Chapter Text
“Okay, Mister Grumpy!” Mrs. Forman’s voice suddenly rang out from behind Hyde. “What’s with the mopey face? It’s Christmas!”
“It’s Christmas Eve,” Hyde corrected her.
Better known as— Judgement Day.
It was also known as the day of the annual Forman Family Christmas Party.
“Is this about Jackie? Because it’s always about Jackie when it comes to you.” She smiled sarcastically at him, but he just shifted his eyes away from her— a sure sign that she was right.
“You know, I have to say that I’m quite relieved to have Jackie back to her old self, even if she does say a lot of things I don’t understand— like that I’m a Spring! I don’t know what that means, but I like the way she says it!”
Hyde just shook his head. “I don’t think she’s back to her old self…”
“Steven,” Kitty sighed, taking a seat in the chair next to him. “When a girl’s heart gets broken, she changes. Sometimes it’s a lot, and sometimes it’s a little, but she will always do whatever she can to make sure it won’t happen again. Now, I’m not going to hound you about what you did, because Red will do enough hounding for the both of us!”
Hyde sighed, that wasn’t really what he wanted to hear at the moment.
A soft touch on his shoulder soothed him. “But I know that if you just believe in the true spirit of Christmas, and as long as you do something meaningful from the heart, not from the other parts, everything will turn out just right!”
He stared blankly at her, wondering how many drinks she had before noon. But Hyde found himself smiling softly— he didn’t understand what she was saying, but he liked the way she said it.
“Thanks, Mrs. Forman.” Kitty leaned over and placed a kiss on his head.
“Merry Christmas everyone!” The sliding glass door opened to reveal Jackie and Donna, both carrying their own pile of presents.
“It’s Christmas Eve,” Hyde said once more.
Jackie rolled her eyes. “Ugh, whatever.” She looked him up and down, before pinching the sleeve of his concert shirt. “Steven, you’re still in your pajamas!”
“These aren’t my pajamas.” He pulled his arm away and smirked, knowing how much Jackie hated it when he wore casual clothes on important holidays or events.
Jackie smiled painfully wide. “Of course they’re not!” She rubbed his arm comfortingly. “Donna, help me place the presents?”
Donna noticed a shot of worry flash across Jackie’s face, her gut twisting knowing she was repressing herself again. “Alright I’m coming.”
Jackie scurried out the kitchen door, Donna spinning around to push it with her back. She stared right at Hyde, his past and present mistakes being the reason why Jackie wasn’t acting like herself.
“Dillhole.” She called him before entering the living room.
When Donna turned back around, Jackie was frantically moving presents around to accommodate the ones she brought.
“Did you see that?” Jackie thought out loud. “I called Steven’s clothes dirty and he pulled away from me!”
“You didn’t call his clothes dirty.”
“Well I was thinking it!” Jackie took a deep breath.
“So I take it you still haven’t told Hyde?”
“There’s nothing to tell him.”
Jackie didn’t even bother looking back at her, running her eyes over all the gifts underneath it— none with her name. There was a painful ache in her chest, and Donna’s prying wasn’t helping one bit. Of all the times to ask about her feelings for Steven, why did it have to be when she didn’t want to talk about it?
Probably because she never used to do that before.
“Donna, please,” Jackie begged, taking the gift boxes from Donna one by one. “I just want these next couple days to be perfect. I have Steven, I have you, Bob, and the Formans, what more could I want?”
“A lot of things,” Donna smirked. Jackie agreed silently but still chose not to admit it outloud. “I just want to let you know that I think you’re making a mistake, and that just telling Hyde how you feel would make everything better.” She never thought she would be giving this advice to Jackie of all people.
“Noted and discarded,” Jackie replied surely. “Just stay out of it, okay? And maybe, if you’re really good, Santa Jackie will put something special in your giant stocking!”
Donna chuckled at Jackie’s joke, making Jackie giggle and smile in return. As the two sat by the giant Christmas tree Red had bought, since he can’t trust the boys to do it, they marveled at the beautiful ornaments and the gift boxes underneath.
Maybe Jackie had a point about wanting things to be like old times again, because having her best friend back, burning each other only they could, didn’t seem so bad.
But deep down Donna hoped Hyde would notice how this whole thing affected Jackie. Donna could see the way it was eating away at her, and she wasn’t sure if she could just sit by and let it consume her.
Just like she had sat by and watched it happen so many times before.
Guests began to roll in during the early evening, friends old and new showing up (all annoying though, according to Red). Jackie helped Mrs. Forman with the guests, the guys sneaking downstairs for a quick circle exchanging their own presents before helping themselves to the array of food.
Kelso and Fez had come together for their own present for Hyde— not bringing up the incident and everything that came after it. And honestly, it was probably the best thing Hyde could ever ask for. It was quickly ruined when Kelso brought up how sweet of a burn it was. Then again it was a perfect opening for Hyde’s present to Kelso— a Christmas frogging.
Hyde also hated to admit that Kelso and Fez had grown a bit— both of them revealing how they didn’t get Jackie any presents, so as to not make Hyde look bad for not getting her something.
It made him sick that even his own friends had thought that of him.
And because of him, Jackie wouldn’t be getting anything from them.
It made Hyde’s shoulders feel heavier than they did before. He just hoped that he wouldn’t crumble when the time finally came.
When the guests had all gone home, it was late into the night. Jackie and Donna sat on the couch together, their boyfriends by their sides.
Jackie had her head leaning on Steven’s shoulder, her fingers intertwined with his. This must’ve been what he had always gone on about— living in the moment. Because she hadn’t received anything from him, but here he was, still by her side. It must’ve been a sign she was doing something right. And even though she could hear him sigh with irritation, Jackie could feel his thumb rubbing her hand comfortingly.
Her eyes lulled softly over her eyes.
She had him… right?
“Well what should we do now?” Kitty wondered, her festive nature not yet settled. She eyed the tree, hoping Red would give in to letting them open presents. Every year they did the same when the night came to a close.
“Sleep,” Red suggested like he did every year, only getting ignored in return.
“We should probably go then,” Jackie said sadly, but she was almost out of the clear. “Bob’s probably tipped the tree over trying to get to bed.”
“Wait, you don’t want to open presents?” Hyde asked, her eyes dodging him.
“Nope, I think I’m all Christmased out! Donna?”
Donna shook her head at her. “What’s the rush? I think I want to open presents, don’t you, Eric? ” She received a not-so-nice gesture from Jackie.
“Do I think I want to open presents, or do I think you want to open presents?” Eric asked, receiving a not-so-nice frown from Donna.
“Oh for Pete’s sake!” Red threw his hands up and marched towards the tree. He slammed down a box on the coffee table, its contents jingling. He looked to Jackie without a smile. “Open it.”
Jackie’s heart sped up, a present! And not just any present— a present from Mr. Forman! Was it still okay to show how excited she was for it?
“What are you waiting for, three wise men?” Red complained.
Kitty clapped excitedly. “Oh! I’ll start passing presents out for everyone!” She started gathering gifts from under the tree without hearing anyone out. “And if anyone has a special present like, oh I don’t know, something meaningful now would be a good time to give it to someone you love!”
Jackie and Hyde both shifted awkwardly in their seats. There was no way she could give Steven her present with everyone watching. She bit her lip nervously, feeling Steven’s eyes on her. When he didn’t move from his spot, Jackie was both relieved and disheartened.
But this is good. Jackie reminded herself. Everything was going great so far. Even though it hurt knowing that she wouldn’t be receiving something from the one person that meant the most to her, that was the kind of sacrifice you made for someone you love.
One by one the family opened their gifts. Red had received a pack of beer from the boys (like every year), and car wax from Jackie. Kitty got a pair of earrings from Red, and knickknacks from the kids. Hyde got some records, which he begrudgingly accepted when he recognized as ones that went missing from his own store. Eric got various “dolls” that no one bothered to label, not wanting anyone to know who waited in line for something so embarrassing. Jackie was over the moon to receive a pink toolbox with pink handled tools, along with a manicure set.
The only one who knew she had broken a nail due to helping with menial car repair was Mr. Forman, so she made sure to give him an extra big hug that he pretended not to be appreciate.
“Jackie!” Donna cried out, revealing a pair of boots from a box. “These are perfect, and they're the right size! Thank you!”
Jackie leaned over to Steven. “Thank goodness I asked them to give me the biggest size they had.”
Hyde chuckled at her joke, still waiting for the moment when she would ask him what he got her so he could surprise her. It never came. She just squeezed his arm tighter when Eric gave his present to Donna— a necklace with both of their initials hanging from it. When he looked over to her, Jackie’s hand was over her chest in awe, the sweetest smile he had ever seen on her lips.
A smile that she hadn’t shown him in months— one that he was beginning to worry he might not see again.
Hyde excused himself, needing a drink to cool his nerves. He took his time walking to the fridge, grabbing a beer from the far back. Only two steps back into the living room, he heard the familiar sound of wrapping paper being ripped.
"Oh, Eric," Hyde heard Jackie gush. His head shot up to watch Jackie gleam, her eyes gazing over each small snowglobe carefully.
Her heart beat hard in her chest, remembering the days when her Dad wasn't in prison— the days when she didn't have a care in the world— the days where she didn't feel so lost.
Jackie's smile grew, her eyes watering. "I love them, thank you!" She stood up and wrapped her arms around him, Eric reluctantly doing the same. Words of appreciation kept filling the room, everyone else taking in the warmly sight.
Hyde glowered his stare from the other side of the room.
"Just Eric?!" Donna smacked the back of Eric's head hard enough to hurt, but not enough to cause brain damage. "It was supposed to be from the both of us, you dink!"
Eric shrugged, "Uh, I didn't see you helping out with the gift wrapping!"
“I was the one who came up with the idea!"
"I was the one who told you about them!"
”We both bought the snow globes! You were the one who wrapped them all!"
Eric nodded, his hands on his hips, and a big goofy smile on his face. "And wrapped them all I did."
Jackie scoffed and opened her arms so Donna could squeeze into the hug. "Thank you, Donna. I love them."
Donna wrapped her arms around Jackie. "I knew you would," She shot Eric a nasty glare.
Hyde watched as Jackie expressed gratitude for the snowglobes, and he couldn't even be mad about it. It was a good gift.
However, he was seething when Eric looked his way, grinning, mouthing the words, "We win," while pointing at Jackie hugging them. His fists clenched and his blood boiled, but a chill was sent down his spine when Donna stared at him coldly. She pointed at her eyes and then at his.
Donna pointed once more at him, "Dillhole!" She mouthed.
Hyde gulped. He wasn't nervous before, but now his nerves were starting to get rattled.
It was making him think that his gift idea wasn’t all that great after all.
What if, after asking for it so many times in the past, it had lost its value? What if Jackie didn’t want it anymore?
What if he was too late?
It wouldn’t be the first time.
Hyde suddenly felt really warm, and it wasn’t the warm soft feeling he got when Jackie would whisper sweet nothings to him— it was the uncomfortable, prickly, kind of warm. The beer in his hands suddenly felt like the best thing in the world. He lifted the can to his lips and started to drink when he felt a hard grip on his shoulder.
"Easy, with that stuff," Red chastised him, "Remember what happened the last time you drank too much?"
"No," Hyde joked, smirking. You don't remember things when you black-out.
Red grimaced. "Well everyone in this room does," He pointed to someone across the way, "Especially her ."
Hyde followed his finger to Jackie, who was giddily sorting her snowglobes by the coffee table. The realization that the night was almost over, and his time was running out made his throat run dry. Although, with Red's concerning eye on him, beer didn't seem like the right drink of choice.
He wasn’t going to put it off any longer, he didn’t want to anymore.
"Thanks, Red," Hyde passed his beer to him before making his way over to Jackie.
"We did good, right?" Donna asked Eric, speaking lowly so only he could hear.
Eric looked back at her, smiling. "Yeah, I think we did." He leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss. "Do you think we should tell her we got them at a garage sale?"
Donna shrugged, "Why ruin this beautiful moment?"
"Hey, some of these don't even have water in them!" Jackie screeched, holding an empty snowglobe up to the light. She looked at the couple for a reason, but Eric just pointed at Donna.
"It was her idea!"
Jackie glared at the two, but didn't pry. "You two are lucky I'm so forgiving." She scooped the snowglobes closer to her.
"Yup, we're all lucky," Hyde said, standing above her.
"Steven, look!" Jackie held up a couple snow globes, brimming with joy. "Aren't they cute?"
"Yeah," He eyed the gift givers, who stuck their tongues out at him, "real cute.” Hyde’s eyes scoured the room, he noticed something— everyone's eyes on him.
"Um, can I talk to you in the kitchen?" He heard Mrs. Forman smack her lips in disappointment.
"Why?" Jackie asked, her brow furrowing with worry. If Steven wanted to talk, something must be wrong.
The talking in the room turned into mumbles. By the looks of it, more than one person was anticipating Jackie's gift from him, and none of them were Jackie. Hyde was planning to give her the gift with no big deal, but taking a look around the room— filled with judging eyes— was becoming too much for him.
Without so much as a second thought, Hyde grabbed Jackie’s hand, leading her off the couch. He tried to ignore Jackie’s protests, and Mrs. Forman’s giggling, as best he could. When they reached the kitchen, Hyde’s feet didn’t stop— they couldn’t. He opened the sliding glass door and brought them both outside, the cool air hitting them both.
Jackie pulled her hand away from his, making Hyde stop in his tracks.
“Steven, what’s the matter with you!” She asked. “Why’re you acting so weird?”
“I’m not acting weird, you’re acting weird!” He turned it back on her.
Jackie raised a brow at him. “I am not acting weird. You’re the one who just froze and dragged me out of the room and into the cold!”
She was right, and the worst part was— she didn’t pry at him for an answer.
Jackie looked at him, trying to find an answer for his weirdly quiet outburst. Steven never did something so erratic, well he did one time but she didn’t want to think about it. She couldn’t think about it.
“Steven, what’s wrong?” She asked him, using her eyes to plead instead of her words.
Hyde didn’t answer her. What was he supposed to say?
Why didn’t you want a present?
Why don’t you talk to me?
Why aren’t you acting like yourself?
All of those questions weren’t him, he didn’t know how to ask them. Jackie was usually the one to start the conversation, but she didn’t this time. Hyde was never the one to ask what was wrong, and because of that, wasn’t sure how he should start.
He watched as Jackie’s eyes searched face, his shades long forgotten in the living room. She watched as he gave sputtering answers, and an unsure shrug. Then Hyde watched as Jackie disappeared back into the house, through the kitchen, and into the living room.
She was gone.
Hyde had let her go once more, and again he had no one to blame but himself.
He hung his head over the patio railing, dusting off the freshly fallen snow. Why was it so hard to talk to her?
The sliding door opened again and Hyde braced himself. It had to be Kitty or Eric, and they were going to replay his faults and try to comfort him. Then again it could be Red or Donna, coming to literally knock some sense into him. There was a hand on his shoulder, and Hyde saw Jackie standing next to him again.
She came back.
She always did.
"Here," Jackie told him, a small smile on her face, "This is for you." She extended her arms, gift box in hand. The tag hung off the side in clear view.
To Steven
♥ Jackie
Hyde took it from her carefully, his mind still settling with the thought that she actually got him something that didn't come in flashy packaging. His eyes gazed up to hers, watching her expression turn from excited to nervous.
The dark colored ribbon was removed, and Hyde lifted the lid. His hands gripped the box tighter at the sight of its contents, his heart dropping into his stomach. Inside was something he hadn't seen in years, and was secretly hoping the next time he saw it, it wouldn't be his.
"My... Zeppelin shirt?" He slowly asked, afraid to know the answer to the question burning his tongue. Jackie was giving it back to him?
When his eyes found hers once more, she continued to wait for some kind of reaction from him. Jackie nodded her head to the box once more, as if she was trying to get him to notice something.
Hyde brought his attention back to the shirt, and something seemed off.
"Wait a sec." He placed the box down on a patio chair and took the shirt out of its box.
There were no holes near the bottom, the seams were tight, the collar wasn't stretched out, and the fabric wasn’t worn away— it was brand new.
"This isn't my shirt," He stated, looking at Jackie.
She smiled, still avoiding his eyes. "Well, yeah. It's a new one."
"What happened to my old one?" There were a number of possibilities. "Did you burn it?"
He wouldn't blame her if she did.
Jackie frowned, her hands becoming fidgety. "No! It's just, you said that shirt was your favorite one..." Her words trailed off, reminiscing in the day it was gifted to her. "And I don't plan on giving your old one back, so you'll have to make due with this one."
Hyde absorbed her words, but he wasn't comprehending them. He was stuck on one detail.
"You still have it?"
Jackie felt her face growing hot, she had never felt embarrassed about keeping the shirt, because no one knew she had it, but there was something about admitting it to the person who gave it to you— the person who hurt you— that made it seem like it was wrong.
She felt like she had to explain herself.
"How could I throw something away that meant so much to you?" Jackie felt tears pricking her eyes, but kept going. She knew Steven would hate all this love-gushing, but she couldn't keep her words from spilling. "It was the first gift you ever gave me..."
Hyde opened his mouth to say something, but Jackie was quicker. She didn't want to hear how she had already messed it up, she just wanted to start to fix it.
"It's just— I wanted to get you something meaningful, but what do you get someone who doesn't believe in materialistic objects and gift giving?"
At first, Hyde wanted to tell Jackie she didn't need to say anything, but the more her feelings showed, the more he saw the Jackie that had hidden herself from him. She was still there, the bits of sunshine that was everything she was. When her mouth clamped shut, Hyde couldn't remember why he ever wanted her to stop.
He didn't want her to stop being her.
Jackie took a deep breath, Steven watching her blankly— he usually did that when he wasn't sure what to say. He was never one to express his feelings with words, and Jackie had no way of knowing what he was thinking.
He was a man of action, and now was the time to take it.
"I actually got you something too."
Jackie put her hands up defensively, taking a step back. " No , Steven, I told you I didn't want anything!"
Hyde clenched his jaw, why was she fighting it so much? "No, you said you didn't want me to get you something," he responded, just making Jackie's face scrunch in confusion.
"Same thing! Look, I don't want anything, okay?! I thought you'd be happy about that!"
Hyde stopped, gripping the shirt tightly in his hand. He thought Jackie was doing this out of spite, but the more he saw the worry on her face grow, the more he saw her slipping away from him.
"That's why you didn't want a gift from me? Because you thought you were doing me a favor?" His anger was starting to boil, but he wasn't exactly sure why. Was it because Jackie thought so little of him, or because he made himself seem that way to her?
"No!" Jackie fought back, trying to get him to understand. She took a step towards him, reaching her arm to lightly touch his.
Jackie tried once more, to convey herself to him, just like she used to— openly and with love. "You don't like giving gifts, so I don't want anything, especially if it means losing you." With only one sentence, Jackie felt herself becoming undone.
"I just want to be with you, even if it means I can't want things from you."
Jackie's eyes began to well with tears, her words reaching her own ears. She had told herself in her head that she couldn't want anything more than what Steven was willing to offer.
Because whatever he had to offer was more than enough.
It had to be.
"I just want you , Steven," Jackie voiced her true want, cursing herself for how selfish and demanding it sounded— she knew he was going to hate that. But it's what she truly wanted the most out of everything else.
"Any piece of you you're willing to give me."
But hearing herself say it— willingly admitting that she knew she could never have him completely— was something different.
Even if she wanted more.
She couldn't have it if he didn't want to give it to her.
She had to be okay with it.
And this time she was.
Sort of…
"I won't ask more from you," Jackie told him, Hyde's face remaining blank, "And we can be just like how we were before," She held the other end of the gift box with her hands, standing close, yet so far from him.
But we won't , Hyde thought, gazing into Jackie's eyes that were filled with love for him. As much as it warmed his chest to hear her admissions again, there was just something he couldn't ignore.
How could it go back to how it was, when Jackie couldn't even be her truest self around him? How could she ever be happy closing herself off from him?
Maybe it was because he made it seem so easy.
Hyde didn't want her to be like him. He had already walked that path— the pushing away, the uncertainty, the running. What good was living in the moment when you don’t plan for the moments ahead?
What good was trying to keep yourself from heartbreak when you end up hurting the one you care about most?
A small wave of relief washed over Hyde, hearing Jackie say what she wanted again. It meant she was still there— she still cared. Just like him, she didn't want to mess it up.
She didn't mess it up, and he wasn't going to either.
Hyde's jaw clenched, and he took a strangled breath, clearing his head. Carefully, he placed the Zeppelin shirt back in its box and set it on the patio chair. Jackie watched worryingly as it seemed her gift was being pushed aside. But when she felt Steven grab both her hands with his, she gave him her full attention.
"Remember when I said I had a lot of thinking to do?"
Jackie's tears paused, remembering that day in the kitchen, and she nodded.
"Well," Hyde cleared his throat, "I thought about it, and I don't want things to go back to how they were before."
"What?" Jackie let go of his hands like they were on fire. Here she was, going against everything she had set out to do these past months, spilling her heart out to him about trying to fix things to how they were, and he just rebuffs everything?!
Steven didn't want to be happy with her like before? Or did he just not want to be with her anymore?
Hyde swooped her hands from her side, taking them into his once more. He seriously wasn't good at this opening up stuff, but damn it, he was going to try.
"I don't want things to be like how they were before," he repeated, not letting Jackie swipe her hands away from him again. "I want things to be better than before."
Jackie's head snapped up at him, surprised, and she noticed a smirk pull at his lips.
"Jackie, I love you." She gasped, but he continued. " You — even the parts of you that drive me nuts." Her mouth opened to say something, but Hyde didn't want to lose his momentum.
"I love the parts of you that make you you— the real you," He referred to her sudden pull back from him during the past month— it all made sense to him now. Even though she was standing right in front of him, he missed her. "I don't want you to be someone you're not because you think I'll split again. I'm not going anywhere."
"But Steven—" That's exactly what she thought last time.
"I know what I'm getting into by being with you," He teased. "And if you're willing to take me back, all of me— the good and the bad— then I'm willing to do the same for all of you."
Hyde set her hands free, pacing his hands in his pocket and firmly planting his feet. "I know you said you didn't want me to get you something, but I did anyway, because I want you to have it."
Jackie's eyes sparkled, but she kept her mouth shut, watching his movements. The old Steven would've taken her wanting nothing literally, saying it was exactly what she asked for. But this Steven, not only got her a present, he said things she only dreamed he would say.
She watched as Steven took his empty hands out of his pockets, looking at them fondly. In one swift motion, he pulled his own ring— the one she had almost never seen him without— off his finger.
Jackie's heart slowed in her chest, everything around her becoming muffled. She didn't even notice Steven had taken her left hand until he was slipping the ring on her middle finger. Her eyes stayed on the ring, her hand being held warmly.
There were a million thoughts buzzing through her head, but there was only one thing she wanted to know.
"Steven," she asked calmly, "What's this?"
"It's not an engagement ring, or a promise ring, but it's mine— it's me, well a part of me, I guess." Her stare didn't move from her hand, and Hyde just knew she was doing her best to keep it all in.
"A big part of me, probably even all of me,” he explained, but Jackie’s gaze never wavered. “And it's yours—"
Watching Jackie's stoic expression created a sudden lump in his throat, one that he forcefully swallowed. It would've been easier to just leave it there— to throw in the towel and let her connect the dots herself.
But he wanted things to be better.
Hyde leaned in closer, causing Jackie's eyes to wander up to his.
"—It's always been yours."
Jackie's eyes began to water once more, this time she didn't stop them.
“I love you,” Hyde said again, so Jackie could hear it properly. She hadn’t moved since he put the ring on her finger, and wondered if she had heard him at all.
But she did. She heard all of it.
Steven took one of his hands to wipe the tears threatening to fall. He didn't even make it to her cheek before Jackie wrapped her arms around his neck. Hyde tried to let out a sigh of relief, but the constriction around his neck was making it difficult. When he heard her sniffle, Hyde figured he could withstand it for a bit.
"I loved it when you took me out to dinner," she cried into his shoulder.
"I know," he told her.
"You were so handsome in your button up, and such a gentleman when you held the door open for me!"
"I know." Hyde tried not to sound full of himself, but he wasn’t sure if it worked because Jackie squeezed him tighter.
Jackie's tears continued to fall, but she was determined not to make this moment a sad one. For the first time in a long time, she felt like herself— better than herself. She didn't feel like she needed to hide herself from Steven anymore, especially since he said he loved all of her.
"I want you to take me out more," Jackie let out her first want in a long time.
She felt Steven let out an amusing sigh before chuckling in her arms. "I know," he said, just like he had done several times before.
He knows, Jackie breathed in his words. He wasn't uncertain about them or what she wanted. She wondered if Steven also knew how much that affirmation meant to her, but hoped he someday would.
Steven loved her. Not only did he love her, but he loved her— not who she was trying to be.
"Did you mean it when you said you loved the real me?"
Hyde wrapped his arms around her, gentler than she did to him. "Yeah," he choked out, "I did."
Jackie pulled away from him, watching the content smile on his face. "Then will you take me out again?" She asked, not demanding it.
Steven's eyes rolled around a bit. "I'll think about it," he smirked at her.
As much as Jackie wanted to swat at him, to berate him for not giving in after she held in her expectations for so long, she couldn't.
Because even though she told him what she wanted, he was still Steven. He was here, and he was trying just for her.
Jackie took his face in her hands, caressing his cheek with her thumb. She could see him clearly despite only being illuminated by the light pouring out from the kitchen. She could see all of him— the good and the bad, and they were hers, he said so himself.
"I love you, Steven," she whispered, pulling him closer.
Hyde didn't fight her, he didn't want to. Instead he let her close the gap between them, her lips pressing onto his. There was that soft warm feeling in his chest again, and he just knew why. For the first time in a long time, he felt her closer than she had ever been these past months. He removed his lips from hers for a second to look at her— at Jackie , and sure enough, she was there, shining brightly just like she always did. She was here, with him, and she wasn't pulling away.
Not that he would let her.
He finally had her, and he didn't want to let her go ever again.
Jackie felt one of Steven's hands press into the dip in her back, keeping her in place against him, and another tangling in her hair. This time he pulled her close, giving her a searing kiss of his own. She could feel Steven smile against her lips, and she did the same, her heart beating wildly, free, and unrestrained.
The freezing wind began to pick up, but Jackie still felt warm. She couldn't feel the cold nipping her nose, nor the bits of stray snow getting stuck on her lashes.
She just felt him.
When they finally pulled apart, their hands stayed in place, not wanting to let the other person go. But they had to, at least for right now. Slowly they untangled themselves, keeping their eyes fixated on each other, holding this moment between them.
They had each other.
And that was all they really wanted.
Hyde watched Jackie try to discreetly shiver, the cold finally settling on her skin. He noticed his own face starting to go numb, and he sighed out a visible breath.
"Ready to head inside?"
Jackie nodded her head quickly. "Please!" She turned and opened the sliding glassdoor, halfway in and she already felt much better.
When she looked back, Steven was holding up the Zeppelin shirt, taking another look at it. She couldn't see his face with his back towards her, but hoped he was smiling.
"Steven," Jackie called out to him as his eyes glided over the shirt's unfaded ink, "Would you have wanted your old shirt instead?"
He looked back up at her with a smile. "Nah, that's your shirt." Hyde stepped closer to her. "But thank you," he placed a soft kiss on her lips, making her smile as well.
Jackie's eyes popped open in realization. "Do you know what this means?" Steven shook his head looking bewildered. "It means we can finally wear matching outfits!"
She watched as Hyde's face scrunched up, probably remembering all the times she used to beg for that, giggling at his reaction.
"Uh, no." Then his brow went up, "Then again— it's Zeppelin!" He nodded his head righteously. An image of Jackie wearing his old shirt, and himself wearing his new one crossed his mind.
"So you'll think about it?" Jackie pouted, batting her eyes. And when Hyde shrugged his shoulders with a smile, she clapped her hands excitedly, pulling him inside the warm house.
The atmosphere of the brightly lit kitchen that smelled like fresh baking was completely different from their own little world on the other side of the sliding door. They could both hear clamoring, talking, and what sounded like kids toys from the living room.
He noticed Jackie had slipped away from him moments ago, thinking she went to pick a brownie from the dessert table. When he looked over his shoulder, he noticed her gazing at the ring on her finger, smiling warmly. Her eyes met his and her brow raised sarcastically.
"Steven, were you going to give me your ring this whole time?" Jackie asked genuinely. Although she had a feeling she already knew the answer.
Hyde pursed his lips, thinking about what he was going to say. "Yeah, but if this failed I had a backup—"
"So you got me two presents?!" Jackie squealed, covering her mouth with her ring covered hand. She felt the cold metal touch her chin, and she brought her eyes down to look at the ring again— a piece of Steven he wanted her to have.
Because he wanted things to be better than they were before.
Jackie sighed lovingly, she wanted that too.
"You already gave me the best Christmas present ever." She looked up at Hyde, who gazed at her with admiration. "So I guess the other one can wait."
Hyde felt her take his hand, the cool metal as a reminder to the both of them.
Jackie granted him one more kiss before leading them both into the living room, which was now a sea of wrapping paper. She took a seat next to Donna on the sofa, giving each other a smile of relief. No words were exchanged, but it seemed like Donna knew exactly what Jackie was feeling. They wrapped their arms around each other once more, knowing that everything was just as it should.
"So?" Eric asked Hyde, who was still standing off to the side, staring at Jackie now talking happily with Donna. "Did you screw it up?"
Hyde looked up at him, smirking. "Of course not, I always pull through." Eric raised a brow and Hyde shrugged. "Alright, I didn't all those other times, but this time I did."
"Good," Eric patted his shoulder. "But what about all the times to come?"
Hyde shrugged again, but his smile didn't waver. "Who knows," he teased, staring at the girl he gave a piece of himself to. He didn't feel incomplete, strangely, he felt more whole than he was before.
Hyde didn't know his future, but he could see Jackie in it. He didn't know why he couldn't see it before, or maybe he did but couldn’t admit it. He could now— maybe not to her, but at least to himself, and that was a step in the right direction.
Hyde subconsciously rubbed his pinky where his ring used to sit, watching it shine on Jackie's finger from across the room. Man, he was gonna miss it, but he had to admit it looked good on her— a piece of him. And, perhaps, when they were both ready, he'd take his ring back from her.
So he could replace it with something better.