Summary: Jackie and Hyde have been in and out of each other's lives for years. When the gang gets together for Christmas—will sparks fly or will everything go up in flames? And why is Fez the only one who knows who the love of Jackie's life is?
Disclaimer: I have no rights whatsoever to That '70s Show.
Love of My Life
Chapter 1- Jackie Moves On (Literally)
Thursday, February 14th, 1980
Point Place, Wisconsin
Forman's Basement
The lone occupant of the Forman's basement was one Steven Hyde, who was sitting in his chair doing absolutely nothing.
Which was just the way he liked it.
He wasn't alone for long, however, as a certain foreign candy fiend burst through the basement door…
"Hyde, my friend, what are you doing?" an overly chipper Fez asked as he entered the room.
"Nothing," Hyde answered lazily, conveying his lack of interest in conversation.
"Well, you should be doing something," Fez scolded him as he took a seat on the couch. "Today is a glorious day!"
Hyde glared at his friend through his shades. "Glorious? It's just like every other day, man. Tiring and pointless."
"Excuse me? Do you not know what day it is? It's Valentine's Day! There's candy everywhere and lots of shiny red decorations! You shouldn't be sitting here doing nothing."
"Nah, man. That's exactly why I should be sitting here doing nothing. In fact, as I see it, Valentine's day is more tiring and pointless than the rest of the year. It's a made-up holiday for morons who buy into the idea of everlasting love and celebrate it by buying worthless crap with glitter on it."
"That's not true. Jackie and I have big plans for today," Fez announced.
"I rest my case," Hyde responded, folding his arms.
"Whatever, Mr. Grumpy-pants," Fez snapped. "While you are sitting here doing nothing, I will be wooing my sweet Jacqueline with sweet candy and shiny gifts which will hopefully lead to some sweet love-making."
"Whatever," Hyde grumbled.
Fez, ignoring his friend's sour expression, "Yes, I have a good feeling about tonight. I think tonight will be the night." Then, looking thoughtful, "I wonder if I could convince Jackie to do it while covered in candy and glitter…"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Hyde asked before thinking better of it. "You know what, man? I don't want to know."
"Well, it's just I always had this fantasy—"
"Hey, don't you think you should, you know, start preparing the…the…shiny crap and whatnot for tonight's date?" he asked, hoping to persuade his friend to get the hell out of there.
"You're right!" Fez exclaimed, standing up. "Jackie always appreciates when things are well-prepared. Like the time I helped her style her hair…and what fine hair she has—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," said Hyde dismissively, standing up to usher Fez out of the room. "Just go prepare…style her hair…whatever, man…"
"I will, I will," Fez agreed as he was pushed out of the door by Hyde. As he was standing just outside the doorway, he said, "I have a feeling today will be the best Valentine's Day ever!"
"That's great," Hyde replied with a smile before slamming the basement door in Fez's face.
Then, he walked across the room and sat down in his chair with satisfaction. He could continue doing what he really wanted to do.
Absolutely nothing.
4 hours later…
Still Forman's Basement
Hyde was extremely satisfied that he'd accomplished absolutely nothing all evening.
He'd left Leo in charge of the record store this evening so that he didn't have to deal with lovely-dovey customers requesting crap like Dionne Warwick or The Bee Gees for Valentine 's Day. He'd also purposely not asked any chicks out today. Today, he wanted peace and quiet—no red frilly hearts, no drama…
"Hyde, this is the worst Valentine's Day ever!" a distraught Fez cried as he came flying through the basement door clutching a shiny red candy box with red lace on it.
Crap.
Sighing, "What happened? Jackie try to take your candy?"
"No! She broke up with me! This is the worst day of my life!" Fez yelled before pausing. "Although, it would have been worse if she had taken my candy…"
Whoa! Didn't see that coming…
"Jackie broke up with you? On Valentine's Day?" Hyde asked in clarification.
Fez nodded sadly.
Hyde couldn't hold back a light chuckle. "Talk about a burn!"
Fez glared in return. "If you're just going poke fun, you sonofabitch, I can take my poor broken heart elsewhere!" he threatened, waving his box of candy in the air.
"Sorry," Hyde said in an attempt to be more serious. "Man, what happened?"
"I'm not sure," Fez replied as he sat down on the couch with a forlorn expression. "It was all going so well. I took her to the mall, then we went to the roller disco, then we went back to our apartment…"
***FLASHBACK***
Earlier that night…
Fez and Jackie's Apartment
Fez and Jackie's apartment was filled with numerous red heart-shaped boxes of candy as well as a number of stuffed animals.
Jackie, who was sporting a tiara, commented, "Fez, do you think we bought too much?"
To which a candy-heart munching Fez responded, "Jackie, my love, it's never too much when it's for you." He then pointed to her left. "Do you think you could pass me that box of candy?"
"Sure, Fez," she replied, handing him the box and flipping her hair at the same time. "I don't know what I was thinking. I can never have too much, and, of course, I'm worth it."
"You sure are, princess," Fez agreed, tearing open the box of candy.
"Thanks," Jackie said, giving him her best beauty-queen smile. "And I love the pink stuffed unicorn you bought me. What do you think I should name him?" she squealed.
"Why don't you name it after these little candy hearts with funny sayings on them. They are delicious."
"Hmm," she murmured, jutting out her bottom lip. "Hey, I have an idea! Why don't we try on the clothes we bought today at the mall? We can have a private fashion show in the living room!"
"Oh!" Fez squealed in excitement, almost dropping his box of candy hearts. "That's a great idea! I'll race you to see who can get dressed up first!"
Fez then took off in record speed towards his bedroom.
15 minutes later…
"Fez, aren't you ready yet?" Jackie hollered from the living room.
"Just a second, my sweet princess," Fez answered, before throwing his door open and sashaying into the living room…
…causing Jackie's jaw to drop.
He was wearing very tight red leather pants, a black V-neck tee-shirt, a pink feather boa…and a pair of sparkly red 4-inch high-heels.
"I know, I'm so foxy," Fez commented as he continued to walk up and down his living room mimicking a runway model.
Jackie, who was wearing what looked to be a pink pouffy prom dress, gaped openly at her boyfriend. "Fez. W-Why are you wearing my heels? And how are you wearing my heels? My feet are like way smaller than yours."
"I know, Jackie. You are, indeed, a tiny person," Fez answered matter-of-factly. "That is why I bought another pair of heels. There is no way I would be able to fit into yours."
"You bought a pair of heels?" a clearly-shocked Jackie asked.
"Yes, they were just so red and sparkly, I could not resist," Fez told her. "But I do look good in them, do I not?"
Jackie just continued to stare at Fez.
"Jackie, are you alright?" he asked. "You know, maybe we should segue-way from Valentine's Day fashion show time to Valentine's Day sexy time?"
"Sexy time?" Jackie responded weakly.
"Yes. You know, a little hug-hug, kiss-kiss," Fez said, acting out his description.
With a dead-pan expression, she answered, "Fez, I can't see you anymore."
"What do you mean you can't see me anymore?" questioned a confused Fez, who was looking down at himself. "I am right here. Right in front of you, Jackie. Are you having trouble seeing? Do you need glasses?"
"No, Fez, that's not what I meant," she spoke quickly.
"Then what did you mean?"
Jackie took a deep breath. "I meant, I think we should break up. I can't date you anymore."
Fez leveled her with a serious expression. "You're breaking up with me?"
She looked back with an equally serious expression. "Yes."
"After everything we've been through together…after everything I've bought for you…you're breaking up with me?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice breaking.
"You're sure about this?" he asked. "Because once you get off the Fez boat of love, you can't just hop right back on."
Tears were now silently rolling down her face. "Yes, I'm sure."
"I see," Fez snapped.
"Fez, I'm sorr—"
"I think you've said enough for this evening," he interrupted. "I now bid you goodnight."
"But Fez—"
"I said goodnight!" he spat as he quickly retreated to his room and slammed the door shut.
5 seconds later…
Fez's bedroom door opened and he came sashaying out once again.
"Fez…" began a now sobbing Jackie.
Fez held up his hand in response. "I forgot my candy hearts," he announced as he grabbed the box, before stomping in his sparkly red heels back to his room…
***END FLASHBACK***
"I don't know where everything went so wrong," a devastated Fez told Hyde as he hit himself in the head with his shiny red candy-box.
"I think a better question would be, 'Where didn't everything go wrong?'" Hyde observed. "I mean, seriously…you were wearing high-heels?"
"Hey!" Fez protested, ceasing to attack himself with his candy. "They were red and sparkly and reminded me of The Wizard of Oz!"
Hyde couldn't help but shake his head. "Yeah, but Dorothy was wearing the ruby slippers. Dorothy. You know, the chick in the movie. You're a dude. Though I'm starting to wonder…"
"I'll have you know that wearing red, shiny high-heels would be considered very masculine back in my country!"
Hyde stared at Fez, not knowing what to say.
So much for peace and quiet.
"But the high-heels are not the problem…" Fez began.
"I would have to disagree with that," Hyde cracked.
Fez glared at him. "The problem is my lovely Jackie has broken up with me," he continued.
"I fail to see how that's the problem. I really think the high-heels are the problem."
Fez ignored his remark. "Hyde, I really thought she was the one for me. I thought she was the one I was going to spend the rest of my life with."
Sighing, "Fez, Jackie's not the one for anyone to spend the rest of their life with. Jackie's the one who barges in to a perfectly good situation, wrecks havoc, and then takes off to go have her hair done, all the while leaving chaos in her wake."
"I don't know. I really thought it was different for me and Jackie. I mean, we had so much fun together shopping, listening to disco, doing our hair together. I thought everything would work out."
"Because doing hair together is the staple of every great relationship," Hyde quipped. He then made an attempt to be serious. "Look, man, even I thought you guys would last longer than this. I mean, you only lasted what? A month and half?"
"Thank you very much for bringing up just how short my whirlwind romance with Jacqueline Burkhart was," Fez snapped.
Damn. He wasn't very good at serious.
"What I'm trying to say is, I thought you guys were at least going to make it to the stage where Jackie attempts to blackmail you into marriage before everything fell apart," he tried again.
"No, I wasn't as lucky as you and Kelso to make it to that stage," Fez admitted sadly.
"Lucky? Are you kidding me? Trust me. You should consider yourself lucky you didn't make it to that stage."
"But I wanted to make it to that stage."
"Man, are you nuts? Why would you want to make it to that stage? Didn't you see what she did to me?"
"Yes, but I'm not a commitment-phobic bastard like you," Fez said, pointing his heart-shaped candy-box at him for emphasis. "I wanted to marry Jackie. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I was looking forward to her marriage blackmail attempts. But alas! She never even mentioned marriage!"
Hyde wasn't sure what to say. "She never mentioned marriage?"
"Nope. It's such a shame, and now that she's broken up with me she probably won't bother me to marry her. So sad. It would have been a dream come to true to marry Jackie Burkhart."
Hyde shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He didn't like the direction this conversation was going. Changing pace, "So, hey, did you bring that damn candy-box just to wave it in my face or were you actually planning on eating out of it?"
Fez jumped up in surprise as he looked at the box in his hand. "Oh my goodness! I was so upset over my tragic breakup with Jackie that I forgot about my candy!" He began petting the box. "It's okay candy. Fez remembered you. I will eat you now."
Hyde rolled his eyes as Fez began to chow down on the chocolates. At least he'd gotten him to shut his trap…
"Hey, Hyde? Can I ask you something?"
Preferably not.
"Yeah…?" he furthered without the least bit of enthusiasm.
"Why do you think Jackie broke up with me?"
Hyde pondered the question for a moment. "It was probably because she decided she couldn't date a guy who walks better in heels than she does," he said with an evil grin.
"Shut up, Hyde. That's not the reason."
"Wanna bet?"
Around the same time…
Fez and Jackie's Apartment
Jackie Burkhart was currently surrounded by numerous presents consisting of candy, stuffed animals, and clothes. Not to mention, she was looking darn cute in her pink pouffy dress.
What was not cute was the red, puffy eyes and the mascara that lined her face from all the crying. It really put a dent in her overall appearance.
Today was supposed to have been a great day.
It was Valentine's Day. She'd spent most of the day laughing and shopping with her boyfriend. She had gotten lots of sparkly, frilly presents. She had a boyfriend who worshipped her and loved doing all the things that she loved. She should have been happy. She wasn't…
…and then her boyfriend had paraded around in a pair of sparkly red high-heels and a pink feather boa.
At that moment, her supposed to have been great day turned into the Valentine's Day from Hell. She'd known right then and there she couldn't continue to date Fez. She couldn't date a guy who walks better in heels than she does!
And so—even though it pained her—she broke up with Fez.
Now, Fez probably hated her. After spending some time in his room, he had run out of the apartment to God know where without even giving her a backwards glance.
How could she live with him after this? But where was she to go?
Eric and Donna had up and abandoned her to Madison to get a college education (As if that was more important than her!).
Michael was still "working" at the Playboy Club, and she wasn't about to run off to stay with him (Seriously, she could probably catch some kind of disease just being in the vicinity of that place).
The only other friend she had here was…well, he didn't really count as a friend anymore.
She had no friends.
God, her life was lame.
She needed to get out of Point Place. But how? With her father in prison and her mother off God knows where whoring herself out to the highest bidder, she lacked the funds to move out of this hell hole.
Dramatically raising her hands up to the sky, "God, how can you punish pretty people like me this way? Can't you help me out? You know, give me a lot of money so I don't have to be poor?" she cried.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
"Who the hell would be calling? I apparently have no friends!" she complained aloud as she went to answer the phone.
"Hello? Yes, this is Jacqueline Burkhart," she answered. She listened to the man on the other line. "Are you serious? Can you hold on a second?"
Jackie held the phone to her chest and squealed, "Thank you, God! I knew you didn't hate pretty people!"
Friday, February 29th, 1980
Point Place, Wisconsin
Forman's Basement
All was quiet in the Forman's basement. Almost too quiet. Especially for a guy who thought up new conspiracy theories in his sleep.
Hyde liked to be left alone. He liked peace and quiet. But this was almost too much alone time… and too much peace and quiet. He felt like someone was setting him up…
Suddenly, one Jackie Burkhart burst through the door and he was immediately on his guard.
"Hey," she said as she came in, stopping only a few feet away from the doorway.
"Hey," he replied with easy disinterest.
She continued to stand there.
"Did you have something to say?" he prodded.
She shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, yeah…have you seen Fez?"
"You mean the guy that was part of your most recent failed relationship? I'm surprised you remember his name."
"Look, Steven," she said, going into bitch mode. "I don't have time to exchange burns with you right now. I need to know. Have you seen Fez?"
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Not since Valentine's Day when he was whining about how you broke up with him. Not really sure why he was whining about it. If you ask me, he should have been celebrating."
"Good thing nobody asked you," she bit out.
He smiled, knowing he was pissing her off. "Real cold. Breaking up with him on Valentine's Day. That's something only a bitch would do."
She bit her lip, trying to keep her temper. Doing her best to ignore his slight, "So, you haven't seen him since Valentine's Day? Do you have any idea where he is?"
She sounded worried. Why was she worried? "Nah, I have no idea. Figured he was off with you. Didn't want to get involved in that disco-loving relationship of yours."
"Damnit," she swore, stomping her foot like a petulant child. "I can't find him anywhere. I tried his work, the mall, the candy store…I was sure you would know where he went."
"Wait," Hyde said, sitting up. "You mean you haven't seen him since you two broke up? That was like two weeks ago."
"I know," she moaned. "He hasn't been back. I'm worried and I…I really need to talk with him."
"I wouldn't worry too much," he told her, though he sounded a bit worried. "He probably just doesn't want to see you after you totally burned him by dumping him on Valentine's Day."
"I-I know," she agreed, feeling guilty. Guilt quickly turned to anger. "It's not like I planned to dump him on Valentine's Day! It just sort of happened!"
"Just sort of happened?" Hyde spat, flaring up in anger somewhat himself. "How do you just sort of happen to break up with someone on Valentine's Day?"
"I don't know, Steven. How do you just sort of happen to accidentally marry a stripper in Vegas?" she sarcastically spat back.
"You get really, really drunk," he answered, trying not to reflect how pissed off he was. "Were you really, really drunk?"
"No, I—"
"No, Jackie, I don't want to hear your excuses. You know, you should have seen Fez when he was here earlier that day. I don't understand why, but he seemed really excited to go out with you. He had it in that pea-sized brain of his that you were really worth something, but then you had to go and do what you always do…ruin everything. It's no wonder Fez had to get away from you. You should just do everyone a favor and leave before you ruin someone else."
After Hyde gave his lecture, he was feeling pretty smug…until he saw the heart-shattering expression on her face.
"That's what I'm doing!" she shrieked, looking as if she wanted to pull her hair out.
That's what she's doing? "Wait, Jackie…what are you talking about?"
"I'm leaving!" she announced with anguish. "I'm moving to New York City!"
It felt like he'd been punched in the gut. His anger dissolved into surprise. "What? Moving to New York? When?" he asked, standing up and moving towards her.
"Tomorrow," she answered softly, no longer enraged herself.
"Tomorrow?" he repeated, flabbergasted. "As in tomorrow, tomorrow?"
Jackie gave him a confused look. "Yes, Steven. As in tomorrow."
Hyde took off his sunglasses and looked her in the eye. "Jackie, you can't leave tomorrow."
"Why not?" What the hell is he doing?
"Because…because you just can't," he argued, wincing at how ridiculous he sounded.
"Steven—"
"Jackie, why are you leaving?" he quickly interrupted. "Did you get a job offer?"
"No."
"Then how can you possibly move to New York? Jackie, I know you have no concept of how the real world works, but you need to be able to pay for things in order to survive and, let me tell you, New York is expensive."
"I know, Steven. I'm not stupid." Who did he think he was to lecture her?
"Really? Because you're doing a good impression of it," he bluntly told her.
Jackie rolled her eyes at him. "I have money, Steven."
"What? From that job of yours? Jackie, that can't possibly be enough to move—"
"No, Steven," she interrupted. "I have money…like, a lot of money."
Now he was confused. "Where'd you get a lot of money? You rob a beauty salon?"
She was silent.
"Jackie! You robbed a beauty salon!"
"I did not rob a beauty salon!" Jackie shrieked.
"Where did you rob—"
"I didn't rob anywhere!"
"Then how come—"
"My trust fund!" she finally admitted. "After Daddy's corrupt lawyers were all imprisoned, some new lawyers were hired to sift through all of his transactions. I got a call from them on Valentine's Day. Apparently, I have a rather large trust fund that's been hidden. I should have inherited it when I turned eighteen. I guess Daddy was worried the Feds would confiscate it, which is why he never said anything, but it turns out that legally the Feds can't touch it. All the money goes to me."
Hyde could barely process this new information. "How large of a trust fund are we talking?"
She got the same look in her eye that she always had when she talked about jewelry. "Large, Steven," she pronounced excitedly, clapping her hands together. "Like really, really large. Like, I'm not poor anymore large. Like, I'm the exact opposite of poor large. Like—"
"Like you can afford to move to New York large," Hyde unenthusiastically finished for her.
"Steven, it's so large I could move to New York ten times over," she squealed. "It's such a great feeling not to be poor anymore!"
Hyde wasn't sure how he felt about this new development. "That's great for you, Jackie," he said quietly.
"Thank you, Steven," she responded, genuinely touched. Then, unable to squash the urge to talk about her newfound wealth, "You know, I couldn't believe it when I found out. It was like a Valentine's Day miracle! I was so upset about being poor and then—bam—the phone rings…"
Hyde was only half-listening to her ramble on when something caught his interest. "Wait," he interrupted. "Valentine's Day? Is that why you broke up with Fez? Because you struck it rich and didn't need him to buy you presents anymore?"
She gave him such a hurt expression he felt as if he'd just kicked a puppy.
Damnit.
"No, it had nothing to do with why I broke up with Fez. I didn't even get the phone call until after we broke up," she explained. "You believe me, don't you?"
He stared at her for several seconds as if he was trying to see through her before sighing. "Yes, Jackie, I believe you."
She smiled. Brightly.
"So why did you break up with Fez?" he prodded.
She began to fidget. "I-I'd rather not talk about it."
"Fair enough."
For several moments, neither of them said anything.
"Well, I'm obviously not going to find Fez here," she stated awkwardly. "It's too bad. I really wanted to see him before I left. I don't like how things ended," she said, her voice beginning to break. "W-When you see him…tell him…tell him I returned all the Valentine's Day gifts he bought me. Well, everything except for the candy, but I don't really think that was for me anyway. I put the money in his room. P-Please tell him I-I'm really sorry. I never meant to hurt him."
After giving that embarrassingly emotional speech, she went to flee the room…when Hyde caught her arm.
"Jackie, why are you leaving?" he asked in an almost gentle voice.
Looking meaningfully into his eyes, "There's nothing left here for me," she answered honestly.
"Nothing…?" he furthered, still gripping her arm.
"Nothing."
He immediately released her arm at her words and turned away from her. A second later, he turned back. "Have you really thought about this? Are you sure you want to do this?"
Why did he sound as if he didn't want her to go? "Yes, Steven, I've really thought about this. I-It's not like it used to be at Point Place. Everything's changed. Eric and Donna are off at school, Michael is off…well, Michael is off elsewhere subjecting his stupidity onto others, and now everything with Fez…what else do I have?"
Hyde very much wanted to say something in response. Instead, though, he just stared into her mismatched eyes.
"Steven…?"
Looking down and clearing his throat, "So there's nothing I can say to make you stay?" he questioned.
Jackie was taken aback. He'd barely talked to her these past months except to burn her and now…now what exactly was he doing?
"What else can you have to say?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
What else could he have to say? "I don't know."
She smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "That's what I thought," she said. "Look, I better go. I want to tell Mr. and Mrs. Forman I'm leaving. If you see Fez, tell him I need to see him."
She then sprinted towards the stairs as if she couldn't stand being there with him another second. She stopped, however, once she reached the bottom of the stairs and turned back.
"Steven…?"
"Yeah…?" Hyde watched her as she steeled herself to make her exit.
She took a deep breath. "I'll be by early tomorrow afternoon to, you know, say goodbye," she rushed out, before promptly turning away and racing up the stairs without looking back.
Which left Hyde alone once again with a very quiet basement.
Saturday, March 1st, 1980
Point Place, Wisconsin
Fez and Jackie's Apartment
Jackie was currently standing in the middle of the living room, which was covered in boxes.
"Who knew I had so much stuff?" Jackie complained. "God, I'm beginning to think I have a shopping problem."
She then bent down to pick up one of the larger boxes…only to promptly drop it back on the floor.
"Damn. How is a petite person like me supposed to move all these heavy boxes? I should have hired more U-Haul guys to do this. What was I thinking? I'm not poor anymore! I'm rich!" she whined. "I'm totally gonna ruin my manicure," she stated as she went to pick up the box again.
"Jackie…?" came a voice from the entranceway.
She promptly dropped the box once again.
"Fez?" she asked, looking up. "Fez!" she cried happily. "You came back! I looked all over for you! I was so worried I wasn't going to get to see you before I left. I'm moving to—"
"New York. I know," he said sadly, walking into the room.
"How did you—"
"Hyde."
"Oh. So, you went to see him?"
"No. He came to see me."
"He did? But I thought he didn't know where you were…"
"He didn't," Fez said, taking a deep breath. "I didn't want anyone to know where I was."
"Where were you?"
"Kelso's," he answered.
Of course. Should have thought of that.
"I just couldn't stand the thought of seeing your pretty face and not being able to touch you," he continued. "So, I went to go see Kelso's pretty face instead."
Jackie made a not-so-pretty face. "And…did it…uh…help?" she asked, unsure if she wanted the answer.
"Yes, you know Kelso's skin is surprisingly smooth. It's just like a baby's bottom," Fez answered, not noticing the gagging sound Jackie started making. "Of course, it also helped that Kelso took me to the Playboy Club and introduced me to some of the girls there. I particularly enjoyed meeting the twins, Candy and Mandy. They put on a great show. Can you imagine? A girl named Candy…"
This conversation had really gotten off track. Shaking her head, "Fez, what about Steven? You said he came to see you?"
Fez, who was sporting a dazed expression on his face, didn't answer.
"FEZ!" Jackie barked, kicking him in the shins (eliciting an "Ow!" from Fez). "I asked about Steven!"
"What?" he asked distractedly, rubbing his leg. "Oh, yes, sorry. I was just mentally reliving the Candy and Mandy show. You were asking about Hyde? I doubt he could put on show like Candy and Mandy."
Jackie glared at Fez, causing him to take a step back.
"Okay, okay," Fez acquiesced, raising his hands in surrender. "Hyde called Kelso to find out if I was with him last night," he explained. He then bitterly added, "Kelso, being the loose-lipped bastard that he is, caved and told him I was there when Hyde threatened to hit him in the eye. Of course, Kelso, being the idiotic bastard that he is, didn't grasp that Hyde couldn't actually hit him through the phone."
"Okay…and…" Jackie prompted.
"And so, after that loose-lipped, idiotic bastard spilled the beans, Hyde drove all the way over to come see me. He told me all about you moving to New York and said if I didn't come back with him to talk to you he would beat me into submission and take me back by force," Fez explained. He paused to shake his head. "He didn't have to beat me into submission. I, unlike Kelso, understand when I am faced with a real physical threat and I therefore obediently came back with Hyde. We just got back a little bit ago."
Jackie was stunned. "So, let me get this straight. Steven went out of his way to go and threaten you with physical violence and bring you back so you could talk to me?"
"Yep."
"That's so…sweet," Jackie commented, unsure how to feel about Steven's actions.
"Yep. So, get talking lady. Don't let Hyde's threats go to waste," Fez told her.
"Oh, Fez," she sighed. "Look, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am. I really did want to be with you. I thought we would work. We liked all the same things…I thought it would be the perfect relationship. We're so similar, but I think that was the problem. We're too similar. Don't get me wrong. I love myself. Everything about me is perfect. I always thought if I could run into my own arms, I would, but now I see that there can only be one person as wonderful as I am in a relationship. Fez, you're really just too wonderful for me to date."
Fez appeared to be tearing up. "Oh, Jackie. That was the most flattering I-don't-want-to-date-you speech I have ever heard," he remarked, his hand over his heart.
Jackie gave him a big smile. "Thanks, Fez!" she squealed. "I worked really hard on that speech while you were gone. Did I deliver it well?"
Wiping a tear away, "You really did. Perfect timing and everything," he told her.
"Thanks," she replied, still smiling. Then serious, "So, are we okay?"
"Of course" a now composed Fez told her. "Shortly after I got to Kelso's, I realized you were right. We would have never worked out. I am not the love of your life. I wanted to be, but no matter what I do or say, I'm not gonna be the love of your life."
Jackie didn't know how to respond. That was a seriously deep statement. She should probably ask Fez why he was so sure he was not the love of her life.
Nah.
"Did Steven tell you I'm rich again?" she asked instead.
"Oh, yes!" he exclaimed. "I'm so happy for you! I'm also happy for me. I'm expecting you to buy me lots of candy after dumping me on Valentine's Day. You know the guys are going to burn me for years to come with that one."
Jackie laughed at her foreign ex-boyfriend. "Sure thing, Fez."
"Is that why you're moving to New York? Because New York is where the rich people go?" Fez suddenly questioned.
"No, that's not why. I'm going to New York because…because I need to move on. I don't think I can do that in Point Place," she replied. Then, flipping her hair, "And because New York is where the rich people go."
They both laughed.
"So, what now?" Fez asked.
"What now?" she repeated. Suddenly, inspiration struck her. She smiled sweetly at Fez. "What happens now is you can help me move all these boxes outside for the U-Haul to pick up," she told him.
"Alright," Fez reluctantly agreed, picking up a box (with some difficulty) as Jackie walked towards the door. "Hey!" he called after her, "Where the hell do you think you are going?"
"I'm going to the Hub to flirt with a bunch of high-school guys so that I can sucker them into helping us move all these boxes. I just got a manicure, and I really don't want to ruin it," she cheerfully explained.
"Fine," Fez huffed, "but you better not abandon me here with all the heavy boxes."
She smiled and turned to go, but suddenly paused. "Hey, Fez?"
"What is it?" bit out Fez, who was now sweating from carrying the box.
"If you realized we weren't right for each other so soon after going to Michael's, how come it took so long for you to come back?"
"Oh," sounded a sheepish-looking Fez. "Well, I was very busy enjoying the Candy and Mandy show…"
3 hours later…
The Forman's Kitchen
"Oh, honey, I'm so sad to see you go," Mrs. Forman tearfully remarked as she gave Jackie what must have been the twentieth hug in the last ten minutes.
"I'll miss you, Mrs. Forman," Jackie managed to mumble into the crying woman's shoulder.
"For God's sake, Kitty, the girl is never going to be able to leave if you keep attacking her like that," Red barked.
"I feel like another one of our children is leaving," Mrs. Forman sobbed.
"She may as well have been one of our children for the amount of time she spent here," Red grumbled.
"She certainly did," Mrs. Forman commented, releasing Jackie, "and I want you to know that I practically consider you my daughter. God knows I always wanted a daughter who didn't turn out to be a whore—"
"Kitty—" Red warned.
"Nothing, nothing," Mrs. Forman laughed. Then, seriously, "Speaking of whores, does your mother even know you're moving to New York?"
"No, I couldn't get a hold of her," Jackie answered with a shrug. "Last I heard she was off fornicating in Tahiti with some guy name Juan. But that was two months ago…"
"Oh you poor baby," cried Mrs. Forman, barreling Jackie into another hug. "Don't you worry about your whore-of-a-mother. In fact, why don't you just stay here so I can take care of you? You can stay in Laurie's old room. We can just throw all her stuff out..."
"Kitty, another one of the kids is trying to leave. Don't convince her to stay," Red advised.
Jackie managed to pull herself from Mrs. Forman so she could speak. "I appreciate the offer, but I've already made up my mind to go."
"I always knew you had an ounce of sense," Red pridefully told Jackie.
"Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Forman," Jackie said with a bittersweet smile. "I just want to say thank you for everything you've done for me over the years. You've been more like parents than…well, than my own parents. I really appreciate it. I love you guys."
"Oh, you dear, sweet girl," Mrs. Forman called out, hugging her yet again. "We love you too!"
Red then cleared his throat loudly, and Mrs. Forman took that as her cue to (reluctantly) release Jackie and move aside.
"Jackie…" Red started, looking uncomfortable. Then, shaking his head, "Look, I just want to say that I've always thought of you as the least annoying and the least worthless of all the dumbasses that hung out in my basement."
"Mr. Forman, I'll miss you too!" a touched Jackie squealed as she launched herself onto Mr. Forman to give him a hug.
Surprisingly, Red hugged her back.
Jackie then released him and looked around the kitchen. "I guess I should get going…"
"Is something wrong, dear?" Mrs. Forman asked.
"Um…I was just wondering if you've seen Steven?"
"Steven? I haven't seen him at all today, dear."
Jackie tried to hide her disappointment. "Oh…well, could you tell him goodbye for me then?"
"Don't worry, I'll give him the message," Red told her. "Along with a good kick in the ass."
Jackie smiled. "Well, I guess this is goodbye…goodbye!"
With a heavy heart, Jackie made her way to the sliding glass door…
"Don't go!" yelled out an anguished Mrs. Forman before she descended upon Jackie, scooping her into another hug. "You can't leave me! Everyone is leaving me! Pretty soon I'm going to be alone with Red! You can't leave me alone with that bitter old man!"
Red rolled his eyes and threw up his hands in defeat. "Jesus, Kitty, why don't you just go with the girl to New York?"
1 hour later…
Outside Fez and Jackie's Apartment
"Time to get the hell out of Point Place," Jackie murmured to herself as she made her way to her car, having finally disengaged herself from Mrs. Forman.
She quickly made it to her destination…only to find Steven Hyde sitting on her car with his arms folded and his sunglasses pinned to his shirt.
She stopped at the sight of him.
"Hey, Jackie," he said, getting off the car and walking towards her.
"Steven, what are you doing here?" she couldn't help but ask.
"I came to see you off," he replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I hope that's okay?"
"Yeah, it's okay," she assured. "You weren't at the Forman's…I didn't think I would see you…"
"Yeah, well, I wasn't comfortable saying goodbye in front of Mr. and Mrs. Forman."
"Oh…"
"So, are you leaving right now?"
"Yeah…"
Hyde looked around. "What about Fez? Isn't he going to see you off?"
Jackie shook her head. "Fez and I already said our goodbyes earlier. He helped me move all my stuff," she explained. "When I left he was in his room crying. Whether he was crying over me leaving or crying over the fact that he had to leave the Candy and Mandy show, I'm not sure…"
Hyde grinned. "He told you about the Candy and Mandy show."
"Yeah, did you see it?" Jackie asked, laughing.
"Nah, didn't have time, but he wouldn't shut up about it on the drive back to Point Place. I thought I was going to have to muzzle him."
Jackie continued to laugh, before composing herself. "Thank you," she said seriously.
"For what? Not seeing the Candy and Mandy show?" he joked. "Cuz let me tell ya, I'm thinking about driving up next weekend…"
"Steven," she scolded, lightly swatting him on the arm. "You know that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about you driving all night to threaten Fez with physical violence so you could bring him back to talk to me. I really appreciate it."
"Oh, that," he remarked, shifting uncomfortably. "You're welcome."
"Steven, it was very..."
"Jackie, I swear, if you say sweet, I'm gonna—"
"…badass of you."
Jackie gave him a devilish smile after she finished speaking.
Despite himself, Hyde couldn't help but smile back. "I taught you well."
"Yeah…" she trailed off into silence and her smile faded. "You know, I should probably get going—"
"I bought you a present," Hyde interrupted a bit too fast to be Zen.
"You did?" she asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I did…I mean, it's nothing shiny or girly…you probably won't like it…"
"Steven, stop babbling and give me my present!" she ordered, anxious to see what he got her.
Smiling slightly at her bossy attitude, he went to her car and picked up a small black bag.
"Here," he stated, handing the bag to her.
Immediately, she shifted through the bag and pulled out a small spray bottle.
She carefully examined the bottle. "You bought me mace?"
He sighed. "I know it's not your kind of present, but it's useful. New York's a dangerous place, and I want you to carry around some type of protection. It's not like Point Place where the most dangerous person is…well, me. So, don't bitch about how it's not a present because it's not shiny and—"
"Steven, I love it," she interrupted.
"What?" Did she say she loved it?
"I love it," she repeated. "It was really thoughtful of you to get me this. I'll always keep it with me."
"Good," he replied with a nod. "But, you know, just because I got you a gift doesn't mean I'm a nice guy or anything…"
"Of course not," she teased. "Would a nice guy get me such a badass gift? I mean, I can literally make a grown man cry with this."
He smiled. "I really did teach you well," he commented. He shifted uncomfortably. "Jackie, I know I asked you before, but are you sure about leaving?"
She looked away from him. She didn't want to tell him she felt less sure with him being so nice to her. Looking back, "It's just I need to move on. I feel like everyone has moved on in their own way except for me. Eric and Donna, Michael, Fez…you…you've all moved on, but I feel as if I'm still stuck in the same place."
"It seems as if nothing will change your mind," Hyde said, unsure if he meant it as a statement or a question.
Jackie was confused about his meaning as well. "I…I…I will miss Point Place," she stuttered lamely.
Hyde gave her that piercing gaze of his. "Do you think you'll ever come back?"
Come back? As in visit? Or…
"Point Place is my home. I hope to come back someday," she answered, quivering under his gaze.
"Well, I guess I might be seeing you then…"
Willing herself not to cry, "Yeah…I guess this is goodbye…"
"Have a nice trip," he said, without thinking. After a second, "Wait, I didn't mean it like that…well, I did mean I hope you have a nice trip…but I didn't mean…"
She couldn't help but laugh at a tongue-tied Steven Hyde. "It's okay, Steven. I know you're not good with words," she joked.
"Sorry," he said, offering a weak smile.
"It's alright," she replied. "Goodbye, Steven…"
Why did it feel like something was caught in his throat? "Goodbye, Jackie…"
He watched as she turned and walked away from him. He watched as she opened the car door and prepared to leave…
He then watched as she paused and turned to him with a determined look on her face. He watched as she came striding towards him…
A moment later, Jackie grabbed Hyde by the back of his neck and roughly pulled his mouth down to hers and gave him what was probably the single most passionate kiss he had ever experienced.
Jackie wasn't sure what the hell she was thinking at that moment. She wasn't thinking clearly. Then again, she wasn't sure she ever thought clearly when it came to Steven. So, when he responded back with equal force, she went with it.
Some time later…
The crazy pair eventually separated (probably due to lack of oxygen).
The result of their spur of the moment make-out session: A dumbfounded Hyde and a terrified Jackie.
Jackie recovered first.
"I'll miss you," she whispered breathlessly, before she ran away from him into her car and sped off.
Which left a very stunned Hyde alone in the parking lot.
6 hours later…
Forman's Basement
A very pissed-off looking Hyde and a very sad looking Fez sat alone on the couch.
"Oh, I cannot believe I am missing the Candy and Mandy show right now," lamented Fez.
"Whatever," Hyde grumbled in response.
"Hyde, buddy, you would not believe how flexible they were…"
"Whatever."
"And now I have no Jackie to comfort me…"
"Whatever," Hyde replied, a bit harsher this time.
"Jackie is on her way to New York right now…"
"Whatever."
"Alas, I was not the love of her life," Fez sighed.
"Whatever," Hyde practically snarled.
"Perhaps she will find the love of her life in New York…"
"Whatever."
"But I doubt she will find the love of her life there…"
"Whatever, man," Hyde said angrily. "How long are you going to go on about Jackie?"
Fez went quiet.
They both stared straight ahead without speaking…
"She wouldn't even let me kiss her goodbye. You know, one last make-out session for the road," Fez commented sadly.
Hyde abruptly got up from the couch. "Get the hell out of here, Fez!" he yelled. "And don't come back until you can shut your trap about Jackie!"
"Where am I supposed to go?"
"Hell if I care! Go back to the Candy and Mandy show!" Hyde hollered. "Just get away from me!" he added, before storming to his room and slamming the door shut.
"Somebody is in a cranky mood," remarked an abandoned Fez. Then, looking at his watch, "I wonder if there is still time to catch the Candy and Mandy show…"
Coming Up in Chapter 2: Fast-forward to 1984—Jackie's life has changed dramatically. As she plans to return to Point Place for Christmas, she can't help but recall the havoc wrecked during a past visit…and how she and Hyde played a major role in wrecking said havoc.
Thanks for reading! Reviews are appreciated!