The Stupid Helmet

How I depict them in @those70scomics is one way. At some point, the comics' goal became to keep the characters from veering off their clearly established paths.

I wish T7S had done what The Middle did and create a fictional college that was close enough that the gang would end up hanging out at the basement seemingly more than they were in college. But barring that:

Rhonda never leaves. She and Fez continue to grow as individuals and as a couple. Their mutual interest in sweets becomes a joint career venture (that they'll go to the same school for).

Brooke never leaves. She and Kelso continue to grow as individuals and as a couple. We see them being parents to an infant than toddler, and Betsy's presence would affect everyone some way (but she wouldn't be a constant on-screen presence).

Hyde confronts Jackie and Kelso at the Pinciottis' in season 5. Hyde learns the truth about Jackie comforting Kelso -- and about his own insecurities. Hyde actually works on himself because, in large part, he doesn't want to hurt Jackie the way his parents hurt him. This storyline would be full of organic internal conflict, affecting his relationship with Jackie (organic external conflict). Jackie and Hyde's relationship would go through its trials but no breakups.

Eric and Donna have a long engagement with no wedding date set. They go off to college together at the end of the series.

Hyde's relationships with W.B. and Angie are more deeply developed. And W.B. and Angie themselves are more deeply developed. Who's Angie's mom? Did she die, and is that why W.B. and Edna have a brief relationship? Give us details, baby show. Details.

No alcoholic Kitty past S5. She actually gives up her schnapps and regains her normal level of intelligence.

Bob and Joanne stay together. Donna and Joanne develope a relationship.

Pam Burkhart is actually held accountable for her absence and abandonment of her minor child, who's left to deal (albeit unrealistically) with the family's financial fallout.

Considering how peaceful Hyde sounds in S7 when he tells Eric, "No, I've decided [to marry Jackie]," I think he'd be nervous because Jackie leaves before the deadline she set for the ultimatum. Sounds contradictory, but now that he understands what he wants, Jackie's tossed a monkey wrench into a ln already screwed up situation.

Hyde can't be sure Jackie will say yes. He'd be feeling a mix of emotions, including resentment, but he'd let love override them. Once Jackie says yes, they'll have a LOT to talk about and work out.

Jackie, feeling secure in Hyde's commitment to her, would be more open to hearing his anger and resentment at the ultimatum and how she handled it. And that would allow her to explain how the ultimatum was a culmination of his attitude toward their relationship since "Winter" (7x11) and that him waiting until the last minute of the ultimatum deadline made her think he'd say no.

"It shouldn't have taken you a day and night of drinking beer to commit to me."

"Had to drink to think, man."

"Steven, that's horrible."

"I'm kidding ... okay, no I'm not. And you're not wrong."

T7S actually shows us and tells us a lot about it. 😂 The following aren't really headcanons but descriptions of what T7S reveals.

They're adventurous within Donna's boundaries. This is not a contradictory statement. As long as she's thinks no one will catch or spot them them, she's happy having sex with Eric, it seems, almost anywhere.

They're playful. Role-playing is one example. I'm sure they're playful in other ways sexually (playfulness is a core part of their relationship), as long as Eric keeps his fingers away from a certain area. *ahem*

Donna takes control at times (not in a kink, BDSM sense -- although I can imagine them experimenting once with light kink and both of them realizing it's not for them).

They enjoy having sex with each other a lot. ... A lot. A LOT. (The S6 celibacy story arc, a redressed or rehashed version of their pre-"First Time" sex arc, was torture for them).

Jackie can be (but she's not a shrieky screamer during sex). Hence, Hyde puts on a specific record to obscure her voice when they're in his room at the Formans' (headcanon).

No pool ever mentioned. If it did have a pool, the guys would be all about it in the summer. The characters definitely would've mentioned it.

The fanfic author rebeldivaluv write a great fanfic exploring this scenario called It's Not Wonderful, But It's Life.

Unfortunately she took down her T7S fics because of real-world events. Fortunately, I have them. Unfortunately #2, they're currently on my laptop (which I'm not using regularly at the moment). Unfortunately #3, I have to respect her choice and not make her T7S stories publicly available (I don't know her personality).

If I wrote the scenario, it would be different depending on whether it happens after the S5 dumping by Jackie or the S7 dumping by Jackie.

But both versions of non-Jackie-fied Hyde would be even more emotionally closed-off abd guarded, have less trust in people, not have experiences of forgiveness and the chance to accept that his mistakes don't have to define him, not have an experience of true and meaningful romantic love.

Hyde's development would continue from the end of S4. He'd date around but never be emotionally fulfilled by any of those relationships. Or challenged and inspired to grow and change by them. He might not become stagnant, but he'd learn to open up a lot slower. He could be too shut down and in his trauma to meet W.B.

Best outcome: Hyde works for Red at Forman & Son. He lives a middling life. Falling in love with someone might happen but in his forties.

Worst outcome: Hyde would develop depression and lose any access to subconscious aspirations. He'd use alcohol to narcotize himself, but alcohol is a depressant. Hope is gone. Hyde is gone by his late twenties.

Jackie's life without falling in love with Hyde would deprive her of the reality checks she sorely needs to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. She'd continue to view presents as love (giver and receiver), to aspire for a wealthy man to take care of her financially despite her many career dreams and being financially independent. She'd fall in love far more easily than Hyde ever could. Not with a soulmate (like Hyde) but someone "good enough."

But her first marriage would be full of codependency. She might remain in it for twenty to thirty years, have two kids. Finally get a divorce in her late forties. Lots of therapy. Finally focus on building her own career. Then, from a much healthier emotional place, she'd meet a new man. A better man ... in a muffler shop in Point Place.

Her soulmate.

She and Hyde would fall in love, just decades later.

That's the best outcome.

Worst outcome is the new man isn't Hyde.

Jackie, I think, would fair better than Hyde if they didn't fall in love as teenagers. The first half of Jackie's adult life would be hellish, though, with needing to navigate around a narcissistic husband by using every trick she has. He'd be stingy and controlling with money. He'd be a chronic cheater with many women, and she'd cheat with someone for years who helps her financially and emotionally.

Only once she divorced her first husband can she begin to heal from that marriage.

I have to approach this scenario how I'd write it. Others have written it in several fanfics. Often not well, imo.

Alcohol lowers inhibitions. Drunkenness leads to a question of consent, even if both parties are drunk.

I'd write Jackie as angry at herself for "allowing" herself to lose control. Sex, drunk or sober, doesn't erase the reason or pain that caused whichever breakup this might be.

Hyde would also be angry at himself. He'd worry about Jackie. He's had enough experience with his alcoholic mother comorbid with her having drunken sex with the latest "uncle" to have childhood trauma wrapped up in the aftermath.

Her want to talk about what happened. Jackie wouldn't. He'd press. She'd say, "Sex doesn't change [the reason for the breakup]."

"Maybe it made things worse. I'm sorry," Hyde says.

"For what, the sex or [breakup detail]?"

"Both, but does it matter? Can't seem to get my crap together 'round you."

Jackie, capitulating a little, says, "Look, we both got drunk. We both ... forgot for a little while. I remember now. Steven, you of all people should know love isn't enough."

Hyde does. Their trust was fractured into more pieces than he cares to count. Not enough glue on the planet to put that eggshell back together again.

***

This scenario is good fanfic material. I'm sure someone, or several someones, have written it.

If I were to write it, Hyde's motivation would be the same as in "On With the Show" (7x16). He'd let Jackie go to pursue her dream. It's an act of love, but she'd misunderstand this choice as proof he doesn't love her. Angst and drama ensues. Resentment builds.

(Jackie leaves town is a T7S fanfic trope.)

Hyde would also remember the specificity of her words, that she can't "waste any more time" on someone who won't commit to marriage (as teenagers). That wound would stick with him, that marriage is her goal. That all their real time together and real love isn't as important as this ideal life she imagines for herself.