I am a big E/D fan, but I'm just going to let the muse take me where it will…

Michael Kelso/Donna Pinciotti story. That you for all that encouraged me to write this! I am not sure if it will go romantic yet; as I said the muse shall be my guide.

I own nada T7S related.

Reviews are always appreciated! I apologize in advance if it takes me awhile to update (which it probably will because I'm working on other stories, and I alternate).

MARRIED?! Jackie wanted to get MARRIED?! Kelso ran his fingers through his brown hair as his heart raced so quickly, he wondered if he might just have a heart attack. He stared at the table in front of him.

Maybe he should welcome one; if he was in the hospital then he wouldn't be able to marry Jackie until he was able to graduate from high school….

How in the world did this happen anyway? He loved Jackie, he really did…but…MARRIED?! It was wrong on so many levels.

Kelso couldn't imagine his life without Jackie. That year apart from her, because of his own stupidity and infidelity, was the worst year Kelso ever had. Sure, he was getting some in droves…that was the benefit of being as hot as he was. But in the end, he only wanted Jackie. He always had only wanted Jackie. She was the only girl he had ever loved, and he was pretty sure that he would always love her.

But he was 17 years old, and she was only 16! They still had a year or two of high school left.

Plus there was the whole cheating thing. He had really believed that they were over his mistakes when she went around and kissed the cheese guy. Here he was working at a job that he was actually good at…modeling, and Jackie was so jealous that she went and kissed another guy. And the entire past year seemed almost like a lie in one way. Kelso had worked damn hard to get Jackie back, and she said she forgave him…but she hadn't. She said as much when she told him she wasn't sorry.

And really, he had never dealt with the reason he had cheated on her in the first place…she made him feel bad about himself. It wasn't an excuse, it was just true. And he had told her as much when he broke up with her just a couple of days ago.

Yet…as always…he loved Jackie. And he didn't want to be without her. He didn't even want to kiss another girl as was their plan to make them "even" again. He only wanted to kiss Jackie, he only wanted to do it with Jackie…he only wanted to be with Jackie; he only loved Jackie.

Probably forever.

But it was that 'probably' that worried him. What would happen if they got married? How could he support her? He couldn't keep modeling; that was for sure or she would throw a tantrum. Even though he was good at it, even though he liked it, even though it was the only thing he could think of that he might be able to make a career of, if they got married, Kelso would have to give up the modeling. So how was he supposed to support her? Jackie wasn't Donna. She would want to be supported. She wouldn't want to work. And even though she was working now, she still lived in one of the biggest houses in Point Place…she was accustomed to having the good life handed to her; and what the hell was a 17 year old Kelso supposed to be able to do to keep her happy?

And who's to say they still hadn't fixed things between them. What if one day she felt that he wasn't paying her the 110 attention she seemed to need and some guy caught her eye. What if one day, he had enough her constant "You're an idiot Michael! You'll never amount to anything Michael!", to the point that he felt useless again, and wanted to go out and do the one thing he knew he was good at with someone else?

He was used to being called dumb, and idiot, all of that. He knew he wasn't the smartest bulb around. And his friends constantly made him aware of that…but he had always wanted more from Jackie.

He wanted what Eric had once had with Donna. Probably would have with Donna again now that Casey had broken up with her. Then again, Kelso had always figured Eric and Donna would find their way back to each other anyway; though he kept that thought to himself. No need in adding "sappy wuss" to the list of things Hyde could call him.

To everyone else Eric was the scrawny neighbor boy and Donna was Playboy Bunny hot with brains. But to Donna, Eric was perfect. And Kelso remembered watching them when they were together, and wondering why Jackie didn't talk to him the way that Donna talked to Eric. Why he couldn't stop being the dumb idiot at least when it came to her.

But, in the end, he loved Jackie.

And in the end, Jackie loved him.

More importantly, Jackie owned him.

And if she wanted to get married…the fact was that they would be getting married. There was no way around it. His head dropped to the table with a loud thud.

The Burkhardt-Kelsos….

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Donna climbed out her window, like she had done so many times before. Yet before, she used to go across the tree to Eric's. But Eric didn't want to see her. Didn't want to be with her. She jumped down from the lowest tree branch and began her walk to the bus station.

There was nothing here in Point Place for her anymore. Not without Eric.

This year without Eric had been the worst she ever had. Her mom left, and she wound up with a Kelso. A Kelso who would have broken her heart if it had ever mended from her break-up with Eric; which it hadn't.

Donna was so ashamed of the person she had become with Casey. She lost that independent edge; she stopped writing; she murmured words of love to a man she knew now she hadn't even come close to being in love with. Desired, yes…love…not even close.

After making Eric wait forever to be together, she gave her body to Casey without hardly even a thought. It was like she would do anything to numb the pain of being so lonely. Like she told Hyde when her mom first left and she slept with Eric, "It's like I would have done it with anyone". And that anyone had been Casey Kelso.

She had to twist herself and lose herself to make herself believe that what she and Casey had was special…and once it ended, all she could think about was how stupid she had been. How she needed Eric back.

But Eric didn't want to be second choice. And she didn't know how to make him believe that he wasn't…how did she know that she wasn't just running from being alone again? She couldn't take the chance of breaking Eric's heart once more…she loved him too much. She had to be sure. Eric deserved better than probably. So right now, she needed to go.

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Guess the first thing to do would be to find a job…Kelso looked up at the sound of footsteps…

"Donna?" he looked at her bag, "Where are you going?"

"To my mom's in California."

Kelso blinked, "Oh my God…you're running away…" he realized.

Donna shrugged. "Yeah, well, there's nothing for me here…"

Kelso nodded, he understood that. He was a middle child in a large family…Jackie and his friends were all he had really. And if something went wrong with any of them, then he would feel completely lost…

Kelso watched as Donna stared at her own feet.

Donna.

There was a time when he was almost as close to Donna as he was to Eric. Even closer than he was to Hyde. But since high school, since Jackie, he and Donna weren't nearly as friendly as they used to be.

But she was still his friend. And she looked completely lost…

"How are you getting there?" he asked, his voice soft.

Donna shrugged once more, not looking up to give Kelso the ammunition of seeing her green eyes welling with tears. "Bus."

"And they say I'm stupid….get in the van; I'll drive you."

Donna blinked back her tears. She would love that! She would never admit it, but she was scared shitless going to California by herself. But…"California, Kelso…it's not like next door."

"I'm not an idiot."

That caused her to look up, her brow arching.

"Well…anyway…I need to get out of here. Jackie wants to get married."

"To you?!"

"I know! And I don't know if you know this, but Jackie is kind of in charge. It just might happen!" he headed to the driver's side. "Get in."

"Kelso…"

"I can't just let you take the bus by yourself…someone needs to protect you."

"Kelso, I can beat your ass…Hyde is like 3 inches shorter than you and he can beat your ass."

"Hyde is Hyde…and you are one strong girl…but I can hold my own."

Donna started to roll her eyes…but she didn't. Part of her figured it was probably true. She went over to the passenger side.

"Sure you're up to it?"

Kelso slid in without another word.

And without seeing her mouth the words "Thank you" before doing the same.

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Kelso yawned and tried to shift in the front seat. Good thing it was the beginning of summer, so it was still warm even though it was nighttime. But trying to get some sleep up here was wrecking havoc on his back. He peaked over to the back where Donna was stretched out.

Kelso groaned; it was his fault he was stuck up here. Donna had tried to take a nap while they were driving and he kept trying to get a handful of those melons of hers. He had just gotten to see them for the first time this year…and they were so beautiful he literally passed out for a second. He would give almost anything to get to touch them…but Donna was quick. It was like she had some sort of radar.

After about the 5th attempt, Donna moved to the back and forbade him to do the same. Around 2 in the morning, Kelso was tired of driving and pulled into a rest-stop. But the front was nowhere near as comfortable as the back, as both he and Jackie knew.

"Donna?" Kelso whispered. Donna answered by turning around as she slept soundly. "Donna?" Kelso said more loudly. Again, no response. "Well Damn Donna!" he stated one of his most familiar ways of speaking to her. Perfect. Kelso climbed into the back. Perhaps if he didn't attempt to grope her, she would stay asleep.

Kelso stretched out next to Donna and pulled some of the cover off of her to place on himself. With a deep breath he closed his eyes…

"Touch me and die" Donna stated quietly, causing Kelso's eyes to shoot open.

"Yes, Donna" he couldn't help but smile before shutting his eyes again.

Donna waited a second before opening one eye. She shifted a little closer and gave Kelso some more of their cover before closing her eyes again.