Authors Note: Ah long time no update. LOL. Finally found all the layouts i did for this story. So i'm back with updates for it. I'm not in school for the rest of the semester so i'll have time to update again. Ne ways this chapter picks up where the other one left off. I've included a recap if you need it. So enjoy and please let me know what you think because i'm so worried about this chapter.

Recap: Red passed away from complications with the cancer and a heart attack. The heart attack was brought on by a fight that Red had with Eric about Eric throwing Hyde out the window. After the funeral Jackie and Hyde slept together and that's where this chapter picks up.

Chapter Eight: I'm better off without you

Hyde opened his eyes and stared at the woman lying in his arms peacefully sleeping and gently brushed a stray hair away from her face as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Good morning," he said as she smiled at him.

"Good morning Steven," Jackie said as he leaned forward and captured her lips in a gentle kiss until Jackie suddenly pulled away and quickly got out of bed.

"Jackie what are you doing?" Hyde asked as Jackie ran around the room quickly pulling on her clothing.

"What am I doing? What are you doing?"

"Okay wait what happened? One minute you're all 'Morning Steven' and the next you're all 'what's wrong with you'."

"Steven we slept together."

"Really? Wow I didn't know that." Hyde said as he rolled his eyes and got out of bed.

"Now is not the time for your sarcastic comments mister."

"Whatever Jackie."

"Steven what we did was wrong."

"No it wasn't," Hyde said as he walked over to her with a sheet wrapped around him.

"Yes it was."

"No, Jackie what we did…it wasn't wrong…it was so unbelievably right." Hyde said as he pulled her into his arms.

"Steven…I'm with Randy…what we did…I cheated on him."

"You don't really want to be with him do you?"

Jackie pulled out of his arms and finished getting dressed. "I don't know. I mean at this point I'd rather be with him than be in whatever this is with you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"At least I know where I stand with him. I'm not guessing all the time like I am with you. I mean one minute you can't stand me and the next you're in love with me. Steven I don't know what to believe."

"Jackie-"

"No Steven I can't deal with this right now. I just can't." Jackie said as she quickly ran out of the room leaving Hyde standing there confused out of his mind.

Jackie slowly walked up the porch to Donna and Eric's house, contemplating whether or not to actually go through with this. She knew she needed to talk to Donna and apologize, but apologizing had never really come easy for her. Finally after staring at the door for a few minutes she got up the courage to knock. Donna opened the door as Jackie smiled at her.

"What?" Donna asked as Jackie looked down.

"Can we talk?"

"Whatever," Donna said as she opened the door to let Jackie inside.

Once she was inside Jackie followed Donna into the living room and took a seat in the chair across from her.

"Donna look I know you're pissed."

"Damn right I'm pissed. Why the hell did you tell Red?"

"Donna I told him because he deserved to know."

"Whatever you always do that. Put your nose in things that don't concern you. You had no right to do that."
"Donna look-"

"Stop it." Eric said as he came into the room and glared at his wife.

"Eric she had no right to-"

"No Donna just stop alright," Eric said as he looked down at Donna before turning back to Jackie, "Jackie I understood why you told Red."

"You do?"

"Yeah look I know it was stupid to push Hyde and I shouldn't have done it. I mean I'm lucky as hell that he didn't have me arrested on the spot."

"Well that would have been kind of hard with glass in his back." Jackie said as Eric nodded.

"Yeah…look I'm not mad at all. What happened to Red…it was his time and I'm not going to blame you for it at all. And neither is Donna because this is something that was between Hyde and me." Eric said as he looked down at Donna.

"I'm sorry Jackie." Donna said as she looked over at her best friend.

"Good now I'm going out. I'll be back later." Eric said as he leaned down and kissed Donna's forehead.

"Donna I have something to tell you."

"What?"

"I slept with Steven."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"What?" Jackie said as she stared at Donna.

Donna laughed as she motioned for Jackie to come sit next to her. "You two have more sexual tension than anyone I've ever met. It's only natural to assume that eventually you two would give into it."

"Well could you have at least let me in on that?" Jackie asked as Donna laughed.

"Nope that takes the fun out of it." Donna said as they laughed together.

"Hey Donna…do you think I should give Steven a chance?"

"Honestly I think you should wait. I think you should make him prove that he wants you before you jump into anything with him."

"Yeah that sounds reasonable."

"Just don't jump into anything alright."

"I won't."

"But what you need to do right now is break up with Randy."

"I know. I just…he's been really great to me and I don't want to hurt him."

"Well you should have thought about that before you slept with Hyde." Donna said as Jackie smacked her.

"Hey baby," Randy said as he opened the door and let Jackie in. He leaned down to kiss her but was met with nothing but air as Jackie walked away from him and into the living room. He shut the door and followed her quietly as he tired to figure out what was going on.

"Randy we need to talk." Jackie said as she sat down and motioned for Randy to sit beside her.

"Alright, what's up?" Randy asked as he stared at Jackie.

"I think we should break up."

"What? Why?" Randy asked as a look of shock came across his face.

"Um…because I…uh…because I slept with Steven." Jackie said as she looked away.

"You did what?"

"I'm sorry."

"No I just…when? When did you sleep with him?"

"Last night…it wasn't like I planned it. It just happened."

"It just happened and now you're breaking up with me for him."

"No I'm not breaking up with you for him. I'm breaking up with you because we're not right for each other."

"Jackie look we can work through this. It's just a phase…before you know it we'll back to normal."

"I can't do that Randy."

"Why?"

"I can't be with you because I'm in love with someone else."

"You're in love with someone else?"

"Yes."

"Who is it?"

"Steven."

"I thought you said that you weren't breaking up with me for him?"

"I'm not…Randy I've been in love with Steven since high school."

"Oh….look Jackie I don't care if you love him."

"What?"

"I know in my heart that someday you'll learn to love me."

"I'm sorry Randy…its over." Jackie said as she got up and walked out of the house.

Randy stared at the door as a dark menacing look came across his face. "You're wrong Jackie…this is far from over."

Jackie walked into her room looking completely drained and just plain ready for a nap. She shut the door, and then leaned against it as she tried to control all of the emotions that were running through her at the thought of what had occurred here the night before. She looked over at the bed and for the first time noticed something lying on it. She walked across the room and smiled when she saw a teddy bear and a box of chocolates sitting near her pillows. She heard the door open and quickly turned around. She smiled when she saw Hyde standing there staring at her as she held the teddy bear in her arms.

"Jackie, I know you're unsure of my feelings and my intentions and that's fine because even if it takes forever I'm going to prove to you that I love you and that I want to be with you." Hyde said as he gave her once last smile before walking downstairs leaving Jackie to think about what he'd just said.

Hyde walked into the kitchen and found kitty staring at the table. He slowly walked up behind her and lightly touched her shoulder. She turned around to face him as the tears fell from her eyes. Hyde quietly pulled his mother into his arms and let her cry her tears out. After a few minutes Kitty pulled away from him and smiled up at him.

"Steven, Red was always so proud of you. He loved you more than you know."

"I've always known that mom." Hyde said as Kitty smiled at him before leaving the room.

Jackie walked down the stairs and found Kitty sitting on the couch. She walked over and sat beside her as Kitty looked at her. "Jackie I have something I have to tell you."

"What?" Jackie said as Kitty took her hands into hers.

"I know about you and Steven."

"You know about…"

"I saw you two sleeping last night. And I just want you to know that I approve."

"Oh…well um we actually aren't together."

"You aren't? Why aren't you?"

"We aren't together because I'm not sure about anything. This whole thing with Steven just happened and I want to make sure it's real before I jump into it. I just don't want to put myself out there only to have him change his mind in the end."

"Honey I know jumping into something is scary but life is too short to wait forever. Give into your heart. Who knows you might find exactly what you were looking for." Kitty said as she smiled at Jackie. "Now come on Steven just finished cooking dinner for us." Kitty said as they got up and walked into the kitchen together. Kitty walked over and took a seat at the table as Jackie walked over to Hyde and kissed his cheek.

Hyde looked at her as she smiled then sat down.

Hyde smiled as he served them their dinner, all the while knowing that things were finally going to go his way.

A/N: So what did you think? Neways check out my other stories We're Twins?! and Giving life. And as always please review.