A/N: To gooniegirl, ReginaBina33, sexyzenfox, YouThinkYouNoeMe, fisharecoolies, danalee48. Thank you for your reviews. So glad to see everyone's enjoying my little fic. :) I'm seeing that this is making quite a few people cry. I feel I should say sorry and I hope it's tears from emotive and convincing writing, instead of bad writing. lol :) Well 1 more chapter after this one and then it seems the general consensus is for an Epilogue, yes? Thank you everyone for your support, I really appreciate it. I hope the rest of the fic does not disappoint. Thanks again. - Ally

Chapter 7

She was zipping up her suitcase, as he stood leaning against her bedroom door watching her. She was leaving in an hour and he didn't think he could watch her go. He'd longed for this girl for years, and been friends with her for even longer. She was beautiful, and really a very nice person. She was loyal and devoted. And he didn't know what he and his band of misfits would do without her. The light would be gone forever and he wasn't sure they'd ever be able to get it back.

"Fez? Will you carry this to the door please?" She asked and he stomped his foot angrily.

"No. I will not help you walk out of my life for good." He pouted and watched as she smiled at him sweetly. She lugged the heavy suitcase off her bed and sat down, patting the spot beside her.

Fez entered the now empty room and sat beside her. Everything was packed up. The bed and her suitcase were the only things left. Her boxes had been packed and taken away days ago by the movers. He'd stayed away that day. Unable to watch. It was too final. Too hard.

"Fezzy. I love you, you know that right?" She asked with a sweet smile, picking up his hand and holding it between hers. He nodded reluctantly.

"Yes. I know. But why must you leave me?" He asked and frowned at the sadness in her eyes.

"I have to go Fez. There's nothing here for me now. My family's a mess. My mother's gone, my dad's in prison. Michael's in Chicago, Eric's in Africa. You and Donna are busy with your lives." Fez opened his mouth to speak and she held up a hand to prevent him. "Don't get me wrong. I'm really happy that you two have your own thing and you're happy. But it doesn't leave much room for me and I don't want you to give up your lives for me... Then, there's Steven. Well, hell he's just..." She stopped and he watched her carefully. She looked so sad. He squeezed her hand and she looked up at him with a forced smile.

"I don't even have any other friends Fez. I turned them away. Steven used to say they were shallow and vapid. And he was right. But they were all I knew, and I gave them up. I never regretted that until recently. I don't have a job anymore. I have nothing." She looked up at him, her eyes begging with him to understand. "I can't stay in a town where all I have are bitter reminders of a life that doesn't exist anymore. I won't."

Fez looked into Jackie's eyes. She was so much more than they ever gave her credit for. And as much as he wanted to tell her that she was wrong and convince her to stay. It was no use. She was right and she was already gone. He raised his hand and brushed a lock of hair off her face before leaning in and kissing her cheek gently. He extricated his hand from hers and pulled her into his arms for a tight embrace. He would let her go, but he wasn't sure if he could ever truly forgive his friend for sending her away.

He pulled away when he heard the taxi horn outside. He didn't say a word, he simply picked up her suitcase and carried it outside. She followed him and paused before getting into the car. Jackie had already said goodbye to everyone else. Everyone but Fez and Steven. Steven had a few more hours to make his decision. But the creepy boy, who was quickly becoming a gentlemen, who stood before her only had now.

Jackie leant in and kissed his lips gently. It was nothing but a friendly brush of lips but when she pulled back he was smiling big. He'd finally got his kiss. She hugged him tightly and smiled into his shoulder when she heard him whisper softly in his ear. "I love you too. And I understand."

When she pulled away from him she had tears in her beautiful eyes.

"You are so coming to visit me in California. You and Donna can come out for a weekend or something and we'll have a girls weekend. Just us. Just like old times." She smiled. It may never happen. They move on, she may. But she hoped they would still always need each other. Because the basement gang had become her family. She knew she had to leave, she even wanted to, but she still knew it would be hard. And it would hurt.

"Just try and keep me away." He smiled. He opened the door to the cab for her and she stepped inside. When he closed it, she reached her hand out the open window and took his hand gently.

"Thank you fezzy. See ya later." She smiled. She refused to say goodbye. It was too final. He smiled to her and squeezed her hand gently before letting go. He waved as the cab took off down the road.

He stood on the sidewalk, watching as the cab drew further and further away until it was gone. And Jackie Burkhart along with it. She'd been in so much pain here. Point Place only holding memories of people who should have stood by her and loved her, but only broke her heart and their promises. He only hoped the most beautiful girl in Point Place found the happiness, that the sweetest girl they knew, deserved.

TBC...

1 more to go...