An annoyingly loud buzz filled Nosedive's ears.

"Stupid alarm clock," he mumbled, looking at the time. "Seven thirty, who holds a practice at eight in the morning?"

"Nosedive, wake up," called Wildwing, banging on the door. Dive made an unintelligible reply and rolled over, pulling his pillow over his head. It should take about ten minutes for wing to realize I'm not there. That means I've got fifteen more minutes of sleep time.

Meanwhile, there was a similar conversation going on down the hall. It wasn't a coincidence that Dive and Kristy's rooms were on opposite ends of the corridor.

"Kristina! Practice starts in half an hour," yelled Canard

"Canard, can't I sleep in just once?" was her muffled reply.

"Fine, but if you don't practice you don't play." He heard a thump that told him Kristy was out of bed. Canard waited until he heard the shower running and returned to the kitchen.

"Coffee?" Duke handed him a steaming cup. He and Canard were the resident coffee addicts.

"Thanks. Is everyone up?"

"All but Kristy and Dive," answered Mallory, "is she feeling alright?" Kristy was usually the first one on the ice and Mallory admired the younger girl's dedication.

"Nah, just got a late start. She's in the shower now."

A few minutes later Kristy stumbled in. Her wet hair was pulled back in a neat brown braid that reached past her shoulders and she was wearing an oversized jersey. Canard raised his eyebrows as she took a seat next to him at the table.

"Kristy, why are you wearing one of Wing's jerseys?" he asked, noticing the number and the name 'Flashblade' on the back.

"It's Wing's?" She looked down at the double zero on the front. "I got it out of Dive's room.

"What!" Canard spit out a mouthful of coffee. "What were you doing in his room?"

Kristy sunk down in her chair. "Um, I needed a jersey and Dive has tons...besides, he's still sleeping so it's not like I was doing anything wrong."

Wildwing folded his newspaper and looked Kristy over. "I was wondering where that practice jersey went. Why was it in Dive's room?"

"Probably the same reason Kristy was in his room," said Tanya, handing Kristy a plate of scrambled eggs, "he wanted to avoid doing laundry."

Wildwing stood up. "I'm gonna go get Dive out of bed," he announced.

"Kristy, you've got your own clothes, you don't need to wear Nosedive's," said Canard, getting back on topic.

"Actually, I don't have my own clothes," Kristy pointed out, "all I have is the stuff you gave me."

"So?"

Kristy grinned sheepishly. "You and Dive might like wearing your older brothers things, but girls usually don't do that. So could I maybe go shopping today after practice?" She flashed him a pair of big, brown puppy eyes.

"There's no way you're leaving the pon-" he was cut off by Mallory.

"Don't worry Canard, I'll take her. It'll be a girls day at the mall. You in Tanya?"

"Duh sure, when are we leaving?" The three girls were planning their trip as they headed for the elevator.

Canard stared blankly after them. "What are they doing? I'm second in command and I say my sister isn't going anywhere."

"A bird must leave the nest to learn to fly," quoted Grin.

"I think what he's say is that you should let the kid be a kid," clarified Duke.

"WILDWING!" Nosedive's cry sounded through the kitchen. Wildwing him self walked calmly back into the kitchen a second later.

"Where are the girls?" he asked, sitting down and picking up his paper like nothing had happened.

"Up in the rink," answered Duke, "so what 'id you do with the kid?"

"Gave him some help getting into the shower."

"Wing, you are so gonna get it," announced Nosedive, finally arriving in the kitchen. His normally well groomed blond hair was dripping wet and his pajamas were soaked.

"Have some problems in the shower Dive?" asked Canard, holding back a smile.

"Wildwing!" Nosedive lunged for his brother and caught him off guard. Wing fell off the chair and they both ended up on the floor.

"Ew, Dive you're all wet," Wildwing stood up and glared at the wet spots on his clothes.

"I wonder how that happened?" commented Duke offhandedly.

Nosedive jumped up and wrapped his arms around Wing in a huge, wet bear hug. "Don't you love your adorable little brother? You need to keep me warm so I don't freeze."

"Baby bro, you're nuts." Wildwing turned the tables on Dive and trapped him in a headlock.

"Hey don't handle the merchandise," said Dive, "you wouldn't want to hurt your star player."

"Shouldn't the star player be at practice?" asked Canard, pointing at the clock. It was seven fifty-five.

"Come on you guys, let's go," said Wildwing, dragging Nosedive to the elevator.

"You go ahead," Duke waved them on, "we'll be up before the kid's changed."

"Hey-" Dive's objections were silenced by the elevator doors closing.

"Canard, my little friend goes to the mall almost everyday on his own," pointed out Grin, "Kristy should have no problems."

"It's going to be fine," Duke placed a hand on the tan duck's shoulder, "She'll be with Tanya and Mal the whole time."

"I know, I'm just worried about Kristy going out there with Dragonus and Lucricia both loose." Canard shook his head, "I'm almost as bad as Wing." The empty elevator returned and thy got in.

"You're just not used to playing the older brother," said Duke. They stepped out into the team locker room. "If Dive can make it to the mall and back anyone can."

"Is this pick on the Dive day?" asked Nosedive, looking up from tying his skates.

"Didn't you get the memo?" called Wildwing, picking up his goalie stick and leaving for the rink.

"I don't deserve this," commented Nosedive, grabbing his stick and following Wing out.