Look to the stars my darling baby boys

Life is strange and vast

Filled with wonders and joys

Face each new sun

With eyes clear and true

Unafraid of the unknown

Because I'll face it all with you

Della gazed up at the moon, everything in her heart aching like it had when she was trapped up there, separated from her boys. She tore her gaze away from the stars and settled her eyes back on the road, letting out a slow, shaky breath. I'm not with them… again. She scratched the back of her neck and groaned as the familiar slow ache of loneliness crept into her heart. It felt all too much like the moon… except this time, the boys were old enough to not need her.

Who am I if I'm not Della Duck, the best mother in the universe? That's all I've strived to be, the place I fought so hard for. Her fingers clenched the wheel. How in the world was surviving the moon easier than raising teenagers?!

They still didn't have a single lead on the boys. Scrooge called Launchpad but he was little help, unsurprisingly. She leaned her elbow on the door of the car as she drove the two of them out of St. Canard.

"They could be anywhere by now," she muttered. That Drake Mallard sure is a great parent… he didn't even ask my boys where they were headed before letting them go galavanting off! I bet he doesn't know where his own daughter is half the time.

Uncle Scrooge watched her from the passenger seat. "They could be back home."

"Or they could be dead in a ditch! Who knows?! None of them are answering their phones. They know better than to keep me out of the loop!"

Scrooge heaved a sigh. "Don't worry, Della darlin'. They're fine! If I know anything about those boys, they're tenacious creatures and they work well together… most of the time. Besides! Webby is probably with them."

"Webby hasn't said a word since she told us they were in St. Canard. Doesn't that worry you?"

"Bah! I'm sure she's just joining in whatever little schemes they've got going. If it was anything bad, she'd have told us by now." Scrooge touched her on the shoulder. "Stop worrying."

"I caa-aaahhh!"

A motorcycle flew past them, nearly skimming the side of the car. Della swerved out of the way. "What in the blazes?!" The window couldn't roll down fast enough. She stuck her head out. "Watch it, buddy! You're gonna kill someone!"

Ducking back into the car, she muttered to herself under her breath. "And that's why Dewey is never getting a motorcycle. I don't care how much he begs. It's NOT happening!"

Uncle Scrooge laughed, shaking his head. "Ah, you're amusing, lass."

"What?"
"Motherhood really has changed you, you know that?" The way his eyes gleamed with pride made her gag and roll her eyes.

Sentimental old man. "I'm still the same old Della, Uncle Scrooge. Care for personal safety is not a personality change."

"Still, you've grown in so many ways. I remember you being just like Dewey, itching to grab the bull by the horns… to take control of your life." He chuckled and leaned back in his seat, clasping his hands together. "All that to say, you cannae blame your boys for spreading their wings. They want more from life. You were always that way. I mean, believe me, I was just as suspect of this trip of theirs as you were but… maybe we should take a step back for once. For your sake and for theirs."

Della barely heard his monologue. She was far too busy watching the motorcycle on the road ahead of them as it slowed down. "What are they up to?" she murmured.

"That's exactly my point. We shouldn't worry about it. Let them have their little adventure."

"I'm not talking about them!" Della grabbed the wheel with both hands as the motorcycle dropped back right beside them. Her knuckles ached as she squeezed the wheel, ready to get them out of danger, by any means necessary, if it came down to that. "What do you want?!" she yelled out the window at the helmeted figure.

The biker pointed at the car and then at the side of the road.

"Uh-uh! No way am I pulling over to the side of the road for some punk! You get over!" Della yelled back through the roaring wind. She swerved the car a little, making the biker sway off to the side.

"DELLA! Be careful, lass!" Scrooge protested, gripping the edge of his seat. "Yer gonnae cause an accident!"

The biker still didn't relent. They pointed at the side of the road again.

"Ohh ho, ho! You're really starting to get on my nerves." Della swerved the car again. "No punk is running me off the road tonight or any night, for that matter!"

This time the biker slowed down, only to speed back up again when they got better control of their cycle.

Before Della had a second to yell at them again, the biker ripped the helmet off and a curtain of red hair rippled out of it.

"Gosalyn Mallard?!" Her heart skipped and her mouth fell open.

Gosalyn tucked her helmet in her lap and glared at her.

Heh. Oops? Della slowed the car down and pulled over to the side of the road. Her knee bounced as she watched Gosalyn stop her motorcycle behind them and hop off. "Wow, greaaaat first impression Della." The first time you meet your son's girlfriend and you nearly run her over.

Scrooge chuckled. "I suppose you're right. You have'na changed that much. What was that you said about personal safety not being a personality change?"

Della groaned and dragged her hand down her face. "Huey's gonna hate me."

"You're too hard on yourself, lass. But, you really could have slowed down. It's not like you could have listened to your wise old uncle or anything." Scrooge tipped his chin up with a slight smile that made Della roll her eyes again.

She clenched her jaw. The old man is really pushing that ego button hard today.

Gosalyn appeared in front of the door, looking just as unamused as she had when Della nearly ran her off the road.

Her mouth went dry. Della fumbled for the door handle and stumbled her way out of the vehicle. She swallowed hard, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. "Gosalyn! Heh, heh. I'm sooo sorry. I… I had no idea it was you! I totally thought we were getting run down by a punk-NOT that you look like a punk. You definitely do not look like a punk AT ALL. I am so so sorry." The more words that tumbled out, the worse they sounded.

"Seemed like you were the one doing the running down but I guess I did ask for it. I was chasing the Della Duck." Gosalyn smirked and leaned back on one hip, tucking her helmet under her arm.

Della rubbed the back of her neck. "Heh, I'm sorry."

Gosalyn shook her head, her smiling widening. "Hey, no harm done. We have more important things to worry about."

A lump gathered at the base of Della's throat. "My boys?"

"One in particular."

Della's stomach fluttered. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. No. Keep it together, Della. Stay cool. Don't be that mom. "Oh, he's a great kid-err, young man. Now, I may be a little biased but anything you want to talk about, I am here for it. You have no idea how happy it made me to hear about you two. To be honest, I've been a little worried that he'd never find a girl. I mean, for goodness sakes, his first kiss was with a worm!" As soon as the words left her mouth, she groaned and dragged her hand down her bill.

Gosalyn stared at her, wide-eyed. "Wait, I wasn't talking about-wait…" she stuttered, her face turning bright red.

Ugh! What was I saying?! That sounded way more light-hearted and fun in my head. The worm bit? That was totally an embarrassing mom moment there. Come on, Della, why you're supposed to be the cool mom.

Gosalyn rubbed the back of her neck and blushed. "I wasn't talking about that one."

Della groaned. "Of course you weren't. There I go again, diving in head first. I'm so sorry. I really am happy but it's not my business. Huey would be mortified."

Gosalyn tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I mean, the worm thing is quite… something." She laughed a little. "I hope you don't mind me keeping that in my back pocket for later."

All the bundle of twisted, anxious nerves in her system eased. Ah, a sense of humor. Thank the Lord I didn't scare her away. "Just as long as you don't tell him it came from me." She relaxed against the side of the car.

The girl laughed and her adorable eyes sparkled. "My lips are sealed."

Oh yeah, I'm going to like this girl. "Blame on Louie. That's more believable anyway." Della winked.

That's all it took for Gosalyn's face to fall and her demeanor to grow dark, like her father's. "Actually, that's the one I chased you down about." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a little green vial.

Della's heart sank. Oh, Louie.