I do not own Duck Tales and Darkwing Duck.

The following chapter is a crossover with Darkwing Duck.

A Bond Is a Bond

"You did what?"

Launchpad flinched at the angry cry from Drake Mallard, his best friend and local superhero, Darkwing Duck. "Ah, it's only for a couple of days DW."

Drake paced the length of his living room floor, feathers standing up in agitation. "I think you've forgotten, Launchpad, that I have a secret identity that has to stay a secret."

"It will stay a secret!" Launchpad assured him. "The boys can stay in my room and I can sleep down here. That way they won't see any of us going through the secret passage to Darkwing Tower."

"That's another thing." Drake frowned and crossed his arms. "I don't know how I feel about three teenage boys that I don't know in my house. Actually, I do know how I feel-I don't like it one bit."

"They're good boys," Launchpad defended.

Drake arched an eyebrow. "Aren't these the same boys that managed to convince the world that Friday was Saturday?"

"Er...yeah, but to be fair they were only trying to convince their uncle. It just got out of hand."

"Oh, because that makes it so much better."

"Well, it's not any different from the time Gosalyn convinced all of St. Canard that there was an alien invasion so that she wouldn't have to go to school and take a math test," Launchpad pointed out.

That caused the man to pause. "True...but these boys sound just as mischievous as my daughter. And I don't think having them under the same roof will be good for anyone."

"It's only for two days," Launchpad pleaded. "I haven't seen the kids for a long time...you trust me, don't you?"

Drake sighed heavily, knowing that this was one of those few battles in life he would lose. Launchpad always regaled him, Gosalyn and Honker with tales of his adventures with Scrooge McDuck and his nephews, and he always spoke of the kids fondly. This was not something Drake wanted to take away from Launchpad, especially when it was obvious how important it was to him.

"Two days. That's it. They stay in your room, we keep a silent alarm on the doorway so we know when they're out of the room and they are absolutely not allowed in Gosalyn's room."

Launchpad nodded his head eagerly. "That's fine! Thanks, DW!"

Drake was immediately engulfed in a bear hug by the pilot. "Yeah, yeah," he wheezed. "Next time, just ask me before you invite people over to stay here."

"Dad! I'm home!"

The feminine shout travelled through the house, as it was injected with as much volume as the speaker's little frame could put into it (which was surprisingly a lot). Launchpad set Drake down just as Gosalyn Mallard, Drake's adopted daughter, and Honker Muddlefoot, her best friend, entered the living room with backpacks slung over their shoulders.

Drake cast a quick glance at the clock hanging above the entryway. "You two are ten minutes later than you normally are. Why?"

Gosalyn rolled her eyes. Her father tended to be suspicious of anything she did that was off. She supposed she couldn't blame him, considering the stunts she and Honker pulled on a daily basis (although the latter's participation in such stunts was normally forced). "We stopped by the corner store and got some slushies."

In unison, Gosalyn and Honker stuck out their tongues, revealing a colourful splash of purple and green. Drake rolled his eyes, though he couldn't contain his smirk. "That was not something I needed to see. Homework?"

"No," Gosalyn answered, tossing her bag aside and flopping on the couch. Honker copied her actions and watched as his best friend flicked through the channels, trying as hard as he could to avoid eye contact with his neighbour.

"Honker, is there any homework you and Gosalyn need to be doing?" Drake asked, studying the boy intently.

Honker struggled to keep his face neutral. "No."

"Not bad. This time your eye only twitched for a microsecond."

Gosalyn sighed in disappointment. "Well, he's come a long way in lying in six years. He used to stutter and break out in a cold sweat. Now only his eye twitches."

"You make it sound like progression in learning to lie is a good thing," Honker complained.

"It is," Gosalyn said firmly. "Don't worry. Soon you'll be as good as I am."

"No, that's not good," Drake said, equally as firm. "Honker, stop being corrupted by my daughter. You and that twitching eye of yours are the only way I know if she's doing something...Gosalyn-y."

"So little trust," Gosalyn said dramatically.

Her father ignored her and tossed the purple backpack at her, causing the girl to grunt and reluctantly get up. "Fine, I'm going. C'mon, Honk. You can help me out, since you and your genius-ness finished all the work at school."

"Don't give her the answers, guide her through it!" Drake warned as the two kids filed out of the room. "I mean it! I know where you live!"

"Yes sir," Honker called back, following his friend up the stairs.

Drake watched them go and collapsed onto the couch. "Great. As of this weekend, I will have five teenagers running my house amok."

"Is Honkman staying over too?" Launchpad questioned.

"When doesn't that kid stay over?" Drake snorted, a fond smile crossing his beak. "Soon I'm going to start charging him room and board."

"This weekend will be great!"

"If my house is still in one piece by the end of the forty-eight hours, then I will concur with that statement."

...

"I can't believe it!" Huey exclaimed excitedly, his suitcase clutched in his wings as he and his brothers hurried down the stone steps and towards the limo. "We're finally going to visit Launchpad!"

"Yeah, instead of him coming here." Louie smiled. "I always wanted to visit St. Canard."

"Lads!"

"Oh, great. Here come the rules," Dewey mumbled, pausing with his brothers at the bottom of the steps and turning around. Scrooge stepped out the front doors and peered down at them with a stern expression.

"Remember, yeh will be a guest at Launchpad's home. This means yeh will be on your best behaviour, or else."

"Got it," the triplets chorused.

"And Launchpad has a roommate, so yeh will be considerate t' him as well. No loud music, no rambunctiousness and no shenanigans."

"But what if we want Sunday to become Monday?" Huey asked innocently.

"We have that power, you know," Louie added.

"Then the lot of yeh will be taking a trip over my knee," Scrooge growled warningly.

"We'll be good!" Dewey assured his uncle quickly. "I promise! We know better than to be hellions at someone else's place."

"We'll be polite and we'll even clean up after ourselves," Louie assured him.

Scrooge rolled his eyes. "Aye, that's a miracle in itself. Do Ah get a hug before yeh go?"

Huey, Dewey and Louie dropped their bags and raced back up the steps, enveloping Scrooge in a tight hug. "Have fun, lads," Scrooge ordered, rubbing their heads lovingly.

"We will," the triplets promised.

Mrs. Beakley bustled out of the mansion at that moment, carrying a plate of freshly baked cookies secured tightly by plastic wrap. "I made a little snack for the road."

"Thanks, Mrs. Beakley." The boys gave their nanny a hug as well and took the baked goods eagerly. "We'll see you in a few days!"

Scrooge smiled as his nephews tore back down the steps, grabbing their bags and filing into the limo. "This weekend should be joost what the lads need."

A flash of pink caught his attention and he turned his head slightly. He was instantly greeted by the sight of his adopted niece hanging out the first-floor drawing room window, all of her weight being balanced on two tiny elbows. "Webbigale! Get inside before yeh hurt yourself!"

Webby tore her gaze from her departing cousins and stared at Scrooge. "Why can't I visit Launchpad?" she asked, ignoring her uncle's order.

Scrooge sighed. "Ah told yeh, the boys need a break-"

"Yeah, from their mother!" Webby interrupted, annoyance evident in her tone. "I don't see how me going with them is going to agitate them even more!"

"Oh, Ah donnae know, you're agitating me quite a bit right nao," Scrooge muttered under his breath.

Mrs. Beakley, however, wasn't going to allow her granddaughter to get away with her attitude. "Webbigale Vanderquack! What have I told you about respecting your elders? Mr. McDuck has a good reason for not sending you along and you will respect it!"

Webby flinched at the sharp scold. "Sorry, Uncle Scrooge," she muttered, staring at the colourful flowers below the window she was leaning out of. "I didn't mean to be rude."

"Ah know yeh didnae. Ah promise, yeh can visit Launchpad another time," Scrooge said gently. "Nao, will yeh please stop leaning out the window like that?"

"Why? I'm not going to-" Webby began to say, but just then, she finally lost her balance and tipped over the window sill and into the garden below. The girl blinked, dazed for only a moment before quickly getting to her webbed feet. "-fall out," she finished sheepishly, brushing the dirt from her pink sweater as best she could.

"Aye, yeh kids never listen t' me until it's too late." Scrooge shook his head and leaned over the iron railing, giving Webby a gentle rap on the head with his cane. "Go get washed up and Ah'll take yeh out for dinner."

Webby grinned widely. "Okay!" She raced back into the mansion, dirt specks making a trail behind her as they fell from her wool sweater.

"Oh dear!" Mrs. Beakley frowned. "If those are grass stains, they'll never come out!"

She hurried after her granddaughter and Scrooge glanced after them in amusement. "And that means she'll need a new sweater, which Ah'll end up paying for. That was probably her plan all along-nao she's getting a free dinner out of it too."

...

"How much longer?" Huey moaned, shrinking back in the seat and staring out the window desperately. They had been on the road for nearly an hour, and for that hour they had been listening endlessly to Duckworth's favourite radio station-Classic Hits 104.6. And those classic hits weren't the hits of their time.

"We will be at Launchpad's residence in five minutes," Duckworth answered.

"Will you please turn that junk off?" Dewey pleaded, pressing his wings over his ears. "Those screeching violins are giving me a headache."

"And that punk rock you listen to daily doesn't?" Duckworth asked indigently.

"No, it's our fault," Louie muttered. "We broke Duckworth's sacred rule-no eating in the limo."

"Hey, we offered to share!" Huey cried. "But he didn't want any of Mrs. Beakley's cookies."

"For the very reason that crumbs would get everywhere," Duckworth said in annoyance. "And that's precisely what you miscreants have done."

Dewey perked up when the limo began slowing down. His eyes darted wildly around the suburban neighbourhood. "Are we here?"

"Lucky for you, yes," Duckworth drawled. He pulled the limo into the driveway and popped the trunk.

The triplets eagerly climbed out of the limo and grabbed their bags. As they were doing so the front door to the house flew open and Launchpad McQuack charged out, a delighted grin on his face. "Little buddies!"

"Launchpad!" they cried and instantly found themselves in a tight embrace by their friend.

"Wow, I can't believe how much you've grown!" Launchpad exclaimed, finally setting them down and surveying them. "It's been a while!"

"Too long," Huey agreed. "We're really glad to spend the weekend with you."

"Me too! I can't wait to show you around St. Canard." Launchpad smiled. "Duckworth! It's good to see you!"

"It is a pleasure to see you again, Mr. McQuack." Duckworth inclined his head. "Try to keep the boys in line."

"We'll be on our best behaviour," Louie promised. "And we're sorry about the crumbs."

"Hmm. I ought to make you clean the limo out when you get back," Duckworth mused, starting the limo up again. "Have a nice time."

"We will!" promised Dewey.

"Safe trip back!" added Huey, waving wildly

"Love you!" called Louie.

"Yeesh, you ate in the limo?" Launchpad asked in amazement as they waved goodbye to the departing butler. "How'd you sneak the food in?"

"Well, we pretty much just brought in a plate of cookies and started eating them before he could stop us." Huey grinned.

"Are you still a sidekick?" Dewey asked, lugging his suitcase after his pilot friend.

Launchpad opened the front door and let the boys in first. "Oh, yeah! Darkwing and I are a great team!"

"Do you think we could meet him?" Huey asked hopefully.

"Sorry, kiddo. Darkwing is big on secrecy." Launchpad ruffled his feathers. "But maybe I can tell you a few stories. First, let's get you guys settled in. My room is on the first floor."

"But where will you sleep?" Dewey questioned as they climbed up the stairs.

"I'll crash on the couch." Launchpad waved a hand dismissively when they started to protest. "Ah, it's a comfortable couch. And you're the guests!"

Louie glanced around the second floor landing and spotted one door covered in mini rock band posters. "Is that your roommate's room?" he asked in surprise.

Launchpad laughed and opened his own bedroom door. "Nah! That's Gosalyn's room. She's the daughter of my, uh, roommate, Drake Mallard."

"Oh." Louie peered into the room and grinned. Launchpad's room was decked out with model airplanes and posters of famous pilots. "I see your interests haven't changed."

"Not at all." Launchpad puffed out his chest proudly. "I'm still the pilot with the cheapest rates!"

"Uncle Scrooge said that's what he misses the most," Huey said as he tossed his suitcase at the foot of the bed. "The cheapest pilot he can find nowadays is five times more expensive than you were."

"Aw, gee."

"Where is your roommate?" Huey asked.

"Uh...he's out running errands at the moment," Launchpad answered. "You guys get settled. I'll be downstairs getting supper ready. You eat yet?"

"Nope."

"Nuh-uh."

"No."

"Perfect! I'll fry up some burgers." Launchpad smiled. "Come on down when you're ready." He started out the door and paused. "Oh, yeah! Dar-uh, Drake would like his room and his daughter's room to be off-limits."

"Of course." Louie nodded. "We wouldn't go into someone else's room without permission. Well...at least, not someone we're guests to."

"I know you wouldn't. Drake just likes his privacy. See you guys soon!" Launchpad waved and left.

"I wonder if Uncle Scrooge knew Launchpad's roommate had a daughter," Huey mused.

"Probably not. Or else he would have given us double the lecture." Dewey wrinkled his beak. "Maybe Launchpad just didn't think to tell Uncle Scrooge."

"That's Launchpad alright," Louie agreed. He glanced at the double bed situated in the corner. "Okay, it looks like two can fit on there. So who-?"

Huey and Dewey jumped on the bed and smirked at their brother. Louie frowned in annoyance. "And as usual, I'm the one camped out on the floor. You guys suck."

...

At seven-fifteen, Launchpad heard the familiar whir of the swirling armchairs. He cast a glance at the ceiling, but he didn't hear footsteps rushing to investigate. He gave the burgers sizzling in the frying pan a quick flip before exiting the kitchen. "Hey," he greeted softly. "Did you find her?"

Drake glanced up at his friend, the anxiety obvious. "No," he whispered. "I searched everywhere-and I can't find her or Honker anywhere."

Launchpad swallowed thickly. "Honkman's gone too?"

"I went to the Muddlefoot's before going to my lair. They said Honker hadn't come home from school-they think he's out 'playing' with Gosalyn." Drake rubbed his forehead, trying to fight the beginnings of a headache. "LP, what if the Steerminator got them?"

"I'm sure they're fine, DW," Launchpad assured, letting the nickname slip. "Why don't you go look for them some more? I'll stay here and watch the kids."

"Oh, yeah. Your friends. Where are they?"

"Upstairs. Don't worry, I told them that your room and Gosalyn's room were off-limits."

"Good." Drake took a deep breath. "Okay, I'm going to go back and contact S.H.U.S.H. I was hoping they might have shown up while I was gone..."

A sudden pounding of feet on the stairs caused both adults to jump slightly. Despite Drake's desperate desire to see his little girl and her best friend come tearing into the living room, it was three identical triplets that halted in the entryway.

"Hello, sir," the boy dressed in a red T-shirt and baseball cap said politely. "You must be Mr. Mallard. I'm Huey."

"I'm Dewey," the one in the blue sports jersey introduced.

"And I'm Louie." The green sweatshirt adorned boy smiled. "Thanks for letting us stay here for the weekend."

"It's as much Launchpad's place as it is mine," Drake said, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Launchpad, your burgers are burning," Dewey informed, spotting the black smoke rising from the frying pans on the stove.

"Shoot!" Launchpad exclaimed and hurried to prevent a house fire.

Louie studied Launchpad's roommate thoughtfully. He looked pretty tense, his wings clutching the arms of the armchair he was sitting in. Thinking his discomfort was due to the worries of three teenage boys being in his home, Louie tried to reassure him. "I know it must be weird having three teenage boys in your house, especially since you have a daughter, but we promise we'll be on our best behaviour."

Drake's head shot up. "Launchpad told you about Gosalyn, huh?"

"Not much," Dewey admitted. "But he says you like your privacy. That's cool. I wouldn't really want a friend of mine blabbing about my kid to a complete stranger either."

Drake could not help but smirk at that. "Yeah, I guess Launchpad would've told you her life story if I wasn't so uptight on privacy." At the thought of his baby girl, he sighed sadly.

"What's wrong?" Huey asked with a frown.

"My daughter...is extremely late," Drake answered slowly, knowing that there was no way he would be able to put on a host-worthy attitude. And admittedly, the kids were as decent and polite as Launchpad made them out to be. "And I'm a bit worried."

"We could help look for her if you want," Louie offered, knowing how much Uncle Scrooge hated it when they were late and didn't call.

Huh. Launchpad was right-they do help anyone in need. Not often you see kids like that anymore.

Drake managed a smile. "I appreciate the thought. But you just got here and you are guests, and I'm sure Gosalyn will be home soon."

I hope, I hope oh please have her walk through that door right now.

Just as the wishful thought finished, the front door slammed open. Drake jumped out of his chair on instinct before remembering who was in the room with him.

The redheaded menace that was his daughter stumbled into the room, backpack slung over her shoulder and a sheen of sweat on her brow.

Thank you thank you thank you!

Drake immediately raced over and hugged Gosalyn, squeezing her tight. "You're okay!"

"Of course I'm okay!" Gosalyn panted.

Huey, Dewey and Louie respectfully left the room and went to see how Launchpad was holding up. Drake set Gosalyn down and studied her intently. "What happened? Did someone try to hurt you? Were you kidnapped? Did Taurus Baulba try to take you and Honker as leverage? Wait, where's Honker?"

As if on cue the bespectacled boy came into the room, wheezing. "That was the worst experience of my life," he moaned.

Oh, thank you!

Drake grinned in relief. His daughter was safe and her best friend (who over the past six years had grown to be like a son) were in one piece. "Before I start yelling, you wanna tell me what happened?"

"We both fell asleep on the bus and missed our stop," Gosalyn answered simply. "We were stuck on that stupid thing for hours before it made a round-about trip."

"It was hot and smelly and it sucked," Honker said flatly, his rare use of inappropriate language sending Drake and Gosalyn into giggles.

"Hey, your back!" Launchpad exclaimed, exiting the kitchen and grabbing the two teens into a hug. "What happened?"

"Unintentional prolonged bus trip," Gosalyn replied. "Is supper ready? I'm starved!"

"It's all set on the table! And my friends from Duckburg are here!"

"Oh, yeah!" Gosalyn exclaimed, having not noticed the triplets when she first entered the house. "C'mon, Honk. Let's go meet them!"

The two fifteen-year-olds tore into kitchen to see the famous nephews of Scrooge McDuck piling condiments on their burgers. "Hiya!" Gosalyn greeted cheerfully. "I'm Gosalyn, and this is my best pal Honker!"

"Nice to meet you," Honker said politely.

Huey grinned. "Hey. I'm Huey. And these are my brothers (as if you couldn't tell) Dewey and Louie."

Gosalyn stared with wide eyes. "Your names rhyme."

"Gosalyn!" Drake hissed, mortified.

"We get that all the time," Dewey laughed. "Actually, our full names don't rhyme at all."

"What are they?"

"Huebert."

"Louis."

"I'd rather not say." Dewey grinned sheepishly.

"It can't be any worse than Herbert," Honker said feelingly. "And as surprising as it may seem, I actually like Honker better."

"Huh. Good point. Alright, my full name is Deuteronomy."

"Oh, wow. No wonder you go by Dewey," Gosalyn said bluntly.

Drake slapped his forehead. "I should have apologized in advance for my daughter. She has no idea when not to say something."

"What?" Gosalyn asked indigently. "I'm just saying."

"And you're going to stop saying and start eating before you embarrass me further."

Gosalyn rolled her eyes and climbed into a chair. "Oh, Dad, can Honker stay overnight?"

"Why not? He practically lives here anyway."

"Keen gear!"

Drake shot Launchpad a smug smirk. "What did I tell you? Five teenagers. Under one roof. This will not end well."

...

After a minor food fight broke out (caused, of course, by Gosalyn), the five teens found themselves in the living room playing video games while Drake and Launchpad took care of the mess. "So, have you ever met Darkwing Duck?" Louie asked conversationally as he, Honker and Dewey played a round of Alien Invasion.

"Tons of times!" Gosalyn boasted. Honker flinched slightly and subtly elbowed her leg. Gosalyn ignored his gesture (and all the warnings her father had given her). "I'm president of the Darkwing Duck fan club. Honker is vice-president."

"Lucky," Huey sighed. "What's he like?"

"He's arrogant, conceited and a glory-hog." Gosalyn shrugged. "But he's nice and helpful and heroic too. What about you guys? What's it like living with Scrooge McDuck?"

"Awesome. He takes us with him whenever he discovers a location of a priceless artifact or treasure." Huey grinned. "We've been all over the world!"

"Keen gear!" Gosalyn said, awed. The all-too intriguing question entered her mind and she asked it without thinking. "So, what happened to your parents?"

Honker actually dropped his controller in shock. "Gosalyn!" he hissed. He knew that his friend did not feel uncomfortable when asked about her tragic past but it was absolutely not right for her to assume the same thing of others. "You can't just ask people that!"

"It's okay." Louie smiled softly. "We'll tell our story if you tell yours. Red hair is a dominant trait, you know."

"Well, we never knew our father. He's out there somewhere. Our mom left us with our Uncle Donald when we were two. He left to join the Navy when we were eight, so now we're living with Uncle Scrooge. Our mom showed up a few months back, so we're now in contact with her, which is nice," Dewey summarized.

"Both my parents died when I was one." Gosalyn leaned back in the sofa cushions. "I don't remember them much. I lived with my Grandpa Waddlemeyer until he died. I lived in the orphanage for three years before Dad came and adopted me when I was nine."

"Did it...did it feel weird having a stranger adopt you?" Louie asked carefully.

"Kind of, at first. But I knew from the start that he would always be my dad, even if we weren't blood related. I called him dad in the first hour he adopted me." Gosalyn smiled happily. "And he's been awesome."

Louie exchanged glances with his brothers. They were all thinking the same thing.

Their mother was, in many ways, still a stranger to them. But if Gosalyn could instantly create such a fatherly connection with Drake Mallard, then could they do the same if they went to live with Della? What if their fear of leaving stopped the only chance they would have at making a mother-son connection?

What if they missed out on having a relationship with their mother like Gosalyn had with Drake?

And just like that, the trip that was supposed to take their minds off of their problems brought everything rushing back.