#eric and hyde friendship

[thatseventiesbitch]

Fictober 2 - "It's been a long time"

"Are you nervous?" Donna asked Eric. He was fiddling with the sleeves of his dress shirt as they approached the funeral home.

"I mean, kind of. It's been a long time."

"Yeah," Donna agreed softly. Ten years... it had been ten years since they'd last seen him. And now this.

The funeral home was surprisingly ornate inside, with high, white ceilings and large wall-to-wall windows that let in a generous amount of autumn sunlight. A long line of mourners, dressed in dark clothes, snaked around the entryway. Donna stood still for a moment, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar crowd and unsure of their place in it.

Eric seemed just as unsure as she was. He gestured towards the front of the line. "Should we - um. Sign the guestbook?"

Donna nodded, and grasped his arm. They followed the line to the end, where two weeping people stood close together. From their facial features and clear familiarity, Donna guessed perhaps a father and daughter. They looked up to acknowledge Eric and Donna, and she gave them a sympathetic smile.

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

The words, though meant to be reassuring, caused the younger woman to burst into tears again. Her father rubbed her back.

"He's my cousin," the man told Eric and Donna. As he said it, Donna nodded. Even though she'd never actually met any of his family members, it made sense. He looked just like him. He carried himself the same way. "We were - " the man's voice wavered. "We were very close."

Eric cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable, and Donna grasped his elbow tightly, almost like she was afraid he'd dart off any minute.

"How did you...?" the man's question trailed off, implicit. How did they know him?

Donna glanced at Eric's ashen face, and realized quickly that he wasn't going to answer.

"Um, we're - we're friends of the family," she decided on, but she quickly glanced to the floor. Was that even true anymore? She wasn't sure.

It didn't seem to matter to the man. He wasn't going to interrogate them - only their own guilt did that.

"Thank you for coming," he clasped Donna's hand gratefully. "It would have meant a lot to him."

"I don't know about that," Eric mumbled.

"No - no, trust me when I say it would." The man shook his head, and his daughter - who had composed herself - nodded along. "He didn't like to show his emotions much, my cousin. He didn't like to show weakness or to express his affections. But his family meant more to him than he'd ever admit. And if you were friends, then he considered you family."

Donna smiled at the man kindly. "I'd like to think so."

He squeezed Donna's arm. "I know so."

Eric cleared his throat and nudged Donna. They'd reached the front of the room, to the receiving line. She turned around, and her heart caught in her throat. There he was.

His hair - unlike Eric's - wasn't thinning with age but it had darkened, and he wore it closer cut to his scalp. He'd stayed in shape, but wore a starchy navy blue suit that he was clearly uncomfortable in. His hands were clasped behind his back, his icy blue eyes nodding along with what the sniffling older woman in front of him was saying. Someone must have insisted he not wear his sunglasses, because they were hooked into the top of his dress shirt rather than on his face.

"Hyde," Eric whispered, next to her. He was just as awe-struck.

Donna's heart started to thunder in her chest, and she grasped Eric's hand tightly in hers as they got closer and closer to the front of the line.

Hyde greeted each guest warmly, often with a hug or a handshake. He wasn't the surly teenager from the basement anymore. Next to him was Angie and a man she suspected was Angie's husband. They had two young girls, who were clinging to Angie's skirt. But Hyde appeared to be alone.

Finally, they were next.

W.B.'s cousin and his daughter stepped forward.

"Steven," the man said affectionately. He opened his arms to Hyde, and they embraced.

"Uncle Arthur. Hey, thanks for coming." He looked beyond Arthur, to his daughter. "Corrine. You came all the way from Florida, huh?"

"Anything for Uncle W.B." Corinne had tears in her eyes as she and Hyde, too, embraced. "You know, he was my godfather."

"A real stand-up guy, your father. One of the very best."

"The very best," Hyde echoed. But his voice had gone flat. He'd made eye contact with Eric and Donna.

Eric went rigid beside her, but Donna pulled him forward.

"Hyde - I - I just - oh my god, we're so sorry - "

He lifted an eyebrow and smirked. "'Bout W.B.?"

"About everything." Eric finally found his voice. It cracked as he continued. "About your dad, about - " he hesitated. "You know. Everything."

"We should have tried harder to stay in contact," Donna added. "After everything that, you know. Happened."

Hyde shrugged. "Yeah, well. I wasn't very easy to find for a while."

"I know." Donna swallowed. "Hyde we were - we were worried."

But he shrugged, and smiled. Then his jerked his thumb in the direction of his sister, his family. "Well, I was fine." One of his nieces ran by, and he ruffled her fluffy afro affectionately. He nodded to Eric and Donna. "Your daughter. She about this age now?"

"She's ten, Hyde."

"Wow." He rubbed his chin. "It's been that long, huh?"

"Way too long," Eric said.

The two old friends met eyes. Hyde's were uncharacteristically soft.

"Thanks for comin'," he croaked. "It means a lot."

[thatseventiesbitch]

Love their friendship. So underrated.

hyde complaining to eric about having to move in with his family but eric just smiles and lets him have his cookie because he knows hyde well enough to know he's actually really thankful and was very scared and lonely and eric just lets him be and he's like here. have my cookie too. feel better. like that's some real fucking friendship

[burkelso]

That 70s show friendship edit

[nikkiruncks]

https://www.tumblr.com/hydesjackiespuddinpop/728626863563472897?source=share

If you're still taking drabble requests, may I request prompt 3 with Buddy and Red? Eric comes out as bisexual to his parents and friends, finally feeling confident enough to do so (thanks to Buddy), and Red's reaction hurts Eric the most.

(Takes place in s4. Btw, Hyde and Jackie have a secret friendship going on.)

Hyde shook his head, “You and Buddy?” He was shocked to learn that Forman was dating Buddy Morgan. Moreso than the fact that he was into guys and girls. What was the term? Twosexual? Or was it bisexual? Even though Jackie is bi and demi, he’s not completely educated on the community.

Eric exhaled, “Yeah. We’ve been together for a while now.” Kitty smiled, “Awww. Well isn’t that just wonderful, isn’t it Red?” The teen looked towards his father to notice that he’s completely expressionless. This was something Eric had never seen from Red Forman his entire life. Usually he’d make it known how he felt, but this time he’s not saying anything. Which only meant one thing.

Eric gulped, “Dad?” Maybe he was just processing the information. Besides, not many people were out during Red’s time. Red sighed, “Well what do you want me to say son?” That stung lightly. And made him confused. Did Red not accept him for being bi?

Eric exhaled, “That you accept me for who I am.” There remained an awkward silence in the room. The teen gulped in hurt. “I’m just…I’m out. Hyde man, I’ll call you back.” Hyde started, “For-“

But it was too late. Eric was gone.

[dawnisatotalqueen]

BROKEN PROMISES

title: broken promises

character: steven hyde x reader

warnings: profanity probably I didn't rlly pay attention, mentions of marijuana usage, talking down abt women smh.., jealousy, miscommunication, ZEN MASTERS MENTION

summary: after hyde's fight with your date and his almost admission, nothing had happened between you two. next thing you knew, it was veterans day and someone else had their eye on hyde.

disclaimer: i do not support danny masterson in any way, shape, or form. i just have an attachment to hyde </3 (this is exactly what I said last time I just wanna make sure yall know...)

word count: 2,094

part one

Nothing had happened between you and Hyde since that fight. Your relationship had reached a stalemate.

That didn’t stop you from questioning it.

Your dates had slowly dwindled down, though it wasn’t that you didn’t have options, guys old and new still asked you out, but you couldn’t bring yourself to go out with them.

You wanted Hyde.

Too much to ignore.

Much to your dismay though, someone else had begun pursuing Hyde, someone that you never really could’ve expected. Jackie.

After her and Kelso broke up again because of him hooking up with Eric’s sister Laurie, Hyde had given her lessons on “Zen”. The two’s friendship started to bloom, and Jackie quickly caught feelings.

You couldn’t blame her, and the more you thought about it, they made sense. Despite that, you didn’t like the idea of it. It wasn’t fair, and you knew that, but you just couldn’t help the bitter feelings in your chest when you watched the two.

It was Veterans day, which meant it was time for Red Foreman’s annual party. He was pretty passionate about the day, being a Veteran himself.

Everyone was down in the basement. You were sitting in the chair opposite of Hyde’s, watching as Jackie talked to him while he sat on the washer. “So Steven, isn’t Veteran’s day romantic?”

“Oh yeah, government pawns, and missing limbs. That’s amore.”

“I know, I know!” Jackie placed a hand over her heart. “It’s a day for people in love to have fun together!”

“Man, all this talk of fun makes me wanna have fun… Hey! Let’s throw stuff at other stuff!” Kelso gasped.

Eric perked up, getting off the couch. “Man, that's perfect! I got stuff!!”

“I’m in!”

The two boys went upstairs and you couldn’t fight back your snicker.

Jackie turned back to Hyde. “So, Steven, you wanna go to Mr Foreman’s barbeque with me?”

Before he could answer her, you decided you could not sit and watch this, so, you went upstairs to go throw stuff with Kelso and Eric.

..

You wore a simple (F/C) dress, with your classic jacket. You looked around the front yard, there were a multitude of people that Red and Kitty knew, and a few different people that your friend’s knew, but it was mostly the usual crowd. You knew that Donna’s Dad was having a party, but you liked the Foreman’s house. You’d still stop by though.

You noticed Jackie with a guy you didn’t recognize, and you decided to walk over.

“Everybody, this is Chip, Chip, this is everybody.” Jackie motioned around to the people in the area, that being you, Fez, Kelso, and Hyde.

“Hey everybody.” Chip nodded at you guys.

“Yo.” You nodded, glancing over at Hyde. He looked.. Grumpier than usual. You felt your insides twist, and a brief sense of dread.

Chip told Jackie he’d grab her a drink, then went off. You watched as Jackie walked over to Hyde and you sighed a little, walking over to Kelso and Fez.

Kelso had his arms crossed over his chest as he huffed. “Man, this isn’t fair! Why does some random dude get to bring Jackie to the party?!”

Fez grumbled. “She could do soooo much better.”

You let out a breath. “Right? But it’s just to make Hyde jealous, so chill.”

“That’s not cool though, man!” Kelso whined. “I thought Hyde liked you!! So what’s goin on?!”

“I did too.” You sighed, watching Jackie and Hyde’s exchange.

..

After a little bit you saw Jackie get up, leaving Hyde and Chip alone to talk. You weren’t sure how it went down, but when you passed by, you heard Chip speak.

“She’s a bitch.”

You paused, turning around. Using your context clues, you figured he was talking about Jackie, which pissed you off. You were almost ready to give him a piece of your mind when Hyde said, “Oh no..” And he hit him.

You squeaked, jumping back from the two. “Holy shit!”

Jackie ran over. “What happened?”

“Somethin– Bitch– He–” Hyde looked between Jackie and the very knocked out Chip.

Jackie looked between them before gasping. “He– He called me a bitch and you hit him!”

“...No.” Hyde stared at her, very obviously lying.

“I am the bitch! And you love me!” Jackie looked like she had actual stars in her eyes and you could feel your heart crack. Did he love her?

You needed to get out of there. Maybe a date, maybe something, anything–

“L/N!” Kelso huffed, nudging you.

You blinked. “Huh?”

You looked around, realizing it was night time and you were outside somewhere?

“Get your head in the game, man!”

You remembered now. After talking to Kitty, Hyde came outside and asked Jackie out. Kelso and Fez were upset, and you.. Were hurt. Somehow, some way, the two boys had managed to convince you to spy on Jackie and Hyde’s date. Did you have a momentary lapse of judgment? Probably. But there was no backing out now.

The three of you snuck through the trees, eventually arriving right behind Jackie’s car, where Jackie and Hyde were sitting at the front of it. Their backs were to you, and you couldn’t hear them.

“What are they saying?” Fez tilted his head.

“Don’t worry, I can read lips.” Kelso stared at the back of their heads. “Jackie’s saying.. Wow I really love this date, Hyde!” He put on a high pitched voice for Jackie. “And Hyde’s sayin.. Yeah, totally man, I agree.”

Fez gasped. “Really? They’re having that much fun?”

You put a hand over your mouth, trying to conceal your laughter so as to not get caught. “Kelso, I don’t think that’s what they’re saying–”

When you looked back up though, Jackie and Hyde were leaning in..

You felt your heart drop.

You could’ve thrown up on the spot as you quickly stood up.

“L/N!” Kelso whisper-shouted at you, but you couldn’t sit there. You’d seen all you needed to see.

What you didn’t see though was how when Hyde and Jackie parted from their kiss, neither of them were into it. They gave it a shot, but it didn’t work. In his head, Hyde knew why. He had you in the back of his mind. He had been trying to ignore it for months, playing it cool like he always did, but that wasn’t working. He didn’t like you any less than he did before.

As it turns out, it might’ve been too late.

..

You were going on a date. For the first time in months, you were thinking about a guy that wasn’t Hyde.. Or, well, trying to.

Loyal to your old routine, you were heading to the Foreman’s house to wait for your ride. Your outfit wasn’t much different than your usual ones, but you did look a little done up.

“Hey, L/N.” Donna nodded at you, a lazy smile on her face. Everyone looked pretty high.

They were passing around the blunt, Hyde being the last one who had it. “Wanna hit?” He raised a brow.

You shook your head. “Wish I could, but I’m only gonna be here for a sec. I have a date.” You hummed.

“Really?!” Jackie gasped, looking over. “You haven’t been out in months!”

“Yeah, thought you were giving up the whole meaningless date thing?” Eric tilted his head, looking over at you.

You shrugged, shoving your hands in your jacket pockets. “I was, but, I don’t know. Guess there’s not really a point.” You side eyed Hyde in a way that you thought was sneaky, but unbeknownst to you, he saw it.

Your glare made him sit up a little straighter. He’d seen you when you were mad, but it had never been directed toward him before. What’d he do to piss you off– And more importantly, what did that have to do with you going on a date again?

Kelso looked at you. “Oh heey– By the way, are you good, man? Yesterday after we were watching Jackie and Hyde you ran off and we didn’t see you after!!”

“I told him that you probably had to go to the bathroom.” Fez nodded, sinking into his chair.

You immediately went pale. “Ahah– Yeah, uhm. My bad. I didn’t feel well. But, wowie, jeez, look at the time I gotta go– Bye!!” You quickly called out, going right back out the way you came.

Hyde put his hand over his mouth, mumbling. “Shit..”

It made sense now. You saw him and Jackie, and based on what Kelso said, didn’t stick around long enough to hear how it ended.

What didn’t make sense was why you would care. Why would it matter if he kissed Jackie?

Unless…

Shit.

..

You had been gone for about two and a half hours. Everyone dispersed, and Hyde couldn’t help but be reminded about the night you spent together months prior. This time though, he planned on changing things.

He paced around outside, hoping that the guy you were out with would drop you off the same place he picked you up.

Lucky for him, he was right. A nicer car pulled up, and you got out, exchanging a few words with whoever was in the driver’s seat.

You were happy with the date. It wasn’t anything extravagant, and you didn’t really like the guy, but he was nice, and it was fun. You were planning on just walking home before you heard your name being called. And not your last name, which is what everyone called you. It was your first name. It sounded foreign from that voice.

You had turned around, tilting your head before your face dropped. You didn’t want to talk to Hyde. In the back of your head you knew you didn’t have any place being mad at him, but you were hurt.

You blew out a breath. You just had to act like you didn’t care. Easy. “What’s up?” You shoved your hands in your pockets, looking at him.

“Can we talk?” He walked up the driveway, standing in front of you.

You winced, talking being the exact opposite of what you wanted to do with Hyde. “I don’t know, I need to head home–”

“L/N.” He stepped a little closer. “I just wanna explain what happened between me and Jackie.”

You froze. Of course he knew.. After what Kelso said earlier, there was no way he didn’t know.

You blew out a breath. If you couldn’t play it off, you needed to try to fix things. “Listen, Hyde, you don’t need to explain yourself. It’s fine, you like Jackie, she likes you, and it’s cool.”

“L/N–” He ran a hand through his curls, taking off his shades.

You didn’t see him without his sunglasses very often, and it always caught you off guard when he’d take them off.

“I don’t like Jackie.”

You blinked, tilting your head. “What? But I saw you guys kiss on your date–”

“You didn’t stick around long enough. If you would’ve stayed, you would’ve seen that the kiss didn’t mean anything. There– there wasn’t anything there. No sparks, no feelings, it was just.. A kiss.”

You listened before furrowing your brows. “Okay, um, that’s, okay.. Why are you telling me this, Hyde?”

“Because I like you.”

You felt a heat creep up your neck all the way to your cheeks. “What?”

“I like you. I– I don’t know when it happened, but I know that a few months ago when you spent the night I realized it. And, it’s not a big deal, but it sorta seemed like you might.. I don’t know. If you don’t like me, it’s cool, but it was starting to feel like you do.”

You stared at him. He liked you. But what about your promise? What about the possibility of ruining your friendship? A messy breakup could start bad things in your friendship. But…

Could you ever forgive yourself if you didn’t at least give it a chance?

You looked down, your cheeks growing redder by the second. “I uh.. I like you too.”

Before you knew it you felt hands on your cheeks, tilting your head up. “Could I..”

You nodded, the motion being so small it was almost unnoticeable.

He closed the space between you. The kiss was gentle, sweet, a result of years of denied pining. Then, it turned deeper, more passionate, the tension between you finally bubbling over the edge.

It was everything you wanted, the perfect kiss for a perfect moment.

Maybe some promises were meant to be broken.

-

tag list: @cantbecreative

[thestupidhelmet]

A6

AU T7S Where Kelso Doesn't Exist on the Show

This turned into an outline/first-draft hybrid of a fanfic I would call One Difference: Michael Kelso Doesn't Exist.

Quite a few twists. Lots of Zen. Plenty for the other characters, too.

Season 1

Jackie joins the basement gang because of Fez. Jackie enjoys his flattery and attention, but she hasn't promised him anything romantic or sexual. She also keeps her time in Eric's basement secret, acting like she doesn't know Fez, Donna, Eric, or Hyde while in school.

Hyde influences Eric to be more delinquent than he otherwise would be. Without Kelso as his partner in crime, Eric fills that role.

Eric gets into more trouble with both his parents because of his shenanigans with Hyde. Donna also finds Eric slightly hotter for his rebelliousness. In canon season seven, she tells Eric she thinks it's hot when he does naughty stuff.

Unfortunately for Eric, his parents don't agree. He doesn't get the Vista Cruiser, as he does in "That '70s Pilot" (1x01). They tell him that unless and until he acts responsible enough to have a car, he's not getting one from them.

Red's opinion about Hyde is also different. Instead of seeing Hyde as a good kid who's rough around the edges, he thinks Hyde's a danger to his son and tells Eric Hyde's no longer allowed in the house. He also tells Eric to let Hyde find another dumbass to get into trouble with.

Jackie wants to go to the junior prom so badly that she accepts Fez's invitation. Problem is that she's finding herself attracted to Hyde in spite of herself. Before Red banned him from the basement, regardless of how annoyed he is by Jackie, she's drawn to him.

Hyde is the only one who fights the guy (and his friends) who punched Eric unconscious in "Grandma's Dead" (1x23). Without Kelso there, Fez tries to help but is tossed aside and passes out.

Hyde gets more than a fat lip from that bar fight. He's bruised all over. He's allowed to go to Grandma Forman's funeral to support Eric (because of Kitty).

When Red sees Hyde, he assumes the worst about why Hyde's bruised and swollen. Eric tells Red what Hyde did for him, and that significantly changes Red's mind about Hyde.

Fez is confused as to why Jackie runs hot and cold with him. Hyde and Eric both answer that she's a nutbag and he should look for a girlfriend elsewhere. Donna, though, defends Jackie. They're friends now, and Jackie's helped Donna transition her friendship with Eric into a romance.

Fez decides to fight even harder for Jackie's love, and Hyde and Eric groan.

After Edna abandons Hyde, Red (without knowing yet what happened) lets Hyde join his for dinner three nights in one week. During these dinners, Red starts to understand that Hyde is a good boy who's rough around the edges. Kitty, who always liked Hyde, is grateful for how he stood up for her son.

Once Red and Kitty learn that Hyde's mom abandoned him, he allows Hyde to live with them on probationary status. Hyde has to cut out the nonsense and stop cutting classes.

Hyde excels at following Red's conditions, so much so that Eric becomes jealous. With Hyde no longer doing senseless stupid stunts, Eric decides to do a stunt of his own. He's got way more experience in it since Hyde essentially trained him in the art for eleven years.

Eric, who's earned the Vista Cruiser a third through the season, decides to take his mom's keys to the Toyota and find out how fast and far it can go on one tank of gas. Donna, Hyde, and Fez try to convince him not to.

Jackie is present for this moment, and she encourages Eric to go with his plan. This pisses off Donna and Hyde, but Fez finds it hot (despite not wanting Eric to do it).

Hyde tells Eric if he's gonna do something so stupid, Hyde better go with him.

Eric ends up swerving to avoid another car, but the Toyota's bumper falls off and the left taillight is busted. A good measure of paint has been scraped off.

When Red discovers what happened to his car, Hyde takes responsibility for it. Eric objects and says it's his fault. They fight over it, and Red fights internally with himself whether to blame Hyde and kick him out.

But, unlike Donna and Fez who have run off, Jackie steps in and says it was Eric's idea and that Hyde tried to stop him. She's a witness. She knows Hyde will be homeless if Hyde doesn't let Eric take responsibility, and then she'll lose access to him.

Red is relieved and disappointed. He makes Eric and Hyde work to pay off the car repairs. Rather than being upset by this punishment, Hyde feels more like part of the family.

Season 2

Fez tricks Jackie into a kiss during the movies. Once she realizes what he's doing, she stops him. With no Kelso to slug Fez, Jackie runs out of the theater.

Jackie tells Donna what happened and admits she liked the kiss. She's considering dating Fez in secret.Donna has two problems with this idea: one, Fez tricked her into a kiss, which doesn't set a good precedent for the start of a relationship; and two, Jackie shouldn't date Fez in secret. If Jackie has romantic feelings for him, she should be proud to date him and not let xenophobia -- or fear of others' xenophobia -- dictate how she lives her life.

Jackie says in this conversation that she's never had a boyfriend before and she's getting long in the tooth. It's time for her to start dating already. Fez is a terrible choice. "He worships me. He's great dancer, but ..."

Donna says, "He's foreign."

Jackie says, "No. I mean yes, but you're right that I shouldn't treat him like a dirty little secret. The problem is ... I love kissing, and Fez is good at it, but I'm not sure Fez is the one I want to kiss."

Donna, shocked and intrigued, says, "Is there someone else you want to kiss?"

Jackie becomes cagey, an obvious tell, and Donna calls her out on it: "There is someone you want to kiss! Who is it? Do I know him?"

Jackie, very uncomfortable, escapes the question by escaping the conversation (and Donna).

In the circle with Eric, Hyde, and Fez, Donna does her best to keep her mouth shut about Jackie. But Fez brings up how he kissed Jackie at the movies and that Jackie ran away afterward.

Eric and Hyde rag on Fez (and Jackie): "Why Jackie? I mean ... why Jackie?" "You found the Holy Grail, man -- the secret to gettin' Jackie to disappear."

Donna, unhappy about their burns, says, "Jackie liked the kiss, you jackasses -- " which makes Fez brighten -- "but she wants someone else to kiss her that way."

Fez, Hyde, and Eric: "Who?"

Donna: "I don't know. She wouldn't tell me."

Eric: "Oh, God -- that must mean it's one of us!"

Hyde: "Donna's hot. Wouldn't blame her."

Eric: "Not Donna. Us! You and me!"

Hyde: "No way, Forman. You make her sick, and she makes me sick. She wouldn't go after her best friend's boyfriend anyway."

Donna, Eric, and Fez: "How do you know that?"

Hyde: "Uh ... "

Donna (teasing, singing): "Hyde and Jackie sitting in ... in ... have you two ever sat in anything together?"

Fez (sad): "Only the remains of my heart."

Hyde: "Look, last winter at her ski cabin, she whined to me about wanting this guy Jake Bradley -- "

Eric: "The Jake Bradley? The Vikings quarterback?"

Hyde: "Yeah. But he's dating Kat Peterson, so that's never gonna happen."

Donna (remembering): "Right! And you tried to 'comfort' her by saying Jake wouldn't cheat on Kat with Pam Macy either, so Jackie's in good company.

Hyde (chuckling to himself): "That was a pretty good burn."

Donna: "You were a total jerk that weekend -- and not just to her."

Hyde: "Yup. I was. [Sincerely to Donna] Sorry, man. For all of it. No excuses. Just a reason: head was screwed up from my ma. Wouldn't want anyone to do to me what I did to you, and I'm glad we're still cool though I don't deserve it."

Donna's about to accept his apology, but Eric says, "What did you do to her?"

Fez (morose): "What I did to Jackie."

Eric (pissed and confused, to Hyde): "You kissed her in a movie theater in Alpine Valley?"

Donna and Hyde: "The ski cabin."

Hyde: "And she slapped me good. Too bad it didn't knock sense into my skull."

After this circle, Eric is uneasy about Hyde.

Laurie, bored, finds a sad Fez moping around the Forman driveway. She gets him to open up about Jackie's latest but as-yet unspoken romantic rejection of him. Laurie sees an opportunity to amuse herself.

Laurie: "You're a virgin, right?"

Fez: "Yes -- no! I have done it with many women. Like a stallion."

Laurie: "Mm-hmm. Care to prove it?"

Fez glances around. "Where?"

Laurie holds up the keys to her parents' Toyota and nods her head toward the car.

"B-b-but we could get caught!" Fez says.

"It'll be more fun that way," Laurie says and pulls Fez to the car.

A little later, Hyde goes to the driveway. The garage door is open. The Toyota is rocking. At first Hyde thinks the Formans are having sex, and he back away. Then Laurie screams, "Fez!" in passion (and in an attempt to get caught).

Hyde is more repulsed by the idea of Fez and Laurie screwing than the Formans and flees to The Hub.

At The Hub, Jackie is eating at a table alone. Hyde brings his tray of fries, a hot dog, and a soda to her table.

Jackie (suspicious and intrigued): "What do you want?"

Hyde: "You don't have to worry about Fez anymore."

Jackie: "Huh?"

Hyde: "Look, we all know he's been after you for months, but someone caught him in her web today. He's probably gonna stay there willingly, even if the spider sucks out his insides ... leavin' him a dried husk."

Jackie (annoyed): What are you talking about, Hyde?"

Hyde: "Spotted Laurie and Fez doing the backseat bossa nova."

Jackie: "Is that some kind of dance?"

Hyde (smirking): "Some kind. Doesn't require clothes. [To himself] Hope he's wearin' a condom."

Jackie (understanding): "HE'S HAVING SEX WITH LAURIE?"

Hyde winces at her shout. "You should be happy, man. Now that she's got Fez on his back, he'll get off yours."

Jackie: "I -- well -- who's gonna ... "

Hyde: "What?"

Jackie: "You'll just burn me if I tell you."

Hyde: "Likely. [Gently] You can still tell me."

Jackie: "It's just that ... I don't get a lot of attention at home, okay? And I have no boyfriend to lavish me with the adoration I totally deserve, so now that Fez'll be all over Laurie, I'm gonna be alone."

Hyde: "Not alone. Lonely."

Jackie: "What's the difference?"

Hyde: "Trust me; there's a difference."

Jackie stares at Hyde a moment. Then she says, "I do. I do trust you."

Hyde, realizing he made a big mistake, says, "I'm gonna take the rest of my lunch to-go." He stands up with his tray of food and leaves The Hub while Frank (the manager and cashier) yells at him about it. Hyde says, "I'll bring it back!" and hurries away outside.

Fez, exhilarated and a little scared by what happened between himself and Laurie, looks for someone to confide in. He wants someone who will react helpfully, so Eric's out. Hyde's at The Hub with Jackie, so Fez can't find him. Next door, however, is Donna.

Nervously, Fez relates to Donna that he just lost his virginity to Laurie. Donna's first reaction is disgust and shock, but she recovers and asks if he's okay. "And please tell me you used a condom."

Fez: "I don't know if I'm okay -- but yes, Pépé wore a coat. Laurie said I was all right, which is a synonym for *okay,* but did she really mean it? And the first-first time lasted five seconds. The second first time was eight minutes and -- "

Donna: "Spare me the second-by-second breakdown. Please. I want to know how you feel -- emotionally. Because, y'know, it's Laurie! And how did this even happen?"

Fez (laughing): "Oh, you silly virgins and you're silly questions. Sex-education in this country is very lacking. You see, women have -- "

Donna: "I know how sex works! I mean how did you and Laurie ... *why* did you and Laurie?"

Fez: "Oh. She was bored. I was heartbroken over Jackie, and now Fez is no longer a virgin. But what if Laurie just used me to burn Eric? Or if she'll never have sex with me again? Or if that will be my *only* time having sex? Because I liked it ... about four minutes into the second first time."

Donna wishes Hyde were the one Fez was talking to. She's very uncomfortable. She's also worried about how this situation will affect Fez and Eric. She says, "Laurie is always up to something. Whatever you do, even if it's having sex with her again, don't trust her. And don't mistake sex for love. They're totally not the same thing. And I think you should tell Eric right away. Like now."

Fez: "Wow. This is a lot to think about."

Donna: "I just don't want you or Eric to get hurt."

Donna supports Fez by being present in the basement when Fez tells Eric about Laurie. Eric has a negative reaction, and Donna tries to calm him down. Hyde enters the basement amid this bit of chaos.

Hyde: "So Forman knows Fez and Laurie did it, huh?"

Fez, Donna and Eric: "How do you know about that?"

Hyde: "I was there, man. In the driveway. Saw the Formans' Toyota rattling around. Once I spotted the cause, I was outta there."

Eric, hoping to find an ally, says to Hyde, "So what now? Laurie's not hanging out with us just 'cause she and Fez committed that abominable act."

Hyde (to Fez): "Whatever you do, whoever you do, is your business, man. Just don't make it ours, all right?"

Donna: "I already warned him not to fall in love with her."

Fez grows annoyed at his friends' controlling, unsupportive attitudes. He decides that if Laurie's interested in him, he'll have fun with her as long as it lasts.

Throughout the rest of the season, Fez and Laurie's strange relationship continues. Jackie's disgusted and thankful she'd realized she doesn't have romantic feelings for him early. Red is oblivious, but eagle-eyed Kitty recognizes that Laurie is "playing" with Fez (please excuse the unavoidable double entendre).

Kitty sits Laurie down and has a serious talk with her. Kitty knows Laurie is in no way faithful to Fez and doesn't want her to break Fez's heart. Laurie tries to reassure Kitty, albeit dismissively, that the heart isn't the organ Fez is concerned about.

Dissatisfied, Kitty goes to Red. Big mistake. Red puts the onus on Fez and tries to scare him off Laurie. Fez tells Laurie about this development, which makes her want Fez more.

Jackie tries to befriend Hyde, much to his annoyance. She likes how real he is, especially compared to the guys who are part of her social circle at school. She finds in his personality and demeanor aspects she feels she lacks within herself and is attracted (platonically) by that.

Hyde shows no interest in reciprocating any friendship until he witnesses at school a nasty encounter Jackie has with a very competitive cheer squad teammate, Julie. Julie is gunning for cheer captain for the varsity team next year. She sees Jackie as a threat and uses Jackie's lack of boyfriend as a way to spread rumors about her.

Hyde teaches Jackie his version of Zen so she can protect herself. He also introduces her to the circle in between lessons. Unfortunately, being Zen goes only so far when Jackie Burkhart is a lesbian (remember, 1970s) and other untrue statements about her are written on blackboards and whispered by students whenever Jackie walks into a classroom or a school hallway.

To mitigate these rumors, Jackie starts dating Chip. Hyde is wary of this development and keeps an eye on it.

Before Jackie and Chip's third date, at school Hyde questions Chip -- whom Hyde knows is a year older than Jackie and has bragged about previous sexual "conquests". Chip says what he and Jackie have is quid quo pro. Chip goes on a few dates with her, tolerates the yapping, and on the last date he gets to nail her.

Hyde: "Is tonight gonna be the last date?"

Chip: "Hell yeah. She's a bitch."

Pow!

Hyde lays out Chip with one punch. It's witnessed by a lot of students, including Jackie. Jackie wants to know what happened. Hyde manages to get out, "He said bitch. Last date. Nail you -- "

Unlike the Jackie of T7S Prime, this one is a virgin at this time on the show. She's sexually inexperienced, and she pieces together what Chip intended and why Hyde punched him.

Unfortunately, the school principal arrives. As he hauls Hyde to his office, Jackie shouts that she loves Hyde. Many students witness this moment, too.

The principal suspends Hyde from school for the rest of the year, which only has two weeks left, but it means he can't take his finals. He'll have to attend summer school and anger management classes.

Eric and Donna's stories in season 2 are relatively unaffected by Kelso's absence except as described above.

Season 3

Jackie happy-brags to Donna about what went down and why Hyde has to go to summer school. Donna thinks what Hyde did is noble but that Jackie needs to tell her dad about it since the principal doesn't know.

Jackie thinks Donna's idea is great. She does tell her father, who uses his influence to get Hyde out of anger management and a commendation on his transcript for community spirit-- despite the principal condemning the use of violence to solve issues. Chip is expelled because of Jack's influence (and fury that someone thought to hurt his daughter in such a way).

Hyde remains suspended for one week but is allowed to return to school to take his finals.

Jackie is flustered that Hyde doesn't thank her for her intervention on his behalf. He protected her, and she protected him, so -- to her mind -- they should be really close now.

When Jackie confronts Hyde about his lack of gratitude, he tells her he never would've had to punch the guy (Chip) if Jackie didn't give into social pressure. Although this statement is victim-blaming, Jackie does think hard about how toxic her social circle is and tells Hyde he's right. She'll choose her friends better. In fact, he'll be seeing a lot more of her from now on.

Hyde complains to Eric and Donna about this latest situation. Donna's pissed at Hyde for blaming Jackie for Chip nearly taking advantage of her.

Eric, meanwhile, is still focused on Fez and Laurie's relationship and says he bets Laurie took advantage of Laurie, but no one was around to punch her before she could get to him -- not that a man should punch a lady. But if Donna had been there ...

Donna slaps Eric's shoulder and tells him to pay attention to the matter at hand.

Hyde takes to heart Donna's point about victim-blaming Jackie and wants to make it right. He apologizes to Jackie, in his own way. He says, "I get feelin' pressured, and sometimes it puts us in situations we don't know are dangerous. Chip is a sneaky bastard, and you're not used to sneaky bastards. I am, but you couldn't have seen what he had planned for ya. Even if you could -- "

Jackie: "You're rambling, Steven."

Hyde: "I don't ... yeah, okay, I do. I am. Anyway, I'm sorry for acting like a dillhole after I punched Chip. I kinda punched you, too, with my words."

Jackie: "Yeah, you did. It really hurt ... and not only because I really like you."

Hyde: "You shouldn't -- like me, I mean. I'm no good. But under your abrasive, bossy exterior is someone I can stand to be around."

Jackie (touched): "Aw! Does this mean we're friends?"

Hyde: "I knocked a guy's teeth in 'cause he called you a bitch and planned to do a lot worse, and you had your dad bail me out of goin' to summer school and more. People who hate each other generally don't do things like that, so ... "

Jackie (excitedly, hugging Hyde): "We're friends! Hey, why don't we go to the Sizzler for dinner and celebrate?"

Hyde (uncomfortable): "I'm not sure we -- "

Jackie: "I'll pay."

Hyde (now agreeable): "You've had a rough couple of weeks. Let's go, kid."

Jackie and Hyde's arc in season three is their growing friendship that they manage to conceal from everyone but Mrs. Forman. She keeps it mostly to herself but talks to Red about it. Red approves because of his experience with her in "Career Day" (1x18).

Fez and Laurie's relationship ends when Fez discovers that Laurie's cheating on him. His friends say they all warned him but still display various levels of sympathy.

Donna says, "Why did you like her so much anyway? She was mean to you most of the time."

Fez: *She had sex with me, Donna. Regularly! How could I not love a woman like that?"

Hyde: "Dude, you didn't love her."

Fez: "I loved that she had sex with me. Regularly! And sometimes strangely, which I also enjoyed very much."

To help Fez get over Laurie, Hyde takes Fez "cruising for chicks". It cheers Fez up a little, but he's relatively down the rest of the season.

Eric never gets the idea of getting Donna a promise ring because Kelso doesn't exist to give it to him. Still, Ric and Donna's relationship goes downhill because of h increasing independence and his increasing insecurity.

At the end of the season, Eric has an important conversation with Donna. He says, "When do you think we'll get married? Before college or after college?"

Donna (laughing, thinking he's joking): "Why not tomorrow? We could drive to Vegas, and an Elvis impersonator can officiate."

Eric: "I'm serious. Donna, I can't imagine my life without you."

Donna (stunned): "Are you, like, proposing?"

Eric: "Hypothetically if I were, what would you say?"

Donna: "I'd say, 'We're seventeen and have no idea where our lives will take us.'"

Eric: "But wherever they take us, you see us together ... don't you?"

This question leads to the rest of their breakup scene in "Promise Ring" -- minus the actual ring.

Season 4

Eric's depression proceeds as it does on the show. For the first half of the season, he dates random girls. Donna doesn't date.

The heartbroken Eric and Fez set up the get-Hyde-a-girlfriend party. Jackie invites Rhonda -- not because Jackie's insecure about not being the prettiest girl at the party but doesn't want to find Hyde a potential girlfriend. Fez and Rhonda hit it off.

With no Kelso and no vanity-driven insecurity, Jackie stays at the party and watches Hyde closely but sneakily. She's relieved when he doesn't seem seriously interested in any of the girls.

After a short absence, Hyde returns to the party with Melissa. Jackie recognizes how disrespectful and manipulatively Melissa treats Hyde. Once Melissa leaves, Jackie pulls Hyde aside.

Jackie: "Melissa's really pretty."

Hyde (still dazed by his attraction to Melissa): "Uh-huh ... "

Jackie: "She's also everything you hate about me."

Hyde: "What?"

Jackie: "You clearly didn't pay attention to how she acted. She was bossy, mean, and -- and -- what's that word you taught me, when you described how your mom used to give you the silent treatment whenever you pissed her off by blinking too loud?"

Hyde: "Withholding."

Jackie: "That's it! She's emotionally withholding, and she's gonna use that as a weapon against you if you date her. I can see it already."

Hyde (annoyed): "Jackie, I spent an hour with her. You can't tell all that."

Jackie: "You had one conversation with Chip, and you knew exactly what he had planned for me."

Hyde: "Because he told me!"

Jackie: "And Melissa told me. I might not have your sexual experience or whatever, but I'm an expert in manipulation. ... Just think about what happened between you two tonight before you call her, okay?"

Hyde (mostly because he wants to end the conversation): "... Okay."

But Hyde does as Jackie asks. He flashes back to how his mom treated his dad (Bud) and eventually himself. Melissa did seem to resent him already, and he'd end up resenting her. She might be a great girl -- but not for him. She clearly doesn't think he's enough for her as he is now. Not a great way to start a relationship.

At The Hub a few days later, Donna tells Hyde that Melissa told her he never called. Donna asks why.

Hyde: "You called me whipped after she left the party. That was enough."

Donna: "Oh, come on, Hyde. I was teasing. Melissa's really cool. You're cool. I don't think you should miss out on each other."

Hyde: "And I don't think you and Forman should've broken up. You obviously miss each other, but what can I do about it?"

Hyde hit the target he was aiming for. Donna, emotional and pissed, leaves The Hub.

Jackie arrives at The Hub and passes Donna, who says, "Hyde's being a jackass today. I wouldn't sit with him."

Jackie does sit with Hyde, however, and she gets him to spill about not calling Melissa and his interaction with Donna.

"Thanks, by the way, for lookin' out for me," he says.

Jackie: "That's what friends do even when it might piss their friend off like you did Donna."

Hyde: "She'll get over it. Don't know how she and Forman'll get over each other, though."

"Tornado Prom" (4x15) happens a few episodes earlier in this AU. Jackie really wants to win Snow Queen, but she laments to Hyde that she has no date. Hyde shrugs. Jackie says, "You could take me."

Hyde: "I could, but I won't. Plan on partying in the principal's office."

Jackie: "You can still do that. But if you're my date, the teacher-chaperones won't be as watchful of you."

Hyde: "Huh. ... All right. I owe you for Melissa -- and I hate owing anyone -- but no dancing."

Jackie: "Five dances, and you wear a tuxedo."

Hyde: "No dances, and I wear a shirt and pants."

Jackie: "Steven!"

Hyde: "Whatever. One dance."

Jackie: "Four and a tux. I'll rent it."

Hyde: "Two dances, and I wear the suit Bud left me after he -- well, left me the first time."

Jackie: "That mustard thing? Ew! ... Three dances, a nice suit jacket, pants, dress shirt, and tie I'll buy you, and I distract any teachers who might be eyeing you."

Hyde: "Deal."

During his dances with Jackie at Snow Prom, Hyde begins to realize his romantic, aesthetic, and sexual attraction to Jackie. It scares him. After their third dance, he definitely wants to have his circle in the principal's office. Jackie joins him with Fez and Rhonda.

Jackie falls asleep. Hyde draws a unibrow on her forehead. She wins Snow Queen, and Jake Bradley wins Snow King. Jackie is elated but can't understand why everyone in the gym is laughing at her. Then she sees her face in a mirror and knows Hyde is the culprit.

Jackie is furious, but instead of letting humiliation get the best of her, she goes Zen. Everyone is impressed, including Hyde -- and he knows now he's in big trouble.

After "Tornado Prom," Eric realizes he'll never get over Donna if he doesn't actually try. Without Jackie setting Donna up with Casey Kelso, Eric's able to focus on his own date life. He asks out Shelly ("Eric's Panties" [3x06], who is happy to go out with him.

Donna's emotional spiraling begins again. She doesn't want to date anyone, but she's afraid Eric and Shelly might actually have a chance at a relationship (unlike his previous dates).

Jackie (to Donna): "Oh, my God, you still love him!"

Donna: "Of course I do, but that doesn't mean I can be with him. He tried to control my life."

Jackie: "No, he confessed his undying commitment to you, and you rejected it."

Donna: "Because the second I carved out a little piece of my life just for myself, he freaked!"

Jackie: "Someone who loves you as much as Eric does would be willing to work through that."

Donna: "How do you know? You've never even had a boyfriend."

Jackie: "No, but I understand love and that it takes compromises and work ... and trust."

Donna: "Then I guess I don't trust Eric to work on compromising with me."

Jackie: "He compromised with you all the time!"

Donna: "I compromised with him. Until I was sick of him refusing to respect me enough to do the same."

Jackie: "Have you ever told him that?"

Donna: "I told him to trust me."

Jackie: "That's not the same thing."

Donna: "It should've been enough."

Jackie: "Obviously, it wasn't."

Donna: "Well, that's not my problem."

Jackie (mockingly): "'That's not my problem.'" [She pinches Donna's arm, and Donna cries out in pain and anger.] "Who's problem is it, then? Eric's, someone who Shelly or another girl might give a chance to let him learn from his mistakes and be happy? Or the person so stubborn she'll end up alone and miserable because she's in love with someone who needs more time to understand what he's doing wrong?"

Donna can't absorb Jackie's insight all at once, but the seed is planted.

Jackie's parents find out that Hyde took Jackie to Snow Prom. They think she's dating him, despite her protestations to the contrary: "We're just friends! He'll tell you the same thing!"

Jackie's parents want her to stop hanging out in the Formans' basement. She can go to Donna's house, but if she keeps going to the Formans', her father will cut her off financially.

Jackie has more than Hyde to lose. Despite that Donna doesn't go to the basement as often, especially now that Eric's dating Shelly, Jackie will miss all her friends there.

In the basement, Jackie announces her conundrum without saying that Hyde's the reason for it. She says her dad wants her to spend more of her spare time with her "real" friends from the cheer squad and in her own grade. She's decided, though, to get a job because she knows everyone here will miss her too much.

Eric, Donna, Fez, Rhonda, and Hyde's reactions are unenthusiastic. But in private, Hyde asks Jackie what the actual deal is.

Jackie, to her surprise, admits the truth. Hyde laughs and says, "That's ridiculous. Your folks are ... "

Jackie: "Ridiculous! I know! You'd never like me that way."

Hyde: "Right. Never. And you wouldn't date a poor, lowerclass burnout dirtbag."

Jackie: "Exactly! Not that you're a dirtbag ... or poor in the non-money sense. You're richer in every other way that counts compared to the sons of my parents' upperclass friends."

Hyde (sensing the awkwardness between them): "So you're getting a job, huh?"

Jackie: "I'm going to the mall. Maybe Halverson's is look for someone pretty to model its clothes."

Jackie ends up at the Cheese Palace, hired to hand out cheese samples to potential patrons. She has to take the bus to the mall and back because her dad took away her keys to the Lincoln.

Hyde feels partially responsible for Jackie's situation, so he drives her home from work when his own work schedule allows.

Eric catches Todd "the Cheese Guy" kissing Jackie (Todd had tricked her when she was down about her parents' lack of trust in her and low opinion of Hyde).

Jackie doesn't want Eric telling anyone because she's humiliated that her second real kiss was due to being tricked by another boy. Moved by compassion, Eric keeps her secret.

Except that Jackie feels like she cheated on Hyde in some way.

By the end of the season, Fez doesn't get terrible advice from Casey Kelso, and his relationship with Rhonda is intact.

Donna has grown completely depressed. She refuses to try to break up Eric and Shelly by telling Eric she loves him. She had her chance to work through the toughest part of her relationship with Eric, and they both blew it. She needs to get away for the summer, and she heads to the bus station -- and California -- to stay with her mom.

What Donna doesn't know is that Eric has broken up with Shelly. He's still in love with Donna, and he can accept living in the now with her and leave the future unwritten.

Jackie tells Hyde about what happened with Todd. Hyde says she doesn't need to confess to him. He's no priest.

Jackie: "I do. I feel terrible about it, Steven. He tricked me!"

Hyde (growing protective): "What do you mean by tricked?"

Jackie: "He offered to give !e a sympathetic hug because of my parents, you know? But he turned his face, and his lips pushed against mine, and we were kissing. I was so confused, but I kissed him back! Just like I was confused when Fez tricked me at the movies and kissed me -- and I kissed him back."

Jackie (tearing up): "My teammates are right about me: I'm a naive loser. God, I've never been kissed by a boy I've chosen to kiss. Who I've wanted to kiss. And -- and if you hadn't looked out for me another boy, Chip, might've done a lot worse."

Hyde (consoling): "Hey ... hey, that sucks. But it's not your fault, all right? I didn't get to choose most things about my life, either, but I got to choose my friends. Like you."

Jackie feels a little better, but her first tear falls.

Hyde: "Listen, any guy you choose to kiss someday will be lucky."

Jackie: "Any guy?"

Hyde: "Well, someone who wants to kiss you back."

Jackie: "Would you want to?"

Hyde (flushing a little): "If you kissed me ... it would be cool."

Jackie: "That can mean anything!"

Hyde: "I wouldn't hate it. ... Hell, I'd probably like it."

Jackie places her hand on Hyde's cheek. She kisses him gently. He responds gently -- at first -- then they're making out with each other heavily. Fade to black.

Eric goes to the Pinciottis' house to tell Donna about his breakup and what he's learned about trusting the moment. Unfortunately, Donna's not there. Bob and Joanne don't know where she is. They let Eric wait for her in her room. He waits a long time.

Season 5

Jackie and Hyde's romantic relationship develops over the summer. They keep it a secret because Eric is sad and mopey about Donna. They also want the relationship to be just theirs while in its beginning stages, without their friends' opinions.

Hyde gets Eric the plane ticket (using Eric's Candy Land stash) to go to Donna in California. Hyde and Fez cover for his absence.

Eric and Donna reconcile in California. Without Casey being an issue, and Eric explaining that he dumped Shelly and never had sex with her because he never stopped loving Donna, they actually deal with what broke them up.

When Fez and Rhonda catch Hyde and Jackie in the basement post-kissing -- unlike Fez -- Rhonda recognizes what they walked in on. Hyde decides to act Zen about it. Jackie follows his lead.

Rhonda: "That doesn't work on me. I know love when I see it."

Hyde (laughing nervously): "Love? I don't love, man. I tolerate."

Jackie: "No, no, no. I tolerate. You're so overwhelmed by my beauty that I tolerate making out with you."

Fez (to Rhonda): What are they doing?

Rhonda: "Acting like two in love dorks. Want to see if Mrs. Forman has any peach cobbler left over?"

Fez: "I suppose I could tolerate that."

With Rhonda and Fez gone, Jackie says, "Steven, are we dorks?"

Hyde: "Nope."

Jackie: "Are we ... in love?"

Hyde: "How's about we quit talking and get back to what we were doin'?"

Jackie and Hyde continue to make out but wonder about Jackie's question.

Donna and Eric return from California.

Without Kelso, Jackie and Hyde's arc consists of figuring out just how they feel about each other, supporting each other through life issues (e.g., Jackie's dad going to prison) and not always getting it right the first or second time.

Eric and Donna don't get engaged this season. They're too busy finding the balance between their fears, individual desires, and how all that affects their relationship.

During the senior prank, Eric, Fez, and Hyde are present. Eric tried to get artistic and paint a tribute to Donna. He miscalculated his reach and fell off the water tower. Hyde leaves Fez to check on Eric. Fez is arrested.

Jackie is afraid to admit to Hyde she loves him. Hyde is afraid he's unlovable, but Kitty reassures him and says, "Maybe Jackie has to hear it first."

Hyde: "And if she laughs in my face?"

Kitty: "Steven, you've loved that girl for years. You can deny it all you like, but a mother knows. And if you've chosen someone worthy of your love, which I believe you have, you'll hear the right thing."

Jackie, meanwhile, has gone to Red -- who doesn't want to get involved but does. Jackie says, "When did you first tell Mrs. Forman you love her?"

Red: "Between when I fought in World War II and the Korean War."

Jackie, despite knowing Hyde would never join the military and dislikes conflict of any kind, decides she'll have to take drastic action.

Jackie finds Hyde in the Formans' basement. She says she's declaring war on him.

Hyde, confused since he and Jackie haven't had any serious fights in a while, says, "Before you do that -- whatever that means -- I've got somethin' to tell you."

Jackie wants to speak first, but she's learned that she has a tiny window when Hyde is open and vulnerable enough to say important things to her. She doesn't want him to shut down, so she gestures her assent.

Hyde: "I love you. ... Okay, go declare war."

Jackie, taken a back says, "I -- I ... I admit defeat. I love you, too!"

Hyde (unsure): "You what?"

Jackie: "Mr. Forman went through one war and was about to fight in another when he told Mrs. Forman he loves her. So I thought if I declared war by telling you I love you that either we'd both win or both lose. I just needed a definitive answer."

Hyde (laughing): "You are one freaky, freaky chick. Glad we both won. Medical care for vets in this country, 'specially mental care, sucks. Have you seen that guy on Sherman? He -- "

Jackie quiets him with a kiss. "Another time, Steven. This war is over."

Hyde kisses her back.

Rhonda marries Fez so he can stay in the country. Red doesn't have a heart attack.

Eric, inspired by Fez and Rhonda, proposes to Donna at the end of the season. We don't get her answer.

Season 6

Kitty is devastated that Eric and Hyde are leaving for college. Eric says, "It's in Kenosha. We'll be less than forty-five minutes away."

As in The Middle, we get the characters' college experiences, but they're in Point Place for the majority of episodes.

We learn that Donna said yes to Eric's proposal by seeing the engagement ring on her finger. Their arcs revolve around keeping their engagement secret, accidentally revealing it, and their parents' reactions on top of dealing with college life and sharing a house with Hyde, Fez, and Rhonda off-campus.

With Donna out of the house, Bob spends his fatherly attention on Jackie. It's helpful and annoying, and then her mom returns to town. The conflict this arrival creates is handled more seriously than it is on the show with Kelso.

Hyde struggles in college. He's smart but not academically inclined. His temperament is much better suited to an apprenticeship, learning a craft by doing the craft. He's scared.

During one weekend, Hyde learns Hyde bought Wilson & Son's Muffler Shop. He asks Red if he can work there on the weekends. Red hears the uncertainty in Hyde's voice and gets the truth out of him.

Hyde says he doesn't want to disappoint him or Mrs. Forman after all they've done for him.

Red says part of being an adult is making one's own path. Red will hire Hyde full-time if that's what Hyde wants. Hyde agrees.

Hyde then has to go through the process of telling everyone else. Mrs. Forman is worried but trusts Red to teach Hyde well -- and is happy he'll be moving back into the house.

Jackie is shocked, but she ultimately supports Hyde in his decision. She's also happy he'll be next door instead of forty minutes away.

Eric, Donna, and Fez are not happy, especially Eric. He's afraid Hyde will end up like one of his cousins. But Donna says Red owns a muffler and car repair business, not a gas station. If Hyde's happier, then he needs to make this change for himself.

Once Red and Kitty learn of Donna's engagement, they try to stop it. Shenanigans enue for a few episodes until Eric and Donna finally get the chance to tell them that the marriage won't take place until after college, which they're in.

Rhonda learns she's pregnant at the end of the season.

Hyde receives a letter in the mail from someone who claims to be his sister.

Season 7

Part of Hyde's arc is learning about his biological father and that side of the family. He's been working for Red for eight months, but W.B. works in music, and that's Hyde's true calling. Red lets Hyde go from the muffler shop.

Fez and Rhonda deal with Rhonda's pregnancy while going to college.

Donna gets the opportunity to study abroad in Paris for her junior year. Eric wants to go with her, and he applies for the same opportunity. Odds are against him, but he studies hard, inadvertently distancing himself from Donna she doesn't know why.

Near the end of the season, Eric learns he's accepted. Donna finally understands and wishes he'd told her. He didn't because he didn't want to get either of their hopes up.

Jackie is accepted togoing to NYU in New York City. She's torn because Hyde manages Grooves in Point Place. W.B., though, just happens to be expanding his business into the Northeast. Hyde will run the giant, new flagship store with Angie's help.

Rhonda has the baby. It's a girl, ten pounds, eight ounces. Fez is a proud papa.

Red and Kitty face the fact they'll truly be empty nesters. "Until Eric's senior year," Red says, "when he and Donna will be back in Wisconsin."

The show ends with the Vista Cruiser driving away. We see the license plate, and Hyde shouts (unseen): "Goodbye, Wisconsin!"

Jukebox Ask Game

[starrystormwritings]

Date

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Master List <3 Request List <3 That 70s Show Master List

Stephen Hyde x Reader

A/n: Sorry that this is a lot of 'blank' said whilst doing 'blank' but I'm not used to doing mostly dialogue but I really wanted to try to get the characters across well, as always any criticism or requests are needed lol. Also I feel like this is obvious but I still want to state that this fic is purely because I love the character and I do not in anyway support the actor.

Summary: Your desperate to find a date for the school dance but Hyde's desperate that you don't

Warnings: Kissing, making out, smoking, drinking, mentions of being drunk and getting high, kinda oblivious Y/n

Word Count: 1949

(NOT MY GIF)

"What's wrong with you?" Hyde asked, taking my attention away from the beer can I was staring at.

"Hm? Nothing." I smiled at him and lent back into the sofa.

Kelso was sat next to me, his arms lying across the back of the sofa and behind my head.

Jackie was sat on Kelso's lap, playing with his hair with a love sick smile on her face despite him looking straight past her at the tv.

Donna was sat by the door. Eric stood behind her, wandering back and forth casually before leaning on the back of her chair again.

Fez was sat on the floor leaning his back on the sofa, sat between mine and Kelso's legs. He was happily eating some candy I picked up for him before I got here whilst watching the TV as well.

As per usual Hyde was sat on his chair, he was leaning forward with a beer can in one hand and rolling paper in the other.

"You have been unusually quiet." Donna said giving me a look.

"Wow am I really that loud usually that when I'm quiet for five minutes everyone thinks somethings wrong?" I asked with a chuckle, fiddling with the can I was holding.

"Yes." Eric said with a laugh "now what's wrong."

"No it's stupid don't worry." I said, shaking my head.

"Yeah I was expecting it to be stupid before I asked, I braced myself before." Hyde said with a smile, rolling a blunt on the table in front of him.

"Y/n just tell us so they will stop talking on the TV!" Fez said whilst shaking his head, giving me an annoyed look before turning his attention back to the cartoon.

"Fine. No one's asked me to the school formal yet, I guess I'm just a little bummed out about it." I chuckled slightly at how pathetic I sounded and glanced around at my friends.

Hyde laughed and shook his head "Yeah you were right that was stupid."

"Awe Y/n I'll go to the dance with you." Kelso said putting his arm around my shoulders with a grin "Your smoking hot, we'd photograph well together" He winked at me before Jackie hit him hard in the chest.

"Michael! We're going to the dance together!" Jackie looked at him with offence and stormed out of the room.

"Well she never asked me." Kelso said, rolling his eyes and following after her. "Jackie wait! Your smoking hot too!"

"Dumbass." Eric said with a laugh, taking a seat next to me on the sofa as he watched his friend run out of the room.

"Don't worry about the dance Y/n I'll be your date!" Fez said smiling up at me from the floor.

"It's okay Fez I want to go with someone who's into me not just a friend." I smiled back at him, taking a handful of candy to pick at myself.

I glanced over at Hyde, he was too focused in beginning to roll another blunt that it didn't even seem like he was listening anymore.

It's not like I liked Hyde or anything, we've been friends for as long as I can remember.

But over the last couple years we'd gotten so close that sometimes I'd convince myself that maybe there was sometime else there.

I'd never risk our friendship like that though.

"What about that Austin guy that you've been seeing?" Donna asked, quirking an eyebrow at me.

Hydes head shot up at that, suddenly interested enough in the conversation to take his sunglasses off.

"Austin? As in football player Austin Jones? Since when the hell have you been seeing that jerk?" He asked, putting down the perfectly put together blunt he'd just finished.

"We've hung out a couple times, I had to tutor him for extra credit in history and we just started going out to get food after." I shrugged at him and gave him a confused look as he pretended to be sick.

"That guys a fucking loser, he's head of the anti-drugs club at school, why the hell would you wanna be seen with him?" He said shaking his head.

"He's nice, and he needs to be in that club to be the head footballer." I looked back over to Donna, shrugging Hydes over reactions off "I thought he liked me but he still didn't ask."

"Well why don't you ask him? Why should you have to wait around for him to pluck up the courage to talk to you, go ask him yourself." She said leaning forward, obviously cutting herself off from beginning another feminist rant.

I bit my lip and thought for a second before nodding "You know what, I think I will." I smiled at her and lent over to give her a high five.

She nodded enthusiastically, obviously proud of herself "Hell yeah."

"Yeah whatever, we gonna light these baby's or what?" Hyde asked with a small smile, holding up the two blunts to the group.

~~~

I opened the door to Eric's basement to be met with Donna Kelso and Jackie all sat on the floor in front of the sofa watching some new stupid show, Donna's face lighting up seeing me since she wasn't alone with the two of them being grossly 'in love' anymore.

I threw myself down onto the couch behind them with a sigh, causing the three of them to turn around.

"What's wrong?" Donna asked, patting my back.

"Austin said he doesn't want to go to the dance with me, apparently he doesn't like me like that." I frowned at her and sat up with another sigh.

I knew I was being dramatic, he was just a guy after all and I wasn't really that into him but it still stung.

"Awe I'm sorry." Donna said, giving me a pitied look.

"Now I'm going to have to be the only one alone. You'll have Eric, you two have each other, Fez will probably show up with some weird girl he finds ten minutes before the dance starts and Hyde has the love of his life, Mary Jane." Donna laughed slightly and shook her head at me as I continued rambling "I thought he really liked me, I mean we've made out in his car like ten times."

Jackie left Kelso's side to sit next to me and give me a hug "Oh Y/n I'm sorry, men are pigs."

"Hey what about me!" Kelso asked defensively.

"Pigs!" She responded kicking him lightly. "He was too popular for you anyway. You'd do better with a more indie guy like Hyde or that guy who sits in the back of the library at lunch and rips the poetry books. Not a jock."

"Thanks Jackie, you always find just the right things to say." I said, causing Donna to snort and Jackie to beam, the sarcasm flying straight over her head.

"I know what might've happened!" Kelso said with a smile, looking proud of himself.

"Oh this'll be good." Donna said with a smile, getting up to sit in Hydes chair.

"Well after you guys left last night me and Hyde were drinking and Eric drove us to Fatso burger where we bumped into Austin and Hyde like totally threatened him." Kelso said, smiling as the rest of us looked at him with a mixed expression of shock and confusion.

"What do you mean threatened him?" I questioned him but before he could respond the door opened as Hyde walked in.

"Hey guys what's happening?"

"You threatened Austin?" I asked standing up.

"What no?" He looked caught out, obviously lying, his voice crack just highlighting the fact.

"Kelso just said you did last night, what did you say?"

"Y/n I can't even remember I was so drunk last night, I didn't even get to school until after lunch I was so hungover."

Kelso jumped up with a smile "I remember! You said that if he even thought about going to the dance with Y/n you would run him over in the Visa Cruiser and score a touch down with his decapitated head."

"Ew." Jackie said with a disgusted look.

Donna chuckled slightly before shaking her head. "Dark dude."

Hyde punched Kelso in the arm before pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

"Ow dude what the hell!"

"Hyde why would you do that you knew I wanted to go to the dance with him, is this some kind of stupid prank or something because it's not funny. I'm upset." I said, furrowing my eyebrows as I frowned at him.

"Y/n can we talk about this somewhere else , away from these bozos."

Is nodded and followed him out to Eric's driveway, sitting on the hood of the Vista Cruiser as Hyde stood in front of me.

"Y/n he's just not a good fit for you!" He said running his hands through his hair with a sigh.

"Why not! He's a nice enough guy, he's smart and athletic. As Jackie keeps mentioning he's popular and attractive why wouldn't I like him." I shook my head at him, not even trying to withhold my annoyance.

"Y/n his favourite band is Boney M, you love Zeppelin and Aerosmith. He's anti drugs and you smoke at least three blunts a week. He likes sports and you've never sat through a game in your life, he won't even take you out on an actual date you just grab food and make out in his car. You deserve better than that."

"Well I haven't got anyone better than that, and I liked him. Plus that wasn't your decision to make!" I crossed my arms in annoyance, watching him pace back and forth.

"I'm your best friend I was just looking out for you, you deserve someone you have something in common with."

"Like who!"

"Like me! I wanted to ask you! Goddamnit." He looked away from me, anxiously and awkwardly shifting around.

"You wanted to ask me? Stephen I appreciate it but I wanted to go with a date not a friend." I stood up next to him, pacing my hands on his shoulders to still his movements.

"God how oblivious are you?"

"What do you mean-"

Before I could finish the thought his lips were on mine.

He kissed me softly, bringing his hand up to the side of my face.

Once the shock of the action cleared I kissed back, going up onto my toes to reach his height with a smile.

He pulled back after a second, keeping the closeness between us and his hand on my face.

"Oh. I get what you mean now." I said, feeling my cheeks get hot as I laughed lightly.

"Oh really?" He chuckled and smiled down at me "Will you go to the dance with me."

"Yes you idiot I will. Although we should probably go on a proper date first, if that's what you want of course."

"Yeah, I'll take you on a nice date somewhere. We can do this properly, take it slow and all." He said with a shy smile.

I nodded and we stood in silence for a second before we both lent into each other again, wanting to kiss.

He lent down to deepen the kiss and I smiled against his lips as he shifted me back to lean against the Vista Cruiser.

"Um sorry to interrupt guys but I have some many questions about what ever this is. And why the hell are you doing it on my car! Get off!" Eric yelled from behind us, forcing us to pull away from each other with smiles plastered across both of our faces.

"Sorry Eric."

[silver-cyn]

What friendship on T7S do you wish had more development and how?

I'd like to see a Jackie and Eric friendship develop. They dropped moments, split second scenes throughout the show, but it never really took off. It wouldn't have to be a best buddies type of friendship, but just something that showed she was welcome full stop into the basement. I remember an episode where Jackie told off Laurie and Eric was really impressed by her. I think he even confirmed he wanted her there in that clip. But, not sure if that sentiment was retained after that episode. I have to mention I've watched the show but not every single episode, and I'm pretty sure I didn't watch any of season 8. Maybe I watched a few scenes or clips but that's about it- I have a very nice memory of Kitty getting a haircut and Red's reaction, which is the only awesome thing I can remember about that season. I did read some episode summaries from Season 8 and, well,...no.

Mini Rant - they did Jackie and Hyde so dirty. Completely trashed their relationship and when I read the ways she was being treated and who she ended up with...no. I couldn't watch it. I wish, if Jackie and Hyde had to end, she could've gone off into the sunset by herself into a successful career outside of Point Place and still retained her friendship with the gang - minus Kelso and honestly Hyde to if he was gonna treat her like that...but hey, not my rodeo and there's always fanfic. Ok, that's done!

[springsteenicious]

Character Headcanon: Hyde

Sexuality Headcanon: I don't really have any. I write him as straight pretty much all the time. I do write him as being demisexual pretty often, because I feel like that label fits his canon sexuality pretty well.

Gender Headcanon: None, he's a cis guy. I wrote him as being trans once and never posted the fic.

A ship I have with said character: Hyde/Jackie forever no one else for him. unless I'm back on my Donna/Hyde bullshit but that's rare and I'm the only one around who likes it (and even then I only like it in very specific AU circumstances)

A BROTP I have with said character: Hyde and Eric! I love their friendship/brotherhood. Always a joy to write!

A NOTP I have with said character: Hyde/Eric I don't like seeing them romantically together. I consider them adoptive brothers so it gets creepy for me.

A random headcanon: He definitely has a shoebox full of stuff Jackie gave him/memorabilia from their dates. photographs, napkins they wrote on, cards, etc.

General Opinion over said character: Hyde was definitely my favorite character when I watched the show the first time, but I think if I were to go back and rewatch the show now, I wouldn't like him as much. I'm just at a different place in my life and my opinions have changed a bit and I think he wouldn't be the same for me.

thanks for the ask! it's fun to get back into these characters :)

[thatseventiesbitch]

Hi I really love your writing for That 70’s show and also That 90’s show! If it would be possible could you do one where Hyde visits Eric and Donna in the 90s? I don’t buy that he would never talk to any of them ever again, at least not the Formans and Donna. They were his family 🥹

Thank you so much anon! 💗 I share those thoughts about Hyde. I like to imagine that he finally made it to New York and is finding success and (hopefully) happiness there. It was harder to stay connected to the people we love before cell phones and social media, but I think Hyde would always stay in touch with The Formans in his own ways. You'll see my take on it below - this was actually my first time writing Hyde in the '90s!

If you have a writing request, you can send it to me here.

--

"Hey." Donna knocked twice on the open door and then poked her head in their home office. Eric was hunched over his desk, grading some papers in the final, fading hours of a quiet Tuesday night. "Hyde just called. He's about fifteen minutes away."

"What?" Eric sat up straight in his chair, startled. He leafed a hand through his hair with a hasty sigh. "Why does he always do this?"

Donna didn't answer him, she just shrugged.

Hyde lived in New York now, and his visits back to the Midwest were sporadic and often unannounced, just like this. But once or twice per year he'd blow through Chicago, usually calling them from a gas station a few minutes before he'd arrive. He didn't come for holidays and he didn't like you to make a fuss over him. He never stayed the night, or even long enough for a meal. He'd spent so little time at their house that Eric marveled that he even remembered their address - but he did. Because he never missed a birthday, there was always a card or a call. Even for Leia. His goddaughter. They'd only met a handful of times, but Hyde seemed to remember every detail Eric had ever told him about her - about her grades in school, her pet bunny's name, that she'd started Brownies this year, when she'd broken her arm.

In return, Eric and Donna knew shockingly little about Hyde's life.

He still worked with W.B., running Grooves. The business was successful - extremely successful. Multimillion dollar level successful. But Hyde never liked to talk about it.

"Pshh," he'd swat the questions away. "Work. Boring."

He didn't like to answer questions about his personal life, either. Who he was dating, what kinds of fun things he got up to in New York, about the different places he traveled for work.

"You don't want to hear about that stuff," he'd insist, swatting at their questions like flies. Pushing them away. Keeping them out.

"We do," they'd try to tell him. "We care about you. Tell us about your life."

But he'd give them that same easy-going smile he always had. "Nothing to tell, man."

He pulled into the driveway tonight in a small, taupe coupe. Eric stood at the front porch watching for him, and he grinned immediately as his old friend stepped from the vehicle and ambled up the front walk, clutching his belt buckle. His hair was cut shorter (to hide some pattern balding) and his face showed some signs of age too, but his gait and his energy was the same he'd had as a teenager.

Eric jerked his chin at the car. "That must be a rental, huh?" The car wasn't at all Hyde's style.

"I asked for a Pick-up and they hand me the keys to this fuckin' thing," Hyde shook his head, bemused, as he reached Eric. The two men didn't hesitate - they embraced in a hug for a long moment before pulling back, clapping each other on their shoulders.

"Wow Hyde. New look for you?"

Donna had joined them on the porch, and she pointed to the coupe teasingly. Hyde shook his head, and they hugged, too.

"Temporary digs, man. I'm on a layover. Gotta get back to O'Hare in like," he glanced at his wristwatch. "Forty minutes."

"Uh, then you should leave now," Eric joked.

Donna grabbed Hyde's arm, though. "No! Hyde, my god. When's the last time we saw you?"

"It's been awhile," he agreed, smoothing a hand over the hair on his chin.

They moved inside the house, and Hyde glanced around. It was small, modest compared to the luxury apartment he must've lived in, but if he was unimpressed with the space he gave no indication. Instead he smiled faintly at the photos on the front wall - of Red and Kitty with Leia, Eric and Donna on vacation last year, and one of the whole extended family at the Forman's house for Christmas. He paused in front of one of the gang - it was an old photo, from high school. That night they'd all gone to that stupid disco. Hyde stared at it for a long moment and looked like he might say something, but instead he cleared his throat.

Eric and Donna were both looking at him intently. He glanced around them.

"Where's the kid?"

"She's asleep." Donna nodded towards the stairs, indicating one of the upstairs bedrooms. "It's almost ten o 'clock on a school night."

"Right." He dropped his gaze to the floor. "How about the john?"

"Down the hall," Eric pointed it out. Hyde nodded gratefully, and slipped off to use the bathroom. When he returned to the kitchen a few moments later, only Eric was there.

"You want a beer?" Eric offered him, unsurely. Hyde shook his head, no. "Pop? Water?" No again. "Okay." He nodded to the kitchen table. "You want to sit?"

"I only have a few minutes," Hyde said, but he pulled out one of the chairs and so Eric did the same.

"I know," he assured him. "I'm - I'm glad you came."

Hyde gave a half-shrug in acknowledgement. "So. How are things?"

Eric shrugged too. "They're... good. Fine. The same." He lifted his eyebrows. "You know - my mom pretty much covers it all in her Christmas Card letter, so..."

"Yeah," Hyde smiled, studying his hands. "I love reading that every year."

"Very thorough."

"Yeah."

Eric cleared his throat. "Have you talked to her and Red lately?"

Hyde moved his head from side-to-side. "From time to time."

Eric gave him a meaningful look. "You know man, she'd love it if you did that a little more often."

Hyde scoffed. "Give me a break, Forman." He lifted his eyebrows at his old friend. "How often do you talk to your parents? Huh?"

Eric paused, considering the question. "From... time to time," he admitted sheepishly.

"That's what I thought."

"Okay," Eric grinned down at the table. "So we could both call Mom more. Got it..." He glanced up at Hyde, who was also smiling. "But, hey. You could come visit more. For real, not for," he gestured around them, "Whatever this is."

"This is a layover," Hyde supplied snarkily.

"To where?"

"Flying to London. Business."

Eric gaped at him. "Okay, that is so cool."

Hyde shook his head. "Whatever - "

"No. You know where I'm going tomorrow?"

"It's whatever, Forman - "

"To a high school, where I'll teach math at a bunch of ninth graders who don't want to learn it all day. And then I'll sit in traffic for forty-five minutes in my piece-of-crap car to get home to this middle class monstrosity," he gestured around them at the gaudy floral wallpaper and their outdated kitchen appliances. He blinked at Hyde again, awed. "Waking up in London - every day being different - God. Your life sounds so cool."

Hyde slid his chair back abruptly, and he stood up.

"Really not that cool, man."

Eric swallowed. "Sorry. I just - I meant - "

"It's fine, man," Hyde assured him, his cool, suave persona back just as quickly as it had disappeared. "I know what you meant." His easy-going smile was back now. "And I just mean that I hope you know what a great thing you have going here." He tipped his chin down sincerely. "You have it made, Forman. You know that, right?"

"I know that," Eric assured him. He was studying his oldest friend thoughtfully. "Hey man, do you ever think about, you know. Settling down?"

Hyde wore a bemused expression. "Ain't built for that, Forman," he finally answered him, gruffly, but his voice held some affection too.

"Says who?" Eric asked, softly.

"Lots of people." He cleared his throat, and picked up his jacket, turning his body slightly away. He was shutting this subject down, just like he always did when Eric started to get too close. Not physically. Emotionally.

"Come on," Eric insisted, following him towards the front door. "When you get home from your trip - from London. Who's waiting for you at home. Huh?"

"No one. And get this, man: that's the way I like it."

Eric frowned. "It must get pretty lonely," he said softly.

"Loneliness," Hyde held up one hand. "Or freedom?" He held up the other, and moved them up and down like they were scales he was balancing. "It's a fine line." They stood out on the front porch again, the soft sounds of the sleepy city street surrounding them.

"Okay," Eric said finally, but his expression must've said something else because Hyde sighed.

"Don't worry about me, Forman."

"I won't."

"I mean it. I'm fine."

"I'm not worried."

But Hyde still looked at him skeptically. "I can see it in your puppy dog eyes. Don't get all after-school-special on me, Forman. I'm not one of your lost kids," he warned.

Eric put his hands up defensively. "I'm just wondering when we're gonna see you again. That's all."

Hyde scratched his beard. "Not sure," he admitted.

"You gonna be in London awhile?"

He gave a noncommittal shrug.

"But you'll be back, right?" Eric's voice tightened with anxiety, and Hyde chuckled at his transparency.

"I'll be back," he promised, doing a poor imitation of Schwarzenegger's Terminator. Eric visibly relaxed, and the two men shared a brief glance before they embraced again. "I'll always be back," Hyde added, softer.

[theonethatwatchesalotofshows]

I've had so much fun talking to you!! Here are some That 70s Show asks if you feel like answering: 1. Five favorite characters - in order! 2. Three favorite romantic ships 3. Three or four favorite family relationships/friendships 4. Five unpopular opinions you have about the series. The more unpopular, the better!

Ofc, I always feel like procrastinating on Tumblr and avoiding my real life responsibilities so here it is:

Top 5 characters:

1. Red - I am ranking him first only because I feel like he is the character that the writers ruined the least as the time went on

2. Jackie- she had the best development up until season 8

3. Hyde - same as Jackie, he was a jerk at times but had a more or less consistent character development until they flushed it down the toilet in season 8

4. Eric - definitely the most relatable character, too bad they didn't give him more ambition

5. Donna - she was my favorite when I first started watching but what the writers did with her pissed me off so much (having her not go to college and want to move into a van???)

Three romantic ships:

1. Obviously Zenmasters (Jackie and Hyde)

2. Donneric - they were my first ship in this show and I loved them until they started fighting over stupid stuff in every episode

3. Red and Kitty - they are what zenmasters would have been in another universe where they ended up married

Family relationships: I haven't really thought about it until now but I love Eric and Red's dynamic, then Eric and Laurie have a very realistic sibling bickering/ love-hate relationship, and in fact all three Forman siblings if we count Hyde have that together, that's why I enjoyed the episodes in season 2 where they were all living under one roof. And last but not least, while Midge was not great and in the end left Donna, I still liked the moments in which she offered motherly wisdom to her. It seems like the kind of relationship I would love to have with my mother where you are not scared to tell her anything. So to sum up:

1. Red and Eric

2. Eric, Laurie and Hyde

3. Midge and Donna

I will make a separate one for friendships:

1. Jackie and Donna

2. Jackie and Eric

3. All of the guys together

Hmm I am not sure if I have any about this particular show, so I will just say 5 random opinions:

1. Bob was annoying and kind of unnecessary

2. They should have kept Kelso as he was in season 1- a bit clueless about life but secretly very good at math and technology

3. Laurie is a terrible person and that's what makes her fun. There's no need to redeem or humanize her as some fans try to do.

4. People complain that Donna was ruined in the later seasons by giving up on her ambitions but no one talks about how Eric was too. They both should have gone to college. Hyde could have easily taken care of Red and the Forman house after the heart attack.

5. People that complain about the jokes on this show being offensive and having aged badly need to grow a pair.

[nikkiruncks]

Title: The Devil, The Geek, and The Burnout

Pairings: Jackie Burkhart/Steven Hyde, Jackie Burkhart/Eric Forman, Eric Forman/Steven Hyde (all platonic)

Summary: Missing scenes post-Jackie Bags Hyde. Some are J/H, some are J/E, some are J/E/H.

[those70scomics]

https://www.tumblr.com/hydesjackiespuddinpop/723400504889294848/send-me-a-character-and-ill-answer-with-my

Red, Kitty, Jackie, and Donna!

• My NOTP for them:

Red ≠ Pam Burkhart

Kitty ≠ Dr. Cloak

Donna ≠ Mitch

Jackie ≠ Kelso (I don't consider her S8 romantic relationship with Fez canon, and they might have worked in season 2 had Fez been his season-4 version and Jackie recognized her xenophobia, but they're essentially a NOTP for me).

• My BROTP for them:

Red and Pastor Dave (they seemed genuinely to enjoy each other's company).

Kitty and Joanne

Donna and Jackie

Jackie and Donna

• My OTP for them:

Red / Kitty

Kitty / Red

Donna / Eric

Jackie / Hyde

• My second choice pairing for them:

Red / Privacy

Kitty / Lots of Fulfilling Friendships

Donna / Traveling the World

Jackie / Success at a Career She's Passionate About

• My intrigued-by pairing for them:

Red / Joanne

Kitty / W.B.

Donna / Brooke

Jackie / Angie

Note: I added the last question myself. 😄

[thestupidhelmet]

How would you have written the Jay and Leia's first time storyline? You talked about how there was no emotional impact and it basically just fell flat, so how would you have handled it?

Hi! 😃

Within the context of T9S as it is, that's a tough question to answer. Jay and Leia's first time storyline fits the overall lighter, more superficial tone of T9S vs. T7S.

I would've rewritten Jay and Leia's whole storyline, tbh. I would've given both characters different core characterizations, particularly Jay. Leia's malaise and unhappiness at her Chicago life would remain the same; the cause for it would be deeper.

The foundation of their relationship would've built on depth rather than the superficiality of a Kelso clone who's capable of lasting growth and a Leia whose unhappiness is portrayed as significantly deeper than the reasons the show gives for it.

Like Eric/Donna and Jackie/Hyde before them in T7S, Jay and Leia would've connected with each other through finding solace from their woes in each other as well as joy.

Donna is Eric freedom from his (perceived and actual) suffocating and hyper-controlled home life. Eric is Donna's emotional stability and safety that she doesn't have at home.

Jackie is Hyde's challenger to face his fears of abandonment and his teacher that he's not unlovable. Hyde is Jackie's teacher that love isn't shiny presents and obedience but acts of love, like sacrificing what makes him happy to cheer her up, going to jail in her stead, becoming homeless (almost) to protect her reputation, and so much more.

Jay and Leia's relationship lacks depth because the characters do. As I've written previously, Jay in actuality would not be a Kelso clone with his upbringing by two ever-divorcing, ever-remarrying parents who are in a toxic relationship. He'd have a lot of emotional baggage and, hopefully, be a thoughtful kid rather than being a relatively carefree womanizer who overuses the word bro.

Leia is raised by two loving parents in a healthy relationship yet suffers from a sadness that is portrayed (intentionally or not) as mild depression. Finding joy and freedom in Point Place starts with her discovering Gwen, who is her real force of change. T9S would've needed Leia to stumble upon Jay, not Gwen, letting loose in his room to forge that bond.

Like Eric and Donna, their relationship would've begun platonically. Their first attraction to each other would be emotional, not aesthetic or sexual. In season 1, we would've seen their bond develop and grow, connecting Leia to Jay's friend group and -- perhaps -- causing some insecurity-jealousy-resentment from Jay's best friend, Nate. At the end of season 1, Jay and Leia's emotional bond has transformed into a romantic one, and they kiss.

In season 2, Part 1, Jay and Leia would navigate figuring out whether they want to "sacrifice" their friendship for a romance. Leia might be idealistic about it because of her parents' relationship while Jay is more cautious because his parents' relationship sucks. He'd rather keep a healthy friendship with Leia than risk a potentially toxic romance with her.

But with guidance from his friends and Red and Kitty, he realizes he and Leia don't have to be Jackie and Kelso or Eric and Donna. They can be Jay and Leia. Part 1 ends with Jay and Leia officiallybin a romantic relationship.

In season 2, Part 2, Leia is sex-positive and ready to have that connection with Jay. Jay, however, has witnessed how sex tears his family apart. He's afraid that having sex might turn him into his dad, and he'd never want to hurt Leia the way his dad hurts his mom. This would be a nice parallel and reversal of Eric and Donna's storyline in T7S.

Leia, and perhaps other characters, help Jay understand that he's nothing like his dad. He's not selfish or narcissistic. That he worries about hurting Leia proves this fact (as does so much more). Betsy, too, could've been used as an ally rather than an antagonistic. She and Jay could've bonded over and validated their dad's awfulness to their mothers.

Jay and Leia connecting sexually, having their first time, would be an affirmation of the freedom and joy they've found in each other. The actual act could've been awkward, although Donna prepared Leia how to make it less awkward. Sexually-experienced Nate could've given Jay good advice: 1) jerking off earlier in the day so that he'd last longer with Leia and 2) all about foreplay being important (although it might've been an hilarious callback to T7S had Kitty told him this information).

The scene itself, with all the emotional build up of season 1 through much of season 2, would've allowed for Jay and Leia's first time to have a similar emotional impact for the audience as Eric and Donna's.

In the aftermath, Leia is blissful and shares TMI with her friends. Jay, though, is happy but anxious. He still thinks he's got a ticking time bomb of his dad's infidelity in him. So he proposes he and Leia not have sex again for a while. In his mind, this will prove he doesn't need sex to be happy.

Leia: You mean like a week?

Jay: More like a month, maybe two. Three at the most.

Leia: I might be in Chicago or California by then if my mom doesn't let me stay in Point Place.

To Leia's mind, she thinks Jay hated having sex with her.

This conflict is resolved swiftly, however (in an episode). Jay admits enthusiastically that he loved having sex with Leia. He felt super close to her. He's just afraid he'll sleep with another girl.

Leia: Do you was to sleep with another girl?

Jay: No! But what if it's instinct, like salmon returning to where they were born to spawn?

Leia grasps his shoulders gently and kisses him. Afterward, she says, "Were you thinking another girl then?"

Jay: I wasn't thinking at all! I just --

Jay kisses Leia back, passionately. This leads to them making love again.

As they hold each other in bed, Leia says, "Still scared?"

Jay: Of what?

Leia: Cheating on me with other girls.

Jay (deadpan): What is cheating? Or other girls? I don't understand these alien concepts.

He and Leia grin at each other then make out.

***

The deeper the characters, the deeper the storylines. T9S's writing isn't deep. It's easy. It's funny but nowhere near as funny as T7S because -- at its best -- T7S's humor rose organically from the deeper characters and their deeper storylines.

T9S is another case of having a great opportunity, a great cast, and squandering it by writing toward the middle to satisfy nostalgic T7S fans and appeal to new ones. T7S didn't have the pressure of being a sequel to another show. Its creators were free to be fully original.

[maya-matlin]

Curious but what are your thoughts on Eric/Jackie as a ship?

I guess I'm neutral on it? I think they'd look good together and enjoyed the friendship moments they'd have from time to time, but mostly I've never thought much about the possibility. I'm too big of a fan of Jackie's relationship with Hyde and think Eric works best with Donna. I do think he would have been a better boyfriend for her than Kelso or Fez, though.

[winnie-the-monster]

if you had to headcanon the that 70s gang sexuality, what would it be?

random question I know, but I was curious lol

If I had to… let’s see:

Laurie: Pansexual. I don’t ask me why, but I feel like she wouldn’t care about gender.

Eric: Bisexual, with a preference for girls

Donna: Bisexual

Hyde: Straight

Michael: Bisexual, with a preference for girls(I’m telling you there were times with Fez, where I was just like there’s more than friendship going on here.)

Jackie: Straight, but is curious about what it’d be like to be with a girl

Fez: Gay. And for the longest time I really thought the show was gonna reveal that he was gay.