When Connie arrived back at Eden Hall she found an anonymous note asking her to meet them in the back corner of the library.

Smiling to herself she quickly changed and reapplied her lipgloss and perfume before rushing across the school to the library.

She was stopped by Adam on the way out.

"I know what you're doing Connie" he said eyes accusing.

"Excuse me?" Connie raised an eyebrow at him.

"I know what you're doing with Rick. I can't believe you'd get sucked in like that" Adam hissed trying to keep his voice low.

"You don't know what you're talking about" Connie tried to push past him.

"So you're not rushing off somewhere to meet him then?" Adam challenged.

"Even if I was what business is it of yours Banks?" Connie was fuming.

"You're my friend Connie and I don't want to see you get hurt" Adam replied.

"Stay out of it Banks, its none of your damn business" Connie spun on her heel and walked away leaving Adam staring after her.

…………………………………...………

"Hey baby" Rick broke out into a grin when he saw Connie approaching.

His grin faded when he saw the angry fire in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Adam fucking Banks" Connie spat.

"What's he done?" Rick's anger was starting to rise.

"He knows about us, I don't know how but he knows and he thinks you're using me or something like that" Connie's hands were clenched into fists.

"I'm gonna check that little shit so damn hard he's not gonna know what hit him" Rick said through clenched teeth.

"No its not worth it" Connie had calmed down a little. She knew Rick could be brutal on the ice and she didn't want Adam getting hurt.

"Have you been crying?" Rick had finally taken a good look at Connie and could see the tell-tale redness around her eyes.

"Yeah a little, it was the funeral today" she said softly.

"Oh your friend, come here" Rick held his arms out to her and she fell into them.

They sunk to the floor with Rick sitting with his back against the wall, legs straight out in front of him and his muscular arms wrapped around the petite brunette who was sat next to him.

They weren't worried about anyone finding them there because no one ever ventured to the back corner of the library, not even the librarians.

"I heard Latino got his ass whooped by your goalie at practice the other day" Rick suddenly said.

"How'd you know?" Connie remembered Julie had knocked Luis down.

"I saw it, Traci wasn't the only one watching your practice" Rick admitted.

"Why were you watching our practice?" Connie asked tensing up a little.

Maybe Adam was right, maybe he was using her.

"I missed you" he said kissing her head softly.

"Really?" Connie wasn't convinced.

"Yes, I was too busy watching you to notice that she was even there until you and the other girl were glaring at her up in the stands. Then I laughed my ass off when your goalie tore shreds off of Latino for being a 'traitor' I believe she said".

Connie smiled at the memory

"Well even if you were there to spy on us you wouldn't have seen much except for Cowboy Round up" Connie said.

"Was that why the Cowboy had his rope?" Rick asked.

"Yeah he's pretty good with it too" Connie said.

"So Cole's noticed" Rick said with a slight smile.

Connie burst out laughing.

"You did kinda look good with fire ant bites on your face" she giggled.

"And you looked sexy emerging from the locker room in nothing but your jersey" Rick smiled.

"Asshole" Connie slapped him playfully.

"What I can't help it that you're gorgeous and I'm insanely attracted to you" Rick tightened his grip on Connie turning her in his arms so that he could see her face.

"We are insane aren't we?" Connie asked.

"Yeah but I like it" Rick replied.

"Me too" Connie laid a gentle kiss on his lips.

……………………………………………………...…..

"You look happy" Julie noticed when Connie returned to the dorm.

"Yeah I went for a run and thought about the time we won our first game. Hans was so excited I thought he was going to wet himself, I couldn't stop laughing the whole way home" Connie giggled. It wasn't exactly a lie. On her way home she did run a little and that random memory popped up in her head.

"He was great wasn't he?" Julie smiled picturing her version of the thought in her head. She wished she were around back in the pee-wees days. The memories she'd learned from the other Ducks sounded fun.

"Yeah he was" Connie plopped down on her bed and retrieved her pyjamas from under the pillow.

"Oh Coach Bombay called. He's using reinforcements to get Charlie to come back. He wants us to meet at the skate park at 7 for some street puck. He's gonna bring Charlie around later" Julie told Connie as Connie was getting changed.

"Sounds great, we'd better get some sleep then" Connie noticed the clock said 9.30pm.

"Good idea, night Cons" Julie crawled into bed.

"Night Jules"

…………………………………………...………….

"Banks!" Rick hollered down the hallway when he spotted the blond hockey player emerging from the bathroom.

Adam stopped dead. Great I'm gonna get the shit beaten out of me he thought.

"What?" Adam turned around and in a second Rick had Adam up against the wall and was holding him by his shirt collar.

"If you ever speak to my girl the way you did today I will kill you" Rick snarled menacingly.

"Your girl? I assume you're not talking about Traci" Adam was surprised to hear Rick describe Connie as 'his girl'.

"No you know exactly who I'm talking about and if I don't get you, you can bet your ass she'll get you. And if word of us gets out, we'll know who to come looking for" Rick threatened.

Jeez who did he think they were Bonnie & Clyde? Adam thought but he nodded anyway.

"Good, I'm glad we understand each other" Rick let Adam go and walked off towards his own room.

………………………………………...……

"Argh why does Bombay insist on such early starts?" Connie was barely awake as the Ducks, including Adam, walked down to the skate park where the abandoned basketball court had become the street puck area.

"Orion's worse, gotta get up early if you wanna hunt goose eggs" Averman mimicked their new Coach.

"Point taken, but I'm still tired" Connie leant on Fulton for support.

"I'm not carrying you Connie" Fulton put his foot down. She'd talked him into doing it too many times now.

"But Fuulllton" Connie whinned.

"No!" Fulton was adamant he was not carrying her.

"Fine!" she sulked.

"Way to show her who's boss Fulton" Guy patted Fulton on the back.

"I heard that GEEGER!" Connie screeched and ran after him.

"She's awake now" Russ nudged Banks who didn't smile.

"Whats up your butt cakeeater?" Russ noticed Adam scowling.

"Nothing, just tired too I guess" Adam covered quickly.

"Uh huh" Russ wasn't convinced but let it slide anyway.

They'd finally made it to the park and Guy wasn't hurt too badly. Connie had gotten at least one good thump in.

They split off into teams

Ken, Connie, Fulton, Goldberg, Dwayne and Guy

Julie, Adam, Averman, Russ and Luis

It was uneven so one had to sit out for a while until he or she was subbed back in.

The game had been going on for about half an hour before Bombay and Charlie had finally showed up.

"Hey look its Coach" someone yelled

"Conway what took you so long, get in the game" someone else yelled.

It was all the convincing Charlie and Bombay needed as they both enthusiastically entered the court and took up play. Bombay acted as referee so that all of the Ducks could play at the same time.

The game went on for another hour before everyone became rowdy and stuck Bombay into a trashcan.

It was a rare moment of heaven for the Ducks. They were all together again, well minus Portman but he obviously wasn't going to come back anytime soon.