The night had been fun. Hyde, Hannah, The Formans, Fez and Mia, and Kelso and Betsy, soon reunited with Brooke and Junior, enjoyed a delicious pizza dinner. It was nice having the whole gang back together. Of course, things weren't the same. Jackie wasn't there, but Hannah was a substitute. And, everyone had their own families to attend to, so Hyde was often left in conversation with Hannah. They had fun together, shooting spitballs at Fez and sneaking salt in Eric's drink and watching him spit it out. Hyde didn't know why, but he really liked her. She was a good kid.
And that's why he was still at the Foreman's house, watching TV with Hannah at ten PM. Or at least that's what his excuse was.
"Hyde, you can go home, really. I'm used to being by myself all the time. Besides, Eric and Donna are upstairs if anything goes wrong." Hannah said.
"No, I love Saved By the Bell, really." Hyde lied, craning his neck to check if any car had pulled in the driveway.
"Really? What's the main characters name?" Hannah challenged.
"Well..." Hyde began, and then sighed, defeated. "Every time I think you're not like your mother you say something snarky like this." Hyde smirked.
"Speaking of my mother, I know you're waiting to see how her date went, Loverboy." Hannah grinned.
"And if I was?" Hyde said, trying to remain Zen.
"I'll take responsibility as your excuse for staying here." Hannah offered.
"Cool." Hyde nodded, and they watched the show together, Hyde periodically asking questions about the plot of the show, and Hannah laughing at his confusion.
Eventually, Hannah fell asleep. Hyde didn't see Jackie coming in any time soon, but didn't want to wake Hannah up. Gently, he picked her up, cradled her in his arms, and started to bring her up the stairs. She was tiny, like her mother, but still almost a teenager. But in his arms, she looked so vulnerable. She was petite and pretty, like her mother, but he was sure she had gone through a lot of pain. He knew she and Jackie must be lonely out in the big city of Los Angeles, and he knew Jackie worked hard to make ends meet. He was proud that Jackie was independent and had gone so long without a man, but she deserved one. She was the greatest person Hyde knew.
And when he met the father, the one that Jackie was ashamed to reach out to, he was going to hurt him. He was the one who had ruined a family. He was the one who made poor Hannah fatherless. He was the one who drove Jackie out of Point Place.
But wait...wasn't Hyde the reason she left Point Place?
Could he be the father?
No...he couldn't be...Jackie wouldn't do this to him. She knew how much he resented his parents for abandoning him. She knew he wouldn't do the same to his child. She knew he would be a great father to prove them wrong, and to give the child everything he didn't get.
So, when he laid Hannah in her bed, who stirred ever so slightly, he let out a sigh of relief. Jackie wouldn't let him negatively alter the fate of a poor young child. Every child deserved two loving parents if they could. So Hyde was going to find the sick Bastard who left Jackie and Hannah.
Hannah opened her eyes slightly, watching Hyde close the door to her bedroom behind him. So this was what it felt like to have a father. A protective man who carried you up the stairs when you were tired. Just one of the many things Hannah missed out in life. Why wasn't Hyde a father? He was a decent guy.
But wait...Mom had said the father was a boyfriend of hers...
Could Hyde be her father?
No...he couldn't be...her mother wouldn't do this to her. She knew how much Hannah wanted her father in her life. She knew Hyde was a good guy, and would've been a good Dad. If he was the father, she would have been stupid to let him go.
When Hyde reached the bottom step, he heard shouting from outside.
"No, Brent!" Jackie said.
"C'mon, baby," Brent said smoothly, "Just let me inside. It'll only be for a little bit."
"No, I'm a guest here. I can't let you in." Jackie said determinedly.
"Then you can come back to my place."
"No! It's the first date. I'm a mother, Brent, I can't be fooling around."
"Just for a little..."
"No."
"Then give me one, hot, long, kiss," He said forcefully, grabbing her arms and leaning in.
"No!" Jackie yelled, trying to wriggle out.
"Is there a problem here?" Hyde said, opening the door.
"Steven." Jackie sighed. He had come to her rescue, again.
"Oh, so this is why you wouldn't let me in!" Brent yelled angrily, shoving Jackie, but Hyde grabbed hold of her, keeping his hands on her shoulders protectively. "You're hiding other men in here?"
"I didn't know he was here!" Jackie cried.
"I was waiting til she got home because I knew a dumbass like you would try something on her." Hyde said.
"Did you just call me a dumbass?"
"I'm sorry, do you need me to repeat that slower...DDDD-UUUU-MMM-BBBB-AAA-SSSSSSSSS?"
Brent cracked his knuckles. "You're the real dumbass if you think this kind of talk will impress her."
"I got her once, who's to say I can't get her again?" Hyde said proudly.
"Well then, I guess she's easier than I thought." Brent laughed, and Hyde punched him before he could say anything more.
"Steven!" Jackie shrieked and Brent fell to the ground.
"Sorry, Jackie." Hyde said, adjusting his aviators before ensuring Brent was unconscious and nothing more serious. "I just didn't want to see him hurt you, physically or verbally."
"Did you really stay here and wait up until I got home?" Jackie said admirably, coming closer to him.
"Yeah," Hyde said, glad she couldn't see his blush in the darkness. "I mean...it's whatever."
"It was very unlike you. It was...sweet." Jackie smiled, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't do sweet." Hyde said gruffly.
"I like sweet." Jackie whispered, and leaned him and gave him a quick kiss. It was only for a moment, her lips barely brushing his, but the effect was instantaneous on Hyde, leaving his lips quivering for more.
"Sorry." Jackie blushed.
"Don't be," Hyde said, leaning in again, hungry for more.
Jackie out a finger to his lips. "We're supposed to stay away from each other, isn't that right? That's what you said last night. Goodnight, Steven." And with a small wave, she closed the door.
After doing so, she leaned against the door, touching her lips, still feeling the spark the simple kiss had given her, secretly hoping Hyde would barge in, lift her off her feet and kiss her passionately. But he didn't. This whole thing was probably just one big burn to him. She made a fool of herself by trying to make her jealous, and then he pretended to care about her, so that she'd do something foolish and give into him, kissing him!
How could she be so stupid?
Hyde let out a sigh after she left, and leaned against the door, his lips still tingling from the spark the little kiss had given her. He secretly hoped Jackie would reopen the door, grab him by the shirt collar and kiss him passionately. But she didn't. This whole thing was probably just one big burn to her. He had made a fool of himself by waiting up for her while she got dressed up on a date, and proved he was jealous by punching Brent. Then, just to mess with him, she had kissed him, leaving him begging for more.
How could he be so stupid?
