A/N: Wow guys, that is what I'm talking about! Your response to the last chapter was amazing, and I just want to thank you all so much for your support. Please keep it up! Only 4 chapters and an epilogue after this. I know you're all reeling to see Hyde's reaction now that he knows, so here you go. I hope you like it. Let me know!

Dedicated to BloodyLyra, whom I adore! Thank you Mina for being such a great friend. You're amazing!!

Chapters are Maria Mena songs

Chapter 10: Patience

Hyde stood next to Kelso in Jackie's apartment, his heart racing and is brain working on overdrive, trying to process the devastating information it just absorbed. Jackie had been raped. Someone, some fucking scumbag violated his girl in the most brutal way. Why hadn't she told him? It had happened over a year ago, and she had never opened up to him about it. Wait…it happened over a year ago…

Hyde looked over at the playpen in the living room as the pieces of the puzzle suddenly came together.

Hyde swallowed hard "Kelso…the guy who r-ra-., he's Will's fath-…that's how Will was really conceived…right?"

Kelso bowed his head in shame as he nodded "Yeah. I wanted to tell you, but she made me swear not to."

Hyde was literally in shock. Nothing had ever thrown him like this had. Suddenly he felt an anger beyond comprehension. He felt rage boiling up inside of him.

"Who was the fucker who did this? I swear to God, I will fucking kill him."

Kelso was momentarily taken back. He had seen Hyde angry before, quite often at him, but he had never seen this kind of pure rage in Hyde's eyes.

"Uh they don't know who did it. The police never found the guy." He replied nervously.

Hyde began fuming even more. It was just like the fucking cops to not get anything right.

"Well how exactly did it happen?" He asked with a tone of desperation in his voice.

"Maybe you should talk to Jackie about this."

"Man just tell me!" Hyde demanded.

Kelso sighed "He climbed in her window one night, and he…" Kelso couldn't say the word either. "Then he just took off. He was wearing a mask so she didn't see his face."

As Kelso wrapped up his summation of what happened, Hyde felt like his legs were going to give out, like something as elementary as standing would no longer be possible. He plopped himself down on Jackie's couch and placed his head in his hands. He choked back the tears that were threatening to spill from his blue eyes.

"God I can't believe this." He shook his head and sighed.

Kelso simply nodded at him and took a seat next to him "I know man. I mean I always nagged Jackie to do it with me when we were going out, but I would never have done that."

"I know that man. Only the scum of the earth would force himself on a woman."

"Well, if it helps, Jackie's been doing a lot better since she moved back here. For one, the group meetings have helped a ton." Kelso attempted to sooth his friend with his words. As much as he loved Jackie, he knew that no one in the world loved her as much as Hyde.

"Oh so this counseling has been in group meetings?" Hyde asked softly.

"Yeah, tonight is her night to give her one year speech. That's why I'm watching Betsy and Will. Jackie wanted Brooke to be there since we were the only ones who knew."

"So she's giving a speech? Where is this place?"

"The community center, but you're not…you're not going there are you?" Kelso asked nervously.

"Man, I have to. I have to see her." Hyde stood up and began walking away when Kelso called to him.

"Hyde!"

He turned to face his old friend "What?"

"Just go easy on her. Please Hyde." The genuine tone of his voice touched a chord in Hyde.

He smiled "I will."

Meanwhile at the community center, behind the curtain of the small stage, stood Jackie, pacing nervously. There were quite a few people out there and she was terribly anxious about speaking in front of them. Jackie never had a hard time in front of crowds, but this was different. Here she would be revealing her inner most thoughts, and it scared her to death. She knew somehow that she had to do it. Just then Joan approached her.

"Hey honey. How's it going?" She smiled sweetly at Jackie.

Jackie smiled slightly "Okay I guess. I'm just nervous. What if I sound stupid?" She asked anxiously.

"Oh sweetie, these are your feelings. They can never sound stupid." Joan reassured.

Jackie nodded "I hope you're right."

Brooke sat a few rows back from the front with a range of emotions running through her. She was so proud of her friend for making it through a whole year of therapy. She knew how much it had helped Jackie, and she was grateful for that. On the other hand, she knew how fresh the scars still were for Jackie. She had told her what happened with Hyde after Eric's party. Brooke knew how much Jackie loved him and wanted to be open with him, but for some reason, she still was unable to. Brooke felt a tap on her shoulder that startled her, what startled her even more is who it was.

"Hyde, what…what are you doing here?" She had never been more shocked to see someone in her life.

"I know." He replied simply.

"Oh my god, I am going to kill Michael!" Brooke stood from her seat in anger.

Hyde held her shoulders to calm her "No Kelso didn't tell me. I saw her certificate. He just filled in the blanks."

Brooke relaxed slightly, but had absolutely no idea what to say to Hyde. "Uh Hyde, I don't know if you being here is such a good idea. If Jackie sees you when she gets up there she'll probably freak out."

Hyde sighed "I know, so I'm going to sit in back. I just…I need to be here." He spoke surely.

Brooke understood what he meant "Okay. I'll see you after."

Hyde nodded and made his way to the very back of the room. He ducked down in his chair so that Jackie would be unable to see him. A few moments later Joan approached the podium.

"Hello everyone. It gives me great pleasure to announce our speaker tonight. She is a wonderful girl who is a true survivor. Let's give a round of applause for Jackie Burkhart!"

Everyone began clapping, and at that moment Hyde's eyes locked on the most beautiful person he had ever seen in his life. Looking at Jackie now, knowing what happened, made his love for her grow, as if that were even possible. All he wanted was to scoop her into his arms and take every fucking ounce of pain she had ever experienced away. He wished that he could take it from her, to literally suck it right out of her body and into his. He would die right at this moment if it meant that Jackie would be safe.

Jackie made her way to the podium and placed her note cards on it. She placed her hands on either side and held herself up. She took in a deep breath before speaking up.

"Hello. I'm Jackie and I was raped eighteen month and nine days ago. That night was the worst night of my life. In that moment as I felt him pressing down on me, his body weighing down mine, I thought that was it. I thought my life was over. It was more than the sense of control he was taking from me, more than the physical pain of his penetration, It was my life. My life, as I knew it was over." Jackie paused momentarily, choking back her tears.

Hyde felt his heart shatter as he listened to his angel recount her most painful memory.

Jackie breathed deeply and continued, "Afterwards, I truly believed that. I believed that my life was over, and that there was no longer a purpose to it. Then I found out I was pregnant. At first, the news did not go over well. I planned on terminating the pregnancy. I mean, how can a woman have a child from a rape? It was beyond fathomable. But at the end of the day, I couldn't go through with it. Nine months later, my son was born. My son. My angel. The first moment I held him in my arms I understood why this happened to me. It may have been the most traumatic moment of my life, but from it I was given a miracle. From something terrible, came the greatest thing in the world…life. My son has given me my life back. He has restored the meaning, which I thought was taken from me on that fateful night eighteen months ago, and I thank God everyday for him." She smiled at the thought of her beautiful boy before carrying on.

"Although my group meetings have helped me enormously, I am still quite scared, and I hate that, mostly because my fear is driving away the only man I have ever loved."

Hyde's eyes shot wide open as he listened intently to her words.

"When I moved back to Point Place, I decided against telling my friends the truth. I just couldn't have them looking at me differently. I thought they would see me as broken, and I just couldn't have that. But keeping it from them has been so much harder than I thought, especially having to lie to Steven. You see we were just kids when we met. I was dating his best friend at the time. We bickered constantly, and everyone assumed that meant we hated each other, but that was the farthest thing from the truth. From the moment I met Steven Hyde, I was captivated with him. He was unlike anything I had ever known, and all I wanted was for him to see me, to see the real me inside. Now I know that he is the only one who ever saw the real me. He makes me feel like I could do anything, like I could fly if I wanted to. Steven makes me want to be a better woman, and I wouldn't be the woman I am today without him."

Hyde felt saline stinging his eyes as he listened to Jackie's heartfelt words.

"Not to mention how great he is with my son, Will. They have this special bond, that I don't even understand. He's been like a father to him, and I couldn't be more grateful for that. It just makes lying to him even worse. I'm just afraid he'll hate me. I'm afraid he won't love Will anymore." Jackie finally succumbed to her tears.

"I just love him so much. I always have, and I always will. I don't want to keep pushing him away. He's home to me. He's in my soul." Jackie wiped her tears and took a deep breath.

Hyde was in utter shock at hearing her words. He never imagined that another human being could love him the way Jackie did. His own family didn't care about him, but here she stood, the only woman in the world he could see, professing the most powerful love for him.

"In conclusion, I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone in my group. You have all inspired me, and I wouldn't have made it without you. Sometimes life throws terrible things your way, but hopefully you can find the meaning in it all. I can tell you first hand that you need not look further than the ones you love, because at the end of the day, love is all that matters. Thank you."

As Jackie stepped down, everyone stood and applauded her. People made their way over to shake hands and congratulate her. She smiled and hugged several people. When the crowds parted Jackie locked eyes with the love of her life. They stared at each other intently. Brooke stood next to her friend and watched the scene before her. Just then Hyde spoke up, capturing the attention of the people around them.

"I'm Steven Hyde, and I'd like to tell you a little bit about the only woman I have ever loved." Hyde stared directly into Jackie's mismatched eyes, as the group of onlookers smiled and gasped.

"She's so beautiful. Not just on the outside, but in every conceivable way. She is so strong. She is stubborn, and pushy, and loud." He smiled as the group chuckled slightly.

"But she is the only person who ever really believed in me. I know for a fact that I wouldn't be half the man I am today if it wasn't for her." Jackie began weeping and smiling as she listened to Hyde's words.

"She's not just the love of my life, she is my life, and that makes me the luckiest bastard to have ever lived."

The women in the room began crying and touching their hands to their hearts. Jackie looked deep into Hyde's eyes, and saw the depth of emotion they conveyed. She loved this man so much, and he loved her. Jackie smiled through her tears and ran into Hyde's arms. She jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist and her hands around his neck. Their lips collided in the most beautiful, loving kiss that they had ever shared. The surrounding group clapped and cheered for them. As they broke the kiss, Jackie placed her forehead against Hyde's and giggled happily. He still loved her. He would always love her.

"Oh Steven…" She smiled as she nuzzled his nose.

"God Jacks." He kissed her tears away and held her tight.

"How did you find out?" She whispered.

"I saw the certificate. God baby, I wish you had told me." He spoke sadly.

"Me too. And I am so, so sorry Steven." Jackie said adamantly.

"Shh, I know Jacks. You have nothing to be sorry for." He comforted her gently.

"We should talk. Will you take me home, baby?" She smiled up at him.

He smiled back "Anything for you doll."

After they got to Jackie's place, Brooke and Kelso left with Betsy. Jackie put Will to bed and joined Hyde on the couch.

Jackie cleared her throat "So uh, Michael told you the details right?"

Hyde nodded "Yeah he did. I just can't believe that happened to you." He shook his head in disbelief.

"I know. Me neither." Jackie nodded sadly.

"It's my fault." Hyde's words were a shock to Jackie.

"Steven, how could this possibly be your fault?" Jackie asked confusedly.

"You wouldn't have even been in Chicago if it wasn't for me. If I hadn't fucked up so many times, you would have been safe, here with me." His sorrow was laced in his voice.

"Oh Steven." Jackie held onto his hand tightly "It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault but that man's. Anyway, I'm not that torn up that it happened to me anymore."

"Why not?" He asked curiously

"Because I get to wake up everyday and look in the eyes of my beautiful son." She responded with all the motherly love in her heart.

"I think it's amazing that you decided to have Will, Jackie." Hyde spoke honestly.

She smiled "Thank you. I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Me neither. You know how much I love Will right?" He asked with genuine concern.

"I know." She replied quietly.

"And nothing can change that." He said resolutely.

"Good. I'm glad Steven. Will loves you so much." She smiled.

"So.." Hyde cleared is throat "What about you and me?"

"I want to be with you Steven. I have always wanted that." She paused "Do you think we could maybe…take it slow?" She asked nervously.

He smiled sweetly at her "Absolutely."

She smiled widely "Thank you Steven. Thank you for understanding, and for your patience. You don't know how much it means to me."

"It's no big deal." He shrugged.

She stroked his cheek softly "Yes it is."

The couple rose up from the couch as Jackie walked Hyde to the door. They kissed goodbye and as Hyde was walking out the door, he turned and faced Jackie once more.

"Uh, thanks for what you said. No one's ever talked about me like that before." He said shyly.

She smiled up at this incredible man, "Every word I spoke was the truth Steven."

He smiled and kissed her again before leaving. Both Hyde and Jackie went to sleep that night with a sense of hope and contentment. It was going to take a while, but with time, things would get back to normal. They would be better than normal, in fact. Hyde had been waiting so long for this that he knew he could be patient and take things slow, because that's what Jackie needed, and he was intent on spending the rest of his life giving her every little thing she wanted and needed.

To be continued…

A/N: Wow that was emotional! I hope you liked it. Please review! Only a handful of chapters left, and some BIG things are still on their way!!

Oh and I took inspiration from the movie, When a Man Loves a Woman, in this chapter.