Darkwing Tower had plenty of space. That had been one of the reasons Drake had been so interested in it as a youngling; the potential for his hideout to hold everything and anything he could ever want for his crimefighting career was too tantalizing to pass up.

Not to mention that the Tower was situated high above the city, so it had great sight lines for any tomfoolery the villains and guttersnipes might get up to. And it was far away from people, which was ideal for keeping a secret identity secret. And from having to talk to them.

But right now, sitting in the center of his impressive Tower that had two levels and other various makeshift rooms built onto ledges and in enclaves, he wished he had a more space.

The place was packed. Several hundred versions of himself were gathered around of all shapes from sophisticated vintage types to the sleek futuristic, and in various fantastical forms (there was a dragon [a full grown dragon] which he suspected was a version of Negaduck by the coloring of his scales). He had witnessed this once before, when Negaduck had brought all the Darkwings to this very city in order to have them destroy it and each other. But his plan had backfired, as his plans had so often done back then, and the Darkwings had all worked together in the end to defeat Negaduck. So, it wasn't the fact that Drake was seeing himself replicated in any and all realities around him that was out of the ordinary.

It was that they had all gathered to talk about the multiverse and the rules that governed it. Like a war council in an apocalypse movie. Or Congress. (Or so he imagined; even as a fully fledged grown up, he wasn't really sure what Congress did.)

And Drake was startlingly aware this time around that not all the Drakes surrounding him were variations of himself. Some of those gathered — a good chunk — were Negaducks. And now that he knew the two of them co-existed in almost every universe, balancing one another out in the ultimate examples of order and chaos, it was pretty obvious who was who. He wondered how he had ever been naïve enough to think that all these Drake Mallards had been him. (He'd definitely been arrogant enough, but that was neither here nor there.)

Everyone had settled around in a circle, some sitting and others standing. There were horses that a few Drakes were tending to. The dragon was lying down on his stomach, his front paws crossed one over the other. The Doctor was leaning against his blue police call box, hands in his trench coat pockets and looking at Drake Prime expectantly. Everyone gathered was stationed in such a way so they could see him.

He didn't know how he'd been made spokesman, but here he was. Which didn't seem right; he'd been little more than useless the past few hours when he hadn't had Gosalyn in his life. Everyone should be looking to Negaduck, who'd so effortlessly taken charge in the wake of their tragedy. Or, better yet, everyone should look to Gosalyn, the best of them all and the one who'd brought them together.

But Negaduck was sulking in the shadows, a flash of red or a glint of yellow occasionally reminding Drake that he was still there. And Gosalyn was sitting with Max, instructing him on how to care for his spear and shield after a battle, rags, ointments, pliers, and small knives spread out around them with his shield cradled in her lap.

Eventually, the buzz of conversation died down and everyone in the room was looking at Drake. He stood in the middle of his Tower, wondering what to say. But with the hundreds of eyes on him, he straightened and, with a last glance at Gosalyn (still making sure she was here, that she was real and he hadn't imagined her coming back) he finally found words.

"Um, thank you all for coming. It was getting pretty clear that we weren't gonna win that fight on our own, so your help is appreciated. And, uh, thanks for helping Gosalyn and bringing her back. It was… it was bleak without her here." Drake glanced to his daughter again. She was watching him, her gaze steady and gentle, but her hands were clasped tightly in her lap. Like she knew. Like she'd guessed just how bleak it had gotten. Had realized how useless Drake had become. How much he depended on her and how, without her here, he was an empty shell of himself.

A few Drakes around the Tower nodded in understanding, their expressions downcast and forlorn, the memories of their own Gosalyns who were gone just as painful now as they ever had been.

But they were still able to function. Able to fight. Had answered the call when they had been asked to come help.

Drake had been reduced to nothing. His whole world had been decimated and he hadn't cared about anything else.

The Drakes who had lost their Gosalyns who were here were probably Negaducks. Because Negaduck had forged onward. Had fought to protect the world and the people Gosalyn had loved despite his own grief. He was stronger than Drake, that much was clear to him now.

That realization didn't anger him as it once might have. It didn't fill him with envy. It was a simple statement of fact. Negaduck was stronger.

And maybe one day, Drake would be able to say he was equally as strong.

How weird that was, idolizing Negaduck. Seeing him as someone to aspire to. Drake could never tell him; Negaduck would be too embarrassed, too flabbergasted to take him seriously.

"What if this happens again, bugaboo?" Tony asked from his supine position on a sofa. Captain St. Canard — the Launchpad from Tony's world — smiled apologetically to everyone then tried to tug Tony up to standing.

Tony swatted his hands away, continuing, "Say there's another universe who gets the grand idea to take over someone else's?"

"Then we will answer," said a version of Gosalyn who looked like she'd walked straight out of a high fantasy RPG. She was dressed in a tunic belted at the waist, tall boots, and a long coat and was standing near a slender Launchpad with pointed ears and long flowing hair, a shorter Drake with a full beard and a battle axe, and a Negaduck in billowing robes and a staff.

"Okay, yes," said Tony, clearly getting irritated. "Of course we'll fight again, I'm not saying that. I'm saying who's gonna be the one that makes the call to go to battle?"

"We need ground rules," Captain St. Canard said, nodding. "Something we can all agree on as unacceptable behavior so we all know when someone is in violation and needs to be dealt with."

"Who's going to be the one to enforce it?" asked Drake Skywalker.

"And who's to say, over time, the enforcer won't become the invader?" piped up Captain Drake Sparrow.

An explosion of conversation erupted in the Tower, everyone putting forth their own ideas and solutions, some only conversing with their companions and others trying to talk above everyone else in the room.

Drake looked to Gosalyn, who was glancing around at everyone gathered, trying to follow all the conversations. He then looked to Negaduck, who was glowering more than ever, beady eyes darting back and forth across the room. Lastly, Drake looked to Scrooge, but the older duck only gazed back with as many questions on his face as Drake was sure were on his.

"Okay, okay!" boomed Tony, his voice amplified as he put the Iron Duck helmet on. Once the room had quieted down, he stood and removed his helmet. "We can come up with the rules of the multiverse together. As far as an enforcer, why don't we make it a checks and balances system? Three people in three different universes will keep an eye on everyone and make the call to step in if necessary."

"You seem to have an idea as to which three," said Draco, his draconic voice carrying around the Tower easily.

Tony grinned and pointed at Drake. "The main three." He then pointed to Negaduck and Posiduck. "They're the three anchors in the multiverse."

"His people just attacked this universe!" Drake Potter said, looking accusingly at Posiduck. "And now you want to put him in charge of it all?"

"I am not associated with those who attacked this universe," Posiduck said.

"Anymore," Negaduck growled. Posiduck looked over to Negaduck with a pained expression, the guilt clearly consuming him regardless if he was at fault.

"See, that's the beauty of having three of them," Tony said. "They'll hold each other accountable. Especially Grumpy Cat over there. He's super territorial and doesn't like anybody. Who better to act as a regulator?" Tony waved to Negaduck who bared his teeth. "And Darkwing Prime has been keeping an eye on Negaduck for years. It's a system that's practically in place. Now it's just more official. And we're adding in Calico Jack," he waved to Posiduck, "so it'll get even stronger."

Murmurs rose from the crowd. There didn't seem to be any outright objections to Tony's proposal. Not even from Negaduck; he was still scowling, but his head was cocked to one side like he was contemplating the idea.

"I know I like to toot my own horn," said Drake, a few scoffs, head shakings, and eye rolls traveling around the room like a tidal wave, "but I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say I sometimes help to keep St. Canard safe. And I can't keep my city and the entire multiverse from danger."

"We could look after St. Canard," Gosalyn offered.

Drake looked over to her, those green eyes so bright and full of life that he lost his breath. He'd been so sure he would never see them again. Never see her again. Never get to talk to, spend time with, or anything with her.

J. Gander's, "When you're ready, come to my office and we can discuss our bereavement policies," and Gryzlikoff's, "It is best if you remember her as she was," still echoed in his mind like a whirlpool, round and round when his thoughts got quiet enough.

So seeing her now — just as she always was, ready to jump into action and so blissfully unaware of just how deeply they had all been affected — was both painful and reassuring.

Gosalyn glanced at Max, who was watching her. "Right? The two of us?"

Max blinked as if he, too, was surfacing from the darkness that had consumed them all for the few hours when Gosalyn had not been in their world.

But he recovered, smiling at her softly and saying, "After fighting a robot army from another universe, I think I'm ready to take on the villains in this one."

Gosalyn looked over to Tony with a smile.

He spun around in a circle, eyes traveling over everyone in the room. "Any complaints better be voiced now."

The gathered glanced between one another, waiting to see if there was an argument that would poke holes into this plan.

Drake had his own reservations.

How could he not, after seeing just how brutally his life collapsed without Gosalyn in it? How pathetic and unheroic he became? He wasn't worthy of this type of responsibility. There was no way he was the right choice for this.

Negaduck, sure.

Posiduck, probably over time.

Drake? A huge no.

Even being considered was expecting too much of him. What sort of peril would he put the entire multiverse in if something happened to Gosalyn in the future? If she was injured and hospitalized? If she, God forbid, strayed too close to death's door again? He would be good for nothing. Worse than nothing; his emotions would take over and he'd either be paralyzed by them or overreact and hurt someone.

Why wasn't anyone saying anything? He was ready to jump on that bandwagon, to agree that he wasn't fit for something like this.

He looked over to Scrooge, who looked contented and was glancing around at the other multiverse travelers with his hands resting on his cane.

Launchpad was wearing a smile and gave Drake a thumbs up. Drake couldn't help but smile in return; Launchpad would always be his biggest supporter. He didn't deserve Launchpad.

Posiduck looked panicked, his eyes wide. At least someone was on the same wavelength as Drake that this was a terrible awful no good very bad idea.

But Negaduck.

Negaduck was just watching him. He didn't look unsure. Or nervous. He met Drake's eyes easily, one of his eyebrows lifting as he tilted his head to one side ever so slightly. As if he was daring Drake to say something. To fight Tony's idea.

Or, perhaps, he was saying that he was game if Drake was.

In either scenario, Negaduck had enough faith in Drake to not immediately dismiss the concept all together. Believed that they could, feasibly, make this work.

And.

Well.

If Negaduck, someone Drake had come to greatly admire and who was highly practical, thought they could do this.

Then they probably could.

Glancing back over to Posiduck, Drake nodded. Posiduck visibly swallowed before nodding once sharply.

"Great! It's settled," said Tony, as if he'd been keeping an eye on the three of them to see if they would go against the proposal. "The main three Drakes will monitor the multiverse and the kids will watch St. Canard."

Scrooge walked up beside Tony, looking around at the crowd of multiverse travelers. "Now," he said, clicking his cane a few times on the ground, "I don't know how the multiverse works precisely. I'm unsure if our time of the year is synchronized between the worlds or not, but it is Christmas here. As I'm sure most of you are aware." Scrooge gestured to the decorations around the Tower, meager as they were.

"There's a hotel back in Duckburg with a ballroom that was prepared for a holiday party that was never used." He glanced towards Gosalyn and that was when Drake realized the annual McDuck Christmas party hadn't happened. They'd all been together to attend as a unit, Negaduck included, and they hadn't gone. Because Gosalyn had...

She hadn't.

Not really.

"Is Gos…. Is… is she… gone?"

She wasn't.

Drake was looking at her right now.

Breathing deeply, hoping more oxygen would slow his racing heart, Drake focused back on Scrooge, who was saying, "Before you all go back to your own worlds, it would be my honor to host you at Hotel McDuck for the night. Celebrating the season with everyone who helped save our world seems the least we can do."

Again the Tower was filled with murmurs and snippets of conversation, this time much more lively than the discussion of what might happen if one universe attacked another.

Tony, louder than the rest, exclaimed, "Oh, hell yes!"

"Tony, we should discuss this as a—"

"Listen to me, Cap," Tony said, turning to his version of Launchpad, hands out in a plea. "When a super rich mogul offers to throw a massive party as a thank you for your efforts, you always say yes."

"Pretty sure those are the rules," said their Liquidator.

"It would pain me greatly to know we had slighted our hosts in such a way," said their Megavolt, a large war hammer in one of his hands and his voice booming. "I am in favor of attending these festivities."

"You don't wanna fight a demigod, do ya, Cap?" Tony asked.

"The Captain would be a mighty opponent," Megavolt said.

"I'm not endorsing... no, that's not happening, Megs. Honestly." Tony turned back to Scrooge and nodded enthusiastically. "We're in."

"I can give everyone a ride," said the Doctor, hitting his blue box with an elbow, the front door swinging open.

"I would rather not venture inside the box until I return to my own world," said the dragon, standing and stretching his massive wings. He peered down at Gosalyn, all of his large pointed teeth exposed in what Drake could only guess was a smile. "Do you want to fly with me?"

Gosalyn sprang to her feet, a grin on her beak. "I've never wanted anything more in my whole life!"

The dragon extended a foot and Gosalyn clamored up it and onto his back.

"Make a stop at the mansion, lass, and drop off your weapons," Scrooge said, to which Gosalyn flashed a thumbs up.

The rest of the gathered travelers meandered back into the blue box, including Scrooge, Goofy, and Launchpad. Max followed Gosalyn up onto the dragon's back, settling behind her. She waved to Drake as the dragon climbed to a window and took off into the night.

Drake took a step towards the spiral staircase, his instincts screaming at him to follow. To make sure nothing happened. To jump into the Thunderquack and fly beneath— Nope. The Thunderquack had been blown up in the battle.

Maybe the Ratcatcher. They'd brought that back. Could it keep pace with a dragon?

"Move it, Drake," groused a voice beside him. Drake didn't need to see him to know it was Negaduck.

He glanced back to his former arch-iest arch nemesis. "You're coming?"

"Tony made it pretty clear that anyone who didn't go was an idiot," Negaduck said.

"And you were gonna go anyway," pointed out Drake, walking towards the blue box with Negaduck at his side.

"You can't prove that."

Drake sent Negaduck a smirk. He looked back over his shoulder, back towards the window where Gosalyn had disappeared. Large flakes were floating down past the sill. It was probably going to be a white Christmas. Something Drake could look forward to again now that Gosalyn was here to celebrate with him.

"She's gonna be fine," came the same gruff voice of Negaduck, but in a soft tone that Drake had never heard come from the villain before.

"I know," Drake said around a sigh, looking back to Negaduck, who was watching him. "But I always worry."

"She wouldn't want you to." It was Negaduck's turn to glance out the window. "She gets real mad when you think she can't do something."

Drake smiled, all too familiar with his girl.

He couldn't really articulate how grateful he was to have her again. How relieved. He'd always said he wouldn't be able to survive without Gosalyn, but it was now a proven fact.

He glanced toward the Doctor, who was helping the last stragglers find room in his blue box. Verifying that no one would hear them, Drake locked eyes with Negaduck. "Thank you. For keeping an eye on me after Gos..." He took a deep breath. "Thank you."

Negaduck shrugged. "She wanted me to."

Drake smiled. "Just because she wants you to do something doesn't mean you have to do it. People don't do anything unless they want to."

Negaduck eyed Drake dubiously. "Get in the box, dipshit."

Because he'd already made him uncomfortable, Drake decided to go for the big truth. "I'm really proud of you."

"Fucking hell!" Negaduck shouldered his way past Drake and barreled into the blue box, the Doctor pressing himself up against the doorframe to avoid being bulldozed.

Drake kept his smile on as he nodded to the Doctor and walked inside the blue box that was so much smaller on the outside.

A/N: This is also not a traditional Christmas song in that it's not a Christmas song, but it was released in the Pentatonix Christmas album so it was fair game. And it fit super well, so.