This chapter is a companion to the second, only this time it's Jackie sorting out her problems.

January 1st, 1980

12:10 A.M.

Jackie left Kelso's bleeding, beaten figure behind and stormed off to the Pinciotti house. She went inside and let her anger leave her as she thought, "It'd be easy to blame everything on Kelso, but that's not the truth…he's only one factor." She went upstairs to the room that she, once again, was sharing with Donna. The girls hadn't fully reconciled after everything that had happened…Donna's acceptance of the Vegas whore being the biggest problem.

Despite that, Jackie couldn't bring herself to hate Donna. "She became distant from me…but she's the sister I never had and Donna has told me the same thing. That's really made a difference, I was glad to be a part of her family, and I don't mean only Bob, but the Formans' too. They all welcomed me with open arms and loved me as if I was one of them, which is more than I can say for my parents. I've always envied Donna, not just for her personality, but for her boyfriend too. Eric and I aren't always polite to each other, but he's a terrific guy and someone I can always trust.

For all the insults I've given them, Donna and Eric are the ideal couple, the kind that others should strive to be like. Those two have never been afraid of being themselves, and that's why they're back together. If I hadn't constantly mocked them, I'd have learned from them long ago about how important communication is. And because of that, Steven and I aren't with each other anymore."

Jackie had moved back in with Donna and Bob a few days before, having ended her brief fling with Fez. Deep down she realized (as she had when it started) he wasn't the one, he was only a friend, nothing more. So she left the apartment they'd shared; Fez genuinely understood why and gave her his best wishes that she would reunite with the one she loved. It was good to be back in a more familiar place. Jackie didn't know if Steven would give them another chance, but she prayed it would happen. She felt it best to be near him; at least it would help her remember the good times when she was feeling sad, which was constantly.

"I have to go to Steven right now," Jackie thought, "I have to tell him everything I feel and how much I love him, I…" A sharp pain throbbed in her forehead and she felt weak all over. "…I've got to lie down…I can barely move"

She lay down on her old cot, turned on a nearby lamp and took her photo album out of her suitcase. Turning the pages, Jackie found a picture that was the most special to her of herself and Steven, the one taken at his junior prom.

Jackie started to cry as she remembered that night: "I realized then as we danced, how different he was from Kelso. Sure we hadn't been the best of friends, but Steven was kind and respectful to me that night…he looked really cute in that tux; I wish I had gone with what my heart told me…that I tell Steven how much I liked him. God, I was stupid…I went back to Kelso and forgave his lying cheating worthless ass only to get hurt again. Then once more I turned to Steven, but I acted like a little schoolgirl with a crush; he rejected me because of that. I didn't explain to him why I wanted him to be my boyfriend, and I didn't explain everything I felt on prom night.

Even when we had our first date and shared our first kiss, I still wouldn't say a word. I lied to him and said I didn't feel anything, but oh God, it was just the opposite…it was the best kiss of my life. I understand now why I lied; it was because I was convinced he wouldn't want to be with me…as if he'd say 'all right we've been on a date, that's that'. Then he said he hadn't felt anything, but out of the corner of my eye for a moment…just for a moment I saw how disappointed Steven looked and I started to feel disappointment of my own. That was my chance to tell him the truth, but my mouth STILL stayed shut…and AGAIN I went back to Kelso, though this time it wasn't for long.

That summer I broke up with Kelso, and I started getting closer to Steven. At first I thought it would only be a fling, but he told me he wanted to be with me. I couldn't have been happier…now Kelso was just an object in the rear view mirror. Of course, Eric and Donna had to start with all that 'You have to tell Kelso, Kelso deserves to know' bullshit. What the hell was so difficult to understand? Kelso tossed me aside and I broke up with him, it was that simple. He didn't deserve an explanation about Steven and I. All he and the others needed to do was accept us. Fez supported us though, saying how he liked witnessing 'forbidden love'…poor choice of words, but he got his message across. It pissed me off hearing all that 'opposites attract' crap…the fact is, Steven and me…we're the same in so many ways, always have been. We've both been misunderstood…Steven is considered even to this day as a heartless freeloader, and I'm still the bitchy shallow cheerleader. It's true that's what I used to be…but it was because of Kelso…his cheating on me and everything else…it drove me to insanity and made me something I wasn't. It was a mistake for us to have explained things to him. It gave him the satisfaction of getting what he wanted, and the problems would eventually follow. But for a long time I thought of nothing, except of how thankful I was that Steven liked me, at last.

It was a welcomed change having a boyfriend who respected me, who never asked for money, and who…well, didn't make an ass of himself. I began to see that money wasn't everything; Steven showed me how the simpler things in life were enjoyable. He did a lot for me and gave me several special gifts…"

Jackie unzipped and tossed aside her coat, which she'd been wearing over the old black Led Zeppelin T-shirt. She smiled for the first time in a long time.

"…I like this one most…it reminds me of him because of the smell, though it's not a bad one. My boy has always smelled good and sensual. But the greatest gift he gave me were his lips, I can't begin to remember the amount of time we spent making out…it was a message to my heart…I'd found the man of my dreams and I loved him so much…I still do though it probably means nothing to him now. But I know he once loved me…I just wish I could've heard those three little words more often. It's true he had a rough childhood and he still carried a lot of scars but he wouldn't overcome at least some of them, not for me or even himself."

She found herself drifting toward the bad memories and then came the tears.

"And it all started going wrong when I had the fake engagement with Fez …I only did that to get Steven's attention and I told him so afterward. I told him I wanted a future with him…I wasn't pressuring him into anything, regardless of what the others thought. I only wanted to start a life with the one I loved. He thought me thinking about marriage was for us was a big deal about nothing; this is what I was afraid of most…that Steven kept taking me for granted. I kept telling him I loved him and I wanted to always be with him but he just said 'I don't know' several times and 'If we want to be together it'll happen, there's no need to think of the future.' He got so hostile. He wouldn't lower his voice, or listen to me even as I cried…my heart was so broken. That's the moment I made my worst mistake…I didn't show him my deepest feelings…all the reasons I wanted to marry him. Ultimately my part in ending our relationship was a problem that I had since prom night: I never said everything that needed to be said…"

Jackie's tears kept streaming.

"…Steven James Hyde, the boy who took care of me after my parents left…the boy who is still so misunderstood by our friends…the boy who showed me my inner strength…he was my knight in shining armor. Kelso was certainly not a holder of that title; looking back, I know that I didn't love him or even LIKE him…he was someone there when my home life fell apart, he used the 'L' word and I was pulled right in…it was what I wanted to hear. After all he did to me, I still spoke to him like nothing happened. Steven got mad about it…and he was right to. Kelso didn't deserve my respect, attention, or friendship. He crossed a line, and that should've been the end…but he had this control over me…I don't know how…but he could seduce me whenever he wanted, and I became helpless. It scared me…and if I had told Steven he would've put a stop to it, he would've protected me. But I didn't tell him; that's why we're not beside each other now: lack of communication. If only I could beside him now…it was always wonderful when we spent the night together…the way he held me, God I miss all that."

Jackie turned back a few pages in the photo album and found something she hadn't seen for quite a while. Moving it closer to the lamp's light she saw that it was a picture of when she and Steven first met. Jackie smiled again, her cheeks becoming wet with tears…but they were happy ones for a change.

"This was at the football game during the fall of my freshman year. I wasn't with Kelso then, but he introduced me to the gang that night…except Fez, he didn't get to America until the spring. Hmmm…this pic was taken a week before I turned 15…I look my usual super cute self. Oh, look at my Steven…he was so adorable! He must have been 16 then…his hair, as crazy looking as today, but it was his natural color, dirty blonde…he started dying it dark brown later, said it gave him a greasier look…but he was so cute when his hair was dirty blonde! Hmm…usual attire, his blue jean jacket and a green flannel shirt over…oh my God, it's…"

To Jackie's amazement, the same Zeppelin shirt she wore now was the very one worn by Steven Hyde in the pic.

"…he was wearing it the night we met…wow, we're actually smiling…I can't remember why, but it doesn't look forced…cause it really wasn't funny when Mrs. Forman told us to say 'YAY VIKINGS!'…Kitty found that hilarious for some reason…Steven and I, we really seemed to enjoy each other's company that night. Strange, considering we didn't enjoy each others company in the following months. What did we talk about at the game…I can't remember…God, his smile is sexy…rare for him to show, but nothing beats it."

She was then drawn to his most distinctive feature.

"He's not wearing his glasses…you can see his eyes…they're so blue, no one has such pretty eyes in the entire world, except my Puddin Pop…"

Jackie's face fell as she burst into tears and said aloud, "I wish none of the bad things ever happened…the motel…the skank from Vegas. That night at the football game…it could've been then…I could've started dating him then, we were so happy that night…I love him so much…but I can't face life anymore…I'm frightened without him…I want to marry him and have a life with him…I want be Mrs. Steven Hyde…God why was I so stupid, why didn't I listen to my feelings…I want to kiss him again…I want him to hold me again…I lost everything…I lost my knight in shining armor…" She felt pain unlike any other, "…I lost my prince…"

Jackie's tears intensified as she held the picture of her lover close, put her head against her pillow and sobbed.

A/N: C'mon people, I need some reviews…um, please. The reason this chapter was similar to the second chapter is because it has to be established that Jackie and Steven are on the same page, only they don't realize it. In the next chapter, we'll meet the one person who can bring them back together.