Disclaimer-i dont own, just rent

Spoilers: after jackie bags hyde, donna and eric are still together, jackie and hyde are friends

Chapter 1

Hyde, Eric, Fez and Donna were sitting in the basement on Christmas Eve. The room was silent except for the dull drone of the TV being that their conversation had died down when Eric started quoting Star Wars. Eric and Fez were calmly watching some Christmas special but Donna was tapping her foot impatiently and it was beginning to irritate Hyde.

"Where is Jackie?" Donna blurted out, just as Hyde was about to say something.

So that's why she was being annoying. He had to admit he was worried too. Jackie was always here and though he'd never admit this to anyone, he kinda liked that. Ever since Veteran's Day, Hyde had seen a new side of Jackie. Sure she's annoying but he realized she's actually pretty smart when she wants to be. That was probably why she had gone from being the 95 lb, shoe shoppin, Donny Osmond lovin cheerleader he used to hate to one of his friends.

"Maybe Satan decided we weren't her friends anymore." Eric suggested sarcastically.

"Shut up you dill hole. I'm worried about her. She was here this morning and she didn't make a single comment about how big I am or my clothes. And she told me she'd come by tonight. So I figured she'd be here by now."

"Donna, stop worrying I'm here. Jeez."

Everyone looked up to see Jackie standing at the door. She walked over and casually sat down on the couch, ignoring the penetrating stares.

"Jackie, where have you been?" Donna exclaimed.

"I had some things to do."

-

Donna didn't push any further and the room fell into silence again. Before long no one even remembered that there was something wrong, partially because Hyde brought out an early Christmas present. Soon they were laugh like they had no care in the world. Then, of course Donna and Eric started making out and after they went off to "exchange Christmas presents", Fez ran of mumbling something about his needs, leaving Hyde and Jackie alone to watch yet another Christmas special. Once again, Hyde's worry had surfaced. Truthfully it never went away. He had watched her all night, but even when she laughed there was something missing. There was no sparkle in her eye and for some reason she didn't seem to be as happy as she was pretending to be.

"Well I guess I better get home."

Jackie's voice cut through his thoughts. He hadn't even noticed that the special was over. Hyde watched as she got up. Yep, there was something wrong and she was leaving till he found out what that something was.

"Jackie what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong Steven." She said not looking him in the eye. He grabbed her arm gently, keeping her from going anywhere.

"I know something is wrong Jackie and I'm not gonna let you leave until you tell me so spill it." And she did.

"Oh Steven my parents disappeared again" Tears filled her eyes and she threw her arms around him. This wasn't what he was expecting but he didn't push her away. Instead he wrapped his arms around her. Something had to go seriously wrong for her to cry this hard. She had always been the strongest person he knew (well emotionally strong any way).

"Again? Jackie, come on, it'll be okay, I promise. Just tell me what's wrong." He said sitting them down onto the couch, but she kept on crying. After a few minutes she pulled away and dried her eyes. She still wouldn't look at him though.

"Jackie, tell me what's going on. What do you mean your parents disappeared again?" He said turning her toward him. Jackie looked up, she could tell he was being sincere, but could she trust him enough to tell him the one secret she's kept for all her life? Then again he might understand what she was going through, not completely but better than anyone else. She had to tell him.

"I…um…look, I've never told anyone this before, but I…I know that I can trust you so…here goes…well you know how your parents left you and then you moved in with Kitty and Red. Well I know how it feels, I mean not the moving in with Kitty and Red, no you were just lucky when it came to that, cause now you have a great pair of parents. I mean Kitty and Red are like the best parents out there, Kitty smothers you while Red teaches you the discipline as he threatens to put his foot up your ass. Okay anyway I'm just going to come out and say it. My parents leave all the time and I don't mean like going to work or anything, I mean I wake up and they're gone, no note no anything. I remember the first time it happened just like it was yesterday. It was my fourth birthday, can you believe it my FOURTH BIRTHDAY, I woke up so happy and then I ran around the house and could find them anywhere, their luggage was gone, the car was gone. I walked into the kitchen, with hope that maybe they were in there, all I found was the cook, Elisa. I cried for the entire day. And two weeks later, TWO WEEKS, I got a call from them saying they were in Guatamala and they were sorry that they forgot my birthday but they weren't gonna be comin home for another two months."

By now Jackie was up and pacing the floor. Hyde could only watch her in shock. He couldn't believe it.

"and okay so I got to hang out with Elisa, who is the best mother I could ever have. And she taught me how to cook and I met her family and they are nice and I swear to god Steven if you tell anyone about this I will hurt you, I have my ways you know. cause if my parents find out they could fire Elisa and she needs this job, she has a big family."

"I wont tell anybody Jackie this is just between you and me." Hyde said, he'd never seen her so upset.

"I guess you never seen me like this before and I know you think I only care about myself, but it's not true. I care about tons of people; the only reason I became this person is so my parents wouldn't leave again. I thought that if I was exactly what they wanted me to be they wouldn't disappear, that's what I started calling it because I never knew where they were, but anyway none of it mattered. They left when I was six and then when I was eight and then well just about every year after that. I hate waking up every morning and wondering if they're going to be gone or not. But it's not like it makes a difference when they're here they don't really pay attention to me anyway. This closest thing to a father daughter moment I've ever had was when Red let me help work on his car with him on career day. They were out of town then too. The only reason I knew anything about a car was because I had to teach myself how to drive and when I wrecked the car I had to teach myself how to fix it so they didn't find out."

She had finally sat down. Turning to Hyde, she saw the stunned look on his face.

"Oh my god, Steven I am so sorry, I said too much it just felt good to get it off my chest you know."

"Jackie I understand why you're upset about your parents. Okay you don't have to apologize. But if they leave all the time then why would this time be so different, I've never seen you this upset."

"Tomorrow's Christmas. They have never missed Christmas before. It was the one holiday that I thought I could always be certain that they would stay for but no now I know that they'll leave any day. Now I'm going to alone for Christmas, no one's gonna be there when I wake up. Not even Elisa. When they left when I was ten I told her to take vacation when they leave. She gets paid and gets to spend time with her family, that's why my parents can know plus she's more of a mom to me then my mom ever will be." Jackie looked at her watch and noticed how late it was. "Look I better get going. Sorry for taking up all your time. Thank you Steven, for everything, I always know that I can count on you."

Jackie stood up and wrapped her arms around Hyde, kissing him on the cheek. "It'll be okay" Hyde said as he hugged her back.

"I know bye Steven."

"Bye"

Hyde watched her walk out the door. Her story was so much to take in. He couldn't believe her parents could be so cruel; he thought his parents were bad, her parents evil. He also couldn't believe that she had told him and no one else. It felt so good to have someone trust you that much. He had to make it up to her. An idea popped into his head as he lay in bed and he couldn't wait for Christmas morning

-

Jackie stirred in her bed. Great, it's Christmas morning, the last thing she wanted. She stretched and took a deep breath. Is that bacon?

"I told Elisa to stay home." She jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs. "Elisa I told you to stay home. You deserve time with your family." She yelled as she walked in to the kitchen. When she saw her visitor she froze.

"I'm not Elisa." Hyde said while flipping the bacon in the frying pan.

"Steven, what are you doing here?" Jackie exclaimed in excitement.

"I just thought you might want a little company on Christmas morning. Bacon?" He rinsed of the now empty pan and offered the plate of bacon. She ran over and hug him tight. "Jackie stop…I cant breathe."

"Thank you so much, Steven. You are so amazing and thoughtful." She said, letting him go.

"I know. Come on let's eat."

"This is so good, Steven, I never knew you were such a good cook."

"You're not the only one who has learned how to cook for yourself."

"Thank you again, this is such a great way to start the morning. Especaily, Christmas morning. Oh that reminds me, I got you something."

Hyde watched as she jumped up and ran out of the room. She looked cute in her flannel pajamas. Cute? no she's not cute. Damn, yeah she is. He pulled out a wrapped box. Yes, he'd gotten her something. 'I just hope she likes it' Jackie walked back into the room, carrying a nice sized box.

"here you go." She said, handing him the box. "come on. Open it."

"Okay okay," he carefully unwrapped the box. There was a black t-shirt inside. "Official graduate of the dojo of coolness. Zenmaster. This is great, Jackie. Where did you get this?"

"I had it specially made. I thought it was a cool idea. Besides I think it's the best way to thank you for teaching me to be zen. That was the best gift you could have ever given me." She smiled.

"Well thanks and I might be able to top that." He pushed the box he had brought across to her.

"aww, steven, you didn't have to bring me anything." She cooed, as she unwrapped the box. When she opened the box, she found a necklace. "Oh my god, Steven. This is so beautiful. Aww it's a grasshopper." She jumped across the table and pulled Hyde into a tight hug.

"Jackie, let go…don't read into it. I found it and I thought you'd like."

"You still thought of me though."

"No, I didn't"

"Yes, you did"

"NO, I Didn't"

"Yes, ugh Steven, it doesn't matter. You gave it to me and you've made this the best Christmas ever."

Hyde's face flushed at her comment. That was what he wanted. She was the only one who knew how he felt and it was great to know that he wasn't alone.

"Anything for you, doll."

TBC- yeah there'll be more this story wont end without jackie and hyde gettin together. it might take a bit though so be patient.