Chapter 7 The Inquiring Mind Of Steven Hyde Wants To Know

Mid June

Jackie pretended to be asleep as she watched Hyde strum his guitar in their bedroom. He didn't want to talk about "the situation" with her ex-husband nor about Eric. Jackie and Donna (who also said Eric didn't want to talk about it, either) knew they were going to be okay, that the worst was behind them and it would just take some time for them to get back to something called a 'friendship'. Jackie was worried about Brad, he had the money and the connections to really cause trouble for their household. Jackie had money for top attorneys but she didn't have the Country Club Golf House Connections like he did. Brad knew a great many judges and attorneys personally. She wasn't going to let him have custody of Tiffany nothing is as strong as a loving Mother's will. BUT Brad could stop the adoption and Steven had a small criminal record that would go against him. Social workers could come in and find his various stashes which Jackie told him if he couldn't stop smoking it, to keep it in one specific place mostly near a toilet for a quick flush. There was a what's-going-to- happen-to-us cloud hanging over them while she made sure his suit was finished for the wedding and the last of the preparations were made. She also didn't want Tiffany to know what was going on. The little girl has been through enough. Hyde put his guitar up against the wall and sighed deeply like trying to suck up all the bad in the world. He was starting to come towards her so she closed her eyes and pretended to be still asleep.

"Jackie, wake up." He lightly shook her shoulders.

"Hi, Steven," She kissed his cheek and watched as he pulled away, "What's wrong?"

"We really need to talk and I hate talking." He grumbled.

Jackie sat up so he could sit next to her on the bed.

"What is it? Is it Brad?"

"Yes and no-I think we should postpone----"

"NO!" Jackie crawled out of the bed and over his body to stand up. "Steven, NO!"

"But-"

"No, buts, I love you Steven Hyde and I'm not about to let you run away. F*** Brad. We'll get through this.just don't say you don't want to marry me." She wrapped her arms around his body and pulled him to her. The smell of her perfume rapturing him in again.

"I do want to marry you, but I'm going to tear apart this family. And that's what I'm good at-tearing apart a family."

"Ssh, Steven. Don't talk bull****. You are not the reason why your parents are terrible people."

"I don't want you to lose Tiffany."

"I'm not going to lose OUR daughter. You don't have to worry about that. We're getting married in a month. We deserve to be happy, Steven. Brad can't take our happiness away."

Hyde kissed her, "You are an amazing woman, Jackie."

"I know-" She kissed his stubble worn cheek, "But I'm glad you realize that."

The phone rang and Jackie went to answer it.

'It has to be Donna' thought Hyde and he was right as Jackie took the phone into another room as she playfully slapped his cheek on the way out the door.

"Hi, Steven!"

He smiled in spite of himself wanting to enjoy the bliss. "Hi, Tiffany. Do you need help with your buttons?"

"Yeah, I can't reach them!"

"I'll help you."

"I got another package but James said I need an adult to accompany me to get it-and Mommy's on the phone."

'Not another one' Hyde thought. Forman was sending Tiffany a Star Wars toy a month-some old, some new, not all big and splashy sometimes just little decals and pins. And he would sign his short note cards "Your Star Wars Buddy, Eric". Hyde accepted that they had a bond, but it still made him a little uncomfortable.

"Okay," Hyde said as he finished helping Tiffany with her buttons, "Let's go get your box."

"It's from Eric!" Tiffany said, as Jackie was about to re enter the room.

"Morning, baby." She kissed her daughter good morning.

"Hi, Mommy! Steven and I are going to get my box from Eric."

'Not another one' Jackie thought. Star Wars could only make her more of a tomboy, but if it made her daughter happy then that's what counted.

"How's Donna---and forman?" Hyde asked

"Good. Everything's all set. The only thing we all have to do is show up."

She didn't want to press Hyde on writing his own vows. She thought about writing her own but she wasn't as good a writer as Donna. Jackie was just grateful for another chance with Steven.

"Do I have to wear a dress?" Tiffany asked, holding Hyde's hand.

"Yes!"

"That sucks."

"Tiffany!"

Hyde laughed "Hey, she's only being honest, Jackie. Come on let's get your package."

"You're gonna get it." Jackie teased her daughter.

"Steven!" Tiffany said

"I know where your Mommy's ticklish spots are."

"Steven!" Jackie tried to run but only got as far as the hallway being tickled by her fiancée and daughter. This house has not heard laughter like that for a long time and Jackie was glad for it as the two of the most special people in her life had her giggling on the floor, tears of joy streaming down her face, and clutching her stomach.
Dill holes and Morons

In the mid afternoon Hyde found himself at an airport café in JFK. One of the indie labels he worked for was being chewed up by a big musical conglomerate to sell the Clearasil Nation neon colored cell phone plates and sweatshirts with corporate logos. They wanted to hire him on. Hyde could tell the man in his suit did not know a damn thing about rock and roll. He refused another big payoff, which made him feel he was either noble or stupid especially with a check from a record label. He called Jackie from his cell phone to let her know he'd be home soon. He finished his coffee as he mindlessly looked at the newspaper in front of him. Hyde stood up to throw his paper cup in the trash can and he could've sworn he heard someone say, "Donna, I love you.".

'Forman's here?' Hyde thought as he looked out of the corner of his eye with his peripheral vision. Hyde did not want to have a meeting with Forman although he could picture Jackie and Donna loving the idea. He just had a lot to sort through and it's not like they were sixteen in the basement having an argument over who was the best pinball player. Hyde but his back against the wall watching Forman undo his tie and throw it in his briefcase with his blazer as he put on his Phantom Menace hooded sweatshirt on.-Hoping he would not notice him and go to wherever the people who were going to St. Louis were going.

"hyde?" Eric asked as quietly as Hyde thought.

"forman." He replied in the same fashion. 'I should've made a run for it' he thought.

Eric took a deep breath, "So, um-what are you doing at the airport?"

"Turning down an offer from the corporate pigs."

"I'd take the money-" and Eric thought that probably made him sound capitalistic when he didn't mean it that way, "How's Jackie and Tiffany?" he asked nervously

"Fine. Tiffany got your box today."

Eric was waiting for the ultimatum from Hyde to stop sending Tiffany presents and loosened up a little when there wasn't one.

"That's good. She's a great kid."

"Yeah."

The room was starting to feel claustrophobic and Eric was relieved when the departures for St. Louis were announced.

"I gotta go. See you around, Hyde." Eric said almost looking him in the eye.

"Later, Forman." Hyde watched Eric leave and wondered if he should tell Jackie who he saw at the airport.-Would Eric tell Donna? He told her everything else-and if Donna and Jackie talked about it on the phone- he could just hear the "Steven! How come you didn't tell me?!" fly out of Jackie's mouth.

It was almost better when he and Forman weren't talking.
Later (after Jackie put Tiffany down for a nap)

Jackie was reading French Vogue when Hyde came in the living room after watching his soon to be step daughter sleep.

"Hi," Hyde kissed Jackie on the cheek.

"Hi, Steven-do you want to talk about something?"

"Not really," he sat down next to her, "I just want to tell you before you hear it from Donna and think I'm purposely not telling you-I ran into Forman at the airport-"

Jackie's eyes lit up as she put the magazine back on the glass and brass luxe coffee table.

"Really?! Steven, that's so---"

"It was nothing really. It was as if we were strangers-I don't know how we're going to get through that double wedding, but don't worry we will."

"Did you or Eric bring up what happened with Brad?"

"No," Hyde replied in you-are-joking-right way, "Guys don't talk like women."

"Well maybe you guys should."

"Oh, that is not an option, Jackie."

"Well at least you two made an effort."

"It was hardly an effort."

"Steven, do you hate Eric? I want you to think about it. Do you hate him?" "No. No, I don't hate, Forman." Although almost being killed by him twice was not the most endearing trait.

"I bet if Donna asks Eric, he'd say the same thing about you."

"That's all f***ing nice and fine, Jackie. However there's something else."

"What is it?" Jackie held his hand

"I don't know. It might never be the same between Forman and I and that's the closet you are going to get to me opening up on that matter. I'm going to take a shower." He kissed her before leaving the room.

When Jackie made sure that Steven was in the shower she dialed her phone.

"Hi, Donna-oh damn your voice mail. Pick up." Jackie was about to hang up when she heard Donna fumble to connect.

"What's up, Jackie? Eric and I just got back from the airport."

"Did he tell you what happened?"

"Uh-no." Donna didn't want to know

"Steven and Eric saw each other at the airport."

"What?"

"Yeah. Steven had to meet someone there and he and Eric had a rather tense but well meaning talk with each other."

"Really? Eric didn't say anything to me." Donna would have said that regardless of whether or not Eric was in the bedroom.

"Maybe he was going to tell you later in bed."

"I bet he's sleeping now-he gets jet lag."

"Donna, do you think we should---?" Jackie trailed her words off

"No. If Eric and Hyde are going to be friends they don't need us forcing it to happen."

"I hate to see them stalemated like this."

"I know, but at least it's better than them beating the crap out of each other." Donna advised.

"True," Jackie heard Tiffany's footsteps "I have to go, Donna. Tiffany's up from her nap. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, Jackie."

"Mommy!"

"Hey, sweetheart-I just tucked you in."

"I'm too big for naps," She sat on the couch next to her Mother, "Can I watch a movie?"

"May I watch a movie?" Jackie corrected

"May I watch a movie?"

"Do you want to watch Beauty and Beast?"

"No-Return of the Jedi!"

'Damn Eric' Jackie couldn't help but laugh at the same time being annoyed with him for getting her daughter hooked on Star Wars.

"Okay-put your tape in." She could always go back to her magazine while the movie played.

"Mommy!"

The videos were on a high shelf that Tiffany couldn't reach so Jackie had to get the tape for her daughter.

"Did you write Eric a thank you card?"

"Yeah." It was from some of the Strawberry Shortcake stationery kit that Jackie had purchased years ago because they were just so cute.

"Good girl," Jackie handed her the tape

"No, Mommy! This is Star Wars not Return of the Jedi."

"Ohhhh-Sorry." Jackie gave her daughter the correct tape and put Episode IV back in its slipcase.

"Can-May I have popcorn?"

"It's almost-okay, sure-just one small bowl you're getting though."

"Okay, Mommy!"

Jackie went in the kitchen to microwave a bowl of popcorn as Steven entered the living room as the John Williams score played.

"Steven! Do you want to watch Return of the Jedi? Mommy's making popcorn."

He sat down next to her on the plush sofa. "Sure-" Although he thought The first (IV) Star Wars was the best and the others after it especially the new one (Phantom Menace) sucked. It wasn't about him or Forman. It was about a little girl who liked the movies.

Jackie came in the popcorn five minutes later and even she couldn't resist sitting on the sofa with her daughter and fiancée watching a film. --Like a family.
2 Days Later

Hyde couldn't believe he was here. He didn't have any reason to be on an airplane today, yet that's where he was. He left while Jackie and Tiffany were asleep because he didn't want to explain it Jackie and have her get all emotional-he just left a voice mail message for her. Hyde had absolutely no reason to knock on the door yet he just did. These kind of apartment complexes didn't have doormen. He just walked up the stairs and that was that. He hoped that the red head would be home.

"Forgot your keys again, Donna?" Eric looked up and was surprised to see Hyde standing there instead of his fiancée

"Are you going to let me in?"

"Uh-yeah, of course. Would you---"

"You can skip the pleasantries, Forman. I want you to answer something for me."

Eric couldn't be mad at the tone of Hyde's voice, well he could be angry, but it wouldn't be fair-and he knew it.

"What?" He sat on the sofa and grabbed an ink pen off the coffee table and clicked the top on and off.

"I want to know was it," Eric watched Hyde go into his jeans pocket and put a couple of Coke vials on the table, which made Eric drop the pen "Was THIS worth it?"

"What?" Eric was numb, he couldn't believe Hyde was here and that he just put two vials on the table in front of him knowing full well that wasn't the smartest thing he could do.

"Was this powder worth it? You hurt your parents, especially your Mother, you stole off your sister, you hurt Donna immensely, why she still loves you I don't understand-and you almost KILLED ME, not once but twice."

Hyde knew the first time Eric was not hooked on drugs and it was because he found out about his affair with Donna and Eric was the one who landed in the hospital then but Red had Hyde arrested and even though the charges were dropped thanks in part to the lovely Mrs. Forman it still put a smudge on his all ready blurry record.

"I'm Sorry." Was the best that Eric could reply with.

"Sorry? Well that's not f**ing good enough, Forman."

"What do you want me to do, Hyde?" Eric looked down at the carpet.

"Donna had the pleasure of seeing you throw it away, I want to see you do the same for me."

"You purchased Cocaine just so you could see me throw it away? Christ, Hyde. What if a cop---"

"Stop it right there. Like you care about the police. I'm smart-I didn't get caught."

Eric stood up, "You are a real ass****."

"I don't care what you think of me. You are getting rid of it, because I deserve that much."

"What about when you beat me up while Tiffany-------"

"Don't even go there, Forman. And I hope you still don't use that as an excuse as to your relapse."

"I DIDN'T."

Eric grabbed the two vials from the table and pretended that they were filled with sugar because if he thought about it too hard he might not have been able to dispose of it. He undid the tops and poured the powder down the drain and threw the vials on top and turned the switch on for the garbage disposal.

"Are you happy now?" Eric asked over the grinding sounds

"You know something? Jackie asked me if I hated you and I told her 'no'- and it's true. But I do not like what you've become even before you put anything up your nose. You sold out, man. You are not the same Eric Forman whom I used to call my best friend. I suppose we'll still have to see each other at certain times, but I think it's best if we're no longer friends."

It was a big speech for Steven Hyde. He hated dealing with his emotions and guys despite Alan Alda and Phil Donahue did not talk about their feelings especially regarding other men. But this needed to be done. It was too little too late with Forman taking a golf club to Jackie's ex and saying he'd be a "great Father". It was a case of much too little and much too late as far as Hyde was concerned.

"You came all this way to---" as yet again Hyde cut Eric off

Eric watched as Hyde opened up the door and without turning to face the person he's known since grade school said,

"Goodbye, Forman."

And with that Steven Hyde was gone on his way back to the airport to go home to New York City to return to Jackie and his soon to be step daughter.

It hurt Hyde to 'rid himself' of Eric Forman but he was never going to admit it to anyone. Not Jackie and certainly not himself.