A/N: Yay! This is the very end! Thank you SO much for your support! I hope you guys had enjoyed reading this story and that this final chapter keeps up with your expectations. I've got some other stories on hold, but I probably won't be posting anything new for the next couple months. I'm still reading and reviewing yours though. Happy New Year and I'll see you guys in 2016!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

CHAPTER 10

KEEP ME

The rest of the week passed slower than ever. Hyde spent most of his time at Grooves, working to forget about that last night in Vegas with Jackie. Why the hell it kept coming back to his mind? Her kisses, her touch, her heat, her scent. It was almost driving him crazy.

That Friday morning, he decided to do something about this stupid feeling punching painfully his chest. No way could he wait till tomorrow night to see her. He had to come up with some excuse quickly.

"Jackie?"

"Steven, hey!" She said on the phone.

"Hey. Got any plans for tonight?"

"Uh, not really. My girlfriends are kinda slow today. I don't think we're going out tonight."

"That's cool. Do you, uh, wanna come by later? Y'know, eat something, drink, just hang out." He really tried to stay cool, but he wasn't sure if he was convincing the brunette.

"I thought we were doing this tomorrow with Donna and Eric," she joked, starting to get his game, but not wanting to show her own cards.

"Tomorrow is another day," he stated as it was a good explanation, making her chuckle.

"Alright, Steven. I guess I'll come by then."

"Then I'll see you later, my friend."

They said goodbye and hung up. The zenmaster leaned back on his chair in his office at Grooves, breathing heavily, not so sure if he was relieved or even more nervous about the upcoming meeting.

"So you did had sex, but you're just friends now?" Donna's suspicious voice asked on the other side of the line.

"Uh hum."

"Yeah, right. Tell me a better joke, Jackie."

"What? It's true. And we're having dinner at his place tonight like two good friends do." The brunette stated firmly, propping her tennis clad feet on her office desk. Only Jackie Burkhart to make sneakers look good with working outfit.

"I thought we were doing this tomorrow night," Donna said.

"I told him the exact same thing earlier!"

"Jackie, you know this is all a trap, right? He's obviously not over you and wants to spend some alone time."

"Ugh, Donna, fine!" Jackie exclaimed irritated. "I know this is all bullshit. I know it since the minute he dropped me at home after Vegas. God, I'm so stupid, but I can't help it. I thought about him the whole week. We had these amazing days together – well, not entirely amazing regarding weird moms and ex-stripper wives events – but we actually turned out to have a nice friendship."

"You already had that before this trip, Jackie!" The redhead exclaimed. "You guys were getting along pretty well the last few months. I never told you that, but I was proud of you two. You were acting like actual grownups. But you have to admit it: you guys like each other. I guess you even still love each other."

"But we don't work together, Donna. We all know that."

"Midget, if everything you told me about this trip was true, I have to admit that Hyde is really changed towards you. You told me he apologized for his bullshit more than once. He seemed to be remorseful and opened and sincere. God, when did Hyde was all that to you when you guys were together before? He's changed, Jackie. So do you."

Donna's words kept rambling around the brunette's head the entire day. It became kinda hard to concentrate on work after her innuendos. Could the redhead be right? Could they actually make things work?

Some part of her still held her back, so she decided to just go with the flow and see how it was gonna be tonight. After all, with Steven Hyde things were never really predictable.

The doorbell rang and Hyde was ready to attend it. His former lover – current friend – stood there with a grin on her face and a bottle of wine in her hands. She wore a casual outfit, which included the sneakers Steven had bought her.

"Nice outfit." He grinned. He was actually enjoying this other side of her. Of course she always looked beautiful in tight dresses and high heels, but this Jackie felt more approachable.

"Why thanks." She kissed his cheek and stepped inside, walking over to the kitchen. "I thought that, if I would be having dinner with a friend, there was no need of dressing to kill."

He smirked and followed her. "You still look pretty good, you know."

The tiny chick rolled her eyes, but smiled anyway. Hyde opened the bottle of wine and poured the liquid inside two glasses, handing one to Jackie.

"So, what are we eating tonight?" She asked after sipping from her cup.

"Not pizza, for sure. Your fat girl episode in Vegas was too much for me." He teased, earning him a swat on the shoulder.

"I'm not a fat girl, Steven!"

"But you acted just like one." Hyde smirked satisfied that he still got to her.

As he came back to the stove, Jackie paced around the living room. There wasn't much ornamentation in his studio apartment, so she was quick to notice a new object standing on the side table.

"Is this Edna?" She asked, holding the picture frame in her hands.

Hyde looked over his shoulder and understood what she was referring to.

"Yeah. And baby Steven."

She chuckled. "Where did you get that from?"

"She gave it to me that morning before we left."

Jackie put the frame down smiling and walked back to the kitchen area.

"It's a beautiful picture, Steven," she told him, friendly rubbing his back while he stirred rice and cream in a pan, and he smiled at her. "Have you guys talked after that?"

"She actually called once to know if we'd arrived well at home."

"That's cool." Jackie leaned back on the kitchen counter and sipped from her glass of wine. "I'm glad you guys kinda caught up. I told you it would be good for you to go there."

"Thanks for pushing me to."

"Except that I didn't. You were the one who actually decided to. And I'm proud of you."

Dinner went by pretty well. The asparagus risotto was cooked to perfection and it matched nicely with the red wine Jackie brought. During the whole time, she couldn't be more proud of her and Steven. Donna's early warnings seemed to have no use since they were getting along like the friends they were supposed to be.

Afterwards, they were both silently sitting on the living room couch, nice music playing on the background, just a few lamps on, the bottle of wine almost empty. Jackie was sitting over her calves, head propped up by the arm resting on the back of the couch, looking down at the glass she was nursing. Steven was slouched on the couch very close to her, looking at the ceiling and arms crossed. Everything was calm and cool until…

"I missed you."

His sincere blue eyes looked at her, making her stop with the twirling of her glass. However, she didn't seem stunned or surprised. He'd just read her thoughts and it didn't feel weird.

"I missed you too," she admitted quietly, and silence took over again, except by the music.

After a while, Hyde broke it again. "So what are we gonna do about it?" She placed her glass of wine on the coffee table and shrugged, making him smirk. "A shrug is not gonna cut it, Jackie," and both grinned wide at the memory of their first make up. They were both so stubborn back then, but now it was time to be different. They'd grown up, they'd matured and they were going to make it right.

Hyde sat straight facing Jackie. They locked gazes, which was both uncomfortable and comforting at the same time.

"Look," Hyde started, "after we got back from Vegas I decided I would finally move on. And I can honestly say that I tried. I tried with all the might I have. But, damn it, Jackie! I couldn't stop missing you. I actually invited you here because I wanted to see you, touch you…" he grabbed her hands and brought them to his lips, causing Jackie's eyelids to close shut, "…be with you somehow. You can say that I'm a coward for giving up so easily, but I just can't help it."

"You're not a coward." She shook her head, speaking quietly. "It's actually pretty brave of you to tell me these things. In fact, you've been more opened with me during this past week than in our entire life together."

"I guess so." He gave her a small smile and their eyes locked again. "And what I told you that last night in Vegas keeps being true. I still wanna be with you and not just as a friend. You may think that we want different things, but I've got this feeling that they're not that different any longer. We're not kids anymore, Jackie."

They looked at each other for a while, which made Hyde almost regret his words. She wasn't reacting the way he assumed she would. He was on the verge to back up and tell her to forget about it, when Jackie opened her mouth to speak.

"Then keep me."

Hyde grinned relieved. He didn't hesitate a second and landed his longing lips on hers, gently cupping her cheeks. Jackie responded by clutching her fingers into his curls, attempting to bring him as close as humanly possible. It felt so good, so right, that the whole world around them faded away.

Hyde leaned forward, coaxing Jackie to lie on her back. His hands roamed over her tiny body, stroking every curve they could find. Her skin was like porcelain and he wanted to feel it right in contact with his. He reached between their bodies, attempting to unbutton his chick's shirt, when suddenly the brunette stopped him with both hands on his chest.

"What?" He asked astonished. "Have I done something wrong?"

"No, it's just…" She chuckled, puzzling her lover even more. "I have to do something first. Would you wait for me in the bedroom?"

He stared at her through narrowed eyes, a bit annoyed by her sudden reaction. You don't stop a guy when he's in the middle of something important, he though, but decided to comply. After all, they'd just made up.

"I promise you'll like it." The smiling chick kissed him quickly and, grabbing her purse, headed to the bathroom.

A couple of minutes later, Hyde was sitting on the edge of his bed; his nether regions twitching painfully when the bathroom door opened, displaying a slim and curvy silhouette clad in nothing more nothing less than a sexy black nightgown. She leaned playfully on the doorframe, laughing coyly, which made his annoyed frown turn into the brightest grin ever.

"How did you know you'd be using this tonight if we were supposed to be just friends?" He smiled mischievously.

"A girl's gotta be prepared."

"Naughty Jackie," he teased, making her gasp in feigned shock.

"As you have invited me over without ulterior motives, Steven."

He stood up and grabbed onto his girlfriend's waist. His blue eyes stared firmly into hers, full of bliss and love and care. He felt like true happiness had finally hit him and apparently, it was going to settle down.

"I'm never letting you go again," he whispered to her as the distance between their lips decreased.

"That's what I'm counting on, baby."

The old – and new – lovers resumed the earlier lip lock, encircling each other's bodies with all the might they had. As they laid down on the bed, Jackie couldn't help but think that tomorrow she would have to annoyingly admit to Donna that she was right. However, it didn't bother her at all, because now she was where she was always meant to be. She was inside Steven's arms again. Her love. Forever.

#

THE END