3. Finding family (legacy AU)

2:

"Let me in, hold me close

Fill my heart with simple notes
So when it's hard to see,
They are there, reminding me
Take my breath, and hold me high
So I can feel the city lights
Glowing under me
It's in our reach, we're breaking out."

-Sabrina Carpenter, We'll be the stars.

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Note: Edited by my Friend The_Hardie_Boy

Huey:

"Kids! Family meeting!" Della called down.

"Coming!" all three boys yelled back.

"What did you do this time?" Dewey asked Louie jokingly.

"Hey, I think my scheming instinct is satisfied for at least a couple months," Louie joked back.

He'd been more open since the incident, and Della had considered this progress, but Huey wasn't sure. When Louie talked about it, he acted as if it were a joke; he wasn't the type to talk about his true feelings, so why would he start now?

The three of them walked downstairs and took a seat on the sofa in the family room next to Webby, who just smiled warmly.

"Listen, I know things have been a little crazy lately," Della started saying.

A little crazy was an understatement.

Huey could practically feel everyone's tension. It was like this whole family dilemma had gotten worse and worse as things went on. First Scrooge ignoring them for ten years, then taking them on dangerous adventures, being the one who gave Della the Spear of Selene in the first place. Then Della leaving them, having all these problems with Louie, the whole lack of trust between everyone and each other; even Beakley and Webby have had their moments. Huey's once happy ideal family has become a chaotic mess.

"If this is about you sending Louie to military school, we understand," Dewey joked, obviously noticing the tension in the room.

"Dewey, that's not funny. You know very well... there's no military school that can keep Louie under control," Della joked back.

Webby, Dewey, and Della all laughed while Donald, Scrooge, and Louie rolled their eyes. Huey and Beakley both seemed to agree that it wasn't funny; they always had that kind of bond. Always being the voice of reason.

"Ha ha, very funny," Louie said; weirdly enough, he looked more comfortable around everyone after that.

"I'm kidding," Della said. "We all have set a new schedule and set the household responsibilities, and the new rules; special thanks to Mrs. Beakley for letting us use her board."

Mrs. Beakley let them use her board? That meant serious business. She wouldn't even let them into the kitchen without permission.

"I know you all have things you need to do today, so I'll make this fast," Della continued. "Most of it is standard, be nice, no fighting, curfew is six thirty, chores, no entering Beakley's kitchen or face certain doom." Everyone nodded, that seemed fair.

"And, no talk of negativity, not about anyone else or yourselves okay? From now on, we talk things over and work things out. We're a family, and we trust each other."

One would be surprised to know that Louie wasn't the only one who tensed when hearing that one. Dewey tried to smile after hearing it, probably to avoid any questionable glances. Luckily for him, nobody else seemed to notice... but Huey did.

What type of negative feelings did Dewey keep contained that he'd have to worry about?

Della:

Immediately after the new rules were set, everyone scampered off.

"Where are you running off to so eagerly, bro?" Dewey asked.

"I have to meet Violet and Boyd at the park in twenty minutes," Huey said, sounding like he was about to say something else, but Dewey rudely interrupted.

"Ooo, Violet," Dewey teased, which Huey obviously didn't appreciate, rolling his eyes as he went straight to the door.

Dewey laughed then turned to face the adults. "Launchpad wanted me to hang at his place today," he explained to nobody in particular.

Donald nodded and Della patted his head affectionately; he was a good kid. "Have fun," she said.

And just like that he left...

"What about you, Louie? Any plans today?" she asked.

"Not really," he said, rubbing his arm nervously. "I figured I'd just hang here for a while."

She smiled and nodded. "Okay. Hey, maybe we can do something when I get back?" she suggested. "Just the two of us?"

"Sure." He shrugged with a surprisingly positive response and a smile that she noticed she hadn't seen in a while. She liked seeing him this way.

Della opened the door, and Lena walked in. "Oh, sorry," she said nervously. "Hey, Lena. Here to see Webby?"

"Yup," she answered simply.

"Lena!" she heard Webby shout from across the room as she ran and hugged her best friend. "Where's Violet?"

"Oh, she's hanging with her nerd friends today; she says she'll meet us later."

"It sucks having to share a friend with Huey," Webby said as they walked up to her room.

Della took one last look at Louie, who was with Donald walking to the kitchen, obviously talking about something so special that she couldn't even understand it. They always had that special parent child relationship that she longed for.

'At least she didn't have to share her kids with him,' Della thought.

Lena:

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Webby said, almost far too interested in whatever the heck she was going to say. How did Lena ever get a friend like her again?

Oh right, Webby was desperate. It took Lena a second to collect her thoughts to talk again. "Nothing specific, it just feels like it's been a while since you and I really talked..."

"We saw each other yesterday," Webby said.

"I mean, just you and me. A heart to heart."

"I guess it's harder to have one of those with Violet and her more logical side," Webby agreed.

"Exactly."

"So what's been bothering you? Are you and the Sabrewings getting along?"

"Yeah, everything seems to be great. They're super nice, and Violet's great. It's kinda cool to have a little sister..."

"But?" Webby pressured.

"They asked if it's okay for them to adopt me."

"Oh my gosh!" she shouted happily along with a big friend hug. "This is so great, I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks, Pink..."

'It's not great, it's not great, it's not great!'

"Aren't you happy?" Webby asked innocently.

'No! This is terrible!' Lena wanted to say.

"Of course," she said, hugging her friend back lovingly. "I can hardly even believe it."