"Marry me."
His proposal rang in her ears and she shifted uncomfortably in his arms. Like everything else in their relationship up to this point, it was too fast. Her mind and her heart were at conflict over her answer.
"Eric, it's too fast."
"No, it's not," he replied. "I spent years in a relationship, so did you. I could have spent the rest of my life in that relationship and I still never would have felt for her what I feel for you."
"But it's only been a month…"
"I know that it's fast, Jackie. I know you're scared, I am too," he admitted. "But I'm even more afraid that we will let this chance pass us by. I don't want to spend another night without you in my arms."
"So maybe we should try living together," Jackie ventured.
"It's not enough. If that's all you will give me, I'll take it because I need you in my life. I still want more."
"You haven't even thought this through. It just came to you. We both need to take some time and think, I mean really think about this."
"I've thought about it," he told her. "All I have done since we came home is think about it. I knew in Africa, as soon as you showed up, that I wanted to marry you. I knew the moment I first kissed you. I knew the first night I held you in my arms. I knew on the plane ride home. I knew when you chose me over Hyde. I knew last night when we made love."
Jackie's eyes glittered with tears. "Really?"
Eric crawled out from beneath her and made his way over to the bureau. Opening the top drawer, he pushed a stack of t-shirts away to reveal a small black velvet box. Walking to the edge of the bed, he dropped on one knee and flipped the box open. Jackie's hands covered her mouth at the sight of the ring. "I knew two days ago when I stopped at the jeweler while you were helping my mom with dinner. I know now. Please tell me that you know."
"I know," she nodded frantically, tears slipping down her cheek as Eric took her quivering hand. He slipped the ring onto her delicate finger as she crawled out of the bed and onto the floor with him.
"I love you," she gushed as she pressed her forehead to his.
Eric leaned in and kissed her briefly. "I love you, too," he murmured, leaning into to kiss her more deeply this time. Pulling her on to the bed, he set out to prove to her just how much…
Two hours later, Jackie's eyes fluttered open. Their morning session had left her tired, and she had easily drifted to sleep atop Eric's chest. She listened to his shallow breath, taking in everything around her. The rise of his chest, the smell of her on his skin, the sunshine coming in through the window. She held her finger toward the sunlight, watching happily as the glare from the diamond danced across the ceiling.
"Hey."
"Hey," she replied as she snuggled into him. Eric took her hand and held it again.
"Can you believe it?" he asked. She shook her head. "Neither can I."
"We're going to have a lot of questions to answer," she remarked. From Hyde and Donna to Red and Kitty, she knew that everyone was going to weigh in on the situation. She hoped that they would be able to muster at least a little support, though she really didn't care if anyone approved. The only approval she needed anymore was Eric's, and judging by the goofy look on Eric's face, she had it.
"Who should we tell first?"
"Your parents. Kitty would kill you otherwise."
"Red is going to kill me either way," Eric mused with a laugh. Unlike when he was engaged to Donna, he didn't care what his parents thought. He loved Jackie, and that was enough for him. "When?"
"We'll make dinner for them tonight," she said. "Well, I'll make dinner and you'll keep me company. We'll tell them then."
With that in mind, Eric phoned his parents to tell them of their plans. Meanwhile, Jackie pulled out a pink notepad and started to make a list of things they needed from the market. Heading toward the kitchen, she even managed to produce a sales ad from the local grocery store.
"Jackie Burkhart is bargain shopping?" Eric teased as he came up behind her.
"We better start saving now because you know me, I want a big wedding," she taunted back. It was true that, once upon a time, she would have demanded a fairytale wedding. Now, however, she wanted a small ceremony. She didn't need the fairytale wedding, she already had her prince. "Get dressed, we have groceries to buy."
After the list was finished and showers were had, they quickly completed their shopping and headed over to the Foremans. Between the proposal and everything that had come after it, it was already late in the afternoon by the time they arrived inside the kitchen. Jackie ordered Kitty out of the room, posting Eric near the door to make sure that his mother adhered to Jackie's demands. Red was out in the garage, he could care less so as long as dinner was on the table promptly at 6:00.
"Peel," Jackie instructed, handing Eric a small sack of potatoes and a large mixing bowl. He grabbed the peeler from the drawer while she washed and tore the lettuce for the salad. Her menu was simple and All-American, just as Kitty would prepare. Anything too exotic only drew criticism from Red, who was basically against anything foreign. Steak, mashed potatoes, salad and rolls were on par for the evening. She had wanted to make chicken, but Eric insisted that Red would need his protein to make his usual threats.
Exactly 45 minutes later, Jackie removed the last steak from the grill and sat the platter in the middle of the kitchen table. Looking it over, the meal looked perfect. Eric went to call his parents to dinner while she straightened herself. Eric held out the chair for Kitty, who smile gratefully as she slipped behind the table. Even Red seemed impressed by Jackie's work.
"This looks great, Jackie," Red commented as he spread his napkin in his lap.
"Thank you, Mr. Foreman."
"Please, Red."
Eric smiled widely at Jackie. "Okay, thank you, Red."
Serving his mother, Eric and Red started to talk about the upcoming football season. Kitty turned to Jackie to discuss the seasoning she had used on the meat. The meal progressed in the most comfortable manner possible.
"This is amazing, J," Eric complimented, savoring each bite of the meat.
"Yes, it is very good, sweetie," Kitty echoed.
Once dinner had been fully consumed, Jackie scrambled to her feet to retrieve the cheesecake from the fridge. Placing his hand on her arm, Eric stopped her. Though they had planned to wait until after dessert to break the news, the meal had went better than he had expected. He felt confident that the timing was right as circumstances couldn't get much better than they currently were.
"Mom, Dad, we have something we need to tell you."
"She's pregnant!" Kitty exclaimed. A dark look flashed across Red's face.
"God, no!" Jackie nearly screamed. Eric looked at her sharply, slightly off put that she was so appalled by the idea. "We're so not ready for that yet."
The last word set his mind at ease. "Actually, we're getting married."
"You're what?" his mother said.
Red remained quiet. "Did you hear me, Dad?"
"I think it's great, Eric."
"You do?" Eric asked, shocked. Red nodded. "But you were so against my engagement to Donna."
"Because I knew that it wouldn't last, Eric. This time is different, I can just feel it."
Kitty smiled at her husband affectionately, glad that someone else was finally getting to see his softer side.
"So, wait, you're not going to threaten me or call me names?" Eric stuttered.
"Don't be a dumbass, Dumbass. Going to Africa was the first smart thing you ever did, marrying Jackie would be the second."
"Thank you, Red," Jackie replied softly.
"You're good for my son, and I think you will be good for this family," Red said, rising to his feet. He caught everyone offguard when he gathered his future daughter-in-law in his arms and hugged her.
With her dad in prison and her mother off galavanting, Jackie hadn't really felt like she had her parents in years. There, in Red's arms, she felt like she finally had a family again. Kitty was the next to hug her. The two women pulled apart and watched as Red shook Eric's hand firmly.
"I'm very proud of you, Eric."
"Thanks, Dad."
"Now where's my cheesecake?"