Who is Julie McDuck?!

Headed Home

(Scrooge's POV)

"Hey, Mr. McD! How'd the meeting go?" Launchpad greeted us as I came down to the garage with Julie.

He leaned over to see the sniffling girl in my arms, then looked at me. "What happened to the kid? Something upset her?"

I sighed, unwinding the lass from my hold and depositing her in the backseat before climbing into the limo myself. 

"Just get us home, McQuack," I grumbled.

"O-okay Mr. McD," he replied hesitantly as he put the limo into drive and sped onto the street. I shifted my gaze towards Julie, who was red-eyed and still seemed unhappy. 

"All better, lass?" I asked, rubbing her shoulder.

She shrugged my touch off and gripped the part of her sleeve where my hand had been. That's strange, I thought. She's never rejected a hug before. Something's wrong.

After a few moments of silence, Julie finally spoke.

"Uncle Scrooge, am I a mistake?"

"What?! Who told you...no, of course, yer not a mistake, lassie! Why would you ask that?" I sputtered, taken aback by her question.

"Then why didn't my parents want me?" she said, gazing up at me with those big, blue eyes.

So that's what this is all about. "Julie, is this about what those directors of mine said?"

"Maybe," she replied. "But...it's the first time I ever thought about it. My parents left me; do you know why?"

I sighed. "I don't. Matilda, your grandmother, didn't even tell me about you until I met you six years ago. To be honest, I didnae even know she had a child, let alone a granddaughter. Your cousins are probably wondering the same thing."

There was a pause. 

"Can I see them?" she pleaded. "Della's kids?"

I ran a hand down my face. "I'm not sure Donald would be that keen of seeing you after the Spear of Selene."

"Why?"

"Um, because..."

"Is it because I look like her?"

"Partly, yes, but also because he knows you're living with me right now. He...isn't too fond of me anymore after Della got lost in space. He blames me for what happened."

That's when I realized Julie had fallen asleep against my side. I smiled and was about to pick her up to take her into the manor when she started to talk in her sleep.

"Daddy..."

I stopped mid-motion. Daddy? Was she...?

"Daddy! Don't leave me!" she cried out, reaching out for something to grab onto.

I immediately scooped her up, holding her close. "It's okay, Julie. It's just a dream," I comforted her, tucking her hair back before I started to ascend the stairs.

I tucked her into her bed and stayed by her side until Julie stopped crying out. 

"Don't worry, lass; I'll always be here for you."