Chapter Text
May
May realized how big the bedroom was when she turned on the bed. They were way too big for her, both the room and the bed. The whole place was eerily comforting, with its wooden, warm walls and big window that occupied most of the farthest wall. But May was used to tighter spaces, she had been borne in a tube after all, and her new room in the mansion was at least four times bigger than any of her previous rooms in any FOWL base.
The bedroom was so big it felt empty. Other than the two beds, a couple nightstands, and the wardrove May shared with her sister, there was little else of note in the room. She thought it was a waste of space that only the two of them were living in there when there could easily be four or even more people fit in, but it was the place she had been assigned to, and May wasn’t about to contradict Scrooge or Beakley about it.
Besides, if the old duck had so much space to spare then she had no reason to deny him.
May put an arm above her head, and wondered why was she thinking about how big the room was.
Wait.
How long had she been laying there just looking at the ceiling?
The sunlight leaking through the curtains looked intense. It couldn't be too early. And where was June?
The young duck quickly sat on the bed and had a look around. Her sister's bed was made, and the door remained closed. What time was it, anyway? And why had no one woken her?
May felt a pit forming in her stomach.
Was she late?
What if everyone was waiting for her?
Guilt invaded her. May wasn't the type to be late, her training had made sure of it.
It wasn't until she had jumped from the bed and stood in front of the door ready to open it that May realized she wasn't late. She didn't have to train anymore or report to anybody. A blush rushed her cheeks. She shook her head and opened the door, suddenly thankful for being alone.
Once outside May noticed the mansion remained silent. She stood in the hallway trying to catch any voice or noise that felt familiar.
There were none.
Where was everyone?
The mansion was usually a livelier place, how was it that it was precisely the day she woke up late the one that there was no one around? For a moment, May thought that maybe they had all gone to an adventure of some sort, but was quick to discard the idea.
They wouldn´t have left without her, would they?
At least June wouldn't.
After a minute in silence, May decided to go down to the kitchen and look for something to eat, she would most likely bump into someone on the way for sure.
May and her twin had been living in the mansion for more than two weeks now, more than enough time to memorize the hallways that ran through it and learn which were the best routes to transit them with efficiency. Not that she needed to know the layout for any specific reason, but it didn’t hurt to be aware.
May had spent the last weeks getting to know her new and ever-growing family, as it looked like there was no end to the new people that some way or another were related to the McDucks. If it weren’t because she was used to working under pressure, May would have already been overwhelmed from introducing herself and repeating her name over and over to so many strangers.
May knew that two weeks weren't nearly enough to get to know all of them, not really, but she had spoken to all of them at least once or twice and she had formed an image from each and one of them.
From the triplets with their differences and their eccentric mother, to Mr. Scrooge, who had a way of being in control all the time and Mrs. Beakley and her strict way of running the household. As a side note, May had been surprised by that fact alone, as Scrooge seemed content to let the old spy play matron and essentially run the place by herself and leaving no place for arguments, not even from the most stubborn people around, like Donald and Della. That was familiar to May, at least, it brought her a little of comfort.
Still, it was frustrating, every time they’d start talking about something May had no idea of…
It made her feel dumb and useless.
May finally heard voices once she got to the main lobby on her way to the kitchen.
“How much do you want to lose?”
“The last can of cherry pep.”
There was a brief silence.
“Deal.”
May's curiosity was piqued, so she went over to see who was arguing. When she got close, she saw that it was Louie and Della, sitting in the couch facing each other with expressions that reflected absolute confidence on their faces.
May knocked twice on the door frame, suddenly desperate to announce her presence.
“Ehr, good morning” greeted the girl, a little lower than planned.
May watched as their faces lighted up in an instant, and after sharing a quick look they both turned to look at her. Louie let Della speak first, but still waved at May with a lazy smile.
“Hey sweetie, how's your morning?” Della's smile seemed genuine enough, at least, even though May could tell there was something else hiding underneath. “Your sisters are outside helping Donald with the boat.”
May felt embarrassed on the inside. Was she really that easy to read?
“I'm fine, thanks,” said May quickly, and then thought better of it, “a little hungry, though.”
“Oh, let me get you something, hmm?” Della got up from the couch and stretched her arms.
“I thought Mrs. Beakley had you banished from the kitchen?” Called Louie from behind.
Della let out a couple of sarcastic ha, ha, to then give him a sly smile, “you didn't have breakfast either, did you?” Della picked her son up from the couch like he didn’t weight a thing and put him on the floor, softly pushing him outside, “c'mon, I'll make you guys some cereal.”
May followed them to the kitchen and sat beside Louie in the bar while Della looked for some bowls, a song on her lips.
“So, slept in late?” Asked Louie. The sharpest of the triplets was smiling at May as if they were some kind of partners in crime.
“So did you,” May accused back, harsher than intended.
He didn’t seem to mind.
“Exactly, isn't it way better than having to worry about what kind of mortal danger is waiting for you next?”
Well, that was a first one.
“Wait, you don’t like adventuring?”
May couldn’t hear the end of it from everybody else. Webby, the other triplets, Della and Scrooge... They were all ecstatic to go out there and risk their lives again for some reason or the other.
“Well, the treasures are worth it, but most of the time Scrooge just hoards all of it for himself,” said Louie while rolling his eyes.
“Aww, what about all the family bonding?” Came Della’s voice from beyond the counter.
Louie ignored her and continued.
“Poisoned traps everywhere...”
“Ha, barely a challenge!”
“Cursed artifacts you can’t even keep...”
“Great stories for later!”
“And of course, the eldritch horrors that will haunt your nightmares.”
“Worthy foes to be defeated and cement your name as a legend!” Proclaimed Della while standing over the counter in a victory pose. May could only think of how much she looked like Webby when standing like that. She thought it was funny.
“It’s just nice to relax every once in a while without anyone getting hurt, you know?” Finished Louie. Della instantly jumped down from the counter and landed behind them, to then put her arms around him.
“No one’s getting hurt while I’m here,” assured the mother, finally getting him to smile.
Meanwhile, all May could think was how Heron had never given her a hug like. May never receive a hug from Heron at all, now that she thought about it. The best she could have hoped for from her creator was an acknowledging nod, or the much more rare, prideful smile that would form on the black bird’s beak from time to time.
“So, anyway,” Louie continued, directing his words at May again as Della went back to making breakfast as if nothing had happened, “do you ever feel like, hurt, whenever any of your sisters is?”
The sudden break on her train of thought, combined with the absurdity of the question made May’s brain hurt in confusion.
“I’m sorry, what now?”
“Ha! I told you it wouldn’t be like that for them,” came Della’s response, she placed the bowls in front of them, and gave a bite to her hot dog, “pay up.”
“Not fair, that wasn’t a real answer!” Complained Louie. “And please get that thing off my face.”
Just what was going on?
They both turned to look at May expectantly. Seeing her confusion, Della went on to explain as if it were obvious.
“See, I said that because you are twins you would sometimes share your thoughts with June, but Louie argued that triplets can sometimes share pain, which is ridiculous, you synchronize with June all the time, so it must be just like with Donnie and me!”
“That doesn’t prove anything, that happens with me and my brothers too!”
“But it doesn’t happen for the girls and Webby, does it?” Countered Della, and her son could only let out an overdramatic grown in response.
“Both of you are making zero sense right now,” said May as she took a spoonful of cereal, “but if you must really know, it’s closer to what Ms. Della is saying.”
This earned another groan from Louie and a ha! In your face! From his mother.
May giggled at that, and smiled for real for the first time in the day while rolling her eyes.
Even after only spending a short while with them, May wasn’t even close to understanding these two at all, not to mention the others. Not yet, at least, but if she had learned something from her time with Heron and Bradford, it was how to be patient. And even though it was true she was getting bored without anything actually important or interesting going on, at least she was having fun.
May still didn’t trust them as she would her sisters, but who knows? Living here might not be so bad after all.
Louie and Della continued to banter for a while, and May observed them as she ate, having lost track of the conversation.
“Alright, alright, I’ll share my victory pep with you,” said Della at some point as she produced a can, the last one, from one of her pockets.
“Wait, when did you-?” Louie made a confused face, but Della gave him a smug grin and continued.
“If, you ask nicely enough.”
He rolled his eyes at first, but then turned his face around and gave Della a pleading look.
“No,” she laughed, “no puppy faces, who do you think you got them from?”
“Forget it, it’s not worth it,” he slumped back on his seat with a sigh of frustration, clearly changing strategy.
Della was about to say something, but was interrupted by a voice coming from the door.
“Good morning, Della, children,” greeted Daisy, “have you seen Donald?”
“Hey, Daisy,” said Della as she finished her hot dog, “he’s doing something at the houseboat. What you need him for?”
“You too?” Asked Daisy, clearly holding back some other sort of reply, “we were supposed to have a talk with Scrooge at The Bin like, ten minutes ago.”
Della choked for a moment before putting her meal down and taking the can of pep away from Louie’s prying hands with a quick movement. May was surprised at that, when had he gotten so close?
“I’ll get Donald, you get the car, okay?” Sentenced Daisy as she walked away without waiting for a reply, while Della looked for her keys in her jacket as she went for the door.
“We’ll be gone a couple hours,” was the aviator’s goodbye, “be good.”
Louie visibly rolled his eyes.
“Yes, mom.”
May sat straight.
“Yes, Ms. Della.”
“Oh, and Louie?” Called Della once she was at the door. The green triplet looked up from his bowl just in time to catch the can of pep right before it hit him in the face. “Great response time!”
The pilot left without another word before her son could come up with a response.
May watched Louie open the can; he grumbled something and took a sip. She had no idea what he was talking about, but managed to catch a glimpse of a very carefully hidden smile underneath.
They finished their breakfast in silence.
“So,” said May after a while, “any ideas for today?”
“Hmm, let me see,” he opened a hand and started counting, “Mrs. B is cleaning the attic, so she won’t be bossing us around, and the others are leaving for the bin,” he shrugged, “I guess I’ll watch some TV…”
“Woah, yeah, that sounds exciting.”
May couldn’t help the sarcasm leaking out, but again, he didn’t seem to care.
“Hey, breaks around here are rare and short,” said Louie, “and I intend to enjoy this one for as long as it lasts.”
“Now that you mention it, these past weeks have been pretty quiet,” wondered May aloud, mostly to herself, “I was under the impression there was always something going around here.”
Louie turned at her with a mortified expression.
“What, what is it?” Asked May, a little scared for the first time. Judging by his face they might as well have been in immediate mortal danger.
“And you had to jinx it…”
Daisy
“So, we can't even take them outside?” Asked Daisy. She, McDuck and the Duck twins were at Scrooge's office, Donald and Della sat at her sides. “Is that what you’re saying? That they’re not real?”
“Well, they technically weren't born, so the short answer is no,” answered Scrooge uncomfortably, “there are no papers related to them, which means they don't even exist in the system.”
“But this is ridiculous, as if they weren't even people?” Complained Donald. “They are family.” He stated firmly.
Daisy couldn’t believe it. Was a piece of paper really all that was needed to declare a person; a living, breathing being, as non-existent? The memories that such a cold-hearted sentiment brought back made Daisy grind her teeth.
“Naturally, I will apply pressure to make sure they don't encounter any problems in the future and procure all the necessary documents. That's what I pay my lawyers for, after all.” The old duck tried to reassure them, but even then, Daisy could hear a hint of unease in there.
“But it will take time, a few weeks at least, just like when that lass Lena returned.” He sighed, age showing on his face. “And I still need to figure out Webbygail's situation for that matter.”
Right…
“What about her?” Asked Della. “She already has all that, doesn’t she?”
“She did, but the truth of the matter is that she too is a clone. I will need to figure out all the legal matters with Beakley, rewrite the will, and who knows what else.” He looked at Donald. “I’m sorry, but you will have to postpone your journey. That is, if you still intend on taking the girls along when you leave?”
“Of course we are,” said Daisy immediately, while trying not to sound rude, “the girls need time to adjust and learn in a safe environment and, no offense, but the manor seems to be a little chaotic for that.”
“It might be for the best,” agreed the billionaire, and chuckled drily, “and... What about the adoption?”
So, there it was, the elephant in the room. Daisy held her breath.
“That too needs to be resolved, they need a legal guardian, after all.”
Daisy shared a look with Donald, they had already talked about it. It might have been a little too soon, but it seemed like the right choice for everyone.
“If you’re unsure, then I could-”
“We'll take them,” said Donald for the both of them, cutting his uncle off.
Scrooge let a soft smile pry out of his beak, while Della all but jumped from her chair.
“Woo hoo!” Shouted the pilot. “That's great! You have no idea how much it will change your lives for the better.” She shook Daisy's hand with a smile.
“I do know that, Della. I've been a parent for more than ten years,” said Donald, and Della rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, no news there, pal, I meant Daisy,” this time it was Donald who rolled his eyes.
“Whatever...”
Still, Daisy didn’t know what face to make as Della enveloped her in one of her bone crushing hugs. Where was all the sudden familiarity even coming from?
“Very well,” said Scrooge, “I will get my team on it.”
“And I need to get the boat ready,” said Donald, getting up. Daisy got up too, as if she were in autopilot, “a couple weeks, right?”
“Yes, I will keep you updated,” replied McDuck, while looking at some other papers on his desk. “We will need you to sign some papers and all that…”
“Good, that gives me time to prepare the boat for the girls.”
“Wait, that was it?” Asked Della, “why did you even call for me?”
“Because I needed you to help me with the paperwork,” said Scrooge as he handled her a pile of papers, at least half of what had been sitting on his desk, “some people still think you’re dead, lass.”
All Della did was stay there with a blank expression, as if she couldn’t believe how easily she’d been tricked.
“…What?”
“You’ve been postponing it for more than a year now. You didn’t really think you could get away with it for any longer, did you?”
“Oh, come on!”
Daisy saw how Della’s face twisted and looked around, clearly trying to find a quick way out, but her uncle all but read her intentions.
“Don’t you dare drop those! You have no idea how long it took to organize them by date!”
“Why don’t you get a secretary for that, anyway?”
“A waste of money, I don’t need such expenses! Or do you mean to say I can’t handle simple tasks by myself?!”
Donald and Daisy soon said their goodbyes to uncle and niece as quietly as they dared to, and then made their way down to Donald’s car, leaving them to their argument.
Donald drove them to Daisy’s apartment downtown, as she wanted to get some of her stuff to the houseboat as soon as possible, and he had offered to help her. It was a quiet, but quick ride, and Daisy couldn’t stop thinking about the girls. She couldn’t deny she was nervous about it, as if she were somehow joining the family in a much more permanent way.
Well, she was, wasn’t she?
“So, we're really doing this?” Asked Donald once they were in and had settled on her couch, “are you sure this is what you want?”
She couldn’t help but frown.
“What is it, I thought you’d be happy?”
“I am,” he quickly reassured, “it's just… I know how much pressure it can put on you. Parenting, I mean,” Donald took her hand, “and it feels like I forced it on you.”
Daisy considered his words. It was true, she had been put off when he had asked her to take on two unknown little girls out of nowhere. Angry, even. And over a phone call? He had some nerve.
But she had already known what she was getting herself into when she started dating him. Well, at least she thought she did. They had even ended up inside some ancient monster. A Titan, was it? It didn’t matter. And, as a plus, she already knew how much of a good father he was, so at least there was that.
Such a big step, she thought, but it was one she felt it was in the right direction, weirdly enough.
Daisy was suddenly aware of Donald’s eyes on her. He was waiting for an answer. She looked at him, really looked at him; he was sweating, and she could detect the slightest of a tremble on his hands. Of course he was nervous, how could he not be? She saw the fear on his eyes, the fear of rejection.
“This is what I want, you don't need to worry about me.” She said firmly, but gently. “We're together in this, right?”
Donald smiled, relief all over his face. That was better.
“Right.”
How she loved that smile.
“But you’re going to have to help me,” she said quickly, “I don’t have any idea on how to parent anyone.”
That too, was true. She had no siblings, or younger cousins, or any other type of experience on the matter. For as long as she knew it had only been her parents and her, and then, just her. And she didn’t exactly want to follow their example.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” he said, “I mean, if Della can learn…”
She couldn’t help but giggle at that.
“Don’t be so harsh, she tries her best.” Said Daisy, not even sure why she was defending Della.
Probably because; despite how different they were, being new at parenting was something they were about to have in common. It was also the only thing they had in common, probably.
Donald seemed to read her expression, and gently squeezed her hand again.
“You’ll do great, trust me.”
Coming from him it really meant a lot for her, but still she felt nervous at the idea.
“If you said so…”
If only she knew what expected her back at the mansion…
Webby
“So, where are you taking us again?” asked June as she followed Webby through the vents, the others not far behind.
“Well, usually I’d have taken you to the garage the regular way, but the door’s been locked for some time now…”
“I wonder why,” shot Louie from the back.
“Come on, I want to show you guys this place!”
“No offense, Webby,” said Huey, “but we’ve been living on this mansion for three years, I don’t think there’s a place we haven’t been to before.”
“I grew up here,” she said with confidence, “you haven’t seen a thing.”
The red triplet grumbled something in response, but he was so far behind that she didn’t catch it.
Webby continued guiding them for a while until they finally crawled their way to what she knew was the vent leading to the garage, she kicked it open and got out. Webby turned around to help the first of her sisters out, but both June and May jumped out of the vents with precise agility before she could offer any of them a hand. Huh, she’d grown accustomed to the triplets not managing her pace, as she had to go back and help them all the time during adventures. They waited for the others.
“Behold!” Webby extended her arms and presented to them… “The garage!”
“Woo…” Dewey was the only triplet to clap, even if weakly, while Huey gave her an unimpressed look, and Louie just stood there, looking at his phone.
“So…” Started June, but she didn’t seem to know what else to say.
“What’s so special about this place?” Asked May, a little impatiently, “I’ve been here before, you know…?”
Right after saying it, May lost all confidence, and suddenly retreated to stand beside her twin. Webby saw her sharing a look with June, but this one only nodded to whatever May was thinking. Neither said a thing, but the looks of unease were clear on their faces.
But Webby was not one to be so easily discouraged.
Webby had watched her sisters these past weeks, and had noted that despite them being overall friendly with everyone, they were still wary of all the new things and especially of the affection they were now receiving.
And how could they not?
Webby wanted a way for them to feel safer around them, and what better way than to have a little adventure on The Other Bin? It was perfect, and they didn’t even have to leave the mansion!
“Oh, this?” Webby gave a look around, and leaned on Scrooge’s headless statue while trying to imitate how she thought Lena would act, and said in an uninterested tone... “This is just the entrance…”
She took on everyone’s expressions. Dewey looked confused, Louie seemed genuinely curious now, while Huey’s eyes flashed with recognition. But when she saw her sisters, her heart gave a jump. Their faces showed nothing but pure excitement now.
That alone finally convinced her to keep going.
Webby didn’t wait for Huey to say whatever it was he was about to say, and instead opened the way to The Other Bin for them as dramatically as possible.
“Come on!” She waved her hand at them from the doorway.
Louie and Dewey were the first ones in, no doubt on their faces, and were soon followed by May and June, a little slower but excited nonetheless. Huey was the last one. He slowly made his way into the hidden doorway, and as he did, he dedicated Webby a look of unease.
“I don’t think we should be going in here…” But Webby waved Huey’s concerns away and gave him a big smile.
Webby knew there were probably good reasons why Scrooge kept all those artifacts down there, but she simply couldn’t pass on the chance to take everyone into their first adventure with May and June.
“It’ll be okay,” she said, “we’re together!”
Webby then took Huey’s hand and together they descended into the darkness below Killmotor Hill.