Who is Julie McDuck?!

Struggles of Parenthood

(3rd person POV)

Scrooge was in a meeting talking with his advisors about the recent...addition to his family. More so, what they seemed more concerned with was the financial matter of it all.

"Mr. McDuck, as much as it seems that this young girl coming into the picture is making you more...paternal, you have to understand that she can't take up your time here at the office!" Bradford stated dryly.

Scrooge rolled his eyes. "Ae'd like ta remind yew that raising a child is no easy task. Especially when that child is not even two years old yet."

As if on cue, the flip phone in Scrooge's pocket started to vibrate. He gave his board the 'one second' gesture, pulled it out and put it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Uncle Scrooge! Sorry to interrupt you at work...but Julie won't stop crying! And Donald and I have tried literally everything," Della said over the phone.

Scrooge could hear his great-niece wailing in the background, and his heart ached. That's when an idea struck him; sure, his advisors might not be happy with it, but...

"Della, could ye ask Duckworth to drop the bairn off at the Money Bin? Ae can watch her," he replied, slightly amused with the look of disbelief from Bradford.

A few moments later, there was a knock on the conference room door. Scrooge turned to crack the door open and was immediately greeted by his butler holding little Julie and with a small bag draped over his other arm.

Julie suddenly let out a little squeak of joy and babbled "Unca Swoo!" as she reached for her great-uncle. Scrooge just chuckled, gingerly took the duckling into his arms along with the small bag, and gave Duckworth a curt nod before returning to the conference room, this time with Julie in tow.

To say his advisors were shocked was an understatement as Scrooge balanced the toddler on his hip. Without hesitation, Julie waved widely at the board, giggling all the while.

Bradford simply scowled.

"Given that she might one day take over my company, yew should treat the wee lass a little more nicely," Scrooge quipped, sitting down in his chair and placing his great-niece on his lap. It didn't surprise him that his advisors didn't exactly take a liking to Julie.

What did surprise him was when Bradford got up from his seat and knelt in front of the girl so he was at eye level with her.

"I suppose it would be nice to meet your future heir. What's your name, young miss?"

The girl just cocked her head at him, as if she were studying his face. Scrooge patted her head.

"Ye'll have ta excuse the lass; she does know a few words, but she doesn't like talkin' in front of people outside of her family," he explained. "Her name is Julianna McDuck, but I call her Julie for short."

That made Bradford's eyebrows shoot up. "I see she kept the family name," he remarked, tussling the duckling's short hair. "And with brown hair as well. If I remember correctly, Donald and Della have white hair."

"Aye; I'm guessing she got it from her mum."

"Ah, well, it's nice to meet you, Julie," Bradford replied, offering his hand to the little girl. Julie looked at him for a couple of seconds and latched onto her uncle instead, burying her face into the folds of his coat.

Scrooge could feel her tears seeping into his coat and Bradford was unnerved at the girl's reaction.

"Lassie, what's wrong?" her uncle asked, rubbing her back.

Julie sniffled and unburied her face from her uncle's coat before pointing an accusing finger at Bradford.

"Bad man!" she all but screeched, a small scowl on her face.

Bradford took a step backward, now completely flabbergasted. Not only because of her being able to talk, but the words as well. He felt a bit of sweat trickle down his forehead.

How could she know...? She was only an infant...

Did she remember?

Scrooge himself looked a bit unsettled as he bounced the duckling in his arms. However, the duckling still continued to glare at him with big tears in her eyes.

She knew.
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After the meeting had concluded, Bradford picked up his phone and dialed a number, listening to it ring for a moment.

"Heron? Yes, it's Bradford...Listen, remember the incident that happened about two years ago? Those little loose ends we needed to wrap up? Well...I found one of them."

"What should we do, Director Buzzard?" Heron asked over the phone.

Bradford smirked. "I'll keep tabs on Hannah's daughter...and you take care of the other loose ends.

"Oh, and Heron? Bring Hannah in for questioning and let her know who we found."