Author's Note: A little different, and apologies for the delay. Centered around Midge and Bob's wedding.
L is for love.
-
People describe it as the one thing that keeps the world spinning. For those who have fallen in love before, they see it as the best thing that could ever happen to them. Nothing meant more.
Donna agreed with them. Loving Eric was hands down the greatest thing ever. She had someone to lean on when times were tough, someone to complain to, someone who would hold her.
As she watched her parents exchange the vows she wrote for them, she though only about Eric. How easy it was to get mad at him but also how easy it was to forgive him. How his silly jokes made her laugh no matter how low she was.
If she admitted that Eric was her world, she would be ashamed of herself. She tried to convince herself she didn't need him, she just wanted him around. She was a strong independent woman, she didn't need any man.
She met his eyes.
I will always love you.
Okay. So maybe she did. Just a little.
--
Eric watched Midge and Bob exchange vows silently. All he could think about was Donna. Would they be married one day? Would they renew their vows? Hopefully, if they did, it would be under better circumstances. Maybe they would renew them on their anniversary. Just so they could act like newly-weds again.
He had such a hard time containing his happiness at the thought. He would never love anyone ever again, not like he loved her. Heart and soul, wholly, forever, for all eternity. He knew, even now, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He didn't even care that they hadn't had sex yet. Of course, he wanted it, but he wanted to lose his virginity to Donna, and he would wait.
Hyde would call him a girl for all the cheesy romantic notions going around his head. But he didn't care. He wanted Donna completely, and he wanted Donna to have him completely. Maybe it was stupid, maybe it was girly, maybe it was better kept in one of those romance novels his mother read, but damn it, he wanted it.
He met her eyes.
I will always love you.
And God help him, he would have it.
Hyde couldn't deal with it. All these people smiling, like Midge and Bob were actually going to be happy. The couple themselves thinking all their problems were far behind them. What was wrong with everyone? Couldn't they see that the world was fickle? Things changed all the time, and this would be no different. Happiness always seemed to be just out of reach, unless you were unnaturally lucky. Like Forman and Donna. Like Red and Kitty.
But even they weren't always happy. The world was a cold, miserable place. Hyde knew that more than anyone. People leave, love fades, anguish rules. He doesn't understand why people insist on living in a bubble, trying to keep out things that hurt them no matter how inevitable it was. Somehow, some way, they'll fall so low there's no picking themselves back up.
Whoever said love was the only thing worth living for was obviously on one damn strange acid trip.
But... Watching Midge and Bob smile at each other so lovingly, even after all the fights and insults and the other dates, it's almost enough to make him believe in the power of love.
Almost.
Jackie smiled happily. Donna's vows were romantic, and she'd always loved weddings. Sure, the colours were tacky and the whole affair rather simple and cheap but it was a wedding. She sat between Laurie and Michael, both of who were watching the exchange with little expression.
No one quite understood her desire to get married. But then they didn't understand how lonely she was at home and how miserable her childhood was. The only one who could've understood was Hyde, and she knew by now that he liked solitude and probably wouldn't get her reasoning either.
She couldn't wait to get married. She and Michael would have the most beautiful children. And their children would grow up in a household filled with riches and love. They would literally have everything.
Jackie got excited just thinking about it. She could practically see her gown, all silk and pearls and diamonds. Expensive. Designer. Maybe even made especially for her. The reception would take place somewhere big where everyone would envy her. Rolling Stone would print the story. And of course, she'd be famous by then, so a bunch of famous actors and singers would come. Donny Osmond. ABBA maybe. John Travolta.
And then she'd go on to a happy life.
She sent a sideways glance to Michael. He had his typical big (dumb, she thought sadly) grin plastered on his face. She thought back to just a few weeks ago when he'd set her house on fire.
Her smile turned unhappy.
He'd probably set the wedding reception on fire.
--
Kelso grinned. He was the best looking person in the room. He really wasn't paying attention to the ceremony at all. Weddings scared him a little. Who would want to spend their entire life with just one person?
Of course, Bob probably couldn't get anyone else.
He sent a small glance to his girlfriend next to him. She had made it clear that she wanted to get married. Especially now that they had done it. But why would he want to get married? Being tied down with one woman wasn't appealing. He loved Jackie but he didn't think he could spend the rest of his life listening to her shrill voice.
Laurie he could deal with. She'd probably let him have other girls. Jackie seemed to think that girls could keep their hands off him. They couldn't and it would be selfish of him to ask them too. He had to share—Jackie had to share.
But he did love her, and she was driving him nuts, so he resolved to do something good for her. Some place had to make that stupid unicorn plate.
Fez watched with a tear in his eye. Standing at the back of the room, he realised how much he wanted that everlasting love. True, losing his virginity was all too important in his teenage years, but a decade from now he would want it all—sex and love.
It was so sweet seeing the way Bob and Midge looked at each other. Love shined in their eyes and their soft words were warm. They'd been through a lot of tough times, but they would be okay. Love worked itself out in the end.
He wondered what it was like to be loved all the time and know it. Did you feel like you were flying? Floating? He wanted to know.
More importantly he wanted to feel it.
