Epilogue: Grown-Ups
One Year Later
Charlie watched the scene unfold before him, amazed at how far his ducks had come. The end of last year had marked many joyous occasions. On November 14th, he'd traveled to Detroit, Michigan to visit Connie Jennifer Banks and her new parents. On December 20th, he flew to a midnight holiday mass in New York City where he stepped in for Fulton Reed as best man at Dean and Annalisse's wedding…Tyler even gave him a high five. And on New Year's Eve, he was home again at Minneapolis City Hall, watching Connie and Guy exchange vows for a second time, each a little wiser and both more in love than ever before.
The new year had ushered in a new era for the ducks. Stricken with drama, grief, separation and loss, they had made it through…but not just as the old ducks. They were adults now. Grown-ups if you will, where they'd been forced to act without the security of a pee-wee hockey team. This time, they had really flown together.
Now, as yet another year had come and gone, they were all back at Connie and Guy's new home in Minneapolis. Not quite as massive as their first one, but just right for the renewed couple. Guy, who for as long as he'd known him had ridiculously opposed Mighty Duck reunions, had invited the whole team over for a Christmas party. The whole gang, by now all aware of the many events that had taken place, all showed up for the overly yuletide gathering. Ken Wu was back from his European figure skating tour. Les Averman was there with his wife, Diane…along with Goldberg who still lived in their upstairs apartment. Russ Tyler had quit his club in San Francisco and had stopped in Minnesota before he joined New Jersey's minor league as an assistant coach. Dwayne was on semester break from his teaching position at Rose Hulman, Indiana, and Luis Mendoza had taken a weekend off from his TV shoot in Los Angeles.
Dean had Tyler on his lap as he talked with Goldberg about life on the force. Annalisse and Julie were helping out in the kitchen, exchanging horror stories of motherhood with Diane Averman, who'd just announced that she and Les would be having their first. Adam was stretched across the living room floor as he and Luis kept little Connie Jennifer entertained with her new set of Duplo Blocks. And Connie and Guy?…Connie and Guy stood slightly distanced and perfectly content by the stairs, Guy's arms wrapped around her waist from behind while her head lay against his shoulder.
The only one missing…was Fulton Reed. But Charlie had a feeling that he was somewhere close by, watching over them as they celebrated. The whole thing was almost too Norman Rockwell for him to take any longer. But the contentment on their faces was enough of a Christmas present for everyone.
He heard a fit of giggles explode from the kitchen as Diane, a short and already slightly plump pretty blonde threw her head back in laughter. Annalisse was grinning as Julie caught his glance from across the room and rolled her eyes. She excused herself from the crowd and crossed the room.
"Something funny?" Charlie asked as Julie reached him.
Julie chuckled, "Umm, you don't want to know."
Charlie shrugged. "I figured as much."
"Let's just say that Dean really has met his equal in Annalisse."
He nodded, "Certainly seems so." They watched as the laughter died down and Annalisse walked over to her husband and son, drawing a tired Tyler into her arms as Dean kissed her on the cheek. "I'm happy for them."
"I think we all are."
"And for you, and Connie and Guy, the Avermans…you know, everybody."
"Now all we need to do is get you hitched, Spazway."
At that, Charlie started laughing, "Rrrrrrrright. You'd have better luck matching up Luis and getting him to keep her for more than a month."
"This is probably true." Julie glanced down at the floor and watched as her daughter threw a Duplo Block at Luis's head. Those who had seen, laughed as Adam moved to pick her up and carry her over to her mother. Julie took the hand-off and disappeared into Guy's den where they'd set up a playpen. Charlie glanced over at the Germaines, still standing by the stairway, Connie's eyes intensely fixed upon Julie as she disappeared with the baby girl.
"What?" Adam asked, suddenly at his side as he handed him a drink.
"Hmm? Oh…" he took the drink, "thanks…just you know, thinking."
"Uh oh," Adam chuckled.
"What?"
"Conway, when you start thinking, Cupid gets nervous."
"What?!" Charlie stepped back in mock offense.
"Oh don't you what me. I know what you thought you were doing when you offered Connie that job here…trying to force the two of 'em out of that stand-still."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Charlie smiled into his Finlandia as he took a gulp.
"And that convenient call you made to Bombay's old buddy at the North Stars."
He shrugged, becoming serious again. "So I dropped a few hints," he nodded toward the couple, "They did all the work."
Adam looked over too. "They certainly did." He heard Charlie sigh, "So what's left to think about."
Charlie shrugged again, "Just wish they could have it all, you know?"
Adam nodded, as if expecting the answer. "The operation was the right thing for her to do. They didn't want to risk it again."
"Oh I know."
"And they registered with the adoption agency."
"I know that too."
"What then?"
Charlie thought for a minute and then grinned, "Just wish Bombay had a buddy at the adoption agency that's all."
Banks rolled his eyes, "Charlie, I think you better stick to coaching now. You've done quite enough already." They laughed as Charlie's gaze returned to the couple who had by now finally separated and gone back to mingling with their guests.
A while later, as the evening winded down and people began exchanging e-mails and phone numbers, making empty promises that they'd write more often knowing full well that it'd probably be the next reunion before they talked again, the phone rang and Connie stepped into the quiet den to take the call. She was gone for several minutes while Guy took care of seeing many of their teammates off. Dean, Annalisse and Tyler were headed for their hotel, ironically staying at the same inn that Dwayne was at. Russ wasn't staying at all, but was continuing his cross-country trek to New Jersey that night and took plenty of the party's leftover sources of caffeine with him. The Avermans and Goldberg had an early flight out the next morning, so they'd already left early. And Ken and Luis had buddied up again, deciding to visit the old Penalty Box before they called it a night.
Pretty soon, the house was significantly subdued, only the Banks family and Charlie remained as they helped Guy start to straighten up. Guy had peaked in on Connie several times while the guests left, but she'd been deeply engrossed in the conversation, that he'd decided to leave her alone with whoever she was talking to. But now, he was getting worried and the others could tell.
"Did she tell you who it was?" said Adam as he rolled up his sleeves and started loading their dishwater with empty drink glasses.
"No, I didn't bug her. But she's been in there almost 20 minutes," Guy shook his head as he picked up stray paper plates and confetti."
"I'm sure everything's ok," Julie added, patting him on the shoulder as she and Charlie moved tables and chairs back to their respective rooms. Just as she finished talking, Connie emerged from the den clutching her datebook, notes scribbled hastily across the opened page.
"Honey?" Guy moved quickly from the living room and joined her, "everything ok?"
Connie nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on the paper for a moment longer before she finally met his gaze. "Guy?"
Adam, Julie and Charlie had all moved in closer too, concerned by the look of shock on her face.
"What is it?"
"That was the adoption agency."
Guy stepped back, feeling behind him as he braced himself against the hallway wall. Julie gasped and clasped a hand over her mouth as she and the rest of them waited for her to continue.
"We're…we're gonna have a little boy."
The small group erupted in cheers as Guy embraced his wife, tears streaming down their faces.
"What a Christmas present!" Charlie laughed, clapping for the couple.
"Congratulations!"
"Aww you guys, I'm so happy for you!" They were all talking so loud and so fast that little Connie had started wailing upstairs. Julie rolled her eyes as she went to calm down her daughter, leaving the rest to talk excitedly about Connie and Guy's new son.
Connie had written down everything the agency had told her, making sure each detail was 100% accurate as she told Guy what they'd be in for in the next few months. Charlie and Adam quietly continued straightening up the house, interjecting every now and then with more salutations and little jokes.
Guy eventually broke out the champagne and the five of them stayed up talking so late that Connie convinced the Banks's to take the guest room upstairs and spend the night. Charlie only a neighborhood away, declined the offer but promised to be back in the morning to drive them to the agency. He stood on the doorstep as he embraced his friend and kissed her on the cheek. The cold wind wisped through the air, but no one really noticed it that night. "Congratulations Con," he whispered, hugging her close.
"Thanks Charlie," she hugged him tightly.
He pulled back and shook Guy's hand. "See you in the morning."
Guy nodded, as he shook back, his other hand still clasping tightly to his wife's. "Thanks for all your help Charlie."
He nodded and walked down the steps, an odd sense of completion settling inside. This was a Christmas the ducks would never forget.
* * *
Ok, I just couldn't help myself. This chapter was obviously pure sap for those of us who just soak it up. Hope you enjoyed my little two-part drama here. If you haven't read the first one, it's entitled "Flying Together." Thanks for all the great reviews and support! J