It was a breezy Saturday evening in the city of Duckburg. Scrooge could hear the laughter and playful screaming of his eleven-year-old grandnephews outside the window of his study. It was something he had grown used to since they came to live with him. It made him happy to hear how much fun they were having.
But there was something about his nephews that Scrooge didn't know. Although they were happy and full of energy, the three of them were victims of child abuse, a common crime in not only Duckburg, but the whole world.
Now the boys didn't show signs that they were abused. Like normal children they went to school, came home and did their homework, then played until dinner. They were very friendly and all the kids loved to be around them.
Meanwhile on the other side of town Della, having been granted parole a couple days ago, was walking down the busy streets when a lone newspaper blew into her face. She pulled it off and was about to let it fly off into the breeze when she spotted something; a portrait of her sons and uncle. There was also a portrait of a huge mansion.
"What have we here?" Della asked herself, staring at the paper. Skimming down the article, she came across an address. She shoved the article into her jacket pocket. Then set off to find the address.
After miles of walking, Della found herself in a small neighborhood. A huge mansion was in the back. Della pulled out the newspaper article and stared at the picture for a moment. The picture seemed to match. Della shoved the article back into her pocket and made her way up to the mansion.
Inside the mansion, everyone was eating dinner when the doorbell rang.
"Who could that could be?" Scrooge wondered.
Duckworth went to answer the door, finding a young woman on the other side,
"May I help you?" Duckworth asked.
"I'm here to see my uncle, Scrooge McDuck" Della said.
"One moment, please" said Duckworth, "I'll let him know you're here Miss—"
"Della Duck" Della replied.
Duckworth entered the dining room. "Sir, a Miss Della Duck to see you" he said.
Scrooge was surprised. He hadn't seen Della since she was a child.
Though they tried not to show it, the boys were a bit nervous. What was their mother doing here?
"Hi, Uncle Scrooge" Della replied when she saw her uncle.
"Hello Della, what a pleasant—surprise" Scrooge was a bit speechless. "What brings you here?"
"I was wondering if I could stay for a while" Della answered. "My house was foreclosed and I have nowhere else to stay".
Scrooge invited her inside. "How long do you plan on staying?" he asked.
Della took off her jacket and placed it on the coat rack. "Just until I find a place of my own" she answered.
"Well, come have dinner with us and Duckworth will prepare a room for you" said Scrooge.
Della placed her duffle bag at the bottom of the stairs and followed Scrooge to the dining room.
Scrooge and Della entered the dining room.
"Boys!" Della exclaimed when she saw her sons.
"Mom?" the boys said nervously.
"Goodness, I haven't seen you in ages!" said Della. "Look how much you've grown!"
"Mom, what are you doing here?" Huey asked.
"Yeah, your sentence can't be over yet" said Dewey. "You had ten years. It's only been—"
"Five, I know" Della replied. "I was let out early".
"You mean you're on parole?" Louie asked.
"Yeah, that's it" said Della.
"Boys, your mother will be staying here while she's looking for a place to live" Scrooge said.
The boys exchanged looks. Will their mother treat them the same way she did when they were younger?
Webby happened to see the nervousness in her cousins' faces. What was making them so nervous?
After dinner, Duckworth led Della to the room she was staying in.
"Your room, Miss Duck" said Duckworth.
"Thank you" Della replied.
As soon as she was alone, Della rummaged through her duffle bag. Under the few outfits she had were some used heroin needles, a bottle of wine, and a box of cigarettes. When she finally found the cigarettes, she quickly placed one in her mouth and lit it. She took in a big whiff and let her breath out slowly. It felt so good to have that nicotine fix after not having it for two days.
Della had only been smoking for a few seconds when there was a knock on the door. Working quickly, Della put out the cigarette, and hid everything behind the plant on the dresser provided. Then she answered the door. Mrs. Beakley was on the other side holding some toiletry items.
"Your uncle wanted me to give you these" Mrs. Beakley said, handing the items to Della. "What's that awful smell?"
Della hesitated a bit. "It—must be the smell of the room" she said.
"Would you like an air freshener?" asked Mrs. Beakley.
"No thanks," Della replied, "I'll get used to it".
"Alright then" Mrs. Beakley said. Then she left.
Della closed the door and let out a deep breath. That was too close she thought.
Meanwhile, the boys were talking in their room.
"Don't you guys think it was kind of unexpected for Mom to show up?" Huey asked his brothers.
"Not only that, but how'd she find us?" Dewey said.
Louie gasped. "You don't think—?" he stopped.
Huey and Dewey turned to their brother. "What?" they asked.
"You don't think Uncle Donald told her where we were, do you?" Louie asked.
"No way," said Huey, "Uncle Donald wouldn't do that. He loves us".
"Yeah, he took care of us when Mom didn't," Dewey said, "which was basically since we were born".
Just then, their bedroom door opened.
"Lights out in ten minutes, lads" Scrooge said.
"Yes, Uncle Scrooge" the boys replied.
Scrooge knew those voices. "Is everything all right?" he asked.
"Oh yeah, we're fine" Huey said.
"We just feel kind of uneasy about our Mom being here, that's all" Dewey said.
"Why so uneasy?" asked Scrooge.
"It's complicated" Louie answered.
Scrooge figured that maybe the boys were nervous because they haven't seen their mother in a while. He left them alone so they could get ready for bed.
Della finished unpacking her duffle bag. She placed her clothes on top of the cigarettes in the dresser while a bottle of wine rested in the closet. Right now, Della was sitting on her bed smoking a cigarette she had taken out earlier when there was a knock on the door. Like before, Della quickly put out the cigarette and hid everything. Then she answered the door, finding Scrooge on the other side.
"Just came by to say good night" Scrooge said. "What's that smell?"
Once again, Della hesitated. "Um—I never had the chance to wash up today" she said. "I was just about to".
"Oh, all right" Scrooge replied. Then he left.
Della made her way into the bathroom located inside her room and shut the door. A few seconds later, Louie came by to say good night. He didn't see his mother and turned to leave when a strong smell came to his nose. Following the smell, Louie came to a plant that was sitting on the dresser. Louie lifted the leaves, only to find an ash tray with a used cigarette inside.
A/N: Finally updated. Sorry for the long wait. I've been a little stressed out lately and my brain doesn't want to work. It's slowly getting back on track. Please read and review and please nothing negative.