Chapter 3

I don't own Danny Phantom.

Vlad's P.O.V:

We were rolling and bumping into each other. Now I could see why Danny always said no to be my son. Danny seemed to be keeping more than one secret; I wondered if his friends knew about this.

And why does Danny dress as a Boy anyway?

Luckily the thermos finally stopped rolling.

I looked at Danny, who seemed to be fighting back tears.

I wasn't sure if it were tears from pain, or from me finding out his secret. Maybe it was both.

We sat up. I looked at Danny and asked:

"Little badger, would you care to explain?"

Danny's P.O.V: (just stopped rolling)

The impact of Vlad's body was hard to take. But it was a lot worse that he found out.

I couldn't help but having to fight back tears, I wasn't supposed to cry, I was supposed to be stronger than that.

What would daddy think of me if I cried? The only reason he seems to pay me attention, is if I play his little boy. Just because Jazz was so damn smart, she always got all the attention.

But one day it changed…

Suddenly Vlad asked me: "Little badger, would you care to explain?"

I couldn't help but taking a shuddering breath, I had to tell him. I don't know how I should be able to go without telling anyone. And he already knew part of it. Not even Sam and Tuck knew. They had just written me off as clueless, but I know that I could never love Sam that way. But she didn't know that, and I had to pretend that I liked girls, just because of that time….

Vlad looked at me, expecting an answer. I'd better just get over with it…

I started shaking. I looked at him and couldn't help but letting a lonely tear fall.

"All I wanted was to be noticed. Jazz always got all the attention and dad and mom was always happy when she got all the good grades and stuff. I felt like I was left in the shadow of her success.

Not that I was bad at school or anything, it's just that she was always better than me.

I just wanted to be noticed. And one night I was walking to the bathroom, I couldn't help but overhear mom and dad saying that they wished that they got a little boy instead of a girl.

I felt heartbroken, but I knew what I could do. I went into the bathroom with a scissor, and cut off my ponytail. I scooped up my hair and put it in the trash. From that day on, I was a girl no more.

The next day I dressed in a blue T-shirt, with a space ship on it, and dark blue shorts.

I was lucky my parents hadn't painted my room yet, so I chose to let it remain blue.

Then I went to the attic and got lot of dad's old toys. I changed everything so it looked like a boy's room. I threw out all my dresses and girly clothes; I took away every doll and other kind of girly toys and packed them safely away in the attic.

My parents didn't even notice what was going on; they were to occupied paying attention to Jazz.

It took me two days to complete the transformation. And it took them one week to notice."

I sniffled and wiped away some tears that insisted on crawling down my cheek. Vlad simply remained silent and listened. I couldn't read the expression on his face.

I continued.

"But when I started insisting on them calling me Danny and not Daniela, they noticed the changes.

They seemed happy, and they finally began paying me some attention. I could be the boy they always wanted.

It wasn't a problem the first years, but now it's just so hard to hide it. And all the attention I get now is only negative, because of the ghosts. But bad attention is better than no attention, right? I'd rather have them yelling at me than ignoring me, like I'm not even there.

I was the ghost of the family. Cruel irony, isn't it?" I let out a humorless laugh.

"But now I don't know what to do. I wonder if Sam and Tucker still would like me if I told them...

I can't help but think that they would be angry at me for not telling. Sam would not even want to talk to me anymore, she has a crush on me, but I'm a girl and that's just weird.

I know it seems like I like girls, but it's only an act to fit in and to make sure that nobody finds out.

You have any idea how disturbing it is to act like you're in love with someone you don't even like?

And Tuck, would he forgive me? We have been in so many weird situations, so if he found out that I was a girl, he would probably never want to see me anymore.

And then I would only be alone…

I would be all alone in the world, with no friends at all.

I could hear that I was sobbing, but I couldn't help it.

"And the time you told me to renounce my father and be your son, I couldn't help but feel even sadder, 'cause you all wanted me to be something I'm not.

And seeing how you treated Danielle, I could not help but feel sorry for her, as she seemed doomed to the same fate as me.

Only wanted to be something we are not…"

Vlad's P.O.V:

I looked at Danny, feeling shocked. All this pain the poor child has been through, and still is enduring, makes my pain pail in compare. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Danny.

I couldn't help it. I pulled the crying and shaking teen close into me. She started to cry harder into my chest.

What Danny shared with me just now, changed it all. I ruffled her hair and whispered soothing words into her ear.

I could see what I've done wrong, and I had to make it up to Danny and Danielle.

I just hoped they could forgive me for what I have done, especially Danielle…

I know, sad isn't it, but as it's often is said: it has to get worse, before it can get better.

And in next chapter, it hopefully will get better.

I don't own Danny phantom or the other characters.

And thanks to my awesome beta reader Shaddow the Spirit

Thanks you really help me out this chapter!