Moonlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the plain floor and walls of the Foley household living room. It also illuminating the oddly small form curled up on the couch, as Mrs Foley saw when she finally succumbed to the unsettling feeling and went down the stairs.

"Danny? What are you doing down here?"

The boy jumped, hastily wiping his eyes before he turned her way. "S-sorry, Mrs Foley, I just c-couldn't... couldn't sleep."

"I understand, dear, but you need to get some rest." Mrs Foley put a kindly hand on his shoulder, "You're pale as a ghost." Inwardly, she cringed at the usage of her words. He probably didn't need to be reminded of his parents obsession right then, but he let out a laugh. A small one, but it was real.

"You don't know the half of it," Danny mumbled.

Mrs Foley blinked, confused by his words, "What do you mean by that?"

"I..." Danny stared, unseeing, at the wall, his mind obviously on other matters. "I'll tell you... later..." He whispered softly. "You and Mr Foley..." the thought of doing so seemed to pain him. "I will tell you," he seemed to be convincing himself.

"It doesn't matter," Mrs Foley decided. "I don't know what you're talking about, but if you don't want to tell us, it's okay. We're still here for you, Danny." And then, because it felt like the right thing to do, she hugged him as if he was her own child. Danny stiffened, and then relaxed at her gentle, motherly touch, though the thought that he would never get another hug from his own mother insisted on making itself known to him.


"You can't do this," Sam gaped at her parents, her face flushed with anger. "Danny's entire family dies and you want to put another restraining order on him? He didn't do anything?"

"Except endanger you. I can't believe you were that close to the explosion!" Her father fumed. "No, you are not seeing the Fenton boy again, and no number of pink dresses will change our minds."

"Is it really because of the explosion, or is it because he's not rich and preppy?" Sam accused. Her parents winced. "You've been looking for an excuse to get rid of him as long as I can remember. The explosion is just the perfect excuse for you, isn't it? Isn't it?!" Her voice raised an octave in anger. "I don't give a damn about your agendas. My best friend just lost his family and you want to keep me away from him?!"

"Th-that's not-"

DING DONG.

"I'll get it," her mother said instantly. "We will finish this discussion later." She stalked off. Sam continued to glare at her father, who was trying not too look too guilty. They heard the door open, and then Sam rushed over to the door when she heard her mother speak.

"M-Mister Masters! To what do I owe this visit?"

"I was looking for my godson. I am aware that he is good friends with your daughter and I was wondering if she knew where he was," Vlad's slick, polite voice sounded. Sam rounded the corner and peeked around the doorframe.

"Your godson?" Pamela repeated.

"Yes, perhaps you know him? Young Daniel Fenton. His parents were quite good friends of mine back in college, and of course, in light of recent events, I am now his legal guardian."

"You're what?!" Sam shrieked. "They made you... his godfather?!"

"Ah, Samantha, there you are," Vlad, surprisingly, looked wan and a little bit sad. "How is Daniel holding up?"

"Do you care?" Sam shot. "I thought you just cared about your stupid obsession!"

"Samantha! Be polite to Mr Masters!" Pamela snapped. She turned to Vlad with a fake, sugary smile, "Danny is staying with the Foleys, Mr Masters."

"Mom!" Sam protested.

"Thank you, Mrs Manson," Vlad said sincerely. "Well, I imagine I will see you later, Samantha."

Sam stared, her nerves quivering with anticipation and worry for her friend, as the billionaire left the house.

"About the restraining order on the Fenton boy... perhaps it's not necessary after all," Pamela slowly, staring after Vlad's back.

"Thanks," Sam said absently. 'I need to warn Danny...'

She darted out the door.


"Danny!"

Sam's voice cut through the dim fog of his mind. He shook his head to clear it, willing away the images from the explosion. "Sam?" His voice was still hoarse and choked, and he cleared his throat.

"Danny, Vlad is here," Sam said breathlessly, clinging to the doorframe. She was sweating, having obviously just run all the way there. "He told my mom that he's been made your legal guardian."

"What?!" Tucker, who had followed her up the stairs, gasped. Danny's eyes just widened.

"Vlad... he's here?"

"He'll be here any minute," Sam gasped out. "I managed to beat him here because his limo had to stick to the roads."

"What does he want?"

Sam shivered at the blank look in Danny's eyes. "I don't know."

Danny got to his feet, "I'll hear him out."

"You'll what?!" Tucker yelped. "But Danny, he wants- wanted... to..."

"It's not like he can do anything to mom and dad now," Danny said vaguely.

"Alright, we'll hear him out," Sam sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing, Danny."

Suddenly, the life seemed to spring back into his eyes, along with the green glow. "No! I said I'd hear him out, I didn't say I trust him. I don't want either of you anywhere near him. For that matter," he hurried over to their bags, pulling specter deflectors out and handing them to both of them. "Keep ghost hunting equipment on you at all times while he's here, got it?"

"We'll be careful," Sam promised nervously. Danny relaxed slightly, the glow fading from his eyes.

"Danny! Someone is here to see you!" Mrs Foley called up the stairs.

"Stay here," Danny hissed at them, before heading down the stairs.

Under most circumstances, they would have followed regardless of his warnings, but neither of them wanted to tip him over the edge right then.

Danny walked quickly down the stairs to see the Foleys conversing politely with Vlad.

"Vlad, what are you doing here?" There was only a faint hint of accusation in his voice.

"Daniel. I am so sorry for your loss, dear boy," Vlad said. Danny froze.

There was genuine regret and sadness in his voice.

"Mrs Foley, would you mind terribly if Daniel and I had a moment alone?" Vlad asked the woman politely.

"O-oh, of course not. Come on, Maurice," Mrs Foley dragged her husband out of the room.

"What do you want, Plasmius?" Danny repeated.

"Whether you believe it or not, Daniel. I want nothing more than your own well being. And I am no longer Plasmius," Vlad added.

"No longer Plasmius?" Danny repeated. Whatever he had been expecting, it was not that. "You're human?"

"Not quite. I am still half ghost, but I can no longer transform. Losing Maddie made me lose my ability to transform. I still have limited access to my powers, but I'm afraid I would be rather easy to defeat should you choose to do so," Vlad informed him.

"Then why are you here?" Danny asked suspiciously.

"Your parents' will names me as your godfather," Vlad said. "I know you are probably repulsed by the idea of living with me, but give it time, and maybe you will change your mind... or at least I hope so...Whatever your decision, it will be yours to make and I will not force you."

"You... won't?"

"No, Daniel. I will not manipulate people anymore, not like I used to. I couldn't even if I wanted to, without access to my full ghost powers," Vlad sighed. "I will merely ask you to consider what I can do for you. I will, of course, provide all expenses where ever you choose to live."

"I don't trust you, Plas- Vlad. You know that," Danny looked the older man squarely in the eye.

"I know, Daniel. I have done nothing to deserve trust from you. But I have changed, and I will prove it," Vlad dug out a slip of paper with a number and address on it. "If you need anything, anything at all, you can call me or visit me here."

Danny took it hesitantly. "Alright."

"Goodbye, Daniel."

To Vlad's surprise and delight, the boy favored him with a farewell, "Bye, Vlad." Before he turned and headed back up the stairs. At the landing, Vlad could see Tucker and – was that the Manson girl? How had she beaten him there? - asking Danny what they had talked about.

Shaking his head, Vlad went to say goodbye to the Foleys and thank them for their hospitality.


"So, he just wanted... to invite you to live with him? No tricks, no threats? Do you believe him?" Sam demanded.

"No... not entirely," Danny said.

"Then you believe him a bit?" Tucker inferred.

Danny gave them a pained, sad look. "You didn't... you didn't see the future Vlad. He had every chance to kill me, but he didn't. He had a picture, you know," Danny's eyes took a far-off look as he remembered. "The same one he had of the college days, the one that in this time had dad ripped out of it, but in the future it was whole. He... I think most of the reason he was so obsessed was because of his ghost half. Twenty years of obsession building up, with it suddenly gone... he seems almost normal. He says he can't turn into Plasmius anymore, because of mom's... mom's death..."

"Why?" Tucker asked, completely bewildered. Sam, however, seemed to understand.

"Ghosts can't exist without an obsession," Sam said softly. "He's... well... a paradox, really. A ghost without an obsession, but he can't just move on because he's not really dead."

"I'm going to lay down," Danny said abruptly. They blinked at him.

"R-right, Danny," Sam nodded. "Go ahead."

They watched him stumble into the guest bedroom and shut the door, feeling almost like he was shutting them out of his life. If it weren't for his concern earlier, that almost might have become something more.

"Hey, Sam," Tucker said hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

"You said ghosts can't exist without an obsession... And if we're going to believe Vlad, that includes half-ghosts, right?" Tucker asked.

"Yes..."

"Then... What is Danny's obsession?"


A/N: … This makes me sad to write, and I haven't even started on the real angst yet!

Just to warn you, I'm insanely fond of minor characters... Expect them to play roles in this, especially the Foleys.

Thanks for the wonderful reviews!