Disclaimer - I do not own anything even remotely related to The Mighty Ducks. I only wish I had thought of them first…
Italics indicate character thought.
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So here I am again. Beau was standing outside of Charlie's house, staring up at it as the music pumped from the windows and people milled all over the lawn. It was October 31st. Halloween - and the hockey team was throwing the supposed biggest party of the year. It was tradition, and they had all been getting together since high school. Former Ducks had flown in from around the country. Every team on campus was there and things had just gotten started. Beau was outgoing, but this was a lot of people. She reached down, running her hands over her costume, feeling irrationally nervous as people passed her coming and going. To her right a Mario and Luigi were play wrestling on the lawn. On the front porch a whole group dressed as the characters from the Wizard of Oz were playing some form of beer pong.
Don't be such a freak, Beau. Get in there. These are your friends. They aren't going to harass you. She readjusted her skirt a little, hefted her basket, and sighed. Who are you kidding, Mayland? What was I thinking wearing this?
"Well, hello there." It was Dave Lawrence and he was behind her. She was sure he didn't realize who she was. She waited, seeing him walk around her, sizing her up. He was dressed as a hockey player. How original. When his eyes finally reached her face he made a slight strangled sound before admirably composing himself and closing his mouth.
"Shit. Beau." It was all he said. He was still staring and Beau felt her face getting redder by the minute. This was such a bad idea. I should have been a ghost. Just worn a sheet over my head. Or a paper bag. Sheesh.
"Right." And with that she walked past Dave, heading inside, hoping to find Charlie as soon as possible and then hide in a corner for the remainder of the evening.
-
She came through the door at full speed and stopped in her tracks when she saw the room completely filled with people. Charlie saw her and smiled a little at how nervous she looked before he got a chance to see what she was wearing.
Luis Mendoza was suddenly at his shoulder, a low whistle emanating from his throat. "Damn, Conway. Tell me that's the girl your costume is supposed to go with."
He was dressed as a woodsman because Beau had told him she would be coming as Little Red Riding Hood. He had thought his jeans, work boots, button up flannel shirt, and corduroy jacket would be a great match for that. She had apparently left out the word 'sexy.' Sexy Little Red Riding Hood.
She was wearing a more than short red smock dress with a button up white shirt beneath. The buttons were open down to a black leather corset that was cinched tight, black laces tied in a bow, running from her hips up to just below her breasts. Her bare shoulders were covered with a short red shrug cape and the hood was up, capping her hair, which hung loose and in big curls. A small red bow peaked out near her forehead. In the only nod to her tomboy nature she wore knee high black lace up wrestling style boots that molded to her skin like they were painted on.
It was so obvious that she was not sure about her outfit. She stood, picnic basket held in front of her, legs crossed and trying to make herself as small as possible. Her head swiveled and her eyes met his. Her smile was instant and tentative and she moved towards him quickly, the tiny skirt swaying back and forth. She moved very close to him, leaning up to kiss his cheek and then stayed within inches. He touched her shoulder, feeling the satin of the cape.
"Holy shit." His grin was wicked and not just a little suggestive. "Did you look in a mirror? Do you know what you're doing to me?"
Beau leaned her head back, taking in his outfit. His jeans hugged his hips in all the right places and the flannel shirt was sexy in a burly lumberjack kind of way. But what really got Beau were the corduroy jacket and the work boots. A fake axe was slung over his shoulder and he looked rugged and really hot. She smiled at him invitingly.
"Did you wear that to match my costume?"
He nodded. "I feel a little overdressed though in comparison."
She hit him, but ran her hand down his chest and over to hold his hand. "Shut it. I'm already self-conscious enough without you picking on me."
Charlie squeezed her fingers. "I'm not picking on you. I'm just really…" He searched for the right word but all he could come up with was, "turned on."
"Ahem." Luis was still hovering and now he had his face right over Charlie's shoulder. Beau leaned a little further to the side and smiled at him. She stuck out her hand, realizing Charlie was still staring at her.
"Hi. I'm Beau Mayland." He grabbed her hand gently, kissing it and flashing a winning smile. He threw the accent on extra thick for emphasis.
"Luis Mendoza. The pleasure is mine."
This snapped Charlie out of his trance and he waved Mendoza back. "Alright Luis. Quit drooling over my girlfriend."
-
Portman had indeed shown up for the Halloween party and he and Fulton were still as inseparable as always. They were the best of friends and they were able to pick up right where things had left off the last time they had seen each other. And things had left off with a drinking game set to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." They had taken over the kitchen with their game and most of the team was joining in. Portman slammed a shot glass down on the counter and it slid from his hand and onto the floor. Fulton cackled and pointed at him.
"Man, since you started teaching you have turned into such a lightweight!"
Back in the living room Beau and Charlie were standing by the window with Connie, Guy, Julie, and Russ and Beau was having the time of her life getting to know them all. She was a little buzzed and working on her fourth beer and found herself talking freely.
"So Julie, you used to date Banks?" When Julie nodded and smiled, reminiscing, Beau considered. "I can totally see that."
Charlie and Guy had moved outside to the porch for some air and they were watching the group through the window. Beau was drifting from conversation to conversation, completely comfortable now that she was acclimated to wearing her outfit. It made Charlie so happy to see her already bonding with Julie and especially Connie and now as she turned to drill Russ on the mechanics of his much talked about knuckle-puck, his heart filled. Oh my, God. Guy leaned close to him.
"Charlie, are you in love with her?"
Oh my, God. His voice came out a little too loud. "Why would you ask that?"
Guy smiled. Charlie's eyes were glued to Beau through the glass, but he could hear Guy's smile in the tone of his voice. "Because you look at her like you are in love with her."
"Oh…my…God."
Guy's laugh was loud and genuine. "You sound a little sick, Conway. Never been in love before, huh?"
Charlie finally pried his eyes away and turned to look at his friend, a little pale. "Well, I mean, there was Linda, but we were just kids and that was just fun. I didn't love her. I certainly didn't tell her I loved her." His color was coming back and he smiled now, a little cautious, and thinking hard. "Beau is…I think about her all the time. This sounds so girly but, dude, she's got me all tied up in knots inside."
Guy knew it would sound silly to ask, but he and Charlie had known each other forever. They could have these kinds of conversations. "How does she make you feel about yourself?"
It wasn't a question Charlie was expecting, but when he heard it, it instantly made sense. "She makes me feel like the best version of myself. Shit, Guy."
"Well it's not like it's a bad thing, Charlie! Trust me. Speaking from experience, it can really lead to some serious trials and tribulations, but those are just, like, secondary to all of the other great things. If you have the right girl, and it sure seems like you do…man it just…well, rocks."
-
It was a few hours later and Beau had noticed Charlie looking at her oddly several times now. She brushed it off and chalked it up to the drinking they had all been doing. As people started heading home and the living room began to clear, the two of them had found a low traffic area to talk and to test out the much anticipated tongue ring.
Luis and Ken walked by and let out small cat calls and Charlie pulled away from the kiss, framing Beau, her back against the wall and his hands on either side of her face. He rested his forehead against hers and sighed. Beau laughed deeply, the alcohol still thick in her veins, and hooked her fingers in Charlie's belt loops, pulling his body tight against hers.
"I have the best time with you and your friends, Conway."
He found it hard to speak, still weighing his thoughts heavily. "They guys on the team are your friends now. And I have a great time with you, too." He slid a hand from the wall to tuck her hair behind her ear and then ran a thumb gently over her lips. She slanted her eyes up to meet his, her tongue following the path his thumb had taken.
"Charlie, I love being with you."
He kissed her gently, and then spoke, so softly he was barely audible. "I just love you, Beau."
Her breath caught in her throat and she froze. "Do you mean that?"
He kissed her again, more urgently this time. When he pulled away, he touched a hand to his heart. "I don't know what you're doing to me, Beau, but yes. I mean it. I love you."
She smiled, her eyes lighting up. She grabbed the front of his jacket, pulling his face down until it was touching hers. "I love you too, Charlie."
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Katie- Thanks! I'm pretty proud of Beau. I think she's a pretty rockin' chic. Let me know if she ever starts to get too sue-like.
antiIrony- Thanks for all of the reviews! It makes writing way more fun.
Duckfluff- I'm glad you like the Beau/Charlie pairing. They are fun to write. I think with all the things running around in my head you can count on them getting even more sweet with each other hint hint
Unlimitedblood- Sorry for the slowing in updates. Work and school have been crazy, not to mention the flu!
Bankiesbaybee99- You rock! Thanks so much for all of the nice comments Glad you are still enjoying.
Cc- thanks for reviewing. Hope you keep enjoying it.