Chapter 5- Eric's House

"Do you wanna talk?" Eric asked softly as he sat down on the edge of her bed in his guestroom.

"No," she replied avoiding his eyes as she unpacked. Eric would let her stay with him as long as she needed, and sometimes, that could be awhile.

"Hey thanks-" she looked up to find him gone. She smiled to herself as she thought of how great of a friend Eric had become. Somewhere along the way in life they both had matured and finally understood each other.

"And now she wants a divorce!" Hyde exclaimed as he sat in his old kitchen.

"Did you think she'd just forgive you? Steven you are thirty three years old. Grow up already!" Red said as he looked at him. Red was the closest thing to a real father that Hyde had. Sure he had his actual father, but Red had raised him. He took him in when his parents ran out and let him stay there when his real dad came back into town. He knew he could talk to Red and he'd be straight.

"But Red-"

"But nothing! I didn't raise you like that! You were a good kid Steven, what the hell happened?"

"I grew up I guess."

"Having an affair with my sons ex-fiancé is not growing up! That's being a dumbass!!"

"Never too old to be a dumbass am I?" he asked as he smiled. "So what do I do?"

"You love her, obviously right?"

Hyde just nodded in agreement.

"Then go get her!"

"What if she won't take me back?"

"I wouldn't either!! You'd be damn lucky if she did," he replied.

He nodded again as he stood up. "Thanks Red."

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered.

Jackie padded into Eric's living room in her bare feet. "I just wanted to say thanks. For letting me stay here and all," she said softly as she approached the couch where he was drinking a beer and watching tv.

"It's no problem. I know you'll talk when you're ready," he replied as he took another sip.

She nodded as she sat down next to him. "It's just...I don't know how he could do this to me," she whispered as he shut off the television and faced her.

"I should have known though. I mean he's never home right?"

"Jackie, I'm so sorry. I had no idea at all until tonight," he said.

"The worst part is that I still love him," she said as she let loose. Eric pulled her into his arms and held her tight as the sobs racked her tiny frame.

How could Hyde do this? This isn't like him at all. I mean yeah he got pissed when Fez had that sex dream but he regretted it and went back. But now...there's no Fez. This time it's all him Eric thought to himself .

"Foreman!" someone yelled through the door. A second later it opened to reveal Hyde, looking for Jackie. He walked right over to her as she inched closer to Eric.

"Jackie, I'm sorry. But home," he said pleadingly. She just got up and walked in her room, slamming the door behind her. Hyde sighed as he sat down next to his brother.

"Why'd you do it man?"

"I don't know. I really don't. I mean Donna was there and I was there..."

"You really hurt her Hyde," Eric replied softly.

"I know."

"Do you really? Are you the one that has to pick up the pieces after her? Does she ever spend nights crying herself to sleep in your arms?"

"No," Hyde whispered.

"So you really don't know. I mean there's been times I've woken up because she can't sleep. You really messed her up," he responded protectively.

"Well why do you care anyways?"

"While you were off screwing around with Donna, she came to me when she needed to talk about things because you weren't there. She spent so many nights here because she hated being alone that I gave her the guestroom for her own. And some things that she told me, let me tell you, I really didn't wanna know!!"

"Do you think she'll take me back?" he asked after a minute.

"I dunno," he sighed.

He nodded as he went to her door. "Jackie? Can we talk?"

"This isn't high school Steven, you can't just make things better anymore!" she replied through the door.

"What do you want me to do? Just tell me..."

"I want you to leave ok? I don't want to see you. I want a divorce Steven," she said forcefully as she opened the door.

"Ok," he said quietly, tears in his eyes. "I still love you Jackie."

"Go," she replied as she watched his back slowly retreat from Eric's apartment.

a/n: hey y'all...sorry i took a little bit to update. please keep reviewing...it motivates me to write more. ♥Nic