I took a month long writing hiatus in June and for most of July I've either had writers block on this fic or was just generally still not as driven to write. I did ponder posting what chapters I've had written and up onto AO3 onto this platform but untimely decided against it. Thanks again for all the love and kind words on this fic... this chapter was so fun to write
One of the things Selene enjoyed the most when she left Ithaquack to head down to earth was the fashion. All the fabrics, colors, textures… well it was portable works of art as far as the moon goddess was concerned. To this end being at Duckburg's premier bridal shop was practically like going to a gallery for the Ibis.
Looking at the other three people in her present group, Selene had assumed things would be simple. She honestly suspected the first dress Gladstone touched would not so shockingly end up being Della's dream dress and then they would all head to starducks for coffee...well, cocoa in Penny's case. However, the dress that Della was standing in at the present moment wasn't that dress, in fact it was something the goddess had suggested though if you asked it looked much nicer on the rack.
"I'm not well versed in earth fashion," Penumbra said motioning to the joggers and t-shirt she had been wearing in the moment, "but is it missing a layer to it?"
"It looks like something you'd wear after the wedding," Dickie spoke, a slight flush crossing her face as she stood up to look at the price tag of the silken garment adorning her cousin. "Though the price tag has far too many digits for this to be just something Gyro rips off before ravishing you."
"Ravishing me?" Della asked, her cheeks soon flushing just as red if not more so .
"I'm sorry for using such colorful language," Dickie replied, "I recently found Beakley's stash of romance novels and couldn't put them down."
Selene couldn't help but raise a brow at the younger ducks words. Sure, through the years she hadn't gotten to know Betina Beakley as close as other members of the family however she just couldn't picture the tough as nails former spy reading romantic novels.
I guess everyone needs a way to unwind she thought to herself as she raised her shoulders in a shrug.
"On the rack it reminded me of Ithaquack-ian style, but actually on you."
"It looks like I'm wearing a nightgown not a wedding gown." Della said in a matter of fact tone.
Selene simply nodded at her friend's response to the dress. This was only the first pull and she knew while they couldn't all be winners there would definitely be something in the mix that would be befitting of her bestie.
As Della retreated back into the fitting room, Selene couldn't help but observe her companions. Penny awkwardly was fidgeting in her seat, Dickie was looking at her phone laughing at something and Gladstone simply flashed her a smile.
"Had she only picked my choice first…" he began to say when suddenly, "...oooh twenty dollars."
Selene simply rolled her eyes at her friend. He was a narcissistic jerk but he was her narcissistic jerk and honestly he was a much better companion than Dionysus ever was.
"Is he always like this?" Dickie questioned looking up from her phone.
Selene couldn't help but nod as she shrugged back her shoulders.
"It's part of his charm."
It was in this moment a rustling sound could be heard as Della soon stepped out of the fitting room.
While at least this time her friend's dress looked more like a ball gown than a nightgown it was still NOT what anyone had expected.
"Dells," Gladstone was the first to respond to dress number two with a raised brow and his arms crossed, "you do know this dress is for a wedding right and not a funeral."
As Selene looked at the black gown adorned with golden stars she simply shook her head at her friends comment however before she could speak Dickie did.
"I don't know what funerals are like on this earth but on mine that is way too fancy. Anyway does it come in white because honestly Della you look A-Maze-Ing!"
"That she does freckles," Penumbra said nodding in agreement as she looked from Della to Dickie and back again. Selene couldn't help but to notice the slight flush on the moonlanders cheek as she spoke, it was the same flush she had on her own whenever she was with Fenton. Turning from the obviously smitten moonlander to her friend the goddess could see just how excited she was about the gown. Sure, it wasn't a conventional wedding dress but when was Della ever a conventional person and she was prepared to bring that argument up to Gladstone when he began his critique in three….two…
"This actually isn't for the wedding." Della soon started with a smile.
There was a moment of silence as soon the bride to be let out a chuckle.
"For Emma Glamor's IT List Gala! I probably should've tried this on when I was done picking out a wedding dress."
"The IT List Gala!" Gladstone exclaimed, "no offense but as someone whose extreme luck has only warranted an invite twice, I doubt being Scrooge McDuck's recently resurrected niece is clout enough to snag an invite"
Selene watched Della's jaw dropped at their friends words. Sure, it was just Gladstone being Gladstone but that was harsh.
"Well ACTUALLY," Della spoke with a biting tone which honesty was to be expected, "Don has been seeing Glamour's assistant for a little over a month and since she's the one in charge of making the guest list she added him as well as me and Fenton to it."
Selene watched as Gladstone raised a curious brow at the mention of Donald dating Glamor's assistant. He had mentioned once in passing a few years ago that he had a new girlfriend in the fashion industry...that couldn't have been Daisy right?
"But why Fenton and not the soon to be Mr. Della?" Penumbra asked.
A smirk crossed Della's bill as it was clear she had been highly amused by the nickname that the moonlander had bestowed on her fiancé.
"Gyro had a prior commitment chaperoning Huey to an out of town Quiz Bowl Tournament."
"The three of you should of been there in the lab. Gyro looks across the room and in the most deadpan tone says: Assistant! It is your job to assist me in escorting my fiancé to the ball."
"That was a spot on Gyro impression," Dickie spoke holding out her phone, "can you do it again so I can record it?"
Selene simply shook her head.
"Also are you okay with Della being alone with Fenton you know after…"
Selene knew just what the young Duck had been referring to as she shook her head soon observing Della as she took this moment to turn back towards the fitting room.
"And on that note I promise to come out in an actual wedding dress that doesn't look like overpriced negligee next time."
As Della left, Selene noticed Penny and Gladstone's eyes became locked onto her and Dickie as if the two of them had been locked out of some kind of inside joke.
"It's nothing, Della just had a weird fantasy where Gyro had taken the mantle of Gizmoduck."
"Oooh, go on," Gladstone spoke clearly wanting to hear the latest bit of intrigue however there was nothing to tell.
"I mean Della did help draw up early drafts of the armor while nesting so it's only natural that in a world where she was never trapped on the moon Gyro would be the man underneath it."
Selene watched as the others accepted her words however even if they hadn't she didn't want to continue to talk about what if's and if onlys and so she decided to keep the subject on Fenton but to twist it a bit.
"Speaking of Fenton though, I never thought I'd have such an emotional attachment to a mortal. Sure, my brother and I have been friends with Della and Donald since they were younger than her boys are now and they introduced me to their cousin Gladstone a few years later...but Fenton…."
"Your smitten aren't you," Dickie spoke in a singsong tone.
"Smitten doesn't even begin to describe… he introduced me to his mother as his girlfriend!"
One Week Ago:
Selene couldn't believe that this had been going on for four months. Sneaking away from Zeus's gaze to travel to Duckburg. Normally they would go out to Starducks, or the Wine Bar… sometimes she'd even sit in the lab watching him and once she even got in on the action as Gizmoduck's Celestial Sidekick but this time was different.
"I know it's not the palace of the gods but it's better than crashing in the lab," Fenton spoke with a smile as he waved her into the modest two bedroom home.
It had an aesthetic to it that was definitely much more warm and homey than the manor or Gladstone's and that definitely suited him. Along the walls and adorning the mantle was a hodgepodge of various brick a brack as well as family photos and the occasional school science award.
"You were a cute kid," Selene spoke as she stopped in front of a photo of Fenton at probably fifteen or sixteen which caused him to blush.
"If by cute you mean awkward. Though I suppose I never did grow out of that phase."
Selene watched as Fenton lent against the wall nearly losing his balance and tipping over. As he regained his composure however she couldn't help but allow for her eyes to fall on another photo.
"Is that your dad?"
There was no answer at least not one of a verbal nature as instead Selene watched as Fenton slowly nodded his head.
"You look just like him."
"More and more everyday," a third voice spoke causing the goddess to jump and her companion to look shocked.
"I thought you'd be at the station all night."
"Pollito didn't you get my note? I swapped shifts. Sure, this means I'll be working a double but maybe it was meant to be to get to meet this hermosa dama you've brought home."
Selene couldn't help but to flush a bit herself as she had been put on the spot.
"Hi, I'm Selene, it's an honor to meet you Miss…."
"Miss...no," the older duck said, hanging up her jacket and placing her badge down onto a table, "please call me Maria. Anyway Fenton when did you meet her, how long has this been going on and more importantly how serious is it?"
The goddess could sense Fenton had been tense from his mother's barrage of questions and she knew if roles were reversed and Zeus cared enough to give her the third degree about her scientist she'd be feeling the same way.
"She is a friend of Della…"
"Your boss's fiancé?"
"Yes ma'ma, Doctor Gearloose's fiancé. Anyway she came into the lab one day and it was love at first site… well if that even exists."
"Of course amor a primera vista exists, I felt the same way when I met your father. So she's your…"
"Girlfriend?"
The way the word came out of Fenton's mouth sent a chill down the goddesses spine. They had never talked about putting any label on things before though she supposed considering the fact that she was the goddess of the moon it was an unspoken word that they were keeping things….
"Yes ma'ma."
...casual.
"Was I interrupting a date night because I can go swing by Hamburger Hippo, give the two of you some privacy."
"No," Selene spoke with a friendly smile, "I mean I guess you could call what we were on a date but I'd love for you to stay and tell me all the most embarrassing stories of Fenton's childhood"
"Talk about a long distance relationship," Dickie chimed in her eyes giving Penny a passing gaze that didn't go unnoticed by the Ibis as soon shuffling sounded and soon Della reappeared.
She looked...well words couldn't describe how the duck looked in the moment. The dress she was wearing was both nothing like anything her friend would wear and yet perfectly befitting of her at the same time though she supposed that didn't make much sense outside her own head. With a cap sleeved bodice made of an intricate lace and a full skirt of the same lace overlay her friend looked exquisite.
"In this moment if we pulled a stranger off the street and asked who the goddess was they would point to you in a heartbeat Del."
"I think Gyro is an even luckier man than Mr. Golden Goose over here"
"HEY!"
"Freckles is right, you look like the brightest star in all the galaxy."
Selene watched as Della's smile seemed to brighten and there was even more of a radiant glow to her as each complement filled the air.
"I can't believe this is really happening….no Della...you promised yourself you wouldn't cry…"
Selene handed the bride to be a handkerchief as a small drizzle of happy tears began to fall despite her friends' protest.
"So, this is a yes right?" Gladstone asked, breaking the emotional moment.
"It's a yes! Gladstone have you ever considered becoming a stylist professionally because your taste is impeccable."
"As much as sharing my gifts would be an asset for the greater good, I get more joy just keeping them among friends and family."
"You just don't want to put in the work," Dickie said with a roll of her eye causing Selene as well as Della to chuckle slightly though the Goose tried his best to ignore.
"So,what about bridesmaids dresses."
The laughter stopped as Selene's face perked up… she definitely had some ideas that she couldn't wait to lay out on the table.