Author Note: I've never been to Disneyworld, Disneyland yes, but this is fiction so just go with it – thanks!

Chapter 35 – Goofy Friends

"Forman really beefed up didn't he?" His wife's comment bothered him all night. He tossed and turned on the narrow mattress and the room was hot. Hyde slung his legs over the bed and walked the six steps to the bathroom. He turned on the shower and stuck his head in the spray. Damn wedding party – why did W.B. even pressure him to go? Dumbass Kelso and Brooke had a huge room and they weren't even married yet – this must have been some major burn Jackie Burkhart style.

He grabbed a towel and wiped his face - freaking Florida and the humidity and this small ass room. He looked back at the bed and Samantha was stretched out taking up all the space on the full size mattress. Why should she even notice that Forman beefed up? Hyde pulled up his tank shirt and looked at his stomach. Maybe he didn't work out, but he had a nice body – reluctantly he would admit that Forman wasn't skinny any more but he was hardly a guy that chicks would take a second look at.

Hyde remembered there was a liquor store not far from the building. Maybe he could score some smokes and a beer - anything to get out of this small room.

*

Eric lay back on the soft pillow and looked out through the window at the clear night sky full of twinkling stars. Jackie was sleeping peacefully beside him, her arm draped over his chest and a leg sandwiched between his. He still couldn't believe how incredibly lucky he was that this exceptional woman wanted to be with him! He knew he was falling in love with her and he wasn't sure if he was ready to give his heart to any woman only to get it trampled again.

She sighed in her sleep and snuggled closer. He smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. Maybe somehow, this slow relationship of trust they were building with each other was the way it should be. Friends, lovers…then whatever followed – Jackie had the right idea – don't rush into anything and enjoy the journey.

He secretly dreaded seeing Donna again after all this time yet a small part of him wanted to know if she missed him. He knew that she was going to do well in whatever venture she decided, but Donna wanted to do it alone – she liked the idea of marriage; she just didn't want to be married to a Forman.

Eric looked at the woman beside him, from the curve of her hip to her naked shoulder – he knew what made her happy and he knew her fears. When he thought back, he really couldn't say they same thing about his ex-wife. He thought he knew her, but he only knew what she wanted him to know and that wasn't a good basis for a lasting marriage. The elopement was impulsive and Donna loved that but then married life wasn't what she had envisioned.

Eric was happy now. He liked his life and his new found freedom. He no longer felt the shackles of being an "ex" and it was liberating. He was a guy with a great girl and life couldn't get better than this. He kissed Jackie's forehead and she smiled in her sleep.

*

Kelso was the first one up. He was going to Disney World to hang out with Goofy! He ran out in the hallway and started knocking on doors. Bleary eyed and tired, Hyde opened the door. "What the hell Kelso, are you in your underwear?"

Michael Kelso was grinning like a buffoon – he was going to the greatest place on earth! "Dude, let's get breakfast and go! We get eight hours of fun before Donna gets here! Get up man!" Hyde shook his head as Kelso ran down and banged on Fez's room.

Fez opened the door wearing his silk pajama bottoms. Rhonda told him he looked like Aladdin and Fez loved the material against his body. "Breakfast - Can we have pancakes with syrup?"

Kelso nodded, "Yeah, just get ready! I want to be there when the park opens!"

Eric opened the door in his boxers and Kelso pushed his way in. "Dude, it's going to be awesome today! Get Jackie out of bed."

Jackie heard the commotion and threw on one of Eric's shirts when she couldn't find her nightgown. She yawned and padded out of the bedroom. Kelso stopped and stared. "That's a good look for you Jackie."

She looked down at the shirt that barely reached her thighs. "God Michael, it's too early to start joking." She pushed her hair out of her face and went to hug Eric.

Kelso looked out of their balcony and grinned;, the sky was bright and clear and he was more excited than a seven year old boy. "We need to go to breakfast so you gotta call the driver. I want to be the first in line at the park. Brooke's getting Betsy dressed and her mom needs coffee. I think she's a little hung over."

"I think we'll all fit in one limo if we try or do you want me to get a second limo just in case?"

Kelso pursed his lips. "You better get two, Rhonda doesn't want to sit with Samantha and I don't think Brooke does either. Yeah, get both."

"Okay, I'll have them here in an hour, is that good?"

Kelso smiled, "Awesome! I'll see you downstairs!" Kelso let the door slam as he ran back in his underwear.

Eric held Jackie away from him and said, "That is a good look for you. Got some time to watch a few commercials before we shower?"

She looked at him and said, "We could always shower together…."

*

The two white limousines were in the parking lot gleaming in the hot Florida sunshine. Hyde was lounging against the doors of car one waiting for the rest of the crew to get downstairs. Kelso was running Betsy through the parking lot over his head like she was an airplane. Hyde followed Kelso in the limo followed by grandma and Samantha. "Where's everyone else?"

Kelso replied, "Oh, they want to ride with Jackie so we get to stretch out." Samantha sighed, "Oh, thank god, they are so boring. It'll just be the five of us. I hope it's a champagne breakfast."

Kelso looked at her like she was dim. "We're going for pancakes. I don't think there'll be any champagne involved."

Hyde looked at Sam who was getting ready to rant like a customer forgot to tip her. "Sam, I'll buy some booze before we get to the park." He promised.

Fez was quick to point out the pancake restaurant and the limo pulled into the parking lot as everyone squeezed out to get a breakfast. While they waited for a couple of tables to be readied, Hyde slipped out to run to a nearby liquor store. By the time he came back, the group was seated and Samantha was delegated to a chair away from the group. Hyde said nothing but slipped some vodka in her orange juice.

He listened to their inane chatter until he thought he would go crazy. "Are all of you mental? You're acting like you're in elementary school. Be grown ups for gods sake, you're embarrassing me!"

Kelso glared at his old friend. "Mental? Dude, how old are you? 23 – 24? When did you get so old? You act like your 50! Dude we are going to Disneyworld. - The freaking happiest place on earth. If we want to act our age, then shut up about it."

Fez felt inclined to add, "Hyde, did Vegas jade you so much you forgot how to have fun?"

Samantha threw her blonde hair over her shoulder, "Nothing is half as much fun as playing slots or poker in a casino!"

Rhonda added, "Or, maybe it's more fun sliding down a greasy pole in a strip club." Realizing what she had said, she quickly covered her mouth. Jackie bit her lip trying not to laugh. Eric looked at Brooke whose shoulders were quaking with laugher.

Grandma spoke up, "Young man, have you gotten your gray hairs already?"

That was it; the core group broke out in maniacal laughter. Jackie wiped tears from her eyes from laughing so hard. Hyde looked at each of them and slid back in his seat and sulked behind his sunglasses. "Whatever!" His standard reply just caused more squeals of laughter than he intended as Samantha sat there trying to get a clue about what everyone was laughing about.

*

Kelso's day must have been scripted just for him. The first costumed character he met was Goofy who obligingly stood there and posed for ten minutes of camera photos. Kelso and Betsy got matching Mickey Mouse Ear hats and Fez found the giant coiled lollipops. Grandma rented a stroller so Michael and Brooke would have time spend together.

Jackie reminded everyone about the shuttle departures and that the limo would be back at six that night to pick them up - If they were late, then no dinner with Donna. Everyone had a map of the park and Jackie recommended they all meet at Fantasyland at two just to make sure no one was lost or injured. It was very obvious everyone had a destination so she waved good bye and the group split off in six different directions.

Eric took Jackie's hand and pulled her under the shade of a large tree. "So Missy, are you done being an event coordinator for awhile?" She smiled at his happy face. "Yes, I'm free until 2:00 o'clock, why do you ask?" He wrapped his hands around her waist. "Well…because I want to take my girlfriend on Big Thunder Mountain!"

"Oh, I'm definitely not working now!" she said excitedly.

*

A miracle happened by 2:00 o'clock that day. Steven Hyde actually smiled. His face didn't crack and he wasn't wasted. He had discovered Space Mountain. The moment he boarded the ride in Space Port and passed the Control booth his space car started a downward slope.

He barely had time to catch his breath when the car went into a series of flashing blue lights and a hum that kept getting louder and then an abrupt turn that threw him back against the seat as the car started climbing a steep hill. He could only utter, "Cool."

Better than a Star Wars movie, he saw comets and meteors and asteroids and suddenly he was plunging in darkness speeding through wormholes and felt like he was higher than any circle session he could remember.

He rode Space Mountain six times and smiled.

*

Fez took Rhonda to "It's a Small World" on the premise of making out in a dark tunnel. However, once on the floating ride, he found that of the hundreds of brightly costumed singing dolls, some of them resembled children from his home country.

He was delighted with the singing dolls and this easily became his favorite song and he longed for home. Fantasyland became his new other home. Rhonda liked the ride because her feet were tired of walking through the park and it was nice sitting with Fez in the rocking boat.

*

Eric and Jackie were near the front of the line and the sound of the train whistle was exciting, the squeal of the train's brakes on the metal tracks was reminiscent of an old western movie. The happy pair boarded the ride and grinned at each other in anticipation. The ride began with a jerk and they entered a dark tunnel with only the sounds of cave bats to hear.

Jackie gripped Eric's hand as the train started a slow uphill climb and then turned and dropped them suddenly. The ride started a crazy spiral downward turn like the inside of a funnel.

Jackie caught her breath when the train slowed as they moved on the tracks through an abandoned mining town. There were some bumpy hops and the train swayed crazily as they left the old town. At the top of Davy Jones Mine, Eric saw a huge drop they were about to make and although he wasn't afraid of heights, he could feel his stomach clench.

They passed through an earthquake and crested a hill where the ride plunged them into daylight and they dropped through the bone yard and geysers of water sprayed them as they pulled back into the station. Although the ride was only a little over three minutes in duration, Eric felt like he was there for hours.

Jackie grabbed his hand and smiling they got back in line for a second and third ride. This was a great way to start the day!

*