I missed these characters.
The That '70s Show finale pissed me off that Jackie went with Fez along with leaving the
Eric and Donna relationship dangling. I was never a Zennie, but I don't like what they did
with the Kelso character. And Jackie and Hyde make much more sense than Jackie and
Fez, which was just a cop out by the writers.
I couldn't even watch the last season after two or three episodes.
I wanted to re-explore these characters as I wrote them
a few years ago.
Some histories are taken from the Donna at 39 storyline.
Some things have changed, but I'm keeping the family tree the same. And I know I didn't
finish it, but in this story Eric has reconciled with the son he didn't know he had. And I want
Eric to be a teacher instead of working a bland office, but the Africa trip did not happen
since when I wrote Donna at 39 the show didn't even air that episode
yet.
The Hydes:
Jackie, Hyde, Tiffany, Hannah, and Hunter
The Forman's:
Eric, Donna, Megan, and Mark ( not in name)
Megan and Hunter are married.
This story takes place on the day of Jackie Burkhart-Hyde's
55th birthday party at the Hyde country cottage in Pennsylvania, where their friend's Eric
and Donna will join them for the weekend.
No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 1
Jackie at 55
Pennsylvania
2015
It was raining when Jackie looked out the window of her bedroom. Normally another
birthday would have sent her reaching for a gallon of Ben & Jerry's, but she thought she
looked pretty damn good for a woman who was five years to sixty. She was still married to
her soulmate Steven Hyde, who was a very accomplished music producer who never once
sold out. She handed the beauty shop over to her daughter, Hannah, who never seemed to
want to do anything with her life except move from one bad relationship to another. Tiffany
was holding onto her New York City apartment where she spent her formative years with
her mother and then Hyde, until they decided to move to Pennsylvania permanently. She
worked at NBC doing in words "boring, executive things". Hunter was the only one who
seemed happy as the starving artist while enjoying his married life with his one and only
true love, Megan Lynne Forman. Her handicaps limiting her job choices, but her
determined will to overcome those odds landed her a career in the health care office
sector. Jackie loved her like a third daughter. With Hannah handling the day-to-day
operations of the salon Jackie spent her career life doing private beauty consulting for
special events.
She couldn't wait to have all of her family together in one room. Which also included best
female friend, Donna Pinciotti-Forman who beat her cancer and wrote a book about it that
was this close to being on the New York Times Best Seller List and Eric was a teacher at
Point Place High school.
"Jackie, you're very quiet," Hyde wrapped his arms around Jackie's slim waist.
"Everything okay?"
"Of course, Steven. I just want to see the kids. Hannah just lives five blocks away and
never visits. I mean we want them to grow up and leave—and when they do—we want
them back. I miss them."
"So, do I, doll." Hyde had small flecks of gray in his hair, which Jackie found most
attractive. While it was Forman who was buying stock in Grecian Formula and Just for
Men who was on a quest to stay young. Jackie burst out laughing for a good five solid
minutes a few months ago when it was Forman who got over Botoxed. He couldn't even
frown.
"Tiffany won't answer her cell phone."
"You two get along fine."
That wasn't the case when she was a bitchy adolescent and hated the both of them during
various times for different reasons.
"She tells me nothing of importance, Steven."
Jackie didn't even know whom the mystery man was that her daughter fancied. Shouldn't a
mother—a good mother know information like that?
"Come here," he gently turned her around, "Today's your birthday. And I can't have you
being sad on your special day." It was corny, but family meant everything to Steven Hyde.
Hyde pulled Jackie close to kiss her.
"I love you." She put her hands on his shoulders.
Steven Hyde was the only constant she had once they rediscovered each other all those
years ago.
"I love you too, puddin' pop."
"Do you think we have time to—before the kids and Eric and Donna arrive?"
He picked her up. He was healthier and in better shape now then when he had his heart
attack.
"We'll always have time for that. Happy Birthday, Jackie."
It was at that moment that Jackie noticed that the rain had stopped and the sun peeked
through the clouds.
Today just might be a good day after all.