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 feel weird being without all the kids. Don't you?" Beau was sitting on the airplane, watching as nameless people filed past, trying to find their seats and hoping for space to shove their too big carry-on bags overhead. She was by the isle, liking the feeling of not being pinned in on one side.

Charlie, who had been flipping through a Rolling Stone, closed it and looked over at her. "If by weird you mean fantastic and ecstatic," he grinned, "then yes." Beau smacked him gently in the chest so he amended. "Of course I miss them all, but it's good to get away, eh?"

Beau just stared at him for a long beat. Charlie wiggled his eyebrows. "Get it? The 'eh' is since we're flying to Canada."

She looked at him a little longer before pretending to motion to a flight attendant. "Ma'am? Is there anyway my husband can get off of the plane? I've decided to travel alone."

Charlie grabbed her long curly pony-tail and gave it a gentle yank. "Cute." He looked out the window again as the plane was pushed back from the terminal. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Beau tighten her seatbelt and then re-check it again. He reached out and stilled her hands with his own. "Looking forward to seeing Cole?"

Sufficiently distracted, Beau turned her palm up to entwine her fingers with his. "Oh man," It was an expression she had picked up from Devin. "I can't wait. It's been forever."

Raising his hands, Charlie grinned and signed slowly. "I can't wait to try out my signing on Darby."

Beau tried not to grimace. Like Devin, Charlie was less than impressive at picking up new languages, and signing was no different. He was getting there, but she had no doubt he would embarrass himself at some point. She smiled. "I'm sure she'll be very touched that you've been trying to learn."

"Heh." He rolled his eyes, flexing his fingers. "Trying. You mean kicking sign language's butt."

As the plane picked up speed and the nose started to pull up, Beau gripped her armrests. "Right."

"I'd think you'd be a bit more excited about a date with this beautiful young lady." Brian Mayland eyed his grandson before smiling at Annemarie. She was a lovely girl, currently clad in a small fitted white t-shirt, a skin-tight black cropped vest, dark wash jeans and red heels.

From across the room where she was sitting on the floor with Riley and Chase, Aggie Mayland smiled. The girl clearly new how to put an outfit together. A fact which was obviously not lost on Devin as he had been eyeing her the whole time she had been in the living room. Now, though, he was shoving his hands in his pockets and groaning.

"This has nothing to do with being on a date with Annemarie." He glared at the entrance of the room where Kennedy was lounged against the door frame. "We were blackmailed into double dating with Smith and the girl from hell."

"Devin," Aggie admonished. "That's a terrible way to talk about the girl you guys are picking up in a few minutes."

He widened his eyes, pointing at Kennedy. "Grandma, you have no idea. This girl is clingy, obnoxious, and dumb as a brick."

Ready to get the nightmare of an evening underway, Annemarie played referee, holding up her hands, palms out. "I hate to say it, Mrs. Mayland, but she really is a disaster." She turned on her heel. "But she's Kennedy's disaster and he's drug us into it, so let's get on with it, huh?" She grabbed Devin's hand before waving at the two adults and blowing kisses as the twins who ran over to hug her legs good-bye. "Good night. It was really good to see both of you again."

Aggie hopped up lithely for a woman of her age and gave the girl a big hug. "You too, darlin'. Come visit us in North Carolina soon, okay?" She stuck out her cheek for Devin to kiss. When he obliged she patted his head, reaching way up to do so. "Behave yourself, Devin."

He grumbled as his girlfriend drug him towards the foyer. "I wouldn't have to worry about behaving myself if someone had just called Kimberly back four weeks ago." He was pulled past Kennedy where he had been quiet and smug in the doorway. He looked over his shoulder, stabbing a finger in his friend's direction. "Or if someone hadn't been such a big pussy and just told her no."

Alone now with Beau's parents Kennedy flashed a brilliant smile. "This should be fun!" He waved. "Night, folks."

After the front door closed Brian looked at his wife and the train set she was setting up with Chase. "That kid Kennedy is a real pain in the you-know-what isn't he?"

She laughed. "That's exactly why I like him."

"Get over here, Mayland." Cole had dropped his bags to the marble floor of the hotel lobby and was standing with his arms out. It was a good thing as Beau had dropped her things as well and had jumped up to hang around his neck and give him a bone crushing hug.

Slowly ambling across the expansive room, two bags slung over his wide shoulders, Charlie shook his head. "How many times do I have to tell you, Procida? Her name is Conway now. What's it been? Like four years?"

Hefting Beau higher Cole spared Charlie a glance. "Oh, shut up, Charlie." He squeezed her one more time and then dropped her abruptly to the floor. Looking her up and down he smiled. "You look good."

Doing a little spin, Beau cocked out a hip. "Well, thank you very much." She mimicked his appraisal, her eyes eventually traveling up to his hair. It was longer than she could ever remember seeing it, falling into his eyes and curling over his ears in a way that managed to be both boyish and sexy at the same time. She reached up to finger a curl. "You don't look half bad yourself."

"And what am I, a piece of meat?" Charlie had dropped his bags and stood with his arms crossed.

Cole finally smiled over at him and extended a hand. "You look good too, you big baby." He laughed when Charlie grabbed his hand and pulled him into a quick hug.

"That's right. I do."

Beau picked her purse back up off of the floor and moved to stand next to Charlie, laying a hand on his shoulder. "That's my husband. Mr. Modest." She looked around. "Where's Darby?"

Cole crinkled up his face, looking around as well. "She was up in the room changing her clothes. She should be down any minute."

As if on cue, Darby stepped out of the elevator that had just slid open. Charlie had remembered that she was pretty, but he had forgotten that she was downright beautiful. Her long sleek hair shimmered in the light and was in such sharp contrast to her eyes that he could see their brilliant blue across the room.

It was also undeniable the way that Cole looked at her. His gaze was possessive and full of love and it made Beau immensely happy to see it. It was the way that Charlie looked at her. She felt so happy for the pair of them that it nearly drove her to tears.

Then Darby saw Beau and picked up her step, a dazzling smile spreading across her angular face. She raised her hands in hello and then hugged the other girl tightly. Backing up a step she started signing frantically. Laughing, Beau held up her hands.

"Whoa. I'm getting better, but you're going to have to slow way down." She grimaced. "Sorry."

Taking a long breath Darby made an effort to slow her motions. "Sorry. I was just saying how great it is to see you again." She turned to Charlie and took a step forward, obviously unsure if she should hug him. "You too, Charlie."

He smiled broadly, giving her the grin he subconsciously reserved for his closest friends and family, and then hugged her. Breaking the contact he looked around at his three companions and grinned even wider. He looked at Cole, speaking slowly so that Darby would be able to read his lips. "You are going to be so impressed."

Looking back down at the smaller girl, he raised his hands. Speaking while signing slowly he felt insanely proud of himself. "I've been psyched about hanging out with you. I'm dying to know what you see in Cole."

There was a very long silence in which they all just stared at him. Cole's mouth was hanging open. Darby pursed her lips. And Beau…well, Beau had covered her mouth with her hand, trying desperately to contain the laughter that was bubbling up mercilessly.

Charlie began to lose some confidence. He looked around at them. "What?"

Darby was the first to laugh out loud. She doubled over, her face breaking into a blushing mess as she held her stomach. Cole put a hand on her back, but had to pull it away again to wipe the tears that were leaking from his eyes as he laughed so hard that he was sucking in air in big gulps.

Beau put a hand on Charlie's back, laughing. "Oh, Conway. What are we going to do with you?" She giggled again, slapping a hand back over her mouth. She grinned up at him but he looked at her, completely bewildered.

"What?" When no one answered he raised his voice. "What?"

Beau, still laughing, looked around at the several other hotel guests who had gazed over at them and the commotion Charlie had made with his last question. She put a finger to her lips. "Shh!" She laughed again. "Geez." She took several long breaths. "You don't know what you said?"

Charlie glared at her, his eyes glinting. "I'd say that's a safe assumption since I'm not laughing like an idiot."

Cole smiled. "You said, and I quote, I'm a psycho for hanging out with you. I'm dying to see Cole inside of you." He reached out and put a finger under Charlie's chin, forcing it up so that he would close his mouth, which had been hanging open at the translation. "End quote."

Charlie looked back and forth from Cole to Darby and then down at the floor. Finally, feeling sorry for him, Darby took a step forward, wrapping her arm around his waist. "Thank you for trying, though." She stifled another laugh. "Why don't we get a drink?"

He nodded vigorously, sliding his hand around her waist and practically dragging her in the direction of the bar. "That would be really really good."

harumscarum: Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it! I realized that I had left Fulton out forever, so I wanted to show him doing something kind of grown up and life changing. I'm super glad you guys all dig it.

Hockey-girl90: Thanks! This will be the last update until the beginning of next week. Hope it will tide y'all over during the weekend.

Johnny: Thanks for being so loyal!

Torithy: Thanks so much. Compliments from you are very high on my list since I'm so impressed with your writing. You rock!

Just a fan: Thanks! I'm glad you've got yourself all prepared. I had planned to start the drama in this chapter but then got the suggestion of having Beau and Charlie take a weekend away and that's taken the forefront. Hope you enjoyed. Keep yourself ready, though. You never know when it's coming!

Joshysgirl: You are my ultimate inspiration, girl! Thanks again for all the great ideas. Expect to see a few of them…like Charlie in this chapter!