Disclaimer: I wish I owned Danny Phantom! Desiree: -turns me into Butch Hartman- AHHHHHHHHH! CHANGE ME BACK CHANGE ME BACK! -is changed back-


"That must be V-man!" Jack shouted excitedly as he barreled for the door. Danny roller his eyes as he sent another text to Sam and Tucker, complaining about his archenemy.

It was his 16th birthday. It was supposed to be a nice, private occasion with just his parents, sister, her boyfriend and himself. But Vlad had mentioned in a call about wanting Jack and Maddie to meet somebody, and of course, they invited him. Vlad had been suspiciously quiet for too long, too long for Danny's taste. It was unnerving, but that didn't mean he wanted the billionaire to show up for his birthday.

He heard his mom come into the living room as the excited chatter of Jack came closer, more footsteps in tow.

"Maddie, this is Alice."

Danny's attention was grabbed upon hearing Vlad announce this, and he looked up to see Vlad with a young woman. What?

His mom mirrored Danny's surprised expression, but it soon turned into a pleasant smile.

"Hello, Vlad's told me many good things about you two." Danny was surprised by the lack of shyness she had at meeting two strangers. He studied her. She seemed normal enough. Average woman, no older than thirty he'd guess, with long brown hair that was tucked up in a bun. Slender, in a casual dark pink dress that came to her knees. Vlad was in his regular suit, but Danny couldn't help but noticed that his button up shirt was the same shade of pink as her dress. He matched her.

Maddie got over her initial shock to shake Alice's hand and greet her. Danny couldn't believe it. She had to be his sister. Nobody could want to date Vlad. Vlad wouldn't dare date or obsess over anybody but his mom. Vlad couldn't. He wouldn't.

"It's good to have you here!" Jack nearly slapped Alice's back with his almost infamous strength, only for Vlad to lightly deflect it, putting his arm around Alice's shoulders to take most of the hit. Vlad winced.

"Well, it's been a few months," Vlad said slowly. "I figured it was time she met the people most important in my life."

Jack nearly teared up at the idea of being one of the most important people in Vlad's life. Maddie seemed relieved that Vlad had moved his hand to hold Alice's. Danny glanced at Jazz. She seemed unsure. Happy maybe? Danny wasn't sure. But he wasn't sure how he felt either.


With Tucker and Sam at his side, they dug up more information on Alice. Her name was Alice Finchin, twenty-eight. She graduated from the University of Amity Park with her dual degrees in biology and business earlier that year. Spent her entire life in Amity Park, studied abroad in France for two semesters.

Through over listening to his parents talking to Vlad and Alice over coffee when it was assumed Jazz and Danny were gone or upstairs, occupying themselves with homework or hobbies, he learned much more. She met Vlad when he gave a guest lecture at her college. She wanted to ask him questions after class. They hit it off, and they began dating nearly immediately. Now that she's graduated, she works for him.

Vlad invited the Fenton adults over and out more and more often. Danny was convinced this was a trick to get his mother jealous. But every date he dropped in on, Vlad paid little mind to Maddie. His attention was focused on his supposed sweetheart, showering her with attention or sitting next to her, standing with her or picking a spot close to her, even if Maddie stood away. Maddie seemed, if anything, thrilled for the man. Sometimes Danny saw them out alone on a date while on patrol.

Slowly, as he was dragged to Vlad's house for holidays and weekends and after school to hang out, he began noticing more and more of the little things. Alice had a change of clothes handy at his home when lemonade had spilled on her skirt. She had a key to Vlad's home and Colorado cabin. Vlad had either gotten rid of one of his fancy luxury cars or moved it, as she now had a spot in his garage for her car. Danny snooped through Vlad's room and noticed the other nightstand having a book, alarm clock and a contact lens holder. The bathroom clearly had a woman regularly using it. Make up, hair products and other accessories have overwhelmed the generous counter space. Twin gray eyes that had stared at him questioningly from the darkness of the black bedspread before Shadow, her cat, gave a curious meow. She had moved in.

Vlad had kept his distance ghost-wise, and Danny didn't push his luck. Occasionally, he flashed his "scary eyes" at Vlad, who would make a point to ignore him. Danny didn't trust him. Not one bit. But what was he planning? What was going on? How could he even protect Alice from Vlad? Vlad never gave up. He never had good intentions. He was obsessed with Mom for crying out loud!

He wasn't sure when they first began saying it, but he remembered the first time he noticed it. At Jazz's party that his parents threw to celebrate her getting into her top school. Vlad, probably trying to impress his mother and earn more brownie points for his "sweetheart", offered to pay all the expenses for her education. After many tears, the offer was accepted. Later on, Danny heard it.

"Vlad, you're such a sweetheart. You're doing such a great thing for your goddaughter. I love you."

"I love you too," he actually uttered back, and Danny couldn't help but wonder how long that had been going on. Vlad wasn't capable of loving anybody. He was...he was just too obsessed with his mom! Right?

Danny wanted to throw up as the couple had shared a kiss, Alice wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug, Vlad's arm around her as well.

And Jazz was buying this bullshit!

"Danny, maybe it's true," she had tried to assure her little brother during one of his rants and ravings over it. She was too busy fixing her hair for her own date. "I mean, Vlad's the same age as Mom and Dad and was still single. Maybe he's just lonely and realizing it's time to settle. I thought you'd be happy to hear that he's no longer trying to flirt with Mom."

"Vlad doesn't give up too easily!" Danny insisted. "I mean, he hasn't even brought up the idea of me being his son even in almost a year!" Jazz shrugged.

"Maybe Vlad's just planning on having his own son with Alice soon," she suggested. The idea made Danny sick. Poor Alice. Stuck with a fruitloop because of the possible-but-not-quite-here kid. Wait.

"Do you think he told her?" Danny questioned. "About being half-ghost?"

Jazz shrugged.

"I dunno," she replied, and she soon shooed him away so she could finish getting ready.

Danny was there when Vlad proposed. He hadn't meant to. He was...well, spying. It was at a very fancy restaurant, expensive looking. Like every cliché, Vlad had the ring resting on their dessert. Alice had teared up and said yes immediately. Danny left immediately. He didn't really want to stick around and see what happened afterwards. Plus Skulker had begun to attack and loot the hunting store across town, and it was the perfect excuse.

Maddie and Jazz had ooed and awwed over the ring. Even Sam, upon seeing it, was impressed at the size, but angry because it was a real diamond. But the fact that it was a blood diamond was the only thing that seemed to rile Sam up.

"I mean, isn't this what you wanted?" Sam had asked when Danny brought up the subject. "For Vlad to move on? He's getting married. You said it yourself, he barely even looks at your mom anymore."

"Yes." Danny was desperate for anybody, anybody, to understand. "But this can't be it. Something's going on."

"I gotta agree with Sam. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Tucker agreed. "I mean, it is weird that he's just kind of suddenly moved on, but maybe they just hit it off in all the right ways? Less Plasmius for you to deal with."

The wedding planning seemed to take forever, and it seemed expensive. One look at the guest list, and Danny could understand. Seemingly hundreds of business partners and employees were invited, as well as many family and friends. Danny studied to see who was the main cast of the party. Vlad Masters, groom. Alice Finchin, bride. Parents of the bride and groom. Maids of honor, Alice's sisters. Jazz and Maddie were bridesmaids, as well as some other names Danny didn't know, he assumed close friends or family. Best men, Adrian Castanillo and Jack Fenton (the later being pressured by Alice and Maddie). Adrian Castanillo. Danny only knew the man in passing, and he knew his name for only one reason. He was Vlad's real best friend of nearly fifteen years. The only person in Vlad's life that knew his secret. That Danny knew of. Did Alice know?

Was she so blinded by love that she was okay with The Wisconsin Ghost, Vlad Plasmius, being her husband to be? Or was she just in the dark? He had to assume the later. Danny had tried to subtly warn her, only to earn a hair ruffle and a "you're too cute" or "Vlad couldn't harm a fly." If only she knew. Or was she a good actress?


The night before the wedding. The fruitloop was in his office at DALV. The lights were mostly off, aside from his office. He had reading glasses on, sorting through paperwork. Danny could only guess that he was getting the work out of the way so that he could focus on his honeymoon. From what his parents had told him, the newlyweds were going to tour Europe for a month.

Danny had it all planned out in his head. He dramatically phased through the door and slammed his fists on Vlad's desk. Vlad gave an annoyed sigh, closing his eyes as he took his reading glasses off to rub his eyes freely.

"What is it, Daniel? I have a lot of work to do, and I wish to get a good night's rest before my big day tomorrow."

"What are you up to?" Danny demanded to know. Vlad stared at him.

"Paperwork." The older halfa motioned to a stack of paper next to him and his computer, multiple files open on two different screens. Danny gritted his teeth.

"I mean with Alice," Danny clarified, beating his fist on the table again. "What are you up to? Are you using her? How much does she know?"

"I'm getting married to Alice," Vlad replied, and he slipped his glasses back on. He briefly flipped through some of the papers on the pile, picking them up and putting them on top of another pile before beginning to type rapidly into his computer. "I'm not using her, and she knows nothing."

Danny wasn't surprised. Of course, he was using her, so of course, he would tell her nothing. Danny grabbed onto this confession.

"If you're not using her, then why haven't you told her about being Plasmius?" Vlad frowned.

"I don't think that's any of your business."

"It is my business when you bring innocent people into this!" Danny protested. "I swear, if you hurt her-"

"Daniel, enough of this nonsense!" Vlad cut him off harshly, giving him a glare before leaning back in his chair. He didn't look at Danny anymore, staring instead at his computer screen. Danny could see vague reflection of numbers in the older man's glasses. Vlad gave a deep sigh. "Daniel. I'm old."

"Well duh," Danny interrupted. "You're the same age as my dad. He complains of back pain every morning, he asks for the clicker and constantly naps when watching daytime TV."

"And look at what I have in my life," Vlad argued.

"Billions in stolen riches? Illegally obtained companies?" Danny drypanned. Vlad scowled.

"I earned most of my wealth boy. I just had...an advantage," Vlad smirked, and Danny frowned. "But no. I have companies for nobody to take over. Mansions with only hired help occupying them. Billions and nobody to spend a cent on." Vlad's gaze shifted to a photo on his desk. It was the engagement announcement photo the Fentons had received. "But then...Alice came. She's not your mother. Not by any stretch. But they share many similarities. She's sweet and loving, thoughtful. We discuss books together, go to art museums. Alice is such a brilliant mind, especially when it comes to biology. I've read her research papers, they're such fascinating reads. Such empathy too. She gets it from her own mother, of course. She's a very well known child psychologist." He hesitated. "She's...she's not my soulmate. But I still love her. And she loves me. Much as I'd like to, Daniel, I just simply can't afford to, not really want to, wait for your mother anymore. I want a family. I want a reason to not be at work every day all day. Alice is here and available and wants to be with me and have children. It's been simply wonderful the past year to not just come home to somebody, but to have a reason to take off early and come home."

Silence overtook the room. Danny rocked back and forth on his feet a bit awkwardly as he tried to find something to say, Vlad staring at his screen. He stretched and began to type in information again.

"So...why not tell her?"

Vlad paused, staring up at him.

"Daniel...how much have you talked to Alice?"

"I talk to her all the time!" Danny wanted to scream. "You practically drag her over to our house all the damn time!"

"Language, little badger. Look, do me a favor, and talk to Alice tomorrow. I mean, talk to her. Ask her about ghosts. Then you'll understand."

Danny threw his hands up in the air. He wasn't going to get anywhere. And even if he could, there was no way he could stop a wedding happening tomorrow at this point.

"Fine. But I swear, Plasmius. If you make one wrong move-"

"You'll flash your scary eyes at me, yes, yes, I know," Vlad interrupted, waving a hand to shoo the younger off. "Now go. I want to be well rested. Can't get a good wedding photo taken if my eyes are bloodshot."

Danny accepted defeat for the time being.


The wedding was, as Danny expected, crowded, expensive looking and incredibly boring. Many people came to wish good luck upon the new couple. His only saving grace was Sam. Her father apparently did a lot of business with Vlad. Even though they had to sit on opposite sides of the wedding venue (a massive, fancy hotel ballroom affair), as soon as the reception happened, they stuck together like glue. Tucker's family took him on vacation, leaving him unable to accept being Danny's plus one.

"I mean, yeah. It's kind of sketchy," Sam had to admit when Danny was able to spill the story of the night before over reception dinner. Sam had been pleased to find vegan options had been offered. "But do you really blame Vlad?" She put her hands up to defend herself against Danny's jaw dropping. "I know, I know. It's weird for me to say, but I think this is for the best. I mean, he's finally moving on, isn't he? Who knows, maybe soon Vlad will be too busy corralling toddlers to bother you anymore."

Danny's shoulders shrugged, and he sighed heavily, leaning onto the table. Maybe...maybe this was right. For the best. He glanced over at Vlad. He held an alcoholic beverage, standing among wedding guests, laughing and chatting happily. His eyes shifted to Alice. She was standing next to a man Danny had learned earlier was her father, talking to him happily before moving on, seemingly checking on guests. Vlad did admit that he still loved his mom. But he loved her too, right? What if Danny was wrong though? What if he couldn't save her in time?

"Danny." Sam's voice snapped him from his thoughts. "Don't obsess over it. Just...enjoy what happens. This is probably just as good for Vlad as it is for you. I mean, it can't be healthy to obsess over somebody for twenty years, and he looks happy enough."

"Yeah," Danny reluctantly agreed. "Yeah..."

"Hello kids!" Alice's voice greeted them warmly. Danny forced a smile back up at her. She looked warm and happy, beaming brightly. "Enjoying yourselves?"

"Yeah, I can't believe you have vegan options! Thanks!" Sam pipped up.

"Of course," Alice smiled. "Lots of the wives of Vlad's business partners are very concerned about their health, so they normally want something healthy."

"Yeah, the food's really good," Danny agreed. It really was. He paused, thinking as Sam had begun to compliment the bride's hair, prompting a discussion.

Look, do me a favor, and talk to Alice tomorrow. I mean, talk to her. Ask her about ghosts. Then you'll understand.

"So, uh, Alice?" Danny spoke up.

"Yes?" Alice and Sam both had their attention to him. Danny coughed a bit, clearing his throat.

"So um...Vlad, huh?" He felt himself flush at how that came out. Especially when it earned a light laugh from Alice.

"Yeah. Yeah...You know, you can find love in the most unexpected places," she commented. "But I'm glad it worked out the way it did. He's an amazing catch."

"Yeah..." Danny said slowly. "So uh, are you going to live in Amity Park or in Wisconsin?"

"Oh, Vlad and I are going to live in Amity Park for now," Alice replied. "We talked about moving to Wisconsin though if he decides to not re-run for office."

Sam shot Danny a bit of a smirk, and he just knew what she was thinking. See? Vlad was even going to move away from Amity Park.

"Move to Wisconsin? That'd be cool, you'd get to live in the Dairy King castle," Sam pipped up. Danny's eyes lit up.

"Yeah, I mean, I heard the Dairy King himself haunts it!"

Alice made a noticeable face.

"Oh, God, I hope not. I absolutely hate ghosts. They ruined my life. I'd have Vlad or your parents make sure it's ghost-free before we'd move in," she replied, disgust obvious in her tone. "I've been wanting to leave Amity Park ever since all the ghosts got really active. They've been nothing but a horrifying pain. I remember actually beginning to do all sorts of natural remedies to make sure spirits and ghosts couldn't enter my home, or to expel them from our house. It was so incredibly haunted. Ugh, such a nuisance."

Well, that answers that. Sam's smirk had fallen, and she gave Danny an anxious glance. Danny returned it.

"Oh, that seems to be, uh, you know, a common feeling when you live with them all the time," Sam joked. "But it brings in tourists!" Alice laughed.

"For sure. I'm going to go get checking on the other guests, but you two have fun, alright?" Alice gave a light wave, and she began to walk off before she stopped and turned. "Oh! And Danny! Vlad told me that you were going to catsit for us, that you volunteered last night? Thank you so much. I'll make sure Vlad leaves your parents the keys and the list of things needed done."

Danny's mind was still wrapping around why Vlad thought it would be good to get married to a woman who despised ghosts when this little factoid was dropped.

"What?"

But she had already gone.