Hyde had successfully managed to wrangle two weeks into four and in all honesty Jackie didn't mind one little bit. At first she'd been eager for their friends to know about the pregnancy but as time had passed and the gang had found their rhythm again she had easily agreed to go along with Hyde's procrastination. Donna hadn't been keen to hurry along the group's destruction either so had kept her mouth closed and her arms open. She had been a great support to Jackie and had even accompanied her to doctor's visits and the mall for new clothes.
New, larger clothes.
"God, Donna, I'm only 16 weeks along, why is this shirt so tight?" Jackie complained one Saturday afternoon. She was sitting with Donna on the couch in the basement flicking through a Cosmopolitan, lamenting the loss of her small hips.
"Maybe because you keep shoving Twinkies in your mouth," Donna answered with a sly grin and a raised eyebrow. The taller girl nodded toward the five empty Twinkie wrappers strewn across the wagon wheel. "Seriously, Jackie, you aren't literally eating for two. Your baby doesn't need eight Twinkies a day."
Jackie scowled and placed a hand over her tiny bump. "Oh shut-up, Donna! How would you know? Are you reading pregnancy books? No, I didn't think so. My baby needs nourishment so it doesn't come out all scrawny and sickly like Eric. Talk to me about not eating for two when you're pregnant."
With that she shoved the last of her Twinkie in her mouth and ignored the giggling redhead next to her. Sure Donna acted all grown up and mature but when it came to real life matters, such as pregnancy, as far as Jackie was concerned she had no idea. Jackie was a woman now and was no longer going to listen to the ramblings of a freakishly tall tomboy who had no clue what carrying a child was like. No. Less Donna, more Cosmo - that's what Jackie needed.
Except when she needed someone to accompany her to the doctors. Then she needed more Donna.
"Okay, no more about diet," Donna said, throwing her TeenBeat on the wagon wheel. "So, have you told your parents about Hyde Junior yet?"
Jackie rolled her eyes and continued to read about "Women Who Have It All & the Six Easy Steps to Becoming One".
"No I haven't," she mumbled. "As I said yesterday and the day before that and the day before that - when I tell them I'll be sure to let you know how it goes."
She could hear Donna tut-tutting next to her so she rolled up her magazine and swatted the giant's leg with it.
"Ouch!" Donna cried, rubbing her thigh. "Chill, Jackie! It was just a question!"
"A question you keep on asking!" Jackie growled. "My mom's only been back a few days and it's been nice spending time with her and daddy together. I'm trying to get some quality family time in before they find out what a disappointment I am."
Jackie had tried to tell them, a trillion times, but no moment had ever felt right. Since her mother's return from the sunny beaches of Fortaleza things had been happy in the Burkhart household. Her father was smiling again, her mother was taking an interest in Jackie's life, and Jackie was lapping up the attention. Yesterday her parents had even taken her shopping to buy her a beautiful silver bracelet for her exceptional grades in French class. There was no way she was ruining such bliss with news of their impending grandparenthood. That news could wait a little longer.
Donna's expression was one of empathy and she put a kind hand on Jackie's shoulder. "You won't be a disappointment, midget. Well - maybe for a little bit but they'll get over it. It's like ripping off a band-"
"Aid." Jackie finished for her. "Yeah, I know. I gave Steven the same speech about telling you guys an-"
A body tumbling over the back of the couch interrupted Jackie's train of thought and she quickly closed her mouth as Kelso squeezed himself between her and Donna.
"Telling us what?" he asked before winking at Jackie. Jackie cringed. Kelso's sexual pursuit of her had accelerated over the last couple of weeks and it was taking all she had not to just fall into his arms like she had so many times before. He was so familiar, so unburdened, so easy-going.
But he slept with skanks and ditched her and she couldn't forget that.
Or the fact she was carrying his best friend's baby.
"Telling you that you're a pig who'll roll in the mud with anything," she snarled, shrugging her right shoulder to try and shift his hand.
He counteracted her effort with a tight squeeze. "That may be true, but know this, babe, you are the one I most want to roll with." Grinning, Kelso pulled Jackie closer to him and the scent of his cologne invaded her senses. She had bought him the first bottle of what had become his signature woody scent and the fragrance still suited him. So she allowed herself a few moments wrapped in his arm, lapping up the familiarity.
"Ugh, Kelso," Donna growled. "You're so disgusting. Like Jackie would ever roll around with you again."
Jackie inhaled one more time before composing herself and pushing Kelso away. "Exactly," she said. "You are so far in my past I can barely see you in my rear vision mirror."
Now Kelso was confused. "What? When you were driving past me the other day? That day I was waving to you?"
Hyde sat down in his chair, watching the exchange with a grin. "Kelso, man, forget it. All they're sayin' is you're an asshole."
Kelso, as usual, was perplexed. "I didn't hear them call me that?"
Scenes like these ones were becoming more and more awkward for Jackie and she knew the fact their days exchanging jibes in the basement were numbered was playing heavily on Hyde's mind as well. As he turned his attention to the TV, Jackie reached into her bag for the snacks Rosa had packed for her earlier. Awkwardness made her queasy and she needed to settle her nerves. For the good of the baby of course.
Taking a delicate bite of another Twinkie, she settled back into the couch and tried to ignore Kelso's intense stare.
"Y'know what, Jackie?" he asked. "All I ever see you do lately is eat or run to the bathroom. What's up with that?"
Jackie held her snack in one hand while gently playing with the pleats of her skirt with the other. Scrambling for an answer her throat went dry and her heartbeat sped up. What the hell was she going to say?"
"You resorted to stalkin' her now, man?" Hyde commented, much to Jackie's relief.
"No, Hyde, I'm not stalking her." Kelso turned to Jackie and winked. "Unless she wants me to." When he opened his mouth again Jackie wanted to shove her half eaten Twinkie right in it, but she stopped herself and focused on the TV. "Alls I'm saying is that maybe our girl Jackie is one of those balsamics."
Jackie didn't even need to turn her head to see red hair flying. Donna's head had swung to look at Kelso so fast some of her long hair had got caught in his mouth.
"Balsamics?" she laughed. "Please tell me, Kelso, what the hell is a balsamic?"
Jackie bit on the insides of her cheeks to stop herself from laughing. They all knew what he meant, but it was so much funnier letting him explain it his way. Doctor Kelso? What the hell had she been thinking?
"Donna, you're a female, you should know," Kelso almost growled. "Its one of those chicks who thinks she's fat so eats like everything in sight then gets all down about it and throws it all up. A balsamic."
A flying newspaper landed in Kelso's face. "It's bulimic ya moron and Jackie isn't one," Hyde said matter of fact-ly.
"Yeah," Donna agreed. "And it's not just overweight girls, any girl can become bulimic depending on her environment and the way she sees her-"
Kelso waved a bored hand in Donna's direction. "Yeah, Donna, whatever. Well if Jackie's not bulimic then what's up with her?"
"I'm right here, Michael," Jackie reminded him. "You could ask me."
Kelso turned to her. "What's up with you, Jackie?"
Before she could answer the basement door flew open and Eric and Fez stumbled in carrying beer and potato chips.
"So you finally asked Jackie why she's always eating and going to the bathroom?" the foreigner asked, setting the beer down before tossing Hyde a can. "Well?" Fez questioned Jackie as she narrowed her eyes at him. "Why do you do that, Jackie?"
Stupid Fez.
"Nothing's up with me." Her explanation would not suffice normal people but she hoped it'd be enough for half brained dimwits like Fez and Kelso. She suddenly felt relieved that she'd told Donna about the pregnancy weeks ago. She'd never get through a Donna interrogation without crumbling; after all, the sight of flannel did tend to make her to lose all normal brain function and falter.
Fez tossed more beers around the room and when Jackie caught one Hyde glared at her. Running a fingertip around the top of the cold can she discretely glared back at him. Surely he knew she wasn't stupid enough to drink while pregnant?
"You do know everybody is talking about you at school?" Fez said as he sat down in the lawn chair.
"God, it must be a slow news week if Jackie's talk of the school," Eric chimed in from his seat on the arm of the couch next to Donna.
"Well she runs out of class all the time and I heard some girls say in the locker ro-...I mean cafeteria, that they think she's eating then throwing it all up. Pressures of wanting to be head cheerleader apparently."
Geez, now Fez was even talking like she wasn't in the room. It was like being a ten year old at one of her parent's parties; everyone talking about her but never to her, like she was insignificant. Right now though she would've done anything to go back to those days. And those pretty dresses for that matter. It had to be better than shopping for fat clothes and hiding baby bumps from her closest friends.
"Yeah, I heard the same," Kelso said. "I heard she was even sneaking into the cafeteria and eating the leftover puddings when she was meant to be in class."
Eric laughed and Donna shook her head angrily. "Jackie is not stealing food nor is she throwing up to try and get head cheerleader. Can't you guys see this is ridiculous?"
Jackie caught Donna's eye and smiled. Thank god she had her on her side.
Fez took a sip of his beer before shaking his head. "But, Donna, I have seen her running into the Ladies with her hand over her mouth."
"Yeah, same here." Damn Michael, Jackie was liking him less and less.
"As a matter of fact, so have I." And liking Eric even less than Kelso.
Hyde finally took his eyes off the TV and stared at his friends. "Will you guys knock it off? Who gives a crap what Jackie gets up to?"
"I do."
"Me too."
"I don't." Typical asshole Eric.
Unable to take it anymore Jackie stood up and slammed her can on the wagon wheel. She'd had enough of this. The lies. The rumours. The whole thing. With trembling hands she walked over to the TV and stood in front of it. As her body promptly went into fight or flight mode she swallowed hard. She could run, and keep running until the $206.10 in her bank account ran out. Or she could stay and face the music with a pounding heart and sweaty palms.
She chose the latter. After all, $206.10 would only last a few days and she highly doubted Rosa would be willing to run cross country with a pregnant teen.
"You guys," she started, ignoring the look of panic sweeping across Hyde's face as he very slowly shook his head telling her to stop. "I'm not bulimic-"
With a look of worry Donna rushed up to her. "You don't have to do this yet," she quietly said as she took Jackie's hand in hers. "If you're not ready then don't do it, Jack-"
Jackie's eyes shifted from Donna's to the empty space on the wall by Hyde's bedroom. She was doing it. Now.
Whether Hyde or Donna liked it or not.
"I'm not bulimic. I'm pregnant."
A loud gasp shook the room and everyone turned to Kelso. His eyes were as wide as his mouth and he was frozen in his seat. Jackie stared at him for a moment, waiting for him to say something, before looking over at Eric whose hand had gone flying over his mouth. He was smiling...almost laughing...as he pointed his can at Kelso. Fez, on the other hand, wasn't laughing as he looked between Jackie and Kelso, disbelief etched across his face.
Hyde though, was silent and expressionless as everything unfolded around him.
Finally Kelso stood up. "You're what?"
"I'm pregnant, Michael." It was out now and Jackie couldn't go back. There was no relief though as she feared the imminent dropping of the worst bomb of the night.
"But I haven't touched you in months, since before California."
Eric stood up and put a hand on Kelso's shoulder, clearly revelling in his friends supposed predicament. "Kelso, I'm not sure how much health class you took in once they stopped talking about making babies, but the thing is, my friend, pregnancy in fact lasts for months, so even though you haven't been with Jac-"
Yeah, that was enough of Eric's sexual education speech.
Jackie gripped Donna's hand tightly and blurted, "It's not your baby, Michael."
For what felt like forever Kelso just stood there staring at Jackie. She couldn't be sure, but for a second she thought her ex-boyfriend looked relieved. But then a tremendous sadness seemed to wash over him and he fell back down on the couch. Kelso's sad brown eyes never left Jackie's as Eric shuffled over and sympathetically pat his shoulder, and Jackie was sure his stare would haunt her forever.
"Well." Fez broke the silence. "Whose is it?"
Donna glared at their short friend. "That really doesn't matter now," she said in a clipped tone. "What matters is that our friend is pregnant and needs our support."
"Like hell it doesn't matter!" Kelso all of a sudden yelled, his face reddened in flush of anger. "I wanna know who he is, Jackie, then I'm gonna kill him!"
Eric's fingers gripped Kelso's upper arms as he begged an irate Kelso to calm down, while Jackie chanced a glance in Hyde's direction. He was opening another beer, and by the looks of the empty cans at his feet, it was his sixth one. Asshole. While she was standing in front of their friends admitting her mistakes he was sitting there getting drunk, staring at the floor.
"Michael, who the father is doesn't really matter right this second," Jackie said as she lost the battle to swallow back her tears. She hadn't cried in weeks but now the floodgates were open and didn't look like they were stopping any time soon. "Maybe you need to let this sink in before you cope with anything else."
"So I must know him." Kelso ran his hands slowly through his hair as he tried to figure out who the culprit was. "Yeah, I bet he's that guy at school...the football player who was always gettin' handsy with you...I can't believe you'd do this to me, Jackie. We were in love..."
"Michael, I'm so sorry..." Jackie sobbed. "I didn't mean to hurt you, but you were in California. You left me, how was that love?"
Kelso stood up again and pointed a finger at Jackie. "I was scared and you knew I'd come back eventually. You were supposed to wait for me like a good girlfriend would," he said through gritted teeth. Jackie had never seen him so angry, so hurt. Each word he spat at her cut her like a knife and the mere thought of him finding out the whole truth filled her with dread.
As the brunette's tears became uncontrollable Donna wrapped her arms around her .
"That's enough, Kelso," Donna growled. "Sit yourself back down and stop being such an asshole. Don't forget that I was with you in California and it wasn't as if you were pining after Jackie. She was free to do what she wanted."
"But-"
Jackie felt Donna's hand shoot up. She must've been pointing at Kelso now but from Jackie's spot with her head buried in Donna's shoulder she couldn't see. A finger pointing would work on Kelso though, she'd used that tactic many a time. Her pretty ex would soon be sitting down.
"I said sit down!" Donna yelled.
"Fine!" Kelso yelled back. "But she's not leaving until I know who did this to her."
"Kelso, maybe now's not the time," Eric said quietly. "Just talk to Jackie when you've both calmed down."
"Yeah, now's not the time, Kelso." Donna agreed with her boyfriend. "Everyone's in shock and upset. We can talk about it another day."
"Yes, I must say this has shocked me. I don't think I can even stomach my beer and cand-" Fez's words were abruptly cut off by the sound of Hyde's chair legs scraping across the concrete floor. Jackie's head shot up and swung around in time to see him put his beer down on the wheel and his hands rub the nape of his neck. As she moved to silence him he took a deep breath and she knew then it was too late.
It was all coming out tonight.
"Kelso, it's mine," Hyde said calmly.
Jackie's swollen eyes closed for a moment as she waited for Kelso to explode. When they opened she found herself staring at Fez, and the lone tear that was already falling down his cheek.
What had she and Steven done?
"Oh no..." Eric whispered, his head falling into his hands.
The truth hadn't been as quick to hit Kelso who looked at Hyde puzzled. "What's yours?" he asked.
Hyde took another deep breath and removed his sunglasses. "The kid, Kelso. Jackie's kid. It's mine."
In a matter of seconds a look of horror washed over Kelso as he took in the information. His best friend, his girlfriend. Jackie could see the tears welling in his eyes and she wanted to run far, far away.
"You?" Kelso choked out. "Nah, man, tell me you're kidding..." He smiled nervously as he waited for Hyde to tell him it was a cruel joke, and it broke Jackie's heart knowing he wasn't going to hear those words from Hyde.
"I really, really wish I could tell you I was kidding. But I can't." Hyde wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "I'm really sorry, man."
Hyde's tone was sincere and it was clear he meant what he was saying. He was sorry. Real sorry. But Jackie knew it wouldn't be enough for Kelso. A sincere apology from her and Hyde wasn't going to take away the fact that they were having a baby together. Heartfelt apologies were not going to repair the damage they'd done to Michael and the others.
Not anytime soon that's for sure.
"We both are-"Jackie started, but as soon as the words left her lips Kelso jumped off the couch and lunged at Hyde.
"You're dead!" he screamed as the two guys toppled to the ground.
The thud of two grown men landing on the concrete floor was only just audible above the rampant pounding of Jackie's heart. They were best friends, practically brothers, and now, because of her, they were like enemies slogging it out; one in a fit of rage, the other in an attempt to protect himself.
The smack of Kelso's fist on Hyde's cheek rung out in the room that had once held only happy memories for those present and it was enough for Donna to try and make the violence stop.
"Do something!" she yelled at Eric.
Jackie looked at Eric, her eyes pleading with him. He stared back at her for a moment before looking back at his friends struggling on the ground by the couch. Shaking his head, he slowly stood up and walked out of the room, with Fez scrambling behind him. They couldn't bear to watch what was unfolding and truth be told Jackie didn't blame them. If this wasn't all her fault she would've left as well.
Donna's face was one of shock as the door slammed closed. "Assholes!" she yelled before rushing over and pulling on Kelso's collar. "Kelso, that's enough! This isn't gonna fix anything!"
The rasp of fabric tearing could be heard as Kelso pulled himself out of Donna's grip. He was out for blood. Hyde's blood. And there was nothing the girls could do about it.
"Michael!" Jackie screamed, stepping closer to the ruckus. "Please stop! Please! I'm sorry...we're both sorry...please don't-"
Suddenly Hyde heaved Kelso up and threw him down on the couch, the taller man struggling under the weight of his body.
"Get outta here," Hyde panted, glancing at Jackie. "You'll get hurt."
Beads of sweat dripped down Hyde's forehead as he held Kelso down.
"I'm not leaving 'til you two stop," Jackie cried.
Donna pulled on Jackie's arm, trying to move her toward the door. "He's right, Jackie. You're pregnant, you shouldn't be here. Come on."
Jackie looked between Donna and the boys struggling on the couch. How could she leave when this was all her fault? Where was she supposed to go? Home? The Hub? Maybe watch some TV or eat some fries while Hyde and Kelso killed each other? She couldn't leave, not now, not like this.
Her lip quivered as she withdrew her arm from Donna's grip. "I'm not leaving," she said again.
"No point leavin' now huh, Jackie?" Kelso was lying awkwardly on the couch, his long arm outstretched, a hand desperately trying to keep Hyde at bay. Jackie wished he'd give up. Hyde wasn't trying to attack him, he was trying to calm him down. But all Kelso could see was a traitorous leach who'd fucked his girlfriend. "Might as well stick around n watch the whole show."
Hyde was sitting on Kelso, his arm muscles bulging as he fought to subdue his ex-friend. "Just give it up, man. Let's talk about this."
"Talk about what? You fucking my girlfriend or you n my girlfriend havin' a kid?" Kelso spat.
"Kelso, she wasn't your girlfriend...but I'm still sorry-"
Kelso's glare shifted direction towards Jackie, the look in his eye making her cold. "Not my girlfriend huh? Thank god...like I'd ever wanna be with a slut like her who gives it up to anyone -"
Kelso was still staring at Jackie so never saw Hyde's fist coming. When it connected with his eye he screamed, both hands instinctively flying to his face.
"My eye!" he shrieked as his body went limp enough for Hyde to finally stand up.
As if on auto pilot Jackie rushed to the couch to comfort the person who had only a few months ago been the love of her life.
"Michael! Let me see," she said, trying to pull his hands away. It pained her to see him hurt both emotionally and physically and she wanted to help him. Maybe her motives were selfish...and maybe they had more to do with making herself feel a little better about what had happened, but still, Michael needed her and she wanted to be there for him. If he'd let her.
As her hand stroked the hair out of his eye he flinched. "Don't fucking touch me, Jackie," Kelso ordered.
"But-"
"Just leave him," Donna said, as Kelso pushed himself off the couch and headed to the door, still holding his eye. "Let him calm down on his own."
"Yeah, listen to Donna." Kelso was dishevelled and exhausted as he opened the door. "Stay the fuck away from me," he said, the cool November breeze sweeping his hair. He looked at Jackie, then at Hyde who was standing behind the couch his face already swelling, his favourite Rolling Stones t-shirt ripped from the collar to his naval. "Both of you."
A/N: I apologise for this chapter...I'm really not happy with it. I thought it was done but then I kept re-reading and changing things and it's been doing my head in! I want it gone so I'm just going to post it now and hope you all get the gist of it and return for the next chapter.
Thank you again for the reviews! I love reading them and I think you're all really awesome for taking the time to let me know what you're thinking. Bless you!