Okay, so I started this a couple days before Christmas with the intention of posting it on Christmas Day as a oneshot. Well. That didn't exactly go as planned. This thing kinda took a life of it's own and ate up over 20,000 words, so oneshot it ain't. Ah well. Not my best work but at least it's something, right? It's all finished, I'm just proof reading the chaters as I post them so hopefully this whole thing will be posted by Sunday night.

Oh, and just to forewarn you cheeseheads that can't read summaries, this is a yaoi. Just throw'in that out there.

Discaimer cause it's awesome: I don't Danny Phantom (And here Butch Hartman says "Thank God.")

XxX

I pulled the blankets up over my shoulders, almost covering my head. I hate winter. Its the worst season, especially since my ghost powers automatically make me 10 degrees colder than the outside temperature. And with my body already at a constant temperature of 87 degrees, winter doesn't exactly help.

This year was different though. I was much colder than I was last year; I had started shivering back in October. Hmm....

Whatever. Not like I care. I'm too frigging cold to care.

Naturally, I wasn't in the best of moods. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the small group of carolers that stood at our doorstep, attempting to sing some annoying Christmas song. I think it was Jolly Old Saint Nick. I could hear my parents all the way from up here, in my bedroom window. Once again they were arguing about Santa and once again they were making this Christmas a total bummer.

I jerked my shades down over the window, hoping the old out of sight out of mind trick might work. Of course, it didn't. Blaring Dumpty Humpty as loud as I could, I dug into the five comforters that covered my bed and tried to stop shivering. God, I hate the cold! I wish this stupid holiday would just be over with.

It wasn't even the whole Santa fight so much anymore. I'd dealt with that all sixteen years of my life so that wasn't what I really hated. That was just the tip of the ice berg. I could care less about the old fat guy. Besides, I was well old enough to know that it was just mom sticking gifts under the tree anyways. (Dad never did. He was always convinced it was Santa.) No, the thing I really hated about Christmas was all the lies. Christmas was like communism to me, looks good on paper but the practicality of it sucks. Why was everyone so automatically happy on Christmas? Was it some sort of biological defect that humans suddenly had to see that distant cousin on the 26th and act like best friends? Half the time you don't even know who your inviting to your family Christmas parties. At least not at my house. That comment might be a little biased though. My parents were inviting Vlad Masters to our Christmas party and they had no clue who he really was. But then again, they don't really know who I am either.

Whatever. Christmas is depressing enough without thinking about that subject. I couldn't be too depressed when Sam and Tuck came over. I was accompanying them for their Christmas shopping. I snuggled deeper into the thick blankets.

Oh, and another thing I hated about the holidays. I can't even go to the mall without getting trampled by some psycho rushing to beat a sale or some weirdo buying some useless impersonal gift for that cousin they don't know. Its all so stupid.

I let out a long sigh, once again wishing this ridiculous holiday would be over and done with. I looked at my alarm clock. It was 5:32pm on a Wednesday evening, and tonight would be a gibbous moon. Sweet, full moon soon, which meant that my night patrols would be much easier, as long as the sky was clear and I didn't freeze too bad in my ghost form, not likely though. Naturally, my ghost form is even colder than my human one, and now it's starting to get near unbearable.

"Danny! Sam and Tucker are here!" I heard mom call.

"Coming!"

With a regretful groan, I forced myself to leave the warmer confines of the bed and subjected myself to another shiver-fest. I quickly grabbed my warmest coat, gloves, ear muffs, and scarf.

I pulled all the insulation on as I ran down the stairs, twisting it comfortably against my long sleeved shirt. Tucker and Sam were relaxed on the couch, looking at my families Christmas tree. All they had on was a coat, and Sam had a pair of purple gloves.

"Dude, it ain't that cold outside." Tucker snickered.

"It is for me." I gave him a pointed glared and he got the point.

"Oh, right." He glanced nervously at my mom, who was looking at him curiously.

"You guys ready to go?" I asked, forcing my voice to be light.

"Yup!" Sam jumped up, full of smiles.

It was infectious. I found myself smiling with her despite my less than pleasant mood. She lead the way out of the house.

But as soon as I crossed the threshold of the door all the happy feelings were gone, frozen like ice. Or maybe they frozen like my nose, or my face, or maybe my frigging eyeballs! We hadn't taken five steps before my teeth started chattering like mad and my arms were bunched around my cold chest. I did remember to wear a coat, right? I looked down and saw the thick fuzzy fleece that was supposed to be keeping me warm zipped up tight. It felt like it wasn't even there. Snow covered most buildings and refused to melt along the street gutter. Slush had gathered on the sidewalk and my shoes were getting wet.

"Dude, you okay?" Tucker asked, concerned.

"I-I'm f-freezing." I stuttered, quickly yanking up my hood and returning to clutching my chest.

"That's weird. I don't remember winter being this bad last year with your ghost powers." Sam furrowed her brows.

I shrugged.

"Do you think it means your ghost powers are increasing or something?" Sam asked.

"R-right n-now it f-feels like m-m-my ghost p-powers are t-turning me int-to an icicle." I shivered.

In all truth, my ghost powers have been freaking me out a bit. It started back in October, when I started shivering on even the warmest days. Then December hit and with it the first snow. I could barely look outside with out freezing. Thank god it was a Saturday and there were no ghosts, cause I spent all day under six comforters trying not to freeze my butt off. I thought I was starting to get used to the cold, because I managed to make it an entire night with only five comforters and I wasn't having to wear my coat in the house. Of course, that was only indoors and when I was human. Walking and being in school was just downright embarrassing. My teeth chattered all day no matter how many long sleeves I wore and I was always shivering so badly I couldn't hold my milk at lunch. Ghost fights always were and still are the worst though. Its starting to become downright painful just to be in ghost mode. I'm so cold I can't even tell if I'm standing or sitting. Needless to say, I haven't won very many ghost fights lately. At least ghosts seem to hate the cold as much as me and they don't attack so often during the colder months. Something was up with my powers and they were starting to get worse and worse as the days go by.

"Danny? You gonna be okay? You sure you wanna go shopping with us?" Sam looked worried.

I nodded my head vigorously, not in the mood to further humiliate myself with my stuttering.

"If your sure..." frankly, she didn't look very sure, but Tucker seemed to have no qualms with going forward.

"Come one guys, sooner we get there the sooner we get hot chocolate!" He started rushing forward and me and Sam had to run to catch up.

To put it lightly, the icy wind was not comfortable.

Finally, finally, we made it to the mall. I rushed ahead despite the cold and ran through the doors, desperate to get out of the freezing air and into the heated building.

"Danny! Wait up!"

Sorry Tucker, but if I stay out here much longer I think I'm going to get hypothermia. With that thought finished I burst through the doors, ready to embrace the warmth and feel my toes again,...and then came very close to crying when all I embraced was a temperature change of -12 degrees to -11 degrees. A quick observation of my surroundings showed people practicality shoulder to shoulder as they rushed around buying gifts. Suddenly, this attempt at generosity and accompanying my friends for Christmas shopping was blowing up in my face. See why I hate Christmas?

"Oh, cheese logs." I muttered angrily and then I froze over in a whole new fashion, feeling a weird flip in my stomach. I needed to stop fighting Vlad so much.

"Jeez Danny, are you still cold?" Tucker asked.

I shivered off the weird feeling and then continued to shiver with the cold. I gave Tucker a look.

"Maybe some hot chocolate will help." he offered, quickly getting an answer to his previous question by looking at me.

I nodded and followed him and Sam through the crowd, rudely shouldering anyone in my way. Yeah, I know it was bad, but I wasn't about to be shoved around myself and honestly, I was in a really bad mood so I didn't give a damn.

Up ahead a white sign with a steaming cup hung high, next to a glowing cafe sign. We all squeezed ourselves in and had a jolly old time standing in line for ten minuets next to a large middle aged guy who had obviously never understood the word hygiene.

Eventually we made our way from the register and were even lucky enough to get a small table to ourselves. I looked down at the swirling liquid and tried not to let my apprehension show through. I couldn't fell the hot drink through my gloves and I couldn't feel the thick steam hitting me in the face.

"Ouch!" Sam yelped loudly, "This stuff is scalding!"

She set her cup down and glared at it hatefully.

"Let me try." Tucker tried bravely.

He put the drink to his lips and yelled louder than Sam.

"Thats ridiculous! Its gonna take forever to cool down!" he complained as he held his burnt tongue.

"You try it Danny." Sam jerked her heard toward my cup.

I hesitantly put my lips to the cup. I'd burnt myself on hot chocolate before and It wasn't fun. I tipped the drink up slightly and made a face of disgust as it fell down my throat. This stuff was freezing!

"Ugh! I-its ice c-cold." I pushed it away, shivering even more as I literally felt the stupid drink travel down to my stomach.

"What? No way." Sam looked at the steaming cup in disbelief.

She picked it up herself and lightly put the drink to her lips, hissing as she instantly took it away.

"Thats just as hot as the rest of them."

"What? That can't be right, it tasted like ice water to me."

I picked up the cup again and swirled the liquid a bit, confusion on my face. Carelessly, I raised the cup to my mouth and took a huge gulp as Sam and Tucker gasped. I shivered violently and was attacked by a vicious brain freeze. Shaking my head, I pushed the cup away for the final time.

"C-cold." I muttered.

"Somethings up with your you-know-what dude. Thats not normal." Tucker said, totally serious.

I laughed at his last sentence. Seriously, you know you've hit an all time low on the weirdness scale when your best friend tells you your ghost powers going crazy isn't normal. But I had to agree with him, something was up and it was getting worse.

"We can go shopping another day Danny. You look like your about to get hypothermia. Lets get you home."

I sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. When Sam's mind was made up there was no changing it. I felt bad about ruining their shopping, but honestly, I really did want to go home. I never should of left the house.

We pushed our way back through the crowds. I was rudely shoved into a Christmas tree. (thats karma for ya) Eventually we managed to extract ourselves from the mass of bodies and burst out the door. Once again, the moment we left the cold mall the air outside was even colder. The wind had picked up and I already couldn't feel any part of my body, not even the usual cold sting, just totally numb. I forced myself forward and kept my head down, hoping I wasn't worrying my friends more. I felt like a marble statue as I trudged through the wet, slushy sidewalk, hoping I'd make it home.

XxX

Danny never knew it, but back at the mall there was a very annoyed mall employee looking at a fallen over Christmas tree.

"Teens." the irritated man rolled his eyes.

Holding his aching back, he pulled and pushed the tree upright with more irritable mutterings. He was about to go to the janitors closet and fetch a broom for the broken ornaments when something caught his eye. Some of the lights of the tree were dimmed. He got closer and scratched his head in confusion. Where Danny had fallen, all the lights were covered in a thin coat of ice and even several ornament and nettles were frozen. The man looked at an icy light bulb, waiting for the ice to melt, but it never did. He tried scratching it off, but it wouldn't move from the tree.

"What the heck?"

XxX

I don't remember most of the trip home. Its only a fifteen minute walk from the mall to my house, but it seemed like an eternity to me. I think it started to snow. I remember Sam and Tucker brushing something off my head and shoulders at one point, but eventually they gave up because it kept building up.

I looked up and saw the Fenton Works sign all decorated with lights flashing brightly. Finally, I was home.

"Dude, whats with the limo?"

Wait. Limo? Ah crap.

"Vlad." I sighed.

Me and Vlad have a weird relationship now days. I hated his guts when I was fourteen. Hell, I still hate him sometimes. Like when he tries to kill my day and steal my mom.(Although, he hasn't actually tried to do that in a long while) But there are other times when he can be pretty cool. I don't trust the guy, but its just...weird. Most of the time I even look forward to fights with him. I don't know. Is it possible to only half hate a person? Its all very...confusing.

"You want us to stick around?" Sam asked.

"N-No. Its b-better if you g-g-guys are s-safe at home. I-I'll be f-fine." My teeth were chattering so hard I couldn't feel my jaw. Well, I couldn't actually feel anything at this moment, but whatever.

"Be careful dude. And try not to let your mom see you."

"W-why?"

"Cause your white as a sheet and your lips are blue. You look like a total corpse."

"T-thanks, T-tuck." I said flatly.

"No problem, Buddy." Tucker smiled.

"You get inside Danny. And call us if you can."

I nodded to her. I was too cold to talk. I waved good-bye and pulled the door open, forcing my corpse legs to move as quietly as they could. Of course, I would never be able to move quiet enough to get passed him.

"Your looking healthy Daniel."

I glared at him, still shivering like a frigging jack hammer. I eased the door closed, looking and listening for my parents. It was actually much warmer in here. Like, a lot warmer.

"There preoccupied in the kitchen." he easily figured out who I was looking for.

"He's real real real! Santa's not going to get you anything if you don't believe!" I heard my dad yell. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. My dad was so ridiculous sometimes.

"Pathetic. 40 years old and he still believes in Santa Clause. I don't know if I should pity him or laugh." Vlad goaded me.

"I know. Thats like being 40 years old and chasing after a married woman. How sad." I shot back in a dramatically tragic voice, then I changed back to my normal tone. "Seriously, Vlad, how long are you gonna keep that up?"

He just gave me that look again. That look where he smiles slyly at me like he's hiding something (and I know he is) and at the same time enjoying a private joke. It reminds me of the cat and mouse thing. He's the cat and I'm the mouse.

I fidgeted, trying to ignore the pressing silence. He was making me nervous. Why was I feeling so nervous?

I looked anywhere but at him. I noticed it was a lot hotter in here than outside. Not burning up, or even that warm really, but compared to outside, it was a sauna. I even took off my gloves and ear muffs.

"Something wrong, Daniel? Your ghost powers seem to be acting up." I'll never know how he manages to sound genuinely concerned and sarcastic at the same time.

"Brilliant display of your keen observation skills, Vlad. I could never have guessed that my powers are acting up. Thanks." I said, my own voice dripping with sarcasm.

He gave me that look again, but only very briefly, and with a touch of amusement. He stood up suddenly and made his way over to me. I forced myself not to take a step back and stand my ground. As he got closer it started getting warmer. I couldn't help but raise an eye brow in confusion. Each step seemed to elevate the temperature. Soon he was standing right in front of me, and standing rather close. I had the crazy urge to shed my coat and hug the man for a moment. It was like he was radiating this warmth.

"You look cold, Daniel." he said in a low smooth voice, bringing his face closer to mine. Again, the closer he got the warmer, more comfortable the temperature became.

Slowly he raised a hand and reached out for my scarf, skillfully unwinding it from my neck, never breaking eye contact. My heart was racing. I was nervous again, why was I so nervous? A blush had settled across my face and my breathing was shallow. Jeez, this was ridiculous! I was acting like a love struck school girl! What-

Then his fingers lightly brushed against my jaw, tracing down to my chin and leaving as he pulled the scarf off. I gasped and automatically leaned my head forward, desperately wanting his hand to return. The warmth was coming from him and when he touched me it was like he had banished all the cold there. I hadn't realized it, but I had forgotten what it felt like to not be cold. I don't know what he was doing, or how for that matter, but he was leveling out my icy temperature perfectly.

"How did you...What...?" I whispered, wide eyed.

"It seems your powers have been acting up for quite sometime." His face was very closer to mine now, barely and inch. I had an insane urge to kiss him, god, what was wrong with me!

"Uh..."

"So articulate, Daniel." He grinned, his breathe warming my lips wondrously.

He stood up straight and laughed lightly, heading back to the couch with my scarf and picking up a newspaper along the way. As he walked away the warmth went with him and I started to shiver again. I snapped out of whatever the heck that was and shook my head. I...I wasn't thinking straight. (no kidding) It was just the cold from before. It was probably just his body heat or something. I mean I...God, what was that?

"Danny! Your home early!" My mom popped her head into the living room, looking as though she had not just fought with her husband.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, the crowds were bad, so were gonna try going earlier." I reeled off automatically, trying without success to push the cold away.

"Well take your coat off and stay awhile. Dinner will be ready soon. Oh, and as you've probably already guessed, your father invited Vlad to come and stay early." She add. I was surprised. She sounded perfectly comfortable with that.

"Well, that was nice of him." I shrugged.

Vlad smirked, but continued reading the paper.

"Yeah! And he'll be bunking in your room, son!"

Okay, that wasn't so nice of him. But what could I say? Vlad's my evil arch nemesis and if he stays in my room he'll kill me in my sleep? Nah. I didn't really believe that anyway. But still, he makes me nervous, so if I couldn't get Vlad out I'd have to at least give a half attempt at getting myself out. That way I couldn't say I didn't try later.

"I'll just stay on the couch down here then. Wouldn't want Vlad to be uncomfortable." I said, sounding totally innocent.

"Nope! Vladdie here was smart enough to bring an air mattress, so you'll get to stay up there with him!" my dad beamed happily.

"Perfect." I breathed, seeing my breathe but not as a ghost sense.

Suddenly the oven dinged from within the kitchen.

"Oh! Dinner's ready! Danny, go get your sister, please?" Mom turned and practically bounced into the kitchen, Dad following her.

Vlad stood and stretched, my scarf wrapped around his neck casually.

"So, am I gonna be getting my scarf back anytime soon?" I asked flatly as we walked past each other.

"Depends on how soon you can take it back, little badger." He smirked.

Great. This was a cat and mouse game.

I sighed and headed up the stairs, the cold coming back more ferociously the farther I was from him, never catching his devious smile.