Author Notes: Everyone needs a kick in the ass sometimes but once in a while they also deserve a second chance…..even Hyde
Chapter 50 – A New Start
Red and Kitty Forman were having lunch and talking about the party when there was a knock at the patio door. Kitty looked and it was Steven. "Why doesn't the dumbass just walk in like usual?" Red grumbled.
Kitty smiled at her husband and went to open the door. "Steven, you were gone again last night." He kissed Kitty's head. "I know but I want to introduce you to someone." Hyde was holding hands with a lovely young girl.
Red turned around and recognized the woman from last night's wedding. "This is Annie Morgan." He stepped aside and continued, "And this is her daughter Jessie. Annie is the girl I've been dating."
Kitty looked at the shy little girl and does what any mother would do. "Would you like a cookie?" Hyde turned to Red. "Red you may have heard of Roger Morgan?"
Red sat up, 'Well yes I have, and he was an excellent transmission repair guy. But didn't he get in an accident?"
Annie stepped in, "Yes, I was pregnant with Jessie when Roger was killed. It's fate – Roger and Estefan were good friends and after all this time, we meet again."
Kitty smiled. "Wow, and you work with Jackie – what a small world Point Place is." Jessie climbed up on Red's lap and offered him a bite of cookie. "Mija, no. Get off of Mr. Forman's lap."
Jessie pouted and Red melted. "Aw, she can stay. Betsy does this all the time."
"Red Forman, you are such a softie." Kitty chided. Annie smiled and sat at the table as Kitty poured a cup of coffee. "Mrs. Forman, I will be planning your son's wedding."
Red and Kitty looked nervously at Hyde expecting some kind of reaction but were shocked when nothing happened. "I'm going to talk to Eric and apologize for the shit I gave him." Annie gasped and put her hand over his mouth. "Estefan, little ears can hear bad words!"
"Er – I'm going to apologize for how poorly I treated him in the past. I wasn't a very good friend." He looked at Annie for her mom-approval of his improved language.
Red was impressed with Annie – even Red Forman would never stick his hand over Steven Hyde's mouth! Kitty laughed, "Steven – Estefan…what do we call you?" Hyde grinned. "I'm changing my life and I like either one. Besides it's just a name!"
Red looked at Hyde to see if this was a joke but there was no blasé stare or aviator glasses to hide behind. "I guess you are growing up Steven. What motivated you?"
Hyde looked at Kitty. "It was a little bit of fate, karma and some good advice from Mrs. Forman."
*
Epilogue:
The club was packed with old and new patrons. Kelso and Fez brought over the beers and the girls went over to make their song requests. The new Mr. and Mr. Kelso paid for the pizza and everybody was toasting to friends and lovers.
Rhonda had proposed to Fez who accepted immediately. Eric finally bought Jackie an official engagement ring though she was reluctant to give back the class ring for sentimental reasons.
The DJ called out the name of the next karaoke singer and the group sat back and watched him jump on the stage, blinded by the lights. The guitars and horns played slowly in the background and the drums kept a constant beat so the singer could have the rhythm to fall back on. He pointed at the audience and yelled, "Annie Morgan – this is for you doll!
Steven Hyde put on his most Mick Jagger-like face and launched into You Can't Always Get What You Want and as any first time singer he was just horrible.
And you can't always get what you want,
Honey, you can't always get what you want.
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, yeah,
You just might find you get what you need!
Jackie grinned at Annie, "He's just awful!" Annie smiled, "I know! He sings this all the time but look at how much fun he's having."
Kelso looked up and said, "Who stepped on the cat?" Fez and Rhonda laughed. "Yeah, he's gotta find his song."
Eric bumped shoulders with Annie. "Welcome to the basement gang Annie – we go for breakfast tomorrow – join us?"
Jackie's diamond sparkled in the club lights and Annie Morgan knew that only good karma happened to this group of friends.
Hyde stumbled from the stage through the rush of the applause and accolades of his peers, his face in pain from grinning so much.
"We'll be there." Annie smiled.
*
A/N: Wow! Almost 50 full chapters – a personal best! Seriously thanks to all you readers that hung in there with me. It was very hard to find a good ending without adding new characters or an extra storyline. I hope you enjoyed my writing style and yes, I always have some kind of theme but I do it for my own entertainment.
Thanks for the reviews and critiques and the support. Hopefully you'll still be there when I get ready to start a new story.
Marla