I really wanted to share this chapter! It's set 2-3 years into the future. So Lena is apparently 17 to 18. This is part one! (I might publish in between another chapter set chronologically before this one, but we'll see) Enjoy!

Perhaps if Della had a real concept of time and a normal sleeping schedule, the fact of receiving a call at two a.m. would have unnerved her, but instead, she picked up her flip phone and heard some words along the lines of "Accept the incoming call"

When it was patched through, she heard no other than the voice of her oldest, non-blood-related, child.

"Della, I need you to pick me up"

"Lena?" She asked aback, her voice sounded drowsy even though she wasn't really sleeping "where are you kiddo? You can't move with the shadows?" she asked, suddenly concerned, since she only avoided that means of transportation when she felt distressed.

"I...could," she said carefully "but that would only make it worse" she waited for a beat "I'm at the police station"

Della sat up in a jolt "Lena!" she covered her mouth after shouting out loud, reminding herself others were sleeping.

"It's-it's nothing that bad," the teen said on the other side sounding apologetic.

"Okay, hold tight, I'm on my way," she said as she threw her aviator jacket on, grabbing the keys of her car.

"Thanks" Lena sounded relieved.

"Don't thank me yet" Della warned "I'll be there in 15"

Luckily, at two a.m. there is usually no traffic, Della found out as she made it to the station. She raced to the entrance, going to the front desk "I'm here to pick up Lena-" she hesitated, she wondered which last name she should give, especially because theirs wouldn't match, how was she supposed to show they were even slightly related?

"Della Duck" a voice called from the end of the room as the pilot gazed back at her.

"Officer Cabrera"

"It's okay, Benny. I'll take it from here" the woman said, walking up to the desk.

Della could feel a bit of tension hanging in the air "How's Fenton?"

"No longer single" she answered "How's Donald?"

"No longer single" she answered back as both chuckled lightly.

Cabrera finally reached for a folder, putting it on the table "You came to pick up Lena"

"Yeah" she nodded, just about to ask what was she in for, but the officer frowned.

"Forgive me if I am wrong, but as far as my memory serves me, you have three boys, this one is not yours"

Della pinched the bridge of her beak trying to find the words to explain it "Not...on paper" she finally said, opening her eyes only to find a very struck officer. Della cleared her throat feeling awkward.

"You know? I'm close friends with Indy Saberwing, he fostered a lot of kids over the years, I was expecting him to come and pick her up"

Della averted her eyes "Well, me too" she admitted "but the kid called me"

"So she doesn't want to have problems at home" Cabrera folded her arms "I can't let it slide like that, Indy-"

"I'll tell him" Della interrupted "make no mistake, I'm not her easy way out of here," she said determinedly.

Cabrera raised a brow quite honestly impressed, she inspected her up and down before nodding, as if judging and deciding she was trustworthy "Very well, there is a fine to be paid, by the way. Normally I would let her slide with a warning, but she's on the record" she pulled a second folder, a much larger one "Of course, back then she used another surname, several others, actually"

Della gazed at it with awe, not even in her most rebellious teenage years had she managed to get that many encounters with the law "What are they for?"

Cabrera flipped it open, going through the pages "Some minor theft, illegal trespassing, destroying private property, even some incidents with a boarding school" she closed the file "no need to say she could go to juvenile if she doesn't watch it"

Della inhaled, closing her eyes, clearly, there was a lot she still didn't know about the teen, a whole part that belonged to her life before her addition to the family "I'll talk to her" she said, going through her purse and pulling out a credit card under Scrooge's name, he would never notice "I'm guessing this isn't tax-deductible?" she smirked hading it over.

Cabrera snorted "Bring Lena Saberwing, please," she said over her shoulder at a guard as she made the transaction.

"Thank you," Della said softly "I know this is unconventional and you are probably bending the rules here, I appreciate it"

The older woman kept quiet, gazing at her more intently "I know the struggles of motherhood" she finally said "I just didn't expect Lena to be part of yours"

Della shrugged, hugging herself "It's...not exactly a publicly open topic" she admitted.

"Off the record" she assured as the door opened behind them and the teen came into view. Her clothes were shredded, her hair was messy and her overall image was not great. Della wanted to ask just what had happened, but as soon as Lena saw the all too familiar vanilla folder on the table she turned considerably paler and avoided Della's sight at all costs.

"Okay, you can go, pero no quiero volver a verte detenida en mi estación, ¿entendido?" Cabrera warned, if she saw her a second time in the station, she wouldn't be as lucky to walk out.

"No volverá a pasar" she muttered back, she had no intention of getting picked up again.

"Let's go," Della said as Lena was handed her belongings, nothing but her phone and a blanket. That somehow pieced something together as the teen rapidly texted someone.

After they left the station Lena spoke up "Thanks for coming, I-I can find my way home" she said in an attempt to get off the hook.

"Get in the car," Della said, taking off her own jacket and throwing it at her to put over her torn hoodie "I answered for you back there, you'll have to answer some of my questions"

Lena dropped her sight, fixing it over the aviator, but nodded.

"Okay, let's go"

"Where to?" Lena asked cautiously slipping into the jacket.

"I'm thinking the cafe near the beach, it's the only place that's open 24 hours"

As long as it was not home, Lena would go anywhere.

The place was almost as empty as the streets themselves, only some drivers on their way to deliver were there enjoying a cup of coffee.

They sat on a booth, finding the place to be quiet and softly illuminated, making it a bearable surrounding for both as the waitress handed them the menu "Welcome, I'll be back in a few minutes to take your order"

"Thanks"

Lena curled into her seat, taking as little space as possible, still unable to look Della in the eye, so the pilot allowed a moment of silence as she decided what to order. After the pause had gone for a tad too long, she gazed at the teen.

"I'm going to ask this once," she said, managing to get Lena's attention "Is Webby safely back at the manor?"

Lena's eyes went wide, her beak opened ajar but she couldn't find a response "I- she wasn't-, how-?"

"Come on kid, you wouldn't go on a midnight stroll on your own. You texted her as soon as you got your phone back, right? Plus, you had a blanket with you, but you don't particularly mind the cold, should I keep going?"

Lena leaned into the table hiding her blushing face behind a palm "She is" she finally said "She's okay, the cops didn't see her" she swallowed hard "Are you...going to tell...Mrs. Beakley?"

Della hadn't thought of that "Oh, Lena!" she groaned, running a hand down her face "She's going to be in so much trouble! I can't not tell Mr.s B!"

Lena's shoulders dropped, she knew the pilot had to, it was the responsible thing to do, she just didn't want the pink duckling to get grounded on her account.

Della exhaled loudly "Just what were you two doing?!"

The fact that Lena turned her face away made her regret asking, she knew better than to pry into the teen's feelings.

"Stargazing" Lena finally answered. Della was shortly aback, so she turned to the window, looking up at the night sky.

The older duck sighed about to say something else when the waitress arrived.

"Have you decided what you want to order yet?"

Lena didn't move an inch.

"Well have an order of french fries and two chocolate milkshakes, thank you" Della handed the menus back.

Once alone again, Della tapped her fingers on the table, noticing the bad shape Lena's clothes were in. She grabbed a napkin leaning in to clean the girl's cheek "Did they roughed you up?" she asked, "when they detained you" she further explained.

Lena stole a quick glance, taking the napkin and cleaning herself up "No. They didn't even push me inside the car. I was already like this when they picked me up"

Della frowned "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

"Would it matter if I did?" Lena folded her arms leaning away, pushing herself against the seat "You already saw my police record, and that's only what's on Duckburg"

Della realized where her resistance was coming from, why she was being shut down so abruptly "I wouldn't think any less of you if you told me" she said gently "And I don't see you any different now than before knowing you had a file"

"File?" she repeated "I have a whole library," she said bitterly through a dry laugh.

Della gazed at her sadly "Do you want to tell me about those?" she asked softly.

Lena recoiled as though she had been punched in the gut "Why?"

"I don't know" she mumbled "So you can tell your side of the story?" she offered gently "I'll listen, we both know I have no moral ground to judge anyone's decisions"

Lena waited for a heartbeat, something lingering inside her eyes "You...won't tell...them?"

"No one at the manor will know this coming from me" she assured.

Lena tugged at the threads of the sleeve of her torn-out grey hoodie, the same she had bought with Della over a year ago "I...I never meant to...it's not that I wanted to, I just...had to..." she traced back "I was...trying to survive" she mumbled.

"Here's your food" the waitress put down the plate and two drinks "Enjoy"

"Thanks" Lena mumbled, taking a fry and biting on it slowly.

Della waited for her to continue "Survive what, honey?" she prompted her to keep going.

"I was...hungry," she said with little voice, tears at the edge of her eyes as she swallowed her bite "other times I just wanted a place to pass the night" she clenched her fists "and I couldn't let myself be picked up by child services, I couldn't waste any time, I had to keep moving..."

Small details started to fall into place, charges of theft on the account of stealing food, trespassing as means to have a roof over her head, running from the law, from help itself... It all summed up to one common element, Magica.

"I wasn't supposed to need anything" she gestured at herself "yet I had a body to keep alive"

She was a shadow that wasn't meant to require anything, for the same reason Lena never learned how to ask for things, for help even.

Della reached for her hand, only then did Lena noticed the tears were already rolling out of her face. She pulled away hugging herself "So, there you have it" she sniffed looking outside the window.

Della sighed slowly, gazing outside too, she found the scenery to be soothing "I can see why you wanted to share the sight with Webby, it's such a lovely night"

"It doesn't matter" Lena mumbled sourly "I'm still no different from before" she ducked her chin against her chest.

"Let's hear it," Della said.

"What?"

"What happened this time?" she prompted, "you say it was no different, so what did you do? Take food? Break-in somewhere?"

"No!" Lena refuted slamming her hands on the table, standing up "And I would never drag Webby along something like that! Not again and not willingly!"

Della smiled "I know," she said softly "and that's exactly why I don't think you are being a fair judge of character with yourself right now. So tell me, what happened?"

Lena realized what Della was trying to do, so she sighed and dropped back into her seat.

"You were stargazing, then what happened?" Della traced back.

Lena folded her arms "Trouble, as per usual" she exhaled "Beagle Boys" she mumbled.

Della raised a brow "They attacked you?"

"We... don't have a great history with them" Lena offered "They weren't even supposed to be a struggle!" she threw her hands up "we've encountered them so many times before and have fought bigger foes and still when they spotted us at the beach I was so...mad!" she ran a hand down her hair "Webby's been going to so many adventures lately and I know all the nerds at the manor are applying early for college and...I just wanted to spend some time together!" she held her head, resting her elbows on the table "So when they interrupted, I lost it," she said, "my magic went haywire and I brought down a wall from the abandoned storehouse" she exhaled "right on top of all of us" she added, "I managed to cast them away, no one got hurt, not even the Beagle Boys, they scrambled after that" she huffed "I got caught up in some of the debris, nothing major, but I sure put on a show, because the sirens started flashing, a car on patrol clearly saw or heard all the commotion. So, when they closed in I told Webby I would handle it. I was the one that made the mess, after all" she exhaled sharply "so, there you have it. Destruction of private property. They thought I put on an explosive device or something, but there was no trace of gunpowder or anything. Luckily, Officer Cabrera knows me a little too well to know about my magic, so she filed my report under something minor"

Della waited a moment before leaning in and gently grabbing her shoulder "Then this is nothing like before"

Lena chuckled dryly "Did you miss the part in which I destroyed something with my magic?"

"I was paying more attention to the fact that you stayed to face the consequences"

"What?"

"The Lena from before would have gone with the shadows and disappear altogether into the night. But you waited for the police, you didn't run away from your actions, even if they were unintentional"

Lena blinked, she hadn't realized that "It's not like if I thought it was the right thing, I just did it"

"Exactly. That's your nature now. You didn't do it because you thought it would show you were a good person, you did it because that's what felt right"

Lena gazed back down at her hands rubbing them together "But I'm also the one that created the mess, I couldn't control it"

Della tilted her head "Your magic has been getting stronger" she pointed out "You have been growing up, we should have expected your powers to do so as well"

She hid her hands under the table "I could become dangerous"

"You could become a greater sorceress" Della refuted "you just need to learn how to harvest it properly"

"Not a lot of help I can get on that department, last time I had Magica teach me anything it was because Phantom Blot threatened her existence as well"

"You are not going anywhere near her," Della said severely "We'll find someone else"

Lena exhaled, it was a long shot to find her a teacher.

Della waited a moment before leaning in "It's been keeping me awake too," Della said under her breath. Lena gazed up, meeting her eyes "college" she explained "they are all leaving"

Lena collapsed within herself, resting her head over her folded arms.

"Oh, sweetie" Della patted her hair "It's okay, we'll get to see them, they'll visit, we can go too"

"Violet got accepted" she blurted out "today" she mumbled "our dads were so proud about it" she swallowed hard "and of course I am too! But- but she'll leave as well. They all are. They are super smart, each on their own thing, any university would be lucky to have them"

Della gently brushed her pink streak of hair to a side "Have you thought about applying too?"

Lena sighed "What for? I'm already packed with information and it's not like there's a major on mysticism I can take, college is not for me" she sat up straight "I'm not just saying this right off the bat, Indy and Ty already sat me down to talk about it"

Della hummed her response.

"So I basically don't have a plan" she chuckled dryly "Everyone else seems to have it all figured out and after two years of being free from the Shadows I still have no clue as to what to do with my freedom"

"Honey, no one has anything figured out," Della said softly "The boys are scared out of their minds too," she said "they have never been apart, they do everything together and now they are all going in different directions. They don't know what's going to happen, if they'll see it through, change majors, or what to do afterward. And that's fine, no one is expecting them to figure it out just like that. It's a process, it's an adventure"

"Then am I missing out?"

Della shrugged "I can't tell you that. Besides, it sounds like you already did some self-exploration, you have good instincts, follow them"

Lena grabbed her milkshake taking a long sip before tentatively looking up "Thanks, Mom"

"I've got you, kiddo" she ruffled her hair, still calling her by the nickname even when the proof of how much time had passed was sitting right across from her "Now, about tonight's little incident..." she traced back "Officer Cabrera went easy on you, I know your past actions weren't entirely your own, but you have to promise you'll be careful. You can't sneak out like that, you are not on your own anymore, your parents would be worried sick if they waked up to find out you are missing. Besides, every crime-boss in this city knows who you are and who you are allied to, all of you kids should be particularly thoughtful of that situation, you are targets"

"I know, I-I wasn't thinking straight, I just wanted to see Pink," she said tugging her friendship bracelet "tonight was on me, won't happen again," she said in all seriousness "I'll-I'll pay you back whatever the fine was"

Della took some fries "Don't worry too much about the fee, it was Scrooge's card, but you have to come clean to Indy and Ty about this"

Lena swallowed hard "Let me handle that, I don't want to steal Vi's thunder" she pushed her empty drink aside.

She nodded, checking the clock on the wall. It was well past three thirty "Let's get going, then" Della stood up leaving a bill on the table.

Della waited outside the Saberwing's residence as Lena teleported inside to wake up her dads personally to avoid making a big scene that would disrupt her sister's slumber. After a couple of minutes, the entrance opened and both husbands walked outside on their night robes with Lena in tow. They seemed surprisingly alert and lucid for just having woken up.

"Della" Ty stretched a hand.

"Hey" she mumbled back.

"Lena told us you had to pick her up from the police station" Indy shot a warning glance over his shoulder to his oldest daughter.

"Yeah, she had quite the night" she answered "It's okay, Officer Cabrera cleared her"

"We can't thank you enough," Ty said.

"It won't happen again" Indy added "And we expect to be on the loop"

Lena averted his gaze, shrugging "Sorry. I'll take whatever punishment, just don't tell Vi"

"We'll talk about it at a better time, get inside"

Lena sighed, taking off the jacket and handing it back "Goodnight, Della. Thanks for picking me up and delivering me to justice" she gestured to her house.

She smirked putting the aviator "Goodnight, honey"

She walked next to Ty before stopping on her tracks "About Tea Time" she turned around "I'll tell her myself. Just give me a couple of hours, okay?"

Della was impressed "Of course," she said and Lena visibly relaxed as she followed her dad and disappeared behind the door.

Indy rubbed his face sighing "I'm sorry Della, she should have called us"

"It's okay, Indy" she patted his arm "I was up anyways"

"Still, she should have told us-!" he cut himself off. It was hard to admit that sometimes he thought the girl saw Della as more of a parent than them. The pilot removed her hand, giving him a moment "I'm sorry" he said "I know she cares a great deal for you too, I'm just-" he exhaled "things have been shifting at home"

"I heard congratulations are in order. Violet got accepted" she said gently and Indy's smile softly took over his features.

"Yeah, we are so happy" he mumbled proudly.

"You should" she nodded before risking saying it "I know it's not really my place to say, but...maybe cut Lena a bit of slack? She's not acting out, she's trying to face change, people close to her are leaving"

Indy gazed down "I've heard your boys will be hearing news too, right?"

"Webby included," she said.

That clicked "Lena" Indy mumbled understandingly, running his hand through his hair, thinking it through "She should have said something"

"I think talking of it scares her, makes it more real"

Indy understood, when they first presented the idea of legally adopting her she avoided the topic, not because she didn't want to be part of the family, but because it frightened her it would become a reality, and saying it out loud felt like jinxing it.

"She's still grounded, though," Indy said.

"I know, she shouldn't have sneaked out" she agreed on that "but what happened with her magic was an accident"

Indy didn't need to be reminded of how volatile his daughter's power could be, more so, he didn't want her to feel ashamed or scared of them "I'll talk to her in the morning"

Della nodded "Okay, goodnight"

"Goodnight, Della. Thanks for bringing her home"

"Anytime" she smiled heartedly.

By the time she made it back to the manor, the sun was already rising through the horizon and sleep finally lured her in. She took off her jacket and felt like kicking off her metal leg too, if not for the fact she would have to hop up the staircase.

So she dragged herself to the first step when the British woman walked down the hallway "You are awake awfully early"

Della straightened her posture "Sure am" she smiled trying to disguise how tired she really felt.

"Would you care for a cup of coffee, perhaps?"

Della frowned at the idea "I think I'll pass" she started walking up the stairs.

"I'm guessing you took Lena back to the Saberwing's residency without a hitch?"

Della turned around shocked "How did-?!"

"Lower your voice, dear. We don't want to wake anyone up"

Della walked back down as the former spy handed her a cup of tea, instead "Webbigail all but barged into my room confessing everything" she explained and Della almost chuckled to herself, that sounded like something the pink duckling would do "I decided to call the station to make sure she was alright, but Officer Cabrera told me she had already made her call and that you had picked her up"

Della dropped her shoulders "Of course she told you" she exhaled looking at a side "the kid was going to call you later to explain everything herself" she said.

"Was she?" Beakley asked surprised.

"Yeah, guess there's not much of a point to do that anymore"

Beakley pondered "Well if you wouldn't mind, I would like to receive that call," she said.

Della smiled softly "sure, my lips are sealed" she took a sip of the tea feeling the warmth relax her "how severe were you with Webby?"

Beakley sighed rather loudly "Waking up in such a jolt surely made me think the situation was far worse" she admitted "she's most definitely grounded, but the fact she came to me is reassuring"

Della nodded, fidgeting with her mug "She knows she can rely on you"

"Same could be said about Lena and yourself" Beakley provided.

Della chuckled "I think I was a bit more of a safe bet for her to make, I don't have the authority to ground her"

Beakley gazed at her intensely "I think the fact she called you speaks volumes of how much of an authority you represent to her"

Della frowned "I don't get it"

"Who could she have called?"

"Indy or Ty, obviously" she pointed out "they're her parents"

"And you took her to them, right?"

"Well yeah, Lena must have known I was bound to do that"

"That's my point, dear" she said "in the end, they would have to find out about it, but she could have kept it a secret from you. There was no need for you to be involved and still, she rather have you hear it from herself than finding out any other way"

Della's smile was soft and warm "Guess so..." she took another sip thinking back at her morning "Can you do me a favor?" she asked hesitantly "don't... restrict Webby from seeing Lena" she said "I-I know it was Lena's idea to sneak out and you don't approve of her methods, but she truly just wants to spend some time with Webby, especially since she's also expecting to hear if she'll get an early acceptance letter, their chances to hang out are short as it is"

Beakley blinked "Webby didn't tell you?" she asked "she got her letter in the mail today, she got accepted" Della slowly processed those words "I'm sure she had the intention of telling Lena that, perhaps she didn't get the chance. I'm sure the boys will receive theirs within the week as well"

The reality of it all came crashing down. Soon all the teens at the manor would leave their home, it was happening. Della would have to learn to be the one letting go, staying behind as she watched her kids go away. Suddenly, sleep evaded her again.