Chapter Ten

The drive to Point Place had been fun Hyde decided. Well, fun may have been too girly of a word for Hyde, so he settled on cool. Yeah, the drive had been cool. Led Zep blasting from the speakers and his chick snuggled up next to him, uninterrupted for two whole hours, damn there was nowhere else he would rather have been. Heck, he didn't even mind her yapping the whole way. She told him all about the "fabulous" world of modelling. He had to admit, the travel sounded cool. She'd been all over the place; New York, LA, Seattle, Hawaii, and the list went on. Yeah he was against all forms of advertising but he was genuinely pleased for Jackie. She was happy, so he was happy.

"We're here Jackie, wake up" Hyde gently nudged Jackie as he pulled into the Forman's Street. It was 7pm, they were an hour late.

"Shit Steven it's dark, I wanted to do my face before we got here" Jackie growled slowly lifting herself off of Hyde's arm. She wanted to look amazing when she walked into the Forman's house. She didn't want to look like the girl who'd lost all self-confidence after her boyfriend left her for a stripper and her friends deserted her. Jackie wanted to prove to them, and to herself, that she was still as self-assured as she had once been, before her life turned to crap. Yeah, things were better now. Modelling certainly helped restore some of the self-esteem she'd lost. But coming back here, to these people, seemed to reopen an old wound she thought had semi-heeled.

"Jackie you don't need more make-up you look fine" Hyde told her as he pulled up onto the curb outside the Forman's house. As he did he noticed Kelso's sports car parked across the road. Fucking perfect thought Hyde I gotta deal with this idiot as soon as I get here.

Jackie pulled the rear vision mirror toward her and tried to examine herself. She could barely see a thing so she just applied a little lip gloss and ran her comb through her hair. "Guess this will just have to do then" she said as she opened the car door. She stood by the car and waited as Hyde got their bags.

"It's ok Jackie, I got these" Hyde said sarcastically. Jackie walked over to him and put her arms around his waist. "I'm gonna miss you, you know that?" she whispered up at him.

"Miss me? I'll be right here" he said dropping the bags to the ground and lifting her up. He knew what she meant though, he was gonna miss her too. He knew things would change as soon as they walked into the Forman's kitchen…as much as he didn't want them to.

"Yeah but I won't be able to kiss you like this" Jackie purred right before giving him the most electrifying kiss he thought he'd ever had. It took all of his will power to not lay her down on the hood of the El Camino and do her right then n there.

"Oh don't you worry" Hyde said as Jackie pulled away and rubbed the lip gloss off of his lips. "I will find plenty of ways to kiss you like that while we're here. Now, you be a helpful girl and grab a couple of those bags ok?"

He put Jackie back down on her feet and they both picked up their luggage. Hyde walked behind her, watching her as she made her way up the Forman's driveway. She was beautiful, and she wanted him just as much as he wanted her, he was sure of it. If they could make it through the holiday they'd be fine. He just had to keep his insecurities in check and make sure no one had the opportunity to remind Jackie of her own.

…

When Hyde and Jackie walked into the kitchen it was just Kitty standing there by the stove.

"Finally! You two are finally here!" she exclaimed quickly abandoning her post and racing over to them. She hugged Jackie in a tight embrace that seemed to go on forever. "Jackie you look amazing! I've really missed your pretty little smile you know that?"

Jackie felt warm in Mrs Forman's arms. "I've missed you too Mrs Forman, thank you so much for inviting me for Christmas" Jackie said, surprised at how at home she felt.

"Invited? You have never needed an invite here Jackie, you're always welcome in our home you silly girl!" Kitty smiled warmly at Jackie before turning her attention to Hyde who was standing at the table picking at the chocolate brownie reserved for desert. "And my Steven…oh I've missed you! Come here and give me a big hug" Kitty said as she released Jackie.

"Hey Mrs Forman, I've missed you too, and your brownie" Hyde said as he bent down to hug Kitty. It was true, he had missed Mrs Forman. She was his mother, if not by birth, then by choice, and that meant a lot to him.

Just then, Eric, Donna and Red walked into the kitchen.

"So you finally decided to show up did ya dumbass" Red bellowed as he got himself a beer out of the fridge. "I hope you got yourself a burger or whatever it is you kids eat because we already ate"

"Oh ignore him" Kitty said shaking her head, "we would never eat before everybody got here".

"Hey Red, you missed me then?" Hyde said walking up and extending his hand. Red shook it and patted him on the back.

"Well in actual fact I did Steven, I've had to mow my own lawns and take out my own trash since you left and that's never a fun thing to have to do" Red stated matter of factly.

"Which is exactly why I never wanted to do it dad" Eric chimed in. "Hyde man, how's it going? Your late, what took you so long to get here? And why are you wearing a turtleneck sweater? You look like one of my college professors"

There were two reasons why Hyde was late and they both began with Jackie. She had taken so long to get ready that they were late leaving Chicago. And she had sucked so hard on his neck that he was forced to stop and buy three black turtleneck sweaters to wear for the weekend, further delaying them.

"Forman man, didn't ya know, turtlenecks are the latest fashion. Everyone's wearing them in the city. Isn't that right Jackie?" He raised his eyebrows at Jackie as she stepped out from behind him.

"Well no Steven, not from what I've seen. Turtlenecks are so 4 years ago. But if you're happy being so out of fashion then I guess that's up to you" She raised one eyebrow back at him and then turned to hug Red. "Hey Mr Forman, betcha missed me" she said as she kissed the old man lightly on the cheek. Red merely smiled down at her and gave her a little pat on the head before walking back into the lounge.

"Hey Jackie, I missed you!" Donna said as she strode towards Jackie arms out stretched. Jackie had never before noticed how beautiful Donna really was. She had the kindest smile and eyes that Jackie had taken for granted. Well, maybe she hadn't taken them for granted. Maybe they had been overshadowed by the cruel words that had come out of Donna's mouth in the months leading up to Jackie's departure.

"Donna…" Jackie began as she wrapped her arms around Donna's waist. "I have missed you, I really have" The girls stood for a long time embracing.

"Awwww, isn't that just beautiful" Eric said sarcastically as he wiped a pretend tear from his eye.

Suddenly the kitchen door blew open.

"Hold the phone people…I sense girl on girl action going on somewhere on the premises" Kelso cried. "And I just found it" he said pointing at Jackie and Donna. Donna pulled away from Jackie. "Geez Kelso you're such a dillhole".

"This is true Donna, but I'm a dillhole with amazing senses" Kelso stated as he walked towards the girls. "Jackie, Jackie, Jackie….don't you look all grown up" he said looking Jackie up and down.

Here we fucking go thought Hyde, we haven't even been here 10 minutes and he's already hitting on Jackie. Hyde wanted to walk out of the room right then, but he didn't want to give Kelso any time alone with Jackie, so he pretended to be interested in Eric's conversation with his mom about the potatoes while keeping an ear, and an eye, on Jackie and Kelso.

"Hi Michael, how are you?" Jackie smiled sweetly up at Kelso and lightly pecked him on the cheek.

"A peck on the cheek? Is that all I get? Remember I am the man who used to pleasure you endlessly, I get a little more than that!" and with that he lifted Jackie high off the ground burying his face in her hair as he spun them both around. Jackie couldn't help but laugh. Hyde couldn't help but clench both fists.

"Kelso knock it off, your gonna fall and ruin all this food on the table" Donna said as she tried to stop the whirlwind that was Michael Kelso. Hyde had never been so pleased to hear her speak.

"Fiiiine!" Kelso cried setting Jackie down. "You are no fun at all anymore ya know that Donna?! Alls I want is a bit of fun on Christmas Eve, if I wanted to be treated like a kid I'd be at Brooke's with her n her mom!"

"You want some fun?" smirked Hyde. "How's about us boys 'catch up' in the basement and get out of Mrs Forman's hair then huh?"

"Why Hyde that sounds like a splendid idea!" Eric agreed as he headed toward the basement stairs, followed by Kelso.

"Oh Steven, you really are such a good boy" Kitty said patting him lightly on the cheek. "Dinner will be ready in 20 minutes"

"Right you are Mrs Forman, I'm sure we'll be ready to demolish your feast by then" he said as he made his way out of the kitchen. He looked over at Jackie and Donna, seated at the table deep in conversation. He caught Jackie's eye and gave her a wink. She smiled sweetly at him.

So far so good, he said to himself.