Disclaimer 1: english is not my native language, and I'm sure there are some grammar and spelling mistakes, as well as the ever occuring in/on confusions. Bear with me .. and any correction is well recieved (:
Disclaimer 2: I just discovered this show a few months ago and I really enjoyed untill season 7. As many of you out there, I hated season 8, but this story starts exactly where the show left off.
Disclaimer 3: I dont' claim ownership of any of the characters, the background story or some lines of the show's dialogue woven between my own writing, nor the few verses of the songs included
January 1st, 1980
12:03 am
Foreman residence
It was just three minutes into the new decade and he was back in the basement. He had hugged everybody but her. When he looked her way she was hugging Red, a sincere and happy smile on her face and a glass of champagne in her hand. He really didn't want to deal with her, with what she made him feel. It wasn't the best way of welcoming a new decade.
So he was sitting in his usual chair, listening to the newest album by Pink Floyd, The Wall. It was a double album, a sort of opera. He pulled it out of his private collection in his office and had sat on the listening area of the store. He had listened to the first record that afternoon in the store, and now was listening to the second one. The first song was slow and simple and he followed the guitar with his eyes closed, enjoying the melody until the lyrics started.
This time he feelt oddly portrayed by the song, and it was making him feel uncomfortable. "The wall was too high as you can see / No matter how he tried he could not break free". He had tried; she had succeeded. He had been free, the walls had been down, or maybe she had just made it over the wall to the other side. He had never felt this way about a girl before. It was true when he said this to Kelso so many months ago, and it was even truer now.
Thinking of Kelso was giving him a headache, and he grabbed his head with his hands with his elbows on his knees while the las verses of the song resonated in his ears "Hey you / Don't tell me there's no hope at all / Together we stand / Divided we fall". He gave a long sigh, rubbing his eyes under his shades.
"Together we stand, divided we fall" he repeated in a soft voice running his hand through his hair and leaning back against the chair, eyes still closed.
Back in the living room, ten minutes after midnight, Fez was about to ask Kelso if he'd seen Jackie when he saw her coming in from the kitchen. She had a weird look on her face, a blank and faraway look in her eyes. The sparkle from ten minutes ago was gone and suddenly he felt a small void, as if the ground had shifted. She looked him in the eyes and a glimmer of sadness shone in hers. She beckoned him to follow her. He swallowed hard and joined her in the dining room.
"You were right" she said softly, taking his hand. She sighed deeply, letting the tears fall from her eyes. "But I swear to you, you could never be a sloppy third" she continued, with a sad smile.
"Jackie, I…" he tried to speak but she silenced him with a hug, closing her eyes against his chest.
"You will be someone's amazing first" she whispered "and as much as I've tried to deny it, I already have mine". She stepped back a little bit to look at him in the eyes "I am so sorry, Fezzie. I do love you. Just not that way"
He stroked her face gently, with a sad smile on his own lips. Deep down he had known all along. He had had a weird feeling about all of this since they first got together. He knew now that they hand never been really together. He sighed deeply and nodded understandingly. "I know. It's ok".
They hugged again for a few minutes. Jackie crying silently, Fez stroking her hair.
When they went back to the party they pretended like nothing had changed between them. They didn't want to have to explain anything, especially not Jackie.
Donna and Eric had disappeared again and were probably fooling around in the Vista Cruiser. Red was about to make one of his usual commentaries about his dumbass son, but decided against; he was happy to have him back, though he was never going to admit it out loud. Kitty saw his placid smile and walked over him. She was tipsy, happy and bubbly, but somehow had looked serious for a moment and when Red asked her what was wrong, she smiled happily "Oh, on the contrary, things are finally turning the right way" she said mysteriously before emptying her champagne glass and kissing him.