Dumbass…
Walking into the Forman and Sons Muffler shop I was trying to think of how to start off this conversation. Red was definitely going to be pissed. Jackie had a special place in the man's heart whether he liked to admit it or not. Hyde knew that Red was going to be disappointed.
Hyde walks to the back of the shop where he finds his adopted dad looking through his inventory of mufflers. "Red, I could really use some advice right now" Hyde says realizing how much like Forman he just sounded.
Red turns to look at Stephen and just tell that something is off. "If you are going to jail I'm going to leave you there this time".
"Jail, not that I know of. Look I know you think we are all just a bunch of dumbasses, and I mean you are not wrong man. I messed so much this last month and now the doctor says Jackie is pregnant. What the hell, I mean look where I come from, what kind of a life can I give Jackie? And a kid thrown into the mix just makes it a million more times likely that I'm going to keep messing up. What am I going to do?" Hyde says practically pleading.
Red can't believe what he's hearing. It's not like he believed the kids were as innocent as Kitty likes to believe but he did have some faith that Steven wasn't as reckless as that damn Kettlehead boy. "That explains the loud ones getting sick all the time. You know Steven I bet you are expecting me to yell and give you a real reaming. But I won't stand here and tell you that you messed up, because you already know that you did. I know you know what to do. You might not have had the best upbringing but I know the man I raised you to be. You are not Edna and you sure as hell aren't Budd. Just because those two are your parents doesn't mean you have to be them. Look at the shit parents Jackie has, always acting like they were better than everyone else. Jack and Pam are shit, and they have treated that girl like shit. Yeah she's loud and bossy but she is not like those two."
Red is right about Jackie, she is not like either of her parents. Lord knows I try hard not to be like my loser parents. I just don't know how this is going to work. I never put much thought into my future, I always figured that when I got a little older I would just know what to do, now it's all happening so fast. 'Red tell me what to do, I am scared I am going to mess this up."
"Look, you are bound to mess up. Look at me I didn't know the first thing about being a father, but Kitty was so sure that I could do it. She was always ready to be a mother. And look at her she is the best mother out there, a little over protective of Eric for my taste, but that's what I mean, where I am tough she is gentle. Have you talked to Jackie at all? Steven you are a better person than you think, and the loud one, makes you even better. Just like Kitty makes me a better person. You two need to have a very long talk and decide what you are going to do. Just know that I expect you to be the man I raised you to be."
"What if I'm not the man you think I am? They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If that's true our kid is definitely going to be screwed up. Like you said, me and Jackie both have shit parents. What happens if we turn out to be shit parents too? "
"Well didn't you hear the part where I said you are better than that bunch of deadbeats? Now listen son, I know you're scared, that's normal I'd be worried if you weren't. You are going to have the best grandma in the world by your side helping every step of the way. And WB and I will be there too. Steven I know you are the man I think you are, because only a real man can admit when he royally messed up."
"Thanks for the talk Red, I need to get the vitamins and ginger ale back to the house before Jackie begins to wonder what's taking me so long."
"Just one more thing Steven, just in case you get an itch to run away from your troubles, just know that I will find you and I will stick my foot so far up your ass….
"No need to finish, I have no doubt in my mind what will happen if I disappeared again."
Back At Home
Jackie and Kitty sitting at the kitchen table with a plate of saltine crackers….
"Jackie dear, why don't you go downstairs and take a nap. I'm sure Steven won't be much longer."
"I don't know if we should have sent him off all by himself Mrs Forman, what if he gets scared again and runs off?" Jackie begins to panic which in turn makes her nauseous again.
Hyde was just about to walk through the sliding doors when he heard the exchange between the two women. He felt like shit but he really couldn't blame Jackie, he really did have a history of ducking out when things got tough for them.
Pulling himself together Hyde enters the kitchen. He can see the relief wash across Jackie's face. He hands her a ginger ale from the bag.
"Thanks Steven."
"How are you feeling ?"
"Better, just a little tired."
Mrs Forman stands up taking the bag from Hyde, "I was just telling Jackie that she should go downstairs and take a nap. You can take your crackers and your drink down with you and as soon as you wake up make sure to sip your drink. I'll start dinner, how about some of my famous chicken noodle soup?"
Jackie stands up enveloping Mrs Forman in a hug. This woman is just so sweet and caring, everything she wishes her own mother could be. "Thank you for taking such good care of me Mrs Forman, it means so much to me."
"Oh you are such a sweet girl, now go on Steven make sure our little mama gets some rest. I'll call you up when dinner is ready."
Just as Hyde and Jackie make their way to the basement stairs, Donna and Fez pass through the sliding doors. "Hello Mrs Kitty, you are looking as lovely as ever" Fez says.
Before Kitty can respond the doorbell rings. "Well I wonder who that could be." She makes her way to the front door.
Donna takes a long look at Jackie, she looks so much better now that Hyde's back, but she still seems a little tired. "Hey Jackie, how did it go at the doctor today?"
Jackie and Hyde look at each other and neither knows exactly what to say. They haven't had time to decide what they are going to tell their friends.
Before Jackie can answer a slightly frazzled Mrs Forman sticks her head in, "Steven can you please come here for a moment. And you kids take Jackie downstairs, the Doctor said she needs to rest."
Hyde starts to make his way towards the living room. He turns back to Jackie, "I'll be right back."
Jackie goes to grab her crackers off the table when she hears Mrs Forman Forman yelling.
Donna,Fez and Jackie all three make dash towards the living room. There's a tall blonde standing in the middle of the living room next to Steven. Jackie walks up to Hyde putting her hand on his arm, "Steven, who is this?" she asks.
Hyde stands there frozen in terror, he knows this is the final nail in his coffin. How could he be so stupid. He grabs Jackie's hand, not knowing how to begin to explain to her what will surely be his eulogy.
The tall blonde takes a step towards the couple looking quite pissed. "Well I thought you didn't like anyone calling you Steven? You never let me call you that. Well anyway Hyde aren't you going to introduce me to your friends? " She waits for a few seconds and then decides to introduce herself. " Hi, I am Sam. I'm Hyde's wife..."
Jackie pulls her hand out of Hyde's and takes a step back. She can't catch her breath and everything begins spinning. This can't be happening. He wouldn't dare.
"What's wrong with your little friend Hyde, she seems surprised, didn't you tell anyone about all the time we spent together in Las Vegas. He was so sad, something about how his ex had cheated on him with one of his best friends. What a bimbo."
Donna heard Jackie and Mrs Forman both begin to cry as Sam just stands there and laughs. "Oh my you must be the ex-girlfriend "she snickers at Jackie. Donna's protective mode kicks into overdrive and she steps up and smacks Sam square across her cocky face. "Nobody talks about my best friend like that." she practically growls.
Hyde steps between Donna and Sam not wanting a brawl to break out, but not wanting to step away from Jackie.
Fez wraps Jacqie Into a protective hug. He cannot believe Hyde is capable of breaking his goddesses heart again. Fez just couldn't take Jackie's tears anymore, he let's go of Jackie for just a second. Fez walks up to Hyde and smacks him. "You sonofabitch" Hyde doesn't even flinch because he knows he deserved that smack and so much more.
"I can't be here," Jackie grabs Donna and Fez's hands and the three of them walk out. Her friends have no idea how bad things are about to be for her. She just became a tramp, pregnant by a married man.