Hey! I'm back, thanks to KaliAnn, Melodysouth65 + Steampunk Wilson for reviewing the last chapter.

See chapter 1 for the disclaimer and let's crack on.

Warning: Swearing.

12/10/2019

Ugh! You know that moment in life where you could cheerfully strangle yourself for being so stupid? Yeah. Had that moment today. Over the past couple of days I have been growing ever more concerned that NO ONE is replying to my party invitations. I said this to Donald yesterday, who said.

"Dells, look. I get your concerned, but MAYBE it might be an idea if you don't mention the party for a little while. I think Scrooge is getting a little sick of it."

So yeah. Since our little bust-up a couple of days ago Scrooge has been - not QUITE avoiding me - but definitely a little more tense. I think he knows he crossed a line but is to proud to admit it.

I ended up telling Donald about this. I didn't want to – despite what I think I said in this thing last time – but by the time he actually dragged himself in at, like, ten o clock my initial anger had subsided so I didn't talk about it.

ANNOYINGLY THOUGH Donald is actually quite perspective and he gathered something was wrong the next morning. To be fair though I think even Gladstone [who is NOT known for his sensitive and empathetic nature] would have picked that up because me and Scrooge were literally not looking each other is the eye during breakfast the next morning. Which is hard when your sat opposite someone and normally exchange at least a good couple of words during the course of the meal.

So yeah. Donald noticed and caught me while I was trying to sneak past him to the safety of my room. "What's going on with you and Scrooge!?" He demanded in that 'absolutely no-nonsense' way he's perfected over the years.

"Nothing!" I said, looking him in the eye to make sure he knew I was being honest.

Unfortunately, D knows me to well, and – foot tapping impatiently – he said, in that VERY annoying way of his. "Della…"

"Okey fine!" I snapped and proceeded to outline the argument between me and Scrooge. It was hard, especially the part when Scrooge basically said I was a useless piece of shit, but I said it and, to be honest, I felt a lot better when I told him.

He then sat me down [in my room] and we had a nice long heart-to-heart about my stupid decisions and how they impacted Donald and the boys and how we think they impacted Scrooge [we were guessing a little. Scrooge isn't exactly known for being open and talkative] and yeah. It was good. It took absolutely bloody ages, but it was good. And needed, definitely needed.

I remember talking about Louie especially. "I think he hates me." I said.

Donald sighed. "He doesn't hate you, Dells."

"But he's not really talking to me!" I whined. "And I've tried different conversations and None. Of. Them. Work!"

"You helped him with his homework that time, didn't you?" Donald said, optimistically.

I gave him a look. "Yea, Donald, I did. But that was LAST MONTH! And he's started doing his homework in his room now. I think he's avoiding me."

"He's NOT avoiding you." Donald said, firmly. The he sighed. "The thing with Louie, Della, is that…he's a LOT more sensitive than he let's on-"

"Kind of like Gladstone was?"

Donald wrinkled his beak. "Y-yes, kind of. WAS being that key word in Gladstone case – but let's forget about Gladstone for now – we're focusing on Louie. Now, my guess is you coming back has got him in two emotions. Of course he's pleased you're here – they all are. But he's also probably a little…nervous-"

"-What? Nervous? Why?"

"-TRYING to explain, here Della!" Donald snapped, before taking a breath. "Because the fact is, and I know you don't like dwelling on it and I get why but – you DID go to space and leave him – them – us - for ten years, Dells. I know-" He held a wing up, seeing I was about to protest and said, soothingly. "I know you didn't mean to and it wasn't your intention and I know you're trying to move on, but…" He took yet another breath. "From Louie's perspective – all of their perspective's really – you LEFT them. You left them and - I didn't tell them. I will hold my hands up, I didn't TELL them the reason you'd left, part of that was because I was SO ANGRY with you. And I still AM on some level. You fucked up Della. Big time. And yes you've come back, and yes, you're trying to make amends, but – have you actually sat down with them? Explained you're reasoning for why you left them?"

I said no I hadn't, and he said it might be a good idea if I thought about doing that and we've kinda left it there for now. But when I am meant to talk to them about it? Just knock on the door? Have a family meeting? Write them a letter? Ooh – I like that last one. I might do that. Then they can keep the letters and cherish them forever more. After all, that's what my mother would do if she had something sensitive and important to discuss with us – write a letter. I mean she never did – they didn't discuss those kind of things back in the 1950's/60's.

Geez. Just read that back. That was a bit of a ramble wasn't it? Never mind. I'll go back to what I MEANT to talk about when I started this entry. The fact that I – apparently – managed to NOT put a RSVP on the letters or to specify that I was living at Scrooges Manor and THAT'S where the guest should respond to.

I discovered this when earlier today Duckworth came in with a phone call for me. "It's Mr Gander for you, Miss."

I was surprised. Gladstone doesn't normally call people unless he's either in trouble or extremely bored. Hoping it was the second one, I picked up the phone. "Hey, Gladstone. How are you?"

"Good, thanks, Dells-bells." Came his chipper voice. "Just letting you know about that invite you sent me. I can come-"

"-Oh brill-!"

"Ah, ah, ah." Gladstone said, and I was briefly reminded of part the reason I find him ever-so-slightly irritating. "Feathry is very upset." I asked why and he said, clearly surprised. "Wh -! Because you haven't sent HIM an invitation, Della!"

I was shocked. "Yes, I have! I sent it the same time I sent yours! He should have got it by now – he lives closer!"

There was a pause. "Wait – where did you send it?" I rolled my eyes and patiently gave him the address of his own cousins house.

There was another pause, and then Gladstone said. "…Maybe you better have a word with Feathry."

I agreed, thinking he meant another time, then he told me to hang on a minute. Well, I hung on several before Feathry's voice chirped down the telephone. "Hiya, Dells!"

I was very supirsed, but [I think] managed to find enough braincells to say "Hey, Feathry! Er…apparently you haven't got my invitation?"

"No I didn't. Where did you send it?"

So I basically had exactly the same conversation I had with Gladstone with Feathry, except I added the fact I sent Abner's to his house as well.

"Abner doesn't live with me though." Feathry said and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, I gathered that. Where does he live then?"

You know where Abner lives? In a hut in the middle of Duckberg Forest. Of course he does. I don't know why I didn't think of that myself.

"Where do YOU live then?" I asked, feeling a headache coming on. I do tend to get headache's if I talk to Feathry for to long.

"Well, at the moment I'm living with Gladstone."

"What? Why?"

"It's…a long story."

I shrugged. "I've got time. What's the shortened version?"

"…basically I was employed by Scrooge as basically a janitor-come-care-taker for the McDuck Sub-Lab and it was great for a little while but then…my pay-checks kinda got less? And less. And less. And eventually….stopped coming? And I don't mind still going to work – cos I love the work – but…yeah. I lost the house. They re-possessed it."

I rubbed my temple as the head-ache became a sharpened pain. "So…you're living with Gladstone?"

"Yeah!" I marvelled at how up-beat he sounded at the prospect. I mean, I love Gladstone, but I don't think I could live with him 24/7. I'd get to jealous. "Yeah. It was a couple of months back. I asked if I could stay with him for a bit and he said yes! How nice is that!?"

"Very nice." I said. "How much rent is he asking for?"

"No rent." Feathry said, cheerfully. "I just need to help clean the house and but my own food and stuff. He's even alright with leaving me in here while he goes on cruises and stuff."

"Great. It sounds great, Feath. Is Gladstone there?"

Two minutes later I was yelling at Gladstone. "He lost his house!?"

"Don't yell at me!" Gladstone said, defensively. "Blame Scrooge – he's not paying him enough!"

"Why me - you take it up with him!"

"Er – because I'm not the one living in the same house as him?"

Okey, fair enough point. I said so and Gladstone said. "Brill, I'll leave that with you. So – me and Feathry will see you on the 30th-"

"Or how about before?" I said, an idea suddenly leaping on me. Basically I proposed the four of us – myself, Donald, him and Feathry go on a camping trip. Gladstone loved the idea and between us we narrowed it down to the 26th to 27th.

I then ran it by Donald, who was less thrilled. "A whole weekend? With Gladstone and Feathry? Camping? Are you mad?"

I gave him a look. "It'll be fun, Donald!"

He gave me a look back. "Of course it will, Della. Of course it will."

So yeah. Been a funny couple of days. I'm concerned about Feathry. Why's his pay dropped? I'll bring it up with Scrooge. Much as they have a rocky relationship I'm sure he'll be horrified to here his pay has caused him to be forced to move in with Gladstone – even if he does seem to be enjoying it.

Although – I've just though – Scrooge doesn't actually technically pay his employees. I mean – I'm explaining myself badly – my understanding – unless it's changed in the past ten years – Scrooge approved how much his employees get paid, but it's the Board of Directors that control the finances and ACTUALLY pay them at the end of each month. I dunno. Maybe there's an innocent expiation. A technical error that's been simply overlooked or something. That can happen can't it?

Whatever happens, I'll try and forget it for now. No point giving myself sleepless night.

Anyway – see you next time diary!