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Before Leia was born, Eric knew next to nothing about babies. Laurie was adamant about not having kids, and there were never any cousins in his family. Still, he knew in his gut after very little time that his little girl was brilliant. Right now, the 11 month old was standing independently, wearing nothing but a diaper and a gummy smile on her face, and her father is certain her first steps are imminent. Donna on the other hand is a tiny bit skeptical.
“Give her more time, she’ll walk when she’s ready.” Donna had said.
Eric had shaken his head a little “But, Donna, I swear I saw her contemplating it the other day.”
“Maybe.” She said. And that was that.
Today though. Leia was clearly concentrating on doing something, and therefore, Eric’s eyes were glued to her every move. Suddenly, Leia shifts her weight a little, and takes a step, so tiny you can hardly see it, but it was there.
“Leia,”he says grinning. Are you trying to walk?” He asks.
Donna chuckles, not buying her husband’s observation. “Leave her alone, babe. You know a watched pot never boils.”
“You’re right, I might be delusional.”
Donna looks at him adoringly “Perhaps.”, she says kissing him.
When they’re done kissing, Eric goes to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
“Eric!” Donna says suddenly.
“What’s wrong?”
“You were right! She moved her foot.”
Eric beams “Really?”
Donna smiles back at him, grabbing the video camera just in case. “Yeah.”
“You want me to do the recording?”
“No Eric. If anyone can get her to do some real walking it’s you.”
“Okay.” Eric says, grabbing Leia’s favorite stuffed animal off the floor. It’s a purple monkey, that Jackie, as Leia’s godmother, affectionately named Mr. Monkey.
“Leia, do you want Mr. Monkey, come get Mr. Monkey. C’mere, you can do it.”
Leia looks at her father for a second before taking a couple of steps.
Donna grins. “And here I thought your daddy was losing his mind talking about you walking. Go on, sweetheart, show us what a big girl you are.”
Eric feels his eyes watering as Leia takes a couple more steps “That’s my girl, oh you’re so big, come here.” He coos, gesturing for her to come to him.
Leia’s next couple of steps are slow and cautious, but eventually she makes to her father, and once the accomplishment registers in her mind, she grins.
Eric scoops his daughter up in his arms, twirling her around, and kissing her forehead over and over. “I knew you could do it. Daddy’s so proud of you, my little buddy.”
Leia smiles. “Da da da.” She shrieks giggling.
Eric just stands there, dumbfounded. “Did she just-I.”
Donna grins “She sure did.”
“You are just full of surprises today, aren’t you, sweetheart?” Eric coos, ruffling his daughter’s hair:
“She is, you’re turning into quite the big girl, huh, Lei Lei? You’re not Mama and Daddy’s little peanut anymore.” Donna says, kissing Leia’s forehead.
Eric’s eyes are misty as he looks at his daughter again , and then his wife, and back at Leia once more “She most certainly isn’t, she’s growing like a weed. You know, I always hoped that her first word would be Dada.”
“I knew it would be, she’s a true daddy’s girl.”
“Thank goodness for that.”
“I’m not even the slightest bit jealous, I love watching you two together.”
“I remember when she was first born, I was worried she wasn’t going to like me very much, and now she’s my shadow and she follows me everywhere.”
“She’s already practically a little Eric. She’s a very silly little girl.
“She is. But my dad was right, she definitely inherited the Pinciotti brains, she’s brilliant, thank god.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your brains, Eric.”
Eric smiles. “I know. I just want big things for her. Gigantic, monumental things actually.”
“Then gigantic, monumental things our girl will have.”
“We’re doing a good job with her right? She’s not going to resent us for being kind of young and relying on my parents a lot? I just want her to have an amazing childhood, and be capable of anything, and I just-. Our parenting is going to determine Leia’s entire life. It’s a lot-I”
Donna smiles, she loves it when Eric rambles, but of course she knows him well enough to know that he’s overwhelmed, so she laces her hand in his. “Okay first of all, Leia loves your parents, and they love her. Probably more than they love you sometimes. And also, everything crazy that we’re doing right now is for Leia, so that one day, the three of us can get the hell out of Wisconsin and be a family in some place much more interesting.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s just…she’ll only be little for so long and sometimes I feel like I’m missing it all.”
“Oh Eric, if you were missing it all, you wouldn’t have been the one who knew in your gut that she was going to walk, and her first word wouldn’t have been, Dada.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s just all going too fast.”
Donna smiles softly. “Don’t I know it.”
“Dada!” Leia shrieks happily.
Eric beams “Hi baby, my goodness you’re so smart.”
“Walking and talking in the same day, our little girl is quite the overachiever.” Donna says proudly
Eric kisses Leia on the cheek.” Damn right she is.” He says, beyond proud of the little person Leia was turning into.
XXX
It’s been about a month since the big Forman family move to Chicago and Leia was adjusting very well. Leia loves that her room in the townhouse is much bigger than her old room in their Wisconsin apartment, and she loves playing in the backyard.However, the most exciting thing in Leia’s life was that today was her first day of kindergarten.
Eric is just about to go to her room and wake her up when she bolts down the stairs
“Morning Daddy.” She says, grinning from ear to ear.
Eric smiles back at her. “Good Morning, Kiddo. And here I thought I was going to have to wake you.”
“Nope. It’s my first day of school. I’m excited.”
“I can see that. You know what your first day of school calls for?”
Leia shrugs “I don’t know.”
Eric smiles. “Yes you do. Special day pancakes. You love special day pancakes.”
Leia grins “Oh yeah, I do. I forgot.”
“I’m so excited for you to tell me all about your first day later. I’m sure you’ll have the best time in kindergarten.
Just then, Donna enters the kitchen.
“How my big kindergartner this morning?” She says, kissing Leia’s cheek
“I’m good, Mama.”
“That’s good, you sound very excited for your big day.”
“I am. I’m going to the big kid school, Mama.” Leia says smiling from ear to ear.
Donna smiles back at her daughter. “I know, you’re a big girl. You’re growing up too fast.”
Eric smiles at his girls. “Don’t remind me.” He says.
“You’ll have to excuse your daddy this morning Lei Lei, he’s probably going to cry.” Donna teases.
Eric shoots Donna a joking pointed look. “I am not.” He insists.
About thirty minutes later, Leia comes back down the stairs dressed in a blue gingham dress with sunflowers on it, a small yellow bow, keeping her hair out of her eyes.
“Daddy! Look how pretty I look in my special outfit! Leia practically squeals.
Eric beams at her, eyes already misty. “You look beautiful, Kiddo, and far too grown up for my liking.”
“Thank you. Daddy.” Leia says, pausing to get a good look at her father “I thought you said you weren’t gonna cry.”
Eric chuckles. “You’re right, I did, but I shouldn’t have. I cry every time I think about how grown up you are. You’re not my little peanut baby anymore and that makes me sad.”
“But Daddy, I won’t be grown up for a long time.”
“I know that, but thank you for reminding me.”
“And even when I’m big, I’ll still love you the most in the whole wide world.”
“That’s very sweet. Hopefully you’ll still be my little buddy when you’re all grown up and married with a family of your own.”
Leia scrunches up her face. “I’m never getting married.”
“Really, why not?”
“Cause I don’t want to be all lovey and gross like you and Mama.”
Eric laughs “Oh really? Alright you silly girl, let’s get you off to school.”
When they’re standing in front of the entrance to Roosevelt Elementary Leia stops in her tracks.
“Daddy,” She whispers timidly. “This place is much bigger than I thought it would be. I’m scared.”
“I know it is, but everything is going to be just fine, your mommy and I will walk you to the door of your classroom, and we won’t leave until you tell us to, okay?
Leia nods. “Yeah. Okay.”
They walk into school, Leia holding tight to both of her parents hands.
They get all the way to the classroom doorway before Leia starts to get scared again.
“I don’t want to go inside. Can’t I just stay here with you and Mommy?”
Eric frowns, maybe this was going to be harder than he thought. “As much as I would love that, you have to go to school, sweetheart. It won’t always be this scary. You’ll see.”
“You promise?”
“Absolutely, cross my heart.”
Leia considers this statement for a moment. “Okay, fine, I’ll go to school.”
Donna smiles at her daughter. “You’re going to have so much fun, you’ll forget all about being scared.”
“I don’t believe you, mama.”
“Why not? You’re very smart, and you loved preschool, remember?”
“But that was a way smaller school. And it wasn’t every day.”
“That’s true, but remember what I told you when you didn’t want to go to art class? I said you never know until you try, and you loved it.”
Leia sighs “I guess I’ll go then. But I still don’t think I’ll like school very much.”
“Well, we’ll just have to see then, Lei Lei.”
“Okay Mama.”
Eric kisses Leia on the cheek “You’re gonna have a great day, Kiddo. You’re the most brilliant girl I know.”
“But Daddy, what if nobody likes me?” Leia says, looking at the floor.
Just like that Eric’s heart breaks into a million little pieces.
“Leia, that’s not gonna happen, everybody’s going to love you, you are the kindest, funniest, friendliest, coolest kid in the whole wide world. I don’t ever want you to forget that.”
“Okay, I believe you, I won’t.”
“ Good. Besides, I had all kinds of friends at school, and I wasn’t anywhere near as cool as you. You can ask your mom if you don’t believe me.”
“I think you’re cool, Daddy.”
Eric smiles, kissing Leia on the forehead, holding her close. “Thank you, I’m so glad your my little buddy.”
Leia grins “Me too, I’m ready to go to my classroom now, Daddy.”
“Okay, Kiddo, I love you, you make sure to have a good day, and I’ll see you soon.” Eric says, hugging Leia one more time.
“I will, Daddy. I love you too.”
Donna smiles at Leia. “I’ll see you later, Sweetie. I love you.”
“Love you, Mama.”
Eric watches as Leia enters her classroom and he can't help but smile at how beautiful and perfect she is, swearing she gets more beautiful every day.
When he stands in the doorway of Leia’s classroom three hours later, she’s talking to a classmate, oblivious to Eric’s presence until she looks up a few seconds later.
“Daddy!” She squeals practically skipping over to him. “I missed you.”
“Hey, there’s my little buddy, I missed you too. Did you have a good day?”
Leia grins. “The best day.”
Eric smiles as Leia takes his hand and they walk out of the school. “That’s great, Kiddo. I knew you would.”
“Where’s Mama?”
“At home, busy writing, so I figured you and I could hang out until she’s done, sound good?”
Leia grins. “Yes please! Can we get ice cream?”
Eric smiles, kissing Leia’s forehead. “Of course we can.” He says, soaking up this moment of Leia stilll being little and easy to please, knowing that one day, she won’t be so eager to spend time with him, it was breaking his heart a little, but for now there was fun to be had.
XXX
At this point it’s not a secret that Eric Forman is a bit of a clutz, and Leia is certainly taking after him. Today, ten year old Leia was riding her bike around the neighborhood, Eric beside her on his own bike, thinking that she was going too fast, letting go of the handlebars for just a second, when suddenly, she crashes into a tree. Eric panics. “Leia, are you ok?” He asks her.
“Daddy,” she says, crying “I think my arm’s broken.”
“Can you get up, Kiddo? If you can come here and let me see.”
Leia sniffles. “Yeah okay.”
Eric looks at his daughter’s arm and frowns. “Yup, looks pretty broken to me.”
“How do you know? You’re not a doctor…”
Eric chuckles. “Because I also just so happened to wreck my bike and break my arm when I was your age.”
Leia smiles softly. “Makes sense. Mom and Grandpa are always talking about what a klutz you were, and how I’m taking after you.”
Eric sighs “Of course they are.”
“It’s not that big of a deal, there are worse family members to take after, I could be a troublemaker like Aunt Laurie.”
“Touché, kid.”
A few minutes later they’re back home, and Eric is explaining the incident to Donna.
“Ah yes, a broken arm, a Forman family rite of passage.” She teases, smirking at Eric.
“Hey!” Eric interjects
Leia laughs. “Stop being funny, my arm needs medical attention.
Donna kisses Leia’s forehead. “Sorry Lei Lei, let’s get going. Just give me a second to phone the writing center and tell them I won’t be at the workshop tonight.”
“You can go, Mom. Dad and I can go by ourselves, right Dad?”
“Sure, sweetheart. If that’s what you want.” Eric says.
A few minutes later the two of them arrive at the ER. Leia clutching her arm, wishing the time would go quickly even though the emergency room is packed.
“Are you ok, Leia?”
“Not really. My arm hurts really bad.”
Eric frowns “Yeah, the adrenaline is probably wearing off, that makes it worse.”
“I’ll never ride my bike again, Dad, I swear.”
“Yes you will, but I don’t blame you for being scared.”
“I wish I wasn’t such a klutz.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Kiddo.”
“It’s so embarrassing.”
“Hey, I get it, your grandpa made fun of me for a week when I broke my arm.”
“Why’s grandpa Red so mean to you? He’s never made fun of me.”
“That’s because you’re his granddaughter and he doesn’t have to raise you. One look at you and everything about him softened.”
“Yeah, sometimes I miss Wisconsin.”
“You do? There’s a lot more excitement in Chicago.”’
“Well, mostly I miss Grandma and Grandpa… and Wisconsin cheese.”
“That’s funny, your mom was always craving cheese curds when she was pregnant with you.”
Leia smiles. “Really?”
“Yup, it feels like a million years ago, and yesterday at the same time.” Eric says, smiling softly.
An hour later, Leia’s staring at herself through the reflection of the clear exam room, pouting about the cast that covers three quarters of her arm.
“I look ridiculous.” She pouts.
“It’s not as bad as you think it looks, I promise.” Eric tells her sympathetically
“Yes it is, I’m not gonna be able to use my entire arm for a month.”
“At least your not left handed, so you have your better arm still.” Eric offers
“That’s not exactly making me feel better, Dad.”
Eric frowns. He misses when Leia always referred to him as Daddy, instead of the preteen sass filled “Dad.” “I’m sorry. You’re right, this whole thing is pretty unfortunate and I’m probably not helping.”
Leia sighs. “No Dad, I’m sorry, I’m being so dramatic.”
“You broke your arm and altered the course of the next month of your life. I think you’ve earned the right to be dramatic, Kiddo. I’ve been forgetting how hard it is to be ten years old. You’re not a little girl anymore, no matter how much I like to pretend you are.”
“It sucks being in the fourth grade.”
“Yeah, it probably does. Preteens can be such ass holes. Not you though, Kiddo. Thank goodness for that.”
Leia smiles. “Hey Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really lucky you and Mom are my parents.”
Eric kisses Leia’s forehead. “We’re even luckier you’re our kid. Let’s get out of here, Kiddo.
Leia grins “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
Half an hour later, they’re back home and Leia’s asleep on the couch, and her parents are staring adoringly at her the way they used to when she was a baby.
“God, she’s perfect.” Eric says wistfully
Donna beams. “Right? How did we get so lucky?”
“I have no idea.””
“Me either. How mad is she about the cast?”
“She’s not mad at all. Annoyed as I’ll get out, but not mad in the slightest.”
“That’s good. It was only a matter of time before she broke a bone. She is your kid after all.”
Eric rolls his eyes playfully. “ Our kid you mean?”
Donna smiles “Well yeah, but I’ve never broken a bone.”
“Careful, you don’t want to jinx yourself.” Eric teases.
Donna laughs softly “Shhh, Leia’s gonna wake up any second now, and if you haven’t noticed she’s now a preteen and she probably thinks we’re gross.”
“No she doesn’t. This afternoon she literally said that she was lucky we are her parents.”
“Did she really?”’
“Absolutely.”
As if she senses them talking about her, Leia opens her eyes.
“Hey you, did you have a good nap?” Eric asks
“Yeah, except I was kinda hoping I’d wake up without out a broken arm.”
Eric chuckles. “No such luck, Kiddo. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, it’s a huge cast, lots of room for signatures.”
“That’s my girl. You probably don’t want me to sign it though, right?”
“You can sign it. You’re the best dad ever.”
Eric soaks this in for a moment, trying not to think about how grown up Leia sounds at the moment. “Thank you, baby girl.”
Leia smiles back. “You’re welcome, Daddy.” She says, and in that moment, she’s his tiny little girl again.
XXX
Leia’s been home from her big summer in Point Place for an hour and she’s sitting across from her parents, nervous as hell to tell her dad about Jay.
“Leia, are you okay? You’ve hardly touched your dinner?” Eric says thoughtfully.
“I’m fine, Dad. It’s just, I have to tell you something and Mom already knows.” Leia says, looking at the ceiling
“Leia, did you get an illegal tattoo or something?”
“No. Nothing illegal, Dad. I just….”
“Oh, thank God.”
“Dad, don’t freak out, but I um, kinda started dating somebody this summer.”
Eric thinks for a minute. “Is it a girl or something? Because you know that’s not a problem at all, Kiddo.”
“Thank you for that, Dad. But no, it’s a guy, his name is Jay, Jay Kelso actually.”
Eric just stares at his daughter for a second. “A fricken’ Kelso?? Leia are you shitting me right now?”
Donna sighs. “Easy Eric, don’t blow a gasket.”’
“I’m not gonna blow a gasket, I’m just asking.”
“Daddy, please don’t be mad. He’s a good guy, and way smarter than his dad, I swear.” Leia pleads.
“He better be, the last thing I want is my baby girl getting an STD or a baby. Please god, don’t get pregnant, not until your 30, and not by a Kelso.”’
“Dad, that’s not gonna happen, we didn’t do anything. And we’re not going to, I swear on my life.”
“Oh, good.” Eric says, and no one mentions Jay for the rest of dinner.
After dinner, Leia’s gone to her room, and her parents are cuddled up on the couch.
“Eric, are you okay? I know Leia sort of dropped the bomb of all bombs at dinner tonight.”
Eric scoffs. “That’s the understatement of the century.”
“I know, but, Honey, she’s fifteen, we knew she was going to start dating eventually.”
“I know. But I don’t like it.”
“You don’t have to like it, but you do have to trust our daughter. She’s an extremely good kid, she makes our teenage selves look like juvenile delinquents.”
“I know, and I do trust her, and this Jay kid probably isn’t half bad, but on the off chance that he is his father reincarnate, I’m skeptical.”
If it makes you feel any better Jay is also Jackie’s kid, and she’d murder him if he pulled anything on Leia.”
“Yeah, that does make me feel better. Thank you.”
“You’re gonna have to go talk to Leia eventually.”
“I know… and I have to apologize, don’t I?”
“Uh huh. Good luck.”
“Thanks, I’m gonna need it.”
Eric is pretty sure Leia’s practically cursing him out mentally in her room, and he doesn’t blame her, if his parents had ever done what he just did at dinner, that’s what he would have done. So he approaches with caution.
“Leia, can I come in… please?” He asks, adding the last part for good measure.
Leia isn’t sure what to do either. “Um…sure.” She says, slowly placing the book she’s hiding under on the bed.
“Listen Kiddo, I’m sorry for what happened at dinner. I overreacted.”
“You were actually less mad than I was picturing on the long ride home, but yeah you kinda did.”
“It’s just that, sometimes when I look at you, I still see my little peanut baby, only you’re not her anymore, you’re a young woman, and honestly, Leia, it scares the crap out of me.”
“Dad, I’m not gonna do anything stupid, and Jay won’t either, he’s pretty smart…most of time.”
Eric smiles. “I can work with that. As long as you’re smart all of the time.”
“Deal.” Leia says, thinking for a moment “Besides, he’s a whole state away, how much trouble can we get in? It’s not like I’m dating my next door neighbor. No offense to you and mom.”
“None taken. So you and this Jay kid, you’re gonna do long distance?”
Leia stares at the floor. “Yeah, maybe. I don’t know.
“What do you mean? I thought you said the two of you were dating?”
“We are, it’s just I’m not sure if it’s serious, at least not the way you and mom were. I don’t know if I’m like, you know, in love with him.”
“You’re fifteen, Kiddo. You’re not supposed to know.”
“You did, know you were in love with mom, I mean.”
“Yeah, but she wasn’t entirely sure, she dumped me once.”
“And dated Jay’s Uncle Casey, I know.”’
“Damn she’s told you quite a lot about our strange times huh?”
“Yeah, like you dumping her in Africa? Over the phone.”
“ Yeah, not my finest hour, but almost as soon as I got back she and I got back together we’ve made you. Leia Anne Forman. You, little buddy are the best most incredible thing I’ve ever done. And if you like Jay, I trust that you will make a smart decision about him, and your mom and I will love you through it alll, even if he takes after his silly dad.”
You know, Jackie’s told me herself she nurtured the bad parts of Kelso out of Jay like a million times right?
“Of course, she was your god mother, granted she got pregnant with Jay and we lost touch and moved to Chicago, but I’m fairly certain that she would do absolutely anything for you, especially if that boy gets any bad ideas and cheats on you.”
“Dad, I almost kisssed someone else in Wisconsin.., I didn’t mean to and I really, like Jay, so I don’t think I’m going tell because it meant nothing I swear.”
“Leia if you know that in your heart of hearts, I trust you. You are the smartest most emotionally intelligent girl I know.”
“Thanks, daddy. I love you the very most in the world.”
Eric kisses Leia’s forehead. “I love you more little buddy to the moon and back.” Just then, Leia lays her head in Eric’s lap and his heart struggles to understand that they only get three more summers with her.
XXX
Three years later the Forman’s are moving Leia into her dorm at Northwestern. She likes it because it’s a really good school and she’s really smart but mostly because she gets to have a college experience without really being that far away from her parents, and it’s not too far from the University of Chicago, where Jay has decided to attend. She’s not sure if she wants it to last forever. She does want to spend this time with him though because every second that she’s with him she feels like the luckiest girl in the world. As she stares at this undecorated dorm room her parents are making small talk with her roommates’ parents slowly hanging up posters and getting out Leia’s pale blue bedspread, that covers her bed with an army of stuffed animals. She knows this is exactly where she is supposed to be. Surrounded by her parents and her best friend Gwen, who came to Chicago for her and also the amazing art scene. Even though Gwen is going to the art institute of Chicago, Leia loves the fact that they will all be so close together. Eric is so happy that Leia is studying English education, and wants to be a teacher like him, while Donna is thrilled that Leia will never give up her passion for writing. As they all help Leia unpack her dorm room, she’s never felt more sad to be leaving her parents. Her early childhood was filled with grandparents and so much love, and has shaped her in so many ways. But now she’s finally able to bridge Wisconsin and Chicago and she’s never been happier. Slowly, her friends go back to their respective colleges and it’s just her, her parents and her roommate, from Indiana, whose parents had already left earlier. Leia can feel big speeches coming on from both of her parents.
Her mom starts first “Lei lei, my little peanut baby I cannot believe that you are starting college tomorrow. You are the smartest, friendliest, kindest girl I know. college is going to open up the world for you and I for one cannot wait to watch. You, my girl can always come back to the city that raised you, but I can’t wait to see the kind of woman Evanston teaches you how to be, I will always be so proud of you, and I want you to talk to me, this is the first day of the rest of your life. You don’t always have to call me, but I hope when you do you have the most incredible things to tell me.” Donna says going in a hug for a while until Eric goes pale in the face about to say goodbye to his little buddy.
“Okay, kiddo. I guess this is it.” He says trying not to cry
Leia’s eyes go misty. “I know I love it here, but are you sure you I can’t get you to pull your teacher strings and force meto go to U Chicago?”
Eric half smiles. “No baby girl, this is your dream, you’ve worked so hard for this, enjoy it, you’re my brillliant girl”
“I’m just really going to miss you, Dad.”
“I’m going to miss you more than you will ever know, have fun, learn lots, and just don’t forget about your mama and me.”
“I could never ever forget about you guys ever” Leia says pulling both of her parents into a hug. “You’re the best parents in the world.”
Leia says,
And after they are gone Leia pulls her comforter over her head to go to sleep, peaking at her favorite photo of the three of them. Thinking I’m so lucky over and over