Chapter Four

September 1979

"I'm pregnant."

Donna didn't say anything at first, but her face sure did. The blonde furrowed her brows together, her confusion arising, before her lips pinned together. She looked at her friend, who appeared to be exhausted.

Her eyes were red, and puffy like she had been crying, and there were dark bags under her eyes like she hadn't slept. Hell, Jackie Burkhart wouldn't be caught dead in what she was wearing outside of her house right now. She knew who's it was. There was no doubt it was Hyde's, but he left for Vegas and still hadn't returned three weeks later.

Jackie watched Donna intently, but her face was blank.

Tears came to her eyes, however, and her lip quivered, taking the brunette by surprise. "I'm sorry I haven't been a good friend." She whispered, placing a hand on Jackie's lap, before wrapping her in a hug. "I hardly even spent time with you over the last few months... I don't call. And now you're alone with Hyde's baby." She apologized. Jackie rubbed her back, sniffling.

"It's okay, there's a lot going on." She sympathized with the blonde.

"You're not going to go through this alone. You have me." She reassured the brunette, hugging her a bit tighter. "Always."

November 1984

Thanksgiving Day

She woke to Shelby kissing her face early that morning.

Groggily, she opened her eyes, and smiled when she smelled coffee brewing downstairs. She padded downstairs, still in her pajamas, to find Laurie pouring a cup of coffee for herself, but pulled out an extra mug for the girl.

"Good morning, sunshine." She beamed at her psuedo-sister. "Coffee?"

"Yes please." She smiled thankfully, letting Shelby out into the chilly morning air. "Happy Thanksgiving!" Fez cheered from the living room, still in his spot on the pull-out couch. Jackie laughed. "Happy Thanksgiving, Fezzy!" Jackie laughed, sitting at the kitchen table. Her leg bounced.

"I know you're nervous. You and Ty are gonna be fine." She nodded. "We'll all be there."

Her and Laurie became close during her pregnancy. Since then, Laurie had really grown up, gotten a degree in business management, and opened her own salon. At first, Jackie worked for her, as a receptionist, then downstairs in the spa as an esthetician, before she eventually was offered a job for Wake Up Wisconsin. Laurie, while evidently sad that they wouldn't be working together anymore, was extremely supportive of her branching out.

After reassuring her that everything would be fine, the couples arose from their slumbers, and headed home to prepare for Thanksgiving. Her house fell quiet again. She breathed in her solitude, scratching Shelby's ears, when she sat beside her, waiting for the peanut butter cookies to be done.

That was another thing Tyler had inherited from her father, her insatiable love for Banana Cream Pie and Peanut Butter cookies. She shut the oven off, leaving the cookies inside of the oven so that Shelby wouldn't take them like she did last year. Her shower was a quick one, knowing she would arrive at Kitty's early to help her and get Tyler ready for the day. And keep her away from Steven.

Tyler Rose Burkhart-Hyde was a small girl, with unruly raven curls. She had eyes of blue, just like her Daddy, and had his soft face. Her grin was all him, but sometimes she would make a face and all she could see is herself. She was innocent and well behaved, like her mother. But, she supposed that was nurture rather than nature. Or whatever it was that Brooke had said.

She blow dried her hair out in waves, and put on a beautiful army green dress that was long sleeved, and flared out at the bottom, stopping at her knees. Her shoes were heeled, and she leashed up Shelby, letting her into the Chevelle, along with her peanut butter cookies, before making the drive to Kitty's.

She pulled into her designated spot next to Fez's car, and breathed deeply. Fez and Laurie were home, so it was okay. She unhooked Shelby, who excitedly ran over to Red, who was in the garage. Red scratched her ears, and waved at Jackie. "Happy Thanksgiving!" He called. She smiled, walking over wearing a jacket. He smiled at the plate in her hands. "Your girl absolutely loves those."

"I know. She get's it from her father." She eyed the doorway. "Listen, you know I don't do this mushy crap, but I'm not too thrilled about it either. Not after what he did to you and my family. Or even Kelso." He nodded at the door. "Ty has been looking for you all morning."

She smiled up at Red. "Thanks, Red. Shelby girl, let's go!" She called. Shelby trotted over to the door, and Jackie led her in, stepping into the warm kitchen, and hanging Shelby's leash by the door. "Jackie! Happy Thanksgiving!" Kitty embraced her, like always. Shelby greeted her too, tail wagging so much she started to wiggle.

"Mama!" She heard Tyler from upstairs. She grinned, darting into the living room to meet Tyler, who was in Laurie's arms on her way down the stairs. "Mama!"

"Hi baby!" She cooed, when she was finally handed her daughter, who nuzzled into her neck. "I missed you, sweetheart. Did you have fun with Mimi and Grampy?" She asked, grinning. "Uh-huh. I miss you too, Mama."

"How does your arm feel?" She asked, examining her bright green cast. It was a pain in the ass to keep her still and from getting it wet. She shrugged. "Better. I take medicine from Mimi too."

The Foreman's living room hadn't changed that much besides the furniture, and the pictures in it. Some were from when Hyde, Laurie, and Eric were younger. Portraits of Betsy and Tyler hung on the walls, along with pictures of Jackie and Red at car shows, pictures from college graduations. But her favorite one was of Eric and Tyler in the hospital when she was born. Shelby trotted into the room, getting excited to see Tyler, who gasped in delight.

"Shelby!" She squealed, making her smile.

"Wouldn't have ever pictured ya gettin' a dog either." Another voice observed from the den, making her jump.

"Hi 'Teven." Tyler waved without looking, too engrossed in greeting her dog. "Hey, kiddo."

She narrowed her eyes at him, and he raised an eyebrow. "I could say so many things right now, but my four year old is in the room." As if on cue, she was saved, when the front door opened, and Donna and Eric shuffled in with Sam. Tyler's eyes lit up.

"Unca Eric!" She squealed in delight, running over at top speed, and jumping into his waiting arms. "Tater tot!" He lifted her, kissing her cheek. "Aunt Donna!" She leaned over for a kiss. "Hey, baby!"

Hyde just watched, feeling like a stranger in his own home. And, he guessed he was. "Hey, Foreman." He greeted, casually, tone even. Maybe even Zen. Eric's moment was shattered though, and he placed his goddaughter down on the floor. "Why don't you go play with Betsy, and either Mommy or me will be up later, okay?" She looked up with big, blue eyes, and nodded. "Okay, Unca Eric. C'mon, Shelby." She told them, her small voice making Jackie smile. Her and Shelby trotted up the stairs.

"Ya know, Hyde, you have a lot of nerve coming back here after what you did." He shook his head, finally responding to Hyde's half ass greeting.

"What has your panties in a twist, Foreman?" He asked, gruffly. He looked at Jackie, lips set in a pin line, before sighing. "First of all, you hurt my parents and my best friend." He listed, and Jackie gave a small, weak smile.

"Since when is Jackie Burkhart your best friend?" He scoffed. "Maybe she hurt me."

"Maybe you're too much of an asshole-"

"Enough!" Fez boomed, swinging through the kitchen door with Red on his heels. "Are you really fighting under the same roof as your Goddaughters?" He asked, making Eric look at Jackie apologetically. "And, on this, the most magical of holidays?"

"Fez, buddy, you say that about every holiday." Donna laughed, but cut herself off after earning a glare.

"I'm betting that everyone wants to kick Hyde in the nads right now, but it's Thanksgiving. We need to get through it as a family. For Betsy and Tyler, and my sweet new nieces." He cooed at Donna's tiny bump.

"Great job, Fezzy!" Red clapped Fez on the back.

"With the gutters yesterday? Or with this?" He tilted his head in confusion, but smiled. Red rolled his eyes, some things never changed. Betsy and Tyler walked down the stairs, hand in hand.

"Grampy, can we go for a walk?" Tyler asked, looking up at him through puppy dog eyes. "Of course we can, why don't we put you in a coat, huh?" He told them, smiling proudly. He pointed at Steven. "Don't be a dumbass. There are three grown men waiting to pummel you, and if I get mad, I can't promise I'll hold them back." He told him, raising an eyebrow.

Briefly, Jackie wondered why he stayed to get all this backlash, and what had suddenly prompted his return, but was pulled out of her thoughts when Eric dragged her into the kitchen, making her squeak in surprise. He was wearing his nice clothes, a pair of khaki straight slacks, dress shoes, and a button up shirt. His hair was still in it's classic mess, though. "What?" She asked him finally, raising an eyebrow.

"I wanna kill him." He told her.

"No you don't. You're just angry, we all are. But, like Fez said. Let's be civil. For the girls." She told him, and he embraced her in a hug.

"I'm sorry that he wasn't there for Tyler. I'm more angry about that than my own selfish reasons." He confessed. She smiled weakly. "It's fine. She has her Godfather and her Uncles." The two let go, the unspoken understanding finally voiced.

Eric made sure that Tyler never felt like she didn't have a father. Sure, his duties as Uncle Eric would never suffice, but he made sure she had everything she wanted, and took her to the park, and when Jackie was pregnant, he even accompanied her to her doctors appointments.

"You okay?" Donna finally entered the room. Jackie smiled. "I will be. Like I said-"

"You don't wanna rock the boat. Understood." Donna hugged her friend quick. Kitty fluttered in, light and airy like always, hair in curlers, and pulled the turkey out of the oven to baste it. It was almost nostalgic, all of them here under one roof, Hyde included. But the sweet nostalgia melted away into uncertainty.

He didn't look bad, like she had expected. She almost wished he had gone on a bender, or something, but now he owned his own record label. He aged nicely, and he dressed appropriately, foregoing his t-shirt and jeans for a button down and black slacks. He still wore those stupid shades, though. And, whenever Tyler wore sunglasses, she had to fight the urge to cry.

She smiled, at the outpour of support and love, grinning ear to ear. And suddenly, she didn't feel so terrified anymore.