Chapter 13 – Breakfast
The sun's rays reach up over the hills, a new day begins. The light breaks through between the curtains, but that isn't what wakes Scrooge up.
He mumbles in his unconscious state; what reality is this? Did the last twenty-four hours really happen? Is he really in a future timeline? Maybe it was all a bad dream? Surely, his fortune is safe? And the town of Duckburg isn't taken over by Magica and the Beagles. Right? The more conscious he becomes, the more he remembers he isn't in his own bed.
The sound of tiny webbed feet trotting into the room starts pulling Scrooge to consciousness. The elder duck opens his eyes to see Turbo jolt in a surprised expression. Right, he is indeed in the future, everything he's worked hard for is almost all gone, and now he's staying with Dewey and his kids.
Seeing the child's confused stare makes Scrooge wonder what the boy wants. That is when he clues in.
"Oh, good morning, little one," Scrooge says with a tired yawn. He sits up and adds, "Looking for your dad?"
Turbo bobs his head up and down while taking a step back from the bed.
"Have you tried checking in the living room?" The elder asks.
"I told you daddy wasn't in here," Tessa whispers loudly to her brother.
Scrooge glances over to see Turbo's twin sister by the bedroom door.
"Shut up, Tessa," Turbo growled before following her down the hall.
Deciding it is a good idea to get up, Scrooge steps out of bed and stretches out the kinks in his back. He hears the kids down the hall giggling along with Dewey crying out in a yelp.
"Ow, why! Come on, you guys, get off!" The young adult growls in a cranky tone. "I said, get off!"
Scrooge can't help but laugh at the sound of Dewey's distress. He reaches for his borrowed housecoat and puts it on.
"Those are defiantly Dewey's kids." He chuckles to himself.
As he makes his way down the hall, Scrooge can hear the kids talking to their dad.
"Can we watch some cartoons?" Turbo asks.
"Yeah, can we?" Tessa pleads.
"Fine, fine. Just keep the volume down." Dewey grumbles.
"Good morning," Scrooge sings as he comes into the living room.
Dewey is caught in the mid-yawn to respond appropriately. He ends up giving a sloppy wave with one eye half-open while rubbing the sleep out of the other. Reluctantly, the young father pushes himself up into a sitting position and starts brushing his fingers through his hair.
"Morning," he finally groans.
"You get enough sleep there, Lad?" Scrooge asks, a bit worried since Dewey appears still very sleepy.
With another big yawn, Dewey raises his hand and tilts it in a swaying seesaw motion. This act tells Scrooge he's saying, 'sort of.'
"I finished the laundry. Guess it took me longer than expected. Your jacket is on top of the dryer, by the way." The younger duck finally explains just as he stands to stretch.
"Oh, ah, thank you." The elder is grateful but is still concern with how Dewey seems very tired.
Dewey lazily folds up his blanket and tosses it casually over the arm of the furniture. He barely takes a step towards the kitchen when Turbo and Tessa leap up onto the couch, snatching the blanket and pillow, and proceeds to make themselves comfortable.
The young dad is annoyed because it means he has to refold his blanket again later. He is about to say something to his kids but stops as they both look up with a wide toothy grin. Dewey grumpily sways his hands down, deciding just to let it go. Right now, he needs caffeine more than to start a fight with his kids over a blanket.
With a tired groan, Dewey starts to walk past his Uncle as the elder starts up an idea.
"Hey, Lad," Scrooge perks up. "Remember when we talked about your company? I was thinking –"
"Sh-Shhh," Dewey interrupts, placing his index finger in front of his beak. "Too much thinking before coffee." He says in a groggy tone.
"Seriously," Scrooge snorts with a raised brow.
"Yeah," the tired young adult nods. "You want tea or coffee?"
"Um, tea."
"Nutmeg?"
"Please."
Scrooge sits down at the same seat at the dining table and, once again, watches Dewey during his morning ritual.
Dewey first reaches for the kettle and fills it with water before plugging it into the socket. He then grabs a French press and scoops some coffee grounds into it. Once again, he pulls out two mugs, one he places a fresh teabag inside.
He is seeing Dewey use a new teabag, which answers Scrooge's question from last night. Dewey doesn't save his teabags for second or third use. In other words, according to Scrooge, he wastes his money.
In the other cup, Dewey scoops six teaspoons of sugar and pours some milk in it before putting the container in front of Scrooge.
"Thanks, Dewey." Scrooge nods.
"Mm," the younger duck responds with a nod. He's too tired to acknowledge in actual words.
The younger duck turns, opens the fridge door, and pulls out an apple. Picking a knife out of the drawer before reaching for the cutting board, Dewey cuts the fruit into four pieces.
He takes one piece and tosses it in his mouth. Picking up the other three, he then hands one to Scrooge.
"Um, thanks. I suppose this is breakfast?" Scrooge asks, a little baffled with being handed a single piece of fruit.
"No, a pre-breakfast. I need to wake up first." Dewey answers after swallowing his slice.
The young father heads to the living area and hands off the other two pieces to his kids.
"Thanks, Daddy," the two chorus.
After, Dewey returns to the kitchen.
The kettle whistles, and Dewey pours the boiled water into the tea mug and the French press. He takes the tea to his Uncle before sitting down with his coffee maker and cup.
The elder immediately pours his single drop of milk and gives it a light stir before bringing the mug up to his beak. He swishes the liquid in his mouth a bit before swallowing.
Dewey starts rubbing his eyes with the palm of his hands while letting out another colossal yawn. Scrooge shakes his head with a snort at the spectacle before him.
"What," Dewey responds in an irritated tone.
He glares up at his Uncle before slowly pushing down the French press.
"Just the sight of you, Lad." Scrooge chuckles. "I never knew you to be this tired in the morning."
"I guess it's just called growing up," Dewey responds in a grumpy tone.
Both ducks sit and enjoy their beverage in silence. In the background, they hear a cartoon playing on the television.
Eventually, Dewey puts his mug down and looks up to his Uncle.
"So, what was this thing you were thinking of?" He asks.
"Huh?" Scrooge breaks out of his thoughts to glance up at his nephew.
"You mentioned earlier that you were thinking of something; I was hardly awake to hear you out. I'm awake now, so spill." Dewey explains.
"Oh, I was thinking; after we defeat Magica and get Duckburg back from the Beagles, as well as, retrieving what's left of my fortune you stored away, we, um, could merge your company with McDuck Enterprises. After we rebuild Duckburg and our home, we can all move into the mansion together as a family once more. What dae you say, hum?" The older duck asks carefully.
Dewey thinks about what he said for a moment. He begins to smile the more the idea appeals to him.
"Sure," the younger duck says. "That sounds great."
"Daddy," a little voice squeaks.
Both adults look over and down at Tessa.
"What, Sweetie?" Dewey asks.
"Can we have pancakes?" She asks sweetly.
"Yeah, let's have pancakes." Her daddy replies, patting his daughter on the head.
With that, Dewey stands up and starts preparing the instant pancake batter with the necessary equipment to make this breakfast feast.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
After breakfast, Scrooge is waiting for everyone in the armchair. He admits it feels good to wear a clean jacket. Not to mention how much cleaner it smells. Mentally he must remind himself to ask Dewey which detergent he uses. Hearing the kids behind him has the elder duck react by standing to face them.
Dewey is herding the twins out of their room and towards the apartment entryway. The three of them treat it a bit like a game as they race to reach the door. Dewey purposely allows his kids to win, though.
Scrooge watches with amusement. This action is more like the Dewey he remembers.
"Okay, kids, let's get your coats on," Dewey announces.
"So, ah, where are we going?" Scrooge asks since Dewey has been vague with his plans for the day during breakfast.
Dewey finishes putting on Tessa's coat and starts to put on Turbo's. He briefly glances up at his Uncle.
"As I said before, I thought we could go see an old friend first." The young adult announces.
"Oh no, not him. He's weird." Turbo whines.
"He's funny and weird," Tessa adds with a snicker.
"Guys, don't be like that. You know he can't help it." Dewey grumbles at his kids.
He stands and reaches over to pull his jacket off the hanger. With a quick check, he sees the rune-stone still pinned to the inner layers of his coat. Dewey suddenly has a sudden reaction of checking to see if the Dime is still around his neck. He briefly panics but then lets out a sigh of relief, remembering he gave the Dime back to Scrooge last night.
"Something the matter?" Scrooge asks, noticing his nephew's minor 'freak-out.'
At first, it would seem Dewey is ignoring his Uncle. He opens the door and looks down at his kids.
"Why don't you two go get the elevator, okay?" The father suggests.
"Okay," the twins chimed in unison.
Dewey is about to face Scrooge when he realizes something and leans out into the corridor.
"And don't just walk on when the door opens this time. Wait for your Uncle and me." He hollers at the ducklings.
Dewey faces Scrooge and reaches in his jacket. He pulls out the runestone and hands it off to his Uncle.
"Since we are heading out, you should wear this." He says. "Preferably inside your jacket, so it is closer to the Dime."
"Your runestone? I don't think –" Scrooge attempts to argue but is interrupted.
"For the last time, Uncle Scrooge," Dewey growls out in frustration. "Magica is probably searching for you, and perhaps the No. #1 Dime as well. Therefore, you are better off wearing the runestone than me since I'm not the one Magica is looking for – remember, I am 'dead,'" he emphasizes with air quotes.
"Fine," Scrooge sighs, not wanting to argue that logic.
The elder pins the stone in the inner lining of his jacket but is suddenly startled when Dewey shouts down the hall.
"Hey! Don't you dare get on that elevator! I told you to wait for us!" The young adult yells.
Scrooge can't help but laugh at the situation. He looks up to see an irritated glare from Dewey.
"Don't you say one word, old man," he groans. Dewey knows precisely why his Uncle is so amused.
"I wasn't going to say anything," Scrooge chuckles
The elder starts to walk out of the suite and down the corridor towards the twins. Dewey shakes his head with a discouraging sigh as he closes the door to his suite and follows him.