Who is Julie McDuck?!

The House of the Lucky Gander!

I woke up at 6 but I had no idea why. Maybe it was the maternal instinct kicking in. 

Or maybe it was because Kylee had climbed into my bed while I was sleeping and was kicking my face.

Now I feel bad for Uncle Scrooge. I gently shook my niece's shoulder. "Morning, honey!" 

She shifted in her sleep, rubbed her eyes and blinked. "Morning, Auntie Julie," she mumbled, hugging my arm.

"Bad dream?" I asked, petting her head.

She nodded. 

"Wanna talk about it over breakfast?" 

She shook her head, but Kylee's stomach rumbled.

I giggled. "C'mon; I'll get your brother and then we can head downstairs." As if on cue, Jake pulled himself to his feet using the bars of the crib, reaching out for me with one tiny hand.

"You want up?" I asked Jake, chuckling when he nodded. I scooped him out of the crib and carried him downstairs with Kylee close behind. I walked into the kitchen and ran into Donald.

"Hey, kiddo; what's up?"

"Not much; just getting used to waking up with a foot in my face."

"Been there," he mumbled. "Try that but times three."

I snickered. "I still can't believe you managed to raise three boys and didn't go crazy," I replied.

"Eh, it wasn't too bad; it was hard, but it was worth it."

Jake reached his arms out for Donald. "Here, I think Jake here wants a proper hello. Can you hold him for a sec while I get his bottle ready?"

My cousin smiled as I passed Jake over. "No problem, Julie."

I managed to sneak a few peeks at Donald while I heated up Jake's bottle, who busy was gushing over my nephew. I hid a smile and walked over to them.

"Can I have my nephew back, or are you too attached to him?" I teased, hands on my hips.

"How about you start making breakfast with Kylee? I'll feed him for you."

"If you insist." Kylee pulled the eggs out of the fridge and I cracked about seven onto a frying pan. (Hey, big family, gotta feed everyone). After they began to sizzle, I scrambled them together and put them onto several plates. 

I handed Kylee a plate and she scampered over to the table. "It's nothing fancy, but it's good food."

My niece nodded in agreement with her mouth full. "Iz weally gooth!"

"Lassie, don't talk with yer mouth full," Uncle Scrooge said, tussling her hair as he walked by. "That's strange; I'm usually the first one up. And why is Donald feeding yer nephew?"

"Aw, lay off the kid; I offered," Donald replied, handing Jake back to me with a smooth, practiced motion. "Besides, aren't we going to see Gladstone? I'm sure he'd like to know he's a great-uncle now."

They both chuckled. "How're ya gonna tell the boys that they have two new cousins?" Uncle Scrooge asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"Holy crud! It finally happened! Uncle Donald got married!" Dewey yelled, pointing at the baby in my arms.

Huey began to assess the situation (or what he thought the situation was). "Okay, everyone! Remain calm! We all knew this would happen someday!"

Louie grabbed his brother by the collar. "No, we didn't!" he screamed, shaking Huey back and forth.

"Guys! GUYS! You can calm down now! Donald didn't get married," I shushed them, bouncing a now fussy duckling in my arms. "Boys, meet my brother's kids: Kylee and Jake McDuck."

"Auntie Julie?" Kylee said, tugging on my jacket. "Who awe they?"

"Kylee, Jake, meet your cousins: Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck," I said, gently pushing her towards the boys.

She studied their faces before cracking a shy smile. "Hi, I'm Kylee."

"C'mon, ya lot," Scrooge interrupted us. "Let's go see Gladstone before it gets too late."

Louie elbowed me. "'Auntie Julie'?"

"I'll knock you into next week."

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We climbed off the elevator to see Uncle Gladstone getting up from a massage table. 

"Hey, kids! Uncle Scrooge! D-money!" he greeted before noticing the baby in my arms. 

"Oh-ho! Little Julie has a kid now? Who's the lucky guy?"

Light blush tinted my cheeks. "Good to see you, too, Uncle Gladstone."

"Actually, they're yer kids, Gladstone," Uncle Scrooge replied, a smirk on his beak.

"Wait, what?"

I smiled, walking up to my uncle. "Don't you wanna say hi to your great-nephew and great-niece?"

All of the color drained from his face upon realizing the situation. "But-but...if they're not Julie's kids, then...who?"

"Yer nephew, ya deadbeat."

Gladstone cautiously picked up Jake. "I-I'm sorry, Julie. I just...I didn't know that your dad had more than one kid."

Donald cleared his throat. "Um, kids? Why don't you explore the hotel room? Uncle Scrooge and I need to talk to Gladstone."

________________________________________________________________________________

(Scrooge's POV)

"I-I just can't believe it!" Gladstone exclaimed, pacing the room. "I understand Julie, but...she has siblings?! And these little kids..."

"Are your great-niece and nephew," Donald finished for him as I bounced Jake on my lap. He giggled and it made my heart swell. "Cuz, you gotta tell us about her father."

"I don't know much," he admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "Only that he's kinda infamous for marrying someone outside of Scottish nationality."

That peeked my interest. "So her mother was nae Scottish?"

"No, I think she was Hispanic." He threw his hands up. "I don't get it, though! Matilda said that he'd been dead for at least 15 years!"

A year after Julie was born, I thought and sighed. "Gladstone, there's something going on. All records of her parents have been erased except for federal ones. Someone doesn't want us to find the truth."

He shrugged. "If I were you, I'd start by asking someone who was close to her family."

Donald and I locked eyes.

"We have to find Nathan."