Chapter Text
Jackie watched as her two beautiful babies rolled around cooing and squealing happily at anything that was just mildly amusing.
She'd been a first-time mother for 4 months and while it was been so damn hard dealing with her post-pregnancy body and PPD she couldn’t have asked for more perfect little girls even if they were a bit of a hand full although since they’re Steven Hyde’s babies they were bound to be little rascals.
When She first found out she was pregnant things weren't easy, she and Steven had broken up, her mother picked up and left in the middle of the night, Donna didn't feel like her best friend anymore, Michael was busy with Brook and Betsy (who's a little cutie by the way and the best big cousin) and it was becoming extremely hard to be around Fez when his perverted behaviour started becoming extremely creepy and honestly a little frightening.
So for the first four months, she kept it a secret, she stopped going to the basement, stopped going to the mall, never really step foot out of the house only ever really leaving for doctors appointments and grocery shopping, and thankfully before her mother left she gave Jackie quite a bit of money that could cover at least a years rent, how she came into that sort of cash Jackie would rather not find out.
But one fateful day she guessed the Formans had enough of her radio silence and had turned up at her front doorstep completely by surprise so she had no time to hide her baby bump and sadly since she was such a tiny person and she was pregnant with not one but two babies (although she didn’t know that at the time) she was one of the unlucky few who looked pregnant right from the get-go, so there was no hiding it even if she tried and while they were extremely mad that she kept this to her self and didn’t ask for help they were mostly a mixture of overjoyed and worry because she had developed a good few problems during her pregnancy.
So against her protesting they took her back home and set her up in Laurie's old room while everyone was away, but when they came back it. Was. Bad.
Donna was furious that she kept this to herself, accusing her of trying to keep Hyde from his child, Eric had somehow got even twitchier you’d assume he got someone pregnant and..and Steven he didn’t say anything at first and Jackie knew he wouldn't say anything until it was just them but he just stood there his face drained of colour and his mouth hung slightly opened
Mrs Forman noticed his shocked state and ordered everyone out of the room and down to the basement to give the young parents to be some real privacy.
"You've been pregnant all this time and didn't tell me?" He said sadly.
Jackie was shocked she expected screaming, yelling, accusatory accusations and maybe some name-calling but sadness? Well if she didn't feel guilty before she certainly did now and it’s not like she meant to keep it from him for this long...things just turned out that way.
"Steven I.....I meant to tell sooner but-"
"But what Jackie!? you’re pregnant, pregnant! This isn't something you just forget about!" He yelled infuriated, he couldn't believe this all this time he'd been worried sick about her, thinking of new ways to get her back and here she was pregnant with his baby.
At first, he thought their break up was just her overreacting, that in the next couple of days she'd realise her mistake and come running back into his open arms but those days turned into weeks and those weeks turned into month's, and soon he became insanely worried and a little paranoid, well' little' was an understatement he'd worry himself so much he couldn't sleep, couldn't even have a decent circle without those conspiracy theory thoughts of his becoming 10 times worse.
But all this time she wasn’t hurt, she was fucking pregnant with his kid and didn't have the fucking decency to tell him, seriously?!
"Don't yell at me! You know I hate it when you yell" she whimpered.
"Oh I'm sorry princess, did I hurt your feelings didn’t know I had to consider those since you didn’t give a shit about mine!" He snarled.
"Steven it's not like that! Every day I thought about you, about what'd you say, how you'd react and Steven please please believe me when I say I wanted to tell you sooner a lot sooner but So. Many. Things kept happening " she said exasperated, while she rudder her temples as she could feel the starting of a strong migraine coming.
"What things Jackie?! What could possibly keep you from telling me that you're pregnant with my baby?!" He yelled incredulously.
Jackie sighed tiredly and sat down on the couch, Hyde looked at her worriedly even though he was still steaming mad he finally took in her appearance, her eyes looked tired and sunken in, her hair was in a messy bun, she had developed some bad ache, something that shocked him Jackie always prides herself on her strict skin routine and how flawless her skin was and he couldn't disagree with that, she also had on a grey top on with an oversized navy wool cardigan and some black maternity trousers.
It was so...un-Jackie like, everything about her just screamed off, this wasn't his Jackie but some shell of her former self, she looked so exhausted.
"Jackie?" He asked softly.
"Steven this pregnancy has been really difficult for me, I've had none stop morning sickness, my back is in constant pain, I've developed all of these little horrible spots, and I look like a freakin WHALE and I'm only four months pregnant like what the hell!" Jackie wailed as she burst into tears.
Hyde’s heart shattered into millions of pieces as he watched the love of his life cry her eyes out, he knew it must be hard for her to come to terms with how her body would change, sure everyone thought she was in love with her looks they never knew how she truly felt. She’d always had such a strong hatred for how she looked, anytime she gained the tiniest bit of weight she'd freak out and put herself on these crazy diets, so when he found out about this he made an effort to get through to her, to let her know she was beautiful just the way she was and it worked, for the most part, he knew she'd always worry and take pride in her appearance but they had made tones of progressive and she was starting to finally become comfortable in her own body, but now as he looked at her he saw that the progress they made was set back by a lot.
Hyde hesitantly sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her, to which she immediately snuggled herself into his side and held on tight as she cried, when she did this it was like being brought back from the dead, he'd been a walking zombie since they'd broken up and it had only gotten worse when she left, but now she was here, in his arms, carrying his baby...he felt a peace fall over him.
"Babydoll I still don’t understand why you didn't say anything, we could've dealt with all of this stuff together" Hyde tenderly as he stroked her face.
Jackie finally calmed herself down enough to talk.
"Jackie...."
"But that’s not all, after a month or so of knowing I was pregnant...my mom left" Jackie choked back the tears that threatened to reserve
"Wait WHAT!" He shouted removing her from his arms "What the fuck do you mean she left!?"
"In the middle of the night, she just took off and left...just like last time she didn't say g-goodbye!" Jackie didn't even try to contain the tears the fact that her mother left her again the same way she did last time was like being ducked into a bucket of ice-cold water reminding her that her mother was the best lier in the universe and didn’t give to shits about her daughter.
"Jesus Doll I'm so sorry" He wanted to yell, to scream at her for keeping this from him but right now she needs him more than ever, he never should've trusted Pam she was a good for nothing whore who only gave a shit when it suits her.
How? How could she just take off after only convincing Jackie she'd changed what was the point, some sick joke? Money? Whatever it was it doesn't matter, what matters is that she ditched her daughter again while she was vulnerable.
" A-and..a-and" Jackie hiccuped so much that she couldn't even form a complete sentence.
"Hey hey calm down Jackie everything's gonna be ok" Hyde soothed her and rudded his hands up and down her back.
"N-no it's j-just I've had s-some pretty bad he-health r-risks" she stammered.
Hyde immediately went stiff and his heart plummeted, a horrific sense of dread fell over him one he hadn't felt since he was a kid, he didn’t know how to react, he knew she needed comfort right now but he did the only thing he knew to do when faced with the unknown..he lashed out.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN HEALTH RISKS JACKIE!?" He roared.
"You mean to tell me all this time you've been alone in a big mansion where just about anyone can get into, while pregnant with my baby, keeping it a secret from everyone, basically falling off the face of the earth for FOUR MONTHS you've been at health risk," Hyde said seethed scathingly.
"Yes," Jackie said meekly.
"Jesus Chris Jackie!" He roared again as he stood up straight rudding his hand over his face.
"I know, I know but everything just sort of hit at once and I never got a break, I'm so sorry Puddin" she weeped
"What, what exactly is wrong, is there something wrong with the….baby?" Hyde asked extremely reluctantly as if he was scared of the answer.
"Well...the morning sickness is becoming a concern, I can't keep anything down and so there's not much nutrition getting to the baby but the doctors say that this is pretty common and if it continues any longer they'll have to take me in and put me on the drip but right now they have me on these anti-sickness tablets which aren't helping much" she grumbled angrily, a pout forming on her face.
"Is that all" Hyde asked in a tired voice.
"No, the Doctors have done a little research on my family's medical history and it turns out that my mother had Pre-eclampsia when she was pregnant with me, so they say there might be a good possibility that I have it so their keeping a real close eye on me, my gums have also started bleeding and swelling but the doctors again say that's normal-"
"Wait wait wait, what the hell is Pre-eclampsia, is it dangerous, what's gonna happen to you and the baby if you have?" Hyde exclaimed worriedly.
"I'm not sure Steven, the doctor only mentioned it to me on my last appointment so-"
"Well, then when's the next appointment? is it soon? You better have been seeing a good doctor Jackie and not those quacks up at the hospital, they don't know their ass from their elbow!" Hyde said firmly and a bit paranoid.
"Steven! Would you stop interrupting me! look my next appointment is next month on Wednesday at 2:00 pm and it’s at this special clinic” She yelled.
“Ok..ok well that’s good" Hyde finally calmed down.
And thus begun Hyde’s relentless hovering.
Anywhere Jackie went he went, he'd make sure she ate right and kept track of all the foods that didn’t make her throw up, he barely ever let her out of bed when she got further into her pregnancy, he read nearly every baby book known to man and freaked out when the doctor said they were having twins.
"Wait wait wait what the hell do you mean twins" Hyde freaked.
"Well Mr Hyde if you look here this is one baby and this is the other baby… it’s pretty hard to miss" The Doctor replied sarcastically.
"Oh wow..that must be why I got so big" Jackie whispered completely enamoured by the two babies on the screen.
“Well, obviously they’re pretty damn easy to miss cause we’re only finding them now!” He said incredulously “I mean how the hell do you miss twins”
“Oh, Steven will you hush” Jackie scolded him like he was a toddler “So Doctor is this why my pregnancy has been such a nuisance?”
“Well more yes than no, when you’re pregnant with twins almost every pregnancy symptom you have intensifies, you’ve obviously experienced the major weight gain and intense back pain now as you enter your second trimester you’ll probably experience Heartburn, indigestion, itchy skin and of course, the biggest concern is the preeclampsia,” The Doctor said explained.
“Oh, r-right...that..I’ve read a little more about it but I couldn’t find much” Jackie replied nervously as Hyde's face slowly lost its colour.
“Yes there wasn’t a lot out about the condition, but it’s being actively looked into and now that time goes on there more information on the symptoms and how to identify it” She stated calmly “So if you don’t mind we’d like to run some test on you to see if there’s anything to be concerned about”
Jackie took a deep breath to calm herself down but it didn't seem to be working.
"Wait what kind of test? Are they safe? Will they hurt the babies?” Hyde questioned rapidly
“Please calm down Mr Hyde there’s no need to panic, I just need to take a urine sample and a blood test”
“Oh ok well all right then” Jackie confirmed “What exactly are you looking for?” she questioned.
“Well, to diagnose preeclampsia, you have to have high blood pressure and one or more of the following complications after the 20th week of pregnancy, Protein in your urine, A low platelet count, Impaired liver function, Signs of kidney problems other than protein in the urine, fluid in the lungs, New-onset headaches or visual disturbances” She listed.
“The blood test is to check your liver, kidney, and to see whether or not you have a low blood count and the urine sample is to see if there’s any protein in you’re urine”
“Woah hey slow down there Doc that’s a lot to take in,” Hyde said waving his hand about.
“Yeah mind taking us through that again,” Jackie asked.
“Certainly, but there are some questions I would like to ask you that could help with further the diagnosis”
“Um yeah ok” Jackie answered.
“Ok Great, So in relating to the low platelet count, have you experienced any lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision or fainting?”
“Yeah, there are days where I can’t even lift my head off the pillow because I feel like it’s gonna fall off and sometimes I even throw up because of the dizziness” Jackie complained.
“Oh dear that does sound bad and would you say this happens often?” The Doc sympathized.
“Um Yeah, a few times a week” Jackie responded.
“Ok,” The Doctor said softly as she started taking notes down.
“And what about the impaired vision and fainting?”
“There’s been a few times where when I’m standing and like the conners around my eyes become all dark and stuff but so far I haven’t fainted or anything” Jackie replied simply.
“Righ then, also have you experienced any shortness or loss of breath?”
“Yeah, a lot of the time she can’t take any more than a few steps without feeling like she ran a marathon, then there’s been times where she’s just sitting on the couch and I have to get her inhaler cause she feels out of breath,” Hyde said finally toning into the conversation.
“Look doc you’ve been asking all these questions and sayin’ all this stuff but you haven’t told us what the hell this condition is like is it dangerous? Can it hurt the kids? And what about Jackie huh can it hurt her? Why has no one picked up anything yet?!” Hyde was at his wit’s end and demanded answers.
“Steven please calm down” Jackie whispered to him softly as she stroked her thump up and down his hand, she knew how much of a toll this was taking on him and how much stress and worry he carried on his back each day, between working at the store (Something he had put a lot more hard work into when he found out about the baby) and making sure she was ok as well as keeping up to date what’s been happing, he’s been burning the candles at both ends.
“No I won’t calm down Jackie their acting like this is one big thing but won’t actually tell us how dangerous this is!” He yelled, he knew it wouldn’t do him any good but Goddammit these were his babies this was his Dollface they deserve to know what the hell is going on.
“Mr Hyde I’m sorry things have been very unsure lately but we have to be certain of these things before we start spouting out information,” She said firmly.
“Yeah well, can you at least tell us what happens if she does have it?” He demanded only less aggressively this time.
“Well once you’re diagnosed with preeclampsia, you’ll have to be looked after consistently as well as have, frequent blood pressure measurement and weighing, urinalysis, bed rest, fetal surveillance, and assessment of maternal headache, blurry vision, and epigastric pain, and if it’s bad you might have to be hospitalized.”
“But I’m going to be completely honest, Preeclampsia can be an extremely dangerous condition to have as it can cause your blood pressure to rise and put you at risk of brain injury. It can impair kidney and liver function, and cause blood clotting problems, pulmonary oedema, seizures and, in severe forms or left untreated, maternal and….infant death.” The doctor said the last part slowly and sadly, she’d seen and heard of women and their children passing away because of this horrible condition and it always pains her to tell another young mother and father that they could lose their baby.
“Wh-What” Jackie whispered painfully, tears showing in her eyes.
“Wait what the hell do you mean Maternal and infant death, are you telling me I could lose both Jackie and the babies” Hyde spoke in a harsh voice until the last part where his voice became strained.
“I...I can’t imagine how painful is information must be to hear but it’s vital to know” The doctor tried to sympathize with them the best she could but at the end of the day with no children of her own she’d never know what it must be like to hear you could lose a child.
"So if you'd like we can run the test now or you can wait until the next appointment to get them done," She asked softly.
"..No, I'd like to have them done now please," Jackie said in a small but urgent voice.
"Ok no problem dear, I'll just go a get the equipment now," The doctor said with a comforting smile as she left the room.
Not one word was uttered by Jackie or Hyde the rest of the visit, they were rendered speechless by the information they’d just been told, it was as if it were too unbearable to comprehend.
Jackie barely acknowledged when they poked and prodded her with the needle to try a find a vain or when she had to leave to give a urine sample, it all sort of went in motions, soon they found themselves back at the car with a handful of pamphlets, leaflets and a little booklet about how to deal with preeclampsia and other things relating to twin pregnancy and childbirth.
It wasn't until they were halfway home when Jackie finally broke the harsh and tense atmosphere of the car.
"...Steven" Jackie whimpered softly.
"..Yeah baby?" He replied gruffly.
"Are..are we gonna lose the babies?" she whispered, terrified at the unbearably painful thought.
The car came to a screeching halt as his head spun around to her.
"Jackie what the hell?! Why the fuck would you ask something like that?!" He seethed.
"Steven watch the road!" She shrieked "Look, Steven, I know neither one of us want to talk about this but it's a very real possibility!" Jackie pleaded with him to understand.
"No Jackie no, it's not a 'real possibility' ok! It's just...just..some stupid conspiracy those quacks came up with to scare us into paying them more money" He confirmed angrily, he knew It was a far stretch but what other reason was there? Jackie's perfectly healthy. She's just having a bad pregnancy lots of chicks go through a rough time and she's just one of them, there's just no way he could lose her. No goddamn way.
"Oh, Steven" Jackie sighed softly, just from looking at him she could tell he was terrified, he was trying to reject the looming future that she and the babies may or may not be a part of.
“Steven I know this is scary but we can’t ignore it or pretend that it’s not happening the best way we can handle this is to acknowledge it and to find a way to cope with it plus there’s still a chance I might not have it but if I do we have to follow what the doctor’s say, ok?” Jackie pleaded softly.
“I just..I...don’t know...I..” Hyde couldn’t get a sentence out before his voice was straining so bad it hurt his throat and his eyes stung as the tears build-up, God Jackie needed him right now and all he can do is focus on his feelings.
“Shhh, Steven baby don’t talk it’s gonna be ok" Jackie choked out but tried to hide it behind a gentle whisper.
She wrapped her arms around him and lay her head on his shoulder and just wept, she wept for her punnin' pop, her babies and herself, God why couldn't anything go right for them, why did this have to happen to them of all people...why couldn't they just be happy, just them and their babies why was it every time something seemed to go right the universe through a curveball at them every damn time.
Hyde held on to Jackie for dear life almost afraid to let her go, he felt helpless he wanted to make this all go away, wanted to make her pain and fear go away like he had so many times before, it was all so surreal when he felt her tears finally stain his shirt he knew he had to lighten the mood this stress wouldn't do her any good.
"Hey, you know what?" He asked softly.
"What?" Jackie sniffled quietly.
"We're gonna have two babies, two man!" Hyde said with a small smile, he should probably be more freaked out by this but for some reason, he got over the initial panic of finding out about the twins and replaced it with excitement.
In a way, he sort of knew, well he very briefly thought of the possibility of having twins because sometimes when he felt the baby kick he felt another kick on the other side of Jackie's stomach, and when he read all those stupid pregnancies books he had come across on twin pregnancy section and Jackie had a lot of similar symptoms but he just chalked it up to weird pregnancy shit but now it all made sense.
"Yeah you're right..twins wow I can't believe it," Jackie said, her smile returning and her face gleamed with happiness, at first she didn't have time to process the idea of twins before the Doctor launched into all that heavy stuff but now sitting in the car, tucked into Stevens side like a little doll, his arms tightly wrapped around her and him staring at her with so much love and tenderness, she knew they'd make it, they were gonna have the family they always wanted.
Hyde started up the car again and set off for back home he knew things weren't over yet and they still had a lot to worry about but for now, he was gonna enjoy the moment and milk it for all it's worth.
"TWO BABIES, OH MY GODDESS I'M GOING TO HAVE TWO GRAND BABIES, OH I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS" Kitty screeched to the holy Heavens and back as she clapped her hands and jumped up and down.
"Holy hell what's all the screaming it's too damn early for this crap!" Red Stormed into the kitchen after hearing his wife screech.
"Oh red you'll never believe this, go on kids tell him!" Kitty said giddily.
"Well, Mr Forman Steven and I are having tw-"
"TWINS! THEY'RE HAVING TWINS!" Kitty shriek loudly again.
"Oh crap" he muttered, as he rudded his and across his face.
"Oh, Red Forman you just hush and don't spoil the moment by being your grumpy self, especially around the grandbabies" She scolded him with a shake of her finger.
"But kitty their not even here yet so it won't mat-"
"I said hush! There will be nothing but happy words and even happier energy in this household for the next four months, we don't want those little babies coming into this world Little grumpy grump's" She warned him, Lord knows he complained enough when she was pregnant with Laurie and Eric and she's not listening to it again.
Jackie and Hyde both watch the bickering couple with bemused expressions from their seats at the table, it was always funny to see them squabble like children even though they always say to 'act mature or act your age' to see them not follow their own rules was always pretty ironic.
"Ok well, as funny as this is me and Jacks are gonna hit the hay, I swear to God that is the last time I get up at six," Hyde said gruffly as he helped Jackie out of her seat and put his hand at the small of her back.
"Hold on there dumbass we have to talk about this so sit back down before my foot takes a seat in your ass" Red demanded.
"Ok now, what the hell are you two planning on doing because you sure as hell can't stay here when those two come out" Red started pointing his finger at them.
"Red Froman!"
"No kitty I’m standing my ground on this, he was dumb enough to knock the loud one up so now he has to be a man about it and either move out or purpose and move out,” Red said firmly, he didn’t like getting stern with his wife but if he didn’t put his foot down he would never have an empty home.
Both Jackie and Hyde looked at each other timidly when purposing was brought up, Jackie never mentioned it to him afraid that it might set off that non-commitment trigger inside his head but also because she found that she wasn’t as headstrong about it herself anymore, now she fully understood Steven’s feelings for her, would it be nice to be a bride? Yes 100%, but was it worth Steven? No, absolutely not, she’d accepted that it’s not something he wants and that’s ok, as long as he keeps loving her the way he is now, well then that’s all she needs.
Hyde on the other hand was having many conflicting thoughts on the topic, he used to be adamantly against the idea, always rejecting the idea of ever getting married, even when he and Jackie started getting serious, he could never see himself getting married to her, not because it was her fault fuck no he loved her with everything he had but it was just after so many years of seeing married as nothing more than a death sentence or a huge cage that trapped even more young dump idiots each year it was hard to get out of that mindset, but now that he had finally got his head out of his ass and realised that he never wanted to lose Jackie again…..he couldn’t help but find the name Mrs Jackie Hyde extremely appealing.
“Uh Red Jackie and I haven’t had enough time to think about moving or anything that doesn’t have to do with the pregnancy,” Hyde said cautiously knowing red would more than likely pop a casket.
“Plus we’re gonna need a lot more help because…because well..we have some other news to share“ Jackie piped in her tone losing it’s spark she continued to speak as her eyes looked downcasted and a new type of discomfort and sadness washed over her that Kitty or red had never seen before.
“Sweetie, what’s wrong? Is everything ok with the babies?” Kitty questioned, her tone was sweet and gentle as she took ahold of Jackie’s hand and sank down into the chair next to her.
Jackie locked eyes with Hyde, whose face had hardened again knowing that their moment of blissful ignorance was over.
“I’ll tell ‘em Jacks,” Hyde said his voice completely sombre “Well we uh…The Doctor had done some background research on Jackie’s family medical history and well found out that her ma had Preeclampsia and their worried that Jackie might have it too” Hyde spoke his voice filled with raw emotion knowing now was not the time to shut down.
“Oh..oh God no” Kitty whimpered softly her hand coving her mouth as tears started to gather in her eye’s, Red’s face lost its colour and he sat his hand to kitty’s shoulder, he mightn’t be a doctor but he had a feeling that whatever this was it wasn’t good.
“They ran some tests that help to see whether or not she has it,”
“What does that mean for Jackie and the babies?” Red questioned, his voice resembling a shallow husk of it’s former anger.
“Well, it means that Jackie’s blood pressure can rise and become insanely dangerous to her and the babies” Hyde explained once again trying to hold back tears at the prospect of losing Jackie and the babies.
“But it can be managed right? I mean when kitty was pregnant we had some issues with blood pressure but Laurie turned out ok, Eric’s debatable” Red said gruffly.
“No Red it’s not like when I was pregnant, I had issues because I worked too much but this is a whole other beast..I’ve seen women pass away because their blood pressure spiked during pregnancy and it can also cause her to have a stroke or even cause b-brain dama-” Kitty couldn’t finish her explanation before bursting into tears, Jackie for all intents and purpose’s was one of her own, she saw her and Donna as the daughters she wished she had and the thought of losing either of them was….was just not thinkable.
“Jesus..I...Just Jesus” Red was following the same thought process as Kitty, now many would say Red Forman was a cold and angry man and many would be right, but as much as it seem he didn't like his kids or how people thought he must hate Dumasses in the basement it just wasn’t true he loved his kids, even if he had his own special way of showing it and the dumasses in the basement were just as important to him as his own children, hell he can’t remember a time when they weren’t all down doing all kinds of things and wreaking havoc on his life and that includes Jackie.
No one said anything for a while, all were still trying to process what was said and couldn’t manage to find the words to start a new conversation.
“Well me an’ Jackie are gonna head back up to bed, we’ll be up about 10,” Hyde said as he took Jackie's hand and helped lead her up the stairs.
He lead her to Lauries old room, which was now their room, and help her under the cover then crawled in after her, neither said a thing they just held each other and fell into a dreamless sleep.