NOTE: You guys crack me up, I swear. Patience is a virtue! hahahaha. I'm loving the reviews. Ok, so here goes the 10th chapter. It has some flashbacks. Gives Hyde's perspective right after the whole nurse thing. Please, leave reviews!!!

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CHAPTER 10: "It's Not Over" by Daughtry

New Haven, Indiana

June 14, 1982; Monday

3:08 PM

Hyde's Apartment

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Once Hyde opened his door, Pete entered and went directly to the refrigerator.

Zep jumped on top of Hyde and barked at him, wagging her tail.

He bent over and started petting her. "Hey, girl. How you doing? Were you good today?"

She barked at him and began to lick his face.

Hyde looked around and saw that Zep had managed to destroy one of his cushions. He chuckled. "That's my girl. Just…don't tell Mrs. Forman." He got up and headed to the kitchen as well. Once he entered, he saw Pete drinking a beer. He cracked a smile. "Didn't the wife suspend you of beer for the next two months?"

Pete chugged down on the drink and gave Hyde a blank look. "Yeah. So? She's not here."

Hyde shook his head. He took out his bag from lunch and reached in to take out the leftovers. "But she might find out," he said in a teasing tone.

Pete gave him a death stare. "Do it and I'll cut your 'nads off."

Hyde chuckled but didn't say a thing.

"So, are you gonna take the job in Toledo?" asked Pete to Hyde.

Hyde sat down on the kitchen table and tossed Zep the rest of his sandwich. "Probably. I mean, Quills needs more workers there and he said the pay would be higher. I could just stay in Northwood, which is only 15 minutes away from Toledo. I bet the rent would be cheaper there too. Plus the work here is getting slower. The only bad thing is that it's further away from Wisconsin and Mrs. Forman is not going to like that. I'm gonna be getting an earful on that." Hyde dreading calling up Mrs. Forman and letting her know the news.

Pete snickered. "Like that's what you care most about! Your mommy getting mad at you? Please! All that matters to you right now is getting closer to Jackie. You've been planning this for months now, don't deny it."

Hyde tried not to crack a smile.

Pete gave him a look. "First, you sent in that tape to Cleveland because you knew with my connections she would get in. Therefore, she would be a lot closer to you and she and her boyfriend would break up. And then--I don't know how you did it,--but you managed to get Quills to offer you a job in Toledo--which is two hours away from Cleveland. And you're deciding to stay in Northwood because you don't have to worry about the city traffic so you won't be late to get to your dear, loved, and hot girlfriend Jackie," he said with a teasing tone.

Hyde rolled his eyes. "Ok, first of all Mrs. Forman is not my mom--"

"She might as well be. She and Red treat you like their son and you sure as hell care about them as parents."

Hyde ignored his comment. "Second of all, I sent that tape to Cleveland because I knew she would get it, cuz she's good--and no one in Pittsburgh was saying yes to her. Third of all, I'm moving to Toledo because it's higher pay--"

"Because we all know you're money hungry," Pete said in a sarcastic voice.

Hyde, again, ignored him. "And fourth of all, Jackie is not my girlfriend."

"Only because you haven't made a damn move yet." Pete chuckled and shook his friend at his young friend. "This little foreplay really needs to stop quick, because then another guy is gonna step in and take Jackie away. I mean, she's been living there for almost four months! Do you really think that she'll go on further without a boyfriend. I've met her, man. And you're right. She's hot. There's no way guys are gonna let another week go by without asking her out and sweeping her off her feet. I'm surprised they haven't already."

Hyde shook his head. "Jackie's not like that, man. She just got over a relationship. She's not the kind to just start going out with random guys right after that."

Pete gave his friend a look. "Didn't you tell me that right after she broke up with Kelso after he went to California, the two of you started being make-out buddies within a month?"

"That was different…" Hyde cracked a smile. "I was too irresistible." He took a sip of his beer.

"There could be other guys in Cleveland that she thinks are quite irresistible as well," Pete warned. "Look, Hyde. I just want you to jump in that damn wagon already. If you keep wasting time, the opportunity is gonna slip out of your hands…again."

Hyde looked directly at his friend. "Pete, I'm close alright? I'm not gonna jump into until it's the right time."

"And when is that?"

Hyde sighed and thought for a minute. "I don't know."

Pete shook his head and started to get up. "Well, you better hurry up and find out, because she will find someone else otherwise. She won't be waiting forever for you." He slapped his friend on the shoulder and began to head out the door. "See you tomorrow."

Hyde sat there for a minute, thinking. He turned and found Zep looking at him with her tail wagging. "What do you think, girl?"

She barked. It was as if she was giving him a look that said I agree with Pete. You're an idiot!

Hyde waved away her answer. "Shut up. You don't know what you're talking about."

He got up and went to his couch. He was tired as hell and needed to take a nap. However, it was hard to when he had so much going on in his head right now. Pete's words kept repeating and Jackie kept popping into his head.

The times they were together had been the best of his life. He had never been happier than when they were together. He didn't like to admit it, but he knew--just like everyone else--that it was true. Why the hell did he let it go? Why had had he let her go? He knew he asked himself these questions at least once a week, but he couldn't help it. If only he had been smarter back then…. If only he hadn't had cheated….

And then, he thought back to that day that he had thought Jackie had cheated on him with Kelso when they were in high school. The day that had caused a big problem in their relationship.

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The nurse was putting on her uniform back. She gave Hyde a sexy smile. "Damn baby. I didn't know you were that good." She went to him and began to smooth her hands all over his shoulders.

Hyde felt tense and a little uncomfortable for some reason. He wiggled away from her grasp and put on his sunglasses. "Yeah. Well, what can I say? I'm a master." He began to head out the door.

The nurse went after him. She took a hold on his hand. "Wait. I still have another half an hour off." She gave him a dirty smile. "If you want…" She began to kiss his hand.

Oddly, Hyde wasn't tempted…not one bit. "No thanks. I got…stuff to do. So…" He took his hand away and opened the door.

Before he could get away, she leaned over and gave him a kiss.

Hyde made his way out of hall. His clothes were messed up and he knew that once he got to the lounge people were going to be talking. He knew they were going to suspect that he had just been messing around with someone. Jackie would more than likely get the word in some hours.

Good, he thought. She should suffer a little. Hit her where it hurts.

And that's the reason why he had just slept with the damn nurse. He had seen Jackie hugging Kelso and he was more than sure that they had been fooling around his back. He now was more than fueled and wanted to hurt Jackie as much as he could. He didn't care if he was acting childish. He didn't care if he was acting like a jerk. Jackie more than deserved it. Hell, he had been faithful to her this whole time. They still hadn't even done it and yet he had stayed with her!

He had been loyal and more than nice to her. And she turns around and cheats on him with fucking Kelso? Screw that!

Once Hyde got to El Camino and began to drive off, he began to think back to the sex. And even though the nurse had done some freaky shit, he still didn't seem very satisfied. In fact, to be honest, he felt a little…dirty for some reason. He didn't know why. However, a little voice inside of him was telling him that this was all wrong. In fact, that little voice started talking right when Hyde had started to let the nurse lead him into her room.

And throughout the whole time that he and the nurse were going at it, not only was the voice getting louder, but Jackie's face kept popping into his head. He tried to ignore it and shove it away, but couldn't.

Hyde's jaw was set and his knuckled were turning white since he was gripping the steering wheel so damn hard. God, he thought that after having sex with the nurse he'd feel better--wouldn't be so pissed off. Or at least feel a little satisfied that he was just about to hurt Jackie as badly as he had just hurt him. However, none of those feelings came. He was actually feeling a lot worse than before, to be honest.

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Hyde now knew that deep inside of him, he always knew that Jackie had never cheated on him with Kelso when he decided to cheat on Jackie with the slutty nurse. That's why he had felt more guilty and dirty right after he had done it with the nurse. No satisfaction had come because nothing could ever erase what he thought Jackie had done to him.

Hyde rubbed his head. He was beginning to get a headache. He wished he would stop these damn moments from being relived. They were moments he just wanted to forget had ever fucking happened! It was a long time ago. Couldn't they just fucking erase or disappear already?!

However, they didn't. And he was beginning to relive probably the worst days of his life…. The days that he tried to get Jackie back….

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"I was nude," finished Fez. He had just explained to Hyde about the disturbing dream that he had had the other night. The one that had scared the hell out of Kelso--which caused him to run to Jackie's arms for comfort.

Hyde's heart sank right then and there. He knew that Fez wasn't lying. Fez didn't know how to lie--and even if he did, he wouldn't be making up this kind of dream up and saying it out loud that all the people her could hear him. What the hell have I done? Hyde was beginning to feel a little weak. A huge knot was beginning to form in his throat.

Kelso turned around. "See? I was really freaked out and Jackie and me were just talking and that's all."

"So, I just cheated on Jackie for nothing?" His voice kind of broke there in the end. The knot on his throat was making it harder for him to talk clearly.

Kelso looked at him as if he were stupid. "That's what I've been telling you, man." There was disappointment in his voice. He shook his head and headed out of The Hub.

Hyde really needed to barf.

Then, as if Karma wanted to make him feel even worse, Jackie came in at that very moment. "Oh, Steven! Look, okay? Whatever you think happened between Michael and me…did not happen, ok?" Her eyes pleaded his to believe her. "So…everything's fine."

God, he so wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and kiss her forever, relieved that his thoughts had been wrong. But then he began relive last nights events. He wanted to kick himself. There she was, worried that she had done something wrong. But what she didn't know was that this was all his fault…and she needed to know.

It hurt him, but he really needed to tell her. He could never lie to her about this. "Actually…we need to talk." He reached for her hand, it stung a little to touch her now, knowing what he had done to her. Knowing in a few minutes she might not want him to touch her hand like that ever again.

He led her away, feeling more sick to his stomach by the second.

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Hyde could still feel it, that knot in his throat and sickness in his stomach. It had happened many years ago, but it seemed as if he had just hurt her yesterday. He had always gotten hurt in his past by the people he had loved most and he hated his old self for being such a fucking hypocrite. Not only had he contradicted himself, but he had also hurt Jackie, who was someone he really cared about. He had gotten to know the real Jackie--the Jackie their friends really knew nothing about. The sweet Jackie. The Jackie that felt more insecure than she ever let on. She always acted conceited, but what people didn't know was that she had the worst self-esteem. And he had hurt her. And what made him feel even lower was the fact that she also been hurt in the past…by the people she most cared about. What he had done to her had been the icing on the cake.

Hyde let out a groan. Yeah, he had been an idiot and a jerk for cheating on her with that stupid slut. But he hadn't lied to her about it. He could have. He could have not told her--pulled a Kelso. But that wasn't him. Hyde wasn't a liar. He had been straight up with her and had faced the consequences…then…he had done everything to try to get her back.

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Hyde took a deep breath. He was feet away from Donna's room. After Kelso's stupid comment about going after Jackie soon, Hyde had started thinking. Thinking about the stupid mistake he had just made. And thinking about how he still badly wanted to be with Jackie. He always confronted Forman whenever he did something stupid to Donna. Always gave him advice on how to make it right. Now…it was time that he practiced what he preached.

He took another breath and decided to continue on. If he stopped now, he would just wuss out.

Once he stepped into the room, he saw her. Her gorgeous hair falling against her shoulders. Those amazing legs…. He tried to control himself. "Hey," he muttered.

Jackie froze. Her heart began to beat faster once she heard that voice. However, she managed to give a dirty and unpleasant look. She wanted him to know that she was more angry at him than sad. She wanted to be strong…at least in front of him.

He wasn't expecting her to greet him with open arms. He knew this was going to take a little work. Maybe if he was honest…. He sat down on Donna's bed and decided to take off his sunglasses. Jackie loved it whenever his eyes weren't hidden beneath the sunglasses. Loved it even more when he spoke to her and she was able to look down into those eyes. It scared Hyde to death. He felt exposed and naked in front of her whenever his sunglasses were off. It felt as if she was able to look deep in him…and was terrified that she might find something that might scare her off.

However, this wasn't about him right now. He took another breath, the feeling of wanting to barf was starting to come back. "The thing is I'm really sorry."

Jackie wanted nothing more than to be able to crawl into a ball and cry right now. His voice almost sounded believably hurt. Sounded almost as hurt as she herself felt. She continued to keep her eyes on the magazine. She was Zen, just like he had taught her. "Yeah, you said that already." She knew she sounded cold, but she couldn't help it.

The knot in his throat was getting bigger and more unbearable. "Come on, Jackie," his voice cracked a smidge. He was pleaded her now and he didn't care. He looked straight at her, wishing she would meet his eyes. "I made a mistake," he admitted, hated that it was the truth and wishing he could take it all back. "It was a stupid one time thing," he said with nothing but truth. He would make sure that he never made the same mistake again. He would never again cheat on Jackie. Never. And he wanted her to believe him.

Frustration built inside Jackie at those words. They sounded too damn familiar. God, friends really were the same, weren't they? She looked at him straight in the eye, almost cringing at the move. "You know what, Steven? I've heard it all before? From you, from Michael." She gave him a dirty look. "God just do me a favor and leave me alone." She went back to her magazine.

She had actually just compared him to Kelso? What the hell? He was nothing like Kelso! He gave her a disgusting look. "Whatever."

It felt as if someone had just stepped on her heart. She felt cold all over and felt the tears sting her eyes. She tried to fight them back, didn't want him to see her hurt. She hated when he pulled that shit. When he acted as if he didn't care. As if he could give a rat's ass about her feelings. As if their relationship had been nothing.

He got up, thinking for a minute why the hell he had even tried with her. Why he was even there to begin with. But then he remembered. He was like Kelso. He had done the same thing Kelso had done to her. He had cheated. He had hurt her.

Then, he began to debate with himself. He had to be honest with her. That was the only way to get her back. And he so badly wanted to be with her. He knew he needed her. He bit his lip, fighting the courage to finally come out and say it. To step up and be the man that Jackie so needed. The knot just wouldn't go away! He looked down at her. She was so beautiful… "Jackie…"

God, just leave, she thought. She kept looking down. Please.

He wanted her to look at him as he said this. However, she had not looked up. He knew he still had to say it. He swallowed, hard. "I love you," he barely let out.

Jackie's head snapped up. Her heart skipped a beat. For a split second she wanted to cry out tears of joy, tell him she loved him as well, and kiss him forever. However, as he looked at her, she remembered what he had done to her. She opened her mouth, not knowing what to say at first. Then, she shook her head, disgusted. Was he serious? Hadn't she heard those words as well before? Michael always said them to get out of trouble. Was Hyde doing the same? Saying those words just so she could forgive him? He didn't love her, he had never told or showed her before. Fury consumed her. "Yeah…well, I don't love you."

And with all her strength, she got up and marched out of the room. Once she stepped outside, silent tears came down. She sobbed a little, but continued walking. Those words had been far from the truth. And it hurt so much to say them, but she felt she needed to. She was not going to be as weak as she had always been.

Hyde's knees gave and he sat on Donna's bed. The blood from his face flushed away. He almost felt defeated. Almost…

Jackie had lied to him. He knew it. She loved him almost as much as he loved her. She had only said that to hurt him. And that she had. The words hurt; but not so much because he knew the truth.

He was getting Jackie back. He would make sure of it.

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"She still doesn't want to talk to you," said Donna as she came back out of the house. Hyde had come by the next morning and had told Donna to try to convince Jackie to let him see her. To talk to her.

He knew what his reaction would be, but he still had to give it a shot. "Well, thanks anyway. I'll be back later."

It hurt Donna to see her friend like this. Hyde never looked defeated. "She'll come around Hyde, I'm sure of it."

Hyde turned and placed his hands on his pockets. "I hope so."

"You just have to give her time. I mean…it's not so easy, you know?"

Hyde nodded. "Yeah, I know." He sighed. "What can I do, though?"

Donna cracked a smile. "Well, you could always--"

Hyde knew what she was about to say. He gave her a look. "Except that."

She laughed, teasingly. "Come on, Hyde. We both know she'll love it."

"I don't care. I'm not doing it."

"Maybe if you--"

"Listen, Donna. I may love Jackie, but not so much as to write a stupid love song for her," he said, sticking to his guns.

Donna's jaw dropped in shock. "Oh, my--you…you just said you loved her." A smile began to form in her face.

Hyde froze. "No, I didn't."

Donna's smile spread wider. "Yes, you did."

"No…I didn't."

Donna began to jump up and down. "Awwww! Hyde wuvs his wittle Jackie. How cute is that?"

Hyde rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He turned and began to walk away.

Donna still continued to make the comments as he left her back yard.

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That night he had still tried calling her, but got nothing in response. He became so desperate that he even went as far as to write her a freaking letter! It read:

Jackie,

I know that what I did to you is unforgivable. I know that you think I only said those words to you because I only wanted to get you back. And to be honest, yeah, part of it was because I thought that would get you back. But that doesn't mean that I didn't mean those words. Because I did mean them. Please, talk to me. We need to fix this. Please.

--Steven

He didn't sign off as Hyde. To her, he would never be Hyde. To her, he was someone else. Someone that no one else knew--or even would get to know. He was her Steven.

He had left the letter on top of her bed that night with a purple daisy on top of it. He knew that Kelso had always given her her favorite flower whenever he did something stupid. But Hyde wasn't Kelso. He wasn't trying to kiss Jackie's ass. He simply was trying to make it up to her, trying to make amends.

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And that's exactly what Hyde was still doing now. He was trying to make it up to her and be the friend that he had never been to her. She always wanted that kind of intimacy with him and now she had it.

It had already been two years of him making amends and as he was beginning to fall asleep, he knew that he was more than close to closing those old wounds. It was only a small matter of time when the timing would come…. It was just around the corner.

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August 24, 1982; Tuesday

11:42 AM

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"What are you so damn happy about?" asked Pete, frowning at his young friend's smile. He put down his cards. He had nothing.

Hyde took Pete's money and began to shuffle the cards again. "I called Jackie up last night. I'm going over to visit her in two weeks."

Pete still looked oblivious. "So? You go there twice a month."

"Not anymore, I don't. I'm starting in Toledo in three weeks. I already gave Sunny my two weeks notice." He smiled at Pete as he began to deal out the cards. "I'm only gonna be two hours away from Cleveland. I'll be able to visit her every weekend."

Pete was still not fully understanding. "And? It's not like you're gonna make a move while you're over there. Hell, the girl's probably got a new boyfriend already."

Hyde shook his head. "No. She was seeing someone there for a while, but it was only for a month. She broke it off in July."

Pete shrugged. "So what? You're still not gonna make a damn move." He lifted his cards and saw what he had.

Hyde took a sip of his beer. "Wrong you are. As soon as I start living in Toledo, the game's gonna change." He smirked and took a look at his cards.

Pete frowned. "Are you just messing with me? You're actually gonna start hitting on her? Hell, flirting with her?!"

"I've flirted."

"Yeah, as if you were still in high school." Pete rolled his eyes. "I swear. It's like seeing two little kids. You do nothing but giggle."

Hyde gave him a look. "I do not giggle."

"You might as well." He gave Hyde two cards.

Hyde took them and gave him another two from the deck. "Whatever. The point is that I finally think it's time I do something. I mean, I'll be closer and we'll be able to hang out. And--"

"Wait a minute there, buddy," Pete stopped him. "You're getting way over your head now. Who's to say she's gonna say yes to ya anyway? Huh? She may not want to be in another relationship with you."

Hyde rolled his eyes. "Believe me, she does."

"How, Mr. Cocky?'

"Donna let me know."

"When?"

"A couple of weeks ago. Well, she told Forman and Forman told me. He said that Jackie told Donna that she was just too afraid of getting hurt again. And also she didn't think it would work since I live so far away. So, last week I began to get everything organized so that I can finally go to Toledo."

Pete nodded. "Well…it's about damn time. The wife and I were beginning to doubt that you were never gonna do it. Glad to know we were wrong, cuz then you'd still be stuck here in this dinky old town for the rest of your life. And even though we like you and all, you just don't fit in with us people."

Hyde chuckled.

He was certainly going to miss Pete. He had become a good friend to him. Was there to help him out whenever he would run through some money problems. Always covered for him whenever Hyde wanted to go and visit Jackie for the weekend.

Yeah, Pete was really an older version of Forman. Hyde just hated to leave.

As if she sensed it somehow, Zep came over to Pete's leg and began to whine a little. Pete reached over and petted her. She didn't stop whining, though. She kept licking him and making whimper sounds.

By the time Pete left, Zep's whimpers had turned almost unbearable. However, Hyde tried to have as much patience.

He walked over to her and picked her up. "It'll be alright, girl. We'll meet more people. Plus, you get to see Jackie a lot more. And you like her, remember?"

Zep gave another whimper and wiggled away from his embrace.

Yep, he thought. This was going to be rough on her. Which means…she's going to make it rough on me. He let out a sigh and began to make some chicken. Zep liked it. It might cheer her up…even if it was a little.

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Two Weeks later…

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"You're gonna be wasting gas, Steven." Jackie was not very happy right now with Hyde.

Hyde rolled his eyes. "Jackie, I can't take all my crap over there. It's stupid. I'll just go to Northwood, unpack, and head out to Cleveland for my week's vacation."

"But what if someone robs you, Steven? May I remind you that you know nobody and don't have a roommate? You'll never know if something goes wrong."

"Jackie, it's not like I have a lot of things anyways. I have nothing but junk with me. It'll be fine if I leave it there in the apartment for a week."

"Fine. But bring all your money with you at least. If someone breaks into your pathetic, sloppy apartment, they can take all the ugly things. It'll be a plus anyways."

"Aw, you're so sweet," he said sarcastically. "But I can't carry that much money with me. I'll just hide the money someplace very safe."

"Hyde, that doesn't sound very smart."

Annoyance was building up inside Hyde at that very moment. He wanted nothing more than to strangle that little midget. "Woman, it's my money. I'll do whatever the hell I please with it! Got it?"

Jackie was also now more than angry. She wanted to hit him with an iron. "Fine. But, you'll call me when you get to Northwood, right?" Her voice sounded both demanding and frustrated.

"Yes, I'll call when I get there," Hyde said to the ear piece. "God, you and Mrs. Forman are acting as if I'd never moved before." He had just spoken to Mrs. Forman about half an hour ago and she sounded just as nervous as Jackie. It drove him crazy! He wasn't a kid.

Jackie wished Hyde could see her stern look right now.

"And stop frowning. I'll be fine," he said.

How did he always freaking know? "Whatever. Just call me when you get there. And give Pete a big hug from me." She hung up, a little annoyed with him.

Hyde rolled his eyes and hung up the phone.

Pete shook his head. "Already arguing?"

"Yeah." Hyde shrugged. "Told you that now's the perfect time." He went out of his apartment and went to his car. Zep was right behind him, following. "Get inside, girl." He opened the door for her.

Before she hopped in, Pete bent over and gave her a kiss. "Don't forget me, Zep."

She licked him on the face and jumped onto the back of the car.

Hyde closed the door and turned to Pete. He cleared his throat. He hated goodbyes. "Listen, Pete. I just wanna…thank you, you know. For…everything these last few years."

Pete nodded and gave him a smile. "No sweat, man. Just be sure to come and visit whenever you can."

Hyde nodded. "Yeah."

For a minute there, neither moved. Both hesitated, not knowing what to do. Then, Pete finally reached over and pulled Hyde into a hug. "Good luck, man."

Hyde nodded and pulled away. "Thanks, man." He smiled and got into the car. "Farewells to the wife and kids."

Pete waved them both off as Hyde drove out of the street.

He saw Pete disappear in the review mirror. Once he was gone, Zep jumped over to the front of the seat and gave a little bark.

Hyde reached over and stroked her face. "We're gonna be good, Zep."

A smile spread across his face as he thought of how annoyed Jackie had sounded at him. He loved to annoy her. God, he was really gonna enjoy this week's vacation.

He looked ahead into the sunset and breathed in the moment as he drove off…to a new fresh start.

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PATIENCE my Zennies! PATIENCE. LOL! Please, leave reviews.

I LOOOOVE writing the flashbacks.

Chapter 11: "Real Good Man" by Tim McGraw. Oh, soooo go and listen to this song. You'll see what you'll be reading next chapter. LOL!