Tuesday November 18, 1986
Eric sat at his desk. He watched the people of the office walk back and forth in front of his open window. He could see the customers and the tellers of the bank. He was so bored.
"Foreman." Eric perked up and looked at his pudgy, semi-tall, mid-life crisis boss.
"Mr. Tyron, how nice to see you." Eric smiled.
"You've been doing a great job Foreman. You reeled in Mr. Bryant, and Judy Garth. Two HUGE spenders of Wisconsin. We've been trying to get them for three years. I'm impressed." The mid-life crisis boss said.
"Well thank you Mr. Tyron… I—" Eric said, a bit taken aback.
"It takes a lot to impress me." Mr. Tyron cut Eric off. "Ask my son. But when I am impressed, I like to reward the person who has done something so… impressive." Mr. Tyron shrugged.
"Mr. Tryon I don't need a—"
"I would like you to use the little lady and mine's cabin. It's up in Massachusetts. Very, very nice, right on the beach and everything." Mr. Tyron smiled.
"Wow… thank you Mr.—" Eric began smiling.
"It's for this weekend. Friday to Monday, you have off, you may leave early, and I'll give you keys and directions tomorrow." Mr. Tyron began to leave.
"Mr. Tyron, how many rooms are there?" Eric asked.
"Three." Mr. Tyron smiled and left. Eric looked at the ceiling, pointed up, smiled, winked, grabbed his coat and ran.
*
Friday November 21, 1986
Jackie and Hyde settled into the light pink room of the Cisco Beach Cabin, Eric's boss was letting them use.
"It was nice of Eric to let us spend the weekend over here with him and Donna." Jackie smiled putting her clothes in the closet.
"He's passing this off as part of his wedding present." Hyde shook his head. Jackie shrugged.
"Whatever." Jackie stretched in her capri's and sweat jacket. "I'm going to go play with Luke. Give the couple a break." She kissed the top of Hyde's head and left. Hyde looked out the window to see Eric, Donna, and Luke at the car. Donna was pointing at several different spots. While Eric finished unloading the van they had rented. He saw Jackie walk out and steal Luke; giving Donna another hand to use to point to various spots and lecture her husband.
Hyde smirked.
*
"Who's my god son?" Luke laughed as Jackie smiled at him.
"My son is already eight months old." Donna smiled from the kitchen counter.
"I know." Jackie smiled back. "Where's dufus and dummy?"
"They went out, to have some "guy fun." Which is good, we can talk about the bachelorette party!" Donna said excitedly.
"I told you, I don't want one." Jackie smiled, rubbing her nose with Luke's nose. In response he laughed. Luke made a "j" ((like jack…if you stretch out the j… just nod)) sound, but continued to laugh.
"Jackie… shut up." Donna said, writing down things. "One or two male strippers?"
"Donna!"
*
Hyde laughed as the thin veil of smoke floated around the beach. Eric coughed a bit but laughed.
"Dude! So cool!" Eric laughed.
"I know man!" Hyde smiled.
"Oh, oh Fez booked baby spice for your bachelor party!" Eric said excitedly.
"Oh man! Jackie's going to freak." Hyde said.
"Yeah… but come on… baby spice." Eric laughed.
"So going to freak." Hyde repeated.
"So what?" Eric laughed and leaned back, falling off the log. "I'm ok." Came the reply from the floor.
*
"Why are you two so hungry?" Donna asked suspicious. Hyde and Eric were scarfing down the various foods on the table.
"I wonder why." Jackie said from the living room. As Luke sat in her lap, gurgling over the cartoon character on the TV.
"We are GROWN men!" Eric said. And then stuffed fries in his mouth.
"Oh really…" Donna said, looking at her husband.
"Yes!" Hyde and Eric said together. Scarfing down their food.
"Well grown men sleep in the third room." Donna said and then walked towards the stairs.
"Really? I thought grown men slept on the couch?" Jackie said, innocently.
"Actually… you are very right Jackie." Donna said, looking at her husband. "Hope the couch is comfy, you big man, you."
"Night boys." Jackie said, accenting her last word. Eric and Hyde scoffed at their wife and fiancé, respective fully, and went back to scarfing food.
*
"So…" Eric said in the dark. It was one in the morning, and neither "man" could get to sleep.
"They not only locked your room… but the other two rooms."
"At least they left our clothes." Eric bargained.
"Didn't you slip on your shirt?"
"That's besides the point Hyde… they still left the clothes." Eric rubbed his head.
"Uh huh." Hyde said.
"Three more weeks." Eric said.
"I know."
"You guys got everything done?"
"Pretty much. We still have to talk to the photographer, who's coming the sixth. So… yeah." Hyde shrugged.
"And you guys got vacation time and everything… right?"
"Jackie almost got fired, but her new boss is being real cool about it, gave her an extra week even."
"Cool." Eric said.
"You and Donna coming down…"
"On the fourth till the fifteenth. Just like Donna promised." Eric said.
"Following through nicely with your wife's plan?"
"Of course… she'll divorce me if I even joke about messing with her plan."
*
Saturday November 22, 1986
"No, no… Lilly…" Jackie walked outside, onto the patio. Donna finished making some eggs and bacon for breakfast.
Hyde was on the couch, still snoozing. While Eric had half his body on the couch and the other hanging off.
"Eric!" Donna shouted. There was a loud thump and a moan.
"Ow." Eric said standing up and looking at Donna.
"Morning… it's almost eleven." Donna said placing two plates of eggs on the table.
"That's… nice." Hyde said, yawning, and sitting at one of the egg plate seats.
"What time did you two end up going to sleep?" Donna said placing bacon on their plates.
"Two." The two replied; taking humanly bites of their eggs and bacon.
Jackie walked back in and sat near the sliding door.
"What's wrong?" Hyde asked, smiling at her.
"They lost my file…" Jackie said rubbing her temples.
"File?" Eric asked, taking a bit of his eggs.
"Yes… it had all the models I approved. It had their profiles, pictures, everything. And the office just, some how magically, lost it." Jackie put her head down.
"Don't you have a back up?" Donna asked placing a plate in front of Jackie.
"Yes… it's at the house. But I had to get the file in by yesterday night. I'm so going to get fired." Jackie moaned.
"No you won't." Hyde got up and kissed her. He grabbed the phone and dialed a number. "Hi… Jordan?... it's Hyde… Hi… do me a favor?"
*
"I love you!" Jackie smiled as she and Hyde laid on the bed.
"I know."
"I didn't know Jordan had a key to the apartment." Jackie kissed Hyde.
"Yeah, I don't trust you." Hyde smiled.
"Cute." Jackie said. "Lilly said everything is ok, the boss ain't gonna kill me, and I can stay here."
"I'm like… a god… aren't I?" Hyde smirked.
"More like my hero." Jackie smiled and kissed her fiancé.
"Eh… I guess I'll settle for Hero."
"You have too… I'm not calling you a god… ever. You have too big of an ego already."
"I resent that."
*
"I think I want a tattoo." Donna said from the vanity. She looked at Eric through the mirror. Eric looked up from his "Interviews with the Star Wars Cast" book and stared at Donna, he then shrugged.
"Where?"
"I don't know… how about my back. It'll be a huge heart and say perfection." Donna smiled putting on her oil-free moisturizer for her face.
"Perfection?" Eric inquired.
"Since I'm a perfectionist, I figured it be a good thing." Donna smiled.
"Yet… you yourself are not perfect… far from it." Eric said going back to his book.
"So? That doesn't mean I can't have a really cool tattoo that says perfection."
"Yeah… but why put a lie on your body?" Eric asked, looking up, shaking his head, and looking at his book once again.
"You…" Donna started, and Eric looked up. "You… you… You scrawny little worm!" Donna said, got up, and promptly walked out of the bedroom.
"I'm not chasing after you!" Eric yelled to her fleeting form. "I mean it." Eric sat and watched the hall for a minute and then threw his book down. "God damn that woman." He got up and then walked out of the room.
*
Sunday November 23, 1986
Hyde and Eric sat on the towel as Luke played in the sand. They both were watching the tide where Donna and Jackie had decided to hang out. Eric looked down at Luke who was hitting the sand with a plastic shovel.
"So… why did you and Donna have a huge fight, at night, outside, where the neighbor had to get out of his nice little beach house and throw a smoke can at you guys?" Hyde asked, barely controlling his laughter.
"Oh shut up… you curly haired freak." Eric said bitterly. Luke looked at the two men and gurgled. "What's wrong my young Jedi?" Eric asked his son.
Luke laughed, dug his shovel into the ground and then pulled it out… a huge crab at the end of it.
"Ah!" The two men scream, falling backwards as the crab approached them. Luke laughed happily, waving his arms up and down.
*
"He's such a boob." Donna said as she and Jackie sat where the water came up and back down again.
"I know." Jackie said, it had become an automatic response these days.
"I mean, if I want a tattoo… I can put anything I damn well please on it." Donna said hitting the wet sand, determined.
"Yes." Jackie said.
Donna stopped and looked at her long time friend. "Three more weeks, huh?"
"Yeah." Jackie said thoughtfully. "It seems so… so soon. Like… one minute I had three months, and now I'm down to three weeks. It's…"
"It's like where did the time go." Donna finished.
"Exactly." Jackie laughed a bit.
"What?" Donna asked smiling.
"Remember the night before your wedding?" Jackie giggled a bit more.
"Oh god… don't remind me." Donna said putting her hand over her eyes.
"God… that was… so great…" Jackie laughed. "You were all… crazy…"
"Jackie! Oh my god! JACKIE!" Donna screamed as she stared at herself in the hotel mirror. Jackie ran into the room, her eye mask over here eyes. She looked at her friend through the tiny slits of the ice eye mask.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I can't get married!" Donna said, flopping, face down, on the bed.
"Excuse me?" Jackie asked, an attitude forming in her tone.
"I love him… but where did it go. Wasn't it like, a week ago we had the bachorlette party… and I got a toaster?" Donna asked, face in the bed.
"Donna… the party was two days ago. And me and Steven gave you the toaster!" Jackie said, taking her face mask off.
"Jackie… I can't marry him…" Donna said.
"Why not?" Jackie asked, sitting next to her friend.
"He's scrawny." Donna cried into the bed. Jackie looked at her and then the ceiling and then back to Donna.
"Never seemed to bother you before."
"What if we get divorced? I mean… he has no job!"
"Donna! Listen to yourself." Jackie said.
"It's just… Jackie… I'm not going to be a good wife." Donna cried.
"Donna? Do you love Eric?"
"Yes."
"Would you do anything for him?"
"Yes."
"Would you give back anything?"
"No."
"Sweetie… you are going to be a great wife." Donna turned her head and looked at Jackie.
"Think so?"
"I know so! Come on… I'm the all knowing Jackie." Jackie smiled. Donna laughed a bit. "Now, I know there's a wedding in about fifteen hours. So why don't we get you drunk as a hobo on New Year's Eve and then crash royally."
"You are the only maid of honor who would tell the bride to be to get drunk."
"Yeah well… that's why there are so many divorces." Jackie smiled. Donna laughed.
"How was that funny?" Donna asked her friend.
"You had five shot glasses of vodka, spun around the room for twenty minutes and then crashed for ten hours. You were completely hung over for the first thirty minutes of the ceremony." Jackie laughed, falling back into the sand.
"I hate you." Donna pouted.
"Don't give me any alcohol." Jackie laughed. Donna pushed her friend.
*
Hyde sat near the tide; sipping the beer bottle he had taken with him. He stared into the ocean. He saw a shell and casually tossed it, far into the ocean.
"Whatcha doin'?" Hyde looked to his left to see Jackie in a pair of white pants, black clogs, a white tank top, and a black sweat jacket, her hair swung from a high pony tail.
"Looking at the ocean." Hyde shrugged. Jackie smiled and then sat in between his legs, leaning against his chest.
"It's pretty." She smiled.
"Yeah." Hyde said his knees were drawn up one hand casually over his left knee, and the right hand holding his beer.
Jackie slipped her left hand with his left hand and looked out into the ocean. The stars shone brightly and there was a crescent moon hanging high in the sky.
"It's so perfect." Jackie sighed.
"I know." Hyde said, kissing the top of her head.
"Do you remember the night you proposed?"
"Vaguely." Hyde grunted. Jackie smiled.
"Liar." She knew his cheeks were burning with a blush. "Two years ago…right after we made love…"
Jackie laid in Hyde's arms. Her breathing coming down from the heavy panting. She cocked her head and looked at Hyde.
"Hi." She said through her heavy breathing.
"Hi." He said back kissing her.
"It's two in the morning."
"I don't care." He kissed her again.
"I do." Jackie rolled over and then looked at him, turning her head. "I have work."
"Jackie…" Hyde said slipping his arm around her.
"Yeah?" She said, looking over her shoulder. Hyde got closer to her ear.
"Marry me." He whisper, Jackie barely heard him.
"Are you asking or commanding?" She rolled over, teasing. Hyde kissed her.
"I'm requesting…" Hyde teased back.
"Yes." Jackie smiled and kissed him.
"Good." Hyde whispered back. He kissed her. "Can I borrow three thousand dollars for the ring?"
"You… are such a romance killer."
"It's not like I took the three thousand." Hyde said.
"That was still a buzz kill you romance killer." Hyde groaned.
"Whatever." He kissed her head again. "I love you." Jackie dropped her head back, Hyde kissed her upside down.
"Mmm… suck up."
"Yes… but I'm good at it."
*
Wednesday November 26, 1986
Eric stared at Luke as he played with his plush Luke Skywalker doll. Donna walked into the nursery holding a stack of mail. She was looking at something when she looked at her husband and then her son. She rolled her eyes and then sat at the old rocking chair in the corner of the room.
"Enlighten me?" Donna said. Eric turned and looked at his wife. "Why does he play with your stupid star wars crap, but completely ignores my baby doctor toys?"
"Because the force is with him, while...he throws your baby Flintstones vitamins at you."
"You know…" Eric got on his knees, crawled to his wife, and kissed her.
"Yeah… I know." Eric then sat down and watched as Luke hugged his stuff animals. "Mom is babysitting tonight."
"Why?" Donna asked looking up from the mail.
"Because I got us Reservations at The Ritz." Eric smiled. Donna's eyes lit up.
"You are joking!"
"Nope!"
"Oh my god!" Donna flung her arms around her husband. "I love you! I love you! I love you!"
"Reservations at eight!" Eric smiled as Donna, practically skipped out of the room.
"Ok!" Was his only reply.
"I guess you're having a sleep over with grandma." Eric said patting his son's head gently.
Luke gurgled and then latched himself to Luke the plush once again.
*
"I feel kind of bad about not doing thanksgiving this year." Jackie said, cuddled up next to Hyde.
"Kitty said it was fine. With the wedding in like, two weeks, it's fine." Hyde said.
"Still…" Jackie pondered. Hyde kissed her head and then got up. "Where are you going?"
"Get a soda." Hyde replied lazily.
"Sounds good… get me some too."
"Yes dear."
*
Eric and Donna practically fell into the house as Eric opened the door. Their faces were stuck together in kisses. Eric kicked the door close. Donna pulled away from him and smirked.
"No baby… just you and me…"
"Want to work on the second child?" Eric smirked. Donna quickly frowned.
"You… totally… just killed the moment Eric." Eric smiled and held up a condom.
"As your knight in shining armor… I come with a sword and a shield." Donna looked at him and then laughed.
"Cute… my knight in shining armor." She then pulled him upstairs.
*
Sunday November 30, 1986
Jackie and Hyde sat in the pew. Jackie listened intently at the pastor as Hyde dozed in and out of sleep. Jackie looked over at Hyde, smiling. She quickly frowned and elbowed Hyde, who jolted awake.
"What?" He asked. Jackie glared at him.
"We're in church for heaven's sake." Jackie said and then looked to the head of the church.
"Jackie…" Hyde whined.
"Don't Jackie me, you boob. Listen to the priest."
"Jack—" Jackie quickly covered his mouth with her hand and continued to listen to the sermon. Hyde glared at his fiancé and then closed his eyes. Just to be elbowed again.
*
"Donna… you don't have to make pancakes…" Eric said. Luke sat in his highchair gurgling.
"Eric I want too." She smiled and placed a bunch on a plate and placed it in front of Eric.
"These look…" Eric gulped a bit. They were undercooked and lumpy. "Great." Eric said. He took a tiny bite of the undercooked pancakes. "Mmm…"
As Donna smiled and turned away Eric spit the pancake into his mouth and drank half of his orange juice. He then put the rest of the pancakes in a napkin and got up and threw it away. Donna looked at him.
"Still hungry?"
"Actually… I want you to relax and I'll make the remaining batter." Eric smiled Donna smiled and nodded.
"You are so sweet."
"Yes." Eric said. He looked at the batter. He quickly took out and began to mix the batter until it was smoother. He then added some cinnamon, vanilla and almond extract, stirred, and then poured the smooth batter into the pan. He flipped them and made six perfect sized pancakes. "Here we go." He gave Donna three, himself two, and gave Luke one.
"No, Luke doesn't like pancakes." Donna said but Luke was already chewing on one. "He doesn't like my pancakes…"
"Don't worry about it." Eric said and took a bite of his pancakes. He smiled, savoring the taste.
"These are ok…" Donna said taking another bite. Both Luke and Eric looked at her, weird looks upon their faces.
*
"Oh come on Jackie… I'm sure no one noticed." Hyde said following Jackie into the apartment.
"Steven… when one falls off of a pew, fast asleep… people notice." Jackie walked to their bedroom to change.
"I didn't fall off… I fell on the pew in a lying position." Hyde said sitting on the couch.
"Who cares? You were fast asleep!" Jackie said from the bedroom.
"Jeez." Hyde mumbled. The phone rang. Hyde reached behind him to the table behind the couch and grabbed the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey buddy!" Hyde shook his head.
"Hi Eric."
"So… Donna tried to cook breakfast this morning…"
"Oh god…" Hyde said, gagging a bit.
"Yes, yes I know. I don't how Luke survives without me during the day."
"I still can't believe you come home and cook."
"Well, how do you and Jackie handle it?"
"I cook, and she cooks… on occasions. Normally there's food." Hyde shrugged.
"I just wanted to make sure we could still come on the fourth?"
"Yeah, no problem. I would ask Jackie if it's ok but she's kind of mad at me."
"Why?"
"I don't know something about falling asleep in church or something."
*
Saturday December 6, 1986
Knock. Knock.
Eric answered the door and saw a tiny brunette woman. She was wearing a pair of stretchy pink pants and a purple top.
"Um… hi?" Eric asked cautious.
"Hi! My name is Kari! I'm the photographer. I'm, here to see Ms. Burkhardt, soon to be Mrs. Hyde. You must be the lucky groom to be." The girl said with her heavy valley girl accent. Eric backed up a step.
"Actually, no. I'm the best man."
"Oh! Ok. Let me take you in, since you'll be in my line sight a lot." Kari took a step back and studied Eric from head to toe. "Ok! So where is Ms. Burkhardt? The beautiful bride."
"She actually went shopping with my wife… you're an hour early."
"Well I had some appointment changes and I called… I left a message with a Mr. Fez?" Eric stared at her and then looked back into the apartment. He then looked at the ceiling.
"He went shopping with them." Eric said to the ceiling.
"Oh, well… do you know when they'll be back." Kari pulled out a date planner.
"Um… actually no…" Eric stuttered out. "My wife hates shopping though."
"Oh... then by five to six. I'll come back around six. Thank you Mr. Best Man." Kari smiled and began skipping down the hall.
"Foreman! ERIC FOREMAN!" Eric shouted after her. He then shook his head and walked in. Hyde looked at him. "Some photographer you're going to have."
Hyde gave him a curious look.
*
"Here it is!" Donna smiled. Jackie and Fez looked at the magazine. "Former Ms. People, Jacqueline B. Burkhardt is getting married to record producer Steven F. Hyde, December 13, 1986. The ceremony is being held at St. Baptist church, with friends and family. Ms. People was reported to have, a gift from her fiancé, an airplane fly around New York announcing their engagement. Best wishes to Former Ms. People, who currently works at Superstar Modeling Agency as one of the top model recruiters."
"Wow Jackie. You're like… the Queen of Fashion." Fez said excitedly.
"Yeah… I know!" Jackie said excitedly.
*
"And that's how I think we'll go about the whole picture thing." Kari smiled. Jackie was looking at books and nodded right back. Hyde was sitting staring off into space. "Mr. Groom?"
Hyde shook his head out of the trance and looked at Kari. "What?"
"I know, I know, you're the groom and really have no opinion on this. Hell if you could have it your way, it would be done on the streets in your jeans with a car ready to take you to the airport." Kari smiled.
"My god." Hyde said staring at her. "You ARE a professional."
"Steven." Jackie said looking at him.
"She's absolutely right though!"
*
"And this is for the rehearsal dinner." Donna smiled, twirling around for her son and husband.
"Gorgeous." Eric got up and kissed her.
"Can you believe it… six more days?" Donna said excitedly.
"This is because you never got to be the maid of honor. Isn't it?"
"I'm a girl! I should have been at least five maid's of honors… hell at least five bride's maids!" Donna said angrily.
"Yes… and you are a very pretty girl."
"She's an Amazon." Fez said, hearing the end of their conversation. "That's why Laurie wouldn't let you be the bridesmaid at our second wedding."
Donna looked at him and then jumped him to the floor.
"Ai! Help! Help! Red giant attack!"
*
Monday December 8, 1986
Jackie sat in her office, Luke crawling around in the small pen that Eric had brought in.
"Jackie?" She looked up to see Kelso standing in the doorway.
"Hi Michael." Jackie smiled slightly.
"I… um… wanted to say… congratulations… and I'm happy for you." Jackie's features softened.
"Oh, that's… really sweet, and mature of you Michael." Jackie smiled.
"I realized… well… my therapist realized… that I had this imaginary idea that you should end up with me. Because I've always had a huge infatuation with you. And it's my duncical behavior that has gotten me into so much trouble." Kelso finished sitting across from Jackie.
"You didn't understand a thing your therapist told you." Jackie smirked.
"Nope! But I am sorry about everything, and I'm happy for you." Kelso smiled Jackie got up and hugged Kelso.
"Thanks Michael. It means a lot to me." Michael tried to reach for Jackie's butt… where he was promptly slapped. "Didn't mean that much."
"Well sorry Jackie!" Kelso said stretching out the syllables. Jackie playfully slapped him.
*
Donna opened the door, revealing Thomas from Massachusetts.
"Hello Donna." Thomas nodded. Donna looked at him and then inside the apartment.
"Thomas… hi…" Donna said slowly.
"I wanted to say hi to the bride to be before the rehearsal dinner this Thursday." Thomas looked into the apartment.
"She's at work." Donna said standing more in the doors way.
"Oh… tell her I made an appearance to see her." Thomas smiled and then walked down the hall. Donna looked at the ceiling.
"Please, oh please let the dinner go smoothly."
*
Thursday December 11, 1986
"So far so good." Eric said quietly to Donna as they stood on the buffet line.
"Thomas has been staying close to Jackie's parents." Donna whispered back.
"What you guys talking about?" Kelso asked loudly. Eric glared at him as Donna rolled her eyes.
"See that guy by Mrs. Burkhardt." Donna pointed to Thomas.
"Who? Mr. Burkhardt?"
"No, you doofus, that guy!" Eric said, hastily, turning Kelso's head to look at Thomas.
"Oh… Thomas." Kelso said and then cut in front of Donna.
"You know him?" Eric asked astonished.
"Well yeah… Jackie dragged me to all those family functions way back when. I know most of the Burkhardt people." Kelso shrugged.
"Does Thomas like you?" Donna asked.
"No, not really… he said I was an ignoramus. I mean… calling e an animal? That's immature." Kelso shook his head. Donna put a hand over her face while Eric looked Kelso.
"Kelso an ignoramus is—"
"Eric… please don't…" Donna warned. Eric shut his mouth as Kelso shook his head.
"That Thomas guy's a prick though." Kelso said.
"Yes he is." Hyde said coming behind them.
"Dude! Hi!" Kelso said, smiling.
"Cut the bull Kelso… I already have one asshole playing good guy I don't need two." Hyde said, cutting Kelso in the line.
"Where's Jackie?" Donna asked.
"Guess." Hyde said. The other three turned to see her nodding to whatever Thomas was saying.
"At least she's not smiling." Eric shrugged. Donna smile and short laugh came from Jackie. Hyde, Donna, and Kelso turned to Eric. "Err… well… you're hairier then him?"
*
Everyone sat at the grand table. Jackie and Hyde were at the head, talking to themselves. Eric and Donna were at their right talking across with Laurie and Fez. Down the table were friends, family, and co-workers.
Red stood up and tapped his glass. The table turned to him.
"I would just like to say congratulations to Steven and Jackie. They are more then ready to take this step in their life. So congrats Jackie, Steven. I'm glad you guys did not make the same mistakes as Eric and Donna, and Fez and Laurie." The table gave short applause, as Eric/Donna, and Fez/Laurie glared at their father/father-in-law. Red smirked and then sat down.
Hyde laughed along with Jackie.
*
Saturday December 13, 1986
"Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god." Jackie said in her silk robe as she breathed through a paper bag.
"Jackie, sweetie… calm down." Donna said as she tried to fix her own hair.
"Why are you hyperventilating?" Laurie asked smoothing her hair.
"I'm getting married in an hour." Jackie said.
"So?" Laurie said. "As long as you're not like Donna who was hyperventilating during the ceremony you're fine."
"I was not hyperventilating." Donna said. Laurie and Jackie looked at her skeptically.
Donna's breathing extremely hard. "No, I'm good, continue, ::deep breath:: go ahead."
"Donna? Are you sure you're ok?" Eric asked. Donna looks at him.
"I'm good, god damn you. Continue Priest!" The priest look shocks and then looks down at his book.
"I was hyperventilating a little." Donna said and went back to looking at herself.
"Jackie…" Kari walked into the dressing room wearing a light blue dress. "Put on your dress… Pictures, pictures, pictures!"
"She's hyperventilating." Laurie said. Putting a clip in her own hair.
"Oh Jackie…" Kari put her hand on Jackie's shoulder, squeezed it a bit, and smiled. "Put on your dress for pictures." And then she walked out.
"God, I wonder if Steven's a mess." Jackie pondered to herself.
*
Eric, Hyde, Fez, and Kelso are in the boy's dressing room, in their suits, drinking beers.
"So you know… I nodded, like a good husband… and then, BOOM, "Fezzy bear, I want another kid." I swear to god, I pee-ed my pants."
"Well Fez, Donna doesn't want another kid for a long time." Eric smiled. "So I good to go."
"Jackie wants kids." Hyde frowned. "And she like… wants them right away…"
"I'm not gonna get married…" Kelso smirked.
"Good, Kelso's shouldn't reproduce." Hyde said sipping his beer.
"Shouldn't you be freaking out? It's like… your wedding day." Fez asked. Hyde shrugged.
*
"Jackie… you look gorgeous." Eric smiled. Jackie glared at him. He backed away. "See… aren't you happy I'm here to watch you." Jackie continued to glare at him. "I'm happy."
"Eric… shut up." Jackie said and then looked in the mirror. "I do look beautiful."
"I know you do!" Eric said chirpily
"Eric… this right, right?"
"Yes Jackie." He nodded.
"Steven loves me, right?"
"Very much so." Eric nodded.
"I won't regret this, right?"
"No." Eric shook his head.
"Ok."
"Ok."
The two stood in silence.
"Go find Donna."
"Yes." Eric ran out the door.
*
Hyde and Eric stood at the alter.
"You good?" Eric whispered.
"Yes."
"You sure?"
"Eric…" Hyde said testily.
"Shutting up."
The wedding march stared and the church stood and watched as Jackie made her way down the strip of red carpet. She smiled as she saw Hyde's mouth open in awe. She got to the alter. Hyde had to drag his eyes away as the priest began to speak.
"Who gives this woman away?" Jackie smiled, but her parents didn't say a word. She slowly turned her head and glared openly at her mother and father. Kitty jumped up smiling. The church turned to her. She looked down and pulled Red up with her.
"We give, Jackie and Steven away!" Kitty said excitedly and did her unique laugh. Jackie smiled slightly, as Hyde let out a small laugh. Donna put her hands to her face as Eric tried to hold back laughter. "Red!" Kitty whispered hastily.
"Oh…um… yeah… we give away Jackie…"
The priest looked slightly terrified and then turned to Jackie who waved her hand and nodded.
"Then, we shall proceed."
*
"The couple has prepared their own vows." The priest smiled. "Steven." Hyde smiled and looked at Jackie.
"Well… you know how I am with words. I say things, I sleep on the couch, and then I apologize. We all know how it is." The church laughed a bit. "But I have never loved anyone as I have loved you. I have never cared for someone, and wanted to be with someone, more then when your in my arms or even when you're glaring at me over your cup of coffee." Another little set of giggles began. "But I promise you, Jacqueline Beulah Burkhardt, that as long as I live I will give you everything you want and deserve. And there will never be a day where I don't want to live without you."
"The ring." Priest said. Eric handed Hyde the ring, who placed it on a teary Jackie's finger.
"Jacqueline."
"Steven, I never thought that I would end up with you. Considering we had our bad years, so long ago. But every time I look at you, or think about you, I realized that I can't love anyone half as much as I love you. And I don't care about the years we didn't get along, or the times I thought I hated you. Every time I look at you, it's like I'm seeing you for the first time. And I fall in love with you time after time. And whether we're fighting or in each others arms, I know you are the only person for me. I love you, Steven Francis Hyde." Jackie smiled.
"The ring." The Priest smiled. Donna gave Jackie the ring. Jackie slipped it on to Hyde's finger. He gently caressed her face.
"If there is anyone in this room that can give reason why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." Donna turned and faced the church glaring, with her hands on her hips. "Then in the power invested in me. I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Steven Hyde. You may kiss the bride."
Hyde captured Jackie into a passionate kiss as the church clapped.
"I love you." Hyde whispered as the two made their way too the limo.
"I love you too." Jackie said. They kissed as they entered the limo.
*
Jackie and Hyde danced to one of the slow songs of the night. Hyde had his arms wrapped around Jackie's waist, as her arms snaked around his neck.
"Steven?"
"Yeah?"
"You meant everything you said right?" Hyde looked at her and kissed her.
"Every word, doll."
Highway run
Into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round
You're on my mind
Restless hearts
Sleep alone tonight
Sending all my love
Along the wire
Eric and Donna watched the newly husband and wife danced, as they slowly danced themselves.
"They are so precious." Donna said, leaning her head on Eric's shoulder.
"Yeah." Eric smiled.
"Remember our first dance?" Donna asked smiling up at her husband.
"Yes… you never forget dancing in punch." Eric laughed.
"Oh shut up."
They say that the road
Ain't no place to start a family
Right down the line
It's been you and me
And lovin' a music man
Ain't always what it's supposed to be
Oh, girl, you stand by me
I'm forever yours - faithfully
Kelso and Fez sat and watched their four friends dance to the slow beat. Kelso leaned on the table.
"That could have been me." Kelso said.
"Jesus. Kelso!" Fez said.
"Can you believe it though?"
"No, no I can't. I'm happy for us though."
"Yeah." Kelso smiled. "You want to dance little buddy."
"Kelso… I have a wife…"
"So?" Kelso smiled.
"Fine." Fez and Kissed got on the floor and slowed dance with their four friends. Kelso and Fez were joined at one hand and were shaking faster with the music.
Eric, Hyde, Donna, and Jackie smiled. As the six made a triangle on the empty floor.
Circus life
Under the big top world
We all need the clowns
To make us smile
Through space and time
Always another show
Wondering where I am
Lost without you
Kitty and Red sat with their grandson watching the six friends smile and laugh with each other on the floor.
"I'm so happy." Kitty said as she began to cry.
"Oh damn Kitty." Red said, putting his arm around her. Luke was sleeping peacefully.
"Look at them… remember when they were in high school… and they would just hang out in the basement. And they're still standing strong, happy and in love." Kitty began to cry harder.
"Oh… Kitty." Kitty gently cried into Red's Shoulder. As Luke continued to sleep. Red wipe a few tears away from his own eyes. "They made it out ok."
And being apart ain't
easy on this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscovering you
Oh, girl, you stand by me
I'm forever yours – faithfully
Hyde smiled as he looked at Eric and Donna, and then Fez and Kelso. He laughed slightly when Laurie came over and pushed Kelso away from Fez. And then Kelso stood and swayed with himself.
"Well… Kelso looks content." Hyde looked down at his wife.
"Come on, he's dancing with his one true love, himself." Hyde smirked. Jackie laughed.
"You're right." Jackie said.
"Mrs. Hyde… you amaze me." Hyde kissed her.
"Well Mr. Hyde, you're not so bad yourself." Jackie smiled. They kissed again and then looked over to their friends who were still dancing. Kelso now hugging onto Eric, as he danced with Donna.
"Kelso!" Jackie and Hyde laughed as Eric jumped back from Donna and Kelso and began chasing him.
"Good times." Hyde whispered.
"Great friends." Jackie whispered back.
Oh, oh, oh, oh -
Faithfully, I'm still yours
I'm forever yours
Ever yours – faithfully
*
Monday December 15, 1986
Hyde and Jackie sat at the airport it was late at night. They had just shipped Eric, Luke, and Donna home and now was waiting for their plane to Paris.
"We are sorry to inform you that the plane will be delayed, an hour, since there is a storm watch."
"Great…" Hyde said as the announcer finished. The airport was pretty empty. Jackie cuddled closer to Hyde.
"At least we're together." She sighed.
"And it'll take forever to get to Paris." Hyde groaned. Jackie kissed him.
"Shut up."
They drifted into a comfortable silence. Soon the song, Tiny Dancer, blared slightly for a teenage boy's radio. Hyde got up, and gave Jackie a smiled.
"Here's twenty bucks if you blast that song. The guy smiled and took the twenty.
"No problem man." The boy turned up the volume.
"Dance with me." Hyde put out his hand. Jackie placed her hand with his. Hyde pulled her into the aisle.
"You are becoming soft Mr. Hyde." Jackie smirked.
"Yeah." Hyde smiled as he dipped Jackie. "I guess it's the whole married life, turning me into Foreman."
The two continued to dance. Jackie smiled and kissed Hyde.
"Piano man he makes his stand, in the auditorium. Looking on she sings the songs, the words she knows the tune she hums." Hyde sang with the song. Jackie kissed him as they continued to dance.
"Hey Steven." Jackie smiled.
"Yeah baby." Hyde smiled back. Jackie bought her lips to his, and then leaned up closer to his ear.
"I'm pregnant." She giggled as Hyde's face went into shock. "Don't worry, I'm happy too."
Jackie hugged Hyde tighter as they continued to move in a circular motion, Hyde's face still in shock.
Blue jean baby, L.A.
lady, seamstress for the band. Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music
man. Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand.
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand.