Heather had a great time spending time with teammates, fans and cheerleaders. Lizzy had everything ready as well so she didnt have to go home either as she took a page from Adam and always be ready to go.

Ben asked Lu-Ti if she wanted to go home or if she would be travelling with the team. He'd put his bag in the back of the truck, so didn't need to return to the townhouse before they had to gather at the complex to head off to the airport.

  Lu-Ti  pouted a bit,..yes... I must go home, and get my things, I will be flying  down with Father  and  Yuto, so they can make sure the  Hotel did not 'make mistakes'. Father has become less  trustful, of  out stays  at away games..

"I have my stuff with me, so would you like to be taken to the estate and brought back to the airport?" Ben asked her.

  ..you  you feel like?  Please take me to the estate, I will ride  with  Father and Yuto to the   airport

 I have some things to pack, and My assistant  is already in Miami  working  with the PR people for  roster names and such

"For you, my love, anything," said Ben, kissing her on the cheek.

He led the way out to the parking lot, waved at the few die-hard fans still hanging around outside, and drove to the estate.

"See you later!"

-> Airport.

The Next Party

Retriving Lu-Ti after her afternoon business - having spent his time dealing with fan mail and practising Japanese - Ben drove her to the Rising Son, arriving a bit early for the party.

Today Ben was in a cream-coloured suit with a Dragon-green shirt. He shouldn't have been surprised that there were already some fans hanging around outside (but he was), still he waved at them before smiling at Lu-Ti.

"Do you want to go on in and join the others? I'd best be socialble, seeing as they have made the effort to turn up..."

Then he went over to talk to them, thanking them for coming and asking how far they'd travelled.

 The Little Green Mazda  pulled into  a 'players'  parkign space  and Got  Out, as he wanted towards the  people They cheered  and hollered, he truned  around comically looking   for  who they were   cheering  for.

 Some  one  Yelled.... ADAM!!!!!

 and the Crowd   jumped and threw out thier arms like  'lissy Dragon"... " BOMB!"

 He  laughed  and made his way up the line , Shaking hands  and high fiving, getting scores  of  selfies taken and even takign a    phone to  send a  text , to whomever   the person had  talked to last.. he signed things and talked about the Game.. The Colts... records.. But  he Pointed at Ben  when talk of records  came up.

 other players   were  walking up the   carpet  waving and signing as well.

"Hello, Adam," said Ben. He stood back to let the fans make a fuss of him but found that many of them actually wanted to talk to him as well. Some even ignored Adam to talk to him.

 Adam Grinned  as he  went  down the Line to the Door. Wills was walking in  he still had a bit of a limp.why you spendin' so much time with these folks, Most of them ain't gettin' in until we leave?..

 ..That's just in, some of them  won't even try to get in, they don't have the money to waste  on drinks  and  stuff, they are out there to see us... folks in here?.. have  the money, bought tickets to walk right in.. they are here ..'TO BE HERE" and , maybe talk to a couple of us.. those  folks out in the Lot? They cheer  just as hard, if not  harder, for us... and it doesn't cost me one cent to be the guy who signs  thier pics  or takes a selfie with them.

Ben grinned at the eager fans.

"OK, folks... much as I love talking with you, my darling Lu-Ti awaits inside. Do you really want to keep me from her... she might have decided to dance with some other fella by now!"

He made his escape inside to a chorus of cheers and catcalls from the fans, pausing to wave from the doorway before scuttling inside.

 Walking in,  White   waves at Ben.....NOW ITS A PARTY!

Adam waved to folks who hailed him and  signed napkins, and  pictures ( one  woman's top )

 Yuto  and Lu-ti on the Stage they were both smiling ...Ben is here!!!! you know  what that means!!!

 The crowd   shouted.. STOMP ....STOMP...STOMP...

  the few  players who had the  guts to go up, placed themslevs  behind a dragonette.. Lu-ti hopped down  and  went in front of  Ben. The Massive  wall-screen showed the tiny Dragon in the   distance  as the  Beat got louder and louder  and  the people  Roared ..first softly..and  got a bit louder  as the  dragon charging   towards them roared louder..

Ben smiled and waved at his reception, reserving the broadest smile for Lu-Ti (of course). Even not being a party animal, it was difficult not to respond to such a welcome.

And of course he was delighted to Stomp, especially with Lu-Ti leading him round the room. A wonderful start to the evening, as he whispered into her ear before kissing her and beginning to dance.

--->>>From Heather's townhouse


Thankfully the drive from Heather's was quick. Nat found a parking spot near the front. "You ready for this?"

 Heather smiled, gave Nat a kiss on the cheek and said," Hell yes lots of wine will also help." Heather giggles and gets out of Nat's car wearing a very nice dress covering her bruises, high heels, they where both looking very good as she headed for the group outside the Rising Son. Heather would smile and sign autographs as she made her way into the Rising Son.

  aFter the  'Stomp' ended with the massive  Dragon's  face   roaring loud on the  'screen-wall and flames  covered the  area... special effects  added 'smoked' that allowed the  lazar lights  to flicker about.

 High energy  music  came on, and    Players hit the  fllor with  Wives or Girlfriends, or..random women.. Bing and  Emma were dancing,  Adam   sat  down  by a  table against the wall to have a soda  and some 'pizza  sticks'.

 A fellow with a  badge around his neck apprached   Adam, he had a  Colts baseball hat on...

 Hey..Adam?  Bronk?.... I'm  Chuck Wood..yeah..old jokes and all..  can i get  some  quotes  for you, for the papers back home..they are looking for something  edgy? ..I figure you're the right guy?

 Adam Motioned to the chair, a couple women frowned as they were they were trying to decide which of them would make the move  to ask Adam to dance.

 well...Chuck? Have a seat and ask what you wanna  ask, i'll  answer ..but..i'll tell you this...straight up.. you try to  misquote me, or misrepresent, I send out the word, and you'll have a damn hard time  getting   interviews  from any one that doesn't have a horse on thier headgear.

 so? what?  I can't say anything  bad?

 I didn't say that, you can say bad stuff as much as you want, just make damn sure, its the truth...

 The  reporter  sat  down, he opened   a small notebook and showed  Adam  a   recorder...Chunk  Wood  , from the  Indie Times.... I am here with Adam Bronk of the   Jacksonville  Dragons , to ask some questions  about the match up with the Colts.

 Adam  bit off a bit of  pizza stick.

 So? how do you look at this week's  game, is it a Must win?

 Adam sipped some soda, Not for us?... I mean...if we lose, we lose   some ground to the Chargers..we're racing them for Home field trough out?.... The Colts  might get a bit closer  if they beat us...but not enough time for them to take the division, unless we screw up really bad...and Coach Sims  doesn't let us  screw up....really bad...

 with the Colts being your Rivals and...

 no no no, Chuckie? The Colts  aren't our Rivals.. they are in the same divison as us... they could become rivals..but... not right now...Teams that hate us...that we sorta Hate back? Titans , Texans.. Fins?...maybe Tampa Bay?... those are the ones  who really want to beat us.... Then you toss in teams like  The Giants  , Cowboys Raiders? they didn't want the Amotas in the League....and?   when you look at our  record, and what we have done to thsoe  we played..I guess you understand why

 So..how important  is this game then?

 All Games  are important, in the NFL..ever since we cut back to 16 games again... You really can't afford to lose a  game...its not like Baseball, basket ball or  Hockey?..you lose  10 games in a row?.. so what?.. you string some wins together and you're back in the mix?... football..you lose  3 or  4 games total?.. you might be thinking of 'next year' , in october!

 Let me make this easy for you, Chuck. We need to beat the Colts, to  stay ahead of the Chargers.... Beating the Colts, also , ends   any type of hope of a divioon win for them... as it sits right now, we own , just about  any tiebreaker in the whole league?.. head to head.....Total Points.. Total Touchdowns score..leeast Touchdowns  given up... Coach Sims  knows what he's doing... its  like Sherman's march to  Atlanta....nothingleft behind us... pile up points , because you can't save them for next week...Every body,,,and I mean everyone plays, gets reps and works hard....there isn't another team  even..REMOTELY..close to us.

 You go  to your Hotel tonight?.. call up some  Games 'on demand',,,but  only watch the 1st quarter...and the Last Quarter... and  see how the players  are , how they move, and   how they start 'mailing it in',   Other teams  won't catch us for  Years..maybe a decade...

 Chuck was writing   fast as he nodded then asked,why don't you think the  League can't catch up?

 again, some homework for you?... Look at all the players we have..every one of them, 'cause everyone  of them plays.... you'll see folks who people  waved off, cut, or..worse? let them waste on the bench... Then you look at your  Big Money guys...most of them 'get hurt' when a big game coems  up, and they know they can't  go head to head  with , whomever they  have to face...Money..Holdouts, and Owner Egos? you can't  cut through that in a couple years...But...havign said this..real  Football oners, who are in it, to win it?  They'll start making changes, they let the big money  scumbags walk.. they'll pur  'hold outs' on  reserve and not pay them, and they won't trade folks, just because the player is  'mad'

 Chuck  wrote as  fast as he could,..so?  If Coach Sims   decides  he doesn't need Adam Bronk... you won't care?

 ..If  Coach Sims  wanted to get rid of me, he'll do it.. and it won't be  anything to do with  'likes or 'hates'..it will because he found someone better...there might  be  3  teams out there, who would pick me up?  and if not?.. we'll the CFL  is always there., but you'll never see me 'hold out'...you'll never  see me whine, when its my turn to sit out....

 ..Let me ask you this? You are one of the lowest  paid  wide recivers in the league.. there are  UFAs that make more money then you...that doesn't bother you?

 what is it with you guys and  Money?.... I was signed for the league Minimum... The standard  Dragon Contract is 'league Minimum ' Only  Guys Like  Ben, and  Duke Have the 'big money' contracts..and?  they  have  heavy incentives too?

 I have said this before?... You writer guys?  wanna have some fun? You'll be able to use this  as a hot topic from  late January until draft day..... You take My monet, that i get paid at the end of the season, and stack that with all the  damn wideouts in the league... you wanna hear feed back? you wanna here  Bitching, You wanna see  players..by the truck load, holdign out?.. you wait until then... and not just me?... Gules Like Miles, Worth and  Payne?... they took the 'dragon League Minimum, that was adjusted to thier   years in the league?....AND  they have incentives. The League can't do a damn thing about it? The  Union loves it... they didn't before, but they love it as they were educated....The Players in the league  right now?  You might get 100 players  who would play for this   contract...why?.. ebcause   the rest are too damn lazy, they want money for free,.... they wanna be the  #1 high paid guy..... well. Chuckie? you wait until  after the superbowl, when they release  the  contracts..there is  going to be a firestorm of bitching, and none of it will be in Jacksonville

 Chuck  sat back and shook his head..he  shut off  his player  and  tucked his book into his  coat.Man?  That's  good stuff   Adam.... I may hold some of this back to use when superbowl time  comes and  no ones talkign much...

 well?  Don't take my word for it.. ask around, Ask Coach Sims,  Ask Yuto?.... The Big Mistake in this league is  owners...followed  by players?.... Owners  look for big names to se4ll tickets..most times  a high priced FA...you really don't  want... they are spoiled, and the team that haad them, let them walk...there's a reason, beyond  salary Cap.....But the players  are Just as Bad.... look at Smokey?..he's  a  new position. Punter/Wide reciver...and  he's beating 'name' DBs.... if Caoch Sims   keeps it like that, and  i get to work with him in the offseason...he's gonna be scary......but? all the other players do , is the same thing scouts  do...'where did you play'...and then  the other prejudice pops up...'where  were you drafted'....'how  much did they pay you'

 he  sits back,at elast half  of the DBs i have played against, would not make the dragon's roster..they don't have the  skills, and they don't have the heart

  there is some  grins and nods of heads   as some of the players  and fans  heard  Adam  giving his  thoughts to the Indie reporter...A waitress, came by  and Adam pointed to Chuck,

  Anything he wants, On me?..including the Dinner...Thanks..  she smiled

 Chuck looked at Adam....anything?

 Look?  Chuck? This is  The Rising Son.   Yuto is goig to open another one in New York this summer....This is your  chance to  get  great food, you can't get anywhere else... you want to order extra to take back to your Hotel? be my guest!

 The Reporter  smiles  and  follows the waitress to the   dinning area......

When the Stomp was done, Ben turned to Lu-Ti smiling.

"Would you like to dance for a bit before dinner? And would you be happy eating here or would you prefer to go elsewhere? I heard a new fine dining place opened in town, chef by the name of Jerome McCaffrey, originally from New Orleans but he's cooked in California, now he's come here. Or maybe save that for when we have a whole evening to ourselves..."

  Lu-Ti tilted her head  as she  thought for a moment,we should stay an hour? then we go to that place for late  diner... if  we like  it, we can use it when there is a whole day!

     Some Fans  managed to talk Yuto into using the Mic to sing ' For the Glory', while the  massive wall screen  showed highlights of the game.. catches  by Adam, Ben and others..Duke throwing, many hits  by defesnse, and   Heather getting whack a coupe times.

"All right, sounds good to me. Would you like a drink?"

Once that was organised, he put in a quick call to McCaffrey's place - which was called The Magic Kitchen - to reserve a late table for two.

Then, well, the dance floor beckoned, and he led Lu-Ti out for a dance.

    With the Party growing as   fans  and players got a bit looser ,  A woman reporter  with a Live TV  Cam  cornered  Duke on the floor  after   a slow danced had  ended...

 Hey , Folks..This is Sue  Young from  Indie TV, I am here are the  famous  'Rising Son' where  the dragons  are having thier   Victory party, having  crushed the Instate rivals , Dolphins  on Sunday...Tell   My people  back home, is this better when you were  with  the Colts, what?  8 years ago?

 Duke's  wife looked a bit  bummed, Duke  just laughed.Its  alot differant..i mean, if  things keep going the way they are going, I'll have more yards passing then the Colts  starter had the last  2 years..and  ? I had to play behind him!

 people around them laughed\


so? Comon , now Duke.. you're  nearing the  end of a quiet career... you're having some luck now, but  this?... she waves her hand, Victory  Parties? pep rallies?.... don't you think this is a bit 'high school'?

 Duke  laughed again,Maybe..that's what the NFL  needs?..no  showboats  with more  necklaces  then they have  touchdowns... nomassive  contracts without  being anyhting  but 'above average.'... People say i was a Journeymen? a Career Back up?... Maybe..until i got here.... and so far, I'm lookign down  at everyone  who is getting paid  3 and 4 times what i'm making... then he winks,..until January...and guess what?..all that is done, playing   one half a football game

 She looks a bit flustered.. Duke calls out to a Girl, waves her over.. she doesn't want to go, By  Santos   gives her a Nudge...

 Hi?.. I'm Duke...

 she nods  slowly ,eyes are big...I'm...i'm.... Filly....

 can you tell Miss young  what you do for a living  and , how you got here?

 she looks at the reporter, suddenly  realizing she is on TV!..

 Um..I..Um..work at a daycare?.. just off the  entrance  ramp to the city?..... I was standing in line to get in since   1:00 this afternoon.. this is the first time all year i got in...

 Sue asked,how much did you pay to get in?

 she  shook her  blonde head,Nothing?  We all get to get in sooner or later..but, the ones  for the   frist two ours get a free drink , we get to  dance   near some of our players, and sometimes they Dance with us!..

 Dukes  wife  gave  Sue a 'so there'  smile.

 .. who do you want to  dance with Filly?

 Um....  Smokey..or Adam!

  Duke whistled  and pointed to the two men who came over..Pick one!

 OHMTGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!

 Dukes  wife says...take them both!

  Filly looked like she was goign to pass out... Smokey said,Let's go Dudette!

 and the two players moved out onto the Floor as another  slow  song starter,   Filly  danced   with Smokey first, then Adam..

 No, Miss   Young?... when your fans, can have access to your players, and not have to pay for it....when your  team has a better record then us....and when your players  are out performing us..you can make all the snide   remarks you wish,,,, until that time, i would  just sorta..hide and keep quiet, and hope no one knows  how outclassed you folks are...

 Sue loked  embarrassed, the live  feed kept  runnign and was being pciked up  by ESPN and the Football Network

Natalia walked in, holding Heather's hand. "Plenty of people here!" She shouted over the music. "Wanna go say hi to some fans while I get us some drinks?"

 Heather smiled waved and said hello to the fans.  She grimaced a few times when players slapped her. She waved to Adam and Ben when Nat and hrr walked in.

 Heather gave Nat a kiss and said,Yes a large glass of wine please, abd it is great to see our fans. Heather then moved towards a group of fans wearing her fancy dress.

  A pair of  Guy , fans, approached  Heather, and  asked if she wanted  a drink, or a bite to eat.

  Smokey  stayed  and  talked  with Filly while Adam  went through the  crowd to get back to his table.

   Lu-Ti  was getting loose  as she  moved  to the fast dances on the  floor  with some of the other Dragonettes.

 Heather smiled at them and replied," Oh no thank you my girlfriend is bringing us drinks. Oh no thank you I am not sure if I have to pay for food, not sure how it works for players." Heather smiled at them and said," Would you guys like an autograph?" Heather smiled as she waited for Nat to return and the guy fans respond.

Ben preferred slow dances, well, in as much as he liked dancing at all, but if Lu-Ti wanted to do fast ones he'd give it a go.