So this is the second part of this story. I think there will be an epilouge afterwards. But this is what I wish could have happened at the end of Season 7. Read and find out what happens and then REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!
Hyde drove through the streets aimlessly trying to figure out what to say to Jackie. Or if he should let her come to him. He thought about how he felt a few weeks before when Jackie had broke up with him. He had been miserable and everyone knew that. He was happy with Jackie. Even if he didn't admit it to people, he was happy. Very happy. She was good for him, she challenged him and she loved him. She loved him more than he ever thought anyone could ever love him. But was he ready for marriage? Was that what she was asking for? Or did she just want to know he loved her. She knew he loved her right? She had to. Even though he had only told her when he cheated on her with the nurse that had been enough hadn't it? Just because she said it every day, it didn't mean he had to tell her everyday for her to understand how much she was loved did it? He sighed and rubbed his eyes wondering what the hell he was going to do.
Back at Donna's, Jackie was waiting for Hyde to call her. He had promised to call her from work and set up a date for them that afternoon. But it had been three hours since he went to work and there was still no phone call. She sighed and flopped back onto her cot and turned on her stereo. Donna walked into the room and through Jackie's coat at her.
"Get up." She said.
Jackie rolled her eyes and sat up in bed. "What?"
"Get up." She said quickly.
"Donna what is this about?" She asked.
"I told Hyde about your job offer and I told him to get off his ass and make a decision about if he wanted to be with you or not." She said proudly.
Jackie felt as though her heart had dropped to the floor and her face went white. "You did what?"
Donna frowned. "I thought you would be happy? I did the hard part for you."
Jackie shook her head. "No! Donna I'm not happy. You probably scared the crap out of him and now he's off God knows where with God knows who, taking his anger out on some slut or a whiskey bottle."
Donna shrugged. "Or maybe he's doing something good."
Jackie rolled her eyes. "Donna I've been with Steven long enough to know he never takes his stress out in a good way. He usually does something completely stupid. So I know you we're trying to help but this just makes it worse! Now he'll probably be mad at me for not telling him the truth. He's just so complicated!"
Donna sighed. "I thought…I thought I was doing the right thing."
Jackie held her jacket close to her. "God I hope he didn't run off."
Donna looked out the window. "His car isn't at the Foreman's and he left work after I told him about it."
Jackie whimpered. "Great."
"I'm sorry…" Donna whispered. "But…maybe…maybe he will tell you he wants you to stay. You never know."
Jackie looked up at Donna. "Yeah. We'll have to wait and see."
Hyde sat on a stool at the bar, drinking his third beer. The door opened and Red walked in and took a seat next to him. He looked around the place and then looked at the beer bottles collecting in front of Hyde.
"What did you do?" Red asked.
Hyde sighed. "I didn't call you down here to insult me Red."
Red laughed. "Then you called the wrong person."
Hyde sighed. "Red…I really need your help. So you can save the smart ass comments for like ten minutes. Please?"
Red saw the seriousness in his eyes and he nodded his head and held his hand up to the bartender. "Looks like I'm gonna need a Heineken for this."
Hyde nodded. "Get one for me too."
Red shook his head. "No. No more for you. Getting drunk will only make whatever problem you have worse."
Hyde sighed and pushed away his beer. "Guess you're right."
Red took a sip of his beer. "So what's on your mind? And you better not cry…I'll kick your ass if you cry."
Hyde laughed. "I'm not gonna cry."
Red smiled. "Good. So…let's hear it."
"Alright." He cleared his throat. "Donna came by the store today and she told me that Jackie got this great job offer in Chicago."
"Good for her." He said taking a sip of his beer.
Hyde nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah. I'm proud of her. But the problem is, she's afraid to tell me about it because she thinks I'll leave her."
"Is she right?" Red asked.
Hyde looked back at Red. "I don't know."
"You're famous three words." He said laughing.
"You sound like Jackie." He mumbled.
Red laughed. "Yeah well…if I we're her I'd shove my foot in your ass for never giving me a proper answer."
Hyde sighed. "I'm just not good at this whole relationship thing. It makes me nervous when I don't have complete control."
"Relationships are about compromising Steven. I learned that the hard way with I married Kitty. I love her to death, but sometimes she drives me nuts. But in the end, we make each other happy. So you need to ask yourself if you can see yourself without Jackie." He said.
Hyde looked down at his beer, and twirled it around in his hands. "I know that I'm miserable without her."
"That's how I felt with Kitty." Red said.
Hyde looked back at Red. "I'm not ready to get married."
"No one said you we're. But I think that if you let Jackie go now, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Red said honestly. "She makes you a better man Steven."
"But I don't want Jackie to give up on this opportunity. I'm not worth it." He said.
"But Jackie thinks you are." Red said pointing his beer at her.
Hyde laughed. "I haven't a clue why."
"You are a good kid Hyde. You've just been hurt a lot in your life. But so has Jackie. And that's why you two get along so well. It's your common ground. That and you love each other." He said.
"I hate how this shit is so complicated." He laughed.
Red chuckled. "Welcome to adult hood son. It ain't easy."
"So you think I should talk to her?" He asked.
Red nodded. "Yeah. I do. Jackie's probably terrified right now, so I think it would show her you care if you went and talked to her."
"I still don't know what to do though." He said sadly.
Red looked at Hyde, took a swig of his beer and left some money on the table and then patted him on the back. "I think you do."
Hyde looked at Red. "You're leaving?"
Red nodded. "Yeah. You don't need me to tell you what to do anymore Steven. You're a grown man who can make his own decisions. I know you'll make me proud. But, if you don't and decide to be a dumbass and break her heart as well as yours…just know my foot will be waiting for your ass."
Hyde laughed. "I'll remember that."
Red smiled and left. "Good luck."
Hyde grunted a response and took another swig of his beer. Yes…he knew what to do. Now the only question was, was he man enough to do it?
Back at Donna's, Jackie finally got up and got ready to go out. She walked out the front door and the breeze hit her quickly as she inhaled, trying to find some composure. She slipped on a pair of sunglasses to hide the red puffy eyes she now possessed from all her crying. She walked over to the Foreman's and saw Kitty watering some plants outside.
"Hi Mrs. Foreman." She whispered.
Kitty turned and smiled at Jackie. "Well hello there Jackie. If you're looking for Steven he's not here." She said.
Jackie nodded. "Oh. Ok."
"He came home pretty late last night, did you two have fun?" She asked.
Jackie smiled. "Yeah we did."
"Well good." Kitty put the watering can down and walked over to Jackie and put a hand on her shoulder. "He was just so miserable after you broke up with him. But he seems more relaxed and happy now that you are back together."
Jackie smiled and her heart skipped a beat. "Really?"
"Really. I know he really loves you. I mean I knew he cared before…but now I can see its love." She said happily.
Jackie felt like she was going to tear up again. "Oh."
Kitty frowned." Is everything alright sweetheart?"
"Mrs. Foreman…can I talk to you about something?" She asked.
Kitty smiled. "Sure. What's on your mind kiddo?"
"Well when Steven and I got back together, we decided no to talk about our future and to just let our relationship pan out from day to day. But yesterday, I got offered a great job in Chicago and I don't know if I should take it or not because of Steven." She said.
Kitty put a hand on her hip. "Oh wow."
Jackie nodded. "Yeah. And I wasn't going to tell him yet because I was afraid. But Donna went down to Groove's this morning and told him, and now he's gone. I just, I don't know what to do."
Kitty smiled sadly at the poor girl and walked over her, giving her a motherly hug. "It's going to be ok sweetie. Steven is a good boy. I'm sure he will make the right choice."
"But it's just so hard! I mean if I stay here, I loose the job. But I get Steven, but there is always the thought that he will get sick of me and we'll break up and then I lost the job for nothing. But if I leave, I loose Steven. And I don't want that…not again." She whispered sadly.
Kitty smiled and patted her cheek. "Unfortunately, the only two people who can figure this out are you and Steven. I can't tell you what to do."
She sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that."
Kitty chuckled. "Well I can't make the decision for you, but I can make you an ice cream sundae to cheer you up."
Jackie laughed. "That might help actually."
She laughed. "Come on. After that I'll show you how to make my special heartache margaritas."
Jackie giggled. "Sounds great Mrs. Foreman. Thanks for making me feel better."
Kitty smiled. "That's what I'm here for."
That night, Jackie was sitting in her room alone. Donna had gone out with Fez and Kelso to try and forget that Eric had left for Africa. Jackie did feel bad for her best friend; she too was having her own relationship problems. The door opened though, interrupting her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw who it was. Hyde was standing in the doorway in her favorite pair of jeans and Concert T. His jean jacket fit perfectly on his toned body and she shivered.
"Steven…" She whispered.
He nodded at her. "Hey."
"Um…I came by the Foreman's earlier to see you." She said.
Hyde sighed. "Yeah. I wasn't there."
She smiled. "I noticed."
He chuckled. "Right. So uh…you busy?"
She shook her head. "No. Why?"
"Cool. You wanna go to our spot?" He asked.
"Again?" She asked.
Hyde shrugged. "Yeah sure. Why not?"
She smiled. "Ok…let's go."
He nodded and took her hands. "Cool. Let's go."
Jackie stopped for a moment, and then remembered that he knew everything. She pulled at his hand and stared up at him. "Steven…I know Donna talked to you. And I-"
He put his finger up to her lips. "Don't ok? I don't want to talk right now. I just…"
She nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Ok. We don't have to."
He nodded and stared at her for a moment, leaning down to kiss her. "Thank you."
She just smiled and let him lead her out to the El Camino. It took them only twenty minutes to get to their spot in the woods and Hyde put the car in park. He looked at Jackie, and then opened his door and she watched him leave. He didn't say anything or call after her so she got out herself. Hyde jumped in the back of the Camino and she walked around the back to look at him. He just smirked and patted the spot beside him. She climbed up into the back and sat next to him, throwing her legs over his. The moon was high in the sky and it cast a shadow across her beautiful features. Hyde reached into his pocket and pulled out a joint and his lighter. He took a hit and then handed it to her. She brought it to her lips and slowly inhaled.
Hyde looked away from her and took a deep breath. "The thing is…" He paused. "This job…it's a great opportunity for you."
Jackie took another hit and then opened her mouth to speak. "Steven I-"
"But…" He sighed. "I'm not sure I'm willing to let you go."
"Willing to?" She asked curiously.
Hyde shrugged. "I don't say it alright, but I…I…ya know…" He whispered.
"You love me?" She asked quietly.
Hyde looked back at her. "Yeah."
She smiled. "I love you too. But you knew that."
He nodded. "Course I do. You say it everyday."
She laughed. "Yeah well…that's how much you mean to me. I want you to know how important you are."
Hyde smiled. "I know that."
"So are you telling me not to go?" She asked.
Hyde sighed. "I don't know."
"Do you think I should?" She asked.
"I don't know." He whispered.
Jackie sighed. "Well this is going no where."
Hyde glared at her and threw the joint over the side of the truck. "Well I'm sorry Jackie. I mean it's not like you bothered to tell me yourself!" He yelled.
Jackie jumped and brought her legs up to her chest. "I'm sorry ok? I was scared."
Hyde snorted. "Whatever."
Then Jackie got mad. "No. You are not just going to brush this aside and say whatever Steven. You're scared of the future, but so what. You can't hide forever! Its time to grow up and you need to tell me if you want me in your future or not."
Hyde got out of the El Camino and started pacing, leaving Jackie waiting desperately for an answer. "Damn it Jackie. Of course I want you in my future! And admitting that to you scares the shit out of me! This isn't supposed to be my life. I was brought up to be the orphan boy, the kid that had no one. And then you came along. And you weaseled your way into my heart…or whatever." He sighed.
"And now I don't know what to do about it."
"Why not?" She asked. "Why don't you know? You're not that little kid anymore Steven. You are a great man." She crawled to the side of the El Camino and reached for his hand and made him stop in front of her. Reaching up she stroked his cheek. "You're perfect."
Hyde looked at her for a second and the took off his glasses. "How can you say that?"
She smiled and leaned up to kiss me. "Because. I can."
He laughed. "Jackie…do you really want to give up this opportunity? For…me?" He asked.
She nodded. "If you asked me too. If you said that you wanted me, not just for now. That you could see me in your life, ten years from now. Then yes, I would stay."
"And you wouldn't regret it?" He asked.
She shook her head. "There are plenty of jobs out there Steven…but there's only one you."
"Jackie…" He whispered, dropping his forehead to hers.
She stroked his cheeks with her thumbs and took a deep breath. "Yes?"
"Please don't go…" He whispered.
"Why not?" She asked.
Hyde smirked. "Because…I love you."
She smiled. "Yeah?"
He nodded. "Yeah."
"How much?" She teased, laughing a little to herself.
Hyde smiled. "Enough to go out an buy an apartment for us."
Jackie's face fell and she pulled away from him, staring at him wide eyed. "What?"
He smirked. "Wow. She's finally speechless."
"An apartment?" She asked. "For…for us?"
He laughed and reached into his pocket, and retrieved a key. He held it up in the air letting the moon shine on it. "Yep."
She sat back in the bed of the Camino and thought about it for a moment. "An apartment?"
"Yeah babe, I've heard this track before." He teased. "So…what do you think?"
"You're…you're serious?" She asked.
Hyde laughed and leaned in and kissed her. "Jackie…I won't lie. I'm not ready to get married. Not at all."
She swallowed. "Ok…"
"But…this is a step in the right direction right? A step towards real commitment?" He asked.
She nodded. "Uh huh…"
"After Donna told me about your job…I drove around town for hours. And I came across this new apartment complex in town and saw they still had openings. So I went in and looked around, found the best apartment they had and…and I got it. So if you are willing to stay here with me…then we should move in." He said shrugging. "If you want."
Jackie smiled and leaped from her spot in the bed of the truck and held his face in her hands as a few tears fell from her eyes. "You're amazing Steven J. Hyde."
Hyde laughed. "That's what they tell me."
"You want to move in together?" She asked. "For real?"
Hyde laughed and poked her sides. "Yes Jackie…I believe I've said this a few times."
She laughed. "I'm sorry…I'm just so…" She wiped a few tears away. "I'm just so…"
"Happy?" He asked.
Jackie laughed. "Yes!"
He smiled and kissed her. "Just what I was going for."
Jackie wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him closer, nuzzling her face in his neck. "I love you."
Hyde held her tight, realizing he was close to loosing her forever today. "I love you too."
"You don't have to say it everyday." She whispered, kissing his ear.
He shrugged. "Well you we're right. It's time I start growing up, that means I tell you how I feel. I mean we have been together for two years now."
She smiled. "Steven, God you don't know how scared I was…I thought I was going to loose you. Forever."
Hyde shook his head. "No. But I just…you're sure you want to give this up? I know you already said yes…but this is big. Am I worth that?"
She smiled. "Yes. You are."
He let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "Alright then. Let's do this."
She smiled. "Ok. But you do realize it won't be easy."
He nodded. "I know."
"You sure you can handle living with me?" She asked.
Hyde looked around and chuckled to himself. "Well yeah…I mean a plus will be complete sexual access with out anyone interrupting us in the basement."
Jackie laughed and punched him in the stomach. "Pig."
Hyde laughed. "What? Come on…you can't tell me you didn't think about that."
She blushed and shrugged. "It may have crossed my mind."
He smirked. "Of course it did."
She sighed. "The gang is going to freak."
"So what." He said shrugging his shoulders. "They need to realize we are a legitimate couple. Not just two kids fooling around."
She smiled and rubbed his hands with her fingers. "And the Foreman's? What are you going to tell them? Mrs. Foreman is going to be heart broken."
"Yeah she probably will be. But I have a feeling Red will be proud that I finally pulled my head out of my ass and did something for you." He laughed.
She smiled. "I am his favorite."
"Mine too." He said winking.
Jackie smiled and leaned up to kiss him gently. "Thank you."
Hyde sighed. "Yeah well…I figured you've stuck by me this long, I might as well hold onto you."
"Please do." She whispered. "I really don't think I can be without you." She said shyly. "Does that completely freak you out?"
"If you had asked me that a year ago…yeah it probably would have. But…since I got this job and graduated, I feel different." He said honestly.
"You are different." Jackie said nodding her head. "But in a good way."
Hyde chuckled and kissed her again. "So…we're really gonna do this?"
She smiled. "Guess so."
He wrapped a hand in her hair and pulled her face towards his. "That's cool."
Jackie just chuckled as he pulled her in for a searing passionate kiss that soon turned into more. And as they lay in the bed of the truck, neither one of them felt scared or nervous about the future. This was where they we're supposed to be. In each others arms.
So what did you think? Let me know! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!