Present 2012
The bell rang outside of the preschool Milly and Eric had carefully chosen for Marshall.
It was on the outside of town, and held preschool and kindergarten. It was called The Acorn School, and after Milly did her research, she absolutely fell in love with it. They named each classroom after forest animals. There were the woodchucks, the owls, the squirrels, and bears. Marshall was in the youngest preschool room, so he would be in the Owl room. His teachers were two wonderful women that both Milly and Eric met at the open house. Mrs. Everwood, and Ms. Quinn. The classroom was colorful and comforting, and finally after months of searching, and decided that this was the perfect school for Marshall. Eric originally wanted him to maybe skip preschool and just go straight to kindergarten. They found out they could do that, and Marshall was very smart for his age. He already knew most of his letters, and numbers since Eric and Milly always read to him, and had him practice writing. His speech was really improving, and Milly watched during the mommy and me classes, and Marshall seemed much more ahead than the other little ones. He loved puzzles, and always as usual was a happy go lucky little boy. He was never mean, and never threw a tantrum. For Marshall life was always on the sweet side, and those big brown eyes of his, and that cute smile on his round chubby perfect little face could make anyone fall in love with him. Milly believed he was the spitting image of Eric. She loved being able to stay home and be with him. Eric always rearranged his work schedule so he could take days off, or work later in the evening so he could spend as much time as possible with Marshall. Milly kept them busy, with different classes she signed them up for, and whenever they were home Eric was always trying something new with their son. They loved to finger paint, build blocks, play with his toy airplanes, and cars.
Eric was always tossing Marshall up into the air and catching him as he giggled, and cheered for him to do it again, and again. Marshall knew a few signs since they always did it in front of him, and as usual Eric was his whole world. Marshall would really only cry whenever Eric was leaving for work. Whenever he came home though, he would race towards Eric, and jump up into his arms, covering him with kisses. They loved playing outside, looking for bugs, or playing in the sandbox Eric built for him for his last birthday. Milly loved reading to him, and had already released another two books, both of which had done very well. She took Marshall everywhere, and as usual, everyone would fuss and gush over how adorable he was. Sadly though, they had to face the fact that their only child was growing up. Yes it was preschool, and yes it was only a half a day, but still, to Milly and Eric that seemed like a lifetime. Today on this windy September morning, both stood in front of the school with all of the other parents, watching their little ones line up in front of their teachers. Milly and Eric originally planned that Marshall might start crying when the reality set in that his parents weren't coming with him. Instead, much to their shock, he jumped up and down with excitement, wearing his little overalls, and clutching his Snoopy lunchbox. There were a few other little boys in line who waved to him, and Marshall turned and smiled up at them.
"By mamma and daddy! I love you!"
Eric clutched onto Milly's arm, as Marshall didn't even ask for a kiss, and ran towards his line instead. Mrs. Everwood smiled, and gave the thumbs up to all of the parents, before they walked inside. Eric and Milly watched until Marshall disappeared, and instantly it hit them. This was the first step of their baby growing up. Milly held back tears, before she slowly turned her head and saw that silent tears were running down Eric's face. Sighing, she rested her head against his shoulder before sighing.
"Come on, let's go home. I need a drink."
Eric squeezed her hand, both still looking at their son's school, unable to believe that his first day of school went off without a hitch.
Later...
Milly and Eric made themselves Long Island Iced Teas, which were quite stiff. They both sat on their sofa, looking at Marshall's toy chest, his bin of Legos, his tricycle, and his drawings, and paintings he made for them all taped up to the wall. Eric had been depressed since they dropped Marshall off. He kept nervously tapping his foot, and looking up at the clock. Milly's heart broke for how nervous he was, and perfectly understood it. They had been sitting there, watching the clock in their living room, sipping their drinks in silence.
"House seems really quiet without him huh?"
Milly said before looking over at Eric. He sighed, before slowly nodding. Milly smirked, holding her glass.
"Just another hour. We'll pick him up and maybe spoil him with some fast food as a special treat. I also bought him some play doh yesterday. If he behaves we'll let him play with it..."
Her words trailed off, before she saw the depressed look in Eric's eyes. She knew if it was up to him, he would have wanted him homeschooled and kept with them. Still, they had talked this over, and wanted him to continue to develop, and make friends. But Milly understood, and missed him badly. She figured it was because after losing all of those children, and suffering all of that heartbreak, Marshall was special. He was the one they were meant to have, and he had become their whole life.
"Seems just like yesterday he was just a baby laying on his paymat right over there..."
She looked over at Eric and saw him just staring ahead, looking depressed. Sighing, she smirked, before leaning forward and setting her drink down. She then slowly took his drink from him, and set it down beside hers.
Turning, she smiled.
"Want a blowjob?"
Eric turned, raising an eyebrow, looking quite surprised. Milly laughed and shrugged.
"Figured it would help pass the time, and might cheer you up?"
Eric cracked a smirk, before Milly laughed and leaned towards him and kissed him.
October 1989
They were officially seniors. It seemed so unreal that what seemed like just yesterday was the new girl freshmen year. Curious about her strange next door neighbor. Now, she was a teenager, taking all great classes, and thriving in creative writing. She had plenty of friends, even though Geneva was her closest. She had a wonderful boyfriend, who was making such great progress, it seemed almost impossible. He was fully signing now, and using his ear plugs less and less. He was doing great in his classes with his aids that were working with him, and Mrs. Sherman said in another year or so she figured he would be ready to get his driving licence. She constantly praised for being the one that got Eric to get out of his shell, and actually start acting like a "regular" teenager. Milly as always would claim it was Eric that really did it. The only thing she was dreading was looking at colleges. She knew Mrs. Sherman was looking into that school for austitic people, but the thought of them going to seperate schools gave her anxiety. She wanted to major in English, and really try to continue with her writing. She had read her poetry and short stories to Eric, and he signed to her that he loved them. She wasn't so sure if he was just saying that, but honestly having his support meant the world. Whenever she tried to read her stuff to her mother, she would get these little comments about how she really should pursue a career in business since she would have a better chance at getting a good job. Things had been tense at home, and she thanked God for Garry, who often stuck up for her. But tonight she didn't want to worry about any of this. She was sitting on Geneva's swings in her backyard. Her parents were downstate visiting her grandmother, and her rotten brother was inside playing video games. Milly had come over that Friday since Eric had speech, and therapy. He was due back soon, and Milly planned on heading over. She had rented some scary movies, and knew they would have the house to themselves since Uncle Hugo was visiting his "special" friend.
It was the perfect late autumn evening. The sun had just set, and there was a chill in the air. The trees had just started to change, and they rustled by the wind. Geneva had thankfully called her after dinner. Her mother was in a mood, and Milly grabbed her bag, and the tapes she had gotten from the video store, before slipping out. For the last half an hour, she swung slowly back and forth, dragging her sneakers against the dirt talking to Geneva. Both were catching up on regular gossip, and Geneva had plans to invite Andy over after her stupid brother went to sleep over his friend's house. Milly thanked her lucky stars that Luis was a regular pain in the neck brother, and not like that gross germ that was related to Geneva. Both talked about basically everything, including music videos they had just watched, and certain handsome TV stars they had crushes on. Finally, Geneva smiled and cocked her head in Milly's direction.
"You going to prom?"
Milly looked over and laughed.
"That isn't until May Geneva..."
"Come on, you must be thinking about it. You said you would probably go to this one since you skipped the one last year. You have to Milly! I'm sure Eric could handle it, besides Andy is taking me and I want you to go!"
Milly laughed, shaking her head before shrugging.
"Maybe...I don't know. I do have a pretty nice dress that fits better now that Eric got me a few years ago..."
"Oh my God is it that shimmer one?! The purple one?!"
Milly laughed and nodded. Geneva then went on and on about what they could do with her hair, when suddenly she felt her pocket of her bubble vest, and her eyes widened with excitement.
"Oh my God I forgot! A friend of mine gave me this today..."
She slowly pulled out a joint and waved it in front of Milly's face. Milly raised an eyebrow, and looked down at it.
"Is that a cigarette?"
"No dummy, it's a joint! Andy can't smoke because of football. Do you...wanna smoke it with me?"
Milly looked unsure, before nervously biting her lip.
"I don't know...I've never smoked one before..."
Geneva rolled her eyes and laughed.
"It's no big deal! I've done it plenty of times!"
Milly stared at it unsure.
"What does it feel like?"
Geneva thought for a second.
"Um...I don't know... like tingling, or floating...but in a good way."
Milly sighed and looked down at her Swatch, before mentally debating with herself. She had sworn she was going to make this year memorable, full of new experiences... Sighing, she looked at her.
"I need to leave in like ten minutes to head over to Eric's... "
Even better. Sex on pot is amazing. I swear." Milly blushed and laughed before Geneva smiled and pulled out a small book of matches.
"Come on, don't be chicken shit. You can do it...watch..."
She struck the match, and lit the end of the joint, taking slow puffs out, before turning towards Milly, and coughing. She laughed as she did so, before holding out the joint and waving it right in front of Milly's face. Milly nervously chewed on her lip, before shrugging and taking it. Geneva cheered, before Milly put it in her mouth and inhaled, taking a big puff. Instantly her throat burned, and she began coughing like crazy. Leaning over, still sitting on the swing, Milly hacked and coughed as Geneva laughed. Once she finally was able to breath, she shook her head and handed the joint back.
"It's all yours. I can't..."
Geneva laughed, shaking her head, before popping the joint in her own mouth.
"You lightweight."
Milly coughed again, before sitting up straight, and instantly freezing. Her eyes widened, before she looked over near the bushes.
"Did you hear that?!"
Geneva raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"I think there's a skunk or something over there..."
Geneva started cracking up, still puffing away on the joint.
"You're stoned."
Milly held onto the chains of the swing, nervously looking around the dark backyard.
Later...
Milly absolutely hated the feeling of being high.
She had a minor panic attack earlier with Geneva, truly believing there was a woodchuck or skunk ready to attack them in the backyard. She felt like she was hyperventilating, then thought she heard police sirens. Geneva told her she was just being paranoid. Finally, Milly checked her watch, and saw she was already late to head over to Eric's. Worried since somehow her mother would find out she was high, she stood up, hating how strange she felt. She grabbed her bag, before Geneva laughed and waved to her.
"Watch out for wild woodchucks!"
Milly rolled her eyes, before deciding to just hurry as fast as possible. It was dark out, and everytime a car passed, Milly felt herself jump. She walked as fast as she could, almost convinced somebody was following her, before she reached Eric's yard. Breathing a deep sigh of relief, she climbed the steps, and knocked on the door. After what seemed like a lifetime, Eric answered. He was wearing plaid PJ bottoms, and a white T-shirt. His hair looked messy and drying from a shower.
The second he saw her he lit up and smiled. Milly instantly burst into tears, causing him to instantly look concerned.
"Eric, Geneva gave me a joint and I took a puff and I'm super high. I think it was laced with crack or something...I think I'm having a heart attack...and I thought I heard a skunk or a woodchuck.."
Milly rambled on, before suddenly she looked up and saw that Eric was smiling. She stopped mid-sentence, looking up at him confused. Eric continued smiling, looking as if he was on the verge of cracking up. He then shook his head at her, still smiling, before offering his hand. Milly looked around nervously, thinking again she heard an animal, before taking his warm and comforting land and going inside.
Later...
Milly sat at Eric's kitchen table, in the middle of eating her second helping of pancakes. Eric had slowly begun learning how to fix simple little meals, and was actually getting better and better at it. In fact this past summer, he did most of the grilling with Garry. He had brought her inside, and signed to her that she was going to be okay. He then sat her down, and started taking things out of the fridge and cabinets. Milly nervously tapped her foot, repeating over and over how much she wanted to kill Geneva for making her do this. She then started laughing when she mentioned how disappointed Nancy Regan would be if she learned she hadn't said no. Eric glanced over his shoulder while he was cooking and smirked at her, before Milly started laughing so hard her stomach started to hurt and she started to cry. Shortly later, he brought over the most delicious looking stack of pancakes, with butter, syrup, and milk to her. He slid the plate over to her and smiled. He then simply signed to her...
"Eat."
Milly ate the most she honestly ever thought she could in her entire life. Somehow at this exact moment she had never tasted pancakes as good as this. She shoveled them in as Eric ate a few himself. Once she was nearly done her second helping, she burped, before both locked eyes and started cracking up. Once they settled down, Milly took a few deep breaths, and didn't feel as high anymore. In fact, she almost felt back to normal.
"I think...I might feel okay now."
Eric smirked and signed...
"The guys in my art class talk about getting high all the time. It makes you hungry, they said it makes you come down."
Milly took another bite and smiled, before shaking her head.
"I did hear a woodchuck outside..."
Eric began to laugh.
Later...
Milly and Eric laid on the couch, while one of the videos played in the darkness of the living room. Both were making out hot and heavy, when Milly pulled back from a kiss. Eric hovered over her smiling, before Milly smiled and stared up at him before cupping the sides of his face, and bringing him back down as she opened and closed her mouth against his.
Present
"Mamma! Daddy! Mrs. Everwood has us sing songs, and we colored, and look what I made you!"
Marshall said, running up to them. His hair messy, carrying his little lunchbox, and holding the latest drawing of what resembled three stick figures and some scribbles. He jumped into Eric's arms, who smiled from ear to ear. Milly smiled, standing beside them, and leaning over kissing the top of her baby's head.
Later...
Eric and Milly had just tucked Marshall into bed. He was exhausted after his exciting first day of school. All throughout the rest of the day he went on and on about all of his new friends, the playground, his teachers, and how he had nap time, and he wanted to bring his stuffed Owl tomorrow. They of course treated him to a burger and fries, and then played with him for the remainder of the day, soaking up as much Marshall time as possible. After his dinner, Eric took him upstairs for a bath. Afterwards, he got him into his PJs, and Milly came upstairs to read him a bedtime story. It seemed as if the second Marshall's little head hit the pillow he was out cold. Turning on his nightlight, the two stood in the doorway to his room, before smiling and shutting the door. Both slowly walked down the hallway, and towards the bedroom. Once they changed for the night, and had the TV playing softly, Eric sat on the edge of the bed and sighed. Milly, who was sitting at her vanity, putting cream on her legs, looked over and raised an eyebrow.
"You okay?"
Eric smirked and shrugged.
He signed...
"Just seems like yesterday we brought him home from the hospital..."
Milly laughed and shook her head.
"He's four Eric, it's preschool...not college."
Eric sadly smiled and signed...
"I know..."
Milly smiled, screwing the cap onto her cream jar, before getting up, and slowly walking over. She stood in front of him, before slightly leaning over, and gently rubbing his thighs. Eric looked up and raised an eyebrow, before Milly smiled, and gently pushed him back on the bed, before she climbed on top of him. Both laughed, as she leaned over him, gently pinning his arms above his head, before she began to playfully nip at his neck.
December 1989
"Three...two...one...HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Dick Clark said on the television. Milly was over at Eric's, while Uncle Hugo was yet again out. Both stood together smiling, before turning towards each other and deeply kissing. Geneva and Andy did the same on the sofa behind them, and Grace and Sonny were already fully making out on Uncle Hugo's easychair. It was Eric's idea to have a little party since his uncle informed him he would be staying the night at his friend's house. Andy brought some beers he took from his dad's garage, and Grace had sparkling wine. They spent most of the evening dancing to music, or eating pizza. Milly's mother was at a party with Garry, and Luis had two of his buddies over at their house playing video games and doing whatever else the Hell boys did at that age. It was a cold snowy evening, and they all did their best to say farewell to 1989, and hello to 1990. Earlier, when they were playing cards in the kitchen, Grace asked them what they thought the 90's would be like? Geneva said she figured it would be high tech, like the future in back to the future II. Sonny cracked up at this, before he brought up what colleges they were all thinking about going to? This instantly made Milly nervous, who changed the subject when she got up and asked Eric if he knew where his Uncle kept his whiskey? They did one round of shots, all making faces at how bitter the stuff tasted, before heading into the livingroom to dance more. Now Milly stood there, standing beside Eric who had grown so much taller. His hair was longer, and his boyish features were changed to that of a handsome young man. Staring into his big brown eyes, she really was worried about what was going to happen next year?
For the past four years it had just been the two of them. The thought of them being separated absolutely terrified her. Pushing those thoughts away, she smiled, and gently wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and pulled him in close.
"Happy 1990 Eric..."
She whispered, before kissing him.
Present
"Bye mamma! Bye daddy!"
Marshall called, not even looking back as he raced to his line to join his friends. It was two weeks since he first started preschool, and Marshall was having the absolute time of his life. His teachers Mrs. Everwood and Ms. Quinn bragged to Milly and Eric that he loved books, and was one of the sweetest and most polite children in their class. Both stood back sadly smiling, watching him join his friends, before Milly nudged Eric.
"Come on, let's go for a ride on your bike."
Eric smirked, wrapping his arm around her, and kissing the top of her head, before walking away.
Later...
Milly clutched onto the back of Eric's leather jacket as he sped up through the backroads. The wind was in their hair, and Milly squealed with delight, remembering the first time he ever took her for a ride when they were young. Laughing, and holding onto him for dear life, she closed her eyes and pretended that they were flying...