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elianamarie-blog · 2 days ago

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The Things You Give Pt. 35

OH MY GOD I'm so sorry! I never intended for this to take as long as it did! I did work on it almost everyday, I promise! I just got caught up with work, baby, and then sickness! I hope ya'll didn't forget about me. To be fair, I did make this chapter super long because the next chapter will be the finale! I can't believe I've been doing this for three or four years, guys! It's been a wild ride and I enjoyed every minute of it. I hope you enjoy it! Leave a like and a comment if you kindly could. Thank you for the ride so far. You guys have been amazing <3

Steven sat right outside the room, hunched over in his seat while he fiddled with his wedding ring. He was trying his hardest to keep tears from surfacing and spilling over, but knowing that his wife was possibly dying, he couldn’t handle it. He hid his red rimmed eyes behind his aviators as he focused solely on his hands.

“Hey,” Red’s gentle voice pulled him out of his thoughts as he approached him.

“Hey,” Steven responded, voice gravelly and sniffed.

“Have you heard anything?”

He shook his head. “No, they’re still in there with her.”

“Have you seen the twins?”

“No, not yet. I haven’t gotten a chance to even hold them yet,” Steven responded, his voice growing weaker. “It all just happened so fast.”

“They’re in the nursery,” Red explained and gently sat next to Hyde. “They’re beautiful, Steven. Congratulations.”

“Don’t congratulate me if I’m about to become a widower.”

“C’mon,” Red said under his breath. “Nothing’s going to happen to her. She’s going to be okay.”

“You didn’t see her the way I did,” Steven whispered. “She became unconscious…so fast…I couldn’t even register what was happening.” He put his face in his hands and took a deep breath. “I can’t lose her, Red.”

Red placed a comforting hand on Steven’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “You’re not going to. She’s going to be just fine, son.”

“Yeah,” Steven said shortly and sniffed before reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his wallet. When he opened it up, he pulled out the polaroid picture from the day at the carnival all those months ago.

He stared down at picture, down at her beautiful face remembering that day. How he didn’t want that picture taken of them because he was afraid it would get published in the paper and everyone would find out. How stupid he was. If he knew then what he knows now, he wouldn’t have been so aloof about taking a stupid picture.

“You know I didn’t want to have this picture taken,” Steven told Red. “I was so afraid that we would get caught I didn’t want any ‘evidence’ of our relationship. Can you believe that?” he sniffed again. “I didn’t want any proof that we were together in fear of everyone finding out.” He shook his head and looked back down at the picture. “God, I was such an ass.”

Red looked down at the photo fondly and then back to his son-in-law. “Come take a walk with me.”

Hyde shook his head. “I need to be here when they come out.”

“This won’t take long.”

Hyde sniffed before nodding and stood. “Okay.”

Red led him down the hall and made a left. When Hyde looked up, he was staring through a window to a room full of babies. Some crying, some sleeping, and some lying there while staring up at the ceiling.

“Look, do you see them?” Red asked quietly, as if he was afraid that he was going to wake up the sleeping babies.

It took Hyde a minute, but after a bit of searching the room, he finally saw his babies laying in their own individual bassinets that were labeled “Baby Boy Hyde” and “Baby Girl Hyde.”

“Are those my—?”

“Those are your children,” Red answered with a certain adorning look in his eye.

“They’re amazing,” Steven whispered, feeling a lump form in his throat.

“They really are.”

“They look just like Y/n. We haven’t even named them yet. We didn’t get a chance to…”

Red placed a hand on his son-in-law’s shoulder. “You will. Together.”

Steven didn’t respond, but continued to stare at the miracle of his babies. He was completely awe struck by just looking at their features; he could see so much of his beautiful wife in them, but when he looked at his boy, he saw himself when he was baby. Edna hadn’t been a complete monster growing up. She had at least baby pictures of him scattered around the house—granted it wasn’t many, but she still had taken some of him when he was just a baby and he swore his son was a carbon copy of him.

But when he looked at his baby girl, all he saw was Y/n and oh, was she perfect.

He wasn’t sure how long he was standing there before Eric came up behind them.

“Hey, man, I heard about Y/n. Is she okay?!”

“I don’t know,” Hyde responded without looking up. “She’s still in surgery.”

“How long as she been in surgery?” Donna asked.

“Bout an hour,” Red answered.

“That’s a while,” Donna commented and placed a hand on Steven’s shoulder. “Are you doing okay?”

He shook his head and looked away from the babies. “No. No, I’m not.”

Before he let anyone say another word, he walked away to get back to the room he was waiting outside of.

After a minute of silence, Donna turned to the glass and laid eyes on the cutest babies she’s ever seen. “Oh, my God…are these the twins?”

“Yes, they are,” Red said proudly.

“They’re so tiny,” Donna whispered. “And cute. They’re so cute.”

Red and Eric quickly exchanged panicked glances.

“Uh, Donna…” Eric whined.

“I want one,” she said.

“CRAP!” Red and Eric said in unison.

∞∞∞

Hyde wasn’t sure how long he had been staring at the white wall ahead of him before it looked like it started to warp and move in front of him. He quickly rubbed at his eyes and sniffed before standing to start pacing.

How much longer was she going to be in there? Being in there for this long certainly couldn’t be a good sign if it has taken them over an hour to save her life.

“Steven,” another voice called from behind him.

When he turned, he rolled his eyes and turned back around. “Now’s not a good time, Edna.”

“I’m not here to start anything. I just want to be here for you and Y/n.”

“Sure, you are. How did you even find out? Did Mrs. Forman call you again?”

“No, I called the house phone and some loud-mouthed girl picked up.”

Hyde sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Damn it, Jackie.”

“Look, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that I’m here and I can help.”

That made him turn sharply towards her. “Help with what, exactly? I don’t know if you remember, but you weren’t exactly ‘helpful’ raising me.”

“Oh, Steven, let’s not hash out the past.”

“Okay, I’m not having this conversation with you in the middle of the hospital. You can go now.”

“But Steven—”

“I said go,” he said sternly, this time making direct eye contact with her. “I don’t know what you think I mean when I say I don’t want you in mine or my children’s lives, but it sure as hell doesn’t mean to stay. I will not allow you to treat my family the same way you treated me.”

“But that’s why I’m here—to make things right!”

Steven was about to open his mouth to respond, only to be cut off by Dr. Lee walking up to him. “Mr. Hyde?”

He spun so fast to meet the doctor. “Yes?”

“They’re finished if you want to come to see her.”

“Is she okay?”

The doctor gave him a gentle smile. “She’s going to be fine. She’s still out of it from the anesthesia but you’re welcome to come see her.”

“Yeah, one second,” he said and turned back to Edna. “You wanna make things right? Stay out of my life.”

He didn’t wait for her to answer as he turned back around and followed the doctor, leaving a quiet and irritated Edna.

Once they reached the room, the doctor stopped him from entering.

“Before you go in, there’s some things we’d like you to know.”

“Okay?”

“She lost a lot of blood while in the OR,” Dr. Lee said. “While she is stable, she’s going to take some time to recover. So, any nausea, lightheadedness, or dizzy is normal. Definitely will feel weakness. She may feel anxious, but I assure you this is all completely normal. We have her hooked up with fluids to help the recovery process speed up.

“But the biggest thing I wanted to explain is: if you two decide to get pregnant again, there is a chance this could happen again. Especially, if she gets pregnant right after this birth.”

“Are you saying she could possibly die next time?” Hyde whispered, his heart pounding.

“That is always a possibility,” Dr. Lee answered carefully. “But not always either. The next pregnancy could be fine and ideal, but we do need to be aware of the risks for next time.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

“And we’ll bring the babies once she’s awake and alert.”

“Of course. Thank you,” he said under his breath and quietly let himself in the room. Seeing the love of his life lay there unconscious made him feel weak in the knees as he approached her. Seeing her chest move from her gently breathing brought a huge wave of relief as he listened to her heart monitor give out a steady beep.

He took a seat next to her and clasped his hands together, resting his chin against his fist. This reminded him of the first time she was in the hospital, right after she collapsed in the driveway. He was there for her, too. Now, she lays once again in another hospital bed after nearly knocking on death’s door.

A sharp breath through the nose made Hyde’s attention snap towards her. She was finally waking up.

“Steven?”

“Oh, my God, Y/n,” Steven said, nearly choking and quickly grabbed her hand.

“How are the babies?” she asked, groggily.

“They’re great,” he responded, fighting back tears. “They’re really, really great.”

She smiled sleepily at him. “What do they look like?”

“Well,” he started and swallowed hard. “Our daughter looks just like you—beautiful,” he responded, caressing her head. “And our son, I see a lot of me.”

She chuckled lightly. “So, he’s handsome just like his daddy.”

He chuckled with her and kissed her forehead. “I guess you can say that.”

“I want to see them.”

“Y-yeah, of course you’ll see them. They’ll bring them in a second. We just need to have the drugs wear off first. You lost a lot of blood.”

“Well, that explains why I feel like crap.” She sighed and winced when she tried to sit herself up.

“Whoa, take it easy. I got you,” Hyde said gently and helped her sit up. “You’re going to be a little out of it until the anesthesia wears off.”

“’A little out of it’ is putting it lightly,” she responded and leaned against the bed. “How’re you doing?”

Hyde scoffed at her. “I should be asking you that. You just pushed out two people and lost a lot of blood in the process.”

“Well, I’m fine, but I want to know how my husband doing.”

Hyde sighed and grabbed her hand, kissing it. “Better now.”

“Better now?” she repeated.

“How do you expect me to react when my wife was dying?”

“Oh, Steven, I’m so sorry,” she whispered and rubbed his hand.

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” He was quiet for a second, avoiding her eyes. “But there is something I need to tell you.”

Y/n’s face fell at his seriousness, her heart dropping. “What?”

He sighed before continuing. “My mom is here.”

She closed her eyes and sighed in relief. “That’s it? I thought there was something wrong with the babies.”

“No, no,” he chuckled, relieved that she wasn’t upset. “I just wanted to warn you in case she came in.”

“How did she find out?”

“She called the house.”

Y/n sighed. “Jackie.”

“Yep,” he responded. “But I sent her away.”

“Well, if you think that’s best.”

��It is,” he said firmly. “I don’t need her stressing you out while you’re in this state.”

“I’m surprised she even showed up.”

“Yeah,” he chuckled. “Same here. She couldn’t bother herself to show up to my graduation, let alone my entire upbringing, but she’ll show up for our children.”

“Maybe she wants to do things differently,” Y/n defended gently.

He shrugged. “That’s what she said, but I don’t know. Not that it matters. Right now, I just want to focus on you and the babies.”

Y/n hummed and grabbed his hand. “You know…we still have names to think of.”

He smiled gently at her, rubbing circles with his thumb on her hand. “I think I’ve got an idea.”

--Meanwhile-

“Have you heard from Y/n’s doctor?” Kitty asked Red as they sat in the waiting room. She checked her watch. “It’s been a while.”

When Red didn’t respond, Kitty looked over to her husband who was asleep in the chair next to her, snoring.

“Red!”

“What?!” he startled awake.

“How can you be sleeping at a time like this?”

“Kitty, she’s fine,” he grunted as he sat up in his chair. “The doctor came out and confirmed it. Steven is with her right now.”

“What’s even worse is that their friends couldn’t even be here to make sure she’s okay!” Kitty continued.

“Kitty, it’s two o’ clock in the morning, it’s okay that they went home to get some rest. Which we should do, too.”

“I’m not leaving until I see my baby and meet my grandbabies,” she said stubbornly.

“Hey, do either of you have any cash for the vending machine?” Eric asked.

“Sorry, my cash is reserved for those that are staying in the country,” Kitty responded.

Eric groaned. “Are we going to do this now?”

“No better time while we wait!” Kitty answered. “Why Africa? Why do you have to leave?”

“You know why, Mom.”

“No! No, I don’t! You’re leaving behind not only me and your father, but your sisters and now niece and nephew! You’re going to miss so much!”

“What do you expect me to do, huh?” Eric asked, feeling exhausted and frustrated. “Put my entire life on hold because you don’t want me to leave Point Place?”

“Well, no,” she responded, sputtering a bit. “I just mean…you can have your life here in Point Place.”

“What life?!” Eric almost shouted. “There’s nothing for me here. This town doesn’t offer me anything. If I want to do anything with my life I need to leave.”

“This town has been home to you for almost nineteen years. You need to respect it.”

“Respect what?” he challenged. “Just because I was born and raised here means I’m bounded here? I’m not going to stay stuck here just because you feel like I should feel obligated to stay here!” It was quiet between them for a second before Eric spoke up again, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I want to do bigger things than this town can offer. I can’t grow here if I don’t. It’s not like I’m leaving and never coming back. I can always come back. But I’m not going to know what’s out there for me if I don’t leave.”

Kitty opened her mouth to respond when Hyde popped around the corner, exhausted, but upbeat.

“Steven? Is everything okay?” Kitty asked, pushing past Eric. “Please tell me it is.”

He smiled tiredly at her. “Yeah, everyone is great.”

“Oh, good,” she sighed in relief.

“Did you guys want to meet them?”

Kitty’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Yeah,” he said, smiling.

“What kind of twins are they?” Red asked, beginning to feel excited.

“A boy and a girl.”

“Oh, my God!” Kitty almost exclaimed and turned to Eric. “Just like you guys!”

“Come on, I can’t wait for you to meet them,” Steven responded and led them back to the room.

--A few minutes later—

Y/n sat in the bed holding her newborns in each arm, staring at them in awe when the door quietly opened.

“Hey,” Kitty, Red, and Eric all greeted gently as they entered the room.

“I hope it’s okay that we’re all here,” Kitty said.

“Of course. Come on in,” Y/n practically whispered, grinning from ear to ear.

As the new grandparents and uncle neared closer to the babies, they could all feel their hearts begin to swell.

“Oh, my God,” Kitty whispered, putting her purse down beside the bed. “They are so beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Y/n beamed and looked up to Steven who had seated himself beside her on the bed and looked down fondly on his new family.

“How’re you feeling, kiddo?” Red asked.

“I’m okay,” Y/n answered honestly. “Sore, exhausted, but I’m okay. I’m just happy that they’re here.” She looked down to her children and smiled as they grunted and cooed at her. “I’m so in love.”

“Can I hold one of them?” Kitty asked, fighting back tears.

“Yeah, of course,” Y/n answered. “You can take her.”

Kitty sniffed and gingerly picked up her granddaughter in her arms. “She’s perfect. What’re their names?”

“Well,” Y/n started. “We decided to name her Katerina Donna.”

“Katerina?” Kitty asked, her eyes widening.

Y/n nodded. “We thought the nickname ‘Kat’ fit her nicely.”

“Oh,” Kitty sighed, tears starting to form at the corner of her eyes. “Just like Kitty.”

“And of course, Donna, because she’s so great and the godmother,” Y/n finished.

“That’s beautiful, honey,” Red said, resting a hand on his wife’s shoulder as he looked down to his granddaughter.

“Y/n, Donna is going to love that,” Eric said, looking down at his new niece.

“And the little tyke?” Red asked.

“Leonard ‘Leo’ Reginald Hyde,” Steven responded, watching Red’s expression carefully.

Red snapped his gaze to his daughter and son-in-law. “Really?”

Hyde nodded. “I thought we would honor the people that stepped in and helped me when I needed it the most.”

Red could feel his eyes starting to get misty, but he cleared his throat and sniffed before pulling Steven into a hug. “Thank you.”

“Yeah…well,” Steven sniffed and cleared his throat.

“Can I hold him?” Red asked.

Y/n nodded, smiling wide, and handed her son over to her father who was fighting tears back.

“Wow,” he whispered, a proud smile beaming his face.

“I know,” Kitty choked out without looking up. “They’re perfect.”

“Okay, okay, my turn,” Eric said and turned to Kitty. “Can I hold her?”

She handed Katerina to Eric’s welcoming arms. “Hey, little baby,” he cooed. “You’re so cute.”

She looked up at him with a familiar looking grumpy face. Eric chuckled.

“Y/n, she has your grumpy face,” he laughed gently.

“Oh, no, we’re in trouble,” Y/n joked and leaned over to look at her daughter.

Suddenly, the door opened, revealing the nurse. “Hello,” she greeted. “Don’t mind me, I’m just here to check everyone’s vitals.”

“Alright, we’ll leave you guys alone,” Kitty said as Red and Eric set down the babies in the basinets.

“We’ll come by later,” Eric informed. “I have to anyway. I’m getting my shots for Africa.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Y/n responded, slightly disappointed. “You’re still going, huh?”

“Just for a little while. It’s not like it’s forever,” Eric said, trying his best to comfort his sister.

“We can have this conversation later. The new family needs to rest,” Kitty said, ushering everyone out. “Love you, sweetie. We’ll see you guys in a few hours.”

Y/n nodded before leaning back and allowing the nurse to do what she needed, while all concealing the hurt she was feeling.

--Later That Day—

“You guys aren’t going to believe this!” Jackie exclaimed excitedly as she skipped into the basement where Eric, Donna, and Kelso were hanging out. Markus was right behind her, however, looking unhappy and disappointed. “I got offered a job in Chicago!”

“What?” Eric and Donna asked unison.

“Why were you offered a job in Chicago?” Donna asked.

“Well, you remember that tv show I did a while back?” Jackie began to explain and sat down on the adjacent chair from the couch.

“The incredibly degrading one? That I, for whatever reason, helped you air? Yeah, I remember,” Donna replied.

“Well, a station in Chicago reached out to me saying they loved my public access show and wants to offer me a position over there.”

“No way, that’s awesome,” Eric said. “Are you going to take it?”

“Well, that’s the problem,” she continued. “Markus doesn’t know if he can come with me.”

“What do you mean? Why not?” Eric asked.

“I have my family here,” Markus answered. “I mean we moved here to be closer to my grandparents who aren’t doing too well. They need my help.”

“And I told you we can do long distance,” Jackie said, a little frustrated.

“And I said that long distances rarely work out,” he responded, matching her frustration.

“This sounds like a couple problem. So, if you two don’t mind…” Eric said, and waved his hand towards the door.

Jackie rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Eric.” She turned back to Markus. “Look, baby, I already told you the one thing that can make me stay.”

“Jackie, we’ve only been going out for a few months. How can you expect me to marry you?”

“Because I love you…” Jackie whispered in disappointment.

“Oh, this is serious,” Eric mumbled to Donna.

“Yeah, we should probably go,” Donna responded and followed Eric up the stairs.

“Markus, this is my dream,” Jackie continued. “But you are the most important thing in the world to me. I’m willing to give it all up and stay here with you, but I need to know that we have a future together.”

“Jackie, I thought we agreed not to talk about our future right now,” Markus said. “Look, I love you too, but we haven’t even been going out for a full year. If we can find a place here first and live together for a while, then—”

“I might never get another opportunity like this again,” she argued, standing up. “The future is happening now, Markus, and the station needs an answer by noon on Sunday. And so do I.”

Markus stood across from her with his hands on his hips. “You already have your answer…you’re just not willing to accept it.”

It was silent between them as Jackie didn’t know what to say next.

“If I may,” Kelo said, opening the door. “Offer some advice: RUN!”

--The Next Day—

Y/n and Steven relaxed quietly in their hospital room, one each carrying a twin.

“I still think Katerina looks more like you than me,” Y/n said.

“Not when she is as beautiful as you,” he responded cheekily.

“You’re just trying to butter me up so that I don’t tear you a new one for almost missing the birth of your children.”

“No, I wasn’t, but have I mentioned how gorgeous you look today, Darling?” he asked, batting his eyes at her.

She squinted her eyes at him. “Can it, Hyde.” She couldn’t help the small laugh that erupted from her. “It’s okay. You ended up making it on time anyway.”

Steven let out a breath of relief he didn’t know he was holding. “So, we’re good?”

“Yeah, we’re good,” she responded. “Although—”

“Crap!”

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation—and Hyde was grateful for it.

“Come in,” they said in unison.

Donna peeked her head. “Hey, you guys,” she said gently. “Is this a good time?”

“Yeah, it’s perfect, come on in,” Y/n said and look down to Kat. “You wanna meet your Auntie Donna?”

“And Auntie Jackie!” Jackie announced. “And I come bearing gifts!”

“Jackie, I thought we agreed that you can’t talk around the babies,” Hyde said, irritated.

“What? We didn’t have that conversation,” she said, confused.

“Oh, sorry, I meant to,” Steven mumbled. “I decided to make a rule. No talking around the babies.”

“Well, then, how are we ever going to talk?”

“We don’t. In fact, why don’t we get started right now and you be quiet and just leave, yeah?” Hyde asked.

“Steven,” Y/n chided. “Come on in, guys.”

“Wow,” the two girls squealed gently as to not wake the babies.

“Oh, my God you guys!” Jackie gushed. Her eyes landed on Steven who was gently cradling his son’s body to his own. Something about the image in front of her made her smile. “I knew you could do it.”

“Do what?” Hyde asked.

“Be a dad,” Jackie said. “I always knew you were going to be a good one.”

“Jackie, I’ve only been a dad for a day and a half.”

Jackie shrugged. “Pretty sure a bad dad doesn’t look at his kid like that.”

Before Hyde could respond, Donna cut in. “So, what kind of twins are they? And what are their names?”

“That’s a boy,” Y/n responded, pointing to her son. “His name is Leonard ‘Leo’ Reginald.” Donna and Jackie awed and cooed at the name.

“I bet your dad loved that,” Donna said.

“He did,” Y/n said and pointed to her daughter. “And this is a girl, Katerina Donna.”

“Katerina Do—did you name her after me?” Donna asked, choking up.

Tears started to well in Y/n’s eyes as she nodded. “Yeah. You’ve been like a sister to me this whole time, even before all this.”

“Oh, my God, Y/n!” Donna sobbed and squeezed her arms Y/n’s shoulders.

“Um, WHAT?!” Jackie shrieked.

“Ow, Jackie, please. I don’t want my babies’ hearing to be affected by your shrilly voice,” Hyde snarked.

“What the hell is this, Y/n?” Jackie demanded. “Why didn’t you name your daughter after me? What’s wrong with Jackie? It’s a beautiful name for a beautiful girl!”

“Well, thank you for thinking my daughter is beautiful, but—”

“I’m not talking about her, I’m talking about me!” Jackie cut in. “I’m the beautiful girl with a stunning name! You should be grateful I allow myself to be seen with you.”

Y/n looked at her, unimpressed. “Yes, I am so, so lucky,” she deadpanned. “Jackie, Donna and I have been friends forever. And she’s been there for me for years. She’s family at this point.”

“You’re acting like I haven’t done stuff for you either!”

“You have, but—”

“Ah, to hell with you!” Jackie snapped and stormed out. “Last time I’m nice to any of you!”

As she slammed the door, Y/n turned to her best friend and husband. “This whole time she thinks she was being nice?! That’s her being NICE?!”

--Two Days Later--

“Red, what’re you doing sitting down?” Kitty asked as she walked in the kitchen.

Red was sitting in his green chair, peacefully watching TV. “How else am I supposed to watch the Packers game?”

“We’re going to go see Y/n and Steven in the hospital. Why are you watching the game?”

“We just got back three hours ago and you want to go back?”

Kitty placed her fists on her hips. “Yes! You act like it’s such an inconvenience to go see your daughter and her children.”

“It’s not that. It’s just..I…” Red stuttered. “They’re down five to two and I need to see them win.”

“Red!”

“Ugh! Fine!” he groaned and turned off the TV while glaring at his wife. “But if they lose, I’m blaming you!”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s my fault,” Kitty grumbled, rolling her eyes and turned to get her purse. “I want to get there at a decent time before the parking lot gets too full—”

The front door opened suddenly, revealing Y/n and Hyde walking through.

“Hi!” Y/n sang-song as she held one car seat and Hyde held the other.

“Oh, my gosh!” Kitty yelped in surprise and practically jumped on Y/n with a hug. “What’re you guys doing home so early? Here, let me take—which one is this?”

“Leo,” Y/n answered and handed the car seat to her mom. “They were going to keep us for a couple more days, but we were all doing so well I requested we come home.”

“Oh, honey, you both look exhausted. Have you gotten any sleep?” Kitty asked.

“Well, it’s a hospital,” Steven explained. “If you expect to get any sleep, might as well get a hotel room.”

“That would’ve been nice,” Y/n commented. “I just want to go upstairs and sleep for twenty hours.”

“Well, why don’t you?” Kitty asked.

“What?” Y/n and Red asked. Y/n shocked, Red pissed that he’d be having to help Kitty watch babies instead of watching the game.

“You’re going to need all the energy to raise these babies. Let me help,” Kitty offered. “Really, it’s okay.”

Hyde and Y/n looked at each other with exhaustion and relief.

Y/n shrugged, nodding. “That does sound nice.”

“Okay, well, go take a couple hour nap and Red and I will watch the babies.”

Y/n hugged her mom. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Forman,” Steven said and kissed her on the cheek. “We’ll only be a couple hours.”

“It better be,” Red piped up and held up his wrist, staring at his watch. “I’m counting down starting…now.”

“Oh, Dad,” Y/n chuckled.

“Now, you have an hour and fifty-nine minutes left.”

“Dad, come on.”

“Fifty-eight!”

“Okay, okay, we’re going!” Hyde said and directed Y/n and himself upstairs to their bedroom.

--Two Days Later—

“Good morning,” Kitty greeted everyone as she walked in the kitchen. Y/n and Steven had been sat at the table since before the sun came up, feeding the babies, Red was sitting at the table reading the daily paper and Eric had just walked in a few minutes prior, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

“Morning,” the Hydes greeted sleepily as they each held a feeding baby.

“How’d you two sleep?” Kitty asked, grabbing a cup of coffee.

Y/n was so tired that she barley could form a sentence, so all she could do was grunt in response and blink slowly.

“I heard the little rascals screaming so cutely all night,” Red responded with a forced smile.

“Really? I slept like, well, like a baby,” Eric laughed and stretched his arms above his head.

“Shut up, Forman,” Hyde grumbled before yawning.

“I don’t think I will,” Eric replied cheerily.

“Kitty, what’s for breakfast?” Red asked, changing the subject.

“Well, I was thinking I could make some rainbow sprinkle pancakes,” she responded.

“Oh, that’s great!” Eric said excitedly.

“Oh, Eric, I didn’t realize you still lived here. I thought you left for Africa,” Kitty said bitterly.

“No, I’ve been sitting here for, like, ten minutes,” he whined.

“Then you better get going or you’re going to be late for Africa!”

The look of realization crossed Eric’s face. “Oh, I see what you’re doing. You’re trying to make me feel bad for leaving.”

“You’re still here? I thought you were in Africa!”

“Mom, what’re you doing?” Y/n asked. “By repeating ‘Africa’ is not going to make Eric stay. Try taking on a different approach. Like this—” She raised her fist that wasn’t holding a baby and hit him hard in the shoulder. “Don’t go to Africa, dillhole!”

“Ow!” Eric whined and rubbed where his twin’s fist connected to his shoulder. “You’re mean now as a mom.”

“I think she was mean before she got pregnant,” Hyde grumbled as he casually popped the bottle out of his newborn’s mouth to check the measurements.

Y/n glared at him. “You’re lucky you’re holding our daughter right now or I’d slug you, too.”

“Women usually are,” Red mumbled as he flipped a page.

“What was that, Red?” Kitty asked with an eyebrow raised.

Red gave her tight lipped smile. “Nothing, dear.”

Kitty hummed and got to work with making breakfast.

The sliding door opened, revealing Donna.

“Hey,” she greeted everyone before turning to the babies with a giant smile on her face. “And hello to my baby godchildren who look so adorable this morning. Oh, why, yes you do.” She played with their toes while avoiding eye contact to Eric. “I still can’t believe you named her after me. I’m going to be riding that high for a while.”

“Well, her middle name is your name. While my name is her first name,” Kitty said smugly.

“Correction, your full name is Katherine while hers is Katerina. Close, but not her name,” Red corrected.

Kitty’s smirk fell into a grimace. “Dream killer,” she muttered before sharply turning around to finish cooking.

“Oh, yeah they were real cute last night when they were both screaming keeping everyone up,” Hyde mentioned, moving Kat to his shoulder to burp her.

“I slept great,” Eric repeated, smugly.

“How?” Donna asked.

“Earplugs,” he responded.

“You got any extra?” Hyde asked. When Y/n whipped her head at him, glaring, he didn’t flinch. Instead, he shrugged and moved Kat to his shoulder for burping.

If Y/n wasn’t so tired, she would’ve had his head. But instead, she handed him Leo.

“Where you going?” he asked her.

“To find me some earplugs,” she responded over her shoulder as she walked out.

--Later that day—

“Hey, you guys,” Markus said as he entered the basement where everyone was hanging out, minus Jackie. “I really need your help with this whole Jackie thing.”

“What ‘whole Jackie thing?’” Y/n asked as she tended to the twins in their bouncers.

“She got a job offer in Chicago and she’s threatening to go unless Markus marries her,” Eric answered.

“Yep, sounds like Jackie,” Y/n quipped. “What do you need help with exactly?”

“I really do love her, but I don’t know if I’m ready to marry her. For God’s sake, we’re only eighteen!”

“Says the guy telling this to nineteen-year-old married parents,” Donna chuckled.

“No, no, it’s okay,” Y/n assured. “Having kids and getting married at our age definitely wasn’t in our plans, but it’s something that happened and to be honest, I have no regrets.”

“So, you’re saying if I marry Jackie, I won’t have any regrets?”

“Oh, no, you’ll have a lot of regrets,” Y/n laughed. “I’m just saying age isn’t always the factor.”

Markus sighed and slumped down into the lawn chair. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to lose her either.”

“Why?” Hyde asked. “That’s usually the best part.”

“Thanks, man,” Markus deadpanned.

“Look, Jackie is complicated. She does this sorta thing all the time,” Y/n explained. “When she was with Kelso, she threatened him all the time to marry her.”

“Yeah, all the way to California,” Eric chuckled.

“Wait, Jackie does?” Markus questioned.

“Well, to every boyfriend she’s had. All three exes here can testify,” Donna chuckled and looked at Hyde, Kelso, and Fez.

“Who?” Kelso asked with a dumb smile on his face.

Everyone turned to look at him with stoic expressions.

Kelso put his hands in the air. “What? It was just a quest—oh.”

“There we go,” Eric said casually.

“Hey, be nice. I haven’t slept in a week,” Kelso whined.

“I was wondering why your usual porcelain skin looked so dull and tired,” Fez commented and looked offended when everyone stared at him. “What? Is it a crime to notice?!”

“Uh, okay,” Kelso continued, slightly distracted. “I just found out Brooke and Betsy are moving to Chicago and I’m thinking about joining them.”

“What?!” Everyone shouted.

“First Eric, now you?!” Y/n asked.

“I need to go where my kid is,” he confessed. “If I don’t go, I’ll only see her a few times a year, whereas I’ll be able to see her every other week.”

“Man, I don’t know what’s freakier: Kelso being a responsible parent or that he just said ‘whereas’,” Steven said.

“What’re you going to do there? Do you have a job?” Donna asked.

“I do, actually. I got a security job at a strip club.”

“You lucky son of a bitch!” Fez said excitedly. “Now I have even a more reason to visit you.”

“Uh, you can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because you need a passport to come to Chicago and—and foreigners can’t get passports.”

“Kelso, that makes zero sense,” Y/n cut in.

“Hey, it’s what my new boss said,” Kelso defended.

“When do you leave?” Donna asked.

“Two weeks.”

“That soon?” Eric asked.

“Hey, you’re leaving in a few days!” Y/n snapped.

“Okay, you guys have got to quit doing this!” Markus shouted in frustration. “Can we focus on my problem please?!”

“You’re right, I’m sorry,” Y/n said. “Markus, do you love her?”

“Yes.”

“You want to stay with her?”

“Yes.”

“You see a future with her?”

“Yes.”

“Looks like you’re moving to Chicago,” Y/n said before turning to Kat who started fussing in her bouncer.

“But I can’t.”

“Okay, then don’t,” Hyde said.

“But I love her.”

“Then go,” Donna said.

“But—”

“Markus, in case you haven’t caught on by now, we’re bored of this conversation,” Eric quipped.

A look of frustration flashed across his face. “Great, thanks. You guys were helpful.”

“You’re welcome!” Everyone cheered as Markus stormed out the basement.

“If you can convince Jackie to move with you, that’ll be making it up for leaving,” Hyde said to Kelso with a smug look.

--Later that night—

“How dare she give me an ultimatum?!” Markus drunkenly vented as he, Eric, Hyde, Fez, and Kelso sat at the bar. “I mean, t-this is my life she’s—” he hiccupped. “She’s messing with!”

“You know, Forman, when you said let’s go out to the bar for a guy’s night, this isn’t what I had in mind,” Hyde said as he nursed his beer.

“I didn’t think we’d be coming to a bitching session, alright?” Eric defended.

“She can go to hell!” Markus continued, his words beginning to slur. “I’ll see her in hell!”

“Well, since you’re with Jackie, I think you’re already there,” Hyde commented.

“One more couldn’t hurt,” Markus said again and waved the bartender over. “Another round for me and the boys!”

“Maybe we should keep him around if he and Jackie break up,” Fez said with a hopeful smile. “So, Eric, Y/n told me that Donna had a date tonight?”

“What?” Hyde and Kelso said in unison.

“Oh, you know what, man? I don’t care,” Eric responded and took a sip of his beer. “She just wants me to come running after her and I’m not going to do that.”

“You know what? That is totally the right move man,” Kelso said. “Plus, it’s like 9:00, so if you go over there now, you'll probably walk in on her and that guy sliding all over each other. And if I know Donna, she's moaning like a ghost.”

“Okay, Donna does not moan like a ghost,” Eric said, almost offended and glared down at the bar. “I can make her moan like a ghost.”

“You know what, guys?” Markus piped up, slurring his words. “I love you guys. Really, really love you guys. You guys can be my groomsmen when I marry Jackie.”

All the guys whipped their head at Markus.

“So, you’re going to do it?” Eric asked. “You’re going to marry Jackie?”

“I’m going to be Mrs. Jackie Scott!”

“His last name is Scott?” Kelso whispered to Hyde.

Steven shrugged and sipped his beer. “I guess so.”

“Cheers to my boys! I’m getting married!”

No one moved or had a reaction until Markus said, “Second round is on me.”

“Hooray!” All the boys cheered with their beers in the air.

“He’s so screwed,” Hyde chuckled as he watched Markus talk to the bartender.

--The Next Day—

Eric, Hyde, and Y/n all sat in the basement, watching TV while the babies slept in their arms.

“Man, I still can’t believe they had Fonzie jump over that damn shark,” Y/n complained as they watched Happy Days. “Really ruined the rest of the series for me.”

“How long are you going to complain about this?” Steven asked.

“They ruined one of my favorite TV shows!”

“Speaking of ruining things, like lives, guess who’s getting married?” Eric piped up.

“Did you purpose again?!” Y/n screeched. “How you got that woman to say yes the first time—”

“It’s not me!” he defended, feeling insulted.

“Oh,” she said quietly and looked to her husband who was biting back a smirk. “My bad.”

Eric sighed annoyed. “No, it’s not me. Markus is going to purpose to Jackie.”

“No freaking way!” she exclaimed. “What made him decide to do that?”

“A lot of beer,” Hyde sneered and shook his head. “The poor bastard.”

“Well, wait, does this mean Jackie is staying then?” Y/n asked, sitting up.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t she?” her husband asked her.

“Because I talked to her this morning and she was packing up, getting ready to leave.”

“Um…oh, no?” Eric questioned.

“Shut up, Eric! If Markus means this, he doesn’t have much time! I need to go call both of them.” She turned to her brother. “Here, take the baby. I’ll be right back.”

“Wait, what do I do if they start crying?” he asked, panicked.

“I won’t be that long,” she promised before running up the stairs.

As Y/n left the basement, Donna entered it through the door. Eric’s face hardened at seeing his girlfriend.

“Crawling back to me after your date so soon, huh?” he sneered.

She crossed her arms at him and made a face at him. “What?”

“Yeah, you heard me. Used to be you have to buy a girl dinner, if you wanted her to slide all over you moaning like a ghost.”

Donna rolled her eyes at him. “Okay, you know what? I didn't have a date, but I should've.”

“Wait,” Eric said, incredulous and stood up—carefully as to not wake Leo. “You lied?”

“Yeah, I was pissed.” Her face dropped as she stared into his eyes. “I mean, all of a sudden you’re leaving me.”

Eric’s face softened. “Oh…well, look, I'm only gonna be gone for a year.”

“I don’t care, I don’t want you to go,” she replied, fighting back tears.

Eric knew where this conversation was headed and turned to Hyde was listening to the entire fight. “Hey, Hyde, can I have a minute with Donna?”

“What? No way,” he said, clearly entertained. “You always had to watch mine and Y/n’s talks. It’s only fair I get to watch yours.”

“Hy-y-yde!” Eric whined, not having it.

“Fine, if you’re going to be a girl about it,” he responded and carefully stood with Kat in his arms and scooped Leo with the other before walking upstairs.

“Look, Donna, I’m only going to be gone for a year,” Eric explained as he guided them both onto to the couch.

“You've always been, like, 20 steps away from me my entire life. What am I supposed to do without you?” she asked him with tears in her eyes.

“Look, Donna, this is gonna be really tough for both of us,” he started. “But, hey, you know what? The good news is, when I come back, we're gonna spend all this time together because, you know, you're probably gonna have to nurse me back to health from some horrible African disease.”

Donna chuckled.

“Look, you know I love you,” he continued. “And we're wasting our time fighting.”

“You're right. We should just enjoy the time we have left.” She wrapped her arms around Eric’s neck and pressed her body tightly against his. “I’m going to miss you, Eric.”

“I’ll miss you, too, Donna.”

As they were caught up in their embrace, neither one heard the basement door open revealing Jackie.

“Wait, Eric, you're back,” she said. “Where’s Markus?”

“Fez drove him home from the bar. He was pretty drunk,” he answered.

“You mean he’s not coming?” Jackie asked and sunk down onto the lawn chair. “He's gonna say no. Oh, my God.” She put her head in her hands, stifling a sob.

“Oh, Jackie, I'm sorry,” Donna whispered and broke free from Eric’s grasp to give her friend a hug.

The Next Day…

“Where are the babies?” Fez asked as Markus, Eric, Hyde, Y/n, and Donna sat in the driveway,

“Inside sleeping,” Y/n responded from Hyde’s lap and yawned. She tucked her head in the crook of her husband’s neck and sighed. “Maybe I should be, too.”

“They’re all by themselves?” Kelso asked. “I may have only been dad for less than a year, but I don’t think you’re allowed to leave babies by themselves.”

“Chill out, will you?” Hyde asked annoyed. “They’re sleeping in the den and we have the door open so we can hear them.”

“Besides, we have the baby monitor here,” Y/n answered more patiently and waved the fancy gadget in her hand.

“Babies didn’t let you sleep?” Donna asked.

“No,” Hyde responded. “It’s like they have a weird twin radar thing, man. When one stops crying, the other starts. And it’s like they’re competing on who can be the loudest.”

“I can’t wait to not hear that at night when I leave,” Eric said.

“It’s better than getting some African disease,” Y/n taunted.

“Donna?!” Eric whined. “Do you have to tell her every single conversation we have?”

“Hey, she’s all I’m gonna have left when you leave! Besides, that’s what girls do.”

“She also told me when you guys had sex the first time,” Y/n continued her taunting. “I expected more from you.”

Eric whipped his head at his girlfriend. “SERIOUSLY?! I told you not to tell her about—” He looked around his friend group who were all giving him amused looks. “About when I—you know—when Eric Jr. wouldn’t wake up.”

Donna chuckled and shook her head. “I didn’t.”

“But you just did!” Y/n laughed, making everyone else join in.

“Y/n!” Eric whined.

“Hey, I gotta get my fun in before you leave us for a year,” she replied and heard the doorbell ring. “I’ll go get that. Hopefully, it didn’t wake the babies.”

She slid off Steven’s lap before disappearing into the house.

“Well, it’s almost noon,” Markus said, checking his watch. “I better go talk to Jackie.”

“What are you gonna tell her?” Fez asked.

Markus ran a hand through his long hair. “I don’t know, man. I’m thinking about taking my dad’s mustang and letting it make the final decision.”

“Like, how?” Kelso asked.

Markus shrugged. “If it pulls to the left, marriage, pulls to the right, nudie bar.”

“So, you haven’t made a decision yet?” Donna asked.

Markus gave her a little smirk before answering. “Oh, I’ve made my decision.”

“Markus,” Y/n called as she walked back out, holding a piece of folded paper. “Jackie stopped by and asked me to give you this note.”

“Oh,” he replied and took the note from her. With his heart suddenly pounding, he carefully unfolded the paper as to not rip it and read it.

“What’s it say?” Y/n asked.

“It-it says she took the job in Chicago and she left this morning,” he whispered, eyes never wavering from the note.

“Oh, Markus, I’m so sorry,” Y/n said and wrapped her arms around his torso, but he stood still like a statue.

“Yeah, man, so sorry,” everyone muttered, not knowing what to say.

The room went quiet as Markus fought back tears and reluctantly reciprocated the hug.

--The Next Morning—

“Tell me why again we’re up so early?” Hyde complained as he got dressed. “The babies actually let us sleep last night and you want to wake up early.”

“We’re taking Markus out today to help him feel better,” Y/n responded, as she put on the finishing touches to her makeup in her vanity mirror. “Starting off taking him out to breakfast.”

Steven groaned as he put his belt on. “This is going to be a long day.”

“Come on, wouldn’t you want to be surrounded by your friends who love and support you if Jackie did this to you?”

“No. I’d go off to Vegas and drink and gamble my pain away,” he responded and walked over to the vanity, grabbing his watch. “That’s my plan if you ever decide to divorce me.”

She gave him an amused smile and stood up. “I’d kill you before I divorce you.” She kissed him on the cheek before walking over to grab her shoes from the closet.

“Well,” he replied, clicking his tongue. “Don’t I feel safe.”

Y/n giggled and slipped on some comfortable flats. “Come on, let’s grab the babies and go downstairs. Everyone is meeting us here.”

As she bent down to grab Leo, Hyde couldn’t help himself by checking her out. “How much longer until your six week check up?”

“Three weeks,” she answered, innocently and turned back to face him. “Why?”

She turned to him just as he was eyeing her up and down.

“No reason,” he said casually, shrugging.

She picked up what he was putting down and lightly punched his shoulder, laughing. “Pervert.”

He put his hands in surrender as he bent down and picked up Kat. “Can’t blame a guy.”

“Come on, let’s go before everyone gets here,” she chuckled.

--Scene Transition—

Once the Hydes were downstairs and sitting at the table, feeding the babies, Donna, Fez, Kelso and Markus walked in.

“Good morning!” Fez sang. “Today is a beautiful day to have some fun!” He turned to Markus who wasn’t doing anything to hide his misery. “Right, buddy?”

Markus shrugged. “Sure.”

“Oh, Mark, I know it’s hard, but we’re here for you,” Y/n comforted. “As soon as we’re done feeding the babies, we’re going to start this day of fun.”

“And I get to babysit my grandbabies!” Kitty sang-song through the kitchen.

“So, what are we doing exactly?” Markus asked, uninterested, but didn’t want to be rude. Even though he was one grumpy, miserable bastard, didn’t mean he had to be unappreciative to his friends who were trying to help him.

“I was thinking we take to your favorite breakfast joint first—” Y/n began.

“The Pancake House is out of town, though,” Markus interjected.

“Yes, but it is also on the way to…Fez, drum roll please,” she said and Fez started tapping on the table. “Funland!”

“Funland?” Hyde asked, unenthused.

“Yes, Funland!” she repeated with a giant grin on her face, waiting for Markus—and Steven—to show excitement.

When neither returned her excitement and enthusiasm, she quickly dropped her smile. “Why aren’t you guys more excited?”

“Funland is for babies,” Hyde commented.

“We went, like, almost two years ago,” Y/n responded, a little disappointed. She had racketed her brain all day the day before trying to come up with a fun plan for Markus to get his mind off the break up. When she remembered what everyone tried to do for Eric when Donna broke up with him, they all went to Funland and they had a blast—even though they lost Kelso and he had to hitch a ride with a random lady and her obnoxious twins. Or so he said. “It was fun then, it can be fun now!”

“Yeah, we were kids. We’re adults now,” he argued.

“Look, Y/n, I really appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I don’t think anything is going to cheer me up,” Markus said and plopped himself down at the table. “Jackie is gone. I mean, who the hell is she to give me an ultimatum and then leave before I can give her an answer?”

“Speaking of Jackie: have you heard from her?” Donna asked.

“Nope,” he replied, glaring at the table. “Not like it matters anyways.”

“Look, man, she let you off the hook,” Kelso said and walked over to the fridge to grab some orange juice. “What’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is she didn’t give me a chance to answer her!” Markus responded and stood abruptly, angrily. “She didn’t let me tell her that…” He sighed and rubbed a hand down his face.

“Tell her what?” Y/n asked before her eyes widened in excitement. “Oh, my God. Were you going to say ‘yes?!’”

“No!” he replied quickly. “Well…maybe…” He looked up to see everyone, including Kitty, eyeing him. “Yeah…yeah, I was.”

“Oh, my God!” Y/n and Eric exclaimed at the same time.

“Awe, you love her,” Donna teased and tickled his ear.

Markus shoved her hand away. “I shouldn’t love her. This whole time—this whole relationship—she’s been such a huge pain in my ass. With her shallow, materialistic, self-centered, conceited attitude, everything we did always had to be about her. We always had to do things she wanted and was like pulling teeth to do things I wanted. I always had to apologize for when she was rude or mean to people—I mean, God, it was like teaching a five-year-old! But you know what?” he ranted and sat back down at the table. “It’s my fault. I was warned about her and like an idiot, I fell for her anyway. You know what love is? Love is for losers who don’t want to be alone. Well, I don’t care. I don’t care if I’m alone because I never want to fall in love again.”

When everyone was sure his rant was over, Fez quickly spoke up. “I-I think you’re thinking about kittens.”

“Shut up, Fez,” Hyde sighed. “Listen, man, I think the best thing you should do is go to Vegas and drink and gamble and sleep with whores…you know, a deep cleanse.” He didn’t miss Y/n’s glare at him. “Also, you should take me and we can take the El Camino.”

“Nice try, Steven,” Y/n said, irritated and turned back to Markus. “Markus, what do you want to do today? We don’t have to go to Funland. We can do anything you want.”

“I don’t…I don’t know. I think I’m just going to go home. I’m sorry everyone,” he responded before walking out.

“Man, he’s really taking this hard,” Eric said.

“I don’t blame him,” Kitty interjected. “Break ups at your age always feel like the end of the world.”

“Yeah…anyway, I gotta do,” Eric announced and stood from his seat and turned to Donna. “I gotta go wrap your going away present.”

Donna chuckled. “You do realize that I’m the one that’s supposed to get you a going away present? Not the other way around.”

He smiled at her and gently touched her arm. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

She returned the smile and cocked her head to the side. “Well, I wanted to. I knew you were going to get me something.”

“Well, I don’t want this to be awkward again, like Christmas.”

“Well, I did get you something,” she said cheerily and leaned over to kiss him before he left. Her demeanor dropped once that door closed and she turned to everyone, panicked. “Oh, crap, I didn’t get him anything! He leaves in three days!”

“Well, you can give him an ultimatum,” Hyde commented. “It’s free and it’ll make him want to kill himself.”

“I gotta go find him something. Hopefully, the mall has something for him,” she said and rushed out the door.

Y/n huffed out as she turned Leo to her shoulder to burp him. “Well, our plans went to hell.”

“Great! I’m going back to bed,” Steven announced and stood with Kat in his arms. “Let’s go catch some more Z’s, baby girl. Our day has just been cancelled.”

“Or!” Y/n called after him. “You can go be with Markus and be with him during this time.”

Hyde groaned. “Why me?”

“Because you’re his friend,” she reminded him and grabbed Kat from him. “Now git.”

--Later that day—

“Hey, guys,” Jackie greeted everyone in the driveway. The girls sat in the chairs holding the babies while the guys played basketball. “Is Markus here?”

“No, he’s at work,” Hyde responded. "Oh, but before he left, he was throwing around everything you’ve ever gave him. It was like a hailstorm of stuffed animals and ABBA records.”

“What’re you doing here, anyway?” Y/n asked. “I thought you were in Chicago.”

“I would have, but my mom took the car to Tijuana and won’t be back until Cinco De Mayo. Whenever that is,” Jackie responded, rolling her eyes. Everyone didn’t do anything to hide their snickers. “So, until then, I need you guys to help me avoid the horrors of seeing Markus until I figure out a way out of here.”

“Well, that’s too bad because I think I see him coming right now,” Hyde said, eyeing down the road.

“Oh, my God. What do I do?!” Jackie asked, panicking.

“Here, hide under the blanket in the bed of the El Camino!” he offered.

Jackie dived into the bed and ripped the blanket over her body.

“Oh, by the way, Jackie, I lied,” Hyde said, smiling.

“Ugh!” she groaned and jerked the blanket off her. “Why does this blanket smell like sex?”

“Oh, that’s mine and Y/n’s car blanket,” he responded casually.

Jackie screamed and threw herself off the car’s bed. The guys cackled at her as they watched her freak out.

“Really, Steven? You had to throw that out there?” Y/n asked, unpleased.

“Eh. It was funny,” Fez said, earning a grin from Steven.

“Uh, oh, Jackie, he’s coming for real this time!” Kelso announced.

“Get down!” Fez shouted and pushed a screaming Jackie back in the El Camino and forcibly wrapped the blanket around her. “I got her! I got her!”

“I’m going to kick you both in the nads,” Jackie threatened as she shoved Fez off her.

“You’re going to have to do it later because here he comes now,” Fez said.

“Yeah, now I just don’t believe you,” she responded, smoothing down her shirt.

“Hey, Mark!” Fez said to no one. “Good to see you.”

Jackie screamed once again and ran into the garage and out the back door, leaving everyone laughing.

Leo suddenly started squirming in Y/n’s arms and as she looked down, she noticed an odor emitting from him.

“Oh, Leo,” she chuckled and stood. “I’ll be right back. I need to change his diaper.”

“I’ll come with you,” Donna said, carrying Kat inside. Once inside and out of ear range, she set Kat down in the bassinet and turned to Y/n who set Leo down on the couch to change his diaper. “I didn’t want to say anything to you with Eric out there, but I figured out the perfect going away gift.”

“Oh, really? That’s great! What is it?”

“A paper and pen writing set!”

Y/n paused briefly before returning changing the diaper. “A-a paper and pen writing set?”

“Yeah!” Donna said, her enthusiasm not fading. “So that he can write to me while in Africa!”

Y/n finished up Leo’s diaper before standing back up to meet her. “Well, Donna, that sounds so—” she abruptly cut herself off to let out an exaggerated snore.

“Y/n!”

“I’m sorry, Donna, but a going away gift should be something meaningful, personal,” she responded. “Like, one time I was going through my mom’s closet—”

“Why were you going through her closet?”

“Because I was looking for her throw over sweater for a date. It was from her high school years and I thought it was so cute. Anyway, I saw a box and when I opened it I saw some boudoir photos.” She shuttered at the memory.

“Okay, do I want to hear the rest of the story?” Donna asked, disgusted.

“Yes, sorry,” Y/n said and shook off the vivid picture from her mind. “Anyway, when I asked my mom about it, she said—well, first she got mad that I went looking through her closet without her permission. Now I see why…and second, she said she sent those out to my dad before he went off to Korea.”

“Ew…too much information, Y/n.”

“But you see my point?”

“Grossly, yeah,” Donna said in deep thought.

“Oh, and if you’re thinking that boudoir shoot was ‘sexy’, it wasn’t,” Y/n responded, shaking her head. “It was really just my mom wearing booty shorts and a crop top. But then again, showing a lot of ankle was sexy.”

“It was the 1800’s after all,” Donna joked.

--Meanwhile—

The guys had moved from the driveway to the basement to gather around for circle time. As the air quickly filled with smoke and everyone started to feel good, Eric looked at his watch.

“Oh, man, I gotta go over to Donna’s and get my going away present.”

“Why do you make it sound like it’s the worse thing ever?” Hyde asked.

“Because Donna sucks at gift giving, okay? Do you remember that awful sweater vest and big ugly man ring? Now, I gotta get excited over some over lame thing. ‘Oh, wow, Donna, clown shoes. Thanks so much.’”

“I dated a clown once,” Kelso said nonchalantly, lighting up an incense stick. “But once I learned how to make balloon animals I dumped her.”

--Later—

Everyone minus Donna, Eric, and Markus were hanging out in the basement while the twins slept in their room. The TV was on playing Scooby-Doo, Hyde and Fez were wrestling and Kelso was watching intently, keeping score while Y/n sat reading a magazine, and Jackie sat filing her nails.

“You can’t beat me this time, Hyde!” Fez gloated as he attempted to get Hyde in a headlock. “I’ve been training for this and I—ah, ah!”

Hyde had maneuvered himself out of Fez’s grip and flipped him around onto the ground, belly down and pushed his left arm up to his shoulder blades.

“What was that?” Hyde taunted.

“I fold! I fold!” Fez cried out, tapping out.

“Point goes to Hyde!” Kelso shouted and laughed. “Fez, you wuss.”

“He had a hold on me!” Fez whined.

Hyde laughed at his friend’s misfortune and glanced out the door window. “Uh, hey, Jackie, Markus is coming for real this time. Quick, drink this old root beer!”

“You know what, Steven, I’m sick of you lying to me about Markus and trying to humiliate me,” Jackie retorted.

“You’re right,” Hyde said. “Let me make it up to you and offer you this different, not old root beer.” He pretended to swap out the soda with a new one from behind the shower.

“It’s the same one, you idiot!” Jackie shrieked.

“Jackie, Markus is coming right now,” Kelso warned.

“You know what, Michael? But I’m not playing your little games anymore,” she huffed and went back to her nails.

She heard the door open and close, but refused to give her idiot friends (and exes) the benefit of looking up. She assumed they had opened the door and closed it just to mess with her until,

“Jackie?”

Her gaze snapped up to meet a shocked and angry, familiar face.

Markus.

--Meanwhile—

Over at the Pinciotti’s house, Donna sat in her room, waiting for Eric to come over his surprise. She wore Princess Leia’s white robe with her hair in side buns, just like the movie.

“Hey,” Eric greeted as he walked through the door. “Alright, Donna, I’m here for my surprise and I—holy mother of Skywalker.”

Donna smiled at Eric before getting off the bed and sauntering over to him. “You can do whatever you want to Princess Leia. Her force field is down.”

Eric looked at her with the most adorned look. “Donna, this is the best thing—wait a second.” He pulled away to look at her. “Leia doesn’t have a force field—you know what, I’m too excited to quibble. Come here!”

Donna laughed as Eric attacked her with kisses, both going down onto the bed.

--At the Forman’s House—

“Jackie, what’re you doing here?�� Markus asked, clearly upset. “Why aren’t you in Chicago? I thought you left town?”

“Why? Because you’re so amazing and incredible that I simply couldn’t exist in the same town as you knowing you couldn’t make a commitment?” Jackie rambled, her heart pounding in her chest.

“No, because you left me a note saying you left town,” he responded slowly. His response was too calm and it unnerved everyone in the room, except for Hyde.

“Well, that, Markus, was a metaphor, a metaphor for the fact that my heart and mind are gone, but my body is still here, in this very awkward situation!”

“Want a root beer?” Fez asked after a minute of silence.

Markus gave Fez a dirty look.

“Hey, Fez, I think Mark wants some alone time,” Hyde said.

“Right, right,” Fez replied.

“You know what? Perfect timing because I have to get that—that thing you know, ready for that thing,” Y/n stammered.

“Yeah, I know what think you’re talking about. Let’s go,” Hyde said.

“I’ll help,” Donna said, rushing up the stairs.

“I’m going to listen through the vent,” Kelso announced.

“Me, too!” Fez said excitedly and slammed the door.

Once they were alone Markus turned back to Jackie. “So, what are you doing here, Jackie? You got something you wanna say to me?”

“Yes. I wanted to say that I'm leaving for real this time.”

“So, you came back to tell me that you're leaving again?”

“Yes, but this is goodbye.”

Markus clicked his tongue. “All right, I'll see you tomorrow then.”

“Markus, I'm serious!”

Markus sat down and spread his arms behind the couch, making himself comfortable. “Wanna hang out next week?”

“I'm going. Unless...Unless, Markus, there's something you'd like to say, in which case, I'm listening.”

She stared at Markus with wide, hopeful eyes, praying that she got the answer that she so desperately wanted.

“Yeah,” he said calmly and stood to meet her. “Have a nice trip.”

She could feel her heart break all over again, fighting back tears. She nodded and avoided his cold stare. “I will.”

“Can you guys stand closer to the vent and speak louder?” Fez shouted into the vents.

Jackie scoffed before stomping out the basement, leaving Markus by himself.

--Donna’s Room—

Eric sat staring at Donna who sat awkwardly in the white robe. “Wow, so, it's like, I can do anything I want? Can I touch your buns?”

“What? You wanna touch my butt?” Donna asked, confused.

“No, not those buns. You know, the buns.”

“Eric, that’s kind of weird.”

“Yeah. You know what? That is, like, a little weird,” he responded. “Maybe I'll just rub my face up against one of them?”

Donna chuckled. “Yeah.”

His eyes fluttered close as he slowly brought his cheek to her hair and rubbed it like a cat.

“Okay,” Donna said after a minute, accepting the weirdness from her boyfriend.

“Leia, oh, Leia,” Eric moaned.

“Hey, Donna,” Bob said, knocking on the door. “Meet me downstairs T-minus 20 seconds for some fried shrimp. And wear an old T-shirt, these things get greasy.” He shut the door before Donna could respond.

“Wow, that's almost enough to take you right out of the moment, huh?” she chuckled as she got up to change.

“Okay, Donna. From now on, the only thing I'd like you to say is, ‘Use the force, Eric.’”

“Okay, that seems—” she said.

“Do-o-onna,” Eric sang-song.

Donna sighed and rolled her eyes. “Use the force, Eric.”

He nodded in approval before he started rubbing his cheek against her hair once again.

--Over at the Forman/Hyde Residence—

Y/n and Hyde were in their room, just finishing settling the twins down.

“Hey, Y/n?” he whispered as to not wake the babies.

“Mhm?” she hummed as she smiled down lovingly at Kat who was staring up at her with her soulful eyes.

“Do you remember when you almost left for Denver?”

Y/n turned her loving gaze to her husband. “Oh, my God, that’s what those letters in my desk are for.” She smirked at him. “Of course I remember. Why do you ask?”

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you, you know, regret not going? Do you feel like I held you back?”

Hearing this shocked her. She never thought about her husband, Steven Hyde, ever having these feelings. “Steven, honey, where is this coming from?”

He shrugged. “Curious.”

She gave him a pointed look. “Is that all?”

“Just answer the question.”

Y/n gave Kat a kiss before placing her in her bassinet and faced Steven. “Is this about what’s going on with Jackie and Markus?”

When Hyde didn’t respond, she raked her fingers through his hair. “No, I don’t.”

He looked at her with hopeful eyes. “Really?”

“Yes!” She kissed him and wiped her gloss off his lips. “I thought my life would start when I went away, but in reality my life started when I chose you.”

A soft grin spread across his face, but it quickly went away when he looked down at her lap. “You know that would mean a lot more if Denver hadn’t rejected you and then didn’t get knocked up right after.”

She squinted her eyes at him with a sly grin before rolling her eyes at him and shrugging. “Yeah, you’re right.”

His grin dropped immediately. “That’s not funny.”

A smile broke out on her face as she laughed and gave him a chaste kiss. “Yes, it is.”

“So, if Denver hadn’t rejected you and I hadn’t knocked you up—”

“I would still be miserable,” she cut in, this time serious.

His eyebrows furrowed, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Steven, it doesn’t matter that it didn’t work out that way because it wasn’t meant to. This was,” she began. “Even if I were to go off to Denver, or New York, or even London—”

“London?”

“Denver wasn’t the only school I applied to, anyway,” she said quickly. “None of it would’ve mattered because you wouldn’t be my side. My life wouldn’t be as complete now if I didn’t have you and the twins. My life didn’t stop just because we got married and had kids young—I can still do everything I wanted to do and you know what? It’s more exciting and less scary because I have you right beside me.” She grabbed his hand, weaving her fingers through his. “I could have the highest college degree or the most successful, prestigious career, none of it would mean anything without you and the babies. None of it.”

He smiled before bring a hand to her cheek and tucked some hair behind her ear. “Liar.”

Y/n chuckled with him and kissed him once more. “I mean it.”

His eyes searched hers for a moment. “I know.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Do you have any regrets?”

He shook his head. “No. Not one that includes you or the kids anyways.”

She smirked at him—the look that made Hyde excited and his pants a little tighter—and cocked her head. “I’ll take it.”

“Good,” he husked and closed the gap between them once more, this time the kiss lasting a bit longer. When he pulled away, he looked at her once more. “One more serious question: if you get into school out of state, how would that work with the store?”

“Well…” Y/n thought. “We could do it one of two ways. One: we pack up and move and you could either leave the store in someone else’s hands temporarily or give it up completely or two: you stay here to run the store and the kids and I go…I’m not a huge fan of option 2, though.”

“Me neither. How bout we figure it out when the time comes?”

“I’d like that.”

“Me too.” He kissed her once more before pulling back with a mischievous look in his eyes. “So...is there anything you can do before the six week mark?”

Y/n withdrew her hold from him, laughing. “Perv.”

The Next Day…

“So, Jackie really left, huh?” Eric asked while sipping a grape soda at the table.

“Yeah, last night,” Y/n responded. “She even got Kelso to drive her.”

“She probably gave him a purple nurple until he did,” Hyde chuckled. “That’s the only good thing about her.”

“Hey, Eric,” Bob said, shuffling into the kitchen. “You’re going to love teaching in Africa. I heard women walk around with their hoo-hoo’s out.”

“Dad,” Donna groaned, hiding her face behind her hand.

“Have you gotten your shots yet?” Bob asked.

“Shots?” Eric asked.

“Yeah, the ones you get to protect from exotic diseases.”

“Oh, my God I completely forgot!” Eric shot up from the table. “Guys, I leave for Africa in two days. What do I do?”

“Oh, shoot, did I forget to remind you?” Kitty asked while sipping her coffee. “Well, don’t worry, I’ll make sure to give them to you. I am your mother, I will help.”

“Good,” Red said from behind the paper. “Because I will not let you crush my dream of getting rid of him.”

“Thank you, Mom,” Eric said, relaxing.

“Oh, but I should warn you. Those needles are as big as sausages and if I miss, even by a hair, it could make your heart explode. But don’t worry, it only hurts until you die.”

“Mom,” Y/n warned and turned to her brother whose eyes were as big as saucers. “Don’t listen to her. She’s lying.”

“Yeah, right,” Eric responded, voice wobbling.

---Later—

“Hey Donna,” Y/n greeted as she walked inside Donna’s house. “I know Eric said he didn’t want a party, but I never cared about what he wanted. So, I’m going to need you to distract him when he gets back from getting his shots so I can decorate.”

“Yeah, sure,” she responded, a little distantly.

“Oh, and I also got this for him, too. I wasn’t sure what to get him, but I thought he would like something like this.” In her hand was a picture frame and handed it to Donna. The picture was Donna, Y/n, and Eric when they were all six years old.

Donna chuckled sadly. “I remember that day. We had just came back from the park because it started raining, but Eric fell in a huge mud puddle. When you tried to help him, you slipped, taking me down with you. When we got home our moms were so mad, but your dad thought it was so funny he snapped this picture.”

“Yeah…Eric’s not graceful. Like, at all.”

Y/n and Donna laughed together as they recalled the memory. As the laughter died down, Donna grew quiet, staring at the picture.

“Donna…are you okay?”

She shook her head, fighting back tears. “I’m just really going to miss him.”

Y/n nodded her head sadly. “Me, too.”

Donna nodded before wrapping an arm around her best friend’s shoulders knowing this was probably a little harder for her than anyone. The one person she’s literally known since the womb would be thousands of miles away was a pain that Donna couldn’t even fathom.

“I’ll go to the store with you,” Donna said after a minute.

Y/n sniffed and rubbed her nose with her sleeve. “Thank you.”

Eric Forman’s Basement

Eric, Kelso, Hyde, and Fez all sat in the circle as they enjoyed the affects of their favorite green plant. As usual, the lights were dimmed and incense was mixing with the smell.

Eric checked his watch and rubbed his clammy hands on his jeans. “Crap, I have to leave soon to go get my shots. Yeah, why do I have to get shots anyway? So I get Yellow Fever. I could use a little color.”

“You guys, this might be our last circle together,” Fez said. “We're growing up. I mean, these two have jobs, and Eric is off to start his life, and I'm doing more shaving than ever.”

“Eric, I know you're scared of getting your shots,” Kelso said, his eyes drooping and his smile wide. “So I'm gonna be a pal and get them with you, 'cause I owe you for that time that I chucked that dead raccoon at you, and then it turned out to not be dead.” He started to giggle recalling the memory. “And then it bit you, and then you kicked it back at me, and then it bit me, and then we both had to go and get rabies shots.”

Hyde laughed along with them. “Remember, on the way to the hospital, Kelso saw that dog, and he jumped out of the car 'cause he wanted to go pet it, but he forgot the car was moving, and he broke his arm? That was the funniest, bloodiest, most rabies-filled day ever.”

“Look at us,” Eric said. “Best friends offering to help each other. You know, we always have to remember this moment.” He looked around his friends who had gone silent with frightened looks on their faces. “What?”

He suddenly felt a presence behind him when they lowered themselves to his ear. He didn’t have to look to know who it was.

“Upstairs. NOW!” Red barked. He didn’t wait for an answer and stomped back upstairs.

“I am in huge trouble,” Eric said and started laughing.

“I can't believe that is what you idiots have been doing in my basement all these years!” Red yelled at the four young men who sat in chairs in front of him. “I wish I had 2,000 feet so I could put 500 of them in each of your asses!”

Eric tried so hard to listen, but it was hard to digest anything his parents were saying when the wall was moving and dancing behind them.

“I am shocked!” Kitty said. “Steven, you’re a father now. I thought this would be put behind you by now. Do you really want to set this kind of example for your children?”

Hyde rubbed his red eyes, knowing that the patterns on the wallpaper weren’t changing before his eyes.

“The basement door closes and out come the lighters and the drugs.” Kitty continued. “And I am sure Donna's down there bouncing around without a bra.” She gasped and held a hand to her heart. “Is that how Y/n got pregnant?!” She clicked her tongue in disappointment. “It’s like Amsterdam down there.”

“Did someone shove a vacuum up your nose and suck out your last, lonely brain cell?” Red continued to yell.

Fez could swear he was suddenly in a fish bowl and they were eyeballing him through the glass.

“What is going on in your head?” Kitty asked. “I am so disappointed in you boys. And here I thought it was my dryer that made our clothes smell funny.”

As their yelling started to fade in the distance, Hyde’s eyes were caught by a single twinkie laid on the counter. Before he could stop himself, he found himself drooling over it.

“Who taught you how to do this?” Red asked. “Was it those damn Beatles? All You Need Is Love.” He scoffed.

Kelso wasn’t even listening to the whole lecture because he found himself laughing at the scene before him. Red’s and Kitty’s heads floated off their bodies and swirled and danced in the air before switching onto each other’s bodies.

“All you need is a job and a haircut. And you, wipe that stupid smirk off your dopey, dope-fiend face!” He yelled at Kelso.

“Do you know what drugs do to you?” Kitty asked. “They shrink your brain until one day you wake up, and you think you're Superman and you can fly, and then you wind up jumping off the roof in your underpants.”

“Oh, this idiot doesn't need drugs for that. He does that every Saturday!” Red yelled.

“Well, this is the worst thing that you have ever done!” Kitty almost sobbed.

“Eric, I am gonna make you...I’m going to…well, I can’t think of anything worse than sending you to Africa,” Red said. “You’re going to Africa.”

--Later—

“You freakin’ what?!” Y/n screeched at her husband. They sat in their room with Steven sitting on the bed and Y/n pacing the floor. “What the hell, Steven?! How could you guys have gotten caught?! You’ve been kicked out once for getting caught, my dad won’t have a problem doing it again!”

“Actually, he kicked me out thinking he caught me, but it was actually Jackie’s,” Steven corrected.

“Steven!” she said sternly. “Now is not the time! We have children now! You can’t be doing this anymore.”

“Whoa, wait,” he said, jumping to his feet. “Are you telling me that I have to…to quit the circle?” he asked shakily.

“You’re quitting the circle, Steven,” she said sternly, crossing her arms.

“Come on, you did it, too!”

“We’re parents now! We can’t keep doing this! It’s time to grow up and be responsible.” She grabbed her jacket and wallet from the chair at the vanity.

“Wait, where are you going?!”

“I’m going out with the girls for girls night,” she responded without looking at him. “You’re staying in with the babies.”

“What am I going to do?!”

“Feed them in a couple hours and change their diapers. Then put them back in their bassinets to sleep.”

“You’re going to leave me here all by myself?!”

“They’re babies, Steven, not terrorists.” She opened the door to leave when Steven called out.

“Wait!”

Pausing, she turned back around with an arched brow.

“I want to talk about this some more!”

Y/n shook her head. “There’s nothing to talk about. You got caught, deal with it. I’m going out and I’ll see when I get back.”

“What’re you going to be doing? When will you be back?”

“We’re going to go to a strip club to meet some male strippers and then take them to a hotel and have our way with them,” she deadpanned.

He made a face at her. “Isn’t that a movie?”

“Bye, Steven,” she said and walked out the room.

--The Next Day--

“Y/n! Y/n!” Kitty called, running into the house while her family ate at the dinner table. A large white envelope was gripped tightly in her “A letter from a college came in!”

“Mom, that’s not a letter, that’s a—” Y/n gasped and ripped the envelope from her grasp. “Oh, my God! This is an acceptance package!”

“What?!” Steven, Red, and Kitty cried out in unison.

“What college did you apply for that you didn’t tell me?” Hyde asked, his heart sinking into his stomach.

Y/n eyed the envelope. “It’s for New York!”

“New York?!” Hyde exclaimed. “Are you friggin’ kidding me?! That’s so far away.”

“Great! Now all you dopeheads will be out of my house!” Red snarked.

“How ‘bout a ‘congratulations, Steven?” Y/n said sternly and ripped open the large envelope, but froze as his words sank in. “Wait, does this mean that you’re going to follow me?”

“Well, yeah, man,” he responded. “We’re married and have a family now. I don’t want us to be split up.”

“Awe, Steven,” Y/n gushed and kissed his cheek.

“You’re leaving me for New York?!” Kitty hollered. “What the hell was wrong with the university in Milwaukie?! Or Madison? Or Kenosha?! Or you know what, I think the Point Place Community College is just fine, too!”

“NYU has the strongest science program,” Y/n responded quietly, as if trying to tame a wild animal. “Especially for what I want to do. And they accepted my scholarships from high school.”

“Did you ever think of how this would affect me?!” she continued. “First, Laurie can’t seem to stay in one place even if her life depended on it—by the way who the hell moves to London out of all places—and then my baby boy is leaving to also leave the freaking continent—”

“For only a year!” Eric exasperated.

“—And now YOU are leaving me? You’re taking my grandbabies away from me?!” she sobbed.

“Kitty,” Red said gently. “They have to leave the nest at some point.”

“Why can’t you ungrateful brats stay in one spot?!” Kitty exploded, causing a tense hush to fall over everyone. Her eyes widened at her own words before she burst out laughing. “Oh, my goodness, I really let the beast out of its cage on that one.” She started laughing as she walked over to the cabinet and brought out a bottle of sherry and a glass. “What I mean to say is, ‘congratulations.’”

“And we are proud of you,” Red added in, a smile wide on his face. One that said be careful what you say next!

“Thank you,” Y/n said slowly, eyeing her mother. “We will come visit long weekends and holidays.”

“Oh, well that’s just freakin’ great!” Kitty shouted. “I don’t get to see my family everyday like I deserve to, but I get the good gracious of long weekends and holiday breaks. Whoopee-de-freakin’-do!” She stomped out the kitchen with the bottle in hand.

Red sighed heavily and stood from the table. “I’ll be right back. This was such a nice dinner, too.” He left the kitchen, grumbling to himself.

“Um,” Y/n awkwardly cleared her throat as she read the letter. “It says here if I want to register for fall classes I need to do so by the end of this week.”

Hyde sighed and set down the napkin on the table. “I guess I can get coverage at the store for a couple days.”

“Who? Mandy?” Y/n asked with venom in her voice.

“What do you have against her?” he asked. “She’s proven to be a good addition to the store.”

“She’s constantly throwing herself at you!”

“You mean when she tripped and literally knocked into me?”

“Or how about she’s always flirting with you?”

“She barley talks to me?”

“Or how she’s always giving you sex eyes!”

“She doesn’t even look at me!”

“Yeah, when you notice,” she argued. “I catch her all the time checking you out! I swear I almost pounced on her the other day when I caught her checking out your butt.”

He smirked. “That’s hot.”

“Steven!”

--Scene Transition—

Later that day, Hyde was working the evening shift at the store when Leo walked in.

“Hey, Leo,” Hyde greeted. “So, I decided, tomorrow after I say good-bye to Forman, I’m going to New York with Y/n and the babies.”

“Hey! Nice Girl is going to New York!” Leo said, smiling dumbly at him. “You should look her up. She’s real nice, man. She’d be perfect for you.”

“Good idea,” Hyde deadpanned. “Anyway, I was thinking you could cover for me, you know hold down the fort while I’m gone. It’ll be just like the old days at the Fotohut. You remember that, right?”

“The little blue house in the parking lot with a drive thru?” Leo asked, his eyes lighting up.

“Yeah, man, exactly.”

“I don’t remember that at all, man.”

Hyde pressed his lips into a fine line, choking back laughter—or disappointment. He couldn’t tell anymore.

“Yeah, anyway, can you watch the place for me? I’ll be gone for three or four days, tops.”

“Wait, why can’t I run the store?” Mandy asking, rounding the corner.

Steven spun around to face her. “You sure you can handle it?”

“Yeah! I mean, I’m not exactly new here anymore. I’ve learned where everything is, I’ve opened and closed for you multiple times so I know the register, and I have run the place by myself a few times.”

He jut out his lip in thought. “Well, I mean—”

“No, man, I want to do it!” Leo whined.

“Leo, you don’t even know where you are half the time!” Mandy argued.

“Do I know you, man?”

“Leo, it’s me! We’ve met like ten times already!”

Leo stared at her for a solid minute before shaking his head. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”

--Meanwhile—

Eric and Kelso sat in the hospital room awaiting their dreaded shots. Donna sat away in the corner as she came for support and Kitty stood in the room, explaining that she was going to be the one to administer their shots.

“Okay, Michael, Eric, pull your pants down and lean over the table. I'll go get those gigantic needles. I just hope somebody remembered to bring them in out of the rain so they're not all rusty!” she said dramatically as she left the room.

Eric couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he and Kelso turned to lean on the table.

“Hey, Donna, I'm gonna need you to help me pull my pants off,” Kelso said with a smirk.

“Fine, turn around,” Donna sighed before grabbing Kelso’s pants and yanked them upward.

“WEDGIE!” Kelso shrieked and tried to move out of her firm grasp.

“Oh, I’m sorry, did you say ‘off?’ I thought you said ‘up your butt,’” she snickered.

“I still liked it,” Kelso mumbled before Donna rolled her eyes and left the room. As he and Eric pulled their pants down and waited for Kitty to come back, they leaned forward on the table. “So…here we are.”

“Yep.”

“I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Yeah…and it’s kinda weird that we’re spending our last moments together bent over a table with our naked butts in the air,” Eric said, chuckling.

Kelso laughed. “This is how I always hoped it'd be. You know, I was gonna say that I'll miss you, but I'm not a nancy-boy.”

Eric nodded, taking in a deep breath. “Kelso, man, listen…there’s something I want to say to you—son of a BITCH!” He looked over his shoulder to see Kitty holding a needle in her hand, looking unimpressed. “That hurt like hell!”

“That was the alcohol swab,” she deadpanned.

“Well, it was freezing!”

Later that day…

Red sat in his chair, holding Eric’s gift in his hand. He was surprised that he felt sadness and—dread? As much as he looked forward to this day, he never thought he would be feeling conflicted about it.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard Eric come bouncing down the stairs. “Well, this is it. I just have to make it passed Mom’s farewell ambush and then I’m off to Africa.”

Red stood from his chair and met him in the middle of the living room. “Eric, wait I want to talk to you for a sec.”

Eric looked at him confused, but allowed Red to continue.

“I don’t know if you know this, but I’ve been looking forward to you getting out of my house for a very long time.”

Eric sucked on his teeth in thought. “Yeah, I remember that. I believe your exact words were, ‘It’ll be more glorious than D-Day.’” He chuckled at the memory.

Red pressed his lips into a thin line, a ghost of a smile. “Yeah, well, I’m your father and you’re my son. So…here.” He opened his palm up to Eric’s gift—a pocketknife.

His eyes grew wide. “Your pocketknife from Korea?” He gently plucked the knife from his father’s hand and held it in his own. “You said if I ever touched that, I would meet the same fate as hundreds of other Godless commies.”

A proud smile made its way to his face. “Yeah, well, I want you to take it to Africa with you.”

“Really? Wow, Dad, that…that means a lot.”

Red placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “And son, I want you to know that I’m going to miss you, I love you, and you have a good trip.”

Emotion filled Eric’s eyes. “Wait, what did you just say?”

“I said have a good trip.”

“No, before that.”

Red smiled proudly at his son. “You heard me.”

“Wow,” Eric breathed. “This feels like a moment where regular people would hug.”

Red didn’t hesitate and pulled his son in by his shoulders into a tight hug. Eric clapped his back as he took in the moment.

When they finally pulled away, Eric looked at him. “Thank you, Dad. So, really, any last minute advice?”

“Yeah,” Red answered, clearing his throat. “You lose that knife, don’t come home.”

They laughed together before Eric made his way to the driveway, Red in tow.

As they reached the driveway, Eric found Donna sitting on the hood of the VistaCruiser.

“Surprise,” she said quietly.

“It’s just you?” he asked, smiling. “Wow, Donna this is amazing. This is where we had our first kiss.” He leaned his head down and pecked her lips softly.

“I know, I remember,” she said and kissed him again, more passionately.

After a second, Eric pulled away breathless. “Wow.”

“Well, it’s gotta last a really long time.”

“Man, it’s weird. Me leaving. Feels like it’s real,” he said, grabbing her hands.

“Yeah, but you’re going to be back before you know it and then we’re going to have our whole lives together.”

“Listen to me, Donna,” Eric said, pointing a finger at her. “I love you so much and—and you’re my best friend. And thank you for not letting my mom throw this surprise, going-away thing.”

Donna smiled at him. “I love you, too and I’m sorry.”

His eyebrows knit together. “For what?”

“For this…okay guys!”

The garage door swung open and everyone walked out with banners, balloons and confetti.

“SURPRISE!” Everyone yelled.

“Oh…hell, I wanted this!” Eric said gleefully.

“Oh, Eric!” Fez said and wrapped himself up in Eric and started bawling.

“I know, buddy,” Eric said, uncomfortable and awkwardly started patting Fez’s back. “Uh, Y/n, a little help here?”

She giggled and walked over to him with Leo in arms. “Hey, Fez, you want some candy?”

His head popped up from Eric’s soaked shirt like a goffer. “Chocolate?”

“What else would there be?” she giggled.

“Where?”

“Kitchen.”

“Be right back.”

Fez raced off to the kitchen before anyone could say anything else.

“We have about five seconds before he’s back,” Y/n said and turned back to him with sad eyes. “I’m really going to miss you, Eric. We’ve never been apart longer than a few weeks. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.”

“Hey, you got this,” Eric said gently as Hyde joined them, holding Kat in his arms. “You’re going to do awesome in New York.”

“Won’t be the same without you,” she whispered.

“I know,” he said and brought his twin in for a hug as she gripped baby Leo. “I feel the same. But like Donna said, I’ll be back before we know it.”

“Maybe you can come to New York with us when you get back?”

He gave her small smile and nodded. “We’ll see.”

“Here you go, Forman,” Hyde said and handed him a bag. “Consider this your going away gift.”

Eric took the bag and opened it. “Hyde, this bag is empty.”

“I know,” he smirked at his brother-in-law. “I heard about the stuff they have over in Africa. Fill that bad boy up, send it back to me.”

Eric chuckled and gave Hyde a hug. “Will do.”

"I thought I told you, you were done," Y/n said sternly.

"You said it, I didn't."

"Steven--"

"Not here, Darling. Not in front of your brother," Hyde said, faux concern.

“Make sure to write me and to call me,” Y/n reminded him, returning to the conversation. “And if you can send pictures. I want to see where you’re going to be staying. Oh, and I want to send you pictures of the twins so that you’re not completely missing out on them.”

“Yeah, I’m bummed that I’m not going to be around to watch you two try to handle this,” Eric said and chuckled and gave his sister one last hug before turning to the babies. “You two be good for your parents. I love you both and I will see you in a year, yeah? Don’t grow up too fast.”

Y/n looked at him with teary eyes. “I’ll give Mom our new phone number and address to give to you.”

“Sounds good, sis,” Eric said.

“Hey, man,” Markus said as he joined them. “I just wanted to say that I know I haven’t been part of the group that long, but thank you for making me feel like I’ve been a part of it all along. You’re a good friend.”

“Thanks, man,” Eric replied and hugged Markus. “Thank you for keeping a muzzle on Jackie this whole time.”

Markus chuckled. “I sure did my best.”

Kitty ran over to Eric. “Honey, I'm sorry if I smothered you. That's just what a mother does. But I've accepted that you're leaving, and I'm ready to let you go.”

She tightly wrapped her arms around him that caught Eric off guard.

“Oh, mom. Mom, you...” Eric said and hugged her back. He tried to let go after a minute, but he ended up dragging her alongside him as he tried to get to the car. “Uh, Mom, you know I’m only allowed one carry-on, so…Dad?”

Red nodded and stepped in, grabbing his wife by the shoulders. “Come on, Kitty. Come on.”

Kitty sniffed as she stepped away and watched Eric get in the car. Donna got in the passenger side along with him.

“So long, Point Place!” Eric called out and started the car, only for it to die.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” Red grumbled. “Everyone push!”

Hyde handed Kat over to Y/n as he, Red, Kelso, and Kitty pushed the car down the driveway.

Eric shot a fist out the window. “So long, Point Place!”

Fez and Y/n stood in the driveway, watching Eric leave.

Fez sadly waved as tears and chocolate rolled down his face. “Bye, Eric!”

Later that evening…

Jackie laid on her bed in the motel room, flipping through a magazine when she heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was Michael, she casually called out, “Come in.”

Markus was the last person she was expecting to see.

“Hey,” he said quietly as he shut the door behind him.

“Markus!” she said excitedly, trying not to jump on him. “Um, what are you doing here?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets, avoiding eye contact. “Nothing. Had some free time and thought I’d just come and check out Chicago. How’s it going?”

Her heart fluttered at his sudden shyness. “Um…good. Do you want to take a walk? Maybe get something to eat?”

Markus was about to answer when the door opened, revealing a half-naked Kelso, only being covered by a towel and holding an ice bucket.

“Hey, Jackie, I checked from the parking lot and no one could see us doing it—” he let out a shriek.

Markus gaze hardened at the sight before him. “You’re dead,” he growled.

Just as he was about to reach for Kelso, he slipped out the door. Markus was able to grip the towel and rip it off of him as he sprinted into the parking lot.

“I’m nude!”

Taglist: @not-shy-nanya @taysirene @maddieschampagneproblems @mdittyz123 @undead-sierra @random-thoughts-004 @lieswithoutfairytales @chloem4a1 @srhxpc @zhonglibxitch @leothesquishy @because-makeup @cinemadaydream

#that 70s show #steven hyde #that 70's show fanfic #eric forman x reader #donna pinciotti x reader #michael kelso x reader #michael kelso #eric x donna #donna pinciotti #fez x jackie #hyde and jackie #jackie burkhart

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freedomfireflies · 4 months ago

Text

You Again*

Summary: The one where Harry is your sister's ex-boyfriend and you finally get to see him again after 5 years.

Word Count: 11.4k

Content Warning: 18+, smut, age gap (6 years), sir kink, choking, use of a toy, exhibitionism if you squint!

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me."

Your eyes widen as you look up toward the man making his way into the diner. You'd recognize him anywhere. The dark curly hair. The tattoos that bleed through the fabric of his light shirt. The rings on his fingers.

Just like that, years' worth of memories come flooding back to you all at once.

"Harry," you shriek, sliding off the stool before practically flinging yourself into his arms.

He smells exactly the same. Like teakwood and spearmint. A rather odd mix, yet subtle enough to remind you of home.

Of him.

His chest vibrates with a deep laugh as his arms wrap around your frame to keep you against him, prolonging the hug a minute or two longer than socially acceptable.

And when you finally lean back to see him, your cheeks begin to warm.

It's been...four years? Five? Since you last saw him? Just days before he and your sister broke up, effectively removing him from your life for good.

It had been a hard time. You wanted to be there for your sister. To comfort her through the grief of losing such a long and meaningful relationship.

But you wanted to be there for him, too. After all, he was one of your best friends, age difference or not. He had always been the comforting, influential figure in your life that you relied on. That you counted on to get through different hardships in your life.

He had picked you up after your first day at your new job. Had held you in his arms as you cried over your first break-up. He had even listened to you talk about the boy you had fallen in love with.

Losing him felt like losing a part of yourself.

And now, five years later...that part of you has come home.

"Hi, Dot," he beams, reaching out to take hold of your chin and squeeze. "Shit, look at you. When did this happen?"

His eyes rake over your figure and you feel your skin grown hot under his appreciative gaze. "Stop, it hasn't been that long."

"The last time I saw you, I was helping you move into your new apartment across town,” he recalls, arms crossing in thought. "And now...now what? You’re still at your job, I assume?"

"I am. I just got a promotion, actually. I’m an assistant editor now.”

His eyes seem to light up, that soft green sending chills up the back of your neck as you glance down at your feet. "Dot...that's amazing. I'm so proud of you."

You wave the compliment away. "Thanks."

"Really," he insists before following you back to the counter where you'd previously been sitting. "I know how badly you wanted to pursue a career in publishing, and this...this is really amazing. Do you like it?"

"I do," you tell him as you settle back onto your stool. "Yeah, it's really nice. The people are great, the work is fun. Plus, the promotion came with a raise."

"That's amazing," he sighs, head shaking like he can't believe it. "Really, that's so...I honestly can't believe it. I can't believe it’s been so long. You’re so…adult now.”

You snort to yourself as you twirl your straw around your milkshake. "Yeah, I know. Though I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not.”

"You should." He smiles, and it's big and beautiful. "You’ve always been grown up. Even before, you were mature for your age.”

“Well…yeah. I was twenty-three. That does make me an adult.”

“And now you’re twenty-eight.” He shakes his head again. “I can’t fucking believe it.”

You glance down at the rim of your glass. He’s right, it almost doesn’t seem possible. It feels like only last week that you were following him and your sister around town, begging to be included. Traipsing after them to bars, the mini golf course, and to any and all dates. Even though you knew your sister couldn’t stand it.

But Harry was nice and always inclusive. After all, he was your friend before he was your sister’s boyfriend. And he was determined to make sure that didn’t change, no matter how many times Atta rolled her eyes.

"I don't know how you put up with me," you finally admit. "God, I was so annoying. Atta used to get so mad at me for never leaving you alone."

He shrugs one shoulder up. "You weren't annoying to me. I liked it. I mean, I liked that you still felt so...safe? Around me? I guess?"

"Yeah, I did.” You smile. “Honestly, I think you were my best friend.”

He laughs as he looks back over. "I better have been.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Cause you were mine.”

"Good."

He smirks. "Remember how you used to fall asleep on my shoulder every time we watched a movie?”

"That's right," you groan, burying your face into the palm of your hand. "See? Annoying."

"Not annoying. Cute."

"It was not cute, it was annoying. And you know she hated it.”

“I don’t care. She fell asleep on my shoulder, too. It was nice.”

You snort. “It was weird, let’s face it. But I swear I've outgrown such habits."

He seems to hesitate for only a moment, eyes flicking between yours. "Too bad."

A beat.

You feel your stomach flip as you look away, breaking you both free of the tension. "So...what, um...what brings you to town? I was a little surprised to hear from you."

He takes the cup of coffee the waitress had poured him and slides it closer. "Oh, yeah, I'm...I'm here on business. And I remembered you lived here, so...I thought I’d reach out.”

"I see."

"Yeah.” He hesitates again. "And...I missed you."

You can’t fight the flutter in your chest. "I missed you, too, Har."

The conversation lulls as the busy diner continues to bustle around you. And despite how glad you are to see him, something feels...off. Different.

You aren't sure what. Can't quite put your finger on it. It almost feels like it used to, but something has changed. He looks like your Harry. He sounds like your Harry. He feels like your Harry. And yet, he feels like a stranger.

Maybe it's because it's been so long since you've seen him. Maybe it's because you aren't twenty-three anymore. Or maybe it’s because now he’s no longer Harry, your sister’s boyfriend.

Now he’s just…Harry. Your old friend.

When you notice the way he’s staring, your eyes narrow. “What?”

"Nothing." He shrugs again before chuckling under his breath. "No, nothing. Sorry, I just...I don't know. It's just...so strange to see you again. Like this."

"Like...this?"

"Yeah. Just us. Alone. No Atta.”

“Ah.” You swallow. “Right.”

“It’s not…weird, is it? I mean, it is weird but it’s not…uncomfortable, right?”

“No,” you rush to assure him. “No, I wanted to meet you. What happened with you two has nothing to do with me.”

He glances down at his lap. “Right.”

There’s an edge to the memory that wasn’t there before, yet despite your curiosity, you bite your tongue.

“What about you?” you say instead. “What have you been up to in the last five years?”

He smirks. “Oh, not much.”

“Uh-huh. You think I’ve grown up, you’re basically an old man now.”

“Yeah, yeah, all right. I’m only 34.”

“That’s still six years older than me, which makes you old.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m serious. You're not that idiot on a motorcycle anymore. Now you say things like, 'I'm in town on business,” and you wear expensive suits, and ridiculous watches."

He glances down at the aforementioned object on his wrist. "In my defense, this was a gift.”

“Sure.”

“It was,” he insists. His eyes flick over your face. “Look, I would have reached out sooner, but…after we broke up, I figured you wouldn’t want me to. I mean, you had just started your new job, and I knew it wouldn’t be fair to ask you to be a side, so…”

“There were no sides,” you argue softly. “You both just…grew apart. You wanted different things.”

“Yeah,” he agrees with a sigh. “But I know it hurt her. It hurt me, too. And it was weird having to say goodbye to all of you. And leave all those memories behind. You were both such a huge part of my life."

"Yeah," you whisper. "You were a huge part of mine, too."

"Does Atta know you're meeting me?"

"No. Didn't really think it was any of her business. This is about us, not her."

His brow raises. "Would she be mad if she did?"

"I don't know,” you admit. “Probably not, but...would it really matter?"

"Of course it would. I'd never want to get in the way of your relationship."

"You aren't," you insist. "Look, she's dating somebody anyway. And I'm sure you are, too. You've both moved on. We're just...old friends catching up, and she'd have to understand that."

He seems to consider this before saying, "Yeah. I'm not, though."

"You're not...what?"

"Seeing anybody," he clarifies, tongue coming out to swipe across his bottom lip. "Haven't really dated anybody since she and I broke up."

"Oh, Harry," you murmur. "I'm...I'm sorry—"

"No. No, don't be," he insists. "It wasn't...I've just been busy. Working at the firm and renovating my house. I've gone on some dates but nothing serious. I just...haven't met the right person, I guess."

"The right person, huh?" you muse teasingly as you take a sip of your drink. "Okay, and what does Harry Styles' right person look like?"

He exhales an amused chuckle. "God, I don't know. I don't really think I'm that picky. Just...anybody I can get along with, I suppose."

"That's it? No, 'They need a fat ass and the ability to make me a sandwich?'"

He grins so big, the corners of his eyes crinkle. "For fuck's sake. No, nothing like that. Look, I don't know. Call me old fashioned, but...I think sometimes you meet somebody, and you can just...tell. You know? There's this energy, this shift. You look at them...and it all just makes sense.”

And as he looks you, waiting for you to consider this…the air shifts.

"Yeah," you agree quietly, allowing your attention to fall down his features and land on his lips. "Yeah, that's...you're right."

He seems to notice the way your focus has wandered because he quickly clears his throat and looks back down at his mug. "What, um...what about you? I'm assuming you're seeing somebody."

You look away as well, willing yourself to calm. "Oh? And why do you assume that?"

"Come on," he nearly snorts, eyebrow cocking. "Look at you. You're beautiful and you're smart and you have this effortless ability to make anyone around you feel good. Who wouldn't want to date you?"

"Well...pretty much every male in the city," you retort. "I don't know. I've tried dating but...there's always something missing. It never really feels quite right."

"Yeah. I know what you mean," he hums. "There's this...disconnect. Like you're forcing something that you know isn't right."

"Exactly! It's not that I don't want to find somebody, I just...haven't. It's not as easy as it is with you."

His head tilts. "With me?"

"Yeah, you know," you sigh, hands waving about the air as you try to explain your point. "I haven't seen you in five years but we still, just...picked right back up, you know? As if no time had passed. We're still just us. We can talk, and we can laugh, and we don't have to force anything."

He nods. "Right."

"I mean, honestly? Sometimes I think it would be easier to date somebody I already know. The problem is that all the guys I know are assholes. And too immature, I guess. They've got no sense of purpose, no drive. And it’s not like I need to be taken care of, but…it’d be nice to know they could. You know?”

"Yeah. You need someone with a good head on their shoulders."

"Exactly. I need someone who feels more like an equal than this thing I need to take care. I want to date a man, not a Tamagotchi."

He laughs again and the sound brings the butterflies back to your stomach. You feel proud to have amused him. And even more proud of the way he casually places a hand on your arm as he takes a deep breath.

When he lets go, you look down at the spot on your skin as if you can still see outline of his fingers.

"You'll find somebody," he tells you, and you do your best to ignore the sparks dancing up the back of your neck. "You will. And they'll be perfect for you. Old enough to know better and wise enough to do it right."

You place your palm over the spot he once touched, squeezing it gently. "Yeah. Hey, and you, too. Anybody would be lucky to have you."

His eyes linger on yours. "Yeah?"

You smile. "Yeah."

The next few minutes are devoted to sharing stories about your families. He asks how your parents are, you ask about his. He tells you about his job and you tell him about your roommate. You recall every detail of the past five years, and once you've finally caught up to today, he pays for your drinks, and offers to walk you home.

You make your way along the busy streets of the city as Harry tells you that he's thinking about getting a cat. You laugh and tell him that he'd make a wonderful cat dad, and he seems to flush.

You wonder why.

Fifteen minutes later, you're walking up the steps to your building, already apologizing for the messy state of your apartment before he's even stepped foot inside.

He snorts the implication away, assuring you that no matter what, it can't be worse than how Atta used to keep her place.

And the mention of your sister breeds an odd feeling in your chest. Unease, and this strange tinge of jealousy. Like you're almost peeved at him for bringing her up. For reminding you that he's seen the inside of her room before.

But you shake it away as you push the door open, refusing to linger on the thought.

"Well...this is it," you declare, stepping aside to let him enter. "Probably looks smaller than you remember, but…it does the trick.”

He takes a moment to glance over your knickknacks and decor before he grins. “I love it.”

"Really?"

"Yeah." He shoves his hands into his expensive coat pockets and nods. "Yeah, really. It feels...fitting."

"What do you mean?"

"I don’t know. It just feels like you.”

Your teeth gnaw on the inside of your cheek as you walk to the kitchen. "Well...thanks. I think."

You offer him a glass of water, to which he declines, before you join him back by the door. You're not sure that you’re quite ready to say goodbye, but you know he can't stay forever.

You wonder if you actually want him to.

You wonder if it would be so bad if you did.

"This was…really nice," he says as he takes a half-step through the doorframe. "Really, Dot. I'm proud of you. And everything you’ve done. And I'm really glad that I can still call you my friend after everything."

Your heart starts to pound a little harder inside your chest. "Yeah, me too. I really missed you, Har. I hope we can catch up again soon."

The side of his mouth curls up as his eyes soften. "I'd like that."

With that, he moves into the hall, and you close the door behind him.

The feeling that follows is...strange. Overwhelming. Like something is wrong. Like something has just been ripped away from you.

Like something is missing.

You feel on edge. Off-balance. Confused and unsure and you have no idea why. There’s a pain in your stomach that wasn’t there before and a hollowness in your heart that didn’t exist before you saw him.

Suddenly, there's a sharp knock on your door. "Dot?"

He's back.

Confused and slightly excited, you swing it back open to find him braced against your frame. He’s quiet as he studies you, brows woven together in what appears to be deep thought before he strides back inside your apartment and begins to pace your floor.

"Okay," he begins. Strained. "Okay, tell me...tell me this isn't just me. Tell me this isn't just in my head."

You shut the door. "What do you mean?”

He looks at you before frantically gesturing between your two bodies. "This. This thing we’ve been doing all afternoon. Tell me it's not just me. Tell me you feel it.”

And you're almost certain you know what he means, but the implication of it scares the shit out of you.

So, you simply tilt your head. "Har...feel what? I don't know what you're talking about—"

"Us.” He stares at you. “Us, there's something...there's something different here. Something that wasn't here before."

"Like...?"

"Like...like the way you look at me," he says, eyes on yours as you feel your heart begin to race. "You never used to look at me that way."

Your lashes flutter, and suddenly, you feel acutely aware of the way you've begun to gawk at him. Have you been looking at him differently?

"And the way you speak to me," he continues. "Talking about needing someone to take care of you. Someone older. Someone...more mature."

You swallow.

He takes a step closer. "And all day, you've just...you’ve found a way to brush your hand against mine. Or your arm. And you laugh at everything I say, even when it isn't funny. And I know you. I know this can't be what I think it is, but...you gotta tell me I'm not going crazy. You have to tell me it's not just...me."

And you realize now that you have an easy way out. You could brush off the accusation and tell him that it is just in his head. That he's your sister's ex-boyfriend, and he's your friend, and that you would never make a pass at him.

But then you say, "…what if it wasn't just you?"

He goes still, lips parting as he leans back. Almost as if struggling to understand what you've just said.

Truth be told, you're struggling to understand it yourself. You hadn't realized just how differently you'd been acting toward him. Or that you’d begun to wonder what would happen if he was your Harry instead of hers.

Because he’s not hers anymore. He’s just a man. A very attractive man. With a job, and a house, and enough emotional maturity not to make a fart joke every three minutes.

And it's not your fault that you're starting to see him in a different light. It's been years. Five whole years since you've spoken to him and you're both adults now. Completely different people, and would it really be the worst thing if you wondered what could have been?

"Dot…" he begins slowly, clearly wrestling with what he wants to say, "…you don't…I don't think you really know what you're doing."

You take a step as well, challenging him. "What am I doing?"

"You're...you're—" His fingers find the bridge of his nose as he squeezes. Hard. "Fuck, Dot. Don't…don't do this—"

"Do what? Flirt with you?"

His palms fly to his ears with a wince. "Stop. No, you didn't...you didn't say that. You're not flirting with me. You're not flirting with me—"

"What if I am?" you retort, following after him with a surge of confidence you didn’t realize you had. "Why would that be so wrong?"

"Because,” he scoffs, shooting a stern look your way. "You’re Atta’s little sister. And we’re friends. And you’re basically a child—"

"I'm not a child," you remind him. "I'm twenty-eight. I've been making capable decisions for quite some time now—"

"But not this," he hisses, the muscles in his neck straining. "Not…shit. You can't do this. You can't—”

"Why not? You said it yourself, there's something different here—"

"But not this—"

"Why not?"

"Because…you're you," he huffs. "You're...you're my best friend, and my ex’s little sister, and I’m…I’m just this big, bad man come to ruin you.”

And somehow, the idea goes straight to your cunt.

"You're not ruining me, Harry," you say, even though you wish he would. "We’re adults. Old friends catching up and realizing that maybe things can be different now."

He takes in a breath. "But they can't be. They can't be different—"

"Why—"

"Because it's not right—"

"What's not right? What?" you argue. "Is it just the age difference? Is it Atta? Is it that you aren't attracted to me, because I know you were flirting with me, too—"

His entire face twists into a grimace as he inhales sharply and presses his hands back over his ears. "God. Don't say that—"

"You were," you insist. "Like it or not, I'm not the little girl you used to know. All right, and there's...there's nothing wrong with us testing the waters—"

He steels himself, arms dropping back to his sides. "We can't."

"Why?" you repeat for what feels like the hundredth time. "Why can't we? Huh? We're not breaking any rules. We're not doing anything illegal. I don't see what's so wrong with just trying—"

"I'd ruin you," he says again, with so much conviction that it makes your stomach drop. "I would ruin any chance you had at a normal relationship—a normal life. All right, being with me...it would complicate everything. And I'd never do that to you—"

"I'm not asking you to marry me. I'm just asking you to try—"

"Try what?"

"Try seeing." You take another step, making sure you have his full attention. "Just…try seeing if what we think is here is actually here. If maybe we were meant to find each other again after all this time. If this is where it all finally makes sense."

He considers this for a moment. Considers you. And you aren't sure when you suddenly became so enamored by the thought of Harry, but you’re here now. And he’s here. And there’s a shift.

And it feels right.

Then, his head begins to shake. "No. No, I know better. I have to know better. I have to do better than this. I can't...God, I can't believe I'm even...no. No, you mean too much to me for me to ruin this."

You feel your chest deflate as your lips press into a thin line. And you stare at him. You stare and you see the indecision and anguish on his face. You see the way he wrestles with the idea you've given him. The way he wrestles with himself.

The way he wrestles with you.

You don't want to push him. Because you know this is something you can never take back. And maybe there's just too much adrenaline in your veins right now. Maybe you aren't thinking straight, and once he leaves and the moment passes, you’ll wonder what you were so worked up about anyway.

But right now, all you feel is disappointment.

"Fine," you whisper, and his eyes soften. "No, fine. You're right. You're right, this is...I never should have said anything. I was…confused. I was just happy to see you again and I thought it was something else, but…you're right. It's nothing. And I don't wanna be your mid-life crisis. I just want us to be friends again.”

Your tiny apartment falls silent as you both settle onto this conclusion. As you let your heartbreak dangle in the air.

Then, his fingers between to flex and his teeth begin to grit, and watch in real time as he starts to change his mind.

Then, he murmurs, “Oh, fuck it.”

Next thing you know, he's closing the gap between you, taking hold of your face and kissing you hard.

You don’t have time to process it. Don’t even care to process it. But you don’t care. Because everything makes sense now.

So, you feel him. Surrender to him. Indulge in the dominate pull of his hands on your jaw as he takes a taste of you on his tongue. As he presses his hips so hard into yours that you feel your knees go weak.

You make a noise in your throat as he goes deeper, and he growls. Like he's fighting himself. Fighting the urge to take as he begins roughly walking you back until you’re slammed against the wall.

He knows exactly what he's doing in a way that younger men never have. He makes you feel both taken care of and somehow, still completely helpless. You don't have to think about anything with him because he does everything.

He presses his strong, tall frame into yours until he practically disappears into you. His large hand grips onto the back of your neck as you whimper, taking control of the moment—of you—until the only thought left in your head is just more.

And you don't doubt that he'd give you more if you asked, but before you can, he pulls back, and puts the moment on pause.

You feel breathless. Dejected. Wilting in his hold as he meets your eye and looks for your reaction.

But he won’t find it. And you bite back a whine as you wait for him to come back.

He sweeps his thumbs along your cheek before sighing to himself. "Dot..."

You feel your stomach turn at the nickname. At the way it comes out raspy and desperate. "Don’t say it."

But he does, anyway. "We shouldn't do this."

"I know," you murmur, fingers disappearing into his hair while he seems to nestle into your touch. "I know, but I want to. I want to, Har. So…please don’t make me lose you again.”

Another beat passes before he groans and presses his forehead to yours. “God,” he nearly growls, and the sound makes your thighs squeeze together. “Dot—”

"I won't tell," you promise while his jaw clenches. "I won't, I swear. I'll be your secret."

Just like that, the hand he placed on your thigh tightens. Squeezing until you're squirming beneath him. He’s losing his conviction and you’re losing your patience.

"This is wrong," he mumbles. "S'wrong, Dot. I can't do this to you. Can't do this with you...I can't...I know better. I have to do better.”

You tug on his hair as you straighten up, whining beneath a strained breath. "I don’t want you to do better. I want you to do me.”

He exhales deeply with this, nose running down the side of your face as his lips travel to your neck. He seems to take refuge there, subtly pressing kisses to your throat as he thinks. "I want to," he tells you softly. "You have no idea how badly I want to. How badly I want to do everything for you. Show you how a real man fucks. Until you see stars.”

"Har," you just about gasp, anxious to have him do just that. "Please...please—"

"Fuck." His thigh slots between the both of yours and you writhe against him, searching for anything you might find. "Be so easy to take you. Be so easy to show you what you're missing. To wreck you until you’re begging for more—"

"So do it," you plead, pulling on him until his mouth meets yours. "Do it, Har. Please. Just once. Just once, and I promise I'll be so good. Be so good for you. Won't ever ask you again—"

His hold on you grows more determined before he's ripping you away from the wall and slinging you toward your bed a few feet away.

He’s on you in seconds, hovering about where you lie as you greedily grab for him. "Promise me," he hisses as his palm slips beneath your shirt, and a needy whimper bleeds from your throat. "Promise me that this is what you want."

"I promise," you repeat quickly, arching into his touch. "Promise—"

"Promise me...that you'll be good," he says next, fingers brushing over the material of your bra. "That you'll behave. That you'll do exactly what I tell you."

"Yes," you breathe, eyes falling shut.

"Fucking promise me..." he continues as he scratches down your chest, "...that you won't tell. That you'll be my dirty little secret. That you'll be mine. That you'll let me ruin you and that you'll fucking thank me for doing it—"

The last domino falls. Crashes to the ground as you tug him down to you so you can kiss him. So, you can prove your loyalty. Prove that this is everything you’ve ever wanted.

You feel him smile.

"You little fucking minx,” he purrs.

Your skin warms as Harry's stunned but unceasingly enthralled gaze lingers on the red lace of your underwear. However, his fingers move instead for your hips. His hauntingly empty touch ghosting across the fabric of your underwear as you anxiously await contact.

But he doesn't give it to you. Not quite, not yet. He just wants to look at you. Wants to drink you in. Allow himself the privilege of seeing what he never has before.

"Did you wear these just for me, little one?" he asks in a gravely drawl, eyes flicking up to yours from where he lays between your thighs.

You swallow as you look across your stomach at him. You're not sure why you picked out this particular set today. Perhaps it was a subconscious choice or perhaps destiny was simply on your side.

"Maybe," you murmur, nails curling into your palm as you work in shallow breaths. God, you need him to touch you. Need him to do something about the mess that's sitting two inches in front of his face.

The very same mess he's pretending he doesn't notice.

Your response encourages a smirk as he hums and glances back down at the little white bow placed delicately in the center. "S'cute, Dot," he says softly, pinching the ribbon between his thumb and forefinger. "Fucking precious, actually. Knowing you got yourself all dolled up. Just to see me."

He pulls his lip between his teeth and glances back over your face. He's amused by the weary and desperate expression you wear and you're two seconds away from groaning.

His touch moves down. Down, down, down until the pad of his finger brushes over your clit.

You tense before releasing a shaky exhale.

Satisfied with this reaction, he moves even lower. Until he finds that growing wet patch that's beginning to hurt.

"What's this?" he coos, looking down toward the darkened red fabric. "Oh, darling...s'this for me, too?"

You're not sure where your quippy attitude from before has gone because now you can do nothing but nod mutely as you shift beneath his hand.

"Yeah?" His eyebrow raises as he grins at you. "Is this what has you so anxious?"

You give him another nod.

He hums. "Think I need to see for myself, hm?" He smirks and pats his palms against your hips. "Take these off for me."

You quickly reach down to hook your fingers around the hem of your underwear and drag them down your thighs. Once they've been pulled from your body, you get ready to toss them onto the other side of the bed. But before they can be flicked from the tips of your fingers, Harry snatches them with his fist.

"Uh-uh," he tuts as he tucks them into his suit's breast pocket. "These are mine now."

You suck in a sharp, eager pant. "Har—"

"Shh." He settles back onto his stomach, hands curling around your thighs to guide them apart and allow him a better visual. "M'busy, little one."

But it’s nearly impossible to stay quiet as his warm breath fans across your pussy, making the mess that much more obvious to you both. In fact, you can practically see the glistening reflection in his eye as he studies your cunt in the most intimate of ways.

You're not sure what he wants. What he's doing or planning or thinking. And you don't know why, but the way he stares at you does more for the apprehensive coil in your gut than him actually touching you has.

Finally, he makes another satisfied noise deep within the back of his throat before he brings his fingers back to you.

Two are placed just above your clit before he teasingly drags them down. However, when your hips buck up, he merely shoves them back down with a tsk.

Once you’re still, he starts again. Easing himself through your folds as he spreads you with the utmost glee. Fascinated by the way your body feels, the way it reacts to him.

His tongue sits between his lips as he ventures down, and the moment he finds the pooling of arousal waiting for him...you see the muscles in his neck contract.

"Darling…" The nickname is whispered across your body as he scoots closer. "Bet this hurts, doesn't it?"

"Yes," you reply instantaneously, straining around the singular word as you resist the urge to whimper.

He circles the tip of his finger around your aching hole, almost as if to test you. "Oh, precious girl...how long, hm? How long have you been in so much pain?"

Truthfully, since you hugged him at the diner.

"All day," you say aloud, hands gripping onto the duvet beneath you. "All day, Har. Been thinking about you all day."

And that is the honest answer. You'd been anxiously awaiting your meeting from the moment you woke up.

But he smiles as if he knows better, despite the way he seems to bask in your response. "All day, hm? And what were you gonna do if I never came back? Were you just gonna sit here and rub your pretty thighs together?"

Your heart skips while your hands gather atop of your stomach.

His brow raises. "No? Well then how were you gonna take care of it, hm?"

For a moment, you think this is simply rhetorical, but the longer the silence stretches, the more obvious it becomes that he expects an answer.

You swallow the odd lump in your throat. "How do you think?"

"Uh-uh," he chastises again. "I wanna hear you say it. Want you to tell me exactly how you were gonna fix this little problem of yours had I not been here."

Your head flops back against the pillows as you glare at the ceiling. He's always been rather infuriating but now he's a menace.

"Dot..." He's warning you. Calling you back. Urging you not to be so bratty.

With a tentative sigh, you look back at him. "My...vibrator."

He perks up. "Yeah?"

You nod faintly.

"Tell me how," he instructs next, jutting his chin toward you. "Better yet...show me. Show me how you've been taking care of yourself all these years."

Feeling rather embarrassed under the spotlight of such an intimate request, you shyly look over toward your nightstand and outstretch a hand. After pulling the drawer open, you slip inside and find the purple wand that's just small enough to fit snugly inside your palm.

And Harry watches with a certain wonder in his eye as you bring the dainty toy closer. Yet, he says nothing while you slowly guide it toward your stomach and down to your thighs.

But he does, however, shift in order to make room, scooting back by a hair to allow you the space you need to place the head right above your aching clit.

For some reason, doing something so private in front of him feels...odd. Strange and almost unsettling. And perhaps that's just nerves, but you can't deny the heat that rushes to your face as he looks between you and the vibrator.

"S'this it, then?" he murmurs, a hint of teasing laced within the remark. "Don't even have to turn it on?"

Your thumb taps against the power button, a nervous tic, although you refrain from switching the toy on just yet. "No..."

His smirk is borderline haughty. "Then what do you do, little one? How do you use it?"

You say nothing. You hold his stare, and you hold a deep breath, and you hold the wand to your glistening cunt.

Then...you flip the switch.

The soft, dainty vibrations echo across the room, across your bodies, and across your clit as it's met with the instant stimulation of the pulsating wand.

You choke on a gasp as you return your eyes to the ceiling, allowing for the feeling to take control of each remaining sense.

And as you do, Harry's hands make themselves known to you as they begin to smooth up your legs, helping guide your thighs further apart once again.

There's an ever-so-slight stretch that follows as your muscles are pulled, and the distinctive burn makes your lashes flutter shut.

"There you go," he whispers. "So pretty, darling. God, could watch you do this all day."

Truthfully, you imagine you’re quite a sight. After all, you’ve watched yourself before. You know how it looks. Know exactly the kind of visual fantasy Harry is witness to right now.

So, you play it up, give him a show. After all...he's got a front row seat.

You rotate the head slowly, circling down and around your hole before retreating and dragging the object back up and through.

And you shiver every time it brushes against that particular sweet spot. Every time the pulses slow just to speed up once more. It's almost torturous the way your body is being bent to such salacious desires. And cruel the way you're forced to do this while he only watches.

A whimper slips free, and you arch off the bed, pressing the toy as tight against your body as you can stand.

You hear Harry chuckle.

"Easy," he warns before you feel his fingers curl around your wrist, encouraging your grip to relax. "Take it slow, Dot. Not in a hurry, are you?"

"No," you breathe, head shaking zealously. "No, m'just...feels good."

"Does it?" He almost sounds surprised. "Hm. Interesting. Seeing as you're doing it wrong."

Your head lifts.

He glances toward the vibrator. "May I?"

You nod.

Pleased, he slips the toy free from between your fingers and clears his throat. Focused eyes landing on your body as he readies the bullet.

Then...he begins.

It meets your clit—an innocent, familiar touch—before it's instantly being dragged down. He's slow with it. Giving you enough time to feel each particular flutter and twitch.

Your soft gasps and grateful sighs carry him further, until the tiny head of the toy is swimming through your arousal. You fall still, attention locked on the man by your knees.

But he’s still focused. Soft, green eyebrows weaving together as his pretty cherry lips stretch into a smile.

Something changes—everything changes—when he slips the head inside. Your entire body ripples from the vibrations as you stumble over his name and squirm across the mattress.

He only laughs before placing his arm overtop your stomach to keep you cemented to the bed. "None of that. Stay still for me."

"Har," you whisper, depleted of any strength. "Please..."

"What, little one? What do you want?"

"I need...please, I'm..."

"What? Does it feel good?"

"Yes. Yes...yes, feels so good. Please..."

"Please what? What do you want, sugar?"

More. Everything. Anything. "Fuck, I'm—don't stop. Please don't stop."

"Oh, darling," he breathes. "I'd never dream of it."

He takes the toy out and moves it back to your clit, circling gently a few times before pressing down hard.

And you almost miss the full feeling it provided as it was eased into you, but before you can dwell for too long...Harry's extending his fingers and slipping them into your cunt.

Not one, but two of those beautiful digits push past your walls and begin to stretch you, ripping a gasp from your throat at the simultaneous stimulation.

"Attagirl," he murmurs from below, and you can hear the smug undertone. "That's what you wanted, hm? Needed something to fill you."

Your chest heaves, the red lace of your bra lifting and falling as you roll your head back. "God, Har—"

"Tell me, darling," he continues, easing himself out just to push back in. "Were you gonna use your own fingers? If I wasn't here? Gonna ride your pretty little hand?"

You can't tell if he already knows the answer or if he just wants to picture your hand between your thighs.

Either way, you pant out, "Mhm."

"Yeah? How many, honey? How many were you gonna use?"

"...two."

He tsks, seemingly disappointed with this answer. "Just two? Hm. And would it have felt like this, darling? Would they be able to do it for you the way mine can?"

To accompany this ask, he curls upward, nearly yanking the pleasure out of you as you choke on a cry and writhe away from him.

"Fuck—" Your teeth tug on your bottom lip. "Shit, Har—"

"Is that a no, then?" He thrusts his fingers out and back in again. "Would you have gotten yourself this wet...with just your own hand?"

The sound of him slipping through your arousal meets your ear as you groan and look down.

"No?" He adds a third finger while making sure to keep the wand of the vibrator exactly where it needs to be. "What about when you thought of me? Would that have done it for you, sugar? Thinking of me while you soaked your sheets? While you dripped down your knuckles as you fucked yourself?"

You've never heard a man talk to you this way. You already knew his experience superseded that of any man you'd been with before but this. None of those other boys ever knew how. But Harry...God. He knows just what to say. Knows exactly what you need to hear, and it overwhelms you.

"Har...Har—"

"Need an answer," he reminds you, but when you refuse to offer him one, he takes himself away. His fingers, the toy, his body. Leaning away completely as your pussy goes completely quiet.

"Harry," you just about moan, pushing up onto your elbows to leverage the playing field. "You...I'm...I was just—"

"Disobeying," he answers for you. "That's what you were doing. And I don't think that's fair, do you?"

You frown. You know this tone he's taking with you. Authoritative and condescending. It makes you huff. "Fine. I'll try again."

"Good girl," he murmurs, nodding at you as if to encourage confidence.

"I...wait, what was the question again?"

He smiles at this, releasing an amused chuckle beneath his breath before crawling back to you. His hands find the mattress beside your hips and he settles between your parted thighs, lips dangerously closer now.

And you can smell him. Smell his cologne, and his aftershave, and his shampoo. Can feel the heat radiating off his body, even through the expensive suit. Can see how much he wants to take care of you—ruin you. As promised.

"Do you get yourself this wet...when I'm not around?" he repeats, and the tip of his nose brushes against yours.

Your breath hitches. "No."

The answer was always obvious, but you know he needed to hear you say it.

"Do you touch yourself...the way I touch you?"

"No."

"Can you make yourself come the way I can?"

"God, no—" you gasp before taking hold of his face and smashing his mouth against yours.

His lips are perfect and his kiss is perfect and the two of you are perfect together. A connection so seamless, so effortless...it's as if you were always meant to be.

A ridiculous notion, you think to yourself, but right now...it's quite nice.

He pulls himself back just enough to meet your eye and offer a devious grin. "Then let’s find out, hm?"

Rough fingertips travel up the length of your inner thigh, forming goosebumps in the wake. You shiver, ready to receive his touch once again before he dances right past your cunt, and up your hip.

He moves for the lace on your chest, tugging on the wire between your breasts with a disappointed tsk.

"I want this gone," he decides, plucking it from your skin. "Need to see all of you, Dot."

And before you can even reach back to undo the hook, he's looping an arm underneath your back, lifting you up, and flicking the clasp free.

Once done, he yanks the bra down your arms and body before flinging it somewhere behind him.

Your eyes shut as your naked chest is revealed to him, heart hammering against your ribcage.

But then, you feel those lips again. He wraps his mouth around your left nipple before you can even whisper his name, sucking on you as though he's determined to make you see stars.

Which you do the moment his teeth pull on the sensitive skin. And you can't help but mewl as his tongue flicks cruel and merciless patterns against before moving for your collarbone.

He groans as he goes, situating his knee between your legs and pressing it directly against your cunt. His other hand gropes at your right breast, kneading at the tender flesh until his mouth reaches your neck. He nips at a vein just below your jaw and you arch up into him, chest knocking into his.

He sucks sweet bruises into the curve of your throat before licking apologies over the newly ruined skin. It's slow and painful and beautifully good.

Everything about him is beautiful and good.

His entire body seems to cater to yours as he cages you to the mattress and easily pulls whimpers from your throat. As he touches you, and pleases you, and knows you in a way nobody else ever has.

You grind yourself against his leg before glancing down. And that’s when you notice the way your arousal has begun to soak through his nice pants. The way a dark little patch seeps into the fancy—and expensive—material. A sight both erotic and humiliating.

Your whimper forces his eyes to where yours reside, and he smirks when he sees your mess.

"What's the matter, little one?" he asks, taking his hand from your tit and using it to grab onto your jaw. "Are you embarrassed?"

You nod, despite his hold.

"Oh, my dirty little girl,” he hums. “I don't mind you soaking my trousers. But I'd rather you soak my cock."

You'd rather that, too, and you're more than grateful when he leans back to undo his belt. You don't know where this will lead you. If you’ll fuck him and then lose contact for another five years.

Or if you’ll fuck him and change everything.

But right now, you don't mind. You'll happily exist in this moment with him. In these bad decisions until you're coming so hard, you forget your own name.

He leans back to begin ridding himself of his clothes and you scramble upward to help him along. Your greedy hands grab at his jacket and his shirt, wrestling them down his arms and off his broad chest. Wanting to see him the way he can see you.

You nearly moan when his inked skin is revealed to you. You knew he'd gotten a few tattoos in college, and even some a bit after. But seeing them now, painted across such a tan, toned canvas makes your head spin.

"Easy," he laughs, reaching out to swipe his thumb beside your mouth to collect the pooling drool. "Save some for me, hm?"

But you can't. Instead, you take his finger between your lips and bury it beside your tongue.

Surprised, his lashes flutter. But once you realize he won’t be able to undo his pants without both hands, you regretfully pop his digit free. Allowing him to slip out of his briefs until his cock springs free.

He’s…perfect. Still. Somehow. Red and swollen and leaking just for you. And you clench from the mere thought of having something so beautiful inside you.

You crawl closer, eager for a taste, but Harry simply grabs hold of your chin.

"Yes, little one?" he murmurs, using his other hand to hold his cock. "Did you want something?"

You nod and lean forward another inch.

"All right," he concedes, pumping himself before subtly tugging you down. "Just a taste, honey. Since you've been so good."

He leads your mouth to him and without a moment's hesitation, you outstretch your tongue, and drag it along the underside.

You revel in the way you feel him twitch. In the way he exhales a deep breath through parted lips while moving his fingers to your hair, guiding you closer but not too close. Just enough to get him on your tastebuds.

You hum when you reach the tip, eager to indulge in the pre-cum already beading in pearly drops. And the vibrations from your eager appreciation make the muscles in his stomach quiver as he curses your name.

However, you barely get the chance to wrap your mouth around him before he's yanking on your hair, and straightening you back up.

"What did I say?" he hisses. "Don't be greedy, Dot."

"I'm sorry," you whisper, swallowing the bit of him still lingering in your mouth. "M'sorry, won't do it again."

"No, you won't. Or I'll go back on my promise."

"No," you whine, needy fingers wrapping around his wrist to keep him close. "No, won't do it again. I promise."

You know he’s amused with your desperation, and even though you're slipping fast, he can't help but be entertained. "We'll see, little one."

With a fervent motion of your head, you scramble back to the pillows to lay down, legs spreading as if to invite him in.

He smirks as he strokes his cock a time or two more while settling himself between your thighs. You imagine he could have you in a number of ways, a plethora of positions. But he chooses this. He chooses to see your face this first time. To see every ounce of pleasure etched within your features.

And truth be told, you don't mind. You could stare at him forever.

"Do you have any condoms?" he asks next, dipping down to press his lips to yours for only a second. "Or would you prefer to go without?"

You consider this. You're on birth control and you do have a bit of a creampie kink, so you shake your head.

"Without," you answer quickly before lifting an eyebrow. "Unless you'd like to?"

"No," he chuckles, placing a kiss to your nose this time. "Just wanted to make sure. Promised to take care of you, and that's what I plan to do."

Your heart flutters.

"Okay, gonna need you to be good, honey," he tells you now, large palm landing on your hip to steady you. "Gonna need you to take me and do as I say, all right? And I'll make it worth it."

"I will," you agree quickly, fingers traveling up the dips in his arms, ghosting over each muscle until you reach his shoulders. "Be so good, Har, promise."

"Uh-uh." His hand smacks against your inner thigh in warning before his thick eyebrow cocks up. "S'not my name, darling. Not right now."

Curious as to what he might mean, you study him for only a moment before you realize.

"I'm sorry, Sir."

Just like that, something in his demeanor switches.

Truth be told, the name doesn't do much for you. But you revel in the way he feeds off it. Find absolute euphoria in the way he lights up at your obedience until you want nothing more than to please him again. To call him anything he wants as long as he keeps looking at you like that.

"Good girl," he growls beneath a deep breath before he's bringing his cock closer.

He starts by dragging it along your clit, making you jolt and buck before his hand splays across your stomach to force you back down.

"No," he says simply, eyes fixated on the torture he's currently implementing.

He does it again, letting your swollen, puffy clit jump from the slight brush of his tip while he drags it through your arousal and shifts forward.

"Breathe," he orders next, stealing a quick glance at your puckered lips and wide eyes. “All right?”

“Yes, Sir.”

He slides in slowly, pushing past your tight walls, coaxing the muscles to stretch to his size.

At first, it's nothing more than a soft, easy sensation. Relaxing, in a sense as it aids the ache and fills the void his fingers left behind.

Then...he goes deeper.

And this is what you'd been waiting for. The slight tension and subtle burn as your body is forced to accommodate him. You're thankful he goes slow. Not just because of the pain. But because you both want to watch.

You want to watch the way he pulls your body apart. Wanna watch him disappear into your tight hole that pulls him in. Wanna watch the way you flutter and clench and claim him the way he’s claiming you.

"Oh, that's my fucking girl," he groans to himself. "Fucking hell, Dot. Didn’t think you’d be so tight."

"Yeah, well…never had someone like you before," you tease, gauging your body's reaction by slowly rolling your hips up.

"Yeah?" His hand lands on your throat, smoothing up the sides of your neck until he can squeeze a gasp from your lips. “Never, huh?”

You shake your head and with one quick thrust, he bottoms out, forcing a strangled cry as you arch into him.

“Never had someone stretch this pretty pussy the way it deserves, yeah?” He tsks again. “What a fucking shame.”

He rears back, and the pain and the pleasure that follow him out make your chest cave in.

However, he’s quickly driving himself back in before you can complain, pushing past the fluttering muscles once more as you keen and rake your nails down the blanket.

"Harry," you breathe, his name like a lifeline as you drown in his sin.

But it earns you another firm smack to your outer thigh as he grunts his disapproval into your neck. "No," he warns before nipping just below your jaw. "You know better."

But really…you don’t. "Sir...please," you amend.

"Hm. S'a good girl," he praises. "Knew you'd behave for me, yeah? My perfect little toy—"

A rather debauched moan rips from between your gritted teeth as his hips ram into yours. You can feel him everywhere. In your stomach, in your head, in your heart. His legs against yours, his chest against yours, his entire body against yours until you're almost convinced he's gonna become one with your bloodstream.

Not that you'd mind.

His arm slips beneath you once more in order to lift you up and provide him with a new angle. Then, he thrusts himself into you again as your mouth hangs open in a silent gasp for air.

"There she is, that's what you needed. Yeah, little one?' He does it again, brushing against that one spot that makes your toes curl. "The other boys never did it, did they?"

You whine, knees bending besides his hips as you attempt to follow after him when he pulls back.

But he's quick to tut and knock you back down onto your ass. "No. You don't rush me, darling. We do this my way. On my time. If I wanna stay here and fuck you nice and slow, then you’ll behave, and you’ll fucking take me.”

You’d like to agree, but he’s thrusting himself back in before you can.

"You will thank me for taking my time," he continues in a coarse cadence that seems to reverberate from his chest. "You will thank me...for being so goddamn good to you. And you will thank me…for doing it right."

"Harry, please—" you just about wail, hands finding his arms as you grasp on for dear life.

But the fingers around your throat tighten until the edges of your vision begin to blur.

"There you fucking go again," he growls, stilling his rhythmic attacks as he meets your eye. He seems to enjoy watching your focus go fuzzy. "Starting to think you like to be punished, hm? And here I thought you had a praise kink."

You clutch onto his wrist, nails scratching along the veins in his arm as he pounds into you at a harder pace.

But you don't mind. You enjoy watching him give into the voices inside his head. Enjoy the way his chocolate brown curls sweep across his forehead, the way his eyebrows weave together and the muscles in his jaw constrict.

For a 34-year-old man, he seems to possess quite a bit of stamina. He'd mentioned earlier his enjoyment for running and exercising, detailing his rather excessive and diligent routine.

And you'd smirked because you'd assumed he was showing off or because he was trying to stay ahead of the inevitable "dad-bod" in his future.

But now you understand why he's really so meticulous. He's a long way from looking his age. Apart from some subtle, but soft crinkles near his eyes and a few gray hairs that peek through the auburn waves, he looks rather youthful.

And his body. You swallow another noise as you let your hungry gaze trail over every inch, every muscle, every quiver in his thighs as he braces himself above you.

Sir feels like a more appropriate title to you now. Because he is. He is your superior in this moment A man to be respected and revered. Someone who not only knows better,.but knows you. Knows your body and how to play it like an instrument.

There's something exciting about submitting to him. Something tantalizing about being at his mercy. Most of the other men you've been with have felt more like your equals than anything else. Which you haven't minded in the least bit.

But the way Harry has managed to fit you into the submissive, subservient role so quickly suggests that perhaps...this is where you were always meant to be.

Beneath him.

"Oh, honey," he coos, a mix of condescension and amusement. "Can feel you squeezin' me. Need it so bad, don't you? Need to come, hm?"

"Yes. Yes," you whisper, nuzzling your face into his neck, lips eagerly pressing into the salty skin at your disposal. "Please, Ha—Sir. Please let me come. Can't...can't hold it—"

"You will,” he says before he’s grabbing hold of your wrist and hosting it above your head. Burying into the pillow and preventing you from reaching for your clit. “Forget it, Princess. Told you to take me. So you will. Exactly how I tell you.”

"Sir—"

"I said no. I plan to keep you here for quite some time. Plan to feel you coming around my cock as many times as I see fit. And I expect you to behave for me the way you promised. Can you do that? Or do I need to stop?"

"No," you gasp, tears springing to your eyes at the very thought. "No, no, please—"

"Then what are you going to do?"

You swallow a moan and lift your chin proudly. "Take it."

A pleased smile crawls across his face as he hums and dips down to press his mouth to yours. "There she is," he murmurs, nipping at your bottom lip. "My good girl. Try to remember that, yeah? Or I'll keep you here all day."

However, that’s something else you wouldn't exactly mind, and you shiver as he pushes your knee into your chest.

"Fucking hell, Dot," he mumbles, eyes falling back down to where you're coating his cock. "Oh, my perfect toy. Look at the way you treat me, honey. Treat me so well, fucking soaking me, aren't you—"

"Yes, Yes, please…"

"I know. I know, little one. Feels so good to be filled, yeah? To be fucked the right way—"

"God, yes. More...please—"

"More, huh? Need more? Need me to make it better? Need me to fucking take—"

Suddenly, your phone rings.

The soft, melodic chime cuts through Harry’s vulgar response, bringing the moment to a close as his thrusts falter and he glances over.

God, you hate that stupid, evil, sadistic machine. Right now, you wish you'd never bought it. You wish you could throw it again the wall until it shatters into a thousand fucking pieces so as long as he just keeps going.

Instead, he searches your nightstand for the small device before he's releasing your leg in order to reach for it.

"No, Har," you plead, attempting to grab onto his hand. "Just let it go to voicemail, it's fine—"

"But that wouldn't be very polite, now, would it?" he tuts, glancing over the screen. "And I think you need to take this, darling."

"Harry, please—"

"Shh," he says sharply. “You're gonna take this phone call and you're gonna use your word. And then, and you're gonna come for me."

His thumb hovers over the green button and he guides the phone to your ear.

"And you're not gonna make a fucking sound," he adds, dropping his voice to a threatening hiss before pressing the receiver to your ear. "Or I fucking stop. Do you understand?"

You do your best to nod, and he smiles before tapping the screen.

Through a slight quiver, you say, "Hello?"

"Hey! Long time no talk, babe. How are you?"

Your eyes just about pop out of your head.

Atta.

Her cheerful tone and eager greeting make the blood drain from your face as you look up at the man hovering above you.

"Speak," he mouths with a wicked grin while nodding his chin at you.

But you can't. You physically cannot get the words to come out of your mouth as Harry keeps the device glued to the side of your head.

"H...hi," you stammer, forcing a more confident cadence. "I'm...good. How...how are you?"

"Oh, I'm good. Good, yeah," your sister replies, and you hear a bit of shuffling. "Been working a lot. Got today off, which is nice. God, you'd never believe how much shit we have to go through since we changed our filing system—"

"Mhm," you reply right as Harry rams his hips into yours.

You gasp and quickly turn your head away from the phone in an attempt to keep the excitable noise from making it into the microphone.

However, he uses his other hand to grasp onto your jaw and force you back. "No," he whispers, shooting you a stern look of warning. "You know better."

"—which is wild because we've been using the same program since '08," Atta is saying, although you can hardly hear her over the imminent pleasure rushing through your veins. "But...whatever. Once we're done, it'll make things so much easier. Which will be nice. I can cut back on my hours—"

"Yeah, mhm," you repeat, and it's outrageously strained as Harry pulls himself out, leaving you depraved and so goddamn empty.

You have to fight the urge to cry out for him, glancing down at the string of arousal that follows his cock. And it's almost too much for you to handle as you greedily reach for him once more.

However, he bats your hands away and brings his free fingers from your chin to your clit, rubbing into the sensitive nerves until you arch up.

"—so, yeah. What about you?"

Your eyes squeeze shut as that tightly wound ball of pleasure in your stomach expands. "I'm...I...good. I'm...good. You know, not...not a lot going on. At the moment."

Harry smirks to himself before sinking all the way back in and thrusting up.

Your lip fights its way between your teeth and you writhe beneath his chest while praying for the strength to stay quiet.

"Well...I guess no news is good news, yeah?" she chuckles. "Oh, hey, speaking of which...I heard that Harry's in town."

That's not the only thing he's in.

"Oh?" you squeak, placing a palm on Harry's chest almost as if in retaliation. "He is?"

"Yeah. Saw it on Facebook," she answers, and you hear her move around. "Figured he might try to reach out. I know you guys are still on good terms, right?"

"Me and Harry?" you repeat pointedly, garnering a curious look from the aforementioned man. "Uh...we're...yeah. I guess. But we’re not…that close."

He grins.

"Well...I just thought I'd let you know in case he does," she says, and your lashes flutter shut as the guilt begins to find you.

"Would it be weird...if he did?" you ask before the patterns being traced against your clit make you whimper.

Terrified, you quickly cough in an attempt at burying the sound, but Atta doesn't seem to hear.

"I mean...maybe? I don't know. He and I are fine, I think. And I know you two were friends. I guess you could at least...check on him. Make sure he's doing okay."

"Yeah," you breathe, sneaking a glance up. "I'm...I'm sure he's doing just fine."

Harry smiles once more before moving his palm to your thigh and pressing it into the bed to spread you at a different angle.

"I hope," Atta sighs. "Anyway, I wanted to call and check in. Just to make sure everything is going okay for you—"

"Mhm, yeah. I'm...I'm glad you did," you blubber while attempting to send Harry a pointed look. You're close. So fucking close, and if he keeps going...

"Are you sure you're all right? You sound a bit flustered—"

"Yes. Yes, yes, I'm..." Your head shakes quickly, nails scratching down Harry's chest in warning. He needs to stop. He needs to stop or you won't make it. "I'm fine. I'm...a little under the weather, but I'm—"

Suddenly, he sheathes himself inside your cunt, face burying in your neck with a groan as your entire body shivers.

"Are you sure? You kind of sound like you're in pain—"

"Listen, Atta, I...I gotta go—" you gasp, so close to your orgasm that you can practically taste it. “I’m sorry—”

"Oh, yeah. Hey, text me, okay? Just let me know that you're all right—"

"Mhm, yeah, I will—fuck—"

It happens before you can stop it. Ripping through every muscle and fiber in your body as you rake your fingers down Harry's back and choke on a moan.

Thankfully for you, Harry has already ended the call and thrown the phone to the other side of the room so he can loop his arm beneath your hips and tug you up into his body.

"Go," he breathes. "Give it to me. Come on, little one. Just like that. Good fucking girl, just like that. Let me feel you—"

Your room fills with the sound of his name, dancing effortlessly between the whimpers that follow.

It feels like you've touched heaven. A sensation so overwhelming and euphoric that you don't even realize his hand has returned to your throat. Don't realize he's squeezing your neck in his tight fist as he comes, filling your cunt with everything he has to give you.

You don't even realize you can't breathe, but you love it. Love the way he presses his teeth into your shoulder and presses his body into your chest. Until you're trapped against the mattress while you live through the high.

Every joint in your body aches. Radiating pain and pleasure all at once as you hook your leg over his hip and snake your arms around his neck.

And you keep him inside of you for what feels like hours. Even after you've regained a bit of consciousness. And a bit of common sense.

Perhaps the moment he pulls out, you'll realize the mistake you've made. You’ll realize that this isn't a secret you can keep. Or a choice that you can ever choose again. And maybe he’ll realize it, too.

But until then…

You’re happy to have your Harry back.

~ Masterlist

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