In The Beginning
Chapter Twenty Seven: Revelations
"You're better off, sweetie."
Jackie pushed another hanger towards the other end of her closet, perusing through her many clothes, trying to find something to fit her mood. Except she doesn't own anything ugly, sad, or broken.
"There are other fish in the sea, you know."
Jackie sighed loudly, grabbing a black skirt off a hanger and throwing it onto her bed, without looking back.
"Oh, sweetie, I know that break ups seem hard..."
"We didn't break up." Jackie spoke up, turning towards her mother, who was sitting on her bed, smoothing down the skirt she had just thrown upon it.
"I just meant that,"
"I know." Jackie nodded, "Thanks."
She turned back towards her closet, in search of a matching shirt, and sighed, resting her hands upon her hips.
"Mom, you're not going to leave again, are you?" Jackie turned around quickly, frustrated when she realized her mother was no longer in the room. "Mom?"
"I'm right here, sweetie."
Jackie followed her mother's voice to the master bedroom, where her mother was brushing her hair as she sat down at her own vanity.
Sometimes, it amazed Jackie at how alike they could be.
"Are you going back to Mexico?" Jackie blurted, watching her mother's reaction in the mirror.
"No." Her mother said plainly, tossing her hairbrush aside and turning towards her daughter, reaching out for her. "I'm not going to Mexico."
Jackie smiled, hugging her mother briefly, before Pam urged her to get off, because she had just spent an hour brushing all the lint of her angora sweater.
Jackie laughed, feeling slightly more sure of things as she got ready for dinner at the Forman's. She didn't feel like dressing up and she didn't feel like seeing her friends, especially Steven, but she didn't want to disappoint Kitty, or Pam.
Kitty was scurrying about the kitchen as she set up some extra plates for the Burkharts. You would almost think royalty was coming, since Kitty brought out the fancy china and the expensive wine, but in Point Place, at one time, the Burkhart's were royalty.
"Jackie!" Kitty planted a soft kiss on the girl's cheek, "Pam!" The two women hugged gently, as if they were old friends.
Pam really couldn't stand Kitty Forman or her quaint house, but she could grin and bare it if it meant she could get a free meal out of it.
She had cooked dinner...if you count picking up the phone and ordering takeout as cooking. But Jackie didn't need to know that...
She was only being super sweet to Jackie so that she could get the girl's signature when she needed it. And since her lawyer had been nice enough to drop off the transferal papers a few hours ago, she was planning on getting the signature tonight, and by the time the limo comes to bring Jackie to Vermont, Pam would be breaking French bread in a Parisian café with her new, rich hubby.
But Jackie wouldn't need to know that, either, not yet.
Jackie was instructed to go downstairs until dinner was served, so the adults could chat. She didn't want to stay around her mother anyway. She had to admit, that her behavior wasn't typical of Pam. She was never this nice, this humble, or this...motherly.
Maybe Steven was right, she was up to something...
But she couldn't believe that completely.
Her mother loved her, that's why she's here.
She realized the errors of her ways and came to make up for it.
That's why she's here.
The more Jackie told herself this, the better she felt.
Eric and Donna broke apart from each other at the sound of Jackie's footsteps, relieved when it was just their tiny friend, and continued to cuddle, until Jackie blurted, "Ewwwwww."
Hyde's head immediately popped out of his room at the sound of her voice, and she blinked awkwardly at him, wedging herself between Eric and Donna, whispering to Donna quickly, and the two girls excused themselves, heading out the basement door in whispered giggles.
"What was that about?" Eric asked, nodding his head towards Hyde as he sat down on his chair.
"We got into a fight."
"When are you two not fighting?"
"When her mother's not here."
"Oh."
"I saw Pam in town today, with this weird guy."
Eric nodded for him to continue, so he did, in hushed whispers.
"They were talking about Jackie..." Hyde glanced around, making sure the coast was clear, "She's going to steal money from Jackie's trust fund and leave."
"Did you tell her?"
"How can I?"
Eric nodded in understanding, then glanced upwards, "Pam is here..."
"Yeah." Hyde grunted. "This sucks, Forman. The girl I lo," Hyde stopped himself, as Eric rolled his eyes.
Jackie and Donna walked back in, with determined faces, marching past the boys and upstairs.
Hyde watched Jackie intently, trying to get her to notice him, but she looked past him, before running up the stairs.
She looked so gorgeous tonight and the fact that he wouldn't be able to tell her that was pissing him off.
"The girl I love is in trouble and she's so freakin' stubborn, so there's nothing I can do about it." Hyde blurted out, as Kelso and Fez came in, hearing most of it.
"Did you just say you love Jackie?" Kelso, Eric, and Fez all asked in shock.
"Yes," Hyde stood up. "Yes, I did."
"That's cool." The three responded, as Kelso and Fez sat down, rambling on about Gilligan's Island and Hyde just blinked in awe.
"Hyde, there is one thing you could do." Eric said softly. "You could talk to Pam."
"Talk to Pam?" Hyde repeated, understanding his friend's suggestion. "I could talk to Pam."
*************
As Hyde once again denied his love for Jackie, only to admit it in a few minutes in front of his closest friends, for the first time, Jackie and Donna were sitting on the steps, talking in hushed whispers.
"We had a fight." Jackie whispered. "About my mom."
Donna raised her eyebrows in question and Jackie continued, explaining the ordeal in detail.
Donna thought for a few seconds, "Hyde's just worried about you."
"Yeah, I know." Jackie nodded. "And it's incredibly sweet."
She gave Donna a dreamy smile, which Donna grimaced it jokingly.
"But," Jackie started, "Donna, he made it seem like my mom doesn't even care about me..."
"Jackie, the woman left you over and over again."
"But she came back every time!"
"Whatever, Jackie. Who knows why your mom came back...all that matters is that she's here, right?"
"Right." Jackie nodded, but Donna knew she didn't sound too happy with this.
"Why don't we go upstairs? I'm starved."
"Donna, all you think about is food!"
"Yeah." Donna nodded. "I'm a pig." She laughed dryly, starting to climb the stairs.
"No!" Jackie screeched. "Let's go through the basement, I want Steven to take a good look at what he WON'T be touching."
*****
Pam groaned to herself, taking an elongated sip of her margarita as Kitty laughed loudly at some pun Red had made.
"Damn townies." Pam thought to herself. "I cannot wait to get out of Wisconsin."
"Hi, Mrs. Burkhart."
Pam turned around, flipping her large mop of hair away from her eyes to take a good look at who had said her name.
He lips grinned into a mischievous smile as she saw the curly head of hair and the sunglasses, and of course that cute ass, and recognized the boy, hell he was practically a man, licking his lips and smiling towards her.
Jackie's boyfriend. The only thing around her that looks good, well, besides herself. Oh, and Michael, but his but didn't look as good in rustic jeans.
"Hello there, Steven. How are you?" Pam asked flirtatiously, eyeing her daughter, who was watching them carefully from across the living room, where she was seated on the bottom of the stairs with her tall, red haired friend.
"I was hoping we could have ourselves a little chat, actually."
"Oh, really?" Pam asked, eyes popping out in wonder.
She knew the kid was trouble, from what she had heard about the Hyde's back when she was in the gossip circles around town, but didn't think he would have the guts to go after his girlfriend's mother. But then again, Pam did look very ripe for her age.
"Well, then," Pam began, licking her lips happily. "Why don't we go outside?"
"Sounds good to me." Hyde nodded, motioning for her to go first, which she did, casually passing Kitty, Red, and their weird neighbor with the very atrocious afro, who were deep in conversation and alcohol. Hyde glanced back at Jackie, who was burning holes into him with her stare, and followed Pam, planning his next words carefully.
********
"Donna!" Jackie poked the red head's stomach, "What is he doing?"
Donna turned to where Jackie's gaze was pointing to, towards her mother, who was laughing absentmindedly as Hyde spoke to her.
"I don't know." Donna muttered, watching with growing interest.
"He better not do anything stupid..." Jackie started, her eyes bulging, "Oh my god, where are they going?"
Donna turned towards Jackie, scared by her fuming eyes.
"I don't know, Jackie, but you should calm down."
"Calm down?" Jackie stood up, glaring at her friend. "I just caught my mother flirting with my boyfriend and then running off with him!"
"I'm sure it's nothing." Donna added quickly, pulling on Jackie's skirt.
Jackie fell back down on the stairs, angry and ruffled.
**********
Pam raked her hand through her hair, leaning against the post outside the kitchen as she took a hearty sip of her drink.
"So, Steven, what did you want to talk about?" Pam asked, taking a seat on one of the patio chairs, next to him.
"Well," Hyde began, clearing his throat.
Now that he was out here, he wasn't sure how to say what he had to say.
Jackie placed her hand on his knee, tentatively,
"It's ok, Steven." Pam whispered, her breath so close it was sending chills down his spine. "You can tell me."
Her advances washed over him, giving him a new sense of confidence.
"I'm your daughter's boyfriend, Mrs. Burkhart." He took her hand off his knee. "What are you doing?"
Pam shrugged it off, "What are you doing, inviting your girlfriend's mother for a 'chat'?"
"I know what you're doing, Mrs. Burkhart." Steven said slowly, as she brought her hand to his knee again, squeezing his kneecap ever so gently.
"Seducing you?"
"No." He stood up, watching her hand fall and leaned against the post, facing her. "You think Jackie's going to like the boarding school you're forcing her to go to?"
Pam's eyes bulged and she stood up, flustered.
"Who told you about that?" She snapped quickly.
"I saw you today." He snapped back. "I was there. I heard everything."
Pam took a sip of her drink, calming herself.
"Now, if you don't tell Jackie, I will."
"Are you threatening me?" Pam laughed, oblivious to the group of kids behind her.
*********
"Donna, I can't take it." Jackie sighed in a huff. "I need to know where they went and what they're doing."
"Fine." Donna nodded her head in defeat.
"There you two are!" Eric came up to them, panting. "Jackie, you need to come with me."
"Why?"
"Just do it." Donna nodded, recognizing the stressed look in Eric's eyes.
The three went down towards the basement, and along with Kelso and Fez, slowly crept up the stairs and towards the dim light coming from the patio, all being silent as they saw Pam and Hyde seated on the patio. If it weren't for Donna's hand over her mouth, Jackie would have screamed when she caught Pam's hand on her boyfriend's knee, but instead she listened.
And she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Donna stood behind her, patting her back softly as Kelso and Eric each stood by her side, watching her, making sure she was quiet and squeezing each of her hands, protectively.
*********
Hyde nodded in approval as he caught Eric's attention, never happier that he was his best friend.
"Pam, just admit what you did to Jackie, and I'll let it go."
"Admit what I did?" Pam laughed. "I can't tell my daughter that I'm laundering three million dollars from her trust fund. I can't tell her that I'm moving to Paris, to be with my new husband. I can't tell her that I'm sending her off to boarding school, so I won't have to see her whiny, spoiled butt any longer." Pam took another swig of her drink, not paying attention to the tiny held back whimpers behind her and Hyde's ever-growing smile.
"How could you hurt her like that?" Hyde asked in awe. "How could you be so manipulative?"
"I never asked for a daughter."
"She never asked to be your daughter."
Pam shrugged indifferently, taking one last sip before she threw her glass to the floor. "Steven, darling," She draped her arm on his shoulder, practically knocking him over, "If you keep my secret, I'll rock your world in a way my daughter never will." She pushed herself against him, alcohol and sweat radiating off of her breath as she spoke.
"You're pathetic." Hyde muttered, pushing Pam off of himself, watching her fall onto the patio chair, laughing softly to herself.
"Please!" Pam laughed. "At least I'm not poor! At least I have people who care about me. I knew your parents. They were losers, just like," Pam clicked her tongue along with her words, "You."
"I care about him."
Eric Forman stepped out into the light, standing by Hyde's side.
"And so do I." Donna came towards the light, casting a dirty look towards Pam as Eric hugged her tightly.
"And us too!" Kelso and Fez shouted as they stood next to Hyde, grinning from ear to ear.
"How long have you all been standing there?" Pam asked, her face turning pale.
"Long enough." Jackie's voice came out meek and scared as her tears shone brightly through the light. Jackie opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
She felt Hyde's hand squeeze hers and she opened her mouth again.
"Mother, I want you to pack your things and leave my house, tonight."
"Your house?" Pam laughed.
"I've spent more nights there then you have." Jackie counterattacked.
"You can't afford to live in that house, sweetie." Pam laughed evilly.
"Then she'll live with me." Donna spoke up.
Eric slipped past the group, rushing inside through the slider to grab his parents, for backup.
"Jackie, darling, you misheard me."
"Did I?"
"Yes, sweetie, I'm using your money to send you to the finest school in Vermont."
"Oh, shut up." Jackie said quickly. "I'm sick and tired of your bullshit."
Hyde stared down at the tiny girl in surprise.
Red and Kitty came storming outside, after Eric hurriedly explained the story.
"Jackie, you're sleeping here tonight." Red said angrily, motioning for the kids to get inside. Kelso, Fez, and a reluctant Hyde all ran towards the kitchen as Kitty hugged Jackie sadly. "Pam, get the hell off my property."
**********
Jackie was kind of peeved off that she didn't get to hear the rest of Red and Pam's conversation, which was a whole lot of yelling, since Kitty rushed her inside towards the kitchen, never letting go of her.
Donna's father came over, telling Jackie she was welcome to stay at their house, and then Donna hugged Jackie goodbye, asking for her to stop by tomorrow morning, so they could talk.
Jackie nodded, crying all the while.
She saw faces, but she wasn't sure what was going on...
Hyde could tell she was in utter shock of all the revelations.
He so wanted to believe that her mother had good intentions, for her sake.
Kelso and Fez each hugged Jackie tightly, before going home.
Eric hugged Jackie softly, patting her back and looking at her sadly before her retreated to his bedroom.
Kitty gave her a cup of tea and asked Hyde to bring her upstairs, since she was shaking softly and still looked incredibly sad.
"No, Kitty," Red spoke up, "Let the girl sleep downstairs, for tonight."
He looked at Hyde squarely, "But no funny business."
Hyde nodded in understanding, pulling Jackie along softly and watched as she robotically laid down on his cot, instantly falling asleep as her head hit the pillow.
And he sat down across from her, watching her sleep, happy with the outcome of tonight.
And he looked at what he almost lost.
And never felt more relieved that this time, he didn't screw himself over.
She was here. And she was his.
But she would never be the same.
He knew that, because a long time ago, he was just like her.
He had hope, he believed.
But then he was abandoned and so he in return, abandoned all idealism.
And he was expecting Jackie to do the same thing.
But she wouldn't have to...
Because he was here for her, when no one else was there for him, he would be here for her.
He loved her.
And he wasn't afraid to admit it any more.
Chapter Twenty Seven: Revelations
"You're better off, sweetie."
Jackie pushed another hanger towards the other end of her closet, perusing through her many clothes, trying to find something to fit her mood. Except she doesn't own anything ugly, sad, or broken.
"There are other fish in the sea, you know."
Jackie sighed loudly, grabbing a black skirt off a hanger and throwing it onto her bed, without looking back.
"Oh, sweetie, I know that break ups seem hard..."
"We didn't break up." Jackie spoke up, turning towards her mother, who was sitting on her bed, smoothing down the skirt she had just thrown upon it.
"I just meant that,"
"I know." Jackie nodded, "Thanks."
She turned back towards her closet, in search of a matching shirt, and sighed, resting her hands upon her hips.
"Mom, you're not going to leave again, are you?" Jackie turned around quickly, frustrated when she realized her mother was no longer in the room. "Mom?"
"I'm right here, sweetie."
Jackie followed her mother's voice to the master bedroom, where her mother was brushing her hair as she sat down at her own vanity.
Sometimes, it amazed Jackie at how alike they could be.
"Are you going back to Mexico?" Jackie blurted, watching her mother's reaction in the mirror.
"No." Her mother said plainly, tossing her hairbrush aside and turning towards her daughter, reaching out for her. "I'm not going to Mexico."
Jackie smiled, hugging her mother briefly, before Pam urged her to get off, because she had just spent an hour brushing all the lint of her angora sweater.
Jackie laughed, feeling slightly more sure of things as she got ready for dinner at the Forman's. She didn't feel like dressing up and she didn't feel like seeing her friends, especially Steven, but she didn't want to disappoint Kitty, or Pam.
Kitty was scurrying about the kitchen as she set up some extra plates for the Burkharts. You would almost think royalty was coming, since Kitty brought out the fancy china and the expensive wine, but in Point Place, at one time, the Burkhart's were royalty.
"Jackie!" Kitty planted a soft kiss on the girl's cheek, "Pam!" The two women hugged gently, as if they were old friends.
Pam really couldn't stand Kitty Forman or her quaint house, but she could grin and bare it if it meant she could get a free meal out of it.
She had cooked dinner...if you count picking up the phone and ordering takeout as cooking. But Jackie didn't need to know that...
She was only being super sweet to Jackie so that she could get the girl's signature when she needed it. And since her lawyer had been nice enough to drop off the transferal papers a few hours ago, she was planning on getting the signature tonight, and by the time the limo comes to bring Jackie to Vermont, Pam would be breaking French bread in a Parisian café with her new, rich hubby.
But Jackie wouldn't need to know that, either, not yet.
Jackie was instructed to go downstairs until dinner was served, so the adults could chat. She didn't want to stay around her mother anyway. She had to admit, that her behavior wasn't typical of Pam. She was never this nice, this humble, or this...motherly.
Maybe Steven was right, she was up to something...
But she couldn't believe that completely.
Her mother loved her, that's why she's here.
She realized the errors of her ways and came to make up for it.
That's why she's here.
The more Jackie told herself this, the better she felt.
Eric and Donna broke apart from each other at the sound of Jackie's footsteps, relieved when it was just their tiny friend, and continued to cuddle, until Jackie blurted, "Ewwwwww."
Hyde's head immediately popped out of his room at the sound of her voice, and she blinked awkwardly at him, wedging herself between Eric and Donna, whispering to Donna quickly, and the two girls excused themselves, heading out the basement door in whispered giggles.
"What was that about?" Eric asked, nodding his head towards Hyde as he sat down on his chair.
"We got into a fight."
"When are you two not fighting?"
"When her mother's not here."
"Oh."
"I saw Pam in town today, with this weird guy."
Eric nodded for him to continue, so he did, in hushed whispers.
"They were talking about Jackie..." Hyde glanced around, making sure the coast was clear, "She's going to steal money from Jackie's trust fund and leave."
"Did you tell her?"
"How can I?"
Eric nodded in understanding, then glanced upwards, "Pam is here..."
"Yeah." Hyde grunted. "This sucks, Forman. The girl I lo," Hyde stopped himself, as Eric rolled his eyes.
Jackie and Donna walked back in, with determined faces, marching past the boys and upstairs.
Hyde watched Jackie intently, trying to get her to notice him, but she looked past him, before running up the stairs.
She looked so gorgeous tonight and the fact that he wouldn't be able to tell her that was pissing him off.
"The girl I love is in trouble and she's so freakin' stubborn, so there's nothing I can do about it." Hyde blurted out, as Kelso and Fez came in, hearing most of it.
"Did you just say you love Jackie?" Kelso, Eric, and Fez all asked in shock.
"Yes," Hyde stood up. "Yes, I did."
"That's cool." The three responded, as Kelso and Fez sat down, rambling on about Gilligan's Island and Hyde just blinked in awe.
"Hyde, there is one thing you could do." Eric said softly. "You could talk to Pam."
"Talk to Pam?" Hyde repeated, understanding his friend's suggestion. "I could talk to Pam."
*************
As Hyde once again denied his love for Jackie, only to admit it in a few minutes in front of his closest friends, for the first time, Jackie and Donna were sitting on the steps, talking in hushed whispers.
"We had a fight." Jackie whispered. "About my mom."
Donna raised her eyebrows in question and Jackie continued, explaining the ordeal in detail.
Donna thought for a few seconds, "Hyde's just worried about you."
"Yeah, I know." Jackie nodded. "And it's incredibly sweet."
She gave Donna a dreamy smile, which Donna grimaced it jokingly.
"But," Jackie started, "Donna, he made it seem like my mom doesn't even care about me..."
"Jackie, the woman left you over and over again."
"But she came back every time!"
"Whatever, Jackie. Who knows why your mom came back...all that matters is that she's here, right?"
"Right." Jackie nodded, but Donna knew she didn't sound too happy with this.
"Why don't we go upstairs? I'm starved."
"Donna, all you think about is food!"
"Yeah." Donna nodded. "I'm a pig." She laughed dryly, starting to climb the stairs.
"No!" Jackie screeched. "Let's go through the basement, I want Steven to take a good look at what he WON'T be touching."
*****
Pam groaned to herself, taking an elongated sip of her margarita as Kitty laughed loudly at some pun Red had made.
"Damn townies." Pam thought to herself. "I cannot wait to get out of Wisconsin."
"Hi, Mrs. Burkhart."
Pam turned around, flipping her large mop of hair away from her eyes to take a good look at who had said her name.
He lips grinned into a mischievous smile as she saw the curly head of hair and the sunglasses, and of course that cute ass, and recognized the boy, hell he was practically a man, licking his lips and smiling towards her.
Jackie's boyfriend. The only thing around her that looks good, well, besides herself. Oh, and Michael, but his but didn't look as good in rustic jeans.
"Hello there, Steven. How are you?" Pam asked flirtatiously, eyeing her daughter, who was watching them carefully from across the living room, where she was seated on the bottom of the stairs with her tall, red haired friend.
"I was hoping we could have ourselves a little chat, actually."
"Oh, really?" Pam asked, eyes popping out in wonder.
She knew the kid was trouble, from what she had heard about the Hyde's back when she was in the gossip circles around town, but didn't think he would have the guts to go after his girlfriend's mother. But then again, Pam did look very ripe for her age.
"Well, then," Pam began, licking her lips happily. "Why don't we go outside?"
"Sounds good to me." Hyde nodded, motioning for her to go first, which she did, casually passing Kitty, Red, and their weird neighbor with the very atrocious afro, who were deep in conversation and alcohol. Hyde glanced back at Jackie, who was burning holes into him with her stare, and followed Pam, planning his next words carefully.
********
"Donna!" Jackie poked the red head's stomach, "What is he doing?"
Donna turned to where Jackie's gaze was pointing to, towards her mother, who was laughing absentmindedly as Hyde spoke to her.
"I don't know." Donna muttered, watching with growing interest.
"He better not do anything stupid..." Jackie started, her eyes bulging, "Oh my god, where are they going?"
Donna turned towards Jackie, scared by her fuming eyes.
"I don't know, Jackie, but you should calm down."
"Calm down?" Jackie stood up, glaring at her friend. "I just caught my mother flirting with my boyfriend and then running off with him!"
"I'm sure it's nothing." Donna added quickly, pulling on Jackie's skirt.
Jackie fell back down on the stairs, angry and ruffled.
**********
Pam raked her hand through her hair, leaning against the post outside the kitchen as she took a hearty sip of her drink.
"So, Steven, what did you want to talk about?" Pam asked, taking a seat on one of the patio chairs, next to him.
"Well," Hyde began, clearing his throat.
Now that he was out here, he wasn't sure how to say what he had to say.
Jackie placed her hand on his knee, tentatively,
"It's ok, Steven." Pam whispered, her breath so close it was sending chills down his spine. "You can tell me."
Her advances washed over him, giving him a new sense of confidence.
"I'm your daughter's boyfriend, Mrs. Burkhart." He took her hand off his knee. "What are you doing?"
Pam shrugged it off, "What are you doing, inviting your girlfriend's mother for a 'chat'?"
"I know what you're doing, Mrs. Burkhart." Steven said slowly, as she brought her hand to his knee again, squeezing his kneecap ever so gently.
"Seducing you?"
"No." He stood up, watching her hand fall and leaned against the post, facing her. "You think Jackie's going to like the boarding school you're forcing her to go to?"
Pam's eyes bulged and she stood up, flustered.
"Who told you about that?" She snapped quickly.
"I saw you today." He snapped back. "I was there. I heard everything."
Pam took a sip of her drink, calming herself.
"Now, if you don't tell Jackie, I will."
"Are you threatening me?" Pam laughed, oblivious to the group of kids behind her.
*********
"Donna, I can't take it." Jackie sighed in a huff. "I need to know where they went and what they're doing."
"Fine." Donna nodded her head in defeat.
"There you two are!" Eric came up to them, panting. "Jackie, you need to come with me."
"Why?"
"Just do it." Donna nodded, recognizing the stressed look in Eric's eyes.
The three went down towards the basement, and along with Kelso and Fez, slowly crept up the stairs and towards the dim light coming from the patio, all being silent as they saw Pam and Hyde seated on the patio. If it weren't for Donna's hand over her mouth, Jackie would have screamed when she caught Pam's hand on her boyfriend's knee, but instead she listened.
And she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Donna stood behind her, patting her back softly as Kelso and Eric each stood by her side, watching her, making sure she was quiet and squeezing each of her hands, protectively.
*********
Hyde nodded in approval as he caught Eric's attention, never happier that he was his best friend.
"Pam, just admit what you did to Jackie, and I'll let it go."
"Admit what I did?" Pam laughed. "I can't tell my daughter that I'm laundering three million dollars from her trust fund. I can't tell her that I'm moving to Paris, to be with my new husband. I can't tell her that I'm sending her off to boarding school, so I won't have to see her whiny, spoiled butt any longer." Pam took another swig of her drink, not paying attention to the tiny held back whimpers behind her and Hyde's ever-growing smile.
"How could you hurt her like that?" Hyde asked in awe. "How could you be so manipulative?"
"I never asked for a daughter."
"She never asked to be your daughter."
Pam shrugged indifferently, taking one last sip before she threw her glass to the floor. "Steven, darling," She draped her arm on his shoulder, practically knocking him over, "If you keep my secret, I'll rock your world in a way my daughter never will." She pushed herself against him, alcohol and sweat radiating off of her breath as she spoke.
"You're pathetic." Hyde muttered, pushing Pam off of himself, watching her fall onto the patio chair, laughing softly to herself.
"Please!" Pam laughed. "At least I'm not poor! At least I have people who care about me. I knew your parents. They were losers, just like," Pam clicked her tongue along with her words, "You."
"I care about him."
Eric Forman stepped out into the light, standing by Hyde's side.
"And so do I." Donna came towards the light, casting a dirty look towards Pam as Eric hugged her tightly.
"And us too!" Kelso and Fez shouted as they stood next to Hyde, grinning from ear to ear.
"How long have you all been standing there?" Pam asked, her face turning pale.
"Long enough." Jackie's voice came out meek and scared as her tears shone brightly through the light. Jackie opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
She felt Hyde's hand squeeze hers and she opened her mouth again.
"Mother, I want you to pack your things and leave my house, tonight."
"Your house?" Pam laughed.
"I've spent more nights there then you have." Jackie counterattacked.
"You can't afford to live in that house, sweetie." Pam laughed evilly.
"Then she'll live with me." Donna spoke up.
Eric slipped past the group, rushing inside through the slider to grab his parents, for backup.
"Jackie, darling, you misheard me."
"Did I?"
"Yes, sweetie, I'm using your money to send you to the finest school in Vermont."
"Oh, shut up." Jackie said quickly. "I'm sick and tired of your bullshit."
Hyde stared down at the tiny girl in surprise.
Red and Kitty came storming outside, after Eric hurriedly explained the story.
"Jackie, you're sleeping here tonight." Red said angrily, motioning for the kids to get inside. Kelso, Fez, and a reluctant Hyde all ran towards the kitchen as Kitty hugged Jackie sadly. "Pam, get the hell off my property."
**********
Jackie was kind of peeved off that she didn't get to hear the rest of Red and Pam's conversation, which was a whole lot of yelling, since Kitty rushed her inside towards the kitchen, never letting go of her.
Donna's father came over, telling Jackie she was welcome to stay at their house, and then Donna hugged Jackie goodbye, asking for her to stop by tomorrow morning, so they could talk.
Jackie nodded, crying all the while.
She saw faces, but she wasn't sure what was going on...
Hyde could tell she was in utter shock of all the revelations.
He so wanted to believe that her mother had good intentions, for her sake.
Kelso and Fez each hugged Jackie tightly, before going home.
Eric hugged Jackie softly, patting her back and looking at her sadly before her retreated to his bedroom.
Kitty gave her a cup of tea and asked Hyde to bring her upstairs, since she was shaking softly and still looked incredibly sad.
"No, Kitty," Red spoke up, "Let the girl sleep downstairs, for tonight."
He looked at Hyde squarely, "But no funny business."
Hyde nodded in understanding, pulling Jackie along softly and watched as she robotically laid down on his cot, instantly falling asleep as her head hit the pillow.
And he sat down across from her, watching her sleep, happy with the outcome of tonight.
And he looked at what he almost lost.
And never felt more relieved that this time, he didn't screw himself over.
She was here. And she was his.
But she would never be the same.
He knew that, because a long time ago, he was just like her.
He had hope, he believed.
But then he was abandoned and so he in return, abandoned all idealism.
And he was expecting Jackie to do the same thing.
But she wouldn't have to...
Because he was here for her, when no one else was there for him, he would be here for her.
He loved her.
And he wasn't afraid to admit it any more.