Chapter Four



Donna took deep, shaky breaths as she walked up Eric's front walk. She had been dropped off by Fez, who had given Eric the day off and made sure Jackie was at work. Their daughter, Tory, was with Kitty and Red, so Donna would have Eric to herself.

After mentally preparing herself for the worst, Donna took one last deep breath and knocked tentatively on the door. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, the door swung open. Donna stifled a gasp when she saw him. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a navy blue sweater. His pale blue eyes bore into hers and she could see the surprise in them. What was more, she could see the same love she had seen from him long ago, reflecting in his eyes. She had forgotten how much she really loved him until that moment. She opened her mouth to speak but then she saw the look in his eyes change. The look of love and surprise was replaced by one of anger and bitterness.

Before Donna could say a word, Eric slammed the door in her face. Once she registered the fact that he was actually shutting her out, she lost it. She had tried to always keep her emotions in tact before she came home. But now all the loneliness, frustration, sadness and love for Eric was overflowing and she couldn't contain it anymore. She burst into tears and banged on the door.

"Eric!" she shouted through her tears, "Please don't do this to me, Eric! I have to talk to you!" Donna finally collapsed on the front step, her body wracked with sobs. But through her heartbroken cries, she tried to convince Eric to open the door.

"I'm so sorry." she wailed, "I never meant to hurt you so much. God, I'm sorry." the tears had dripped down her cheeks, neck and were dampening the pretty blouse she had worn for her reunion with Eric. She had made sure to dress extra nice in the simple off-white top and grey, knee-length skirt. She had worn make-up and brushed her hair until it shone when the sun hit it. She almost never dressed up that much, but she had wanted to do it for the person she loved more than anyone else. Obviously it had been a wasted effort though.

She sat there for almost half an hour, crying and begging him to open the door. He hadn't appeared at all and she gave up hope. Emotionally drained, she closed her eyes and let the tears fall onto the cement step. She suddenly felt two strong arms pick her up and bring her to her feet. She knew it couldn't be Eric, since there had been no sounds of the door opening. She turned to see Kelso looking down at her sympathetically.

"Come on, Donna." he said softly, "I'll take you back to the hotel."

She got into his van and he began driving. Even when they were a good distance away from Eric's home, Donna still continued to cry.

"He doesn't want me anymore." Donna sobbed as Kelso stopped in the parking lot of the hotel, "He hates me, Kelso."

Kelso had never seen Donna so out of control and he was worried about her. Not knowing what else he could do, he leaned over, wrapped his arms around her and held her until her sobs subsided.



Eric's POV



Once I heard the car pull away and drive off, I stood up and looked out the window. There was no sign of Donna or Kelso. Now that she was gone, I felt drained. I had spent twenty five minutes sitting near the front door, listening to Donna plead with me to give her another chance. But I couldn't. She hurt me so much that she couldn't possibly expect me to take her back into my arms like it was all going to be okay. It wasn't okay. And even if I wanted to take her into my arms and forgive her and be with her, I couldn't do that anymore. I was married to Jackie. We even had a child. Why would I leave that all behind for the person who wouldn't stay with me in the first place?

Despite all my reservations, I still knew that I loved her. She and I were made for each other. If I wasn't sure before, I was sure now. That was the horrible thing. No matter how perfect some people were for each other, they still might not get their happy ending. Donna ruined everything we had. There wasn't any way to get it back.

And even though she hurt me, it was still torture to hear her right outside my door, crying like that. Ever since I first met, seeing her cry just tore me up inside. And hearing her cry was just as bad. I don't know how I restrained myself from opening that door and going to her. Hearing her beg me to give her another chance made me want to take her in my arms and kiss away all the pain she was feeling. But even if I did that, my pain would still be there. The pain that I had buried deep inside me returned when I saw Hyde with Jackie last night and Donna standing on my front door this afternoon. Old scars were being ripped opened and it hurt like hell.

Nothing good had come out of Hyde and Donna leaving. To make it worse, they were running off together. Jackie and I didn't know what to make of that. So we went to each other for comfort. We kissed and held and touched each other for comfort. We slept together two months after Donna and Hyde left to ease the pain of thinking we would never see the people we loved again. That was in August and they left in June. Two months later we had our wedding and Jackie was pregnant. It was all a comfort thing, there was no way either of us loved each other.

But actually, there was one good thing that had come out of it all. We had Tory, the sweetest, most beautiful girl I had ever known. Even though I didn't love Jackie, I loved her. From the moment I first held her, I was amazed at the sweet naiveness in her eyes. I smiled when I pictured her blonde head of hair and mischievous blue eyes. If only she was me and Donna's. If only Donna had never left.

I swore loudly and pounded my fist against the wall. Why did they have to come back? Everything was fine before they came. Not great, but fine. They had screwed up the whole cycle of life as Jackie and I knew it. And the worst part was, I couldn't decide whether it was a good or bad thing and how I would react to this in the end.



"Let me guess," Hyde said wryly when Donna returned to the hotel and he saw her mascara streaked face, "Eric wasn't happy about you being back either?"

Donna sniffled a little, "Why does it have to be so hard? Was what we did really that bad?"

Kelso and Fez just stared at her. It was only a few seconds before it unnerved her, "Stop looking at me like that."

"You don't understand." Fez shook his head, "Eric and Jackie were so shocked and upset when they realized you had left them. Eric swore he'd hate you both for the rest of his life for this. And Jackie..... well she almost said as much."

"Especially about you, Donna." Kelso added, "Man, she'd like scratch your eyes out if she had the chance."

"Why?" Donna looked at Fez and Kelso with horror.

"They thought you guys ran off to go elope together or something like that, I think." Kelso replied, "We all thought somewhere along those lines, even if we didn't talk about it much."

"How could you all be so stupid?" Hyde asked, disdain in his voice, "Donna and I are all wrong for each other. We're just friends."

"It doesn't matter anymore." Fez decided, "What matters is that Hyde gets Jackie and Donna gets Eric."

Hyde just looked at Fez for a moment before speaking, "Why are you so eager to help us anyway, Fez?"

Fez stared at the comforter on the bed, then looked up at his three friends, "I have spent five years watching Jackie and Eric go through life unhappy. They do not love each other, and they certainly cannot bring themselves to hate you. If only you four could straighten everything out, it would all be okay."

"And maybe someday, I'll find some nice girl that will like me." Kelso spoke up, "And Fez has Laurie, so we'll all be happy."

"If only it were that simple." Donna sighed wearily.

"You'll get Eric back." Fez assured her, "It's just a matter of time."