"Oh God, Steven..." Eric heard himself say in his sleep.

His dream was so vivid. So real... he could see the curly haired teen laying on top of him, leaving a trail of kisses from his mouth to the waistband of his jeans. All the while scratching his nails down his back. A devilish smirk had spread over his pale face as he straddled him-

"Someone's happy." Eric's eyes widened as he heard the teasing voice. A blush crept on his face as Eric realized neither he nor Steven had moved an inch since last night. Meaning he was still laying on him, fully able to feel his normal morning problem. "I'm glad I get you all riled up," Steven chirped, his hand resting on Eric's stomach. He was teasing him. "What exactly was I doing in your dream?" He paused momentarily, leaning in closer to him. "This?" His lips barely caressed the corner of Eric's mouth. "Or this?" His breath hitched as Steven lowered his kisses to his barely showing collarbone. He gasped and closed his eyes, trying his hardest to contain himself. "How 'bout this?" Steven asked through his kissing, and began to slowly lift Eric's shirt over his head; he shivered as Steven's fingertips tickled his skin.

"Oh God..." Eric gasped breathlessly, feeling his best friend attack his chest with frenzied kisses and soft bites. Why was Steven doing this to him? They couldn't do this, not now, but he wanted it so bad.

"Oh God." That didn't sound good. Eric slowly fluttered his eyes open and found Steven was sitting at the edge of the bed; how had he done that so fast? He sat up as well and inched closer to the hunched over seventeen year old. A sick feeling washed over him as he noted the ashen grey/green color Steven's flesh had turned.

"Steven?" Eric asked, placing his arm on his shoulder. Heavy breathing was heard as the man in question clutched his head between his knees. He could feel his body tremor slightly against his touch. "Are you okay?" He didn't know what else to ask or what to do. He was being faced with something he couldn't handle right now or ever. But so was Steven, or Hyde, or whoever he was going to be today.

He wasn't sure what to do when Hyde stood up. But he was up on his feet in a moment as he collapsed, earning a loud crack from his ankle. A groan of pain came from Steven's crumpled body and he shook his head.

All the color drained from Eric's face as he knelt down beside Steven. He didn't know if he should try to help him up or tell his mom something was wrong, or even call the ambulance. He just didn't know. Instinctly, however, his hand reached out and turned his chin up so Eric could see his agonized eyes.

"E-Eric I n-n-need my-" his request ended with a loud scream as he squeezed his eyes shut from pain. His knees curled to his chest as he wrapped his arms around his stomach; he was trying to shut out his pain.

Eric glanced up in curiosity when hearing footsteps pound violently down the hall, to the stairs. His mom probably knew what was going on and knew what Steven needed. He hated being oblivious.

If only he could help in some way.

In all honesty, he was terrified. Never before had he seen Steven Hyde so vulnerable or show that he was in pain. He hadn't ever heard him scream like that, either. It was probably the worst sound he ever heard; he didn't even want to imagine the inner torture he was going through. His gaunt face said all Eric needed to understand.

"Move!" Eric was pushed back suddenly by a strong force that couldn't come from his mother. Once he got over the shock of falling on his butt, he did a double take at the woman in front of him, grabbing Hyde forcefully and holding him in her arms. "Eric, open this bottle for me, please? Quick!" The red headed teen barked as she placed a damp and folded wash cloth on Steven's forehead.

With trembling hands, Eric twisted the child-proof cap off of the pill bottle. He wasn't sure how many of the large pills Hyde would need to take; he figured one, but handed Donna three. She sent him a strained smile before gliding her hands down Steven's cheek. Probably to calm him down, or that's what Eric told himself.

"Hyde, no, no, no! Don't... dammit!" She paused, then turned to face the wide eyed boy staring in horror at the two people in front of him. "Hold open his mouth and hand me the pills. We have to do this now." Donna ordered slowly, one arm wrapped around Hyde's torso, the other holding the back of his head. "Now!"

Immediately, Eric crawled over to Donna and Hyde and hesitantly opened his mouth. His lips felt incredibly dry compared to last night, and he could see various scars in his mouth. With Donna next to him with a juice glass of water, Eric dropped one of the pills on his tongue, followed by a sip of water that Donna forced Hyde to swallow.

"Do you have any tongue depressors?" She asked him calmly, still holding on to Hyde, Eric furrowed his eyebrows. "Just go and get me a Popsticle stick or spoon... something!" She ordered, hands pressed on either side of Steven's face.

Within five seconds Eric was out the door and bolting downstairs. He didn't have time to go all the way down to the basement, Donna sounded urgent. And Hyde needed this. He wasn't going to let whatever he was going through get any worse. And he wasn't going to look any more stupid than he already did in front of Donna.

Quickly he yanked open the freezer door and pulled out a box of twin pops and tore off the wrapper. While his left hand held the two sticks, he slid the frozen orange popsicle off and into the sink where it would melt. If his parents had questions they could just ask Donna.

Eric zipped up the stairs faster than Speedy Gonzalez and skidded to a halt outside of his open door. It was all he could do to not scream or cry or throw up in shock at the mess of Steven on the floor.

Donna held his head back as his body convulsed violently, her eyes were closed as she breathed deeply. Was he having a seizure? It had to be... what else could it be? Eric felt his stomach knot as he watched his best friend shake and his glazed blue eyes roll to the back of his head.

What he wanted to know was how did Donna know what to do? Was this a part of his whole "sick" thing or was it because of something else? He didn't understand and he wanted to. He wanted to be there for Steven like Donna was; a new kind of jealousy began to rise.

Eric bent down and reached for his shoulder, yet Donna's arm shot out, grabbing his wrists and she glared at him.

"Don't touch him unless you want to end up hurt." She whispered through gritted teeth, Eric took a deep breath and handed her the popsicle sticks. She smiled softly and set them on the ground; were his efforts nothing to her? She needed them and now she wasn't going to use them?

He loathed her sometimes.

But he suddenly understood why she didn't need it. Right before his eyes, Steven's tremors waned into erratic breathing. He relaxed as his eyes slowly opened with confusion evident in his expression.

"How did I...?" He asked, voice shaking as he stared up at Donna. She smiled softly at him and dabbed at his forehead with the damp wash cloth.

"You had another one..." she mumbled, helping Hyde sit up.

And suddenly it was awkward. Not the awkward- someone just had a seizure but... 'hey Donna, I'm gay and I think I might be in love with Hyde who is pretty much sitting on you!' awkward. Eric couldn't look at either of them as they quietly talked with one another. They seemed to have a connection much stronger than they had with him; his jealousy level rose as he heard them whisper.

"Eric, can you help me here?" Donna asked, then nodded her head to a scowling Hyde. He gave a short nod before standing and looping Hyde's arm over his shoulder. Eric noticed Steven wouldn't look anywhere else except the floor either; he was ashamed.

Of what? That he had a seizure? That he is sick, and dying? That someone needs to help him stand because he's too weak? Eric could see why he would be humiliated, yet it was Hyde. He did everything for everyone and got nothing in return. And no one even noticed his faltering state.

"Guys... c'mon I don't-"

"Hyde, you know the rule. No arguing, I don't care how you feel. This was your third seizure in four days. Mrs. Forman has to check your vitals and-"

"Get bent." Hyde growled, pulling Eric's blankets over his body. Eric turned to Donna who was in a mode he had never seen; she was going to make a great mother, if she decided to have kids.

"Eric, we should go..." Donna trailed off, her gaze set on Hyde whose eyes were closed. He nodded and followed Donna out of his room.

In silence, they walked down the hall and down the stairs. He avoided eye contact and any physical contact with her; he couldn't pull of this facade anymore. After last night he knew if he wanted to maintain a friendship relationship with Donna then he'd have to break this "thing" that they had off. He couldn't keep lying to her, or himself.

The pair entered the kitchen and were met by the smell of omelets and toast. Eric found his mother happily cooking and humming as she waited to flip the egg.

"Good morning Eric! Donna, nice to see you...?" The questioning tone at the end of her sentence was her way of asking why she was here. Donna knew this and bit her lip softly.

"Hyde had another seizure, I was coming over to hang with Eric and I saw it." She murmured, head down. The happiness in his mother's face drained as she heard the words from the young woman. "Mrs. Forman, I don't know-"

"Thank you, Donna, you're such a sweetheart. There is nothing to worry about though, Steven will be just fine." Kitty replied with a laugh as she patted Donna's shoulder. They watched as she left the kitchen and Donna shook her head in disbelief.

"Eric, your mom can't be serious. He's had four seizures this week. They used to only happening like three times in a year. He's getting worse and I..." Eric placed his hand on her shoulder as her voice broke.

"She knows, she just tries to make everything seem better than it really is. Tries to keep us innocent while she can..." He loved his mom, but he hated how she sugar-coated everything. She was probably in denial about Steven's failing health as well.

They all were.

Eric sat down at the table next to Donna, who seemed unusually guarded. Eric deserved it though.

"Donna... we need to talk," he mumbled, earning a light chuckle from the girl next to him.

"That's not a first..." she quietly murmured to herself, smile fading after her comment. "Okay, I'm all ears."

Eric sighed. He had to just come out and say it. He couldn't sweeten what he had to say with, "it's not you, it's me" even though that was true. He couldn't tell her in the nicest way possible because he knew that's not what she'd want to hear.

"I'm sorry, Donna... but this thing we have..." he began, pausing for the right words. He finally gazed into her blue eyes and caught an almost knowing expression on her face. "I can't keep doing this. I love you, but as a sister, not a friend." A small smile appeared on her face and Eric paled.

Oh God, had she gone crazy?

"May I ask why?" She questioned, he felt his breath hitch in his throat and his heart rate quickened immensely.

"You see the other day, well night, but early night, I had a talk with someone and I realized I'm not attracted to you. But not you specifically, I mean-"

"You're not attracted to girls." Donna finished for him. His jaw dropped in awe as she spoke nonchalantly. "Yeah, I've had this conversation before." Now it was Eric's turn to be confused.

"Wait, you're just... okay? I mean, I feel awful. But yeah, you're... uh... right." Donna nodded and laughed quietly.

"Yeah, I had a feeling he'd win." Eric raised his eyebrows at her comment. "You talked to Hyde the other night about me, didn't you?" He slowly nodded. "And when did you realize you weren't... heterosexual?" She whispered, Eric felt a blush creep on his face.

He couldn't openly talk about this! How could she be so... okay with all of this?

"How are you not mad at me?" He asked her in shock.

"I could sort of tell you weren't exactly a normal boy when we were younger. Besides, I've heard a lot weirder things." Donna chirped, Eric sighed heavily.

"Like...?" Eric questioned with a tone of annoyance.

"God, what got shoved up your ass and... wait, that could actually-"

"Donna!" Eric cried, his eyes nearly bugging out of their sockets. He slapped his forehead against his palm and shook his head in disbelief. How could she joke?

"And wait, why do you care if St-Hyde talked to me?" Eric inquired, eyebrows furrowed.

"Well, did you talk to Hyde about me?" After Eric gave a slow nod, a more genuine smile appeared on her lips. "You're not the only gay person in our group." He nodded once more; of course he wasn't, he knew that. Why else would Hyde make out with him?

Although he sometimes wondered about Fez.

"I know. Why? How do you know?" Donna sighed and bit her lip nervously before answering.

"There's a lot you don't know about Hyde..." she trailed off; Eric nearly hit his head against the table in aggravation. He hated it when people tried to prolong the process of a story.

"Like?" He urged her in hopes she'd get right to the information she withheld all these years.

"It's a long story," Donna mumbled nervously, playing with her hands. Eric turned to the kitchen door and shrugged.

"We've got time..."

Flashback

1971

Twelve year old Donna Pinciotti closed the broken screen door and took a step into the cluttered house.

A part of her was scared. She was never allowed in Hyde's house, even when Edna was gone. Like she was now. Usually Hyde would be sitting on his front porch with a beer, waiting for Donna so they could drive aimlessly away from his "shit hole" of a house.

But he hadn't been outside and she had waited out there for nearly twenty minutes. So she decided to sneak inside.

A loud thud against a wall was heard down the hall, followed by a muffled cry.

Donna's stomach squirmed uneasily as she walked closer to Hyde's room. She could hear a string of mushed angry words against the sound of soft crying.

Her fear rose, yet her curiosity and courage were stronger than the apprehension as she opened Hyde's bedroom door. She froze in horror at the sight in front of her. Donna couldn't even scream as her mind etched the memory of the older man that Hyde's mother was dating, holding a knife to her best friend's chest as he... she couldn't even say it.

She had never seen anything like this; it was wrong. Wrong on so many levels. This was a million times worse than catching her parents on the hammock. This was sexual assault on a child. Donna felt her throat choke as she saw her friend's tears mix with the blood on his face as he kept his eyes shut tight.

Slowly and as if in a daze, Donna backed away and shut the door. She was traumatized, in shock, and about to be sick.

1973

"Are you sure this is okay?" Donna heard Hyde whisper in the night as he silently closed her bedroom window he had just climbed through. She nodded at the lanky boy standing in front of her and smiled weakly.

"I just don't want you there anymore. Look at what they've done to you." Donna whispered, fingers tracing down his arms while her eyes caught his black, red and blue skin. She could barely see a part of his exposed skin that wasn't bruised, swollen, or cut. She didn't want to know what he looked like under his clothes, either.

His body was a warzone.

She scoffed as Hyde just shrugged his shoulders and sat on her bed with his small grocery bag of clothes; he didn't have much to his name. "I made a little bed in my closet, it's not much but-"

"It'll be perfect." Hyde interrupted with a smirk and another shrug. Donna sat next to him and bit her lip nervously before looking into his eyes. She saw his stricken eyes staring at her as he perched on her bed. "And you haven't told anyone?"

"No," she whispered, hearing him sigh with relief as he allowed himself to fall back on her bed.

It had been hard. The first thing she had wanted to do was tell Mrs. Forman, or Red even. Donna couldn't go to her parents, though, they'd never allow it. Not only was Hyde a boy, but it was Hyde. For some reason always had something against him.

But she had kept his mouth shut for him. Donna knew he was terrified at the thought of leaving he people who truly cared about him. And if she said anything, his fear could easily become reality.

"Hyde? Can I uh... ask you something?" Donna waited for his usual nod. "Have you ever kissed anyone?" She winced at his sharp laugh and watched him nod once more.

"Yeah, I've had sex too, if that was your next question." Donna's stomach squirmed when hearing the second part to his answer.

"What is kissing like? Like... do you know you're doing it right? How do you tell if you're good or bad? And what is sex like? I'm sorry, I just... like someone. And... well... yeah." She trailed off. Now that Hyde was camping out in her room, it was like having an older brother she could talk to about everything. He would give her advice and answer her questions, as always, yet they'd be living under the same roof.

Donna noticed a smirk grew on his face as he coughed softly. "Someone as in your scrawny neighbor boy?" He asked playfully, a blush crept on her face in reply, and she noted a look of hurt cross his face. "And you just do it... you can only get better. Just don't freak out over your kissing that will just make it worse. And I can't answer the sex-thing, I'm not a girl. That is way different for me than it is for you. But I guess I can say that it all depends on the guy you're with, some can be nice or gentle about it and others will just be their normal horny selves. Eric's more of a gentle guy." A deeper blush grew on her face at the mention of Eric as he laughed softly.

Donna bit her lip once more and gazed into his dull blue yes; he was hiding his feelings again. She hated it when he did that.

"Can you uh... teach me?" His eyebrows raised at her question. "I know that's awkward but I trust-" she didn't have time to finish her sentence, as Hyde captured her lips in a soft kiss. She could feel her mouth tingle as his shockingly smooth lips gently massaged her almost chapped lips; did he use lip balm?

Nervously and tenderly Donna kissed him back; still in awe that he could kiss so well and be so gentle. It almost made her like him. Suddenly, she felt him laugh against her mouth before pulling away. Her throat felt unbearably tight as she saw his mirthful face.

"Was I really that bad?" She whispered dejectedly, Hyde shook his head and wiped his lips.

"No, no you were okay," she felt a form of relief was through her. "But for me it's like ice-skating." Donna tilted her head in confusion. "Something I can't do." He answered matter of factly. Donna gave a nod, still confused. What couldn't he do, and why? Did he like her?

"Do you like me...?" She asked. She would be flattered, but Hyde wasn't her type. They were like siblings. She hoped that this wouldn't ruin their relationship though.

A new round of shock was brought to her system as she saw the fourteen year old boy laugh as he shook his head. She might have even been a little hurt.

"No, man... you're pretty, but not my type." She felt a form of relief wash through her as she smiled at his compliment. No one had ever called her pretty before.

"Thanks... I'm taking both as a compliment since I'm never going to be like Pam Macy." Hyde snorted.

"She's not my type, either." Donna cocked an eyebrow in disbelief. "Can I tell you something?" Hesitantly, Donna nodded. "Donna, man... I'm a... um... how do I say this...? I'm homosexual." Her eyes widened in shock from her best friend's words. Hyde? Homosexual? He was the last of his friends she would have ever thought to be! Eric had more chances of being gay than him!

"You don't like girls?" She watched as Hyde shook his head. "How do you know? When did you realize this?" Hyde grimaced as he shrugged.

"It's just something I know, you know? Like... does a bear shit in the woods? Or if a tree falls with no one around, does it make a sound? Yes bears do and yes when trees fall, they make a sound. So yeah, I'm a queer-"

"But you're not queer!" Hyde smiled weakly at her outburst. His way of saying thanks.

"Anyway, I just know this. I'm not attracted to girls, sure they're pretty, yeah I've been with girls, had sex with girls but it just felt wrong. And I've known this since I was about eleven, I'd say..." He trailed off, scratching at his arms.

"So when I saw you and your mom's boyfriend, that was... something you wanted?" Hyde's jaw tensed and he shook his head.

"No. I didn't ask for that, he was a sick bastard. He messed me up really bad and... he made me afraid of what... or who I am. You know?" Donna felt tears in her eyes when seeing the disgust in himself written all over Hyde's face. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around him in a hug and slowly, she felt him embrace her.

1975

"Donna... I'm dying." The words came as a shock to the nearly sixteen year old girl. "I did what you asked me to and the doctor told me I'm dying. Now I have to be on all these fucking meds and treatments until I die." Donna couldn't believe what she was hearing.

This couldn't be happening. Hyde couldn't be dying.

"How do they know? They're wrong!" Donna cried, tears falling from her face. "They just read the tests wrong, there is something they can do, I just-"

"Donna, dammit!" Hyde shouted angrily, "The tests said my T cell count is almost below two hundred. They don't know what's wrong with me but... with a lowered T cell count I'll be less immune to diseases. So whatever I end up getting will kill me."

"But they can cure the illnesses you get!" Donna fought back, brushing back her tears. Hyde shook his head.

"I don't care. I'm sick and I'm tired and I'd rather die than feel like this. I'm just tired, okay? The fainting and the losing weight and constant forgetfulness, it all has to do with this thing I have. I guess I'm going to become some part of a study or something. Like I'm some fucking statistic..." Donna shook her head and grabbed his shoulders.

"You're not going to die, Steven James Hyde. I won't let you. I love you too much to just let you go," she choked, squeezing him in a tight hug. She couldn't forget the feeling of hot teras rolling down her neck; he was crying as well.

"Donna, I don't know how much time is left, but... you're the only person who knows who I like... and I'm done. I just want the both of you to be happy, okay? There's no point in me even trying, he likes you. I can just tell. So you have to promise me something, okay?" Hyde asked through shaky breaths and free flowing tears. Donna nodded and pressed her forehead against Hyde's.

"Anything. Everything." She whimpered, he smiled and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly. She tried to ignore the boniness and chill to his once fleshy, warm hands.

"You and Forman are going to get together and get married. And you're going to make him happy, as well as yourself. You're going to pop out a couple of kids with the Forman name and live life happily. I just want him happy, you happy. And if he's happy, then... that's all I want. That's all I care about. Then I'll be happy." Hyde stammered, shoulders lightly shaking from his sobs. Donna nodded and wiped away her tears, her arm draped over his shoulder.

"I promise you, Steven Hyde, I will make sure that Eric is happy."

End Flashback.

Eric felt his heart break and skip a beat at the same time as he listened to Donna speak. Steven was in love with him and had been since they were eleven years old? And he'd rather see him happy than be with him? That was Hyde in a nutshell, a self-sacrificial and selfless guy, whether he believed it or not.

It was so hard for him to leave Donna like this, but he had to. The last thing Eric wanted to do was lead her on. And maybe he and Steven could be together after all.

Right now that was all Eric wanted.

After hearing about Hyde's difficulties caused by his own closeted homosexuality, and all the crap he had gone through in his past, Eric just wanted to hug him, to hold him. He could be there for him; as a friend, companion, partner, and lover.

Eric didn't want to waste anymore time.

"Donna, you don't know how sorry I am," She smiled and grabbed his hand.

"I will always be here for you, no matter what. But... you have to make it up to me!" She sang, her smile growing wider with every word. Eric felt his stomach drop at her words, and with a gulp he nodded.

"Anything," he finally agreed. He still couldn't get over the fact that she was completely okay about everything; it seemed almost surreal. But he knew she would find a guy that would make her happier than he ever could.

"Promise me something." Donna whispered, a serious tone to her voice. Eric nodded once more as he looked into her blue eyes. "Promise me that you will always be with Hyde until the end. He's been dealing with all of this on his own and to have you be there and with Hyde until he dies would make him the happiest person to ever have lived. Whether he shows it, or not. Promise me you'll make sure he is happy and safe, because knowing those two things will make me happy. All he has ever wanted was you; let him have that while he can." Eric felt a bittersweet grin spread on his face as he nodded, his fingers wiping away the tears from Donna's eyes and his own as well.

"I promise on my life."