I want to say thank you to everyone who continues to read this even if it's the same person over and over again. I'm sorry it's taken so long to update, but I kinda got stuck.

Previously: Lizzy and Dean broke up and it made things awkward. Now it's Christmas time and they're headed home.


Lizzy was grateful to leave first thing after school and once she had her bag and backpack, Portman was waiting for her. The first ten minutes of the drive were just as awkward as she expected it to be and then he turned down the radio to break the silence. "I want to apologize. I know I already have, but I want to again. I was an idiot for not pushing her away and for not sorting it out first thing. You were too good for me and I blew it. Now that you're dating Mason—" Portman said.

"Whoa! Hold up. Mason?" Lizzy asked, glancing at him.

"Your baseball trainer? You're dating him, aren't you?"

Alex Mason. He was a baseball trainer in the same year as them. Sure, he was cute and she could see where people could get that idea but at the moment, he wasn't her type. "No. Not a chance in hell. Don't believe rumors, especially at this school. That's what led to this mess, remember?"

"Right. Anyway, I blew it and I don't blame you for being so mad at me."

"Wasn't you I was mad at."

"You had no reason to be mad at yourself."

"Well, honestly, I was mad at you at first. You swore I wasn't like all those other girls. I couldn't understand how you could lie to my face like that and then ... yeah, I was a little pissed I fell for that. I'm a smart girl and I've seen the Saved By the Bell episodes where Slater acts like a pig multiple times, but this still blindsided me. I mean, I have four big brothers and they brag louder than diesel engines. I know how bad boys can be to girls. But there's also the fact that my brothers, for all their ... misadventures, are really good at keeping promises to me. So is my best friend, well 99.999 percent of the time. I always thought that our friendship and our relationship meant so much more than any other girl that you had been with. Then I let you explain and then the only person I was truly mad at was her. I was angry at myself for falling for it but I was mad at her for doing it."

"And now?"

"Resigned. We blew it and there's no way to go back."

"You're right, we can't go back but maybe this will make our friendship better and maybe, just maybe, there's a chance for us in the future. I think we both need to grow as people before we try again." Though Portman hated to suggest it he knew he wasn't ready to get back with her for fear of messing it up again. However, it would be his biggest mistake.

"Yeah," she agreed.

They went silent again as she continued to drive through Minnesota. It took six and a half more hours until they reached Portman's home in Morgan Park, just outside Chicago, Illinois. Of course, about half an hour of that was because they stopped for dinner. When they reached the massive house, it was late and Lizzy knew she should get back on the road. "Come inside. It's going to be early when you get home and you shouldn't be on the road that late," Portman said.

"Port," Lizzy protested.

"You know what my parents would say. The same thing they said last time you dropped me off here. "It's late; we don't want you on the road." They'd do it for Fulton; they'll do it for you."

"Ok. Did you ever tell your parents what happened? Really?"

"Yeah. They weren't happy about it but they understood. You're just Mav and they realize that. You're always going to be my friend and I'm always going to go to bat for you," he told her. Lizzy sighed and shut off the engine. They got their stuff and headed up the drive. There was only one other car, a Jeep, in the driveway and she was sure it belonged to his brother Tony. "My car's in the garage. My parents drive it from time to time to make sure it still runs but mostly it sits in the garage to protect it from the elements," he said by way of an explanation.

"Last time I was here there was also a pick-up and a Caddy."

"The Caddy is Lissy's and the pick-up is his." Portman didn't give a name but Lizzy knew he was talking about Lissy's ex-fiancé.

"I see."

They went inside and found his parents watching TV in the living room but no one else around. "Hello, Dean," Nora said, not looking away from the TV.

Portman stepped around the edge of the couch but didn't stand in the path of the TV. "Mom. It's cool if Lizzy crashes for the night, right? It's four and a half more hours home and it's already late," Portman said.

Nora looked away from the TV at Lizzy. She gave her a soft smile as Frank also looked at the pair. "Of course. The guest room next to Lissy's old room is fine," Nora said.

"Thank you, Mrs. Nora," Lizzy said.

"Of course, dear. You two get to bed. It's late." They said goodnight and went up to bed.

The following morning, Lizzy came down to find Nora in the kitchen making French Toast and asked if she could help. "No, thank you, sweetie. I've got this under control why don't you go say good morning to the family in the living room?" Nora answered. She gave the younger woman a soft smile and for a moment Lizzy struggled to reconcile the two in her head. Almost every photo Lizzy had seen of the woman portrayed her as a rich and powerful business woman and it was strange to see her as a mother, let alone the same kind of caring woman that Lizzy often saw Fulton's mom as.

Lizzy nodded and walked through the dining room to the living room where talk stopped and everyone looked at her. "Uh, hi," Lizzy said.

Portman stood from where he was sitting across the room and smiled though he didn't come to her side. "Morning, Mav." He pointed to the chair to her left. "You know my dad," then to the couch to the left of that directly across from the TV where his parents had been sitting the night before, "my brother Tony and my sister Lissy. That is Lissy's new boyfriend Brad." Then he motioned to the couch he had currently been sitting on. "These are my dad's parents, and you remember Jeff and Krista." Portman's oldest brother and his wife were sitting on the fireplace hearth under the TV. "Everyone, my friend Lizzy, who was very kind to give me a ride home last night," Portman said.

"You're a Duck, Ducks stick together," Lizzy answered, shrugging. Portman's grandmother said something in what Lizzy was sure was Italian as Portman motioned to the chair to Lizzy's right. She sat down then looked at Mrs. Portman. "I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. Well, most of it. I do know that belli is beautiful. My paternal grandmother is full Italian."

"She's meddling where she shouldn't," Jeff said.

"It's only meddling if we know what she said," Portman answered his brother.

"It's was just an observation, dear," Mrs. Portman said. Lizzy watched her for a moment then looked at Brad as conversation began around them again. She discretely watched him for a bit but it wasn't as discreet as she thought she was.

"Liz, are you okay?" Brad asked.

"Yeah, I just ... where do I know you from? You look so familiar," Lizzy answered.

"Have you recently taken a hit to the head?" Brad asked.

"No. Why?" Lizzy asked.

Brad looked at Portman. "Maybe you should get her checked out. We met six months ago," Brad said, the last part directed to her.

"Six months ago?"

"Dallas, pizza place? Then at the hotel later."

"You meeting under-aged girls for pizza and illegal things?" Lissy asked. She stared at her boyfriend scandalized.

"Pizza in Dallas?" Lizzy asked as it sank in. She buried her face in her hands.

"Liz?" Portman asked.

"Brad McCormack. He's been Matt's friend since he was a junior in high school."

"Which means I've known Lizzy since she was six, about," Brad said.

Lizzy looked back at him. "Didn't you play for Detroit?"

"I got traded to Chicago."

"Even after winning the Stanley Cup?"

"Yeah. Sometimes they just find someone more talented. I'm not upset. It led me here. When the Mustangs played Detroit, Matt introduced me to Star and her friend Lissy. We're taking it slow," Brad said. Lizzy nodded.

" Breakfast," Nora said from the doorway. Everyone adjourned to the dining room for breakfast.

As breakfast progressed, Lizzy could hear Portman's grandparents speaking softly but wasn't sure what they were saying. Finally though, Frank snapped. "Mom. Stop. It won't work. You've interfered with enough relationships here and some of them didn't work so well. Don't do it to Dean."

"Nona, you mean well and if we hadn't already been there, I'd appreciate it, but we've tried and it didn't work. Please, don't make this anymore awkward than it already is," Portman added.

"Chiedo scusa," Mrs. Portman said.

"That's—" Frank said.

Lizzy knew exactly what the older woman had said. "She's not apologizing to me," Lizzy said. "As I said, I don't speak much Italian but I know an apology when I hear it. I also know how to read people. I'm certain she's only sorry she got caught or pushed it so far. It really isn't nice to talk about people when they don't fully understand the language. I do apologize, Mr. Frank, I know they are your parents, but even my parents taught me it was rude to sit idly by while you get insulted. Breakfast was lovely, Mrs. Nora, as always. Goose, I'll see you after break. It's a long drive and I should get going."

"Ms. Lizzy, please don't leave," Mr. Portman said. Lizzy looked at Portman's grandfather. "My wife cares a lot about her family and just wants to see them as happy as she is. While it wasn't gracious of her to try and meddle in something that you clearly have under control, she did not mean any harm. I deeply apologize for not saying anything to stop her. You are a guest in my son's house and I should treat you better than that."

"I appreciate the apology, but you did. I may not have heard or understood everything but I know that "lascialo" and "lascialo da solo" both mean leave it and leave it alone. Like I said my paternal grandmother is full Italian and had a dog when I was a kid. A dog she trained to answer Italian commands. Really, I've imposed too long. I should go. You know, Christmas and everything."

"Mav, you really don't need to go," Portman said.

"I should. Really, it's ok." Lizzy stood and took her plate into the kitchen. After setting it in the sink, she braced her hands on the cool metal and stared out the window.

A hand came down on her shoulder. She focused on the reflection. "Are you alright?" Brad asked.

"I don't know. The mom I grew up with would say the proper thing would be to accept the apology and move on but deep inside I'm tired."

"We all say things we don't mean and it's possible that she didn't know what had transpired between the two of you. What if you had a crush on him and just needed some help getting through to him?"

Lizzy took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Then she turned and looked at Brad. He did the same thing Matt would have done. He wrapped her in the warmest hug he could and she tried her hardest to relish it. "Why are you here, instead of at home?" Lizzy asked softly.

"We have games all this week, my parents … I'm an only child and haven't given my parents grandchildren yet and since I play for Chicago and can't make it home quickly like I used to be able to, my parents went on vacation. They sent presents but there's no one home. Lissy said I'm always welcome here so I thought I'd stop by and say hello even though we haven't been dating long. Matt told me he would try to make it home when he had a break and he wanted to see you," Brad answered.

"Not sure if that makes me want to go home more or less," Lizzy admitted.

"If you don't want to go, I'm sure Lissy can find a spare bed for you. I've got a place here and Lissy has an extra bed in her apartment," Brad told her.

"I appreciate that but part of me says the right thing to do is to go home. To not be a brat and know that the brothers that can be there will be and it shouldn't just be me and my father. Even if it is, he'd have to work most of my break so I'll be home alone most of the time."

"You can call if you need anything."

"Thanks."

She was just finished packing up what she had left out and looked up to see Portman in her doorway. "Can I convince you to stay?" he asked.

"You should be convincing me to go home," Lizzy answered as she fiddled with the strap on her bag.

"It's the right thing to do. Christmas is about family and I know lately you've been feeling like you don't have any family but your brothers would say different."

"I know you're right but I don't want you to be."

"Me too. You'll let me know your plans to return to school, won't you?"

"You mean if I'm driving through or if you have to find your own way back? Yeah, I'll do that."

"Thanks. Merry Christmas, Mav," Portman said.

"Merry Christmas, Goose," Lizzy answered. She slung her bag across her back and stepped up to him. Looking up at him was a dangerous thing to do, especially since it meant that she could see those eyes boring into her. She swallowed and he wrapped her in a hug. No words needed to be spoken after that.

By the time she made it home she was starving and slightly surprised to see Chris's car in the driveway. "Thank God you're here. Save me," Ben said the instant she entered the living room.

"Save you from what?" she asked looking around and only seeing Chris and Danni but not her parental unit.

"Their mushy-gushiness," Ben whined.

"You're being mushy?" Lizzy asked as she turned her attention to Chris. Danni rolled her eyes.

"Not in your father's house, he's just being dramatic," Danni answered. Chris smirked so Lizzy knew at one point he had been acting slightly mushy just to get on his brother's nerves.

"Where is the old man?" Lizzy asked.

"On his way home. Said something about picking up dinner," Chris said.

"I'm starved," Lizzy groaned as she plopped down in the recliner next to the couch Ben was sitting on. Chris and Danni on the other hand were sitting on the loveseat opposite her. "Looks like the old man hasn't decorated," Lizzy said as she saw there were no Christmas decorations around.

"He was waiting for us to get home," a new voice said as the door from the garage opened. All three Jacobs's heads turned. There stood her second youngest brother Seth. "He thought about it but wanted to do it as a family."

"I see." After dinner that night, they brought, rather her brothers brought, the Christmas decorations up from the basement and they put the tree up and a few other decorations but left the main decorations for the following day. They spent most of the day on Sunday, decorating. "Is Matt going to make it?" Lizzy asked.

"Probably not. Coach has gotten more strict about him being there for practices and in the community between the games," Chris answered.

"Oh, ok."

"You like Danni, don't you?" Chris asked her as he passed her the stockings to hang from the mantle.

"She's sweet and seems good for you. How long have you known her?"

"My second year at UT." UT being the University of Tennessee where he had just graduated from, earning his degree in Accounting with a minor in Sports' Medicine.

"Three years? Two years?"

"Two and a half. She makes my world better. I never thought I'd understand the difference between being with a girl who I can see the rest of my life with and a girl I can't see my future without but then I met Danni and I understood. She is more than I can ever ask for."

"That's great, Chris, but why are you telling me all this?"

"Matt told me how much you freaked out about Aunt Casey's life changing and about what he told you at the wedding and I don't want to spook you."

"Spook me? What would spook me?" Lizzy asked.

Chris looked around and, seeing no one, he pulled a small box out of his pocket. "This little box," he told her. She looked at the box then at him then back at the box. He waited for her to make the connection. Lizzy stared at it trying to figure out what her brother was telling her.

Finally, she looked back up at him. "Ok, I don't get it. What's in the box?" Lizzy asked.

Chris looked around again then he opened the box. It was a diamond ring with an emerald on either side of the diamond, set in a silver band. "Danni saw it in the window of a shop we walked past on the way home one night and fell in love."

"Much like you did with her?" Lizzy asked. Chris nodded. "I—okay. If you're sure about this."

"I am. Just like I was sure about going to play for Memphis."

"When?"

"Christmas day. I hope this is ok."

"You love her. I can see that so how can I stand in the way?"

"This is why you're my favorite sister."

"I'm your only sister, dork."

"I know." Chris stashed the small box in the tree then hugged his sister. She hugged him tightly, relishing having her brother in reach. He kissed the top of her head then let her go. "So, what about you? Any cute boys in your life?"

Lizzy rolled her eyes and shoved him away. "Don't even start that."

"What? Can't I be interested in my sister's life?"

"Interested sure but not that involved. Besides, sometimes you have to have one sibling's whose life is going wrong so the rest can go right."

"Here's hoping it looks up after the holidays," Chris told her.

"Yeah," Lizzy answered.


So I've seen the preview for the Disney plus series Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. If you haven't, stop here and don't continue.

I just want to rant a little bit. The reviews I've seen on the series say it's like Cobra Kai and that they're flipping the script on a reboot, taking the once loved good guys and making them the bad guys. I'm like seriously? That's not what you're doing here. Unless one of the original ducks is the parent/coach of the team all the screen writers did was take the name of the heroic team and made them the bad guys. The even worse thing they're doing is that they're not taking a familiar story and changing slightly from what I understand they literally took the same script and just changed the names. Again this is what I understand, there's a team of rich kids who only care about winning, a team of mismatched kids that needs to be taught to skate, play, win, and have fun, and Bombay's back, probably end up coaching or advising the team, and having some sort of romance with the mother of the heart of the team, and as usual the ragtag team will end up taking down the big, bad team of rich kids who only care about winning. Seriously? That's the plot of the first movie. This sounds more like a remake than a reboot.

If it was me I'd take the first few episodes getting the audience to love the big team that can't lose and then flip and make them the bad guys and you find it hard to choose between the two teams.