Disclaimer: No I do not own the Mighty Ducks. Disney does.

Julie stood in front of her mirror trying to decide if she was ready to do what she was about to do. It had been less than three days since she had dinner with her lawyer. Which had been a numbing experience. Now she had to face all of her friends and try to act like nothing had changed.

The phone rang making her jump. She ran a hand through her hair to calm her nerves before picking up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey."

"Hey Connie."

"I was just calling to let you know that I'm on my way."

"Now? You're not supposed to be here for another two hours. I haven't even started getting ready yet."

"I figured you wouldn't be. So that's why I'm coming over early. You need someone to kick your ass into gear."

"You know I love you right?" Julie asked with a laugh.

"I know, I love you too."

"I'll see you soon."

Julie hung up the phone with a sigh. She didn't even want to go to the reunion. But Connie had made her realize that if she didn't go that it would look like she was hiding something. She would just have to deal with everyone feeling sorry for her. She needed to see her friends again. She knew they wouldn't treat her any differently. And if anyone gave her a hard time she could count on them to back her up.

XXXX

Julie sat in the corner listening to everyone talk and laugh. Connie was right, this was what she needed. It hadn't taken her long to loosen up. Russ had her laughing and tossing insults at him after ten minutes.

She looked out across the room wondering where Adam was. It wasn't like him to miss something like this. They hadn't talked in a few days, and he hadn't mentioned that he wasn't coming. She was just glad that he felt comfortable calling her. Granted she did most of the talking or he talked to the kids, but it was a step in the right direction.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Sara asked breaking her from her thoughts.

"Adam. I was just wondering why he would miss this."

"He probably had to work."

Julie nodded before seeing Connie out of the corner of her eye. She was walking out the front door with Charlie not far behind her. Portman sat next to Julie making her look over at him with a smile.

"You okay?"

"I'm good. I'm glad I came tonight."

"Me too. You were starting to turn into an old maid." He said giving her a teasing smile.

"Ha, ha." She said rolling her eyes.

"I've been thinking."

"Don't hurt yourself."

"Ah ha! Anyway, you should probably think about not taking that job in Dallas."

"Why?"

"Do you really want to take your kids away from their family? And Peyton will be starting school soon right?"

"She starts in a month." Julie said with a nod.

"Speaking as someone who's been through that I can tell you it won't solve anything. My mom and I moved three times in the first year after my parents got divorced. It wasn't until I joined the Ducks that I got my act together."

"I don't want to move if I don't have to. But it's the only job offer I've gotten." Julie said with a sigh.

"Just think about it alright?"

Julie nodded giving him a small smile. He was right. She shouldn't be moving the kids away from Adam. It wouldn't be fair to him or his family. His mom and sister had been really wonderful since Adam left. His sister had offered to let Peyton and Nate stay with her for the weekend so that she could see everyone. She would try again on Monday, and she would keep trying until she found a job closer to home.

XXXX

Charlie listened intently while Connie talked. He still didn't understand why Connie had pulled him outside half an hour before. Even Guy had given him a curious look just before he walked out the door.

"I know what you're thinking." She said realizing that he wasn't listening.

"What am I thinking?"

"Why I'm not talking to Guy about this."

"Actually that is what I'm thinking."

"He'd freak if he found out that I thought I might be pregnant. Especially since he doesn't know the guy."

"Now I get it. I thought it was because you liked to weird me out."

"I do like doing that. It's so easy." She said nudging him playfully.

"So what are you going to do if you are pregnant?"

"I don't know. It's scary to think about. I hardly know the guy."

"And yet you slept with him?"

"Not all of us have been lucky enough to find that one person yet." She said sadly.

"Yeah, well maybe the second one will work out better for me." He said taking a pull from his beer.

"I'm sorry Charlie, I didn't mean it like that." She said putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I know you didn't. I'm still bitter."

"I've had issues letting people in the last few years. I can count the amount of friends I have in New York on one hand."

"That's pretty sad. Why do you think you can't let anyone in?"

"I've got a case of Duck syndrome. Nobody there adds up to you guys."

"Tell you what. Next time you get to missing us too much drop whatever you're doing and call one of us. And if that doesn't work than come and see us."

"You've been talking to Jules."

"She's a smart woman."

"I know."

"So are you." He said draping an arm over her shoulder.

"Thanks Spazway."

"Anytime." He said leading her back inside.

Once inside Connie found Julie. She was dancing with Luis when Connie walked up to her. She tapped Julie on the shoulder making her turn to look at her.

"You wanna cut in?"

"Actually I'm ready to go if you are."

"Sure." Julie said with a nod.

The two of them said goodbye to everyone before going out to the car. Julie waited until they were at her house before asking Connie what was wrong.

"What did you and Charlie talk about earlier?"

"I needed his advice about something. The advice he gave me is something that you would have said. He's grown up a lot since high school."

"Well I could have told you that. So is everything okay now?"

"I don't know yet."

"What do you mean you don't know yet?"

"I think I might be pregnant."

"How late are you?"

"A week, but it could be stress too."

"When were you planning on finding out?" Julie asked with a laugh.

"I have a paper bag full of pregnancy tests in one of my suitcases. I just can't make myself take them."

"Go and get them. You're going to take them now."

Connie was back downstairs less then a minute later. She downed three bottled waters in fifteen minutes before taking the tests. There were six in all.

"You really wanted to be sure didn't you?"

"I don't play around when it comes to this kind of thing."

"Has this happened before?"

"Once, while I was still with Guy. It happened right after high school. It turned out to be a false alarm."

They were silent while they waited out the last three minutes. The digital timer went off making Connie jump. Julie put a hand on her back to let her know that she wasn't going through it alone. They made their way down the hall to the bathroom wondering what the tests would say.

Connie stood at the door while Julie picked up the three closest to her and took a deep breath before looking down.

"These three say you're not." She said looking over her shoulder.

Connie let out a sigh before running a hand through her hair. Julie put them down before looking at the other three.

"You're not pregnant."

"Oh thank God. I'm not having sex again until I know that I have feelings for the guy."

"That would be a good idea." Julie said giving her a small smile.

"Thank you, for everything."

"Don't you think you should call Charlie? He's probably worried sick."

"I'll text him, I'm too tired to explain everything to him now."

"You can crash here if you want."

"I think I might." Connie said with a laugh.

Julie pulled Connie in for a hug letting her friend fall into her. Julie would never understand why Connie thought she had to be strong all the time. It was comforting that she was finally letting someone help her.

Julie didn't know if she would ever be as strong as Connie, and that was okay with her. There would never be anyone in her life like Connie. They were complete opposites and they were best friends. They made each other laugh, and they had their arguments. But when it came down to it Julie couldn't have asked for a better best friend.