A/N: All right, so here it is, the last chapter. I'm sad to see this one go, it's been really fun to write. But every good thing must come to an end. I want to thank everyone for reading this and especially for reviewing – you guys made my day, or my night, whenever I got a review! I'm really thrilled so many people have enjoyed this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it! So thanks all of you, I appreciate it more than you'll ever know! And now, the final chapter of Countdown.
Two weeks later.
The gang was assembled in Eric Forman's basement yet again. Eric and Donna were snuggled together on the couch, Kelso sat on the lawn chair, and Hyde was in his chair, Jackie seated comfortably on his lap. The TV was on, and Scooby Doo and his gang of cartoon teenagers were busily scrambling to solve another mystery.
Kelso glanced up from the TV and looked around the room, a frown on his face. "Man, things just don't seem the same without Fez here. When's he coming back?"
Hyde shrugged. "He should be back pretty soon."
"Yeah, he said he wouldn't be gone that long, Michael," Jackie added, shifting more comfortably into her boyfriend's arms.
"Hey, you know what might ease the pain a little?" Eric said, grinning from the couch.
Donna looked at him and his smile spread to her face as she realized what he was suggesting. "I think that just might help our wounds to heal," she said, a hand to her heart as she feigned heartbreak. She turned to Hyde with a grin, who was already setting up the supplies.
"I'm way ahead of you, Forman," he said as Jackie scooted off his lap and sat beside him instead.
They formed the circle and Hyde lit up. They breathed the smoke in deeply and sat back in their chairs, each lost in their own thoughts. Just as they were all beginning to relax, the basement door burst open.
"I'm gone for two weeks and you bastards are celebrating?" Fez shouted from the doorway, feigning anger. But there was a small smile playing with the corners of his mouth.
"Little buddy!" Kelso cried and jumped up from his seat, rushing across the room and tackling Fez.
The others stood and made their way over to the foreigner, who was struggling under Kelso's onslaught. Eric reached out and managed to pry Kelso from the poor little guy, and then headed in for his own hug. Donna followed, and as she pulled away, Jackie leapt in and flung her arms around Fez's neck.
"We're so glad you're back, Fez!" she squealed.
"I can see that," Fez said, indicating the circle they'd started.
"Just a little something to dull the pain of your absence," Hyde remarked as Fez disentangled himself from Jackie's embrace. "Seriously, man, we missed you." He held out a hand for Fez to shake, and was surprised when the foreigner pulled him in for a hug.
Jackie clapped her hands and jumped up and down. "This is so great! Now we can have real circle time!"
"Yeah, even the circle wasn't the same without you, buddy," Kelso said as Hyde and Fez pulled apart.
"Well, then," Fez said, grinning. "I have two surprises for you that I think will make circle time even better." He turned towards the door and, as if on cue, a slender girl just slightly taller than Jackie stepped into the basement. She was dark-skinned like Fez, with long black hair reaching down to the middle of her back and bright amber eyes. She smiled at them all and came to stand beside Fez, who looped an arm around her waist. "This is my girlfriend…" he said the girl's name, his lips moving rapidly for several seconds, but the sound was muted by the sudden commotion issuing from the TV. When he finally finished saying her name, he smiled happily at them all.
Kelso turned back to the others and pointed over his shoulder at the new girl. "Okay, I'm not gonna remember that."
"Yeah, man, why do your people have such long freaking names?" Hyde said, pulling Jackie closer to his side.
Kelso's hand shot up in the air. "Oh, oh, I know!" he cried excitedly and then gave them all a dumb grin. "Let's call her Captain Poo Face! We never got to use it on Fez."
Donna smacked him in the back of the head. "You can't call Fez's girlfriend Captain Poo Face, you dillhole!"
Kelso rolled his eyes as he brought a hand to his head. "Fine, sorry Ms. Politically Correct. We'll call her Mrs. Captain Poo Face."
Donna hit him again, and the others just laughed.
"Oh, things will never change around here," Fez drawled happily. "Which brings me to my second surprise." He reached down into his duffle and pulled out a brown paper bag.
Everyone's eyes widened and their mouths dropped open as they stared at the bag.
Eric was the first to recover, pointing a finger at the baggie. "Oh, man, you guys, remember when I brought back that stash from Africa?"
The group nodded lamely, still staring in wide-eyed amazement.
"That was the best stash ever!" Hyde said.
Eric nodded, his finger still indicating the baggie in Fez's hands. "Yeah, I have a feeling this stuff is gonna be way better than that stuff."
There was a pause, and then they all jumped into action, hurrying back over to the circle. They took their seats, Eric next to Donna, then Kelso, then Fez and his girlfriend, and finally, Jackie and Hyde. As they inhaled the smoke deeply, filling their lungs, they looked around at each other, goofy grins on all their faces.
"Oh, man, this is way better!" Kelso cried.
"Yeah, you know, I never thought anything could beat that stuff from Africa," Donna said and then giggled. "Hey, did anyone ever notice what a funny word Africa is. Africa." She giggled again. "I mean just say it. Africa!" She collapsed into a fit of laughter, and Eric had to grab onto her to keep her from falling over.
He chuckled as he glanced around at his friends, still bracing his girlfriend with his arms. "I guess a little of this stuff goes a really long way."
"Where's this stuff from anyway, Fez?" Jackie asked.
Fez's girlfriend glanced at him. "They don't know where you're from?"
Fez shrugged. "It never really came up I guess."
"Never came up? Fez, we've been trying to figure out where you're from since the day you got here!" Hyde cried.
"Well all you had to do was ask," Fez said simply.
Hyde sighed. "Fine. Where are you from Fez?"
Fez gasped and dramatically placed a hand to his chest. "I am offended! You have known me for years and you don't know where I'm from? Well if you think I'll tell you now, you've got another thing coming! Now good day."
"But Fez," Kelso said, but Fez cut him off.
"I said good day!" But he didn't get up to leave.
Jackie cocked her head to the side. "Isn't this the part where you storm out?"
Fez nodded, a sheepish grin on his face. "Well, yes, usually, but this stuff is really good!"
The others nodded in agreement, and for a few moments, there was silence, all of them simply enjoying the familiarity of being together once again, doing their favorite thing.
Then Hyde began, "So guys, there's this…"
"Steven, if you say there's a car that runs on water, I swear I'll break up with you," Jackie interrupted, narrowing her eyes at him threateningly.
"Burn!" Kelso shouted, and the others laughed.
Hyde pointed an accusing finger at each of them in turn. "Oh, you're all out to get me. Just like the government."
"Oh, shut up, Steven," Jackie said, and then shut him up herself by capturing his lips with hers.
"Hey, no kissing in the circle!" Kelso yelled.
Donna had stopped giggling and was now looking intently at Eric, stroking his cheek with her hand. "I'm so glad you came home, Eric. I love you so much."
"Donna, I love you," Eric said, and leaned forward to kiss her.
"Hey, what did I just say?" Kelso cried, his voice getting higher.
Fez grinned. "It is good to be home." Then he turned to his girlfriend and began kissing her.
"Hey!" Kelso screeched. The others were oblivious to his cries, and he sulked back into his chair. "Damn, where's Laurie when I need her?"
"Try upstairs, man," Hyde said, coming up for air and then delving back down again.
Kelso shot out of his chair and dashed up the stairs, calling as he went, "Hey, Laurie! It's me, Kelso! I need someone to make out with!"
Eric disengaged his lips from his girlfriend's for a second and glanced around at his friends, smiling widely. "You know, guys, I think the 80's are gonna be okay." Then Donna pulled him back down and he lost his train of thought.
