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!

Grown-ups

By Rebecca

Chapter 9: Mr. and Mrs. Banks

Adam ruffled his hair over with his towel as he walked back into the locker room, feeling pretty good about the three goals he'd scored that day. Still on the third line, and no longer the star center, but it was the Detroit Redwings! Playing offense for the NHL.

            "Nice game today Banksie," one of the guys shouted from across the room.

            "Thanks," he answered, trying hard not to laugh at the old nickname of his that had never died…at least they didn't call him cake-eater.

            He slung his bag on his shoulder and prepared for the traditional battle of the media outside the doors, when his cell rang.

            "Hello?" he flipped it on, frowning at number he didn't recognize.

            "Mr. Banks?" a man said on the other side.

            "Yes?"

            "Mr. Banks, this is Doctor Hogarth from University Hospitals? Your wife is Mrs. Julie Gaffney Banks?"

            Adam dropped his bag as his breathing quickened, "Yes? What's wrong?"

            "Your wife is fine first of all, Mr. Banks, I assure you," he answered quickly.

            "What happened?" Adam shouted, not believing him.

            "She suffered a mild heat stroke and passed out about an hour ago during one of her sessions. Her client brought her in-"

            "Oh my God-"

            "But she's fine now sir. I can't stress that enough," the doctor tried again in that same calming voice. "She's resting now."

            It seemed to work. Adam closed his eyes and gripped his shirt, slowing down his breathing as he nodded to several teammates who had overheard. "I'll be there right away."

            In record time, Adam reached the hospital and started asking for his wife. Recognizing spousal panic, the doctor came forward. "Mr. Banks, I'm Dr. Hogarth. I saw your wife when she came in."

            Adam hastily shook his hand, "How is she?"

            At that, he received a chuckle, "Anxious to go home actually…she's fine."

            "I don't understand. She's a personal trainer. Best shape of her life. How did she just faint?"

            "Well, Julie is in excellent shape, but she needs to limit herself now in her condition."

            "Her condition? What condition?"

            Dr. Hogarth stared blankly, haled in mid-stride as they approached the exam room, "You don't know?"

            "Know what?"

            He suppressed a smile, "I'm sorry sir. I thought you would've known. It's been almost 7 weeks.

            "Since what?" Adam grew impatient, "Doctor, what's wrong with my wife?"

            "Absolutely nothing, Mr. Banks. Julie is pregnant."

            Adam had loved Julie since he was 14 years old. Gazed at her through the eyes of a teammate, a friend, boyfriend, fiancé and husband with the same intensity of love and passion, growing stronger each day. But he could not articulate, or even comprehend for that matter, the emotion that consumed him now. Laying before him was the mother of his child. His child. He was going to be a father…the concept was almost alien to him, an unspoken wish he'd always known would come true. But now that it had, it seemed even more of a dream than before. Adam reached out and sifted her hair through his fingers, while he ran his other hand gently across her belly, in awe of the tiny life growing inside of her.

Julie's eyes fluttered open and met her husband's watching over her with moist eyes. She'd gotten so impatient and anxious to be released that she'd drained all her energy with frustration and drifted back to sleep while she waited for Adam.

            She had figured Hogarth would've told him. Adam wouldn't rest until he knew everything. She hated herself for waiting so long to tell him. Lord knows she had the typical girlish fantasy…telling him over some romantic dinner or something.

            But reading into his gaze now, Julie had a feeling it didn't really matter.

            "Hey Cat Lady," he whispered, brushing her hair off to the side, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

            "Hey," she said, fully awaking. Adam had no words. Anything he would say, and he knew his eyes would just start leaking tears. "I'm sorry I never told you," she whispered.

            "Shh…don't worry about it."

            "I found out the day that Fulton-"

            "It's all right Jules. The doctor told me 7 weeks. I did the math.

            Julie propped herself up against her pillow and reached for the water on the stand next to her, "It just…didn't seem right to be so happy right then."

            He nodded, lacing his fingers with hers and smiled. Neither spoke for a few moments, but communicated seven weeks worth of emotion through their eyes…joy, concern, wonder, anticipation, worry, panic…it was all there. There was much to talk about now. So much to plan for, wait for. There were questions he wanted to ask, answers she wanted to give. But at the moment, they relished the comfortable silence of the quietly lit exam room at University Hospitals, each anticipating the day 9 months from now when they'd be here again.

            Adam leaned forward and kissed her fully. "I love you Jules."

            "I love you too," she echoed. Eventually, she let out a small laugh as she reached for the phone sitting on the table. She held up the receiver and smiled, "So…who first? Our parents or Charlie Conway?"

* * *

Wow…I'm such a sap! But I think we needed a little chapter to breathe ;)…More to come, so stay tuned. As always, reviews are welcome and extremely helpful. (yet another hidden movie reference here. Points go to whoever can guess where the name of the doctor comes from J )