3 WEEKS LATER
Steven Hyde, having had a lot of time on his hands lately to think about the direction of his life, had come to a major decision. The only way he was going to get Jackie back was by making a grand gesture. He was tired of sitting around feeling sorry for himself. So he was going to have to get off his ass and do something about it. He was going to have to prove to Jackie how much he loved her and that he didn't want a future without her in it. This left him with only one option. Marry Jackie or die alone and miserable. He was already alone and miserable and he didn't intend to stay that way.
He had secretly gone to Conley's Jewelry store. He didn't want anyone to know of his plan in case it blew up in his face. He had picked out a beautiful ΒΌ carat diamond solitaire ring. It was smaller than he would have liked to get her but it was what he could afford. It had taken him forever to pick the right one. After all this was for Jackie, just any ring would not do. It would have to be special because Hyde had long ago discovered that Jackie wasn't just any girl, she was the one. He had just fought it for too long, thinking back on it now; he realized that he had never stood a chance against falling in love with her. She never gave up. She just persisted and pushed. Every time he pushed her away she came right back, loving him whether he wanted it or not, which deep down he always did. Recently he had discovered that he needed her love like he needed air to breathe.
She had already been gone for six weeks. The longest six weeks of his life. His imagination had come up with some terrifying things. What if she was happier without him? What if she had already met someone else? Who else might be touching what he considered to be his alone. He had to act now before his imaginings became reality.
Hyde had told Eric, Donna, Fez, and Kelso that he was going to New York City this coming weekend to go see Jackie and hopefully bring her back with him. The very next day they surprised him with a plane ticket to New York City. Hyde was shocked. It had been the last thing he would have expected them to do.
"Wow, you guys, I don't know what to say!" said Hyde, at a loss for words.
"Hyde, I'm just returning the favor. You did the same thing for me so that I could go see Donna in California. I just hope everything works out for you and Jackie the way it did for me and Donna." said Eric solemnly.
"So do I, So do I" said Hyde, because if it didn't he didn't know what he would do.
NEXT DAY...
Jackie Burkhardt was becoming accustomed to life in New York City although she knew that it would never be home. Steven hadn't tried to contact her at all in the last week which secretly scared her. Though as far as anyone else knew that was fine with her.
She had started working as a sales clerk in the lingerie department at Bloomingdale's two weeks ago. It was a very cool and exciting place to work. So far she's already seen several celebrities. She had seen Barbara Streisand, Burt Reynolds, and Chevy Chase. Things like that just didn't happen in Point Place.
Already in the six weeks she had been in New York City she had become very close to Jennifer. Jennifer amazed her. By all rights Jennifer should probably hate her. Jackie had grown up with the father Jennifer rarely saw, if ever and Jackie had also grown up with every possible advantage that her father's money could buy while Jennifer's mother struggled to make ends meet alone.
Lately Jackie had been feeling a bit sick in the mornings. Usually she would throw up and feel fine for the rest of the day but some days she felt terribly nauseous and dizzy all day. She had initially shrugged it off as a virus going around but as the days passed she had a nagging suspicion what the real problem might be. But that couldn't be, could it?
Jennifer liked for Jackie to go with her to her Dr.'s appointments which Jackie didn't mind because it was the least she could do for her sister considering all she had already done for her.
"Come on Jackie, We're going to be late" urged Jennifer.
"Alright, let me go to the bathroom first, and then I'll be ready to go."
"You just went!" said Jennifer, somewhat irritated.
"Well, I have to go again, must be all the water I've been drinking." said Jackie defensively.
"Yes, that must be it" said Jennifer sarcastically.
"What!" said Jackie angrily.
"Nothing, hurry up!"
Half an hour later they arrived at Dr. Harrison's office. After a short wait Jennifer's name was called and Jackie went in with her. The doctor performed a short examination and declared Jennifer to be in excellent health and said that the pregnancy was progressing normally. Jackie was about ready to walk out of the office when Jennifer said "No so fast!"
"Jackie, your sister says you've been experiencing some nausea, dizziness and frequent urination. She wants me to run a pregnancy test on you." said the Dr. calmly.
"I'm not pregnant!" said Jackie vehemently.
"When was the date of your last period?" enquired the Dr.
Jackie thought it over and realized she hadn't had one in awhile. "Around the end of May, probably the 28th." Jackie answered nervously.
"Which makes you about a month late." informed the Dr.
"I've been really upset and stressed lately and I'm sure that's why I'm late." argued Jackie.
"Are you sexually active?" asked the Dr.
"Yes"
"Then you need to be tested" the Dr. insisted.
Jackie scowled at Jennifer.
"Humor me"
"Fine!" Jackie said, aggravated that her sister had gone behind her back and arranged with this Dr. to test her. Jackie submitted to the tests the Dr. wanted to run. She had to pee in a cup and the Dr. took a blood sample. Half an hour later the Dr. came out to the waiting room to bring Jackie back into his office to give the results.
"Well.." said Jackie nervously.
"You, young lady, are definitely pregnant." stated the Dr. seriously.
"No I'm not! There's got to be something wrong with that test!" argued Jackie.
"Jackie, I ran a blood and urine test. Both were positive. You are most definitely pregnant, approximately 6 weeks I'd say." confirmed the Dr.
The words "6 weeks" echoed in her mind. That meant that she had gotten pregnant on her and Steven's last night together. She was numb with shock. "Oh my God, what am I going to do?" She put her head in her hands and began to cry.
"Jackie, I realize that this is a shock for you but you're going to have to make some difficult decisions. You have several options; having your baby, adoption, or a termination. What about your baby's father?"
"We're not together anymore" answered Jackie tearfully.
"I'm sorry to hear that" said the Dr. solemnly. "Well, I'm sure Jennifer will help you all she can."
Jackie just shook her head absently, not paying attention to the Dr.'s words. She felt like her world was coming to an end. What was she going to do now? She didn't know anything about babies, had never really been around any. Going back to Steven was not an option. She loved him but she wouldn't hang on to him that way. If they got back together now she would always wonder if it was out of love for her or out of a sense of duty to their child.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Jennifer coming back into the Dr.'s office. The Dr. handed Jackie an appointment card for next week for a thorough examination and a prescription for prenatal vitamins.
"Thank you Dr. Harrison. I appreciate you seeing her for me. I was getting kind of worried about her." said Jennifer gratefully. "Come on Jackie, let's go home"
"Ok" agreed Jackie dazedly. Jackie was silent all the way home. Once they arrived at Jennifer's apartment Jackie went to her room to lie down. She had a massive headache and she wanted to be alone.
No such luck. Jennifer came in and sat on the bed.
"When are you going to tell Steven?" asked Jennifer gently.
"I'm not going to tell him" answered Jackie listlessly.
"Why not? He has a right to know Jackie!"
"He didn't want to be with me anymore, so why would he want a baby?"
"Jackie, he made a mistake. He is sorry. He wants to make it up to you but you're too stubborn to let him." pleaded Jennifer.
"You talked to him?!" yelled Jackie.
"Yes, he called last night while you were at work"
"You're supposed to be on my side!"
"Jackie, I am on your side, but you are being stubborn as a mule! He loves you and he wants you to come home!"
"Well, he has a funny way of showing it" said Jackie sadly.
"Jackie, I'm not going to argue with you about this, now take a nap, and we'll talk about it later."
"Fine"
Jennifer kissed Jackie on the cheek.
"Everything will work out, you'll see" soothed Jennifer.
LATER THAT EVENING..
Donna had just finished eating supper when she decided that she would try to call Jackie. She had called earlier that day but no one had answered. The phone rang a few times before Jennifer picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hi Jennifer, Is Jackie there?"
"Yes, she is right here. Jackie, its Donna. Jennifer gave Jackie a look which she knew meant business. Jackie took her sweet time to take the phone from Jennifer.
"Hi Donna" said Jackie quietly.
"Hi Jackie, When are you coming home?" enquired Donna.
"I'm not" said Jackie matter-of-factly.
"Jackie, you have to come home. Everybody misses you. Hyde is going crazy. Jackie he loves you! How much longer are you going to punish him like this?"
"I'm not punishing him, just giving him what he wanted." said Jackie tonelessly.
"Jackie, he didn't mean any of the crap he said to you! He was freaking out about how serious you guys were getting!" reasoned Donna.
"What does he have to freak out about! He's not the one who's preg." Jackie blurted angrily, cutting herself short, realizing what she just said.
Donna though had heard enough of what Jackie had blurted out to figure out what was going on.
"Jackie, you're pregnant?!!"
"No"
"Don't lie to me!" yelled Donna.
"Ok fine, Donna! Yes, I am pregnant." confessed Jackie.
"You have to tell Hyde!"
"I don't have to do anything!"
"Jackie, you have to tell him! He has a right to know, it's his baby too!"
Donna turned around to find Hyde staring at her with his jaw hanging open from shock. Donna had been so wrapped up in her conversation with Jackie that she hadn't heard Bob let him in.
Steven Hyde, having had a lot of time on his hands lately to think about the direction of his life, had come to a major decision. The only way he was going to get Jackie back was by making a grand gesture. He was tired of sitting around feeling sorry for himself. So he was going to have to get off his ass and do something about it. He was going to have to prove to Jackie how much he loved her and that he didn't want a future without her in it. This left him with only one option. Marry Jackie or die alone and miserable. He was already alone and miserable and he didn't intend to stay that way.
He had secretly gone to Conley's Jewelry store. He didn't want anyone to know of his plan in case it blew up in his face. He had picked out a beautiful ΒΌ carat diamond solitaire ring. It was smaller than he would have liked to get her but it was what he could afford. It had taken him forever to pick the right one. After all this was for Jackie, just any ring would not do. It would have to be special because Hyde had long ago discovered that Jackie wasn't just any girl, she was the one. He had just fought it for too long, thinking back on it now; he realized that he had never stood a chance against falling in love with her. She never gave up. She just persisted and pushed. Every time he pushed her away she came right back, loving him whether he wanted it or not, which deep down he always did. Recently he had discovered that he needed her love like he needed air to breathe.
She had already been gone for six weeks. The longest six weeks of his life. His imagination had come up with some terrifying things. What if she was happier without him? What if she had already met someone else? Who else might be touching what he considered to be his alone. He had to act now before his imaginings became reality.
Hyde had told Eric, Donna, Fez, and Kelso that he was going to New York City this coming weekend to go see Jackie and hopefully bring her back with him. The very next day they surprised him with a plane ticket to New York City. Hyde was shocked. It had been the last thing he would have expected them to do.
"Wow, you guys, I don't know what to say!" said Hyde, at a loss for words.
"Hyde, I'm just returning the favor. You did the same thing for me so that I could go see Donna in California. I just hope everything works out for you and Jackie the way it did for me and Donna." said Eric solemnly.
"So do I, So do I" said Hyde, because if it didn't he didn't know what he would do.
NEXT DAY...
Jackie Burkhardt was becoming accustomed to life in New York City although she knew that it would never be home. Steven hadn't tried to contact her at all in the last week which secretly scared her. Though as far as anyone else knew that was fine with her.
She had started working as a sales clerk in the lingerie department at Bloomingdale's two weeks ago. It was a very cool and exciting place to work. So far she's already seen several celebrities. She had seen Barbara Streisand, Burt Reynolds, and Chevy Chase. Things like that just didn't happen in Point Place.
Already in the six weeks she had been in New York City she had become very close to Jennifer. Jennifer amazed her. By all rights Jennifer should probably hate her. Jackie had grown up with the father Jennifer rarely saw, if ever and Jackie had also grown up with every possible advantage that her father's money could buy while Jennifer's mother struggled to make ends meet alone.
Lately Jackie had been feeling a bit sick in the mornings. Usually she would throw up and feel fine for the rest of the day but some days she felt terribly nauseous and dizzy all day. She had initially shrugged it off as a virus going around but as the days passed she had a nagging suspicion what the real problem might be. But that couldn't be, could it?
Jennifer liked for Jackie to go with her to her Dr.'s appointments which Jackie didn't mind because it was the least she could do for her sister considering all she had already done for her.
"Come on Jackie, We're going to be late" urged Jennifer.
"Alright, let me go to the bathroom first, and then I'll be ready to go."
"You just went!" said Jennifer, somewhat irritated.
"Well, I have to go again, must be all the water I've been drinking." said Jackie defensively.
"Yes, that must be it" said Jennifer sarcastically.
"What!" said Jackie angrily.
"Nothing, hurry up!"
Half an hour later they arrived at Dr. Harrison's office. After a short wait Jennifer's name was called and Jackie went in with her. The doctor performed a short examination and declared Jennifer to be in excellent health and said that the pregnancy was progressing normally. Jackie was about ready to walk out of the office when Jennifer said "No so fast!"
"Jackie, your sister says you've been experiencing some nausea, dizziness and frequent urination. She wants me to run a pregnancy test on you." said the Dr. calmly.
"I'm not pregnant!" said Jackie vehemently.
"When was the date of your last period?" enquired the Dr.
Jackie thought it over and realized she hadn't had one in awhile. "Around the end of May, probably the 28th." Jackie answered nervously.
"Which makes you about a month late." informed the Dr.
"I've been really upset and stressed lately and I'm sure that's why I'm late." argued Jackie.
"Are you sexually active?" asked the Dr.
"Yes"
"Then you need to be tested" the Dr. insisted.
Jackie scowled at Jennifer.
"Humor me"
"Fine!" Jackie said, aggravated that her sister had gone behind her back and arranged with this Dr. to test her. Jackie submitted to the tests the Dr. wanted to run. She had to pee in a cup and the Dr. took a blood sample. Half an hour later the Dr. came out to the waiting room to bring Jackie back into his office to give the results.
"Well.." said Jackie nervously.
"You, young lady, are definitely pregnant." stated the Dr. seriously.
"No I'm not! There's got to be something wrong with that test!" argued Jackie.
"Jackie, I ran a blood and urine test. Both were positive. You are most definitely pregnant, approximately 6 weeks I'd say." confirmed the Dr.
The words "6 weeks" echoed in her mind. That meant that she had gotten pregnant on her and Steven's last night together. She was numb with shock. "Oh my God, what am I going to do?" She put her head in her hands and began to cry.
"Jackie, I realize that this is a shock for you but you're going to have to make some difficult decisions. You have several options; having your baby, adoption, or a termination. What about your baby's father?"
"We're not together anymore" answered Jackie tearfully.
"I'm sorry to hear that" said the Dr. solemnly. "Well, I'm sure Jennifer will help you all she can."
Jackie just shook her head absently, not paying attention to the Dr.'s words. She felt like her world was coming to an end. What was she going to do now? She didn't know anything about babies, had never really been around any. Going back to Steven was not an option. She loved him but she wouldn't hang on to him that way. If they got back together now she would always wonder if it was out of love for her or out of a sense of duty to their child.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Jennifer coming back into the Dr.'s office. The Dr. handed Jackie an appointment card for next week for a thorough examination and a prescription for prenatal vitamins.
"Thank you Dr. Harrison. I appreciate you seeing her for me. I was getting kind of worried about her." said Jennifer gratefully. "Come on Jackie, let's go home"
"Ok" agreed Jackie dazedly. Jackie was silent all the way home. Once they arrived at Jennifer's apartment Jackie went to her room to lie down. She had a massive headache and she wanted to be alone.
No such luck. Jennifer came in and sat on the bed.
"When are you going to tell Steven?" asked Jennifer gently.
"I'm not going to tell him" answered Jackie listlessly.
"Why not? He has a right to know Jackie!"
"He didn't want to be with me anymore, so why would he want a baby?"
"Jackie, he made a mistake. He is sorry. He wants to make it up to you but you're too stubborn to let him." pleaded Jennifer.
"You talked to him?!" yelled Jackie.
"Yes, he called last night while you were at work"
"You're supposed to be on my side!"
"Jackie, I am on your side, but you are being stubborn as a mule! He loves you and he wants you to come home!"
"Well, he has a funny way of showing it" said Jackie sadly.
"Jackie, I'm not going to argue with you about this, now take a nap, and we'll talk about it later."
"Fine"
Jennifer kissed Jackie on the cheek.
"Everything will work out, you'll see" soothed Jennifer.
LATER THAT EVENING..
Donna had just finished eating supper when she decided that she would try to call Jackie. She had called earlier that day but no one had answered. The phone rang a few times before Jennifer picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hi Jennifer, Is Jackie there?"
"Yes, she is right here. Jackie, its Donna. Jennifer gave Jackie a look which she knew meant business. Jackie took her sweet time to take the phone from Jennifer.
"Hi Donna" said Jackie quietly.
"Hi Jackie, When are you coming home?" enquired Donna.
"I'm not" said Jackie matter-of-factly.
"Jackie, you have to come home. Everybody misses you. Hyde is going crazy. Jackie he loves you! How much longer are you going to punish him like this?"
"I'm not punishing him, just giving him what he wanted." said Jackie tonelessly.
"Jackie, he didn't mean any of the crap he said to you! He was freaking out about how serious you guys were getting!" reasoned Donna.
"What does he have to freak out about! He's not the one who's preg." Jackie blurted angrily, cutting herself short, realizing what she just said.
Donna though had heard enough of what Jackie had blurted out to figure out what was going on.
"Jackie, you're pregnant?!!"
"No"
"Don't lie to me!" yelled Donna.
"Ok fine, Donna! Yes, I am pregnant." confessed Jackie.
"You have to tell Hyde!"
"I don't have to do anything!"
"Jackie, you have to tell him! He has a right to know, it's his baby too!"
Donna turned around to find Hyde staring at her with his jaw hanging open from shock. Donna had been so wrapped up in her conversation with Jackie that she hadn't heard Bob let him in.