smiled softly, and brushed back his fallen messy hair. Milly's mother sighed before walking over.
"Garry is going to call me in a bit. Do you mind getting started in the kitchen? Maybe Eric can help. Your brother is watching the parade."
Milly was willing to give up her left arm if it meant Eric could stay. She smiled and nodded.
"Yeah sure! Thanks mom."
Her mother sadly frowned, before she petted Eric's shoulder before standing up, turning, and walking back inside. Pulling back from Eric a little, and smiled from ear to ear.
"We can spend the whole holiday together Eric! Isn't that great?!"
Eric grinned before Milly leaned forward, and gently kissed his forehead. Brushing his hair back, and smiled before she pulled on his hand.
"Come on, I'll need help in the kitchen. Let's go."
Before she could get up, she saw Eric struggle again, straining before he whispered...
"M...M...Milly..."
Her eyes lighting up, she smiled, before kissing his cheek, and helping him stand.
2007
Milly sat up in bed typing away on her laptop. She was on a roll, and usually while Eric and her laid in bed watching late night television, she would start to brainstorm, and write down any ideas that happened to pop up. It had been a rough past few years with the miscarriage, but she had thrown herself into her work as a distraction. Eric sat beside her, he had his Ipad, and was currently in the middle of typing up an email himself. Just then there was a knock on their bedroom door. Milly looked up, her hair done up in a messy bun.
"Yeah?"
Jet, their teenage son, walked in. He had Eric's floppy brown hair, and her colored eyes. He wore basketball shorts, and a baggy T-shirt. He entered, nervously twisting his hands together. Milly glanced at the clock. It was nearly ten thirty.
"Hey mister, you're supposed to be in bed, you have basketball try-outs in the morning..."
Jet nodded, before he reached the end of his parent's bed.
"Um...listen, this weekend a bunch of my friends are going to Hampton to see Hawthorne Heights. Jessie has an extra ticket and I was wondering if I could go?"
Eric put down his Ipad and quickly signed...
"Who's parent is taking you?"
Jet nervously shrugged.
"I think since Jessie has her license we would all just carpool and..."
Eric made a face and shook his head. He signed flat out...
"No. No way. You're only fourteen, you need an adult with you."
Jet's eyes widened.
"Wait! Jessie's parents let her..."
Eric sighed again, his eyes serious...
"No Jet. That's final. If you have an adult to take you we'll think about it. Until then no."
Jet made a face.
"But that's not fair! My grades have gotten better, and I've been doing basketball! Why can't I..."
Eric stared at him before flat out signing again...
"No Jet. If you want me to drive you guys I will, but a bunch of pre-teens aren't going to Hampton alone. Sorry."
Jet's face twisted up, before he rolled his eyes, turning around.
"It's not fair!"
He slammed the door while leaving. Milly was about to call after him, when Eric gently patted her arm, and shook his head. Milly sighed, shutting her laptop, before she looked at her husband and sighed.
"I don't ever remember us being that spoiled at that age."
Eric gave a soundless laugh, before he shook his head, and went back to his email. Sitting there, Milly sighed, before sliding her laptop under the bed. Settling back against the pillows, and headboard, she stared at the TV mounted against the wall, before laying her head against her husband's shoulder. She knew they had been pretty over protective over Jet lately, and he was at that awful age where teenage mood swings were totally normal. She knew the last two miscarriages had been hard on him since he was now that he understood that he had lost siblings, and that both had been pretty traumatizing to his parents. Milly had been patient, but had noticed a huge attitude problem with him in the last few months. She hated that she had a deadline with her latest book.
The Adventures of Eric, the magical flying boy.
She was nearly done, but with the stress of everything, she knew once she sent the final draft to her publisher, she would have to sit down and talk with Eric, and try to take some time off to spend time with Jet. She wanted to let him know his parents were here for him, but weren't going to allow him to walk all over them. Snuggling in close, she placed her head on her husband's shoulder, all the while absently playing with her wedding ring.