A/N – Oh my God! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a long time. I've had the worst case of writer's block ever, but last night a burst of creativity went rushing through my bones. So here's a new chapter. We're getting close to the big event and that's towards the end of the story. I haven't decided if 9/11 will be one long chapter or several chapters. Anyway, we're getting close to the end, but don't worry, I have a sequel in the works.

I loved the reviews as usual, they always make me smile. :)

Anyway, here's the next chapter.

July 1, 2001

It was the last day with Eric's parents and they were having a little cookout, kind of like an early Fourth of July celebration since Eric had to go back home for work early. Eric woke up a little happier that morning though. He hadn't forced himself to throw up in three days and he was proud of himself. He was also happier now because he and Jackie were 'officially' together. They just haven't told anyone yet.

Eric went downstairs to see what everybody was up to that morning and walked into the kitchen to see Chris talking to Red and Kitty.

At first, Eric thought Chris might have been annoying them, as the boy never knows when to stop talking once you get him going, but Eric was surprised to see both Red and Kitty smiling as Chris rambled on about whatever it was he was rambling about.

"…And when light reflects off of something, it bounces into the camera, through the lens and onto the mirror. The light then bounces off the mirror into a five-sided piece of glass called a pentaprism and into the eyepiece, and when that happens the light passes through the eyepiece and into your eye. That's how you see the image exactly as it will appear on film, and—"

"Good morning, guys," Eric said after watching Chris ramble for a moment. All three of the people at the table turned and looked up at Eric as he entered the room, "Is he telling you about his new camera?"

Kitty beamed and nodded and Chris looked down, seeming slightly embarrassed, as if he knew he had rambled too much. They just asked if you liked your new camera Chris, they didn't want to know how it worked down a tee. Chris internally scolded himself.

"Yes, it's very interesting," Kitty said with a beaming smile as she saw Chris's red face. Maybe that would cheer him up?

Chris looked up at Kitty and Red and saw them both smiling at him, so he smiled back a little.

"Where's Callie?" Eric asked as he walked over to Chris.

Chris looked up at Eric and jutted his head to the side, "In the bathroom taking a shower."

Eric nodded, "Alright. Well, why don't you go upstairs and put your camera away for now. You don't want to kill the battery before all the fun stuff happens."

Chris nodded and looked down at his camera in his hands, "Okay," He said before he stood and started walking away, waving awkwardly to Red and Kitty as he went.

"That's a very nice camera you've got there, Chris," Red called to him.

Chris turned and smiled, nodding and stumbling out of the room awkwardly.

Eric pulled out a seat and sat down across from his parents, both of them turning to face him, smiling still.

"He's a great kid," Red beamed.

Kitty nodded in agreement, "He's very smart. And very sweet."

Eric smiled and nodded, "Thanks," He replied. That's what he should say, right? He did practically raise Chris after all.

"You said you adopted him?" Kitty asked.

Eric nodded, "Yeah, well… I kind of moved in with him and his mother when he was about six. So legally I haven't adopted him, but I like to think of him as my son."

"You moved in with his mother?" Red asked curiously, one eyebrow raised.

Eric nodded, "Yeah, but we weren't together or anything. We were both kind of struggling to pay rent and with our money together we could easily afford a place, and besides, she told me Chris liked having me around and that was a rarity for him."

"He doesn't like a lot of people?" Kitty asked, her eyebrows furrowed curiously.

Eric shook his head, "Well, it' kind of hard for him to make friends. He's not so good at socializing."

"Well, him and Callie seem to get along really well," Kitty smiled.

Eric nodded and smirked, "That was kind of a forced relationship on Callie's part. She liked to pester him when they first met, then after a while they became friends."

"Now I think they're a little more than friends," Kitty giggled, scrunching her shoulders.

Eric chuckled, "Try getting them to admit that."

They all chuckled a little bit, but stopped talking, leaving the room quiet. Eric could feel the tension in the room, and he knew that they wanted to ask him about his seizure he had the other day. They never got around to asking him the day before, but he knew it was coming.

"Eric…" Kitty spoke first, "We've been meaning to talk to you about something."

Eric nodded and tensed up in his chair a little, refusing to make eye contact with either of his parents.

"It's about what happened when you got here," Kitty said, her face sad, "I just want to ask a few questions about it, okay?"

Eric nodded, but he looked anxious, "Ask away."

"Alright, well, first things first, how long have you had epilepsy?" Kitty asked, praying that it wasn't that long.

"Since the early eighties," Eric said, confirming Kitty's worst fears.

"Are they always so… Violent?" Kitty asked.

Eric shook his, giving his parents a reassuring look, "No, not usually. I have one like that maybe only once or twice a year, if that."

They kept asking questions about his illness, and Eric answered every one honestly. After a fifteen minute conversation about it, some of their fears were diminished and they felt a little more at peace with it, now that they knew a little more about how he dealt with it.

For the rest of the morning, the three just talked to each other about each other. Eric told them, in a little more detail, about his life in New York, and his parents told him of all of the many things they've done in the past twenty some years.

By noon though, Red was ready to start up the grill for the barbeque and Eric decided to help. As they had just thrown the hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill, none other than Michael Kelso walked up the driveway with his family.

"Eric Forman!" Kelso said, a wide smile on his face as he sauntered up the driveway, swagger in his stride.

Eric turned to look at Kelso and smiled just as big before Michael wrapped him into a tight hug.

"It's good to see ye', man," Kelso smiled, patting Eric on the back brotherly.

Eric nodded, "It's good to see you, too."

They pulled away from each other and Eric looked over Kelso's shoulder and smiled at Brooke, "How are you doing, Brooke?"

She smiled and hugged Eric, "I'm doing fine, thanks."

After a moment of hugging, they pulled away and Eric saw Kelso's two daughters. He was amazed at how big Betsy had grown. She was a college student now and it kind of made Eric feel old, because he remembers her when she was just a little baby.

She was tall and blonde, but she had blue highlights in her hair and she was wearing a navy blue ballcap backwards as she chewed on some gum. She looked like she might have had an attitude at first sight, but when she looked up and saw Eric, she smiled sweetly and held out her hand.

"You must be Eric," She said, shaking his hand firmly, "Forgive me for not remembering you, I could barely walk when you moved away."

Eric chuckled, "That's alright. It's really nice to see you again, and wow have you grown."

Betsy chuckled and looked down at her sister Michelle, who was shyly hiding behind her, "Michelle… You don't have to be shy, he's practically family."

Eric smiled at that and Michelle slowly scooted out from behind Betsy, but she still warily looked up at Eric.

Eric waved carefully at her and smiled, "Hello Michelle, it's very nice to meet you."

She hid behind her hands, but wiggled her little fingers at him.

"Betsy, why don't you take your sister inside to see Kitty, maybe get her some juice?" Brooke asked kindly.

Betsy nodded, "Okay. Come on Micky, let's go find Grandma Forman."

Betsy grabbed Michelle's hand and took her inside. Eric smiled and turned to Kelso, "They're both very pretty girls, Kelso…. They must get it from their mother."

Kelso rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Please, be honest Eric, they got it from me."

Brooke crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow at this, "Excuse me?"

Kelso immediately dropped his cocky look and slumped his shoulders, "I-I mean, um, what I meant was…"

Brooke stood there, patiently waiting for his answer.

Kelso averted her gaze and gestured over his shoulder, "I'll just go help Michelle with her juice box, you know how tricky those straws can be…"

Kelso then stomped off into the kitchen, trying to avoid a very dangerous situation with his wife. As soon as he was out of earshot though, Brooke laughed and shook her head.

"He hasn't changed much has he?" Eric smiled, his hands in his pockets awkwardly.

Brooke shook her head, "No, not really."

Eric and Brooke stood there and conversed for the next several minutes about nothing in particular. Eric told her a little about his photography and she told him about her kids. The conversation only lasted a few minutes though, because it was interrupted by another childhood friend of Eric. Two of them, actually.

"Hey Forman!" Steven Hyde called out, pulling Eric's attention away from Brooke.

Eric smiled when he saw his friend and he saw him holding the hand of a slightly younger woman. Jackie showed him a picture of Hyde's girlfriend once, but this was a different woman. Things must not have gone well with the other girl.

"Hey man," Eric smiled as and Hyde hugged, slapping each other on the back before pulling away, "How've you been?"

Hyde shrugged, "I've been alright. What about you?"

Eric stuffed his hands into his pockets and shrugged his frail shoulders, "I'm doing as best as I can," He replied, glancing over his best friends shoulder at the girl he brought with him, "And who's this?"

Hyde looked over his shoulder and smiled, grabbing the girls hand and bringing her forward, "Oh, this is my girlfriend, Mai."

The woman smiled sweetly and offered her hand to Eric, "Nice to meet you."

Eric shook her hand and smiled kindly back. She was an attractive woman, she was about as tall as Jackie and she had jet black hair that was pulled back into a bun, a few loose strands hanging down around her face, her golden colored eyes seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.

After Eric released Mai's hand he noticed as fidgety Hyde was being. He had his arms crossed awkwardly as he shifted from foot to foot, it made Eric raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

"You alright, man?" Eric asked, casting his friend a concerned look.

Hyde nodded, "Yeah, yeah… I'm fine," He said, his voice smaller than Eric was used to hearing it. Hyde turned to look over Eric's shoulder and saw Brooke talking to Red, a beer in her hand, "Hey Brooke, could you come here for a second?"

Brooke looked over at Hyde and smiled before politely excusing herself from the conversation she was currently in before she made her way over to Hyde.

"What's up?" She asked curiously, pursing her lips.

"Um, Brooke I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Mai," Hyde introduced and waited for the girls to finish introducing themselves before he continued, "Why don't you show her around and introduce her to everybody? I've got to talk to Forman."

Brooke gave him a curious look but nodded anyway, "Yeah, okay. Come on, Mai, you've got to meet Kitty, you'll love her."

The girls then headed towards the house and Hyde suddenly grabbed Eric's arm, a little rougher than intended, and pulled him down the driveway, out of earshot of Red who was currently flipping the burgers.

"Hyde? What's wrong?" Eric asked, genuinely concerned now. He's never seen Hyde so jumpy before, he was usually so laid back, he was starting to worry him.

Hyde ran a hand across his face and looked around nervously, "Things have been stressful for me lately, man. Too stressful."

Eric slumped his shoulders and gazed at Hyde in concern, "How come?"

Hyde crossed his arms again before he started, "Well, about a month ago my old girlfriend, Quinta, broke up with me. We were together for a long time, too man, I thought we were going to get married, we had already started talking about it."

"So what happened?" Eric asked, furrowing his brow curiously.

"Mai showed up, that's what happened," Hyde said, "She called me and asked if we could meet for lunch one afternoon. At first I thought she was trying to hook up with me and I told her I was already in a relationship, but she said that's not why she contacted me, that's when my entire life changed."

"Wait," Eric stopped him, "Did you hook up before? You know, since she had your number?"

Hyde nodded, "Yeah, but it was all a mistake. Me and Quinta were having issues, I got drunk, we hooked up, no big deal, right?"

Eric shrugged.

"Wrong!" Hyde snapped, making Eric flinch, "No, she calls me and we meet for lunch, everything's going fine, and then she drops the bomb shell on me."

Eric held his breath, making an assumption of what Hyde would say next, then it happened, "She's pregnant."

Eric was silent for a minute, not really sure how to handle this. Hyde was obviously stressed about all of this. Hyde was never a family man, when they were teenagers he always said he never wanted kids of his own and now this happened because of one mistake.

"What'd you say?" Eric finally spoke, his voice cracking a little bit, making him clear his throat awkwardly.

Hyde threw his hands up, "I asked her what she was planning to do and she told me she wanted to keep it. I was so stressed out and I knew I had to tell Quinta, but it's so hard, you know? But… I told her anyway and she left me. Just like that. She didn't even let me explain."

Eric furrowed his brow, "What's there to explain, Hyde? You slept with another woman and she ended up pregnant, it's pretty self-explanatory."

Now it was Hyde's turn to furrow his brow, "Who's side are you on?"

Eric shook his head, ignoring that last question, "How far along is she?"

Hyde sighed and hung his head, "Two months yesterday."

Eric sucked in a sharp breath as Hyde continued, "I don't know what I'm going to do, man."

Eric sent a sort of glare at Hyde as he let his arms fall down by his sides, "You got to be there for her!" Eric snapped, pointing towards the house where Mai had gone with Brooke, "She's probably scared and she needs a little support. You're that baby's father. This should be a happy day, not a sad one. Think about man. You're going to be a Dad."

Hyde nodded, "I know, I know… It's just scary, you know?"

Eric nodded, "I know. But just wait. She should be having an ultra sound anytime now and when you see that photograph you will instantly fall in love and you won't want to turn back."

Hyde raised an eyebrow, "How do you know that?"

Eric shrugged, "I just do."

Hyde decided to ask him any further questions on that, he just nodded and adjusted his shoulders, "Just be there for her?"

Eric nodded, "That's all you have to do."

Hyde nodded again and offered a smile for his old friend, "Thanks Forman. You're smarter than I remember you being. It's kind of shocking."

Eric rolled his eyes, "Just go find your girlfriend."

Hyde smiled and nodded, "Alright, I'm going, I'm going, jeez…"

Eric smiled as Hyde turned and went back towards the house to find his girlfriend. He'd be alright, he knew it. Hyde would be the coolest dad any kid could ask for. Hyde's kid might actually be the only kid on the planet who actually gets to say the words 'my dad's cool.'

Eric would be that dorky dad who ranted about how cool Star Wars used to be before they started to make that horrible prequel trilogy, Eric only hoped they'd make a better Star Wars movie someday.

He'd be that dad who blasted Led Zeppelin, Ted Nugent and Weezer in the car as he and his wife picked their kids up, just to embarrass them. He'd most likely be that dad who other kids thought was cool, just not his own.

Eric smiled to himself at his thoughts. He wondered if he'd ever have kids and if he did, with whom? He pictured Jackie immediately in his head and smiled even wider. That'd be a dream come true.

"Eric!" Speak of the devil.

Eric spun around and saw Jackie peeking her head out of the back door, her brow furrowed and a sweet but curious smile on her face, "What are you doing? Come on, it's time for lunch."

Eric nodded and smiled, turning around and starting towards the door, "I'm coming."

He walked into his old home with a smile on his face, a little happier than he's been in a long time.

0-0-0-0-0

July 2, 2001

Hyde never told anyone else about his girlfriend being pregnant. He told Eric he'll just wait for when he's ready. He was still a little weary on being a parent, but he wasn't as stressed as he was before now that he had started to think about it. He was excited and scared all the same, but he was sure that's how every first time parent thought.

It was early that next morning when Eric, Jackie and the kids were packing up to leave and Red and Kitty were both very sad to see them go. They just wanted to keep Eric here so they could just talk to him and see him all the time, but they knew they couldn't do that. He had a life in New York.

"Alright, that's the last of it," Eric said as he slammed the trunk of Jackie's car shut and turned to see his parents.

His father was smiling sweetly at him as he held his arm around his wife's shoulder and Kitty held a hand to her mouth, trying to keep herself from crying, but it was no use.

"Why do you have to go so early?" Kitty asked as she suddenly launched herself into her son's arms, "Why can't you just stay a little longer?"

Eric smiled and returned his mother's tight embrace, "I have to work, mom. And I have a meeting on Friday."

Kitty nodded in his chest, "I know… I'm just going to miss you, is all," She said as she pulled away.

Eric nodded, "I know. I'll come visit again, don't worry. And I'll call, twice a week."

"Three times a week," Kitty said, not leaving it open for debate.

Eric nodded again and smiled wider, "Okay, three times a week. You guys know where we are, I left the address written on the pad on the counter."

"New York's kind of confusing, how will I know exactly where you live?" Kitty asked, wiping her eyes.

"Okay, when you come into the city go straight to Lower Manhattan," Eric explained, "There's signs that'll direct you there or you could just ask somebody how to get there. You should go up West Broadway and when you see the World Trade Center make a left up Ann Street and drive for three blocks then make a left onto William's Street, that's where I live."

"Sounds complicated," Red said, frowning.

Eric shook his head, "I wrote it down. If you get lost in the city, just ask for some guidance. New Yorker's are surprisingly helpful if you keep it short and simple."

Kitty and Red both nodded as the group of four got ready to leave. Callie stepped forward and threw her arms around Kitty, beaming like the sun, "It was good seeing you again, Grandma Forman."

Kitty smiled and hugged the young girl back, "It was nice seeing you too. Tell your mom I said hi."

Callie nodded, "I will," She said as she stepped back.

They all got quiet as Chris stepped forward and held his hand out, almost robotically, "It was nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Forman."

Red and Kitty both raised an eyebrow, curiously watching Chris before Red spoke, "What are you doing?"

Chris just replied in monotone, "Holding my hand out for you to shake."

Kitty smiled sweetly, "Oh honey, families don't shake hands. Families hug."

Eric was about to protest, knowing full well that Chris wasn't exactly into hugging people, but he decided to wait and see what happened.

He, Jackie and Callie all watched as Chris furrowed his brow and pursed his lips, as if debating what he should do. He let his outstretched hand fall by his side stiffly before he cautiously made a few steps towards them, as if he were unsure of how to go about this.

He awkwardly held open his arms, but he only stood in his place for a moment before Kitty crushed him with a tight hug. Chris had the wind kicked out of him for a minute as he awkwardly placed his hands on Kitty's back, patting gently, not really sure what to do.

Soon enough, Red had wrapped his arms around the two as well and they all group hugged for a moment. After a few seconds they finally pulled apart and Chris stepped back awkwardly, trying to figure out what to do with his hands as Kitty and Red smiled at him kindly.

It was resolved though when he felt Callie's small hand envelope his, her hand squeezing his gently. Chris looked up and over at Callie as she smiled up at him, "You're too adorable, Chris," She said it sarcastically, but somehow everyone knew she meant it.

Chris turned a light shade of pink and averted everyone's gaze, but even he couldn't help the small smile that made itself present on his face as he gently squeezed Callie's hand back.

"Alright, we should get going," Eric said, adjusting his shoulders anxiously.

Jackie smiled at Red and Kitty and went to hug them, "It was nice seeing you guys again."

"You too, sweetheart," Red smiled as Jackie pulled away. Then it was Eric's turn to bid farewell to his parents.

"Well…" He started awkwardly, not sure what to say, "I'm really happy I got to see you guys again and I'm really sorry it's been so long since I've talked to you. I promise to come and visit as much as I can."

Kitty nodded, "There's no need to apologize, honey. We're just happy you're here now."

Eric nodded and smiled, "I'm still sorry."

"We know," Kitty said before she took her son in her arms, Red joining them, "We love you very much."

Eric nodded into his father shoulder, feeling tears fall from his eyes. He was fine a moment ago, but now every emotion he held in about his family over the years, the things he wanted to say to them and tell them, all those lost moments, they were tearing him apart. He doesn't know how they've forgiven him so easily. It must be a parent thing.

As Eric and his parents pulled away he felt his mother's thumbs wipe away his tears, "Don't cry, sweetheart. Everything's okay."

Eric nodded and smiled, "I know," He said as he wiped his eyes, "God, I can be such a woman sometimes."

Eric was surprised to get a laugh from both his parents at that joke and he laughed along with them before his mother grabbed his arms, "Be safe now, okay? We'll see you soon."

Eric nodded, "Alright. I love you guys."

"We love you, too," Red said this time, "Now go on, you need to go before it gets too late, maybe you can miss all that early morning traffic?"

Eric nodded in agreement, "Yeah, alright. I'll see you guys soon."

Eric stepped back and turned towards the car that the kids were already in, looking over his shoulder at his parents as Jackie went around to the driver's seat and got in. Eric smiled at his parents before he got in the car as well. As Jackie started up the car Eric watched his parents smiling faces as his father wrapped a comforting arm around his mother.

Eric watched them the whole way backing out of the driveway and the whole time they went down the street until their faces disappeared from his view.