Summary: A tale of our favorite Ducks and where their lives take them, beginning Senior Year at Eden Hall. Focuses on Adam, Charlie, Julie, Dean, Connie, Guy…and more to come!

Disclaimer: The Mighty Ducks and all its characters belong to Disney. I do not own any of it!

Flying Together

By Rebecca

Epilogue: After All

            Dean watched in the comfort of the shadows as he leaned against the wall at the top of the stands. There they were. All of them…hmm, well not quite all of them. Banks wasn't there. And whose fault is that? Dean chided himself as he scoffed and turned his head away from the rink for a moment. The phone conversation from Conway still rang through his head. "Come on Portman. Just one last time…before we all go off to college and stuff. We want you there." And then of course he remembered his response.

            "I'm not a duck anymore C. I never was. No one…wants me there." Charlie hadn't put up much of a fight. There wasn't much else to the conversation. Both had hung up pretty fast without much more effort on either side of convincing. And yet here he was…back in Minnesota, watching the ducks scrimmage and goof off one last time before they all left as he did.

            What in the world was he doing here? Was he trying to prove something? He looked down at Julie standing in the goal. Her team in the scrimmage obviously wasn't giving her much opportunity to show off her talents. Having both Conway and Germaine on her side, there was very little chance of the puck reaching her side of the rink. Her arms were rested atop her gloves that lay on her kneepads. He couldn't help but watch her. She didn't belong to him anymore. She really never did. She belonged to-

            "How long are you gonna sit up here and hide?"

            Dean froze and turned slowly. My God, he thought, there he is. His gaze automatically dropped as he looked right at the leg Adam Banks very obviously favored, as his weight rested entirely on the other. Dean shut his eyes quickly and shuddered. No. He thought to himself. Contrary to what others had guessed of him, Dean never once let himself go back to that night of the accident in his mind. He wouldn't. He couldn't. The emotions of that night scared him beyond belief. There had been no fear. No worry, short of concern for his teammate after the fact. No…Dean would not let himself recall the thrill, the rush of his recklessness. The near ecstasy of abandoned prudence. Even when he had lost complete control, and came crashing toward the van…no! he scolded himself and looked back to Adam's leg. God, why didn't I just turn the other way?

            "Banks," he said quietly. "I uh…wasn't gonna go down. In fact I was…just about to leave."

            Adam took a small step forward, his arms crossed over his chest, but his face oddly accepting. "Skating home then?" he asked with a smirk. Nodding at the bag that lay at Portman's feet, the zipper half open revealing his skates.

            Dean cursed himself for leaving it open, "Just in case," he shrugged and quickly zipped up the duffle.

            "In case what Dean? In case someone by chance saw you up here? Came and begged you to come back?"

            "No…I-"

            "You'll notice no one's done that. And no one's going to."

            Dean was silent.

            Adam shook his head and put up his hands, "Look, I didn't come up here to lecture you Dean. I came in to watch and saw you up here."

            "How do you not hate me right now?" he asked to the floor.

            "Why?" Adam challenged, "because of this?" He gestured to his leg. "This will heal, Dean…most things do."

            Dean looked up and then back to the rink. Out of habit, his gaze fell back on Julie again. "Charlie told me about you two," he said not taking his eyes from the goalie. Adam looked down to the rink as well. "I'm uh…I'm glad. She always did belong with you…"

            Adam nodded, "Thanks."

            Dean looked back, "…and not me." He finished. "Adam I'm sorry-"

            But Adam put his hand up, "Don't. Please…look, what's done is done. I'm not complaining. I'm starting school in the fall and my trainer says I can start some easy drills by October…and I'm with Julie. I'm doing just fine…it's you who's runnin' away."

            Dean nodded and looked once more to the rink.

            "Now we're all here…and we may never be all together again. You can come down and join us if you want. No one's stopping you but yourself. Charlie invited you for a reason."

            "How can I face them again?"

            Adam shrugged. "Only one way to find out." And then he disappeared through the top of the stands. Dean continued to watch as the scrimmage continued, people suddenly breaking into laughter as Luis had taken off after Averman. "I'm gonna kill you man!" he shouted, the rest of the ducks watching as Averman played keep away with Luis's helmet. A moment later, Adam reappeared down below and waved. With the game stopped already, Julie skated right over to the boards and lifted her helmet, kissing him hello. Dean watched as they started talking. Oh no, he thought. Julie's face had softened and nodded as Adam talked to her quietly. And suddenly, her head shot up toward the stands. She saw him, frozen just as he had been when he realized Adam was behind him…And then she smiled. Dean lifted a shaking hand and waved.

            "Portman! You came!" he heard.

            "Hey Dean! Get down here!"

            "Hey bash-man is back!"

            "What're you waiting for jerkface? Get your butt on down here before Goldberg comes up and sits on you."

            "Hey, you better watch it Averman!"

            "Eh, bite me goalie!"

            "Hey come on Dean! Let's bash these punks."

            Dean hesitated only a minute before grabbing his gear and running downstairs. The group was more than welcoming, and took Dean completely off guard. He was rushed onto the ice almost before he'd even laced up his skates. Charlie, who'd stood apart from the pack now skated up to him and removed his glove, "Glad you could make it Portman."

            Dean shook it and smiled, "Thanks man. It's uh…good to be back." He looked over his shoulder where Julie was still standing with her boyfriend. She nodded, as did Adam. He smiled back. Maybe he was a duck after all.

* * * * *

All right…I'm working on a sequel…but it seems too many people can't wait ;)…hope this clears up what happened to Dean. A little fluffy of course, but…jeez, I don't hate the guy. :-P