Due to the overwhelming response (seriously – THANK YOU!) I am going to continue this ff a little longer—not too much loner, just trying to make it to chapter 20. Also—thank you so much for your great feedback and especially your support. I would not be writing as hard as I am if I didn't know people were out there waiting for an update, so : )

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BTW—naughty talk but no smut here, so we're holding firm at a T rating for this chapter.

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CHAPTER 14

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Jackie is lying on her stomach, examining her nails while Hyde tickles her bare back.

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"I have fieldworker hands now" she frowns, rubbing a thumb over her scabbed index finger.

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"I don't think I've ever seen you without nail polish" he notes. "I feel like I'm looking at Gene Simmons first thing in the morning" he jokes.

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Jackie hip checks him him and scowls. " You know, I don't even care anymore. It's hard to keep a manicure when you're running your hands through a sewing machine every day."

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Hyde laughed. "You care."

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She shrugged petulantly. "Maybe a little...but it's hard to maintain my usual standard of beauty when I'm working."

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"Is that where you got that?" he asks, referring to the scabs.

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"Never try to sew leather after three margaritas" she warns.

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He leans over and kisses her hurt finger, which makes her smile. "You're really good at it though," he says impressed.

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"Of course I am. What did you expect?" she grins. "They don't just let anybody into University of Chicago, you know."

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Hyde regains the familiar sensation of dread that he's been living with for the past 18 months. He's been so wrapped up in rekindling things with Jackie that it completely bypassed his brain that 'getting together' and 'get back together' are two very different things. As far as he knows, this could end the minute the city roads are cleared of snow and she steps her foot out of the basement. He closes his eyes and silently prays for a blizzard.

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He rubs his hand over her pert behind. "I missed this ass" he announces loudly as he bends over to kiss each cheek.

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"Wow. I think this is the first time you've ever kissed my ass!" she giggles. "And people said you couldn't be tamed," she snarks, wiggling her behind to tempt him.

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He gives her an amused smirk. "Well, this may be the closest you get to me kissing your ass, but I'm going to treat you better from now on, doll. I promise" he says, kissing her behind once again.

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Jackie stiffens, and opens her mouth to say something to him with a concerned look on her face.

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"I know what you're going to say and it's cool" he says, cutting her off. "Let's just have a good day together" he smiles, even though he's dying on the inside.

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He knew it was too good to be true. Of course she doesn't want anything more with him. Why would she? He doesn't deserve a second chance (or fourth for that matter) with her and he definitely doesn't deserve the kind of devotion that would make a woman like Jackie give up a real opportunity to stay in Point Place with him. She said it herself, she regrets not going to Chicago every day and she resents him for it. As much as he'd give his last joint to keep her with him, he's not deluded enough to think she'd gamble her future again on a bum like him.

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Jackie is deep in thought. In her mind, there isn't a thing that could keep her from going to college, but her body is a bigger traitor than Benedict Arnold. Lying in the small cot, pressed up against Hyde's warm chest, feels she's finally come home again. During her junior year when she pin-balled from her abandoned mansion to the basement to Donna's house all over the course of one year, she felt like a woman without a country. With her dad in jail and her mom banging half of the domestic staff workers in Mexico, the only constant in her life then was Steven. Losing him was like an exodus into the desert. Finding her way back feels a lot like a mirage.

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Which feels worse: fooling yourself into believing in something fabulous is on the horizon or forcing yourself into acknowledging that you're hopelessly lost in the sand? Having spent the better part of a year wandering the dunes, she's ready for the fantasy, even if it makes her a fool.

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Jackie flips over and runs a finger down his collar bone, down the valley of his chest and stops in his navel. "I'm glad we made up" she says.

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Hyde lifts a finger and starts tracing her collar bone as well. "Me too. You're hard to stay mad at."

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"Well sir" she says, "you did an admirable job of trying" she jokes, cutting a little too close to the bone.

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His chest tightens at the reminder.

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"Sorry" she mumbles quietly.

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"You didn't let me finish. What I was saying, is that you're hard to stay mad at...when you're lying next to me naked." He leans over and lets his lips lightly brush over hers, causing her to strain upwards to force more contact. "I think I'm ready to make up with you again."

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She sighs with longing "Yes...but maybe later on. Everybody is probably wondering where we've been and what we've been up to."

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He tilts his head to look at her and smiles his cheekiest grin. "I'm pretty sure they all know the answer to both of those questions. Being with you is like having sex with a fire engine."

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Jackie purses her lips in mock offense. "Well, I assure you that I am more than capable of being deadly silent next time. It will be like making love to a corpse."

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Hyde chuckles and then leans in to whisper in her ear. "As appealing as that sounds, I really like making you scream," he murmurs against her skin as he runs his hand up her inner thigh.

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Jackie's insides melt and pool. She narrows her eyes, now clouded over by passion, and bites her bottom lip seductively. "You're too charming for your own good, but I'm still going to take a rain-check," she says. "After all, there are a lot of people that I came here to see."

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"See them some other time" he demands as his hand inches up towards the apex of her thighs.

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She leans up, runs her fingers through his hair, pulls his head roughly to her and kisses him hard, nearly knocking the wind out of him.

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"Jesus" Hyde murmurs against her lips.

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Suddenly, she stops. "I'm going to need to borrow some clothes" she declares as she sits up and then hops out of his bed.

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"What the hell, Jackie?" he grumbles, his lower half now uncomfortable with pressure.

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"I said rain-check, didn't I?" she miffs. "I swear, you never did listen to half the stuff that came out of my mouth," she complains as she rummages through his drawers.

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He watches her mutter to herself and can't help but smile like an idiot. Yeah, she's a pain in the ass, but damn it if he doesn't find her bitchiness hot.

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She pulls out a Led Zeppelin IV t-shirt and a pair of his boxer shorts. "These'll have to do, I guess," she announces, slipping the shirt over her head.

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Hyde frowns and puts his hand on her forearm to keep her on the bed. "I liked you better in what you just had on."

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"You're what I just had on, Steven" she flirts, running her hand down his chest.

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"Yeah, I know." he says exasperatedly.

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"Come on. If you get up now, I'll make it worth your while later" she coos, ticking him under his jaw.

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He looks at her stony-faced. "I will hold you to that" he promises.

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She bats her eyes at him. "That was kind of the idea."

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The door of Hyde's room opens and the renewed couple emerges self-consciously.

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"They're alive!" Donna exclaims happily.

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"Aww yeah!" Kelso screams, complete with rude hand gestures. "Somebody just got laid!"

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"Finally! I thought we were going to have to pull the fire alarm to get the two of you out of that room" Fez complains.

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"We had, erm, stuff to discuss" Jackie says with embarrassment.

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"Yeah Jackie, we heard you doing a lot of discussing. I believe you were talking to God a lot..." Eric jokes.

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Hyde holds his palm up. "Alright, settle down dummies. You act like you've never heard two people getting it on before" he grumbles, sitting in his usual chair. "At least everybody hasn't seen us doing it, Forman."

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"Hey!" he complains feebly as Donna looks towards the floor.

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"And you, my pervie friend, have seen everybody in this room do it" he directs at Fez.

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Fez shrugs "This is true".

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"And our entire high school has seen Kelso get it on in multiple locations" Hyde accuses.

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Kelso laughs. "I got around quite a bit" he says proudly.

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Brooke just shakes her head with disgust.

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"Right. So everybody can just shut up about Jackie and me" he orders them. "Unless you want me to get frog-happy?" he threatens.

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Kelso and Fez immediately cease their staring and talk amongst themselves.

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Hyde catches Jackie's eye from across the room and winks at her. A warm feeling overtakes her body and she feels light. With a twinkle in her eye, she marches over to her man and claims her old seat on his lap. His arms snake around her waist and pull in her into his torso tightly. Yep, this is home.

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The rest of the gang watches this exchange with vested interest.

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"Wow! It feels like 1978 all over again. Like a time warp," Donna shouts, before turning swiftly to face Fez. "That is not an invitation to sing Rocky Horror on the karaoke machine," she says sternly.

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Jackie's ears perk up. "Fez has a karaoke machine?"

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"My dad got one for an early Christmas present from some friends of his. It's been like having Garfunkle hanging out in my living room on a nightly basis" she says making a face.

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"Did you bring it here?" she asks her blonde friend excitedly.

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Hyde groans. He can feel what's coming next.

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"Oh relax" Jackie snaps at him. "Nobody said they wanted to hear you sing."

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"I thought you liked my singing. You liked it enough earlier..." he smiles smugly at her.

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"Does that mean you'll-?" she starts.

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"No" he interrupts, knowing what she's about to ask.

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"But-" she pushes.

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"No" he says firmly.

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"You never-" she whines.

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"No" he stays resolute.

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"Pleeeease?" she pouts, bringing out her not-so-secret weapon.

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His facade breaks. "Fine" he snaps, "but only for you, and not until we're alone".

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Jackie squeals and leans over to kiss him.

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"Awwwww!" Donna and Eric erupt in unison, mocking their friends' affection.

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Hyde rolls his eyes.

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Fez smiles. "It finally feels like everything is back to normal again".

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"Yeah. Too bad we have to go back to Chicago in a few days" Brooke says sadly.

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There it is again: Chicago. Steven Hyde officially hates that fucking town now. It's like his Moby Dick. He turns to look at Brooke and shoots rockets at her with his mind for bringing it up. Is this the only city that exists?

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"Did you guys end up making a bid on that house you wanted?" Jackie asks Brooke.

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She shakes her head. "No. By the time we gave them a number it was already in contract. Que sera sera," she pouts in Kelso's direction.

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Donna looks at Brooke and Jackie and a light goes off. She turns to Kelso. "You knew where Jackie was this whole time, didn't you?" she accuses him angrily.

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"Um...what?" Kelso asks, playing dumb.

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"How does Jackie know about a house you were looking at in Chicago if she just got here yesterday?" she questions him like he's in the defendant's chair. "It's not like you bid on a house on Christmas Eve."

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"J'accuse!" Eric stands, pointing at Kelso.

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"Is he yelling at me in Clingon?" He looks helplessly at Brooke. "Eric, I told you I'm not that good at Star Wars!"

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Eric is suddenly irate. "For the last time, Kelso, Clingon is Star Trek, not Star Wars. And before you ask, no - Chewbacca is not a Clingon. And I was speaking French, by the way. Jeez!" he huffs.

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Donna shoots Eric a stern look "Can you focus please?"

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"Sorry" Eric mumbles apologetically.

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"Kelso, did you know where Jackie was?" she asks, not bothering to rephrase the question.

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Kelso shrieks in fear.

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"Yes! Yes! He knew, alright?" Jackie screams from the sanctuary of Hyde's lap. "Why are you so mad anyway? It's not like any of you cared where I was anyway. You were just happy I was gone." her breath hitches on the last word.

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Hydes arms relax from her waist and drop to his sides.

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Jackie looks at him nervously. "I know you cared. But honestly, we live in Point Place. It wouldn't have taken too much to find me if you really wanted to," she says quietly near his ear.

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He remains silent, unable to look her in the face.

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"Say something" she whispers to him, her voice growing shaky.

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"There's nothing to say doll, because you're right. And I did. I knew where you were living, but I was too chicken shit to do anything about it," he confesses quietly, only to her.

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Jackie brings his head to her chest and hugs him tightly. "It's okay. That's all done now," she murmurs into his hair.

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He smiles at her secretly with just his eyes and winds his arms around her once again.

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"Jackie" Donna ventures uneasily. "Can we talk alone?"

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The brunette beauty nods and hops off her lover's lap, keeping contact with his hands for as long as possible before following Donna to the kitchen.

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Jackie flops into a chair unceremoniously and waits for Donna to speak.

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"I know we already went over this" she says, "but that was before I was aware that Brooke and Michael knew where you were this whole time."

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The pixie knits her brow and asks "What does this change for you, exactly?"

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"Well, before it seemed like you were just mad at everybody and wanted to get away, but now I feel more like it was particularly me you were trying to avoid," she divulges. "I mean, I know why you kept it from Hyde. I also get why you wouldn't tell Fez either, seeing as he was mad at you for leading him on," she says. "You and Eric were never close, so that just leaves Kelso and me. You told Kelso where you were though, so I can only assume that I must've hurt you worse than I thought."

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Jackie takes a deep breath before addressing her friend. "You did. I'm not going to lie to you. You're like a sister to me, and sometimes a mom, even. I was very sad about it for a very long time, but you know what? I'm sick of dwelling. I don't want to look back anymore. And I mean, if I can forgive Steven, I sure as hell can forgive you. You didn't marry a stripper, after all...though you did have a pair of satin, high-waisted shorts that I should have disowned you for wearing. I mean, satin sportswear, Donna? Seriously? You know satin makes you look lumpy."
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Donna laughs before grabbing Jackie's hand. "I'm really really sorry. You mean more to me than you think you do. Promise me you won't disappear again."

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She looks down. "I can't promise I won't leave, but I promise you'll always know how to find me," she smiles.

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"So...um, speaking of Hyde and second chances...care to spill?" she prods, digging for information.

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"Well, you were right, He has changed. I don't know what it all means, but I don't care. I just want to feel happy again. I can worry about the details later," she says waving her hand.

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"But you're still moving to Chicago?" she asks.

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Jackie looks at her like she's nuts. "Of course I am. I'm not insane," she balks at the suggestion that she might stay.

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"Oh. I mean, does Hyde know this?" Donna asks gently.

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"Well, he knows about school and he hasn't asked me to stay...we haven't discussed it really...or at all" she reveals. "Too soon".

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Jackie has a sudden and sharp pang of guilt hit her squarely in the gut but then immediately brushes it aside, angry at herself for being weak.

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"Would you stay if he asked?" she wonders.

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"Would you stay home and take another year off from college if Eric asked?" Jackie challenges.

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"No. I wouldn't, and you shouldn't either. You did it once and you got nothing for your sacrifice. I'm still trying to get over my resentment and I didn't turn down anything nearly as cool as what you gave up. If Hyde wants you, he should be the one to make a sacrifice this time," Donna decides, her feminist leanings finally kicking in.

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"All this future talk is crazy anyway. I mean, we just got together, and I don't even think we're together together. I mean, I don't really know what this is," she admits, flustered by her own confusion.

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"But you love him, right" Donna asks pointedly.

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Jackie blushes. "God help me, lumberjack, I really do".

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A/N – Okay, how'd I do? Sound off in the reviews section and let me know. Thanks so much for sticking with this ff!