1Chapter 3

Jackie stumbled into the basement in tears around 11:25. She had driven around for a while after the train station trying to collect her thoughts. But it was almost midnight now and she wanted to be around other people for New Years.

"Jackie." Donna called, upon her returned. "Oh my god. What happened?"

"He's going to get her." She replied mindlessly, staring at the ground.

"Well that sucks." Kelso interjected loudly, taking a swig of his beer and propping his feet up on the coffee table. "Shoulda stuck with me Jackie."

"Shut up Michael." Jackie growled, narrowing her eyes.

"Jackie. If it makes you feel better, I will kiss you at midnight." Fez offered hopefully.

"Eww no." She sighed.

"Hey gang!" Kitty called, running down the stairs. "Guess what! Guess what!" Everyone turned to face Kitty who was standing on the bottom step. "Eric is home! Eric is home!" She squeeled, not waiting for them to guess.

"What?" Donna questioned feeling her stomach do a flip.

"He came back to win your heart Donna."

"Mom." Eric whined from upstairs as he made his way down. "Way to ruin the moment."

"I'm sorry honey." Kitty apoligized. "I was just so darn excited."

Eric reached the bottom of the steps and locked eyes with Donna. "Hey."

"Hi." She beamed, sifting nervously. She felt like a little girl with a crush.

"I'll just leave you kids alone." Kitty whispered, sneaking upstairs.

"Donna. I love you." He told her, in his deep sincere voice. "I know that everything is confusing now, but..."

Before he could finish, Donna had her lips pressed firmly against his. It took Eric a second to comprehend what was going on but eventually he realized that the love of his life was kissing him. He kissed her back.

"Well, that was a lot easier then I thought it would be." Eric cleared his throat, surprised.

"Shut up." She laughed, unable to wipe the smile from her face. "I can't believe you're here."

"I know. Me either. But I couldn't stay away. I messed up so bad when I left Donna."

"Yeah. You did." She nodded.

"Okay are we done here? I don't want to sit her and listen to you two live happily ever after when my life is going to crap." Jackie whined, crossing her arms.

"Jackie. Wow I didn't even notice you there." Eric told her. "I wish that would happen more often."

"Eric. Cut it out." Donna nudged. "This is not a good time."

"Why? What's going on?"

"You know what? Let's just forget about it okay?" Jackie announced, obviously annoyed. "It's New Years and I don't want to think about Stephen. I'm gonna go outside for a minute. I'll be back for midnight." She told them, disappearing out the basement door.

Jackie sighed with a whimper as she crossed her arms and rested her body against the cool metal of Fez's car. She couldn't believe what a big mistake she had made. If only she had been adult enough to just tell him how she felt. She was always doing this. Always playing games. Now she had probably lost the love of her life forever. A single tear trickled down her cheek and she wiped it away with the sleeve of her sweater. Sniffling, she let a shiver roll down her spine as a snowflake landed on her nose.

Jackie looked up at the sky. She hadn't heard a prediction for snow, but some things can't be predicted. Jackie always thought in the back of her mind that she would end up married to Stephen. A beautiful mansion, adorable kids and tons of money.

As the snow began to fall more heavily, Jackie knew that she could not stay out in the cold much longer. Besides, it must be almost midnight by now. So, she made her way back to the basement, where she found all of her friends in a partying mood. Kelso and Fez were playing some sort of game that involved cards and slapping each other. The girl Kristy was sitting beside Michael, obviously interested in making him her midnight kiss. Randy and Fawnia were sitting on the couch, as Randy stared at Donna and Eric kissing and hugging.

"Great." Jackie mumbled to herself walking beside Hyde's chair and staring at the tv.

"Hey guys! It's 1 minutes to midnight." Fez announced with excitement.

Everyone gathered around near the tv. Eric and Donna. Kelso and Kristy. Randy and Fawnia. And Fez. Jackie hated that she was single, especially because that put her in the same pathetic situation as a weird foreigner.

"Guys ready for the count down?" Eric questioned with a smile on his face.

"10..." Eric started off.

"9..." The rest of the group, except for Jackie joined in.

"8..." Jackie looked from the tv to the people around her. Everything seemed to be in slow motion.

"7..." It was like she was watching a movie.

"6..." And she had no business being a part of it.

"5...4..." Their numbers seemed to quicken now. The year was slipping threw her fingers and along with it the memories of her last moments as a couple with Stephen.

"3...2...1.." And it was gone. The 70's were over. One era had ended and a brand new one had began.

"Happy New Year!" The screams of her friends seemed gargled and muffled. Jackie felt as if she was in some sort of dream. Well, more like a night mare. All around her, people were kissing and hugging, but she just stood there. Still. Quiet. Invisible.

Until she felt a hand sympathetically touch her arm. Shuttering at the feeling, she was jolted suddenly back into reality. Then turning slowly she opened her mouth to thank the friend who

had thought of her at that moment. But before she could say a word she felt a pair of lips crash against her's.

She didn't question it. For some reason, she didn't feel the need to. Instead, Jackie wrapped her arms around his neck and continued to kiss them. This was what she needed. Someone.

Letting their lips gently part. She lingered there, hanging in emptiness with her eyes closed. A hand ran threw her hair, as she let her eyes flutter open.

It was a dream. She hadn't been mistaking, this was all just some sort of dream and she would wake up any minute to find her friends still counting down to the year 1980. She stood still and silent for a moment, waiting to wake up. Surely the excitement around her would bring her back to the present, but nothing was happening. She wasn't waking up.

"Stephen?" She questioned.

"Jacks." He breathed, staring into her eyes. "I didn't leave."

Jackie shook her head in disbelief. "But you were so mad at me. I tried to trick you. Oh god Stephen. I'm so sorry. I just wanted to be with you and I know it was stupid..."

"Yeah. It was really stupid." He agree with a nod. Jackie looked down, angry with herself. "But it's a good thing I love you." He added.

Jackie looked up at him with renewed hope. "Do you mean it?"

Hyde paused for a minute, looking around at their audience. He hated being all mushy and sentimental in front of the guys, but this time is was necessary. "I love you Jacks."

"I love you too Stephen!" She squealed, throwing her self against him and locking her arms around his neck.

"Okay. Okay guys. I know the sappy factor is pretty high right now, but I have something to say." Eric announced, as Hyde took his seat and Jackie took her place on his lap.

"Oh man. Fez can't take all of this love." Fez whimpered, on the verge of tears.

"Fez, you big softy. Here take my girl" Kelso offered, motioning to Kristy who looked angry.

"What's up Foreman?"Hyde questioned.

"Well, this is actually for Donna." He told them, clearing his throat and taking his girlfriend's hand and getting down on one knee. "Donna. You know I'm not good at stuff like this." He paused, trying to collect his thoughts. "But I really want to know that from now on, no matter where we are in the world or what we are doing in our lives...that we will be together forever."

"Oh my god Eric." Donna whispered, with a shaky tone.

"And so I was trying to think of ways to make that happen." He joked and she laughed nervously. "And then it hit me." He continued, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ring. "Donna I have never loved another person the way I love you and I can promise you that I never will. I know for sure that you are the only one in the entire world for me."

The entire gang was staring with disbelief. They had known from the beginning that Donna and Eric would end up together and lord knows they had tried this whole thing before. But something about this time seem right. Real.

"So I was kind of wondering." He continued. "Well, actually hoping because if you turned me down right now it would be really embarrassing." He laughed, then became serious. "What I'm trying to get at here is...Donna. Will you marrying me? For real this time?"

"Of course I will." She cried, nodding her head as Eric slipped the ring on her finger. Standing up, Eric took Donna in his arm, dipped her about as low as he could (which wasn't very low) and kissed her.

Jackie stuck out her bottom lip, then looked down at Hyde. "Oh Stephen." She began.

"Ahh heck. Let's just do it." He shrugged.

"Really?" She squealed with excitement.

"No."

"That was just cruel." Fez shook his head in disappointment.

"Not yet." He added, looking Jackie in the eyes.

"Wait a minute. Not yet? So does that mean what I think it means?" She questioned with a huge smile on her face.

Hyde smirked at her excitement. He missed being the one who made her look that happy. "Someday Jacks." He told her sincerely.

"I love you Stephen." She gushed, wrapping her arms around his neck. Then she added. "I knew you couldn't resist me for long."

"Oh guys. I have one more thing to say." Eric yelled, getting the gangs attention again. "A few days ago, I found out that my parents have officially sold the house."

"Oh my god." Donna frowned. The entire gang was silent.

"This is so sad." Fez whimpered.

"Yeah. Me and Laurie did it at least half a dozen times down here" Kelso nodded, taking a sip of his beer.

"Ewwww." Jackie made a face and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah. I didn't need to here that." Eric added. "Anyway, besides this new disturbing information we've just learned...I was so sad to think that we would never hang out in this basement ever again together."

"Yeah that is really depressing," Fez frowned, obviously bummed out. "Thanks for pointing that out."

"Well, that's why...I bought the house." He announced.

"What!" The whole gang stared at him in shock.

"Yeah. I talked to my dad. I told him I was going to propose to Donna. He's giving me a good deal and I'm gonna pay him as I get the money." Eric explained. "This is my house." He added. "And Donna I know you're going to school but we can wait okay? I want the time to be right for both of us."

"Oh my god Eric. This is amazing." Donna beamed wrapping her arms around him.

"Yeah. Well don't expect a wedding gift from my parents." He laughed, as Donna pulled away with a smile still plastered on her face. "And Hyde...you're welcome to stay here buddy." He paused, then added. "But you're paying me rent."

"Thanks Foreman."

"And..yeah you'll actually be able to move upstairs now, so that'll be good."

"Sweet. I'm movin up." Hyde nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Jackie. "So now I've got an actual bedroom." He lifted his eyebrow.

"Stephen do you know what this means?" She questioned, clapping her hands together. "Oh my god. I can be like a little house wife."

"Great. So you're gonna cook for me and clean my clothes."

"No I'm gonna redecorate!" She smirked.

Hyde rolled his eyes but couldn't keep a smile from his face. She could be maddening sometimes, but he loved her. "Just shut up and kiss me." He ordered, pulling her lips to his.

And they lived Happily Ever After...Just the way it was always meant to be.

The End