Disclaimer: I do not own That 70s Show.

Eric joined in, "You know I saw that on the news the other day! There was this guy who thought he was going to be on a game show and ended up losing his entire savings because they kept telling him he needed to pay for different processes."

"No this is a sure thing," he said confidently. "That's where I've been these past two weeks. I've been auditioning and turning in applications. You would not believe the number of interviews I had to have to win this!"

"Well I think this is great!" Jackie repeated. "We support you, Fez! Everyone that goes on Love Connection finds their soulmate. It's a sure thing!"

The others shared skeptical looks but knew it was smarter to keep their mouths shut. They sat in comfortable silence yet again, this time lost in their thoughts but eyes watching the television.

Steven wrapped an arm around Jackie, playing with the ends of her hair. She sighed into him, wondering what other changes and events the end of this year would bring. Within one month, she was pregnant, Kelso wanting to be responsible, and Fez about to star on a TV show. She thought back to the supportive words of her boss from earlier that day and found herself feeling wonderfully at ease with it all.

After a short while, they all sank comfortably into the familiarity of being together in front of a television showing random and mundane fodder for their commentary.

Donna had picked up a magazine from their coffee table and was skimming its contents, but her scoffs at their bad jokes showed she was listening. Fez had somehow found candy in their kitchen and was following the conversation with an amused expression, still in his good mood. Eric and Steven lead the banter as they smirked and easily burned each other and the show, keeping the balance between mean and funny that they knew so well.

Jackie enjoyed cuddling with the warmness of Steven and being witness to his easy-going humor and smile as she almost dozed off, chiming in less and less with her own snark as the night moved from early evening to the quietness of nighttime.

The ringing of their phone cut through the calm loudly enough that it caused most of them to jump in surprise. Steven pulled away from her gently, reaching toward the side table to grab the phone.

"Hello?" he asked, pausing as the person on the other end replied, "Oh hey Mrs. Forman…" Steven glanced at Jackie. It clicked for her that Mrs. Forman was calling for their nightly check ins.

The others turned their attention to Steven, obviously curious as to why Mrs. Forman was calling Steven and Jackie on a Friday night.

Playing it truly zen Steven continued, "Thanks for thinking of us Mrs. Forman, I'm sure Jackie and I can make it over this weekend. Donna, Fez, and Eric are here right now actually…" Jackie could hear a surprised reply, and then not as much. She guessed Mrs. Forman spoke in hushed tones now that she knew the current situation.

Steven spoke again, "Sounds good, I'll let them know. Alright…yeah…Love you too…Bye." He hung up the phone and in true Hyde-fashion went back to his spot next to Jackie and continued watching TV as though nothing had just happened.

"What was that about?," Donna asked lowering the magazine.

"Yeah, why is my mom calling you at night?" Eric added accusingly.

Steven rolled his eyes, "Relax, Forman. You're still her number one baby boy. She was just making sure we were coming this weekend for dinner."

Eric's suspicion didn't let up however, "You guys always go. Why would she think you weren't coming this weekend?"

"How the heck am I supposed to know why your mom does what she does?" Steven questioned calmly.

Donna replied, "I guess you have a point…but I still think that's weird. Why wouldn't she just call tomorrow in the day time?"

"God, Donna, you're getting just as nosy as Fez," Jackie snapped. She hated that her friends had nothing else to be distracted by and that they couldn't let this go.

Eric's eyebrows raised toward his hairline, "Ohhh-kay. Now that's suspect. Very suspect. You usually take a little more prodding before the claws come out."

"You two are reading way too much into this," Steven said easily. Jackie was grateful he could stay calm enough for the both of them.

"Fez what do you think?" Donna turned towards him as he sucked on a lollipop.

With a pop the sucker left his mouth, Fez milked the question, "Let's see…the evidence before me is quite damning," he nodded solemnly, "A phone call from Ms. Kitty on a Friday night?"

Both Jackie and Steven shared a look of annoyance.

"However!" he waved the lollipop, "Ms. Kitty is known for making phone-calls to guilt us into going to Sunday dinners…" Donna frowned.

"That means I must consider the whole picture! And that leads me to ask the question: why has she never called me to see if I will make dinners?" he asked affronted.

Everyone rolled their eyes in unison at Fez – not surprisingly – being unhelpful. Fez pouted and sucked on his candy for comfort. Steven reached over and patted him on the shoulder in sympathy.

Jackie took a sip of her tea trying to calm her nerves at almost being found out.

Keeping this all under wraps was a lot more stressful than she had thought it would be. She almost wondered if they should just tell them all now. Then there would be no cover-up explanations or quick conversation-turns to make. But as long as she had Steven on her side helping her dodge and block their friends' tendency to ask too many questions she should be able make it to the three month mark…right?

By the time everyone had gone home it had been past Jackie's new – early – bedtime. Steven had practically put her to bed, serving as her eyes and hands as he helped her through her nighttime routine. The last thing she remembered was the sound of him rustling through their dresser as he changed into pajamas.

Kelso took measured steps into the living room as he locked the front door behind him. He considered turning on the light but thought it better to not take any chances. In the last couple of nights he'd learned the layout of the path to their bedroom so well he could probably make the trip with his eyes closed. Not that he'd try.

At least not while Brooke was still mad at him.

He made a quick detour to the bathroom before going to check on Betsy. He opened the door to her room and saw her fast asleep, drooling on her pillow. Kelso slowly made his way to the side of her bed. Pushing back the hair on her face he kissed her forehead wondering how much longer he'd need to keep doing this.

Betsy stirred in her sleep, roughly asking, "Daddy?"

He hushed her soothingly, "Go back to sleep, baby." She easily fell back asleep as he rubbed her head.

Quietly, he closed her door and went to his own room. This was always the trickiest part of this whole charade.

He liked to imagine he was a spy – or a ninja – when he snuck into their bedroom. Secretly making his way through the boobytraps just like Indiana Jones. There was even a theme song he had been working on and concept art he had doodled on a napkin while waiting for his last interview.

Thinking of the next chorus he steadily opened and shut the door, not even a creak to be heard. He began unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it out of the waistband of his pants.

"Turn the light on Michael."

"What the - !" he jumped about a foot in the air and he could swear his heart had stopped for a moment.

"Turn. The light. On. Michael."

He'd been found out. Mission failed.

Reluctantly he switched the light on and was then able to see Brooke seated upright in their bed with her arms crossed.

He laughed nervously, "Hi honey…"

"Michael we need to talk about this," Brooke said firmly.

Kelso continued undressing hoping that if he kept the mood light he could get her to let it go and they could just go to sleep. He just needed a little more time to figure it all out. She didn't need to tell him he had screwed up, he knew it.

"Oh. Yeah. Duh," he laughed nervously again.

But she didn't smile or move, only her eyes followed him.

He chose to remain quiet. Stretching out time by folding his pants and shirt – something they both knew he never did – and laying them on the dresser.

Kelso continued to take his time putting on his pants and was two buttons in on his top before Brooke cracked.

"Michael!" she hissed and he jumped again before speedily doing up the rest of the row of buttons.

"Okay, right, okay," he breathed and sat down stiffly next to his wife. "So…?"

Brooke looked at him exasperated, "So?"

He winced.

She repeated, "So?"

Kelso opened his mouth to reply but didn't have a chance.

"So, how about you explain to me why you've been avoiding me and your daughter for days?" she said bitingly. Again he tried to reply but she continued, "Or why even Steven and Eric don't know anything about where you've been? Or why when I went to your work they said you didn't work there anymore?"

This time he waited to see if there was more and when she didn't continue he spoke up, "Baby I can explain – "

"Are you cheating on me?" she asked abruptly, eyes welling with tears.

He was so shocked he didn't know how to respond which didn't help Brooke's fears. Tears began to slide down her face.

"Baby, no! No, I swear that's not it – I – I wouldn't!" his eyes widened and he felt desperate to stop that thought in its tracks.

"Then what is it? What is so bad you can't even stand to be around me?" she searched his face for an answer, tears still falling.

Kelso looked in her eyes and knew there was no other option but the truth. No matter how ashamed he felt that he'd let her down yet again.

Yes so here we are…thank you to those of you still following along! Stay safe xx