Point Place, Wisconsin

November 2nd, 1978

1:00 pm

Location: Jackie Burkhart's Mansion

She stared blankly at the stick in her hand that had two pink lines. The feeling of helplessness was completely overwhelming her, Jackie felt as if she couldn't breathe. She desperately wanted to cry, to break down on her bathroom floor and sob. She was only seventeen. A junior in high school. She wasn't ready for the responsibility of a child or the rejection she was sure she'd get from the father of the baby. They had chemistry sure but what happened between them was supposed to be more of a one night stand. They were drunk after Heath's party, Michael cheated on her again and Steven was there to comfort her. They were supposed to forget the night even happened. Jackie woke up on Hyde's cot and after shrieking him awake they agreed to keep it a secret.

She knew she had to tell him but she really wished she could keep the secret to herself forever. Her world was collapsing around her but she had to take control. The only thing she could control is who knew and Jackie needed Stephen to know so the pressure wasn't solely on her. She really could have used some circle time but with the new life growing inside her she knew that was out of the question. After wallowing on her bed for half an hour she shot up and grabbed her dad's lincoln's keys. The Forman's residence was only ten minutes away from her home but she drove so slowly that she wasn't there for another 25 minutes, the whole way to the inevitable she wrestled with the idea of whether Steven Hyde would punch a wall or just leave when she told him she was pregnant.

Before she knew it Jackie was right outside the door that led into Eric Forman's infamous basement. She hoped Stephen would be alone but she knew luck hadn't been at her side lately. She slowly opened the door and saw everyone in their usual spot, not wanting to tip them off that something was wrong she went to sit on the couch next to Donna and Eric sucking face. As usual, Michael commented on how they should copy the smooching couple, Fez declared he wanted to watch and Hyde just kept staring at the Price is Right on the small TV. Jackie was convinced Stephen had actually forgotten what happened between them, he never acted like anything was different. He still burned her when the opportunity arose and ignored her on and off relationship with Michael Kelso. She knew she had to tell Stephen but didn't know how to approach him. Her chance to catch him alone came fast, Mrs. Forman called the teens for lunch and while Fez, Michael, Eric, and even Donna rushed upstairs, Stephen took his time.

Before she could stop herself Jackie called out to him and grabbed a hold of his arm to prevent him from leaving. The others didn't notice the interaction and rushed off without noticing the look of nausea on Jackie's face and hesitance from Hyde.

Inhaling deeply Jackie turned to Stephen, "I am going to tell you something but you can not freak out. Please, please, please don't freak out." She knew she sounded desperate, so unlike her usual self but desperate times called for desperate measures.

Surprisingly Hyde only nodded while looking concerned. His response prompted her to drag him outside to the porch where no one could overhear. Turning to him and taking another deep sigh she whispered, "I'm pregnant Stephen."

He froze. His whole body became paralyzed and all he could do was mutter an, "Are you sure?"

Letting a few teardrops fall she responded. "I'm sure, I took three tests."

He sat down on the porch chair and dropped his head into his hands. He thought deeply for what seemed like an eternity before he looked up at her and asked a question that broke her heart, " Are you sure it's mine?" His question was like a punch to the gut but she knew she couldn't blame him. The night she spent with him, she was technically still with Michael.

She looked down at her shoes pondering on if he'd believe that he really was the father without a paternity test. It happened to Bud, it could happen to him. "I know it's yours... Michael and I hadn't been together for about two months. I didn't know how to trust him after he cheated and obviously I had the right idea."

He silently nodded and got up. Opened his El Camino and got into the driver's seat. "Listen, Jackie, I need some time to think. I'll be back soon I promise, I just need some time to clear my mind." His absence made her worried but she was relieved to know he wouldn't just ditch town.

Watching him drive away however felt like the last straw and she sobbed into the sweater she had been carrying. Not being able to breathe she had no choice but to crouch onto the floor and lean on the porch pillar for support. Her loud sobs racked her body, completely draining her of her energy. She cried for a long 10 minutes and once she was able to control herself once more she returned to the basement, grabbed her keys and fled to the only place she knew made her happy. The spot where Jackie and Stephen had there pseudo date was her happy place. She had taken him there in the first place. When she was young, before her parents stopped caring, they had picnics at the clearing staring out onto the green and lush valley. She was there for hours. Witnessing the sunset and later, stargazing. She regained the will to continue when it was close to midnight. Holding back the urge to cry once more, she got into the car and drove to her empty and cold mansion.

Jackie was prepared to take a shower and cry herself to sleep but she saw his El Camino on her driveway. She approached the car cautiously and knocked on his window when she realized he was fast asleep. Stephen unlocked the door and stepped out of the car. She had known him for years but he never seized to surprise her. Stephen Hyde actually enveloped her in a hug. She knew to him it meant that he would stand by her, whatever came at them and for the 3rd time that day, she broke down crying again.

" I don't know what to say, Jackie. We're too young to be parents but if you want to keep it, I will stand by you. We were both there when we made the kid and I won't be a Bud or god forbid an Edna." His deep voice was gruff. His warm body was comforting but his words took a lot of doubt away and when she pondered what he said. She realized she couldn't get rid of the baby. It wasn't to blame for their mistakes and she knew she had to take responsibility for her actions.

She surprised herself when she shyly asked him to stay the night with her. He didn't hesitate to agree on staying.

Stephen's morning had been relatively normal. He ate breakfast with the Forman's and tolerated Kelso's antics. The guys were watching a show, surprisingly on fatherhood. There was nothing better on TV and the show was comedic.

"Aye Hyde, do you think Donna will want me to be a stay at home dad?" Eric curiously asked.

"Forman, my man, of course, she will. She's the one who'll make the dough, you can't expect her to do everything herself." Hyde response was fast but it was common knowledge Donna wouldn't let Eric slack around as a father.

"I hope not, it's a man's job to bring home the bacon." Eric had grown up on Red's beliefs and couldn't fathom about being a stay at home dad but he knew deep down that was what his life would be with Donna.

"Ahhhh but that would be the life!" Fez's contagious lit up his face, "Not working, staying at home until the Mrs. comes home to give Fez some lovin." Out of the four in their group, Fez was most definitely the most progressive.

"That sounds nice but I know Jackie won't let me a stay at home dad, she will probably make her dad give me a job at the city or something." Kelso's optimistic view on life ignored the fact that he and Jackie weren't together.

"Kelso, you dillhole, you broke up after you cheated on her with Lacey." Hyde's tone of voice was annoyed.

"Hyde, we all know that never lasts. She'll be back soon enough." Kelso sounded convinced that it was certain.

Hyde knew it was always a possibility his doll would get back with Kelso but he hoped that their night together would convince her there were better choices than Michael Kelso out there.

"He has a point, we all know Jackie will fall back at his feet soon enough. They'll have three devil's spawn children and she will be a stay at home mom." Eric explained in the most simple of terms what was expected of Jackie's future pretty accurately.

"Yeah Hyde, at least I'm gonna get married and have kids, unlike you who will probably 6 unknown kids." Kelso's response was also spot on but Hyde didn't hesitate to frog him on his arm. " Oh what was that for you know I'm right!"

Hyde just shook his head and kept watching Teen Dad on the TV, contemplating whether his life really would end up that way. Donna loudly entered the room from the kitchen and plopped down next to Eric before telling him about her terrible day at Catholic school and how she was hit on the arm with a ruler. Then proceeded to suck face after Eric mockingly played doctor. He kept glancing at the door anticipating Jackie for the Price is Right but it was 10 minutes in and she hadn't arrived. He had already given up hope she would appear when she quietly entered the room and sat next to Donna and Eric, ignoring their friend's comments. He stared at the TV but glanced at her through his side eye, remembering their drunken night together. Maybe if Kelso wasn't in their life, one day they could admit there were feelings between them first made obvious when she was infatuated with Hyde after her second break up with Michael.

She looked nervous and he silently wondered why when he heard Mrs. Forman's voice calling them for lunch. He lingered in the back of the group not wanting to be pushed over when he heard Jackie's high pitched voice and felt her hand on his arm.

"Can I speak with you?"

He wasn't prepared for what came next and before he knew it he was running away. He went to the lake to think about what Jackie said meant. If she really was pregnant with his child then his whole life would change. He had nothing to his name other than his clothing and his car. He suddenly thought back to his friend's earlier conversation. Ironic. He was the least likely to become a father and yet there he was thinking about the life already growing in Jackie's womb. Saying he was terrified was an understatement. He had a shitty job and no prospects for the future, hell he lived in his best friend's basement because he didn't even have his own family and while he considered the Forman's like his own family he couldn't impose on them with a baby.

What would he do with a child? He didn't have any parenting skills and how could he give a child a bright future on the salary of a photohut employee? He wasn't going to take money from Jackie's parents, it was his child and he had to take care of it. Quite honestly Hyde had no idea what to do. He knew they were too young but he was almost sure Jackie would not have an abortion and truthfully he didn't want her to get one. If she did, he would understand, who would want some burnout's baby but id she did keep it he had to step up. It was 10:07 when he decided he had to confront her. He knew she wouldn't be at the Formans and decided on seeking her out at her home.

Hyde found her driveway empty and fell asleep worrying about when she'd be home. The answer was one in the morning and he couldn't help but feel a tad angered that she was out so late when it was dangerous. However, he knew what she needed most was comfort and he tried to show as best he could that he could be her rock. He happily agreed to stay over when she mentioned it.