A/N: For Amelia, who asked for Negaduck and Darkwing banter/teaming up together. And for Flowing Tears who asked for a gift exchange between these boys. I hope you like this one, friends!

Negaduck blinked when the front door opened. Dopewing stood there dressed in his civilian clothes. Looking so normal and suburban.

It never failed to shake Negaduck to his core that Doltwing was so comfortable being Drake Mallard regularly.

Dipwing rolled his eyes. "Gosalyn isn't here."

Negaduck grinned — really, he couldn't help himself — and said, "I'm not here for her."

Doltwing crossed his arms and leaned against the door jamb. "We cannot have an epic 'till the death' fight when you're dressed as me. It's unfair."

"Since when have you cared about fair?" Negaduck sneered.

Dorkwing opened his beak to reply, but another voice cried, "Oh, boy howdy! Darkwing Duck! Here in the suburbs!"

Before he turned to investigate what imbecile was approaching, Negaduck caught a look of fear mixed with annoyance flash across Dumbwing's face. Intrigued, Negaduck glanced over his purple-clad shoulder.

A hulking rotund duck was walking towards them, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, sandals, and shorts even though there was a fresh layer of snow blanketing the streets. Which solidified Negaduck's assumption that he was an absolute idiot.

But.

This Hawaiian shirt duck looked familiar.

"Sure is nice ta meet ya, Mr. Darkwing, sir." He held out a hand, which Negaduck reluctantly took and immediately regretted when he was rattled around like a maraca. "I follow yer escapades when yer on the news." The duck's face screwed up in concentration and he blessedly released Negaduck from his grip. "Which isn't very much, come to think of it."

Negaduck heard Dipwing groan, and it reminded him that he was dressed up as his sappy do-gooder double. And had to act the part.

He pitched his voice higher and tried to wipe off the permanent scowl as he asked, "And you are?" He swept his cape behind him in what he hoped was a dramatic gesture.

"Name's Herb Muddlefoot. I live next ta Drakester."

Drakester? It truly was Christmas after all.

Wait.

Muddlefoot.

Wasn't that the name of the family who used to live next to him in the Negaverse? It was. If Negaduck squinted his eyes and turned his head to the side, he could picture this idiot decked out in black leather and chains. Muddlefoot had had a wife and a kid. A rambunctious tyke who was very into torture. No, wait. There had been two kids. One of them Christine had taken a liking to; the one with glasses and the infernal turtleneck.

As the years had passed and Negaduck's need for privacy had increased, he'd driven everyone from the block, including the Muddlefoots. He hadn't thought about them in years; he wondered where they'd ended up.

"Darkwing was just, um," stuttered Dopewing, his tongue tripping over the lie.

Best to leave these things to the professionals.

"I stopped by to see Gosalyn. She's my apprentice, you know." Negaduck puffed out his chest in pride which, really, didn't take much acting on his part.

"I heard 'bout that! She revealed her secret identity on The Kelly Starling Show." Herb leaned into Negaduck, smiling. "Miss. Starling's Binkie's favorite TV host, she never misses an episode." He stood straight with a sigh. "To think our little Gos-a-roonie's a superhero! Aren't ya proud of her, Drake?"

"Very." The warmth there was unmistakeable.

"So you've been the one trainin' her?" Herb asked, grinning down at Negaduck.

"Sure have."

"Are ya gonna let her have some time off? The Christmas holidays are comin' and I'm sure Drakester wants ta spend time with her."

Well, Drakester was gonna have to get in line.

Negaduck took a breath, biting down the snarl and possessiveness that surged through him. Gosalyn wasn't his alone. He had to share.

"Well, citizen, you know villainy doesn't rest!" Negaduck tossed his head back and placed his fists on his hips in what he hoped was a heroic pose.

"Not even for Christmas?" Herb looked distressed.

"Especially not for Christmas," Dopewing said. Negaduck sent him a glare to which Doltwing rolled his eyes.

"That's a real shame. That why ya haven't decorated the house, Drake?" Herb asked. "Cause Gosie's workin' so much?"

"I did decorate," Dipwing ground out.

He had. There were lights strung along the sides of the house and a wreath on the front door. It was more than Negaduck did.

"Didn't think you were done. Christmas is the time ta really go all out, ya know?" He elbowed Negaduck and the mallard gripped his cape to keep his fingers from digging out the Glock strapped to his side.

Herb glanced back at his house. "Well, best get goin'. Binkie's makin' beef stew fer the game tonight." He smiled down at Negaduck. "Who you rootin' for?"

"I don't have time to watch sports!" Negaduck said, really going for the grandiose melodrama that his double was known for. "There's evil afoot in this fair city of ours and I must be ever vigilant so the daring devils don't desecrate downtown!"

Herb blinked a few times before shrugging. "Guess football's not for everyone. Ya wanna come over to watch the game, Drake-a-roonie? With Gos out helpin' out Mr. Darkwing all night, figure your house will be mighty lonely."

"Thanks, Herb, but I just have so much going on."

"If ya change yer mind, you're always welcome! Nice ta meet ya, Mr. Darkwing! Keep an eye on Gos fer us, will ya?"

Of course he would. Imbecile.

Herb trundled down the driveway in his ridiculous sandals that Negaduck hoped were getting soaked in the snow.

"I do not sound like that," said Dipwing. When Negaduck turned to face him, his arms were crossed over his chest and a scowl darkened his expression.

Negaduck grinned. "Then you've never listened to yourself."

Dorkwing rolled his eyes. "You might as well come in. Don't want all my neighbors to come over here asking Darkwing Duck for advice."

"I don't think anyone would, but whatever makes you feel better." Negaduck walked into the foyer.

Duncewing closed the front door then faced Negaduck. The sweater vest looked even more pathetic in such a domestic setting. "What did you come here for if it wasn't to see Gosalyn?"

"It's for her," Negaduck explained, removing the violet fedora and scratching at his feathers. He was probably allergic to this color scheme. "I need you to keep her away from the Negaverse for a few days."

Dopewing raised an eyebrow. "Why are you suddenly territorial?"

Negaduck bared his teeth. "I've always been territorial."

"Not with Gosalyn." Doltwing furrowed his brow. "Okay, yes you are. I take that back. But why do you want to keep her away?"

Negaduck glanced around the room, comparing the house to his own. He couldn't help it; Dorkwing was a version of him from another universe. It was bizarre to see what his life could have been like if circumstances had been different.

It was tidy but not clean, this house. There were shoes by the front door. The cushions on the couch were askew, a blanket strewn across them proof of a nap that someone had taken earlier that day. It was comfortable, loathe as he was to admit it. The house was lived in, the occupants not only at ease within the confines of the home, but with one another.

Negaduck's house was in better shape now that it had been rebuilt by Gosalyn. It felt more like a home than it ever had. But it wasn't near the levels of comfort that this one was. The benefit of living together for several decades, he supposed.

Duncewing's expression was still skeptical, his eyes studying Negaduck's face.

Negaduck sighed. "It's… it's for Christmas," he spat out, hating that he had to explain himself to the likes of Dipwing Dork.

Understanding dawned on Dopewing's face. "You're setting something up for her."

"Sort of."

"Do you even know how hard that's gonna be, keeping her here?" Dunewing said around a sigh. "She's always thought of rules as suggestions."

"Are you that useless? It's just for a few days. You can't handle this?"

A heavy silence passed between them before Dorkwing said, "I'll need to recruit if you want this to be successful."

"Recruit?" Negaduck bristled. Was Dipwing going to take out an ad? Broadcast it to the whole world? 'Negaduck is celebrating Christmas and is putting together a surprise for some girl who managed to wrap him around her little finger'?

"I am only one man," Dopewing said, already looking exhausted at the prospect of keeping Gosalyn in one universe for the next few days. "I'll need Launchpad. And probably Max. Between the three of us, I think we can manage it. If things get desperate, though, I'll have to tell Scrooge so he can pull her to some fake mission."

Negaduck considered the compromise. The idiot pilot and Gosalyn's boyfriend being in on it did make sense. He wouldn't say he trusted any of them, not even Dorkwing. But they were loyal to Gosalyn. And, in the end, that's all that mattered.

Even Scrooge he couldn't argue. The billionaire had the most pull of all of them, being her employer, and could very easily request her for something she couldn't refuse.

"Fine," he spat.

Duncewing held out a hand, which Negaduck eyed warily. It was one thing to agree on one common goal; they'd done that before to keep Gosalyn safe. But this felt a little too… friendly.

Still.

He'd agreed to help Negaduck. Maybe he owed him this.

Gripping the purple hat, Negaduck flexed the feathers of one hand.

As the doorbell sounded throughout the house.

Negaduck whirled around, mashing the hat onto his head, and snarled, "I swear to God, if that's Muddlefoot, he's gonna die tonight."

Dopewing grinned. "Please don't. I'd hate to be indebted to you for the rest of my life."

Negaduck blinked in surprise as Dorkwing opened the door.

It wasn't Muddlefoot, just Launchbay, arms heavy with shopping bags and oddly shaped packages.

"Thanks, DW!" he said, ducking inside. He paused when he caught sight of Negaduck, but then grinned. "Hey ya, Negaduck!"

Negaduck merely sneered in greeting, which Lilypad took in stride.

"I'm gonna get dinner started. You want anything?"

"I'll eat whatever you're cooking, LP," said Dipwing. "You need any help with those?" He nodded to the packages in Limppad's arms.

"Nah. Some of em are for you. Can't let ya guess what you're gettin' for Christmas!" Lamppod grinned at Negaduck again. "You stayin' for dinner?"

"No," Duncewing and Negaduck said simultaneously.

Lunchpail shrugged his shoulders. "Suit yourself. Nice seein' ya, Negaduck!" With that, he took his leave, awkwardly maneuvering into the kitchen with the packages under his arms.

"Speaking of gifts." Negaduck reached into the purple abomination that was his current cape and handed over a messily wrapped package to Dorkwing.

"No, no, no." Dipwing raised his hands and shook his head. "This can't happen."

"What's the matter, Dorkwing?" Negaduck raised an eyebrow. "Afraid I'll beat you at this gift giving game?"

"Afraid? Ha! Of you? Double ha!" He placed his hands on his hips, puffing out his chest. "No one can beat me; I am the master gift giver." He sneered at Negaduck. "So ha! some more!"

Negaduck grinned slowly. "You were the master gift giver."

"We'll just see about that!" Dopewing snatched the present out of Negaduck's hands and tore into it. His face screwed up in confusion as he studied the small screen.

"I've managed to put microchips into all the villains." Negaduck nodded to the device. "This is a GPS."

Dorkwing's beak dropped open in shock. "What's the rate of accuracy?"

"100%." Negaduck shook his head. "What do you take me for?"

Dipwing turned on the device, his eyes gleaming as he saw small dots appear on the screen. After a few moments, he glanced up. "You're not on here."

"Like I'd tell you where I was all the time, Doltwing. Don't forget to keep Gosalyn here." He grabbed the door handle and twisted it.

Dipwing pushed the front door closed. "What are you doing for her Christmas?"

"Have Gosalyn to tell you about it." He tugged at the door, but it remained shut. Dumbwing was stronger than he looked.

Duncewing frowned. "She doesn't tell me about you."

Negaduck paused, studying his enemy for the lie. Because there was no way Gosalyn kept anything from her father. They were so close and relied on each other for advice and guidance. Dipwing must know everything that had happened to Negaduck and Gosalyn on their adventures.

Some of Negaduck's confusion must have shown on his face because Dopewing shrugged. "I know she's safe with you, but that's about it. She never goes into details about anything else."

Negaduck straightened. "Well, she doesn't tell me any of your secrets either."

His brows knit together, lines appearing on his forehead. "Okay." He looked nonchalant. Almost like it didn't matter.

How could it not matter? How could he be okay with Negaduck potentially knowing all of his secrets, about his most intimate moments with Gosalyn? This was Negaduck, his most hated enemy. He was acting like Negaduck knowing this information wasn't the end of the world.

But it wasn't.

Somehow.

It simply didn't matter to him.

Because he trusted Gosalyn. He knew any information she shared was important.

Negaduck stared at him for a few moments longer before shaking his head and yanking open the door, the chilled night air rushing into the heated house.

"Will you have some kind of signal or something? When it's safe to let Gosalyn go back to the Negaverse?"

Negaduck paused. "I'll ask her to visit. That's how you'll know."

Darkwing nodded, holding the door open. "I can't promise anything. It's Gosalyn, after all. But I'll do my best."

Negaduck nodded once, sharply, and stepped outside.

"Thanks, by the way," said Darkwing, causing Negaduck to pause on the stoop. "For the gift. I'm still the master gift giver. My gift can be used for all types of communication, and yours is just a locator. But it's… it's still pretty good."

Negaduck turned and studied the silhouette of Darkwing. His locator had been a good gift, borne out of spite that it was.

But not only had Darkwing given him the Flashquack. He'd given him Gosalyn. Which Negaduck was just now realizing as he stood on the porch in the Prime suburbs on an evening in December.

Shrugging, Negaduck said, "There's always next year," before disappearing into the night.