A/N: Wow, this story is back. I don't know how many years it's been, but today I got the itch to come back to this. I'm not sure how many of you are still with me, but I do want to thank everyone who's reviewed or PM'ed me to say they still believe in this story. I hope this update was worth the (really, really long) wait. I'm excited about where I want to take this, and while I will not make the mistake of promising updates, I am going to try. Especially if I have the readership. So anyway - thanks again, all, for your support before and during my hiatus. Here we go... the continuation of "Drops of Jupiter".

-Shea

The shadowy hallway of Willow Oaks Apartment Building #3 was dead silent as Eric climbed the final flight of stairs and the looming doorway of room 5B came into view. He found himself dragging his feet as he moved closer to the heavy wooden door. He wasn't sure he was ready to deal with the demons of his past that lay just behind the threshold.

When Eric had come down for dinner that evening, Red had thrown one sullen look at him and pointed a gnarled finger towards the sliding kitchen door. "Go," he'd said. "Make things right with your best friend before it's too late."

So he'd gone. And the whole while over, he'd thought it was a good idea. As girly as it sounded, he missed his best friend. There was just something about an old friend that's rejuvenating. Spending time with someone who knows everything about you – everything – and still chooses to be in your company… it was friendships like these which he'd been missing out on since he left. Sure, he had friends, but they weren't people to just hang out and remember all the good times with so much as they were people to party with. People to forget with.

Making his decision, Eric reached his knuckles out and rapped three times before he could chicken out. Fleetingly, he glanced around the barren hallway. There was no place to hide if Hyde decided not to forgive the punk wannabe-writer who'd publically trashed him across the big screen and then had the nerve to rub said trashing in his face. Eric swallowed hard as the door swung open.

"Oh. Hey."

Eric wasn't sure what he'd been expecting – a door slammed in his face, perhaps? – but it wasn't a calm greeting. Hyde stood before him in a white tank and crumpled, day-old jeans. He had a dab of shaving cream on his face, and he reached up to swipe it off when Eric stared.

"Can I – can we talk?"

Hyde nodded slowly, and eased the door open a little wider so that Eric could slide inside. "Red gave you my address, huh?"

"Yeah," Eric nodded, feeling out of place in the tiny apartment. Although it was lacking furniture other than a simple couch and armchair, it felt… warm, unlike his apartment back in New York. There were pictures on the mantle – a recent one of Donna, Kelso, and Hyde, and another of the whole gang when they were teenagers. Eric swallowed when he noticed the pictures of Natalia. There was one that must've been her newborn hospital picture, a tuft of red hair the only indicator of the little girl she was to become. Another featured she and Hyde on a teeter totter at the old primary school. Still another depicted a beaming Natalia, popsicle smeared across her face as she jumped through a sprinkler.

"She's a cute kid, isn't she?" Hyde offered, coming up behind Eric and startling him.

He turned around and cracked a small smile. "Yeah. She is."

"She likes Star Wars, you know," Hyde gave him the smallest of head nods, and Eric smiled, happy his friend hadn't tried to beat the crap out of him yet, but a little confused. He was reminded of their elementary or junior high days; they would get into a fight about something stupid, and the next day Hyde would just traipse right into the basement like nothing had happened, and their disagreement would be completely cooled. Maybe it's really just that simple between old friends. Maybe-

"I'm still pissed at you, you know." Maybe not.

Hyde had turned around and walked away from the mantle, towards the kitchen nook. His back was towards Eric, but his tone was calm, much different than yesterday.

"Yeah, I figured." It was all Eric could think to offer, but he shoved his hands in his pockets apologetically and made his way over to his oldest friend.

Hyde didn't say anything when he reached him, just stared. That was Hyde – unassuming, undemanding. He wasn't going to make him apologize, and didn't expect him to. He was just waiting.

"I'm sorry," Eric broke two seconds later, throwing his hands up in complete surrender. "I'm really sorry. I was just… I was out of line to say that stuff, and I take it all back, and-"

"Forman," Hyde cut him off, shaking his head. "It's okay."

"Really?"

"Sure," Hyde nodded, eyeing the smaller man warily, as if afraid he'd try to go in for a hug. "Some of what you said, man… it was true." Eric shook his head, but Hyde cut him off again. "And, I'd apologize for that," he gestured to Eric's puffy, red jaw, "But, you know…"

Eric waved off his apology. "You were probably right to hit me."

"Oh I was absolutely right to hit you," Hyde raised his eyebrows, and Eric shrunk back automatically.

There were a few seconds of strained silence. Eric wished he could say it was awkward for both of them, but as usual, Hyde seemed unfazed and simply glared at his old friend.

"Well, look," Eric stammered, forcing himself to straighten, "what can I do to make things right between us?"

At that, Hyde nodded briskly. "Simple," he shrugged. "Admit that you think you're better than me, better than this," he gestured around his apartment with a wave of his finger, "because you're some hot-shot writer boy now."

"No." Eric shook his head sincerely, waving away his friend's accusations. "That's not true, man-"

"Admit it," Hyde cut him off sourly. "Admit it, or I'll never respect you again."

Eric's shoulders slumped. He stared down at the carpet, unable to look his friend in the eye. "Okay," his voice was barely louder than a whisper. "I-sometimes, I-I guess that's true," he cringed at his own admission, and finally glanced up at Hyde remorsefully.

Hyde stared at him for a long, long moment. Finally, he nodded. "Alright, man. We're cool."

"Really?" Eric's smile lit up his face. Finally, something had gone right since he'd gotten here.

"Yeah," Hyde shrugged noncommittally. "An ass who can admit he's an ass is better than one who can't."

Eric jerked his head in a half-nod, trying to agree. That was about as complimentary as Hyde got. And as usual, he was spot-on correct.

"But hey, listen," Hyde continued, moving across the room to prod at his dumpy TV, which had started steaming out the sides. Eric looked closer and recognized it as the one his parents used to keep in the basement. Hyde must have kept it after all this time for sentimental value. "How'd you find out about me and Jackie? Kinda supposed to be a secret."

"Oh. Right." Eric shoved his hands in his pockets, finally starting to relax a little. "She told me."

"Jackie told you," Hyde repeated, staring back in disbelief.

"Yeah, it was weird," Eric agreed. "I think it was because she thought I was leaving, and figured I'd be safe to tell. Guess she's feeling guilty." He gave Hyde a pointed look.

Eric still couldn't believe it was in Hyde's character to do this to such a good friend. He'd snagged Jackie that summer Kelso and Donna were in California, but that had been different. Jackie had been technically single, then. And it was pretty easy to justify "betraying" Kelso – although he'd pined after Jackie for weeks after he found them together, at his core he was a womanizer and he moved on without too much suffering. But Fez… Fez was a good guy. And he and Hyde had always been very close. Something about this rubbed Eric the wrong way.

Meanwhile, Hyde scoffed. "Jackie doesn't do 'guilt', man." He threw aside the antennae he had been adjusting and stepped away from the TV, apparently admitting defeat. "And neither do I," he added, giving Eric a look that told him he'd be wise to drop this line of conversation if he wanted to keep his newly reclaimed friend.

"Hey, I like your place." Eric changed the topic hastily as Hyde crossed to the kitchen counter, leafing through a pile of mail. "It's nice."

"No, it's a shithole," Hyde responded without looking up.

"Okay," Eric squeaked, eager to agree with anything Hyde said.

Hyde looked up at him and seemed to feel a twinge of sympathy for his old friend. "Look," he rubbed a hand over his freshly shaved chin. "Kelso and Fez and I… we're gonna go grab a beer. There's this new place on Fifth that's all right. You, ah… you wanna come?"

"I – yeah. Yeah, totally. That sounds great," Eric answered honestly, ecstatic to be back 'in' with the guys, and Hyde nodded.

"I'm gonna go put on a shirt. Make yourself at home," he joked, laughing through his nose as he gestured to the worn down place. Eric still thought it was nice. It was a little reminiscent of his trailer from the old days, but it was clean. Sure the furniture was worn, but there were rock and roll posters covering almost every square inch of wall, and strangely even some feminine touches, like drapes and matching dishtowels.

Hyde had just exited to the bathroom when the front door of the apartment opened tentatively.

"Jackie?"

"Oh, my god." The small brunette standing in the doorway clutched a hand to her chest in surprise. Her other arm was full with an overflowing grocery bag. "Eric. What are you doing here?"

Side-stepping her question completely, Eric glared at her and crossed his arms. He nodded to the grocery bag. "What, are you Hyde's personal shopper now, too?"

She rolled her eyes and invited herself all the way inside, letting the heavy door shut behind her. "No," her tone was snotty, and she set the bag on the counter and began pulling things from it. She balanced a pair of apples and three pears in her hands, and deposited them in an empty wooden bowl on the opposite counter before reaching back into the bag and pulling out a half gallon of milk. "I just… bring things over sometimes. Steven hates shopping of any kind and if I didn't bring him groceries he'd never eat anything but that junk at the mall."

She continued unloading a loaf of bread, some cheese, and a can of soup while Eric stared at her.

"Jackie." Eric uncrossed his arms. His voice was no longer sharp. He spoke softly, with the air of a revelation. "You're… you and Hyde. It's more than a one night stand, isn't it?"

Jackie shrugged and placed the milk in the fridge. "No."

"But. You're bringing him groceries." Eric spoke slowly, clearly confused.

Jackie sighed and dropped her shoulders. "Okay, fine. Maybe it is. But it's none of your business anymore, okay? In fact, I just want you to forget the conversation we had."

Eric furrowed his brow. "How do you expect me to do that?"

"You know, I don't care." Jackie glared up at him, finally showing some emotion. Unfortunately, that emotion was anger. And it was directed at him. Eric gulped. "I only told you what I did because you were supposed to be on a plane to New York 36 hours later. I didn't tell you so you would get involved." She picked up a carrot and jabbed it at him with each word she spoke. "So Butt. Out. Forman."

"Fine." He raised both arms in surrender, and she dropped her weapon of choice. He was silent for a few moments, watching her put away the last of the groceries and wipe up the residue left on the counter with a washcloth like she lived there. "I just don't understand how you could do this to Fez."

Jackie growled low in her throat. "You don't have to understand it." Her tone was warning.

"But you guys – I mean, you seem… happy."

Jackie grumbled and dropped her elbows on the now-clean surface, leaning onto them to level with Eric. "We are," she sighed, finally giving in to his inquisitions.

"Then how come you – what?" Eric seemed surprised. "You are happy with Fez?"

"Of course." Jackie made a weak gesture with her hands. "Fez is wonderful."

Eric shook his head. "Okay, now I'm confused."

Jackie sighed again, and threaded her hands together. She stared at them for a long time before looking up at Eric again. "Okay. I'm going to tell you something. But once I do, you have to shut up and stop asking these questions." Eric nodded. "And you have to promise… Eric promise me that you'll still hold up your end of the deal. Don't tell anyone, okay?"

He sucked in a hard breath. It wasn't a promise he could make lightly – Fez was one of his best friends. But Eric was already in deep enough that he might as well know the rest. Maybe the knowledge would be valuable, and he could do something to fix all of his friends. Or burn the hell out of Jackie at a later date. Slowly, he nodded. "Okay. Yeah. I promise."

"Fine." Jackie sucked her cheeks in and held them for a second. "See the thing is… I know that Fez is the right guy. He's – he's stable, and doting, and charming. We listen to the same kind of music. We want the same things. And," she sucked in a breath, "and he loves me. He'll give me anything I want. I know that." Jackie paused. "But Steven is… there's just something about Steven that has taken ahold of my heart and won't let go. I know he doesn't love me the way I love him, but I can't help taking whatever I can get."

She looked up at him, now, and Eric was shocked to see unshed tears filling her eyes. But seconds later, her sassy tone returned.

"So you can think I'm a whore if you want, or a bad girlfriend, and you know what? It's probably true. I know that, okay?" She wiped at her eyes forcefully, then returned her hands to fumble with the washcloth that still lay between them. "But this… Eric, this is the only way I can be with him. I need him, and he needs my company. So this is just how I have to live."

Eric shook his head. "But… if you feel that way, why can't you just break up with Fez and date Hyde? Why complicate things?"

Jackie laughed joylessly. "You think I haven't tried that?" She sighed. "Steven, he… he doesn't want a relationship. He never has. What we have works because there's no pressure." She shrugged matter-of-factly. "I'll marry Fez. We both know that. What Steven and I have is just companionship, with sex thrown in." Eric winced, but she continued as if he hadn't. "I need someone to love – to really love – and Steven needs someone to…" she gestured the the now empty bag on the counter, glumly. "To bring him groceries."

"Wow. So there are really no emotions involved?"

"Not for him."

That surprised Eric. He knew Hyde well – had lived with him for years – and the guy wasn't helpless. His upbringing with the ever-absent Edna had forced him to grow up a lot earlier than any of the rest of the gang, so cooking and basic upkeep was something he'd been versed in since 17. It was pretty unlikely that he was keeping Jackie around to bring him his groceries. He opened his mouth to say that, when Hyde ambled in from the bathroom, a clean Rolling Stones t-shirt now on.

"Jackie."

She whipped around to face him. "Steven. Um, I brought some food over."

He nodded, and crossed to stand next to Eric. "Cool." There was a beat of painfully awkward silence, in Eric's opinion, before Hyde cleared his throat. "You, ah, wanna come out with us?"

She tightened her lips. "Fez is going."

He shrugged, as if to say 'So what?' but Jackie shook her head.

"No. I'll – I'm gonna go. I think I'll visit Donna."

Eric's ears perked up at the mention, but Jackie was shrugged into her coat and out the door before he could say a word.

Hyde clapped him on the shoulder, and Eric's breath whooshed out of him. "Let's go drink."

"That's our table, over there." Hyde grasped Eric's shoulders and pointed him in the direction of a waving Fez and Kelso. "I'll get us a couple pitchers."

The bar was nice, Eric thought as he made his way over to his friends. It was a new building, in the place of that old warehouse on fifth that everyone had always said something ought to be done about. The decorum was nice. Maybe a little too 'up woods' for Eric's taste, but he supposed they were in Wisconsin. Hyde looked pretty familiar with the bartender and Kelso and Fez were finishing up a game of darts with a guy in a trucker hat. Eric guessed they came here a lot.

"Hey man, nice to see you." Eric and Kelso shared a high-five/handshake as he sat himself at the high-top table across from him.

"No kidding!" Kelso was grinning spastically.

"Yeah, I had a little change of plans," Eric offered. "Gonna be sticking around a little while longer."

"Excellent news, my friend." Fez dropped into another chair, and patted Eric on the back amicably. "Our trio is back to a qua –" he fumbled. "A qua-trio?"

"Fez, the word is 'quadrant'." Kelso rolled his eyes and then shot a meaningful look to Eric. "How many years in this country and he still can't speak right."

Eric just laughed. It was good to be back.

Hyde returned with a couple of pitchers, and soon the night was in full swing. The guys had asked several questions about life in the Big Apple – Was he living like a hot-shot? Pulling all the tail he wanted? – but Eric quickly steered conversation away from himself. Once you got passed the basics, he really didn't have much to tell. At least, not the kinds of things they were expecting.

Instead, he genuinely wanted to know about Kelso's family. Brooke had finally agreed to marry him, and now she was pregnant again. They were having a new house built in that new development off the highway. Kelso was still working as a cop, and surprisingly, he'd proven to be decent at it. He'd really landed on his feet – a shock to everyone who went to high school with him.

Fez, on the other hand, regaled them with stories about Jackie, and their life together. They rented a house in the same neighborhood as Eric's parents. Eric's eyes drifted to Hyde when Fez started to describe their upcoming date night. Apparently Fez and Jackie had a tradition of picking out each other's outfits, and the red dress he'd bought for her today sounded like it was barely decent for public. Hyde listened as intently as the others, though, and Eric couldn't detect any hints of tension in his jaw or the hand that clasped his beer glass. Maybe Jackie hadn't been bluffing; the arrangement they had really worked.

As the group got into their third pitcher of beer, though, Eric's tongue loosened up. And he wanted the low-down on Donna.

"Pete Peterson," Eric threw out, watching carefully for the group's reactions. "What kind of a name is Pete Peterson? That's like… that's like a name you make up when you can't think of anything else. Right?" He looked to his friends for confirmation, but Fez shook his head slowly.

"I don't know," he spoke slowly. "Donna says he's the father of Natalia. They had a one night stand and then he left town."

"Yeah," Eric shook his head. "But I don't believe that."

"I do," Kelso piped up. He set his glass down roughly, sloshing some of the amber liquid onto his hand. He lapped it up greedily before continuing. "Donna was doing any guy with a pulse that fall. Remember?"

"What?" Despite himself, Eric's voice cracked. He cleared his throat and blinked away the hurt in his eyes, while Hyde leaned over and frogged Kelso.

"Yeah, well. She still wouldn't touch you. So what does that say?"

"Ow, Hyde. Damn." Kelso clutched his arm. "All's I'm sayin' is that she got real whorey after Eric left. This Pete guy…" Kelso shrugged. "I'd believe it."

"Donna ain't a whore," Hyde corrected gruffly. He took a big sip of his beer and squeezed his glass tightly, like he was tempted to punch Kelso again. Eric wished he would.

"Well not anymore. Casey's got her tied down."

"Yeah. Since when?" Eric shook his head, reeling from all the new information that had been introduced.

"Oh, we've been together for close to a year, now." A hard grip clamped Eric's shoulder, and he looked up to find Casey Kelso leering over him. "You still enjoying the place, fellas?" He smiled at Kelso. Even Hyde gave him a nod.

Eric's head dropped, though. "You – you own the bar, too?"

Casey laughed. "No. I built it, though."

"Yeah. Casey's the man now, Eric," Kelso offered from across the table. "He owns half the town. Built a couple bars. And the new supermarket coming in. He hooked me and Brooke up with our new place, too." Of course. Eric glanced at him again. He was still wearing that stupid 'Kelso Konstruction' jacket – and a sizeable smirk.

"Yep." Casey rested his hands on the edges of their table and leaned in, his focus on Eric. "I'm not famous, but I am rich as hell."

"Well how nice for you," Eric muttered under his breath.

"Looks like your tank's runnin' a little low," Casey nodded to their near-empty pitcher. "How about another round on me?"

The guys cheered, and Casey handed Kelso and Fez a wad of bills. They quickly retreated to the ordering counter. Ignoring Hyde, a few feet away, Casey leaned in close to Eric – and his 'nice guy' persona was long gone.

"I heard you're sticking around, Foreplay," he snarled. Eric gulped. He felt like he was 10, all over again, and being robbed of his lunch money. "It's a free country, so do what you want. But just know, this is my town now. And Pinciotti is my girl. I don't want you sniffing around. Got it?"

"I'm not 'sniffing' – " Eric began, but Casey cut him off quickly. His face was even closer to his now, and he could smell the cigarette smoke on his breath.

"Good. That's what I like to hear. Cuz we got no use for you. Got it? Donna, me, and Natalia… we're happy. They get all they need from me."

At the mention of Natalia, Eric leveled his chin and looked Casey in the eye. Mustering all of his courage, Eric swallowed hard. "I'm not so sure about that."

But Casey didn't look threatened. Instead, his face loosened up and he began to chuckle, like the very idea of Eric taking a stand was hilarious to him. "Look, I've heard all about your and Donna's pathetic little dead romance. She doesn't miss you, man. She traded up. So do the right thing, and stay out of it." He straightened up, and clapped Eric on the shoulder like he was about to leave. "Oh, and one more thing. Natalia is none of your concern. Her father is a close personal friend of mine." He leaned in one last time, and leered. "So that definitely rules out you."

Kelso and Fez were back, pitcher in tow, so Casey straightened and ruffled Eric's hair, like he'd done when they were kids. "Nice chat, Foreplay."

"Foreplay," Kelso laughed. "Man, I forgot about that."

Casey smiled and shrugged. "Well, let's bring it back. Nice to see you guys. I better get home, or the lady will think I've got a girlfriend." He winked, slapped the bartender a high-five as he exited, and was gone.

"What the hell was that?" Eric murmured quietly to Hyde, while Fez and Kelso had a cherry stem tying contest across the table.

Hyde shrugged, and pinched a cashew between his fingers before popping it into his mouth. "Casey, man. You know how he is."

"So he and Donna… they're the real deal?"

"I guess so."

Eric studied the top of the table quietly for a few moments. "I don't care what anyone says. I think Natalia could be mine."

Hyde didn't say anything.

"I mean… Pete Peterson. Seriously?"

Hyde shrugged. "That's been her story from day one, man. And she was kinda a mess that fall. I guess it could be true." Eric's shoulders slumped. "But, for what it's worth… I think you might be right."

Eric looked at him in amazement. "Yeah?" Then a thought occurred to him. "I mean, so… so what if that's true? What if she was pregnant, and she never told me, and now we have a kid?" He felt all of the alcohol from the evening coursing through his veins, and for the first time, he started to feel angry. Really angry. "How could she do that to me?"

Hyde popped another cashew in his mouth. "I dunno, man. Maybe she was just tryin' to hurt you as badly as you hurt her."

"I'm glad you came over." Donna folded her legs underneath her on the squashy armchair in her living room. She clinked wine glasses with Jackie, who was on her couch. Natalia had been put to bed hours ago, Casey was out, and Donna was well in need of some grown-up time.

"No problem." Jackie nibbled on a piece of cheese. She swallowed her bite before continuing. "This is our second wine night this week, though. Is this gonna become a regular thing? Because I would totally be okay with that."

"Yeah, well. Eric's in town. So – maybe." Donna pointedly took another long swig.

"I know. Did you see him again or something?"

Donna nodded. "Yeah. Today. He wants to take Natalia out for ice cream." She buried her head in her hands. "I just… don't need this right now, Jackie."

"So tell him to piss off," she remarked, with attitude. "He can't just swing in and out of your life whenever he pleases."

"Exactly." Donna reached around her friend and poured herself a tad more.

"So then what's the problem?"

"I dunno." Donna faltered. "It's crazy, right? I have this great life, that I worked really hard to make for myself. And most importantly – Natalia. My job's great. The house is great. Casey's great. But Eric… he just. Something about him makes me feel like I'm 18 again. And I can't be acting 18, Jackie. I have a daughter."

"Well how did you feel when you were 18?"

Donna sloshed some wine around in her glass, and watched it circulate. "Scared."