Chapter 6- A final Goodbye

Hyde was used to saying goodbye. He was aware of the pain it caused even when the person you were saying goodbye to wasn't someone you loved. For Jackie Burkhart who adored her parents, today would bring a new world of sadness. Today Jackie would have to say a final goodbye to her mother and her father.

Hyde gazed in the mirror at his reflection. He tightened his black tie and straightened his jacket. Then he prepared to go and live through probably the hardest thing he would have to live through in his life. He would have to watch the woman he loved bury her parents.

He left his room in Forman's basement, and walked to the top floor of their house to the room where Jackie now lived. Taking a deep breath he knocked on her door. It opened and in front of him stood Jackie, all dressed in black for the funeral but still as beautiful as ever.

"Are you ready?" Hyde took her hand. Her eyes were full of sadness.

"No, how can I be?" Her voice was barley a whisper but despite her answer she stepped out of her room. Hyde put his arms around her and she fell into him, shaking in his embrace.

"I don't want to do this." She whispered into his chest.

"I know, but you have to Jackie." Hyde felt her nod and with his arm around her waist he helped her downstairs for breakfast.

The mood in the kitchen was somber. The radio wasn't playing in the background, Mrs. Forman wasn't humming to herself, Red wasn't reading the paper and Eric and Donna sat silently staring at nothing in particular. When Hyde and Jackie walked through the door all eyes were on Jackie and no one said a word. Immediately she tensed and began to back up in the direction from which she came but Hyde grabbed her hand and gently pulled her to the table.

"Steven, I'm not hungry." Jackie's voice whispered in his ear and Hyde shivered.

"Sweetie why don't you have a cup of coffee?" Mrs. Forman gave her a pitying look as she poured coffee into a mug.

Hyde glanced at Jackie. He saw her frantically look at everyone in the room. Eric, Donna, Mr. And Mrs. Forman and finally Hyde. She tightened her grip on his hand and he could feel trouble coming. Donna and Eric stepped closer to Jackie and Eric placed a hand on her shoulder. Jackie jumped back, her eyes blazing.

"God, stop acting like this. Please just be your selves. This day is going to be hard enough. Just be normal!" Her loud outburst was answered with silence.

"I'm sorry." Jackie gasped as she broke free of Hyde's hold and ran from the room.

"Geez, you guys gotta ease up on the stiffness. It feels like someone died in here!" As soon as the comment escaped his lips Hyde gasped, horrified at what he had said. Everyone stood in a stunned silence until it was broken by the sound of something that resembled a giggle. Suddenly Jackie reappeared in the doorway and she was laughing weakly.

"Jackie I'm sorry I didn't mean to…" Hyde was cut off as she walked into his arms.

"That's better Steven, it's you ….totally inappropriate."

The tension in the room lifted and everyone gave a small laugh and a sigh of relief. Hyde wrapped his arms around Jackie. Mrs. Forman turned on the radio and began to hum softly, Mr. Forman picked up the paper, and Eric and Donna began talking to each other.

Hyde gazed down at the incredible girl in his arms. Jackie smiled up at him.

"It may take awhile, but I'm gonna be okay."

Hyde couldn't help but smile…Jackie was finally standing strong.

Okay everyone just one more chapter. It'll be sort of like an epilogue.