AN-Sorry for the wait!

The ducks were on a plane, headed to California, where they going to play hockey for their country. They were going to play against kids from other countries, who were bigger and stronger them in. But they weren't nervous and that wasn't the reason Charlie was finding it hard to quell the butterflies in his stomach.

No, that was because one Julie Gaffney was currently resting her head on his shoulder and was fast asleep. She looked beautiful, Charlie thought, and yet, he knew if he ever expressed those feelings out loud, the team would never let him live it down.

He heard her yawn softly and suddenly she sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

''What time is it?'' she murmured.

''I have no clue.'' Charlie admitted sheepishly.

And it was true. He'd spent most of the trip staring at her.

Julie rolled her eyes impatiently.

''Thanks Charlie.'' she said, sarcastically.

''Not sweat.'' he replied, flashing her a million dollar smile.

Julie just grinned at him and moved her gaze out the window.

''Did you have a nice nap?'' he wondered.

She nodded.

''Cool.'' he said.

He began to tap his hands on his jeans repeatedly, the noise causing Julie to look away from the scenery and send him a subtle glare. Obviously, because it was subtle, he didn't receive it. She grabbed one of his hands, stopping it in mid beat.

''Are you bored, Charlie?'' she wondered.

''A little.'' he admitted.

''I can tell.'' she said.

Charlie chose to ignore her tone.

''So what's Maine like?'' he asked.

Julie was thoughtful.

''It's nice.'' she said.

''Do you miss your team?'' he asked.

''Kinda. I mean, I was the only girl, so it was hard being on there. But the guys respected me. They became my friends.'' she said.

''Well, the ducks will be better friends.'' he said.

Julie smiled.

''Do you miss Minnesota?'' it was her turn to ask questions now.

''Not really.'' he said.

Julie raised an eyebrow, quizzically.

''Why not?'' she asked.

''It's boring there. Anyone I'd be hanging out with or anyone I truly care about is here, on the plane.'' he said.

''What about your mom and dad?'' she asked.

Charlie's eyes darkened and he looked away. Julie knew, immediately, she had said the wrong thing.

''Charlie?'' she whispered, reaching over to touch his arm.

''Julie, I need to go to the bathroom, come with?'' Connie's voice suddenly rang out, and Julie looked up, meeting the hopeful eyes of her friend.

''Sure.'' she said, reluctantly leaving their captain behind.

Charlie sighed as he watched Julie and Connie walk down the aisle. He hadn't meant to get like that, but she said ''dad'' Scott was not his dad.

The only one he ever truly wanted as a dad was on this plane, seemingly over everything that had happened the previous year.

''What did I do Connie?'' Julie asked as soon as they were out of hearing range of the ducks.

''Never say the 'D' word around Charlie.'' Connie told her.

''Dad? But that wasn't?'' she asked, referring to the man at the airport.

''That was Scott, his step-dad. Charlie's mom and him left his dad when he was like three. Charlie never knew him. Then last year, Coach came around and started to date Ms. Conway. Things didn't work out and Charlie lost out on getting him as a step-dad.'' Connie explained.

Julie mentally kicked herself for not realizing this sooner. Charlie had even called him Scott, not dad. How could she be so stupid.

''I'm an idiot. Do you think he'll talk to me again?'' she wondered.

Connie nodded.

''Of course he will.''

Julie and Connie walked back to their seats, Julie sat down cautiously.

''Hey Charlie.'' she said softly.

''Hey Jules.'' he replied.

''I'm sorry about-''

''Don't. It's fine. You didn't know, but now I assume Connie told you everything?''

Julie nodded.

''So we're good?'' she asked.

He grinned at her.

''We're good.''

She smiled brightly at him and their eyes locked.

Connie sighed softly as she observed her friends.

They couldn't be that clueless!

The team arrived in California and a bus took them to their new home! Charlie checked the roster and found out he was rooming with Adam, and Jesse.

The rooms each had three beds, a bunk bed and a single one. Charlie took the single one and Adam and Jesse were left fighting over the top bunk.

''I get it, I've been on this team longer!''

''So? I get it, I called it first!''

''No I called it first!''

''Jesse, you need to call it out loud, that in your head!

''I get it Cake eater!''

Charlie sighed and decided to check out the other team rooms. Next door to them were Guy, Goldberg and Averman.

''What are Jesse and Adam fighting about?'' Guy asked when he spotted Charlie in the doorway.

''The top bunk.'' he said. ''How did you guys decide?''

''Well, we figured because of Goldbergs ''big bones'' that it would be easier on all of us, if he took the lower bunk.'' Averman said, while Goldberg glared at him.

''And since Averman has had trouble in the past after drinking before bed time, we thought to give him the single bed, closer to the bathroom.'' Goldberg announced.

''So I get the top.'' Guy said, grinning at Charlie.

''Nice.'' Charlie told him.

Across the hall from Guy, Luis, Ken and Dwayne were settling in.

''Hey guys.'' Charlie announced as he entered the room.

''Hey Charlie.'' Ken called from his spot on the top bunk.

Luis and Dwayne were trying to figure out a place to put Luis's mini TV.

''Howdy Charlie. Would you like to help us out?'' wondered Dwayne.

''I can't cowboy. Sorry, but I need to greet the rest of the team.'' he said.

''No, not there Dwayne! I won't be able to see it!''

''But if we put it on the desk, I won't be able to see it!''

''It's my TV, cowboy!''

''We're room mates. You outta share!''

''Good luck man.'' Charlie muttered to Ken as he left.

Ken just nodded before putting on his headphones, successfully shutting out the noise.

Charlie passed by Portman and Fulton's room, slightly too scared to go in and face his bigger teammates. Instead, he headed to the girls room.

''Hey Cons, Jules.'' he said, as he entered.

Julie was lying on her bed, reading a book while Connie was in the process of making her bed.

''Uh Cons, you do know the place gave us sheets?'' Charlie said.

''Of course Charlie.'' she replied, continuing her task.

''So why are you changing them?'' he wondered.

Connie halted her task and turned to glare at Charlie.

''1) Because the sheets I brought of home are my favorites and will help me sleep better. 2) Because the sheets in this lovely place will be covered in whatever body fluids might be here from the last person. And finally) because I want to!'' she yelled at him.

''Don't you care that your sheets might still be dirty?'' Julie asked, finally taking her attention away from her book.

Charlie shrugged. ''Not really.''

Connie sighed.

''Boys.'' the girls muttered simultaneously.

AN-And that is chapter 4!! WHOO. I hope to update every weekend and maybe during the week if I get a chance.

Don't forget to review!