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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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S3: Chapter 2 – Mistaken Matchmaker (Della)

Beta-Reader: Ant0nius

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Being back in the Dating Scene was not how Della envisioned her life to turn into once she returned back to Earth but... she held no regret whatsoever in that regard.

Sure, this may be a teensy bit rushed due to how long it's been since she had a social interaction that held depth, but the formidable duck was hardly someone that ran from good challenges... but perhaps she had a good reason to be nervous about this.

And it all started with a rather innocent question from Webby?

"If you marry dad, would that make us our mom too?"

Silly as it was, Della was left a bit... confused. Sure, that could be a development. But the issue was not found in the 'yes or no' question. It was within the overall circumstance on how she would handle two more kids.

"It's just... I feel I could do a bad job. I've been struggling with my own sons, and I don't want to disappoint the girls by being a mother that only favors some of my children over others."

Talking with Penumbra while patching up the Cloudchaser proved to be somewhat beneficial if not for a very simple fact.

"And? It's not like they are your own kids."

She was quite blunt and narrow-minded at times. But not for the bad reasons.

"They are my responsibility-"

"It still doesn't change the fact they are not your daughters. Legally? Sure, maybe so. But would it be wrong for you to favor your sons more?"

"...I think it would."

"Ugh, if you think so then why are we even talking about it? You sounded like you were doubting and-"

"I just feel like I can mess things up a lot," Della admitted strongly, surprising Penumbra with that interruption. "I know I can work it, but that doesn't stop me from being frightened by what sort of issues I create while trying to reach out to them."

"Then you're an idiot, Della Duck," The taller female rebuked flatly. "You, someone that had survived on the moon for years, think that it will be impossible to handle such a matter in due time? Preposterous."

"I'm just saying-"

"Are you alone in this?"

"N-No," The struggling mother admitted, knowing she had John, her brother- her entire family supporting her so she was not truly alone about this. "It's just that-"

A hug was not something she expected to be given by Penumbra. A tight one that made her tense up a bit and her heartbeat quicken up? Yep, this caught poor Della off-guard.

"Quiet, just think for once. Stop being... so stupid."

That wasn't nice...

But it was also fair. Della was not shy about her own tendency to make things bigger than they seemed. She blamed her anxiety as it had gotten worse during her stay on the moon, with only the meds keeping it under check at times and... giving her some of that mental clarity she had back when she was younger.

"I guess I should be less silly about this."

That was a starting point for sure, but not an easy one to obtain. It was going to take time and effort, but she was confident now she had some strong support behind her chance to make it happen. Not just for herself, but for her... 'daughters'. It was going to take a while to fully stomach this, and she had to admit that John had mentioned something like this when he told her how the kids started to call him 'dad'. It wasn't something he forced on them, it was something they came to see as a thing.

There were good reasons to not push it through a legal 'obligation' and making it more of a natural circumstance. After all, Webby had sounded excited by the prospect, so the chances of making it work were quite high. But while this thought was getting pushed aside, Della's focus was brought back on the still unfolding hug and... her mind wandered to two-three awkward thoughts.

One was on how strong Penumbra was as shown by her muscles, the second thought being about how touchy-feely Penumbra was around her compared to weeks ago and... the third one was a rather embarrassing and shameful thought that had only gotten stronger ever since she spoke with John and he told her a few things about... what he did before tying up with her.

Curiosity was a double-edged knife when tackling adult topics, but Della didn't expect John to tell her that Serene had approached him... too. It was no secret between them now that Della too had entertained intimacy with the Goddess of the Moon- as briefly as that may have been, both could agree that it created a rather odd circumstance: how open could they be?

After all, Della had no issue in Selene asking for intimacy and John was not shy about this too. But how far should this extend to? In fact, this very dilemma stemmed more from Penumbra herself and the way she... looked at John like.

"Penumbra... c-can I ask you a rather personal question? I don't mean like, you know, how are you but... I couldn't help but notice that you have been... eyeingsomeoneintenselyquiterecently."

...

"What?" The young woman asked, slightly pulling away as to free her friend's beak from her chest.

Della's blush broadened to her full face as she knew that she had to repeat herself in a more concise manner. It was already awkward to think about this, it was only going to get worse from now on.

"I am just saying that I have seen you look at someone quite... strongly. In recent times, that is."

...

The alien girl looked tense. "Is that... so?"

"Well, it gets a bit easy to spot after a while but... I have been thinking about this. You know, we are friends- close friends and I trust you a lot."

Penumbra looked... giddy. "S-Sure? What is it? What were you-"

"I wouldn't mind if you asked John out!"

"...What?"

It was the flattest 'what' Della had ever heard before.

"I-I mean, you have been looking intensely at John, so it's fair to think that you like him and... and I wouldn't mind if you two had a date or something... yeah."

...

"You think that I- That I want a relationship with that human?"

Della nodded, and she saw a rather strange look on Penumbra's face. It was one of those 'difficult to read' ones where so many emotions morphed around her expressions, mimicking a storm of feelings turbulently cracking at her mind. It was shock, annoyance, unease and... resolution.

"I suppose I can talk with him. In private. But I have to say you are slightly wrong about this."

The pilot tilted her head at this, unsure of what to do with that last bit.

"What do you mean?"

Penumbra pursued her lips. "That's a secret."

And one that Penumbra planned to share only with John the next time they met.

AN

A lemon is at work! But Penumbra is not... Bi. I will just say that.

Still, Della's uncertainty in fitting in this complicated position will ultimately find clarity through an event that will form an 'AU' to this story. Nothing I plan to write just yet, but it's an option for a more 'easygoing' and not too 'railroaded' sidestory.