DISCLAIMER: I don't own That 70's Show or anything related to it. I wish I did cause then I could make Jackie and Hyde be together. Humph… Oh well. Maybe the writers will be nice and let them be together soon.

Summary: Takes place in the 8th Season, during and after Fun It. Jackie and Hyde bottle up their feelings because they can't stand getting hurt again by each other. The final season leads them through tragedy and self-discovery. But will it lead them together again?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 2: Back In The Saddle

Jackie laid on Donna's bed, taking a quiz in one of her Cosmo's. They had some good ones even Fez would admit that. But then again, it wasn't much to say that he enjoyed the feminine magazine. She sighed and looked at the bottom of the page to read her assessment.

You are very strong-minded when it comes to relationships. Some may even call you pushy. But you love deeply and always let your affection be known. Don't hide it but maybe take a different approach when it comes to showing your love.

Ha, that's nothing like me at all, Jackie thought. Okay, well maybe. "Hey Donna, you know what?"

"Hmm…" Donna said, not taking her own eyes off the page she was reading.

Probably an article about lumberjacking, Jackie mused. "I think I should start dating again."

"What?" Jackie had definitely gotten her attention with that. Only a few weeks ago, she had heard Jackie swear off men. Now she wants them again?

"Yeah, well, I guess I know that Steven and I are over. Really over this time. I'd give my hair to have him back… well, not really, but that's not the point… I just think it's time to move on. He's obviously happy with that skanky tramp. They don't argue like we did," Jackie said, sitting up. Her face only shown the slightest hint of emotion; Steven had certainly taught her well.

"That's because they don't have any passion. Sure they've had sex but they've never made love. Why? Because he's still in love with you, he's just too much of a dumbass to realize that! And if you can't see that, then you're a dumbass too," Donna said, exasperated. She had almost had her limit of this new Jackie and Hyde deal. Hadn't they learned by now?

"Oh, you're just grumpy because you and Eric are over and you're adjusting to having a cooler guy to date," Jackie said. With that she dropped her Cosmo and left, determined to find someone else to tell about her plans.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the Hub, Fez and Hyde were munching on an order of fries. And "munching" was the correct term for what they were doing.

"So, has Sam called lately?" Fez asked, dipping a fry into the blob of ketchup he made on a napkin and shoving it into his mouth. He chewed enthusiastically, waiting for his best friend to answer. Well, his best friend after Kelso. And Kelso was gone. It seemed like their compact little group was falling apart.

"Yeah, she's at a convention. She said she'll be back later though," Hyde said as if he were telling what was the color of the table they were sitting at. What did it matter to him that Sam was gone? He didn't need her. He didn't depend on her. He didn't love her.

"Hey guys," he heard a voice say. The voice was familiar but the tone wasn't. Hyde looked up to find a dark haired pixie in his line of vision. The pixie floated to the chair across from him and sat down, reaching forward to grab a fry and delicately take small bits from its tip.

"Hi Jackie!" he heard Fez say and snapped out of his stasis.

"Hey," the Zen said.

"So, I think I'm going to start dating again."

"Oh, well, Jackie, I don't know if I'm free. There are a lot of ladies who want the sexiness that is Fez."

"Not you and ha!" she laughed. When would Fez learn? "I meant other people. People around town. Guys around town. I'm not spending the rest of my life cooped up in Eric's basement. I want to start my life. And that requires a husband, so…" she waved her hand as if illustrating a point.

"Jackie. That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Hyde said, after recovering from a momentary panic attack. A small part of him let himself feel something for her. And when she said she wanted to date other people, it hurt like hell. And Hyde didn't like it at all.

"No it's not. You married a stripper after saying that you wouldn't marry me. Which leads me to the conclusion that I have to go out with every guy until I find the guy who wants to marry me. But don't worry. I'm not looking for love. Just marriage," she said simply.

"Seriously Jackie, what the hell is wrong cause you're kinda freaking me out. And trust me, I'm not in the state of mind where I can stand being freaked out." Hyde's gaze bore straight into her, even through the glasses.

"I am being serious," she said but when she looked at him, she knew he needed a better explanation. "Okay. You see, I loved you with every piece of me I had and you didn't feel the same, which means that love isn't all that important. If I can love that strongly and get nothing in return, then what is the point anyway? Love is for ugly people," she said, taking another French fry.

Though he didn't show it, Hyde was shocked. Had he really hurt her so badly that she gave up on love? The one thing that he thought she'd never do? He couldn't believe it. And not only that, but she thought that he never loved her, although when he didn't get a divorce from Sam he saw how she could have gotten the impression. But the aspect of what she had just said that hit him the hardest and shocked him the most was how Zen she was being about it all. Never in his days had he seen her this calm and collected. Never in his days had he seen her this empty.

"Well, good for you! You can try me, you know. We already live together," Fez insinuated.

"I'll never be that desperate for a husband," Jackie said with a laugh. "I'll see you guys later. I have to find a job, seeing as how I gave it up to be with my boyfriend who turned out to be married," she said snidely.

That's the Jackie I know and…Hyde stopped and laughed bitterly to himself as he watched her walk away. Love.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, I said that this would be based around "Fun It" but I couldn't find the episode transcripts and I wanted to be accurate. Sorry about the lag in updating. This week had been so busy. But I hope to get one before Christmas and two or three next week, so look for that. Review and tell me what you think, or if you have any ideas. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. YOU'RE AWESOME!