A/N- I wrote this fic well over a year ago, before all the trouble between Jackie and Hyde and when the show was still relativly good. This is the first of six chapters and was beta'd by Darbi, the rest are unbeta'd.
Disclaimer- I do not own Jackie, Hyde or any other characters from That 70s Show, if I did Jackie and Hyde would still be together and the show may actually be funny.
Chapter 1 - Alone In The Basement?
Valentines Day, 1980.
Well I take whatever I want
And baby, I want you
You give me something I need
Now tell me I've got something for you…
It was mid-morning as Hyde sat alone in the basement. For the past half hour he'd been reading the same page of his magazine, completely unable to concentrate due to Jackie's earlier phone call to say that she was coming over and that she needed to talk to him.
She never does that.
Like everyone else, she'd always just turn up. So, why did she call him, today of all days? He couldn't figure but it had him worried. Shaking his head, he sighed and carelessly flipped the page of his magazine, trying hard to concentrate on some article concerning a government cover-up during the Vietnam War. Despite the content, within a few minutes his mind started wondering again. What in the world did she want to talk about?
Come on, come on, come on and do it
Come on and uh, do what you do
I can't get enough of your love
I can't get enough of your love
I can't get enough of your love…
Jackie had been working out this plan in her head for some time and knew she only had one shot at getting it right. So, with her mind set, she headed towards the Forman's basement. Running down the stairs she stumbled at the bottom, crashing into the door. "Ow," She whimpered, gently rubbing her hip. Regaining her composure before entering the basement she dusted herself off, and just as she'd hoped it was empty except for Hyde who was in his usual chair reading a magazine. Bad Company's,Can't Get Enough, was playing quietly on the stereo in the background.
Well its late and I want love
Love that's gonna break me in two
Gonna hang me up in a doorway
Gonna hang me up like you do…
Hyde looked up to see Jackie enter the room, Wow, she looks… amazing he thought as he eyed her up and down before quickly getting up to walk towards her. Realising his haste, he simply said "Hey," as he removed his sunglasses, tucking them into the pocket of his shirt before leaning down to plant a soft 'hello' kiss on her lips. Their eyes met as he pulled away, and they stood staring, each as nervous as the other. "Was that you just then?" Hyde finally asked, attempting to break the awkwardness.
"Was what me?"
"That thud."
"What thud?" She questioned innocently, knowing exactly what he meant.
"The one outside…just now."
"Oh, uh," she shook her head, blushing slightly. "That was uh… uh… okay, it was me. Look, can we talk?"
"Okay, but first, here…" Hyde tentatively handed her a box of candy. This is not me. He thought to himself. Jackie had changed him whether he liked it or not. Suddenly, doing things to make her happy, like this whole Valentines Day gift thing wasn't so bad. Besides it was only one day a year.
I got to tell you baby
I love you so much, I can't get enough of your love
I love you so much, I can't get enough of your love
I can't get enough of your love
You know what I'm saying, baby
I can't get enough of your love…
Jackie, with her mind still firmly set on the speech she'd planned, simply took the box and held onto it tightly, without even looking at it or politely saying thank you. Instead she began the speech that she'd been rehearsing for the best part of the night before. "Steven I know…"
"Jackie aren't you even going to--" Hyde interrupted.
"Steven, shh I'm talking!" Jackie replied sharply, immediately regretting how her words came out.
Hyde looked at her a little annoyed by her lack of gratitude. "FINE, talk!" The music had stopped playing and his voice echoed through the basement.
"Um… I'm sorry," She looked down at the box that she was holding and began to fumble with the ribbon.
"Well?" He asked, knowing he shouldn't be talking like that, but he was letting anxiety get the better of him.
Just then Mrs. Forman entered the basement carrying laundry. She looked at the two of them and exclaimed, "Oh Steven, honey, that's so sweet, you bought candy! Did you get flowers too?"
"Um, no."
"Oh," She laughed awkwardly, and quickly changed the subject. "Jackie you look lovely today. Is that a new dress?"
"Er…Yes. Yes it is… Err…Thank you Mrs Forman."
"Oh, that's okay honey, you always look lovely. Sometimes I think you're the only one who actually knows how to dress. Donna always dresses like a boy, those flannel shirts do nothing for her figure…"
"Err… Mrs. Forman…" Hyde interrupted, "Can we have a few minutes, you know- alone." His voice got lower.
There was an uncomfortable silence as Mrs. Forman looked between Hyde and Jackie. "Ahh, I see." She winked at Hyde. "You young ones wanting to be alone. How romantic. I'll finish this later."
With that she quickly made her way back up the stairs, leaving Jackie and Hyde alone again. A bemused Hyde shook his head and turned back to Jackie, who began to look ill, her face had drained of color as though she would throw up any minute.
"Jackie what's wrong?"
"Nothings wrong," She croaked.
"You look kind of pale."
"I'm fine! Okay! Now just be…just be quiet for a minute so I can speak. Okay!" She said nervously.
"O…Kay…" He replied sceptically; slightly taken aback.
"Steven, I know that…"
Before she could say anymore Fez burst through the basement door and began to rummage through a box in the corner.
"Have you seen my candy?" He asked without looking up.
"No, Fez." Jackie responded, a little annoyed.
Fez turned around and put his hands on his hips, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Fez!" Jackie yelled, shaking her head. "Now will you get out of here? I don't care where your stupid candy is!"
"Ooo, bitchy!" Fez replied.
"You know Fez, I thought I saw Forman with a bag earlier," Hyde offered, nodding towards the basement stairs.
"Eric. That candy stealing son-of-a-bitch…" Fez ran up the stairs in search of Eric. Before he even reached the top Jackie began again.
"Okay, Steven, I know that things haven't always been great between us, but I hope that we've put all that behind us now," her voice was trembling, the reality of what she was about to do hitting her and she began to ramble. "Aaand we can start looking towards the future… together… because that's how I see us… together… in the future…you and me. Us!" She paused and tucked her hair behind her ear, waiting for some kind of reaction from him.
All he could manage was, "Uh-huh." He stared apprehensively at her. Where is she going with this? he thought to himself.
"Well, I've been thinking and…"
Before Jackie could say anymore, Kelso strolled in. "Hey." Jackie and Hyde watched as he casually crossed the room to the freezer to get a Popsicle, completely unaware of the tension. Walking over to the TV, he flicked it on, sat down on the old lawn chair, and began to watch the Scooby Doo cartoon marathon.
"Kelso, can't you watch that at home?" Hyde asked.
"Naaaa…TV's on the blink. A little experiment me and Casey were trying, kinda went wrong and now the screens all fuzzy," he replied, continuing to stare at the screen.
"Michael, do you mind?" Jackie cut in, clutching the box of candy tightly in her hand.
"Mind what?" Kelso said, still completely oblivious.
"We were talking!" Jackie walked over and slapped him upside the head.
"Damn, Jackie!" He cried.
"Kelso man, will you get out of here?"
"But I'm watching Scooby Doo." Kelso replied, pouting.
Hyde walked over and punched Kelso in the arm and yelled. "Get out!"
"Ow, Hyde!" Kelso said rubbing his arm. "If you two wanna talk, go ahead.
"Michael! Its private!" Jackie's shrill voice got louder.
"That's okay. I wont tell." He said matter-of-factly.
"Your damn right you wont tell!" Hyde growled. "Kelso, get out!"
"Aww… Hyde!"
"NOW!" Hyde yelled.
"FINE! But if I ever have any private secrets, I wont tell either one of you!"
Kelso said, waving his Popsicle at them.
"Good to know," Jackie shrugged and rolled her eyes.
"O- okay, but you guys had better tell me what happened to the Space Kook later!"
"The space what? Fine, whatever, just go!" Hyde glared.
"Fine!" Kelso screeched as he slammed the basement door.
Hyde turned to Jackie and sighed, "You were saying?"
She looked up at Hyde, a million thoughts running through her head. "Okay," She threw the candy onto the couch and paused. Okay Jackie, calm down, you can do this. She thought to herself, Just breathe. She took a deep breath and said the words she'd been trying to say all along. "Steven Hyde, will you marry me?"
