AN: Sorry if I am going a little hard on Hyde, especially last chapter, my agitation on season eight and everyone going along with everything just came out. As he had done drastic things without thinking, I want to say maybe Eric was drastic in his letter. It will get better. I am catching up with my chapters, as I am posting this one today I am finishing up chapter eight, but I figure with my posting schedule I should be able to stick to it. I do want an HEA for our favorite couple, I am just still working on when that will be. I am also wanting an HEA for Eric and Donna because well, I haven't in my past stories much.
Randy was at the store waiting for Hyde to show up, usually he would leave before Hyde got there leaving the store for Leo for an hour or so. But today he figured he would ask about the missing box from Jackie's room and granny's pearls. He had went over the night before with Fez and Kelso to box up and load everything into Kelso's van. From the list from Jackie the noted that the box with everything from Steven was missing along with a box of the stuff that she had decorated his room. Fez had filled them in on everything she had done with the room from the lavender candles to the twinkle lights. Kelso had found a Led Zeppelin shirt on her bed, and was surprised Hyde didn't take that as well. Kelso said that was what he gave her for her 17th birthday, he had told them that had been his favorite shirt. Randy took it, figured he would see about and exchange for the pearls.
Hyde came into the store surprised to see Randy still there, since there were no customers at the moment he went straight to the office. He stopped dead in his tracks when a familiar shirt was draped over his chair. He grabbed it and stormed back into the main part of the store.
"What the hell is this?" Hyde said holding up the shirt.
"Well I was cleaning out Jackie's room for her and found it, knowing Jackie wasn't a fan, figured you might have left it there." He was going to leave out that Kelso and Fez was with him and he knew the truth behind the shirt.
"This is Jackie's I gave it to her" he said as if that would be enough.
"Well according to Jackie there was a box of things you gave her that is now missing but she wasn't wanting the box so no big deal to her. I just figured you might want that shirt back, my bad."
"Yea I have that box, along with the positive pregnancy test, she is going to try to keep my child from me she will have another thing coming."
At this Randy got up in Hyde's face, "Really, because you are going to be the model father? You treated my cousin like trash, you don't know how many times I tried to get her to leave here and come to Chicago. I promised her she would find a guy that would love her just as she was and wouldn't be afraid to show her and tell her. Despite the crappy childhood and lousy parents that girl loves more than anyone I know. She is going to be the best mother, because she will be the opposite of her own mother and take after Mrs. Foreman. She has the support of her friends, she doesn't need you."
What the two facing off didn't know was that Leo seeing the showdown had surprisingly called Kelso.
Kelso came in to watch the two square off, "Leo what is going on"
Leo looked at Kelso, "I think they are fighting over loud girl"
Kelso shook his head, he knew he had to stop this and try and remain neutral, he saw the shirt in Hyde's hand knowing that was what more than likely started this.
"Guys step back and calm down." Kelso told the two, "Why don't we go into the office before a customer comes in and sees this.
Kelso followed them into the office. "OK Hyde you got your shirt back what seems to be the problem now?"
Hyde took a seat in his chair tossing the shirt on his desk, Randy and Kelso took chairs on the other side of the desk.
"This is Jackie's shirt I gave it to her"
"Look Hyde, remember I was there, you told her she was your chick and you wanted her to have it, she isn't your chick anymore so why should she keep it?"
"Just give it back to her for me please" he was almost begging.
"I'll take it to her, not sure she will keep it but honestly I was hoping for a trade, Jackie had hidden granny's pearls in that box, I am assuming you might have taken. She wants that back. It is the only jewelry she has."
Hyde felt his stomach drop, there was the grasshopper necklace he had given her that was in that box, and there should have been more jewelry from her parents. "What happened to all her jewelry from her parents?"
"Well aunt Pam went through the house to pawn whatever she could to get her out of Point Place this last time, Jackie was only able to hide the pearls in that box, in case her mom went into her room. Of course Pamela Burkhart wouldn't go through a box of 'junk' looking for jewelry. The necklaces, bracelets, earrings that they had given her over the years to make up for missed birthdays and whatever else they had done to her was taken. Jackie told me she came home one day to find her jewelry box empty and her mom gone with a note to have a nice life."
Hyde put his head in his hands, how much did he miss with Jackie? How much was he going to miss in his kid's life?
"Will Jackie talk to me?" wishing he had his glasses, the eyes that moments before had furry had a hurt that was plain to see.
"No she won't, you hurt her more than she has ever been hurt before she can't right now. Look it isn't just about you and her, but she has to take care of herself if she is going to get through this pregnancy." Randy said plainly, he wanted to make sure that Hyde understood the dangers Jackie was facing.
"What do you mean?" Hyde asked worried about what he didn't know.
"Hyde she is carrying your child so I am going to be honest with you, pregnancy and stress is not a good combination. You might not have noticed but she lost weight that month you were gone, she should have been gaining weight. One of the reasons I didn't approach you that night you came back was I wasn't letting Jackie out of my sight, she had just spent several days in the hospital the week before. I had brought her back here for Mrs. Foreman to love on her. I had hoped it would help, Donna and I have now been doing everything we can for her to make sure she doesn't have to go back to the hospital until the baby is born."
Kelso sat there as he watched one of his oldest friends take in the information. "Hyde man, right now the most important thing for Jackie is to have a safe pregnancy. Brooke knew about everything since she was in Chicago, Jackie told Brooke one day when she was in the hospital that she didn't know what she would do if she lost the baby. She doesn't have parents and her grandmother had just died, her boyfriend took off. Brooke told me she would be worried because that is enough to cause some people to commit suicide. That girl as long as we have known her as only wanted a family. You knew that, I knew that. I was too immature back then to see she needed and well I was stupid and too young. She thought you understood more than anyone. With me and Jackie it was never about what she needed. I mean what you did for her when her dad was arrested and her mom took off. She told me back after the nurse thing after she decided to choose herself that it was never me, it was always you. You was the only reason she stayed here when her parents left, even after you cheated on you, she could have up and left Point Place, she was still planning to stay even when Donna was going to be leaving for college. Dude just like that summer you are going to have to give her space, and whatever you do DON'T EVER THROW ANOTHER GIRL IN HER FACE! I don't care if you move on and find the love of your life, you don't let her see that."
Randy looked back at Hyde, "Look we are going to protect her, but for now do you have the pearls?"
"Yea I have them, if you want to come by after work tonight." Hyde said he didn't know what else to say. He was due to meet WB at an apartment soon. "I have to go meet WB I'll see you guys later."
"Yea I guess I need to go run the store." Randy said getting up.
Hyde met WB at a new apartment complex that was just finished not too far from the store.
"Hey they are filling up quick but still have a two bedroom available." WB led Hyde up to the available apartment. It was nicer than he would have ever thought. His heart sank as he thought Jackie would love the little place. He realized he would need to pick out furniture and things that he really had no idea. As if reading his thoughts, "Steven I can have a designer come in meet with you and get the place furnished, we can use the second room for a nursery."
At that for the first time since everything, Hyde had tears in his eyes. He should have been picking out a place to live with Jackie, she should be the one picking out the furniture, she should be decorating the nursery. He found his way into that second bedroom that was smaller than the other. He collapsed against the wall, he couldn't remember the last time he had cried. He had felt the tears that day when he told Jackie he loved her for the first time and she told him she didn't love him. But he never let them fall. But he had not sobbed like he was now since he was little. WB saw his son breakdown, in the year that he had known his son he knew that this was something that didn't happen. He got down on the floor next to his son and took him in his arms and held him. He heard his son keep repeating, 'I've lost them and it's my own damn fault.' He couldn't argue that, WB knew that something was ready to snap in Steven and he just hoped that it would make him stronger and not completely break him.
Hyde took and wiped his eyes with the inside of his t-shirt. "She should be here, I should have been man enough to tell her I couldn't see a future without her when she asked after New Year's, she should be the one picking out the furniture and decorating the nursery. Not in some other city. I don't think I can do this without her."
"Well I am sorry to say son, you are going to have to, you don't have a choice. What I am going to tell you is right now you need to be the man that Jackie has always saw in you. Prove to her that you can be a responsible adult, but more importantly prove it to yourself."
Hyde nodded his head and went to stand up, turned and helped WB up as well.
"So do you want this place? It will be a year's lease, and if anything you would have a place here."
"Yea, I guess. I mean I am going to be a father need to grow up and move out of the basement."
Hyde made his way back to the Foreman's he needed to make sure to get Jackie's pearls out of his room and ready to give to Randy. He wondered if he would have time to write a note to Jackie, if they would even pass a note to her or if she would even bother to read it. He quietly entered the kitchen as he saw Mrs. Foreman on the phone.
"That was no problem, I will have more food ready for when the boys come tomorrow. I believe they are meeting Bob around nine, I have everything ready to load up in a cooler in the morning with directions and what everything is written on each pan. But I am glad you are cooking."
Hyde realized she was talking to either Jackie or Donna, no one said anything but he figured that Randy was off this weekend and maybe him and Bob were taking stuff to Donna and Jackie. He wanted to ask to speak to her, even if it was Donna.
"Well when do you see your new doctor? ...Oh that is great, I have heard a lot about him, he is one of the best…Have you guys heard from Eric? … Yea I hate how long letters take to travel, but Red about had a heart attack when he saw the phone bill from where we called him last month… yea I better cut this call short, before we give Red a heart attack, but it is so good to hear from you…love you and the babies too…give my love to Donna, can't wait to hear about what classes she is taking."
Mrs. Foreman hung up the phone and turned to see Steven sitting at the table staring at her, "Babies?"
"Oh dear" she sat across from him at the table. "Twins, she found out not too long ago, she was wanting to wait till she saw her new doctor before she let you know."
"I guess another letter?"
"Or she was going to have us tell you. I don't know for sure. Steven you hurt her badly, she doesn't want to keep you from your babies, but she is in a hard place where she can't trust you."
He knew what she was saying and understood, but he wasn't happy about it. "Randy is supposed to stop by tonight and pick up Jackie's pearls that was in a box I um took from Jackie's house."
"Oh good, I know she has been upset that she didn't take those with her to wear at her granny's funeral"
"Do you think I could send her a letter or a note? Would she bother to read it?"
Kitty thought about it, "I guess no harm could be done, it might help for you to write it, and then Jackie has the choice as to when she is ready to read it."
It seemed like hope until the end, he wanted her to read it But he decided he was going to write something, anything to start the communication between them. They would need to communicate in some fashion about their children.
Jackie,
First, I want to say I am sorry I have been an ass that has not wanted to grow up. I am working on that now, I want to be the man you always thought I could be, I want to be a man our children can be proud of. (Mrs. Foreman didn't know I had walked in when she was on the phone with you and I heard her say 'babies' please don't be upset with her)
Second, I am sorry I let you doubt how much I love and care for you. I hate I wasn't paying attention to what you were going through. I am sorry I never would admit that I can't see a future without you. I am sorry how I treated you when I got back. You have no idea how big of an ass I feel since finishing your letter and learning that your cousin was who was with you in the motel room that night. I am sorry that my actions drove you to that ultimatum to try and get my true feelings out and that I was a wuss and wouldn't admit to them.
Third, I hope that I have not completely screwed things up that I have ruined, not just my life but yours and our kids as well. I love you Jackie, I am just an idiot and I pray that we can fix this. I know I don't deserve another chance, but I am going to do everything I need to, to earn your trust and your love again. Whatever you need me to do I will do it.
Love,
Steven
He folded the letter and put it in an envelope, he didn't seal the envelope if Randy or anyone else wanted to read it before handing it to Jackie they were welcome to it. He didn't care, as long as Jackie got it and read it.
The next morning Red and Kitty were meeting with the guys as they were starting to head to Milwaukee. Randy was going to ride with Bob in Donna's car. While Fez rode with Kelso in the van.
Hyde stood back before he approached the group. Red had a cooler he was loading into the back of Donna's car and Kitty holding a bag full of cookies and brownies she had been fixing.
"Red do you need help with loading that cradle?" Hyde asked, he now knew that the reason for the second one wasn't for him but for the second baby.
"Yea, Kelso you want to open the back of your van? Do you think there is room?" Red asked as he went to the garage.
Kelso went to open the back, they had boxes shoved up to the front with her other things in the back. "Yea, we can maybe put the horse in the cradle?"
Hyde and Red picked up and carried the now pink cradle to the van, Red figured if anything one might have to be repainted, but he took his chances. They had finished painting it last night. They loaded it into the van and put the wooden rocking horse. After they shut the door he motioned to talk to Randy, "Look I know Jackie doesn't want to see me, but I just wrote a note to her. I hope you give it to her."
Randy took the folded piece of paper, it wasn't in an envelope. "Um you don't have it in an envelope?"
"No, if you want to read it I don't care, just make sure Kelso doesn't light it on fire before giving it to Jackie"
Randy looked at Hyde, he could tell this was Hyde being open, something he didn't usually do. "I'll make sure she gets it" he said taking the paper and putting it in his shirt pocket.
"Thanks, take care and I guess I'll see you guys when you get back." He walked back to the basement steps. He should be going with them, hell they shouldn't have to go out of town but because of him and his messed up life, they had to. He didn't realize that Mrs. Foreman had followed him into the basement as he went and sat down on his chair and put his head down into his hands as his elbows rested on his legs.
Kitty quietly sat down in the lawn chair across from him, and watched him and the pain she knew he now felt. "Steven you have a lot of things you need to figure out, as much as I hate the thought of you kids growing up and moving out and moving away, it is the way life is. I know we have pampered you in a way that you didn't get growing up but seriously you need to grow up. Red has been beating himself up since we came back from Jackie's grandma's funeral about how he messed up with you. He had thought he had raised two fine men, and you being gone without a word. And then when you came back, the things you said to Jackie in my kitchen. I thought I had loved you enough that you wouldn't be that kind of man. Disappointment doesn't begin to describe what I have felt for the last several weeks. When we first took you in you were so thankful, so helpful around the house, but lately…"
"I have taken everything I had for granted, you and Red, Jackie, WB and the store," Steven spoke up, knowing he needed to get this out. "I am sorry I don't know what it is, it is almost like after Red's heart attack and Foreman was working at the hotel and just being lazy with everything else." He felt the shame, they picked on Foreman so much for how he was acting, and he wasn't much different, only he wasn't going to get fat he was going to end up killing himself with drinking. If he thought he was going to enjoy life before it went to crap he never thought it would only take a matter of months for that to happen. "I didn't soak up the pampering like he did, but I was just as ungrateful."
"Steven your attitude was trying on Jackie. She was shocked that you were going to spend the day with her at the car show, it shouldn't have been like that, just as I should have been shocked Red not spending the day with me. Honestly that was one of her last happy days, it wasn't long after she found out about her grandmother and the baby. That girl has gone through a hell of a lot more than you." He looked at her stunned, "Steven Bud left then Edna left, you basically built up a wall keeping others out, Jackie grew up her whole life with getting the floor being pulled out from her. Things that happened before she started school with you guys. That girl has gotten her heart broken more times than a girl ever should. Do you know what it is like to have a daughter like Laurie and then watch Jackie and how she handled everything? Red was ready to kill the boy that broke Laurie's heart, but she claimed she was fine and went away to college. She was never the same girl again. We honestly have no idea what happened to her in college that set her on the path she is on. I know Red has worried the same for Jackie with all she has been through, but thankful she has had the support of her cousin and even Donna. He is going to make sure she knows she has us as well."
Steven looked up, "Do you think there would ever be a chance for her to talk to me? I mean if I show her I can change? I don't know why I didn't tell her the first time she asked about the future, I just have been so scared that everything would fall apart, and my fears themselves ruined everything anyway."
Kitty looked at the boy she thought of her son almost as much as Eric, "Steven in my heart and in my prayers I want so much for you and Jackie to work out. Those babies need both parents, they'll need the love that both you and Jackie were denied growing up, and despite all that I know you both are capable of giving that love. But it isn't just for those babies, you both need each other. She was good for you and you for her, you both brought out the best in each other. Despite the fact we didn't agree with Jackie sleeping down here with you, we were upset that you didn't come to us when Pam hadn't come back. But we were proud of you for stepping up and looking out for her. But because of her age especially we couldn't allow her to stay with you. You were showing us how much you had matured back then."
"I feel like I have messed up so many times that there is no way Jackie would ever even look at me. If I could go back in time and change…"
"When would you go back to if you could?" Kitty asked.
"I don't know that Veteran's day, I wouldn't let her lie to me, I wouldn't lie to her. I wouldn't let her go back to Kelso that last time. Or that day I saw her with Kelso and thought she was cheating on me and I…" he couldn't admit to the woman like his mother that he cheated on Jackie with one of the nurses at that convention. "I screwed up. Or back when she was ready to take me back and I went out with another girl. I wish I had been paying attention like I should have at Christmas, I knew Pam would take off again, I just I don't know…there are too many what ifs, too many times I screwed up that I just want to forget. I want to do everything in my power to make sure that my kids don't have the life Jackie and I had growing up."
"Steven this is going to be hard to hear, and honestly hard for me to say, but I think that is exactly what Jackie wants too, and why she left. She doesn't want her children to have the same hostile environment that you both grew up in. The way you were acting before, especially the night you got drunk and then how you ran without letting Jackie explain, even before you came into the kitchen that night and said everything you did. Jackie had already said she would make some major decisions based on what you did with the wife. At the time I didn't know she was leaving. But when she told us, I understood."
"I should be the one that left, that way she could stay close to you and everyone. Or I should have never came back, I feel I hurt her most coming back."
"You hurt her most by not valuing her for who she was to you. That girl has a lot of self-esteem issues, at one time you gave her confidence, but then Pam showed back up and left again and her confidence took a hit. Right now she needs to concentrate on taking care of herself and those babies."
"I sent her a note, do you think maybe we could exchange letters or notes? Maybe I can say everything on paper that I couldn't say to her."
"Maybe that will be the best for now. I know Donna was talking about that is what her and Eric are doing with him away, she told me they are talking about stuff they didn't talk about before. It helps when you realize that a relationship isn't just the physical, but being there for each other sharing you hopes and dreams. What is the point of being with a person if you don't see a future with them?"
"That is why Jackie broke up with me after Christmas, I had told her I didn't know if I saw a future with her."
"Steven did you ever tell that girl you loved her?"
He hung his head in shame, "Once, because she broke up with me before we graduated, she said she didn't love me back"
Kitty was in tears, that boy couldn't even admit he loved that girl, "Did you ever really love her? I mean I thought you did, but then I wonder if you really did."
Steven stood up and began to pace and run his hands through his hair, "Yes I did, I still do if I am honest, but for some damn reason I could never be fully honest with her, with anyone about how I felt about her. Even when we were broken up at the beginning of the year, I was talking to Foreman and he said I was happier with Jackie, I brushed him off and told him I am never happy but less pissed off. I was happy with Jackie, but I was so scared I would lose her that I lost her anyway." He sat down in his chair, "Now I don't know if it would be worth it to try to fix it this time, maybe she and the kids are better off if I stay out of the picture"
Kitty couldn't help but notice the tears, she had to hold onto hope that they could work things out, but it wouldn't be an overnight fix. It wouldn't even be the matter of a month, maybe several but she prayed it wouldn't be longer than that. Then an idea came to her head.
"Steven in a few months Jackie should be starting prenatal classes at the hospital where she will deliver. Normally both parents would attend, I don't know if you ever heard Michael talk about going to them with Brooke." She noticed he nodded, "I am going to guess she might take Donna with her, but what if I gave you the same classes?"
He looked at her confused, "Go to a class like that without the mother?"
Kitty shook her head, "No you can come here. I can set up the class here in the basement. There is a video of child birth and lessons on taking care of the baby. I can also get you books so you know what Jackie is going through and the development of the babies as it happens. You haven't really been around babies much so I can show you how to change diapers, give baths, hold and swaddle the babies."
He looked thoughtful, he knew nothing really about babies, when he was with Jackie as they watched Betsey, he sat there and watched Jackie do everything. "Ok, that sounds good. But what about things with Jackie?"
"Steven I am going to be honest with you, you are going to have to take this slow. Right now you need to work on you. Prove to yourself most importantly that you are worth Jackie and your kids. Part of your problem is how you see yourself. Until you see yourself the way Jackie and I have always believed to see you, can you start to let Jackie see you are serious about change. Do you understand?"
He thought about what all she was saying, he needed to fix himself before he could ever attempt to fix things with Jackie. "Yea, I have a lot of work on myself before I can even try to talk to Jackie, I just hope she will exchange letters, I want to let her know I am working on being the man she thought I could be."
The guys pulled up to the condo and Bob parked the car in garage. WB and Angie were also there to help unload and put things away. The first things he grabbed was a bag from Mrs. Foreman while Randy grabbed the cooler, "Come on Bob I'll show you to the kitchen." Randy said as he led Bob into the house. Jackie followed them in.
"So I am guessing this is the food Mrs. Foreman said she would send us?"
"Yea, I have the casseroles here and all the other stuff is in the bag Bob has, she said these can stay frozen you are ready to cook them." He opened the cooler, "yea they stayed frozen so they should be good."
He began to take stuff out of the cooler and hand to Jackie to put away. As everyone else emptied boxes and suitcases and such from the car and the van. When she moved on to the bag, Jackie noticed that there seemed to be missing cookies from the bag, "Um why did Mrs. Foreman send a bag like this?" she said as she held up a bag with only a few cookies.
Randy looked up and shook his head, "Well um, that bag was full, but the only place we had was in the front seat between us to make sure they didn't get crushed…"
"I am going to take a guess that it wasn't just Bob?"
Randy looked up and smiled at his cousin, "Hey just be glad they were with us, I would guess if they were in the van with Fez and Kelso, nothing would be left."
Jackie looked in the bag, "You are probably right, can you hide all this up in the cabinet over the refrigerator? That way they won't be so easy for me to get."
Randy took and put the sweets away. "Wow, are you able to reach much in this place?"
"Um no, and Donna got on me last night when I hopped up on the counter to get into a cabinet, that is what I usually do. I suggested a step ladder, but she said from now on I just let her know. Well that will teach her, I have those up there and I'll have to wake her in the middle of the night if I get a sweet tooth craving" Jackie smiled a wicked smile.
Randy could only shake his head, Jackie liked her independence to a degree, but it was a fine line between her needing someone and wanting to be independent.
They walked into the living room just as Kelso was carrying a cradle.
"Where did that come from?" Jackie asked.
"Red and Hyde made this one, painted it pink figured the blue and pink would work or you might have to repaint one of them. Do you want me to just put it beside the other one?"
Fez followed carrying the rocking horse, "Yes where does the horsey go?"
Jackie was taking in the shock of the cradle, did he say Hyde helped Red?
Donna noticed the shock on Jackie, "Kelso put that by the one in Jackie's room. Fez take the horse to the empty room by Jackie's, which will be the nursery, you guys will be sleeping on the floor in there tonight."
The guys took their items to the right rooms. Donna went over to Jackie, "Do you want to go in there with Kelso and make sure he doesn't try to find your underwear drawer?"
Jackie got up and went to her bedroom, Kelso was sitting the cradle down next to the one WB had brought her.
"Man I can't believe you are going to have two babies!" Kelso said as he looked at her. "You don't look like you are pregnant, other than your boobs"
Jackie couldn't help but roll her eyes, he would never get that filter of his to work. "Michael, that is enough! Now why don't you see what else is left to unpack."
"OK, most of the stuff in my van is from your house. Um the two boxes you mentioned wasn't there. Hyde apparently took them"
The rest of the day was a blur of moving around, unpacking boxes and putting things up. WB went and picked up pizzas and snacks for everyone. He and Angie were getting ready to leave and he noticed Jackie was missing. He went to find her sitting on her bed staring at the two cradles.
"Hard to believe in a few months I am going to have two grandchildren."
Jackie looked up as WB stood in the door. "I know I am in competition with Red over being the favorite granddad, I am not that crafty. But I want those kids to have everything that Steven didn't have growing up since I didn't know him."
Jackie looked up with watery eyes, "He didn't have a father or really a mother that cared."
WB went over and sat next to her and put his arm around her, "Well we are all going to make sure these two have the love of both parents, even if they are not together. These kids are going to have so many that love it, between you and Steven, Red, Kitty and I and all those in the other room and probably that twig in Africa."
That made Jackie smile, she put her arms around him and they sat there holding each other. "Thank you for everything, I know I probably should start looking for a job sometime, I can't just sit around here. I don't want to live off the trust fund forever and I know it won't last forever."
"Well that is something I wanted to talk to you and maybe Donna about. I am thinking of putting together a music magazine out of Grooves, interviews with artists and bands, trends and other stuff. I know there are things like that out there already but I know Donna is wanting to go to college for writing, what have you thought you wanted to do? Would magazine layout be something you might be interested in?"
"Mr. Barnett are you trying to make up jobs for Donna and I?"
"In a way, but seriously this is something I had been thinking about for some time. Just things have been getting in the way. You know finding a son I didn't know about and all. But seriously, I would like to get you and Donna involved in Grooves. Music is changing and I want Grooves to be on top of the changes, not just the music but the way we listen to it. Summers are full of music festivals and I want to cover it all. Something tells me you would have plenty of ideas, not just what should be covered but the layout and how it should look. Jackie Grooves is a legacy, started by my father. This is what I want to pass down to my children and grandchildren."
Jackie sat there they had pulled away and she thought about what he was saying, this wasn't just something for her this was something to be passed to her children.
"Mr. Barnett, um have you ever thought of your name being passed down?"
"I don't know, it would be nice if Steven had his changed to carry the name, but he goes by Hyde so much. Why?"
"Well I don't want to have my kids go by Burkhart, and well I honestly hate Hyde now. I mean so much not good things are connected to that name, and the kids are not truly Hyde, they should be Barnett. Especially if one of them is a boy, like you said your legacy. I would much rather my children have the last name of Barnett or even Foreman, but they will have the Barnett blood, why not their name?"
WB was touched, he had wondered of Steven ever taking on his name, but that boy was too attached to being 'Hyde'. "Well let's talk to your uncle and we can see what we can do. If I have to adopt you myself and change your name as well" he winked at this.
Jackie was over the moon. She was done with being a Burkhart almost the moment her father got arrested. Back when Eric and Donna almost got married and everything, had almost been her drive to get married herself, she wanted to change her name. She hid what it was like especially her senior year to be there without her friends and Steven. At least now she was out of Point Place and away from the weight of the Burkhart name. The time she had gotten to know WB, the more she felt that he deserved to pass his name down.
"Well I need to get home, I'll check in tomorrow after the guys have left. You know if you need anything give me a call"
Jackie stood up and hugged the man that meant so much to her and she knew would mean the world to her children.
After WB and Angie left, Randy knocked and came into Jackie's room, "Hey, um I have your pearls from granny." He looked around the room he knew she was more at home here than she had been in a long time. "I also have a letter, or well short note from Hyde. You can decide if you read it or not"
Jackie took the paper from Randy, along with the pearls. She went over and put the jewelry on her dresser and sat the letter on her night stand. "I'll have to prepare myself to read that, I know I probably will. Didn't he have this in a sealed envelope? Doesn't seem like he would just hand it to you like this, did you read it?"
"I didn't break a sealed envelope, he did give it to me like that and permission to read it. I don't think it will upset you, he's not cruel. It is hitting him how much of a jerk he has been."
"OK, but he better know he isn't getting me back so easy"
Randy almost commented that did she mean he could get her back? But held that in, "Are you fixing us breakfast in the morning before we head back?"
"Yea, but no eggs. Michael is allergic and forgets and eats them anyway if they are fixed. So I'll try to save you from a trip to the emergency room."
"Well I'll try to get the guys to go to sleep and not stay up too late."
"Yea they keep me up late, and it will be cereal and burnt toast in the morning. And let Fez know Donna and I don't eat that sugary stuff he does."
Randy laughed as he left the room, "That will put Fez to sleep"
Jackie finished getting ready for bed, and looked over at the folded paper Randy she knew she wouldn't get any sleep if she didn't read it, and didn't know if she would get any sleep afterwards. So she decided to go ahead and read it. He was back in Point Place, she was in Milwaukee and he didn't know where she was.