Chapter 5 Glory Days

Jackie didn't mind that Donna and Eric went out for the evening without her, she was tired and wanted to sleep. She was also upset with Brad. How could he be such an ass to his own daughter?

"S-steven, is that you?" She turned her head around and saw him carrying Tiffany.

"Your ex should be shot for standing up his own daughter," He looked around the room, "Where are Forman and Donna?"

"The went out because I was tired and wanted to take a nap."

"Jackie, are you all right?"

"Yes, Steven, tiredness is nothing to be concerned about. You'd be tired too if you had another person growing inside of you."

He sensed her moodiness it came with the territory he supposed.

"I'll be back, I promised that I'd tuck Tiffany in bed."

She smiled, "I'm sorry for snapping," she kissed Tiffany and him on the cheek, "I'll make it up to you later."

"Tiffany called me 'Daddy'." Hyde said

Jackie had to resist the urge to happily scream which wouldn't have just woken up her daughter but the whole building.

"Awww-That's so sweet!" Jackie replied as she watched Steven take Tiffany to her room. She wanted that so badly for him.

She wished there was a way to help Donna and Eric as she went to the kitchen for another pastry.

12:20AM

Eric didn't want to wake Donna so he went in the living room to watch TV. He and Donna went to the movies she wanted to see Erin Brockovich; it wasn't his kind of movie although Julia Roberts looked hot in those tight outfits. He often wondered how come he had to see movies that he didn't like but when Donna didn't want to see a movie that he wanted to see he either had to go by himself or with friends from work? The trailer for Dude, Where's My Car? looked hilarious that one guy was familiar and reminded the both of them of Kelso. Eric had the TV on mute and flipped through the stations how come there was never anything on during the late night?

Hyde stood in the doorway and took a deep breath he needed to acknowledge the fact.

"Thanks, Forman." Hyde turned around to get the pudding that Jackie woke him up out of a sound sleep to get.

"W-what?" Eric turned around; he almost fell asleep on the sofa. Was Hyde talking to him?

"Thanks."

"Yeah."

Eric knew exactly what this was about and he also knew they weren't going to go into verbal detail over it, either. There were many times when Eric tried to get Hyde to open up about his parents and that never worked. He followed Hyde into the kitchen.

"How is Tiffany?" He asked

"Fine." Hyde grabbed the pudding-ah better make it two incase she's really hungry, out of the refrigerator.

"That's good. Brad's a dill hole to do stand his own daughter up."

Forman wanted to talk. Hyde did not want to discuss these things with him. He knew he cared about Tiffany and that was fine by him, but he didn't want

to talk, it was just too soon in his opinion. He acknowledged the nice gesture Forman made earlier, but he didn't want to talk about anything. It was as simple as that.

"I know. Goodnight." He replied and walked away, leaving Eric to ponder their role in the universe.

"The force is what gives a Jedi his power"* (to live another day) [movie quote not character quote]

9:25AM

Jackie couldn't believe the gall of her ex-husband. Here he was on the other end of the phone wanting to see Tiffany today to take her shopping. She was happy that Steven was helping Tiffany get dressed and Donna and Eric were in another room as well.

"Why? So you could stand her up like you did last night?" The only good thing that came of it was that she called Steven "Daddy".

"I was stuck in a business meeting and I couldn't make it."

"Brad, if I didn't know you were lying I'd simply ask did you ever hear of a telephone? But I know you're lying because Tiffany overheard your s*** of a girlfriend pleasing you."

"I didn't know that was her phoning, Jackie. By the way, I heard you're pregnant with that scuzzball Steven's baby. You will sleep with anyone, won't you?"

"I know. I slept with you."

"You are so touchy for a supposedly happy married woman. Listen, I'm coming by in a half hour to pick up, Tiffany. So have her all dressed."

"I'm not telling her. You're not hurting her again, got it?"

"You have become a very bitter woman, Jackie. What happened to the party girl I used to have hot sex with?"

"Shut up. Better yet, I'm hanging up."

"Are you okay?" Hyde came in and kissed her on the lips.

"Steven, Brad called, he wants to take Tiffany shopping today, and although I don't want him to, he does have the right. But I hate that son of a bitch. Don't say anything to her just in case he stands her up again. By the way where is she?"

"On the internet with Forman."

Hyde had an idea it was going to require pride swallowing on two counts, but he was doing it for his little girl. Tiffany was not going to get hurt again.

"Where are you going, Steven? Your coffee is almost ready."

"I'll be back," Hyde hoped he was doing the right thing, "There's something I have to ask someone."

"I hope you aren't mad, Donna," Eric kept his University of Wisconsin sweatshirt on and changed into his jeans. "I know we had plans today."

"No, Eric, I think it's a cool idea that Hyde asked you to join him and Tiffany."

"I know he just asked me to go for Tiffany's sake." He replied, wishing it were different.

"Well, just be happy that he asked you, but I know you are going to worry about it anyway."

He kissed her; it was his favorite, no second favorite thing to do.

The plan as Hyde explained it rather abruptly to Eric in the hallway was that they would wait at the newsstand with Tiffany and if Brad didn't show up they would just take her out for the day and she'd be none of the wiser of her real Father's idea to take her out shopping.

"Come on, Forman, how long does it take you to pick out a magazine?"

Tiffany laughed but Eric didn't know if Hyde was just playing the part or was he really pissed that it was taking him forever to pick out a magazine?

"Star Wars magazine number thirty." Han Solo Talks-Harrison Ford on Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

"You mean you don't subscribe?"

Tiffany didn't know whether to stay or run when she saw Brad dressed in a long black wool coat, which made Eric feel corporate because he had a similar coat like that at home, it was only because of his offices stupid dress code. Brad purposely wanted to upstage Hyde so he made sure to put on his best Brooks Brothers suit and the tie Jackie got him when they started dating, he was going to throw it in his face later on.

"Hi, Tiffany." Brad hugged her in the phony Hollywood air kiss way. He gave her a lollipop bouquet.

"Hi."

"I thought I'd take you shopping today. I'm sorry I couldn't make it last night, I had a business meeting."

'You're a f***ing liar' Both Hyde and Eric thought.

She held Hyde's hand. "Can Eric and DADDY come?"

Hyde smiled it served the s.o.b right. Eric was happy that Tiffany finally started calling Hyde "Daddy", but it didn't seem right to learn the news at the same time as Brad.

"Sure, whatever you want, princess," He gave them, especially Hyde, a very dirty look, "Can you be a good girl and give this to the doorman?" He took an envelope out of his coat pocket.

"Okay!"

"I hope that cut right through you." Hyde said.

"And that's supposed to hurt me? I suppose having you two stooges come along was all Jackie's idea?"

"No. For your information it was my idea."

"You thought of that all by yourself? Wow."

"That's enough." . This guy was beyond rude, Eric couldn't take it anymore.

Brad looked at Eric noticing his sweatshirt, "Oh, you went to the University of Wisconsin-"

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"It's a good school for people who can't get into real Universities."

"F*** you." Eric replied, wishing he clubbed him over the head.

"Temper, temper."

Tiffany came back, "James said thank you. Did you bring the big car?"

"Yeah. I told the driver to park up the street. I hope you two don't mind the walk?"

"He's unbearable." Eric whispered

"I know." Hyde replied.

He wondered what did Jackie ever see in him?

Eric concentrated on his Star Wars magazine as Hyde helped himself to the brandy that was in the back. That was going to play right in Brad's hands because he didn't offer them a drink. Not that Eric could. Sometimes he hated being sober regarding liquor. What was wrong with having a drink every now and again? It was totally different from shoving Coke up his nose.

"You see those giant buildings over there?" Brad asked Tiffany

"Yeah."

"I'm moving my offices there next year."

"Which one?"

"The one with the antenna on top."

Was he doing this to show off or was he just talking to Tiffany? Hyde wondered.

"That's cool."

"I have something for you." Brad said to Tiffany as Hyde watched him like an animal in the wild watches their young.

He handed her a red and green patterned envelope.

Tiffany opened it and was hardly surprised when the four hundred dollar bills fell on her lap. Eric's first thought was 'Red never would give us four hundred dollars ever' and Hyde knew this jerk was showing off now. He was going to throw away the money, well if Brad liked to spend money, then he was going to spend money.

"Thanks, Dad."

"You spend it however you like, it's a bonus."

"Here's one for you, Eric, and one for you Daddy."

"Thank you, Tiffany." Eric said, he'd give her the money back later but he knew keeping it now would make Brad angry and that was half the fun.

"Thank you, sweetie." Hyde replied. He'd put it in one of the Salvation Army kettles later.

"That leaves you with two hundred." Brad said

"No. One is for Mommy and the other one is for Donna."

"Who is Donna?" Brad asked

"My wife." Eric sharply replied

"Are we almost at the store yet?" Tiffany asked, and Hyde was glad she was getting cranky.

"Yes, we get to use the private entrance, we'll have an exclusive showing on the floor that's for important people such as myself."

Brad wished the two losers would stay in the car but he didn't feel like dealing with Jackie's bitchy rantings. The posh ness did not impress Hyde nor Eric; it was one of those situations where they were the better ones because they did not let money dictate their lives. When Brad was talking to a nobody in a double-breasted suit in the private parking area Hyde spoke.

"Are you okay, Tiffany?"

"Yeah, Dad's like that."

"You know it's not good to be mean, right? But while we're on this shopping trip I give you permission to waste all your Dad's money."

"How about a tantrum?" Eric offered

"Not bad, Forman. Do you know how to misbehave?" Because all the time Hyde's known Tiffany, apart from some normal whining she was really a great kid, who might have had money but would rather play in the dirt and drive her Mom crazy.

"Yeah."

They all exited the limousine; Eric had a bad feeling about this.

At that moment Hyde was almost grateful for the crappy existence he had with his parents it certainly was a 'better' situation to deal with but Tiffany had the confusion of a Father who stood her up because sex with a tramp was more important but the next day tried to impress her with his riches. She didn't want money or overpriced gifts she wanted that jerk to love her. He'd have felt awful if it weren't for the fact she started calling him, "Daddy". Hyde knew it wouldn't take long for Brad to lose interest in his own kid and was flirting with the young blonde behind the counter who was lining the counter with the very best of their children's line of fine jewelry. Tiffany ran to Hyde and Eric.

"Daddy, I don't want a bracelet."

Hyde kissed her on the forehead, "Then tell him."

"I have a feeling she's not going to fake a tantrum." Eric sighed; he left his magazine in the limousine.

"Forman-I think you're right."

Tiffany stomped right up to her biological Father,

"I don't want a bracelet!"

"Don't you'd think she'd rather look at toys, Bradley?" Kids were best when they were quiet.

An older saleslady came out from the back room she knew Jackie and Tiffany way back when Tiffany was just a baby. She couldn't stand Brad and was happy when they got a divorce.

"Hello, Tiffany, what brings you here?"

"Hi, Mrs. Sanderson-I don't want a bracelet."

"Oh, I see. Do you want to look at some toys?"

"Boys toys." Tiffany wanted to hang out with Steven and Eric.

"Boys toys? Don't you want a nice doll?" The younger saleswoman that liked Brad only because of his money asked her

"No!"

"Okay, sweetie, we'll send up some boys toys for you to look at. Suzy, why don't you get her some cookies and milk?"

"Sure, Mrs. Sanderson." She was a saleswoman not a maid. It was okay if Tiffany didn't want a bracelet, but she would gladly take one if her Father was buying.

Tiffany rode a bicycle around the exclusive floor for the "important people". Brad was still chatting up this Suzy in the tight black skirt as Tiffany added to his bill.

"I think she spent eight hundred in here so far." Eric said, hoping Tiffany would add the life sized Darth Vader statue to the order, Donna would be so happily annoyed by it.

"But she doesn't have a concept of money, Forman." Hyde replied.

"Princess," Hyde hated how Brad would condescendingly call Tiffany 'Princess' it really irked him, "Do you want the bike?"

She put on the brakes nearly crashing into a display area.

"Yeah," She got off the bike and let it fall to the floor, "I want green slime."

Hyde smiled on the inside.

"What kind of toy is that?"

"They pour it over people's heads on Nickelodeon."

"Okay," What the hell? He didn't have to clean it up, "Get as many as you want."

"I also want to buy presents for DADDY, MOMMY, ERIC, AND DONNA."

Brad looked at Hyde and Eric with a phony smile, "Sure, buy whatever you want."

Tiffany was smart and took Suzy by the hand to drag her to the presents that she wanted to buy so she couldn't play with her Dad.

"Enjoy this," Brad stood face to face with Hyde and whispered, "Because it's not happening again."

"How do you feel to have lost your wife and daughter to me?"

"Much like this tie Jackie purchased for me it can easily be replaced."

"You son of a----"

Eric got between them, "Hyde, you don't want to do this. He wants you to hit him. Don't."

Brad pushed Eric out of the way, "Listen to your loser friend, Hyde."

"Insult me and my friend all you want, but if you dare hurt Tiffany again like you did last night, you are dead."

"Hmm, death threats," Brad snapped his fingers, "How original. How do you know you are not being taped?" He walked away.

"He's just trying to wind you up, ignore him." Eric said just realizing that Hyde referred to him as 'Friend'.

Revenge of the Slime

"Daddy, can we all go out for pizza after?" Tiffany asked referring to herself, Hyde, and Eric

"Sure, if that's what you want." Hyde kissed her on the cheek, she was good, she only grabbed a few more items before wanting to leave the store.

"Can you give me a clue as to what my present is?" Eric asked

"How old are you, Forman?" Hyde replied. Truth was he was glad Eric was his goofy self.

"No, it's a surprise."

The chauffer had to open Brad's door just so he could throw his coat in and tell Tiffany he would be back in a few minutes.

Eric looked at Hyde-he wasn't going to have a quickie with that Suzy person was he?

Tiffany sighed and reached into one of the smaller gift bags and proceeded to take out and open one of her cans of slime.

"Tiffany, as your Daddy I have to tell you, it's wrong to do what I know you are about to do. However, I have no problem doing it for you. Give Forman a can, too."

"Don't tell Mommy." Tiffany said

"OR Donna." Eric replied

"Oh, don't worry about that, sweetie."

"Aww. Thanks, Hyde."

"I was referring to Tiffany not you dill hole." Tiffany laughed as she watched her new Daddy and Eric put the gooey green slime concoction in all the pockets of Brad's expensive coat, the chauffer slightly smiled.

"How are we going to get this off our hands?" Eric asked

Tiffany lifted the space by the mini bar that contained the towels.

"Thanks." Hyde and Eric both said

Eric went back to his Star Wars magazine as he watched Hyde bond with Tiffany. It was nice to see that Hyde was indeed a great Father just as he knew he'd be. Brad's loss was Hyde's gain. Brad had the money and the quote unquote "power" but Hyde had real love deep in his soul for Jackie and Tiffany. He smiled softly as he saw the chauffer having to leave the warm car just to open the door for Brad to get in unaware that he was slimed by the best team ever.