Title:  Hotel California

Disclaimer:  Don't own, ain't getting paid

Pairing:  J/H, E/D

Rating:  Pg -13

Archive: If you want just ask – I will freely give.

Summary: Summer before Season 5.  Jackie and Hyde accompany Eric on his quest to get Donna back.  AU – Eric gets over his wallowing a lot sooner and the gang minus Fez spend the end of the summer in Cali. 

Credit:  The Eagles –Wasted time

Extra  cred:  Thanks to Kashmir1 for the beta on the last chapter.  I forgot to thank her then.  So much love now girl – you know I appreciate it. 

AN:  Okay the second round of chapters commences.  Now that we are in Cali –what will become of Jackie and Hyde?  This chapter is Jackie – it is a lead in to the next one that will be Hyde.  Tell me what you think and want. 

Well, baby, there you stand

With your little head down in your hand.

Oh my God, you can't believe it's happening again.

Your baby's gone and you're all alone and it looks like the end.

And you're back out on the street

and you're tryin' to remember.

How do you start it over? You don't know if you can.

You don't care much for a stranger's touch but you can't hold your man.

You never thought you'd be alone

This far down the line

and I know what's been on your mind,

You're afraid it's all been wasted time.

The autumn leaves have got you thinking

About the first time that you fell.

You didn't love the boy too much,

No no, you just loved the boy too well.

Farewell.

And I could have done so many things, baby,

If I could only stop my mind

From wondering' what I left behind

And from worryin' 'bout this wasted time.

Ooh, another love had come and gone.

Ooh, and the years keep rushing on.

I remember what you told me before you went out on your own:

Sometimes to keep it together we got to leave it alone.

So you can get on with your search, baby,

and I can get on with mine.

And maybe someday we will find

That it wasn't really wasted time

Jackie let Steven lead her away from her best friend and further into the heart of the party.  Donna's mom had obviously been doing well in California, the house was huge.  It wasn't exactly tastefully decorated but better than anything Mr. Pinciotti would have come up with.  Jackie wondered which one of the well dressed gentlemen in the corner funded this little beach party abode. 

She was glad to finally be here.  Glad that the road trip had ended semi successfully.  She had missed Donna.  She hoped Eric and her friend could work it out. They all needed a good example when it came to love.

This party was obviously the place to be. A gang of scantily clad girls stumbled down the stairs giggling and Hyde jumped out of their way before he and Jackie were trampled.  They were safely away from the crowd now and they could finally hear themselves think.  "So do you think those two are going to be okay without us?"

Jackie looked up and leaned into the arm Steven had placed on the wall behind her head. "Yeah surely they won't mess up this time.  I mean how many times do they need to get it right?"

Hyde laughed.  "Well Eric is a little slow sometimes."

Jackie nodded in agreement.  She tried to see over the crowd to witness the reunion or another failed attempt.  But the crowd had engulfed them. 

She was now virtually alone with Steven.  She found herself in love with the idea.  None of their friends were around. They didn't have to pretend.  Maybe if all went well Donna and Eric would be so wrapped up in each other that they could enjoy the rest of the vacation alone. "Steven?" she began.

"Yeah?" He responded stepping closer as if he already knew what she was thinking.

"Nobody knows us here." She stated the obvious in invitation.

Hyde smirked sliding his hand down from its position to rest on her arm. "That is true."

"So what are you a waiting for?" Jackie asked smiling.

A millisecond later Hyde's lips parted Jackie's. His chest brushed hers and she curled tiny fists into his hair.  She pulled him to her switching there positions and pushing him against the wall.

Hyde moaned when she stepped back breaking the embrace for air.  "Mmm Jackie?" he complained grabbing the end of her shirt attempting to pull her back.

Jackie felt Steven's hand graze her stomach as he reached for her and moaned in return "Mmm Stev--"

"HYDE!" Kelso shrieked coming around the corner with one arm around a buxom blonde.

Jackie jumped back and Hyde released her.  They both forced calm blank faces and turned to address the exuberant teenager. 

"Kelso" "Michael" they said with false cheer.

Leave it to Michael to ruin a perfectly good moment.  In the whole excitement of the moment, she had completely forgotten Michael was here. 

"OH MY GOD!  JACKIE! What are you doing here?" Kelso asked awkwardly having just seen his ex.

Jackie noticed Michael pull away from the blonde.  She noticed the blonde notice as well.

The girl went into an instant pout and cut her eyes at Jackie.  "Who is Jackie?" she cattily demanded. 

Kelso looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Stuttering he tried to back track, "Umm Jackie? Who said anything about a Jackie?"

"Michael" Jackie shouted out of habit, crossing her arms across her chest. 

"Jackie" Kelso turned to the left and started to apologize.

"Michael!" the girl mirrored Jackie's stance.

Kelso turned back to the blonde. "Annette."

"Well this has been real" Hyde stated stepping in between the two girls and patting Kelso on the back.  "Have fun, man, I'm going to get some fresh air."

"Steven!" Jackie called after his retreating form.  How dare he walk away? They were in the middle of something. She took a step after him.

Kelso jumped in her way. "Jackie look I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing to her? Annette asked.  "You are my date. And I still don't even know who she is?"

Jackie felt her blood boil.  Her night was going downhill fast. The last thing she needed was some bimbo picking a fight.  "I'm nobody- don't worry your little airhead about it."

"Oh don't worry I won't." Annette responded, tossing her hair behind her back. 

Jackie laughed.  The girl was perfect for Michael. She could have him.  Right now she just wanted to find Steven.  "Good.  You guys have fun. I'm going to get some air myself."

Walking away Jackie tried to put as much distance between her and the shallow couple.    It wasn't meant to be though because before she could find Steven in the crowd Michael ran up behind her.

Kelso chased Jackie down. "So Jackie – you aren't mad?" he asked confused.

"Did you not get my letter?" Jackie asked.  "We are broken up, why would I care if you dated someone else?"

"Well yeah, but like I thought you'd still be pissed. It can't be easy to see." Kelso said with characteristic ego.

"I think I'll live" she assured.

Kelso breathed out a sigh of relief.  "So like are you going to still give me a hard time before we get back to-"

"Michael we aren't getting back together." Jackie interrupted.

"Well yeah not now but…"

"Not ever Michael." Jackie said harshly.  The look on his face made her feel guilty but didn't lesson the trueness of the statement. 

"Well that is nice Jackie.  How can you say that?" he sounded nothing less than betrayed.

She rolled her eyes.  Only Michael could turn this around on her.  Scanning the crowd she tried to change the subject "Where is Annette?"

"I told her I was getting her some punch." He pouted.

Jackie stopped looking for Steven and gave Michael her full attention.  She met the eyes of the man she had once wanted to spend the rest of her life with and tried to make herself heard.  Taking his hand, she sighed.  "Then get her some punch."

She hoped he understood. 

She was ready to move on and ready to let him.