A/N: This story is probably going to be a few chapters long in total. Basically this is yet another attempt to fix what the writers did in season 8 while also eventually delving into the deeper emotional issues surrounding it. Please review with your thoughts when done, it's greatly appreciated!
It was almost like Eric coming home was what they needed to get the natural order of everything restored. It was highly coincidental anyway.
After the group rang in the new decade, Donna and Eric with no surprise to anyone, rekindled their relationship. The two picked up where they left off, with Eric claiming that he had merely just 'paused' their relationship.
Jackie and Fez, also no surprise to anyone, didn't last past the first week of the new decade. It wasn't a dramatic breakup by any means, just a realization that a romantic relationship between the two wasn't in the cards.
Kelso moved back after being, again no surprise, fired from his job in Chicago. "Apparently setting off firecrackers while on duty is 'against protocol'." Michael explained to the group once he returned home.
Jackie and Hyde, well they weren't exactly dating, but they weren't exactly uninvolved either, something their friends had yet to discover.
As a part of Donna and Eric's newly 'unpaused' relationship, Donna insisted that they make some adult changes, beginning with moving in together. Eric reluctantly agreed to this, under the condition that they wouldn't be moving into a trailer.
So here the gang was, helping Donna and Eric move into their very 'adult' apartment.
"Oh man I can't believe I'm back in Point Place." Eric groaned carrying a box up the steps. "I promised myself that once I left I was never coming back. Nothing good can come of this." Eric complained dramatically as Donna shot a death glare at him. "Except of course you my sweet um-." Eric attempted to cover up stumbling over his words. "flower?"
"Nice save, you jackass!" Donna said as she slapped his arm.
"Now Donna," Eric began lifting one finger into the air, "as part of this new adult relationship, there is simply no room for violence."
Donna scoffed as she shoved past him. "And now you're mocking me."
"Well that's off to a great start." Hyde remarked sarcastically as he carried a box up the stairs alongside Jackie. The two walking much closer than a pair of mere friends would, their shoulders practically touching.
Jackie looked at him seriously. "I've made a vow to never complain about Eric again, after that crap with Randy it almost made me miss the scrawny nerd."
Hyde smirked. "I'm so telling Forman that you missed him."
Jackie giggled, and playfully shoved his shoulder with her own. "Don't you dare."
Fez, behind the pair, watched the scene with dismay. "We just broke up and you're already back with Hyde?" He exclaimed with his usual dramatic Fez attitude.
Jackie laughed lightly as they approached the door to the apartment. "No Fez, Steven and I are just friends. Also, you should know that I'm not gonna acknowledge what we had as a 'relationship' more like a brief lapse in judgement." Jackie explained, her usual bitchy tone showing through.
Hyde watched the scene with a sort of pride. The old Jackie was back and bitchy as ever.
Fez nodded his head, considering this for a moment. "I guess that will do."
As they entered the apartment, Eric looked at them in confusion. "Hold on let's back up here, you two are actually friends? You and satan are legitimately friends?" Eric questioned pointing his finger back and forth between the two.
Jackie shrugged. "Yeah so?"
Eric chuckled sarcastically. "So? So you two have never been 'friends'. Pre unholy union you hated each other, then the unholy union happened and I was sure it was the coming of the anti christ, and then he married a stripper and you're supposed to hate him eternally."
Jackie smirked scornfully. "Oh I haven't let go of the stripper thing, but it turns out that Steven and I have more in common than we thought."
Eric crossed his arms, still maintaining his sarcasm. "Oh yeah, like what?"
"Well off the top of my head we both like making fun of you." She said, smiling sweetly.
Eric feigned being wounded. "Ooh, ow good burn. Not."
Hyde glared on. "Whatever Forman, do you and your scrawny arms want help moving or not?" He questioned threateningly.
Eric's gaze dropped to the ground shyly. "Yes please."
Jackie clapped excitedly. "Oh Donna, you have to let me decorate your guys' bedroom!"
"Jackie, I'm not sure we have the same, taste shall we say?" Donna said, attempting to let the shorter girl down gently.
Jackie looked at her condescendingly. "Exactly. I have way better taste."
"Jackie, no." Donna said firmly.
"Oh come on, it would really piss of Eric." She pointed out, a point which Donna seemed to seriously consider. "Remember Eric, Mr. 'I just paused our relationship when I went to Africa'."
Donna cracked a smile. "Alright let's do it."
"So Hyde, I gotta ask." Eric began calmly. "Why in the hell are you friends with the devil?"
Hyde scoffed. "Calm down Forman, whether you admit it or not she's you friend too."
"Exactly, I would never in a million years admit it."
Kelso took a seat next to the pair. "I'm with Forman on this one, Jackie and I haven't dated in like 3 years and I still think of her as a chick I'm gonna hook up with."
Hyde resisted his natural instinct to slug Kelso. She wasn't technically his girlfriend, and the group didn't even know that there was a 'technically' about it.
"Whatever Kelso, you don't consider anything with boobs a friend."
Kelso smiled dopily. "That's very true, I barely consider Donna a friend."
Eric glanced at Hyde. "Hyde could you slug Kelso for me?"
"With pleasure." He said as he punched Kelso's arm hard. That worked out well, he thought to himself with a grin.
Jackie was only halfway through turning Donna and Eric's room into a glittery palace, when Donna stopped her.
"Jackie, now that we're alone can we talk for a minute?"
"Oh god, please don't tell me that you're about to confess your love for me."
Donna scoffed. "Please, you wish. No I wanted to talk to you about Hyde."
Jackie shrugged. "What about him?"
"I don't know you guys just seem like you're on really good terms."
She has no idea, Jackie thought to herself, thinking of the 'friendly' activities they had been engaging in lately. The smaller girl quirked an eyebrow. "And that's a bad thing?"
"Yes!" Donna exclaimed. "You're Jackie Burkhart, you have no mercy and especially no forgiveness."
She sighed in defeat. "Look Donna, I'm still heartbroken over the whole stripper thing, but I want him in my life still. I'm not sure we could ever get back together, but I doubt he even wants that."
Donna smirked knowingly. "You might be surprised, Hyde's kind of softy when it comes to you."
A flash of joy shone in Jackie's eyes before she quickly shook it away. "It doesn't matter ok? I don't have room in my life for that crap. Only for mature rich guys."
"There's the Jackie I know."
About an hour later, the apartment only barely moved into, Jackie gave Hyde a meaningful look.
"I should really get going." Jackie announced as she stood up.
Eric raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
At a loss for words she stopped. "Why?" She repeated, looking to Hyde for help, of which he provided none, maintaining his aloof appearance. "Because, I'm um just so tired."
Eric looked doubtfully. "It's seven thirty."
"Well what can I say putting up with you burnouts all day really wears me out."
Hyde stood up as well. "I should probably give her a ride home."
Eric smirked, and again questioned. "Why?"
He shrugged. "Because she didn't bring a car and she shouldn't walk home by herself."
"I'm sure Kelso wouldn't mind giving her a ride. Right Kelso?" Eric offered, a shit eating smirk taking over his face.
Hyde and Jackie glanced at each other in a moment of panic.
"Actually, no offense Michael, but I would rather Steven give me a ride home. Whenever I ride with Michael he always tries to grope something." She covered up nicely.
Michael smiled big and wide. "Guilty."
"Alright then enough of this crap. Let's go." Hyde said walking briskly out of the apartment.
They maintained a friendly distance until they were in his beloved El Camaro.
"Finally." Jackie said with a relieved sigh as she pounced on Hyde.
He returned the kiss with an equal fervor and passion. Unlike when they were dating, there was a certain roughness to it, almost as though they were letting out their hurt and anger towards each other. Let's face it, they had loads of it to go around.
She climbed onto his lap, straddling him, as she tangled her hands in his hair.
He pulled away, and cleared his throat to get her attention. "Not that I'm complaining or anything, but if we don't want to get caught we should probably continue this elsewhere." He said glancing around the small parking lot just outside Donna and Eric's apartment building.
"Good idea."
The arrangement was simple, they made out and had sex no strings attached, your typical friends with benefits scenario. They didn't tell anyone cause, well why would they?
All they would do was judge and make fun. Besides this way it had the hot taboo element, that they both so loved from the early days of their relationship.
The car ride to the Forman's was a comfortable silence, Hyde subconsciously slung his arm around the back of Jackie's seat, and she subconsciously leaned into. All very friendly of course.
They resumed the make out session upon entering the Forman's basement.
"Couch or bedroom?" Hyde questioned.
"Couch." Jackie responded, slightly breathless. She would never tell him that she refused to have sex in his bedroom again since she could only imagine the ungodly things he did in there with that stripper whore he chose over her. Yeah she wouldn't be letting that one go.
Hyde moved them to the couch with ease.
Once she was firmly positioned under him, she began to get lost in his familiar touch. This arrangement had been going on for about a week now, but she still wasn't used to his familiar intoxicating touch.
It almost made it all hurt more. Almost.
They moved together in a rhythm so familiar, like it was their favorite song. A dance so well rehearsed, neither missed a beat.
The arrangement was in a lot of ways perfect. But unfortunately, also totally destined to implode.
Following their activities on the couch, Hyde, by instinct, wrapped an arm around Jackie and pulled her close, breathing in her hair's intoxicating scent.
It smelled like vanilla, such a beautiful contrast to Sam's ever present smell of cigarettes and booze. Not a smell he minded necessarily, or wasn't used to, but he had become accustomed to the sweet sweet smell of vanilla.
As he began to kiss her forehead, Jackie stood up abruptly.
"Um I should probably go." She said awkwardly, as she fumbled for her clothes.
He really didn't want to see her go, of course that's kind of what their deal had implied but did it really have to? "Or you could stay."
She smiled questioningly at him. "Steven, only girlfriend's hang around and cuddle post sex. Friends who enjoy having sex together get it done and then go their separate ways."
Damn she was right. "Ok well you could stay and watch tv? I watch tv with Forman all the time and I promise he and I have never and will never do what you and I just did."
She nodded in agreement. "I guess watching tv would be ok. As long as we sit on separate pieces of furniture."
He smiled softly to himself, very glad his emotion was well concealed behind sunglasses.
The one thing wrong with no strings attached, is that there's always that one tiny thread of emotions that ends up tangling into a big ball of hurt.
A/N: So how was it? Hopefully there will be 5 or 6 more chapters if you all want me to continue. Also, how would you all feel if this story became more M rated? Given the plot I feel like it might be a good idea?