Chapter 13

Steven Hyde had had a very weird day.  He woke up in the back of his own car after being abducted by his ex-girlfriend.  The same ex-girlfriend he had spent the entire summer trying to get back only to decide that he shouldn't get back.  Not that he didn't want her back.  He had just decided that they weren't meant to be.  Then after waking up and listening to her poor out her soul –he had again changed his mind.  She wanted him back.  She was willing to forgive.  She had done it already.  And damn it if he wasn't strong enough to deny her anything.  She was crying and trying to convince him that he was good enough.  She was trying to convince him that they could live happily ever after.  She was saying that she would never leave him.  But could he believe it?  Could he trust? 

"Steven what are you saying?" Jackie asked frantically.  Her eyes were pleading not to hurt her.  And he didn't want to –not ever again. 

He pulled away from her embrace and she reluctantly let go.  The look on her face almost floored him – she looked absolutely killed, thinking that he was saying that he couldn't believe in their love.  He pulled her up ignoring both the first look and the new confused one.  Once she was standing he kneeled and took the hand that already showed evidence of what they had been denying all summer.  He took a deep breath and looked up at her.

"Jackie Burkhart.  I love you.  I've never loved anyone else in my life and I had been pretty okay with that.  I was afraid of letting anyone in.  But you didn't knock –you didn't ask permission –you just barged on in and took up residence.  And I know that I have hurt your feelings, I've hurt you –but I'm going to try to stop.  I'm probably going to fail a lot.  I'm too strong in the ways of Zen to ever be some romantic Foreman guy –but I'm going to try," he smiled as she laughed at the Foreman comment, "I don't want to ever leave you –and I don't want you to leave me.  And that is why I want to ask you something.  I need more than our words and how we feel right now to bind us.  So Jackie –will you marry me?"

The look of shock on Jackie's face was worth more than any good thing that Hyde could ever remember experiencing.  She looked stunned –like someone had shot her with a freeze ray from some bad spy movie – then all of a sudden he couldn't see her look anymore because his arms were full – of 95 pound squealing Jackie love. 

"YES YES YES YES YES – I love you – I'll marry you whenever –wherever –YES!"

He laughed.  God what was this strange feeling?  He felt warm and light headed and tremendously relieved.  It was over.  It had just begun.  He had never been happier in his life.  He pulled her out of his embrace.

"Well I figure we can wait until you graduate.  But just so you know –we have it settled.  That ring means something, even when we were loaded it meant something.  All this issue shit is settled.  If any new ones pop up we will deal with them too.  No more teenage angst crap". 

She nodded in agreement grinning from ear to ear.  Then out of nowhere began to frown.  Hyde was alarmed.

"What?"

"I just realized something."
He was really alarmed now.  "What?"

"We have been back together for like 3 minutes and you haven't kissed me yet".  She laughed.  And he joined her.

"Well that can be remedied easily enough" he leaned in slowly letting them enjoy every minute of what they hadn't done in way too long.  The kiss was soft, chocked full of emotion, and longer than any kiss either had experienced before.  He savored it.  It felt like coming home.  Or no that wasn't it –it felt like never leaving home.  Like peace and fulfillment and a thousand other pansy emotions he never thought he could feel let alone enjoy.  When they came up for air he instantly attacked her again, falling back in the sand.  He would never be alone again.  He could feel it.  He could feel her.  And it felt good.

Born to the red rising sun
a silver ring and a bottle of rum
the lonesome coup is nothing new
I'll toast it anyway just for fun

How could we know about this?
She gave that little ring a twist
she swelled up and cried as if something had died
I felt it slip right through my fist

The ivy on the wrought iron gate
I'm beginning to like at any rate
the wind in the trees sing my decrees
you know of another while we wait

I can feel you
when you're 500 miles away or if you're in the next room
I can feel you

A flat bed on a dusty road
a rusty red and a heavy load
sometimes it's fast and sometimes it's trash
but it's as loud as the rooster crow

I'll take the quickest way
across the river by the rolls of hay
the local farms are such a charm
the apple tress and the dapple gray

Born to the red rising sun
a silver ring and a bottle of rum
the lonesome coup is nothing new
I'll toast it anyway just for fun                                                                                       I can feel u                                                                                                             

Jump,Little Children :  I can feel u

 +Note:  Okay guys that is it.  I thought about writing the way home but I didn't want to push it.  This seemed like the ending I was looking for.  If you like maybe I'll write a new story that takes place when they get back and everybody's reaction to their adventures and engagement. I really like the story line I just wanted this one to be done –finished – happy ending.  But I could pick it up again in another story and not feel like I'm tampering with this one. Just tell me if you would be interested.  I really appreciate everyone who read and especially liked and reviewed.  I'm happy with how my first two multi-chaptered fics turned out. (I'm cheesy though).   Hope you are too.  J+H forever.