Title:  This Too Will Pass (I suck at titles, it's the name of the song I was listening to)

Author:  Star

Rating:  I'm gonna step up to a UK 15, because I will swear, but only in situations that call for it.

Dedication:  Carla – this isn't really a dedication, more of a plea for fic.  Get off your ass and type before I live up to my stalky reputation and come all the way to the USA to tie you to the computer.  Love ya!

Also, thanks to the entire MD list for responding to my questions.  You rock.

Feedback:  Hit me!  Go on!  I love it!

Disclaimer:  Disney et all owns 'em and I'll have 'em back before they even notice they're gone!  Taz, aka Purple Girl belongs to me, but I think everyone knows that by now.  Celine and Aunt Lydia also belong to me.  Not that I really want to own them, but hey!

Distribution:  My site when I finally publish it.  Anyone else:  Want.  Ask.  Take.  Have.  I'd be beyond thrilled.  By the way, I have a Ducks List, to join, just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MightyDucksMovies/

Summary:  Something that came to me while I was burning a CD.  I get weird inspiration.  *sigh*

Notes: 

1   I know the first part is in present tense and the rest is in past.  I couldn't help it, it didn't work in past tense.  It's a deliberate mistake.  Go with it and forgive me?  *pouts adorably*

2   Flashbacks will be underneath ~~~~ and have a month written somewhere nearby.  Anything else is set now.  If it's confusing, please R&R and I'll try something else.

3   I'm trying to get the balance right, I don't want this fic to be all angst.  Let me know if it's not working.

4   All the chapter titles are song lyrics or titles since my imagination is severely lacking!

Part 1 ~ Some days seem to drag on forever

The penultimate day of Summer break.

     "Don't look at me like that, you knew it couldn't last forever."  She glares at him as if this is his fault.

     "Connie –"

     He reaches out to touch her and she jumps back as if his fingers would burn her like acid.  "Guy, we were kids when we got together, don't tell me you expected it to last."  She sighs and flips some hair out of her eyes.

     "Why are you being like this?"  He asks finally.

     "Like what?"  She snaps.

     Like someone stole the real you and left this witch in your place, he thinks.  Instead he shrugs.  "You're just so… different.  What happened to you over the summer?"

     "I grew up.  I moved on.  I got a life."

     With those three sentences, Guy feels his life begin to crumble.

*~*~*~*~*

Moving in day (aka the last day of Summer break)

     "Hey, Con."  Julie said through a mouthful of coat hangers.  She dropped her stuff quickly on the floor and bounded over to her friend for a hug.

     She was surprised and a little hurt by Connie's lack of enthusiasm.  Connie gave her a perfunctory hug, releasing her almost before they made contact, and said a very surly, "Hi, Jules."

     Julie shrugged it off, moving day always made everyone amazingly hyperactive or insanely moody.  "Good summer?"  She asked, picking up the stuff she'd dropped.

     Connie emptied her bag on her bed and began sorting through it.  "Not bad."

     "Oh yeah?  What did you do?"

     "Stuff."

     "Like what?"  Julie asked, trying to chivvy Connie out of her mood.

     "It's none of your business."  She snapped.  "What is this, twenty questions?  Get your own life and stay out of mine!"  Connie threw down the clothes she was sorting and stormed out of the room.

     Julie winced as the door slammed.

     What was that all about?  She wondered.

*~*~*~*~*

     Julie continued to sort her stuff, trying to maximise the small space allocated by the dorms.  She froze when she heard the door open, she turned, hoping it was Connie coming back to say she was sorry for being so nasty.

     "Hey there Cat-Lady."

     She smiled at Goldberg.  "Hey Goldie."  She hugged him.  "How was your summer?"

     "The usual.  Seemed too short."

     She nodded.  "I know what you mean.  Is everyone else here?"

     "Almost, Luis's flight has been delayed, but everyone else has arrived.  Actually, I think he's probably hooked up with some girl in the mile high club, and can't get away."

     Julie giggled.  "So you're here to remind me that you have a worse gutter mind than Portman?"

     "Just thought I'd come over and say howdy to my two favourite ladies."  He looked around the room.  "So where's Connie?"

     "You might want to say hi to her later."  Julie advised.  "She's not in a good mood… or maybe it was just me."

     "What happened?"  He cleared a space and took a seat on her bed.

     "To be honest, I'm not sure.  I just asked how her summer was and she totally lost it with me."  She sighed and continued sorting through her books.  "It's probably moving day madness.  How's the madness in the boys dorm?"

     "Fulton's already broken a window practicing his shot indoors."  He told her.  "The Dean is deeply unthrilled.  Hence I'm here."

     "Ah-ha!"  She exclaimed.  "So you're not just being polite.  I knew there was an ulterior motive."

     "Well, it didn't help that I was the one who dared him to get the puck from one end of the corridor to another."  Goldberg shrugged.

     Julie grinned, it was good to be back.

*~*~*~*~*

     Connie had almost convinced herself to go back into her dorm room and apologise to Julie.  However, being on the other side of the door listening to Goldberg and Julie laugh had made her feel on edge.

     They were so comfortable, just sitting there talking.

     All she wanted to do was lie on her bed and forget about the summer.

     She wondered if it was too late to apply for a single room.  She sighed, it probably was.  And even if it wasn't, she didn't have enough money.

     She considered going to the boys' dorm, but from what she overheard it wasn't a peaceful place either.  And besides, she might run into Guy.

     Her heart tugged painfully at the thought of him.  She blinked back her tears.  Breaking up with him had seemed like a good idea at the time.

     She gave herself a mental shake.  No, it was still a good idea now.

     She had made the right choice.

     So why did it hurt so much?

*~*~*~*~*

~~~~~ May

     "It's only for a few weeks, darling.  Just until Daddy and I sort out our problems."

     Daddy?  Connie rolled her eyes at her mother.  How young did they think she was?  She blinked back the tears.  You're sending me away so you can fight.  She thought resentfully.  You want me out of the house so you can say all those things you don't want me to hear.

     "I'll go stay with Julie then."  She suggested.  "I'd love to go to Maine."

     Her mother shook her head.  "This is a family time."

     "She is family.  She's a Duck."  Connie protested.

     "Real family."  Her mother impressed further.

     Connie bit her lip to keep herself from shouting, If you want me to be with my family why are you sending me away to a bunch of people who haven't seen me since I was two?

     "I don't want to go."  She said not caring how pouty she sounded.

     "Celine is your age, I'm sure you'll have lots to talk about."

     "Mom, I'll go to Julie's.  It's fine, Mr and Mrs Gaffney are always asking me over."  She said frantically.

     "No, I've already arranged your flights.  You're going to stay with Aunt Lydia and your cousin Celine."

     "Or I could stay here, any of the Ducks would put me up.  Really, I could stay a week with each of them!"  It was a last ditch effort, and she knew her mother wouldn't go for it.

     "Certainly not!  I won't pass you around your friends like little orphan Annie."

     Connie considered pointing out that little orphan Annie didn't get passed around by anyone, but settled for storming out of the house and slamming the door so hard that the glass shattered.

     As she walked away from her house, she heard the faint sounds of the latest argument in the Moreau household reach boiling point.

*~*~*~*~*

     By mid-afternoon Connie still hadn't returned to the dorm and Julie had finished unpacking.  She'd also managed to usher Goldberg out of her room and back to his own dorm to face the music.

     She decided to leave her room and go look for her friend.  Something was obviously bothering Connie.  She'd let her cool down for long enough, now it was time for damage control.

     She wandered outside and found Fulton skating along picking up rubbish.

     She waved and he skated over.  "Practicing already?"  She teased.

     He snorted.  "Hardly.  I'm on litter duty for the entire term."

     "Goldberg told me."  She hid a grin.  "I must say, I'm impressed.  School hasn't even started and you're in trouble."

     "Someone on this team has to misbehave."  He smiled at her.  "We can't all be straight A students."

     "A-plus on a good day."  She replied.  "Have you seen Connie anywhere?"

     He shrugged.  "Not sure.  It looked like Connie, but she didn't stop when I called her name.  Might have been someone else."

     "Reed!  I'm not seeing any litter being picked up!"

     "Moron."  He muttered under his breath, then called over to the teacher, "Ok!"

     "See you later."

     "Bye Jules."

*~*~*~*~*

     She found Connie sitting on a bench in the 'Ornamental Garden' as it was pretentiously called.  Essentially it was a sunny courtyard where some pretty expensive flowers grew around the edges.  It was very rarely used by anyone.  Every student lived in fear that they would somehow destroy one of the rare rose bushes or such like and be forced to pay for it – or worse, nurture it back to health.

     "Hey, Cons."  She said softly.

     Connie turned to face her.  "Hey, Jules."

     "Are you ok?"  Julie took a seat next to her.

     "I'm fine."  She replied dully.

     "Really?"  Julie put a hand on Connie's shoulder.  "If you need to talk…"

     Connie flinched as if it would burn.  "I'm fine."  She insisted.  "I just need to be alone, ok?"

     Julie was once again hurt by Connie's slight, but direct rebuff, but decided to leave her alone.  She had made an effort to seek her out, she had offered a shoulder to lean – or even cry – on, but Connie had turned her down.

     "Ok, I'll be in our room if you need me."

     If she made any response, Julie didn't hear it.

*~*~*~*~*

Please R & R, let me know if I should continue… please?