Breaking Free
By: Ereye
Summary: Along the same lines as the current popular trend of "Jackie leaves and comes back years later," only I don't want them to have to wait so long. And she won't be pregnant. But there's heartache, growing up, angst and, eventually, mushiness. What more can people want?
Disclaimer: Don't own it.
Chapter 3: Moving on
"I know the perfect guy for you, Jackie."
Jackie cast an exasperated look at her co-worker Sandy. Apparently, there were several perfect guys for her, if all her friends and co-workers could be believed.
She tended to laugh all of them off. It had been almost a year since she left Wisconsin and, for the most part, she was over Steven. She just wasn't ready to try again.
Once in a while, though, she got mad and said to just leave her alone.
And, once in a great while, she was tempted to take them up on the offer.
She walked away from Sandy and toward the front door, ready to go home after a long, tiring work week.
As she was walking out, she made eye contact with a man walking in. Her heart leaped a little, a completely foreign feeling after so long.
He smiled briefly, and she discreetly turned to watch him walk over and talk to Sandy.
Maybe, just maybe, it was time to take her up on the offer.
Hyde didn't understand how the others could just let her fade away like this. Someone who had been a part of their lives for so long had to leave an empty space in the group.
They still talked about Eric. Then again, they knew he was coming back. He called; he wrote.
He didn't vanish.
A while ago, the pain had transmuted into anger. He was so mad that she didn't come back. See, he had been lying to himself – he finally admitted that. She wasn't better off without him, because if they were together, he'd spend the rest of his life making sure every day was better than the last.
He wanted her so much. He had thought she wanted him. Maybe she did, still, but she wouldn't let herself. And he only had himself to blame.
It started slowly; both of them had been hurt and didn't want to feel that again.
His name was Mark, and he was going to law school.
Until she met him, she didn't think there were boyfriends like him. He was beautiful, like Michael, smart like Steven, but unlike the two of them, he treated her wonderfully. He said she was smart; he didn't mind that sometimes she was shallow; after his hurt, she knew he would never cheat either.
A small part of her whispered that he didn't incite the same kind of passion Steven did. He didn't really inspire her to better herself. He didn't need her to take care of him.
She stubbornly told herself that that was a good thing. Without that passion, there wasn't that pain. She didn't need to better herself because he thought she was good enough. He could take care of himself – and her, if she wanted him to.
It really was better this way.
Point Place was a happy place again. It had taken awhile after Eric returned; Donna and he had a lot to work through, but they were doing great now.
They were engaged … again. Plans were moving forward quickly – they didn't want to wait any longer.
But today, for some reason, Donna was sad. She, Hyde and Eric sat at the kitchen table with Red while Kitty cooked them breakfast.
"What's wrong, Sweetie?" Kitty asked.
Donna glanced over at Hyde before answering.
"I was just wondering who would be my Maid of Honor. It should be Jackie…"
Hyde's stomach dropped, but the Zen worked to protect him again. The Zen and the sunglasses, that is.
He noticed Red and Kitty share a look. Red softly groaned and put down the newspaper. He walked over to counter, opened a drawer and took out a slip of paper. Walking back to the table, he held it out to Donna.
"She's in Minneapolis. I've talked to her a couple times. She's OK."
The three younger people stared at Red, incredulous.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Hyde's voice was quiet and almost unrecognizable.
Red stared at Hyde, trying not to let his pain for Jackie spill over and be taken out on Hyde. He knew deep down, the boy was hurting too."
"She asked me not to."
Just a flicker of reaction broke through Hyde's stony exterior, but he quickly got it back under control.
Donna walked over to the phone, so excited to talk to her friend for the first time in almost two years. She didn't even let Red's statement bother her. She looked back at the boys while the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Jackie? Oh my God, it's Donna."
There was a pause but, while she was surprised, Donna could tell Jackie was glad to hear from her too.
"Donna!"
The two shared some pleasantries, uncomfortable and awkward after so long a time. Finally, Donna got to the point.
"Uh, Jackie. The reason I'm calling – Eric and I are getting married next month. Will you be my maid of honor?"
"Oh my God! Donna!" The two boys couldn't help but smile as Jackie's shriek carried to where they were sitting, although it also felt like a stab to Hyde's heart.
Part of Jackie wanted to say no, afraid of seeing Steven again after a long, hard two years.
But part of her thought this might be the final test to prove she was over him.
Plus, she always knew she'd be Donna's maid of honor.
The smile on Donna's face told Eric and Hyde what Jackie's answer was. And Hyde had to stifle his own smile.
Jackie is coming home.