A/N: When I heard the song, this scene wrote itself. Song by Ella Fitzgerald.

Max's heart started racing as soon as he opened the front door.

For all the right reasons.

"Hey," he said with a grin. "Everything all right?"

"Absolutely," Gosalyn said, crossing the threshold and kissing him on the cheek. "Are you free for a few hours?"

Max eyed her. "You have that scheming look on your face."

"Told you," Drake said, sending Gosalyn a smirk. Turing to Max, he said, "Thank you for proving that I was right."

Gosalyn rolled her eyes. "Dad thinks I need to be less expressive."

"Your job is based on stealth and the element of surprise," Drake said. "It's not a surprise if your enemies know what you're thinking."

Gosalyn leaned in close to Max. "He's a little cranky. Negaduck is staying at the Tower for a few—"

"Is he okay?" Max asked. It wasn't like the villain to accept charity. Or stay in the Prime Universe any longer than he had to.

"Why do you think I need your help?" Gosalyn asked brightly. Too brightly. Something was wrong.

Maybe Drake wasn't entirely off the mark in wanting his daughter to be more covert.

"Is Goofy around?" Gosalyn asked, not so subtly changing the subject as she glanced around the interior of the house. "We could use all the help we could get."

"He's here," Max said. "And we'll help with whatever you're planning, but I just gotta… you know. Get Dad out of the chimney first."

A moment of silence passed before Drake said, "I'm sorry, what?"

"Dad's stuck in the chimney," Max said. "With our plastic Santa."

"Is he okay?" Gosalyn asked, unwittingly echoing Max's words. Not waiting for an answer, she walked into the living room.

"He's fine," Max called after her. "Just need to get him out."

Drake's left eye started to twitch, which he covered by rubbing at it furiously. "I'm gonna… go get Launchpad," he said, turning and walking back down the driveway to the idling car at the curb.

Max closed the front door and followed Gosalyn's path into the living room where he found her kneeling in front of the fireplace, leaning forward and having a conversation with Goofy. She was laughing, Max's breath catching when she caught his eye and shook her head fondly. Sometimes Max ached with how deeply he felt for her.

Walking up behind her, Max sent her a smile. Gosalyn sat back on her heels and said, "My gear's in the car. I have a grappling hook arrow I can use to repel down into the chimney and tie around Goofy. Then we can pull him out through the top. Someone's gonna have to be in here to catch Santa when he falls, though."

"I can do that," Max said, leaning close to the chimney. "You hear the plan, Dad?"

"Sure did, a-hyuck! Yer girlfriend's mighty clever there, Maxie."

Max glanced at Gosalyn with a smirk. "Oh, she knows."

She rolled her eyes with a smile as she stood. "I'll go tell Dad and Launchpad what's going on. Then you two can come with us for awhile, yeah?"

Max shrugged and called, "We have anything planned tonight, Dad?"

"Not's far as I can remember," Goofy said. "Gosie stayin' fer dinner?"

"She's taking us somewhere," Max said.

"I need your help with something, Mr. Goof," Gosalyn said. "We can talk about it when you're not stuck in a chimney."

"Oh, this has happened before," Goofy said happily. "I don't mind talkin', it passes the time."

Gosalyn glanced at Max who nodded. "It's really not the first time this has happened."

Gosalyn chuckled. "I'll go get my gear."

Max followed her out to the hall, asking in a low voice, "Will you tell me what's wrong once we get Dad out?"

"What makes you think anything's wrong?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Aside from Negaduck staying in Darkwing Tower? You. Drake's right, Gos, you're not good at hiding your thoughts."

"I don't see why that's such a bad thing," Gosalyn muttered, spinning on her heel and opening the front door.

Max reached out and grabbed her hand, stopping her. "I didn't say it was a bad thing," he soothed. "Just that you suck at it."

Gosalyn's beak turned up in a half smile. Squeezing his hand, she said, "I'll tell you. But can I save your father first?"

"I guess." Max pulled her into his chest, giving her a hug. "Thanks."

"Someone's gotta help him," Gosalyn said, affection warming her tone.

"I don't just mean for saving Dad."

Gosalyn nestled further into his embrace before stepping back. "Sap."

"Your sap."

Gosalyn's plan went off without a hitch, Goofy hoisted out the top of the chimney, the plastic Santa falling down into the fireplace once he was free.

After Goofy had changed out of his sooty clothes and grabbed some Christmas cookies for their journey, everyone settled into the car, Launchpad driving them to Duckburg.

"I gotta ask," Drake said, turning around in the passenger seat to look at Goofy. "Why're you already taking down decorations? I'd think you of all people would keep them up past the New Year."

"I do," Goofy said. "But Santy can't stay up after Christmas. His job's done 'till next year. So I take him and the reindeer down early."

Drake shrugged and accepted a cookie when Goofy held out the bag to him.