January 1st, 1981
12:43 am
Foreman residence
Only after the New Year's hugs and toasts, and when everybody was starting to find their seats, Brooke noticed the ring in Jackie's finger. New bottles of champagne were brought from the deep freeze in the basement while more hugs and toasts and congratulations fell upon Jackie and Hyde.
It was only fitting that Steven had waited to this night, Jackie thought, looking at him from across the room. She was surrounded by Kitty, Donna, Brooke and Midge, who wouldn't stop admiring her new ring and where already planning her bachelorette party and wedding ceremony, deciding who would be maid of honor and a dozen other details that she didn't care about right now.
After their talk on the night of his 21st birthday, Steven hadn't say anything else on the topic. Of course she'd expected a ring after that conversation, but she'd realized months before that she truly didn't need one. She had told him that she didn't need it and she'd meant it, but ever since they'd moved in together, she couldn't help but feel extremely curious about the ring.
Something told her that maybe he still had it, but she had refrained from searching for it. And even though she had seen the inside of every drawer, nook and cranny in the apartment while cleaning, organizing, looking for something and putting stuff away, she had never come across it. Maybe it was in the store, maybe he actually didn't have it anymore. She really didn't need it on her finger, the ring was just an accessory. She was just curious as to what it looked like. Now she was glad that she'd never found it, it had made the surprise all the more wonderful.
Hyde looked at her in that same moment, amazed. She had been truly surprised when he'd fished the ring from his pocket. In turn, he'd been surprised when – after that conversation – she hadn't asked, demanded or even commented about the lack of a ring. And even though it was now over a month since he'd bought it, he'd wanted to give it to her in a special occasion, and what better than New Year's, the day that had started to change and heal things between them.
Without a word to the people talking next to them, they broke from the groups surrounding each of them and met by the kitchen door. He kissed her chastely on the lips and put a hand in her lower back, pressing her side to his, her arms around his waist. Kitty and Donna where still talking about flower arrangements and string quartets, oblivious to the fact that Jackie wasn't there to hear them anymore. Brooke looked at her and smiled sweetly winking at her.
On the other side of the room, Foreman, Red, Kelso and Fez's conversation had turned into an analysis of Bob's latest adventures in Florida, who had decided to go back south to spend New Year's with his girlfriend.
"Do you think anybody will notice if we leave?" asked Steven surreptitiously.
