A/N: I just couldn't do it. In the last chapter, I couldn't write Hyde cheating on Jackie with the closeness they've developed it seems more plausible to go this way and it doesn't make me feel sick. I'm so excited with how everyone's reacting to the story, it's making me eager to write more.

Forman's Basement

July 4, 197?

10 months ago

The basement is empty with the exception of the two who were more lovers now than friends or enemies. It is silent except for the sounds of the television screening reruns of The Price is Right fighting to be louder than the muffled moans that escape through the small gap between their lips as they unwillingly part for air.

Jackie straddles Steven, who's sitting on his chair. One strong hand holds her back close to his chest, resting underneath the hem of her shirt. The other cups the back of her neck, his fingers tangle in her hair. That strength in his grasp is almost too much as he's pulling her in as closely as he can.

"Hmm Steven," she moans against his lips as she tastes his tongue inside her mouth. He tastes of smoke and beer, usually that'd be a turn off. If it were Michael she wouldn't kiss him twice, but with Steven it was a taste she craved.

He lifts her up as he stands, her feet hook on each other behind his back. He wants to carry her somewhere where he can be on top, in the dominant position. Ideally, that'd be his cot where he could pin her to the mattress and ravage her body the way he is dying to. Or even the couch but he couldn't risk taking things too far.

He sets her down on the freezer, his lips never break away from hers. Not until she forces him away. "Steven, these last few weeks with you have been really dirty and really wrong."

"Jackie, talking is for people who have something in common."

"Shut up." She bites back at him before placing a light kiss on his lips. "As I was saying before being so rudely interrupted, is that maybe we shouldn't let things stop here."

"Jackie, we can't do that." He takes a step away from her.

"Why not? You're not exactly a virgin, you screw and dump random chicks more often than Eric can bring up star wars."

"But not you."

Jackie scoffs and hops up off the freezer shaking her head at the immature jerk in front of her. She fixes her shirt and readjusts her jeans while he just stares at her.

"Jacks, you're not just some random chick, okay? You're Kelso's chick."

"Steven! You did not just say that. Michael ran across the country to get away from me. I am not his chick." Her voice was stern and cold. He got quiet and just watches as she heads towards the door. "I like where things are going with you. It's good, Steven, things are good. Let me know when you quit being such a coward."

She opens the basement door and takes two only steps outside before Steven's hand blocks the door from shutting behind her. She watches his face, his bare eyes. "Steven, what are you doing?"

"Shut up." He say softly and playfully as he bends down a swipes her off her feet and into his arms. "Let's not talk, now." He cradles her and makes his way back into the basement, cursing that momentary spark of bravery but knowing that standing at his bedside with her in his arms is exactly where he wants to be.

Water Tower

Fez steps foot on the water tower first leading Hyde and Kelso behind him. Hyde looks over Point Place and for the first time he's seeing it through Jackie's eyes. He can see Paris in the small town lights. He used to hate the thought of living in a small town because it becomes an expectation that you live your life a certain way. You get married and you have children, you have the good job and you raise a good family. That's what you do in a small town but that was never the future he imagined for himself and so he hated looking over Point Place. Except now, now he can see Paris.

"The sacred senior prank. Vandalizing the water tower, I've been waiting for this since the last time we vandalized the water tower."

"So I brought Jackie some of those candy hearts today, the ones that say be mine."

Hyde looks over at Kelso, his eyes rolling. He had started getting headaches from rolling his eyes so much. "Where'd you find any of those? Valentines was months ago."

"I had some left over. Point is that she threw them at me. Can you believe that? She threw them at my back as I was walking out the door."

"I absolutely believe that." Hyde smiles, "man, it's been a year give it up already."

"No, I've never stopped loving her."

"You stopped loving her long enough to screw Laurie, Pam Macy, and Annette. Who else am I forgetting?"

"Oh there were many more." Kelso brags not realizing he's contradicting his previous statements.

"Whatever."

Hyde just turns his back on his friends sort of wishing he had stayed home. Jackie is in his room right now, laying in his bed waiting for him to come home to her. Closing his eyes he can see her tanned legs and her sweet smile as she stands in only his black Led Zeppelin T-shirt. Jackie told him he had to come out tonight or else he'd be home right now. "What would people think if resident bad boy, Steven Hyde, chose against vandalism?" That's what she said to him. So here he was. Spending time with Kelso was getting harder. He is his best friend but the strain is there and Kelso doesn't realize it, that's not his fault.

He turns around to see Kelso standing on the railing, "Kelso, man, what are you writing?"

"Michael + Jackie." Hyde frogs Kelso's shoulder before he can stop to control his actions. "Ow! What the hell, man? You have gotten so much more violent this year." Kelso reaches for his shoulder but is thrown off balance and Hyde and Fez watch him topple to the ground beneath them.

"Damn it!"

"Kelso are you okay?" Fez hollers.

"I think I fell."

Hyde starts crawling down the ladder, "I'm going to take him to the hospital."

Forman's Basement

The Day Before Graduation

3:30 pm

"My last American popsicle followed by my last American grape soda."

"Fez, it's sad you're getting deported but this last American crap is getting real annoying." Hyde spat out his words from across the room where he sit in his chair.

"Well, if someone hadn't left me on the water tower alone then this wouldn't be a problem. This is my last American chance to annoy you."

Donna comes into the basement excited and cheerful. She passes by Fez and Kelso to sit by Eric on the couch. "Eric guess what came for you?"

"They just send those to me Donna, I don't even find those girls attractive."

"No you perv, it's our keys to our apartment in Madison. Now, we can move in right after graduation."

Donna and Eric moving to Madison, that's one thing Hyde never expected to actually happen. Those two were always bickering about one thing or another and their problems never seem to really get solved. He couldn't picture them making it to the alter or moving in. Somehow though he couldn't see them apart.

"Great, by this time next week, our new neighbors will be hearing our your cries of love through our extremely thin walls."

Hyde smirks, "cries of love or cries of disappointment?" Eric gives him a look that makes Hyde smile. "Hey you've slept in the basement before, I'm sure you've heard actual cries of love. There's a difference, yes?"

"Difference, sure. Me and Donna, then there's you and random whore."

Hyde doesn't engage with Forman's attempt at bashing him because he and Donna can't even hold a candle to what he has with Jackie and so he just smiles. Somedays he wishes he could just keep her in his arms even after they all walk through the door and somedays he's terrified of what'll happen if they walk through the door and she's still in his arms.

"Fez, look, we're going camping tonight and we'll all be together for one last big blowout."

"True. Well I'm off to spend the last of my American money on candy and porno."

"But, Fez."

"I said candy and porno." His foreign friend practically skips out the door.

The Lake

2:45 am

There's something about the way the lake looks when the moon shines down, gleaming, reflecting off the calm surface of the water. Above them the dark sky is completely clear and the stars just glisten. He approaches from between the trees on the barely clear path to see her sitting right where she said she'd be. Sitting on the boulder with her legs clutched to her chest, she is humming some soft melody to herself, just slightly out of tune. He's heard it before but doesn't know what it is.

She sees him coming closer and practically hops into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. "I've been waiting for you."

"Sorry, that lady of the lake story really freaked Kelso out, and we can't find Fez anywhere."

"That sounds like a problem for momma Donna, and papa Eric to solve, not you."

"Momma Donna, and papa Eric? Really?" Steven stops kissing Jackie's cheeks to question her choice in words.

"Yes, they've designated themselves mom and dad years ago. They lecture us, get disappointed in us and believe they're in charge of us and should always know everything going on in our lives all the time. Plus I can guarantee you, when they all find out about us, Donna and Eric will be the first to yell." She kisses him light between every other words through her sentences.

"No, you're wrong. It's going to be Kelso. With the 'Damn Jackie,' and 'Ow my eye!'"

"You plan on hitting Michael?" Jackie and Steven fall backwards to lay in the dewey grass. Her head rests in the crook of his shoulder.

"I've been hitting that moron all year."

"I've noticed. Maybe it's time you stop now."

"I can't Jacks, he pisses me off. Always trying to steal my girl."

Jackie leans up to stare down into Steven's crystal blue eyes. "Steven. He can try all he wants but at the end of the day it's still my decision. I am your girl, Michael isn't going to change that."

"Okay." He says softly, lifting his head to taste her lips.

"So stop hitting the moron before you hurt your hand. We need this hand," she nibbles on his fingertips. "I need this hand."

Steven senses the change in vibe in her voice and the way she moves and kisses. She's sultry, electrifying, intriguing in every way. His hands find the soft curves of her hips and with a playful force pulls her up onto his lap. Her soft giggles, enchanting laughter turns into soft moans as he pushes her softly onto his not so soft lap.

"Oh, Steven…"

The Lake

5:45 am

The sun begins to peek through the horizon, rays dance warmly through the trees. She awakes to the soft light on her eyelids and turns to the barely clothed and strapping man holding her closely to his chest. She loves him so much that her chest aches as she stares at him. How could she have been so blind for all those years? Oh right, Michael. That big doofus is like a pair of foggy goggles, clouding her from seeing anything true. Now though she sees everything real, feels everything, and it is amazing. He's amazing.

She finds her shirt and jeans and starts squirming her way into them. She finds Steven's clothing and tosses them onto his chest, startling him. "Hey, sleepyhead. You've got to wake up before the others notice we've been gone." Jackie grabs Steven's wrist and checks the time, "5:53, yeah we've got to get up."

"Calm down, Doll. Nobody knows where we are or cares for that matter." Steven pulls on his own pants and notices the way Jackie is watching the small ripple in the waves. He walks up behind her, his shirt still unbuttoned and lifts her up and spins her around. "You want to dance?"

"You don't like dancing and there's no music."

"You were gonna ask, I know, I could see it in your eyes." He takes her hands and wraps them around his neck and places his hands on her hips swaying her bare feet into the water.

"Nights in white satin Never reaching the end Letters I've written Never meaning to send Beauty I'd always missed With these eyes before Just what the truth is I can't say any more 'Cause I love you Oh how I love you Gazing at people, some hand in hand Just what I'm going through they can't understand Some try to tell me, thoughts they cannot defend Just what you want to be, you will be in the end And I love you Yes I love you"

He sang slowly, softly with less rhythm than a song usually requires and as they sway softly in the cold tide, Jackie smiles up at him recognizing the song as the one she had been humming earlier. "Steven Hyde sings?"

"Yeah, not often. I knew I knew the song just finally found the words." He kisses her forehead, "come on we need to get back to camp."

Forman's Driveway

5:00 pm

So he had missed his own graduation and Mrs. Forman is furious with him. She demanded that they all be back here at five 'o clock sharp and so here he is. Steven zips up his graduation gown and starts messing around with his cap. These things are ridiculous, how is he expected to wear this.

"Look at you, all handsome." Jackie sits on the back bumper of the thoroughly packed vista cruiser.

"I look ridiculous."

"Steven, you're graduating. You're a grown up. You can look ridiculous one last time. Now put on your cap, it's picture time." Steven looks at Jackie in fresh clothing and her hair is freshly cleaned, smelling unbelievably delicious. He takes his cap and adjusts it on her head.

"There. Perfect."

"Alright, alright, picture time. Everybody in front of the car." Mrs. Forman comes running out of her home to gather her children.

"Hey, Forman I got you a plant for your new apartment," Steven pats Eric on his shoulder as he moves into position for the picture. "I just can't give it to you in front of your parents." He hugs his brother, still not quite able to imagine him being gone.

"Okay, here we go… wait, wait." Kitty walks up to the kids and the position of the five standing by the hood. She grabs Kelso first from the very and forces him to stand to the side. Sliding Eric in next to Donna, Kitty stands back and looks at the group. "One more thing," she pulls Jackie to the other side of the car and pushes the small girl right up against Steven. "There, that's good. Alright feet in close everyone. One, two…"

Fez came running up from the garage entrance with Laurie in tow. They hadn't seen either of them since midnight at the campsite. Hyde had assumed that Laurie had dropped her standards way lower than ever before. "Guys, I have something to tell you."

Kitty was ready for her pictures and shoos Fez to stand next to Jackie. "Just talk while you pose."

Red piles the last box of Eric's things on the roof of the vista cruiser as Kitty takes her picture. All the kids gathered in together for maybe the last time for awhile. Steven wraps his arm around Jackie's waist and pulls her in close. He's a grown up now, with adult decisions to make. It terrifies him but at least he has her by his side.

"Alright, smile."

"Alright, tell them Laurie."

"I married Fez, so he could stay in the country!"

"You What?!" Red's face is one of pure horror and shock. Unable to process the abomination that just unfolded in front of his face. His little kitten is married to Haji.

"Don't worry Daddy, I don't love him or anything. I was just bored."

"Yeah, but we will be sleeping together."

"You…oh," Red clutches his arm over come with shooting, excruciating pain. He stumbles backwards towards his home. "Oh…ooh."

"Dad, are you alright?"

"Yeah… I'm fine."

"No, no Red, honey, I think you're having a heart attack." Kitty puts her hand to his forehead and chest as her worry grows. Michael get a chair, Laurie call an ambulance please sweetie. Red you need to sit."

Kitty sat with Red waiting for the ambulance to arrive, she's monitoring his heart rate look the nurse she was trained to be. Steven sat on the hood of the vista cruiser just waiting anxiously. Jackie sees him sitting over there, his foot tapping away. Red was the first real father Steven's ever had and she knew this must be killing him.

Point Place Hospital

There are more than one type of tiredness. A drive for sleep, for peace, for loneliness, for an end. Somehow right now Steven wanted them all. How is he supposed to be substantial if he barely casts a shadow in time? Red is the strongest man, the best man, Steven knows. He's a good person, that's supposed to be the difference but somehow there's still this helplessness.

He sits in the hospital waiting room chair for the second time in only months, hoping for the best. He can't take it anymore. The silence or the worries, he didn't know exactly, he just couldn't take it anymore. He abruptly makes his way outside and turns the corner and just collapses against the wall of the building. He slips down the bricks and pulls his knees to his chests.

He can barely hold in the hurt that feels as though its pressing outwards from his chest, as if to explode. Jackie comes around the corner and sees Steven in a pile on the concrete. Jackie knows and has seen Steven hurt and upset before but never quite like this. Steven isn't just tolerant to pain or pain resistant, but prides himself on being pain defiant.

Emotional pain has a biological purpose, to teach, to educate us away from unhealthy patterns and relationships. Steven's been pushing back against pain for so long, medicating with friendship, with unreal one night stands, yet it returns in his weaker moments, devastating his mind. To keep repeating this pattern will only prolong it, keep the pain underneath when in truth it must rise. He's been straying from his pattern this last year and for once it felt safer but now it hurts. Loving somebody puts you at risk of hurting when they leave but it's better to have loved and lost than to never love at all. Though he will be weaker in the moment, he will be stronger afterward.

He clutches his arms closely to his chest. Examining the invisible scars and the very real ones on his skin. "Steven, he's going to be okay. Just breathe, in and out." She can hear the hyperventilation as he struggles to get air into his chest or keep from crying and just breaking down. "He's going to be okay." She wraps him in her arms and just holds him until he can calm down. "It's going to be okay."