One Last Time
Chapter 11: Anymore
By aznJEDI13

Disclaimer: Disney owns the Mighty Ducks. I own the plot and any original characters in this series.

Notes: This was written as pure fun. I hope that this does not offend anyone and if it does I did not by any means do it on purpose. Sorry I didn't have time to fix the
grammar and all that fun stuff! This ones not that good.

This takes place ten years after D3. Enjoy!

Thank you everyone for reviewing last chapter. Without sounding obsessive, I hurried home to check reviews and then checked almost every hour just because I wanted to know your opinion of it!!!!



Chapter 11: I Can't Live Anymore – It's too Hard.

'… Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down…'




The wind was blowing in her face causing her beautiful shiny brunette hair to whisper in the breeze and cascade down her neck. Her placid eyes stared up out into the sky, watching and counting stars like she had when she was younger.

"Mommy…" She turned at the sound of her name to see her oldest son.

"What is it Reed?"

"Mommy," He came up to her and pressed his dark, curly hair head to her knees. "You okay?"

She smiled, kneeling down to his height and whispered slightly, "Mommy's just fine, Reed." She paused, casting another sad glance at into the ocean, "Go play with Greg, will you?"

He nodded and ran off to play again. She sighed and turned back to look at the ocean. She sniffled slightly and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She could not cry.

"Do you always pretend everything's all right?"

She jumped startled and turned to face a tall figure in the doorway.

She stared the shadow down, trying to find what would be his eyes. She spoke, her voice hushed in fear of someone unwelcomed hearing, "Yes." She paused and looked away and then back at his figure, "Don't you?"

He laughed his figure becoming lighter as he approached her and then he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "All the time."

She smiled slightly and then turned back to the ocean. "Why can't everything ever be all right, I ask my self sometimes."

"Life would be boring then."

She nodded, "And there would be nothing to bring us closer to those we love."

He nodded in agreement and finally looked away from her serene face and out into the ocean as the waves crashed against the shore and the sand showered in salt water.

"You don't want Reed and Greg to grow up with a father. That's why you won't leave him."

She looked at him, her eyes boring in his. "I grew up without a father and I don't want them to experience what I had."

"But he hurts you-" He began.

"And he'll grow out of it soon." She cut him off.

He shook his head, "You hope."

"Would you hurt Julie?" She asked, thinking distant thoughts and looking as if she were a million miles away.

He placed his hand on her arm lightly, "Never. I'm so in love with her."

She bit her lip, "I thought Dean was with me and they are times where it seems like it. Other times I just hear the smacking of flesh as his hand connects with my skin."

He nodded and turned away. Not sure exactly what to say and not wanting to say the wrong thing or to say too much.

She turned back to look at him suddenly. Not wanting to ask the question, but knowing she had to. "What's the prognosis?"

He turned back to look at her; startled, "Is it all over my face?" He let out a cynical laugh then.

She nodded and spoke sadly, "Yes."

He sobered, turning his head to look away so she wouldn't have to see his face. "Six months – eight if I'm lucky."

She sucked in a breath, "Oh, my, Adam." She sniffled, "There must be some kind treatment you can have, isn't there?"

He shook his head and closed his eyes taking in a deep breath, "It's too far gone for that."

"So they're going to let your shivel up and die."

He laughed again, it was easier to cope with then. "I never thought of it that way."

She looked back out over the ocean, "Does Julie know?"

He shook his head, "I just found out yesterday." He closed his eyes again, "This will kill her." He bit his lip and choked back a tear, "Especially with the baby on the way and everything."

"Adam," She began as he turned to look at her finally. His eyes red from the tears that treaten to fall and his lower lip quivering in what would seem like the cold breeze, but she knew it was in fear. She reached up and brushed a stray drop away, "Everything will be all right."

"I'm scared, Stephanie."

She nodded and enveloped him in a hug and sniffled back her own tears, "We all are."

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How coud he have been so stupid?

To actually think that she loved him more than her high school sweet heart, her lover of so many years. Why had he been such a fool? Betrayed his best friend, seduced his wife, gave his heart away to only be broken – shattered ino more pieces than he could comprehend.

And still, here he was – alone.

He had watched himself fall away from Linda's grasp, secude himself from Lauren's embrace, run from Connie's familiar kiss. He had made so many mistakes – it killed him.

And so, he was sitting out down the beach, farther than necessary from Guy and Connie's beach house. Watching the waves and counting the stars, living in the silence he had become accustom to and had known for so long.

He ached inside, but he knew he there was nothing he could do.

He had lost the custody of his son, betayed the trust of his best friends, and turned his back from all he had once sought – friendship and support from those dear.

His mother refused to speak to him, Fulton, of course, was gone, and Bombay had turned away the minute he had started to fall apart.

He had messed up and was paying the price deeply.

He played with the damp sand and watched as the waves came closer and farther away from his outstretched feet. Truly, he thought, he, Charlie Conway, once captain of the ducks, was nothing but a fool and a true jerk. He had, just like the sand was slipping through his hands, let everything slip from his grasp.

"Hey." He turned to look at an approaching figure and heard for the first time, her feet in trudging in the damp sand. He had an impulse to turn away and ran, but kept focused on her.

"Hey." He breathed. She approached him and took a seat next to him, "Where's Guy?" he asked, not sure of what to say.

She half smiled, "He's cleaning up. His eyes are all swollen and red." He laughed at the mental picture and then looked away again. Connie continued, "Thanks for what you said Charlie. That meant a lot."

He nodded, "What I said was the truth."

She nodded, "I know."

"You could never love me like you love him." He paused, "And I have to accept that."

"Charlie-"

"Cons," He interrupted, "We did something wrong; I know that. We paid the consequences and we have to move on and forget it; I know."

"Charlie." She reached out for his arm, but he pulled away, "So much happened and everything was just out of our control."

He shook his head and bit his lip, "Not out of my control, I could have stopped – I should have all those times you called his name." He paused, "I took advantage of you Connie. I broke so much of our friendship."

She looked away at that point, not wanting to look at his face and remember. She spoke again, her voice hushed with the wind, "There are many parts, Charlie, that are unreparable." She paused, "But that doesn't mean we can't be friends."

"Life played games with us Connie and yet you still want to be friends?" He asked shocked.

She nodded, "I don't know where Guy and I stand, but I know that you and I are friends."

He nodded and eyed her carefully, "If there's more you have to say, say it."

She smiled and finally turned to look at him again. "I held him in my arms tonight, I felt his salty tears drip down from his face, I heard his wrecked sobs. It was too much." She paued, "I love him Charlie. I love him so much that I hurt him and I don't know what's going to happen now. I kept thinking, I've been wanting to do this again for the past three years."

He nodded and clasped her hand in his, "We're all paying the price for our mistakes – some more than others."

She nodded, "I can't lose him again, Charlie. I know you don't want to hear this all, but I can't lose him. We've both come too far to stay apart."

He nodded, "Have you told him this?"

She laughed cynically, "Of course not, Charlie! Guy's…" She stopped, unable to find the words, "Different about these kind of thing, well at least he use to be. I don't know how he'd react."

He shook his head, "If he really loves you Connie, he won't care."

A silence invaded their conversation, filling them with unexpected anticipation and unanswered questions. There was this forlorness that encompassed them and she felt it so strongly she wanted to turn away and run, but she knew she couldn't.

She nodded and watched his features twist and turn, "What's wrong Charlie?"

He choked back the sob he hadn't known he had been holding and looked at her, "I hate my life Cons."

Her brows creased in consternation and confusion, "What do you mean, Charlie?"

"I've screwed up my life." He paused, taking a deep breath, "I let everything slip away and I'm still here alone."

She shook her head, "You didn't screw up, Charlie. Sure you made a few mistakes, but we all do."

"You're mistake was being with me."

She nodded sadly and released his hand, "And the consquences are still being dealt with."

He looked away, "I'm so alone Connie, so alone." He paused, "I've messed it all up. I couldn't stay with Linda, I couldn't stay with Lauren and I couldn't stay with you."

"Charlie-"

"No, hear me out Connie." He sucked in a deep breath, "I let everyone leave, I chased them away. I loved Linda so much." He paused again, "What happened, I'm not quite sure – maybe we just couldn't hack it. Lauren, I never really knew and you, you were the one I wasn't suppose to have." He pause again, this time closing his eyes, "I've been such a fool – I let her go."

Connie shook her head, "She's not that far gone Charlie. You can still speak to her, tell her what has happened."

He shook his head madly, "You don't understand Connie! I've made too many mistakes to deserve to get this one back – people like me don't get second chances. They live life alone – forever."

She closed her eyes, breathing and trying to find peace and serenity in all the confusion, "Everybody gets second chances. No matter what."

"That's a bunch of bull." He shook his head and continued stubbornly, "I hurt Linda, don't you understand? I hurt her with you." He paused, "Guy's never going to truly forgive you and he'll always remember that day he overhead us arguing."

She turned to stare at him, shocked, "What?"

He bit his lip and then turned to her angrily, "You heard me Connie." He spoke sternly, his tone hushed, "He overheard us arguing."

"How did you know?" She question.

"I saw him and ignored him," He paused, "But worst of all Connie I didn't care! I didn't care that I hurt my best friend!" He cried, choking back the tears that threatened to fall. He shook off her light touch and contiinued, ignoring her silence, "I watched him change and I didn't care! I watched your marriage fail and I didn't care!" He paused, "And now I think how could anyone love such an insensitve monster!"

She shook her head and reached for him again, only to have him pull away. "You're not a monster Charlie."

"Then why doesn't anyone want to be with me?" He cried.

She shook her head, "It's all right to be alone, to not have someone. You just have to learn to lean on your friends for support and for love."

He sombered, staring grimly at his hands, "I don't know…"

She leaned forward and gathered him in an embrace, "I, for one, will always be here as a friend."

He smiled, "You're sweet Connie, you've always been so kind to everyone."

She laughed, "I know." Then sobered, "But seriously Charlie. I've learned through everything that some of your friends will always be there or at least you know you can count on them." She placed her head on top of his, "Your friends, sometimes, when everything is going wrong, might just be all you have."

He nodded, wrapping his arms around her waist, "I wish we could stay like this Connie." She nodded. He strained his neck to look at her, "But I know we can't."

She released him, "Do you miss her?" She asked suddenly.

He looked at her shocked, "What?"

She asked again, "Do you miss Linda?"

His brows creased in thought and then his eyes came to meet hers, "Every second of everyday." He paused, "She was my first love."

She nodded, "You should tell her."

He shook his head, "No, what's done is done."

She shook her her head, "You never know."

He smiled and replied joking, "First loves never work."

She popped him teasingly, "Hey, I married my first love."

He laughed, "I know. That's why I said it."

He stood and offered his hand to help her up. He pulled her into another embrace and pressed his lips to her hair, whispering "Thank you." She smiled and kissed his cheek.

Unbeknowest to either of them, a figure lurked in the shadows watching their exchange from afar. He saw their embrace and his shoulders slumped more than usual.

He'd been such a fool.

He turned to his back and trudged slowly back to the house, his heavy footsteps making imprints on the shore only to be washed away by the water.

He entered the lively house quietly, ignoring Adam and Stephanie, on the porch and trudged into the kitchen to get a drink. Surprisingly Julie was still in there and she looked at him, astonished.

"I'm sorry, Guy –" She began.

He cut her off, "I don't need to hear that anymore, Jules, I've been hearing it for three long years."

She nodded and smiled this awkward and strained smile. She watched him slightly and then turned back to the window. He noticed her distraught and decided to leave her alone.

He grabbed the Corona and went to the wall, but came back and gave her a hug. "Everything's going to be all right, Jules, you'll see."

He walked out of the door way, "I'm going to go for a ride, all right? I should be back later." She nodded and focused on the stars again and then closed her eyes, thinking. She eventually fell into a sitting position and leaned against the wooden cabinets.

She never heard him whisper, "Goodbye Julie."

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Connie and Charlie made their way back to the house, laughing and smiling, enjoy the presence of one another. Connie mentioned something about more food in the garage and thus Charlie volunteered to help her move it.

She opened the back door of the garage to see that there was one empty space inside. Her car stood inside, alone. She opened the larage garage door as Charlie proceeded to remove more food from her trunk.

She glanced around and noticed for the first time that his car wasn't around anymore.

She dropped the keys then suddenly at that point, leaving Charlie with a worried expression and ran into house, finding Kenny and Dwayne in deep conversation.

Both looked up at her startled as Kenny immediately rose to his feet and motioned for her to sit down.

She shook her head and breathed deeply trying to find her breath, "Where's Guy?" She finally asked.

Dwayne shrugged, but Kenny's brows creased in consternation, "He said he was going for a drive."

Dear God…

Her thoughts echoed through her mind.

No.

Kenny looked at her worriedly, "Why?"

She bit her lip and sucked in a deep breath, "Julie!" She called.

Almost immediately, her best friend appeared at her side, "What's wrong Connie?" She asked, "You looked stressed?"

"Guy's gone."

Julie nodded, "Yes, I know. He told me he was going for a drive."

Connie closed her eyes, was she the only one getting this?

Julie looked at her, "Something's wrong?"

"How many beers did he have?" She asked concern evident.

Dwayne turned to Goldberg who was on the floor playing with Dean's two boys, "Two or three." He respond immediately, "I don't know exactly."

"And he took one with him." Julie chimed.

Holy crap.

"Jules." Connie stammered trying to remain calm, "Jules!" She cried, "He's nearly over intoxicated and you let him go for a drive!" She couldn't hold it in any longer.

Julie's brows creased and then jumped in shock as realization washed over her, "Oh my gosh, Connie!" She paused, panicking, "I'll get the car, let's go!"

"You go one way, we'll go the other." Greg added.

Connie nodded; too shocked to care. Julie pulled her to the car and they were off.

Her mind scream: please God let him be all right, please.

Her mind began to scream frantically as Julie drove quickly through streets. "Jules, what am I going to do if he's hurt? I never told him anything." She asked.

Julie closed her eyes and kept breathing, "He's not hurt."

"What makes you so sure." She paused, "He's drunk, who knows what he might try to do."

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The stars were beautiful tonight. The ocean crashed against the rocks below, they were astonishing also. Everything here was breathtaking. Perhaps that was why he came here.

He looked down the cliff. It didn't seem so hard from here, he noted.

He turned away from the cliff. He remembered this scene.

He turned his head to glance back down.

He looked at Fulton, following where his eyes directed – down. "What are you thinking?" He asked him.

Fulton shook his head, "It's time."

It was dark and dreay tonight, just like it had been that night. The weather was warm, but damp, just like it had been then. There was a familiar sense just as there had been that night. There was something also pushing him to continue just as it had been there that night.

"Time? What do you mean?" He paused, realizing his words, "No, Fulton, you wouldn't."

"Why not?" He shook his head madly, "I don't have anything to live for."

"I don't get you."

He bit back a tear, "I don't have anything. I don't have an education, I don't have a hocky career. I'm ugly, fat, and slow. I don't want to live with life anymore."

"Why not?"

"I just can't Guy!" He paused, "Someday you will understand."

He stood and closed his eyes as his feet moved closer to the ledge.

He understood now.

To be continued…

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