MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

NOVEMBER 1rst, 1981

10:43 a.m.

LOCATION: William Barnette's Mansion

The businessman sighed and tossed a file onto a pile on his desk. Nothing good came out of inviting his little girl to 'hang out' with him in his study. "Angie, sweetie, I already told you that I'm not firing Max." He speaks softly to the 25-year-old sitting across the room on his leather sofa. Perhaps it was time to consider retirement? He could get a big casita on the coast of Mexico. Spend the afternoons fishing, enjoy the local festivities. Boy, did that sound nice right about now. Especially now that he was forced into an impromptu business meeting before he had even had breakfast.

"But Dad, he's such an incompetent moron!" His daughter pouted.

"True as that may be, he's still your godfather!" W.B. pointed accusingly at the young lady. "Look here missy, one more complaint out of you and you can say goodbye to that Christmas cruise to the Bahamas."

Just as Angela was about to protest, even more, she was silenced by the sound of knocking on the door. Not a second later, her brother warily peered his head in. "Hey, uh, am I interrupting anything?"

"Oh, Steven!" The father exclaimed happily. "Course not, come on in."

"Shouldn't you be nursing a hangover?" Angie laughed and kissed her brother's cheek in greeting. They had gotten quite close since his move to Milwaukee. Sure, they didn't see eye to eye on most business matters, but siblings always had differences. Jackie had become a close friend to her as well. Turns out they had a lot in common; a great love for money, bossing people around, and Donna Summer.

He sits back in one of his father's armchairs, kicking his feet up on the ottoman. "Please, over a couple of beers and spiked punch? I'm not a novice." He scoffed. His tolerance for alcohol was high, but he had been cutting down his intake for a year now. Drinking made him do stupid things and he was committed to changing before he ended up like Edna and Bud. Even smoking up was a rare occurrence now, mostly due to the lack of members for a proper circle, but also because he had grown tired of the habit. Too much of a good thing really did make it lose its substance.

But stuff like that happens when you grow up.

"Yeah, who was that? I outta fire their ass for pulling a stunt like that," said William, scrunching his nose in disgust. "everybody knows you don't mix punch with whiskey. It's vodka or rum, otherwise, that's just nasty."

"Hm, I wonder who that was?" Hyde stares blankly at his sister.

"You dared me to!" Angie yells.

"Alright, alright," William coughs, breaking up the beginning of the argument. While he loved the relationship his children had formed, they could get as annoying as nails on a chalkboard.

Actually, speaking of annoying.

Pausing, he notices that the little spitfire his son is in love with, still hasn't appeared. "Jackie's not with you son? I thought you two wanted to talk about something important."

"Yeah bro, where's my future sister-in-law?" Angie questions. He had called them both early in the morning, asking for them to have brunch together. It was certainly a sudden request; mainly because they had just spent Halloween together and he never mentioned having anything particular to say.

Hyde sits up, rubbing his hands down his thighs. Another nervous tick he can't seem to shake off. "Well, that's actually what I wanted to come to talk to you guys about."

"Oh god, please don't tell me you guys broke up again." His sister grimaces. They had gotten so close to tying the knot this time, and for all parties involved, she hoped that Steven didn't dig himself into another mess. "Was it a barmaid this time? Another striper?"

"No!" Hyde exclaims immediately. Geez, having the habit of jumping to conclusions might have just come from his dad's side of the family. "Don't jinx me with your bad juju, man! You can't put stuff like that out into the universe!"

W.B. joins his daughter on the couch. Whatever he's got to say to them, he should spit out now before he whacks these kids upside the head. "What's going on, Steven? Something to do with the wedding?"

"Yes- and no." He pulls off his sunglasses to pinch the ridge between his eyebrows. He's not ashamed to tell his family about their incoming addition. It's only that he doesn't feel comfortable being the centre of attention. This moment was meant for his chick, to scream and bounce in happiness with his family. "Look... kinda got some big news."

William and Angie stare at him in suspense. He almost feels like pulling their leg, but decides that being straightforward is in his best interest. "Jackie's pregnant."

Shock washes over their forms, this news obviously wasn't something they were expecting. Angie reacts first, immediately leaping up to embrace him. "No way! That's awesome!"

W.B. quickly follows along and throws his arms around his kids. "Congratulations, son!" Laughing, he imagines the little bundle of joy that's about to join their family. His first grandchild!

"Thanks, man. Yeah, she wanted to be here to tell you guys too but she's been puking all morning. Figured she should sleep in." He grins as they all go back to their seats. Jackie was upset about not partaking in the excitement but insisted that he go along with their plan anyway. They hoped that once W.B. learned about the pregnancy, he could help them get back most of their money on the deposits they made for the wedding as soon as possible. His connections with the venue would save them from losing too much.

"Aw, how far along is she?" His father asks, full of excitement.

"Almost two months, the baby is due sometime in May."

"May? Isn't that cutting it close to your big day?" The older sibling asks in concern.

"Yup... so we decided to hold off on the wedding and just find a judge to tie the knot." Steven tries not to look at their shocked faces, he knows they're upset. "Still gonna have a little party, y'know- to celebrate."

"Oh, wow that sucks," Angie mutters as she leans back into her seat.

"Look, it's just until we get settled with the baby."

"I get it, still, Steven I was looking forward to outshining all the other bridesmaids with my banging new dress." She groans.

Steven simply rolls his eyes at her. He turns to see that someone else is taking the news pretty hard. "W.B., pretty quiet there."

Clearing his throat, William decides not to beat around the bush. "Ah, well, I can't say that I'm not disappointed. However, I understand where you're coming from. You're trying to do what's best for your future," There's an obvious pause in his sentence that implies he wants to say more.

"So... brunch? I'm gonna go see if the food is ready yet," Angie hops up, taking note of their dad's hint to give them some privacy. Besides, hassling their private chef to whip up some mimosas sounds like a better use of her time.

Hyde crosses his arms in annoyance. "We're getting married, alright? We're just not gonna make it as big of a deal as it was before the kid stuff."

"Canceling the whole thing though, I don't know if I agree with that."

"It was her idea, man." Steven gets up to stare angrily out at the fancy foliage in his father's front yard. He doesn't even know why he feels the need to defend their reasons, to W.B. or to himself.

William joins him at the window, calmly standing at his side. "Well, how do you feel about all this?"

"About the wedding?" Steven snorts incredulously. "Come on, you know I don't care about crap like that."

"Steven, I'm not talking about Valentine's cards or a date night at the carnival." The older man sighs and shakes his head. "Getting married is life-changing. Are you sure you want to treat this with as little care as you did your stunt in Vegas?"

Hearing that felt like being stabbed in an old wound. "That was different! I was drunk off my ass and Sam doesn't even compare to what Jackie and I have." He glared at him with fists clenched tightly.

It wasn't fair for W.B. to mention his biggest mistake of 1979. He was heartbroken and more intoxicated than he had ever been in his life. His first 'marriage ceremony' was a quick stop at a chapel that had two slot machines at the entrance. It didn't mean shit, so even a few minutes with a Justice of the Peace was good enough for him.

Right?

"That's exactly what my point is. Son, you might pretend like you couldn't care less about all the bells and whistles because you're a tough guy." His father holds him by the shoulder. He can tell he's not trying to upset him and if anything he just sounds concerned. "But think of what this is going to mean for you in the years to come."

Hyde dazes off for a second, imagining what their future might look like.

The year is 2002, Jackie is looking through an old photo album at their kitchen table. She's visibly older, but in no way has her looks or her figure changed from the beauty she's always been.

Steven strides in, holding a beer. "Hey, what are you doing?" With his beard back to full capacity, arms considerably muscular, and physic at a healthy weight, one would say he hasn't aged too bad either. He takes the seat across from her, noticing their once youthful selves in the pictures.

"Just... reminiscing." She rests her cheek against her hand, looking forlornly at the album. One of the pages is filled with copies of them at Betsy's baptism. "I can't believe our goddaughter is getting married already. God, where did the time go?"

"You don't seem all that excited anymore. Something wrong?"

She shakes her, eyes still not meeting his. "No, I am. It's just... Brooke called and she's got so many plans and ideas. Oh, Steven, the ceremony is going to be so beautiful and luxurious."

He laughs nervously, unsure of why his wife was acting like the Kelso's had spit in her Cheerios. "Hey, you can always outdo them when our kid wants to tie the knot." Which probably wouldn't be too far from now since that damn brat was always out of the house.

"I guess I am a little jealous. She's going to have the wedding I've always wanted." She pouts and flips through another page.

What the hell? After all these years, was this still bothering her? "Jackie, you said you were fine with getting hitched at the courthouse." His voice goes hoarse with insecurity.

"I know! It was my idea! But it just got easier to keep putting off our real ceremony as time went by and now I'm too old for that crazy dream." She digs her palms into her eyes in frustration.

Hyde wants to protest this, but he knows she's right. Even if it feels like she's pulled the rug out from under him, this is something that's been weighing on him from the beginning too. "I'm not blaming you or anything. We have an amazing marriage and life together, it's just something I feel a little regretful about once in a while." Jackie reaches across the table to squeeze his hand. He's known her long enough to know that she doesn't resent him, but he still feels like he's failed her.

That hurts him, a lot. He doesn't want her to feel regretful about anything that involves their marriage. "Jackie..." Hyde frowns.

His wife smiles sadly at him, leaning in to give him a peck on the lips. "I'm sorry, Steven. Forget about everything I said, ok? I'll get started on dinner." Immediately, she goes back to being her bubbly self. Jackie collects the album and heads out of the kitchen, leaving him completely unsettled.

He comes back to the present, more confused than ever. After all the bullshit they've been through, is this really how they're gonna start their new life together? Saying their nuptials at the same place he's always dreaded going to all his life?

The courthouse has always brought up fucked up memories. From being taken away to foster care, to answering for petty theft because his bitch of a mother wouldn't buy him clothes, to dealing with his jerk probation officer.

God, he was so tired of taking the easy way out when it came to his relationship with Jackie. He needed to be a man. He needed to show her that he had changed for the better too.

Hyde takes off his sunglasses, fully determined to see his chick walk down the aisle. "W.B., think you can help me out with those bells and whistles?"

My bad, it's been a while. :S