December 24, 1981

Hyde was sitting in the terminal of the airport waiting for his plane to board. He fiddled with his cassette player until finally his plane was called and Hyde got on. He had been on a plane dozens of times for meetings. Hell he'd flown to Wisconsin a few times as well but this time was different. This time he was going home to spend Christmas with his gorgeous girlfriend and their family.

Hyde was nervous about seeing everyone but he needed to be with Jackie. Part of it was that he missed her. It was lonely falling asleep in bed alone. He didn't like it at all anymore. Another part of it was Jackie seemed so sad when he talked to her. It meant a lot to her how she spent her Christmas and he wasn't going to be the reason this one wasn't perfect.

A few hours later the plane landed in Chicago. Hyde grabbed his luggage then caught a cab to Point Place. As the cab pulled into the town limits Hyde's heart beat faster. He was closer to Jackie but he also was about to see the people he had abandoned. He wasn't really sure what to expect when he got there.

Finally the cab pulled up to the familiar Forman house. Hyde sat there for a minute just looking at the house. Then the paid the cabbie and got out. He slowly walked to the front door, something he had almost never used when he was younger. He waited a second to gain some courage then knocked on the door.

He heard noises from inside the door along with Kitty's 'who could that be'. A minute later the door swung open to reveal not only Kitty but Red as well. Both froze and looked at him which gave him a chance to look around the living room, which was empty except for them. Mrs. Forman looked the same as she had back then.

"Hi Mrs. Forman."

That was all it took for the two to snap them out of their daze.

"MY BABY! My baby's home!" Kitty cheered.

She pulled him into a tight hug and bounced up and down as she held onto him. She let out her laugh, the one Hyde always remembered. She pulled back a little to examine him but didn't let him go completely.

"He's really home," she cried before hugging him again.

She held onto him tightly for several minutes before finally pulling away.

"Oh Steven, do you want something to eat? I bet you're starving."

"That'd be great Mrs. F."

"Okay. I'm just going to go make you something."

Kitty left the room, leaving Hyde and Red alone. Red eyed Hyde, taking in his appearance.

"Hello dumbass."

"Hey Red. How have you been?"

"Oh fine except for having to deal with a bumbling mess of a wife any time she thinks of you."

"Sorry about that."

"It better not happen again."

"It won't."

"Good. Well, what brings you here?"

"It was time to come back."

Red nodded as the door to the kitchen opened again. This time Hyde's four oldest friends stood in the doorway. They froze and stared at Hyde until finally Eric stepped up and pulled him into a hug.

"Hey man. What're you doing here? I didn't think you were coming," Eric said quietly.

"I wasn't but I had to," Hyde shrugged equally quiet. Eric nodded in understanding. "Where is she?"

Before he could answer Donna, Fez and Kelso joined the hug, wrapping themselves around Hyde as they all said their hellos.

"Oh my god Hyde I can't believe you're back," Donna said.

"Hi Hyde!" Kelso greeted. "How's New York?"

"Ah my angry American friend, it's good to see you again. How is the big orange?"

"Hey guys. Fez, I think you mean the big apple."

"Apple, orange, who cares? Did you bring me candy you disappearing son of a bitch?"

"Yeah man, I got you something. Here," Hyde said as he broke away.

He pulled out the backpack he had used as a carry on and dug through it. He pulled out what he was looking for and tossed it to Fez. Fez eyed him suspiciously before opening the bag. Immediately his face lit up.

"You got me candy! I forgive you!" Fez beamed as he latched onto Hyde in a tight hug.

Hyde laughed then patted his shoulder. Eventually Fez peeled himself away.

"What'd you get me Hyde?"

"This," Hyde said tossing Kelso a super-sized tube of super glue. "That's enough to stick yourself to everything you've ever imagined."

"Awesome!"

"And this is for your kid," Hyde said tossing him a small shirt that read I NY."

"Betsy's going to love this!"

"Wait- How'd you know Kelso had a kid?" Donna asked.

Hyde opened his mouth to reply, though he wasn't really sure what he was going to say- when the door to the kitchen opened again. Jackie stepped around the friends to see what they were looking at and the look on her face was priceless. She stared at him for a good ten seconds before reacting.

"Steven?"

"Hey Jacks."

Jackie launched herself at him. Hyde stumbled but caught his balance in time. Jackie's legs were wrapped around his waist and her arms clung to his neck. Hyde moved his hands to cup her ass and support her. She rained kisses all over his face.

"I can't believe you're here. I missed you so much. Thank you for coming baby. Thank you. I love you so much," she mumbled between kisses.

"I know doll, I know."

Jackie kissed him on his mouth then and he deepened the kiss almost instantly. It had only been two days but it felt like years since he had been with her.

If he had had any sort of hesitation about returning home before, it was gone now. Just how happy Jackie had been to see him made it all worth it, no matter what happened from here on out.

"What the hell?" Donna demanded.

"Yes, why did you not greet Fez that way?" Fez questioned.

"Uh!"

Jackie slid off of Hyde but didn't let go of him, almost as if she was afraid he'd disappear again. Jackie's arms wrapped tightly around his waist and Hyde draped an arm over her shoulders. He shot a smile at his three bewildered friends and Eric.

"Oh my god!" Donna yelped. "He's Mr. Mystery. Hyde's your pudding pop!"

Hyde felt his face redden as Donna began to laugh.

"Pudding pop?" Eric asked before he joined his girlfriend in the laughter.

"I want a pudding pop," Fez whined.

"Uh! Hyde you dogged me man."

"What are you talking about Kelso?" he asked.

"Well Jackie's my ex and you're my best friend. You can't steal her from me!"

"He didn't steal me from you Kelso."

"Seriously man, you've been over for like three years," Eric said.

"Okay Steven, your dinner's almost ready. I made your favorite," Kitty stated as she stepped into the room.

Kitty looked around the room from the shocked expression on the faces of Kelso, Donna, and Fez, to the bemused smiles of Eric and Red, then the happy grins being exchanged between Hyde and Jackie who were still tangled together.

"Did I miss something?"

"The disappearing dumbass and the loud one are together," Red said.

Kitty looked back at Hyde and Jackie, looking between them. She seemed hesitant to believe it. Hyde couldn't tell if she was happy or upset and waited anxiously as he waited her off. Jackie squeezed his waist, also nervous about her reaction.

"You came to see Jackie," Kitty said. It wasn't a question but Hyde nodded anyway. "So she's the reason you came back?"

Hyde nodded again. Kitty stepped forward before pulling them both into a hug.

"You brought you baby home! Thank you Jackie."

"Mrs. Forman, I didn't even know he was coming."

"You lied to me. You told me you didn't talk to him."

"I'm sorry but Steven asked me not to tell anyone."

"Well you should be ashamed of yourself for letting us all worry day in and day out."

"Eric knew too!" Jackie said after a brief hesitation.

"What?" everyone asked, turning to look at Eric.

"Yeah. Steven's been talking to him every few days since Thanksgiving."

"What the hell Eric!"

Donna stormed out of the living room and into the kitchen. Eric followed closely behind. Fez looked confused for a second before shrugging his shoulders and dropping down onto the couch and began digging through the bag of candy. Kelso sat down next to him. He stuck his hand in the bag of candy.

"Ai, you son of a bitch! This is my candy! Give it back."

"I can't. It's stuck to me," Kelso laughed.

He held up his hand which was covered in the candy.

"You candy stealing son of a bitch! Good day."

"But Fez," Kelso said.

"I said good day!" Fez stormed out of the house, slamming the front door behind him.

Kelso laughed again and followed Fez out of the house. Now Jackie and Hyde were left alone with Kitty and Red. Kitty was smiling at the couple and Red just stared.

"Steven, you'll be staying here right?"

"Oh, um, I was actually going to stay in a hotel."

"You will do no such thing. I'll get Eric's room ready for you."