Izzy stood in her room, easel all set up, working on her latest painting. She had to do something to get her mind off of Hyde, and this was just the easiest option.

"Hey, Izzy Bee. Open up." Izzy's head whipped around to see the man himself knocking on her window.

"Oh my..." She breathed out, rushing over to the window to unlatch it. He stepped in, and immediately she went in to hug him.

"Ah... paint." He said quietly, looking at the pinafore apron she was wearing. She quickly took it off, throwing it onto the floor, and wrapped her arms around him. He didn't hesitate to reciprocate the hug, burying his head into the crook of her neck.

"You're so stupid." She whispered. She came to her senses and pushed him off her, eyes wide. "How are you even here? Are you okay? Did you break out? Are you okay? Is there-"

"Calm down, Izzy Bee. They let me out on probation."

"Are you okay?" He nodded. She just pulled him back into another hug. "I was really worried, Steven."

"I know." He chuckled. "I kept thinking about how mad you were gonna be when I got out, and-"

She pulled away from the hug. "Oh, no. No no. I'm not mad, Steven. Red's mad."

"Shit. Where's everyone else?"

"The guys are all in the basement. Last I checked, they're in the circle and making fun of you. You should... you should go down there. Let them know you're okay." He nodded and started to head out, but she grabbed his hand. "Really, Steven. I'm glad you're alright."

He said nothing. He just took a step towards her, pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and then turned around and left.

-

"As you all know, we had a little incident yesterday." Kitty said at breakfast the next morning. "And I think that, as a family, we should discuss rational solutions to make sure that this never happens again."

"Can I start?" Laurie asked, a sugary smile on her lips. "Um, I'm not comfortable living with a criminal."

Izzy snorted. "Well you seem fine sleeping with them."

"I think we should kick Hyde out. All in favor?"

"Laurie, stop it." Kitty said. "Red, what do you think?"

"Kick him out! Kick him out!"

"Laurie, there is no way we're kicking Steven out!"

"Steven," Red said, "we're kicking you out."

Izzy dropped her fork. "Daddy! You can't- I just... No!"

Laurie clapped her hands together excitedly. "Yay Daddy!"

"Dad, that's not fair." Eric said, which immediately set Red off.

"Not fair? I took him in, I gave him a shot, he blew it, it's his fault! Look, I don't want it in my house, I don't want it around you kids, I just don't want it!"

"Red," Kitty said calmly. "Putting him out on the street is not the solution. This young man needs our guidance more than ever."

"Nah, Mrs. Forman. It's cool." Hyde set down his napkin. "If, uh, if Red thinks I'm not good enough to live in this house, then I guess I'm not." He stood up and left the room, leaving a silence hanging over the kitchen.

"You know what?!" Eric finally said. "You're- you're bull... I- you're very- I'm... I'm very mad at you!" Eric yelled, standing up and leaving.

Izzy stood up, throwing her napkin onto her plate. "What he said!"

-

In the basement, Hyde was making rounds from his room to hand clothes to Izzy, who was sitting on the couch next to his suitcase. As much as she didn't like what was happening, the least she could do was help him fold clothes.

"God, this sucks." Izzy mumbled.

Eric nodded in agreement. "I can't believe my dad's kicking you out. I mean, I'm sorry, but where are you supposed to go?"

"I'll go to the Photo Hut. I can sleep on the floor, there's a hose out back, Izzy made me a sandwich." Hyde turned to see Fez holding the half-eaten sandwich.

"Man, this is so wrong! Look, I'm not gonna let you get kicked out for something that we all do."

Kelso held his hands up in defense. "Woah, hey, Forman, don't go dragging me into this."

"You know what? I'm gonna tell Red that I do it, too."

Everyone immediately knew this was a dumbass idea, so they all yelled, "No!"

"Have you suddenly become the stupidest man ever?" Donna asked. "Is Kelso no longer the reigning king?"

"Oh, I'm the king." Kelso said.

Eric stood up. "This could work. If I tell Red, then he's gonna be a hypocrite for kicking you out and not making me go with him. Because, I mean, he can't kick me out, cause deep down... he loves me."

Izzy rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Real deep down. Eric, you're not doing that. If anything, I'll tell Red, cause I'm the favorite."

"Look, you two." Hyde said, handing Izzy a pair of jeans. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, you know, but you getting into trouble's not gonna help me get outta trouble, okay?" He saw that neither of the twins were listening to what he was saying. "Okay?!"

"Fine." Izzy mumbled, throwing the folded-up jeans into the suitcase haphazardly.

"Just stop worrying, alright?" Hyde set his hand on Izzy's shoulder. "I'll be fine."

"Yes, it will be good for you in the Photo Hut." Fez said. "Maybe you will develop some character." He giggled, "Get it? Develop? Oh fine, I guess I'm not funny. Kiss my brown ass!"

-

The next day, Donna, Izzy, and Jackie were all sitting on the Pinciottis' front porch. Izzy and Donna were trying to figure out a way to save Hyde, while Jackie was scribbling away in her notebook.

"Okay, what the hell are you writing?" Izzy asked, grabbing Jackie's notepad and reading the carefully-written words that covered the page. "Jackie and Steven Hyde. Mrs Jackie Hyde. Dr and Mrs Steven Hyde?"

Izzy made a face and tossed the notepad to Donna, who sighed. "Alright, Jackie, what's going on?

"Okay, you two... Steven and I are in love!"

Izzy's eyes grew wide as soon as the words left Jackie's mouth. "You what?!"

"Um, you do know that he once compared you to a tick, right?" Donna asked.

"Really? Well, if he thinks I'm such a tick, then why did he tell the cops it was his, when it was actually mine?"

Izzy's breathing hitched. "Are you telling me that bag was yours? And... he took the fall for you?"

"Yeah! And he went to jail for it! Isn't that fabulous?"

Izzy's mind was racing. She couldn't help but think, over and over again, Does Hyde actually like Jackie? She wasn't sure why, but every time the question invaded her mind, she felt sicker and sicker.

"Oh my god," Donna said. "You... tick! You're the reason this whole mess happened!"

"Oh, Donna, stop! My head is... whoo!"

"Jackie, you have to tell my parents what happened! My dad's kicking Hyde out."

"Oh god, no no, that's perfect! When Hyde is on the streets, he'll have to turn to me. And, as I care for him, and buy him stuff, his love for me will grow!"

"Oh my god, fine!" Donna said, standing up. "I'm telling them."

"No no! You cannot ruin this for me, you... moose!"

"Don't tell Donna what to do, midget!" Donna and Izzy got up and started to head over to Izzy's house, but Jackie tried to tackle them over and over in a lame attempt to stop them.

-

"Well, turns out you were wrong about Steven! And you wanted to kick him out." Kitty said, patting Red's hand. Donna and Izzy had sat the two of them down at the kitchen table, hell-bent on telling them the truth.

"Yes... well, thanks for telling us the truth, girls."

"And we know it wasn't easy for you two, especially with Jackie choking you the whole time."

Hyde came into the kitchen, bag across his shoulder, heading for the door. He handed Izzy his house key, and she put her hand around his wrist to stop him. "Hyde, wait. My dad has something he wants to tell you."

"Yeah, Red?"

"Steven... you can stay."

Hyde nodded. "Cool." He started to head back into the living room, but Kitty jumped up.

"Wait, wait, wait! Red, isn't there anything else you would like to say to this brave and noble young man?"

"You're right." Red stood up and walked over to Hyde. He got in his face, and, right when everyone thought he was finally calm, he yelled, "Dumbass!"

And he didn't stop yelling for what felt like an eternity, but in reality was about a half hour.

-

Eventually, Donna and Izzy were able to sneak up to her room. "God, can you believe that?" Donna asked, sitting on Izzy's bed.

"I know! My brother is such an idiot!"

"Why did he have to tell Red he does it too? Why did he do that?!"

"Because I got the smart genes."

Donna chuckled and picked up the stuffed animal that was on Izzy's bed. "Do you really think Red's gonna go all psycho crazy mode?"

Izzy nodded. "I think so."

-

"Take it back!" Kelso yelled, once the group was all in the basement.

"No Kelso, I'm sorry," Donna said. "Confessing to Red makes Eric the king."

"I shot my toe with a BB gun once."

Donna and Izzy shared a confused look. "You're right, Kelso. You're the king."

"Thank you!" He yelled, throwing his hands into the air in victory.

"Alright, excuse me?" Jackie said, getting up from sitting on the dryer next to Izzy. "I think we've all lost sight of what's really important here. Steven and I are in love!" She wrapped her arms around Hyde's shoulders.

Izzy stared down at her hands, unable to ignore the sickness she felt. She jumped off the dryer and went upstairs, everyone watching as she left.

Hyde scowled and stood up, shaking Jackie off of him. "Alright, enough of your girly fantasy crap! None of this would have happened if it wasn't for you. So get this through your little Easy Bake Oven head. I don't love you. I don't like you. I only even tolerate you cause you're Izzy's friend, okay?!"

Jackie slapped his chest playfully. "Oh, Steven, you're such a bad liar!" She giggled.

Red came in through the basement door, sniffing the air for any "dope" smoke. "Alright. Well, don't mind me. I'm just here to install this smoke detector."

"Smoke detector?" Kelso asked. "Does that detect any type of smoke?"

Donna chuckled. "Long live the king."

-

"Jeez, I wish I had a quarter for every time I caught you makin' out with the neighbor girl." Red said, pulling Eric indoors. It was a few days later, and it was eight o'clock at night, which meant curfew for the Formans. They were all gathered in the kitchen, Kitty and Izzy were making brownies, Laurie was reading a magazine, and Hyde was flipping through Izzy's sketchbook.

"I wish I had a quarter for every time you embarrassed me." Eric mumbled.

"I wish you did too." Izzy sighed, taking another batch out of the oven. "Because then you'd be a millionaire and you can buy me a cute little lake house."

"Okay fellas," Kitty said, putting the brownies on a plate. "Who wants brownies and a nice glass of milk?"

"Daddy, I think it's great you gave Eric and Hyde a curfew. These boys, they need structure." Laurie said, standing up from her seat. "Well, I'll see ya!"

"Where do you think you're going?" Kitty asked.

"To... night church?"

"Sorry honey," Red said. "Curfew's for everyone."

"But Daddy! It's me!"

Izzy sighed and sat down next to Hyde. "Yeah, I'm following the curfew, and I'm a perfect child." Hyde snorted at this. "Shut up, I'm perfect. So, Laurie, if I have to follow it, so do you."

"Look, Laurie, what they did is bad. But you sneaking around with Kelso, well that's... just... unpleasant."

"Daddy, I'm not seeing Kelso."

"Untrue!" Hyde yelled.

"Erroneous!" Izzy yelled.

"A damnable lie!" Eric pointed at Laurie.

"A curfew?" Laurie asked. "I'm stuck in this house with you people all night? This sucks!"

She stormed out of the kitchen, and Kitty just huffed lightly. "Well, we're just thrilled about it."

"Alright, well there's an upside to all of this." Eric said, leaning against the counter next to Hyde and Izzy. "I took her down with me."

"Nice job, Forman."

Izzy looked over Hyde's shoulder. "Whatcha reading?"

"Uh... cartoons."

"Is that my sketchbook?!"

"No!"

Izzy reached for it, but Hyde stood up, holding the book above her head. "Give it back, Steven!" She yelled, jumping to get it. Eric and Hyde just stood there and laughed.

"No can do, short stuff."

-

Izzy sat in her room that night, fully engrossed in her diary.

I don't know where I stand with Nick. Or Steven. Every conversation I have with Nick is half hearted, but with Hyde I never stop smiling.

I can't believe he and Jackie might actually become an item. If that happens... I don't know what I'll do.

Why do I even care about that? Jackie's single, Steven's single. I'm not. They deserve to be happy. Just not together. God, I sound so selfish. If they get together-

"Izzy Bee?" Hyde opened her door a crack, poking his head in. "You decent?"

She laughed, sitting up against her headboard. She tucked her diary under her bed. "Even if I weren't, you'd still come in."

"You know me too well." He chuckled, coming into the room. "I just wanted to, uh... apologize. You're dealin' with this curfew, and the rules, and you didn't do anything wrong. I mean hell, Red just put Kitty's Christmas bells on the front door so he can hear if anyone tries to leave. I just... I'm sorry."

"Thank you, Hyde. But really, I'm fine. I don't leave the house much anyway, unless it's for work. Or with you guys, but you're all here, too, so..."

"What about Nick? Don't you want to go... be out... with him?"

Izzy shrugged. "I kinda like being here better." She said, her voice quiet.

"Bed check!" The two of them heard Kitty's voice ring out through the hall. "Izzy first, then Eric!"

"Kitty, you're warning them! Quit warning them!"

Izzy turned to Hyde, eyes wide. "Get in my closet."

"But there's paint in there!"

"There's paint everywhere! Ugh, fine, get under my bed like a six year old." She ushered him under her bed, and right then, Kitty and Red walked in. Red walked over to her window with his toolbox. "What're you doing, Daddy?"

"Nailing your window shut."

"No! Daddy, what about the, uh... paint fumes? I could die!"

Red stopped. "Or you could get high..."

"Red." Kitty warned.

"Fine." Red huffed. "I'm still nailing it down, though." Izzy watched as her father kept the window open just enough, so that no one could come in or out. He looked inside her closet, and Izzy breathed a quiet sigh of relief that Hyde wasn't in there.

"Good night, Isabelle." Kitty said, kissing the top of her head.

"Night, Mama. Night, Daddy."

Once Izzy was sure her parents had left, she hit the side of her bed. "Come on, Steven."

He got out from under the bed, chuckling. "'Mama'? 'Daddy'? What are you, six?"

"Shut up!" She laughed. She took a step towards him and smoothed his t-shirt, which had wrinkled while on the ground. "They're gonna check Eric's room, so you should get down the basement."

"Mkay. Good night, Izzy Bee."

"Night, Steven."

He paused. "You know we're all planning on sneaking out later, right?"

"Oh yeah, of course."

"Good, cause we were, y'know-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know-"

"Saying good night and all but-"

"Get out!" Izzy laughed.

-

"You hear that?" Red asked. He was sitting on a barstool in the kitchen, and Kitty was standing across from him. They were done with bed checks, and Red was sure that no one was getting in or out of the house.

"I don't hear anything." Kitty said warily.

"That's right. Nothing. That's the sound of discipline."

"No, that's the sound of jail. This house used to be fun until you made it miserable!"

"Well, I'm sorry Kitty, but I think it's working!"

Behind Red, Kitty could plainly see the kids all sneaking out, trying to push the Vista Cruiser out of the driveway.

"Oh, you do?" She asked her husband sarcastically.

"Yes, I do."

"Oh, you do!" Kitty made her way over to the sliding glass door behind him.

"I just said I did!"

"Red!" Red turned around as Kitty opened the door, and immediately everyone outside froze.

"It's Red! Run for it!" Kelso yelled, trying to run through the garage.

"Freeze!" Red said. Kelso stopped cold in his tracks.

"Daddy, thank god you came, they were kidnapping me!" Laurie shrieked.

"Oh, shut up!" Izzy said.

"That's it!" Red yelled. "I have had it! You know what this means? More discipline!"

"No, no!" Kitty said.

"Ohh, yes. Playtime is over."

"Oh, stop saying that! Your cracking down is not working."

"Hell, I coulda told him that about a week ago." Eric mumbled.

"Now is not the time to be a smartmouth, Eric." Kitty turned to her husband. "I want my house back." She pleaded. When Red didn't react, she sighed. "Okay, here's what we're gonna do. Red, you're going to remember that Eric is a good son. And Eric, you're going to remember that he is a good father. Because I am not happy with the way this house is running."

"Well! Now you see what you've done, Eric? You've made your mother unhappy!"

"No! He didn't! I'm not happy with everything. I'm not happy with windows being nailed shut, I'm not happy with people sneaking around, and... and I'm not happy with my Christmas bells on the front door!"

"Well Kitty, what do you want me to do? Pretend that nothing happened?"

"Yes."

"No!"

"Fine. Then that's it. Then I'm staying home. I- I'm staying home full time and I am taking back my house, and that's the way it is! Now Red, get upstairs and take those nails out of those windows. And Eric, stop being such a sneaky smartmouth. And Fez! Honey! You've got to stop eating stuff off the floor!" Everyone looked at Fez, who quickly dropped the candy bar he had picked up off the ground. "Now, everyone, let's just... let's just go back to happy!"

Eric walked up to Red and put a hand on his shoulder. "So, I guess... playtime is over?" Red looked at Eric and--holy crap, if looks could kill--Eric quickly apologized and went into the house.

-

"Hey Hyde, is Eric around?" Donna asked, coming into the basement the next day.

"No, he's at work."

"Ah. Thanks."

She started to turn around and head out, but Hyde stopped her. "Hey, Donna? Can I, uh, can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure Hyde, what's up?" Donna sat on the couch, watching as Hyde fiddled with the magazine in his hands. She chuckled. "Everything okay?"

"When Red was doing his bedroom checks last night, I was in Izzy's room. And I, uh... I hid under her bed-"

"Scandalous!"

"No, no. Nothing like that." He paused, trying to figure out the right words to use. "I found her diary."

Donna's eyes widened. "Oh my god, did you read it? What's it say?! Is there anything about me?"

"No! I mean, yes, I read it. I was only gonna read enough for one dorky little secret. But only... only because... Look, a few months ago, I made a joke to her that I was gonna read it and exploit all her secrets-"

"You dick!"