"Gee Julie you weren't kidding when you said there was nothing to do here." Charlie spoke glancing around the small town.

"Yeah I know, but it's nice to live far enough from the big city to have some quiet." Julie spoke looking across the street. Suddenly her face turned from relaxed to annoyance. "Oh man, what is this everyone dump on Julie month?" She muttered.

"What's wrong Jules?" Connie asked following her gaze towards a guy standing next to his car talking to a girl.

"He's hot!" Connie giggled, getting a look from Guy in the process. "Sorry dear." She fluttered her eyes at him and smiled. He shook his head but smiled in return.

The guy turned his head and glanced their way. Julie suddenly ran and hid behind Dwayne, "Start walking and very slowly cowboy." She whispered from behind him.

"Hum. I humm..ok." Dwayne stuttered as he started walking.

The rest of the team looked amused at the site of Julie hiding behind Dwayne as he slowly walked almost sideways down the street. They reached a door and Julie bolted inside, luckily it was one of the diners in town and she sighed before taking a seat in a booth at the back. The rest of the Ducks followed in with questioning looks on their faces.

Charlie and Goldberg pulled a table up to the booth and everyone grabbed chairs and sat down. Julie glanced back outside and upon seeing the guy get into his car and leave she let go the breath she'd been holding. She then turned and waved over the waitress.

"A chocolate shake please, and keep them coming!" She said and ignored the look from Goldberg.

The rest ordered various sweets and waited around for Julie to finally answer them. After the shake got to her she took a long gulp then spoke.

"Ok look, about all that. First off thank you Dwayne. Secondly the guy's name is Mitchell. Thirdly he's a jerk, whom my mother has been trying to force me to love ever since I was old enough to date. He's from the oldest family in this area, dirty rich and that to my mother mean's perfect. Fourthly I refuse with a major passion to never be with or around him. Understand?" She spoke as she grabbed her straw for another sip.

"So I take it this is a very bad thing?" Goldberg asked amused.

Julie narrowed her eyes at him before responding. "Let's just say yeah."

"I'm sure the reason he's back in the states has to do with my mother. Gezz I bet this is half the reason she's been worse then normal. She knows I'll flight like mad at the idea of marrying that moron, but why does she not at least show respect to my father and not start this crap again?" Julie played with the straw.

"What exactly does he do?" Charlie asked taking a swig of his coke.

"Mitchell, nothing but spend his family's money. He went to college and got a business degree and ever since he's been running around Europe chasing girls and being his normal self." Julie shrugged.

"So why does she want you to marry him? Can't just be money you guys are already rich." Portman asked.

"It's the society thing. It is only fitting for me to marry someone like him in her eyes. I'd be refused from any society if I married below what they think is right and so would she. It sounds Old World I know but it's true. And scary thing is I know she'll force me into it any way she can and I might be in over my head now." She shook her head.

"What about him? What does he think on this?" Luis jumped into the conversation.

Julie paused then went on. "He's all for it actually. Not that he loves me or anything more like a pride issue."

"How so?" Jesse wondered.

"The truth? Cause he always has gotten everything and anyone he wants. And he can't stand that I don't want anything to do with him, it's made him mad for years. So his ego is taking a hit cause of me and he won't let that happen. He'll do anything to get his way." Julie paused.

"Man sounds like he needs to get hit with my knuckle puck, or even worse." Russ decided.

"For real." Jesse said shaking his head.

"No wonder you took off Jules." Connie shook her head sadly.

Julie smiled. "You see why I take everything so seriously? Hockey is a perfect distraction and school well I have to be serious with it, I must make great grades so I can make it on my own. Anything to stay away from all this insanity."

"And to think we all just thought you were a nerdy goalie." Fulton smiled.

"You're lucky I don't have a French fry right now pal." She smiled back at him.

"You'd miss anyway I'm the champion." Fulton proclaimed getting looks from both Julie and Portman, who looked at one another a moment then back at Fulton.

"Dude, you are insane. Besides last round Julie I must say did win. She did good for a rookie."

''I'm not a rookie Dean. I can toss fries with the best of them." Julie challenged.

"Yeah DEAN!" Averman giggled. Portman narrowed his eyes at him. Averman shifted then un easy in his seat and pulled on his glasses. "Right, I'll shut up."

They all fell into that typical Duck banter while they finished their drinks. Julie was getting a bit ill after her third shake and suggested a walk. They paid and walked around the old town with Julie pointing out things. Goldberg ran up and fell into step next to her.

"Hey, isn't there anything to do in this place. Ya know some fun?" He asked.

Julie smiled at him and nodded. "Yes actually there is one place. It's quite a walk but worth it."

She led them outside of the town and finally down an old dirt road.

"Hum Jules, what exactly do you people do for fun here?" Averman asked nerviously looking around. He suddenly grabbed Jesse's arm and squeaked. "What was that!?! Did you hear it!?"

"Man get off me!" Jesse yelled jerking his arm away.

"Chill Averman." Fulton continued. "It's nice out here."

"Yeah it's really pretty, and Averman don't worry about it. They won't get ya, right now anyway." Julie glanced back and smiled wickedly at him.

"Evil goalie humor." Averman muttered.

They rounded a corner and came upon a small building once inside they noticed a sheet of perfect ice. It had strand after strand of Christmas lights around it giving off a soft golden glow. There were people handing out skates and the others hot drinks. Only a handful of people were even out on the ice, most sat around the sides huddled together talking over the music. Julie turned and looked back at the team.

"Well Ducks? Shall we have a little fun?" She smiled and started for the skate shop with everyone right on her heels.

They spent the next three hours laughing and flying around the ice, just like they always had together. They were the last people to leave the ice that night and even got lucky to catch a ride back into town to where they parked the cars. They arrived back at the house around 1am trying very hard not to wake everyone as they crept up the stairs. Julie and Connie had somehow gotten a serious case of the giggles and were having the most problems keeping quiet.

"Shhhhh man hush we don't wana wake the demon." Portman whispered at the giggling girls.

Julie got a very serious look on her face. "No we mustn't wake the evil demon, or the hateful gargoyle or worse yet, the evil troll under the stairs." She then busted into another giggle fit with Averman now joining in with the girls. Fulton popped him on the shoulder.

"What I can't help it, it's contagious!" Averman said in defense. Slowly everyone had reached their doors and said goodnight till only a few remained. Ken turned the handle and started inside.

"Night guys." He smiled and went on in. Luis started to stop but got glares from Charlie, Fulton, Portman, Goldberg and Julie so he went on in. They walked farther down the hall when they heard him.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow!" He dramatized.

They all turned around and stared at him. He smiled and quickly shut the door and locked it. They looked at one another and then kept going. Charlie and Goldberg said goodnight then they reached Fulton and Portman's room.

"Night Jules." Fulton smiled.

"Night Fulton." She smiled back. Then smiled at Portman and said a quiet goodnight also, and started to leave. Portman hesitated for a moment at the door then called out to her.

"You ok? I mean getting to your room." He asked. She turned and looked back and smiled.

"Yeah I think I'll be ok. Their rooms are in the other wing, so I'm home free. Thank you however." She smiled and he nodded then went inside. She reached her room and entered closing the door then leaned on it and smiled looking up.

"Thank you for them. I'd be lost without them."

She smiled again then went to her room and finally to bed, but not without thinking about tomorrow which was to be the day of the funeral. She lay in bed and spoke softly again to the sky. "Just help me keep it together, somehow help me. Anything will do." She sighed and went to sleep.



NOTE: You didn't really think I'd pass up a chance to have Shakespeare at it again did you? :o)