Within a couple of weeks the Pond was open to the public with regular games. I was so happy to have work again, but even more so about the people coming into watch the games and enjoying themselves like I used to. Phil was happy that there were ticket and food sales to provide enough money for some other endeavors he was planning for our poor alien friends. Within months the Ducks had managed to enter the major leagues and we now host national games. Phil was ecstatic and I am happy to see things go back to the way they once were. It reminded me so much of my family, all of the good times we had.

Anyway the Ducks and I were getting along great. They were amazed after seeing the facilities how I managed to keep everything tidy. I only dropped it to them that it was relatively boring until the games started up again. Next week I had a partner who worked part of my shift.

Wildwing is still a mystery to me besides the determination for finding Dragonus, an evil humanoid lizard who is also somewhere on Earth. Overall, Wildwing is kind to me, but also a little ignorant. Nosedive is really fun and wonderful I enjoy his colorful personality; our best moment so far was when I was trying to explain to him how football works. He was more than confused by the time I was done. Tanya's a little harder to deal with, not that she's mean or anything, but she gets frustrated so easily. She asked me for the bill driver and I had no idea what she was talking about; apparently she had meant a Phillips screwdriver. When she is outside of the lab she's pretty cool and a wizard in the kitchen. Duke is the eldest of the group, but I can sense a wild spirit (no lie; I didn't know he was an ex-thief until Mallory brought it up). Duke is always ready to learn something new about Earth, I personally like to blame years of recon missions. Mallory is…a bit uptight. I mean I respect her as a player and a Puckworld badass, but I can never be in a conversation with her for long or else she goes hard core on my ass. It goes like this: Hey Mallory, wanna go see a movie? What movie? Die Hard? That sounds dangerous! You shouldn't go, besides I have patrol tonight. Conversation over. The final member of the group, Grin, he's really sweet. Whenever there is a group meeting he always stands by me and when I working the kitchen he gives me a hand. He has been trying to introduce me to meditation, but both of our work schedules are demanding and it's hard to work on it.

I learned all of this over the course of a few weeks while the Pond underwent construction. The Ducks and I had to stay at a hotel – much to Phil's disappointment. I was lucky that the Ducks had the sense to not sleep under debris because Phil would have done his best to keep us at the Pond. Once the renovations were done to say I was surprised would be an understatement. The amount of space they have managed to find under the Pond was enough of a shock, but Tanya took it one step further. Tanya had managed to stuff so much tech in the three level underground fortress. There is a: monitor station, a garage with cars and motorcycles, a launch pad for their shuttle, a science lab, a kitchen, a medical center, a game rook, a living room, a training room…the list goes on and on. Then everyone had an individual bedroom – including me.

"And last, but not least – for Kat!" said Tanya enthusiastically.

The door we were all standing in front of opened. I cautiously enter, even though my curiosity was through the roof. The room is spacious, the ceiling is very tall. Like every other room in the pond the walls are all metallic. Luckily the whole room wasn't that chrome grey. My bed had spread with the duck logo on it. The rest of the room was themed around that. My closet, dresser, chest, and even the carpet were set to the colors of the team. To say the least I am speechless.

My last real room from before my parent's death had also been hockey themed. After their passing I never expected something like this. It brought back so many memories back to me I couldn't help, but shed a tear.

"See? I told ya she wouldn't like it," says Duke.

I saw Tanya's face fall. She must have put a lot of effort into making this room.

"No! No!" I interject, "Tanya its perfect! It just… reminds me of something from my childhood that's all."

"Oh good!" says Tanya enthusiastically.

"Good?" asks Nosedive. "Is it something sad about your childhood?"

The other ducks look at me anticipating the answer. I'm not ready to tell them yet though.

"It was something bittersweet. However, I know I how to fix it though. It just needs a little customization," I say.

Mallory gives me a strange look. "No offense, Kat, but with what? You didn't have a whole lot before remodel."

She made a good point and suddenly my plan crumbled before my very eyes. My face must have been showing my doubts because the Big Guy spoke up.

"It is important for one to be comfortable in one's own space as one would be comfortable in one's own skin," he explains.

"Too many one's bro. What were you saying?" asks Nosedive.

Grin, who had been holding his hands behind his back, reveals a medium sized pedestal with a bowl on top.

"Uh, Grin, what is that?" asks Wildwing.

"An oil burner. It helps with meditation or to create a comfortable aroma meant to help you relax," he answers immediately.

Grin walks past the rest of us and places it in a corner in my room. He lights the burner with lighter and pours in some sort of oil from a vial hidden in his shoulder pads. The room quickly fills with a piney scent.

"Consider it a welcome to your new home sort of present," says Grin.

"Thank you so much," I say as I give him a hug. He hugs back, and then I pull away. "I should have gotten you something. You guys are the ones who are far away from home."

"Actually now that you mention it. I would like-" Nosedive said before his brother covered his bill.

"Its fine, Kat. Your friendship is all we really need. It's not a matter of presents," says Wildwing.

I smile and nod to him thankfully. Then I think of something.

"Have you guys had pizza before?" I ask.

"What's pizza?" asks Duke.

"Is it a training exercise?" asks Mallory eagerly.

"No, it's food," I chuckle. "Time to make you honorary Earthlings."

Phil, who had been on his cell phone for this whole adventure gave me a sly look from the corner of his eye.

"Don't worry, Phil. I'm buying," I consol.

He gives me a sweet smile and completely returns to his phone conversation. I turn back to the ducks.

"I promise it will be 100 times better than my cooking," I vow.

"Give yourself some credit, Kat. You had to feed six picky ducks," says Nosedive with a smile.

"Well I promise you are going to love this," I say as I pick up the phone by my dresser.

~40 Minutes later~

"You…weren't…kidding…Kat," says Nosedive between bits of pizza. The ducks had loved the discovery of pizza, particularly Nosedive. Even as I watch he is engulfing his 10th piece of pizza.

"Is that safe?" I ask Wildwing.

"Don't worry. He'll feel sick to his stomach and pass out later," he says calmly.

When I had ordered the pizza I had gotten mostly cheese. I didn't want to offend them by putting meat on it. However, they didn't mind the one I had ordered for Phil with anchovies on this.

"Are you sure you didn't poison us?" asks Tanya from the kitchen floor.

Tanya had managed five slices and Mallory was fighting to finish her seventh. Both Grin and Wildwing were content with three slices. Duke hasn't eaten a slice; hell he hasn't touched a single piece.

"The only thing I have seen this yellow is gold. I don't eat gold," he muttered.

Phil had abandoned us early in the night to head to his office to where he could work. Suddenly, Wildwing stands up.

"Alright, everyone. Time to patrol for Dragonus," he states.

Moans erupt from half of the team. Apparently Nosedive just got hit with the weight of the pizza.

"Uhh…right now?" Nosedive asks.

"Yes right now," answers Wildwing as he hoists Tanya up from the floor. Slowly the team leans on each other to make it to the hangar. Wildwing turns around for a moment.

"Do you want to come with us?"

I can feel my eyebrows rise. I didn't expect and invitation especially this early in our friendship. Wasn't Wildwing afraid I would mess something up? It would be fun to go with them, but at the same time I was afraid. I didn't want to mess things up.

I smile, "Nah, I'd just be in your way. Besides I need to go over the rink with the zamboni again. I promised Phil."

"Are you sure?" he asks again.

"I'm sure," I say before he turns around to head out. I shout out: "Do you want me to wait up for you guys?"

"Why?" he asks.

"Just in case…something goes wrong," I finish weakly. I suddenly realize I have spoken without thinking again. I'm no doctor or avian expert; how could I every help them?

"That's alright. It's very kind of you to offer, but we'll be alright," he answers.

"Are you sure?" I smile. He had turned me down so nicely.

"I'm sure," he answers smiling back. He hangs back just another second before leaving to join his teammates.

These are my new friends and this is my new life; and for the first time in a long time I feel glad.