2000: Jack served as confidant and surrogate father to Bianca as Bianca summoned the courage to come out to Erica as a lesbian.

2001: Erica found love with undercover agent Chris Stamp. Jack was forced to arrest Erica for the murder of Frankie, the object of Bianca's affections.

2002: Erica was acquitted of Frankie's murder (rightfully so; Vanessa was responsible) and accepted Chris's marriage proposal. Jack nursed a bit of a crush on Anna. Chris (Jack Scalia) and Erica got engaged.

2003: Erica was shocked when Jack drew her into a passionate kiss ... which led to a one-night stand ... which led to Chris and Erica's breakup and her acceptance of Jack's proposal. Shortly before the wedding, Erica learned that Jack was the biological father of Greenlee, the result of his teenage fling with Mary. When Greenlee interrupted the ceremony to disclose this shocking news, Jack was livid with Erica for having kept the info to herself and called off the nuptials. They took tentative steps toward a reconciliation, but when Bianca's rapist, Michael, was murdered, suspects Erica and David provided one another with an alibi by claiming that they'd been in bed together that night. Also this year, Jack adopted Reggie, a teen he'd taken in after his guardian, Trey, went to jail.

2004: When Erica learned that Bianca was pregnant by Michael, she started drinking. Although Jack and Erica had resolved their Greenlee-and-David-related differences and were back on a marriage track, her dependency on alcohol worsened, creating problems. Soon Erica bolted to Las Vegas, refusing to return Jack's calls. Ultimately, she returned to Pine Valley and was receptive to an intervention by her loved ones, Jack included. Erica agreed to seek professional help, paving the way for Jack and Erica to get re-engaged on Thanksgiving Day. But this time around, it was Erica who popped the question.

2005: Jack and Erica's combined brood (Bianca, Kendall, Lily, Reggie and Greenlee) gave them plenty of headaches — and plenty of joy. The couple made it official in May.