Author note.
Hi to all. As some of you may know this story was on hiatus for awhile. I wasn't happy with it at all. I changed it and now I am. I decided in my infinite wisdom to upload the story again. It's already finished so all that's left is for me to upload it weekly.
This story takes place after PP. Danny and gang are sixteen years old and Danny didn't reveal himself to the entire world.
I don't own Danny Phantom. I'm pretty sure Butch Hartman and Nickelodeon do.
So, without further ado, enjoy!
Chapter 1. The Fenton Family Vacation
A white gloved hand slammed the cap on a still smoking thermos.
"Man, I'm glad that's over." Tucker stretched his arms behind his back with a satisfied grin on his face. Danny and Sam only glared at him.
"You didn't do anything." Danny growled, clipping the thermos back on his belt. His tech-savvy friend had arrived at the warehouse when the fight was as good as done.
"Give him a break Danny," Sam slung her arm around a, suddenly very suspicious Tucker. "Being the mayor isn't easy you know." She gave him a wicked grin, before slapping the beret of his head. Tucker dived after it with a small yelp.
"You two are already complaining about the amount of homework Lancer has given you." Tucker placed the beret back on his head, giving his friends the evil eye. "Try homework plus paperwork!"
"Try homework plus 'extracurricular activities'." Danny shot back. "I've been chasing the Box Ghost for about four hours now. The only thing I want to do is to dump his sorry blue backside back into the Ghost Zone before –"
A loud yell cut him off as his father barged through the warehouse brandishing an ecto bazooka.
"Where is he? I'll rip him apart molecule by molecule!" He waved the gun around, hitting his startled son in the process. The thermos flew from the belt and landed with a metallic clank on the sidewalk. Please, no. Danny begged inwardly. Fate pointed and laughed at him when, accompanied by a loud hiss the contents spilled free. A not-so maniacal laughter filled the space.
"Beware! For I, the Box Ghost, cannot be contained by a simple cylindrical container!" With that the blue ghost blew them a raspberry and disappeared through the warehouse roof.
Danny's shoulder slumped. "Before I have to chase after him again."
Jazz idyllically turned the page from the oversized tome she was reading, while her mother was busy tinkering away on a new invention, when Jack came into the kitchen and made a beeline for the fridge. Danny slumped after him.
"How was ghost catching today, honey?" Maddie asked without looking up from her work.
Jack, face buried in the fridge, gave an incoherent response. Just then the invention Maddie was working on started to bleep hysterically.
Jack's head was immediately out of the fridge. "Ghost!"
"I need a break." The ghost in question said miserable as he slummed into a kitchen chair.
"Bad day?" His mother asked giving him a warm smile. Danny put his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands.
"Yes." Danny scowled at his father. "Try catching and re-catching the same ghost all day."
Jack had the decency to look ashamed. "I'm sorry son." He put a large arm around his son's shoulders and chuckled. "Sometimes I get a little over excided."
Danny sighted, then grinned. "I know Dad. I appreciate the help, but," He bit his lip, searching for the right words. He really didn't want to hurt his father's feelings. "I've, well, Sam, Tuck and I, have been doing this for a while and, well…"
"What Danny is trying to say," Jazz cut in. "Is that Danny is a more than capable ghost fighter in his own right." She gave her little brother a wink. "He can take care of himself."
"Right. I," A shiver ran down his spine as a whips of cold air escaped his lips. Again fate laughed at him in the background.
"BEWARE!"
"You've got to be kidding me." Danny groaned and buried his face in his arms.
"Ghost!" His dad yelled gleefully. He produced an ecto gun seemingly out of thin air.
At least someone was excited. Jazz closed her book with a sight. Maddie returned to her work.
The Box Ghost observed the scene with a confused expression on his face before recovering. "Beware!" He repeated, wiggling his fingers for emphasis.
The ecto gun powered up with a small whine. "Son, may I have the honours?" His father asked.
Danny, face still buried in his arms, gave him an absent wave with his hand. "Be my guest."
Jack threw the Box Ghost a grin that had Danny fear for his live on multiple occasions
"Erm," The Box Ghost seemed lost for words. "Bewa-"
"You're mine ghost!" Jack fired a blast in the ghost's direction. The Box Ghost yelled as an ecto blast narrowly missed his head. A second later he was being chased around the house by a huge man in a bright orange jumpsuit.
"Don't destroy the house, sweetie!" Maddie yelled, sighting at the sound of an eco-blast. "I think we could all use a break."
"And I know the perfect place." Jazz put her book away, folding open a folder with colourful pictures of mountains and forests. Leave it to Jazz to always have an idea ready.
"Scotland?" Danny and Maddie exclaimed in unison.
"Are you serious?" Danny ripped the folder from his sister's hands.
"I think it's a wonderful idea." Maddie said, taking the folder from Danny.
"Isn't it?" Jazz said, looking smug. "Nice and far removed from Amity Park."
They all cringed at the sound of another eco-blast, followed by a painful yelp from the Box Ghost.
Danny stood up. "I'll go help Dad before he destroys the house" He slipped into his ghost form and faced his sister. "But this conversation is so not over." He phased through the floor and out of sight.
"I still need to get used to that." Maddie said looking at the floor where her son had just disappeared through. Jazz laughed.
"She wanted to go where?" Sam asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Scotland, apparently." Danny answered, slamming his locker door shut. "Because it's; Nice and far removed from Amity Park." He said imitating his sister's voice. They started walking towards their classroom.
"Man, I could use a break like that." Tucker sighted. "Being the mayor is hard work you know."
"Ehm, Tucker, you've been mayor for like…a day." Sam said. "They kicked you out for being under- aged. Remember?"
"I remember that, Sam." Tucker responded, annoyed.
They passed Paulina and Star. The two girls were swooning over a picture of Phantom.
Tucker elbowed his friend. "Dude, you're a rock star."
"I know." Danny answered, ignoring the A-listers. "It's been a month since the asteroid. I knew it would have an impact, but this is getting ridiculous."
After he'd saved the world his group of fans had increased significantly. He had debated revealing his secret to the world, but he'd changed his mind at the last second. Choosing to reveal himself to a select few instead; including his parents, Valerie and her father and Mr. Lancer. The latter was an idea from his parents. Danny had objected at first, but it turned out better than expected. Most of his tardiness's had been dropped and he would get extra time if a ghost prevented him from making his homework or learning for a test.
"Well, what did you expect?" Sam said, shoving through a group of students. "You're a hero. Did you really think you would get away with it so easily?"
He'd really hoped he would, actually.
"At least the ghosts still want to kick your ass." Tucker put in.
Danny gave him a pointed look.
"Geeze, if only there was a place you could go where it was nice and quiet." Sam said, looking at Danny. Danny stared back.
"Still clueless." Tucker snickered.
"He! I'm not clueless." Danny protested, taking his seat at the back of the classroom.
"No. Well, a little." Sam touched Danny's hand and they both blushed.
"Hi, Danny."
The trio whirled around to face the beautiful Latino standing beside them. Ever since the asteroid Paulina had gotten it into her head that the Fentons and Phantom were somehow connected. Now her main goal was getting on Danny's good side so he could introduce her to Phantom.
Sam looked ready to slam her fist through the table, but Mr. Lancer, teacher extraordinary, entered the classroom and called for his students to sit down.
"I was this close to breaking that shallow witch's nose." Sam indicated a 'this close' with her index and thumb. "Did you see the way she looked at Danny?" She punched a dent in a locker on their way to the cafeteria.
"Easy, Sam." Danny took her hands in his. "You know there is only one girl for me."
"I sure hope you are talking about me." Sam said, losing her angry glare. She smiled at her boyfriend.
"You know I am."
"Eew, you two. Get a room." Tucker nudged Danny so hard he let go of Sam's hand. Danny scowled at his friend, a witty reply ready on his lips, but his sister interrupted them. She came hurrying towards them from the other side of the hallway.
"Hey Danny," She stopped before them smiling broadly. "I drove to school this morning, so you and your friends can drive with me back home."
"What's the catch?" All three of them responded in unison.
"W-what catch?" Jazz giggled nervously. Danny crossed his arms and arched his eyebrow. "Fine." Jazz signed. "I convinced Mom and Dad to go on that holiday we talked about."
"You did what!" Danny yelled. As one the student body of Casper High turned around.
"I'll be good for you. For all of us." Jazz tried again. "You'll be finally able to relax."
Danny crossed his arms. "I'm plenty relaxed." His friends threw him a look that begged the differ. Jazz arched her eyebrow a smug smile already forming on her lips.
"Oh come on, Danny. It'll be fun."
"Oh yeah, I will be totally relax knowing Amity Park will be a free playground for ghosts!"
"Don't worry little brother. I've already made arrangements for that." Jazz pointed over her shoulder. Danny followed with his gaze until he spotted Valerie waving at him.
"I'm still not convinced." Danny said sourly. After he'd revealed his secret to her she hadn't exactly been supportive at first. Sure, she'd come around. She was even fighting alongside him now. They had talked it out, but even so she still was a bit reserved around him. Sam noticed his concern.
"I'm sure it will be fine, Danny." Sam said, throwing her arm around his shoulders.
"Yeah dude. Besides," Tucker winked. "You still have us to take care of the ghosts."
"Actually," Jazz pulled out a folder. "You two are invited too." She showed Sam and Tucker the picture of a large cabin in the middle of a misty, very unwelcome looking forest.
"My, that looks cosy." Sam stated, not looking impressed at all.
"Brilliant!" Jazz smiled, oblivious to the sarcasm. "I'll see you all after school!" She skipped away into the direction she had come from.
"Nice going, Sam." Danny said, looking cross. "Now I have to spend two whole weeks with my family into some cabin in the woods."
"How is this my fault?" Sam shot back. "Besides, I'll be there too. Apparently."
"How did she even convince our parents?" Tucker wondered aloud.
"Knowing Jazz." Danny couldn't help but chuckle. "With the help of psychology and a lot of difficult words."
"Actually," Sam stood on tiptoes and planted a kiss on Danny's cheek. "I don't mind spending two weeks with you in de woods." Danny's features turned a bright scarlet and Tucker made a gagging sound in the background.
"If you two keep the love stuff to yourself."