Hey! I'm back, thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter as well as tontheoffbalence for replying to my question from last chapter. I'll try to work on the notes you mentioned, as well as Della's [and Donald's] PTSD.

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

01/11/2019

We made it! We're in Spoonerville! I'm so happy! And we're like THIS close to adventuring again, a nice family adventure [with Goofy and Max as well], it'll be great.

Although I suppose I better mention this afternoon. Cos we were in the middle of shoving suitcases in boots and the like when Huey looks round and goes: "Where's Webby's case?"

We all looked round but couldn't see it. "In her room, I bet." Louie said. He was sitting on his own suitcase, phone in hand, looking at it intently.

"I'll grab her." Dewey said, turning to go.

I frowned. "Where is she anyway?" I asked, noticing the drive was Webby-less.

"Saying bye to Beakley."

"Oh!" I said. "Well, if she's saying goodbye to Miss Beakley then I'LL go and get her case. Her room's first on the right, right?" So off I went to go and get Webby's case. A simple enough task, except to actually get her case I had to go into her room.

So I went in and what was the first thing I saw? Her. Long white hair, wide eyes that seemed to switch between being angry, sad and just lost…

I stared at her and she stared back. And…it's SO hard to describe but I literally wasn't aware of anything that was going on. It was me and her together forever among the lost stars of space. I just stared and stared at her and she looked back at me. I could see curiosity in her eyes, like she'd forgotten what Ducks looked like. [Which to be fair she probably had. It was a long time since she'd seen anyone]

I stepped forwards and raised my wing. She copied me. I blinked and took a step towards her. She did the same. I laughed and she did the same. We both laughed and laughed together. It felt good. I was suddenly aware of how LONG it had been since I'd laughed.

"Della." I could vaguely hear a voice and I shook my head a little as I carried on looking at her.

"Della." Donald's voice said, more firmly this time. "Della, it's me."

"…Donald." I remember saying, faintly.

"That's right – Donald. Shall we go downstairs? Everyone's waiting to get going. The kids are already in the car. As is Scrooge-"

"-Uncle Scrooge-"

"-That's right, Uncle Scrooge. C'mon, Dells. I'm sure you don't want to stay here forever, do you?"

"…D-donald, she's there." I said, still looking at her.

"Della." Donald said, gently. "You're on earth. You're not on the moon anymore. You're back home in McDuck Manor and we're just about to go to Spoonerville to see Goofy. You remember Goofy don't you?"

"And Max."

"And Max!" Donald sounded pleased. "Yes, and we're going to find the Shield Of Archilles. It'll be just like old times. A PROPER family adventure."

"You hate adventures." I said. I was still looking at her, but her eyes didn't seem so intense anymore.

He laughed. "Okay, you've got me there. But you love them, and therefore we're going. C'mon, Dells, let's leave her behind, shall we?"

It took a bit more coaxing, but eventually I felt strong enough to walk again and – with Donald's help – managed to get downstairs where Beakley was looking concerned with a tea-flask in one hand. "Here." She said, briskly, pressing it on me. "This'll help."

Now, I don't really LIKE tea as a general rule. But I took it – which gives an idea of how dis-orientated I was – and took a sip of it. It tasted quite nice actually and did a good job of bringing me back to my senses completely. It was very sweet. I think Auntie Beakley must have emptied half a cup of sugar into it.

She waited patiently till I'd finished, then took the flask of me with a: "There we go. I'm willing to bet you feel better, don't you?" I nodded and she smiled. "I thought so. Now-" She gave me a quick hug that took me somewhat by surprise. Beakley's never really been one for physical contact, even with close family members. "-Have a good time, look after yourself – and Webbigail of course – and try not to OVER-EXERT yourselves."

God knows how she thinks we're NOT going to 'over-exert ourselves' prancing round bloody Ice Caves but getting the sentiment I nodded.

And then we set off. Thankfully it's not far to Spoonerville. Between 45 minutes to an hour, as Huey kept telling us. After the third time Dewey said, with clear irritation.

"Yeah, Huey we get it! You don't have to keep reminding us every two seconds!"

Huey glared at his immediate younger brother before sulkily putting the JWG down and staring out the window.

"Well done, Doofus." Louie said, monotonously. "Now he'll be in mood with us for the rest of forever."

"Whatever!" Dewey snapped, sinking down further into his seat while pouting and folding his arms. I had a sudden though of 'Oh! He looks so cute! I wonder of this is what he looked like when he was five.'

So I muttered to Donald. "Is this what he was like when he was five?"

"Dewey?" My twin said. He looked into the rear-view mirror and nodded. "Ooooh yes. OH, yes. We've had many moments like that over the years. Usually when he wanted something I either couldn't or – more likely – wouldn't give him. Shopping Malls where the funnest." He cast his eyes to the heavens. "EVERY shop we walked past – 'can I have that, Uncle Donald? Can I, can i?'" He said in a high-pitch voice that made me – and Scrooge – laugh.

Cue the kids. "What?" Webby said, curiously.

"Yeah, what are you guys laughing about?" Dewey asked, arms still folded.

"I'm just telling your mother a bit about what you were like when you were kids." Donald told them.

That got the kids animated. Even Huey snapped out of his little funk to ask. "Did you tell her about the Junior Woodchucks? How we joined?"

"You joined because you three were driving me crazy." Donald said, rolling his eyes.

"We did not!" Dewey argued.

"You did so." Donald said, fondly. "You were five-year olds, full of energy. You never stood still! I'm surprised you three didn't turn my feathers grey!"

"But when we joined." Huey said, insistently. "The scoutmaster said I was good straight away didn't he? Didn't he?"

"He said you seemed bright for your age, yes."

"What did he say about ma and Louie?" Dewey seemed animated now.

"He said…" Donald seemed to need a few seconds to think. "…He SAID, that you, Dewey, were very…enthusiastic about everything and you, Louie, would be a good Junior Woodchuck if you applied yourself more."

"Story of my life." Louie said, completely deadpan.

"That's not a good thing, Louie." Donald said, sternly. "And it's true, I mean-" Cue ten-minute rant about what Louie could do if he applied himself more. I must admit I felt slightly uncomfortable, mainly because I remember my mother saying a lot of the same stuff to me.

"Donald." I said, quietly to him once the kids had re-summed doing there own things. "You DO realise you're turning into Mom, right?"

Donald looked confused. "Don't you mean dad?"

"Hhhmm – no."

Scrooge laughed at that and re-counted some stories of our mother when she was younger. They were quite interesting actually – especially the one when she apparently kicked a cheating boyfriend [not my dad] in the nads. And she was like 16.

"Didn't you kick an ex-boyfriend in the balls round about that age?" Donald asked, casually, clearly forgetting there were four kids [and Scrooge] in the car.

"What!?" Webby said, sounding worryingly eager. "You kicked a boyfriends in the balls!?"

"EX-boyfriend." I stressed. "And I only did it cos he had the AUDACIENCY to turn up at Mouseville's Nightclub with another girl!"

The kids all 'oooohhheeddd' and I added. "One week after we'd split up!"

"Maybe we'd better change the subject." Donald said.

Ten minutes later we were in Spoonerville and the kids became excited. "I can't wait to see Mr Goof!" Webby said, practically bouncing up and down in her seat. "I can ask him ALL about what Donald was like when he was younger!"

I burst out laughing and Donald said. "Please don't."

"Why not?"

Now, I know why not. It's not that Goofy wouldn't answer the questions, it's the complete opposite actually. He'd be to eager AND to honest. Donald would never be able to look anyone in the face ever again. Like ever.

"We're here!" Donald said, as Goofy's house came into view. The kids cheered and Scrooge muttered something that sounded like 'Let's get this done with' under his breath.

The kids pretty much ran out the car and hammered on the door.

"Kids! Slow down!" Donald yelled.

But the kids were to wired up to listen to him and instead jumped round the door like the decking was on fire or something. Then the door opened and I heard.

"Hy-uck! Hello boys!"

"Uncle Goofy!" The boys cheered and literally leapt at him.

"Hello boys!" He laughed, hugging them back. "Gawsh – you're bigger than the last time I saw you."

"Well – yeah!" Dewey said, laughing. "The last time you saw us we were 9!"

"And now you're – now, don't tell me, I can work it out…er…9 + 2 carry the 1 divide by thirteen…" The boys were still laughing as Goofy mimed adding up on his fingers. "Now, let's see…er, you boys have to be 12!"

"That's right!" The boys said together, then looked at each other clearly slightly weirded out.

"12! I can't believe it...seems like yesterday you were fluffy ducklings. Now…who's this little lady here?" Goofy knelt down to Webby's level and gave her a friendly grin.

"Webby." Webby said, going suddenly shy.

"Webby! What a lovely name. Now…are you Auntie Beakley's grand-daughter?"

Quick note here. Mickey, Goofy and all the rest all call Mrs Beakley 'Auntie Beakley' same as we do.

So Webby said she was and Goofy laughed and told her she looked just like her, then he straightened up and waved energetically to Donald who was struggling up the path with all the kids over-night bags. "Hiya Donald! You need a hand there?"

"I can manage." Donald said, though gritted teeth.

"Are you sure?"

"I SAID I can-wak!" With fantastic timing the strap of Huey's bag got wrapped round Donald's leg and he tripped forward and smacked beak-first onto the path.

Goofy hurried forward and helped me help Donald up. "You alright Donald?"

Donald spat out a random tooth and snapped. "Fine!"

We helped Donald into the kitchen where the kids had already run in and were currently rummaging though various parts of Goofy's kitchen. I was horrified, but thankfully I didn't have to say anything because Scrooge was already on the case.

"What do you kids think you're doing!?" He squawked. Four different answers.

"Looking for an ice pack for Uncle Donald." [Huey – with his head in the freezer]

"Thirsty." [Louie – with his hand in the fridge]

"Hungry" [Dewey – rummaging through cupboards]

"Just standing." [Webby – standing in the middle of the room]

"Get out the cupboards!" Scrooge snapped.

"Aw, it's alright Mr McD!" Goofy said. [Cue Scrooges eye twitching] "Ice packs are third one down, Huey. Glasses are in THAT cupboard Louie and, hey – would anyone like a sandamachich?"

As we were all starving by that time we said yes and Goofy laughed again, before rummaging through cupboard to put us together a snack. Once he'd served us all he stood there with one sandwich left over and, bemused, counted all us slowly. Then his eyes lit up and he went to the door.

"Oh Maxie!" He hollered up the stairs. "Maxie!"

A faint 'what?' came from somewhere above us.

"Uncle Donald's here! And the boys! And I made you a sandmachich!"

"C'min."

Thirty seconds later Max appeared in the doorway. Now, I can vaguely remember Max from before I left. Obviously he's changed a lot. A lot taller, slightly less buck-tooth. Still messy-haired though and still got blue eyes. Other than that he's exactly the same.

He hugged Donald and high-fived the boys and Webby. He nodded at Scrooge, who nodded back, and then lay a pair of confused eyes on me. "…You look strangely familiar…" Was the first thing he said.

A lump appeared in my throat. He remembered me! I couldn't believe it! I went to talk, but just made this really strange gasping sound instead, which made Max look at me like I'd lost my marbles.

"This is our mother." Dewey said, proudly. "Della Duck!"

"My twin sister." Donald added, for clarification.

Max nodded and looked at me, clearly waiting for me to say something. I just couldn't speak. Honestly I was opening my beak like a flippin goldfish.

"We all went to school together!" Goofy said, ruffling Max's hair.

Max dodged him and said. "Really? Cool. So what are you all doing here? Not that it's not great to see you and everything, but…"

"We're going to find the Shield of Archilles!" Huey said, enthusiastically, pulling the JWG out from under his hat. He then quickly brought the Goof's up to date with the legend and the whole reason we were here.

"You know…" Goofy said, thoughtfully. "I think I have a voucher for that. Groups of over five get in for free."

Scrooges eyes lit up. "I, eh, doon't supoose you know where it is, laddy?"

Goofy nodded and leapt up. "Sure! I think it's in the other room - one minute!" And he darted from the room, leaving us with Max, who – realising the was the sole host now – cleared his throat and said. "So…long journey?"

"58 minutes!" Huey said, promptly.

There was another silence while Max tried desperately to think of something else to ask us. It was then I remembered what it was I was trying to say 15 minutes ago, and I said.

"I used to babysit you!"

Cue everyone staring at me and Donald face-palming.

"Really?" Max looked at me. "I don't remember."

"Well, you wouldn't you were five-"

"I got it!" Goofy exclaimed, running in with a slightly-torn voucher. "It was under the marble clock." He added, proudly.

Max looked like he wanted to sink though the floor as Scrooge took the voucher and carefully examined it. "Still valid." He said, in approval. "Well done, lad."

"Ooh boy!" Goofy slapped Max on the back and said. "We're going adventuring!"

"What?" Scrooge said, sharply, looking up.

"Dad, they haven't invited us-" Max told the table.

"Of course you can come." Donald said, eagerly.

Scrooge gave him a betrayed look and Donald said, reasonably. "C'mon, Uncle Scrooge, if we're using Goofy's voucher it's only fair he – and Max - should come with us, if they want."

The kids all cheered and Scrooge – being smart enough to admit defeat – said they could come. "But we're going at 8:30 in the morning." He warned them.

Goofy looked confused. "Why?" He asked. "They don't open till ten."

I started to laugh and quickly turned it into a cough under Scrooges glare. "We'll go at 9:30 then." He said, steely. "Now." He drew himself up. "I don't know about you lot. But I am going to bed. We've got an early start tomorrow."

So we took the hint and headed to bed. I was a little disappointed we didn't get to talk to Goofy more, but plenty of time for that I suppose. We're not exactly on a tight time-schedule.

Night night diary!