Summary: SEQUEL TO FLYING TOGETHER…a continuation of the life and times of the mighty ducks…Focus on Dean, Charlie, Connie, Guy, Adam and Julie…again. What can I say, they're my 6 favorite characters!
Disclaimer: The Mighty Ducks and all its characters belong to Disney. I do not own any of it!
Chapter 5: Glory Days
Guy loosened his tie and threw it on top of the badly folded pile of clothes overflowing in his suitcase. He'd had a meeting with the North Stars that morning and had just returned to the hotel to start packing for Miami…and he couldn't wait. Guy hated coming back to Minnesota. He hated the memories and reminders of times when things were better…simpler…when his biggest worry was whether or not Coach Bombay would make him a center. He hated seeing Fulton lying in a casket, former friends and family surrounding him with moist eyes and sorrow…that's just what he needed: more depression. He hated the stares from his former teammates as he walked into the room without Connie…he hated walking into the room without Connie. He hated the unspoken questions and anxiety of everyone wanted desperately to ask what'd happened…he hated waking up in his hotel room that morning, alone.
Fulton's death was just too much for Guy. It'd been a long enough year as it is, and now, one of them had truly fallen and would never return to the flock. He had always scoffed at the idea that the ducks would always fly together…the flock would never change. It had always seemed some pointless high school fantasy of Charlie's that once a year they'd have "duck reunions" and scrimmages until they were old and wrinkled. He remembered telling Connie once a long time ago how Charlie sometimes reminded him of that old song, "Glory Days"- sitting around, only remembering the 'good ol' times."…what Guy wouldn't give now for those glory days.
He stepped up to the window of his tenth floor holiday inn suite his team had put him up in for the night and gazed over the city, almost smelling the crisp February air through the double-layered window. Quack attack is back Jack, he recalled Averman's voice out of nowhere. I was this close.
He lowered himself to the chair and sighed as more random pieces of his childhood and adolescence came to mind. The Goodwill Games, winning district 5, holding hands with Connie at the North Stars stadium, winning the gold, roundup with Dwayne, Eden Hall…the same memories that had overtaken all the ducks this weekend as they returned home to say goodbye to a fallen comrade. But as he dozed in the easy chair, a wet snow beginning to fall outside, one particular scene from his life haunted him…that night senior year right after Adam's accident. She'd been visibly upset, as they all were. Guy offered to take her home. They'd been split for almost a year then, but Guy was determined to remain her friend in the hopes that someday…They walked back to his car and talked, "I feel terrible," she'd said. Guy assumed she was just upset about Adam. But she wasn't…"Adam was hit by a car tonight…injured badly and he won't be able to play…Dean was also in that car and may very well never recover from knowing what he did tonight…my roommate is being ripped in so many directions right now, we can't even find her…"…"What has any of that got to do with you?"…Connie looked away as she finished, "And all I can think about is how much I miss you."
Everything happened so fast after that. Guy had been waiting for so long to hear her say that, he was stunned into silence, not really knowing what to do next. It was one of those fantasies people have that they think could never ever come true and then suddenly it does…and you just freeze up…Connie still loved him. He had pulled her into his arms that night, and every night after that, kissing her with more intensity and love than he'd ever felt before. She was his again…and it was going to stay that way…it was supposed to stay that way…
"Guy, come on, where are we going?" Connie giggled as she rubbed her arms to keep warm.
"Can't you let anything be a surprise?" his eyes twinkled as he gave her a quick Guy-Germaine grin and looked back to the road.
It was the middle of December, 3 weeks 'till Christmas. Guy had gotten some time off from his team in Miami, and Connie was on her final winter break, relishing in the fact that in less than 5 months, she'd be graduating from Miami State.
She rolled her eyes and gazed out the window, watching as the beautifully lit, snow-covered rooftops zoomed by. If there was one thing she'd missed about Minnesota, it was real snow at Christmas time. But she still couldn't fathom what could be so important that Guy would book 2 first class seats on a Continental 747 and rent a Cadillac to get all the way back here. Dinner at Antonio's was wonderful as was the walk through Lincoln park where they'd strolled hand in hand, watching snowball fights break out between neighborhood kids, as parents begged them to settle down, weaving in and out of the dazzling display of lights at the ice castle this year…but they could've had dinner and looked at Christmas decorations in Miami.
Still…he wouldn't tell her, and she knew he was enjoying watching her squirm with anticipation.
Finally, he turned down a familiar side street and slowed the car as he carefully maneuvered through the half-plowed road, the untouched snow sparkling with the same anxiety and nerves in her heart. Connie gasped and Guy smiled, knowing she'd figured it out.
They approached the old pond, looking just the same as it always had, save for the colored lights and garland hanging along the metal fence encircling it.
Guy stopped the car and looked at Connie, who was now more confused than ever. He laughed as he opened his door, rounded the car and escorted her out.
"Come on," he grinned again, "trust me."
She took his hand and he led her to the middle of the frozen pond and turned her to face him.
Throughout the entire flight and then the long drive to town, Guy had remained calm, preparing himself for the rush of nerves that were sure to explode within him once he'd reached this point. But as he gazed into her eyes, sky-blue pools of love, and a little bit of confusion for the moment, Guy was still just as calm. Nothing had felt more right…all he had to do now, was ask.
"You know where we are?" he said, reaching inside his pocket.
"Yes," she said, almost annoyed, "we're at the old pond. We've been here a dozen-"
"Yeah but do you know where we are?" he asked again as his hand touched the velvet hidden in his coat.
Connie was silent, giving a slight shrug. Guy looked up and smiled, choking a bit on his words as he answered, "This is where I fell in love with you."
Connie's heart leapt into her throat as she covered her mouth with a gloved hand. She looked down at the little black box Guy now held in his hand and gasped.
Guy looked down as well, turning the box over as he continued, "I thought it'd be…a good place to give you this…" slowly, he opened it, the lid creaking slightly as the diamond crown that lay on a shiny gold band was revealed.
Connie's other hand came to her lips as she felt her knees start to shake, and her eyes start to water.
Guy's own hands trembled too as he moved hers aside and caressed her cheek, "Connie," he nearly whispered. Connie had never loved the sound of her own name so much, "Will you marry me?"
A tear fell down her cheek as she nodded her answer, still unable to speak. When she finally did utter a yes, she barely had time to say, "I love you" before she was swept into his arms and twirled in the air. Guy held her as if she weighed nothing, one strong arm wrapped around her waist as he kissed her again and again, the other still clutching the box. He set her down lightly as she took off her glove. He slipped the ring easily on her finger and then kissed her hand. "I love you too," he whispered into her ear, brushing his cheek against her own. "I'm gonna love you forever…"
…Connie awoke with a start, clutching her pillow close to her chest as her heart pounded. She was drenched in sweat, unable to shake the overwhelming echoes of a now faded passion. Finally, her breathing slowed as she tried to push Guy from her mind…push that night and everything that followed from her soul…from her heart. She sank back down to her pillow and drifted back to sleep, powerless to keep those wonderful memories away.
* * *
Kudos to rumor for catching the movie cameos…so far, yes, we've got both Cutting Edge and Newsies references…what can I say, I'm a movie geek too! Thanks for the reviews and let me know what you think of the updates!