A few years later, the twins were four and Blaire was six. Matilda and Hortense decided to go to Scotland to see their parents. The kids were all understandably scared. They clung to their parents. The children were also really tired from the time change. Blaire eventually opened up to her maternal grandparents. She was brave enough to open up to them. Downy, their mother, smiled down at Hortense and Quackmore's wee bairns. Scrooge didn't come with them because he was busy with his business. Fergus wasn't happy with Scrooge not coming to visit his parents.
"I see your brother didn't come with any of you," she said. "No, he's busy with his business," Hortense said. "He couldn't take a couple of days off to come see his dear old parents," Fergus said. "Sorry we couldn't get him to come, mom and dad," Hortense said. "You should be," Fergus said. "She doesn't have to be sorry for Scrooge's decision," Quackmore said.
During the evening the adults didn't talk to each other. Hortense and Quackmore tried to get the kids to eat dinner. Fergus and Downy mostly paid attention to Matilda. They didn't talk to Hortense and Quackmore about their lives. Fergus and Downy didn't really like Quackmore because he had too similar of a temper to Hortense. They couldn't see that Quackmore and Hortense were happy together. The two of them even had three kids and they were raising those kids together. Quackmore turned out to be a pretty great dad to the three kids and an amazing husband for Hortense. Fergus walked past Hortense and Quackmore and he grumbled something. "Quackmore is no good for you," Fergus grumbled. Hortense stood up to her father in anger.
"Dad, Quackmore is amazing. When Blaire hatched out of her egg, he was there to clean her up dress her and when that was done, he came to wake me up saying that Blaire hatched out of her egg and when we were expecting our twins to hatch out of the same shell, he stood by me all the way. I couldn't ask for anyone better than him," Hortense said. "You will not talk to me that way," Fergus said. "Dad, Quackmore and Hortense are perfect for each other. Sure, they might fight a lot but I can see the love that they have for each other and the love that they have for the children," Matilda said. "Don't stand up for your sister, she needs to stand up for herself," Fergus said. "I won't have you talk to them this way. I love Hortense and she loves me and look at the life we built for ourselves. We have three amazing, wonderfully creative children. I'm an amazing father and husband," Quackmore said. "Quackmore and I love each other," Hortense said. "You can't possibly love someone who has the same amount of anger as you," Fergus said. "Dad, they're happy together and look at the children that they're bringing up," Matilda said. "If you two can't accept my choice in a husband, Quackmore and I won't ever come back and you two will never see our children again," Hortense said. She stomped off to another room in the castle. Quackmore immediately knelt down to his three crying kids. "It's okay. I'm going to go calm your mommy down and then we can go home," Quackmore said. He went to find Hortense.
Hortense was found in a bedroom crying on a bed. He quietly went over to her and gently placed a hand on her back. She sat up on the bed and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her. He didn't want to let her go. She was the best thing that he could ask for. She stood up to her parents. She loved her parents but she needed to stand up for herself at some point and she did.
They soon got home. Hortense and Quackmore immediately put the kids to bed. The three of them were crying until they all fell asleep. Hortense gave them all warm milk to help them fall asleep easier. They sat with the kids. Everyone was truly exhausted from the trip. The kids were so young and they weren't sure of actually going to Scotland in the first place or not.
"Blaire's asleep?" Hortense said. "Yes, she's asleep," Quackmore said. "Now, we've got to get these two in bed," she said. "Yeah. come on you two," he said. Quackmore picked Della up and Hortense picked Donald up. They went upstairs to put the twins down in their beds for the night. The twins were still awake when they reached the twins' room. Donald screamed when Hortense put him down in his bed. Hortense could see the tears in his eyes. "Shh, shh, shh," Hortense said sitting down next to him. The little boy stopped screaming and he clung onto his mother. Della was clinging onto her father. "Tell us a story," Della said. "Not tonight, it's past your bedtime," Quackmore said. Della fell asleep first. Donald still clung onto Hortense.
Hortense soon got Donald to fall asleep and she went to bed as did Quackmore. "There's something going on with the kids besides them being overtired," Quackmore said. "I know, but we can figure it out in the morning," she said, laying down in bed under the covers. He laid down next to her. "I love you," she said. "I love you too," he said. They started to kiss passionately.
