A/N: Thank you so much to those that have reviewed, followed or faved this story! It means a lot. I was really just writing it as my own therapy…I didn't think others would really enjoy it so I'm happy you guys do. I must admit, the reviews are now keeping me motivated to write…so thanks again x

Hope you enjoy the next chapter….I should have another one up in a day or so. Also, sorry for any mistakes. I do proof read but still find I miss some. A thousand apologies, I know it makes for annoying reading

Chapter Fourteen

Hyde slowly made his way up the Forman's driveway and noticed the lights were off and all was quiet. He looked down at his watch to check the time. 11.30pm. Damn, he must've been gone a lot longer than he'd thought.

Opening the kitchen slider he made the decision that he had to talk to Jackie tonight, he couldn't wait until the morning. He tiptoed through the kitchen and made his way quietly up the stairs. He could hear Red snoring so he knew he was safe. He turned the corner to find Laurie's door open and her bed still made. Odd he thought, perhaps Jackie isn't mad and is waiting for me in the basement.

When Hyde got to the basement however, Jackie was not there waiting for him. It was then he realised she must've gone and stayed at Donna's. He grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniels off the table and took a swig knowing that he was not gonna be falling asleep easily tonight. Sitting on the couch he thought over the day's events, highs and lows he thought, taking another swig, always fucking highs and lows with me n Jackie.

"Crap Hyde you scared the shit outta me!" Hyde whipped his head around to look at the door and saw Donna standing with her hand over her heart. "Why the hell are you sitting here in the dark like a creep?!" she continued.

"Don't be questioning me Donna, what the hell are you doing creeping in here at night? Oh never mind, I know exactly why you're creeping in here you little minx and I don't wanna be hearing about it" Hyde said with his trademark smirk.

"Yes Hyde, I'm here to give Eric an early Christmas present" Donna smiled as she crept towards the stairs leading up to the kitchen.

"Hey" Hyde started, "I thought Jackie was staying at yours? You ditching her for a bit of action aye big red?" He lifted the bottle of whisky to his mouth hoping his digging wasn't coming across as obvious.

"Shut ya face Hyde, Jackie's asleep, she won't even know I've gone. I'll catch ya later" Donna tread carefully up the stairs hoping to god she didn't wake Red or Kitty. Hyde, on the other hand, was out the basement door before Donna even made it to the last step.

…..

It'd been a while since Hyde had climbed the tree that led to Donna's bedroom window. Fuck this shit he thought as he manoeuvred his way through the branches, I'm way too old to be climbing through girl's windows. He made it safely to the window and pulled it open almost falling through it. He'd done a lot of partying over the years, his balance was slightly off.

"Shit Steven what the hell are you doing!" Jackie cried while watching Hyde get up off the floor.

"Shut it Jackie, you'll wake Bob n Midge and I've only just got here" Hyde whispered as he brushed his hands down the front of his pants before turning to close the window.

Jackie watched him. She was so pleased to see him. She and Donna had talked for the last hour about their lives, and while Jackie had tried to sound enthusiastic she just couldn't stop worrying about Steven and wondering where he was. As he made his way toward the cot she was laying on she noticed the silver chain hanging down the side of his dark blue jeans.

"I see you opened your present then" she said as he sat down on the edge of the cot.

"Yes I did thank you very much. Its bad ass Jackie, I love it" Hyde said while bending down and pecking her on the forehead. "Hey, man, I'm sorry for running out like that tonight. Just had to clear my head, y'know"

Jackie took his left hand and slowly intertwined their fingers. "Well, I'm just pleased you came back Steven. I worry when you go off to 'clear your head', especially when what you're clearing out concerns Michael"

Fucking Michael. "Yeah Jackie, I know. It's just, that guy, he gets to me man. He really gets to me. And knowing…that he was with you….in Chicago…" Hyde could feel himself getting jealous and pissed again. He had to fight the urge to bail again. Fuck, he should'a just dropped this convo.

"Steven, nothing happened with me and Michael. Nothing has ever happened between me and Michael since we broke up when he ran off to California with Donna" Jackie said as she sat up and put her right arm around Hyde's back. "He came to Chicago, like 8 months ago, because his agent had sent him for an audition. He had no money, because as we all know he is not the John Travolta he thinks he is, so he called me up for somewhere to sleep and eat. He ended up sleeping with Kirsty if you must know"

Hyde had to admit, that little bit of information made him feel a whole lot better. "Oh, okay, that's cool" he said as he turned to look at Jackie finally. "I just don't like him always trying to hit on you, that guy just doesn't know boundaries man". He gently lifted Jackie out of the cot and moved her to his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"You have got to let it go Steven, Michael hits on everyone, even Donna" Jackie said as she snuggled into his chest. "It is not a 'me and Michael' thing, it's a 'Michael and every girl thing'. He doesn't mean anything by it and even if he did, do you really think I'd go back there?"

Hyde had always thought she'd go back if she had the chance, which is why he was surprised when she turned down Kelso's marriage proposal back in '79. Maybe she really didn't want him?

"I guess not" Hyde said. "Anyway, enough about that moron" he quickly changed the subject "did ya like your presents?"

"Oh Steven I loved them!" Jackie smiled sitting up. "Thank you so much puddin'" she said, kissing him on the lips. "Look, I have the bracelet on!"

Hyde looked at the bracelet on her little wrist. It suited her, just like he knew it would. "It suits you Jackie" he said rubbing his fingers over it "I thought I'd get you that so you could finally get rid of that fucking charm bracelet you're always wearing. I noticed you had it on that night at the club…I actually picked it up off the floor twice"

'Fucking' charm bracelet? Jackie thought what's that supposed to mean? He knows how much that bracelet means to me.

"Why would I throw my bracelet away Steven? You know I've had it ever since I was a little girl."

"Because Jackie, I also know what all those charms represent…..the sad moments in your life. Every time your dad, or fucking Kelso, would let you down they'd try to make it up to you with a fucking girly charm. The damn things full and its weighing you down in more ways than one. Get rid man"

He hated that bracelet. He also hated that two of the charms represented him and the hurt he'd caused her by way of one nurse and one stripper. He didn't go out and buy them, he wasn't a girl like Jack Burkhart and Kelso. But he knew Jackie had purchased them to try and make herself feel better, and he knew they were the last two charms she could fit onto the fucking thing.

Jackie looked down at her new bracelet. It was so delicate and light, completely opposite to her heavy charm bracelet. She loved the new one, especially because it came from Steven. But she could not just throw her old one away.

"Steven I am not throwing the old one away. Yeah it means a lot to me, it represents everything that has made me who I am today. If I hadn't been hurt all those times do you think I'd still be the same person? And I, quite frankly, am proud of the woman I've become" she said.

"Yeah, but Kelso…" Hyde started.

Jackie jumped off Hyde's lap and stood before him. "No Steven, no Kelso! Fuuuuck, you have gotta get over this! I am NOT keeping the bracelet because it reminds me of Michael if that's what you're thinking. What's funny Steven, is that you think I'm stuck in the past. You think I'm holding on to a bracelet so I can dwell on my shitty life and cry over an ex-boyfriend. Steven, you, you are the one stuck in the past. You are the one that can't let go of shit. I am okay and coming back here has proved that. I can cope, I can move forward…and I want to move forward, with you. But you Steven, you have to let go, of Michael, of Sam, of your parents. Me throwing a charm bracelet away is not going to make us okay"

I wish I could put her in my pocket Hyde thought as he played with his lighter. He knew she was right, sort of.

"I'm trying Jackie, I'm really trying to get over it man. It's just better y'know, when it's just you and me" He stood up and put his arms around Jackie, grazing her lips with a kiss.

"Yeah but Steven, we can't be all alone in our own little bubble. There will always be an event, or a person, or a memory that will challenge us" she said as she stroked his chest.

"I know, I know that" Hyde looked down at her. "But could we try?" he asked, "could we try being in a bubble, just for a little bit? Until we're strong again?"

"What do you mean? I don't get it?" Jackie was confused.

"Let's go" Hyde said. "Let's grab our shit and go back to Chicago…right now".