Last time was a little heavy, so have some cute and some Goldie being Louie's aunt because I love it.

Ever since that first sleepover, the girls had been spending a lot of time at the manor.

April would take advantage of the house's acoustics to run lines with Dewey (who was always happy to be the center of attention/be dramatic as possible). May, Webby, and Huey would play small campaigns of D&D or plan ones for the group to go on in the future. June took the opportunity to learn about mechanics from Della and Launchpad when he wasn't in St. Canard.

That was where Louie found her one afternoon, looking over the engine of the limo while Launchpad incorrectly explained the names of the parts. Della would correct him each time without fail. He'd come out to ask his mom a question but upon seeing June he quickly backed away and headed back to the house.

"Hey, Louie!" April greeted him from the landing of the staircase. "What's up?"

"Nothing, nothing. What are you two doing?"

"Running lines." She crossed her arms. "I expected you to be hanging out with June."

"Yeah, he's been extra-weird about it lately," Dewey added. "I think it's getting worse."

"Shut up," Louie grumbled, heading up the stairs.

"He just needs someone to teach him how to talk to a lady," April sighed.

Someone to teach me… hm…

"Let me get this straight—you're having girl problems because you have a crush and can't admit it to yourself?"

"No! I just—I feel awkward around her nowadays."

Goldie crossed her left leg over her right and smirked while leaning back.

"Who even is this girl, Sharpie?"

"Her name's June. She's around all the time because she's learning mechanic stuff from my mom and her aunt's dating Uncle Donald."

"Donald has a girlfriend?"

"Ugh, Goldie, focus! How do I deal with this?"

"Okay. You came to me for advice on a girl problem, so here's what I'm thinking—stop denying it. It'll be better for you if you own up to how you feel."

"So I tell her?"

"No. Never do that. It only leads to bad things happening. I mean admit it to yourself. That's what I do and my life is smooth sailing."

"And yet you're hopelessly in love with Uncle Scrooge."

"You want my help or not?"

"I want your help!"

"Then listen when I'm trying to teach you."

There was a knock at the door and Goldie ducked behind the bed.

"Hey, Louie," June greeted him, poking her head into the room. "Mrs. B says dinner's at six. She told me to tell you!"

"Thanks. See you there!" He waved goodbye and she closed the door behind her.

"Oh, Sharpie. Was that her?"

"Yeah, that was June."

"You've got it bad, kid. Not to worry. I think it's being one-on-one with her that has you worried. Just make sure there's always a buffer in the room when you're hanging out with her. And if you have to be alone with her, just treat it like she's a mark and the con is not having a crush on her. It's that simple."

"I don't think this is gonna solve anything in the long run."

"Hey, I haven't been your age since the nineteenth century. Cut me some slack."

"Thanks, Goldie. I'll give it a shot."

Unfortunately it appeared Huey and Dewey were not willing to stick to that plan.

At dinner, Louie arrived to find that the only open seat that would still leave him sitting with the family was directly to June's left. If he'd taken a different seat it would've looked suspicious and raised a few flags with the others at the table. June had a little spot of grease on the left side of her face that she'd probably missed while cleaning herself up to eat.

"Hey, June?" Louie spoke up.

"Yeah?"

"You have a little something…" He pointed to the spot on his own face and she wiped her hand across it.

"Oh. Thanks! I'll go wipe it off."

She got up from the table and Dewey started snickering.

"All right, you guys are hilarious," muttered Louie.

"Yes we are, brother dearest," chuckled Dewey.

Della glanced between her middle child and her youngest, taking note of Louie's annoyed glare and putting the pieces together. She grit her teeth in sympathy; Donald had done the same to her when she had a first crush. No matter how confident a person you were, that first time could reduce you to a stammering mess if you weren't careful. June returned to the table, face now grease-free, and Della decided to strike up a conversation.

"So, I've been told a birthday is coming up soon," she stated.

"Yeah!" gasped May. "Our eleventh."

"May and I's eleventh is first, then June's," corrected April. "We started hatching pretty late at night and she was born after midnight."

June rolled her eyes and Louie stared at her.

"Same thing happened with the boys," Donald spoke up. "Louie took the longest to hatch. Dewey kicked half his shell across the room."

Dewey ducked his head in embarrassment.

"Any plans, girls?"

"Not really," sighed June. "It'll probably be the same thing—we see a show for April, go to a used bookstore for May, and for me I'll get a bunch of parts for my skates and I'll be happy. Maybe go to a roller derby if I'm lucky."

"Really? That's all you do for your birthdays?" Dewey snorted. "What about parties with friends?"

"We've never really had friends," May explained. "We've been the Three Musketeers since we were little."

"You have us now, May. And your celebrations are not acceptable this time around because of that." He got up and stood on the table.

"And he's in speech mode," muttered Huey.

"I promise that this year you girls will have the best birthdays ever! And I shall plan your celebration!"

"Dewey, get off the table," Scrooge snapped, coming in the room. "What's this about a celebration?"

"The girls are turning eleven and Dewey wanted to throw them a party since they've never had one before," Della explained.

"Who's paying for it?"

"We have a ton of party supplies from when Huey tried to throw you a birthday party," Dewey told his uncle. "I can use those. We'll even hold it outside so we don't bother you."

"Hm. Make a guarantee that I won't have to pay for anythin' and you got a deal."

"An actual party!" June gasped. "This is gonna be the best birthday ever!"

She smiled at Louie, who couldn't help but smile back.

A couple days later party-planning was in full swing. Huey had taken over the planning aspect, relegating Dewey to DJ and Louie to getting the invitations out. The youngest looked over the list.

Violet, Lena, Boyd, Gosalyn, Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby. Not a bad list, actually.

He walked up to the door of the Drake house and knocked on it. Mr. Drake opened the door and smiled broadly.

"Ah, Louie! What brings you here?"

"I'm here to talk to Boyd."

"I'm afraid he's not here. He's spending the week with Gyro Gearloose, his creator."

"Thanks. I'll just head over and give this to him."

"What is it?"

"It's an invitation to a birthday party. Three of my friends are turning eleven and they're celebrating—"

"What friends?!" Doofus demanded to know, coming to the door.

Do not mention June. Do not mention June.

"Oh, just a few friends. You don't know them. The invitation is just for Boyd."

"But he's a robot! How can he enjoy a birthday?!"

"Doofus…" his father said in a warning tone. "Sorry, Louie. Best of luck to you!"

Louie could hear Doofus complaining as he headed back towards McDuck Manor to ask for a ride to the Bin. More than likely he'd find Boyd there. And he was right. Boyd was working with Doctor Gearloose and Fenton on the Gizmoduck armor.

"Hey!" he greeted them.

"Green Nephew," Gyro replied curtly. "What brings you here?"

"I just have an invitation for Boyd." He gave the robot boy the envelope. Boyd opened it immediately.

"April, May, and June's birthday is coming up? Wow!"

"Who are they?" Fenton inquired.

"Miss Daisy's nieces. They're triplets, too, and they're really nice."

"June's also a big fan of mechanics and engineering," Louie added. "So finding a gift for her shouldn't be a problem. I'll see you there!"

"Oh boy! I can't wait!"

"Wait a moment," Gyro called after Louie. The boy turned to face him. "Parents aren't required to stay at the party, are they? Surely the adults who are directly related to you should be enough."

"Nah. It's fine. All the kids who are coming can take care of themselves pretty well. Bye!"

He headed out of the lab and towards the Sabrewing house, where Violet and Lena accepted their invitations without hesitation and much excitement. Launchpad was given one to give to Gosalyn, though Dewey let Louie know he'd called Gosalyn ahead of time so she knew it was coming in case Launchpad forgot. Which, given the pilot/driver's personality, was a very real possibility.

The day of the party started perfect.

It was a beautiful sunny day. Everyone who was invited was able to make it. The cake had made it to the manor without incident (there was a reason Mrs. B had insisted on picking it up herself). April, May, and June were spending the weekend at the manor yet again, making it pretty clear that it was becoming less about sleepovers and more about a trial run for if Daisy and the girls moved in. Webby, Huey, and Della were finishing up decorating in the backyard. Violet and Lena were first to arrive out of the four guests who didn't live at the manor. Gosalyn arrived with Launchpad not long after.

"Drake was gonna come, but he passed out while making breakfast," she told June. "Lucky I know how to work a stove."

"Aunt Daisy says everyone should know how to cook so they can be independent."

"Yep, that makes sense." Gosalyn looked up at the manor. "You live here?"

"Nope. The boys do."

"I knew Dewey's uncle was rich but this is… wow."

"GOS!"

Dewey ran out and gave her a hug.

"Hey, Dewey! What's up?"

"Nothing much. Hey, I don't think you've been formally introduced to my brothers yet…"

June felt happy as she watched all her friends in the yard. She'd never had so many people celebrate the birth of her and her sisters before and it felt nice to know people cared. Then she felt that darkness approach—the same one she'd felt at the skating competition. Shaking, she turned to see Doofus Drake and Boyd, the latter rushing forward to give her a hug after setting down a small stack of three presents.

"Happy birthday, June!" he told her.

"Thanks, Boyd!" Doofus stared at her. "Um, let me show you where to put the presents so you can say hi to April and May! I need to go talk to Louie."

"Sure!" He followed her, Doofus not far behind.

As soon as she saw Louie, she ran and grabbed his arm, pulling him behind a bush.

"Louie, why is Doofus here?" she hissed.

"I dunno! I gave the invitation to Boyd—oh, wait. Doofus guilted him into letting him come along. That's how Doofus works."

"He's so creepy… he likes smelling my hair." She shuddered. "I think he has a crush on me. Everything is ruined."

"June, don't be ridiculous."

"What, am I not—"

"Hey. Not what I meant. What I mean is it's not all ruined. Look, I'll run interference for you if Doofus starts getting too close. That way, you can enjoy your first big birthday party."

"You mean it?"

"Of course. I know what makes that kid tick and he's been obsessed with me longer than he's been obsessed with you." She knit her eyebrows together with worry. "I'll be fine. I promise."

She pulled him into a hug and noticed his face was bright red.

"Thank you, Louie. It means a lot."

"You're welcome. Now get out there and enjoy yourself. Mom and Penumbra spent some time building a mini half-pipe for you and Gos to enjoy and it's your birthday."

"Technically it's not till tomorrow but yeah. I'll enjoy myself."

She scrambled out from behind the bush and Louie emerged, face still slightly red.

"First kiss?" Lena asked him teasingly.

"Shut up. Not you, too."

"I'd like to think I'm a little more mature than that. Besides, I heard everything. You're lucky none of the adults saw what just happened."

"We're literally eleven."

"She's ten."

"LENA!"

"I'm just messing. Go run interference."

Louie nodded.

Once all the games and fun had been had, it was time for cake and presents.

Louie was honestly relieved. Keeping Doofus from ruining June's birthday wasn't an easy task when your target was as physically huge as Doofus happened to be. June had repeatedly come up and offered to let him have a break but he had a vested interest in keeping the rich boy as far away from June as possible. Maybe it was the way he refused to call June by her actual name and insisted her full name was Juniper. Or maybe it was the fact that Doofus had a storied history of not taking a hint and not taking no for a valid answer. At any rate, Doofus was sat far away from June and cake and presents was Louie's time to take a break and relax.

"Happy birthday to you," sang everyone as Mrs. Beakley brought out the cake. "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear triplets. Happy birthday to you.!"

All three girls blew out their candles and the cake was cut.

"So, best birthday yet, right?" Dewey asked April.

"Yeah. Aunt Daisy's taking us out tomorrow for our yearly traditions, but having today to celebrate with friends was awesome."

"It's like rolling three Nat 20s in a row," agreed May.

"Nerd," coughed Lena teasingly.

"Lena, you're the one who rolled three in a row. I'm still not convinced you didn't use magic."

"I didn't. I can promise that."

Everyone who understood D&D to some extent started laughing. The only exceptions were Doofus and Gosalyn, but that was to be expected. Presents were unwrapped (Louie was glad to see June loved her new wheels; she'd been having issues with her current ones running thin) and the party was basically over for the daytime portion. Boyd and Doofus were the only ones not spending the night since Boyd didn't need sleep and Doofus hadn't been invited in the first place.

As they helped clean up, Louie felt like the first birthday celebration in years at the manor had gone very well. Everyone had fun and he got to make sure June enjoyed herself. All in all, a pretty good day.

"Hey, Louie," she told him before they went inside. Everyone else was already in the manor.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks again for keeping Doofus away from me. I really appreciated it."

"Seriously, it was nothing. You deserved a great first big birthday party and he wasn't going to make that possible."

Before he knew what was happening, June gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"I'd better go change into my pajamas. I'll see you in Webby's room!"

With that June was gone… and so was any hope of Louie's crush being handled well.

Shorter chapter today but it's late and I wanted to give a fluff piece.

Next time we're back to semi-serious.

So long and thanks for all the fish!