Disclaimer: Same as the first chapter.

Classes went very quickly, and soon everyone was mulling around the locker room getting their gear and tossing insults and jokes back and forth at one another. Everyone was in a great mood, which did not bode well for their opponents that night: the Knights, who stood in their way of claiming the championship that night. Coach Orion came in gave them their run down on the other team, made suggestions to some of them then ended with a loud quacking session complete with high five's and slaps on the back. They filed onto the bus, took their seats and headed off on the hour ride. Julie grabbed her headphones placed them on her head turned her music on loudly, tilted her head back on the seat and began to mentally prepare herself for the start.

The trip was uneventful, as was the first 2 periods of play. Starting the 3rd the Ducks were winning 1-0 thanks to Banks' short-handed goal in the 1st. It was pretty obvious the Knights were getting sick of the Ducks strict defensive style and began to pick up on the hit totals. After several bone crushing hits from both sides it was a formality that someone would take a dumb penalty. It happened 5 minutes in when Luis got ran by the Knights captain Craig Stillman, and retaliated with a punch thus getting the penalty since the ref typically only saw the retaliation not the hit. Luis further made it worse when he argued the call and got slapped with a misconduct penalty also, giving the Knights a 5 on 3 power play.

Orion went with Conway, Goldberg and Robertson to start off the penalty kill. Julie set herself towards the face off circle to her left, the puck was dropped with the Knights winning the face off and setting up. The Ducks dropped back into a passive diamond shape in front of the goal allowing the Knights to almost pass as they pleased. They all had their angles covered and just waited for a Knights mistake, Lance Jones, the only forward who was playing the point bobbled the puck for a split second and was then sent chasing down the ice after Charlie took possession and cleared.

Ducks got the change and then had Fulton, Portman and Averman out on the kill. Averman having a big mouth began to jaw at the other players and finally got one of them mad enough to take a penalty for slashing him. Now with the Knights only on a 5 on 4 power play things started getting frantic. Their star player Josh Hagman began to stickhandle with unreal speed and confidence and started around behind the net before passing back to the point and parking himself in front of the net. Julie whacked him with her stick when he backed into her a few times, she had to be careful not to get called for slashing herself.

Chris Lang took a shot from the point and got a double deflection off Portman and Hagman, Julie got part of the puck but only enough to turn it sideways as it went into the net. She groaned as she got back to her feet and skated around, fuming over the goal. Once back in her crease she forgot the goal and tried to get her focus back on keeping them out for the final 13:46 that was on the clock. The puck was dropped at center ice and the game resumed its now high voltage pace. Massive hits and saves from both sides continued as the game crept below 3 minutes remaining. At 1:16 Luis feeling responsible for the Knights goal stole the puck just inside the Ducks blueline and turned on the jets quickly gaining a breakaway. He would have scored.if only Markus Lindberg hadn't caught up to him and took him down. Now with the league championship hanging in the balance the Ducks we're given a golden opportunity on the late power play.

Orion called their only time out and called the team in. "Ok look Ducks, one shot here and we avoid overtime. We've already had a triple OT in these playoffs and I'm very certain you don't want that again." "Actually it was a battle for the ages, a David Vs Goliath, gladiator war in the coliseum!" Averman barked getting a not so amused glance from Orion. "Yeah, sorry!" Averman flashed a smile and shut up. "Conway, Germane, Mendoza, Goldberg and Banks I want you out there, Conway park yourself in front of the net, funnel the shots at them from any angle. Let's go Ducks!" Orion chirped and clapped his hands as everyone yelled encouragement's to one another and cheered.

Face off was just outside the Knights blueline; Charlie won the draw sending the puck back to Goldberg who quickly dumped the puck in. Guy chased it down and gained control before the Knights could clear and set up the unit. He stickhandled then criss crossed with Luis over to the right side. He passed back to Banks at the point then received the puck back from him. There was no spots open the Knights we're well covered. He took a shot just as one of their forwards moved slightly and cranked it off the post, Charlie dove at the rebound but was stripped of the puck and watched as it was sent back down the ice. Julie noticed the Knights changing up and quickly raced over and picked up the puck, she shot it up ice and on side to Luis who got in and let a slap shot fly. Bochinli made the save but left a huge rebound which Luis picked up and tossed into the net just at the clock reached 9 seconds left.

The Knights pulled their goalie on the ensuing face off in hopes of getting one last shot at tying it up, but it was to no avail. The Ducks fans who made the trip counted down the final 5 seconds then joined in the cheers as the Ducks sprang from the bench hugging one another. Banks was named the game MVP and then the Ducks were awarded with the championship cup and banner. They all celebrated on the ice a bit longer then took it into the locker room. After showers and interviews with the media they climbed on the bus and made the very loud hour trip back home. They were greeted with a chorus of quacks as they pulled to a stop.

The next few hours everyone continued to party from the school over to the Sin Bin and finally at around 4am they started to dwindle down till just the Ducks themselves remained. "Hey everyone." Charlie tried yelling over the team, with no luck. Fulton then stood up on the chair and warned. "Everyone zip it now or else!" Silence followed, till a French fry pelted Fulton in the back of the head. "Score for the Cat-a-nator! Revenge again for the un-called for fry incident of earlier this week!" Averman rushed over to Julie spoon in hand. "Do tell me young lady how did that feel?" "Well Averman I must say it did feel quite good." "I bet so! Now talk us threw the play." Julie tried hard not to laugh and stay serious, "Well I waited till the exact moment my worthy target turned his head slightly to me then grabbed the perfect fry. Then launched quite possibly the greatest overhand pitch in french fry tossing history." She was cut short as an entire basket of fries landed on her head.

The food fight was commenced till they had tossed themselves out and only then Charlie got to speak. "Now that we are all covered in fries, burgers, coke, milk shakes and whatever else I have something to say." He glanced around the room and slightly laughed at the site of the Mighty Ducks covered some sitting on the floor where they fell. "This being our last game of the year I just wanted to say, again it's been a great year. We did what we setout to do and I hope everyone has a safe and awesome summer. I look forward to teaming up with you again next season for our last, and our best ever." Everyone started to clap as Charlie started down then got back up again. "One more thing. Averman.Don't forget to practice this time!" "Yeah Averman." Everyone laughed and picked on Averman till they started out the door.

Julie piled into the car with Guy & Connie. They dropped her off at the dorm then set off to their apartment. Julie had the information on an apartment that was about to come open in the same complex as Connie & Guy. They both thought Julie would love living there, and hoped she would. She walked into her room still looking over the paper. She put the paper on the desk then walked over to her answering machine and pushed the button. "You have 25 messages." The mechanical voice said then beeped and played the first message. Most of them we're people congratulating her on the win, a couple we're from jobs she'd applied to, but the second to last one made her stop cold. "Julie, this is your mother. You should know your father passed away this afternoon. I would have told you sooner, but you obviously we're off playing that silly game. Call home when you get this message."

Julie stared at the machine blankly. She vaguely heard the last message, one from Connie telling her she'd left her bag in their car. She slowly sunk to the floor, tears streaming down her face. She leaned aginst the foot of her bed in shock. She moved her head from side to side slowly in a daze. "Can't be. Can't be true." She mumbled. "No. She's lying to me. She always lies to me." She said with mounting force. She slammed her fist on the floor, ignoring the yells from the residents downstairs. She wiped the tears from her eyes then grabbed the phone just as it rang. She picked it up blankly saying nothing. "Jules? Sweetie is that you?" A clam soothing voice asked. She sobbed out loud for the first time then squeaked softly. "Grampie please tell me it's not true." "I'm sorry angel, he didn't want you to know he was sick. He wanted you to keep playing. He was so proud of you." "How, why? What was wrong? He should have told me!" "Just come home, I'll tell you everything but not over the phone. Come home please." Julie closed her eyes and took a ragged breath. "Just don't let me alone with my mother. I can't handle her now, not right now." Her grandfather agreed then told her he'd arrange her flight all she needed to do was show up at the airport.

She packed her bag quickly then started for the door. She rushed down the stairs and tossed her bag into the car and drove off. She was waiting at the red light when she absently picked up her cell phone and dialed a number. "Hello?" The voice on the other end responded. "Hey, it's me I'm leaving town. Family emergency, tell the rest of the team for me ok?" "Sure, you ok?" "I don't want to talk about it now. Just do that for me please?" "No problem." "Thank you. Goodbye." Her voice cracked slightly before she hung up. "Goodbye Jules." A soft voice said outloud to the empty room. The phone was still in his hand when he lay back down on his bed staring at the ceiling. "Why do I feel the need to chase her down?" He sat back up and dialed Conway's number. "You need serious help dude." He said as he walked over looking in a mirror. "Last thing she'd want is big bash the bash man Portman nosing in her business." He shook his head, ignoring the strange feeling he had then relayed the message to Charlie then time and time again to the rest of the team.

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Thoughts on this story so far? Should I keep it going or not? (Please no flames, I don't like burn marks!) And incase I keep going..So what happens when Julie gets home? Why does she and her mother seem to hate one another? And just what the heck is with Portman and this strange "feeling" he had? A premonition of something to come?