Chapter 1
Steven Hyde sat down in the chapel's high backed chair with his arms crossed and a sour expression on his face. Naturally, no one thought anything was amiss. Donna and Mrs. Foreman were talking about some girly crap he couldn't care less about, Red and Eric were bickering back and forth as usual and Fez and Kelso had long sad looks on their faces. Donna and Mrs Foreman had to insist that they not wear black today, despite their protests. They had declared that they were in mourning, secretly Hyde shared the feeling but he'd be damned if he'd let anyone know about it. Afterall, him and Jackie had broken up years ago and had barely spoken since. It shouldn't matter to him if she got married to some other guy or not. And it didn't. Really. Even if his chin vaguely reminded Hyde of a can opener.
"What are you two girls moping about now?" Hyde said with a sigh. "Someone eat all your candy?" he sneered at Fez.
"No, you heartless sonofabitch," Fez sobbed. "My goddess is marrying that guy in a few minutes. My heart has been broken," he told Hyde angrily.
"Yeah, and Jackie won't even do it with me one last time," Kelso huffed clearly expecting them to share his indignation. "I'm gonna offer one more time and then that's it man," Kelso said shaking his head. "I mean how does she know what her wedding nights gonna even me like. They haven't even slept together yet. His junk might be shaped like a monkey or something," Kelso added letting his voice trail off when even he realized how ridiculous he sounded.
"I have an idea," a smiling Hyde said shooting a meaningful look at Red and Kitty.
"This totally rocks!" Kelso said laughing.
(pan to Fez)
"Yeah, a circle can really take the edge off," Fez said with a contented sigh.
(pan to Eric)
"Is it just me or does Jackie's fiance look like the moon? His face is all scoopy," Eric said looking more than a little confused.
(Pan to Donna)
"Victor just has a strong chin. But it does look like the moon," Donna said looking worried.
"What if it pokes her eye out?"
(pan to Hyde)
"Strong chin? That thing could sink the titanic," he sneered. "It reminds me of a can opener."
(pan to Kelso)
"You know what? I'm gonna object. She should marry me man. I did her first," Kelso declared.
"Oww! My eye!" screeched Kelso grabbing at his left eye. "What'd ya do that for?"
(Pan to Hyde)
"I don't know you're just pissing me off," Hyde said faking confusion.
"Let's go," Jackie said grabbing her bouquet from Brook with a small sigh. Brooke bit her bottom lip clearly trying to figure out how to say something. "What's bothering you?" Jackie asked giving her reflection one last critical glance in the full length mirror before turning to face Brooke.
"Jackie, why are you marrying this guy? You don't even love him," Brooke said hesitantly. "Victor is a great guy, don't get me wrong," Brooke hurriedly added when Jackie raised one dark eyebrow. "There's just no chemistry between you two," Brooke said nervously.
"Chemistry is overrated. Security is underrated and that's what I'm interested in now. Security. It may not be an exciting existence but it is a sure thing. I'm tired of playing with fire, Brooke. He loves me and I think that I can make him happy. That's good enough for me. He's a good man who will treat me well and eventually be a good father to my children. I couldn't hope for more than that," Jackie explained smoothing down her white wedding gown. "Now lets go get me married," she declared as Donna came hurrying into the room, still mildly high from an apparent circle. Jackie looked at her disapprovingly but said nothing. Choosing instead to paint a bright smile on her face instead.
Hyde watched Jackie walk up the aisle with Mr. Foreman. She looked incredibly beautiful and apparently very happy but Hyde knew her better than anyone else. Inside he was sure she was screaming. He just couldn't figure out why she was doing this. Was it because of her mother? Pam was standing in the front row beaming at her daughter. Proud that Jackie had managed to land one of the richest men in the country. That ought to keep her in plenty of tequila, Hyde thought bitterly. Jackie deserved better than that. To be some rich man's trophy wife. Sure Victor was attentive to her now but in a few years when the novelty wore off, Jackie would be in the same position his mother was now in. His father had brought his mistress to the wedding for crying out loud. While Victor's mother feigned ignorance in some attempt to save face. He couldn't help but feel like it was wrong. Jackie was signing herself up for an empty life when she'd wanted so much more. Right before she past by the pew he was standing in their eyes met for a moment. He caught a flicker of emotion before she tore her eyes away from him but it had been enough. He'd seen past her mask. Crap, he thought with a silent groan. He should have had a beer first so that he could claim to be drunk. He was about to make a public ass out of himself. Again. Maybe Jackie had been right all those years ago, he was her white knight.
You can do this, you have to do this, Jackie said steeling herself against the unexpected onslaught of emotions that she hadn't expected to feel. She couldn't afford to feel any of those emotions anymore, she was about to say good-bye to her old life and embrace her new one. In more ways than one, today was just as much a funeral as it was her wedding day. She was saying good-bye to herself and her old way of life. She couldn't afford to allow herself to love Steven Hyde. It would only cause her ruin and despair. At least she was spared the embarrassment of having anyone know how she felt; especially him. It was only a small consolation but it was all she had to cling to. A woman's heart is an ocean of secrets, her grandmother had once told her. No one ever sees all the way to the bottom. She hadn't understood what her grandmother had meant until now. Jackie smiled at Mr. Foreman as he walked back to his seat after giving her away. Her own father was out of prison but he still couldn't be bothered to come to her wedding. Somehow she hadn't really expected him too. In fact she was shocked that her mother was here. It was fitting that Mr. Foreman had given her away, he was more of a father to her than her own had ever been. She took Victor's outstretched hand and only half heartedly listened for her cue to say I do. Her mind was flipping through images of her past the good and the bad. Her mind was so busy that she barely reacted at first when she heard three familiar voices say, "I object!"
"On what grounds?" the minister inquired obviously flustered.
"I love her," Kelso, Fez and Hyde said in unison before turning to give each other shocked and amused looks.
Jackie's eyes met Hyde's for a brief moment before she said in a soft voice,"Go on with the ceremony," before she turned back to face the minister. "Pay them no mind. They've always had a very odd sense of humor," she assured her fiance. "It takes some getting used to," she added pasting a smile on her face. "Well?" Jackie said giving the minister an impatient wave of her hand.
"You can't do this!" Hyde exclaimed as Jackie stared into her fiance's eyes. "Jackie, you don't even love him!" he added beginning to walk up the aisle.
"Sit down, Steven. Don't ruin my wedding day," she said in the coldest voice she could manage never taking her eyes off of her fiance. A fiance who was searching her face for something and apparently not liking what he saw.
"Keep the ring," Victor whispered as he bent over and gave her cheek a kiss. Jackie closed her eyes and didn't try to stop the silent tears from escaping her eyes as the groom turned around and walked down the aisle and out of the church. The church was suddenly bustling with activity and noise as Victor's family turned to follow him.
"Show's over," Jackie said taking off her veil. "If you wait a moment, I'll go get my purse. I hope that a check's okay," she calmly said turning to the minister.
"Its quite all right,,miss," the minister hurried to assure her.
"You should be compensated for your time. I'll meet you half way if you like. I'll pay half the fee," she said giving him a nod and hurrying to the backroom that only a little while ago she'd gotten ready for a wedding that now wasn't going to take place. She need a few moments to collect herself before she was accosted by people. She should have known she wasn't going to get it.
"Red's taken care of the minister, honey," Mrs Foreman said bursting into the room followed closely by Brooke and Donna. "Are you okay? Oh what kind of question is that? Of course you're not," she said anxiously wringing her hands. "
"What can we do?" Brooke asked softly. Jackie turned and gave her a small smile of appreciation. Perhaps she should have made Brooke her maid of honor instead of just a bridesmaid.
"Can you guys make sure that everyone gets their presents back? The reception hall and catering has already been paid for and since its non refundable everyone should go and have a good time," Jackie said after a moment of silence. "There's plenty of chocolate, Fez should be in heaven," Jackie joked in a small voice going over to the closet and grabbing her regular clothes.
"Jackie..." Donna started to protest before Jackie waved a hand to cut her off.
"Please, Donna. Just take the gang and have a great time. It would be a shame for everything to go to waste on top of everything else. Go on be merry & take home a lot of left overs," Jackie commanded stepping behind the screen to change.
Three days later...
"I am still full," Kelso happily complained patting his stomach as the gang lounged in the Foreman basement. "That food rocked!" he added with a grin.
"I loved the chocolate fountain and the little chocolate swans floating in it. It was very creamy and very tasty,"Fez agreed with a smile of his own. "It was magnificent. If I almost get married, I want Jackie to plan my wedding. She definitely knows what she's doing," he added giving Kelso a high five.
"You dill-holes!" Donna screeched giving Fez and Kelso a sound whack on the head. "You three completely wreaked Jackie's wedding and her life. You shouldn't be happy about it you dinks," she added sitting beside Eric on the couch. "I haven't spoken to Jackie since the wedding, I hope she's okay but she's not taking calls," she added glaring at Kelso and Fez.
"Yeah, you guys completely trashed her life. You better watch out, Red likes her the best. She's like the daughter he always wanted instead of whorey Laurie. He's pretty pissed. Even Hyde's...well, hiding," Eric said in a concerned tone. "Has anyone seen Jackie?" Eric asked looking around at his friend's faces.
"Flight 207 Kenosha to Los Angeles now boarding," said a voice over the airport intercom. With a small sigh Jackie stood up and grabbed her carry on luggage before turning to give Mr. foreman a hug.
"Thank you, Mr. Foreman," Jackie said blinking back tears. "I really appreciate you coming to see me off. It means a lot to me," she added with a tight smile.
"Don't mention it. Everyone needs to get away every once in a while," Mr. Foreman said with a shrug. "You've been putting up with those dumbasses for a long time now. You've earned a break," he added. "Do you have everything you need? You call me when you land okay?'' said Mr. Foreman not pretending that he didn't care. Having someone care about her felt nice, Mr. Foreman was always there for her. Too bad he wasn't her father. Eric was luckier than he knew.
"I promise," Jackie said giving him a kiss on the cheek before hurrying to her gate.
