Title: No Place Like Home

Author: Tonya

Couple: Jackie/Hyde and a little Donna/Hyde (Not my ideal pairing but, at the time, I had a feeling that the writers would possibly make them into a couple; so I just ran with it)

Rating: PG-13 (?)

Disclaimer: I do not own Jackie, Hyde, Eric, Fez, Kelso, Donna, Kitty, or Red. I do own the two characters I made up.

Author's Note: This was originally supposed to be my take on how Season 8 was going to play out, but this story took on a mind of its own. I had a lot of revising to do, because I'm new to the show and I missed the last few episodes; so at the time I started writing this story, I had read some things that were said during the season finale but I wasn't presented with any visuals. So, I just made most of it up. I usually don't like to post unfinished work, but I'm going to do my best to update this as often as I can…that is, if you all like it enough. Please let me know what you think (I appreciate constructive criticism…no flames, please).

Chapter One: Goodbye, Wisconsin

Jackie Burkhardt needed to get away. She needed to get away from this town. She needed to get away from the idea of marriage. She needed to get away from him. She received a job offer as an anchorwoman in Chicago. It was an opportunity of a lifetime. A dream come true! Her dream come true. At least it used to be her dream. It was still very important to her, but she was willing to give it up for him. Steven Hyde. A man who was only supposed to be fling, a way for her to get over Michael. However, the joke fell on her when she fell in love with Steven. It was never supposed to happen. She chose to fool around with Steven as a way to get over Michael because Steven was so wrong for her. He was her opposite. She was a cheerleader who was into fashion, hair, and shopping. She came from a wealthy family. A dysfunctional family but wealthy nonetheless. That was until her dad was put in jail for bribery and her mom abandoned her.

As Mrs. Forman would say, Steven was an orphan. Both his father and mother abandoned him. Kitty and Red Forman took him in and treated him as if he was their own. Actually they sometimes treated him better than they treated Laurie and Eric, their own children. Steven was a rebel, a troublemaker who hated school and was always in detention. He never applied himself. He was basically a jeans and t-shirt guy, and he hid his gorgeous blue eyes behind his dark sunglasses. Jackie loved it when he let her see his eyes. Jackie loved him.

She quickly shook that thought out of her head. 'But he doesn't love you, Jackie,' she told herself. She realized that when he told her he didn't know if marriage was in their future. How could she be with someone who didn't know if he could marry her? Didn't he know her at all? Didn't he understand that she needed a man in her life to take care of her? She laughed at her own thoughts as she imagined Steven telling her, 'haven't you learned anything from me?' Steven was the only person in her life who didn't baby her or make her feel like she couldn't do anything she put her mind to. Through him she found independence, but that didn't stop her from needing him.

She felt tears burn at her eyes. How could she have been so stupid? Guys like Steven Hyde don't commit. He never had a stable person in his life. He never knew what to do with Jackie, who always wore her heart on her sleeve. He knew all of her, but she knew little about him. Did he think about her when she wasn't around? Did he ever cry? Did he love her? Who is Steven Hyde?

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Michael Kelso asked as he put the car in park. Jackie nodded.

It was rare to see Michael so serious; even though he was a father now, Michael had a tendency to be…well…flaky. Jackie was glad that she was still friends with Michael and that he was willing to be there for her in any way he could. Michael was her first boyfriend and, even though he cheated on her on several occasions, he would always be a part of her life. Michael may have been her first boyfriend, but Steven was her first love…her only love.

Kelso sighed. "All right," he said as he unbuttoned his over shirt. Jackie looked around anxiously. "It's all right," he assured her. "No one can see in." Kelso removed his shirt and handed it to Jackie. Jackie slipped it on. She tied her shoulder-length hair in a ponytail.

"Where's your hat and sunglasses?" she asked.

"Sunglasses are in the glove compartment," he pointed. "And my hat…is somewhere…" he trailed off as he looked around. He looked in the backseat. "Oh, there it is!" Jackie looked back and saw it under his seat. Kelso awkwardly reached into the backseat to retrieve the hat but ended up falling into the backseat. Jackie put the sunglasses on and slouched in her seat. "I got it!" he yelled.

"Shhh!"

"Here ya go," Kelso said, handing her the hat. Jackie took it and put it on.

"How do I look?"

"You look like you're ready to rob a bank." Jackie groaned. "I'm just sayin'!" Kelso cried, holding his hands up defensively.

"Well, do you have any bright ideas?"

"Lose the hat. Or the sunglasses. Or give me back my shirt 'cause it's cold!"

"I can't lose the hat. It covers up my hair that shine Steven could spot from a mile away. I need the shirt because it covers up my gorgeous outfit that Steven knows I own. And I can't go without the sunglasses because…well, let's face it, Steven has looked into my eyes and he'd know them anywhere."

"Well, look on the bright side, he's probably not even looking for you." And there it was. Classic Kelso, always knowing the wrong thing to say. Jackie's face dropped. "Oh, hey, I didn't mean--"

"Let's just go!" Jackie cut him off. "I'm gonna miss my flight." Kelso put the car in gear. "Goodbye, Wisconsin," Jackie muffled. 'Goodbye, Steven.'

Steven Hyde awoke with a start when he heard someone say his name. He winced at the pain in his head. "Happy Hangover!" Donna exclaimed. Hyde buried his head in his pillow.

"Go away!" he muttered.

"You've been out for two hours," she told him. "Eric's leaving tomorrow and I thought we could all spend one last night together. You, me, Eric, Fez, and Kelso before he leaves with Brooke and the baby." Hyde noticed that Donna left out Jackie. He wondered if she had done that on purpose just to get him to hang out with the group. He wasn't about to ask. He wasn't going to let anyone see how torn up about Jackie he was.

She wouldn't really leave, would she? Why did she want to get married anyway? Hadn't she learned anything from her parents' marriage? From Donna's parents' divorce? From his family? Didn't she get that he couldn't give her the life that she wanted? Why did she have to ruin what they had with talks of marriage? He thought everything was okay between them. They were back together again and he thought that she was happy. Her confession struck him like a shot through the heart.

Flashback:

Hyde looked into her eyes and wasn't sure whether to be angry or feel sorry for her as she told him that she pretended to be engaged to Fez because she didn't know if she'd ever know what it felt like to be engaged. Hyde arose from his chair in Forman's basement. "We're back at this again?" he asked, frustration draining from his voice. "Jackie, why can't you be happy with what we have?" Her sad, hazel eyes cut through him life a knife. Luckily, his shades masked his feelings.

"Because I'm not happy, Steven."

Those words kept randomly ringing in his head ever since she spoke them. What did he need to do to make her happy? Was marriage the only answer? If it was then…

"Hey, look who's up," Eric Forman said as he walked into Hyde's room. He stood by Donna and planted a kiss on her cheek. He looked down at Hyde who had taken a sitting position on his cot. "So, have you made a decision yet?" Hyde nodded his head.

"Yeah, I have."

Eric and Donna exchanged shocked expressions. "Well, don't keep us in suspense," Forman said.

"Steven?" Hyde looked passed Donna and Forman at the lady who spoke his name. Mrs. Forman walked slowly toward him in a solemn manner, which was unusual for Kitty. She had a folded piece of paper in her hand. Her arm reached out and she handed the paper to Hyde. "Jackie wanted me to give this to you." Hyde looked at Forman and Donna before he took the note. Forman furrowed his eyebrows curiously. Donna was staring at the floor.

"Thanks," Hyde muttered as he accepted the note. Mrs. Forman left the room in a hurry. Hyde looked at Forman and Donna again.

"Eric, maybe we should go," Donna said grabbing his arm.

"No," Hyde said firmly. "Look, it's just another one of Jackie's silly little games," he added trying to convince himself just as much. He unfolded the note.

Dear Steven,

If you're reading this, that means I'm on my way to Chicago to start my new life. There was nothing keeping me in Point Place. It's clear that you don't see a future for us. I wish you all the best in life. Don't sell yourself short. You have potential to do great things in life and make something of yourself. I believe in you. I will never forget you, Steven Hyde, and I will always love you.

Love Always,

Jackie

"What's it say, man?" Forman asked, breaking the trance of anguish Hyde found himself in. Hyde was quiet for a few more minutes.

"She's gone," he finally choked out.

"Gone? You mean, she really left?" Forman actually sounded like he cared. Forman hated Jackie almost as much as Hyde used to. Hyde wished that he still hated her. Did he ever really hate her? Sure, she talked a lot, and mostly about herself, and everything about her made his skin crawl. However, the more time he spent with her, the more she drove him crazy in other ways and gave him other sensations that gave skin crawling a new meaning. Life would be so much simpler without her in it. But would it be worth living?

Hyde could have any girl he wanted and he knew it. Chicks dug his bad boy looks and rebellious attitude. He's never had any complaints from any of the girls he's been with. Then Jackie came into his life and turned it upside down. She was his first girlfriend. The other girls were just flings. Jackie was supposed to be a fling. Hyde was supposed to enjoy taking advantage of her vulnerability. Instead, he found himself enjoying her. Maybe a little too much. Everything about her. Her soft, brown hair; her wide, hazel eyes; her pouty lips; how she seemed to fit perfectly in his arms. He was caught up in her net and he didn't mind one bit. He'd never tell anyone that, not even Jackie. No other woman has ever made him feel the way Jackie did and he doubted they ever could. Now, she's gone.

Hyde ignored Forman's question and ran upstairs to the Forman's kitchen where he found Kitty leaning on the counter of the island. "Mrs. Forman?" She turned to look at him.

"Yes, dear?"

Hyde caught his breath. He held up the note. "When did she give this to you?"

"Half an hour ago," she answered. "I wasn't supposed to give it to you until her flight left but I couldn't wait two hours." Hyde saw the tears glistening in her eyes. "Besides, you two kids belong together." Kitty buried her face in her hands. Hyde kissed the woman he knew as his mother on her head.

"Thank you," he whispered.

She looked up at him. "I just want my kids to be happy. I've never seen you happier than when you're with her. Go to her, Steven." Hyde nodded. He ran out the backdoor on a mission: To stop Jackie from making the biggest mistake of her life…of their lives.