Okay, so this chapter deals with Eric and Donna's confrontation. I had a harder time with it than Jackie and Hyde's mostly because their relationship was always less complex to me. I hope I did alright though!

Chapter 28

Three days later Jackie and Eric were back in Chicago, but not for long. They were packing up once again before heading to Point Place for Donna's wedding. They would be leaving on the 31st , the day before the wedding. Today, Donna would be driving down to go with Jackie, Brooke, and Betsy to get fitted for their dresses.

Jackie had gone out to get her hair and nails done so Eric was currently putting freshly laundered clothes back into his suitcase. He'd be glad when all the traveling was over so that he could spend some quality time with his fiancée before winter break was over and they both had to go back to work. The trip to Florida hadn't been bad. What he had be most surprised at were his dad's parting words.

"I'm real proud of you, son. You've managed to become the man I always hoped you would be," he glanced at Jackie who was saying good-bye to a teary-eyed Mrs. Forman. "You've become more than I ever hoped for, Eric."

Eric smiled at the memory. Who knew that once he stopped trying to please his father that he would actually do it?

So getting ready to leave Chicago again, Eric hoped the trip to Point Place wouldn't cause anymore emotional upheaval for him or Jackie.

He'd thought about what it was going to be like to be faced with Donna after Jackie had had her talk with Hyde. He imagined he would have to do the same with Donna at some point.

There was a knock on the door.

Thinking it was either Kelso or Brooke, Eric walked out of the bedroom and opened the front door without looking through the peep hole first.

Donna stood on the other side, the look of surprise on her face said she hadn't been expecting him.

"Hello, Eric," she said.

"Donna." he said, "Uh, come in." He pulled the door open and let her pass. "Jackie, isn't here. She's getting her hair done but she should be back," he looked at his watch, "Well, now, actually."

Donna nodded, "Oh, okay. Do you mind if I wait for her?"

He shook his head, "No, not at all. Do you want to sit down?"

She nodded and they both took a seat in the small living room. He on the couch and she on the armchair.

They sat in silence for several minutes.

"So," Eric said, "how are things going with you?"

"Good," Donna said a little too perkily, "I'm still at the radio station for now. Have my own morning show. Randy works for Hyde. We're moving to Madison after the wedding. I'm finally going to college," she smiled, "How about you?"

"Real good. I've got a teaching job at the university here."

"That's what Jackie said," Donna nodded, "How do you like it?"

"It's great, I'm really happy with it."

"That's good."

They were silent again. Eric felt incredibly awkward. But he also felt that this was good. Seeing his ex for the first time in nearly three years did not effect him. There had been no heart stopping moment, no feelings of longing or regret. Just awkwardness at having nothing to say to her.

"You know, I, uh- I'm happy for you and Jackie," Donna said finally.

Eric nodded, "Thanks."

"Are you guys serious?"

"Donna, we don't have to talk about this."

"I want to," she said quietly, "I've been waiting a long time to say this."

Eric nodded at her to continue.

"After you left and then when you broke up with me… I just, I didn't know what to do. I was lost. It took a long time, too long really, for me to realise that maybe that wasn't a good thing. I shouldn't have been at a loss for what to do next. I mean you weren't right?"

"I never mean to hurt you, Donna," Eric said, sincerely.

She nodded, "I know but you and I had always been so inextricably linked that when we were together we never did anything. I mean, we never got motivated, you know? We didn't go to college, we didn't do anything."

Eric blinked, unsure of what to say.

"So when you left , I realised the that in order to be motivated to do something we had to be apart. You leaving proved that. You got motivated without me. Does that make sense?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

"Yeah, it does," he conceded.

"So, now I see that you did me a favour," she said with a shrug that looked forced.

"Donna," Eric said, feeling a little angry "It's not even that. Look, I know that I hurt you and I'm sorry but don't trivialise what we had. It was never a means to an end for me. I wasn't trying to 'do you a favour' by leaving. I loved you."

Donna looked ashamed, "You're right. I'm sorry. I guess it's just left over bitterness, that's all."

"I was just trying to do what was best for both of us. Like you said, we both needed to get motivated. Maybe it was supposed to happen the way it did in order for that to happen."

She nodded silently.

"We were there for each other when we needed to be, you know? I look back on it and I don't feel like it was all for nothing," Eric said.

"Me neither," she said softly, looking at her hands.

"It was right at the time and when it was time to move on, we did."

"Yeah… so are you going to answer my question?"

"What question?"

"Are you and Jackie serious?"

"I proposed to her, Donna."

Donna look taken aback for a moment, "Wow. Really? When?"

"Two days ago," he said with a smile, remembering Jackie's reaction.

"On Christmas? I bet she loved that."

Eric nodded, "She did."

"Well, congratulations, Eric."

"Thanks, Donna."

"As long as she makes you happy, that's all that matters."

"She does."

"She told me that she loved you… last time I was here."

This time Eric looked surprised, "She did, did she?"

Donna nodded, "I got the feeling she hadn't told you yet at the time but I assume that's no longer the case?"

"No. I love her too."

Donna smiled at him, "I'm glad, Eric."

Just then the front door opened and Jackie, with freshly cut and washed hair, walked in.

"Sorry, baby! I stopped at the office real quick- Oh! Hi, Donna," she said with a smile.

Donna stood up, "Hey Jackie, how are you?"

"Good, good. Are you ready to go shopping?" she asked as she crossed the room to stand next to Eric, who put his arm around her shoulders.

"Yeah, absolutely."

Jackie smiled, "Great!"

"And congratulations, Jackie. I'm happy for you both," Donna said, her gaze falling on Jackie's ring.

"Thanks," she smiled again and turned to Eric, "Okay, will you pick up my dry cleaning, please?"

Eric nodded, "No problem."

She beamed at him, "Meet me for dinner at Brooke and Michael's at six?"

"Sure. You two be careful," he said, giving Jackie a kiss.

"We will," Jackie said as she and Donna headed for the door.

"Bye. See you soon, Donna," Eric said.

Donna nodded, "Bye, Eric."

They left and Eric was alone in the apartment once again. The conversation had gone relatively well and he felt even better than he had before. Speaking with Donna had been the final obstacle and now he and Jackie could fully embrace their life together.

His life with Jackie… soon-to-be his wife.

Love it? Hate it? Please love it! Anyway, we are almost to the end of this story so I want to know what you all think. Thanks for reading!