Disclaimer: Nope, Darkwing Duck ain't mine.

A/n: Okay, so while true and apparent that OC children overrun my future DD world, it is also a fact that Drake loves kids and I hold him partially responsible. And since Hooter knows that children overrun Drake's home life, he's got third party responsibility as well for accepting the invitation to the dinner party.

A/n: Oh, yes, and a few notes on Ace for clarity's sake. She's that conflicted person I got when I crossed Launchpad with Doctor Sara Bellum from S.H.U.S.H. but with one step sideways: "Aunty Sara" and "My mum's a coroner."

Launchpad currently runs a small courier company called Ace Air Dynamics out of the hanger he owns outside of town when he's not helping out DW. (That's the hanger where he met Darkwing Duck in the very first episode. I claim this hanger in the name of Launchpad McQuack.) So apart from the points I've just listed above, Ace is otherwise Normal, and boy is Normal hard to write.


(Takes place several months after the events of Left Wing)


On the Riverbank


Every so often Launchpad McQuack would glance away from the busy road over to the passenger seat where his four year old daughter sat. Instead of the usual bubbly conversationalist Ace normally was, she was sitting there quietly staring out the window with her hands in her lap.

"Heyah, kiddo?" Launchpad asked as he pulled up behind a line of cars at the last set of lights out of town, "anything you want to let your dad in on? A problem shared is a problem halved. You know you can always talk to me."

Ace turned her head to him. She looked so precious with her short blonde hair tucked under her pilot cap and her brown Junior Woodchucks sweater on. "I want to stay home with you, daddy."

"Ah." Launchpad grimaced as the cars in front started moving again. The grey minivan began moving through, the green Dogcatsu went after and he followed them on through the intersection. "It hasn't been much fun at home lately," he began his unhappy explanation, "I thought it might be a good idea to give you a break. I reckon this sleepover will do you good."

"Why can't you come too, daddy?" Ace pleaded, "It'd be good for you too."

"Aw ..." Launchpad gushed, feeling a warm glow from his daughter's caring affection, "sorry, kiddo, I really can't stay this time." Dropping down to first gear again, Launchpad swung around the last corner into Avian Way. He took a breath, summoning his courage over the job of returning to the hospital. "There's too much on at the moment."

"You don't have to go back if you don't want to." Ace stated, having sussed out his mood on the subject, "we could both sleepover together and then it'll be fun for the both of us."
"No, I've got to get back." Launchpad stated firmly. "A McQuack's gotta do what a McQuack's gotta do."
A sad little sigh came from his daughter in the passenger seat. "Okay, daddy."


"Well, here we are." After pulling to the curb alongside the white picket fence Launchpad had a proper look at the Mallard's house. The walls were still a clean white, the roof was still a grey shingle and the weathervane ward looked just as unassuming as the last time he'd seen it. It'd been a while but things didn't seem to have changed too much. "It's time to bail out, Ace."

Launchpad helped Ace out of the passenger seat and fetched her overnight gear from the boot of their dinged up brown Meercati and turned to face the fence. If they didn't approach the Mallard family's house just right, he knew, Morgana Mallard's wards could make it a rather unpleasant visit.

"What do the signs say, daddy?" Ace pointed the signs on the fence out to Launchpad.

"Hey; I don't remember them being here before." He remarked and pointed. "This one says 'Beware the Gnomes'," He read aloud to her, then pointed to the other one, "Warning: Unfriendly Fairies Out in Force." Launchpad approached the gate. "Guard Gate on Duty," he advised, reading the little sign on the gate.

"I don't think they like people, daddy." Ace decided.

"Of course they do, kiddo!" Launchpad chuckled, "these are all just here to keep the place safe for you kids." He levered the Guard Gate open and heard a crack of thunder ring out from the weather warning vane overhead. The dutiful gate vibrated with its own force, as though deciding whether this was the grip of someone friendly or not. Out of the corner of Launchpad's eye there was a glimmer of a fairy. There were sounds of rustling all along the short trim fence line hedges as the only evidence that gnomes were watching them. There was another glimmer from out of the corner of Launchpad's eye. The wards certainly were out in force. "Really safe." He added.

"Come on, Ace." He looked down to her and held his hand out for hers, bringing her protectively to his side. Together they headed up the path and onto the porch. Once again while he wasn't looking the broom in the corner twitched and he noted more fairy glimmers darting at the corners of his eyes.

"Hey, Ace." He said in a friendly tone, "Wanna do the knocking?" Launchpad offered.
"Yes, please!"
He lifted his little girl up, aiming his daughter at the doorknocker.

Ace raised the knocker and swung it back at the door plate. When the door started to open she hid her face in his scarf.

Launchpad hugged her back, looking as DW appeared in the doorway. "Heyah, DW." Launchpad felt torn between his daughter who clearly didn't want to leave his arms and the unfortunate atmosphere he didn't want her to have to deal with.

"Hey, Launchpad. Hi, Ace." Drake tried being jovial.
"Your front garden's gotten quite busy. It's not even dark yet."
"Yeah," Drake glanced around, "the fairies and gnomes have their strategy all worked out."

Launchpad roused his daughter hiding in his arms, "Come on, Ace, time to be brave." He said determinedly. "Say hello to Mr. Mallard."

Ace peeked out of the scarf at Drake and timidly waved at him.

Drake ventured a smile at Ace. "You know, Ace, I remember you being a lot smaller the last time I saw you."
"Yeah," Launchpad felt his own bravery faltering, "it's been a good few months. Things have been getting away from us a bit lately." He put Ace back onto the porch and handed Drake her bag.

Launchpad knelt down. "Ace, I promise you, once things get sorted I'll come back and pick you up."
"Even in the middle of the night, daddy?" Ace pleaded, "as soon as you can? Oh, please, daddy, please!"
Launchpad smiled bravely at Ace. It was something that would keep his little girl going. "Sure, kiddo, I promise: as soon as I can." He hugged her back. "Now, why don't you go find Justin? You like playing with him." Launchpad stood up and watched his daughter slip past DW in through the doorway.

"Hey, Ace." Launchpad called back for her, undoing his scarf from his neck and wrapping it around her shoulders. "Remember your dad loves you."
She looked back at him with a sad face. "I love you too, daddy."

A moment later Drake spurred Ace on. "You should try Justin in his room, Ace." Drake advised and Ace acknowledged his words by heading to the staircase.


Drake turned back to Launchpad with sympathy, "if only I could help you out, LP."

"Hey, DW," Launchpad felt comfort from his friend's words, "this is a big help. It saves Ace a bit of heartache and it gives us grown ups a chance to pull ourselves back together."
Drake frowned, "someone will have to explain about her grandfather to her, though. Would you like me to handle it?"

"Ah, no," Launchpad chuckled with his nerves, "it, uh, better be me, DW. Ace isn't like your kids, she's, well," Launchpad struggled to grab that right word, "with Ace it's never so much as what you say but how you say it. No, I'll figure out the best way and let her know when I get back."

"Okay, Launchpad." Drake hefted Ace's bag onto his shoulder, "well, if she's anything like her dad this place will prove a hefty distraction."

"Thanks." Launchpad scratched his head. "Uh, what exactly do you mean by that, DW?"
"LP," Drake smiled sadly at him, "you better get going; Amelia's going to be missing you."


It was Friday afternoon and Hooter was still trying to finish up with Grizlykoff so he could be off for the weekend.

"Sir," Grizlykoff looked again through his notes, "I also believe second year cadets would be more suitable for Quiverwing's training program than first years."
Hooter looked longingly over at his overcoat hanging on the coat stand behind the door, "For what reason?" He looked back to Grizlykoff.
"They have already had S.H.U.S.H. standard procedure training."

Hooter blinked. "Is that your only argument for this point on your list?"
"Sir, procedures are vital for maintaining correct S.H.U.S.H. function into future."
"Yes, Assistant Director." Hooter agreed firmly, "and Quiverwing has structured her curriculum with dutiful attention to this." He tsked, "Really, Grizlykoff, I think you're suffering a touch of nerves. Go home. Reread her proposal and I will see you again on Monday morning." Hooter stood up and headed for his jacket. "As for me I have a dinner party to get to and I do not want to be late." He looked over as Grizlykoff organised himself ready to leave.

"This Drake Mallard, I have not heard much talk of him." Grizlykoff stated.

"Oh?" Hooter blinked back at Grizlykoff. Sometimes his assistant's memory hit these unfortunate blank patches. "He's a fairly quiet sort of person." Hooter briefly said in non-explanation. "Have a good weekend, agent. Get some rest."

"You also, sir."

Hooter smiled back, "No, actually, I'm looking forward to some fun for a change."