So I am jumping ahead in time here a little bit. So we are picking up the week of Christmas! Love to everyone who reviewed!!

Chapter 18:

DECEMBER 20TH 1981

Over the course of the next few weeks Jackie and Eric had totally abandoned the pull out sofa.

It had been folded up to its original state and Eric's luggage had been emptied and somehow had managed to be fit into Jackie's bedroom closet.

The pair had spent the time since Thanksgiving night further exploring each other's minds and bodies. Things were laid bare between them and Eric could scarcely be more grateful that he had finally found a relationship that seemed to work.

He wasn't so naïve as to believe that they wouldn't have their share of problems but even that was something that Eric was more than prepared to meet. He felt undaunted by the prospect because as he had already come to realize, he loved Jackie and he was at a point in his life when love was not something he was willing to take for granted.

This particular afternoon Eric was once again pulling one of his smaller suitcases out and laying it open on Jackie's bed.

School had let out for winter break for the students right after finals, but the professors had continued to work two weeks into December to go over the next term's curriculum with the heads of their departments. Eric had meet with his department head and mentor and turned in a syllabus for the classes he would be taking over and made all necessary arrangements.

At the beginning of the new term he would officially be on his own with two classes a day Monday through Thursday, He would spend the time after and in between classes working on research with his mentor and working on his own dissertation.

At the moment, Eric was waiting for Jackie to get home from work. He had a proposition for her and he very much hoped she would agree. He had begun placing several sets of clothes into his suitcase when he heard the front door open.

Jackie walked into the room, dressed for the snow that had been falling off and on for the past three weeks.

Eric met her in the doorway and pulled her in for a kiss.

"Hey there, gorgeous. How was work?" he asked with a smile.

"Good, but I'm glad my boss is giving us all time off. We've been working on a case that has been driving me nuts with all the paperwork that has to be completed!"

She pulled off her beret and coat and tossed them on the bed. Noticing Eric's suitcase she turned to him with a puzzled expression.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Well, I was hoping we would be going somewhere."

"Where?" she asked as she sat on the bed.

Eric sighed, "My parents still don't know I am back-"

"Eric! You haven't called your own mother who you haven't seen in two and a half years to tell her that you are in the same country as her?!"

Eric looked sheepish, "Well, I- I've been busy." He arched an eyebrow at her to which she smirked. "Anyway, I was thinking of going to Florida and surprising them for Christmas. I was hoping you would go with me."

Jackie looked a little apprehensive, "As what though?"

Eric sat down beside her on the bed and gave her a lingering kiss, "As my girlfriend, of

course."

Jackie's face broke out into a full smile, the one that Eric loved to have directed at him, "Of course I will, Eric! Aww, you are taking me home to meet the parents!"

"Jackie, you already know my parents."

She shook her head, "It doesn't matter. They haven't known me as your girlfriend before."

Eric smiled and nodded, "Okay."

"So when do we leave?"

"That depends on you, how long will it take you to pack?"

Jackie thought for a moment, and then stood and crossed to her closet, "Well, they are in Florida and it's winter so it'll be rainy. I'll need to pick up a few things but if we do that now then I can be ready by tomorrow morning… as long as we don't sleep."

"We?" asked Eric with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, we. I need someone to model my outfits for," Jackie said matter-of-factly.

"Model, huh? Do I get to watch costume changes too?" he asked with a grin and wide eyed look.

"Well, yeah," she said with a laugh, "that's also why I figured we'd be up all night."

Comprehension dawned quickly on Eric, "Ohhhh…" he pumped his fist forward, "Yes! Naughty time!"

Jackie gave him a seductive look over her shoulder and began rummaging through her closet on the pretense of looking for her suitcase, but she also took the opportunity to sway her hips enticingly at Eric.

Eric stood and crossed to her. He pulled her into a standing position and spun her around, pining her against the wall.

Jackie's gasp of surprise made him laugh, "Bet you thought I didn't have it in me," he said, his lips barely grazing over hers. Jackie's eyes fluttered closed and she whimpered.

"There's a lot I didn't think you had in you," she opened her eyes and looked straight into his, "wow, I was wrong."

Eric leaned in for a kiss. Jackie's hands sought his skin under his shirt and Eric pushed the front of her button up shirt open so he could place kisses along her collarbone and shoulders.

"At this rate we won't get to the clothes modeling…" Jackie squeaked as he lightly bit her neck, "or the packing, for that matter."

Giving her one final, heated kiss on the lips Eric pulled back and allowed Jackie to carry her suitcase to the bed where she laid it open.

"We won't stay long enough for Red and Kitty to drive us completely out of our minds. I'm sure the shock of us showing up together is enough to send Red into a 'foot in ass' mantra for years."

Jackie giggled, "So…um, how are we getting there?"

Eric flipped back the cover of his suitcase and pulled two plane tickets out from underneath.

"I picked them up this morning."

"So, you were banking on me saying 'yes' weren't you?"

Eric shrugged, "I figured it was a pretty safe bet, they only had first class seats available."

Jackie squealed and jumped on Eric causing him to fall backwards onto the bed.

"First class! Oooh, we'll get all the in flight drinks we want and you know," she added slipping her hand back under his shirt, "First class has a bigger bathroom."

"You know what? I love the way you think," he said, rolling them over so he could pin her down and kiss her deeply.

After a few minutes Jackie sat up, "We have to get to Macys before it closes! I need buy some rainy weather clothes. Oh! And we'll have to stop at the drugstore, all that humidity will make me frizz so I need different hair care products. Oh yay! I am so excited!" Jackie picked up her coat and grabbed Eric's hand pulling him towards the door.

Eric smiled indulgently at her as they put on their coats and left the apartment to retrieve Jackie's travel necessities.