Who is Julie McDuck?!

Nothing Can Stop Della Duck!

(Julie's POV)

I unbuckled my seat belt and stepped out the car. "Thanks for the ride, Ms. O'Gilt!" I said as I grabbed the bags from the backseat. Goldie had been so nice as to get me some new clothes for me and Cole's upcoming date, as she insisted that I needed something besides jean shorts to wear. To be fair, she was right.

Goldie smiled from the driver's seat. "No problem, kiddo! It was about time you and I had some girl time, anyways!"

"So...you're okay with me dating Cole?"

She laughed and ruffled my hair. "Julie, you're the one girl who's managed to melt my grandson's heart. I support your relationship with Cole completely, even if old Sourdough doesn't."

Goldie let out a hum as she ran her fingers through my hair. "Though, it might be time you got a haircut...how long has it been since you went to a hair salon?"

I giggled. "Probably too long. Thanks again, Ms. O'Gilt!"

She grinned as she started the car back up. "Call me Goldie."

When she drove off, I walked over to the front gate and buzzed the intercom, which made the gates swing open. I opened the front door and...

"Holy crud," I muttered under my breath.

There, sitting in the foyer with Dewey in her arms, was none other than Della Duck. Albeit with longer hair, ragged clothing and a metal leg (that I'm sure there was a story behind), she looked exactly like she did ten years ago.

Before she left.

A lump was stuck in my throat as I tried to not cry. Della must have heard me struggling to hold my tears back because she turned around and her eyes became as big as dinner plates.

She carefully set Dewey on the ground and slowly got to her feet. She smoothed down my hair feathers and held onto my cheeks as tears welled in her eyes. Her beak formed a teary smile.

"Julie? Is that really you? You've...changed so much," she whispered, the tears now spilling down the sides of her face.

I chuckled as I slammed her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her neck. "Well, I guess that makes two of us, doesn't it?" I choked out, squeezing her tight.

Della, initially surprised, broke into a grin and squeezed me back. I never wanted to let go. Part of me was afraid that, if I did, she'd disappear again.

My cousin seemed to sense this and cupped the back of my head. "Don't worry, Julie; I'm not going anywhere this time."

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(Julie's POV)

The boys, Webby, Scrooge and I watched as Della ate at the dinner table. She must have been really hungry, because we saw her put away so much food, it could feed a family of seven.

Dewey watched in amazement with sparkling eyes. Huey seemed interested as well, though not as much, and Louie...just looked shocked.

Something was going on with him...

Della knelt down to the boys and I. "Kids, I don't know what to say, except I'm so sorry for ever stepping on that rocket. I never meant to leave you..."

The rest of her words went in one ear, out the other as my brain went blank. She didn't mean to leave us?! She had no IDEA what Scrooge and Donald had gone through when she left...

What I'd gone through. All the therapy sessions, the nightmares, the pain...

And she expected us to forgive her just like that?

My stomach churned as Della pulled the boys into a hug. Oh, crud; not this again!

Della turned to me, confused. "Julie, you okay, sweetie?"

"I-I...oh, gosh!" I muttered, holding a hand over my beak before rushing to the bathroom, leaving a confused Della behind.

I locked the bathroom door and vomited the remains of my dinner into the toilet as tears ran down my cheeks.

She's back, I should feel better...

Why don't I feel better?

After I finished puking, there was a soft knock on the bathroom door. "Lass, can Ae come in?" Uncle Scrooge asked.

I wiped my mouth and opened the door. Uncle Scrooge stood there, his eyes full of concern. Before I could get a word out, he pulled me into a hug.

"I'm so sorry, I don't-" I tried to explain, but I was too weak to finish as my uncle scooped me up and carried me upstairs to my room. Scrooge tucked me under the covers and sat down on the edge of my bed. He sighed, feeling my forehead with the back of his hand.

"Yew don't have a fever; it must've been anxiety," he muttered, brushing my bangs back. I leaned into his touch and passed out onto my pillow.

Scrooge left my room silently and before I fell asleep, I could hear him and Della talking.

"Uncle Scrooge, what happened? I was just talking and suddenly-"

Our uncle cut her off. "Della, there's something yew need to know."