TITLE: Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

SUMMARY: Steven has moved to Cleveland to run WB's newest store. Jackie has decided to follow him to Cleveland, after she realizes that what she feels for Fez truly wasn't real. That her 'real' feelings only and truly belong too Steven. Can she convince Steven that their love truly does deserves to shine?

The subplot: Eric and Donna are newly married – but they still have much to work out. Especially about Eric going to Africa, and dumping Donna. Can Eric prove his love for her – or will Donna always have a broken heart?

CATEGORY: Romance/ Drama/ Humor/ Friendship/ Hurt/Comfort/ Family/ Tragedy/ Spiritual/ Suspense/ Crime

RATING: T

PRELUDE

RUNNING AWAY

THE YEAR: 1982

STEVEN'S APARTMENT

LIVING AREA

"You need too go." Steven stared tiredly up into the chocolate eyes of the short brunette woman. He sighed deeply as the woman neither moved face muscle or body muscle. "Jackie, I don't want you here. I don't want to ever see your face ever again. Just go."

"No Steven." Jackie said in a firm and low voice. "I won't allow you to run away from this."

Steven's arms flung against the back of the couch. "This? What the hell is this? I'm not running away from anything here baby. You are!"

"What?" Jackie screeched.

Steven's eyes read: You heard me.

Jackie took a deep breath – let it out slowly as she began to speak. "What am I running away from? Could it be lust? Or friendship. True friendship. Or, and this is the very big one here; love?" Licking her lips to wet the tired scabby skin repeatedly.

"Yes." Steven sighed out; still looking with intensity into Jackie's own eyes. "Go home Jacqueline Beulah Burkhart. Come back when you are ready to handle what really is between us. I don't want to see you this way ever again. Grow up Ice Princess." With that Steven got up and went into the bedroom.

Jackie bit down on her lip. He hadn't called her ice princess in years. Her mind flashed back to the first time he called her that. It was when he first set eyes on her across the parking lot. She had been in Micheal's arms at the time. They had finished kissing, and her head was resting against his board chest. Her eyes had slowly blinked opened from her bliss – when they met the hard eyes of the school's rebel. Steven Hyde. Her heart had started beating in that moment. She had fought the truth for so long – how could she Jackie fall for Steven Hyde after all? She must have been on some crazy crack to ever think the idea. But her heart, and soul wouldn't let her be. They always pined after Steven – every single fucking second. He had simply mouthed, Ice Princess and she knew that she was a goner.

She wanted him to insult her every chance that he could get. Either hearing his voice saying her name in the insult – or have his soul speaks to hers. Either or both would be a godsend to Jackie's craving soul for love. She had forced herself into Micheal's inner group of friends. The geeks and Steven. She honestly thought that she could ignore the geeks enough to chase them from the groupings. But, somehow they got under skin, and she actually enjoyed being with them. Perhaps it helped because Steven truly was at home with them.

Steven hadn't said his first words to her since second grade until they were in the Foreman's basement. "Miss matched eyes girl is in my space. Oh hell no, man." Were the exact words he had said to her when they were six – well too be truthful he was six, and she was five. Her smile slowly became the genuine that it was back in first grade.

Jackie turned around and stared at Steven's closed bedroom door. "I love you Steven Hyde, and I'll fix this between us once and for all." She vowed softly under her breathe. She turned and walked out the door closing it softly behind her.

Steven banged his head against the door, once he heard the soft click of his door. "I love you to Jacks. I hope you do fix this whole mess between us. That way I will know that my Jacks has come back to me." He softly said staring at his wall.

THE FOREMAN HOUSE

"You know I just feel like calling the gang, to hang out in the basement." Eric sighed as he looked toward the basement door. Turning his head to face his wife, "We are all separated now."

"It was bound to happen." Donna shrugged her shoulders. "We can call everyone back for a reunion. We haven't had one of those since you came home from Africa."

"How many times are you going to throw Africa in my face." Eric's tone harden a little. "I had too go, Donna. I had to have that life experience."

"You didn't need to break up with me." Donna snarled. "I would have waited for you."

Eric closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. I will live to regret that for the rest of my life. His eyes opened and he looked into the heartbroken eyes of his wife. "Donna, you know that I love you. That I had always loved you. I made a horrible mistake. One that I will never make ever again." He crossed the kitchen and cupped her cheeks in between his hands, "You can trust in our love."

"Can I?" Donna whispered. She leaned her forehead against her soul mate's. "I love you Eric. I have never stopped loving you. But, how do I know that you weren't abandon me again?"

"You are my wife. Where ever I go – you are going to be right by my side. I'm never leaving you again. What I learned in Africa was that I want to be with you all the time." Eric stroked her face. "I couldn't breathe without you. That's why I came back home. I had to live. For you."

"I so wish I can believe you." Donna pulled away, and left the kitchen.

"I'll spend the rest of my life proving it to you." Eric whispered.

END PRELUDE