Chapter 2: Ground Rules

Donna peered out the window, watching as the familiar houses passed by. She couldn't help feeling that a huge chunk of her life will be taken from her when she married Eric. Of course, she loved him but was that enough? Maybe everybody was right; they were too young to know what they're getting into.

"Are you okay?" His question brought her back to reality. She turned to see a look of concern on his face.

She forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking."

"Donna, let's not worry about anything today," he told her, his eyes on the road. "Let's lay some ground rules down. One: No talking about your move with Forman. Two: No talking about Jackie. And three: No talking about sappy crap."

Donna cocked an eyebrow. "Sappy crap?"

"You know," he began, running his hand through his hair, "no good-byes."

"C'mon Hyde," she chuckled, "you told me yourself to admit what I was doing by marrying Eric and - "

"Just don't talk about it today, all right?" he snapped, removing his sunglasses and tossing them aside. "I don't want to think about that."

The red head shrugged and turned away, trying her hardest not to show pity. She knew all too well about how much he hated that. "Fine, no more talking about that."

"All right," he replied, returning to his usual Zen-like state. "That's more like it." Donna tried hard not to blush when he gave her one of his famous smirks.

* * *

Slowly, Eric walked home, his head down and his hands in his pockets. He was filled with unbelievable hatred toward his best friend, or at least that's what he thought he was. 'This was even worse than when I saw him at the Vineyard during my first date with Donna.'

Eric entered the basement and slammed the door behind him, causing Kelso and Fez to jump. He stood there, his hands on his hips and glared at his friends.

Kelso gave a nervous glance at Fez before speaking. "Is something wrong, man?"

"It's Hyde," he began, "he's just… and Donna, she's like… and you know… they're… dammit!" His anger was preventing him from speaking clearly. He slumped down on the chair and tried to calm down.

Fez leaned in towards Kelso and whispered rather loudly. "I think he's upset about something." Kelso nodded stupidly.

"Of course I'm upset!" he spat at them. "You know where Donna and Hyde are right now?"

Kelso's hand shot up in the air. "Oh, let me guess. They're down at that new seafood restaurant. All you can eat, dude."

Fez's eyes widened. "All you can eat? Wait," he paused, "those bastards went without us!"

Eric rubbed his temple; he couldn't believe his friends could be this stupid. "No, they're on a date." His friends' jaws dropped. "Yep, that's right. My best friend and my fiancé are on a date."

"They went on a date to the seafood restaurant?" Kelso asked, still not believing what he just heard.

Eric got up from his chair and started pacing the room. "No, man. They wouldn't tell me where they were going. It's like a secret or something."

"C'mon, Eric. Hyde wouldn't do that to you," Kelso tried to explain to his friend.

He shook his head. "I didn't think he would after he promised me that he would back off. But, you weren't there, man. There was something going on. You didn't see the way he looked at her." He paused as he found that what he was about to say was something he never wanted to admit out loud. "You didn't see the way she looked at him."

Eric slumped back down on his chair. His explanation seemed to drain all his energy. He didn't even notice that Fez was looking extremely uncomfortable. He was trying his best not to say anything that could blow Hyde's cover.

* * *

Hyde pulled up into the very familiar parking lot. "Wow, the Hub," Donna laughed, "not like we've ever been here before."

He shrugged. "Well, I know that fancy restaurants aren't your thing."

Donna nodded. 'Wow, he really does know me.' "Yeah, the Hub's fine."

"I knew you wouldn't mind," he told her, putting on his shades. "Plus, I'm too cheap to take you anywhere else."

She couldn't help but laugh. "Damn, Hyde. You don't have to be that honest."

Hyde grinned and put his arm around her. "You know you love it." Donna felt a sudden rush of heat where his hand was firmly placed on her shoulder. She looked into his shade-covered eyes, silently begging him to remove them. She wanted nothing more than to look into those honest, blue eyes that she always loved.

He ran his thumb back and forth against the creamy skin of her shoulder. 'Thank god she wore a tank top today.' He didn't know how long his hand was there. All that was on his mind was how her skin was so incredibly soft to his touch.

Donna's mind was telling her to back away, but her body wasn't listening. She could feel herself leaning in, her eyes closing shut. Hyde noticed this and pulled away. He cleared his throat. "Let's get something to eat."

She tried desperately to not look hurt as Hyde got out of the car. Donna followed him inside, ashamed of what she was so close in doing.

* * *

"What do you think they're doing right now?" Eric questioned his friends as he grabbed a handful of chips. They were in their usual positions, making a somewhat circle.

"Well, if it was me with Donna," Kelso began, "I would be trying to feel her up." A look of horror fell upon Eric's face. Noticing this, Kelso tried to cover up his mistake. "But, it's Hyde, so they're just hanging out."

Finally, Fez spoke up. "Eric, Donna wouldn't do anything with Hyde. She loves you for some weird reason. And if she was the cheating type, she would have had sex with Kelso over a million times by now."

Kelso nodded in agreement. "That's true, man. I hit on her all the time but she never gives in. I mean, I can't even count how many times I tried to trick her into doing it with me when we were in California."

Eric reached across the table and frogged Kelso in the arm and then calmly returned to his seat. "You know what? You idiots might be right."

"Of course we are, Eric," Fez told him. "Donna would not leave you… even though she seems like she needs an escape from all this wedding stuff. And, even though Hyde is a handsome, charming man who used to be in love with her and is alone with her when she is unsure of her future." He paused. "Other that that buddy, she's a keeper."

"Thanks Fez," Eric replied sarcastically. "That makes me feel so much better."

Fez nearly beamed. 'Oh, nice save Fez.'

* * *

"Hey, remember the time when we were 13 and we tried to steal some of red's beer?" Donna said after they got their food and made themselves comfortable in the corner table. They had spent the past few minutes recollecting on their childhood memories. This was mostly a tactic to erase the awkward situation in the car, which seemed to be working.

"Yeah, I remember that," Hyde laughed at the thought of it. "We made Kelso create a diversion while Forman snuck into the kitchen to get the beers."

"Didn't Kelso light up some firecrackers as a distraction?"

"Yeah, but the dumbass burnt one of his fingers and Red went into the kitchen to get him some ice. He caught Forman in the act."

"Oh yeah," she chuckled. "Then he chased us with the hose."

"Yep, good times," he replied, dipping his French fry in the ketchup.

"See, that's what I miss about our childhood," Donna said, taking a sip of her coke.

"What? Getting chased with a hose?"

"Not just that. I mean, doing stuff that could get us killed," she began. "You know, kick-ass stuff."

"Well, when you and Forman got together, things changed," he admitted. Hyde could feel himself tensing up. This was something that bothered him for years.

"I know the whole 'getting married and moving away' stuff changed everything but - "

"Hey," Hyde cut her off. "Rule number one, Donna: No talk about the move."

"Fine," she shrugged. "I don't know why it bothers you so much."

"It bothers me because I hate the idea of things changing around here," he said softly, removing his sunglasses. He could feel her pitying him and he hated it. "Hey, just forget it. Let's just enjoy today and not think about what comes afterwards, all right?"

Realizing that this is what she wanted and needed, she smiled.

* * *

"Do you think we should look for them?" Eric asked after his high wore off.

"Of course we should look for them," Kelso told him. "They're probably doing it right now."

Eric glared at him. "Kelso, if I didn't have to stalk my fiancé and my best friend, I'd kick your ass right now."

"Sorry, man," he replied, holding up his hands. "Just trying to be sensitive."

"Look, whatever," Eric shook his head. "Where do you think they are?"

Fez snapped his fingers. "Probably the seafood restaurant."

"Nah, that place is expensive," Eric explained. "Knowing Hyde, he's very cheap." Then it dawned on him. "The Hub."

Kelso raised his fist in the air. "To the Hub!"

In less than ten minutes, they pulled up in front of the restaurant. Eric got out quickly and peered inside. He could see them at the corner table. They were laughing, clearly enjoying themselves. Eric could feel himself filling with anger as he saw Hyde's hand take a hold of Donna's.

Without a second thought, he burst inside and walked over to the table. He placed his hands firmly on his hips and gave then a fake smile. "Hey guys. Didn't know you'd be here."

Hyde glared at him. He was the last person he wanted to see. It was unbelievable that just a second ago, he was thinking about how nothing could ruin the great time he was having with Donna.

He thought too soon.

* * * * * * *

Sorry that I took forever to update. I'll try to get the next chapter out soon. In the meantime, I'd love to hear what you thought of it.