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Chapter Text

To say Hyde was not looking forward to Junior Prom was an understatement. How Jackie crying got him to say he’d take her he had no idea. But here he was standing on the porch in a stupid purple dress shirt with stupid flowers waiting for a stupid girl.

Well, she wasn’t that stupid. She was when it came to Kelso but otherwise, she wasn’t that dumb.

His mom made the night extra special by telling him they would all laugh at him. Like Carrie’s psycho mother, well that wasn’t far off.

Why the hell was he doing this?

Apparently, he was a sucker for crying girls. Damn her.

A fancy car pulled up in front of him and she got out.

His breath caught.

“Wow, you look beautiful.” Something had possessed him into admitting it but it was the truth.

Her cheeks turned a little pink, that was weird he thought since she was used to compliments and complimenting herself all the time. “Thank you so do you, handsome- I mean, you look very handsome.”

“I told you I can clean up.”

“Yeah, you do. Um, would you like to drive?”

“Sure,” he reached for the keys and remembered the box under his arm. “Oh, this is for you,” Hyde opened the box and offered her the flowers he’d picked up when he went with Forman to get Donna’s corsage.

“You got me a corsage? That’s so thoughtful,” she practically beamed.

“It is the prom.”

“Thank you Steven for taking me, I know it isn’t what you really wanted to do.”

“It might be alright,” he admitted.

She gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

“Okay let’s not do that.”

“Sorry,” she stepped back awkwardly, she didn’t know why she had done that.

“Your dad has insurance right? Wait I don’t care. Let’s go.” He placed a hand on the small of her back and led her to the car.

Hyde swung around to the passenger door and opened it for her closing it when she got her dress situated inside.

What the hell was he doing?

He got in and started up the Lincoln. “So should we swing by your house for your parents to take pictures or something?”

She stiffened, “No that won’t be necessary.”

He’d seen her do that with Kelso sometimes, he’d say something and she’d get a little more stuffy and formal.

“I get it,” he said. “Being me and all.

“No, Steven,” she said emphatically and put her hand on his arm. “No, no one has ever gone out of their way like this for me before. I mean not without wanting something in return.”

Realizing what she had done she pulled her hand back.

“There’s no one home yet, I don’t think the maid really wants to take our picture.”

 That surprised him. “They do that often?”

“Enough,” she said sadly.

“I get it, my Ma takes off a lot too, comes back eventually.”

“Well don’t we have the best parts in common,” she said with a bitter laugh.

They drove for a few blocks when Hyde asked her, “Does Kelso know they do that?”

“I told him once, he was more interested in trying to make out.”

Feeling a bit uncomfortable with the intimacy she turned on the radio and searched for the rock station. Led Zeppelin, she grimaced, “your favorite.” She didn’t like Zeppelin, but he was going all out to take her to the prom.

“Kelso is a tool you know.”

“I’m starting to really get that.”

Once at the school, he pulled the Lincoln into a spot and again caught himself as he opened her door for her. He rationalized it was because she was in a dress and would need the help. Somehow he found her hand in his as he helped her out of the car.

Of course, it was because she was bossy, but she hadn’t actually asked him to do that.

Whatever he thought to himself.  

Steven took her to get her picture taken and they posed, he wasn’t all that thrilled with that. Then they danced, the dancing wasn’t so bad.  

Then Kelso walked in with Pam Macy.

“You ok?” he asked her.

“I am actually. I think I was much more upset about missing the prom than I was about Michael. You know you’re a really good dancer.”

“You want some punch?”

“Sure.”

Kelso walked over and smacked Hyde at the punch table. “You brought Jackie to the prom? You’re supposed to be my friend and you dogged me.”

“Hey, she cried Man.”

“She looks real pretty,” Kelso pouted.

“Look you big baby, she wants to be with you, you want to be with her, so why don’t you stop whining about it and just be with each other. Cuz the whole thing sickens me.”

“What am I going to do with Pam?” Kelso asked.

Hyde looked at Pam, “Don’t worry about it I’ll take care of Pam.”

As Kelso approached Jackie, Hyde looked at her one last time before she went off with another guy.

Jackie’s dress was so high cut and simple compared to what he’d expected her to wear, and the fingerless gloves were- he didn’t use words like cute, but it would apply here. There was something about her that told her status, it wasn’t just that she was rich, she was classy.

He sighed and waited for Kelso to go steal his date.

Hyde found that he really did mind.

Chapter Text

CH 2

Hyde watched as Kelso sat down at the table across from Jackie, he put his hands out on the table and Jackie kept casting glances at Steven.

Finally, Jackie frowned and walked over to him.

“Steven,” she began and he stopped her.

“It’s fine you can go with Kelso I don’t mind.”

“Oh,” she said disappointed. “I don’t actually want to go with Michael. I was going to ask, I mean I know you were going to go with Pam Macy but would you want to stay my date tonight? If not that’s fine, but I was having a good time with you.”

He was in the Twilight Zone, Jackie was not ditching him and admitting that she was having fun.

“Yeah, that’s cool.”

She smiled brightly. “So, you wanna dance or something?”

“Ok.” He went to take her hand.

She pulled her hand away, “Wait I’ll be right back.” She glided away from him and went to the stage.

Distracted by the little angel floating away from him, he didn’t see Kelso until he smacked him in the arm again, “What the hell Hyde? You stole Jackie.”

“You’re here with another girl,” Hyde said. If Kelso didn’t understand why Jackie might not fall at his feet he was dumber than he looked.  

“No, you did something,” Kelso accused him.

“Kelso I-

Just then the chords of a familiar song started playing.

Jackie came back and ignored Kelso but not in a bitchy way, just like Steven was more important at the moment. “I got the DJ to play Zeppelin for you, I don’t know if you like this one but it’s the only one he has.”

“Yeah,” he admitted, Communication Breakdown wasn’t his all-time favorite but he appreciated it, “it’s great.”

“Steven, will you dance with me?”

“Sure.” He took her hand, “Later man,” he said to Kelso, and Jackie led him out on the dancefloor. It was much faster than the other songs they had danced too but Jackie’s hair remained perfectly in place.

She was perfect.

Tomorrow Jackie might go right back to Kelso, but tonight she was his girl.

Chapter Text

They stayed almost the whole dance.

As magical as it had started it got a little boring with a subpar DJ.

Hyde asked her, “Do you want to get out of here?”

“Yeah,” she admitted and they left, “but let’s not go home.”

“Jackie Burkhart are you trying to be rebellious?” he smirked at her.

“Yes, I am trying to get food.”

Again opening the door for her, he was kicking himself. What was he doing? “Alright princess where do you want to go?”

“Let’s go to Fatso Burger, I think my dad can treat us tonight.”

“What?”

“My dad owns it, so I can get whatever I want for free.” Her eyes widened, “Oh God don’t tell Michael.”

“What that we’re getting food?”

“No about my dad owning it and the free food.”

“Yeah, he’d bankrupt it.” After a second it dawned on him, “Wait you never told him?”

“Nope.” She gave a smile that was a little bit evil. “I never told anyone else. I did once when I was little and it turned out my ‘friends’ only liked me so they could score some free burgers.”

“How do you know that I wouldn’t do the same thing?”

“Because you’ve already been a really good friend to me. I trust you.”

“First mistake.”

“I don’t care, if you go there every meal for a year it wouldn’t make us even for what a good time I’ve had tonight.”

Damn girls, he thought for the second time that night. No wonder she had Kelso wrapped around her finger.

Jackie flashed her card and smiled and they left with a ton of food and a towel for her to put over her dress while they ate.

They drove out to a spot where they could enjoy the quiet and the look at the stars. Jackie’s gloves had been discarded and so had Hyde’s jacket. She had a towel tucked into her collar and over her chest and lap.

“I look like a total spaz,” she said as she dug into her burger.

“Not you look like an angel,” had they spiked his drink, why the hell else would he have said that out loud? Whatever, no one would believe her if she told them anyway.

“Thank you, but I think the towel at least makes me look like a toddler.”

He could have disagreed, but currently, she did. So he said nothing.

“I’m surprised to see you eat like that.”

“Girls can eat Steven. I work off a lot of calories with cheer, and I didn’t eat much today because my hair took forever.”

“Wasn’t complaining. I feel weird when girls don’t eat and I’m trying to down a burger.”

“Well, cheers then,” she toasted him with her burger.  

They sat around looking at the sky while the radio played.

Hyde checked his watch, “What’s your curfew?”

“I don’t have one tonight,” she said simply.

“Councilman Jack Burkheart is letting his fifteen-year-old daughter stay out all night? On prom night? Fat chance in hell,” Hyde said. “Not buying it.”

“I’m sixteen.” If it was Michael he would have accepted it no problem, this was a danger of Steven Hyde, he was smart and noticed more than he said usually.

“Jackie?” He said expectantly.

She tensed up and spat out “He’s not home alright. He’s somewhere in New York, and my mom’s in Mexico or Puerto Rico or somewhere.”

He knew what it was like to be alone, “They do that a lot?”

“Enough. Look can we not talk about it?”

“Yeah.” They sat in silence for a while. “If you don’t have a curfew I know where we should go.”

They pulled into the Forman’s driveway. It wasn’t even eleven yet.

Kitty and red were sitting in the kitchen when the pair came through the sliding door.

“Oh don’t you two look adorable,” Kitty gushed, “Red don’t they look adorable.”

“Just precious,” he said without looking up from his magazine.

“The kids are in the basement, but hold on I need a picture.”

“Fine,” Hyde grumbled, but he turned Jackie so she was facing him and he put his hands around her waist and she did the same and looked up into his far too blue eyes.

“Now that is precious. A couple more.”

When the photo session was over they were allowed into the basement.

“Hey Hyde,” Eric said as they came down. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Edna’s on a roll tonight I need my duffel.”

“Sorry man, you can crash here if you want.”

“Why has no one said how handsome am I,” pouted Fez.

“You are very handsome Fez,” Jackie offered.

“Thank you, Jackie, at least someone appreciates my animal magnetism.”

Jackie rolled her eyes but at least he wasn’t pawing at her.

They all sat in their usual spots.

It was the same thing they did every week.

“Circle?”

“Circle.”

It was no different than normal, only this stuff must have been strong.

He couldn’t focus on anything anyone was saying.

Jackie looked like she was glowing

No one else seemed any different.

He had to be careful with this stuff.

Chapter Text

Steven drove her home.

They pulled up to a large house, it looked bland and foreboding at the same time, “Are you okay to spend the night alone?”

“I can manage, but I wouldn’t mind company. I hate going into a dark house alone.”

He parked the car and opened her door for her.

She opened the door and took off her shoes, “Feel free to raid the fridge.”

He left his shoes on but took off the jacket and tie.

They turned the TV on, just enjoying the noise rather than the storyline.

On a commercial break, Jackie turned to Hyde, “Thanks for taking me to prom, it was- it was perfect.”

“It wasn’t so bad,” he admitted.

“Really? So if I need an escort for the Daughters of Point Place Charity fundraiser?

“You better find another guy because this was a one-time deal.”

“I’m kidding,” she shoved his shoulder gently. “Although, you wouldn’t be the worst choice.”

“Gee, thanks,” Hyde crossed his arms over his chest.

“Oh like you care,” she teased him, “all I’m saying is you didn’t have to be so nice to me tonight and I really appreciate it. People don’t usually do nice things for me without wanting something for it.”

He felt at ease with her like he was arguing with Donna so he shot back, “Who said I don’t?”

Jackie knew he was all bluster, if he’d wanted something he would have said it upfront before agreeing to take her to the prom.

She called his bluff.

“Then what do you want?”

Hyde looked at her, he could tell she was toying with him. That was new, Jackie usually demanded things.

There were a lot of things he could say, but he wasn’t going to cross any lines with her. There were jokes he could make with Donna that would make Jackie scream and stomp off.

She got her feelings hurt way too easily. He took an easy way out.

“For you to never drag me to some charity function.”

“Done,” she said grinning at him, “but one day you might just beg me to take you to one.”

He laughed at her, “You’re crazy.”

“Maybe I am.”  

Somehow they’d been inching toward each other. Jackie leaned in and against his better judgement Steven leaned away.

“No, we should not be doing this.”

“You’re right I’m sorry I pushed myself on you,” Jackie said her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“Wait what?” Hyde asked confused. This was not where he thought it was going.

“Obviously you don’t like me that way, and I’m sorry. Let’s just watch the show.”

She scooted over to the other side of the couch.

The silence became uncomfortable, something that had never bothered him before.

“Look I think you’re cool but you just broke up with Kelso.”

“Is that the only reason you pulled back?” Jackie asked, “We’ve been broken up for a while.”

“I’m not a rebound guy.”

Was he saying that he would be okay with kissing her if she’d been single longer?

“When do you consider it enough time to not be a rebound?”

He shrugged, “I don’t know a month, two maybe more?”

“So if in a month I say I’m still over Michael, would you be interested?”

She was hot, and he didn’t hate hanging out with her when she wasn’t being annoying. It wouldn’t be the worst thing ever.

“Talk to me in a month.”

A month. She could wait a month. Hell, she might change her mind in the morning when he was back to picking on her.

“Can we at least be friends? I can’t spend half the summer avoiding everyone.”

“Sure friends.”

They went back to watching movies, as the night dragged on Jackie felt her head dip a few times before she jerked herself awake.

She admitted that her perfect night was coming to an end, “I need to go to bed.”

“Right I’ll be on my way,” Hyde stood and grabbed his jacket.

“Or you could stay, we have three guest rooms. Since you’re already here and you’d have to walk.”

“I don’t know.” He didn’t hate the idea, it wasn’t that bad of a walk back to Forman’s but it was late.

“What if I pout and say I’m scared to stay alone.”

“I wouldn’t believe you.”

She pushed out her bottom lip and it was pretty cute. “Pwease.”

“Not working.” He had to admit, it was kind of working.

Jackie babbled, “It’s really dark, and what if something happened to you on the way home. People are drinking and it would be all my fault and-

“Ok fine, fine. I’ll stay, let me grab my duffle from the car.”

He went outside and returned with his things. She had given it a fifty-fifty that he’d just take off anyway.

“Come on I’ll show you where you can sleep.” They climbed the stairs and despite the obvious wealth, the house felt cold and empty.

She pushed open a door and flipped on the light, the bed alone was bigger than his room at home.

“Bathroom is across the hall, and there should be a toothbrush in the bedside table.”

“Thanks,” he said.

“No problem,” she smiled and went to her own room.

But there was a problem Jackie discovered about ten minutes later. She’d taken her hair down leaving a mass of curls, but the collar buttons she couldn’t get more than the first one. The maid had done the rest up for her and now she was trapped.

She only had a few options, rip the dress, stay in the dress, admit defeat.

Jackie chose the one that got her out of it and kept the dress intact.

Back to the guest room, she knocked. Hyde opened the door.

“Yeah?”

Jackie flushed all over, “This is embarrassing, but I’m kind of stuck. Can you help me?”

“Sure doll,” he laughed at her but she turned and he brushed her hair away over her shoulder and undid each of the tiny pearl buttons.

“You’re free now.”

“Thanks, Steven, for everything tonight.”

She wanted to kiss him on the cheek again, but she didn’t think he’d like it.

Back in her bed, she settled on replaying the night over in her mind until she fell asleep.

Chapter Text

Jackie crawled out of bed late and padded down to the kitchen to figure something out to eat.

The night before had been purely magical. Steven had been a perfect gentleman. Jackie knew he hadn’t wanted to go, but he’d gone for her. She’d have to do something nice to make it up to him.  

“And sleeping beauty arises.”

Jackie stumbled on the last step, momentarily forgetting that Steven had stayed.

“You’re still here?” She asked.

“I just woke up too,” he was wearing a tee-shirt and jeans, and for the first time, Jackie really appreciated his lack of trying to be impressive.

“Want some breakfast?” Jackie asked, “I can’t really make anything but there’s food.”

“Sure,” he accepted and found more food in the fridge than his house saw in a month.  

Hyde made scrambled eggs and bacon as Jackie watched him, trying to figure out what he was doing.  

“You seriously don’t know how to cook?” He finally asked.

Jackie shrugged, slightly embarrassed at being called out. He wasn’t exactly making fun of her, but she didn’t like her shortcomings pointed out. “Only the maid does here and I’m usually at school or cheer when she’s here.”

“Where is she today?”

“She doesn’t work weekends.”

“So you don’t eat all weekend?” Hyde asked incredulously. Jackie was not a girl who knew how to take care of herself.

“I can make cereal and sandwiches and soup, and I can get burgers whenever. What do you do when your mom takes off?”

“Cook if there’s food. Usually, go to the Forman’s they always feed us.”

A lightbulb went off, “Mrs. Forman, do you think she’d show me?”

“Don’t see why not.”

Jackie ran for the phone.

“Hi Mrs. Forman, it’s Jackie. I have a home economics project where I need to learn to cook dinner can you show me how? Great, I have stuff here if you tell me what I can bring. Thank you so much.”

“She said to bring pasta and tomato sauce and beef and onions. Um…” Jackie glanced at the cabinets bewildered.

Hyde took pity on her this once, “You have all of that stuff in the fridge and the cabinet.”

“Oh good.”

“Your eggs are ready your majesty,” he pushed a plate towards her.

“You know you better stop with all these nicknames or people will get the wrong idea.”

“What people?”

“Your friends.” Me she thought.  

Hyde didn’t reply, but sat down across from her and ate his own food.

They hung out for a little bit then Hyde helped her find all of the ingredients and bag it up before he headed off to the Forman’s. She took a shower and made herself up to be just a little prettier than she usually would have for a lazy Saturday.

Steven said a month, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t show herself at her best just in case.

Jackie was an ace student so she was going to take notes and try her best. She couldn’t care less if she could cook or not but wanted to impress Steven.

Not that she wanted him to know that.

Kitty went over what they needed to start with and the easiest part was heating up water in the kettle, after that it was going to be tough.

The gang moved through the kitchen and down to the basement and back in shifts, sometimes making fun of her but she didn’t let it make her lose focus.

She struggled a little with chopping onions and herbs that Mrs. Forman already had.

Kitty explained that she could show her how to make sauce from scratch in the future if she wanted but that was a little hard for someone who never cooked before.

Jackie tried the pasta from the pot and frowned. “It’s not soft, I did something wrong.”

“No it just takes a little longer we’ll check it in five minutes so leave it boiling and then turn off the burner with the sauce.”

Jackie stared at the clock and tried again when her time was up.

Her face brightened when it was right.

“I did it.”

“Wonderful,” Kitty complimented her, “now turn off the heat and bring the pot over here and drain it.”

Jackie struggled with the size of the pot because she had made such a big batch for everyone.

Steven had been pretending to read a magazine for a while in the kitchen. “Here, I got it, don’t burn yourself.”

“Oh Steven you are always such a gentleman,” Kitty laughed. “Jackie just watch see you slowly drain it careful not to splash.”

“Thank you, Steven,” she was checking out his arms as he carried it for her. She felt her cheeks get hot, she hoped Mrs. Forman wouldn’t notice.

“Now what?” Jackie asked.

“So you can mix it or let your guests put as much sauce as they want out. Why don’t you call everyone up and pull the salad I made earlier out of the fridge.”

The rest of the group slowly came up to the kitchen, reluctant to try anything Jackie made but also wanting to make fun of her failure.

It was a tight spot for them to be in. Die by Jackie’s food, or miss out on a good burn.

Jackie had put plates out and thought everyone could each buffet style.

Most of them took small portions of the pasta and larger salads, except Steven, Kitty, and Jackie.

Kelso was mumbling something under his breath and laughing with Donna. Jackie wasn’t even eating it yet.

Steven took a big forkful and shoveled it in. Bracing himself for whatever it tasted like he was going to lie through his teeth for her. Luckily he didn’t have to, “It’s good, thanks, Jackie.”

She looked at him shocked and took a small bite, and it wasn’t bad. Her body sagged in relief as she ate. The others tentatively started on their food and reluctantly thanked her for making dinner.

Afterward, she washed the dishes, if a bit messily, and hugged Mrs. Forman. “Thank you so much for showing me, I don’t have anyone else who knows how to cook.”

That comment struck Hyde, he’d learned a lot of life skills out of necessity mostly picking up things from watching the Formans. And here was Jackie, she seemed so helpless. How often was she alone?

Mrs. Forman giggled, “Well you are so welcome, we can try something else again if you want.”

“Really?”

“Sure, Laurie sure doesn’t want my help with anything. You want to spend some time cooking and baking you just let me know.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Forman,” she hugged her again and went back to the dishes.

Red stepped into the kitchen after a long shift at work, “Kitty why is not our kid washing the dishes?”

Jackie felt a little intimidated by him, “Mrs. Forman taught me how to cook and I’m just cleaning up. I made spaghetti.”

“Go ahead Red it’s delicious,” Jackie beamed under Kitty’s praise.

“It’s ok,” Jackie said humbly. That was the first time Steven had ever heard her not gloat.

Red tried it, he’d eat anything after a long day at the plant, but he’d also let you know if he didn’t like it.

“You made this?”

Jackie nodded.

“Good job,” he pointed at her, “but the next time you make food for all those ingrates you make them clean up.”

“Yes Mr. Forman,” she smiled at his praise as well.

This had pretty much been the best twenty-four hours of her life.

Chapter Text

Jackie counted down the days since Prom.

Mid-June was approaching and that marked Hyde’s stupid one-month rule was officially there and gone and she was practically bouncing. Today was the day she’d talk to him.

Hyde could have been right that he was the rebound, so she’d distanced herself from the group a little. She thought of all of Michael’s good points, but he made that really hard to manage.

On a whim, she’d even gone out casually with a boy who’d asked her out. He paid her plenty of compliments and she thought he could be like Michael always doing what she told him to do. But that wasn’t what she wanted. Not anymore.

She’d purposely tried not to think about Steven Hyde. She hadn’t once thought about how he’d gone out of his way on Prom night or how he’d stayed with her because he didn’t want to leave her alone all night.

She hadn’t thought about how he opened the door for her or how her heart fluttered when he’d held out a hand to help her get out of the car.

She didn’t think of him helping her and not making fun of her over the food.

The thought of him not going off with Pam Macy and stayed with her instead.

Hyde bringing her a soda when he got himself one and ignored the others, them playing board games with the others, just hanging out watching TV, burning Kelso or Eric when they did something stupid.

Absolutely none of this had ever crossed her mind.

All of this Jackie tried to tell herself was the truth. She even convinced herself it was for a little while.

She asked herself why did she want to be with Steven? He would never be the easy choice. He was brash and difficult, he’d be more likely to make fun of her than give her a compliment. He’d told her many times he didn’t like her, but she suspected that wasn’t the truth. He didn’t say get away from him, no chance in hell. He’d said talk to me in a month.

Maybe he was feeling some of the same things she was feeling.

It was a Saturday and usually, Eric and Donna would go out on a date, and sometimes Michael would find another girl to annoy or he and Fez would do something. It was Jackie’s best chance to get Steven alone for a little while, maybe he’d even take her on a date.

What she hadn’t expected was Michael to be waiting for her in the driveway.

He started asking her out again, he hadn’t done this since before the prom.

She was annoyed and started clomping down the stairs to the basement, the others could hear them bickering.

“I am not going to go out with you Michael.”

“Who said go out, let’s just do it.”

“Oh my god I thought when Pam deflowered you, you’d leave me alone. “ She huffed and sat down in the open seat next to Hyde.

“Ah Burn,” said Fez proud of himself.

They all laughed at that.

“Oh come on Jackie, you know we’re just going to get back together.”

“No, I don’t. Actually, I can guarantee we are not getting back together because you never treated me nicely,” she stood to yell at him poking a finger in his chest. “I bought you gifts, I paid for everything, I drove us everywhere, I know you made fun of me to your friends.”

“Who blabbed?”

“You did you big idiot, you are loud and you’d shout how you were going to break up with me. I heard you at least five times. Seriously how did you all not hit him?”

“Oh we did,” Hyde said not looking away from the TV.

Eric added, “Frequently.”

“I just know now that I can be treated better and deserve it. I am worth it.”

“Yeah,” Donna said in solidarity.

“Fine we won’t get back together, but can you tell people we did it.” He put his hand on her shoulder.

“Oh my God, NO!” She shook him off of her, “Michael if you tell anyone we are back together or that I want to get back together in any way or we did stuff I will kick you in the nads.”

He looked like he was taking it all in. “So you definitely don’t want to go do it?”

“I’m leaving.” She stopped before going upstairs and kicked him in the shins.

As soon as her feet hit the stairs Hyde was up and hit him in the side.

“Ow come on man,” Kelso shouted.

“Leave Jackie alone you are being a perv,” Hyde said.

“Yes, even I am not that bad,” Fez eyed him.

“See what you’ve become. You are officially worse than Fez.”

“Fine.” Kelso sulked into the cushions of the couch.

Jackie stomped up the stairs eager to get away but having nothing else to do and no way to get there.

Mr. Forman was swearing under the hood of the car.

“Hi, Mr. Forman.”

“Hello uh, Loud One.”

“What are you doing?”

“The damn carburetor is acting up.”

“Would you like some help?”

He handed her a flashlight, “Here hold the flashlight steady.”

She leaned over the car with him, “Like this?”

He looked at her in awe, “Yeah, like that. At least one of you isn’t useless.”

“My dad doesn’t do stuff like this, actually he doesn’t do anything with me anymore.”

Red had known Jack for years, he could tolerate the man but he truly was a dumbass. He couldn’t very well say that to the man’s daughter though, well he could but he knew he shouldn’t. So he stayed silent.

She stood there as he worked.

“Mr. Forman, boys are stupid,” she said flatly.

“If you figured that out already you’re the smartest of the group.”

She’d always been the pretty one, or the bitchy one, even if he didn’t mean it, it was nice to be thought of as something even a little bit meaningful for once.

“Thanks, Mr. Forman.”

Jackie spent the day with Red helping him with his car. She was covered in oil and grime but she was having fun spending time with him.

Hyde came out to escape the basement, “Hey Red.”

Jackie wheeled herself out from under the car, “Mr. Forman do you have a stronger light?”

“Sure thing,” he rummaged through his toolbox.

“You look like you crawled out of the fireplace,” Hyde said amused.  

Jackie didn’t look bothered by his comments, “I’m working.”

Hyde wanted to laugh at her, she said it like this was an everyday occurrence for the princess to be working on a car.

“Don’t you pick on her, she’s actually doing something besides eating my food,” Red scolded him.  

“Wouldn’t dream about it.”

“Jackie,” Hyde started, “I told Kelso to leave you alone, I don’t know if he will but I tried. Even Donna tried.”

“Thank you, Steven, I appreciate it.”

“Here’s your light,” Red said.

“Thanks, I’m going back in,” she wheeled herself back under the car.

Red nodded and Hyde followed him. “Steven, what do you mean Kelso is bothering her?”

“They broke up a while ago and he keeps trying to get her to take him back and if not let him talk about her like they are.” He left it a little ambiguous, but Red figured it out. Normally Hyde would have kept his mouth shut but he was so sick of hearing Kelso whine constantly and annoying Jackie, it bugged him.

“I got it,” A squeal from under the car brought them back.

“You sure?” called Red, “get your stuff out here and we’ll start her up.?

The car purred to life and Jackie jumped up and down. “Did I do it right?”

“Yes, you did. Thanks for the help.”

“Anytime.”

“Only one way to really tell if she runs right. Get cleaned up and take her for a spin for me, Kitty has me doing some other jobs today.”

“Sure thing Mr. Forman.”

Jackie washed her hands and face and then hopped into the car.  

The TV was blaring in the basement when Red walked inside.

“The kids down in the basement?” He asked.

Kitty kissed his cheek, “Yes, how’s the car running did you get it all done?”

“Yeah, the Burkhart girl helped,” Red admitted.

“Aw, that’s sweet of her.”

“What do you think of her?”

“She’s a little loud but she’s a doll really,” Kitty said. She rather liked Jackie, she wished Laurie was a little more like her.

“Yeah,” he said aloof because he didn’t care, “say what do you think Steven thinks about her?”

“Oh he has a terrible crush on her, I don’t know if he even knows it yet.”

Red grinned, “That’s kind of what I was thinking. Be right back.”

He stomped down the stairs and flipped off the television set. “Alright new rule, you dunderheads start learning to respect the women that are in this house or my foot is going to go so far up your ass you can wear my boot as a nose ring.”

“Yes Sir,” said Fez and Eric automatically.

“And you,” he went up to Kelso, “if I even hear a whisper that you are pestering Jackie in any way, you will be banned from this house and I will make sure her father finds creative ways to hurt you.”

“Yes, sir,” Kelso nodded.

“Now I know you’re slow on the uptake so if you don’t leave her alone well you got how many siblings? Do you think it would be a while before your parents noticed you were missing?”

“Probably.”

“Good. Now you just think on that the next time you want to bug her.”

“Did Jackie tell you that?”

“No, you’re a loud Dumbass.” He stomped back up the stairs, “And keep that television down.”

Kelso pouted being the one getting most of Red’s ire.

“Guys I’m not really that loud am I?”

“YES!” They all said in unison.

Soon enough Hyde and Jackie returned the car, and he convinced her to come back to the basement for a while.

Jackie still wanted to talk to him but it didn’t feel right to do it today.

Donna pushed Kelso forward as soon as they walked in, “Jackie, I think Kelso has something he’d like to say to you.”

She rolled her eyes but said, “Go on.”

Kelso talked almost robotically, “Jackie, I’m sorry and will respect your wishes and boundaries from now on.”

“Good.”

“I have to go now. Bye, everyone,” He took off quickly.  

Jackie stared after him, “What happened? He did not mature that much in a few hours.”

“Red scared the hell out of him,” Donna said.

Eric smiled, “And Donna coached him on the apology because-

“I think he peed his pants,” said Fez delightedly.

Jackie threw her head back laughing until tears rimmed her eyes.

Hyde watched her, again struck by how pretty she was.

He had to stop doing that.

They were playing Candy Land when Donna asked Jackie, “When was your mom going to pick you up?”

“What time is it now?”

“8,” Hyde checked his watch.  

“Then three hours ago,” Jackie said uncaring.

“Do you want to spend the night at my house?” Donna offered.

“Really?” Donna rarely offered, Jackie usually had to coax an invite out of her or tell her she was staying over at her house.

“Yeah, you can make fun of my hair and stuff.”

“Bonus,” Jackie squealed.  

They were sitting on Donna’s back porch wearing blue facemasks and painting their nails.

“You’re really sticking to your guns with Kelso aren’t you?” Donna asked.

“I mean it, Donna, I don’t know what I saw in him. And I’m sorry I was so awful when I was with him. But I realized I like nice guys, you know ones that walk you to the door, and just do nice things for you and don’t try to take advantage of you. And Kelso isn’t a nice guy.”

“Yeah, you’re right there. So you want a guy who buys you nice things?”

“No, I have money I can buy my own nice things.” Jackie shook her head, “But Kelso never tried to buy me things I mean that’s not the point. Like my favorite thing in my room is this big pink blanket. My grandma made it for me and I have nicer blankets and pricier ones, but she spent a month knitting it for me and it’s special because she made it. So like I always thought a picnic would be a cute date, just some food and sitting together and talking maybe looking at the stars. Not expensive just worthwhile. I don’t know how to say what I mean.”

‘I get it. Like you don’t mind paying for things if the guy puts in an effort some other way.”

“Yeah. Like I know I’m a snob but I don’t need a diamond necklace, I mean I wouldn’t say no, but like bring me some flowers, they could even be from a garden. Or pick me up from practice when I’m tired so I don’t have to drive.”

Donna just studied her for a moment, Jackie had changed a lot and she hadn’t noticed it before. “Wow, Jackie you are a lot less shallow than you seemed.”

“I was shallow, and I still like nice things but I don’t need them if I had a really nice guy.”

“We’ll try to find you one.” Donna glanced over and saw that Jackie wasn’t looking at her, “Unless you already found one?”

Jackie flushed badly.

“Oh my god, you already found one.”

“Don’t tell anyone especially Eric cuz he’ll blab. I found one, I didn’t mean to but he was kind of just there you know. And I don’t know if he likes me likes me, but I like him a lot. He thinks I might be stuck on Michael.”

“You seem pretty done to me.”

“I just have to give it some time and we’re going to talk about it later.”

Donna thought about it, “Not knowing who the guy is, if he’s worried about being a rebound, I’d say he might be interested.”

“Really?”

“Look at Kelso or Fez, do you think either of them would back off like that?”

“Ew absolutely not,” Jackie scoffed.

“Right. So I’m just saying…”

“Donna this sleepover was such a good idea, thank you.”

“Do I know who he is? Was it that guy who took you out a few weeks ago?”

Jackie raised her eyebrows defensively, “Donna, what great date ends an eight?”

“Ok, so not… what’s his name.”

“No, not him. I don’t want to say in case it doesn’t happen.”

Jackie was…enthusiastic about everything to say the least. For her not to gossip and possibly stalk the guy was new.

“Well, whoever this guy is he’s already been a good influence on you.”

Chapter Text

Jackie had taken extra care with her outfit and makeup, she wanted to look as pretty as possible. Donna had made her feel more confident, but she was still nervous.

Today she was for sure going to get Steven alone and talk things over with him.

How she was actually going to do that she didn’t know but she would figure something out.

She went around to the basement early and found only Eric putting together a Star Wars model “Hey,” she said.

“Hello Devil,” he said barely acknowledging her.

“If that’s your way of saying I’m an angel then thank you.”

“Uh yeah, that’s it.”  

“I’m going to say hi to your mom.”

The kitchen table consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Forman and Steven, she thought he had stayed over last night.

“Morning everyone,”

“Well, don’t you look pretty?” Kitty said.

“Thank you. And I wanted to tell you, I got an A in home economics I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Any time sweetheart.” Kitty smiled warmly at her, she liked having someone in the house who liked her interests, “Well not today, I have to go in for a few hours.”

“I was thinking about some cookies for next time.”

“Sounds great.”

“What about the rest of your grades?” Red asked as much as he was trying not to care.

“All A’s except Biology, and that’s only because I refused to cut open a frog.”

“Good.”

Having made an appearance, she had a plan. It could totally work, “I’ll head back downstairs now.”

She rushed down the steps.

“Hey Eric, did you know your mom is going to work today?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Ugh, you are so dumb. When you’re dad goes in you would have a whole house to yourself. Alone with all of us or…”

It took a moment for the lightbulb to go off, “Or if I kick you all out and be alone with Donna.”

“There you go slugger,” she patted him on the shoulder. “So wait until your dad leaves and kick us all out.”

“Why don’t you leave now?”

“I am trying to help you here, if your dad comes down here before he leaves and you are alone with your girlfriend what do you think is going to happen?”

“He’ll send Donna home and tell Bob,” the realization dawned on him, and then he became suspicious, “Why are you being nice?

“I’m repaying a favor to my friend don’t get used to it.”

Once Red checked that at least four of them were there, he left.

And exactly ten minutes later (just to be safe) Eric kicked Jackie and Hyde out.

“Well there goes the rest of my day,” Hyde said.

“We could go to my house,” she said casually, “I have my dad’s car.”

“And your dad is?”

“In New York with my mom for a whole week,” she said.  

“They left you again?”

“Not a big deal. Or we could go to a movie or whatever.”

“No your house is cool.”

She put on his Zeppelin record she grabbed from Eric’s and got them both a pop. She was hoping that it would help her seal the deal.

“So do you know what day it is?” Jackie asked.

“It’s Tuesday,” he said unconcerned.

“Yeah, but what day is it?”

“Uh, the nineteenth? Twentieth, I don’t know,” he shrugged.  

She didn’t know if he was doing it on purpose or seriously didn’t know. “It’s been a whole month since the prom. A whole full month and a week and a half more.”

For a second Hyde froze.

“And?” He finally said.

Jackie sat on the opposite end of the couch. “So, I’m talking to you.”

He hadn’t expected her to. She hadn’t been all touchy-feely like she used to be. He figured she’d gotten over it.

“You think you’re over Kelso?”

“Yes, I do. I don’t know how most girls feel when they break up with their first boyfriend but I feel so relieved. I know he’s your friend but if I didn’t see him at all, that would be fine too. He’s so loud and he’s always gluing himself to things or falling off of things and just listen.” She held her hand out to the air.  

“I don’t hear anything,” Hyde said.

“Exactly. Quiet. I know that’s rich coming from me but it’s nice. I like you Steven and I think that maybe you like me too.”

“Look Jackie, I do like you but I think it’s a bad idea.”

“Why?”

“Because you come from this and you know where I’m from.”

“So what?”

“So we’re too different. We don’t have anything in common.”

That hurt, Jackie knew he wouldn’t sweep her off her feet but to totally dismiss her, she hadn’t planned on that. “But if we like each other then why not?”

“Because you’re basically the Point Place Princess and I’m the burnout.

“I don’t care. You and I got along great at prom, you defended me when Kelso was being gross. I don’t see why you won’t give it a shot.”

“I’ve told you,” he said firmly. Jackie wanted to rip those damn sunglasses off his face and crush them under her boots.

“I’m a princess yeah, my parents have everything they could want, my dad has two girlfriends that I know of and my mom’s been sleeping with every pool boy and tennis instructor we’ve ever had. They leave me all the time. We have stuff and we aren’t happy. I couldn’t tell you anything about my parents because I don’t even know more than that.”

She never shared that much with anyone, the closest she got was telling Michael that her parents left her a lot. He just wanted to take advantage of the empty house.

She felt exposed, “I like you and you make me happy when we’re hanging out.”

Hyde wanted to make her see that it was a bad idea. “Hanging out isn’t dating. I’m not boyfriend material.”

“Shouldn’t I get to decide that?” Jackie asked.

“No.”

“So you like me enough to date me, but you won’t. Even though I like you a lot.”

“Jackie, it’s not that simple.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Jackie, this wouldn’t work,” he said flatly.

In that moment, Jackie decided she wouldn’t chase him. She’d chased Michael until she got him and then it went downhill from there.

“You know what fine. I get it stupid Jackie. I’m annoying and shallow and every other awful thing all of you have said behind my back or to my face since last year.”

“Look, Jackie-

“No,” she pulled his record off the player, “here take your record and find someone else who doesn’t bother you.”

And she pushed him out the front door, slamming it behind him.  

She slid down the door and cried.

He didn’t know what her problem was.

He was doing his best to keep her out of the chaos that was his life. She’d get bored after a few weeks and where would that leave him?

He wasn’t Kelso. He wouldn’t keep going after her, but it would kill him if they got together and she left which she would, and then he’d have to see her with someone else.

It was killing him now listening to her cry on the other side of the door, he fought with himself for several minutes. He almost knocked on the door but he stopped himself.

Having nowhere else to go, he went to the Photo Hut. Leo would either let him get some hours or get a hit. Either way win-win.

Chapter Text

Usually, a circle cured Hyde of his all problems. Whatever was bugging him wouldn’t matter by the time he came back down, it was his form of therapy and it worked.

Usually.

The problem was some spritely girl wouldn’t leave him alone.

Figuratively that is.

Jackie had been missing from the basement since Sunday, but the memory of her shoving him out of her house and crying wouldn’t leave him. It kept his high from making him feel better, the sounds of her crying on the other side of the door kept him from sleeping, the guilt that he had caused all of that ate at him.

Still, he thought it was the better thing to do. He was the guy people left. They’d had a tentative friendship and that was as far as it would go. She deserved better.

Maybe they’d be friends again when she got over it and found another guy. That too ate at him and he didn’t know why.

“Where’s the Devil Woman?” Eric asked on Thursday, Fez was at vacation bible school for the week and Kelso was chasing another girl around town. It was only natural to notice the total and sudden disappearance of Jackie.

“She’s upset about a guy,” Donna said absently staring at the T.V.

“Oh god no, she isn’t getting back with Kelso is she?” Eric asked. He found he minded her less once she and Kelso had split.

“No, she said there was this guy she was into and he kind of blew her off.”

“She’ll get over it,” Hyde said.

“Yeah, but she was really upset, and not screaming over Kelso on the ski cabin trip upset. You guys didn’t hear the things she said when she was talking about this guy before. Like he was so nice to her and immediately showed her how awful Kelso was to her.”

“That’s weird. Ok, look I want to be nice but she’s Jackie,” Eric said.

“I know but she sounded different. She thought this guy liked her and not just because her parents are rich. It really hurt her.”

Eric rolled his eyes, “Goodie a heartbroken Jackie.”

Donna had been watching Hyde from the corner of her eye. She wasn’t stupid and could put two and two together.

Jackie had only mentioned one date and that he was boring and she didn’t like him. The last sort of one she’d had was with Hyde. He was shifty in his chair trying to look Zen and cool, but they’d been friends long enough she could tell.

She was sure he was the guy.

On her way home that night, Red told Donna to be sure to invite the little loud one to the barbecue on Saturday.

The barbecue arrived and so did Jackie with some guy named Chip on her arm.

Hyde tried to ignore it, but it bothered him a lot.

She didn’t look all that happy and pretty much ignored him after introducing him, but who was Hyde to intrude he’d told her no.

Donna pulled Jackie to the side “So is that the guy?”

“No, he’s just a guy,” Jackie said blandly.

She didn’t even talk to him after she pointed him towards the beer. She wasn’t trying to impress him. Her outfit was bland for Jackie standards and she hadn’t even tried with her hair. She just didn’t care but she refused to show up alone, and at the time she thought anyone was better than no one. 

She was starting to regret that decision.  

Chip was the antithesis of Hyde. Richer, clean-cut, had a job that his dad had gotten him. But they both chose to hang out by the beer. They got to talking and then Chip put the nails in his coffin.

… “It’s worth it if I can nail her.”

That stalled Hyde, yeah there were girls he went after just for a one time deal, but they were older, experienced, and into it upfront.

They weren’t Jackie.

“You should think about that man, she’s kinda young only had one boyfriend,” Hyde said.

Chip shrugged, “That’s not a big surprise, she’s a bitch.”

“Oh no,” Hyde shook his head. He couldn’t help it.

Hyde punched Chip in the face nailing him to the ground without even spilling his drink.

“Hyde,” Donna shouted.

Coming back into his body, Hyde didn’t need the attention and ran into the kitchen and Kitty even called him out.

“Is your girlfriend okay?” She asked, she knew her Steven wouldn’t get into a fight in her driveway for no reason. And if he were fighting alone it had to be over a girl.  

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Hyde practically shouted at her, “I don’t like her.”

“Are you sure?” Kitty said it almost in a sing-song voice, “Cuz I kind of think that you do.”

“I don’t like her.”

“But Steven, you don’t like anybody.”

“If I like her shoot me.”

“Pow,” she pulled a finger gun on him. Kitty stopped joking, “Honey, you have been mooning about after her for months.”

“No I haven’t,” Hyde said adamantly.

“Steven,” Kitty wiped her hands on her apron and went to the drawer and pulled out an envelope. “Look.” It was their prom pictures. Quickly flipping through the ones of Eric and Donna then Kitty handed him the few of him and Jackie.

He remembered. Kitty hadn’t posed them like that, he’d grabbed Jackie and held onto her waist. They could have posed any of a dozen different ways, but they hadn’t. He looked at her like she was something ethereal. He knew she wasn’t but he had somewhat put her on a pedestal.

“I just got those developed,” Kitty said, “if you don’t like her you forgot to tell your face because you look at her like that all the time.”

Hyde slammed them down on the table and stormed out, he was going to go home or something. He came out in time to see Jackie kicking Chip, who still hadn’t gotten up, in the shins and also storming away.

He followed her, “Hey Jackie do you want to get out of here?”

Jackie turned, her face flush in anger. She must have heard what Chip had said about her, maybe she was still mad at him too.

“Yes.”

She practically threw her keys at him.

Definitely still mad at him, he thought.

They got in her car and drove out to the water tower.

Once they got to the top she asked him, “So this is where you guys hang out?” They hadn’t spoken since getting into the car.

“Yep.”

“Nice view.”

“Yeah, Kelso usually falls off at least once a year. Be careful of the rails,” he told her. The last thing he needed was for her to fall.

He heard her mumble “Idiots.”

They sat silently for a while.

It was driving him past the point of Zen into madness, so he asked what had been bothering him since she showed up at the barbecue. “So why’d you bring that Chip guy?”

“You know why. Why did you punch him?” She asked back.

“You know why.”

That set her off, “No I don’t. I know he insulted me but why did you hit him?”

Hyde looked at her blankly, like she should have just known.

“Isn’t it obvious?” He asked.

She was on the verge of losing her temper, “Explain it to me,” she snapped.

“I hit him because he insulted you.”

And that took the fight out of her.

Jackie sighed, “Look Steven, I said what I said. I mean it I care about you. I like you. I’ve been trying to get your attention since Prom and I think you like me the same way.”

“Look Jackie I don’t date.”

“Not true. You date when you feel like it. You just don’t want to date me.” She was starting to cry and turned her head away from him.

“That’s not true-” he stopped himself.

“Whatever.” She threw his old standby back in his face.

That actually hurt.

Huh.

He could say it one time and then throw himself off the water tower and end it all if he jumped toward the right spot. If the fall didn’t kill him he could feign amnesia. That would work.  

“Jackie, I told you I do like you. But I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“So?” She sniffled “Most of your ideas aren’t good ideas and you do them anyway.”

He chuckled. “You have a point. I just don’t want to rope you into anything. Your parents won’t like me.

“So what, they’re barely home to notice.”

“My life’s a mess,” he tried again to get her to see.

“I’m okay with mess. You have not at any point said you don’t want to date me. Are you almost out of excuses?”

“I’m not good enough for you,” he finally said.

“How so?” She finally turned back to look at him, “You are the most caring guy I’ve ever met, you did not have to take me to the prom but you did. You did not have to dress up or get me a corsage. When it was over you could have dropped me off and left. You could have gotten a ride back with Eric. Instead, you took me to get food and out to the cliffs and watch the stars and that was the best date of my entire life.”

“We didn’t do anything,” to say he was surprised that she said that didn’t begin to cover it.

“So what? It was special to me at least,” she was pouting, but not the fake way she had been after prom. She was hurt again and it was his fault.  

Hyde fought with himself as he looked at her green-brown eyes, but Mrs. Forman was right.

He liked her.

Admitting it was the first step, wasn’t it?

“Jackie,” he sighed, “meet me at Forman’s tomorrow at 7, we’re going on a freaken date.”

The way she smiled at him, he was a goner. She reached over and kissed him on the cheek.

“I can’t wait.” She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder.

Eventually, he put his arm around her.

“Anything for you doll.”

Chapter Text

Hyde was Zen.

Hyde was cool.

Hyde was freaking the hell out.

Somehow this square, pipsqueak girl had gotten him into taking her on a date and he had no idea what the hell to do. The town was so small they’d already done about half of what two teenagers could do between the water tower and the cliffs.

Toss in Fatso Burger, which her dad owned, so what kind of a date would that be?

The only things they hadn’t done yet were go bowling and to the movies.

He walked through the Forman’s kitchen the next day on his way to the basement.

“Steven we’re having chicken for dinner if you want to stay,” Kitty offered the moment she saw him.

“Thanks, but I uh can’t tonight Mrs. Forman.”

“Oh… Why?” She asked too innocently.

He could tell she knew, he could lie to her but he never liked lying to Kitty, “I kind of have to take Jackie out.”

“On a date?” Kitty said loudly.

“Shhh, I guess,” He winced, he didn’t want the others hearing about it.

“Red did you hear that he’s taking her out on a date. Isn’t that romantic?” She practically bounced on her toes.

“I mean, like she talked me into it, don’t get so excited. I think she won’t even want to go out again after tonight,” Hyde tried to calm her inevitable disappointment, and he didn’t want the others to hear about this when Jackie regained her senses that night.

“Right,” Kitty nodded but didn’t seem like she was buying it.

“So you’re taking the Burkhart girl out?” Red asked.

“Yes, Sir.”

Red put his paper down and sternly said, “Sit down son.”

Pretty much everyone was scared of Red so immediately he sat down.

“Where are you taking her?” Red asked.

“I don’t know yet, I haven’t figured it out.”

“Well, she’s a nice girl.” He reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty. “You take this and do something nice.”

“I can’t take that Mr. Forman,” Hyde wanted to object, he also wanted the twenty dollars but that wasn’t right, was it?

“Yes you will and that’s an order.”

He wasn’t about to say no a second time.

“Thanks,” he reached out when his hand connected with the bill Red sort of pulled it back.

“But you will treat her respectfully and if I hear anything else my foot will be up your ass so fast.”

“Yes sir, you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Good.” Red let go of the money.

Now that opened up his options, “I still don’t know what to do.”

“You’ll figure something out.”

“Oh let me help,” Kitty squealed.

“See,” Red smirked, he knew Kitty would have some ideas.

“Ok, but don’t tell the others it might be weird cuz she dated Kelso.”

“Oh, Honey my lips are sealed.” Kitty twisted an imaginary key to lock her lips.

Hyde had snuck in a change of shirts going from his tee-shirt to a button-up and a vest. He didn’t know why he did it, it wasn’t a big deal.

Jackie pulled up in her dad’s Lincoln at 7. He didn’t care, it was just a date right?

She got out of the car wearing her chunky shoes and a pale purple off the shoulder dress. It reminded him a little of her prom dress.

Purple was slowly becoming his new favorite color.

This wouldn’t be so bad, he thought.

“Hey,” Steven said.

“Hi,” Jackie smiled up at him offering her car keys, “Do you want to drive?”

“Sure.” He could do this. He walked over and opened her door and closed it once she got inside.

Breathe. Zen.

“Red, look,” Kitty said from inside the kitchen.

“Kitty stop spying on them.”

“I’m not spying I’m supervising,” she said turning back to the glass door, “Oh, he opened the door for her.”

Red stood behind her looking over her head at the two kids wearing equally goofy grins, “Poor kid. He has it bad and it doesn’t even know it yet.”

Hyde took Jackie to a restaurant that was nicer than the Hub but not too nice. If he managed the money Red gave him, he could swing a few dates off of it.

Not that he thought Jackie would want to go out with him again.

They talked and she at some point stole his sunglasses.

She refused to return them until he admitted she looked cute in them.

He said cool but refused to say cute.

Jackie accepted it as a victory and returned them.

He told her before prom he’d never noticed that her eyes weren’t both brown like he’d always thought.

After they finished their food, they went for a walk and ended up in the park. She ran to the swings

“Push me,” she demanded like a spoiled child.

“No.”

“Come on.”

“What are you five?” He retorted.

“Fine. I don’t need you to push me.” She started swinging and he just watched her.

She was annoying, bossy, loud, and she was also pretty, and fiercely independent in her own way. That’s what he liked about her- and it hit him like a truck. He really liked her, more than her just being hot. He actually really liked her.  

When she wasn’t whining after Kelso, she was fun to be around. She was still annoying sometimes but he’d dealt with Eric since they were five, he could deal with her. At least she was better to look at.

He walked over and sat on the swing next to her, just watching.

When she slowed down and just sat there she looked up at the stars, she shivered and Hyde immediately stood and took off his jacket and handed it to her.

“Thanks.” She put her arms in the sleeves so she could still swing a little.

They just sat saying nothing.

“This is the best date ever,” Jackie declared.  

“We haven’t said anything in 30 minutes.”

“So, are you bored with me?” She asked.

“No,” he admitted. He’d expected her to never shut up but she could be quiet and just chill.

“Me neither.”

Hyde wasn’t brave, but he took a leap.

“You want to do something tomorrow?”

She stopped swinging and frowned, “I’d like to, but I can’t tomorrow. I’ll probably see you tomorrow but I have plans already.”

“Oh,” he was actually disappointed.

He saw her shiver again. “We should probably start back to the car.”

“Yeah, I guess,” disappointment spread on her face.

Jackie hugged her arms around herself to warm up. Hyde had no idea what made him do it, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her a little bit closer.

Her face perked up and she leaned into his side.  They walked that way back to the car.

Whatever he’d done the mood was lighter once they got in the car.

They fought over the radio station, Jackie declared that as he had been blessed with her presence she should get to pick. Hyde absolutely refused to let her pick a pop station. Every red light, Hyde would change it, and as soon as he started driving again Jackie changed it back and smiled smugly that he couldn’t fix it while driving.

Neither one cared all that much about the radio.

He pulled up in front of the Forman’s house.

“I had a really nice time tonight Steven.”

“So did I,” he admitted. They hadn’t really done anything but he’d liked spending time with her.

“I didn’t tell you but you look really pretty.”

She smiled and he was sure she blushed, did she use to do that he wondered? He couldn’t remember her blushing with Kelso but he kept noticing it now.

“Thank you.”

He decided to go for it, “I know your busy tomorrow but do you want to try this again?”

“I’d love to go out again with you Steven.”

“Ok, good.” What was happening to him? He was such an idiot.

Jackie fidgeted, “I guess I should…”

“Yeah,” Hyde got out and opened her door. She was so tiny he noticed, and he walked her to the driver’s side. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” she repeated and Hyde turned to go.

On a last impulse, he turned back. “Hey, Jackie,”

“Yes,” she turned toward him.

He was in her space and his hand slid lightly on her cheek tilting her face up waiting for her to push him away when she didn’t he leaned down and kissed her. Just on the lips at first and then deeper when she still didn’t push him away.

He pulled away and her fingers were touching her lips. Raspily she said, “I didn’t feel anything.”

His heart sank, but a quick flash and Jackie’s eyes were full of fire “Maybe you should do that again, you know, to be sure and all.” She reached out and pulled him back by his shirt and initiated it that time. She was driving him crazy. He’d done a lot more with a lot of girls and here was this tiny cheerleader pushing all his buttons.

Finally, he pulled away, stopping before they got too carried away. Her lip-gloss was smudged and her eyes were dark, “Feel anything that time?” he asked hoarsely.  

She smiled devilishly at him, “Hmm, I don’t know. I’ll tell you on our next date.” Her hand still tangled in his shirt.

“So, I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes, you’ll see me tomorrow,” she confirmed and finally let go of his shirt.  

“Goodnight  Jackie.”

“Goodnight Steven,” she wore the brightest smile he’d ever seen on her.

She got in the car and drove off, he waited until she was out of sight before he walked around the block. He was going to stay over instead of going home. Edna had been extra pleasant that morning. He replayed every second of the date, even when they weren’t talking it was nice. He was sure she’d be bored of him soon but it was nice while it lasted.

It was cold he thought, and he remembered she still had his jacket.

He didn’t really mind though.

Then he thought about that kiss. For a second when she said “nothing” it killed him, but she was only joking and pulled him back. It was the hottest kiss of his life. His lips still burned with it. By the time he’d gotten back to Forman’s he didn’t have anything figured out but he knew he could at least keep himself collected in front of the others.

He wiped his mouth before walking in to make sure all traces of lip-gloss was gone.

Kelso and Fez were chugging down a can of cheese wiz and Eric and Donna were making out in the corner.

It had only been a few minutes and he already missed Jackie.

Hyde walked into the kitchen the next morning to see Jackie covered in grease in a flannel shirt that was way too big for her.

“What are you doing?” He asked her.

Jackie practically flipped her hair as she spoke, “We’re changing the oil. You can come and help if you want.” She turned and went back out to the garage.

“This is just unnatural,” Eric said watching his Dad bond with Jackie.

“Yep totally unnatural, I need to talk to Red,” Hyde followed her out.

“Morning Jackie,” he sat on the floor of the garage.

“Morning,” she said as things clinked under the car. Hyde could practically hear her grinning at him.

Red watched the two interact. He was right, the boy had it bad. It was written all over his face, despite the stupid glasses he’d taken to wearing most of the time now. He couldn’t help needling him.

“So did you finally pull your head out of your ass?” Red asked him.

“Yes, he did,” came a muffled voice from under the car.

Hyde smirked, “What she said.”

“Good, about time,” Red said.  

Hyde didn’t know what he was going on about, “It was only a few days.”

Red gave a knowing smirk, “Sure son.”

Chapter Text

After a few weeks of sneaking around, neither was sure it was worth it anymore.

They were positive Kitty would give it away sooner rather than later, the way she looked at them when they were in a room together was a dead giveaway if anyone was paying attention. Thankfully, their friends were dense and hadn’t noticed.

Yet.

Another problem had popped up because of Leo.

Leo, as out of it as he was most of the time, gave Hyde a car. Just outright gave it to him. It was one of the only things that belonged to Hyde.

Jackie both loved Leo for giving Steven the car, but she also wanted to tear his hair out because it complicated everything.  

As sweet as it was, that meant there was an extra car available if the group ever wanted to do anything there was less chance of one of them being the last one in the car for the night.

Jackie had managed to complain her way into needing a ride home a few times and managed to get a few extra hours alone with Steven. Unfortunately, one of those times Fez also needed a ride home.

The sneaking around just wasn’t working out.

Jackie was cranky about their options for spending time together without making the others suspicious.

They sat at the spot they’d hung out after prom. It was starting to get too hot to do this even in the evenings.

“There’s literally nothing else to do in this town,” she groaned.

Hyde had been hesitant to say it, but there was something telling him that maybe Jackie wasn’t going to ditch him soon.

“We could go to the basement,” he suggested.

“Real fun. I sit on one side of the room, you on the other, while our stupid friends do whatever they’re doing to annoy us,” Jackie complained.

“Or we could not,” he said it casually like it was something he’d have normally done with any other girl.

Jackie looked at him confused, “Not, what?”

“You over this?”

“No, I just don’t like sneaking around.” Jackie went on, “I mean it’s kind of hot but I can’t tell anyone and it’s just annoying. Like, I know they don’t know, but it’s like they know enough to keep interfering. ”

Hyde had to agree with Jackie, it was like they all subconsciously knew and did everything they could to always be around.

This was going to burn him, he just knew it. “You want to tell them? We could.”

Jackie was stunned. Of the two of them, she figured she’d have to pester him for months before he’d let her tell anyone, let alone their friends. “Are you serious?”

“Unless you’re ashamed of me?”

“Steven,” Jackie pulled herself into his lap, essentially trapping him in place, not that he minded.

“I’m not sure if you’re joking or not so let me explain it very clearly,” she kissed him when they came up for air she spoke again. “I am not ashamed of you. I like you. I wouldn’t be with you otherwise. I don’t care if anyone else doesn’t like this, I’m with you and I’m not going anywhere. Is that clear enough for you?”

“Crystal,” he said then asked her, “You want to go to the basement?”

She knew what he was asking do you want to tell the?

“I do if you want to,” Yes, she admitted.  

“We’re going to get caught eventually.” OK

“Because you can’t keep your hands to yourself,” Jackie told him.

He raised an eyebrow at her, “Yeah, cuz I’m sitting in your lap.”

“If I’m bothering you I’ll just go,” she started to pull herself away.

His hands snaked up behind her back stopping her.

“Didn’t say you were bothering me.”

“I thought you wanted to go hang out at Eric’s,” she teased him.

“Tomorrow,” he said, “we can go tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” she repeated, and they continued kissing on the hood of his car as the sun went down.

Chapter Text

Had the basement door ever been so intimidating before?

Jackie braced herself. She knew she really cared about Steven but the gang could be judgmental and downright mean.

She of course was the queen of mean in their group, so she’d deserve it wouldn’t she? God, what would Donna say? Worse what would Eric say?

Eric could easily get Steven to leave her.

She didn’t care if they didn’t like it, but the thought of losing Steven over them terrified her. If they said the wrong thing Steven would be out and she’d be home alone crying.

They opened the door and walked in unnoticed. Jackie started to panic, they hadn’t planned anything. How were they going to say it? What were they going to say? This was a terrible idea.

Donna, Eric, and Fez were already there playing cards. Fez was whining and losing as usual.  

Whatever confidence Jackie usually put on display, it was nowhere to be found with something this important.

Jackie’s eyes darted around trying to find a place to sit. Fez had the closest lawn chair and with the way Eric and Donna were sitting there was no space on the couch. There was always the freezer she guessed, but it was behind everyone.

The footstool or the edge of the table were always options, even if she felt like a toddler sitting below everyone else on them.  

Hyde could see her mind spinning and tell she was freaking out.

Before Jackie could decide what to do, Hyde took her hand, led her in front of everyone, sat in his preferred chair, and pulled her onto his lap. Jackie felt the blush creeping up her neck.

Eric finally noticed them, “We have other chairs,” he pointed to the footstool across from them.

Jackie looked at Steven, she could see him looking at her under his shades, he was letting her decide. Stay or Go?

“No, I’m good,” Jackie said. She liked the way his arm was wrapped around her waist.

In his head, Hyde was counting down from ten. When he hit 3 Eric jumped up yelling, “OH MY GOD NO!!!!”

“Calm down,” Hyde said unbothered.

Donna laughed manically, “I knew it. Pay up, boys.”

“What?” Hyde asked as Jackie shouted, “How could you bet on us?”

“It was too easy, especially after that punch.”

Eric groaned, “She called it like a month ago though.”

“Goodbye Candy Factory money,” Fez pouted.

“A month? It happened a week ago,” Hyde said.  

“God you’re both so obvious,” Donna laughed, “you got all cozy after prom.”

“No we didn’t,” Hyde retorted.  

“Whatever you say,” Donna smirked, “I guess it was some other guy who looks like you bringing Jackie pop or asking what she wanted to watch on TV. My bad.”

Hyde was about to say something back but the door swung open, Kelso walked in and sat down.

“Hey fellas, ladies. Why is Jackie sitting on Hyde’s lap? If you need a lap I got one.”

Jackie cringed.

“Basement ban,” Donna muttered under her breath.

“Red isn’t here to kick me out, I already checked.” Kelso squeezed himself in between Donna and Eric wriggling his butt more than necessary.  

“Yeah, but I am,” Hyde said, his usual scowl more pronounced.  

“Why would you kick me out?”

Jackie scrunched her face, how had she never seen how stupid he was?

She leaned back a little to balance herself better on the chair.

It took Kelso a little longer after that when he shouted.

“Oh my god. You stole Jackie from me.”

“You never deserved her you sonofabitch,” Fez muttered.

They’d expected this, Jackie sighed, “Steven did not steal me, Kelso.” She’d never called him that before, it felt weird to say but maybe it would put some distance between them. If he thought she was still somehow with him she needed the space.

“Jackie we are through,” Kelso yelled.

“Good to know.”

Kelso took off slamming the door behind him.

“I can’t believe it took him so long,” Jackie said.

“Are you kidding I’m surprised he figured it out,” Donna told them.

“I am sitting on Steven’s lap.”

“Yeah… about that,” Eric started.

“Can it Forman,” Hyde told him.

They dropped it and started acting normally. Overall it hadn’t gone that bad. Jackie found that she loved Steven protecting her from the group, even if he didn’t have to.

Steven gave her a slight squeeze around her waist and she gave him a bright smile. She knew it was a bad idea to compare an ex to whatever she had with Steven but she couldn’t help it. Kelso rarely seemed like he’d wanted her around, she was just a ride and a meal ticket, sometimes he’d want to make out, but obviously, he had other girls for that.

A lot of the time she felt like her boyfriend hadn’t even wanted her around.

Steven was different, they were new but he chose to tell everyone, he took her hand in front of everyone, he kept her close like this.

She settled into his arms, this was definitely where she wanted to be.

Chapter Text

“It’s so hot, and there’s nothing to do,” Eric whined for the fifth time that morning.

The basement was usually the coolest spot in the house, even in the summer, but today was an exception. It was nearing 95 with a humidity to match.

“We could always go swimming,” Jackie suggested.

Donna considered the offer, “The beach is usually empty with everyone going somewhere better.”

“I don’t do the beach,” Steven said firmly.

They ignored him.

“There’s always the community pool but it’s more crowded,” said Eric. He wasn’t all that interested in swimming but his girlfriend in a swimsuit didn’t sound that terrible.

Jackie looked at all of them like they were idiots, “Guys, I have a pool at my house.”

It had never occurred to any of them that they could actually hang out at Jackie’s house.  

Steven still didn’t want to go swimming, “No.”

“Okay,” Jackie let it go, “you don’t have to go.”  

“Whatever, I’m in,” said Donna, “it’s too hot to hang around here.” Donna got up and Jackie followed her.

“Donna grab a suit and then help me pick one out. I lost my one piece somewhere so I have to settle for one of my bikinis,” Jackie sounded annoyed by this but Hyde could tell that was for his benefit.  

“If you’re coming you guys can meet us later,” Donna said to the boys.

“You better sunblock yours up though, he looks like the kind to burn.”

“God he’s so fragile,” Donna joked as they walked out, leaving Hyde and Eric alone without a second thought.  

“Dude are you seriously not going?” Eric asked him.

Hyde sighed. Jackie was manipulating him, but damn it he was hooked.

He threw his feet up on the table and practically growled out, “Yeah, I’m going.”

“Welcome to the club man,” Eric said sympathetically.

“What club?” Hyde asked irritably.

“You’re going to do a bunch of stupid stuff you don’t want to do and look like an idiot.”

Hyde didn’t like Eric lumping him in with him, he wasn’t as pathetic as Eric, “You always look like an idiot.”

Eric spoke softly, like Pastor Dave would do, “Lashing out is the first step, it’s okay man I’ve been there.”

Hyde threw a punch at his arm and missed.

“Physical violence is also expected, it’s okay. I’m here for you.” Eric darted off the couch before Hyde could try and hit him again.

“Seriously is she your girlfriend or what?”

“No,” he expected that kind of talk from Jackie, not Forman.

“Well, a wise idiot once told me if I didn’t ask Donna to be my girlfriend then she was fair game, and guess what? Someone tried to take my girl.”

“You try and make a play for Jackie, please. I want to see who kicks your ass first Jackie or Donna.”

“I don’t want to date the Devil, man. I’m just saying…” Eric shrugged.

“Yeah, I know what you’re saying.” Hyde thought about what a jerk he’d been the year before, “Sorry about that I was really stupid.”

“Well, you’re not the king at least.” An almost evil smile spread across Eric’s face, “At least not yet. I can’t wait,” he started to imitate Jackie, “Steven hold my purse, Steven take me to the mall, Steven isn’t ABBA just the coolest.”

As Hyde got up to Frog him Eric darted up the stairs.

Hyde sighed, looked like he was going to the pool whether he wanted to or not.

When Jackie emerged wearing a tiny pair of shorts and a bikini top, Hyde wasn’t all that sorry he’d shown up.

They came back that evening from Jackie’s, with a very burnt Eric and an exasperated Donna.

“Come on, let’s see if your mom can fix this,” She dragged her boyfriend up the stairs behind her, the occasional ow drifting behind them.

Hyde sat on the couch and Jackie chose the spot next to him.

Finally alone, Hyde asked her what had been on his mind all afternoon.

“So this pool thing, was that a setup?”

“You can’t prove that,” She said quickly.

Hyde forced himself not to smile, he was starting to rub off on her. “Jackie?”  

“Well, it was so hot today,” Jackie pouted, “I wanted you to see my outfit.”

God that pout would do him in.

“Not much of one,” his fingers skimmed the exposed flesh on her waist.

A flirty smile stretched across her face, “So you don’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that,” Jackie was completely intoxicating. 

“How long do you think we have?” She asked.

“Enough,” He pulled her onto his lap and started kissing her neck creeping down her shoulder and inching closer to her chest.

Her fingers were lacing through his hair.

Eric whined as he clomped down the steps.

They sprang apart and Jackie threw herself in his usual chair putting her feet up on the table and flipping through a magazine.

Steven was right, if they hadn’t said something they would have gotten caught sooner rather than later. Neither of them could keep their hands off of the other.

 “Ew. What’s that smell?” Jackie asked scrunching up her face.  

“His mom gave him vinegar to help the burn but he’s going to feel it,” Donna plopped a bowl down on the table with cloths in it.

Donna looked at Jackie, “You look red too are you sure you didn’t overdo it too?”

“Maybe a little it,” she said partially honest, “probably driving in the sun, extra rays. I’m gonna get a popsicle anyone want one?”

Everyone did. She handed them out to everyone, careful to keep her distance from Steven while surrounded by other people.

Hyde was in the same boat, something about Jackie drove him crazy. All his years of schooling his features into total uncaring indifference came crashing down around her. The fact that she was wearing a crop top and shorts showing off most of her skin when she was normally very conservative was not helping matters in the least.

After the popsicles, Hyde stood up, “Ok that smell is disgusting. I’m out of here, Jackie you want to head out?”

Truthfully Jackie couldn’t even smell the vinegar anymore but she could be alone in not the basement with Steven. She wasn’t about to stay.

Jumping up she followed him, “Yeah, sorry lobster boy but you reek.”

“It’s all your fault devil,” Eric glared at her.

Jackie was going to slap Eric’s arm as she walked out, but Steven smacked him hard in the shoulder where he was particularly burnt.

Eric cried out at that and Donna rolled her eyes.

They were the perfect couple, Jackie thought. She didn’t mind Eric calling her Devil, it was their thing, but she loved Steven defending her. Eric might not be quite so snippy with her anytime soon.

She followed Steven outside.

He asked her, “So what do you want to do now?”

“There’s always our spot, it might be okay if you don’t park in the sun.”

“Let’s go.”

He opened her door and Jackie scooted close to him on the bench seat.

“So back to the outfit?”

He smirked taking in her legs on full display. “It’s working for me.”

Chapter Text

Since the reveal of Hyde and Jackie dating, Kelso was mostly minding his manners. Until he brought with him hell incarnate.

Laurie walked in hanging all over him. They were all used to her, annoyed but used to.

She would normally pick on her brother, and call Hyde names like loser since he was in the house enough growing up to be another annoying younger brother. The others she’d mostly left alone.

But for some unknown reason, her new favorite target was Jackie.

She was doing laundry and started in on Jackie once again, “Does it bother you to see your first love with somebody else,” she teased.

“No, he cheated on me repeatedly I don’t care what or who he does.” Jackie jabbed right back, “Obviously he doesn’t either.”

Laurie was practically using baby talk with her, “You didn’t give him anything to work with and the poor thing had to go looking, it was hardly his fault.”

“So what you’re saying is you’re both skanks?” Jackie asked.

“Burn,” Eric pounced on it.

“Hmm whatever,” Laurie said, “you play at the kids’ table, I’ll be meeting him upstairs.”

“You should take some penicillin,” Jackie shouted childishly.

“I like this Jackie, want to stay for dinner? Stay the night while Laurie’s home?” Eric asked. “Seriously, you can take my room I’ll sleep in the car.”

“Eric, Mom wants you,” Laurie called from the kitchen.  

Jackie huffed her annoyance.

Hyde hadn’t enjoyed the show as much as Eric, “You need to chill out when Laurie taunts you.”

“She just grates at me.”

“Why?” He was genuinely confused, Jackie put up with rude remarks from all of them nearly every day. The obvious reason he didn’t like at all.  

“I know what you’re thinking and NO I don’t even care about her and Kelso, seriously it sort of keeps him from hitting on me and Donna,” she wanted to make sure Steven knew she wasn’t pining after her ex.

“So what is it?”

Her face flushed, “We never- you know and I guess he told Laurie. I can’t stand being made fun of because I didn’t sleep with him, and in front of everyone it’s embarrassing.”

He brushed a piece of her hair back.

“Look at their standards they’re pretty low and you’re…” he stopped himself.

“I’m what?” Jackie pushed.

He knew she wouldn’t let the slip go.

“I’m what Steven?”

He admitted it finally, “You’re classier than Laurie.” It wasn’t the first time he’d thought it but it was the first time he’d told her he thought so.

Jackie beamed at the compliment.

“When she insults you just be Zen.”

She rolled her eyes, “You can’t just make up words Steven.”

“Come on Grasshopper,” he laughed at her, “I’ll show you.”

Laurie came into the basement ready to attack, the only ones missing were her brother and Kelso.

“Aw look at the daycare program is up and running again.”

No one spoke.

“Nothing to say, Jackie?” She asked annoyed at not being acknowledged before.

“Nah not really,” she flipped through her magazine

“Has anyone seen Kelso? I want to take him to my room and do all kinds of dirty things to him.”

“Ew,” both Donna and Hyde said.

“I’m here,” Fez said desperately.

Then Kelso walked down the stairs.

“Hey, Laurie.”

“Hey baby,” she ran her hands up his chest “want to go up to my room and…”

“Yeah,” he was bouncing like a giant golden retriever.

“Oh,” she covered her mouth in mock horror and looked straight at Jackie, “maybe I shouldn’t say anything there are children in the room.”

“Whatever.”

Hyde smiled at Jackie she was fine but her lack of caring was getting under Laurie’s skin.

“Oh, you’re little Miss whatever now are you?”

Jackie didn’t bother looking away from her magazine. “That’s cool,” she said with her most uninterested voice.

Laurie lost all of her playful annoyance, “Ok, play your little childish games,” she snapped. “I mean if you were a real woman you wouldn’t be slumming it with delinquent losers like you have been,” she gestured towards Steven.

All the Zen went right out of Jackie.

She saw red.

Jackie launched herself over the back of the couch and punched Laurie as she tackled her to the ground. Donna tried to break it up but Laurie bit her.

“Kick her ass, Jackie.”

She pulled her hair and landed at least another smack before Kelso yanked Jackie off of Laurie.

Big as he was, he could hardly hold onto tiny yet crazed Jackie trying to take another crack at Laurie. “Don’t you ever talk like that about him again you cheap tramp,” Jackie screamed.

“You’re crazy,” Laurie shouted.

Kelso shoved Jackie towards Hyde who caught her, and helped Laurie up, and followed her upstairs.

“Oh my Gosh I am so turned on,” Fez said.  

Donna smacked Fez in the arm.

Eric ran down the stairs. “Did you just punch my sister?”

“Uh, yeah.” Here it comes, Jackie thought, I’m getting kicked out of the basement

Eric threw his arms around her, “You’re my hero, I think I love you.”

“Get off her Forman,” Hyde pushed him away, “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she was barely able to breathe after what she’d just done.

“Your crazy ass sister bit me,” Donna complained.

“Forman get the first aid box for Donna.” Hyde spoke to Jackie, “Why don’t we get you some air.”

“Ok,” Jackie said breathlessly letting herself be led outside. Once they closed the door She started to apologize about that not being very cool and instead found she was up against the wall and Hyde was kissing her.

When he pulled away he said, “You kicked her ass,” she felt like he was almost proud of her.

“Yeah?”

“That was hot.”

She laced her hands behind his head, “If this is what happens when I beat up Laurie, I might do it more often.”

He laughed at her, “Calm down killer.”

“It’s worth it either way. But it wasn’t very Zen.”

“Where Zen ends, kicking ass begins. So why did you go all feral?”

Jackie stared at him like it was obvious, “She was making fun of you.”

“She’s been making fun of you for days a hell of a lot worse.”

“I’m a cheerleader, we’re bitchy and awful, I’ve been called worse things by the squad. Yeah, it embarrassed me- but you,” Jackie played with his hair, “you’re so good and nice and caring, and when she called you that I lost it.”

“I saw. So you beat her up because of me?”

“Yeah.”

Hyde shook his head, “Jackie I am not nice or any of that other stuff.”

“Oh whatever,” she pulled him back down and kissed him. She’d wear him down one day and get him to admit it.

The door opened, “Oh hey, sexy times.”

“Fez out!” They both shouted at him.

“I am out,” he gestured to the doorway.

“Fez go back inside or I’ll do to you what I did to Laurie and you won’t like it,” Jackie said with such venom that Fez nearly tripped getting back inside the basement.

Moment ruined, Hyde let her away from the wall, “Guess there’s a new badass in the group.”

“You better believe it, no one messes with my- you, except me.”

Jackie caught the slip just as she was about to say boyfriend. He might not say it but that’s what he was. And Jackie would protect what was hers.   

Chapter Text

Jackie Burkhart was not the type of girl to be ignored.

But here she was being completely ignored by her- well, not boyfriend, but whatever he was. 

She had been trying to find Steven for days.

She told him she wouldn’t ever show up there unannounced, but she was going back on her word and went to his house and frantically knocked on the door.

Checking over her shoulder to make sure no one was sneaking up on her, she knocked again. This neighborhood was awful.

Finally, Steven opened the door.

Shock and a tinge of anger on his face, “Jesus Jackie, what are you doing here? I told you-

“Yes I know,” she pushed her way inside, “and I wouldn’t have come if anyone had seen or heard from you in days. I have driven all over this stupid town looking for you. I’ve even tried talking to your dirty Hippy boss, guess how well that went?”

She waited for him to say something when he didn’t she continued to rant.

“So what is this? Are we done because if you’re done with me you have to say it to my face? I’m not putting up with some sneak off in the night garbage.” She folded her arms her tirade winding down. “You want to dump me? You face me like a man and say it.”

Hyde was defensive, he crossed his arms and stared her down, “Is that what you want?”

“No that isn’t what I want, I want my- you to tell someone where you are. Even if you’re breaking up with me you don’t get to worry Mrs. Forman or the rest of us.”

Hyde rolled his eyes, god she was so dramatic. If anyone else had been concerned why was Jackie alone in looking for him. Mrs. Forman might be worried but he doubted it. “I’m not breaking up with you, alright. I just had a situation to deal with and I was busy.”

“I called you,” she said irritably.

“Phone was off,” was all he’d admit.

“So we’re still good?” Jackie asked tentatively with such a small voice he could almost believe it wasn’t the same person who came in yelling at him.

He was still irritated but he wasn’t going to piss her off any more than she already was, “When you’re not running into my house yelling at me we’re still good.”

“Oh Steven,” she whined and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder. “I was so worried. I know you said not to come here but I didn’t know where else to look.”

He wanted to be mad at her but he’d have done the same thing if she’d pulled a disappearing act. He didn’t really have people who cared about him, just a fraction of his anger melted away to know she’d been worried about him.

“I’m sorry I worried you.” God she was making him soft.

She hugged him tighter, “Where’s your mom anyway?”

He tensed up, she couldn’t help but feel it. “Steven?”

“Gone.”

“For how long this time?” It was something they had in common. His mom was more present than hers but that wasn’t necessarily better.

“Good.”

Jackie pulled back, “What?”

Hyde finally admitted it to her, “She left a note this time. She’s not coming back.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I’m working.”

“Steven you don’t make enough to pay for everything, even I know that. I can give you-

“No,” he said firmly.

“I didn’t finish.”

“I don’t need you too. I’ve got this,” he told her.  

“I don’t really believe you.”

“I don’t lie Jackie, not to you.”

“But you don’t always tell the whole truth,” she challenged.

“Drop it, please.”

It was the please that got to her. Steven didn’t ask for things. She could hear the exhaustion in his voice. And she didn’t want to fight with him.

“For right now, only. Do you have to work right now?”

“No, Photohut’s closed.”

“Would you like to get out of here for a bit? We can go to my house or the park or anywhere.”

“Yeah sounds good,” he just needed to be anywhere else.

She drove for once and took them to the water tower.

The silence this time was thundering with all the questions she wanted to ask that he didn’t want or know the answer to.

“I think I like it out here at night better. You can see the stars,” Jackie said.

“Yeah,” was all he said in answer.

She felt him slipping away, from her, from all of them. Even himself.

Finally, he spoke, “Jacks.”

“Yes?”

“You can’t tell anyone.”

“But if you-

“You can’t tell anyone,” he repeated.

“I think it’s a dumb idea,” Jackie said.  

“Jackie.”

“Fine, I won’t tell anyone but you’re not on your own.” Despite the summer heat she wrapped her arms around him. “It’s not much but you still have me.”

Hearing her say that was like a balm on a bad burn. It didn’t fix anything, but it lessened the pain.

He couldn’t tell her- no, it wasn’t much.

It was everything.

*******

Jackie was alone in the basement with Eric, she’d been twisting her hair so much she was sure she had caused a bunch of split ends.

“Eric, have you gone over to Steven’s recently?” She asked.  

“No, his mom is nuts we never go over there,” he said returning to his comic book.

“Maybe you should,” she was trying to figure out a way to get out of her agreement. She should have tried with Donna, Eric could be so dense.

It took less than a week for things to go from bad to worse for Steven. The water was off and then Edna hadn’t paid the rent in two months apparently so even with what he’d paid it was still too little too late.

He didn’t mind taking a shower at Jackie’s but he wouldn’t spend the night.

“Let me think, NO.”

“Eric.” Jackie sat down next to him on the couch and grabbed his hand. “Please would you go visit your best friend at home?”

“Why, why is it so important?”

“It just is.”

Jackie was not his favorite, but she wasn’t as screechy as she used to be. But this wasn’t Jackie, something was obviously wrong. And he knew Hyde. If Jackie wasn’t talking Hyde told her not to.

“You know what Jackie,” he stood and stretched, “I sit here all the time and it’s kinda boring. I think I’ll take a walk. Want to go?”

Relief washed over her face, “I can’t but I can drive you wherever you want to go.”

She dropped him off a few blocks from Stevens and waited.

It was the longest half hour of her life when he finally jogged back to the car.

“Take me home,” he demanded. Eric never bossed her around. Well, he did but not like this.

She hit the gas.

“Did you get in?” She asked him.

“Yeah, Jackie why didn’t you say anything?” Eric asked her, he was hurt that neither of them had told him.

“I just found out and he told me not to tell. I didn’t know what else to do.”

Eric understood that. He’d known Hyde most of his life. He wouldn’t have wanted anyone to know. If Jackie found out first it wasn’t because Hyde had told her flat out. Something must have happened for her to catch it.

“It’s okay, I do.”

Hours had passed since Jackie had dropped Eric off at home. Jackie begged him to call her when whatever happened, happened.

She bit off her nails on her left hand and was starting on the right when her phone rang. She lunged for it.

“He’s fine,” Eric spoke before she could even say hello.  

She let out a sob.

“He’s here, look he’s not happy about it but he is so brace yourself.”

“I don’t care. What’s going to happen?”

“He’s going to stay here with us permanently until he finishes school at least.”

“Your parents are going to keep him with you?” This was her best-case scenario.

“Yeah. Hey, Donna look I gotta go Red’s going to be pissed if he catches me.”

“Thank you, Eric.”

She knew Steven had walked in but it was fine. He could be as angry as he wanted. He was safe and she wasn’t going to lose him.

She hoped.

Chapter Text

Hyde was pissed.

He was grateful for a place to crash but he was still pissed.

He had told Jackie not to tell anyone and she had lasted a few days, and then she caved.

And screw Forman, he was not talking to Donna last night. He would have risked Red yelling at him to talk to her. Obviously, he was tattling to Jackie.

Jackie came over like everything was normal the next day.

He looked at her, and she was sure he knew.

She kissed him on the cheek but he kept his arms crossed. She sat on the couch letting it roll off of her.

Jackie put on her best attempt at Zen.

But she was a novice and hell he’d taught her that. It pissed him off a little bit more that she was trying that with him.

Hyde’s anger rolled off of him. Everyone could sense that his temper was boiling over and they decided to clear out.

In no time at all, they found themselves alone, the one time Jackie didn’t actually want to be alone with Steven.  

Hyde didn’t even try for manipulative tactics to see who’d confess first, “Jackie I know you told Forman.”

“I did not tell Eric.” She’d been waiting for this argument she’d worked out her points last night.

“Jacks I can read you, you’re lying.”

“No, I’m not,” she said defiantly.

“Then you twisted the truth what did you say to him?”

Jackie figured Eric wouldn’t be able to keep it from him for long and what did she have to lose, except a lot.

“You want the full truth, I told him to go see you,” she said almost daring him to say she broke her promise. “He wasn’t going to and I asked him to go visit you. I know Eric well enough to guess he’d go to his parents, I didn’t know for sure what they’d do but the Forman’s love you and would figure something out.”

“You had no right. They could have sent me to the cops or CPS. What if I had told them about your parents?”

“I had every right,” she shouted at him. “You are seventeen years old and people are supposed to protect you and that’s what I did.”

“It was under control,” Steven said.

“You were getting evicted.”

“I would have moved.”

“Steven you’re exhausted and when you go back to school what were you going to do for hours? Not to mention the rent, I could give you money but that isn’t the same thing and you wouldn’t take it anyway. You’re still in high school you’re not supposed to have to be paying all the bills for your mom.”

He let her confession hang there.

Finally, he admitted, “I wasn’t going to go back.”

Her eyes watered, “I figured you weren’t. You’re not stupid like Kelso and I think you can do anything but you can’t do it as a high school dropout.”

“What so you can turn me into one of your parent’s country club friends so I’m acceptable.”

She reached out and grabbed his arm. “I don’t care what you do Steven and if I wanted one of those stupid country club boys I’d be with them. But I don’t. I want you.  But without a diploma you can’t do much, you only have a year to get through.”

“Jacks I am never going to be rich, I’ll be lucky not to end up in jail.”

“Would you listen to me? I don’t care if you have money I never have,” she was desperate to make him understand, “I care about you. Right now you might not care about options but in five or ten years you might and you can’t go back and change it.”

“I asked you not to tell anyone.”

Her temper flared again. “I will not apologize for wanting to protect you because I love you, you idiot.”

He stared at her. Her confession hung in the air. He was mad but so was she.

He walked to the freezer and then back.

“I’m not saying it back,” he snapped.

She hadn’t meant to say it, not with everything going on right then. But it was the truth. “I don’t care. I mean it, Steven. You would never admit to any of it but you are the best person that I’ve ever known. You deserve the world. If you dump me tomorrow, I still want you to have whatever you can because you deserve it.”

She was full-on crying now. She assumed he’d break up with her now, but she almost didn’t care as long as he was safe and looked after. Even if she couldn’t have him, Mrs. Forman would take care of him for her.

Jackie didn’t look at him and just cried. She just wanted him to see he could have some kind of future.

Arms wrapped around her and pulled her into his chest.

“C’mere,” he rubbed her back and rested his chin on the top of her head.

“I’m sorry,” she said.  

“Me too. Are we going to be okay?”

“Are you breaking up with me?” She asked for the second time that week.

“No.” The confession came easily. He was pissed sure, but he would much rather be pissed with her than without her.

“Then yeah, we’re okay.” She grabbed onto him and refused to let go. “I love you, Steven, you don’t have to say it back but I need you to know it.”

“I know it.”

For now, that was good enough.

Chapter Text

Things were back to normal over the next few days.

Jackie walked into the basement to find the rest of the group watching TV, she tossed her things next to the record player and made her way into the room. Only Hyde and Eric spared her a glance.

“Hello, Devil.”

Jackie put her hand on Eric’s shoulder and said seriously, “Look Eric, I am flattered, but it’s not okay for you to keep flirting with me. You’re taken, and I’m with Steven. It isn’t right to do that to Donna.”

“Yeah and I’m right here,” Donna snapped, “I can’t believe you would act like that in front of me. And in front of everyone so they can burn me.”

Eric immediately started squeaking out excuses that he wasn’t flirting while Donna refused to speak to him.

Eventually, Hyde took pity on him, “Oh my God man, they’re both screwing with you.”

“What?” He looked between them shocked. “You’re both evil.” He pointed at Jackie, “You are a bad influence, Jackie.”  

“Welcome to the dark side Donna,” Jackie said on her way to kiss Steven hello.

“Thanks, maybe I’ll go brunette.”

“No, you have to go blonde, I can’t share my role as the cute brunette of the group,” she sat down on Steven’s lap his arms instinctively wrapped around her.  

“Well, I think you’re perfect just as you are,” Eric told Donna in an attempt to regain some points.

“God, you’re whipped,” said Hyde.  

Eric pointed at Hyde, “Pot,” then he pointed to himself, “Kettle.”

“Who has pot?” Kelso asked, “are we going to do a circle?”

“Not today, Leo’s out of town. I’m out.”

“Aw, man.” He looked around the room, “Hey, Jackie are you still with Hyde?”

She rolled her eyes, could he be any more obtuse. Here she was again sitting on Steven’s lap with an arm slung over his shoulders and his arms around her, what was he not getting?  

“Of course I’m still with Steven.”

“Oh, well, just so you know you don’t have to be.”

“I know that, but I want to,” she turned to Steven and gave him a smile. He didn’t return it but his eyes did flick to her behind the shades.  

“I mean I’m available,” Kelso said once again, “and I’m man pretty and you’re pretty.”

“Kelso, NO. I can’t make it clearer. Stop.”

Donna hit him in the arm.

“I thought you were with Laurie?” Fez asked.

“I am but she’s not here.”

Jackie didn’t like the reminder that she had been cheated on, no matter how much she didn’t care about Kelso anymore.

The mood in the basement had soured quickly.

“I’ll be right back I need to talk to Mr. Forman anyway,” Jackie pecked a quick kiss on Steven’s cheek and he let her go.   

The minute he was sure Jackie was in the kitchen, Hyde was on Kelso. “Kelso stop hitting on Jackie, I mean it.”

“Why? Afraid she’s going to run off with me. No, I wouldn’t do that to a friend. Of course, that friend stole my girlfriend first so it wouldn’t count would it?”

“She wasn’t your girlfriend, she broke up with you,” Hyde snapped.

“In a magnificent blaze of anger when you cheated on her,” Fez added.   

Eric cringed, “And you were sleeping with my sister.”

“Yeah, but then Jackie’s not your girlfriend is she?” Kelso’s smile twisted.

“Kelso knock it off,” Donna said. She had been friends with Kelso forever but he was wearing her patience thin with all the Jackie comments.

She was sure Kelso didn’t even want Jackie, it was just that Hyde was with her and Kelso couldn’t get over it.

But Kelso was on a roll, “Did you two do it Prom night, or were you going behind my back before it?”

Hyde was on his feet.

“One time man that’s all you get. Now shut the hell up about Jackie, not all of us are like you. You were cheating on her for months, you don’t get to talk about her at all.” Hyde’s fists were already balled into a fist.

“Hey, guys just calm down,” Eric tried to diffuse the situation, but smart enough not to stand between them. Yeah, they roughhoused all the time, but Hyde was about to snap and Eric didn’t want to know what that felt like.

“Come on Kelso, say you are sorry,” Fez added.

But Kelso wasn’t backing down this time. He got up in Hyde’s face, “She’s just with you until something better comes along, you think she’s going to stay with you when someone with money is interested? Deep down she’s a spoiled bitch just like her mom.”

Kelso flew backward.

Hyde hadn’t even realized he’d punched him until Kelso fell into the record player, it was pure instinct.

The room stood silently stunned for only a second that stretched on for ages, then Kelso lunged himself at Hyde.

Kelso’s height didn’t help him when Hyde was a better fighter. Hyde got him in the nose this time and they both swung at each other before Donna got them separated.

Blood dripped down Kelso’s face and Hyde’s head hurt, Kelso must have gotten at least a punch in but he hadn’t noticed during the fight.

“Knock it off,” Eric yelled.

Hyde was itching for another go at Kelso. Right then he could strangle him.

As if sensing it Donna got between them and shouted, “Hyde, chair.”

He stared her down before walking across the room but he couldn’t sit down. His blood was boiling.  

There was noise from the top of the stairs as Jackie came rushing down.

“Hey, guys what’s- oh my god Kelso.”

Jackie ran into the bathroom and came out with a towel. It stabbed Hyde in the heart that her first instinct was to go to Kelso instead of him.

Kelso stood there so smug with a twisted grin knowing that she had picked him first.

When she came back Jackie threw the towel at him.

“Would you clean yourself up,” she snapped.

Kelso’s smile faded.

“You’re going to get blood on my new bag.” She ducked behind him and scooped up said bag, examining it as she moved it to the freezer.

All of them silently watched Kelso’s realization that Jackie didn’t really care about him like he thought. She was more concerned about her purse.

At the same time, it dawned on Hyde that Jackie didn’t know what happened. Kelso was always knocking himself into something so why would she suspect him of causing Kelso’s injuries?

With her purse safely on the freezer, Jackie went to sit with Steven like she had a hundred times. He flinched when she took his hand.

“Babe,” she said softly. Concern flooded her face when she saw the skin broken. “You need to clean that.”

“It’s fine.”

“Until it gets infected, come on,” she said firmly leaving no room for him to argue. Dropping his right hand she took the left and pulled him after her heading to the kitchen.

Running the warm water in the sink, she pushed his hand under the faucet, while she searched the cabinets. “Mrs. Forman put the first-aid kit over here I think. Ha gotcha.”

He didn’t say anything just leaning against the counter watching her clean his hand up. Truth be told he’d had far worse injuries far more often, but her taking care of it didn’t feel so bad.

“Spray should be good enough but leave the bandage on until that one scabs,” she put the kit away.  

When she was done and checking her work, he pulled her close to him with his good hand. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she said back.

He kissed her. Tenderly and slow until she couldn’t breathe any longer.

They pulled apart each wearing a goofy sweet smile, “Not complaining but what was that for?”

“Just felt like it,” was all Hyde would say.

“Well, if you feel like it again I won’t say no.”

Steven played with her hair, “You’re like my little guardian angel you know that?” She really was, if she hadn’t brought him upstairs, he might have tried to kill one of his best friends.

“How, you’re always taking care of me?”

“You just are.” He admitted something to her, “You know, I’ve never felt this way about a girl before.”

Jackie blushed and her smile widened. She just wanted him to say it but she knew he wouldn’t call her that word, not yet anyway.

Hyde just held her leaning up against the counter. His shades had been knocked off in the fight.

Jackie reached up and gingerly pressed her fingers to the side of his head.

He flinched as she pressed the tender skin.

Her smiled drooped into a frown, “What did he say?” she asked bluntly. 

He knew she was smarter than she let on.

“Nothing you need to hear,” he told her.

Jackie rested her head on his chest, “Well, whatever it is was probably stupid.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Screw Kelso he thought, Jackie was here with him.

And he didn’t want to share her right now. “You wanna get out of here?”

“And miss another thrilling rerun? Of course not,” she deadpanned. Jackie threaded her fingers in his and let him pull her along to the Camino.

Jackie loved his car, sure it wasn’t the fanciest, or coolest, which she would never tell him because boys were so sensitive about their cars. But it had a bench seat and instead of being all the way away from him she could slide over and rest her head against his shoulder. At night they’d drive and she’d wrap an arm around his as they cruised.

That’s mostly what they did. Driving around and finding a shaded spot to sit. Jackie had been right on their first date, he didn’t need to talk to her. Sometimes just sitting with her was the best feeling. But then most of the time he spent with her he’d say was the best feeling.

He knew he was absolutely whipped by this girl.

If she only knew how much of his heart she owned.

Eric was waiting for Hyde downstairs when he got back late that night.

He was not in the mood for whatever it was going to be.

Eric looked relieved when Hyde locked the door behind him. “I’m glad Jackie’s not with you.”

He tensed up, he wasn’t interested in a fight but that didn’t mean he wasn’t ready at any moment. Especially if it was over Jackie, “Forman not-

Eric held up his hands in surrender, “Wait no, that came out wrong. I’m glad she’s not here to hear this.”

Hyde stood by the door and crossed his arms waiting.

Eric wondered if Hyde knew that he and Jackie had the same stance when they were annoyed and defensive? Probably not.

“Kelso’s not coming back for a long time. What he said about Jackie- I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t do it,” Hyde said harshly.

“Yeah, but we haven’t stopped him before. Today wasn’t the first day he went too far.”

Hyde studied Eric. The three of them had always had a pact that it was the three of them always, it’s what had kept him from outright telling Jackie about the girls Kelso was cheating with. But Eric had made a choice, and he’d picked Hyde.

“Thanks, man.”

Eric didn’t know if he wanted to know the answer, “Did you tell her?”

“No, she knows something happened but she let it go. Might ask Donna if it’s really bugging her.”

Eric nodded, “She really loves you.”

After a moment he added, “and you love her.”

Hyde hadn’t even admitted that to himself, he wasn’t about to say it to Eric. “How do you figure?”

Eric noted that Hyde didn’t outright deny it either. “I went upstairs I saw you through the door.”

“Spying on me?” Eric was so much like his mom, Hyde thought.

“Yeah, a little. The way you looked at her. Man, I didn’t realize. I know you were ready to at the very least knock Kelso out, but then you were totally mellow upstairs.”

Jackie had knocked all the anger out of him while she was fussing over him, hadn’t she? It wasn’t even him being Zen. She could drive him nuts but generally, Jackie just made him calm.

“Sometimes we kind of wondered if it was just to get back at Kelso,” Eric admitted.

Hyde finally sat down and drove his hands through his hair, “It was never about him, man. Not even prom, she cried, and hell I’m as bad as you are. She cried and I wanted her to stop and we went to that stupid dance and then she didn’t leave with him. And it just happened.”

Never one for the heart to hearts he decided he’d admit one thing to Eric, “We didn’t even go out for more than a month after that.”

“The barbecue?”

“Day after.” Hyde leaned back in his chair, this was exhausting, “It was never about Kelso, it almost didn’t happen because of that.”

Eric nodded.  “I get that. But do you think maybe you liked her before?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, well…” Eric was trying to figure out how to say it to not get frogged, “she always ran to you when she was upset, and you tried to get Kelso caught,” Eric pointed out.

Had he liked her before prom? Nothing Eric said was untrue. Who else would he have let cry on his shoulder? “I don’t know man, maybe.”

Everyone kept telling him that he’d been into her for a long time.

Looking back, he wondered when it had all really started?

Chapter Text

This was the week Hyde usually dreaded. Eric was always sent to visit his grandparents for a week in the summer, and no one else bothered to come around so Hyde was alone at his mom’s hoping she’d either be gone and left enough money or wasn’t on a bender.

This year was different, living at the Forman’s, he expected the rest of the group minus Kelso to come around. But Donna chose this week to go visit her mom in California and Fez had Bible School thanks to his host family. That left Jackie.

He’d expected her to be over constantly with no one else around, but she’d been MIA for a couple of days spending time with her mom, she’d called to check in but something was definitely up.

He missed Jackie, sure, but there was something suspicious in her clipped answers and less than affectionate conversations.  

He drove over to her house. The Lincoln was there and taking a risk that her dad might open the door and interrogate him, Hyde knocked on the door. Crossing his fingers, he hoped for the maid instead of Jack.

A minute later Jackie opened the door looking frazzled. “Steven,” her eyes widened when she saw him. “What are you doing here?”

“Hey, is everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah my mom’s just home,” Jackie kept darting glances over her shoulder.

So she was ashamed of him.

“I can go if-

He was interrupted by a loud “Jaaaaccckkkiiiiiieee.”

Jackie winced and bit her lip.

“Honey,” the voice was almost singing.

Her eyes were wide and darting between Steven and the back of the house. Jackie ran her hands through her frizzy hair.

“Come in, it doesn’t matter.” Something was definitely wrong here. Jackie wouldn’t let anyone see her looking like this. Least of all him.

Hyde walked in, he’d been in plenty of times, but it looked like they’d been ransacked.

“Jacks?”

She shook her head. He stopped, he’d ask later.

He followed her to a den or something off the living room where they hung out and listened to records sometimes.

“Don’t say anything, she won’t remember you anyway.”

There was Pamela Burkhart sprawled out drunk on the sofa, not just drunk. Pissed out of her mind drunk. There were bottles everywhere.

The guys had always thought Jackie’s mom was hot, not that he was stupid enough to tell Jackie that, but seeing her like this all the polish had worn off. She was just a prettier version of Edna, slurring and incoherent.  

“What do you need mom?” Jackie asked patiently.

“I need another bottle.”

“No, you don’t.”

“You’re so mean to meee,” Pam whined, Hyde saw where Jackie had picked that habit up.

“I’m sorry, mom.”

“Sweetiekins who is that he looks scruffy?”

“No one’s here mom, it’s just me.”

“Oh, okay,” Pam accepted the lie. At least she was a pleasant drunk. Edna was a viper when she was this loaded.

She tried to lie down and almost fell off the couch.

“Oopsy doodles.”

Hyde wasn’t good with emotions but he could deal with a drunk. He went out and got the pillows off the couch. He gestured for Jackie to help him pull her up and create almost a nest to keep her upright.

He picked up some bottles and went to the kitchen looking for a trash bag.

Eventually, Jackie found him in the kitchen.

She wouldn’t look him in the eyes.

“I’m sorry I said no one’s here, she just gets weird when she’s like this, and I didn’t want her grabbing at you or something.”

“I get it.” Man did he get it. “What’s got her so messed up?”

Jackie shrugged, “Last boyfriend left I guess. I didn’t really understand her. She wants another bottle.”

“She’s too messed up at this point, pour half of it out and fill the rest with water.”

Jackie looked exhausted, “Don’t even need the wine, there’s some club soda and a pitcher in the fridge can you grab them for me please.”

“Sure thing.”

He watched her rinse out an empty bottle and fill it with some pink drink and the soda.

“All the fizz none of the booze,” she said like it was a joke.

It wasn’t funny.

He’d never heard her voice so hollow before.

“How many days?” He asked her.

“I don’t remember, she showed up the last time I saw you so whenever that was.”

He reached out and put his hand on her arm. She finally looked at him.

“You take that back and I’ll deal with this mess,” Hyde offered.

“Thanks. Garbage bags are under the sink.”

He cleaned up the bottles near the entrance and just left the bag, may as well make it easier for the maid he’d heard Jackie talk about but never seen.

Jackie came out of the room and shut the door.

“She’s asleep now.”

“Do you want to get out of here?”

“More than anything.”

“Come on.” He grabbed her hand and they were at the car when he realized he was holding her hand again. Inwardly he laughed, holding her hand and being softly affectionate with her still freaked him out sometimes. He’d never noticed before, maybe it was the talk he’d had with Forman.

They got in and he just drove.

Jackie wasn’t just quiet she was silent. She looked like all of the color had been sucked out of her.

Hyde was pissed. How dare they do this to his Jackie? She was supposed to be talking constantly or shopping or doing some silly school thing because she had school spirit. Not cleaning up after her drunk mom, she was only sixteen god damn them.

Where the hell was her dad? Pam was his responsibility.

And it clicked. This is what she felt when she’d found out about his mom taking off.

He wanted to protect her from the world. He loved her.

That thought shook him to his core, he’d never loved anyone. Not since he was a kid, he’d been taught not to.

But she got to him.

He thought he might even tell her, but not today.

“What do you want to do?’

Quietly she said, “I don’t know.”

He saw she wasn’t wearing any makeup, she ran out of the house in jean shorts and a white tee-shirt and hadn’t cared that her hair wasn’t brushed.

He’d never seen her so undone.

She was always pretty, but this was raw. Jackie didn’t let herself be seen without looking absolutely perfect.

She was in pain.

He took her to the park and dragged her to the swings.

“What are you doing?” Jackie asked him.

“Shut your pie hole.”

He pushed her into a seat then pushed her.

It was a gloomy day and they were alone in the park.

“Steven this is silly,” Jackie said, a hint of a smile tugged at her lips.

“Yeah well, you like this kind of stuff.”

“Steven.”

“Yeah,” he waited for whatever it was.   

“I hate her.”

He didn’t know what to say, there wasn’t anything that would fix it. “That’s okay. I get it.”

That broke her and she started to cry.

He stopped the swing and sat down and pulled her over to him.

“Why can’t she love me more than them, I’m her daughter.”

“I don’t know, I wish I did.” He’d asked himself the same thing for years until he’d put up a wall and not let anyone in. Until her.

He didn’t want her to be like him.

He’d never seen her so colorless.

His Jackie was color, vibrant and rich. A blinding golden light that attracted everything good. He didn’t like this. What they’d done to her.

She finally stopped crying, he wiped away her tears and just held her.

It got cold and this time he didn’t have a jacket to offer her.

“I think I know where you need to be.”

“Please don’t take me home,” she pleaded, “I can’t go back there.”

“No, someplace better.”

He drove them to the Forman’s and they pretended to get caught in the rain and Mrs. Forman doted on them and gave them coco and sweaters despite it being summer. Kitty even started telling Jackie the basics of baking brownies.

Hyde gambled that Jackie needed a mother like he had, and there wasn’t a better one around.

Kitty forced them to watch a movie with her and Jackie had been so exhausted she fell asleep with her head resting on Steven’s shoulder.

He was stuck there while she slept because he was not about to wake her up now, but he was comfortable and fell asleep next to her. Kitty threw a blanket over them and snuck out of the room.

When Red came home from bowling he wasn’t thrilled with two teens on his couch asleep.

“Kitty, what the hell is going on in our living room?”

“Red, just this once, let them sleep.”

“Why what’s the matter?”

Kitty crept over to the kitchen door and peeked in, they were still sound asleep.

“Something’s wrong with Jackie,” she said.

“How do you know that?”

“She’d been crying, they said they got caught in the rain,” Kitty rolled her eyes.  

“They could have.”

Kitty eyed him with a knowing look, “With their hair and clothes completely dry?”

He thought on that, “You don’t think she’s-

“No, but I heard from one of the floor nurses Pamela Burkhart was at the store just before the last time Jackie was here.”

“So?”

“The liquor store.”

“Oh,” he really liked the girl. They weren’t doing anything wrong. He knew Steven would behave at least up here. “Yeah all right, I didn’t see anything as long as they don’t go to his room.”

“Thank you, Red.”

“Poor kids.” Red would never admit it but those two kids broke his heart.

He loved his daughter dearly, but he’d give nearly anything for Laurie to treat him and Kitty the way those two did. Jackie openly seeking them out to spend time with either him or Kitty, unlike Laurie who only did so when forced to or she ran out of money. And Steven who helped out around the house even before he started living here.

They didn’t deserve all the hardship they’d been dealt at such a young age.

He knew they weren’t the only kids who’d been dealt a similar hand, but they were the two in his house and like hell, he was going to protect them the best he could.

They woke up in the morning stiff but it was nice to wake up next to someone.

Kitty offered her some of Laurie’s clothes, but she took one of Steven’s old shirts.

She felt like she looked kind of badass in it.

“I should probably head home and check on my– check that the maid didn’t steal anything while I was out,” Jackie covered the slip.

“Of course honey,” Kitty gave her a long hug and sent her home with cookies.

Steven drove her home. She’d check on her mom, and they’d leave. He wasn’t leaving her alone here with her mom like that.

“Do you want me to come in?” He offered.

“No, I have it. I’m just going to shower and change. I’ll just make sure she’s alive.”

Hyde settled himself in for a long wait.

That was supposed to be his life, not hers. How did he end up in the middle-class happy family while Jackie was losing herself taking care of a drunk?

Jackie was back in fifteen minutes. Damp hair and wearing different jeans but with a coat and a small duffle bag.

It was the bag that killed him. She would stash clothes either with him or at Donna’s he suspected. He’d done that for years. A bag he’d “accidentally” forgotten sitting unbothered for months at Forman’s. “Accidentally” falling asleep at someone else’s house, he’d pulled all those tricks.  

“Everything good?”

“Peachy, she got into the liquor cabinet. I guess she had a spare key, she thinks I’m the maid. Let’s just go. Anywhere.”

They drove to the water tower. He didn’t want to take her to the cliffs because that was their spot.

He pulled her close to him when they got up to the top.

She didn’t talk she wasn’t much better than yesterday.

He didn’t push, they were living polar opposite lives with the same crumbling foundation.

Jackie eventually spoke, she was just as hollow as the day before. “She should be gone in a week or two. Once her bender is over she might go to a social event then a spa retreat for who knows how long.”

“Where’s your dad?”

“He comes home sometimes, he was home for a few days a couple of months ago.”

“You’ve been alone all that time? Why didn’t you say something?”

“Why didn’t you?” She shot back.

“Fair, but you shouldn't be alone like that.”

“Besides, I’m rich, and my dad owns the burger place. I have food, credit cards, and I wasn’t about to get kicked out.”

“Yeah, but Jacks.”

“I know, hypocrite but we manage don’t we. They leave and we take care of ourselves, they come back we take care of them. We don’t tell anyone and put on a smile and tell the world it’s fine.”

He offered a lame attempt at a joke, “I don’t really smile.”

“A grimace or your Zen whatever.”

“I don’t really like you in that house alone,” Hyde admitted.

“No offense but it’s a hell of a lot better than your house,” Jackie wasn’t trying to be mean, but her honesty was raw.

“Yeah, but no one would think I have stuff to steal.”

She’d thought about that, it’s why she slept with a chair pushed under her door handle, but she didn’t tell him that.

“Jackie you have Red Forman around your finger,” among other people he thought, “If you need to stay there I’m sure they’d let you.”

“For now I’m fine.”

“No you’re not,” he said. He knew because he hadn’t been, not by  a long shot. And then some pushy girl saved him by bringing in the Forman’s.

She looked into his eyes, she hadn’t noticed his glasses were off, “But they don’t know that.”

“Promise me, if you need, you’ll call me or come over.”

“Okay. I promise.”

Chapter Text

Jackie had been too quiet for days. Even Fez had asked if they’d broken up.

He couldn’t tell them. Not about her mom or the pink gym bag hidden under his bed full of her clothes, or him sneaking out and staying in her room when she’d let him.

“Nah, but hey she has been low, what do you think would cheer her up? Something fun.”

“Roller rink?” Donna offered.

“No,” Eric said, “it’s closed for renovations.”

“What about that dance club, she liked it last time,” Fez suggested.  

Hyde did not want to go dancing, but he wanted to cheer her up more and that was better than the roller rink. “Ugh yeah that might work but one of you has to bring it up.”

“Why?” Eric asked, “She’s your not girlfriend.”

“Just-

The door swung open and Jackie wandered in. She gave him a soft pained smile which told him Pam was still around and still drinking and it was killing her to watch.

She came around and he pulled her into his lap like usual.

Eric pretended to mind to keep up the normalcy, “There are open seats.”

“Can it Forman,” Hyde squeezed her tighter.

Fez stood up in a huff. “Well, I for one do not care what any of you say,” he crossed his arms and stomped his foot, “Jackie will do it I bet.”

“Jackie will do what?” Jackie asked cautiously.

“I want to go dancing and the only good place is in Madison. They won’t go,” he waved at everyone else, “but I need to boogie. But I also need a car,” he pouted.

“Do you want to?” She asked Hyde.

Hyde huffed, “Just so you can go shopping you want me to look dumb.”

“You wouldn’t look dumb, you’re a great dancer. Please it’ll be fun.”

He pretended like he was going to say no, then finally grumbled out, “Alright.”

“Awww,” the rest of them cooed at him.

“Shut up.”

“Great.” Fez said, “Why don’t we go tonight?”

“Donna you and I can go shopping,” Jackie offered, loving the idea since Steven had mentioned it. When was the last time she’d gotten to go shopping?

“Fine, but only because it’s too hot to wear my normal dresses.”

“Yey, Steven should I buy you a suit?”

“If you want me to stay home then yes.”

“Ok, no suit. Donna come on,” Jackie jumped up.

“Wait I’m coming too,” said Fez. “She buys me candy when we go to the mall.”

Hyde waited for the girls to leave, “Hey Fez, thanks, man.”

Fez smiled as he walked out.

“You going to tell me or want me to guess,” Eric asked him.

“Can’t, it’s her business.”

Eric leaned back into the couch, “Ok guessing it is, I’m guessing its family because she’s never at home.”

“None of us is ever home.”

“Right,” Eric agreed, “but she acts just like you did when you were thirteen, without the fighting but still. Something’s up.”

“I can’t tell you right now, but yeah there’s something going on.”

“Bad?”

“Not yet, could be,” Hyde admitted.

“Will you ask for help if you need it? For her at least?”

“Yeah, man. For her, I would.”

Hyde pretended to be annoyed about being dragged to the club but Jackie was bouncing as soon as he picked her up.

He hadn’t seen that in weeks, and that alone made him feel lighter. This was surprisingly a good idea.

“We got put on Fez duty,” he told her.

“Fine,” she pouted.

She looked gorgeous in a red dress, she’d tanned even more and looked like she was glowing in it.  

“You’re beautiful.”

“You clean up real good too.” She said teasingly remembering their first sort of date. “Thanks for doing this tonight.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Yeah?” She mocked him. “It was your idea.”

“What? No, it wasn’t,” he panicked.

“No one has had any ideas all summer to do something and I’m sad and then this comes up?”

“Fez came up with it, I just asked for ideas.”

“See, you are such a liar Steven Hyde, you are a sweet caring guy.”

He’d say it now he couldn’t help it. He’d been waiting for weeks for her to not be sad. “No I’m not, but I care about you-because – because I love you.” He held his breath. He hadn’t even said that to his mom since he was a kid.

Jackie looked shocked for a few seconds before her face broke into the brightest smile he’d ever seen.

She leaned across the seat and kissed him.

“I love you too Steven.”

“Good to know.”

“You are such an ass,” she swatted his chest.

“I thought I was sweet and caring,” he said.  

“You are but you’re also an ass. Just like I’m adorable and also a bitch.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“Which one?” she asked.  

“You know which one.”

“No I don’t, so you better tell me if you don’t want me to be cranky all night.” She batted her eyelashes at him.

He sighed, he cupped her face in his hands so she’d look directly at him. “You are adorable.” And he’d called Forman whipped. He was just as bad. He might be worse.

She kissed him one more time. “See how easy life is when you agree with me.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“Let’s go get Fez,” she cuddled into his arm.

“Yes, dear.”

The dancing had been a success and after dropping Fez off he took her to their spot on the cliffs.

Jackie was floating, today had been the first time in weeks she’d had fun. She ignored her mom and did her hair and got dressed up and had a fantastic time with her friends.

“Thank you so much for tonight, I know dancing isn’t your favorite.”

“I don’t particularly mind you dressed up pressed up against me,” Hyde admitted.

Jackie mockingly threw her hand against her chest, “I am shocked and scandalized, you pig.”

“Right.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, “I mean it, this has been the best day in a while,” Jackie told him, “I know my mom hasn’t been back that long but it feels like it’s been…heavy lately. So thank you.”

He was going to do it now. He’d badgered Forman for months about it when it was him and Donna, he wasn’t going to chicken out now.

“I uh got you something,” He’d saved up for the charm and the chain and it felt like a good time to give it to her.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” she was surprised that she meant it.

“I know but I did. It’s also partly your birthday present.”

“Steven,” she opened it, it was a little hard to see the charm in the dark she squinted and squealed, “It’s a grasshopper, it’s beautiful.”

“Do you like it?”

“Of course I do,

“Why did you get me a necklace?”

“A guy can’t get his girlfriend a present?

Jackie stopped and stared at him, “You just called me your girlfriend?”

“Yeah.”

“Steven I’m not your girlfriend,” she smiled up at him, “You never asked me to be your girlfriend.”

He should have known she wouldn’t make it easy, “So we never said anything but I thought you’d want it said so. God, I sound like Forman. Jackie, would you want to be my girlfriend?”

“Steven,” she squealed and kissed him. This was turning out to be a pretty good night.

“So is that a yes?”

She smacked him again, “Of course it’s a yes. Help me put this on.” She handed him the necklace and swept her hair to the side. “How does it look?”

“Perfect. You’re perfect.”

His hands caressed her face and pulled her in slowly, the kiss wasn’t rushed. It was slow and deep like they had all the time in the world.

“Did you feel something that time?”

“I don’t know,” she got down off the hood, “it’s chilly out here, maybe we should relocate.”

She tugged him behind her, back inside the El Camino.

Chapter Text

Pounding on the front door woke the Forman house at two in the morning a week later.

Everyone rushed into the living room to find two police officers on their porch with a crying Jackie.

Instead of Steven who was too far away, she threw herself at Red, sobbing something unintelligible.

“Are you the Forman’s?” One officer asked.

“Yes, what’s going on? Okay, Jackie, you’re alright whatever it is. Steven take her.”

Steven came up and pulled her away and she held onto him like a lifeline.

“We responded to a break-in at her home. She’s pretty shaken, she kept asking to come here.”

Steven tightened his grip around her he’d been afraid something like this would happen.

A muffled “I didn’t know what else to do,” came from his chest.

“We tried to ask her questions but she’s in no condition.”

“Officer let’s step outside,” Red followed them out.

“I’ll start some tea, come on sweetheart let’s just sit down.” Kitty attempted to guide her to a chair.

She wouldn’t let go of Steven so he pulled her into his lap like in the basement.

Red started, “I’m confused officer why did you bring her here? Couldn’t her mom take her to a hotel or something?”

The officers glanced at one another uneasily, “The girl was home alone.”

“What happened?”

“She wasn’t hurt, she was crying in the locked closet when we got there. A good part of the house had been ransacked. We got the guys, but she was alone and the house was covered in bottles.”

“Is she known to have parties?” The other asked.

“No, she’s here with my kids most of the time. If one of them were to be throwing parties it wouldn’t be Jackie. Jackie always said they had a maid, I don’t see why the house would have been a mess in any state.”

“We’ll need to look into the maid too,” The tall one said to the other.

“Any idea where her parents are?”

Red didn’t like talking if he wasn’t absolutely sure what he was talking about so he didn’t come out looking like a dumbass. In this case though, it seemed going off an assumption wouldn’t be too far off.

“Look this is just my wife’s gossip but she’s usually right. A few weeks ago her mother was at the liquor store and ever since the girls gotten quiet. She spent the night one night with us. Mom’s Pamela Burkhart.”

“Jack Burkhart’s wife?”

“Yeah.”

They wrote some notes down.

“What about her father?”

“No idea. Haven’t seen him in months,” Red admitted. “My neighbor used to be in some business club with him, he’d be better to ask about that.”

“How old is she?” He nodded at the house.

“Barely sixteen.”

“This is serious, not just the break-in but we did a sweep of the house, the girls’ closet was full of clothes, but the parents were almost empty.”

Red was stunned, “So they took off on her?”

“We can’t say without knowing more from either them or her,” the first officer said.

Then the second one asked, “Can she stay here the night, otherwise she has to go with us?”

“Of course we’ll keep her. We’ll talk to her when she calms down and see what we can get out of her and call you tomorrow.”

“We’d appreciate it.” He handed Red a card with a number to call. The other officer pulled a bag out of the backseat, “She packed a bag, she was hysterical she was just grabbing things. If she needs to return home for anything an officer needs to be with her.”

“Right. Thank you.”

“Sorry to disturb you, Sir.”

And they left.

Red stood there a few minutes to collect himself. He could yell at the boys, and they were always fine but Jackie was delicate now, but he was mad enough he could kill her parents.

He almost had to leave again when he walked in to find Steven trying to rock her in the kitchen chair to stop crying. He was mumbling something in her ear. Kitty had sent Eric back upstairs but no one could do a thing to help her.

Neither of these kids should be dealing with any of what they were dealing with.

He spoke up. “Jackie I know you’re scared and you have every right to be, but you’re safe now.” He put a hand on her back. “You’re going to stay here for a while.”

“I’m sorry,” she got out. Her voice was raspy from crying.

“No need to be sorry,” but you need to stop crying.

She tried she really tried but the tears kept coming, but at least she wasn’t sobbing anymore. She still held on to Steven with a death grip. That was a good enough start he thought.

“Like I said, it’s alright, you didn’t do anything wrong, but we need to talk can you try and do that?” She wiped her face and nodded.

“First where is your mom?” Red asked calmly.

“I don’t know,” she was fighting off the hysterical crying she’d been doing.

“Jacks, you promised me,” Steven said.

“So this has happened before,” Kitty asked.  

“No I didn’t break it,” she told Steven completely ignoring Kitty, “I stopped checking on her after we went dancing because it just made me sick. I left a note for the maid to do it. I didn’t know she wasn’t home until the police told me.”

Hyde asked, “Could she be gone again?”

“Maybe.”

“Jacqueline.”

Her eyes snapped to Red. No one called her by her full name. “Who has been taking care of you?” She looked down and shifted between Hyde and Kitty.

“For how long?”

“Dad was home a few days right after school let out. I don’t know where he is. Mom was home the last couple of weeks.”

“So you’ve been alone most nights this summer.” Red merely wanted the confirmation.

“Yes.”

Kitty stepped forward and gently asked, “Honey, does your mom have a drinking problem?”

Jackie nodded her head.

“You could have come to us,” Kitty told her, she wanted Jackie to know she was always safe with them.   

“I did, and you took care of me.” It was so simplistic like she was a child of six and not sixteen. She was still such a child yet she wasn’t.

They let that line of questioning go.

“Okay, now tonight what happened?” She shook a little and held onto Steven still tighter he returned it.

“It’s okay I’ve got you,” he told her.

She swallowed.

“I went to bed after everyone dropped me off after the Hub. I was tired I put a chair under the doorknob like I always do and went to sleep. Then I heard someone wandering around and I thought it was my mom but then I heard a man’s voice and I don’t know it didn’t sound like one of her boyfriends. I couldn’t hear anything but it just felt wrong so I called the police and I hid. I could hear them going through things and it took forever for them to get there.”

“When they told me she was gone, I didn’t know where else to go. I just wanted Steven and I wanted to be here,” and the crying started again.

“Honey give Steven a break for a minute come here,” He hated to let go of her but Kitty was insistent as she got Jackie in her own chair. She rubbed her back and held her.

“I’m not going to tell you not to cry, you had a bad scare and you’re going to be scared for a while, and you deserve to cry. I know it’s awful, but you will be okay, but Jackie, now you listen to me,” Kitty took Jackie’s face in her hands. “Jackie, you are not our daughter but we love you, and we are going to figure this out. None of this is your fault do you hear me?”

She nodded. “Good. You were right to come to us. Now I want you to drink your tea and then you can sleep in Laurie’s room. Tomorrow we will deal with this, right now I want you to know that you are safe.”

No one talked as they sipped their tea, Jackie drank hers slowly. She didn’t want to go to bed alone. She sat as close to Steven as she could without getting back on his lap he held her hand under the table never taking his eyes off of her in case she broke down again.

Too soon it was time for bed.

It was ripping Steven apart that he had to go down to the basement,

“Can I stay in Eric’s room tonight? Please?” He asked.

Red pitied him he really did, in any other circumstances, he’d have only let one of the boys’ girlfriends stay the night if he sat outside their rooms with a shotgun, hell he still might if it helped the girl feel better.

“Just for tonight. You stick to the hall, bathroom, or Eric’s bedroom. I don’t want you in Jackie’s.”

“Yes, Sir.”

He ran downstairs and scrounged up his sleeping bag and ran back up.

There was not a thing he could do, but just being closer made him feel a little bit better.

He didn’t sleep, he could hear her crying. They’d been up for hours and he was bleary but he pulled his bag out of the room and laid it in the hall. As quietly as possible he knocked.

Jackie snuck out of bed and opened it.

They whispered back and forth. “You’re going to get into trouble,” she told him.  

“I don’t care,” he wanted to ask if she was alright but he didn’t need to. He knew she wasn’t.  “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“If I had told them-

“My mom was still here what could they have done?”

“I don’t know but I should have. It’s what you did.” 

“Steven, it wasn’t the same there’s nothing anyone could have done.”

“But you could have been hurt.”

“I know,” she said uneasily.

“Would it help you sleep if I sit here?”

“You can’t sit on the floor.”

“Sure I can. It’s like camping.”

She knew before she even asked the question, “There’s no way I can get you back in Eric’s room is there?”

“No.”

“Fine but don’t get caught, once I’m asleep go back to bed.”

“Yes, dear.”

She gave him a watery smile. She loved him so much.  

Red and Kitty could hear them they couldn’t sleep themselves, but as long as they kept talking they didn’t see the point in interrupting. Hell, tonight Red would almost let the boy crawl in next to her.

They woke up in the morning before the kids and found Steven asleep on the floor.

Kitty wanted to smile at the sight but the reasoning was too sad. “Well, you did say the hallway Red. Go back to our room. I can save you a little face.”

“Steven honey, you need to get up off the floor and go to bed.” He shot up

“Is-

“She’s probably still asleep, come on let’s get you up before Red gets up.” 

They snuck their heads inside and she was sleeping soundly and they’d leave her like that as long as possible.

The whole family was tired and running on fumes and coffee. Jackie’s panic attack was over but she was still very clingy to everyone not just Steven.

She sat between Red and Steven at breakfast and hung around Kitty helping with the dishes, then sat with Eric watching TV.

Red was frustrated trying to get ahold of Jackie’s father.

The police came back and asked Jackie to repeat everything from the night before.

Through them, everyone found out that the maid had been found, interviewed, and had quit coming to work because she wasn’t getting paid.

“Didn’t you notice when she stopped coming by?” One of the officers asked.

“I mean, no. She didn’t have a set schedule. I thought she was on vacation or lazy or something. I’ve been trying not to be home in the day.”

What no one knew where either Jack or Pam were.

The Forman’s agreed to keep Jackie for the time being.

Steven was stressed beyond belief about what might happen to her. He could take care of himself she couldn’t. She was too little, too easy of a target, too inexperienced.

“Can I speak with you and Mrs. Forman outside?”

Today seemed to last at least a week if not more. He  was tired but he knew what he had to do.

“She can’t go into the system if Jack doesn’t show up.”

“And what do you propose we do about that,” Red asked?

He and Kitty wouldn’t let that happen. He wasn’t sure he’d let Jack have her back at this point, but he wanted to see where this was going.

“She’s only 16 I’m almost 18, and I’ve had it rougher I can take care of myself. I can get a full-time job,” Steven said.

Red crossed his arms over his chest, “And what? Drop out of school?”

“If the two of you take Jackie in I can go, I’ll figure something else out.”

“Steven,” Kitty started but he interrupted her.

“You said you couldn’t afford me and I can work for Jackie to stay-”

“Steven stop it,” Red demanded. “Let me make it very clear to you. We are not letting you leave and we are not letting Jackie go into the system. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but you are staying here and so is Jackie.  

A gasp came from the porch, they turned to see her standing on the landing.

“I didn’t mean to- to- listen. There was a phone call for you.”

She ran down the drive and wrapped herself around Red again. He patted her on her back, “Now now. It’s alright.”

Kitty stroked her hair, “Jackie come on the neighbors will start to think Red’s an old softie if you don’t stop this.”

She laughed enough to let go of him.

“Thank you, Mr. Forman.”

“Look, I don’t want either of you driving you’re both too tired, but why don’t you go for a walk or something. Get out of this house.”

Steven took her hand and immediately took off just to get out for a while.

They didn’t go far down the road and sat down on some old boulders on the edge of the neighborhood.

Jackie was quietly collecting herself staring off into space.

“Is our parents leaving us funny yet?” She asked him.

“What?”

“They say you’ll look back on things and laugh, so is it funny yet?”

“I don’t think so. Why?” He asked confused.

“I mean three parents in three months. Might be some kind of inside job.”

He did not have enough sleep for whatever was going through her head. “What are you talking about?”

“Think about it, like they’re all in some secret group and Edna takes off first, the easiest of them to scope things out, lie low, figure out the bugs. Reports back then my dad. Everything’s clear so then my mom. And the robbery was just a diversion.”

“That’s really dumb.”

“I know,” she admitted easily.  

“Your dad left first,” he said with a hint of a smile. 

“Not officially, his clothes were there the last time he left.”

“You’re crazy,” he smirked at her.  

“Yeah, but that’s your type isn’t it?”

He reached out and took her hand, “It must be.” 

“At least I’m not Caroline crazy.”

“I forgot about her, wonder what she’s up to?”

“She sent Fez a letter from the hospital, she’s doing really well I guess.”

“hey fell into silence.

“So this summer, been a blast huh?” First, his mom had ditched him, now her parents both took off on her.

“Some parts were pretty good,” she pulled on her necklace and dragged the little gold grasshopper back and forth along the chain.  

He was glad she still had it. “Yeah, they were.”

They’d had everything in a long but short summer. School would be starting soon, could this last through the year?

He hoped so. She was his new addiction.

She was his everything.

Chapter Text

For now, Jackie didn’t need an official guardian but it would soon come time for decisions to be made, unlike with Hyde the police were involved.  

The police had tried to contact Jack directly and were having no luck.

“Did a lot of stuff get damaged?” Steven asked Jackie after she’d been taken to the house to collect any other things she’d need.

“The stereo was in evidence and nothing really went missing because they caught them there. But-” Jackie steadied herself, telling the police was one thing. Confessing to Steven was another. “I had to open the safes for the police.”

Hyde knew there was something in the way that she said it. Of course, she’d had to show the police everything. So what made it hard for her to tell him?

“What was missing?”

“All of my mom’s diamond jewelry. My dad was kind of paranoid and you have to really try and get to that one, there’s no way anyone but us could it.”

“Criminals know how to find things, Jackie,” at this point he knew her mom had bailed but he’d try a comforting lie if he could.

Jackie shook her head, she appreciated that he was trying to comfort her, he was a good boyfriend but it wasn’t a skill that came easily for him. “You have to move my parents’ bed  or take half of it apart to get to it, and they didn’t find any jewelry on the robbers. There’s no way it wasn’t my mom.”

She’d known she’d been abandoned but the full realization that her parents had taken all of their clothing and her mom’s jewelry, but not their only daughter hurt in ways she couldn’t explain.

If she’d had the choice she probably wouldn’t have gone with them, but just being left without a goodbye.

She felt insignificant.

Hyde threaded his fingers around hers.

“Hey, I get it you know. Didn’t find anything but my mom’s closet empty and a note.”

“You got a note?” She tried to joke but it felt hollow. “It’s fine nothing’s really changed. Plus I still have my credit cards.” And it was like a light bulb switched on. She spoke slowly as the thoughts all fell into place, “I still have my credit cards.”

Hyde saw something happen but didn’t understand, “Jackie.”

“You ever shopped until you dropped?”

There was something off in the way she was looking past him.

“I am terrified of you.”

“You should be,” Jackie said with an evil smile. “Get in the car.”

Their fingers were still entwined and Jackie was dragging him after her.

“What are we doing?”

“You like to stick it to the man?” she asked. “This is a different way of doing it.”

Jackie was pissed, and he was glad it wasn’t directed at him. She told him where to go and today he was just the chauffeur. Jackie started at the comic book shop, smiling sweetly at the clerk asking for help finding her boyfriend’s Star Wars obsessed brother a few gifts.

Then the record store she bought several records, anything she saw and maybe wanted. She insisted that Hyde get some records and tapes.

He was going to refuse when she flashed a smile and said, “Steven, my dad who left me,” she emphasized, “would just hate it.” So he got a few.

She dragged him to the mall and bought so many clothes, he didn’t think she’d ever wear them all.

He carried the bags as she had whatever catharsis that this was.

She bought him some t-shirts, perfume for Kitty, a new tackle box and kit for Red. Magazines and candy for Fez, Books for Donna.

Then she’d finally dragged him to the grocery store, she needed his help and bought enough snacks and treats and meat to be stored in the freezer to keep the gang fed for at least a month. By the time she was done Hyde wasn’t sure if she’d had a breakdown of some kind.

Back at the Formans’, she sifted through her purchases. First moving to the groceries to sort what needed to be frozen.

The living room was covered in bags.

Hyde didn’t know how it had all stayed in the back of the Camino. Hyde was staring at the carnage when Red came home.

“What the hell is all of this?”

Hyde sure as hell wasn’t sure, “I think it was a retail act of war.”

“Did my wife buy all of this?”

“Jackie did make Jack pay for it.”

“Huh. I’m going to go- away,” Red wasn’t sure what was going on but he could sense he wanted no part of it.  

“Run man. Run,” Hyde urged him.

Finally finished putting away the groceries that could fit, Jackie came out to the living room to sort.

“Jackie,” Hyde tried to lure her out of whatever crazed mood she was in, “what the hell was that?”

“If my dad doesn’t notice this then I don’t know what he will?”

“Jacks.”

“I know Steven. You don’t have to say it, I’ve known since I was ten. He doesn’t care,” she wasn’t even sad she was angry. “I know that. But I’ve been hurt. I’m living with people he hardly knows and he can’t return a message. The only thing he’s worried about is his money, so I’m taking advantage of that.”

“Okay, are you done though?”

Jackie crossed her arms childishly, “I’m not returning anything.”

“I didn’t tell you too, but maybe-just-” Hyde scratched the back of his head, “I don’t know will this even fit in your room?” 

“It fit in the car.” It seemed like the haze was lifting, she looked around taking in the sheer amount of stuff she’d bought, and seemed a little horrified. “That was bad wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, but hey you got a new outfit,” He tried to be supportive, for whatever was going on. He hoped she never did that to him with his credit card, which sparked a different terrifying thought.

She laughed.

“I’ve missed that,” he said. He wanted to talk her down or into returning some of the stuff later, but the laugh did him in, “Okay this is going to take a while.”

“Clothes can go upstairs. If you find the other bags let’s pull those out.”

They found the gifts for the Formans, and Fez’s candy, and the records but the other gifts were lost somewhere in the mix.

“That’s a start at least,” Jackie said, “but that was a bad freak out wasn’t it?”

He shrugged, “You’re entitled, I broke a ton of stuff when Edna left.”

“You never told me that.”

“Yeah, well I didn’t think adding on smashing things when angry was a great selling point for a guy you were going to date.”

“Oh Steven,” she came over and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sure it was all really ugly stuff.”

He laughed at her.

“Yeah, it was.”

They were both a mess, but they could be a crazy mess together.

“Honey was all this really necessary?” Kitty looked at the fridge and cabinets stuffed with food. She couldn’t even see the light on the top shelf.

“Steven told me I went a little crazy, but my parents can pay my keep one way or another.”

Kitty put a hand on Jackie’s shoulder, “That’s not necessary. We love you, and we want you here.”

Jackie’s eyes watered, “I know, but you feed us all the time, and okay I have no idea what most of the food was so Steven picked out stuff and this way I can feel better.”

“Okay,” Kitty relented, it wasn’t like she could return groceries anyway, “just this once.”

“My dad will probably cancel the card when he gets the bill anyway, it’s in his name so he has to pay for it or it’ll go into collections.”

“I hope he falls over when he gets it,” Kitty said. Nobody hurt her kids and got away with it. “Since you’re our guest what would you like for dinner?”

“I don’t know, something,” Jackie felt silly even saying it, “homey.”

It broke Kitty’s heart but she smiled through it. “Okay, I’ll make something homey.”

Chapter Text

School started the next week and though Steven wanted to drop out and work, somehow Jackie had actually convinced him to get through the year with a diploma. That and Kitty and Red insisting on it as well.

The gang braced themselves, this was going to be a rough start for Jackie and probably Hyde, which meant it was going to be a rough day for all of them.

Eric drove them and picked up Fez on the way. Jackie was fidgeting so much Hyde had to put his hand on her knees to stop the bouncing.

They walked in as a group, first unnoticed but then the whispers started following them down the halls. Jackie did her best to keep her bitchy Princess attitude up. When Steven slung his arm over her shoulders in front of everyone, she could have fallen over.

He whispered in her ear, “Zen Grasshopper.”

But Zen wasn’t in the cards. She was too happy, which was a bit disturbing considering everything, but she felt totally safe with his arm around her. It was a heavy declaration. He was saying Jackie was his and if anyone messed with her, it was him they’d have to deal with.

It seemed to work a lot of the whispers died on the lips of their classmates.

Jackie often forgot Steven had a bad-boy reputation at school. Sure he could be a jerk but she never saw the guy who was known as a fighter, even before they’d started dating.

He’d kept that part of himself away from her and the rest of them, unless it was necessary.

He walked her to her first class and she gave him a quick peck on his cheek.

“See you at lunch,” he said.

She knew the rumors were already wild about her parents ditching her, but maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as she’d dreaded.

At lunch, she sat down next to Fez waiting for the others.

Steven sat down next to her and stole one of the cookies that Mrs. Forman had packed for her.

“Hands off,” she swiped the bag away from him as he reached for it again before she relented and let him have them.

“How bad’s it been?” He asked her.

Jackie laughed. Of all the rumors she expected to be assaulted with, her love life hadn’t been it. “Apparently you’re the one slumming it now.”  

“What?”

“Oh yeah, you’re a senior with a car. You boosted my popularity by like twenty percent.”

Hyde shook his head. Chicks are crazy. “Anything-”

“Nothing I can’t handle. No one’s said anything to my face yet, except about you.”

They settled into a comfortable chatter about their first day so far.

Jackie knew everyone was watching her but she didn’t care, the only people who mattered were right there with her.

They went to their spot on the cliffs that night for a break and some space.

After making out in the back of the Camino for a considerable part of their date, Hyde pulled away and checked his watch,  “We’ve got five minutes before we have to go.”

“That’s okay, we can just continue this back at the house.”

“Jackie, how do you expect me to keep my hands off of you while we’re living in the same house?”

“I don’t,” she gave him a sneaky smile.

“And that’s a problem.”

Her face fell, hurt, “So you don’t want to anymore?”

“Of course, I do but Jackie seriously, you’re in a sticky spot with the guardianship and if we screw things up-”

“One of us gets sent who knows where I get it,” She pouted and huffed but he was right. “Fine, but we better figure out something soon, or I’m sending the Forman’s on vacation.”

He checked his watch again.

“We still have three minutes,” Hyde said.

“Then get over here and kiss me,” She pulled him by the collar until his lips met hers.

They were only a few minutes late for curfew.

Hyde had a shift at the Photo Hut right after school the next day, so Eric brought Jackie and Fez home the next day.

Kitty and Red were together in the living room.

“Jackie, please sit down,” Kitty asked her.

Eric glanced at her and headed down to the basement before his dad threatened him and pushed Fez in front of him.  

Jackie’s heart sank, it was too formal, too rehearsed. She was being sent away.

“Are they taking me away?” She asked as she sat down numbly. She hadn’t even let go of her bag, she just clutched the strap tightly.

Kitty looked at Red who seemed firmly willing to let her carry the conversation.

“No, but the thing is. It’s a bit of a delicate situation with the boys here and Steven is your boyfriend.”

“But we haven’t done anything I swear,” Jackie said quickly. Maybe if they thought she was good she could stay with them.

“That’s good news, but now we hate to lose you but we think this is a good solution for everyone. And you can be over as much as you have been.” Kitty tried to sound happy about everything like she always did. The truth was she was sad to lose Jackie, she’d liked having another girl around the house so much.

Jackie could be brave or at least pretend. If it was bad she’d run away, it had been her backup plan anyway.

“Would you like to meet who you’ll be staying with?”

Jackie wasn’t sure, she felt sick to her stomach. The Forman’s were safe, but these new people, they weren’t her people, no matter how nice they may or may not be.

She nodded.

She felt completely cold. She hoped at least she’d get the chance to say goodbye to Steven.

“Do you think you can stand to share a house with a lumberjack?” Donna walked in followed by her dad.

“What?”

“Well, we’ve got the space and until this gets sorted out with your dad it seemed like a good idea.” Bob told her, “I’ve already got one girl, another one wouldn’t be any trouble.”

“And you can spend time with me here all you want,” Kitty said.

“So what do you say kiddo?” Bob asked her warmly.

It solved two of her problems at once, “I’ll wear plaid all the time if I have to, thank you, Donna, Mr. Pinciotti. You have no idea what this means to me.”

She hugged them both.

“Ai, this is so beautiful,” Fez had broken free of Eric and forced himself in on their hug.

“Sorry, he was listening at the door,” Eric tried to cover.

Jackie bit back a retort about him probably listening too.

Bob didn’t even seem to notice, “We’ll move you in this weekend okay?” 

“Sure thing,” Jackie was smiling brightly. They weren’t the Forman’s but they were a great second choice.

Donna stopped her, “We will not be moving your stuff, we’ll make the boys do it.” 

“Where is that feminist bravado?” Jackie asked.

“It doesn’t want to move a bunch of your stuff.”

“Fair. I’m going to miss it here though.”

“Isn’t that sweet,” Kitty said happily now that Jackie wasn’t upset at leaving, “now dinner will be ready in half an hour for anyone who’s staying.”

Jackie felt at ease, she wasn’t going to have to leave. She’d get to keep her friends and Steven, and even the Forman’s.

This could work.

“Steven, where have you been?” She demanded the second he walked into the basement.

Jackie was bouncing.

“Work I told you,” he said grumpily. Leo had been late relieving him again and he was in a bit of a mood.

“I forgot, anyway it’s the best news. I’m moving in with Donna. It’s perfect. I can be here all the time and,” she whispered in his ear, “we will not be sleeping in the same house.”

“That’s good but… I don’t want you to leave either,” he admitted. He liked having her so close even if Kitty and Red were watching them like crazy.

“But I’ll have my own room, and Bob doesn’t come home until dinner time most of the time. And he has club meetings some nights and doesn’t do bed checks like some houses do.”  

They heard footsteps coming down the stairs. “There are some good possibilities there.”

“I thought you might see it that way”

This would be a great solution, even if he’d miss her.

Chapter Text

“Jackie seriously?”

Donna looked at all of the bags and boxes filling Laurie’s room.

“I know I had a meltdown it won’t happen again.”

“I hope not, there’s going to be a fabric shortage in the Midwest if you do.” Hyde had warned her but seeing it was something else. She was not prepared. “You’re not going to have enough space for all of this in the spare room.”

Jackie frowned, “Okay, okay, Let’s grab a few boxes and I’ll fight with the clothes later.”

“Fine, but you are not putting them in my closet.”

“I’d never, I don’t want your flannel pilling on my fabrics.”

Donna rolled her eyes and picked up a box. Jackie took a suitcase with her important things and went to inspect her new room. If there was a bed and a door she’d be happy. It felt weird to be preparing for yet another home that didn’t belong to her.

It would only be for a short time but that didn’t matter. She never really felt like she belonged anywhere, at least as much as she had here at the Forman’s.

Kitty even did her hair sometimes, her mom never did that for her.

Jackie had been in her new room at Donna’s plenty of times when she’d hung out or stayed over, it was at one time an office then Midge’s yoga studio then a storage room.

It was a small room, with a bland wall color. Bob had told her she could paint it however she wanted but she’d leave it alone. It wasn’t really hers to decorate. There was enough room for a dresser and a closet that was a fair size, even if it wouldn’t fit all the things she was currently storing in her room next door.

Hyde and Eric were at her house picking up her bed frame to put in the room. Since it was at the moment completely empty.

It did, however, have a window right next to a tree. She was too short to climb out but that didn’t mean a certain someone couldn’t climb in. She’d have to see how that worked out later.

Bob didn’t seem like the kind of parent who would be overly interested in what they were doing.

Over the past week, Jackie had gone through the closet and taken out everything that didn’t fit right or was out of style and she still had a lot of clothes.

She painstakingly tried on everything in there and put together outfits to see if they worked and got rid of quite a few things. But even without her new clothes she still had plenty of clothes.

These were packed up for the move over to Donna’s, but Jackie went back over to tackle the new things still in bags.

All her gifts were stashed in Steven’s room after she’d finally found everything.

Donna was right she had to do something, sure Mrs. Forman would let her leave some things there, but how ridiculous was that? No, she had to get rid of some more stuff.

She’d sorted through the bags and if it was too similar to something already in the closet it went into the pile, the giant ever-growing pile.

Hyde walked up to her room and leaned on the door frame silently watching her.

“Hey, you need a rope in case you fall in?”

Jackie scowled at him, “You are just too funny.”

“Hurry up, we’re going to the Hub later.”

“I’m trying but there’s a lot of it,” she whined.

“Don’t I know it.”

She shot him an annoyed look. If he was there he could help instead of taunting her. “It’s your fault for letting me get so much.”

“How exactly was I going to stop you?” He hadn’t tried to stop her because at the time she was freaking him out.

“You just should have.”

Hyde sensed this would be a losing argument no matter what so it was best to bow out now. “Yeah, alright. We’re leaving at six,” he then took shelter in the basement.

After some more sorting, Jackie trapesed down into the kitchen for some cookie refueling.

“How’s it going?” Kitty asked. Jackie had a few days before she was out of the house but Kitty already missed her.

“I have so much stuff to get rid of and it’s suffocating me.”

“Do you have things set aside?”

“I ran out of sides but I do.”

Kitty looked at her fondly, “Honey, we can take them to the church, they have a clothing closet and give or sell clothes to people who need them.”

“That would be perfect.”

“Why don’t we take them over tomorrow to prep for your big move.”

Jackie wrapped her arms around Kitty, “Thank you. I don’t want to leave a whole bunch of stuff here.”

With the gang dispersed later that night, Jackie and Hyde spent a little time alone.

“Shouldn’t you be working on moving all your stuff?”

“Kitty said we can take it to the church tomorrow, so I can at least see what’s left after that giant pile is gone.”

“Oh yeah. Edna used to get all my stuff from there,” Steven said.

“Really?”

“Yeah, first just cuz Bud was in jail and we were broke, then because she was drinking and more broke.”

“Steven,” she squeezed his hand. There was a lot she took for granted and things were one of them. She’d never had to want for anything, she often forgot what it meant for other people.

“It’s not a big deal,” he shrugged it off, but deep down Jackie knew it bothered him.

*******

“Well,” Kitty was a bit stunned at the volume of stuff sticking out of the car, “you certainly do know how to shop.”

Jackie frowned, “I promise I’m better now.”  

Kitty patted her shoulder gently. “Let’s get to it, this will be a lot of work.”

Kitty drove them up to the church. “Now, I’ll get a couple of carts and we can start unloading them.”

“Us. Don’t they just take them?” Jackie had expected just to hand everything off with a thanks and that was it.

“Yes, but they are always short on volunteers,” Kitty spoke patiently, she knew Jackie hadn’t been exposed to anything close to charity work before.

Jackie waited by the car and watched a mother take her small children inside, their clothes were a little snug and short. Her heart ached. She’d never had to live with that. She’d always gotten whatever she wanted without lifting a finger.

Kitty came back with the carts.

“Okay, I’ve got a couple of volunteers on standby to help us inside.”

Jackie and Kitty took bags and boxes out of the car and loaded up the carts. They walked them in and emptied them and returned to the car for another round.

Once everything was inside, Jackie noticed the clothes were generally a few seasons old if not older. The mother she’d seen come in was pulling clothes off a rack and holding them up in front of her son.

Jackie saw a vision of a small curly-haired boy with sunglasses in his place.

“We’re done for now if you want to go home,” Kitty offered, interrupting Jackie’s momentary daydream.

Jackie looked at the massive pile before them. “Don’t they need help hanging these up? Or at least sorting the fabrics and seasons?”

“Well, I think we could stay if you’re not too busy,” Kitty offered, she’d secretly hoped Jackie would want to lend a hand.  

“No, I mean we did bring a lot of stuff.”

Chapter Text

Kelso had been gone for a few months, and while he was missed no one brought up having him come back. The only real difference was Fez was gone more often.  

They were all sitting around one day when Kelso walked through the basement door.

Hyde stiffened when he saw him.

“What are you doing here?” Eric asked.

“I uh, I need to talk to all of you, but alone. Jackie, can we talk for a minute?”

“I don’t know,” she said hesitantly.

“I promise I’ll behave. Five minutes.”

“Okay, but if you start anything,” she warned him.  

“I won’t I promise. Like a real promise, not where I promise and then do it anyway.”  

It caught them all off guard.

They walked outside.

Jackie folded her arms expectantly, “I’m listening.”

“I don’t know if anyone told you what I said when Hyde and I got in that fight but I’m sorry,” Kelso said quickly. He was trying to be prepared if she unleashed one of her kicks at him.

“No one did, but I know you said something about me. I could tell from the way Steven was acting.” Jackie remembered that day, she’d known immediately what they’d been fighting about when she saw Steven’s hand. She wasn’t stupid and Michael with a bloody nose and Steven with cut-up knuckles didn’t take a genius to figure out.

“I did. I… Do you need me to tell you what it was?”

“No, if Steven didn’t tell me I don’t think I want to know.”

“If he does, just know I didn’t mean it. I was jealous but I didn’t mean it, but I did say it and I’m sorry.”

Jackie looked at him sadly, “Kelso, do you understand that when you hurt one of us you hurt all of us? Eric and Donna had to choose sides, and if you weren’t allowed to be here Fez couldn’t see you or had to pick you or the basement.”

“I didn’t then but I do now. I’m going to work on it. I promise,” he said.

Jackie thought he was sincere, probably for the first time ever.

“So what’s her name?” Jackie finally asked.

“What?”

“You didn’t figure this out all on your own. So, what is her name?”

“I don’t want to say, it’s not like that. I mean I like her,” Kelso said, “but I don’t think she’d go out with me until I get it together.”

“Wow.” Jackie was floored by his response, he could be lying but she didn’t think so. “Kelso, if you’re sincere and you mean it then I forgive you.”

“Thanks.”

“But I mean it,” she said seriously, “if you try to start something again I won’t ever speak to you again, and I can make your life miserable in ways you’ve never even dreamed of.”

“I meant it, I am sorry.” He didn’t doubt that if Jackie wanted to follow through with that threat, she could do it. “Could you send Hyde out?”

“Sure.”

“Wait,” Kelso darted in and grabbed The Stupid Helmet, and went back outside.

“What was that?” Eric asked.

“He wanted to apologize for what he said about me. He wants to talk to you next,” Jackie looked at Steven. 

“It’s an act,” Hyde said firmly.

“I don’t think so, just talk to him. What could it hurt?”

Hyde didn’t want to but the way Jackie was looking at him had him grudgingly walk outside, shutting the door louder than necessary.

Kelso looked idiotic with the helmet on. Before Hyde could question it Kelso started rambling.

“I’m sorry for all of it. I know you didn’t steal Jackie, I know I was a jerk, and I shouldn’t have said what I said. I also shouldn’t have tried to start a fight with you.”

“That’s it man?”

Kelso assuming that he wasn’t going to get punched, slowed down.

“Yeah, I don’t want us to fight. It’s my fault. I know it is but I’d like to be friends again.”

Hyde strangely missed the doofus, but if it was Kelso or Jackie it wasn’t even a competition.

“You know I didn’t ruin it, you did?” Hyde asked.

“I know. I didn’t then but I do now.” Kelso looked at Hyde, he seemed so different now, “You really care about her don’t you?” 

“Yeah, I do.”

“I’m sorry,” Kelso said again.

Hyde knew what Kelso’s apologies were worth, but he would make one thing very clear. “You don’t get to ever talk about her like that again. You do and we’re done. I don’t care if Jackie and I aren’t even together then.”

The idea gutted him but he wasn’t going to let Kelso’s crap go again. In any situation.

“I won’t.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Kelso asked.

“Look, right now I don’t trust you, I missed you sure, but I don’t trust you.”

“I get that, I deserve it,” Kelso admitted.

“You do deserve it,” Hyde wanted to push the point. “Jackie and I are together, and it’s been rough for her lately, if you come in here and start making things hard for her I’ll have Eric throw you out, permanently. Do you understand? Jackie and I aren’t some thing to get back at you.”

“Yeah man, I understand,” Kelso said before pausing, he didn’t see it before but now it was right there in his face threatening him. “You’re totally in love with her.”

There was some fight or flight in Hyde that argued about what he was about to do, but maybe it was Jackie’s influence on him. He didn’t think before speaking, it just came out.”  

“Yeah,” once it was out he didn’t want to take it back, “I am. So don’t mess with us.”

He turned and walked back to his spot and pulled Jackie from her seat on the couch over onto his lap.

Chapter Text

Eric looked at his best friend, his brother. And he looked at the girl he was holding onto for dear life.

This wasn’t Hyde, not the one he knew. Hyde was mean and surly. He’d be more likely to burn you or throw you under the bus for a gag but he was there when your back was up against the wall.

But Hyde wasn’t soft.

Maybe there was something to Jackie calling him Steven, they were somewhat different. But regardless of which was which or who he was more, both were his best friend.

Eric got up without the invitation Hyde was sent and followed Kelso out to the back.

“Hey Eric,” Kelso started.

“No, the swing set. Not here.” Eric pushed past him, they weren’t going to have this conversation in the stairwell. Not where the others could hear this.

“So I’m guessing you apologized to Hyde too?” Eric asked.

“Yeah, he totally loves her. I didn’t see it before,” Kelso half laughed, but Eric didn’t.

“Yeah, he totally does.”

It wasn’t hard to see even if you weren’t looking for it. Hyde was by all accounts an extremist. And Jackie was no exception.

“Look, I’m only going to say this once. You screwed up majorly, Kelso. It can’t happen again.”

“It’s not I promise.”

“Kelso, I mean it. You have to keep that promise because I can see exactly what’s going to happen otherwise. You bother them, Hyde and you are going to get into it. At some point it’s going to be an issue between them and in the end it’s you or Hyde or Jackie being kicked out.

For a fleeting moment, Eric resembled his father, “And I’m telling you right now I’m not letting that happen. I’m not losing Hyde as my brother, and he’s not going to lose Jackie because of you.”

Kelso was frozen to his core. He knew it, they all knew it without ever hearing it. The only thing was it hit him differently hearing it said aloud. And it hurt.

“So you’d pick Hyde over me, forever?”

“Kelso, you picked you over all of us,” Eric didn’t want to, but it wasn’t a future he was going to play around with.

“My mom loves Hyde, he is her son. I’m not letting you start something that’s going to hurt her, my dad, and me. So I’m making it clear, if they say it’s fine and you can come back then you can.”

“Thanks man, I mean it.” Their conversation stung but he had it coming.

Eric nodded, “But, I won’t hesitate to end it. Jackie has had enough problems this summer she doesn’t need more. Not here.”

Kelso didn’t know when everyone got on Jackie’s side. A few months before they didn’t like her all that much and here they were all defending her.

“I get it. I’m not here to cause problems.”

“Good,” Eric said, “then there shouldn’t be any.”

Again, Kelso was confused. He hadn’t been gone that long and suddenly Eric had grown a pair and was catching up to Hyde in the threatening territory.

“So, can I come in?” It felt weird to ask something he hadn’t had to since he was ten.

“If they say you can.”

“Fair.”

They turned to head back and ask the couple about it, as they heard the engine of Hyde’s car roll away.

*****

They watched Eric and Kelso walk outside to talk.

“Are you okay after talking to him?”

It was a standard question. Any boyfriend or girlfriend would have asked in a similar situation.

But it startled Hyde that it was Jackie asking it and not him.

“What?”

She looked at him, her eyes dissecting every inch of his hardened exterior and pinpointing the spots of weakness.

“You heard me,” she said softly as she intertwined her hand with his. “You came back and you’re agitated. Are you okay?”

“It’s Kelso, it’s fine.”

She didn’t believe him, “Come on.” She got up and pulled him with her. “Let’s go somewhere, anywhere else.”

“Where to? Since I’m the chauffeur?”

“Paris would be nice, or New York,” Jackie mused, “but since you have a curfew what if we try our spot this time?”

He hated that she knew how cute she was because he couldn’t even try to play at being annoyed with her.

Instead, he flashed his car keys and took her hand.

He could hear the muffled conversation between Forman and Kelso and he wanted no part of it.

They got in and took off as quietly as a muscle car would allow.

He was silent the whole drive until they settled into their spot.

“Now you’re starting to scare me, what happened?” Jackie’s nervousness broke him out of his thoughts.

“What are you talking about?”

“You haven’t said a word since we left, you didn’t have the radio on almost the whole way here. I turned on ABBA and nothing. It’s like an alien is driving me what is going on?”

Was he really that far in his thoughts?

“You played ABBA?”

“Yes, do you get why you’re freaking me out?”

He was freaking himself out now.

“I didn’t mean to scare you, just this thing with Kelso was getting in my head.”

Jackie reached out for his hand.

“Steven, whatever it is just talk to me. I know you don’t want to but whatever caused this is not good.”

When he still didn’t say anything Jackie pushed on, “Did he say something that upset you? Or bad about us? Because if he did it isn’t true.”

Hyde could see the worry etched across her face. He knew she would wonder and worry until she found out.

“I told Kelso I love you.”

She smiled warmly, “So? You’ve told me that. I don’t think it’s much a secret.”

Hyde slowly tried to get his Zen back, but it was damn hard around Jackie. “I know, but I told him. It’s different from saying it to you.”

Jackie was trying hard not to make it a big deal, but she knew for Steven to do that was a big deal. He was like a closed book with a lock and she sometimes had a key, other times she had to pick the lock with a rusty paperclip.

“Okay, but if anyone makes a big deal about it we avoid the basement or you threaten them. I don’t think you need to worry about it.”

“There was something else.”

“Did you threaten him?”

“No- I mean yeah, but that’s not what got me.”

Jackie waited. She was pushing him a lot as it was and she knew she had to let him get there in his own time.

“I told him he couldn’t treat you badly even if we broke up and I don’t know it got in my head.”

The air tightened around her throat.

She tried her best to keep her voice level when she asked, “Like you want to break up?”

“No.”

He said it so quickly that Jackie couldn’t help but believe him.

“But Jackie, you’re in a tight spot. Worse than me because I only have a few months you have over a year. And what if your parents do come back but they try to move or send you somewhere what then?”

Now Jackie understood his panic. She’d had the same spiral down the what-if rabbit-hole herself. There wasn’t an easy answer.

“I don’t know,” her voice was small and shaky. “I’ve thought about that too and I don’t know.”

“I was thinking about that and I don’t want to lose you.”

Her heart ached for him. There was an undercurrent she didn’t know if he realized and didn’t want to tell her or if he didn’t know.

She moved closer to him and gripped his face. “Steven, I can’t tell you what’s going to happen with my situation, but I promise even if something happens and my parents take me someplace else I would never let them keep me away from you.”

“They could try.”

Jackie smiled softly, “you’re right. They could try, but they wouldn’t succeed. I know where my heart belongs and it’s right here.”

As sweet as it was, he wanted her to be realistic. “Don’t try to make this into some romance movie.”

“Obviously it’s not if you’re going to ruin my heartfelt speech,” she joked. “I’m not kidding, I’ve thought about it in lots of ways. What if that happens and they make it so I can’t talk to you and have no money to leave? I figure out how to get a call out to someone who can talk to you. You guys get me a ticket home, or I scrape up enough for a bus and get back.”

“You think that’s all it would take?”

“No, but I’m so close to eighteen, I could be emancipated. I’m sure that after the police bringing me here the Forman’s would support it in court.”

He was shocked she had thought about a lot of options.

“You’ve thought of everything then?” He asked.

She nodded, “They caught me off guard before, I want to be prepared for whatever happens.”

Hyde understood.

“Maybe you have to be without me for a while, but the day my birthday hits I’m out and they can’t force me to be anywhere.”

Hyde didn’t like how she was talking, it reminded him too much of himself living with Edna.

“I don’t think that would happen, but if it did I would be miserable until you came back.”

Jackie laced her fingers through his.

“So would I, but let’s not worry about it right now. I doubt they’re ever coming back for me.”

Another unfortunate similarity between them.

Hyde took his hand away and wrapped his arm around Jackie’s shoulders, she leaned her head on his shoulder.  

They sat in the car as the sun went down, both lost in their own thoughts.

Chapter Text

Eric Forman’s Basement-Hyde’s bedroom: Friday Evening

It was too serious too fast. They loved each other, they honestly did but a lot had happened in only a few months.

Jackie hadn’t been as talkative lately. While Hyde enjoyed the quiet, it wasn’t Jackie. He got that everything got upended so fast for her.

In one day she went from having fun with the rest of them to living in another house, with no idea where her parents are. 

But Jackie not talking was never normal.

“Jackie, you okay?” Steven asked her when they were alone.

Jackie was laying halfway across his chest and stomach.

“Yeah, it’s just. I want to talk to you and I don’t want you to freak out okay?”

“Well, this is a great way to start.” 

“I’m sorry, it’s just… listen all the way through. I love you so much and I feel like I’ve been just a lot lately.” 

“You’ve always been a lot.” 

She smiled and shot back with, “Shut your pie hole.”

He smirked at her.

“And I love that I’m living next door so we get more time together but, I’ve been all over you for weeks.”

“I’m not complaining.” It had been the best thing that could have happened. He didn’t need to worry about her being alone and it was easy for either of them to sneak out past curfew.  

“Well, you should be. Now I want it clearly expressed that I do not want to break up, but I think I need to give you some space for a few days.”

“Space?” He didn’t like the sound of that. What the hell did he need space for? To watch TV, go to the water tower. There was literally nothing in this town to do where he wouldn’t take her with him.  

“Just… you and the guys used to do things without me and Donna all the time and you’ve been amazing, but you’ve been taking care of me for so long. I think you need to just be away from me for like a weekend. No more than a week.” 

“Jackie where is this coming from?”

“I feel like I’m suffocating you.”

“Trust me if I felt suffocated I’d tell you, you’d know.” 

“Good,” she said feeling relieved that she wasn’t totally smothering him, “but I still think you should take like the weekend and hang out with everyone without me.”

“And you’ll be?”

“At Donna’s. I’ve made up my mind just hang out with Eric or do something with the guys, but you’re still one hundred percent my boyfriend got it?”

It wasn’t that big of an ask and maybe she needed the space more than him. He didn’t like the idea of it but agreed.

“Okay. The weekend.”

“I still maintain you can have up to a week. Then I fully reclaim my boyfriend and you have to do mushy girly things with me again.”

“I didn’t do that before,” he shifted in his seat, both knowing it was a complete lie.

“Whatever you need to tell yourself.”

Donna’s Living Room: Mid-afternoon Sunday

“What was the big deal about giving Hyde space?” Donna asked.

“I read a thing in Cosmo about how not to be too clingy or your boyfriend will feel trapped and leave you.”

“You have got to stop reading that garbage.”

“It’s not garbage. I agree, I’m around him too much and he’s going to get sick of me.”

Donna got that at least. She loved Eric but sometimes he was all over her.

“I still think Hyde would tell you if you were annoying him.”

“You’re probably right, but I really don’t want to mess this up.”

The phone rang.

“You get it, it’s probably your mopey loverboy,” Donna said.

Jackie grabbed it. 

“Hello,” she said brightly.

“Jackie, hey.”

“Hi Steven,” she hadn’t seen him in almost two long days and she missed him. She hoped he was calling to tell her the same thing.

“Can you put Donna on?” He asked.

“Oh,” she paused, “sure.”

He heard her say, “Hey Lumberjack, phone.”

Hyde smiled on his end of the phone, Jackie was getting the hang of living as Donna’s sister.

Jackie went to the other side of the room, she didn’t want to look like she was listening but she wanted to know what her boyfriend was calling Donna for and not her.

“HE WHAT? I’ll be right there.” She hung up, “OH MY GOD,” she yelled angrily.

“What’s the matter?”

“My stupid boyfriend and your stupid boyfriend. I’m going to kill one of them,” She shouted then stormed out.

Despite Jackie’s arrangement to stay away, she chased after Donna. She hadn’t said what happened and what if Eric had cheated on her, no he wouldn’t be that stupid, would he?

What if he was hurt? What if Steven was hurt? A million thoughts were running through her mind.

By the time Jackie reached the basement, Donna was already yelling at both Eric and Steven. Eric looked terrified and Steven was smirking.

“What is going on?” Jackie asked, it seemed less likely that anyone was hurt, at least for now.

“These idiots,” Donna gestured angrily, “Your idiot got my idiot to get a tattoo and it’s of some other girl’s name.”

“It was supposed to be your name,” Eric tried to explain. 

Jackie looked at Steven trying to hide the flash of anger she felt, “Did you get one too?”

“No,” Steven laughed, “I’m not getting ink from a stoned-out hippy.”

That set Donna off again. “Leo, you got a tattoo from Leo?”

Eric cowered, “Kinda.”

“Kinda?” She smacked his arm. “You let Leo tattoo another girl’s name on your- on your what? Where did you get it?”

“Uh, it’s uh… it’s on my butt.”

Jackie was about to lose it. She bit her lips but covered her mouth because she couldn’t contain it completely.

Donna turned on Steven when he started to laugh, “You let Leo give him a tattoo.”

“What he does isn’t my fault,” Hyde said calmly.

“It is your fault, Hyde, you always do these stupid things.”

Suddenly, Jackie didn’t find it amusing anymore.

“Donna knock it off, it’s not Steven’s fault that Eric did something stupid again.”

Donna turned her fury on her, “Jackie this is just as much your fault,” she seethed.  

“My fault?”

“If it wasn’t for your stupid girls’ weekend so you don’t suffocate your boyfriend into leaving you, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Her face went white.

She hadn’t wanted Steven to know any of that.

Jackie braced herself. She had to take it, didn’t she? She was living in Donna’s house was it worth getting kicked out defending herself?

Jackie decided no, it wasn’t worth going into foster care or living on the streets. So she shut down, it was like putting up an invisible wall. The barbs still got through but you didn’t take on a full blast.

Eric and Hyde both watched something shift in Jackie.

“Back down Pinciotti,” Steven said with a cold calm as he stood up to get Jackie away from her if necessary. It was a simple statement but there was such a sharp edge to it.

“You know what I’m leaving,” Donna stormed through the door slamming it behind her.

The rest of them stood frozen in their spots.

Eric broke the silence, “So that didn’t go as well as I expected.”

He offered a weak smile to Jackie.

Jackie appreciated it, “Do you need some ice for your butt?”

“I will get my own ice for my own butt thank you very much,” Eric said turning bright pink.

Jackie smiled slightly at him. Eric had never adored Jackie the way the other guys did, but he understood that Donna crossed a line.

“What she said wasn’t cool,” Eric said.  

“Don’t worry about it nerd, it takes a lot more than one yelling match to knock me down,” Jackie flipped her hair and flounced to the couch.

Eric sat down too and then hopped back up wincing, “Yeah, I’m going to get that ice.”  

Hyde moved to sit on the couch with Jackie, she rest her head on his shoulder. He pulled her legs over his.

“You know it was not your fault at all right? Forman’s right, what she said wasn’t cool.”

Jackie gave him a sad smile, “I know I was so mad at her for blaming you.”

“Me? She blamed you too,” he pointed out.

“Yeah well, she has a point didn’t she,” Jackie asked quietly.

Hyde shook his head, “Jackie, Forman wanted to do it, he was sober, he’s just stupid sometimes. I didn’t try and talk him out of it, but he’s almost a big boy he can do whatever he wants.”

“It’s just, I thought we were having a nice weekend before that,” Jackie looked so small and sad.  

“Sorry if we ruined it,” He genuinely did feel bad  about it.

“You didn’t, Donna shouldn’t have gotten so mad. Can’t he just get another one on top and fix it?”

“Probably.”

Jackie finally looked at him. “I missed you by the way,”

“Yeah, I missed you too.”

Jackie wrapped her arms around him, “Well, obviously I can’t leave you alone or you get into all kinds of trouble.”

“I guess that’s cool.” He brushed a kiss onto her forehead. He had to bring up what Donna said even if he didn’t want to. “You know I’m not going to get sick of you.”

Jackie tensed. “You say that.”

“And I mean it. I knew who you were before we got into this, I’m not going anywhere.”

Jackie squeezed him tighter and settled in as close as she could get to him.

They watched some reruns..

Steven couldn’t enjoy her closeness after what happened.

What Donna just did, he watched something fade in Jackie. She was never afraid of an argument, she was little and scrappy but she was a fighter. And when Donna rounded on her he watched as Jackie shut down part of herself. And he knew exactly why.

They were both living in other people’s homes. If Eric wanted him out, he’d be out. But no matter how immature, Eric would never have done that to Hyde.

At the moment, Hyde wasn’t so sure about Donna.

The worst parts of themselves were similar. Volatile, rash, reckless.

He’d spent a long time learning to keep his mouth shut when he needed to, but Donna never had. She was always the hot girl who could get away with everything. She had the power. Right now Jackie didn’t, and she knew it.

He needed to come up with a backup plan.

Hyde did not talk about things, one-word answers would do where others would give paragraphs. But here he was getting ready to have a talk with Red Forman.

He was alone in the garage.

“Hey Red, can I ask you something?”

Red braced himself. The kids talked to Kitty, all except Steven. He dealt with his own issues for better or worse. If he was willing to talk to him, it was going to be bad.

“Sure Steven. But let’s cut to it what’s the matter.”

This is why Steven liked Red, no touchy feely crap before getting to the point.

“If it doesn’t work out for Jackie at Bob’s, can she move back here?”

Right now, Red felt old. He walked over and got himself a beer.

“What’s going on?”

“Donna was pissed at Forman and turned it on Jackie. Donna’s a hothead. One day she’s might get mad and kick Jackie out.”

Red liked Donna, but Steven was right, she was a hothead. It wasn’t in itself a bad thing but he knew she could crush Eric one day or they would have some massive blow up. It was only a matter of time.

“I’ll keep this quiet but I’ll talk to Bob, I don’t think it will come to that but if it does Jackie is welcome here.”

“Thanks, Red, and I can-“

Red interrupted him, “Whatever stupid thing you’re about to offer to do save it.”

“But-

“No. You tell anyone and I’ll have to kill you.” Red put a hand on Steven’s shoulder, Steven briefly wondered if he was about to kill him. Red never did that. “You’re just as much our son as Eric. I wasn’t going to tell you this but the rent you’re paying, I put it in a separate savings account. I was going to give it to you if you decided to go to college. Now I want you to start thinking about using that money for that or even trade school.”

Steven felt shell-shocked. College had never been an option before. He was lucky if he could get a job bar-tending and not end up in AA or jail. Or both.

Red Forman was not his dad. No, his dad had bailed on him and his mom when he was a kid. Then showing back up and having his sixteen-year-old son pay the rent, then taking off again. No Red was certainly not his dad, just like Kitty was not his mom who dumped him without a thought.

But secretly for months, Red was squirreling away his money for him to have a chance at something else. He’d never asked for anything in return. No one ever in Hyde’s life had ever done that before.

“Promise me, you’ll consider it.”

“Yeah… I’ll think about it.”

And just like that everything he thought he knew had been upended. But unlike before he felt almost… safe.

Chapter Text

It took Hyde days to be without both Jackie and Eric, that was when he cornered Donna.

She was bumming around in the basement watching TV when Hyde came out of his room. He didn’t say a word as he walked around the couch turned off the TV and sat down in his chair.   

“What?” She asked.

“Seriously, what the fuck was that last weekend?”

Donna relaxed, “I know, I overreacted. But it turns out that Eric didn’t get a girl’s name tattooed on his ass so we’re cool.”

“Are you and Jackie?” Hyde asked.

Donna gave him a confused look, “Why wouldn’t we be?”

“Because you blamed her for everything.”

“Jackie hasn’t said anything. Did she say anything to you?”

“No, she wouldn’t.”

“She’s Jackie,” Donna said, “of course, she’d tell me and everyone else if she was upset.”

“Yeah, you always tell the people who are letting you live with them for free that they made you feel like crap.”

“That’s not…” The realization hit Donna and her face fell. “Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t mean anything, I was mad at Eric and you for letting him get a stupid tattoo.”

“I get that, which screw you because I am not his babysitter,” Hyde snapped at her, “but you freaked out and took it out on Jackie.”

Donna at least looked ashamed.

“She really hasn’t said anything to you about it?” She asked.

“No, but haven’t you noticed how quiet she’s been lately?”

“Yeah, I just didn’t really think about it.”

“Well, you need to,” Hyde stood up and went back to his room. It was some time before he heard the basement door shut.

Donna knocked on Jackie’s bedroom door.

“Jackie, can I come in?”

“Sure, it’s your house.”

Donna walked in uneasily. She looked around, the room was not Jackie. Jackie was tidy but this was obsessively clean. Her knickknacks weren’t out and not a single thing was out of place. Or out for that matter.  

“About that,” Donna sat down on the foot of the bed, “look I’m really sorry about this weekend. We were having fun and I totally flipped out on you and Hyde when I actually was mad at Eric.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Jackie said minimizing it.

“Yes it is, I should have apologized earlier but I kind of brushed it away because Eric and I were fine but that didn’t mean that we were and I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, Donna.”

“Look, we’re not always going to get along, I mean Hyde and Eric are like weirdly bonded and even they nearly killed each other when Hyde moved it. It’s not like you’re going to be sent away.”

Jackie chewed on her lips, “But that’s just it Donna, what if I am?

“I promise that you won’t be, I know that you’re scared with everything but no matter how mad I might be at you I wouldn’t do that.”

Jackie hugged her. It had been so long since she’d had any reassurance that she felt a little bit safer.

Chapter Text

One long weekend at a college surrounded by college students should have thrilled Jackie. The excitement of the newness never soaked in. While everyone else touring the campus was looking at their potential future, Jackie knew that this might not be in the cards for her anymore.

Even the cheer team couldn’t put a smile on her face.

Donna and Jackie pulled into the driveway. “I’m exhausted, and I missed everyone.”

Jackie agreed.

She got out and stood on her toes to look over the hedge into the empty Forman driveway. “The guys aren’t home so I vote food, shower, nap and I really don’t care what order.”

“Right there with you,” donna agreed.

They wandered into the house leaving everything in the car.

“Dad?” Donna called. “We’re back.”

Bob wandered into the kitchen, “Hi, Pumpkin how was the trip?”

“Loud, kind of boring.”

“So, Marquette isn’t for you?”

“I don’t think so,” Donna said, her mind was running through her other options.

“Maybe the much closer UW could be an option?” Bob asked hopefully.

“We’ll see,” Donna laughed, she knew her dad would want her close by but she didn’t know if that was where she was going with her life.

“I’m going to take a nap,” Jackie said deciding which one was the most important on her list. The dorm beds were awful and no one had shut up through the nights so Jackie had barely slept.

“Are you sure, why don’t you both sit down and I’ll make some lunch?” Bob offered, but his voice sounded a bit agitated.

“No, thank you, I’m really tired.”

“Jackie,” Bob said solemnly “you can’t go into your room.”

Was he kicking her out?

Her eyes were as big as saucers. “Why?”

She hated the way her voice trembled.

“Well,” Bob tried to come up with what to say, “you can’t sleep in your room.”

“Dad, what’s going on?” Even Donna was concerned.

“Ah, darn you might as well come and see.”

They went up the stairs and every step made Jackie more convinced she was getting sent away.

Her mattress was leaning against the wall in the hall and a box of her things was next to it.

Her stomach clenched.

Did Steven accidentally leave some of his stash in her room when he’d been there? Maybe she could pin it on Fez or Kelso sneaking in. Would that work?

Bob opened the door.

Her room was a mess with all the furniture pushed into the middle nothing was where it had been two days ago.

The plain beige walls were now a soft pink.

“It took longer to dry than I thought it would,” Bob said sheepishly, “so you’ll have to sleep on the couch or with Donna tonight. Maybe tomorrow too.”

“Mr. Pinciotti, why did you do all this?”

Her room at the mansion had been done by a designer, neither of her parents had done a thing to decorate or personalize her room. Everything was bought and paid for.

“This is your home as long as you want it to be. I want you to feel like it’s yours.”

Tears filled Jackie’s eyes, and she hugged him.

Bob also teared up.

“Okay,” his voice cracked, “how about some lunch now?”

Jackie was exhausted but how could she say no to that?

She nodded silently trying to get the tears to stop.

Donna gave up her bed so Jackie could sleep while she showered off the gross feeling of being on the road.

Hours later after they rested they heard a car pull up then a shout of “Go home before my foot finds the map to your asses.”

They giggled, as much as they wanted to run over to find their guys, they let everyone settle back in before running over to the basement.

Jackie leapt into Hyde’s arms.

“Not in front of me please,” Eric begged.

“Then turn around,” Jackie sneered at him.

“I’m going upstairs, Donna?”

She followed him up to the kitchen.

Jackie kissed Steven before he set her down.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too. I especially miss sleeping in a room without other people snoring.”

“You didn’t have fun?” she cooed.

“I considered burying Fez, Forman, and Kelso in a cornfield at various times.”

“That probably wouldn’t look good on a transcript.”

“They’d forgive me for that one. Remind me to never road trip with them. Ever.”

“You wouldn’t listen anyway,” she teased him. “Did any hot college girls try to make eyes at you?”

“Only hot chick I notice is you,”

“That is the absolutely right answer,” she pressed a quick kiss onto his lips once again. “Bob fixed up my room while we were gone. Do you want to come see it?”

“You think I’m that easy?”

“Yes,” she said bluntly.

“Well, you’re right let’s go.”

Jackie excitedly pulled him behind her up to the doorway of her room.

She had the time to appreciate it more now, it was the perfect shade of blush pink.

“Huh, it’s a little lighter than I thought it would be.”

“Wait, you knew?”

“Bob asked Kitty what color she thought you’d like best.”

“And how do you know that?”

“Who do you think helped move the furniture? Plus, I might have had an opinion.”

“Really?” she felt like she was floating.

“Yeah, but they didn’t think that black would take to the walls right.”

“You’re sweet and I don’t care what you say.” She kissed his cheek.

“Did you like Marquette?”

“Not really, how about UW?”

“Eh, it was more for Forman,” he hadn’t told her about the college money yet. He wanted to figure out what he was going to do with it first.

“Well, since our futures are still to be determined, why don’t w go back to your room and sleep?”

“Normally that would seem weird but it sounds great. Mrs. Forman almost smothered Kelso in his sleep.”

“Poor baby.” She was glad to have him back with her. She didn’t want to think about him leaving and going away to school right now. She just wanted to be wrapped up in his arms for as long as she could.

Chapter Text

With the cheer season over, Jackie got a job at a clothing store at the mall, she sorted and cleaned and talked to rude customers and she hated it, but she worked every shift.

Steven had no idea why, he didn’t ask. He only assumed that her dad’s cash was tied up. Maybe he’d stopped paying the bills. He wanted to ask, but he also knew what it was like to be embarrassed by your situation.

So he let it be, for this Jackie would tell him when she was ready and he didn’t see the point in pushing her.

Jackie had cashed her check and went to Bob.

“Here, Mr. Pinciotti,” she handed him an envelope.

“I love presents,” he happily took it but his smile fell when he opened it. “What’s this?”

“Rent, it’s not a lot, but it wanted to-

He took her hand and put the envelope in it.

“Jackie, we’re happy to have you here. You don’t need to pay rent.”

“But-“

“No buts. My house my rules. Now, you save that for something you really need. College will be here soon, you’ll need it.”

He went off and that was all he’d say on the matter.

Jackie wanted to say that college probably wasn’t in the future for her. Not anymore.

It was so strange for her. All these givens and expectations for her life were just gone.

But this was her life now.

On the occasional day off, Jackie would follow Kitty to the church and help organize donations brought in.

There was a nice routine everyone settled into, they had jobs and hung out, Jackie would hang out with Red on weekends learning about cars. Today was a day she and Mrs. Forman had a special day planned.

Which all went to hell.

Jackie stared at the blackened remains of her attempted birthday present for Steven.

She’d made four batches. The first one was gooey, the second one caught fire, the third she’d accidentally grabbed salt instead of sugar, the last looked good but were solid.

She groaned and laid her head on the counter.

Kitty patted her sympathetically on the shoulder.

“I can make them honey no problem.”

“Then why can’t I?” She pouted, “I just wanted to make some lousy cookies to show that I thought about it and put effort into his stupid gift and they’re just awful.”

“I don’t know, I really don’t know,” Kitty glanced at the wreckage of her kitchen, “I’m sure Steven will appreciate the thought anyway.” 

Jackie grumbled to herself, “I miss having money, I could just buy everything and not worry about people’s feelings.”

Kitty ignored it and let her complain, it made Jackie feel better.

As Kitty made a perfect batch of chocolate peanut butter cookies, Jackie did the dishes. It wasn’t her favorite because her hands got all pruney but she had to do something for his birthday since she couldn’t make his present herself.

Kitty noticed her sulking.

“You know Jackie, some people just are not bakers, they can cook. And some people can bake but not cook. Some can’t do either.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“How many girls your age know how to fix cars like you do? Not many I bet.”

“You’re right I can. Thanks, Mrs. Forman.” She dried her hands and hugged her.

The El Camino pulled up in the driveway, “There comes the birthday boy,” Kitty bounced on her toes.

As if sensing a possible surge of birthday affection, Hyde went down into the basement through the back door, skipping the kitchen entirely.

“I’ll catch him,” Jackie grabbed the plate of cookies and bounded down the stairs. 

“Happy Birthday Puddin Pop.”

Inwardly he groaned. Hyde had seen the way they were looking at him through the glass door and had tried to avoid this. But he was too far in it now.

He put on a fake smile.

“Thanks.”

She ran over and kissed him. “I have something for you.”

Jackie presented Steven with his plate of cookies, he took a bite, and stopped. “Ow, they’re- uh great.”

“Oh no, I brought the wrong plate,” Jackie grabbed the cookie back, “don’t eat that.”

She looked defeated and Hyde wrapped an arm around her, “Hey, I appreciate it anyway.”

It was a lot more than most people had ever done for him. Mrs. Forman and sometimes Eric were the only ones to acknowledge his birthday.

Before Jackie could respond Kelso came running in screaming. “I got a Hot Date tonight.”

“Then why are you here?” Jackie grumbled.

Hyde laughed, “You’re spending too much time with Red.”

“Yeah soon you’re going to be bald and-“

Kelso never finished the insult. Jackie grabbed a cookie and threw it at him.

“Ow,” one hit him in the forehead.

“Jackie these are supposed to be for me,” Hyde grabbed another cookie and threw it at Kelso.

He struggled to reach the door with an onslaught of rock-like cookies raining down on him.

The last thing they heard as he escaped was “Ow, my eye.”

“I was right, these are great.”

Jackie took his hand, “Come on Mrs. Forman made better ones. Hey, you can give the other ones I made to Michael when he comes back.”

“This really is the perfect gift.”

Chapter Text

When Christmas rolled around the Pinciotti/Burkhart crew came over for the Forman’s annual Christmas party. But Red reluctantly allowed Bob to come over for part of Christmas Day so the boys could spend time with Donna and Jackie.

That was when they exchanged gifts.

“Can we trade her for Hyde?” Eric yelled when she gave him one of the Star Wars figurines from the comic book shop. Hyde convinced her to hide the others for his birthday.

Eric actually hugged her he was so excited.

Jackie’s Christmas present from him was nothing special Steven thought, but he hoped she’d like it.

She pulled out a hot pink mechanic’s shirt that had her name embroidered on the front in cursive.

She laughed for a full minute. “I love it, it’s perfect.” She put it on right then. It didn’t fit properly over her sweater, but it would fit perfectly.

“I had to get Donna to steal one of your shirts to make sure it was the right size.”

“I love it.”

Jackie gave him some parts he needed for the El Camino. “And I can even put them on for you. I earned the money myself,” she told him quietly.

There it was. She was putting space between her and Jack.

“So Jackie, are you going to mechanics school after you graduate?” Laurie asked trying to insult her.

“I don’t know maybe,” she admitted. “Your dad taught me enough I could probably manage.”

Her future had shifted completely in the span of a few weeks. Her plans were all gone.

Jackie who’d had plans from the time she was five was now living on a day-to-day while Steven was thinking about maybe going to college.

This was the Twilight Zone.

In the lazy afternoon, they all went their separate ways.

Jackie and Hyde were on the basement couch alone.

“I love my shirt,” Jackie told him.

Hyde breathed a sigh of relief to know that. She was used to big expensive gifts and he’d gotten her something simple. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I could show you how much I like it,” she smiled as she pulled him into a kiss.

Just then Eric and Laurie came down the stairs.

“Can you two not do that now, or ever,” Eric said looking rather green.

“Grow up Eric,” Jackie snapped sitting up. “It’s not like we don’t know all about what you and Donna do behind closed doors, or in the back of the car, or the-

“Okay, I get it,” Eric threw his hands up in surrender. He really needed to talk to Donna about how open she was with the Devil that lived with her.

Hyde moved over to his seat and Jackie followed grabbing the pouf and sitting beside him.

“Oh finally a big girl,” Laurie taunted with a babified voice, “must be hard trying to do it in the back of a dirty truck.”

“We managed on your bed just fine,” Jackie said without batting an eye. They never got around to fooling around in her room at the Forman’s because it was too risky, but Laurie didn’t need to know that.

Laurie blanched, “What?”

A devious smile spread across Jackie’s face, “I was sleeping in your room remember.”

“Replaced the mattress though,” Hyde added, “don’t know what was on that other one.”

“I don’t believe it, you never would have gotten up the stairs.” Laurie crossed her arms and huffed.

“No, I didn’t get up the stairs,” Hyde said letting Laurie gloat.

“See,” she sneered.  

“But you got a window don’t you?”

He’d never tried to get in or out of that window, but if Kelso knew how to manage it without falling and breaking something it would still be believable enough.

She started to say something when Jackie said, “Laurie I’d be careful what you say, remember what happened last time.”

The memory flooded back to all of them, a look of glee for three of them, and horror for the fourth.

Laurie chose to stay in the basement, but also kept her mouth shut.

“It’s a Christmas miracle,” Eric said, enjoying that his sister was quiet and not picking on him for once.

Chapter Text

“I’m warning you now,” Donna told Hyde, “Jackie said she has to go to one of her Mom’s groups, something about saving face. There’s some fancy gala or cocktail party or something.”

“God, I do not want to go to that.”

“Make your peace with it now, I’m pretty sure she needs a date to take her and well,” she gestured, “that’s you.”

When Jackie came in she had her hair and makeup done up, she was wearing a sparkly long-sleeved silver dress. She did look beautiful, he wondered if they could just put in an appearance and then bail. Maybe she’d be okay with that.

“What time is this thing?” Hyde asked.

“I should be gone from six to about nine if I can’t get out of it any earlier.”

“You? Don’t you have to take a date?”

“Of course I do, I can’t just go to the Christmas Gala alone. I mean I could before but not with my parents gone.”

“Wish you had told me earlier, not much time if we have to be there at six.”

That evil smile crossed her face, “We don’t have to go Steven. I do.”

“But you-

“I got another date, and I promise you don’t have to worry about him.”

Hyde was ready to argue that she shouldn’t be going off with another guy, especially without telling him. He knew she could do whatever she wanted but he was- jealous?

No, he did not get jealous. He was just not cool with it.

Jackie could see all of it brewing under the surface.

“Can you guys give us a minute?”

Donna dragged Eric up the stairs she was sure they would be listening on the other side of the door.

“Steven, do you trust me?” Jackie asked.

He wanted to say no, but he knew better.

“Yes.”

“Okay, then there is no reason to be jealous.”

“I am not jealous.”

“Sure,” she didn’t believe him at all. “I have to go, and if you want to go I will tell my escort never mind. Trust me he won’t care, but do you actually want to go?”

“No,” he answered honestly.

“Okay, it’s settled then.”

“Jackie you should have told me ahead of time.”

“I found out last night, and I couldn’t bring you.”

He was starting to get annoyed. “Why not, I’m not good enough for your fancy friends?”

Jackie looked hurt, “Steven, since we’ve been together have I ever made you feel that way?”

“No, but-

She interrupted him, “Then stop putting that on me. I’m going to be a spectacle tonight, but my mom and dad dragged me to this stupid party every year for twelve years. They’re all going to know my parents are missing and that I’m basically in foster care by the charity of my friend.”

“Jackie look I’m-“

“No, you want to know why I couldn’t bring you? I thought you wouldn’t want to go. Think about prom night and I made you a promise.”

Before he could ask her what she meant there was a knock on the door, Jackie turned to open it and let in one of the few guys Hyde would trust with Jackie walked in.

“Hey Buddy.”

“Hi Jackie, ready to go to this amazingly fabulous party?” He deadpanned, obviously as thrilled to be going to this party as Jackie probably was. 

“Just a minute, think about it Steven I’ll see you later,” despite feeling hurt and angry she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

As she reached the door Hyde stood up, “Hey, Jackie have a good time. I mean it.”

“Thanks,” she smiled but she was still hurt by what he’d said.

“What was that about?” Eric plopped down on the sofa.

“I have no idea.”

“She was talking about prom, what kind of promise would she have made at prom about a Christmas fundraiser?” Donna asked taking her seat on the couch again.

Something poked in the corners of his mind. Prom and promises. He couldn’t shake it but there was something there. He couldn’t understand what she was talking about until it clicked.

“Ah, shit,”

“What’s the matter?”

“I remembered what she was talking about.” Steven’s head fell into his hands.

“And I’m guessing that you are the ass in this situation and not Jackie?”

“Shut up Forman.”

“That means yes,” Donna gloated.

Hyde wasn’t up for the two of them ganging up on him. He felt bad enough hurting Jackie’s feelings as it was.

He went upstairs.

Kitty was sitting at the table looking at a cookbook.

“Hi Steven, what are you up to?”

“I uh… I kind of did something dumb or said something dumb and I hurt Jackie’s feelings.”

“Well, you know there’s only one thing to do about that don’t you?”

“Move to Canada?”

Kitty scowled completely unamused, “Apologize and talk to her.”

“She went to some event downtown, she won’t be back for a while.”

“Then you should have plenty of time to think of a good apology.”

“What should I say?”

“The truth usually works pretty well.”

Steven started wondering if there was any chance he could drive across the border before Jackie got back.

At eight-thirty Buddy’s car pulled up in front of the Pinciotti’s house. Buddy walked Jackie to the door.

“Thanks for dealing with that with me,” Buddy told her.

“Are you kidding, who could sneer at you when I was right there to be sympathetically patted on the shoulder? It’s extremely difficult to do both at once.”

“You do attract the most attention,” he laughed.

“Of course I do,” Jackie flipped her hair over her shoulder, “I’m beautiful.”

“Well, if we have to suffer through any more charity functions for our parents, I wouldn’t mind suffering with you. It wasn’t nearly as bad as the last one.”

“Sure, I just hope there aren’t any that I need to go to for a while, one was enough.” Jackie added sadly, “I’m just sorry you couldn’t go with your boyfriend, I mean he couldn’t be as pretty as me but I’m sure he’s nice.”

Buddy laughed. “He is, and of course, he’s not as pretty as you. And thank you, for not treating me like- you know.”

“I could say the same to you. Thanks again.”

“See you around Jackie.”

She watched him drive off and turned to go up to the porch when a voice in the dark made her jump. 

“Hey.”

“Jesus Christ,” Jackie grabbed her chest, “Steven, you scared the hell out of me.”

“Sorry,” he waited a tick, Jackie clearly wasn’t going to start talking. “I remembered.”

“Good.” She wanted to be angry with him but he was here after all, she opened the door, “You may as well come in out of the cold.”

He came inside and sat on the couch, “I debated going to the party, but I thought two dates might be hard to explain.”

Jackie thought about it, she would have loved it if he had done that, she could have explained it away as he got off work earlier than expected, but that would have meant abandoning Buddy.

“No, I’m glad you didn’t, it would have made things harder.” She sat down on Donna’s sofa, “So you remembered?”

“Even if I hadn’t, I’m sorry.”

She wasn’t going to forgive him so easily this time.

“You hurt me Steven. I don’t know why you thought I’m out to hurt you, but I’m not. And if you haven’t noticed, my social standing is zero right now.”

“I don’t think any of that about you.”

“Then why didn’t you trust me? I don’t know what I did to deserve that.”

“Jackie you didn’t deserve it at all, okay? It’s- it’s a me thing.”

“You want to try that again?” She wasn’t impressed by that explanation.

“Look, it’s not that you have or haven’t done something, it’s just me. I’m not good at this.”

“What exactly? Trusting people? Letting people in? I know that, but I thought I was different.”

“You are different.”

Jackie moved next to him and pulled off his sunglasses. “I need you to really listen to me, Steven.”

When he didn’t say anything, she went on.

“I’ve told you before I’m not going anywhere, but if you don’t trust me that isn’t my fault. I haven’t done anything to be untrustworthy.”

“Jackie, I know I-”

“Wait until I’m finished,” She interrupted his interruption. Pausing briefly, wondering if she should say it, the deep heart-to-hearts always made Steven uncomfortable so she took a chance and said it while she had him here. “You deserve love Steven, and if you stopped pushing people away you’d see how many people do love you. And I hope you realize I’m one of them.”

“I do.”

“If this is a ‘you thing’ then fine, but you have to deal with it. This doesn’t work if we don’t trust each other. I’m not saying you’re broken or wrong but if this is about you I can’t fix it, you have to do that.”

They sat quietly, Jackie knew he heard her and was processing so she let him be until he figured it out.

Finally, Steven said, “I don’t know how to fix it.” There was so much he wanted to say but that’s all he could manage.

“I don’t either, maybe just start with whenever you get jealous or think I’m about to do something to you remember that I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.”

“I can do that, I can try.”

“Thank you.” That was all she was asking. I’m not going anywhere, I don’t like that you didn’t trust me, but don’t do it again.”

“You look beautiful, I’m not just saying that because you’re mad at me. You really are.”

She smiled at him. “I know.”

“Was it awful?”

“Yes,” She relaxed back into the couch for the first time since she’d sat down, “no one says anything to your face but they have this look, like half pity half mocking. Sometimes they made these backhanded comments.”

He’d been on the receiving end of those looks and comments in his time, especially whenever Mrs. Forman had dragged him around church as a kid. They all knew exactly who he was and who his parents were. The looks of pity always turned his stomach.

“Then why did you go?” He asked. It was one thing with her parents forcing her to go, but he knew she hated this party.

“One for Buddy, he thinks some people found out about him okay and- it’s a small town and honestly he’s not safe if people find out is he? Like those boys in the city, they got hurt when people found out.”

Hyde nodded, it wasn’t widely talked about but somehow everyone knew that a “scuffle” in Milwaukee wasn’t because two guys were just hanging out in the bad part of town.

“And in part, he went for me, he knew what they are all like. So we went together because we sort of had to go, but I don’t know we’re kind of like allies with no pressure to be friends or anything after.”

“That explains Buddy, I still don’t get why you had to go,” Hyde admitted.

Jackie’s eyes watered. She wouldn’t let them fall but she told him. She got him talking and she wasn’t going to lose it now.

“One of the ladies there is a friend of my mom’s, she can give me a recommendation letter for a scholarship, but also for colleges. I need it in case things get worse with my parents. I still don’t know what’s going to happen there.”

That had never been an option for him, so when Edna bailed he hadn’t lost everything. Jackie was still walking a tightrope of what her future would be.

He took her hand to offer what support he could.

“I’m sorry I got- weird.”

“Jealous, you got jealous.”

He didn’t like the word but he could admit it, “I guess I did.”

“Steven I’m not going to sneak around on you, if I want out I will say it straight to your face okay?”

“Okay, I mean not okay, but I get what you’re saying.”

“Good. Because I kind of like you if you haven’t noticed. At least when you’re not being a big fat jerk.”

He deserved that one, “You could have asked me to go with you, I wouldn’t have wanted to but I would have gone.”

“I’ll remember that for next time. What are you doing here anyway?”

“When people piss me off I avoid where they are, I figured you’d come back here first instead of the basement.”

She scowled at him, that’s exactly why she had come back here instead.

Sometimes, obviously not all the time or tonight wouldn’t have happened, but sometimes he knew her better than she knew herself.

Hyde ran into Buddy at the store. They stared blankly at each other.

“Uh Hi,” Buddy said. He vividly remembered how much Hyde hadn’t liked him when he tried hanging out with Eric.

Hyde didn’t like him but it was for a lot of the reasons he hadn’t liked Jackie before he’d gotten to know her. Maybe he wasn’t so bad.

“Hey, um, thanks for taking care of Jackie at that thing,” Hyde said lamely. 

Buddy relaxed a little, “No problem, she did me a huge favor.”

“Yeah, look.” He did not like apologizing. “I was a dick to you when you were hanging with Forman back then and I’m sorry.”

“Thanks, Hyde.”

“I’m sure if you wanted to hang with us Forman wouldn’t mind it.”

“Maybe. I’ll talk to him and see. I’m going back to school next week but maybe just to say hi.”

“Yeah, that’s cool.”

“I promise I won’t sit in your chair.”

Hyde smiled, “You better not.”

Buddy could crack a joke and he’d looked out for Jackie when he was being too stupid to do it himself. No Buddy wasn’t a bad guy at all.

Chapter Text

Hyde knew it. He’d messed up with Jackie. He’d overreacted about the fundraiser thing because his old insecurities kept popping up.

He had his reasons, but none of that was on Jackie. One night wasn’t going to make up for it, but he could try to repair some of the damage he’d caused.

It was the first break in the winter weather, it was an oddly warm fifty-degree day. It happened one or two days each winter so he was going to take advantage of it.

He called up Jackie, “Are you still off tonight?”

“I am.”

“You want to do something tonight?”

“With you?” She paused for effect, “Always.”

He deserved that, “Be ready at five.”

“That’s a little early isn’t it?” Jackie asked.

“I have a reason and wear pants and flats.”

She frowned into the receiver, “Pants and flats are not date clothes.”

“Unless hypothermia and frostbite are in Vogue wear the pants.”

“What are we doing?”

“You’ll see.”

Jackie could practically see him grinning, she huffed, “Okay, see you at five.”

That gave him until at least five-thirty, he knew Jackie wouldn’t be ready to go on time.

He started cooking, he’d spent some of his paycheck on groceries to do something nice for her.

He was in the middle of prepping when Red came in and sat down at the kitchen table.

“Heard you and Jackie had a fight,” Red said sitting at the table with his paper.

“Yeah, she’s mad that I didn’t trust her, it’s okay now I guess.”

Red seemed disinterested, “Do you trust her?”

“Yeah, but she’s pretty and she can be naive, I don’t trust other people.”

“Son, that is going to get you into a lot of trouble and hurt if you don’t get that under control because if you try and play that card in an argument you are going to lose. Trust me.”

The way he said trust me, told Hyde that Red had been on the losing side of that argument. “Okay, so what do I have to do because I sure as hell don’t know?”

“Steven, you have been hurt most of your life, and you have pushed a lot of people away or at least kept them at a distance. Everyone. I think Jackie is the first one who’s gotten close to you and that scares the hell out of you.”

Hyde remained silent, Red had him pegged.

“You’ve gotten used to pushing everyone away first and no one can hurt you, but you were hurt anyway, weren’t you?”

Hyde still didn’t speak. Red knew the answers to most questions before he asked them.

“Understand this, if you have a girl that you care about you make sure she knows how much you do care about her, then you don’t have to worry about someone else.”

He didn’t want to ask the question, but it was always there needling his mind.

“But what if she leaves anyway?” It was the most honest and raw thing he’d ever said. If he gave it his all and she still left him he didn’t know how he’d ever recover. He was in too deep.

Red understood his pain, he’d had a hell of a life young. That kind of life left a lot of scars on you. “Steven, there is no way you can stop someone who doesn’t want to be there from leaving. But I think if you’re paying attention, you’ll know what she wants.”

“I’m working on it.”

Red gave him a nod and left him to it.

Jackie did not enjoy dressing for unknown events. But with the situation at hand, she layered up since it sounded like they’d be outside.

She didn’t care that the weather was unseasonably warm, she did not like doing outdoor date stuff in the winter.

Steven showed up to pick her up in dressier than usual pants and a button-up shirt. It was still under his usual jacket, but the fact that he’d dressed up warmed her heart.

He couldn’t hide the smell of the food hidden under the seats.

“What are we doing?”

“Can’t tell you that yet.”

They drove on, Jackie waited as patiently as her impatient self could. She tried to turn on the radio, it was so rare that it wasn’t on, but Steven pushed her hand away.

“It’s been fussy, I just got it working.”

She could work on the mechanical stuff just fine, but maybe Mr. Forman could show her how to fix the radio too.

They pulled up to their spot.

Hyde started to worry, he’d been careful, he’d checked the weather and it seems like that was all a lie. It was supposed to stay fifty until after seven, but the temperature was dropping early.

“Can you pick your feet up?” Jackie shifted around.

He pulled out a basket.

“It’s not my fault, but it’s colder than it was supposed to be.”

“Fault?” Jackie tilted her head confused. “I don’t get it.”

“We were supposed to eat out there on the blanket. I guess this will work okay. At least we can leave the heat on.”

He reached under the seat again and pulled out a fuzzy blanket.

“Steven, did you plan a picnic for us?”

“Kinda,” he was a bit embarrassed at how this date was turning out. “More messed up right now though.”

“No, it’s not. Turn off the engine for now and give me the blanket.” She spread it across both of them and snuggled a little closer to him. “It’s cozy.”

He opened the basket, pulling out a few plates and tubs carefully wrapped up.

All the food she claimed was fattening but were her favorites.

Jackie took a fork and dug into some Macaroni and cheese.

“You’re sweet you know that? And I don’t mean just today.”

They’d mostly made up, but he was relieved that Jackie wasn’t still holding a bit of a grudge even if he deserved it.

“Not that I’m complaining but what else did I do exactly?”

She’d know a few days and hadn’t said anything before, “Buddy said that you told him he could hang out if he wanted to.”

“He’s got a big mouth.” He hadn’t expected Buddy to blab immediately to Jackie. He was starting to rethink his whole opinion of him.

“Actually, Donna does, you all thought it was me the whole time. Buddy talked to Eric, Eric talked to Donna and now everybody knows.”

That gave him a second to think, “Can you not tell her stuff?”

Jackie giggled, “Trust me, anything I want to be kept private I keep to myself.” She pointed her finger at his chest, “Remember that if you make me mad I just have to tell her embarrassing stories, and boom, that big scary reputation of yours is ruined.”

She was in a good mood so he pulled her close and kissed her forehead.

“So, you’re not mad at me anymore?” he asked.

“No, I’m not mad, maybe a little hurt if I’m being honest.”  

He had to do this, he really didn’t want to do this thought.

“I want to explain about that night.”

“It’s okay I get it.”

“No, you don’t.” He scratched his neck to give him a chance to look away. “Kitty said the best apology is to tell you the truth and I didn’t lie to you, but I didn’t tell you everything.”

She nodded slowly, “Okay.”

“This stays between us, you don’t tell the Formans, Donna, anybody.”

He was deadly serious, it made her nervous, “Of course, just us.”

“You never met my Ma did you?”

Jackie had, “I saw her at school a few times in the lunch line.”

“Right, she was a peach, wasn’t she? She was mean and always telling me what a piece of crap I was, how I was a burden, and everyone would always end up leaving me.”

Her face fell, it didn’t excuse his behavior but it did explain a lot of things. She hadn’t known any of the specifics.

“Look Jackie, I know you and I know you wouldn’t do anything, but she put stuff in my head that yeah I know better logically, but sometimes I’m dumb and listen to her even if she’s gone.”

She laid a hand over his, she did understand that. “I can hear my mom’s criticism too; you think if they’d leave they could take their stupid opinions with them.”

“Edna’s favorite was to tell me I’d end up just like Budd, I’d be a drunk and leave or get left by anyone unfortunate enough to know me. For a while there she was right.”

Jackie would rip that woman limb from limb if she ever had the misfortune to see her again.

“Thank you for telling me. I wouldn’t have teased you last night when I came in if I had known.”

“It’s not your fault, you couldn’t have known. I never told anyone.”

“That doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. So, I forgive you if you forgive me. Deal.”

“Deal.”

“Did she really tell you how horrible you were all the time?”

“I mean, only when she was talking to me or about me.”

Jackie turned to face him more. “Hmmm, I guess what I’m going to have to do is tell you how amazing you are until she shuts up and all that’s left is me telling you,” she started punctuating each compliment with a soft kiss, “how sweet, and smart, and funny, and hot, and protective you are.”

“I’m not hating this game,” he admitted.

“What game? I mean it. I don’t think I could have survived the last few months without you.”

“I know I wouldn’t have gotten through it without you.”

“Flatterer.”

“Are you cold?” He asked.

“No, I’m fine.”

Hyde rolled down the window and turned the key so the battery engaged.

“What are you doing?”

“We have time for one or two before we freeze.”

Jackie didn’t understand, but that was the theme of the evening she guessed.

He flipped on the radio. A familiar song came on the radio.

“Communication Breakdown- this is the song you requested at prom, I know we danced to something else but I don’t remember the rest of them.”

Her heart melted, “Steven.”

“Dance with me?”

She delicately took his hand and he led her to a small patch of frozen grass that didn’t have snow.

It felt like a lifetime ago when they danced to this song. It was only a few months before, a lifetime really. They were completely different people now. But they still found each other through the darkness they faced.

“Was the radio even messed up?”

“No, but I just got the tape to the spot where it would play that song.”

“I guess I don’t have to ask Red if we could fix it now.”

“You were going to fix my car for me?”

“I was going to try, we never worked on a radio before.”

“You are a one in a million girl, Jackie Burkhart.”

They danced a little longer.

She knew she should feel the cold but she felt so warm and content even surrounded by the patches of snow. “Steven, there’s something I want to say to you.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really glad you told me to wear pants.”

He laughed and kissed her on the forehead.

She also laughed, “I knew you’d expect me to say something mushy.”

“You do always keep me guessing.”

Jackie pulled back to look at him, “What I wanted to say is I love you, even when you make me crazy, especially when you’re sweet. I love you.”

“I love you too. I might not always deserve to, but I do.”

“Love isn’t about deserving Steven, you do it because you have to because not loving someone is impossible. And let me make it clear, you do deserve love, and if I have to tell you that every day I will until you understand.”

His voice caught in his throat. “What if I’m a slow learner?”

“Then it’s a good thing I like being right because I’ll tell you until you get it.”

They made it half a dance more before jumping back into the car and starting up the engine.

“If I had known it was going to drop twenty degrees, I wouldn’t have asked you out here.”

“First of all, you didn’t really ask me to come out here, and second, this was the best date so don’t apologize. I would not be happy having to wait four or five months until it got warm to do this.” She wrapped her arms around his and snuggled into him. “Besides if it was hot out I couldn’t do this.”

“Cold weather does have its advantages.”

“Yeah, but the Formans have hot chocolate.”

He knelt under the seat and pulled out a thermos.

A smile lit up her face, “You thought of everything didn’t you?”

They sat and talked about nothing important until the hot chocolate ran out and they got cold enough to head home.

Jackie held his hand as they walked toward the basement. “I had a really good time, it was nice to not have some big drama happening for once.”

“I know what you mean.”

They still had things to deal with but it wouldn’t be solved in an afternoon. But today they just got to be Steven and Jackie and enjoy each other’s company.

They headed inside.

Donna was sitting on the couch covering her mouth, looking pale.

Eric and Fez sat unmoving staring straight ahead.

Kelso looked like he was going to cry.

It was so somber. Both their first instincts were that someone was in the hospital or worse.

“What’s going on?” Jackie’s voice cracked with fear.

“Is it your parents? Laurie?” Hyde asked.

Eric shook his head no but no one spoke or acted like they heard them at all.

Eventually, Kelso looked at them and said, “Brooke, the girl I’ve been seeing is pregnant.”

Chapter Text

It was like a bomb had gone off in the basement.

Kelso couldn’t be a dad. They were still in high school. He still had about six months before they graduated.

No one had offered any advice that night, they just stayed with him as the news sank in.

But in later days he seemed much happier.

“So you’re cool with your impending situation?” Eric wondered where the misery and panic from the last few days had gone.

“Yeah, I’m great.” 

“I’m proud of you Kelso,” Fez looked at him proudly. “In my country fatherhood is a note of honor and respect.”

“Oh, I’m not going to be a father,” Kelso said flopping down onto the couch.

“She’s not pregnant? I don’t know how you keep dodging these scares, man.” Hyde said. Kelso must be the luckiest dude alive.

“No, she’s still pregnant. She just said I’m off the hook.”

The mood soured instantly.

“You’re off the hook?” Eric said slowly processing what that meant.

“It’s not yours?” Hyde asked hoping that’s what he meant.

“Yeah, it’s mine I’m just not going to be the dad.”

Hyde took immediate offense, “So you’re just going to ditch your kid.”

“Not ditch, Brooke said she’s good.”

“But like, you would still see your kid right?” Eric asked.

Kelso shrugged uncaringly, “Maybe, I guess sometimes.”

“Dude you can’t just do that,” Hyde was getting heated.

Kelso was tired of thinking about it, he’d gotten an out so why should he be trapped? “What am I going to do man?” He said angrily.

“Do? You gotta man up here.”

“It’s a lot easier when it isn’t your life,” Kelso shouted back at him.  

“Yeah,” Hyde agreed, “but I’ve lived on the other side of that life Kelso.”

“Really, what if it was you huh? What if you knocked Jackie up what would you do?”

Hyde didn’t like Jackie being used by Kelso for this hypothetical, but he let him have it. “We’d deal with it.” The words came out so simply he didn’t even need to think about it.

Kelso was taken aback, “What?”

“If Red didn’t castrate me, I’m sure he’d kick me out so find an apartment, probably get another job and ask Jackie what she’d want to do and figure that shit out.”

“So, you’d marry her?” Kelso said irritably as he stood up to Hyde, it would probably end in them fighting as usual, but it wouldn’t be the first time. “Because I know Jackie, and she’d expect that.”

Hyde’s patience with Kelso’s attitude and bringing Jackie into this was wearing thin, “I mean rather not do that in high school while we have crap jobs but… yeah.”

“Well, Saint Hyde, you’re a better man than I am,” Kelso said bitterly.

“No one said you have to marry Brooke, just talk to her.”

“Hey guys,” Donna interrupted, with Jackie following her down the stairs. “We can hear you yelling outside, why don’t you take a step back and cool off.”

Kelso and Hyde separated. Jackie sat next to Kelso and took his hand instead of going to Steven.

“Michael,” Jackie said calmly. “I want you to listen to what I’m saying. I’m not judging you; I get that you are freaked out I was too, but I want to explain something to you.”

She spoke gently like she was trying not to spook a frightened animal. “My parents took off on me, I don’t think you can seriously understand how much that hurts to know your parent doesn’t care about you. You don’t have to be the baby’s dad all the time but maybe think about it. And if you can’t you need to take a breather and then talk to Brooke.”

He was frustrated, “But she said she was good, she didn’t need me to help.”

Jackie didn’t know what more she could ask of him that he wouldn’t ignore. “Then she lied. Maybe she can afford to do it alone, but I know she’s still scared. She doesn’t get a free and easy out like you can.”

“You guys are all putting this on me. You don’t understand.”

“Kelso,” Eric began, “you seem to forget that Donna and I had the same scare, we do get it, but you’d be abandoning your child. That’s a big deal.”

“Kelso it was seriously bound to happen sooner or later because you are a whore,” Fez interjected.

That was his last straw, he got up and left without a word.

“What do you think he’s going to do?” Donna asked.

“No idea,” Eric said. He could usually predict his friend’s behavior, but this was so far out of left field.

Donna, Jackie, and Hyde shared sullen glances. They all knew what it was like to be left. While Donna could still talk to Midge, it was not the same as having her there.

“I for one need to get out of here,” Jackie said. Hyde immediately got up, took her hand and they left.

Steven asked, “What do you want to do?”

“I wish I could say go to the mall, but I’m sick of it and I don’t want to go there on my day off.”

He stopped and looked at her like she was a stranger, “Who are you and where is Jackie?”

She giggled, then wrapped her arms around his neck dramatically.  

“I don’t really care, just somewhere I won’t hear myself thinking.”

He drove out of town to a little record store he used to go to once in a while. No one would bother them, and they could walk around.

They went through the motions of the day, but both were distracted by their own baggage and their friend. Jackie clung to him more than usual.

She was an affectionate person but whenever she could be holding his hand, she did.

It wasn’t bad, just a little unusual for her to be that clingy.

Must be the stress of everything and Kelso’s attitude hitting too close to home.

Still, Hyde didn’t mind.

But it kept up for the rest of the week. Then she was overly agreeable with him. He wasn’t even able to annoy her lately, which he admittedly liked to do.

He sat down with Donna one day.

“Has Jackie been a little weird?”

“Since the day we met, you need to be a little more specific,” Donna said.

Hyde smacked Eric’s shoulder.

“What the hell did I do?”

Hyde shrugged, “I can’t hit a girl.”

“Donna, I need you to watch your mouth about Jackie,” Eric said rubbing his arm.

Hyde tried again, “I mean has she been a little extra I don’t know exactly,” He really couldn’t explain it. She wasn’t being overly emotional, she wasn’t angry, but she was just more, more. “Clingy?”

“Oh, that,” Donna laughed. “You should ask her.”

“I’m asking you.”

“Nope, I want to see how this goes down, but I will tell you it’s not bad so you don’t need to worry.”

He was not in any way comforted by the grin Donna was sporting.

“Can we get back to the hitting me, just because Donna was sarcastic thing?”

They ignored him.

They went out driving and he took her to their spot. This way they could have whatever weird conversation in private, and she also couldn’t run off if she didn’t want to talk about it.

“Jackie, why have you been so weird lately?”

“I’m not weird,” she defended herself but kept her voice calm.

“You’re being like all sweet and affectionate, which is cool but it’s like a lot more than usual.”

“I can’t appreciate my sweet amazing perfect boyfriend,” her smile was blinding. Not like she was happy, more like she was a Stepford Wife.

“You’re doing it again. It just came out of nowhere and I’m confused.” Mainly because it hadn’t been that long since he’d messed up over New Year’s.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing if you’re kind of acting like a pod person.”

That earned him a scowl.

“Finally,” he said. Her perfect veneer was cracking. “Please just tell me whatever is going on.”

“Fine, but don’t freak out, it’s not a thing.”

“That’s not comforting.”

She prepared herself to talk him down a little, “I overheard what you told Michael in the basement.”

“About?”

“Brooke, well specifically the part about me,” she added.

“What does that have to-oh,” his eyes widened behind the lenses, and he started thinking about where exactly this conversation could be going.  

“I can see you starting to freak out, now hold on,” she grabbed his hand to focus him on her. “We’re good there’s nothing to announce- but remember when I had that scare and I was terrified, and Michael was well horrible?”

“Yeah…” he tried to forget about that, but it was hard in the current situation.  

“I overheard what you said or most of it anyway and it was the complete opposite reaction, I know you love me but it was just an extra I feel so loved moment. Because sometimes you push back and you said that in front of everyone. It just made me feel good okay, and a lot of other things are crap right now.”

He took a breath, so it really wasn’t anything to worry about.

Now that he seemed to have normal Jackie back he decided to tease her. “So, you’re not expecting a ring?”

“No,” not yet anyway, but she kept that to herself. But with the declaration he’d made in the basement, she had a feeling that one day she’d get it.

“And there’s nothing to worry about?”

“Not from me.” She decided now wasn’t the time to point out how he always had his hands on her and she was just holding onto him a bit more than normal.

“You know last time we left here everything went crazy when we got home.”

Jackie agreed. “It sure did,” she said tiredly.

Steven laced his fingers with hers. “Maybe we should stay out here a while longer. Just in case.”

“Just in case,” she repeated.

It seemed there was always one crisis after another lately. They never got a chance to regroup and get their footing before the next thing hit. It was quiet and easy out here. Real life could wait for them while they took a few moments of tranquil peace for themselves.

Chapter Text

Kelso knocked on Brooke’s apartment door. He’d made his decision.

Brooke yawned as she opened the door, she was still hot but the looked tired. Gone was the professional librarian clothes he was used to seeing her in or jeans, instead she had a disheveled oversized hoodie and pajama pants on.

It was only 6:30.

“Oh, Michael. Hi, I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Can I come in?”

She hesitated. “Sure.” she moved aside letting him in. “The place is a bit of a mess though. I’ve been a lot more tired lately. I come home and crash right away,” she yawned again.

The place was far from a mess. There were a few cups sitting out next to 3 piles of books, he suspected always lived there, some throw blankets fallen on the floor, probably from him waking her up.

“Do you want something to drink?”

“I’m good thanks.” He fidgeted as Brooke sat down at her kitchen table. “So, I wanted to tell you I made a decision.”

“Ok.”

“About you know, the baby.”

“I kind of figured,” she steadied herself knowing what was coming. Didn’t mean it would be easier to hear.

Why was this so hard? Kelso wondered. “Actually, could I get that drink?”

“Help yourself,” Brooke gestured towards the fridge.

He went to it and paused at the door. There was a picture that caught his eye. He had enough siblings to know what it was.

“Is this-?”

Brooke turned and the smile that lit up her face when she looked at the photograph was ethereal, she practically glowed. “Yeah, that’s her.”

“Her?” Kelso’s voice caught.

She nodded, “It’s a girl.”

“A girl, wow.”

He looked down at the sonogram in his hands, in a few months it would be a baby, a girl, a real little person he could hold.

“So, Michael, could you please just spit it out? I can’t take the not knowing.”

He took one last longing look at the sonogram.

“I- Brooke, I- I don’t need an out. I’m in,” he was nervous but he felt sincere.

Brooke started crying, “Really?”

Kelso went across the room and knelt in front of her, “Hey, don’t do that? Did you want a different answer?”

“No, I just can’t help it,” she wiped her eyes. “I cried for twenty minutes yesterday because I dropped the remote.”

“It’s going to be okay. I don’t know how. I got to figure that stuff out first. But I won’t bail on either of you. I promise.” He had never been good at promises, but this one he vowed to keep.

“Thank you, I know I said I don’t need you involved and I can handle it alone. But it’s nice not to have to.”

“Should we talk or something?” Kelso asked.

“Honestly I would really like to go back to sleep,” she said apologetically. “Can we do this later?”

“Whatever you need. I probably should go tell my parents.”

“You have time, but if you want to.” She walked him to the door. “Goodnight Michael.”

“Goodnight, oh wait,” he started to hand back the sonogram.

“No,” she refused. “Why don’t you keep it. I can get another one at my appointment next week.”

“Would it be okay I tag along?” He asked.

That smile came back, “That would be great. I’ll call you tomorrow if I can stay awake.”

“Thanks,” Kelso walked off in a daze.

He had come to give Brooke a completely different answer.

It was funny how things changed in an instant.

He was going to go tell his parents. Ten minutes later he was standing in the kitchen, Kitty walked in, “Hi Michael, what do you have there.”

He looked at it one last time before this information that so far only he and Brooke knew went out into the world.

“Mrs. Forman, I’d like you to meet my daughter.”