Adam Banks stepped back behind the building not really believing what he had just seen.

Connie was an original Duck. Surely she understood the concept of Ducks Fly Together better than anyone.

The Ducks are dead Banks the voice of reasoning told him.

Still doesn't make what she's doing right he argued back.

He wasn't looking forward to practice this afternoon but at least he now had some ammo to use against Rick Riley.

He just hoped it didn't get him bashed.

…………………………………………………………

Connie made it to practice only to find that Orion had left a note to say he can't attend but it would be in 'the team's best interest to practice'.

"We need Charlie" Goldberg was saying as he sat on his butt on the ice.

"We could always tie you to the goal again" Averman stated cheekily.

"No, Julie's one, I'm two remember?"

"Oh get over it Goldie" Russ decided he'd had enough of the bickering.

Connie took a seat next to Julie who smiled at her.

"Thank you Russ" Fulton pointed out relieved he wasn't going to have to throw his weight around to get the two of them to shut up.

"So what's it gonna be guys? Scrimmage? Laps? Cowboy Round up?" Averman looked hopeful at the last suggestion.

"Is that in our 'best interest' Averman?" Dwayne looked worried, well since the last cowboy round up went so well who could blame him.

"Yes, it teaches us how to dodge big goons" Ken replied with a straight face.

"If the Wu-Man says its cool then lets go cowboy" Goldberg slapped Dwayne on the back as he hurriedly got up.

Connie noticed Luis looking up into the stands and couldn't suppress her look of distaste when she saw Traci, the two-timing bitch cheerleader girlfriend of Rick's watching their practice.

"What's she doing here?" Julie scowled also noticing Luis' lack of interest in the game at hand.

Connie was startled but regained her composure.

"Beats me" she replied throwing Traci a nasty look.

"I swear if she's here to spy on our practice for her stupid boyfriend I'll kill her with my bare hands" Julie spat.

"Somehow I don't think so" Connie gestured to Luis who was now blowing kisses to the cheerleader.

"Luis!" Julie thumped him on her way past.

"What?" Luis was annoyed that his attention was taken away from the blond cheerleader.

"You're caught that's what, Yee haw!" Dwayne had just lassoed Luis.

"Dwayne may I?" Julie asked the cowboy ever so sweetly.

"Sure thing little lady" Dwayne handed the rope to Julie who yanked it so hard that Luis lost his balance and hit the ice with a thud.

"Damn Julie what was that for?" Luis exploded.

"For being a traitor you jackass" Julie shot back and skated off of the ice with Connie in tow.

"I guess practice is over then" Fulton said following the girls.

……………………………………………………..

"This bites" Connie declared running a brush through her hair.

"I know, I can't believe he's gone" Julie agreed leaning down to buckle her shoes.

The Ducks were heading out to Hans' funeral that afternoon and no one was looking forward to it.

"Do you think Scooter will show up?" Connie asked.

"I don't know" Julie replied.

"More importantly do you think we'll see Charlie?" Connie asked.

"I don't know, I hope so" Julie answered.

"Girls are you ready?" Ken's gentle voice came through the door.

"No, when does one become 'ready' for a funeral?" Julie whispered as Connie yelled "Yes"

Eden Hall had arranged a special bus to drop the team off at the cemetery where they were to say their final goodbyes to their friend and mentor, Hans Janssen.

"Well this is it" Guy spoke up when the bus had rolled to a stop.

"Suddenly I don't want to get off the bus" Russ said.

"Me neither" Julie agreed laying a hand on Russ' shoulder.

"Come on guys, Hans wouldn't want us to be so sad. If he could say something right now it would be something like 'it was my time' or 'don't let me stop you from achieving greatness'" Adam spoke up. The team had agreed to let him ride with them to the cemetery.

"No he'd whip all of our asses and tell us to stop acting like babies and start becoming Ducks again" Fulton said.

"Yeah" Connie smiled for the first time that day.

"Yeah" the others chorused.

"Come on lets go" Julie led the team off of the bus and out towards the gravesite.

Julie and Connie stood together staring numbly at the open hole in the ground that would be Hans final resting place.

There was no sign of Coach Bombay but Charlie had shown up with his mom and he made no attempt to be anywhere near the Ducks.

Connie was only half listening to what was being said. She didn't need to be reminded of how much Hans had meant to the world. She was all too aware of it. He was gone and there would never be anyone to replace him.

Julie handed Connie a rose that was to be tossed into the hole. Connie looked down at the rose and fresh tears sprang to her eyes.

This was it, this was the final goodbye.

She could barely see through her tear stained eyes as she stepped forward and released the flower sending it crashing into the earth where it hit the coffin with a small thud.

A figure in black was approaching the site rapidly and he laid a hand out to the priest to stop the proceedings for a moment.

Connie looked up stunned to see Coach Bombay standing there with Hans pee-wee Ducks jersey in his hand.

He gently laid the jersey over the coffin.

"Every time you touch the ice, remember that it was Hans who taught us how to fly" he said.

Connie could hear Julie sniffling next to her.

She looked across at Charlie to see what his reaction was and she was stunned for the millionth time that day to see the tears leaking from his eyes as he turned away and stormed off.

She turned back to Coach Bombay who looked disappointed but he nevertheless stayed behind with the rest of the team to offer his support.

He started with Julie giving her a big hug and then Connie.

"How're you doing Cons?" Bombay whispered.

"Okay I guess" Connie replied back as she let go.

"You hang in there" Bombay told her before moving on to the next Duck.

Connie felt an arm go around her shoulders and realised that it was Julie.

"You want to go back to the bus and cry?" Julie asked shakily.

Connie's eyes teared over again as she nodded "Yes" she replied in a voice that sounded foreign to her.

She suddenly found herself craving Rick to be there to hold her but she settled for Julie instead.

A/N - sorry its taken so long to update, I've been trying to finish this fic in one go but it's not working as well as I thought. I've done another three or four chapters and I'll post them soon. And thank you to all who reviewed, they're really appreciated. Sorry if the dialogue is wrong, I'm just working from memory.