Author Notes

I never did watch season 8, mainly because it was a steaming pile of garbage. However, I have gathered enough information from other stories to keep the general timeline. In this story Sam never left. She is still living with Hyde and the Formans. Jackie and Fez got together and crashed and burned spectacularly in less than two weeks. All this happened about two months before New Years.

New Years Day – 1:20 am

The hospital in Point Place was not the ideal place to bring in a major trauma victim. It was a rare thing for someone to be seriously hurt in this town. However, when it did happen you didn't want to end up in Point Place hospital. In his whole life, Hyde had only heard of people getting air lifted to the bigger cities. But if the snow hitting the windshield was anything to go by, then there will be no helicopters tonight. Which is a shame because, given the amount of blood, she really going to need some of that big city medicine.

New Years Eve 5:15 pm

She had honestly had just been planning on spending New Years alone at home. Pam had gone off to God only knows where, leaving Jackie alone. Again. But given the events of the last year, Jackie was almost looking forward to spending the holidays alone. Solitude doesn't cut to the bone the same way as being lonely when surrounded by the only people that have ever mattered to her.

In the past couple months, ever since the pitiful attempt at a relationship with Fez, Jackie has been serving a self-imposed exile. In the beginning, she could force herself to suck it up and go to the Forman's. She could brush off the snide comments and burns that has ceased being all in good fun. She had wanted to be able to show them that she was doing fine. She had wanted to brag about her new job as a secretary at a law firm. She was an independent woman and was fine on her own.

But she didn't want to show them any more because she wasn't fine. Not really. After she and Fez broke up she moved back into her mother's house. It was the tomb of her childhood but it was all hers. Fez had wanted her to stay. He was surprisingly understanding about the whole situation. He even went as far as to say " Hyde doesn't know what he is missing Jackie". It was a kind thing to say but also one of the most humiliating times of her entire life. Even Fez could see straight through her. It made staying in the apartment impossible. She wanted a place where she could lick her wounds in private.

So, yes, she could make herself go to the Forman's and sit in the basement that held the memoires of the best and worst parts of her life. She could force herself to suck it up and watch him with his new wife. She could watch as said wife took her place in the group and friendship with Donna. She could, but she didn't want to anymore. It was exhausting and un-healthy to subject herself to it.

So for the last couple months she focused on work and re-decorating her room. She knew that it was a pointless distraction but it was what she needed. Every other room in the house could be cold but she needed a place. She needed just one safe place where no one would hurt her.

So that was the New Year plan. Go to work, grab some hot dinner from the grocery store and watch the countdown on television. Fate has some other plans though. Fate had an evil minion in the form of Kitty Forman that was hell bent on destroying any sort of peace in her life.

"Jackie!" Jackie winced and tuned to see the tiny woman rush past the other customers over to her.

"Oh. Hi Mrs. Forman. How are you?"

"Oh dear it is so good to see you! I feel as if I haven't seen you in ages! Where were you on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? I saved you a spot. I just hate the thought of you on your own."

"Oh didn't Donna tell you? I went to see my father. He was transferred up state so it was a couple days drive back and forth." Jackie explained feeling like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

"That is wonderful. It must have been good seeing him, regardless of the place. I am sure he was happy to see you."

"It was good. And you are right. He was happy to see me." Jackie replied. She was telling the truth. Her father had been thrilled to see her. He was concerned that she looked so tired but still very happy. It had almost made Jackie feel guilty for not visiting him sooner. Also made it harder for her to admit to herself that she only went there to ensure she would not be dragged a Christmas dinner in the company of he-who-shall-not-be-named.

"So what are your plans tonight dear?"

Jackie felt the panic start to set in. "Ahh. Well, to tell you the truth Mrs. Forman I am really beat from work. I was going to grab some food and stay in for the night. "

"That is absolute nonsense! You are young. You should be out celebrating the New Year. You have to come by the house for our party. Most of the kids are going to be there."

"I am not really sure that it is a go ." Jackie began

"No. I insist young lady. You are coming. End of discussion" ordered Mrs. Forman. Then, perhaps because of the trapped look on Jack's face she added in a smaller voice " Dear, I am not just some daft old lady. I know perfectly well why I haven't seen you lately. I must admit that the state of affairs in my house is … and the new house guest seems to be staying much longer then I thought was possible."

"Mrs Forman. Please I can't talk about this…

"No Jackie. You listen. The situation between you and Steven is never going to be resolved if you hide from it." Kitty said quietly.

"Resolved ?" Jackie said in a muffled screech. "He is married to that Whore and has stayed with her for months. Throwing it in my face every time… He touches her and kisses her. Says things that he never said to me…. God I have heard them together. As in together, together. He made sure I and everyone else heard them too."

A look that Jackie couldn't quite place crossed Mrs. Forman's face. " Now you listen here. Steven is going to say and do whatever he is going to say and do. Neither you nor I can control that boy. I know that this has been hard for you. Red told me that you have been visiting him at the shop."

Jackie felt embarrassed. She had taken her car in a couple times to have Mr. Foreman look at it. Aside from the worn out break pads that were fixed on the visit, nothing was wrong her car. She takes excellent care of her car. It was just nice to talk to someone like Red. He reminded her of Steven in a lot of ways. At least how Steven was before.

Jackie was brought out her thoughts by Mrs. Forman's voice "But you have a place in my house just as much as he does. Perhaps facing this situation head on will be the best way for you to put it behind you. Whatever direction the chips fall you won't be able to live with yourself…. You need to be able to look yourself in the mirror 20 years from now and have no doubts. You deserve so much better then a future of 'What-Ifs'. Now you go home, get dressed and I will see you at 7 for dinner."

Jackie made grunt of protest but it died quietly at the stern look on Mrs. Forman's face.

"I will be there" she took a deep breath. "I promise."

Jackie knew that this was going to be a mistake. Really, there was no other outcome possible. She was going to ring in the New Year under the same roof as three of her ex-boyfriends.

What do you think? Should I keep it up?