Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews on yesterday's chapter! I'm glad you all like the Deena and Ryan stuff, I was a little nervous about it, but I thought it fit them, Deena having always been sort of impulsive and emotional and Ryan just sort of mellow. And I'm really really glad that people like Dom, I wasn't sure how he would be reacted to, but I'm glad he's liked. OK, this chapter is great, if only for the ending which provides us with a rather tearful and lovely reunion.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Ducks, it severly blows.

Chapter 8: The Morning After

"Ryan," Deena shook him in the morning when the sun came up and woke her. "Ryan!" She said more urgently and louder.

"Deena what?" He groaned, and then looked around. "Oh God! We fell asleep."

"I have to go," she said in a panic, she kissed him quickly, "I love you." She sped off into the woods. Ryan shook his head, got up and hurried off himself.

When Deena got home she took a deep breath, said a prayer that they weren't awake yet and slipped in the back door.

"Where were you?" She froze, hearing her father's voice stern and angry.

"I was at Theresa's," she lied, "We were studying and we fell asleep, I'm sorry I didn't call,"

"Try again," Heather said. "We already called Theresa."

"I meant to come home I really did," she insisted, "But it was so warm and nice and,"

"Where were you?" Adam repeated.

"At this clearing, in the woods," she whispered her head down, "with Ryan."

"You're grounded," he yelled, "You do not leave this house except to go to school and hockey! You definitely don't see Ryan and I'm taking away your car."

"Dad!" She said starting to cry, "I'm sorry I stayed out all night but please don't ruin this for me."

"Go upstairs," He said, "Go upstairs and get ready for school." Deena turned around rushed up to her room. She fell down onto her bed in a fit of sobs. It had been so perfect, and now it was ruined.

"Can I come in?" Heather said quietly, and walked over started stroking her daughter's hair. "You said don't ruin it, which I take it means this was the first time."

"Yes," Deena whimpered, hugging her pillow tightly.

"That's a big step baby," she whispered and kissed her, "Are you glad you took it?"

"I am," she nodded and sat up, "Mom, I love him so much. And as much as I love him, he loves me more. And we've known each other our whole lives, we know everything about each other."

"I knew this day was coming," Heather smiled, Deena looked confused, "I did, I thought that maybe it had already passed." She kissed her forehead, "I'm glad it didn't. I just want to make sure that you thought it through."

"I did," Deena nodded, "And we were safe, Mom, we were." Heather laughed. "He even stopped us from doing it again because he only brought one." Deena got quiet. "Dad was really angry."

"That's because to Dad you and Ryan are still ten years old, playing out on the pond behind the shop," Heather smiled. Deena did too, she used to push Ryan over, the way he fell made her giggle. "Alright, here's the plan," she said, "You go to sleep for a few hours, you're probably exhausted, and then we're going to spend the day together."

"But I have school," Deena said confused.

"You can skip school," Heather smiled, "We'll talk more later."

"OK," Deena smiled and slipped under the covers. "Mommy?"

"Yes," Heather said turning around.

"Does this mean I'm not grounded?" She asked.

"Oh no," Heather shook her head, "You are so grounded, but I can probably get you your car back." She shook her head and walked downstairs, ready to reason with and calm down her husband.

"Where's Deena?" He said, sitting on the couch rubbing his head.

"In bed," Heather smiled, sitting down behind him and rubbing his shoulders. "I told her she could miss school."

"What?" He turned around.

"I want to talk to her," she said, "And this isn't a talk that can be rushed. She loves him Adam."

"She's a baby," he said.

"Not anymore she isn't," Heather said quietly, "She's grown up now. She was very mature about this whole thing."

"Sneaking out and lying to us is not mature," He shook his head.

"I meant the actual action Adam," Heather sighed, "She didn't rush into it, which surprises me, because that girl is a force of nature, she always has been." She kissed him. "Go to work, calm down, let me handle this one OK?"

"OK," he nodded, "I just want to protect her."

"I know," Heather said, "And she knows too."

"Theresa," Ryan ran up to her, "Have you seen Deena today?" It was halfway through the fifth period and he still hadn't seen her.

"No," Theresa shook her head. "Is everything OK? She left me a message asking for Physic notes, I figured she was sick or something."

"She was fine this morning," he said confused.

"This morning?" Theresa said, Ryan grimaced realizing what he had said. "Ryan, what happened?"

"We slept together last night," he said, her eyes got big and she smiled, "I wasn't supposed to tell you, Re."

"Ryan that's great," she said, "I'm happy for you guys."

"We fell asleep," he said, "And we were out all night."

"That's not so great," she said. "What happened?"

"To me?" He shrugged, "Nothing, my parents weren't awake yet when I got in, but I don't know about Adam and Heather."

"If they were up she's in big trouble," Theresa said.

"I know," he said, "I just want to see her again."

"Awww," Theresa said throwing her arms around him. "I'm happy for you Ryan."

"And what about you?" He said as she pulled away. "Are you in loovve yet?"

"I've known him a little bit more than a week," she shook her head.

"Have you told your dad?" He raised his eyebrows. Theresa shook her head furiously. "Why not Re?"

"He won't like it," she said, "He doesn't even like Julian, who is much more parent friendly."

"Who's parent friendly?" Dom said slipping behind her putting his hands on her waist.

"Not you," she giggled as he kissed her neck.

"I'll leave you two alone," Ryan laughed, "Re, give me a call if you hear from her OK?"

"You pulled quite the little disappearing act on me yesterday," Dom said. "I was a little disappointed." He spun her around and backed her into the lockers, kissing her quickly.

"I'm sorry," she giggled, "It was kind of a crazy day." It had been, she had spent most of it in her room on the phone with Kitty and with home, trying to figure out if she could get to Chicago for Kitty and Julian's birthday.

"Get a room Portman," Lilly scowled, walking past.

"Jealous much Powell?" Theresa smirked at her.

"She hit on me again during history today," Dom shook his head, "If I were to tell her I'm not interested in Japanese might it then get through?"

"Very doubtful" Theresa said kissing him, "No is not a word Lilly is very used to hearing. But she better get used to it if she keeps bugging you."

"Maybe I'll give her a shot," he teased, "I'm interested in seeing you go all Portman on her."

"Maybe I'd just take it like a Gaffney and dump your ass," Theresa whacked him. He laughed. He kissed her, his hands wrapped around her head, she pulled away. "I'm completely hooked on you," she whispered.

"Ditto," he said, leaning in and kissing her again.

"Can a girl get a drink in this place?" Kitty said, walking into the bar, aware that they weren't officially open yet.

"And she's back," Luis smiled, rushing over and hugging her. "We missed you Katherine Anne." She held him, and tears filled her eyes. "I knew you'd walk through those doors again," he kissed her on the cheek. She gulped and looked up.

"Daddy?" she saw him standing coolly behind the bar. In Kitty Portman's mind her father was larger than life, and as much as she loved him, she knew how proud he was, and she had hurt that pride. She took steps towards him and saw him smile. She started to sob. He walked around and hugged her. "I'm so sorry, Daddy. I never meant to,"

"Shh," he said, "I know." He kissed her on the forehead, "I just wanted my Kitty Cat back."

"I'm back," she said softly pulling out of the hug. "I need to ask you something."

"You come back and immediately you need things?" He shook his head. "You can't stop giving to your first born."

"Julian and I want to get married Dad," she said, he nodded, "I need you to be OK with it, I can't fight you on it again, but I know now," she took a deep breath, "I can't live without him, he's everything good about me."

"If you've shown us anything in this past year it's that what we think isn't going to effect your decision," Dean smiled.

"I still want your blessing," she said, "I didn't have it before and I hated it."

"It's yours," he kissed her. "Where is Cake Eater Jr?"

"He's in New Jersey," she laughed, "He's coming here for our birthday. It falls perfectly because that's when they're playing the Blackhawks."

"You're too skinny," He said. She rolled her eyes.

"Yes, Mom and all of the Portman Aunts already told me," she smiled, "I'll put the weight back on quickly with Marie's cooking. She's really good, you guys should switch over to restaurant, could make big money."

"Oh absolutely," Dean laughed, "I'm all for exploiting the talents of my thirteen year old." He kissed her, "Go home, your mother will want to know how this went, if Luis didn't already call her." Kitty laughed and hugged him again.

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