"What the hell?"

Jackie pushed Hyde away finally, revealing Eric standing in front of them. She cringed when she saw the look of pain in his kind eyes. Immediately, she knew that he had the wrong impression. "Eric, I can explain."

"Save it, Jackie."

She slid off the hood, throwing Hyde a disgusted look. Her ex-boyfriend looked away, dropping his head into his hands so that she could only see his bushy hair. "Please, just here me out."

"You don't need to say anything, I already know what happened." Eric moved past her and yanked Hyde off the hood. Jackie could tell by the look in Hyde's eyes that he was surprised by Eric's sudden strength.

"How could you force yourself on Jackie?" Eric spat. "After everything you said to me earlier, how could you do that? You know that she is in love with me, and you know that she doesn't want you. Why would you do that? Do you just want to hurt us both?"

"I told you that I was going to try," Hyde reminded him. "I love her."

"Hyde, stop," Jackie replied. "Just stop. It's getting pathetic. Do you think that your ridiculous ploy is really going to break Eric and me up? We're in this together."

"If I catch you anywhere near her again, I will kill you," Eric vowed. "I know you all think I'm weak, but it's amazing how strong love can make you. I'm not the same person you guys knew before I went to Africa. Things change and so have I."

"Whatever, man," Hyde muttered as he walked toward the driver's door.

Jackie and Eric took a step back and watched as the car sped out of the driveway. Once the car had disappeared from their sight, Eric turned to his girlfriend. "What happened?"

"I thought he understood, Eric. We were just talking, and I thought he finally got my point," Jackie explained. "Then, before I knew it, he had pushed himself on me. I didn't want him to kiss me."

Eric looked at her, tears shining in her sparkling eyes. "Don't cry, baby," he murmured as he gathered her in his arms. "I believe you."

"I just want this to be over," she mumbled as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. "Let's leave town again. It's just too hard to be here. There are too many memories, too many ties."

"Where would we go?"

"We could go back to Africa. We were happy there. You loved your teaching, and I was even starting to like the village. We could be happy again."

"I don't know, J. It just feels like we would be running away."

"We would be, but what's wrong with that?"

"That's the thing about running away. Things have a funny way of still catching up with you in the end."

"I hate it when you're right."

"That's the charm of being me," he mused. "So, what now?"

"I think it's time to go back to my apartment," she whispered into his ear.

"Hmm, really? For what?" he asked innocently.

"I think it's time."

He arched his eyebrow. "Yeah?"

Jackie nodded and winked cheekily. Neither of them said a word as they raced to the Vista Cruiser and headed toward her apartment. As soon as they reached her place, Jackie was out the door. She had convinced Eric to give her a few minutes to get rid of Fez before making his appearance. Throwing her keys on the table just inside the living room, she called for her roommate.

"Fez!" she screamed as she ran around the apartment. "Fez!"

"Yes?" he called from the bathroom.

Jackie could hear splashing inside from behind the door. "You have to leave."

"I'm taking my bubble bath."

"Please, you have to go now."

"This is my apartment, Jackie," he reminded her huffily.

"Please, Eric's downstairs, and we need to be alone."

"Ooh, can I watch?"

"No! That's why you have to get out of here. Please! I really want this to be special. It's our first time."

"Two weeks in Africa and still nada?"

"Yes, now, hurry up. I'll even pay for your next trip to the candy store."

"Ooh, candy!" he called. Minutes later, he emerged from the bathroom to find Jackie and Eric sitting nervously on the couch. "Have fun, Eric."

Eric shot his foreign friend a look as Jackie peeled a $20 bill from her wallet. "There, Fez, now go," she demanded, pointing toward the door. Fez skipped happily out of the apartment, humming something about sweet chocolaty goodness as he slammed the door behind him.

"Now that he's finally gone…"

"Are you sure, J?" Eric asked as she sat down next to him.

"Very," she purred. Leaning across the couch, she laid a trail of kisses down his neck. Making her way back toward his mouth, Eric captured her lips with his. Their tongues dancing in passion, his arms roamed over her body as they moved as one. Pressing herself further into him, she tugged on his shirt, indicating that she wanted it gone. Helping him lift it off, she smiled mischievously as she traced her finger down his taut chest. "Not so skinny anymore."

Eric stopped her next words with a kiss as he lifted her off the couch. Making his way toward her bedroom, he reveled in the light, feathery kisses she was placing along his collarbone. Leaning him back on the bed, she unbuttoned her shirt and knelt in front of him. "Oh, Jackie. You are so beautiful." Those were the last coherent words that either of them would speak for hours. Many cries of pleasure and entangled limbs later, they both fell back against her pillows.

"That was…"

"Yeah…" he groaned as he tucked his arm underneath her petite body. Her warm skin felt so right against his, their legs tangled beneath the sheets and her dark hair splayed against his bare chest.

"I don't think I could be any happier than I am right now."

"I could be."

"Eric," she cried softly, swatting him on the arm. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means marry me."

"What?"

"Marry me."