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, Judge Stone, Judge 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. This is the first chapter with all new material, please someone be kind and leave a review. We live on reviews!
Chapter 12
December 23rd, 1998
Adam's POV
We had to get up early this morning. Real early, our flight from Sacramento to Phoenix this morning was at 6 am. I and Ollie rode down with Mike and Annie on their way to her parents' house in San Francisco yesterday. The alarm went off at 3:30 am, we needed to be at the airport at least an hour before our flight. Ollie and I were sharing my double bed in my room. Coach came into my room at 3:45 and flicked the overhead light on.
"Rise and shine boys," Coach said all cheerful like.
"UGH" Ollie and I groaned together.
"Come on get up and get dressed I want to be at the airport at 5:00 sharp, which means we need to be leaving the driveway no later than 4:20. I am going to load your suitcases up in the car. Let's go boys," Coach said, and he grabbed our suitcases and rolled them out to the car.
"I want to go back to sleep," I said as I cried into my pillow.
We pulled out of the driveway at 4:20 in the morning and got to the airport on time. We could check either the car seat or the stroller onto the plane, which Michele chose the car seat. We got to Phoenix at 7:57 and got off the plane by 10 after 8. Our connection was leaving at 8:40 am. Luckily for us the plane was in the next hub right next to where we were getting off. So, we were able to get off one plane and onto the next plane. Baby Hans didn't make much noise during takeoff and landing because Michele fed him during takeoff and landing out of Sacramento and Phoenix.
We arrived in Minneapolis at 1:53 to be greeted by Charlie, Gunnar, Bella, Connie, Casey, and Genny Moreau. I had carried Baby Hans out into the airport hub. He had been crying for the last 15 minutes wanting out of his car seat, poor kid. As soon as it was safe for Michele to pull him out of his seat, she did. Michele carried the stuff that Hans needed while Coach got the car seat. I could not blame Hans for wanting out, he had been stuck in that seat since we left Yuba City this morning. Unless he needed changed or was getting fed.
"There they are!" Genny said as she spotted me and Hans coming down the gangway to the terminal.
"Hey Banksie, you look good with a baby on your hip," Charlie said.
"Oh, shut up," I said.
"Hi," Bella said as she hugged me.
"Merry Christmas," I said.
"I can't believe how big he has gotten," Bella said as she touched Baby Hans. He had packed on about 2.5 pounds on his body and grew 2 and 1⁄4 inches from where he was when Bella last saw him.
"Well you keep feeding and watering them and they tend to do that," I joked.
"I think vou have been spending too much time vith Coach," Gunnar said.
I just shrugged my shoulders.
"So, can he walk yet?" Charlie asked.
"No, not yet. He won't walk for a couple of months yet. Or so I am told.," I said.
"But he is wearing shoes, shouldn't a baby that isn't walking shouldn't be wearing shoes?" Charlie asked.
"Charlie you wore shoes at that age," Casey said.
"Watch this," I said as I put Hans on the ground standing up with my hands helping him.
"WAAAHHHH!" Hans screamed and cried.
"Oh, pour baby, it's hard being a baby, isn't it," Casey and Genny cooed.
I quickly picked up Hans and said, "shush, it's okay."
Michele came up quickly and said, "What's wrong Banksie?" Hans did a head dive right into Michele's arms.
"I don't know, I think it's all the people that are around," I said.
"Probably stranger danger," Michele said.
"Come on, I want to get to Genny's and Tom's before Christmas," Coach said as he and Ollie finally joined us in the terminal.
"Honey why don't you go and get the rental and we will get the bags from baggage claim. We will meet you outside," Michele said.
"Sounds good," Coach said, and he was off with the car seat to get the rental car from the car company.
I took baby Hans and carried him from the gate to the escalator, when Bella begged, "Can I hold him, please Ads?"
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Yes, please?" Bella asked.
"Alright, two hands;" I said as I handed Hans over to Bella.
Hans started to cry for about ½ a second and Bella started to bounce him on her hip.
"You look pretty good, with a baby on your hip too," Charlie said.
"Don't even think about it, Charles;" Bella said with a warning tone to her voice.
"Yes Angel," Charlie said.
"Because if you do, I will pound you into next year," I said.
We were waiting for an hour for Coach to come meet us with the rental car. Apparently, there was a long line and a long wait to get cars. Casey and Bella had to get back to Mickeys to finish the lunch shift and get everything prepared for dinner. I was surprised to hear that Orion had scheduled a hockey practice the day after Christmas at 1:00 to get the ducks ready for their next game. When I walked into Connie's house, I was astounded by the size of it. I guess Tom didn't do so badly with his construction management job. It was a two-story house, 6 bedrooms, 4 and ½ baths. The master suite was on the ground floor, with 5 bedrooms upstairs, in the basement was the game/theater room with a full bath downstairs. Will, James and Beth all had a room to themselves. Gabby and Louise were together, and Connie and Bella were together.
"James and Will have given up their rooms for you Coach and Michele and my parents. I thought the boys would be all together in the basement," Genny said.
"Yeah that sounds good, right Banksie?" Coach asked.
"Yeah," I said slowly. It was at that moment that I wished we flew Bella out to Yuba City instead of us flying to her. Because I was not getting a bed; then I was reminded.
"It's too bad that the kids all have hockey practice every day next week," Genny said.
"Wait they do? Could I go, maybe I could get a workout on the ice after practice," I said.
"I don't know Banksie," Coach said.
"Come on. Please. I need this, I need to show them that I can be responsible with a pair of skates," I said.
"Show who you can be responsible with a pair of skates?" Genny asked.
"The staff at Lakeshore. Banksie is itching to get back on the ice and fly," Coach said.
"Oh," Genny said.
It was true, I knew I was ready to fly.
{Flashback November 2nd, 1998}
I was sitting at one of the dining room tables after school waiting with Mike, Annie, Jeremy, Georgia, Ollie, and Dr. Freeman.
"All right Adam, What's this meeting all about?" Dr. Binford said as he sat down to join us.
"I will get straight to the point. You all know that I had been working on getting myself back into hockey shape," I said.
"Yeah, so," Mike said.
"Why is it I feel like a headache is coming on?" Annie said.
"Anyway, this winter when the lake freezes over. I would like the opportunity to have my skates up here, so I can practice hockey and get my skating legs back," I said.
"No way," Dr. Binford said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because it's against the rules in the contract that you signed," Dr. Binford said.
"I know that, I was hoping that you would make an exception, considering that this is for my future. I would be glad to let you store them in the office when they are not in use. I haven't attempted to cut in a long time. Don't you trust me?" I asked.
"Not by yourself, we don't," Dr. Freeman said.
"Come on Dr. Freeman you and I have talked about this. I want to play hockey in college. I need a scholarship to pay for college. I am already behind the 8 ball. Colleges are already recruiting for the 2000-2001 season. Bella is going to get a scholarship offer from Wisconsin. PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU" I said as I started to cry.
"NO ADAM IT'S AGAINST THE RULES!" Dr. Binford, Dr. Freeman, Mike, Annie, Jeremy, and Georgia said.
"This isn't fair, I am supposed to throw my dreams away for a stupid rule. You let us have knives at the table," I said.
"Adam, there is a lot of difference between a table knife and a skate," Dr. Freeman said.
"But I sliced potatoes and chopped onions in the kitchen when I was on house arrest if I was going to cut. That would have been the time to do it," I said.
"Adam the rules are there for a reason. It stands no skating," Dr. Binford said.
"THIS SUCKS!" I said as I got up quickly and the chair flew out from behind me and landed with its back on the ground.
"ADAM YOUR LANGUAGE!" They all said together.
I quickly got my coat, and went out towards the backdoor.
"Where are you going Adam?" Dr. Binford asked.
"Where else I need to think," I yelled back at him, I then slammed the door after I went through it.
I ran as fast as I could toward the lake and then I screamed at the top of my lungs. I was glad that I didn't have to deal with Steven and the baby Adam shit. I rubbed my fingers against the scars of my former cuts. "No Adam you won't give into cutting! You are stronger than this," I said to myself as I sat down at the end of the dock. Henry came along quacking. I could always tell when he was around.
"Hey Henry," I said.
"Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack," Henry said.
"It's the stupid rules. I want my skates up here for the winter, so I can get my skating legs back. I used to play hockey until two years ago, I used to fly. You know what it's like, seeing the wild ones being able to fly away. Would you like to see me fly?" I asked.
"Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack," Henry said.
"I knew you would want that. You love me, don't you Henry?" I asked.
"Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack," Henry said.
"I just don't know how I can show them that I am responsible with a pair of skates, even if it's a dull pair," I said.
"Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack," Henry said. I stroked him for the longest time.
"I don't know what it is about you and that duck," Ollie said.
"Hey, Ollie," I said.
"I told you I didn't think that it would go over well," Ollie said.
"I know it's unfair," I said.
"This is where mom would say and who said life was fair," Ollie said.
"I know, I just want to get my shot. Like Bella is getting. I want to fly again," I said.
"You will get your shot, even if you have to walk on for the first year, you will get your shot," Ollie said.
{End of Flashback}
December 24th, 1998
11:30 pm
Bella's POV
Connie's family, Coach, Michele, Charlie, Casey, Gunnar, Ollie, Baby Hans, Adam, and I all went to Christmas Eve services at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. I was surprised when I saw Adam come upstairs all dressed for church. It was a beautiful service. We had taken an entire two rows of chairs. After the service, we had run into a little old lady.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Moreau. I see that your family has grown by leaps and bounds," the lady said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Lebrie, I wish that I could say that they are all my children, but I still only have the seven children that I had last year, These are Connie's friends," Tom, Sr. said.
"Stop it BELLA!" Adam said to me.
"Quit being a dork Ad's," I said.
"Bella? Isabella Lillian Banks?" Mrs. Lebrie asked.
I looked at Connie real weird, before I said "Yeah."
"Oh, my word, I have thought about this day, prayed about this day, dreamed about this day for a long time. You don't remember me, do you?" Mrs. Lebrie asked.
"No, sorry," I said.
"Oh, I suppose not. I'm your mother's, mother. I'm your Grandmother," Grandma said.
"What no, you can't be. Mom said that you were dead," I said.
"Oh, heavens no, that's your grandfather," Grandma said.
"I don't understand," I said.
"Sweetie, your grandfather died 6 years ago. I have asked the Lord not to take me, until I have seen one of my grand babies that have been missing from my life again. And now he may take me at his choosing," Grandma said.
"That's true?" Adam asked.
"Yes, my Bella you have a strapping young boyfriend," Grandma said looking at Adam.
Charlie, Adam, Gunnar, and I all snorted before I said, "Grandma this is Adam, he's my brother."
"Adam Jonathan Banks?" Grandma asked.
"Yeah," Adam said.
"Oh my, my, my you look so much like Phillip," Grandma said.
Adam cringed before he said, "thanks."
"Grandma this is my boyfriend, Charlie," I said.
"Oh my, my, another strapping boy. Tell me Charles, do you believe in the Lord being your savior," Grandma asked.
"Of course," Charlie said.
"And who are the rest of these children. I already know Constance, it's good to see you dear," Grandma said.
"It's good to see you Mrs. Lebrie," Connie said.
"That's Oliver mine and Adam's older brother, Gordon Bombay. He was our peewee hockey coach, His wife Michele and their baby Hans, Charlie's mom Casey, and this is Adam's Boy..." I started to say as I pointed people out.
"Ixnay, Bella," I heard Adam whispered.
"I mean our friend Gunnar," I said.
"Pleasure to meet all of you," Grandma said.
"Do you have somewhere to go, tomorrow? I see your boys didn't make the trip to see you for the holidays," Tom said.
"No, they are all at their spouse's parents' homes. Except for Thaddeus, he could not make it home," Grandma said.
"Why not," Adam asked.
"He is doing the Lord's work in Nepal. He couldn't come home, but he will be home for a little while next summer," Grandma said.
Adam swallowed hard.
"Why don't you come and join us for Christmas dinner," Tom said.
"Oh, I don't want to impose," Grandma said.
"Please I insist, there is always room for one more at the Moreau house. And besides, you would be seeing your grandchildren," Tom said.
"I wish that I had gifts for them," Grandma said.
"Don't worry about that your presence is more than enough, right kids?" Genny said.
"Well actually, oomph," Charlie said. As I hit him in the stomach.
"Of course, Grandma your presence is more than enough," I said.
"Well if you're sure it's not any trouble," Grandma said.
"Of course not, no trouble at all, my mother will be coming to join us," Coach said.
"Well okay, I suppose," Grandma said.
"Great write your address and phone number down and one of us will come and get you, tomorrow," Genny said as she handed a program and a pen over to grandma to write the information down.
"Ok,' Grandma said as she wrote down her address on the service program, 'oh how I wish I had someone to escort me to my car. I am very afraid of slipping and falling."
"Adam and Ollie, will," Coach said.
"Do I have too," Adam whined.
"Yes, it's your Grandmother. Do it Banksie," Coach said.
Adam rolled his eyes before he said, "Fine."
Adam and Ollie both escorted Grandma out to her car a 1989 Mercury Sable. I and Charlie followed.
"That's a nice car, Grandma," I said.
"Thank you, I only drive it to church, the grocery store, and doctors' appointments. Otherwise it's stored in the Garage. Oh, you boys are so nice," said Grandma as Ollie opened the door to the car for Grandma to get in.
"You have a good night," Ollie said.
"Good night Oliver, Adam and Bella you all have been such dears. I will see you tomorrow, Charles. It was nice to meet you," Grandma said.
"Nice to meet you," Charlie said.
"We will see you tomorrow," I said.
Once Grandma was gone and we were heading back to the vehicle's we all came in Charlie said, "I hate that she used Charles. I am Charlie not Charles." Charlie said.
"Let it go, Charlie," I said.
Gordon's POV
Once we arrived back at the house the Moreau kids, particularly James started to beg, "Can we open Christmas present's now? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE?"
"You can open 1 Christmas present and then it is off to bed. Santa is coming soon," Genny said.
The kids all took turns in opening their 1 Christmas gift except for Hans. It was the usual stuff: socks, shirts, pants, underwear etc. Hans was asleep so Michele got him ready for bed and down into the crib that he was sleeping in.
After the kids were all in bed, Tom, Genny, Michele, Genny's Parents and I were getting the stockings all filled and the gifts from Santa around the tree. While nibbling on the cookies and gnawing on the carrots that the kids left out for Santa and his reindeer. I was pleasantly surprised when the call for stockings had come from Genny. Which I was more than happy to buy stockings for Adam, Bella, Ollie, and Hans. Genny was going to buy the stocking for Gunnar and make it for him. I was told that usually The Moreau's hung the stockings from the oldest to the youngest but decided that it wasn't fair and would rather do it alphabetically: Adam, Bethany, Charlie, Connie, Gabriella, Gunnar, Hans, Isabella, James, Louise, Oliver, Tom Jr and William. With us 6 adults the book ends of the stockings: Tom Sr.; Genny; Michele, Fred, Casey, and I's stockings where hung, which I thought was cute. When we finished Michele said, "Gordon do you think that we overdid this year?"
"Yeah, but we also have 3 more kids than what we had last year," I said as I chuckled.
"That's true," Michele said.
"Let's go to bed, I'm exhausted," I said.
A/N: So, what do you think? Please be kind and leave a review! Thanks!