Above is a sketch I made - so I created and own it. It's of a teenager Flora in this world/setting. Drawing in the style of ducktales is hard lol. I know I'm not the best, but I felt giving everyone a visual is nice too. I'll still describe her of course, but sometimes people need a visual no matter how good or bad it is.

Setting; Ducktales 2017 Crossover (Meaning it's set in the Ducktale world but with some crossover characters coming in and being used)

OC; Flora - OC that has been used in this book before; "Having A Soul But No Heart; Archie Version" and "Having A Soul But No Heart; Boom Version" as well as other stories.

Death; Murdered During A Robbery Happening At Her Home/Work

Reincarnated As; May Duck's daughter

Pairings; (WARNINGS for some (nearly all) pairings here) I'm not going to list them, as I want to just let everyone see it as they read. But just saying it now, there are warnings to some relationships for very good reasons. Read at your own risk - anything goes here. ANYTHING.

Now, this story is going to be dark and more on the serious side of things. Oh, there will be fluffy and funny moments and things like that, but there are some serious dark undertones and serious issues. I want to put warnings out in case anything triggers anyone.

This story is an AU of "Hidden Hearts And Souls Shrouded In Mysteries" - so there will be spoilers for what I have planned for that story in here, but not totally. As this story is going full on dark. The characters will also be aged up - they are teens, and the episodes have not started yet. Meaning, the triplets do not know about Scrooge just yet at this point in time. I mean, they will meet off screen because Flora won't be there, but canon hasn't started for them when they are 10. In fact, in this story, the triplets and Webby are 16. Instead of being 3-4 years younger than them like in the other story, Flora is instead a year younger, making her 15.

Not going to lie, I mainly made them teens for the sake of going fully dark with this story. So, yeah, WARNINGS for what is to come. I'd be sitting here all day if I had to list them all, so please just keep this warning in mind just in case.

This story is MATURE for very good reasons. Gore is the least of the issues here, so please, please, keep this all in mind while reading. It might not start off fast, but we are going to be diving into some very dark topics, issues and scenes later down the line. I don't want anyone complaining that I didn't warn you all - if you do not like this story, then please do not read it.

Now, with that out of the way, let's get this story started.

-Chapter Start-

"I think that's everything...." A female white duck in her later 20's to early 30's sighed, rubbing her face. Opening her black eyes, she glanced around the small room that made up the open living room. It looked crowded with all the boxes and bags everywhere. But hopefully it took attention away from the peeling wallpaper on the walls and old hardwood floor that had some holes at various sizes in it.

'Maybe with my next paycheck we'll have enough to get some cheap paint and some rugs.' Sighing, the duck slowly stood, straightening her orange blouse and wiping her hands on her jean pants, then fixing up her short, fluffy feathers atop her head that made up her 'hair', making sure the orange headband is still in place after all that heavy lifting.

"Okay May, you got this." May Duck told herself, patting her own cheeks gently to try and chase away the tiredness that always seemed to be apart of her nowadays. "Sure, it'll be hard, but you went to collage and worked as well, so this will be a snap compared to those years."

While not the life she pictured for herself; coming back to Duckburg for a job while also running her own online shop for clothing she herself creates - she would never change it. Not when it means-

"Mama, where do you want the boxes filled with fabrics at?" A soft voice asked from behind her. A gentle and loving smile found it's way on her beak as she turned around to face the one who just spoke to her.

A 15 year old female teenager with black eyes stood behind her, a duck much like herself. The teen's feathers were white as well, but her 'hair' was cut in a bob right around the area of where her head and neck meet, the bangs long and not being held back by the green headband that had a little blue heart on it. The teen wore a blue blouse underneath a slightly bagging green sweater that had a flower in the middle of it, the sweater hanging off one shoulder and slipping slightly on the other shoulder. A yellow bow was tied around the collar of the blouse. She also had on a blue belt and a blueish-green pleated skirt. No shoes on her orange webbed feet, much like May herself.

Seeing the teen reminded May why she wouldn't change a thing about the events that brought her to this point.

How could she regret a thing when it involved her baby girl, her daughter, Flora?

May wanted to give everything for Flora, wanted her daughter to have the whole world. What parent didn't want the best for their children? But being a single parent hasn't left much options even with the help of her own parents. Glancing around the old and drafty townhouse she is now renting, May couldn't help but feel guilty that her daughter has to live in a place that honestly should have been demolished for being a safety hazard over twenty years ago.

Shaking those thoughts away, May turned her gaze to her daughter.

"The sewing machine and the house computer is going to be in my room." May directed, smiling when Flora beamed at her while shifting the small box of sewing threads in her arms. Before Flora could go take the box to the bedroom, May interrupted her. "Are you sure you don't want the downstairs bedroom?" She asked, glancing cautiously at the thin and long stairway not too far from where they stood, it being near the equally thin entrance way. The stairs themselves looked like they could give out and shatter into tiny pieces of wood with just a single stomp or a not soft as a feather step. "It doesn't matter if it's smaller, I'll take it if you want the one down here."

Flora gently shook her head in negative. "It's fine, Mama. I know you need all the room you can get with your jobs. Besides, I don't mind being upstairs, I get the upstairs bathroom to myself!" She giggled while May laughed.

"So long as you don't go sneaking out the fire escape, I have no worries." May joked while Flora snorted in response. Taking a glance at her watch, May frowned at the time. Quickly moving, she hurried to the front door, pausing just as she grabbed the handle to turn her head and call out to Flora.

"Flora, you can go look around or finish putting up your boxes in your room. I have to do some running, but I'll be back in time to make dinner, alright?" Flora paused in her walking to turn her head, nodded to show she understood, calling out a goodbye while she started walking to the downstairs bedroom to put the box in her arms away. 

Taking in a deep breath, May readied herself for what she was about to do.

There wasn't much she wouldn't do for her daughter, pride be damned.

Straightening up, May opened the door and stepped onto the front steps that were starting to crumble. Glancing around the place, wincing when she saw children drawing on a police outline of where a dead body with chalk, May strengthened her resolve.

Closing the door, making sure to lock it, she hurried to her beaten up and old car that barely even worked. Getting in, she turned on the old and slightly cracked GPS after buckling up and starting the car.

"987, Shower Road." The GPS stated, showing the best rout for her to take.

Sucking up her pride is hard. But for Flora, she would become as shameless as needed.

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Huffing, Flora gently put the last of her boxes on the floor right near her bed that was right under the window that held the fire escape.

Glancing around the small room, Flora could admit she never thought she would be here although it did have a very familiar feel to it all.

Living one life and still remembering it into the next life tends to do that to a person she supposed.

In the other life, she could recall having a single father that was cold and all business, working hard to provide for both of them and never having any time for her. She could recall going through school, being a wallflower, and moving out as soon as she could. She could recall having a storefront, a flower store where she sold flowers, items to do with gardening and made arrangements with flowers for events.

She could also recall how she died.

A robber came in, brandishing a gun. All the others in the store were panicking, her included, but when the robber pointed the gun at a frozen child that somehow got separated from their parents in the chaos, she moved before she could even think about what she was doing.

A loud bang followed soon after.

Then, pain.

She died staring up at her flowers. If she thinks really hard, she can recall calla lilies, daffodils and marigolds. There might have been more, but it was ironic now that she thinks about it when she thinks about the flowers's meaning, symbolism and various uses in other cultures. Of course, it's a cold kind of irony.

Now, in this new life, she had a single Mother who was working herself into the ground trying to keep them afloat. Working two different jobs, a new one at a big time company and the other job being online selling of her own products, there was little time for anything else. Or should be at least. Unlike the father she recalled, May took the time to spend time with her, even if she was dead tired on her feet. It was heartening and also made her deeply worry that her Mother was going to work herself into a grave.

Before now though, before the move to Duckburg, before she was even old enough to talk, it had been shocking to suddenly realizes the blurs she had been seeing were animal anthros, looking like they belong in a cartoon. Worse when she had seen the old Darkwing Duck cartoon and then later heard news on 'Scrooge McDuck' on the news. Flora could admit that she never watched many cartoons or played many games, she was more than happy spending time with the plants and flowers, but she could recall a older cartoon called 'Ducktales' along with reading a few comics of the same thing.

Everything looked different compared to what little she could recall. Never mind that her mother is May Duck, niece to Daisy Duck if she is remembering that right. Last she could check, May was a triplet and a child in the comics - but this is no longer just a comic or cartoon, this is real life. Flora has found that just chucking everything about what she knew about Ducktales made things so much easier on her.

Sighing, running a hand through her 'hair', Flora jolted and gave a startled sound when her cell phone went off. Blinking, she started to laugh at herself for being so deep in her thoughts. Bending down to pick up the phone off the bed, Flora unlocked it and blinked at what she saw.

Then, a smile grew on her face, eyes sparkling in happiness as a realization hit her. Quickly typing someone on her phone, she hit send before stuffing the phone into her skirt pocket and started to rush out of her room - only pausing to make sure she had a house key.

Moving was the best thing could happen to her, Flora was sure of it.

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"Alright, you got this." May tried pumping herself up while she sat in her parked car. The nice homes that screamed 'MONEY' to her, even though before she had Flora she would not think this. But when a house had a nice little yard, no noticeable graffiti or cracks, and was in a safe neighborhood with little to no crime to it's name, it was obvious the owner was making some decent money. "Everything will be fine. It has to be - for Flora. Suck up your pride for once in your life and just get up and do what needs to be done!" May roughly told herself, glaring at her reflection in the side mirror outside her window before she sighed, running a trembling hand down her face.

This could either go really badly or really good. There was no in between here, and May knew this deeply without even trying. But still, her daughter's face flashed in her mind.

'It'll be worth it no matter what.' Taking in a shuddering breath, May steeled herself. Unbuckling herself and getting out of the car, she started to walk up to the house she parked in front of. Feeling like she was walking to her death all the while. When she finally got to the door, her hand paused just inches away from the doorbell. Hesitating, May bit her bottom beak before sighing, taking in a deep breath, and then pressed the button.

It felt like forever, but the door opened.

A face that looked so much like her own, like looking into a mirror, greeted her. Only dressed in purples.

"Hello-!" The other started, only to gasp and go wide eyed at the sight that greeted her at her front porch.

Giving a nervous smile, May lifted a hand and weakly waved. "Hey June. Long time no see, huh?"

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Stepping into the huge city park, filled with large trees and blossoming flowers, Flora could only thank everything up above that she didn't get lost. Her GPS on her phone has never been more thanked than this moment. Because walking from the 'bad side of the train tracks' to the 'good side of the train tracks' has always been nerve wreaking. If only for the simple fact that Flora never knows if someone is going to try and mug her or spit on her for living on the more poorer side of town.

Walking in the warm air that was slowly starting to cool more and more as the days pass, Flora absentmindedly mused on the fact that if they had moved just a few weeks before, she would have actually started school on time rather than having to transfer.

'But, I suppose being a wallflower with only one friend to my name works in my favor in this case.' Flora silently thought to herself, eyes roaming around as she walked further into the park. Kids rushing around all over the place, adults watching the children and talking to one another, couples holding hands, laughter and noise all around. Maybe in her first life this would have bugged her a bit. However in this life, she was fine with having one friend.

"Flora!" A boyish voice nearly yelled out in pure excitement and happiness.

How couldn't she when this one friend was the best one she could have ever hoped to get in any life?

Beaming, eyes shinning in excitement and happiness, Flora beamed and ran towards the other teen that was in sight now. The teen gave a laugh and rushed towards her as well. As soon as he was close, he reached out and grabbed her hips, lifting her up and starting to swing her around with him.

"Buster!" Flora shirked in delight and surprise. Laughing, she looked down to find a blue and white bunny grinning up at her. "Buster, put me down!"

"Nah-uh!" Buster shook his head with a wild laugh. "I haven't seen you since my folks let me come visit you last summer. I'm missed you bestie~!"

Sighing with a smile, Flora resigned herself to be swung around for the next few minutes. There was really no stopping Buster Bunny when he got an idea or started something. Besides, even she couldn't deny missing her best friend.

Really, Flora couldn't think or say it enough, moving was really the best thing to happen to her.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"I can't believe he just turned me down again!" A 15 year old pink and white female bunny anthro scowled, stomping further into the park. Her pink and white long ears bounced as she walked, the ends of them having purple ribbons tied into bows on them. Her purple skirt swayed as she walked and she looked seconds away from ripping her own yellow sweater with how much she was tugging at it in frustration.

"Like, Babs, honey, he just doesn't know what he's missing is all." Another female teen, only this time a white loon dressed in a pink off-the-shoulder shirt and jean skirt, stated. Her long curly blond hair, that was pulled back into a ponytail with a pink bow with large curly bangs out proudly, swayed as she walked and her blue eyes lazily glancing to the tree leaves shading them as they walked under them.

"Maybe he is, how you say, playing hard to get?" The final teenager asked, who was a purple and white skunk with a french accent. Her hair was cut short but had volume to it, a pink bow clipped on one side of her hair right behind her ear. She wore red leggings and a pink sleeveless dress that ended at her knees.

"If he's playing hard to get then it has been going on long enough!" Babs snapped, twisting around angrily to face her two friends. "Ever since we were six years old he's been blowing me off! Tell me, Fifi, what kind of boy plays hard to get for about nine years?!"

The skunk, Fifi, blinked before giving an airy smile. "Buster apparently!" She happily stated, ignoring how the loon next to her was slowly shaking her head.

Babs just sighed, putting a hand to her forehead as if fighting off a big headache. "I've done nearly everything I could. I've tried everything the magazines told me to! Talking to him, getting to know his habits, learning his favorite things, getting to know his friends - I've tried it all! So, why is it that none of it is working?!" Babs started to tug at her ears in frustration, a crazed glint growing in her eyes along with a few tears. "Shirley, please tell me what I'm doing wrong!"

The loon, Shirley, sighed as if having a great burden. Walking up to her frustrated friend, she put a hand on the pink bunny's shoulder. "Babs, listen to me. Like, It's not your fault that Buster isn't giving you the time of day." Shirley gravely stated. "You're, like, Babs Bunny, daughter to the famous celebrities Bugs Bunny and Lola Bunny. He's just a stupid boy who can't see the greatness that you are. Like, he's just blinded by that online friend of his."

"Oh, Flora is her name right?" Fifi beamed, tilting her head with a finger tapping her chin in thought. "I think he was texting her when he turned you down again." She obliviously pointed out.

Babs froze. Slowly, a fire unlike any other grew in her eyes. "Flora." She slowly stated through tight teeth. "Flora, Flora, Flora!" She snapped, yanking her shoulder out from Shirley's grip. Throwing her hands up, Babs scowled and looked furious. "That stupid online friend of his has been in my way too long! Why his parents set him up on a online pen pal program for kids and he kept up with it for nine years, I have no idea!" Turning her head, she started to speak in a lower tone. "Sorry Babs, but I've got plans! Huh, what plans? Oh, I'm just going to be messaging Flora!" Stopping her mocking, Babs then kicked a rock and had to hold herself back from punching a tree. "Every single time, it's always about this Flora! I don't even know where she lives or what she looks like!"

"Oh, that's easy! She's a duck wearing a headband, short hair or, how you say, top feathers? And I think that's a long green sweater or shirt with a blue blouse? Hmmm, what a combo." Fifi hummed, looking off to the side, right through a gap of trees. Both Shirley and Babs blinked, slowly looking at Fifi as one.

"Fifi, did you ask Buster what Flora looks like?" Shirley asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow in question.

"What?" Fifi blinked and asked in confusion before shaking her had and pointing to where she had been looking at. "Oh no! I would never!" Giving a smile, she tilted her head with a giggle. "You asked what she looked like, and because she is right over there with Buster I thought-"

"What do you mean Flora is right over there with Buster!" Babs nearly screamed out, rushing to where Fifi was pointing. "I thought she lived in another city or something!"

"Well, while you and Shirley were talking, I had heard Buster's voice calling out 'Flora' and the girl answered." Fifi shrugged only to give a yelp when Shirley grabbed her arm and dragged her behind a tree with her. Both of them sharing a tree with Babs, who was looking at the scene with wide eyes.

There was Buster Bunny. The most handsomest blue and white bunny she had ever met. His red shirt and letterman jacket just making him stand out all the more - never mind those tight jeans that made Babs want to drool. The boys of her dreams, has been since she met him when she was six years old.

And under one arm stood another teen she had never seen before. A duck who was beaming up at Buster as if she had the right and nerve to touch him, let alone breath the same air as him. She wasn't even that pretty!

"-believe that you moved here!" Babs was able to make out as Buster and the duck passed the tree the three ducked around to hide from their sight. "Do you think you'll be going to my school Flora? Or a different one?"

"I don't know. Mama mentioned trying to get me enrolled into your's though, so we'll see!" The most annoying voice Babs have ever heard responded. Who did this 'Flora' think she is? Acting all sweet and innocent?

"That's awesome! You'll be able to come to my football games then! And-and we can hang out after school finally-"

The two voices faded the further they walked away.

A beat of silence before Fifi broke it.

"Wow Babs, I thought for sure you would have jumped in there and tried to, how you say, claw her face off!" Fifi brightly said, giggling happily.

"Yeah, like, totally. I thought you'd be more-" Shirley started, turning her head to look at Babs, only to pause at the sight of Babs snarling, fingers clawing deep into the bark of the tree, making bark fall to the ground as she left marks and scars on the tree. "-angry." Shirley deadpans.

"That's Flora, huh?" Babs spat out like her words were venom. Forcing a grin on her face, she turned her attention to her two friends. "We'll girls, seems like we have to teach her the pecking order around here."

"Like, totally." Shirley agreed with a smirk.

"Oh, this is will be fun!" Fifi cheered, clapping her hands together in delight.

Babs smirked maliciously. "Yeah, a whole lot of fun." She laughed maliciously, confidence growing once more. "Babs Bunny always comes out on top after all, and that Flora better learn that fast if she wants to survive!" She stated proudly, laughing with her two best friends.

She was going to make Flora regret ever moving here if it was the last thing she did for daring to take Buster away from her.

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Nervously drumming her fingers on the wooden dinning room table, May could admit she felt out of her comfort zone and depth.

The last time she was in Duckburg, well, it didn't end all that well and ended up with her going back to her parents house in a whole other city, finding out she was pregnant only days later. Because of this, she ended up staying with them for years so that she could go to collage and work to raise Flora while also trying to put some into savings.

The last time she saw her siblings, June and April, it had......it wasn't......it didn't end well was all she could think to say about it. Didn't end well at all. Even years later she can still hear all the screams, insults thrown around and furious yells with glass shattering after being thrown. Poor June had been stuck in the middle. May can still see it in perfect clarity; April screaming at her while she screams right back, words that can never be taken back thrown around as if candy, and June standing by them, crying as she begs them to stop.

{"Aren't we sisters?! Triplets?! Please! Please, just--just stop and listen to what your both saying to one another!"}

That day was the day she stopped talking to them both. The day she walked out after finishing high school, went to Duckburg the first time and only came back home to find the both of them gone. Having moved out and started their own lives. Although she does have a suspicion that their parents have kept them somewhat updated on her even though she stated she didn't want them to know anything. After all, they kept her updated on them.

From what she can recall, April works high up in a company of some kind. The name escapes her at the moment though. June, however, is a teacher at the Duckburg High School.

"Here." A soft and hesitant voice broke her out of her thinking. Flinching a bit, May glanced up to see June standing, sitting down a coffee cup right in front of her and another one in her other hand. Gulping dryly, May gave a quite thanks and watched June go and sit right across from her.

Taking in a deep breath, she lifted the coffee cup and took a sip of the coffee. It was strange tasting coffee that wasn't instant after all these years. Sitting the up down, she marveled at the fact her hands weren't trembling. Slowly lifting her eyes from her hands, she locked eyes with her youngest sister, her triplet, June.

'Please, if nothing else, don't mess this up--you can't, not with Flora on the line.' May mentally told herself. So, sitting up as straight as she can, she silently gathered her wits and put her heart, pride, and family on the line.

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There were many things that couldn't shock June anymore. Not after the whole magical adventure she had been on before she was even 16 years old, not after collage, getting her teaching degree, moving to Duckburg of all places and then teaching at a High School. Even with Scrooge McDuck no longer adventuring, life truly was like a hurricane at times in Duckburg. If it wasn't one thing in her life, it was another.

Yet, having her older sister, May Duck, one day show up on her doorstep shocked her more than anything.

June can honestly say she never would see either sister again. Not after all the fighting and words that were thrown. It's why whatever news she got from her parents she kept it close to her heart.

{"Honey, May came back today! She..... Something happened. I'm not sure what, but she came back and she's here too stay for some time."}

All the bad news.

{"June, I know it hasn't been long since we last contacted you, but we have some big news! May's pregnant! And....well, the father, I.....I think we all know who it is, even if she is refusing to say who it is."}

All the surprising news.

{"Oh June, April got such a good new job! And she's working her way already!"}

All the good news.

{"May's going to collage!"}

Every bit of news that was ever thrown her way, either by letter or phone call, she made sure to horde it away and lock it away in her mind and heart so she could never forget it.

{"May got a new job at the local sewing shop."}

Because, by keeping those little bits of information close, she felt like she wasn't as far away from her sisters.

{"May went to the doctor today - and we found out that she is going to have one egg! Not sure on the gender yet, but they're healthy!"}

Yes, what May had done wasn't the best thing she could have done and the words she spat out during that last fight was nearly if not just as bad as April's. But that doesn't stop her from being her sister. The same went with April. Just because she turned so bitter and hateful at what had happened, just because she spat out those words and cut them all with her sharp tongue, doesn't stop her from seeing her as her sister.

{"It's a girl!"}

Many times she wondered if she had done something more she could have stopped it all. She could see why May had done what she did and the reasons for it, not all of them were selfish. Yet, she could also see where April was coming from, although she didn't need to get so violent in the end. Maybe if she had spoken up more, been more stern and assertive, they would all still be together as sisters.

{"May is thinking about names. She says she has the middle name all thought out--she won't tell us what it is--but the first name is giving her trouble. At least with me I got to pick out three names for my little eggs!"}

But she knew thinking like that wouldn't get her anywhere. The guilt already was eating her inside for what was done and said to May, the guilt of never going to see her or run after her to stop her still eats at her. It wasn't right, none of it, but she knew that May got the shorter end of the stick in life.

{"May's in labor right now, the egg is about to come out! How exciting! I tried calling April, but it just went to voicemail..... I know the three of you are in an outs with one another, but I just wish that you both could have been here for this...."}

Not only did she go to Duckburg for a certain reason, but it must have backfired so badly for this whole mess to last this long and grow this big. She knew she didn't know all the details, but knowing why May went to Duckburg in the first place only to hear from her parents that she came back pregnant didn't paint a good picture. Her being alone and refusing to say who the father was made it all the worse.

{"April is now in one of the highest positions she can get! She's the secretary and right hand to the owner of the company! You remember which one she's working at right? It's Glomgold Industry. Not as good as McDuck's, but after all that happened I can't blame her for not trying to get a job there...."}

However, her Mother was right. She had a feeling on who the father was. But she had no idea why May was refusing to say anything on the matter. Why she came back alone. Nothing made sense, only that she knew that all the fighting in the end seemed to pointless now.

June, she wanted many things. But most of all, she just wanted her family back together.

{"The egg hatched! She's fine and healthy! Oh, and May finally shared the name with us! Her name is-"}

"June."

Jolting out of her thoughts, June was horrified to feel little tears gathering in her eyes. Quickly and discreetly wiping her eyes, she turned her attention to May and locking eyes with her. Eyes so much like her own, yet May's eyes had changed from the last time she saw her. In fact, all of her has. Her eyes seemed darker now, aged from experiences and hardships. There were dark marks under her eyes, speaking of late and long nights or no sleep at all. Her face, while still having a bit of youth to it, was thinner and had a few wrinkles that showed the stress she must be going through.

It broke June's heart at the fact that she knew little to nothing about her own sister. That she could no longer see the girl May once was in the woman sitting right in front of her.

"June....I know it's been years since I last saw you, let alone spoke to you....but, but I was hoping you could hear me out before you kick me out of your house." May slowly said, looking at her like she feared she would start screaming at her to get out.

Feeling her heart breaking a bit more, all June could do was nod and take a gulp of her coffee, trying to help her suddenly dry throat and mouth.

Seeing her nod, May gave a little smile before it twitched, as if she was having trouble keeping it up. "I don't know what Mom and Dad told you about what's been going on in my life, I told them not to tell you and April anything but knowing them they most likely told you something...." May trailed off, glancing at her sister.

Clearing her throat, June put down the mug and nodded. "Yes, Mom and Dad told me.....they told me that you came home and that you were...were pregnant." Hesitating, June bit the bottom of her beak before going on. "Flora, right? Mom and Dad made sure to send me letters and make phone calls about the big moments. They....they said you wouldn't say who the father was.....but...."

"It's Donald." May's soft, nearly silent, whisper made June take in a sharp breath. "It's.....it's a mess." May stated factually, looking rueful as she ran a hand through her hair. "After the fight, after all that drama, after I went to Duckburg..... It had been going so well before--before Donald--he......" Stopping, pausing, May had to blink some tears away from her eyes as memories slowly came to her mind. "It was like with April, only worse. I had no idea I was pregnant when I left, and by the time I knew I....I couldn't go back. I couldn't do it!"

"He doesn't know." June breathed out slowly, eyes going wide. She had a feeling, their parents had a feeling, but it's different when you think something and know it. It's different when it's not some stranger who June doesn't know and when it's someone she knows too well. "May, why doesn't he know?" She couldn't help but ask only to give a gasp when she saw tears starting to fall from her older sister's eyes.

"Because of my own fucking pride mainly." May admitted with a harsh, short chuckle. A rueful yet strong smirk on her beak. "June, that fight we had...that fight that me and Donald had....after that, I just couldn't bring myself to go back. I was too anger. I was too selfish. If it wasn't for this job I found and got, I wouldn't be in Duckburg right now. But--Flora--"

"Does Flora know?" June couldn't help but interrupt. When May flinched at the question, June had the answer to her question right away. "May, she's fifteen years old isn't she? How couldn't you have told her about who her father is by now?!"

"She never once asked!" May tried defending herself, feeling guilt crawling up her heart. "June, no one really knows for sure who her father is because I never told anyone but you! It's not even on her birth certificate! I....I just couldn't let go of her...." Looking down in her mug, she watched her tears fall into the coffee. "I guess I am like Aunt Daisy in a way, I'm just so selfish when it comes to Flora. I feared that.....that Donald would try to take her away from me--the McDuck family isn't someone can just go against."

Letting her own tears fall, June lifted a hand to cover her beak, stifling a sob. Everything hitting her all at once. "Y-You still have that fear, huh?" June choked out, having to let go of her mug in fear of dropping it because of how much her hands are trembling.

"Of course I do." May didn't even hesitate to say. "Flora.....June, Flora is everything to me. I'll tell her one day, but I---I can't right now. I.....I just can't."

A long pause, filled with silent crying and a tense air.

Then, finally, June reached over and laid a hand over top of May's. May's head jerked up to look at her with wide searching eyes. Her eyes softening and getting wetter at what she found.

"Alright....alright." June finally said, breaking the silence. "I can't say I understand it all, but it is your choice to make. I won't tell anyone, I promise."

"Thank you." May softly thanked, gently turning her hand around so that she could hold her younger sister's hand. June squeezed it, making May smile and squeeze back. Both of them feeling like they were teens once more, even if only for a second.

"You said that you wanted me to hear you out, was that you wanted to talk about?" June asked after a few moments of silence. May's lips twitched upwards, using her free hand to wipe away her tears.

"Yes, but also no." May admitted, sighing a bit. "I just moved into the city today with Flora. Mom and Dad gave me some money to go towards a home, but it's only so much and I could only make so much on my last dead-end job while paying off student loans and buying necessitates for Flora and myself." May paused, trying to find the words needed. "This new job, well, I had an online interview with Mark Beaks and I got the job of being her personal assistant and secretary pretty much."

"Mark Beaks, the owner of Beak Industries?" June asked in shock before beaming. "That's great! He's done a lot of good in the technology and medical industries--I think he came out with a new prototype for a possible prosthetic limb that can be sold at commercial price so it's more affordable!"

"Yeah, that Mark Beaks. I'm shocked I landed the job honestly, but I got it somehow. I had no idea what I was going to do if I didn't get the job. There was an opening in Waddle, but with him now running the company after pretty much stealing it from Mr. Beaks....." May trailed off, gaining a nod from a grim June. Not wanting to kill the lighter mood, May quickly went on. "With the pay, it'll be easier to save up for a better home and possible store front!"

"That's true." June smiled at this, feeling happy for her sister. "Oh, but May, where do you live now? I'd love to stop by and visit sometime. I'd love to meet Flora!"

Grimacing, May glanced away. "Um.....yeah....well....you know how I said I didn't have a lot of money to get a home?"

June slowly nodded, getting a bad feeling about all this. "Yes....."

"Well, with what I had, I could only rent a place." May licked her beak, refusing to look at June. "And, well, it's---I couldn't get a house in the more....." Sighing, May decided to just take the plunge and get it over with. Nothing she could say would make this better. "I could only get a place on Tornado Street." May quickly said, words nearly blurring together.

But, after years of dealing with her older sisters and dealing with teenagers, June heard her perfectly.

"What?!" Jerking her hand out of May's, June looked seconds away from tearing her own hair out of her head. "Tornado Street?! That's one of the worst places in Duckburg! The only worst places you could have moved to are Hurricane Street and St Canard!"

"I know! I know!" May raised her hands up in surrender, looking horrible. "But it was all I could afford! And....and it's the reason I came to see you." Slowly lowering her hands, May looked at June with begging eyes. "The school in the area for Tornado Street....it's not the best."

"That's one way of putting it." June muttered, thinking about all the horrible news reports done on that school. From school shootings and drug busts to finding out that the school's money was being stolen by the principle and teachers, it all has happened many times in the school. But when said school takes in kids from the worst parts of town and doesn't do much to help them, it's not too much of a shock.

"I don't want Flora going there. But I also don't want to just put her on online classes. I want her to go to school and meet new people." Drumming her fingers on the table once more, May gathered all her courage. "I was hoping that because of you being related to Flora, Flora would be able to go to Duckburg High School even if she doesn't live in the district."

There wasn't any other answer June could give in the face of desperation that May gave out. Not when it was all for her daughter.

Not when it was all for her own niece.

"Of course."

And then all she could do was rush to get up and run around the table to May when May broke down. Sobbing and thanking her, as if a piece of the weight she carried was lifted. Hugging her older sister close and tight to herself, June had to give out her own silent cry at how thin she felt. It might take some time, but June had a feeling that the two of them would be alright even if April never comes around.

During all this though, it was only when May was better and had left that June made a startling realization as she recalled something.

"The Duck triplets go to Duckburg High School.....!" Eyes widening, June rushed to her phone. But, just when her hand was an inch away, she froze.

Slowly, she pulled her hand away and cradled it to her chest.

She may have promised to not tell anyone about who Flora's father is, but she in no way said she would try to keep the family apart.

Going to clean up the mugs, June felt guilt go up her heart, but one thought alone made her stand tall and strong as the guilt tried to eat her.

'Flora deserves to know her family no matter what. Even if she doesn't know the truth just yet.'

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Make sure to come by to see us soon, alright!" An adult, female pink bunny with short blond hair called out with a big grin from the open door.

"Yeah, don' be a stranger!" An adult, male yellow bunny with an accent called out, leaning on the doorway right behind the female.

Flora beamed and waved back with Buster before the two were around the block, out of sight of the adults.

"Your parents are always so nice." Flora told her best friend with a big smile, feeling as if she could walk on air from how happy she was. "Although sometimes I can't help but wonder where your blue fur came from though. Are you sure you're not adopted?" Flora couldn't help but giggle at Buster's over-dramatic pained look at her teasing question.

"My family always had crazy colors." Buster stated with a pout, crossing his arms as his eyes narrow in thought. "I asked Dad and Mom once when I was younger about it. They said I get my fur from Mom's side of the family. Her great grandpa had blue and white fur, a different shade of it, but still blue and white."

"I suppose it's fitting they have crazy jobs." Flora thought aloud, glancing at all the buildings they passed as they walked. "When you showed me your family's workout room I nearly had a heart attack at all those machines!"

"Ace and Lexi Bunny are the best bodyguards anyone could ask for!" Buster pointed out with a proud look on his face. "Mom and Dad might have taken less jobs when I was younger, but now that I'm older they're getting back in the swing of things. I think they're going on their next job sometime next week."

"And you'll be fine alone?" Flora couldn't help but ask in concern, turning her head to look at Buster. Buster just smiled at her concern.

"Ah, Flora, I'll be fine! Besides, I think I heard Mom telling Dad now that Aunt May and you're here, they might try asking Aunt May if she'll let me spend the night at your place if they have to take long jobs." Buster explained in a hushed voice, as if shearing a secret, and looking very excited.

However, Flora bit her bottom beak in worry. "Buster, I live on Tornado Street." Flora told her blue colored friend, rubbing her hands in worry. "Your parents would be fine with that? I mean, visits is one thing, staying over...." Flora trailed off a bit, a frown growing on her beak.

"Don't worry, Flora! I've told you all about my parents training me in self-defense!" Buster lifted his arms and started flexing them dramatically, as if he was a bodybuilder. Flora couldn't help but giggle at the sight, even if her cheeks grew red at the stares they got from other walkers. "They've been training me since I was five, I'll be fine! And they know it too, so there's no worrying here, alright?"

Frown going away and turning into a soft smile, Flora couldn't help but nod in agreement. "No worrying. I got it."

"I would hope so!"

Both teens nearly jumped right out of their skin at the sudden call. Turning around to face the street, Flora could relief wash over her when she saw who it was while Buster beamed and started waving so fast his arm started to blur.

"Hey Aunt May!" Buster beamed at the woman in the old beat-up car that was parked near the sidewalk. "We didn't see you there!"

"Hey Mama." Flora greeted as well, walking over to the car with Buster right behind her. Bending down, she looked at her mother from the open car window. "Are you on your way home?"

"Hello Buster, always nice to see your energetic face." May couldn't help but deadpan before she lost it, laughing a bit. "Yeah, I'm on my way back. But then I saw the two of you walking and couldn't help but park and wait for you two. Making the two of you jump was just a bonus!" The older woman laughed at Flora's embarrassed blushing face and Buster's unashamed one. "Well, come on then, get in you two." May jerked her head to the side, gesturing for the two of them to get in once she was done laughing.

"Alright!" Buster cheered, nearly jumping into the backseat through the open window much to Flora's concern and May's amusement. Luckily, he thought better of it in the last second and instead just opened the door and all but threw himself into the backseat. Bouncing a bit and laughing before sitting down properly and buckling up behind the driver seat. Flora just simply opened the passenger seat and got in, buckling in and making sure the door was shut all the way.

"So, am I taking Buster home or is he coming with us?" May asked, glancing around the street to make sure it was alright for her to get out of where she was parked.

"We just came from his house." Flora told her mother, tilting her head back to glance at Buster. "Buster?"

"I wanna go with you guys! It's the weekend after all, and I was hoping that I could maybe stay the night? I already asked my parents before I left and they gave the okay." Buster rubbed the back of his head with a laugh when Flora turned her head around to stare at him in surprise at this. She had no idea he had asked, but she wasn't shocked he did it. Chuckling and putting his hands together, he pouted and gave May a pleading look that she could see in the mirror. "Please, Aunt May! I'll be good! I'll help unpack, cook dinner, anything!"

"Oh, anything, huh?" May teased lightly, starting to drive back to the townhouse. Honestly, she saw no issue with him staying the night at all. It wouldn't be the first time after all, he has visited over school breaks before and stayed with them overnight. Besides, May wasn't one to give too much cares about gender rules. Male and females can be close friends and nothing more, and just because they stay the night with one another doesn't mean they're going to be having sexual intercourse or anything like that.

Really, May trusts Buster over any other person to stay with Flora at any point at time in any place. Early morning to late at night, she doesn't care. Forget gender or what society says is appropriate in this situation, she had watched Buster falcon punch a man and then proceed to knock said man out with a high kick to the face when the man tried to mug him, her and Flora while out on a walk when he was staying over with them two summer breaks ago before she could even try to defend them or get them to safety.

For being Flora's friend alone, May would let Buster stay any night in their home. For protecting Flora, May would happily fight for custody of him if she ever found out his parents weren't fit to take care of him. Thankfully, Ace and Lexi were very nice people even if they're jobs can keep them busy.

"I'll be your slave!" Buster quickly offered himself up, making Flora and May both choke on a laugh at the sudden offer.

"Buster, you can stay the night--just never offer to be my slave ever again." May laughed, shaking her head. "What would I do with you anyway? If people hear of me having a teen slave, I'd be in more than a bit of trouble."

"He'd make a good model." Flora offered without hesitation. Buster leaned forward in between the two front seats, beaming and nodding alone. "I'd be a great model!" He grinned, showing off his white teeth.

"Hmmmm. You might be trying on some clothes later on." May considered it before agreeing. It would be nice to have someone model clothing that wouldn't look the best on herself or Flora. Buster has a different body type after all. It would open up options.

Turning the corner, May glanced at her daughter, who was laughing over something with Buster.

"So, Flora...." May started, getting Flora's and Buster's attention. "I'm going to be able to enroll you into Duckburg High School! You'll be able to start Monday."

"Really?!" Flora clasped her hands together and shared and excited and happy grin with Buster. Turning her gaze back to May, Flora tilted her head in curiosity. "Mama, I thought I didn't live in the right district though? And starting Monday.....wouldn't that be too soon for the paperwork to get through?" Flora asked in worry, wondering if her Mother had overworked herself trying to make this happen for her.

"Ah, about that...." May licked her beak before sighing. "Honey, you remember that I have sisters right?"

"Yes, you're a triplet." Flora nodded, a confused look on her face coming alive. "Grandma and Grandpa had some pictures of you all when you were younger. Aunt April and Aunt June, right? I...I think Aunt April wore yellow and Aunt June wore purple?" Flora thought aloud, trying to think back on those pictures and her own foggy memories of Before.

"That's right." May assured Flora, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel as she drove. "Well, your Aunt June works in Duckburg High as a teacher. And as a family member of her's, we're going to be able to get you enrolled. In fact, she'll be coming over tomorrow to meet you and get to know you. Buster of course can stay with you too." May explained, knowing that her daughter might be nervous about hanging out with someone she doesn't know, family or not.

"I'm....going to meet one of my Aunts?" Flora slowly asked nervously. Playing with her fingers, she looked down at her lap in thought. She thought she would never meet either Aunt, not when it is obvious that her mother and them had a falling out of some kind. The way her grandparents skidded around the topic told her a lot about it. It wasn't a nice falling out, whatever happened. And she wasn't going to pry into it, just like with who her father is. So meeting one of them is a shock.

"June....June...." Buster muttered before blinking in realization. "You mean June Duck?" He asked louder, gaining a nod from May. "Oh, Flora, you're lucky! I have Ms. Duck for my English Class, last period. She's really nice. We're just now starting to read some short stories before we go onto the bigger ones." Buster lifted his arm and started to poke Flora on the sides, making her jolt and giggle. "It'll be fine! Hey, maybe we can get her to take us somewhere fun? I know a few places you might like to see! I was thinking we could go to Funso Funzone first--"

Letting the chatter wash over her, May mentally prayed that everything would work out for her little family.

Even if dangers lurked in every corner.

---------------------------{A FEW HOURS LATER}-------------------------------

"--and there you go! You're belly dancing now!" Buster beamed, taking a step back from Flora to shake his hips along with her. "And then, we turn slowly--yeah, like that! Now, stop!" A pause, then with a wide grin, Buster slowly moves his body once more. "And now we go slooooow~"

May couldn't help but be so amused watching the two teens dance to some type of belly dancing music that is playing from Buster's phone while she stood in the kitchen, washing dishes that had been in the boxes before putting them to the side to dry. Apparently the boy had been put into a generic dance class that taught various types of dances since he was little to try to calm down all that energy he had inside of him. It didn't really work, but he did gain some know-how on certain types of dances, or at least know how some dance moves. May can't help but wonder what other types of classes Buster had taken. She had a feeling he was a teen of many talents, if only because his parents tried to make him work out all that extra energy in a positive way.

It was close to night time, the sun going down slowly outside. The cheap takeout boxes were in the trashcan, and most of the boxes were empty or put away in the room it was needed in. Everyone but herself in sleeping clothes. Buster having borrowed a green nightgown, that had little pink flowers on them, from Flora and using it as a sleeping shirt and then using his own red boxers as sleeping shorts. Flora has changed into her other green nightgown that had flora designs all over it and was longer than the one Buster was wearing.

The TV was on, showing the local news channel. Although May could barely hear it over the music playing. The cheap couch had been pushed back a bit, both teens planing to bring a bunch of blankets and pillows to the living room and make a fort to sleep in. May could only chuckle and shake her head at them, leaving them to it.

"--and now, the final pose!" Both Flora and Buster posed for a long moment. Then, both bursted out laughing.

"Alright, alright, that's enough fun for now!" May called out, putting the last dish down and started talking into the living room, wiping her hands with a towel. "I want to at least hear something from the news before you two take over the living room for the night. Flora, can you turn it up for me?"

"Okay, Mama." Flora said while she grabbed the remote. Buster quickly grabbed his phone and turned off the music.

"--Scrooge McDuck is back." 

May froze behind the couch, staring at the old TV. There, on the screen, was a group of people she never thought she'd see again.

"With family in tow."

'Donald.' Her heart gave a lurch at the sight of him. Something so bitter yet sweet was crawling up her spine. 'He's still so handsome.'

And the boys! Oh, the boys, they grew up to be so handsome too. She could still remember them from when they were eggs and when they were just one year old.  Now, here they were on the screen, 16 years old. She couldn't make out too many details on them, as they were a bit of ways from the camera, but she could see they were healthy and almost as tall as she is - and more importantly, they looked so happy.

How time flies. She can still remember picking them up and holding them to her chest. Her heartbeat calming them right into sleep.

How time changes things. Now she wouldn't be able to pick them up at all more than likely.

But she can't find it in herself to go back running to what she had before. Not when it risks Flora and everything she has built for her family.

So, with so many emotions building up, she locked them back inside her heart like she first did all those years ago and watched the news as if nothing but strangers were shown on the screen.

"Solving mysteries and rewriting history!"

Flora couldn't help but be in shock at the sight of them all on the screen.

It wasn't the first time she has seen Scrooge McDuck's face on the TV screen. She's seen him enough to know what he looks like, he's even in her history books for various reasons. But seeing Donald Duck and his nephews, it was strange in a way. She knew that she had holes in knowledge about Ducktales as a whole. But she is pretty sure the triplets were supposed to be children. She couldn't really make them out on the screen, as the TV is old, the screen is fuzzy, and they aren't in front of the camera, but she knows that unless they have a medical condition or were very early bloomers, they shouldn't be as tall as they are if they were just kids.

However, Flora had already thrown away what she had previously thought she knew about Ducktales. Her own mother should have been a child if she went by the few comics she had read.

'There's no point in worrying.' Flora eventually shook her head slightly. Leaning back on the couch, she sat there and wondered if she would actually ever see them or meet them face-to-face. They all live in Duckburg after all, and she does admit to be curious on what they are like or look like.

'What are the chances of that happening?' Flora giggled a little at her own silly thoughts. 'Even if I see them, it'll be at a distance most likely. Besides, they'll be out on adventures and I'll be here. There's little to no chance of me meeting them face-to-face.'

With that out of her mind, she turned to Buster only to start laughing. Buster had been watching the TV and was now mocking the people on TV, looking so serious and grim as he mouths the news yet does silly faces at the same time.

May Duck glances down at the two playful and laughing teens sitting on the couch before her eyes go back up to the screen just as it goes to a commercial. Her eyes for one single moment locking eyes with Donald Duck's before he was off the screen.

Turning around swiftly, she took in a deep breath, listened to the laughter that seemed to fill up the old townhouse, and then slowly relaxed.

'Everything will be fine.' May told herself, gulping and locking it all away. Trying once more to kill off all these feelings that make everything so much harder than it has to be. 'Everything has to be fine. You have a great job, Flora is going to go to a good school, you're talking to June now--everything is going to be fine.'

'Donald and the rest are not going to find out the truth. Everything is going to be fine and workout.'

-End Chapter-

Alright, here it is! A long one, over 10,000 words lol. I'm proud of it, even if it took me a long time to get it done to where I wanted it to be. I had a lot of things to set up after all. I still have a lot of things to set up, but they can wait for other chapters. And don't worry if there is any confusion on what is going on, things will be explained the further we go into the story. Some things might stay a mystery for a while though. After all, Ducktales, the newer cartoon, is big on it's mysteries. So I wanted to add my own mysteries even if they are not hard to figure out or aren't anything huge.

For those who don't know; Buster Bunny, Babs Bunny, Fifi, Shirley - they are all from "Tiny Toons", a different cartoon from Ducktales obviously. I did change some of their physical appearances and characteristics to fit them within the story and setting however. Some things needed to change because of the butterfly effect and because of the plot. For example, because of Buster meeting with Flora before meeting Babs, he is best friends with Flora instead of Babs - who is Buster's best friend and sometimes love interest in Tiny Toons. This is not the case here obviously, even if Babs has romantic feelings for Buster.

In the next chapter, the teen triplets will show up! Now, I'm not going to do every episode of the show, and some might be totally different because of the butterfly effect, and of course I am going to add in my own original ideas, but I do hope that everyone enjoys this slowly darkening ride. I don't know why I like taking cartoons and twisting them into something mature, but I do have to admit it is fun.

A big shout out to Nightmaster000 who helped me think this story through and helped me with ideas for it! It wouldn't have been the same without him - so thank you!

I hope everyone enjoyed this as much as I did making it. As for now, I am off to keep writing! Here's hoping the next chapter doesn't take as long to make lol.