Author Note: ….just moving the story along…good stuff still to come...

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Chapter 37 – Marriage of Convenience

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Bob asked Kitty to make a cake. "Well, what kind of cake? Devil's food? Yellow with butter crème frosting?"

Bob almost blushed. "It's sort of like a little wedding cake."

Kitty looked shocked. "Bob, I didn't know you were dating anyone serious."

Bob sat at the green Forman table. "I'm not. It's supposed to be a secret, but I can tell you." Bob looked around to make sure they were alone. "Eric's not here is he?"

"No, he's at work. You know that." Kitty smiled. 'What's the secret?"

Bob smiled, "Steven and Donna are getting a marriage license today."

Kitty clapped her hands, "Oh, they're finally getting married! Oh, did she pick out her dress?"

Bob shook his head. "No, my headstrong daughter doesn't want to do the ceremony thing. They just want to get the paper to make everything legal. She'll be Donna Pinciotti-Hyde. Steven made a good argument for making the relationship legal. Hey, I finally get the son I never had."

Kitty smiled. "And since I practically adopted Steven, I'm getting a daughter-in-law. Oh no."

"What? You can't make the cake?" Bob asked alarmed.

"Oh, it's not that. What will Eric think? Oh, this could be terrible!"

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Eric looked at the calendar on his desk. Two more weeks and he had ten days off for the holidays. At least nine and a half of those he planned on spending with Jackie. Well, in the evenings at least! Her phone call last night alarmed him, what if she still had some lingering feeling for Steven Hyde? She was probably thinking the same thing about Donna and him. How could he convince Jackie he was over the red headed neighbor girl?

He had to get his own apartment. That was the only way. His dad's garage was prospering and his mom had two kids in her daycare now. They didn't really need his rent money and if he lived in his own place, he didn't need to see Donna or Hyde on such a regular basis. Jackie would recognize that he did this for her and for his own peace of mind.

Perhaps since Kelso was looking for a place for Brooke and Betsy, Fez would consider taking on a roommate in a new apartment? This was something Eric could look into. 1984 was going to be a very good year!

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Jackie was wrapping Christmas presents in her bedroom when there was a knock at her door. Brooke's head peeked inside. "Busy?"

The brunette smiled, "Come in. I got a little something for the guys at the tow yard and the Formans." Brooke sat on the bed, "Wait…nothing for Eric?"

Jackie bit her lip, "I don't know what to get him. Brooke, I like him a lot and I don't want to be dramatic because I'm still testing the water here. I don't know if he still thinks of Donna. I can't compete with a memory."

"Honey, he probably thinks the same thing about you and Steven. Both of you are insecure."

Jackie dropped the ribbons and scissors on the floor. "You know, for so long, Steven had been the paragon of my perfect man. Scruffy, raw around the edges and I thought could help refine him into the prince I knew he could be….it was useless. He fought against everything I wanted except sex and then that started becoming a chore. I think he only liked me because everyone else didn't. I wasn't a charming teenager."

Brooke laughed, "You were charming enough that Michael wanted you to be Boo's Godmother."

"Michael is a sweetheart. He's the total opposite of Steven. But ugh, no more talking about the past - I'm concentrating on my future and hopefully it will a happy one."

"Which brings us back to my question – what are you getting for Eric."

"I don't know if he'd like it but I want to get him a leather bomber jacket. He has this rugged look sometimes and I thought he could use it at work or just going out."

"Honey, that's a thoughtful and expensive gift. Can you afford it?"

Jackie grinned, "I make a lot of money in my business. In fact, I'm saving for a second truck. Uncle Roger was a smart man and I have this guy who invests my money for me – I'm making a small fortune just working rescues."

"Good. I just hope he gets you a nice gift too." Brooke added. If I have to take the man shopping myself!

Jessie started barking and Betsy was calling for her dad. "Michael's here. I'll talk to you later sweetie. We're going out for pizza."

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"Well, I wouldn't believe it unless I saw it with my own two eyes." Red declared. He held the marriage license in his hand and looked at the newly "wed" couple standing in front of him.

"I thought it was important to tell you first because…well, you're like my dad." Hyde admitted.

Red smiled. "Well Steven, you've been like a son to me. Are the two of you going on a honeymoon?"

Kitty hurried over with coffee and the little wedding cake. "This is so exciting! An almost wedding ceremony and I've known the both of you almost your entire lives, ahahahaha!"

Donna sat down and cut a piece of cake. "This doesn't really change how we feel about each other; it's more of a formality. Hyde is officially part of the Pinciotti family."

"Yeah, I have a hot mother-in-law now." He joked. Donna whacked him on the arm. "Ouch! I was kidding and besides, your mom is in California. Speaking of places to go for a honeymoon…."

Red laughed, "So are you kids going to get your own place or are you planning on staying with Bob?"

Donna replied, "Well, dad travels so much, it's like we have our own place. He might end up in Florida again; he hasn't made up his mind."

Kitty smiled. "So we'll still be neighbors!"

Red frowned, "If you think I'm mowing your yard or cleaning your gutters…."

Hyde laughed, "Don't worry Red; I'll take full responsibility for maintenance. I'll just need to borrow some of your tools once in a while."

"You'll just be buying some of your own tools…" Red replied. Whatever Red was going to say next was stopped by the sound of the glass doors sliding open. Kitty stood up, "Eric honey, look whose here!"

Eric saw four guilty looking faces staring back at him. His dad stood up, "I have to go….the news is on." Red made a fast escape into the living room. Kitty walked over and put an arm around Eric's shoulder. "Honey, we were just having a little celebration."

Eric saw the cake and coffee and his neighbors cautious expressions. "What's the celebration?"

Hyde pushed the document towards Eric. "Donna and I got a marriage license. It's just a legal piece of paper the Government requires…you know…in case something happens to one of us."

Donna shook her head, "Yeah, after that incident with the towing of my car, we decided to just get this done. We don't need to elope or anything and Hyde's been married before. Well sort of…." Her voice died down when she realized how sad that sounded.

To Eric, it was like music. A wedded Hyde and Donna meant that Jackie was free of the Steven Hyde shackle! He smiled and shook Hyde's hand. "Dude, I'm happy for you." He gave Donna a big hug, "I hope you guys have a great marriage. I'm really glad you made it legal." Eric kissed his mom and nearly skipped to the basement.

Donna looked at Kitty who looked at Hyde. Kitty laughed, "Ahahahaha, I guess we were worried for nothing! Now who wants ice cream?"

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"How is my beautiful Jackie Burkhart today?" Eric smiled into the phone.

"Hello yourself. You sound happy." She replied.

Eric was over the moon happy. "You'll never guess what happened today."

"You got promoted again."

"No, that would be cool too. But that's not it. Donna and Hyde got a marriage license." There was dead silence on the other end of the phone and Eric held his breath. Was this the wrong way to tell her? Over the phone?

Jackie held the phone to her chest. It felt like the weight of the world was lifted from her shoulders. With Donna married, Eric wouldn't have any ties to her other than a resolved friendship. Donna Hyde – Donna the feminist got married. Jackie smiled when she realized she could have a possible future with Eric.

"Jackie, are you there? Did you hang up?" Eric wondered what happened.

"Hey Eric, I'm sorry…I was…shocked. How do you feel about them getting married?"

"I'm actually glad. I was worried that Hyde still had feelings for you and would try to interfere with me romancing you."

Jackie laughed. "As if! I was worried that Donna still had feelings for you! She was always telling you what to do and how to do it. I mean she was bossier than me but in a different way."

"Hey, can I take you out to dinner?"

"Okay, but this doesn't count as second date." She warned him.

"Nope, it's just a celebratory meal between friends." He replied.

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