NEWCOMER PLEASE READ: This chapter, the one that appears as number 1, was initially a oneshot, so the actual first chapter in terms of continuity is the "third one" called "Secret's Out Day". (the "second" chapter is an author's note)

You can either read this and if interested check up the whole story

You can skip this and start from where I said

Or just read the oneshot.

Clearing things up 'cause some people get confused.

However route you end up taking I still feel honoured for the fact that you decided to stumble by my fanfic, so thank you!

OMG! I felt a terrible horrible urge to write this, and I couldn't help myself, so I just did it… without thinking twice.

The story is a ONESHOT, and I'm not making introductory descriptions for characters or events common in the plot line of the original series.

Also, this happens between Reality Trip and Eye for an Eye, and there is a little reference to the episode Infinite Realms. Even thought it isn't a big spoiler or anything like that, I still have to mention this so I don't get beat up by some people who haven't seen it yet and might be reading this :P

Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom; it is property of Butch Hartman… WHO ROCCKKSSS!

It is time

Danny stood there waiting for the man to say something, even though he already knew what it was about. He could feel it, and thus was afraid of it. Some people called it destiny, but for him and itself, it was simply the normal curse of life. He couldn't escape from it anymore, and his keeper knew that already.

"It is time," he heard, and that was it. It was time to go back, to return to life, even though he felt he wasn't prepared to face that. Danny just kept standing there. He had so many things to say, but at the same time was speechless. So the boy remained standing there, and reached for his pendant, a gift he was given for his eighteenth birthday. Meanwhile, he felt a comforting hand being placed over his right shoulder.

Clockwork had been the best father he could have wished for, even if he wasn't genetically a relative. Danny knew that the man loved him as much as a son, for the halfa loved him like a father. But his duty with time was more important, and it was time to go back home, or so the master had told him.

Danny took a deep breath, still looking at the pendant. It was gold, and it was cut in a round shape with his emblem carved on it. When he opened the pendant, there was a clock inside that marked the hour of any place in the world he wanted to know. So it constantly keep telling him the hour of Amity Park, simply because it was the hour he had always lead since he was born. Because there were no 'hours' in the ghost zone, he felt it was better for him to keep working with the time he had always lived with.

It had been four years already, and he had never really known their reactions; it just happened too fast. But Danny felt a great urge to run away, afraid of their responses, and how they would feel knowing that they had been living with a freak all this time. So when the poor boy felt that he couldn't live between humans anymore, he ran away deep into the ghost zone. Even though he had nowhere to go, he was immediately reminded of Clockwork, the one ghost who he could always count on. And there he was, waiting for him at the door with a bedroom already done and dinner on the table.

Sometimes it freaked him out how the old ghost knew everything, and at the same time didn't say anything about him flying away from his responsibilities. Maybe…. maybe it was destiny, and was the best for him and the world at that time. But it wasn't now, not anymore.

Since his runaway, Clockwork had been the best father he could have wished for. The ghost always knew what to say, and always knew how he was feeling. Even though sometimes he could be overprotective and intolerable like any other parent, the master of time was always there when he needed him the most, even if sometimes he was too busy because of his job.

But he hadn't been the only one who had supported Danny since his arrival. There was one lovely and cute ghost that would always be there for the halfa. A ghost that could be much too overprotective when someone threatened the boy, and that was always behind him. A sweet little dog named Cujo.

He had appeared barking through the tower door the same day Danny had just arrived. How he knew Danny was there was beyond him, but he had a theory that the dog had tracked him with his nose. The halfa had been sitting at the table eating some food while he talked with Clockwork when Cujo had entered. He ran all the way and stopped in front of him, rolling over his back and waiting for Danny to pet him. He looked so cute that the boy couldn't resist asking the master of time if he could keep him, and the wise ghost couldn't help but smile at the moment. With a short laugh, Clockwork accepted him in the family, and since then, they had always been stuck together.

At last, there was one more member of the family, even though she didn't actually live in the tower. She always made sure to pass by to visit her closest friend, who was actually the one who she had most things in common with. More than anyone else in the world, literary.

Danielle was a free soul that had found a lair in the ghost zone since she had run away from Vlad. When her human half needed food, she had to go to one ghost in particular…. The Lunch Lady. When Danny first heard this, he couldn't stop laughing for a long time. Over time, the young halfa got to know and befriend more of his enemies, ironically, the Lunch Lady to begin with.

He also became a friend of Technus, due to one particular game that they liked to play a lot. Even though the game Doom reminded him of Tucker and Sam, he still liked to play it. He once bet a laptop from Technus, and fortunately the young halfa won the game. Even though there wasn't Internet in the ghost zone, Technus's computer did have access to it, since the ghost was a master in technology. Because of him, Danny was updated with the latest inventions in the world, as well as the best technology.

Other ghosts he befriended were Johnny 13, Kitty, Spectra, and a very kind ghost name George, a doctor Danny currently went to when he had any medical problems. This was often due to Skulker's attempts on hunting him, as well as his work on keeping the ghosts from exiting the Ghost Zone.

He still prevented ghosts from going out, with help of Frostbite, who always informed him on any portal created, courtesy of the infi-map. This had kept his town safe for the whole four years of his absence.

Sometimes, he would stick his head through one portal he knew better than any other…the Ghost Portal his parents created. There he would find the lab, and sometimes his parents working in it. On most other days, he made sure to guard the portal from where most ghosts escaped. Once, he had to hide from Sam, Tucker, and Jazz, who were actively searching for him. Fortunately, he was able to hide well. After that, he suspected that they gave up hope on his search, because he never saw them again.

"Danny?" he heard, snapping him out of his long reverie. Danny felt cold in his feet, and found himself being covered by saliva because of Cujo, who was trying to comfort him. "You know you can't stay here any longer. It is time," he heard again, and then felt Clockwork's comforting hand being taken away from his shoulder.

Danny turned around and hugged the ghost that had been like a father for four years up until now. "I will miss you so much," the halfa managed to say. With his head being placed in the ghost's chest, he missed the smile he achieved to place on the wise ghost's face.

"You know that I will be always watching over you," Clockwork replied, hugging the boy back. Then the ghost let go of him, and Danny let go too.

Managing to speak, he asked "Can I take Cujo with me?"

This made Clockwork grin and say, "Yes, of course there would be no problem with that." This caused the dog to bark happily, since it always seemed to understand every word they said.

Danny turned to look at Clockwork face to face, and then turned again to pick his mallet up.

They reached the door, and turning ghost; Danny hugged Clockwork for the last time. Then, saying 'goodbye' while crying, the boy flew towards the portal that once gave him his powers.

Being followed by a protecting dog, he found the portal and came inside, finding two old figures he hadn't seen in four years. With a soft sigh, he entered completely into the lab and said those long lost words.

"Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad."

Then the two figures turned around and gasped.

I hope you guys liked this. I have no idea why I wrote this, or what is its significance, I just felt something inside of me that made me do it, and I love how it turned out to be.

It's obviously a "Danny + Clockwork father + son" fic, and I know I should be writing the next chapter of Hate me, Kill me, or Help me. :P He he he Sorry nnU

HAVE A NICE DAYYY! Please review-begs you-

-Bluename

Posted: June 29, 2007

PS: Thanks so much Sophie for beta-ing my story! you made it readable :D