Chapter 4

Disclaimer as you all already know I don't own that 70s show or picture

A/N: Thanks to everyone who is reviewing.

You reminded me of brighter days


The longer Hyde walked the more he thought about how his life might have been different if he stayed in Point Place a few months longer. He might have gotten back together with Jackie; he would have been there when Penny was born; he would also have been there for her first steps, words…everything. He had missed out on a lot of his little girl's life and this annoyed him. He couldn't believe that Jackie wouldn't pick a phone or write a letter to tell him that she was pregnant and he was the father. Even after Penny was born there was nothing from her, not one word he found out from Forman and that was only because he accidentally started complaining about Jackie's pregnant mood swings. Hyde wasn't even gonna question him on it, he just assumed the kid must be Kelso, but Forman started acting like the girl that he is and told Hyde everything. In all honesty Hyde couldn't just blame Jackie for him not being there when Penny was born, he also blamed himself. His reasons being that after Forman told him he should have come home and did the right thing by taking care of his responsibilities but no he let his stupid pride get in the way and brooded instead of being there for Penny because that's all that mattered. When he saw her in Laurie's old room sleeping there peacefully like an angel he couldn't help but lean over and kiss her forehead. She had reminded him so much of Jackie when she slept sprawled out taking up as much room as possible, Hyde used to wonder how someone so small could take up so much room.

He soon found himself standing outside that Hub; he peaked in the window and saw Jackie, Donna and Eric all in deep conversation. From the looks of it Eric had just said something to upset Jackie cause she looked scared and pail, maybe he suggested the wedding reception have a star wars theme, he thought. Hyde decided to walk through the doors and join them as he neared the table he heard their conversation wasn't about weddings…

"…Why is he back? You didn't tell him about Penny, did you? Please tell me you didn't tell him Eric, please…"

I hoped you were coming home to stay

(a couple of minutes earlier)

Jackie entered the Hub about 5 minutes after phoning Kitty in a phone booth across the street, she needed to calm herself and get her head thinking straight before she spoke to Eric and Donna. She had suggested that Kitty try and get Steven out the house before he found out about Penny. When Jackie entered she saw Donna sitting at a table with Eric; she walked over to them and sat down.

"Jackie where have you been? Oh My God! Are you alright? You look kinda pail! Is Penny alright? Jackie speak god dammit you're scaring me."

"God Donna I would speak if you weren't asking my about 50 questions at once… God! I'm fine, Penny is fine and Steven is back!"

"Wait Steven as in Steven Hyde? He's back? Why? When? How?"

"Again Donna calm down. God you would think he was YOUR ex- boyfriend, who was the love of YOUR life and father of YOUR child, that he doesn't know exisits. I don't know why? Or anything I didn't speak to him I walked in on him talking with Eric's parents and got out there as quickly as possible… I also want to know why is he here? But right now I am more curious about why didn't he warn anyone?"

"He did!" Eric finally spoke up, "he told me he was coming back last week when I called him."

"Eric, why did you call him?" Jackie asked, she was wondering why Eric would do this? She knew he didn't like keeping Penny a secret from Hyde but she had to. She didn't want to ruin his life as well as her own. Jackie was so caught up in what Eric was think that she didn't see Hyde come into the Hub and stand behind her as she question Eric. "Why is he back? You didn't tell him about Penny, did you? Please tell me you didn't tell him Eric, please…"

"Why? Because then I would actually know that I have a two year daughter?"