Portman had been trying to keep Julie off his mind. And for the most part he had been succeeding. That was until she had come by his room a couple of weeks ago to tell him she was leaving and she was going to get their baby back. Their son. He had a son. "No you don't have a son. Julie has a son. And that's the way it's going to stay." That what he told himself anyway. He may still have feelings for Julie, but he wasn't about to get tied down with some kid. He had his hockey future to think about. But if Julie wanted to give up her chances than that was her choice.

So, Portman decided to get Julie off his mind once and for all. And the best way to do that was too date as many girls as possible. So, every night of the week Portman had a date with a different girl.

Today he was going out with Sherry. Now Sherry had been around the block once or twice. She was right up Portman's alley or at least he liked to think she was. He took her to the skating park where he was attempting to teach her the basic of hockey. In the past he would have taken advantage of the situation. Even if the girl was just putting on that she didn't know anything hockey. But today it was just frustrating him to no end. "I just don't get. Can't you show me something else?" she smiled and kissed his lips softly. Portman kissed her back deeping the kiss. "Oh , I can you show a thing or two." Sherry grabbed his hand and stalked off to his truck. "Then show me what you got." Portman followed Sherry back to his truck and the two drove off. His first instinct was to go to the spot where he and Julie always went, but he didn't feel right going there. That had been there spot, and he couldn't take another girl there. "You're getting soft Portman." he told himself.

A couple of hours later Portman dropped Sherry off at her house. He couldn't figure out why he felt like the scum of the earth. He'd gotten something he hadn't had in way too long, but it didn't feel right. It felt as if he had cheated on Julie. "Damn you Julie."

Julie spent the next couple of weeks finishing her packing. Graduation was the next day and she had to be ready to go back to Maine with or without Coby.

She placed the last box on her bed. She looked inside at the contents. Inside was a picture that everyone on the team had. It was a team picture taken after their most successful year until this year that is. She ran her fingers over the glass and looked at all the faces staring up at her. They would all be going off to college here in Minnesota with scholarships to play hockey without her. The thought made her sad, but the thought of taking her son home and watching him grow outweighed the loss of her hockey career.

Her phone rang and she picked it up. "Hello." Charlie spoke on the other line. "Hey Julie. We're all going out tonight. A night of celebration before we finally leave this hell hole. We'd love it if you'd join us. Will you?" Julie sighed, "Charlie, thanks for the invite, but I don't think that would be a good idea." She heard Charlie sigh and knew he was probably rolling his eyes. "Julie, come on. Does this have anything to do with Portman? Forget him. He's an asshole Julie. Julie I will come over there and drag you out of that room. You need this more than we do. When is the last time you had any fun?" Julie couldn't argue him on that one. She'd been so busy with school and trying to get Coby back that she hadn't had time for anything else. Not that she would have gone out if she had. "Charlie. I just can't okay." She sat down on the edge of her bed and placed her head in her hand. "I won't accept that. You're coming. Everybody is going to be there. Coach Orion, and I wasn't supposed to tell you this, but even Coach Bombay is going to be there." Julie gave in and said she would go out to eat with them at least.

Everyone was so excited at dinner. They were all talking about when they all first meet for the Junior Goodwill Games, and when they first came to Eden Hall. The evening should have been a day to remember, but for Julie it wasn't. It was more of an evening of heartache. She sat at the end of the table the farthest from Portman as she could get. "How are you doing Julie?" Julie looked up to see Bombay sit down next to her. "Coach Bombay? I'm doing alright." she looked down the table to Portman and then looked away. "I can tell. I'm sorry to hear what happened with the two of you. Things will work out . You're tough, and you're not a quiter." Julie smiled weakly. "Thanks coach. I hope you're right."

After dinner Julie made her get away and went back to the dorms. She finished packing the last box and went to bed early. Graduation was at 10 a.m. the next morning.

Ten a.m. on Wednesday morning the Eden Hall graduating class was gathered underneath the beautiful oak trees on the school campus. Everyone was anxious to be out of there, but there was still feeling of sadness in the air. The Dean gave a speech that almost put everyone to sleep. Coach Orion even gave speech. Talking about how his time coaching the Ducks had been the best time of his life. He was going to miss each one of them. And he wished them luck in their futures.

The Dean began handing out the diploma's starting with those graduating with honors first. He went through the alphabet then he finally got to the "G's". "Julie Gaffney." Julie stood up and walked across the stage. She took her diploma and walked on looking out over the crowd. This was the last time she'd probably see any of them again.

*******************************************************************************************

8:00 a.m. Friday morning Julie, her parents, the adoptive family, and Jill the lady from the agency were all sitting in the judge's chambers awaiting his decision. The only one not present was Coby. The judged had ruled that he not be in the room during the decision. He was in the next room however. Julie looked over at the family. They were the ones Coby had bonded with in the last two months and they with him. Julie couldn't help but feel bad that she was trying to take him away from them. But she too needed him.

The judge entered the room and took his seat behind a large antique oak desk. He laid a pile of papers on the desk and put on his glasses. "Thank you all for coming. I have reviewed this case and I have come to a decision." Julie was practically sitting on the edge of her chair with anticipation. The judge looked over his papers and took off his glasses looking at the people in the room. "If a mother has the means to raise her child, and is willing to do, regardless of her age. I feel it is in the best interest of that child to be with his or her biological mother or father for that matter. So, the child in question. Coby Michael is to be returned to his biological mother Ms. Julie Gaffney by this afternoon."

Julie almost fell out her chair she jumped up so quick. She hugged her mother and her father. She was the happiest she had been in months. She looked over and saw the look of loss on the couple faces. Julie's heart went out to them. She walked over to them . She wasn't sure what to say or if she should say anything. "I'm sorry I put you through this. I thought I could go through with it, but I need to raise my son. I hope you can forgive me, and I hope you get a child someday." The woman tried to smile and nod.

By noon Julie was on a plane headed back to Maine. With her in the next seat was the most beautiful child in the world. For the whole plan trip Julie couldn't keep her eyes off of him. He was incredible. He looked even more like Dean than she remembered. He had these big expressive brown eyes that just melted your heart. And he had this full head of brown hair. It was as curly as Dean's, but it had some curl to it. She took him out of seat as often as she could. She couldn't get enough of holding him, kissing him, and looking at him.

*****************************************************************************************

Time moves on and life goes on. Portman, Fulton, Guy, Jesse, and Russ had all gotten scholarships to play hockey at the same college. Charlie, Banks, Connie and the others had all gotten scholarships to different schools in Minnesota.

The first few months in college were rough for Portman. It was a lot more work than he was used to doing. One the ice and in the class room. He adjusted well. It didn't take him long to start building a reputation for himself on the ice as well as off the ice.

He still thought about Julie from time to time. He wonder how she was doing, if she went on to college to become the success in life he knew she would be. He even caught himself thinking about his son. When he would be out and see men or women out with their kids he would think that he had a kid out there. One that he had never seen. He didn't even know the kids name.

************************

Julie spent the first six months back in Maine at home. She stayed with her parents and just spent time bonding with Coby. It took some time for him to adjust, but within a month or two he was fine. When Coby was six months old Julie decided to go back to school. She went part time taking most of her classes in the late evenings and nights. That way it gave her the day to spend with Coby. She did well in school. She got all the general core classes completed. Well almost all of them. She had a few le to take but she would get them done.

Julie also decided that after Coby's first birthday she would transfer back to Minnesota to finish her education there. However, that was going to take a bit longer than a year/