AN: Thanks for all the reviews on the last chapter! You guys are amazing. So this is a bit of a filler chapter and I have to admit that it isn't one of my favorites. Hopefully you guys enjoy it though!


Chapter 12: American Love

Jackie whipped the red and white checkered picnic table cloth into the air and slowly guided it back down onto the table. Red and Kitty Forman were coming into town for the 4th of July, and Eric, Donna, and Jackie were preparing for the big barbeque before Kitty arrived. Knowing her, everyone decided it would be best to get most of the decorating done so that Kitty wouldn't have to worry about it when she cooked. That woman still got caught up in planning a party.

It had been a week since the water tower get together, and Fez and Kelso came back to bring their families. Jackie plopped herself down on the bench and breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't know what would be worst. Being here without her family or being here with her family. At least with her family she could pretend like they were happy, but then again, this way she didn't have to put on a mask at all. Her separation with her husband was final. The papers came in a few days before and Jackie signed. She was a bit relieved that Dennis decided to go ahead and give her a little alimony without putting up a fight. Donna was furious when Jackie told her that she just signed them without a lawyer. Jackie couldn't care about getting anything more from Dennis, and she really didn't want to go to court with him. She just wanted some clarity with herself.

Jackie found herself looking down the street for the fourth time within the past half hour. Hyde had called earlier and said he would be there shortly. Jackie hadn't seen him in a few days, and she found herself anticipating his arrival. She felt stupid and childish for getting excited about such a trivial thing, but her blossoming friendship with him since her return had been one of the few good things in her life at the moment.

One face she had seen quite a lot during the past few days was Zach's. She noticed that he seemed to look at her a bit differently than the first time that she met him, which she was met with only complete indifference instead of this new curiosity. Donna had informed her about his recent knowledge of her and Hyde's relationship, so she understood his new interest in her. According to Donna, Zach hadn't ever really seen his father with other women. Jackie had to admit, she was pretty curious in Zach herself. He seemed to be a lot like his father, and Jackie wanted to know everything about the boy. He was a little glimpse into her former lover's life that she had little knowledge of its occurrences.

Jackie looked down the street again and sighed.


Zach laced his tennis shoes one at a time, tying them tight against his feet. The only thing he was really looking forward to at the barbeque was when Kat would get there. She had to do some things with her family first and wouldn't be showing up until much later.

"Are you ready to go?" His dad asked as he stood in his doorway.

"Yeah." Zach stood up from his bed and began walking towards his father. He noticed his dad wasn't moving and figured he wanted to talk to him.

"What is it?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"Look, I know you said you were fine after last week, but… maybe we should talk about this."

Zach smirked. "Well, isn't this new? You are the one actually wanting to talk."

Hyde held up his hand in a warning. "Look Zach. Don't do this with me right now. I'm trying, okay?"

"Alright, alright." Zach surrendered and decided to cooperate.

"So…" Hyde raked his brain. "Did you have any… um… questions?"

Zach slightly rolled his eyes, but he did see an opportunity. "Yeah. When did I come into the picture?"

"Uh, well… we were together for a few months, and then I found out that we weren't really married. She was actually still married to this other guy. She left for a few years, came back, and … we sort of hooked up. That's when you came along."

Zach nodded his head. He lifted his eyebrows in faked indifference as he voiced his next question. "Was Jackie still around?"

"No, she had left for Boston a long time before that."

Zach kept nodding his head. He still didn't feel an ounce better about anything. "Alright. We're cool, just like we were before this." He walked up to his Dad and patted him on the shoulder. "Let's go."

As Zach walked away, Hyde thought that this little talk did nothing. He and Zach weren't "cool". They had barely talked at all, which was strange because they used to talk all the time. Hyde was just as lost as ever before. Zach wasn't responding too well with the honesty. He really had no idea where to turn.


"Where's Jackie? I need to see that girl and give her a piece of my mind about leaving the people who love her." Kitty Forman said after she let go of her embrace with her son. She leaned in and whispered, "Besides, I think Red really missed her. She was his favorite after all."

Eric nodded his head and looked to his father who was placing his hat on the coat stand by the door. "Aw, did you miss Jackie, Dad?"

Red grunted. "No, I didn't miss her. I don't miss people, and I certainly don't say "Aw" either. You're a father! Be a man, damn it!" Red, satisfied with his means of avoiding the subject and criticizing Eric all at once, left the living room in search of a certain brunette.

Kitty placed her hand on her son's shoulder. "That's just his way of saying he agrees with you." Both Donna and Eric stared in disbelief at Kitty's beaming smile. "Now where are those grandchildren of mine?

As if her words had summoned them, Josh and Cindy walked through the swinging door from the kitchen. Kitty giggled and told the two kids how much she loved them as she hugged both of them at the same time. She let go of Josh and kept her arm around Cindy's shoulders. "Come on Cindy. I need a womanly touch to help me in the kitchen." As the two left, Donna shook her head, but she wore a light hearted smile on her face. Some things would just always stay the same.

"Grandpa Red told me to cut my hair again." Josh announced. "He didn't lecture me as long this time because he immediately started talking to Jackie. He seems to really like her."

"Yeah, Jackie is Red's favorite…for some strange reason." Donna said as she pondered the idea.

"It's probably because she burns Dad worse than anybody." Josh exclaimed catching his father's testing eye. "And we all know how much Grandpa Red loves picking at Dad."

Eric folded his arms and gave his son a stern look. It appeared like he was about to defy Josh's statement, but then he relaxed his shoulders and gave in. "Yeah, that's probably true. Now let's go back to watch Red tear you a new one for once."


Red and Eric began grilling hamburgers as Jackie, Donna, Brooke, and Liz sat at the picnic table folding napkins in this new way that Kitty taught them. She told them that just because it was a barbeque; it didn't mean they couldn't be more creative. Ever since her retirement, Kitty was learning all sorts of new crafts, and napkin folding had become one of her favorites.

"Does this look like a swan to you?" Donna asked as she presented the indeterminate shape.

"No." Liz said, boredom pouring heavily from her voice. She wasn't even trying to make a swan. "This is stupid."

"I think it's kind of fun." Brooke said as she set down her napkin that was clearly much better than the others. She started on the next one.

Jackie appeared to be just fiddling with the fabric. She was lost in her own little world only picking up on the conversation from time to time. "I agree. This is stupid." She threw the white cloth down on the table.

Kitty walked up to the table with a salad bowl in hand. "Why is no one folding?"

"I'm folding Mrs. Forman." Brooke stated as she presented another perfect swan.

"Look how wonderful Brooke. You are a natural at this." Brooke grinned from ear to ear as Kitty praised her efforts. Liz rolled her eyes. Kitty set the salad bowl down in the middle of the table. "Now how about the rest of you girls be productive and toss this salad for me."

As Kitty walked away, Liz set an evil smile on her face as she directed her eyes to Donna. "Yeah, toss the salad Donna. It could give you some… practice."

Donna glared at her. "Shut up. That's not even what Eric wanted to do." She picked up the tongs and started tossing the salad.

Liz rolled her eyes. "Hey, butt stuff is butt stuff."

Jackie gave a disgusted scoff. "Is he still up to that stuff, Donna? You should have broken up with him when I told you to the first time he tried that after he and the guys saw that nudie flick when we were kids." She thought bitterly on her own situation. "You could always divorce him you know."

Donna shook her head at the ridiculous statement. "I'm not divorcing Eric because he wants to try new things, no matter how weird," Donna shuddered, "they are."

Hyde's black car pulled up in the driveway, diverting their attention away from the abnormalities of Eric and Donna's relationship for a second. Jackie sat up straight in her seat and watched carefully as Hyde got out of the driver's side with Zach getting out from the passenger's side; both had broody expressions planted on their faces.

Once they reached the rest, Red slung an arm around Zach's shoulder. "See Josh. Zach here knows when to cut his hair." At that moment Kitty ran out to greet her adopted grandson and son.

"Oh honey, you shaved away those beautiful curls." She pinched his cheeks as she looked up at him. "Well, you still look very handsome even though it does look like you are about to go to war."

As Zach stood by and took everyone's comments about his radical change, Hyde looked over at Jackie who gave him a little smile saved just for him. In that single moment, he felt himself falling for her all over again. He wasn't sure why because she looked the same as she had in the past week, but when his eyes landed on her, he couldn't help but think that she was more beautiful than she had ever been before. Once she looked away to turn back to face the table she was sitting at, Hyde noticed that his pulse had quickened in that brief second.

In the times he wasn't worrying about his relationship with his son, Jackie had filled his thoughts completely. He felt the same way he did over twenty years ago. That special place reserved just for her in his heart had awakened. Dormancy had only made its arrival stronger than ever. Hyde kept trying to keep it down with the memories of the way he had treated her in the past, but every time they locked eyes with one another, he remembered what it was like to feel.

Hyde didn't really believe in God, but he had a feeling that some kind of higher power sent Jackie back to Point Place. He would be a fool to miss his last chance.


The barbeque was in full swing as adults holding beer cans conversed in little groups and the kids with their full stomachs patiently waited for Kitty's pies to cool. Zach was the only one sitting all by himself in one of the porch chairs by the kitchen. Kat had just called and told him that she couldn't make it tonight. Josh and the others played with firecrackers as they waited for night to fall to shoot off fireworks, but Zach just wasn't in the mood to join them.

Kitty sat down next to Zach and smiled as she looked at all the happy people chatting in the driveway. She was so happy that everyone was home finally. "Now why aren't you having fun with the rest of your friends?" Kitty asked causing Zach to divert his attention to her. "You aren't supposed to be mopey on the 4th of July."

Zach gave her a slight smile. He always appreciated that the woman he thought of as his grandmother did everything she could to make everyone around her happy. "My girlfriend said she couldn't show up tonight."

"Oh, you have a girlfriend do you?" Kitty said as she leaned back, impressed with his words. "Well, it's about time. I thought you were going to be like you father for a while there."

Zach looked over to his dad who was talking with Jackie on the picnic bench. It was just the two of them, and it seemed like they couldn't stop smiling. His stomach tightened a bit as he realized that his dad never smiled about anything unless it came to Kelso being stupid or their late night chats they used to have all the time.

"You know, Jackie used to make your father very happy." Kitty leaned in and said as she noticed that he was looking at them.

Zach turned to her with interest. "Really?"

Kitty's eyes squinted with her huge smile. "Yes. That boy was in love with her before they even got together. The only time I ever saw him as happy as when he was with her was after you were born."

They both turned to look at the couple again. Anyone who claimed that there was no chemistry between the two had to be nuts. Zach noticed that they were holding hands hidden in-between their almost touching legs.

"I hope they get together again." Kitty said. Zach wasn't sure if she was talking to him or just to herself, but either way he heard her words loud and clear.

He knew it was selfish of him, but he felt pained by the smile on his father's face. All he had in his life was his dad, and he really didn't like the idea of this woman taking that away from him. He knew he wasn't being a big help with the new grudge he held so stubbornly to, but maybe over time those wounds could heal. He wanted his dad to be happy, but he wanted him to be happy in a family with him, just like they had always been. He felt guilty for being such an ass about wanting to see his mother. After his night with Kat, he really started to think about what his father's intentions were in the first place. He didn't want Zach to feel this way. Now it was too little too late, and Zach felt like everything was falling apart. He had never been this low before. He knew if he would just try to be friendly to his dad again, things could change, but every time he was around him, his stubbornness held him back. He just couldn't make himself swallow his own pride.

Zach watched as Jackie laughed about something his dad was saying. When their eyes met, they held onto each others stare for a long time.

Yeah, he definitely had a bad feeling about this.


Dessert was served and the kids, including Zach, were shooting off fireworks in the street while the adults sat back and watched the show. Jackie felt seventeen again as the night sky lit up with beautiful purple and gold shooting stars. The night felt absolutely magical. It probably helped that she and Hyde had laughed and joked all night long and had barely left each others side. As much as she tried to keep up the friend composure, she felt that strong connection that always had been between the two of them grow even stronger. Her heart was being pulled in by Steven Hyde again. A little warning sign went off that reminded her of those last two years that she was in Point Place that Steven Hyde had hurt her more than anybody had, but things were a lot different now. They were a lot different now.

Jackie knew that Hyde was thinking the same things too. He was actually acting like her Steven again. After Sam, the only time that she was ever sure that her Steven was somewhere under the cold, uncaring exterior was when she looked into his eyes. She understood why he wore sunglasses all the time because his eyes gave it all away. Now he was comfortable with her just like they used to be.

Another firework boomed and green fire rained downed from the sky. This moment couldn't' be more perfect.

"You know there is this really nice restaurant that replaced the Sizzler. Maybe I should show you tomorrow." Hyde said as he still stared off into the distance watching the kids load artillery shells.

It took a few seconds for Jackie to actually comprehend what he had just said to her. He was actually asking her out on a date. This was the moment of truth. This was the bridge needing to be crossed if she ever wanted to try things out with him again. The other side was frightening and unknown, and for all she knew tears could be shed for years again. However, this place she was at right now was somewhere she didn't belong. Jackie was put on this earth to love someone unconditionally, and even after all these years, she still felt that he was that someone.

"Okay."


AN2: Jackie and Hyde date is next! REVIEW!