You'll Be OK
Donald looked over his stack of bills and paperwork from his new job with the same dread that he felt when he got his homework when he was still in public school as a kid. The triplets were asleep and McDuck manor was quiet with only the low crackle of the fireplace in the living room filling Donald's ears. He gave a deep sigh as he stretched out his arms and rubbed his eyes when he heard a knock on the open door.
"What're you doin' up so late Donald?" Scrooge asked in a softer tone than Donald had anticipated, he walked into the room and sat down next to his nephew.
Donald was tempted to throw his papers into the fire but it was hard getting 2nd copies, so he held back the urge. "Nothing...just doing some paperwork and being an adult." Donald said dryly, saying the words with bitterness.
"Why don't you go to bed, take it from me: you don't want to go to work when you're half asleep. You make dumb decisions that way." Scrooge said with a chuckle, gently patting Donald on the back and remembering his own sleep deprived days going to work.
But instead of a laugh from his dear nephew, he saw tears start to form in Donald's eyes and he began to cry. Scrooge was taken aback by Donald's sudden breakdown and didn't know what to do as Donald cried and held onto his Uncle like he was a wee lad again.
"I don't know how much longer I can take this!" Donald confessed with a sniffle, "I barely have enough money to pay these bills off and I'm barely home to spend time with the boys anymore!"
Scrooge patted him and rubbed his back gently like he used to when he was younger, "There there Donald...you'll be OK. Life will kick you to the curb and try to break you down, but you have to keep up the good fight and keep your chin high. Listen, I can help you with your bills if you help me out on the next couple of jobs I have coming up and maybe you can talk to your work to get some time off to spend a couple of days with the boys."
"Really?" Donald asked, his eyes shining with tears and his voice childlike.
Scrooge rubbed his back again and pulled him in for a hug. "Really."
They stayed like that for a while until finally they drew apart and Scrooge looked at the clock. "Now I think we should both be heading to bed. The boys will be getting us up early tomorrow and you have work in the morning." Scrooge said, helping Donald up and walking with him toward the door. "And you promised me that you would make breakfast!"
"Yes Uncle Scrooge." Donald chuckled while sniffling and he went to bed that night with a little less weight lifted off his shoulders.