What happened after the series finale to Hyde and Jackie? Takes place right after the last episode. This is a prequel to my fic "I'm with you". The chapters are short but I hope to post every other day. Hope you enjoy it-reviews are much appreciated. I don't own "That 70's Show" or any shows, songs, etc. mentioned. Had a hard time coming up with a title-hope this works.

Jan. 1, 1980

Hyde had never been more glad that his bedroom in the far corner of the Forman's basement had no windows. Any amount of light would have been excruciating. His head was pounding and his tongue

felt like sandpaper. He reached out blindly towards the crate that served as a bedside table and felt around for the bottle of aspirin he kept there.

Man, that had been a hell of a party. Good thing it had just been upstairs 'cause there was no way he would have made it to his own bed safe and somewhat sound otherwise. Kitty's nice little New Year's Eve get together had turned into a free for all when Kelso, wearing the stupid helmet, had

stormed up the basement stairs and on a dare, called Red a "dumbass". Hyde didn't know the old man could move that fast. It was a good thing Kelso had the helmet on but even better that Kitty was able to talk Red down before he had another heart attack.

Except for the girls' his friends had all been as high as a kite from the weed Forman had brought back from Africa. Damn, it was good to have his best friend back home. It had been one long and weird year without him. More than once Hyde had wondered how different things would have been if Forman had never left.

Maybe the skinny dork would have finally married Donna. Maybe Kelso wouldn't have moved to Chicago. Maybe he wouldn't have married a stripper and maybe Jackie wouldn't be going out with Fez. Crap, he didn't like to think about his ex being with another one of his friends-especially the

perverted freaky one.

His stomach churned and a little bit of bile backed up into his mouth. He swallowed hard. God, he

needed a drink. Preferably water. He would have to get up to get it though and he just didn't have

the energy. He covered his face with his pillow and was drifting back to sleep when he felt it.

Something warm and wet against his thigh. What the hell? He reached down and pulled his hand back quickly when something-or someone-licked it.

What kind of stupid shit had he gotten into last night? He didn't remember much after Red and Kitty went to bed and the party switched into high gear but he was pretty sure he'd remember bringing

someone into his bed. Slowly he lifted the blanket and looked. A pair of shining brown eyes stared back at him. He would have laughed if his bed didn't reek of piss.

"Fuck!" he shouted, not even caring that it hurt his dry throat. He jumped out of the bed-sort of.

It was more of a stumble and he swore again when he stubbed his toe. He had striped before getting into bed so at least there were no wet clothes to be shed but his bed and the blankets were soaked.

"God damn it," he roared and pulled the cord on the bare bulb hanging over his bed. Pain shot thru his head from the sudden brightness.

Schottzie was cowering on the wet blanket, shaking like a leaf on a windy day. Hyde felt a little bad for the dog. As quickly as he could he pulled on his discarded jeans and a clean t-shirt. He let the dog out of the room, grabbing the wet blanket on the way.

Kelso was snoring on the ratty old couch, still wearing the stupid helmet. What a moron. Then again it wouldn't have been inconceivable for Red to have crept down the stairs and killed him in his sleep. Moving quietly Hyde wrapped the pissy blanket around the helmet and Kelso's upper body,

tucking in the ends so it was good and tight. The he stepped back and shouted "Kelso"!

Jerking awake and unable to see, Kelso flailed helplessly until Hyde shoved him off the couch.

The stench of the wet blanket reached him and he flopped like a dying fish, tearing at the blanket with desperate hands.

If he hadn't been so hung over and mad Hyde would have found it freakin' hilarious. Certainly

Eric and Donna, coming down the stairs, thought it was pretty funny.

"Hyde, what the hell is going on?" Donna laughed.

"Yeah, man, what are you doing to –I assume that's Kelso?"

"Making him pay for putting that stupid dog in my room. He pissed all over my bed," Hyde said, sitting down in his favorite chair near the deep freeze.

"He can't breathe!" Donna bent over to help Kelso but he was thrashing so much she couldn't get

a hold of him or the blanket.

"Do we really want to deprive Kelso's brain of oxygen?" Eric asked, leaning against the couch with a little grin on his tan face.

"Yeah, maybe not," Hyde grudgingly got up, walked over to Kelso and kicked him in the head.

It didn't hurt since he was wearing the helmet but it did make him stop rolling around like he was on fire. Donna pulled the blanket off.

"Eeww. Gross!" she said and threw it in the washing machine. Kelso lay gasping on the floor, eyes bulging.

"Kelso, are you ok?" Eric asked, waving his hand in front of his friends' red face. "How many

fingers do you see?"

Kelso knocked Eric's hand away and struggled to get up. He pulled the helmet off and threw it at Hyde, who caught it.

"Hyde, what the hell is wrong with you? I coulda died!"

"No such luck. You're too stupid to die. That damn dog peed all over my bed," Hyde ground out,

fists clenched. Yesterday he'd been glad that Kelso had come up from Chicago to celebrate New

Years Eve with them but right now he would gladly beat him bloody.

"What dog? Is there a dog here?" Kelso's head wiped around. "I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't seen any dogs. I passed out hours ago."

"Don't bullshit me."

"I'm not! Why would I put a dog in your bed? I mean, it's funny. Really funny actually!" he grinned.

"You slept with a dog, Hyde! And it peed on you !"

Donna hid a smile behind her face and Eric chuckled. Hyde glared at them, "If you didn't do it, then

who did?"

"Not me!" Donna raised her hands, her gray eyes laughing.

Hyde's icy stare shifted to Eric, who was grinning almost diabolically and rubbing his hands together.

"Forman? You?" Hyde was surprised and a little bit impressed.

"Yes, yes. It was me. The kid is back," he shouted and raising his skinny arms, shadow boxed like Rocky. "Gonna fly now," he sang.

Hyde just shook his head. "You're lucky you just got home or I'd punch you so hard you'd end up back in Africa."

"I missed you too, Hyde!" Eric came at him with open arms, voice thick with fake tears.

"Back off, Forman," Hyde frowned but he had to admit it was a pretty good prank. Especially for

Forman whose usual attempts were pretty lame.

Kelso was on his feet and with a big grin he hugged Eric. "Man, that was a great burn! You got Hyde and me both. It was a double burn! I'm so glad you're back! I'll bet you're glad he's back too, huh, big D?"

Donnas' smile was coy but her eyes danced. She sat down on the couch and Eric joined her,

wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Hyde took this seat near the deep freeze and watched his friends cuddle up against each other.

Forman had been home less than twenty four hours and already he'd gotten his girl back. It had

never made sense to Hyde when Forman sent that "Dear Jane" letter to Donna from Africa. He'd

been in love with her since they were kids. It was inevitable they get back together.

Hyde didn't usually give his friends' relationships much thought but he really hoped things would work out for them this time. Looking at them his mind strayed to the only girl he'd ever broken up with- and this included his so called wife- that refused to leave his thoughts. As soon as Sam's

Trans Am hit highway 43 out of town he'd forgotten her. Actually he'd been relieved. That whole

fake marriage had been a disaster and he was damn glad to be out of it.

But all too often he thought of Jackie and he had a lot of regret over how things had ended

with them. If he was honest with himself he would admit that a part of him hoped it wasn't really

over. He knew he'd been an ass to her and he couldn't seem to stop it. Especially now that she was

going out with Fez.

Cripes, if Donna didn't get Forman to the altar quick Jackie would probably get her hooks in him too. He was the only one left in their group that she hadn't dated. And Fez-it just wasn't right. Their

pervy friend had always adored her but man, what was she thinking?

Hyde's memories of last night were fuzzy but he remembered all too clearly Jackie and Fez kissing

at midnight and it turned his stomach now just like it had then. As if he had conjured him by thinking about him the outside door opened and Fez came in, bundled against the cold.

"Fez! Happy New year!" Kelso jumped up and thumped his friend on the back. "Can you believe its' 1980? It's like a whole new century, man!"

"Yes, yes. The same to you, Kelso." Fez's face crumpled and he threw his arms around Kelso, who initially stiffened but then patted his back awkwardly. "Hey, little buddy. What's wrong? Say, where's Jackie?"

Fez burst into tears and Hyde rolled his eyes. It wasn't even twelve hours into the New Year and hurricane Jackie had hit-and hard, judging by Fez's sobs. Man, he was worse than a girl-or Forman, Hyde thought, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

"Fez, come sit down," Donna urged and the foreigner squeezed in between her and Eric.

"What happened?" Eric asked.

"Jackie and I-well, we broke up. She-she has decided Fez is not the one for her," he choked.

"Like we couldn't see that coming," Hyde muttered under his breath.

"Aw, Fez, I'm sorry," Donna said and against her better judgment, she held out her arms. Fez wrapped himself around her, resting his face on her chest. She rolled her eyes at Eric, who just shrugged. What did she expect? Fez might be upset but he wasn't going to pass up an opportunity

to nestle against Donnas' large, soft breasts.

Fez sniffed. "I just don't understand. I thought we were prefect for each other. We like the same

things-disco, fashion, makeup, dancing. She let me do her hair and she would pick out my outfits.

Not that I needed help but still, it was nice. I have worshipped her since I first saw her. Why doesn't

she love me?"

Even though he felt a little guilty for the relief that swept thru him, Hyde was in no mood for Fez's whining. "Sure she loves you, man, like a sister 'cause you act like a freakin' girl. Cripes, man. Listen to yourself."

Fez raised wounded dark eyes and his bottom lip trembled. Kelso stood up, waving a finger in

Hydes' direction. "Hey, that's not nice. I mean, yeah, Fez is foreign and all but he's our friend."

"And as his friend I'm telling him-he's better off without her," Hyde said, wishing he had his

aviators but if he got up to go get them it would be pretty obvious he was trying to hide something.

Something like the little flare of hope in his gut that Jackie was single again.

"Of course you would say that! You never wanted us to be together," Fez' voice rose to a shriek and Hyde grimaced. It was too damn early and he was too damn hung over for this crap. Kelso sat down in the chair nearest the door .

"I gotta agree with Hyde," he began but Hyde cut him off.

"About what, moron?" He growled.

" I never liked the idea of Fez and Jackie either," Kelso shrugged.

"What? I thought we were friends, you sonovabitch!" Fez raised his head from the comfort of Donnas' chest and she took the opportunity to move away.

"We are friends, Fez. You're my bud but I still don't think you and Jackie were a good match. You

see," and his face got that blank look that meant he was thinking. "Jackie likes a manly man. One

with my dashing good looks and Hyde's bad ass reputation. You're a nice looking dude but let's face it. You own more silk shirts than Jackie and you're a way better dancer than she is-but don't tell her I said that!"

"What are you trying to say, Kelso? That I am not macho enough for Jackie?" Fez narrowed his eyes in anger.

Donna jumped in before the questions they'd all had about Fez' sexuality surfaced. "I think what

Kelso is saying is that we're sorry it didn't work out, Fez."

"Yeah but you know what, little buddy? It will be okay," Eric said in a soothing voice. "Just

think of all the girls you haven't stalked-er-dated yet. Do we really want to deprive the women of

Point Place? Right, guys?"

Everyone nodded, even Fez. He had been worried that a stallion such as himself would have trouble being true to one filly, even one as beautiful as Jackie. Now he wouldn't have to worry about it. He

was free to roam again.

"So-uh-how's about we all bring in the New Year with a little circle?" Hyde suggested. It was as close to an apology as Fez would get from him. They all agreed and gathered around the old wooden table.