A Rewritten Family History
I've mentioned in many chapters but sometimes I just feel like kicking myself for wanting to focus on one POV per chapter as a style choice because I feel my chapters would be much longer and there would be much more depth into this universe if I were able to show more than one plotline at a time (If I had to do this over I'd have an A-B-C plot in each chapter but I'm too invested to re-write this piece) So Fun Fact... in early plotting I was actually going to have the ball be hosted by Owlson and Della would of gone with Drake but than I decided I really wanted to have a Fenton/Della friendship moment and so here we are. Anyway, Thanks for reading... if you want to read ahead I'm on Ao3 under the pen-name 1lilspark and as always any questions or comments about this universe are greatly appreciated as I just love world building
April 2002:
"Miss Duck, it's a pleasure to have you here," an older bird spoke in a haughty tone.
"The pleasure is all mine," she simply replied with a smile trying to make it not sound forced.
"And who is the fellow you have with you?" Another bird asked, raising a brow curiously toward Gyro."
"This is Gyro Gearloose, top robotics engineer and head of R&D at McDuck Enterprises."
"But he's so…"
"Young? Yes, but he is one of the most brilliant people I know."
She could see Gyro's face begin to flush.
"You make a handsome couple," another benefactor spoke with a smile now causing Della to begin to flush as well. She had honestly never thought of Gyro as a potential suitor though in her defense she never really thought of suitors much at all. Besides, in the morning she had planned to leave and meet up with the Flying McQuacks and who knew where it would go from there. She'd be nineteen in a few months and had the whole world in front of her.
Chatter was still going on around her about her Uncle and her future and other things when suddenly a hand was held out in front of her taking her by surprise.
"May I have this dance? Gyro asked with a nervous look crossing the chickens face.
Grateful for the save, Della nodded as he led her toward the dance floor …
As she watched the couples dancing around the exhibition room she couldn't help but to think of that night, a night where unknown at the time would be a turning point in her life.
She couldn't believe that was seventeen and a half years ago though she supposed she was still adjusting to the passage of time after over a decade being on the moon.
Sucking in a deep breath her eyes soon moved to where her brother was leading Daisy out to the dance floor. She had only known Daisy for two months but she couldn't wait for a day when she'd inevitably be calling the woman her sister.
Soon, much like that night all those years ago a hand was held in front of her.
"May I have this dance?" Fenton asked, causing a smile to cross her bill.
"Of course you may." She spoke with a flourish as she lowered herself into a curtsy.
She watched as Fenton raised a brow a bit before leaning into a bow and taking her hand just as the music started.
As the dance began and they started to move along to the orchestra's melody, Della knew of all the people she could have taken to this event; she was glad that she chose Fenton. With her cousin Gladstone she would have watched as he flirted with anyone and everyone and Launchpad, while wearing his heart on his sleeve as if it were the hottest accessory ,the man had no coordination whatsoever.
"Thanks again for being my white knight," she replied as Fenton gave her a slight dip as the melody played on.
"No need to thank me, I would've gladly been your date tonight even if your fiancé didn't demand it of me."
Della chuckled a bit wishing she were in the lab that afternoon when Gyro barged in demanding that his assistant escorted her to the gala. Selene's recounting of the event didn't do it justice she supposed.
"Let me guess, you've always wanted to see what the big deal one of these gala's was."
"Oh, you've found me out," Fenton replied, "I've always had a curiosity of how the other half lived."
They continued to move in step to the waltz that was playing as she rolled her eyes at his comment.
"Seriously though, we're friends and like it or not you're stuck with me."
As the song ended, Fenton took her hand and gently raised it toward his bill giving it a friendly kiss.
Turning her head, Della spotted her brother and Daisy having their own moment across the room causing her to wonder just how offended Don would be if Fenton was to be appointed best man. That conversation however was one for another day as she shifted her gaze back toward the kind pair of brown eyes that was standing in front of her.
"Care for another turn around the room?"
She watched as Fenton responded with a wordless bow as they began to glide across the room some more.
"So, how did you learn to dance like this?"
"Big family, lots of weddings and quinceaneras. What about you? Do the Junior Woodchucks have a badge for ballroom dancing?"
At that inquiry Della couldn't help but chuckle a bit. Honestly though, if she did the research she wouldn't be surprised if yes in fact they did however that wasn't the case.
"When I was thirteen I took cotillion."
There was a moment of silence as Fenton flashed her a long lingering gaze.
"I'm just trying to picture you as a debutante."
Della nodded thinking she got that a lot as while she loved to dress up for date nights and special occasions she was by no means a quintessential girly girl.
"What about as a debutante with Mark Beaks as my partner."
The look that crossed Fenton's face in that moment was simply priceless though she was glad that there was no further questioning as the dance came to an end and the orchestra took a brake.
"You want some champagne?" Della asked feeling a bit parched.
Waiting for Fenton to respond with a yes or no she was instead met with a face plagued with distraught.
"I told ma'ma tonight was my night off and to only page me if it were a true emergency."
Della watched as Fenton read the text alert that had popped up on his smart watch.
"Apparently while the cops have been preoccupied with eggs and toilet paper and smashed pumpkins the Beagle Boys have seen an open invitation to rob a convenience store."
"Well then go get dangerous," Della spoke in a teasing tone causing Fenton to roll his eyes before reaching out toward his wallet.
"Yea, no… anyway here is some money toward a rideshare for you and Donald. It would be against the superhero code of conduct if I left the two of you stranded."
"Plus Gyro would demote you back to being an intern if he knew you made me walk home."
"Seriously!"
In truth she didn't know what her fiancé would do but it sounded like something that he would have considered in that circumstance.
"Be safe," Della spoke as Fenton replied...
"Have fun, don't spend the night as a wallflower on my account."
It had been a moment since Fenton had left to attend to Gizmoduck business as Della began to observe that Daisy was off chatting with Glamour about something while Donald stood idly on the side.
Perhaps she'd see if her brother wanted to partake in a dance with her. However before she was able to make her way towards him a voice rang out from behind.
"A dame like you shouldn't be left stranded by her lonesome."
Turning on her heel, Della came face to face with a rooster dressed impeccably in a white tux with his eyes covered in a simple black mask. What drew her in however was that his beak was a prosthetic one which was quite impressive.
"And what do you propose to do about it?" Della teased placing a hand on her hip. Fenton told her to have fun and to not be a wallflower and she planned to do just that.
"Well dollface, I was wondering if you'd like to dance?"
Della nodded as she gave the rooster an obligatory curtsy as the music began. There was just something so familiar about him that she was trying to recall.
Dollface, seriously, this isn't some film noir in my uncle's collection
She could hear her own voice echoing in her brain as suddenly something clicked.
"Hugo right? You used to box in ?"
The Rooster nodded his head as he let out a long sigh.
"Fifteen years ago my future looked bright...I was the star contender on the St. Canard boxing scene. All the fame and glory wasn't enough however and I wanted a challenge."
"Is that what lead to…"
As Della motioned to his beak he nodded.
"I got myself involved in an underground cage fighting operation. At first it was just a means to blow off steam but soon I was in way over my head and next thing I know I'm waking up in the hospital. Two years of rehabilitation therapy and another three in the St. Canard prison system later and Hugo Rhodes is dead."
"But how can you be dead if you're dancing with me?"
He chuckled.
"Well, I'm not a boxer anymore for one, now I tend bar though lately I've landed a sweet sweet private security gig that got me into this here shindig. Second, I go by a more colorful moniker these days.
"STEELBEAK!" Mark Beaks's voice filled the air. Della knew that she and her ex would inevitably cross paths again since this event was hosted by his mother but she wasn't prepared for what to do or what to say especially after hearing some of the things Gyro and Fenton had to say about him.
The dance ended as the trio stepped aside to continue to converse.
"I'm not paying you to flirt, especially with someone who is painfully spoken for. Bella you look lovely by the way, once again the most sparkling gem in the room."
"Marcus Beaks, ever the charmer."
"Wait, you know her?" Steelbeak asked a confused look crossing his face.
"Bella and I used to date back when we were teenagers. Anyway, from the look of things it seems like you and Miss Duck had a past as well?"
"I bought her a drink...or two...or three…"
Della couldn't help but flush a bit as the memories of her 21st began to fully come back to the surface again as she wondered if anything would have transpired with her and the boxer if Gladstone hadn't intervened.
"I don't want or need to know what happened next," Mark spoke with a shake of his head before turning toward Della crossing his arm over his chest. "So, where is Screwloose this evening anyway?"
Letting out a sigh at the tone and nickname used to talk about Gyro, she began to feel a tinge if the famed Duck Family Rage began to well up inside her.
"My fiancé Doctor Gyro Gearloose is presently engaged in chaperoning our son's Quiz Bowl tournament in Cape Suzette."
"Wait? You have a son?"
"Technically I have three but it's complicated."
Steelbeak nodded his head while the expression on his face clearly suggested that he was trying to envision her with any child let alone three. It seemed as though he was about to open his mouth to speak however Mark opened his first.
"Break Time is over Steelbeak," Mark said.
The rooster nodded as he turned to place a gentle peck on Della's cheek causing her to shiver slightly at the coolness of his prosthetic.
"Hopefully it won't take another fifteen years for us to cross paths," Steelbeek spoke before heading off to deal with whatever security detail he was supposed to be doing.
A few silent moments passed as Della noticed the african grey still standing by her side.
"Did you have something else you wished to say to me?" she asked with a raised brow.
"A lot of things actually," Mark replied.
"And how many of them involve telling me that I can do better than Gyro?"
She watched as Mark placed his hand over his heart before allowing a pained expression to cross his face.
"Ouch," he said, "It hurts that you think so lowly of me. Anyway something big is going on, it's the reason why I have hired muscle and the reason why Falcon Graves is now the CEO of your family's company."
From what she had come to learn after her first encounter with him last spring, Mark Beaks only fell behind her Uncle and Glomgold when it came to net worth which was quite impressive seeing as how he was only in his late 30s. Sure, he had a bit of a reputation for taking the credit for his app developers designs or so she heard but if he had some insider information on Bradford Buzzard's coup d'etat and what could be done to get McDuck Enterprises back into the hands of a McDuck well…
"Do you think that we could save the business talk for another day, say Monday afternoon over coffee?"
"It's a date."
"Business Meeting."
"Same difference," Mark said as he shrugged his shoulders back before leaning forward in a flourish bowing before Della while holding out her hand. "Anyway, before we part this evening can we please just have one dance Bella? For old times sake."
Della couldn't help but let a chuckle escape her as she nodded her head before once more heading onto the dance floor.
It was the most natural thing, gliding along the floor with her former partner and for a moment she was that awkward thirteen year old girl once more.
It hadn't been just one dance for old times sake with Mark but instead it had turned into three, their conversations were mostly about reminiscing on days gone by though there was some minor talk peppered in between idle chatter about Switzerland or the Moon. As the third song ended, Della soon noticed how much the room had cleared out.
"I should go and find Don."
"Or, he can come find you and you can properly introduce us to one another twenty three years later."
Della simply shook her head as she turned on her heel but not before uttering a single word.
"Monday."