As promised, here is an early update!

Disclaimer: That 70's Show is not, has never been and will never be owned by me. A moment of silence please…

Dedication:

To my little bug, that wouldn't let me go to sleep until I wrote this chapter down.

The Steadfast Club

Hyde found Kelso sitting inside the Rolls Royce when he went into the garage. When he first looked around he noticed the blue Firebird that looked like it badly needed a paintjob. Four garage doors down, he found the black Rolls Royce. As he walked up to it he saw Kelso sitting in the driver's seat, his head down in thought.

Hyde knocked on the window. Kelso looked up, expressionless, and pushed a button to bring the window down.

"You mind?" Hyde gestured at the passenger seat. Kelso responded by unlocking the doors. Hyde slipped in and shut the door. He wasn't quite sure what to say. In his head the plan was for Kelso to speak first and he would just go off that, but Kelso wasn't saying anything. He just looked down at his bandaged hand.

Since Jackie had dropped the news on Hyde he'd been trying to find the right words to say to Kelso.

"That was a good punch," he looked at Kelso through his peripherals.

Kelso laughed weakly, "Yeah, I should've gone for the eye."

"Look man, I'm real sorry about what happened."

"It wasn't your fault. Wasn't worth it anyway," Kelso lifted up his bandaged hand.

They sat in silence again until Kelso spoke. "Why'd you leave without saying goodbye?"

Hyde sighed, because he knew at least one of them would ask this question and he didn't really want to be honest about it. He settled for a half-truth. "Because, I probably wouldn't have gone through with it. I probably would've stayed."

Kelso nodded. "It was tough without you. Brooke's mom wanted to take Betsy away from me at first."

"She what?"

"Yeah, there was almost this whole custody thing. I wasn't responsible enough to take care of her on my own."

"I'm sorry, man."

Kelso leaned back in the driver's seat. "Jackie helped though. She talked to Carol, I don't really know what she said to her but next thing I know she moved to Chicago." Kelso sat up and put his good hand on his chest, his voice pitched higher, "Michael, as Betsy's godmother she is my responsibility too. Someone has to make sure you don't screw up."

"She moved in with you?" Hyde fought not to turn in his seat to face Kelso. He preferred to look straight ahead at the garage door. "How'd Fez take it?"

"Take what? They broke up after three weeks but they're still joined at the hip. He moved up here a few months after Jackie did."

Jackie and Fez had broken up after Hyde left. The pressure in his chest instantly released. What did Kelso mean, joined at the hip? That didn't sound all that much better.

"Are you and uh," Hyde cleared his throat, still looking ahead, "Are you and Jackie back together again?"

Hyde could hear Kelso's booming laugh, "No, that would never work. Good-looking people can't be together. There's no balance."

He felt Kelso's stare on the side of his face. He knew what Kelso was searching for and he also knew that if he let Kelso look at his eyes he would find the answer. He wasn't ready to let anyone know yet, though. Things were way different that he had expected them to be. He needed to tread carefully.

"How's Betsy?"

Kelso smiled and looked at him. It was then Hyde saw something that he'd been suspecting since Jackie had talked to him. There was age in Kelso's eyes; he could still see some of the playfulness, a bit of the mischief that made him Kelso, but it was weighed down. This change freaked him out the most, probably more than seeing Jackie in a mechanic's shirt.

"She's great. She's so smart, man," Kelso's smile grew, "like Brooke. She's smarter than all the other kids in her class. And she gets the most Valentine's Day cards. Just like her daddy."

Hyde laughed. Maybe he wasn't too different. When he stopped laughing he noticed Kelso was staring at him.

"What?" he asked.

"You're all," Kelso gestured at him with his hands, "light and stuff."

"Yeah, I keep gettin' that," he scratched his head and Kelso laughed. "What?"

"You're a puff ball," Kelso pulled a long curl from Hyde' s head.

Hyde slugged him on the arm. "Ow!" Kelso rubbed his shoulder, "I missed this."

When Hyde and Kelso walked back into the shop's lobby everyone ran up to them.

"We thought you guys had killed each other," Donna reached them.

"My money was on Hyde," Forman stood beside Donna, "Yeah you're all bones but you could've picked up the Vulcan death grip or something on the road. "

"Hey…" Kelso looked at him and grinned, "You're the skinny one now!" he laughed like a doofus. Hyde punched his arm again.

"Ow! Eric's still weaker, though." Forman punched his other arm. "Never mind," he winced, "What is wrong with you guys? I am injured!"

Kelso placed his police cap back on and made his way to one of the round tables. Jackie, without saying a word to Hyde, followed suit.

"Here," Donna fell in step with him as they walked further into the lobby. Eric and Kelso were already seated at one of the round tables near the jukebox. Donna handed him a rubber band, "Jackie said she was getting paranoid just looking at it."

"Gee, thanks," He took the rubber band and tried to tie his hair back. Now he was going to look like one of those biker douche bags. Hyde glanced outside. It was beginning to get dark and a tiny figure in bright clothes was running towards the entrance. The bell above the door jingled and Fez flew in, past everyone and went to Jackie.

Fez's outfit hurt Hyde's vision- bright white pants and a shirt that had random triangles thrown everywhere in colors that made no sense. It looked like teal, faded pink and blue had thrown up on his shirt.

"Jackie! I got your message about the kitty and the trampoline, where is it?" Fez held Jackie's hands in his. Jackie rolled her eyes.

"Fezzie, when is there ever really a kitty on a trampoline?"

"Yeah, I fell for that one last month," Kelso called from his seat.

"You guys are still falling for it?" Forman sat down across from Kelso.

"You just wait and see, " Fez narrowed his eyes, "one day… there will be a kitty on a trampoline. And then who'll laugh? Me! That's who!"

"Hey Fez," Donna called from beside Hyde, "Check it out."

Fez turned his head and gasped. He dropped Jackie's hands and walked towards him, his hands raised to his mouth.

"Can it be?" he whispered once he reached Hyde. He pressed one finger against Hyde's shoulder and gasped again. Fez engulfed him in a massive hug. Hyde was strangely comforted by the fact Fez's hugs still made him uncomfortable. Hyde lightly patted his back before letting go, but Fez's hands landed on his shoulders and push him back with force.

"I told you to never leave me again, you son of a bitch!" Fez smacked his arm.

"Sorry, Fez," he smiled.

"Awwwww!" everyone at the table laughed.

"Shut up."

Fez moved to the table and sat next to Kelso. When Hyde reached the table he noticed he had two options. He could either sit in between Donna and Fez or he could sit between Forman and Kelso.

"Where's Jackie?" he asked. He eyed the lobby in search of the black cowboy hat.

"She had to take a call in the clubhouse," Eric rested his arm on the back of Donna's seat.

"But don't worry, she'll be back soon," Donna grinned at him as Kelso and Fez's stares landed on his face. That made the decision for him. He ignored Donna's teasing and sat between her and Fez - and stepped on her foot beneath the table..

"Ow!"

"Oops," Hyde matched her previous grin. "Sorry about that."

His chair was facing the counter, and he spotted Chibs walking toward them, carrying a jar of bills. He placed the jar in the middle of the table and went to the entrance to turn off the open sign. On his way back to the counter he muttered, "Pizza'll be here in a bit."

"Gonna join us tonight, Chibs?" Eric asked.

"Can't," Chibs kept walking, not missing a step, "Missus is makin' me favorite." He disappeared into the back entrance.

Everyone at the table started shuffling with their pockets. Kelso took out two dollars and placed them inside the jar, Fez followed and Eric placed four bills inside the jar while Donna lightly smacked his arm.

"What's this for?" Hyde asked.

"Funds," Kelso answered and reach backed into his pocket, "I'll put in two for you."

"Funds for what?"

"Jackie's annual auto show," Donna looked at him.

"Her what?" Hyde sat up straight.

"We gotta put it back on the counter before Jackie comes back," Eric picked up the jar and got up from his seat.

"Jackie's been doing this small auto show here at the garage for the past two years," Donna leaned towards him, "It's her way of trying to get the board for the Chicago Auto Show's attention. She hasn't been invited yet but you know Jackie, she's determined."

Jackie's boots made light thuds when she reentered the lobby. She was carrying a pizza box. She placed it on the table and pulled out a set of keys as she walked to the soda machine. She opened up the front of the machine and inside were towers of soda cans.

"What'll it be?" she asked over her shoulder.

"Tab!" Eric and Donna said in unison and Jackie tossed two at them.

"Orange!" Kelso raised his hand and caught the can Jackie threw.

"I want Coke!" Fez clapped.

"I don't have the original, just the new Coke."

Fez made a face, "I'll take Tab."

"I can't really tell the difference," Kelso popped open his pop.

"Are you kidding? New Coke is so obviously inferior," Fez caught his can.

Jackie glanced over her shoulder at Hyde, "So?" she asked, "You want anything?"

"Whatever's fine," he shrugged.

She locked the vending machine back up and placed two Sprite cans on the table. Then she took her seat and leaned her chin on her hand. The rest of the gang was already digging into the pizza. Hyde opened his soda and watched as she drummed her fingers against her cheek. She still had that cowboy hat on and it was creating a shadow over eyes so he couldn't read her properly.

"What's wrong?" Donna asked as she took a bite out of her pizza. The smell of tomato sauce and pepperoni reached Hyde and sent a violent rumble through his stomach. He hadn't eaten since breakfast at the Formans. He grabbed a slice and bit into it. He had to keep his eyes from rolling back into his head. How long had it been since he'd eaten pizza? Why had he ever abandoned such kickass foods like this?

Jackie rubbed her eyes, "The band cancelled. Turns out they got a paying gig and now I have no act for the show this weekend."

"What?" Fez puffed his chest, "Those bastards!"

"I can't blame them," Jackie ignored her slice of pizza, "I'd pick a paying job over a free one."

"Still," Eric leaned forward, "Days before the show? That sucks."

"What am I going to do?" Jackie whined. She rested her head on the table and covered her head with her arms. Donna wrapped an arm around Jackie. Kelso patted her shoulder with one hand while his other lead his pizza slice into his mouth.

"This is a nightmare," Jackie raised her head, "between this and that stupid pile of useless metal that came in today-"

"The El Camino?" Hyde said with his mouth full.

"That heap is yours?" Jackie stared at him.

"Yeah," Hyde swallowed his pizza. "So watch it."

"Why did you bring it here? You should've taken it to a junk yard."

"I should've what?" Hyde put down his pizza.

"Now I have to figure out how to get that junk out of here." Jackie leaned back into her seat and crossed her arms.

"Junk?" Hyde fought hard to not let the anger show in his voice, "Can't you just fix it?"

"Fix it?" Jackie's eyes went wide, "There's nothing left to fix! Not only is the engine shot to hell but there's no hope left for the frame."

"Come on, Jackie," He searched her eyes, "There's gotta be something you can do."

"You'd be better off buying a new car. She's past fixing," she opened her can of soda.

"Bullshit," Hyde clenched his fist.

Jackie leaned forward and looked Hyde directly in the eyes, "I'm a professional, don't contradict me."

Silence loomed over the table. Everyone had forgotten their pizzas and looked from Hyde to Jackie, just waiting for one of them to make a move. Instead, the phone behind the counter rang.

"I'll get it!" Eric shot up from his seat and ran towards it.

Hyde took a deep breath, "Look, Jackie… please. I need you to fix her, I'll pay anything."

"It'd be cheaper if you bought a new one," Jackie took a sip of her soda.

"Jackie!" Eric came back to the table; "There's a Keith on the phone for you."

Jackie shot up from her seat but Donna grabbed her arm. Jackie used her other arm to smack her.

"Ow! Let go of me, you goon!"

"No, I won't let you do this to him," Donna pulled at her belt.

"I'm not. Doing. Anything," Jackie growled as she pushed on Donna's shoulder.

"He's too sweet for this, Jackie," Donna pleaded and wrapped her arm around Jackie's tiny waist.

"I told you," Jackie tried to pull away, "I'm not doing anything." She bent forward and Hyde could see Jackie bite into Donna's shoulder.

"Ow! You bitch!" Donna let go and rubbed her shoulder. Jackie ran behind the counter. "He doesn't deserve this!" Donna yelled after her.

What the hell was that about? And who the hell was Keith?

"So, Hyde," Fez looked up at him, "Where have you been? What have you done?"

"Yeah, how long are you here for?" Kelso asked.

"Whoa," Forman put up a hand, "I thought you were back for good."

"Yeah so did I?" Donna frowned, "Aren't you staying? What gives?"

"Guys," Hyde put up his hands, "Of course I'm staying."

Fez clapped his hands, "Yay! Hyde's back for good!"

"Where did you go?" Kelso took another bite of pizza.

"What did you see?" Donna asked.

"Do you meet many ladies?" Fez waggled his eyebrows.

"Okay," Hyde took a deep breath, "calm down guys. One at a time."

Forman looked at him with a curious stare, "What made you come back?"

Without meaning to, Hyde looked behind their heads and found Jackie. Her back was leaning against the counter, her finger twirled around the telephone cord.

"I was on this mountain in Colorado," he began, his eyes still on Jackie, "It was freakin' tall and it took forever to climb. I started in the morning and made it to the top by nightfall. I climbed a tree, tried to get a better view of the sky. And the stars, man, they were so far out…"

"We hardly do this anymore."

Hyde pulled up the blanket to cover them. His arm was acting as her pillow and she snuggled closer to him. They were lying on the El Camino's flatbed staring up at the sky. She always complained about how uncomfortable it was, but he knew she loved it. Maybe she hadn't complained because she'd spent the day buying matching outfits for Betsy and her.

His hand instinctively went for her head and his fingers combed through her hair.

"We're doing it now," he said in barely a whisper. She reached for his hand resting on his chest and slowly traced shapes into his palm. Her scent mixed with the tress and the grass. They'd done this so may times that he always came to expect the scent of lavender with that of mildew and pine needles.

She kept outlining shapes into his palm. "Hey Steven," she whispered, "guess my secret." She traced letters with her fingers.

"I don't know."

"Guess."

"Hmm, I got nothing." He knew exactly was she was writing. But he always liked it better when she said it.

She got up and leaned on her elbow, and buried her face into his neck. Her lips hovered over his ear, "I love you."

Goose bumps shot from his neck and spread to his spine. No matter how many times he heard it, the reaction was always the same. He couldn't help himself from smiling. "Yeah?"

She raised her head and looked at his eyes, her own smile wide, "Yeah." Her finger lightly stroked his nose, "I love your nose, and your lips," she lightly traced them, "but most all I love your eyes."

"Really?" he arched an eyebrow and his smile grew.

"Did you know they changed colors at night?"

"What?" he chuckled, she said the weirdest things.

"They're Clearwater baby blue during the day," she ran a finger across his eyebrow, "When it's cloudy they're almost grey." Her voice fell into a whisper barely audible over the crickets, "They're most beautiful at night. They're dark blue with a little glint in them just like stars. Like rhinestones on indigo."

He should have told her she was the most radiant thing he'd ever seen, that her hair always felt like silk when he ran his hands through it or that her scent was the closest thing he had to home. If he'd been really honest he should've said the thing he knew she'd been waiting for since their make-up in Forman's driveway.

Instead he pulled her close and met her lips with his. He kissed her with everything he had, hoping somehow she'd understand what he wanted to say but couldn't. He poured as much of himself as he could. He kissed her eyelids, her cheeks, and her temple. He kissed her nose and that little space between her chin and neck. These, I love these. He hoped she understood. He held her tight and kissed her again.

He made love to Jackie Burkhart for the last time.

"And?"

Hyde snapped his eyes back on the gang around the table. Eric, Kelso and Fez were staring at him intently while Donna was smiling into her hand.

"What?" he asked.

"You were in a tree on a mountain in Colorado and what?" Fez said impatiently.

"Oh," Hyde shrugged. " I just…" he remembered the giant stars; the cold air that stung his face and the earthy scent of the mountain.

"Nothing, man. It was time to come home."

UPDATES:

I responded to all the reviews that I could. (Some of them weren't logged on so I couldn't press the reply button but I want you to know I appreciate you!)

The simple fact that you take the time to write a few words means a lot I've been getting a lot of "Story Alert" emails but the reviews make me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Things are about to get fun ;)

- RckNRll Ninja