"My RV!"

At the sound of the familiar shrill, ear-bleeding voice, Huey tucked his head in into his shoulders and cringed. "Oh great." He and Gosalyn both turned around just as Donald Duck ran up.

"What did the boys do to you?!" He ran around the RV, examining theverydented bumper from when Gus had rear ended them. He patted its side tenderly. "You poor, poor thing!"

As his uncle fussed over the beaten-up vehicle, Huey leaned towards Gosalyn. "Soooo… why is Uncle Donald here?" he muttered from the corner of his mouth.

She just smirked. "They went back to Duckburg for him while I went to find you."

The feathers on his arms stood on end. "Who?"

"Nobody messes with my boys and gets away with it!"

Huey nearly choked as his mom rounded the RV, hands on her hips in her signature heroic stance.

Gosalyn draped an arm over his shoulder, leaning in to whisper, "I did warn you."

Huey quirked an eyebrow. "Pretty sure I would have remembered that."

She lifted her head and winked at him, her smile as cocky as ever. "Okay, Imayhave left the part out about them coming here."

He sighed, feeling a familiar warmth spread as her arm lingered on him. I can't even be mad, and she knows it. His attention snapped back to Della as she marched forward, arms outstretched. Huey braced himself when Gosalyn stepped aside, and Della pulled him into a fierce hug, squeezing tight enough to knock the air out of him."H-hey, Mom-" he wheezed.

"Gah, Huey, I missed you so much!" She shook him like a ragdoll before drop him back on his feet.

He coughed, managing a smile. "Whaaat are you doing here?" He knew the answer but hoped to avoid topics involving his future—or him in general.

Della took a step back, glancing between him and Gosalyn before laughing out loud. "You're joking right?" Shaking her head, she held up her hands. "Okay, okay, none of this–*Why are you here, MOM? We can handle this on our own, MOM–*stuff."

Huey rolled his eyes.Here we go.

Her voice rose with renewed passion. "I am here because someone is after my boys and you know full well that nothing stops Della Duck when it comes to my boys." Taking a deep breath, she reached out and set both of her hands on his shoulders.

Huey tensed, staring into her wide, intent eyes. His stomach churned with anticipation.Ugh, come on, Mom.The longer she stayed silent, the more Huey felt the urge to divert his gaze.Why does she have to be so unpredictable?

In an instant, Della yanked him close. He flinched, freezing as her arms slid around his shoulders again, this time in a softer embrace. He caught Gosalyn's amused expression over his mom's shoulder. She's enjoying this a little too much.

Huey set his arm across his mother's shoulders and hugged her back. "What's this for?" he chuckled, forcing his nerves to calm down after being on high alert for the last few days.

"I'm just proud of you. Can't a mom hug her son once in a while?" Della lifted her head and touched his chin, tears behind her eyes.

Huey's throat tightened. For once, it felt like she saw past his exterior, right into the constant battle inside: the Duke versus him, peace versus rage, loyalty to his brothers versus forging his own path. Relief mixed with apprehension in his chest. "Well, sure-"

"And before we get into all the stuff with your brother, can I just say… I am PUMPED!"

His hands fell to his sides.Aaaaaand—moment gone.He watched her pace back and forth, throwing her hands up, practically jumping out of her skin with excitement.

"You and Gosalyn Mallard?! I couldn't think of a better match! She told me everything and I couldn't be happier. I mean, your uncle thinks the whole thing is just going to be a distraction but I say–if this is what you both want, nothing could be more perfect."

Huey imagined a mental shovel digging deeper with every word, while a solemn funeral dirge played in the back of his mind.RIP my love life.He took one glance at Gosalyn. Her face was bright red, but she remained unphased.

"Think of all the adventures you two could have–"

"Mom, please stop."

Della stopped, face turning a bit red as she rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm sorry. I just can't help it. I'm so stoked. Seeing my little junior woodchuck falling in love…."

"Mom!"As if my grave wasn't deep enough.Huey pinched the bridge between his eyebrows. "Can we just focus on the matter at hand?"

"Like my RV! This is a travesty!" Uncle Donald lamented nearby

"Not what I meant, but nevertheless…" Huey sighed and moved around his mother. "Look, Uncle D, I can explain."

"It's not you I'm upset with. I put Dewey in charge of the old girl. Where is he?" Uncle Donald scrounged around the outside RV before going inside. "When I get my hands on him-"

Huey's skin went cold.Dewey… DAD!

Della heaved an exasperated sigh before following her brother. "Calm down, Donald. Don't be so hard on them. They were being hunted by a ruthless gang leader! What would you have done?"

"I wouldn't have gotten into the mess in the first place!"

"Oh bereal, Don! I can't count on my hand how many times you've been hunted down by criminals."

"Half of those wereyourfault" Uncle Donald squawked back before they snowballed into a full-blown argument… per the norm.

Huey let out a breath.Okay, they're distracted. We have to do something–and fast.He grabbed Gosalyn by the arm and pulled her aside. "Okay, don't get me wrong, you're beautiful, smart, and you makethe bestdecisions…"

"Buuut?"

He cringed as he managed to say the rest. "But our mom cannot be anywhere near our dad, and if Dewey's around, he'll spill the beans. We have to get them both out of here."

"That may not be a problem." Webby and Launchpad approached. She rubbed her elbow, her face sullen and dark, like she had been crying. "Dewey, may have sorta stolen the Sunchaser and kidnapped your dad."

Huey's heart dropped, but somehow, he also felt a small sense of relief. "Of course. Classic Dewey. Somehow, him pulling a Dewey is actually comforting right now."

Gosalyn tipped his chin to meet eyes with her again. "Told ya. Your family is a circus… and right now we're the balancing act."

A smile broke out across his lips. "Why can't our lives, our family, be a little bit normal so we can actually have a real date? A date where family members aren't hovering over us with plates of spaghetti, flying off in stolen planes, or causing world-ending chaos."

With a soft tug on his arm, she pecked him on the cheek. "I'm a Mallard and you're a McDuck. That's kind of a big ask."