Hey guys back again with a new chapter. As always I own none of this, season 8 sucks, and Led Zeppelin rules.

(September 21)

Jackie woke up to a spinning world and a panting dog. Confusion ran through her as she took on her surroundings. This wasn't her room and this definitely wasn't her dog.

"Oh god please tell me that I didn't sleep him!" No that's not what happen. She remembered the bar, the guys she flirted with, and the tequila. So much tequila. "Did I flash someone?" She needed answers and she deciding that the best place for answers would be the person who lived here. As carefully as she could she got up from the cot and walked up to the kitchen. She found Red and Kitty sitting at the table eating, both having cheeky smiles on their faces.

"Morning sleeping beauty." To loud. Much, much to loud.

"Tone it down Red." Kitty said as her husband chuckled. "Jackie would you like some coffee?"

"God yes." Jackie sat down at the table as Kitty poured. "What happened last night?"

"Well you and Donna went out last night." Kitty started. "And then there was tequila apparently."

"From what Kitty told me, Steven carried you in late last night." Red said as he ate a piece of toast. At the mention of her ex she froze.

"What?!" Shock filled her at the thought of ex coming to her rescue.

"Red why don't you give us ladies the room?" Kitty asked sweetly.

"But my breakfast!"

"Now Red." The way she said left no room for arguing and Red reluctantly got up from the table, taking his plate with him.

"Damn kids interrupting my breakfast." He grumbled.

Jackie looked to Kitty who indicated for her to sit down.

"Mrs. Foreman what happened last night?"

"Donna called me last night. Evidently you all went to the bar and you especially had a little to much to drink. Steven volunteered to go pick up whoever needed a ride, but only came back with you..." Kitty explained. Jackie bit her her lip nervously

"What else?"

"Well he said you had a rough night and left it at that." Kitty said sadly. "He scares me honestly."

"What wrong with Steven?" She couldn't help but worry about that idiot.

"Well he came up here a quarter til 11 and he just looked so tired Jackie." Kitty continued "Like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Between his situation with you and his divorce with Sam."

"Steven's getting a divorce." She was to happy to hear that. The thought of Steven with another woman like that was just sickening. A sharp kick to the gut. But if he wasn't staying with the blonde whore, than maybe they still had something.

"Well of course sweetheart." Kitty said it like it was obvious. "Steven's a smart boy... Most of the time."

(September 26 1979 Grooves Record Store)

Hyde couldn't believe his damn luck. Karma was a vindictive bitch, because while he was partying in Vegas, Leo was left running the store and of course nothing good could come from that. Leo was in fact not completely useless, but he did the bare minimal of work. Sales were down tremendously from where they were when he had been running the store.

When he had arrived at the store just five days ago he found empty crates and a dopey Leo. As happy as he was to see the old stoner, he was still pretty pissed at the situation Leo had put him in. For the last five days Hyde had to do the one thing he hated more than anything.

He had to actually work.

The store was a mess. Leo was never a neat person and left pizza boxes and other take out lying around the store. Right next to the records. Windows were fogged up from the constant smoking. Not to mention some of the paperwork that was in the back office was used as rolling paper. So for the last five days he was doing everything in his power to get the store back in to top shape. He barely slept, ate once a day, and avoided the basement for the last couple days. As happy as he was to see his friends, he needed to stay away from them for just a bit longer. They distracted him and the last thing he needed right now was distractions. They all came in to see him at different times, but wouldn't stay very long once they saw him in his 'business mode'.

The one person who hadn't been in to see him was Jackie, which confused him the most. After her wild night out, he half expected her to come storming into the store. But she never came and must have been avoiding him as much as he was avoiding her.

After looking at his handiwork Hyde grinned. A new shipment of records had just came in and sales were slowly rising. Maybe W.B hadn't even noticed.

"Hi Steven." Son of a bitch.

"Hey W.B. What are you doing here man?" His first move was as always play dumb.

"Well I thought I come down to see how my newest store was doing only to find you working your ass off to clean up your mess." W.B said sarcastically.

"Don't know what your talking about." Play it cool and act like you know what your talking about.

"Steven I've talked to Kitty." If their is a God, surely he hated Steven Hyde.

"Crap."

"Steven what the hell were you thinking. Going to Las Vegas?" W.B asked incredulously

"I was thinking that I just saw Jackie in a hotel room with Kelso." W.B looked at him wide eyed at that one. Apparently he didn't know the whole story.

"I'm sorry son." He finally said.

"Everyone one's sorry." Hyde chuckled bitterly "I'm fine." W.B didn't look like he believed him, but he didn't press the issue.

"Look I get it Steven. I've been married four times. Not one of them worked out right."

"Gotta say if this is supposed to make me feel better, it's not working."

"Hold on Steven I'm getting to it." W.B said calmly. "What I'm trying to say is that it wasn't always marriage after marriage for me. There was a girl that I wanted to settle down with for the rest of my life once." Hyde looked at him as if he was speaking a different language, but in reality he was lost in a memory from another time.

"What...What happened man?"

W.B looked at him and smiled sadly. "Her heart was never in good shape, and finally it... it gave out." Hyde took a step back and leaned against the counter. He had never known that about W.B "My point is Steven, don't waste anytime. I spent some much time talking to doctors and specialist that when her time came I didn't..."W.B paused he thought over his next words. "I had maybe an hour to hold her before she died and I'll always regret not getting to talk to her more."

Hyde had never seen this side of W.B before. Usually the guy was as cool as a breeze. But right now he looked haunted. Troubled even. Hyde stepped away from the counter and stood in front of his father.

"Thanks."

W.B nodded and patted Hyde on the arm "I'm serious Steven. Really think about how you want this thing with Jackie to go."

"I'll think about it man." The fact was he had done nothing but think about Jackie. How she was doing after her night out. If she was going to parade on into the store and mess with his head some more. God he was turning into Foreman.

"Good." W.B said. "Now go home. The store looks great and you look like you need some sleep." W.B gave him a once over. "And a shave." Hyde felt the side of his face to feel the beginnings of a beard. "Hey is Kelso the one that dated Angie?"

"Yeah man."

"Give me five minutes and he'll be blacklisted from every club and bar from here all the way to Los Angeles." W.B said with a grin.

"My god you really are my father you evil genius." Hyde said with a laugh.

"Steven!" Kitty exclaimed happily as her and Red stood in the kitchen. "Your home early! I just finished making dinner." She looked at him expectantly. "You are joining us for dinner tonight? Right?" Hyde nodded his head yes just as Red sent him a deadly look. Besides, he had been avoiding the house and his friends far to much the last couple days. Plus a nice meal would do him some good.

"Wouldn't miss it." Kitty smiled as Hyde leaned against the counter. Red sent him a nod and mouthed 'thank you'. Hyde just chuckled as the older man walked inside the dining room.

"You coming Steven?"

"I'll come get some in a minute." He knew Mrs. Foreman struggled with giving up smoking and as long as he smoked he'd keep it away from her. "Just gonna chill outside for a while."

"Okay sweaty." Kitty said with a wide smile. Hyde was just happy that he could bring a smile to her face. He walked out to the way and leaned against the Vista Cruiser. He pulled out his pack of cigarettes, popped one in his mouth and lit it. The nicotine hit him and finally started to relax.

"Steven?" The voice startled him so much that he dropped his cigarette.

"Damn it." He muttered. Hyde turned around to see Donna and Jackie looking at him. "You guys have anything better to do than sneak up on me?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pack, stepping on his old one while he was at it.

"I didn't know you were smoking again." Jackie said surprised. Seriously out of everything that had happened this week, she was questioning him on his smoking habits?

"Been under a lot stress." Hyde said, which wasn't even the half of it. Between the shit show that was Vegas, saving his business, and dealing with his issues with Jackie, he was surprised he hadn't started losing his hair at this point.

"Well this is awkward." Donna said as she stepped around Hyde. "I'm just gonna go this way." Jackie and Hyde were left alone. Hopefully this time time they could have a conversation where they didn't end up screaming at one another.

"Um thank you." She started quietly. "For the other night I mean."

"Don't worry about it."

"No, what you did. You stopped me from doing something I would have regretted."

"Yeah well we've all done dumb things while were drunk." Hyde said with a smirk and a long drag on his cigarette. It was about half way done, but he had no interest in finishing it now. He dropped it and snuffed it out. He pointed towards the screen door. "You coming?"

"Steven wait!" Jackie interrupted. "Shouldn't we talk about us."

Hyde sighed deeply. "Last time I checked there was no "us'." He was happy his shades were covering his eyes, otherwise she would see the truth in his eyes. "Now Jackie, I'm tired and hungry and would really like to get to whatever Mrs. Foreman made." He moved towards the door.

"Your getting a divorce." He stopped in his tracks. "Don't you think that's something important?" Hyde in all honesty hadn't even thought about Sam all week, even though she made sure to stop by the store at least twice a day to remind him about their marriage. Each time he reminded her that he wanted a divorce. It was a strange cycle that left Leo deeply confused about the situation Hyde found himself in.

"Didn't think it was any of your business." Hyde answered. Her words came back to him from the other night. "Forget it Steven! Because I don't need your explanations. All I need is for you to leave me alone!" Those words were going to haunt him for awhile, but if she felt that way than who was he to argue.

"Not my business! Steven everything that involves you is my business." Her tone left no room for arguing, but Hyde wasn't willing to give up that easily.

"If that's true where have you been the last couple days. Donna, Fez and Charlie all stopped in the store to see me. Hell even Kelso stopped in and he's scared to death of me right now."

"I...I was nervous." Jackie said quietly. "I wasn't sure how to approach you after..."

Hyde needed to stop this, because it was quickly approaching a territory that bordered emotional and good God he didn't need that right.

"Look Jackie I'm not in a good place." Hyde admitted truthfully. "I haven't been since Chicago..."

"I apologized for that and I didn't sleep with Michael!" Jackie exclaimed loudly.

"I know, but that doesn't change things Jackie." Hyde said forcefully. "That hurt more than a kick to the nads. To see him there. With you. That was a knife to the chest." Hyde was turning into Foreman, telling the truth and shit.

"Steven nothing would have happened."

"Yeah you say that, but I don't know if you fully believe that." Hyde said nastily. "Answer me this Jackie. If I had walked through that door just five minutes later, what would I have found? You and a naked Kelso."

"I would have kicked him out before I let him touch me like that again." She said with tears in her eyes. "And your nothing but an asshole Steven Hyde!"

"Whatever Jackie." Hyde turned around no longer paying attention to the brunette behind him. When he heard a sniffle, he stopped again and sighed. He turned back and walked over to her. "Jackie we need to stop this. This hurting each other thing." Hyde hated hurting her. No matter how angry he was with her, he never wanted to hurt her. The look she would give him would crush him.

Jackie looked at him and god did he want to kiss her. Make her feel as if everything was alright. That they were alright.

But it wasn't alright. And they weren't alright.

"Come on let go get some food." Hyde said as he grabbed her arm and led them both inside.

"Hey Zep." Hyde greeted the dog as he stepped into the kitchen with Jackie silently following him. She watched as he neeled down and ruffled the dog's ears. The dog quickly lost focus on Hyde as Mrs. Foreman pulled a steaming lasagna from the oven. At least the dog had good taste.

"Ah, ah, ah!" Kitty scolded the dog as he got close. "This meal is for Steven." Hyde smiled at the scene. Kitty stepped around the mutt and walked into the dining room. Hyde moved to follow her, Zeppelin close behind.

Dinner was silently awkward. Red had full focus on his meal. Jackie had full focus on Hyde. Donna and Kitty had focus on Jackie and Hyde. Hyde had his focus on the door and Zeppelin had his focus on the garlic bread in Hyde's hand.

"Yeah this is weird." Hyde went to stand, but Red shot him a look.

"Sit down dumbass." Red said gruffly without taking his eye's off his food and Hyde wanted to ignore the man so badly. But in the end he caved. "How's the store."

"It's doing good." Hyde admitted. "Probably wasn't the smartest move leaving it with Leo." Red chuckled.

"Have I ever mentioned your a dumbass?" Hyde smirked at him good naturally,

"Once or twice I think Red."

"Well I'll have to remind you more now. I mean leaving the store with the hippie. That's just dumb Steven." Red was making some valid points. "I mean that's like leaving Kelso with fireworks. You know something bad is going to happen."

"Well," Hyde glanced at Jackie for a second before refocusing on Red. "I don't plan on going anywhere else anytime soon." Jackie smiled happily. It was a small one, but it still made Hyde happy to see it.

"Good." Red said and everything seemed to be well with the people gathered around the table.

The door opened and Kelso, Fez, and Charlie walked in.

"Ah man are we late for dinner!?" Kelso asked.

"Ai and Ms. Kitty made lasgna." Fez added sadly.

Red looked at the trio that had walked into his house. "What are you doing here? Don't you have some other house to bother.

"No." Kelso answered dumbly as they sat down and grabbed some plates.

"Get out."

"Now Red it has been to long since we have had this many kids in the house-" Kitty tried to control her husbands growing outrage. Emphasis on try.

"Kitty I like having no kids in the house. It's the closest I get to happy these days." Red interrupted.

"Red let's just sit down and enjoy this meal with all these familiar faces." Kitty said with a hint of anger in her voice and as always Red gave in to make her happy.

"Fine, but if any of you talk right, it's a foot in the ass. Got it!" Kelso nodded fearfully and Fez and Charlie gulped.

Hyde just chuckled. Some things never would change. Like Red threatening to put his foot in a ass.

"Hey dudes." Leo said as he walked in and took a seat at the table as well. Hyde just looked at him confused.

"Leo man what are you doing here?"

"Well Ms. Kitty called the store earlier man." Leo answered. "She said to tell you that she was making lasagna tonight. And I like lasagna so here I am." He said with a grin."It makes me feel Italian man." Red looked like he was going to pop a blood vessel, but one look from Kitty calmed him down, or at least it stopped him from throwing Leo out on his ass.

"Man I really needed this." Hyde said as he took a drag from a joint. God solo circles were way to boring. Especially because the three goofballs before him always made it interesting. Zeppelin sat next to him on the floor.

"Circles weren't the same without you Hyde." Fez said as he ate a candy bar. "Mostly because your the one supplies."

"Yeah man circles were just weird without you or Eric. But now your back and now things are only kinda weird!" Kelso said as grabbed the candy bar away from Fez and took a large bite out of it. Fez punched him on the arm and stole back his candy bar. "Damn Fez I was going to give it back!"

"Uh guys do you ever wonder why we hang out our friends basement when Eric isn't in the country at the moment?" Charlie asked curiously as he looked at them.

"Best not to question things man." Hyde answered him. "That's like asking why Kelso is so dumb, or why Fez like candy so much. They just do."

"Yeah man where else would we go that has T.V or food." Kelso was an idiot, but he also made a good point.

"Or and angry old war veteran and a sweet mother that makes us food." Fez said with a goofy smile.

Man these guys were dumb. The side door opened and for a second Hyde thought it was Red. He sighed in relief when it was just Donna.

"Hey Big D pop a squat." Kelso said to her as he went to hand her the joint. She shook her head.

"No thanks. I need to talk to Hyde." The way Donna was looking at him right didn't promise anything good. "Alone."

"Oooh someone's in trouble." Fez said with a point of his finger in Hyde's direction. Hyde sent him a glance and Fez moved his finger.

"Come on Donna you have to let us stay." Kelso whined. "Your about to beat up Hyde and that's to good to pass up."

"All of you out." Hyde ordered as he took the joint from Kelso and took a long drag. He was going to need it for the conversation that's about to happen. All three of them stood up and exited the basement.

"You guys never let me have any fun." Kelso muttered as he closed the door. Donna took a seat in the chair across from Hyde.

"Sooo..." Donna started nervously and Hyde laughed.

"Never known you to be scared of anything Donna." Hyde said with a smirk. "Ask what you need to ask so I can start opening my welcome home present." He pointed to the case of beer at his feet. Charlie was now a welcome addition in the circle due to this case of beer.

Donna nodded. "What's up with you lately?" She questioned. "I mean you returned from Vegas, and you avoided the basement for days."

"I wasn't avoiding the basement." Hyde muttered as he decided to crack open a can.

"Oh really so staying at the store for the last couple of days for fun?" Donna asked sarcastically as she got up and stole the beer from his hand before he could have a sip of it.

"Hey!" You don't mess with a man's beer. It just wasn't right.

"You can have this back when you tell me how your doing." Donna threaten.

"Or I can reached down and grab another one." Hyde pointed out and he did just that. Donna almost pouted.

"Crap." She said ass she drank from the can.

"You didn't have to steal my beer you know." Hyde said with a laugh. "You could have just asked." He took a sip and let the cool liquid slide down his throat. Yep he was going to need a couple more of these.

"Well would you answer?"

"I don't know." Hyde answered unsure. "Depends on how many beers I'm having tonight." He joked and took another drink of his beer.

"Seriously though how are you?" Donna asked again and took a drink of her own beer,

Hyde thought for a moment. "Honestly, I'm tired Donna." Hyde fiddled with tap of his can. "Tired of working and tired of talking." Donna looked at him unconvinced with his answer.

"C'mon Hyde that's not an answer."

"Well if you ask stupid questions, you'll get stupid answers."

She smacked him on the arm. "Quit being a jerk, Hyde."

"Well what do you want me to say Donna?" Hyde asked angrily as he stood up.

"I want you to tell me why you aren't with Jackie?" Donna asked and looked to be going in for the kill.

"It's... complicated." Hyde muttered and looked down.

"That's lame Hyde."

"Donna look..." Hyde was struggling to find the right words. "I'm trying to take things slow here. I mean I just came back from Vegas, the stores a mess..."

"That sounds like a load of shit Hyde." Donna said angrily as she made for the door. She stopped just as she opened the door. "Just tell me this. Do you still care about Jackie?"

Hyde looked at Donna and had to be the most serious she had ever seen him. "I'll always care about Jackie."

Donna grinned. "Because you looove her."

"Yeah, yeah I do." Donna actually looked at Hyde in shock. He had never admitted to actually being in love with her, not to them at least.

She grinned again. "Good to know." And with that she left.

Hyde sighed and turned on the TV. Seeing that Charlie's Angels was on he sat back in his chair and finished off his beer. Not nearly drunk enough, he opened another and prepared for a long night of drinking.

Zeppelin, who had been silently watching the exchange between Hyde and Donna, came up and whined at Hyde. He nudged his arm and Hyde patted him on his furry back.

"I'm fine buddy." But he really wasn't. Not even close to fine. But after a couple more beers and a few hours of relaxation he'd be more than fine.

(July 25, 1979 LAS VEGAS)

Hyde stumbled into his cheap motel room. His clothes were messy and his face was dirty. It was dark out, so he decided to not wear his sunglasses. His eyes had an angry gleam to them and he glanced down at his nearly empty bottle of whiskey. He tilted his head back and finished off. He looked at the bottle again and chucked it out the open door. He could hear it smash somewhere in the parking lot.

Zeppelin who was sitting on the bed watched all of this as his master dropped to the ground and put his back to the wall. He hopped off the mattress and walked up to his master as he gained his bearings.

"I'm fine Zeppelin." Hyde slurred as he looked around the room. Vegas was supposed to help him. So why didn't he feel better. "Just had a little bit to much to drinky.."

Zeppelin licked Hyde right on the face, and if they were in Point Place Hyde would have scowled at the dog, but they were in Vegas and he was drunk.

"Alright down boy." He said with a chuckle. He had never believed that bullshit about dogs being man's best friends and crap, but with Zeppelin it was different. The dog had become an extension of him. When Hyde was angry, he seemed to know how to calm him down and when he was upset he hung around and did sappy shit like lick him on the face to cheer him up. Hyde looked at Zeppelin sadly.

"I miss her man." Hyde slurred to the dog. "I know I should hate her, but I just miss her man." He admitted softly as he laid on the floor in a drunken heap. Zeppelin curled up on the floor next to him as he slowly fell asleep.

"Maybe tomorrow I'll rest a little bit." He muttered as he passed out.

Hey guys back again with a new chapter. This one dedicated to the great Glenn Fry, because the man is a legend and Take It Easy is one of my favorite songs. Anyway hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and remember always hate season 8. Oh and to those that were wondering about the name of this story, yes it is named after the Kansas song. Because One: Carry on My Wayward Son kicks ass and Two: It seemed fitting I guess.

With that said good night.