Author Note: ….getting closer…..anticipation is so fun…..

T7S

Chapter 10– Losing Zen

T7S

Hyde had just got out of the shower and saw he had an email on his private account. He walked over in his towel and clicked the mouse. TheNewSexy had sent him a note. He grinned and pulled on some pants and sat down at his desk.

Dear Steven

I'm so excited! Everything for the party is set up; Mr. Forman still thinks he's getting a fishing pole ha-ha.

Ben came back from Panama and I can't wait for you to meet him. Such a great kid. We never found Laurie…I can only hope that her name doesn't come up and upset Mr. Forman..

I heard from Brooke and Michael! They are staying at his dad's house. Mr. Kelso is recovering from a mild stroke so the whole Kelso clan is over there. Can you imagine 14 grandkids? Betsy had to stay in Washington but she sends her love.

Oh, when you see him, please don't say anything, but Eric got the wrong box of "Just for Men" hair color and he's blonde! Mrs. Forman was trying not to laugh but he's hiding it under a hat. I know you'll find that amusing.

Steven…I can't wait to see you. It's been years and well, over these last few weeks, I feel like we've always been friends.

I can't wait to hug you…kiss you….tell you in person how much I miss you.

Let's not lose touch again, okay?

Love Jackie.

Hyde closed the lid on his lap top. That was the first time she wrote Love Jackie on an email to him! While it was probably just the way she always wrote it for her friends….this was the first time she wrote it for him.

Was that significant? Or did he just want it to be?

He was looking forward to the party more than he thought. He was bringing Laurie and he would be Jackie's hero. It was all worth it. He smiled and turned off the light.

Jackie….I can't wait to hug you…kiss you….tell you in person how much I miss you…either. That as his final thought before drifting off to sleep.

-o-

"Steven….Steven wake up." He felt soft hands rubbing his back. "Jackie…I'm sleeping doll, what is it?"

"The baby's crying. It's your turn to feed him." She urged softly.

"No, I changed him earlier – you said you'd do the feeding. C'mon, give me a break."

Jackie rose up on one elbow and untied her nightgown. He rolled over to see the most perfect pair of breasts pointing at his face. He swallowed hard. She crooned, "Feed the baby and Jackie will take care of you when you get back."

He grinned, "I swear if Benjamin's kid doesn't go to sleep after I burp him, we're doing it on the hallway carpet."

Jackie giggled. "I'll be waiting with a blanket."

Steven sat straight up in bed. What the hell kind of dream was that? Wait, that wasn't so bad. Granted he didn't know Benjamin Forman and wouldn't be meeting him until tomorrow anyways….but…maybe... he was anticipating a future with Jackie?

Hell, he was turning into Jackie! Steven J Hyde was getting all giddy and excited and losing his Zen!

Damn.

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Red turned over in his sleep and Kitty pulled the covers back over his shoulder. She was so concerned that he would fuss about the party but it seems he forgot tomorrow was a special day. She looked at the back of his old balding head but only saw the thick red hair that she used to run her hands through.

He snored lightly and that was music to her aging ears. The disease was taking more and more of her husband every day and soon he wouldn't even recognize his wife. That was her greatest fear – Red would look at her with that blank expression in his eyes and not remember who she was.

She rolled on her back and looked at the ceiling. The Forman's. What a wonderful family they used to be. Now it was a divorced son and his boy living upstairs, Laurie was who knows where or in jail – there was no telling and none of the kids came around anymore with the exception of Jackie.

It would be so nice to see Steven again. That Michael Kelso turned into such a fine and responsible grown up and Fez. Kitty even missed Fez with his funny little accent. It was sad that Donna missed her own parents' funeral. Midge and Bob were victims of a fatal hit and run accident and Donna's flight was late. Time was just going by so fast and Kitty Forman didn't have than many days of her own left.

She just wanted a happy ending for Red. One really truly wonderful memory for him to keep until the Alzheimer's took it away. Kitty bit back a sob.

"I love you Red Forman. Please don't ever forget that." She prayed out loud and hoped he heard it.

T7S

Eric was looking frantically for his Eddie Bauer jacket. Delilah was his party date and he wanted Brooke Kelso to be impressed with the guy that was dating her sister. Benjamin and Brittany were locked in his bedroom where Usher was singing OMG at full blast. Eric didn't want to think of what they could be doing, he was only hoping his son used common sense. Please wear the raincoat son! That was his silent prayer.

He tentatively knocked on the door. "Ben? We're leaving in ten minutes."

He heard a polite, "Hello Mr. Forman!" Eric wondered when he turned into Red Forman….checking on the kids and their girlfriends. This was pretty scary stuff and most of his friends already had grandchildren at 51. Eric Forman just had survived a kid in a high school graduation. He wasn't ready for grandkids just yet!

Kitty hollered up the stairs. "Eric, honey…your father's going to need help getting to the car. We'll meet you downstairs." He moved to the top of the stairs, "Okay mom, I'll get Ben and see you in the driveway."

Kids! He smiled as he remembered his dad muttering something like that oh so many years ago.

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Jackie wasn't the only one that wanted to make a good impression. She first tried on a teal shirt dress that complemented her eyes but made her skin look washed out. A sleeveless pink sheath was gorgeous but made the tiny lines around her eyes look like the Grand Canyon.

Finally, she settled on a red wrap dress that hugged her still mostly firm curves (thank you Pam and all those visits to the YMCA!) and she slid into some steep black dress heels. Her long dark curls spilled loosely down her back and she looked ten years younger. Jackie spritzed some light cologne and touched up her mascara. Please don't let Steven be an uggo!

Taking one deep cleansing breath, Jackie grabbed her handbag and walked towards the door.

She had an old friend to see and a life time to get there!

Where was her Zen when she needed it most!

T7S

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter but I'll put another up soon. Had to break it up so it wasn't so long. You'll understand.