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 6: Wedding gowns

Hyde slid open the Forman's kitchen door, stopping to kiss Mrs. Forman on the cheek before sitting at the table. He had moved into his own apartment last year, but still came over for breakfast most days. Laurie would mock him for still mooching, but he didn't do it to get free food – he did it because he knew how much Mrs. Forman loved feeding all of her "kids".

Eric was already digging into a pile of pancakes, hair askew and pajamas still on. Meanwhile, Red looked up from his newspaper long enough to glance at Hyde. He pretended to look frustrated, but Hyde knew he didn't think breakfast was the same without both boys there, either.

"So, boys. What's the plan for today?" Kitty giggled her nervous laugh, putting a plate of food in front of Hyde.

"Uh, I don't know. I don't have to be into work today." Over the years, W.B. had given Hyde more and more responsibility over the stores, but he also had more privileges – like taking days off now and then just because.

"Donna and Jackie are going to go pick up their dresses. Donna says I'm not allowed anywhere near her dress this time."

Hyde's shoulders shook as he recalled the horrible mess of things Forman made last time. Eric just glared at him.

"Oh, I'm so glad Jackie could come back for the wedding." Kitty sat down herself then, subtly glancing over in Hyde's direction. He noticed, but he was pretty sure Eric didn't. He knew Kitty at least – and probably Donna – still knew he had feelings, but he wasn't going to say anything. And, thankfully, neither of them had blatantly called him on it.

At that moment, the sliding door opened again, as Jackie, Mark and Donna walked into the kitchen. Jackie squealed and leaned over to hug Red, who tried to look like he was merely putting up with it, but Hyde noticed he actually lifted one arm to hug back.

That was about all he noticed. The rest of his senses shut down. She was so close the smell of her perfume teased his nostrils; her side was almost touching his shoulder. So close, yet so far.

Donna, meanwhile, walked over to peck Eric's lips with her own, and Mark just stood awkwardly to the side.

"Eric." Jackie's short, bossy tone made Eric snap to attention just like in the old days. "Can Mark hang out with you while Donna and I go shopping?"

"Uhh…" Eric was at a loss for words. He tried to meet Hyde's eyes, but was unable to with the sunglasses. Kitty, though, was true hostess to the core and answered for him.

"Oh, that would be wonderful. You boys can all get to know each other better."

Donna and Eric had no trouble meeting each other's eyes, and they could both tell what the other one was thinking: uh oh.

The TV was the only sound in the basement. Mark and Eric sat on either end of the couch, while Hyde sat in his customary chair, arms crossed, feet on the table, attention fully on the show that no one was actually watching.

"So…" Mark broke the silence. "Guys, tell me about yourselves. Jackie mentioned you once in a while, but only ever really talked about her cheerleading friends. How did you guys know her?"

Eric glanced over at Hyde, who resolutely ignored them. He cleared his throat, uncomfortable.

"Well we first met Jackie through Kelso."

"Oh, Michael. Right."

"Yeah, then she just kind hung around us after they broke up. And then she started dating Hyde."

Mark looked at Hyde, shocked. "Really? Oh, wait, wait. I think she might have mentioned dating a Steven a little while. Is your first name Steven?"

"Yep." Hyde's tone was short and non-committal.

"You guys must not have dated very long, huh? She didn't have as much to say about you as Michael."

Hyde looked over at Mark, his face almost granite except for a slight clenching of the jaw that Eric wouldn't have seen if he wasn't watching for something.

"A couple years."

"Really? Wow." Mark looked between the two other guys nervously, not really understanding why Jackie hadn't told him more about this guy, but also not wanting to give the impression that his and Jackie's relationship wasn't as good as it should be. "I guess I don't have to tell you what a great girl she is, then, huh?"

"Yeah. Great." Hyde looked back at the screen, and the other two fell back into silence, uncomfortable again.

Hyde silently seethed in his chair. This guy was such a phony! How could Jackie have agreed to marry him, much less date him?

What was worse though, was that he, Hyde, apparently didn't mean enough for her to tell her future fiancé about. Like it didn't matter that at one point she desperately wanted to marry someone else – and not in the childish way she wanted to marry Kelso. Like it had never really happened.

Unless… Hyde sat up straight in his chair, letting his arms uncross and fall into his lap as realization struck. Unless it hurt too much to talk about someone she still loved.

He smiled his evil, mastermind grin. It may be true, it may not be. But from now on, he'd be operating under that assumption.

"Oh my God, Donna!" This maid of honor dress is so beautiful. Thank you so much!"

"No problem. I knew the blue would go well with your hair color."

"Well," Jackie smirked over at her old friend, letting her old demeanor fall over her shoulders like a comfortable coat. "of course it would, Donna." She smiled, letting the taller girl know she was just kidding.

Donna, however, didn't need the smile to know that. It was fairly obvious that this woman wasn't the same shallow, self-centered girl she first met so long ago. It wasn't even the same, slightly less shallow girl that had left their lives two years ago. Even that Jackie would have been making the wedding be at least just as much about her as it was about Donna. But now, Donna could tell that she cared about more important things than looks and money.

"So. Tell me about Mark. How did you meet?"

Jackie quickly told the story. But, a scheming Donna noticed, it was more of a matter-of-fact story than the gushing, joyful exclamations of a girl in love.

Therefore, she was beginning to feel a little more enthusiastic about a potential reconciliation. Until something happened that put a damper on that fantasy.

Jackie gasped, much like she would have years ago at seeing a shoe sale. She walked in a daze to the other side of the dress shop, her arms outstretched toward an almost simple, white wedding gown.

"Donna! This is the dress I've been looking for. I haven't been able to find anything like it at home."

Donna stared at the dress in question, shocked. It was so elegant, so non-flashy, so un-Jackie. And Donna knew it would look perfect on her.

"Try it on!" Jackie glanced back at Donna, eyes sparkling and face flushed.

"Do we have time?"

"Of course, go ahead." Donna collected the maid of honor dress from Jackie's arms, and the shorter girl went to carefully grab hold of the wedding gown.

In the changing room, Jackie stepped into the dress almost hesitantly. Zipping up the dress that fit perfectly, she turned to look at herself in the mirror.

It was the most beautiful dress. She'd be an amazing bride, and she'd have a perfect man on her arm as husband. But, even as she thought of Mark, her mind drifted back to years ago when she had a different wedding gown on.

Steven had looked at her like she was the only woman in the world. And she could tell in his eyes that, as much as he denied it, he had fast-forwarded to the future, to their own wedding, to when she'd actually be the bride.

And he had looked at her with such love in his eyes.

And she knew that no matter how perfect Mark was, he wasn't the perfect husband for her. One hand went to her mouth to stifle the sob that wanted to tear from her throat, while the other went to her stomach as she doubled over. Her breath came in gasps as she tried not to cry.

Donna could not hear her cry. Her love for Steven had to remain a secret.

She quickly got out of the dress and hung it reverently back on its hanger. She wanted it desperately, but she wasn't going to buy it. That dress would have made her the perfect bride. Therefore, she didn't want to wear it unless she was marrying her perfect husband.

She squared her shoulders and walked out of the dressing room. Donna was waiting expectantly.

"Well."

"Eh. Not for me."

Donna reeled back, confused. "Uh. Okay. Let's go."

Jackie took back her maid of honor dress from Donna. Glancing over to make sure Donna wasn't watching, Jackie took one last look at the dress.