Chapter 12: Stay With Me

Here we are, one dozen chapters. I love you all, readers and especially reviewers. Thankfully you all seem to be wanting what I have planned(ish) so that's all very good.

I'd like to apologise for skipping thanksgiving since I wasn't really thinking about the story's timeline. I figured I'd just let Kitty have a nice normal celebration and I'll hold some drama back for new years eve.

I just got back from France! Disney Land is great fun, I threw my back out on space mountain though. Something to do before you all die, ride the Aerosmith rock and roller coaster. It's amazing.

And some of the slightly more selfish readers will be delighted to know that because of my injury I won't be doing much but using the laptop. Used for writing. If you wanna thank someone go review one of dsmith141 stories. He convinced me to get on that ride which hurt me.

So date night, was originally in this chapter but it got so long, the previously mentioned drama will also be delayed to chapter thirteen. The number of doom, guess who for? I'll let you know if you're right. Little baby Betsy will be making a guest appearance in this chapter and the following one. I had some trouble with pinning down Betsy's age so she's over a year old about 14 month old. Walking and there a few words.

Jackie smiled and rested her head on Hyde's sweaty shoulder. He raised her wrist to his lips kissing the faint rope marks, she nipped his shoulder gently and giggled. After a few seconds of heavy breathing Jackie glanced at the bedside clock. "Its three." She groaned, starting to move. "I'm gonna go upstairs."

"Why?" Hyde groaned lazily, without opening his eyes. "Everyone's asleep."

"Yeah and I don't wanna get caught down here again." Jackie sighed when he rolled over laying an arm across her. "Steven." She whined. "I can't stay here all night." She yawned, reluctant to leave the warmth of the bed. "Huh, why is there tinsel on the ceiling?"

"First of December, why you should stay here, bells everywhere." He mumbled.

"Come on, let me go." She tried to push his arm away but he only tightened his grip.

"I'm sleeping." He mumbled into the pillow. She yawned again, his sleepiness was getting to her, she didn't want to get caught sneaking up the stairs although she could claim she just got back after her shift ran over. There would be no such explanation if she was caught in his bed. She lay back and he wound his arm round her shoulders. She glanced up at the ropes, wondering if they had anything to do with the night she was caught sleeping here.

Every so often they'd have sex and she'd be reminded of times when he'd been so sweet to her. Convincing her to stay here when her house was empty, then apologising for telling the Forman's. There were moments when the bad parts of their relationship seemed not so terrible in comparison to the great times and there were so many more little happy moments then there were bad times. They bickered everyday and agreed on very little but they were happy together.

The good parts were still there, his attentiveness in bed and how he made her laugh. She still felt so safe lying next to him like nothing could hurt her, but now she knew he was the thing that could hurt her most. Her mind was cautious about getting close to him but her body moulded to his and melted into his embrace. Her heart was set on him but she wasn't speaking to it anymore.

She leaned over the side of the bed to pick up his shirt, falling asleep naked was weird for her. "STEVEN!" She shrieked, way too loudly smacking his arm over and over again. "Get it Steven. Get it, get it, get it!" She whispered cowering on the bed.

"Jackie, what the hell?" He whispered glancing towards the door expecting Red to rush down with the hose running. She was scrambling behind him pointing across the room. He kept staring at her like she was crazy.

"It's moving! Steven, Steven get it it's moviiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!" She hid her face in his back.

"Jackie, what are you talking about?" She was hidden completely behind him now, whimpering softly, almost crawling backwards up the wall.

"The spider! It's creepy and it has eight legs and it's moving!" She whispered, her breath tickling his ear. If she wasn't freaking out so much it would've turned him on. "Kill it." He rolled his eyes and flung a hardback copy of 1984 at what was probably the smallest spider in the whole house. "Is it dead?" She whispered looking up at him wide eyed.

"If it isn't then eight legs are the least of our problems." She squeaked. "Yes, it's dead Jackie." He glanced at the door again before lying back down. "You're lucky no-one heard that." She kept staring at the book while pulling on his shirt. "It's just a baby." He said annoyed, realising two seconds later that was a really bad thing to say.

"You mean there are more or them?" He tried to back track furiously. "No, no! Spiders have millions at a time and that means there are bigger ones here!" She was jumping on the bed now, in full on panic mode.

"Actually I think they die after the babies are born. I'm pretty sure Charlotte died." He was really too tired to remember or care when or why he'd read Charlotte's Web.

"Steven!" She flopped on top of him, hiding in the crook of his neck. He put his arms around her pulling her close. "I can't believe there are spider babies living here!"

"I can't believe there's a kind of baby you don't love." He said mildly and she slapped him lightly. He began caressing her shoulder blades, feeling her melt above him. "Don't worry baby there are plenty of books to protect you from the spiders." He rolled his eyes again while saying it but she snuggled closer into him, kicking the blankets around until one of her legs poked out. "Quit moving and go to sleep."

"Thank you for killing it, Steven." She whispered quietly.

"Would you have ever shut up other wise?" He grumbled. She eventually fell asleep like that, with no good reason not to be with him and happy.

Four hours later she woke up, he was poking into her stomach. She slid off him silently and swiftly got dressed. He mumbled something, cracking open one bleary eye. "I'm just gonna have a shower." He nodded and went back to sleep. She could've probably said she was going to marry Alice Cooper and breed penguins in the Caribbean and gotten the same response.

She dragged her tired, sore body up the stairs and collided with Laurie and Fez coming out of the blonde's old room. "Oh! Hi you guys, um what are you doing here?" She asked sounding too chipper and cringing at her own voice.

"We came to talk to you. Where were you? How come you're still wearing last nights clothes? Oh my God! Who did you sleep with, was it that sexy southerner?"

"She slept with Hyde." Fez answered.

"HYDE!" Laurie yelled covering her mouth. Jackie shushed them both and pushed them into the room. Shooting daggers at Fez, she'd considered telling Laurie but hadn't decided yet. "Seriously you're having sex with Hyde?" Laurie giggled. "You know I always thought he'd be good in bed. Does he still have that leather jacket?"

"I don't know and Yes, I am but you have to keep it quiet. Kelso and Eric know too but not you're parents so keep it silent. Okay?" Jackie insisted frantically, grabbing Laurie's wrists.

"So everyone but Mom and Dad?"

"And Donna." Fez reminded.

"Oh God yes! Donna. You CANNOT tell Donna anything, Laurie, nothing!" Laurie stared at the younger girl's pleading eyes. She was confused now, how had everything changed so much? Last she'd heard Hyde had married and stripper and he and Jackie had gone back to barely speaking. Kitty had said it was like neither of them cared, they weren't not speaking through anger it was like before they'd ever gotten together. They ignored each other, like near strangers. She hadn't heard anything about Donna and Jackie's relationship but that must be different now too.

"If that's what you want, I guess." She responded, still confused. "Now tell me everything."

"Oh yey! Girl talk!" Fez yelled gleefully leaping on the bed and settling himself comfortably on the pillows. "Now, remove your tops and proceed."

The girls rolled their eyes at him but hopped up on the bed. Jackie figured that since Laurie knew she might as well tell her everything. It would be nice to have a girl to talk about all the details with, so she told her everything.

Five minutes later Fez had gotten bored with hearing about how amazing Hyde was in bed and wandered off to find food. Another ten minutes later the whole story had been recounted. Including last nights ropes. "So you see why I can't tell Donna right?" Jackie asked. "She think I was a husband stealing whore." There was a long paused. "Laurie am I a husband stealing whore?"

"God no!" She wrapped an arm around Jackie's shoulders, drawing her close for a hug. "I really am a husband stealer and there is no way that's what's going on here. He got married to a drunken one night stand and was probably thinking about you the whole time. Besides it wasn't legal and she's gone now so who cares?" Jackie smiled slightly.

"So have you ever done it? Sex with an ex?"

"Oh yea sure." Laurie frowned, thinking. "Well sort of, I don't really have exes. Oh! There was this one guy who I had sex with nearly everyday but then I didn't see him for like four months and then I started sleeping with him again." She stared off into space for a moment. "No… No it was his brother the second time round." Jackie looked disappointed.

"Do you think it's a good idea? Sleeping with someone you still have feelings for?"

Hyde paused outside the door, his hand resting on the handle. He flattened his door against the wall, as close to the tiny crack in the door as he dared. She still had feelings for him, he was right. He'd begun to question his certainty, wondering if maybe he was wrong and she really didn't love him anymore. There were still the moments when he was positive she still felt for him, the way she used to, the way he still felt for her. Moments when all the pain, the anger, the mistrust and all that unhappiness were are forgotten for one brief moment. When she fell asleep with her body resting against his, there were no bad memories or hurt. There was just that. That moment, she felt for him then.

"What kind of feelings?" Laurie's voice floated through the door, feelings were probably a foreign concept to her, still Hyde inched closer, needing to here the response.

"I don't know." Jackie sighed sadly. "Sometimes, I think of the things he did to me and…" She sniffed. "God! I just hate him so much, or at least I want to hate him. I don't know but I want to hurt him so much, like he hurt me and more!" She paused, gathering breath. When spoke again it was in a quieter more subdued tone. "But there are times, when I'm near him and I almost want to forgive him. And as soon as I feel like that I'm terrified. I know he can hurt me more than anything else in the world if I let him. I know that if I let my guard down and trust him he'll hurt me all over again. But at the same time as knowing that I want to ignore my head and trust him. I don't know what I feel, maybe I'm still in love with him and maybe it's just lingering feelings, lack of closure of something." He could see her shake her head, looking down. "I do love him, but I know it's so, so stupid. I don't want it to be true."

"Okay, Jackie. You can't possibly have the capacity to be feeling all that."

"I know it's killing me."

Hyde rested his head against the wall. He just wanted to know if he should give up on winning her back and now he was even more confused. At first he'd been devastated at her words, believing that she'd never been able to put the past behind them and to be honest he was in no position to blame her.

But there had been hope, she wanted to forgive him, and some reckless part of her even wanted to trust him. He wished for her to give in and trust him long enough for him to prove she finally could. She did love him, he was sure of that at least, but if she didn't want that then chances were it wouldn't work to his advantage any time soon.

Laurie had started up again. "Just take a couple of deep breaths and stop crying." soft sobs gave way to sniffles after a few seconds. How the hell did she do that? "Okay, good girl. So what do you feel during? Oh come on don't look at me like that, I don't mean it that way, what do you feel for him." Hyde held his breath, he couldn't be heard now.

"Same as it used to, it's as if we've never been apart. And afterwards my head is yelling at me to get away from him where I can calm down and remember why I don't want to get back together with him. Why I can't let myself do that. But I can't seem to drag myself away from him and he doesn't help much. It's hard to leave as it is but as soon as he's touching me I lose my control and just want to fall back into his arms."

"We need to discuss the difference between sex and love now." Laurie said sympathetically. "If you confuse the two you'll never get over him."

"Laurie, I know there's a difference and if I concentrate I can block out my feelings and ignore them but not for long. They always resurface and I either feel stupid or dirty and he is all I want."

"Oh honey, you still love him." He heard Jackie whimpered a positive response and start crying again. "Do you know how he feels?" Hyde wondered if she really understood what he felt for her now.

"I'm pretty sure he wants to get back together. I told you he came my apartment and tried to work things out… we had sex four times."

"Nice!"

"I really wanted to, he seemed so sincere. He was sincere, not that his explanation was great, apparently he was really stupid, then drunk and then stupid some more." She laughed bitterly. At least she knew, for once his feelings were there in the open. And now he knew she returned them, he was glad of it.

"So he wants a relationship with you?" He saw Jackie nod. "Can't believe there's a guy who would actually admit to being a total and complete moron."

"Especially Steven."

"Jackie?" Laurie sounded cautious, as though choosing her words very carefully. "There's something I don't understand. You love him?" There was a nod. "And he loves you?" Another nod. "And he knows what he did wrong and wants to prove himself?" Jackie continued nodding. "Why not give it one more shot? You both want to and he's trying, really trying. Do you know how often a guy does that. Never. Come on whenever you were pissed at Kelso he bought you something or did some other bullshit thing and you went right back to him." Hyde clenched his fist, he'd stayed away from that train of thought. Why had fucking Kelso gotten chance after chance until she found someone new. If they hadn't gotten together chances were she would've gone right back to him. He desperately wanted an explanation now.

"That was different. To get back with Steven I'd have to trust him again. Michael was easily controlled, a complete tool as you remember. But my relationship with him was a pathetic fairy tale and I don't want that with Steven. Now I know what a real relationship is, to love someone and really trust them completely and I can't accept less. Not with him." Hyde sighed to himself. Even if he never got her back he understood why now. It was something. But not enough to make him give up. "I want to give him one more chance, it's a reasonable thing to ask I know. But how do I stop one chance turning into more?"

"Just think about it, Jackie…" Jackie cut her off.

"NO! I won't put myself through it again. I'm going on a date with Jackson, the southerner, it's over between me and Steven. I'm taking a shower see you downstairs." He heard the door to the en suite slam.

"As stupid as it is smart." He heard Laurie mutter, he was thinking the same thing and didn't move. The blonde strutted out and crashed right into him. "God why is there so much traffic out here!" She saw who it was. "Christ are you stalking her or something? Aw, scared of being abandoned again?" She mocked him in a sugary voice.

"Your with Fez." He snapped at her.

"Is that it?" She scoffed with an eye roll.

"Yeah guess it's more of an insult to him." She raised an eyebrow, yeah he was off his game today. "Come on, I had a late night."

"Oh so I heard." She suddenly looked evil. "But then you probably heard that too didn't you? And plenty else. Did you ever think that lurking outside doors might not be the best way to earn back trust?" Hyde realised it wasn't helping his case at all but considering how the conversation ended he wasn't feeling too hopeful.

"Nice hair!" He turned to storm downstairs.

"Hey!" He turned back to see her looking at him seriously, not mockingly or angrily. "Don't give up on her." She said reluctantly.

"Are you on my side?" He asked disbelievingly.

"No! I'm on hers, and there's a chance there the same side anyway. I'm not helping you. But… you can get her back, so don't give up." He nodded to her, she nodded back. Maybe she wasn't on his side but not having the devil against him was good enough.

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Jackie breezed into the kitchen, she'd taken a little extra time in the shower to make sure she wasn't gonna be overly emotional at the kitchen table. She sat between Laurie and Hyde, giving him a smile. Mrs Forman ran over with a plate of smiley face pancakes, the little woman was crazy happy again. "What's going on?" She whispered to Hyde, he gestured to Laurie who turned to explain.

"I'm moving in with Fez!" Jackie squealed and hugged her excitedly. Things seemed to be really serious between her and Fez now, it was great for them both.

"Laurie that is amazing, I'll talk to Fenton and see if there are any other apartments nearby." Jackie said, finally releasing the blonde.

"No way Jackie, we're not kicking you out of you're apartment! We don't need two rooms."

"No, you guys should be alone together, you're married."

"Jackie."

"Laurie." Hyde rolled his eyes, this was probably his fault, he had to mess with Kelso. Mrs Forman cut in.

"Now now I think Jackie's right." She began clapping her hands excitedly. "You can move in here!" Jackie glanced in Hyde's direction uncertainly.

"I think it's a good idea." He said to no-one in particular. Mrs Forman seemed pleased with his enthusiasm at least.

"Um that would be great Mrs Forman, but shouldn't we ask Mr Forman first?" Jackie asked nervously, she wasn't sure if living with Steven was going to be too difficult to handle.

"Oh don't worry about him. I'll let him pretend to have a say, now I won't take no!" Jackie just smiled, accepting the new arrangement. It was only fair to give it a chance. Mrs Forman laughed happily. "Oh this is wonderful. Steven will help you move your things in dear. And I know it' only ten but I am having a celebratory cocktail!"

"Jackie are you ok with this." Laurie asked quietly.

"I guess, I can give it a try." Jackie answered uncertainly.

"If you need to you can come over any time." Laurie said sincerely. Jackie nodded and they hugged again. Hyde leaned back in his chair to see Fez.

"Man I don't think I'm ok with this. The hugging thing." Fez looked at the two girls.

"I Love it!" The foreigner grinned. The phone started ringing and Hyde went to get it. Just as he began talking to Kelso Donna came in.

"Damn Jackie I've been looking for you everywhere!"

"Where's everywhere?" Jackie asked.

"Never mind that, I need you to come over tomorrow night, I'm going out with Eric and I need help getting ready." Jackie shook her head.

"You'll have to come here Donna, I have a date too." Donna looked annoyed at her response.

"Fine!" Donna stormed off again, looking like a mad woman.

"What got into her?" Laurie asked with a sneer.

"Randy." Fez responded with a dirty smirk. Jackie laughed despite herself.

"Maybe she's stressed with Eric being back." Jackie responded tucking into her pancakes.

"Or she's a bitch." Laurie responded. She received a few looks. "Hey, at least I don't deny it." She argued.

"Fine then!" Hyde yelled and slammed down the phone. "You need to be moved in by tomorrow, Betsy's staying the night."

"What does that have to do with me?" She asked. "You're her Godfather."

"And you're her Godmother so you have to help. I can't look after a child." He insisted.

"I did it." Laurie said brightly.

"Please help me." He asked Jackie, ignoring Laurie.

"After my date." She said, he frowned at the word.

"Please not the redneck." He asked with disdain.

"It's a step-up from orphaned loser!" Laurie chimed in, she received more looks. "Okay, being nice is not my strong suit. I can't change right away, just let me burn Hyde."

"How about we start moving you out my darling." Fez quickly said. They went upstairs leaving Hyde and Jackie alone in the kitchen. He turned to her.

"So, do you think you're gonna like living here?" He asked her awkwardly.

"I guess so." She answered unenthusiastically. "I mean the Forman's are great, they've been so good to me but I know that Red won't want me here."

Hyde scoffed. "As long as he thinks he gets a say he'll be fine… after a while that is He always had a soft spot for you. Red doesn't even want me here and he'd been waiting twenty years to get rid of Eric." He laughed. She giggled too. Eric wandered into the kitchen then just in time to here his name followed by laughter.

"What?" He asked nervously.

"Hey Forman." Hyde greeted, a little too enthusiastically. "Did you hear about Laurie?" He asked with a grin. Eric was too tired to notice his evil friends delight and started pouring himself cereal.

"Finally been burnt at the stake for witchcraft?" He asked hopefully, sitting down at the table.

"She'd moving out." Hyde stated simply. Eric prayed milk out onto the table, chocking on a coco puff.

"Oh my God! Hyde, man, are you serious?" Eric's limbs began twitching in excitement. He may not be so easily snapped but he was still pretty jittery. "Because, you know, you don't joke about this stuff, not the devil leaving. For real this time?" He looked up hopefully.

"Calm down would you? Yes she'd leaving and no you can't have her room."

Eric nodded. "Red gave it to you again?"

"Nope." Hyde chuckled. Jackie struck a pose with her arms raised high as though she was cheering , her most winning smile fixed on her face. Hyde pointed to her, his own smile widening till his face nearly split. Eric's eyes bulged in horror. He sombrely put down his spoon and left the kitchen. "Where you going?" Hyde called after him.

"Back to bed." Eric called back miserably. As soon as he left Hyde burst out laughing while Jackie looked offended. He spotted her face and laughed harder.

"Well how was he suppose to react?" Hyde asked when his laughter subdued. "You're just another kid for his parents to like more than him." Jackie shrugged, nodding with a small smile.

Hyde stood up. "Come on, might as well start moving you in. God knows how many trips it's gonna take to get all your useless crap over here."

"Useless crap?" She gasped, genuinely offended. When she spoke again her eyes were wide and innocent. "Like my little blue bikini and vanilla lip gloss?" She stood up slowly. "Or that red wrap around dress you used to love helping me out of?" She brushed against him as she head towards the screen door, glancing over her shoulder she raised an eyebrow. "Or my old cheer uniform?" She grinned wickedly, walking out. "Are you coming?" Hyde readjusted himself before following her out. He sighed. Taken down by a ninety-two pound brunette with pink toenails. She'd be the death of him.

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"Okay we'll be back Sunday lunchtime okay Steven?" Mrs Forman trilled as Red loaded her suitcase into the Corvette.

"Okay Mrs Forman." Hyde replied for what must have been the thirteenth time that day. Red came back from the driveway.

"Now for the last time, I want assurance that our weekend is not gonna be interrupted by any of you dumbass kids." He barked.

"Not hiding anything Red." Hyde replied distractedly, taking his sun glasses back from the giggling girl sat on the kitchen table. She'd made a game out of taking them, a game Hyde didn't enjoy. "Could you quit doing that kid?"

Betsy clapped her hands in delight at his annoyance "Burn!" She yelled happily. Her father burst out laughing.

"You got baby-burned man!" He shouted and Hyde said a silent prayer that the child would get her Mother's intelligence.

"She didn't burn me you Moron. She'd just herd you say it too many times." He growled as the little girl stole back his glasses. It made him think of Jackie, another dark haired angel to drive him mad. He didn't bother taking them back this time.

"Now you kids be good while we're gone, the phone number for the hotel is on the fridge." Kitty chirped kissing the little girl before buzzing out of the kitchen. "Oh so cute with those shades on!" She laughed happily.

Before they left Red gave them a final warning. "If you call us, heads will roll." Kelso returned to admiring his hair in a spoon.

"Hey what time is it?" He asked.

"Five minutes since the last time you asked." Hyde grunted. Now that Betsy had won the shades game she was trying to climb up her Godfather's chest to grab his curls.

"So that's like quarter past six right?" Kelso asked, still absorbed in his distorted reflection.

"No idiot that's five past." Hyde placed the squirming kid back in the centre of the table. Laurie and Jackie came through the sliding door at the exact moment a pink stuffed lamb hit Hyde square on the nose.

"Oh! Look how sweet with the sun glasses on!" Laurie squealed pointed at Betsy. Jackie squealed at her too.

"She's so cute!" Jackie agreed. "She looks like an angel with those curls." Betsy giggled and clapped at the new attention, causing the girls to make an even bigger fuss of her. "She is gonna grow up so pretty!" Jackie cooed as the little girl tugged her hair. "A dark beauty too."

"Like you." Hyde added quietly. Taking back his sun glasses to hide his eyes from the faces now focus on his. Except Kelso who took advantage of the distraction.

"Hey Jackie could you work Katie's shift tomorrow night?"

"Yea-NO!" She took his spoon and slapped him round the head. Laurie gave him a disgusted look. "I'm not dancing Michael so stop trying!" Hyde reached over and punched him a bit too hard. Kelso threw him a filthy look, Hyde's jealousy was always painful. "Donna's coming over around half past so we should start getting ready now." Laurie stopped playing peek-a-boo with Betsy and grabbed her make-up bag.

Before she left she clocked the look on Hyde's face. His face had immediately turned sour behind his shades when he remembered Jackie's date and his never left the small brunette as she went upstairs. Laurie hadn't met the Southerner but she'd never been a fan of guys who kept the restaurant a surprise on the first date. He couldn't possibly know what the girl liked. She hadn't gotten the full story of everything that had happened over their many turbulent years together so she tried to keep her opinion to herself. But the look on his face… He really had it bad.

Without the attention of her new friends Betsy soon became bored. She'd also lost interest in Hyde's shades so she threw her Father's spoon across the room Delighted with the noise when it hit the wall. "Burn!" She screamed happily. Hyde had to laugh at the offended look of his friend's face. Burned by his own daughter. Hyde loved this kid.

"What time is it?" Kelso asked again. It was barely ten past.

"It's seven." Hyde lied. "Go pick up Brooke I'll see you tomorrow." Kelso bounded out to his car. Brooke and he were going out to dinner to celebrate their moving back to Point Place. Everyone, probably including Brooke, knew Kelso had intentions of winning her back. Unlike in Hyde's situation Kelso's chances were very good. "Pray you get your Mommy's brains."

"Burn!" Betsy replied.

"Has Daddy taught you any other words?" Betsy tried to say something but it came out sounding like 'ickwlebeaselg.' "Was that meant to be pickle weasel?" Hyde asked. Betsy shrieked in delight and took his shades again. "Poor kid."

"Food!"

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"When I've done your other hand do you want your toes doing?" Laurie asked as she finished up Jackie's right fingernails. Pale pink polish over white tips, Laurie had mastered the French manicure at beauty school.

"No thanks Laurie my shoes are closed so I can leave them pink." She smiled to herself remembering how much Steven had loved her pink toenails. They weren't very neat at the moment since he'd interrupted her painting them last night. Still the fun that followed had been worth it. Living with your ex-boyfriend/ sex buddy had benefits.

"Earth to Jackie!" Laurie snapped her fingers in front of the girl's dreamy face. "Come in Jackie Burkhart!" Jackie eventually came out of her daydream.

"Sorry did I zone out on you there?"

"Don't you play dumb. I know that smile, you were thinking about Hyde?" Laurie asked, although it was more of a statement than a question. Jackie nodded a little guilty. "Did it ever occur to you that dating while you're still screwing Hyde might not be a good idea. You don't want to scream his name the first time you screw someone new." Jackie laughed. "Hey, I'm serious!" Laurie insisted. "Guy's really don't like that. They like to think you're thinking about them not you're ex."

"I'll break it off with Steven when I find someone I can get serious with. Right now everything's great, we hang out like friend's and have amazing sex . All the good parts are still there but it's so much better now that I know we don't have a future together."

Laurie looked sceptical. "He doesn't like you dating", she pointed out, remembering his irrational dislike for Jackson and his face in the kitchen.

Jackie shrugged, "He just doesn't like Jackson" she said, averting her eyes for a second. "I told him I was gonna start dating and he was fine with it. Not exactly thrilled but he seemed okay."

"Well duh" Laurie replied screwing the top back on the varnish. "You told me what happened after you found out he kept your things. Hyde's not that dumb, he thinks if he gets too possessive you'll leave him."

"But he knows this isn't gonna last", she protested.

"Jackie, Hyde's still in love with you and he's not giving up, not while he thinks you still love him". She paused, watching Jackie's face. "You do".

Jackie nodded weakly. "But I told you before, time to get over him. Which I will because I am shallow and self-centred Laurie nodded, a part of her thinking that this made no sense. Hyde and Jackie both wanted the other and being together would make them happy. That is if Hyde didn't screw it up, and he did screw things up a lot.

"Is that why you're dating, to find someone to make you wanna leave Hyde?" Jackie looked down and away. "Okay, if you're gonna do this though don't look at this guy through rose-tinted glasses. You said that you like this situation so only get serious if you really like the guy. Starting a relationship just so you can make yourself leave Hyde is wrong and you'll probably regret it. When you're with other guys just forget about Hyde, block him out." Jackie nodded, hoping she'd be able to do it. "Where's little brother anyway?"

"Oh he's been sent away while Donna's getting ready, he'll pick her up here at quarter past seven." Jackie replied. "How exactly I can get her ready by then I don't know."

"I'm still not sure why Donna doesn't know about you and Hyde." Jackie visibly bristled. "I know you're worried what shell think of you but look at all the facts. He married a complete stranger because was… Was it drunk or stupid that time?"

"Both I think." Jackie answered.

"Donna can't really think that was smart or right, but she supported Hyde right?" Jackie nodded. "So maybe she'll support you both now." Jackie shook her head, her lips clenched tightly. "Why not?"

"She didn't support me last time." Jackie swallowed a lump. Laurie looked at her confused, Jackie wondered if she should confide in Laurie about what happened with Donna after Sam arrived. It had been easy to tell her everything that had happened between her and Steven. Considering Laurie's track record with men, that wasn't surprising.

But would the blonde be so understanding about Donnas betrayal? Over the past few years she'd only known Laurie to have one female friend. When Laurie was bored and decided to 'use' Michael she hadn't considered Jackie's feelings for an instant. She'd even delighted in Jackie's pain after she'd stolen him away. Although Jackie had very much enjoyed kicking her ass back then.

But Laurie had been good to her since coming back. She'd freely offered her hand in friendship and expected nothing in response. There had been no-one to talk to about how Donna had hurt her feelings. She felt like a bitch to talk about her to anyone in their group and she never saw her cheerleader friends anymore. But now Laurie was here now, wanting to know.

Donna never wanted to know the details of what Jackie was going through. She'd made minor attempts to get Jackie to open up, once, and Jackie was pretty sure that her 'best friend' had been relieved that she didn't have to listen to whining. It was hard for her even to be around Donna know, the girl who used to be so caring was now unsympathetic and generally bored with other people's problems. Jackie hoped that with Eric back that would change, she missed her friend.

She decided that it couldn't hurt to tell Laurie, she'd listen and offer any help she could. "Donna made friends with her, Sam. I know it sounds so silly and insignificant now but it really hurt me at the time. I know she was Steven's wife and it was only fair but she'd only arrived three days ago and I was still shattered. I'd gone to have a girl's night with Donna to hide, you know, just eat her lumberjack food and feel better and I get there and she's there! It was awful, it stung like salt to look to think about him and being near her. God! I thought my ribs were gonna collapse and crush my lungs." Laurie looked at her sympathetically so Jackie took a deep breath and continued. "You know the worst thing was that when I started dating Michael, she didn't bother trying to make friends with me. She tolerated me, and I know I was a bitch but I treated her as a friend inviting her to the bathroom and other little things. The only reason she ever talked to me about Eric or Kasey was because she had no-one else, and she never thanked me! Like I wasn't good enough to be her best friend but some piece of trash from Vega was great because she had a powder blue trans am!"

"Bitch!" Laurie exclaimed. Jackie laughed, that response was surprisingly helpful. "So why are we helping her get ready?"

"For Eric." Jackie replied. "Someone needs to make sure she doesn't screw this up, he's never gonna get someone so out of his league again. She was so much better with Eric and over the years she's helped me so it's not so much to ask." Laurie looked like she couldn't care less whether Donna died a crazy old cat lady or married to some muscled loser, she just shrugged.

"Want me to stay?" She asked.

"Hell Yeah! How else am I gonna get her ready in time? I mean hair and make-up is one thing but talking her out of whatever flannel disaster she's chosen is gonna take time." Jackie hated to admit it but the insults made her feel better. The inner bitch never dies. The two spent the time until Donna arrived carefully choosing Jackie's hair and make-up. They'd chosen the dress days ago but the finalities weren't decided as of yet.

Jackie was dressed remarkably fast compared with her usual two hour regime. She wore a gorgeous old dress, Jackie's clothes never lasted more than two season but this was a classic that she adored. It was navy blue velvet with a slated hem line, the longest part stopping just above her shin. It was one shouldered, a faux fur shrug served as the strap, there was a silver and sapphire brooch in the centre to add some sparkle. She had some beautiful dangling earrings to match, one of the few luxuries she kept after her Daddy went to jail. It looked classy and just sexy enough for a first date. Her simple black heels were matched with a satin clutch bag.

Laurie had done her make-up, after what happened to Kitty's hair Jackie had elected to style her own. They had chosen a sparkling deep blue eye shadow with heavy eyeliner and mascara and barely there coral lipstick. Jackie had pinned her hair up so just a few perfectly curled tendrils fell around her face like dark chocolate, framing her porcelain features elegantly.

Jackie gave a final twirl in front of the mirror. She looked stylish and elegant. Her lips were a perfect cupids bow and the colours of her eyes shone with excitement. She squirted some of her favourite floral perfume and felt ready.

Donna arrived then. When she walked in Jackie spun and struck a pose. Donna walked strait past her to the mirror to insert her gold hoop earrings. "Laurie?" She said disdainfully. "Why is she here?" She asked, turning to Jackie accusingly.

"She's been helping me get ready." Jackie explained, annoyed by Donna's rudeness towards her new friend. Yeah Laurie was a world class bitch when she wanted to but she'd never directly attacked Donna.

"Yeah, I help my friends." Laurie supplied, leaning back on the bed. He smiled sweetly looking like a cat ready to devour a canary should it get too close. Her expression could almost be considered friendly to an innocent bystander. Her eyes held that dangerous glint, Laurie's new attitude was not going to be appearing around Donna, not tonight. "Thought I'd stick around, can't ignore a case that really needs help."

"I'm going on a date." Donna said, acid lacing her voice. "But if I ever need advice on what to wear on a Vegas street corner when I'm broke, I'll give you a call."

"No! That'd be the perfect excuse for you to give Hyde's old whore a ring. But you're missing having a kindred spirit around." Jackie bit down on her lip to keep back a laugh at the irritation on Donna's face. The poor girl had no idea she'd just entered into a burn battle that she didn't have a hope of winning.

Donna barked out a laugh. "You're calling her a whore? Huh, must be true it takes one to know one."

Laurie pouted and leaned forward her voice coaxing. "Oh come on Donna. We could be best friends." She smiled brightly. "I'm thinking of buying a powder blue Trans Am."

Donna looked at her confused. "Can't fault your taste in cars." She muttered. Laurie kept her eyes fixed on the taller blonde waiting for the smart reply. "Of course you won't mind me passing on catching a ride. God knows who else has, or what they left on the seat." She shuddered and Jackie intervened before Laurie could reply.

"Okay Donna get that coat off and see if we can fix whatever you're wearing." Donna gave her a sour glare, but took off her heavy black coat. She looked amazing, in a scary, femme fatale, kind of way. "Wow." Jackie uttered. Laurie looked reluctantly impressed. Donna was in a vivid red spaghetti strap dress, to short for a normal first date, but she and Eric had volumes of history so the rules didn't matter. She wore her gold hoop earrings to match the necklace he had eventually gotten her for their first anniversary. It wasn't her finest piece of jewellery but it was significant. Red lipstick. No bra.

"I don't want your opinions, I just need my hair pinning up." She said sharply. "And not by you." She added to Laurie.

"Laurie ignored her comment. "Tent." She smirked. Donna rolled her eyes.

"That's the point"

"Can ask you something?" There was faint dislike in Laurie's voice but the malice that had been in before was dormant. She was genuinely curious. "Why are you pulling out the big guns," She indicated Donna's plunging neckline. "so to speak, to get little brother into bed."

"I will leave!" Donna threatened, as she always did when the subject turned to her and Eric's sex life. Jackie answered for her.

"Because she tried to drag him into bed last week and he was beating her off with a stick." Donna gasped in outrage. Donna's smile widened, the canary was within reach.

"Where did you hear that!" She shrieked in anger, her face as red as her hair used to be.

"Steven." Jackie answered simply. Laurie was obviously delighted with the information, she found it hilarious. Donna knew that Laurie had the control now and had more than a few comments. She grabbed her nearest life line.

"Hyde! We haven't talked about him in ages! Look at you Jackie, dating again at last!" Her tone was unbearably patronising, Jackie tugged a little too hard on a piece of hair she was pinning back.

"Well, there's a shocker! Scared he'd gone off you?" Laurie taunted with false sympathy. Donna whirled around with flames in her eyes.

"Shut up you whore!" She screamed in fury.

"Still it would explain the whole date facade." Laurie mused.

"I told you be quiet! H-he wants to take things a bit slower, like a gentleman." She insisted. Laurie placed her hand over her heart mockingly. Jackie's selfish side, the spoilt brat that still resided in her, wanted to let it continue. Donna had enjoyed her pain years ago when Steven rejected her. Laughed at his cruel haiku. But she saw something other than temper in Donnas face. There was a vague uncertainty there, Laurie's words had pierced her confident exterior. Was it really possible that Donna doubted Eric's love and desire for her? Jackie felt instant empathy with her situation, swiftly replaced by anger. Fury at Donna for not knowing how great she had it. Jackie pushed Donna back into her seat, roughly fixing her hair.

"Yes it is! Eric might be a string bean but he is a gentleman. Do you have any idea how rare those are? Are you too blind to see how much he adores you? God Donna, I would have given anything for Steven to be as obvious about his feelings as Eric is. To not have to constantly push and fish for proof of affection. You have what ever girl wants so don't be stupid and screw it up now!" She grabbed a make-up remover wipe. "Close your eyes."

"Well then why is he insisting on this date but won't even touch me when we're alone together?" Donna asked as Jackie scrubbed off her heavy black eye make-up and replaced it with subtle caramel.

"He's been away a long time, he's probably changed a lot. More than we expected him to. He'd changed his mind about teaching…"

"And maybe about you too!" Laurie interrupted with a grin.

"But never about you." Jackie ended kindly. "He's not expecting you to just roll over or him after he left. You should be grateful for that. It proves he deserves your trust another chance. Guy's don't like to admit when they've screwed up but Eric has so you two have a real shot." Donna seemed to believe her and brightened slightly. "There we go, all ready!" She said smiling. He caught Laurie's eye in the mirror. She knew that what she'd said in Eric's defence applied to Hyde too. She looked away pretending to fuss over Donna's hair more. She'd clipped back a few locks, leaving most of it to flow gently over her shoulders. The gentle grace and lighter eyes made her look slightly less intimidating, more fresh and carefree.

"Hey when did you guys start hanging out again?" Donna asked curiously after a few moments.

"Who?" Jackie asked.

"Hyde." Laurie and Donna both answered.

"you never fell out or anything but you barely talk anymore." Donna continued. "So how come you guys were talking about Eric and me?"

"Eric was babbling about tonight and I didn't get it, you know, why and stuff." She answered, feigning nonchalance. "How Steven understood it, I'll never know. I don't think he even knows what being a gentleman means."

"I'm glad you're dating again." Donna smiled genuinely.

"What do you mean again?" Jackie asked. She hadn't become that much of a hermit. It was true she hadn't been dating much but there wasn't that much choice in Point Place.

"Well since that desperate ploy to prove you were over Hyde there hasn't been much man action for you." She laughed a little at the memory of the 'boob-out' night.

"Guess you'd know, the new poster child for desperate ploys." Laurie bitched.

"Why is she still here?" Donna whined.

"Jackie, her hair's done, why is she still here?" Laurie mimicked.

"Now now girls, play nicely." Jackie said with a laugh. "There's not been much man action in Point Place." She offered as a reason for her lack of dating.

"Still, it's nice to know that you're finally over Hyde." Donna stated. "I was starting to think you should just sleep with him to resolve tension." Laurie snorted and burst out laughing.

"Not such a bad idea!" She giggled. Jackie shot her a glare of pure ice and she quietened down into a dainty coughing fit.

"Please!" Jackie scoffed. "I wasted no time getting over him. He wanted to play house with the bimbo, that's fine. Better her than me." She said, flipping her hair haughtily.

"Come on Jackie." Donna said frowning. "You were shattered for weeks. Thought you were gonna join a convent of something. Fez hoped you'd turn gay." She sounded disgusted at the last part.

"Sounds like Fez." Laurie said, trailing into silence at the end as though just realising something. She frowned slightly.

"I was fine." Jackie mumbled, frowning as well. Donna didn't seem to notice the change.

"You wouldn't look at him for ages, even when you were both drunk at that party you didn't go near him all night." Donna carried on in ignorance.

"Eric's here!" Hyde yelled from downstairs.

"Time to go. Good luck tonight." Donna checked reflection one more time, grabbed her coat and breezed out. There was strained silence left behind.

"Wow, tense." Laurie said uncomfortably, picking at the sleeve off her sweater.

"I-I thought she didn't know." Jackie said, more to herself. She felt like she'd just been smacked across the face. "Why would she invite her round if she knew how I felt?"

"Maybe she thought you were just mad at Hyde." Laurie suggested, placing a comforting hand on Jackie's shoulder. "I know you hate her but Sam didn't know anything about what was going on."

"Whatever." Jackie muttered bitterly

"Come on." Laurie said giving her a hug. "Smile! It's date night!" Jackie laughed a little.

"Do you need to get to work?" She asked quietly.

"Kinda. But if you want I can blow it off and stay here. I'm covering for Marie and she's a two-faced cow so I don't mind." Laurie offered.

"No. No it's okay go on. He'll he here in half an hour." She smiled a little brighter this time, excited for real. Laurie hugged her goodbye and wished her luck. After she left Jackie sighed and pulled out her new diary. This one was plain black, hidden and locked more securely than her old one. She red over some past entries shed written about Donna. Ones where she ranted about how much she hated Donna. Ones that consisted of long arguments from both sides and even some where she'd blamed herself. They made the most sense, she'd never told Donna how much Steven hurt her. She turned to a fresh page and marked the date before writing:

She knew.

A reminder. If Steven wasn't getting another chance than neither was Donna. With Donna it might only be a second chance; but if she'd cut away from Steven after the first time he hurt her she could have saved herself a lot of pain and tears.

She took several deep breaths, she would not cry. She eventually did calm down and put her diary away again. Tonight had nothing to do with Donna, or Steven. It was all about her having fun with a great guy and she was going to enjoy it.

Ten minutes left. She double checked her purse, make-up and hair until she was certain she looked perfect. She still wanted to know where he planned to take her. She wasn't used to letting the man have complete control in the beginning of the relationship. Start as you mean to go on was what she believed. But maybe she was right in taking a chance for once.

There was a knock on her open door. She jumped out of her thoughts startled. "He's outside." Steven said quietly. She nodded, he seemed tense but not mad. She knew he'd accepted her dating but didn't like it. She stood up and straightened her dress one more time. She smiled at him nervously and he offered one back. She walked past him into the hallway, it was hard to tell whether she was excited or dreading the night by now. She felt butterflies and nausea at the same time and her body was fizzing from the inside out. Being close to him was confusing her again. She kept walking steadily down the hall way.

"Jackie." She turned to see him striding towards her, without a word he took her face in his hands and drew her face up to look at him. They stood silently for several seconds just looking at each other. His hands were warm against her skin, spreading the heat through her entire body. Calming and soothing her. She opened her mouth but had nothing to say. He pressed his lips gently to hers, a sensual caressing touch. Her eyes drifted shut at once as her limbs melted and she leaned into him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him, her small hands trapped against his chest. She felt his tongue enter her mouth and moaned softly responding tentatively.

As she did his grip tightened and his kiss grew stronger more passionate. Their tongues tangled together and his hands dug into her skin. They pulled apart both breathing heavily. It took her several seconds to open her eyes again. He looked about to say something when a car honked outside. She jumped back out of his arms looking away. "Have a nice time doll." He eventually said, she looked at him. He'd meant to say something else she was sure. But she didn't ask what.

Jackie just nodded and left. He watched her walk away. "Stay with me." He said to the empty hall after the door closed behind her.

So long, you see why I had to stop here. I swear the drama will be in the very next chapter. Review please.