Scrooge and Magica were sorting out her boxes and trying to decided where to put her potion making supplies; those things needed to be put some place safe and certainly not in the kitchen lest either Launchpad makes a sandwich with them or they get mixed up with the herbs and spices for cooking and nobody would want that to happen.
"There's an extra storage room you could use for a potion lab." Scrooge finally suggested after several other ideas were shot down. "Does the door have a lock?" Magica asked. "No, but it won't take much to install one." He replied. "I can ask Poe to do it later and I'll setup a magical lock as well." Magica said thoughtfully. "Let me see the room first."
Scrooge led the way to a room that was stuffed with old boxes, dust, cobwebs and a musty smell. Magica cracked open a box and found a lot of junk in it. She coughed just a bit as she dropped the lid and dust flew up around her.
"I had no idea you were a hoarder Scrooge; what is all this stuff?" She fanned away the dust with her hand as she looked at her sheepish husband. "Honestly… I don't remember. I just packed away stuff that wasn't terribly valuable but still sentimental to me now and again and now the room is full." "Like old birthday cards and tax forms from particularly good years Scroogie?" She joked. "Probably…" He admitted.
He couldn't tell if she was even more amused or actually shocked, her expression was somewhere in between the two emotions. "Anyway… we'll go through these boxes and clean out the room so you can use it if you like." Magica looked around the room, about half the size of the library and with a small closet to the left and a wide window directly across from the door on the back wall overlooking the back garden. "It's absolutely perfect… or it will be when it's clean."
They spent the better part of the day going through the boxes finding the aforementioned birthday cards and tax papers along the way.
"This birthday card from your sisters is so funny, with the 'happy' crossed out and the bitter message." Magica chuckled, reading an old card from Hortense and Matilda. "Not my best time; That was from years ago when I was first amassing my fortune and letting it get to my head." Scrooge admitted reluctantly. "No wonder they called you 'despicable'" Magica laughed, then picked up another random card from the pile in the box and read it aloud. "Dearest son, your father and I wish you a happy birthday; and do please come visit more often Scroogie." Magica started to say something but interrupted herself when she saw the postmark on the card.
"Scrooge… why is this birthday card from your mother dated from last year?" Scrooge glanced over at the card then returned to sorting through another box. "Because that's the one she sent me last year. I wonder what she and dad will say when I tell them I'm married- what's the matter?" Scrooge noticed the look of shock and confusion on Magica's face as he spoke. "Do you mean to tell me that your parents are still alive?" "Why are you so shocked by that? Your grandmother is still alive!" "But that's different, she's a witch!"
Scrooge just shrugged and ran his fingers through his sideburn. "Well, some years back I had my family's castle in Scotland rebuilt and it turned out that druid stones were used which sort of accidentally made my parents immortal." He explained, a little embarrassed.
Magica burst out laughing. "Oh, that is one of the funniest things I've ever heard! So, you get to deal with your parents for forever? Oh, you poor thing!" Scrooge scowled. "Don't forget, they're your in-laws now so I won't be dealing with them by myself." She suddenly became quiet. "That's right… why weren't they at the wedding?"
Scrooge sighed. "Because… they're bound to the castle because of the magic that makes them immortal; they can't leave even if they want to. So, I didn't tell them anything about the wedding." Magica raised an eyebrow. "Do you ever plan to tell them?" "Eventually… I don't think it will go over well though…" Scrooge said, turning back to his box. "Because I'm a witch?" She asked. He nodded without turning around. "Yes, my father, specifically, won't like it at all." "I wouldn't be surprised; given the history between our families." She agreed.
At that point they decided to leave the subject and continue going through the boxes until they finally got down to the last box.
Magica opened the box and was greeted with the sight of a framed picture of Scrooge with a young Donald and a young Della.
A quick examination of the box revealed that it was full of mementos of his time with his nephew and niece. Pictures, a few treasures and trophies from various adventures and competitions and even things that appeared to be gifts from Donald and Della.
The box clearly contained memories that were near and dear but also painful for Scrooge. "I'll put this away somewhere else. You just work on setting up your lab." Scrooge bent down to pick up the box but froze mid bend.
"Aah… ooh, ouch…" He tried to straighten up but found his back wasn't cooperating with him. He had spent so much time hunched over that his back had gotten stiff and possibly thrown out. "Oh, for peat sakes…" He muttered, still trying to straighten up. Magica put her stuff aside and stood beside him, putting an arm around him. "Are you okay?" She asked as she tried to help him. "Ow! I think my back decided it doesn't like me right now." Magica gently ran a hand over his back. "I don't think it's too bad, let's get you to bed and I'll see what I can do to help you."
Once in their bedroom Scrooge followed Magica's instructions and laid on his stomach so she could rub his back for him. "Your back is most definitely thrown out… but I think I can fix that." She said after a moment.
She stood and Scrooge looked over at her as best he could. "What are you going to do?" "Fix your back." She said confidently; then, with a quick spell she transformed herself, taking on her wrestling form she once used in an attempt to steal the dime. "You're joking right?" Scrooge gulped. "That's not really necessary is it?"
Magica just gave him a questioning look. "What's the matter Scroogie? Is this look off-putting?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well I- I mean… It's intimidating okay, it also seems like over kill…" He trailed off as she started laughing. "So, what you're saying is I'm scaring the great Scrooge McDuck?" He groaned and returned to his original position on his belly, beak hitting his pillow with a soft 'plop'. "Okay, okay. You have your laughs while I'm in pain and discomfort." He grumbled, realizing she had taken the form simply to tease him. "Oh, don't get your feathers in bunch my love…" She leaned down and cooed in his ear, gently rubbing his back.
"You know, this moment would be much better if you would change back." He teased. "I tell you what; as soon as I fix your back, I'll return to my normal, beautiful self and then we can see where the moment takes us…"
Her eyes shone with passion and Scrooge got as comfortable as he could, finding himself wondering, not for the first time, just why it was that it had taken them both so long to realize how good they would be together. It never failed to surprise him just how comfortable and right things felt with someone who was supposed to be one of his greatest enemies; sure, they'd only been married for about a month but it felt like they'd been together forever, probably because they had known each other for so long and knew each other practically inside and out.
Scrooge was jolted from his romantic thoughts by the sudden discomfort in his back as Magica proceeded to work on his back. "It may be uncomfortable for a moment but just bear with me Scroogie." She soothed as he groaned.
"Ah! Ow! Woman, what are you doing to me!" Donald heard his uncle's voice as he walked down the hall to check on Huey, Dewey and Louie. "Don't squirm so much! It's gonna take longer if you don't just stay still!" Magica snapped back. Donald hesitated as the voices where coming from Scrooge's bedroom and he knew that might mean he should just keep walking but then he heard Scrooge cry out again. "Ouch! Are ya trying to kill me?"
At that moment Donald decided to barge in and thought he knew exactly what the sight that greeted him meant.
Surely Magica, looking like a large wrestler and pinning Scrooge face down to the bed meant she was attacking him, possibly even trying to kill him.
"Get off of my uncle you, nasty witch!" Donald spat as Scrooge and Magica just froze in place, startled by Donald's abrupt entrance and outburst.
"Donald, what's the matter with you? She's just trying help me with my back!" Scrooge barked after a moment before plopping back down on the bed. "Yes… he threw it out moving boxes and is just being a big baby about it." Magica added, earning an annoyed grunt from Scrooge.
Donald stood, speechless as Magica stood and held up her hands and took a couple steps away from Scrooge. "See? I'm not trying to do anything." She kept her voice calm but her eyes just screamed her desire to slap Donald upside the beak. Donald returned her glare with one of his own and, after one last uncomfortable look at Scrooge, decided to leave the now awkward situation.
After the door shut Scrooge and Magica couldn't help laughing. "You know… I think he may be a bit traumatized…" Magica deadpanned once the laughter died down. "Well that's what he gets for storming into other people's bedrooms!" Scrooge laughed again before wincing in pain from his back.
"Uh, Magica… are you sure you don't have a simple spell to fix this?" He asked, returning to his previous position on the bed. Magica turned back to him and smirked. "I thought you didn't like magic Scroogie; besides, I rather enjoy getting my hands on you~" She said suggestively, returning to her normal appearance and rubbing his back.
Finally, his back was feeling better and to show his appreciation, Scrooge rolled over to face Magica and wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down on him, pressing their beaks together in a deep kiss.
Her fingers ran through the feathers of his sideburns while he gently and slowly ran a finger down her back along her spine and the fingers of the other hand entwined in her hair.
After several moments they broke the kiss for air. "See? I told you the moment would be better if you ditched that intimidating form." Scrooge chuckled through deep breaths. "Mmm… Scroogie… you really are shallow." Magica snickered back breathlessly. They locked eyes and just gazed into each other's eyes for moment; enjoying the happiness and love they never knew they could have before Magica dove in for another kiss.
The kiss became deeper and more heated than the previous one; something that still continued to take both of them by surprise, how such confirmed singles who never cared much for such physical affections could find them so intoxicating and pleasant.
Sure, Scrooge had had his share of romances that never lasted long, but even when he and Goldie kissed, sexually charged as those kisses could be, it still paled in comparison to these moments with Magica. Yes, there was that same charge in this kiss and others but the difference came with the fact that these kisses weren't coming right after a fight and the fact that far more than when he was with Goldie there were plenty of quick pecks and sweet simple kisses in between that weren't laced with such fervor and tension but instead were just simple shows of affection and that kind of comfortable everyday sort of intimacy.
Magica herself was no stranger to a little romance, though she hadn't dated nearly as much as Scrooge since she was never interested in the idea and she could safely say that no man she had ever dated could compare to Scrooge; sure most of the men she dated where a bunch of first dates only for manipulative purposes but still, when any of them had been given the chance to kiss her it was nothing short of annoying and kind of gross in her opinion. Magica had firmly decided she didn't care for those things, especially when Rosolio had managed to steal a kiss; but when she and Scrooge kissed for the first time it had felt so sweet and so right. Then the wedding kiss, so passionate and loving as well as playful and every other kiss since… never had she imagined that such things would be so… wonderful.
Magica's hands moved in accordance with the heated kiss, toying with the buttons on Scrooge's shirt while his hands roamed her back and played with her silky hair. When their beaks parted, she moaned softly and he nuzzled her neck with his beak, teasing her. "Who would have thought after all these years at each other's throats," He lightly kissed her soft neck feathers. "We would still be at each other's throats, just in other ways." He continued to lightly kiss her neck. "Ooh, Scroogie; I for one wouldn't have seen it coming but, mmm… I am certainly enjoying it." She laughed quietly as she pulled away from him, receiving a disappointed and confused scowl before pressing her beak to his once more.
Her hands continued to toy with his buttons, undoing the top button and she felt his hand playing with the zipper of her dress. The lab and the boxes could wait. Everything else could wait. Right now, enjoying their marriage and each other was the only thing on their minds.
CRASH! There was a loud commotion from elsewhere in the mansion and they both groaned as they pulled themselves apart then they scrunched up their faces as a smell wafted in. "Is that…" Scrooge started before both of their eyes widened in alarm. "SMOKE!" They both cried and flew out of the room to see smoke coming from the storage room and they could clearly hear the voices of the kids.
"Fire! Fiirrrre!" Louie screamed. "Don't just stand there! Help me put it out!" Huey hollered. "Wait, Huey that's not-" Lena's voice was cut off by large flames suddenly bursting through the door for several seconds. Then they were all screaming.
Scrooge and Magica dashed into the room and three of Magica's boxes where ablaze in the middle of the floor. She quickly cast a spell to put out the blaze then they looked at the kids.
"Just WHAT happened in here?" She demanded. "Just what I'd like to know." Scrooge added. They all looked frightened and ashamed. "Well…" Dewey began. "It was an accident, I swear!" Louie chimed. "We were playing with my drones and well…" Webby started to explain. "I kinda crashed one into the stack of boxes and then the whole thing just… exploded." Huey admitted. Magica sighed and looked at the ruined boxes.
"Those were volatile chemicals for making potions, this is exactly why I wanted these things under lock and key." "We're really sorry aunt Magica…" Huey said on everyone's behalf. "I tried to put it out but…" "Adding water to a chemical fire, especially when you don't know what chemicals caused it, is a bad idea." Lean said, then patted Huey on the shoulder. "I tried to warn you."
Magica looked over the boxes more closely to figure out what had been lost while Scrooge was eyeing the damage done to the room and most likely trying to figure out how much repairs would cost.
"Well I don't think there's much lost here that can't be easily replaced…" She started and then made a terrible discovery.
Magica had written on the boxes what she intended to pack in each before packing them and she had brought the box labeled 'clothes' into the bedroom but hadn't actually unpacked it as she and Scrooge were still trying to decide how to divide the closet and dresser space but upon looking through the remnants of the box labeled 'Flasks and Bottles' she discovered that the boxes had been miss packed… instead of her flasks and potion bottles going up in flames most of her wardrobe, save for the pajamas and few dresses she had in her suitcase in the bedroom, was now completely gone!
Suddenly her expression shifted from mildly annoyed to a calm anger as she stood up and turned back to the kids.
They all swallowed hard as she looked at them, they knew she was mad now. "You little brats destroyed my clothes… I want you all to go to your rooms, now!" Still keeping her temper at bay, Magica sternly issued the command and they all stood frozen with fear momentarily, before she reiterated the last word. "Now…" She hissed, and they all fled to their rooms without a word.
Scrooge put a hand on her shoulder as she stood, taking in deep breaths in an attempt to keep calm. "I know it was just an accident but… how am I going to replace three fourths of my wardrobe? I can't afford to do that... unless I shop at a few thrift stores… but I actually had a few designer things in there, never mind the intimates that were still in there…"
"Magica… dearest aren't you forgetting something?" Scrooge pulled her attention away from her destroyed boxes. "What?" She snapped. He just grinned and chuckled. "Why are you so worried about what you can or can't afford?" "Because I'm broke, that's why!" He just kept chuckling and she grew more annoyed. "What is so funny Scrooge!" She finally spat. "Hey, calm down love…" He soothed, gently putting his hand on her face. "We're married remember? You're not broke, you're actually ridiculously wealthy." She blushed furiously. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that… I'm so used to having no money… stop laughing at me!" She snapped since had started to laugh again.
"I'm sorry, I just can't help it." He said through his giggles. "Besides, couldn't you also just conjure up some clothes or use your magic to fix them?" She rolled her eyes. "Magic is not a fix-all solution to every problem. Besides, haven't you ever heard of Cinderella? Magical clothes aren't permanent." She remarked, grinning mischievously. "Though, disappearing clothes could be fun in the right circumstances…" She whispered suggestively in his ear, wrapping her arms around his neck. He turned bright red as she rubbed her beak in his neck feathers. After a moment she pulled away and giggled at his bright red face. "Well I need to go shopping but I'll have Poe help me clean up in here first." She said as his face returned to normal color.
Magica called Poe and he came straight over to help clean up the damage. After clearing out the burnt remnants of the boxes and their contents they inspected the floor. Fortunately, the wood floor itself hadn't been badly damaged as the flames hadn't burnt completely through the bottom box. A quick bit of repair magic cleaned it up but Poe knew it would need more repairs to be completely safe.
"You go do your shopping sis, replace you damaged clothes and maybe get some fun things for Scroogie and I'll get Donald to help me replace the floor boards." He grinned at Magica while she just scowled at him. "Just fix the floor and consider yourself lucky that I love you too much to slap you for your lame jokes." He laughed as she walked out. "Love you too Magi!"
Magica left to go clothes shopping and Scrooge decided to go with her, feeling that between Beakley and Poe the house would be alright for while without them.
He had really begun to like Poe, it had been fun getting to know him since he had been returned to normal and Scrooge felt he couldn't have asked for a better brother-in-law. It actually made knowing that the three obnoxious witches, Hexa, Castandra, and Winnicent, were also his in-laws more bearable. That and the fact that none of them had shown themselves since the wedding.
Scrooge had Launchpad drive them into town and directed him to a nice clothing store and after a brief, slightly terrifying, ride they arrived. Scrooge instructed Launchpad to wait in the car and he responded with a chipper "Sure thing Mr. McDee!" and Scrooge and Magica went inside the store.
Once comfortably away from Launchpad Magica asked "Why on earth is he your driver? I thought he was going to get us killed!" Scrooge shrugged. "He works cheap."
Magica just gaped at him for moment before remembering that this was Scrooge McDuck she was talking to, a small factor in his status of 'World's Richest Duck' was his miserly and penny-pinching ways. It shouldn't be surprising that he would hire a cheap driver but then there was also his adventurous nature to consider, he probably thought of each ride with Launchpad as an adventure.
She closed her mouth and shook her head, laughing a little. "Of course."
After a couple hours Magica had gathered several outfits and accessories and any other clothing items she needed to replace and they headed to the registers. She took note of Scrooge's attempts to hide his apprehension of what the final cost was going to be. Her eyes darted back and forth between Scrooge and the register as he had pulled out his checkbook and the customer display showed the prices as they were being totaled.
Scrooge was keeping his gaze on his checkbook until the cashier finished, clearly trying to prepare himself for sticker shock but when he looked at the final total his shock was for a completely different reason.
Magica had easily accumulated around a couple thousand dollars' worth of clothes and accessories but somehow the register was only showing the final total as around 870. "What?" He stared at the display, wondering if he'd read it right. He looked at Magica and whispered "Did you use magic on her to lower the price?" She grinned proudly as she shook her head. "Don't be silly darling; we've held up the line long enough so let's pay and get out the way." She said, using her best 'sweet voice' and Scrooge just nodded and payed. Once they were back in the car He asked again how she had gotten such a considerable discount.
"Many of those things were on sale." She said. "That wouldn't be enough." He countered. "I also came across some applicable coupons someone had dropped so I made sure to keep within those limitations." She grinned slyly. "You still had to have done something else…" He said, eyeing her sly grin. "Weeelllll… these places do also give discounts on damaged goods so I made sure to pick out only damaged goods and I might have popped off a button here and sequin there…" She finally admitted. "Like I would pay full price if I don't have to."
"Isn't that like cheating or something?" Launchpad asked, turning his head to look over his shoulder at the couple. "Eyes on the road you idiot!" Magica screeched as they nearly hit a fire hydrant. Launchpad turned back to the road and righted the car while Scrooge laughed.
"That's actually pretty smart! I mean, I don't necessarily agree with it but still, you bought those items and you'll have to fix them yourself so I feel like it's even." Magica looked at him with relief. "So, you're not mad at me?" "Why would I be?" He leaned into her ear so Launchpad couldn't hear. "To tell the truth I've done it a couple of times myself to get a suit cheaper. Just don't ask Mrs. Beakley to help you fix any of it, she'll lecture you about how wrong it is." They both snickered and she whispered back "I love you so much and I would kiss you but I'd rather wait until we're not in this potential death trap!"
Launchpad couldn't hear what Mr. and Mrs. McDee were whispering to each other but the giggling and previous topic of Magica's 'discounts' told him enough to know that it was better to just keep his eyes on the road and not ask, especially when Scrooge rolled up the divider. He had to admit those two were a perfect match, a scary match too.