A/N: Well, so much for ending this story in 10 chapters. I kinda figured I wouldn't do it... Anyway, now I'm thinking this'll have two more chapters, but I may change my mind again. Ideas just keep popping into my head, and I'm really having a blast writing this story so that seems to keep me from ending it:) All the reviews have really helped, too! You guys have been so awesome with all the feedback, so thank you all so much! I hope you continue to enjoy as I continue to drag out this story as long as I possibly can:)

Chapter Ten – Changed

Jackie smiled as the intercom buzzed and Donna's voice came over the speaker. "Hey, Jackie, we're here."

She rushed over to the door and pushed the button. "Come on up, guys, I'm in apartment 12B."

A few minutes later, the sound of familiar voices came floating down the hall, and Jackie couldn't contain a tiny squeal of excitement as she heard a knock on her door. She hurried over and flung it open, beaming at her friends on the other side.

Donna threw her arms around the smaller girl, hugging her tightly. "Jackie, you look amazing!" she said excitedly.

Jackie grinned. "Of course I do, Donna." She pulled away and added, "but thank you."

Eric came forward as Donna slipped inside the apartment, offering Jackie a small smile. "Hey, Jackie, uh, nice place you got here."

Jackie rolled her eyes and pulled him into a hug. "Thanks for coming, Eric," she said, causing Eric to blush and sputter incoherently. She let him go and he quickly made his way inside after his girlfriend, setting down both his and Donna's bags in the living room.

Fez stepped forward next, a shy smile on his face.

"Fezzie!" Jackie cried, flinging her arms around his neck. She immediately felt him relax as his arms slipped around her, and she smiled. "I'm really glad you came."

"Me too, Jackie," he said quietly.

"Come on, Fez, quit hogging her!" Kelso whined, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet, waiting for his turn to hug Jackie.

Jackie giggled and Fez let her go, flashing her a quick grin before heading inside after Donna and Eric. "Hey, Michael," she said, and then gasped as Kelso charged forward and wrapped his arms around her in a bone-crushing embrace, lifting her off the floor.

"Jackie!" he shouted and buried his face into her neck.

"Michael," Jackie coughed weakly. "You're…you're hurting me."

Immediately, he set her back on the floor, offering her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I'm just really glad to see you."

Jackie smiled indulgently. "I'm glad to see you too, Michael."

He leaned down, and Jackie's hand instantly shot up, hitting him square in the chest.

"Michael! That wasn't an invitation to kiss me!" she cried.

Kelso gave an indignant huff. "Well, damn, Jackie, you're giving me mixed signals here!"

She shook her head. "Just get inside, Michael." He walked past her into the apartment and suddenly the hallway was clear. She gasped. She hadn't noticed him before; the hallway had been crowded and he was slightly shorter than Michael, who had effectively blocked much of her view, but she suddenly found herself unable to look away from a pair of startlingly blue eyes.

"Hey, Jacks," he greeted.

The familiar nickname sent a shiver down her spine. "Steven," she breathed, still in shock at seeing him there.

Hyde shifted his bag on his shoulder uncomfortably, disliking the awkwardness between them. He frantically thought of something to say to ease the tension, but all that came out was, "So Kelso's still a whore."

Jackie blinked, coming out of her daze, and as his words permeated her foggy brain, she frowned. "What?"

He cleared his throat, amazed at his own stupidity, and clarified, "Kelso, he still hits on you."

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug and replied nonchalantly, "He's just being Michael; he'll never change."

Hyde nodded in silent agreement and the two stood staring at one another for a few minutes, neither knowing what to say. Hyde felt a slight twinge of regret that her mood had changed so drastically when she'd seen him. He'd watched her from behind the others when she'd thrown open the door, her smile stretching all the way up to her bright eyes. She looked so excited to see them all, but that smile and that excitement had instantly faded when she'd seen him, turning blank instead. He mentally cursed himself for ever teaching her Zen.

"So um, what are you doing here?" Jackie asked.

"So uh, are you gonna invite me in or what?" Hyde asked at the same time.

Both blinked in surprise and their voices echoed in sync again as they uttered, "What?"

Jackie's face became hot with embarrassment, and Hyde smirked. "So this is awkward," he joked.

She giggled. "Yeah."

"Well, are you gonna invite me in, or am I supposed to sleep out here in the hallway?" he repeated, indicating the open door of her apartment.

"Oh," Jackie uttered in embarrassment, and turned toward the door. As he stepped inside, she shut it behind her and then faced him, a curious look on her face. "Steven, what exactly are you doing here anyway?"

He shrugged. "Donna told me you'd gotten an apartment and that everyone was coming down to help you move in, so I figured why not."

Jackie glanced at him suspiciously, but didn't press the matter further as Daniel came into the room. She felt more than saw Hyde tense, and a tiny thrill shot through her, which she outwardly ignored and mentally chastised herself for feeling.

"So, your friends seem…nice," Daniel said, forcing a smile as he came to stand beside her. He noticed Hyde and extended his hand. "Oh, hello. I'm Daniel. You must be another of Jackie's friends." He laughed a little. "I didn't know there were so many of you."

Hyde stared at the outstretched hand for asecond and then looked over at Jackie. "Who is this guy?"

Daniel looked offended and opened his mouth to reply, but Jackie cut him off, coming to stand between the two as if warding off a fight. "This is Daniel, a friend of mine from work." She turned back to Daniel and gestured to Hyde. "Daniel, this is Steven."

Daniel's eyes widened in recognition and a sneer curved his lips. "So, you're the infamous Steven Hyde. I've heard a lot about you."

"All exaggerated lies, I'm sure," Hyde replied, flashing Jackie a significant look. "It's funny though, I've never heard any mention of you."

"Okay, Daniel," Jackie practically shouted as she turned to him and placed a hand on his chest. "Why don't you go help the others start unpacking?"

Daniel looked putout for a second, but he obeyed, shooting Hyde a menacing glare before he retreated from the room.

Hyde watched him leave, an amused expression on his face, and then he glanced at Jackie. "That's the guy you're sleeping with now?"

Jackie glared at him, hands on her hips. "I am not sleeping with him; not that it's any of your business anyway."

"So then what's he doing here?" Hyde asked, his eyebrow quirked interestedly.

"He's here to help me move in," Jackie replied, irritated, "just like you and everybody else. Although, might I add, he was invited."

Hyde opened his mouth to retort, but just then Kelso bounded into the room.

"Jackie, your apartment is awesome! Fez and I want to sleep out on the balcony."

Jackie rolled her eyes and explained patiently, "Michael, it's cold outside, and there's plenty of space inside for all of you. I figured Donna and Eric could take the couch in the living room, and then there's enough space for at least two of you on the floor out there. The other person can sleep on the floor in my room."

"Your boyfriend's not staying? Or is he sleeping in your bed with you?" Hyde bit out sarcastically.

"What boyfriend?" Kelso asked, looking confusedly back and forth between the two. "Wait, Jackie, you have a new boyfriend? Is it that Daniel guy, 'cause, I've gotta tell you, I think you could do better."

Hyde grinned at his friend. "I totally agree, Kelso."

Jackie threw up her hands in exasperation. "He is not my boyfriend!" She cleared her throat and straightened her shirt, quieting her voice as she added, "And no, he's not staying the night."

Kelso scratched his head, a puzzled frown on his face. "Well, then what's he doing here?"

"Exactly what I asked," Hyde replied.

Glaring at both of them, Jackie said, slowly so they would both understand, "Daniel is here because he's a good friend of mine and I asked him to come help me move in. He isn't staying because he wanted to give me time to hang out with you guys alone. That's it, end of story."

"Whatever," Hyde said, shrugging. "So how do we decide who sleeps where?"

Jackie smiled sweetly and patted them both on the shoulder. "I really don't care." And with that, she headed into the kitchen where Donna, Eric, and Daniel were busily unpacking boxes while Fez watched from the kitchen table, a sucker in his mouth.

Hyde watched her walk away and then faced Kelso. "Guess that means we get to choose."

Kelso's hand instantly shot up in the air. "I call Jackie's room!" he yelled.

Hyde frogged him on the arm. "Kelso! Come on, man, this is like the perfect opportunity for me to talk to Jackie."

"But I don't wanna sleep with Fez," Kelso whined, pouting. "He makes weird moaning noises in his sleep."

Hyde made a face and shook his head. "I don't care, man. I came here to get Jackie back, and to do that I need to talk to her alone. If I sleep in her room, it'll give me the perfect excuse to be alone with her."

Kelso continued to pout, but relented with a loud, "Fine!" before stomping into the living room to join the others.

Grinning to himself at his victory, Hyde headed down the narrow hallway and into Jackie's bedroom to set down his duffle bag. He glanced around and groaned. The room hadn't yet been painted, but he knew it would only be a matter of time before the cream colored walls were covered up with a blinding pink. Even so, the bedroom screamed "Jackie!" The bed was frilly in pink and white, with stuffed animals heaped in the center. A big, bright rainbow was tacked onto the wall above the bed, and under it, a neon-green sign that said Jackie's name. Scented candles were everywhere, along with ABBA records and paraphernalia, and the one coveted Captain and Tennille poster Jackie had managed to salvage from her stay at the Pinciotti's. Boxes of clothes and other odds and ends littered the floor. Shaking his head, Hyde sat down on the bed, musing at Jackie's incredibly bad taste. He shifted uncomfortably and pulled Fluffycakes out from under him, smiling wryly at the plush toy.

"Hey," Donna said as she entered the bedroom.

Jumping at the sound of her voice, Hyde quickly threw Fluffycakes to the floor and hoped she hadn't seen him holding it.

Donna grinned as she looked around the room. "Wow, Jackie has like the worst taste ever. I can't believe you like her."

Hyde chuckled. "Neither can I, man."

"So Kelso informed us all that you're sleeping in here tonight," Donna commented casually as she sat beside him. "Daniel didn't look too happy at the news."

Hyde smirked. "Good." Then, turning serious, he asked, "What do you think of him anyway?"

Donna thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully before she replied, "I think he's a nice guy. He seems very friendly, although he doesn't appear too comfortable around either Kelso or Fez, but that's to be expected."

Hyde frowned. That hadn't been the answer he'd been hoping for. Donna was his friend, and she was supposed to tell him that Daniel was a terrible guy and completely wrong for Jackie, thus improving his chances to get her back.

Noticing his unhappy expression, Donna added thoughtfully, "Of course, he's all wrong for Jackie. Jackie needs someone who won't take her crap all the time, someone who makes her think about more than how she looks or what the latest fashion is. She needs someone who will protect her but at the same time give her freedom enough to be her own person. I think Daniel might treat her like another Kelso, and that's probably the last thing she needs, especially after you."

"What do you mean after me?" Hyde asked.

"Well, you changed her," Donna replied simply. "With Kelso, all that ever mattered was how she looked and what party she was invited to that week. She was bitchy and self-centered, and the nicest thing she'd ever done for anybody was tell them that their clogs actually matched their outfit for once. But with you, she started thinking about important things like what she wanted to do with her life, and yeah, she still had her bitchy, self-centered moments, but you didn't let her get away with them for very long. She actually started caring about people, I mean, she even paid for part of my engagement ring!" She paused, watching him closely. "And she changed you too, Hyde. Before her, you were just this pissed off guy in Eric's basement. You were never really happy, and you never really cared about anything. But with Jackie, you started to enjoy things, and you actually became motivated to improve yourself. You got a job and started thinking about the future, and you never would've done that if she hadn't been pushing you to reach your potential. I mean, hell, you didn't think you had potential before Jackie!"

Hyde grinned at her.

Donna smiled and patted him on the back. "Don't worry, Hyde. I think Jackie already knows that what you two had was really special, and I don't think she's looking to find that with Daniel. I think he's just here to remind the rest of us that she's still Jackie Burkhart."

He rolled his eyes. "Like we could forget."