A/N: Amelia requested the song, and I had a whole "Negaduck's Christmases before Gosalyn" theme going, so it fit perfectly.

Prime Universe

The alarms wailed and Drake groaned, rolling over onto his stomach and stuffing his head underneath his pillow. It helped to muffle the blaring sirens, but did nothing for his headache, which was still pounding relentlessly just behind his eye sockets.

When silence didn't come a few moments later, the alarm now pulsing in sync with his headache, Drake rolled out of bed and stomped down the stairs.

"Gosalyn Mallard!" Drake yelled to be heard over the alarms and glared down into the living room where his daughter stood next to the tree, a present in hand.

Drake ground his teeth as he marched over and disabled the alarm. He reveled in the blessed silence, his headache momentarily soothed, before whirling to face the small girl, hands on his hips and a scowl on his face. "If you take another step towards this tree today, I will personally donate all of your presents to the Muddlefoots! Is that clear, young lady?"

Gosalyn winced slightly at the young lady jab. Good. Maybe that would get her to actually listen. Nothing else had been effective enough to keep her prying eyes and itchy fingers away from the piles of gifts under the tree.

Drake suppressed a groan as his headache resumed pounding against his skull.

"I wasn't gonna look at any of my presents. I was putting your present under the tree," said Gosalyn, her eyebrows furrowing in frustration. She held up the messily wrapped package in her hands.

The irritation immediately drained out of Drake and he was warmed by the idea of Gosalyn wrapping a present for him. The paper was torn in a few places, the tape curling in on itself, but it wasn't half bad, really. She'd even used the new wrapping paper he'd gotten this year to keep with the theming.

Maybe he had overreacted.

A little.

He blamed the headache.

"Sorry, sweetie," he said, smiling at her. "Guess I should try to sleep off his headache, huh?"

"Or you could take medicine," Gosalyn said, tucking the package under an arm as she observed him.

"Mind over matter, Gosalyn. If I believe this isn't the worst headache I've ever had, then it won't be." He winced as his head throbbed with a new level of intensity. Massaging his temples, he admitted, "Though, maybe this time I can throw some ibuprofen in the mix."

Gosalyn shook her head before glancing back at the tree. "So, can I put my present under the tree now?"

Drake checked that the alarm was truly off before smiling. "Of course."

She bounded over to the tree and placed the package underneath another, carefully arranging them. Studying the pile, her eyes gleamed. "Can't wait 'till I get to open all of these."

"When we get to open them. Not all of the presents are for you," Drake gently corrected, walking over to stand behind her and admire the tree. Gosalyn was still young enough to be caught up in what her Christmas gift haul would look like rather than appreciating what the holiday stood for. "And you'll have to wait until Christmas morning. Not a moment sooner."

"Yeah, yeah," Gosalyn said, waving him away. She eyed the gifts one more time before sighing. "Can I go play outside?"

"As long as you wear your heavy coat, a hat, and mittens."

Gosalyn rolled her eyes but left the room in a sprint, barreling up the stairs.

Drake winced at the noise and headed to the kitchen, where a supply of ibuprofen was kept, and quickly downed as many pills as he could safely take in one dosage. Heading back into the living room, he stretched out on the couch, hoping the pills were fast acting.

Gosalyn pounded down the stairs, her winter boots louder than her usual shoes, and flung herself outside, practically slamming the door in her excitement.

Drake rolled over onto his side, fingers massaging his temples once more.

There were times, such as these, when he longed for the silence Darkwing Tower used to provide. Back when he was alone.

He'd adapted to bachelorhood beautifully. Keeping the Tower in orderly chaos, coming and going as he pleased, eating whatever he wanted, and sleeping as long as he needed. No one was there to judge him, or ask what he'd done with his time. It didn't matter if he watched TV all day and ate nothing but cheesy puffs and Coo-Coo Cola.

It was what he'd always dreamed for his future; living alone by his own rules. Not giving a fig about whatever holidays were approaching because he didn't have to worry about impending family dinners where everyone asked what his marital status was or how work was going.

He never had to explain why he kept odd hours, or why he came home with injuries all the time, or worry about being disturbed when his brain mercilessly tried to kill him.

The medicine did, eventually, help. His pain was reduced to lighter and lighter aches until it was gone completely. Drake breathed in relief and uncurled himself from the couch, stretching before glancing at the tree.

Christmas had been easier back then, too. In that he hadn't celebrated it, so he didn't worry about buying presents, or decorating a tree, or making holiday foods.

But Christmas wasn't meant to be spent alone, and he was understanding that more and more every Christmas that passed with Gosalyn.

Seeing her face light up on Christmas Day as she opened all her gifts was enough proof. Watching her play with her new sports gear or on the latest gaming console. He was proud of that present in particular. The console had been sold out for weeks, but he'd managed to acquire one before the mad dash of holiday shoppers.

Searching for the box, he grinned as his eyes came across it.

But it was replaced with a frown a moment later when he noticed the wrapping job. The curling tape, the small tears.

Her placement of the gift had been weird; he should never go against his gut.

It wasn't a present for him.

She'd just re-wrapped the gift he'd gotten for her after peeking at what was inside.

He was halfway to the door, intent on dragging her inside and demanding an explanation before grounding her until Christmas when he stopped.

Let her think she was in the clear. They could always talk later tonight after she'd had her outdoor fun. He needed to catch her unawares.

Drake went back and grabbed the package before turning the tree alarm on again. He headed into the kitchen and placed the ill-wrapped present on the table where Gosalyn would be sure to see it once she came back inside. They would have a little discussion and then he would ground her until Christmas.

Pulling out a pot, Drake dumped the leftover stew into it and turned on the stove.

Darkwing Tower had been an easier way of life. He hadn't needed to work so much. Over everything. All the time.

But it had been lonely. Especially at this time of the year, when family and togetherness was emphasized so much.

Even with all the headaches — literal and Gosalyn-induced — he was glad to not be spending this holiday by himself anymore.

No, it went beyond the holidays.

He was glad not to be alone anymore.

Even if that girl was aging him prematurely.

—…—…—…—…—…—…—…—

The Negaverse

Slinking around the corner of a blown-out shopfront, Negaduck stilled. Listening.

There it was.

Floating on the currents of the wind.

Christmas music.

Coming from the old apartment building down the street.

What an obvious place to hide. Where was the ingenuity? The turning something innocuous into a home? He'd be disappointed if he wasn't so eager to catch them.

No.

He took that back.

He was still disappointed.

They were making this too easy.

Edging down the street, Negaduck pulled out his chainsaw. He kept it in hand as he entered the building. Climbed up the creaking stairs, half of it sinking into itself.

The music echoed around the building, songs from a lifetime ago floating through the musty air and filling the cracks and crevices of the long-destroyed building.

There were Christmas decorations on the door. Blue sparkling lights and silver tinsel. Whoever had invented blue Christmas lights needed to die a thousand deaths. It was unnatural, to see those hanging next to more traditional decorations.

He crept down the hallway, grinning as he came up to the door.

Gripping his weapon, Negaduck kicked the door in and revved the chainsaw to life.

Screams joined in with the roar of the chainsaw and the crooning of the songs.

But it wasn't who he'd been expecting.

There wasn't a small girl with red curls. No foursome imbeciles as her body guards.

Just a young couple, cowering behind a Christmas tree in the corner of the room.

Infuriated that he'd wasted all this time, Negaduck prowled forward, snarling, "I don't know what part of 'no Christmas decorations' you didn't understand, but I'm gonna make sure you're never gonna forget it."

Swinging his chainsaw, he cut the tree to ribbons, the lights sparking as their electricity was cut off and ornaments popping when they came in contact with the blades.

When he glanced up from the splinters of the tree, the shattered remains of the decorations, the couple was gone.

Which was fine. He hadn't been after them anyway.

Negaduck hadn't really been after her, either.

He'd just been on patrol when the music had assaulted his ears. And he'd, incorrectly, assumed that she'd be here. Hiding from him, but still eager to celebrate. She'd loved the holiday so much and was the only one who'd have the gall to put up the stupid decorations.

But it seemed there were others in the Negaverse who were willing to go against his rules in solidarity for the holiday.

Idiots.

It wasn't worth it.

The holiday that was all about giving gave nothing back.

Whipping out his matches, he lost no time in setting the place on fire before leaving it.

Negaduck stood on the street opposite the apartment building, watching as it was consumed by the flames.

He'd been stupid to think the girl would stick around. She was long gone. Her and those no good Dipwing knock-offs.

Negaduck was better off without them.

Without her.

She'd weighed him down. He hadn't even wanted her in the first place; just hadn't been able to drive her away. The obnoxious kid had all but clung to him after the murder of her grandfather.

Which was dumb. He was a stranger. Who in their right mind would look at him and think "guardian"?

Shaking off his thoughts before they became too dangerous, Negaduck glanced down the street, wondering if there were more bold citizens who had decorated for the holiday. He hadn't been searching for decorations when he'd set out that night, but he wouldn't mind a hunt.

Revving his chainsaw, he took off, keeping a weather eye for anything remotely Christmasy.