A/N: Well here it is! Thank you all for your patience it's much appreciated. This chapter is pretty long and takes place over an entire month so I apologize if it feels jumpy. I hope you all like it and please review. Happy Reading!

Forman's Driveway

February 1979

Jackie wanders up the drive to see her boyfriend in one of those long sleeve shirts that he rarely wears but looks so nice in. He's shooting hoops by himself while Eric just watches from his seat on the bumper of the Vista Cruiser. She sneaks up behind him, softly as her dainty feet make little to no noise even in heels, and she snatches the basketball out of his grip and shoots a basket that he tries with little effort to block and of course he fails.

Hyde approaches Jackie in her all denim outfit, wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her in close as Donna walks out of the house.

"Oh, hey, Donna, about this little celibacy kick we're on, does that cover quickies because I can be very quick?"

Hyde gives Jackie a proper hello, a light kiss on her scrumptious lips. Her hands press lightly on his chest. It's a welcomed touch since the bitter breeze had all but numbed his skin under the thin shirt.

He brushes an eyelash off her cheek as Jackie stepped backwards from his embrace. "So… Steven, I think this is the first weekend in a while that we are both completely free. We should do something."

"Yeah, actually I'm supposed to go with the guys to take Kelso up to the Police academy this weekend."

He watches her face fall as her excitement disappears. "Oh, do you have to?"

"I don't have to, but I want to. Alright?"

She wanted badly to tell him no, but she was trying hard to be less controlling and it's not like she really had all that much control on Steven anyways. "Alright fine. I guess I can find something to do with Donna."

"Thank you."

"But Steven," he rolls his eyes and turns to look back at her. "I'm trying really hard to not be one of those girls who demands that you spend time with me, because I know you don't like that. So if you could just realize it on your own."

He smiles and shakes his head at her. "Anything for you, Doll."

Jackie leans up against the bumper of the Cruiser and turns her head, eavesdropping on the other's conversation. Eric's usual whininess catches her attention. It seemed to have gotten worse since their engagement but maybe that too was from the celibacy kick.

"No, Donna. Giving up cigarettes is cleansing, giving up sex is reckless and irresponsible and I think it might cause cancer." Donna just laughs off his little tantrum. "Hyde, man, back me up here."

Hyde drapes his arm over Jackie's shoulder. "Sorry, man, can't do that. Never been an issue."

"Hey, Jackie." Bob catches her attention and she's thankful for the change of subject. "I know since you've moved in we've agreed to give each other messages as soon as possible in the spirit of that, your mom called last week."

Her mother, great. She was probably just calling to say she found a new rich man who was offering to buy her a condo or a car or something else expensive. She had stopped taking her calls in november when she realized she was just another ear at the end of the line. Her mother didn't entirely care that it was her.

"What? Who gave Mexico phones? They'd be better off without them."

"You know, my dad tried to get back in touch with me a little while back. Instead of calling he just left a six-pack in my car." He was speaking in sarcastic humor but the way his hand tightened on her shoulder, Jackie knew the memory hurt.

"How'd you know it was him?" Donna questioned.

"He was passed out on the hood."

"Oh." She nods.

"Well, I don't want to get back in touch with my mother. I want nothing else to do with her. She abandoned me and that's all I need to know."

"Come on Jackie. She just wants to talk to you, you could at least take the call. Right, Hyde? You'd pick up if your mom or dad called you."

"No, I wouldn't."

"Jackie, you should cut your mom a break. I think she's quite charming." Bob agrees with is daughter.

"Wonderful. You can take her calls and if she calls again just tell her I don't want to see or hear from her." If she wasn't talking to Bob Pinciotti she'd probably storm off and leave this awful conversation behind.

"Well, that's too bad, because I just picked up from the airport."

Her eyes widen in utter disbelief. She hasn't seen her mother in over a year and now she's here.

"Here I am." They watch a tan, leggy woman in a bright, seasonally inappropriate dress strut gracefully on heels into the driveway. "Oh I just love making an entrance."

"Mom! What are you doing here?"

"Who cares? Welcome to my driveway, pretty lady." Eric shoves Jackie back against the Cruiser's bumper to greet the infamous Mrs. Burkhart.

"Mrs. Burkhart, Steven Hyde. It's nice to see you again." Jackie watches very pleased to see Steven greets her mother so respectfully. "Just thought I'd let you know that Jackie and I are dating now."

"Didn't you rob our house, before my husband went to jail?"

"Well, I was in there a few times at night. I never took anything." He could recall quite a few nights during that first sumer when he'd sneak into the Burkhart's mansion to see Jackie.

He'd climb up a tree that had a branch that outstretched right up to the hallway window. The first night he had snuck in he'd frightened her and she nearly knocked him out cold.

His boots hit the Burkhart's hardwood floors with a loud squeak. He flinches but slowly makes his way down the hall to Jackie's room. He steps through the crack in the door without budging the old oak any farther open.

Her bed was empty. Her bathroom light was off. He turns slowly around but the cylindrical metal of what feels like a baseball bat crushes into Hyde's spine. He felt the floor in the dark room just before it got darker. He remembered that feeling.

He awoke in a pink fluffy nest of afghan blankets. "Steven! What were you thinking?"

He groaned at the sheer loudness of her voice. "I was thinking I'd surprise you. I didn't think you freak the hell out!"

"Well don't sneak up on me!"

"Well, Doll, I apologize for ever thinking you couldn't take care of yourself." He attempts to sit up but his back feels weak and he falls backwards. "What did you hit me with?"

"A bat. I'm sorry Steven, I really didn't know it was you."

"Whatever. It's cool."

She smiles, "What are you doing here anyways?"

"Well I couldn't sleep." He's apprehensive and rightfully so. Her smile brightens.

"You missed me."

"No that's not it."

"You sure? Because I think you missed me."

"No, Donna and Eric are so happy to be home and I can't listen to them anymore." He watched her stand up.

"Oh, well…I'm sorry but it's late Steven and my parents are just down the hall so maybe you should go. You wouldn't want Red catching you sneaking back in."

"I think I'll hang around just a bit longer."

"Steven, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Jackie."

"Steven."

"Fine, I missed you. Can I stay now?" He folded quickly but Jackie knew just how to get to him. She strolls back, rolling over him to the other side of the bed.

"Well, you can go back to whatever tequila soaked country you flew out of, because I don't want to see you." Jackie's voice pulls Hyde out of his memory.

Donna rolls her eyes. "Come on Jackie, just give her a chance. Your starting to act like a spoiled brat."

"No amount of presents will make up for her absence. If that makes me a spoiled brat then I'll play my part." Jackie runs off in the direction of the basement, cursing the quiver in her voice. She was never sure if Donna meant to push her buttons and she hated that she let her.

"And there's the stomp and cry. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Hyde's Bedroom

"Jackie, open the door." He pounds on his bedroom door, once…twice…and again before it opens and he finds himself almost knocked out of his boots by the tiny, weeping, doll who leaped into arms.

"It's just not fair, Steven."

He lifts her off her feet and takes to her his old chair in the corner and locks the door behind him. "No, it's really not."

"Why do some people get parents like the Forman's or even Bob and we get Edna and Pam."

He brushes some hair out of her eyes. He'd ask himself that same question almost every night as he grew up. It all never made too much sense to him. He didn't believe in a bigger power or fate but he was quiet and observed a lot and came to his own conclusions. "We are given what we can handle. I used to think you were naive and spoiled and weak but Doll you are strong. Eric and Donna couldn't handle what we've dealt with."

"Maybe but that doesn't mean I want to."

"Me neither it would've been nice to grow up with a family like the Forman's but we have them now. You don't have to have anything to do with your mom, just make sure you won't regret it later."

"Do you regret it?" She asks softly expecting him to blow off the question. They've talked only briefly about his parents, it was definitely not his favorite subject.

"I don't know. Somedays I miss my mom and others I remember who she really was. So… yeah I don't know."

She kisses his forehead, "okay. Thanks for following me down here."

"I needed to make sure you were okay." He stands up out of the chair. "Alright, time to cheer you up. Mrs. Forman is throwing a little party tomorrow night it should be as uncomfortable as usual. I'll wear a tie if you smile."

"Deal."

Kelso's House

5:15 pm

"Kelso, man, get in the car. We've got to go!" Hyde hollers towards the front steps of the Kelso's home.

"Geez Hyde, I'm coming!" He walks around to the front seat of the Vista Cruiser but notices the whole front seat is occupied. "You brought Jackie!"

"Of course I brought her. Now get in the back." He did as he was told and the Cruiser makes its way down the highway towards a Police academy that hopefully Kelso wouldn't manage to burn to the ground.

"You know Jackie, I'm so glad your mom's back now. It was getting lonely being the only attractive person in this town."

"Michael!"

"Well, I mean you're hot too but your mom is like…Damn!"

"Kelso! Shut up! That's her mom. Actually this goes for everyone of you, if I hear you flirt with or comment about Pam, I'll pound you. Got it."

"Yeah." Forman, Kelso, and Fez all reply disappointedly.

Forman's Living Room

The Next Day

"Jackie! Stop walking away from me." Donna chases after Jackie as she enters the Forman's Living. Red and Kitty had already started their evening with drinks and Bob should be here any moment with Pam dressed inappropriately at his side.

"No. Donna, I don't believe you. My mother would never date someone as 'Bob-like' as your Dad."

"She is. I walked in on some very unfortunate conversations this morning at breakfast."

Jackie rolls her eyes and takes a seat on the sofa. "Well, then congrats on the new woman in Bob's life. I'm sure the three of you will make a wonderful family."

"You know, you're starting to sound more and more like Hyde everyday."

"Whatever."

"You have to help me, Jackie. Your mom dating my dad goes against all the laws of nature."

Jackie sneaks behind the bar when everyone else's attentions are drawn to Bob's entrance and sure enough Pam was on his arm.

"Look guys, I got me a pretty lady."

She rolls her eyes.

"Oh, Kitty, I just love coming to your house. It's like living in a giant flea market."

Kitty turns to Jackie who has her hands inching closer to some beer cans under the bar. "And like at a flea market, Bob will leave with the tackiest thing here."

Jackie cracks her a smile but Red's next sentence quickly wipes it from her face.

"Pam, come on in. I made your favorite drink, Tequila Sunrise." The way her father figure low-key flirted with her mother made her sick and furious. Yet she said nothing. She didn't know what else say to her mother. She just took the beers behind her back and went to sit on the staircase out of everyone's eye line.

"Red, you're always a gentleman."

"Yeah, well."

"Red…Red, honey, what's my favorite drink?"

"I don't know, seeing to how much you like all drinks."

The steps move and creak beneath her and she turns to see Eric skipping down the steps in his nicest yet tacky orange suit. He reaches for her extra beer as he got down to her step.

"Hey nice."

"That's not for you."

"Hyde can get his own."

"So can you. You're eighteen now."

"Fine. Mrs. Burkhart! That's weird. Golly, I didn't know you were dropping by." Eric's voice gets kind of squeaky and awkward as he greets Pam.

"Um yeah you did. I told you earlier and you got all excited and said 'Ooh I'm going to wear my suit.'" Donna interjects making a fool of her fiancé.

"I'm sorry, Donna! Is there some law against being handsome."

As if to save her from being even more uncomfortable, Hyde wanders in through the kitchen door and walks right over. "Hey, you snagged me a beer."

"Nice tie, puddin' pop."

"You held up your end of the deal, so I did too. Don't let Mrs. Forman see the beer, she can smell booze from a mile away."

"Ah she's too busy trying to keep Red from frothing at the mouth over Pam. I want to get out of here, you?"

"Always eager to leave these things."

Jackie turns to the Forman's bar upon hearing the voice of her mother. Was she the only person in the world who thought of her as shrill? "Oh, what a lovely evening. If I didn't know any better I'd swear I was with rich people."

Kitty face shows that she may be the one to agree with Jackie. "Let's go before they notice." Jackie takes Steven's hand in hers and leads him out through the den, down the basement steps and out the back door.

Water Tower

11:30 pm

"Talk to me."

Hyde turns to the strangely silent Jackie. Her dark hair blends to the night sky but her dark eyes glow like stars. Sometimes he'd find himself wondering if it were possible that her eyes may be brighter than his.

"Never thought I'd hear you asking for someone else to fill the silence."

"Me neither, but I can't keep my mind off Pam. Can you please distract me?"

"What do you want to talk about, Doll?"

"Anything, maybe tell me a story? I just need a distraction." Her voice sounded almost weak. It was a dialect of hers he wasn't entirely familiar with. She was always a strong, superior voice. One that demanded to be heard.

"Any story in particular you'd like to hear?"

"A christmas story maybe, since it's freezing out here."

"Alrighty, well…Twas the night before Christmas…

Six friends gathered in a dirty apartment that screamed poor and left behind. Hyde's father's apartment wasn't the best for hosting a party of any sorts but it was empty of parental eyes and that's all he could ask for.

The only unwelcome guest sitting in the living room was one noisy, brunette cheerleader. A noisy cheerleader whose lips draw his eyes and his mind deep into a daze with word she speaks. She kissed him six weeks ago. And six weeks and one day ago he wanted her off his back and now all he wanted was her in his lap and her lips on his.

How the hell did she manage to do that? She was like the bottle, he'd need a twelve step program to break this spell. He has kissed a lot of girls in his life, a fact he was proud of but would never brag about, but he's never kissed a girl like her.

Then she had the audacity to say she felt nothing. She kissed him, he didn't stop it but she definitely started it. Six weeks now and nothing. She didn't flirt or pay him any unwanted attention and for some reason now that upset him.

"So leaving."

Her voice pulled him from his daze as she was making her way to the door with Donna by her side. He wanted to say something to change her mind but he couldn't. There was no right thing to say or that he could say.

"Wait, you're leaving." Forman cuts Donna off, saying the words he couldn't.

"Yeah," Donna answered. "See, when I was a little girl, I made a promise to myself. 'Self,' I said, 'if you're ever about to suck beer out of a dirty funnel that could give you mono, don't.' So, bye-bye."

He watches the girls take off through the front door, but little to their knowledge this wouldn't be the last time that christmas eve that'd he'd be seeing them. The party went on as all parties do, drinks, games, and before the night is even old all his friends were drunk and he sent Kelso home with a wasted Forman on his arm.

His father's home was filled with nobodies and he slipped out the front door without a word from anyone. It took a bit of wandering around but he easily spotted Jackie's father's lincoln in the parking lot of one of the less sketchy bars in town, certainly not the one his dad bartender at.

He thought for a moment and only a moment about how Jackie and Donna even got in. Neither of them looked like they were of age, especially not Jackie but he guessed that a hot chick like her wouldn't get refused from many doorsteps.

The scene inside made him a feel something unfamiliar. Like his blood was boiling. Jealousy? Jackie sat across a table from two older men. Men old enough to be her father. He didn't recognize them but the sight made him feel uneasy. He took a booth in the back where he could go unseen.

Donna pulls her from the table. "Jackie, this is a nightmare and we're leaving."

"Okay. Look Donna, you have a boyfriend, I don't. And maybe I don't want to sit home alone every night. And if somebody doesn't tell me I'm cute in the next five seconds I'm going to scream."

He smiles at her outburst. Why was he smiling at her outbursts now? Why did he come here? What was he planning on doing anyways? That tiny girl sure was strong and she dragged Donna back to the table.

What was he doing? He had to get out of here before he beat up an old man an proclaimed his love for one Jacqueline Burkhart. It took a moment but he managed to peel his reluctant body off the booth and out the door without his friends noticing.

He managed to make it back to his dad's apartment in time to see Fez at just the right level of drunkenness to convince him to accidentally light himself on fire.

"Okay, everybody here we go. Now, if I catch on fire, you promise to put me out?" Fez asks him.

He just smiles. "Well, I'm sure someone will. Right, guys?" No one answered and Fez seemed okay with that.

His father walked in and ruined it all.

It wasn't a wonderful Christmas…

But it was the last of the bad ones, hopefully forever." He finished his story and for the first time since starting it he looks over to Jackie.

"Steven? You followed me to the bar that night?" Her voice was accusatory.

"It was just a story, Doll."

"Story or not I would've appreciated a rescue that night."

"I'm sure you would've."

Forman's Basement

One week later

"You guys are going to buy whatever wedding present we tell you, and none of this all-going-in-on-one-gift crap."

"Hey, hey, shut it, huh?" Hyde hushes Donna upon entering the room. "No more talk about weddings. Jackie's on her way over."

"She's not here now and why do you care? We were all sure you'd marry her at one point." Eric questions.

"I don't completely get it okay? But lately she's been extra in to planning our future wedding. Maybe she's planning it all out now because her mom is back and its stirring bad feelings about family. Maybe not. All I know is she's driving me freaking nuts."

"So you're not going to marry?" Donna's voice held a heavy amount sarcasm and snarkiness.

"Whatever." Hyde sits down in his chair. He doesn't need to answer that question, he knows the answer and that's all that matters.

"Well, I think I need her help so you better prepare yourself."

"No. Donna, man, don't do this to me."

Donna laughs as Hyde sits up in his chair and uncrosses his arms. Clearly he's on edge. "Hyde, I need her help. Eric is so unhelpful so I'm just warning you."

"Warning him about what?" Jackie came down the basement steps and takes a seat at her man's feet. The ottoman can sometimes be a little more comfortable than his lap. Not usually but sometimes.

"That you might-"

"Not be her maid of honor." Hyde cut Donna off with a crazy thought that popped into his mind and instantly regretted it.

"What?!" Jackie's voice raised an octave and her body flew up off the seat. "What the hell? Who's it going to be? You don't know anybody else."

"Jackie calm down, Hyde's joking. I was warning him that you may go wedding crazy once I ask you to help Eric and I with registering for gifts and planning the reception."

"Of course I'll help. I know everything there is to do with weddings."

"You know everything, huh." Eric sits up straighter, "Where can we register for a trampoline?"

"Eric I told you, we only register for things used in the preparing, serving, and clearing of a meal."

"God, Donna! It's always about food with you. For our wedding, Steven, I'm getting china that has our silhouettes etched into them. People can eat right off my face."

"This is not our wedding, Jackie."

"No but one day-"

"No."

"Yeah, but-"

"No."

"Steven we-"

"Jackie, you're driving me crazy. Help Donna and Eric if you want but you've got to promise me something."

"What?"

"You won't talk to me about our wedding or anything wedding related in or around the United States."

"Steven," she turns all the way around in her seat to see his face. She read him well. "Fine, I promise not to talk to you about weddings or anything wedding related in or around the continental United States."

"No, no. I'm talking Alaska and Hawaii too."

"Fine, but if I'm ever in Canada I'm going nuts."

Pinciotti's Home

Three Days Later…

10:45 am

"Donna! Get down here. We have a long day of shopping ahead of us and if we don't leave now Steven is going to wake up and we won't be able to take the camino." Jackie hollers up the stairs and is only answered but the slow, stomping steps of her big, clown feet.

"Um, Jackie, where's Eric?"

"I told him not to come. He's useless and his scrawny body would just get in the way."

"But he wanted to help."

"Donna, don't be silly, of course he was lying." She shakes her head at Donna and leads the way to the camino.

"So I think we should start with the dress and then move to decor then to gifts." Jackie is careful as she pulls the camino onto the road. Donna has yet to say a word. Jackie takes a longer than usual lull between sentences but Donna just sits in the passenger seat twiddling her thumbs.

"What kind of dress were you thinking of? White or off white? Princess gown or A-line?" Still, besides the sound of her own voice, it was quiet. "I think you'd look nice in something classy. Like silk or lace."

"Jackie, stop the car."

"What? No."

"Jackie! Pull over." Donna raises her voice and forces Jackie to pull the camino off onto the shoulder.

"Geez! What's the matter with you?"

"I don't think I can do this."

"Do what? Shop? I know that traditionally feminine acts are tough for you but come on."

"No! Marry Eric! I think Eric and I are making a mistake."

"Well, you are. You could do much better than Eric. I think you're settling for what's right next door cause it's easy."

"And you're not?"

"Point taken. I just think that Eric is hoping you'll marry him before you notice you're both making a mistake."

"So you think this is a mistake?"

"No, well yeah I do. Marry Eric, you two were made for each other. Just don't marry him right now. You have time and if Eric won't wait or your relationship wouldn't last, then maybe it's not meant to be."

"It's just before all this wedding planning stuff our relationship was really great. Our first date, first kiss, first time, even getting engaged. But now in the pit of my stomach I just feel sick. You know what I mean."

"No, not really. I mean sometimes I get this ache in my heart when I feel unsure about how he feels. But Steven seems to always know and always comes to calm my worries."

"Well lucky you, your soulmate's wonderful." The sarcasm rolls easily off her tongue.

"Oh, Steven is not my soulmate." Donna turns to Jackie with a dumbfounded look of confusion. "I know I used to talk about soul mates a lot but Steven made me realize that the universe isn't interfering in our relationships. We are not that important and we are not meant to be."

"But you act like your relationship is so perfect."

"Are you kidding? When we met we hated each other and it took a lot of listening to understand him. I'm sure he would agree. It was work. We are both a mess and are slowly working together to fix ourselves. And of course there is always the fact that we have little in common in terms of like and dislikes, which causes a lot of disagreements and arguments. It was work. A lot of work.

"Then why did do it? You two chose to start making out all over the place and if it was so hard then why do it? What's your point here, Jackie?"

"You just made my point. We are together not because we are meant to be but because we chose to be. When it seems like we should give up and walk away, we choose each other. We don't make a whole lot of sense but it works, you know?"

"So I just need to keep choosing Eric."

"No. You and Eric didn't chose one another, you never have. He was handed to you on a silver platter when you were six years old. He's your soulmate and I'm sure that no matter what road you choose to go down in life, he'll be waiting for you at the other end. He's your soulmate."

"Your confusing me."

"Listen, Donna, it's okay to be selfish sometimes. Do what's best for you now while you're young and beautiful. You have the rest of your life to devote to Eric."

Donna listened to Jackie but it wasn't clearing her crowded conscious.

"So are we shopping or-"

"Let's go home."

Forman's Driveway

11:50 am

Jackie pulled the camino back into the driveway. Through the windshield she's welcomed by a tired and angry face. Steven stood strong with his arms crossed. She anxiously stepped out of the car.

"Jackie, what did I say about driving the camino?"

"Not unless your wasted."

"Not unless I'm wasted!"

Donna walked without a word back to her house. Jackie assumed she just needed time and let her go quietly. Steven, on the other hand, wasn't letting her go anywhere.

"What the hell, Doll?"

"Puddin' pop, don't be mad, please. I was just taking Donna wedding shopping. I was being careful. I promise."

"So why are you here?"

"Something came up. Such a bummer because I was really looking forward to wedding shopping and planning and-"

"Jackie, we had a deal. Let me guess, your big mouth ruined the day before you even got to the mall?"

"You'd be correct."

"Okay. Get in the car." He brushes her forward towards the camino.

"What? No, come one let's just go inside and have some of Mrs. Forman's delicious lunch."

"Jackie, get in the freakin' car. We're going on a date."

"Oh where are we going?"

"Like I'm actually going to tell you."

11 hours later…

"Steven, where are we going? This is the longest drive."

"Jackie, just be patient. We will be there soon."

"We better be because this is becoming the worst day ever."

"Why don't you tell me what happened this morning with Donna? That aught to pass the time."

"I don't think her and Eric will be getting married."

"Really."

"Yeah and it's kinda my fault."

"What did you do?" The level of condescension in his voice made Jackie cringe in the passenger seat. She already felt the slightest twinge of guilt for possibly convincing Donna to call off her wedding but she said somethings she felt necessary to say.

"I told her I thought marrying Eric right now would be a mistake."

"You?" He says with surprise. "The queen of all things marriage."

She taps his arm with the back her hand with a gentle force. "Maybe I'm a hypocrite but I think it'd be a mistake."

Steven laughs, a small chuckle, a turns to face her. "Care to explain."

She knew what he was doing. If he could get her to say they were too young, too broke, or just flat out not ready, he could hold it over her head anytime she tried to discuss the future. His fear of the future is one of the only ones she's had difficulty beating out of him. Possibly because he spent so many years believing he didn't have one.

"Remember why they broke up?" He nodded, "Donna never wanted to be trapped in a house, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of babies. But that's what Eric wants. They broke up but got back together without talking about the issues that broke them up to begin with. That's what'll happen if they get married now. I told Donna that she had the time to become the person that she wants to be and no matter what, I believe Eric would wait for her."

"Okay."

"What? No response."

"No, because I agree with you."

"I think Donna does too. I'm just afraid Eric will freak out and break up with her again."

"You know, Donna aught to be a better friend to you. You really look out for her."

"She has her moments. Steven, where are we going?"

He pulls the camino into the darkened parking lot of a dingy motel. It was quaint and dirty, definitely a place Jackie would never travel to on her own. "We're here."

The flashing neon sign read 'Mere Hotel' but it didn't look much like a hotel at all. "This is our date?!"

"No, this is just where we are staying the night."

"Why?"

"Because we made a deal. Welcome to Winnipeg, Canada, Doll."

"You brought me to Canada!"

"Yes I did."

"So I can talk about our wedding?"

"Unfortunately, yes I did."

"Oh Steven!"

Mere Hotel

12:11 am

Room 8

She shut off the lukewarm water of the dismal shower head. Wrapping herself in a less than fluffy towel and she makes her way out of the bathroom with a cloud a steam leaving behind her. Steven turns his head to take in the full vision of his beautiful girl standing in the doorway. The white towel accents the darkness of skin and the urge to kiss her swells.

She's the most beautiful like this. It's her natural beauty. And listening to her kind heart on the drive up, it's raw and amazing and attracts him to her in the strongest way possible. He watches the water drip from her hair to the carpet and makes room for her on the bed. She ties her hair up in a bun and slips into his shirt. They didn't pack for this little trip.

"Tell me all about it. You know, while you've got the chance."

"Do you really want to hear about what I've planned?"

"I wouldn't have driven this far if I didn't."

"Okay. I've always wanted big and extravagant but close to heart. I'd like to be married in the Forman's backyard. It's the only nice place I know that reminds me that marriages do last. I want roses everywhere and candles lining the aisle. I want a sunset as I walk down the aisle so I get that halo glow like an angel. I'd like my bridesmaids to be dressed in lavender because that's what I wore to our prom."

"You didn't mention a ring."

"That's a decision for you to make. You get to pick the ring because it's not about the ring it's about the meaning of the ring. I mean of course I love jewelry and beautiful diamonds but from you it just matters that it comes from you."

He sees the way she plays with the tattoo on her ring finger. That small sketch of ink that meant so much to the two of them. Her voice seemed small and unsure of itself as she spoke and it reassured him of the answer to the question he wanted so badly to ask.

"If you could have your dream wedding and all that it entails, would it matter if I were the groom?"

"It wouldn't be my dream wedding if I weren't walking down the aisle looking at you. Maybe I get caught up in the wedding sometimes. But it's not about that it's about the marriage. I want my dream marriage to you. So if it were one or the other I choose you."

"Yeah?" He scoots in closer to her wrapping her in his arms, brushing a thumb across her cheek.

"Yes. I'd marry you right now in this dirty motel."

"Jackie, I'm going to marry you. I don't know when and I don't know how and I'm still a little confused on why… but Doll, I'm going to marry you someday. I already made that promise to you. No matter what, you know it'll always be you and me." He kisses her finger up her hand, trailing those kisses until he reaches her lips and lays her back on the bed.

Two weeks later

Eric & Donna's Rehearsal Dinner

"Jackie, darling, that shade of lipstick really isn't your color."

Jackie scoffs, rolling her eyes at her mother as she passes the wretched woman to sit next to Steven. Tensions were running high and with each passing moment Mrs. Forman was becoming increasingly intolerable.

"Where is she? Eric, you made it here on time. Where is Donna?"

"Mom, she's coming from the radio station. She'll be here soon. She's going to show up. Everything's going to be fine."

"Well, she better have a good excuse for being late."

Donna turns the corner and enters the room. She isn't wearing the dress Jackie picked out for her this morning. Jackie knows that this isn't going to be the happy ending Eric and Mrs. Forman were thinking of.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

"Oh good you're here. See, everyone, it's all okay she's here." Kitty laughs.

"Actually Eric, can I talk to you?"

"What's wrong?"

"Can we talk in private?"

"Donna, you're already late. Just talk as we get ready to start."

"I can't do this. I can't marry you."

A/N: Hope you liked the chapter and please review. I look forward to hearing from all of you!