Disclaimer - I do not own the Ducks. Don't you wish you could though? Your own little Quack Attack right there in your closet? Sorry…back to the point. I don't own them…just borrowing!
Italics indicate character thought.
"I'm sorry we're just now getting to do this." Beau squeezed Guy tighter and then kissed him roughly on the cheek. She backed up a step and hooked her thumbs in her back pockets.
Guy shrugged and smiled at Connie when she appeared in the restaurant door. Giving her a wink he turned back to Beau. "With everything going on with Adam it doesn't really seem like the time to be celebrating, you know?"
Beau screwed up her face and pinched his arm. "What's going on with Adam doesn't negate the fact that you and Connie got married." She felt her face fall and forced a smile. "Adam said he was sorry he couldn't be here." Now she smiled at him with genuine wonder. "I can't believe you're married. It's so exciting!"
Guy looked a little guilty, but beamed back at her. "I know." He gestured around as Connie joined them, Charlie, Rachel and Fulton in the room at the back of his favorite restaurant in Minneapolis. "Thanks for getting everyone together." He looked around at their friends and then her. "You're quite the little party planner."
Connie walked up to the table looking tired but happy. She beamed around at the group. "I'm so sorry I'm late. The interview with the magazine ran crazy long." She kissed Guy on the cheek and let him help her out of her jacket. She took a long breath, shook her shoulder length hair back and grinned. "Hey everyone!"
They were all standing up to exchange another round of hugs and Beau was the first to pull Connie into an embrace. "Congratulations…Mrs. Germaine!"
Connie laughed. "That's Mrs. Moreau, actually. I'm keeping my last name. Thanks for planning this, Beau." Before Beau could say anything else, Connie was pulled away by Fulton who had her in a bear hug.
Beau turned around and looked over her shoulder at Guy. He only raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Don't start, Beau."
Beau laughed. "I'm just saying. Connie Germaine sounds pretty darn good." She was going to say more but she was suddenly picked up from behind and swung around in a circle, her legs flailing out and one of her red heels falling off. "Hey!" She reached behind her and felt a head full of curly hair. "Cole!"
She was dropped quite unceremoniously to the floor. "Good guess. You win a hug."
Beau spun around without even retrieving her shoe and grinned up at Cole's face. He was looking down at her wickedly and she immediately fell into their old pattern. She cocked out a hip, rolled her eyes, and ran a hand absently over her hair. "Who says I want a hug from you? What a crappy prize."
"Oh, she wants a hug. She's been going on for the past two days about how excited she is to see you." Charlie leaned in behind his wife and rested his chin on her shoulder where the halter top she was wearing left the skin bare. Sticking out his hand he smiled. "What's up, Procida? Where's this chick I've heard so much about?"
Beau signed as they shook hands. "You ruined my witty banter, Conway. Thanks a ton." She shrugged, forcing him to move his face. "And don't call her a chick. Try not to be a Neanderthal; at least until you've fooled her into thinking you're charming."
Charlie brushed a piece of lint off of his tie and then turned up one corner of his mouth in the way that always softened her up. "I am charming."
Cole laughed, realizing how much he had missed them. "Give him a break, Beau." He reached out and gave her a hug and a kiss. "And Darby is in the bathroom. I don't think she actually had to go." He looked around as everyone had quieted down and was listening to him. "She's very nervous about meeting you lot."
From her side of the table Rachel glanced around, remembering her first time meeting the boys club. Charlie was still practicing his charming smile on Beau, who had hit him twice and was now pointing at a chair and informing him he had better sit down before she took his legs out from under him. Connie and Guy were nuzzling each other and ignoring the world. Fulton was greedily scarfing down a buttered roll. She nudged him and rolled her eyes. Her voice dripping with sarcasm, it was now her turn to roll her eyes. "I can't imagine why she would be nervous."
When Kimball woke up in the new apartment, she was alone in bed. Sighing, she reached over to where Adam usually slept and felt the sheets. Cold. He had been out of bed for a while, then.
With another sigh, she ran a hand over her unruly curls and tied them into a loose knot at the base of her neck, tucking the free strands behind her ears. She slid her feet to the floor and felt around for her light cotton robe.
Tying the belt of her robe and crossing her arms in front of her she padded quietly through the dark into the living room. She knew where Adam would be. He was where he always was.
Kimball stood on the inside of the glass French doors and looked out into the night at Adam's back. He was standing on the porch, ten stories up, looking out towards the horizon, his elbows perched on the low stucco wall that served as the boundaries of their little slice of world. She knew from nights and nights of experience that when she walked outside to stand next to him there would be a small glass tumbler in his hand.
For a long moment she watched the rise and fall of his shoulders and wondered if she should just go back to bed. Leave him be. It seemed to be what he wanted anyway. But Kimball knew she couldn't. She loved Adam and she wouldn't be able to sleep if she didn't at least try to talk to him. With a deep breath she pulled open the door and walked out into the night air.
Neither of them said anything. She walked to stand beside him, mirroring his pose and gazing at the full moon where it hung over the ocean, reflecting light so bright the night looked naked and exposed. She glanced into her periphery and saw him raise the glass to his lips and take a small sip. Adam had drunk little but wine for as long as she had known him. Now he was drinking several cocktails each night that were becoming more Grey Goose and less mixer with every serving.
"I'm sorry you missed Guy and Connie's party tonight."
Adam said nothing, but just took another drink. Kimball waited. Finally he sighed. "Yeah. I feel bad I didn't go, but I would have just pulled things down. I'm not much fun to be around lately." He laughed a little and turned to face her. "But look who I'm talking to." He reached up and brushed a hair off of her forehead.
Kimball closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. His voice had just a trace of the old Adam and she tried to hold onto it. But then he laughed again. "You know better than anyone that I only bring down a room now." She opened her eyes and tried to blink back the tears that were trying to find their ways from her eyes. One still escaped and trickled down here cheek. Adam saw it and turn back to the ocean.
"This isn't working, Kimball." He exhaled, trying to breathe again. He had been trying for a week to say those words to her and they were even harder than he had imagined.
Kimball felt like someone had hit her in the stomach with a bat. "What isn't working, Adam?"
He turned to her again, setting his empty glass down on the table and avoiding her eyes. "Us." He gestured towards the door and the apartment they had moved into just a few days before. "This." He shrugged his shoulders.
She was mad. She didn't realize it at first because she was having to concentrate so wholly on breathing. But she was angry. Spitting mad, in fact. "That's bullshit, and you know it."
Adam looked up at her now and she was struck by the dark circles under his eyes and the light absent from them. "Really, Kimball? Are you happy with me?"
She looked at him and opened her mouth to speak, but had no idea what to say. She closed it again and bit her bottom lip, again willing away the tears, even as they fell freely against her alabaster skin.
Adam nodded. "I'm so sorry, Kimball. I wish I could be that man for you." He moved gently past her and paused at the door, his hand on the knob, his back to her. "I'm moving out tomorrow." He voice dropped to barely a whisper. "I'm sorry." He went through the door, leaving her on the porch where she picked up his glass and hurled it towards the sea.
Their laughter filled the room and every one of them to a man (and woman) felt content in the warmth of their friendship, momentarily transported back to the days when they all lived within walking distance of each other. Looking around at her friends, Beau had a moment to think that while she desperately missed those times, these people were still the fabric of her life and without any of them now or in the past, she wouldn't be the person that she was.
The warmth of that thought running through her, she covered Charlie's hand on the table and ran her thumb across his skin. He looked over at her and she mouthed, "I love you" to him. He returned the sentiment and leaned over to kiss her.
With his lips still on Beau's, Charlie let his eyes wander across the table and to the door of the private room. He smiled against his wife's mouth and then pulled back. "Showtime." He reached across Beau and tapped Cole's shoulder. "I think you're girl finally came out of hiding, buddy."
Cole's head turned and, Beau realized, a girl would have to be blind to miss the way that his face changed when his gaze landed on Darby. His eyes lit and his smile was brilliant. Following his stare she couldn't help but notice that the woman standing in the doorway was grinning back at him in the same enraptured way. And she was beautiful. Drop dead, knock out beautiful.
Cole jumped up and jogged quickly across the room. His friends watched as he whispered and moved his hands in sign language at the same time. Darby smiled and nodded her head. Beau was a little surprised so see Cole bend down to kiss her forehead before grabbing her hands and leading her towards their table. He had always been so cocky with girls. With Darby he was himself. It was so obvious and it tripped her heart.
"Guys," Cole released her hand and signed. "This is Darby O'Connor. Darby," he gestured around the table. "This is everyone." He looked at his friends. "Darby reads lips, so as long as you look right at her when you're talking you should be set." Darby smiled and nodded and spoke in her heavily impeded voice.
"It's so nice to meet you all." Again the group stood up and, shaking hands in turn, Cole introduced everyone. He saved Beau for last, telling himself it was because of where she was sitting but knowing in the back of his mind that he desperately needed her to like Darby. He sought her approval for most things in his life.
He put a hand on his girlfriend's back and looked at her. "Darby, this is Beau Conway, one of my best…"
Darby interrupted him by reaching out and shaking Beau's offered hand with both of hers. She signed and he translated. "Oh Beau, I've heard so much about you." She put a hand to her chest briefly. "I've been so excited to meet you, but please tell me I'm making a good first impression because I'm pretty sure I'll be booted out the door of the restaurant right this minute if you hate me." She pulled a mock anxious face and Beau let out a peal of laughter. Looking at Cole she grinned.
"This one I love."
SleepyGoof07: Thanks for reviewing. I'm so glad this motley crew was missed. Hope this update was soon enough for you and that you enjoy it!
Cc: If I'm not mistaken, this is the second time I've posted a new chapter of one of my stories on your birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Good to be back.
Levishade: Thanks for being a willing reader. Hopefully I won't disappoint you too much!
SilverConlon: I'm glad you enjoy. I still think I'm partial to Everything's Eventual, but I do enjoy this one as well…particularly Devin. I hope you can deal with some more major drama, because it's going to happen.
Secret Places: I'm glad you're digging Devin and Annemarie. I didn't mean to write them like Beau and Charlie, but I suppose that makes sense, huh? I'm actually having a VERY hard time writing them though…
Donna79: Thanks for reviewing. See what I said to Secret Places about D/A. I'm having a hard time with her and I don't know why. Any suggestions of where they should go?
Hockey-girl90: One of my long time reviewers. Thanks so much for coming back!!
Johnny: Thanks for sticking with me. Sorry for the LONG wait. I do, indeed, suck!