Happy birthday to my favorite triplets! There's truly nothing I love more than Scrooge being kinda shitty but having his heart in the right place- especially season 1 Scrooge.

If Donald was good at two things it was holding a grudge and being there for his boys. So even though he was easing up on his grudge against Scrooge he wasn't going to let the old fart ruin Huey, Dewey, and Louie's birthday.

Scrooge knew a lot about ruining birthdays, after all. For as long as Donald had known him, Scrooge had been cagey about his own birthday, and he'd never bothered learning when Della and Donald's birthday was.

Della hadn't minded, she said it didn't matter because Scrooge was always doing things for them. Of course, Della was Scrooge's favorite and benefited more from Scrooge's surprises- at least until his final one.

Donald didn't want that kind of surprise for his kiddos, but he did want Scrooge to at least acknowledge that it was their birthday. A store-bought cake wouldn't hurt, either.

He started planting the seeds in mid-March so Scrooge had a whole month to get it through his skull.

"The boys' birthday is coming up."

"Hm? Okay, let Beakley know and she'll set something up."

"Beakley already knows."

"Then why are you telling me?" Scrooge asked.

Donald rubbed his temple. "Because you're their great uncle and it would mean a lot to them if you celebrated with them."

"Alright," Scrooge said and promptly forgot.

Donald knew this was going to happen, so he waited until April to begin reminding Scrooge of his birthday obligations.

"The boys' birthday is in a week."

"I thought that already happened."

"What? No, it's April 15th."

"Then why did you tell me about it a month ago?"

"So you wouldn't forget."

"I didn't forget."

"How old are they turning?" Donald asked, arms crossed.

Scrooge frowned and thought about it for a beat too long.

"Ten," he said decisively, daring Donald to challenge him.

Donald pretended to clap. "Good job, you remembered one thing about your great-nephews. When's their birthday?"

Scrooge scowled then. "If you just came here to quiz me you can buzz off."

"April 15th. I know you don't care about the passage of time but they do. At least tell them happy birthday that day."

Scrooge didn't say anything, but Donald saw him jot something down.

The days marched on and Scrooge didn't mention the birthday again, so Donald took preventative measures in the other direction.

He woke Huey, Dewey, and Louie up on their birthday with a warning.

"Good morning! Happy birthday! Are you boys excited?"

"We were before you woke us up at 6 AM," Louie groaned.

"It's 8 o'clock," Donald corrected. "Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that Scrooge doesn't really go all out for birthdays, so don't feel too bad if he doesn't do anything to make it special. We're going to have a good day as a family regardless."

"That's okay, Uncle Donald," Huey said, studying him critically in a way that made Donald uncomfortable.

"Will there be cake?" Dewey asked.

"Of course. Beakley is making your favorite."

"Good enough for me," Dewey decided.

"I'm celebrating my birthday in a mansion that I didn't have to break into, I think it's special enough," Louie said.

Donald smiled sadly and thought of all the birthdays with Della where they'd had to find their own ways to celebrate.

And then Della had taken the Spear of Selene and Donald had stopped celebrating his birthday at all until the boys had gotten old enough to ask him about it. After that, the triplets had put as much effort into making his birthday special as he put into making their birthday exciting and fun.

Huey was still studying him as the other two headed down for breakfast.

"Thanks, Uncle Donald," Huey said without elaborating.

"No problem." Donald would do anything for his kids, he was glad that sometimes they were able to see that.

Scrooge also would do anything for his family- within reason and budget. He was so dedicated to proving that to Donald that he had gone out and bought three separate, individual cards for Huey, Louie, and the blue one.

He had let Beakley and Webby handle the rest of the festivities- a nice breakfast and an overly decorated dining room (you could guess who did what). Donald apparently had arranged some outing in the afternoon, he'd penciled it into Scrooge's calendar quite aggressively. Still, Scrooge was proud of the cards. He was crushing this birthday thing.

"Morning, lads. Happy birthday, I got you something."

"Is it money?" Louie asked, opening the envelope and seeing it wasn't money. "Oh, this is nice too. You spelled my name right."

"Lucky, he spelled mine Dooey, with two Os."

Okay, he wasn't crushing this birthday thing.

"I like the card, Uncle Scrooge," Huey said, though it sounded a little forced.

"Yes, well, you're welcome. I'll spell your name right next year, Dewey."

Across the room, he caught Donald's eye. He expected his nephew to be angry or disappointed, or at least a little smug. But Donald smiled and offered him an appreciative nod.

Donald was letting go of his grudges, and it seemed like Scrooge was also growing and changing. Even if Scrooge hadn't mastered the birthday thing in time to celebrate with Donald and Della, he was at least trying for the next generation. And the fact that he was trying was enough.