Disclaimer: I absolutely do not own any of the Might Ducks, Disney does. I don't know anything about the NHL, nor do I gain anything from them or the teams mentioned!! This is all good, clean fun!
Author note: Just a simple idea I had about the Duck's later in life, post-college, pre-marriage and kids. It will have a few chapters, so stay tuned. I hope you enjoy it.
Julie Gaffney paused at the cross walk, glancing in both directions while using her hand to hold some of her side-parted blond bangs out of her eyes. Looking up a head, she watched the lit sign flash to 'Walk'. She shrugged her purse up onto her shoulder and adjusted her low slung jeans better onto her waist. Her flip flops clacked into her heels with ever step as she jumped up onto the opposite curb. Pausing a moment, Julie threw her long hair over her shoulder as she dug into her purse and pulled her phone out.
Letting it ring a few times, Connie answered on the other end, yelling over the back ground noise.
"Hey Jules! Where are ya? The games about to start!"
Julie bobbed and weaved threw the pedestrians on the side walk as she clutched to the T-shirt in her hand.
"I'm a block away!" she breathed. "Is Tammy there yet?" she asked as she slammed on the breaks at the next intersection, the pub's sign in sight.
"Yea, she's up at the bar get'n the first round!"
"Great, see ya in a few!" Julie hung up the phone and tossed it back in her bag.
She stopped in front of the bar, breathing steady. The May evening sun was setting, casting a beautiful orange and honey hue over the entire city, illuminating the wonderful historic downtown area that surrounded her. The side walks were lined with a tree every twenty feet and the older shops were mixed eclectically with the newer ones. The bar across the street had its door open with the loud chatters from the patrons inside, all getting pumped and geared up for the broadcast. Setting her purse on the sidewalk, Julie stood back against the brick as she shrugged her T-shirt over her tank top, pulling her hair out of the neck line. Bending to pick up her bag, she smiled to herself as the banners and chalk signs of the other coffee houses, pubs, eateries and bars all sang the praises of her old team mates.
Tonight was the last of the playoffs, to see who would go to the Stanley Cup finals. Julie shoved the door open and squinted slightly from the dim light. She began moving to the middle of the bar where they always got their table; the regulars never bothered to take it. It was like they just knew to never touch the table during a game.
Connie set her glass down after taking a sip, and waved as Tammy was placing the pitcher of amber colored beer on the table.
"Ladies, ladies, ladies! " Julie called as she pulled out her chair, smiling.
"Hey! How was work?" Tammy asked grabbing an empty glass and pouring very pathetically until the glass was mostly foam.
"Fine, just fine. Couldn't wait to get outta there though. A few of the ladies in the office were chittering about how 'hot that Adam Banks is' and that he needs to come back... " Julie animated her dramatic words by rolling her eyes, and pretended to fan herself when she imitated her coworkers words of their old friend.
Tammy laughed as Connie snorted, almost chocking on her beer.
After the ducks had graduated from Eden Hall, the NHL had sent a letter to Adam. The rest of the boys went on to play in college. Connie had made it very clear that she was not going to play hockey anymore… she wanted more of a life, she wanted to teach. The two schedules in college would be practically impossible to keep. Her life with Guy was bumpy. They had their days like everyone else, but when he got accepted to Boston on a scholarship with Kenny and Russ, their time as a couple was up. It was the most amazing thing; they went from either making out all the time or trying to rip one another's heads off, to laughing, endearing friends. Although as the college years went on, the friendship faltered… like everyone else's.
Tammy's family had finally moved back to Minnesota and settled down for good, she had enrolled in Eden her sophomore year. Although she didn't play Hockey with the rest of them, she was still in the 'family' and considered just as important. They would tease her and bust her balls about just wanting to be a figure skater, but in the end they always supported her, for they knew it was what she loved most… aside from Fulton Reed that was. But like all good things, the short lived years came and went; Proms, parties, games, fights, pranks, gossip, tears and laughter. They were all leaving for college, knowing that it was the end of the road. Tammy visited Fulton, Charlie, Portman and Louis in Seattle as often as she could get a flight out there, but in the end their relationship dwindled as well... sad really.
Julie took a sip and sighed as the pre-game broadcasts that started. Connie and Tammy were laughed, turned in their seats talking to Bill, the bar tender. He had been serving them religiously for the last few years now. Julie smiled weakly hearing the end of his joke, but soon all the noise faded away as she stared behind the bar, behind Bill and all the bottles and glasses against the wall. Replica Eden Hall jerseys hung proudly on the wall with a huge team photo from their senior year when they were National Champions. Julie and Connie found them selves sitting at the bar every so often, when the nostalgic mood struck them, staring at those jerseys and the names on them. They never could pin point if it was the feeling of jealousy or pride that over took them every time. The boys' names surrounded them the second they stepped into this place. Their high school uniforms and old photos now were signed and encased in glass. Next to each one was a logo, photo, hat or shirt of the pro team that they each represented.
Julie felt her heart sink a bit. Tearing herself away from the walls of the ones she missed, she picked up her glass again, listening to the announcers on the TV. The Penguins were playing the Flyers tonight. The announcers drowned on about the line ups and significant offensive and defensive match ups, their strengths and weaknesses. The Pen's line up flashed down the screen, rolling onto Banks' name along with his team accomplishments. The bar opened up in cheers as the three women sat quietly. Moments went by as the Flyers players were talked of and their starters where mentioned. Connie and Tammy turned with Cheshire-cat grins on their faces as Julie chuckled at the mug shot of Greg Goldberg. Patrons of the bar clapped and whistled.
This was a local bar, a place for local heroes to be talked about and remembered. Connie sat and stared at her glass. She swirled it slightly as her brown eyes felt as though their color was being rivaled in the glass. She was excited for the last two of her 'boys' left standing, however the girls had sat there the last few weeks, together, watching the other boys' dreams of being champions diminish game by game. Charlie and Kenny had been the last two to go. The Rangers had lost to Pittsburgh only a week before, thus ending their wonderful season. Connie had talked to her long time friend over the phone a few nights after the last game. He was down, but in the end he was still the same old Charlie. He wanted the guys to do well. He always did. The boys never did get to see each other all at once anymore. And they saw the girls even less. The ice was the only time any of them would face off. As much as they loved Hockey for bringing them all together for those fantastic, glorious years…when they played one another, they hate it now for just that one night. Now that they were grown men… fighting for their separate teams, against one another for the same dream…ironic really.
Connie glanced up at the two blondes and picked her glass up. Smiling meekly, they did the same. It was the same ritual as always. They never, ever cheered when the boys would play one another. They simply toasted, but they never knew to what. Perhaps it was to the guys' success, good health or their memories…but most of all, it was always to wish them all luck.
Tammy slouched in her seat; her adult, 5'7 frame which was made up primarily of all legs, lounged out as the first period began. Leaning her head back, she started threw her lashed at the HD flat screen in the corner of the bar. She couldn't help but wish the others were there in the bar. Their seasons were over, so in her mind, there was no reason that they couldn't be home hanging out. But, alas, in the end it was the Fearsome Threesome like it had been since the days the ladies aligned in high school.
Connie and Tammy had wanted to stay close to home and go to Minnesota together after they graduated, but Julie had wanted more. She returned to Maine to study Political Science and eventually go into pre law, she had the mind for it after all. She had been the most driven out of the girls, Hockey wise. She made the team in college, however, after the first year of not playing, being completely segregated from the team; by them and the coach… Julie had felt that her heart break was enough. Connie had convinced her to come back to Minnesota with her and Tammy. And since college and completing her law degree, she hadn't looked back. She had a sweet little apartment to herself, only a 7 minute car ride to Tammy and Connie's place, if there was no traffic of course. She was working in a firm down town and loved the hustle and bustle of the every day life.
The last few years she felt calm, being with the girls, meeting at the bar or at one of their places for the games. The girls all made it easier on one another too with men. It was strange at first when they were in college and going out all the time; it was like being away from the male Duck's put the girls completely out of their element. Tammy had commented one time that she didn't know 'one thing to talk to the guy about since he had never played Hockey and wasn't from the area…'. It was totally depressing and pathetic but so true. They had been surrounded by the same guys for so many years; interacting with them day in and day out. They had their own little niche. The ladies had all dated random guys off and on during the last few years. A couple year-relationships, one or two dates, three month-ers and some one night stands later- they were still waiting for the ideal gentlemen. Julie glanced up at the wall ahead of her, over the jukebox. She knew it was there, but after the email this morning, Dean Portman's jersey almost burned her eyes to look at.
It was a quiet morning; she was on time to the office as usual. She remembered logging into her personal lap top and opening her email. Standing as it loaded, she reached for her blinds and tugged on them slightly, giving herself some sun light. Julie turned and sat back down and scanned her inbox and then, as if something had slapped her in the face, she had seen his name in her inbox.
Still to this day she didn't know what Portman had over her. Connie dated Guy for years and now they could have a nonchalant conversation when ever they wanted. Tammy could, only in the last year or so, speak of Fulton with out getting glassy-eyed; but they had dated. Julie and Dean never dated. At least they didn't think they had. They started out as friends like everyone else had. In fact at first, when they met, she hated him. Portman eventually wore her down though and during high school became a friend, ally and eventually a great confidant. They would find themselves going to get dinners, renting movies, hanging out at the mall, eating lunch together as the years progressed. Then one night their senior year, the whole dynamic of their relationship changed.
The ducks at been at a party hanging out. It had gotten late and most of them had filed into cabs. Julie had been in the bathroom, seeing as she had to wait for others to take their turns. Everyone but Dean had forgotten about her in their alcoholic hazes and took off for the night. Exiting the house, Julie had found him standing there, at the bottom of the stairs waiting for her. To this day, she remembers stopping at the top of the porch and their eyes meeting, as if for the first time. It was a full moon and everything was brightened by a silver glow as they walked. The cool air kept reminding them that it was very late in the night, or very early in the morning… however they had chose to look at it. As they had walked along, virtually silent the whole way, Julie had felt his hand brush hers. Glancing down slightly, she smirked as she felt Deans hand engulf hers. The closer they got to school, the closer they became until his arm was wrapped around her waist and her arms were clinging to him as though he was the only man left in the world that could do her no harm.
He had walked her to the front steps of the girls' dorm, stopped and grinned wolfishly at her. Proclaiming that he was drunk, she giggled and tried to turn away toward the door, but his strength stopped her. Before she knew what was happening, the enforcer had enveloped her in his arms and was kissing her, searching for her physical approval; she gave it to him as she broke the kiss and looked in his eyes, pulling him toward the dorm.
They had gone farther than either of them thought they ever would. He had tugged at her shirt, pulling it over her head as she feverishly unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans. He fumbled with her bra while she reached to his boxer briefs making him moan slightly with the skin to skin contact. After that night, they were shy at first, but got back into the groove of their friendship. At first they had dismissed it as a random drunken act, until Julie had grown brave one night at the Goldbergs' diner and confessed that she hadn't been all that drunk by the time they had made it home, and that she was happy it happened. At that being said, Dean had stood up slightly, with the booth table stopping him on his thighs, reached across the table with both arms, grabbed her face and kissed her on the lips. They hadn't dated though. They hung out, and touched, flirted, kissed, slept together, shopped, laughed, made love and played hockey like nothing happened…but they never dated.
"Your quiet tonight Jules." Connie gave her friend a meek smile from across the table.
"Mmmh…" Julie glanced up at her from her glass she was setting back on the table.
"Yea… what gives? Usually your over analyzing every move these guys make!" Tammy smirked as she pointed at the TV as the first period played on, only minutes left and scoreless.
"Eh.. " she shrugged. " Nothin, just… today at work…" she trailed off as she reached for the pitcher of beer in the middle of the table.
"Today ... what?" Connie narrowed her brow, coaxing her friend to continue.
"I got an email from Dean. I think he got my address from Charlie." She replied nonchalantly.
"Really? What did he want?" Connie straightened in her seat, flipper her dark hair over her shoulder, bring her elbows to both rest on the table.
"Just to know how things were going. What we were up to." She gave them a weak smile.
"Random. I mean, you haven't seen him in what, two years?" Tammy knitted her brows together and looked up at the ceiling trying to do quick math.
"Yep!" Julie replied reaching for her glass again, taking a long swig.
"And the last time you saw him, we were at Guy's parents place for the 4th of July when all the guys came into town…. He was date'n some chick from San Francisco. Then he cornered you and told you that he thought if you… all the time, wasn't it?" Connie looked at her, as if asking if she was right.
Julie chuckled. "Your memory amazes me when it comes to gossip, you know that?"
Tammy giggled as well, turning her attention back to the brunette who just pouted.
"But I'm right, aren't I?" Connie began getting defensive.
"Slightly…" Julie grinned but it soon faded to a meek, sad smirk. "He had told me that he wasn't happy with… I think her name was Amanda? I dunno, anyways… that was late in the night, we talked awhile and he told me that he though of me often; Even when they were in college and at parties. He said that sometimes, he would swear he saw me, then the girl would turn… and it wasn't me. Obviously." Julie spit the last word out with sarcasm and ended the thought with another sip, sliding back into her melancholy state.
The bar erupted into a cheer as the three girls turned their attentions immediately to the screen. Adam had had an assist to a team mate, ending in a goal on Goldberg. Tammy sighed at turned back to the girls and set her glass down. Pushing her chair out, she stood and walked to the bar, yelling to Bill for a refill.
To be continued..