A smile touched Lila's lips as she watched her teammates from the bench. The Ducks were playing well against a tough team, and the tension and excitement in the Pond was swelling with each minute. Nosedive skated by in a whirlwind, a devilish grin on his face, drivng the puck before him. Lila added her voice to the spectators whooping in delight as Nosedive's slapshot sent the puck driving *through* the back of the net. She glanced back towards the opposite where Wildwing was watching with obvious pride, his chest puffing beneath his cumbersome pads and a rare, genuine smile beneath his Mask. Lila was pleased to see her captain forget the pressures and worries that were thrust upon him daily. 'I wonder how long it's been since he's really let himself go? He treats every game like it's a battle, and even when it's just the seven of us he never wants to let his guard down enough to really enjoy himself.'

It was clear that in the excitement of the game every thought of Dragaunus had fled from the young goalie's mind. Wildwing had been consistantly challenged, but the other team had been good-natured and sporting throughout the game, without the usual violations that marked Earth hockey. The opposing players had even complimented Wildwing on his unbelievable saves, and the competitive yet friendly atmosphere had done wonders for the duck. For the first time, he really seemed to be enjoying the game. It was, Lila was certain, one of the cleanest games ever played on this planet, but it was without a doubt one of the more thrilling matches as well. Heck, this team could afford to play clean; they were that good.

When the final buzzer sounded, the sell-out crowd was on its feet. The noise was deafening, and with mild surprise and a widening smile Lila realized they were chanting Wildwing's name. Without a doubt he had made the difference between the two teams, stopping shots that would have found a way past a brick wall. More than once Lila had been afraid he would hurt himself sprawling on the ice in desperation to block the goalmouth. The broad grin on his face as the six trooped into the locker room was enough to convince her it was worth it. Wing's too-serious azure eyes were sparkling with excitement, pride, and satisfaction. His good humor was as contagious as it was unusual; Lila found herself beaming at everyone and everything.

An emotion that Lila couldn't name seized her heart momentarily as she helped the trimphant duck unlace his pads. Not loss, exactly, maybe sorrow--more like regret. Wildwing had such a vibrant personality. What could possibly have happened to him, to make him shield himself like this, to lock all that away so deep that it only peeked through his eyes on the rare occasions when he forgot himself completely? 'What makes it so hard for you to let go?' she asked him silently, hiding her feelings behind a congratulatory smile as she rocked back on her heels and stood up. 'Was it the war? Or losing Canard? Was he like you once, before the occupation locked hate in his eyes and froze that glare on his face?' It wasn't a pleasent thought.

The emotional high was fading but the smile lingered on Wildwing's lips as he stored his equipment. Lila watched him out of the corner of her eye, still bent on solving the puzzle he presented. 'He has such passion, he throws himself heart and soul into everything he tries to do...but he tries to keep himself isolated at the same time. He's so intense...but he tries to stay detached, somehow...' Lila's mind drifted back to the night (was it only a month ago?) when she'd found Wildwing in the kitchen, trying to deal with the responsibility thrust on him. 'He was so defensive at first...he absolutely *did not* want my help. Maybe because accepting it meant admitting that something was getting to him. But when I didn't leave, he almost seemed to--I don't know, I just don't know. There are times when he looks at me and I swear he's seeing right through me, but he doesn't ever seem to really understand...' Lila shook her head and sighed. 'I think it was easier with Canard--if I wasn't sure, I could just disagree with him and 9 times out of 10 that turned out to be what I decided to do anyway.'

"Hey." Lila looked up, startled out of her musings, to see Wildwing giving her that look--the one that made her feel as if her soul were laid bare before him. "Are you all right?" he asked, concern robbing his face of that rare smile.

"I'm fine. I was just thinking about--stuff." Lila offered him a little grin and to her relief, he mirrored it, and then turned back to his locker, whistling to himself. 'What are you thinking?' she wondered, studying with every ounce of training her father had ever given her. She turned away, afraid he would pick up on her mood again.

"Hey Lila!" This time it was her cousin's voice that broke into her thoughts. Lila turned and smiled.

"Great game, T-bird," she congratulated.

"Thanks," Tanya grinned back, "How 'bout a little, you know, celebration tonight?" Lila lifted an eyebrow.

"What do you have in mind?" She wanted to know, "I don't know if I have enough flour for a cake tonight..."

"No, no," Tanya shook her head, still grinning. "How about some music? Like, the live kind, you know?" Lila caught on to what she was suggesting and blushed.

"Tanya, nobody wants to listen to me," she protested, lowering her voice. It didn't help; Duke heard her anyway.

"Wrong," he called over his shoulder as he closed his locker.

"I don't even have my instrument," Lila tried again.

"Wrong," Duke repeated, turning to her with a satisfied smirk. Tanya picked up a bizarre (by human standards) creation that looked like a cross between a guitar and a keyboard. Lila stared.

"You *built* a multisynthesizer?" she exclaimed incredulously. Tanya grinned proudly and held the insturement out to her. Lila took it, too surprised to offer any resistance. She slipped under the shoulder strap and positioned her fingers. Every switch, button, and string was perfectly placed. Lila played a few chords and looked up with round eyes and a bright smile.

"I knew you missed it," Tanya chuckled. "You should have time to fix the settings before we all get cleaned up."

"I-"

"Great, wonderful, we'll catch you later, sweetheart." Duke shoved a bewildered Lila out of the door.

***

Even if Duke and Tanya hadn't had such high praise for Lila's musical ability, Wildwing would have been interested in seeing her play for the simple reason that it took a lot of skill to play a multisynthesizer. The multisynth could be programed to simulate any musical instrument ever created, and a musician could play the same accompanyment that would normally require an entire orchestra all by himself. It took years of study and a lot of coordination to learn to play the complicated machine, however.

Tanya assured him Lila had both. She'd apparently started playing when she was eight, and her coordination Wildwing had seen for himself many times.

It was definately going to be an interesting night.

A small part of his mind nagged that the seven ducks ought to be searching for Dragaunus, but this one night Wildwing just wanted to relax. After all, he told himself, it was important to know and spend time with his teammates. Besides, Drake 1 would alert them if Dragaunus caused any trouble. The little sliver of his conscience accepted that and quieted.

Lila was blushing when he and Nosdive came in, and she glanced around the room nervously. Wildwing was a little surprised at that; he really didn't think of her as a shy person. Nevertheless, the girl's fingers trembled slightly where they rested on the multisynthe. She obviously wasn't enjoying being the center of attention. Not that he'd ever really considered her to be the kind of ham that Dive was, but she'd never really seemed so squeamish about being watched before this.

It occured to Wildwing to wonder what else he didn't know about his second in command and only doctor.

Mallory and Grin trailed in, the last to arrive, and flopped down respectively on the couch and the floor. All eyes turned to the young doctor, and with a wavering smile she lifted an eyebrow at Tanya, who immediately named a song. Lila nodded and shifted the synthe slightly before beginning.

"Time passes by/Like leaves on the water/They roll down the river/and slip out of sight/To many times/we do what we aught/and put off till tomorrow/What we'd really rather do tonight/And later realize//

Time passes by
People pass on
At the drop of a tear they're gone
Let's do what we dare
Do what we like
And love while we're here before
Time passes by

//Thoughts are like pennies/We keep in our pockets/They're never worth nothing/Till we give them away/Love's like a promise/In an unopened letter/When nights full of pleasure/Seldom see the light of day/When life gets in the way//"

Lila glanced up shyly as the others applauded. Wildwing caught her eye and grinned broadly at her. Tanya and Duke hadn't been lying. Not only was she good with the synthe, she had a beautiful voice. Duke called for another song and Lila set her fingers again. The tune was softer this time, and Wildwing felt himself relaxing and getting lost in the music.

"There's a full moon up and rising/There's a whisper of a breeze/Blowing through the tangled silver/Hanging from the cypress trees/And there's a river made of moonlight/Flowing clear across the lake/And there's a million stars just waiting to fall for any wish we make//

Darling tonight I am reminded
How much these two hearts need romance
You know it isn't very often
We get this kind of chance
Why don't we get caught in this moment
Be victims of sweet circumstance
Tonight I feel like all creation
Is asking us to dance

//There'll be time enough tomorrow/To get back to our daily bread/But there's something about this evening/That's put this notion in my head/That heaven and the Earth are meeting/Tonight on upon this very spot/And all the things on Earth worth having are things that we've already got//

Why don't we get caught in this moment/Be victims of sweet circumstance/Tonight I feel like all creation/Is asking us to dance"

Lila shifted her instrument. Wildwing caught a hint of something in her eyes but it was gone to fast for him to identify. "Here, Mal," Lila said, flipping switches. "I think this one is just your style..."

"You come in while I'm sitting at the mirror/You want to say you know that I'll look nice/I sit in desperate silence/And I listen/And with a cutting eye you know you better look twice//

Cause I'm putting on my war paint
I'm on the path again
And before you say it looks great
You'd better look again
Red is for the anger you put me through
And for all those nights I've felt alone
You see a shade of blue
A lighter dash of yellow
For the coward that you've been
And the black would be
Your nights ahead
And my shadow in your bed
I'm putting on my war paint

//There's nothing you can say/To make it better/And there's no appology to change my mind/I guess I could have sent a 'Dear John' letter/But it's written on my face/It's war paint time//"

Tanya and Mallory snickered as all the guys shifted uncomfortably. Lila smiled and changed the tone again.

"Well I've been looking at the numbers/And it makes me really scared/And I can't help but wonder/How we'll ever get anywhere/Hope can die/So young/Long before the race/Is run//

And the odds are we're all gonna get our hearts broken
(broken)
Someday
And the odds are some of our dreams'll get left
Along the way
And every time you hold me close
It's a light against the dark
But here we are
Evening up the odds
Evening up, evening up, evening up the odds

//So I want you to tell me/How safe I am with you/And how our hearts together/Can't help but make it through/And for every love/That leaves/There's a love that's meant/To be//

//So we'll smile a smile for every tear that falls/Life's not fair/But darling after all/Here we are/Here we ARE//

//Here we are/Evening up the odds/Evening up, evening up, evening up/The odds..."

Lila's hands stilled, and the room fell silent. She set the instrument aside and flexed her hands. The simple motion broke the spell, and the ducks all stood, stretched, and patted her shoulder or offered a compliment as they headed for their own rooms.

--------

Songs:

Time Passes By, Kathy Matea

Asking Us to Dance, Kathy Matea

War Paint, Lorrie Morgan

Evening Up the Odds, by Lorrie Morgan

No copyright infringement intended.  So I like to type song lyrics.  There's no need to sue me over it.