I had Homecoming this weekend! That's why it has taken awhile. I didn't get to trick-or-treat...*pouts* I missed Homecoming AND trick-or-treating...but I went on a way-cool church retreat which was fun. I would tell you about it but I'm sure you don't care. ^_^ Anyway, that's my excuse. ^_^

Kate...Day 1- Really? You're gonna give five DIFFERENT reviews? *giggles happily* talk about a pick-me-up! All of your reviews have brought a smile to my face. *smiles big to prove point* Lol, Katespeak. ^_^ You aren't lame! *pats Kate's head* I like your reviews! Lol...that's funny...the Friendly Trees...yes, that would make Charlie beam with pride...gotta love that school spirit. Lol. Thanks for all the suggestions for both schools and jobs. Oooo! *claps for Kate* You finally saw them all! Yay! Yes, Charlie DOES have massive hotness in the third. ^_^ It my favorite! Lol. *goes and checks your idea* Ooooooo I like! I LIKE! ^_^ THAT'S the stuff I want! The stuff I NEED! That, my friend, is good stuff! And no, it isn't too mean. NOTHING is too mean. ^_^ Lol, he can be Center! ^_^ Yes, that's his new position. Or old? Umm...anyway. Meh, distance is over-rated. ^_^ Lol, snow is wet, cold and icy? I wouldn't know. Lol. Us Texans no not of REAL snow. We only get slushy stuff. Lol. We get like a few inches of REAL snow each year. Lol. I'll try giving you the pretty Charlie site again...it is: . Yeah, I hope it works for ya. It has some nice Charlie fanficiton in it. Lol, I DO feel smart! ^_^ Lol...^_^ *pats Kate's guilt-ridden head* I forgive you! *hugs* Ooo yay! ^_^

Kate...Day 2- Aw, you have a wounded finger? How sad...I just flat-out have a typing problem. ^_^ I'm impaired. I never learned to type right so when I type fast, I get all dyslexic and stuff. ^_^ Lol. I'll spell 'and' 'adn' ALL the time...just ask Liz. And I often spell 'Charlie' 'Chalrie' too. But I go back and fic it in my fic. My computer has stopped catching the problem. O.o. Anyway. Lol, I second that! Lol, it's a LOVELY typing job...heh. Lol, unfortunately, that email isn't the one for MSN. It IS my hotmail account but I never use it as instant messenger. ^_^ Sorry to give you false hope! But I guess you can still email me with it or something. ^_^ *pats Kate's head* I still love you, sneaky little girl! You aren't bad. *pats Kate's head again* Here, have a treat! *tosses a half-eaten Reese's Peanut Butter Cup at Kate*Lol, I'm glad you be likin' the alarm clock scenamigigger! Lol, Yes. I have a dramatic flare every now and then with the sudden capitol letters. ^_^ Yes, you gotta watch out for those stalking, electronic, illegitimate objects. ^_^ Lol, that would be funny. Charlie-proofing the house COULD be tough though. Lol. It would take out all the fun. ^_^ *giggles* You have a point about 'dumb mascots.' He can't really talk. But hey! DUCKS ARE COOL! ^_^ It was very random...lol...I'm glad you caught the 'Joshua for a middle name' thing. ^_^ *giggles and shouts 'How do you like them apples?!'*...*eyes brighten*...*giggles and says it again*...*prepares to say it again before brother appears out of nowhere and gags Chelsea with a sock*...*makes loud squeaking sounds*...*brother disappears...as does the sock* Whew...lol, yes. Charlie needed his hockey helmet. I'm glad you liked! ^_^ Heehee. You'll see what happens! Dun dun dun! *notices you said "Insert your 'Duh Duh DUHN!"' here* Wow...can you say GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE! ^_^ Poor Charlie-pie...he endures MUCH suffering at the hands of Chelsea...especially when Chelsea is listening to Linkin Park or Evanescence. It inspires lots of angsty thoughts in Chelsea's mind. Ooo! Happy Belated Birthday! *throws confetti up in the air and puts on a party hat* YAY! *blows little party horn* YAY KATE! Heh, you can NEVER be too old for trick-or-treating! I didn't get to go this year because I went on a church retreat, but I didn't have a costume yet anyway. (I'm a procrastinator) ^_^ Yay! I excited! I always have something to look forward to when you review! Can you do this every time? Lol. ^_^ I like this...and thanks! ^_^ Love you lots! *hugs* ^_^

Kate...Day 3- Ah, review #3! I'm sooo happy! *does Charlie's D3 happy dance to prove point* Ah, short and sweet. I can live with that. ^_^ You make up for it with the others. *smiles giddily* Did I mention how much I love you right now? Oh yes, free time equals happiness. *giggles* Really? THAT'S HILARIOUS! I'm So gonna listen for that the next time I watch D3! Yay! Well, not that your finger still hurts...yay that you can type! ^_^ Charlie DOES look grown up and hot in the third...I love him...And yeah, Banksie has been majority growing on me too. Nowhere NEAR Charlie, but he has gained a special place in my heart...I guess what I DON'T like about him is how much everyone else DOES! It's like EVERYHTING is about Adam and HIS problems. So now we have to join together and write about CHARLIE and HIS problems! Lol. Yeah, I'm obsessed. ^_^ But Banksie ain't that bad. ^_^ they ARE adorable friends! ^_^ I don't like slash, but I think Charlie and Adam are great friends. I don't think anyone should mess it up by turning it into romance. It could just be ME, but that's my personal preference. (Not to mention I'm not a slash fan...I think it's icky. ^_^ Just me though...don't mind me...) Yes, the Bash Brotherness amuses me too. ^_^ Happy Belated birthday AGAIN! ^_^ Lol, okay. ^_^ *pokes back*

Kate...Day 4- Only one more after this! Lol. I can't wait to read it! SO WRITE IT QUICK! Chop chop! I know how you feel. I'll just be DIEING to write, but I won't be able to get on. Write it on paper first? What is this PAPER you speak of?! IT'S CRAZY TALK! So prehistoric. Lol. ^_^ I liked your summary! ^_^ It was BEAUTIMOUS! Oh, I LOVE you coming and blabbing about nothing! ^_^ Nothing is greatness! ^_^ Lol. In my story? Bombay came back at the end of the movie for the game, then left again. In my story, he came back for Casey's funeral (so LONG ago!) and just never went back to work. ^_^ Lol, it's okay. *pats Kate's head* Lol, YES! It would help me to write faster if you poked me every few days...especially with these lovely reviews you write. ^_^ Yay! *watches Kate rant about nothing and joins in* Lol. Hockey IS a physical game. I would die. Not to mention I am far too impaired. I can't skate all that great, much less could I ever hold a stick at the same time. ^_^ I really admire hockey players' ability to multi- task. ^_^ Lol...

Kate...Day 5- Alrighty. This is the final of the five...but you've kept me in a good mood ALL week. ^_^ Feel special! Oh, you never annoy me. ^_^ No! Not you too! *agonized scream* Lol. EVERYONE likes Banks...but at least you still like Charlie better. I don't HATE Banks, but yeah. I kinda have a one- track mind. ^_^ Banks is still cool though. Oh fun for you! I'm glad I don't have to draw a pic of Robin Hood...nope, I getta write a MULTI- PARAGRAPHED COMPOSITION of the book 'Of Mice and Men'...*twitches* I don't wanna do it...I wish my class was easy...and that was the most boring book too...I hope for your sake you never have to read 'Of Mice and Men' if you haven't already. *shudders* Anyway...*nods* It can be our little secret. Lol, I've been writing, just not posting. ^_^ No! They're getting shorter! *cries* But I still love you anyway. ^_^ *giggles* Now THAT is talent, turning a year older in one week! Lol...^_^ And again for like the twentieth time, Happy Belated Halloween/Birthday! *laughs and tries to poke back*...*stops poking and joins in singing loudly* "OH CHARLIE YOUR SO FINE, YOUR SO FINE YOU BLOW MY MIND HEY CHARLIE! clapclap HEY CHARLIE! clapclapclap." *grins* I felt the feeling in that one! Lol...^_^ Okay, I shall ALLOW you to read now. ^_^ Enjoy!

Sophie my little Bunny- Lol, yes...I have taken time to lighten things a bit. Lol, I'm glad you liked Charlie's middle name. ^_^ I felt very clever! Lol. ^_^ You liked the possessed alarm clock? I thought you would. ;) And as for my reviews, yes I have to open FF.Net for them. But I lost three in the process...three reviews for this story I have never read and never will. When I see my story's reviews from the MD section, it says I have '157' and in my stats it says I have '154'. I can only read the 154...it depresses me...anyway...awww! Your poor fish! Oh well...then SOMEONE ELSE'S poor fish! Yay! No funerals! *does happy dance* Lol, nothing gets past you, huh? *gasp* you hate Agatha more than George? THAT MUST CHANGE! Lol. But yes, she is evil. *giggles* Charlie and the Butterflies...*starts giggling madly* Heeheehee *snorts* heehee *laughs harder* heeheehee *coughs and chokes on Reese's Peanut Butter Cup* Hehe...I'm okay now. *cough* Eh, yeah. That would be gross. I don't think George will be the head of any pedophile rings...o.O...we'll stick with one of the other suggestions. ^_^ Anyway...love you lots! ^_^

Banksiesbabe99- Lol...that would be odd. But I won't say it hasn't entered the demented realm of my mind once or twice. ^_^ Thanks! I figured Charlie's a likeable guy and the maids can just be cool...well, minus the hag-meister Agatha...butt hat's cuz we need some variety. ^_^ Wow, my story has depth! *does happy dance* Thanks for reviewing! ^_^

Allie- *giggles* I was a Mustang in middle school. We were the Nichols Mustangs! Now I'm a Pirate! ^_^ Lol, thanks for reviewing! And thanks for the job suggestion for George! ^_^

Liz- Yay! I like that you are catching on to this long review thing. It's a lovely thing. ^_^ Lol, we're FINALLY to the point you haven't read yet! YES! ^_^ Now you can be surprised with everyone else. ^_^ Lol...evil, demonic, alarm clocks...you're dog always wakes me up...*mutters bitter mumblings under breath* Lol, just kidding. Buddy is adorable! ^_^ He sheds on me. Lol, I'm glad you like Charlie's helmet-antics. Lol, no one likes Agatha. Aggie...heh...*gets serious* Anyway...lovely quotes! ^_^ And thanks for mascot suggestions! ^_^

DodgerMcClure.aka.Drama-Queen- Lol, I've never had a food fight either...it looks fun though. ^_^ And you're welcome! ^_^

The Dark Reviewer- Ooo good idea! Thanks! ^_^

Adriana- Thanks! *eyes widen nervously* Umm...*pretends you didn't just guess what happens* Ummm...*shifty eyes* Of course not...*snaps out of it* I'm glad you liked that part. ^_^Lol, I do that all the time. My parents think I'm a crazy person. ^_^ Thanks for reviewing! ^_^

Chronicles Bailey- *pats your head* It'll be okay...

Disclaimer- I don't own the Mighty Ducks.

-Chapter 18-

Charlie winced as he heard Agatha's angry yells echoing off the kitchen walls and into the living room where he was awaiting death.

He knew his dad would be angry. And he was okay with that. The reason WHY he was okay with that? His dad was ALWAYS angry with him. It was just one of those things.

The thing that caused Charlie the most pain at the moment was that it was HIS fault they were in trouble. He had ignited the food fight in the first place and yet they got in trouble too.

Why couldn't he have just stayed out of that stupid kitchen?

He groaned and leaned back into the stiff couch. It wasn't one of those soft, comfy ones you can just relax in. No, it was one of those expensive ones that hurt your back when you sleep on them. Everything about the house was like that. Stuffy and uncomfortable. That again led Charlie to wonder where his dad got all this money.

He heard footsteps echoing down the hall as his dad drew nearer. Maybe his dad wouldn't care...maybe he would do the nice-guy thing he had been attempting lately and just let Charlie off the hook.

Or...not...

"Charlie?" George asked, his voice stiff.

Charlie looked timidly at his father from his place on the couch. Charlie wanted nothing more than to crawl into a big hole, curl up, and die. That would be the most painless way out of the situation. His father didn't look too keen on letting this go.

"Yes?" Charlie asked, feigning innocence.

"Don't you give me that, Charlie Conway! What possessed you to DO THAT? Have you no dignity?" he asked, folding his arms and furrowing his eyebrows.

"...Not anymore." Charlie admitted after a few long seconds of silence.

"Why on Earth did you do that, Charlie? Now the kitchen is a mess, the food is destroyed, and I found out just how immature my son is!" George ranted.

Charlie wasn't really sure the exact answer he was expected to give. "I'm...sorry?"

"You should be! I can't believe you! What were you even doing in there in the first place? You should have been getting ready for school." George questioned.

"I was...um...helping. I had already finished getting ready for school and I was bored so I-" Charlie started.

"Decided to help them out? Charlie, they're MAIDS! They are HIRED to do that. They don't need your help." George spat out at his son.

Charlie pursed his lips and glared. His dad was really rubbing him the wrong way...

George growled to himself and looked Charlie square in the eye. "Look, I don't have time to deal with this. I have an important meeting to attend and you and your antics will have to wait. I'm sure I will be able to think of a fitting punishment by the time you're home again."

Charlie's eyes narrowed slightly and he gave a crisp nod. It could be worse. He wasn't dead YET...

As soon as George left the room, Charlie muttered something incoherent under his breath and glared at the wall. He didn't even want to BE here. He hadn't ASKED to live here and yet he was bound to it. Can you say UNFAIR?

Charlie stood up, grabbed his things, and left without bothering to say goodbye. They probably wouldn't even notice his absence. His stomach was grumbling but he ignored it. After walking aimlessly for a while, he stopped when he came to a park.

He knew good and well how stupid he was being, but that didn't stop him.

He sat down on a bench, pulled his knees up to his chest, and watched small children run around in the park, laughing and playing. He figured their mothers took them to play at the park before it got too crowded.

Charlie let out a depressed sigh and continued watching them. He wished he could go back to when he was younger. He also wished he could have at least one single good memory of his father. He wanted nothing more than to be normal again. To be able to say he had two, loving parents who would always be there for him...two parents that cared.

He couldn't even say that. He had one parent who DIDN'T care. One parent who wouldn't even notice if he we're kidnapped off the street and killed. In fact, he would probably be relieved.

Charlie watched a young mother scoop her child up into her arms, both smiling broadly. They looked so happy.

Then memories of his own mother flooded in. He could remember when he first begged her to let him play hockey with his friends. It hadn't been long after they had moved to Minneapolis from his father so she was still over- protective and skittish. Eventually she gave in though. She had come to every single hockey game he had ever been in, minus the Team USA games. She had always been supportive and had never led him wrong.

His eyes glazed over but he blinked the tears away. He wouldn't cry. She would want him to be happy. It was just so hard to be happy with her dead.

Charlie still had to remind himself that this wasn't just a trip. This was a permanent thing and his mother wouldn't come take him back.

Suddenly a small child timidly walked up to him. Charlie looked at her small face and waited to see why the little girl had approached him.

But she just stood there, observing him. She was about four years old.

"May I help you?" he asked the curly haired little girl.

She nodded. "Are you here to play too? Where's your mommy?"

Charlie was about to answer when he closed his mouth, thinking better of it. Saying 'she's dead' would only make it worse. It would make it real again.

"Didn't your mommy tell you not to talk to strangers?" he said, directing the question away from him and his mother.

The small girl looked as if she was in deep thought. She then looked him in the eye again. "Yeah, but you don't look very scary."

He smiled at her. She was a tiny little thing but had her jaw out in defiance, apparently determined to get him to talk. Why this child was here, he couldn't fathom.

"I guess you're right." He replied after a moment.

"So where's your mommy?" she asked again.

Charlie pursed his lips. Then he thought of an idea. "Where's YOUR mommy?" he asked, again diverting the question.

The little blonde pointed over to a woman talking with another woman on the other side of the park. The little girl resembled her mother very acutely. They didn't look rich at all, which made Charlie wonder. He was still in the area where all the rich people lived. Maybe they just came because it was such a nice park. It was very clean and appeared to be fun.

"I see. Well she'll probably be looking for you in a few minutes so you should probably go back over to her." He replied, hoping to get her to go away. It was hard to wallow in depression with a little girl asking you pointless questions such as where your mother was.

The little girl shook her head. "Nuh uh. She won't be worried...hey, are you a growed-up?" she asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.

Charlie had to laugh at the butchered word. "No, I'm not a grown-up. I'm only fourteen." He replied with a hint of a grin appearing on his face.

"Really? I have a big sister that's almost that age, but bigger." She replied, smiling brightly.

"Really? How old is she?" he asked with curiosity.

"Seteneen...seb...umm...sebetneen, I think. I don't 'member how to say it but I think that's it." She said, furrowing her eyebrows, digging in her brain to remember the word.

"Seventeen?" Charlie suggested.

She jumped up and looked him in the face, grinning brightly. "YEAH! That's it! Sebenteen!"

He smiled back at her. "Well I'm glad to be of service. I'm thrilled I could help."

She grinned before her face melted into one of confusion. "But if your almost sissy's age, why are you here?" she asked, her face emitting innocent confusion.

He sighed. "I kinda got in a fight with my dad and, I don't know. I guess I probably should go on. I'll only be in MORE trouble if I skip school..." He said with defeat. Lying to this little girl would be pointless.

"Yes you should!" she said, folding her arms with authority. Her soft brown eyes were fixed on him.

He laughed. "Yes, I should. It was a pleasure talking with you...?" he started before realizing he didn't know her name.

"Brittany." She replied, extending her arm out for a handshake.

"Brittany. Well, It was a pleasure meeting you Brittany. I'm Charlie." He said, shaking her hand and standing up.

"It was a plezure meeting to you too Charlie." She said, trying to mimic what he had said earlier, though she didn't even know what it meant.

He grinned at her. She was a sweet little kid.

"Well, I should probably get to school, Brittany." He said as he turned to leave.

"Bye bye Charlie!" she called after him.

He turned back and waved to her before noticing he was still a mess from earlier. He had egg drying in his hair, flower all over him and pancake syrup stains all over his clothes. He looked pretty disgusting. He was surprised the little girl didn't question his appearance. He looked like a breakfast attempt gone wrong.

He ran back to the house and snuck in the front door. He bolted up the stairs, got some clean clothes from his closet, and dropped his stuff in his room before making a mad dash to the nearest bathroom. He then stripped down and jumped in the shower, washing his hair as fast as he could before getting back out, drying off, and putting on the clean clothes.

Charlie then ran a brush through his hair, got his stuff out of his room, and ran back downstairs, grabbing his roller blades from where he had discarded them the day before by the door. He put them on and left the house again; almost positive he was late by then.

Luckily for him he had paid close attention to where the school had been and knew the way. He did his usual dodge passing people and big trucks thing.

The boy arrived at school just in time for the first bell to ring. Wasting no time, Charlie skated up to the school, exchanged blades for shoes, and ran to his locker. He shoved his things in his locker and ran for his first period class. Charlie was glad he gotten everything out of his system before coming. Now maybe he could go through school with little distraction. Besides, he had his first Varsity hockey practice to get to after school.

~~~*~~~

Gordon Bombay took in a hasty breath before knocking on the door. He knew there was a chance this would never work but he couldn't live with himself if he didn't try. Since he was in the Law business he figured they would at least hear his case and point of view.

After a few moments, an African American woman answered the door.

"Ah, Judge Mallerbee-" Gordon began.

"Oh, it's you again." She said sourly, recalling his entrance to her courtroom and the disturbance he participated in.

"We haven't been formally introduced, I'm Gordon Bombay, Attorney at Law. I feel as if the case-" he started.

"Who let you in here?" she asked, interrupting him.

"Pardon? Oh, I just showed my ID and they let me in. I need to talk to you." Bombay replied.

Judge Mallerbee sighed and let him in. It appeared he wouldn't go away.

Gordon grinned. "Why thank you for all this hospitality, I really appreciate it. But now onto business, I feel like Charlie Conway's case didn't turn out to his best interest."

She groaned, remembering the drawn out argument. That had been a hard day. That case was a horrible way to start the morning.

"I don't want to hear it." She cut in.

"But just hear me out, I don't believe that George Conway is the best guardian for Charlie." Bombay answered.

The woman cocked an eyebrow. "And WHY is that?"

"Well you see ma'am, if you knew Charlie's story, you would no doubt agree with me. Do you know WHY George Conway didn't have any custody over Charlie in the FIRST place? Did that ever cross your mind?" Gordon Bombay asked, leaning forward slightly and putting his arms behind his back, clasping his hands together in the middle.

She just raised her eyebrows in question.

Bombay took this as an opening to tell her. "Charlie claims that the reason is because the man used to beat his mother. Yes, he was abusive. So Casey took Charlie far away from George Conway for Charlie's safety. Then when Casey died, the man took it as his opportunity to get Charlie back. Why, I'm not sure. But I don't trust him with Charlie's life." Gordon explained.

The judge nodded her head in all the right places before replying. "Do you have any proof that he's any threat to Charlie? Any bruises or cuts? I saw how reluctant he was to go with his father so he very well could have made that up just to get out of it." She reasoned.

The ex-peewee hockey coach furrowed his eyebrows at that. He couldn't imagine Charlie making something like that up just to get out of being with his father. It just wasn't Charlie.

"It's not in his character to do something like that." Bombay replied.

"Well, we can watch closely for any signs of abuse but we can't take him away until we are sure. George Conway IS his legal guardian and Mrs. Conway left no other options. We'll send someone to watch Charlie and if there are any unusual bruises, we'll be sure to react." She said. "It's the best we can do."

"But why can't you just trust me?" Bombay asked, getting frustrated. That gave George enough time to actually hurt Charlie. And some types of abuse were far more dangerous than physical. For all they knew he could be causing mental or emotional abuse, they could never know. This was making him so mad!

"Because, he has never been in trouble with the law before and we have nothing to go on." She replied, hoping he could leave so she could go ahead and finish what she was doing and get that agent to Charlie.

Bombay nodded, still frowning deeply.

"If that's all you needed to say, you are excused." Judge Mallerbee said, turning back to the papers on her desk.

"It's not all I have to say." He replied coolly.

She turned her face up to look at him through silver-rimmed glasses. "It's not?"

"No, I also want to address the death of Casey Conway." Bombay replied in a very professional tone.

She groaned and leaned back in her chair. "What, are you going to say that HE did it?" she asked, a hint of sarcasm evident in her voice. This man was really beginning to annoy her. Couldn't he see she was in the middle of something?

"Yes, I believe it's possible. He DID have a grudge against Casey-erm, Mrs. Conway and seemed rather eager to get Charlie out of the state as soon as possible." Gordon pointed out.

Judge Victoria Mallerbee seemed to put some thought into this information. She then looked back at Gordon. "You have a valid point, but could it be possible he just wanted to get back home? According to what you said before, he hadn't seen his son in ten years. It is very possible that he wanted to be with his son and get to know him after ten years of not seeing him." She said, trying to look at both sides of the argument.

Gordon stared at her with disbelief for a split-second. How could she NOT SEE the seriousness of this?!

"I highly doubt it. I've met the man and there's something very suspicious about him. Will you at least investigate it?" Bombay retorted.

She groaned again. "I'm not the police; I'm just a judge. As for the person sent to watch Charlie, I'll have to call the police department to even ask if it's possible, now that I think about it. But if you'd like, I could also approach them about Mrs. Conway's death, if that will get you out of this office." She said giving him 'a look' and began sorting through papers again.

Gordon nodded with a satisfied look on his face. He got what he wanted so he guessed that would have to do.

"Thank you for your time, Your Honor." He said as he stood up and nodded.

"Good day, Mr. Bombay." She said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

He grinned. "Here's my number, be sure to have the police get back to me on everything, okay?" he said, handing her his card.

She turned an annoyed face up to him. "Give it to them yourself, Mr. Bombay."

"Okay, but please, do be sure to look into-" he started again.

"GOOD DAY, Mr. Bombay." She said angrily as she practically closed the door in his face.

He chuckled to himself and walked down the hallway with a half-smile on his face. It wouldn't be long till he could get Charlie back in Minnesota. He figured it was only a matter of time. George Conway was bound to screw up sometime and Charlie would be brought back where he belonged. Gordon decided next time he got in contact with Charlie he would tell him the good news.

~~~*~~~

Judge Mallerbee let out a sigh and groaned. Why did that man have to be an attorney? Her job would have been much easier if the man had been a doctor or even a construction worker. Her boss wasn't going to like this...

She sat down at her desk and pulled out a paper with a number on it. She picked up the phone and dialed.

She heard a click indicating the phone being picked up. "Hello? This is Judge Victoria Mallerbee. I need to speak to George Conway...Boss? It's me. I think we have a problem..."