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Chapter Text

Donna and Jackie were hiding out in the basement from Kitty who was in full Thanksgiving prep mode.

“Look at these matching outfits I got for me and Steven.” Jackie held one shirt with her chin against her chest and the other in her hands for Donna to see.

Donna started laughing first just a little chuckle, then devolved into a full blown hysterical fit.

Jackie scowled and put her hands on her hips, “What is so funny Donna?”

“There is no way in Hell Hyde is wearing that,” she finally said when she calmed down.

“He has to, it looks so cute as a set.”

Donna wiped her eyes, “Okay well, see how that goes.”

“You’ll see, he’ll do it for me.”

Donna rolled her eyes and left Jackie to her delusions.

Jackie returned home that evening with her shopping bags.

Steven was in the kitchen working on dinner.

“I got new outfits for Thanksgiving,” she sing-songed.

Hyde had long ago accepted that his wife was going to dress him. After one big fight early on when she’d tried donating his entire T-shirt collection, she’d stopped trashing anything that wasn’t destroyed. But that didn’t mean she accepted his clothing choices.

“Alright, let’s see it,” he said resigned.

Jackie excitedly pulled the shirts out by the hanger.

Hyde was surprised, “I like that it’s T-shirts for once.”

“I thought you would,” she smiled pleased. She went to put them back in the bag when Hyde caught sight of some writing.

“Hold up, turn them around.” Jackie did and Hyde read the saying on it, “He’s my little sweet potato- I yam. Jackie Hell no.”

She pouted, “But they’re so cute, we’ll look adorable.”

“No, you can wear it but I won’t.”

“But-”

“Jackie, I’m not wearing it.”

“I’ll do that thing you like,” she smiled coyly.

It gave him a moment of pause, Jackie thought she had him.

“No.”

“Come on,” she whined and stomped her foot.

“I don’t know how many times you need to hear it but I’m not wearing that.”

“Fine. I will but just remember every time you see me at the party in this shirt that I’m disappointed because you wouldn’t dress up with me.” She tilted her head just the right way, pouted and widened her eyes.

That stung but he wasn’t going to wear some humiliating tshirt just for Jackie. Plus the pout wasn’t as effective as it used to be.

“Cute, and nice try but no.”

“Steven, please?”

“You can have a Christmas gift, or the shirts.”

Her jaw dropped.

“I mean it.”

Hyde was playing a dangerous game because while Jackie loved gifts, she might just want to get her way more.

Her shoulders slumped. “Fine. But I am buying new shoes with your credit card,” and she stomped off.

Standing alone with only the sound of her angry stomps Hyde talked to himself. “One fight, someone’s mad, sounds like Thanksgiving alright.”

Chapter Text

Thanksgiving day was frigid, and not the Wisconsin weather. Jackie was not happy with him. She had not given in and neither had he.

When they got in the car his tshirt was sitting between them.

Jackie’s mouth looked like she was sucking on a lemon and she arched a brow with the silent question.

Hyde was not going to have this all day.

“Look, I know you’re mad at me about the shirt. I know better than anyone you can hold a grudge, but for the sake of the Forman’s, can you please let it go for today? You can be mad at me tomorrow all you want, alright?”

She turned away, before huffing out a tense, “Fine.”

“Super,” he put the car and gear and drove across town in silence.

As soon as Jackie’s new shoes hit the driveway pavement she transformed into a different person. Her smile beamed as she made her way inside.

Hyde carried what he’d prepped at home inside and watched Jackie smile and laugh with everyone else.

If he didn’t get her to change her mind today it was going to be a long cold December.

He and Kitty worked around each other while people flitted in and out of the kitchen.

“Steven, honey, could you grab some sodas out of the garage fridge for me? I can manage this for a few minutes,” Kitty asked him.

“No problem, could use a break from the heat anyway.”

He walked into the garage without a coat.

Red was hiding out with a small TV avoiding the crowd growing in his house.

“Hello, Sweet Potato,” Red called.

Hyde rolled his eyes.

“Yuck it up.”

“Couldn’t help noticing your wife hasn’t been near you since you got here, at least until I came out here.”

“She’s mad about the shirts, she has one that goes with hers for me and I won’t wear it.”

“Why not?” Red asked.

“Because I don’t want to, it’s stupid looking.”

“You think I liked all of you in my house don’t get me wrong you’re alright sometimes, like when you’re helping with the food, but you were all a bunch of dumbass thorns in my side for years. But I put up with all of it without complaint.”

Hyde fought rolling his eyes

“That’s what you do when you have a wife, you wear the stupid outfits, you have the parties you don’t want to host, you let the dumbass kids take over your basement. So, you can have your pride or you can be happy. Think about it.”

Hyde went back in with the pop, “I need a minute,” he told Mrs. Forman before running down to the basement to look for Jackie.

Eric answered him before he even asked, “She’s not down here, and she is not happy with you.”

Hyde practically growled. “Man, I don’t want to cave on this, then I’d be no better than you.”

“Yeah, me,” Eric sighed dramatically, “me the guy who’s going to go home with his not not angry wife. Sucks so much to be me.”

Hyde did not appreciate his point.

“I’m not going to defend the Devil, but stuff like that makes people like my mom and Jackie happy. Do you think I like the Forman Family Christmas Sweater Parade?”

“Yes, you freak,” Hyde said flatly, “You told me you did.”

“Ok fair, but some years I didn’t want to but I did it because it makes my mom happy. And who doesn’t want the people they love to be happy?

Hyde stared blankly behind his shades before heading out the back stairs without a word.

“Where are you going?”

“Shut up, you know where.”

He could hear Eric’s laughter following him out into the cold.

Jackie was sulking in the kitchen. She’d come to glare at Steven but he was gone.

Kitty patted her back. “I told you Honey, the shirt was too big of a jump. Remember I can only get Red to participate in one silly shirt a year.”

“Yeah, but I just thought it was cute for our first married Thanksgiving. This wasn’t even me trying to get him to do what I want for that reason. I just wanted us to look cute.”

“I know, but this was not something you were going to win easily.”

Hyde stepped through the glass door making both women look at him.

“Steven,” Jackie softened seeing him wearing the shirt to match hers. She got up to hug him.

“Don’t get excited, Kelso spilled pop on me and I had to change.” He could do the thing she wanted but he would not fully surrender.

“Really? Well, that’s okay anyway. I just wanted us to wear something matching our first Thanksgiving. I’m sorry if I got a little crazy.”

“I better go check on the stuffing.”

“Ok Puddin,” Jackie stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll take some cookies out front.”

She swiped the plate off the table and just as she got to the door she turned, “By the way, Michael called earlier. Brooke, Michael and the kids are stuck in Chicago because of the snow.” She blew him a kiss before walking through the door.

Hyde’s face reddened. Clearly caught in his lie, but maybe Eric was right, maybe it was better to be happy.