A/N: Surprise! I'm back! I'm not sure how many people are still reading this story - because wow, there are just sooooo many great stories being posted on this fandom right now (hit me up if you want a list of 5 or so totally awesome stories currently being written that I'm addicted to!) - but I sincerely apologise to those of you who have been waiting for me to update. This chapter was a long time coming but I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading x
Thursday, March 23rd, 1978
The gravel crunched under the weight of the El Camino as Hyde eased his foot down on the brake in front of the Burkhart mansion. He put the car into park and sighed as he looked at the rain steadily pouring down. "Spring break my ass," he muttered, zipping up his jacket.
"I'm hearing ya," Donna agreed, staring out of the passenger window. "But hey, we may not have the Florida weather but at least we still get the week off."
Hyde shrugged in silent agreement at his friend's words. It wasn't that he wanted to bust out his summer wardrobe and hang by the pool or anything; Steven Hyde was not a summer sorta guy. It was just that this winter, in particular, had seemed to last forever. He was sick of the rain; sick of the snow that'd only just seemed to melt; sick of the grey; sick of the cold. He was sick of it all
"Well it's meant to be spring," he grumbled. "I'm over this weather, man."
Donna smiled and rolled her eyes. "What? Did you just wake up and realise you live in Wisconsin not California?" She laughed and opened her door, letting some of the wet raindrops land on the dash. "Get used to it, Hyde. Or you're gonna spend the next five weeks highly disappointed."
"Ahh, but you forget I've spent my whole life disappointed," Hyde said as he hopped out of the car and met Donna by the flatbed. "I think I can handle another five weeks of this shitty weather." He unhooked the canopy covering the flatbed and let out another audible sigh. Shaking his head he lifted up a box and handed it to Donna before picking up another one and following her to the front door. "This better be the last time she gets me to move this crap," he moaned, wiping his soggy boots on the mat. "Coz I'm over this shit too."
Donna waited for Hyde to step inside and then used her shoulder to push the heavy door closed. "I think you forget, we're talking about Jackie here - the girl you're having a kid with - you'll be moving her stuff around for the next 18 years, dude. Anyway, what made you decide to wear your grumpy pants today? You out of film or have you already racked up more detentions for after break?"
Hyde shuffled the heavy box in his arms, trying to balance the weight so he didn't drop the damn thing all over the foyer. He raised an eyebrow at Donna. "I think you forget, Donna, that I wear my grumpy pants everyday."
"Good! You two are finally here!"
Donna and Hyde looked up the wide staircase to see Jackie descending the stairs one at a time. She was wearing a loose fitting summer dress with her hair tied up in a messy bun. Hyde looked at her ensemble in disbelief deciding the girl clearly had not left the house that day.
Jackie frowned when she reached the bottom step and pointed at the grandfather clock standing tall behind Donna. "It's 4 o'clock, where the hell have you two been?" she asked before rubbing her stomach in a circular motion.
"Nice to see you too, dear," Hyde uttered sarcastically as he brushed past the brunette and made his way up the stairs. He'd leave it to Donna to explain to Jackie that unlike her pregnant self, he and Donna still had to go to school. They couldn't be at her beck and call between the hours of 8.30 and 3 no matter how many times she called the school office ordering them to bring her fries and milkshakes. She had become a woman possessed and it was driving Hyde crazy.
He ignored Jackie's shrill cries as he walked the length of the hallway, stopping when he reached the room that was soon to be home to his daughter. There, amongst a plethora of pink clothes and blankets and toys, he found Rosa. She was busy securing a height chart to the pink wall and didn't notice him.
"Hey," Hyde said quietly. Rosa turned around and Hyde gestured to the box in his arms. "This is the last of it."
Rosa smiled. "Good," she said, pushing the last thumb tack into the bottom corner of the chart. "There is no more room in here for any more stuff. Poor baby won't be able to breathe in here!"
Hyde nodded as he took in his surroundings. Jackie had sure gone to town buying unnecessary crap for their baby. As soon as her dad's lawyer had made an offshore account available to her Jackie had gone on a crazy shopping spree and Hyde was fairly sure their daughter was set for life. Okay, she may not have any money for college, but she'd never have to go without stuffed elephants or pink clothes with embroided rainbows on them. No wonder Jackie was dressed like she was, it was as though summer time had thrown up all over this bedroom.
"Nevermind the kid," Hyde said, pulling at his collar as he sat down in a wooden rocking chair, "I can't breathe in here."
"Well get used to it, Mr. Hyde," Rosa grinned, opening the box he'd set down on the floor, "because you'll be spending a lot of time in this room."
Hyde slowly shook his head as his feet moved, gently rocking the chair back and forth. That was the second time in the space of ten minutes he'd been told to 'get used' to something and he found it rather amusing. He'd never pegged himself for someone who would just put up with something. The Hyde he knew was someone who would move to change an uncomfortable situation or circumstance. But here he was, rocking back and forth in a freaking pink bedroom, feeling amused instead of agitated. Perhaps that's what happened to a man when they had a kid on the way - week by week, month by month, a little more of their spine turned to mush until they became middle-class, suburban 'yes men' who didn't give a shit what happened in their lives so long as dinner was on the table at six.
Crap! Hyde thought, quickly standing up. He was not going to sit in a rocking chair in a pink bedroom when school was out for spring break. He was 18 for God's sake. Not 38. When Jackie and Donna walked in he looked at Jackie sternly.
"Jackie," he said with a hand on his hip. "This room is way too pink, man. I can't take it."
Jackie's expression went from surprised to puzzled as she glanced around the room. "Steven, it's not any pinker than it was when you were here lastnight. I don't see what the problem is?"
Hyde pointed to the top of the dresser which was adorned with pink photo frames waiting for photos; a pink jewellery box Jackie had said would soon be filled with jewels; and various pink and white teddy bears and dolls. "These are the problem," Hyde explained. "Pink, pink, and more freakin' pink. It's too much. Just coz she's a girl it doesn't mean everything in her life has to be pink. You could mix it up a little...maybe even get rid of some..."
Donna held her hand up to silence Hyde. "I don't care what you two do with the room but I'm stating right now that none of this stuff is coming back to mine." She looked at Jackie. "Because guess what? My room isn't a storage shed and I've only just gotten rid of the last 2 boxes that had been dumped there. So yeah, just letting you guys know that now." Obviously feeling the tension that'd invaded the room, Donna stepped back, bumping into the crib, and shoved her hands in her pocket.
Jackie's eyes were watering as her both her hands rubbed her belly but Hyde wasn't backing down. Not while he still had some of his spine intact.
"Well?" he asked a glum looking Jackie.
"None of it's going. This is my baby's room, in my house, and I'll have it how I want to have it. You can have her room at the Forman's however you want to have it."
Hyde bit the inside of his cheek hard. Mrs. Forman had done Laurie's room ready for the baby and decorated it in a rather sickening shade of fucking pink also. He couldn't escape that damn colour if he tried.
He bowed his head a little, peering at Jackie over the top of his shades. "But you know I can't, Jackie, because Mrs. Forman has done that room already n I think you may've had a hand in helping her do it..."
Jackie smiled knowingly. "It' not my fault Mrs. Forman has such exquisite taste in nursery furnishings," she mocked. "Anyway, what does it really matter, Steven? The baby will hardly be in either room. She'll only be in them to sleep. It's really no big deal."
"Well if it's no big deal then why won't you water down some of this putrid colour? It'll give her nightmares, man. No one should have to sleep in this crap."
As Jackie's hand flew to her chest, Rosa flew to Jackie's side and wrapped a protective arm around her waist. "Oh, Mr. Hyde," the maid said calmly. "Miss. Jackie work so hard on this room, what does it matter if it look like candy floss?"
Donna giggled. Jackie frowned at the tall redhead.
Hyde took a deep breath, searching for a reason why it really mattered. But he failed to find one.
"It matters-" he started, "-it matters coz...well it matters -"
"Oh, Hyde," Donna laughed, covering her mouth with her hand for a moment as Hyde shifted on his feet. "Your points about why a pink room matters are just so strong and valid. Please keep going."
"Get bent," Hyde snarled at her before looking back at Jackie. He felt like an idiot. An idiot who had kicked up a stink about nothing. But he had to have some pride, so he said, "Fine, the room can stay as it is -"
"Good, because it was whether you liked it or not," Jackie cut in.
Hyde ignored her comment. "- but I'm letting you know now that I'm going out tonight, and I'm gettin' really, really drunk. So count me out when you need ice cream, or burgers, or potato chips or whatever at 2 in the morning, coz I won't be gettin' 'em for you. You'll have to call Donna."
To Hyde's surprise Jackie calmly nodded and smiled. In fact, everyone in the room bar Hyde was smiling. It was weird and unnerving, so he folded his arms tight across his chest and pursed his lips, until finally Jackie opened her mouth to speak.
"That's fine, Steven," she said. Her left eyebrow arched and Hyde's eyes narrowed. "You go out tonight and get rip roaring drunk. Just make sure you're sober enough to come see your daughter when visiting starts tomorrow at one."
...
Two hours later Jackie was squashed between Donna and Hyde in the El Camino feeling like she was being stabbed from the inside out. The pain was insurmountable and felt never ending. As soon as one contraction finished another one would start and the gaps in between were far too fleeting to bring any real relief. As another one started Jackie clutched Donna's upper arm with both hands and squeezed hard.
"Oh my, God," she cried, her head rolling on Donna's shoulder as she brought her legs up to her chest. "Ooohhhh mmmyyyyy, Gggggooddddddd!"
Donna pat Jackie's head. "Sssshhhhh, Jackie, just try and breathe through it," she said calmly. "Just breathe, Jackie." Donna made some breathing noises, ones she'd clearly seen done in the movies, and Jackie did her best to follow her friend's advice. The reality though, was that labour was not at all like it was in the movies. Jackie wasn't laying on a perfectly made hospital bed making calm breathing noises while Hyde stroked her head with a facecloth. No, the reality was Jackie screaming in agony as the El Camino hit every single bump in the road further contributing to her pain. She let out an almighty curse word as the contraction hit it's peak, slowly quieting when the stabbing feelings subsided.
Jackie's eyes closed in exhaustion and she took Donna's hand in her own. "I can't do this, Donna," she whispered.
Donna stroked her friend's hair from her forehead. "Yes you can, Jackie," she assured her. "You're doing so good already. Your waters broke hours ago and you've managed to stay at home all this time and cope. You're the strongest girl I know n you can so do this."
Donna was right, Jackie had been coping well. When the contractions had started at lunchtime that day they'd been mild, like period cramps, and she'd brushed them off as nothing more than Braxton Hicks. When they began coming more frequently Rosa had called the doctor who'd said to keep Jackie at home for as long as she could handle and Jackie had done just that. She'd busied herself finishing the nursery and packing her hospital bag and had even managed to give herself a mini makeover. The makeover had proved a waste of time though, it had all been washed away during one of the 6 showers she'd taken in the last hour. So yes, Jackie had coped well for the last 7 hours, but she wasn't coping anymore and she didn't think she had it in her to cope for much longer.
"Where's Rosa?" Jackie gripped Donna's hand tightly, her eyes still closed.
"She's following behind us, Jackie. She'll meet us at the hospital when we get there," Donna answered.
Wet tears dripped down Jackie's cheeks and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. "I need Rosa," she cried. "She knows how to rub my back. My back hurts and I need her to rub it." Jackie opened her eyes, the bright light from an oncoming car's headlights piercing her vision. "I need Rosa!"
From her peripheral vision she saw Hyde quickly glance at her then look back at the road.
"Told you she should'a gone with Rosa," he said to Donna.
Donna scowled at him before wrapping her arm around Jackie. "Jackie, Rosa can't rub your back when she's driving. It won't be long, hun. We'll be at the hospital real soon."
Another contraction began to build inside Jackie and she leaned forward, putting her hands on the dash. Before she could cry out in a searing howl, Donna's warm hands were rubbing her lower back. The movement was too gentle, not at all like Rosa's, but it'd do.
'Mu - music..." Jackie gasped, as the contraction ripped through her stomach, around her back, and down between her legs. "I need...mu...music..."
"Hyde, she wants music!" Donna growled in a low whisper. "Put something on!"
Jackie heard Hyde flick through the cassettes under his seat. "I haven't got any disco," he said in a panic. "She'll want disco-"
Jackie pushed hard on the dash, trying to push away the pain, and for a second it worked. "I don't care what it is," she breathed out. "Just music..."
Hyde fumbled around with the cassettes and then shoved a tape into the stereo. Immediately the thunder of a steady drumbeat reverberated throughout the car and through Jackie's body, distracting her from her private torture. She breathed in time to the drumming, deciding this was the best song ever composed, and by the time chaotic guitar chords overlapped the heavy beat the contraction had all but disappeared. Jackie flopped back against the leather seat, this time using Hyde's head as a pillow.
"Thank you," she quietly said, still lost in a world of rock.
She could sense Hyde's nervousness when he put his arm around her and she didn't blame him. He'd been blindsided that afternoon, not expecting their daughter's arrival for at least another three weeks. He should've listened, silly boy, Jackie was always early and had predicted this would happen but Hyde had chosen to take the doctor's word over hers. Not that Jackie was laughing now.
"No problem," Hyde said, kissing the top of her head. "Hey, Jackie," he added, so quietly that Jackie barely heard him over the music.
"Mmmm?" she wearily looked up at him just as he glanced down at her. His blue eyes shone bright as they were illuminated by the light's of oncoming traffic and in them she could see nothing but fear. His fear was probably what was holding him back from helping her tonight, well that and the fact he had to fight Rosa and Donna to get anywhere near her. But Jackie knew he was there, watching intently, worrying endlessly, and she knew the time would come when she'd need him and only him.
He held her a little tighter. "You can do this," he whispered in her ear. "I know you can do this."
Another rush of pain washed over Jackie and before it took her completely she looked up at Hyde. "I hope so..."
...
An hour later
Hyde hung up the phone and fell back against the sterile, white hospital wall. He pinched the bridge of his nose and wondered if there was anyone else he needed to call. So far he'd spoken to Kitty, Eric and Fez and had even sprung the coin to make a long distance call to Jackie's grandmother in Maine. There had to be someone else that needed to know Jackie was in labour though...surely?
A loud slap on the wall next to Hyde's ear disrupted his thought and he looked up to see Donna glaring at him.
"Dillhole! What the hell are you doing out here?" she asked so loudly that the nurse walking by brought her finger up to her lips and gestured 'be quiet' at the redhead.
Hyde nodded toward the payphone next to him. "I'm making calls."
"To who? Everyone in Wisconsin?" Donna was pissed, Hyde could tell. "You've been gone 20 minutes, Hyde. Get back in that room and be there for Jackie."
"She doesn't need me in there, she's got you n Rosa. I'm staying outta the way, man."
"Are you serious? Damn, guys are stupid! Jackie needs all of us right now and you standing out here avoiding the situation is sending her the message that you don't give a fuck! Is that really the message you wanna put out there tonight, Hyde? When all this is over and Jackie is sitting in the bed holding your baby do you really wanna waltz in and be all 'hey, sorry I missed it all, I had calls to make'? 'Cause I dunno if you know Jackie all that well if you think that's gonna fly with her. I think she'll be thinking you were an asshole coward who avoided being there for her coz it was too hard to watch..."
Hyde scratched his beard as he listened to Donna talk. She was right about one thing, seeing Jackie in so much pain was too hard to watch and he was actively avoiding watching because he was a coward. What the hell could he do to help? He hadn't pushed a kid out before therefore he had no idea what to do to ease her pain. He was better off giving her space and letting the females aid her in her time of need.
"Donna," he started, "there's like, nothing I can do to help her. Rosa seems to know what she's doin' n you're a chick, kind of, so you know how to do all that comforting crap. I'm better off out here makin-"
"Calls...yeah, heard you the first time," Donna cut in, her blue eyes narrowing in disdain. "Fine. Make your stupid calls. But you know what, Hyde? I really didn't expect this of you. This shit -" she waved her hand between Hyde and the door to the delivery suite across the hall, "- has Michael Kelso written all over it. But, whatever. I'll let you know when it's over."
With that Donna turned on her heels and scurried back to Jackie's room. When she opened the door Hyde briefly heard Jackie cry out in pain and the sound seemed to fall and rest in the pit of his stomach, remaining there long after the door had closed. He jingled the handful of quarters in his hand contemplating his options. Option one was sitting down on the uncomfortable maroon coloured chair next to the phone and waiting. That was a fairly good option and he'd seen many soon-to-be dads do it in the movies. He could grab a coffee and a magazine and wait out the remaining time knowing he wouldn't be in Jackie's way and wouldn't have to see things that couldn't be unseen. Hyde had to admit that option one was rather tempting.
Option two, on the other hand, had many pros and cons. Being in the room meant helplessly watching the girl he had feelings for scream in agony; agony caused by him and one long, boring summer. Option two was witnessing blood and other gross stuff come out of said girl and that wasn't gonna be pretty. But option two was also being there when the girl he'd come to like - a lot - gave birth to his daughter, and on a scale of things cool and uncool, that would have to be right up there. Hyde looked at one of the quarters in his hand. He could make a toss - heads he'd wait outside, tails he'd go in - or he could just man up and do what he'd promised Jackie he'd do, be there for her. Dropping the quarters back in his pocket Hyde did what was right, he walked toward the delivery suite and opened the door.
Jackie looked at the door, her eyes wide, her face red. "Where have you been?!" she screamed at Hyde as Rosa ran a facecloth over her sweaty brow. "I've started pushing and you weren't even here."
Hyde stood silent for a moment, not sure what to say. The room was chaotic. A doctor in scrubs was between Jackie's legs telling her not to push. Two nurses stood either side of him gawking at Jackie's privates. Machines that were connected to straps around Jackie's stomach beeped loudly providing an annoying soundtrack to the unfolding events. It wasn't how Hyde had pictured it, not that he'd really pictured it at all.
"I..." he mumbled. Donna turned around to look at him. She was at Jackie's side, holding her hand. Hyde licked his lips and stepped toward the bed. "I was making calls," he said lamely.
"Well get over here before you miss it!" Jackie ordered, dropping Donna's hand and reaching for Hyde.
In a nano second he was next to her practically on the bed, holding her hand. She was panting, exhausted, her tired eyes telling him that she needed this to be over, and even though he wasn't the one putting in the hard yards he could kinda relate.
"Sorry I took so long," he said, pushing a strand of wet, sweaty hair behind Jackie's ear.
"I don't care," Jackie panted out. "I'm just pleased you're here."
Hyde stared at Jackie, amazed that after enduring these hours of intense pain she could still look so gorgeous. She was a trooper, he'd give her that.
"I'm pleased I'm here too," he said honestly, glancing over at Donna who was now standing next to Rosa. The redhead winked at him, a silent acknowledgement that he'd done the right thing and his cowardly behaviour would remain a secret between just them. He nodded back at her in thanks.
Jackie's hand tightened around his and she raised her legs. The doctor told her to start pushing and automatically Hyde grabbed her thigh and held it back for her. "Push, Jackie," he encouraged, not taking his eyes off her for a second. "Push, push!"
Jackie pushed in silence, abandoning her earlier screams, choosing to focus all her energy into birthing their baby. Her face grew redder and redder as she pushed harder and harder, fuelled on by the supportive words of those around her.
"I can see her head!" Donna exclaimed. "She has black hair!"
Hyde was tempted to look, but looking meant dropping Jackie's leg which was hooked around his arm. She needed his resistance and he wasn't gonna let her down.
When the contraction finished, Jackie was told to take a well earned break but she left her leg in Hyde's arm and he didn't care one little bit.
"Is she nearly out?" Jackie asked, exhausted.
The doctor smiled. "I'd say that if you keep pushing like that we'll have her out in a few more contractions."
Rosa held a small cup of water to Jackie's lips. "You're doing so good, Miss. Jackie," she said. "You're a natural."
"I've seen her hair!" Donna squealed, bobbing up and down excitedly. "I'm the first one to see your baby!"
Jackie sipped some water then frowned. "Ugh, Donna. Can you not look down there? If I have to banish you from here you know I wi-" Another contraction hit Jackie like a tidal wave and she lurched forward.
"Push!" the doctor ordered, his hands at the ready to catch Hyde's precious bundle. "Push, Jackie, she's almost here!"
With one arm still holding Jackie's leg, Hyde pressed his face as close to Jackie's as he could get. He could feel her sweat, he could almost taste it's saltiness, but as much as tried he could never feel her pain. All he could do was encourage her in the biggest journey she was probably ever going to be on...the journey toward motherhood.
Thirty minutes later Hyde was still holding Jackie's leg, still being the cheerleader he swore he'd never be, still in awe of her strength and determination.
"You can do this, baby," he whispered into her ear. "Push as hard as you can and this will all be over. Soon she'll be in her pink room, baby. Keep goin', Jackie, keep goin'..."
"Push, Miss. Jackie! You can do this!"
"I can see her head...it's nearly out...oh my God, it's out Jackie! She's here!"
At Donna's words, Jackie released her grip on Hyde's hand and fell back onto the bed just as a loud cry filled the room. Hyde's gaze was locked on Jackie. "You did it," he said, astounded at her feat.
She smiled wearily. "I did it," she said. "Finally."
"Oh my God she's perfect!" Donna cried louder than the baby.
Hyde turned to look at his daughter. She was covered in blood and crap and her head was kinda cone shaped, but he had to admit, other than that she was pretty perfect. A nurse rubbed her down with a towel as the doctor presented Hyde with a shiny pair of scissors.
"Would you like to do the honours?" the doctor asked.
Hyde was puzzled. What the hell was he supposed to cut? He wasn't doctor. When it was explained to him that all he'd be hacking into was the umbilical cord Hyde agreed to do it. But when it came to actually doing the deed Hyde had a problem. A problem he hadn't had in years and years, and he wasn't quite sure how to deal with it. So he cleared his throat and turned toward the back of the room, discretely removing his sunglasses. When he brought his sleeve up to his eyes a vision of red hair popped up in front of him. Crap!
"Oh my God, Hyde you're crying!" Donna exclaimed, tears running down her own face.
Hyde rubbed his eyes and cleared the lump from his throat again. "No I'm not, just got something in my eye."
Donna pointed at the tear that was just reaching his beard. "Yes you are, there's a tear right there."
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are!"
"Shut your pie hole!" Hyde turned around and threw his sunglasses on the table next to Jackie's bed. Jackie had their daughter in her arms now, the umbilical cord still connecting them together. She smiled up at him as she rubbed her cheek across the top of the tiny girl's head.
"She's beautiful," Jackie said softly as Hyde cut the cord. He nodded. Yes the baby was beautiful, but so was her mother. Jackie had never been more beautiful to him as she was right now - covered in sweat, still waiting to deliver the placenta, utterly drained of energy.
"She is," Hyde said, taking the baby from her arms. "And so are you." He quickly shot Donna a look that said 'I really don't need one of your awwww's right now' and thankfully Donna shut her mouth.
With little energy left Jackie pulled her hair into a ponytail, readying herself for the next round of pushing. "What are we gonna name her?" she asked Hyde. "We hadn't even settled on a name yet."
Hyde stroked his little girl's cheek with his fingertip. She was tiny, so tiny. She also semi-resembled an old man right now, what with the squashed up face n all. The only name that sprang to his mind was Mr. Magoo and he knew Jackie wouldn't go for that. Choosing a name that suited their daughter needed to wait until the trauma of being born had settled.
"We don't need to pick a name right now, man." Hyde sat down in the seat next to Jackie's bed, blocking out the busy nurses and nosy Donna and Rosa, and just concentrated on the Mr. Magoo look a like cradled in his arms. "We can do that tomorrow."
"Tomorrow sounds good," Jackie agreed.
"Then tomorrow it is."