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 14: It's not you
"Come on, finish up," she said, scribbling in her agenda as she drew more data from the laptop in front of her.
"I'm not huuuuungry," he whined.
"Finish your macaroni Tyler, or no more gameboy tonight," she answered in a sing-songy voice as she tousled his dusty blond hair and rose to clear the table. Tyler huffed and shoved huge forkfuls of yellow noodles in his mouth, terrified of the threat of not being able to battle goombas after supper. Annalisse started filling up the dishwasher as she hastily checked the wall clock. That annoying bird clock that chirped in 12 different styles every half-hour. (Why in God's name did her brother buy her that thing?) It was 9:02. He was late. But that was ok. She still had to get Tyler to bed.
She surveyed the pleasantly cluttered apartment and sighed as she started picking up stray pajama bottoms and legos. Tyler was still chewing. Come on she thought, wondering if maybe this was a bad idea after all. But she knew she was doing the right thing…she just hoped he'd be able to handle it.
Annalisse McHugh had never been more nervous in her life. She was the girl in school, who always had it together. The youngest of four siblings, and the only girl besides, she was the one person in her family who knew exactly where she was headed, every step of the way. Having visited New York City her senior year of high school, and absolutely falling in love with it, Annalisse spent the next 6 years training in the PR departments of Cleveland State and NYU. It had only taken another 3 or so for her to join the head-marketing department of Random House Publishing, continuing up that ladder of success. When Tyler came along, her world had definitely morphed into a whole new set of responsibilities. But like every other decision she'd made in her life, she was certain it had been the right one. She'd taken a less intensive position at the publishing house and a slight pay cut, but it was worth it for every moment she got to spend with her new son. In fact, her life had seemed so perfect that she considered herself complete. She needed nothing and no one else, and not a soul would've convinced her otherwise…up until 5 months ago.
Annalisse had dated before, even been engaged once. But never had she been so infatuated…and so terrified of someone at the same time. Dean Portman had shown her the kind of love girls dreamed about, the unconditional devotion to her and everything important to her…including Tyler. He was not at all the arrogant, contemptible bad cop she'd originally supposed he was. Quite the opposite really. His warmth, boyish charm, and tenderness sharply contrasted his tough, rugged, sexy physical appeal. How many times had her heart ached when Tyler hid from his attempts to be "buddies"? How many times had her body ached for his touch, his kiss, his passion. It wasn't fair to him. To be so close, yet so far away. She had to tell him. She knew that day in front of the school when she'd momentarily surrendered her carefully constructed caution and yielded to his embrace…she knew that day she needed to tell him.
A loud knock startled her from these very thoughts as she rushed to peer through the peep hole and unlocked the door. There he was. Just as hopeful as he looked the first time he'd seen them skating. He smiled and leaned forward, kissing her on the cheek. "Hey," he said casually.
She smiled back and led him inside, "Come on in."
"Nice place," he said out of habit. After all, he'd only ever peered in from the hallway. Five months and they'd still only met in open places, Roxy's, the rink, his precinct. She laughed nervously as they walked around the archway into their little kitchen.
Tyler, who was drinking his chocolate milk, froze mid-gulp as Dean came into view. Annalisse drew a deep breath and bent forward a little, "Honey, can you say hello to Dean?"
Tyler set down his drink and ran for his bedroom, slamming the door shut. Annalisse closed her eyes as she moved to clear the rest of the dishes, not wanting to look at the wonderful man who had once again been rejected.
"Maybe I should go," he said quietly.
Annalisse whipped around, "No! No, don't go."
"It's been 5 months Annalisse. I think the kid would've at least said hi to me by now."
"It's not you."
"I don't see what else it could be. If you're son can't accept me then-"
But Annalisse moved forward and put her hand up to stop him. "It's not you," she repeated. She looked back to her son's door and sighed, "Sit down, Dean. I'm gonna go calm him down…and then I need to tell you something."
Dean obeyed as he watched the love of his life disappear down the short hallway leading to the bedrooms.
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