Point Place Siren

AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: Here's the next part. Sorry it took me so long. Hopefully it makes some people laugh. Don't forget to tell me what you think!

Chapter 3: Crescendo Rising

Kitty and Red Forman stared flabbergasted at the girl sitting opposite of Stephen. They were most likely shocked by her appearance, seeing as she was wearing his favourite band tee as a dress that barely covered anything, and probably because this was the most innocent scene the two of them could have walked in on involving Hyde and a half dressed girl.

Poor Serena was just sitting there, eyes wide in shock staring up at them. It was clear as day she had no idea what to say to explain her appearance or her clothes so it was going to be up to Hyde to save her.

"What the hell?" Red cried. "Why is there a half-naked girl sitting at our table?"

Stephen was on his feet before Red's tantrum could get louder or worse. He got between the Forman's and Serena said squared his shoulders, ready to take the brunt of the anger. "Serena's lost and sick and I took her in to help her feel better."

Kitty pushed him aside and immediately went for Serena who had tried leaning back in her chair as far as she could. Kitty got to her anyway putting a hand to her forehead to check on the fever. "Oh gosh, she's burning up," she said.

Red was more about the practicality of things. "Where the hell are her clothes?" he asked.

Kitty was already pulling Serena up. "Come on, we're going to get you some medicine, and a nice pair of pajamas to sleep off this fever in," she was saying as she pulled Serena up and away from the table.

Serena shot a frantic glance at Stephen who could only nod her away and then he found himself staring at the lacy panties the shirt was barely concealing on the perfectly rounded butt walking away from him. Oh god was that a sight he was never going to forget.

Red snapped his fingers in front of Stephen's face to regain his attention and then repeated the question. Stephen sighed before saying: "She showed up soaking wet, we put her clothes through the dryer to they'd be warm when she went to put them on again."

"So you put a soaking wet and sick girl in half a tee shirt and thought that would make her feel better?" Red asked as if it were the stupidest thing he had ever heard. And to be fair it was a pretty stupid idea, they should have at least given her a blanket.

"I gave her a pair of Forman's pants but they were too big for her," Stephen mumbled.

Red sighed. "And where is my idiot son?" he snapped and then Eric slouched his way into the kitchen. Well at least Stephen wasn't about to get this lecture on his own.

Kitty closed the door to Laurie's room where she had put the new foundling she had found and dressed up in proper clothes. She jumped when she found Stephen behind her, though she didn't know why she was surprised he appeared.

"Stephen!" she cried. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see if she was okay," he said softly. He had a bowl of soup in his hands. "Red said soup makes people feel better so I made her soup. She hasn't eaten in a while. She's hungry."

Kitty understood why Stephen cared so much about her. She was a very attractive young lady and Stephen had been in a situation much like hers before Kitty had told Red they were taking him in. She smiled fondly at the boy who was such a lovely young man underneath all the grunge and bad attitude.

"I've got her sleeping Stephen," she said to him. "She's pretty sick and she's awfully tired."

"If I promise not to excite her can I go check on her and leave the soup for later?" he asked.

Kitty didn't have the heart to tell him no, so she opened the door for him and ushered him in. For the first time she remarked that she wasn't nervous about having a boy in Laurie's room.

As soon as the door shut behind Stephen Serena sat up in bed. She smiled sleepily at him that made him smile too. She was dressed in a pair of Laurie's old flannels that were white with yellow duckies printed on them, her blonde hair was tied back and she had hot water bottles all around her and a large glass of water on the side table. Stephen put the soup into her hands and watched as she took a few mouthfuls.

"I think you're going to be staying for a while," Stephen said to her.

Serena nodded. "Yes, I think I am too. I hope that's okay."

"More than okay," he whispered. "Sorry we didn't put proper clothes on you."

Serena giggled. "It's fine. Beggars can't be choosers."

"Can you tell me your full name?" Stephen asked. "Since you know mine, it's only fair that I know yours."

Serena pivoted, not only her gaze but her body, away from him. "I'm afraid if I do that he'll find me."

"He?" Stephen echoed.

"I ran away for a reason. I don't want my past catching up to me," she said. Stephen most definitely knew how that felt.

Stephen reached out and took her hand, even though it was holding a spoon and he held it softly. "I'll make sure you're okay from now on," he whispered.

Serena smiled softly. "I'm a lot of trouble, you know," she warned him.

"I have a feeling that you're going to be worth it… just… stay away from Kelso…" Stephen said with a grimace.

"What's a 'Kelso'?" she asked with a confused tilt of her head. Kitty knocked on the door and called for Stephen to come out and he did as he was told, taking the half-eaten soup with him at Serena's request. He was going to sleep a lot better knowing that Serena was there in the house.

Kelso let himself into the Forman's basement. His on and off again girlfriend, who was currently off again, Jackie was sitting on the couch beside Danna, filing her nails as they watched the TV. Donna was leaning on Eric who was the third person on the couch. As Kelso took the lawn chair beside the round table but closest to the door he noticed that Hyde was sitting in the chair across from him, and he had this blonde nymph looking girl sitting on his lap.

She had this long curly blonde hair, like a mermaid's, that hung down to her lower back and wore this flowing white nightgown. She had pale alabaster skin and she was absolutely stunning. The type of girl you saw in a hooters mag and that Kelso could only dream of every meeting and getting with. He now had a new goal for the summer.

Eric turned away from the TV and asked Kelso a question that he didn't hear, and the girl on Hyde's lap started singing some song he didn't recognize with a voice that counted as fictional it was just that good.

"Who is that?" he asked pointing at the girl.

Everyone turned to Hyde confused. Hyde, who originally had his arms around the waist of the girl spread them out wide as if asking Kelso how dumb he could be, before asking Kelso how dumb he was.

"Geezus, how dumb can you be that you can't recognize me? It's me Hyde man, how much have you smoked?" he asked.

"No, no, the girl on Hyde. Who the hell is the girl on Hyde?" Kelso asked.

His friends all exchanged glances before giving Kelso a stare that made him feel like they were super concerned for his well being. "There's no girl, Michael," Jackie said sternly, her high pitched voice and tone making him feel more stupid then he usually felt.

"What do you mean no girl? She's sitting right there on Hyde's lap!" Kelso raged pointing right at her.

Hyde glared at him behind his glasses. "I think if I had a girl on my lap right now, I'd know it. Are you hallucinating?"

The girl finally turned her pale face at him, a smile on her pink lips. "Point all you want but only you know I'm here," she sang in a voice that made his hair stand up on his neck.

Kelso jumped to his feet. "What the fuck?" he cried. "What are you?"

"The ghost of girlfriends past. I'm going to take you on a ride and show you all the girls you've ever slept with," she said in a dangerous low point. "And Jackie's going to come too…"

That was all Kelso needed to hear, he yelped loudly and quickly turned and fled. There was a whole three seconds of silence before everyone in the group started laughing. Donna leant over and high fived her.

"You are absolutely the best!" she cried.

Serena smiled at her and tried not to wince when Donna's hand connected with hers. Kitty came down the stairs at that point and tsked loudly at them. "Really Stephen did you have to take the blanket off of her?" she asked. She slapped Eric's head when she got close enough. "And what? You couldn't let her sit on the couch?"

"But mom I don't want to sit in Hyde's lap," he whined which earned him another smack.

Kitty took Serena's hands and pulled her away from Hyde who watched her go, only turning away when she was out of sight. Eric who was used to how Hyde was with her said nothing but Jackie was all giggles.

"Oh… Hyde's in love with the new girl!" she cried.

Hyde glared at her. "No, I just wanna bone her," he snapped.

Kelso took this time to appear in the basement again. He pointed at Hyde. "Okay, I know this all some stupid trick!" he cried. "Where's the girl?"

"Seriously Kelso," Donna said with her calm voice of reason. "There is no girl."

Kelso cried out in frustration before storming out of the basement again, slamming the door behind him as he did.

The gang laughed at their own private joke again. "So how long do you think we can keep him thinking that Serena's a ghost or something?" Donna asked.

And then they all made bets on it.