December 1980

Point Place

Forman's Basement

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

At least, that's what the song says. Christmas means bright nights and trees decorated in pretty lights. It also somehow makes hot chocolate even more delicious— like it came with a few pumps of christmas spirit or something. Christmas, of course , also meant presents. And if there's anything Jacquelyn Burkhart loved more than unicorns, it's getting unicorns and other pretty and shiny things for presents.

Jackie was sat down the couch at the Forman's basement like she would have any other day. Today, Fez was convincing her, Hyde and Kelso to sing Christmas carols with him so they could do something new for Christmas this year. Jackie had just chuckled.

"There is no way in hell I'm gonna take part in this crap." Hyde grunted.

"But it is Christmas, Hyde! We are all supposed to be spreading cheer and joy and candy and love to other people." Fez reasoned out.

"Fez, it may be news to you but, " Hyde sat straight and clasped his hands together "I do not give cheer, joy, candy or love to people. Or to anyone."

"That's right," Jackie said as if she had just remembered "He only gives them to stupid blonde whores and drunkenly gets married to them after, like a minute."

"BURN!" Kelso screeched as he pointed to Hyde's face. He turned to Jackie chuckling, and flashed her an open-mouthed smile "That was a good burn, Jackie."

"Shut up, Kelso." Hyde rolled his eyes and frogged him.

"Ow!" Kelso yelped, massaging his arm. "Wha- it was a good burn!"

Jackie smiled and crossed her arms. Ha, she thought. Take that, Hyde!

"Whatever." Hyde muttered.

Fez went back to convincing everyone in the room about his plans, and Jackie watched her friends argue with an amused expression on her face.

The basement door opened as Donna and Eric stepped inside.

"Eric, my friend, you are just in time!" Fez smiled triumphantly.

"Hey, what's going on?" Donna looked at Eric questioningly before reverting her gaze to Fez.

"Donna, Eric." Fez grinned. "I, Fez, am inviting everyone to go carol singing to bring love and cheer to other people!"

"Wait, what?"

"I don't know, Donna, it doesn't sound so bad." Eric replied as he slowly nodded his head in consideration.

"Jesus, Forman." Hyde clicked his tongue and started massaging his temples.

"What? All I'm saying is that it could be fun!"

Donna and Jackie flashed each other a look and chuckled to themselves.

"Hold up," Kelso raised his hand "Jackie's not singing right, cause-"

"Michael!"

"See, if Luke Skywalker was here, I don't think he'd be opposed to singing a few christmas songs during christmas season!"

"Forman, can you shut up about that fruit for once-"

"Ai, I do not like this!"

"I'd have you know, Michael, that I-"

"LUKE SKYWALKER IS NOT -"

A sudden loud crash made everyone stop arguing and look towards the direction the sound had come from.

Red Forman stood with an empty box on his hands that was upside down. On his feet were a bunch of screws and other things that could be found in the garage.

"That's more like it!" Red smiled wickedly "Now everyone quit being a pain in the ass before you find my foot up one of yours!"

The gang watched as Red climbed back up the stairs. At least some things never changed.

Eric opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Donna covering his mouth with her hand.

"Eric, we have to spend time together so we can bond and make up for the time that you were gone. We are not singing, okay? Maybe next year."

"Fine." Fez and Eric pouted.

Honestly, Jackie thinks that they do nothing together but sit and stare at the television screen. What are the holidays for?

"Man, there's nothing to do in Point Place." Kelso scratched his head in annoyance. "We need something new to do. And I don't mean singing Christmas carols before anyone gets an idea"

Kelso looked pointedly at Fez and Eric, and Donna shook her head while smiling in amusement.

"Kelso, sitting around all day and watching TV is the way to celebrate christmas. Stop ruining traditions, man," Hyde rolled his eyes.

That was so typical of him, Jackie thought, and resisted to urge to snap at him.

"Oh, I know!" Donna exclaimed as she looked around the group. "Let's do Secret Santa!"

"Hey, that's a good idea, Donna!" Kelso gave her a pat on the back.

Jackie gulped. She didn't like it when she wasn't in control of things. Like that one crazy time she'd let her mother buy what Jackie was going to wear for one of the parties they had to attend together as a family. Her mother had ended up buying her something too provocative— not very much like Jackie, more of Pamela, actually. She'd been uncomfortable the whole night, and she had promised herself never to let that happen again.

"What's Secret Santa?" Fez asked with a curious expression on his face.

"Well, we all write our names down in a piece of paper, toss it in a hat or something, and then we draw names on it. Whoever we pick is the person we give a gift to." Donna explained.

"Oooh, sounds interesting. Count me in!" Fez giggled in enthusiasm.

"And," Eric continued, "We don't have to give anyone else gifts apart from the person we're gonna draw form the hat!"

"Yeah, this is a great opportunity to save money." Kelso agreed.

"You guys really don't get it, do you?" Hyde looked at them in disbelief "Christmas is just the capitalist government's ploy to get everyone to spend their money. It's all a conspiracy!"

"Oh, shut up, Hyde." Jackie snorted. "Stop eating christmas!"

For a second, Jackie thinks she saw Hyde flinch at the mention of his name. Jackie thought it was because she started calling him Hyde again, and she supposed that it still bothered him. She still has to figure out why, but Jackie can't help but feel guilty every time she calls him Hyde.

The slight frown on his face was gone as soon as it had appeared on Hyde's face. "Get bent, Jackie."

"Okay, calm down, you guys. It's either this or going carol singing with Fez, so." There was honestly no use fighting Donna anymore. Jackie recognised a lost fight when she saw one. She groaned in defeat and crossed her arms.

"Great!" Eric clasped his hands together. "We'll do it tomorrow."

Jackie plopped down the end of the bed in her pyjamas, ready to write in her journal.

The days have passed by quickly in Point Place after the last New Year's. Jackie was glad of it too. The past year was her worst year ever so far, and she didn't think anything would top it off anytime soon. Things went back to the way it was before everything went to shit. It was Samantha's fault— or that was what Jackie had told herself. It had been extremely awkward and frustrating having her around, seeing Samantha sit on her spot— Hyde's lap, day after day, and seeing how much Donna and Samantha got along with each other more than she and Donna ever did.

Dear Journal, she began writing.

It was weird and it felt forced, being there and trying to act like everything was okay. Hyde had blamed the weirdness to Fez and Jackie being together. In all honesty, she could see where he would get that. It didn't last anyway. A few months after they started dating, Fez had called things off. He said that he didn't want to hold Jackie down because she wasn't happy and neither was he. They agreed, and Jackie was relieved that there weren't any awkwardness between her and Fez despite being together for a few months.

Things are okay right now.

She remembered frowning deeply when she had noticed Randy in Eric's seat when she walked in the basement. That was Eric's. It was just the way things were, even if Eric had been in Africa. Plus, everyone was acting weird. Jackie didn't know if she had been one of them— cold, awkward, and not meeting anyone's eye. Everyone suddenly didn't know how to act around each other. Jackie hated it. It was like everyone was hanging out for the sake of it. Snarky remarks and teasing comments were thrown around a lot to cover up the fact that things just weren't the same anymore— had not been for the past few months. Jackie guessed that everyone felt a little lost without Eric.

It had went on that way for a few more weeks, until Eric came home eventually. He had flashed everyone a sheepish, nervous smile and a shrug of his shoulders, as if he was unsure of what to do. The whole group had been speechless, not a sound coming out of any of their mouths. Donna was the one who had broken the silence, immediately running to hug Eric, and everything else had followed.

Well, as okay as it's gonna be for awhile, I think.

Randy had entered the basement one day and found that were no seat for him. He looked around and suddenly, he didn't recognise the six people bickering playfully in the Forman's basement. The atmosphere had felt different- lighter, comfortable. He stopped coming over at some point, she didn't notice when exactly.

Jackie remembered that day clearly because it had been when she had let herself glance at Hyde, and they had shared a small and quiet smile. It was the first time in a long time she felt that everything was going to be okay.

Jackie let out an exasperated sigh. She frowned as she stared down the page she was writing on, scratched everything she had written down so far, and threw her journal across the room.

She was Jackie Burkhart, it was Christmas and her life was perfect, goddammit!