DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Mighty Ducks
AN: Thanks soo much for all of your reviews! This is the last chapter and I hope everything ends the way you all wanted it too.
CHAPTER TWELVE
"New Beginnings and Endings"
It was finally prom night for Eden Hall's Juniors and Seniors. The school allowed them to skip school that day to be able to get ready for that night.
Julie and Connie went and got their nails and makeup done professionally. They also curled their hair and pulled it into a pretty up do.
The guys just put their tuxes on and styled or brushed their hair.
Adam and Julie were going together, and the rest of them were going stag. Charlie had offered to escort Connie but she declined, though it broke her heart to do so. Before she could be with Charlie, there was something she had to do.
When they arrived at the hall where the dance was supposed to take place, they just stood in awe. It was so nice.
"Wow." Connie breathed.
"Yah, it's nice but I bet there's a bunch of hot ladies going stag tonight!" Portman cried.
"Yeah!" Fulton agreed as they headed off in search of some 'hot ladies'.
This seemed to shake everyone else out of their revelry. Adam offered Julie his hand, smiling as he led her to the dance floor. Ken went in search of Clarice, knowing he couldn't sit on his butt any longer or he might lose here. Averman, Goldberg, and Russ set off together to do who knows what. Dwayne gazed a little sadly at the couples dancing. He didn't even want to come but, Luis had made him, saying they could face their problems together.
"You're better off without her, man." Luis said.
Dwayne sighed. That may be true but it still hurt.
They headed off in search of Maria, because Luis had something he needed to say to her and he told Dwayne he needed some moral support.
That left Charlie standing there with Connie. He fidgeted nervously.
"So…" He began.
Suddenly Connie caught sight of the person she needed to talk to. "Umm… Charlie, I'll see you later." She said heading in his direction.
Charlie stood there a moment before sighing and heading off in an unknown direction.
Ken wandered through the tables, searching for Clarice. She is here, isn't she? He panicked.
Finally, he spotted her by the punch bowl. He realized his hands were shaking. He had been just fine until now. But he knew she was what he wanted and to get what he wanted, he had to be brave. He walked boldly up to her and tapped her on the shoulder.
She turned around, her surprise evident on her face. "Ken?"
He grinned nervously. "Yah, C-Clarice, do y-you maybe wanna be m-my g-girlfriend?"
She was silent a moment, letting his words sink in.
Then she smiled. "Of course I would, Ken!"
He seemed just as shocked at her answer as she'd been by his appearance.
Then he smiled too. "Do you wanna dance?"
She smiled warmly. "I thought you'd never ask."
Ken proudly led his new girlfriend to the dance floor.
Luis and Dwayne found Maria sitting at a table with her friends.
"Maria." He said.
She glanced up and smiled slowly. "Luis?"
"Can I talk to you…alone?"
She nodded and quickly excused herself from her friends. When they were a little ways away, she said, "I thought you were going to avoid me forever."
Luis smiled faintly. "That's what I want to talk to you about… See, Maria, I like you, I like you a lot but I just… don't think I'm in love with you." He finished softly.
Maria stood there, then her eyes welled up with tears.
"Oh, please don't cry… I'm so sorry, Maria." He begged.
She sniffled. "I'll be ok." Then she threw her arms around his neck and pecked his cheek. "Goodbye, Luis."
Luis watched her go, sadly. He hated to hurt her but it was something that had to be done.
Connie finally caught up to the person, she had been trailing. She reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. He whirled around to face her.
"Connie?" Guy asked, surprised.
She smiled. "Hey Guy."
Guy stood there, his heart breaking in two. She was so beautiful. How could he have been so blind? She would never have cheated on him.
"Connie, I-" He began.
"I know." She said softly.
He gazed at her. "You look amazing."
Connie smiled. "You don't look so bad yourself."
Guy grinned. "Look Cons, I'm sorry. I never should've listened to Right over you and the Ducks. I wish I could take it all back." He paused, gazing into her eyes. "Cons- I still love you… Do you think-" He stopped noticing the pained expression on her face.
"What?" He asked.
"Guy, I-" She bit her lip.
She didn't need to say anything, he knew. "You love him, don't you?"
Connie nodded.
Guy smiled, sadly. "I'm so sorry about the way I acted, Cons. I'm really happy for you. If you can't be with me, there's no one else I'd rather you be with than Charlie."
"Thanks, Guy." Connie said, hugging him.
"Do you think the Ducks will ever forgive me?" Guy asked, hesitantly.
Connie smiled. "I'm sure they could be persuaded."
The two old friends, for that was all they were now, sat down at a table, talking about everything that had gone on in the past month.
Adam held Julie close out on the dance floor.
"Adam?" Julie asked.
"Yah, babe?"
Julie snuggled her head up against his neck. "I love you." She whispered.
Adam smiled against her forehead. "I love you too, Angel."
"I talked to Bombay about my dad." Adam said suddenly.
Julie lifted her head, expectantly.
"He thinks I need him… that he needs me."
Julie looked thoughtful. "Maybe he does… Maybe you do."
Adam was silent. "I'll be back." With that, he hurried off the dance floor.
Julie smiled, knowingly. She knew exactly where he was headed.
Gordon wandered through the dancing young couples at the Eden Hall Jr./Sr. Prom. He had volunteered to be a chaperone when he'd learned that a certain young Junior's mother would be there as well. Finally, he caught sight of an unmistakable red head.
"Casey." He said upon reaching her.
She turned and smiled when she saw it was him. "Gordon."
He took a deep breath. It was now or never. "Casey, I know we've been over for awhile and I know it was my own stupid fault but…I still love you…I always have. I love Charlie too…I would adopt him and we could be a family."
Casey was silent.
Gordon plunged on. " I know you're getting married, but the guy doesn't even care about Charlie. C'mon Case. Everyone deserves at least a second chance."
Casey gazed at him a moment before saying quietly, "Are you in love with me or just my son?"
Gordon didn't even hesitate. "Casey Conway, I would love you even if you didn't have a son.."
She smiled and looked up, tears in her eyes. She realized now why she had never been able to give her heart fully to Jeff. Gordon had still held a part of it. Part of her hated him for it, knowing she had never been able to be truly, happy these past few years because of him. But another part of her wanted the family he was talking about. She decided on a compromise.
"Gordon Bombay, I can't believe you!"
Gordon bowed his head, expecting the worst.
"But most of all, I can't believe myself."
Gordon raised his head, slightly. Casey reached out and lifted his chin.
"I can't believe I still love you even after this long."
Gordon gazed at her, his eyed full of hope. "Casey, I-"
She held up her hand. "Now, hold on a minute. I didn't say I'd merry you. We're going to have to take it slow, Gordon. No rushing. And then I may consider you proposition."
Gordon grinned. "Whatever you say, Ms. Conway."
Casey shook her head. 'Now are you going to ask me to dance or not?"
Gordon laughed. "After you." Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine this would turn out so well.
Adam pulled up to his parents house, his hands shaking. He couldn't believe what he was about to do. Something he swore he would never do again. He was going to talk to his father.
He slowly made his way to the door. Before he could even knock, the door swung open. And there he was. The one mane, who could make him so angry, he wanted to commit murder. But also, his biggest fan.
"Dad…" Adam began.
"Come in, son." was all Mr. Banks said as he led the way into the living room and took a seat on the couch.
Adam sat across from him in the easy chair.
"I suppose Gordon spoke to you." Mr. Banks commented.
Adam nodded. "It would've been nicer to hear it from you."
Mr. Banks sighed. "You wouldn't have listened to me.
Adam was silent.
Mr. Banks stood up and began to pace the room. "Adam, I know I've been hard on you sometimes, but… I just want what's best for you."
"You don't always know what's best for me, dad." Adam said softly.
Mr. Banks sighed again and stopped in front of a picture of the Ducks after the Goodwill Games. "They really make you that happy?" He asked.
"They're my best friends." Adam said, seriously. "They love hockey. But most importantly, they could care less if I'm rich or poor. They accept me for me and they're always there no matter what."
Mr. Banks smiled, slightly. "Kind of sounds like a family."
Adam thought a moment, then laughed. "I guess, we kind of are."
"I'm sorry, son. I had no idea, they meant that much to you. I suppose they can come over every now and then. That is, if you'll come back home, sometimes."
Adam could feel tears welling up in his eyes. 'I'd like that." He said, blinking back the tears. He looked up to see his father, close to tears as well.
"I love you, dad." Adam sobbed, throwing his arms around his fathers neck.
Mr. Banks slowly wrapped his arms around his son's frame. 'I love you too, son."
Charlie sat at an empty table, alone. This was sure turning out to be a sucky Jr. Prom. The one bright side was his mom and Coach Bombay on the dance floor. Hopefully, they were getting back together or something. He was just watching them when a voice knocked him out of his reverie.
"Charlie."
He looked up and groaned inwardly when he saw it was Linda. "What do you want, Linda?" He asked, already annoyed.
She sighed. "To talk. Listen Charlie, I know I've been a real witch lately and I'm sorry. I also know what I did to you all those months ago, wasn't right. I just- didn't love you as much as you loved me. I did care but… I just wasn't ready to compete with the Ducks and hockey." She paused a moment, before looking at him. "But maybe Connie is."
Charlie laughed. "There's no me and Connie."
Linda gazed at her ex. "Charlie, just because something turned out badly the last time, doesn't mean it will turn out bad again." Linda said.
Charlie was silent.
"You have to tell her, Charlie. Before it's too late." She said, pointing.
Charlie gazed in that direction, to see Connie and Guy talking and laughing. The sight nearly broke his heart.
"After all, faint heart never won fair lady." Linda said, smiling. "And I've seen you on the ice, Charlie. You're anything but faint-hearted."
Charlie looked at her, before grinning.
"Go get her, Charlie." That was all the push he needed. Charlie stood up. What he was about to do, scared him to death, but he had to do it. He would never be able to live with himself, if he didn't.
Connie and Guy were laughing about an old Duck camping trip when Charlie stampeded over. Guy took it as his cue to leave and quietly did.
"Cons- please don't go back to Guy, please." Charlie pleaded.
"Charlie…" Connie began but Charlie beat her to it.
"Connie Moreau. I love you. I know with everything that's happened, you may need some time and I'm willing to wait. I'll wait forever if it means I can be with you. So, Cons. Please don't go back to him."
Connie stared dumbstruck. He loved her too? Then a smile broke out on her face as she took a step towards him. "I'm not going back to Guy."
Charlie looked confused. "What-why?"
Connie smiled softly. "Because I fell in love with someone else."
Charlie looked even more confused.
Connie quickly closed the gap between them and said, "You. I love you, Charlie Conway."
Charlie's response was to pull her into a bone crushing embrace and cover her lips with his own. Connie's fingers wound their way into his hair and Charlie's tightened around her waist. It was the perfect kiss. If it ahd been a movie, fireworks would be going off.
Connie slowly pulled away and gazed into Charlie's deep brown eyed. "Can you promise me something, Charlie?" She breathed.
He smiled. "Anything."
Connie bit her lip. "Can you promise, we'll be best friends always?"
Charlie laughed deeply. "We'll be more than best friends, Cons. I'll never leave you and I will always love you." With that he pulled her close for another kiss.
It lasted until the first notes of "If You're Not The One" by Daniel Bedingfield came over the loudspeakers.
Then, Charlie gently led her by the hand to the dance floor. He gently kissed her forehead and pulled her close. Connie buried her head into his neck, drinking in his smell.
Every girl dreams of falling in love with their best friend, it's only the lucky ones, who get to achieve it.
