Freaking Christmas.

She hadn't even made it to the Christmas freaking holidays without everybody at school finding out she was a pregnant, seventeen year old skank.

Before today the rumours had been relatively easy to dismiss. After the morning sickness had subsided people had quickly forgotten all about the bulimia tale and had largely ignored Jackie's sudden fondness for sweatshirts. But when Pam and Jack had demanded Jackie quit the cheerleading squad the pregnancy rumours had taken off and they had gained momentum very quickly. Jackie was fairly sure a large part of that had to do with a certain foreigner who had a mouth as big as his stomach. Fez was terrible at keeping secrets, especially when offered candy in exchange for juicy goss, and when Jackie had opened her Secret Santa in class that morning her worst fears had been confirmed.

The truth was out and there was no denying it.

It was during English class that Jackie's whole world had fallen apart. Mr. Johnson had granted permision for students to exchange their secret presents, much to their delight. When Jackie had eagerly unwrapped the beautifully decorated gift left on her desk the entire class had watched in anticipation. Too absorbed in undoing green and red ribbon, Jackie hadn't even noticed the sniggers and snide comments flying around the classroom. But when she unfolded the small white cloth and revealed the baby's bib that read 'Product of the Stoner & the Princess' every cruel word was amplified and her heart had crumbled.

They knew she was pregnant and they knew who the father of her baby was.

And they'd even taken the time to find a pink felt tip pen that could write on flannel.

It was mortifying.

The eruption of laughter that filled the room was enough to send Jackie flying out of class, ignoring Mr. Johnson's pleas for her to sit down and the class to settle down. The humiliated brunette had fled to the sanctuary of the girl's toilets and found herself bawling into cheap, one-ply toilet paper in a bathroom stall. This was so not how she'd imagined this day would go. The last day of school before Christmas was supposed to be a fun one. People exchanged gifts, teachers were in a good mood as they counted down the hours to the holidays, the cafeteria gave away iced Christmas biscuits in the shapes of stars, Christmas trees and candy canes. Now Jackie would miss all of it.

The sound of the bathroom door opening silenced her sobs. Wiping her tears with toilet tissue, Jackie waited for whoever it was to do their business and get out so that she could continue her pity party but a loud knock on her stall startled her.

"Jackie, it's me, open the door."

"Steven?"

While the sound of Hyde's gruff voice was somewhat comforting it left Jackie a little confused. How on earth did he know she was in there and more to the point, why did he care? He hadn't said much to her since the dinner at her parents the previous week and she'd figured it was best to leave him alone while he brooded over whatever the heck he was brooding about.

"No, it's Santa. Just open the door," he ordered, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Jackie wiped her face again and pressed the pads of her fingertips hard under her eyes hoping to reduce the puffiness in record time. Slowly, she unlatched the door but the second she saw Hyde's grumpy face she couldn't stop herself from flinging her arms around his neck and bursting into tears again.

"Oh my god, Steven," Jackie wailed onto his shoulder. "It was just awful. They all laughed at me...I can never come back here again."

Hyde pulled her in close, gently stroking the curls that fell down her back. "Who cares what they think-" he started.

"I care!" Jackie cried, unable to fathom how he could be so chill about the whole school finding about them. "I care what they think! This is big news, Steven. There hasn't been a pregnant student at this school in four years and she had the good sense to leave before everybody knew. I should've gone...I should've left town..."

"Jackie...stop with the dramatics man...sooner or later they were gonna find out. Or were you gonna hide the kid away forever? No time was a good time for them to find out but now they do you just gotta own it. Hidin' in the toilets isn't helping." Hyde released his grip a little and looked down at Jackie. He took his thumbs and ran them under her eyes, wiping away the new tears that were falling.

"I can't go back in there, Steven," Jackie said sadly between sobs. "Not today. Not ever."

To her dismay Hyde smiled. "So you're leavin' school then, huh?"

"I'm leaving this school," she adamantly replied. "They gave me a bib, Steven...with handwritten words on it that Mr. freaking Johnson even read. I am officially the biggest joke in this damn school. Actually, make that town. I am the biggest joke in Point Place...or at least I will be sometime in the next 24 hours."

"That's a pretty big call," Hyde said seriously. "I mean - Kelso's held that title for a long time now, and before him there was Jimmy Headgear. And, Jackie, these guys didn't just give themselves the title, it was an honour bestowed on them by the rest of us. You just sayin' you're the biggest joke doesn't really count-"

"Oh it counts alright!" Jackie snapped, gabbing more toilet tissue from the dispenser. "Even a man-whore like Michael didn't get a girl pregnant-"

Hyde grinned. "That we know of."

"-and Jimmy Headgear may be simple but he wasn't stupid enough to get someone pregnant."

"Probably because no one was stupid enough to sleep with him," Hyde shrugged.

Jackie rolled her eyes. How was it that Hyde had managed to turn this mortifying experience into a semi-argument? Why couldn't he just leave her to feel sorry for herself?

"Ugh!" she growled, stomping her foot in exasperation. "I'm not arguing with you right now, Steven. Thanks to stupid Bob Donna's not here so you're all I've got." It was a sad fact, but a fact nonetheless, Hyde was the only person Jackie had in that school at that very moment so arguing with him just wasn't an option. The only thing more embarrassing than walking out of school pregnant was walking out of school pregnant and alone. She needed him. "So, are you taking me home or what?"

Jackie walked to the basin and splashed some cold water over her face. As she patted her face dry with a paper towel she caught Hyde's reflection in the mirror, he was smiling...almost proudly. "Well?" she asked, lightly dabbing some lip gloss on her lips.

Hyde sighed before walking over to her and patting her on the head like she was a child. "I didn't plan on skippin' today but I can make an exception seeing as you got my kid in you n'all," he said as though he was doing Jackie an almighty favour. "I'll let you have today off but after that you gotta pull yourself together n face these assholes."

"Whatever," Jackie sighed, tossing her bag over her shoulder before checking her reflection once more. When she was sure looked good enough she began walking to the door. "Coming?" she asked Hyde, pulling the heavy door open.

Hyde dutifully followed. "So how're we gonna do this?" He was walking by Jackie's side, for once keeping up with her quick steps.

Conscious of the nosey faces peering out of the glass doors Jackie grab Hyde's hand, intertwining their fingers. She felt him hesitate at first, tensing before relaxing his muscles and letting his fingers curl around hers.

"Together," Jackie finally answered as they marched out of the main doors and into the cold morning air.

...

Jackie lay next to Hyde on his small cot listening to his steady, even breaths. He'd fallen asleep ten minutes ago and she was getting bored. There was nothing to do in his tiny bedroom but they'd had no other option. A quick drive-by of her place told them her mother was home so they couldn't ditch school there, and the sound of Tom Jones blasting from upstairs indicated Kitty hadn't gone to work yet. So they'd parked the Camino around the block and braved the short walk in icy conditions to bunker down in Hyde's room until the coast was clear.

"Steven," she nudged him gently until he stirred.

"Mmmm?" His eyes flickered open for a second before closing again.

"Wake up, I'm bored," she whispered.

"Pregnant women need their rest, Jackie. Use this time to rest."

Jackie rolled onto her side to face him and tucked her hands under her cheek. "I'm not tired right now."

"Well I am," Hyde said, closing his eyes again.

"How did you know?" Jackie asked.

Hyde opened one eye and his forehead creased in confusion. "Know that I was tired?"

"No, silly. How did you know about the bib and me crying? Your class is on the other side of the school." It'd puzzled Jackie since he'd found her in the bathroom an hour earlier and she just had to know how word had gotten to him so fast.

"Kelso," he stated.

"Michael? How did Michael know? And I didn't think you two were even talking?"

"We're not. Kelso had been in the Principle's office when it all went down. On his way back to class he ran into some chick who told him what'd happened n he came n told me, said I should go find you. And I did n now we're here. And now we should sleep." He smiled before closing her eyelids with his fingertips. "Goodnight, Jackie."

Jackie swatted his hand away. "I said I wasn't tired," she snapped forcing him to groan and roll onto his back.

"Fine," he sighed. "What d'ya wanna do?"

"We could talk?" she suggested, "about the baby."

"Yip, fine, whatever," Hyde grumbled, running a hand over his beard.

Jackie's face lit up and she propped herself up on her elbow, looking down at Hyde. "Did you know the baby can hear us? I've been talking to her so she gets to know me and the sound of my voice. You should do it too so that baby recognises you when he or she arrives."

As Jackie lifted her thin woollen sweater to expose her baby bump, Hyde quickly stopped her.

"Jackie, I'm not talking to your stomach," he stated firmly, holding her wrist preventing her from lifting her top any higher.

"You won't be talking to my stomach, you'll be talking to our baby, Steven. Don't you want him or her to know your voice?" If he'd bothered reading the books Jackie had given him he'd know the benefits of speaking to a child growing in the womb. But the books were still on the chair in his room where she'd left them a week ago.

"The baby will get to hear my voice plenty when it's born. I'm sure it can wait 'til then. Who wants to hear their old man's voice any more than they have to?"

Hyde dropped Jackie's wrist and put his hands under his head. He smirked when he caught a glimpse of Jackie's raised eyebrows.

"Please, Steven?" she asked sweetly. "Just say something to the baby? Most women have their husbands around when they're pregnant...I'm alone and sometimes it's like everyone forgets I've got a little one in here." She stroked her bump and noticed Hyde's face soften a little. "I promise I won't tell anyone...not even Donna."

Hyde sighed loudly and pointed a finger at her. "Fine. But I'm not sayin' much and if you tell a soul I'm denying it."

Jackie smiled and lay down on her back while Hyde rolled onto his side and propped his head up on his hand. Lifting up her top Jackie wished she had a camera to capture this moment for her baby. Surely the first words a father spoke to his child were important?

Hyde cleared his throat and looked at her bump. "Ah, hi baby. I'm Hyde, your dad...apparently." He glanced up at Jackie and grinned. She scowled back and pulled her top back down.

"Oh funny haha."

Hyde chuckled and pulled her top back up, this time leaving his warm hand on her bump. "I was kidding, Jackie, calm down. Lemme try again," he said with a glint in his eye, one that she found completely adorable. The feel of his hand on her bare skin gave her butterflies and she was pleased he was looking at her stomach and not her blushing face.

"Fine, try again," she sighed, while her mind spun with thoughts of his hand elsewhere. "Just do your best not to sound like a prick this time."

Again Hyde cleared his throat before speaking. "Hello, baby," he began while moving his fingertips lightly across Jackie's belly, "I'm your father. I hope you're being good in there n growin' nice and big. You should be coz your mom eats a whole lot - " Jackie swatted him on the head but he continued, " - but she eats a whole lotta crap n not the good stuff you need like vegetables and shit-"

"Yeah, that's enough out of you," Jackie frowned and tugged on her top but Hyde held it up in place.

"I haven't finished," he whispered to her before turning back to her bump. "But don't worry baby, I'll start makin' your ma eat properly so that you're big n strong like me n not skinny n weedy like your Uncle Eric. So, yeah, I'll talk to you again soon. In the meantime, try and find somethin' to block out the sound of your ma's voice...actually, if you find something that works be sure to let me know what it is when you get out here."

Hyde laughed when Jackie smacked the top of his head again. He'd talked a whole lot of crap to their child but the fact he'd even done it was something she found so endearing. Who knew Hyde could be such a softie? Not Jackie that's for sure.

"Beautiful words, Steven," Jackie stated sarcastically, secretly thrilled that his hand hadn't moved even though he was no longer talking.

'Hey I did it didn't I?" He carefully applied a little bit of pressure to her belly. "Woah, that's really hard!"

Jackie laughed. "Well there is a baby in there."

Hyde continued to prod. "Yeah but it's not that big yet and this is hard all over."

"Well my uterus has expanded up and out of my-"

Hyde stopped his prodding and went back to gently rubbing her skin. "Yeah, okay, that's enough of that."

For a few moments Jackie just lay there while Hyde rubbed her baby bump. In her head she willed him to go higher, or lower, or do something, but he seemed completely entranced with the idea that his child was actually growing inside of her. Cautiously, Jackie propped herself up so that her face was next to his, and waited for him to move. When he didn't she took it as a positive sign.

"Thank you for today, Steven," she whispered. "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't found me."

Hyde shrugged and stared at her belly. "No problem, man. Can't have my baby's mother trapped in a bathroom stall all Christmas can I? People might'a started wonderin' where you were...might'a thought I'd off-ed you or somethin'."

Jackie smiled and tentatively stroked his cheek with her hand, turning her body into his in the process. He looked at her surprised, but before he could say anything her mouth had caught his and her body had pushed him onto his back underneath hers. Hyde didn't kiss back at first, his hands just sat loosely on her hips. But after a few flicks of her tongue, and impatient nibbles on his lower lip, he finally let himself succumb to Jackie's advances.

Stunned by her aggressiveness, Hyde kissed her back fervently as his hand slid up her back and tangled in her hair. His eagerness was enough for Jackie to say goodbye to the self-consciousness she'd felt only moments ago. Being with Hyde again was as exhilarating as it always had been and right now she was willing to take whatever he was offering. Her tongue invaded his mouth begging him to deepen the kiss, and her heart fluttered when he obliged.

Never breaking the kiss, Hyde wrapped both arms around Jackie and carefully flipped them over. Once she was on her back his mouth left hers and moved to her neck, licking, sucking, nipping at her sensitive areas. His ministrations were intoxicating and Jackie was giddy with a desperate need to have him. Her eyes closed in pleasure as her hands worked their way up his back and into his hair. She had to have him, no matter the consequences.

Panting, she whispered, "Have sex with me, Steven."

All of a sudden his mouth broke contact with her neck. Annoyed, Jackie opened her eyes and saw bright blue ones staring down at her.

"Steven , why did you stop?" she purred, running her hands up under his t-shirt.

Hyde pulled himself up so he was on his knees between her legs, his face a picture of remorse.

He took several deep breaths before saying, "We can't do this."

Jackie sat up and wrapped a hand around his neck before arching her body into his. "Yes we can." Even Jackie was surprised by her own boldness but no sex in nearly six months did that to a girl. Especially a girl who was lucky enough to have been pleasured by Steven Hyde. She'd missed him and today she wanted him. Pulling his mouth to hers she kissed him again. Grinding her body against his she felt his arousal and knew it wouldn't be long before he gave in to her advances.

When Hyde pushed her down and jumped off the bed Jackie was mortified. Never had she suffered rejection in the middle of such intimacy, and for it to have happened after her public humiliation at school was nearly too much to handle.

"Jackie, we needa talk," Hyde said, reaching over her to pick up his sunglasses.

Jackie straightened out her sweater and sat on the edge of his cot. She wanted to look at anything but him so her eyes locked on the stack of board games behind him.

"There's not much to talk about, I threw myself at you, you blew me off. No biggie," she said nonchalantly, not wanting him to know how upset she was over his rejection.

"Look, we got a kid on the way, the last thing we needa be doin' is confusing what we are to each other," Hyde explained.

"Yeah, okay, Steven...you don't have to explain, I get it, you don't want me...sorry, it won't happen again." Jackie stood up, still avoiding making eye contact with Hyde, and tried to get to the door. The embarrassment she felt was making her feel sick and she had to get away.

Hyde stepped in front of her, preventing her from leaving. "Jackie, its not like that, man," he said, holding her by her upperarms. "But think about it...we've already pissed our friends off by hookin' up...what would they say if they found out we were hookin' up again?"

Jackie shrugged. "Who cares?"

"You weren't sayin' that a few months ago."

"A few months ago I wasn't having your child," Jackie shot back, finally looking up at him. Everything between them was different now, how could he not see that?

Hyde's hands dropped from her arms and he walked to the cot and sat down. "Yeah, but just 'cause we're havin' a baby together it doesn't mean we should be together. I'm not gonna be the guy you end up stuck with-"

"But you wouldn't be that guy, Steven," Jackie explained, sitting down next to him. "We've grown closer over the last few months. Today, for example, you came to look for me to check I was okay...you wouldn't have done that before. And the way you handled my dad and stuck up for me...I had never imagined you could be like that."

She really had seen a different side to Hyde over the last few months and she was starting to really like him. When they'd been together over the summer things had stayed mostly physical. They hadn't really talked, well not about anything important. They had hung out as friends and made out as two people with a major attraction to each other. But thoughts of Kelso had stopped them moving any further and had eventually forced them to stop altogether.

"I'm not gonna be with someone just 'cause we share a kid, Jackie," Hyde said quietly, his hands clasped together on his knees. "I saw what my parents did to each other n I'm not doin' that to my kid."

Jackie leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm not asking you to marry me," she said. "Maybe we could just see how things go? Just try 'us'?"

"We could've tried 'us' five months ago, Jackie, but you didn't want to...which proves my point...you only want me 'cause you can't have Kelso. I'm not playin' second best to him, man and I'm not gonna be forever lookin' over my shoulder in case he decides he wants you back." Hyde stood up abruptly and moved to sit on the armchair. He was pissed off with her. Pissed off that after their summer together she hadn't fought harder to stay with him. Instead, when he had said they should stop and that she should try and get Kelso back, she'd agreed.

But she hadn't agreed because she was in love with Michael or because they had an undeniable physical connection. He was just the safer option. He fit more into her idealised cookie-cutter life than someone like Hyde. Hyde was rough around the edges and kept his heart close to sleeve, and while a life with him would never be dull or boring it would be hard work. She would be forever wondering how he felt about her and whether he cared as much as she did. Which is why she'd chosen the easier option at the end of summer. The option that didn't bring with it friends drama and the eventual hurt that would come when Hyde realised he didn't want a girlfriend. Especially one that was a cheerleader.

"I wanted you last summer." Jackie's heart thumped in her chest as she admitted the feelings she'd had for him. Hyde looked over at her, his stare so intense it forced her to look away. "I wanted you but you gave me no indication that you felt the same way about me. In fact, you told me to go back to Michael. You said that he might've grown up in California and might've changed. What was I supposed to say when you pretty much sent me on my way back to my ex? I wasn't going to beg you, Steven...if you'd wanted me you could've said."

"Seriously, Jackie?" Hyde leaned forward in his chair. "You're gonna make me the bad guy again? Tell me one thing, and tell me the truth...have you ever wished that baby in there was Kelso's?"

As he pointed at her stomach Jackie quickly placed a protective hand over it. She couldn't lie to him, no matter how much she wanted to.

Nodding a yes, her eyes filled with tears. "But only because it would've been easier. I knew he'd want to get back tog-"

"I don't need an explanation," Hyde spat out. "I just wanted your answer."

When he stood up and reached into his pocket for his keys, Jackie suddenly realised she too had a similar question for him.

"And what about you?" she asked, confident she knew the answer to the question she was about to ask. "Have you been wishing this baby was his?"

"What d'you think?" Hyde laughed a menacing laugh that made Jackie shiver. They'd gone from walking out of the school hand in hand to sitting there hating each other.

Today was not a good day.

"I think it'd be easier for you too if baby was Michael's. I think you blame me for losing your friends and ruining your life." Jackie scrunched the edge of the cot blanket in her hand as she waited for him to confirm what she had just said. He had been too cool about the pregnancy. He hadn't yelled or torn the basement to shreds. He'd taken it all in his stride but something had to give.

But right when it looked like Hyde was about to explode he let out a heavy sigh and sat down next to her.

"Jackie," he said calmly, placing his hand on her knee. "We both admit it woulda been easier if the kid was Kelso's but it's not and I've gotten used to the fact it's mine. You should too...at least the kid will have a brain-"

"Yeah, I had thought that." Jackie rubbed her sleeve under her nose and giggled. He was making jokes, the nastiness was over hopefully.

"Look, right now I don't give a shit about my friends. All I'm worried about is gettin' some money together and graduating, everything else can just wait."

"Including us..." Jackie whispered mostly to herself. It warmed her to know he was taking his impending fatherhood seriously and part of her knew he was right in not wanting to explore a possible relationship with her right now. The seventeen year old schoolgirl part of her however, wanted to cry and stomp her foot and tell him he didn't know what he was missing out on. She was pretty, and still slim, and would be the best girlfriend ever. But she left it. He didn't want her.

Hyde drew in a loud breath then exhaled before turning to look at her. "Jackie, can we just try to be friends right now? Us foolin' around is just gonna make things messy. If it doesn't work out then what's it gonna be like when the kid gets here?"

"I guess..."

Hyde dropped a small kiss on her head when he stood up, his keys jingling in his hand. "Good girl. Now I gotta go get the car before the others get here," he said walking to the door. "I'll drop you home when I get back okay?"

Jackie nodded and checked her watch. It was almost 3. Only a few minutes before the others arrived home from school but still 9 hours before her day from hell was officially over.

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews guys! I was stoked with the response for the last chapters! Hope you liked this one x