ok this chapter was difficult for me to write. sorry if it doesn't make sense, but it does go through time kinda quickly. Thanks again for all the reviews...i love them like chocolate!

The next week flew by for Jackie and Eric. They finally told the Foreman's about their engagement. They were excited, but mad they didn't tell them when they first arrived. They searched for a place to live, made plans for the wedding, and spent time with their friends. They even set a date for the wedding, two months from their visit. Jackie had only seen Hyde once since the night at the bar. She was always making excuses not to come when all of the gang was getting together, claiming she had wedding stuff to do or a headache. Really she didn't think she could handle seeing him. Instead she threw herself into her relationship with Eric. She became the perfect fiancée, something she had never been. She was doting and loving on the outside, but her heart was broken and empty on the inside. Eric decided he would stay in Point Place after she left to find a place for them to live and stuff, since he was on summer break from school already and had his roommate ship his stuff over. Once the last week of their visit passed, Jackie boarded a plane by herself and went to Boston. And for the first time since the bar, she allowed herself to cry.

Hyde was broken. He couldn't let anyone know it, but he was. He watched Eric chattering happily with the others about moving back and setting the date for his wedding and all that other stuff. He hated him at that moment, Eric was taking away the only thing he loved, only Eric didn't know he was and Hyde had pretty much shoved her at him. The one time he had seen her, Jackie had seemed ok, hanging onto Eric like he was her lifeline. But Hyde knew it was an act, he could tell by the look in her eyes and the empty expression on her face when no one was looking. It wasn't until Hyde knew she had left for Boston that he allowed himself to mourn the loss of her, drowning his sorrows in a bottle of whiskey and case of beer and continued to do the same every night since then.

When Jackie left, Eric turned to Donna for support. The two spent almost every waking moment together, except for when she was sitting beside Bob's sickbed. She helped him pick out an apartment to live in. It was a coincidence that it was two doors down from Hyde's . They went for dinners and walks and just hung out. Sometimes Hyde would join them, but mostly it was just them. Until the three weeks had passed and Jackie was returning.

Hyde heard her giggling somewhere outside. It was too damn early to be so loud, he thought to himself. Then it hit him whose laughter it was. Jackie was back and at his house. He got out of bed and listening harder, while making his way to the window.

"Oh Eric! Its great!" He could have gagged at the site of her throwing her arms around Eric, giving him light kisses.

"And the best part is its all ours!" Hyde seethed as he saw Eric pick Jackie up. "Now let me carry you over our threshold, milady." Jackie laughed and Hyde watched the two enter into the apartment only two doors away from his. That's just great, he thought, walking back to climb into bed, still suffering from a handover from the night before.

Hyde felt stirring beside him a little while later. He looked over and saw a mess of blonde hair. Groaning inwardly, he forgot that he needed to leave before this one woke up. That was his normal thing, bring them back, love 'em, and then leave in the morning before they were awake so as to avoid any mess. He seemed to be doing it a lot lately, since Jackie was gone. When they had been in the middle of their affair, he never saw anyone else, but now he needed someone to fill the void she had left. He got up and got dressed, making his way to the kitchen to make coffee, while the girl got dressed.

"Well that was fun." Hyde offered simply when she emerged. He showed her to the door, opening it and stepping into the warm summer sun.

"Yeah it was. Maybe we can do it again sometime." Hyde allowed her to kiss him before turning to go back in. He heard a gasp from behind him and immediately knew it belonged to Jackie. He cursed himself mentally before turning to look at her, Zen coming over his features.

"Hey Jacks." Play it cool he kept telling himself.

"Steven." She shifted her gaze downward, not looking him in the eye. "I see your back to your old ways." Hyde was about to burn her back, when she looked up. The look in her eyes left him speechless. Pain was radiating from her.

"She's not you." Sometime over the years, Hyde's fear of letting his true emotions be seen had lessened. He let his own hurt be seen by Jackie.

"Don't blame me. YOU were the one who ended things. Not me! I would have chosen a different ending." Jackie snapped, wanting him to feel her pain.

"I miss you." The simple statement that left Hyde's mouth left Jackie speechless. She flew into his arms, just hugging him as tight as she could, not wanting to let go. He kissed her forehead and held on just as tight. He felt her hot tears on his chest, but he knew there was nothing he could do to stop them. Instead, Hyde picked her up and carried her back into his apartment. He sat on the couch and pulled her down onto him, they still just held onto each other. Jackie's tears seemed to have stopped and she looked up at Hyde. She reached up and kissed him with all her might. He resisted a little at first, but soon they were both caught up in the deepening kiss. Hyde felt her tears streaming down her face again and pulled away to look at her.

"We can't do this now." Hyde nodded his head in agreement. He knew it was wrong, especially with the wedding being only a month away. Jackie pulled herself from Hyde and straightened her clothes. As she was walking out of the door she suddenly turned to look at Hyde. "I would have chosen you." She was gone before he had a chance to respond, feeling like the wind had been knocked out of him.

Eric sat in the their new apartment a few days after Jackie got back, unpacking a little bit and just waiting for Jackie to get home. She had driven to the news station to meet about her new job there. She had seemed different to him the last few weeks, but he wouldn't let it bother him. In all reality, she was all over him. Always kissing him and holding onto his arm when they were in public. She was letting him make love to her whenever he wanted to. Eric smiled to himself, he shouldn't be complaining, but he knew that wasn't the real Jackie. He heard a faint knock at the door. He went to it confused at who it might be.

"Donna? Are you ok?" Donna had collapsed into his arms the minute he opened the door.

"My dad. He's…..He's gone!" Eric couldn't believe Bob had died. He comforted Donna, letting her tears cling to him. She looked at him and before Eric could stop himself her lips were on his. He pulled away at first, convinced that it was wrong, but he took one look over at Donna and once again his lips found hers. She deepened the kiss and he ran his fingers through her hair. She moaned into his mouth as he pulled her even deeper into him. She started unbuttoning the shirt he was wearing and he pulled hers from where it was tucked into her pants. Just as he was about to pull it over her head, keys could be heard jingling in the lock. Eric pulled away from Donna hurriedly and went to the bathroom to fix his shirt. Donna felt tears rising to her eyes again as she straightened herself up.

"Hey Donna. What are you doing here?" Jackie questioned as she entered the apartment. She saw Donna fighting tears and the absence of Eric.

"My dad, ummm, passed away." Donna collapsed into a pile of tears again. Jackie rushed over to her and began soothing the red head. Donna felt guilty about the moments before Jackie walked in. She knew Hyde and Jackie had ended things and she couldn't be a hypocrite. The guilt began to weigh her down as Jackie continued to stroke her hair, whispering words of comfort. "I've got to get out of here." Donna said quickly, practically running out of the house. Jackie watched her go, confused by her sudden departure. Eric appeared shortly.

"Where did Donna go?"

"I don't know. She left really quick, like she couldn't stand to be here." Eric knew why she left so quickly, he looked at Jackie and immediately felt guilty. He took her into his arms and stroked her head. Both distraught over the news of Bob's death and both thinking about another person.

The next week passed by quickly with Bob's funeral. After the funeral, the six friends ended up back at Hyde's apartment, drinking and talking about the man who had touched all of their lives. Hyde watched Jackie as she stroked Eric's arm, he also watched as Eric continually looked at Donna and Donna would send heated glances at Eric.

"I'm going out for a smoke." Hyde announced to no one in particular, getting up from his seat on the floor and making his way to the back patio. He felt Jackie move to his side.

"I'll join you." She smiled up at him as he opened the door and they stepped out into the warm night air.

"So how's the wedding going?" He asked timidly. Hyde wanted her to know that it was ok, they were ok.

"Fine." Jackie looked into the house briefly and saw Eric and Donna going out the front door. Her brow crossed for a minute, but was replaced with a smile when she saw Kelso trip over Fez as he drunkenly made his way to the bathroom. Jackie and Hyde stood in a comfortable silence while they finished their cigarettes. Jackie turned to look at Hyde, the desire to kiss him almost too much to fight. She bit her lip in an effort to remain faithful to Eric. Hyde's eyes softened when he saw her biting her lip. He smiled lazily and reached his hand up to cup her cheek. Jackie nuzzled her face into his hand before reaching up and placing a soft kiss on his cheek. He sighed and turned around, holding the door open for her to walk through. They both knew that they were alright.

In the apartment two doors down, things were not alright. Donna and Eric hadn't talked about what happened the week before. They both knew they had wanted it to happen, they had been fighting it ever since Eric's return. When Hyde and Jackie went out back, Eric took the opportunity to ask Donna to talk for a minute. They slipped out the front door and into Eric and Jackie's darkened apartment.

"So Donna…" Eric began, not sure how to start talking about the kisses they shared. He looked over at her. She was illuminated by the moonlight shining in the window. They hadn't turned on any lights, so the moon was the only light they had. Donna looked up at him with big eyes. Before they knew it they were both pressed up against the other, mouths and limbs tangled in an attempt to bring the other closer. This time there was no interruption as they removed their clothing and made love in the middle of Jackie and Eric's living room.