This is the last of the pre-written chapters, I hope you're enjoying the story as much as I am, leave any questions or thoughts in the comments!


José and Panchito were keeping the peace as best as they could. There was a certain "Us VS. Them" mentality, not that the kids disliked their new surprise uncles, but tensions had clearly been building for a while. So Panchito and José did the only things they could think to do while Donald was at work, they kept the boys distracted. From breakfast until lunch they began integrating the new homeschooling curriculum. After that, they took the boys out for lunch, ice cream, and a short trip to the used book store. The last one was mostly for Huey's benefit, but all the kiddos came home with a new book.

Louie fell asleep in the backseat holding a retelling of Cinderella, his favorite fairytale. Huey was about to carry him inside but Zé took over that job and Panchito kept Dewey busy with the book Dewey had selected, Guitar For Dummies. For the first time in a long time, Huey actually had time to sit down and read. He told Zé before he left and then climbed up to the roof with his book, which was about local legends. Huey didn't know how much he believed these legends, but it would be really cool to be one of the guys who uncovered the mysteries of the universe. For a while, he was captivated by the book, able to forget about all of his problems.

And then Uncle Donald got home.

"What are you doing on the roof?" It wasn't the voice of panic like it had been, all those years ago when he'd climbed up on the roof and mom had carried him down, but there was still a tone of concern in Donald's voice.

"Reading. Uncle José bought us some new books."

"That was nice of them. But why on the roof?"

Huey had several replies locked and loaded, each tinged with bitterness. A bitterness he'd been harboring since he had overheard Uncle Donald talk about going after Della.

"I needed some space."

"Well, I'd appreciate it if you came down now."

"And I would appreciate it if my uncle stopped keeping secrets," Huey shot back as he climbed down.

The accusation hung in the air, freezing Donald to the spot.

Finally, "What?"

"I overheard what you said to José and Panchito. I know you're planning on going after mom. And that's bullshit-"

Donald crossed his arms and looked at Huey sternly. He realized then how tall Huey was now, they were about the same height. Huey was only fifteen but he'd been forced to grow up so much. Donald softened a little.

"Huey… I didn't know you overheard that."

"Yeah, well. I guess you haven't been paying attention for a while."

That cut deep and Donald had to look away.

"I'm so sorry."

Huey was getting angrier. The dam had broken when he'd lost his job and now he couldn't hold back.

"Then prove it! We need you. You're all we have. Mom is gone. Stop chasing after someone who didn't want to be here. Because if you leave too, we won't have anything left." It became clear then that Huey wasn't angry at Donald. He was scared of losing Donald, and he was angry at Della. He had never shown that before. Had never allowed his anger towards her to come out.

Donald pulled him into a hug.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry… I'll stay. I'll be honest with all of you from here on out. I was going to go after her but… So much has happened lately. I can't leave my boys."

"So much has happened lately," Huey agreed, "I think we're all burnt out."

"I know. And I should have seen it sooner. But we're going to fix this as a family. Everything is going to be okay."

Huey believed it for the first time ever. He'd told his brothers that too many times to count. But hearing Uncle Donald say it now, it felt real.

"You promise you're not going anywhere?"

"I'm staying right here, with my family."

And Huey really, truly, believed that too.

After reassuring Huey, Donald went inside, realizing that he had to have a long talk with his other boys as well. Starting with the lecture he'd promised Louie.

Louie was no longer napping but he was playing quietly in the bedroom, rolling the wheels on his toy car.

"Hey," Donald knocked softly before entering.

Louie looked up and got straight to the point.

"Are you mad at me? Are you going to leave us?"

"No, to both things. Why do you think I would leave you?"

"Because I heard Tío Panchito say that Huey was worried about you leaving like mom left. And then I stole Tío Zé's wallet."

"I'm not mad at you, Louie. And Huey overheard me say something I shouldn't have said, but I've talked to him and I promise I'm not going to leave."

"That's what Dewey said," Louie mumbled, and then, "I took something else… Please don't be mad at me." Louie pulled the polaroid from his pocket and Donald studied the picture with a heavy heart.

"I miss her too, Lou."

"Dewey said she didn't leave because of me, but… Why else would she have left as soon as I was born?"

Donald inhaled sharply. He had always sort of known that this conversation was coming. While Huey remembered Della the best and felt mostly anger, Louie had no memories of her at all and could only feel guilt and sadness.

"Louie, I promise you that your mom didn't leave because of you. She left because she wanted too much. She wanted an adventure and didn't stop to think that maybe she was risking too much to get it. Louie, I truly believe that she was always going to come back. She wasn't running away from us, she was just running toward her own ambitions and she got sidetracked. It wasn't because of you or me or anyone in this family. She loved this family."

"Is she gone?" Louie asked another quiet question that nearly destroyed Donald.

"I don't know, Louie. I wish I did, I wish I could tell you. I know that if she's still out there that she's trying to get back to us."

"Really? You think so?"

"I know it. Because she would never give up on us. And I'm never going to give up on you. No matter what happens, I'm never going to leave you guys."

"I'm sorry I stole the picture. And the wallet."

"It's okay, Louie. Like I said, I'm not mad, but I want to understand why you take things." Donald thought back to something Huey had said the other night, "Is it because you're worried about money?"

"Sometimes," Louie admitted.

"And the other times?" Donald asked

"When I feel out of control I have to take the control back," Louie mumbled.

"By taking things that aren't yours?" Donald guessed.

"I know it's bad, I know, and I'm sorry. But sometimes I can't help it."

"I believe you, Louie. We're going to figure it out together, okay?"

"Okay."

"I have to talk to Dewey real quick, but we're gonna have game night tonight with your tíos. Does that sound fun?"

"Yeah!"

"Good."

Donald had been so busy with everything that he'd almost forgotten to take a break and watch his boys grow up. With his feet on the ground and a little help from friends, he was hoping he could change that.

Dewey was the only one who didn't seem upset with him when Donald sat down next to the budding musician.

"Look, Panchito is teaching me how to play your guitar!"

"That's awesome! I'll teach you some tricks when Panchito and Zé go home."

"Aww. They have to leave?"

"In a little while, yeah. They'll stay until the end of the week, though."

"You're not leaving though, right?"

"That's the question of the hour, apparently."

"Louie told me he heard Tío Panchito say something about Huey and you."

"Lots of hearsay, lately," Donald muttered.

"What's hearsay?"

"A rumor. I believe that Louie heard something, and I know that Huey heard something, but you have nothing to worry about. I'm staying right here with you. There's nowhere in the universe I'd rather be than with you and your brothers on the houseboat."

"Good, because Huey's been really overwhelmed lately."

"I think we all have been a little overwhelmed lately. That's why people like José and Panchito are going to help out around here occasionally. And that's why I wouldn't dream of leaving my favorite boys."

"We're your only boys," Dewey laughed.

"And my favorite boys. Come on, help me get ready for game night."

Dewey gingerly sat down the guitar and ran off to the closet where they kept all of their board games. Donald glanced once more at the guitar and then at the photo Louie had stolen. His kids reminded him so much of Della, but he also recognized aspects of himself in them. Dewey's interest in music, Huey's overprotectiveness and his anger, Louie's cunning schemes.

"They're good kids," José said, coming to stand next to Donald.

"And you're good friends. Thank you for coming over to help. And for buying them books today, you didn't have to do that."

"It was my pleasure. Our pleasure, really. I bought the books but Panchito but the ice cream. I'm pretty sure he's the favorite."

"I'm sure they like both of you equally. But really, thank you for helping."

"Any time. Anything for you, Don. We just want to help you get back on your feet."

"Well, you're definitely helping. And they are good kids. I was going to do something rash and try to go after Della, but I can't leave them. They need me. They need to know that everything is going to be okay."