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 12: Motherhood

And so life, once again, was split, skewed and severed for our might ducks. Not all of them of course, but the few who had already been put through so much, fate just wouldn't leave alone.

Charlie, mildly surprised, as many were, that Connie had jumped at the offer, busily prepared to break in a new coach after working with Orion for nearly 8 years. Dean, suffering already through his comrade's death, had found true love at last, but was left still tortured by the hidden mystery of the beautiful woman for whom his passion burned. Connie and Guy, were separated again, maybe forever, each overflowing with misery and longing for the other, but neither strong enough to confront it.

The glimmers of course, in the midst of the chaotic flock, were Julie and Adam Banks. The brilliant shine of an expectant mother upon her face, Julie finally understood love. Love realized at its fullest capacity was the love of a woman for the father of her child. There was nothing so pure, so wonderful as the hope their child inspired in them. Adam had been the perfect husband, appropriately panicked at the minutest of details, and always ready to run to the drugstore at 3am for Reese's peanut-butter cups.

But it was his tenderness that she adored the most. Even when the child inside her caused the most ridiculous of moods and attitudes, he remained her anchor, her crutch to lean on. And as she sat on the 747 Continental, nearly three months into her pregnancy, bound for Minnesota, these thoughts played on and on in her mind. How could she have been so blind? How could she have questioned?…

Julie turned down the palm-treed lane in her Pontiac-rental and sped down the street. What a day it'd had been already, and she hadn't even seen Connie yet. The hassle at the airport with her bag, the ticket being lost. Pulled out of line three times to be searched and re-searched. The dealership losing her reservation. God, she hated traveling. But Connie had been frighteningly hysterical over the phone. Something was very wrong. Something she just wouldn't tell her. But they'd been the best of friends since they were roommates in high school. And although they had fallen out of touch in recent years, Julie had remained the one person Connie trusted the most, besides Guy of course…or so she thought. She was determined to help her, no matter the cost.

Finally she reached the house and turned into the driveway. No Blazer. Guy must be at a game. She walked up the path and rang the bell. After a few more times, she stepped off the porch and sighed, suddenly afraid this whole trip had been for nothing, when the door opened from behind her.

"Jules?" she heard. Julie turned around, horrified at the pale scrawny shadow of her former roommate that stood before her.

Quickly, she recovered and moved back towards the door. "Hi Connie…um…surprise," she finished sheepishly.

Connie walked slowly out into the sun and stared at Julie for a brief moment… and then collapsed into her arms.

"It all just happened so fast. One minute, he was asking me what was wrong, and then we were yelling…and screaming…and saying…a-awful things," she sniffled into her Kleenex as she pulled her blanket over her. Julie watched in sympathy as she sipped her coffee, "and then he was gone."

Julie sighed, "What things Con? What did he say to you? Was he hostile? Did he hit you?"

"No no!" Connie leaned forward, instantly on the defensive, "Guy would never do that, you know that. But he was…he was hostile. Accused me of being on drugs! Julie, they're prescription! He's the one who took me to that damn doctor in the first place!"

"I know, shh, I know," Julie tried again. They'd been there over 2 hours going round and round about what had happened. But she still had no clue why Guy really left. It couldn't just be this silly fight…could it? "Honey, what's been going on lately? I mean, you said something about drinking. Does he get drunk a lot?"

Connie looked down, "Well…no not really. But he loves alcohol more than he loved me that's for sure."

"Connie-"

"Come on, it's true. He wouldn't talk to me! He stopped asking me about my day or talking to me about…about…stuff," she stammered, "he'd just come home and start drinking."

"But you said he told you that you never talked to him. I mean-"

"Oh sure!" Connie sprung up from the couch, "Come to his defense. It's always Connie's fault isn't it huh? What'd Connie do now?"

"I didn't say that, come on Con. I'm trying to help."

"Yeah, well you're doin' a lousy job. No one asked you to come here you know."

Julie sighed, "Well look at yourself Connie! How long has it been since you've eaten huh? And how long are you gonna keep this up with Guy until you both realize how stupid this is?"

Connie whirled around, her eyes aflame, "Stupid? You think this is stupid? You and your precious Adam living in your dream castle with your perfect career and all his fame and all his money. You couldn't possibly understand what I've been through."

"And what have you been through Connie? You've had a few miscarriages and a still-born child, yes. You've been through hell. No one's denying that. I'm not here to tell you you need to be instantly chipper and wonderful and blissful again. But oh my God!" she threw her head back in a mock gasp, "you've been forced to endure it with a devoted and loving husband who until now stood by you until you ignored him so much he left?"

"Where the hell do you get off accusing me like that? You don't know the whole story!"

"Oh yeah? What's the rest of the story huh? The part where you starve yourself to death?"

Connie picked up a magazine from the table and flung it at her ex-roommate. "You get the hell outta my house Julie Banks! I didn't fly up to Michigan and start telling you how to live your life."

"No, but I'm not throwing mine away," Julie answered, trying desperately to control her temper, but it wasn't working. The pent up frustration of the past two hours of beating around the bush. Getting sucked into her own despair. This wasn't the same Connie…and she wasn't the same Jules.

"Well what if I am? It's none of your business. Now get outta here. Now!"

That had been the last word Connie Moreau Germaine had spoken to her. She'd never told anyone about the confrontation. Not even Adam had known until a few weeks after Charlie had phoned and told them Connie was moving back to Minnesota. She had never been able to comprehend the anger, the pain and hurt Connie shoved onto Guy. Told herself over and over again that it was the result of the depression. Guy simply just couldn't take it anymore. She shuddered as she remembered what Connie had said…It's always Connie's fault isn't it? What had Connie done now?…but it wasn't. It wasn't anybody's fault. As she rubbed her hand over her belly, feeling the tiny bulge that had begun to form through the fabric of her slightly oversized shirt, she closed her eyes with silent tears. It wasn't anybody's fault…

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A little insight into the following chapters: As you may have guessed, this story has taken a lot of unexpected turns, some of which I didn't even see coming. Sorry it's taking so long between updates, but as all of you awesome writers know, you gotta wait for the characters to tell you where you're goin' next. Hopefully you like where they're taking you. As always, thanks for all the reviews. Stay tuned! J