Disclaimer: I do not own Ducktales.
Chapter 6: Interlude
"Wow, so you really have a daughter?" Dewey asked his uncle after Diane and Webby were out of earshot. Donald nodded slowly, still quite shocked about the revelation. Louie frowned and folded his arms.
"I still think she's a con…" He mumbled. Huey gave him a quizzical look. "I mean, think about it - she comes here alone to find her dad - what about her mom? Has anyone thought about that?"
"Maybe she's missing," Dewey said, his voice tinged with sadness. Suddenly Louie wished he hadn't used that choice of words.
"She's not...missing," Donald said, his voice breaking as he said the word 'missing'. Anything about their mom put everyone in a sad mood - especially Uncle Donald and Uncle Scrooge.
"How do you know?" Dewey asked, feeling anger that he and Webby were looking for information about their mom rather than just asking someone. Della Duck's disappearance was a mystery no one wanted to tell him about. And that made him all the more upset. "I mean, you didn't know you had a daughter -"
"Lad," Scrooge said, putting a hand on Dewey's shoulder. "That's enough."
"No," Donald said, hiding his emotions well. He had learned to mask his feelings well, thanks to his unpredictable temper. Now, like many times in the past, he put that mask on and pretended as if nothing could hurt him. "Dewey's right - I don't know if Daisy's missing or not."
"You can't blame yerself -" Scrooge started to say, but Donald held up a hand.
"I don't blame me, I blame -" Donald's voice had started to escalate, and for a moment he'd thought they were talking about Della. Taking a breathe, he counted to ten before he spoke again. "I don't blame anyone…"
"Why do I get the feeling they're not talking about Daisy anymore?" Huey whispered to Louie. The green-hooded duckling squinted at the other three and shrugged. Truth was - he suspected Scrooge, Donald, and Dewey were hiding something - something big. What it was he didn't know - but he was going to find out. He just had to play it cool until then.
"Oh, would you look at the time!" Louie said, glancing over at a wall clock. "Ottoman Empire's on in half an hour -"
"Ach - not that again." Scrooge grumbled, letting go of Dewey and hooking Louie's hood with his cane. "I thought ye already watched the entire show!"
"I have - but tonight they're doing a marathon rerun from season 1!" Louie exclaimed, trying to get his hoodie unhooked. Unfortunately, the only way he could get free was if Scrooge let him off the hook, or he slipped out of the hoodie in question. Since neither of those things seemed likely, Louie instead folded his arms and just relaxed, letting his full weight be supported by Uncle Scrooge's arm and cane.
Scrooge frowned at his nephew, but did not let him off the hook. Instead, Scrooge began to drag Louie towards the spilled bowl of popcorn, and used the duckling to corral the spilled snack into one pile. Louie, meanwhile, sat back and enjoyed the ride - eating a few pieces of popcorn that looked clean enough.
"Oh-kay." Huey said, breaking the silence that had fallen over the group. "I think I'm gonna go work on our schedule for the next week - assuming Diane's staying for a while."
"Oh no - not me," Dewey said, turning towards Huey. "This weekend Launch Pad and I have the whole day planned."
"Doing what?" Donald asked, feeling a stab of hurt that Dewey hadn't told him this earlier. Dewey ignored him.
"Dewford." Huey said in a very formal, very calm manner. "We have just discovered a new member of the family. Even better, she's staying at the Manor with us - this is the perfect opportunity to work on my Family Badge for the Junior Woodchucks!"
"In case you forgot," Dewey said casually, hopping up the stairs. "I'm not in the Junior Woodticks -"
"Woodchucks -"
"Whatever," Dewey said, rolling his eyes and continuing up the stairs. He didn't want to talk to anybody right now, except maybe Webby. The sphere that Selene had given him may hold a secret to where his mom disappeared... "All I want to do is go to my room and, um...sleep."
"It's not even 9 o'clock," Huey said, raising an eyebrow. Dewey shrugged and turned to be on his way - forcing himself to move slowly so it looked like he was at least a little tired. Keeping the whole mom thing a secret was proving to be hard.
"Good night Dewey!" Donald said, a bit belatedly. Dewey was already out of sight when he called out. With a sigh, he glanced over at Scrooge and Louie, who were still cleaning up the popcorn, and then at Huey, who was looking over his schedule while at the same time going up the stairs. "Huey - watch where you're going."
"Yes, Uncle Donald." Huey said automatically, without looking up. Donald sighed and started for the door. Now seemed as good a time as any to lay in his boat and reminisce about the old days. A loud clap of thunder, however, changed his mind.
Taking a few steps back, Donald instead headed for his and Della's old room. Even thought Donald lived in Scrooge's pool, he hadn't yet visited his old room. The memories...were too painful. But right now, Donald needed somewhere quiet where he could sit and be alone.
Mrs. Beakley was waiting for Diane and Webby at the bathroom door when the duo arrived. Smiling, Webby let go of Diane and went to hug her grandmother.
"Granny!" Webby exclaimed, letting go of her and pulling her towards Diane. "Guess what? Donald had a secret daughter!"
"I know, dear," Mrs. Beakley said calmly, handing Diane a folded black shirt. Diane thanked her and took the shirt from her. "Mr. McDuck texted me a short while back."
"Isn't it exciting!?" Webby exclaimed, running over and hugging Diane hard, knocking the wind out of her.
"Quite," Mrs. Beakley said, putting a hand on Webby and gently leading the girl away from Diane. "Now, why don't we let Miss Diane here take a shower. The poor girl looks like she's going to freeze to death."
Reminded once again that she was soaked, Diane shivered unconsciously. Suddenly she was aware of how wet her shirt was, and how the water from that shirt was freezing her bones.
"I'll try not to take too long," Diane said, moving towards the door Mrs. Beakley had been standing in front of. She stopped short when she opened the door and saw the bathroom. It was by far the fanciest bathroom she'd ever seen in her life - not to mention one of the biggest.
"Something wrong?" Webby asked, going to stand by Diane.
"No…" Diane said, shaking her head and limping into the bathroom. She placed the dry shirt on the top of the toilet, and hunger backpack on an empty towel rack hook. "It's just...so big!"
"Oh, this is nothing," Webby said, as Mrs. Beakley pulled her out of the bathroom. "If you think this is big, you should see the library!"
"Webby, dear, there'll be time enough to tell Diane all about the manor once she's showered and in clean clothes."
"Okay - talk to you later, newest McDuck!" Webby called as Mrs. Beakley closed the bathroom door. Diane nodded in response, until she realized the door was closed. Blinking, she took a moment to look all around the bathroom - taking in how big it was...I mean, it was at least the size of the living room back in her mom's apartment.
"Okay," Diane said, going and to the shower and turning the faucet on. She smiled as she tested the water with a hand. A private bathroom with a shower was just what she needed - especially after two days on a bus, using only gas station restrooms. "I think I'm gonna like it here."
Hi! Sorry for such a late update, but I had a paper I had to write for college. This week is also exams week...which means I'll be busy the next few days. I hope this chapter can hold you over till I get to writing again (which shouldn't be too long now). Anyways, I know this is a relatively short chapter, and I left it on a sort of cliffhanger - but...well, I wrote this chapter at least twenty times and this was the best one I liked. Next chapter, I am going to have more about Donald and Diane spending time together.
Also The Not-So-Ultimate Writer, Diane was a bit overwhelmed at meeting everyone - and that's why she didn't notice Huey, Dewey, and Louie didn't call Donald "dad". Don't worry, next chapter, I plan on having Diane ask her dad about the triplets, so that will be cleared up.
I'm so glad you like the story so far Average Everyday Sane Psycho and Lena Royale! It's one of my favorite fanfics to write (although, as I've said before, the reactions are hard lol).
And yes, Guest, Louie and Diane are going to experience a bit of friction. Nothing that a few adventures and the prospect of business can't solve, though.