Notes: The final part of this story. Natssketches made the most beautiful drawing of the Launchpad and Donald from the last chapter and it's wonderful. Please go check them out on tumblr if you like this story. I based Scrooge's reaction at the Money Bin on his personality in the original duck comics.

Summary: Launchpad has a talk with Scrooge that goes better than it should've, Donald gets some weight off his shoulders, Launchpad is a good caretaker, and the kids ship it.

It didn't take long for Launchpad to drive back to the Money Bin. He headed up the stairs to Scrooge's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

Launchpad pushed the door open and walked up to Scrooge's desk. Scrooge was currently working on some documents. He stopped long enough to take note of who entered before going back to writing.

"Launchpad? What are ye doing here? I assume ye went with me nephew to get the supplies, yes?"

"Sure did Mr. McDee. Donny and I got the stuff and I already put it by the door."

Scrooge glared at Launchpad.

"Where's that lazy nephew of mine? Decided to nae report in with ye? I'll have words with him for that!"

That made Launchpad irritated. He took a deep breath to calm down.

"Actually, Donald is taking the rest of the day off. I drove him home because he's sick."

"WHAT?!" Scrooge bellowed. He grabbed his cane and stood up from his seat.

"What do ye mean that deadbeat is taking the day off?! I oughta fire that bum for leaving without permission. And furthermore, since when did ye have the authority to dismiss him from work?!"

He pointed the cane at Launchpad's face, "I oughta fire ye for ye disrespect McQuack!" On his last word, Scrooge slammed the end of his cane onto the ground. It made a resounding thump.

Now Launchpad is normally a carefree and happy guy. It takes a lot to make him angry. But Scrooge being rude to Donald? That made him pissed.

"Now listen here, Mr. McDuck! This is your nephew you're talking about not some random employee in your business. As family, you should've noticed that he wasn't feeling well. Now I see why Donny refused to go home until I made him. If he had come to you, you would've snapped at him and made him continue to work until he passed out from his fever. I respect you, Mr. McDuck, but not when you treat family so poorly! If this is how you always treat him, then I understand why Donald doesn't get along with you!"

Scrooge stared at Launchpad, mouth agape. Launchpad's shoulders stopped heaving with anger and his face morphed from rage to horror.

"M-Mr. McDee! I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me!"

Scrooge held one wing up.

"No Launchpad, I'm sorry. Yer right. I am harsher on Donald then I should be. I care about him a lot but I'm not good at showing it in the slightest. However, donnae EVER talk to me like that again. Are we clear?"

Launchpad nodded.

"Good then. Now get back to work. Aye'll call ye when aye am ready to head home."

Launchpad walked out the of the office, and the second the door closed, collapsed against it.

"… I can't believe I just yelled at Scrooge McDuck…"

His heart was hammering in his chest. Launchpad took a moment to calm down before getting up. He had to get back to the parking garage in case Scrooge needed him to get anything.

Launchpad had no other incidents for the rest of the day. On occasion, he called Mrs. Beakley to see how Donald was doing. It worried him that Donald seemed to be worse every time he called. Now that Scrooge was headed home, Launchpad could check up on Donald himself. He opened the door for Scrooge and then hopped into the driver's seat. While the separator was open, Launchpad wasn't in the mood to chat with Scrooge like he usually does. He was still upset about Scrooge's behavior as well as worried about Donald's health. However, Scrooge seemed to pick up on the tense atmosphere.

"Uhh… How's me nephew doing?" Scrooge awkwardly asked.

"Not very well Mr. McDee. He's gotten worse. Mrs. Beakley is trying her best but it's not helping much."

Launchpad kept his eyes on the road. For once, his driving wasn't reckless in the slightest. That unsettled Scrooge.

"He really is sick… Well, I bet with some rest he'll be just fine in the mornin'." Scrooge went back to reading the newspaper. The rest of the drive was quiet.

Launchpad was quick to park the car upfront by the steps. Scrooge was surprised when Launchpad turned the limo off.

"What is the meaning of this?" Scrooge stepped out when Launchpad opened the door for him.

"I promised Donny I would check in on him so I'll probably visit for a while." Scrooge raised his eyebrows in surprise. He didn't realize Launchpad and Donald were so close.

"Alright then, just don't break anything."

Scrooge and Launchpad were let in by Mrs. Beakley. Scrooge went off to his study and Launchpad stayed behind to talk to Mrs. Beakley.

"How's he doing Mrs. B?"

Mrs. Beakley frowned at him.

"He was getting better for a little bit but then his fever came back higher than before. I moved him to his bedroom so that he would be more comfortable but if he gets any worse I will have to call a doctor."
That only made him more worried.

"Did he eat at least?"

She shook her head.

"He ate a little but not the amount I wanted him to. I gave him some medicine and placed a wet cloth on his forehead. I'll take you to his room in a moment. I want to grab another tray of soup and a cup of tea with honey."

Mrs. Beakley led Launchpad to the kitchen. Launchpad noticed the kids sitting at the dining room table and walked over.

"Hey, kids! What are you up to?"

They all looked up at him, "Launchpad!", and tackled him to the floor in a hug,

"Aww! I missed you guys too!" The kids smiled and helped Launchpad up.

"We're making get well cards for Uncle Donald!" Dewey animatedly waved his arms around.

"We were surprised to see him when we got home from school and Mrs. Beakley told us he wasn't feeling well and we thought that he might like a card so Webby went and grabbed all her craft stuff and we've been here since working on them!"

Huey rolled his eyes, his fond smile being the only give away that he wasn't annoyed at his brother's rambling.

"I'm about to head up with Mrs. B to see how your Uncle's doing and give him dinner. You should head up now so that you can give it to him before we get there and Mrs. B shoos you all out." Launchpad ruffled the feathers on Dewey's head. The kids grabbed their cards and rushed out of the room.

Launchpad walked back into the kitchen. Mrs. B was putting the last of Donald's dinner on the tray.

"Ready to go Mrs. B?"

Mrs. Beakley nodded.

"Come along, his room is this way."

When Mrs. Beakley and Launchpad arrived at Donald's room, the duck was already awake and chatting with the kids. Launchpad noticed all the cards were already standing up on Donald's bedside table. Donald was holding the kids in his lap while Webby explained some event at school.

"So after that, the teacher said I should join the gymnastics team! I think it'll be super fun! I'll get to wear a sparkly leotard and do awesome flips and twirls!"

Donald chuckled.

"I'm sure you're gonna love it Webby." He croaked. His voice sounded hoarse and pained.

Mrs. Beakley walked up to the small group.

"Alright children, it's time for Donald to eat. I don't want you all getting sick so go work on your homework and leave your uncle to rest."

The kids all groaned. They gave him one more hug before sliding off the bed and walking out. Mrs. Beakley set the tray down on Donald's lap.

"Now make sure he eats as much as he can alright Launchpad?"

Mrs. Beakley gives him a sly look, "I'm sure he'll listen to you better than he'd listen to me."

Launchpad chuckled and sat down on the bed.

"No problemo Mrs. B! I'll take care of him."

Mrs. Beakley closed the door behind her. Launchpad turned his attention back to Donald. He was struggling to eat the soup in front of him. Launchpad wondered if Donald would yell at him for helping him eat.

"Here, let me."

Launchpad took the spoon out of Donald's shaking wing, blew on it, and then held it up to Donald's beak. Donald hesitated a moment and then slowly sipped the soup. Launchpad filled the spoon again.

"You really don't have to do this Launchpad. I can take care of myself you know?" Donald protested, laying his wing on top of Launchpad's and keeping the spoon in the soup.

"I already told you, Donny, you don't have to anymore. I don't like watching you suffer in silence. I care about you a lot so please let me take care of you."

Donald's eyes started watering.

"Why do you care so much? Besides the kids and a select few, no one really cares about me. You see how Scrooge treats me, even Gladstone treats me better than he does."

Donald wasn't one to talk about his private issues aloud but the cold was affecting his filter.

"… I really like you, Donny."

Donald startled.

"W-what?"

Launchpad moved the tray to the bedside table. He turned back to Donald and hugged him close.

"I really like you. I like adventuring with you and working with you. You care so much about your family that even though you don't get along with Gladstone and Scrooge, you're still willing to help. You work you're tail off for those kids and I often forget Webby isn't your niece."

Donald started to cry. He buried his face in Launchpad's shoulder.

"I have a horrid temper. I can never do anything right and I've lost so many jobs, I was worried I'd never be hired again. If it wasn't for the houseboat blowing up, the kids and I would still be living in poverty. Scrooge provides for them, not me."

Launchpad rubbed Donald's back.

"Your temper is a part of you, Donald. You've got more control of it then you think. I hardly ever see you lose it at work when Scrooge piles you high with tasks or makes a rude comment. You gave everything you could for your nephews and they know it. Living with Scrooge isn't shameful like you think it is. He needed it. I think he was always so cold to everyone because he was lonely. You and the kids have really changed him for the better."

Donald just cried harder.

Launchpad held Donald for a long time. He let him get all his pent-up emotions out. When Donald was thoroughly drained, he pulled out of the embrace. He looked at the soup.

"I should try to eat the rest of this."

Launchpad felt the underside of the bowl.

"It's pretty cold. Lemme go downstairs and re-heat it."

Launchpad stood up and grabbed the tray.

"You know Donald," Launchpad paused at the doorway.

"I'll give you the moon."

Donald chuckled, "You can't give me that."

"I can steer a ship. I know how much the moon and stars mean to a sailor."

Launchpad walked back over to Donald and set the tray down again. He sat on the bed and leaned until their foreheads were touching.

"So, I'll give you the moon. I'll help when you need it and stand beside you when you can handle it yourself. I'll support you through every storm and guide you back to shore."

Donald smiled. "And I'll drag you back down when you start to fly too far into the sky."

Donald leaned forward and kissed Launchpad. When they broke apart, Donald's eyes went wide with realization. If his face wasn't red before, it was now.

"It's already late so why don't you spend the night? There's a spare bedroom next door." Donald flustered.

Launchpad laughed.

"Sure thing Donny! Now let me go heat this up."

When the kids woke up the next morning, the first thing they did was check on Donald. They wanted to see if he was feeling better. However, none of them were expecting the sight they got. Donald was asleep on his bed with Launchpad beside him. Launchpad was sleeping on his back on top of the covers, one arm wrappped around Donald, and Donald was sleeping on his side and under the covers, with his head and a wing on Launchpad's chest. The kids looked at each other before silently closing the door. They walked stoically to the living room and then sat down on the floor. They took a deep breath at the same time.

"OH MY GOD!" "DID YOU SEE THAT?!" "THAT IS SO CUTE!" "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!"

Mrs. Beakley rushed into the room.

"What's wrong?!"

Webby smushed her checks with her wings.

"It's so cute! Donald and Launchpad are together!"

Huey, Dewey, and Louie jumped up and started bouncing where they stood.

"This is great! Do you know what that means?" Dewey interjected.

"Not only is Launchpad our Uncle now," Louie added.

"But we get to plan a date for them!" Huey finished.

Webby squealed.

"Ohmigosh yes! We'll get walkie-talkies and pretend to have something to do so that we can follow them on their date and get grossed out at the romantic stuff! Granny can you help us plan?"

Mrs. Beakley smiled at their antics.

"If I must. For now, let's head to the dining room. Breakfast is ready and you guys need to eat before school."

As the kids were herded into the dining room, Scrooge ducked his head back into the hallway. He had come to investigate the yelling as well but was still in the hallway when he heard Webby's explanation.

"That explains yesterday." Scrooge chuckled.

"Aye nephew, you've found a good one.