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Donald had been struggling more than he'd like to admit. He was in-between jobs at the minute, slaving away for a tiny paycheck. He barely had enough money to feed the boys nevermind himself, and each day he would have to come home and force a smile.
Sleep was a thing of the past for Donald. He couldn't sleep anyway, not without Della, and he was practically afraid to shut his eyes for fear something would happen to the triplets if he wasn't looking.
Things had gotten slightly easier once they were old enough for school. It meant he only had to pay for a babysitter twice a week (on weekends) and he had one less meal to pay for. Unfortunately the worries kept coming in. Now he had new costs like school books and backpacks. He also had to attend parents evenings and talk to other adults more often.
As they began interacting with kids their own age they began to ask the tough questions like; "What's a mom?", "Why don't we have a mom?" and "Are you our dad?". Donald answered the questions as briefly as he could and merely told them that Della left when they were younger. He didn't have the heart to tell them what really happened as he was still hurting himself.
He noticed Dewey, of the three triplets was always more curious about their mother than his brothers. He stopped asking about her eventually but Donald could see he still didn't understand where she was. Every year on mother's Day he would come home in tears. It broke Donald apart.
When Della did return home Donald figured his parenting days were over. That wasn't true. She was a reckless parent and he had to be the responsible one to keep them safe.
Louie had reached out to him, unsure of how to handle a mother. Donald gave him hugs and the best advice he could and Louie took the advice on board.
Huey also was a bit apprehensive about her coming home but wasn't as nervous about it. He would still spend time with his uncle and Donald loved him for that.
Dewey took to the skies with Della. Donald was incredibly jealous as he had been trying to get Dewey interested in his boat for years. Della showed up and he was instantly excited about becoming a pilot. Donald didn't mind, he told himself. She was his mother after all.
It was only a few months later when Dewey came to talk to his uncle. Donald immediately prepared a table on the hull of his boat and invited Dewey to sit down. He obliged and began talking. Dewey had forgotten how easy it was to open up to Donald. With Della he felt required to do the brave thing, but Donald knew that even Dewey had his weak moments, when he wasn't so brave. He didn't have any concerns about Della being at home. He quite enjoyed having a mother. But he still felt as if there was something missing. He just couldn't put his feathers on it. He had said anyways. Dewey knew exactly what it was bothering him.
Donald listened attentively, knowing Dewey needed to be heard and considered thoughtfully how to respond.
"Why do you feel as if something is missing?"
"I don't know I'm probably being stupid. I have my brothers, and my mom and Webby and a million other friends. Why am I suddenly wanting more?"
"Dewey you always wanted more out of life when you were little. You were the one most interested in your mother. Now you have her back. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"I don't know. I love having mom back. Maybe I'm missing a dad?" Dewey hinted, saying that last part with caution. Donald sighed.
"Would you like me to tell you about your dad? I only kept your mom a secret because I was hurting. I couldn't admit to myself she was gone."
"I don't need to know about him. I already have a dad." Dewey smiled up at Donald, who finally understood what was wrong with his boy. He missed spending time with him. Donald had been incredibly busy recently. Looking after two growing girls and working two jobs it felt exactly how raising the boys had felt. But he realised that he must have been neglecting his boys. It was in no way deliberate, purely accidental. The main thing he focused on was the fact that Dewey was calling him dad.
The boys had done it a lot growing up and Donald had immediately forced it out of them. But there were still times where they would do it accidentally, or even intentionally some days. But now they were growing up it was more rare. And Donald usually corrected them every time. He was in no way their father, just merely their caretaker and he didn't want to take that title. He was a failure according to himself but a father wasn't considered a failure.
But right now, he didn't feel like correcting him. He simply wrapped his arms around his middle nephew and held back tears. Dewey gladly returned the hug, unable to hold back his.
"I never asked about him growing up because you're all the dad I need uncle Donald." Donald cracked a smile.
"Dewey I love you so much. I never meant to make you feel excluded. Tell you what, how about this Saturday, I take you fishing? Just me and you."
"That would be great dad."
"Sound like a plan son."