Living Arrangements

Summary: Sequel to Just Another Day - Craziness ensues as Hyde decides to move in with Jackie, much to the dismay of The Forman's and a surprise visitor brings up back memories for Jackie. Will Hyde be able to save her this time?

Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own a single thing.

a/n: I just watched the episode where Hyde gets busted for Jackie, and it inspired me.. so here.

Chapter Two

Emergency Meeting

"Ok, does anyone know why Jackie and Hyde called an emergency meeting?" Kelso asked as he grabbed a popsicle from the freezer and sat on the back of the couch, resting his free hand on Donna's shoulder.

Donna inched away from him gently out of discomfort, wrapping her arm around Eric in the process as Fez spoke up, "They didn't call an emergency meeting Kelso."

"Um, Fez," Kelso said with an overly obnoxious tone, "Jackie called me and said that her and Hyde had to tell the whole gang something, and that it was important. Sounds like an emergency meeting to me."

"Fez, he's just trying to use 'cop' terms." Donna laughed.

"I bet you she's pregnant." Kelso said knowingly, finishing up his popsicle with one last bite. Donna glared at him, as she smacked his leg.

"She's not pregnant, Kelso. I would know." Donna informed him. "Right, Eric?"

"Well," Eric started, "Maybe they want to tell everyone at the same time."

"Jackie isn't pregnant." Fez said happily. "She's been really nice lately and pregnant woman are bitchy."

"Well, maybe because Jackie is usually a bitch, it works the other way around." Eric laughed, and then rubbed his leg where Donna slapped him.

"Jackie is not pregnant!" Donna screamed. "I bet you it's not that big of a deal."

The truth was, Donna knew exactly what this whole meeting was about.

Jackie had told her a few days ago that Hyde was moving in, and she agreed with Jackie that it was for the best. Whatever could makes them happy. But she also promised not to tell anyone, not even Eric. Jackie said that Hyde was really concerned about how Eric, and especially Kelso, would take it, and Donna knew he had good reason to worry.

She glanced over at Eric nervously and he gave her a 'what's going on?' look. She shrugged, relieved as the door swung open and Jackie and Hyde came in timidly.

Hyde nodded at everyone, and with one swift motion, sat in his chair.

Jackie shut the door quietly and leaned against it, watching us all with great patience.

"So, what's this all about?" Kelso asked, getting up from his spot and leaning against the wall, by Jackie. He glared at her stomach, making her slightly uncomfortable.

"I have an announcement." Hyde said calmly, his sunglasses fell down slightly, and he pushed them back onto the bridge of his nose and watched Jackie shift nervously under Kelso's glares. "She's not pregnant, Kelso." He shook his head with a laugh as Jackie frowned at Kelso, who gave Hyde a clueless look.

"I know that." Kelso muttered.

"Told you." Donna said, sticking her tongue out at him. She flashed Jackie a smile quickly and Eric looked blankly at her, squeezing her hand in question.

"Anyway." Hyde continued. "I'm not sure how to say this - so I guess I'll just say it."

"Just to let you know," Jackie said abruptly, interrupting Hyde. They exchanged worried looks as Jackie continued, "I'm not forcing Steven into anything."

"Are you getting married?" Kelso said loudly, angrily, and by their amused looks, laughed nervously. "Kidding, geez."

"Idiot." Donna muttered, urging Hyde to continue.

She knew how tough this was for both of them.

"I'm moving in with Jackie." Hyde said, feeling a weight glide free from his body. He watched as Eric, Fez, and Kelso let this sink in. He figured Donna already knew, since she had no look of shock on her face, but nodded at Jackie, who was biting her lip nervously, staring at Kelso for his reaction.

"Temporarily, right?" Eric asked Hyde.

"We don't know." Eric spun around at Jackie's voice, facing her.

The devil was taking his best friend away.

Ok, he knew that wasn't true, but still. Hyde had become like. a brother. A government hating, reefer smoking, brother. Eric's closest thing to a brother was Laurie, besides Hyde, and well, everyone knows how he feels about his 'real' sibling.

"Wait," Kelso spoke up, looking straight ahead at Hyde, "You mean, you two," He started to laugh, more like cackle, "Are going to live," He laughed some more.

"Spit it out, Kelso." Hyde said impatiently.

"Together." Kelso concluded, buckling underneath his laughs, groaning in pain. "Sorry, but that's just, funny."

"It's not funny." Jackie said defensively. "Don't you even want to know why?"

"I know why." Kelso said defensively.

"I don't." Fez said, shooting up his hand.

Jackie smiled weakly at Fez and crossed her arms. "The last few weeks have been really hard for me. I can't live alone anymore. So Steven offered to live with me, to help me."

"Jackie," Hyde groaned, blushing slightly.

"Steven." She stomped her foot and walked over to him. "It's nothing to be ashamed about."

"Why don't you just move back in with Donna?" Eric asked, watching Donna throw him a threatening look.

"That's why." Jackie said, catching Donna's eye and laughing, letting her know it was ok.

"Like living with Hyde is going to be any better." Kelso scoffed.

"Yeah, he eats a lot." Eric offered. "And, he's a slob."

"We'll manage." Jackie grinned, hugging Hyde's side. Jackie glanced down at her watch, "Shoot, I have to go somewhere." She grabbed her purse, kissing Hyde's cheek gently, "I'll see you guys later." She quickly rushed out the door, leaving everyone slightly bewildered.

"Man," Eric whined. "Do you really have to move out?"

"Jackie needs me." Hyde said firmly.

"I'm so glad you guys finally told everyone." Donna whispered.

"Wait, you knew about this?" Eric asked, slightly hurt that his own girlfriend wouldn't mention something so important. Donna nodded her head slowly, knowing what was coming, and thanked god when Kelso's body squeezed in between theirs, wrapping his arms around both.

"Hyde, man, Jackie has got you whipped." Kelso let out his hand, imitating a whip and make a 'woosh' sound to accompany it.

"Kelso, shut up." Donna muttered. "Hyde's not whipped. He's doing Jackie a huge favor." Donna smiled at Eric gently, hoping she wasn't in trouble. "Because he loves her." She ignored Kelso's look of disgust, and focused on Eric, who stood up, pushing Kelso's arm off of himself.

"Well if she loved him, she wouldn't make him leave his family." Eric said grumpily.

Donna stood up, a little ticked off.

Why was she worried about getting in trouble with Eric? Jackie had trusted her with a secret and it wasn't even that big of a deal. Eric could be a real baby sometimes.

"Well, maybe his love for Jackie is stronger then his love for you." Donna argued.

"Oh yeah?" Eric said, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms. "Well," He paused, searching for a good burn. "Well, well,"

Donna laughed, crossing her arms as well as she waited for Eric to speak up.

He sent an icy glare towards her grinning face and his face turned bitter, as he sat back down.

Donna grinned at her accomplishment, sitting back down as well.

Kelso laughed, letting out another whip and a 'whoosh'.

"Shut up, Kelso!" Eric and Donna both screamed and left the room, in opposite directions.

"Man, were they even talking about Jackie and me?" Hyde laughed.

"Those two are crazy." Fez laughed.

"Not as crazy as Hyde." Kelso muttered. "You're so going to regret this."

"No, Kelso, I won't. It's not a big deal, seriously." Hyde leaned back in his chair, keeping up a zen charade. He was so nervous. When he told Jackie he would move in with her, he meant it, but now that it came to actually telling everyone else and moving IN with her.. it was like, wow, what was he getting himself into?

"Let's see what tune you'll be singing when Jackie's throwing bridal magazines in your face." Kelso laughed, knowingly.

"It's not like that with us." Hyde assured him. "She wouldn't try that with me."

"We'll see." Kelso insisted.

"Oh yeah?" Hyde said with a grin. "I bet you Jackie doesn't pull any of that wedding or together forever crap with me. Because, unlike you, Kelso, she knows I'll be with her forever. Because I actually give a damn about her."

Kelso looked slightly hurt, and Hyde did feel semi guilty as Fez shouted, "Burn."

"Fine." Kelso said bitterly. "I bet you a hundred dollars that by day three, she'll be calling you her future husband and asking you to address her as Mrs. Steven Hyde."

"Deal." They shook on it, each sure they would win the bet as Fez shook his head at their immaturity.

**********

"Eric." Jackie called out gently. She was sitting on one of the patio chairs by the screen door, her legs crossed, along with her arms. Her face looked slightly pale, and shining with gentle tears on both cheeks. She had been quietly praying that either Eric or Kelso would come out that door, so she could make herself feel less guilty about stealing Steven away.

"Jackie, I thought you had to be somewhere." Eric said softly, noticing her tear stained cheeks. He sat in the other chair, watching her intently as she straightened herself up.

"I lied." Jackie said shakily. "I just didn't want to be in that room."

"I see." Eric said, nodding his head.

"Eric, remember when you told me that, um," She paused, feeling slightly embarrassed. "That you'd always be here for a hug."

"Ha, yeah."

"I was wondering if you could extend that hug to a talk."

"Well, even though talking with you is one of my all time least favorite things to do," He joked, watching her face sadden. "Of course, Jackie, go ahead."

She smiled appreciatively, clearing her throat, "I'm really sorry."

Eric looked at her oddly and she continued. "I know that Steven is your best friend. And I know what it feels like, when someone that close to you is taken away. But, trust me, if I knew an alternative, then I would use it."

"Jackie, it's really not that big of a deal." Eric said, smiling. "It's not like your house is on another planet. It's just downtown." He patted her hand gently. "Don't feel so guilty."

"It's just, well, your face." She smiled back at him. "You looked pretty upset in there."

"It's nothing." Eric admitted. "I'm just being selfish. Besides, you and Hyde, you two need each other. I get it."

"Thanks, Eric." Jackie said, wiping away the last of her tears. "I so take back every time I called you scrawny. Or a loser. Or a freak." She kissed his cheek as he smiled a genuine thanks at her strange gratitude. "Oh, and Eric, I made Donna promise not to tell anyone. So, don't be mad at her, ok?"

Eric nodded.

She turned on her heels promptly, making her way to her car, "Oh yeah, and Eric." She turned back around, watching him open the screen door. "If you ever get lonely for Steven, feel free to drop by. Because, even though we're not that close, well," She blushed at admitting this, "I wouldn't do anything to ruin our friendship."

Eric glared at Jackie, impressed. "What friendship?"

"Exactly." Jackie said, laughing, before turning back around.

She heard Eric whisper, faintly, "Thanks."

And she grinned all the way back to the car, relieved that everyone finally knew.

She grinned, knowing that tomorrow she would help Steven pack up and they could finally be together, all the time.

She just hoped he wouldn't go crazy or anything.

She just knew it was going to be such fun, though, even if they had their quirks.

She smiled at the thought of Steven moving in with her as she settled into her car, glancing over at the package she had received earlier that day.

The real reason she was so upset.

She looked at the package, slightly tempted to tear it open.

She knew who it was from, and why it was sent to her.

She was finally coming home.

And the bitch had a lot of explaining to do.