A/N – Sorry it's been a while, and I'm sorry if this chapter doesn't make up for it. I've been having a tough time writing lately and I don't know why. Thank you Marla's Lost for the nice review. Hope you guys enjoy this next chapter.

June 25, 2001

It was near the middle of summer when Donna was nearly finished moving everything into the record store that she was going to manage. Jackie had decided to pitch in and help her, as did Eric. Jackie originally was going to help with the record store, but after the falling out everybody had, she decided against it. Instead she found a job at local salon, which she enjoyed very much.

Donna was inside getting stuff set up as Eric and Jackie hauled in boxes full of records. Eric was surprised that people even bought vinyl's anymore, with all the different formats that had come out. The compact disk and Napster had taken vinyl sales down in recent years, so Eric was surprised Hyde's shop still even got business.

Jackie had been watching Eric closely the last couple of months, making sure he was eating properly and hadn't resumed cutting himself. He did seem a little happier since him and Jackie taking the kids to the park every weekend, so they could talk. Jackie usually got his mind off of things and liked to make him laugh, it made her feel better.

Eric was still weak because of the lack of food though and had to stop carrying boxes every once in a while to take a break. Jackie knew he was letting food settle more than he used to, but he still made himself sick some days, and she was sure today was one of those days.

Eric had just set a box down on the curb and was hunched over, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath, his arms shaking.

Jackie frowned and set her box down as well and stepped over to him, placing a gentle hand on his back and rubbing small, soothing circles, "Are you okay? This is the third time today."

Eric nodded and drew in heavy breaths, "Yeah… I'm fine…" He said between gasps for air.

This only made Jackie frown harder and raise a concerned eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

Eric nodded and shakily stood up straight, looking down at Jackie, a forced smile on his face, "Yeah, I'm sure."

Jackie nodded, though her frown remained as she slowly drew her hand away from him, curious concern etched across her face as she watched him carefully. Eric inhaled a sharp breath before he lifted the box he had just set on the curb a moment before and carried it into the record store.

Jackie watched him until he disappeared into the store before she picked up a box as well and carried it in after him.

The group continued this same task over and over for the next hour or so, Eric stopping several more times and the girls taking turns asking him if he was alright. He always lied and told them he was and continued on with his task at hand. After a while longer, the three finally finished and they all sat inside and rested.

They were all sweating and panting, the heat from the sun really draining them. They all just sat for a few minutes, taking swigs of water and trying to stop sweating. Jackie eyed Eric and noticed he was trembling and pale, she was starting to get very worried about him.

She was broken of her thoughts when Donna spoke, "I've got to go to the bathroom, I'll be right back."

Jackie and Eric both nodded in acknowledgment as she stood and went to the back room where the restroom was. Jackie then turned her attention back to Eric who was wiping the sweat off his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.

"You gonna make it?" Jackie teased with a smile.

Eric scoffed and nodded, "Yeah, I'll think I'll live."

Jackie smiled as Eric put his hand down on the table, his arm shaking in fatigue. His shirt was drenched with sweat and his hair was near soaking wet. Jackie didn't know why, but it made it look kind of hot. You know, minus the smell.

Eric had recently told her he'd been eating regularly and keeping himself from being sick, but she knew that was a lie. If he had he would've of gained a little bit of weight by now, and he totally hasn't.

"Eric?" Jackie said suddenly, making him look up at her with his charming hazel colored eyes.

"Yes?" He spoke, his voice tired, but soft.

Jackie looked at his trembling hand on the table and instinctively reached out and grabbed it, trying to keep it still. Eric looked down at their entwined hands and blushed a little, adding a little color to his face.

"Are you feeling okay?" Jackie asked, squeezing his hand a little.

Eric jerked his head up to meet Jackie's eyes and nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

Jackie shrugged and looked down at their hands, "Well, you've taken a dozen breaks today, which is more than mine and Donna's combined. And you're shaking… I was just worried, is all."

Eric nodded and averted her gaze, "Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just a little tired, that's all… I couldn't sleep last night, that's probably it."

Jackie wasn't buying it, but she didn't want to argue with him today, so she dropped it, "Well, okay. Just wanted to make sure you weren't coming down with a cold or anything."

Eric smirked and shook his head, "No, I assure you, I'm fine."

Jackie nodded, "Okay, good…" She trailed off and thought about her next question, trying to decide if she really wanted to ask it or not. She decided to ask him, thinking now is as good as ever, "So, if you're feeling well enough now, do you think you'd be okay later to come by my place for dinner?"

Eric shrugged and nodded, debating it for a moment in his head before answering, "Yeah sure, what time so I can tell Chris?"

Jackie shook her head, "No, I meant like… Just us…" Now she was nervous and blushing, averting his gaze.

Eric raised an eyebrow, then widened his eyes, then blushed, "Oh! Um… Well, uh…"

Jackie scrunched her shoulders in an awkward way and started rambling, "I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to. I mean, I don't want you to be uncomfortable or… You know—"

"Yes," Eric cut her off.

Jackie furrowed her brow curiously, "Yes what?"

Eric rolled his eyes and smiled at Jackie, "Yes, I'll come by and have dinner with you."

Jackie blushed a little harder and smiled, scrunching her shoulders in a girly manner, "Okay then, it's a…"

When she didn't finish, Eric spoke for her, "Date."

Jackie smiled and blushed even harder, if that was even possible, "Yes. It's a date."

Eric smiled back at her just as Donna walked into the room and in on the two. She saw them holding hands and raised an eyebrow, "What's going on?"

Jackie and Eric both looked up at Donna then down at their hands before pulling away from each other and sitting as far away as possible, "Nothing, Eric was just, uh, he was just trembling and I was making sure he was, uh, he was okay…" Jackie stuttered nervously.

Eric nodded in agreement, "Yes, that's, uh, that's exactly what she was doing, she wasn't asking me—"

Before he could finish that sentence, Jackie kicked him lightly under the table, causing him to jump and shut his mouth.

Donna eyed the two suspiciously and smiled, rolling her eyes, "Okay," she giggled before sitting back down across from Jackie.

Jackie smiled and cautiously glanced at Eric who smiled right back.

0-0-0-0-0

Jackie didn't know why, but she was super nervous about having dinner with Eric tonight. If this wasn't a 'date' as they had both so lovingly called it, then she wouldn't be this nervous right now. But because it WAS a date, she had so many nervous butterflies flying around in her stomach right now.

He would be here any minute now, and knowing Eric, he was probably just as nervous as she was, if not more.

Jackie examined herself in the mirror, making sure she looked good. She wasn't overdressed, she was just wearing a simple black dress that came to right above the knees and she had her hair pinned up. Regularly, she'd think she looked fine, but tonight she felt something was missing.

She had no time anyway, as a certain someone knocked on the door.

Jackie whipped her head around to look down the short hallway before she turned back to the mirror and examined herself one final time.

"Okay Jackie," She said nervously to herself, "You can do this."

She's never been this nervous on a date before, maybe that was a sign. A sign she may have found the one.

Jackie turned off the light in the bathroom and walked down the hall and to the front door. She stood in front of it for a moment, hesitant to answer, but she finally worked up the nerve. She grabbed the door handle and gently swung the door open, revealing a nervous, but very handsome Eric.

He wasn't wearing anything too formal, but he was wearing a blazer and a tie, which meant he must have put as much thought into this as Jackie had. Eric was nervous, Jackie could tell, but he wouldn't be Eric if he wasn't.

Jackie smiled up at him sweetly, "You look nice."

Eric blushed a little and looked down at himself, smiling awkwardly, "Thanks. And you look… Wow…"

Jackie blushed as he had and giggled in girly glee, "Thank you," She smiled before looking down at the flowers he held in his hand. Red roses, her favorite, "Are those for me?"

Eric looked down at the flowers and nodded, "Yes, they are."

He handed them to Jackie and she took them into her small hands and smiled, "Thank you, that was very thoughtful of you. I can't believe you remembered these were my favorites."

Eric smiled and shrugged, blushing, "Well, you know… I'm a good listener."

Jackie giggled and stepped back and out of the way, "Come in."

Eric smiled nervously and stepped past Jackie into her small apartment. It was nice and cozy. It was a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment with a small kitchen area and decent sized living room. It had a view of the street outside, but at least it wasn't Eric's great view of a brick wall.

"I didn't really get to look around last time I was here," Eric said, looking around the room before looking at Jackie with a smile, "It's nice."

"Thank you," Jackie said, a nervous smile on her face as it became silent.

Neither of them knew how to carry on a conversation with each other, it seemed. Date pressure.

"This is weird," Jackie said, giggling a little bit.

Eric frowned and cocked an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

Jackie scrunched her shoulders and shrugged, "This. Us. To think we hated each other as kids, and now, here we are. On a date."

Eric smirked and tilted his head, "I didn't hate you," He started smugly, "I just had a very strong dislike of you."

Jackie laughed at that. Eric's heart skipped a beat when he saw her smile. It was so bright and pretty. Like her.

"You never lost that Forman charm," Jackie smiled as she turned towards the kitchen to set her flowers on the counter as Eric followed her.

After a moment of silence, Jackie turned back towards Eric and smiled at him. He was already at the table, pulling out a chair for her, "My lady."

Jackie suppressed a giggle and stepped over to the table, sitting down in the chair Eric had pulled out for her, "And you're a gentleman. I don't know why I never gave you a chance in high school."

Eric shuffled around the table and sat down across from Jackie, smirking, "Well, you know… They say things happen for a reason."

Jackie smiled and nodded, completely agreeing with that statement, "You're right. Maybe this is the start of something great."

Eric blushed a little and averted eye contact, "Maybe it is."

He was so cute. Jackie thought to herself.

And so the date commenced. After a minute, they both eased up and just started talking about random things that have happened recently and also about things of their past. Even though there was still a nervous tension in the room, they both had a good time.

The dinner lasted about twenty minutes, but they just talked to each other for over an hour. But it was in the middle of a story, and a funny one at that, that the phone decided to ring.

Jackie and Eric both peered up and over into the small kitchen where the phone was before Jackie groaned irritably, "Ugh. I'm sorry, let me just go check and see who it is."

Eric nodded, "It's no problem."

Jackie got from her seat and went into the kitchen only to return a moment later with the phone in her hand, her eyes wide, "It's your mother."

Eric raised his eyebrows, "My mother calls you?"

"We talk all the time! I did live in point place pretty much my whole life!" Jackie snapped.

Eric held up his hands defensively, "Sorry…"

"What should I do?" Jackie questioned.

"Answer it," Eric suggested, shrugging his shoulders loosely.

"Are you sure?" Jackie asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

Eric nodded, "Yeah, just don't tell her I'm here."

Jackie nodded and released a nervous sigh through her nose before she answered the phone and held it up to her ear, "Hello?"

"Jackie? Are you okay? It took you a while to answer?" Kitty asked, concern in her voice.

Jackie nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just washing dishes and I didn't hear the phone, that's all."

"Oh, well okay," Kitty said, completely buying into the lie before she started asking Jackie how's she's been and what New York was like.

Eric sat and waited patiently as Jackie urgently tried to ending the call, but Kitty kept on talking, which made Eric smile a little.

Jackie was just about the say her goodbyes when Kitty brought up one more thing, "Oh, I forgot to tell you! Guess what I found in the attic today?"

Jackie paced impatiently, "What?"

"Eric's little bear he had as a baby," It was like Jackie could hear the smile in Kitty's voice, "I've been looking for that for so long… Almost as long as I've been looking for Eric."

Jackie pursed her lips and let her face fall to that of a sympathetic and sad one, "Mrs. Forman?"

She heard the older woman sniffle on the other line, "I'm fine, I was just thinking… I've been thinking a lot since I found that little teddy bear. I've been wondering if my baby's okay, and where he's at, and if he's happy. I just want to see him again… I just want to hold like I did when he was little."

Jackie furrowed her brow sadly, "I'm sure he's fine, Mrs. Forman."

Eric looked up at this. Where they talking about him? His father? Eric knew is father was in poor health as of recent.

"But how do you know that?" Kitty pleaded, "What if… What if something horrible has happened to him? What if he's sick? Or, or—"

"Mrs. Forman, calm down," Jackie tried, "I know Eric is okay. And so do you. Wherever he is, he's fine."

Eric looked down at his lap and closed his eyes, his eyes beginning to water. He was starting to feel like crap again. The guilt was starting to overwhelm him.

"Okay, thanks for calling," Jackie said, a sad smile on her face, "Alright then, bye."

Jackie then hung up and looked over to Eric, who was looking up at her sadly. Jackie frowned and walked back over to the table and sat across from Eric, "You need to go see them."

Eric nodded, "I know, I just don't know… How."

Jackie looked into his sad puppy dog eyes and realized it was becoming hard to be stern with him, "It doesn't matter how you do it, Eric. As long as you go down and see them. That's all they want."

Eric nodded and looked back down at his hands in his lap, "I know, it's just… How do I even explain myself?"

Jackie shrugged, "Tell them… Tell them you were scared."

Eric raised an eyebrow, "Scared?"

Jackie nodded, "Yeah, scared of what they might think if they found out you were sick. I mean, that is a real reason, you told me so yourself."

Eric tilted his head, "Yeah, I guess."

"You could also say that… You couldn't leave because you had Chris, and you can't leave Chris by himself for long," Jackie suggested.

"But Chris is fine by himself," Eric pointed out, fiddling his fingers.

"But they don't need to know that," Jackie said.

Eric shook his head, "No, I don't want to lie to them. I'll just tell them the truth."

Jackie raised an eyebrow, "Which is?"

Eric sighed, "That I am sick and I can't drive all the way to Wisconsin on my own. And that I couldn't go home because I didn't want to see Donna."

Jackie nodded, "And?"

Eric sighed and looked down at his lap once more, "And that I'm a coward… I'm a coward because I couldn't stand to look my parents in the eyes and tell them the whole truth."

Jackie smirked sadly and reached across the small table, grabbing Eric's arm, "Eric?"

He looked up at her, his eyes sad, "Yeah?"

"I know you can do this," Jackie smiled, giving Eric a little confidence.

Eric smirked a little bit and scoffed, "Thanks Jackie, but… There's still a problem."

Jackie tilted her head and cast Eric a quizzical look, "And that is?"

Eric looked up at Jackie, "That I can't drive all the way to Wisconsin by myself."

Jackie smiled smugly. Uh-oh, "Who said anything about going by yourself?"

A/N – Okay, I don't know what Jackie's favorite flower is and I'm sure she's mentioned it in the series somewhere, I just can't remember. So, sorry if I got that wrong. Until next time.