Hi Guys.
This is a new story I am writing that revolves around that 70s show characters but is completely AU. I do not own the characters or the show and am only borrowing them for the purpose of this story.
Please read and review and let me know if you would want me to continue, I am planning for this one to be a multi chapter fic but do not know how long it will be. It also will depend on the kind of response I get from readers.
Finally, thanks to Aliyamad without whose encouragement this story would have probably never been put down on paper. This one's for you Jo.
Jacqueline Burkhart had been staring at the lavishly decorated wedding hall for half an hour now. Under normal circumstances this would have been her dream wedding. She had the beautiful wedding gown custom made from New York draped on her slender form. Tiny glittering diamantes covered the bodice and the most expensive Tiffany jewels covered her ears, neck and wrists. The biggest being the shiny Marquise cut rock her fiancé had given her just last week.
Yet, none of this meant anything to her. She almost laughed at the irony. Even so much as a year and a half ago if she were told she would be marrying one of the most eligible bachelors in Wisconsin in a ceremony that would put a royal wedding to shame she would have been giddy with excitement. Her mother had taught her that love was nice and good but money was important. Money meant security, money meant living in luxury. Jackie had listened to her mother like she was preaching the holy Gospel. Money was nice, money would keep her happy.
Then she had met him. He had the most beautiful eyes she had seen. They sparkled when he smiled, and he sure smiled a lot when he was around her. Suddenly it didn't matter that he didn't come from money. It didn't matter that he didn't come from a famous family or would never make enough money to take care of Jackie the way she was used to. Money meant nothing anymore, he did. Her mother indulged her daughters "crush" as she liked to call it. Jackie never said anything to her mother but she knew it was so much more than a crush, it was true love.
As the only daughter of a rich lawyer Jackie had far too much free time on her hands after graduating since she was expected only to marry well. Jobs and college were for poor people. But Jackie was a restless soul and though she was young she could see through the hypocrisy of the girls she associated with. All of them spoilt daughters of rich businessmen or politicians, doing nothing but looking out for the perfect man to marry. It's not like she didn't enjoy the perks that came with her dad's job but she couldn't help but think that something was missing; something was unfulfilled and damn if she knew what it was.
She had first seen him at the country club her parents had taken her to for one of their boring parties. Not that she was complaining, every new party meant a new dress for Jackie. She had been sitting looking out to the outdoor swimming pool when she had first spotted him. He seemed to be giving swimming lessons to a gawky teen who looked to be paying more attention to him than to the swimming. Jackie rolled her eyes seeing the girl flailing around so the handsome guy could come to her rescue. She had observed him for the rest of the party, her parents were busy socializing and had left her to her own devices so it's not like she had anything to do anyway. She didn't think he had noticed her but when he had emerged from the pool he had looked straight at her and smiled and Jackie's heart had leapt with excitement.
The very next day she had convinced her daddy that she needed advanced lessons in swimming. Jack Burkhart was never one to deny his only princess anything and didn't even question her need for classes when she already was an accomplished swimmer and had even been on the school swim team. He had just handed her his Amex and sent her on her way.
Much to her disappointment though the advanced class trainer was a lady and not the hot guy she had seen the previous day. Nevertheless she knew she was bound to run into him sometime or the other.
Just as she had finished her class and was heading to the showers she spotted him at the other end of the pool. Just like the previous day he smiled at her again and she shyly approached him. They had gotten to talking and he had told her he was working a summer job in Point Place so he could collect money for the next semester of college. She had told him she was taking advanced classes only because she was bored and didn't need them because she herself was a proficient swimmer.
She had skipped all the way to the car after that conversation.
After that day she started hanging around him till his classes were done in the hope that he would one day ask her out. She was well aware of all the girls who were eyeing him and wanted to make sure she got to him before any of the bitches did.
Finally three weeks after they had gotten to talking, three whole wakes later, he had asked her out to the movies. She had pretended to consider it for a moment, she after all couldn't afford to look desperate, but both of them already knew what her answer was going to be.
He had taken her to the Point Place Cinema the next day. He had even bought her the large popcorn with extra butter and a large pop. Once the movie was over he suggested they go out for a burger or pizza. Jackie had been relieved; she had hoped he would want to spend more time with her. By the time he had dropped her off at home she was literally walking on clouds. She was glad her parents weren't home though. She didn't want to explain to her mother why she was out on a date with a poor boy.
One date became two and before she knew it they were on their fifth date. And every teenager in Point Place knew a couple moved from first base to the second by the fifth date at the most. But Jackie knew she wouldn't be covering any new bases with her boyfriend anytime soon. In fact it had taken him three dates to get to the first base. She was confused, her last date Chip had tried to get in her pants as soon as their first date was over. Obviously, that had been her first and last date with him. But her new boyfriend or whatever the hell it is they were, refused to let his hands roam anywhere other than her face and her hair.
She figured she should be thankful he didn't just want to get in her pants but on the other hand she was afraid if they didn't seal the deal some skank with a big butt and double D's would lure him away. Jackie had always been self-conscious of her small bust and his reluctance to venture into that area didn't help matters.
Jackie was brought to the present when her best friend and maid of honor Brooke walked into the room. Brooke knew what was going on and why Jackie was marrying a guy she didn't love. Hell, till a few weeks ago she didn't even know the guy. Brooke had been the only one sympathetic to her plight. Her mother was no help; she was only waiting for the wedding to be solemnized so she could continue living the life she was used to. She had tried going to her dad for help when her mother had started pushing her to marriage but Jack Burkhart who had never stood up to his wife all the years of their marriage was going to be of no help from behind bars.
Being helpless and almost alone against her mother's emotional blackmail, Jackie had finally broken down and conceded to a loveless marriage. It's not like she had any intention of falling in love again anyway, not after him. And he wasn't here, he had left her. At least her fiancé was a decent guy. If she couldn't love her husband she at least wanted somebody she could stand to live with. Brooke had tried to dissuade her, telling she needed time to heal before making any important life decisions. But even Brooke wasn't strong enough to fight off Pam Burkhart's plans for her daughter. The only thing she could do was stand by her friend and support her though she knew she was making a big mistake.
Noticing the melancholy look on her friends face Brooke suppressed a sigh. She knew Jackie was still hurting from her boyfriend's passing. She and her boyfriend Brian had double dated with Jackie and her boyfriend many a time and she could tell how much they had loved each other. Jackie had been devastated by his passing and Brooke had done all she could to get her out of the deep depression she had sunk into. When Jackie had told her Pam was planning her wedding she had been shocked. She had never liked Jackie's mother, the senior Burkhart had always looked down upon her because she came from a middle class family. She had tried to convince Jackie and when that failed she had even approached Pam, trying to make her see reason. But Pam was adamant and as much as told Brooke she had no right to interfere in their family matters. Brooke had lost her cool, telling Pam she didn't give a damn about Jackie's happiness and was interested only in the money the alliance could bring. Pam had not looked the least bit bothered by the accusation, she had just smiled in that condescending way she had perfected over the years and told Brooke she knew what she was doing and it would ultimately be good for Jackie.
So here she was standing up for her best friend.
She adjusted the veil on Jackie's head before saying "Come on Jackie, its time. He's waiting for you at the altar."
Jackie took a deep breath and tried hard to control the tears she had been suppressing all day. Crying wouldn't do her any good. It wasn't going to bring him back. She nodded once and took Brooke's hand as she made her way out of her dressing room. She stood silently while her mother and Brooke arranged all the bridesmaids in the order they were to walk into the church.
This is it Jackie, no backing out of it now.
Her throat caught as Brooke stepped into the church, she knew she was next. She tried smiling weakly at Brooke's father Bob who was to walk her down the aisle. The kindly old man knew what was happening and squeezed her hand warmly before Jackie wrapped her hand around his arm and began walking into the church.
She made sure to keep her eyes looking up at the altar, but she still noticed her fiancés eyes on her as she walked upto him.
Bob gave Jackie's hand into her fiancés and went to take his seat. She had no option but to look into his eyes now, so different from the eyes she had fallen in love with. He must have noticed how nervous she was because he squeezed her hand and gave her a kind smile before leading her to the altar.
She stood still, her mind a million miles away while he said his vows. She knew she was up next and then there was no looking back. Her old life would be forever over. Upon receiving a nod from the priest she took a deep breath before speaking
"I Jackie, take you Steven, to be my husband…..
Goodbye Michael, I will always love you.