I'm hoping to keep up the pace in getting my updates out. I'll for sure have at least two more chapters out tomorrow and then probably take a break and write some more over the weekend. I want to thank futureforensic, kmacat, Dmik33, and teart for your wonderful reviews, I'm glad you guys are enjoying it!

Chapter 7:

The next morning Eric woke up at just after seven.

He went into the kitchen and found cereal and bowls. Just as he was pouring milk over his Fruit Loops the phone rang.

Thinking it might be Jackie he picked it up.

"Uh, Kelso residence."

"Forman! Hey, man! I was hoping you'd be up!"

Eric smiled, "Hey, Kelso! How's it going?"

"Well, I tried to catch you last night but I guess you were out, huh?"

"Yeah, Jackie was showing me around."

"Good, she needs to get out, poor kid. Anyway, the reason I was calling is Brooke went into labor late last night and she had the baby this morning!"

"Really? Wow, that's awesome. Congratulations, man."

"Thanks. It's a girl, we named her Danielle Jacqueline."

Eric smiled, "Does Jackie know? I bet that will make her happy."

"Yeah, Brooke called her right after. So, we are going to be here probably until Tuesday. Will you be cool until then?"

"Oh yeah, man, I'll be fine. And thanks again for letting me crash here, Kelso. I'm going to start looking for apartments on Monday."

"So, you are going to take that job?"

"Yeah, I am."

"That's the coolest!," he started talking to someone in the background, "Oh, yeah, yeah I'll be right there- Anyway, I gotta go, man, but if you need anything just call Jackie, she knows where everything is."

"I will," Eric said, looking at the clock. Jackie would be over in a little over an hour.

"Alright, see you Tuesday."

"Okay, tell Brooke congratulations."

"I will. Later."

"Bye."

Eric hung up the phone and dug into his Fruit Loops. He wanted to shower before Jackie got there.

Grabbing some clothes and his shaving kit Eric got into the shower in the first floor hallway.

As he stood under the hot spray he was trying very hard not to read too much into the kiss

Jackie gave him last night. She was just being friendly he was sure but still, she seemed kind of nervous before they said good night and it made him wonder why.

Shutting off the water he got out and started shaving.

Three blocks away Jackie was had just finished putting on her make up. She sighed, looking at herself in the mirror.

She felt like such a freak. She wondered if Eric thought she was totally nuts for kissing him last night before she left. Sure it was only on the cheek, but what scared her is that had not been her first impulse… had she followed through with that she would have kissed him smack on those pouty lips.

What was going on here, she wondered. She hadn't seen Eric in almost three years, hadn't really even thought about him. But here he was, back in her life and in a completely different situation now.

One day with him after not seeing him all this time and I'm all hot for him? her mind screamed at her.

Jackie chuckled to herself. She never thought Eric was ugly, he was scrawny but his was good looking. She just never really gave much thought about him period. He was Donna's boyfriend and that was all she needed to know.

And now that wasn't the case and yesterday she had found herself noticing how pretty his light green eyes were and how long and elegant his fingers were. Small stuff but all the same she knew she was beginning to feel an attraction to him. Her attraction was only amplified by the fact that she found him more than physically attractive but to be a really interesting person and fun to hang out with and talk to.

She had pretty much given up on the notion of finding a man she could connect with. She tried not to believe in true love anymore, and while she was pretty good at seeming detached from the subject, secretly deep down she still hoped her prince charming would find her one day.

Getting up from her vanity, Jackie shook her head. She really couldn't think about this right now, it was too heavy for a Sunday morning and it was already almost nine.

She put on her coat and grabbed her purse on the way out the door. She had driven Michael's car home after dropping Eric off last night. Climbing in, she let it idle for a few minutes before she pulled out of her apartment building's parking lot and headed down the street.

When she opened the door to the house she found Eric sitting in the living room going

through a magazine.

He looked up, "Hey."

"Hi," she said. She head swam. He had showered and shaved and whatever cologne it was he had on it suited him very well.

She grinned at him.

"You ready?" she asked.

"I'm all yours," he said, raising an eyebrow.

She felt the blush creep into her cheeks.

Once they were in the car and driving towards the movie theater, Eric started the conversation.

"So Brooke had the baby already?"

"Yeah! Did Michael get a hold of you?"

He nodded, "This morning."

"I'm so disappointed I couldn't be there. But I'm happy it's a girl! I told them it would be, but both of them said boy. I'll be getting twenty bucks as soon as they get back," she said proudly.

"Oh no, they're named her after you. That makes any monetary bet null and void."

Jackie laughed, "Yeah, well…those two are gonna have there hands full for the next few years with two little girls around."

"Which reminds me, I need to start looking for an apartment," Eric groaned, "that's always fun. I don't want to intrude on Kelso and Brooke especially with a new baby around so I'm gonna check into a motel as soon as they get back."

"Oh, no. You don't have to do that," Jackie said blurted out immediately, shaking her head.

"My apartment is tiny but I have a pull out couch, you are more than welcome to stay with me… you know, until you get your job and stuff figured out." She chanced at glance at him to see his reaction.

This time she willed herself to fight back the fluttery feeling in her stomach and not blush as he turned towards her grinning.

"That's really nice of you, Jackie, thank you."

"Sure. It's the least I can do. I know what it's like to be in a new city with no where to go."

He nodded, "I called my friend's dad this morning and asked for the job. He said I have to go in for a faculty orientation tomorrow and Tuesday, and then I can get all my paper work done on Wednesday and start by next Monday."

He smiled widely; he was really very excited about starting this new job and making a new life for himself here in Chicago.

"That's great news! I never asked yesterday, what subject will you be teaching?"

"Cultural Studies."

"That sounds interesting."

"Yeah, it should be, I'll be able to relate living in Africa to the curriculum so hopefully I won't look like a jackass, stumbling over the coursework."

"You'll do great, I just know it," she stated.

Eric smiled, "You think so?"

"Of course, Eric, you're the smartest guy I've ever met. I don't think you'll have a problem."

Eric beamed. It sure was nice to hear a compliment from a pretty girl once in awhile.