Hyde and Jackie's Apartment in Milwaukee

"Yeah, we'll be there. Red even called and gave us a personal invitation. Nothing makes you want to come and support the troops more than a good ol' fashioned foot up the ass."

Jackie laughed lightly as she tiptoed out of the hallway. She had heard the phone ring from their bedroom. At first, she had thought that it was a bit odd to get a call so late at night, on Halloween no less, but it made sense now. Her mother-in-law had been calling at all hours of the day for the last few weeks.

"Of course I'm a better son than him, Mrs. Forman." Her fiancee wrapped an arm around her shoulder once she sat next to him on their midnight blue couch. She let out a heavy sigh and snuggled closer to his chest. God, she loved the way her man smelled. Like sandalwood with a hint of his own natural musk.

"Say, you know what'll really teach him a lesson? Threaten to show all of his embarrassing baby pictures to everyone at the party. That'll get him to start showing up more." Hyde smirked devilishly. From her position, she could hear the conversation coming to an end. A ball of anxiousness that had already settled in her stomach since earlier was now coiling tighter. "You too, bye." He said before putting the phone back on the receiver.

"What did Mrs. Forman want?" Jackie mumbled tiredly.

Steven yawned and laid his head back. "Just making sure we show up to her Veterans Day barbeque. Forman and Donna ain't making it, so she's pretty pissed." He rubbed her knee affectionately. "Now we're the favorites. Good stuff, huh?" He snickered.

"Oh, yeah..." She didn't really care about them right now, honestly. Donna had called her yesterday and told her that they weren't going to come this year herself. Personally, she had found it kind of rude that they kept dodging visits with their parents. Even though they were busy reconnecting after getting back together again, that was no reason to dismiss everyone.

Hell, she and Steven had the more traumatic breakup compared to them. And they still made the effort to keep close in touch. They were grateful to the Formans for taking them in and treating them like family when their real family couldn't be bothered to take care of them.

"Man, I gotta call up Leo tomorrow and see how Grooves is holding up. I just got the numbers in yesterday and things don't look like they're selling too well." Steven grumbled and threw his sunglasses onto the coffee table. Records were starting to become a thing of the past. The new generation of music wasn't all that great too. They hadn't been to Point Place in a few good months either. Who the hell knows what was waiting for him at the store.

Times were changing fast, and people just didn't have good taste anymore.

"I'm sure things are fine. Leo hasn't accidentally set the place on fire after a circle yet."

"Yeah, that's cuz I've got Bob popping up and checking in on him. He only asks that he get a big discount on every Neil Diamond and Tom Jones record. No sweat off my back."

Noticing that his girlfriend didn't take offence to one of her favorite singers being criticized, he turned to face her. She was right by his side, but her eyes looked far away. "Hey, what's wrong? You've been acting kinda funny lately." He had noticed that she wasn't as chatty or responsive as she usually was. Even at W.B.'s office party, she hadn't made one comment about how much hotter she looked than all the other women. And she was dressed up like freaking Wonder Woman.

It was a weird experience being turned on by bloomers. He wasn't the only one to find her star-spangled ass sexy, though. Plenty of his co-workers were caught staring. Thankfully no one was stupid enough to hit on the boss's daughter-in-law, or else the boss's son would have to hand out several ass-kickings.

"Huh? No, I haven't!" Jackie yelled defensively. She sat up and started fidgeting with the hem of her pyjama top. Oh crap, this was happening.

"Oh come on, you can't even look me in the eyes!" Huffing, he grabbed her waist and pulled her into his lap. This way, she'd have no escape. "Alright Grasshopper, spill it."

"..."

He gave her a little shake. "Jackie."

Turning around, although still in his arms, the brunette gazed into her fiancee's aquamarine eyes. She let out a deep breath that she didn't even realize she was holding in. Steven looked back at her with the same intensity he always did when things got serious. If she could feel anything more than her nerves, she probably would have been slightly turned on. But right now she needed to bite the bullet, even if she was about to change their relationship forever. "I'm pregnant."

Immediately his eyes widened and his grip on her loosened. "Oh."

Jackie wiped her misty eyes with the back of her hand and went back to her seat next to him. Crying was not an option... yet. They needed to talk about this; put everything on the table and come up with a plan.

"Are you sure?" was the first thing he managed to say after a few minutes of silence.

She nodded slowly. "I've known for a couple of days, actually. I missed my period and got tested when you were at work. The doctor only confirmed it this morning."

Sighing, the former burnout ran his hand through his hair "Man, that's why you were all quiet today. You should've told me sooner."

"I know, I'm sorry! But I was scared and didn't know how to tell you!"

"Gee, how about- 'Hey, I'm knocked up! Guess we really should have watched that rerun of Family Ties instead, huh?" Hyde threw his arms up and leaned back into the couch.

Jackie jumped off of his lap, smacking his shoulder in anger. "How can you even joke about this?! This is serious, Steven!" She started to pace around the living room. Letting out a small cry, she ground her palms into her face. "What are we going to do?"

Her fiancé sighed and walked up to her. Pulling her hands away, he gently wiped the tears that falling from her eyes. "Well, for starters, you can stop hitting me. Won't be good for the kid to see his mother getting arrested for domestic abuse." When Jackie pouted, he tapped the underside of her chin. "Relax, doll. We both make enough money to support ourselves and whoever comes along. And when it's time for you to stop working, I'm sure Ol' Grandpa Burnett won't mind helping out." He chuckled lightly.

Falling into his arms, the brunette pressed her forehead into his clavicle. "Do you really think we'll be okay?"

Steven squeezed her before answering in a calm voice. "Yeah... I do."

"Thank you, puddin'." Jackie murmured. This is why they were perfect together. When one was a paranoid mess, the other knew exactly how to comfort them.

Running his fingers through her hair, he chuckles. "Well, better let Donna know that someone isn't getting loaded for their bachelorette party."

Like someone splashed a bucket of cold water on her face, she jumps to her feet again. "The wedding!" How could she forget about the wedding?! Pacing around, she almost screams. "Oh my God, what are we gonna do about the wedding?!"

Confusion consumes him again. "What do you mean?"

"Steven, we can't have the wedding and the honeymoon anymore!" Her fiancee's furrowed brows only serve to frustrate her more. Was the pot finally taking its effect on his limited amount of brain cells? "It's in six months, and by then I'll be as big as a beached whale!"

Oh, that was an issue. "Um, why don't we just ask them to let out your dress a bit?"

Rolling her eyes, she slumps back down next to him. "How can we even afford to think about my dress in the first place? We can't raise a child in a one-bedroom apartment, especially not in this neighbourhood! We're going to have to move!" She has a good point. Looking around their place, Hyde can't imagine what a pain in the ass it would be to bring their baby here. It was too small and the heating sucked due to the landlord's cheap tendencies. The people in the building weren't too noisy, but they lived next to a busy intersection. As a young couple living on their own for the first time, these were only small hindrances that didn't seem all that problematic.

Until now.

When they decided to move to Milwaukee together, it was mostly due to the need to start over. They needed to be alone, away from their friends and family to focus on their relationship. Besides, Jackie had scarce job opportunities in Point Place. Here, she was able to attend a bigger college and through connections, gain a position on a local entertainment channel as a co-host. And as much as he loved Grooves, he wanted to show Jackie that she meant more to him than a record store.

So, he sold a decent portion of Grooves to Fenton. And in return for a percentage of commissions and rights to the store, he agreed to let Leo work there (whenever he remembered to wander in). All in all, it was a good business decision that gave him the freedom to move away.

But now they had bigger problems on their plate. "Steven, what's going to happen to us? We're totally screwed." Jackie moaned.

That was a tough question. He exhaled through his nose. "I don't know. Do you still want to get married?"

"Of course I do! More than anything..." was her immediate answer. All these new developments didn't change the way she felt about their union. The timing was just inconvenient, but she still wanted to be Mrs. Jackie Hyde.

Relief washed over him like a wave. He wasn't sure how he would have handled a different answer. If this situation had occurred years ago, he wouldn't have doubted his chick's position on marriage for a second. Now, he wasn't so sure. She had changed, matured a lot over the years. Sometimes it felt like they had switched roles. Jackie was zen throughout their new relationship, and yet all he thought about was sealing the deal. "So do I, doll."

Love and adoration filled her mismatched eyes. In the end, that was all she needed to hear. "You know what? Screw it, let's just do it!" Jackie exclaimed as she hopped back onto the sofa.

"Huh?"

She squeezed his arm tight, grinning. "Let's just get married, baby! No wedding, no reception, no honeymoon!"

"I'm not following." Hell, Kelso wasn't lying when he said pregnant chicks were nuts.

"We'll go to the courthouse and sign papers, then boom! We're married!" Easy peasy! All they had to do was elope!

Alarms shot off in his head. "Wait, Jackie. Think about this, man." Grasping her hands in his, he stared deep into her soul. The stress and hormones were making rash decisions for her. "What about your dress? The bridesmaids, the flowers, the color scheme, the cake, dancing- all that crap? You've been planning this wedding ever since you could talk." Even if she had grown out of most of her shallowness, this wedding was too important for her to just throw out the window. On more than one occasion they had broken up because she refused to compromise. How could she settle for getting hitched in front of a judge?

"I know, but this baby changes everything. We're gonna need the money." She knew exactly what he was trying to say. Steven thought that she was being too hasty and would come to regret her decision. Maybe that was the case, but it didn't matter now. Besides, they could always have a fancy vow-renewal down the line- in fact, she guaranteed they would. "Plus, can you imagine me walking down the aisle all fat? I mean, I would still look absolutely stunning, but, ew."

"Jackie..."

She pressed a manicured finger to his lips, dissuading any further arguments. "Look, I love you and I want to be with you, forever. After all the drama and hurt... we've come this far together. That matters more to me than any fantasy wedding."

If her sixteen-year-old self had heard her say that, she might have gotten slapped. But she wasn't that selfish teenager anymore. She was going to be a mother and wife. And if being raised by Pam and Jack Burkhardt has taught her anything, it's that money and parties shouldn't come before your child's happiness. "Having your baby is the reality I've been blessed with, Pudding Pop." The brunette replaces her digit with her lips, kissing him lightly. "Even if it is a little early."

How could anyone argue with that? "Okay." He breathes softly against her, eyes half-lidded.

Smiling, she pecks him one more time. "So, what do you want to do now?" Jackie reaches over for the TV guide. The night was still young, and she wanted nothing more than to kick back and relax. Especially now that the giant weight was off her shoulders; might as well enjoy what was left of Halloween.

"Well, I'm not opposed to doing it," Hyde smirks.

She smacks the paper manual against his chest, slightly annoyed. "Ugh, seriously?" After all that they just talked about, sex was still on his mind?

"Hey, the damage is already done so why not?" He laughs and tightly presses her against his body. "Let's celebrate the way we do best, baby."

She can't help but let out a giggle of her own. Guess some things never change after all. "Shut up and take me to bed, you perv."

Steven eagerly grants her request. With one swift motion, he picks her up in a princess hold and strides over to their room. "Anything for you, Mama."