A/n, wow, I'm so so sorry for the long delay. Life has been quite the rollercoaster since my last update. In November of 2012 I got engaged and began planning my wedding. Then in August of 2013 my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer. We lost her just 13 days after the diagnosis. My fiancé and I will be getting married June 14 of this year. It will be bitter sweet without my mom there to celebrate with us. The purpose of this long note is to say sorry for the long delay and that I hope my muse is here to stay. Everyone should give a huge thanks to nannygirl who has been tirelessly asking me for an update on this story for a while. Thank you so much. Your stories are an inspiration to me and I can't wait to read more.
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"Hi there, Michael, Brooke, I'm sorry it's been so long since my last visit. I can't believe it's been a year already," Jackie commented as she settled in front of Kelso and Brooke's graves. Reaching out she began pulling up weeds and brushing dirt off the headstones. "Betsy's doing well, the first month or so was really rough, but it's gotten a lot better. Eric and I are getting married next month. Betsy's going to be the flower girl. I can't wait to be married to Eric. I'll be Jackie Forman, and I'm so excited. I miss you both so much," Jackie whispered as she started to cry.
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Eric hummed softly as he climbed into his car after finishing his day at Point Place Middle School. Jackie had called him a little while ago and told him that she wouldn't be able to pick up Betsy from Daycare because she had something to do. Eric couldn't help but worry. She sounded a little off, but he didn't know why. Arriving at the daycare, the middle school teacher headed inside to pick up his little girl. Sure she was the biological daughter of Brooke and Kelso, but Eric and Jackie loved her as if she were their own and they would do anything to protect her.
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"Good afternoon, I'm here to pick up Betsy Kelso," he explained to the woman at the front desk.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Forman, if you'll just sign this sheet and date it. Then you can enter your code and head into get Betsy," she instructed. Eric nodded and did as he was asked. He and Jackie were glad for the security precautions the daycare took to ensure the safety of all the kids.
"What's today's date?" he asked. The young woman told him and he quickly wrote it down. After handing the form back and letting the worker check his signature with his driver's license, he walked over and entered the code he and Jackie had been given to enter the facility so they could pick up and drop off Betsy.
"Uncle Eric!" the little girl cried excitedly as she rushed towards him.
"Hey there little one," he replied scooping her up into his arms and hugging her tightly.
"Hi there, Mr. Forman, Betsy had a great day today," her teacher informed her adopted father.
"Betsy, why don't you tell your Uncle Eric what you did today?" the teacher prompted.
"I gived out the cookies for snack," she stated proudly. Eric smiled at her excitement.
"That's great, kiddo. Why don't we grab your backpack then we can get going," he suggested. Nodding happily, Betsy grabbed her things before scampering back over to Eric and taking his hand letting him lead her out of the building. A couple of minutes later he was buckling a chattering Betsy into her car seat. It was then that the date hit him and made him stop in his tracks. It had been exactly a year since Kelso and Brooke's deaths. Noticing he'd stopped buckling her in, Betsy reached out and touched his hand.
"Why you sad, Uncle Eric?" she asked softly.
"I'm fine, sweetheart," he assured as he finished buckling the car seat then leaned down and gave her a kiss on her cheek. Climbing into the driver's seat, he made a snap decision and headed for the one place he knew Jackie would be. Looking out the window, Betsy noticed they weren't heading home.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"We're going to meet up with Aunt Jackie. She went to visit your mommy and Daddy," Eric explained.
"I go see them to?" Betsy asked excitedly. Her godfather winced; he hoped he hadn't said the wrong thing.
"Yes, but you won't actually get to see them, they're angels, remember?" Betsy nodded her head.
"I still talk?" she checked.
"Yes, you can still talk to them," he assured.
"I miss Mommy and Daddy," she admitted quietly.
"So do I, sweetheart. So do I. I tell you what, why don't you draw them a picture?" he suggested. Nodding happily, Betsy opened her backpack and took out her coloring book and crayons. The rest of the drive was spent in silence as Eric drove, and Betsy drew.
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The sound of footsteps behind her brought Jackie back from her memories. Looking up she smiled as she saw her fiancé and goddaughter walking towards her.
"Hi there, you two," she greeted trying to wipe away her tears.
"Hey there," Eric greeted softly.
"Hi, I drawed Mommy and Daddy a picture," Betsy exclaimed holding up the paper Eric had helped her tear out of her coloring book.
"It's beautiful, sweetie. Do you want to put it on their headstones?" Jackie asked with a tender smile.
"Yes, I do," Betsy replied.
"Go ahead then," Jackie encouraged. Needing no other encouragement, Betsy knelt next to her parent's graves and placed the picture between them. "Miss you," she whispered. Meanwhile Eric had pulled Jackie into his arms and rubbed her back.
"You doing okay?" he checked.
"I'm better now. I can't believe it's been a year," she breathed.
"Neither can I. What do you say we get together with the rest of the gang at the Hub? How does that sound?" Eric suggested. Jackie smiled, that sounded like a great idea to her. Turning back to Betsy, both adults smiled as they saw her telling her parents about all she'd done that day.
"Hey Bets, it's time to go. Tell Mommy and Daddy bye for now," Jackie instructed.
"We come back gain?" she requested looking up at them.
"Of course we can. We'll come back whenever you want," Eric promised. Jackie nodded in agreement.
"Okay, bye, Mommy, Daddy, love you," Betsy said blowing them a kiss before standing up and taking both adults hands and heading for the car.