The Ducks won their game in a very decisive manner. They had practiced and studied hard for their opponents and won game 2 of their series 6-0. Julie, along with the rest of her Duck teammates, put up a dominating performance. And seeing how it was a best of 3 series, it meant that the Ducks successfully took the bronze medal.

The celebration for their victory went on for several hours. They didn't manage to successfully defend their title, but they still earned a medal. The Ducks still rose to the occasion and triumphed as a team. Now they just had to wait for Iceland and Russia to battle it out to decide who would take gold and who would take silver. One more win and Russia would win the tournament.

Everyone on the USA Ducks roster was now in attendance for the start of game 2 between the main series. Julie was seated between Adam and Charlie with Connie, Guy, and Dwayne right in front of her and Ken, Russ, and Luis cheering on the Vikings just behind her.

With Stahl and Sanderson back in the line-up Iceland was taking over control the game. Sanderson got the first goal and Gunnar followed it up with two of his own before the halfway mark of the first period. It was clear to anyone that paid attention and knew what they were looking at that Iceland simply had the edge. The tandem of Sanderson and Stahl simply couldn't be contained, they were too familiar with each other and too skilled. They were both high performing power forwards and were bringing their A-game tonight.

The heavy hitting was relentless and at times borderline dangerous. Russia had a great team, their guys were all big and tough, and they earned their way for a chance to take gold. But with every challenge on the ice, the Vikings were there and met them head on, winning the small battles along the boards and making good on their chances. They felt that they had to because their starting goaltender had to sit the game out as he was far to sore to play in the game. Their back-up was decent but not nearly as good as Larson, so Iceland's defense stepped up their game to help out.

It was an exciting game for fans of the Vikings, by the end of the second period it was clear that Iceland was taking this game. They won by a commanding score of 7-2, forcing a game 3 to determine the victor.

After the game was won the Ducks joined up with their Viking friends and helped them celebrate the tying game by heading to the beach. They all swam and played some volleyball in the sand, tossing around a Frisbee and just enjoying their time together while they still could. Just one more game and it will all be over.

Gunnar and Julie walked the distance to the bakery they went to for their first date and sat together at the same table as before. They enjoyed the solitude and took in the waves crashing onto the sandy beaches as they quietly passed the time.

He stood and took her hand in his, they both had taken off their shoes to walk barefoot across the warm sand. "Do you remember last time we were here?"

Julie groaned, "Yes, but I don't want to, not exactly my best moment."

"Why do you say that?"

She frowned as he sounded a little hurt by her comment, "Are you really going to make me say it?" His frown matched hers as they stopped walking for a moment, she sighed when he faced her, "We almost broke up because of me."

He actually snorted at her, "No we didn't," then he smirked and stepped closer to her to take her into his arms. His hands settled on her lower back as he quietly admitted, "Julie that was one the best days of my life."

"What?" she looked at him like he was crazy, "you can't be serious."

"I'm very serious," he gently kissed the corner of her mouth, "I don't know about you, but I will never forget the first time you told me you loved me."

"Gunnar," she positively melted against him, "somehow you make me fall for you more and more everyday."

"That's good," he grinned down at her and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "and I'll tell you a secret, it's the same for me too."

She squealed when he picked her up in his arms, he supported her back and legs as he ran them down the beach and into the ocean. Her laughter only spurned him on to run faster, they hit the water and he spun her around a few times before bringing his mouth down on hers. Wave after wave had them slowly turning around as their kiss deepened. It was a moment of pure joy that neither time nor distance could let them ever forget.

They both laughed happily as they parted just as a larger wave came over them. She climbed onto his back, securing her legs around his abdomen when Olaf and Connie joined them. They bounced one of the beach balls back and forth, having fun and joking with one another as the day began to slip away.

Two more days, that was really all they had left. The USA Ducks already had plans to leave the morning after the championship game to return home. But Gunnar and Julie were refusing to let the sadness of their quickly approaching parting get them down. They wanted to enjoy every last moment together to keep the memory of their happiness fresh in their minds.

As the sun was sinking below the curved edge of the vast ocean they set together on the golden sand to take it all in. Gunnar sat behind her and had his arms around her waist with his chin on her shoulder. He kept leaving small kisses on her shoulder, neck, and jaw. Sometimes it was these little things that meant everything, where just sitting together in silence seemed to scream their affections in each other's hearts.

Two months ago Julie "The Cat" Gaffney took a risk. She opened her heart to the one guy she thought despised her. And Gunnar Stahl took her by surprise, the depth of her feelings for him seemed overwhelming at times. There were still moments where she wondered if they would actually keep their promise and be together one day in the future. And even if they didn't, if things fell apart and the distance was simply too much, there would be no regrets.

Julie sat with Connie in the stands, the two girls were holding hands as they watched the boys they cared about play their hearts out in the third and final game of the tournament.

Iceland held a two goal lead through two periods, but in what seemed to be a frightening similar chain of events, Russia rallied to tie the game in the last precious seconds. The championship, for the second year in a row, was headed to a shootout to determine the winning country.

Each team would send out their top players for 5 rounds, everything was on the line. It was clear the best of the best would be sent out last and Julie started to make her way down towards the bench of the Vikings.

Shot after shot was stopped by both goaltenders. And after 4 skaters on each side neither team had scored a goal. The final skater for Russia was sent out, he put on an impressive deke but Larson stood strong and kept his team in it. And now…it was all up to the last guy. And once again, Gunnar Stahl prepared to leave the bench to take the shot.

"Gunnar," Julie called out to him and caught his attention before he could skate towards center ice. He looked at her and she could see the slight fear that he would miss it just as he did the previous year. "Gunnar, I believe in you."

The sudden smile in his eyes made her feel confident. He took his position and with one final glance he looked at her, tapped his chest and held it there for a moment. And his message was clear. He was going to win this tournament for her just as much as for his country, and she knew he would.

He kicked at the puck and picked up speed as he shuffled it from side to side with his stick. With two fakes he roofed it over the thick pad of Russia's goaltender, scoring the goal and winning the championship for Iceland. He did it, he finally succeeded where he failed the year prior. And if he were honest, he couldn't have done it without her support and unwavering confidence.

Julie watched as the Vikings rushed out onto the ice to surround their captain and the star of the whole tournament. Tears gathered in her eyes in happiness for the boy that had given her so much in the past two months.

Gunnar broke away from his team and skated hard to his bench, he waved for her to come to him. She grinned and shook her head no, trying to let him celebrate with his team. So it shocked her when he jumped over the bench and then the railing, and urged her to make the jump down to him. He would catch her, he would always catch her. With a smile she pushed herself over and was soon in his arms. She'd never seen him look so happy before and she felt her heart swell with pride for him. His mouth on hers was immediate and welcome. It was the best kiss of her life, soft yet firm and so filled with emotion.

Not even half an hour later, Julie was standing with her Ducks on a platform on the ice. They were given the bronze medal then watched as Russia received silver. They all looked on while their friends were presented with the gold medal. It was all coming to an end too fast.

Julie sat on the airplane that was headed back to Minnesota, chaos surrounded her but yet she blocked it all out. She was lost in her vivid memories of every moment she shared with him. It wasn't a secret that she left a large piece of her heart in California only to be shipped off to Iceland, whether or not Gunnar would take care of it was yet to be known. Unconsciously her fingers played with the charm hanging from her neck. Gunnar gave it to her just that morning during a tearful goodbye. It was a gold chain with the letter "G", he said it was a token to not give up on him. No matter how hard it was going to be he would come back to her. The memory of his kiss and touch remained as she boarded the next flight headed home.

After over 5 months, Julie was back in Bangor and stepped foot into the broken house she shared with her mother. Where her dad was she had no idea anymore, he was the reason why her parent's marriage ended in the first place so she really didn't care. She was still trying to adapt to the fact that she couldn't sneak into his hotel room and fall asleep in his arms. She was still trying to believe that she wouldn't be suddenly in his arms and kissing his perfect lips. She was trying to cope with the fact that she was alone, and that she would be without him for an achingly long time. She was still trying to accept the possibility that she'd never see him again. And that was what hurt the most. He was her first love and having to leave left her feeling empty inside.

But she put on a smile as her mother teared up at seeing her and opened her arms, "Welcome home Julie; welcome home."

THE END

A/N **Blu: Okay so it isn't exactly the end. I am almost finished with the epilogue and will post it soon. Cannot thank you all enough for the well wishes and support!