The week following Jackie's mother's funeral was a very busy one. She was
still tying up loose ends with her mother's attorney regarding probate and
moving into the house she bought shortly after she came back to town. At
first Jackie thought she would be able to live at her parent's house but
she needed a place that was all hers with no bad memories attached to it.
Jackie had managed to get two weeks off from her job which gave her a much
needed chance to get her head together.
She hadn't seen Steven since the funeral, during which he had been by her side the entire time. After she had broken down in his arms the night of the visitation it had felt like a heavy weight was taken off her shoulders. They didn't discuss the past mainly due to it wasn't the time or place but it was also kind of like both of them were afraid of really delving into it. It was the proverbial can of worms. Jackie was relieved he hadn't pressed her about getting into their former relationship. She wanted to just let sleeping dogs lie. After all there were some things she felt would benefit no one if brought up or learned about. She just hoped Donna had still kept her promise. As far as she knew she had.
Jackie was just beginning to get her kitchen in some semblance of order when the doorbell rang. Boxes were stacked everywhere and it was like walking through a maze getting to the front door. She was wearing shorts and a T-shirt and her hair was in a pony tail, an attire that was very un- Jackie like but moving and unpacking was dirty work. She opened the door baffled who it could be. Only Eric and Donna knew where she lived. She opened the door to find Hyde anxiously pacing on her door step.
"Steven, hi, what are you doing here?" asked Jackie as she nervously pulled some loose strands of hair out of her eyes.
"Well, I thought I'd see how you're getting along at your new place. Forman told me you bought a new place last night so I thought I'd check up on you and see how you're doing. Can I come in?"
"Sure, why not" replied Jackie reluctantly.
Hyde stepped into the house and Jackie led him into the kitchen where she had been working. "Wow, nice place you got here Jackie. Big too. Kind of big for just one person, don't you think?" commented Hyde as he checked out his surroundings.
"Yes, it's big but I need the space. Though I'll be working so much I won't get to spend too much time here but it will be nice to come home to after 12 hour shifts at the hospital." explained Jackie as she began putting dishes away in the cupboards.
Hyde got up from the table and came up behind Jackie, standing too close to her for her comfort. "So do you need any help putting stuff away?"
Jackie turned around, nervous with him standing so close to her. "Steven, look, I have a lot to do. I'm sure you have better things to do then help me unpack." "Jackie, Can't we at least try to be friends, though I'll tell you now I want a lot more than that from you. I'm not even going to pretend otherwise."
"Steven, I really don't think it's a good idea. Some things are just better left in the past." replied Jackie, scared where this conversation was leading.
"Damn it Jackie, I made a huge mistake. I'm sorry, sorrier than you'll ever know. God knows I've paid for it. I think we both paid for it. But don't you think we've paid enough? Not a day goes by that I haven't thought about you and what we could have had if I had just trusted you." said Hyde regretfully.
"Steven, yes we both paid, some of us more than others. We're both very different people now. I'm not that same idealistic trusting idiot you once knew. I just don't think it would work to try to re-vive something that was never meant to be in the first place." replied Jackie agitatedly.
She started to walk away so they wouldn't be standing so close but he pulled her around into his arms. He stared deep into her eyes before finally saying "Not meant to be? Keep telling yourself that Jackie, maybe you'll start to believe it. I think we both know better."
She started to pull out of his grasp but he held her tightly and brought his mouth down on hers passionately. The kiss went on for what seemed like an eternity before Jackie finally jerked out of his arms and turned her back to him and shakily said "I think you should leave."
Hyde let out an exasperated breath. He knew he had his work cut out for him. He knew all about walls and found it extremely ironic that he was the one who was going to have to break down her walls if they were going to be together again. It had always been the other way around with them in the past. But lies, betrayal, pain, and time had changed that.
He started to walk out but hesitated before turning around to face her. "I'm leaving, but I'll be back later. We've got a second chance to get back what we lost and I'm not going to let you throw it away." He didn't give her a chance to respond as he quickly went out the way he came in.
Jackie stood in the kitchen, very shaken up from Hyde's unexpected visit. She took a seat at the kitchen table as her legs were beginning to feel like they would go out from under her any minute. This was so not the Steven she had known before. The Steven she had known would never have talked openly about their past problems, let alone his feelings. She had thought if she pushed him away enough times he would take the hint and leave her alone, apparently he had no intentions of leaving her alone anytime soon. She didn't know how much longer she could force herself to keep him at a distance. She hated herself for letting him still have this much of an effect on her.
LATER THAT NIGHT...
Hyde arrived at Eric and Donna's around 7:00. They had invited him over for dinner. Usually Hyde was fairly talkative while they ate but tonight he was unusually quiet.
"Hyde, what's the matter with you tonight? You've hardly said two words since you got here." enquired Eric, concerned about his friend's unusual behavior though he had a feeling he knew what it was.
"I went and saw Jackie at her new place today." said Hyde matter-of-factly.
Donna let out a breath of annoyed exasperation. Hyde looked at Donna with an irritated expression. He was aggravated with her attitude towards him where Jackie was concerned. "What's your problem Donna?"
"Nothing, I just don't understand why you can't leave her alone. She's been through enough lately with her mom dying and her break up with Aaron. I just think you should back off." said Donna warningly.
"Donna, why don't you mind your own business! For the last 6 years all I've done is think about her, miss her, and hate myself for ruining the best thing that ever happened to me. I finally have a chance to fix all that so I'm not going to just sit back and wait for someone else to steal what should be mine!"
"Oh for Gods sake Hyde, Do you have any idea what you did to her? Do you? Do you think all you have to do is snap your fingers and things will be the way they were? It doesn't work that way. When I think about all the hell she went through that night and afterwards because of you it makes me sick."
"You know Donna, you've insinuated a lot of shit over the last few years but you've never had the balls to just come out and say what your problem is. So why don't you just do us both a big favor and say what you've been dying to say."
"I can't."
"Why not?!"
"Because I promised her I wouldn't"
Hyde looked at Donna incredulously. "Promised her what?"
"I can't tell you!"
"You tell me right now!" demanded Hyde angrily.
Donna exploded with anger "Fine, The night you broke her heart by accusing her of fucking Kelso behind your back she miscarried your baby, you bastard!"
Hyde stared at Donna for minutes in absolute shock. As was Eric because this was news to him also. Donna was in astonished also, not believing that in a moment of rage, she had exposed her best friend's secret that she had sworn to take to the grave.
Hyde stormed out, hurt and shock written over every inch of his face.
Before Donna had a chance to stop him Hyde was in his car and headed towards Jackie's house.
She hadn't seen Steven since the funeral, during which he had been by her side the entire time. After she had broken down in his arms the night of the visitation it had felt like a heavy weight was taken off her shoulders. They didn't discuss the past mainly due to it wasn't the time or place but it was also kind of like both of them were afraid of really delving into it. It was the proverbial can of worms. Jackie was relieved he hadn't pressed her about getting into their former relationship. She wanted to just let sleeping dogs lie. After all there were some things she felt would benefit no one if brought up or learned about. She just hoped Donna had still kept her promise. As far as she knew she had.
Jackie was just beginning to get her kitchen in some semblance of order when the doorbell rang. Boxes were stacked everywhere and it was like walking through a maze getting to the front door. She was wearing shorts and a T-shirt and her hair was in a pony tail, an attire that was very un- Jackie like but moving and unpacking was dirty work. She opened the door baffled who it could be. Only Eric and Donna knew where she lived. She opened the door to find Hyde anxiously pacing on her door step.
"Steven, hi, what are you doing here?" asked Jackie as she nervously pulled some loose strands of hair out of her eyes.
"Well, I thought I'd see how you're getting along at your new place. Forman told me you bought a new place last night so I thought I'd check up on you and see how you're doing. Can I come in?"
"Sure, why not" replied Jackie reluctantly.
Hyde stepped into the house and Jackie led him into the kitchen where she had been working. "Wow, nice place you got here Jackie. Big too. Kind of big for just one person, don't you think?" commented Hyde as he checked out his surroundings.
"Yes, it's big but I need the space. Though I'll be working so much I won't get to spend too much time here but it will be nice to come home to after 12 hour shifts at the hospital." explained Jackie as she began putting dishes away in the cupboards.
Hyde got up from the table and came up behind Jackie, standing too close to her for her comfort. "So do you need any help putting stuff away?"
Jackie turned around, nervous with him standing so close to her. "Steven, look, I have a lot to do. I'm sure you have better things to do then help me unpack." "Jackie, Can't we at least try to be friends, though I'll tell you now I want a lot more than that from you. I'm not even going to pretend otherwise."
"Steven, I really don't think it's a good idea. Some things are just better left in the past." replied Jackie, scared where this conversation was leading.
"Damn it Jackie, I made a huge mistake. I'm sorry, sorrier than you'll ever know. God knows I've paid for it. I think we both paid for it. But don't you think we've paid enough? Not a day goes by that I haven't thought about you and what we could have had if I had just trusted you." said Hyde regretfully.
"Steven, yes we both paid, some of us more than others. We're both very different people now. I'm not that same idealistic trusting idiot you once knew. I just don't think it would work to try to re-vive something that was never meant to be in the first place." replied Jackie agitatedly.
She started to walk away so they wouldn't be standing so close but he pulled her around into his arms. He stared deep into her eyes before finally saying "Not meant to be? Keep telling yourself that Jackie, maybe you'll start to believe it. I think we both know better."
She started to pull out of his grasp but he held her tightly and brought his mouth down on hers passionately. The kiss went on for what seemed like an eternity before Jackie finally jerked out of his arms and turned her back to him and shakily said "I think you should leave."
Hyde let out an exasperated breath. He knew he had his work cut out for him. He knew all about walls and found it extremely ironic that he was the one who was going to have to break down her walls if they were going to be together again. It had always been the other way around with them in the past. But lies, betrayal, pain, and time had changed that.
He started to walk out but hesitated before turning around to face her. "I'm leaving, but I'll be back later. We've got a second chance to get back what we lost and I'm not going to let you throw it away." He didn't give her a chance to respond as he quickly went out the way he came in.
Jackie stood in the kitchen, very shaken up from Hyde's unexpected visit. She took a seat at the kitchen table as her legs were beginning to feel like they would go out from under her any minute. This was so not the Steven she had known before. The Steven she had known would never have talked openly about their past problems, let alone his feelings. She had thought if she pushed him away enough times he would take the hint and leave her alone, apparently he had no intentions of leaving her alone anytime soon. She didn't know how much longer she could force herself to keep him at a distance. She hated herself for letting him still have this much of an effect on her.
LATER THAT NIGHT...
Hyde arrived at Eric and Donna's around 7:00. They had invited him over for dinner. Usually Hyde was fairly talkative while they ate but tonight he was unusually quiet.
"Hyde, what's the matter with you tonight? You've hardly said two words since you got here." enquired Eric, concerned about his friend's unusual behavior though he had a feeling he knew what it was.
"I went and saw Jackie at her new place today." said Hyde matter-of-factly.
Donna let out a breath of annoyed exasperation. Hyde looked at Donna with an irritated expression. He was aggravated with her attitude towards him where Jackie was concerned. "What's your problem Donna?"
"Nothing, I just don't understand why you can't leave her alone. She's been through enough lately with her mom dying and her break up with Aaron. I just think you should back off." said Donna warningly.
"Donna, why don't you mind your own business! For the last 6 years all I've done is think about her, miss her, and hate myself for ruining the best thing that ever happened to me. I finally have a chance to fix all that so I'm not going to just sit back and wait for someone else to steal what should be mine!"
"Oh for Gods sake Hyde, Do you have any idea what you did to her? Do you? Do you think all you have to do is snap your fingers and things will be the way they were? It doesn't work that way. When I think about all the hell she went through that night and afterwards because of you it makes me sick."
"You know Donna, you've insinuated a lot of shit over the last few years but you've never had the balls to just come out and say what your problem is. So why don't you just do us both a big favor and say what you've been dying to say."
"I can't."
"Why not?!"
"Because I promised her I wouldn't"
Hyde looked at Donna incredulously. "Promised her what?"
"I can't tell you!"
"You tell me right now!" demanded Hyde angrily.
Donna exploded with anger "Fine, The night you broke her heart by accusing her of fucking Kelso behind your back she miscarried your baby, you bastard!"
Hyde stared at Donna for minutes in absolute shock. As was Eric because this was news to him also. Donna was in astonished also, not believing that in a moment of rage, she had exposed her best friend's secret that she had sworn to take to the grave.
Hyde stormed out, hurt and shock written over every inch of his face.
Before Donna had a chance to stop him Hyde was in his car and headed towards Jackie's house.