Disclaimer : I don't own anything so there!

XSARAH : Arr I nearly made you cry. Point to me then lol. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

MOSHIMORO6785 : I'm so glad you are enjoying it. I think it's one of my better stories lol. Oh I know, I haven't done an Adam/Julie in ages have I? It's mainly cause I've really gone of Julie, but I'll try and get one written really soon lol. Yeah, I like writing about the sisterhood between Connie and Julie, though I think this is the first story where it's been to the degree it is. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

A : No that's not the end of the story lol. Everything will be explained as we delve further, I didn't really want this to go much further than 10 chapter, but it looks like being more 20 chapters lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

KATIE : Arr I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I was a bit worried everyone might hate me for killing Julie, but there was no way I could have killed Connie and especially not Adam. I did think of Guy, but I remember in I think it was 'What is a friend? Obviously not you', where I threatened to kill Guy, and I just couldn't do that to you again lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

HOCKEY-GIRL90 : Arr I can't believe you cried lol. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

SWEEN : Arr happy birthday for last Wednesday. Arr bless ya, sorry I made ya cry near ya birthday lol. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

STEPH : Don't worry, I'm not ready to finish this yet lol, and by the time I am, you'll be fed up of it lol. Yeah we should soo start a club for sappy people lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

Chapter 8

It's funny how one event such as the loss of my best friend could change things, as dramatically as it did. In the days following her death, I spent all my time with the ducks, trying to pull together, and get each other through the grief that had taken over our existences. When anyone of us seemed to be struggling, we all metaphorically speaking took hold of their hands and pulled them through the day with us. I always thought we were pretty close, and we were, but we seemed to pull together even more. As horrible as it sounds, Julie's death brought us even closer.

FLASHBACK

Time seemed to fly since the day of Julie death. I seemed to drift through the days. Doing anything to keep myself busy, to keep my mind off the fact that she was no longer around. I took Jonah to my moms nearly everyday, just so that none of us had to keep him amused while we were sorting through things. Charlie hadn't had much to do with him since coming home from the hospital, all he seemed to do was stay in his and Julie's room. He told us a few things Julie would want at the funeral, but other that, he had nothing more to do with it, leaving it up to us.

I had called work, and they had given me a months compassionate leave, which I was incredibly grateful for. Non of the ducks had to go back home for a few weeks, and Adam had been to see his and Charlie's coach who had given Adam a month, and had Charlie 6 months compassionate leave, before he had to start going to practices at the very least.

During the week following Julie's death, I hardly saw Miles. He was at work during the day, and I stayed at Charlie's incase he finally decided to open up and talk. Plus I didn't know whether he'd get up to see to Jonah if he cried. Though I had the vague idea, that all this was doing very little good for my marriage, I knew I was more needed here. Miles seemed to understand, the few times I'd called.

Before we knew it, it was the day of the funeral. I awoke that morning feeling dread. This was were everything became very real, as if it weren't already. Seeing her in the chapel of rest the day before was enough. She had laid there, looking so peaceful, so graceful, as though the slightest touch would wake her. I wish it would. I watched as Charlie spent a few minutes alone with her. There was no emotion on his face, he looked as though he was just staring at a dummy that had been made up to look like her. After a few minutes, he left the room, leaving us all to spend a few minutes with her. I gripped Adam and Averman's hands as we all circled her coffin. I suppose seeing her there, looking painless and at peace, made me feel slightly more at ease, in the knowledge she was no longer in pain.

By 9am, all the ducks were crowded around in the living room, dressed in black suits, white shirts and ties. I wore a black pant suit which I thought clashed with the whiteness of my face, though I suppose that was the same for us all. The service began at 11, yet we were all more or less ready. I headed upstairs to Charlie's room, where he hadn't left all morning. I knocked gently waiting for a response, but got none. Finally I let myself in, to find Charlie sat with his back to me, staring out the window, already dressed in his suit.

"Charlie, everyone's downstairs". I said gently, standing in the doorway. He didn't respond, just continued staring out of the window. "You're mom, Coach Bombay and Orion are coming here before the funeral. They're coming in the cars with us". I tried a different tactic, but still nothing. I headed over to him and sat next to him. "You watching anything interesting out there"?

"Not really". Finally a response, though it was short and sharp, it was still better than nothing.

"I was just wondering, do you want Jonah to come to the funeral? I wasn't sure whether you'd want him there".

"Whatever". He replied.

"Charlie he's your son, you decide". I snapped angrily. "Sorry, but you're not making this very easy". I apologized after a few seconds.

"How easy do you want it huh? Would it make you feel better if I ran around laughing and giggling like a little girl, then run out back and make daisy chains"? He snapped harshly back.

"You know that's not what I meant Charlie. You aren't the only one who misses her, who needs her"! I shouted back, standing up. "I'd give anything right now to hear her say everything's going to be ok. There's 11 people down stairs and one right here, that wishes they didn't have to be here, in this situation Charlie. But we are". I was hot with anger and hurt. "We are all trying to just get on as best we can, but you locking yourself away in here like this, not talking to any of us isn't helping. You have a son in the next room, that needs you, and all you can do is stare out of a God damn window". I finished then ran from the room.

I met Adam on the landing, who'd obviously been on his way up stairs to see what all the commotion was. I stormed passed him, and bounded down the stairs, Adam hot on my heels, he grabbed my arm just as I reached the front door.

"Hey, hey slow down". He said softly.

"I give in Adam, I really do". I answered, all the ducks coming closer. "I know he's just lost his wife, and his whole life's turned upside down, but he isn't the only person whose lost someone here". I answered, feeling all my anger dissipate slowly.

"I know it's hard, but just give him some time, it's still sinking in that she's gone and that he's a single parent, having to raise Jonah alone". Adam soothed.

"But that's it, he hasn't had a thing to do with Jonah. He can't even make the decision whether or not to let Jonah come to the funeral". I answered. "I'm going out for some fresh air". And with that, I turned and walked out of the house.

I began walking around the block, feeling the anger disappear with each step. The words I'd just said were running clear in my head, I knew I had sounded everything but supportive, but I was getting to the end of my tether with Charlie. He was acting as though he was the only person who'd lost someone special, and as for raising Jonah alone, he knew that he had the support of me and the ducks.

The slight breeze, sent shivers down my spine as I continued walking around, not ready to head back and pretend as though everything was ok. I looked down at the floor, watching every step I made. I kicked a stone, and watched as it bounced to a stop, no more than a few feet from it's original position. I didn't notice the woman walking toward me, until I'd nearly bumped into her.

"Sorry". I apologized, as I stepped around her to continue on my way.

"Connie"? she said suddenly.

"Yeah". I answered, looking closer, and noticing it was one of my neighbors. "Mrs. Mitchell". I said.

"How are you dear? I haven't seen you around for a few days". She stated, but what she really meant to say was 'have you and Miles separated, because I've noticed you haven't been home for a few days'.

"I'm doing ok, thanks". I chose to ignore the last part, knowing that she was just fishing for gossip.

"How's Miles"? Another ploy to find out if divorce was in the cards.

"He's good thanks". I replied. "Listen, I'm sorry, but I really have to go". I continued on my way.

Before long, I was back at the house. I walked up the front steps, and let myself in. Almost immediately, I was drawn into a hug. After a few seconds the person pulled away, saying a few words to me, non of which really registered. Then another person pulled me into a hug. It was when they pulled away that I noticed it was Coach Orion and Coach Bombay. They looked older somehow than the last time I had seen them a few months ago, when all the ducks were together last. It was as though, the news of Julie was the reason behind their sudden aging.

"Where's Casey"? I asked, noticing she wasn't around.

"She's upstairs with Charlie". Coach Orion told me.

"Good luck to her then". I replied, and went into the kitchen.

"You wanna talk"? Orion asked, startling me. "You look like you could use a friendly ear". He smiled, as I leaned back on the work surface.

"Talking is all well and good, it's where to start that's the problem". I replied.

"Ok, first tell me what's going on between you and Charlie"? He took a position opposite me, leaning back against the sink and folding his arms, as if letting me know he was all ears.

"Oh I don't know. I suppose his locking himself away from us and the world is just really bothering me at the moment. I know people have different ways of grieving Coach, I really do, but he won't have anything to do with Jonah. It's as though he expects someone else to make sure Jonah is fed and cared for. He won't talk to any of us, and when we do get something out of him, he talks to us as though we don't care that Julie's gone". I began explaining slowly. " Earlier, I really wanted to punch him, to physically hurt him, the way he's doing it emotionally to us".

"Sounds like what you need is a punch bag". He smiled.

"Yeah with Charlie's face on it". I smiled back.

"Don't be too hard on him. He won't always be like this. You might find after today, he starts opening up a little more. It'll be a long time before he's anything like the Charlie you remember, but don't turn you're back on him. He needs you more than he's letting on".

"Thanks Coach". I stood up and fell into his arms.

"Hey what's going on in here"? Adam asked as he came in, followed Bombay.

"Nothing, Coach Orion's just telling me that he secretly thought that I was the best player at Eden Hall". I joked as I pulled away from Coach Orion. I know with the funeral and all, joking around was the last thing we needed, but the odd joke seemed to lift the tension slightly.

"In your dreams Moreau". Adam laughed a little.

Half an hour later, Casey came down the stairs, carrying a neatly dressed Jonah. I laughed on the inside, knowing he wouldn't stay looking that way long. Once at the bottom she planted Jonah on the floor, and he wobbled his way into the living room. He held on to some of the ducks legs to steady himself, before finally reaching the corner where all his toys were. Casey came over and embraced me tightly. She looked as though she had been crying all ready.

"Is he coming down or staying up there"? Bombay asked, obviously revving himself up for a motivational talk with his step son.

"Who knows. He's just sat staring out of that window. I don't think he even realized I was there". Casey replied.

"I'll go have a try". Bombay headed toward the stairs.

"No, leave him Gordon, it's no good getting him in a foul mood at the minute". Casey told him.

END FLASHBACK

That was the mood of the day. I was angry with one of my best friends, in fact I was ready to pummel him to scream at him to get a grip. It was hard for us all, trying to get on with things as best as we could, but not wanting to get back to normal too fast, incase we forgot about her.

So what do you think? PLEASE RR!