A Rewritten Family History

I hope this chapter is as fun to read as it was to write


Mark Beaks had just stepped out of the dry cleaners as he inhaled a breath of air. It was going to be a good day, the parrot thought to himself as he made his way down the sidewalk to reach the meter where he parked his segway. Waddle was about to launch a new app which would mean more exposure as well as capital. He was about to whistle a happy tune until his day took a turn as he spotted Gyro Gearloose standing on the opposite side of the sidewalk causing him to roll his eyes. He never liked Gearloose as even though he'd been the founder and CEO of a major tech conglomerate, the other bird was employed by Scrooge McDuck and had all the resources and contacts to go with it… also "Gizmoduck".

Letting out a huff of annoyance he was about to ride off back to corporate when soon he spotted another being joining the scientist who even at a distance he could tell it was a blast from the past...23 years in the past to be precise.


September 1996 :

When given the choice to join his father's soccer team or take cotillion the later was the obvious answer. Sure, spending a couple afternoons a week in a stuffy country club wasn't ideal but for a brief moment he had managed to gain the attention of his fashion magazine mogul of a mother, plus gaining the ability to sweep any future girlfriends off their feet with a dance was an added bonus.

Entering the room for the first time however he began to wonder if being his father's waterboy would have been a better option then his mother's high society aesthetic and then he spotted her across the room. She looked just as awkward as he felt gently biting her bill while she fidgeted anxiously with the headband on her head and he just knew he had to introduce himself to her.

Taking a few steps into her direction he was stopped by a well dressed swan which was to be one of their dance instructors.

"Marcus," she said in an all too excited tone as she placed a hand on his shoulder shuffling him closer toward the girl whose yellow dress shone like the sun, "This is Dumbella."

"Please don't call me that," the girl spat back being met with a head shake from the instructor.

"Ms. Duck," the instructor said as if to compromise, "Will be your dance partner so I leave you to get to know her."

The Swan sauntered away leaving the two teens to silently look at one another before his companion was the one to break the silence.

"I hope you weren't expecting some perfect little princess Marcus was it?" she spoke as she walked around him in a circle as if to assess what she would be working with.

"Mark would be fine" he said curling his beak into a smile as he held his hand out towards her, "Anyway trust me Bella I'm no Prince Charming either, I'm awkward and uncoordinated and I apologize in advance if I step on your feet."

She couldn't help but let out a chuckle at his words before taking his hand to accept the shake.

"That's not my…"

"I know...but what kind of person would ever settle their child with a name like Dumbella, and besides Bella means beautiful in Italian and from where I'm standing you're the prettiest girl in the room."

He watched as her cheeks flushed a crimson shade.

"Okay now let us begin," the Swan said before their conversation could continue.

For the next few months he and "Bella" had gotten to know one another. He had learnt her name actually was Della rather quick but he didn't seem to care. She was smart, funny, beautiful, rich, ambitious….everything he could ever want even though they were only thirteen and for the next six months she was his.

March 1997:

It was the night of the ball and they had long since been presented and shown off some of their etiquette skills and were now dancing.

Mark couldn't help but admire just how amazing his partner looked dressed in her white gown, her hair pulled up in a braid with jeweled hair clips which shined like the stars in the sky.

"You were amazing out there Bella," Mark spoke with a smile.

"And you, never stepped on my toes once tonight."

Mark couldn't help but let out a chuckle as he looked at her. He didn't want whatever it was that was between them to end...in fact he wanted more. He wanted to introduce her to his mother, to have her introduce him to her uncle and brother...but with the cards he was dealt it wasn't meant to be.

"Let's step outside for some air?" he suggested as the song ended causing Della to nod her head as she linked arms with him before stepping out into the courtyard.

"I never thought all those months ago when my uncle informed me that I was to attend cotillion that I actually kind of didn't hate it."

"I'd like to think I was the reason for that."

"I'd like to think that you're right on that assumption Marcus."

Her beak curled into a smile as their eyes locked and his heart began to race. This wasn't how he had wanted this moment to go and he knew what was about to happen would make his words a harder pill to swallow however in the moment he didn't care as he tilted in and gave Della a kiss. It wasn't too intense but it was powerful enough that it took the two teens a brief moment to compose themselves as they pulled back.

"So, does this mean we're a couple now?" she asked as he felt his heart slowly begin to rip as he shook his head.

"I leave for Switzerland in the morning," Mark said in a bittersweet tone, "Going on a family ski trip in the Alps before being unloaded at a Swiss Boarding School...so much for getting on my mother's good side huh."

"Well, you'll always be my first great love," Della said with a smile, "And who knows...one day maybe fate will cause our paths to cross once again."

"I'm counting on it Bella."


Crossing the street he approached the duo catching a bit of their conversation.

"Isn't that a bit excessive?" Gyro's voice spoke.

"I've spent the triplets past eleven birthdays on the moon, let me have this Gearloose."

Gyro let out a chuckle as soon Beaks made it into their general proximity.

"Ciao Bella," he said a smile on his beak.

"What do you.." Gyro began as Della tossed her arms excitedly around the parrot.

"Marcus!" she exclaimed causing Gyro to shake his head.

"No...no...NO!."

Ignoring Gyro's reaction to the moment he looked up towards the duck giving her a once over.

"All these years later and you're still the prettiest girl in the room."

"I'm the only girl here...and look at you…the Swiss mountain air did you good."

"Should I leave to go book you two a room?" Gyro asked with an annoying tone in his voice as he placed a hand on his hip.

Beaks was about to say something snarky about Gyro obviously being jealous when he began to observe the way that Della began to look down toward her left hand and the sparkling sapphire that sat on her ring finger.

"You're my present and my future, just let me indulge in my past for a moment."

Della turned toward Gyro giving the chicken a soft peck on his cheek.

"So, how do you and 'Marcus' know one another anyway?"

"Remember when I told you that Duckworth had Uncle Scrooge send me to take cotillion when I was thirteen."

"Vaguely," Gyro admitted.

"Well, I was her dance partner… and kind of her boyfriend for those six magical months."

"You went to Europe before we had a chance to put a label on it," Della responded with a shake of her head.

True though he liked to imagine that if he hadn't left it would have been the inevitable next step.

"I know, but all these years later I still can't help but think about that kiss."

"You KISSED him!"

Beaks kind of liked the way that for once Gearloose was jealous of HIM even if in the end it was the self righteous scientist who had landed the girl.

"It was years before we met, and honestly you're a much better kisser."

He watched the way that her beak pressed against the chickens in a way that was much more passionate than a couple of inexperienced teens could have ever expressed… now who was the jealous one he thought to himself.

"Well then, I'll leave you two lovebirds be… I've got a meeting about my new app launch in thirty...did I forget to mention I'm the head of a media conglomerate now Bella?.. I'm the richest parrot in the world with a fortune only rivaled by your Uncle Scrooge and Flintheart Glomgold. You should call my people to set up a meeting as I'd love to catch up on the past two decades sometime. And Gearloose… always a pleasure."

With that he crossed the street to get back towards his Segway but not before giving the couple one more glance in the hopes that his presence had caused some kind of crack in their relationship however instead he was met with a picture of their hands intertwined and Della's head rested comfortably on Gyro's shoulder. Well… she could have done worse though he didn't see a wedding band gracing her finger and so deep down there was a faint glimmer of hope.