A/N - well folks, here we are! I'm pretty sure this is the first multi-chapter story I've ever finished.
It's just fluffy fluff but the idea came to me when I was writing this and once I titled it Welcome to Jackie's I had to make it work.
I hope you enjoy! Please review and let me know what you think! I already have a few chapters of a new story written so keep an eye for that. I want to get a little more of it written before I post it or I'm likely to leave it unfinished. Thanks for all your support. I'm glad this fandom is still somewhat alive.
And without further ado...
Hyde leans against the brick wall, tapping his foot. He glances at his watch. 6:50. He frowns and peers down the street in front of him. There are lots of people, but none of them are the one he's looking for.
He sighs, reaching in his pocket and pulling out a cigarette. He lights it and brings it to his lips, reveling as the smoke fills his lungs. He'd promised her he would work on quitting, and he's made progress, but she's running late and he's anxious and the nicotine will calm him down.
He finishes the cigarette, stubbing it out with his boot. He glances back at his watch. 6:53. She was supposed to be here at 6:45.
He knew that would be cutting it tight for her. She anchors the 5 o'clock news now, the second best spot for the station. His store isn't far from the studio, but it's not next door either and she likes to get chatty on her way out the door.
He glances at his watch again. 6:54. He sighs again and twists his wedding band around his finger. It's a habit he's picked up since he started it wearing it two months ago.
Two months ago, almost to the day, Steven Hyde finally said I do. And to his surprise, it had been perfect.
They'd only been engaged three months before the wedding. She'd spent the first month of their engagement planning a lavish wedding. A wedding with fireworks and hundreds of guests and the finest china money could buy. Hyde rolled his eyes at the pomp, but bit his tongue. This is what she wanted and WB had offered to pay. If Hyde had to wear a tux and look at Donna in a hideous, frilly pink dress that cost a thousand dollars, he would. If it made her happy.
But as they bumped into each other and the stacks of wedding magazines all over their tiny apartment, she'd approached him with a new idea.
"Steven, I just want to be your wife."
He'd frowned at her, confused.
"I know. That's why we're doing the whole getting married thing, isn't it?"
"No but what I'm saying is...all this stuff doesn't matter. I just want to be your wife. And I want to be your wife soon."
He'd raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes at her.
"What are you saying?"
"What if we ditched all this fancy stuff and just got married at the Foreman's? We basically grew up there anyway. Just invite our family and a few friends. We could have the ceremony in the driveway. I'm sure Mrs. Foreman would love cooking for everyone and helping me plan the party. We don't need all this."
He's pretty sure his jaw had fallen all the way to the floor when she suggested this because who was this woman and where was his fiance?
"You've talked about your wedding since the first day I met you. Where is this coming from? I don't mind doing all the ritzy stuff, I promise."
"Exactly! You've been so supportive and let me plan everything and it just made me realize there are more important things. I just want to wear a pretty white dress and marry you in front of our friends. None of this matters."
"Is this some kind of trap? I say yes and then you hold the fact we didn't have a nice wedding over my head for the rest of our lives?"
"No, Steven it's not. I'm serious."
"But WB offered to pay."
"I know. And I was thinking...what if we asked him to spend the money on a down payment instead? We could find a place just outside the city. With a little more space and a couple extra bedrooms. Maybe a den where you can listen to your records."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I love this apartment but I rented it for me. You've been so great living here, but we need a place that's ours. I'd rather WB spend his money on that. It will last longer."
So that's how they'd ended up in the Foreman's driveway, Kitty and for some reason Bob sobbing in front of them, as they declared their eternal love for each other and were pronounced husband and wife.
It had been small. Just them, the gang, the Foreman's, WB, Angie, Bob, Pam, Laurie, Jackie's dad, Leo, Brooke and Betsy, their flower girl.
Mrs. Foreman had made a pot roast and her and Pam got far too drunk on wine coolers, sobbing together on the couch about how their babies were old. Mrs. Foreman's crying seemed to be out of love for Steven and Jackie. Pam's seemed to stem more from a fear this would age her in the eyes of her suitors.
Brooke carried a sleeping Betsy out the door after dessert and Red shooed a sobbing Kitty and Bob upstairs to sleep it off. With Leo's wedding gift in hand the gang had snuck down to the basement and celebrated the marriage of the group in the best way they knew how.
Eric had asked Hyde afterwards if he considered bailing before the wedding and Hyde was able to say no with complete honesty. The fact that after all the fights and heartbreak, they'd come to want the exact same wedding was all Steven would ever need to know.
So now, the gold band glinting in the sun, he looks back at his watch. 6:56.
The store was officially turned over to him yesterday. After shoving all the ABBA in a dumpster, his first order of business was to change the name. Records n More was not rock and roll enough for Steven Hyde.
The new sign was officially going up at 7, not that anyone besides WB and the weird guy who hung around the store all day really cared, but he'd wanted her to be the first one to see it
He'd pondered the name for months. He'd considered going with Grooves again, it was easy and recognizable, but decided he wanted something more special. Something mysterious. Something that people would make people stop and give it a second glance, wondering what that name could mean. Then they'd have to go in.
He'd considered names that were ironic, inappropriate, too long, too short, a play on words.
But eventually his wife, he still couldn't believe he had a wife, looked at him and asked "well why are you opening it? What's your inspiration? What's the story behind you opening a record store? That should be what your name is based on."
So it had come to him in bed that night while he thought about her words. Of course. It was mysterious, unique, something no one would get besides him and the people he cared about.
He kept it to himself, partially because he wanted it to be a surprise but partially because he was anxious. In a lot of ways, this would be him putting heart out there, bearing it for all to see. And to mock.
He almost talked himself out of it, but his gut was louder than his head. This was the perfect name. This was right. He could withstand some mockery for her.
He glances back at the Records n More sign, glowing in the setting sun. The new sign is above it, ready to be dropped.
"Are you ready Hyde?" Kelso asks from his spot on top of the building. WB had asked Steven if he wanted to pay for someone to put it up, but Hyde turned him down. Nobody liked climbing up a building quite as much as Kelso. And when he fell, he'd only break a bone or two. It wasn't high enough to die
"Hold on, Kelso. She'll be here in any minute."
Kelso huffs, looking down at the partially unrolled sign.
"Hyde this is gibberish. It doesn't make any sense!"
"That's because you're reading it upside down you moron," Hyde calls back, rolling his eyes.
"Man I gotta pee," Kelso whines, shifting his weight on top of the building. "Oh man I can pee off the roof! That's so cool."
"Pee off my roof and you'll never pee again, Kelso," Hyde snaps, glaring up at his friend.
"Steven!"
Her voice comes from across the street and he sighs in relief, glancing over at her.
"Finally," he calls back, smiling as she hurries across the street.
"I'm sorry! Someone recognized me on the way over and wanted a picture with me! How cool is that? I'm famous!"
He grins, pressing a quick kiss to her lips as she reaches him. She clutches his hand, panting slightly.
"It's fine, baby. I barely noticed," he lies, squeezing her hand.
"I really gotta pee guys!" Kelso cries from above them, crossing his legs.
"Calm down, we're ready," Hyde yells back, wrapping his arm around her waist.
His heart is beating nervously against his chest. Every doubt he's had about doing this rushes to his head. He takes a shaky breath.
"You're so nervous!" she cooes, cuddling into his side. "Why?"
"Uh...you'll see," he mumbles. Glancing up at Kelso he yells "Alright, go ahead."
Kelso steps forward, letting the sign unravel and covering the neon letters spelling Records n More.
Her hand flies up to her mouth as her eyes scan the sign, widening in shock.
"Steven, oh my god," she whispers, eyes flickering between his face and the sign.
"Yeah...you like it?"
"Are you kidding me? This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done! I freaking love it!"
She throws her arms around his neck, sending him slightly backwards under her weight. Regaining his balance he snakes his arms around her waist, returning the embrace.
"Cool," he mutters, smiling into her hair.
She steps back slightly, keeping her eyes on his face.
"Are you sure about this? I mean it's your store!"
"I'm sure. I thought about it...I mean you're the only reason I have this place. You helped me get here. Plus, it's kind of mysterious. Sounds like a song title or something. Super rock and roll."
"You are so rock and roll, Steven Hyde. God, I love you."
He grins, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.
"Yeah, well clearly I love you too."
"Can I please pee?" Kelso calls, interrupting them from the conversation.
"Yeah, come down."
"Cool," Kelso walks towards the roof door, pulling on the handle. "Hyde man it's locked!"
"Oh yeah, it is," he grins, nodding happily.
"Dammit Hyde, I will pee off your roof!"
"Fine, fine. I'm coming," he mutters, reaching for her hand and walking towards the door.
As they reach the door, he pulls it open, stepping to the side to let her in.
"Welcome to Jackie's, Mrs. Hyde."