"What if we could do it all over again, avoiding the same mistakes?"

The two gazed at each other through shining eyes, like a warm embrace as they ran carelessly under the shade of lively brush and foliage. It was the same melting look they shared through ice in the Klondike.

They say there are two tragedies in life, though it was times like these that he wished he could choose. Even after all the times she slipped through his feather tips, he kept falling into the same traps. He probably had some kind of mental condition like Storkholm Syndrome, anyone would after dealing with Goldie for long enough.

But now she really does seem penitent for her actions. Or is she? It's always impossible to tell with her. Ah, just take one more chance Scrooge. It couldn't possibly hurt any worse than the last dozen times. And then she said it.

"Run off with me, Scrooge!" It came out of nowhere, and she regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. Maybe it was the excitement of being young again and a fresh start that made her act so impulsively.

"What?! I canna- we're not twelve- Well actually a little more magic water and we would be. But my family, Goldie. I can't just abandon them!"

She forced a smirk. "Oh, always the kids. Or the lost puppies, or the poor monks. So predictable, Scroogie. But there's a contradiction in your character."

He raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

"You seriously don't see it? You have enough wealth to help ALL the lost puppies, yet you insist on playing the good guy."

Scrooge creased his mouth upward. "And does this end in me donating some of my money to your charity?"

Goldie giggled and waved her hand at him. "Don't play me down like that, Scrooge. No scheme ever works twice. Well, in your case, maybe three times if I change it up a little."

"And what does pulling the wool over my eyes have to do with anything?"

"Sorry. But really, what's stopping you from doing that?"

He scoffed. "It's my fortune, and I worked for every single penny. Free hand-outs aren't my speciality, if they want it they can work for it."

She put a knuckle to his chin. "And what about those who can't help themselves? I thought helping people was in your good nature."

He put it down. "I never said I was St. Andrew. Look, I'd just feel terrible about leaving my family." He started murmuring quietly. "They mean the world to me, you know."

She took his hands in her own again. "Awh, and I don't?"

Webby caught up, out of breath. "I hope you're not getting up to trouble, youngins."

The blonde rascal turned to her and replied "Sorry to disappoint you, grandma." Before taking Scrooge's hand and running off deeper into the forest.

Later...

After seeing Scrooge get dunked in the youth sapping-juice, she had to make a decision. Not that it was very hard, the two had a way of getting each other out of serious trouble. In her case, especially if it involved being greedy. Like right now.

They gasped for oxygen through their worn lungs, collapsing on the tiled floor. Goldie turned back to see the horrifying sight of the conquistador catching up with 500 years of history, which managed to put a foul taste in her mouth about the promise of eternal youth.

Everything went as expected, she gave Scrooge his parting gift and went on her way. She didn't show that she was a little hurt that the dilapidated geezer chose his family over her, but it was her own fault. She had ridiculously overstepped the mark, when she didn't even realise there was one after all they'd been through.

Oh well, nothing cheating some suckers of their fortune couldn't fix.

"Psst, lads, call Launchpad to pick you up." He flicked them a dime before chasing after her. Before running back and flicking them another two. "And some responsible adults while you're at it."

The triplets looked at each other as he ran off again. Louie spoke up, "Why did he give us dimes? This isn't the eighties."

The elderly billionare pushed the door out of the way and caught up with his double-crossing doppelganger, who was in the parking lot. The road was tarmacked and long, oval ceramic planters filled up the middle of it with palm trees and brush. Most of the cars were gone once everyone had caught on to what the resort truly was. "Maybe I've finally corrupted your good character after all."

"Not at all, I just have to keep you in check."

"Really? Nothing... else?" She started wiggling her shoulders, causing a familiar warmth to come over him. He quickly suppressed it when he recognized the trick. "Really." The two of them were smiling now.

"You just keep telling yourself that, bagpipes." He simply stared as she walked into her scarlet land rover, popping out the passenger door.

"You coming?" She called out.

He scratched his neck. "Eheh, on second thought it was highly irresponsible of me to leave the kids alone."

She fawned to herself. "Typical Scrooge," before tossing a business card out and leaving him in the dust. He waddled over and picked it up. It showed some kind of grand theatre inscribed with something in Hispanic.

"Huh. I'll have to get this translated..."

He turned around to see the four ducklings staring at him in turn. Webby gave him the stink eye, and not just because it was swollen closed by a mosquito biting it. "You seriously weren't thinking about ditching us for Goldie, were you?"

He sighed. "Ah look, I'm sorry kids. That woman just seems to pull one over me every time, bless me bagpipes." They glared unamused at him, while Louie yawned. "Have to admire how she made you nearly betray everyone you care about. Anyway, guess I'll have to text Donald that you pondered leaving us alone in the middle of Florida, in a dangerous forest."

He narrowed his eyes. "What'll it take, Louie?"

He looked up from his phone and thought for a second. "Hmm. Increase my weekly allowance by 300%."

"250."

"I get that it adds up, but that's $2.50 not to rip this family apart."

The others looked at him. "Hey, he's the one being greedy!"

"300 and not one percent more. Now come on-" He paused mid-sentence and his jaw dropped like he just saw Goldie in a wedding dress as The Sun Chaser nose-dived right at them.

It eventually settled on swerving to the right, taking half the resort with it. Launchpad opened the cargo door and triumphantly walked out. "Another happy landing, Mr. McDee."

"Well, saves me the drive back."

A/N: My original idea for this fic was Goldie convincing Scrooge to steal all the youth tonic and elope with her [Code for abandon the children], but I eventually settled for a less.. dramatic turn of events.