Disclaimer: I do not own the Mighty Ducks. I am just sharing my love of all things Charlie, Portman, and Adam with all of you.
AN: This story will be wrapped up in the next two chapters.
"Are you sure that we shouldn't have called first?" Charlie asked Connie.
It was before seven on a Friday morning and Julie's house was dark in the early morning sunlight.
"It'll be fine. If she has a problem with it just give her your puppy dog look; no one can say no to this face," she said in baby talk as she patted his cheek lightly.
They knocked but didn't hear anything. Charlie raised his hand to knock again but Connie stopped him. She pulled her keys out of her purse and sifted through them until she found the one she wanted. She slid the key into the deadbolt then the knob. They entered the house quietly, thankful that Julie didn't have an alarm system.
They were half way up the stairs when a door opened in the hallway above them. They stopped in their tracks, holding their breath, saying a silent prayer that it was Julie's and not Peyton's footfalls padding down the hall. Peyton came to stand at the top of the stairs, rubbing sleep from her eyes with a yawn a few seconds later.
"Peyton-" Charlie cautioned.
"Oh, no," Connie groaned.
Peyton's voice rang out through the house loud enough to wake the dead. It wasn't Charlie's fault for not konwing that she was easily scared. Julie's door swung open and she came out of her room in Mama Bear mode.
"Peyt, what's wrong?" she asked kneeling down to Peyton's level.
Peyton pointed down the stairs to where Connie was hiding behind Charlie who gave Julie an apologetic look. Julie sighed as she picked up a still shaken Peyton. Charlie and Connie let them pass. Nate could be heard in his room so Connie nudged Charlie and jerked her head towards the noise before heading downstairs.
Charlie climbed the last few stairs with trepidation. Nate would more than likely need to be changed, something Charlie knew nothing about. Nate's door was cracked and Charlie could see that Nate had gotten woken up by his sisters fit of terror.
He pushed open the door and Nate stopped crying almost immediately. He had seen Adam and Julie change the kids diapers a few times, he felt confident that he could do it...as long as Nate stayed still; which Charlie didn't plan on happening. He picked Nate up from the crib and held him at arms length to the changing table. He got him out of his wet night clothes with no trouble and was able to figure out how to fix a clean diaper on him but the baby would need clothes to wear...which were in the dresser in the corner.
"Stay there," Charlie warned before going to the dresser.
"He's not a dog Charlie, and you should never leave a baby unsupervised," Julie reprimanded gently.
"You can tell that I've never done this, right?" he asked sheepishly.
"You were doing pretty good until you left my eleven month old alone on the changing table," she praised.
Charlie opened drawers trying to find a shirt and pair of pants for Nate while Julie stood next to the changing table.
"Lets see how well you do with getting him dressed," she said disearningly.
Charlie scoffed as he slipped the shirt over Nate's head. The baby squirmed and gurgled while Charlie put his arms in the proper holes. He laid the baby down gently after pulling his shirt down, he stared at the snaps on the onesie in confusion.
"Don't hesitate, that gives him the upper hand. It's just like buttoning a shirt," Julie encouraged him.
Charlie followed her adivce all the while Nate kicked his legs like he was riding a bike. Charlie heaved a sigh of relief when he snapped the last button. He grabbed the pants from off the table and Julie stayed quiet.
"No," Nate protested when Charlie slippped one leg into the pants.
"This is least favorite part," Julie explained.
"Almost done big man," Charlie said, pulling the pants up Nate's chubby little legs.
Charlie heaved another sigh of relief when he was finished. Julie picked the baby up and he placed his head on her shoulder.
"Thank you Charlie, I always knew you had it in you," Julie said with a teasing smile.
Nate looked to Charlie giving a small smile. Charlie ruffled what little hair the baby had before heading downstairs. Connie and Peytone were in the kitchen and it was obvious to Charlie that Peyton was still mad at him.
"Do you have something to say to her?" Connie broached gently.
"I'm sorry for scaring you Peyton," he said kneeling down to the little girl's level.
She turned her nose up to him with a haughty humph in answer.
"Come on Peyt, you know you love me," he pleaded.
She shook her head, still not looking at him.
"I didn't want to have to do this, but you asked for it," he warned her.
He tickled her sides mercessly and she erupted into a fit of giggles. Julie came in, smiling at the scene.
"Okay, I forgive you," Peyton said, still laughing.
"Good, girl," Charlie praised.
Peyton settled down and Connie watched Charlie in awe. When had he gotten so good with kids? He'd been terrified at the thought of helping Jesse and Guy with their younger siblings. Terry had been easy compaired to his younger brother and sister Landon and Carly. Guy's younger brother Tyler was a special needs child who needed constant care to deal with his severe Downs Syndrome. The Charlie that Connie knew didn't have the paitence for kids that most people did.
"Have you eaten?" Julie asked.
"Swettie, we have been on the road since nine last night; I'm too tired to eat," Connie said with a sigh.
"I told you that you didn't have to stay up."
"It wouldn't have been right, I would have felt guilty," Connie answered with a shrug.
"I've got to head into the office but I can probably come home early. And it's kids weekend with Adam. I can tell him that he can keep them next weekend; he'll understand, but he will want to see you Charlie," Julie explained.
Charlie nodded, already plannning on spending time with Adam, Guy, Fulton, Jesse, and Averman while he was in town. Julie made breakfast after Connie and Charlie went upstairs. She got the kids out of the house with as little noise as possible. She'd deal with Adam later, she didn't want to deal with the guilt trip that he would give her right now.
XXXX
Adam hadn't expected Charlie to call him at work and invite him out on Saturday night. It was his weekend off and he would have the night free since Julie was keeping the kids until Wednesday. He wasn't happy having to shuffle his work schedual around but he hadn't complained because he didn't want Julie to think that he couldn't handle things.
Even with his weekly visits to his therapist and the medicine that he was on he felt that he was barely keeping his head above water. He threw himself into his work to keep his head on straight. The doubts and his dad's voice tended to pounce on him in the brief silence he allowed himself. He had started listening to books on CD at night as he drifted off to sleep so that he could sleep better.
The only time he could hold everything together was when he had the kids. They needed his full attention and he devoted all of his time to them; he didn't have time to worry about himself. When he wasn't worrying about himself he was worrying about his mom.
He was still waiting for the breakthrough that his therapist had promised him would come. What was stopping it from happening? He had been doing everything that the doctor had suggested short of taking time off from work. He needed to reprioritize things.
XXXX
Julie had nearly cancelled her date with Portman when Connie talked her out of it. Connie jumped at the chance to watch Peyton and Nathan.
"I want to do my Godmotherly duties. Do not deny me that," Connie warned Julie.
"Do you think that you can handle it? The last time you babysat for me it was only Peyton," Julie reminded her in a worried tone.
Connie folded her arms over her chest, giving Julie a look that could make the hardest of people crumble into submission. It was her 'don't mess with me because you will not win' look. Julie held up her hands in surrender and Connie smiled sweetly back at her.
"I want all the details when you get home."
"How much do I owe you?"
"You don't have to pay me, I love those two Munchkins almost as much as you do."
Julie nodded in agreement knowing that arguing with Connie was futile. She didn't consider it giving in, she thought of it as saving herself an argument and a migraine later.
Connie left the room and Julie was left with her thoughts. She was nervous about seeing Portman. They had been out on only one other date since her divorce had become final three weeks before. They were taking things slow and she could tell that he wanted more. It wasn't that she didn't want to give him what he wanted, she was scared out of her mind. She had no idea what she was doing and she didn't want to ruin their friendship.
Things with Adam had been so easy and carefree when they were younger. After Peyton was born they had settled down and he had joined the police force while Julie agreed that it would be best to stay home with Peyton until she started school. Nathan had been a suprise and hadn't been planned.
"Mom?" Peyton asked, breaking Julie from her reverie.
"Hmm?"
"Connie told me to tell you to get in the shower and stop acting like a pussy. What's a pussy?" she asked innocently.
"It's like being a scaredy cat sweetie," Julie said repressing the urge to laugh.
Julie found Connie in the living room playing with Nate.
"You need to put a dollar in the swear jar. Portman will be happy to know that he isn't the only one contributing to the kids summer vacation."
"Where are you taking them?"
"Adam wants to take them to Rome because he still has family there, I told him that I would pay for half because it's expensive."
"Ah," she said in realization.
"By the way, you're one who gets to tell her way the word pussy is bad, because if she says it again, I'm coming after you," Julie warned as she walked away.
"Yes ma'am!" Connie called.
Julie was in and out of the shower in less than ten minutes. Charlie was coming up the stairs when she opened the bathroom door and he told her to go and that he would wait until she was in her room to finish climbing the stairs. She dried her hair quickly then turned on her curling iron on and got dressed while it heated up. She chose a simple cream colored knee length halter dress with a light sweater over top of it. She found her black wedge sandles before going back to the curling iron. She curled her hair into loose, full curls then pulled the sides and her bangs back with a burette.
She applied very little makeup then grabbed her shoes before heading downstairs. She still had fifteen minutes before Portman was supposed to be there. Charlie was in the kitchen with Guy and Jesse and Connie and the kids were playing outside.
Portman let himself in and followed the noise of laughter. Jesse was juggling three oranges while Charlie threw grapes into his mouth. Guy cheered them on while Julie laughed at their antics. Presently, her head was thrown back in laughter while Charlie tried to psych Jesse out. Jesse was determined not to lose his concentration.
"Hey Guy, did you hear the joke about the nun and the prostitute?"
"Hey, that's my joke!" Jesse protested.
The oranges fell to the floor and Charlie raised his arms in victory. Jesse glared at Charlie who smiled smugly as the back door opened.
"Saved by the five year old and the baby," Guy taunted Charlie.
Portman cleared his throat, not able to hide his smile. Julie looked over her shoulder smiling in greeting.
"Okay Peyt, say bye to Mama," Connie said.
"Bye to Mama," Peyton said hugging Julie's legs.
She pulled away then Guy helped her onto the stool next to him. Connie held Nate out to Julie and she hugged him then kissed his forehead.
"Ready to go?" Portman asked.
"Lets go," Julie said in agreement.
"See you guys later," Portman called over his shoulder.
Portman opened Julie's door for her and helped her into the car. He turned towards her, taking her in.
"You know what's great about dating once you're over the age of twenty one?"
"We get to get drunk if we want?" Julie questioned.
"There is that, but I was thinking about the fact that there won't be anyone waiting up when I drop you off. No parents, no roomate, we don't have to answer to anyone."
"I've never had that happen before. The babysitter was waiting by the door when you dropped me off last time."
He shook his head with a chuckle knowing that Connie would more than likely be asleep when he dropped Julie off. He was glad that Julie hadn't cancelled or changed their plans just because Connie and Charlie were in town. All of the ducks that were in town had been invited to Jesse's for a cookout the next night before Connie and Charlie left on Monday.
He hadn't planned anything to extravegant for them. They were going to get some dinner and then go to see a friend of his band play at a bar Main Street. He liked that she didn't expect over done gestures everytime they went out. He had always felt comfortable being himself around her.
They decided on a Mexican restaurant that Julie swore made the best margarita's he would ever have.
"They have like twenty different flavors and I've tried half of them," she admitted.
"Any suggestions?"
"My favorite is the Strawberry Bomb. It's a cross between a Pina Colatta and a Strawberry Daquari. It's a girly drink. They have great beer too," she promised him.
"Now you're talkin'" he said as he pulled into the parking lot.
The waiter took their drink orders and they talked over the noise. The room was crowded because there was a birthday party going on that took up half the room. There was a Mariachi band performing on a small stage behind their booth.
"Is it usually this crowded?"
"The last couple of times I've come I've had to wait for a table. We got lucky that we were seated as soon as we came in," she answered as she dunked a chip into the bowl of salsa that was in between them.
The waiter brought their drinks and asked if they were ready to order dinner. Julie shut her menu the same time Portman did. He gestured for her to go first.
"I'll have the Chalupa platter."
"And I'll have the Steak Quesadilla's."
"Would you like another beer Sir?" the waiter asked gesturing to Portman's half empty bottle.
"Not yet."
Portman eyed Julie's drink in scrutiny. The glass was as big around as a basket ball and as deep as a cereal bowl.
"Are you going to drink all of that?" he asked skeptically.
"Yes, but you might have to help me to the door when you drop me off," she said with a laugh.
"I can handle that."
"Do you want to try it?"
"No, I'm good," he said quickly.
"Chicken," she taunted.
She made clucking noises just loud enough for him to hear until he caved and grabbed hold of the straw. He puckered his lips in disgust but swallowed the drink anyway.
"It's not for you?" she asked with a teasing smile.
"Why don't you just eat a bowl of sugar? It would be less sweet than that," he said with a grimace.
"I don't have it very often, plus once you've had one, you're immune to how sweet it is," she said with a throaty laugh.
They talked through dinner and by the time they got to the bar they were both buzzed. They had left his car at the restaurant and had called a cab, he'd get his car in the morning.
"What kind of band is this?"
"It's a punk band."
"Like Green Day and Blink 182?"
"More Green Day than Blink 182."
"Great. I'm so gonna regret this in the morning, but I don't care," she said with a laugh.
"That a girl," Portman praised her as he handed her a beer.
He put an arm around her, resting his hand on her hip before leading her ot the back of the bar. The band was known for playing their music as loud as it would go and he didn't want to traumitize her.
The band was running through a soundcheck when Julie's phone rang. She looked down at her phone realizing that it was her mom. She went outside to drown out the noise before answering. She had a few questions about Christmas since Julie had promised that she would come to Maine to celebrate with her family. As she was getting off the phone she saw Adam coming out of the drugstore across the street. She waved him over as she slid her phone into her pocket.
Adam stood in front of Julie with his hands stuffed into his pockets, shuffling from foot to foot to ward off the cold.
"Why aren't you wearing a jacket?" Julie asked in concern.
"Why aren't you at home with the kids?" he countered.
"Because she's here with me," Portman answered from behind Julie.
Adam sighed, looking uncomfortable. Julie watched Adam's reaction. She felt bad for making him come over. She had only wanted to let him know that she would drop Nate off before going in to work that week because he had to take his mom to the doctor that morning.
"That's fine," Adam agreed with a nod.
"Are you okay?" Julie asked with concern.
"Not really," he ansswered honestly.
"There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you," Jesse said from the door of the bar next door.
Adam held up the pack of cigarettes that he had just bought. Portman pulled gently on Julie's elbow and she followed him inside. She cast one last look over her shoulder to see Adam drag a hand through his hair. She never should have waved him over.
Portman knew the mood of the night had shifted after Julie's run in with Adam. She had been up front with Adam that she and Portman were trying to start a relationship. Adam had't been happy about it; he didn't want someone taking his place.
"I'm gonna call a cab. I should get you home," he said regretfully.
"No, don't let Adam ruin our night," she argued.
"It's a little late for that," he said pulling his phone from his jeans.
The cab arrived twenty minutes later and the ride to Julie's was silent.
"Do you want to stay here?"
"No, I'll see you tomorrow."
Portman watched her until she was inside. He gave the driver his address then fell against the seat. He should have taken Julie up on her offer. He was fighting an inner battle with his heart. He was slowly starting to fall in love with Julie. The last time he had given his heart to someone it had taken him over two years to get himself back on track. He didn't want to rush things, but he was falling fast.