Julie had been tossing and turning from almost the moment she laid down. Nothing she tired made her relax and fall asleep. Finally after another hour she got up and crossed into the sitting room and sat down. She tried to find something on TV to amuse her but at 3am mostly infomercials were on. She sighed after going threw the channels again then turned it off and tossed the remote on the table as she got up.

She went back in her room picking up her blue robe pulling it on as she slipped her feet into her yellow house shoes. She walked back threw the sitting room then out the door into the hall. She didn't know where she was going but figured anything was better then making herself sore by tossing and turning. She made her way past the duck's rooms and started giggling when she heard voices.

"Goldberg shut up!" Charlie groaned at a snoring Goldberg.

Julie shook her head and walked on down the hall and stairs before heading to the kitchen to get a drink. She soon had hot chocolate in hand and headed over to the breakfast table by the windows. She sat and listened to the various noises of the house and outside. It wasn't long till she noticed lights being turned on and off around the stables.

"Time to feed the horses." She smiled taking a sip.

She watched the off and on light symphony for another hour before most of the lights went off for a last time. She finished her drink and put the cup up and headed back upstairs, laughing again as she passed by hearing Goldberg still snoring loudly. She went back in her room and glanced at her bed. She almost talked herself into trying sleep again but decided aginst it and went to take a shower. Once done with that she pulled on a pair of jeans, a black long sleeve shirt, and her black riding boots. She grabbed a rubber band and was pulling her hair up as she left her room again.

She jogged down the hall and stairs, out the back door and didn't slow down till she'd reached the stables. Things for the moment were mostly calm, but soon things would be alive and moving as horses went to the track to train.

"Morning Miss Julie." She heard someone call and looked over to see Mr. Blake, one of the assistant trainers.

"Morning." Julie smiled.

"I didn't figure it would be long before you popped in this morning." He smiled going back to working on a bridle. She walked over and picked up another bridle and began wiping it up.

"You know me, I'm not a morning person normally but for this I get up." She answered concentrating on the work.

"I got a couple of your favorites going out today. I could use a good exercise rider." He said not looking up at her.

She smiled as she kept working and answered. "I might could find you one."

"Good." He answered finished with the bridle and walked into the tack room close by. He came back holding a protective vest, gloves and a helmet and laid them down beside her on the trunk.

"Well that was fast." She laughed looking at her gear.

"Keep it right by the door." He smiled and headed off to saddle his stable pony.

She finished the bridle and hung it back up on the hook with the others and pulled on her vest leaving it unzipped and grabbed her helmet and gloves. She glanced up at the house seeing lights starting to come on knowing the staff was awake and would soon be rushing around. She thought of the ducks and jogged back up to the house intending to leave a note about where she was for them. She walked into the kitchen and wrote a note on the blackboard, she was heading out when she heard the door open and turned around smiling at her grandfather.

"Up with the horses are you?" He asked as she walked over and hugged him.

"Yes I am. Gonna work a few." She nodded.

"I'll come and sit on the deck down there and watch." He smiled.

"Good, I'll make sure there's plenty of coffee." She grinned.

"Thank you." He waved as she headed out the door and back to the stables.

By now it was after 6am and the sun was making its daily appearance in the sky. She walked towards the barn noticing the activity was well underway. Several horses were already nearing the entrance to the track. She put her gloves and helmet on just before she reached the side of Mr.Blake.

"Good Julie, you know brownie here just take him on a slow jog two miles is fine, ok?" He asked as she reached up grabbing the reigns and sticking her leg up for him to give her a boost. She nodded at his instructions and tied her reigns into a knot then reached down fixing her stirrups.

"Morning big boy." She spoke softly reaching to pat the big horse on the neck, and getting a snort in return.

They reached the track and she slowly started the horse in his jog around the track. She glanced over at the other horses, and the surrounding grounds as she rode along. With any other horse she wouldn't dare let her mind wander off but Phoenix (aka brownie) was one of the oldest horses and was no problem at all.

At the time Julie was taking the track, back at the house one by one the Ducks began to awake. Everyone but Fulton and Portman who'd been up talking most of the night. Portman had told Fulton about everything that had been going on, now they each laid in their beds staring at the ceiling off in their own thoughts.

"They can't really force her into marrying him, can they?" Fulton broke the silence.

Portman sighed. "I'm starting to think they can."

They fell into silence again till Portman spoke up.

"There has to be something that can help, but what?" He asked aloud.

Fulton thought a moment then sat up suddenly causing Portman to look his way.

"Talk to Daniel! Tell him everything she's said, everything Mitchell, Alex and her mother have done, said, the way they look at her, everything! It's obvious he loves Jules as much as you do, he can help!"

"Did you say I love Jules?" Portman said feeling a sudden panic arise.

"You know what I mean, we all love Jules. But you've just kinda taken a bit more of a role in her life lately, is all." Fulton stated watching Portman carefully.

"Yeah, of course. Just can't help it I'm an enforcer aren't I? It's my job to protect my teammates. On and off the ice." Portman nodded then sat up himself.

"Yeah of course." Fulton smirked slightly, but made sure Portman didn't see it. He got up instead and headed over to grab some clothes.

"I think I will talk to Daniel." Portman said, jumping up to get dressed himself.

Julie's first jog around the track was over all too soon. She came back jumped off and handed the big horse to the groom and walked over to talk with Mr. Blake. She worked two more and was taking a break sitting on the flat rail of the deck talking to her grandfather when she heard some very familiar voices.

"It's like horseville!"

She glanced up seeing Averman looking around wildly.

"I mean seriously look!" He spoke again excitedly.

"Are you just naturally on a sugar high or something?" Adam asked.

Averman looked at him in serious thought for a moment, then slowly laughed.

"A joke! I get it!" Averman laughed as Adam looked over at Fulton.

"I know man, I know." Fulton said shaking his head with Adam.

She smiled at the guys heading their way. She wondered where everyone else was. She soon had her answer seeing the rest of them just leaving the house. She waved at them and noticed how excited Averman seemed to be.

"Oh here we go." She thought and smiled then called out. "Morning guys!"

"Morning Jules!" They yelled back. Averman got to the deck first and went right to the rail to stand looking at the track beside her.

"It's like rush hour! It always like this?" He asked.

Julie glanced back then replied, "Actually this isn't very busy. You go to a real racetrack and it's major rush hour."

"Wow." Averman said looking around.

She shook her head and laughed with the others.

"What's so funny?" Guy asked jogging up the stairs with everyone else.

"Who do you think?" Julie said motioning towards Averman.

"Ah yes." Guy smiled.

"Julie, let's go." Mr. Blake yelled standing next to her favorite three year old, Sundar.

She stood up and grabbed her helmet, put it on then started towards the stairs. She elbowed Fulton as she went by sending him bumping into Portman.

"Some bash brothers." She giggled before running the rest of the steps to get away from Fulton.

"You'll pay goalie!" Fulton hollered the added mumbling "Course your guardian angel here might kick my ass if I laid one hand on you."

Portman smacked Fulton on the head and went to sit down. "Watch it." Was all he said. Her grandfather sat amused by this all sipping his coffee.

They all took seats and watched Julie make her way over to the horse. Quickly she was in the saddle and on the track. Mr. Blake made his way up on the deck stopwatch in hand.

"Jog him around till you hit the half mile pole, breeze him out to the wire then jog him out another half." He called to Julie who turned the big golden chestnut around and started down the stretch slowly picking up speed. They watched her and the horse oblivious to everything else around them. In doing so they missed the fact two of their oh so favorite jerks had showed up and were watching the work also. At the half-mile pole they saw Julie move her hands slightly and the big horse lunge forward picking up speed with ease. They flew around the turn and charged down the stretch with Averman not being able to hold silent anymore yelling out.

"And down the stretch they come!"

Mr. Blake glanced over slightly at Averman and raised his eyebrows before looking down at his stopwatch then back up at the horse. A golden flash appeared before them as they crossed the finish line then slowed down with every stride after that.

"That was amazing." Connie whispered looking over at Guy who smiled back at her.

Julie made her way back to them but noticed Mitchell and Alex standing at the rail. She grumbled knowing she'd have to ride past them before reaching the gap off the track. She tried to just ignore them and instead made a fuss over the horse.

"Looking good." Mitchell smiled as they neared. "The horse I mean." He added smirking.

"Yeah, he might fetch a good price at auction." Alex said just as Julie had passed. She pulled back on the reigns suddenly and turned him around.

"What auction?" She demanded looking at Alex who smiled full of devil.

"Well, you aren't twenty-two yet Jules. So until then you don't own them, I think we have too many horses we need to sell some off." He said opening a folder. Julie glared hard then turned the horse around quickly and jogged him to the gap then leaped off and stormed back towards her brother.

"Uh oh." Charlie said after seeing the red faced Julie as she stormed off.

She reached them tearing her helmet off, "You are not selling any of these horses." She stated crossing her arms.

"Julie you really have no control over this." Mitchell stated.

She glared at him; "This is none of your damn business." She snapped which caused him to smirk greatly at her. She got even more angry then glared at Alex.

"Why are you trying to start something?" She growled.

"Julie, you can't fight me. Just like you can't stop things that are about to happen. You've gotten your way too much, now it's time to accept your role in this family. Get married, have kids and stay out of the way. That's your role, deal with it." Alex declared.

Julie took a deep breath then narrowed her eyes.

"Trust me, I'll fight you. I will not stay silent, and if anyones gotten their way it's you, spoilt little ass. And if you think for one minute that I'm going to agree to anything you're even more stupid then you look." She stated them turned to leave but stopped and turned around again. "And as for this marriage idea, not happening. I'd rather dead then marry him." With that she glared hard at them both and left.

"That could be arranged sweetheart." Mitchell called out making her stop again. She forgot herself and turned quickly and walked back to get in his face.

"Don't you dare make threats, I might be very easy going but you have no idea what I am capable of." With that she left.

"I love a challenge." Mitchell said narrowing his eyes watching Julie leave.