Disclaimer: We don't own the Ducks and probably never will because they belong to Disney. However, Emaliar Malfoy does own Bella, Ollie, Seraphina, Alex, and Patrick "Paddy" Ridley. Bobcatwriter owns Annie, Mike, Travon, all the characters at Lakeshore Academy, Baby Hans, Paddy's family, The Lebrie Family, Reese, Mark, Judges Stone, Murray, a few of the other students and teachers from Eden Hall.
A/N: This is the sequel to the other Mighty Ducks story's: "The Way Things Are", "The Way Things Were" and "The Way Things Should Be". We recommend you read those three first. However, this can also be read as a stand-alone story. Please read and review.
Chapter 9
Adam's POV
I quickly grabbed my shoes and ran after them. I caught up with them at the elevator, "Charlie what are you doing?" I asked.
"Proving my point," Charlie said.
"Come back and talk, we can work all of this out," I said.
"No, you don't get it Banksie. You've never been there, we need to stay together, no matter how rough it's going to be," Charlie said.
"I've never been there? Need I remind you Charlie I was disowned! Charlie you are throwing away the rest of your life. I can't let you do that to you and my baby sister, you are my best friend," I said.
Just then the elevator dinged and opened.
"Some best friend you are," Charlie said with vinegar in his words as he got onboard.
"Bella, don't go," I said.
"Bella, you coming or not?" Charlie asked.
Bella gave me a hug and said, "I love you Adam, but I love Charlie too. I'm sorry." Then she got on the elevator, the doors closed, and they were gone.
Bella's POV
We walked around Minneapolis for a little while and then rode the bus until 1:30 in the morning when we were kicked off at Union Station in St. Paul. We decided to walk to Rice Park and plan our next move.
"Charlie, I'm cold," I said on our way to the park.
"Here," he said as he handed me his varsity jacket. After we got to the park, we spotted a park bench, we curled up together and fell asleep there.
2:45 am October 16th, 1998 Casey's POV
I went out of my mind with worry about Charlie. I called Fred; I was in a panic. We decided to search the entire city of Minneapolis and St. Paul. I had Mrs. Glaskins; our neighbor kept a look out for Charlie in case he showed up at the house. Jeanie's husband Matt, who owned Mickey's Dining Car was going to wait up for them there in case they came back. Connie and Julie were taking their turns waiting for Bella to come back to Eden Hall. Coach Bombay and Michele were going to wait up at the hotel, but "it was doubtful that Charlie would come back to the scene of the crime," said Gordon. I even called the police; I was so scared.
"We will find them, I promise you we will find them, they don't have much money so they can't get too far," Fred said.
"I know, I know," I said with tears coming down my face, I felt like I was such a bad mom.
Sometime between the hours of 2:00 and 5:00 am October 16th, 1998
Charlies POV
I had a little bit of a hard time sleeping on that park bench. I didn't know how the homeless did it, of course I was sitting almost but not quite up, with Bella laying her head down on my chest, I leaned my head against hers. We were sharing my jacket like a blanket. I thought about Mom's and Coach's words repeatedly.
{Flashback to a few hours earlier}
"Charlie, playing in the minor's or the Junior League for that matter is not all fun and games. You're on a bus all night traveling to the next game. You get to the next town at 4 or 5 in the morning, crash long enough in a crappy motel room and have to be back on the bus to head to the arena to work," Coach said.
"BECAUSE YOU ARE BEING A CHILD RIGHT NOW!" Mom yelled at me.
"Charlie if you and Bella get married, you both can kiss your dreams goodbye," Michele said.
"Charlie marriage is a big step. I was not ready for it at 19. I know for sure that you are not ready for it at 16. What would you do, where would you go to school?" Mom said.
"What happens if Bella got pregnant? Have you thought of that?" Coach said as Baby Hans was passed to me. "Babies cost money and the older they get the more they cost, do you know how much it cost me and Michele to have him?" Coach asked.
{End of Flashbacks}
I felt my foot hit the ground and a light shone in my eyes, "Hey, wake up," I heard someone say.
"Huh?" I said as I looked up and saw a cop, a large cop.
"PARKS CLOSED; YOU'RE TRESPASSING! I SHOULD WRITE YOU A TICKET!" The Cop said.
"I'm sorry sir, we didn't know," I said, and I quickly shook Bella, "Bella, Bella wake up we have to go."
"Hmm," Bella said as she opened her eyes. Then she saw the cop. "Oh My God," Bella said.
"Trespassing and being out past curfew," said The Cop.
"Please sir, please I beg of you. I can't get into any more trouble," Bella begged.
"We are leaving, come on Bella," I said.
"Wait a minute, the Eden Hall Mighty Ducks," the Cop said.
"Yeah, we both play on the Varsity Hockey Team," I said. Bella swallowed hard.
"I played for them too back in the mid 80's. I will tell you what I will do, from one Warrior/Duck to another," The Cop said.
"And that is?" I asked.
"If you find somewhere to go in the next 15 minutes, I will forget all about the ticket," The Cop said.
"Charlie let's go to Mickey's its close by and it's warmer and dryer in there then out here," Bella said.
"Okay Bella," I said as I grabbed my crutches, and we started the point 2 miles to Mickey's. The Cop followed us to Mickey's just to make sure we would get to where we said we were going.
Bella's POV
Neither of us said a word all the way to Mickey's as the bell rang over the door we heard, "Be out there in a minute," said Matt, my boss.
When Matt appeared from the kitchen he asked, "Oh Bella, Charlie Thank God. Are you kids okay?"
"Yeah, just tired and cold," Charlie said as he sat down on a stool.
"And a little wet," I said as I followed him onto a stool.
"Do you want some Hot Chocolate?" Matt said.
"How much?" Charlie asked.
"Well let's see, how does on the house sound? If you make up with your mother and Coach Bombay," Matt said.
"Done," Charlie said. As he pulled out the last quarter and dime, he had to make a phone call.
"I will make a fresh pot," Matt said.
"Thanks, Matt," I said.
"I will be right back,' Charlie said and then he went to the pay phone to call home. 'Damn," Charlie said as he hung up the phone and hobbled back over to me.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"She's not home, the machine picked up," Charlie said as he sunk down on the stool and put his head on the bar.
"I'm sorry," I said as I rubbed his shoulders.
"Oh, that feels good," Charlie said as he closed his eyes.
"I think that your mom and Coach Bombay is right. We are not ready for this kind of a step," I said.
"I agree, but what do we do to stay together?" Charlie said.
"Well Adam and Gunnar have a long-distance relationship and they manage to make it work. We can too, we just have to make it look like we are apart for them," I said.
"So, I can't come over to your house, when you're in town. What do we do meet somewhere?" Charlie said.
"Mmm.. hmm I am sure that Connie and Guy would help us cover up," I said.
"Ok, we won't get married. Not yet, I love you Isabella Lillian Banks," Charlie said.
"I love you too, Charles Alexander Conway," I said.
Matt's POV
I heard Charlie say, "Ok, we won't get married. Not yet, I love you Isabella Lillian Banks," from the kitchen.
I mentally went whew, I quickly dialed Fred's cell phone number.
"Hello," Casey said.
"Casey it's Matt, they are here," I said.
I heard Casey and Fred talk for a minute and then Casey said, "We will be right there."
Casey's POV 4:45 am
"Where could he be?" I asked.
"I promise you Casey, we are going to find him. Even if it takes every cent I have and we must move back in together," Fred said.
"I appreciate that Fred, but could we work on our relationship after we have found Charlie?" I asked.
"You got it babe,' Fred said. Then the cell phone rang, 'Could you get that babe? It's a little dangerous to be talking and driving."
"Yeah,' I said as I reached down to grab his phone from the console in the center part of his 1993 Jeep Cherokee. 'Hello?"
"Casey it's Matt, they are here," Matt said.
"Oh, Thank God,' I said to Matt, I then turned to Fred, 'Make the next left and head back to Mickey's. Charlie and Bella are there."
"You got it babe," Fred said.
"We will be right there," I said as I hung up the phone. I then dialed Gordon's Hotel Room.
"Hello," I heard a sleepy voice say. Then I heard Baby Hans crying in the background.
"Hey Gordon, it's Casey. We found them," I said.
"You did? Where?" Gordon said.
"They went back to Mickey's; can you meet us there?" I asked.
"Yeah, I will be right there," Gordon said.
Fred and I had arrived at Mickey's at 5:20. I had hustled inside to see my son and Bella together.
"Mom,' Charlie said as he got up to give me a hug, 'I'm sorry, I am so sorry. Your right, we are not ready to get married. Not yet, anyway."
"Me too," Bella said as she got up to give me a hug as well.
Gordon came into the diner 10 minutes later.
"Coach, We are sorry. Can you forgive us?" Bella said.
"Of course, Bella, of course," Gordon said, Bella then attacked him and gave him a huge hug. Charlie soon followed.
"So, I take it you aren't getting married?" Gordon asked.
"No, not yet," Charlie said.
A/N: So, what do you think? Please be kind and leave a review! Thanks!