Disclaimer : I don't own anything so there!

XSARAH : Hey. Glad you like it. Oh sorry, a pram is a push chair, I never really made it very clear did I lol. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

HOCKEY-GIRL90 : Arr thanks, glad you liked it. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

LUVDACAKEEATER : Glad you like it. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

KATIE : Hey up chicken. If you thought that chapter was sad, then you really don't want to read this one. I seriously had tears in my eyes when I proof read it for the first time lol, but I'm a soppy sod anyways lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

Chapter 7

I slowly entered the room, and gently took Holly out of my husbands arms, and placed her back in her crib. I remember the day she was born, and all the ducks had gone to see her in the nursery, I sat and cried, wishing that Julie was here. The one person I wanted Holly to meet the most wasn't here.

FLASHBACK

We sat there all night, or should I say all morning, just sat around. There was hardly any talking between us, which in itself was unusual, as normally we'd be fighting each other to get a word in edgeways. Charlie was in and out of Julie's room like a yo-yo. I suppose he was scared of leaving her for too long, incase she woke up alone. I dozed off a few times, but can't have been asleep more than 20 minutes, before I was forcing myself awake again. I'd handed the bit of food and drink I'd brought around, but none of us seemed to be able to face eating.

At about 6am, Julie finally woke up. I don't know how she'd managed it, but Charlie admitted defeat and agreed to going home and having a shower and a rest. She also told most of the ducks to do the same of which they argued at first, but eventually agreed. I stayed, not being able to face going home and seeing Miles' Aunt again. After everyone bar me and Adam had left, we both went in to see her.

"Hey, how you feeling"? I asked, taking a seat beside her.

"Could be better". She answered. "Could be worse though". She smiled.

"I brought my camera like you asked". I told her.

"Oh great. Is there anywhere better than this room, like a garden or something"? She asked, as she sat up in bed.

"Yeah, there's a garden, but we'd have to get permission to take you". Adam replied.

"Would you"? She looked longingly at Adam, who agreed and disappeared to find a nurse. "The reason I asked you to bring the camera was because, Jonah's too young to remember much about me, and I want him to have something better than a photo to remember me". She told me.

I was getting the jist of what she wanted to do. She wanted to record him a message he could watch when he was older. Adam came back with a wheelchair nodding to tell us, that we were allowed. I helped Adam get Julie in the chair, then grabbed my camera, before we all headed out to the spot where I had broken down in tears with Charlie, the night before. We picked a spot that was more private and well, had a nice view behind her. Adam stood by my side, as I set the camera up.

"You ready"? I asked. She nodded as I pressed record and stepped a little further away with Adam, so she could at least have a bit more privacy. Though we could still hear what she was saying.

"Hi honey. Happy Birthday. I hope you've had an excellent day, and I know that if Aunt Connie's had anything to do with it, you will have. I wish I could have been around to watch you grow up into the handsome young man I know you are. There's so many things I wish I could have seen you do, like your first day at school, being with you when you saw your first hockey game, and knowing your dad, the first time you played hockey. Just remember Jonah, Goalie is the best position, don't listen to your dad if he tells you otherwise". Julie let out a small laugh, but tears where pouring down my cheeks. "In the first 2 years of your life, you gave me more happiness, than I ever dreamt possible. You were and always will be my baby, and I love you more than you could ever imagine. I hate the fact that I had to leave you so young, or at all, but knowing that you have so many people around you that love you, helps". She took a breath, and wiped the lone tear that had been running down her cheek. "There's so many things I want for you, and I hope that you have them. I want you to know what love is. I love your dad more than anyone in the world, and feeling the love being returned was the greatest feeling in the world. Don't be scared or shy away from it. There will be some people out there, that will hurt you, but remember, they won't all be like that, and there is someone out there, that you will love to the point it scares you". I looked at Adam who too had tears pouring from his eyes. At that second he caught my gaze, and reached over, laying his arm around my shoulders. "I want you to be soo happy Jonah, in life and in love. Happiness is the greatest gift of all, just like the happiness you gave to me and the happiness you still bring those around you. Don't be scared of being happy, when those around you don't seem as happy, you create your own happiness". Again she wiped the tears that were forming away. "You have a lot of people around you that love you. First there's your dad, and I know at times he's going to seem like an army sergeant, but believe me when I say, he's only doing it because he loves you. Also when he's teaching you hockey, get him to show you the triple deke and then get in goal and save the puck. Glove side". She whispered the last bit. "Aunt Connie's the one you want to go to with problems, she'll sort you out faster than you can say Jack Robinson. She's also the fun one". I let out a quiet laugh, as tears still poured easily. "Uncle Adam's the one you need to go to with hockey problems, after he's finished with you, you'll be 10 times better than him and your dad put together. Uncle Guy's good if need a good prank to play on someone, and I'm sure he'll tell you loads of stories about the pranks he played on me and Aunt Connie when we were in High School. Uncle Averman is the one to go to when you need cheering up, he'll tell you jokes that will make you cry with laughter. Uncle Portman and Uncle Fulton will teach you how to stick up for yourself and bash other players into the boards, so stay out of their way when you're on the ice. Uncle Russ is one of two people, Uncle Fulton being the other, who could get the puck passed me easily, so pay attention to them and also he's the one you want to go to, to learn some trash talk. Uncle Luis is the one to go to with girl troubles, and if you want to learn how to skate faster than you could ever dream possible, just learn how to stop first. Uncle Goldberg's the best cook out of us all, and if you spend a week with him, you'll be a better cook than your dad. He's also one of the best goalies that could teach you everything you need to know. Uncle Ken's the one to go to, to learn how to be agile on the ice, and if you need help in school. Uncle Dwayne's the best puck handler ever, and if you copy him you can't go far wrong". I knew she was coming to the end of her message, and began to get ready to turn the recorder off. "I love you so much. Don't ever forget that". And with that she looked at me, and I headed over and turned it off.

"You ready to go back in"? Adam asked, following me toward her.

"Yeah". She answered simply.

On the way back inside, she asked me, if I'd give Jonah the tape on his 10th birthday. I agreed, feeling an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach when I realized that she wasn't going to be there. Less than an hour later, she had fallen back asleep, and most of the ducks had returned, Charlie being the first. About 9am, the doctor came to see Julie. We all waited impatiently outside, hoping that he was going to come out with a huge smile on his face, and tell us all he had diagnosed her wrong and that she was going to be ok. The doctor did eventually come out, but it wasn't a smile on his face, in fact it was blank. A few minutes later, Charlie followed. He closed her door quietly behind himself, and leaned against the wall, before crumbling into tears and sliding down to the floor. As if on autopilot, I went to him, and knelt down, taking his hand in my own.

"I'll go fetch Jonah". I told him softly. He nodded pathetically, as though the world was falling down around him. I turned round to ask one of the guys for the cars keys. They all looked similar to Charlie.

"Adam, can I borrow you're car"? I whispered.

"I'll take you". He replied, leaning over and patting Charlie's shoulder comfortingly, then headed out of the hospital with me.

It was only when we got outside, that I allowed tears to really come. Adam took my hand in his own, and gave it a squeeze. I was beginning to feel sick, the reality of the passed 24 hours really hitting home. It seemed almost as though it were happening to someone else.

"Why'd this have to happen? Why Julie of all people"? I muttered, in I suppose a rhetorical way.

"I don't know, I wish I knew". Adam answered.

Again the remainder of the journey was spent in silence. I was slightly aware that Adam was driving that little bit more rushed, as though we were in race against time, which in all honesty we were. It was Julie's time running out, and we were racing to stay ahead of the clock. When we got to my parents, Adam sat in the car allowing it to idle, whilst I dashed inside. My mom who wasn't expecting me, looked scared out of her wits when I burst through the front door. Jonah was sat on the floor playing with his toys totally oblivious to the happenings around him.

"Connee". He screeched on seeing me.

"Hey little guy. C'mon, we're going to see Mommy". I knelt down and helped him to his feet where he wrapped his little arms the best he could around my neck.

"Go see Moommy". He repeated as I stood up.

"Thanks for having him mom, I'll see you later". I said hurriedly, as I passed her tearful form on the way out.

"Give my love to Julie will you. Tell her I'm thinking of her always. Charlie too". Her tears poured down cheeks.

"I will". I began crying again, as I dove into her arms and giving her a quick yet tight hug. "I love you and tell dad too". I said before dashing back outside to the car.

Once Jonah was strapped safely in the car, I jumped back into the front seat. Adam set off straight away, going around the block then back the way we had come. Jonah was babbling to himself in the backseat, and though most weren't really coherent, the odd one or two like 'in rwed car', 'go fffast', were obviously a statement about Adam's car. I knew he didn't really understand anything that was going on, and I also knew that when he saw Julie, he wouldn't know that this was going to probably be the last time either. The journey was over before I realized, and we began walking speedily back into the hospital.

"DADDEE". Jonah screamed when he saw Charlie stood outside Julie's room.

"Hey Champ. Have you been good"? Charlie took Jonah easily from my arms.

"Yes, beeen goood". Jonah copied.

A few seconds later, Luis exited the room, and Adam went in. My hands were shaking, and I was unable to keep eye contact with any of the guys. Though the fact that all their eyes were bloodshot, and tear stained didn't go un-noticed. I suddenly felt weak, and as though I was going to be sick. A few minutes later Adam exited, looking very much similar to the others.

"Connie, she wants to see you quickly before Jonah". Adam told me, resting his hand on my shoulder. Even his hand felt like a ton of bricks.

I took a deep breath, and headed inside, closing the door tightly behind myself. In just the last few hours, Julie had changed, looking pale and sweaty. She looked like a frail old woman, minus the wrinkles of her skin.

"Hey". I went and sat next to her, taking her hand in mine.

"Hi". She croaked. "I just, I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done over the last few days, and well for everything". She was crying now.

"You don't need to thank me Jules. I'd do anything for you a million times over". I replied, also joining in on the crying. "Are you scared"? I suddenly asked.

"Yes and no". She replied honestly. "I'm scared because it death you know, it's final, but I'm not scared, because I know that I have lived a great life. I've been blessed with wonderful friends and team mates, a husband who I love more than anyone in the world and a son who I know is going to be loved just as much with or without me". She answered.

"I love you so, so much Jules. You've been the best friend I could have ever dreamt of having. I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I'm scared of so much Jules, but I'm most scared of not being able to see or talk to you every day". Tears really poured now, more furious than ever.

"I'll always be with you. Just because you won't be able to see me, doesn't mean I won't be around". She sat up a little and pulled me gently toward her, and wrapped her weak arms around me. "I love you too". After a few seconds I pulled back a little and kissed her cheek gently, before pulling away completely, and walking toward the door. "Quack you later". She whispered our old catch phrase, just loud enough for me to catch. I turned to see her smiling.

"Quack ya later". I replied, smiling back, before leaving the room completely.

As soon as I got out of the room, Charlie went straight in with Jonah. Goldberg who was closest to me, got up and put his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. I started crying out loud, and was soon joined by him. I suddenly felt the rest of the ducks join in the hug, surrounding both me and Goldberg, as we grieved for our best friend.

END FLASHBACK

Julie died peacefully, 20 minutes later, cuddling Jonah with one arm and Charlie with the other. She had passed away aged 23.

I remember that day as clearly now, as I did days after the actual event. I had cried more in the 24 hours leading up to her death, than I have ever done in my whole life. Sometimes on particularly bad days, I'll have a little cry to myself as I remember all that we lost that day.

So what did you think? I admit, I cried throughout writing the last part, but I'm a pretty soppy person anyway lol. PLEASE R&R!