(I don't own the Mighty Ducks or anything related to them, they all belong to Steven Brill and Disney.)
Julie sat at her graduation ceremony thinking back to the day when her life really changed, the cause of this moment was Dean Buckley's super long speech, which had the person next to her sleeping. How he could sleep is beyond her but it was quite humorous to see some one sleeping during graduation. No one else would have been able to notice since he's wearing sunglasses but she knew. In fact if she looked around she could see most of the male ducks with sunglasses on and sound asleep.
--Flashback--
"I'm pregnant."
Those two words were words Dean Portman didn't expect to hear for a few more years at least. But to hear them at age 18, he especially didn't expect to hear them out of his 18 year old girlfriend Julie Gaffney, but here they were out there in the open.
"What are we going to do Jules?"
"I don't know, I mean we're 18, we play hockey, how did this happen?"
"Well I have a pretty good idea…"
"Will you be serious, I'm pregnant and oh shit."
"What?"
"My scholarship, if I don't play, what about that?"
"Jules I'm sure Orion and Bombay can talk to the board about it."
"How could we let this happen?"
"When did we get time to let this happen?" Asked Dean with a smile.
Dean had a point between having Fulton and Connie as roommates and the rest of the team trafficking in and out of each others rooms frequently; it didn't leave much time to be alone with each other.
"Dean!"
"I'm sorry babe."
"I know I'm just stressed out."
"I know you are, I am too, but you have to take it easy. We'll figure it out."
"I want to keep it."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I am Dean this baby is us. It wasn't some one night stand we both wish we could forget."
"Okay, so we went to the doctors, we should probably go and talk to Orion." Said Dean quietly pulling Julie into his lap.
"Let's go."
Julie and Dean went to Coach Orion's office. When they arrived Dean knocked on the doorframe.
"Gaffney, Portman what can I do for you?"
"Uh we need to speak to you Coach." Said Julie clutching Dean's hand.
"Okay come in and sit down." Said Coach realizing this was a serious issue.
"Coach I'm pregnant."
"What I'm sorry Julie I think I heard you wrong."
"You didn't, Dean and I are going to have a baby, and I'm due in August."
"Well Julie, I have no choice but you're benched."
"That's fine I was going to bench myself, can I still sit with the team though?"
"Absolutely. Julie your still a part of the team I can use you on the coaching end."
"Um, Coach what about her scholarship, is it going to be affected by her not playing?"
"It shouldn't, but I'll talk to Dean Buckley, and if that doesn't work we'll call in the big guns."
"We should probably call Bombay and him before he hears it from the gossip queens, and I don't mean Connie." Said Julie. It was common Duck knowledge that the guys were bigger gossips then her and Connie combined.
"Yeah I'm not really looking forward to telling them all."
"Well let me know and we can call a team meeting if you guys want." Said Orion watching in amusement. "Guys I'm not happy about this, but if you need help don't be afraid to ask."
"Thanks Coach." Said Julie.
"You're welcome, and congratulations." Said Orion as Dean and Julie left the office, he started thinking about something Gordon had told him when they talked about the team before he took over. "Eventually you'll start looking at them as more than a team, you'll start looking at them as your kids, and want to ring their necks sometimes." Orion had many of those moments over the past couple years. And he couldn't help but think Gordon was right.
Dean and Julie made their way back to the dorms.
"That went well." Said Julie.
"Yeah, I expected yelling and laps, but at least he's on our side. Now all we have to do is tell the team, our parents, and Bombay."
"Let's call Bombay, then call our parents." Said Julie not knowing which call she was dreading more.
"Can't we just send our parents the birth announcement."
"No we have to call them."
"Damn."
When they got to Julie's dorm room and walked in Connie and Guy were making out, they didn't even say anything they just turned around and walked right out.
"Call Fulton see if he's entertaining anyone in your guys' room." Said Julie closing her door.
"Okay." Dean said as he walked over to the phone in the hallway and dialed the 4 digit extension to their room.
"Hello?"
"Hey man, you busy over there?"
"Just studying, why?"
"Hate to do this, but could you take a break for say a ½ a hour, Jules and I have to make some phone calls and Cons and Guy are occupying her room."
"Yeah everything okay?"
"Yeah not really I'll talk you later about it."
"Alright I'm leaving now."
"Thanks Fult."
"No problem I needed a break anyway."
"See ya later."
"Bye."
"All set let's go." Said Dean taking Julie's hand.
The young couple walked over to the boys' dorm where all the male ducks lived. It was one of the rowdier dorms on campus. But that's only because they liked to play hallway hockey. When they got to the room Fulton was putting away his books.
"Hey guys I'm leaving right now."
"No rush." Said Julie sitting on Dean's bed.
"Well I'm off, we're all heading over to you're guys' room to stop Connie and Guy from whatever it is their doing."
"Have fun." Said Dean as he joined Julie on his bed.
"We will, come join the party when you're done." Said Fulton.
"Well at least we don't have to call a team meeting." Said Julie as Fulton shut the door.
"True." Dean said moving the phone to the bed.
"Bombay first?" Asked Julie.
"Might as well." Said Dean looking in his phone book for Bombay's number and dialed.
"Mr. Bombay's office."
"Yeah can I talk to Coach Bombay?"
"May I ask whose calling?"
"Portman and Cat-Lady he'll know."
"Hold on one second." Said Gordon's secretary knowing it was someone from his old team.
"Mr. Bombay, sorry to interrupt but you have a phone call."
"Who is it?"
"He said Portman and Cat-Lady." She said with a smile.
"Excuse me for a moment." Gordon said to the people he was meeting with.
"Of course."
"Hello?"
"Hey Coach." Said Dean quietly to Gordon who instantly knew something was going on.
"Hey Dean, what's up?"
"No much, Jules says hi."
"Hey Jules, not that I don't love talking to you guys but what's up?"
"Uh I don't—we don't know how to say this but Jules is pregnant."
"Wow when did you guys find out for sure?"
"This morning Orion benched her, but she's going to work with him on the coaching area, we wanted to tell you before we told the team, Orion said he'd talk to Buckley, but we wanted to tell you because you're family and just in case we needed your skills."
"I'm there, if they try anything you call me and I'll be on the first flight out."
"Thanks Coach."
"It's no problem Dean like you said we're family, have you guys told your parents yet?"
"Both sets are next."
"Good luck and keep me informed."
"I will."
"Bye Dean."
"Bye Coach."
"That went well." Said Julie.
"Yeah I think he was in a meeting or something." Said Dean.
"That would explain it."
"So yours or mine first."
"Might as well get the yelling over with." Said Julie as she dialed her mother's number.
"Hello?"
"Hi Mom."
"Julie! Hi Honey what's up?"
"Not much, wait here talk to Dean for a second." She said as she ran to the bathroom.
"Hi Bess how are you?"
"I'm good is Julie okay?"
"Yeah, she just has an upset stomach."
"Ginger ale will settle it." Said Bess.
"I'll get some for her later." Said Dean knowing it was the morning sickness she had been having lately. "You okay?"
"Yeah." Said Julie taking the phone from him and sitting back on the bed in front of him so she could lean back against him.
"Jules is every thing okay?" Asked her mother worriedly.
"Um, yeah it's just morning sickness."
"Julie it wouldn't be morning sickness unless you were--."
"Mom?"
"OMG Julie Elizabeth Gaffney! Are you pregnant?"
"Yes."
"When, how, when?"
"About 2 months ago, I don't think you want me to go into details how and again 2 months ago."
"Thank you for sparing me that. What about hockey Julie that's the whole reason we sent you to that school was to play hockey, not to go and get yourself pregnant."
"Coach benched me, but I'll still be able to sit with the team during games and I thought you sent me here for the education."
"Where's Dean?"
"Right here behind me." Said Julie with a smile.
"And is he going to be there for everything, what about 2 am feedings, you know their not myths Julie they happen."
"I know that Mom, and of course he's going to be here for them." Said Julie rolling her eyes.
"Well I guess there's nothing more I can say. Call me if need me." Said Bess as she hung up the phone.
"Witch." Said Julie as she hung up her end.
"What?"
"She basically asked if you had left me yet even after you spoke to her."
"I never will leave you Jules."
"I know she's just bitter because my father remarried someone younger than she is, and that I have a pretty good relationship with them."
"Well let's call your dad and Crystal now then."
"Okay." She dialed her father's number and waited until some one picked up.
"Hello?" Said a perky voice on the other end.
"Hi Crystal its Julie is my dad there?"
"Yeah hang on one second honey."
"Thanks."
"Hi Julie, sweetheart what's up?"
"Hi Dad, Dean says hi by the way."
"Well tell him I said hi back. So what's going on because I doubt this is a social call."
"You're right it isn't, um I should know how to say this by now. Dad I'm pregnant."
"What! Julie you have got to be kidding me! What were you guys thinking, well obviously weren't thinking other wise you wouldn't be calling to tell me that my 18 year old daughter and her equally aged boyfriend were pregnant! What are you guys going to do?"
"We're keeping it."
"No, no, no you can't keep it Julie. I won't allow it. What about your career in college, hell what about Dean's assuming this child is his."
"Of course it's his and I'm due in August, besides hockey ends in like two weeks so I'll be fine and so will Dean. And I'll be able to train for next season hopefully, and also you have no say in what Dean and I do with our child!" Said Julie as Dean rubbed her back to calm her down.
"Julie you two are children you know nothing about raising children."
"Dad did you know how to raise kids when had them, no you learned as you went, and that's what we plan to do, also how dare you question if Dean is the father, you should know me better than that!"
"Shh, Jules calm down." Said Dean quietly rubbing her back.
"I'm sorry Julie, okay I'm just surprised that's all."
"Goodbye Dad I'll call you later we still have to call Dean's family."
"Bye Julie."
"Wow that was intense are you okay?" Asked Dean pulling Julie closer to him.
"I know do you think you're mom will react better?"
"Yeah I think she'll have about the same reaction as the coaches, in fact she's probably surprised I haven't called her sooner with this news."
"How are you not nervous about this?"
"I have a good relationship with my mom." Said Dean with a shrug.
"Oh honey I know you have a good relationship with your mom, in fact besides Charlie you are the biggest Mama's boy there is."
"I'm not a Mama's boy."
"Yes you are and I love you for it. I just hope she doesn't hate me after we call her."
"She won't, yeah she might be mad for a little bit but she won't hate you, cause if she did then she's going to have to hate me too." Said Dean stroking her hair.
"Dial." Said Julie pushing the phone closer to Dean.
"Yes ma'am."
Dean dialed his mother's number and waited for the call to connect.
"Hello?"
"Hey Mom."
"Hey honey, how are ya?"
"I'm doing okay, did I catch you at a bad time?"
"No I'm just making dinner for Mrs. Aniello downstairs. She has the flu and her husband can't cook to save his life, thank goodness I taught you."
"Well go easy on him Ma, not all of us can be as naturally gifted as me in the kitchen."
"I see Julie hasn't beat the cockiness out of you yet, so what's up I got balls in the oven."
"I'm going to ignore that you said that just now and come right out and say it Julie's pregnant."
"Did you just say Julie's pregnant."
"Yes I did."
"Non posso credere che voi e Julie avere 18 anni, siete troppo giovani per avere bambini. Siete bambini giusti voi stessi, Il decano li ha mai sentiti parlare un condom! Dio che cosa erano voi due che pensano. Che cosa circa l'università ed il hockey. Ho pensato che gli insegnassi più meglio allora quello." (see below for translation)
Dean pulled the phone away from his ear in shock that his mother was yelling at him in Italian, something she had only done twice before.
"What's wrong?"
"She's yelling at me in Italian. Ma! If you're going to yell at me do it in English please."
"I can't believe you did this, but you know I'm here for you both if you need me."
"Thanks, Ma."
"I love you guys you know that I only yell at you when I'm scared for you, but I know you will make the best of the situation."
"I will I just wanted to tell you before we told the team."
"Okay well honey I have to go and get this meal downstairs, I'll call you sometime tomorrow."
"Okay Ma tell them I said hi."
"I will. You take care of Julie you hear me, because other wise I'm sending your uncles after you."
"I will and please don't I've got about 12 guys that already are going to want to kick my butt."
"Okay and tell Julie saltines and ginger ale will help with the morning sickness and I'll send a care package of some other things later this week."
"Thanks Ma I'll talk to you later."
"Bye sweetie."
"I can't believe she yelled at you in Italian does she do that often?"
"Only when she gets scared for me or really pissed. Last time she did it was when I told her that I didn't want to come here, and then Bombay showed up and that's when she started yelling in Italian basically told me to get my head out my ass and to Minnesota before she drop kicked me there. She said this all in front of Coach who didn't know whether to laugh or be scared of her."
"It must have worked you're here now."
"And I'm not going anywhere."
"Yes you are." Dean looked at Julie blankly ready to assure her that he wasn't leaving, when she started speaking again. "We have to go tell the team."
"Oh. Well let's go then."
Julie and Dean made their way back over to the girls' dorm and made their way up to Julie and Connie's room where they could already hear music playing.
"Hey guys." Said Dean walking into the room.
"Hey there you are what's up?" Asked Connie.
"Not much can we talk to you and Fulton in the hall?"
"Yeah." Said Connie as she and Fulton followed Dean and Julie outside.
"So what's up?" Asked Fulton concerned.
"I'm pregnant and we wanted to tell you two before we went and told the team."
"Wow is that why you've been so sick?" Asked Connie.
"Yeah."
"Congrats you guys, Goldie will be happy he's got his spot back."
"Oh give me a break it's for two weeks." Said Julie laughing.
"Okay well let's go break it to the others." Said Dean.
"Hey guys what took you so long to join the party?" Asked Charlie.
"We had to make some phone calls and go see Orion real fast." Said Dean.
"Is every thing okay?" Asked Charlie concerned.
"Yeah it was just about the baby and stuff." Said Julie so casually that it caught Dean off guard.
"What baby?" Asked Dwayne.
"Our baby or at least the one we're going to have in about 7 months." Said Julie while Connie laughed in the background at Julie's casualness.
"Whose baby?" Asked Luis.
"Mine and Dean's." Said Julie like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Wait you're pregnant?" Asked Charlie as he hit the floor.
"Wow you didn't even do that when I told you." Said Julie turning to Dean who was laughing. While Fulton and Adam woke Charlie up.
"Captain Duck out for the count, he's not getting up."
"Shut up, Averman." Said everyone in the room.
"Charlie you okay man." Asked Russ.
"Yeah I'm fine congrats you guys."
"Thanks Charlie."
"So how did Mama Portman react?" Asked Fulton.
"She yelled at me in Italian but it was so fast I only caught about 4 words."
"What about your parents?" Asked Adam.
"Don't want to talk about it, but good news Goldie you get your spot back, and we called Bombay and told him."
"Did he turn Captain Blood on you?" Asked Averman.
"No I think he was in a meeting." Said Dean.
"So what are you guys going to do?" Asked Charlie.
"Raise it, and make sure it has everything it needs." Said Dean.
--End of Flashback--
Julie sat there quietly laughing when she heard the person next to her softly snore. So she nudged him to make him stop. Amazingly he still didn't wake up. But he did stop snoring.
"Hmm I'll have to remember that." Said Julie to herself.
Translation: I can't believe it you and Julie are 18 years old; you are too young to have children. You're just children yourselves, Dean have you ever heard of a condom! God what were you two thinking. What about college and hockey. I thought I taught you better then that.