when you wish upon a star (scrooge and della)

[sos_pilot]

 It was half past midnight when the crash came. Perhaps the gods of fortune decided to give Donald one last break in that it didn't destroy his houseboat - no, this landing was in the gardens.

The mangled heap of what used to be the Spear of Selene and moon-men-based-technology left a sizable crater in the ground, smoke billowing up for ages. A few minutes after the landing, one of the windows was pushed open, and the pilot made an ungraceful landing on the ground. She had expected a more dignified leap, but had also forgotten about gravity.

Compared to all the other things that had happened on the moon, this pain was nothing. She wobbled to her feet, and then stopped in place once she got an eyeful of... everything.

The mansion.

She was at the mansion.

She was in Duckberg. Earth. Home.

Comments

[richestduck]

"Uranium," he told her flatly. "And back when I was a lad, it wasn't understood that well. Particularly the effects on the body."

He sighed.

"Here's a dirty family secret for you, Della, one I'll be sharing with your brother once he's got little ones of his own on the way: I looked at hiring a surrogate mother after you and Donald's eggs were laid. I always wanted a family of my own, but seeing Hortense and Quackmore with you two made me want it all the more. Only trouble is I didn't know who would marry me for me and not my money, so I figured I'd cut out the potential for a messy divorce." He shook his head. "Doctor had given me a checkup and told me when I came back for results and his list of reputable surrogates to speak with that it wouldn't matter how many times I slept with a woman; I'd never get her pregnant."

[sos_pilot]

Her shoulders sank, eyes widening. "Oh, Uncle Scrooge..."

This time when she got up, she ignored the weight and pain. She was going to see this through - he needed a hug, and he was going to get one. She held him gently, not knowing what he needed to hear. How long had been carrying that burden alone? "I'm so sorry."

[richestduck]

"Your aunts are aware of the situation, but when we go visit your grandmother and grandfather, don't say anything," he pleaded as he leaned into her hug. "Last thing I need is to hear Daddy's criticizing how I had literally one job as acting head of the family."

"Acting head" since the head of the family was trapped in the castle.

[sos_pilot]

"Of course." Although if that did come up again, she wouldn't promise she wouldn't kick grandpa right in the shin or somewhere else unpleasant.

"But, you know... there are lots of kids out there who are looking for a good home." She pointed out. "Does it have to be blood...?"

[richestduck]

"I thought about adoption, lassie, but I'd have to give up quite a lot to be considered a fit candidate for adoption. Particularly since I don't have a spouse," he told her. "I've got more than enough wealth, but my lifestyle is a big red flag."

He reached up and patted her belly with its three passengers.

"I'm happy, Della. I'm glad I get to help you and these wee ones as much as I can just like when your mother was in your place."

[sos_pilot]

That was a sad but true fact. And if he did use his money to skirt the law... well, then he wouldn't be Uncle Scrooge, now would he? It was unfair. He was so good that sometimes it hurt him.

"I'm glad you're here too." She said softly. "I can't imagine doing this without you."

[richestduck]

It had been tempting. It had been super tempting. However, he'd forced himself not to take that path because if he did it once, what was to stop him from doing it again for something else, potentially for something less benign than giving a child (or children) a home with him?

"With a little luck, you won't have to see it much less imagine it." He stood up. "Let's go for a little stroll in the back garden. Doctor says it's important for you to get some light exercise from time to time. If I remember correctly, the last of the new benches were put in last week."

[sos_pilot]

"Okay, but I can't promise I'll go very far." Della was more than happy to return to joking territory. If you asked her, Donald was way better with emotions and serious stuff - she considered him the heart of the operation when it came to adventures.

"After you, good sir."

[richestduck]

"And that's why we put benches in for when you inevitably need to sit down and catch your breath." He chuckled and teasingly poked her belly. "I doubt even I'll be able to carry you back to your bed if you wore yourself out in one go."

[sos_pilot]

"Yeah yeah, get all the chubby jokes out now." Even if she instigated most of them. "But I get free reign on old man quips the next time I hear your back crack."

[richestduck]

"As if both you and Donald don't already take every opportunity you get to call me a geezer," Scrooge countered with a huff.

However, he held the door open for her to pass through.

[sos_pilot]

"Oh, you love us for it." She gave him a playful shove as she headed out the door.

[richestduck]

"I love you two for a lot, but the 'geezer' comments do make it difficult," he joked as he closed the door behind them.

It was such a nice afternoon on Killmotor Hill. Though, honestly, given how high up they were, they'd have to turn in sooner rather than later. Closer to the sky meant a nice chance of soaking up all the UV rays, and Scrooge didn't fancy a sunburnt triplet-pregnancy belly felt too great.

[sos_pilot]

Della leaned on him every so often as they walked, and could only hope it wasn't bothering him too much.

"Man, the kids are going to love running around this place." She mused with a great big smile. "We'll have to be ready to catch them when they run wild."

[richestduck]

"Won't be any worse than when we had to chase down you and Donald," Scrooge told her. "You two were already starting to run around when Hortense and Quackmore found the right house. You probably don't remember it though."

[sos_pilot]

"At least mom and dad had us one-on-one." Della chuckled, trying to imagine it for herself. "Then again, there's three of us... you, Donald, me... we could each manage to catch one kid. Maybe that's why I wound up with three - one for each of us!"

[richestduck]

"I'll take the one who runs around the least." He mockingly stooped a little further and added a rasp to his voice. "These old bones won't be able to keep up anymore..."

[sos_pilot]

Della laughed, slapping a hand on his back. "Poor old man! He won't even be able to rock them to sleep!"

[richestduck]

"I'd likely be napping with them while you and Donald go to work at the office." Scrooge straightened back up, losing the raspy voice. "Not gonna deny, that there is a pleasant thought."

[sos_pilot]

Della beamed - the image of Scrooge napping with three little babies was so adorable, she could weep. Or maybe that was the hormones running through her. Could be both.

"When that happens, I'll be taking endless pictures."

[richestduck]

"I won't even stop you if it means I get to have a proper nap with the kids," Scrooge said with a smirk.

[sos_pilot]

"Just you wait. I'm going to be one of those moms. Plaster the entire inside of my plane with their pictures. No surface untouched."

[richestduck]

"You say that as if it's a bad thing!" Scrooge protested. "And for the record, I want some for my wallet."

So he could annoy everybody with them.

[sos_pilot]

Della grinned from ear to ear. "Pre or post hatching?" She teased.

[richestduck]

"Both, obviously," he told her in the most dignified tone he could muster. "And before they're laid, of course."