Disclaimer: I do not own That 70s Show.

A/N: Don't have much to say except that the second part of this chapter is sorta rated M, so if you don't like that stuff, you can just skip to the last section :) Hope you enjoy.

Hyde had never really smiled while he was kissing before Jackie. Kissing had never been anything more than making out - hot and heavy and fun and a fantastic way to pass the time. It was still all those things. But, man, sometimes, when he was makin' out with Jackie, he couldn't stop freaking smiling. Like right now.

She was smiling, too, and letting out these little laughs that he loved hearing. She giggled again, pulling away from his face. He opened his eyes and could see hers, lidded and almost completely closed, as she ventured from his lips and stamped kisses up and down his cheek and jawline.

She laughed again. "This thing tickles."

"What thing?" he asked, a smaller but softer smile on his own face.

"This," she lifted both her hands and cupped his face, letting her hands run up and down the sides of his cheek, scratching at his beard. "You should shave it off."

Smiling wider, he shook his head and murmured, "That's not happening," against her lips, kissing them again.

"Oh, why not?" she asked, pouting out her lip after several seconds.

"The beard's awesome, man," he explained. "Makes me look older and cooler. And more zen. People take me more seriously with the beard. The beard stays."

"I don't even remember what you looked like without it."

"Good. Then you have nothing to miss."

Jackie sighed, dropping her shoulders dramatically as his hands tightened around her waist. Hyde licked his lips and waited patiently for the conversation to be over. She looked prettier than she did yesterday (she got prettier every day) and he wanted to get back to kissing her as soon as possible.

"Why can't you be one of those guys that just does whatever the girl asks?"

He gave her a look. "Cause then I'd be Forman."

Jackie thought about it for a second then shuddered. "Ugh, You're right. But at least some things."

"Nope. I know how chicks work. Give an inch and you want a whole freakin' mile. Look at Forman, walkin' around wearing that big ugly ring."

Jackie frowned and twisted her hands further around his neck, lacing her fingers together at the base of it. "What ring?"

"Donna got him this man ring as a symbol of their love or some shit like that. Forman said it was so ugly the elephant man wears it to distract people from his face." Jackie's jaw dropped. Hyde smiled again, nodding. "And let me tell ya, he's not wrong. The thing's about the size of the moon. And if that's not bad enough, Fez likes it."

Jackie gasped. "Eric hates the ring Donna gave him? Steven, that's terrible!"

Hyde scoffed. "Yeah. And I'm tellin' ya from now, if you ever get me a ring, I'm not gonna wear it."

He shouldn't have said that - he knew it from the moment Jackie's eyebrows flew into her forehead. "Oh, I won't," she promised. "You don't have to worry about that. I never waste money on people I'm not dating."

He blinked at her, keeping his gaze even. "Whatever."

"I am not your girlfriend, Steven."

"I know," he said, trying to keep his voice light.

"And if I ever did get you a ring - which I wouldn't - it would be beautiful."

"Whatever."

"And when Donna finds out-"

Hyde took his hands off her waist for the first time since she sat herself down on his lap and lifted them in the air. "Wait, wait, wait," he stopped her. "No, Jackie, you can't tell anyone I told you that."

Her eyes focused intensely on his. "It's a secret?" she curiously asked.

He mirrored her gaze. "Yeah, it's a secret. So no blabbering."

She grinned mischievously. "I love secrets."

"Fine. Now promise me you'll keep this one."

Another smile. "Deal."

He sighed, slightly relieved with her promise. "Good. Now can we get back to business?"

Jackie laughed again, bending her head to kiss him, and he smiled.

He hadn't meant to say it. Hadn't even realized he'd been thinking about it until he heard the word come out of his mouth as if he were standing across the room, and saw the fire of recognition burn in her eyes.

"You just called me your girlfriend."

Oh man there was no taking this back. Girlfriend. Hell if he knew how to be a proper boyfriend. And Jackie…

"No I didn't."

"Yes. You did."

"No I didn't," he denied quickly.

"Yes you did!"

"No I didn't!"

"Yes you did and shut up you're ruining it."

Girlfriend. His mind felt like it was going blank.

Then Jackie moved off the ottoman and sat next to him, swinging her leg over his. Having her so close to him wasn't doing much to help his senses.

"Okay, now listen," she was saying, "I'll keep my mouth shut if you admit that I'm your girlfriend."

Jesus. She was trying to negotiate her way into making it real. Girlfriend. Jackie. Dating. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. The only reason Hyde could say no to her was because he had tons of practice with lying. "No, the price is too high," he said, determined not to make it so easy for her.

"Okay, fine. You know what? I'm telling everybody anything anyways. Starting with the fact that you called me your girlfriend."

"You're blackmailing me?" She had to be insane. She was evil. Badass. And totally, extraordinarily hot. "You're coming along nicely."

They both had smiles on their faces again when they kissed, leaning towards each other with new vehemence.

Girlfriend. It changed nothing and it changed everything.

She scooted closer to him, tumbling onto his lap and pressing their bodies together as much as possible. His hands trailed down from her face, caressing her neck, her arms, until they landed at her waist and held her tightly, squeezing her closer.

She hummed softly against his lips and Hyde kissed her deeper in response, taking it as a good sign when her fingers tangled up in his hair and tugged lightly.

They fell back clumsily but still holding onto each other, and somehow, despite the confines of his tiny cot, they rolled over so he was on top of her, holding his weight with his arms and leaving only an inch of space between their bodies.

He kissed her until he couldn't breathe, and even then, he just moved from her mouth to her jaw, kissing her favorite places, drawing patterns down her neck, then back up and kissed her lips again.

Hyde had kissed plenty of people before. More than he'd ever be able to remember. But never, not once, had he kissed a girlfriend. His girlfriend.

"The door," Jackie whispered. At first he thought he wasn't hearing correctly, that Jackie was screwing with his senses so bad he couldn't even make out actual words she was saying. But then she said again, "Close the door, Steven."

The last thing he wanted to do was stop what they were doing. But it was in his own best interest to do what she said, so, sighing, he climbed off the bed and walked across the room, peeking outside to see that no one was out there before he shut and locked the door.

Turning back around, he saw Jackie, still laying down but balancing on her elbows to look up at him.

"I'm your girlfriend," she said as he made his way back to her.

"Yeah," he said, sitting down on the edge of the cot, looking her over like it was the first time he was seeing her like this - hair mussed up and eyes hungry and lips swollen. The sight of her made his heart race. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

She sat up too, tilting her chin up slightly to look at him. "You're my boyfriend."

"Yeah," he nodded. "Guess so."

"Say it."

He smirked, then he snaked a hand around the back of her neck and scratched his fingers gently against her skin. His smile deepened when he heard the soft sound of her breath catching in her throat.

"You're my girlfriend," he stated, holding eye contact with her.

"Say it again." Her voice was soft.

"You're my girlfriend," he repeated, bending down to press a kiss at the spot right below her ear, then mumble the words, "Prettiest girlfriend I've ever had."

"That's not fair," she argued, but her voice was shaky. "I'm the only girlfriend you've ever had."

Trust Jackie to find a problem with something that was meant to be a compliment. "Fine. Prettiest girlfriend I'll ever have."

Those were the magic words. In less than a second Jackie turned her head to the side to capture his lips with hers, her hands flying into his hair and pulling him down with her so he was settled on top of her again.

Her tongue invaded his mouth, tasting all of him. He could feel her heart beating, pushing the emotion out of her, as they kissed, and kissed, and kissed.

He had no idea how much time had passed before she stopped kissing him to shove off the vest he was wearing over his shirt. Following her lead, he grabbed the hem of the shirt, and she sat up so he could haul it off her. She got to work then on his shirt, undoing the buttons as fast as she could, then peeling it off his arms and throwing it to the ground.

They wasted no time. He was back on top of her in seconds. Feeling her skin against his was like being given a shot of adrenaline. She spread her legs, giving him space to settle right between them. It was crazy how perfectly they fit. He never would've guessed it, seeing how small and frail she was. But it was not like anything he'd ever had before. They clicked into place immediately. Nothing had ever felt so right, so natural.

Her legs wrapped around his waist and fingers scratched his back until they found their place in his hair.

He was hard now. Could feel his dick straining in his jeans. He didn't want to get his hopes up. He and Jackie hadn't had sex since...since before Donna and Kelso came back. But they also hadn't made out like this since then.

He felt one of her hands fall from his hair and land at his side, and in seconds he reached for it, winding their fingers together and holding their hands over her head. Her hand squeezed his and, God, he didn't think holding someone's hand could be so intimate and such a turn at the same time, but it was.

They stopped to breathe, breathing in the same air, looking at each other with wild, desperate eyes. "Steven," she mumbled, almost like a whimper.

Then, remembering how much words turned her on, he was back on her, kissing her lips once, hard, then her cheek until he reached her ear and said huskily, "I'm your boyfriend, Jackie. Yours."

Her back reflexively arched up, pressing her chest up against his as he pushed down, so there was not an ounce of space between them. She could feel him, even through both their jeans, and the contact elicited a moan out of her. Hyde smiled and pushed himself down more.

She was squirming now, lifting her hips up and tightening her legs around his waist.

"Steven…" she moaned again.

"Jackie," he replied, keeping his tone as even and calm and low as possible.

"You should put on some music."

He kissed her teasingly, using a hand to slide up the sides of her stomach then stopping over one of her breasts, palming it and squeezing all while keeping his middle pressed up against hers.

"Oh my God," her eyes fluttered closed. He started moving against her, only a little, but enough. "Oh my God. I'm serious, Steven. Music. I can't-"

He rolled off her quickly and crossed the room in record time, opening the record player and putting in the first vinyl his hands reached. He didn't know or care what it was.

Jackie was waiting for him in the same exact position he'd left her. It took an unreasonable amount of effort, but he forced himself to walk back to her slowly, enjoying the way her eyes clung to him pleadingly. He sat next to her and placed his hands gently at her waist, inching them up slowly. His fingers were nimble and moved slowly and in circles up her abdomen.

Reading his mind, she lifted her back the second his fingers reached her bra, and he undid the clasp, then slid the straps off her arms and added it to the pile of clothing on the ground. He slid his hands over her skin again, over her breasts then back down her stomach, lingering especially at the base, where her stomach met her waist.

She stayed quiet as he unbuttoned her jeans, moving only when she needed to help him as he slid them off her.

It never stopped amazing him how perfect she was. And she was - lying on his cot in nothing but her underwear. Perfect.

He stood up and took off his belt, undoing his button, moving with deliberate slowness to take off his own jeans.

Then he started by kissing her stomach, right above the band of her underwear, then kissed up, up, up, until he reached his destination and took one of her breasts in his mouth. It was like she suddenly remembered she could speak, and a mixture of indecipherable words and moans poured from her mouth. She was right - the music did help to drown out the sounds.

Her hands twisted in his hair as he moved to her other one and she said his name, over and over and over.

"Steven, please." Her hips arched up again, begging for his closeness.

He kissed along her collarbone and up her neck. "Right now," he promised her right before kissing her lips again, ignoring the urgency with which she tried to kiss him back and letting his tongue move slowly, purposefully.

The next time her hips arched up, he gave her what she wanted, pressing down against her and moving his hips so she could feel how much he wanted her at the spot where she wanted him most.

"Oh God, Steven," she let out breathlessly. Her eyes asked him the silent question, and he nodded. He couldn't wait any longer either.

He took off his boxers and reached into the drawer for a condom, accidentally spilling over the entire box in his hurry. Muttering a small curse, he slammed the drawer shut and opened the package, rolling it on himself.

Still between her legs, he bent one of them forward as he pulled down her underwear, sliding it off her leg, then doing the same with her other leg. He looked at her - all of her - and she was the only thing to exist in the entire world.

He still couldn't tell what music was playing. She was all he could think of. And, fuck it, he had to say it.

He put both her legs around his waist and positioned himself. "Jackie," he said, and she looked at him the way you look at the stars. Wondrously. Like you couldn't believe that they were real. "You're fuckin' perfect."

Then he slid into her in one move, and before she could react he swallowed her moans with another kiss.

Jackie loved him.

She was surprised to feel so calm about it, and so sure about it. Years ago, when she had decided she 'loved' Michael, it had taken her long and careful deliberation. She had created lists and double-checked her Cosmos. And when she finally came to the conclusion that, yes, she was in fact in love with him, she had been so excited and elated that she couldn't wait to tell him.

But with Steven she just knew. The moment after they'd finished having sex she'd known it was more than that. They had made love, and Steven would laugh at her if she ever said it, but it was true. She loved him. She loved him.

It didn't feel like new information, something she had to make sure about. It didn't even feel like information. It was just a fact of the matter that she came to accept. She loved him. It was easy as breathing, loving him. It was part of who she was.

She was Jackie Burkart and she loved Steven Hyde. Two statements that just made complete and total sense.

But she couldn't tell him yet. God, she couldn't even tell him soon. It had taken months for her to get him to call her his girlfriend. They'd just gotten to that milestone. Anything more would send him running for the hills.

Jackie was oddly okay with that. She didn't have a burning desire to know whether he felt the same way, or to do anything crazy to make sure he did. Loving him was enough. Being with him was enough.

She was a girl in love with her boyfriend on their first date. Their first real date.

Which also wasn't something she was used to. Dates, her mother had always told her, were special. You should always look your best (and expect your date to as well). Always carry money but never offer to pay. And if he doesn't take you anywhere expensive he isn't worth it.

But her mother was on vacation in Mexico and her advice felt that far away too. Jackie and Steven were nowhere even close to expensive, at a place they'd both been dozens of times before with their friends, and once alone: the water tower. It was nice to watch the sunsets, he had explained to her on their way over. Especially at this time of year.

So that was what they were doing. And it was maybe the most peaceful Jackie had ever felt. She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed, breaking the silence.

"This is so beautiful, she murmured. "Do you this a lot?"

"Do what a lot?"

"Come here. Look at the sunset."

She felt his head tilt slightly and knew he was looking at her through the corner of his eye. "You mean with a chick?"

"No," Jackie said. "Not necessarily."

"Not so much anymore," he said with a sigh of his own. "Used to, to get away from Edna for a while. I've told you that. I've brought you here before."

Jackie looked down and reached out to grab his hands, linking them together. "I remember," she said softly, thinking about last summer, when she and Steven had first gotten together. They'd snuck around all over the place, and one day he had brought her here. She had been up on the tower before, of course, but that day had felt different. It had felt like she and Steven were the only two people in the world. It felt like that now too. "That's when it changed for me."

"When what changed?"

"Us. This summer. I didn't know it yet, but...that's when it went from being just a fling to something else."

Steven nodded but didn't say anything else, keeping his gaze focused on the forest of trees below them.

"So," she prodded, elbowing him lightly. "When did it change for you?"

He answered with a deep breath. "Couldn't tell ya, Jackie. I don't know."

She pouted. "That's not romantic."

"Well," he shrugged.

In too peaceful of a mood to argue with him, Jackie didn't answer him. She glanced down at their hands and thought about how the last time they had been here alone, Jackie had dared him to hold her hand, then almost died of embarrassment. That day she'd been a blushing mess, melting to puddles every time he touched her. She hadn't dreamed that they'd ever come back again - and especially not as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Suddenly, all her love and feelings for him washed over her, and she turned and curled herself into his side, wrapping her other hand around his torso. His warmth enveloped her. She had thought back then that she was happy - it was nothing compared to what she felt now.

He lay a small kiss on the top of her head. She wondered if he was thinking about the same day.

"Wanna play truth or dare again?" she asked.

"Hell no."

She laughed quietly. "Fine."

It grew quiet again for a couple more minutes. Comfortably so. Then, without thinking much about it, Jackie asked, "Have you ever given a girl flowers?"

He rolled his eyes. "I've never given a girl anything."

"I like sunflowers. For future reference."

"Good to know."

"Are you gonna ask me why?"

"You're gonna tell me anyway."

"My mother always hated the color yellow. She said it was too bright for a town like this. And that on me it made my skin look pale and ugly."

"She told you that?"

"Yeah," Jackie said, and she couldn't stop talking if she wanted to. "She was trying to help me. Warn me from making the wrong fashion choices. Anyway, Daddy used to bring me flowers whenever he missed an event or birthday or anniversary or whatever. So I always asked for sunflowers, so that they'd always be somewhere in the house. It used to drive her crazy." She giggled a little bit. "It felt good, you know? Being able to make her as crazy as she made me."

"So you rebelled by picking sunflowers."

"And it was so satisfying."

"How often did you get 'em?"

"What?"

"The flowers. You said you got 'em whenever your dad missed something important. How often was that?"

For whatever reason, Jackie's stomach started to turn, like she was nervous. "Oh, well...you know, he works a lot. So he can't make it for my birthday every single year. And his job is so much more important than silly little pageants or pep rallies."

Jackie paused. Steven hesitated a moment, then said, "Sure."

"On my birthdays he got me more than just flowers. He always makes sure to get me real gifts too."

"And your mom?"

"Oh, she's around when she's around." It was an odd sensation - she felt exposed and vulnerable talking about this, but not judged or uncomfortable. Wary, but not scared. "She travels a lot. But when she's at home we spend a bunch of time together. We go shopping, and get our nails done, and get out hair styled. And she reminds me when I'm losing sight of what's important."

"And what's that?"

"Being the best, Steven," she replied simply, as if it were obvious. "She wants the best for me, and to get the best you have to be the best."

She hoped it wasn't showing how much she resented her parents. It was too soon to pile a bunch of baggage on top of everything.

But he just mumbled, "C'mere," and patted the space between his legs. Jackie gave him a puzzled look, but did as he asked, shifting from his side to between his legs, resting her back against his chest. He circled his hands around her and held her tightly, then he kissed her shoulder and asked, "When's your next pep rally?"

Confused again, Jackie told him. "Two weeks."

"I'll be there."

She felt like her heart stopped beating, then she realized that it was her breathing that had stopped. He was perfect. Perfect.

Closing her hands over his, she leaned back into his embrace and talked some more. She could trust him, she realized. More than she's ever trusted anyone in her life.

"The last time both my parents were with me on my birthday was when I turned 11." She paused, checking to see if he would say something, but he didn't. "I was excited, because before that I'd been 8, and we had this big day planned. It was supposed to be all about me. My dad planned to have a huge banquet at the country club in my honor. While my mom was helping me get dressed she kept saying things like 'your dad is such a family man' and asking me stuff like 'don't you wish your dad would be able to take care of all of Point Place the way he takes care of you?'

"I was too excited to realize what was going on. But the party wasn't fun. All the other girls were mean and they wouldn't let me choose what games we played, even though it was my birthday. So I went to find my mom, to tell her I wanted to leave. And I caught her flirting with this other guy - I wasn't stupid, I knew what flirting looked like. I was so confused because she knew Daddy was there. So I asked her about it, and she pulled me to the side and told me 'not now, Jackie, Mommy's doing her job.' So then I went to find my dad because this was a party - my party. Mom wasn't supposed to be working.

"He was in a room at the back of the club, with a bunch of other men in suits and ties. A business meeting. One of the men called me over. Told me happy birthday, said my dress was pretty. Then he asked me what I thought about my dad working in government - about him working for all the people who lived in this town."

Jackie took a deep breath.

"What did you say?" Steven's voice was deep and soothing and calmed her nerves.

"I said I wished Daddy could take care of all of Point Place the way he took care of me. That's what I was supposed to say. That's why I was there. That's what the party was for. And it worked. He got the job."

Jackie could feel his heart beating and hear the steady beats of his breath, but Steven said nothing. Just held her tighter.

"Your turn," she said breathlessly.

"What?"

"Tell me something you've never told anyone."

She hadn't expected it to work. She knew Steven was lightyears behind her when it came to opening up. But she stayed silent and patient. Then -

"When my folks left - the second time - it was my fault."

"Steven, don't-" His hand flew up and covered her mouth and she shut up immediately. It was his turn. She didn't want to ruin that.

"My Ma came back. Think Bud called her. Either way, she'd been back for 'bout a week or so. And livin' at that apartment was...man. Edna refused to leave - ever. She was in there all day every day, stinkin' up the place, not doing anything with her life. Bud would bring home some drinks he stole from the bar for them to have when he got home. Always offered me some, but I never took 'em. It was still weird for me, havin' Edna around, and sometimes she and Bud would get frisky, and, man, I didn't wanna see that. So I stayed in my room. Did some homework. Listened to Zeppelin till they started yellin' at me to turn it down.

"Then one day he came home without any beer. Got Edna upset. So I asked him what happened to his stash, and he said he got sacked. Sacked from the easiest damn job on the planet cause they found out he'd been the one stealing beers. Then he told me I was gonna have to pick up his share of rent till he found another job. And I was already payin' more than half, so I told him - I said no. That he was a fuckin' ass for losin' a job meant for deadbeats anyway. Then Edna butt in, told me to have some compassion for your father. That families take care of each other and right now I had to take care of them. It was a load of crap and I told her that. That it's all fuckin' bullshit and they're fuckin' bullshit. Then Bud told me not to talk to your mother like that.

"So I asked - 'what're you gonna do about it?' And he showed me. Clocked me with a good right hand. Told me I should be damn grateful they came back for me. As if they came back for me. Told 'em they shouldn't have. That leaving was the best damn they they'd ever done for me.

"'Fine, we'll go again,' he told me. So I said not to take anything on the way out, that they didn't pay for any of it anyway. And they left. Didn't tell me where they were goin' and I didn't wanna know."

Jackie waited, but nothing else came from his mouth. Taking that as the all clear, she twisted around in his lap to face him, her eyes wide and sad. "He hit you?"

Steven smiled at her, a sad smile, but comforting nonetheless. He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and reassured her, "Don't worry. I got in a few good punches too."

He was the bravest person she'd ever known.

She leaned forward and kissed him, pressing their lips together hard. I love you I love you I love you.

She hoped he could feel it, in the way she was kissing him and the way her heart was beating.

"You know what'll make me feel better?" he whispered huskily under his breath.

"What?"

"If we did it. Right here, right now."

Jackie's shoulders dropped, and she slapped his. "You ruined the moment."

She turned back around and folded her arms as she rested against his chest once again. It grew quiet again.

Jackie pondered it for a minute, then she said seriously, "You know it wasn't your fault, right?"

Pressed up against him, Jackie could feel the moment he stopped breathing and his heart skipped. "I know," he said.

She wasn't sure if he believed it, but for good measure, she picked up his hand and pressed his knuckles to her lips. I love you, she thought. And maybe that time he felt it, because his body sighed, and he hugged her again, resting his head on her shoulder as the night replaced the day.