Spoilers: After cattle incident and snippets of future episodes
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, and if I did, I would have never gotten rid of Eric! :D May indeed include fictional shops and stores.
Pairings: C/E, snippets of C/W
Chapter Twenty FourDinner was delicious. Eric had thought this Christmas would be a dud. He'd already chalked up the year to being horrible and wishing he could have stayed in Colorado. But things seemed to be turning around. The Lowes had always been like a second family to Eric. He spent so much time with Griffin; he could have sworn he was his brother. As Eric surveyed the food-laden table, Eric couldn't help but well up with happiness.
Suddenly his eyes fell upon Caitlin. The past months since his return from Colorado had been unexpected to say the least. Eric never would have imagined the turn in events where Caitlin was concerned. It had been quite promising until Will became an obstacle in their growing friendship. Eric imagined it was a big shock to both of them when he had returned.
Unfortunately Eric assumed things would be exactly the same when he returned. But life was full of changes and surprises. Griffin was a friend with Will and Caitlin was then dating Will. In some ways Eric regretted ever leaving, but he didn't have a choice.
Now Eric was surrounded by the Lowes again, and though Griffin and Will continued to hangout from time to time, he and Griffin were as tight as ever. Both Griffin and Eric planned to attend U of M after graduation. Griffin would go for his BA in Business and Eric planned to get his degree in agriculture. They chose the university closest to High River, and planned on taking many trips home. Eric had an obligation to his father's ranch and he didn't want to shirk that responsibility when he would eventually be taking over the ranch.
His relationship with Caitlin on the other hand, was tentative at best. Eric didn't really know what to make of his feelings for the fiery redhead. He knew that he'd never felt this way about another girl before, but Eric was hesitant to make any further moves. The kiss in itself was a fiasco, and Eric didn't want to strain their relationship more than he'd already done.
Eric sighed. The Lowes' raucous laughter and conversation filled the room.
"Hey anyone up for dessert?" Dori smiled knowingly.
Eric's eyes rolled back and he let out a deep breath. "Oh guys I don't think I could eat another bite, so better count me out on this one!" he laughed.
Dori nudged Griffin. "Even if it's Double Mocha Choca fudge?" Griffin smirked.
Eric sat up. "Oh, ah, I didn't know it was that!" Eric exclaimed.
Dori's fudge was Eric's main reason for living. Okay, he may be exaggerating. But it was definitely a strong contender among the reasons Eric hung out at the Lowes. That and he didn't mind hanging with Griffin. Eric belched and rubbed his stomach. "Maybe I can find room for such a dessert, since you took the trouble to make it and all!" Eric grinned mischievously.
Dori rose from the table and patted him on the back. "I thought you might!" Dori laughed.
~~~
After dinner Eric felt like he was going to explode. He excused himself from the table and stalked up the stairs to Griffin's room. Eric began throwing clothes up off the floor in search of his backpack. After the time he'd spent with Caitlin, Eric decided he would give it to her. He hadn't bought Caitlin a gift, but during his time at Colorado's PS 14, his Art teacher assigned a project for the class. It was to be a collage of memories. In the end Eric had completed a scrapbook with the help of his mother. It contained photos of Eric's escapades with Griffin and the Lowes. It also held carefully matted photos that Caitlin had given him. Furthermore, Caitlin and Eric's crusade against the toxins in the nearby acreage had been his centerpiece. Eric had put clippings about their campaign and even one of their flyers.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Griffin asked, sticking his head around the corner.
Eric stood up with a start. "Oh, hey! Griffster! Dude, I just had to see if I brought any sweats. After tat diner I don't think my jeans will fit," Eric rambled, hoping Griffin wouldn't notice him slipping the scrapbook into his backpack.
"First of all, I don't buy it," Griffin drawled, pointing at Eric.
Eric tensed as Griffin came into the room. "What do you mean you don't buy it?" Eric choked.
Griffin smirked. "Well, you and me could both fit into the jeans you're wearing!" Griffin laughed.
Eric relaxed a bit. "Whatever Griff!" he chortled.
Griffin slung his arm around Eric's neck. "Mom accused you of trying to get out of dish duty!" Griffin chuckled. "So I'm capturing the escapee!"
Eric's knees almost buckled before he heard Griffin's theory. "Ah, dude! Ya caught me!" Eric grinned.
"Well, let's go then!" Griffin urged.
Eric relaxed and relieved Griffin hadn't seen the book, nodded. "Yeah, I'll be down in a sec!"
Griffin frowned. "You'd better be, or she'll send in reinforcements!" Griffin warned as he walked out of the room.
Eric hid the book cautiously and grabbed two gifts. One was Griffin's present. It was a burnt CD of his favorite songs. He'd wrapped it and everything. Eric also had gotten Jim and Dori a gift certificate the other day for The Grill. It was the nicest restaurant in High River, which wasn't saying much, but they would appreciate the sentiment. Eric ran down the stairs to help with the dishes.
It was a good Christmas after all.
***
Caitlin wondered why it was talking Eric so long to come down. She'd been distracted the entire dinner. Caitlin couldn't get the earlier encounter off her mind. They had just left it without saying anything. There was nothing to say. Was there?
Caitlin was confused. As confused as ever! With Will's surprise visit and then the incident with Eric. Life was throwing her a few curveballs.
"Hey! Wash or dry?" Eric yelled as he careened into the kitchen.
Caitlin looked at the boyish smirk on Eric's face and she just rolled her eyes. "Dry!" Caitlin stated, throwing a tea towel at Eric who winked at her.
~~~
After the cleaning had been finished, Griffin, anxious as he was, sat in front of the Christmas tree, beckoning the family to join him. "Come on guys! I had to wait all morning! I want my presents!" he yelled.
Caitlin stalked over to the couch and sat in the middle seat with Dori and Jim hedging her in. "All right, you can open my gift!" Caitlin sighed pointing at the red envelope.
Griffin smiled wickedly and ripped the envelope open.
After all the gifts from Jim and Dori had been opened. Caitlin and Griffin surprised Eric with a gift of their own to him. The blonde teen was speechless, which to Caitlin was a momentous occasion. Caitlin watched as he tore open the gift. Griffin and Caitlin had decided for his first Christmas back in High River, they would get him a customized, not legal, but none the less, cool license plate. It had two snowboarders bordering the letters, '2CU RIP'.
Eric's face lit up and he laughed. "Guys this rocks! Thanks!"
Caitlin nodded and looked over at Griffin and grinned. Suddenly Eric's face turned morose and upset. "But I didn't get you guys anything?" he pouted.
Caitlin, Dori, and Jim shook their heads. "That's okay. You didn't have to," Caitlin chided.
Eric's head hung like a puppy that had been hit in the nose. "Hey, I expected one!" Griffin whined.
Caitlin shot a withering glare at Griffin. He just shrugged and smiled. "I'm kidding!" he exclaimed.
Then Eric's head rose with a big grin on his face. "Just kidding! Gotcha!" Eric yelled, pulling out two gifts.
Eric handed one to Dori and one to Griffin. Caitlin and Eric locked eyes. "Um, here," Eric handed her an envelope."
Caitlin was happy that she'd received the card, but part of her felt disappointed. It just had her name and 'Wishing you a Merry Christmas' preprinted on the inside. Caitlin swallowed and gave him a weak smile. "Thanks!"
Dori and Jim loved the gift certificate and Griffin put the burnt CD Eric had made for him into the stereo. Caitlin excused herself and ran up the stairs to her bedroom. All the holiday spirit had caught up with her and Caitlin flung herself onto her bed. Taking her framed picture of her mother, Caitlin hugged it to her chest. "Merry Christmas Mom," Caitlin whispered.
A few minutes had passed and Caitlin could hear Dori and Jim starting their annual Christmas board game tournament. It usually started out with Monopoly and ended with a rousing game of Charades. Caitlin knew she would eventually have to join them, but for a few minutes, Caitlin just wanted to wallow in the confusion that was her life.
Suddenly there was a knock on her door. "Go away! I don't want to play Monopoly!" Caitlin yelled. There was another knock on the door and then Caitlin heard the creaking of the door hinges opening. "I said…"
Caitlin was surprised to see Eric standing in her room. "Eric? Did they send you to get me?" Caitlin sputtered.
Eric scratched his head. "No," Eric replied sheepishly. "I wanted to give you something."
Caitlin frowned. He wanted to give me something? "But I already got your card?"
Eric shook his head. "No, that wasn't it. I…well, I just didn't want everyone to make a big deal over it so I thought I'd wait to give this to you." Eric held out a medium sized green package.
Caitlin tucked her legs under her as Eric laid the package on her bed and sat down in front of her. "What is it?" Caitlin asked curiously.
Eric grinned. "Open it and find out."
Caitlin cautiously tore open the gift. A faux leather book appeared from under the wrapping. Embossed on the front of the book were the words, 'Memories'. "It's a scrapbook," Caitlin gasped.
"Yeah, I made it out in Colorado. I thought you'd like it, since I really don't have any use for something so…you know, girlie," Eric shrugged.
Caitlin peered up at Eric and smiled. "Thanks," Caitlin scoffed as she opened the book of memories.
As she poured over the pictures, Caitlin couldn't help but feel this overwhelming joy. She couldn't believe Eric would give her something so sweet. "It's great! I love it!" Caitlin whispered as she fingered her matte photos.
Unexpectedly, Caitlin felt herself wrap her arms around Eric's neck. Slowly, she felt his arms tighten around her. When they finally pulled away, Caitlin could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. "Thanks."
Eric shrugged. Uh," Eric mumbled. "Could you not tell Griffin I gave that to you?"
Caitlin nodded. "Yeah. It's not like it's his present or anything." Caitlin tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "No problem."
Eric sighed. "Great. Thanks."
He lingered a moment and then rose from the bed. "I'd better get going, Griffin's probably wondering where I am."
Caitlin smiled. "Yeah, I'd probably better come down too."
Caitlin looked for a safe place to put her new gift. Finally she decided under her pillow was as good a place as any. "Let's go!" Caitlin chirped as she followed Eric down the stairs.
