It began after he became human again.
"Annie!" he cried, startled, when he came home from school one day.
The girl was thinner, paler, her hair had turned from caramel brown to almost a snow-white. But she ran to him and hugged him just the same.
"Danny!" her voice was weak, sore from crying.
Everyone in the was crying. His parents, his sister Jazz and Annie's mom, Mrs. Gust. The only ones who kept it together were the police, who stood there silently, slightly uncomfortable.
He wanted to kiss her so, so badly. But not in front of anyone. Instead he hugged her back, and smelled her.
She didn't smell the same. Annie smelt like smoke and ash, not like her flowery shampoo.
Of course not dummy, Danny scolded himself, she's been missing for over two years now.
Annie's legs collapsed beneath her, and Danny found himself holding her up.
"Sorry," she gasped, "still weak from exhaustion. Just… put me on the couch or something."
He helped her down, and the police walked to her.
"You sure you don't need an ambulance ma'am?" he asked.
"Mother's a doc. Sure she can handle it," Annie replied.
"Code for we'll stop by the hospital later," Mrs. Gust said, smiling, "she hasn't passed out yet, so that's a good thing."
The officer nodded, and motioned to his partner.
"We'll see you at the station then," the partner said, "we've asked enough questions for now." He smiled down at Annie, "welcome home."
Annie beamed up at him. As soon as they left though, she closed her eyes and sighed,
"Damn, staying awake for them took a lot outta me."
"Are you okay? Danny asked."
"Just tired," she mumbled.
Mrs. Gust picked up her daughter gently. "Time for the hospital dear."
Annie weakly punched her, "Moooooom, I wanted to talk to Danny…"
"Thanks Maddie for calling," she Mrs. Gust said to his mom, "I best head back to work now with Annie. She needs more fluids and food, something I don't have at home."
"When will she be back to normal?" Jazz asked.
"Give it two months, maybe. She's just trekked halfway through the country to get home, and the police will have lots and lots of questions," she shrugged and headed for the door, "I'll see you guys."
Danny watched intently as they left, watching Annie's exhausted face disappear through the doorway.
He smiled the first time in over a week. His best friend was back!
Tucker was excited too. For some reason they didn't tell Sam about it. Later Danny thought it was because she didn't know Annie, but he really wasn't sure…
"Hey Phantom-boy. Hey Good-Luck Tuck," Annie greeted them both as they walked into the hospital room three days later.
Tucker tried hugging her, but it looked extremely awkward, especially since Annie couldn't sit up.
"You getting better?" He asked her.
She smiled weakly, "yeah. They've put a bunch of sleepy drugs in this stupid IV. But I'm not that weak!"
"Better than Danny's zebra hair," Tucker pointed at his friend and made a horse noise. Danny shoved him, and Annie laughed.
"Why did you dye your hair like that?" she asked Danny.
Both friends went silent. What should they tell her? She hadn't been around for the past year to understand Danny's ghostly side, and their adventures. Maybe she didn't know about ghosts at all.
"I wanted a little change is all," Danny shrugged his shoulders, "Why is your hair so pale now?"
This time Annie went silent, a gaze covering her eyes.
"I'd rather not say," she replied. "So what's the news? Did either of you ever ask out Paulina, or what?"
Tucker grinned, "Well, there's this girl Danny's bee-"
"Tucker still can't get a date!" Danny interrupted.
Annie laughed. "C'mon Phantom-boy, it's alright if you've been dating while I've been gone! I won't consider it cheating, since you did think I died."
Tucker glanced between them, shocked. "You guys are together!?"
Danny blushed like hell. "It's gotten complicated since… you know."
Annie sighed. "Whoever this girl is, she's lucky. If you guys got together, fine," she didn't sound bitter at all. In fact, she sounded happy, "just remember, I'll still be here."
Tucker whistled at Danny an hour later, "Damn Daniels, you got two fine ladies lined up just for you!"
"Did she just break up with me?" Danny wondered aloud.
Tucker slapped his arm, "No! I think she thinks that you and Sam are going out and said it was okay. So you've got yourself two chicks!"
"Why haven't we even mentioned to Sam about Annie?"
"Why didn't you let me say Sam's name?" Tucker shot back, "we're idiots, that's why!" He put his arm around Danny, "Look dude, I'm serious about you and Sam. You should seriously ask her out. And don't give me the 'betraying Annie' thing again. Now that I KNOW FOR SURE you guys went out AND she said it was okay, you really have to ask her out."
"Fine," Danny said, "I'll do it when I save the world from total annihilation as my alto ego."
Tucker rolled his eyes. "I'm so kicking your ass at Slit-throat if you don't."