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 13: Reconciled

It had started warming up in Minneapolis. The snow had melted early this year, and late March scents of coming rains surrounded her as she stepped out of her car and onto the dewy grass of Eden Hall Academy. Lord, what it felt like to be back here. It was as if she'd stepped through a time warp, and back to her youth. Half tempted to follow the path to her dorm, she shook her head and marched up the walkway with a confidence that contrasted the pubescent teenage insecurity that she had once displayed on these grounds…marched straight for the Varsity Rink.

Her husband still had several games to play but the high school hockey season was over. If she knew Charlie however, those kids would be running drills before breakfast, including the seniors who wouldn't even be back the next year. As she walked, she started remembering everything that had taken place at Eden Hall. From freshman year's controversy over their scholarships, to senior year's drama of relationships past, present and future. How long ago it all was. How important it all seemed. It was a time where the simplest of things caused such turmoil in their group. When the success of her day depended on whether or not Adam looked at her a certain way or smiled. When Connie spent hours crying over breaking up with her boyfriend and him starting a relationship with another girl. That episode was nothing compared to the tragedy they faced. When Julie had been absolutely convinced that Dean might actually be the one for her. She smiled and shook her head.

As Julie reached the door of the rink, she closed her eyes and imagined the ducks as they were then. Youth, hope, love, it was always there. They had taken it for granted. Now all that was left was the broken pieces of a team shattered with real life tragedy and pain. It somehow didn't seem fair that she had gotten so lucky. That she did have the perfect marriage, the perfect husband, the perfect baby on the way. That Dean had lost his best and possibly only friend. That Connie and Guy were so far gone and changed from who they had been before. She shuddered, remembering Connie's last words to her, "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." She was right. She didn't understand then…but she did now. And she was going to do everything she could to help.

Connie blew the whistle and called out, "All right ducks. 20 more sprints and then hit the showers!" A surge of groans erupted from the ice and Connie whipped back around, "We could make it 30," she chimed. The players immediately took positions and started skating.
Connie returned to the bleachers where Charlie was busily taking notes and updating statistics. "Benson is gettin' a little slow," Charlie remarked as he scribbled something in red pen on his roster.
Connie chuckled, "Benson, is graduating Spazway."
Charlie shrugged, "No excuse."
She rolled her eyes, "Honestly, I think we have another Captain Blood on our hands.
Charlie arched his eyebrow up without moving his head and gave her a look. Connie laughed out loud and held her hands back in surrender. "Ok ok! Sheesh. Don't know what came over me."
Charlie laughed too, briefly recalling their very first coach, Coach Gordon Bombay, being swept away by fame and fortune at the Goodwill Games. "Do you see any grease in this hair?"
She rolled her eyes again and looked back to the ice. For a moment she concentrated on the skaters, but something caught her eye. A woman had just entered the rink. She squinted to see who it was, convinced it couldn't possibly be who she thought. But as the woman drew closer, looked up, and waved, Connie gasped. "Oh my God," she said aloud.
Charlie looked up too, "What?" He followed her gaze to Julie coming around the bleachers. "Jules!" he called as he rose from his seat, dropped his roster and approached her. "How's the mother to be?" he asked, giving her a hug.
"Pretty good Charlie. A little tired. But good." An uneasy pain, that most definitely wasn't the baby, stirred in her stomach as Connie came up behind him. "Hi Con."
Connie smiled, quiet and still for a moment. And then slowly, she moved in for a hug, "Hi Jules. It's been a long time."

            Adorable. She thought, Utterly adorable. They pulled into the driveway of Connie's new house. Perfect for a woman starting anew. They'd just gotten back from lunch. Charlie, Connie and Julie had gone out to the old penalty box to catch up on all the general uncontroversial details about their lives. Connie obviously hadn't spoken much. In fact most of the conversation was dominated Charlie demanding to know how the old cake eater was dealing with the pressures of approaching fatherhood. Julie of course gave him a glowing review. They all played their parts well, feigned enthusiasm between people who had they been just casually observed, seemed to have no problems at all. In fact, the lunch was so swift and so cheery, Julie started fearing that she may not even get a chance to really talk to Connie.

            But as Charlie rose to pay the check, Connie leaned forward and touched her arm. "I'm really glad to see you Jules. Come back to my house for some coffee."

            Julie felt relieved then, thankful for the opportunity to make things right between the two of them. But as they approached the porch now, she felt a twinge of pain in her stomach…and it wasn't the baby.

            The two walked inside onto a plush cream carpet. The kitchen was straight ahead, separated from the living room by an archway. A small hallway at the right led to the bathroom, bedroom and tiny guestroom. Julie recognized some of the knick-knacks and furniture pieces lying around the room, but mostly, it was a complete contrast to the place…and the life she had left behind.

            "Whadya think?" Connie asked timidly, dropping her keys on the glass covered coffee table.

            "I think it's adorable," Julie said with sincerity.

Connie gave a grin and disappeared down the hallway. "I'll be right back. Help yourself to whatever's in the fridge."

Julie nodded and slipped off her jacket, and continued to look around. What was she doing here? On the plane she had some vague dream, a lame attempt to get everybody's favorite high school sweethearts back together. But as she walked around the tiny living room, thinking of how much better Connie looked and acted from the last time she saw her, she wondered if maybe, this was the right thing. The way it was supposed to be. What right did she have anyway to show up after a year of silence, fragile and unsure of their friendship in the first place and try to butt into her—but something caught her eye. A small object on the far wall bookshelf. An image she'd seen a dozen times. An image that stuck with her as Connie came out of the bedroom.

"I know you can't really have coffee. What about some iced tea?"

"Tea's fine. Thanks."

Connie moved around her to the kitchen and filled the kettle.

"How'd you find this place?" Julie asked, pulling out a chair from the breakfast table.

"The idea of moving back in with my parents wasn't exactly appealing. I lived with my mom and pop for about a month while they helped me look for this place. I moved in late February.

Julie nodded, "It's very cozy."

Connie sighed and placed a few cups with tea bags on the counter. "I know it's not big…but it's enough."

She sat down, joining her friend and looked her in the eye. "So what are you doing here Jules?"

Julie leaned back in her chair and drew a deep breath, "Well…I wanted to…thank you for the crib and rocking chair. It meant…I mean. I cried when the packages came. They're just beautiful." Connie looked down, "I know, how hard it must have been for you to give them away…especially to me."

"Oh Jules-" Connie shook her head.

"No. No. I owe you one massive apology. I acted…horribly that day."

"We both did."

"No, but it was my fault. You were right. I had no right to lecture you."

"Julie-"

"Please, let me finish," Julie leaned forward and touched her hand. I attacked you for things I didn't understand. I couldn't accept that you and Guy…could just split up after all these years. I thought you were throwing your life away for no reason. I was young…and stupid."

Connie laughed, "Honey, it was only a year ago. We weren't all that young. It was just bad timing-"

"I know, but in a way I was,"  Julie was determined to finish. She drew her hand over her stomach and met Connie's eyes, "Con, I don't know what I would do if I lost this baby. I thought I had understood then. I didn't…but I do now. And I'm so sorry."

Connie closed her eyes and squeezed her friend's hand. Neither said anything for a moment. Another one of those classic awkward silences. Finally, Connie spoke, "Jules, I'm grateful you came down here, but you really don't need to apologize. I…I wasn't myself that day. I hadn't been for a very long time. That's why I moved here in the first place. Why I sent those things to you…I needed to get away…from everything."

Julie nodded, wiping the few tears that escaped, "Including Guy," she whispered, almost not realizing she'd said it aloud. The teakettle whistled and Connie rose immediately to the stove.

"Yes," she said, her back to the table, "including Guy."

Julie hesitated, and then moved to help her. "I'm sorry."

But she shook her head, "It's ok."

"Do you miss him a lot?"

"What makes you think I miss him at all?" she said quickly, her voice sharp.

Again Julie sighed and again she hesitated. But everything in her heart told her to keep going. She walked around the archway to the bookshelf on the far wall. And there it was. The image she'd caught sight of when she walked in the door. She grabbed the wooden frame and walked back to Connie, holding it up without a word.

Connie glanced out of the corner of her eye, paused and slumped over the sink. It was the old picture of her and Guy. The one she'd been packing the day he came to get his stuff. The one Charlie took. The one that represented the essence of Connie and Guy…whether they liked it or not. She shook her head and struggled with a light laugh, "Um…who put that there?"

A soft smile touched her face as Julie once again took her hand, "There's so much love there Con."

"Not enough."

"I don't really believe that, do you?"

Connie started absently pacing around the kitchen, "Remember where this topic landed us the last time?"

Julie chuckled, "I know I know. Hey, at least we're not yelling," she joked, trying to keep things as light as possible.

It worked. Connie smiled, "I appreciate what you're trying to do-"

"I'm not doing anything. I'd just hate to see either of you hurt anymore. You still love each other."

"I don't think so," Connie said abruptly, grabbing the photo and laying it on the table, "You remember what you said that day?…he stayed by me for so long until I ignored him so much, I drove him away."

"No Connie, I was-"

"Absolutely right."

"Connie-"

"No Jules. My turn. I do still love Guy. I loved him then, but I couldn't tell him. And I drove him away. I could never let him forgive me for that, even if he wanted to."

"You were depressed. Clinically!" Julie tried, "You'd been through so much-"

"Stop saying that!" she threw her arms up in the air, "God, I wish people would stop saying that. 'I went through so much'…yeah, but so did he. And I didn't respect that."

"Con," she pleaded, "Don't do this to yourself."

But Connie just smiled and retreated back to her tea. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna throw something at you."

Julie searched for something to say. Anything. Of all the things she expected today, the last thing was a declaration of 14 months of guilt. Finally, taking a good long look at her friend…calm, collected, rational…and solemn, she realized what her mistake had been. She'd been talking to the wrong Germaine. She took her tea back to the table and sighed, "You can you know."

Connie laughed, "Throw something at you?"

Julie shrugged, "If you need to."

"I'll letcha know."

* * *