For the 30th time I do not own the ducks or Eden Hall I just like to play around with them for the entertainment of others.

Chapter 30: Dean's Admission

"Where do you think you're going?" Charlie asked.

"To bed Charlie." I said.

"Sorry, can't let you do that just yet." Charlie said grabbing my arm and pinning me to the wall.

"Let me go CJ."

"I'm afraid I can't do that either. You see as per tradition we go to Mickey's after we win a game and you being the main reason for tonight's win have to be there. There's also the fact that a few people need to...sorry scratch that...want to apologize to you."

"Lizzy, Slapshot, I'm sorry, damn, I apologize to you for being an overprotective jackass..."

"Seth." Dad reprimanded.

"Sorry, and I'm going to promise from now on I'll stay out of your love life except in extreme cases and when you ask for help." Seth said.

"Fine." I growled.

"Lizzy you have to know that it was entirely my fault and you shouldn't blame anyone else for it."

"Alright, can I go to bed yet CJ?" I snapped.

"I really don't know what your problem is ER but I do know that you're not allowed to go to bed until after the celebration at Mickey's is over." Charlie growled. I looked at him and saw that even though he was concerned there was also determination in his eyes and he wouldn't give up on his point.

"Fine." I relented.

"Brilliant game Lizzy." Ben said.

"Thanks Bean."

"Yeah even though I don't know much about hockey you were great out there." Chris said.

"Thanks Chris." I answered.

"I have to be getting back to Detroit but hopefully I'll make it in for your next game." Matt said. I started squirming in Charlie's grip so much that that eventually he lost it and I got to hug all four of my brothers.

"Hey baby, you know I'll always be around if you need me. I'm just a phone call and a plane ride away." Dad said taking me in his arms.

"I know Daddy."

"Even if it's just a nightmare, don't hesitate to call me."

"I know." I sighed. 'It's too bad he doesn't know I don't get nightmares anymore.'

"You remind me so much of your mama baby..."

"Dad," Matt said.

"Right sorry," Dad said squeezing me a bit. "I love you baby."

'Tell me that using my full name and maybe I'll believe you.' I thought sarcastically. I forced a smile and he let me go.

"I have to get to work but I'll see you both in a bit." Aunt Casey said.

"Take care of yourself Casey." Dad said.

"You too Robert, don't let Alicia push you around." Dad smiled and hugged her before she took off. Then most of the guys came out of the locker room.

"Mr. Jacobs, nice to see you again." Dwayne said coming to shake his hand.

"Dwayne, always a pleasure with you. You know you are my favorite of Lizzy's boyfriends."

"Dad, he's the only one you've ever met." Ben said.

"Right," Dad paused and looked over the team, "that's why he's my favorite. You know it's a shame you and Lizzy didn't stay together longer."

"It's your fault." I muttered. Dean looked at me then my dad. I knew he was a bit uncomfortable.

"Um...Rob this is my friend Dean Portman also goes by Goose." Fulton subtly hinted. Dean stepped forward slightly and I tried to slowly back away. The key word there is tried because Charlie caught my arm.

"You ain't going anywhere." He hissed as Dad sized up Dean. I could tell Seth was holding his breath and the rest were also on edge wondering what he would say. It seemed like forever that Dad stood there staring directly into Dean's eyes.

"So you're my baby's boyfriend then?" Dad asked. Every Duck except Dwayne, Fulton, Dean, Charlie, and I stepped back.

Dean looked at me with a pleading look, but I just shrugged so he looked back at my dad. "Yes sir." Dean answered sticking out his hand to shake. Dad looked down at Dean's hand then back up at his face. Dad raised an eyebrow and still just stood there. "The proper thing to do when you meet someone important to your little girl is to shake the hand offered to you." Dean said. I glanced at Charlie, but he just smiled.

"Stubborn, interesting." Dad said gripping Dean's hand. "But you're also powerful, strong, jealous, confident, and most important charming and smart. I like you. Lizabeth will get over herself, and when she does I'm expecting you to protect her. Take care of my baby."

"Yes sir." Dean answered. Dad dropped Dean's hand and turned to me.

"What about that Aaron fellow? He's a nice guy." Dad said.

Dean looked at me exasperatedly. "Dad!" I exclaimed.

"What?" He said smiling.

"You're sneaky, but that would be like dating Fulton, strange and awkward." Fulton smiled. I glanced at Matt who was looking at his watch.

"Crap is that the time? I really need to go now or I'll miss my plane." Matt said. "Lizzy do me a favor and stay out of trouble alright? I love you Becca, best of luck to you Dean." He kissed my forehead, shook Dean's hand, and took off.

"Yeah, we should be going too. We weren't technically supposed to leave campus this weekend. Come on Ben." Chris said. He pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head. "Take care of yourself kid and don't let too many guys break your heart." I nodded and pulled away.

"Charlie, remember what we asked of you." Ben said. Ben pulled me into a hug as Chris shook Dean's hand. "Take care of yourself, Baby. Dean...we'll be in touch." He said shaking Dean's hand as well. Then Chris and Ben left.

"ROBERT!" A shrill female voice hollered.

"Your mother." Dad said. Seth cringed and stepped back.

"Dean, sweetie, if you love me as much as you say you do you'll step back and not say a word to my step-mom about being my boyfriend." I said urgently. Fulton nodded along with what I said.

"Robert." Alicia hissed. Dean nodded and stepped backwards.

My dad looked directly at Adam then jerked his head from me to Adam. "Banksie, I'll love you forever if you charm her into believing you're Dean." Adam nodded and stepped forward. Fulton and Dwayne stepped back a bit but not enough to fall in line with all the Ducks.

"Elizabeth." Alicia said curtly. I flinched slightly at the use of my full name crossing her lips but said nothing about it.

"Afternoon Mother." I said instead.

"Charlie."

"Aunt Alicia." Charlie answered. "Please do excuse me I need to go change."

I had a sassy comeback but I held it in knowing I'd only get smacked. Alicia nodded then spotted Fulton. "Fulton Reed, nice to see you again, are your parents well?"

"Mrs. Jacobs it's a pleasure as always. My parents are healthy and doing well thank you." Fulton answered hiding most of the hostility in his voice.

"Who are you?" She asked looking at the Ducks with more disgust than curiosity.

"Mother these are the Ducks, Julie Gaffney, Russell Tyler, Luis Mendoza, Ken Wu, Dean Portman, Dwayne Robertson, Connie Moreau, Lester Averman, Gregory Goldberg, Guy Germaine, Adam Banks, and Fulton Reed." I said purposely switching Adam and Dean. "Guys my step-wi...mother, Alicia Jacobs." I noticed a few of them cringe when I used their full names but it had to be done.

"Right well anyway. You're Dean Portman then?" She said looking at Adam. I nodded and he stepped forward to meet her.

"Dean Portman ma'am and may I say it is ever so wonderful to meet you. You are more beautiful than Elizabeth could ever give you credit for." Adam said reaching for her hand and kissing it in a low bow.

"Maybe there is hope for you yet, girl." I hated when she referred to me like that. "Dean, it was very nice meeting you but we must get going. It's getting late and I need my beauty sleep."

"Cause it's done you so well in the past?" I muttered.

"What did you say?"

"Just that I loved the chance I got to see you again, Mother."

"Right. Robert, let's go." She called over her shoulder as she flounced away.

"Dad can't you just..." I paused.

"You need the female influence, Baby. I mean just..."

"Just what? Look at my choice of friends? At my boyfriend? Just what Dad?"

"Nevermind Baby."

"Dad, seriously her influence is what not to do, not what to do. I mean Fulton's mom and Aunt Cass have been the only true positive female influences in my life. Why can't my mom be more like that?"

"Your mom was like that, Baby."

"You know what I mean."

"ROBERT, now." Alicia called.

"Alright dear." He called back. "Listen Baby, I just don't know alright?"

"Fine."

"I do truly apologize, Lizzy." Seth said.

"Thanks, Seth."

"Oh and Fulton, tell Nat I send my love." Dad said.

"Will do, Rob."

"Bye." They called before leaving.

"Adam Banks..." I started but was cut off.

"That is your step-mom?" Luis asked.

"That would be her." I answered.

"Why'd you introduce us the way you did?" Russ asked.

"Hate your full name?" I asked. He and Averman nodded. "That's the only way she sees as proper. It's the way she was brought up. When you introduce someone you must use their proper name. Nicknames are unacceptable to her except for with my brothers. Sorry, but I really didn't want to get smacked."

"Oh, well at least now I know why you turned out the way you did." Russ said.

"Hey." I exclaimed. Charlie walked back out the locker room door.

"She gone?"

"Yes Charlie, she's gone."

"Good." I could see his entire body shake. "Man, I don't know how you put up with her Lizzy, she's such a witch."

"Easy, I tell her to go hassle Seth." I smirked. "Anyway what's that supposed to mean Russ?"

"It's a good thing really, you turned out this way because you'd rather hang with guys because you're experience with females isn't that good." Russ tried explaining.

"Have I ever told you, you're confusing?" I questioned.

"In American English he means, you're a tomboy because the female influence you had growing up was as confusing as hell." Fulton clarified.

"Thank you."

"My question is why'd you let Banksie pretend to be Portman?" Goldberg asked.

"I was about to let Dean try to charm her, but I saw the look my father gave me and then realized as much as I wanted to piss my mother off he didn't want her bitching all the way home. Dad suggested Adam because he remembers the way Adam grew up and knew that my mother would love it if I was dating some fancy pants rich boy who could charm her without cues from anyone. You guys heard and saw what she did to Fulton and he's just my best friend. I'd be in deep shit if she knew my boyfriend was almost a carbon copy of him in her eyes. She can't stand him because she thinks she's above him and his kind. He goes against almost everything she holds dear to her. That and my dad hates when she bitches about me. Her main one is that it's my fault my mama died." I blinked back tears and this time it was Adam rushing to hold me.

"It'll never be your fault, Lizzy-gator." He whispered rubbing my back. I let a few tears slip out but held most of them in and looked up.

"I don't know what I'd do with out you Ads. You're the best friend I could ever ask for aside from Fulton that is."

"I know." He smirked.

"Thanks for helping me out." He nodded.

"K but you owe me." An arm slid between us and then shoved me into a wall. I let out a sigh.

"What do you want?" I snapped.

"Baby..." Dean started.

"Don't you dare baby me."

"Lizzy, Maverick, I'm really sorry I'm such an...an..."

"An overly jealous prat? An idiot who doesn't trust his friends, even his best friend? Sorry you're such a what?" I snapped.

"I'm sorry I'm such an insensitive prat, an overly jealous boyfriend and I've been a right jerk to you lately. I apologize to you Lizzy, I just don't want to lose you. Please, forgive me?" The last two words were hesitant as if he wanted me to forgive him, but he believed he didn't deserve it. I looked up at him contemplating. "I really don't want to lose you and well..." He paused looking from me to the team standing a few feet behind him. "Guys and girls, could you go ahead? We'll meet you out there in a bit." The team disbursed and only Fulton was left standing there. "Fult..."

Fulton looked at me and I could tell what he was thinking and I was relieved to see that the hockey game had done its usual to bring Fulton and I closer again. 'Lizzy be careful.' His look warned.

'I know.' My look answered.

'Are you sure you want me to leave?' I nodded. He still looked hesitant.

'It'll be fine just go.'

'Five minutes and I'll be back.' I smiled and he walked away. Dean turned back to me and took my hands lacing our fingers together.

"Lizzy, when my dad first started his company he was working more often than we got to see him. He missed out on part of my childhood and that made me mad. Then things started slowing down and he figured out how to manage his time to be with us and keep the company running. Then during the games my mom got involved because the company started expanding. They both disappeared from my life almost completely when I came back. That's why I didn't come to Eden Hall at first. I was trying to get some time in with my parents because I knew that I'd rarely see them. My mom has more free time now so it's not so hard but I rarely get to see or hear from my dad." Dean said.

"What's that have to do with us, Babe?" I asked.

"When I saw your planner the other day I got really...mad I guess. You know I'm not really scared of anything. Well one thing I am scared of is losing time with the ones I love. It happened with my dad, my mom, soon Jeff and Alyssa. I can't bear to lose time with you Lizzy. I fear I'm going to end up alone because everyone is so busy." Dean said.

I looked at the ceiling as Dean looked at his shoes. It was true that I always had someone to run to who would almost drop everything to help me out. My aunt, my brothers, Charlie, the Ducks, Nat, now the baseball team, heck even Scooter did it sometimes. I'd know how he was feeling now if I lost them. "The only reason I study as hard as I do is because of the competition. I mean look at what my brothers have done.

"Matt was captain of almost all of his hockey teams at one time or another, he's always had a beautiful girlfriend since he was 15 ½, and he graduated 15th in his high school class of 545. To top that Chris won captaincy of all his baseball teams, had a stable girlfriend since he was 14, graduated 10th in his class of 532, and went to college two years after high school.

"Then look at Seth. He's won captaincy right after Matt's left the team or soon after he got on the team, has been dating cute girls on and off since he was 13, he graduated 5th, and went to college right after he graduated. Then comes Ben who has been catching since he was 7, won captaincy since 9th grade, although he's had a bit of trouble with girls he managed to snag a beautiful red-head last year and he graduated salutatorian. It's competition Dean. Some how I have to top and outshine all of my brothers by a lot."

"Why? To win favor with your dad?" His hazel eyes were now burning into me. I gulped but nodded. "That's the one thing you'll never have to compete for. As I just saw and from the home videos I saw, your dad loves the five of you equally. He may play favorites occasionally but he loves you all equally. You each remind him of your mom in your own way. Matt looks just like her but he acts like your dad, Chris acts almost like her but looks more like your dad, Seth has her habits and smile, Ben is a mix of both personality, character, and looks wise, and you look so much like your dad but if you look close enough you can see your mom shining through your eyes."

"Home videos?"

"That day I got mad at you and Fult I found a few home videos under the TV and well curiosity just got the best of me." Dean said looking at me and holding my gaze. In those few seconds his look conveyed more than his words ever could. I looked at him and smiled before pulling his arms around me still keeping our fingers laced together. "I apologize." He whispered.

"I forgive you." I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"What's wrong?" He asked as I sank back down pouting. Then he smirked. "Short much?"

"Just come here you giant teddy bear." I pouted. He dipped his head a bit and kissed my lips slowly sliding his hands from mine and relocating them on my hips to gently push me into the wall. I slid my hands up his front letting them rest on his shoulders as I returned the kiss. He tilted his head a bit more to deepen the kiss and my hands slid into his hair playing with it. I absolutely loved the way his dark curly locks slid through my fingers. His tongue slid into my mouth and I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. His tongue was just amazing and it felt so right teasing my mouth and tongue. His hands slid lower but someone had to go and clear their throat breaking us apart.

"Hm hem." Dean and I broke apart and he looked down at me like a little kid who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar right before dinner. I flushed bright red and laid my cheek against Dean looking down the hall and letting my forearms rest on Dean's shoulders. My eyes widened as I saw who it was.

Well that's all for now. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Oh yeah you're getting this today because a) I'm on spring break and b) I just got my wisdom teeth out and needed something to take my mind off the pain.