What If: Eric and Donna Became Friends With Benefits?

Chapter 10: Starting Over


Disclaimer: All rights to That '70s Show and its characters belong to The Carsey-Werner company. I am only a fan.

A/N: Here it is: the end! Thank you so much to everyone who had read, reviewed, favorited, or otherwise supported this story. You all will never know how much your support and kind words make a difference. I hope you all enjoy the final chapter, and Eric and Donna's ending. Or is it really a new beginning?


"Well, well, well."

The thick, wood door of the Honeymoon Suite swung open slowly, revealing a shirtless Casey Kelso. Eric tried to peer around him, looking for Donna. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, and looked like she was readjusting her clothing. Eric ignored the way his stomach clenched - and Casey's sneer.

"Donna?" he called. He tried to move around Casey to make eye contact with her, but Casey moved with him, blocking his view with his shirtless, show-off body.

"She's a little busy right now, Foreplay. Why don't you come back, oh, say, never."

Casey brought his hand back like he was about to slam the door, and Eric panicked.

"Donna!" he yelped, desperately, hating the way his voice broke. "Donna, look, I'm sorry. I'm - I'm sorry, and if that means we can never be together again than that really, really sucks but don't do this - "

He wasn't sure how his words landed because the door swung resoundingly shut, cutting him off.

Eric just stood there for a moment, then two, breathing hard. He was within an inch of the door, and he could hear muffled arguing on the other side. Or maybe that's just what he was hoping for.

But the longer he stood there, alone in the hallway, the more he felt his heart shatter. Donna had made her choice. And it wasn't him. He'd lost her - for good. He'd really, truly lost her.

Eric wasn't sure how he got back down to the lobby - the elevator or the stairs. He might've floated. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore.

Hyde sat stretched out across a piece of oddly shaped furniture, either unaware or unbothered by the glares the concierge kept shooting his way. When he saw Eric he stood up, and adjusted his sunglasses.

"How'd it go?"

Eric just shook his head. He couldn't say it.

Hyde's face fell. He looked almost as devastated as Eric felt. "She said no?"

Eric shook his head again. He'd gone numb.

"Damn," Hyde said, quietly. He patted his shoulder, sympathetically. "'M sorry, Forman."

But Eric shrugged him off. He didn't want to hear it. And he didn't want to be here anymore. "Gimme the keys," he mumbled, headed for the parking lot.

Hyde tossed them to him. "I'll catch up with ya. Gotta take a whizz."

It was cold outside - had grown colder since they'd arrived, and the sun had set. Eric's jacket was open, but he didn't bother to latch it closed as he trudged morosely towards the Vista Cruiser. He shivered a bit, feeling the biting chill first on his exposed skin, his hands, his face. But there was nothing to be done. Life was pain.

He couldn't imagine his world without Donna in it - but for the first time, he was going to have to try. The chill that ran down his spine as he considered it was far worse than anything the fluctuating temperatures of Wisconsin in late spring could throw at him.

He was just a few feet from his car when he heard it. Someone calling his name.

"Eric! ERIC!"

The voice was too feminine to be Hyde. He stopped in his tracks, but didn't turn around until he heard footsteps pounding, getting closer.

"Eric! Wait!"

It was Donna. He spun around.

As she got close enough, he realized she was crying. Her cheeks were tear strewn, her red hair mussed and wild, flying in her eyes, her mouth. She was only wearing a tank top and her jeans - she must've been even colder than he was - and Eric removed his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, unthinkingly, as she ran up to him.

"Hey - hey," he grasped her by the shoulders, securing his jacket around her, steadying her. Her eyes were wild and she was panting heavily, like she'd been sprinting the whole time. "Are you - are you okay?" he asked her urgently.

Donna nodded, still struggling to catch her breath, but it was belied by her tears, which kept falling. Moments later her expression crumpled, and she began to slowly shake her head 'no' instead.

Eric's concern was quickly being replaced with rage. White hot rage, bubbling from the center of his chest. He fought to keep his voice even when he said, "Donna, what happened? Did he - did he - " Eric fumbled, unable to finish his thought. Unable to think. Unable to see.

Thankfully, Donna continued to shake her head. "N-No," a tear flung free, and Eric reached up to gently wipe her cheeks without a second thought. "No. He didn't - " Donna's voice broke, and her watery eyes met Eric's. "But I - I don't l-love him," she hiccuped. "And I - I can't - "

"Okay," Eric soothed, pulling her into a hug. "Okay. It's okay."

She continued to cry, shaking against him, and he hugged her tighter.

"And I r-really - " her breath caught. "I really miss my m-mom," she finished, in the saddest, smallest voice.

"Hey," Eric soothed, murmuring his words against her temple. He started to rub her back in a way he knew she liked. "I know. It's okay. It's okay," he kept saying it until he felt Donna start to relax in his arms. "C'mon," he said tenderly, like he was talking to a small child. "Let's get you home."

She allowed him to guide her to the passenger's side door, and when he opened it she slid inside wordlessly.

"Eric. I don't - I - " she seemed lost for words.

"Donna. You don't have to say anything," he assured her. "We don't have to talk now."

It was what she wanted to hear. She smiled gratefully, and his heart fluttered when she wordlessly took his hand.

Thank God - was all Eric could think, as he pointed the Vista Cruiser towards the freeway. Thank God he'd been here. Thank God he trusted his gut - trusted his friends - and -

"Hyde!" he realized, with a start. He jolted the car to a sudden stop. "Crap."

Donna squinted, and pointed back towards the building. It seemed to be flickering with strobing lights.

"Is that him?"

Sure enough - a dark figure was sprinting towards the car. Sprinting like he'd stolen something. Or pulled the fire alarm.

Hyde flung open the car door and leaped headfirst into the backseat.

"Drive, Forman," he commanded. If he was surprised to see Donna, he didn't show it. "Hey, Big D. You good?"

She'd dropped Eric's hand in the chaos, but now she looked at him again with a soft smile.

"I think I will be."


The next morning Eric sat alone in the basement watching cartoons, the way he always did on the weekends.

Last night after he'd driven them home, he'd helped Donna up the trellis on the side of her house, watching until she'd climbed safely back inside her window before he crept home. They'd barely spoken. He wasn't sure when he'd see her again, but it turned out he didn't have to wait long. Now there was a soft knock on the basement door, and then someone pushed it open. Donna walked inside, wearing a bandana in her hair and a sheepish smile.

"Hey." He immediately righted himself on the couch. He cleared his throat. "How are you?"

Donna shrugged and took a few steps closer, bridging the gap between them. Eric stood to meet her.

"Humiliated," she shrugged, dragging her eyes from the floor to his. "Everyone told me Casey's a jackass, and I fell for him anyway." They locked eyes. "You tried to tell me," she said, softer. "Thank you."

Eric swallowed hard, unsure how to interpret the energy between them right now. He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Donna I really, really wanted you to figure that out. Just not like this."

She gave him another smile he couldn't read. There was a careful, guarded distance between them, but the air seemed to crackle with electricity. Tension.

"Well, anyway. I just wanted to say bye."

"What?" Eric's heart started to thud dangerously.

"I'm going to California to spend the summer with my mom," she explained.

"O-oh." He gulped. Why did it feel like all the oxygen had just been sucked from the room? "That's - that's, um. Good." Competing emotions swelled in his chest - relief, worry, dread. A summer without her? That's not what he wanted. But maybe it was what she needed.

"And I'm sorry." She was looking at the floor, and Eric frowned.

"For what?"

"For saying we're not friends anymore." Her gaze met his again, and they shared a look that was so intense Eric felt a shiver down his spine. He took another step towards her.

"You weren't wrong."

"What?" Donna frowned.

Before she could say anything else - and before he could lose his nerve - Eric said, "We can't be Just Friends, Donna. And we can't have Just Sex. You know why?" He stood so close to her now their faces were aligned for a kiss, only inches apart. Her eyes were flickering wildly between his eyes and his mouth. "Because I'm in love with you," he finished, quietly. Solemnly. "I'm in love with you, and every time I'm close to you all I can think about is - "

She cut him off with her mouth, slated hungrily against his. They didn't waste any time, frantically undressing each other as they stumbled backwards onto the couch, giving into that constant, instinctual need to get closer. But as Eric poised above her, his kisses became softer. He began to trail teasing, nibbling kisses down her neck and across her collarbone and Donna threw her head back in exquisite anticipation.

As he finished pulling off her clothing, he paused, looking at her supine, naked body spread out beneath him. Drinking her in slowly, like he was memorizing every curve, every detail. The freckle on her collarbone. The red blush on her cheeks. Her heaving breasts, the shape of two perfectly filled water balloons. He buried his face in her chest and she groaned, and began to play with his hair. Eric wondered if he could ever get enough.

A few moments later when he pushed inside her, Donna let out a quiet gasp. She clung to him as he began to move, with a specific, special rhythm that only they knew, wrapping her long limbs around his body as if to hold him closer, closer than he could possibly be. Together. One.

They rutted against each other frantically, barely controlled, the couch groaning and squeaking beneath them. And when Eric felt his release crash through his lower body, it was like something else between them was released too. This horrible half a year, these six months apart, the discord between them - it all fell away for that one magic moment. After they finished they lay panting together, Donna cuddled against his bare chest. Eric closed his eyes, savoring the feeling. Donna's skin against his, her breath tickling his chest, the feeling of total and complete vulnerability. Her trust in him, even after he'd hurt her time and time again. He couldn't imagine ever being this way with anyone else. He didn't want to.

"You know," she said, her voice soft but loud in the empty basement. She was tracing an invisible pattern across his bicep. "One of these days we're gonna have to actually talk. And not just… you know."

He smirked, despite himself. "But I prefer… you know."

Donna shoved herself up into a position where they could look at each other, and quirked an eyebrow at him. "Well so do I, but is that all that's important to you?" Her voice wavered.

Eric didn't hesitate. "No. Of course not." He cupped his arm around her shoulders protectively. "You're what's important to me," he said quietly.

"So then are we - " she paused, and smiled tentatively. "Starting over?"

Eric's heart leapt up into his throat. Finally, it was over. He'd done it. He had Donna back. Thank God.

"Yes," he breathed, cupping the back of her arm. He stroked the skin there lightly. "God. Yes. Let's just like, forget all this other stuff happened."

But she frowned. "Eric, we can't do that."

"Why not?" He'd picked up her hand and started to kiss and suck her fingers, one by one. He was ready for round two.

"B-because - " her eyes fluttered, distracted by his mouth, and she pulled her hand away from him abruptly. "Because I don't ever want to break-up again," she said softly.

"Me neither," he murmured, mesmerized by her blue eyes, by her vulnerability.

"Okay, so then," she shrugged. A faint smile ghosted across her face. "We talk. We figure out what happened."

As usual, she was right.

"Are you gonna be naked for this conversation? Cuz I'm not gonna be able to concentrate if you're naked - "

Donna giggled. She moved off of him and wriggled back into her t-shirt.

"Eyes up here," she redirected him, but she was still giggling. "And keep your hands to yourself," she warned.

"Alright, alright. Let's get this over with." He waggled his eyebrows at her. "So we can get back to the good part."

"Where should we start?"

He sighed, resigned to some discomfort. It would be worth it. She was worth it. "The promise ring?" he suggested, meekly.

"Yeah," she agreed, quietly.


Hyde stood on the driveway next to his El Camino. Some of Red's tools and a car jack were spread out next to him when Jackie strolled up. He looked puzzled and a little frustrated.

"Steven," Jackie said, nodding at him. She was surprised to see him up and working on his car before noon.

"Jackie," he acknowledged. She continued past him, headed for the basement. She was dying to know how Donna's night with Casey had gone. But he called out to her as she approached the side yard. "Don't think you want to go down there right now, man."

She stopped. "Why not?"

"Forman and Donna are… 'Talking'." He gave her a look.

"Ewww," Jackie wrinkled up her nose, immediately understanding the warning. She crossed back across the driveway. He'd climbed into the front seat, and put the key in the ignition. The car made some clicking sounds, but the engine didn't turn over. "So are they back together?" she asked.

"Sounds like it."

Jackie blushed when she heard what he meant - a distinctly feminine moan, crescendoing up the basement steps.

"Ewww!" Jackie repeated again, this time plugging her ears. Hyde just shrugged. He'd given up on the ignition, and stepped out of the truck again, inspecting it closely. "Well it's about damn time," Jackie grumbled, mostly to herself. She was surprised when he started to chuckle.

"Was starting to think they'd never figure it out, man."

"Oh, my god." Jackie lifted her hands to her mouth and started to giggle.

Hyde scowled. "What?"

"You were rooting for them," Jackie pointed out. She hid her half smile behind her hand.

"I was not." He'd lifted the hood, but didn't seem to find anything ajar. Now he dropped it closed again, heavily.

"Steven Hyde, hopeless romantic," she continued to tease him, lightly.

"Don't have a romantic bone in my body," Hyde shook his head. Then he grinned. "Well. Maybe one."

"Gross, you pig." Jackie whacked his shoulder. It was meant to be a reprimand, but it came off as far more flirtatious than either of them had intended. She blushed in realization and yanked her hand back.

"So how 'bout you and Kelso?" he asked. His chin jutted towards the basement steps, indicating Eric and Donna's passionate reunion. "Are you next?"

Jackie shook her head, slowly. "No. Michael and I are as dead as your car."

Hyde rolled his eyes. "We'll see. I'm sure you two will find your way back together again."

Jackie bit her lip. "Not this time."

"Uh huh."

"Steven!" Jackie stamped her foot. She wasn't sure why it was so important that he believed her but... it was.

"Hmm?"

She crossed her arms, but her indignation was already deflating. She and Michael were a joke to their friends - hell, they were a joke to Michael. And she wanted to change the subject. "Can I ask you a question?"

Hyde cleared his throat instead of answering her, but he didn't walk away. Jackie took that as a 'yes'.

"Do you think two people can have sex - just sex - without it becoming anything more?"

He hooked his sunglasses onto his shirt. The smile in his eyes told her it wasn't the question he'd been anticipating.

"'Course." He leaned against his truck casually. "Just wasn't ever gonna work for Forman and Donna."

Jackie scoffed. "Obviously."

"Why?" He eyed her curiously, and when Jackie blushed, he grinned. "Is that something you're… interested in?"

"I… don't know," she admitted, biting her lip.

Shock registered across his face, but he quickly rearranged his expression back to one of mild disinterest. "You are full of surprises, Beulah."

He was trying to get a rise out of her by using her middle name. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.

The air between them had changed, though. He cleared his throat, and climbed into the front seat to try the ignition again. The car sputtered, but the engine still didn't turn over.

"Sounds like it might be your starter," Jackie said, casually. Hyde glanced at her. "If I had like a rock or something…" she peered at the ground like she was hunting for something, and then bent down and scooped up a half-fist-sized stone. Without another word, she swept her hair back into a neat ponytail, crouched down to the driveway, and shimmied her way underneath the car.

There was a metallic tapping noise, and Hyde frowned. "Hey - " and Jackie popped back up.

"Try it now," she said casually, discarding the rock.

Hyde gave her an incredulous look, but went around to the drivers side and attempted to start the car again. To his surprise, this time the engine rumbled to life. "I'll be damned."

"Told ya," Jackie grinned smugly. "Needs a new starter."

Now he was looking at her in a way that made her blush. "Full of surprises," he murmured again.

Jackie smirked. Oh, Steven, she thought. I could say the same thing about you.


"Do you still have it?" Donna asked, quietly. They still laid together on the couch. "The - the ring?"

Eric swallowed. "No. I brought it back. It was - it was hard for me to look at," he admitted.

The pain in his voice, even all these months later, was evident and she sighed, and pulled him closer by the front of his t-shirt. "I never meant to hurt you, you know," she said softly. "By giving it back. I just - I was scared."

"Of me?" Eric frowned.

Donna shook her head. "Of the future you were talking about."

"I didn't mean to scare you. I just - " he hesitated. "I just want us to be together forever. And I wanted you to want that too."

She found his hand and gave it a meaningful squeeze. "I get that now," she assured him. "And Eric - " she paused, until he met her eyes. She could feel them growing wet with tears. "I do," she breathed. "I want to be with you forever. I - I know that now."

His finger curled underneath her chin, pulling her face gently into his, and gave her a sweet kiss. But she wasn't finished yet.

"Eric, I could win, like, the Pulitzer Prize, or write a bestselling novel, or travel to every country in the world b-but," her voice warbled as she quickly became emotional, and he squeezed her shoulders supportively. "None of it's gonna matter if you're not there with me." She sniffled, in an attempt to compose herself.

"Donna - " He tilted her chin, like he was going to kiss her deeply this time. But she stopped him again.

"No - wait. I - I have to finish saying this."

Eric looked like he was practicing a great deal of self control, but he relinquished his embrace and let her continue.

Donna let out a sharp breath. "But I'm also not going to cut off parts of myself to be in this relationship." He stiffened against her. She knew he didn't understand, and she took another shaky breath, willing herself to continue. "And Eric, I have to know that you won't ask me to."

"What?" She could hear the frown in his voice. "Donna, I would never - "

"You have always been the best thing in my life," she cut him off. "But I want more, Eric." He was listening. She continued. "I - I want to go to college. And have a job that I love and I'm really good at. I want to get out of Point Place and keep growing into the person I'm meant to be. And I need to know that you're gonna grow with me. That we're gonna build our future together." She finally glanced at him again. "You know?" she asked, hopefully.

He was quiet for so long, Donna began to worry what he would say. Eric cleared his throat. Her heartbeat was thundering loud in her ears. She'd said what she needed to say; she'd laid all her cards on the table. Now she wanted to see his.

When he finally spoke, he didn't say what she expected.

"It must've scared the crap out of you when I said that stuff about you staying home with our kids." He was frowning, and shaking his head slowly.

Her heart fluttered. Did he get it? Finally?

"It did," she said softly.

"I'm sorry," he squeezed her shoulders again, regretfully. "I know you better than that," he admitted, softly.

"Yeah, you do." She leaned her head closer to his, and their faces started to slowly align for a kiss. She only allowed their lips to have the barest brush before she pulled back, though. Now Donna was the one who wore a regretful expression. "I should've listened to you about Casey."

"S'okay - "

"No, it's not." She was becoming more upset as she spoke. "He - he's a jerk, and I almost - " she cut herself off with a shudder.

"You were in pain," he said, quietly.

"I still am," she admitted. She rested her head on his shoulder, and Eric turned his head to kiss her on the forehead gently.

"I know." He squeezed her knee. "I'm gonna miss you like crazy this summer, but you have to go be with your mom."

"Will you come with me?" She blurted it before she knew what she was saying. But she didn't wish the words back. It felt right.

"What?" He looked at her in awe. "To - to California?"

She smiled at him shyly. "We deserve a fun summer after all of this, don't we?"

Eric still stared at her in awe, but a huge grin had started to spread across his face. "Oh, hell yeah. I see lots of you in a bikini in my future." Now his grin turned into a naughty one. "I like my future."

"Oh yeah?" She quirked an eyebrow up at him, flirtatiously. But then her voice dropped an octave. "Me, too." And it was true. For the first time in such a long time - Donna looked forward to what tomorrow had in store. This was her life. And her life was - mostly - good. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Eric nuzzled his nose into hers, playfully, and then captured her lips in a breathtaking kiss.

"Just promise me one thing," she pulled back, and put up a finger in a mock-warning tone.

"Anything."

She smirked. "Our kids are going to go to daycare."

Eric grinned at her. "'Our kids'?" he echoed, hopefully.

"And no more promise rings," she continued, as if he hadn't spoken. She flexed her right hand between them, wiggling her fingers at him. "I think maybe I might have another ring soon, instead," she flirted, playfully.

Eric looked at her, awestruck. "You want to marry me?" he asked lowly, stunned.

Donna blushed. "God help me. I do."

"Oh, God…" Eric crashed his lips against hers and moved over top of her, quickly resituating them on the couch. Donna giggled into his mouth until the kiss became too deep.

This was her life. And her life was good.


Back on the driveway, Jackie and Hyde stood at the top of the stairwell, listening for any tell-tale sex noises. When they didn't hear any, Hyde looked at her and shrugged.

"Think they're done?"

The wind had picked up, and it sent her coiffed brunette hair flying everywhere. She was always so put together, so prim and proper, but with her hair messed up, blowing in the wind she looked… beautiful. Hyde quickly cleared his throat, and glanced away.

"Well, Eric always was a minute man," Jackie quipped.

Hyde glanced back at her. "Burn," he chuckled, quietly impressed. Always a surprise, Buelah…

The wind continued to muss with her hair. Disgruntled, she said, "Let's go."

Fifteen seconds later, they pushed open the basement door. As soon as they took in the scene unfolding on the couch, Jackie let out a blood curdling scream and Hyde gasped and turned away, covering his eyes.

Eric and Donna were naked on the couch, locked in an embrace. And not slowing down for Jackie and Hyde's benefit.

"Oh my God!"

"I'm blind!"