"Where did you hear that?" Donald asked in a panic, nearly dropping his guitar.
"Webby."
"What exactly did she tell you?"
"Just that you're Scrooge McDuck's nephew and that you stopped talking to him when mom left."
Donald took a deep breath, trying to regain control.
"Go get Huey and meet me in the living room, it's time I told you everything."
Dewey suddenly felt terrified. He'd been trying to get answers all week, but now that those answers were in reach he was afraid of what he'd uncover.
There had to be a reason Donald had cut Scrooge out of their lives, and it probably wasn't a happy one.
At least he'd be finding out with his brothers by his side. At least he didn't have to do this alone.
"Huey? Uncle Donald wanted to talk to us in the living room."
"Oh, okay. Are you alright? You look like you saw a ghost."
Dewey took a shaky breath. He didn't know how to explain that he'd been keeping a secret that could steamroll their entire family. So he just shook his head and reached out for a hug.
Huey was quick to oblige. "Hey, it'll be okay. Let's go see what Donald wants, and then you and I can talk about whatever's been bothering you."
Dewey exhaled. "Thanks, Huey."
"I've always got your back."
That put Dewey at ease, at least enough to head into the living room. Louie was already there, a little annoyed that his movie had been switched off.
"Boys, there's something important I need to tell you- something I should have told you a long time ago."
Dewey held his breath and glanced at his brothers. Louie looked curious, Huey looked concerned. Dewey felt his stomach drop.
"I never told you what happened when your mother left. When she disappeared. I've never really known what to tell you, I didn't want to dishonor her legacy by saying the wrong thing, and I didn't want to hurt you. But it's time you heard the full truth."
"I knew it," Louie said, tearing up, "she left because of me."
"No, no, no, Lou. She would have loved you. She would have been so proud of all of you. She left because she was too ambitious. She was the most adventurous person I've ever known. Her spirit of adventure drove her forward and made her brave, but it also made her restless, and, well, reckless. After years of adventuring together, she wanted more."
Dewey had never heard about this side of their mom. How did Scrooge fit into this?
"What happened?" Huey asked, trying to sound stoic but clearly as anxious as Dewey and Louie were.
"Our uncle Scrooge-"
"Scrooge McDuck?" Huey asked, eyes wide.
Donald merely nodded.
"Are we rich?" Louie asked.
"No, he's rich. I'm probably not even in the will. Anyway, he was the one who inspired us to start adventuring. He was the one who had always encouraged Della to go further, to never stop. And so when she wanted to conquer the stars he had a rocket built for her. It was supposed to be a surprise, to celebrate Louie being born, but she found out before he hatched and decided to take it for a test drive."
"What happened?" Huey asked again, urgency forcing the words out faster and louder than he intended.
"There was a cosmic storm. Scrooge thought he could talk her through it, thought he could get her home safely."
"But he didn't," Dewey guessed, tears clouding his vision.
Donald hung his head. "I'm so sorry, boys."
Louie launched himself into Donald's arms, and it took a second for Huey and Dewey to make out what he was saying over the sobs.
"It's not your fault, Uncle Donald, it's okay, it's okay, it's going to be okay." Though he was shuddering with sobs he was trying to comfort Uncle Donald the way he had been comforted so many times before.
Huey and Dewey exchanged a look, both teary-eyed. Wordlessly, Huey scooted closer to Dewey and wrapped an arm around him, and that was enough for Dewey to break down entirely. Huey was a little quieter, but his own body shook with a sadness he couldn't rein in or repress.
Donald didn't say anything, just held onto Louie, who finally broke the silence.
"You said if she was still out there she's trying to get back to us," Louie reminded.
"Yeah…" Donald smiled mournfully, swiping at his own eyes.
"So, she could still be out there. She could still be trying to get home to us."
Donald just nodded.
It had been nine years, but maybe she was still out there. Maybe she would make her way back to them, and maybe then everything would be okay.
But for now, it would take a lot to pick up the pieces Scrooge and Della had left in their wake.
This chapter was gonna go in a way different direction but it didn't feel right to heap on even more destruction to this poor, damaged family. So you're spared a little extra angst, just this once.
Next chapter will be weird because it's supposed to be a bit more light-hearted (everything is light-hearted comparatively lol) but I don't want to completely abandon the emotional weight of the chapter. Della is gonna haunt the narrative even more now.
