79Disclaimer: I do not own That 70's Show.
It was every man – and woman – for themselves in the Forman residence. Thanksgiving had passed in a blur. A happy, delicious blur. And that only meant one thing: time to prepare for Christmas. While none of them had anything against the joyous holiday, they definitely were weary of the holiday hurricane also known as Kitty Forman that hit the house December 1st.
Eric had ventured upstairs for a snack and had already been roped into lugging boxes of decorations from the garage. Donna had naively believed that meant the rest of them were safe, ventured out of the basement and was currently making a list of Christmas card recipients. That left the three of them – Hyde, Jackie and Kelso – holed up in the basement hoping to go unnoticed. Fez had weirdly and unsurprisingly been happy to follow Kitty's every order and help with the Christmas Takeover.
Kelso was playing Mario Bros. For the second hour in a row. Jackie wasn't complaining, at least it kept him busy and out of everyone's hair.
Jackie was flipping through the newspaper trying to find the movie showtimes. She desperately wanted to watch A Christmas Story one more time before it was out of theatres and she needed to find a later showing to give her time to convince Steven to go with her. Speaking of Steven, she glanced at him as he laughed at Kelso dying yet again.
She'd been nervous for the holiday season, not sure how they'd do this year now that he had officially moved out of the Forman's and she out of the apartment she shared with Fez, and moved in together. Jackie knew how much Steven hated sentimentality. And what was Thanksgiving and Christmas about if not being all mushy and sharing feelings? Well that, and looking cute.
She had worried that maybe now that he didn't have to be around all the festivities he would refuse to leave their apartment in lieu of peace and quiet. Steven had surprised Jackie, and everyone else, when he easily promised he'd be at both Thanksgiving dinner and all the Christmas happenings Kitty wanted. Jackie hadn't questioned or pushed the subject since she didn't want to wake the proverbial sleeping dog.
"Okay, Jackie, what is it?" Steven asked, turning away from the television.
Shaken out of her thoughts, Jackie was confused, "What?"
"You've been staring at me far longer than you normally do. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just thinking about how nice it is to be with everyone," she replied smiling.
"It beats staying home eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches," he said with a small smile that made her warm all over with happiness. Home. Their home together.
She got up off the couch and he readily opened his arms for her to sit in his lap. It had taken them all of 1980 to get to a good place where they could talk about the weight of the past clinging to their words and their actions. One of the things she was most thankful for was being able to celebrate this time of year with him without all the drama. Jackie smiled brightly and gave him a lingering kiss.
Steven was beginning to wind his arms around her when they heard someone at the basement door at the top of the stairs.
"I'm sure there's another little elf down here who'd be happy to help you with the tinsel Fez."
Mrs. Forman. She laughed and the door opened.
All at once there was a commotion as the not-so-young anymore kids ran in different directions to hide. Steven rose and pulled Jackie along to his old bedroom. Kelso's foot got wound up in the controller's cord and by the time tried reaching Hyde's bedroom, he was pushed back and the bedroom door was slammed in his face.
"Oh, Michael! I'm happy you're here! You're just what we need. You're tall enough to hang up the tinsel since poor Fez is a little bit vertically challenged." She laughed again grabbing Michael's arm and carrying him and into Santa's workshop.
Behind the door of the bedroom, Steven and Jackie listened to the fading footsteps.
Jackie giggled at Michael's poor luck, "That was a close one. Thank God her laugh doubles as a cow-bell."
She turned to face Steven and found him closer than she had thought. He had already removed his sunglasses and began to once again wind his arms around her. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I agree, doll. I think as a precaution we should probably hide out here."
She pouted. "But how can we possibly pass the time?"
"I'm sure I can think of a little something." He leaned in kissed her lightly.
"Only a little something? Maybe I should go help upstairs instead."
"Just shut up and kiss me," Steven replied before covering her laughing mouth with his.
Two hours later, they ventured upstairs for something to eat. Jackie always prided herself on being able to look as presentable after having sex as she did before but with Steven she could never fully feel as nonchalant as she could when she was with Michael. Steven made her feel powerful and beautiful and fiery. A feeling that lingered far after they left the bed.
Steven had no physical trace on him that anything had occurred between the two but he was always a little more affectionate afterwards. He would sit her in his lap or hold her close to him. She wasn't sure if the others had caught on, but she hoped not. She liked the secret little touches they shared as they walked up the basement.
They entered the kitchen and as she looked into the fridge for a cola, he stood behind her a hand on her hip and his chest lightly brushing her back. She grabbed two and they walked over the kitchen table where Eric and Donna were currently checking strands of Christmas lights for burned out bulbs. Steven took a seat first before pulling her to take a seat on his lap.
"Nice of you two to join us," Eric greeted them sarcastically.
Donna joined in, "Yeah, you two suck. We've been here working under the tyranny of Mrs. Claus why you two go at it like rabbits."
Eric looked horrified, "Oh God. Please tell me you didn't defile the couch."
Hyde took a sip of his drink, "Forman, if anyone has defiled that couch it's you and Donna. With the number of times I walked out of my room to your pasty ass wiggling in the air, you'd think I'd be blind."
Jackie's face was screwed up in disgust. "Ewww! We sit there you sickos!"
"No! No! I don't want to hear any of this fighting or sickos or namecalling in this house until after December 25th!" Kitty yelled walking through the swinging door. Fez trailed behind her.
He added, "Yes, Ms. Kitty is right. This is the time for love and kindness. And getting Fez candy."
"Subtle, Fez," Steven replied.
"Speaking of gifts, we won't have anything to do put them under if we don't have a tree! Since you two are free, you can head down to the lot and pick out a good one for us! Let me get my purse to give you the money." Kitty clapped her hands and dashed out of the room.
"Oh, Steven! Christmas tree shopping! How romantic!" Jackie hugged him.
He grimaced, "Yeah. Lugging a heavy tree onto the roof of the El Camino. Romantic."
Jackie scoffed, "Steven. That's what the workers are for. We won't have to lift a finger!"
"Jackie!" Donna admonished.
Pulling an innocent face, "What? We'll tip them."
Kitty rushed back into the room, "Okay here you go, there's fifty dollars to get the tree. And I want the change!" She placed the money into Steven's outstretched hand.
"Mrs. Forman, are you sure you wouldn't prefer going with Red?" He had to at least try and get out of this.
Ignoring him, Jackie interrupted, "Don't worry Mrs. Forman, we'd love to go. Me and Steven will bring back the best tree you ever saw! Come one, let's go get our coats."
"Have fun Puddin Pop!" Eric yelled grinning as Steven followed Jackie down to the basement. Steven picked up a walnut by the stove and aiming for Forman's head just as Kelso walked in from the living room.
"Mrs. Forman, I got the mistletoe – Ah my eye!"
"It's a Christmas miracle!" Eric exclaimed and Donna laughed.
A/N: this is my first venture into T7S fanfiction territory. I've been rewatching the show for a couple of months now for the first time since I saw it when I was a kid. I remember loving Jackie and Hyde together but I never actually realized/felt or whatever the injustice of them breaking up at the end of season 7.
I've been reading a lot of fanfiction to fill the hole in my heart and I finally made my way through all of them (at least complete ones) or I believe all of them.
I just wanted something sweet and fluffy for these two. I actually had something else in mind when I started but it went around in a different direction so I might continue this…
