Notes about this story:

This whole thing is basically a 'What if Vlad's accident in college never happened'. Not in the same way as the "Masters of All Time" episode, though. My fave Maddie is not going to end up being a milkmaid.

Jack still made his move on Maddie first, and they started the family we know and love. Vlad is still secretly resentful of course, but is unable to separate himself from Maddie, and remains a part of their lives.

This is my first fanfiction, so any suggestions are welcome.

In Amity Park, the fall sunlight shone down on a man who was waiting. This man had waited for many things in his life -success, recognition, love- but at the moment, he was waiting for a person.

He sat outside an imposing stone building surrounded by tall fences, a business portfolio open in his lap. His prematurely graying hair was tied back so it wouldn't get in the way as he carefully jotted notes in the margins. Every so often, his cold eyes traced over the iron letters pounded into the stone walls in front of him.

Whipstaff. What a terrible name. Vladimir Masters thought dispassionately.

Finally a distant bell rang inside the building. Vlad carefully tucked the portfolio into his briefcase and stood. The occupants of the dreary building began streaming out into the yard where Vlad was waiting. He began combing the rush of people for the one he'd been asked to collect.

"Uncle Vlad!"

Vlad staggered as he was tackled from behind in an enthusiastic hug. Twisting awkwardly, Vlad looked down at the bright blue eyes shining happily up at him from under a mess of dark hair. He raised an eyebrow.

"Daniel," His voice was stern, "what have I told you about hugging me?" The boy immediately released his hold on Vlad's waist.

"It's not fair if I get to hug you, and you don't get to hug me back." The boy recited, looking up at him expectantly.

"That's right." Vlad said seriously. Daniel giggled and launched himself into Vlad's open arms. Chuckling, Vlad had to admit that Daniel's hugs were among the few things he didn't mind him inheriting from his father.

"How was school, little badger? Did you have fun?" Vlad ruffled the boy's messy hair as he set him back on the ground.

"Yeah! I drew a spaceship! I told Kwan that mom and dad are building a spaceship, but he didn't believe me. He says only astronauts have spaceships." Daniel pouted at this. Vlad could only guess what he meant about his parents building a spaceship. Maybe the prototype ghost portal? He supposed that the inside looked similar to a spaceship.

"Well, I guess that means if you become an astronaut, then you can have your own spaceship." Vlad reasoned, bending to take Daniel's hand as he turned to leave the schoolyard.

"Yeah!" Daniel started tugging Vlad along, eager to get home. "I better start building it! Do you think mom and dad will let me use their stuff?"

"I'm sure they would love to help you build a spaceship."

Vlad doubted Jack Fenton would even blink if asked to build a space shuttle. It was actually a pretty realistic request given his other projects. Still, for a man who believed in ghosts, he was surprisingly good at bringing his whims to life. Except for the Fenton Toaster. That had been a nightmare.

The two began their daily trek to Fenton Works. Daniel was a little blur, his worn converse flapping against the pavement as he ran from thing to thing. Now that the leaves had fallen in huge drifts, there was nothing Vlad could do to dissuade him from stomping through as many piles as he could. Vlad was content to watch him explore, only occasionally pulling him back when he got a little too close to the curb. Daniel chattered as they walked, happily describing a game that he had learned in his gym class. Something caught Vlad's attention as he watched the boy demonstrate, prompting him to interrupt.

"Daniel, what's happened to your hands?" Vlad gently grabbed the boy's wrists and turned his palms up. Bruises were forming on the heels of his scraped up hands.

"Uh," Daniel's face screwed up as he obviously tried to come up with a lie.

"Daniel." Vlad said sternly. Chastised, Daniel blurted the truth.

"Dash pushed me off the swings again." He looked around nervously, checking to see that there was no one near.

"Again? As in, this has happened more than once?" Vlad's face tightened in a scowl.

"Yeah," Danny shrugged, absently rubbing his leg with his foot, "I'm okay though. I'm not a baby." His normally cheerful voice twisted with anxiety.

"Of course you're not a baby Daniel, but that doesn't mean you can't tell someone when you get hurt. Did you tell your teacher what happened?" Vlad could guess the answer from the boy's red face, but he wanted to hear him say it.

"I'm not a tattle tale!" Daniel protested, scowling.

Vlad sighed. He let go of Daniel's hands and knelt down so he could look him in the eye.

"Daniel, I'm very worried that this is the first time you told me someone was being unkind to you. It's wrong for them to hurt you, or to call you a baby. You're not." Vlad's eyes crinkled affectionately. "You're brave, you're funny, and you're smart. Your parents and I love you very much, so you need to tell us when you're having trouble. Do you understand?"

"Okay, Uncle Vlad."

He wasn't entirely convinced Daniel did understand, but he nodded and stood. He'd have to make some inquiries about this Dash character. He sounded unpleasant, especially if he was giving Daniel a hard time. Daniel! The child was the most kind hearted person Vlad have ever met, if a little too shy and serious sometimes.

"All right, Daniel," He clapped his hands together, "Did you learn any new letters today?" Immediately the boy's embarrassment vanished and they began walking again, Daniel pointing out letters he knew as they went.