A/N: Special thanks to TheHardie-Boy for editing and being so supportive and kind. Without them I probably wouldn't have finished this . 

"These city walls ain't got no love for me

I'm on the ledge of the eighteenth story

All I scream for you

(Come please, I'm calling)

And all I need from you

(Hurry, I'm falling)

Show me what it's like

(To be the last one standing)

And teach me wrong from right

(And I'll show you what I can be)

Say it for me, say it to me

And I'll leave this life behind me

Say it if it's worth saving me"

~Savin me, Nickleback

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Chapter 18:

Huey:

They waited for Louie outside the hospital room. Huey wasn't exactly sure what he'd say to him when he had the chance; maybe he'd apologize or wait for an apology, but really he just wanted things to go back to normal and not have to worry about it.

"Lena!" he heard Webby shout, racing to her best friend's arms and forcing her into a hug

"What are you doing here?" Huey asked.

"I sensed a disturbance in the force," Lena joked. "We're here to see Louie, of course.

"On the contrary," Violet said. "I am only here for emotional support."

"You're here for emotional support?" Dewey asked.

"Yes," Violet said bluntly. "I know how hard this must be for you, and I would like to help."

"That's not necessary, Violet", Huey said, knowing that Violet wasn't exactly happy with Louie right now.

"It has been pointed out to me that as your friend I am inclined to be supportive through unfortunate mishaps such as this one," she insisted.

"Well, when you put it like that, how can we possibly refuse?" Dewey joked.

Violet smiled but had no idea what he meant. She took a seat next to Huey, which he almost rejected, but her being there was actually very comforting.

Donald:

Donald walked out of Louie's room after he had calmed down, and went straight over to his sister. "Della, talk to your son."

Della hesitated, "Donald I don't think he-"

"Now," he said sternly.

Della looked at Scrooge, who said nothing, then she nodded and headed to the door.

Donald took a seat next to Scrooge and sighed.

"Is he going te' be alright?" Scrooge asked.

"He'll be fine," Donald said,

He really should've seen this coming. He should've known this whole situation was going to bring up some complicated feelings. Louie never talked about his mom, Huey was full of questions, Dewey was full of hopes and dreams. Louie was always silent.

He never talked about her, or his feelings about her. Never. He refused.

But he couldn't avoid it forever. It was time to open up and talk about it- even if it was hard.

He probably doesn't even know it- but he's held onto this pain for a long time.

Donald wasn't mad at Della- well okay, he was a little mad at Della for hurting his kid, but he at least understood her and why she did what she did. Hopefully, they could get to an understanding about their family structure and rules when things have calmed down.

But first, Donald had something more important to deal with. "Kids stay here," he instructed. "Beakley, Scrooge, can I talk to you privately for a second?" He then started walking as if they really didn't have a choice in the matter.

"What is wrong with you?" Donald asked them when they were far enough away from the other kids.

"Pardon?" Scrooge asked.

"I trust you with the boys because I assume you keep them safe, and I thought you'd be there for him if they needed you."

"Donald you're-"

"Overprotective, I get it! I'm overprotective when it comes to the boys, but how is it that the second I leave, something like this always happens? Where exactly were you two when Della left Louie alone for two days?"

No answer.

"You were right behind her weren't you?"

Again no response.

"So let me get this straight, an eleven year old just had a huge fight with his mother, missed the most exciting adventure of his life right after seeing his family disappear, and you thought it was a good idea to leave him at home by himself for two days? As if he didn't have enough abandonment issues already?"

Beakley weighed in, "Donald, I know you're protective, but Louie was fine here."

"Oh yeah, Louie's fine." He laughed. "That's probably why all of this happened in the first place right? Would you have left Webby alone like that?"

"I was teaching Della discipline. She stood up and made the decision to-"

"I don't care what Della said! I put you two in charge; someone should've stayed with him. Villains attacked the house, what if they had hurt him?"

"Louie is smart enough to take care of himself," Scrooge said.

"Yeah he is, but what if Louie decided to listen to Della and do nothing?"

"Donald-"

"Stop, I don't care what I have to do to get through to you two. Louie is very important to this household. I don't care who his parents are, he's my kid. Something like this happens again, I'm taking the boys and I'm leaving."

"You canne just-"

"Just try to stop me".

And with that said, Donald walked back over to the kids.

Della and Louie:

As Della walked into his room very slowly, Louie made it a point to pay attention to detail, but only just now did he notice how absolutely tired and stressed Della seemed. And yet, she looked exactly like she always did.

"Hey sweetie, how're you feeling?"

Louie took a deep breath, "Fine."

"Good." Della took a deep breath herself then sat down at the end of the bed. Louie hesitantly sat up so they could have a real face to face conversation. He knew what was coming.

She saw the fear in his eyes; he seemed so scared. He probably thought she was going to yell at him again. "Louie..."

Louie listened but stayed silent.

She said the first thing she could think of saying without sounding hurtful.

"Do you know what I wanted to be when I grew up?"

Louie was taken back by the question. "Uh, I don't know. An astronaut?"

She nodded and chuckled. "That, and a lot of other things. I had many dreams.

Astronaut, pilot, adventurer, even president. It's funny, I never wanted to be a mom, not even when I was a kid."

Louie frowned after she said that. Did he ruin her life? Like that was even a question anymore...

"That is, until I heard the doctor say, 'Della, you're expecting.' After that, I wanted nothing else. I was so excited but also so scared. I needed to do one last thing before having you because I was young... and stupid, so I got on the Spear of Selene because I wanted a story to tell. I wanted my kids to proudly say, 'My mother was an astronaut'. But instead I got lost, and then I lost everything else. I wish I never did it, because I missed out on everything I had. I lost my kids, I lost you. So after seeing you almost make the same mistake... I was so scared, so I freaked out. I wanted to stop you from making that mistake, but by doing that... I just made it worse. I never meant to hurt you like that; the last thing I wanted to do is make you feel like you weren't enough. I never should've taken away your dream, and I never should've taken all this stress out on you."

"No, you were right. I deserved it," he said. "I'm so s-".

"No, you didn't. Grounding you was one thing, but yelling at you and telling you to stop using a gift is another. You already apologized enough, now it's my turn." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. "Being on the moon was the biggest thing I've ever done and the scariest... by leaving I missed the adventure of a lifetime... raising my kids..."

Another pause.

"I did everything I could to try to protect you... even hurting you. It was the worst thing I could have possibly done, and then I left you alone. I'm so sorry Louie, and this time I mean it. I'm still not exactly sure what I'm doing, but I'm going to start by getting professional help to deal with my own trauma."

"Really? Y-You're getting help?" Louie asked.

Della nodded with a smile as tears began to pour. "Yeah, turns out the unstoppable Della Duck is just as vulnerable and flawed as everyone else."

Louie looked away from her, not sure what to do or say that would be appropriate.

"I thought I could just jump into this situation without thinking as always, but I was very wrong. I may be your mom, but there's so much I still have to learn about you, and I promise," she placed a hand on his cheek, "I'll never stop trying."

Louie looked at her then looked away again. She was trying, it's hard to trust someone like that, even if they gave everything they had. It just wasn't fair for her to try when Louie was- was so-

Worthless.

So much effort. But for what?

"Mom, I-I don't blame you for hating me, being disappointed b-because honestly- I-I'd hate me too." He tried to stop tears. He hated himself the more he cried, the more he talked, the more he breathed. Why was he so-

"I don't hate you Louie, I couldn't possibly. Why would I hate you?"

Louie didn't want to say anything else, especially since things were going well, but it's better to tell Della now before she believed everything was fine and that they were going to be best friends and live happily ever after... best to break her heart now while she was still strong enough to bear it.

"Sometimes, I-I don't feel like I belong here. I mess e-everything up, I'm a failure a-at everything I do."

"Louie, that's not true," Della said.

"Yes it is! You were right. I only make things worse for everyone, and I don't mean to, but I don't know how to stop and... I really don't think I can."

"Is that why you ran away?" she asked.

Louie nodded. "I didn't think you wanted me back, you have Huey and Dewey," he said. "Even Webby is better off than I am."

"I'm so sorry, Louie, I was very wrong. You are amazing, you're smart and strong, and you care about your family more than I realized."

There was a long pause after that. Louie wasn't sure how to take the compliment. He wasn't even sure if he believed her or not.

"Everything is so messed up right now." Della chuckled.

"Yeah..." Louie agreed.

"Where do we go from here?" she asked.

"Can we maybe...start over? P-Pretend this never happened?" Louie asked.

Della smiled, "I'd love that".

This time he hugged her first, and she held him in her arms tight, tighter than she ever had. No matter what would happen next, no matter what chinnanagins Louie caused or the trouble he was in, she loved him, and at this very moment, she'd never loved someone more in her entire life.

Louie's inner demons weren't gone, and neither were his problems with his mother, but the therapy helped, and learning to listen and be patient with Della helped their relationship as well.

His life will never be perfect but it didn't have to be. 

Life is worth living.

One day at a time.

Gad:

"Are you sure we can trust him?" Jarrold asked.

"Trust me, he's the one."

"Magica's going to be on your tail because of him. He's going to ruin your life!"

"My life was ruined way before Louie showed up."

"True. So what are you going to do?"

"We're demons, Jarrold. We're going to do what demons do best. Take advantage."