ＭＯＮＥＹ

𝔭𝔦𝔫𝔨 𝔣𝔩𝔬𝔶𝔡

♛

"I'm just sayin', Ana, if you could take your clothes off with one little magical nose twitch, I wouldn't think twice before going for you."

"Kelso, man, shut up!"

I laugh. "You don't think twice about doing anything, Mike."

He lifts me up off of the ground. "Yeah, exactly."

I squeak. "Put me down, you asshole."

Steven rolls his eyes. "C'mon, man, let her go. And stop touching her ass!"

"I'm taller and stronger than you, Hyde! I won't forfeit!" Kelso jeers.

He sets me down after a swift punch to the arm. "Ow!"

I open the door to the Formans' basement, where Eric counts money, alone on the couch.

"What are you doing?" I query.

"Nothing," he shrugs. "Just counting my secret-"

"Not secret," I correct.

He spares me a glance. "Yeah, my not secret CandyLand stash. I'm getting something special for Donna."

"Aw, that's so sweet," I coo after taking my seat on Steven's (very comfortable) lap. "I'm sure she'll love it."

"Oh, are you getting firecrackers?" Kelso guesses hopefully.

Eric gives him a look. "No, I'm not getting firecrackers for Donna."

"No, no, 'cause if it's something that blows up, I'll go halfsies." When he doesn't answer, Kelso stands to grab a pop.

"It's a promise ring."

I freeze. A promise ring? I don't have a very good experience with those.

Steven leaves a small kiss on my shoulder, probably knowing that I won't like the idea.

"'Cause, you know, Donna and I have been fighting a lot lately," Eric explains.

"Eric, don't give her a ring just because your relationship isn't in a good spot right now," I warn. "It's just going to make you feel trapped and shit because you can't get out of that unhappy spot right now."

"Look, Ana-"

"I mean, that's a really serious thing to ask. For her to be with you for the rest of your lives, I mean-"

"Stop!" he interrupts. "I'm not going to chicken out. Just because it fucked everything up with you and James doesn't mean it's going to be the same for us. Plus, me and Donna actually love each other."

I raise my eyebrows at him. "Excuse me? What are you implying?"

"Princess, relax," Steven mumbles, pulling me closer to him and rubbing my arm. "Forman, man, it's just that it won't be pretty if it goes wrong. If you get all mushy with Donna, she's going to see the girl inside the man. Trust me, you don't want to let Erica out."

"Erica. That's a good burn," Kelso chuckles, taking a seat on the couch again. "See, you can't do that with Michael. I'm lucky."

"Oh, really, Michelle?"

"Oh, I forgot about Michelle. Damn! Look, Hyde obviously doesn't understand mature relationships, but I do. And a promise ring is not only a gift from the heart, but it also means more sex and less mouthing off. I'm getting one for Jackie, too!"

"Cool, then, let's go," Eric suggests.

"See you later, Hyde... alicia," Michael falters as he grabs his coat and walks to the door with Eric. "What's a good girly name for Hyde?"

"Uh, I don't know... Hydrangea?"

Steven sighs, "It's Heidi, you morons! Heidi!"

They mumble grumpily as they climb out and shut the door behind them.

I look down at Steven, playing with his hair. "For the record, you don't have to get me a promise ring."

He exhales in relief. "Oh, thank god. You're the best."

I smirk and lean down. "I know." I connect our lips and turn my body so that I'm straddling him.

He grips my hips as I trail my hand down his chest, pulling away from the kiss. "Uh-"

"Do you want to go to my house?"

He nods with a small grin. "You read my mind."

♛

I slip one of the many t-shirts that I've stolen from Steven over my head and climb back under the covers with him, letting him pull me close.

"Yeah, I still got it," he says cockily.

"No one's saying you don't have it," I giggle.

"Just reminding myself."

"Asshole."

"I would insult you, but it's hard to be mean to you after what we just did."

"You're right. You should worship me."

He chuckles. "Oh, believe me, woman, I do."

I laugh quietly, snuggling further into his chest. "I hope everything works out with Eric and Donna. If this whole promise ring thing screws them up, it won't be fun for either of them."

A beat passes. "Do you miss him?"

"James?"

"Yeah."

I think about my answer for a second or two. "No."

He pauses again. "Why'd you hesitate?"

"I don't miss him," I clarify, "but I wish things had ended differently. It wasn't even bittersweet, it just... hurt. It scares me sometimes. I don't want to have to go through something like that again."

He strokes my hair. "Well, I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't happen to you."

I smile softly. "Thanks."

"Anything for you, Princess."

The doorbell rings, ruining the moment. I groan reluctantly as I stretch and sit up. "Hold on, let me get that. I'll be right back."

"Alright."

After giving him a quick kiss, I make my way to the front door. I open it.

"Hi."

I suddenly forget how to fucking breathe. "James."

He stands in the doorway with a bouquet of multicolored tulips in his hand.

"What are you doing here?" I snap, doing my best not to freak out and keep myself guarded.

He swallows, seemingly hurt by my harshness but not surprised. "I, uh... I wanted to check up on you. You know, see how you're doing."

"I'm doing fine, thanks," I say stiffly.

"Look, I've been thinking. I should have given you another chance. I should've talked to you about whatever issues I thought we had."

I bite my lip. "James, we ended things months ago. It's over."

"Hear me out. I think... I think we broke up prematurely. I wanted to know if, maybe, you would want to get back together? We can start out by just going on a date, you know, start everything over, but-"

"What's going on here?"

I turn to see Steven, who has gotten dressed, standing behind me, watching the exchange.

He walks forward and rests a protective arm on my lower back. "Why are you here?"

James glances at where his hand rests and looks back up at me, ignoring him. "I don't know what's happened between you two since I left, but whatever it is, my offer still stands."

"No," I answer simply.

He frowns. "What?"

"No, I won't go on a date with you. I'm with him now. Sorry." I'm not sorry.

"Katya-"

"Don't call me that," I scowl. "We aren't together anymore, and I've moved on. It seems like you still need some time."

He sets the flowers down on the concrete outside my door and turns to Steven. "If you hurt her, it isn't going to end well. I still care about her."

"That's rich, coming from you," he scoffs. "I happen to care about her more. Now, you need to back off."

"Okay," he nods. Before leaving, he glances at my hand. "Nice ring."

♛

The guys play basketball in the Formans' driveway while Jackie tells me about the promise ring Donna accepted and the promise ring she didn't get yet. In return, I tell her about what happened. I'm sure she'll fill Donna in on it later, and she thankfully doesn't have any questions to ask.

Donna walks into the driveway and Eric steps out of the game. "Hey, are you ready to go? The movie is starting soon."

"Yeah," she says.

He frowns. "Woah, hold on. Where's your ring?"

"Oh, I put it on a chain so I could wear it around my neck," she says nonchalantly.

"Burn!" Kelso yells as the game dissolves. "Oh, super burn! The wedding's off!"

"Kelso, shut up!" They say in unison.

"Yeah, Michael, you don't know anything about anything," Jackie scorns.

"I do too," he scoffs.

"Oh, I don't know which fight's the funniest," Fez whispers.

"Wait, fight?" Eric frowns. "We're... hold on, I'll be right back."

We all watch as he approaches Donna. "Donna, why aren't you wearing the ring on your hand?"

"I don't know," she laughs, obviously not taking it seriously. "I didn't think it was such a big deal."

"That is not true!" Jackie shrilly butts in. "I told you! I told her it was a big deal!"

"Jackie, shut up," I hiss.

"Look, Eric, why don't we talk about this after the movie?" Donna suggests uncomfortably.

"Well, you know, there isn't really a lot to talk about," Eric chuckles dryly, "unless you don't want to wear the ring."

"Ouch!" Kelso narrates, earning a punch from Steven.

"Okay, you know what?" Donna takes the necklace off, slips the ring off of the chain and shoves it onto her left ring finger. "There."

"So, we're good?" Eric asks obliviously.

"Yeah, we're fine."

"Okay, cool. Let's go, then."

"How many times do I have to tell him the same thing over and over again?" I mutter to Jackie.

"I know, he's so dumb," she sneers.

"It's not that, it's just that she's obviously not happy."

"Yeah, and he's dumb."

♛

Everyone except for Donna and Eric - and that includes all four of the parents - gathers around th counter in the Formans' kitchen, trying to get a peek of the one photo Kitty snapped of Eric and Donna before they left.

"Oh, Mrs. Forman, what a beautiful picture," Fez says cheerily. "You can really see how unhappy Donna is."

"Okay," Jackie sighs. "All we know is that when Donna said she was fine, she wasn't fine."

"Yeah, Eric has never been good at knowing when 'fine' isn't fine," Kitty elaborates. "It runs in the family."

"No, it does not!" Red protests.

"Fine."

"Okay, good."

"I don't know," Bob shrugs. "She doesn't look that unhappy." He turns to his wife. "She kind of looks like you."

"I'm unhappy, Bob," Midge pouts.

The sudden tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a freaking spoon. The hiss of a can opening breaks the unbearable silence, and I quickly spin around to see Steven holding an open beer can.

"Uh, these are... trying times."

♛

"Hyde, when you're cruising for girls, how long do you have to talk to them before they French you?" Fez asks as the two of us sit at a table in the Hub, Steven busy with a game of pinball.

"It depends on what kind of girl you're going for. That's why I usually aim low. Really low. Just a touch of gross."

"And that's why my nickname is 'gum on the floor of a public bathroom,'" I smile sweetly.

"You are not gum on the floor of a public bathroom," Fez soothes. "You are like a beautiful flower on the side of the road, lighting up the way for lost, single drivers."

I smirk at him. "With a mouth like that, you'll be Frenching girls in no time, Fezzie."

"You're not on the same criteria as those girls, Princess," Hyde sighs. "You're worth more than a one-night stand."

"Aw," I tease as he finishes his game and joins us at the table, pecking me on the lips, "are you getting mushy with me?"

"Oh, shut it."

Jackie slams the door open and marches over to our table. "Where is Michael Kelso? I want my ring!"

"He's in the toilet," Fez answers simply. "He wants to give you the ring, but he's scared."

"Why is he scared?"

"Because you're scary," Steven snorts.

"No," Fez chides. "Kelso is delicate. Sensitive."

"Girlish, even."

"You cannot push him into this. You must be gentle. He'll do it when he's ready."

Kelso emerges from the restroom and Jackie immediately wheels on him. "Where's my ring, you idiot?"

Steven happily wraps an arm around my shoulder. "Or yell at him. It's more fun for us."

"Look, you. I want my promise ring, and I want it now! Give it!"

"Really?" Michael stutters. "Okay, I just- give me a second, 'cause I want to do this right."

He fishes the box out of his pocket and gets down on one knee. "Jackie... from the first minute that I saw you, I knew that I wanted to fool around with you. And then, after we did that and I still wanted to talk to you, I knew that I never wanted to be without you. So... will you accept my ring?"

"Yeah," she beams, her voice cracking. "Yeah, Michael, I will."

She slips it onto her finger and he easily lifts her up, giving her a tight hug.

♛

k so i don't like how I ended this but here we are :)) paul rudd is still cute so i gave him a lil cameo here wink wink

I don't want it to seem like Ana just forgot about it, but she was probably just upset for a bit before she got over it, and I didn't want to write in a scene where she was talking to someone about it just because i don't think it's important enough to the chapter or to the overall story to be included

So, that wraps up season 3 :)

As always, feedback, comments, and votes are appreciated!

Love you guys,

Lissy