Duck Pedigree
Chapter One: When I'm Gone
By: Elyse Black

The young hostess sat at her place in the entrance to the prestigious restaurant. She watched as a woman came in wearing a crimson red dress and matching heels. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back. She pulled a black shawl tightly over her shoulders and came towards the hostess who was sizing her up. She was around 5'6'', probably no more than twenty-six years old. One of those people who are muscular and skinny at the same time. Well, all except for her 6-month pregnant stomach.
"Good evening. Welcome to Mangiare Buon."
"Hello. I'm with Mr. Bombay's party." She had an accent that the hostess couldn't quite place.
"Sure. Last name?"
"Portman." The hostess ran a polished finger down the list.
"Portman, Portman. Portman party of three?" She asked with her eyebrow raised.
"Mommy!" Just then a young girl came crashing through the door. She had the same blonde hair as the woman tied up in pigtails. Following close behind her was a man, around 6'1 with curly black hair wearing a polished tux.
"Aimee!" He said as he chased after her. The woman smiled at the hostess.
"Yes, Portman, party of three." The child reached her and hugged her knees. The hostess smiled just at the man caught up with the couple.
"Right this way please." She said getting down from her chair and leading them to a private access room. "Enjoy." She said before going back to the front.
"Julie!" A woman already seated in the room squealed. She got up running to greet her friend with a hug. "Oh, thank god you're here. I had nobody to talk to!" The child giggled.
"What a tragedy." Dean said sarcastically while smirking.
"Auntie Connie!" Connie bent down and picked up the four-year old girl.
"Hey Aimee. Why don't you go play with Vanessa, she's been waiting for you." Connie kissed her cheek before placing her back on the floor and standing back up. "Dean Portman, I don't appreciate you insulting me in front of your daughter."
"My apologies." He placed his hands up in mock surrender. "So you're the first one here? That's new."
"Oh, shut up. No Charlie was here before me. And Goldberg and Averman were here but I think they went to the bar."
"So where's Guy?" Julie asked looking around the room. It was filled with circular tables but for the buffet area, the stage and an area for dancing. On the dancing square there were four children running around. Two girls, two boys, all of whom already had their dress shoes off.
"Bathroom." She said turning to the children. "Evan and Vanessa Germaine! Shoes back on now." Connie turned back to her friends.
"No, they have the right idea." Dean said while fiddling with the white necktie. Julie smiled and loosened it for him. "Thanks, babe. I'm gonna go find Charlie." He kissed her quickly on the lips and went back to the main restaurant.
"So, so, so, so?" Connie asked with an eager smile on her face. Julie shrugged and led the way to Connie's abandoned table. She pulled the chair so it faced out and sat down heavily. Connie sat at the table across from her with the same grin. "So, didn't you go to the doctor this morning?"
"Yes, I did."
"And?" Julie sighed.
"Connie just come out and say it."
"Didn't the doctor tell you the sex of the baby?"
"God, how did I know that's what you were going to ask?" Julie pulled the shawl from her shoulders and hung it from the chair.
"He did, didn't he?"
"Yes, Connie he did."
"And what is it?"
"It's a surprise." Julie said smiling. Connie squirmed.
"Jul!" She whined. "Is it a boy?"
"Nope."

"It's a girl?"
"Nope. It's a hermaphrodite." Julie said laughing.
"Julie! That's not fair!"
"What isn't?" Guy asked as he hugged his wife from behind. Aging had been especially good to Guy. He had always been good looking when they were teenagers but now he was so matured and handsome. He cut his dirty blonde hair short and business-like.
"Julie won't tell me what it's gonna be." She said with a pout on her face pointing to Julie's stomach.
"Well that's obvious isn't it?" Connie turned around to face him. "It's gonna be a baby." The looks obviously didn't mask the classic Guy.
"You're so stupid, Guy." Connie said playfully hitting his shoulder. It was good that they were together again. Around five years ago they had broken up, and there was a huge controversy over whether or not the twins were his. But all is well that ends well, I suppose. You'd never believe who their real father was. Everyone was so convinced it was Adam but that died down. Especially after Adam moved to Philadelphia and got engaged himself. But regardless of genetics, Connie and Guy got married, and Guy is Vanessa and Evan's father, end of story. Julie and Adam were the only ones who knew the truth, but nobody ever brings it up. Speaking of which…
Julie stood as Adam Banks entered the room in a vision of black in his matching shirt and tie. Even though it had nearly been ten years, Julie still had a slight butterfly feeling when it came to Adam. He had moved back to Minneapolis last month and Julie had to get used to having him around again. Her thoughts were interrupted quickly.

"Uh no, Brad. Don't lay on the floor you'll get your clothes dirty." Linda O'Shea-Conway came forward and pulled her eldest son from the floor.
"But Mommy, I want to play!" Wow, he talks just like Charlie.
"C'mon. Let's put your shoes back on."
"But-"
"Bradley, don't argue. Just for a little while, then you can take them off again. Look Evan put his shoes on."
"Fine." He said with a pout still on his lips. Julie laughed openly. Bradley Gordon Conway, what a piece of work. One can only wonder if his brother, 8-month old Joshua Carter will be just as bad. Or, we shudder to think, worse.
"Hey guys." Julie spun on her heel to see Adam standing right in front of her.
"Adam!" Connie said hugging him.
"Hi, Julie." She smiled brightly and hugged him.
"Hey, Adam." Guy piped in once they released.
"Where's the girlfriend, Banksie?"
"There isn't one actually." He said still sizing Julie up. His eyes paused on her stomach and he smiled. "Wow, Julie. You're huge."
"Gee, thanks." She retorted sarcastically.
"Hey, what do you mean there isn't one? Weren't you engaged to some bimbo in Philly?" Connie added.

"Yes I was. But you've already stated the problem see, she really was a bimbo."
"That was two years ago. Where's the new girlfriend?" Guy retorted, a protective arm around Connie's waist. Adam smiled.
"There still isn't one. See I haven't quite found that person who when we're together it actually nauseates everyone around us."
"Don't tell me you're gay now, Banks?" Fulton said joining the group.
"No, I'm not gay, Fulton."
"Now that that's settled, let's go grab some beer, shall we?" Guy said kissing Connie on her cheek and rushing off to the bar.
------------------------------------------------

((Okay, so I was really bored and I had this story kind of rolling around in my head for a while. First of all:
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Ducks.
So umm what can I tell you? Well the story comes mostly from me and my friend Ali messing around with Mighty Ducks: The Next Generation. As always I was Julie and she Connie. There are plenty of references in here that I'd like to point out.
Mangiare Buon is literally Italian for "Good Eating" or something similar to that. The team is meeting in this restaurant for Bombay's retirement in Minneapolis. It is modern-day, there are all around 25, 26, 27 years old. The couples are:
-Julie and Dean- 1 daughter Aimee, and one on the way…what'll it be? I just plain loved the name Amy but the rebel in me had to spell it weird.
-Connie and Guy- Vanessa and Evan are not Guy's kids. You'll have to guess who their father is. The names Vanessa and Evan were all Ali.
-Charlie and Linda- 2 sons: Bradley Gordon and Joshua Carter. Joshua Carter is the name of the actor that plays Charlie in the movie (Joshua Carter Jackson). Gordon is clearly Charlie's love for Bombay. Bradley is harder to explain. I was watching the music video for 3 Doors Down's When I'm Gone (also the chapter title) and there is this one shot of the lead singer where for whatever reason he looks like the spitting image of Joshua Jackson. Even though Brad Arnold looks nothing like him, he does in that video. So I decided to name Charlie's son after him. I dunno if I'll even continue much of the story. It all depends on the feedback I get. Julie's attraction to Adam is a direct reference to their relationship in Eden Hall Mighty Ducks. Which, by the way, I will be continuing, I'm just having some major writer's block on the new chapter. I'll get it up as soon as possible. Hmm, yeah, I think that's it.

If you haven't figured out that they're 25/26 and their children are all 5/6 years old, so yes I made them all pregnant at 19/20 (18 in Connie's case). No it isn't likely, probable or responsible, but I don't care cause it's a story. Okay, I'm done now.