Disclaimer: I don't own.

Author's Note: Thanks so much for the reviews! And most of all for reading. :) I just hope those who are reading are enjoying it...I know it's been angst heavy. It's better now. :) I think there will be about three or four more chapters. And an epilogue. Enjoy!

Warning: Uh...you know, even Hyde doesn't cuss in this chapter! Wow!

Clichés and Things "They" Say

Chapter 21 - My, How Things Change

March 8, 1980, Los Angeles, California

Only a few months back, Jackie never would have dreamed she'd be having this conversation with Sam, the whore who'd stolen Steven away from her. Now, though it didn't exactly feel good, or even right, at least it didn't seem completely out of touch with reality. My, how things change.

She stirred the umbrella in her drink. It was a waste of two bucks; the two sips she'd taken had made her feel sick to her stomach. "So you think you'll be able to get to Point Place by Friday?"

The blonde nodded with a slight smile. "Sure. I don't have a lot to pack."

Jackie nodded. Of course you don't. All your clothes are hot pants and tube tops. Slut clothes don't take up much space. Just like your brain doesn't take up much space in your head.

"Jackie, are you sure this is what Hyde wants?" Sam paused, but then shrugged. "Never mind. It's worth a try. And if he doesn't go for it, I can always just go to Chicago. I love Chicago. My sister lives in Chicago, and she's always telling me that…"

Jackie looked away and completely tuned the whore out. So casual. Like it didn't matter one way or another to her if Steven wanted her. How could she feel that way? How could she not see this as a life or death thing? Ecstasy or utter agony? If it were me, that's what it would be. Ecstasy or agony. She smiled sadly and her eyes became watery. That's how it WAS for me.

Doubt tinged her stomach, but she ignored it. This was something Steven needed. He was lonely, and Sam was his wife. Despite the stupid hope that kept popping up in her every time she remembered their goodbye, she knew that it wasn't her he wanted. He wanted Sam. She had to do this. For him. No matter how much it hurt her.

"Okay, then," she said, turning back to Sam and plastering a fake smile on her face. "You have my number. Just call me when you get in town, and we'll go from there."

Sam nodded. "Hey, Jackie, thanks." She smiled wryly. "I know we're not exactly friends, but thanks for doing this for me."

Jackie's spine stiffened, and she glared at Sam. She shook her hair off her shoulders and ignored the dizziness she suddenly felt. "Lets get one thing straight, Sam," she snapped. "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for Steven." She swallowed hard. "I'm doing this for him. Don't ever forget that." The crack in her voice upset her, and she pushed the drink across the bar, hard. It tumbled over the edge, and shattered on the floor behind. "I'll talk to you later."

She turned and hurried away, her now overflowing eyes scanning quickly for a ladies room. The nausea was thick and heavy, threatening with urgency, and when she located the restrooms, she broke into a jog.

She tried to tell herself, as she was sick, that it was all for him. That it was worth getting sick over, as long as he ended up happy. Part of her believed it. The other part of her had no idea how she was going to go through with this plot, how she was going to shove her worst enemy right into Steven's arms. His strong, warm, heavenly arms.

And how she was going to pretend to not care.

Half an hour later, Point Place, Wisconsin

Hyde stood just inside the kitchen door, watching with a slight smile as Mrs. Forman cooked breakfast. Red sat at the table, reading his paper, and Eric sat at the counter. He looked over his best friend. A few scratches on his cheek, and a bandage covering the gash on his forehead, but he looked good. Alive.

Eric looked up and met Hyde's gaze. He grinned. "Are you just gonna stand there all morning?"

Hyde rolled his eyes. Yeah. Alive.

"Steven, sit down. I'll get you some juice. And breakfast is just about done, so I hope you're hungry!"

He shrugged. What he really wanted was a beer. Two or three beers, as a matter of fact. Or an entire case.

"It's overrated, Hyde."

He looked at Eric. "What are you talking about, Forman?" Damn, was it written all over his face or something?

Eric nodded slowly. "You know what I'm talking about." He grinned. "Come on. Mom's omelets are so much better." He looked at Red teasingly. "And especially her bacon."

Hyde rolled his eyes. It was rather irritating; Eric had been watching him closely the past few days, making sure he wasn't drinking, as if he'd been appointed his guardian angel or something. And yet, part of him appreciated it beyond any words he could possibly say. Because since that accident, he'd only wanted a beer or a case about five hundred times. And only given in a few. Which was progress. How things change.

He nodded. "Yeah."

The phone rang.

"Steven, can you get that, please, sweetie?"

He turned and picked up the phone. "Hello?" His heart stopped beating. "Jackie. When are you….yeah, sure. Tomorrow? Yeah, I can pick you up."

Red cleared his throat. "Steven."

Hyde tensed his jaw. Damn it, he couldn't. His license had been suspended. But damn it, he wanted to pick her up. Wanted to spend time with her with no one else around. Maybe he could figure out some way to tell her what had happened, and about his feelings for her. Damn it, he had to figure out a way to pick her up! "Yeah, okay, I'll be there. Okay. 5 o'clock. United Flight 221. Yep. Got it. Hey, Jackie?" He turned away from the eyes glued to him, facing the wall. "I…I just…" He swallowed. "I'm just glad you're coming home."

After hanging up, he turned, and was greeted by Red's arched eyebrow. He smiled. "Someone has to pick Jackie up. Might as well be me." He shook his head as Red began to protest. "Don't worry, Red. WB has a driver. I'll just borrow him for the day." He smirked, suddenly feeling energized. "I won't break any of your white man laws." He walked over to the table and sat down. "Lets eat!"

March 9, 1980, Chicago O'Hare International Airport

The bruises on his face seemed to leap inside of Jackie, to her heart, and although she trembled with the thrill of seeing Steven again, her chest ached. Something bad had happened to him. "Steven," she breathed, taking quick steps towards him. "What happened?"

Hyde stared at her. How had he forgotten how beautiful she was? His chest felt so tight; breath was hard to come by. "Uh, long story," he said. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about it. Not now. Not yet. He grinned and looked her sexy little body up and down. She was dressed for Hawaii and not Point Place, oddly enough, in a little strapless sundress, her coat off and slung over her arm. He could see the thin tan lines on her shoulders, and found them quite alluring. He could imagine the one on her back. And the ones at the tops of her thighs. Damn. "Hey, you were right. You look much hotter than that skank on the postcard you sent me."

She smiled, her cheeks warm. He wasn't wearing his sunglasses, and his eyes…god, so blue…lingered on her with almost sweetness. It almost made her forget the fact that his face was banged up. Almost. Instinctively, she reached up and placed her fingertips on his cheek, just above his jaw, just below a bruise. "Steven, what happened to you?"

"Nothing, Jackie." He should pull away from her nagging, but didn't, and instead, turned his lips towards her touch and gently kissed the tip of her index finger. Just that tiny taste of her made his blood hot, and he hoped to God it would distract her. The way she sighed audibly and closed her eyes, he figured it had. He grinned. "Come on. Lets get out of here."

A few minutes later, Jackie sat in the back of a limo, looking around her in partial awe, partial confusion. "Steven, I…I mean, I love limos, but why didn't you just bring your car?"

Hyde smirked. Thank God for WB's generosity. Of course, WB liked Jackie. Hyde suspected that WB wanted to play a little matchmaker, and at this point, he wouldn't complain. "I just wanted to bring you home in style. You know, since you always like to make an entrance. What's more of an entrance into Point Place than in a limo?"

Jackie arched an eyebrow. Clearly, he was hiding something. Between the bruises on his face, this limo, and the almost non-stop grin on his face, she was convinced of it. She made herself comfortable in the leather seats with a small smile. She'd let it go. For now. "Whatever, Steven." She looked around, and forced herself to set aside the worry. "God, this is amazing!"

He looked down at her hand, resting on her knee. He wanted so much to take it and hold it, hold her forever. "So," he said, shaking his head slightly. What was with all these freaky thoughts lately? God, sobriety, or at least near sobriety, was turning him into Forman. "How was Hawaii?" His stomach clenched. "How did it go with your mom?" The brief moment she looked into his eyes, he saw it. Hurt. And he knew. Pam had done something to hurt Jackie even more. His hand squeezed into a fist. Damn, he'd like to beat that woman. And he didn't believe in hitting women. But Pam Burkhart…she sure as hell deserved it.

Jackie quickly looked away, out the window, swallowing the sick feeling in her throat and trying to keep herself together. She had nightmares about Frederick, and her mother, and she knew that he'd figure out something was wrong if she let him. "Oh, it was great," she said, the enthusiasm in her voice false even to her. "We had so much fun. The sun, the beach, shopping." She turned back to him and smiled widely. "Mom was great. We spent a lot of quality time together."

Until she decided to turn me into a prostitute. Until I almost decided to let her.

Hyde rolled his eyes. She always thought she was such a good liar. She was always wrong about that. "Well, if you really did, then I'm glad."

She glared at him. "Of course we did, Steven."

He shrugged and looked at her, right in the eyes. She knew he didn't believe a word she said. "Fine, then. Good."

Jackie was so tempted to tell him, to spill it all. He'd comfort her, of course he would. He always did. But she couldn't. She couldn't let herself take comfort from him, because it would only make her want him. More. She was already facing a stiff battle in getting rid of her feelings for him; no need to make it even harder.

It didn't keep her from putting her hand over his. Just to feel his touch again…his skin, his body…god, it was good.

"I missed you, Steven."

He shifted in his seat. His pulse was racing, and the temptation to kiss her mercilessly was getting too strong. "Yeah right," he said gruffly, clearing his throat after the attempt to brush her off. "In between the shopping and drinks with umbrellas in them, huh?"

She curled her fingers around his hand. "I really did, Steven."

You'll never know how much, Puddin' Pop. Never.

They're eyes met, and just like it used to, the honesty that somehow eluded both of their voices flowed freely through their shared gaze, and both of them knew the truth.

He shrugged a shoulder, his heart still racing, his stomach clouded with tenderness. "You too, Tinkerbelle," he said quietly. He turned the hand she held over and laced his fingers through his. Just the touch of her hand….made things like his old pet name for her slip out of his mouth.

Jackie tried to fight the giggle, but it was too late. She was sinking in the familiar quicksand of Steven. He'd just called her Tinkerbelle, the name that always made her melt in his arms. "Do you even remember why you started calling me that?"

Hyde grinned. "Sure."

Jackie rolled her eyes. "Tell me."

He gave her an exasperated sigh. "You dragged me to that stupid Peter Pan play." Of course, to be fair, she'd more than made up for it the following three nights after that.

"Oh, you loved it. You loved Captain Hook."

"Yeah, 'cause he was evil. And he had a hook for a hand." He chuckled. "Can you imagine the kind of damage I could to Kelso if I had a hook for a hand?"

"And you liked Tinkerbelle."

"She was wearing a really short skirt. Great legs."

Jackie shook her head in disgust. "Pig. Then what?"

"So I got drunk and told you were sexy just like Tinkerbelle. You got drunk and dressed up like her, and voila! I started calling you Tinkerbelle." He smiled. "You know, now that I think about it, you are a lot like Tinkerbelle. Jealous, possessive…" His smile turned wicked. "Tiny. Cute. Really sexy." He reached over with his left hand and pulled up her skirt so he could see her calves. "Yep. Incredible legs."

She laughed and swatted his hand away. "Steven!" Still laughing, she straightened out her skirt. "You're terrible."

He scooted closer to her and stared at her as she worked on her now rumpled skirt. "Yeah." She looked up at him, her eyes dancing, and the upward curve of his lips fell.

The air thickened, electrified and buoyed by the rampant emotions in each heart. And each of them took shallow breaths that failed to satisfy. Neither looked away; neither could look away.

Two bodies leaned slightly towards one another. Two minds shared the same thought.

I want to kiss you so bad!

"I…" Jackie pulled herself out of the spell, reluctantly, and immediately felt cold when she took her hand out of his and scooted over a few inches away from him. She closed her eyes and turned her head. Couldn't look in his eyes any longer, or she'd be a goner. "I did decide that I'm not gonna take Fez back."

Hyde sighed in disappointment at her withdrawal, but her words somewhat made up for it. "I…I'm glad," he said, though those two words did nothing to convey the relief he felt. The pure exultation he felt.

Maybe he had a chance. Maybe after a little while, he had a good chance. After all, she kept looking at him in that way. Soft eyes, shining eyes. The most beautiful look he'd ever seen, and the look that he still dreamed about.

Jackie nodded and stared at Steven's legs. Better his legs than his eyes, though his legs, his thighs were so strong and muscular. She licked her lips and remembered how fuzzy they were, how she loved rubbing her hands over them, all over, and how he went crazy whenever her lips kissed patterns all over them.

No. No. NO! Remember what you're gonna do for him, Jackie! Do NOT fall into this trap! You are not what he wants!

She sat up straight. "I uh…hey, I brought you home something from Hawaii." A touch of nausea in her belly made her pause, and she grimaced her way through it. "I can't give it to you for a few days, but I think…" Sudden tears in her eyes, and she had to blink repeatedly. "I think you'll like it."

I know it's what he wants. He's lonely. She was his wife. If I get her back for him, he'll be happy. Finally happy. And that's what I want for him. That's what I want for you, Steven.

Hyde stared at her, though she was avoiding looking at him now. And he smiled. He had a good feeling about this. She was acting shy. She only acted shy when she had something on her mind, something important to her. Something she was slightly afraid of. Maybe….just maybe…so much had changed….maybe she was going to tell him she wanted to get back together with him. That SHE was what she'd brought home from Hawaii for him.

God, he hoped so.

He prayed so.

A few hours later, the two stood in front of Jackie's apartment door. Hyde looked at her, a little concerned. She didn't look quite right; she looked a little pale and sick, and he guessed it was because she was nervous about facing Fez. "You sure you're gonna be okay? Fez is here. Maybe we should just…"

Jackie shook her head. "No, I need to face him. I have to talk to him." She smiled weakly up at Steven. Truth be told, she'd much rather go with Steven. Anywhere but here. Anywhere she could lie down and sleep, she was so damn tired. But she couldn't. She had to talk to Fez and end it for good. Then she could rest before turning her energies to making Steven happy. "Thanks for picking me up, Steven. In a limo."

He nodded. "Yeah, well...whatever."

Jackie wanted to cry, and just as the tears were almost too strong, his hands gripped her waist and pulled her into a hug. She squeezed her eyes closed and she clung to him, savoring the feel of him around her. "I'm gonna make you happy, Steven," she whispered brokenly into his shoulder. "Very happy."

And it was going to be her goodbye to him. Making him happy.

Hyde squeezed her closer, despite the sore ribs, her curves pleasing his body like no other woman ever had been able to. And he smiled.

My, how things change.

Because now he actually WANTED her to make him happy. Needed her to make him happy. Before he'd always scoffed at her notions of making him happy. He'd always thought happiness was overrated. Stupid. Foolish. Asking for pain. But now…now he wanted to be happy, with her.

If she told him that she wanted him back, damn, would she make him happy.