A REWRITTEN FAMILY HISTORY

This chapter was initally written just after we found out the release date of the final block of episodes and so it's kind of fitting that it would be cross posted to this site as my final chapter before the series finale. Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

For the first few weeks after coming back to Earth, Della couldn't stand passing a mirror and looking at her reflection. Now however she stood facing it as she ran her hand through the curl of her hair examining it. Gladstone had been right, she did look good with a slight voluminous wave to her hair.

"I should call Detective Cabrera because you're looking so hot it's criminal." Gyro spoke leaning over to give her a gentle peck on her forehead causing her cheeks to gather a slight warmth as even after all this time that damn chicken seemed to make her blush like a schoolgirl.

"Gyro Gearloose, spouting cheesy pick up lines, I never thought I'd see the day." she spoke before giving him a slight kiss back.

"Just one of the many features of Doctor Gyro Gearloose version 36."

Della knew that he'd been joking with his response however with talk like that it was no wonder people would crack jokes about him and or their son Huey being a robot at times though she wasn't going to snap back to him about his comment and instead quipped.

"As is this new casual look I hope?" she asked, running her fingers down the arm of the navy blue sweater he'd been wearing letting them stop at his wrist where the cuff of the dress shirt he'd been wearing underneath was folded over adorned with the custom cuff links that resembled little bulb that she had given him as a birthday present earlier in the day.

Della watched as Gyro nodded his head.

"More cashmere, a wedding band with the version 36.5 patch in the spring."

Della couldn't help but chuckle, he could be such a dork when he lightened up and she loved it.

"And what about your ensemble."

Looking down at the leather pants and sapphire sequin tank she'd been wearing she placed a hand on her hip before giving her head a shake.

"What about it?"

Flashing a flirtatious smile to her fiancé, their bantering was swiftly interrupted by a knock on the door. They weren't expecting any guests and if Huey had left something behind before spending the evening at the manor he would have called first and if not he had a key so he wouldn't have the need to knock.

"Maybe it's an unexpected birthday package?" Gyro questioned with a raised brow shifting the subject away from her ensemble. As the chicken took a step toward the door, she began to slip a black leather jacket on adding to the aesthetic she had going on for her in the moment.

As Gyro opened the door however, Della soon noticed that instead of being met with a delivery driver or at the very least a brown box he'd been met with a tall, blonde female duck dressed in a floral romper and a leather jacket of her own.

"Hey Gyro," Dickie said with a friendly smile as she invited herself in.

"I thought you, Launchpad, and Penny were meeting us at the bar?"

Della watched as Dickie shrugged back her shoulders letting out a sigh as she took a seat on the sofa.

"Well that was the plan. But then Launchpad decided to head to with his boyfriend."

At Dickie's comment Della couldn't help but take a seat beside her.

"Boyfriend? You mean Drake...they aren't...are they?"

"They sure seem to be more than friends."

Well yea, Launchpad was Drake's superhero sidekick when Darkwing is out getting dangerous though if they were a couple good for them...perhaps if they couldn't crack the code to get Gosalyn's grandfather back from the multiverse they would even adopt her...Launchpad would make an excellent father….

"And Penumbra was all set to come but then Webby wanted to do something that peaked her interest more than 'getting earth drinks'"

"But you're here," Gyro said, taking a seat between the girls.

Della watched as Dickie nodded.

"So, what would you have been doing with YOUR Gyro if you were back home?"

Shrugging back her shoulders the blonde shook her head.

"I don't know, probably just go for coffee...maybe see if any of our acquaintances from college were having a salon."

Nodding her head, Della thought that what Dickie described definitely seemed more exciting then the past birthdays she had spent with Gyro.

August 2000:

She had just come back from adventuring with some of her uncles colleagues in Cape Suzette and was on an adrenaline high as she spotted the lights on at the guest house.

"Uncle Scrooge… Don… I'm going to just…"

She watched her uncle nod.

"Don't be too long lass, it's late and I'm sure Gyro needs his rest."

Della nodded as she made her way toward the house knocking on the door.

"Isn't it a bit late to be coming over for a cup of sugar or whatever it is neighbors do?"

"We were just getting back from our latest adventure and I saw your light on. So, whatcha doing?"

There was a lingering pause.

"I've been working on a slight update to little bulb here to help better adapt it to American power sources."

Della looked at the sentient light bulb with a mechanical exoskeleton sitting in the chickens hand...it's bulb going from burning white to red the instant her eyes gazed upon it.

"Della is definitely not a threat," he muttered, causing the bulbs light to dim back to normal as she watched him place it down on the table.

Her gaze soon shifted however toward the calendar on the wall where August 24th, that days date was circled in red with an abstract drawing of a cupcake with a candle

"Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?"

Her question seemed to throw her companion for a loop.

"Well I… that is… birthdays just have never been that big a deal. It is just a mile marker signaling your another year closer to the end giving you a moment to reflect on your life's accomplishments"

"Well it's a deal big enough to mark on your calendar Gearloose so it must hold some significance."

Della watched as Gyro simply shrugged back his shoulders as an idea flashed in her mind. Her Uncle always thought she was a clever lass and she just had a flash of brilliance.

"Don't go to bed...I'll be back in a jiffy," she spoke heading out of the guest house hoping that Duckworth had still been in the garage shining up the limo.

Though what Dickie had described was more exciting than birthdays past from what she had seen out of the corner of her eye one thing remained the same as she looked over toward the pink frosted sugar cookie that had been sitting on the counter causing her to smile as when she had left the guest house that evening after his first birthday with the family she had Duckworth drive around for the better part of an hour only to realize the only place still open that sold baked goods was Starducks and at that time of night all they had left in their case were pink frosted sugar cookies. It had soon became their thing, every August 24th up until her disappearance she'd slip into the lab and give him a cookie. Even the years she'd been with the McQuack's she had managed to get Duckworth to deliver one. So, when she had woken up that morning she had been pleased to see one lying on the kitchen counter as Gyro told her he had kept the tradition alive in her honor.

Along with the cookie on the counter, Della's eyes also fell towards the clock on the wall.

"We should get going, Don and Fenton are probably thinking that we decided to have a party of our own."

Della couldn't help but notice a small smirk crossing Gyro's bill clearly thinking about what would transpire later in the evening after they had a few glasses of wine in their systems. The years definitely loosened him up she thought.

There was already a fairly decent crowd at the bar which was to be expected for a Saturday evening however despite that it was easy to spot her twin at the bar squawking at the Ibis who looked fabulous as usual in the pale purple and gold off the shoulder dress she'd been wearing. And speaking of the Ibis there was a definite glow about her that was different then her usual ethereal godlike shimmer and that was most definitely caused by Fenton who had been at her opposite side.

"It's about time you showed up," Donald said, giving his sister a glare.

"And hello to you too Don, have I kept you waiting long?"

"Long enough to see those two act all lovey dovey enough to make me sick…though I'm sure you and my future brother in law will be doing more of the same."

Shrugging back her shoulder Della couldn't help put pause.

"Probably...but how about I buy you a drink? Would that help?"

"I'm only having a club soda but sure."

Della nodded as she turned toward the bartender to order drinks before Gyro made it over toward the group. He had said he had a present he had wished to give himself however he had been super secretive about it though the fact that it involved grabbing one of her brothers old guitars from the manor earlier in the week.

"Love the hair Della," Selene spoke moving from Fenton's side for a moment to run a finger through Della's curls.

"Thanks, it was Gladstone's suggestion."

"The three of us need to get together soon, though I almost couldn't make it to earth tonight, I think father has finally realized that all these trips haven't been visiting you because of my guilt that you were on the moon the whole time and I never picked up on it but that I'm seeing a mortal."

Della pouted...Zeus was the WORST though at least she had been here now in the moment.

"It's a shame that Donald is your cousin," Fenton said as he looked over toward Dickie with a smile, "You two would make a fun couple and then we could go on triple dates."

"Absolutely NOT" Donald and Dickie spoke at the same time as Della soon noticed Dickie's cheeks flush pink at the prospect of a romantic entanglement.

"Besides, I kind of like someone but it's complicated."

"Because of the whole alternate dimension issue?" Fenton asked

"Among other things," Dickie admitted as she looked over toward Gyro, "Anyway complications or not, care for a dance Gearloose?"

Della gave a nod of approval as Gyro and Dickie soon headed toward the dance floor while Fenton and Selene did the same leaving Della alone at the bar taking a sip of her white wine before flashing her brother a smile.

"Something on your mind sis?"

"I've been back for five months and I've noticed you don't have a girlfriend Don."

"My love life is none of your business sis."

"You are my brother, everything is my business. I mean you're a total catch, business man, single father…."

"Running a fishing charter is hardly a business Della, and I doubt being an instant step mother to two teenagers is any woman's dream...plus my voice...lets face it I'm damaged goods."

"You're not damaged, and your voice is unique...charming evening."

"Charming….oh phooey Della you are only saying that because you're my sister."

Della had been about to respond when the song ended and an employee of the club headed up toward the small makeshift stage.

"As you know, Saturday nights are open mic night and tonight we have a very special performer. From the shortly lived early 2000's band the Three Caballeros is Duckburg's own Donald Duck."

"WHAT," Donald squawked looking from the man on the stage to his sister. Honestly Della was just as shocked as he'd been however from the smug look on her fiancé's face she instantly knew what his secret earlier had been.

"What can I say, when I heard it was open mic night I thought that while the BEST birthday present was having Della back, the second best present would be have my soon to be brother in law serenade me."

"I can sing you Happy Birthday if you want but I'm not going on stage."

"Why not Don, you love music."

"Yes, just not in public...my voice remember."

"Hear My Voice!" Dickie said reaching down toward the guitar case that they soon realized had been placed on the floor by Gyro, "You should sing Hear my Voice."

All eyes fell on her.

"What, there was a demo of the Caballeros lying around the manor, not the music I'd normally vibe to but you were pretty good."

"Until I started to sing then I got booed off the stage, I'm a better songwriter then a singer. Anyway, even if I were to sing, I couldn't sing one of the bands songs without Panchito and Jose backing me up."

"Fair enough," Della said, "But I'm sure you have some rock ballad in your back pocket begging you to let it out. And besides, I've gone over a decade without hearing you perform."

Della knew that her pulling the 'her being gone' card would be just the thing to do the trick.

"Fine, fine, but when I'm done you owe me another drink...a real one this time."

Della couldn't help but nod her head in agreement taking another sip of wine as Donald made his way onto the stage.