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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.
Snowmobiling, it turned out, was actually something Rachel could learn to like. Or maybe it was more accurate to say that snowmobiling holding onto Fulton's back was something she could learn to like. But she did have to admit, it had been beautiful and he had taken the hills and valleys easy, knowing she was a little uncomfortable. An hour later and they were now pulling back up to the hotel. Fulton let the vehicle come to a slow stop and wiggled his shoulders a little, letting Rachel know she could let go.
"My arms are too cold to move." She squeezed him tighter, surprised a bit at her own flirtation, and then released him and climbed back to the ground. Fulton had to stay to sign the paperwork that stated they had returned the snowmobiles, as they were all in his name, and Rachel hung around with him as the others moved quickly towards the warmth of the lobby and then their room.
As the last two made their way across the snow, Rachel couldn't help but stop and watch him walk. He was so big, but moved surprisingly well for his size. She liked that. She also liked that she was already comfortable enough with him to start fantasizing about throwing a snowball right at the back of his head. Seize the moment, Rach.
Bending down quietly Rachel scooped up a large handful of snow in her leather gloves. She packed it tight, assessed the size, and packed on even more of the white powder. The snowball was roughly the size of a grapefruit. Perfect. She took aim, trying to recall her softball days of high school, and lobbed the projectile at Fulton's head as hard as she could. Her trajectory was a good as she could have hoped for and it hit him square in the back of the head with a loud snap. His head pitched forward and, as Rachel doubled over with laughter, he stood very very still.
Cute. Really cute. In one quick move Fulton bent down and grabbed a handful himself and started balling it up as he ran towards her. She realized too late that he was coming after her and ran in the opposite direction. She felt the snowball hit her back and then he was grabbing her arm and shoving a small patch of snow against her nose.
"Hey! No fair!" She was laughing though.
"All's fair when you're the one that started it, my friend." Fulton dropped the remaining snow down the front of her jacket and in response Rachel shoved against his chest hard. Unfortunately, she forgot to account for the fact that her feet were still twisted from him turning her around and she overbalanced, starting to pitch backwards towards the ground.
Fulton had quick reflexes and grabbed her arms as she was falling, pulling her back towards him, perhaps a little harder than was necessary. She came slamming into his chest and he grabbed a hold of her tightly in an effort to keep them both from falling.
Rachel tilted her head back, a little surprised to find herself standing so close to him. He was looking down at her, amused.
"No one ever really calls you graceful, do they?" He was laughing at her and she couldn't help but smile. She knew she was a klutz. Everyone knew she was a klutz. She liked that Fulton teased her. Teasing is an important part of any relationship. Relationship? Did I just think that word in conjunction with this guy? This guy who I am pressed up against right now? Oh crap. And before she could think another word Fulton had dropped his head down and pressed his chilled lips against hers, warming them immediately. He lingered for only a second before pulling away and wincing.
"Are you going to smack me?"
She had to blink at the question. What a question to ask after a kiss. A really sweet kiss. She took a step back and shoved her hands in her pockets in an obvious gesture of peace.
"Why would you ask that?" Is he regretting it already?
He shrugged, back to being the sullen hulking jock. "In my experience when I've kissed girls that I haven't tried to charm I usually get smacked."
Now she glared at him. "You haven't been trying to charm me?"
He shrugged. What was it with all these hockey types and the constant shrugging? Just say what you mean!
"Rachel, I've just been being myself with you." He looked away, embarrassed. "I try to charm the girls that I don't want to show the real me."
Rachel grinned, flattered, walking past him and tossing her comment over her shoulder. "Well in that case, you must not have been kissing the right girls."
Two days later and the group was milling around outside of the airport. It was time for Rachel to head back to Georgia Tech where she was studying Biological Conservation and no one really wanted to see her go. Most especially Fulton.
They had already hefted her bags into the check-in conveyor and most of the guys had already said their good-byes and headed back to the cars. Charlie, Fulton, and Beau remained and Charlie was the first to step forward and envelope Rachel in a hug. She seemed surprised and then grinned at Beau over his shoulder, giving a thumbs up.
He backed up. "Take care, shrimp." It was something he had taken to calling her over the past week and she secretly loved that her friend's boyfriend had given her a nickname.
"I'm not that short!"
Charlie smiled as he backed up a little further, giving the girls their space to say good-bye. "You sure look it when you hang out with this giant," he was indicating Beau and it earned him a flick to the nose. "Ow."
Beau laughed and pulled her admittedly much shorter friend into a tight hug. "You're a life saver, Rachel." She whispered it down into Rachel's ear. "I don't how I would have gotten though my birthday without you here. I love you."
They rocked back and forth in the embrace and Rachel laughed a little. "You would have been just fine. I'm thinking lover boy over there would have distracted you. But I love you too."
Beau shoved her friend back a little and held onto her shoulders, eyeing her, realizing from Rachel's smirk that she knew that she and Charlie had been together. Surprise, surprise. Rachel always knew everything about her. She pulled her back into a knowing hug. "Mmm hmm. But now it's time for you to say good-bye to your lover boy, you little temptress you."
Now it was Beau's turn to smirk as she backed away, a little teary eyed, to stand with Charlie's arm around her waist, trying hard not to eavesdrop as Fulton and Rachel said good-bye.
He stood before her, his big frame blocking Beau and Charlie's view of them. Rachel was grateful. "So…"
She shoved him gently, mocking his tone with a smile. "So."
Fulton wasn't big on sharing his heart. He laid on the charm with girls, he made out with them, but he didn't date them. Of course most girls weren't the spitfire that was Rachel. "I really wish you weren't leaving."
She was serious now. "Me too. Fulton…" she raised her hands and then let them drop. "I had a great time getting to know you this week."
He reached down and picked her up in a tight bear hug and then dropped her unceremoniously to the floor, making her laugh. "I had a great time too, Rachel." He looked up at the ceiling feeling very…exposed. "Am I going to get to see you again any time soon? Or at least talk to you?"
She looked surprised. "Do you want to see me again or talk to me?"
"Uh…yeah." He reached down and tugged at the bottom of his long-sleeved t-shirt. "Can I call you?"
She smiled slyly. "I think since I already programmed my number in your cell phone…that would be a great idea."
pitaqueen: Thanks! I'm glad it's kickin' ass. That was most definitely not the last chapter. I think there will be a graduation for both the Ducks and for Beau and some stuff after as well.
Duckfluff: That's super flattering. Glad you are enjoying. I highly recommend this Charlie angst story that is up right now – Fallen. I think you might like it.
BellaLou: I love your reviews! You are way too nice. I'll keep my brain turning on the C/G fic and hopefully when this is FINALLY finished, we'll see what happens. Right now I have plans for some more Guy in this story as he is the exact kind of guy I think Beau would be really good friends with. Maybe that will cause some tension with Connie? Don't know. As for Fulton and Rachel…I like the prospect of the least likely couples.
Cc: Thanks again! Beau…hmmm. I can't say that she is based on anyone, although the way that she reacts to things is definitely similar to the way I see the world. I think she is sort of like the version of me I'd like to be if I was way better looking, way more confident, and way cooler! Hahah
Penman: Lovin' the applause! I think we'll see this into Beau's graduation and being out of school for a bit. Not sure of the exact time line. If I decide to write any more hockey specific scenes I may see if you would be interested, with a basic outline, of writing the hockey for me! Interested?
Flyinghawk: Thanks! Glad you are enjoying Charlie. I had the fortune of meeting Josh Jackson on several occasions when they were filming Dawson's Creek in NC and I think that helps a bit because he very much has that same playful and sweet personality, at least in my super limited experience. As for the grammar and punctuation, I'll try a little harder. I think I've been slacking on that because I work full time and have been writing really late at night.
antiIrony: Thanks! I didn't really have plans to write Fulton as the love interest and then it just happened. I really like him a lot as well.
: I got an email with a review that I accidentally deleted and it hasn't shown up online yet so sorry for the lack of your name here! You asked for a brief nutshell of Rachel and I'm sorry that I haven't portrayed her better. Rachel is this little energetic full of life type that plays off of Beau's personality well. She is very smart, very ecologically minded, and really sure of herself. She hasn't had a lot of luck in love and is kind of surprised to find herself hanging out with Fulton and being attracted. But what she likes about him is that he doesn't treat her like most guys have. He's surly and sarcastic and has a very similar sense of humor to hers.