Red grumble as the Camaro's engine shut off. "Hey Dumbass, you picked the wrong driveway!" he bellowed.
Eric got out and said "Nice to see you too Dad!"
"Eric?"
"I'm home dad!"
"Jackie with you?"
"I'm here too Mr. Forman!" Jackie said climbing out. Red came and gave her a hug. "Glad to see Dumbass here got you back safe or I'd have killed him."
"No you wouldn't but thanks for the thought. We better tell Mrs. Forman or we're all dead."
"Right!" Both Forman men said.
Red opened the sliding door and yelled "Kitty!"
She entered the kitchen and said "What do you need Red?"
Eric said "Mom, we're home!"
"MY BABY IS HOME!" Kitty ran out the door pushing Red out of the home. Eric was soon getting the biggest hug his mother had ever given him. Kitty was shrieking and squealing with delight. Her baby boy was back.
Finally she let go of him. Eric said "Mom and Dad, We wanted to tell you something. While in Africa we started dating. We went through New York on the way back and I proposed to Jackie."
Red's mouth fell open. He never thought his son would get a woman like Jackie. He should have sent them there earlier. Kitty started squealing again. She had known they were dating but this just made it better. Kitty had taken Jackie under her wing after her dad had gone to jail and her mom had bailed on her.
Eric wrapped his arm around Jackie and put her left hand on his chest. That was when Red and Kitty show the ring. It was no Cracker Jack ring and Eric had done the right thing. Kitty squealed even more and Red said "let me see that rock?"
Jackie held her hand out for Red to see. Red inspected it and was amazed that his son had grown into being a real man. He looked at Eric and said "You did ok, Son!"
Eric's turn for his mouth to fall open. He wasn't called dumbass but son. Yes finally he was getting some respect. Kitty pulled Jackie into the kitchen to talk wedding stuff because well Kitty knew Jackie needed a mother to guide her on that subject.
Eric watched Jackie go with a smile on his face. Jackie and his mother got along better than he ever could have hoped Donna and his mom would have. Red grabbed Eric's shoulder and said "Alright show me this car you have. Where did you get it?"
"Well I bought it in New York. It was a good deal." Eric then opened the hood and Red was in for his surprise. Instead of 350 V-8 like he was expecting it had 427 cu in V-8. Red was now jealous of Eric. Eric could tell and said "Dad if you help me get the bags out of the trunk then you can take it for a spin. But only 15 minutes or mom will kill us."
"DEAL!"
Eric and Red grabbed the bags and hauled them into the house. Red started to put Jackie's bad in Laurie's room but Eric convinced him to let them share Eric's room. Red wasn't certain about the arrangements but Eric was a man now.
Red handed the keys over to Red as they entered the kitchen and Red looked like a kid on Christmas morning.
Kitty Forman turned to her son and said "I lost your father to another car did I?"
"Only for a few minutes mom. He'll be back with my car!"
"Eric, Jackie was telling me she doesn't want to wait long to be married to you."
"Well mom, we never talked about how fast we would get married but whenever she wants works for me. I got a job lined up with Point Place Elementary School."
"There is something you two aren't telling me now out with it or I will get Red and his foot!"
"Ok Ok mom!" Eric started
Jackie broke in "Mrs. Forman, come next summer you are going to be a grandma!"
"I already am a grandma! Steven has beautiful baby girl." Completely missing what they were trying to say.
"No mom! Jackie is pregnant, I am going to be a dad!"
"I am going to be a REAL GRANDMA! This is why you want to hurry with the wedding?"
"Dumbass you got her pregnant, come over here so I can put my foot up your ass." No one had seen Red come back.
"Dad, no! I didn't know she was pregnant when I proposed. We fell in love and I would have asked her anyway. She makes me happy!"
Jackie had never seen Eric stand up to his father before. Kitty was worried that Red was going to blow his top. Instead Red said "about time you grew a backbone Eric!"
Everyone was shocked at Red's reaction. Red could tell his son loved Jackie and would always protect her.
Jackie was the first to gain the power of speech back. "Now that Eric isn't going to be having his ass kicked. I was thinking New Year's Eve would be the perfect day to get married!"
