Chapter 2: Miami Life

It was mid noon when Hyde was finally able to get the infant to sleep. She had been restless and in a bad mood ever since her teeth had started to come through. She'd been hell to live with, waking at any hour to scream and cry bloody murder and refuse to be put to sleep for hours.

He collapsed onto the plush sofa and closed his eyes wearily. It had been nearly a year since he'd arrived in Miami with instructions for his new apartment. It was perfect, overlooking the beach, just the right size and in walking distance of everything he'd need. He hadn't once made contact back home, not to call any of his friends or the Formans, especially not Kelso. What could he possibly explain to the handsome doofus?

Hyde had barely had time to sleep before piercing cries woke him once more. "Fuck," he groaned, sliding off and heading into the small nursery.

It had already been painted when he arrived, a light shade of pink with teddy bear boarders and yellow furniture and pink and yellow blankets. Jackie had designed the whole room herself, months before her baby's birth. The room was filled with toys and books, perfect for any child. Inside the small crib was the wailing infant, her face screwed up and her arms waving wildly.

"Hey, hey," he whispered, scooping her up into his arms and caressing her back gently.

He walked her while she calmed down then headed into the kitchen, finding some bread crusts for her to chew on. There was a knock at the door and he headed over, still holding the baby.

"Hyde, where have you been," Morgan gushed, walking in.

She was a shapely brunette with a sharp fashion style and an often demanding voice. She had been his neighbor since he'd arrived and the one who'd helped him out with countless baby dilemmas.

"Trying to sleep," he growled, handing the occupied baby over. "I can't take anymore of her screaming."

"Aw, daddy's all grumpy," Morgan said in a baby voice, holding the infant up so they were eye to eye.

Said child giggled happily and waved her hands, trying to catch some of Morgan's loose strands of hair. Hyde looked on, feeling that sensation in the pit of his stomach he always got when he saw them in their moments together. He felt guilty, angry, annoyed and saddened that it wasn't Jackie holding her child, the one to speak in a ridiculous baby voice and make silly faces for her amusement.

He pushed it all away and went to make coffee. "Is there anyway for her to get through this with my sanity partially in tact?"

"Hm, probably not." Morgan had come to join him in the kitchen, feeding the baby more crusts. "You know maybe you should just go back home, get help from the Formans."

Hyde had opened up to Morgan about his past life in Point Place, although he conveniently left out the part about him fleeing from hospital with a barely day old infant.

"I can't go back." He took the little girl back, kissing her chubby little hand. "Not now."

Morgan looked at him thoughtfully. "Wouldn't Jackie want her daughter to know about her?"

Hyde frowned. "It's complicated."

She let the subject go and disappeared into the hallway briefly, returning with shopping bags. She pulled out a baby dress made of pink material with a bunny sowed into the front.

"Look at this Jacquelyn," she cooed to the baby, "this would look gorgeous, yes it would!"

Jacquelyn Beulah Hyde giggled and reached for her new dress, reminding Hyde painfully of her mother.

**

Hyde hadn't named Jacquelyn until about three months into living in Miami. She had been born with wisps of curled black hair and large blue eyes. He had been in agony over Jackie's death and had to continuously remind himself that he couldn't think about it. Jacquelyn had been a great help in distracting him. Twenty-four seven was devoted to the tiny child.

She had an obnoxiously loud cry that reminded him of Jackie and she was starting to develop a Jackie pout too. It continuously tore him up inside but he pushed the feelings away, concentrating on caring for her.

Then he'd met Morgan outside the apartment complex. She had seen how tired he was and offered to cook him dinner. He couldn't refuse a free meal and had invited her over and she made them a home made meal that would rival Kitty's and even fed the baby while he ate.

"So what's her name?" Morgan had asked while she cleaned up.

"I don't know…" Hyde admitted truthfully.

"You haven't named her yet? How come?"

Hyde shrugged, truthfully admitting, "It just doesn't feel right, not having her mother name her, I feel like I have no right, you know?"

"Ah," Morgan nodded, taking a seat at the table. "Well, what's her mother's name?"

A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Jacquelyn Beulah, mostly went by Jackie."

"Well, there you go!" Morgan replied cheerfully. "Little Jacquelyn."

And Hyde had allowed her to be named so, although he would never allow her name to be shortened, he wouldn't be able to stand it; it was easier to keep it as Jacquelyn.

Inside the envelope Hyde had found in his room, two days prior to Jacquelyn's birth, held everything Jackie could possibly give him to start a new life. A new bank account under his name, holding enough money for he and Jacquelyn until she was at least five, the apartment, paid for in full, straight to the point instructions on basic baby care, and directions to where he would find all the baby equipment she'd bought.

At first he couldn't understand why he had the envelope, until the day that Donna had announced 'they did all that they could'.

Hyde sat in the rocking chair beside the crib, watching and listening as Jacquelyn slept silently, her small chest rising and falling with each breath she took. In his lap was a pink stuffed unicorn that usually rested on the chair, one of Jackie's favorites. Beside Jacquelyn was her favorite toy, a small plush teddy, her mother's last gift for her.

In the dark with the sleeping child beside him, Hyde was finally able to relieve the past, the girl he'd loved secretly and the child he was so sure was his own.

-TBC-