Daughters

Disclaimer: I don't own That 70's Show

Chapter 7

This new Forman family was an odd concept for Jackie to wrap her mind around. The Forman's were the only true family that she had ever known to be like… well family. They ate meals together, asked each other about their day, and worried about each other like families were supposed to—though Red Forman would probably claim otherwise, he did his own version of those things.

Eric's new family of Forman's weren't unlike the Forman household that she essentially grew up with but at the same time it was also vastly different in a way she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Eric was an attentive father, of that she picked up on right away. He doted on his kids and if she had to be truthful hovered over them like a helicopter parent but strangely it was exactly how she had pictured him if he ever became a father.

He was overbearing and fretful like his mother but surprisingly he also had the sternness and hardness of his father. It was an odd mixture but the girls adored him like no tomorrow. That was already a given fact with the way Ani gushed about him but being in the car with this new Forman family for over an hour really enforced a lot of her first impressions.

It wasn't a silent road trip by any means. From the beginning all the way to now the car was filled with chatter and giggles followed by little bouts of childish fights that Eric would have to diffuse. It was both awe inspiring and intimidating.

Ani had been a charming little girl in the classroom, always polite and there with a bright smile for all her teachers and classmates. Within her family, though, she was an adorable little terror. She knew that she was a little cutie and knew how to use it. She used her innocence like a master manipulator, cajoling her father's forgiveness just as easily as she irritated her sister. The little girl had even brought her in on more than one of the arguments causing her to stutter out responses that she hoped Eric approved of and didn't demean his parenting in any way.

The most surprising aspect of the whole dynamic of the family wasn't Ani's sudden playful side surfacing or Eric's constant parenting but Lea's part in all of it. She was the subject of her sister's teasing and excitement but she never truly got mad despite how annoying Ani got. She listened to her dad carefully and deferred to him constantly, always taking his words to heart.

In some ways Lea was what she imagined an older sister was like. Despite being irritated by her sister's impish actions Lea still doted on her sister and took the time to wipe Ani's cheeks when she got mayo on it from her sloppy eating of her sandwich or allow the younger girl to rest her head on her shoulder when she was tired. Lea was patient, kind, and so much more mature for her age. It made her wonder if it was because of Eric's great parenting or—to her shame when it entered her head—if it was because she didn't have a mother.

Her thoughts on the mother not being in the picture were affirmed when Eric showed up at her front door with only the girls. When her guesses became truth she pictured a more broken family, a family more like her own.

Her mother was around but for the most part Pam Burkhart might as well have been somewhere else. She hardly spent time with her mother and when they did Jackie always felt like she wanted to be anywhere than to witness her mother's blatant flirting with young men.

Her father wasn't any better though. He was the complete opposite of Eric, only coming close in the aspect of being wrapped around their daughter's finger but even then it was completely different. Eric fell over backwards for his daughters because he could. He could be easy on them because he balanced it out by being stern and fair while Jack Burkhart was only lenient because he had to. The only way he could form any bonds with her while being an absentee father was to let her have her way.

Jackie felt like an outsider being in the car with them. She felt like some peeper looking through someone's bushes to see what was on the other side. The grass truly was greener she noticed looking through, but at the same time it made her realize just how out of place she really was and that Sara was right. She had no right agreeing to what must have been a polite invitation. This was family time for Eric and his kids and her impulsiveness had gone and interrupted that by placing her right in the middle of everything.

She suddenly regretted her decision to come along and fell silent after a period of time. The girls thought nothing of it but surprisingly Eric was very much aware.

"So Ani tells me that you bake cookies for the class all the time?"

Hearing her name mentioned Ani lifted her head from her sister's shoulder suddenly full of energy again. "She does! Miss. B make's the best chocolate chip cookies ever. Even the icky oatmeal raisins that I don't like are good when she makes them."

"I'd rather you eat no cookies," he said peeking through the car mirror to give her a stare. "With all the sweets you eat you'll stay small and round."

"No I won't daddy," she giggled like it was completely improbable and spoke matter-of-factly. "I'll get bigger than you and still eat all the cookies I want."

"More like porky." Lea said causing Ani to retaliate for the snide comment that would divulge into a bout of teasing and cries of 'dad/daddy' from the two girls.

Eric gave her an exaggerated look as if to say that it was all her fault. He didn't say it but she couldn't help but reply to what wasn't said, "How is this my fault?"

He gave her this small little smirk that made the line on his cheeks crinkle a little more. It was oddly charming, "Well maybe if you didn't bake so much cookies my littlest girl won't become porky."

"You can't be serious."

"Help me out here honey," Eric looked at Lea for support through the mirror. "Don't you think Miss B will make her students all tubby if she continues to bake cookies for the."

"Don't bring me into this dad," Lea said unable to hide her smile. "You're on your own."

"What, you can't even back your dad up." His eyes widened comically causing both girls to giggle.

"Daddy, don't be mean to Miss B." Ani smiled cutely at her and brought her hands to her mouth like she was making sure Eric couldn't hear what she was about to say. "Don't worry Miss B if daddy's being mean you just let me know."

"What are you two whispering about," Eric played along like he couldn't hear the whole thing.

"Nothing daddy," Ani said smiling innocently before 'whispering' back at her. "Right Miss B?"

She couldn't help but giggle and join in. "Of course Ani. And don't worry I'll still make cookies, just don't tell your father."

"Hey tell me what you two are whispering about."

They both looked at each other and broke out into giggles before answering simultaneously. "Nothing!"

Eric grumbled good-naturedly. "Well at least I know my oldest child would never keep secrets from me."

Ani's eyes practically sparkled in mischief. "Lea has a boyfriend."

Both parent and child's eyes widened after the bombshell.

"I do not!"

"Do too!"

Jackie laughed amiss the back and forth of 'do-not-and-do-too's' while Eric's mouth hung open and close in shock. He was attempting to say something but he couldn't seem to form words. She was surprised he kept them on the road.

"Stop lying Ani I don't have a boyfriend."

"But you want to."

"No I don't!"

"Yes you do, you just don't want to admit it. You like that boy that sits next you in cla—"

"—Ahhhh! Stop talking." Eric finally snapped. "You girls aren't allowed to date until you're forty."

"Dad," Lea groaned while Ani just giggled.

"See what you've done," Eric said looking at her.

Jackie tried to cover up her giggles but couldn't help it. "I'll take full responsibility if it makes you feel any better."

"It doesn't," he said grumbling.

"Daddy's silly isn't he," Ani said to her.

"He's not always like this," Lea said putting her two cents in.

"Now you're all ganging up on me."

The girls looked at each other and answered in unison. "Yeah!"

"Miss B's on our side."

"Right Miss B?"

Jackie smiled at her inclusion and was about to answer in affirmation but Eric caught her eyes and she saw that faint little smirk on his lips that caused the line on his cheeks to deepen a little. It was there then it was gone, leaving her with a sense that he was glad that her silence had finally broken.

It was right then that she realized what it was about this Forman family that made it so different from the one she grew up with. Red and Kitty Forman were a team. They were parents under a united front that disciplined and loved their children. They educated their children from right or wrong and had each other's back. Their orders were always backed up by those magic words: do as your mother says or listen to your father.

It was different for Eric though. While Lea was dutiful and responsible she wasn't on Eric's 'side' per say. And despite how much Ani loves Eric more than anything in the world she would also follow her sister anywhere. Ani and Lea as sisters were the 'team' in the family while Eric was the lone man. He couldn't win every argument with his daughter's nor could he use the support of having someone to back him up to reinforce his parenting. She couldn't say how exactly Eric was able to raise the girls by himself and have them turn out so great but it must have taken everything he had.

Even if it was something nonsensical she didn't want him to be on a team by himself for at least this one thing. So when she answered the girls she gave an answer that they did not expect. "I'm on your side Eric."

They reached Point Place a little after ten pm. While the drive from Chicago to the little suburb wasn't a super long trip they did hit a bit of traffic that extended the drive. It was already way past Ani's bed time and the little bundle of energy had finally run out of energy and had fallen asleep with a bit of drool starting to pool on her sister's shoulder. Lea wasn't the least bit aware of the wet stain starting to form since her head was bobbing like she was listening to a beat only she could hear while fighting to keep her eyes open.

She was stubborn like that, always trying to stay awake for his sake so that he wouldn't have to be alone during the drive. It was sweet of her but he'd rather she didn't fight her drowsiness and just for once let him do everything for her and her sister. Plus Jackie was with them and she was still as awake as he was so there was no reason for her to force herself.

When he parked the car in the driveway he grew up in he was glad to see that Lea had succumbed to her battle with sleep and was snoring faintly. He smiled at the sight before turning to Jackie, "Here are the keys to the house. Could you open up the door for me? I'll bring the girls in."

"Sure thing," she took the keys from him and left the car.

He couldn't help but find his eyes following her as she walked towards the door of his childhood home. Her inclusion to their outing had been a surprise and truly, at one point, an annoyance but she managed to integrate herself with the girls and helped make the rest of the car ride go smoother.

It had taken a little push from him but once she felt more comfortable, signs of the old Jackie started to show up. Not the annoying and evil girl that he mostly remembered but the charming and witty girl that he only faintly remembered because he only saw that side of her a few times.

Eric opened the door of the car and made sure not to disturb the girls. Lea was way beyond the age, or size, for him to carry her on his hip for long periods of time but it was no burden if it meant allowing her to sleep uninterrupted.

With a heave he gathered Lea into his arms and tucked her head under the crook of his neck. Almost like magic her arms wrapped themselves around his neck and snuggled deeper in his embrace. She wasn't awake but almost every time he carried his girls home asleep they would dig deep into his arms and wrap themselves into him.

He rubbed her back soothingly and peeked inside to make sure that Ani was still asleep. Without her sister's shoulder to lean on, her head tilted at the side uncomfortably. He wanted to readjust her positioning but doing so would wake Lea. His little girl would just have to endure for a little bit until he got Lea in bed.

He met Jackie as he was walking in the door. "Do you want me to set something up on the couch?"

He shook his head in denial. "No, I'm just going to take her up to my parents' bedroom so no need to do that."

"Can you make it up the stairs?"

He laughed softly when she blushed when he caught her eyes drifted down to his arms as if to check if he could manage the weight. He wasn't the scrawny teenager she knew back then but he could see why she would be dubious. He had always been on the skinny side but he was a lot more filled out now and was a full grown man.

"I think I can handle it. Could you check up on Ani in the car? I'll be right down for her after I tuck Lea in."

"Sure," she said still a little embarrassed. "Just don't lock me out."

"I don't think I could if I wanted to," he said laughing at her words. "I definitely couldn't keep you out of my basement all those years ago so I don't think I'd have much luck this time around."

"Well at least you're learning."

He shook his head ruefully when she blew by him with a playful smirk on her lips. Of all people, Jackie Burkhart. It was still a weird thing to get over that she was somehow here with them but somehow it hadn't been all that unpleasant.

Eric scaled the stairs feeling a slight strain with the added weight of his daughter in his arms but still managed to get her into the bedroom. He gently pried her arms away his neck when he placed her on the bed. He tucked her in and placed a gentle kiss on her head.

He left the bedroom door open because he was going to come back with Ani anyways. The girls slept together when they stayed at his childhood home. At first it was because Ani didn't like sleeping alone in a place that wasn't the one they lived in back in Chicago. Over time she got over those fears but the two still preferred to sleep together when they visited.

Since the only bed that could fit two people was the one in his parents' bedroom his dad was forced to sleep on the couch whenever they came over. He didn't complain though because like Eric, Lea and Ani had him all wrapped up. He was worst with them than he was with Laurie.

As he was walking down the stairs to get Ani from the car he found that there was no need. Jackie had just walked through the door with Ani tucked in her arms. Just like with him Ani's arms were snaked around Jackie's neck and her whole body snuggled against the older woman.

"Which bedroom is this little one sleeping in?"

There was something oddly breathtaking about seeing his little girl being carried by another woman. He just couldn't decide if it was a bad thing or not. "M-My parent's bedroom. The girls like to sleep in the same room when we stay here."

She gave him a smile before bringing Ani up the stairs. He felt his heart pounding in unison to Jackie's feet going up the stairs. He didn't know why something like that could make his heart start to beat like that.

Eric shook it off as nothing. He was probably tired from the drive. He convinced himself of this as he took the last of the luggage from the car and brought it inside. By the time he had brought all the bags in Jackie had already tucked Ani in and was waiting for him in the living room.

"This place really brings back memories." She walked by each furniture like she was in an art museums observing all the paintings. "Do you remember the time when your parents allowed you to have that Christmas party in the basement and I got really drunk from Laurie spiking the punch? I think that was the very first time I was ever intoxicated."

"But you've drank beer with us before that." He blurted out. The memories had rushed back to him and he remembered that was a Christmas to forget. The state troopers had confiscated their tree and he got in trouble for both that and the party.

"I did," she said with a little twinkle in her eye as she took a seat on the couch. "I mean I acted drunk when we did but for the most part I would only take a couple sips and you guys wouldn't even notice. I was too scared to really get drunk but that night I had no idea so it just happened. Even now I don't really like to drink that often."

"Huh," he said joining her. "I guess it makes sense that you were a sobbing mess that night."

"I was not a mess," she said smacking him on the shoulder playfully. "I was sobbing but I was never a mess."

"Oh forgive me," he rubbed his shoulder in exaggeration. "I must have been thinking of the other Jackie. Now she was a sobbing mess."

"Jerk," she said trying to look stern but failing miserably.

He grinned and a silence fell between them. It wasn't uncomfortable though. It was more like they were both lost in memory and just didn't realize that the conversation had ceased. After a few moments Jackie broke the silence.

"That was a first for me," she said gaining his attention. "I had a lot of firsts here."

"Please don't tell me anymore," he said in a dry tone.

"Not like that," she smacked him again on the shoulder and this time he really did rub it for real. "I mean I had my first kiss in your basement—oh don't give me that look."

She laughed when he started to make gagging noises. "God Jackie I don't want to know what you've done in my basement. It's bad enough I had to witness a few of them."

"No, no let me explain," she said giggling. "I mean yeah my first kiss was here and that's magical for any girl but what I mean is I have a lot of memories here. I learned how to bake here. The first time I ever attempted to bake anything was with your mom. I also learned everything about cars from your dad and I guess what I'm trying to say is I practically grew up here. Coming here just made me realized how many memories I actually have of this place compared to…"

He didn't know why she paused but a comeback had already formed before he could ponder on it. "Tell me about it. I could never get you to leave, no wonder you have so many memories of this place."

"And you invited me back," she replied just as quickly.

She got him there.

Jackie suddenly stood like she had just remembered something and started rummaging through the bags he had brought in. Eventually she found hers in the pile and opened it up. She pulled out a bottle of what looked like red wine. "Speaking of Christmas and drinking."

"It's not Christmas."

"And we're not drinking." She said with a smirk. "At least not yet."

Jackie ran into the kitchen and came back with a pair of wine glasses.

"Still not Christmas."

She just ignored him. The wine already had the bottle opener screwed in the cork when she handed him the bottle. "If you'll do the honors."

Truthfully he doesn't drink very often anymore. He may have a beer or two every now and then but those time were few and far in between. There's just no way when you're raising two little girls. "I thought you didn't like to drink?"

"I don't."

He raised an eyebrow at her and gestured to the bottle she had conveniently brought along.

"Well this is different."

"Different how," he asked after finally uncorking the bottle.

She took the wine from his hands and poured a glass for the both of them before handing him one.

"It just is."

AN: I gave myself the last couple of weeks of December to relax and just not do anything. It was awesome. I saw a lot of people back home and drank more than I have all semester long. Now I'm on break until the spring semester starts so I'll attempt to have at least a couple of chapters every week. I have these little scenes in my brain that I want in the story but no definite timeline of where it'll go but I promise they're all really fluffy/and or/romantic. So look forward to those!